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Capital Campaign (Fan Into Flame) 50th Anniversary of St. Luke's Lutheran Community Services Northwest Other News, Events & Ministries at St. Luke's Visits for Homebound during Holy Week
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I am about 48 hours post Israel. First and foremost I want to thank the good saints of St. Luke’s for your support and encouragement for my Israel pilgrimage. Your making gifts available for my journey, your enthusiasm for my first-hand experience in the Holy Land has greatly encouraged me. Thank you again. I look forward to sharing my experience as well as planning one for as many of you who might be interested in a similar journey next year. When asked “What was it like?” my most consistent response has been, “Complicated, Israel is a very complicated place”. The weaving together of the three religions of Father Abraham, the laying claim to a common land and the harsh realities of the limitations of a political settlement all make for an incredibly complicated reality. Yet, at the same time, the joy I experienced as a Christian in time and conversation with both Jew and Muslim, was a gift. God was so present in the lives of all the people. The devotion to prayer and the religious life was no less present whether one was Jew, Muslim or Christian. My goodness, talk about competing symbols! The Old City of Jerusalem is busy, intense, at times overwhelming to both the senses and logic, and utterly fascinating. After a few days of life with people from around the world I found indifference the least applicable word. Israel may be at least the penultimate expression of how our faith is defined in contrast by the enemy. Jews define themselves in relationship to the Palestinians and Muslims define themselves in relationship to what they experience as an oppressive Israeli state. And us Christians, well… in Jerusalem we just define ourselves as a minority. It is so complicated and, at the same time, strangely life giving. As crazy as it may sound there is actually an important lesson to be learned for our life of faith, right here where we live. Our problem is that we do not know who the enemy is. I have come to see that one of the most compelling reasons as to why we Lutherans (of which St. Luke’s is a flaming example) are terrible at evangelism is that we don’t see the enemy out there. We can’t identify the enemy. No problem with this in Israel, uh uhh! Ask anyone there, despite their religious orientation, they can tell you who the enemy is. Not us. And because we cannot identify the greatest enemy to our relationship with God, our religion often lacks a sense of urgency. Want to know how I know this to be true? When was the last time you invited someone to church? We display little urgency for someone to know the Gospel. Why?
Scripture warns us to not make friendship with the world. When we demonstrate a willingness to be seduced by the materialism of the world (I am as subject to this as anyone), as opposed to defining ourselves as citizens of another Kingdom, we lose a sense of urgency. Urgency that our faith is the central defining standard by which we live. Believe me — one doesn’t have this problem in Jerusalem. I would like to encourage you to have a sense of urgency about your life of faith, care enough to invite an unchurched friend to worship with you some Sunday. Easter is coming up and since Easter is a cultural religions festival (you know, even unbelievers go two times a year) it poses a minimum of threat. Unless of course, you become aware of the inherent danger of the enemy taking us over you might want to invite sooner.
Lutheran Public Policy Office On Sunday, April 29 from 4:30—7:00 p.m., LPPO will be holding their annual dinner and auction at University Christian Church in Seattle. Pastor Tom has reserved a table for eight and is looking for people who are interested in issues of advocacy who would like to join him. Please let him know ASAP.
Associate in Ministry - Roselyn Olson Stained Glass Windows and the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard When we dedicated the stained glass windows, I was reminded of the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Pastor Tom asked all who had worked on the windows to go forward during the dedication. I hesitated. I knew that most had worked many hours to complete our beautiful windows. I knew that my contribution was meager. I had signed up to work on two sections of the windows. It didn’t take long for me to change that commitment to being on one team. After the first session of making the initial drawing it was time to cut the glass. I was busy with a meeting so Nancy Quale graciously “saved two pieces for me to cut.” I hesitantly cut the first one; I was worried that I would make an error and yet thankful to be a part of this project. When it came time to cut the second piece, I asked, “Won’t you please do it?” And she did. That was the extent of my actual help. Often I wandered into the narthex, watched what was being accomplished, and visited with those working. Somehow I always had another priority when the actual work was being done on “our” section. Nancy and the rest of our team graciously completed our part. Nancy also helped others learn and complete theirs. Watching the activity and watching Joe Hester teach others was awe-inspiring. But I was content to watch. Now, let’s return to the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. You will recall that the landowner hired laborers early in the morning to work in his vineyard. Others were hired at different times during the day. When those hired just before quitting time were paid a full day’s wages, those who had toiled all day knew they would receive more. When they received the same amount, they grumbled. As I walked up with the others who had labored many hours on the windows, I felt like the laborers who had been hired at the last, yet received the same wage. I received the same recognition and the same thank you as those who had worked much longer. How thankful I am for even that small part. When I sit in the congregation, my eyes often wander over to the one piece of glass that I cut. Even though it was a minor part of the whole, it was meaningful in my life and my faith.
