For God alone, my soul in silence waits.  Psalm 62:1 NRSV

This summer has certainly provided many opportunities for waiting in silence.  At the end of the morning services on June 25^th, I went home feeling, well, physically ill.  After a few hours of hemming and hawing, for, after all, there were still many things to be done at the church that day, I finally called my doctor.  Her advice, “I’ll meet you in the emergency room.”  Thanks go to Pr. Will for taking care of all the responsibilities I dropped that day. 

Several hours later tests showed a very unhappy appendix, which was removed shortly thereafter.  Unfortunately there were several infections that set in after the surgery, but, for the most part, the healing process is almost over.  Thank you to all who so graciously offered your prayers, food, and support to Cheri and me in the past month.  It wasn’t exactly how we’d planned on spending our summer, but the experience proved a very humbling reminder of just what a gift it is to live in the midst of a caring faith community.

Although it is August, we are now but one step away from the fall, which will bring a number of opportunities for moving forward together as that caring faith community.  Here are a few:

*The Chinese language ministry is going well these days, as a goodly number of folks gather with Pastors Paul and Wendy Cheung every Thursday evening in the Fellowship Hall for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.  Sunday, August 27^th, is our Annual Picnic, and it will be the first with a bi-lingual sermon.  The members of Grace Chinese Lutheran Church, where Pr. Paul and Pr. Wendy serve, will be joining us for the picnic at Lake Sammamish State Park.  Expect to see not only a healthy increase in numbers and energy, but come ready to experience a group of folks who have great joy in their faith. 

*Sunday Morning Worship Schedule will be changing Sunday, September 10^th.  On that day, the 8 & 9:00 services will combine for one liturgical service at 8:30. The current 10:30 service will shift to 10:00, and Pr. Will is getting excited about the launch of the 11:27 service.  For more details on the 11:27, see Pr. Will.  Sunday School will be offered during the 8:30 and 10:00 services.

*The Full First Night Schedule will start Sunday, September 10^th, as well.  We’ll begin with dinner at 5:30, followed by a variety of formation offerings for youth and adults.  Ask Andy Hermanson and Brelin Rismiller about offerings for youth.  For adults we’ll be offering another round of LifeShapes and Marks of Discipleship classes, as well as other offerings from the Adult Formation Team and the Health and Wellness Team.  First night worship will end the evening at 7:30.  This is a worship experience that is already well attended with styles ranging from a Blues service to Bluegrass to a new service specifically written for evening prayer by Marty Haugen and Pr. Susan Briehl.

If you are interested in assisting with or coordinating the First Night dinners, please let me know.

*The Annual Holden Men’s Retreat* is coming up September 29-October 2.  To register, download a registration form from Holden’s website (www.holdenvillage.org).  Make sure you mark on the form, “Sammamish Hills Men’s Retreat.”  The annual Men’s retreat provides a laid-back weekend at a high mountain retreat community where many of the men participate in a work project, while others simply enjoy the sights, go flyfishing, hiking, and even work in long naps.  If you’re interested, contact me at prjohn@shlc.org. 

Most of the participants take the boat in and out, but every year a few hardy souls join me in hiking into the Village.  This is not a hike for the novice.  There is serious elevation gain (+/- 4,000’ and 10 miles a day) and weather can always make the difference between a sweet hike and dangerous footing.  But, if you’re game, talk to me and I’ll share the details of this year’s hike.

*November 3-5 we’ll be hosting the first ever Northwest LifeShapes conference with participants coming from as far away as Calgary and Portland.  For this event we’ll need volunteers to cover a myriad of duties, from working on food service to parking lot attendants.  If you are available and interested in helping out, please let either Pr. Will or I know as soon as possible.

Finally, many of you are aware of the ongoing planning process with the City of Sammamish around the development of Sammamish Town Center (http://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/TownCenter.aspx).  As exciting as it is to be located in the heart of the Town Center, it has taken considerable effort to get the planning team to recognize there is at least one church (Sammamish Hills) within their planning area. 

Every communication the Council and I have had with the City of Sammamish about the Town Center has centered on our intention to stay at our current location.  If you have the opportunity to be in conversation with anyone from the City, including our City Council members, please identify yourself as a member of or participant in the life of this congregation. Next, thank them for their hard work on this long-term development of our new community. 

If you’d like more information on how our conversations with the City are going, please feel free to talk to any of our Congregational Council members. 

In other words, we are a multi-faceted congregation with many things going on, but in the midst of it all, we are called to join the Psalmist in living out the song …for God alone, my soul in silence waits.

See you in Church!

Pr. John LaMunyon

*Due to several requests, I’ll be hosting a Women’s Holden Retreat in March.  The weekend has yet to be determined, however, due to the boat schedule, we will be gone from Friday morning through Monday evening.  Winter is a fantastic time to visit the Village.  For those who like snow, there’s snowshoeing and cross country skiing.  However, there are also looms for weaving, a pottery shop, and many warms corners to read a book or play cards.  More information will be posted by October.  For more information on life at Holden in the winter, go to their website, www.holdenvillage.org.  

We’ll continue following the apostle Paul on his journeys under the series, “Pack Your Bags.”  What we’ve experienced thus far is Paul’s tenacious refusal to proclaim anything but Christ crucified, saying, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:19-20, NRSV)  Ultimately, Paul ends up in Rome, in confrontation with the greatest “principality and power” of his time.  What does Paul do?  Come and see!

