Southwestern Washington Synod E-News Week of November 13, 2022
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YAGM Applications are OPEN!
The ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program is ready for new volunteers! This year, for the first time since early 2020, YAGM participants are walking alongside our international neighbors. Now, it’s time for the YAGM team to find the next volunteers ready to step out into the world. Do you know one of them? Applications are now open, and you can invite young adults on this journey abroad for the 2023-2024 program year.
If you know young adults aged 21 to 29, this is the time to reach out. Encourage them to apply for YAGM by the deadline of Feb.1, 2023. (Priority deadline is Jan. 15, 2023.) Talk to them personally about what this opportunity will mean for their faith, identity, career and understanding of God’s work in the world. You can also watch and share this video message to learn about some of the ways the YAGM team is updating the program’s recruiting practices and making it more welcoming for everyone.
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LIRS Hope for the Holidays Tool Kit
(Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services)
Please find resources for reaching out to people in
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Register for the Lutheran Community Services NW webinar on Ukraine Refugee Crisis Update
Thursday, November 17th from 12-1pm.e here
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Thriving Leadership Cohorts Forming Now!
Background: In 2018, California Lutheran University received a nearly $1 million, five-year grant from the Lilly Endowment to create Thriving Leadership Formation in partnership with its own Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and the 11 ELCA synods of Regions 1 and 2. Membership is open to rostered and non-rostered leaders in ELCA Regions 1 and 2.
Purpose: Thriving Leadership Formation seeks to foster relational, creative, Spirit-led, compassionate forms of ministry that are deeply responsive to local communities. Participants will work in small groups that encourage and equip leaders to live out their faith in ways that make a difference in the world. Session content will focus on spiritual resources, leadership skills, competencies and tools for thriving in the practice of ministry. Opportunities to walk with mentors and coaches enable participants to attend to their own spiritual lives, to the guidance of the Spirit, and to voices, gifts and needs within their communities. Cohortsmeet virtually for 12 sessions using a curriculum of spiritual practices.
Now is the time to join a cohort!
At Large Cohorts are being formed around a particular group or theme:
·Youth Ministry Leaders
·BIPOC
·Partners of Rostered Ministers
·LGBTQIA+
·New Clergy/First Call
·Retired Rostered Ministers (Rev. Joan Beck, rostered in OR, email her here)
·Seminarians
Our Synod Cohort is being led by Rev. Nate Sutton (Peace Lutheran, Puyallup)
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Christians against Christian Nationalism video from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton (November 2, 2022) Video link here
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Public response period: Social message on climate care
A draft of the ELCA’s forthcoming social message on climate change and how we are called to respond has been posted, and the public comment period is open through Friday, Dec. 2.
This project was authorized in light of the grim contemporary situation affecting our global home and the need for fresh action on the part of this church. The draft will be edited in response to your feedback and brought to the ELCA Church Council for a vote this spring.
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LGBTQIA Holiday Pause
Hosted by the synod Wisdom Circle
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You are warmly invited to a mid-holiday season sacred pause, a time and way for us to be together, particularly mindful that the holidays can often be challenging for the LGBTQIA community. When we come together, we can offer each other moments of joy and mutual care.
Why? The holidays can bring up a range of experiences and emotions for all of us. Often, for LGBTQIA people, holidays can be challenging if we find ourselves with families or in places where we are not fully accepted as ourselves or where we have concerns about our safety. We are resilient in creating chosen family and loving support networks. We know that caring for one another is important, particularly during this time of year.
Who: The synod’s Wisdom Circle welcomes all LGBTQIA people and allies across the SW WA Synod who would like to would like to be part of extending care to one another in the midst of the holiday season. Please help us pass this invitation along!
Hosted by: The synod Wisdom Circle. The Wisdom Circle is a small group within the SW WA Synod of intergenerational LGBTQIA people connected to local Lutheran congregations. We come together every couple of months for relationship building and offering ideas to the Synod’s RIC Work Team to further LGBTQIA welcome and inclusion, particularly through the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) process.
