A retrospective on departing PLU president Anderson ....

... today in The News Tribune of Tacoma.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/27/2160014/loren-anderson-and-wife-changed.html

Deadline for June/July issue of Moments for Mission

Readers,

Let's make the deadline for the combined June/July issue of Moments for Mission, the synod newsletter, the end of day Friday, June 1. That's about a week later than usual, but there's lots to pack in and I want to make as big a sweep as possible. At this point, send items and photos directly to me at rachelpritchett@msn.com or give me a holler at 206-498-0920. Between now and the August newsletter, I'll post items here as I get them so we can stay in touch. Thanks.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Faith leaders invite petition-signing

Diane Armbrust, co-chair of the synod Global Mission Committee, along with the Rev. Paul Benz, development director of Faith Action Network, invite all to sign a petition to sustain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. To learn more, go to www.bread.org. The petition is endorsed by Bread for the World and ELCA World Hunger.

Hear the chiming of the bells

 

 

By Rick Nelson

LONGVIEW — When Ann Trimble heard those bells, she knew she had 
to get involved.

Ann is one of the two mainstay musicians at Stella Lutheran Chapel, located 
up the Germany Creek Valley west of Longview.

It was 25 years ago, and the congregation had just received a two-octave 
set of handbells from a member as a memorial. Another church musician 
arranged to have a touring bell choir from California perform a concert at the 
chapel, and the music carried Ann away. 

"I thought, 'Gosh!,' when I heard those bells," she said before the start of a 
recent rehearsal. "I thought it was so beautiful that I had to be involved."

Other congregation members agreed, and they started a choir with Ann 
directing. However, none of them had any experience in performing bell music. 
There were other bell choirs in the area, and she playing with one at St. 
Stephen's Episcopal Church in Longview to learn the ropes. 

"I was one step ahead of the rest of our choir," she said. 

Twenty-five years later, the choir has 14 members ranging from 12 to 75 years 
in age. From October through May, they practice almost weekly, performing 
concerts at the chapel and in the lower Columbia area.

Patti Lamb is the senior member with 18 years in the choir. 

"The music keeps me going," she said. "This is the most unique musical 
experience I've ever been part of."

In her first year with the bell choir, Laura McCartney is the newest 
member. She has impressed her colleagues by learning to play eight bells 
and four chimes in less than a year. She practices almost daily at home, 
reading the musical notation and spoons or other implements to imitate 
the bells.

John Koehler also works on the music at home, using YouTube. 

"You can find many of our songs on the Internet," he said. "You can learn 
what the music sounds like."

When the choir first formed, there wasn't a wide selection of music for 
handbells, Ann said. However that changed quickly because there was 
a surge in bell-choir popularity.

"The number of choirs took off, and church music composers found they 
could write for them," Ann said. "Now we have music that covers seven 
octaves of bells and four of chimes."The music can be complicated and 
challenging. At times the scores look like stacks of notes, and the performers 
have to have perfect timing to get it right. "It's hard for new people to learn," 
Ann said. The choir has three children, but they come from a musical family 
and all play other instruments in symphonies. 

"It's a percussion thing," Ann added. "It's a team. You have to have teamwork."

During its year, the choir performs almost monthly at worship services in the 
chapel. During the Christmas season, they perform in churches, care centers 
and other venues in the Longview/Kelso area and usually receive free-will 
offerings for those performances. Those offerings and a Mother's Day Concert 
and Brunch at the chapel make the choir financially self-sufficient. 

The choir attends conferences of handbell ringers where they hear 
performances, learn techniques, and visit with the composers of the music 
they play. They've been rehearsing a program for the 2012 Area 10 Handbell 
Conference in Tacoma. They're working on some compositions technically 
rated a bit higher than what they normally play, but they love the music.

"You can't overstate the music that Ann chooses," said Melissa Wilkie. 
"It's so varied and interesting."  

Rick Nelson is a member of the Stella Lutheran Chapel congregation and 
the Southwestern Washington Synod Council. He also is editor and 
publisher of the Wahkiakum County Eagle.

Pictured: The handbell choir of Stella Lutheran Chapel, and handbells 
and chimes are ready to sound. Photos by Rick Nelson

Dispatches from the assembly: Hofstad announces he will not seek third term

All assembly dispatches by Rachel Pritchett, communicator

In his report to the assembly, Bishop Robert D. Hofstad announced he will not seek a third term.

