Painful church closing leads to widespread welcome for a much-needed food bank

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

SOUTH BEND, Wash. — It was heartbreaking for Laura Michaelson when Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Raymond closed in 2008.
The 64-year-old lifelong Pacific County resident had been baptized and married there. The church had been central in the lives of her children and grandchildren.
"It was extremely difficult," Michaelson said.
But a critically poor economy in Raymond brought on mostly by cuts in the timber-products industry left little choice.
Members of the struggling congregation went on to worship with First Lutheran Church in nearby South Bend.
Both were congregations of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
As painful as the closing was, it led to the formation of the only food bank in South Bend, where unemployment remains around 11.9 percent — about three points higher than the state and national averages — and where working families and seniors on fixed incomes struggle to make it to the end of the month. At the height of the recession, joblessness stood at 15.4 percent, according to the Washington Department of Employment Security.
Some of the proceeds from the sale of Our Savior's went to a food bank, at first opened in 2009 at First Lutheran. Just recently, the congregation that sits between peaceful Willapa Bay and the rolling Willapa Hills purchased land and a building near the church and moved its food bank there. About $15,000 was done in improvements, mostly for the installation of a wheelchair ramp.
A formal opening of the Legacy Community Outreach Food Bank was held in June. "Legacy" was made part of the name to remember Our Savior's, which had a strong food ministry.
"That's why we have the strange name," Michaelson said.
The food bank has more players involved than the First Lutheran congregation. Members from the community join First Lutheran members to sit on the board of the separate nonprofit. Michaelson is president. And while First members contribute mightily to the food bank, so does South Bend businesses and volunteers who know the great need here. The South Bend School District conducts regular drives for the food bank, as do the Boy Scouts.
Inside the food bank stand shelves full of cereals and soda, beans and chili. Closets are full of toilet paper and soda.
It's open from 2 to 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday, late enough so the working poor can stop by.
So far, the food bank is serving about 237 families a month, which translates to about 800 individuals. The number is growing in an area where about 18 percent of residents fall beneath the federal poverty line.
The Rev. Laurie Johnson of First Lutheran oversaw parishioners bring in bags of food to worship on June 26. Donations were heaped high around the altar.
Pastor Johnson's husband, Gary, is on the food bank board and performs a lot of the heavy hauling, including driving truck deliveries of food contributions from far away. He said it's different when a faith organization takes on the challenge of a food bank.
Sometimes the money might not be there right away, causing the nonprofit to step out in faith. But it always comes eventually.
"We are doing things on faith, and thing happen," Gary Johnson said.
"When you have God doing a food ministry, it is a lot," said Mary Ann Dirkes, treasurer of the food-bank board.
Gary Johnson also said that the food has changed the merged congregation forever into one where the "servant aspect" is tops.
Dirkes said some in the congregation used to think of food-bank users as lazy. But then they discovered visitors had hungry children. Volunteers learned to step back, not ask, and be less judgmental.
"We all make mistakes sometimes," Dirkes said.
"People are people; we are all God's people," Gary Johnson said.
Meanwhile, the former Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Raymond is about to start a second life as a senior center, just as a merger once so painful has resulted a new food bank in this green corner of the state where the need is so very compelling.

Pictured top to bottom:

The Rev. Laurie Johnson conducts services at First Lutheran on June 26.

Left to right, Mary Ann Dirkes, Laura Michaelson and Gary Johnson pose inside the food bank. All are on the food bank's nonprofit board and volunteer to help feed the hungry.

Bags are piled at worship at First Lutheran destined for the food bank.

The former Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Raymond is about to open as a senior center.

Something beautiful grows from merger of two congregations

Readers,

Here's how the town of South Bend and the north fork of the Willapa River were looking this weekend. I was there to find out about something very special that has grown from the merger of the former Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Raymond and First Lutheran Church of South Bend. Look here in 24 hours and you'll find out what it is.

Rachel Pritchett

Associated Ministries collects school supplies

Associated Ministries again this year is collecting school supplies for families that struggle to meet this enormous expense. Supplies will be give away at the organization's Annual Schools Supply Giveaway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 19 at Associated Ministries, 1224 South I St., Tacoma.
Supplies that are needed include backpacks, ruled paper, pencils, pencil boxes, crayons, washable markers, notebooks, tape, safety scissors, folders, glue sticks and rulers.
Checks with "school supplies" noted also are welcome.
Drop off donations at Associated Ministries. The deadline is Aug. 12. For more information, contact Associated Ministries at (253) 383-3056, Ext. 109.

