October
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There But for the Grace of God
Many times over our
100
year history we could have closed our doors for good –
like others around us have: Bethlehem Lutheran
Church
(1917–2010),
Saint James Lutheran Church
(1921–2005),
Riverton Heights Lutheran Church
(1945–1998),
and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
(1958–2001).
But the Lord came to our help and kept us open
(Psalm
118:13).
Here are a few examples.
In
1915
Pastor Olaf Holen
(1889–1988)
worked to establish our church, but was discouraged by
the lack of interest among the Norwegian pagan
immigrants he was targeting, and told the mission board
to throw in the towel [Deo
Gloria: A History of First Lutheran Church of West
Seattle from
1918
to
1988
(1989)
pp.
34–35].
But the board ignored his advice. If they hadn’t, we
would’ve been closed down before we ever opened up.
Pastor Hans Holte died while serving our congregation on
August
7, 1933.
When his successor, Pastor Osmund Salveson, arrived on
March
11, 1934,
he found the church yard overgrown – having to pull up
“long grass and weeds to get the doors open.” It took
three days to clean up the church – with broken windows
that enabled “birds and pigeons [to make] their home.
What a mess!” It’s a wonder the church didn’t close for
good during that year of abuse – if not its “two and
half years” of disuse, as Salveson thought. On December
8, 1932
it was reported that Pastor Holte was absent due to
illness, well be before he actually died (Deo
Gloria,
pp.
37–38, 4).
Pastor Salveson only stayed eighteen months. The mission
board saw the writing on the wall and decided to close
us down. But a layman, Charlie Johnson, and Pastor
Holte’s widow, Minnie, complained and persuaded the
board to give us one last chance. On January
1, 1936,
Pastor Anders Aasen arrived. That was the closest we
ever came to closing down.
On April
7, 1946,
we applied for a loan to the synodical church extension
fund, to build our new church building. It was denied
because our plans were too grandiose, they thought. That
could have been the beginning of the end. But we instead
applied for a
$125,000
loan from Lutheran Brotherhood fraternal insurance
company, and we were off and running. The loan was paid
off within five years after completion of construction.
So thank God for keeping us open when we easily could
have closed – and may we also work diligently in his
vineyard to please him (Luke
10:2;
Hebrews
11:6;
Luke
13:7;
Matthew
13:12,
21:43;
Acts
5:39).
Pastor
Marshall
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PRESIDENT'S REPORT....by
Bob Baker
Thank God for Prudent Planners!
For the past three years we have put $1,100 a month into
a Major Maintenance Reserve (MMR) account. Prudent
planning, it turns out.
David King has been a strong
advocate for this practice. Actually, David would have
us put in more than $1,100 a month, but he yields to the
reality of income resources. I thank God for David’s
advocacy of long-range planning.
On occasion various donors
have made significant contributions designated for the
MMR or a particular project funded by the MMR. We thank
God for such donors.
This year the MMR has taken
some big hits, just what it was designed for. The window
wall along the stairway from the lounge to downstairs
has been an on-going snowballing project of removing
broken windows, cleaning metal framework, replacing
drainage devices, painting, and installing new special
glass panes. It looks like the MMR will take a hit of
some $17,722. Uff dah. Thank God that some of the
designated offerings were for this particular project.
The cleaning and sealing of
the sandstone exterior of the sanctuary and resealing of
leaking windows look to be running up a bill of about
$19,400. The Tilden School has graciously offered to
contribute to this expense, besides their monthly
contribution (rent). Thank God for the many ways Tilden
contributes to the upkeep and improvement of our
buildings and parking lot!
The water heater in the
parsonage rusted out and flooded the basement. The water
heater was replaced at a cost of: $1,800.
In the process of replacing
that water heater, it was found that the 50 year old
parsonage furnace was not going to restart and needed to
be replaced. This work is being done, without labor
charge, by Ken Hovde and Dale Korsmo. They are replacing
the furnace with a $16,000 heat-pump and AC unit at a
wholesale cost (thanks to Ken Hovde) of only $5,500.
Thanks be to God for the skill and willingness of Ken
and Dale who have done so many projects around the
church, parish house, and parsonage!
They're saving us around $11,000 on
this project!
As I write this, I received word that last Sunday we
received donation(s) designated to the MMR of $1,500. By
the end of September, the MMR should have $44,454. The
above bills total about $44,422. That would leave the
MMR with about
$32. The Tilden donation will help get the MMR back
on course for the next major maintenance project. Thank
God that this year we weathered major projects without
having to borrow money and paying interest on a loan, as
has been done in the past.