"This has been a difficult decision," he said, adding he seeks to spend more time with family.

Next year, the assembly will chose a new bishop, and by then Hofstad will have served 12 years in that post, and 17 years total in the synod office.

He urged listeners to remember the Eight Commandment, which prohibits bearing false witness against a neighbor.

He said that in congregations with division and conflict, it only takes one brave person to turn things around.

And he said the poor will always be with us.

"Concern and care for the poor is a constant and never-ending struggle," he said.

The bishop lifted up the new worshiping communities begun during his tenure. They include Living Stones Prison Ministry at Shelton; Light of Grace, which offers worships to Koreans in Federal Way; the north-campus ministry at Messiah Lutheran Church of Vancouver; Peace Lutheran Fellowship of Port Ludlow; Federal Way Chinese Fellowship; and two federated Lutheran/Episcopalian groups, St. Christopher's Community Church near Olympia and Faith Community Church of Kingston. 

Another new worshiping group will begin next year in Tacoma.

"Starting new congregations is simply what we do," he said.

Dispatches from the assembly: David and Barbara Swartling, on living the whole life of Christian vocation

Submarine officer, Seattle attorney and now secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, assembly speaker David Swartling said of his many-faceted career, "It's been a journey over time, a journey of self-reflection."

He drew on the Apostles' Creed to describe surfacing during lonely trips across the Pacific, in the middle of the night and spotting dolphins gliding alongside, a scene that took his breath away.

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and Earth." 

Remembering 100 crew members crammed on a small sub, he drew on First Corinthians 1:12, which speaks of people bringing their different talents to the same goal of Christ.

"Everyone has different gifts," he said.

And the anchor symbolizing "hope secure in God."

Looking back at his lawyer years, Swartling said that for him, Christian vocation means more than getting the work done but instead is three-dimensional. It means creating relationship with co-workers, family and community, always striving to relieve burden.

"Vocation is about living the whole life," said Swartling, who relocated to Chicago with wife Barbara from Bainbridge Island, Wash., when he became ELCA secretary.

Barbara Swartling, a former banking executive, is the executive director of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA, and invited women to consider serving God through service as a deaconess. More about ELCA deaconesses can be found at www.elca.org/deaconess.

Dispatches from the assembly: Resolution concerning marriage equality approved

Readers,

I am reposting this resolution passed May 18 by voting members of the Southwestern Washington Synod assembly. An earlier version of the resolution posted here was an incorrect version of what was passed. Pictured above is the vote. Following the text are some quotations picked up from the debate. — Rachel Pritchett, communicator, 206-498-0920

_________________________

RESOLVED, that the Southwestern Washington Synod, meeting in Assembly:

1. Calls upon the bishop, staff, pastors and congregation members of the Southwestern Washington Synod to provide full support insofar as it is consistent with their conscience-bound beliefs to pastors and congregations where same-gender couples are married.

2. Calls upon congregations and members of this synod to welcome, care for, and support same-gender couples and their families and to advocate for their legal protection.

_________________________

Some quotations in the debate:

"For me it has to do with my kids." I'm the father of two gay children." — Rick Nelson of Stella Chapel of Longview

"We wanted to stand with them and provide full pastoral care for them." — the Rev. John Rosenberg of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia, on his congregation's decision in 2009 to become a reconciling church

"This feels like showing me the door." — the Rev. Kristi Kreamer of Christ Lutheran Church of Lakewood, saying she is struggling to remain in a synod where there is no room for an orthodox viewpoint

Dispatches from the assembly: Read more in the next newsletter

Below is a summary of the events taking place at the 25th Annual Assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod. This and more will be in the upcoming combined June/July Moments for Mission synod newsletter, to be sent out and posted the first week of June. Contact me or the synod office if you are not receiving the newsletter and would like to. Coming also in that publication is the Bishop's Report, during which Robert D. Hofstad announces he will not seek another term, and also a stirring address from David Swartling, secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a keynoter at the assembly. — Rachel Pritchett, communicator, rachelpritchett@msn.com, 206-498-0920

Dispatches from the assembly: Additional resolutions

Voting members also approved these resolutions:

