Providence’ a successful starting point in giving

Second of two columns on a synodwide planned-giving initiative, by the Rev. James Leistikow, ELCA giving specialist

Art and Grace have always tried to be good Lutherans and disciples of Jesus Christ. They have enjoyed the friendship and support of their pastors and other church members. They have served in leadership positions in their congregation, have been active participants in many projects, and have been faithful stewards of the financial resources God has provided
 them.

Their ministry and support also extends to their 
community, its agencies and institutions. Art and Grace have
 lived their lives aligned with biblical stewardship, recognizing
 that all we have comes from God, that generosity reflects 
God’s goodness, and that all of us can make a difference for 
God’s work to continue.

They had wondered about planning how their assets might be distributed and shared at the end of life so that they might continue to make a difference for God’s kingdom. They wanted to share a substantial portion of their blessings with their children. But they knew they were called to more than that. Assisted by an attorney and other planning professionals, they established a plan to distribute their assets in a tax-wise way through directives in their will. As they shared their plan, they were affirmed by family members and close friends and ultimately relieved that something which seemed illusive and complex ultimately was experienced as joy and relief.

Because their congregation had been so important in their lives, a portion of their assets was designated for the congregation in an ongoing way. A larger percentage of the remainder was designated for the trusted and well-managed endowment fund in their congregation. A smaller percentage was directed to establish a current fund to be matched by additional contributions and directed towards a new outreach ministry. Other percentages were directed to ministry institutions and agencies they had supported during their lives.

What might happen if the scenario described above would become the normative for legacy gifting and stewardship practice in all our congregations? How might our stories continue in a significant way beyond our lifetimes as they connect to what “God smiles upon?” How many new resources might become available throughout our synod for God’s work among us?
It was this driving vision behind the “Planned Giving Leadership” grant the synod has received from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Trained, supported and coached, “Planned Giving Leaders” throughout the synod can make a difference in our life together!

This February all of our congregations will be invited to attend the fourth in a series of six workshops offered in seven locations throughout our synod. Workshop No. 4 will feature the “Seven P’s Minus One.” Those are providence, prayer, people, property, plan, professionals and the minus, procrastination.

Workshop No. 4 will introduce some creative and new planning tools on the Internet and a process for identifying essential professionals, especially attorneys, for planning in every congregation. All are welcome. Those who have attended earlier workshops will receive invitations via e-mail. There will also be a link to access registration on the Synod’s website.

Times and locations to come.

Updates from synod workers

For adults who work with youth: The “Practice Discipleship” fall trainings take place Nov. 19th and repeat Nov. 20 in two locations. Presenters are Ingelaurie Lisher and Justin Snider, both associates in ministry. The Nov. 19 training is from 10 a.m. to noon at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Olympia. The second identical training is from 2 to 4 p.m. at First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo. RSVP to Lisher by Nov. 11 at ingelaurie@smlutheran.org.

Ten apply for funds to fight hunger: Ten programs in the synod have applied for the grants to help fund their activities. Committee members will visit program sites and learn what they’re planning. They’ll convene to discuss the applications and prioritize the list for a recommendation to the ELCA Domestic Hunger group, which will settle the awards next year. The applications are from: Council for the Homeless, Winter Hospitality Overflow, Vancouver; FISH Food Banks of Pierce County, Basic Food Assistance, Tacoma; Legacy Community Outreach Food Bank, South Bend; Lewis River Mobile Food Bank, Lewis River Mobile Food Bank, LaCenter; Mountain View Community Center, Seeds of Change, Edgewood; North Mason Coalition of Churches and Community, Food for Kids Program, Belfair; Peace Community Center, Hilltop Scholars, Tacoma; Communities of Faith, Food Backpacks 4 Kids, Wauna; Resurrection Lutheran Church, Garden of Peace Community Garden, Tacoma; and United Lutheran Church, Our Father's Kitchen, Tacoma. 
— Rick Nelson, Hunger committee

Namibia Task Force resumes: The synod’s Namibia Task Force is back in gear to foster future steps in the companion relationship the Southwestern Washington Synod has with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia. Task-force members have decided on two priorities for future work. The first will be backing community development projects, including a large emerging garden in north Namibia where produce for hungry AIDS orphans will be grown. The second is multifaceted support of Oshigambo High School. To join in this work, contact the Rev. Randy Faro at kingtut13@qwestoffice.net.

