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Pastor Peter, Pastor Kathy, Pastor Lenny, Pastoral Intern Taran, Guest, Jessica Potts, Youth Director, David Teeter, Minister of Worship & Music, Joyce Handran, Preschool Administrator, Joy Studer, Director of Family and Children Ministries, Greg Rhodes

A post-election blog from Bishop Rick Jaech - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" - Mt.5:9

Bp. Jaech leads the Southwestern Washington Synod of the ELCA of which Messiah is a member congregation. |  I am writing this letter on November 5, two days after the elections. Some election results are known and some are still pending. My purpose in writing is not to mourn or celebrate any of the results. Rather, I would like to th...
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What God is doing with Jubilee

Greetings in the name of the liberating one, the one who has touched our lives, saved us and died on the cross, Jesus Christ of Nazareth +   It is, as always, my honor to update you on the happenings of Jubilee Collective, the community that you have fostered, loved, invested in, and prayed over.   Jubilee Collective is a n...
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The Challenge of Opposites

by Janet Borst, Chairwoman of Messiah's Seeds of Faith Team   It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." - Deut. 31:8.  As Christians and Lutherans, we are familiar with holding two opposing ideas at the same time. We believe in one God, yet three Persons...
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The changing looks of Messiah

And when he [Jesus] got into the boat, his disciples followed him. – Mt.8:23   A year ago, Messiah's leaders and members committed themselves to get in the boat with Jesus, not knowing where the Holy Spirit would take us. After a long discernment process and lots of prayers, we were willing to allow God to use us and our resources to reac...
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285 Hits

Seeing through the Smoke

"And the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new.'" - Rev.21:5   As I look out my window, I can barely see my neighbor's house today. I see the thick cloud of smoke and smell the ash. My greatest concern is for those who are being impacted by the wildfires. I pray for those who have lost loved ones and...
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Your Seeds of Faith benevolence dollars are producing good during the pandemic

by Janet Borst, Chairperson of Messiah's Seeds of Faith Team | It is no surprise that the pandemic has affected many aspects of our lives. Church is no exception, and the Seeds of Faith, Messiah's local benevolence distribution team, is no exception. But exciting things have happened, nevertheless. The stay at home orders came in the midd...
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Unmoored

Greg was recently invited by the Church Leadership Team and pastors to serve in a consultative role with the team and congregation. That's how I've been feeling for 5 months. On January 22 my wife and I left China for a 2-week vacation. We haven't been back since. A storm the size and shape of the coronavirus tore...
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Return to In-Person Worship Survey

You are invited to complete a one-minute online survey that will assist the pastoral and Church Leadership Teams in planning for in-person worship once health professionals determine that it is safe to reopen using guidelines from state and local officials. There are only six easy to respond to prompts. One survey per household, please. t...
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Reflections on Seeds by Janet Borst

Janet leads the team responsible for distributing the congregation's benevolence money in the form of grants. They see their work as "planting seeds." Here, Janet puts an interesting spin on this springtime process. - Pr. Peter It's spring, and like all would-be gardeners, I've purchased my seed packets with thoughts of a bountiful harvest. I have,...
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380 Hits

Responding to the COVID-19 Economy: Thoughts on stewardship and generosity by Doug Ruecker

A number of things have revealed themselves during the COVID-19 crisis.One is a seemingly friendlier disposition of people. Have you noticed, while walking the neighborhood or the infrequent visit to the grocery store, how people are so much more courteous and friendly? A smile, a warm hello, while keeping a comfortable distance, goes a long ways i...
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The Cancel Culture of Coronavirus and Our Care for Each Other

... let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25 Cancellations are happening everywhere—March Madness, the NBA, public schools, airline flights. Last night Governor Inslee&n...
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Care for Each Other as the Coronavirus Spreads - A Message from Prs. Peter and Kathy

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads, it is certainly prudent to take reasonable precautions as we gather for worship, classes, small groups, and events. The healing ministry that Jesus modeled for us includes basic care for one another as well as care for ourselves. In that spirit, here are the things we are doing at Messiah.Continuing to Worship...
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One Month of Me

