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Building/Construction Committee Can you help with a used laptop? Capital Campaign (Fan Into Flame) 50th Anniversary of St. Luke's Other News, Events & Ministries at St. Luke's Wednesday Evening Women's Study and Social Group
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As I write to you our Fan Into Flame campaign team is making the final phone calls that we might be able to offer our Building Committee the committed tally towards our next phase. For those seeking more information about the goals for this campaign please see the following article. As of this writing we have $644,000 in pledges. (We are also gratefully mindful of a number of you who do make gifts without a pledge, thank you.) The campaign team is contacting the remaining 30% of the congregation who have yet to respond with the hope the balance of $156,000 will yet be pledged. God has richly blessed this congregation and in my 20 years as your pastor we have yet to be disappointed by a lack of resources. God has continually and abundantly stirred the hearts of this congregation for ministry. I expect no less this time. Someone recently expressed some anxiety to me, not about the campaign but how the calendar has now taken us up to the month of May which is our annual time for stewardship teaching and commitments for our program budget. Rather than seeing this as problematic, I think this offers a good opportunity for teaching about the differences between a campaign and our annual program commitments. Hopefully the following will serve you well in the distinction.
I hope this has in some manner been helpful. Sunday, May 20th is Consecration Sunday for our annual stewardship program. As with each year’s program you are encouraged to make a faith commitment to support the ministry that we accomplish together. If you are not tithing, please consider increasing your percentage of giving. God bless you all for your joy in giving.
Beginning April 30th Pastor Tom will be leading a seven session study on the Book of Exodus. Classes will begin at 7:00 and finish at 8:15 p.m. Please note the schedule below for there will be some gaps in the weekly schedule. April 30 May 7 May 14 (WILL NOT MEET) May 21 May 28 (WILL NOT MEET) June 4, 11, 18, 25 Pastor will have resource books available at first class. We will be studying some of the more important events in Old Testament history which provide much of our images for Christian faith. Spirituality Book Club—Saturday, May 19 at 4:00 p.m. Since we are hosting Anne Lamott on May 11th (have you purchased your tickets yet?) we will be reading her newest publication, Grace Eventually. They will be available in the narthex. (Just think, you will already have your copy for Ms. Lamott to autograph.)
Associate in Ministry - Roselyn Olson "The Best Holy Week Ever" Holy Week 2007 was a wonderful time for me. I had a goal of bringing Holy Communion to as many of our homebound people as possible. When I learned that three of our grandchildren were coming early for Easter and staying overnight I knew I needed to adjust my plans. By seeing a few people the week prior to Holy Week I was able to meet my goal.
Shalom,
Summer is almost here — can you feel it? Even though we’ve had lots of rain, we know that soon the sun will come — usually on July 5! We all look forward to the summer season with vacations, hot days, sports, or whatever else you love to do. The youth will be taking a couple of trips during the summer — the first to Ensenada, then Wilderness Ranch, and others like Daroga (a family event) and a youth leadership retreat at Trinity Lutheran College. These are fun trips where youth get to know one another and build a stronger bond. I hope that you will encourage them to join in the fun and excitement.
On May 16 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. the St. Luke’s Youth & Family Ministry Board will hold a community forum to discuss the needs of the community, which will focus on middle school youth and elementary school children. Who are we most able to help? 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? Please think about these questions and come to this meeting on May 16th. We will also talk about starting a Thursday evening activity night with programs for all ages. Perhaps we could start a children’s choir, or adult classes along with our regular choir and bell choir. Please come and share your thoughts and ideas. If you have any questions about this evening’s agenda, feel free to call me.
Please pray for those of us who are going to Ensenada — that we will have a safe pleasant and successful trip. Also pray for the family whose home we will be building.
Be sure to take a look at the calendar of events for May and check the youth board for the summer youth 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 Andrea Pirret and Ali Lange. Andrea Pirret is 16 years old and a junior at Lake Washington High School. She enjoys cookie dough ice cream and her friends say that her best qualities are her laughter and loyalty. Her favorite Bible verses are from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Learning about God keeps her coming to St. Luke’s. Ali Lange is 13 years old and in 8th grade at Chinook Middle school. She enjoys cookie dough ice cream and her friends say her best qualities are honesty, helpfulness, and humor. Her favorite stories in the Bible are Jesus’ birth and the Easter story. Her parents and learning about God and Jesus 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.
