March 15, 2021
Weekly Update
announcements & events
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Nominating Committee Update
At our May 15 Synod Assembly, we will be holding elections for synod council, consultation committee, committee on discipline, and voting members for the churchwide assembly.
Forms need to be completed by March 31.
This week, we would like to highlight the position of Synod Council Member
The Synod Council is the board of directors of this synod, serving as the legislative authority between meetings of the Synod Assembly. The Synod Council typically meets every 2 months. Additional leadership functions include trusteeship responsibilities on behalf of this synod; recommending program goals and budgets; carrying out resolutions of the Synod Assembly; etc. (See Chapter 10 of the Synod Constitution for full definition of Council.)
At our assembly in 2020 we were to elect persons to the council. As we did NOT hold an assembly in 2020, 8 persons were appointed to the Synod Council until an election could be held. All but 1 of these individuals have agreed to be nominated for a partial 3-year term at 2021 assembly. Additional persons may also be nominated. In particular, we are seeking a youth member and an unrestricted layperson (may be non-binary, male or female.)
We will elect: 4 rostered ministers (deacon or pastor); 1 lay male; 1 lay female; 1 lay unrestricted; 1 young adult – all with terms ending in 2024; and 1 youth (2-year term, ending in 2023)
We are seeking persons who are excellent listeners and thoughtful discerners.
Perhaps that is YOU - or a person you know who is a member in the synod.
THANK YOU for prayerfully considering potential nominees for this role.
Please have the nominee complete an online nomination form HERE by March 31.
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ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants |
Are you part of a ministry (or know of one) that draws on the strengths of its community to break the cycle of hunger and poverty for good?
Invite them to apply for a Domestic Hunger Grant!
Registration: March 17, 2021–May 5, 2021
Application: April 19, 2021–May 21, 2021
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Trinity Education Foundation Scholarships |
Scholarship Applications Available Now!
Trinity Education Foundation is accepting scholarship applications. Please be sure to get your application in by midnight, March 31, 2021.
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Trinity Scholars Program for undergraduate students provides scholarship funds of $10,000 renewable up to four years, plus vocational guidance, and coaching.
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Dave Ellingson Environmental Studies provides scholarship funds of $1,000.
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Seminary provides scholarship funds of $5,000 renewable up to three years.
Contact Trinity Education Foundation at 425.249.4800 or email info@tef-lbi.org for more information.
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Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Update & Seattle Spring Ingathering |
April 29 - May 1 at First Lutheran Church in Bothell
First, thanks to all who were able to provide quilts and kits last fall. Covid19 shut down not just worship services, but many of the quilting groups, kit-buying and kit-making activities due to social distancing, and even some (appropriate) fear of going shopping or being out in public. We held a “modified Covid19 Ingathering” where churches brought their boxes to First Lutheran Church in Bothell over three days; later the boxes were brought back out to load a container. LWR hired a professional moving crew to work inside the small - 425 square feet - (floor space) container. The items shipped, in one 53’ container, included: 2,394 quilts and blankets; 2,932 school kits; 1,780 personal care kits; 1,165 baby care kits; 86 fabric kits; 250 masks; and 11 blankets. WOW!
The Spring Ingathering will be a repeat of the modified Covid19 Ingathering process.
Churches/quilting groups need to reserve a delivery spot by calling/emailing Rich Mathes at 206-384-1183, or email lwr.mathes@aol.com. The incoming cars and trucks will be staggered; drivers and passengers must wear masks and are to remain in their vehicles as much as possible. The church building is not open for use by drivers or passengers.
HELP US KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP: If your quilting group, or church, or kit-assembly group has not received your instructions, loading form, or newsletter, please notify Rich at either contact above.
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Region One Disaster Preparedness and Response |
Get connected!
Find the April Newsletter HERE.
Subscribe to the Newsletter HERE
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Synod Meetings this week:
Team members, check your inbox for details and meeting links!