Biennial Synod Assembly Resolution
WHEREAS, annual Synod Assemblies pose financial hardships on congregations and the Synod, and
WHEREAS, the Synod Constitution allows for at least a biennial assembly, S7.11. A regular meeting of the Synod Assembly shall be held at least biennially.], be it
RESOLVED, that the Southwestern Washington Synod amend the Synod Constitution by deleting bylaw S7.11.01, which reads “Meetings of the Synod Assembly shall be at least annually.” in order to allow the Synod to hold Synod Assemblies at least biennially.
— Submitted by the South Sound Conference of the Southwestern Washington Synod

Support of the ELCA Malaria Campaign Resolution
WHEREAS, malaria is a disease of poverty that kills over 800,000 people a year in Africa and one child dies every 45 seconds from this preventable disease; and
WHEREAS, our Lutheran tradition has been to reach out and respond to God’s graciousness by working for positive change through helping to bring health, justice and hope to people who are in need; and
WHEREAS, the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly overwhelmingly approved the ELCA Malaria Campaign, an effort to raise $15 million by the year 2015 and to work directly with 11 church bodies in Africa to prevent and treat malaria and to contain the number of deaths in Africa related to malaria through prayer, advocacy, education and fundraising; and
WHEREAS, throughout history women have been change-makers in the global church and have worked for justice and health for women and children around the world, and
WHEREAS, as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of Women of the ELCA, 50 percent of their special anniversary appeal offerings will go directly to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that we commit ourselves as individuals and congregations in the Southwestern Washington Synod to continue as partners in the healing ministry of Jesus by preventing and treating malaria through prayer, advocacy, education and fundraising, and; be it further
RESOLVED, that the Southwestern Washington Synod Women of the ELCA, the Global Mission Committee and 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.
— Submitted by the Synod Hunger Committee, the Synod Global Mission Committee, Synod Women of the ELCA

Electronic Notification for Congregations Resolution
WHEREAS, delivery of documents and notification of meetings can be effectively accomplished at lower economic and environmental cost by email and other electronic means; and
WHEREAS, an increasing proportion of congregation members prefer to receive documents and notification via email and other electronic means; and
WHEREAS, the Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America requires at *C6.05, *C16.03, *C17.01, and *C17.04 and recommends at C10.03 that documents and notifications be provided by mail; and
WHEREAS, the Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America makes no provision for providing such notifications and documents by email or other electronic means; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Church Council’s Executive Committee should prepare and recommend to the Churchwide Assembly modifications to the Model Constitution for Congregations that would allow for prudent use of email and other electronic means to provide notice and documents to congregational members; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly direct the Southwestern Washington Synod Council to forward this resolution to the Church Council's Executive
Committee for proper referral and disposition under the bylaws and continuing resolutions of this church.

— Submitted by Keith Folkerts, secretary representing First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard

Dispatches from the assembly: Voting members select new leaders

Voting members of the 25th annual assembly voted the following people into leadership positions. Some were new, and others were re-elected:

Synod Council Vice President
Paul Upgrande

Synod Council
Rick Nelson
Ann Cummings
Darcy Huffman
Kathryn Nelson
Monica Hurley
Rev. Pam Hunter

Synod Consultation Committee
Rev. Martha Maier
Robert Harley
Rev. Mary Davison
Mary Keil
Vic Boyer
George Leone

Synod Discipline Committee
Rev. Steven Ray
Gerald Larson
Rev. Mary Sanders

Synod Nominating Committee
Nan Larson
Rev. Nina Body
Rev. Mark Woldseth

Pacific Lutheran University Member Representatives
Ellen Leapaldt
Ed Brannfors
Rev. Kim Latterell
John Anderson
Rev. Rebecca Shjerven
Allen Brooks
Rev. Richard Knutzen
James Reddick
Rev. Jonathan Sansgaard
Rev. Nina Body

2013 Churchwide Voting Members
Rev. Carol Plummer
Karen Haas
Leslie Woldseth
Rev. Linda Milks
Alex Lund
Thomas Siburg

Dispatches from the assembly: Hushagen receives Bishop's Award

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Jim Hushagen, outgoing vice president of the Southwestern Washington Synod, was this year's recipient of the Bishop's Award.

The longtime business attorney at the Tacoma law firm Eisenhower Carlson also has spent many years  doing work for Lutheran causes, usually for free.

Besides serving seven years as the top lay leader of the synod, Hushagen has been "the voice of the member" on the Thrivent Financial for Lutheran board for many years. As a regent for Pacific Lutheran University, he recently chaired the search committee for a new president, making sure Thomas Krise had the right skill set for Lutheran higher education as it plays out at PLU.