This month we come upon the last day of teaching at Sunday School. Sunday, May 20th is the last day of teaching, and there is no class on the 27th. Our End of the Year Party will be on Sunday, June 3rd during the Sunday School hour. Our Vacation Bible School is coming up and I am looking for volunteers. VBS will be July 9th-13th and the theme for this year is “The Great Bible Reef: Dive Deep into God’s Word!” All children 4 years old to 6th grade are welcome. It is a fun-filled underwater adventure that is designed to help children experience the importance of discipleship. There will be crafts, storytelling, games and music. Talk to me for more details and if you are interested in helping out! Look for sign-ups! I would like to extend a special thank you to Gwen Smith who has resigned her position as chair of the Faith Formation Committee. She has worked so diligently and with true passion during the time she served on the committee. She will be missed! Lastly, our thoughts and prayers go out to the community, faculty, families, and students that were affected by the act of violence that transpired at Virginia Tech University on April 16. ~Natalie Larson~ Director of Children’s Ministry
We are in the midst of the Easter Season. Throughout the month of May, we will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at both the 8:30 Traditional and 11:00 Informal worship services. At 8:30, we will continue the Easter Season using the Now the Feast and Celebration (NFC) liturgy.
The Easter Season lasts for fifty days, which takes us to the last Sunday in May (5/27) and the celebration of Pentecost. The people of God have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the second chapter of Acts we hear that the people "were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability." The chapter continues with Peter addressing the people and reminds them of the words of the prophet Joel, "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh..."
Pentecost is the third most important celebration of the church year! A visible symbol of this celebration is color red - the liturgical color for the day. Be a part of the visible symbolism by coming to celebrate wearing your favorite red clothes too! Blessings and joy to you! ~Amy Corsini, Worship Coordinator
Income and Expense July 2006 – March 2007
I am not sure what happened to contributions during the month of March, but as you can see, they are the lowest for the program year to this point. I am confident that God will provide for the needs of this ministry, but it takes all of us to be a part of that support. Just as He supports us, we need to support His work. Prayerfully consider your support and allow Him to guide you in your giving. Carolyn Norton
Fan into Flame - Capital Campaign Several exciting things have happened since the last Communicator that I am happy to announce. The Fan Into Flame capital campaign has now raised over $644,000, plus a new building committee has been formed and anxious to get things moving. It’s critical that the building committee knows what the final campaign total will be. So, if you haven’t pledged and are still deciding on the “hows”, keep reading. Bill Ziehl has shared some great ideas regarding donations. When to make a donation can be as hard of a decision as how much to give. Here's something to consider if your investment is tied to the market. The stock market is at record high levels right now. This current economic cycle is the second longest in history. The next cycle that will follow in the economy is a recession. Lastly, world stock market volatility has increased as witnessed by the recent 9% correction in China. You may want to consider taking "the bird in the hand" with all or part of your donation.
Donations to St. Luke's can be given in many ways aside from cash donations. The church accepts stocks, bonds, mutual funds. Those donations are valued at the market value at the time of the donation. Note that if you have a large gain that the full value counts toward your donation and if given directly to the church you will not be subject to the taxes associated with that gain.
Other accepted donations can include real estate, automobiles, boats, and art to name a few. Those valuations can be more complex yet are basically the appraised market value.
To learn more or to ask questions contact Bob Stanbary (425-462-0357) or Bill Ziehl (425-451-2306) at UBS Financial where the funds are held currently earning 5.3% until needed. Transferring is kept simple and handled on your behalf for St. Luke's so it's as easy as a phone call. All donations through UBS will be done at no charge so 100% of your donation goes to the church. Please continue to keep the success of our campaign in your prayers. Bob Stanbary
The Fan Into Flame Capital Campaign team has worked faithfully in an effort that is producing wonderful results. Now it is the job of the newly constituted Building/Construction Committee to begin the work of putting “flesh” on their efforts. This Committee is blessed by the leadership of Debra Caldwell and Margaret Nicoll, along with a number of people from former construction efforts (Todd Lozier, Arne Ness, Bill Ziehl, Ron Norton, Joan Jackson, Anna Coy, Cathy Lisle, Pastor Tom and others to be named). There is a plan taking shape that we will act on this summer as permits are obtained and resources are in place. Among the tasks we will be working on: New roof over Pierson Hall, Memorial Hall (old sanctuary) and office wing Finishing work on Memorial Garden Moving offices to the front of the building (essentially switching front office and nursery) Creating a center stairwell in narthex connecting to new lobby downstairs Six classrooms downstairs plus a storage and workroom Adding an elevator We will be using a small percentage of the gifts to help start additional programs and staffing for children, youth, worship and music programs. During the following weeks you will be hearing much more about the vision of what this will look like beginning in the fall. As well, there is some very exciting conversation regarding how we can be creative during these next three years with benevolence and mission programs for the 10% tithe being set aside. You will be receiving regular updates as to Building Committee progress. Please keep everyone involved at the front of your heart in prayer.
