Bishop Robert D. Hofstad Rev. Ronald Hoyum assistant to the bishop

Rev. Valinda Morse assistant to the bishop

Rev. Melanie Wallschlaeger director for evangelical mission

Rev. Donald Fossum assembly planner

Allison Ramsey office manager

Rachel Pritchett editor, rachelpritchett @msn.com, 206-498-0920

Phone 253-535-8300

Address 420 121st St. S Tacoma, WA 98444

Email swwsynod@plu.edu

Websites Lutheranssw.org Elca.org

Blog swwsynodelca. blogspot.com

Facebook Facebook.com/pages/ southwestern-washington-synod/129047787133  

Moments for Mission Southwestern Washington Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ by empowering congregations and church leaders to grow in worship, education, outreach, stewardship and other ministries. August 2012    

 

 

 The synod in summertime

 Photos by Cole Forney

Left to right, Amanda Snow, Brandon Ruhland and Delaney Fouell clean a fire truck in one of a dozen Community Shepherds tasks performed around Castle Rock in July. during a week’s worth of Community Shepherd’s projects around Castle Rock I July. performed by the Community Shepherd’s program of St. Paul Lutheran Church. k. Washington Synod, is greeted by Bishop Robert D. Hofstad on May 18 in Vancouver, Wash.

 

St. Paul’s Community Shepherds invest at home

 Cody Dowell hauls a load at one of the gardens tended by the Community Shepherds.

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

CASTLE ROCK — They painted the outside of a restaurant struggling to stay open, then pulled waist-high weeds at a community garden. They washed and waxed fire trucks and tested the hoses. They even battled the afternoon heat to build a skate-park ramp. Continues

With strong resolve to

Community Shepherds: Continued

With strong resolve to do mission work at home, 42 middle- and high-schoolers took part in the Community Shepherds Program at St. Paul Lutheran Church from July 9 through 14. They pulled off a dozen projects in all. “We had a bunch of different work sites this year,” said organizer Lucas Myers, 23, St. Paul's youth director. Each day when they finished, they returned to the RV park where they were camping. Then it was into the pool to cool off their weary bones. After dinner, they worshiped and sang around the campfire. In the end, the young Community Shepherds were changed. So were the people they touched. “I just don't think they’re going to understand the love that’s going to come from doing these things, how that can change someone's entire life," Myers said. The need is enormous in Cowlitz County, historically dependent on logging and construction. Unemployment persists at 11.2 percent, among the highest rates in Washington. In the past, St. Paul youth had gone to other places for their summer mission work. Why they weren't working in their home communities was a question that grew louder. "I thought, 'Why are we going to Idaho and spending thousands of dollars on something that isn't being invested in our own community?' " Myers said. The $50 cost per person was more than covered by fundraisers. Myers is considering extending the Community Shepherds program throughout next summer next year, maybe with less camping. "It's more of a lifestyle rather than a getaway," he said. The Rev. Robert Sinclair of St. Paul concluded, “I think that God works in, with and through all

The need is enormous in Cowlitz County, historically dependent on logging and construction. Unemployment is 11.2 percent, among the highest rates in Washington. In the past, St. Paul youth had gone to other places for their summer mission work. Why they weren't working in their home communities was a question that grew louder. "I thought, 'Why are we going to Idaho and spending thousands of dollars on something that isn't being invested in our own community?' " Myers said. The $50 cost per person was more than covered by fundraisers. Myers is considering extending the Community Shepherds program throughout next summer next year, maybe with less camping. "It's more of a lifestyle rather than a getaway," he said. The Rev. Robert Sinclair of St. Paul concluded, “I think that God works in, with and through all of his children."    

