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Swatch
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Newsletter of Southwestern Washington Synodical Women’s Organization—Region 1-C
Women of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Published six times a year September 2014
Mission Statement of
Women of the ELCA
TO MOBILIZE WOMEN
TO ACT BOLDLY
ON THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST!
Purpose
Statement:
As a community of women
created in the image of
God,
called to discipleship in
Jesus Christ, and
empowered by the Holy
Spirit,
We commit ourselves to
grow in faith,
affirm our gifts,
support one another in
our callings,
engage in ministry and
action, and
promote healing and
wholeness in the church,
the society, and the world.
Purpose Statement
of the Southwestern
Washington Synodical
Women’s Organization
The purpose of this synodical
women’s organization shall be to assist congregational and inter-congregational units
within its territory to fulfill the
purpose of Women of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America.
Dear Readers:
It was a real joy to be a voting member at the 9th Triennial
Convention of Women of the ELCA. We elected the women who serve on the volunteer board of Women of the ELCA. Two from Region I were elected: our own Ely Smith from Tacoma and former SWO president of Alaska, Karen Voris.
Together with new president Patti Austin from Georgia, and the whole board, they will serve us well.
Voting members: Linnea Glover, Shirley Hines, Tina Bigelow and Carol Fossum.
We are from Region 1-C, Southwestern Washington Synod, thus the 1C on our table. The convention part of this triennial event was held the first few days
and the gathering event was held the last few days with excellent speakers, workshops, interactive things to do, displays and beautiful things to purchase at the “shops”. They are two separate events. I couldn’t begin to tell you about
everything but if you go to the website page of Women of the ELCA (womenoftheelca.org) you can find all kinds of reports and information.
Blessings, Carol Fossum, SW WA SWO President
IN the transfer over
from one program to another we “LOST” the SW WA
SWO LOGO. WE’ll do our best to
re-create it as soon as possible. Sorry!
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Triennial Reports
Run, Walk and Roll!
By Dorothy Reed
As the first rays of dawn filled the sky on Sat-urday, July 26, 2014, in Charlotte, NC, 408 women in
bright blue shirts found their way to Romare Bearden Park. Some were early risers but must of us were
blurry eyed non athletes who had pledged to our con-gregations, Bible study groups, families and friends that we would walk the 5 k-3 mile course to support
Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls health initiative of Women of the ELCA.
At 6:30 am we were warmed up and on our way. The course was 1 mile and circuits our goal. The joggers took the lead and quickly covered one
mile, then passed the walkers, and they were on their way to the third lap before I finished lap one.
The walkers found a pace and made new friends with whomever was walking at their speed. Soon the end of lap two was in sight. It was decision
time: go for lap three or stop now. My sponsors had faith in me. I can do it for them. On to lap three. The last quarter mile is still ahead. A new
friend from Texas walks next to me and we share our reasons for walking. We walk on. We cross the fin-
ish line. I take a picture of her and she takes one of me. We hug and laugh and celebrate our success knowing that we honored our pledge and that our do-
nation dollars will provide new funds for Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls!
Delegate Report from Linnea Glover What a great privilege it was to serve as one of
the delegates from the Southwestern Washington Syn-
odical Women’s Organization to the Ninth Triennial Convention of the Women of the ELCA! The conven-tion was held in Charlotte, NC, a very beautiful, histor-
ic city. Delegates from sixty-four Synodical Women’s Organizations met in Charlotte on July 21-23, 2014 to conduct the business of the Women of the ELCA. Also
present were the officers and board members of the churchwide organization and members of the WELCA
staff. The presence of the Holy Spirit was truly with us as we met together to worship, sing, participate in Bible study, and vote. When we were not in session,
we enjoyed meeting women from around the country and sharing delicious meals served with true Southern hospitality.