When: Monday, December 5th from 6-730p
What to bring: If you like, Christmas sweaters (on humans or pets), decor or Zoom backgrounds are welcome! Also, if you do anything to queer the holidays or incorporate some LGBTQIA pride into your celebrations, we’d love to hear. And a warm beverage like cocoa, cider, or tea might be enjoyable.
The Synod Wisdom Circle meets via Zoom every couple of months. You are welcome to join!
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Synod Assembly May 5th-6th
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Synod Assembly registration will be available in January. Get your voting members elected this fall. The event is May 5 (evening only)-May 6 (all day), 2023 at Messiah Lutheran in Auburn. All rostered ministers serving a congregation and at least 2 voting members from each congregation are allowed. Retired and OLFC rostered ministers’ pre-notification requirements will be sent out soon.
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HOW RACISM IN AMERICA LED TO WHITE CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM
Sunday, March 26, 2023 from 2-5pm
This seminar will explore how American Christianity was formed by racist doctrine brought over from Europe to the colonies and how a white Jesus has influenced much of Christian practice in this country. We will also look at how this has led to White Christian Nationalism and discover why it threatens both our democracy and the future of the Christian Witness in the United States. Led by Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse, author of The World is About to Turn: Mending a Nation’s Broken Faith.
Sunday, March 26, 2023 from 2-5pm at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 4301 Browns Point Blvd, Tacoma, WA 98422
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse is an author, speaker, teacher, and certified spiritual director. As an ELCA pastor, he has served congregations in Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona. He was the Executive Director for Church Relations and Continuing Theological Education at PLU for 11 years and served as adjunct faculty at Luther Seminary and at the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest. He was the founder and Director of the Missional Leadership Academy for the Grand Canyon Synod. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Rick is the author of numerous books and publications including a new book for Chalice Press: The World is About to Turn: Mending a Nation’s Broken Faith. He and his wife, Beth Lewis, are members at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Everett, WA.
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Jump Into Music is adding a NE Tacoma site
Resurrection Lutheran will join “Jump Into Music” as a second teaching site beginning this January. The other site is at Spanaway Lutheran in Spanaway. If you know of any students or teachers around the Northeast Tacoma/Federal Way area who might be interested, please contact Pastor Karen Olson at pastor@resurrectionlutherantacoma.org, or Kevin Peterson, Jump Into Music treasurer, info@jumpintomusic.org.
Jump Into Music is a Tacoma-based nonprofit that strives to make private music lessons affordable to all kids and youth. Our mission is “To give every child the opportunity to nurture their innate musical abilities, guided by enthusiastic and compassionate teachers, without regard to financial circumstance or demographics, empowering each child to be a positive influence in the world.”
We will soon be opening a new location in Northeast Tacoma! We are looking to hire a small handful of dedicated music teachers on a variety of instruments -from voice to piano to strings and band- who would be willing to teach a few students each on a weekly basis at our host partner, Resurrection Lutheran Church, 4301 Browns Point Blvd NE, Tacoma.
Teachers will be connected with their students and their parents, and would set up lesson times that work with their schedule. Lessons will take place at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
We require all teachers to sit for an interview and submit to a background check, and if hired, submit a monthly timesheet. No other administrative dues are required – just show up and teach! Teachers are compensated $30 per half-hour lesson taught ($60/hour). A bachelor’s degree and prior music teaching experience is recommended but not required; a high school diploma is required.
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2023 Bishop’s Convocation for Rostered Ministers
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January 17-18, 2023
In-person at Seabeck Conference Center
Theme: Intersections between Native American religious traditions and Christian traditions
Keynote: Suzanne Crawford O’Brien, PhD, PLU Professor of Religion and Culture; Director of Native American and Indigenous Studies
Registration available soon
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It’s time to register for the Byberg Preaching Workshop, held January 23-25, 2023 in Seaside Oregon.
The 2023 main speaker is Rev. Traci Blackmon. Rev. Blackmon is the Associate General Minister of Justice & Local Church Ministries for
The United Church of Christ and Senior Pastor of Christ The King United Church of Christ in Florissant, MO.