He helped improve the finances and rose the visibility of Lutheran Summer Music, a nationwide training academy for talented young church musicians.

With the synod, he steadfastly stood alongside Bishop Robert D. Hostad in steering the synod through good and hard times.

As pro bono attorney for Holden Village, he is working on the legal end of a $100 million environmental remediation to start soon.

Hushagen worships at Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood, where Rev. John Vaswig said, “Whether playing the guitar in the band or singing in the choir or serving on a national board or attending a men’s breakfast group, Jim is simply an involved guy viewing church as anything but a spectator sport.”

Bishop Robert D. Hofstad said Hushagen is the personification of the assembly's theme, "Sunday Worship Meets Monday Work."

Hushagen said he was humbled by the award.

Cutline: Outgoing synod Vice President Jim Hushagen relaxes in his office at Eisenhower Carlson in Tacoma.

Dispatches from the assembly: Odds and ends

Sometime one parliamentarian isn't enough: During assembly consideration of resolutions, churchwide Secretary David Swartling, second from left, and Scott Elerby, third from left, review the rules as Jim Hushagen, left, and Bishop Robert D. Hofstad await their decision.

They came: About 260 people attended the assembly

$5,000 raised: Between just one offering and a raffled, attendees at the assembly contributed $5,000, to be split between Living Stones Prison Ministry at Shelton and the Malaria Campaign of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Dispatches from the assembly: Here were a couple of workshops

A congregation is transformed in evangelism
In one of the many workshops at the assembly, the Rev. Dan Wilson and leaders of Hope Lutheran Church of Enumclaw told how they stared the uncomfortable subject of evangelism in the face and didn't blink.

The Hope congregation undertook the extensive "Unbinding Your Heart" program for renewed evangelism based on the books by the Rev. Martha Grace Reese, and emerged a transformed and energized congregation than ever before, Wilson said.

The months-long process began by members preparing themselves for evangelism by getting to know each other in new settings. Rather than the usual church cliques, new groups were set up, and members found themselves having dinner with others they may never have even spoken to. New prayer partners prayed unceasingly.

"The barriers had been dropped," Wilson said. "It takes you out of yourself."

At the end, 14 new members joined. But Wilson said the goal wasn't new members; it was transformation and the by-product was growth.

Wilson said to give this process a try. He'll help. Contact him at 360-825-4120 or hloffice@skynetbb.com.

Holden Village on cusp of major environmental remediation
Synod Council member and Holden Village development team member Monica Hurley encouraged workshop participants to come enjoy Holden Village, the Lutheran retreat in the hills above Lake Chelan.

It's a contemplative place, she said, were people come to gain "some deep understanding of where their future is going."

Holden pro bono attorney Jim Hushagen explained that the former copper-mining camp soon will enter a $100 million environmental remediation to stem toxic by-products from the mining from leaching into a nearby river.

The work will begin soon, be in full swing in 2013, and be completed by 2014, he said.
To learn more, visit www.holdenvillage.org.

Pictured: The Rev. Dan Wilson explains the transformation of his congregation and invites others to learn more.

Monica Hurley explains that Holden Village is a place where visitors get back to basics.

A silhouetted trio leads the workshop in worship. Left to right are Jim Hushagen, Elise Erickson and Monica Hurley.

Dispatches from the assembly: Gregoire/Hofstad conversation featured

Gov. Christine Gregoire's extraordinary conversation with Bishop Robert D. Hofstad was featured on the cover of the Saturday Columbian newspaper of Vancouver.

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/18/gregoire-visits-vancouver-discusses-her-faith/

Rick Nelson of Stella Chapel recorded the conversation, and for those who want a copy, please let me know.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Dispatches from the assembly: 2013 budget approved

VANCOUVER, Wash. — In his last budget address after eight years of service, outgoing synod Treasurer Andreas Udbye announced the synod's budget now has slipped beneath the $1 million mark.

"This is sort of a steady drain here," he said.

Nonetheless, voting members approved a a $970,000 budget for next year, a $10,000 increase from the current budget.

Andreas blamed four years of decline on three factors — a slumping economy, demographics that show aging among church members, and the 2009 churchwide sexuality vote.

Benevolences from congregations to the synod and churchwide now are at 1989 levels.

Despite that, the synod has been able to maintain staffing, though furloughs are still in effect.
And the synod will raise its giving to churchwide from 39.5 percent to 40 percent next year.

