Interim pastor sought for Luthuania

ELCA Global Mission this morning announces an opening for an interim pastor at the International Church of Vilnius, Lithuania, for either 90 days between June and July, 2012, or between December 2012 and July 2013. Congregations provides modern efficiency flat with small kitchen and bath, utilities, wireless Internet, television and local cell phone. A laundry one floor below. The interim pastor is responsible for airfare and living expenses. A valid passport required for period of service plus six months.

More is at http://www.vilniuschurch.org.

Discussion at spring retreat turns to helping young women

FEDERAL WAY — Some 60 women attending the spring retreat of the Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA on April 21 examined how the story of Eve plays out today. Conversation led by the Rev. Jan Otto of All Saints' Lutheran Church of Auburn moved toward ways to help young women stay engaged in the church at a time they need support the most.

Many in the audience suggested involving them in more intergenerational opportunities, instead of confining them to youth groups. Most agreed that mixing the ages is lots of fun and builds meaningful relationships, especially between grandmothers and young women, whose own mothers may not be there right at the moment because they're working.

"We need to be speakers of the message," Otto said to the group of women meeting at Dumas Bay Centre.

Pictured: Women lay hands on Carol Fossum of Puyallup, turned in green, who’d just received word during a group retreat on April 21 in Federal Way that her mother, Dorothy Presteng of Grafton, N.D., had died following a long illness.
 

Sally Russom of Mt. Cross 
Lutheran Church of Tacoma provided music.

Photos by Rachel Pritchett

Stortz: Path of pilgrimage more meaningful than destination

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

TACOMA — “Pilgrimage” was the topic April 21 at St. Mark’s by The Narrows 
Lutheran Church, where special guest the Rev. Dr. Marty Stortz said it’s not the destination that's as important as the journey itself.

Stortz, longtime professor at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in 
California and now chair of religion and vocation at Augsburg College in Minnesota, said those who feel pulled to go somewhere else in life other than where they are must prepare for the trip. Whatever the pilgrimage is, there always is a wistfulness or sorrow 
at what's left behind.

“To do something, you have to break away from something else,” she said. Along the way comes newfound community, shared stories and shared experiences, not planned but meant to be. Also on the journey there is a breaking down of the old and a rebuilding of the new, resulting in a transformation of the soul, she said.

That is how it is with the life pilgrimage of a Christian seeking Christ, she said to about 50 attendees. She quoted Hugh of St. Victor, who lived from 1096 to 1141:

“He who loves his own country best is yet a beginner.

He for whom all countries are as if they were his own, has advanced far.

But he is perfect for whom the whole world is a foreign country.”

Pictured: The Rev. Dr. Marty Stortz talks to Doug Dahlgren at St. Mark’s by The Narrows on April 21.

Church community celebrates chinaconnect

TACOMA — A celebration of the ministry of chinaconnect drew 100 well-wishers to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma on April 21, where they donated hundreds of dollars to help support the group that works in and around Nanchang, China.

Accompanying Executive Director the Rev. Steve Ray was longtime associate David Du, China director of the organization. Du helps with arrangements for groups Ray regularly brings over. Ray later in the week introduced Du to synod Global Mission Committee members.

Chinaconnect nurtures one-to-one relationship with English-language teaching opportunities, service projects, health assistance and youth exchanges to share Christ's love. A dream is to establish a coffee shop and English-language club in Nanchang.

Two opportunities have been announced for 2013. Persons interested in teaching English can take part in a trip to Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, from July 30 to July 29 with trips afterward to Xian and Lhasa, Tibet. Trips for youth that includes a culture and service project in Nanchang will be from July 10 to July 25, and from July 24 to Aug. 8.

To learn more, contact Ray at 253-225-5989 or sray@chinaconnectonline.org.

Pictured are the Rev. Steve Ray, director of chinaconnect, right, and David Du, the group's director in China.

Synod calendar

May 12: Women’s Evergreen Cluster Fair Trade Fair, All Saints, Auburn

May 15: Social media workshop, St. Mark’s by The Narrows, Tacoma

May 18 and 19: Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly, Vancouver, Wash.

June 18 to 20: Pacific Lutheran University's Summer Conference

June 24 to July 22: Lutheran Summer Music, Iowa, www.lutheransummermusic.org

July 25: Women’s Mount Rainier Cluster Ice-cream Social, Mountain View, Edgewood

Aug. 3: Catechumenate training, Spokane, www.catechumenate.org

Aug. 18: Women’s Bible Study Event, Christ, Lakewood, featuring Audrey West, Bible-study author

Sept. 21 and 22: ELCA global-mission event, Portland, Ore.

