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The November edition of The Spirit is available!
The Spirit is a monthly publication from the synod - sharing an article from our Synod VP, Kay Edgerton, and Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee. Congregations are encouraged to include these in their monthly newsletters. This month in the bishop ponders pastor burn-out and the VP wonders how we can better "speak people."
Read it here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/news/the-spirit
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News from Lutherwood Camp & Retreat Center
We hold the camp staff and board leadership in prayer as they enter this time of transition.
YOU are invited to support them with your prayers ... and participation in their upcoming auction - this Saturday, November 5 at 4pm (see auction info below!!)
AND at the February Annual Meeting.
Learn more about this ministry on our synod territory here:
https://www.camplutherwood.org/
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Synod Gatherings 2023
Save the dates!
In lieu of a Synod Assembly in 2023, we will have 2 Synod Gatherings. One on May 13 (at Salem in Mount Vernon) and one on May 20 (at Saint Andrew's in Bellevue.) At each location, will be gathering for worship, fellowship, and a number of forums for exploring and learning!
We are gathering names of those who wish to help both with preparation and during the event.
Contact Susan (susan@lutheransnw.org) if you would like to help with planning or the day-of logistics!
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ELCA Social Message on Climate Care
YOUR input desired!
Acting upon a request from several sources, in November 2021 the ELCA Church Council authorized the development of an ELCA social message on climate care. Social messages are ELCA teaching documents that address a focused social topic. Drawing from existing social teaching, they provide theological rationale and social analysis to foster discernment and engagement on a relatively narrow social issue.
This project was authorized in light of the grim contemporary situation affecting our global home and the need for fresh action on the part of this church. It draws its framing themes from several social statements, particularly Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice.
In line with standard ELCA protocol, the project is being shepherded by the ELCA Director for Theological Ethics, working with a lead writer in collaboration with a group of reviewers.
The draft social message is now available for public feedback!
Read the social message draft here.
Then use this survey to share your input by Friday, Dec. 2!
The draft will be edited, guided by the feedback, and presented to the ELCA Church Council to be voted on this coming spring.
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Synod Events this week at a glance:
Tues, Nov 1, 10am-3pm - Bishop's Convocation - with clusters around synod
Tues, Nov 1, 6:30pm-7:30pm - FREE Online Acts Study continues (see below!)
Wed, Nov 2, 6:30pm - Intro to Womanist Interp. Course continues (more here)
Thurs, Nov 3, 1pm - Transition Minister Meeting
Fri, Nov 4 - Sat, Nov 5 - Synod Council Retreat
Sat, Nov 5, 4pm - Lutherwood Auction (see below!)
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Synod-Wide Bible Study on the book of Acts
A FREE NW WA Synod LiVE Project Offering!
FREE | Tuesdays, 6:30pm - 7:30pm | on Zoom
Continues weekly - drop into any session!
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 29; Dec. 6, 13, 20
The Synod's LiVE Project is offering this free, weekly drop in online Bible Study Series!
Various rostered ministers from around our synod will co-facilitate a weekly study of Willie James Jennings' book, Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible.
Purchase of the book is encouraged, although not a necessary requirement to fully participate.
We would love to have you join us in this creative adventure in the Spirit - Drop into any session!
We welcome the Rev. Kacey Hahn as our facilitator for Oct 25 and Nov 1.
Join any or all Zoom Sessions HERE. (Zoom Meeting ID: 822 0985 0836 Passcode: Acts)
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ELCA Coaching Network - Weekly Sessions
Every Wednesday at 11am (Pacific)
All lay and rostered leaders are invited to join this weekly opportunity to hear from various leaders across the Church - and share in small group conversation - on the theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP.
Learn more about this week's topic and get the registration link here: https://www.elcacoaching.org/
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PLTS Founder's Day Keynote Lecture:
The Planet You Inherit: A Re-Founding Catalyst?
Thursday, November 3, 6pm - online
Keynote presentation by Larry Rasmussen is available online.
Voltaire (1694-1778) said the "three things exercise a constant influence over the minds of [humankind]: climate, governance, and religion...That is the only way of explaining the enigma of this world."
This Founder's Day Lecture looks at each of these three - climate, governance, and religion - to ask whether today's planetary emergency requires re-founding our way of life.
Learn more about the presenter HERE.
To attend online, please register at this link.
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Come Sing with us in Green Lake!
At 7400 Woodlawn: Center for Community, Arts, and Spirituality
Thursday, November 3, 7pm
at 7400 Woodlawn, Seattle
Join us for a one-time event and/or see if you would like an on-going place to sing for the good of our spirits. (This is also the home of Emmaus Table, a NWWA Synod Worshipping Community.)
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Faithfully Queer (and Allied) Speaker Series
at Burlington Lutheran Church
Join Burlington Lutheran for the final installment of their series of dynamic speakers sharing about their own faith journeys toward loving all people, especially LGBTQIA+. How can one have faith, hold to their faith tradition (including to the Bible), AND be queer or actively support queer folx? The Faithfully Queer (and Allied) speaker series seeks to address this question.
