Bishop Hofstad's final convocation completed

Pastors from throughout the Southwestern Washington Synod convened in Seabeck in late January for the 2013 Bishop’s Prayer Retreat and Convocation. The opportunity for learning and reflection was the last one Robert D. Hofstad will lead as he prepares to retire from 12 years as bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod. Emotions ran deep. A heartfelt sermon by Assistant to the Bishop Valinda Morse on Jesus’ miracle at Cana drew tears and grateful applause. Pastors laid hands on somber synod staff members whose time serving under Hofstad will end. Clergy discussed gay marriage, with no agreement. Evening bluegrass music by the Revs. Andy Willis and Mark Johnson, and Bekkah Weinberger and Steve Body, lent joy and happiness.

Bishop reflects on four decades of ministry

Bishop Robert D. Hofstad led several sessions of the convocation, sharing what he’s learned from 40 years of ministry. He’s learned to preach forgiveness more directly to listeners’ hearts, he told the pastors. Rather than saying, “You are forgiven,” he now says, “I forgive you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

“It’s how they need to hear it,” he said.

The outgoing bishop also spoke of honoring individuals’ Christian vocation, and he questioned whether he’d done enough of it in four decades.

A person’s Christian vocation is much more than an occupation, he said. Rather, it’s his or her holy calling in life, given in Holy Baptism, be it parent, spouse or volunteer. Christians have many God-honoring ‘offices,’ and at any given time only some are being observed.

“The fact of the matter is we’re always juggling,” he said. 

In remarks about practical ministry, Hofstad asked pastors whether they were using too much “territorial protectionism” in their work. It’s not uncommon to have pastors who feel they need to lead every meeting and make every decision.

“We simply want to be the very one who make the decisions,” said Hofstad, admitting he had been one of them.

But over time, the burden becomes too heavy.

He suggested pastors allow others to take on some decisions, and also pass on to them the responsibilities for the outcomes of those decisions.  

Pictured: Bishop Robert D. Hofstad

An assembly not to be missed

Registration now is open for the Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly, to be held June 7 and 8 at the Hotel Murano and Bicentennial Pavilion in Tacoma. The assembly's theme is "Always Being Made New," the 2013 theme for the ELCA as its turns 25.

This is one not to be missed, with voting members taking on the profound duty of electing a new bishop.

Beyond that important business will be a plethora of presentations and workshops, all designed to inspire and equip congregational members for the year ahead. Worship opportunities, big and small, abound. A special banquet to celebrate Bishop Robert D. Hofstad's 12-year-tenure and to welcome his replacement will take place, too.

The Rev. Dr. Terence Fretheim, Old Testament professor at Luther Seminary, will be a presenter and Bible-study leader. The churchwide representative will be the Rev. Donald McCoid, executive for ecumenical and inter-religious relations of the Office of the Presiding Bishop. McCoid will speak and lead a Bible study.

Reduced costs are in place until May 16. Voting members pay $180, clergy who are retired or who are on leave from call pay $145, visitors who want meals pay $125 and without is $75. Room reservations also should be made before May 16, by calling 888-862-3255 and asking for the Southwestern Washington Synod/ELCA group block. The reduced nightly rate is $165, double occupancy.

To register online, go to www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1099848.

Pictured: Voting members at work at last year's assembly.

Lend your voice at upcoming listening posts

Four opportunities to provide input into the selection of a new synod bishop and to learn more about the process take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on the following Saturdays at the locations listed:

Feb. 2: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma, 3315 19th St.; and St. Andrew Lutheran Church of Vancouver, 5607 NE Gher Road.

Feb. 9: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Olympia, 1515 Harrison Ave. NW.

Feb. 23: Poulsbo First Lutheran Church, 18920 Fourth Ave. NE

Messiah's second site moves to golf-course clubhouse

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

RIDGEFIELD, NORTH CLARK COUNTY — Planners at Messiah Lutheran Church of Vancouver had a strong hunch a second site in fast-growing Ridgefield would draw local worshipers.

What they didn't know two and a half years ago was that families would drive to Messiah's North County Campus not just from Ridgefield, but from outlying areas many miles away. Some 50 came each Sunday from places like Woodland, Kalama and Longview to the north, and from Battle Ground to the east, since there was no Lutheran church in the region.

Messiah had invited them using direct-mail post cards, according to the Revs. Peter and Kathleen Braafladt of Messiah.

Meeting in an office building close to Interstate 5, the newcomers brought a lot of new energy and fresh leadership. Three sit on the Messiah Church Council, which serves both sites.

"We've really emphasized the fact that we're one congregation with two places," Peter said.

