Moments for Mission. Newsletter of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. June/July 2011

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1 Moments for Mission Newsletter of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The mission of the Southwestern Washington Synod is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by empowering congregations and church leaders to grow in worship, education, outreach, stewardship and other ministries. June/July 2011 Synod assembly report Submissions can be sent to the synod office and to Editor Rachel Pritchett Staff Bishop Robert D. Hofstad Rev. Ronald Hoyum, assistant to the bishop Rev. Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop Rev. Melanie Wallschlaeger, director for evangelical mission Rev. Donald Fossum, assembly planner Allison Ramsey, office manager Phone (253) Address st St. S Tacoma, WA swwsynod@plu.edu Blogs Synod updates Namibia companion relationship Websites In a workshop at the May 13 and 14 assembly in Grand Mound, Wash., featured presenter the Rev. Dr. Craig Satterlee and others laid hands on persons needing prayer for loss and depression. Working toward wellness, on every front From a 6:30 a.m. yoga class to hikes to a workshop where participants laid hands on those needing prayer, the 24th annual assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod last month in Grand Mound, Wash., was all about wellness. Assembly coverage continues next page Welcome Rick Nelson Rick Nelson, a member of the synod s Hunger Committee and publisher of the Wahkiakum County Eagle in Cathlamet, begins a series of monthly articles on what readers can do to help solve hunger. Go to Page 12.

2 2 Synod assembly report Working toward wellness: Continued Some 270 persons were encouraged when special guest the Rev. Dr. Craig Satterlee of the Lutheran School of Theology told them Jesus yearns to heal our brokenness and make us whole. They were delighted when Dr. Alan Shelton, medical director at the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, showed them how to let go of stress and stay positive. They rejoiced as Bishop Robert D. Hofstad told them about new congregations and worshipping communities joining the synod and adding to the overall health of Lutheran worship in Washington state. They enjoyed video presentations highlighting three new mission starts Living Stones Lutheran Worshipping Community at Shelton, Messiah Lutheran Church of Vancouver s second site, and Peace Lutheran Fellowship of Port Ludlow. All films were produced by synod s contracted film team, Spiritborne Productions Inc. of Olympia. Participants joyfully took part in the ordination of the Rev. Hang Mo Son of Light of Grace Lutheran Fellowship of Federal Way. And they celebrated when the Rev. Mary Davison, his pastoral-education mentor, received the Bishop s Award. The Rev. Rowena Wang of Federal Way Chinese Fellowship takes daughter Keren for a walk at the assembly. Wang s congregation is a new synod worshipping community. Read on for all that happened, and mark your calendar to attend next year's silver-anniversary assembly, May 18 and 19 in Vancouver, Wash. Bishop s challenge: Make mission starts part of our DNA Bishop Hofstad said he mourned the departure of five congregations from the synod, due to the 2009 churchwide decision on sexuality. Now he and his staff have turned attention on a tremendous leap in our new mission starts. Mission starts are beginnings of churches. In the past year or two, these congregations have been grown and welcomed into the synod fold: Living Stones Lutheran Worshipping Community at the Washington Corrections Center at Shelton; Light of Grace Lutheran Fellowship of Federal Way; Messiah Lutheran Church of Vancouver s second site in a northern suburb; Peace Lutheran Fellowship of Port Ludlow; Federal Way Chinese Fellowship; and St. Christopher s Community Church in the Olympia area. The new critical mass of worshipping groups has brought excitement and commitment to the synod, Bishop Hofstad said. Continues

