Racial Equity and Reparations

The NWWA Synod's Racial Equity and Reparations Team is meeting this week to make another round of (re)distributions. All BIPOC Rostered Ministers, candidates for ministry and interns/vicars in our Synod are eligible to receive a funding distribution.

Email nwwasynodreparations@gmail.com TODAY, February 6 to sign-up!

If you would like to give to the fund, you may do so on the Synod website

Lutheran Services in America and the ELCA Expand Partnership to Address Systematic Barriers for Black, Brown and Indigenous Children and Youth



Black, Brown and Indigenous youth experience poorer outcomes within the child welfare system at higher rates compared to White children. Lutheran Services in America are partnering with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to transform policy and practice in child welfare and address systemic barriers for youth of color. With new investment from the ELCA in our Results Innovation Lab, we will lift up Lutheran social ministry in our work to reach more children and families in crisis and confront racial inequities in the child welfare system. Learn more here.

ELCA Coaching Network - Weekly Sessions

Every Wednesday at 11am (Pacific)

All lay leaders and rostered ministers are invited to join this weekly opportunity to hear from various leaders across the Church - and share in small group conversation - on the theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP.

Learn more about this week's topic and get the registration link here:  https://www.elcacoaching.org/

Interrogating Privilege

A LiVE Project Course

Class continues to meet Wednesdays Feb. 8

then no class until Thursdays during Lent: Feb. 23, Mar. 2, 9, 16

6:30pm - 8pm on Zoom

Presenters:

Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin & Rev. Dr. Beverly Wallace

This 8-week course is designed specifically for lay leaders to open up transparent, and honest conversations around the ways privilege shapes and impacts our lives and communities of faith. If you’ve read anti-racist books, and are looking for the next, best steps as an individual, family or congregation, this course offers additional ways to move forward. Participants will also have an option to explore their own bias through the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).

Read about our presenters and get registered HERE!

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We give thanks for our partner collaboration with Trinity Education Foundation who, through a generous grant, is helping us to reach and make accessible these learning opportunities to more and more communities of faith. This gift helps us to further expand on the great offerings that we can make available.

Talks at the Desk Trailer

Season 2 in February

African Descent Ministries of the ELCA celebrates Black History Month with “Talks at the Desk,” a four-part video series that will explore diverse expressions of the church. A new video will premiere each Wednesday in February at 5:30 pm (Pacific)

Watch live on Facebook, stream on YouTube or download at https://ELCA.org/ADM

For more information: https://ELCA.org/TalksAtTheDesk

Interfaith Advocacy Day

In Olympia, Thursday, February 9, 9am-3pm.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, there is no cost to attend this year. We will be gathering in person at The United Churches of Olympia in the morning and meeting with legislators in the afternoon. We are unsure at this point which portions of the day we will be able to offer for online participation; we will provide updates about that and registration for any online activities as more is known. Please join us to raise voices of faith and conscience in our State Capitol!

Registration for in person attendance closed on Feb 3, learn more about possible streaming of sessions here.

LiVE Project Winter Retreat

The Spirituality of Disruption

Saturday, February 11. 9am-3pm

at Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church, Bellevue

Collectively disruptions shape the human experience. Most recently we have experienced a global disruption through the Covid pandemic. As people of faith, we are also experiencing a disruption as the people of God within our local churches. Amid these various disruptions, and in light of the journey of Lent before us, how we can think of and practice our way faithfully through disruption as led by the Holy Spirit among us?

This winter retreat invites us into how we think about and engage in the discernment of the spirits, Creator and created, and how God calls us to faithful and focused witness as God's people. Through reflection and practical exercises, we will consider discernment processes that honor disruption as a movement of the Spirit, and our responsibility and call within it all.

Learn how to participate HERE.

Immanuel Community Services Fundraiser

Easy as Pie!

Immanuel Community Services (Seattle) as been chosen as Tutta Bella's fundraising partner for the second week of February and we want to get the word out about this easy way to support ICS. All you have to do is visit Tutta Bella (or order online tuttabella.com) Feb. 12-16, use the code "EasyAsPieICS" and 20% of the sale will go straight to ICS. 

PLTS - Mohrenwieser Lecture

"CRISPR Revolution in Science, Religion, and Ethics"

Wednesday, February 15 at 9am

(online & in person at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary)

In this lecture, Arvin Gouw PhD will present an overview of the CRISPR revolution and the various uses of CRISPR, a powerful gene editing tool. The questions and issues raised by the scientific, ethical, and religious communities amidst this CRISPR revolution are more important than the answers provided. The topics introduced here revolve around the medical uses of CRISPR, but CRISPR can be used to edit the genome of any living organism. The three domains discussed in this lecture (science, religion, and ethics) will need to engage this novel technology. Dr. Ted Peters, Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics, will offer a response. 