Oct. 6: Auction to support Mount Rainier Lutheran High School, Tacoma, www.mrlh.org

Oct. 12 to 13: Women of the ELCA convention, Good Shepherd, Olympia

Nov. 10: Synod global-mission event, St. Mark's by The Narrows, Tacoma

Hats bound for Namibia receive blessing

 

OLYMPIA — Some 320 hats soon on their way to Namibia got blessed at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd on April 22. The Rev. Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop, and husband Lyle will take them to the African country in May, where the Southwestern Washington Synod has a longstanding companion relationship with a synod there. The hats will be given to AID orphans. Morse will take part in a "consultation," where church representatives from here meet in discussion with their Namibian counterparts. The last consultation took place in 2005.  

Pictured at top is the Rev. John Rosenburg and the children of Good Shepherd with the hats, with pianist Bev Masini in the background. The Rev. Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop, and husband Lyle, are blessed for a safe trip.

Workshop on mediation slated in Kent

Pastors and other religious leaders are invited to a Mediation Skills Training Institute from April 30 to May 4 at First Christian Church of Kent, 11717 SE 240th St. The training is offered through Lombard Mennonite Peace Center of Illinois. The cost is $695. Go to www.lmpeacecenter.org

Little White Church volunteers’ breakfast slated

Volunteers new and old will convene at the Little White Church at Elbe at 9:30 a.m. April 28 for the annual volunteers' breakfast. Volunteers help with services and other functions at one of the nation's smallest churches, at Mount Rainier. For more information, contact Doris Gadley, 253-847-2743.

Plant sale too good to pass up

Trinity Lutheran Church of Parkland will hold its annual plant sale April 27 to 29 at Trinity Park, 121st and C streets, to benefit its food bank. Plants of all kinds will be offered. The hours are noon to 7 p.m. April 17, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 28, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 29; 253-307-0593.

Dawn Fehring Awards and Variety Show comes Saturday in Olympia

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia again this year hosts the Dawn Fehring Awards and Variety Show at the church.

The evening on April 28 has the theme "Celebrate," and begins with a spaghetti dinner at 4:30 p.m., followed by the show at 6 p.m. Tickets now are on sale at the church, and are going for $5 per person or $15 for a family. The church is at 1601 North St. SE. For more information, contact Chuch Heimbigner at 360-491-7317.

Living Stones congregation belongs to you

By the Rev. Kent Shane, chair,
Southwestern Washington Synod Outreach Board

There is a congregation in our synod that has standing room only every week at worship. Has almost a dozen visitors every week, guaranteed. Is as racially diverse as any congregation in the Southwestern Washington Synod. Has worship that is almost entirely lay planned and led. Has communion at every worship time. Has a mix of believers, new converts, the inquisitive, and those with no knowledge of or experience in the faith. Has a full-time pastor who spends about half his time with the congregation and half his time in the community. And, does not collect an offering.

This is YOUR congregation! Living Stones Prison Congregation at the Washington Corrections Center at Shelton is a mission congregation of the Southwestern Washington Synod which makes it a part of your congregation and your congregation a part of Living Stones.

I was recently doing a study of Matthew 25 – the sheep and goats part – that has Jesus telling us about service in the world. I have so often concentrated on what defines a sheep and likewise a goat, that I commit the usual sin of objectifying and overlooking the ones who were served.

It’s an impressive litany: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. As I looked at the list, I noticed for the first time that there is almost a progression here in how peoples’ basic needs, when left unmet, escalate into greater and greater need and danger.

The hungry and thirsty are facing the absence of basic needs and when you are there, that’s all you can think about.

So you venture out into strange places to try to get fed, leaving your comfort zone being entirely at the mercy of those to whom you tell your story. You show up with nothing, naked before your hosts, willing to eat bland manna and drink water from a rock – what choice do you have? And when basic needs aren’t even met, there certainly isn’t anything left for extras – no clothes, no health care, so sickness is a serious matter.

And when all is gone, hunger, thirst, community, naked, sick ... desperation can set in and choices can get made that lead to prison.

Yet every step along the way is a potential point of ministry where the line between those serving and those being served is blurred in the gift of community. Living Stones is such a community. A community gathered by God to serve and be served.

As chair of the Outreach Board of the synod, I want to thank you all for your service with, for, and to Living Stones. This ministry exists because of gifts provided by people who will hopefully never be onsite members. However, in the spirit of that “thank you” I also want to let you know that because of financial constraints, Pastor Eric of Living Stones Prison congregation is looking at having to reduce to half-time.