Shalom,
Visits and Communion during Holy Week If you are homebound or unable to come to church during Holy Week, contact Roselyn Olson at (425) 822-7907. Her desire is to bring communion to as many of our homebound members as possible between Palm Sunday and Easter.
Spring is here and I’m glad winter is finally over. There was just a bit more snow than I’m accustomed to. (Now we just have the rain to look forward to!) Over the last year the Youth & Family Board has focused on their vision statement which is to create an environment where all youth of St. Luke’s and the community are involved and engaged in age-appropriate education, service and social activities. Outreach is an essential part of that vision so we have been discussing development of an after-school program that would start this fall. Sometime in May we will hold a community forum to discuss the needs of middle school youth and elementary school children in our community. Who are we most able to help? Some questions to think about are: Do you feel the middle school youth need a place to get help with homework and a safe place to go after school? or Do you think elementary children are in greater need of a safe place to go because their parents work? If you are a Bellevue resident, please think about these questions and come to the meeting in May. (Date and time will be announced.) Please come be a participant in this discussion. If you have any questions, feel free to talk to me. Also, take a look at the youth calendar for this month’s events and look on the youth board for the entire summer calendar. I hope you all are doing well. Take care and God bless! In Christ, Ben Richards, Director of Youth Ministry
Meet the Youth of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church This month we meet Chandler Kokosz and Maury Wiederaenders. Chandler Kokosz is 16 years old and a sophomore at Bellevue Christian School. His favorite ice cream is gold medal ribbon and his friends say that his best quality is his humor. His favorite Bible verse is Micah 6:8. Friends and Pastor Tom keep him coming to St. Luke’s. Maury Wiederaenders is 13 years old and in 7th grade at International School. Mocha Chip is her favorite ice cream and her friends say that her best qualities are her sense of humor and craziness. Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 119:105. Her dad is what keeps her coming to St. Luke’s. Please greet these two when you see them at church. Look for the bulletin board across the hall from the restrooms for their pictures.
April is here! He is risen! This is such an exciting time of year. It’s time for flowers to bloom, more sunshine, and new life. There is so much going on in the life of the church, and now is the time to get involved with the children’s ministry. Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, April 7th at 10 a.m. Please come with your children and hunt eggs! Pastor Tom will be reading a special Easter story, and there will be lots of time to meet other families from the community. If you have any questions about any of these activities, or if you would like to get more involved, give me a call. ~Natalie Larson~ Director of Children’s Ministry
Worship through Music On January 7, St. Luke’s choir blessed our worship services with the Christmas Concert, The Winter Rose, by Joseph Martin. That was only the beginning of the story. The conclusion of the Gospel will be experienced over Holy Week with The Rose of Calvary. Passion (Palm) Sunday – April 1 Breaking from tradition, we will begin our Passion Sunday worship services in the sanctuary. Take a palm frond from the ushers and enter into the Passion Story with the first half of The Rose of Calvary. The remainder of The Rose of Calvary can be experienced by attending The Three Days and Easter Sunday worship services. Maundy Thursday April 5 at 7:30 p.m. Good Friday April 6 at 7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday April 8 at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. (brunch between services) Blessings and joy to you! ~Amy Corsini, Worship Coordinator First a big THANK YOU TO SALLY OTTEN for all the time she has invested in calling and corralling people to help at Sunday worship and special services. She has worked tirelessly for years to get greeters, lectors, communion assistants and ushers for each service. (At times she would also be finding acolytes too.) Often it seemed like a thankless job but she persevered and it was always completed to the best of her ability. Sally has decided that she is ready to pass this volunteer position on to someone else. At the same time we are going to try a sign-up system so the new person won’t have to recruit so many people. Each Sunday it takes a minimum of 20 people to help with both services. The job would also be easier if two or three people tackle it. It requires phone calls (and follow-up phone calls) and getting the information to the office by Thursday morning. Two weeks are shown in the bulletin each Sunday but people can sign up at any time — even months in advance! Even though you may not wish to oversee finding the assistants, please volunteer for the Sunday service positions. As they say, “Try it, you’ll like it!”
