June 20, 2022
Weekly Update
announcements & events
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Synod Staff Position Opening!
Synod Administrator
We are seeking a detail-oriented, joyful, team player!
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Racial Equity & Reparations Fund of the NW WA Synod
Our Synod's "Racial Equity and Reparations Fund" team will be meeting the first week of August. We will be making another round of distributions to those BIPOC leaders in our Synod who choose to opt in. Since its inception in November of 2020, this fund has redistributed $20,450. Racism affects the experience of being Church leaders, and this effort is meant to foster solidarity and relationship between Rostered Ministers.
Donations to the fund can be made via the Synod's webpage HERE.
All Synod BIPOC leaders are eligible to receive distributions. Email nwwasynodreparations@gmail.com for information or if you would like to be more involved in this effort.
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Living Stones Prison Ministry Seeks Board Members
We seek individuals interested in serving on the Living Stones Board.
In practical terms, it means committing to:
- Spreading the word about Living Stones within your own congregation and beyond.
- Lifting the ministry of Living Stones in prayer.
- Worshiping with the incarcerated community (in Shelton and/or Monroe) at least once a year.
- Attending Board meetings (currently monthly via Zoom, though pre-pandemic we met
- quarterly).
- Helping guide and grow this vital ministry of the ELCA here in Western Washington.
Living Stones exists because of the hard work and dedication of its leaders, volunteers, and
supporters. Despite the hurdles of the pandemic, we: are fiscally stronger than ever; have expanded our statewide presence (now involved both in Shelton and Monroe); and have embarked on partnerships with groups like the PCUSA’s Underground Ministries - a reentry-focused ministry that complements our focus on incarcerated individuals.
It’s an exciting time for Living Stones with a bright future ahead - but we need additions to our
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Mini-Classes/Presentations
With Rev. Dave Ellingson (schedule now for the fall/winter)
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Adventures of Faith: Transformative Biblical Journeys (3 sessions)
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Go Outside & Play: The Great Commission in the Outdoor Cathedral/Classroom (3 sessions)
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Paddle Pilgrim Individual Presentations: Mississippi River 2300 miles, Erie Canal and Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty, Fjords of Norway, Mississippi “headwaters” in a Time of Climate Change (NEW)
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Creation Care: Called to Tend the Garden
- Say What? A Fresh Look at Old Sayings
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Glimpses of Refirement: Revisiting Pentecost (NEW)
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Free Items from Nativity Lutheran Church
Nativity Lutheran Church (Renton) is moving out of their current space while a new facility is being built and they have a number of items they will not be storing that they offer to other congregations in the area.
If you are interested in any of these items, please contact the church office (NativityLCoffice@gmail.com or 425-228-5464) for more information.
Items to be picked up by July 15:
- Baptismal Font, Altar, Pulpit
- Assorted Communion Ware: Chalices, Platters
- Chairs: 2 wooden and 106 interlocking chairs, some with arms
- Upright Piano
- 100 cup coffee maker
- Spotlight [multi-color] and 2 overhead projectors
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Free With One Voice Hymnals
from Edison Lutheran Church
Edison Lutheran is giving away our With One Voice Books.
102 - Pew Editions
1 - Organ Accompaniment to the Liturgies
3 - Accompaniment Editions
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Synod Events this week:
Mon, June 20 - Juneteenth Holiday - SYNOD OFFICE CLOSED
Mon, June 20 - Thurs, June 23 - Region One Bishops' Retreat
Mon, June 20, 4:30pm - Final Pride Planning Team Meeting
Tues, June 21, 10am-12noon - Synod Staff Meeting
Tues, June 21, 2pm - First Call Meet Up on Zoom - LINK
Wed, June 22, 6:30pm - LiVE Info Session on Zoom - see below!
Sat, June 25, 3pm - Sara Funkhouser Ordination & Installation - see below!
