2013 Easter Message from Presiding Bishop

 

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb ... 
— Luke 24:2
 
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Easter. It is about more than an open tomb. It is the good news of the risen Christ who opens lives.

Think about Jesus' friends after his death. Their lives were closed down by fear, disappointment and confusion. The risen Christ appeared saying "peace be with you" and opened their lives with a liberating word of reconciliation. In the same way Christ opens your life with a baptismal promise that joins your life to his death and resurrection. "You are my child. Nothing in all creation will separate you from my love."

Even now Christ is opening your life, your daily work, your passions and imagination. Christ is opening your daily life into a holy calling that fills the world with love. At the Lord’s table, Christ is opening you into a community that can bear even suffering with confidence, and sorrow with hope.

The risen Christ opens the Scriptures — the full depth of God's promise made to Sarah and Abraham now coming to life in the new creation. Even when everything else is being stripped away, the risen Christ opens you to God's promised future.

Christ opens you to God's work of forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, is opening this way of life for you.

In God's grace,

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson

Presiding Bishop

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Lenten path of a new generation of church leaders in China

By the Rev. Steve Ray, executive director of ChinaConnect and pastor at Elim Lutheran Church of Port Orchard

Since the new millennium, churches in urban areas have rapidly grown and developed in China. Compared with rural churches, urban churches have characteristics which are more in common with this fast paced age, such as openness and diversity. God has raised up a number of leaders, especially in urban churches, who are carrying the mission of this generation, to find a pastoral model for Chinese churches.

The older generation passed down to them a precious spirit, namely keeping the faith; however, the older generation did not pass on their experience in providing pastoral care. Therefore, it is necessary for the leaders of this generation to search for proper models of pastoral care to further develop the churches in China.

Many younger church leaders in China are taking a path that has never been taken before. Especially in the urban church, with its many challenges and ministry needs, many of the pastors and leaders don’t have teachers to show them how to respond to ministry in this new age. Without this valuable mission experience, the new generation of pastors feel ill-equipped to lead and care for this new generation of Christians.

As with all pastors and leaders in every place and time, those in China’s church, especially in urban settings understand the need to be humble and honest. For leaders to find the right path, they must trust in the Lord God more than themselves. While building their congregations and seeing to their members many pastoral needs, many leaders and pastors of this new generation have expanded their thinking and are beginning to learn from foreign churches with a history of service and revival. The hope is that the experience of these foreign churches can assist leaders in Chinese church not only to be more pastoral, but also better equip them as servants of society.

Like the people of Israel before them who wandered in the wilderness for forty years, following God and Moses, when they entered Canaan the faced all kinds of temptations and difficulties. This not unlike the Chinese church today.   The mission for the Chinese church in general, and urban churches in particular, is to find a model of pastoral care that is appropriate for Chinese churches. If this generation cannot navigate the challenging roads ahead for the next generation to follow, it will be even more difficult for them.

The path through the Lenten Season is a difficult one. The path to the cross isn’t meant to be easy. The path is full of potholes and stumbling blocks, but the path is also loaded with opportunities for prayer, fasting, and renewal. Today is a difficult and transitional period for Chinese churches and their leaders. In order to keep faith, the older generation passed on a spirit, the spirit to struggle and to fight.  Today the social environment has changed.  It is not as harsh as before, and in this environment churches have come into being. 

There is no precedent in China to show how to develop churches during these challenging days, but we know that the Lord is faithful. Like Moses and people of Israel, they trusted that God would lead them and be with them.  This, too, is the hope for the church in China as they seek the path to not only serve their Lord and Savior, but also minister society and to a new generation of Christians and their needs.

Friday night worship, Bible study takes place at Federal Way Chinese Fellowship

Readers,

Last night, I ate, socialized and worshiped with the Revs. Rowena and Mike Wang at Federal Way Chinese Fellowship, where Rowena is pastor. It's one of our new mission starts. I absolutely love visiting here, but had not been to the Friday-evening Bible study, which grew to include Sunday worship in 2011. Whenever the thought of Mike comes to mind, I picture him at the wheel of a minivan, window rolled down, leaning out, picking someone up, letting someone off, with a thousand different details in the back seat. Whew.