Click here to read more about worship in August

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”   

This is a phrase I have heard many times in Church.  Every time I hear, “grace and peace to you . . .” I think of how desperately I need God’s grace and peace.  There always seems to be a new conflict or struggle in our community, in our country and in our world.  Grace and peace is what we need.  

It is my passion and desire to help shape the worship life at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church so God’s grace and peace abounds to you every time you come to church.  Part of shaping the worship life means making changes.  Changes are coming, but more importantly opportunities are abounding.  As the times change, our needs change, so here are a few areas where we need you. 

• Liturgical Arts Team – for the last 10 years Bobbie Andresen, Estelle Tordillos and many others (husbands included) have made the sanctuary beautiful.  They would like to take a step back and I want to make sure the high standard they have set continues.  Please pray about joining this team. 
   

• Ushers for all services – we strive to be a welcoming community and part of being welcoming consists of participating in worship as a greeter and usher.  Please pray about serving in this way at any of our four services. 
   

• Musicians - Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church is an incredibly gifted congregation and many of those gifts are musical.  Please pray about using your gifts in worship. 
   

• Other areas – Are you passionate about an area of ministry I have not mentioned?  Please contact me and I’ll help you get plugged in. 

Pr. John has been telling me recently not to hyperventilate as I think about the fall and the years ahead here at Sammamish Hills.  It is at those times when I need to hear, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father”.  If we are following God’s will, then the workers will make themselves known.  I pray for all of you and I trust you are praying for me and for each other.  We are in this together and the times are a’changin'.

Grace and Peace,

Pr. Will
prwill@shlc.org
 

In June more than 40 of us signed the ONE Campaign declaration, lending our voices to over 2 million people who have already called for the ending of extreme poverty in the world by signing the declaration. Signers received a white ONE wristband, the international symbol of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. Over three million Americans and millions of people around the world are wearing the white band. We will send the petitions to the national ONE headquarters. Together as ONE, we can work to make poverty history.  
 

Take the time to enjoy a round of golf, stroll on the shore, indulge in a luxurious spa treatment or just spend quiet time with your spouse during this wonderful weekend retreat.

Click here to visit the "Weekend Apart" page where you can get more information about the retreat and download a flyer to sign up.

Space is limited, so sign up today and make plans to join us at the Chrysalis Inn in Bellingham in November.  

  If you would like more information, please contact Pr. John prjohn@shlc.org (425.392.7799, ext. 13).

Click here to read more about "Faith in Action", Sammamish Hills' Ministry of the Month

It’s August!  Be sure to check out the HSM Monthly and Blog for updates and thoughts from Andy!

• W.O.W. events continue! Check the calendar for details regarding an outdoor movie, Hike N' Pizza, and Boating on Lake Sammamish!

• Don't miss Awaken Unplugged coming up on  Monday night, August 7th!

Middle School & Confirmation News
Click Above to see more!

It’s August!  Be sure to check out the Middle School Calendar to see the FUN things that are happening this summer!

Fantastic Summer Events - If you are around, don't miss a fantastic time of UP, IN, and OUT! Please email Brelin for more info!

• Summer Small Groups are forming now-  Be part of a Bible study this summer while we discover different religions of the world.
• Summer WOW Events- Weekly fun for you and your friends through August 18th!  A great place to bring your non-Christian friends!  Be sure to check out the website for the sweet schedule!
• Wildhorse Summer Camp- Hanging out with kids from the plateau at camp! 8/10-8/14!

Don't miss these incredible "OUT" opportunities! Email Brelin for more info!

• Find and bring donations needed to Eastside Baby Corner in Issaquah.
• Want to be part of the worship tech team? Email Brelin.

As we wind down this last month of summer, the staff of Sammamish Hills Lutheran Preschool are winding up in our excitement and expectation for what the new year holds for us and the families and kids who will be joining us...

As our preschool grows this fall to include an entire new class with room for 16 more preschoolers, several new staff members and a new specialist to teach Music and Movement, we are eager to welcome all of our friends (both old and new) as we begin a great year of learning and growing together in the love of Jesus! And, we're very excited that you will soon be able to see our new logo and sign that identifies this preschool as an important outreach ministry of this wonderful and loving congregation who has supported us with prayers and encouragement for which we are ever so grateful.

Though our classes are full for the 2006-07 school year, we are adding names to wait-lists. So, if you have a friend or neighbor who is in need of a preschool for their little one, please have them call Muffie at 392.7799 ext. 29 for more information. I would be happy to help them in their preschool search!

We are currently interviewing for the Music and Movement teacher position, so if you know anyone who loves working with preschoolers and finds joy in music and hearing "angels" sing, please have them contact Muffie at muffie@shlc.org.

How to Contact a Council Member:

President:

Frank Tordillos:

Vice-President:

Carolyn Kaiser:

Secretary: 

Tom Ryan:

Treasurer: 

Sandy Dahl:

Member at Large:

John Forsyth:

Member at Large:

Shana Tischaefer:

Kevin Ostendorf:

Do you have a question or concern for the Church Council to hear?
To Contact a council member, please click here .

Click here to view the Church Calendar