UPCOMING INSTALLATIONS

Rev. Bryon Hansen

Thursday, May 30, 7pm at First Lutheran of West Seattle

Rev. Bryon Hansen began serving as pastor at First Lutheran Church in West Seattle on March 1. Please join us for his installation service on May 30 at 7pm. Rostered ministers are invited to vest, the color of the day is white. Reception to follow. God bless this new ministry partnership!

Rev. Thomas Voelp

Friday, June 7, 6pm at Our Redeemer's, Seattle

Rev. Thomas Voelp began serving as pastor at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Seattle on March 4. Please join us for his installation service on June 7 at 6pm. Rostered ministers are invited to vest, the color of the day is white. Reception to follow. God bless this new ministry partnership!

Synod Assembly

Our one-day Assembly will be Saturday, May 18, 9am-4pm

at Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines

Doors open for check in and hospitality time at 8am

All attendees are encouraged to join us for an online ORIENTATION - on Wednesday, May 8 at 7pm. HERE.

Our theme is from Psalm 121:1-2 | I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

We will gather to worship, hear reports and synod updates, Spirit Stories from around the synod, vote on the upcoming budget, and elect members to synod council, committees and the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. More details on our website here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/pages/synod-assembly

All registered voting members, observers, and visitors should be receiving "get ready" emails on Thursdays. IF YOU HAVE NOT received them, email Susan@lutheransnw.org ASAP!

ELCA Hunger Grant NEWS!

Domestic Hunger Grants Opened May 1! 

For those who are familiar with the Domestic Hunger Grants, this year’s process will be the same as last year’s but with additional time for applicants and reviewers, after receiving feedback that more time was needed. To learn more about the process and how to apply, please visit https://elca.org/domestichungergrants. 

Applicant Info Webinar 

On May 2, ELCA World Hunger hosted a webinar for interested applicants and others to learn more about the process. The webinar was recorded and is accessible via the Domestic Hunger Grant website: https://elca.org/domestichungergrants. 

Domestic Hunger Grants Application Timeline 

·       Letter of inquiry form open: May 1–June 16, 2024 

·       Letter of inquiry review: June–August 2024 

·       Response to the letter of inquiry (decline or accept): by August 23, 2024 

·       Invited applicants to complete grant application in ELCA GrantMaker: August–September 2024 

·       Review and communication between ELCA World Hunger staff and grant applicants on proposal: August–October 2024 

·       Award notifications shared with applicants: November 2024 

·       2025 Domestic Hunger Grants start date: March 2025 

Daily Bread Matching Grants Update 

These grants provide daily bread for neighbors experiencing hunger while also serving as a catalyst for garnering additional financial support. Funding from a Daily Bread Grant is meant to supplement existing food-based ministries. ELCA World Hunger Daily Bread Grants will be made available to congregations on a rolling basis. You may submit a request for a Daily Bread Grant beginning on May 1, 2024. In 2024, ministries feeding K-12 students over the summer or after school in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming will be prioritized as these states are not implementing all of the summer nutrition programs through the USDA. The fundraising platform from past years will not be utilized as a part of this grant cycle. Visit https://elca.org/domestichungergrants for a link to apply beginning May 1.

Thank you for all you do to work creatively and courageously toward a just world. If you have any questions about the process or about ELCA World Hunger, please reach out to our team at Hunger@elca.org. 

ELCA White Lutheran Association for Racial Justice 

White Lutheran Association for Racial Justice (or White Lutherans for Racial Justice) is one of the six ethnic associations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. White Lutherans for Racial Justice is committed to overcoming white privilege and dismantling racism in church and society. It seeks partners in giving witness to an anti-racist society and church.

We pray: Guide us to recognize our prejudices and empower us take action to eliminate the persistent institutional racism that permeates our world, country, communities, courts, church, and hearts. Help your church to be an open and welcoming place for all. Amen!

Connect on Facebook or their website.

Want to take action today?