In any event, Rowena and Mike on Fridays pick up Chinese students from Highline and Green River community colleges, then bring them to a large intergenerational potluck at Calvary Lutheran Church of Federal Way, where this new worshiping group meets.

Then it's a delicious potluck of foods from China, made by the older ladies of the group. It's like family, and the meal is a reminder of home to these students who are as young as 17. As usual, everyone made me feel so welcome - I always hate to leave.

Then after the meal and socializing, it's into worship, which also has a Bible-study aspect to it. Last night, we learned from Mike about Noah's Ark (taught in Mandarin) and how Jesus is our ark today.

I'll be writing a story about the wonderful evening for the next newsletter and for here. It's just so inspiring to see how the Wangs and Federal Way Chinese Fellowship, along with the students' host families, the colleges and the Chinese-American community all creating a warm and strong safety net for these students so far away from home.

Many of the young people are interested in pursuing careers in business. One young man was studying the Home Depot model, to take home and replicate with his father, who is in the home-improvement business there. All wanted to ride the entrepreneurial wave of the emerging China.

I invited some of the students over to Bremerton while I was there. I'd give them a tour of my newspaper. Everyone likes to watch the big, huge press spitting out newspapers. I hope they take me up on it. I say field trip. Here are some scenes from last night:

— Rachel Pritchett

Dynamic leader' called for at listening posts

By Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator

TACOMA — A new bishop should be a dynamic leader capable of steering the church into the 21st Century.

That tall order was one of many that rose up from four "listening post" held throughout the Southwestern Washington Synod in February to gather ideas for desirable qualities in a new bishop.
One of the gatherings, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, drew about 30 people who seemed to agree that someone who was passionate, a good listener and courageous enough to risk confrontation would fit the bill.

The new bishop will elected by voting members of the Synod Assembly, taking place June 7 and 8 at the Hotel Murano and Bicentennial Pavilion in Tacoma. Unlike the Northwest Washington Synod, where the bishop-nomination period already has closed, nominations won't surface until voting begins.

Former Synod Vice President Jim Hushagen, at the Gloria Dei listening post, explained the reasoning behind the 11th-hour approach.

"There has to be some place for the spirit to move people," he said.

The Rev. Mark Woldseth of Gloria Dei said if people know someone they think would make a good bishop to gauge their interest. If the person's interested, let the synod office staff know. Around May, the synod will release biographical information about people who've expressed an interest in becoming bishop on the synod website and in Moments for Mission.

The listening posts were organized by the Synod Nominating Committee, led by the Rev. Nina Body of Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Tacoma. Persons with questions or comments are invited to contact her at pastornina@gmail.com or 253-474-0525.

"We're from the base up, not the top down," Body said of the elections process.

The assembly's theme is “Always Being Made New,” the 2013 theme for the ELCA as its turns 25 in 2013.

Many presentations and workshops will be offered, all designed to inspire and equip congregations and individuals for the year ahead. Worship opportunities will abound. A special banquet to celebrate Bishop Robert D. Hofstad and his staff will take place.

The Rev. Dr. Terence Fretheim, Old Testament professor at Luther Seminary, and the Rev. Donald McCoid, executive for ecumenical and inter-religious relations of the Office of the Presiding Bishop, will attend.

To register online, go to www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1099848.Reduced costs are in place until May 16. Room reservations also should be made before May 16, by calling 888-862-3255 and asking for the Southwestern Washington Synod/ELCA group block.

This time, an 'I do' with all the trimmings

By Rachel Pritchett

LAKEWOOD — Two years ago when they married, there was no family, no reception, no cake, no garter toss.

A hasty exchange of vows was all Army Sgt. Nathan Proctor and Bethanie could pull off in the short time he was home from a deployment in Afghanistan and about to prepare for another.

That changed Feb. 16, when the young couple renewed their vows in a emotion-filled ceremony at St. John's Lutheran Church, where they are members. Dad walked her down the aisle, there was prayer, blessings and communion, and afterward, a full-fledged reception and cake.

"I feel amazing," said Bethanie, a Pierce College student.

No congregation could have been better suited for the occasion. St. John's, in the shadow of Joint Base Lewis McChord, is full of active and retired military.

"St. John's means the world to my husband and I. Since we are a military family, they have always been there when we are in need of help, caring and loving," Bethanie said.

