Beginning this school year, The Everett Montessori Academy is adding a 2^nd through 5^th grade classroom. The 6^th through 12^th grade class will continue to meet in the Choir Room and the new elementary class will meet upstairs in the old Youth Room.

The fence in the parking lot is to enclose a "playground" for the elementary students. Sliding gates will completely enclose the area on school days from 7:00 am until 4:30 pm, keeping cars from parking there. After the gates are opened at 4:30, those spaces can be used.

We have calculated how many spaces are available in the remainder of the lot when the gates are closed and believe there should be enough spaces for those who use the lot during the day. Installing the fence has not reduced the same number of parking spaces we have, and the fence will have no impact on Sunday morning parking.

For the Life of the World was the theme of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, held July 28-August 2 in Phoenix, AZ. This theme is rooted in the Nicene Creed (this year celebrating its 1,700th anniversary) and in Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s reminder that, “The church is the church only when it exists for others.”  The theme felt especially timely in today’s environment where hateful words and actions continue to demean neighbors, sow division, and target the most vulnerable. While it was not done perfectly, and while there is always more work to do, I left Phoenix trusting that we have a shared commitment to walk in the way of Jesus: speaking truth in love, protecting the dignity of every person, and bearing public witness to God whose way is marked by justice, mercy, and peace for all people. In short: to live and move and act for the life of the world.

Here are a few highlights of what occurred during the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Please click on the links or go to www.elca.org if you would like more information. (Note: several links below are preliminary copies and have not been not copyedited or finalized. We will share them as they become available.)

Actions

• We elected Bishop Yehiel Curry as the new Presiding Bishop. (read more)
• We elected Pastor CeCee Mills as the new ELCA Secretary. (read more)
• We adopted our newest Social Statement: Faith and Civic Life. (read more)
• We approved updates to the Human Sexuality Social Statement. (read more)
• We heard the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church’s final report along with the ELCA Church Council’s response to the report (read more)
• We adopted the Churchwide Memorial Toward Ending the Occupation of Palestine. (This memorial came about in part due to the Memorial we passed during the Northwest Washington Synod Assembly – read more)
• We adopted a Memorial on Indian Boarding School Remembrance (read more)
• We received the Common Statement on the Filioque (this is regarding the Nicene Creed – read more)
• We made Constitution revisions that I encourage you all to read as they become available. I am especially grateful for the new revisions concerning on-leave-from-call for Rostered Ministers.
• We thanked Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Secretary Sue Rothmeyer for their ministry and service.

Worship, Education, and Social Opportunities

• We worshiped every day in a variety of ways, we prayed before every significant vote, and we had a chaplain available. It is always a highlight to join in singing with over 1000 Lutherans!
• We participated in a Powwow that was moving and educational. Bishop Eaton received a blanket representing thanksgiving for her advocacy with the indigenous peoples of this country.
• AMMPARO held a Candlelight Prayer Vigil to pray and advocate for refugees and immigrants. It was heartening to see elected officials and interfaith leaders present at this as well as ELCA voting members.
• Our synod joined voting members and guests from the Southwestern Texas Synod (our domestic companion synod) for a wonderful dinner and conversation.
• Dr. Chad Rimmer, Rector and Dean of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University, led a beautiful reflection on the Nicene Creed for today.

I am thankful for the nine voting members from the NWWA Synod who attended and gave of their time and attention at the Churchwide Assembly. Additionally, many others from our synod went as observers, resource people, advisors, volunteers, and more.

In my reflection of this assembly, I continue to hear Martin Luther’s words (as quoted by Rev. Dr Chad Rimmer in his keynote). As Dr. Rimmer stated:

Luther knew justification as a process of becoming. … Luther writes, “This life, therefore, is not righteousness but growth in righteousness, not health but healing, not being but becoming…we are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it; the process is not yet finished, but it is going on; this is not the end, but it is the road; all does not yet gleam with glory, but all is being purified.” Defense and Explanation of All the Articles

May it be so. For the Life of the World.

Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee | bishop@lutheransnw.org

We continue our way through the long season of Pentecost. During this "green season" we strive  to grow in faithfulness and discipleship.

September 7 - Deuteronomy 30:15-20 & Luke 14:25-33
September 14 - Exodus 32:7-14 & Luke 15:1-10 
September 21 - Amos 8:4-7 & Luke 16:1-13 
September 28 - Amos 6:1a, 4-7 & Luke 16:19-31

Rosamaria will lead a forum to identify ways we can help support immigrants. The forum will take place on, Sunday, September 21, following Fellowship Time, around 11:30, in the Friendship Room.

Sunday School begins September 14! Class begins at 9:15 am in the  Nursery and adjoining room. All toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary age children are welcome.

When children are baptized, it is not just the parents and sponsors who make promises. The congregation as a whole promises to support and pray for the one being baptized. To help us fulfill those promises, we would like to have an adult Prayer Partner (APP) for each of our Sunday School students. The role of the APP is to pray for their student throughout the year. They  may also send birthday cards or find other ways to encourage and support their student. Please sign up on the bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary if you would like to serve as an APP.

Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center is located on Lake Samish, south of Bellingham. It is a place where people of any age, ability, identity, and economic opportunity are welcomed, nurtured, and valued as a diverse body and a blessed part of God's creation, and where everyone is invited to explore God’s grace in creation.

Our Vision: People of any age, ability, identity, and economic opportunity are welcomed, nurtured, and valued as a diverse body and a blessed part of God's creation.

Our Mission: Exploring Grace in Creation.

Our Values

• Growth in oneself and community is fundamental, limitless, and irrevocable. Growth occurs when we are challenged while we create and respect safe environments. This allows for everyone to explore faith, nature and relationship with God at a pace and depth that they choose.

• Renewal occurs when time and space are set aside for reflection, practice, and rest. We are renewed through salvation and thus restored.

• Adventure happens when one approaches unknown risks and activities with faith and joy. Adventuring occurs when people are free from judgment and have access to discover the complexity of nature and God in a safe way.

• Community and families have diverse values, needs and gifts. Communities are built through fellowship, connection, hospitality, and appreciation for the Body of Christ.

• Education that allows people to transform, develop, and understand relationships and the world around them in a new way. Education occurs through opportunity, exploration of the world, continued learning and lived experience.

If you would like to support this ministry, donations can be made using the pew envelopes. or online. To learn more about Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center, visit camplutherwood.org

Dear Members of Central Lutheran Church,

Thank you so much for your August donation of $5,390.00. Your gift means that people struggling with homelessness and addiction have a place where they are cared for and encouraged to find healing. This season can be especially hard for those trying to get back on their feet.  Thanks to your support, we can keep offering hope and practical help - one step at a time, day by day. I'm so grateful for God for how He's working through you to make a real, lasting difference.

Grace and Peace,

John Hull, Chief Executive Director

The quilters here at Central Lutheran Church make quilts for people around the world, through Lutheran World Relief.  Click below for more information on how you can help.  

The homeless, under-resourced, or just plain hungry are all welcome! Anyone in need can get a meal at Central Lutheran Church each Sunday night. Sunday Suppers are at 5:00 pm. These meals are provided by volunteers from  different congregations representing a variety of denominations in Snohomish County.

You are invited to serve in this vital ministry. Volunteers can arrive at 4:30 to help with set up and the meal will be served at 5:00. We stop serving meals at 6:00 and usually can be cleaned up and done by 6:30.   As the saying goes, many hands make light work. 

Thank you as always for your support in time, food, and prayers.

Due to three new factors, our generation grapples with the temptation to become addicted to acquisitive materialism in ways unknown during earlier centuries: 1. Mass advertising. 2. A far greater variety of purchasing options. 3. Easy credit through credit cards.

While not as physically destructive as heroin, acquisitive materialism addiction can do enormous damage to our sense of personal contentment and quality of life.

The antidote is still the same as in previous generations—taking seriously Jesus’ warning: “Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15).

Finance Update through July 2025

Beginning Balance at the end of May   (9,259)
Monthly Expenses for June & July       (38,651)
Monthly Income for June & July             42,229
Deficit                                                                      (5,681)   

Our projected budget for January through July was a deficit of $5,988, therefore we are $307 ahead of our projected budget.

CLICK HERE to make a financial donation to Central Lutheran Church.

We use YouTube to live stream and record our worship services.  In each weekly Worship Invitation email, we include a link  to that Sunday's worship service.  Past worship services can be viewed by going to our YouTube page by searching for "Central Lutheran Church Everett Washington" or by CLICKING HERE.

 Happy Birthday to those celebrating September birthdays!  

Debbie Saunders, September 4

Merrick Davis, September 4

Bill Loesche, September 22

Barbie Barnes, September 22

 Happy Anniversary to those celebrating September anniversaries!

Jim & Deb Killough, September 1

Stanley & Char Surridge, September 11

Steve & Nancy Olsen, September 26

Duane & Pamela Gleave, September 27

Scott & Betsy Haines, September 28

Central Lutherean Church's Statement of Immigrants’ Rights

As a community of faith, Central Lutheran Church believes that all people are created in the image of God and have inherent dignity and worth. As disciples of Christ, and following his example, we are called to love our neighbors. We live this out by welcoming the stranger, standing in solidarity with, supporting, and protecting those who are marginalized, oppressed, or in need. This includes immigrants who seek refuge, safety, and opportunity. Thus, we affirm:

• Immigrants, regardless of their status or nationality, are beloved children of God and deserve to be treated with justice and compassion.
• Every person has the right to live with dignity, to seek a better life, and be treated fairly in society.
• Immigrants’ rights to family unity, access to education, and a fair legal process should be  protected.
• Policies that dehumanize or discriminate against immigrants should be opposed.

 As people of God, we will strive to reflect God’s love by working towards a society where all people regardless of origins can flourish with equality and respect.

Central Lutheran Church Office Hours are:

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. 

Pastor Jim works in the office Tuesday through Friday, times vary.