Continued on next column
(Linnea’s report continued:) Two important constitutional changes that
were voted on included the size of the executive board and replacing the term “delegate” with “voting member”. The proposal to reduce the
number of executive board members from seven-teen to nine was defeated. The proposal to re-
place the term “delegate” with “voting member” passed. We elected seventeen members to the executive board. We also elected the following
officers: Patti Austin, President; Jody Smiley, Vice President; Becky Shurston, Secretary; and Ely Smith, Treasurer. Ely Smith is a member of
our Southwestern Synod. Several important res-olutions were adopted. One resolution involved
awareness and prevention of human trafficking. A second resolution addressed the prevention of bullying, harassment, and related violence. A
third resolution dealt with creating safe churches for children. A fourth resolution supported ef-
forts to provide solar power to the Phebe hospital in Liberia. A fifth resolution committed WELCA to the care of unaccompanied minors crossing the
U.S. border. A budget of almost 3 million dollars was adopted for the fiscal year 2015. The con-vention offering totaled $67,532.91. It will be
shared between Lutheran Immigration and Refu-gee Service, the On Eagles’ Wings Ministries
which is Charlotte-based and addresses human trafficking, and the churchwide organization of Women of the ELCA. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s
address to those in attendance proved to be one of the most inspiring highlights of the convention.
Bishop Eaton spoke of the “State of the ELCA”. She concentrated on four focuses. First, we are the church. We may not be a big corpo-
ration like Microsoft but we are the church. To me, her most powerful and most memorable
statement was, “ All we have is Jesus and be-cause He is all we have, we have every-thing.” Second, we are Lutheran and must hum-
bly honor our tradition. We are justified by grace, saints and sinners, bound and free, and still, we see Christ in everyone. Third, we are
the church together. We are stronger together than we are apart. One in fifty Americans is
served by Lutheran Services. Finally, we are the church for the world. We are claimed to the priesthood of believers in baptism. Jesus is the
future of the church. Her parting words were, “Thank God and let’s get going!”
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Here we are in Charlotte at the Ninth Triennial Gath-ering of Women of the ELCA. Southwestern Washington had a good representation. Several of these women
have pre-registered for the 10th Triennial Gathering which will be held in Minneapolis on July 13-16, 2017.
How about you? Will you plan to be there, too? You can still pre-register on line until the end of December. The gathering in Charlotte was full of interesting
things to see and do and hear. Some of the best speak-ers I’ve heard and great workshops to attend made my days full of good things. We had a message from the
presiding bishop, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, who also in-stalled the newly elected churchwide executive board.
Ely Smith from Trinity, Tacoma was elected treasurer.
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The Swatch newsletter The Swatch provides news and information about Women of the ELCA. Copies are distrib-
uted by electronic mail whenever possible to SW WA congregations and to hundreds of women individually. To subscribe by
postal mail, send $6 to the newsletter edi-tor with the check made to SW WA SWO. Subscriptions are due in January of each
year. The Swatch newsletter is published six times a year: January, March, May, July, Sep-
tember, and November.
Articles may be submitted for consideration for
use in Swatch. Send articles to the editor: Carol Fossum 12716 64th Avenue East
Puyallup, WA 98373
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 360-620-5368
Copyright 2014 Swatch newsletter of South-
western Washington Synodical Women’s Or-ganization, Women of the ELCA. Articles may be reproduced by Women of the ELCA Units provided
each copy carries the notice “Reprinted with permis-sion from Swatch, the Southwestern Washington Synodical Women’s Organization newsletter, copy-
right 2014 Swatch.”
Shirley Hines, SWO Treasurer Thank you to the following churches for their faithful support over the last year. These
churches are eligible to send a “voting mem-ber” (aka delegate) to the convention being held at Peace Lutheran Church in Tacoma on October
11, 2014. It is not too late to qualify for eligibil-ity to be able to vote on important changes com-
ing up. Send your Congregation Unit offering to Shirley Hines, P.O. Box 4596, Spanaway WA 98387 before October 1.
Bethany, Spanaway Our Saviors, Bremerton Bethany, Longview Peace, Puyallup
Bethel, Brush Prairie Peninsula, Gig Harbor Christ, Belfair St John’s, Chehalis Christ, Lakewood St Mark, Tacoma
Faith, Aberdeen St Mark, Lacey First, Tacoma St Paul, Vancouver
First, Poulsbo Stella, Longview Immanuel, Centralia Trinity, Longview LCCK, Tacoma Trinity, Tacoma
LCGS, Olympia United, Tacoma Elim, Port Orchard Vinland, Poulsbo Mt View, Edgewood Zion, Camas
More Convention information The women in Southwestern Washington Synod have always been generous in their giving of In Kind Offer-
ings at conventions. This year, on October 11, 2014, women are invited to bring non-themed back packs for middle school students and individually wrapped
snacks such as mini bags of chips, granola bars, and fruit snacks such as Tree Top, Welches, Motts… all are
examples of some brands who make fruit leather or gummy snacks. While candy snacks are tasty, Peace Community Center prefers to give a little more healthy
snacks, so please choose snack items that are low in sugar content!! Remember, please bring items that are individually wrapped.