Seeking students attending Nampa colleges

The Rev. Meggan Manlove of Trinity Lutheran Church of Nampa, Idaho, is seeking contact information for students in this synod and other Northwest synods who attend either Northwest Nazarene University or College of Western Idaho, both in Nampa. The congregation is planning a back-to-school brunch. Pastor Manlove can be reached at (208) 466-2173 or
nampatrinity.org.

Conference that looks at congregations’ spiritual formation begins Monday

The 2011 Pacific Lutheran University Summer Conference on Pastoral Theology focuses on “The Spiritual Formation of the Congregation” and takes place June 20 through 22. For more information, contact the Rev. G. Lee Kluth, PLU director of congregational relations, at (253) 
535-7423 or 
e-mail him at crel@plu.edu.

Speaking of The Lutheran ....

The magazine of the ELCA has invited us to contribute more articles this summer, so I'm putting out a call for some fresh story ideas from our congregations. Probably not efforts we're all doing, like vacation Bible schools or camps, as important as those are.
But rather something with a twist that might inspire a congregation in a new way. Maybe your youth are doing outreach in a way someone else might not have thought of. Perhaps there's a special person in your congregation who has a story of faith that should be shared.
Here's an example of a story idea: I remember there was this huge brown dog named Molly in my congregation who was just about the best instrument of evangelism I ever saw. Every kid on Bainbridge Island knew and loved Molly, and she always led them right to the church. After worship, the pastors would stand by the door. You'd shake their hands, then take a step or two outside, and try to get Molly to shake hands, too. Anyway, I procrastinated too long, and Molly finally died before I wrote something for The Lutheran. I think she died of overeating on Sundays because everyone was bringing her a week's worth of bones and scraps.
So don't put off telling that story until tomorrow. You can send stories and photos directly to The Lutheran via www.thelutheran.org, or contact me at (206) 498-0920, cell, or rachelpritchett@msn.com and I'll come and do it. — Rachel Pritchett

Story on greening of the funeral industry scheduled

The Rev. Kent Shane and parishioner Melinda Madama of First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo, as well as the Rev. Rod Kastelle, ret., member of Faith Lutheran Church of Elma, are featured in my story about the greening of the funeral industry, scheduled for the July issue of The Lutheran.
All share their experiences.
The story looks at some of the green trends baby boomers are demanding from the industry as they make decisions about final disposition of their parents.
These trends are still very new, but include things like basket caskets, and biodegradable urns, foregoing concrete vaults, the cremation alternative alkaline hydrolysis, and new kinds of green cemeteries right here in Washington.

— Rachel Pritchett

St. Mark’s offers summer-arts day camp for youth

“Imagine God” is the focus of a summer-arts day camp for youth entering sixth through 12th grades at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by The Narrows. Everyone is invited.

Pre-teens and teens will explore their spirituality through their creative and artistic selves. Media will include music, drama, visual arts and dance.

The camp takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. Aug. 8 through 12, with the final day and program going a little longer. The cost is $75. For more information, contact Danielle Lemieux, St. Mark’s director of music ministries for children and youth, at (253) 752-4966. Ext. 105, or by email at danielle@smlutheran.org. The church is at 6730 N. 17th St., Tacoma. To register, call (253) 752-4966 and leave your name and mailing address. Send completed registrations to the church.
The registration deadline is July 24.

Congregations asked to support hunger, HIV/AIDS initiatives

By Rick Nelson, member, Synod Hunger Committee

Voting members of the recent assembly passed two resolutions that were calls to action for congregations in the synod.

One from the Synod Hunger Committee calls on congregations to renew and revitalize attention to hunger issues, including appointing a member to serve as a liaison with the hunger committee and also to initiate and support programs in the congregation.

A second, also from the hunger committee, challenges congregations to familiarize themselves with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Strategy on HIV and AIDS, including setting a three-year goal for raising funds for that strategy.

The hunger committee will provide information about both hunger and HIV/AIDS issues.

The committee has secured a volunteer-support grant from the ELCA to provide training and materials for Hunger Committee members to develop teams to visit congregations and present programs on hunger issues. The project will focus on developing congregational hunger contacts, training youth contacts, and working with synod pastors to strengthen hunger work in their congregations.

The committee plans to have those teams ready for action by this fall.

