Mount Baker Chapter

Four page newsletter: Mount Baker Chapter 2nd edition 2006

Four page newsletter: Mount Baker Chapter 2nd edition 2006

Mount Baker Chapter, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans News

Does Your Church Need Money?

Dozens of churches in the Mount Baker Chapter have not yet requested their allocated dollars. Is your church one? Did you know that Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has a program called Care in Congregations® where funding is provided to Thrivent Financial members to conduct fund-raising and/or hands-on service activities to benefit your congregation or its related Lutheran institutions? In fact, Thrivent Financial members are encouraged to use the funds to help the congregation in its ministry to the community.

If you see a need in your congregation that could be helped through this funding, please contact a Thrivent Financial congregational coordinator in your congregation. If you don't know who your three congregational coordinators are, please contact a member of our chapter leadership board as noted in this newsletter, and he/she will help you get in touch with a coordinator.

Mount Baker Leadership Board Members-Serving you faithfully!

Each and every month your dedicated leadership board faithfully meets to conduct chapter business that includes allocating requested funds, scheduling trainings, and organizing educational and fund-raising events. These hard working Lutheran volunteers are eager to serve you. Please contact any of the board members listed in this newsletter to offer your suggestions and requests for future newsletter articles. It is our goal to increase the use of Thrivent's programs to support and highlight the many activities conducted by you, our chapter's members. With your continued prayers of support, the Mt. Baker Chapter Leadership Board will continue to serve you.
Your Chapter Leadership Board! As your 2006 Mount Baker Chapter leadership board, we are pleased to provide you with the following information on our elected officers.
President:             Al Peraino                    360-424-5802             email: peraino.ajm1@verizon.net
Vice President:     Clarice Solvik             360-592-2820             email: cnsolvik@comcast.net
Records Director: Rebecca Landvatter    360-428-6128             email:rawietzke@yahoo.com
Financial Director:Kathy Stiles                 360-856-5814             email:kbstiles@nwlink.com
Congregational Service Team Director:
                            Terry Nelson                360-733-6470             email: t.w.nelson@comcast.net
Assistant Financial Director:             OPEN
Communications Director:                OPEN
Community Service Team Director: OPEN
Events Director:     Bob Merrill                 360-734-7652            email: bob.merrill@camplutherwood.org
Youth Director:     Rev. Chris Berry         360-671-9337            email: revrefcdberry@comcast.net
Advisory Positions:
    Past President: Lisa Lockwood             360-380-4127         email: lockwood4kids@verizon.net
Financial Associate Advisor(s):        OPEN
Internet Advisor:                             OPEN
* Chapter Leadership Board Meetings are held every third Monday evening at 6:00PM at Burlington Lutheran Church. All Thrivent members are welcome! We begin each meeting with a light dinner and fellowship, so please come. To ensure all visitors are introduced and fed, please contact, our president, Al Peraino, regarding your participation.

Lost in the Maze of Money? Three Unique Thrivent Funding Programs!

Care in Congregations®

The Care in Congregations® program gives you a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your congregation and its associated Lutheran institutions through fund-raising and hands-on service activities, such as painting the church hall or raising funds for new choir robes. Through the Care in Congregations® chapter Care program, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides funding for Thrivent Financial members to conduct fund-raising activities and/or hands-on service activities to benefit a congregation or its related Lutheran institution(s). Members are encouraged to help the congregation in its ministry to the community. Funding comes directly from Thrivent Financial to the congregational service team's congregation.
Care in Congregations® is a simple four-step process:
1. Plan - identify a need, form a congregational service team and discuss with congregational coordinators and congregation.
2. Request - request funds and approval online at www.thrivent.com
3. Conduct - plan and conduct the activity involving as many people as possible.
4. Report - report volunteer hours, member attendance, total attendance, net funds raised, total expenses incurred and total households actively involved. Funds are sent to the congregation and the Receipts, Funds Raised and Expenses Report is submitted to the chapter leadership board.
A congregational service team includes all Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members who want to come together to help a particular congregation or its associated Lutheran institutions. Teams help by conducting fund-raising activities (including appeals/collections) and/or hands-on service activities such as painting the church or building cabinetry for the fellowship hall.The congregational service team must have three Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members from separate households registered as congregational coordinators. These members do not need to be members of the congregation. In addition, at least six Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members (benefit, associate and/or youth members), each from a different household, must participate in an activity to receive supporting funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans through the Care in Congregations® program. Congregational coordinators may be included in the required six member households. Participating congregational service team members may differ from one activity to the next, and participants do not need to be members of the congregation benefiting from the activity. (If the six-member-household requirement is met, nonmembers may and are encouraged to participate in the activity.)

