Arrive early for Reformation Sunday HymnFest

Music lovers,

I can guarantee you that if you don't arrive early for the 22nd annual Reformation Sunday HymnFest this Sunday, Oct. 28, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tacoma, you will be sitting in the back or out in the narthex, and parking will be a challenge.

It's worth arriving early to the event that has performers of all kinds taking on sacred and secular favorites. Bring your singing voice. It begins at 3 p.m. and is free, with an offering to distribute among performers. A reception follows at Gloria Dei's Goldenman Social Hall.

The church is at 3315 19th St., Tacoma.

See you there.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Byberg preaching workshop coming in January

The Rev. Dr. Terence Fretheim of Luther Seminary will be the presenter at the 2013 Byberg Preaching Workshop, to take place Jan. 14 to 16 at Cannon Beach, Ore. Fretheim will address "Preaching and the God of the Old Testament."

Joining him will be the Rev. Rick Jaech of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Vancouver, Wash., who will talk on "Preaching in a Context of Conflict."

Worship, learning, connections, good food and walks on the beach are part of it all. Registration brochures have been mailed, and pastors are encouraged to invite interns and ecumenical colleagues. For more information, visit www.bybergpreaching.org.

Coming in The Lutheran in November

Readers,

Pacific Lutheran University's global-studies program is featured in the November issue of The Lutheran, which includes its annual look at higher education.

I look at how it's become part of PLU's DNA since 9/11, as well as future challenges and changes PLU has in its delivery of programs. 

One thing we'll see at PLU and already are seeing at places like California Lutheran University is providing the study-away experience at home to students who can't go abroad, due to cost. That happens through finding opportunities for learning and service in local immigrant communities. 

We can also anticipate PLU and Region 1 synods perhaps beginning the conversation about meshing synod companion relationships with university study-away programs, to some extent.

Charles Bergman, PLU educator and study-away pioneer, is featured in my piece. Chuck takes students to Antarctica during J-term.

Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Lutefisk, bazaar, all in one

Christ the King Lutheran Church of Sumner invites all to its annual lutefisk dinner, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. A complete lutefisk dinner is a bargain at $20. A complete meatball dinner with no lutefisk costs $15, and kids 10 and young get fed for $10. 

Further enticement is the congregation's annual bazaar, going on from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the same day. To find out more or to see if reservations are required, phone the church at 253-863-1142. Christ the King Lutheran Church is at 245 Valley Ave. — RP

Here's a story about Poulsbo and lutefisk ...

They have a solid sense of humor in Poulsbo, which allowed me to write this piece for the Kitsap Sun, appearing today, Sunday:

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/oct/13/one-hundred-years-of-lutefisk/?partner=popular

Rachel Pritchett

Lutefisk, lutefisk, lutefisk

Here's an archival photo of the First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo's annual fall lutefisk dinner, biggest in the region. Left to right, Lenore Ley, LeAnn Mong and Pat Edgren serve Simon Simonsen in the 1960s when the church held the event in its old social hall. This year marks the 100th anniverary of event. It takes place Oct. 20 from 11:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $23 for adults, and $5 for children. Contact the church at 360-779-2622.

Jaech: Examining story behind church conflict can lead to resolution

By Rachel Pritchett

BREMERTON — Conflict isn't a failure in a congregation. 

Rather, it's a naturally occurring element that arises out the variety of viewpoints, talents and values that exist among congregation members. Given the tools to work through their conflicts, a congregation will grow and flourish to a new level. 

That comforting news was delivered by longtime conflict-resolution consultant Rick Jaech, pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Vancouver, who conducted the first of three workshops throughout the synod Oct. 6 in Bremerton. 

Jaech's message was meant both for pastors and church leaders entrusted to facilitate parties in a conflict to reach a satisfying outcome. He outlined the steps from his new book, "Transforming Church Conflict: A Guide for Pastors and Leaders."  Rather than let a conflict escalate or drive people apart, a key step is to bring people together to talk to each other with “respectful curiosity” about what has happened. 

