July 4, 2022
Weekly Update
announcements & events
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The Spirit
Each month Synod Vice President Kay Edgerton and Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee share stories, updates, news, and thoughts... We give thanks for their faithful and thoughtful witness.
Find previous issues here.
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Lower Snake River Dams Draft Report Released
Comments to Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee are invited now until July 11.
Our partners at Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light. are asking for help in promoting this action and encouraging people of faith to publicly comment in support of removing the lower dams.
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Josephine Caring Community Awarded!
Josephine Caring Community (Stanwood) received the Community Service Award from LeadingAge Washington which is an association for non-profit care and housing organizations. The focus of the award was the Wisdom & Stories Initiative which was a recipient of one of the NWWA Synod’s Grace Grants.
They created a program to interview and write books for their residents through the successful recruitment of 43 community volunteer writers. These books are now being published through Barnes & Noble Press in hardcover form for the resident, writer, and archives. ‘Social accountability’ was the cornerstone of the LeadingAge Community Service Award, and Josephine Caring Community interpreted that as a two-fold dynamic in their initiative: 1) to actively and intentionally engage with individual citizens and social organizations to ensure that Josephine remains aligned with our core mission of compassionate care for residents; and 2) to empower and equip their community to experience a stronger sense of purpose and civic wellbeing through their engagement with Josephine.
In addition to benefitting the community, their Wisdom & Stories has a significant impact on the wellbeing of our residents, families, and staff as well. Among the volunteer writers is retired Pastor Dennis Schaeffert! Congratulations on this award - and this wonderful project!
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Support the Bishop's Caring Fund
Do you know about the Bishop’s Caring Fund?
As people of the NWWA Synod of the ELCA, we care about our pastors & deacons. This fund is available to be used at our Bishop’s discretion to provide what is needed for individual rostered ministers. Support, training, coaching, and much more help our pastors and deacons be more effective leaders.
To give to the Bishop’s Caring Fund go to the Synod website's giving page:
Your gift is much appreciated!
BOOK BONUS! Because of the care Pastor Jane Prestbye has received during her years of ministry, she will gift you with a book if you give $25 or more to the Bishop’s Care Fund. The book records her reflections during her 2012 sabbatical, Roads for Renewal: A Pastor, A Motorcycle and a Sabbatical. To receive this book, send a message mentioning your gift (amount not needed) and your name and mailing address to klcpastor@kentlutheran.org. (Thank you, Pastor Jane!)
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Synod Women's Organization News
Find the July 2022 edition of their ECHO newsletter HERE!
The ECHO provides information and news about Women of the ELCA to the Congregational Units of the NW Washington Synod of the ELCA. Check out the July edition for news about upcoming events, celebrations, activities, meetings, and unit officers.
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Synod Events this week:
Mon, July 4 - Independence Day Holiday - Synod Office CLOSED
Tues, July 5, 10am-1pm - Synod Staff Meeting
Tues, July 5, 7pm - Evangelical Outreach Team Meeting
Thurs, July 7, 1pm-3pm - Transition Ministers Monthly Meeting
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ELCA Coaching Network - Weekly Sessions
Wednesdays at 11am (Pacific)
ELCA Coaching will continue with the theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. ELCA Coaching has invited various ministries to host these gatherings each week. There will usually be time for small groups in breakout rooms so that leaders across the church can continue to learn from each other and leave each gathering with at least one action step.
On Wednesday, July 6, we welcome Dianne Johnson, Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) in the Northwest Washington Synod. One of her favorite aspects of this ministry is to learn about the new and creative ways people are engaging others for worship and new faith communities. Dianne has called the Pacific NW home her whole life. She enjoys hiking, photography, walking their two Golden Retrievers, and on those rainy days she enjoys discovering more about her family through genealogy.
This week Dianne Johnson will share an example of an Organic Faith Community in the NW Washington Synod – Renton Wild Church. Organic Faith Communities are gatherings of people born from authentic relationships, intentionally incorporate spiritual practices, and are intended to connect with people who are outside our church walls. This synod currently has four ministries connected with local congregations that agree to accompany them. The dream is that lay members throughout the synod will be inspired to create more of these nimble, unique ministry sites and that their pastors will encourage and support them on their journey. There are also a number of Synod Authorized Worship Communities that have prototyped this path of ministry. Ideas being explored include Wild Church, Dinner Church, House Church, Creative Church, Global Music Ministry, Online Interactive Worship, Pub Church, Potluck Liturgy, and a Story Telling Gathering.
Join Zoom Meetings here:
Meeting ID: 180 439 412 / Passcode: 648160
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“Embody the Word”
Online Bible Study Series
In preparation for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, ALL ELCA members (not just voting members!) are encouraged to participate in a series of online Bible studies that will explore the assembly theme, “Embody the Word,” from Luke 24. The assembly, the highest legislative body of the ELCA, will meet in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 8-12. (Learn more about our synod's voting members here.)
The Bible study series will comprise four online sessions to be held Sundays in July from 1pm-3:45pm (Pacific). Each session will focus on the meaning of “embodiment,” open with a video presentation and continue with a moderated discussion. Members are encouraged to consider the double meaning of the assembly theme, “Embody the Word”: “embody” can mean both the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the life of the church emerging from a pandemic, whereas “word” can mean both Jesus Christ and Scripture.
The Bible study schedule is:
July 10 – Rev. Jay Alanís, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in San Juan, Texas.
July 17 – Sally Azar, currently studying in Germany with plans to serve the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) as its first female pastor.
July 24 – Man-Hei Yip, assistant professor of systematic theology at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
July 31 – Denise Rector, doctoral student in womanist theology and race and history at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
Register for the live Bible study series.
Find out more about the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, including livestream information.