The White Lutheran Association for Racial Justice asks for your help in raising $10,000 to support the ELCA's Multicultural Youth Leadership Event. ELCA MYLE is the largest gathering of ELCA BIPOC leaders--nearly 700! Please join us to support the this important event with a donation today - here: 

ELCA Multicultural Youth Leadership Appeal

One Pastor's Passionate Pastime

I know. It sounds like the setup to a joke, "have you heard the one about the pastor who released an electronic dance music album?" But it's no joke! Pastor Ryan Marsh from Salt House Church in Kirkland has released a 12-track album full of danceable, soulful songs under the alias LAZLO. Its lyrical topics range from the longing for ancestral connection, to risking love again after divorce, to dancing to the heartbeat of creation.  

It's already getting critical acclaim and worth giving a Listen! 

And you can connect with LAZLO in these spaces: Facebook; Instagram; and Youtube.

Worship Album Available: Creation, It Rings

Created by Brian Schroeder (Director of Emerging Worship at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, MN and fellow Luther Seminary grad of some of our synod's seminarians) the songs on this album communicate an expansive view of God, use inclusive language, and are congregation-tested to be sung in worship.

Here’s what you can hear on Creation, It Rings: 

O God of Life

An upbeat worship song about how God delights in all of creation — even us! Based on the theology of St. Julian of Norwich. Great for the beginning of a worship service.

Incarnate God (ft. Rachel Kurtz - a favorite of youth ministry peeps)

This empowering song shows the incarnation not as God stooping down into a sinful world, but rather becoming one of us as an affirmation of our bodies and experience. Great for Advent and Epiphany.

Jesus, Remind Us

A simple song that invites the worshiper to remember to love ourselves and others. 

Holy River

This song imagines God as a river, leading us to peace. Great for Pentecost and Holy Spirit-centered worship.

The Kingdom of the Lord is Here

A worship song that communicates the Kingdom of God as Jesus explains it: unfolding right in front of us and pointing toward justice.

Take a listen on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube! Worship leaders can download free basic chord charts for each song on Brian's website. Check out the Worship Leader Bundle that has everything churches need to start playing these songs at their church: lead sheets, harmony recordings, chord charts with band direction, bulletin inserts, CCLI info, and lyric slides (it also includes a full download of this album).

Abide in the Word Bible Study

Tuesdays, 7-8pm via Zoom

This is a year-long, Synod-wide weekly Bible Study that takes participants on a deeper dive into the coming Sunday's Lectionary text. Participants will have the chance to experience diverse perspectives and voices from various guest facilitators from across the synod.



This is a FREE LiVE offering! No registration needed!

YES, you may join in any week at this link: HERE.

Synod-Wide ONLINE Book Discussion:

CALL TO ALLYSHIP - Preparing Your Congregation for Leaders of Color

Wednesdays - Join for the final session on May 8

6:45pm-8pm on Zoom

FREE TO ATTEND!

The St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church (Renton) Anti Racism Team, in collaboration with the LiVE Project, is hosting a book study on Call to Allyship: Preparing Your Congregation for Leaders of Color. (Books are available to purchase on Amazon)

Please join us as we discuss how churches can do the work of becoming allies for the leaders they call. This book study is for call committees, church councils, social justice teams, and anyone else interested in doing the work to understand, welcome, and celebrate Leaders of Color. Thank you to Amanda Bedsaul and Marissa Singleton for leading our discussions!

If interested in participating, please read the first 2 chapters for the first session on April 10th.

Join the zoom each week here: 

Spring Cleaning for Writers:

A Writing Workshop w/ Mary Lindberg for those who want to:

·     sort out the messes

·     plant new ideas

·     get a fresh start

·     begin again

Suggested fee: $25-$50 (Covers Supplies & Donation)

It is not necessary to attend all 4 sessions.

Register/Questions: https://www.7400woodlawn.org/events or email pastor@7400woodlawn.org

Learn more about - Community Organizing!

The ELCA has a network of congregations, synods, seminaries, and leaders that are all practicing the skills and arts of community organizing - Organizing for Mission Network. Next month, Seattle is playing host to OFMN’s spring contextual gathering...

OFMN’s contextual gatherings bring together leaders from across the country and throughout the network for three days of place-based learning. These gatherings are relational, faith-filled, creative, and rooted in the work of racial and economic equity. Contextual gatherings are a great place to sharpen skills, for OMFN leaders to reconnect, and for those early in their organizing journey to find their people. 