But there are ways that we can help to ensure that this important ministry with, for and to us continues to be as strong as possible. First, please keep Pastor Eric and Living Stones in your prayers for strength in their ongoing ministry; second, prayerfully consider giving a financial gift to the the Southwestern Washington Synod for Living Stones; third, encourage your congregation to include Living Stones in its annual budget and/or send a monetary gift during the year; fourth, encourage your congregation to visit Living Stones and/or have Pastor Eric or a member of the Outside Prison Board come to your congregation for an information Sunday.

Together in service.

Peace be with you.

On home stretch with the health assessments

Southwestern Washington Synod congregations stand to benefit if 28 more rostered leaders and lay employees with ELCA Portico health benefits complete the Mayo Clinic online health assessment by April 30.

If that were to happen, the synodwide savings would be $21,000, meaning congregations would save 2 percent of the amount they pay to provide the health and dental benefits.

The takers benefit, too, with a $150 credit toward wellness accounts.

The quick assessment can be taken at www.elcaforwellness.org.

World Malaria Day comes April 25

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is challenging congregation to help raise $200,000 between April 25 and May 1 to fight the deadly disease. Find bulletin inserts, prayers, hymns, offering envelopes and more resources for worship services on April 29 at www.elca.org/malaria. I also have a flash drive and CD if you would like to have it. — Rachel Pritchett, rachelpritchett@msn.com

Global water crisis claims more lives than war or natural disasters

Readers, Lanny Westphal of ELCA Global Mission asked communicators to post this message this morning. — Rachel Pritchett

Nearly a billion people — that’s one out of seven people in our world today — lack access to clean, safe water. Unclean water causes millions of people, especially young children, to die from water-related illnesses each year. Learn how ELCA youth can make a difference through the 100 Wells Challenge at www.elca.org/100wells.

Stortz speaks on pilgrimage this coming Saturday

Martha Stortz, longtime instructor at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in California and current chair of religion and vocation at Augsburg College in Minnesota, speaks in Tacoma this coming Saturday, April 21.

Appearing in a free public lecture from 9:30 a.m. to noon at St. Mark's by The Narrows Lutheran Church, Stortz will address "Vocation as Pilgrimage: Place, Path, and People." A complementary brunch will be served. St. Mark's is at 6730 North 17th St.

Come hear report from Ray, fresh back from Nanchang

The Rev. Steve Ray, fresh back from Nanchang, China, will give a presentation of the work chinaconnect is doing there and plans to do there in the future, at a fundraiser for chinaconnect from 6 to 8 p.m. April 21 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tacoma. Ray, pastor at Elim Lutheran Church of Port Orchard, is the group's executive director. Gloria Dei is at 3315 N. Stevens St.

New Testament learning opportunity coming

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia hosts the Rev. Dr. Lowell Stime and his overview of the New Testament from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 21.

The cost is $15 per person or $35 for a family. Register by April 15 by emailing Missy Tade at missy@gsolympia.org.

Women conduct spring retreat at Dumas Bay

The Rev. Jan Otto of All Saints Lutheran Church of Auburn is the headliner for the Spring Retreat of the Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA, to take place April 20 to 22 at Dumas Bay Centre of Federal Way. Contact Carol Fossum at 360-620-5368 or carolfossum@comcast.net for more.

The deadline for the May Moments for Mission is ...

.. a little early this month. Why don't we say Saturday, April 21.

Thanks, Rachel Pritchett, communicator, 206-498-0920 and rachelpritchett@msn.com

Ode installation is April 22

All are invited to the installation and chili-dinner celebration for the Rev. Chris Ode on Sunday, April 22, at Bethel Lutheran Church of Shoreline.

Ode, who used to be at Chinook Lutheran Church in the Southwestern Washington Synod, now will be a pastor at the church just north of Seattle. Bethel is in the Northwest Washington Synod.

Worship begins at 5 p.m. and dinner starts at 5:45 p.m. The church is at 17418 Eighth Ave. NE. RSVP to 206-362-4334.

Some joyous Easter images from Chehalis

Readers, Here are a few images of Easter from St. John's Lutheran Church of Chehalis, where the Rev. D. Randall Faro now is thanking lectors, musicians, the altar guild, youth and adult helpers and the maintenance engineers for pulling off the Sunday celebration. If you'd like, send me your photos from Easter, and I'll post here, as well. — Rachel Pritchett, communicator, rachelpritchett@msn.com

An Easter message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson

Christ is risen! Imagine the power in those words of promise.

When the disciples first heard Jesus speak of his death and resurrection, "they kept the matter to themselves" (Mark 9:10). But the news is too good to keep to ourselves. The life of Jesus Christ has been unleashed into the world.

Because Christ is risen, you can embrace life's complexities and uncertainties with a living, daring confidence in God's grace. The risen Christ goes ahead of you, meeting you in the most surprising faces and unexpected places. Christ's resurrection puts us right where God wants us to be — in the thick of life.