For the 2010 ELCA Hunger Appeal, contributions from the synod totaled $158,931, with $108,452 coming from congregations. This amounts to 29 cents per baptized member. Altogether, the ELCA brought in $16,201,210. The total is down about $2 million from 2009 and $4 million from 2007 and 2008. Fifty-one of the 93 congregations in the synod contributed.

The ELCA Church Council has adopted a strategy on HIV and AIDS that seeks to respond faithfully and effectively to this pandemic by educating and empowering congregations and raising $10 million to address strategy goals.

Through the resolution, the assembly challenged each congregation to familiarize themselves with the HIV and AIDS strategy and to join in the three-year fund raising campaign.

The Hunger Committee will assist congregations by providing ELCA speakers and materials for worship, devotion and education. The resolutions can be read below on this blog.

Working hard to eradicate hunger, homelessness

LAKEBAY — Key Peninsula Lutheran Church, led by the Rev. Heinz Malon, is putting a $20,000 ELCA grant to fight hunger and homelessness to work.

With help from The Gates Foundation and Rotary, the church continues in its efforts to help area residents on the edge by providing food, and assistance for rent and utilities.

The church also provides a community meal, and now provides backpacks of food for youngsters to take home to their families over weekends. The congregation’s goal is to serve students from all schools in the area.

In addition, the congregation runs a food bank that serves about 200 individuals a year.

Pastor Malon said, “There are a lot of hungry folks out there.”

There are at least 60 homeless people on the Key Peninsula, he said.

Our Saviour’s finds new ministry at Mission Creek prison

BREMERTON — Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Bremerton gave up serving weekly dinners to the homeless in 2009, when the local transit company cut service and those in need couldn’t get to the downtown church.
Since then, members had been searching for a ministry to replace it.
Until now.
The congregation has begun ministering to incarcerated women at Mission Creek Corrections Center in Belfair. Members made the connection through Empowering Life, which Sharon Peterson and Joan Nelson lead, and took it from there.
The goal is to mentor imprisoned women who are within two years of release.
Today, about five members of Our Saviour’s visit Mission Creek once a month and spend time in conversation with the incarcerated women.
“And we are enjoying them so much,” said one of the Our Saviour’s participants, Lis Lusk.
Some of the imprisoned women worry about re-entering the outside.
“There’s one whose faith is so strong, but she worries about her addiction,” Lusk said.
Lusk said she knows her congregation can make a difference.
“Once the women get out, the more people they know that care about their success, the more likely they are to be successful.” Pictured: Lis Lusk

In Yelm, eyes open to needs of God's children

YELM — Emanuel Lutheran Church has hosted weekly a "Giving Thanks" dinner since last November, and since then, the joyful event has attracted about 70 church and community regulars.
"We've had a ball every Tuesday night since," said the Rev. Jerry Collell, who leads the small rural congregation.
"While initiated in the face of a hard winter for the homeless, low-income, and elderly families who we’ve been seeing more of in this tough economy, many have commented that while the food is good and very appreciated, even more important was the fellowship — being able to get out and be with people."
Food comes from local food banks and coops, and creative menus have ranged from buffaloaf, which is buffalo meatloaf, to geoduck chowder to, "Lutherans at their Wurst," which is bratwurst cooked in German beer.
"Emanuel struggles with meeting our bills, like most small congregations. This experience has taught us how God provides abundantly with food and help. We took a leap of faith that many haven’t come down from yet," Pastor Collell said.
He added that congregation members, now having gotten to know their homeless and less fortunate neighbors, see need they didn't see before.
They have taken action.
Half a year since starting the free dinners, they have an emergency shelter at the church. Members help the needy buy bus passes to get to job interviews. They phone estranged family members to let them know their loved one is OK.
"Seeing God at work there spurred us into action. Our name means “God with us” and these dinners have really brought that home," Pastor Collell concluded.

Churches asked to donate one day's worth of lunches for Camp Peace

Peace Community Center of Tacoma is looking for lunches to be donated for its summer day camp, Camp Peace. A lunch for one day will need to feed 95 people (55 students and 40 high schoolers and staff members). The lunches should be sack lunches and can include a sandwich, a side dish, fruit, vegetable, dessert and a drink. The estimated cost (depending on ingredients) for one lunch is between $150 and $250. Lunches are needed for July 12, 14, 19, 20, and 21. If you are interested in getting more information about donating a lunch to Camp Peace, contact Ruth Tollefson at rutht@peacetacoma.org or at (253) 383-0702.