Greetings y'all. I was talking with Doug Ruecker at a recent meeting, and it occurred to me that most of you may wonder what the average month of a Mission Developer Pastor looks like. I mean, it all seems very mysterious, right? Pr. Lenny is running around and creating a new church out of nothing?!? What does that even mean? So, here is a list of ...
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What is Ash Wednesday? Services at 10a & 6:00p on Feb. 26.

by Pr. Lenny Duncan, Mission Developer Pastor  |   What is Ash Wednesday? |  This holiday (holy day) has been observed by Christians for over one thousand years. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the season of Lent (40 days before Easter). Why ashes? Why a cross?For centuries, ashes have symbolized mourning and repentanc...
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Stewardship – What does it mean?

A message from Financial Secretary Doug Ruecker and Pr. Peter |  It is that time of the year again when at church, we hear the word stewardship. My guess is when most people hear stewardship, they hear, "They want more of my money." Or they hear – time to make a pledge to the church. What are your thoughts and beliefs about stewardship? A quic...
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Year-end Giving at Messiah

Messiah is a community that worships and welcomes passionately, teaches and engages faithfully, serves generously, and comforts compassionately. "We are what he has made us," a growing, giving, and grateful people created in Jesus Christ for good works (Eph. 2:10). Your financial support of Messiah's ministries is an important way that you share in...
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Giving to Messiah

by Doug Ruecker, Financial Secretary |  As the Financial Secretary at Messiah congregation, I am responsible for monitoring, tracking, and recording the financial gifts that the congregation receives and the tuition and fees the Preschool collects. I would like to take a few moments of your time to share some observations about our giving patt...
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You Are God’s Mosaic

by Jessica Potts, Dir. of Youth and Young Adult Ministries |  The One Mile Mission Statement is "That every child age 0 – 18 living or attending school within one mile of Messiah Lutheran Church campuses would have everything that they need to learn and thrive." To thrive means to grow, develop, or be successful. It means to prosper and flouri...
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Seeds of Faith - Money that Matters

​by Janet Borst - How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? – 1 John 3:17 |  This is a complicated world. It's often difficult to know who really needs help and who might be "milking the system." While there are those among us who can freely give without r...
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Reflections on Seeds of Faith

Janet Borst reflects on the arc of her life and the seeds that took root. | He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. – 2 Cor. 9:10 I often wonder how and why I have been granted the gift of faith. My mother believed in God, but not religio...
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First Impressions

by Intern Pr. Taran | Here it is! |  "How long have you been at Messiah Lutheran Church? What drew you to Messiah?" Those have been my two greeting questions as I meet and greet so many of you for the first time. As you can imagine, the answers to both of those questions are incredibly diverse. The length of time folks have been at M...
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Summer Survey Results

by Julie Bracken, Minister of Welcome and Hospitality  |   Thank you to the 81 responders to our recent survey. The results are in, and the experiment was a summer hit! What did we like the best? "Coffee and Italian sodas at the bistro tables and children in the sanctuary." The average response to the question of the service provided...
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Falling for Fall

a blog by Liz Bailey, Co-Lead Dir. of Children's and Family Ministries |  As I sit down to write this, I have many feelings in my heart. Most of these feelings are familiar and positive because this season is so comforting and nostalgic. But there are also feelings of anxiety and anticipation of change and the unknown. This is part o...
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For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I recently read about a training session where the facilitator asked participants to identify the item they had with them at that moment that was most precious to them and asked them to place it on the table in front of them. Many people chose a wedding or engagement ring, other jewelry, or a picture of a loved one. The facilitator then explained t...
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"Re-counting" VBS

Storyteller, humorist, and Messiah member Kathy Hoffman "re-counts" her 2019 VBS experience in journal form.    Glory to God Who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by God's power at work within us. Day 1 – Go beyond with Faith – Daniel in the Lion's DenThe Tall Assistant looks at her clipboard. It was the ...
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Changing the Light