Because Christ is risen, you have a word of hope. To those weary from mourning loss and fearing death, the assurance is given that nothing in all creation will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The life of Jesus, God's own life, has burst into the world, restoring community. At the barriers we erect to divide us, the risen Christ meets us, turning those walls into tables of reconciliation. To those who live in fear and feel unworthy, the promise is given. "You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19).

Every morning you awaken with the mark of Jesus' death on your forehead and the promise of Christ's resurrection on your lips.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

In God's grace,

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Cross Walk takes place in Port Orchard

Readers,

I didn't get to go to the annual Cross Walk on Friday organized by First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard, the biggest Cross Walk in Kitsap County. But I was touched by this photo taken by my Kitsap Sun colleague, photographer Meegan M. Reid, which I'm reproducing here with permission. This is a father/son team from Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla, Louis Boe and son Trevor, 13. More photos are at www.kitsapsun.com.

Tomorrow, I'll post ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's Easter Message here.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Choir of the West making two Washington stops

The fabled Choir of the West makes a swing through the area later on this month, providing a great opportunity for music lovers to be inspired.

The repertoire is far-reaching, but opens with a stirring double-chorus setting of Martin Luther's hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." Luthuanian composer Vytautas Miskinis and German composer Gottfried Homilius are featured, along with American works by Eric Whitacre and Adolphus Hailstork.

Richard Nance, pictured, a Pacific Lutheran University professor of music, will conduct.

The two concerts in Washington include one at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at Ballard First Lutheran Church in Seattle, and then at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at Lagerquist Hall at PLU. No reservations are necessary, and the cost to attend is minimal.

Concert to benefit Lutheran Summer Music coming to Tacoma

All are invited to a benefit concert for Lutheran Summer Music that will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows of Tacoma.

Proceeds from a free-will offering will go to scholarships for summer academy that offers sacred settings for young musicians to learn and perform.

Four young people from synod congregations will be featured, and include Kayleigh Shaffer on violin and voice; Jacob Shaffer on trumpet; Antonio Patrick on trombone; and Hannah Johnsrud on oboe and piano. No reservations are necessary.

More information about Lutheran Summer Music is at www.lutheransummermusic.org.

Pictured: youth from last summer's Lutheran Summer Music academy.

Oppportunity for youth to serve in China coming

By the Rev. Steve Ray, executive director, chinaconnect

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you and your congregation’s youth team to let you know of new developments with our youthconnect culture and service project. I’ve just returned from three weeks in China working/building even stronger relationships with our partners at an orphanage outside of Beijing and our youth partners in the city of Nanchang, Jiangxi Province.

With most ELCA Youth attending the New Orleans Youth Event this summer 2012, I want to alert you to the opportunity for a youth service option in China for the years 2013 and beyond. Our partners at the Nanchang Institute of Technology are excited to be working with us in this joint project for Chinese and American youth to exchange ideas, friendships, and build lasting relationships while learning about each other’s culture and, at the same time, coming together to serve the less fortunate.

Our schedule for each summer youthconnect Culture and Service Project revolves around a strong service component by engaging youth to serve at an orphanage in the Beijing area for two to three days of service and then traveling down to Nanchang to serve in a disability center and school for deaf children.

Mixed in with this is the opportunity to work with local Nanchang area high school and college age youth to learn more about one another’s culture, families, religion, language and history.

The program normally begins with sightseeing in and around Beijing for the first three days and then traveling to the orphanage to serve for two to three days. We then will pack up and travel to Nanchang (southeastern China) to begin the cultural exchange portion of the visitation and, with our new Chinese friends, will serve, explore, and learn about Chinese culture.

Our 2013 program will be for a total of 15 days. Departure from the United States will be July 10 and return to the United States on July 25. If you would like more information about this project for this summer (July 11-26) or next, feel free to contact me at 253-225-5989 or my email address sray@chinaconnectonline.org.

Again, thanks for this opportunity to share with you the work of chinaconnect and may God bless you during these most important days of our lives as Christians.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Steven Ray

Children sing in worship service

The public is invited to a choral singing and worship event titled "Sing the Glory of God's Name," presented by the Washington chapter of the Chorister's Guild.

It takes place at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at St. Mark's by The Narrows Lutheran Church in Tacoma.

The service is the culmination of children's spring choir training by Kris Mason, a Seattle Children's Chorus festival clinician.

A free-will offering will be taken. No reservations are necessary. The church is at 6730 North 17th St. For further information, contact Beth Tobin at tobinb@comcast.net or 360-866-4962.

Chorister's Guild is a large choral- and handbell-music producer.