3 3 Synod assembly report Bishop s challenge: Continued But he added that new worshipping communities are only part of the challenge. Strengthening existing congregations goes hand in hand, he said. Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla and St. John s Lutheran Church of Tacoma are undergoing transformation. Bishop Hofstad challenged listeners to make creating new congregation second nature. Either we are in mission, or we are not the church, he said. Bishop Hofstad delivers his annual report at the Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly. Keynoter: Jesus yearns to make us whole Special speaker the Rev. Dr. Craig Satterlee said prayer can result in healing from sickness, but that Jesus wants something even bigger for us, which is wholeness. I m convinced that physical healing may be a manifestation of the wholeness, but the wholeness is more important, Satterlee said. Reaching wholeness, beyond getting physically well, means coming to grips with the brokenness of our relationship with God, he said. Satterlee teaches sermon-writing and preaching at Lutheran School of Theology of Chicago, and is a prolific author. He served congregations in New York and Chicago. Legally blind, he has a passion for ministry with persons with disabilities. Later during the assembly, Satterlee led a workshop on how congregations themselves can conduct liturgical-healing ministries. To demonstrate, he gathered about 25 people around an empty chair, then invited anyone who believed they needed prayer to take turns sitting. How can we pray for you today? he asked. Some asked for prayer for the death of a spouse, separation and divorce, festering resentments, sick grandchildren and the departure of a pastor. Satterrlee prayed out loud for each person while the others laid hands on the person or each other. Pictured: Satterlee, right, signs books during a break.

4 Synod assembly report Rev. Hang Mo Son ordained In a moving worship service at a church not far from the Great Wolf Lodge, Bishop Hofstad ordained the Rev. Hang Mo Son as a Lutheran pastor. Hang Mo Son already was a Christian Missionary Alliance pastor, leading services in Korean at Light of Grace Lutheran Fellowship of Federal Way. But he yearned to become a Lutheran pastor and after seven years, completed a course of study through Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary to become one. Light of Grace becomes one of the synod s newest worshipping communities. Hang Mo Son said he looks forward to growing his congregation by inviting members of other ethnic groups to come and join in worship. 4 Rev. Davison receives Bishop s Award Retired Rev. Mary Davison received the Bishop s Award at the assembly for mentoring the Rev. Hang Mo Son of Light of Grace Lutheran Fellowship of Federal Way as he studied to become a Lutheran pastor. See above. Davison tirelessly worked with Hang Mo Son through his seven years of study. His first language is Korean. Davison, a pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Tacoma until she retired in 2006, today practices her own interpretation of wellness by hiking long distances. She has traversed the Pacific Crest and Appalachian trails, usually alone. Davison said of Hang Mo Son, This man has dedication and personal piety and faith that I am absolutely blown away with. When asked what Davison meant to him, Hang Mo Son said simply, Everything. Four resolutions get assembly approval Four resolutions were discussed and all passed easily. They pressed for support of anti-hunger initiatives, AIDS/HIV reduction initiatives, and support of the Lutheran Counseling Network and 1,000 Mission Friends, the synod s initiative to support emerging and continuing worshipping groups. To read the resolutions, visit the synod s blog at

5 5 Synod assembly report Assembly OK s 2012 budget On one vote, assembly participants approved a synod budget for 2012 of $963,000, down about 25 percent from three years ago. Synod Treasurer Andreas Udbye called the budget a carbon copy of the 2011 spending plan. Priorities include giving to churchwide, which will rise from 39 percent to 39.5 percent; giving to synod and Region 1 administration; serving the synod s boards; and giving to agencies and missions. It s tougher than it s been, but we ll get through it, Udbye said. Synod budgets have gotten smaller recently due to what Udbye called a perfect storm of events that included the recession, the 2009 churchwide sexuality vote, and a growing disintermediation among givers. Givers, Udbye said, are more likely now than before to bypass the middleman to support various ministries. The top five recipients for gifts from the synod s congregations include ELCA World Hunger, Haiti earthquake relief, Lutheran World Relief; the Living Stones Lutheran Worshipping Community; and Lutheran Community Services Northwest. The synod retains nearly $1 million in endowment funds. Pictured: Synod Treasurer Andreas Udbye, right, talks with the Rev. Ron Hoyum, assistant to the bishop. Stress-buster can help your group, too His message on transforming burnout felt like salve on a wound to listeners who heard Dr. Alan Shelton's presentations at the assembly. The author of Transforming Burnout: A Simple Guide to Self-Renewal challenged them to let go of the branch of stress and negativity, and fall unafraid and confidently into the grace of God. Resentment is like drinking poison every day and hoping the other person dies, he said. Shelton, longtime medical director at the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, should know. At one point, he realized he was caught on the hamster wheel of cynicism, bitterness and burnout, and no longer loved his job. I lost touch with my center, he said. But after learning how to step off the wheel using gifts of the Christian faith, he found new life not only in his profession, but in his very being. Shelton, member of Peace Lutheran Church of Tacoma for 27 years, was a tremendous hit at the assembly. He speaks nationally, and is available to speak to your congregation or group. He can be reached at alan@eptha.com or (253) More about Dr. Shelton is at