2 The synod in summertime

Fehring, Dieckhoff use time away from school to teach English By the Rev. Steve Ray, executive director, chinaconnect

This summer, three volunteer teachers, Joy Fehring, Linda Dieckhoff and Andrea Schatzman, are teaching oral English skills and American culture to youth in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. Fehring grew up at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia where her parents Dorothy and Carl still attend. Dieckhoff is a member of St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church of Tacoma, and Schatzman is from Minnesota. Febring specializes in teaching autistic students in the St. Paul School District. Dieckhoff is a counselor in the Tacoma School District. Chinaconnect recently established a relationship the Nanchang Institute of Technology to develop opportunities for volunteers to serve Chinese society through short- and long-term English language training, short term youth service teams and semester-abroad college students. Later on this summer, I will meet with Nanchang leaders to see where we can work together to serve the most needy in Nanchang. This summer, volunteer English teachers will visit the new chinaconnect HomeAlone Kids Care Project. Chinaconnect works with local government officials in this nationwide program to support kids whose parents are working in other provinces. To keep abreast with our summer activities, go to www.chinaconnectonline.org. Questions? Contact me at sray@chinaconnectonline.org. Pictured: Nanchang at night

 

3 The synod in summertime

On the coast, first came a food bank, then a garden By Ann Mergens, Pacific County Press SOUTH BEND — Last October, the empty field on Water Street was dusty or muddy, depending on the weather. July 7 was different when the Growing Together Community Gardens (GTCG), begun by the Rev. Laurie Johnson of First Lutheran Church of South Bend and many others, held an open house to show off what a little water, some seeds, and working together can accomplish. The barren lot now is a flourishing green expanse of container gardens with tomatoes, cauliflower, Swiss chard, lettuce, broccoli, tiny bean sprouts and berries growing in lush profusion. GTCG contributes produce to the Legacy Community Outreach Food Bank next to the garden. The food bank grew out of the church in years past, and now comes the garden to complement it. But both are truly a community effort. South Bend Mayor Kirk Church listed the 67 organizations, businesses, individuals and volunteers who have so far contributed to its growing success, after which he cut the ribbon that made it official. Pictured, the Growing Together Community Gardens

In the city, potato towers a growing concern By Allison Ramsey, Resurrection Lutheran church member and synod office manager TACOMA — Four years ago, Cindy Niemi, a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, got the idea to start a community garden in the back of the church in the middle of what used to be blackberries, brush and horrible soil conditions. After working with the men’s ministry and outreach committees, as well as with local donors, the garden has grown in lots of ways. This Community Garden has taken on the spirit of true victory gardens — bringing people together to grow their own food, and also providing recreation, education and beautification. The garden provides produce for the New Jerusalem Food Bank in Tacoma. Last year, the potato towers, under the leadership of Master Gardener Jennifer Schroeder, produced 200 pounds of potatoes in four towers for the food bank. Potato towers are square, high-sided wooden boxes that contain multiple potato plants and are built higher by adding soil as the potatoes grow, making room for more. Resurrection’s Facilities Committee has built a beautiful fence this year around the garden, and enlarged the space by several plots. The garden has been blessed with donations, too. Garden workers received compost from a landscaping business. They also are active in Tacoma’s Community Garden Program, from which they’ve received supplies. This year, they’ve organized events around the gardening including classes, a scarecrow contest, and “Happy Hour in the Garden” (non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks using fresh herbs and the fresh produce.)

 

 

Pictured left to right with a potato tower is Ramsey, Tracy Johnson and Schroeder.

4

Synod news

Stoehr appointed synod treasurer The Southwestern Washington Synod’s Executive Board has appointed Dianne Stoehr as synod treasurer. She replaces Andreas Udbye, retiring after seven years of keeping the synod’s financial books. Stoehr is a certified public accountant with Doty, Beardsley, Rosengren & Co. of Tacoma. She also is an adjunct faculty member at Saint Martin’s University of Lacey. Her accounting career spans 20 years. She is a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Tacoma and also serves on the board of directors of Peace Community Center, a multi-use facility adjacent to the church. Originally from Alexandria, Va., Stoehr accompanied her husband, Dan — an Air Force officer — to assignments in Arizona, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Alabama and Washington state. They have two grown children, Philip and Lauren. Stoehr becomes one of four officers of the synod. The others are the bishop, vice president and secretary. Bishop Robert D. Hofstad said, “Congratulations, Dianne. I am most pleased to have you join the Executive Committee of the Southwestern Washington Synod.”

Plaehn’s newest book now available The Rev. Holle Plaehn, longtime pastor at Peace Lutheran Church of Tacoma and now retired, has published a book of his inspirational reflections and stories called "Door To Door - With Jesus - In Jesus - Through the Lord Jesus - the Messiah.”

