Here's what a police chaplain's uniform looks like

Readers,

I asked Arleta Meeker, daughter of the Rev. Paul Meeker of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Bremerton, to shoot me a photo of her dad that I could use with my story, below, that I'm repurposing to a number of locations. Here's her photo. Arleta is a recent college graduate who majored in broadcasting. Good job, Arleta, and thanks. You're hired, as far as I'm concerned.

Rachel Pritchett

Double your ELCA Hunger Gift between now and Dec. 31

By the Rev. Daniel Rift, director, ELCA World Hunger

You can make a difference in their lives with a gift to ELCA World Hunger. And between now and Dec. 31, all gifts to ELCA World Hunger will be matched entirely -- 100 percent -- thanks to a group of generous ELCA members.

Will you join these ELCA members in making one last gift this year? When you give to ELCA World Hunger, you provide families with food, water, education and heath care to help them escape poverty for good. Your gifts are put to work in almost 60 countries around the world, including the United States. And when you give today, you help our church double its impact in this work.

The need is more urgent than ever. As you know, it’s not just millions of Americans who don’t have enough to eat. About a billion people around the world are hungry.

Share the joy you’ve felt this Christmas and give hope to your neighbors in need. There are three ways to give and double your gift today:

• Donate online by visiting www.elca.org/hungerdonate anytime before the 12:00 a.m. CST deadline on Dec. 31.
• Donate over the phone by calling 800-638-3522 now through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CST.
• Donate through the mail by sending a check to ELCA World Hunger, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764. Checks must be postmarked by Dec. 31 in order to be matched and tax deductible for 2011. Please write “Matching Challenge” in the memo line of your check.

God is calling us into the world -- together. Thank you for responding to that call with your generous gifts.

In Christ’s service,

"The Shack" author coming to Stevenson

Paul Young, author of "The Shack," will lead a presentation at 9 a.m. Jan. 29 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church of Stevenson. The novel is about a man who returns to a shack where he believes his young daughter was murdered and, while there, encounters God. For more information, contact the Rev. Ron McClung at shepherdofthehills@gorge.net.

By Joy Lingerfelt, associate in ministry and music leader, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Port Angeles

This past fall I was one of 16 church musicians and pastors in the ELCA who traveled to Germany to seen where Martin Luther lived.

The trip was a whilrwind tour of Leipzig, Halle, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Berlin and Graefenhinichen, and was filled with worship services, devotionals, walking tours and museums. In our jet-lagged voices, we joined together as friends we'd not met before, and sang "Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying."

In this day when Christianity is maybe 18 percent of the world population, and Lutheranism is a small percentage of that, our trip was an opportunity to learn more about Luther and his surrounds, as well as the the people that partnered with Luther in creating the Reformation.

It is all in a part of Germany that we knew as East Germany, and most of the Lutheran population has not had much opportunity to visit it in a way the Romans have had pilgrimage to Rome. But now the government of Germany as well as the Church there recognize that the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther is soon upon us, and, unlike the celebration at 400 years where only Germans were welcomed, they are inviting the world to come, see, and develop a greater understanding of this heritage.

Wittenberg, where Martin Luther and Katie lived, preached, made beer, and held the famous Table Talks, is under much construction, the result of large grants by the German government to restore, rebuild, and make available to all the many sights related to the Reformation. Our Sunday worship at the Castle Church (where the 95 theses were hung) included a full service with communion. While our calendar called it Christ the King Sunday, in Germany it is the All Saint's Sunday. Many people in the village were there to worship, and remember the saints that have died in the past year, much like we do. While the service was in German, the sermon had been translated in advance for us. But the hymns, prayers, and creed were not translated, and we all knew "where we were." We had a tour of the new Luther Garden, just outside the Castle's archeological dig, under the direction of Hans Kasch- Global Missions, ECLA.

Our walking tour included the famous Luther House which is notably the finest museum of Reformation history. There we saw the first German Bible (translated not from the Roman's Latin but from the Greek and other original languages), and one of the early song-books. Our tour took us also to the City Church (St. Mary's), where Luther preached, where the congregation was invited to sing a hymn for the first time, and where the Mass was first spoken in the language of the people. Our tour included many other sights, taking us back to the Castle Church, where we all sang A Mighty Fortress around Luther's grave. We walked the city streets where people cried out in large crowds to have confirmation classes.