Income and Expense July 2006 – February 2007
Income was up in February and expenses held at the monthly average. Thank you to all who are fulfilling their Consecration Sunday pledges, your support is so important for our ministries. Carolyn Norton
Fan into Flame - Capital Campaign How many of you remember your physics class in high school? The PG paraphrase of Newton’s first law of motion states “Unless acted upon by a force an object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion.” In other words, unless someone or something does something to change things something that is stationary will stay that way and something that is moving will keep going. For example, a book set on a table will remain in the same place until you or I do something with it. If we apply force to the book and slide it across the table, the book will want to keep moving in the same direction and the same speed as we started it moving unless something else applies force to stop it.
Remember, perseverance has a reward! When we reach or exceed our goal, we will be able to make all the facility improvements, expand our staff, and reach out to our community and continue to accomplish St. Luke’s mission. Bob Stanbary
By now you surely have noticed that work has begun on the roof. This job was long overdue, but is just one of the many projects that the facilities committee is undertaking. We recently replaced the water heater, are adding theater lights to the sanctuary, as well as lighting for the Witness Windows. Final arrangements are also in progress to complete a brick base for our new sign and to have some drywall repairs done in the sanctuary. Those are some of the bigger tasks that the committee works on, but with the help of WWG we also tackle bothersome bees, leaky sprinkler systems, painting and repairs to plumbing and electrical systems. We want to thank everyone who came and supported the facilities committee at our Egg…cellent Breakfast and Spring Clean Up. We truly appreciate all your hard work, and your generous contributions to our facility fund. Our Wonderful Wednesday Work Group You’ve all the heard the joke about how many Lutherans it takes to change a light bulb…well when it’s the light above the altar the answer is six! That was the case for the Wednesday Work Group (aka WWG) when the light burned out above the chancel on Ash Wednesday. Irv Quale, Carnel Hagen, Ray Mattern, Jack Doidge, Ron Norton and Walt Lisle had to set up 21’ of scaffolding and then put a stepladder on top of that in order to change that one light bulb. That was quite a job, but that’s not the end of the story. This dedicated group of guys decided to break down the scaffolding and take it outside, set it up again, and this time on a slope in order to change the light bulbs in the stanchion in the south parking area. Luckily there were no serious injuries, but there were a number of scrapes, cuts, bruises and at least one close call. After the wives of the WWG heard about their adventurous escapades…the WWG was told they are not allowed to do this type of work anymore. So if you see any one of these daring fellows, please give them a sincere thank you for all their hard work, and remind them that we all prefer to have them with both feet firmly planted on the ground. Thanks WWG! We are once again taking orders for pavers to be placed in front of the entryway to the narthex and sanctuary. If you missed out when they were sold prior to the dedication or you are new to St. Luke’s—this is your opportunity. You can purchase them as a family, as a memorial to those who have played a role in your life and are no longer with us, in honor of someone who holds a special place in your life or many other reasons you might have to honor someone. The cost per paver is $85 and forms are available in the narthex. Order must be in by Easter, April 8.