 

Using a framework from the book “Crucial Conversations” by Kerry Patterson, Pastor Jaech outlined for the group of eight local pastors and leaders the four steps that often lead to misunderstanding and conflict: 1) We see or hear something done or said to us by another person; 2) We tell ourselves a story that interprets what we just witnessed; 3) We feel an emotion based on that story; and 4) We act on those feelings, often by withdrawing or attacking. 

He gave an example: Ron and Megan share a church classroom, she during the week for an art class, and he for Sunday school. One Sunday, he finds the room cluttered with drying paintings and art tools scattered across the tables. His class is 10 minutes late as he cleans up.  

Ron creates a story in his head: Megan is rude, self-centered and places her work above his. He feels frustration, anger and exasperation. He avoids her at coffee hour, with nothing more than a dismissive greeting. 

A successful resolution to a conflict usually means going back and examining the story Ron put in his mind and inviting respectful dialog.  "A lot of the time, we're telling the wrong story; it's not their true story," Jaech said. Megan may not have understood the demands on the room. She may have had to rush off for a family concern. 

This is where dialogue with “respectful curiosity” becomes crucial. Ron can say to Megan, "I'm curious about what happened. I'd really like to talk about it and hear your side of the story."  

Facilitators often will have to slow down the conversation, to help all sides go back and unfold the real story. Discovery on both sides takes place, unity is found and a bigger solution than either Ron or Megan thought of is arrived at. 

Jaech's book costs $15, and is available by contacting him at rick@rickjaech.com.  He also offers a blog site at transformingchurchconflict.com .

Jaech has two more workshops in the series. The next one is Oct. 13 at Lutheran Church of Christ the King of Tacoma, at 1710 85th St. E. The final workshop is Nov. 10 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia, 1601 North St. SE.  

Blessing of the Animals

 

"Whenever a fish was caught and Francis was nearby, he would return the fish to the water, warning it not to be caught again. On several occasions the fish would linger awhile near the boat, listening to Francis preach, until he gave them permission to leave. Then they would swim off. In every work of art, as St. Francis called all creation, he would praise the artist, our loving Creator."

— the Rev. Ray Sheldon, quoting John Bookster Feister in his writings about St. Francis of Assisi, during a Blessing of the Animals ceremony Oct. 7 at Faith Community Church. Faith is a new synodically authorized worshiping community in Kingston. The ceremony was one of many in our synod this Sunday recognizing the role animals play in our lives.

Pictured are Faith member Frank Toth with Buster the cat, top, and the Rev. Sheldon, with Sammy the dog.

Invitation to installation

Christ Lutheran Church of Belfair invites you to the Service of Installation for

The Reverend Julie A. Kanarr

Called to serve as pastor of

Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA)

3701 NE North Shore Road

Belfair, Washington

Saturday, November 3, 2012

3:00 p.m.

light buffet reception to follow

Clergy are invited to vest (color of the day is green)

Directions to the church are available on our website:

www.christlutheranbelfair.org

church office phone:  (360) 275-3354

People

Andrew Suhr is Messiah Lutheran Church of Vancouver's new pastoral intern. He will serve one year as part of his training at Luther Seminary. He comes with wife Patti.

Kim Clevenger is the new youth-and-family program coordinator at Holy Trinity of Port Angeles.

Kerri Greenaway, administrative manager at Peace Lutheran Church of Tacoma, has been selected as part of a "Plunge" group of young adults 18 to 29 that will experience the global faith community at the ecumenical cneters in Geneva, Switzerland, and Taize, France, next spring. The sojourn is sponsored by the Northeastern Iowa Synod of the ELCA and the ELCA's counterpart in Canada.

Youth: Mark your calendars for these upcoming events

Young people can mark their calendars for these fun and inspiring events coming up in 2013 sponsored by the synod's Youth Committee or ALYVE Board. By the way, if you don't know, ALYVE stands for Associated Lutheran Youth in Various Endeavors. — RP

Here's what's coming:

Jan. 25 to 28: ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza, Anaheim, Calif.; for adults who serve in children, youth and family ministry; theme is Faith Formation in a Missional Age; http://www.elcaymnet.org/Extravaganza; contact Paul Davis at pauldavis@pflc.org for scholarship information.

