However, at Sammamish Hills, this summer is a great time for gathering.  If you miss Sunday morning, there’s always the First Night service in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday evenings.  Dress is casual, the service is lively, and the fellowship is solid. 

Then there are all of the camps, trips, and picnics for gathering in the months of sun and warmth, including Vacation Bible School, Confirmation Camp, mission trips as close as Yakima and as far away as China. All ages are invited and encouraged to participate in the All-Church Campout in August at Mossyrock State Park.  Followed immediately the next week by our Church picnic at Lake Sammamish State Park, once again shared with the members of Grace Chinese Lutheran Church.

The summer caps off with a fly fishing trip to the North Fork of the Clearwater River in the mountains of northern Idaho over Labor Day weekend.  The trip is for all who like to chase trout with moose watching in the background.

How will you be gathered with other members of Christ’s Church this summer?  The gatherings will be great!

See you wherever the Church may be!

John LaMunyon
Lead Pastor

It had been a long, tedious, and sleepy meeting when a speaker came to podium and livened things up:  In the historic painting of Jesus standing at the door and knocking, he isn’t asking to be let in.  Instead, he is telling Christians to come out into God’s world and be who they are called to be! This month things will liven up when we experience Jesus’ call to be more than passive observers.  We are sent out into the world to be God’s agents of change, announcing God’s in breaking kingdom every step of the way.  When you really listen it is tough to ignore the command to “go and do likewise.”  Come on out, the world is ready to hear our testimony.  Are you ready to tell?

Also, be sure to grab the Gospel Box.  Fill it with your inspired scripture reflections.

Click here to read more about worship in July
 

Still Listening

At that place [Elijah] came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?”. .  .

[The word of the Lord] said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by". Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.   When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  1 Kings 19:9, 11-13

What posture do you adopt when you are really listening?  Do you lean forward?  Sit back?  It is a fact when two people are really connecting with each other in a conversation they mimic postures.  For example, if we are talking and you fold your arms I would fold mine as well.  This happens without us even thinking about it. 

I’ve been working on doing a lot of listening lately.  I’ve been your pastor of worship and outreach for a year and a half now and I want to know how you are doing.  We’ve had changes in worship styles, in service times, in worship leadership, in the number of services and a new pastor was added with worship in his job title, all in the last 18 months.  Whew!  I know I’m tired when I think about all of that.  How are you?  I have two big questions to ask and I am open to having coffee, lunch, or dinner with anyone (or any group) who wants to chat (as long as you don’t mind Evie Lu Sappington possibly tagging along). 

So, here are my questions: How are you being fed in worship?  How can we more effectively share the Gospel?  There are many other questions which often flow from those first two, but they are a good start.  Like Elijah, I find when I listen most carefully God’s voice comes through in the quiet times, but I can’t sit quietly and hope to hear your voice.  Christians in general and Lutherans in particular are great talkers, so let’s chat.  I’m listening.

Peace,

Pr. Will Sappington

To register, download a registration form from Holden’s website (www.holdenvillage.org).  Make sure you mark on the form, “Sammamish Hills Men’s Work 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 Pr. John at prjohn@shlc.org. 

Most of the participants take the boat in and out, but every year a few hardy souls hike 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 Pr. John and he’ll share the details of this year’s hike.

SHLC’s July Ministry of the Month is Lutherhaven Ministries.  Lutherhaven Ministries consists of Camp Lutherhaven, Shoshone Base Camp and Lutherhaven Day Camps. Lutherhaven Ministries’ mission is to allow all of God’s people to “encounter creation… create community... and commune with Christ”.

Together, Camp Lutherhaven (on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene in Northern Idaho) and Shoshone Base Camp (in the heart of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest) serve 3,000 youth annually through summer programs. SHLC confirmation youth have attended camp at Shoshone Base Camp for the last three summers and a group will attend again this summer.

In addition to the outdoor camps, each summer Lutherhaven Ministries staff leads approximately 30 day camps at regional churches throughout the inland Northwest.  These day camps serve an additional 1,500 youth annually.

If you want to know more about the ministries, please see Lutherhaven Ministries’ website: www.lutherhaven.com. 

ONE Campaign Update

ONE: The campaign to Make Poverty History is an effort by Americans to rally Americans - by ONE to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty. Founded in 2003, ONE is the U.S. expression of international anti-poverty movements inspired by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. Today, ONE has more than 100 faith-based and humanitarian partners that work together as ONE to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and make poverty history.

In September 2000 all Member States of the United Nations unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration, agreeing to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015. More than one billion people live on less than one dollar a day. “We are in a position to end extreme poverty within our generation,” said Jeffery Sachs, head of the United Nations Millennium Project. “Not just cutting poverty in half—if we want to eliminate extreme poverty, we can do that by 2025.”