Alaska Cruise Are you thinking about your vacation? Are you beginning to set times, dates, possible destinations? How about those who were signed up for the now postponed Israel/Italy trip? How about joining us on our Alaska Cruise? We leave from the Seattle Waterfront on July 1st and return on the 8th. Just think – seven days and nights on a cruise ship in Alaska – all the food you can eat, long days and short nights for sightseeing, no mosquitoes, the warmest time of year for Alaska (hopefully!), great activities for the kids, free time for Mom and Dad to spend time together - - what more could you ask? Ports of call include Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway, Juneau and Victoria, B.C. As an added perk, Janis Wold, a member of our church comes from Alaska and will be in Alaska while we are there. She is willing to do a tour for us that will get us to the more interesting spots not necessarily covered by the cruise line tours. I always like the “off the beaten track” stuff, don’t you? The prices are for individuals based on double occupancy and range from $949 to $1,109 for the inside cabins, $1,399 for an obstructed ocean view (usually obstructed by a lifeboat, etc.), $1,574 for an unobstructed ocean view, and $1,849 to $1,899 for balcony cabins. If you want a single cabin the cost will be approximately 160% of the single fare, i.e. you will pay the full cost for yourself and approximately 60% of the cost of the second person. Many of the cabins do accommodate 3rd and 4th persons, i.e., Mom, Dad and one or two kids. The prices are $699 to $899/person based on which cabin you choose. Jackie Roberts will be able to clarify that for you when you call to make your reservations. Which brings me to that all important question – “How do I/we sign up?” Call Jackie Roberts at (425) 391-9275 or email her at robert.jk@comcast.net. We would like to have 15 to 20 cabins occupied by St. Luke’s members and friends. I think we can do it. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you on the cruise. Judy Pagnotta
Hats and Gloves Sunday On Easter morning (April 8) be sure to wear your favorite hat (either new or old) with your nice gloves to church. Remember what it was like in the ‘50’s when we put on our new clothes for Easter? We always wore our hat and gloves! On Sunday, April 22 come to church with your biggest hairdo. Remember that ‘70’s do you had? Wasn’t that a great look? (Yes, this is for the men too!) We’ll also be starting to take pictures this month for the pictorial directory so, if you like that retro look, go ahead and have your picture taken.
Would you like to be part of a group that will design and create a banner to commemorate our 50th Anniversary? Anyone interested in helping with this activity, please contact Carolyn Saxegaard at (425) 454-9650.
As a part of the 50th anniversary celebration, St. Luke’s will be hosting an “Evening with Anne Lamott”. Ms. Lamott is the best-selling Author of Operating Instructions, Plan B : Further thoughts on Faith , and Traveling Mercies. She writes and speaks about subjects that begin with capital letters: Alcoholism, Motherhood, Jesus. But armed with the self-effacing humor - she is laugh out-loud funny – and ruthlessly honest. Lamott converts her subjects into enchantment. Actually, she writes about what most of us don’t like to think about. She wrote her first novel for her father, when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. She has said that the book was “a present to someone I loved who was going to die.” In all her novels, Anne Lamott writes about loss — loss of loved ones and loss of personal control. She doesn’t try to sugar-coat the sadness, frustration and disappointment, but tells her stories with honesty, compassion, and a pureness of voice. Anne Lamott says, “I have a lot of hope and a lot of faith and I struggle to communicate that.” Anne Lamott does communicate her faith; in her books and in person, she lifts, comforts, and inspires, all the while keeping us laughing. Mark your calendar now for this Friday, May 11 event. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation at 7:30 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to hear Ms. Lamott speak in an intimate setting. Tickets will go on pre-sale to members and friends on March 11th. There will be 100 Premier Tickets offered at $125 and include front row seating and a signed copy of Ms. Lamott latest book Grace Eventually. An additional 300 Standard Seating Tickets will also be available for $65. Following the presentation there will be a reception and a chance to purchase and have books signed by Ms. Lamott. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the ELCA World Hunger Program.