The Rev. Joe Smith said the love goes two ways. The couple have added new life to the church that has financially struggled but is doing better now under synodical administration.

Some 40 worship now, up from before. Two adult baptisms have taken place recently and a third is planned for Easter. A Korean congregation meets at St. John's and partners with the congregation on community outreach.

The synodical-administration status also has allowed St. John's to focus on ministry and not on debt. All non-mortgage debt was retired recently.

"While St. John's future is not guaranteed, the ELCA has chosen to invest resources in St. John's further renewal with a three-year grant," Smith said.

Pictured: Bethanie and Nathan Proctor renew their vow as the Rev. Joe Smith presides.

Food-bank challenge gets front-page coverage

STEVENSON — Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church invested $6,000 to start a new campaign called the Community Food Bank Challenge, but that's turned out to be just the beginning.

In its campaign, the small congregation is matching every dollar community members donate to local food banks with its own matching dollar-for-dollar donation, up to $6,000.

The congregation has opened accounts in three local banks where community members can donate directly. Also, visitors to the main grocery store in Stevenson, A&J Select, can have coupons for $1, $5, or $20 scanned for the cause. Service clubs and the local library are helping. Shepherd of the Hills is challenging local companies to include information about the campaign in paychecks in the campaign that continues through April.

"The need in our area has dramatically increased as of late and the food banks are slammed," the Rev. Ron McClung explained. "The local paper is writing about it (front page and editorial) and it is the talk of the town."

Church members raised the $6,000 by dipping into its endowment fund and through an individual's contribution. — Rachel Pritchett

PLU, community center partner for healthier Edgewood

By Beth Ann Johnson, Mountain View Community Center community coordinator

EDGEWOOD — It’s 2 p.m. on a Thursday, and Pacific Lutheran University nursing student Quinn Taylor has her stethoscope out, ready to take the blood pressure of waiting clients.

At a separate table, nursing students Elaina Mills and Ashley Wright have set up “Alphabet Soup” for the kids. Each child pulls a letter of the alphabet from a soup bowl, and then draws a fruit, vegetable or healthy activity that starts with that letter.

The nursing students are at Mountain View Community Center to take part in a new partnership between PLU's School of Nursing, Mountain View Community Center and Edgewood Community FISH Food Bank. For 14 weeks this spring, nursing students under the supervision of Kathy Moisio, clinical instructor of nursing at PLU, will come to Mountain View to visit with clients of the food bank and the center’s Seeds of Change Community Meal. The community meal feeds between 125 and 150 people each week; the food bank provides more than 60,000 pounds of food to over 1,000 families each month. 

Their first week, nursing students took blood pressure, educated clients about the importance of flu vaccines, and took a survey of clients to find out what they were concerned about when it came to their health.

“We want to provide services that meet the needs of those who are served,” Moisio said.

This is just one of several changes happening at Mountain View Community Center. Thanks to a partnership with the Medical Reserve Corps, clients received free flu shots. And in coming weeks, food bank clients will get cooking lessons.

“The over-reaching goal is to provide children, families and seniors in our community with opportunities to improve their physical, mental and social well-being,” said Dr. Don Mott, chair of the community center's board.  “It is very exciting to see this unfolding in our community.”

Pictured: Elaina Mills, at right, sets to work.

King's Manor celebrates a decade

Members of Christ the King Lutheran Church of Tacoma and friends celebrated the 10th anniversary of King's Manor Senior Living Community on Jan. 31. Music, champagne, door prizes and hors d'oeurves marked the occasion at the facility, at 8609 Portland Ave. East. King's Manor offers assisted living and respite care, has been a ministry of the church from the very beginning.

Local entities receive ELCA hunger grants

The following local entities have been selected to receive grants in the latest round of funding from the ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant Program:

St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, Diocese of Olympia, $3,000 for Parish Hall Ministries of Shelton

Highland Lutheran Church, $2,000 for Lewis River Mobile Food Bank of La Center

Council for the Homeless, $2,000 for Winter Hospitality Overflow, Vancouver, Wash.