Last fall, the North County Campus lease came up, and a new agreement could not be reached. The North County Campus moved to the clubhouse at the nearby Tri-Mountain Golf Course. 

The transition "zaps your energy" for a while, Peter said. Some of the newcomers switched to Hazel Dell, so attendance at the North County Campus dipped slightly, but went up at Hazel Dell.

The new location also is near I-5, and curious golfers are milling around and popping their head inside. 

"We're getting a lot more exposure," Kathleen said.

The clubhouse arranged eating discounts for Messiah members at the North County Campus, and members have added to clubhouse business at the struggling county-owned golf course.

The clubhouse rent is easier to swallow. 

"I actually feel freed up; we're not house poor," Kathleen said, adding that more money now is available for ministries.

Leaders aren't sure how long the North County Campus will stay at the golf course; they're open to where God leads them. 

The Braafladts' advice for other new mission starts is try different things, and if they don't work, it's not failure.

"Don't be afraid to experiment," Kathleen said.

Sunday worship at Messiah's North County Campus is at 10 a.m. Tri-Mountain Golf Course is at 1701 NW 299th St., Ridgefield, Exit 16 off I-5. All are invited.

Pictured: Kathleen and Peter Braafladt

Widen the Lenten soup-and-supper experience

By Beth Ann Johnson, chairwoman, Synod Hunger Committee
 
One of the wonderful things about Lent is that each Wednesday evening I am greeted by a warm bowl of soup. It is such a comfort food, particularly this time of year when the evenings are cold, dark and damp.

But it can be good to get out of your comfort zone. Two years ago, the members of Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood did just that, eating food from Nicaragua, the West Bank and Tanzania. How? By taking part in the Lenten Meal Project from ELCA World Hunger has put together a Lenten Meal Project.  Instead of soup and bread, imagine eating a meal of tandoori chicken or finding out what kind of meal a family using food stamps can afford.

This isn’t just about a meal — there are traditional prayers from each country, placemats with information about the country and the hunger and poverty issues they face, and discussion questions.

Lent can be a time of great introspection. But it can also be a great time to talk over dinner with your friends about our neighbors in need. There are 18 meals your congregation can chose from, from Columbia to Nepal. Go to ELCA World Hunger, click on resources, then look at the meals listed under Lenten Meals on the left side of the page. The resulting meals may be a bit uncomfortable, but it is the quiet discomfort we feel when we are called by Christ to care for our neighbor.

Gallimore named host pastor of Little White Church at Elbe

ELBE — The Rev. Galen Gallimore of Bethany Lutheran Church of Spanaway is the new host pastor the charmed-filled Evangelische Lutherische Kirche, or the Little White Church.
 
Perched on the shoulder of majestic Mount Rainier, the 18-by-24-foot church founded by German immigrants in 1893 offers Sunday-afternoon worship services from May to November, and is a popular wedding venue. Visitors also stop by to worship on their way to the nearby Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad or for hike and picnics in the tall surrounding forests.
 
Gallimore replaces retired Rev. Randall Olson as host, and now is lining up 10 pastors from the synod willing to preach once this coming summer.
 
Gallimore said that the steeple room of the wee-sized worship space needs to be replaced, and brick pavers are being sold to support construction. The bricks will be laid in an area between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall.
 
To volunteer to preach or to purchase pavers, contact Gallimore at pastorgallimore@gmail.com. To learn more about the church, visit www.elbehistoricchurch.com.

Retired pastor attempting Continental Divide Trail

By Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator
 
TACOMA — She just keeps hiking.

Last summer, retired Rev. Mary Davison finished all 2,600 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail at about a dozen miles a day, mostly by herself.

She'd already accomplished the 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Apparently that wasn't enough.

Davison, 71, of Tacoma now has began her biggest mountain journey yet — the Continental Divide Trail. She started last summer at the Mexican border (pictured), where she found the locals very friendly, constantly offering food and water.

"It's pretty cool that half of them stop," Davison said.

Talkative and always encouraging, Davison said she hopes to hike the Divide's 3,000 miles by the time she hits 75, if she's able.

"This one's not a sure bet. But I'm going to act like I'm going to finish it, and we'll see what happens," she said.

If she makes it, she'll be one of the oldest hikers to complete hiking's "Triple Crown."

"My life is adventure to adventure," said Davison, who attends Family of Grace Lutheran Church of Auburn.

Drawing from her experiences in the vast expanses up high, she's just completed a four-part adult Bible study entitled "Spirituality and Life's Blessings from the Trails and Psalms." She can be reached at pastormaryd@msn.com.