Southwestern Washington Synod E-News

Week of September 3, 2023

News and Updates

Our Synod Office will be closed August 21st through August 25th and September 4th through September 8th while our staff is on vacation. If you have an urgent or emergency need during this time, please call the Synod Office at 253-535-8300 and leave a message.

Dear friend,

The ministry of Lutheran Disaster Response is critical to the mission of the ELCA. It gives us an opportunity to reach communities and people that we might not reach through other means, and to share the love of God through our actions. “Thrive: Your Impact on Lutheran Disaster Response” bears witness to these moments of relationship.

From Indigenous communities in South Dakota to villages in Malawi, the impact of Lutheran Disaster Response is felt around the world. I invite you to read the stories in “Thrive” and reflect on the global presence of our church. I hope these stories inspire you as much as they inspire me.

READ THRIVE NOW

Thank you for your partnership in accompanying people impacted by disasters. To help continue this crucial work, please consider renewing your support for Lutheran Disaster Response. Your commitment truly makes a difference in the lives of others.

With gratitude,

The Rev. Daniel Rift

Director, ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response Fund

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

P.S. A limited number of free print copies of “Thrive” are available for order online!

Crafted Conversation curriculum on faith, church & society

https://www.facebook.com/BrewedTheology

patreon.com/BrewedTheology

Recently retired ELCA pastor Peter Braafladt (Messiah LC, Vancouver) and two of his former pastoral interns, Pr. Ben Eisele (Farmington LC, MN) and Pr. Joe Natwick (Bethel LC, Windsor, CO) have gone live with an online resource for pastors and adult faith formation leaders interested in starting or enhancing pub theology ministry in their congregations. Available for download, Brewed Theology content and materials are designed for 60 to 90-minute events and include leader guides, table prompts, preparatory materials, and methodology suggestions.

A sampling of Brewed Theology topics include:

•  Faith at the Dawn of Artificial Intelligence (free trial lesson)

•  Death of the Church: What’s Happening? What’s Next?

•  God and Sports: Silly or Serious?

•  iNDiViDUALiSM: Me, Myself, and I Alone

•  Mental Health: It’s Not Just You

•  Our Stories: My Story, Your Story, God’s Story

•  Vocation: What is it you are doing with Your Life?

Each topic includes a collection of non-required but highly-recommended homework pieces for participants consisting of publicly accessible articles, videos, TED Talks, etc., via online links.

The materials are thoughtfully written, carefully chosen, thoroughly tested, and theologically balanced, with scripture always serving as the starting point.

For a trial lesson and to learn more, visit Brewed Theology at:

https://www.facebook.com/BrewedTheology

patreon.com/BrewedTheology

New L&I administrative policy provides guidance on the

Military Family Leave Act

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has released a new administrative policy to provide guidance on the Military Family Leave Act requirements for employers. The requirements are part of Labor Regulations under RCW 49.77.

Vea abajo para esta información en español.

The law allows up to 15 days of unpaid leave for an employee when the spouse has received orders to report for active duty or deploy, or when the spouse is on leave from a deployment.

The new policy, ES.C.12, provides guidance on an employer’s ability to request verification, examples of what kinds of verification are acceptable, guidance on what constitutes 15 days of leave, guidance on leave limitations, how we define deployment dates, and what constitutes a period of military conflict.

For more information or language access services, send an email to the Employment Standards program.

© Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Webmaster@Lni.wa.gov

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Resources

Upcoming Events

The 13th Annual Lutheran Studies Conference

Anxiety in an Age of Overwhelm: Gaining Understanding and Resilience

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

All events take place in the Scandinavian Cultural Center in Anderson University Center at PLU- Register here

The Thirteenth Annual Lutheran Studies Conference will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will flow into the 18th Annual David and Marilyn Knutson Lecture in the evening at 7 p.m. This conference focuses on a pressing issue in our time: A newly-named “pandemic” of Anxiety that is present on individual, relational, spiritual and societal levels.

The conference features an incredible line up of leading experts from social and natural science approaches as well as counselors, educators, and student advocates for mental health and wellness. At the start of each session, these speakers will lead the conference participants through a brief strategy or tool to manage anxiety.

Our speakers include:

Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., the Founder and Program Director for the White Privilege Conference (WPC); and,

Dr. Jacqueline Bussie, an award-winning author, professor, theologian, public speaker, and student. Her most recent book “Love Without Limits” (2018).

*An adult book forum discussion for congregations will be offered on Sunday, October 1 prior to the conference. Please note, this congregation discussion will be held via Zoom.