Mount Rainier High School auction coming

Nov. 12 is the date of the fourth annual dinner auction for Mount Rainier Lutheran High School in Tacoma. Last year’s auction raised $33,000. The dinner begins at 5:15 p.m. and helps provide scholarship help for students. For more information, contact Sandi Gamble at (253) 537-6377 or at sammisam13@comcast.net. The school is located at 7306 Waller Road East, Tacoma, and the church phone is (253) 284-4433.

Christmas is coming ....

.... and just the right gifts can be found in the synod “Gifts of Hope” catalog, which offers gifts that fund a variety of local and global church efforts. Examples of gifts are the Greater Chehalis Food Bank, Peace Community Center in Tacoma, or the Tanzania-Safi Foundation in Africa. To learn more or to receive catalogs, contact Ann Miller at (253) 862-1050. In the six years of the catalog, more than $76,000 has been raised for good causes.

The musical-minded are reminded to get their tickets now for Pacific Lutheran University’s anticipated Christmas concerts. They return to Tacoma, Portland and Seattle this winter and again will feature the Choir of the West, the university’s chorale and members of its symphony orchestra. Three performances are slated for Tacoma at PLU’s Lagerquist Concert Hall. They take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4; and at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. In Portland, a concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. In Seattle, it will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, at Benaroya Hall. For tickets, visit www.plu.edu/christmas or call (253) 535-7787.

Want to know more about becoming a deaconess?

“Diaconal Ministry: Discernment, History and Formation” is the title of a January time in Chicago designed to help people determine whether becoming a deaconess is a good path for them. Taking place Jan. 9 through 20 at Lutheran School of Theology, the gathering will be led by Susan McArver of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminar and Dirk Lange of Luther Seminary. Tuition is covered by the Deaconess Community of the ELCA. To learn more, visit www.elca.org/deaconess/jterm or contact Patricia Bartley at pbartley@lstc.edu or Sister Sylvia Countess at sylvia.countess@elca.org.

Pre-retirement event at Dumas Bay

The ELCA Board of Pensions presents a pre-retirement seminar in February for persons within 15 years of calling it quits. It takes place from 1 to 8 p.m. Feb. 9 and from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 10 at the Dumas Bay Centre in Federal Way. The cost for those staying overnight is $81; for commuters, it’s $38. To learn more or to register, contact the synod office swwsynod@plu.edu or (253) 535-8300.

Job opportunities

Interim child, youth and family minister: Calvary Lutheran Church of Federal Way seeks someone to fill such a position, full or part time; office@calvary-elca.org.

Director of youth and education ministries: Peninsula Lutheran Church of Gig Harbor seeks someone to fill this position; info@plcplace.com.

Accompanist: Creator Lutheran Church of Bonney Lake seeks a part-time musical accompanist. Interested people can contact the Rev. Kim Latterell at (253) 862-7700 or Laurie Bruckbauer at (253) 863-6165.

Organist: St. Paul Lutheran Church of Castle Rock seeks a part-time organist; stpaulcr1@qwestoffice.net.

Minister of children, families and young adults: Seattle’s University Lutheran Church seeks someone for this half-time position paying about $23,000. For a full position description or to send a resume, contact the Rev. Ron Moe-Lobeda at pastorron@comcast.net; 1604 NE 50th St., Seattle, WA, 98105, or (206) 525-7074.

“ELCA College/Univ. Vocational Opportunities,” a service listing ELCA college and university position openings, is at www.elcacolleges.org. Contact Ahson Rana at arana@elca.org or at (773) 380-2855.