But our tour included far more contemporary sights, as well ... such as St Nicholas church in Leipzig, where the cry for peace ultimately grew so loud, in 1989, that the wall came down in Berlin. At that time, inside the church was the only place where one could safely speak openly of the discord and oppression of the government. A church Reforming even then.

We learned of the secular confirmation that had been imposed on young people - any person that participated in the church's confirmation classes was banned from future employment or college attendance. Instead, a very unrelated series of events were held for all of the young people to attend. Had the socialist government been able to continue even just another 10 years, all memory of the Gospel might have been completely wiped away from the population.

And we saw something of life in the 1700s as well. Just a few blocks away from the St. Nicholas Church is the famed St. Thomas Church, which had been bombed significantly in world war II, and still it was rebuilt to afford the opportunity to hear the musical works of J.S. Bach as he had iknown them.

Perhaps it is time for some of us as a parish to visit these sights and become more keenly aware of our heritage. Certainly it is an appropriate time to consider our identity as Lutherans, maybe now more than ever, as to know where we are from is an important part in knowing who we are. Yes, these are hard economic times, but coming to stand on the ground in these places would do much to enrich us all.

To better portray what we all saw, I will present a slide show of the photos that I took, along with some commentary, within a few weeks. For the time being, let us continue our preparations to face the Christ Child being born into our midst! Wake, awake! The night is flying!

Pax,

Joy

Pictured: Joy Lingerfelt at THE door.

Mountain View carolers visit Tacoma Lutheran Home

In the days leading up to Christmas, a crowd of carolers from Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood sang with friends at Tacoma Lutheran Home.

All pastor, but part cop, too

Police Chaplain Paul Meeker delivers God's Word when it's needed most.

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

BREMERTON — Tall and imposing and with a smile as strong as steel, the Rev. Paul Meeker strides past desks at the Bremerton Police Department.

"Make my way through, just check on people, let them know they're appreciated. Anyone needs care, hey, we're here."

For 20 years, the pastor at nearby Our Saviour's Lutheran Church has been a trusted and much-loved chaplain here.

A records clerk asks Meeker to pray for her family.

"Because my son's getting a license," she said.

"Absolutely," he says before moving on.

Two decades have thrust Chaplain Meeker into the hottest fires of human experience. But taking care of officers' emotional and spiritual needs is what he does most.

One officer's relationship with his wife has gone cold. Another's daughter is taking drugs and causing pain to his family and himself, which he brings to work.

Meeker makes a special stop at yet another officer's desk. Her son killed himself a few years back. Since that awful time, Meeker's made sure he's front and center for her.

"A lot of times I call it a ministry of listening, just a ministry of presence," he said.

Meeker never thought about being a police chaplain until asked by Dick Dexter, a funeral-director member of his congregation. Our Saviour's is located in the bulls eye of the poorest and most crime-ridden section of Bremerton. The congregation had a long history of boldly reaching out to those in darkest corners. Meeker as a police chaplain would be a extension of that, Dexter suggested to him.

"It was a blend of apprehension and curiosity," Meeker remembered. "Gave it a try."

Dressed in a regular officer's uniform with bullet-proof vest, but with a clerical collar and prominent cross on his sleeve, he rides along regularly with the officers, usually at night when the action is at its peak.

They get a call-out. Officers in another county are in hot pursuit of a driver fleeing at breakneck speeds. They're headed their way, and Meeker and the officer are ordered to pick up the chase at the county line.

Adrenaline rushes through Meeker as they chase after the driver, who now is weaving through crowded city streets where men, women and children are walking.

Meeker prays for their safety.

The driver crashes his car smack in front of Meeker's church. He jumps out and flees on foot, but the chase is over. Meeker shudders and takes a breath.

Daughter Arleta thinks her dad's other job is very cool. Wife Loretta, less enthusiastic.

Meeker, 51, hesitates. "She has concerns when I do ride-alongs."

The years have left their mark.

A parent backs out of his driveway and runs over his toddler, crushing the child to death. Meeker and an officer are immediately called to stand alongside the mortified parent and family.

"It affected me personally. Why does God allow children to die, to suffer unnecessarily? I will take that question to the grave and to heaven," he said.

Then again, Meeker already has the answer.

"The Lord is faithful in every life situation," he said.

