Moments for Mission Southwestern Washington Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ by empowering congregations and church leaders to grow in worship, education, outreach, stewardship and other ministries. May 2012 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 Rachel Pritchett editor, rachelpritchett @msn.com, 206-498- 0920 Phone 253-535-8300 Address 420 121 st St. S Tacoma, WA 98444 Email swwsynod@plu.edu Websites Lutheranssw.org Elca.org Blog swwsynodelca. blogspot.com Facebook Facebook.com/pages/ southwesternwashingtonsynod/129047787133 25th Annual Assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod May 18 and 19, Vancouver, Wash. Sunday Worship Meets Monday Work Featuring Gov. Christine Gregiore David Swartling, ELCA secretary Learning, fellowship, banquet, raffle Contact the synod office for details News Hats for Namibia blessed OLYMPIA Some 320 hats soon on their way to Namibia got blessed at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd on April 22. The Rev. Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop, will take them to the African country in May, where the synod has a longstanding companion relationship with one there. The hats will be given to AID orphans. Morse will take part in a consultation, where church representatives from here meet in discussion with their Namibian counterparts. Pictured: The Rev. John Rosenberg and the Good Shepherd children talk about the hats as pianist Bev Masini watches.
2 Congregations in transition Call process Position Status Pastoral care Bethany, Longview P I Jim Flachsbart Chinook P NV Pulpit supply Christ, Belfair P TR Robin Pizanti Faith, Elma P TR Dennis Hartsook Family of Christ, Vancouver P I Janell Bethke First, Port Orchard P NV Pulpit supply Immanuel, Vancouver P NV Pulpit supply Mountain View, Edgewood AP I John Vaswig Naselle P TR Pulpit supply Our Saviour s, Cathlamet P TR Les Foss Peninsula, Gig Harbor P TR Art Sortland Key: AP Associate Pastor; C- Calling; I Interviewing; P Pastor; NV New Vacancy; TR Transition Calls accepted Janet Grant, associate in ministry, accepted the call to serve as chaplain at Providence St. Peter Hospital Olympia. The Rev. Dennis Hartsook accepted the call as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church of Elma. He will be installed in May. The Revs. Eric and Beth Utto-Galarneau accepted calls as co-pastors of St. Mark Lutheran Church of Lacey. Her last day at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church of Aberdeen will be June 10. News Church community celebrates chinaconnect TACOMA A celebration of the ministry of chinaconnect drew 100 well-wishers to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma on April 21, where they donated hundreds of dollars to help support the group that works in and around Nanchang, China. Accompanying Executive Director the Rev. Steve Ray was longtime associate David Du, China director of the organization. Du helps with arrangements for chinaconnect visits. Chinaconnect nurtures one-to-one relationship with English-language teaching opportunities, service projects, health assistance and youth exchanges to share Christ s love. A dream is to establish a coffee shop and English-language club in Nanchang. Two opportunities have been announced for 2013. Persons interested in teaching English can take part in a trip to Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, from July 30 to July 29 with excursions afterward to Xian and Lhasa, Tibet. Trips for youth that includes culture and service projects in Nanchang will be from July 10 to July 25 and from July 24 to Aug. 8. To learn more, contact Ray at 253-225-5989 or sray@chinaconnectonline.org.
3 Women lay hands on Carol Fossum of Puyallup, turned, in green, who d just received word during a group retreat on April 21 in Federal Way that her mother, Dorothy Presteng of Grafton, N.D., had died following a long illness. Photos by Rachel Pritchett News Discussion at spring retreat turns to helping young women FEDERAL WAY Some 60 women attending the spring retreat of the Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA in April examined how the story of Eve plays out today. Conversation led by the Rev. Jan Otto of All Saints' Lutheran Church of Auburn moved toward ways to help young women stay engaged in the church at a time they need support the most. Many in the audience suggested involving them in more intergenerational opportunities, instead of confining them to youth groups. Most agreed that mixing the ages is lots of fun and builds meaningful relationships, especially between grandmothers and young women, whose own mothers may not be there right at the moment because they're working. "We need to be speakers of the message," Otto said to the group of women meeting at Dumas Bay Centre. Pictured: Sally Russom of Mt. Cross Lutheran Church of Tacoma provided music.
