April 2018
 





Abide in the Easter Report

 

The report is clear and certain: “Jesus has risen” (Mark 16:6) – therefore death no longer has dominion over him (Romans 6:9). That means he can’t ever die again. But can we imagine that happening? Scientifically we haven’t been able to bring someone back after being dead for three days – never ever to die again. So can we think through the mechanics of this?

      Luther didn’t think we could. He thought it was “too high and too big for us” (Luther’s Works 77:48). What then are we to do if we can’t figure this out scientifically or even imaginatively? Luther thought our only recourse is to stick to the report of his rising and hold on to that and trust in it. That is because it is “sure and cannot deceive.” So it is right for us to be “occupied with Scripture and God’s Word, even if we do not always immediately understand it or take it to heart as we should” (LW 77:49). Good advice, I would say.

      So during Easter this year, hold on to Luther’s words and the Resurrection report so that these other famous words may dwell in you richly: “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14).

 

Pastor Marshall








 


Why Luther Criticized

Religious Experiences

 

“Luther collapsed the distinction between the subjective and the objective. For the sense of certainty as to one’s own salvation, a sense which it is not altogether unjust to label ‘subjective,’ was not to be achieved by the traditionally subjective means of introspection and examination of conscience…. This sense of certainty was attained by an entirely objective and external engagement with the saving promise of Christ. Experience was the fruit of faith rather than its cause [TR 1.423]. For Luther, the focus of this mental operation was empathically outside rather than inside the self. The focus was Christ, not self. Through that focus on Christ one attained inner peace by means of the realization that Christ’s saving work applied to oneself – and that this work, because it was God’s work, was utterly certain and beyond all doubt.”

 

[Richard Rex, The Making of Martin Luther (Princeton University Press, 2017) p. 94.]

 



 




100 Years Ago

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Parish Centennial

 

By Pastor Marshall

 

The Rev. Erick Berthan Slettedahl was our pastor when we started our congregation. But he was not our full-time resident pastor. That wouldn’t happen until Pastor Hans Bernhard Wogter came on March 21, 1920. Until then, Pastor Slettedahl served us part time. From 1914–1917 he was the assistant superintendent for the Home Mission board. Before that he was pastor at Denny Park Lutheran Church downtown Seattle from 1909–1913. Anna Anderson was in his congregation at that time and she was probably the one who got him involved in West Seattle. From 1917–1933 he was the pastor for the Seattle Seaman’s Mission – so we shared him with them. Pastor Slettedahl was born in Norway in 1855

and came to America in 1909. He died in Seattle in 1947 at the age of 92.

      In his memoir, Wonderful Experiences in the Work of God’s Kingdom (1936), he reports telling the Norwegian immigrants in Seattle: “You people who have come from the mother church in Norway have now gotten so far away that you no longer want to listen to a sermon by a Lutheran pastor.” He is remembered as being “quite oratorical, evangelical and evangelistic. He could move audiences to tears…. Many people were converted to Christ by [his] preaching…. Even when he was sick and dying at 92 in the hospital, he would try to talk to the men around him about… Jesus dying for them” [R. F. Marshall, Deo Gloria: A History of First Lutheran Church of West Seattle from 1918 to 1988 (1989) pp. 32–33].

            We were blessed to have Pastor Slettedahl as our founding pastor. Be sure to thank God for him during this centennial year – and more than once.

 




 



President’s Report…by Bob Baker

 

Launching the Anniversary Charity Fund

 

       4, 3, 2, 1, Blast Off.

Yes, our Anniversary Charity Fund has launched. Sonja has put up a thermometer graph in the lounge which displays our progress toward the goal of $10,000.00 for charity we hope to raise by September 23rd, the date we celebrate our congregation’s 100th Anniversary. This thermometer shows we have already raised over $1,000.00. Thank you for your generous contributions!

        Booster Rockets. At the March 13th meeting of the Congregation Council some council members boosted this launch by indicating their intended contribution to the Anniversary Charity Fund. These individual contributions total over $4,200.00. Other council members said they wanted to talk it over with their spouse and would then report their intentions at next month’s council meeting. Our elected leaders are leading the way.