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First Call Meet Up
Tuesday, March 16 at 2pm via Zoom
LiVE Leadership Team
Tuesday, March 16 at 2pm via Zoom
Convo Planning Team
Tuesday, March 16 at 3:30pm via Zoom
Children, Youth & Family - Time 4 You
Thursday, March 18 at 12noon
Personnel Committee
Thursday, March 18 at 12:30pm via Zoom
Cluster Deans
Thursday, March 18 at 2pm via Zoom
Synod Council
Saturday, March 20 at 9am via Zoom
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Weekly ELCA Coaching Event |
Next Session is Wednesday, March 17 at 11am
Topic: Growing Young: Jesus' Message - Rachel Alley and others
All are invited to join this weekly online gathering designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders across the church. Join Zoom Meeting here:
Meeting ID: 180 439 412 - Password: 648160
We understand a number of folks are unable to make this day and time each week. We record the main session and debrief time. We share each recording with supporting documents here, typically by the following day: https://www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media.
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Fifty and Better (FAB) at California Lutheran University |
March Lectures
The two-hour lectures are $8 each and are open to everyone.
Learn more and register HERE (registration open now!)
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Politics on Broadway with Cary Ginell on Wednesday, March 17 at 10am (PST)
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The World of Neuroscience: From Single Neurons to Human Behaviors with Wesley Tierney on Tuesday, March 23 at 10am
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Can the Golden State Be Made to Shine Again? with Herb Gooch on Monday, March 29 at 10am
Fifty and Better Spring Session
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ADAPTING TO A NEW REALITY:
Living into a Fresh Vision for God’s Church
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Third Thursday monthly webinars (11am Pacific) featuring well known scholars and church leaders that focus on key areas:
March 18 – Hybrid Community: Virtual & In-Person
April 15 – The Future is Now: Creative Expressions of Church
Pastors and congregational lay leaders can sign up for only a $25 donation to register for the entire series. All conference proceeds are donated to the ELCA Fund for Leaders.
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Living Forward Conversations
This Month’s Topic: Practicing Innovation, Part 2
Thursday, March 18 at 12noon
Join these is monthly conversations - live streamed on Facebook.
This month our guest panelists will engage these questions:
+ How you are practicing innovation, and what you are learning?
+ What assumptions do you think are being challenged with these new forms of engagement?
+ What do you see as implications for local churches, and congregational leaders?
This Month’s Guest Panelists:
Rev. Rabell-González, associate pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lodi, CA
LeAnne Wiles is a higher educational professional working in First-Year Programs in Undergraduate Academic Affairs at the University of Washington, and an active member at Faith Lutheran, Seattle, WA
Sarah Hauer is a certified occupational therapist working at Meadow Crest Early Learning Center, a previous president at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Renton, and is a co-leader of the St. Matthews Anti-Racist Team (SMART)
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The Practice of Authentic Allyship
For rostered ministers and laypersons
Thursdays, March 18, 25, and April 1, 6:30pm-8pm
In this Paths to Understanding course you will learn:
+ how to share your own story as an experience
+ gain a better understand of the story of our nation and how there are intentional rules and laws that create bias and separation and inequity between people
+ how you can stand for and with each other right now and tomorrow
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Listening Circle Toward Inclusion & Diversity in the NW WA Synod |
Sunday March 21, 6:30pm-8pm on Zoom
We become more fully a community when we hear one another’s stories. This Listening Circle Toward Inclusion and Diversity will offer us an opportunity to listen and respond to the stories of people color about their experiences in our Lutheran Christian community. As we listen and speak, we trust that God is gathering us more fully into God’s story of healing, reconciliation, and mutual respect.
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Elizabeth Gregory Home Virtual Gala: Building Hope Together
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Sunday March 21 at 6pm
In this special virtual 45-minute program, women who have experienced homelessness will share their journeys to healing, hope, and home. We are also excited that our program will feature former Governor Christine Gregoire, who will share her perspective on homelessness in our community and how Elizabeth Gregory Home plays a key role in addressing it.