Please keep the Mission and
Ministry of our congregation in your prayers.
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The
Holy Spirit Banner
By
Pastor Marshall
This
banner was dedicated on May 13, 2018, in celebration of
our 100th Anniversary. The beautiful Dove on it –
symbolizing the Holy Spirit, Matthew 3:16 – was part of
an antique canopy, circa 1900, from the Archdiocese of
Chicago, and given to us by the Rev. John G. Gardner of
San Francisco, California, a friend of mine. The sewing
was done by Wendy Cullen and Sherry Garman from the
Altar Guild of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia,
Seattle, Washington. The Chi Rho on the back, is the
ancient abbreviation for Christ, who said, “The Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will…
bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”
(John 14:25).
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Anniversary Greetings
from Pastor Michael Simonds…
“I
was born in 1947 and born again a couple of months later
in the waters of Baptism at First Lutheran Church of
West Seattle…. In September 1970 I moved to Iowa to
attend Wartburg Theological Seminary to prepare for the
ministry. And you, my home congregation, paid for my
seminary tuition. Thanks again for helping!... I was
ordained in 1975 and served congregations in Minnesota.
Now I am retired and living in Minnesota.
Congratulations on your 100th Anniversary…. I wish I was
in Seattle celebrating with you…”
from Pastor Paul Smith…
“Congratulations
on your 100 years of ministry in West Seattle…. As a
colleague in ministry just a few blocks down the street
at West Side Presbyterian Church for thirty-five years,
I give thanks for your gracious and unapologetic witness
to Jesus Christ. I’m also thankful for your commitment
to excellence. Not every evangelical congregation has
recognized, as you have, the importance of combining
Scriptures with excellent music, art, and architecture…
My prayer is that you continue to love God and the
people He brings into your lives. May God’s richest
blessings remain on you all."
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Photography by Molly/Molly Casto
Wedding Vows
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David & Jennifer King
By Pastor Marshall
Here are the vows David
and Jennifer exchanged at their wedding, August 4, 2018.
They are based on the vows in the
Lutheran Book of
Worship (1978) and
The Committed Marriage (1976) p. 41, by Elizabeth
Achtemeier. They may also serve as words for marriage
renewal:
I take you, _______________, to be my wife/husband, from
this day forward, to join with you and to share all that
is to come, and I promise to be faithful until death
parts us. I will be with you, no matter what happens to
and between us. If you achieve no success and attain no
status in society, I will be there. When we argue and
are angry, I will work to bring us together. When we
seem totally at odds, I will persist in trying to
understand and restore our relationship. When our
marriage seems sterile and going nowhere, I will believe
that it can work and I will want it to work and I will
do my part to make it work. And when all is wonderful
and we are happy, I will rejoice over our life together,
and strive to keep our relationship growing and strong
as we look to Christ to guide, strengthen, and sustain
us through every season of life.
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LBW at 40
By Pastor Marshall
I have sung the praises of the
Lutheran Book of
Worship (1978) four times before (The
Messenger, November 1988, December 2003, November
2005, and “Evangelical
Lutheran Worship and Universalism,”
CrossAccent,
15/2, 2007). This time I do it on the occasion of its
fortieth anniversary (1978–2018), by way of the book,
In the Context of
Unity: A History of the Development of the Lutheran
Book of Worship (2003), by Dr. Ralph W. Quere
(1935–2018), long time professor at Wartburg Theological
Seminary in Iowa.
Throughout this book, Quere makes the case that even
though the process was flawed that brought it to
publication, the LBW is overall the best worship book
Lutherans in America have ever had (p. 240). And I would
agree (with the possible exception of the
Lutheran Service
Book, 2006). The basis for its greatness is its
Law-Gospel principle – marked by the “word that
justifies the terrified” (p. 251).
Even so, Quere notes a few problems with the LBW. First,
Paul Gerhard’s
mein Sohn should never have been changed to
mein Kind in
Hymn 105, verse two (p. 222). Second, the line in the
hymn, “Amazing Grace” – “’Twas grace that taught my
heart to fear” isn’t Lutheran and should have instead
been, “’Twas grace that brought my Savior near” (p.
214). And third, leaving out “O Darkest Woe” (Service
Book and Hymnal, hymn 87) (p. 78) was unjustified.
