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Synod Gatherings!
This year we will not be holding a Synod Assembly.
Instead, all members of the synod are invited to attend one of two Synod Gatherings that will be held in May - allowing more participants from our synod to join in worship, fellowship, and forums to inspire, educate, and equip members of our Synod!
Cost is $40/person
While registration will not open until April 10, a promo pack has been emailed to all congregations and rostered ministers last week. Please share the info with your congregations and get ready to register a group from your church! (all information is also posted on our website HERE)
Saturday, May 13, 8:30am-3:30pm - Salem Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon
+ or +
Saturday, May 20, 8:30am-3:30pm - Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church in Bellevue
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April Edition of The Spirit
Read articles from our Synod VP, Kay Edgerton, and Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee in the latest monthly edition of The Spirit HERE:
Read previous issues here:
https://www.lutheransnw.org/news/the-spirit
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Free Changing Tables
University Lutheran Church has done some remodeling and has three (3) changing tables available for anyone who is interested. They measure (roughly) 35” Wide x 3 ½” Deep x 21 ½” High. (Plus a box of changing pads.)
If interested, contact Mari Mitchell at 206-525-7074 or adminmari@universitylutheranseattle.org.
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Grace Grants
We are excited to be able to offer one final year of Grace Grants!
The 2023 Focus Areas:
Ministry Innovation
Equity and Justice for Marginalized Communities
Community, Inclusion and Belonging
Youth and Young Adult
Our online application form will open February 1 and close May 31.
You will find information and the link for the online application form on the synod website HERE
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Our Camp needs your connections!
Here are some ways to connect with Camp Lutherwood:
- Is your college-aged child coming home for Easter? Invite a conversation about working at Lutherwood for the summer! We are just starting to hire an excellent group of young adults to lead the summer programs. We are especially in need of “cabin leaders” (formerly known as camp counselors) of all genders as well as lifeguards! Lifeguards could work the whole summer or just weekends.
- We would also LOVE someone to be a weekend host for the campground… Bring your RV and enjoy!
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We are also looking for weekly volunteers for the summer: camp nurse, grandparent of the week, crafts person of the week. If you are interested or know of someone who is, please contact Allison Ross, Program Director at program@camplutherwood.org or 360-820-7178
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Sign up for summer camp although some weeks are nearly full! Go to www.camplutherwood.org
- Save the date and sign up for the All-Lutheran Campout July 28-30! Call 360-734-7652 to save a camping spot!
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Armed Intruder Awareness:
Armed intruder attacks continue to occur in the United States with alarming frequency. These attacks can happen anywhere at any time, typically with little or no warning. Church Mutual has partnered with industry experts ALICE Training Institute and Secure Education Consultants (SEC) to help you develop plans and procedures to keep your people safe before, during and after a violent attack.
https://www.churchmutual.com/6421/Armed-Intruder
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Synod Events this Week:
Holy Week - May these holy days be a blessing
Tues, April 4 - Staff Meetings
Tues, April 4, 11am Chrism Mass for Rostered Ministers
Tues, April 4, 6:30pm - FREE Synod-wide Online Study of Acts (see below)
Monday, April 10 - Registration for Synod Gatherings Opens! (See above!)
Thursday, April 13 - NEXT LiVE Course Begins! (Get registered - See below!)
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No Violence, Know Peace Workshops
Thanks to a 2022 Grace Grant, Bethesda Lutheran Church is teaming up with Projects for a Civil Society to offer the Basic Alternatives to Violence (ATV) workshop twice in April - all are welcome to participate. Both Workshops will be held at Bethesda Lutheran Church (23406 – 56th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace)
Mon-Tues, April 3-4, 9am-6pm
OR
Wed-Thurs, April 12-13, 9am-6pm
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Chrism Mass
Tuesday, April 4, 11am
at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral (1245 10th Ave. East, Seattle)
Deacons and pastors are invited to reaffirm their ordination vows and receive blessed chrism oil of to use in their communities. This is a shared service with the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia and the Northwest Washington Synod of the ELCA. Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee will preach and Bishop Melissa Skelton will preside. Light lunch to follow.
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Synod-Wide Bible Study on the book of Acts
A FREE NW WA Synod LiVE Project Offering!
Tuesdays, 6:30pm - 7:30pm | on Zoom
Continues weekly - drop into any session!
The Synod's LiVE Project is offering this free, weekly online Bible Study Series! Various rostered ministers from around our synod will co-facilitate a study of Willie James Jennings' book, Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible. Purchase of the book is encouraged, although not necessary to fully participate.
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 leaders and rostered ministers 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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5-Week LiVE Course
The Kin-dom of God and Environmental Justice
April 13, 20, 27 (one week off) May 11 and 18
Thursday evenings 6:30-8pm on Zoom
This 5-week series will help you consider and embody how faith lives at the intersection of environmental justice. Together, we will explore our call to live as stewards of creation in a way that furthers God’s “kin-dom” on Earth as one rooted in justice, interdependence, and sustainability. Using the ELCA Social Statement on Caring for Creation as a guide, participants will build a faith-based foundation with a toolkit of resources for taking action as stewards of creation and advocates for environmental justice. Come and learn how you and your congregation can engage this essential vocation with grace, hope, and action.
About the Faculty Facilitator: Sister Jessica Zimmerle has served as a community organizer in the faith-based environmental justice movement for 10 years, most recently as the Advocacy Director of Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light. She centers stories and values in her work supporting congregations living out their call to care for creation and mobilizing individuals taking action as faithful advocates on issues of environmental justice. Sister Jessica lives out this vocation as a Minister of Word and Service and member of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA.