A farewell post from pastoral intern Joel Hinck |  When Liz Bailey (Messiah's fantastic Co-Director of Children's and Family Ministries) ends a Godly Play session, she puts out a candle that has been burning the whole time and says something quite striking. Instead of telling the children that she is "putting out" the candle, she tells them th...
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Mission Team from Messiah leaves this week for Puerto Rico

This Saturday a group of members and friends of Messiah will leave on a Mission Trip to Puerto Rico. They will be working with Lutheran Disaster Response to do much needed hurricane relief work. You are invited to keep you to keep these people in your prayers over the next couple of weeks. Kylie BrownAnna CountrymanChase Mattson Eisenhaue...
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Capital Campaign Update: “See What ‘Yes’ Can Do”

Lower Level Dining Hall Renovation is Underway | Mortgage Paid Down Substantially | Work on the Lower Level Dining Hall has begun. This week painting of the walls and ceiling will be complete. The new floor has been ordered and will be installed as soon as the walls and ceiling are completed. Research on new tables and chairs is underway ...
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Wallowa Backpacking Trip - Reflections and Invitation

July 26-31, 2019 | by Ron Klump, Wallowa trip veteran, botanist, CLT member |  "Be still and know that I am God!" Psalm 46.10a  This year's Wallowa backpacking trip will take the group to Echo Lake. This beautiful alpine lake is located at an elevation of 7,240 in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of the Wallowa Mountains in the northeast cor...
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A Lenten Pilgrimage

by Joel Hinck, Pastoral Intern  |   I've been reading John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress during Lent this year. Written in 1678, the book is an allegorical description of the Christian life. The main character, named (appropriately enough) Christian, encounters a series of dangers, monsters, and peculiar characters, all of whi...
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Let Us Not Be Too Rushed to See

by Liz Bailey | "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." – Rev. 4:11 "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." - Lao Tzu. This Lao Tzu saying has been taped to my fridge for a year now, right by my calendar. It ...
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Tax Season and Tithing

a guest blog by Justin Farrell | As tax season is upon us, I reflect back to the earlier years of our marriage when Carrie and I tried different ways to prioritize and increase our giving. One thing we enjoyed in the past was tithing our tax return. We made it a priority to be intentional about tithing that amount as a gift beyond what our nor...
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Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Chocolate

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, March 6 | Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.– 1 Peter 1:13 NRSV Sandra Jacobson was Messiah's church secretary when Kathy and I first arrived at Messiah. She was one of God's gifts to this congr...
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Instructions for Living a Life

Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. -- Mary Oliver | What astonishes you? What makes you surprised, impressed, amazed? I can honestly say for me I continue to be astonished by how God is at work in Messiah's One Mile Mission (that every child 0-18 living within 1 mile of Messiah's campuses would have everything they need to learn and ...
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One Mile Mission Midyear Report

The One Mile Mission team has been busy over the last few months, thanks to the generosity of Messiah members. Below is a list of ways that Messiah has support our schools, children and families. Thank you for making this outreach of the congregation possible by providing both human resource and financial support. If you would like to learn more ab...
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Year-End Giving | Creative Ideas

Thank you for your year-end giving! Messiah Lutheran Church documents year-end gifts in accordance with IRS regulations. This means that any contributions you'd like to deduct for tax purposes in 2018 must be received by the Church office before the office closes at 3:00p on Monday, December 31, or online by midnight. Offerings sent via m...
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Gullibility and Open Hearts

In her Erma 'Bombeckesque' kind of way, Messiah's Director of Children's and Family Ministries, Megan Dilitto gets to the heart of the matter about children, Christmas, and what it means to live with a heart wide open. I have a friend with two kiddos in elementary school who we like to have over for Movie Night Fridays, where we throw a movie into ...
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Comfort and Hope | Tuesday, Dec. 18 with music by Celtic Muse | 7p

by Jim Dawson | I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the earth rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. - John 16:20  For some, Christmas is a time of good cheer and generous giving. Yes, a time of glad tidings and wishful thinking. Yet for others Christmas is a time of loneliness and bewilderment. Not al...
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The Cantata: Find Your Place to Be