What are the goals of the ONE Campaign?
Through political action, the ONE Campaign advocates for:

·              An additional ONE percent of the U.S. budget to address deadly poverty

 · Debt relief for the world’s poorest countries to help them meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

· Making the rules of international trade fair so all may benefit from the global economy

The Millennium Development Goals are not unattainable wishes. Current progress has been made with a tiny portion of our economic strength. We have the tools to end extreme hunger and poverty, all we need is the political will to act. The ELCA has endorsed the Millennium Development Goals and the ONE Campaign. We ask all Lutherans to join the movement to end poverty.  Visit: http://www.elca.org/advocacy/one

A WEEKEND APART for married couples is coming up this fall.  November 9-11, 2007, we’ll be heading to the Chrysalis Inn (http://www.thechrysalisinn.com/), on the waterfront in Bellingham, for a great weekend together.  Pr. John LaMunyon and Beth Grauer of Lutheran Counseling Network, Bellingham, will be the retreat leaders.  Those who participated last year had a great time and now is your chance!  The place and leaders are set, so, please set the date aside, as it will be a wonderful weekend away.  If you’d like more information, please contact Pr. John prjohn@shlc.org (425.392.7799, ext. 13).

Fall Membership Classes Scheduled

Are you interested in joining Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church? There will be another opportunity this fall. Our Fall Discipleship Sunday will be on December 9, 2007.  Marks of Discipleship classes begin October 14th. You can find out more by visiting www.shlc.org  and clicking on Membership or talk with Pr. Will.
 

Interested in a little fly fishing?  On great water?  With moose nearby?  August 31 to September 3^rd Pr. John and Michael Peterson will be hosting a congregational fly fishing trip to the North Fork of the Clearwater River in the region of the northern Idaho Panhandle.  Cost will be gas, community food, nonresident license, campground fees, and lost flies…  Any and all are invited.  The area features a variety of offerings, including a protected native Cutthroat stream. 

Breakfast and Dinner will be as a community, with Pr. John as camp cook.  Michael is a certified fly fishing instructor and will happily offer lessons free of charge! 

For more information, contact either Michael (mtp1032@comcast.net) or Pr. John (prjohn@shlc.org).

Study the book of Ezekiel on Wednesday nights 7:00pm-8:00pm August 22^nd through Nov 14 (no class on Oct 3^rd and 10^th).  Dan Bloomquist, who taught Ezekiel at Trinity Lutheran College, will be the teacher.  A kick-off dinner will be served at 6:00pm on August 22nd.  If you have any questions regarding the study, please contact Dan Bloomquist at 425-369-8339. If you are planning on joining us for dinner, please contact  Mya Riskedahl (myariskedahl@ihmail.com).

Are you a 20 to Mid-30 something looking to meet some fun new people?  Come join us!  Currently we gather on a monthly basis to connect and enjoy a fun activity. 

Middle School & Confirmation News
Click Above to see more!

By Brelin Rismiller, Director of Middle School
& Confirmation Ministries

What an exciting time of transition and fun (and anxiety) these past couple of months have been!  Marcus and I decided that we would look into purchasing our first home, and it has been a wonderful example of God’s blessings on us.

God seems to work in and through me even when I don’t feel like I am doing anything… However, I tend to get frustrated when I can’t hear God’s voice.  I like to see things in giant flashing lights, pointing me in the exact direction that He would have me walk.  When I can’t hear His voice, it is often because I’m not really taking time to listen or I am reluctant to hear what He has to say.  In spite of my pleadings, God continues to work in His own time, waiting for me to fully submit my will to Him.  And it seems that time after time, He continues to bless my obedience.

These past few months have been difficult for me.  I knew that God was calling me to buy a place to live, but didn’t know where or when.  I first began looking and was thinking that I wanted to live in Sammamish.  Eventually, I began to lose my desire to be near the church so that I could have a backyard to play in.  The decision between Maple Valley and Sammamish became a difficult one, and I couldn’t figure out what God was calling me to.

Mike Breen was visiting our church at the beginning of May, and Marcus and I had the opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the All-Church Rally.  We went up together, and asked for God to make it really clear where He would have us live.  During the prayer, the vision that we received from God was that it wasn’t so much about the end result, but that God was really calling us to trust Him in and through the journey.  On the way home, Marcus felt the word, “TIME” resounding again and again in his head.  He believed that God was calling us to live in Sammamish, and to quit looking farther out, believing that God was calling us to spend more time with each other, and in the community we serve & minister to.

Marcus and I continued to pray, searching for the perfect place.  Previously, there had been multiple condos in Sammamish that had been on the market.  When we were finally confident and ready to move forward, there were no more condos available.  We got frustrated and began to wonder if we were walking down the right path.  We prayed again that God would spell it all out for us, making it clear that this was the path and timing that He had for us.

Two weeks ago, we received notice from our apartment complex where we are renting, that they were raising our rent by 33% a month.  Marcus and I were blown away by the huge increase and began looking at storage units, so that we could store all of our stuff, and move in with my in-laws until we found the perfect place.  I was defeated, thinking that I had been following God’s plan, and then was crushed by the world.  My prayer that night in my most adolescent rebellion voice was, “Fine, God… whatever you want.”

Less than 48 hours later, we got an email from our real estate agent letting us know that something came on the market in the development that we were hoping to buy in.  It wasn’t exactly what we’d wanted, but we thought it was worth checking out.  Later that day, another one came on, and we planned to go look at it the following morning. 