March 5 to 7: 21st Century Faith Formation Event led by John Roberto; for youth leaders; Red Lion Inn near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; contact Paul Davis at pauldavis@pflc.org for more information, including scholarships.

March 15 to 17: Synod Youth Gathering; for youth in sixth to 12th grades; Camp Berachah of Auburn; $130; contact Katie VanBeek at k.vanbeek@plcplace.com.

April 12 to 13: Fool's Night Out Lock-Out; for youth in eighth to 12th grades in the Evergreen, Mount Rainier, Tacoma Narrows/Southwest and South Sound conferences; contact Ingelaurie Lisher at ingelaurie@smlutheran.org.

May 4: Synod Youth Service Day; for youth in sixth to 12th grades, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in three synod locations; $15; contact Ingelaurie Lisher at ingelaurie@smlutheran.org.
June 7: Youth Convocation; noon to 4 p.m., Hotel Murano Tacoma; contact Katie VanBeek at k.vanbeek@plcplace.com.

Pictured: Katie VanBeek, Member ALYVE Board and Synod Youth Committee

Don't miss 'Global Stories: From Trip to Pilgrimage'

By Rachel Pritchett

What turns a trip into a pilgrimage? Presenters will take up that topic at the all-day event "Global Stories: From Trip to Pilgrimage" taking place Nov. 10 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows in Tacoma.

The Rev. Dave Ellingson, professor of children, youth and family studies at Trinity Lutheran College, will give an account of his amazing 2,350-mile paddle down the Mississippi River last summer to the ELCA Youth Extravaganza in New Orleans. He'll share relationships he forged with people on the shore he met along the way.

The Rev. Jan Ruud of St. Mark's will reveal what he discovered through his own pilgrimages in France, Spain, Greece, California and the even the inner city streets of Vancouver, B.C. 
 
Ruud also will help enable listeners to find spiritual renewal through their own pilgrimages.
Lyle Morse, husband of the Rev. Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop, will give a presentation about how the couple represented the synod in a visit in May to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia. 

And, youth from Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood will share about the relationships they forged during work in Appalachia in July.

The event, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. also will include worship, time for fellowship and lunch. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The suggested donation of $10 will be split equally between support for the ELCA's campaign to battle malaria and the synod's companion relationship in Namibia.

The church is at 6730 North 17th St. No advance registration is necessary. the even is organization by the synod's Global Mission Committee. Contact Ed and Diane Armbrust at dparmbrust@hotmail.com for more information.

Pictured: Ellingson on the Mississippi

Upcoming events

 

Poulsbo lutefisk celebrates 100th anniversary
The Northwest's oldest and largest lutefisk celebration each October at First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo is always big new. But this year, the event that draws as many as 1,500 lovers of the specially prepared delicacy marks its 100th anniversary. 

The hard workers of the congregation who spend days preparing the cod, peeling potatoes, making meatballs, rolling lefse and finessing krumkake invite all lover of lutefisk to the giant celebration that routinely draws hungry eaters from as far away as the desert southwest. It takes place from 11:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct 20 at the Christian Center at the church, at 18920 Fourth Ave., Poulsbo. Seatings are every 20 minutes. For adults, the cost is $23, and for kids, it's $5. Proceeds benefit Martha & Mary, a local nursing home. 

Pictured are Margaret Smaaladen, left, who has organized the event for many years with Gorden Stenman, and friends. Continual entertainment, including Norwegian dancers, will be provided. As always, but especially this year in commemoration of hitting the century mark, it's all you can eat. Contact the church for reservation information at 360-779-7202 or at www.poulsbo-lutefisk.com.