Thank you for your help — now we need your “seed” money! Thank you to everyone who came and helped out with the spring clean-up on March 31st. Your efforts were truly appreciated in washing windows, scraping paint, blowing leaves, spreading bark, removing downed branches, cleaning the nursery, spraying the weeds on the patio, cleaning millwork, vacuuming the pew pads, cleaning the kitchen and putting up the Easter Egg Hunt sign. Whew! That’s a lot of work for a handful of people. And did anyone notice how nice the flower beds looked on Easter Sunday? The plants were neatly pruned, leaves were raked and the weeds were pulled. That is thanks to Mr. Nyguen, our new gardener. Over the past several years we have tried to organize monthly work parties, quarterly or semi-annual clean-up events and adopting flower beds. Unfortunately, none of these efforts could be considered successful. With the consistent lack of volunteer help on the landscaping, the Facilities Committee has voted to hire a gardener. With the gardener now hired, we will stop asking or begging you to come and pull the weeds; however, we still need your help. You no longer need a green thumb to help, but we do need some green! Please look for the display in the narthex for the “Guilt-Free” Gardening Fund envelopes. With your “seed” money we will be able to keep the grounds in shape throughout the year. I’m sure everyone is wondering what’s going on with the roof project. Well, like most “home” improvement projects, we have run into some unforeseen problems —the first being the drains on the roof and the second is the exhaust hood over the kitchen. We need to move the current drains back a bit in order for the new membrane roof to be installed properly. Also the existing exhaust hood on the roof, which has been a source of constant leaking, needs to be replaced. These changes are required in order for the roof to be guaranteed. As many of you who are familiar with any type of remodeling or building project know, getting contractors to even bid a job is in itself a project. We are currently getting bids and hope to have the project back on track shortly. In the meantime, pray for dry weather!
Pictorial Directory Pastor Tom's 20th Anniversary at St. Luke's
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes. St. Luke’s Board of Trustees has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year. New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” During morning worship on May 20, we are asking our friends and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world. Everyone who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card. We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship. We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecration Sunday team and the Board of Trustees. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship. Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events. Your Board of Trustees
Our Health Committee is offering two scholarships to those interested in being trained as a volunteer parish nurse. The week-long class will be held at Northwest Bible College in Kirkland this July. Parish nursing is a holistic approach to health that integrates physical, mental and spiritual health. The parish nurse plays a variety of roles including educator, counselor and advocate in their church family. They are a source for preventative and restorative care, ministering holistically to individuals and families. One role parish nurses do not play is that of direct medical care provider. As a parish nurse for St. Luke’s you might provide educational programs to the congregation, information on home or long-term care, be an advocate through the healthcare system, find resources to improve a member’s quality of life or serve on the Health Committee. You do not need to be a registered nurse. We are looking for those who feel called to assist members in caring for their mind, body and spirit. Again, it is a volunteer position. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Roselyn Olson or Sally Shinstrom (425-820-1954) by May 15th.