Funds that a congregational service team uses to help its congregation or related Lutheran institution(s) come directly from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans through the Care in Congregations® program. Note: A congregational service team also may conduct Care Abounds in Communities® activities to benefit individuals, families, local communities or organizations that are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. (This includes charitable, educational and religious organizations.) In these situations, the service team requests funds and accesses resources from a chapter leadership board through the Care Abounds in Communities® program.

Care Abounds in Communities®

Through the Care Abounds in Communities® chapter Care program, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides funding for members participating in community service teams. These teams are formed to conduct fund-raising activities and/or hands-on service activities. Activities can benefit individuals, families, local communities or organizations that are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, excluding congregations. (This includes charitable, educational and religious organizations, excluding congregations.) Activity requests for funding are directed to the chapter leadership board. Through Care Abounds in Communities®, anyone in our chapter can organize a community service team and help others. It doesn't take a lot of time or a long-term commitment! Contact a member of our chapter leadership board as noted in this newsletter for assistance in getting started.

Care in Regions®

Through the Care in Regions® chapter Care program, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides funding for members of multiple chapters to come together, through community service teams, and work with their regional manager of Lutheran community services (MLCS) to address a significant regional need.

The community service teams conduct fund-raising activities and/or hands-on service activities that benefit individuals, families, local communities or organizations that are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with significant needs. (This includes charitable, educational and religious organizations.) The manager of Lutheran community services (MLCS) approves all activities.

Join Hands Day 2006-Many hands, light work?!

On Saturday May 6th from 9am to 5 p.m. 105 camp supporters helped prepare Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center for another summer of Bible Camp. We worked together on completing the skate park, putting trusses on one of our cabins, building a new deck/stairway to the program directors apartment, clearing trails, splitting firewood, painted a cabin and the basement of the Spirit Lodge, jack hammered out an old concrete slab, prepared our boats for launching, Spread woodchips, planted trees, weeding our gardens and spreading bark chips, used a 40 foot manlift to clean the roof and trim of the Spirit Lodge. It was a wonderful day and God blessed us with good weather and safety! The Mount Baker Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided $1,000.00 of funding for projects of the day. In addition to this Burlington Lutheran Church worked on the deck/stairway project which is a hands on project funded by the Mount Baker Chapter.
This year we had not only Lutheran churches participate, but also the Girl Scouts of America, and students from Western Washington University. A number of folks spent Friday night at camp. Our ultimate goal is to have a Join Hands Day Weekend. Where every one that wants to, can come Friday thru Sunday. We will work hard on Saturday, and play camp games in the evening, sing campfire songs, then on Sunday morning worship together.
Lutherwood's Mission: "Lutherwood, in partnership with Western Washington Lutheran congregations, is a year round outdoor ministry renewing all in the Holy Spirit through adventure, service. education and prayer."
Lutherwood"s Vision: "Lutherwood will provide a time and place apart within God's creation for all to experience the love of Christ."
Many thanks to all who participated in Join Hands Day at Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center. Each year we have over 5,000 hour of volunteerism at Lutherwood. Many member of Thrivent financial for Lutherans are regular volunteers. Lutherwood thrives when so many hearts and hands join to carry forward His ministry at camp. If you were unable to join us for Join Hands Day, but still want to support this important ministry, please contact Bob Merrill, chapter board member and Lutherwood Camp Director.

Habitat For Humanity-Whatcom County Lutheran Music Concerts Planned

To help support the great work provided by the Habitat for Humanity affliates in both Whatcom and Skagit County, events are now being planned for both work parties and fund raising events! In Whatcom County a concert series is in the planning process. If your church is interested in sponsoring a concert event, please contact Holly Whittle, Thrivent Financial Associate and Habitat for Humanity board member. Think and work locally, OR internationally with Thrivent Builds!
Thrivent Builds Giving
Give a gift. Make a difference. Thrivent Builds Giving offers members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans® the opportunity to increase the impact of their donations to Habitat for Humanity® International. Thrivent Financial contributes $1 for every $2 members donate to Habitat for Humanity, up to a maximum supplement of $300 per member annually. Plus, when members volunteer 25 or more hours to Habitat for Humanity, Thrivent Financial contributes another $25 per year to their donation.

To learn more about Thrivent Builds Giving, to donate online or to get a copy of the Thrivent Builds Giving donation form, visit www.thriventbuilds.com.

Educational Workshop Scheduled!

In response to your requests, the Mount Baker Chapter Leadership Board will be hosting an educational workshop with a catered luncheon. This event will be held on October 7, from 9-12. Mark your calendars TODAY! More information reguarding this special event will be sent directly to all congregational coordinators. To attend, please RSVP to any chapter leadership board member NOW!