Lutheran college fair coming
Representatives of many of the ELCA's 26 colleges and universities, along with some in Canada, will conduct a college fair from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 at Messiah Lutheran Church of Auburn, 410 H St. NE. A financial aid discussion will be included, along with a reception at the fair hosted by the colleges, which remain committed to providing affordable college in tough economic times. More information is at utherancolleges.org/college-fairs/.
Also, the Office of Congregation Relations at Pacific Lutheran University of Tacoma is asking congregations to lift up the university on Sunday, Feb. 24, by designating the days as PLU Sunday. To register, call 253-535-7424 or go to www.plu.edu/congregations.
 
Reformation Sunday hymn fest in offing
Again this year, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma is the site for the popular 22nd annual Reformation Sunday HymnFest, this year taking place on Oct. 28.
Soloists, choirs and instrumental musical artists all will be on hand for a celebrat that begins at 3 p.m. Attendees will have plenty of opportunity to sing along, as well. A reception will take place afterward in Goldenman Social Hall. A free-will offering will be taken to offset musician expenses. The church is at 3315 19th St., Tacoma.

Workshop set for Good Shepherd
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia will be the site of a Nov. 3 workshop exploring the issue of congregations and Christians with alternative sexual identities. The workshop takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fee is $25. Registration, by Oct. 19, is at www.welcomingresources.org/communityorg.htm.

Westphal to host gathering to support missionaries
The Rev. Lanny Westphal of the ELCA Global Mission will host a gathering for ELCA missionary sponsors from 3 to 4 p.m. Nov. 4 at Redeemer Lutheran Church of Fircrest. Participants will see how ELCA missionaries are making a difference around the world, and learn of new developments in missionary sponsorship. The church is at 1001 Princeton Avenue. RSVP to Synod Office Manager Allison Ramsey at 253-535-8300 or swwsynod@plu.edu.
The gathering will precede the synod's annual global-mission event Nov. 10 at St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church in Tacoma. Titled “Global Stories: From Trip to Pilgrimage,” the all-day event offers inspiration and education. Lunch is included. Registration, with a $10 suggested donation, starts at 8:30 a.m. An offering will go equally toward the ELCA initiative to fight malaria, and to the synod's companions in Namibia. St. Mark's is at 6730 North 17th St. Contact Beth Ann Johnson for more at bethannj@mtviewcc.org.

Pastoral discernment workshops scheduled
Pastors and professional church worker seeking deeper discernment into their ministries are invited to an upcoming Crossroads Vocational Discernment/Transition Seminar in Seattle. It takes place Nov. 15 to 17 at the Lutheran Campus Center at the University of Washington. Seminar participants will explore personal future directions, potential transitions and next chapters in life and work, according to the Rev. Phil Streufert of Consultation to Clergy, sponsor of the session. To learn more, contact Streufert in the Consultation to Clergy office in Seattle at 206-623-8193.

Calendar

Contact the synod office for detail.

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

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

Oct. 19: Region 1 Governing Council

Oct. 26 to 27: Synod Council Retreat, Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way

Oct. 26 to 27: Faith Action Network retreat on hunger, poverty and the environment, Lazy F Camp, Ellensburg

Nov. 2: 1,000 Mission Friends phone-a-thon

Nov. 4: Missionary support event, Redeemer, Tacoma

Nov. 15 to 16: Pastoral discernment, Seattle

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

Dec. 8: Faith Action Network annual awards dinner, Seattle

Jan. 22, 2013: Prayer Retreat preceding Bishop’s Convocation, Seabeck Conference Center

Jan. 22 to 23: Bishop’s Convocation, Seabeck Conference Center

June 7 to 8, 2013: Assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod, Hotel Murano Tacoma

June 21 to 23: Region 1 gathering of Women of the ELCA featuring Jane Kirkpatrick, Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, Wash., Nancy at 360-740-9543

Items from around the synod, for keeping up

Out of the theater: Faith Community Church, a new synodically authorized worshipping community, no longer is meeting at the FireHouse Theater in Kingston and its leaders are reviewing sites for a new home, including a nearby Methodist church. Lack of lighting inside and lack of parking outside forced the decision of the federated Lutheran/Episcopal congregation that must move from its previous location — a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall — because the hall is being shut down. In a similar move, Messiah of Vancouver is looking for new space for its north-county campus. Lease cost was an issue.

