Southwestern Washington Synod E-News Week of March 19, 2023
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April is Stress Awareness Month.If you’re struggling or reaching out to help a friend who may be struggling with stress, consider some of the many resources on coping and managing stress by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
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“Tree of Healing”, a free ELCA VBS Program
The tree is a symbol of God’s promise, a reminder of God’s love, and His desire for all the nations to experience healing.
“Tree of Healing” is a chance for children and adults to consider what health and healing means, and how God invites us to share in the creation of a new and just world where all can enjoy the gifts of God’s Creation.
Each day there is a story, drawn from the work of ELCA World Hunger, that highlights the ways that we as the people of God work to support health and healing around the world:
· A community garden provides fresh food for the people of Eswatini.
· A whole health clinic in Egypt helps families.
· A young man in Bangladesh learning to live with limited eyesight.
· A community in Palestine grieves for what they have lost.
· A garden in St, Paul Minnesota helps feed the hungry, and brings the community together.
Each day’s lessons include skits, music, arts and crafts projects, games and snack suggestions.
There, you will find printable materials for this exciting VBS experience, as well as four others created by ELCA World Hunger, all of which are free. Explore all five and decide which one is right for you!
Prayer:
What a wildly wonderful world you have made, God. From the highest mountain to the deepest ocean, from the birds that fly to the fish that swim, from tiny insects to huge elephants to each one of us, you have made all creatures different and blessed them with gifts. Help us as we learn how we can heal your creation and each other. Amen.
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Steinar Bryn – Peacebuilder and Dialogue Expert in Tacoma March 22nd
You are invited to join St Marks Lutheran Church by the Narrows in Tacoma as they host Steinar Bryn on March 22 from 6-7:15 p.m. Steinar is a multi-Nobel Peace Prize nominee and expert in dialogue building and peace. He will be speaking on the war in Ukraine, how to make sense of global conflict, and more.
Steinar Bryn is Senior Adviser at the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue. He has a Ph.D. in American Studies from University of Minnesota. Steinar Bryn has facilitated more than 100 dialog seminars at the Nansen Academy, and was active in building up the Nansen Dialogue Network, a dialogue and reconciliation project directed toward the Western Balkans, including Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Ukraine. In that role, he facilitated several hundred dialogue meetings between people in deep conflict. He lectures around Europe and the US on lessons learned and the role of dialog in peacebuilding.
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Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) and Western States Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (WYLE)
“Revive + Reunite + Rejoice”
For HS Aged youth in ELCA Regions 1-4
July 4-9, 2023
at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA
“Revive, Reunite, Rejoice”, grounded in Acts 2:1 “When the day [of WSYG] came, they were all together in one place.” Learn more about WSYG here: https://www.wsyg.com/
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2023 Synod Assemblyregistration is open for Voting Members elected from each congregation
“Seeking God’s Shalom”
Underlined titles below have documents to review:
Synod Workshops: Friday evening, May 5th from 6:15-8:45pm at Messiah in Auburn. The separate workshop registration will be out in February and are open to all members of this synod. Voting members are free and others will pay $10.
Churchwide Rep: Pastor Lisa Heffernan, Director of ELCA Disability Ministries. She’ll bring a greeting from the ELCA and present what is going on in the ELCA and with the Disability Ministries. (She’ll be leading a workshop on Friday evening, too on disability ministries in our congregations.)
Pre-Assembly Hearings: Voting Members are invited to learn about things on the assembly agenda and discern these topics prior to the Synod Assembly by having extra time to ask questions and hear details.
Monday April 17th 9:30-11am
Wednesday, April 19th 7-8:30pm
Zoom links will be sent to registered voting members only on the 14th. Select the one that best meets your schedule.
underlined titles are documents to review:
Registration
Synod Constitution Amendments:
- Synod Constitution amendments from 2022 Churchwide Assembly (pass by majority vote).