6 Synod assembly report 6 Nutrition doesn t get short shrift at assembly Motivational speakers honed in on physical wellness at the assembly, and presenters said eating healthy doesn't mean three big meals a day, but rather small meals every two to three hours a day. Those meals should include whole foods, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds and meats. Speakers also said 45 minutes of exercise each day is good, but it should be something you like. That can include gardening or walking the dog, but not necessarily the gym. Find what you like to do and do it, said the Rev. Mary Frances, ELCA associate director for New Evangelizing Congregations who has started a yoga class at the churchwide office in Chicago and who held early-morning session at the assembly. More is at Assembly notes The following people were elected to various synod positions; Consultation Committee Rev. Robert Hoem Marilouise Petersen Discipline Committee Rev. Christopher Nolte Beverly Knutzen Rev. Steven Ray Nominating Committee Claudia Wagner Diane Hanson Rev. Jon Petersen James Morell Vic Boyer Rev. Mark Woldseth Rev. Nina Body PLU Corporation Delegates Elaine Lokken Rev. Tom Tweed Joy Lingerfelt Lisbeth Lusk Rev. Gregory Kaurin To see those videos again... Spiritborne Productions of Olympia was behind the videos about Living Stones Lutheran Worshipping Community at Shelton, Peace Lutheran Fellowship of Port Ludlow and the second site of Messiah Lutheran Church of Vancouver, Wash. If you d like to order one for a nominal cost, contact Spiritborne at (360) or mailto:spiritborne@earthlink.net.

7 Synod assembly notes 7 Ordination anniversaries marked Pastors and associates in ministries received recognition for ordination anniversaries. They included the Revs. Kristi Kreamer, Lori Bonkoski, Lori Hoyum, Norma Borgford, Pamela Hunter, Ralf Kalms, Sheryl Biegert, Stephen Olson and Steven Ray, along with Ronald Coen, all celebrating 25 years of ordination. Celebrating 30 years was the Rev. Dr. Richard Bliese. Celebrating 35 years were the Rev. Albert Harness, Randy Faro and Richard Sipe. 40 years: the Rev. Dean Wigstrom 45 years: The Revs. Alan Marshall, Donald Moore, Orv Jacobson, Barney Rinkel and Ronald Gadde. 50 years: The Revs. David Steen, Donald Little, Edgar Larson, Kenneth Robinson, Lyman Lundeen and Vernon Flesner. 55 years: The Rev. Paul Baughman and Paul Clement. Assembly offering boosts up 1,000 Mission Friends Half of the $2,000 in offering that was received at the assembly will go toward the synod s 1,000 Mission Friends initiative, which supports new and existing congregations. The other half will go toward disaster relief. Thank you. Congregations in transition Mobility Call process Position Status Pastoral care All Saints, Auburn P TR Janis Otto Christ, Belfair P TR Robin Pizanti Emmanuel, Tacoma AP TR Dan Shaw Family of Christ, Vancouver P TR Janell Bethke Gloria Dei, Olympia AP TR Doug Knutson-Keller Messiah, Auburn AP I Greg Kaurin Naselle P TR Pulpit supply Our Saviour s, Cathlamet P TR Les Foss Peninsula, Gig Harbor P TR Lyle Miller St. Mark, Lacey P TR Linda Nou St. Paul, Winlock P TR/I Al Berg Trinity, Enumclaw P I Dennis Hartsook Trinity, Parkland P TR/I Howard Fosser Mobility position key: P Pastor; AP Associate Pastor; AIM Associate in Ministry; DM Diaconal Minister Mobility status key: NV New Vacancy; TR Transition; I Interviewing; C Calling Calls: The Rev. Albin Fogelquist has accepted a call as part-time chaplain at Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community.