Wednesday Evening Women's Study and Social Group Our next regular meeting - Wednesday, May 16th at 7:00 p.m. Please come and bring a friend!--we are reading a copy of a book (in round robin fashion) called You Matter More Than You Think, by Dr. Leslie Parrot and you can come into this book at ANY time. This author works with her husband Dr. Les Parrot at Seattle Pacific University and together they have written several books. However, Dr. Leslie wrote this one herself after taking long walks exploring Discovery Park in Seattle, and put her thoughts/revelations into this book for women. Coming Soon! We will be taking a walk in the Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle on Sunday afternoon, May 20th. We will also be attending a Mariner's game sometime in June, exact date to be determined soon. You may contact Pam Webber at (425) 827-5861 if you would like to get your
Gardening is a great way to get some exercise and can result in bunches of beautiful blooms or a flavorful feast of fresh veggies. Unfortunately, thousands of people wind up in the ER each year from gardening mishaps. Before you reach for your spade and watering can, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have garnered the following tips for safety while gardening. Wear the right gear. This includes safety goggles, sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants, garden gloves, earplugs if using loud garden machinery, and sunscreen. Don’t forget, half the fun of gardening is looking cute in your wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses!
Garden with care. Be mindful of possible distractions and hazards and make sure to use chemicals and equipment properly.
We know you’re having fun, but don’t spend too much time in the sun. Drink water, take breaks, and watch out for the symptoms of heat-related illness—such as high temperature, headache, rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea, or confusion. Pay attention to your limitations. Talk to your doctor about any physical or mental concerns that might affect your gardening ability. Follow warnings against using heavy machinery if you are taking any medications that may cause drowsiness or impair your judgment. Keep an eye on your level of fatigue, heart rate and physical discomfort. Vaccinations save lives. Make sure your tetanus/diphtheria (Td) vaccine is up-to-date before digging around in the garden as tetanus lives in the soil and enters the body through breaks in the skin. Physical activities like gardening can prevent obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, coronary artery disease, stroke, depression, colon cancer and premature death. So enjoy the fresh air and throw some variety in your exercise regimen with gardening! Adapted from “Health and Safety Guide for Gardeners.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/women/owh/gardening/ ; Internet; Accessed 13 Apr 2007.
Mother’s Day in the United States was first proclaimed around 1870 in Boston by Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation, and Howe called for it to be observed each year nationally in 1872. As originally envisioned, Howe’s “Mother’s Day” was a call for pacifism and disarmament by women. Early “Mother’s Day” was mostly marked by women’s peace groups. A common early activity was the meeting of groups of mothers whose sons had fought or died on opposite sides of the American Civil War. The first known observance of Mother’s Day in the United States occurred in Albion, Michigan on May 13, 1877, the second Sunday of the month. As the custom of Mother’s Day spread, the emphasis shifted from the pacifism and reform movements to a general appreciation of mothers. A proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on May 14, 1914. Please remember your mom with fondness today. Memorial Day (May 28) Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates United States men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. The name “Memorial Day” was first used in 1882, but did not become more common until after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967. On June 28, 1968, the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved four holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. The VFW has stated, “Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt this has contributed greatly to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.” Please remember those who have fought, died or are still fighting for our country.
The quilters thank you who have supplied us with colorful fabrics and sheets this past season of work. We enjoyed working together to produce more than 100 quilts to distribute locally and around the world. Your donations made it possible. Letha Bouwman Verna Horngren Dorothy Brewster Oranda Nelson Bonnie Cleveland Dorothy Orr Ida Green Nancy Quale Wanita Heine Carolyn Saxegaard
Other News, Events and Ministries At St. Luke's Care Team Ministry Prayer Shawl Ministry Grief Support Ministry
The Rawling Brothers Concert Looking for part-time meaningful work?
