THE BEACON WEEKLY

Articles this issue…                           

Synod eNews – Week of October 8, 2023

The Beacon Newsletter 10/03/2023

Synod eNews – Week of October 8, 2023

Oct 10, 2023 12:34 pm

Southwestern Washington Synod E-News Week of October 8, 2023 Synod Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 4pm News and Updates October is Clergy Appreciation month! Here are resources from the ELCA on Rostered Ministers Appreciation with helpful tips on how to plan a Rostered Ministers Appreciation event: https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Rostered-Ministers-Appreciation-Booklet.pdf?_ga=2.46320615.1107309826.1695742221-1870145156.1654022968 Download the Southwestern Washington Synod 2024 Compensation Guidelines here Valuable Information from Portico Ready for Annual Enrollment? Watch for an email from Portico when your Annual Enrollment window is open. This is your opportunity to make decisions about health coverage, pre-tax retirement contributions, vision care services, supplemental life insurance, beneficiaries, and […]
Read in browser »

Are you a Microsoft Outlook email user? Please update your software immediately. Find out why here.

Important Announcements & News…

…Joyful Lives, Joy-filled Community: Congregational Conversations will be held during coffee hour after the 10:30a service and at the Adult Formation at 9 am on the following Sundays: October 8th, 15th, & 22nd. We will talk about the 3 months Fr. James was on Sabbatical and the community and Fr. James explored Joy while apart. We will share what our Joys are. We will learn from each other and the Holy Spirit how our Joy informs our mission and our movement forward together.

…Thanksgiving Potluck: The Thanksgiving Potluck will be held on Sunday, November 12, 2023. This year we will be holding the potluck at St. Christopher’s following the 10:30 am service. Click here to sign up to bring an item, and/or volunteer to help with event setup or cleanup.  If you have questions, please contact Kathy Haller at 360-923-0810 (calls), 360-791-2813 (text) or speak to her at church after the 10:30 service.

… New book for group study this Fall (begins Oct. 29th):  The Four Vision Quests of Jesus, by Steven Charleston (click here to see/order the book). “A unique look at Christian biblical interpretation and theology from the perspective of Native American tradition. This book focuses on four specific experiences of Jesus as portrayed in the synoptic gospels. It examines each story as a ‘vision quest,’ a universal spiritual phenomenon, but one of particular importance within North American indigenous communities.” We will begin reading/discussing this book in various groups beginning October 29th.

Pies for sale! We did not sell out of pies at this year’s Blueberry Bash. They are going quickly, but if you know of anyone who would like a pie reach out to Laura to arrange a pickup. They are $22 each and frozen so will continue to keep for months (perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, just because…). Laura can be reached at lawigand@gmail.com or 703-424-8664 (call or text).

Couples Class Forming: “Relationship Checkup”: All relationships need a “tune-up” from time to time – some extra attention, investment, and celebration of strengths and achievements.

• WHO: This class is for all couples in a long-term, committed relationship – married, partnered, engaged, etc. Although a Christian faith-based perspective is offered, spouses of other faiths or no particular faith will find this class helpful and without judgment. GLBTQ+ couples are invited as well. We truly mean all couples.
• FORMAT: Couples will take a survey-style quiz online that points out both strengths and challenges to their relationship. Only the couple and facilitators will receive the results. General relationship information will be presented to the class. Couples will be sent home with “homework” to do together as well as given opportunities to converse privately with Fr. James or another facilitator.
• HOW LONG and WHEN: -TBD- It will be a multi-week class meeting for about 1.5 hours each week. Time/Day TBD.
• WHERE: St. Christopher’s Community Church, Olympia, WA
• Interested? Sign up for more info here: https://stchristopherolympia.ccbchurch.com/group_detail.php?group_id=77

St. Christopher’s Needs Your Help:

• Interested in being a Coffee Hour Host?  If you would like to volunteer to be a Coffee Hour Host, please sign up in CCB by clicking here or using the link in the email that you received.
• Interested in acting as a Greeter? Contact Pat Kelley. Text 360.359.6973
• Interested in acting as a Reader? If you are interested in reading at one or more services, please sign up here or use the link that was emailed to you. If you have questions, please contact Marcia Rugg at 206.200.5536 or via email at ruggmbeach@comcast.net.

Text Message Reminders about Worship. Would you text message invitations to our online and in-person services? Receive reminders on your phone by texting WORSHIP to (360) 810-3292 or clicking this link https://mtxt.cc/list/join/360.810.3292/worship. You can opt out anytime by texting STOP or text HELP to see other options.

In our Prayers

Prayer of the Week: Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.. Amen.

In Our Prayers: 

Sherri Scott
Marty Walther
Pat Kelley

In Memory
Udo Klumpp
Alenka Andruss

Congregational Cycle
Maggie Rydman

Diocesan Cycle
Annie Wright School, Tacoma
Charles Wright Academy, Tacoma
The Table: University of Washington Episcopal Campus Ministry

Synod Cycle
Synod Council
Bishop Rick Jaech and Synod Staff

Daily Scripture Lessons

Regular time in scripture and prayer are some of the ways we grow as people of faith: here is a list of suggested daily readings to complement this week’s readings in worship.

Monday
Psalm 144
Ezekiel 19:10-14
1 Peter 2:4-10

Tuesday
Psalm 144
Isaiah 27:1-6
2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Wednesday
Psalm 144
Song of Solomon 8:5-14
John 11:45-57

Thursday
Psalm 23
Isaiah 22:1-8a
1 Peter 5:1-5, 12-14

Friday
Psalm 23
Isaiah 22:8b-14
James 4:4-10

Saturday
Psalm 23
Isaiah 24:17-23
Mark 2:18-22