A story written by Kathy Hoffman and presented at the Women's Advent Luncheon at Messiah Lutheran Church on November 18, 2018. |  They had consumed copious amounts of coffee. Their vocal chords were steamy .The Singers were ready. They had each surreptitiously slipped by the cookie table for a quick pick-me-up.  And now, they were pr...
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"See What 'Yes' Can Do" Comprehensive Campaign Update

Monday, November 19 | THANK YOU to all who have made their pledges for our "See What 'Yes' Can Do" comprehensive campaign. We are excited to report that 69 households have pledged a total of $528,075. This is almost 70% of our Cornerstone Goal, and over half-way toward our 3-year challenge goal. We also anticipate many more pledges to be made in th...
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Asking: Our Invitation to Give

"See What 'Yes' Can Do" Devotion for Nov. 10-11 | by the Rev. Steve Olson, Capital Campaign Consultant for Messiah |  Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. - Matthew 7:7   What would you rather receive in the mail – a court subpoena or an invitation to a joyful celebrati...
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Learning to Share

"See What 'Yes' Can Do" Devotion for Nov. 3-4 | by the Rev. Steve Olson, Capital Campaign Consultant for Messiah | Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. - Hebrews 12:1 Among our ...
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Scripture and Money

"See What 'Yes' Can Do" Devotion for Oct. 27-28 | by the Rev. Steve Olson, Capital Campaign Consultant for Messiah | Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce ...  Proverbs 3:9-10 As we celebrate the Reformation, we remember the important work of Martin Luther in making sure all people had access to ...
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Faith: Our Desire to Give

"See What 'Yes' Can Do" Devotion for Oct. 20-21 | by the Rev. Steve Olson, Capital Campaign Consultant for Messiah | For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 2 Cor. 8:9 REFLECT: Someone once defined stewardship as "Everyth...
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Needs: Our Reason to Give

"See What 'Yes' Can Do" Devotion for Oct. 13-14 | by the Rev. Steve Olson, Capital Campaign Consultant for Messiah |  I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that th...
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Mission & Ministry: Our Opportunity to Give

"See What 'Yes' Can Do" Devotion for Oct. 6-7 | by the Rev. Steve Olson, Capital Campaign Consultant for Messiah |  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. - Mt. 28:20 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to dr...
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Creation: Our Need to Give

"See What 'Yes' Can Do" Devotion for Sept 28-29 | by the Rev. Steve Olson, Capital Campaign Consultant for Messiah |  So God created humankind in his image. - Genesis 1:27 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. - John 3:16 The story of creation p...
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If We Are the Body

Janet Borst reflects on being the arms, hands, and words of Christ and the role of a mission developer | I thought I might enjoy some music today as I lay down for a short nap. So, I fired up my Kindle and found a Christian music channel. The first song on the playlist was "If We Are the Body" by Casting Crowns. I was frankly a little put...
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God in the Clouds

a "Travel and Arrival" blog by Joel Hinck, Pastoral Intern  |   For days we never saw the sky. As we drove west the smoke from blazing forest fires covered the landscape in a dull grey, stinging in our nostrils and hiding all but the vaguest shapes of the mountains around us. The mountains were lurking giants, hiding just out of...
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Anticipating the Start of a New School Year

The scent of a fresh box of crayons, newly-sharpened pencils, the "whoosh" of school bus doors opening, children laughing and greeting one another after the summer break, school bells ringing, playground whistles blowing, lunchbox notes from home, meeting new classmates ... For a number of us, these signs and sounds represent one thing, the start o...
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God has prepared you for the journey—He will be with you to the end

Reflections by middle school students Hailey Gerdts and Shaylin Murphy from this summer's MS Mission Trip Lapwai, Idaho. The Land of Butterflies, a small town but large in history. While the capitol of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation is called Lapwai, the residents call themselves Nimiipuu, meaning "the people." This small town was the destin...
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Pastors Peter and Kathy return from Sabbatical

