Ordination Anniversaries March 2026 Rev. D. Randall Faro 50 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – March, 14, 1976 Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God! |
Administration This and That - 2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 cents
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|  | Upcoming Eventslinks to event info embedded if applicable |
March 14 Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ Shepherd’s Field, Sumner March 17 Admin Support Zoom “With Each Other … For Each Other” – 1pm March 21 Ordination & Installation of Hannah Staisrud @ St. Mark’s/Narrows, Tacoma – 10am April 11 Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ Shepherd’s Field, Sumner April 21 Admin Support Zoom “With Each Other … For Each Other” – 1pm April 24-25 PSALM Retreat @ Sacred Waters, Union WA May 3-6 Bishop’s Convocation @ Seabeck May 9 Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ Shepherd’s Field, Sumner May 19 Admin Support Zoom “With Each Other … For Each Other” – 1pm May 30 Synod Ed Gathering – Location TBD, more info coming soon! |
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| Convocation Registration is now OPEN! |
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Attention Active Rostered Leaders! The Synod Office has designed a new Rostered Minister Report for our Active Rostered Leaders (Word and Service, Word and Sacrament, SAM). The information shared will be helpful for Bishop to serve alongside you within the Southwestern Washington Synod and for our Admin to refresh and update your personal information in our management software, as well as the Churchwide portal. Please take the time to submit this form. |
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Attention Retired Rostered Leaders! Please take the time to submit your Annual Rostered Minister Report. The form for our Retired Rostered Leaders remains the same as in previous years. See the button below to access this year’s form. We look forward to hearing from you! |
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Installation and Ordination of Pastor Hannah Staisrud at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by The Narrows The ordination and installation service for Pastor Hannah Staisrud will be held at St. Mark’s on March 21st at 10am. The service will also be live-streamed on St. Mark’s Facebook Page ( facebook.com/smlutheran ) , and uploaded to St. Mark’s YouTube channel ( https://www.youtube.com/@smlclive ) afterwards. Clergy who would like to join in the procession of this service are invited to wear red stoles, and are asked to come to St. Mark’s at 9:40am for a pre-service meeting. We are excited to welcome Pr. Hannah into the role of Associate Pastor, and hope you can join us for this joyous occasion! St. Mark’s Address: 6730 N 17th St. Tacoma, WA 98406 |
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| The community is invited to gather for an afternoon of learning, reflection, and practical action in response to the growing impact of immigration enforcement in our region. Free event. Registration requested. Each attendee must register individually. Register HERE: https://bit.ly/4qvyycz |
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FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS, COMMITTEES AND MINISTRIES |
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| MESSIAH SING ALONG Saturday, April 11, 2026 • 3:00 p.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church 3505 122nd Ave E, Edgewood WA 98372 Join us for a joyful community Sing-Along Messiah, where voices of all levels come together to experience the brilliance of Handel’s beloved Messiah. Whether you’ve sung it for years or are opening the score for the first time, this is a chance to share in the magnitude of the choruses, the beauty of the professional soloist and orchestra, and the power of making music side by side. Bring your score (or borrow one at the door), invite a friend, and lift your voice in this timeless celebration of hope and good news. Admission is FREE. There will be a free will offering taken to benefit Lutheran World Relief. |
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The 2026 Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) is excited to announce a partnership with the ELCA Youth Gathering and California Lutheran University (CLU). We will be celebrating the strengths of this partnership by coming together June 28th – July 1st, 2026, at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA. Go to Western States Youth Gathering for more information. |
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FROM OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS |
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Preparing to Preach the Triduum Thursday, March 12, 2026 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Join PLU Professor of New Testament, Dr. Agnes Choi, as she explores with us the lectionary readings for the Triduum/Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday/The Easter Vigil. We’ll gather on Thursday, March 12, at 10 AM (Pacific) and 1 PM (Eastern) on Zoom for an enlightening exploration of the Triduum texts. To register, send an email to openaplm@gmail.com with TRIDUUM in the subject line. Registration must be received no later than Monday, March 9 at 12 Noon (Pacific). Registrants will then receive the Zoom link and handout on Wednesday, March 11. |
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The Society We Deserve: Where Everyone Belongs and Everyone Can Thrive Many of us feel it — division, exhaustion, and distrust are pulling us apart. In this public talk, Rev. Terry Kyllo explores what is happening beneath our political and cultural conflicts and why so many people feel vulnerable and alone. Drawing from social research, Scripture, and years of bridge-building work, he offers a hopeful and practical path forward. Instead of choosing fear or retreat, we can rebuild trust, strengthen our communities, and renew the social contract from the ground up. Join us for an honest, nonpartisan conversation about how we can build a society where everyone belongs and everyone can thrive. March 19, 2026 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Pacific https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-EVdQgP0QjCj6-roM6Z7dw#/registration |
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Invitation to Attend the 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA) The 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA) is a high-quality, affordable conference, full of practical ideas that you can adapt to your own setting, along with meaningful worship experiences — for ministry practitioners and by ministry practitioners. It will be held July 20-22, 2026, on the campus of St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. You are invited to participate! CWTA attracts participants from many different roles, including experienced and first-call Pastors, Deacons, and other church professional leaders; Lay people including lay leaders; Church workers – volunteer and paid; Children youth and family ministers/leaders; Artists; Church musicians; Christian education professionals; Outdoor ministry professionals; Seminarians; Others interested in deepening theological understandings and spiritual practices; and Members of congregations that are reimagining their vocation. We’ll provide opportunities for you to find those people at the conference so you can connect and share experiences. More information about the exciting program and registration can be found on our website. We invite you to explore it and register today! https://wp.stolaf.edu/cwta/ |
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You are invited to learn more about the Church Property Resource Hub, a new project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at one of three upcoming town halls. These webinars are an introduction to the project for congregations and all people connected to the management of church property. Join to explore support available to congregation leaders as they seek to steward property in faithful and practical ways. Tuesday, March 17, 1 p.m. Central time Register today. Thursday, March 19, 4 p.m. Central time Register today. Tuesday, March 24, 1 p.m. Central time Register today. Developed in response to requests from synod and congregational leaders, the Church Property Resource Hub offers support in navigating the opportunities and challenges that buildings and land represent for congregational vitality and the wider mission of the church. |
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Thanks to the ELCA Quality of Call grant received by Region One, our Region is able to pay the $325 Early Bird Registration fee for women and women presenting pastors and deacons with a call. Please register and then use the Google Form below to turn in your receipt and receive reimbursement. We will also use grant funds to take you out to dinner together one night in Indianapolis! Google Form link: https://forms.gle/1qpVqQH7yqDCBtuH8 |
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A Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Rev. Keith Marshall, Bishop Synod Office Hours 9am – 4pm Tuesday – Friday |
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