In addition, the synod has been able to continue support for a prison ministry at Shelton, and back partnering ministries such as seminaries and Pacific Lutheran University.

Dispatches from the assembly: 'Occupation' only part of 'vocation'

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Continuing on the assembly's theme of "Sunday Faith Meets Monday Worship," Bishop Robert D. Hofstad said during a  Bible study that our occupations are only a portion of our vocations.

Drawing from the seventh chapter of Corinthians 1, the bishop said we are called to many offices simultaneously.

Besides employee, they may be wife, mother, daughter, cousin, neighbor, co-worker, and child of God.

True vocation, he said, is a "juggling act," and we are constantly honoring and dishonoring each other in our vocations as we fall short of expectations.

"We'll never really be able to honor our vocation in the best way we can," he said.

The bishop suggested listeners look at their own vocation and its multiple offices and prioritize.

"And ask the question, 'Am I really dealing with the need of the people around me?' "

"Does this free you up?"

Dispatches from the assembly: The Columbia at dawn

 

 

Readers,

Here are some images from along the Columbia River in downtown Vancouver, taken at 6:30 a.m. May 19.

Top to bottom:
The Interstate 5 bridge connecting Washington to Oregon

Early-morning anglers

A straightaway out to sea

The Vancouver Hilton, site of the assembly

— Rachel Pritchett

Dispatches from assembly: The opening

Bishop Robert D. Hofstad opens the 25th annual assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on May 18 in Vancouver, Wash. Some 225 people attended.

Dispatches from assembly: Swartlings featured in assembly

David and Barbara Swartling each brought their own message to the Southwestern Washington Synod assembly on May 18 and 19 in Vancouver. 

David Swartling as keynoter talked about finding God weekdays during his multifaceted career as a navy officer, lawyer and secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, his current position.

Barbara Swartling, a former banker, is the executive director of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA, and gave the gathering an update and invitation to come join the community. 

The former Bainbridge Island residents enjoyed a few moments in a park outside the Vancouver Hilton. A future story will have more.

Dispatches from assembly: In rare address, governor shares personal sense of faith

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Gov. Chris Gregoire, in a rare sharing of how she draws on faith to lead a state, told the 25th assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod her most difficult dilemmas were in capital punishment and endorsing gay marriage.

The theme of the assembly was "Sunday Worship Meets Monday Work."

In her seven years as governor, the devout Roman Catholic allowed the death penalty for one murderer to proceed, a decision she said will dwell with her for the rest of her life.

She said the day she announced her support for gay marriage was a "weight lifted off my shoulders." Regardless of personal opinion on the issue, she has come to the conclusion that it's the responsibility of a faith-based public leader "to respect everybody."

"It has been a journey for me," Gregoire said.

She called on prayer every step of the way. She prayed for the murderer's victim and her family, and for the murderer and his family.

She and husband Mike were young during the Vietnam War, so today she prays for the families of fallen warriors, as well as for fallen law-enforcement officers. The couple attend every funeral, of which she said there are far too many.

She grew up in Auburn, the daughter of a single mother who worked as a short-order cook.

She couldn't find a teacher's job after graduating from the University of Washington, so went to work as a typist for the state Department of Corrections in Seattle's high-crime Central Area.

During those early years, she helped a convict exiting prison learn simple daily tasks such as getting a bus pass. He eventually became a probation officer and just retired after decades of service. From that, she learned how to give people a chance.

She taught baseball and swimming to a disabled cousin. He lived to age 60, instead of the predicted age 30. She learned never to give up on people.

As a caseworker for the state Department of Social and Health Services, she watched medics refuse to help one of her clients who had suffered a stroke, because the woman didn't have a Medicaid card. Gregoire learned about limited access to health care.

"Everywhere along my life there have been stories like that."

She concluded with a challenge to her listeners to serve in public office.

"It's service first, leadership second. We need folks like you."

Dispatches from assembly: Quotes from Day 1

"My faith at Mass on Sunday is all throughout my life."

— Gov. Chris Gregoire, a devout Roman Catholic and keynoter at the 25th anniversary of the Southwestern Washington Synod assembly

"If you don't see yourself first as a servant, I don't see how you can lead."
— Gov. Chris Gregoire 

"It has been a journey for me,"
— Gov. Gregoire, on grappling with the gay marriage issue over time

In opening remarks, Gov. Chris Gregoire remarks this isn't her usual audience: "Thank God it's not the Washington State Legislature." To which Bishop Robert D. Hofstad replies: "I give thanks for that, too."