The book offers practical instruction on sharing the Good News through doorbelling neighborhood residents. Plaehn, in his time on the Hilltop, doorbelled many thousands of times. The book also is suitable for an adult-education class.

"The Gospel of Jesus is so precious and we, as followers of Jesus, need encouragement to share this hopeful Good News in a world that is lacking in hopeful news," said Plaehn, who served Peace from 1971 to 2003.

This is Plaehn’s second book. In 2005, he published "Plaehn Words from the Hill," a series of sermons following the liturgical year.

His newest costs $15, with all proceeds benefiting programs at Peace. Send book requests to Peace at 2106 S. Cushman Ave., Tacoma, WA 98405. Add $2.50 per book for shipping. Plaehn also is available to speak to congregations about reaching out to neighbohood members. To contact Plaehn, send an email to plaehn1@wamail.net.

 

 

 

5 Synod news

Assistant Bishop Morse completes companion visit to Namibia The Rev. Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop, and husband Lyle have returned from northern Namibia, having completed a visitation to the synod’s longstanding companion synod there, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia. She met one of ELCIN’s new bishops, the Rev. Shekutaamba Nambala, and visited the Onkugo yEpongo Project, an emerging garden this synod has helped support that will feed orphans and widows. Morse reports that a fence now is in place, and planting is planned for the next growing season. Morse also learned that ELCIN has great difficulty paying fees for membership to Lutheran World Federation, and often is faced with the choice of funding its own churches or getting current with LWF, which it is not. She attended a consultation, an opportunity for Namibian Lutherans and ELCA members from four synods including this one to compare notes and look to the future. And, she visited Oshigambo Lutheran High School and Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, two other ELCIN-supported endeavors. Morse took gifts from throughout the synod. They included hats for babies made by women of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia and others, forged-metal crosses made by Paul Wagner of Good Shepherd, soccer balls for students, and a red stole for the new bishop from former synod Bishop David Wold. To read her reflections, visit the synod blog at swwsynodelca.blogspot.com. ELCIN has a retooled and greatly improved website, complete with rotating window. Read it at www.elcin.org.na/. Pictured: Morse and ELCIN leaders; local preachers at the garden n Synod’s Namibia Task Force makes contribution: The synod’s Namibia Task Force meeting in June voted to send contributions to Namibia. They include $8,500 for scholarships for students at Oshigambo High School; $5,000 to ELCIN; and $3,500 to Paulinum Seminary.

 

 

6

Synod news

Upcoming StewardShops celebrate abundance A series of upcoming stewardship workshops throughout the Southwestern Washington Synod will focus on celebrating abundance. Led by stewardship expert Marc Rieke, the free StewardShops will be based on conversations among participants. All are from 6 to 9 p.m. and include dinner. They are sponsored by the synod. Here's the schedule: n Aug. 21, First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo; n Aug. 22, Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Tacoma; n Aug. 27, First Lutheran Church of South Bend; and n Aug. 30, Immanuel Lutheran Church of Vancouver. Rieke is president of The Enrichment Group of Tacoma, a consulting group serving Christians in stewardship-education efforts. He is a member of Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood, and serves on the Synod Council. To register, contact Allison Ramsey in the Synod Office at swwsynod@plu.edu or 253-535-8300.

Congregations in transition Amazing Grace, Aberdeen P TR Linda Nou Chinook P TR Pulpit supply Christ, Belfair P C Robin Pizanti First, Port Orchard P TR George Larson Mountain View, Edgewood AP I John Vaswig Naselle P TR Pulpit supply Our Saviour’s, Cathlamet P TR Les Foss Key: AP – Associate Pastor; C- Calling; I – Interviewing; P – Pastor; NV – New Vacancy; TR – Transition

Calls accepted: The Rev. Kathleen (Kit) Neeley has accepted a call to serve at Family of Christ Lutheran Church of Vancouver. She transfers from the Oregon Synod.

Contract accepted: The Rev. Jennifer Quanbeck has accepted a contract to serve King of Glory in Billings, Mont.  

