Assembly begins

Good morning, Readers,

The Assembly has begun here at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, with a long list of procedural matters under way. I will post periodically here.

Rachel

Look here for assembly updates

Readers,

Decisions made in the 25th assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod can be read here first. The assembly starts this coming Friday and continues through Saturday.

That includes highlights from the selection process leading to a new bishop, and other happenings. 

I will be posting here throughout both days and perhaps live-blogging at times. If you have special requests, don't hesitate to contact me at 206-498-0920 or rachelpritchett@msn.com, or by commenting here.

Thank you,

Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator

Little White Church at Elbe featured

The Little White Church at Elbe is featured in today's News Tribune of Tacoma. The pint-sized church is one of our's.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/06/03/2622680/fondness-for-elbes-little-white.html

Lynn Hofstad completes doctorate

Lynn Maren Hofstad, daughter of Bishop and Linda Hofstad received her PhD in systematic theology at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary on May 9. The title of her doctoral dissertation is "Reconsidering the Atonement: A Reexamination of the Nature of Atonement Symbols." 

Pictured from left to right: Bishop Robert D. and Linda Hofstad; Lynn Hofstad and husband Bryce Godfrey; and Sara Hofstad Womack and husband Marcus Womack.

Volunteer breakfast for Little White Church is Saturday

A volunteer breakfast for the Little White Church at Elbe will take place at 9:30 a.m. May 18 at Peace Lutheran Church of Puyallup. Historian Andy Anderson will discuss the church in pioneer Puyallup. Persons who are interested in helping can RSVP to Kathy Mettler at 360-832-4922 or Doris Gadley at 253-847-2743. During the spring, summer and fall, services at the doll-sized house of worship are held 2:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month. Visit www.elbehistoricchurch.com.

Reception to thank Rev. Eric Wangen-Hoch

Members and friends of the Southwestern Washington Synod are invited to a reception for the Rev. Eric Wangen-Hoch from 4 to 7 p.m. May 30 at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia. 

Wangen-Hoch, for seven years pastor of the Living Stones Prison Congregation at the Washington Corrections Center at Shelton, has accepted a new call to Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Sedro-Wooley, along with his wife, the Rev. Rachel Wangen-Hoch.

In his service at the prison, Wangen-Hoch built up an unusual and rare worship opportunity, drawing close to 100 men to each service. In recent months, attendance had fallen, due to a security clampdown following the slaying of a correctional officer by an inmate at the Monroe Correctional Complex. Inmates had difficulty getting to worship. 

Wangen-Hoch believes the number of worshipers will rise in time. He urged congregations to continue supporting Living Stones as it moves into the future.

“It has been a magnificent call,” he said.

Hunger-grant application period opens

The ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant application process for 2014 has opened. The deadline for congregations and others to submit applications for efforts related to solving hunger is July 17. More information is at: http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Poverty-Ministries/Domestic-Hunger-Grants/Apply-for-a-Grant.aspx