Calendar

Nov. 11 to 14: ELCA Church Council, Chicago
Nov. 12: Synod global mission event, St. Mark’s, Tacoma
Nov. 24: Thanksgiving
Nov. 12: Mount Rainier Lutheran High School’s fourth annual dinner auction. For information, contact Sandi Gamble at (253) 537-6377 or at sammisam13@comcast.net.
Nov. 30: PLU Christmas concert, 7:30 p.m. Portland
Dec. 3: Faith Action Network annual dinner, Seattle area
Dec. 3: PLU Christmas concert, 8 p.m., PLU
Dec. 5: PLU Christmas concert, 7:30 p.m., Seattle
Dec. 4: PLU Christmas concert, 3 p.m., PLU
Dec. 9: PLU Christmas concert, 8 p.m., PLU
Dec. 25: Christmas Day
Jan. 1, 2012: New Year's Day
Jan. 21: Synod council conference call
Feb. 9 and 10: ELCA Board of Pensions pre-retirement seminar, Federal Way
March 17: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA Olympic Cluster spring celebration, Elim Lutheran Church, Port Orchard
March 31: Synod council meets, St. Mark, Lacey
April 20 to 22: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA spring retreat, Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way
April 28: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA Narrows Cluster meeting, St. Mark's, Tacoma
May 18 and 19: Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly, Vancouver, Wash.

Reformation Sunday HymnFest is this coming Sunday in Tacoma

Plan now to attend the 21st annual Reformation Sunday HymnFest on Sunday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tacoma. The program will feature congregational singing, choirs, brass, gospel music, soloists and African and Native American performers. Admission is free, with proceeds from an offering helping defray artists' costs. The church is at 3315 South 19th St. A reception follows.

Dispatches from the 2011 global mission, hunger and companion-synod leaders' gathering

KENT — "Welcome Forward" was the theme of a recent regional gathering of ELCA global-mission and hunger leaders, all who found new ways and new energy to take forth the message that malaria, hunger and poverty must be contained.

Some two dozen synodical leaders attended the ELCA Region 1 Leaders Gathering Oct. 21 and 22 at Kent Lutheran Church, including the Rev. Steve Ray, Beth Ann Johnson and Rachel Pritchett from the Southwestern Washington Synod. Following are some short vignettes of what was shared in the gathering led by the Rev. Lanny Westphal, ELCA director for global formation for relationship:

Joining the ranks fighting Malaria
"It is within our lifetime and capability to contain malaria in Africa by the year 2015," said the Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, nationwide coordinator of the ELCA malaria initiative.

That's the goal of the new churchwide initiative, and the former bishop came equipped with resources congregations can use to help.

DeGroot-Nesdahl suggested congregations begin a campaign to contain the dreaded disease. The ELCA has developed many free resources, including instructions on how to start one, a PowerPoint and videos. Other resources include DVDs, bulletin inserts and more. To get ahold of the materials, visit www.elca.org/malaria or contact synod Communicator Rachel Pritchett at (206) 498-0920 or rachelpritchett@msn.com.

DeGroot-Nesdahl reminded her listeners that malaria strikes hand-in-hand with hunger and poverty. Solve them together and the fight's closer to being won, she said. The lethal disease by far hits hardest in Africa. Almost nine of 10 of the 800,000 people who die of malaria each years live there. Most are children. DeGroot-Nesdahl, by the way, is the former bishop of the South Dakota Synod and was the ELCA's second female bishop.

South Sudan's story, so close to home
South King County's concentration of South Sudanese immigrants form the basis of a unique ministry at Kent Lutheran Church that supports some of the needs of about 100 of them. Once a month, a Sunday service is held in South Sudan's Nuer language.

Gach Dedoch and Koang Chop of the congregation's South Sudan Community Restoration Program welcomed participants, and demonstrated a small portable bio-sand water-purification system a group from the congregation will take to South Sudan in March. To learn more about this ambitious project taken on by just one congregation and how to help or participate, visit www.klcsouthsudan.blogspot.com or ww.facebook.com/klcsouthsudan. A shoe-recycling campaign to raise funds in underway.

