Southwestern Washington Synod E-News

Week of December 31, 2023

May the New Year bring you blessings in abundance of love, joy, health, peace and prosperity!

News and Updates

Camp Lutherwood Oregon Summer Registration now open.

Visit lutherwoodoregon.org/camp for more information.

Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave Premium Rate is set to decrease in 2024. Read more at paidleave.wa.gov

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries releases new rules on paid sick leave. Visit https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADLI/bulletins/37e3402 to read more.

ELCA Young Adult Steering Committee

The ELCA Young Adult Ministry team at Churchwide is asking for 15 young adults to serve year-long terms to help steer young adult ministries within the church in line with our vision statement, as well as uplift ideas, ongoing ministries, and more.

Please visit https://sites.google.com/view/yamsc/home?authuser=0 for more information.

Legislations that Faith Action Network is working on now: 

Healthy Free School Meals for All

– to increase the number of children receiving free nutritious breakfast and lunches. We are advocating for all elementary schools this coming session but we must hold our goal of feeding free breakfast and lunch to “ALL” children in school.

Extend EFAP Funding for Food Banks and Food Pantries Across our State

EFAP provides local solutions for local food banks to provide food in this time of historic demand to ensure our neighbors don’t go hungry. Invest a one-time allocation of $15 million in WSDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Invest in Senior Nutrition Programs to Promote Health and Stability

For years, Washington has underinvested in the nutrition safety net for seniors and people with disabilities – invest $15.2 million per year at DSHS to help low income seniors and people with disabilities access healthy nutrition with Meals on Wheels and meal programs via local Area Agencies on Aging.

Fully Fund Basic Needs Navigators at Colleges

Last year the Legislature passed HB 1559-Post Secondary Basic Needs Act. It includes basic need navigators at .75 FTE on each public college campus to support students on their path to college success with critical services, like SNAP, Basic Food Education & Training services, emergency assistance grants, and more. Yet the final budget provided funding for only .5 FTEs navigators. Fully fund navigators to help students with basic needs supports during college.

Give Yourself the Gift of Resources

Amidst the joy and celebration – and, yes, stress – of this season, your body can use all the help it can get. Whether it’s treatment for a pesky cough, a listening ear to help process impostor syndrome or budget worries, or ideas for a new healthy holiday tradition, check out Portico’s curated list of resources to support you and your family this season (and Advent blessings to you!)

December FSA Countdown

Still have a balance in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – either for health or dependent care expenses? Be sure to spend those dollars by Dec. 31, 2023, so you won’t lose them. Check your balance on myPortico, and submit receipts via the link to Further. Need ideas on what you can use your dollars for? This list can help.

Upcoming Events

January and beyond

Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday: January Book Study

RIC Sunday is the last Sunday in January. In anticipation of that celebration, the people of Peace, Puyallup, will enter into four conversations about Jamie Bruesehoff’s Raising Kids Beyond the Binary: Celebrating God’s Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children (2023).

Whether or not you are a parent of children, this is an excellent occasion to become acquainted with a Lutheran trans child and her family, and to hear her mother’s story of parenting her and relating to their community.

We all benefit from this story as we seek to expand our welcome, to include, and to celebrate people of all gender identities and expressions.

Read along with us!

Schedule

January 7th: Intro and chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

January 14th: chapters 5, 6, 7, 8

January 21st: chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

January 28th: celebration/conversation

Byberg Preaching Workshop

January 22-24, 2024

Seaside, Oregon

New Cohort starting on January 5, 2024

Practicing Shalom

1st Third of Life Leaders Retreat

Thursday, Feb. 8 through Saturday, Feb. 10

Copalis Beach, WA

For more information please contact Pr. Bergen Eickhoff or to register visit https://forms.gle/QGKV6URvKx9U7Bmy5

Job Opportunities

Email: swwsynod@plu.edu

Website: https://swwasynod.org/

A Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Richard E. Jaech, Bishop

Synod Office Hours 9am – 4pm Tuesday – Friday