Spanaway marks 50 years of proclaiming Gospel

By Karen Whitmore, Spanaway Lutheran Church

In his covenant word, the Torah, God taught his people about Sabbath and gave his people this gift of time. The Sabbath time is for resting playing, singing, feasting, praying, storytelling, and time for savoring friendship with God and others and nature. The Sabbath would be honored in three ways: the Sabbath day, the seventh day of the week, the Sabbath year, the seventh year which is the Sabbath year, and the fiftieth year, the Grand Sabbath year.

This year Spanaway Lutheran Church is celebrating its Grand Sabbath or Jubilee year. For 50 years, Spanaway Lutheran Christians gather for worship, and live as God’s people proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Spanaway community and throughout the world. Spanaway Lutheran is consecrated as a uniquely Jubilee congregation as proclaimed by the cross in our sanctuary. Carved on the cross are the words from Isaiah 61 which Jesus read proclaiming his ministry as recorded in Luke 4. By these words we also proclaim and live our ministry to the world.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me
 to proclaim good news to the poor. 
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives 
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
 to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — 
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, 
the oil of joy instead of mourning, 
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
 They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord
 for the display of his splendor.

We are released from the activity of this world of acquisition to participate in this joyful Year of Jubilation. In January 2012 we began a year long celebration commemorating a year of celebration; remembering and reaching out.

Monthly projects involve the congregation members and community. We have chosen these projects which support church members, Base children, food bank, the military, individuals who are released from incarceration, and our community as a way of sharing our abundance with others. A target goal of 50 of each item was proposed in honor of our Jubilee and congregational members have surpassed that goal. Favorite hymns are chosen and sung through out the Jubilee year. People are enjoying pictures and posters in the Fellowship Hall which recount our history. Many members of the congregation share their faith by means of a written Lenten devotional booklet available in booklet form or online at the SLC webpage. T-shirts and sweatshirts with the church logo remind us of our connectedness. A summer church picnic on July 1 at Spanaway Park reaffirmed our enjoyment of each other and God’s creation of nature.

We will continue our Jubilee projects throughout the fall in ministries as we collect coats to help others prepare for winter; as we appreciate God’s gift of creation and resurrection by planting bulbs in the churchyard. In spring when the bulbs bloom, we will recall our year of Jubilee and celebration for our years of ministry. We joyously show our thankfulness for God’s abundance by supplying funds to purchase Turkey breasts for the food bank for Thanksgiving.

This Jubilee year, many joyful activities are occurring at Spanaway, a sharing of ourselves that identify us as a covenant people. We pray that in our hearts we continue to live a Jubilee life, seeking and savoring our friendship with God and each other, seeking ways to further the kingdom by sharing love and hospitality and resources with those less fortunate. And thanking and praising God for his grace, good gifts and mercy.

Our Jubilee year of Celebration culminates in a festive gathering of the current congregation and many who have left to become members in other bodies. We will savor our history and former relationships and recount our blessings from God on the weekend of October 6th and 7th. A special Saturdy evening event and Sunday worship service is being planned with the inclusion of festive activities. We invite all to come and enjoy and celebrate with us this Jubilee. Call the church office: 253-531-7000 for additional information.

For a brief history of God’s unfolding promise to mend the entire universe please read "Manna and Mercy" by Dan Erlander.