Longtime student-teacher friends hook up
The Rev. Everett Savage of the Northwest Washington Synod spent many years of his career teaching and preaching in south Taiwan. Among his students from 1984 to 1986 was the Rev. Steve Ray of the Southwestern Washington Synod. Both ran into each other at the Region 1 gathering. In Taiwan, Ray then was the intern pastor at Kaohsiung Community Church and today is the executive director of the nonprofit chinaconnect, which fosters one-on-one relationships between young people in the United States and Nanchung, China. Ray also spent many of the intervening years witnessing in China.

Advice: Support Chinese students here before they return home
The Rev. Zhenchuan Liu told the gathering that the rich continue to become richer and the poor poorer in China, and that it's only a matter of time before a nationwide uprising occurs to erase the disparity.

"I believe, pretty soon," said Zhenchuan. "Too hard to live." He also said that so many in China without religious knowledge today have lives centered on getting ahead in the material world. "They don't believe anything. The only thing, money," he said. People in the United States can help by sending missionaries to China, supporting Christian seminaries in China and ministering to Chinese students studying here.

Zhenchuan is behind the Grace Center for Campus Chinese at the University of Washington, a place where immigrant students can get basic help, like learning how to get an apartment or driver's license. He estimates there are 1,800 Chinese students at the UW and another 3,000 in community colleges around Seattle. "They will be future leaders in China," he said.

Briefs ...
The Northwest Washington Synod's Mission Interpreter program to obtain and share stories from members of congregations is well underway with 20 mission interpreters from congregations now identified, according to Lee Bjorklund, mission-interpreter coordinator. The mission-interpreter contact in the Southwestern Washington Synod is the Rev. Sarah Roemer at (360) 876-5094 or spiritoflifelc@msn.com.

Bishop Jessica Crist of the Montana Synod has undertaken an initiative to visit each of the Native American reservations in her synod to deliver a formal apology for the transgressions committed against Natives Americans by Europeans coming into their lands to settle. Learn more here: http://www.montanasynod.org/Apology/index.html.

The 500th anniversary of the Reformation takes place in 2017, and Lanny Westphal, ELCA director of global formation for relationship, suggests synods and congregations meet their international partners at the Wittenberg Center in Germany. More information is at ww.elca.org/wittenberg.

Soon, Barbara Robertson, the Olympia-based ELCA missionary to Tanzania, will depart from Washington state, where she shared with a number of congregations, back to the African country to continue her AIDS/HIV prevention teaching. Robertson excited and encouraged a number of her listeners here. Lanny Westphal suggested that congregations now wishing to join those supporting her in Tanzania should contact Twila Schock at twila.schock@elca.org or (773) 380-2641.


Pictured top to bottom:

The Rev. Lanny Westphal, ELCA director for global formation for relationship, led the event.

The ELCA logo for the malaria initiative.

Gach Dedoch (in suit) and Koang Chop of the South Sudan Community Restoration Program, a ministry of Kent Lutheran Church, and Council President Debbie Hunt welcomed participants of the Region 1 gathering for synod leaders in global mission, hunger and companion relationships.

The Rev. Everett Savage of Trinity Lutheran Church of Lynnwood and the Rev. Steve Ray of chinaconnect and Elim Lutheran Church of Port Orchard share a moment. Savage was Ray's pastoral mentor in the 1980s in Taiwan.

The Rev. Zhenchuan Liu of the Grace Center for Campus Chinese speaks.

Synod's Namibia task force back in gear

The synod's Namibia Task Force is back in gear. At a meeting Thursday in Tacoma that followed a long hiatus, task-force members decided on two priorities for future work.

The first will be backing community development projects, foremost among them a large emerging garden in north Namibia where produce for hungry AIDS orphans and old people will be grown.

The second priority is multifaceted support of Oshigambo High School, to possibly include scholarships to that school and to college, classrooms renovations and a bridge.

The synod has a 30-year-old companion relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, which is in the north.

It was great to see the people I went to Namibia with last year, and everyone else, too.

Stay tuned, and if you'd like to join us, contact the Rev. Randy Faro at kingtut13@qwestoffice.net or myself at rachelpritchett@msn.com.