Martin Wells re-elected bishop in Eastern Washington/Idaho

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=5124

Calendar of events

June 11: Synod Council conference call, begins 9:30 a.m.
June 13 to 15: Consultation to Clergy discernment seminar, Seattle
June 18: Southwestern Washington Synodical Women’s Org. triennial gathering, St. John’s of Chehalis.
June 18: Women's Bible Study Event, Calvary Lutheran, Hillsboro, Ore.
June 20 to 22: PLU Summer Conference on Pastoral Theology
July 12 to 17: Churchwide women’s eighth triennial convention and gathering, Spokane
July 20 to 24: Lutheran Men in Mission gathering and assembly, Denver, Colo.
July 27: Women's Mount Rainier Cluster ice-cream social, Bethany of Spanaway
Aug. 15 to 19: ELCA churchwide assembly, Orlando, Fla.
Aug. 27: Women's Bible Study Event, Messiah of Auburn
Sept. 17: Synod Council meets, 10 a.m. to mid-afternoon, Port Madison Lutheran, Bainbridge Island
Oct. 8: Women's anti-racism event, Good Shepherd, Olympia
Oct. 28 to 29: Synod Council retreat, Dumas Bay, Federal Way
April 20 to 22: Women's spring retreat, Dumas Bay, Federal Way
April 28: Women's Narrows Cluster Event, St. Mark's, Tacoma
May 18 and 19, 2012: Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly, Vancouver, Wash.

More images of Barbara Robertson at work in Tanzania

See more about our missionary who's making a home visit below.

Below are three resolutions easily approved by the recent assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod. A fourth, fighting AIDS/HIV, is in the post below this one.

Hunger Awareness
WHEREAS, 963 million people in the world, one in seven, go to bed each night hungry, living on wages less than $1.00 per day; and
WHEREAS, 146 million of the world’s children under age 5 are underweight, severe malnutrition being the primary cause of the deaths of more than half of the 10.1 million children in the world who die each year; and
WHEREAS, 35.5 million people, including 12.5 million children, experience hunger in this country where many families skip meals, eat too little, or go a whole day without food; and
WHEREAS, Agencies assisting the hungry in this country have been stretched to the limit in their attempts to provide emergency food assistance to those in need; and
WHEREAS, Jesus clearly called us to feed the poor, give drink to the thirsty; to befriend the stranger and clothe the needy (Matthew 25:34-35); be it
RESOLVED, that the congregations of the Southwestern Washington Synod renew and revitalize their attention to hunger issues in the world and in their own communities through education, discussion and increased awareness of gifts to ELCA World Hunger; and be it further
RESOLVED, that each congregation in the Southwestern Washington Synod appoints one member to serve as the local contact for synod hunger awareness information and resources.
Submitted by the Hunger Committee

In Support of 1,000 Mission Friends
WHEREAS, we who live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest also live in one of the world’s great mission fields where most of our neighbors are unchurched; and
WHEREAS, the starting of new missions and the care of existing congregations in the form of renewal are the strategic priorities of the SWWA Synod Council; and
WHEREAS, we are a Great Commission church; and
WHEREAS, we have several Synodically Authorized Worshipping Communities and a Congregation Under Development including Living Stones Prison Congregation, Shelton; Peace Lutheran Fellowship, Port Ludlow; Light of Grace Korean Church, Federal Way; Federal Way Chinese Fellowship, Federal Way; and St. Christopher’s Community Church, Olympia as well as several potential redevelopment sites within the Southwestern Washington Synod; and
WHEREAS, "1000 Mission Friends" has developed gifts in excess of $85,000 in support of mission with a continuing goal of providing a minimum of $100,000 annually in additional, immediate direct support for our mission; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Outreach Board and the Synod Council of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the ELCA continue to develop and promote the "1000 Mission Friends" appeal, increasing the number of friends who contribute a gift of at least $100 annually in support of mission starts and the renewal of congregations in our synod, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the recipients of these funds be encouraged to match partnership gifts; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the disbursement of these gifts be managed by the Southwestern Washington Synod Outreach Board with the approval of the Southwestern Washington Synod Council.
Submitted by the Outreach Board

