Upcoming events, opportunitites

Lutheran Community Services Northwest fundraiser coming

Lutheran Community Services Northwest’s annual fundraising event takes place March 10 at the Landmark Convention Center in Tacoma. The event for the social-service provider will start with at 12:30 p.m. social hour, followed by lunch. The program begins at 1:30 p.m. For more, contact Lee Tenneboe at ltenneboe@lcsnw.org or 253-722-5694.

Torvend to lead preaching-on-baptism workshop in Tacoma

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Torvend of Pacific Lutheran University will lead a workshop on preaching about baptism from 9 a.m. to noon March 12 at the university. Torvend is the author of “Living Water, Uncommon Birth: Christian Baptism in a Post-Christian Culture.” For more information, contact Torvend at torvensa@plu.edu. To reserve a space for the event that includes lunch, send an email to Cynthia Parkman at parkmaca@plu.edu.

Lessons from the Holocaust shared at PLU

The sixth annual Powell-Heller Conference in Holocaust Education takes place March 13 to 15 at Pacific Lutheran University. A traditional Jewish meal will be served at noon March 15, at $15. To register, visit www.plu.edu/holocaustconference.

Synod youth retreat this month at Camp Berachah near Auburn

Camp Berachah near Auburn is the location of the Southwestern Washington Synod’s Youth Retreat, for young people in sixth through 12th grades. The theme is Going Green and the fun goes from March 15 to 17. For more information on this and other synod youth happenings, go to www.swwayouthministry.org or contact Katie VanBeek at k.vanbeek@plcplace.com.

Boundaries instruction for clergy, lay leaders comes in April

Barbara Keller, ELCA consultant for misconduct prevention, will lead required boundaries training for clergy, lay leaders and youth directors April 5 and 6, at locations to be announced. Training for clergy will be April 5. Training for lay leaders and youth directors will take place the next day. To find out more or to register, contact the synod office at swwsynod@plu.edu or 253-535-8300.

April 16 is deadline for health-ministry grant applications

Wheat Ridge Ministries of Itasca, Ill., invites Lutheran congregations to submit proposals for its Congregation Health Ministry Grant program at www.wheatridge.org/chmgrants. The one-year, $2,000 matching grants support congregations helping whole-person health. The application deadline is April 16. For more, go to grants@wheatridge.org or call 800-762-6748.

Pastoral workshops based on concept of family slated  

Leadership in Ministry, www.leadershipinministry.org, has scheduled workshops for pastors this coming spring and fall near Portland, Ore. Based on the book "Generation to Generation" by Dr. Edwin Friedman, the workshops explores the concept of family, both personal and congregational. They take place at the Alton Collins Retreat Center. The $850 costs covers both sessions, from April 29 to May 1, and from Nov. 4 to 5, as well as room and board. To learn more or to register, visit www.leadershipinministry.org or contact the Rev. John Rosenberg of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia at 360-357-3554, Ext. 111 or john@gsolympia.org.

Intentional-welcome workshop planned

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Vancouver will be the site of a May 4 workshop to assist congregations in providing an intentional welcome to people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. The workshop takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fee is $25. Advance registration is requested, information is posted at www.welcomingresources.org/communityorg.htm.

Pastoral-theology conference focuses on Book of Matthew

“God is with us: Preaching, Teaching and Living the Gospel of Matthew” is the title of the 2013 Pacific Lutheran University Conference on Pastoral Theology, from June 17 to 19. John Pilch of Georgetown University and the Rev. Dr. Melinda Quivik of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia will share the cultural context that shaped the gospel. More information and registration is at www.plu.edu/congregations, 253-535-7424 or crel@plu.edu.

Plan now to play a part in Lutheran Summer Music

Voice and instrumental musicians in the eighth through 12th grades are invited to attend a time of sacred and secular music instruction at Lutheran Summer Music. It runs from June 23 to July 21 at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Scholarships are available. Go to www.lutheransummermusic.org.