Empowering life: Joan Nelson of Empowering Life, a ministry for helping women exiting prison and their families, has announced that a fall rummage sale in Gig Harbor netted $2,500.

Moves to two services: Moving from three Sunday-morning services to two over the summer proved to be a successful experiment, so Messiah of Vancouver this fall is making the change permanent. Worship times are at 8:30 and 9:45.

A Sunday-afternoon service: St. Paul of Vancouver on Oct. 28 will begin a 4 p.m. afternoon service, more informal and conversational than in the morning.

Blessed pets: Numerous congregations around the synod will bless the dogs, cats, amphibians and reptiles during the first week of October as they remember St. Francis of Assisi and his love for animals, as well as the role animals play in our lives.

110 and counting: St. Paul of Vancouver will celebrate is 110th anniversary in December. Besides a special meal celebration, St. Paul members will share with others what worship and fellowship at St. Paul has meant to them.

75th anniversary: First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard celebrated its 75th anniversary Sept. 29 with a celebration dinner, followed by a visit by Bishop Robert D. Hofstad the following Sunday morning. The church began in 1937 at the corner of Cline Avenue and Dekalb Street, then moved to its present location at 2483 Mitchell Road in 1989.

New winter coat: Grace of Port Townsend is putting a new coat of exterior paint before winter sets in, thanks to the work of many volunteers.

Namibia Task Force allocates funds

The synod’s Namibia Task Force, charged with continuing and building the three-decades-old companion relationship between the synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCIN) in Namibia, has allocated these amounts from its budget to various endeavors in Namibia:

$8,500 in scholarship monies to Oshigambo High School;

$5,000 to ELCIN; and

$3,500 to Paulinum Seminary for computers.

In addition, the task force elected Lyle Morse as its new chairman. He replaces the Rev. D. Randall Faro of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Chehalis, who served in that position for seven years. Morse is the husband of the Rev. Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop. Early discussion is focusing on a 2014 trip to Namibia. For more information, contact Morse at morsevi@plu.edu.

— Rachel Pritchett

Synod Council forming process for electing new bishop

By Rick Nelson, Synod Council member

Members of the Southwestern Washington Synod Council reviewed issues ranging from the bishop-election process to mission starts when it met Sept. 22 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Tacoma.

Bishop Robert D. Hofstad will retire in 2013, and the Rev. Nina Body, chair of the synod Nominating Committee, outlined the process being developed to lead up to the election of a new bishop at the June 2013 synod assembly.

The Synod Council last year asked the Nominating Committee to develop a process to gather information about pastors willing to be candidates for bishop. Pastor Body reported that the committee soon will send an email to congregations to solicit input on what they’d like to see in the next bishop. The committee will present the information at regional talking-post meetings where people may start lifting up names of possible candidates. Possible candidates will be asked to complete a profile; these will be saved for use during the election at the synod assembly.

The election process at the assembly will be under the direction of the synod Elections Committee. The election will be conducted under the normal ecclesiastical election process, with the first ballot being a nominating round. The 2013 assembly will be June 7 to 8 at the Hotel Murano Tacoma.

In other business, the Council authorized assembly coordinator the Rev. Don Fossum to schedule the 2014 assembly at a church or college instead of a hotel convention center. Fossum said this would be a cost-saving measure for the synod. Voting members would be responsible for finding their own lodging for the two-day assembly.

Communitywide blessing of the animals Sunday in Port Orchard

PORT ORCHARD — Several South Kitsap churches will sponsor a "Community Animal Blessing" and pet walk, to begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Port Orchard Marina Park.

Large and small pets are invited to the event sponsored by First Lutheran Community Church, Elim Lutheran Church, St. Bede Episcopal Church, all of Port Orchard, and Spirit of Life Lutheran Church of Olalla.

Participants are invited to bring pet food for a food bank.

For more information, call 360-876-3901 or visit www.firstlutheranpo.com.