LiVE Project Newsletter

Check out the latest news about our LiVE Project (Living into Vocational Engagement) - Learn more about LiVE, check out the 2023-2024 theme: Communities of Belonging, and see what will be happening at our upcoming one-day retreat on September 23 (mark your calendars!)

Read the September 2023 LiVE Newsletter here!

Truth and Healing Movement Events

Find opportunities to learn the true history and current realities of our Indigenous neighbors. It is these truths, truths that have been ignored by most for hundreds of years, that will bring healing for both Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people.

Find webinars, book lists, and more HERE!

NWWA Synod Trip to the Holy Land

January 14-25, 2024

You are invited to join with others in the NWWA Synod for a life-changing trip to the Holy Land. Not only will we visit holy sites, we will also meet with, talk with, and listen to those who live, work, laugh, worship, and struggle in this land. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) is one of our partners in the Lutheran World Federation. They are excited to share their stories with us. There is also an additional post-trip to Egypt that you are invited to sign up for, as well.

We want this to be a time for people to interact with and learn with the people of this land. Therefore, we are only taking twenty-four people. We hope that you will come and be a part of this important trip. Please click the link below to find out more information or reach out to me for any questions you might have.

https://www.eliastours.com/tours/northwest-washington-synod-holy-land-trip-with-bishop-shelley-bryan-wee-dr-rod-schofield

World Refugee Advocacy Day - June 20

In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20, the ELCA and LIRS advocacy networks invite their members to a national day of advocacy, intended to build urgency for robust support for refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers.

Participants will engage their elected representatives at the federal level, in person and over the phone. LIRS and ELCA remain committed to uplifting the voices and stories of people affected, many of whom will help lead our efforts on Capitol Hill. We urge all to learn more about refugee admissions in the United States, join LIRS’s 125 Watch campaign, accompany migrants through AMMPARO, and advocate through prayer and action for our neighbors in need.

Read the joint letter here commemorating World Refugee Day, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and LIRS President and CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah remind us to "live out the calling of our faith by seeking justice, peace and protection for our refugee and migrant siblings." 

ELCA Youth Gathering

NWWA Synod Information Sessions

Tuesday, June 20 | 11:45am – 12:45pm | Zoom Link

Wednesday, June 21 | 5:30-6:30pm | Zoom Link

Are you interested in finding out more about the ELCA Youth Gathering? Are you looking for information about what to expect at our 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans? Are you curious about our theme “Created to Be” or what MYLE and the tAble are?

Our Gathering Synod Champion, Becky Cole, has information to share and will answer your questions as part of this hour-long information session about the Youth Gathering in 2024. Although we are over a year away from this wonderful event, planning is essential, and registration begins in September! Please plan to join her on Tuesday, June 20 or Wednesday, June 21!

If you have questions, you can contact her directly at children@hslckirkland.org.

Candidacy Leadership Development Group - Invitation to join a hearing



In March 2022 a diverse group was appointed to examine and improve the ELCA candidacy process that equips rostered ministers for service in our church. This team is the Candidacy Leadership Development Working Group

In the last year we have spent much of our time hosting virtual and in-person listening sessions to learn the needs of our church. We also completed a survey for those excluded by the candidacy process. As we move forward, the working group is prioritizing feedback from our church.

All members of the ELCA are invited to hearings at which the working group will share its findings. There will also be an opportunity for response. More details will be shared at the hearings; you can find an executive summary of the team’s work here.

The hearings will be hosted via Zoom. Please mark your calendars for one of the following:

June 20, 4 pm

June 22, 10 am

June 26, 11 am

June 28, 7 pm

Thank you for your prayers for this group as we seek to increase proclamation of the gospel.

We are proud to be a Reconciling in Christ synod and there are many opportunities for you and your church to join in and celebrate PRIDE this month. There are many different PRIDE events happening throughout June (and even July) across our Synod.

... check out our synod website at https://www.lutheransnw.org/pages/pride

Events for Rostered Ministers & SALMS:

Retired Rostered Ministers Lunch

July 11, 11:30am-1:30pm at Advent Lutheran Church in Mill Creek.

All retired deacons and pastors...and spouses, widows, widowers...are invited to join the bishop and her staff as you connect with friends.

Please register by emailing Susan@lutheransnw.org by June 30.

Cluster Deans Dinner

Thursday, August 17, 4pm-8pm

Save the date - more info coming soon!

(Spouses/partners/families are invited, too)

New-to-the-Synod Dinner

October 5, 4pm-7:30pm

Rostered ministers and their spouses/partners who are new to the synod since Summer 2022, are invited to attend this dinner - look for more information mid summer!

Summer Family Camp

at Camp Casey Campground

July 14-16

Registration is OPEN!

We will be doing a multi-congregational family summer camp with our local Lutheran congregations! Come join the fun. Everyone is welcome! We are all FAMILY - So Family Camp means YOU!

We'll have music, camp games, crafts, free family time, evening vespers, closing worship, and much more! All nestled by the Fort Casey Campground beachfront. 

Registration is now - space is limited. RV's & tents sites available. Come for the day or come for the whole event. You do not reserve with Fort Casey individually. You must register using the QR link on the flyer. Spaces will fill fast, so register NOW!

Community Sing:

Songs in Your Body, on this Land.

7400 Woodlawn (Greenlake/Seattle) welcomes you to join us for song in Greenlake Park! Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson, leaders/musicians from Music That Makes Community, will lead us!

Thursday, July 27 – 5pm Bring-Your-Own-Picnic

6pm-7:30pm Singing

Registration fee is $5-20, but no one will be turned away... Register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/112937045155351?ref=newsfeed, and use the COMMUNITY SING REGISTRATION in the drop down menu. In case of inclement weather, check back at our website www.7400woodlawn.org/events for location update. If you have questions, contact Harriet Platts at info@7400Woodlawn.org.

Holden Village Retreat

September 10-15

A partnership with Music That Makes a Difference!

Learn more HERE.



The planning team will be posting regularly on this substack

It is a collaboration gathering for all people who are working toward wholeness, justice, and all those good things.

RECLAIM

September 14-17 in Minneapolis

RECLAIM is a gathering for people of African descent, brought to you by African Descent Ministries. Participants will build a tool kit for ministry as we move through a pandemic, climate change and an era of preserving healers' spiritual and emotional wellness.

The church needs healthy and whole preachers, teachers, professionals and young adults, all well-equipped with culturally relevant approaches to the word. Grounded in Scripture, RECLAIM will help participants feel embodied, emboldened and liberated in their identities.

Learn more HERE!