8 News 8 Our Saviour s finds new ministry at Mission Creek prison BREMERTON Our Saviour s Lutheran Church of Bremerton gave up serving weekly dinners to the homeless in 2009, when the local transit company cut service and those in need couldn t get to the downtown church. Since then, members had been searching for a ministry to replace it. Until now. The congregation has begun ministering to incarcerated women at Mission Creek Corrections Center in Belfair. Members made the connection through Empowering Life, which Sharon Peterson and Joan Nelson lead, and took it from there. The goal is to mentor imprisoned women who are within two years of release. Today, about five members of Our Saviour s visit Mission Creek once a month and spend time in conversation with the incarcerated women. And we are enjoying them so much, said one of the Our Saviour s participants, Lis Lusk. Some of the imprisoned women worry about re-entering the outside. There s one whose faith is so strong, but she worries about her addiction, Lusk said. Lusk said she knows her congregation can make a different. Once the women get out, the more people they know that care about their success, the more likely they are to be successful. Pictured: Lis Lusk $35,000 raised to boost network of advocating congregations SEATTLE Some $35,000 to increase Washington state s network of advocating congregations was raised May 22 at the eighth annual fundraising dinner and auction of the Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington. Two-hundred people enjoyed an evening of fun at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in North Seattle, including Bishop Robert D. Hofstad, wife Linda and Bishop Chris Boerger and Assistant to the Bishop Jan Nesse from the Northwest Washington Synod. Talks continue to merge the Lutheran Public Policy Office with the Washington Association of Churches, and an announcement is expected this summer. Pictured: The Rev. Paul Benz works the crowd.

9 News Ten congregations participate in 2010 Gifts of Hope By Kris Anderson of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Parkland s Missions Committee The 2010 Gifts of Hope program was again an overwhelming success in Every agency in the catalog received gifts. Ten churches participated this year. They included Trinity Lutheran Church of Parkland; St. Mark s by The Narrows Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church of Tacoma; Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia; St. Mark Lutheran Church of Lacey; Spanaway Lutheran Church; Creator Lutheran Church of Bonny Lake; Peninsula Lutheran Church of Gig Harbor; Trinity Lutheran Church of Vancouver; and St. John s Lutheran Church of Chehalis. The total sent over six years is $76, Thank you to all. Receives hunger grant above and beyond Beth Ann Johnson of the synod s Hunger Committee has received word that her group has received a $1,500 ELCA grant to fight hunger. That amount was $500 more than the top level of the grant, and the ELCA made the exception because it believed this particular group was very effective. In the past year, members of the Hunger Committee worked with pastors to address hunger in their own congregations and communities in addition to addressing the greater need, Johnson explained. The grant will be used to recruit new workers in the struggle against hunger, and to help with education. Working hard to eradicate hunger, homelessness LAKEBAY Key Peninsula Lutheran Church, led by the Rev. Heinz Malon, is putting a $20,000 ELCA grant to fight hunger and homelessness to work. With help from The Gates Foundation and Rotary, the church continues in its efforts to help area residents on the edge by providing food, and assistance for rent and utilities. The church also provides a community meal, and now provides backpacks of food for youngsters to take home to their families over weekends. The congregation s goal is to serve students from all schools in the area. In addition, the congregation runs a food bank that serves about 200 individuals a year. Malon said, There are a lot of hungry folks out there. There are at least 60 homeless people on the Key Peninsula, he said. Resources Worship-formation resources available A fresh collection of worship-formation modules now is available by sending a request to worship@elca.org. Each is three hours long, and comes in a PDF format. There is no cost. The modules that are based on Evangelical Lutheran Worship and are designed to support ongoing worship education include: Evangelical Lutheran Worship: A Deeper Look; Scripture Shapes Worship; Evangelical Lutheran Worship: More Freedom and Flexibility; Worship and Mission; The Place Where We Worship: Exploring Musical Riches in Evangelical Lutheran Worship; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Leading the Assembly s Song. Shari Shull, minister of music at Agnus Dei Lutheran Church of Gig Harbor and a Partners in Evangelical Worship representative, is available to share more information about the modules. She can be reached at mailto:sbshull@comcast.net. 9