- Rationale for Synod Constitution amendments
Resolution:
Nominations and Elections:
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Whole Being Well Being:
Connecting Mind and Body
Saturdays starting April 15 from 9:00 – 10:15 am (pacific time)
(April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20)
Join ELCA Pastor Molly Knutson-Keller (Life Coach, Spiritual Director, Enneagram Teacher) and Robin Davidson, (Physical Therapist, Yoga Therapist) for a six week virtual class blending the science of the body and psychology of the mind for health and joy.
Whole Being Well Being weaves together three models including the Three Centers of Intelligence (head, heart, gut) with the Star Model, a framework for understanding emotions and sensations, and the Poly Vagal Theory. Participants learn which center of intelligence they use most often, and then how to access all three centers for greater alignment. Also woven into the teaching is an in-depth exploration of the autonomic nervous system and the vagus nerve using the Poly Vagal theory as a model for understanding. The Star Model helps us practice and explore as the class unfolds.
Each week includes teaching time, interactive discussion, experiential practice time, meditation moment, breathing techniques and homework/integration suggestions (aka home-play). And we’ll have fun, too!
Cost $225 Each session is live on zoom, and recorded for later viewing.
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Women’s Spring Retreat
Synodical Women’s Organization Spring Retreat is happening!!!
When: Friday, April 28-Sunday, April 30, 2023
Where: Black Diamond Camp in Auburn WA
Speaker: Pastor Chavaleh Forgey of Christ Lutheran Church, Federal Way. Registration linkhere
Hope to see you all there. (finally and IN PERSON!)
WHOSE WE ARE – IMPASSIONED CHRIST IN AN INDIFFERENT WORLD
Registration deadline March 30th
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Prayer Bead Workshop
You are invited to a prayer beading workshop at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Vancouver WA (5607 NE Gher Rd
Vancouver, WA 98662) on April 22nd 9:30am-1pm, to embark on a journey that will introduce you to a new and ancient way of connecting with God. Prayer beads are a prayer tool used in many faith traditions that can help you experience God’s presence, increase your focus and comfort level in prayer, and be still and know God’s love for you. This introductory workshop will teach a particular prayer bead pattern based on a book by Kristen Vincent titled “A Bead and A Prayer: A Beginners Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads.”
Join us on April 22, 2023, 9:30 am – 1:00 pm at St Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Vancouver WA. A donation of $25 is suggested. Beading supplies, workshop materials, and lunch are provided. The workshop is a fundraiser for the homeless who participate in the Winter Hospitality Overflow Shelter.
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Pacific Northwest Bold Gathering for Men
May 20, 2023 11:00-2:00 Pacific
Trinity Lutheran Church – Parkland, WA
A Bold Gathering is a day for men to come together to learn, network and be equipped to boldly live out their faith as bold, daring followers of Jesus Christ.
Six guest speakers will be sharing their “Bold Stories from the Heart”. Watch for speakers,
topics, and registration updates at boldgathering.com. Registration will be free but appreciated to help with planning. Lunch will be served with a Free Will offering.
For those in other parts of the country, speaker presentation recordings will debut nationally
in the weeks following via Lutheran Men in Mission communications and boldgathering.com
Thank you to Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland, WA for partnering with Lutheran Men in Mission.
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Current Job Openings
Click on job title for job description and application information.
Updated 02/28/2023
Administrative/Communications/IT
Education/Child Care/Preschool
Finance/Bookkeeper/Treasurer
- Treasurer (PT), Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Tacoma
Music/Musicians
Youth and Family Program Managers
- (no positions currently open in this area)
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Upcoming Synod Dates
Spring Retreat for Women of the ELCA Is April 28 to 30 at Black Diamond
Synod Workshops, Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn, May 5th, 6:15-8:45pm (Open to Assembly voting members, plus all members of synod congregations) Registration out soon.
2023 Synod Assembly, Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn, Saturday, May 6th 8:30am-5:30pm
Synod Women’s Organization/WELCA Convention– Saturday, October 14, 2023 (location tbd)
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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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to the Synod’s Social Media
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