Lutheran Campus Ministry—How YOU Can Help! Just go to www.goodsearch.com and enter “Lutheran Campus Ministry UW” as the organization you want to support. If just 500 people search four times a day, they will raise about $7,300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! Please spread the word. Summer Camp at Lutherwood Can you help? Your sister in Christ, Tracy Stierle
Our Faith Response To God's Love We believe that in Christ we have been made new creatures. We know that we are both sinner and saint at the same time, but we pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us now into living the life that God intends for us and for the world in which we serve. I say this because I regularly hear that individuals relate to congregations based on what they will get out of that relationship. I also hear congregations relating to the synod based on what the congregation will get out of that relationship. It is true that we should be vigilant with our relationships that involve time and money. Institutions should be regularly required to report what they are doing with the money we entrust into their care. We, those who focus on Synod work, should never hesitate to report where your gifts are spent and where we are working together in the name of our Lord. The Synod Finance Committee, Synod Council and our Synod Treasurer are responsible for using your benevolences in the ways we have agreed upon through the budget process. The fact remains that there is more to do than current funding allows, so decisions of priority are always before us. The notion that we share our finances with the synod or the churchwide organization based on what we get back is poor theology. We give because God has given everything to us. We are stewards of those gifts, but they still belong to God. I would be skeptical of someone telling me that God expects me to give to their pet project. I know that I am called to work together with sisters and brothers in Christ to support work that we cannot do as individuals, as individual congregations or synods. We live in the mission field. As the giving to the churchwide organization has remained at essentially the same dollar level since 1988, synods and local congregations are being asked to help fund new mission starts. This synod has set aside or used proceeds from the sale of closed congregations and gifts from estates to designate close to $950,000 for new congregations or renewal of existing congregations. We need to find new sources of income to do all of the work needed in this area over the next 5-10 years. We expect the synod to work with congregations in times of pastoral vacancy and in times of congregational conflict. We are hearing increased requests for support of congregations in the areas of youth and education. Worship is often a topic for questions and referrals. I have proposed the addition of a staff position to help us network the gifts of the synod with the needs of the congregations. This has not happened as our flat giving patterns actually move us toward reduction, not expansion of ministry. We love because God first loved us. We give because God gave life, new life and hope to us. None of this is investment, it is stewardship. We work together because God has called us together in God's church as congregations, synods and denominations. Our stewardship and benevolence practice is part of our faith response.
W A R The wail of a siren gave me the familiar uncertainty in my stomach, as we were warned of yet another air raid over London. As nine and ten year olds, my sister and I once again shared a basement room for the night with nine other people, in the church where my father was pastor. The event I remember best was seeing the whole night sky a dark red from the reflection of hundreds of fires on the ground. And the smell of burnt rubber and chocolate, as factories processing both were blazing. A police officer was killed as he worked on an explosive incendiary bomb that had fallen on the church roof. That was over 60 years ago, and WWII seems absolutely justified. In all the time that has passed, however, could we earthlings not have found a better and more effective way of dealing with cruel and ruthless dictators—and achieving more peace among the nations? In 1953, General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed . . . .“ On March 19th this year, on a rainy, windy evening, I stood at a busy traffic intersection with many others of all ages, quietly holding posters expressing concern for our military and with a plea to have them come home. While I stood there, giving a Christian witness as I saw it, I thought, “Here I may be standing with communist-leaners and others with whom I really don’t “belong.” Immediately, the thought came: Jesus did not avoid communing with people of different persuasions. In fact, it was his way. God bless each person who does not agree with the above. I respect and love you. There comes a time, however, when we as fellow humans, cannot/must not be silent any more. It is my hope that we help each other put a face on our “enemies” as opposed to simply demonizing faceless people. We also know, of course, that friend and foe are now dealing with the absolutely wrenching realities of living the rest of life with indescribable memories. May there be a host of new and caring therapists and others who can respond to that dire need in the near and more distant future. Ruth Kverndahl Note: Ruth and Roald Kverndal will be out of the country during the months of May and June. Roald will be giving a talk on Maritime Ministry in Barcelona. They will then go on to Norway to visit many friends and relatives, first staying in a friend’s “insulated” vacation house in May and then staying in their little cottage in Ruth’s mother’s ancestral village on the south coast.
May 2007
I Feel Like I’m Going to Die I suppose we have all known someone, perhaps even been the person, who pursued a relationship long after everyone else knew it was either hopeless or not good for us. “Just give it up!” we might say to them. Attachment theory helps us understand why this is easier said than done. God built into all of us a drive to be loved, wanted and cared about that is essential for our survival. This drive is the superglue that holds us together as pairs, families, communities. Once the switch is turned on, the off switch is frequently discarded. The force that is created is powerful enough to fend off the best of logic. Alas, we are in love….for better or for worse.
This theory tells us that most people feel as if they are going to die without the other. Some are able to feel and experience the anxiety, and the grief, and move along toward a path of recovery. Some are not so fortunate. The feeling of dying turns into the belief that they are going to. So they pursue and cling…tightly. How many of us remember the extent of the pain of a lost love, whether it’s a partner, family member or friend, or even a pet? The line of who is able to move past the hurt and who isn’t is blurry. It depends on so many things. So as caring friends and family, we sit with the pain, are patient with the clinging and are present to pick up the pieces. We are and can be grace, precisely because, we know that we belong and are ourselves, ones who are loved.
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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