The financial offering will be shared: One half to churchwide Women of the ELCA and one
half to Mc Carver Elementary (local school near Peace Lutheran Church) for school uniforms. You may won-
der: “Why school uniforms for a low income school?” If all children are dressed the same, children feel equal to all of their peers. It is our understanding that uni-
forms are given to those who cannot afford them so all children have something appropriate to wear to
school!
“Life Changing … Life Giving!” Prison Ministry report from Sharon Peterson
SW WA Synod Women are invited to visit the women’s
prison in Gig Harbor, WA on Friday, October 10, 2014 to share your faith with the women of the Gathering in Faith and Action Bible Study Group at the correction
center. You must contact Sharon the first week in September in order to be included in this visit in order
that the needed identification is available.
Thank You! God’s Peace & Love,
Sharon Peterson 253-549-6782 or [email protected]
Constitutions After changes made to the constitutions at the 9th Tri-
ennial Convention, and when there are changes or up-dates to the constitutions of Churchwide, Synod
(SWO’s), and Congregation Units, those changes are to be done automatically . Wherever applicable, the word “delegate”, should be changed to “voting
member”. In the places where it says “member of an ELCA congregation”, the change is to be “voting
member of an ELCA congregation” Please make those changes to your constitution. Questions? Call Carol Fossum.
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CONVENTON of WOMEN of the ELCA
Region 1-C Southwestern Washington Synod
October 11, 2014
Peace Lutheran Church and Community Center 2106 South Cushman, Tacoma, WA 98405
Handicap Access Friendly Complimentary Childcare Available: Pre-reservation Required
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Julie Kanarr, Christ Lutheran Church, Belfair, WA
Other Special Guests: Gwendolyn Edwards, Churchwide President’s Representative
Inez Torres Davis, Churchwide Staff, Women of the ELCA Rev. John Stroeh, Peace Lutheran, Tacoma, WA, Convention Pastor
One registration per form. Please make copies. Registration $30.00 includes two meals.
Name ______________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________
City, State, and Zip Code _______________________________________________________
Your phone number ___________________________________________________________
Your email address ____________________________________________________________
Who is the voting member (delegate) from your church? ______________________________
Please indicate special diet or dietary restrictions: ____________________________________
Childcare reservation: Number of children___________ What are their ages? ______________ Bring a sack lunch for your children. We must have pre-reservation for child care.
Partial scholarships are available. Call Shirley Hines if you have questions: 253-209-6228
Registration transferable, but not refundable after September 20, 2014. Registration deadline October 1, 2014.
Convention registration $30.00 includes two meals.
Send registration form with $30.00 check payable to SW WA SWO to: Shirley Hines, Registrar PO Box 4596
Spanaway, WA 98387
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The Lydia Circle at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Olympia, WA celebrated the August Gather magazine Bible study about Lydia by wearing purple to their luncheon meeting. Their pastor,
Rev. Chuck Harris, led the Bible study. Check out the “purple ladies” in the picture below!
The Bible Study Event
August 23, 2014 brought 146 women (and a few men) from around Southwestern Washington and Northwest Washington to Trinity Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA for the 26th year of the Bible Study
Event with the author of the Gather magazine Bible study. Carol LaHurd, Chicago, Illinois, author of the study titled “”Transforming Life and Faith”, challenged the women with the theme Bible verse: “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is
good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2b. She led the women in a discussion of how women are called to faith and service, and how important it is to nurture faith by conversation. In other words,
keep on talking about faith. She dealt with the hard issue of suffering and endurance as well as en-couraging women to remember the example of the early church and how they moved to the worldwide mission as led by Jesus’ followers such as Peter, Philip and Paul.
Leader Guides and Companion Bibles were available for sale. The women of Trinity Lutheran were hostesses at the morning coffee and noon lunch. The all day Bible Study Event ended at 3:30 pm.
