On the goodness of Christ

By Allison Ramsey, office manager

As we approach Easter, the anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection, and the joy that it brings, I recall one of our (almost) weekly Eucharist services that we had as synod staff.

Bishop Hofstad was leading the service that week. The text that day talked about seeing the goodness of Christ. So, Bishop Hofstad asked each of us, “What Bible verse most clearly speaks to you about the goodness of Christ?” It was a great question, but I didn’t have an answer.

I was absolutely stumped. I started to feel dumb … that I didn’t know enough of the Bible by heart to answer that question. One Bible verse in the front of my mind lately had been one that we were talking about at my church from Psalm 34:8: “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” It mentions the Lord is good and I like this verse, and especially love to think of it as I am enjoying my evening meal. But, that didn’t speak most clearly to me about the goodness of Christ.

One of our synod staff quickly answered that John 3:16 was the verse for them.

When Bishop Hofstad asked this, I wasn’t aware of how personal this question was. Shortly after our service and staff meeting was over, I was reading the monthly newsletters that come to our office from so many of our congregations. I was just about to put the newsletters in a pile to send off to our synod communicator, when a verse written in large print on the page caught my eye (at least the print seemed large at the time). It was like God wanted to show it to me so that I could see this wonderful gift now: 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” I now have this verse handwritten on a Post-it note hanging at eye level next to my desk.

What verse speaks to YOU most clearly about the goodness of God? You’ll find this question on our Facebook Page (Southwestern Washington Synod) and on our Soul Café page and I’d love to see you post your answers for us all to read.

Mega-shelter effort in Vancouver winds up another season

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The promise of a job draws a young family with two small children from Ohio. But they find no work here in southwest Washington, where high-tech, timber and fishing are down amid 13 percent unemployment.

Penniless, they land in a homeless shelter at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. They are among "the new homeless" that the Rev. Jim Stender sees much more of now, hardworking people who are no match for the recession. For nine years, St. Andrew and nearby St. Paul Lutheran Church are sites of two homeless shelters that together are part of one of the biggest such initiatives in the Pacific Northwest, called Winter Hospitality Overflow, or WHO.

Every day from November to March, WHO provides shelter here when all other Vancouver shelters are full. That's all the time. St. Andrew takes in women and families. Single men are at St. Paul.

The numbers since the recession have "gone off the charts," said the Rev. Chris Nolte of St. Paul. Some 175 men will have received shelter at St. Paul between last November and March, many staying weeks.

At St. Andrew, 400 families will stay, again some for long periods. Together, 10,000 bednights will have been provided by 1,500 volunteers putting in an astounding 13,000 hours of service.

Volunteers and support comes from 40 Vancouver churches, and also from social-service agencies such as Share, a government/private partnership to aid the homeless.

“This has been a marvelous cooperative effort,” Stender said.

The pastors don't preach. "This is not a crusade," Nolte. Instead, it's a two-way street. A decade ago, some of the members of the two congregations sat in the back pews red-faced and fuming about the proposed mega-shelters. Those same people now are doing the overnight shifts.

"It's amazing what the guests bring to us," Nolte said. Said Stender, "In their faces, you see the reflection of Christ. I hope they can see Jesus in us, as well."

Pictured top to bottom: Dinner, a student, team leader Geri Hiller, and bedding down at St. Paul in Vancouver.

Story by Rachel Pritchett; Courtesy photos

Asian expert to speak at community event at PLU

Whitman College professor of Asian religions Daniel Kent will speak on "Killing Tigers, Killing Cows: The Karma of Killing Animals in the Sri Lankan Civil War, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. April 4 at Pacific Lutheran University. All are invited.

Kent's appearance is part of PLU's Ingram Lecture series. It takes place in the Scandinavian Cultural Center. There is no cost, and reservations are not necessary.

Got a poverty project?

Hi everyone,

I am researching what I am told is going to be the cover story for July issue of The Lutheran. The overall focus of the story is the Lutheran response to domestic poverty. The story is to consist of 12 smaller stories about projects across the nation showing this response.

For example, I have a community meal in Charlotte, N.C., that's just huge. I have community gardens in Waverly, Iowa, on home sites where dwellings were destroyed by floods from the Cedar River in 2008.

Here at home, I've chosen to lift up the Winter Hospital Overflow at St. Paul and St. Andrew of Vancouver as among the 12. I can't make this too Washington state-focused, but if you'd like to make your pitch to me, now is the time. I'm looking urban, rural, ethnic. I'd love for some of you doing the Hispanic outreach in Lewis County and south to be included. The projects have to have some kind of link to the ELCA.