Finally not adding this sermon prayer to the daily
office for times when there was preaching was a mistake:
“Prepare our hearts, Lord, to
receive your word. Silence in us any voice but
your own, that hearing we may believe and
believing we may obey your will, revealed to us
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (p. 103). |
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Stewardship
2018
Month (August)
Year to date (Jan-August)
Budget
$19,447
$171,752
Received
$18,770
$171,724
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SAINT NICHOLAS FAIRE
Sunday, December 9
4:30pm to 7:30pm
As a church family, we just completed celebrating the
100th Anniversary of First Lutheran Church of West
Seattle.
And what an awesome celebration it was!...
As a result, preparations
for the 10th Saint Nicholas Faire are progressing a
little slower than usual.
But slow and steady is always a good motto.
Please turn your ornament items in as soon as
possible.
They are needed to complete the baskets.
Later in October, sign-up
sheets identifying how you can help purchase prizes for
the ring toss game, assist the night of the Faire, and
bake sumptuous desserts to be served will be posted.
RIGHT NOW, the most
important action is to
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
–
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!!!!!
It will be a
spectacular party with good food and beverages, creative
and practical gift baskets you could give as presents,
prizes to win at the ring toss game, and wine tasting
courtesy of Maryhill Winery. A super way to start off
the holiday season supporting our local charities, and
having an awesome experience, all at the same time!!!
Plus if you missed the
Saint Nicholas Ornament Tree this summer, and want to
purchase items to complete the themed gift baskets, or
buy items that
need to be bought fresh
closer to the date of the Faire, please give me
a call (Larraine 206-937-6740) or talk to me at
church.
Plus you can always donate money.
This helps cover the cost of any other
expenses that we may have.
Always remember
that the money we raise with your help from the
Saint Nicholas Faire, will be donated to the
West Seattle Food Bank and the West
Seattle Helpline.
Help us make this event fun, memorable,
and successful!
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Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who helped prepare our wonderful
100th Anniversary Festival Worship and Salty’s Banquet –
And to all who attended from near and far!
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100th Anniversary Mementos
Who would want to miss out
on a memento or two from this once-in-a-lifetime
occasion?
Be sure to pick up your table
tent ($10) and shopping bags ($4 each).
The table tent has the
historical write-up from the Narthex wall on the back
besides the Jean Lindtwed drawing on the front.
And
the stow-away bags are perfect for many of our shopping
needs today.
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Power-Washing
& Sealing the Church
It’s been nearly ten years since the beautiful sandstone
exterior of our church has been cleaned and sealed.
Pioneer Masonry
(est. 1957) once again has done the work for us (as they
have for over thirty years now). Thanks to everyone for
your financial support that has made this restoration
possible – and to Tilden School for paying for a portion
of it as well.
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Habakkuk
3.18
Monthly Home Bible
Study, October 2018, Number 308
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
Habakkuk 3.18 noting the line
yet I will
rejoice. Why is this an issue? On this read Habakkuk
3.17 noting the negations –
no fruit,
no olives,
no flock,
no herd. So
how does rejoicing follow instead of despair? On this
read Psalm 4.7 noting the phrase
more joy. How
does the Lord supplant all of these losses with more
joy? Are there any others? On this read Psalm 127.5
noting the words
happy and
full. What if, like Job, you were to lose all of
your children? Can God also overcome that loss? Any
others? On this read Jeremiah 33.11 noting the words
mirth,
gladness,
bridegroom
and bride.
Can God bring joy even when there are no weddings? Also
read Psalm 113.9 noting the line
the joyous mother
of children. But what if barrenness and infertility
hold sway? Can God offset that? With what? On this
resilience, read Luke 10.42 noting the
good portion
and the line
shall not be taken away from her. Read also 1 Peter
1.24–25 noting the contrast between the two words
withers and
abides. Do
you really think that God can block decay and loss? If
so, how so?
Week II.
Read again Habakkuk 3.18
noting the same line
yet will I rejoice.
How does God bring about abiding joy in the face of
decay and loss and the overall withering of life? On
this read 2 Corinthians 4.18 noting the words
unseen and
eternal. How
can these unseen things bring us lasting joy? On this
read Hebrews 12.2 noting the competition between the
words joy and
cross. How is
this joy set
before Jesus and how does it help him to
endure by
despising the
shame of the cross? On this read Romans 15.13 noting the
words believing
and hope. How
does this displace shame? On this read John 16.22 noting
the line no one
will take your joy from you. Where is this joy
grounded? On this read 1 Peter 1.8–9 noting
the unutterable
and exalted joy. What is this in? On this read 1
Peter 1.3 noting the
resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead. Why should we care about
that? On this read John 14.19 noting the line
because I live,
you will live also. What’s that life like? On this
read Revelation 21.3–4 noting the presence of
God and the
absence of tears,
death,
mourning,
crying and
pain. Is that
good enough?