In Support of Lutheran Counseling Network
WHEREAS, Lutheran Counseling Network is an affiliated Social Ministry Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and
WHEREAS, Lutheran Counseling Network values its participation in the ministry of the ELCA reaching out with God’s love in Jesus Christ to help alienated, hurting people reconcile and find new hope and life; and
WHEREAS, Lutheran Counseling Network’s staff of sixteen professional counselors and therapists, and countless volunteers based in twenty congregations of the ELCA in Northwest and Southwestern Washington, provide therapy and counseling to help individuals, couples, families, and groups address depression, anxiety, trauma, behavioral problems, parenting, marriage, sexuality and spiritual issues; and
WHEREAS, Lutheran Counseling Network’s mission is to provide psychotherapy and counseling to people in need, to provide education for congregations and pastors, and to serve as an instrument of God’s grace to strengthen and bring healing to its clients so that they may in turn be instruments of God’s grace; and
WHEREAS, 2011 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the dedicated, Christ-centered work of Lutheran Counseling Network in Western Washington; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the 2011 Assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod recognize, affirm, celebrate, and give thanks to God for the ministry of Lutheran Counseling Network, its staff, volunteers, and supporting congregations on the 13th anniversary of Lutheran Counseling Network; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Southwestern Washington Synod and its congregations will continue to support in prayer and presence the work of Lutheran Counseling Network.
Submitted by
Rev. Lori Cornell, Calvary Lutheran Church, Federal Way
Rev. Dan Wilson, Hope Lutheran Church, Enumclaw

Don't miss out on Barbara Robertson's visit

ELCA Tanzania missionary Barbara Robertson will make a rare visit home to the Southwestern Washington Synod from mid-August through late October and will share her experiences with congregations and groups by preaching and teaching. Because of the demand to see Robertson, her availability is greater for Sunday-evening gatherings, circles, mid-week Bible studies and vacation Bible schools. She has prepared presentations.
Robertson serves in Morogoro Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania as part of a team establishing a primary health-care program. She has served in Tanzania for a decade, making her one of the longest-serving missionaries in the synod.
Her work was lifted up in the recent synod assembly when voting members passed a resolution fighting AIDS/HIV and encouraging congregations to help sponsor her and pray for her work, among other initiatives. The resolution was supported by the synod's Church in Society, Hunger and Global Mission boards and committees. The resolution passed overwhelmingly and can be read below.
Robertson's work is supported by her congregation, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia, and other congregations in this synod and elsewhere. Groups interested in hosting Robertson can contact her at bubia2@hotmail.com or Diane Armbrust, chair of the Global Mission Committee, at dparmbrust@hotmail.com.

Robertson is pictured with "the garage boys," who repair the Morogoro Diocese vehicles and who also are her students.

The Resolution
Support and Participation in the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS
WHEREAS, 33.2 million people are living with HIV and AIDS worldwide, 1.2 million of them residing in the United States alone. Each day, more than 6,800 people become HIV-positive and more than 5,700 die from AIDS; and
WHEREAS, AIDS is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, resulting in 12 million children under the age of 18 having lost one or both parents to AIDS; and
WHEREAS, HIV and AIDS has been named the single greatest reversal in human development in modern times; and
WHEREAS, this church recognizes that the Body of Christ has AIDS and when one member of the body suffers we all suffer; and
WHEREAS, prevention efforts are resulting in a decline in HIV infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world, and treatment is now available in developing countries for about $140 a year – keeping parents alive to care for their children and prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child; and
WHEREAS, poverty contributes to the spread of HIV and AIDS, hence, progress in all areas of development – including primary education, gender empowerment and agricultural development is an effective tool in defeating it; and
WHEREAS, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has adopted the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS, in which the ELCA seeks to respond faithfully and effectively to this pandemic by educating and empowering congregations and raising $10 million to advance Strategy goals; and therefore be it
RESOLVED that this assembly challenges congregations of the Southwestern Washington Synod to familiarize themselves with the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS, and to learn, serve, advocate and pray on behalf of those who are suffering as a result of the HIV and AIDS pandemic; and be it further
RESOLVED that this assembly challenges each congregation of the Southwestern Washington Synod to set a 3-year fundraising goal in support of the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS; and be it further
RESOLVED that congregations be encouraged to help sponsor and pray for the work of Barbara Robertson of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Olympia, serving with the ELCA Global Missions in Morogoro, Tanzania, combating HIV and AIDS; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Hunger Committee of the Southwestern Washington Synod will assist congregations in their work in addressing this resolution by providing ELCA educational, worship and devotional resources and speakers.
Submitted by Pastor Linda Milks, Chair, Synod Church in Society Board and Pastor Ron Kempe,
Peace Lutheran, Puyallup and member of Synod Hunger Committee