November 4, 6:30pm-8pm: Xade Grant!
Xade will put on a concert to close out this series. He is a singer, songwriter and pianist who has performed throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as parts of the UK and Europe. Xade plays anything from worship to familiar contemporary songs and songs he wrote himself. His style has been likened to Elton John, Billy Joel and Michael W. Smith. Filled with abundant passion as he performs, it is his heartfelt desire to bring encouragement, joy and happiness to all who come to hear him perform. He resides in the Skagit Valley of Washington with his lifelong partner. At Burlington Lutheran Church.
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Early Country Christmas Bazaar
At Peace Lutheran Church in Silvana
Saturday, November 5, 10am-2pm
1717 Larson Road in Silvana
Baked goods, Crafts, Used Treasures and More!
Lunch available, too!
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The Onion Model - presented by STAD
(Strategic Team for Authentic Diversity)
Thursday, November 10, 12noon on Zoom
Rev. Ivar Hillesland will present a model from Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment: A Developmental Strategy to Liberate Everyone by Leticia Nieto and Margot Boyer that can help us grow in our understanding of oppression and privilege, build our compassion, increase our skills to tolerate discomfort and interact with difference, and develop our faith as a source of power for this work.
All rostered ministers, mission developers and interns are invited to participate in this monthly online gathering that covers a variety of topics regarding dismantling white supremacy and racism.
Sponsored by STAD (Strategic Team for Authentic Diversity) Join the Zoom here
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Zoom Concert
and Music Resource Website Release
Saturday, November 12
5pm on Zoom
Join us for a live, cozy concert (pajamas and hot chocolate welcome) featuring selections of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany music from the first iteration of our new worship resource website (www.thereverbcollective.com). The goal of this website is to provide new singable, theologically sound, congregation songs for churches to use and to support artists by giving them a creative community to be a part of and a platform to share their music.
We are immensely grateful for the Northwest Washington Synod Grace Grant that made this project possible! Please join us for the concert and take a peek through the selections on the website (and report bugs). We'll be adding more artists and music in the year to come.
Join the Zoom Concert here
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Installation of Rev. John Kim
Sunday, November 13, 3pm
at Lakeridge Lutheran in Seattle
We celebrate with Rev. John Kim as he has accepted the call to serve as pastor at Lakeridge Lutheran Church. All are invited to attend his installation service. God bless this new ministry partnership!
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Ordination of Sister Jessica Zimmerle
Saturday, November 19, 3pm
at Ballard First Lutheran in Seattle
All are invited to attend Sister Jessica's Ordination to the Ministry of Word and Service. She has accepted a call to (continue to) serve at Earth Ministry/WAIPL as their Program & Outreach Director. May God continue to bless this partnership!
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Bring Christmas to a Seafarer!
Every year, the Seattle Seafarers’ Center provides about 1,000 ditty bags stuffed with basic personal necessities to merchant seafarers. These bags are one way we help seafarers celebrate Christmas while they are far from home during the holiday season. Seafarers help make Christmas possible by transporting lots of stuff to the US. Help make a seafarer's Christmas by providing them with a ditty bag to say thank you!
There are lots of ways to participate. You can make drawstring bags or knit hats, or you can purchase basic supplies (e.g., body soap, deodorant, and toothpaste) and drop those off at the Center. You can also make a financial gift that will be used to purchase more supplies for ditty bags. To find out more, visit our website and contact the Seattle Seafarers Center (office@mts-seattle.org), and thank you!
Ditty Bag Stuffing Day 2022 - Saturday, November 19
On November 19, 2022, join other volunteers from around Puget Sound as we stuff ditty bags for seafarers for this year’s Christmas season. We will gather from 10am-noon St. John Episcopal Church in West Seattle. Join us for all or any part of the time. To find out more, visit our website and contact the Seattle Seafarers Center (office@mts-seattle.org), and thank you!
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FAN Annual Dinner Fundraiser
Sunday, Nov. 20, 4:30pm-7:30pm
in person at the Renton Pavilion and
online - a YouTube link will be sent out the week prior
After two years of virtual dinners, we will be gathering in person this year in Renton AND Spokane, and also offering an online option for those who can't attend in person.
To attend in person, it is suggested you register before October 31 to guarantee your seat. We will follow up with other COVID-safety protocols as we near the event. Once you have registered, you will have the option of paying online through PayPal or sending a check by November 10, and then you will receive updates and reminders from us, and the online link will be sent the week before the event.
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The Spirituality of Waiting
a LiVE Project Day Retreat
Saturday, December 3, 9am-3pm
at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Seattle
How will we wait? The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker invites unique ways we explore the contours of waiting and community interaction. The season of Advent gives us an opportunity to pause, and to consider how our ways of gathering open up space to be God‘s people. Come and experience practical tips for how you and your communities of faith can deepen their callings by cultivating communities of belonging and inclusion. Lunch will be provided.
Learn more about how to participate here:
www.lutheransnw.org/events/the-spirituality-of-waiting/2022-12-03
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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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