Arrive early for Reformation Sunday HymnFest

Music lovers,

I can guarantee you that if you don't arrive early for the 22nd annual Reformation Sunday HymnFest this Sunday, Oct. 28, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tacoma, you will be sitting in the back or out in the narthex, and parking will be a challenge.

It's worth arriving early to the event that has performers of all kinds taking on sacred and secular favorites. Bring your singing voice. It begins at 3 p.m. and is free, with an offering to distribute among performers. A reception follows at Gloria Dei's Goldenman Social Hall.

The church is at 3315 19th St., Tacoma.

See you there.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Byberg preaching workshop coming in January

The Rev. Dr. Terence Fretheim of Luther Seminary will be the presenter at the 2013 Byberg Preaching Workshop, to take place Jan. 14 to 16 at Cannon Beach, Ore. Fretheim will address "Preaching and the God of the Old Testament."

Joining him will be the Rev. Rick Jaech of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Vancouver, Wash., who will talk on "Preaching in a Context of Conflict."

Worship, learning, connections, good food and walks on the beach are part of it all. Registration brochures have been mailed, and pastors are encouraged to invite interns and ecumenical colleagues. For more information, visit www.bybergpreaching.org.

Coming in The Lutheran in November

Readers,

Pacific Lutheran University's global-studies program is featured in the November issue of The Lutheran, which includes its annual look at higher education.

I look at how it's become part of PLU's DNA since 9/11, as well as future challenges and changes PLU has in its delivery of programs. 

One thing we'll see at PLU and already are seeing at places like California Lutheran University is providing the study-away experience at home to students who can't go abroad, due to cost. That happens through finding opportunities for learning and service in local immigrant communities. 

We can also anticipate PLU and Region 1 synods perhaps beginning the conversation about meshing synod companion relationships with university study-away programs, to some extent.

Charles Bergman, PLU educator and study-away pioneer, is featured in my piece. Chuck takes students to Antarctica during J-term.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Lutefisk, bazaar, all in one

Christ the King Lutheran Church of Sumner invites all to its annual lutefisk dinner, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. A complete lutefisk dinner is a bargain at $20. A complete meatball dinner with no lutefisk costs $15, and kids 10 and young get fed for $10. 

Further enticement is the congregation's annual bazaar, going on from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the same day. To find out more or to see if reservations are required, phone the church at 253-863-1142. Christ the King Lutheran Church is at 245 Valley Ave. — RP

Here's a story about Poulsbo and lutefisk ...

They have a solid sense of humor in Poulsbo, which allowed me to write this piece for the Kitsap Sun, appearing today, Sunday:

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/oct/13/one-hundred-years-of-lutefisk/?partner=popular

Rachel Pritchett

Lutefisk, lutefisk, lutefisk

Here's an archival photo of the First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo's annual fall lutefisk dinner, biggest in the region. Left to right, Lenore Ley, LeAnn Mong and Pat Edgren serve Simon Simonsen in the 1960s when the church held the event in its old social hall. This year marks the 100th anniverary of event. It takes place Oct. 20 from 11:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $23 for adults, and $5 for children. Contact the church at 360-779-2622.

Jaech: Examining story behind church conflict can lead to resolution

By Rachel Pritchett

BREMERTON — Conflict isn't a failure in a congregation. 

Rather, it's a naturally occurring element that arises out the variety of viewpoints, talents and values that exist among congregation members. Given the tools to work through their conflicts, a congregation will grow and flourish to a new level. 

That comforting news was delivered by longtime conflict-resolution consultant Rick Jaech, pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Vancouver, who conducted the first of three workshops throughout the synod Oct. 6 in Bremerton. 

Jaech's message was meant both for pastors and church leaders entrusted to facilitate parties in a conflict to reach a satisfying outcome. He outlined the steps from his new book, "Transforming Church Conflict: A Guide for Pastors and Leaders."  Rather than let a conflict escalate or drive people apart, a key step is to bring people together to talk to each other with “respectful curiosity” about what has happened. 

 

Using a framework from the book “Crucial Conversations” by Kerry Patterson, Pastor Jaech outlined for the group of eight local pastors and leaders the four steps that often lead to misunderstanding and conflict: 1) We see or hear something done or said to us by another person; 2) We tell ourselves a story that interprets what we just witnessed; 3) We feel an emotion based on that story; and 4) We act on those feelings, often by withdrawing or attacking. 

He gave an example: Ron and Megan share a church classroom, she during the week for an art class, and he for Sunday school. One Sunday, he finds the room cluttered with drying paintings and art tools scattered across the tables. His class is 10 minutes late as he cleans up.  

Ron creates a story in his head: Megan is rude, self-centered and places her work above his. He feels frustration, anger and exasperation. He avoids her at coffee hour, with nothing more than a dismissive greeting. 

A successful resolution to a conflict usually means going back and examining the story Ron put in his mind and inviting respectful dialog.  "A lot of the time, we're telling the wrong story; it's not their true story," Jaech said. Megan may not have understood the demands on the room. She may have had to rush off for a family concern. 

This is where dialogue with “respectful curiosity” becomes crucial. Ron can say to Megan, "I'm curious about what happened. I'd really like to talk about it and hear your side of the story."  

Facilitators often will have to slow down the conversation, to help all sides go back and unfold the real story. Discovery on both sides takes place, unity is found and a bigger solution than either Ron or Megan thought of is arrived at. 

Jaech's book costs $15, and is available by contacting him at rick@rickjaech.com.  He also offers a blog site at transformingchurchconflict.com .

Jaech has two more workshops in the series. The next one is Oct. 13 at Lutheran Church of Christ the King of Tacoma, at 1710 85th St. E. The final workshop is Nov. 10 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia, 1601 North St. SE.