         Together For Others. I am writing this to encourage your participation. We still have a long way to go to reach our goal. Yet the goal is not an end in itself. Several worthwhile charities in our community and extended community and their many needy clients (our neighbors) stand to benefit from this fund. Such a focus is a fitting and faithful way to celebrate and give thanks to God for the 100 years of blessings we have had to worship with Word and Sacrament at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle. Thanks be to God!

         Please keep the Mission and Ministry of our congregation in your prayers.





 




“Street people in Seattle need a pastor too!” When the Rev. Bud Palmberg heard that, he decided to give it a try. So in 1967 he founded Operation Night Watch in Seattle. The beginning was slow and rough – with a pastor or two getting hurt on the streets – all of them volunteering to hang out on the streets and in the bars from 10 pm to 4 am, three to four nights a week.

      But by 1976 they were incorporated with the State of Washington. And in 1999 they bought a shelter on 14th Avenue South and South Main Street in Seattle (which they still own and operate). By the next year they were providing meals from their first floor kitchen and spots for 24 homeless men in the upstairs of their building.

      Today there are some thirty local ministers and laypeople who volunteer at Operation Night Watch. Pastor Rick Reynolds and Ben Curtis oversee this ministry. Their mission is to make friends with the street people and then help move them into housing, treatment, employment and reconciliation with family and friends – depending on what their specific needs are. And their budget is now over one million dollars. Last year they gave out over 10,000 pairs of socks to homeless men and women.

      We are excited that Operation Night Watch has been selected as one of the agencies to receive money from our Anniversary Charity Fund this year.





 




WASHINGTON STATE SENATE RESOLUTION 8615

 

Honoring

the West Seattle Helpline

 

By Senators Nelson, Wellman, Cleveland, Saldaña, McCoy,

Billig, Chase, and Liias

 

March 30, 2017

 

WHEREAS, Founded in 1989, the West Seattle Helpline has continued, year by year, to embody its founding principle and enduring philosophy: Neighbors helping neighbors; and

WHEREAS, The West Seattle Helpline is devoted to helping the most vulnerable families and individuals throughout the city. Quoted as often doing the "work that is left undone," the West Seattle Helpline offers a range of services with the purpose of aiding people through unforeseen hardships so that they may stand back up on their feet and regain self-sufficiency; and

WHEREAS, Those who are unable to power their homes, maintain running water, or in danger of ending up on the street, who have come to the West Seattle Helpline, have been helped to ease their circumstances, find hope, and see a light at the end of the tunnel; and

WHEREAS, Those who have struggled to get to the doctor, a job interview, or take their children to school, who have come to the West Seattle Helpline, have been provided with transportation to get to where they need to go, allowing them to take another step closer to independence; and

WHEREAS, Those infants, children, teens, adults, and aspiring professionals in such great need that even clothing has become a luxury, who have come to the West Seattle Helpline, have left with a shirt on their back, or a coat, or a tie, or a school uniform, etc.; and because of the West Seattle Helpline's devoted service, they have also left with more confidence in themselves and in their capacity to regain stability; and

WHEREAS, With the help of the public and several community partners, the West Seattle Helpline has spent thousands of dollars helping numerous individuals and families; doing so while consistently treating those members of the community with the utmost dignity and respect required of a good neighbor; and

WHEREAS, It's great work has not gone unnoticed, and the West Seattle Helpline recently won the 2016 Nonprofit of the Year award from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, The West Seattle Helpline will continue to be a beacon of goodwill and unity throughout Seattle and the State of Washington and will continue to inspire, amongst people, the principle of neighbors helping neighbors;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the West Seattle Helpline and recognize all of the partners and individuals who support it.

I, Hunter G. Goodman, Secretary of the Senate, do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8615, adopted by the Senate

 

March 30, 2017

 

HUNTER G. GOODMAN

Secretary of the Senate

Resolution 8615



 




STEWARDSHIP

 

A YEAR FOR INCREASED GIVING

 

At the last Annual meeting our congregation passed what we are calling a “stretch budget.”  It is a “stretch” because we are asking our congregation, on average, to give more than it has in the past.  Our goal is to support our staff with reasonable salary increases while maintaining enough money for much needed maintenance of our building and continuing to meet all other financial obligations of our church.  We are all aware that our church needs money to pay for salaries, rent, utilities, building maintenance, supplies and other expenses so please consider the following as you search your heart for increased giving to our most glorious church throughout 2018.

      The apostle Paul urged Christians to diligently use their God-given gifts [talents, time and money] to support the work of the Church.