Trinity Lutheran Church, $2,000 for its Sustainable Gardening Project in Parkland

Ocean Park Lutheran Church, $2,500 for the Ocean Park Community Table

God's Kitchen at Family of God Lutheran Church, $2,500 for God's Kitchen in Bremerton

Peninsula Communities of Faith, $2,000 for its Food Backpacks 4 Kids program in Wauna

Key Peninsula Lutheran Church, $2,000 for its Community Meal Program in Lakebay.

So little stomachs don't go empty on weekends

By Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator, rachelpritchett@msn.com, 206-498-0920

PORT LUDLOW — It's been more than two years now, since Lutheran Church of the Redeemer split away from the ELCA, leaving a large chunk of membership desiring to stay with the ELCA without a place to worship.

It wasn't long, though, that the motivated group found a new home, albeit an unlikely one — a lodge along picturesque Beaver Valley Road with multiple pipe organs collected by the lodge's owner, veterinarian Dr. Robert Schladetzky, and even a full-service bar.

But somehow all that transforms into a sanctuary at 10 o'clock every Sunday morning under the direction of the Rev. Laurie Stumme-Diers.

One recent Sunday after worship, members traipsed through the grassy wet grounds to a barn on the property, where they began filling 55 bags of food for Chimacum-area students at risk of going hungry on the weekends, when schools and their meal programs close down.

Under the direction of Harold Jensen and Pam Kelly, the worker fill the bags with tuna, soup, raisins, fruit snacks and oatmeal.

Peace's "Backpacks for Kids" ministry is as old as the reborn worship group itself, and has attracted the attention of other helping groups in Jefferson County, where unemployment persists at around 9.5 percent. Local churches and a food bank are in talks with Peace to increase the volume of bags sent home with students on Fridays.

The idea was hatched by Jensen, who before retiring as a psychologist at the South Kitsap School District, saw a similar program work there.

No one knows how long Peace will worship at the lodge. It's been for sale for some time, though the market for a lodge full of pipe organs is limited.

But it seems certain that Peace and its mission will continue far into the future. All are welcome. Come by to worship and visit with the people of Peace, at 2924 Beaver Valley Road. More is at www.peacelutheranfellowship.org.

Pictured: Harold Jensen, back left, and Pam Kelly, back right, direct the work.

Viewpoint: Collective change of thought now possible

By the Rev. Kim Latterell, Creator Lutheran Church of Bonney Lake, creatorpastor@comcast.net
 

We can change. It’s happened before on grand scales. A whole nation can find itself at a tipping point and then move en masse in a new direction. A couple of infamous occasions come to mind. One person puts poison in Tylenol bottles, murdering several people and then the whole packaging industry gets new regulations about safety seals. Another person puts a bomb in his shoe, fails to detonate it, but hundreds of millions of people are suddenly willing to take their shoes off at airport check-ins. Suddenly, widespread and willing change can and does happen, all for the sake of safety.

Which brings us to gun-safety laws. After more than 30 years of lobbying
by the National Rifle Association to restrict or abolish reasonable and constitutional actions to limit and track gun sales to civilians, Sandy Hook’s tragic
destruction of innocent children may finally prove to be the tipping point of change
for us as a nation. Oddly enough it remains an uphill battle, yet one that
may finally have the not only the attention but the support of the majority of
Americans who realize that the Second Amendment right to possess and bear
arms in not unconditional.

My pastoral concern centers on the huge numbers of Christians who as yet so vociferously defend the possession and use of assault-type weapons and the stockpiling of ammunition for defense against home invasion and the perceived risk of tyranny. It is an odd stance to take for those who embrace the love and teachings of Jesus. In place of his call to love and pray for enemies, turn the cheek, and lay down one’s life rather than take the life of another, many Christians seem to rather follow the teachings of the NRA, wherein every person, every school and institution, every street corner should be guarded by weaponry, every threat shot dead. Love of guns takes the place of love of neighbors. The rabid language and fervor to defend the purchase of more and more guns by citizens and by Christians is strikingly unfaithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can change. Perhaps Christians could finally choose to lead the way, rather than go astray.

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.

Postings

Office manager: First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tacoma seeks an office manager at 32 hours a week beginning in May. For more information, call 253-584-0599.
 

Church administrator: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Olympia seeks an administrator. A job description is at www.gloriadeiolympia.org. Application materials may be sent to the church at 1515 Harrison Ave., Olympia, WA 98502 or emailed to gloriadei@gloriadeiolympia.org. Consideration begins March 8.

