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Prayer of the Day
Living God, in Christ you make all things new. Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your glory, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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Upcoming Events
links to event info embedded if applicable
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Attention Rostered Leaders: Annual Minister Reports are due!
Rostered Leaders –
Please make time to submit your Annual Minister Reports to the Bishop. This report allows us to learn about your year and enables us to offer you the best support possible.
Here are the links to the reports:
Minister of Word and Sacrament
Minister of Word and Service
Your reports can be emailed to swwsynod@plu.edu.
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Attention Church Admins and Church Treasurers:
The ELCA Churchwide portal (elca.org/congregationreport)is now open for you to file the Annual Congregation Report/Form A. You should have received mail from Sue Rothmeyer’s office with instructions (elca.org/reportinstructions) and your congregation’s password.
Please make sure you take the time to file this report!
If you have any questions or need your password, please don’t hesitate to contact Stefanie at the Synod Office at (253) 535-8300 or swwsynod@plu.edu. Thank you.
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2025 SYNOD ASSEMBLY AND BISHOP’S ELECTION
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2025 Synod Assembly — June 13 & 14 — PLU Olson Auditorium
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Registration for the 2025 Synod Assembly is now OPEN!! Registration deadline is April 15th (no exceptions).
If you have questions or need help with your registration, please reach out to Stefanie at the Synod Office.
Things to know before you register:
- Overnight stays are not included in the registration process. You will make your own arrangements. A few hotel recommendations might be available to our travelers.
- The registration process includes lunch for both days (Friday and Saturday). All other meals (breakfast/dinner) will be independent. A selection of restaurant recommendations will be available.
Register Here
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If you are a rostered minister of the SWWA Synod under the Retired, On Leave from Call, Retired under Contract, or Disability Status and would like to issue a Pre-Notification of Intent to Vote, please fill out the Pre-Notification of Intent to Vote Form and email it back to Stefanie at swwsynod@plu.edu. Deadline is March 12th, 2025.
If your congregation would like to submit a Resolution/Memorial, please refer to How To Write A Resolution and submit your Resolution Submission Form to the Synod Office no later than March 12, 2025.
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Welcome to Rudy Vazquez!
our new Region 1 Financial Services Officer
Rudy Vazquez has been appointed as the next Financial Services Officer for Region 1. He began working with Alyce Bakker and Karen Dicken on February 5 and will assume Alyce’s full duties mid to late April, upon her retirement. (As you may know Alyce is retiring after 37 faithful years of service to the Region. More on celebrating Alyce and the many gifts she has shared with the six synods of Region 1 in the coming weeks!)
Rudy grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved to the mainland in 1995. He has 20 years of experience in accounting and HR, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico, in Education and Business Administration and a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix, in Business and Accounting.
Rudy and his wife Kathryn live in Marysville and will celebrate their 26th Wedding Anniversary in November. They have two children. A son, Rudy Jr., who is sixteen and attends Everett Community College’s Running Start Program. His goal is to complete law school and work as an attorney. Their daughter, Kyrmarie, is a vivacious six year old enjoying kindergarten.
Rudy is excited about beginning his new job with the Region 1 ELCA Financial Services Office, explaining that they are active in their church, LifePoint, so working for a religiously affiliated organization is what drew Rudy to apply for the position. He indicated religion is important to his family and he has a number of relatives who are pastors, including a grandfather, father, father-in-law, brother and brother in law.
In his spare time Rudy enjoys watching a variety of sports and has a passion and love for fishing.
We give thanks to God for this new ministry partner, rich in gifts needed for this important role which partners with the six synods of Region 1 of the ELCA. They ensure that our mission support dollars are received, recorded, and distributed in the ways that each synod directs; providing oversight through detailed, transparent reporting; and complete audits ensures good care of your gifts to further God’s mission.
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Region One Online Forum
for our faith communities regarding immigration
February 12, 6:30pm on Zoom
Considering the new Trump Administration directives limiting congregational rights to offer sanctuary for our immigrant neighbors, and our position as a faith community rooted in biblical admonitions to accompany the stranger, we highly encourage you to participate in a Region 1 online forum discussing protections for churches, organizations and individuals and how we might know our rights and/or rise up to be sanctuaries for our most vulnerable.
We are grateful to be joined by immigration experts, including leaders from Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and Lutheran Community Services NW. Please invite any other key leaders you know, of any denomination.
Registration required. Free. Please share this invitation.
Register here
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Synod Friends,
The Northwest Washington and Southwestern Washington Synods of the ELCA invite all congregations to join us for a special joint event sponsored by our anti-racism teams.
Saturday, March 1, 10am-2pm | Cost is $40 | Lunch is included.
NOW OFFERING AN ONLINE OPTION!
When registering, simply select the Online Registration option.
Please register by February 22.
We will spend a day studying “Call to Allyship,” a book written by ELCA rostered leaders of color from across the country. One of the authors, Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin (pastor at Immanuel Lutheran in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood), will be helping to lead our discussion. Other discussion leaders are pastors and lay leaders from congregations who have read this book together.
The book can be purchased from major booksellers, preferably directly from Augsburg Fortress: https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/9781506497761/Call-to-Allyship
Says one local congregation member: “This is an important anti-racism book for any congregation to read. Any congregation will benefit from it!”
We look forward to sharing conversation and time – with you!