Did you know that the digital version of Gather can be purchased for iPad, Kindle, Android and online for the cost of the magazine?
See more at http://www.womenoftheelca.org/digital-gather-pages-132.php Direct link to “in the media” is in the middle of the page at
http://www.womenoftheelca.org/bible-studies-pages-55.php
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Please register for the convention!
The 2014 Southwestern Washington Synodical Women’s Organization Con-
vention will be held on October 11, 2014 at Peace Lutheran Church and Communi-ty Center in Tacoma, WA. On the business
agenda will be the second reading of a motion to reduce the number of board members from seven
to five. The first reading and affirmative vote for this constitutional change occurred at the 2013 convention.
Have you ever wanted to visit Peace Community Center in the Hilltop area of Tacoma, WA? You
have the opportunity to do just that at our conven-tion on October 11, 2014. One of the workshops offered will be an informative overview of the
Peace Community Center and the work they are doing. Please come!
This convention will be full of hospitality and hospi-tality ideas for you to take home to your unit.
After all, women are the heart of the home and the hands reaching out to their family, friends, and churches! Come to our Open Hearts—Open Hands
convention!
Inez Torres Davis, Director for Justice, Women of the ELCA, coordinates the grants program, and de-velops programs, events and conventions related
to racial justice, cross-cultural understanding, commercial sexual ex-
ploitation and the care of creation. She sup-
ports Today’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality, our network of racial justice
educators and advo-cates. Inez will give a
power point presenta-tion on human traffick-ing.
Gwendolyn Edwards, Churchwide WELCA board mem-
ber, is the president’s representative to our convention. Gwen is from Bellevue.
No, not Washington…. This Bellevue is near Oma-ha, Nebraska.
She will give a report from Churchwide Women of the
ELCA and lead a workshop at the convention. She
wants to get to know you and talk to Y O U!!
Have you nominated someone to be a board
member on the SW WA SWO board? Nomination forms were in the last newsletter but can be requested from Carol Fossum if you need a copy. At this convention,
you will elect YOUR SWO board members for October 2014-2016. Rev Julie Kanarr, convention keynote speaker.
Hospitality Matters A traditional table prayer begins, “Come Lord Jesus, be our
guest…” What happens when Jesus responds to that invita-
tion? Pastor Julie Kanarr will lead us in a Bible study that ex-plores the story of a dinner
scene that opens the door for us to consider hospitality in a whole
new way. The Rev. Julie A. Kanarr serves
as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Belfair. A native
of Port Townsend, she is a graduate of PLU and of Lu-ther Seminary. She has written extensively for Gather magazine and its predecessor, Lutheran Woman To-day. Three of her recent articles for Gather magazine have received national awards. Her next article, “How
Do We Think About Enemies” is forthcoming in the No-vember issue of Gather. She has also written devotion-als for Christ in Our Home, is a contributing writer for
the worship resource Sundays and Seasons, and has written assorted other worship, devotional, and educa-
tional materials for Augsburg Fortress Publishers, the ELCA, and Logos Productions. Pastor Kanarr also enjoys sea kayaking, rowing, bicy-
cling, and hiking. She frequently launches her hand-built
wooden sea kayak from the Christ Lutheran beach to
explore the waters of Hood Canal.
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Southwestern Washington Synodical Women’s Organization (1-C) Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
October 2012— October 2014
President:
Carol Fossum 12716 64th Avenue East
PUYALLUP, WA 98373 360-620-5368 [email protected]
Vice President: Mary Ann Nelson
PO Box 368 CATHLAMET, WA 98612
360-849-4340 [email protected]
Secretary: Kathy Ifft, 11702 124th St East
PUYALLUP, WA 98374 Cell phone 253-307-5761
[email protected] Please note new address.
Treasurer: Send unit offerings to her!