I have to turn this monster around pretty fast, so I'm taking several days off my day job next week and the week after, because I want to do this. Make your pitch pretty soon. You can email me at rachelpritchett@msn.com or call me at 206-498-0920. Pictured are some students from Wartburg College in Waverly working on the gardens.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Human trafficking, bullying among topics

PORT ORCHARD — South Kitsap Helpline and the the YWCA ALIVE Shelter for abused women are the beneficiaries of an upcoming event of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

On Saturday, March 17, that organization's Olympic Cluster will holds its Spring Celebration at Elim Lutheran Church in Port Orchard that will feature Sharla Musabih on the abuse of Muslim women in Dubai and Mary Abo on being interned with Americans of Japanese descent during World War II.

Also featured will be Sarah Benjamin speaking on human trafficking, and Dave Colombini of the South Kitsap School District on bullying. Presenters will lead workshops, as well.

All are invited. The $12 cost includes lunch. Reservations can be made by calling the church at 360-871-0602 by Monday.

A worship service will be led by the Rev. Beth Orling, and proceeds from a free-will offering taken then are to benefit the food bank and shelter. Elim is at 5911 East Hillcrest Drive.

Blatt learned stewardship early, now living it in Paraguay

By Denny Scott, St. Andrew Lutheran Church

VANCOUVER — Jessica Blatt, who grew up at St. Andrew Lutheran Church and is a Peace Corps volunteer, is building an environmental-restoration center made of recycled plastic bottles in Paraguay.

Since 2009, the 25-eyar-old has lived in Ayolas, a town of 15,000 on the southern border of the South American country. Blatt has raised $7,000 for the project, which is already having several impacts. It demonstrates how solid waste can be reduced. It engages young people to think environmentally. And, a new center of environmental-restoration programs will result when Blatt's tour ends this June.

Blatt has generated excitement among the youth of Ayolas. They have formed EcoAyolas and they are collecting plastic soda bottles and preparing them to substitute as "bricks” for construction. Fifteen members of this group have organized community cleanups, tree plantings, Earth Day celebrations, environmental field trips and ecology summer camps.

Blatt said the seeds of her service were planted at St. Andrew. "Being nurtured at St. Andrew to share my time, talent and treasure. I decided to become a steward in a very real way doing an environmental project in Paraguay.”

Cutlines:

Jessica Blatt

Blatt and students collect plastic bottles for the building.

The bottle walls will be covered with stucco, as in this example from another location.

Update from your synod's Namibia Task Force

This spring the companion relationship between this synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia continues as Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop, and husband Lyle attend a "consultation" in the African country from May 17 to 20.

Three other synods in the ELCA that have relationship with synods in Namibia will attend, as well.

Updates on issues of interest to all sides are given at consultations, and planning for future companion-synod events happens, as well.

More will be written about the consultation when Morse returns. The last such consultation was in 2005, and Bishop Robert D. Hofstad lead a contingent then.

Advocate for religious reformation to speak

Westar Institute, a nonprofit to strengthen religious literacy, sends out an invitation to all to attend is spring conference March 21 to 24 in Salem, Ore. Speakers that include retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong and college scholars will address the topic “All in the Family: A Conversation about Marriage, Family, Sexuality.” Spong is a strong proponent of religious reformation. Registration and more information is at www.westarinstitute.org or at 877-523-3545.

Save the date for 2012 Global Mission gathering

The 2012 ELCA Global Mission Gathering closest to the Southwestern Washington Synod will take place Sept. 21 and 22 in Portland, Ore. The cost will be $35, and participants will learn how to conduct mission locally and globally. For more information, visit www.elca.org/glocal.

Moments of Blessing completed in South Kitsap

Good Sunday, everyone. Above are photos of the Moments of Blessing in South Kitsap County on Saturday for slain Washington State Patrol trooper Tony Radulescu and for the suspect who allegedly shot him and then shot himself, Joshua Blake. Almost all of the pastoral representation was ours from the Southwestern Washington Synod. The photos are being reproduced here from the Kitsap Sun, with permission. Steve Zugschwerdt was my photographer yesterday. My story in today's Sun is at this link. Cutlines are below, top to bottom. — Rachel Pritchett

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/mar/03/praying-back-the-peace-at-shooting-sites/

Cutlines:

The Rev. George Larson of First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard sprinkles healing water at the Highway 16 site of the Feb. 23 shooting of Washington State Patrol Trooper Tony Radulescu as the Rev. Bill Fulton of St. Antony's Episcopal Church of Silverdale and the Rev. Orv Jacobson of First look on.

