03.25.08
Around the synod


April 12
Oregon Synod 2008 Stewardship Seminar

Featuring Author and Steward Key Leader - Rev. Michael Meier
Creator Lutheran Church, 13250 SE Sunnyside Rd, Clackamas, OR 97015
$25 per congregation / lunch free will offering
Rev. Michael Meier, author, stewardship leader and currently serving as a Steward Key Leader with the ELCA Steward Key Leader ministry is no stranger to the Oregon Synod. He served as Campus Pastor at Oregon State – Corvallis and later related to the Oregon Synod as Stewardship Specialist with the Division for Congregational Ministries of the ELCA. Michael retired as Director of Mission Support for the ELCA and moved right into serving as a Steward Key Leader with the SKL ministry of the ELCA. Michael brings his life’s experience as a steward to his work and motivational speaking.
Download PDF Flyer and Registration

April 12-13
Middle School Gathering

Theme: "Not Just A Survivor"
"...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."- John 10:10
First, 725 33rd St., Astoria
Please contact Lisa Gray at zoaryouth@canby.com or at 503-266-4061.
Download PDF Postcard | Download PDF Forms | Download PDF Flyer |
Register by April 1st. Cost $25.

April 20
2008 Luther House Earth Week Challenge

The students, staff, board and friends of Luther House invite you to be part
of the 2008 Luther House Earth Week Challenge called "Love It! Live It! Move
It!" Sunday April 20. This event is designed to help us celebrate the beauty
of God's creation, express our gratitude through physical activity, and
raise funds for ongoing programming at Luther House and the new green
initiative by which we are making Luther House a more eco-friendly campus
ministry center. Plus, an afternoon BBQ and celebration awaits all
participants.

To help you advertise this opportunity, downloadable color brochure and
registration forms accompany this announcement. Just follow the easy
step-by-step instructions.

Download | Earth Week Challenge PDF Flyer | PDF Earth Week Challenge Registration Form |

If you can't join us in Corvallis, please note the option of organizing and
supporting the Earth Week Challenge closer to home with friends from your
neighborhood or congregation.

May 12-15
The Lutheran Staff Association (LSA) of the NW

Holden Village, Chelan, WA
Theme: Surrounded by God - Empowered to Serve

Bishop David Brauer-Rieke will be the keynote speaker. The LSA conference invites all lay staff who serve in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Act now to get this into your continuing education budget. Cost is $250 for early registration. For more information please contact Cathy Steiner at 509-838-9871.


New Book: Opening the Book of Faith

A helpful introduction to the Book of Faith initiative, Opening the Book of Faith explores Lutheran perspectives on Scripture and applies these insights in practical ways. Perfect for leaders, Bible study groups, and individuals who want to renew their relationship to God's Word.
It is due to be released on April 1, 2008.
Click here to pre-order.

July 17-31
Global Mission Companion Synod Poland Trip

Download PDF brochure
Our Companion Synod Program links the Oregon Synod with the Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland. Each year a group from Oregon Synod has been traveling to Poland to as volunteers for this program, they have participated in a camp experience that has affected the lives of numerous children of Poland.

The main job of anyone who will be going is to participate in leading small groups discussions and participate in leading activities like: crafts, baseball, scavenger hunts, art and other activities. This year the cost for this trip is $2475 (Airport/Foreign Departure From Portland) The tour cost is per person. The trip is limited to 12 participants.

Looking for Assembly Registration Information? The Synod Assembly is fast approaching. The 2008 Oregon Synod Assembly Registration Form and the 2008 Hotel Registration information can now be found online at www.oregonsynod.org/08assembly/index.htm.Deadlines:
  • March 28 - Resolutions
    March 28 - Nominations
    May 6 - Early Bird Assembly Registration
    May 6 - Reduced Rate Housing Registration

Other Highlights
To read the complete description of events, please visit www.oregonsynod.org//publication/events.php

March 30
Teacher Training Workshop
Working with Kids of All Abilities

Prince of Life, Oregon City
Download JPG Flyer

April 5
The Inland Northwest Orchestra and Chorale Performance
Peace, 210 NW 9th St., Pendleton 541-276-7592
7:00 pm
The Inland Northwest Orchestra and Chorale will perform Schubert's Mass in C, Saint-Saen's Symphony Number 3 and Albinone's Adagio for Organ and Strings on Saturday April 5 at Peace Lutheran Church in Pendleton.  Featured organist Lanetta Paul will play the recently renovated Moeller organ.