Shirley Hines PO Box 4596 SPANAWAY, WA 98387
253-209-6228 [email protected]
Board Members:
Linnea Glover 3154 Pear St SE
OLYMPIA, WA 98501 360-556-0508 [email protected]
Geni Hammer (Appointed) 16500 NE 142nd Ave
BRUSH PRAIRIE, WA 98606 360-256-5017 [email protected]
Beth Lindell 15921 SE 323rd St
AUBURN, WA 98092 253-833-1827
Kathy Newton
2640 Garfield LONGVIEW, WA 98632 360-425-7194
Cell phone 360-442-9441 [email protected]
Sue Anna Tucker 5068 SE Horstman Rd PORT ORCHARD, WA 98366
360-981-4777 [email protected] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Today’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality Racial Justice Advocacy Team
Sue Ferber-Goodspeed, Janean Moriarty, Denise Powell and
Helene Pearch 4806 Bend Drive NE LACEY, WA 98516
360-915-8268 [email protected]
- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -
Churchwide Board Member From SW WA Synod Women (elected at 2014 Triennial Convention
of Women of the ELCA) Ely Smith, CWO WELCA treasurer
510 Forrest Park Drive TACOMA, WA 98466 253-565-2433
Cluster Leaders: Coastal Cluster Position open
Evergreen Cluster
Position open Ft. Vancouver Cluster
Jan Sayler and team 25514 NE 165th Street Battle Ground, WA 98604
360-687-5758 [email protected]
Mt. Rainier Cluster Nancy Jo Armstrong 12706 112th Avenue East
PUYALLUP, WA 98374 253-845-0346 [email protected]
Narrows Cluster
Vihollie Rice 3713 North 15th Street TACOMA, WA 98406-5119
253-759-1433 Olympic Cluster
Jan Hakanson 20253 Robin Lane NE SUQUAMISH, WA 98392
360-598-4882 [email protected]
South Sound Cluster Verna Westman 17006 Littlerock Road SW
ROCHESTER, WA 98579 360-273-0595 Cell phone 360-508-9523
Three Rivers Cluster Grace Kennedy 2103 35th ST
LONGVIEW, WA 98632 360-577-6992 [email protected]
Empowering Life…. Beyond
Incarceration! SWO Prison Mission and
Ministry Team Sharon Peterson 253-549-6782 [email protected]
Joan Nelson 253-208-3307 [email protected] PO Box 1803
GIG HARBOR, WA 98335
SWATCH editor Carol Fossum 12716 64th Avenue East
Puyallup, WA 98373 360-620-5368
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Southwestern Washington Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Southwestern Washington Synodical Women’s Organization Women of the ELCA, Carol Fossum, SWATCH Editor
12716 64th Avenue East, Puyallup, WA 98373
In This Issue
President’s Message Treasurer’s Notes 2014 Triennial Gathering reports
SWO board contact Calendar of Events
Convention information Convention registration form
Calendar of Upcoming Events
October 11, 2014—Convention of Women of the ELCA in SW WA Synod,
Peace Lutheran Church and Community Center, Tacoma, WA 9:00 am—5:30 pm
Please register for the convention as soon as possible.
February 7, 2015—Empowering Life Fundraiser
March 6, 2015—World Day of Prayer
March 14, 2015—Olympic Cluster Spring Celebration, Christ Lutheran, Belfair, WA
April 17-19, 2015— WELCA Retreat, April 17-19, 2015, Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way, WA
“A Joyful Heart—A Dancing Spirit”, Pastor Mary Lindberg, Speaker
July 29, 2015 - Mt Rainier Cluster Annual ice Cream Social
Please don’t throw me away or stick me in a file! Instead, take me apart, copy me!
Share me with your friends. Your Editor and I thank you.
Café stirring the spirit within
www.boldcafe.org
Readers, if you have gotten this far, here is a little more information!! Might as well use up the space that is used for the postal mailed address
labels for you who read the newsletter “on-line” or for those wonderful church people who print the newsletter for you.
Our most important event in the lives of SW WA Women of the ELCA congregation units, those groups of women who support Women of the ELCA locally, synod and churchwide…. That important event is the
CONVENTION on October 11th. This is a reminder that we need
women to register and attend this event, send a voting member and also
nominate someone who is willing to consider serving on the SW WA SWO board (that’s the board of women listed on page 8 in this newsletter). We will be electing a new board on October 11th. Today I read the Daily Grace for August 27th telling that there are many reasons that we hesi-tate and say no. Saying yes requires courage and faith.
If you have any questions, please email or call me. Thanks for reading! Say yes and register for the convention, please! From Carol Fossum