Cops, Meeker said, are a surprisingly religious group of people, and some over the years have worshiped at Our Saviour's.

Meeker continues his walk-through at the police station, greeting, joking and laughing in his booming voice, and asking if he can help.

"You never know when your witness might plant a seed for faith."

Photo by Rachel Pritchett
The Rev. Paul Meeker leads Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Bremerton but also is a longtime and beloved chaplain at the Bremerton Police Department.

Pastors to gather for Bishop's Convocation in January

SEABECK — Once again this year, the historic Seabeck Christian conference Center will be the scene of the annual Bishop's Prayer Retreat and Convocation. Pastors from throughout the Southwestern Washington Synod will gather between Jan. 22 and Jan. 24 to hear remarks by special guest the Rev. Dr. Terence Freitheim.

Freitheim is a professor of the Old Testament at Luther Seminary in Minnesota. Bishop Robert D. Hofstad will have a report to the pastors, as well. Look here and in Moments for Mission, the synod newsletter, for a report from the convocation.

Pictured: The Seabeck Christian Conference Center overlooks Hood Canal and now is undergoing renovations that include new buildings.

Poulsbo church community bids Jukams farewell

On staff at First Lutheran Church since 1997, the Rev. Don Jukam will retire at the end of the year. All are invited to Pastor Jukam's final sermon at 10 a.m. at the historic hillside church at 10 a.m. Christmas Day. Wife Elaine has been active in many capacities throughout his tenure at First.

Don Jukam previously served as a Navy chaplain before coming to First.

The church now is lead by the Revs. Kent and Alison Shane and Youth and Family Coordinator Paul Davis. On Dec. 3, the congregation hosted a banquet in honor of the Jukam's contributions in First's Christian Center. About $20,000 in donations marking the retirement went to ELCA Good Gifts and other efforts of the congregation.

The church, also currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, is at 18920 Fourth Ave. NE, Poulsbo.

Pictured:
The congregation of First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo hosted a banquet honoring the Rev. Don and Elaine Jukam in First's Christian Center on Dec. 3.

Elaine and the Rev. Don Jukam.

First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo, situated on a hillside overlooking Liberty Bay in historic downtown Poulsbo, has been a beacon for many over the past 125 years.

— Rachel Pritchett

Stories of faith in action now available

By the Rev. Lanny Westphal, program director, ELCA Global Mission

Stories of Faith in Action is a free resource full of dynamic stories of how God is changing lives around the world through the mission and ministry of the ELCA. You’ll also find information on Mission Support (the financial contributions given by synods and congregations to fund churchwide ministries), including budget numbers, and more. This is a very useful resource for the Epiphany season and for congregational meetings. To order your free copy of Stories of Faith in Action, call (800) 638-3522 or order online at www.elca.org/resources. Ask for ELCAMA1008. The resource is free; you only pay for shipping.

The January Moments for Mission deadline

is Friday, Dec. 23.

- Rachel Pritchett, (206) 498-0920, rachelpritchett@msn.com

Presiding bishop delivers Christmas message

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all. — Titus 2:11

In this world where God creates with deep beauty and profound mystery.
In this world where so many yearn for God's healing and peace.
In this world where some have thought God has forsaken us:

Here, in this world, the grace of God has appeared.

Not just in this world but for you.

For you, weary from trying to meet the expectations of others.
For you, worrying about an uncertain future.
For you, wondering if you are worthy.

For you, the face of God has appeared, bringing salvation.

Not just for you but for all.

For all, salvation has come in the wonder of God in mercy bending low to meet us in our humanity.
In the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection.
In the power and promise of the gospel's proclamation.
God's goodness and living-kindness has appeared in the Savior Jesus.

So with angelic messengers and witnessing shepherds. We raise our voices: "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors."

Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop

Revamped ELCA.org unveiled today

... I like it very much, with the welcome at the top and the rotating window. Here's an explainer from Scott Hendrickson, ELCA marketing chief. Rachel Pritchett

Dear colleague in ministry,

Today we will be launching the new homepage of ELCA.org! Our story-based homepage offers ELCA members, and those looking to get to know us better, a way to learn about what God is up to in the world through this church.

The new homepage also places this church's welcoming invitation front and center, particularly with Find a Congregation — our most popular feature.

