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SW WA Synod eNews – April 29, 2026

Southwestern WA Synod stefanie.dezarn@swwasynod.org

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April 29, 2026

 
 

Synod Resources

Administration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, Transition

Boundary Training Opportunities for Rostered Ministers

Ordination Anniversaries

(source: ELCA Office of the Secretary Rostered Leader Anniversary Report)

April 2026

Rev. Rachel Eskesen

10 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 23, 2016

Rev. Sheryl Biegert

40 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 26, 1986

Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God!

Administration This and That

  • 2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 cents

Marketplace

Looking for a good home:

  • Acer X1261P digital projector
  • Yamaha BT600 portable PA system with Bluetooth connectivity. Includes speakers, stands, wired and wireless mics and all necessary cables.

Perfect for outdoor or offsite sound, or for use in a parish hall. All equipment has been tested and is working. Contact Seth Novak (pastorsethnovak@gmail.com) for more info, pictures and a full list of included items and specifications, or to express interest in one or both items.

Upcoming Events

links to event info embedded if applicable

May 3-6

Bishop’s Convocation @ Seabeck

May 9

Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ Shepherd’s Field, Sumner

May 16

Critical Incident Response Training – 9am @ Trinity, Tacoma

May 16

Critical Incident Response Training – 3pm @ Trinity, Longview

May 19

Admin Support Zoom “With Each Other … For Each Other” – 1pm

May 30

Synod Ed Gathering – Messiah, Vancouver – 10am-3pm

June 5-7

SAM Retreat @ Dumas Bay, Federal Way

June 13

Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ Shepherd’s Field, Sumner

June 13

Synod Ed Gathering – Christ, Lakewood – 10am-3pm

June 16

Admin Support Zoom “With Each Other … For Each Other” – 1pm

 

Please note that the Synod Office will be closed Monday, May 4th through Wednesday, May 6th as our staff is attending this year’s Bishop’s Convocation at Seabeck Retreat Center.

 

This is a great in-person training opportunity for rostered leaders, church staff and congregation volunteers. Please contact Ray Shjerven (rshjerven@comcast.net) or Stefanie DeZarn (stefanie.dezarn@swwasynod.org) if you have any questions.

Tacoma Registration HERE
Longview Registration HERE

Registration for the two Synod Ed Gathering are OPEN!

All Members of the SWWA Synodare welcome!

Messiah Vancouver May 30 – Register HERE
Christ Lakewood June 13 – Register HERE

FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS, COMMITTEES AND MINISTRIES

Applications for ELCA World Hunger’s 2027 Domestic Hunger Grants are open! To learn more about submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), grant partnership eligibility, and our granting priorities, please visit our website and FAQ page. 

 

Application Timeline 

  • Letter of inquiry form open: April 15 – July 1, 2026 
  • Letter of inquiry review: July 13 – September 15, 2026 
  • Response to the letter of inquiry (decline or accept): October 30, 2026 
  • Invited applicants to complete grant application in ELCA GrantMaker: October – December 2026 
  • Review and communication between ELCA World Hunger staff and grant applicants on proposal: October – December 2026 
  • Award notifications shared with applicants: January 2027 
  • 2027 Domestic Hunger Grants start date: March 1, 2027 

 

Thank you so much for your ongoing support in connecting our synod‘s anti-hunger ministries with resources to assist them meet the needs of their communities.

 

With much gratitude for the ministry and mission we share,  

The Synod Hunger Team 

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. 

FROM OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

 
 

Job Opportunities

Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry – St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Vancouver

Full-time Minister of Music – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Port Angeles (NEW POSTING!!)

 
 

A Synod of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Keith Marshall, Bishop

Synod Office Hours

9am – 4pm

Tuesday – Friday

Stay Connected

stefanie.dezarn@swwasynod.org

(253) 999-1190

www.swwasynod.org

 

Southwestern Washington Synod | 420 121st Street South | Tacoma, WA 98444-5218 US

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