I'll post updates here as they develop.

Here's one sad fact shared by Pastor Randy. Of all the nations in the entire world, Namibia has the most income disparity of all. That is, there is no other country in the world with a wider gulf between the rich and the poor than Namibia.

Here is a photo of Bishop Robert D. Hofstad, left, meeting with a Lutheran bishop from Namibia, Zaphania Kameeta, taken in 2010.

Rachel Pritchett

About that insert mistake ...

Readers,

Your October issue of The Lutheran may have mistakenly included an insert from the Northwest Washington Synod. Some 10 to 20 issues got the wrong insert due to a printer's error, according to Alisa Martodam, subscriptions supervisor at Augsburg Fortress Publishers in Minneapolis, Minn. It was not in place of our own insert, which arrives in the December issue.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

The Rev. Festus Uirab wrapping up visit

The Rev. Festus Uirab this week wraps up a month visiting congregations in the Southwestern Washington Synod. His visit comes as part of a companion relationship this synod has with counterparts in Namibia.

Uirab, 38, is a pastor at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Okahandja, and has held that position since 2004, according to his biography. Okahandja is near Namibia's capital city of Windhoek.

His synod is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia, which is more active in the south and central parts of the country.

Nicknamed "Lyden," he got his pastor training at Paulinium Seminary in Windhoek, and was ordained in 2003.

"I am hardworking, friendly and like to crack joke with people," he wrote.

Since 2002, he has been married to Sylvia.

Photo by Carol Fossum

Moments for Mission deadline

The deadline for the November issue of Moments for Mission, the synod newsletter, is Oct. 24.

Rachel Pritchett, rachelpritchett@msn.com

Silverdale lifts up chinaconnect

Chinaconnect was the subject of a fundraising celebration at Silverdale Lutheran Church on Sunday, Oct. 16, where youth told about their visitation to Nanchang and other venues in China this past summer.

Young Silverdale Lutheran members Anjali Chakrabarthy and Lina McGuire shared with others from the congregation and community who may never see Nanchang, half a world away. The two were among about 30 who visited China under the leadership of the Rev. Steven Ray of the Southwestern Washington Synod, executive director of the nonprofit with a mission of increasing one-to-one relationships through mission.

On Sunday, Silverdale Lutheran's pastor, the Rev. Jonathan Sansgaard, said of the young cross-cultural visitors here and there, "They are the present; they are the right now."

Pastor Sansgaard recalled a member of his congregation, a Navy hospital chief, who after learning about chinaconnect said that no war plan could ever hold the long-term peaceful power of grassroots relationship-building.

Ray said the mission of chinaconnect is growing to not just include mission visits and providing English instructors, but also in the area of serving orphanages with children with special needs.

American music expert Steve Eulberg provided music on dulcimers.

To learn more about chinaconnect, visit http://chinaconnectonline.org.

Pictured: The Rev. Stephen Ray presents a China service award to, from left to right, Anjali Chakrabarthy, Lina McGuire and the Rev. Jonathan Sansgaard of Silverdale Lutheran Church on Oct. 16 in Silverdale.

A couple of global mission events this weekend ....

.... a pastor from Namibia continues to visit throughout the Southwestern Washington Synod and meets with members of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. All are invited. The synod has a companion relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, and the pastor's visit is part of that ongoing friendship. The church is at 1601 North St. NE. The event is a potluck.

... Chinaconnect has a fundraiser at Silverdale Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. A group of 30 from that congregation went to China this past summer, led by the Rev. Steve Ray of chinaconnect. All are invited. The church is at 11701 Ridgepoint drive NW. I'll see you there.

— Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Norwegian service canceled in Poulsbo

This coming Sunday's Norwegian/English service at First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo has been canceled, due to some glitches with the music. The Rev. Don Jukam instead will reflect on a visit he and wife Elaine had with Norway's King Harald shortly after he became king; 8 and 11 a.m.