Learn how to participate here
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The PLU Department of Education invites you to
the 13th Annual Jolita Hylland Benson Education Lecture
SHELF LIFE: Finding Community (and Yourself) in the World of Books - given by author Minh Lê
Tuesday, April 18, 7pm-8pm at Pacific Lutheran University
in the AUC CK Hall Room 214
The lecture is free and open to the public, book signing to follow
www.plu.edu/education/jolita-hylland-benson-education-lecture/
In this lecture, author Minh Lê discusses the role of the imagination and stories in challenging times—and how books can create the opportunity for deep connections that transcend the page.
Minh Lê is the author of the picture books, Lift (a Washington Post Best Book of the Year), Drawn Together (winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature), and most recently The Blur. He also wrote Green Lantern: Legacy, a middle grade graphic novel for DC Comics and the recently released follow up, Green Lantern: Alliance. Minh also serves on the Board of We Need Diverse Books and is on the faculty of the Hamline MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.
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Farm Bill - ELCA Listening Sessions
Pacific Time Zone focus
Friday, April 21, 12noon Pacific Time
ELCA farm bill listening sessions are virtual gatherings where ministry leaders, members of congregations, and those with valuable lived experiences gather our opinions and experiences informed by faith values on stewardship, justice and serving our neighbor. Please join the conversation shaping our faithful action! Learn more here.
Register here for our regional session here – https://bit.ly/ELCAfarmbilllisteningPacific
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Ordination & Installation of Cassandra Nagle
Saturday, April 22, 4pm CDT
at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, TX and online at www.LOLonline.org
All are warmly invited to attend Cassandra Nagle's service of ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament and installation to the office of Associate Pastor at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, TX.
Cassandra previously served as the pastoral intern at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Renton from January 2021 to June 2022.
God bless Cassandra and this new ministry partnership!
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Bishop's Convocation
for Rostered Ministers, Mission Developers & Interns of our Synod
April 23-26
at Seabeck Conference Center
We look forward to sharing time and stories with you and our presenters. We will welcome Vance Blackfox, Director of ELCA Indigenous Ministries & Tribal Relations AND local Indigenous Elders and leaders, Jay "Jeremiah" Julius, Kay Knott, and Jay Bowen.
Did not get registered? We have a few more available spots!
Reach out to Susan@lutheransnw.org ASAP!
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Leading from the Margins
Effective leadership today must center those who have been marginalized in society. Doing so acknowledges the moral and practical harm of marginalization in the Commons and enables restitution through moral and institutional accountability.
The Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement at Seattle (CEIE ) University invites two conversations focused on lifting the voices of committed community leaders whose work reflects the needs of today:
Thursday, April 27 at 6pm - “The Narrative of the Lie: White Christian Nationalism” featuring Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse and Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr.
Thursday, May 25 at 6pm - “Trans-Formation: Trans Kids, Parents and the Communities They Call Home” featuring Dr. DeAnza Spaulding and Aries Dial.
For more information on the presentations and speakers using the following link:
https://www.seattleu.edu/thecenter/certificate-programs/webinars-and-more/workshops/leading-by-centering-the-margins/
Sponsored by The Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement at Seattle University the total cost for both webinars is $10. Attend one or both by registering using the following link. https://leading-by-centering-the-margins.eventbrite.com
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From our partners at ReconcilingWorks:
Dear Partners in Ministry at NW Washington Synod ELCA,
Happy Spring! As ReconcilingWorks continues to accompany Reconciling in Christ (RIC) partners in updating their Public Partner Commitments, we are looking forward to providing another opportunity of support. Join ReconcilingWorks staff, Aubrey Thonvold and Ashlei Buhrow, as they host regional RIC partner zoom calls to share information on the RIC program, walk through critical resources and where to find them on the website, and answer any additional questions you may have.
Region One is invited to participate on May 1, 1pm-3pm
Sign up TODAY so we can continue to partner and accompany you in your journey.
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Lutheran World Relief (LWR)
Seattle Spring Ingathering
Friday-Saturday, May 5 & 6
at Our Redeemers' Lutheran Church (2400 NW 85th St, Seattle)
Groups may deliver boxes:
Friday, May 5, 8am-2pm
Saturday, May 6, 8am-11:30am
We need a few more volunteers to help load the boxes; if you would be willing to help load boxes for one or two hours, please contact Rich at 206-384-1183 or lwrmathes@aol.com. Boxes are generally 30 pounds or less - we have jobs inside and outside the containers. THANK YOU!
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May Youth Weekend at Holden Village
Friday, May 26-Sunday, May 28
This amazing weekend is for High School Youth in Region One
Our theme this year is Rest Fest: Dwelling in Our Holy Enough
We will welcome guests Ellie Roscher and Lacey Brown
Cost is $265 per participant
Registration is at capacity - get on the waitlist HERE.
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12th Triennial of Women of the ELCA
September 21-24 in Phoenix, AZ
We invite you to experience a life-changing event with other bold women of faith in September 2023.
Quilt Challenge: Quilters of all abilities are invited to create a quilt responding to two things: one side interprets the Just Love theme of the 2023 Gathering and the reverse side interprets your response to the coronavirus pandemic. The challenge comes not only in interpreting these two things, but also in working within the following rules.
Find more info about the Triennial and the Quilt Challenger here: https://www.womenoftheelca.org/new-triennial-event-page. Questions? Reach Janice Stepp, our Synod Triennial Promoter, at 425-210-2733
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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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