The following information has been provided by Love INC, a clearinghouse and network of churches who partner with one another to help individuals and families in difficult circumstances find the services or financial assistance they might need. Jodi and Pam have worked with this organization in order to use our Good Samaritan Funds in responsible ways that may make a real difference in people’s lives. Unfortunately there are individuals that we know well or are known by Love INC or others churches who take advantage of our Christian natures. We keep a file for each request and limit the number of food and gas vouchers someone requests to a six month period. When helping with rent or electricity bills, we verify information before sending a check. Some of the people who come to St. Luke’s for help are already being helped by other agencies or are working with a social worker. We would like to maximize the generous donations you give to the Good Samaritan Fund to get the best benefits for all. Please read the article below and be sure that if someone approaches you at church you reply that only the church office is able to help between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Thank you. More and more often, we hear accounts from our churches of people who attend their church and who have burned out their Benevolence Fund - who then approach individuals within the church for financial assistance - or even for a place to live until they can get “back on their feet”. Or, people find themselves being confronted by complete strangers, who have come to the church (usually when the office is closed) with some hard-luck story about how they need help “just this once,” or “for just one night,” in order to get by. Church members who have been approached in this manner often feel uncomfortable, manipulated, and unsure of how to respond. They truly want to do the “Christian” thing, and often mistakenly believe that must mean they should help out their brother or sister who is “in need”. No questions asked. Love INC believes that congregations need to be protected from these individuals, by being taught how to mix wisdom with their compassion. Those who approach others for help in this manner are often short-circuiting any accountability process that the church may have in place. I think that it would be good to teach that it’s okay to say “NO” … that sometimes an easy fix to a financial problem is not in the other person’s best interests; sometimes it does more harm than good by enabling that other person to continue in a financially unhealthy lifestyle. The individuals who make a habit of getting their needs met in this way will often: · Share skewed accounts of their need · Give a story about the church’s unwillingness to help · Apply pressure on individuals Use guilt to get what they want · Demand that others do their “Christian Duty” · Have no accountability for how they have used their own money · Have no responsibility for what they will do with any funds they might receive now · Provide no information about how many other sources they have hit-up The Biblical model we have for church “benevolence” can be found in Acts 2:44 & 45, and Acts 4:32-35. In these passages, we see Believers caring for one another – and, yes, taking out of their pockets to give to another in need. However, it was all done under the direction of the leadership – the Apostles. It would make much better use of God’s money (which it all is anyway) if congregations were taught to contribute to the church’s Benevolence Fund, so that the legitimate needs of anyone in need could be addressed, the right hand would know what the left hand was doing, and proper accountability measures could be instituted where necessary. This process of giving carries built-in protection for the greater church body, and is truly better for the person in need, as well.
Our shared relationship with Lutheran Community Services Northwest helps those we partner with to:
Some of their programs are: Alcohol/Drug Treatment & Education Crisis Intervention Disaster Response Family Support Centers & Services Mental Health Counseling Senior Outreach & Support Volunteer Services For more information on Lutheran Community Services, check out their website at www.lcsnw.org or call Judy Kiesz at (425) 466-9843 or Joan Jackson at (425) 454-0280. If you would like to make a donation to this Lutheran Community Services Northwest, you may do so by indicating it on your envelope or check.
Adult Forum for April
Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in Northwest room of Pierson Hall
April 1st Palm Sunday Deliver flowers to neighbors of St. Luke’s. We will go out in groups of two or three to participate in this tradition. April 8th Easter Sunday No Adult Forum (brunch served between services) April 15th The Gideons International, a representative from the Gideons will show a video and tell us more about the organization and their memorial Bibles. April 22nd Pastor Jim Fergin ”Our Father in the Faith: Abraham and Sarah” April 29th Pastor Jim Fergin ”Our Father in the Faith: King David”
LifeShapes Tuesday from 1:00—2:30 p.m.
April 10 #7 Practicing the Principles of a Vital Life May 1 #8 Living a Life with a
You may still join this class. Contact Roselyn for more information
A trip to Olympia with Roselyn and Ken Olson was both enlightening and empowering. February 27th was dedicated as Faith Advocacy Day in which members of churches throughout Washington came together to learn about legislative issues going on at our capitol and how to advocate on behalf of our fellow brothers and sisters for social justice. Over 200 members from the area were in attendance. Workshops were held on major issues, such as affordable housing, health care for all, caring for the environment, and children and family issues. We also had opportunities to meet with our representatives and take in some committee hearings. As part of several faith advocacy groups, the Lutheran Public Policy Office (LPPO) and Washington Association of Churches we have information and tools available to us to help us keep informed of upcoming and ongoing legislative issues. LPPO defines faith advocacy as advocating justice for all creation, especially for “the least of these within our midst”, through the church, legislature and community. Within the church community the LPPO is available to educate and alert members about relevant public policy issues. This can include organizing members around issues of common concern. What can each of us do to be involved in faith advocacy?