Learn more about this event, the presenters and how to register here: and Dr. Gouw here: https://www.plts.edu/events/5657/

Concert: Music From Montana

February 16, 7pm at Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church

2650 148th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA

Saint Andrew’s is pleased to welcome two choirs from the State of Montana! These two choirs – the Hellgate High School Chevaliers and Montana State University Montanans – from the Treasure State are visiting Bellevue to perform for the National Association of Music Education’s Northwest Conference.

Learn more about these two choirs here: https://salc.church/concerts

As with all concerts at Saint Andrew’s, this concert is FREE and open to all. 

Living Faithful: Called and Thriving

February 16-18 online

Lutheran women will gather via Zoom for this new online leadership event. It will move us faithward as we discover effective leadership that is sustainable and effective.

The four-hour sessions on both Friday and Saturday will include worship, Bible study presentations, breakout time, Q&A and much more. Prior registration is required. Spanish language translation services will be provided.

Learn more and register here.

Trauma & Its Healing

Sponsored by the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association

Non-members and non-nurses are welcome to attend!

February 21, 4-6 pm on ZOOM

Trauma is characterized in three ways: acute, chronic, and complex. This presentation will offer information as to the types of trauma; how they present/how they can be recognized; what damage they can do to those experiencing them; strategies for beginning the healing process; and vicarious trauma (the trauma suffered by those witnessing trauma suffered by others, including caregivers).

Registration fee: $20 for LFCNA members/ $30 for non-members

To register, please go to: https://elpna.org/event-5115478

Suicide Alertness Training

Satruday, February 25, 9am-1pm

at Freeborn Lutheran Church

2416 300th St. NW, Stanwood

LivingWorks safeTALK is a four-hour face-to-face workshop featuring powerful presentations, audiovisuals, and skills practice. You’ll learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, engaging someone, and connecting them to an intervention resource for further support.

Who should attend safeTALK? safeTALK is for everyone who wants to help prevent suicide: teachers, front line workers, clergy, volunteers, coaches, parents, youth (15 and older), teachers, law enforcement, social workers, anyone who wants to help prevent suicide.

FACILITATORS: John and Shirley Swanson Certified LivingWorks safeTALK and ASIST trainers.

Note: Class size limited to 40. Cost of training materials has been donated.

To pre-register email ASIST.Lifeguard@yahoo.com, or text 360-271-9896

Choir Concert

Saturday, March 4, 7pm at Faith, Redmond

9041 166th Ave NE, Redmond

Fine Arts at Faith is pleased to announce the next concert on our 2022-2023 season featuring Columbia Choirs of Metropolitan Seattle. Entitled "Gratitude and Belonging," it will feature Con Brio and Concord, the two adult choirs of Columbia Choirs of Metropolitan Seattle. Join these two Eastside choirs for an evening concert featuring choral works that explore the themes of Gratitude and Belonging. Suggested donation of $10/person or $20/family of two or more. Cash and checks will be accepted at the door. If paying by check, please make your checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church.

Online Trainings from ReconcilingWorks!

Find these two online trainings and more here:

https://www.reconcilingworks.org/trainings/

The Let’s Talk About SOGIE training and “Lutheran Introduction to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Gender Expression” are complementary resources, to be used side by side in your learning of language, and ways to extend hospitality to our LGBTQIA+ siblings. The training is great for those who are hoping to support their faith community in ongoing education, or for individuals who have an open heart and mind on learning more about God’s diversity of creation. The training is 1.5 hours long and held online through Zoom in real-time; registration is $35 per person.

Upcoming Trainings: March 2 / May 4 / June 1

Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) training helps you design and implement a journey for your faith community to publicly and intentionally welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and incorporate a commitment to the work of racial equity. Building an Inclusive Church equips you with ways to create dialogue, deepening relationships throughout your faith community rather than sparking debate and division. The training is 4.5 hours long, and held online through Zoom in real-time; registration is $75 per person.

Upcoming Trainings: March 4 / May 6 / June 3

Elementary Retreat at Lutherwood!

March 10-11th at Camp Lutherwood, Bellingham

Our theme is “You Have a Friend” for the 24 hours

Cost is $60/camper; $40/adult.

Checkin begins at 7pm on Friday, March 10th with activities beginning about 7:30pm. We’ll have bible encounter, nature hikes, camp games, crafts and activities – all the things we love about camp. We conclude on Saturday at 6pm with closing circle.

Each congregation is invited to register as a group.

Each congregation gathers the registration info and sends it to Camp Lutherwood - by March 5th: office@camplutherwood.org.

See downloadable flyers for your promotional use HERE.

May Youth Weekend at Holden Village

Friday, May 26-Sunday, May 28

This amazing weekend is for High School Youth in Region One

Our theme this year is Rest Fest: Dwelling in Our Holy Enough

We will welcome guests Ellie Roscher and Lacey Brown

Cost is $265 per participant

Registration is now open - find all the info you need HERE.