The new look is not a site-wide makeover; you'll still find information about this church's ministries, resources and giving opportunities, as well as learn how ELCA members are putting their faith into action.

We've added a new Explore now feature that highlights stories about how together we are helping to restore and reconcile communities around the world.

You'll be able to read news and event updates, discuss with other members about what it means to "live Lutheran," learn about the ways your financial gifts support ELCA ministries, and find resources that help us do God's work together.

We've made some adjustments to the footer as well. These changes reflect our new organizational design and include site tools for easy navigation. A direct link to finding a churchwide ministry is also available, so start there if you're looking for a specific ministry.

We're committed to providing our 10,000 daily visitors with stories and resources that inspire and inform. In 2012, we will continue to redevelop ELCA.org with improvements throughout the site and will let you know as those updates happen. Thanks for your ministry and support.

Advent blessings,

Scott J. Hendrickson
Director, Marketing Communications
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
www.ELCA.org
www.LivingLutheran.com

Two furnaces click off as Christmas approaches at Mountain View

Readers,

This today from Troy Kehm-Goins, Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood:

Disciples, members, and friends of Mountain View Lutheran Church:

I am writing to you from the frigid wasteland that the Fellowship Hall and church office have become. Okay, it's not quite that bad, but we are currently operating without the two rooftop furnaces, which means no heat in the the aforementioned spaces.

In other words, I suggest that (as all good residents of the Pacific Northwest are accustomed) you wear layers of clothing when you attend the Advent midweek soup and bread dinner and Advent midweek worship tomorrow evening. And, even though the temperature in the Fellowship Hall is likely to be in the lower to mid 60s tomorrow night*, Pastor John says, "The Sanctuary is heated, so no excuses!" In other other words, you still need to be here to hear the message of how "Hope Leans Toward a New Future."

Thank you to Dave Cherpeske and other members of the Property Ministry Group as they organize the replacement of the rooftop furnaces, one of which is completely done and the other which is limping toward its demise. The work will likely take place two or three weeks from now, as the replacement units are being built as you read this.

Thank you also to the various members who have brought space heaters up to the church. We are putting them to good use!

*Who knew that I would be forecasting weather for locations on the church campus at some point?

Troy Kehm-Goins
Administrative Assistant
Mountain View Lutheran Church
(253) 863-5171
tkehm-goins@mtviewlutheran.org

Posting

Lay youth minister: St. John's Lutheran Church of Chehalis seeks a part-time lay youth minister to work with middle- and high-school students. The applicant should be creative in planning and executing fellowship and service activities, as well as qualified to lead in spiritual formation. The position is 12 hours a week. St. John's has a congregation of about 400 worshipers including 40 youth. Contact the Rev. D. Randall Faro at (360) 748-4741.

Homeless-services funding discussed Tuesday in Olympia

Faith Action Network sends an alert that the Senate Bill 5952, increasing and extending the document-recording surcharge that counties collect for homelessness, undergoes a public hearing before the state House Financial, Housing and Insurance Committee at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 13.

FAN asks those who agree with this to contact members and voice support. Members include: Hobbs, Steve (D) Chair, Prentice, Margarita (D) Vice Chair, Benton, Don (R), Fain, Joe (R), Haugen, Mary Margaret (D), Keiser, Karen (D), Litzow, Steve (R)

An Advent and Christmas devotion on faith, but not certainty

By the Rev. D. Randall Faro, St. John's Lutheran Church, Chehalis

“And the Word became flesh, and lived among us.” John 1:14

The author Anne Lamott has written that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. She’s on to something here.

I’m certain that two plus two equals four. I’m certain that the earth revolves around the sun. I am also absolutely certain that I will never summit Mount Everest. We’re talking here about empirically observable, scientifically demonstrable facts. Philosophers can quibble about reality and our perceptions of such, but I’ll bet you that if you give any one of them two apples and I give that same one two apples, said philosopher will say she has four apples. For certain.

What really happened some two thousand years ago in a pipsqueak town called Bethlehem in region of our planet today called Israel/Palestine? We’re not certain. And when the baby born that superstar night grew to be a man who was eventually executed, just exactly who was He and what does His life have to do with mine? Again, we’re not certain. By that I mean not four-apples certain. Rather, what this Christmas business has to do with our lives is a matter of faith.