Dear Members and Friends of Messiah, We are so grateful for your gift of a 12-week sabbatical. We were blessed in more ways than we can count. Here's a quick recap. Visits with Mission DevelopersWe visited mission developers in Seattle, Portland, and Bend, each of whom are leading different kinds of ministries with different approaches to growing G...
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Anna Countryman Recaps her time at the Augsburg Youth Theology Institute

by Anna Countryman This summer I had the opportunity to attend the Augsburg Youth Theology Institute in Minneapolis. This was a week long camp where we took classes, explored the city and grew closer to God. Throughout the week I was able to learn new things, make new friends, and best of all strengthen my relationship with God. Throughout the...
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National Youth Gathering Recap

 "It was amazing!" I think I heard that line at least 3 times on Sunday morning from youth that were asked by church members how their trip was to Houston for the ELCA National Youth Gathering. This year the Gathering brought together 31,242 high school youth and adult chaperones. It was pretty awesome to be gathered in the NRG Stadium (site o...
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Holy Helping Hands

Hands. Hands? Yes, hands. What about hands? First of all, most of us have them and they are pretty useful. Think about it. We use them to open doors, to feed ourselves, to drive the car, to turn the pages in a book, to flip the channel with the remote. We use them to cook, type, paint, build, write, and to drive. We use them to motion, to wave, to ...
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Vacation Bible School - by Megan Dilitto

What do you get when you mix 136 kids, 52 adult volunteers, 68 bananas, 200 pool noodles, several miles of tulle, several THOUSAND miles of butcher paper, 20 first aid kits, a precarious tower of Costco pizzas, and the sweat and lifeblood of the Director of Children and Family Ministries? You get VBS, my friends; a glorious combination of paint, wa...
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Betsi Eki Reflects on Guatemala Trip

When I was asked to write this article for the church newsletter, along with my son Kellen, I was honored. Honored, then very quickly... panicked. Panicked because I wanted the two of us to do our very BEST job at attempting to represent our group and what we experienced on this once-in-a-lifetime trip! Also panicked, as this trip was a tapestry of...
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Kellen Eki Reflects on Guatemala Trip

When Joy asked my mom and me if we wanted to write an article for the church newsletter, my mom said yes without checking with me first. Of course, I was at school at the time and couldn't answer for myself! But, I'm really happy to do it. I'm very happy to just share with everyone about this amazing experience. It really meant a lot to me tha...
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Neural Paths And The Church

​I'm writing this blog post from the public library in Olympia, WA. I came here to help my daughter get settled temporarily as she begins a 6-week practicum. I'm not even sure I know what a practicum is, but it's necessary for her master's degree. In any case, the two-hour drive to Olympia and its reversal back to Vancouver are a blur for me. I've ...
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Seeds of Faith

by Janet Borst   I first came to Messiah as a visitor from another ELCA church in the county. And although I liked the other church just fine, I found myself wanting to transfer my membership. It wasn't the music – although the music was impressive. And it wasn't the people who are lovely and whom over time I have come to know and respect and ...
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Sowing Seeds of Faith

by Angie George-Pendleton  "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." – 2 Corinthians 9:6  Each spring, my children Molly, Jack, and Everett eagerly help with our garden. They love to plant the seeds, push the dirt around, and overwater. I know through the many years we have...
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A Whole New World

So [the women who were told of Jesus resurrection] went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid. Mark 16:8, NRSV   "See, I am making all things new." Rev. 21:5, NRSV   We are so used to the joy of Easter that the fearful reaction of the women who first...
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40 days of Lent - Reflecting on 40 years at Messiah and Its Future: Capital Campaigns - The Mission Developer - The Wilderness - The Command of Jesus

by Doug Ruecker, current CLT member, and 40-year member of Messiah |  In 1978 Lisa and I moved to Vancouver to begin my career. A new job, a new city, a new home, and the search for a new church. Both being raised in the Lutheran church, we narrowed the parameters and finally decided on Messiah. It was only natural that church would be pa...
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Frequently Asked Questions about a Capital Campaign at Messiah

Q & A provided by the Church Leadership Team.  Q: When would the Capital Campaign take place?   A: The Campaign would be conducted in the Fall of 2018; beginning in September with detailed information about the maintenance and building improvements needed at Messiah and the expansion of the congregation's ministries that wou...
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Of Pastoral Interns and Mission Developers

Although I've only worked at Messiah for about 16 months, I've actually met at least five of your pastoral interns at various times. As a group they're impressive, and I feel excited imagining the future of the Church in their hands. At the recent congregational meeting Intern Ryan said something to this effect: "Y'all talk about past interns like ...
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Reflections on the past year. Hope for the future.

