Week of June 2, 2024

Application Process Open!

Rooted in Lutheran theological tradition and in the context of the Pacific Northwest, PSALM is a community of learners and leaders engaged in a process of conversation, reading, prayer and practice with the intention of growing in faith, clarity of mission, and skills for ministry. 

PSALM cohorts meet for four terms over two years. Each term begins with an overnight retreat at Seabeck Conference Center in Seabeck, WA. We worship together, share meals and hear from presenters on a variety of subjects. Students receive their books and syllabus for the upcoming term. Retreats take place the first Fri./Sat. in October and March. The fee for each term is $400, which covers the cost of retreats, books and presenters. Generous donors have made it possible to offer scholarships for PSALM, so fees ought not be a barrier for anyone.

To apply for the cohort that will begin in September 2024, please complete application materials (application, Pastor’s recommendation, Council covenant and Learning Community agreement). They can be found at www.swwasynod.org. Click on Leadership/Growing Leaders/PSALM. Application materials are due August 15^th, 2024.

If you have questions, please contact Pastor Rebecca Shjerven at shjervrl@plu.edu or 253-961-2412.

FROM CHURCHWIDE

Dear friends,

Severe storms across the Midwestern and Southern United States have brought deadly tornadoes and flash flooding to millions of people. With your support our church stands ready to walk with our neighbors as they rebuild.

Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response ensure that survivors don't have to face the road to recovery alone.

Through these disasters and others across the United States and around the world, Lutheran Disaster Response accompanies communities for as long as the recovery process takes. Together we follow Christ’s call to share hope and healing with our neighbors in need.

GIVE NOW

With gratitude,

Daniel Rift

Director, ELCA Service and Justice Giving

ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response

Border Immersion Trips

A border immersion, hosted by Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services) and Border Servant Corps, provides individuals or groups an amazing first hand experiences about border issues. The daily learning engagements create opportunities for community members to immerse themselves in the ministry of accompanying people traveling through, and of those who live and serve in the borderlands. The immersion also provides participants with actions steps they can take back to their churches or communities.

Interested? Contact Jonathan Buuck, Jon.Buuck@globalrefuge.org or (952)240-8765

FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS

Free Choir Robes

St. Mark in Lacey has approximately 50 purple and one red adult sized choir robes they would love to give to another congregation or community group! Please call the church office at 360-491-2052 or email office@stmarklacey.org if you are interested.  

Join Messiah’s Choir for an afternoon of anthems and congregational hymn singing! Come and enjoy music ranging from traditional spirituals to soaring contemporary harmonies, and sing your favorite hymns in 4 parts.

June 9, 3pm

Messiah Lutheran Church

905 NW 94th St

Vancouver, WA

Under the direction of Maria Kramer, Director of Worship and Music.

FROM OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

Join LSM 2024 In Person or Online!

Lutheran Summer Music announces its 42nd season, offering over 30 free and open-to-the-public concerts and recitals. All events take place this July at Valparaiso University, and most will be livestreamed. Performances and services are shared by over 250 students, faculty, fellows, worship staff, and guest artists who come together to create a vibrant community of music-makers. The LSM 2024 season will culminate during Festival Week (July 21-28), featuring the LSM Festival Band, Choir, and Orchestra, a Festival of Hymns, and closing each day with sung Evening Prayer. Of special note, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) will join this year’s LSM community and offer an intergenerational performance of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion. Visit LSMacademy.org/2024 for a complete listing of events and to access the livestream.

LEAD presents Good Soil Online Summer Seminar on Thursday, June 13th! This is a great online learning event for deacons, pastors, and all leaders within your faith community. Topics/speakers: Leading with Love (Rozella Haydee White), Teamwork Works (Pastor Brad Otto), Know Your Neighbors (Deacon Jessica Noonan), Communication Clarity (Deacon Peggy Hahn).

Cost is $45 per seminar for 150 minutes of learning! Share the flyer and promo video with your friends on this page.

Questions, contact LEAD at LEAD@leadconnects.org 

We have added a few more sessions over the last few weeks, so if it’s been awhile since you checked out the schedule, come on back! We’d LOVE to see you at Lutherwood this summer! Click here to go to the registration page.

Applications Open for Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith

The Center for Climate Justice and Faith at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary is accepting applications to their Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith program. This program is designed for lay leaders and clergy members from around the world who want to be effective advocates for climate justice. Students will grow their faith, practice skills, gain knowledge, and build community to allow them to address the climate crisis in ways that also address racial, gender, and economic injustices.

This two-semester program will begin August 2024 and end May 2025. A 100% online curriculum allows students from around the world to build relationships through bi-monthly small group meetings on Zoom. Since launching in 2021, students from 29 countries and five continents have participated. The full cost of the program is $600. Scholarships of up to $550 are available if needed, please do not let finances prevent you from applying.

Applications are due June 17, 2024 and can be found here:   https://bit.ly/24_25CCJFApp

More information about the Certificate can be found here: https://centerforclimatejusticeandfaith.org/programs/certificate-in-climate-justice-and-faith/

Brotherhood Mutual has developed a new training course for sexual harassment prevention. The course fulfills mandatory training requirements for California and New York, but it can be used by ministries in any state. 

This new training replaces the one previously available in the online training library. There are two courses available: a one-hour course for all employees and a two-hour course for all supervisors. Each participant will be able to save and print a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the course.

Any ministry can access this free training course, developed with a ministry focus. 

The course is found on the Brotherhood Mutual online training page at www.brotherhoodmutual.com/resources/online-training. Click on the orange button that says Sexual Harassment Prevention Training.

A Synod of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Richard E. Jaech, Bishop

Synod Office Hours

9am - 4pm

Tuesday - Friday

Stay Connected

email swwsynod@plu.edu

phone (253) 535-8300

website www.swwasynod.org