10 Upcoming Don t miss out on Barbara Robertson s visit ELCA Tanzania missionary Barbara Robertson will make a rare visit home to the Southwestern Washington Synod from mid-august through late October and will share her experiences with congregations and groups by preaching and teaching. Because of the demand to see Robertson, her availability is greater for Sunday-evening gatherings, circles, mid-week Bible studies and vacation Bible schools. She has prepared presentations. Robertson serves in Morogoro Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania as part of a team establishing a primary health-care program. She has served in Tanzania for a decade, making her one of the longest serving missionaries from the Southwestern Washington Synod. Her work was lifted up in the recent synod assembly when voting members passed a resolution fighting AIDS/HIV and encouraging congregations to help sponsor her and pray for her work, among other initiatives. The resolution was supported by the synod s Church in Society, Hunger and Global Mission groups The resolution passed overwhelmingly and can be read at Robertson s work is supported by her congregation, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia, and other congregations in and outside of the synod. Groups interested in hosting Robertson can contact her at bubia2@hotmail.com or Diane Armbrust, chair of the Global Mission Committee, at dparmbrust@hotmail.com. Pictured: Robertson is with the garage boys, who maintain cars for the Morogoro Diocese. Robertson teaches them. 10

11 Upcoming U Dub s Lutheran Campus Ministry to be celebrated Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Washington invites all throughout the Southwestern Washington Synod to a celebration of its ministry from 2 to 3:30 p.m. June 5 at Covenant House on the University of Washington Campus in Seattle. A welcome will be offered by former Northwest Washington Synod Bishop Donald Maier, and participants will hear from students and the Rev. Scott Postlewait, who is the campus pastor about how the ministry is empowering the lives of young people. Covenant House is at th Ave NE. The number is (206) Special choral concert coming in Tacoma Bridges of Song: A Concert of Peace and Justice featuring the Tacoma Symphony Chorus takes place at 7:30 p.m. June 11 at Urban Grace Church, 902 Market St., Tacoma. The concert featuring music by James Taylor, U2 and others will be lead by Geoffrey Boers, director of the Tacoma Symphony Chorus and member of Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood. Other participants from congregations of the Southwestern Washington Synod include Boers wife, Amy; Kerstin Shaffer, music minister at St. Mark Lutheran Church of Lacey; Jill Westwood of Celebration Lutheran Church of Puyallup; and Karen Irwin of St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows of Tacoma. The concert is being presented in conjunction with Peace Community Center of Tacoma. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $5 for students. They are available online at or by calling (800) Tickets also are at the community center at 2106 S. Cushman Ave. Conference looks at congregations spiritual formation The 2011 Pacific Lutheran University Summer Conference on Pastoral Theology focuses on The Spiritual Formation of the Congregation and takes place June 20 through 22. To sign up, contact the Rev. G. Lee Kluth, PLU director of congregational relations, at (253) or him at crel@plu.edu. St. Mark s offers summer-arts day camp for youth Imagine God is the focus of a summer-arts day camp for youth entering sixth through 12th grades at St. Mark s Lutheran Church by The Narrows. Everyone is invited. Pre-teens and teens will explore their spirituality through their creative and artistic selves. Arts mediums will include music, drama, visual arts and dance. The camp takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. Aug. 8 through 12, with the final day and program going a little longer. The cost is $75. For more information, contact Danielle Lemieux, St. Mark s director of music ministries for children and youth, at (253) Ext. 105, or by at danielle@smlutheran.org. The church is at 6730 N. 17th St., Tacoma. To register, call (253) and leave your name and mailing address. Send completed registrations to the church. The registration deadline is July

