Opportunity to share in global mission stories

This year’s global mission event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church in Tacoma will feature stories of persons who have served in mission work in many corners of the world. Participants will have a chance to get updates on work, and get information if they’re thinking about taking part in global mission work themselves. Namibia, South Africa, China, Palestine and El Salvador are among are some of the areas to be featured. Lunch and child care are provided. A $10 donation is requested. Pre-register to GlobalStoriesMission@gmail.com. The church is located at 6730 N 17th St., Tacoma.

Congregational renewal workshops offered

The Outreach Board of the Southwestern Washington Synod is sponsoring a three-part "Renewing Congregations Series" for congregations interested in renewing the commitment to ministry. Part 1, "Renewing the Faithful" presented by the Revs. Samuel Torvend, Valinda Morse and Melanie Wallschlaeger, is under way now. Upcoming Part 1 venues include Nov. 6 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Parkland, Nov. 13 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Bremerton, and Nov. 20 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Port Angeles. Part 2 will focus on "Renewing Congregations" and Part 3 will look at "Renewing Service in the World." All are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To learn more, contact Morse or Wallschlaeger at the synod office, (253) 535-8300 or swwsynod@plu.edu.

Reformation Sunday HymnFest Oct. 31

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma will host its 20th annual Reformation Sunday HymnFest at 3 p.m. Oct. 31. The program will feature congregational singing, and a variety of musical including choirs, brass, strings, gospel music and soloists. Festival admission is free with a free-will offering being divided among the musicians. A reception with refreshments will follow the program in the church’s Goldenman Social Hall. The church is located at 3315 S 19th St, across from Allenmore Medical Center. See you there.

Port Orchard's First Lutheran feeds homeless, when it can find them

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/lifestyle/104964159.html

Presentation this Sunday on Namibia

Readers,

I will lead a presentation on the companion relationship between the Southwestern Washington Synod and its companion synod in Namibia this coming Sunday, Oct. 24, at 9:30 a.m. at Port Madison Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island. We'll look at the 30-year history of this friendship, how it's deepened and what's been accomplished. And, we'll look at the most recent visit by a synod delegation earlier this year. Come join us. The church is at 14000 Madison Avenue NE on the north end of the island. Coming from the south, take Highway 3 to 305 at Poulsbo, turn right and follow to the island. Turn left at first stoplight on island (Day Road). Turn left at Madison Avenue and you're there. Free coffee.

I'll see you there. Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Toward bringing everybody to the table

PARKLAND – "It is important to understand that ending hunger is not impossible."
That bold proclamation came from The Rev. Jim McDonald, managing director of Bread for the World, at the Oct. 15 kick-off of the synod’s Ethic of Eating conference at Trinity Lutheran Church and Pacific Lutheran University.
A "great exodus" out of global hunger and poverty has taken place between 1970, when one in three people went hungry, to 2000, when one in six needed food, he said.
That was particularly true in India and China, where more affluent, urban middle classes emerged from impoverished rural areas.
But the severe food-price wars that covered the globe in 2008 coupled with the unprecedented worldwide recession cause the fight against hunger to retreat, he said. Today, progress stands at 1970 levels.
In the United States, one in four children live in families struggling to put food on the table, he said.
McDonald suggested that to understand how some eat and some don’t in this world, and what can be done, he suggested two books by Michael Pollan, "The Omnivore’s Dilemma" and his newest, "Food Rules."
McDonald urged listeners to contact their political representatives and let them know that alleviating hunger is a top priority. If they don’t respond, vote them out in November.
David Creech, ELCA director of hunger education, urged participants to become "critically aware" of what comes to the table, and respond, either simply through grace acknowledging the sacrifice, or joining a community-supported agriculture group.

Namibia blog re-activiated

Readers,

I have re-activated the Namibia blog, used last spring by the synod delegation that visited in order to communicate with readers. I'm starting to dump more stories and photos into that blog, now that I'm free to do so, and there will be quite a bit more starting Friday, when I have some time I can devote to that. the blog can be accessed from the synod website home page at www.lutheranssw.org or here:

http://namibiaconnect.blogspot.com/

Rachel Pritchett, communicator