SYNOD hot links
COMING soon

Event StartEvent EndTitle
8/28/2008 10:00 AM 8/28/2008 12:00:00 PM Lectionary Group-Breckenridge
9/1/2008 9:00 AM 9/1/2008 9:30:00 AM LABOR DAY HOLIDAY - OFFICE CLOSED
9/3/2008 10:30 AM 9/3/2008 12:00:00 PM Synod Staff Meeting
9/4/2008 10:00 AM 9/4/2008 11:30:00 AM Trustee Training Review
9/8/2008 10:00 AM 9/8/2008 3:00:00 PM NMPF Grant Oversite Committee
9/12/2008 5:30 PM 9/12/2008 9:00:00 PM NPS Presbytery Meeting
9/13/2008 9:00 AM 9/13/2008 3:00:00 PM NPSP Hosts Verge '08 with Leonard Sweet

SYNOD Snaps
Synod Snaps is a weekly electronic source of news from your Synod staff. If you'd like to receive this weekly email, click here to subscribe.
LOAVES & Fishes
The Summer 2008 issue of the Synod newsletter, Loaves & Fishes, is now available online! Click here to download! 
DAILY quotes
PCUSA news
PRESBYTERIANS today
CONTACT us

Synod of Alaska-Northwest
1544 S. Snoqualmie Street
Seattle, WA 98108
Click for Directions

Phone: 206-448-6403
1-800-932-4156
Fax: 206-441-1465

Synod Staff Directory
email synod4aknw@synodnw.org

CURRENT NEWS and Upcoming Events
Current  Archive  
Saint John’s Bible on display in Tacoma
Friday, August 22, 2008 (0 reads)



A recently completed illuminated Bible began its national and international exhibition tour last April with the opening of Illuminating the Word at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Throughout the next three years, The Saint John’s Bible will travel to London and several museums throughout the United States. It will be on display at the Tacoma Art Museum until September 5. Rev. Lynn Longfield, General Presbyter of Olympia Presbytery, has seen the exhibit and highly recommends it.

For more information, visit the Tacoma Art Museum website.
Verge '08 with Leonard Sweet
Friday, August 15, 2008 (37 reads)



North Puget Sound Presbytery is hosting a one-day event with Leonard Sweet on Sept. 13, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Do not miss this opportunity to schedule a team from your church to encounter Leonard Sweet, identified by Christianity Today magazine as one of the 50 most influential Christians in the U.S. He is the author of several books including "Post Modern Pilgrims" (2000), "Soul Tsunami" (2001), "The Gospel According to Starbucks" (2007), and most recently "The Church of the Perfect Storm" (2008). Verge '08 will be held at the United Presbyterian Church of Seattle in Edmonds, Washington.

Leonard SweetVERGE invites cutting-edge leaders to address these questions:

What is happening in the world around us?
What is God on the verge of in the midst of it?
How can we be part of it?

VERGE connects you with hope for the future, God-sized challenges, and a sense that it’s all possible. 

Encounter VERGE as a team with others from your church, family, neighborhood, or workplace.

Read More
Washington Area Powwows
Monday, August 11, 2008 (50 reads)



A Powwow is a Native American gathering that was originated to bring many tribal members together in peace and harmony, and to this day this tradition has continued. The tribal members congregate to show support for one another as well as display traditional wares and dance. Also, Native American foods are available for you to sample.

For many years, Powwows were closed off to the public for various reasons, but now the American Indians welcome anyone who has a true interest in the culture and fellowship. Powwows are a great source of learning about Native American culture, and most tribes encourage the public to come.

For a list of Powwows in the Washington area, CLICK HERE!
Read More
GA News – Special Offerings
Thursday, August 07, 2008 (45 reads)


The 218th General Assembly chose not to add another Special Offering this year. Here is a list of the current special offerings and actions taken at the 2008 General Assembly:

Approve the following pattern for churchwide special offerings for 2010-2013: (Please note that the lodgment of all programs given is prescribed relative to the structure as it now stands.)

1. Christmas Joy Offering: interpreted and received during the Advent season in gratitude for God’s gift of Jesus Christ. Causes:

     (a) Assistance programs to meet identified and emerging needs for professional church workers and spouses through the Board of Pensions, 50 percent;
     (b) Racial ethnic education through Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries, 50 percent.

2. One Great Hour of Sharing, interpreted and received during Lent and on Easter Sunday in response to Christ’s call to us to feed the hungry, house the homeless, minister to the suffering, and empower the poor and oppressed. Causes administered through the Compassion, Peace, and Justice Ministry. Causes:

     (a) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 32 percent;
     (b) Presbyterian Hunger Program, 36 percent;
     (c) Self-Development of People, 32 percent.

Read More
Worship Renewal Grants
Thursday, August 07, 2008 (54 reads)



The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship has a Worship Renewal Grants Program which fosters well-grounded worship renewal in congregations and worshiping communities throughout North America. Made possible through the generous support of Lilly Endowment Inc., these grants serve to stimulate thoughtful and energetic work for worship that exhibits renewed creativity, theological integrity, and relevance. 


Many ministries in our area have received such grants including Urban Hymnal in Seattle. Their mission is to partner with three Seattle congregations in exploring how new, creative, relevant music, text, and art can help people pray more honestly, engage more deeply with one another and address the needs of the community. Bellevue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), in Bellevue, Wash. received a Worship Renewal grant which went to sponsor a composer-in-residence to compose ten “call and response” invocations (prayers) that will be integrated into all aspects of the church's worship life as a community. Seattle Pacific University, Whitworth University, and the Common Ministry at Washington State have also received several grants from the Calvin Institute.

To find out more about this grant program and to learn what worship renewal means, CLICK HERE!
Read More
MDC Announces New Small Loan Program
Friday, June 20, 2008 (170 reads)



The Synod Mission Development Certificate Program has launched a new small loan program for churches in the Synod of Alaska-Northwest.

"I am excited that the program is now offering a small loan program designed specifically to help churches with those small building repairs or improvements," said Dean Mielke, Executive Director of the MDC program.

Churches may borrow up to $50,000 at a low fixed interest rate. The loan can be repaid in 5 years. There are no loan fees or penalties to repay the loan early. This is an ideal option for any church that needs to make repairs such as replacing a roof, repairing the heating systems, or making kitchen improvements.
Read More