12 Voices Congregations asked to support hunger, HIV/AIDS initiatives By Rick Nelson, member, Synod Hunger Committee Voting members of just-completed assembly passed two resolutions that were calls to action for congregations in the synod. One from the Synod Hunger Committee calls on congregations to renew and revitalize attention to hunger issues, including appointing a member to serve as a liaison with the hunger committee and also to initiate and support programs in the congregation. A second, also from the hunger committee, challenges congregations to familiarize themselves with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Strategy on HIV and AIDS, including setting a three-year goal for raising funds for that strategy. The hunger committee will provide information about both hunger and HIV/AIDS issues. The committee has secured a volunteer-support grant from the ELCA to provide training and materials for Hunger Committee members to develop teams to visit congregations and present programs on hunger issues. The project will focus on developing congregational hunger contacts, training youth contacts, and working with synod pastors to strengthen hunger work in their congregations. The committee plans to have those teams ready for action by this fall. For the 2010 ELCA Hunger Appeal, contributions from the synod totaled $158,931, with $108,452 coming from congregations. This amounts to 29 cents per baptized member. Altogether, the ELCA brought in $16,201,210. The total is down about $2 million from 2009 and $4 million from 2007 and Fifty-one of the 93 congregations in the synod contributed. The ELCA Church Council has adopted a strategy on HIV and AIDS that seeks to respond faithfully and effectively to this pandemic by educating and empowering congregations and raising $10 million to address strategy goals. Through the resolution, the assembly challenged each congregation to familiarize themselves with the HIV and AIDS strategy and to join in the three-year fund raising campaign. The Hunger Committee will assist congregations by providing ELCA speakers and materials for worship, devotion and education. The resolutions can be read at the synod blog at Even this legislative session had victories By the Rev. Paul Benz, director, Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington The just-adjourned Legislature passed and balanced all three state budgets transportation, capital and operating. The biggest disappointment is that the operating budget was balanced by about 90 percent cuts; the rest (about $460 million) was in fund transfers. There were no revenue solutions or repeal of tax exemptions that made the light of day. The house did vote on one tax exemption bill (an out of state bank exemption for interest they earn on first mortgages.) That bill would have directed the money recovered from repealing this exemption to help preserve funding for K-3 class size reduction. The vote received a majority vote, however, Initiative 1053 requires two-thirds for any tax or fee increase - therefore the bill died - because repealing a tax exemption is being interpreted by legislative leadership as a tax increase. In this bleak picture we did never the less have some major policy victories. Continues 12