The Rev. George Larson leads troopers and chaplains from the Washington State Patrol and the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office along Highway 16 to the exact site of the trooper killing.

The group worships nearby. Clergy left to right are the Rev. Orv Jacobson, visitation pastor at First of Port Orchard, the Rev. Bill Fulton of St. Antony Episcopal Church of Silverdale, the Rev. Sarah Roemer of Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla, and the Rev. Paul Meeker, turned toward camera, of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Bremerton. In the group is the Rev. Paul Stumme-Diers of Bethany Lutheran Church of Bainbridge Island.

Community prayer gathering Tuesday in Poulsbo

The Revs. Kent and Alison Shane of First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo will lead a community service of remembrance and comfort at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at the church, at 18920 Fourth Ave.

All are invited.

Last week, a woman was killed in the church parking lot after a vehicle hit her. Both the driver and the woman were quilters at the church. A number of other tragic events have occurred recently in Kitsap County, including a spate of high-profile homicides and the shooting of a third-grader, who is recovering.

Below is the story about the car-pedestrian collision at First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo from the Kitsap Sun, reprinted with permission:

By Kitsap Sun staff

POULSBO — A Port Ludlow woman was killed Tuesday night after she was hit by a car in the parking lot of First Lutheran Church on Fourth Avenue.

The Kitsap County coroner has identified the woman as 64-year-old Cheryl L. Penttila.

Poulsbo police were called at 6:20 p.m. about a woman who was hit by a car that was pulling into a handicapped parking spot in the church lot, according to Deputy Chief Wendy Davis. The church is on the 18000 block of Fourth Avenue.

Initial information suggests the woman driving the car, an 82-year-old from Poulsbo, did not see Penttila and ran over her. It's uncertain whether Penttila was hit by the car and fell to the ground or she was already on the ground when the woman was pulling into the parking space, Davis said.

Penttila died at the scene.

The two women were at the church for a quilting club meeting and knew each other, Davis said. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol played a part in the incident. Bad weather and poor lighting might have been an issue, Davis said.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office and Suquamish police assisted in the investigation. An autopsy was conducted Thursday.

Moment of blessing for Radulescu is Saturday in Port Orchard

Readers, I'll see you there tomorrow. — Rachel Pritchett

The Revs. George Larson, retired, and Sarah Roemer of Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla will lead a moment of blessing for slain Washington State Patrol Trooper Tony Radulescu at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 3, in Port Orchard. The public is invited. Clergy are invited to vest, if possible.

Radulescu, based out of the Bremerton WSP office, was shot in the head in the early hours of Feb. 23, as he made a traffic stop. The moment of blessing will take place near where the tragic event occurred, in the parking lot of A-1 Roofing, 2342 Anderson Hill Road SW, Port Orchard. The site will be marked with bamboo poles with red and purple ribbons.

The moment of blessing is a ministry of the Kitsap Ministerial Association. The purpose is to reclaim spaces where homicides have occurred, to support the victim's family and friends, and also to help in the healing of the community.

This is a dangerous stretch of highway. Park at Future Homes of Bremerton, 3560 Highway 15 West. A shuttle bus will take you to the site of the blessing. The bus will leave at 1:55 p.m.

At 3 p.m. a second moment of blessing will take place at the intersection of Ramiller Lane SE and Scofield Road SE in South Kitsap County just south of Port Orchard. This is the location where suspected shooter Joshua Blake shot himself to death. From Highway 16, take the Mullinex Road exit. Head east. Turn south at Ramiller.

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hl=en&tab=wl&q=Ramiller

Lay school of theology this weekend features Guatemalan pastor

Readers, I can't attend this, unfortunately, as I am working weekends in March at the Kitsap Sun. If anyone attending wants to write up a few paragraphs for here and the synod newsletter, be my guest. You can send the material to me at rachelpritchett@msn.com. Free free to send a photo or two. — Rachel

The Rev. Amanda Olsen de Castillo, former intern at Silverdale Lutheran Church and now serving in a Lutheran congregation in Guatemala, is the featured speaker of the upcoming annual Silverdale Lutheran Church Lay School of Theology.