The writer to the Hebrews put it this way: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We don’t hope that two plus two equals four, and the Copernican revolution came to pass because of things seen with our own eyes. Faith, on the contrary, is always burdened by some amount of uncertainty. Were it not, it would be a scientific law that one would be a fool to not accept.

A modicum of uncertainly in no way takes away from our faith. In fact, it affirms faith for what it is. And we justifiably base our lives on our faith in Jesus Christ.

An analogy that I hope helps. For over fifty years of my life a foundational basis for it all has been my love for my wife Betsy, and a belief in and acceptance of her love for me. One surely can’t put love under a microscope, and there has always been the chance that either one of us would call it quits. Nevertheless we have “believed” in each other, and continue to affirm and depend on that ethereal and fragile thing called love. We are invited to do the same with God.

Justice and peace for all of humankind laid as a newborn in an animal feed trough . . . only faith can embrace that. A person can claim that one believes such with certainty (I surely do), but let’s call a spade a spade, namely that what we are talking about is faith. If we try to claim a scientific, empirical certainty for such, then anyone who might have a contrary view must be deemed loco. Which is exactly what Jesus did not do.

As a matter of New Testament fact, Jesus reached out to and commended (often for a faith they didn’t even know they had) oodles of Gentiles, i.e., not members of the Hebrew faith community. Jesus never demanded certainty. He just said: “Follow Me. I’ll show you things you never imagined, and you won’t be sorry. And by the way, we’re going to save the world.” Only one thing in the world would cause a person to drop their present lives and follow Him, and it certainly wasn’t certainty. It was faith.

So this Christmas Eve we’ll sing Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, and O Little Town of Bethlehem again . . . in faith. Please don’t try to prove any of it to me. Not only because it can’t be done, but because we are called to put our trust in something far deeper and more important than that which is revealed by mathematical equations or microscopes. And when the Christmas Gospel ends with the shepherds praising God for “all they had heard and seen,” please remember that at the time they didn’t have a clue how to make sense of it all either. Yet they were gripped with new meaning and new joy in their lives, which was based one hundred percent on faith.

And so with us. A blessed Christmas to all as we once more gather to wonder together at the glorious mystery of God-in-the-flesh.

Consider becoming one of 1,000 Mission Friends

Just $100 a year makes you one of the Southwestern Washington Synod’s 1,000 Mission Friends.

As such, you help support not only new mission starts, but also those in need of renewal.

One recipient of 1,000 Mission Friends is the Living Stones Prison Congregation at the Washington Corrections Center for Men in Shelton. Each week, 100 incarcerated men meet in worship. The Rev. Eric Wangen-Hoch leads them, and a team from one of the synod’s congregations joins in.

If helping 1,000 Mission Friends would put you in the Christmas spirit, please send a check to the Southwestern Washington Synod, Att’n: 1,000 Mission Friends, 420 121st St. South, Tacoma, WA 98444-5218. Make the check out to the synod, and write “1,000 Mission Friends” in the memo line.

Thank you.

Posting

Church administator: Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood seeks a church administrator. Duties include managing church finances and operations, and linking to the Mountain View Community Center. Necessary skills include knowledge of financial and accounting software. A degree in business is preferred. To apply, visit www.mtviewlutheran.org and follow the prompts. For more information, contact Julie Williams at (253) 232-3559 or jules.williams@yahoo.com.

AP weighs in on Christmastime writing style

Church writers — I received this at work today from The Associated Press on style relating to the holidays. I use AP style in my writings, so I can have one standard. Here it is, Rachel

Advent
The four Sundays preceding Christmas.

"Auld Lang Syne"
Sung to greet the New Year, poem by Robert Burns set to Scottish music.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) -
Dateline for AP stories from the biblical site of Jesus' birth.

Bible
Capitalize in reference to the Scriptures; lowercase biblical in all uses.

Boxing Day
Post-Christmas holiday Dec. 26 in British Commonwealth countries.

Champagne
Capitalize sparkling wine from the French region uncorked to celebrate New Year's.

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
Capitalize Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 Christian feast marking the birth of Jesus.

Christmastime
One word.

Christmas tree
Lowercase tree and other seasonal terms with Christmas: card, wreath, carol, etc. Exception: National Christmas Tree.

dreidel
Toy spinning top for Jewish celebrations.

hallelujah
Lowercase the biblical praise to God, but capitalize in composition titles: Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus.