Romans 12:6-8

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

      Also this year is the 100th Anniversary of our church and we have set a goal of raising $10,000 ($100 per year of the last 100 years) for select extended ministries.  Please reflect on the words of Apostle Paul for your extra giving to our 100th Anniversary Charity Fund:

2 Corinthians 8:3

For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will….

 

      Finally, as our blessed Martin Luther said, “I have held many things in my hand, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands that I still possess.”

Cary Natiello, Church Council

 

Stewardship 2018

 

                                    Month (February)        Year to date (Jan-February)

Budget                               $19,447                             $46,595

Received                            $23,326                             $53,593

 



 



WE DID THE RIGHT THING –

NOW LET’S MAKE IT REAL

 

At the last Annual meeting our congregation passed a “challenge budget” or a “stretch budget.” One reason we consider it a challenge or stretch budget is because we did the right thing—we gave our staff salary adjustments. We did this while maintaining budgeted expense levels for our other obligations like utilities and supplies. The salary adjustments that we approved barely kept up with inflation and our staff has only received two other modest salary adjustments in the past 10 years. So, yes, our congregation did the right thing and gave our staff salary adjustments.

      The other reason it is a challenge or stretch budget is because, in addition to salary adjustments, we maintained a $1,100 monthly contribution to our major maintenance reserve savings account. The council considered reducing this amount but that would have been irresponsible in light of near term major maintenance needs. We have significant building maintenance challenges ahead of us, both in the near term with specific projects, and in the long term with an aging building, and this modest amount we are saving each month will quickly get used up. Nonetheless, again our congregation did the right thing and maintained the level of funding to the major maintenance reserve savings account as in previous years.
 

     Another reason this budget is a challenge or stretch budget is that it requires increased congregational giving to fully fund the budget.  The increase needed is not large – a net total of approximately $183 per week over the course of the year – nor is the level of the total budget extravagant (far from it).  In order to meet our challenge budget, if each giving unit of the congregation increased their average weekly giving by approximately $10 per week over our historical average, we would rise to the challenge, and fully fund our stretch budget for 2018.  In order to make it a reality, FLCWS needs that increased giving from the congregation, and 2018’s budget, which funds important priorities like a small staff salary increase and maintains our maintenance expenditures and savings, relies on that increased giving becoming a reality. 

David King, Budget and Finance Committee Chair
 


 



“HAPPY 100th ANNIVERSARY!”

 

Not everyday do we enjoy celebrating something that is 100 years old.  On September 23rd this Fall, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle will have this momentous opportunity.  This day will be the culmination of nine months of events that lead up to the celebratory liturgy and a dinner honoring the first hundred years in the life of our parish.

 

On the subject of food,... an evening event is planned for Sunday, September 23, 2018 to be held in The Skyline Ballroom at Salty’s Restaurant on Alki.  This event will include appetizers, a 3 course dinner and a 

 

program featuring Paul Dorpat, who is known for his column in The Seattle Times, “Now & Then,” where he features how places in the Seattle area have physically changed or transformed over time.

 

The dinner will feature passed appetizers, a salad course, two or three entrée choices, and cake for dessert.  There will be a No Host bar for beverages other than coffee and tea.  The cost will be $75 per person.  We will also have a children’s entrée that will cost $30.  More details on these choices will be featured closer to the date.  And speaking of dates,... start planning for this event now!

 

With the summer schedule beginning in June, communication will be reduced.  Bulletin inserts will periodically remind us of upcoming deadlines and events, but:

 

the last day for signing up for, deciding on your entrée and paying for the tickets will be Sunday, September 9, 2018,

 

which is the Sunday following the Labor Day weekend and school starting, etc!  So mark your calendars.  Tickets (and entrée choices) will be available in May.

 

It’s going to be a great day so don’t miss it!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

First Lutheran Church of West Seattle

4105 California Avenue S.W.

Seattle, Washington 98116

March 20, 2018



 








 




The Office of verger:

A New Program

X X X

A New Opportunity

 

OUR WORSHIP

We worship in the ancient, historical patterns of Christians that have been handed down through the centuries.  We celebrate the Lord’s Supper at both of our Sunday morning liturgies every week.  This is the way Christ wanted us to remember him on the Lord’s Day.