Also! Br. Stefan Andre Waligur is onboard to be our Chaplain and Musician. Br. Stefan is a contemplative musician and composer. He has studied at the New England Conservatory, Eastern Theological Seminary, also in Ireland and Scotland. REGISTRATION
deadline: December 15, 2022
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ELCA EXTRAVAGANZA for leaders of Children, Youth and Family Ministry
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Extravaganza 2023 is one live experience, with two options:
onsite in Anaheim or online from your computer.
Plan on coming early and participating in an Intensive Care Course, February 2nd and 3rd!
- The Curiosity Tour with leader: C. McNair Wilson
- Groups with Gravity, leaders: Jeff Fairfax, Cole Hemmah, Mir Youngquist-Thurow, Rev. Andy Twiton
- 3 Big Questions with leaders: Jen Bradbury & Brad M. Griffin
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Music that Makes Community Workshop in Olympia, WA
Saturday, January 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m
at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, Olympia.
Join The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd for a renewing day of building community
through congregational singing, learning, and fellowship on S. We'll be led by Paul Vasile and Elizabeth Schroeder of Music that Makes Community, a non-profit organization working to empower and liberate communities through singing. For over 15 years, they have developed and shared transformative leadership practices with musicians, clergy, educators, and lay leaders throughout the United States and Canada.
During our time together we will:
– Explore a practice of paperless (oral tradition) singing leadership
– Engage models of teaching and leading that welcome our bodies, hearts, and minds
– Experience music reflective of the growing diversity of our communities and celebrating varied spiritual traditions
Choir directors, clergy, cantors, educators, and those who love to sing are warmly welcomed.
Each person will leave with new music to share, as well as experiences of learning and teaching songs applicable to their context.
Registration:
Registration fees are $30 per person, including workshop materials and refreshments throughout the day. You can bring your own lunch or purchase a sandwich for $15. Scholarship support is available, and we do not want cost to prevent anyone’s participation. Please pay at the door: cash, checks and credit/debit cards accepted.
Register here! http://www.gsolympia.org/music-workshop
Location: 1601 North Street, Olympia, WA 98501
COVID protocols:
We will follow the guidelines at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd in place at the time of the event and will take precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. The rooms will be well-ventilated, we’ll take regular breaks, and follow the CDC's best practices for in-person gathering.
Additional Learning Opportunities:
– We’ll offer an Intergenerational Community SING on Friday, January 20 at 7 p.m. We’ll
share songs that enliven the spirit, nourish the soul, and remind us that we are not alone. This 75-minute event is free and open to all who love to sing.
– MMC leaders will share musical leadership at Lutheran Church of The Good
Shepherd’s morning worship service on Sunday, January 22. During the forum that morning,
Paul Vasile will give a talk titled “What Did you Notice? Reflecting on the Practice of Singing in Community.” Check the church website for the worship and forum time.
This event is made possible by a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian
Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
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Spiritual Director Formation Program on Zoom
Listening with the Spirit is a formation preparation for people who have been in spiritual direction and wish to become a spiritual director. The Priory Spirituality Center offers a two year program on Zoom:
Year 1 has 24 sessions which begin on 9-20-23 and end on 4-17-24.
Year 2 has 24 sessions which begin on 9-10-24 and end on 4-30-25.
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Current Job Openings
Click on job title for job description and application information.
Updated 11/07/2022
Education/Child Care/Preschool
Finance/Bookkeeper/Treasurer
Treasurer (PT), Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Tacoma
Music/Musicians
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Upcoming Synod Dates:
First Call Theological Education– November 14 (3pm)-November 17 (12:30pm)
Under 45 Rostered Retreat- January15-17, 2023 at Seabeck Conf Center
Bishop’s Convocation– January 17-18, 2023 at Seabeck Conf Center
PSALM Program Retreat– March 3-4, 2023 at Seabeck Conference Center
Synod Assembly– May 5-6, 2023 at Messiah Lutheran, Auburn (will be 1 or 1-1/2 days only)
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A Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rev. Richard E. Jaech, Bishop
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STAY CONNECTED
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