Dispatches from assembly: Gregoire delivers hearthelt message

In a rare speech, Gov. Chris Gregiore her leadership comes in the greater context of service to God. She didn't dodge tough subjects like gay marriage, and shared her personal insights. My story is coming. Here are some photos; thank you Rick Nelson, publisher of the Wahkiakum County Eagle, member of Stella Chapel down this way and also of the synod council.  — Rachel Pritchett

Interested in the assembly, but not going?

Readers,

The 25th annual assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod featuring Gov. Christine Gregoire  takes place Friday and Saturday at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St..

I will be posting stories and photos continually here as we work through the assembly, so check in a few times during both days, and you're certain to find something new.

The theme is "Sunday Worship Meets Monday Work," and the outgoing governor, a devout Roman Catholic, will give a rare personal glimpse into her life as she interprets the theme.

She speaks at 10:15 a.m. Friday for 30 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of give-and-take dialog between her and Bishop Robert D. Hofstad.

It should be a very interesting time, and if you have any special requests of something you'd like to see covered, contact me this week. 

If I remember right, the last time the assembly was here there was a great farmers' market going on close to the hotel, and we really enjoyed our post-assembly time there. I hope to do the same this year.

I'll see you in Vancouver.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Is your heart heavy on Mother’s Day? An invitation

This invitation comes today from Carmen Ode, administrative assistant at Messiah Lutheran Church of Auburn:

Is your heart heavy on Mother's Day?

We care about your heart. We care about your hidden hurt. And it would be an honor to walk alongside you. On Mother’s Day, Messiah Lutheran Church wants to provide a special time of reflection and prayer for you.

Whether you grieve the loss of a relationship with your mother, battle infertility, lost a child or just want so badly to be a mother – whatever it is that makes this day bittersweet, we invite you to reflect, talk and pray.

Join us in Pastor Eric Wooldridge's office at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday for a special time of reflection, encouragement, prayer, counseling and remembrance. Meet other women and men who share your pain. Or simply come and sit quietly with God. We believe that God has a purpose for pain, joy and change in your life, and we can help you find that purpose. 

Messiah is at 410 H St. NE in Auburn. 

Also, the ELCA suggests making a gift to help mothers around the world. Go to:

https://community.elca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=607

Happy Mother's Day,

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Faith Community Church holds first worship service

 

 

KINGSTON — Faith Community Church, a federated Lutheran/Episcopal group, met for the first time in worship Sunday, May 6, in a small theater a few steps from the ferry dock in downtown Kingston.

It is the newest synodically authorized worshiping community of the Southwestern Washington Synod. About 20 people worshiped. 

On hand to mark the occasion was the Rev. Joe and Claudia Wagner of Peace Lutheran Fellowship of Port Ludlow, communicator Rachel Pritchett and others representing the Lutheran faith.

The small congregation is led by the Rev. Ray Sheldon.
 

The ELCA until now has had no presence on the north end of the Kitsap Peninsula, with the nearest church being First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo. The area is growing in population. 

The former Faith Episcopal Church has been meeting for a number of years in a nearby Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, flooded and heavily damaged last winter. 

The new worship group is the result of an effort by the synod and the Rev. Melanie Wallschlaeger and the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, as well as other church leaders in the area who have lended their support in planning, including the Rev. Kent Shane of First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo.

The Rev. Sheldon said he looks forward to growing the new federated church.

Pictured top to bottom:

From left to right, the Rev. Joe and Claudia Wagner, the REv. Sonjy Selboe from Bethany Lutheran Church of Bainbridge Island, and the Rev. Ray and Jere Sheldon.

Worshipers have built by hand an altar for the service, which takes place in the Firehouse Theater in downtown Kingston.

Members of the former Faith Episcopal Church formerly met in this nearby VFW hall for many years. They will use the sanctuary there now as a chapel, and fellowship takes place in the hall as well, which has now been repaired.

Washington no longer dead last for church-goers

 Readers,

Tacoma News Tribune reporter Steve Maynard has a story today about how Washington no longer is the dead-last state in the nation for unchurched residents. It's moved all the way up to 45th place. Steve's story is at:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/01/2127723/new-study-washington-ranks-45th.html

Rachel Pritchett