Hanukkah
Eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights starting Dec. 20 this year.

Jesus, Jesus Christ
Pronouns referring to him are lowercase, as is savior.

happy holidays, merry Christmas, season's greetings
Such phrases are generally spelled lowercase, though Christmas is always capitalized.

Holy Land
Capitalize the biblical region.

Kriss Kringle
Not Kris. Variation of Santa Claus. Derived from the German word Christkindl, or baby Jesus, for gift sharing.

Kwanzaa
African-American and Pan-African celebration of family, community and culture, Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

Magi
Three wise men who brought gifts to the infant Jesus at Epiphany, celebrated Jan. 6.

menorah
Candelabrum with nine branches used for Hanukkah.

Messiah
Capitalized in references to Jesus or to the promised deliverer in Judaism.

Nativity scene
Only the first word is capitalized.

New Year's Eve, New Year's Day
Capitalized for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

North Pole
Mythical home of Santa Claus.

poinsettia
Decorative plant for Christmas; note the "ia."

regifting
Passing along an unwanted present to someone else.

Santa Claus
Brings toys to children in a sleigh pulled by reindeer on Christmas Eve.

"A Visit From St. Nicholas"
Beloved poem by Clement Clarke Moore that begins, "'Twas the night before Christmas..."

"The Twelve Days of Christmas"
Spell the numeral in the Christmas carol.

yule
Old English name for Christmas season; yuletide is also lowercase.

Xmas
Don't use this abbreviation for Christmas.

PLU temporily shuts down campus news site

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/02/1930229/plu-temporarily-shuts-down-papers.html

Coming here soon; Early discussions on a new place of worship

Readers,

I attended a meeting of Lutheran and Episcopal pastors and administrators Thursday in Poulsbo on the possibility of starting a federated synodically authorized worshiping community in Kingston, which is on the north tip of the Kitsap Peninsula. Perhaps in a theater; perhaps starting on Palm Sunday. This group has been meeting for two years on this subject. Thursday's meeting was hosted by the Rev. Kent Shane at First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo, and I'll share it here in a story I plan to do soon. Pictured: the group meets Thursday in Poulsbo.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Soul Café strives for shared sacred space, online

By the Rev. Melanie Wallschlaeger, director for evangelical mission

Soul Café, at www.soulcafe.org, a new Region 1 online community, provides sacred space for pastors and lay leaders to share resources and conversation about ministry and mission in the Pacific Northwest. The idea for a community commons grew out of a series of listening events in the Oregon Synod. As congregational leaders shared their need to learn from colleagues and congregations facing similar challenges, the idea for Soul Café emerged. Soul Café currently is in the beta phase of development, which means it is now ready to serve all the congregations and lay leaders of Region 1 who will benefit from this transformational resource tool. While Soul Café currently serves Region 1, the community commons has the capacity to expand for use by the larger church body of the ELCA should it become a useful and valuable tool.

Soul Café is not an “online church.” It is not designed to replace communities or face-to-face ministry. Much in the same way that Facebook is “me-focused,” a community commons is “us-focused” in that it is a tool to bring people together who share similar interests, values and passions, such as the ELCA congregations in the Pacific Northwest. Soul Café is a new collaboration tool designed to lift up our passions, help us coordinate efforts, shape best practices and mutually empower ministry.

Soul Café enables geographically separated Lutheran congregations, church-affiliated organizations, and individuals to meet, interact and get to know each other through idea-sharing and communication for solutions to the shared problems, issues and challenges facing the church today.

Edwin Rourk serves as community director of Soul Café. As a PK (pastor’s kid), Edwin has been shaped by faith and life in the church. Through his day-to-day vocation, Edwin has worked with large companies that have been strengthened by relationships and ideas that were brought together through online communities used in a corporate context. Edwin’s hope for the online community commons is that the church will be strengthened as congregational leaders share similar concerns and solutions about living out the mission as disciples in a changing context.

How can you experience Soul Café yourself or invite others in your congregation to get involved?


- Sign on to Soul Café and fill out a profile.

- Join at least one group and maybe even start one.

- Share Soul Café with others outside of your congregation or church organization.

- Help a friend sign up with Soul Café.

Thank you for your support and prayers as we seek to build community for the sake of God’s mission in our Church and the world.