Got news for Moments for Mission? Information, stories and story requests for Moments for Mission can be sent to the synod office or directly to Communicator Rachel Pritchett at rachelpritchett@msn.com or 206-498-0920.

7 Pastor’s corner

Questions lead toward deeper listening By the Rev. Jim Stender, St. Andrew Lutheran Church of Vancouver

We have announced a season of listening to God at St. Andrew, and just the mention of it has helped me to listen. Recently I listened better to the member who forgot how to pray; a homeless man asleep at our front door whose only request was for a box of cereal; and the dynamics in the relationship of a young couple planning a summer wedding. I have crafted five questions, one for each working day, to invite you to a deeper listening of God.

1. Am I mindful of God’s presence in myself and others? At times it is difficult to see the inner light in others and ourselves. It is easier to condemn than console, blame than pardon, accuse than forgive. Our hearts can close up like clamshells. It takes a step of faith to see we are all God’s children and to see more than meets the eye. It's the more that we listen for and look for.

2. Do I listen to everyone I meet as one who reflects the image of God? Listening to others is one of the best ways to show care and concern as Christ did. Sick people know the difference when a ruse touches them as if she were an inspector examining meat or with tender kindness. In a dehumanized worked, listening for the image of God in others restores our humanity and unity as one created in God’s image.

3. Do I experience living in the present moment as a gift of God? I know that when life goes too fast, it is impossible to see anything or anyone in depth. I do not want to miss the details created by the Master Artist. If I fail to see the present moment as a gift, I may forfeit the best chance to receive love or imprint love on those I care most about.

4. Do I see the world as God's? Having a house has been a big step toward a sense of security and happiness for me and my family. But the sobering truth is that we are living on borrowed time and in rental property we will never own even after we make the final mortgage payment. I realize I am looking out of one small porthole among billions on a spaceship we call Earth. I pray that I may listen and look with the ears and eyes of a child to embrace all with awe and wonder of what God has created and owns.

5. Do I pray always giving thanks? Prayer is not only for special occasions. Prayer is not always making a catalog of requests. To pray unceasingly is to sense that my thirst for God is as great as God's thirst for me. Prayer is at the center of integrating who I am and what I do. But when I thank God for favors, promises fulfilled and hope yet to be realized, I move from task to task with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

I want to be like “Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz,” who celebrates life in a new world every day. Step by step I want to follow my own yellow brick road listening for directions. Every day I want to go to higher and deeper places of participation and prayer. I may not be wearing magic slippers, but I want to be responsive to every movement of the Spirit and listen to what I think is the music of eternity.

 

8 Upcoming

Mom/daughter duo present harp music

Heavenly Harp, a mother-and-daughter harp duo performs in a free concert at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Vancouver. Mother Karin Gunderson and daughter Joy Gunderson will be joined by others in the light classical presentation. St. Paul is at 1309 Franklin St.

Rummage sale to benefit Empowering Women

Again this year, supporters of Empowering Woman, a nonprofit to support women exiting Washington prisons, will take place at the Gig Harbor Grange Hall at Artondale and Wollochet drives. Donations can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 15 and 16. The sale will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 and 18. To learn more, call 253-208-3307.

Bible-study author to visit

Audrey West, author of the 2012-2013 Gather magazine Bible study, will introduce the study to the Southwestern Washington Synod Women of the ELCA in Tacoma. Taking place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at Christ Lutheran Church of Lakewood, the event costs $14. To register, telephone Kathy at 253-307-5761. To subscribe to Gather at $12 annually, call 800-328-4648 or email to subscriptions@augsburgfortress.org.

Free showing of ‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell’ coming

A free showing of "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" will take place at 2 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Raymond Theatre in downtown Raymond. Sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the movie is about the effort among women of Liberia to end the civil war that ravaged their families and country. Leaders Leymah Gbowee and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won the Nobel Peace Prize. Refreshments will be served. Those wanting a weekend on the coast are invited to contact First Lutheran Church of nearby South Bend at 360-875-5700 or office@harborlutheran.org. The theater is at 323 Third St.