The sessions will also be available on demand from the ELCA YouTube Channel.
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Building a Culture of Generosity
Online Introduction Zoom
Tuesday, July 12 at 1pm
Join Zoom Meeting here:
Are you conducting a stewardship appeal this Fall?
If so, our synod is partnering with ELCA Churchwide to bring you Building a Culture of Generosity (BCG) from GSB Fundraising. This program seeks to help congregations grow revenue by 5-10% and also teaches biblical stewardship principles, helps members discover generosity, and begins to build the foundation for a generous culture. This program is provided in a combination of a document library, video library, and live Zoom sessions. The program is led by Mike Ward, author of Abundance: Creating a Culture of Generosity, 2020 Fortress Press.
Here is what one recent BCG participant shared:
"We are pleased to say we received 39 new and increased pledges, out of 75 giving units
for a total increase of $14,535. I have a new way of looking at our congregation and how generous we are, thanks to your program. It’s more enjoyable to speak with positive affirmations rather than with (our church is dying) wails. You laid out this wonderful plan and had regular zoom meetings to learn more and hear from everyone. Your book, meetings, and documents helped me understand all the moving parts in implementing The Culture of Generosity message."
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Mission to Seafarers Yard Sales!
Sunday, July 17, 1pm - 4pm
Tuesday, July 19, 3pm - 6pm
at the Seattle Seafarers’ Center (3568 W Marginal Way SW, Seattle,)
They are moving to a new (smaller!) office space - and will be giving away much of our current furniture (with requests for donations!)
Featured items: pool table, upright piano, BBQ grills, gardening tools, bookshelves, filing cabinets, kitchen equipment, and more! Come by on either day to check out our available furniture, and we will help move any items you are interested in to your car. Donations are encouraged!
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Bethesda Lutheran Church
Block Party
Saturday, July 18 - begins at 1pm
A fabulous & fun community time!
All are welcome to stop by for live music, food trucks, dancing!
Bethesda Lutheran Church is located at 23406 56th Ave West in Mountlake Terrace.
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Summer Gatherings
for these TWO Rostered Minister Groups
Retired Rostered Minister BBQ
Tuesday, July 19, 11am-1pm at Advent Lutheran in Mill Creek
New-to-the Synod Rostered Minister BBQ
Tuesday, July 19, 4pm-6pm at Advent Lutheran in Mill Creek
ALL rostered ministers (and partners) who have recently benn ordained or moved into the synod are invited! We will be serving up grilled brats & dogs and side dishes.
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LiVE Information Sessions
(Living into Vocational Engagement)
Join one of our upcoming sessions:
July 20 or August 17 - 6:30-7:30pm on Zoom
Come and learn more about LiVE, get your questions answered, and see what this exciting opportunity holds in store for your own learning journey as a Christian public leader.
Please pre-register for one of these Zoom sessions here:
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Multicultural Youth Justice (MYJ22)
July 21-23 at St. Matthew's in Renton
MYJ22 is a national virtual faith-forming experience July 21 – 23 where our NWWA synod youth will be together in-person at St. Matthew’s in Renton. Each day is filled with different activities and learning opportunities and we’ll end each day with a live virtual celebration with music, speakers, and worship.
This experience is crucial for BIPOC youth and their European Descent allies because of the ways in which they have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and because we so often hear them speak about how they feel disconnected from the wider church. For young people, especially BIPOC young people, it often feels as though the ELCA is the church of “old white folks.” It is crucial that we provide a space now, where they can feel at home in our faith traditions and know that they are seen, heard, wanted, and loved. While MYJ22 is only one piece of what we hope will be an ongoing effort to make connections between BIPOC youth and their allies, as well as the elders who have gone before them, and the wider church, we believe that it is a crucial piece that will enable us to do the desperately needed relationship-building required in order to nurture those long-lasting connections.
Groups can stay overnight onsite or travel to the event each day.
For more information about the regional gathering contact:
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Kitsap Ride for Refugees
Saturday, August 20, begins at 9am
We are excited to be able to once again partner with Lutheran Community Services Northwest to bring back this great event for summer 2022. All proceeds go toward LCS Northwest and their refugee resettlement efforts.
Participants can choose between a 10- or 30-mile out-and-back course through beautiful Kitsap County, starting and ending at Silverdale Lutheran Church. This is an untimed, supported bike ride (not a race). Roads will still be open to vehicles and participants may need to stop at intersections.
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God’s work. Our Hands. Sunday!
Sunday, September 11
Old Lutheran has T-shirts and other items available for purchase. The deadline for ordering your congregation’s personalized T-shirts is Aug. 19.
Don’t forget to share your congregation’s participation with us! Send stories and photos to LivingLutheran@elca.org so that together we can celebrate what God accomplishes through you.
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Sacred Spaces:
Opening the Holy Invitation Even Wider
September 24, 9:30am-2:30pm
at St. Andrews Lutheran Church (2650 148th Ave SE, Bellevue)
Sponsor: NW Washington Synod
Join Facilitators and Practitioners of unique gatherings and organic forms of church, for a day of stories, experiences, and workshops to explore together how we can open God’s holy invitation even wider.
There are so many ways to gather as faithful communities, whether it's outdoors, creating art, at the pub, or just eating around one big table. Why shouldn’t our gatherings reflect our uniqueness?
Let’s imagine how we can foster organic sacred spaces right in our own backyards. How can we create more inclusive gatherings for people to encounter God? How can we experiment with the gifts we have to meet the needs of those seeking the spirit in our own neighborhoods? What is sprouting up within you that is ready for germination?
Come with ideas, come with questions, come to dream about what sacred spaces can be!
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Want an item included?
All items due by 2pm on the prior Thursday
Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA
5519 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
206-783-9292
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