Reaching Out, Sharing God’s Love · Rath and Barry Conchie (Gallup Press, 2008) and StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (Gallup Press, 2007) Continuing on the strengths focus, these

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DUNGENESS VALLEY LUTHERANNEWSLETTER

Church Office: 360-681-0946 Email: [email protected]

The first Sunday of every month we collect food for the Sequim Food Bank here at DVLC.

Do you have clothing you want to donate?

Sequim Seventh-Day Adventist Church offers a free clothing program

Donations are accepted on Tuesdays(1st, 2nd 3rd Tuesday of each month)

10am - 12pmAddress: 30 Sanford Ln, Sequim, WA 98382

Phone: (360) 683-7373

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Church Office: 360-681-0946 Email: [email protected]

Dungeness Valley Lutheran Currents

Letter from Pr Russ

Please contact Jennifer during office hours if your contact information has changed. Thank you.

360-681-0946 [email protected]

December Birthdays

WOW! WORKING ON WELLNESSDecember 11, 2019 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

“Why Loneliness is So Toxic”Dr. Michael McBride, Licensed Psychologist

TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH100 South Blake Street in Sequim

January 8, 2020 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

“Radiation Oncology: Updates in targeted cancer treatments”Dr. Lindsay Jensen, MD OMC Radiation Oncologist

1 Else Turner 3 Mike Crayton 5 Diana Graham 8 Mollie Smith 9 Bill Herrick14 Mary Ann Dangman15 Lee Raymond Sue Brock16 Alan Mace17 Judy Lynn Bonnie Vorvick Jim Widsteen22 Marsha Omdal26 Syrene Forsman28 Jim Fitzpatrick Karin Pease29 Ted Johnson31 Lu Meiner

Pastorous Thoughts – December 2019Pr. Russ BrittonWhom are you looking for?John 18:4b

Have you ever tried to find a friend in a crowd? Thinking back to the days before mobile phones where you knew you were both there and you just had to diligently work your way through the throngs of folks until… you grin and see the face you recognize. If you haven’t observed this lately especially during the holidays, you can make your way to SeaTac Airport and observe eagerly waiting families and friends anticipating their reunions.

This season of Advent please join me to take time to reflect on what and for whom you are waiting. Who do you really want to see? Will you, can you recognize their presence? Your pastor will continue to faithfully bear the mantle of pointing you and the community of Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church to see Christ in this Christmas season. On Sunday mornings as we light the candles and sing stanzas of O Come, O Come Emmanuel (ELW #257), let us ponder anew what that incarnation can and does mean for our lives. When we recognize and claim the gift, may we be courageous enough to offer an invitation to others to join in our celebrations of this blessed Advent and Christmas season.

I invite you (and those you graciously invite) to join us for Christmas Eve celebrations at 5pm and 7pm. The hope proclaimed at Christmas is a welcome blessing in our often tumultuous world. When we come to worship we hear the stories of those who have encountered Jesus and wrestle with the question posed in Mark 8:29 and Matthew 16:15, “But who do you say that I am?” There are many things different churches can do well, but the unity of the church universal possesses on primary blessed function - to proclaim Christ come incarnate, crucified, and resurrected.

In John 12:21 we hear some Greeks inquire of Philip, and used as part of our recent gospel acclamation, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” May this too be your heart’s desire before our God. May you come to DVLC to see the Word made flesh, to hear of the one who claims in baptismal waters and feeds us on the journey with himself in bread and wine. As your pastor, let me emphatically state that the power in any church has never been, nor will ever be the one proclaiming, but solely the One proclaimed. The proclaimer may change in times and seasons, but the One proclaimed and God’s promises and benefits remain the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Thanks be to God.

Looking forward to our shared Advent journey,Pastor Russ

Reach Out,Share God’s Love.

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PROJECT!

Lift Every Voice and Sing

Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church now has new hymnals! A huge thanks goes to Jim Jones and Betty Zander who have helped track the contributions in honor and memory of loved ones. While the hymnals will be used during Advent, the bookplates will be placed in the front later in December. The Evangelical Lutheran Worship or ELW contains marvelous hymnody including classics and newer offerings. It contains 10 different liturgies but perhaps most compelling is how it better incorporates materials for teaching the faith including Luther’s Small Catechism and Scripture references to worship order. There remain a few hymnals left to sponsor should you feel moved to do so. A dedicatory bookplate will be placed in the front of the hymnal designating who the hymnal was given to honor or remember. Your gift equips the faithful worship of the congregation for years to come! Also know that as part of our equipping our worshiping community with new hymnals, in the spirit of generosity we have made contributions of hymnals to one of the chaplains on the U.S.S. Eisenhower and made a donation to fund duplication of the songbooks at the Washington Correction Center where Pastor Chris Ode serves.