April 15
Camp Lutherwood Registration

Our theme for 2008 is UNAFRAID. Have you ever wanted to do something BIG but were afraid? In the book of John, Jesus tells his followers to be UNAFRAID because he has already conquered the world. This summer we are getting BOLD and BRAVE as we learn about, experience, and proclaim the love of Jesus! Join us!. Register by April 15th and receive a free limited edition T-shirt.

Our annual Camper Calling Campaign is coming up April 8th! Look forward to a call from past summer staff. We want to check in with you and talk about all the crazy wild fun that is coming up this summer at Camp! If you haven't registered by the 8th, we can take it over the phone.
And...hey! Invite a friend or two to come to camp with you this summer!!
Summer Camp Brochure and Registration

April 18-19, 2008
The Journey continues at Northwest House of Theological Studies and the Salem Interfaith Forum in cooperation with Office of the Chaplain at Willamette University as they present Roberta Bondi Wisdom for 21st Century Pilgrims: Ancient Lessons for Contemporary Life
MICAH Worship Center, 680 State Street , Salem, Oregon, www.nhts.org
If you are searching for rich and meaningful ways to access a deeper spirituality, then join Roberta Bondi’s presentation which brings the ancient spiritual practices of the early church to contemporary pilgrims.
Download PDF Registration Brochure | PDF Poster |

April 20
Music at the Mount presents The Columbia Brass Foundry© Brass Quintet

benefit concert for Lutheran Disaster Response - Oregon Flood Relief
Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 515 SW Maplecrest Drive, Portland, OR
503-244-5143
The quintet is comprised of five professional symphonic musicians (2 trumpets, French horn, trombone and tuba) from Columbia and Washington Counties. They work with several symphonies in the area and meet on their own time for the joy of playing brass quintet literature.  They have performed for political and patriotic events with a program of American patriotic music and other concert favorites.  For this event they plan a concert of Marches, New Orleans Jazz , some Hispanic numbers and show tunes.

Location: Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 515 SW Maplecrest Drive, Portland, OR 97219; 503-244-5143
www.mtcarmellutheran.com Admission is free.  Donations will be requested.  The SW Portland Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has provided a $1000 matching grant.

Corrected Date
April 22
Earth Day workshop on green building methods and renovations
will help congregations save money and care for the Earth

  “Green Building and Renovations”
Community Presbyterian Church, 529 NW 19th St., Redmond
11:00 am to 4:30 pm
 “Green Building and Renovations” is a practical workshop to help congregations save money and lighten their foot-print on God's Creation. Call for a discount on large groups from the same congregation. Call (503) 221-1054, ext. 203, or e-mail jkam@emoregon.org to register. Pre-registration is requested by one week ahead, but registration will be accepted at the door. To download a brochure, go to www.emoregon.org.

April 24-27
Cursillo Retreat

Canby Grove Christian Camp and Conference Center, Canby Grove
“Cursillo” is a Spanish word (pronounced “coor-see-yo”) that means “a short course”. A Cursillo is a Spiritual Retreat, a short course in the basics of the Christian Faith. It’s a renewal movement that began in the Roman Catholic Church in Spain, but is now ecumenical and international.

For questions or for further information, contact Pastor Scott Dunfee, St Stephen Lutheran Church, Gladstone, Oregon (503.656-8194) or Pastor Janell Bethke, Oregon Synod Interim Ministry (503.667-7897), the Spiritual Directors for this Retreat
Download Brochure and Registration


May 16
Music At The Mount presents

Lisa Frenz & Mychal Aguilar in a benefit concert for the White Plume Family
Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 515 SW Maplecrest Drive, Portland, OR 97219, 503-244-5143
office@mtcarmellutheran.com Website:  http://www.mtcarmellutheran.com/calendar.html
7:30 pm

Music At The Mount presents Lisa Frenz & Mychal Aguilar in a benefit concert for the White Plume Family, Friday, May 16, 2008, 7:30 p.m, at Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church. Admission is free.  A Donation will be solicited.  The SW Portland Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has provided matching funds.