Some images from Spirit of Life of Olalla

Readers,

Here are some images from Saturday at Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla, where they were painting and doing repairs big-time in the aftermath of a burst pipe that did a lot of water damage. — Rachel Pritchett

Here are the cuts, top to bottom:

Exterior, Spirit of Life

The Rev. Melanie Wallschlaeger, synod director for evangelical mission, paints a main-floor bathroom

Lunch

Louie Boe, Spirit of Life member, at work.

Wife Karen Boe, works nearby.

Work spirit got the job done at Spirit of Life on Saturday

No doubt that Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla is undergoing a transformation process to renew mission, but it was evident Saturday that also includes a remodel of the facility.
Back in September, a leader of the Little Doves daycare arrived early one morning to find the church kitchen, entry and narthex flooded. A plumbing joint underneath the kitchen sink had failed during the night, sending water spewing everywhere for hours. Church leaders rushed in to turn off the water, but not before it had soaked into the subfloor, and then dripped relentlessly into a storage room downstairs.
Damage was everwhere. Daycare for some 70 babies, toddlers and children at Little Doves had to be canceled for about eight days. And worship that first weekend was forced outside into a shed. Thankfully, the $80,000 in damage was covered by insurance.
Church leaders decided to go ahead and do some deferred projects while the repairs were underway. That added work include new appliances and spaces in the kitchen, new closets, painting the walls of the sanctuary and entry, as well as painting the bathrooms upstairs and downstairs.
The Rev. Sarah Roemer welcomed about 30 workers on Saturday, many from Spirit of Life, but also from Peninsula Lutheran Church of Gig Harbor and First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo, who joined with the professional painters to get the job done really nicely and pretty fast, too.
It was a great day. I'll post some photos here and send them to everyone I promised I'd send them to at Spirit of Life soon. All my computer equipment is in the shop for a tuneup, new sparks and a tire rotation.

- Rachel Pritchett

Tomorrow's the paint party

Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the paint party at Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla, which suffered damage when a pipe broke and spewed water everywhere. I was going to do just a quick drive-by for a story and photos, but the Rev. Sarah Roemer had other ideas for me and they included a brush. So I'll see you there, at 3901 SE Mullenix Road. Take Highway 16 to the Mullenix exit and head east. The church is on the left. The church number is (360) 876-5094. — Rachel Pritchett

Pictured: Pastor Sarah Roemer and the Spirit of Life children

More on Soul Café

Hi readers,

I contacted Edwin Rourk, the Region 1 online community director in Portland, Ore., to find out more about Soul Café, www.soulcafe.org. Here's a portion of some information stuff he sent me. I'm trying to get this blog linked there. — Rachel Pritchett

What is an online community?
An online community is an interactive group of people joined together by a common interest. Soul Cafe is an online community initiative of Region 1 of the ELCA that was conceived and seeded through the efforts of the Project Believe group in the Oregon Synod.

What is this going to do for us?
Soul Cafe is a sacred space on the web that enables geographically separated Lutheran congregations, church affiliated organizations, and individuals to meet, interact, and get to know each other through idea sharing and communication for real solutions to the shared problems, issues, and challenges facing the Church today.
Why will people use it? (Will this be just another thing?)
People will use the online community because of the needs we all face: the need for introductions, conversations, and solutions – together and searchable in one place, not scattered all over the web. An online community is a tool that will enable these conversations, serve as an archive, and help us to go forward as the Church. Soul Cafe is being launched for just this reason. Soul Cafe was built to promote mindshare, and it’s always open!

How do you use it? / How do you participate and interact?
First, you create a profile – set up your home page. Something many folks are already familiar with doing, having joined or participated in other social web applications. Next, you will venture out to search and explore the community and join in any groups and conversations you might be interested in, or start your own. You participate in or start any group that is relevant to whatever it is you are needing or wanting to do. It really is that easy.

How is this different than Facebook?
Facebook is great for what it was built for, but FB is exclusive and “me centered.” The center of the FB experience is the individual using it – it's you. That’s fine, but vibrant online communities are “us centered.” Online communities are inclusive and the heart and center of Soul Cafe will be all of us together. Soul Cafe will be entirely searchable by group, individuals, topic, media format, and within the groups themselves. Everything and everybody will be easily accessible.