Kent Kollmorgen
Do you know what do to if someone is having a heart attack? A number of people can now raise their hands and say yes. Leslie Schofield, Ben Richards, Jodi Daub, Dale and Judy Kiesz, Carolyn Saxegaard, Jack and Judy Doidge gathered on Sunday, March 11th to participate in a refresher course on CPR and how to use the AED (Automated Electronic Defibrillator). Thank you to Bob Stanbary for organizing the class. There are new guidelines from the American Heart Association for proper CPR. The most important change is the number of compressions per minute. The new guidelines call for 100 compressions per minute. This means you would now perform 30 compressions and then give 2 breaths instead of the old rate of 15:2. St. Luke’s also has an AED installed in Pierson Hall in case of an emergency. This is a very simple, yet highly effective tool in the event of a heart attack. Even if you have not taken a class on this piece of equipment it is very simple to use and an automated voice will walk you through the necessary steps. Please take a moment to locate the unit which is mounted on the wall by the east door of the kitchen. The unit is mobile and can be taken to wherever aid is being given. Do you know what to do if someone is having a heart attack?
We will try to schedule another class in the fall for anyone who is interested.
WELCA Information Due to the other important activities and events already scheduled for May with the Ensenada trip, 50th Anniversary events and the national WELCA "Act Boldly Event in Renton, our WELCA Board made the decision that we will not host our annual "Spring Luncheon". Instead we encourage all the women at St. Luke's to support and attend these other events this year.
Other News, Events and Ministries At St. Luke's New IRS rules for the 2007 tax year require all taxpayers to provide receipts or other financial records when claiming deductions for charitable donations. This is yet another incentive for people to sign up for the Simply Giving program through Thrivent. Electronic donations provide easy record-keeping. Also if you are now donating by credit card, the church is charged a percentage per transaction. You might want to consider Simply Giving as a way to maximize your donation. Please call the office if you have any questions or would like a form. It is a very simple matter and your given amount will be taken from your checking or savings account each month.
Reimbursements, bills or payments Jodi Daub, our bookkeeper, will be on vacation from April 6-16. Please plan ahead for any checks you must have during that time. She will be back in the office on April 16 and will write checks at that time. Also for your information, please always ask for checks in a timely manner as there is not always someone available who can sign them. Thank you for your consideration.
“Praise the Lord—I can see” A special thanks to all my brothers and sisters in Christ for your positive support, concern and prayers for the successful surgery on my right eye. The operation was indeed a success and I will receive my permanent eyeglasses in April. Again thank you. In Christian Love, presents "IN THE MOOD"
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Saturday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. Suggested donation: $10/adult; $8/youth & seniors (children under 8 are free) Bells of the Sound is a nationally acclaimed handbell ensemble that has been pioneering handbell artistry and excellence since 1989. This group of 15 auditioned musicians is known for their high-caliber, energetic and entertaining performances. Bells of the Sound is a dynamic force in the handbell world, advancing handbells into the mainstream of entertainment and encouraging composers to create new works for this provocative exhilarating instrument. For more information on this amazing ensemble, see their website at www.bellsofthesound.org. 20% of the donations will be given to the 50th Anniversary Fund
Helping Our Candidates For Ministry by The Reverend Wm Chris Boerger, Bishop I have the privilege of representing Region 1 at the assignment of new seminary graduates to regions of this church. This process occurs twice each year and is a time of prayer and discernment on the part of bishops, churchwide staff, seminary representatives and, ultimately, congregations and candidates. I have experienced this as a very prayerful process. One of my concerns as we look at the future is how will candidates for ministry be able to afford to serve in congregations desiring to call a first call candidate. The debt load of seminary graduates is going up and is affecting the ability of some if not most of the candidates to serve in “first call salary range”. This will impact the pastor’s ability to model good stewardship practices, develop healthy family budgets and feel good about serving in this important first call. This is not a question about the appropriateness of the candidate responding to the church’s and God’s call to serve. This is simply a matter of the cost