Taking place March 3 to 4, three sessions are planned. The first, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3, looks at being Christian in Guatemala. Dinner follows from 5 to 6 p.m. In the evening, from 6 to 7:30, participants will learn about Christians daily life in the Central American country. The third session, from 9:40 to 10:40 a.m. Sunday, March 4, addresses mutual mission.

The cost is $10 per person per session, or $15 for two, with no charge for the third session. The suggested donation for dinner is $10 per person or $20 per family.

More information and registration is at http://www.silverdalelutheran.org/Lay_School_of_Theology.php

Christian vocation: Sunday worship meets Monday work

By Bishop Robert D. Hofstad

What is the Connection? What is the common thread between our worship as Christians on Sunday and our weekday work — whatever that may be — beginning on Monday? As Lutherans we have an answer; it is called Christian Vocation. This is not the same as one's "occupation" — although there is a connection here too. But our "vocation" as Christians is much larger than our "occupation." So, once again ... What is the connection between Sunday worship and Monday work?

With this as the focus of our 2012 Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly — May 18 and 19 at the Hilton Hotel in Vancouver, Wash., — we will have two very special guests to lead us in our conversations:

First, Gov. Christine Gregoire will be the keynote speaker at the opening session on the morning of Friday, May 18. As a very public elected official, and at the same time a devout and active Roman Catholic, Gov. Gregoire is well-qualified to lead this conversation. As a sitting two-term governor who is not running for re-election, our communications leading up to our synod assembly have centered on the hope that this will be a presentation of "faith" on her part. I am very hopeful that Gov. Gregoire’s words will set the stage for our assembly’s "making connections."

Second, our ELCA Churchwide Representative will be the General Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — Mr. David Swartling. Before being elected to the position of Secretary — one of the four officers of our ELCA — David was a prominent trial litigator in Seattle. He and his wife Barbara have been Lutherans for most of their lives. David is also well-qualified, having made the switch from a secular occupation to a church-related one, to make the connection between worship and work. There will be time, as part of our assembly, to hear the witness of others from our own Southwestern Washington Synod who have made this connection in their own life.

There will also be ample time for discussion and conversation among all voting members and guests to speak of their own connections and to listen to others. We will be making room — particularly at the opening session — for non-voting members from our 92 synod congregations to participate in the presentations and conversations. I urge all pastors to make a verbal announcement of this fact as part of your congregation’s worship leading up to our assembly. As you can no doubt tell, I am very excited and hopeful about our 2012 Synod Assembly. I would ask for your prayers on behalf of all who are already making decisions and plans.

Please put the dates on your calendar today: May 18 to 19 at the Hilton Hotel, Vancouver.

Blessings to you,

Robert D. Hofstad

A thank-you to congregations for generous giving

Two of the synod's congregations — Creator Lutheran Church of Bonney Lake and Calvary Lutheran Church of Federal Way — have given more than usual to the synod as it meets expenses with a reduced budget.

The synod's 2012 budget of $960,000 is down from $1.25 million in 1996, due to the recession, the closing and merging of congregations and fallout from the 2009 churchwide sexuality vote. However, it's current budget about the same as in 2010, showing hints of stabilization, according to Synod Treasurer Andreas Udbye.

Calvary, led by the Rev. Lori Cornell, found itself with a surplus of giving, and forwarded $2,000 of that to the synod above and beyond its normal giving.

Pastor Cornell said, "When a congregation finds itself in the black during difficult economic times, we should act out of abundance: God has blessed us with generous giving, so we should respond generously. Supporting these ministries that help us to serve the larger Lutheran community is not only right, but in our interest."

Creator gave a third of its Christmas offering — $2,200 — and a third of its Lenten offering — $1,400 — to the synod beyond its usual support.

Pastor Kim Latterell said, "The Synod gets our support...partly because it is right, our duty and our joy to be supportive of the work of the larger church, and partly because the synod has been helpful through a number of Creator's historical crises."

Cornell and Latterell both serve on the Synod Council and in other synod leadership roles.

Bishop Robert D. Hofstad was grateful for Calvary, Creator and others for stepping up.

"I give thanks for congregations like Creator Lutheran and Calvary Lutheran that have a clear sense of the strong relationship between congregation, our Southwestern Washington Synod, and the ELCA. I also give thanks for pastors like Lori Cornell and Kim Latterell who are partners in the ministry we do together in the best sense of the word."