How Do I Reach My Fellow Worshippers?

We try to update our directories on a rolling basis, and updated directories are available in the office or by request.

Pastor’s ShelfPart of the wisdom encouraged by too many pastoral mentors to mention is to engage regularly in the habit of reading. In that spirit, I intend at times to offer some reflections on books and writing that is engaging, forming, encouraging, challenging, and surprising your pastor’s formation and proclamation. Some books that are stirring this pastor lately include:

Rising Strong: How The Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown Leaning into the coming year focusing on strengths, it is not lost on me that distraction is part of the journey. Consequently, it is well to never lose sight of the capacity within grace to reset and return to being on track. Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie (Gallup Press, 2008) and StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (Gallup Press, 2007) Continuing on the strengths focus, these excellent books are ones I have read but find value in re-reading. The better you know yourself and the composition of your team, the better you position yourself to leverage transformative influence and change.

How to Raise A Boy: The Power of Connection To Build Good Men by Michael C. Reichert (TarcherPerigree, 2019) As well as a pastor, I am a father and feel a deep and earnest interest to equip my son as best I can to live and lead a fulfilling life. Especially in an era where toxic expressions of ‘masculinity’ are increasingly in the public square, raising a son into a discerning young man is part of my Christian call.

A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Houwen (Upper Room Books, 2010)Commended to me by a ministry mentor and executive director of a large outdoor ministry, this frames and informs asking for ministry support as holy and sacred endeavor.

Bedlam: An Intimate Journey Into America’s Mental Health Crisis by Kenneth Paul Rosenberg, MD (Penguin Random House, 2019)Last month, I mentioned a book called Mind Fixers. This is in that same spirit of considering how to best accompany those who struggle with adversities from within and without. As Lutheran Christians affirming our pledge to love our neighbors this must remain a critically deliberated topic for us.

Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (Penguin Books, 2013)Read quickly while a pastoral candidate here, it is such a well-written memoir that it bears a reread. Profoundly inspirational.

Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church

Directory 2019

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Our next planned New Member Reception will be January 19th, 2020. Prior or proximate to that date, we would ask that you attend 3 sessions. 1) Lutheranism 101 - A survey of what characterizes the Lutheran beliefs as professed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Next offered: THIS COMING Sun, Jan 26th 9:45a 2) DVLC & Me - A survey of the story and ministries of Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church with focus on becoming aware of areas for you to become involved. Next offered: Sun, Jan 12th 9:45a 3) An appointment with Pastor Russ - This can be in the form of a home visit, a coffee and conversation, a meeting at the office, basically a chance to get to better know another and speak to specific questions or concerns.

New Members**DVLC to host Synod Event Thursday December 5th 10a-1p

DVLC has been chosen the site of the Bishop’s Advent Eucharist for the Olympic and Peninsula conferences of the synod and the event takes place on Thursday, Dec 5th from 10a-1p. Help from the congregation will include hospitality to meet and greet folks as they arrive and a few additional kitchen helpers. A rough schedule is gather and mingle 10a-10:30a, worship 10:30a-11:30p, updates from the bishop and staff 1130a-12p, community lunch 12p to 1p. For more details, stay tuned as Pastor Russ works with the synod in planning.

Allison Ramsey, Office Manager/Event CoordinatorThe Rev. Richard E. Jaech, BishopThe Rev. Rebecca Shjerven, Bishop’s Associate The Rev. Melanie Wallschlaeger, Director for Evangelical Mission

Southwestern Washington Synod StaffMINDING MEANINGFUL MEETINGS The hymn of gratitude ‘We Gather Together’ from 1597 by Adrianus Valerius begins, “We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing.” And while that is often true, we also gather together to steward the congregation entrusted to us. As a member of the congregation, you may trust that many of these meetings happen and you may not even know it. But where curiosity can be dignified, here is when they normally convene. Unless otherwise stated, meetings are open to the congregation.