Two global-mission gatherings slated for fall

St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church will be the location for the synod’s annual global-mission day of learning and sharing. The Global Mission Committee has selected “Global Stories: From Trip to Pilgrimage” as the theme for the event taking place Nov. 10. Workshops on that theme will be offered along with speakers and lunch. More will be coming in September and October in the synod newsletter. An ELCA Global Mission Gathering will be Sept. 21 and 22 in Portland, Ore., with the theme "Global, Local, Glocal." For more information, visit www.elcaa.org/glocal.

Schoenborn to lead women’s convention

Carolyn Schoenborn, director of Life Journey Ministry, is the keynoter for a convention of the Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA, to take place Oct. 12 and 13 in Olympia at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Schoenborn will speak on the theme "Sunday People in a Monday World.” The Rev. Molly Knutson-Keller of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Olympia will be the Bible-study leader. The cost is $50. To learn more or to register, contact Carol Fossum at carolfossum@comcast.net.

9

Our congregations

From congregations across the synod, for keeping up

50 years: Spanaway Lutheran Church is marking its 50th years of existence with activities throughout the year. Member Karen Whitmore has been at Spanaway since the very beginning, and has submitted an article about what the anniversary means to members of Spanaway. To read Whitmore's article, visit the synod blog at swwsynodelca.blogspot.com. Half-century mark: All Saints’ of Auburn is marking its 50th year in 2012. New group: Faith Community Church of Kingston, a new synodically authorized worshiping community of the ELCA, has completed just three months of worship. Getting the word out about the new federated Episcopalian/Lutheran group is underway. The “Dream Team,” a group of pastors and priests from Kitsap County, met recently to plan next steps. The team has met for two years to establish this worship opportunity that previously lacked an ELCA presence. WHO by the numbers: The poor economy continues to result in biggest ever numbers of homeless served by Winter Hospital Overflow in Vancouver. Under WHO, homeless people receive shelter, food and other services at St. Paul and St. Andrew Lutheran churches between November and March. During 2011/2012, bed nights totaled 9,850, a 3 percent increase over the previous year. People

Katie VanBeek has been named the new adviser to the synod’s youth group. She serves at Peninsula of Gig Harbor and is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran College of Everett. She will be featured in the September Moments for Mission. Ben Adams is the new vicar at St. Andrew of Vancouver. Adams just completed his second year of seminary at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. He was raised in Pinckney, Mich., and earned a master's degree in finance before deciding instead to pursue becoming and ELCA pastor.

Calendar Aug. 1: Harp concert, 7 p.m., St. Paul of Vancouver, see Page 8 Aug. 3: Catechumenate training, Spokane, www.catechumenate.org Aug. 17 to 18: Empowering Women rummage sale, Gig Harbor, see Page 8 Aug. 18: Women’s Bible Study Event, Christ, Lakewood, see Page 8 Aug. 19: “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” film showing, 2 p.m., Raymond, see Page 8 Aug. 21: StewardShop, 6 to 9 p.m., First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo, see Page 6 Aug. 22: StewardShop, 6 to 9 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Tacoma, see Page 6 Aug. 27: StewardShop, 6 to 9 p.m. First Lutheran Church of South Bend, see Page 6 Aug. 28: StewardShop, 6 to 9 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church of Vancouver, see Page 6 Sept. 21 and 22: ELCA global-mission event, Portland, Ore. Sept. 22: Synod Council meets, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bethlehem, Tacoma Oct. 6: Auction to support Mount Rainier Lutheran High School, Tacoma, www.mrlh.org Oct. 7: Associated Ministries hunger walk, www.associatedministries.org Oct. 12 to 13: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA convention, Good Shepherd, Olympia, see Page 8 Oct. 19: Region 1 Governing Council Oct. 26 to 27: Synod Council Retreat, Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way Oct. 26 to 27: Faith Action Network retreat on hunger, poverty and the environment, Lazy F Camp, Ellensburg Nov. 2: 1,000 Mission Friends phone-a-thon Nov. 10: Synod global-mission event, St. Mark’s by The Narrows, Tacoma, see Page 8 Jan. 22, 2013: Prayer Retreat preceding Bishop’s Convocation, Seabeck Conference Center Jan. 22 to 23: Bishop’s Convocation, Seabeck Conference Center

June 7 to 8, 2013: Assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod, Murano Hotel, Tacoma