    Our prayer together is always liturgical, following the historical forms of the church.  We read Holy Scriptures as they are appointed in the Lectionary.  The sermon explains those readings in terms of Law and Gospel.  In this we rely on Martin Luther’s (1483-1546) understanding of Christ’s mission and life. 

    Our hymns reinforce the scriptures read, proclaimed and prayed in our worship.  This supports the solemnity of our praise to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Vestments and traditional rituals also contribute to the richness of worship.  All our corporate worship is offered within the consecrated walls of our church which is deemed God’s holy and sacred house of prayer.

 

NEW PROGRAM: The Office of verger

At their October meeting the Church Council established a worship assistants guild to be made up of men and women who would be instructed in how to perform a series of liturgical acts as prescribed by historical protocol and The Manual on the Liturgy – Lutheran Book of Worship, Philip H. Peatteicher and Carlos R. Messerli; Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1979. 

     This group would be known by the historic title of Verger. 

 

Short History

The office of verger has its roots in the monasteries of Europe during the middle ages, sharing certain similarities with the minor orders of porter and acolyte.  Historically, vergers were responsible for the order and upkeep of the house of worship including the care of the church building, the furnishings and sacred relics, preparations for the liturgies, conduct of the laity and the burial of the dead. 

     Historic records show vergers as early as the 12th century.  This practice eventually spread beyond the walls of the monasteries and into the churches and cathedrals throughout Europe. 

     Today the Office of Verger continues to function throughout Europe and Canada.  In America there are numerous churches and cathedrals that have vergers.  In other denominations the work of the verger has been dispersed among a variety of service groups (i.e.) acolytes, altar guilds, ushers and maintenance staff.

 

Vergers at First Lutheran Church

A verger’s role will be ceremonial only.  Their function will be to support and augment the acolyte guild whenever needed, particularly at major festivals and other liturgical celebrations when a larger number of assistants are needed.  It is important to state here that it is not our intent to replace the acolytes in their duties, only to augment the acolyte guild whenever needed. 

 

Responsibilities

To be a member of this guild will require a four (4) week period of instruction.  The work of the verger will include:  crucifer, torchbearer, thurifer, bookbearer, lighting candles, assisting with communion distribution, receiving the offering, and ceremonial escort.  These responsibilities DO NOT include that of lector or worship leader, that work will still be assigned to the deacon or subdeacon. The verger, like the acolyte, will serve under the direction of the deacon.

 

Vestments

Vergers will be vested in cassock and cotta. 

 

Why Vergers

Over the years the number of acolytes available to serve has varied greatly.  The current number of acolytes to draw from is small, limiting us as to what we can do for major celebrations when many are needed, for example Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, St. Mary’s and All Saints.  Having a group of men and women able to perform a variety of liturgical acts will enable us to function at full capacity for all occasions. 

    First Lutheran Church of West Seattle has a long tradition of worship using the historic liturgical forms of the church. 

Establishing the Office of Verger enables us to continue in that long tradition of supporting the solemnity of our praise to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by contributing to the richness of our worship. 

 

AN INVITATION

If you are interested and would like to participate in this program please call the church office (935-6530) and sign up.  Instruction will begin as soon as possible.  We would like to use the vergers during the Christmas Season. 

     If you have any questions please call the church office and ask for Dean. 




 



April Book

With the Mind:  Readings in Contemporary Theology

3-5 pm in the Church Lounge, Saturday, April 28th

The book for April is Culture and the Death of God (2014) by Terry Eagleton (b. 1943), professor of literature at the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Lancaster, and the National University of Ireland. In this book he first shows how intellectuals in the West, over the last couple hundred years, have tried to end belief in God and replace it with belief in our secular culture. Secondly, he tries to show how this has failed. He ends his book saying: “The New Testament has little or nothing to say of responsible citizenship. It is not a ‘civilized’ document at all. It shows no enthusiasm for social consensus. Since it holds that such values are imminently to pass away [1 Corinthians 7:31], it is not greatly taken with standards of civic excellence or codes of good conduct. What it adds to common-or-garden morality is not some supernatural support, but the grossly inconvenient news that our forms of life must undergo radical dissolution if they are to be reborn as just and compassionate communities” (pp. 207–208).

