THRIVENT JOIN HANDS DAY
JUNE 6
North Spokane Chapter Join Hands Day Event:
Where: Camp Dart-Lo, 14000 N. Spokane Drive (Hwy 395 to Wandermere Road, west on Dartford Drive, 1 mile, cross Little Spokane River and take a right.)
When: Saturday, June 6, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
What: Camp clean-up, trail blazing, gardening, making craft kits, and maintenance.
Why: Help this Camp Fire Day Camp get ready for over 2,000 kids this summer. Enjoy lunch on us and, weather permitting, a dip in the pool when we're done!
This is a great event for all ages. Come see this gem of a day camp on the Little Spokane and help Camp Fire USA provide quality child care/camping experience this summer.
Contact: Peggy Lewis 509-466-2625 with questions or to RSVP
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HELPING HANDS FOOD PANTRY
FUNDRAISER LUNCHEON
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Come out on Saturday, June 6 between 11:30 am and 2 pm for a fantastic fundraiser luncheon to help our Helping Hands Food Pantry. Shawn Jones and friends have been working very hard to provide a wonderful luncheon of chicken, potato salad, macaroni salad and desserts – and all this for only $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children. There will also be many, many raffle prizes.
This is a Thrivent Care abounds in Community event. Thrivent will match every $2.00 raised at the luncheon with an additional $1.00.
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WELCOME MARK NELSON
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP
JUNE 7, 2009
We are fortunate that Pastor Mark Nelson will be the supply pastor when Pastor Betty is on vacation June 7. Pastor Mark is an excellent preacher and warm and welcoming worship leader. After worship, Pastor Mark will talk about how sabbaticals in other congregations in our synod have worked out. Plan to come to worship on June 7 and stay for the congregational meeting that follows.
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
JUNE 7, 2009, 11:30 AM
On June 7, we have an important decision to make. Pastor Betty has requested a sabbatical for the months of December 2009, and January and February 2010. A sabbatical is not simply time off, but a time for renewal and study. Our synod has recognized the importance of sabbaticals and recommends that pastors be given a sabbatical of at least three months every seven years. Pastor Betty plans to spend the time of the sabbatical reading, making enamelware items, exercising and getting her diabetes under better control. A pastor will be provided by the synod to lead worship and provide some pastoral care. The synod is also providing some financing to help us. Your church council has recommended approving Pastor Betty’s request.
On June 7, you will have the opportunity to learn more about sabbaticals and what has happened in congregations during that sabbatical time. For many congregations, this has been a time of renewal for them as well. We will hear from Bishop’s Assistant Pastor Mark Nelson and from a member of a congregation whose pastor went on sabbatical.
Please make a special effort to attend this congregational meeting after worship on Sunday, June 7.
Sincerely,
Ed Forslof, Council President
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REPORT ON THE SYNOD ASSEMBLY
FROM SYNOD COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT, SUSAN BERG
Gratitude, Gratitude… Indeed! Thank you all for a wonderful assembly!
It is with a grateful heart that I share a brief summary of the 2009 Eastern-Washington Idaho Synod Assembly. Grateful for the many hands who planned, prepared and served us so well in Yakima. Grateful for the beautiful weather and lovely convention center that set a backdrop for our work together. Grateful for the honest and patient hearts as we shared conversation about our various business items and
resolutions. Grateful for the faithful volunteers whom we thanked for their service to this church. Grateful for those among us who are willing to take the leadership reins. Grateful for the gift of the Holy Spirit who centered, inspired and enlightened us. Gratitude, Gratitude – God’s Abundance indeed overflows!
The wonderful theme, “God’s Abundance Overflows,” set the stage for our time together. It is out of knowing what God has first done for us – loved and forgiven us – that we live together as the part of the body of Christ known as the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod. Each year in assembly we gather for worship, reports, workshops and the business items. Here is a brief (and not fully inclusive) summary of events and actions:
1. We centered ourselves in God’s Word and Holy Communion.
2. We approved the synod budget – and we are looking good – thank you for your generous support of YOUR ministry.
3. We learned new tools for sharing conversation – the RESPECT guidelines and Mutual Invitation.
4. We enjoyed the gift of the Lutheran Book Parlor.
5. We were informed and inspired by our guest presenters: Diana Butler Bass, a teacher, author and church historian and Marcus Kunz, our churchwide partner who serves in the office of the presiding bishop [Bishop Mark Hanson].
6. We passed Resolution 1 – Urging the ELCA to encourage and support negotiations and investigating financial support in the West Bank and Gaza.
7. We passed Resolution 2 - Amending the “plan of operation” of the EASTERN WASHINGTON-IDAHO Synod SHARE fund – which will allow us to be better stewards of this fund through diversification of investments.
8. We did not pass Resolution 9 – Which would asked that the Churchwide Assembly to utilize a 2/3 majority when voting this summer on current policy and practice for rostering.
9. We passed Resolution 10 – Inviting the EASTERN WASHINGTON-IDAHO Synod attendees to act on their baptismal calling to advocate justice and peace by writing a letter to one of their government officials.
