News, Saturday May 15

Amy Oden Keynote

God's Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel-Hungry World
Keynote speaker: Amy Oden, Professor of History of Christianity at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Professor Oden presented a way to live in our world, extending God's welcome to both friends and strangers. Thinking of those who disagree with us as strangers, rather than enemies, can be a useful tool for us to use in our congregations when faced with difficult divisive issues.

Living as the body of Christ is often challenging. Sometimes we do not even recognize each other as Christians. We become theological strangers when our ideas conflict.

Consider how hospitality is good for those already in our pews. With strangers as opposed to neighbors, we are curious and have a less aggressive attitude when discussing our differences.

Also, consider "welcoming" those within your congregations. To be successful in this effort, the following considerations are helpful. First, listen only, do not argue. Visit one on one so that all voices can be heard. Be curious and learn about the person with whom you disagree. Ask each other two questions: How did you come to this view? How is this issue important to you now?

What are the characteristics of truly extending God's welcome?

1. Readiness: Be ready to welcome strangers. This is more than being "nice", it entails sharing your lives. Do not just stay inside your building, but stand at the doorway, eager and ready to welcome. Welcoming will be challenging, but readiness helps us be prepared to be foolish and to feel inadequate.
2. Risk: Hospitality is risky and disruptive. It brings us strange ideas, but if we are not risking and being changed, we are not offering Gospel hospitality.
3. Repentance: Our lives are turned around, changed. Risk means you fail about 70% of the time. Hospitality requires that we are changed as congregations and individuals. Change is uncomfortable, but necessary.
4. Recognition: We learn to see beyond appearances. We have eyes to see Jesus in each other and in our lives.

Finally, know that God will be faithful in this process and accompany us as we extend true hospitality. We need to claim it, live it and welcome all in Jesus' name.

Budget

The voting members of the 2010 Synod Assembly adopted the $1,400,000 the General Fund budget for the Fiscal Year 2011 on Friday, May 14. And, on Saturday, May 15, after a brief discussion the 2011 budget was approved as presented.

Offering

The 2010 Northwest Washington Synod Assembly offering was $4,566.05. The offering will be split between Lutheran Disaster Relief (80%), and out Synod Companion Synods, Russia and Ethiopia (20%). Thank you for your generosity.

Worship

Bishop Boerger reminded us in his sermon that we were once strangers in Egypt. We have expected strangers to become like us, so that we can be comfortable in welcoming strangers. We now need to 'grow up' and live generously and graciously toward others who we consider to be strangers. Jesus says to pray and welcome the stranger because they have already been welcomed by God. We need to be in relationships with our neighbors by listening and taking time to understand them. Pray for our enemies as our views will be changed about those whom we pray. The stranger will not be a stranger but will become our brother or sister in Christ. We are citizens of another realm.

Recognitions

65th Anniversary of Ordination

Glenn Bragstad
Ted Brueckner
Henry Ericksen

50th Anniversary of Ordination

Gerald Hefty
Neil Snider

35th Anniversary of Ordination

John Henkel
Tom Kidd
Jim McEachran
Mark Reiff
Phil Strain
Rod Vereb
Paul Wuest

25th Anniversary of Ordination

Paul Benz
Chris Berry
Nathan Bowman
Verlon Brown
Susan Burchfield
Richard Hays
Susan Kirlin-Hackett
Doug Lindsay
Cindy Salo
Tim Weber

25th Anniversary of Commissioning

Sherry Kiefel

Congregation Anniversaries

Gethsemane, Seattle 125 years
Ebenezer, Lake Stevens 100 years
Bethlehem, Sedro-Woolley 100 years
Northlake, Kenmore 50 years
Trinity Community, Point Roberts 25 years

Newly Ordained (since last Synod Assembly)

Diana Bottin, Trinity, Kirkland
Jeannine Daggett, Zion, Everett

New to Synod (since last Synod Assembly)

John Okan, Immanuel, Everson
Deanna Wildermuth, Holy Trinity, Mercer Island
Eric Finsand, Christ the Servant, Bellingham
Chris Finsand
Mitch Watney
Mark Griffith, Mount Si, North Bend
George Brunjes
Paul Stumme-Diers, Bethany, Bainbridge
Paul D. Anderson, Fir-Conway, Mount Vernon

Interns

Elizabeth Felt - OSLC Everett
Megan Koepnick - Central, Everett
Derek Tronsgard - Trinity, Lynnwood
Wolfgang Laudert - First Richmond Beach
Jacqueline Berlien - Bethesda, Mountlake Terrace
Matthew Keadle - St John United, Seattle/LPPO

Retirements (since last Synod Assembly)

Jim Rismiller
Michael Nel
Phil Petrasek
Renee McNeal, Associate in Ministry
Jean Barrington
Sarah France
Marlon Wang

Attendance Saturday, 8am

114 ordained clergy, 239 lay voting, 6 observers, 97 visitors