     A copy of this striking book is in the library. If you would like to purchase one for yourself, contact Pastor Marshall. Feel free to attend our meeting when we discuss how God has been forced out of our world only to return in spite of people trying to keep him away.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  

WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK BENEFIT:  The 10th Annual Instruments of Change Benefit Dinner is planned for Saturday evening, May 12th, this year.  There will be a Happy Hour with games, Liquor Tasting and great items in our Silent Auction.  Then enjoy a 3-Course dinner by Tuxedo and Tennis Shoes with a dessert dash.  This fundraising event is at the Seattle Design Center, 5701 6th Ave S.  Tickets: $100 or $1,000 for a table.  

WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE:  Get your tickets ASAP on the W.S. Helpline web page to the very popular Taste of West Seattle.  This annual event planned for Thursday, May 24th, is in its 12th year.  This is a true taste of what West Seattle has to offer in food, wine and brews.

FOOD BANK DONATION suggestion for April is baby food and infant formula.  Formula is expensive for young families and much appreciated.  Cash donations are always welcome.  Designate your check to FLCWS with West Seattle Food Bank.

Compass Housing Alliance needs new or lightly used bath towels.  Donations can be left at the office.



 




Romans 7.11

Monthly Home Bible Study, April 2018, Number 302

The Reverend Ronald F. Marshall

 

Along with our other regular study of Scripture, let us join as a congregation in this home study. We will study alone then talk informally about the assigned verses together as we have opportunity. In this way we can "gather together around the Word" even though physically we will not be getting together (Acts 13.44). (This study uses the RSV translation.)

We need to support each other in this difficult project. In 1851 Kierkegaard wrote that the Bible is "an extremely dangerous book....[because] it is an imperious book... – it takes the whole man and may suddenly and radically change... life on a prodigious scale" (For Self-Examination). And in 1967 Thomas Merton wrote that "we all instinctively know that it is dangerous to become involved in the Bible" (Opening the Bible). Indeed this word "kills" us (Hosea 6.5) because we are "a rebellious people" (Isaiah 30.9)! As Lutherans, however, we are still to "abide in the womb of the Word" (Luther's Works 17.93) by constantly "ruminating on the Word" (LW 30.219) so that we may "become like the Word" (LW 29.155) by thinking "in the way Scripture does" (LW 25.261). Before you study, then, pray: "Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen" (quoted in R. F. Marshall, Making A New World: How Lutherans Read the Bible, 2003, p. 12). And don’t give up, for as Luther said, we “have in Scripture enough to study for all eternity” (LW 75:422)!

Week I. Read Romans 7.11 noting the word deceived. If God’s commandments are involved in this deception, are they then bad? On this read Romans 7.12 noting the word good. How are those commandments exempted from this deception? On this read Romans 7.11 noting the phrase sin finding an opportunity. So sin is to blame and not God’s law. But how is that? On this read Matthew 7.18 noting the line nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. What makes us good, then, if not our good deeds or fruit? On this read Luke 8.15 noting the phrase an honest and good heart. What makes for one of those? On this read 1 Corinthians 10.31 noting the line do all to the glory of God. Read also Colossians 3.17 noting the line do everything… giving thanks to God. So doing something good is only half of it. We must also have the right mind when doing something good if it is going to be good in God’s eyes. Do you agree? Are you glad about this? If not, why not? What would the local food bank think?

Week II. Read again Romans7.11 noting the same word deceived. What are we tricked into thinking through this deception? On this read Romans 2.28 noting that a real Jew is not a matter of doing something only outwardly in just an external or physical way. What’s lacking in such cases? On this read 2 Corinthians 5.12 noting the contrast between position and heart. So is it that an outward Jew lacks heart? On this read Matthew 15.8 noting the superficiality of lip service when their hearts are far from God. Notice here how this honor isn’t good in and of itself – when the heart is lacking! Same goes for giving a bag of food to the hungry. The poor benefit from it alright, but we don’t, because God isn’t impressed. What is it that pleases God and impresses him? On this read Hebrews 11.6 noting the word faith. Is faith a matter of the heart? On this read Romans 10.10 noting the line a man believes with his heart. So while our sheer deeds of goodness may impress people, God is looking for something more. On this read Isaiah 66.4 noting the words all, righteous, deeds and polluted. They lack an honest and good heart – they lack faith. Is that too strict a view of good deeds? On that read Isaiah 55.9 noting the word higher. Do you agree that this height should make that much moral difference? Why or why not?