Week III.
Reread Habakkuk 3.18 noting just the word
rejoice. Why
does joy matter? On this read John 16.33 noting the
linkage between
good cheer and
overcoming the
world. Why is this joy not rooted in the world? It
there a crucial redirection going on here? On this read
1 Corinthians 7.31 and 1 John 2.17 about how the world
is passing away.
Why does that matter? Is it because the world and its
delights cannot sustain us? Is it because we need a
firmer foundation that stretches beyond the existence of
the world itself? On this read Isaiah 43.21 on how we
were formed
to praise
God; and John 1.12 about becoming
children of
God through faith. So does focusing on rightly grounded
joy clarify who are supposed to be and what we are to
labor for (John 6.27)?
Week IV.
Read Habakkuk 3.18 one last time noting that word
rejoice
again. What blocks us from rejoicing as we should? On
this read James 1.2–3 noting the word
trials. How
does this reading link
joy together
with trials? Is it that trials test us in order to make
us steadfast – and only then properly joyful? Why
doesn’t being afflicted like this ruin our joy? On this
read Romans 14.17 noting the shift from
food and drink
to the Holy
Spirit. What does this mean for us? On this read 2
Timothy 3.4 noting the line
lovers of
pleasure rather than lovers of God. How wrenching is
this move away from worldly pleasures? On this read Acts
9.3–4 noting the
flash and the
fall to the ground. Note also the word
violently in
Luke 16.16. Is this a deterrent? Does anybody want to
become a brother
of jackals (Job 30.29)? On this read Matthew 7.14
noting the words
life and few.
What’s the significance of that assessment? On this read
Romans 9.27 noting the line
only a remnant…
will be saved. Do you believe that? Why or why not?
How does that make you feel? Joyous?
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Duwamish Bus Tour
With Historian David M. Buerge
On Saturday, August 25, 2018, 25 of us went on a
bus tour of sacred sites of the Duwamish people,
with official tribal historian, David M. Buerge.
Last time we did this with David was on February
19, 1994. Since then about half the sites have
been covered over by development and
construction. So afterwards we had a slide show
of what used to be visible but now isn’t. We
learned on this tour that the Duwamish people
still need official recognition; and Chief
Seattle’s birthplace in Kent needs an official
marker made, installed and dedicated. On this
tour we learned about Duwamish myths explaining
favorable weather and how the abundant salmon
runs came about. This tour was set-up as part of
our 100th Anniversary celebration – and also as
a promotional for David’s new bestseller,
Chief
Seattle and the Town That Took His Name
(Sasquatch, 2017).
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PARISH PRAYERS
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Remember in prayer before God those whom He has made
your
brothers and sisters through baptism.
Bob & Barbara Schorn, Eileen Nestoss, Marlis Ormiston,
Aasha Sagmoen & Ajani Hammond, Melanie Johnson, Kyra
Stromberg, Matt Anderson, Cristian Clemente, Jeannine &
Gregory Lingle, Milly Nikula, Larraine King, Tabitha
Anderson, The PLU Lecturers, Celia Balderston, The Rev.
John Hinderlie, The Rev. Paul Smith, The Rev. Dan
Peterson, Ion & Galina Ceaicovschi, Chris & Margeen
Boyer, Sheila Feichtner, Deanne & Lucy Heflin, Jim &
Hillary Thoren, Bessie Cook, Harold Jensen, Mary Anne
Buerge, Rubina Carmona, Judy Beach, Sharon Cooper,
Stephanie & Magnolia Juhl, Emily Cole, Harold Jensen,
Yuriko Nishimura, Maddie Harris, Marylou & Paul Jensen,
Mary Hanson, Brad Baker, Antonio, and those recovering
from the devastating floods on the East Coast and in the
Philippines.
Pray for the new born that
they grow in the strength of the Lord:
Beyla Tuomi, born
August 28, 2018, 7.3oz, 20 in.
Pray for the shut-ins that
the light of Christ may give them joy: Bob & Mona Ayer,
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, Martin Nygaard.
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 Fall.
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 Emaus 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:
Saint Frances of Assisi, renewer of the Church,
1226; Saint Luke, Evangelist; Saint Simon and Saint
Jude, Apostles.
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A
Treasury of Prayers
Dear
God in heaven, I thank you for your disciples, who in
times of darkness, have kept the lamp of faith burning.
I also thank you for all those who have grasped your
larger truth and then dared to declare it. And I thank
you for your meek followers who have helped the broken
and forlorn – and so made the world a better place. In
Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
[For All
the Saints II:139, altered]
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