Congregation Council – normally 2nd Tuesdays at 4pm; next Dec 10th, January 14, 2020. Executive Committee – scheduled week prior to the meeting

Finance – Thursday morning prior to council 9am; next Dec 5th

Personnel – Convenes as needed e.g. staffing transitions and evaluations

Fellowship – Fall and Spring, next presently unscheduled

Christian Education - Fall and Spring, next presently unscheduled

Worship – normally 3rd Thursdays at 2:30pm; next *Dec 2nd* at 3pm for Advent & Christmas

Facilities – Convenes as needed

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Christmas Services

Coming for Christmas Eve? You have some options. While the simplest answer is worship at 5pm and 7pm, with a measure of deliberation, the hour between services, starting at 6pm, will consist of more mellow lesser known hymns and songs with some short reflections. Check Advent worship bulletins for more details.

Annual Meeting - December 8Christmas Eve - December 24

Winter ONE-0derworship - January 19Ash Wednesday - February 26

Easter - April 12, 2020

Upcoming

Events

11/24 Christ the King 8:30am 11:00am

12/1 Sunday, Advent 1 8:30am 11:00am

12/4 Wednesday, Advent 2 6:00pm






12/24 Christmas Eve 5:00pm 7:00pm

ADVENT CALENDAR

Christmas Music Season is coming up: Sunday, Dec 8th 1pm Livestream of St. Olaf Christmas Festival in DVLC sanctuary and check out https://www.plu.edu/christmas/ for Pacific Lutheran University’s Christmas Concert offerings

Winter ONE-derworship

Please put it on your calendar. Let us all gather together on Sunday, January 19th to worship together at one service to be held at 10am. Also on that Sunday we shall receive new members and enjoy a breakfast/brunch together. The last time we gathered together in September allowed us marvelous energy and a chance to get to know those who worship at a different service. It’s time!

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Dungeness Homes

The congregational information meeting on November 17th consisted of conviction around the value of the project in addition to concerns articulated about the lease. Consequently, the vote has been deferred following Dungeness Homes revising the lease accordingly given feedback and, in concert with DVLC Council, then scheduling a follow up meeting. While the precise date has not been set, it will be in 2020.

Dungeness Homes Canoe Raffle

“The attached pictures are of a cedar strip handmade canoe being raffled for the benefit of Dungeness Homes. You can buy tickets online at the following link https://go.rallyup.com/dungenesshomes or at A-1 Auto Parts in downtown Sequim (where the canoe is on display). If you win it and aren’t a paddler you can sell it or give it back! Even if you don’t win it you will have contributed to a great cause." Tickets are $10 and we are only selling 1000 tickets!

Please Be There

December 8th 9:40am between worships. We hold our Congregation Annual Meeting to ratify our Ministry Plan (aka budget) and vote on nominating committee’s recommendations for Church Council and other posts.

DVLC Faith Formation December 2019

Sundays in December A Theopoetic Approach to the Season of Advent Introduced by Gene G. Bradbury, we will look at the Season of Advent through theopoetic lenses. What is theopoetics and does it relate to Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany? All you need to bring is your imagination.

Dec. 1: A look at Advent through Theopoetic eyes;Dec. 8: Conversation if time following Annual MeetingDec. 15: Isaiah 11:6,8,9 - A Time for StillnessDec. 22: Isaiah 35: 1-2,4 - Dear IsaiahOf course, the Thursday afternoon Bible Studies at 1:30p led by Pastor Russ looking at the Scriptures for the coming weekend continue.

Gospel of Matthew Read-Through

As we venture into Year A where many of our Gospel texts on Sunday come from Matthew, one of the powerful ways to familiarize yourself is to read the Gospel in it’s entirety. In this instance, consider listening to a reading through the Gospel of Matthew. Closer to those dates look for sign ups to read certain chapters to allow different voices. Planning to offer this twice:

1) Sunday, December 29th, 2019 Beginning between worships, pausing for 11am worship, then concluding thereafter 2) Sunday, February 9th, 2020 Following worship and feeding one’s self lunch, convene at DVLC at 1p and read through

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To share and serve... Our worship volunteers serve their fellow worshipers by helping our worship flow and extending hospitality so that worship may be meaningfully engaged. Keep an eye on the sign ups in the narthex for where you might bless your fellow worshipers!