What follows is the text of the address Pr. Kathy made to the Congregation at its Semi-Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 28. 2018. |  I want to thank the Church Leadership Team members for all their hard work over the past year. I want you to know they gave a lot of time to the discernment process, devoting themselves to prayer and deep l...
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The report of Congregation President Kris Ann Bial regarding the CLT's year-long Discernment Process and its Outcomes

What follows is the text of the address Kris Ann Bial made to the Congregation at its Semi-Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 28. 2018. |   I've had the opportunity for the last year and a half to lead a group of really amazing faith-filled people. In the six months since I stood here the last time, we've attended to the bus...
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Introducing Julie Bracken, new Minister of Welcome volunteer

Julie Bracken has joined Messiah's staff as a volunteer, serving as part-time Minister of Welcome. Her role will be to connect and follow up with guests, make connections between newcomers and regulars, and to train everyone in the fine art of hospitality. You will see Julie circulating in the lobby of the Hazel Dell campus before and after service...
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986 Hits

Growing through Darkness

by Alison Treichel, Administrative Assistant.  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. – Isa.9.2.  I'm a self-proclaimed worrier, and I have had many bouts of anxiety in my life time. Though, none as bad as during my senior year of undergraduate colleg...
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IRA Charitable Rollover – A Wonderful End of Year Gifting Opportunity

by Beth Adams, Messiah member and Charitable Gift Planner for the ELCA Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana The Rollover helps you make direct gifts to your congregation and other ministries of the ELCA, and save on taxes. Made permanent December 18, 2015, the IRA Charitable Rollover allows individuals who are 70 ½ or older to direct gif...
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What Nimble Ministry Looks Like

Fr. Dale Johnson, the Syriac Orthodox Priest who preached and shared his ministry with Messiah in May, has assembled an emergency assessment team to help evaluate post-earthquake conditions in Iraq. A 7.3 magnitude quake struck the border between Iraq and Iran on Sunday, November 12, killing more than 500 and injuring nearly 8,000 at last report. I...
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Thankfulness

​Messiah member, Barbara Gibson, connects Living in Gratitude, the Thanksgiving holiday, and something like Messiah's One Mile Mission. Read on.   During this Thanksgiving Season we tend to think about all that we're thankful for, but maybe, just maybe, there's room to think about what it is to be thankful. A long time ago, in a...
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Baptisms, Confirmation, and Money

We have had some great weeks at Messiah. Three households presented their newest little ones to be baptized, a Messiah preschool student introduced his new baby brother during Preschool Chapel and received a baby blanket on his behalf, we commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with the fanfare of orchestral accompaniment, and ye...
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859 Hits

Living in Gratitude: Seeking to Commitment

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. ...
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  949 Hits
949 Hits

Living in Gratitude: Scarcity to Abundance

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Rom. 8:38-39As those named and claimed in the abundant promises of baptism, we have God's ...
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  1200 Hits
Tags:
life
1200 Hits

Who is Listening?

a reflection by Norma Moore, Stephen Ministry Leader  We all have stories we need to share. We may not have been through a flood or fire or hurricane recently, but we all have life stories to tell and someone needs to listen to us tell them. We all have faced change and challenge, loss and grief, joy and sorrow. We all have stories. We all nee...
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  1613 Hits
1613 Hits

Experiences and the body of Christ

Summer intern Hannah Norem leaves us with her reflections about her summer experience with Messiah.  "So, what exactly are you going to do on this internship?" seemed to be the most important question on my friends' and family's minds before I drove halfway across the country to Vancouver. To be honest, I cannot tell them all of the ...
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  722 Hits
722 Hits

Lord, Give Me Strength

Joy's final blog. "Lord give me strength!" This is what my mother would say in an exasperated tone when I was trying her patience, which I did frequently. Now, however, this has been my saying, my prayer, and my request, as I get ready to say farewell to all of you here at Messiah. As we look for houses and for a new community to call home up ...
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  907 Hits
Tags:
Messiah
907 Hits

Deep Roots. New Life.