10. We passed Resolution 11 (replacement for Resolutions 3-8) – encouraging the Churchwide assembly to adopt the proposed Social Statement on human Sexuality and the implementing resolutions and adopting the four parts of the proposed Recommendation on Ministry Policies as recommended by the ELCA Church Council.
11. We passed Resolution 13 – Which encourages the continued support of our sister synod in Tanzania, by continuing to raise funds for a new dining hall at the Tumaini Lutheran Seminary; and for the synod to formally invite the new Ulanga Kilombero Diocese bishop and his wife to our next synod assembly!
12. We elected new synod council members and committee members – thank you!
13. We thanked and blessed “retiring” synod council members – thank you for your service!
14. We had a slate of interesting workshops.
15. We were able to honor congregations and rostered leaders for significant milestones in their ministries.
16. During our closing worship we gathered as God’s people – not always agreeing, but trusting in God’s mercy and redemptive love for us. It was a delight to install Shelley Bryan Wee as the new pastor at Lutheran Campus Ministry at Eastern Washington University. (Go Eagles!)
Gratitude, Gratitude. May the light of Christ continue to shine through you as you boldly proclaim God’s love – and serve as God’s hands in your ministry outpost.
Susan Berg
Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod VP
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It was nice to represent our congregation at the Synod Assembly this year. We were able to spend time visiting with many of the other delegates during the weekend. We spoke with people from Spokane and the surrounding areas--some of whom had supported our ministries at St. Peter and many of whom knew of Pastor Betty. We were both very impressed with the atmosphere of the Synod Assembly. There was a lot of business to be discussed, some of which was very controversial. People were civil and respectful throughout the discussions, which made the situation much easier to handle. We spent time visiting many of the groups that shared displays outside of the main meeting areas and enjoyed the meals provided. There were worship times each day and we especially enjoyed the Holden Evening Prayer service on Friday evening and the Sunday morning closing worship. Thank you for sending us as your delegates and please feel free to ask us to tell you more about our experiences. ~ Don & Janine Jones
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THANK YOU!
A very big THANK YOU! to those who have volunteered in various ministries here at St. Peter. Thanks to Jackie DeLeon for volunteering to take over the clothing bank. Leigh Ann Davis will be helping her this summer. This ministry has been very popular and we are grateful that we can continue it. Thanks to Wes Johnson who has volunteered to be in charge of the Neighborhood Free Breakfast. Since we started eight years ago, we have served over 6500 people!
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ARE YOU “UNDER CONSTRUCTION?”
The theme of this year’s Hillyard Festival is “Under Construction.” There are currently seven congregations planning the Sunday Worship in the Park: St. Peter, Minnehaha Covenant, Fellowship Church, Zion Christian Center, Hillyard Baptist, and Lidgerwood Presbyterian. The theme verse comes from Paul’s letter to the Philippians: the One who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
This year we are looking for people to tell (briefly - like 1 minute or less) (and with note cards if you want them) how God has worked in their life. I would particularly like people to talk about how God has “reconstructed” their life. Maybe God has brought you through a difficult marriage or family situation. Or God has been with you if a time of financial adversity. Have you had trouble with drugs or alcohol? Maybe God is in the process of completing the good work begun in your life in baptism. I will be weaving a sermon around the stories.
If you are willing to share briefly about how God is working in your life, please let me know. You can also return the following form to the church office. I know some of your stories. Maybe you can inspire someone who will be at Sharpley-Harmon Park.
God bless you all,
Pastor Betty
WORSHIP IN THE PARK WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 10 AM IN SHARPLEY-HARMON PARK.
Yes! I am willing to tell others how God is working in my life.
Name: _____________________________
Phone number: ________________________
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Community News
‚ The Spokane Veteran Outreach Center is hosting a free Barbeque for all veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom on June 27 from 11 am - 4 pm at Newman Lake Resort and Marina, 12515 NE Newman Lake Drive. If you are or know someone who served in either the first or second Gulf war, they are invited to this event. For more information, contact the Veteran Outreach Center at 509-444-8387..
‚ The annual Hillyard Chalk Art Walk will take place on June 6 beginning at 10:00 am in the Hillyard historic business district. Register at the booth at Market St. & Queen Ave. Chalk will be provided free to the first 100 people to register. The theme this year is “Hillyard’s Future?” .
‚ Congratulations to Hillyard! We were judged 2nd best neighborhood in the nation of the Neighborhoods USA organization. .
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WORSHIP IN THE PARK
AUGUST 9, 2009
10:00 AM
SHARPLEY-HARMON PARK
It’s time to begin preparing for Worship in the Park on August 9. If you would like to be in the joint choir, rehearsals will begin Sunday, June 14 at 6:00 pm at Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church, 4449 North Nevada.
If you play a musical instrument and would like to be in the Praise Band, rehearsals will begin Sunday, June 14 at 6:00 pm at Fellowship Church, 2102 E. Everett.