Longest Night Service

There are those for whom the holidays can be challenging. Acutely from recent loss or chronically due to losses around the holidays that bring back grief and mourning. In acknowledging that reality, and in partnership with Trinity United Methodist and Saint Luke’s Episcopal, we join this year on December 21st at 5:30pm over at Trinity UMC (100 South Blake St) in offering a Longest Night worship which some traditions call a Blue Christmas offering. While still including hymnody and liturgical responses, the order of service reflects and acknowledges the challenges the season may bring to those wrestling with the pain, sadness, and loss.

Sounds Like Working on HVAC Advent decorating and Christmas decorating scheduled tentatively

for Saturday, Dec 7th – tentatively 8:30am-10:30am. The wreath will

be set up by Advent 1 with additional decoration after the

Thanksgiving week.

Advent / Christmas OpportunitiesAngel Tree

Sponsor a Family for Christmas in the Hilltop area (Tacoma) Peace Lutheran Church ( SW WA Synod )

Peace Lutheran Church Christmas Adopt-A-Family ProgramMy name is Allison Ramsey and I volunteer with Aida Perez, the Director of the Adopt-a-Family Christmas Adoption Program at Peace Lutheran Church in the Hilltop area of Tacoma. Our Family Christmas Adoption Program supports over 50 low-income families of single moms & their children (ages newborn to teen) in an effort to provide gifts to help our Hilltop families to have a wonderful Christmas during this holiday time.

We partner with churches and individuals all over the Puget Sound who all choose to share in the gift of giving to others less fortunate. This year, we would like to partner with Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church, because this year we have even more families needing help.

We give thanks for you. Christmas Blessings, Allison Ramsey

Peace Lutheran Church is in the Hilltop area of Tacoma- one of the most diverse areas of the city, located just above downtown where 32% of the population is living below the poverty line. With a history of horrible gang violence, and drugs, and even some recent shootings, this diverse neighborhood has strong support from Peace Lutheran. Twice a week, the Pastor, Pastor Emeritus, Youth and Family Minister and other volunteers, walk the neighborhood to check on their friends and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. 45% of Hilltop households spend more than 30% of their income toward housing costs, higher than any other area of Tacoma. There are over 600 public housing and below-market rental units in the Hilltop, still not nearly enough to solve this problem. All of the families that participate in the Peace Lutheran Church Christmas Adoption program are single parent families with multiple children, all living below the poverty line. What a wonderful thing for them to receive warm clothing that fits, blankets for their mattresses and a special treat that is theirs alone from people who care about them- just because they are kids.

DVLC GIVING TREE will be up by Friday December 6!

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Praying Continuously Yes, DVLC has a prayer chain. It is our privilege to lay before God the concerns and delights of our hearts and on behalf of others. Should you wish to be included, please email Sandy Jones [email protected] let the office know.

You Get That?

We will be doing a communication audit in the next month or so to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of our communication strategies. We need to know who prefers electronic communication, who needs physical copies and if so, are they able to pick them up at DVLC or do they need to be mailed. Look for the survey and let us know how to best get the word to YOU!

PASTOR’S Jukebox

Meeting god in Prayer

Much like Pastor’s Shelf where the books I am reading recently give you insights into your pastor’s thinking and service. This month I thought to cast a few songs that have been on the playlist lately. While I do listen to the radio at times, mainly I listen to streaming music through Napster. Feel free to share with me what songs resonate with you! Here are a few songs that I find significant:

Traditions of Christmas by Mannheim Steamroller from the album A Fresh Aire Christmas If I had one favorite Christmas song, this would be it. Not so much for any theological proclamation, but for the artful way it invokes the comforts of the Christmas season. Composer Chip Davis says the inspiration includes “fuzzy warm sweaters, soft images of the tree, cookies in the oven on Christmas morning and family.”

OK (featuring James Blunt) by Robin Schulz from the album UncoveredAny song that has the percussive rhythm accompanying a refrain of “It’s gonna be OK,” is catchy and gets stuck in this fellow’s mind. For me another line that snags me in its resonance is the tendency to “overcomplicate what is simple.” It is going to be okay and songs that remind us of as much are awesome.

No Time Like Now by ILLENIUM from the album Awake Each of us possess the moment of power when we recognize that the change(s) we need to have the courage to make is the moment in front of us. This short song literally has only one lyric – “No time like now.” Again, you’ll hear pretty quickly the rhythm that understandably captivate your percussion inclined pastor.