Project Manager for Messiah's North County Ministry, Greg Rhodes reflects on letting go of what no longer makes sense, and discovering deeper life in God.  At age 30 I accepted a promotion to run a new manufacturing plant. It was a bet-the-company move, tripling the size of the business with a new product line if it worked (and bankruptin...
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  886 Hits
886 Hits

Where are we going?

North County Campus Project Manager, Greg Rhodes, wonders if the Messiah community is as confident in God as it is in its own competencies. Read on.   When our kids were young, occasionally my wife Heidi and I would declare, "Let's go." The kids would always ask, "Where are we going?" Imagining we were clever and fun, parents every child would...
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  975 Hits
Tags:
Greg Rhodes
975 Hits

What grows in my garden … a happy heart

Joy Studer, Director of Children's and Family Ministries, reflects on her recent trip to Guatemala with Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry   I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds. -&nbs...
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  838 Hits
838 Hits

The Timing is Up to God

Nathan and I love gardening. Of course, like many gardeners, we love the end results of our hard work. We like the beauty of flowers in our front yard and the satisfaction of eating vegetables we grew ourselves. But we also love the glamor-less, labor-intensive parts: the pruning and weeding, the digging and watering. It's a lovely and gratify...
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  956 Hits
956 Hits

Why Did I Wait so Long? – by Richard Vaughn

Stephen Minister Richard Vaughn reflects on his Stephen Ministry experience.  To me being a Stephen Minister means being open to the needs of someone else. The training you receive is incredible, though each care receiver has very different needs and it is a learning and growing experience to connect with them. Being a Stephen minister has cha...
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  987 Hits
987 Hits

Wondering about the Future of Gardening

He [Jesus] said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." – Lk.13.18 Now there was a garden in the place where he [Jesus] was crucified, and in the garden there was...
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  999 Hits
999 Hits

God Equips the Called

a reflection by Stephen Ministry Co-Leader, Detra Swenson.  I did not choose to be a Stephen minister. God called me. I reminded him that Stephen ministry is a listening ministry and I am not a good listener. He reminded me that he does not call the qualified; he qualifies the called. And so he did—50 hours of training plus continuing educatio...
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  1986 Hits
1986 Hits

Holy Week thoughts from Pr. Peter

Hazel Dell Campus Services |  Maundy Thursday (Apr. 18) - 7:00p |  Good Friday (Apr. 19) - 10:00a and 7:00p |   no service on Holy Saturday  Easter Morning6:30a Sunrise Service behind Eisenhower Elementary School (rain or shine)7:00-10:00a Easter Breakfast served in the HD Dining Hall8:30a Festival Worship in...
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  1382 Hits
1382 Hits

A Resurrection People

Reflections from Pastoral Intern Mary Beenken - A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of joining three former interns on a panel for our most recent Theology on Tap. The subject was 'changes in the church' and our task was to provide perspectives on how these changes were talked about and handled while we were in seminary—and whether or not that mea...
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  2072 Hits
2072 Hits

Congregation Input and Discernment Meetings - Next Opportunity will be Wednesday, March 29, from 6:30-8:00pm

a message about upcoming opportunities for everyone to participate in the congregation's current three-month discernment process regarding steps in north Clark County from Greg Rhodes (Project Manager) and the Church Leadership Team (CLT)  Dear Members of Messiah, You've probably heard that our congregation has entered...
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  1995 Hits
Tags:
Project Manager
1995 Hits

About the Lutherans: Women and the Reformation

"I am prepared to lose everything, even life or limb. May God stand by me." So wrote Argula von Grumbach (1492–1563/68?) from Bavaria, who found Martin Luther's message of Christian freedom and equality empowering. This noble woman challenged an entire Catholic university in Ingolstadt in defense of Lutheran faith and a student persecuted for "Luth...
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  1229 Hits
1229 Hits

He's not there... you can tell.

