Opportunity to share in global mission stories

This year’s global mission event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church in Tacoma will feature stories of persons who have served in mission work in many corners of the world. Participants will have a chance to get updates on work, and get information if they’re thinking about taking part in global mission work themselves. Namibia, South Africa, China, Palestine and El Salvador are among are some of the areas to be featured. Lunch and child care are provided. A $10 donation is requested. Pre-register to GlobalStoriesMission@gmail.com. The church is located at 6730 N 17th St., Tacoma.

Congregational renewal workshops offered

The Outreach Board of the Southwestern Washington Synod is sponsoring a three-part "Renewing Congregations Series" for congregations interested in renewing the commitment to ministry. Part 1, "Renewing the Faithful" presented by the Revs. Samuel Torvend, Valinda Morse and Melanie Wallschlaeger, is under way now. Upcoming Part 1 venues include Nov. 6 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Parkland, Nov. 13 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Bremerton, and Nov. 20 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Port Angeles. Part 2 will focus on "Renewing Congregations" and Part 3 will look at "Renewing Service in the World." All are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To learn more, contact Morse or Wallschlaeger at the synod office, (253) 535-8300 or swwsynod@plu.edu.

Reformation Sunday HymnFest Oct. 31

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma will host its 20th annual Reformation Sunday HymnFest at 3 p.m. Oct. 31. The program will feature congregational singing, and a variety of musical including choirs, brass, strings, gospel music and soloists. Festival admission is free with a free-will offering being divided among the musicians. A reception with refreshments will follow the program in the church’s Goldenman Social Hall. The church is located at 3315 S 19th St, across from Allenmore Medical Center. See you there.

Port Orchard's First Lutheran feeds homeless, when it can find them

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/lifestyle/104964159.html

Presentation this Sunday on Namibia

Readers,

I will lead a presentation on the companion relationship between the Southwestern Washington Synod and its companion synod in Namibia this coming Sunday, Oct. 24, at 9:30 a.m. at Port Madison Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island. We'll look at the 30-year history of this friendship, how it's deepened and what's been accomplished. And, we'll look at the most recent visit by a synod delegation earlier this year. Come join us. The church is at 14000 Madison Avenue NE on the north end of the island. Coming from the south, take Highway 3 to 305 at Poulsbo, turn right and follow to the island. Turn left at first stoplight on island (Day Road). Turn left at Madison Avenue and you're there. Free coffee.

I'll see you there. Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Toward bringing everybody to the table

PARKLAND – "It is important to understand that ending hunger is not impossible."
That bold proclamation came from The Rev. Jim McDonald, managing director of Bread for the World, at the Oct. 15 kick-off of the synod’s Ethic of Eating conference at Trinity Lutheran Church and Pacific Lutheran University.
A "great exodus" out of global hunger and poverty has taken place between 1970, when one in three people went hungry, to 2000, when one in six needed food, he said.
That was particularly true in India and China, where more affluent, urban middle classes emerged from impoverished rural areas.
But the severe food-price wars that covered the globe in 2008 coupled with the unprecedented worldwide recession cause the fight against hunger to retreat, he said. Today, progress stands at 1970 levels.
In the United States, one in four children live in families struggling to put food on the table, he said.
McDonald suggested that to understand how some eat and some don’t in this world, and what can be done, he suggested two books by Michael Pollan, "The Omnivore’s Dilemma" and his newest, "Food Rules."
McDonald urged listeners to contact their political representatives and let them know that alleviating hunger is a top priority. If they don’t respond, vote them out in November.
David Creech, ELCA director of hunger education, urged participants to become "critically aware" of what comes to the table, and respond, either simply through grace acknowledging the sacrifice, or joining a community-supported agriculture group.

Namibia blog re-activiated

Readers,

I have re-activated the Namibia blog, used last spring by the synod delegation that visited in order to communicate with readers. I'm starting to dump more stories and photos into that blog, now that I'm free to do so, and there will be quite a bit more starting Friday, when I have some time I can devote to that. the blog can be accessed from the synod website home page at www.lutheranssw.org or here:

http://namibiaconnect.blogspot.com/

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Bishop Hofstad argues for balance of power

Readers,

Bishop Robert D. Hofstad speaks out as the ELCA considers changes in governance. He argues that the authority of decisions between the Church Council and the Council of Bishops "is not in balance." His voice is being heard. Read more about this on the link below.