4 News Stortz: Path of pilgrimage more meaningful than destination TACOMA Pilgrimage was the topic April 21 at St. Mark s by The Narrows Lutheran Church, where special guest the Rev. Dr. Marty Stortz said it s not the destination that's as important as the journey itself. Stortz, longtime professor at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in California and now chair of religion and vocation at Augsburg College in Minnesota, said those who feel pulled to go somewhere else in life other than where they are must prepare for the trip. Whatever the pilgrimage is, there always is a wistfulness or sorrow at what's left behind. The Rev. Dr. Marty Stortz talks to Doug Dahlgren at St. Mark s by The Narrows. To do something, you have to break away from something else, she said. Along the way comes newfound community, shared stories and shared experiences, not planned but meant to be. Also on the journey there is a breaking down of the old and a rebuilding of the new, resulting in a transformation of the soul, she said. That is how it is with the life pilgrimage of a Christian seeking Christ, she said to about 50 attendees. She quoted Hugh of St. Victor, who lived from 1096 to 1141: He who loves his own country best is yet a beginner. He for whom all countries are as if they were his own, has advanced far. But he is perfect for whom the whole world is a foreign country. Cross Walk in Port Orchard Worshipers from First Lutheran Community Church and Elim Lutheran Church of Port Orchard and Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla were among many who took part in Kitsap County's largest cross walk on Good Friday in Port Orchard. Pictured are Louis Boe and son Trevor, 13, who attend Spirit of Life. Photo by Meegan Reid, Kitsap Sun, reproduced with permission
5 Reports Living Stones Prison Congregation belongs to you By the Rev. Kent Shane, chairman, Southwestern Washington Synod Outreach Board There is a congregation in our synod that has standing room only every week at worship. Has almost a dozen visitors every week, guaranteed. Is as racially diverse as any congregation in the Southwestern Washington Synod. Has worship that is almost entirely lay planned and led. Has communion at every worship time. Has a mix of believers, new converts, the inquisitive, and those with no knowledge of or experience in the faith. Has a full-time pastor who spends about half his time with the congregation and half his time in the community. And, does not collect an offering. This is YOUR congregation! Living Stones Prison Congregation at the Washington Corrections Center at Shelton is a mission congregation of the Southwestern Washington Synod which makes it a part of your congregation and your congregation a part of Living Stones. I was recently doing a study of Matthew 25 the sheep and goats part that has Jesus telling us about service in the world. I have so often concentrated on what defines a sheep and likewise a goat,, that I commit the usual sin of objectifying and overlooking the ones who were served. It s an impressive litany: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. progression here in how peoples basic needs, when left unmet, escalate into greater and greater need and danger. The hungry and thirsty are facing the absence of basic needs and when you are there, that s all you can think about. So you venture out into strange places to try to get fed, leaving your comfort zone be the mercy of those to whom you tell your story. You show up with nothing, naked before your hosts, willing to eat bland manna and drink water from a rock what choice do you have? And when basic needs aren t even met, there certainly isn t anything left for extras no clothes, no health care, so sickness is a serious matter. And when all is gone, hunger, thirst, community, naked, sick... desperation can set in and choices can get made that lead to prison. Yet every step along the way is a potential point of ministry where the line between those serving and those being served is blurred in the gift of community. Living Stones is such a community. A community gathered by God to serve and be served. As chair of the Outreach Board of the synod, I want to thank you all for your service with, for, and to Living Stones. This ministry exists because of gifts provided by people who will hopefully never be onsite members. However, in the spirit of that thank you I also want to let you know that because of financial constraints, Pastor Eric of Living Stones Prison congregation is looking at having to reduce to half-time. But there are ways that we can help to ensure that this important ministry continues to be as strong as possible. First, please keep Pastor Eric and Living Stones in your prayers for strength in its ongoing ministry; second, prayerfully consider giving a financial gift to the Southwestern Washington Synod for Living Stones; third, encourage your congregation to include Living Stones in its annual budget and/or send a monetary gift during the year; fourth, encourage your congregation to visit Living Stones or have Pastor Eric or a member of the Outside Prison Board come to your congregation for an information Sunday. Together in service. Peace be with you.
6 Reports Synod adding congregations, dealing with finances By Rick Nelson, Synod Council member The Southwestern Washington Synod is gaining two more new worshipping communities, and a third is advancing to become a congregation under development. The new authorized worshipping communities are Faith Community Church in Kingston and Refuge in Strength at Tacoma, Director for Evangelical Mission Melanie Wallschlaeger reported at the March 31 meeting of the Synod Council. The new worshipping community at Kingston will be a combined Lutheran-Episcopal group, Wallschlaeger said, and Refuge and Strength in Tacoma is designed to serve young people in the Hilltop neighborhood. In other business, the council voted on a proposed 2013 budget target for presentation at the May synod assembly, and the council continued discussion of how to maintain the Living Stones Prison Ministry at the Washington Corrections Center at Shelton. Wallschlager also announced that Peace Lutheran Fellowship in Port Ludlow has advanced from worship development. Bishop Robert Hofstad reported that the congregation at Port Madison has voted to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and another is likely to complete voting to leave shortly after the synod assembly. This will bring the number of congregations in the synod to 90, he said. The synod has done well in developing new congregations, Bishop Hofstad added. Seven years ago, the synod set a goal of adding three to six new congregations by 2013, and in 2012, it is adding the seventh and eighth new congregations. Big cuts but no programs eliminations in special session By the Rev. Paul Benz, director for advocacy, Faith Action Network, benz@fanwa.org, www.fanwa.org Even though most critical health and human services and environmental programs were cut yet again in the now-concluded legislative special session, no eliminations occurred. Taking the biggest hits in cuts were the state TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program; WIC (Women, Infants and Children); and food-assistance benefits (food stamps). But all of the following programs that Faith Action Network and its many partners were advocating for were saved: Housing Disability Lifeline and medical-care services Basic Health Plan for working adults and Apple Health for children Housing Trust Fund Working Connections childcare TANF monthly grants Though revenue was not really a part of the budget compromise, there was one tax exemption that was repealed. It was the exemption for out-of-state banks on their mortgages for first-time homebuyers. FAN has a list of 2012 session victories, and a side-by-side comparison of where things stand with our legislative agenda that we began in January. Contact me for more detail.