They will do a program of protest songs, folk songs and show tunes.  Donations will benefit the White Plume family whose story is told in the documentary “Standing Silent Nation” from Prairie Dust Films.  Last December the White Plume’s family home burned to the ground.  Since the fire, the White Plumes (Deb, Alex, seven grandkids, and daughter Rosebud) have lived in a hotel in Kyle, SD, while the rebuild on a temporary house continues (they will move into the temp house any day now). Resources are being gathered to rebuild a permanent, hemp/alternative house this spring and summer.

June 11
12 to 2:30 p.m., “Save Your Congregation Energy and Money”
6 to 8:30 p.m., “Energy Stewardship Workshop”

Central Lutheran Church, 1820 NE 21st Avenue, Portland
The keynote speaker for all three workshops will be Doug Boleyn, PE, who has over 30 years of experience in renewable energy and energy efficiency. He is the energy consultant for Oregon Interfaith Power and Light, past-president of the Solar Oregon, president of Cascade Solar Consulting, LLC, and a member of the Energy Trust of Oregon Renewable Advisory Committee.

Better energy stewardship benefits the bottom-line of congregations, businesses and households and protects natural resources. These workshops will assist all who desire to improve energy stewardship.

June 21
2nd Annual Footsteps to Freedom World Refugee Day Walk

South Park Blocks, Portland
Sponsored by Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW), in partnership with Catholic Charities and Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees (SOAR)
This event is designed to celebrate and honor the resilience and spirit of over 55,000 refugees that have made their home in Oregon, as well as raise funds for the Refugee Resettlement programs at each of the sponsoring organizations. The day’s events include a 5K walk, refugee speakers, ethnic food, music and crafts, and a community resource fair. For more information or to register, please contact Megan Schaefer, Volunteer Coordinator for LCSNW, at mschaefer@lcsnw.org or 503-731-9553.

July 21-25
Bible Day Camp

St. Paul, 3880 SE Brookly St., Portland
(Joint minitry of All Saints Episcopal and St. Paul, St. Mark's and Camp Lutherwoood)
An age-appropriate camp filled with crafts, recreation, games, fellowship, and study centered around God and Christ in our world. For registration and more information contact: Kathy Schroeder at St. Paul Lutheran at 503-236-2389 or 503-788-4910 or gusschroe@comcast.net.

July 24-26
2008 Gathering of the North American Association for the Catechumenate

Listening for the Spirit in a Post-Christian World

Dumas Bay in Federal Way, Washington.
The gathering will help us consider the challenges facing catechumenal ministers and Christian communities in an increasingly secularized society where an awareness of scripture and the sacramental tradition has diminished. How can we listen afresh to the stories of those who are seeking faith? How might the catechumenate offer a fresh approach to assimilating Christians in a culture at odds with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Through presentations and guided group work, we will reflect on catechumenal ministry in our postmodern world and the grace this offers those who serve as practitioners of the catechumenate.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Samuel Torvend, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religion at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington. For more information and registration forms, visit: http://catechumenate.org/main.cfm?sid=3

October 16-18
Living Liturgy Event at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 9706 N. Division, Spokane, WA
Early Registration by 7/15/08: Individual $125 each; Cost per congregation (up to 4 participants): $100 each. Register after 7/15/08:  Individual $150 each; Cost per congregation: $115 each.
Please make checks payable to St. Luke Lutheran Church PO Box 28948, Spokane, WA  99228. For accommodations call the Ramada Limited Suites at 1800-272-6232 or Quality Inn Oakwood at 1877-424-6423 and mention the Living Liturgy workshop at St. Luke.  Call ASAP as there are other events that weekend in Spokane.

November 4
Hope Lutheran Church is hosting an 11 day Greece and the Greek Isle tour.
Travel in the footsteps of St. Paul to Greece. Start in Athens and see the Acropolis…visit Corinth where he lived with Priscilla and Aquila…Take a three-day Greek Isles cruise with a chance to see ancient Ephesus...visit Thessaloniki and Philippi, where Paul first preached the Gospel in Europe.

The price includes:roundtrip airfare from San Francisco;accommodations at First Class and Select Hotels, most meals, comprehensive sightseeing and all service charges and local taxes

The cost is $2799 from San Francisco plus fuel surcharges and taxes, per person double occupancy, $300 deposit per person.

If Interested please contact Lisa Sharp or Pastor Tim Herzfeldt-Kamprath at Hope Lutheran Church, 541-884-6416 or email: hopeklamath@aol.com

Position Openings/ Other Offerings
To view a complete listing of position openings around the synod visit: www.oregonsynod.org//congregations/positions.php.