You’re Here by Nichole Nordeman from the album Every Mile MatteredNichole is a Contemporary Christian singer with many hits including Legacy, Holy, and I Am. This song particularly captivates with the affirmation of God’s consistent presence and the growth and maturing in perceiving that presence. I particularly find the following two lines so profoundly poignant: “The only invitation that you need is the very air I breath,” and “You were never moving closer, you were only always here.”

Planting Seeds by Daniel Nahmod from the album WaterThis delightful fun little folk song reminds this pastor that the extent of faithful service consists solely in offering. There is no compulsion, coercion, or imposition. The refrain flows energetically with the words “whatever grows will grow, whatever dies will die, whatever works will work, whatever flies will fly, whatever fails will fail, what’s meant to soar will soar, I am planting seeds, nothing more.” To God be the glory. As the saying goes, “We can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count the apples in a seed.”

Worship Servant Calendar December 2019 Date 12/01 12/08 12/15 12/22 12/29

PIANISTS8:30 & 11:00 Mark Mark Mark Brenda Brenda

Advent Wreath Lighters8:30am Peter Lavelle Bruce & Gail Schwab Suzi Ure Christopher Britton

11:00am Eric Christiansen Paul & Gwyn Wessel Ted & LaNice Johnson Grant & Lu MeinerSOUNDBOARD

8:3011:00 Connie Jean Connie Jean Connie Jean Connie Jean Connie Jean

GREETERS8:30 Monica Dixon Janie Raye Wehman Nancy Schroeder Peter Lavelle Viki Kocha

11:00 Bud Fullhart Jim Jones Chris Juergens John Beitzel Chris Juergens

Ellen Fullhart Sandy Jones Kathy Lohrman Amanda Beitzel Cheryl Walther

USHERS8:30 Marsha Omdal Judy Lynn Peter Lavelle Mary Ann Dangman Monica Dixon

Marian Needham Viki Kocha Ken Eide Randy Orth Mary Hendricksen

11:00 Chris Juergens Ted Johnson Jim Jones Chris Juergens Ted JohnsonRuth Geiger LaNice Johnson Sandy Jones Jean Cameron LaNice Johnson

LECTOR8:30 Mark Caughey Andra Smith Ted Foster Chris Foster Mark Caughey

11:00 George Kuhrts Bev Horan Jim Jones Paul Wessel Sherry WrightCOMMUNION

8:30 Judy Lynn Gail Schwab Christopher Britton Janet Getzendaner Nancy SchroederMark Caughey Bruce Schwab Betty Zander Mary Hendricken Mark Caughey

11:00 Jerry Enzenauer Laura Campbell Chris Juergens Cal Mogck Jerry EnzenauerSherry Wright Jan Bock Paul Wessel Margaret Crayton Sherry Wright

Kathy Lohrman Kathy Lohrman Gloria Virak Mike Crayton Randi CooperBarb Enzenauer Randi Cooper Myrna Juergens Lu Mogck Barb Enzenauer

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FOOD BANK SUNDAY

8:30am Worship11:00am Worship





8:30am Men’s Breakfast9:30 Exercise Class





9:30 - 3:30pm MOSAIC1:00pm Quilting3:15pm Sherwood Service

9:30 - 3:30pm MOSAIC1:00pm Quilting4:00pm Council Meeting

9:30 - 3:30pm MOSAIC1:00pm Quilting

5pm Christmas Eve Service7pm Christmas Eve Service

Church Office: 9a - 12pm


4:15pm Choir Practice6pm Advent Service



Merry Christmas

Church Office closed

9am Finance Meeting1:30pm Adult Bible Study

1:30pm Adult Bible Study

1:30pm Adult Bible Study


9:30am Exercise Class3:15pm Tai Chi6 - 8p NW W Choral practice

9:30am Exercise Class3:15pm Tai Chi

9:30am Exercise Class3:15pm Tai Chi

3:15pm Tai Chi

1pm NW Women’s Chorale concert

9:00am Meditation

9:00am Meditation

January 1, 2020

Happy New Years!

Church Office closed

Documents

Reaching Out, Sharing God’s Love · Rath and Barry Conchie (Gallup Press, 2008) and StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (Gallup Press, 2007) Continuing on the strengths focus, these