What is the timeline and where are we?
We are currently at the end of a two month preliminary “alpha” phase, or “seeding” of the community. This introductory release within a smaller, more manageable geographic area has allowed folks to help us work out bugs, create profiles, and join or start those initial groups that now populate Soul Cafe. We are now positioned for a full “beta” launch of the community to include all of Region 1, opening the community to the congregations, church affiliated organizations, and individuals who will benefit from this transformational resource tool.

How to become part of Soul Café
All are welcome at Soul Cafe - come on in and create a profile - then join a group, start a group, learn, share, be part of the conversation – come, be the Church at www.soulcafe.org!
We'd ask that you do at least 2 of the following: (Or why not all of them?!)
• Sign-on to Soul Cafe and fill out a profile
• Join at least one group and maybe even start one if you feel it would be relevant
• Share Soul Cafe with others outside of your congregation or church organization
• Put a copy or a stack of this 2-sided sheet around upcoming church functions
• Help a friend sign up with Soul Cafe
• Give this sheet to anyone you feel might be interested or benefit from Soul Cafe
We’re building the community together. Thank you for your help!
See you soon!

Some familiar faces at the Associated Ministries Hunger Walk

The Rev. John Vaswig, top, and others from Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood were among 800 participants at last weekend's Associated Ministries Hunger Walk at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood. Some $162,000 has been raised so far.

Photos, Beth Ann Johnson

Women's treasurer training slated

The Southwestern Washington Synodical Women's Organization plans two treasurer-training sessions. The first is at 10 a.m. Oct. 22 at Peace Lutheran Church of Puyallup. The second is at 10 a.m. Oct. 29 at St. John's Lutheran Church of Chehalis. Kathy Ifft of the Southwestern Washington Synodical Women's Organization will be the leader. Participants interested in updating their skills should bring their financial records, the latest stewardship packet from the Women of the ELCA, and the recent mailing from the Thankoffering service. Contact Ifft if you are coming at kathyifft@msn.com or (253) 307-5761.

Concert benefitting chinaconnect Oct. 16 in Silverdale

By the Rev. Paul Meeker of All Saviour's Lutheran Church of Bremerton

All are invited to a chinaconnect (chinaconnectonline.org) concert at Silverdale Lutheran Church (11701 Ridgepoint Dr. NW, Silverdale, WA 98383), October 16 at 2 p.m. National recording artist Steve Eulberg (www.steveeulberg.com) will provide the music. Youth and adults will talk about their recent China experience. A free-will offering will be received to support the on going work of chinaconnect. Invite a friend to share this exciting opportunity with you. Information contact: Pastor Paul Meeker, pastor.oslc@gmail.com

Pastors George Larson, Paul Meeker support Sigi Helgeson, Family of God congregation, Bremerton community

Readers,

Below is a link to a Kitsap Sun story from last night about a service for Kitsap County's first "detergent suicide" victim, who took his life very early Sunday outside Family of God Lutheran Church of Bremerton. The Rev. Sigi Helgeson of Family of God conducted the service, supported by the Rev. George Larson, ret., of Port Orchard, the Rev. Paul Meeker of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Bremerton, and many others from the local Lutheran community.

Rachel Pritchett

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/oct/03/man-areas-first-detergent-suicide-case/

Prayer, healing service tonight in Bremerton, 7 p.m.

Readers,

This from the Rev. Sigi Helgeson, Family of God, Bremerton, this morning. She's asking everyone around here to come. — Rachel Pritchett

"Yesterday, a young man was discovered after taking his own life in his truck parked in Family of God's upper parking lot. He had used highly toxic chemicals and posted warning signs on his truck. Family of God had to cancel their morning services due to the lethal nature of the fumes.

We will gather tonight at 7 p.m. to offer prayers of healing for the young man's family and for our community.

Please come tonight if you are able and pass the word along. Thank you for all of your concern and prayers. Please keep the family of this young man in your prayers."

— Sigi Helgeson