7 Upcoming Workshop on social media for church workers slated Social media expert Meredith Gould will conduct a workshop on effective use of blogs, Facebook and Twitter for church workers from 6 to 9 p.m. May 15 at St. Mark s by The Narrows Lutheran Church in Tacoma. The author of eight books on the subject will address how a congregation can get started using these valuable tools, and also will explore theological foundations for engaging in social media for God s mission in the world. Participants who already are engaged in social media and who would like Gould to share them at the workshop can send their URL s in advance to the Rev. Joe Smith at jbwsmith@hotmail.com. The cost to attend is $25 and discounts are available. To register, contact Smith either through his email or at 253-347-8917. The event is sponsored by the synod Outreach Board and others. Everyone is welcome. Walking against hunger in May May is the month for a number of crop walks across the state, bringing attention to hunger. The Church World Service office invites finding one near you at www.cropwalkonline.org. PLU Summer Conference on Spiritual Formation at Home Pacific Lutheran University's summer conference will focus on Spiritual Formation in the Home when it takes place June 18 to 20. Suitable for clergy and lay leaders, participants in the gathering will explore the dramatic changes in spiritual formation that have taken place in Americans homes in the past half-century. They also will chart a fresh course for the future. To learn more or to register, contact the Rev. G. Lee Kluth, director of the PLU Office of Constituent Relations, at 253-535-7423 or at kluthgl@plu.edu. Youth Snider stepping down as synod adviser After four years of service, Justin Snider will step down as adviser to the Southwestern Washington Synod ALYVE Board for youth, effective June 30. In his advisory role, Snider has worked alongside elected youth leaders to plan and carry out annual spring gathers for sixth to 12th graders and to lead youth convocations at synod assemblies. Snider will continue to serve at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Olympic as its director of youth ministry. Thank you for your years of service to the ALYVE board and for your continued work with the church, said Ingelaurie Lisher, a co-worker of Snider s and director of youth and family ministry at St. Mark s by The Narrows Lutheran Church of Tacoma. Youth leaders now are accepting applications to serve as the adult adviser to the ALYVE Board. Interested persons may contact Paul Davis at pauldavis@pflc.org for more information or to receive the job description. Resumés are due June 1.
8 Our Congregations Items from churches across the synod, for keeping up Gardens planted throughout area Gardens were being planted in April on church grounds across the synod, including at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Olympia where on April 21 potato pieces were planted (pictured). In Tacoma, Girl and Boy Scouts are combining this year to prepare and expand a community garden at United Lutheran Church called Veggie Trails. This is the second year of the garden, with proceeds going to Our Father s Kitchen, the food pantry at United. According to the Rev. Mary Sanders, another purpose of the garden is to reach out to the neighborhood, involve residents in the project and get to know them a little better. Ten years: Amazing Grace Lutheran Church of Aberdeen celebrated its tenth-year anniversary in April. Festivities on April 15 included a special dinner and slide show. Amazing Grace came into being April 21, 2002, through the combining of Our Saviour s Lutheran Church, which came from a Norwegian tradition, and Trinity Lutheran Church, which was formed by Swedes. It currently is served by the Rev. Beth Utto-Galarneau. Half-century mark: Spanaway Lutheran is enjoying a number of events for its 50th anniversary. Renovation: Messiah of Vancouver has completed a renovation of its campus at Hazel Dell to make it more secure and accessible. Improvements included better exterior lighting, more securitymotion sensors, electronic locks and an automatic door opener and closer for handicapped worshipers. Recuperating: The Rev. Randy Haas of Salishan Lutheran Mission and Hope Lutheran Church escaped serious injury when his truck was rear-ended in a multi-vehicle collision March 27 on Highway 16. Haas was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, where he was treated and released. On to Montana: Trinity and Hope of Enumclaw will come together in July for a Habitat for Humanity service project in Flathead Lake/Kalispell, Mont. Blessing of the bikes: Hope Lutheran Church of Tacoma was the scene of a blessing of the bikes, from the pedaling variety to Harley's, along with some other fun on April 21. Posting Youth director: Our Saviour s Lutheran Church of Bremerton seeks a youth director. Contact the church at 60-479-6374 or oslc.bremerton@gmail.com for more information. Site coordinator: Messiah Lutheran Church of Vancouver has an opening for a part-time interim North County Campus site coordinator. Messiah also has an opening for a part-time audio ministry person. Visit messiahvancouver.org, call 360-574-7081 or email messiahlc@messiahvancouver.org. For a complete calendar of upcoming events, visit the synod blog at www.swwsynod@plu.edu.