This spring we will gather in Seattle, WA where the Church Council of Greater Seattle will share about their organizing work, with a particular focus on their Faith Land Initiative. Together we will learn how congregations can practice community stewardship of land.

Things will start Thursday, May 9 at 9am and wrap up Saturday, May 11th at 2pm.

A detailed schedule will be updated on our website in the weeks ahead.

Who should attend?

• Leaders looking to sharpen their organizing skills
• Members of the network seeking to re-connect
• Teams from congregations asking questions about property use, faith, and justice
• Organizers seeking new approaches
• Faith leaders looking to deepen relationships in their own community
• YOU!

How much does it cost?

Members of OFMN who have paid dues in the last 365 days have no registration fee. Members in good standing who are staying in a hotel with a roommate will get two nights free. Members staying in a solo room will get one night free.

Non-members will pay a $200 registration fee.

Lodging is at Watertown Hotel in the University District and is $172 per night. 

Still have more questions?

Schedule a 1-1 with OFMN’s director, Br. Steve: https://calendly.com/revjerbi/ofmn

Register Now!

Click here to register

Navigating the Compassionate Crossroads: 

Palliative Care vs. Hospice 

Thursday, May 9, 4pm (Pacific) ONLINE

While neither hospice nor palliative care are new concepts, there remains a great deal of confusion about the distinction between the two. How are they the same, how are they different? Which option is right for your patient, and at what time in their serious illness journey should you consider a referral? These questions (and more!), as well as how to talk to both patients and referral partners (physicians, discharge planners, etc.) about serious illness care options will be the focus of this engaging session.

Please see flyer for details and the registration link.

Give-Share-Eat Meal Packaging!

Gethsemane Lutheran Church (Seattle) is hosting another GiveShareEat meal packaging on May 10-11.

It's pretty simple, really. There are a lot of food-insecure and hungry people in the world. Together we can relieve some of this hunger when we give of our finances and share our time so that people may eat nutritious, easy-to-prep food. Gethsemane and the Hope Center are collaborating to host another EPIC meal packaging events that bring together area businesses, organizations, and individuals to make a difference in our communities. Go to Gethsemane's website to learn how you can help - donate, volunteer, etc:

https://www.urbanfaith.org/give-share-eat

Have Bells, Will Travel Concert!

Saturday, May 11, 7pm

At Kent Lutheran (336 2nd Ave. in Kent)

Hitch a ride with Bells of the Sound as we explore being on the move! Whether riding the rails, sailing the high seas, taking a road trip, or flying the friendly skies, come have a blast with us this spring! Tickets are $15/adults and $10/youth and seniors at the door (children under 8 are free). For more information, please visit www.bellsofthesound.org. 

Queen Anne Lutheran Fine Arts

Presents Two Concerts in May!

Millar and Molloy on Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 12 at 4 PM

Emerson Millar, violin, and Paige Roberts Molloy, piano, present a concert for Mother’s Day—bring the family! They will perform pieces by Mozart, Dvorak, Prokofiev, Debussy, Brahms and more. 

Emerson Millar joined the Seattle Symphony in 2022 as the second assistant concertmaster. Paige Roberts Molloy has given solo recitals around the world and is a frequent guest of leading chamber music festivals across the United States.

Pentecost Choral Vespers

Sunday, May 19 at 4 PM

Join Cantor Kyle, the QALC Choir, and guest professional choral singers for a meditative service of prayer and song based on Evening Prayer in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, including modern and Renaissance choral pieces and an organ solo.

Queen Anne Lutheran Church is located at 2400 8th Ave. NW in Seattle

For each concert, your freewill donation benefits the QALC Fine Arts fund.

Suggested donation $20—but pay as you can; all are welcome!

Book Discussion with Rabbi Anson Laytner

sponsored by Earth Ministry and other partners

Thursday, May 16, 7:00-8:00 pm

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral - Bloedel Hall

(1245 10th Ave E, Seattle)

Gather for a book reading and panel discussion with Rabbi Anson Laytner, where we will delve into and highlight the complexities of the Human vs. Animal Kingdom dichotomy in Rabbi Laytner’s book The Animals' Lawsuit Against Humanity.