You can simply register for the event (no cost) and learn more through their website here.
Your participation will ensure that vulnerable women will have access to lifesaving services.
We look forward to sharing this experience with you and we thank you for your support!
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Living Life Fully Series Part 2:
Planning for Anything
March 25, 9am
This free webinar for older adults, hosted by Adult Lutherans Organized for Action, will focus on the nuts and bolts of having your financial and personal affairs in order. Deaconess and RN Penny Cedel will be joined by Financial Planner Michael Guthrie to outline basic documents that provide a smooth transition for your spouse or your children if you are no longer able to manage for yourself.
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Returning to In-Person Worship Considerations & Conversation
Thursday, March 25, 6:30pm on Zoom
As some begin to consider returning to (higher capacity, indoor) in-person worship and gatherings, please join us for this conversation!
We hope to see pastors/deacons, council presidents, and/or COVID planning team leaders join this conversation!
We will be recording this session.
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Lutheran Men In Mission
Bold Gathering
Saturday, April 17, 9am-12noon
Registration is Free but Required.
Lutheran Men in Mission will be hosting another online event featuring six speakers discussing matters that men know matter. Register now at boldgathering.com There you can find more information and see all the archived videos from past Bold Gatherings.
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Bishop's Spring Convocation
Living into Authentic Diversity: Sharing Our Stories
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Monday-Wednesday, April 26-28, Online
Monday, 1-4pm | Tuesday, 9:30am-3:30pm | Wednesday: 9am-12noon
Rostered ministers, mission developers, and interns of the synod are invited to gather online over these days to explore diversity in the Church from the perspective of listening deeply to the uniqueness of our diverse journeys of faith. How do our familial/cultural/ denominational/personal identities and histories shape our experience of being Church Together? Following an introductory session with the Strategic Team For Authentic Diversity (STAD), we will be joined by keynote speaker the Rev. Lenny Duncan. We will also invite four local church leaders to share their diverse stories. We will have time to reflect together on both the gifts and the challenges these stories bring to us.
Look for registration link in the Rostered Minister email from last week - or in tomorrow's email...
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The LiVE Project presents:
Interrogating Privilege in Church & Our Lives
Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm
April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19
Cost: $50/person
Living into Vocational Engagement (LiVE) is a new initiative of the NW WA Synod to accompany lay leaders in ways that encourage and deepen God’s calling for their lives.
This six-week course is designed specifically for lay leaders to open up transparent, and honest conversation around the ways privilege shapes and impacts our lives and communities of faith.
Those who will benefit from this opportunity:
(1) those looking for additional conversational partners around our synod who have interest and experience engaging similar conversations,
(2) those open to exploring courageously their own privilege, and
(3) those working to imagine and implement anti-racism, diversity, inclusion and equity
teams within your congregation
(4) rostered ministers welcome to attend with lay leaders
Session Topics Include:
- The God of our privilege: Where is God among our privilege?
- Privilege from a Lutheran perspective: What does Lutheran theology have to say?
- Naming our privilege: How can we identify our personal and corporate experiences?
- Broadening the conversation: What do other marginalized voices have to say?
- Collaboration as strategy: How can we reconfigure power?
- Living forward: What is our work moving forward?
The learning facilitators for the course are Rev. Priscilla Paris Austin, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seattle, and Dr. David Hahn, Dir. of Formation and Learning for the NW WA Synod.
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Synod Assembly - Saturday May 15, 9am-4pm ONLINE
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IMPORTANT DEADLINES:
Registration for Voting Members is now open. A "get registered" email invite was sent to the emails of all Rostered Ministers and Congregations last week. Please review that email and get your crew registered by March 31.
Nominations for various positions are now being accepted. Read about the roles and how to nominate yourself or another synod member HERE.
Submit nominations by March 31.
Resolutions you wish to have considered by the assembly are now being accepted. Learn how to write and submit a resolution HERE. Submit resolutions by March 31.
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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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