Executive director: Mountain View Community Center at Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood sees an executive director, with applications due March 15. A job description is at www.mtviewlutheran.org/mvccdirector.pdf.

Our congregations

News from around the synod, for keeping up
 

Fire: Agnus Dei of Gig Harbor was victimized by an arson fire in February that destroyed a small shed and its contents. No one was injured and the case is under investigation.

WHO numbers continue to rise: The Winter Hospitality Program in Vancouver, Wash. has been more needed than ever this season. The program that provides men, women and families overnight shelter is running at 106 percent of capacity just at St. Andrew. That is 10 percent higher than last season. St. Andrew houses families, and two thirds of its visitors have been children under age 5.

ELCA missionary to Nigeria to visit

 

Dorthea Hustoft-Hamman, longtime ELCA volunteer missionary in Nigeria and Southwestern Washington native, will visit here this coming summer. Pastor husband Amson will be available to preach and teach to synod congregations about his four-point ministry in Jos. Congregations are invited to contact Diane Armbrust of the Synod Global Mission Committee at dparmbrust@hotmail.com or communicator Rachel Pritchett at rachelpritchett@msn.com.

Calendar of events

Following are upcoming events. Contact the synod office for more information:

March 10: Lutheran Community Services NW annual fundraiser, Tacoma, www.lcsnw.org and ltennebee@lcsnw.org
March 13 to 15: Holocaust conference, PLU
March 15 to 17: Synod youth retreat, Camp Berachah
March 16: Synod Council meeting, 10 a.m. to 3. p.m., Redeemer of Fircrest
March 16: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA Olympic Cluster spring celebration, Silverdale Lutheran, carolfossum@comcast.net
March 31: Easter 
April 4: Boundaries training for clergy
April 5: Boundary training for lay leaders, youth directors
April 6: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA Fort Vancouver Cluster, Highland Lutheran, La Center
April 16 to 18: Parish-nurse training
April 19 to 21: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA spiritual retreat, “Fully Rely on God” with the Rev. Mary Sanders, Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way, carolfossum@comcast.net
April 26 to 28: Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Seattle
April 29 to May 1: Leadership in Ministry gathering, Portland
May 15 to 16: Parish-nurse training
June 7 to 8: Assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod, Hotel Murano Tacoma
June 17 to 19: PLU Conference on Pastoral Theology
June 21 to 23: Region 1 gathering including Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA, featuring author Jane Kirkpatrick and Bishop Kay Ward, Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, Wash., carolfossum@comcast.net
July 31: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA Mount Rainier Cluster, Trinity Lutheran, Tacoma
Nov. 4 to 5: Leadership in Ministry gathering, Portland
July 24 to 27, 2014: Ninth Triennial Gathering of the Women of the ELCA, Charlotte, N.C.

Bulletin board

United Lutheran offers space for rent

United Lutheran Church, at 1231 South 76th St., Tacoma, has space available at its church facility for single events or for ongoing use by nonprofits. The facility is on one floor and equipped for access by handicapped persons. It includes a large kitchen, gym, social hall, conference rooms and sanctuary. Contact the Rev. Mary Saunders at 253-475-3175 or marysandrs@aol.com.

Parish-nurse scholarships available

Registered nurses with an interest in learning more about becoming a parish nurse are invited a learning opportunity taking place in the South Sound April 16 to 18 and May 15 to 16. Parish nurses create ministries in their congregation that help people achieve better health. Scholarships through the Franciscan Foundation are available. The deadline for applying is March 15. For further information, contact Debbie Saint at 253-530-2143 or debbiesaint@fhshealth.org.

Caregiver instruction offered

Lutheran Community Services Northwest offers instruction for caregivers of older and disabled adults in various locations. A few topics include finding resources, self-care and family dynamics. To learn more, go to www.lcsnw.org/supportu or call Pat Witt at 800-335-8433, Ext. 5691.

Blog offers ways to transform church conflict

The Rev. Rick Jaech of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Vancouver has begun a blog based on his new book, “Transforming Church Conflict.” The blog will continue the conversation about helping congregations turn their conflicts into satisfying outcomes. Pastor Jaech welcomes participation on the blog, at www.transformingchurchconflict.com.