Week III. Reread Romans 7.11 noting this time the word killed. What sort of death is this? On this read Luke 18.9 noting the phrase trusted in themselves. What’s wrong with that and why should it end? On this read Jeremiah 17.5 noting the sequence from trusting in ourselves to turning away from God. Can this be averted through intense caution? On this read Matthew 26.41 noting the words weak and flesh. Read also Romans 7.18 noting the words nothing and good. So does trusting in ourselves lead automatically to leaving God behind – regardless of how we try to block it? What then? On this read John 15.5 noting the line apart from me you can do nothing. Where does that leave us? On this read Matthew 11.29 – 30 noting the words come, take, learn and rest. Does that settle it?

Week IV. Read Romans 7.11 one last time noting again that word killed. Is there any joy in this death to our self-trust? On this read 2 Corinthians 6.10 noting the high wire act of balancing sorrowful with rejoicing. Can this be done, do you think? On this read 1 Corinthians 7.31 noting the line as though they had no dealings with the world. What does that attitude bring about? On this read Philippians 4.13 noting the exclamation I can do all things in him who strengthens me. So what is the register of this joy when it abides alongside our sorrowfulness? On this read John 16.33 noting how cheer implies that the world’s been overcome. Does that mean that its measurements and capacities don’t pertain in this case? If so, what follows? Read Philippians 4.7 noting the phrase passes all understanding. That given, what’s the most we can say? On this read Romans 8.18 noting how our sorrow now fades when compared with the joy coming in the next world and our life in heaven. Are you impressed? How so, if at all?




 



X  PARISH PRAYERS  X

Remember in prayer before God those whom He has made your

brothers and sisters through baptism.

 

Bob Baker, Matt Anderson, Dean Hard, Sam & Kevin Lawson, Kyra Stromberg, Pete Morrison, Mia Schorn, Aasha Sagmoen & Ajani Hammond, Melanie Johnson, Marlis Ormiston, Eileen Nestoss, Emma Sagmoen, Bob & Barbara Schorn, Celia Balderston, The PLU Lecturers, Tabitha Anderson, The Rev. Paul Smith, The Rev. Howard Fosser, The Rev. Kevin Forquer, The Rev. Alan Gardner, Ion & Galina Ceaicovschi, Nathan & Les Arkle, Chris & Margeen Boyer, Elizabeth Banek, Jack & Sheila Feichtner, Joann Beckman, Bob Coburn, John Quinn, Lawrence Johnson, Deanne Heflin, Julie & Diane Sauter, Joann & Mary Jane Lakie, Cheryl Atwood, Martin Nygaard, Jay Ford, Judy Earle, Susan Armbrewster, Paul & Marylou Jensen, Larry Lawrence.

     Pray for the shut-ins that the light of Christ may give them joy: Bob & Barbara Schorn, Joan Olson, Chuck & Doris Prescott, C. J. Christian, Louis Koser, Anelma Meeks, Dorothy Ryder, Lillian Schneider, Crystal Tudor, Nora Vanhala, Mildred Nikula, Mary Goplerud.

     Pray for our bishops Elizabeth Eaton and Brian Kirby Unti, our pastor Ronald Marshall, our deacon Dean Hard and our cantor Andrew King, that they may be strengthened in faith, love and the holy office to which they have been called.

     Pray that God would give us hearts which find joy in service and in celebration of Stewardship.  Pray that God would work within you to become a good steward of your time, your talents and finances.  Pray to strengthen the Stewardship of our congregation in these same ways.

     Pray for the hungry, ignored, abused, and homeless this April.  Pray for the mercy of God for these people, and for all in Christ's church to see and help those who are in distress.

     Pray for our sister congregation: El Camino de Emmaus in the Skagit Valley that God may bless and strengthen their ministry. Also, pray for our parish and it's ministry.

     Pray that God will bless you through the lives of the saints: Albrecht Dürer, painter, 1528; Dietrich Bonhoeffer, teacher, 1945; Saint Mark, Evangelist; Catherine of Siena, teacher, 1380.


A Treasury of Prayers

 

O Everlasting God, let this mind be in me which was also in Christ Jesus; that as he from his loftiness stooped to the death of the cross, so may I in my humbleness, humble myself – believing, obeying, living and dying – that I may glorify you forever. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

                                                                       [For All the Saints I:946, altered]