Week of June 30, 2024

S T O R Y T E L L I N G

Storytelling - a new segment in our weekly eNewsletter

Every month we will feature a story from and/or about one of our worshiping communities with the desire to inspire, inform and build community! Each story will remain published for the duration of the month and will then find a home on our website at https://swwasynod.org/home/news/stories-of-shalom/.

Do you have a story to tell? Contact us at swwsynod@plu.edu.

Light of Grace Kimchi Boxes

“It’s different and spicy – but it is God’s body. This soup is God’s blood.”

Pastor Jenny Kim

Pastor Chong, or Jenny, Kim considers herself first and foremost a missionary. Her mission field is here in the Southwestern Washington Synod, in the area of Federal Way. Food is the entryway that is lovingly created from scratch (Koreans don’t know how to open a can, she says), then offered and delivered slowly with careful listening in order to be Christ’s feet, our faith, and God’s love. 

In February 2020, the Dasom Bicultural School, an offshoot ministry of Light of Grace Lutheran, opened with great excitement. Classes were planned, scheduled, and signed up for. Teachers were ready. The church was celebrating this new chapter – but suddenly the book was closed as the coronavirus shut all doors. 

People still would drop by the church, in those early days, but they would leave quickly. It soon became apparent that elderly members of the faith community were the hardest hit. Many couldn’t drive, and those that could were afraid to leave their homes. Food was a problem. 

Church members saw a solution. They began to cook. Every Tuesday and Thursday they made soup, kimchi, and three side dishes. They delivered. People picked up to bring to their aging parents. A large outside fridge was stocked so people could come and get meals and maintain social distance.

When the fear of the virus began to wane, the need remained. This food ministry now partners with Dasom bicultural school and connects classes with food distribution. The Kimchi Box ministry has received thousands of dollars in grants and now employs two part time workers and pays members of the youth group for their work – which in turn gives them a great foundational start for future employment. All paid and volunteer workers have food handlers’ licenses and food is both given away and sold at the local farmer’s market from May through October and out of the church parking lot, funding other ministries including the school.

Pastor Kim connects all of this to one big vision – all of life is worship, and she desires for her church to be a core connection point for all of people’s lives. She wants their important stories and life events to be connected with faith community. Her biggest dream is that “church is always open and the whole community is thinking that the church is always open to their life.” 

May it be so.  

~ by Synod Storyteller Chavaleh Forgey

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 REGION 1

Region One Financial Services Office News

Region One of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America encompasses these six synods: Alaska, Northwest Washington, Southwestern Washington, Northwest Intermountain, Oregon, and Montana. Partnership and collaboration have been essential values for our work together. One key constant in this work has been the shared Financial Services Office (FSO). This two-person team helps each of the Region One synods with their financial accounting and bookkeeping: Alyce Bakker – accountant, and Karen Dicken – bookkeeper.

Alyce has served as the FSO’s accountant since November of 1987. Each synod Treasurer, Administrator, and Bishop will attest to the professionalism, wisdom, and careful stewardship that Alyce brings to this work. She is an essential and highly valued ministry partner! Alyce has announced her intention to retire on April 30, 2025. While we are thrilled for Alyce and her next adventures, we will deeply miss her and her many gifts!

The six synod bishops and the Region One Governing Board will begin a hiring process early this fall – with the intention of onboarding a new leader with guidance and coaching from Alyce in early 2025. Look for more information on this role, including position description and hiring timeline, soon. In the meantime, please join us as we give thanks to God for this faithful partner!

FROM CHURCHWIDE

Bishop Eaton Issues Message on the War in Gaza (6/5/2024)

FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS

An invitation from Resurrection Lutheran Church, Tacoma

Sunday, August 4 at 3 p.m

Resurrection Lutheran Church

4301 Browns Point Blvd.

Tacoma, WA 98422

Four 2024 PLU graduates in Religion will share their Capstone Projects with us. The quality of thought and work is outstanding. Topics include eschatology and global warming, a look at oppression from a South American religious perspective, a look at the Protestant/Catholic conflict in Ireland, and a critique and affirmation of Lutheran perspective on the theology of the cross.

Fellowship with coffee and cookies to follow.

FROM OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

Understanding Pastors' Payroll

Wednesday, July 24, 11am

Can't attend live? RSVP to receive recordings and slides that may be provided after the event.

About this event

One of the most confusing parts of running any business is handling payroll. For a house of worship, the confusion is magnified when pastors are involved. Suddenly, in addition to your standard employees, you’re dealing with “dual status” employees and housing allowances.

Perhaps you’ve been wondering

• What does “dual status” mean?
• Who can be considered a pastor?
• Should I report pastor compensation on a W2 or a 1099?
• How do we determine a housing allowance?
• Can our church withhold taxes for our pastor?

Join House of Worship accounting and QuickBooks experts Barbara L. Starley, CPA, and Gregg S. Bossen, CPA, in this high-demand webinar.

In this webinar we are going to cover

• Similarities and differences between pastors and standard employees
• The definition and qualifications of a “dual status” employee
• How to report pastor compensation to the IRS
• Best practices for determining, paying, and reporting housing allowances
• Typical concerns and misconceptions about withholding taxes

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.

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