Sun, June 26 - Seattle Pride Parade
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Sing Freedom, Sing Healing:
Building Embodied Anti-Racist Culture Through Song
Monday, June 20, 1pm-5pm
at Emmaus Table at 7400 Woodlawn Ave NE, Seattle
Join us as Juneteenth and the Summer Solstice converge for an afternoon of singing, listening, and recommitment to the work of building anti-racist culture. Facilitated by Paul Vasile from Music that Makes Community in collaboration with local song leaders and healers, we'll:
- explore embodied practices that anchor our bodies and support the mending of radicalized trauma
- share songs that help us hold intentions for healing and right relationships with BIPOC & Indigenous kin
- recommit to reparative work we're called to do individually and communally
Registration for the half-day workshop is on a sliding scale, from $50 to $80. We invite you to pay what is generous and affordable with gratitude for the time and skill of our facilitators. No one will be turned away.
Sponsored by 7400 Woodlawn & Music that Makes Community.
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ELCA Coaching Network - Weekly Sessions
Wednesdays at 11am (Pacific)
ELCA Coaching will continue with the theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. We have 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, June 22, we welcome author and poet Daniel Bowman, Jr., (MFA, Seattle Pacific University) who is associate professor of English at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, where he codirects the Making Literature Conference. He writes and speaks regularly on neurodiversity, including for the SBC's Facts & Trends website, The Mighty, Ruminate magazine, and at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP). Bowman is editor in chief of Relief: A Journal of Art & Faith, engages in several in-person and online communities addressing neurodiversity and mental health, and mentors young people on the spectrum. BONUS FOR TWO "LIVE" ATTENDEES: We will be giving away two copies of Daniel's book to two random participants!
Join Zoom Meetings here:
Meeting ID: 180 439 412 / Passcode: 648160
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LiVE Information Sessions
(Living into Vocational Engagement)
Wed., June 22, 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:
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Engaging Older Adults in Ministry
Thursday, June 23 at 9am (Pacific)
A roundtable of ministry leaders share their expertise on engaging older adults in ministry and explore the potential that older adults bring to the congregation as life long learners. Sue Lennartson leads the discussion. Joining her will be Pastor Rollie Martinson, Pastor Chris Binga and Pastor Kelly Chatman. Read more.
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Pacific Northwest Association of Church Libraries
June 24-25 in Federal Way
This organization was founded in 1967, and represents church librarians from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho who strive to support their congregations by providing literature and theological texts, both current and foundational for utilization by all members, young and old.
Keeping current and relevant is our constant aim; reimagining as needed, plus advocating for further establishment of libraries in churches without them. Their annual conference helps to do this!
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Upcoming Installation & Ordination Services:
Sara Funkhouser Ordination & Installation
Saturday, June 25, 3pm at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Seattle
Sara has been called to serve as pastor at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Seattle. God bless this new ministry partnership!
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Seattle Pride Parade
Sunday, June 26
The NW WA Synod is registered to march with participants from more than THIRTY of our congregations!
NOTE: Our participant list is FULL.
If you or your congregation have not yet registered, please come to the parade as a spectator!
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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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Summer Gatherings
for these Rostered Minister Groups
Retired Rostered Minister BBQ
Tuesday, July 19, 11am-1pm at Advent Lutheran in Mill Creek
ALL retired rostered ministers (and partners) are invited to attend. We will be serving up grilled brats & dogs and side dishes. Please RSVP HERE.
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. Please RSVP HERE.
Deans' Meeting & Dinner
Thursday, July 21, 6pm-9pm in Edmonds
Cluster Deans (and partners) - please join the bishop and staff in Edmonds as we serve up dinner!
More info coming soon to your email inbox.
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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 come to Tthe event each day.
For more information about the regional gathering contact:
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Save the Date for
God’s work. Our Hands. Sunday!
Sunday, September 11
Congregations of the ELCA will join together for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, our annual day of service. We are a church energized by lively engagement in faith and life. As we continue our tradition of service to our neighbor, we remember the words of Martin Luther: “Our faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing.” With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in the name of Jesus Christ. As you explore opportunities to participate in your community, ELCA.org/DayofService has everything you need to plan and promote your day:
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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