Most of us stood in the hall making small talk. Every once in awhile, someone would enter the room quietly and return a minute later. Friends of my grandmother had come to pay their respects and view her body the day before her funeral. Each of us in the family had taken a turn beside her casket. All of us, except for Jacob, our son. He was only ni...
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  1210 Hits
1210 Hits

An Introduction to Messiah's three-month Discernment Process

A Message from the members of the Church Leadership Team (CLT)  |   (Updated (02.10.2017) with meeting dates for all members of the congregation. See below.) Dear Fellow Messiah Members,  You may already be aware that the Church Leadership Team (CLT) is entering a discernment process about whether to move toward a dedicated Mess...
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  2027 Hits
2027 Hits

About the Lutherans – The Augsburg Confession

The Augsburg Confession, written in the midst of the Reformation tumult, is the core statement of what Lutherans believe. It was produced in 1530, thirteen years after young professor Martin Luther posted the Ninety-Five Theses in Wittenberg. A lot had happened in those thirteen years. Thanks to Luther's creative exploration of the gospel and its i...
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  1468 Hits
Tags:
Augsburg Confession Reformation
1468 Hits

Cross-Campus Visitors Sought

​An invitation to build unity by worshiping at Messiah's other campus on a once-a-month basis.  One Congregation, Two Locations. This is how we talk about Messiah, about our special opportunity to be one people across two campuses whose ministries radiate from multiple centers. To be one congregation under these circumstances takes c...
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  1025 Hits
1025 Hits

God is the Cure Giver

by Stephen Minister Marilyn Mattson   God works though us, like conduit, as we walk beside, listen to, have empathy, and pray confidentially on a one-to-one basis with one who needs hope and/or healing . The growth and help is left to God.He is the cure giver. The gift we receive as Stephen Ministers is to grow in our own faith, be better...
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  1981 Hits
1981 Hits

Sydney Tag, Messiah Confirmation Student, Reflects on where she's seen God’s Stewardship – Every Day, Every Way.

When I was in sixth grade, our confirmation group went to Lapwai Idaho. We spent a week serving this wonderful community, and had an amazing time doing it. At the beginning of the week, we spent time getting to know the kids. These kids didn't have all the needs we have. Some of them didn't have shoes, and almost all of them were covered in dirt. O...
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  1924 Hits
1924 Hits

Reformation Changes - First Communion

Lutheranism is a movement within the Church that is always reforming, ever on the lookout for the new ways that God is speaking and working in the world. One of the observable areas of change within our tradition has been the gradual movement among our congregations to lower the age for first Communion. A position paper from the ELCA concludes, "Th...
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  1219 Hits
1219 Hits

About the Lutherans – Luther's Small Catechism

Of all the things Martin Luther wrote, he is probably best known for two things: the hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" and the Small Catechism. Interestingly, Luther himself was ambivalent about the lasting value of most of his writings, with two exceptions—and one of them was this little pamphlet, the Small Catechism. And this from someone whose...
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  1526 Hits
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Small Catechism Luther
1526 Hits

The Gift of Stephen Ministry - by Dianne Dawson

In this season of gifts and giving I am grateful for the gift of Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministry is a gift to the congregation, to those who are sad, who may be grieving a loss or facing a difficult time in their lives. A Stephen minister walks beside the care receiver through a time of sadness and helps them by listening. What a gift it is to h...
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  1683 Hits
1683 Hits

Martin Luther's German Bible

What version of the Bible do you hear and read? Just in English, we have many to choose from. They range from translations that aim to be as accurate as possible (such as the New Revised Standard Version) to others whose main objective is to be easy to understand, even if certain details get lost. Imagine, though, if there were no Bible available i...
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  1221 Hits
1221 Hits

The Perils of Gift Giving

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. – 1 Cor. 13:13  Last spring Kathy and I had a spirited conversation about a graduation gift for our son, Luke. We had agreed on the amount we would spend, and identified three possible items we both thought were excellent choices for the occasion. Our challeng...
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  1234 Hits
1234 Hits
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