This multifaith, multicultural book will be a lovely, connective event where we can reflect and discuss not only relationships with each other, but also among the difference species that share our Earth and are harmed by our actions.

May Youth Weekend at Holden!

May 17-19 (Friday - Sunday)

Theme: All Creation Groans Together: Love, Lament, and Action in a Climate Emergency

How can we live faithful lives when we are overloaded with climate grief and anxiety? How can we find motivation for meaningful action when the future is uncertain? Together we'll dive deep into our love for God's beloved creation, and learn how to find our way through the ruins.

Registration has closed. Find all the details here

Cultivate Confidence:

Unlocking Your Power as A Woman in Ministry

Feel like you've got way too much going on but you're not doing enough?

Tired of second guessing your every decision?

Join this free, five-day training packed with teaching and coaching to cultivate the confidence to lead effectively.

You'll walk away knowing what’s next. 

And how to unlock your power as a woman in ministry.

Join Cultivate Confidence from Monday, May 20 to Friday, May 24 at 9am (Pacific) each day - hosted by Dr. Crystal Hall Coaching for Women in Ministry. Click here to register now.

Work Weekend at Lutherwood!

May 31 - June 2

Come help us get ready for summer camp! Your stay is free of charge, all we ask is your time and abilities. There will be projects for all ability levels, from trail clearing and platform building to cleaning and organizing. There is always a way you can help serve camp! A great opportunity for community service hours. Registration is up on our website and if you can offer specific skill sets, please reach out directly to marty.martinez@camplutherwood.org to discuss opportunities.

Sacred Spaces Experience Event

Saturday, June 1, 9am - 3:30pm

at 7400 Woodlawn in Seattle

(near Greenlake - home of Emmaus Table)

Parking is limited, please carpool!

Join the NW WA Synod Cultivate Team, Facilitators, and Practitioners of unique gatherings and organic forms of church, for a day of experiences and workshops to explore together how we can expand God’s holy invitation even wider. 

There are so many ways to gather as faithful communities, whether it's outdoors, at the pub, creating art, or just eating around one big table. Why shouldn’t our gatherings reflect our uniqueness? Why should we innovate alone? Let’s imagine how we can foster organic sacred spaces right in our own backyards–and support each other as we experiment. How can we create more inclusive gatherings for people to encounter God? How can we experiment with the gifts we have to meet the needs of those seeking the spirit in our own neighborhoods? What is sprouting up within you that is ready for germination?

You can experience:

Baking Church, Wild Church, Creative Church, Celtic Spirituality / Labyrinth, InterPlay, Pub Church

Come with ideas, come with questions, come to dream about what sacred spaces can be!

REGISTRATION is now open here: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/8571291

Cost is $35/person - or $100/3+ from one congregation - Includes lunch!

(Note - there will be an optional no-host Pub Church outing to Wooden City Tavern @ 4-5:30 after!)

Synod Pre-Youth Gathering Gathering!

Sunday, June 9, 2:30pm-4:30pm at Holy Spirit, Kirkland

We’d love to have as many attend from your congregation as can make it. This is for the youth and the adult leaders. Bishop Shelley will also be our gathering. There will be games, conversation, snacks, and more. If you would like to help plan this event, OR have questions, please reach out to Becky. AND be sure get latest info and announcements by joining the NWWA Synod Youth Gathering Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/elcayg2024nwwa

FAN Spring Summits - online

one more on Sunday, June 9

FAN staff are moving into what we call our Spring Outreach season, where we get to be present at your community gatherings and denominational conferences, and talk with you about what happened this legislative session. Most importantly, we seek to hear your concerns and priorities for what we might do together in the months ahead.

Essential to this outreach is our annual Spring Summits, which we’ve scheduled for two Sundays this spring--May 5 and June 9, 3:00-4:30pm. We’ve opted to host these summits online to allow more people to join and to enable advocates from across the state to hear from each other. During this year’s summits, we’ll be able to celebrate legislative wins and hear about stalled legislation and what is needed to move forward next session. FAN staff will share an update on the three ballot initiatives that will have an impact on everything we do this year. And you will have a chance to meet in issue groups to discuss with others what policy changes you would like to see in the future.