Also, for those of you who might not know. ELCA Secretary Dave Swartling and wife Barbara are from Bainbridge Island. - RP


http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4651

Regarding the North Seattle Church and the Tent City ...

It's a question that's been addressed recently by a smattering of other Western Washington communities - Kent and Puyallup, for starters. Many point to Tacoma's Housing First initiative that puts homeless in apartments rather than tents, at least in Bremerton, where I work. - RP

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/oct/08/east-bremerton-church-backs-away-from-tent-city/

Ethis of Eating Conference Coming

Readers,

While I was in Namibia on a synod visitation trip this spring, the women of a church in a remote desert region in the north cooked us a special meal that was, by all means, all local. The goat, the chicken, a fermented milk concoction, the pumpkin and grain for the oshifima porridge all came, I'm certain, from a mile or two radius. Other than a few cans of pop, I'm thinking that this was the most "locally produced" meal I'd ever had. I've marveled over that meal and how it was accomplished many times since. I'm looking forward to next weekend's Ethics of Eating conference in Tacoma, and I hope you'll join me. Here are the details. -RP

The 2010 Ethics of Eating event "What’s on Our Plate and Why Does it Matter?" will be Oct. 15 and 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Parkland and Pacific Lutheran University. The event, to raise awareness of hunger in the world, will feature the Rev. Jim McDonald, managing director of Bread for the World. Other speakers will include David Creech of the ELCA Hunger Appeal. It begins Friday evening from 5 to 9 p.m. McDonald will speak then and a soup supper is planned. Also that night, a film is planned, along with discussion on ELCA water efforts. Trinity Lutheran church is at 12115 Park Ave. The event continues Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at PLU. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for youth. To register, contact Allison Ramsey at the synod office or visit www.lutheranssw.org.

Seattle Church, Neighbors in Battle’s Grip Over Tent City

Readers,

I had occasion to do this story, though it takes place in the Northwest Washington Synod. - Rachel Pritchett

SEATTLE - A North Seattle church whose members have decided to host a temporary tent city is feeling intense heat from neighbors, but is resolved to live its mission.
Signs have surrounded Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in this usually bucolic neighborhood saying, "Burn in Hell, Maple Leaf Lutheran" and "Please be Good Neighbors; No Tent City."
Neighbors have intimidated Maple Leaf members trying to get to worship with aggressive questioning while handing out 65-page booklets stating the case against a tent city. They’ve strewn nails across the church parking lot, and even driven vehicles next to a recent outdoor Oktoberfest and set off car alarms, according to the Rev. Julie Blum of Maple Leaf Lutheran.
"I want to think I can give humanity more credit," said Pastor Blum, adding that everyone is encumbered by sin. "I think their biggest concern was they didn’t have a say in the matter."
Tent City 3 is a legally sanctioned traveling homeless encampment that’s operated for many years in Seattle. It is operated by SHARE/WHEEL, the Seattle Housing and Resource Efforts and Women’s Housing, Equality and Enhancement League.
SHARE/WHEEL, always having to search for venues on which the tent city can live for 90 days before moving on, asked the congregation if it would be willing to be a host.
On Sept. 19, some 80 percent of members voted yes as about 50 protesters milled outside. The congregation served them coffee and donuts, but that didn’t bridge the gulf of misunderstanding. The congregation had a long history of helping the homeless, having housed homeless people in the church basement for the past 15 years.
The face-off with neighbors has left its mark, with congregants having to answer how the camp would benefit the community, since there are few grocery stores in the neighborhood to serve the camp, and how it could ensure that children living in homes nearby would be safe.
"We try to claim that they don’t know that about their neighbors now," Pastor Blum said.
A church tent-city task force has received intimidating e-mails, threats of lawsuits and at least one house-egging, and remains weary but solid in resolve. One neighbor threatened to move should the tent city come.
"We’re trying to do something good, and we’re being met with hostility," Pastor Blum said. "Jesus said it wasn’t going to be easy, but this is what we were called to do."Meanwhile, the standoff, and the opposition the congregation met 15 years ago when it began putting homeless people in its basement, has changed the congregation forever.
Blum says it’s become more "outward focused," doing things like becoming supporters of the Lake City Holiday Project, which provides Christmas gifts to low-income children.
"I think that we are realizing in a world that has needs that the church can address, the church can respond instead of just getting caught up in ourselves," she said.
Meanwhile, Tent City 3, made up of 100 or so destitute adult men and women, is set to move to the Maple Leaf Lutheran parking lot. The nails will be all cleared, just hours after America celebrates Thanksgiving with turkey with all the trimmings.
"If we’re going to be disciples of Jesus, we’re going to follow his lead," the pastor said.