13 13 Legislative session: Continued Victories HB Preventing home foreclosures via non-judicial mediation: This office is a part of the Alliance for the Prevention of Predatory Lending, which was the force behind getting this bill passed and signed by the governor. SB Transition of the Lewis County coal plant: This is a part of the Environmental Priorities Coalition and this was its main victory of the session. SB Reform to stop the interest rate clock during incarceration: This reform will lighten the financial burden of people coming out of prison in our state and help reduce recidivism. HB Adult family home reform and reducing elder abuse: This bill will now help provide better oversight of inspecting for abuse and greater penalties and fees for adult family owners. HB 1874 and SB Human trafficking: This bill gives local law enforcement greater ability to apprehend the actual perpetrators and the senate bill strengthens the definition of the current statute regarding human trafficking. Bulletin board Interested in hosting a visitor from Namibia? The synod s enlarged Namibian Task Force will convene toward the end of the summer to discuss the possibility of bringing a representative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) to visit synod congregations this fall. There would be a modest cost. If your congregation is interested in possibly hosting this still-unidentified person to preach and teach one Sunday, send a note to Rachel Pritchett, who is compiling a list, at mailto:rachelpritchett@msn.com. Pictured left to right are Bishop Hofstad, wife Linda, the Rev. D. Randall Faro of St. John s Lutheran Church of Chehalis and Bishop Zephania Kameeta, right, an influential religious and political leader in Namibia. Bishop Hofstad led a delegation to Namibia last spring. The synod has a companion relationship with ELCIN. Calendar June 11: Synod Council conference call, starts at 9:30 a.m. June 18: Southwestern Washington Synodical Women s Org. triennial gathering of attendees, St. John s of Chehalis. June 18: Women's Bible Study Event, Calvary Lutheran, Hillsboro, Ore. June 20 to 22: PLU Summer Conference on Pastoral Theology July 12 to 17: Churchwide women s eighth triennial convention and gathering, Spokane July 20 to 24: Lutheran Men in Mission gathering and assembly, Denver, Colo. July 27: Women's Organization's Mount Rainier Cluster ice-cream social, Bethany of Spanaway Aug. 15 to 19: ELCA churchwide assembly, Orlando, Fla. Aug. 27: Women's Org. s Bible Study Event, Messiah of Auburn A complete calendar of upcoming events is at

14 Our congregations From newsletters across the synod, for keeping up 14 $4,000 raised: A Jammin for Justice fundraiser put on by the Advocacy in Action team at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Port Angeles on May 21 raised more than $4,000 for state and local advocacy efforts. The Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington will receive $2,350. Pictured: Community volunteers Bob Dunlap and Barbara Stevenson accept a $1,900 check from the Rev. Dick Grinstad and Jammin for Justice Chair Merry Van Deusen. Habitat site blessed in Tumwater: The Rev. John Rosenberg of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia this spring delivered blessing during a groundbreaking of an emerging, five-home Habitat for Humanity site in Tumwater. Several church members walked a mile from the church to the site. Tumwater Mayor Pete Kmet spoke. The site, known as Shepherd s Grove, has been cleared and fenced. Little Lambs get new play gear: Little Lambs preschoolers at Agnus Dei of Gig Harbor got their first tryout of some new playground equipment on May 16. A play structure was donated by Big Toys of Olympia and church members oversaw installation. Covering all corners: The women of Port Madison Lutheran Church of Bainbridge Island have finished quilting for the year, with 100 now done. The quilts went to The Compass Center in Seattle, to One Church One Family providing housing for homeless families, to the Salvation Army, and congregation members graduating from high school. Women at Agnus Dei of Gig Harbor prepared 17 quilts and 78 health kits for Lutheran World Relief, and was one of many throughout the synod to make contributions. Awards PLU honors Peninsula Lutheran Church for support GIG HARBOR Peninsula Lutheran Church has received the Lifetime Giving Society award from Pacific Lutheran University for its history of generous giving to the university. The honor was given in a celebration May 7 at the church. Teacher from Peace Fellowship honored Lois Sherwood, member of Peace Lutheran Fellowship of Port Ludlow and a science teacher at Port Townsend High School, has received the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence, a national honor. She received the award and $10,000 May 11. Writer wins award for nursing-home examination Rachel Pritchett, reporter for the Kitsap Sun and synod communicator, has won the first-place prize in the investigative-reporting category for mid-sized daily newspapers in the 2010 Society of Professional Journalist s Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism Competition. The Sun stories examined poor conditions at local nursing homes. Awards were announced May 21 in Seattle.