Your voices matter to us! Last year, many attendees expressed concerns for young people and mental health—we heard you and worked with NAMI this year to advocate for some important bills that passed!

Register at the June 9 links or learn more on our Spring Summit page, link, and bring your voice and your advocacy to the FAN table!

Farm Bill Session

Thursday, June 13, 6pm-7:30pm ONLINE

Register at bit.ly/WhyFarmBill

Join the hunger ministry teams of the six ELCA Synods in Region 1 with Faith Action Network to learn about our nation’s most important and largest food system legislation—the Farm Bill. Find out its impact on you and your neighbors. Help us advocate to pass a new Farm Bill this year!



Event highlights:

• Presentation by ELCA Advocacy Staff
• Special guest speakers from across Region 1
• Prayerful reflection with ELCA Bishops
• Breakout groups to meet and discuss with ELCA and community members from across the region
• Take action by writing letters to Congress

Leadership Lab

June 24 - June 29 | Augustana College - Rock Island, IL

What is Leadership Lab?

Well, it's kind of hard to describe, but from Kayley D, high school senior at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Renton:

LAB is such a hard thing to describe. The purpose is to go and learn how to be a leader while growing your relationship with God. You get to participate in actual planning exercises with others in small groups, and you form some great relationships along the way. There are also celebrations, which are basically worships, but they have lots of great music, speakers, and activities to keep everyone engaged. This is what we do at LAB, but it’s so much more than that. It’s more like a feeling. You meet incredible people there, and the environment is one of inclusiveness and love. It’s an amazing experience.

LAB means a lot of different things to me but one of the biggest things is connection. There is something about LAB that brings people together really quickly. I was there for only a week, and I came away with 6 new best friends. I can’t begin to describe how close you get to the people there. They become a second family almost, and as you keep going back that family continues to grow. It was amazing to see all the connections that people were making with each other, but you also see people connecting with God throughout the week, which was also a joy to watch.



LAB changed my life and I can’t imagine not going back. You meet the most incredible people there, and they welcome you with open arms, including you into the LAB family. You get an opportunity to learn leadership skills that will last you the rest of your life, but you also get to learn a lot about yourself.

I learned so much about myself through the discussions we had, and the worships we did, but also just by working with new people, and trying to plan different events. You also get the chance to form a really good relationship with God. I know that I wasn’t that good at talking to God or staying close to him, but I definitely felt God’s presence at LAB, and I was able to start rebuilding a relationship.

Leadership Lab is a place for not only high school youth and college-age young adults to grow in their faith and leadership skills, have fun, and build meaningful relationships, it is also a place for Adult Leaders in Ministry to also grown their skills, ignite (or reignite) their passion, and connect and collaborate with other adults in ministry. 

Participants will spend a week at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. (just a short trip from Chicago). With others from around the country, we will learn and grow together! Aski Bobbi how to get there – it’s easier than you think. There are many transportation options available for getting to the Quad Cities.

What is the cost? $420 per person (on 5/1/24, price increases $50)

Discounts Available (Limit 1 discount applied)

10% discount for anyone who attended Leadership Lab 2023 ($378/person)

$275 for churches who are participating in Lab for the first time. Maximum 2 registrations per church

1 FREE Adult Registration with the purchase of 5 student registrations

Questions? Please contact Bobbi Jo Cyr at bobbi@stmatthewsrenton.org

Family Camp at Lutherwood

July 26-28

Direct link for registrations is:

https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/8514210

~ Save The Date ~

NW WA Synodical Women’s Fall Retreat

September 20-21

Huston Camp & Conference Center

(14725 Ley Rd, Gold Bar)

This retreat will focus on caring for our mental, physical and emotional health with Food, Fellowship, Prayer & Guest Speaker - More information coming soon ~ watch your email!

Want an item included?

Email Susan Berg, Communications Administrator

All items due by 2pm on the prior Thursday

Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA

5519 Phinney Avenue North

Seattle, WA 98103

206-783-9292