Leadership Event Registration

WHEN? October 15, 2023 from 12pm-5pm WHERE? The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard 1601 North St SE Olympia, WA 98501 WHY? To bring our stellar youth together for an opportunity to serve and grow! Let’s walk together in our faith and make a difference in our world.

docs.google.com

An Honest Conversation about Earth-Honoring Faith, When Uncertainty’s a Sure Thing

A Gathering with Dr. Larry Rasmussen

Tuesday night, Sept 19, 6:30-8 pm, at

The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, Olympia, WA

1601 North Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501

www.gsolympia.org

Wednesday night, Sept. 20, 6:00-7:15 pm, followed by Prayers Around the Cross at

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by the Narrows

6730 N. 17^th St.

Tacoma, WA 98406

St. Mark’s Lutheran by The Narrows – A Place for Grace (smlutheran.org)

You are invited to participate in an evening conversation with Larry Rasmussen as we reflect with him about his most recent book, The Planet You Inherit, Letters to My Grandchildren when Uncertainty’s a Sure Thing. Larry is a grandfather with Lutheran roots, professor emeritus of Union Seminary (New York City) where he taught ethics for many years, a favorite teacher at Holden Village in the Cascade mountains, and winner of the 2023 Nautilus Gold Prize for best 2022 book in Ecology & Environment. You are encouraged to read his book and bring your questions as we reflect with Larry on this important subject on climate change.

Learn more about Larry Rasmussen at:  larrywrites.info

All are invited! And bring three friends who have a passionate concern for the earth.

Thriving Leadership Formation

October 2023 – May 2024

A great opportunity for all rostered and non-rostered leaders in the SWWA Synod of the ELCA.

Thriving Leadership Formation is a formation process developed by California Lutheran University and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary to equip ELCA leaders for a changing world. This formation process is funded by a Lily Grant. Cohorts come together with the intent of creating nurturing and empowering times, spaces, and relationships. They are intended to foster spiritual and contemplative practices in order to enrich life and ministry, and help the church and its leaders thrive. Cohorts meet virtually for 12 sessions using a curriculum of spiritual practices.

Here is a link to a YouTube video to learn more about Thriving Leadership Formation: https://youtu.be/L8xpcFq0K_A

Here is the website to also learn more: www.thrivingleadershipformation.org

Projected start date for this new cohort will most likely be in October 2023, with Zoom meetings either Monday or Thursday evenings.

If you are interested, please contact Pastor Eric Bostrom, Mt. View Lutheran Church, at ebostrom@mtviewlutheran.org

Byberg Preaching Workshop

January 22-24, 2024

Seaside, Oregon

Presenter: Dr. Shauna Hannan, Professor of Homiletics

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

Chaplain: Rev. Liv Larson Andrews, DEM, Northwest Intermountain Synod

Hosted at: Best Western Seaside

Calling on all preaching colleagues of the Pacific Northwest to join in the annual Byberg Preaching Workshop in beautiful Seaside, Oregon. We have invited Dr. Shauna Hannan back to lead us in conversations focused on preaching and communicating in our changed environment. We have also solicited the wonderful worship talents of Rev. Liv Larson Andrews to be our chaplain for the week. Cost for the event is $195 ($100/interns) and hotel rooms range from $87-$197.

Registration will be open from September 1 – December 15, 2023. Cancelation requests need to be made by December 15, 2023.

Please visit www.bybergpreachingworkshop.com for registration links and more information. This is a two-step registration process. One step is to register for the program and the second step is to register for housing with the hotel.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ELCA WORLD HUNGER LEADERSHIP GATHERING

Synod hunger team chairs and other key ELCA World Hunger leaders in your synod are invited to the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering, Feb. 1-4, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Houston Intercontinental Airport hotel. Registration will open this month! The theme is “Embracing Hope — Taking Action — Moving Forward, 50 Years of Faithfulness: Working Toward a Future Without Hunger.”

For questions about the event and who can attend, reach out to hunger@elca.org.

ELEA Innovative Leadership Summit: Developing the Leader Within 2023

ELEA Innovative Leadership Summit on Friday Oct 27, 2023- Sunday Oct 29, 2023 is intense training for leaders of ELCA Schools and Learning Centers who are interested in building a network for themselves, developing new skills and innovative strategies, and re-inspiring passion for your mission. We encourage Pastors and Administrators to attend together and will offer ways to connect if that is not possible.  View our program guide (draft)

The Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA) serves 1,400 Schools & Learning Centers

with 15,000 children and youth.

Announcements

Job Opportunities

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by The Narrows, Tacoma is looking for a lead child care provider for Sunday Mornings and Wednesday Evenings over the age of 18 years old. Please contact Ingelaurie Lisher at ingelaurie@smlutheran.org for the job description and more information.

Spanaway Lutheran Church is currently seeking a motivated person with Administrative, Accounting and church background to maintain our front desk duties that include reception, general office administrative duties along with general accounting abilities.

This individual will need to be extremely organized, friendly, have an attention to detail, and be able to work independently and as a team player.

Critical thinking, the ability to adapt quickly to change, and a positive attitude are vital in our church office. Every member of our team is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to achieve the ministry goals.

If interested please send resume to Mike Doyle, miked@danardelectric.com

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