Lutherans working together to build Habitat house

By Jim Lamb and Rachel Pritchett

BREMERTON – Lutherans from all corners of Kitsap County are building a Habitat for Humanity house in Bremerton.

It is the first of its kind in the county, and will be occupied by a low-income family next spring.
The house is located at Habitat for Humanity's emerging Cornerstone Place neighborhood. Workers now are hurrying to get to a stage in construction to keep the rains out.
The home will be occupied by a nursing student at Olympic College and her two sons.
Leon Thomas of nearby Silverdale Lutheran Church came up with the vision for the Lutheran-built house. He developed a plan to raise $24,000 and get pledges of at least 1,500 hours of work from members of local Lutheran churches. Tirelessly visiting each church beginning in June, he and the Rev. Bill Crabtree of Silverdale Lutheran so far have raised more than $16,000 and received commitments of 500 hours of work.
That's been enough to start.
Groundbreaking and a worship service were held at the sight on Aug. 7. Walt Washington, the county treasurer, delivered remarks.
"Besides the joy of helping a deserving family, just imagine the fellowship, relationships between churches and new friendships that would develop as Lutherans worked together," said Jim Lamb, member of Silverdale Lutheran.
That’s happened, and members from the following churches now are working shoulder-to-shoulder: Port Madison and Bethany Lutheran churches of Bainbridge Island; Family of God, Memorial and Our Saviour’s Lutheran churches of Bremerton; Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla; and First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo.

Disabled young adults reach out to God at Messiah

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

VANCOUVER - The mother of a young Vancouver woman with Down syndrome has come up with an amazing way to wrap God’s love around her and her friends.
Shelley Park at Messiah Lutheran Church explains that when daughter Hadley was young, it didn’t take much to fold her into church activities with the other children.
But as Hadley reached middle-school age, teachings in Sunday school and in youth activities became more abstract. Classmates became less understanding and less tolerant of behaviors that can sometimes come from people like Hadley.
"It gets harder for people with disabilities to participate in church life," Park said. And even harder as Hadley grew into a young adult.
"Hadley said, ‘Mom, where’s my part?’ " Park remembered.
Park prayed for guidance.
Nearly three years ago, she began a group at Messiah specifically for young adults like Hadley - a place where they could deepen their understanding of the love of God in a way they understood, an ecumenical place where they could deepen friendships and enjoy the fellowship so many others at Messiah enjoyed, but which eluded them.
Park called the group All for One. At times with more than a dozen members, it meets on Saturday at the church, with volunteers assisting.
Since it began, the special young adults from all religious backgrounds prepare and eat a meal together. They learn the meaning behind Bible stories on their terms. They share, they do crafts projects like taping newsprint all over each other to demonstrate the armor of God. They love. They fold their hands and look upward.
They pray for one of their dads who lost his job. They pray for Kyron Horman, the little Portland, Ore., boy who vanished.
"It’s the groaning of the spirit. God understands; angels understand," Park said.
Park has struggled to find appropriate curriculum for the young adults in All For One. The Lutheran church has some, but Park considers it too Lutheran for the diverse group.
"It is really hard to find Bibles for disabled people. I’m still struggling," Park said.
Park’s efforts have caught the attention of local media, who have featured her group.
Today, friendships have deepened in the All For One group, as has their exploration of God.
"I think disabled people are close to God. Their God space is already filled in them," said Park, who also is a preschool teacher at Messiah.
As for Hadley, now 25, "She finally had a spot. She finally had a place."