From Bishop Rick Jaech, SW WA Synod.  Dear People of the Southwestern Washington Synod,   I urge you to join together in prayer in this time of violence and assault on the very heart of our nation.  May God strengthen us to work together as citizens and elected leaders to live justly and lawfully.                                               Bishop Rick Jaech   We pray for our nation:    Almighty God, bless our land with honesty, truth, honor, and compassion. Save us from violence, […]

      ELCA presiding bishop joins ecumenical partners in Advent message   CHICAGO (Nov. 30, 2020) — The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and leaders of The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have joined together to offer the following Advent message:   Churches Beyond Borders – Advent Call to Address Racism and White Supremacy       John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4).    In the wilderness and in the river, on […]

White Supremacy and the Epiphany: A Statement from Bishop Rickel January 9, 2021 Shareable Web Link Dear Ones, “These tragedies have reminded us that words matter and that the power of life and death is in the tongue.” -Chaplain to the Senate, The Rev. Barry Black. January 6th. The Feast of the Epiphany in our Christian calendar. Much of that was lost on most people in the United States on Wednesday. For me, the day started with prayer, our Christmas season finally coming to its end. It also ended in prayer, a prayer offered by the Chaplain of the Senate, […]

Reset Your Money Habits with a Spending Cleanse No one is perfect with money; we’re all creatures of habit. When we’re stressed out or bored or unhappy, we spend more, which can become a vicious cycle. A spending cleanse is a way to reset our money habits. It means paying attention to where our money goes, to determine if our spending aligns with our values and goals. We all need a periodic spending cleanse because it’s so easy to let good money habits slide. It’s surprising how quickly we get off track. A spending cleanse is a time to step […]

Create a Holiday Spending Plan For most of us the holidays will be different this year. Whether it’s missing a loved one, facing financial concerns or celebrating virtually. It’s tempting to go all-in in an effort to make up for everything that isn’t “normal”. However, piling up debt during the holidays is a sure way to diminish holiday cheer. Even if we can pay cash for all the gifts we buy for our family and friends, it is important to ask if uncontrolled spending really delivers the happiness we expect. And we have to consider the consequences of showering our […]