Register here: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9412360
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FROM OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
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Women’s Retreat March 2025
Spend a winter weekend at Holden Village for our annual Women’s Retreat. Through teaching sessions, group conversations, reflections, crafts, and outdoor adventures like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, Women’s Retreat will provide opportunities to build new relationships, rejuvenate past relationships, reconnect with the self, and join other women in conversation and recreation.
https://www.holdenvillage.org/calendar/womens-retreat-march-2025/
Men’s Retreat February 28 – March 3
Come to Holden Village for a weekend of spiritual renewal and recreation at our 2025 Men’s Retreat. Connect with yourself and others through teaching sessions, drumming, nature, poetry, and conversation. Enjoy abundant snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, crafts such as pottery and wood carving, and relaxation in the solitude of the mountains.
https://www.holdenvillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Mens-Retreat-PDF.pdf
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Have you ever pondered Jesus’ words about visiting and freeing the prisoners? How do we as disciples faithfully follow those calls to action? One Parish One Prisoner offers a two year journey of relationship with one person coming home from prison. As this relationship brings us closer to the world of prisons, we glimpse resurrection.
Join us for our quarterly Zoom Office Hours to ask questions and learn more: Wednesday, February 26 at 5pm! Join here: bit.ly/OPOPoffice
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Presiding Bishop Eaton Issues Statement on Immigration Executive Orders
January 28, 2025
“When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34).
Dear church,
I write to you today with grave concern. Over the past few days, ELCA leaders and ministry partners have shared with me the immediate impacts of recent executive orders focused on immigration. I have heard about families frightened of being torn apart and from congregations fearful that their churches can no longer offer safety or support to their immigrant neighbors. I have heard from faith partners ordered to stop services to refugees and from businesses upended by workforce disruptions.
Many of us in the ELCA come from immigrant peoples. As Lutherans, we have a long tradition of hospitality, dating back to the end of World War II, of helping displaced Lutheran refugees, assisting subsequent refugee groups and welcoming new immigrants. Our church has long called for compassionate, just and wise immigration reform. (“Toward Compassionate, Just and Wise Immigration Reform” social policy resolution).
Today, recent immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced people are members of our congregations, communities and leadership. The presence of newcomers heightens our awareness of issues of relevance to the church so we can take part in faithful deliberation on public policies, like the ones that have come out in recent days. Our church’s grave concerns grow out of these experiences with the people being affected.
From these experiences, people in our church have learned that the decision to leave one’s home country is not made lightly. Many have arrived fleeing persecution because of how they worship, their political views, or their race and nationality. Political instability, environmental catastrophes and lack of opportunities have also compelled many to seek a more dignified life. Out of our own Lutheran experience of knowing many refugees, we have long stood against exclusionary attitudes and policies toward successive newcomers.
Among the policy changes to which our church’s social teaching objects include:
- Orders to suspend all refugee resettlement.
- New and sweeping enforcement priorities.
- The summons of military personnel to the border.
- The decision to revoke special guidance regarding enforcement activity at or near sacred or protected places.
Keeping communities safe and supporting the well-being of all people is a goal shared by the ELCA. Yet it’s worth naming that these executive actions are increasing fear and division within our society. Some people, including U.S. citizens, are alarmed about immigration enforcement at churches, schools and playgrounds. Some are afraid to seek care at hospitals or to access essential services.
The ELCA supports the view that nations have the responsibility to protect their borders and safeguard their communities. However, these policies must cause “neither undue repercussions within immigrant communities nor bias against them” (“Immigration” social message, page 7). Just policies include recognition of the humanity of immigrants without status, respect for the dignity of those at the border and refuge for displaced people.
The Scriptures are clear. We are called to see anew the image of God in our immigrant neighbors. Following God’s call in Leviticus 19 that is echoed throughout Scripture, the time is now.
It is my sincere hope as bishop that various harmful actions will be reconsidered. It is my fervent prayer that we, as church together, will be bold in our witness and actions. ELCA churchwide ministries will continue to provide resources to protect the most vulnerable among us.
Let us together join in:
- A Call to Prayer alongside and for immigrants and sojourners, our communities and for our leaders, that they will act wisely and justly, protect all people and not cause harm.
- A Call to Learning, using resources such as the ELCA social message “Immigration”; the ELCA’s strategy for Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO), including “Know Your Rights” information; and companion resources from Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) and Church World Service on the policy changes. Join ELCA AMMPARO and Global Refuge for a webinar, “What Now—Resources for Faith Communities after Executive Orders,” on Thursday, Jan. 30, 4-5 p.m. Eastern time. Registration is required. Register here.
- A Call to Personal Witness by speaking out against rhetoric that dehumanizes and demonizes anyone made in the image of God, and by promoting accurate information about neighbors and issues of public concern, in the spirit of the Conference of Bishops statement on the need to speak the truth.
- A Call to Public Witness, using the resources of ELCA AMMPARO, ELCA Witness in Society and State Public Policy Offices, and joining with our ecumenical partners as we offer faithful, direct witness to government.
As a sanctuary denomination, the ELCA proclaims walking with immigrants as a matter of faithfulness. The ELCA does not call for activity contrary to the law but for congregations, leaders and individuals to explore resources addressing how to interpret this memorial to their own contexts. Most of all, I encourage all to discern together how to live our faith, excluding none from God’s overflowing love.
God calls us to welcome the stranger and love the sojourner as we love ourselves. I pray for God’s grace to increase understanding of and mercy toward immigrants in these days.
In Christ,
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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A Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rev. Richard E. Jaech, Bishop
Synod Office Hours
9am – 4pm
Tuesday – Friday
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