of seminary education and the ability of some congregations to provide a compensation package that will make debt repayment possible. The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) was established to help provide financial support for those training to serve this church. Recently the Northwest Washington Synod Council established a Synod scholarship fund in thanksgiving for the ministry of St. Stephens Lutheran Church in Lynnwood. Funds of $50,000 were turned over to the synod when St. Stephen’s closed and is the seed money for this scholarship. I want to invite others to help build this fund. We are doing a good job of identifying candidates for ministry from this synod and region. This past assignment saw 23 ordained candidates assigned that came from this region. We received 12 ordained candidates for placement. I have noted before that we are an “exporting” region. We need to continue that good work. We also can support those from our synod who are responding to God’s call. We can support the work of the whole church by assisting in their preparation with this scholarship. Currently, we as home congregations support candidates by paying for part of the psychological evaluation and background check that is required for all candidates for ministry in this church. The cost of education is going up. We can help prepare for the future leaders by establishing a strong scholarship fund to assist these future leaders. I invite your participation.
GUILT ASSUAGED A woman called in to a radio program the other day to tell about a childhood experience. It began when she was in 8th grade. She and her family lived in a tiny town in the desert area outside Tucson. They had very small means and there was no library there. Among all the many items that the general store sold were paperback novels for adults. The young girl loved reading and had such a need to experience the world outside this community where people read little and were not academically interested. Every weekend she would visit the store and when the opportunity arose, she would quickly shoplift one of the books. She did this countless times and still cannot understand what her mother thought when she might have seen a book lying around. In all events, her daughter would escape into another world from the tedious, poverty-stricken life she was leading. For many years following this period she lived guilt-ridden, feeling very burdened with what she had done. She had become a teacher and her life was very different from the one of her childhood. One day she made a decision. She visited her hometown. She found the general store still there and heard that the same woman still owned it. Swallowing hard, she asked to speak to the storekeeper: “I need to tell you that many years ago I took books from your store without paying. I want to apologize and to pay $200 to cover the payment of them.” “Oh,” said the owner, “don’t worry about that. I knew what you were doing all the time. I told my employees to allow you to take them. I knew your family. I knew your circumstances. I felt you had to have them to keep you going. We all have something to give. We need to pick someone and then give it to them. That’s what I did.” Happy and Blessed Easter-time!? Ruth Kverndahl
April 2007 You can’t treat your car this way!
There is an old oil commercial in which a mechanic looks at an empty oil pan and says, “You can pay me now…or pay me later.” The clear message is that you can’t neglect your car and not expect it to break down, and that the neglect will be much more costly than the maintenance. Neglecting children creates what is called an “attachment disorder.” Frequently found among children left in orphanages, it is characterized by an inability to care about others’ love and approval. They don’t dare be grateful for and appreciate what others have done. Of course, later in life, they betray those who try to love them. These children have learned that it is just too painful to trust others to care about them. It is a most profound disconnection. It is terribly difficult to heal from. Here, sin has done its worst. If God gives even the animals the desire and drive to belong and be with their protectors, how powerful must the Evil One be to take that away from people? Children can’t be neglected and un-loved and not be left scarred. Emotional neglect creates the antithesis of the very thing that God put in us to make us want to be closer to family, friends, yes, even God. A little neglect now, the child pays a lot later. This month, imagine a child - any child. Make one up if you don’t know one. Don’t pray for them. Be with them in your prayers, attach to them and be love for and with them. You are God’s Word, and that Word will not return to God void.
Lutheran Counseling Network (425) 455-2960
The Jesus Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, You are the light of the world; fill my mind with your peace, my heart with your love, my body with your healing. Amen
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