We prayed in the parking lot of the complex that God would make it clear the one that He had for us.  We walked into our future condo, and were both confident that this was the one for us.  It was pouring rain outside, but remained light and bright in the condo.  We made an offer later that day, the seller accepted the following morning, and we are set to close on June 29.  God was waiting for me to give up all my dreams, and entrust them to Him.  He blessed us with a place that is better than what I’d hoped for.

I am so thankful to be near to the church, to be able to live in the community where I serve, and feel blessed to be surrounded by a wonderful community of believers at Sammamish Hills.  Thank you so much for the prayers and love that you pour out on my life, and that you bless Marcus with as well.

Upcoming Middle School & Confirmation Events:

WILD ON WEDNESDAY SUMMER EVENTS begin July 11!!  Get ready for water games, softball game & bbq, world’s largest ice cream sundae, movie nights, and bigger or better scavenger hunts!!  Grab all your friends, and join us for fun this summer! Wednesdays– July 11th—August 22nd, 7-8:30pm!

SUMMER BIBLE STUDY on Tuesday mornings beginning July 10^th.  This is a study open to middle school and high school students.  Groups will be formed based on the number of students who sign up.  For more information, talk to Brelin.

CONFIRMATION CAMP 2007 will be held July 12-15, and we’d love to have you join us!!  There will be hiking, biking, rock climbing, and all sorts of other adventures!!  Registration deadline is July 5^th.

FAMILY CAMP OUT dates are August 17-19. We’ll be camping at Mossyrock park which is 90 miles south of Tacoma on a lake.  We have room for tent camping, RVs, and boating fun on the lake there.  You can register by August 5^th in the church office or on Sunday mornings in the narthex or download from the church website.

YAKIMA MISSION TRIP ’07 will be held July 29-August 3.  Please pray for the 30 students and adults who will be the hands and feet of Christ at the Yakima Indian Reservation.

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WANT TO HANG OUT??  Brelin would love to talk with you, hang out with you, eat ice cream with you, drink Starbucks with you, have Red Robin fries with you, play X-box with you, go for a walk, watch you play sports, listen to your concert, watch the play you’re in, go to a movie with you, help you with your homework, kick a soccer ball around with you, or pretty much anything else fun you can think of. She mostly just wants to hang out.  Send her an email, find her on myspace, or give her a call. email: brelin@shlc.org, myspace: brelin, phone: 425.392.7799

Summer is definitely my favorite time of the year.  The bright sunny days, warm weather and beautiful flowers always seem to bring a smile to my face.  Whenever I can get the opportunity I find a way to get outdoors and enjoy it… while it lasts.  

Recently, one warm Saturday morning, my husband and I took the opportunity to enjoy the weather and some time together.  After the baby was taken care of, we loaded her up in her stroller and headed out for a walk.  There is a donut shop about a mile from our home, Chuck’s, and that was our destination.  We hadn’t been there before and I was anxious to try out some of the sweet treats- along with a good mocha.  As anticipated, the gooey donuts hit the spot (maple bars are my favorite), and my husband and I had a wonderful conversation about how we are adjusting to life’s changes since we brought our daughter home.  Sometimes it takes getting out of our normal routine for us as a couple to really connect.  I came back from our walk inspired and committed to take these away times with my husband, knowing it will strengthen our relationship and make me a better parent. 

There was another source of enlightenment at the donut shop that day.  Sitting around several tables were three families, roughly six adults and about nine children, mostly under seven years of age.  It was obvious by looking at them that they were a group of friends who had come to the donut shop together, or at least meet there for some good fellowship.  Everyone seemed to be having a good time.  The kids were enjoying some parent time; the adults the opportunity to connect with friends.  It got me wondering, what can we do to foster friendships and fellowship between our families at SHLC?  Inviting another family to join you at a donut shop, Starbucks or your favorite family restaurant for lunch just might be the ticket and it’s very simple.  We all need connection; friendships where we can be known.  Is there a family that your family would like to know better?  Maybe one from your son or daughter’s Sunday School class?  I’d encourage you over the next few weeks to step out and initiate a “trip to the donut shop” or whatever.  Trust me, it will be a great time for you and your kids and a wonderful time to establish stronger friendships and building community with other members of SHLC. 

Don’t forget about also participating in some of our upcoming family events, such as our camping trip and movie night!

Blessings,

Amanda

Children’s Ministry Highlights:

Dinner and a Movie—Pizza and Charlotte’s Web—Friday, July 6^th  @  5:30 pm
Bring the whole family to our July, Family Fun  Activity.  The festivities start with a pizza dinner and a family activity followed by our feature presentation of Charlotte’s Web. Charlotte’s Web is a life action remake of the old animated movie and is rated “G”.  Dinner is at 5:30 pm and the movie will start promptly at 6:00 pm.  Cost is $1 per person to help cover the cost of the meal.  Bring your kids and tell your neighbors to come.  Want to help with dinner? Contact Amanda at amanda@shlc.org.

Volunteering at VBS- Sharing God's Word with a Child!
Do you have a few hours during the week of July 16th that you can spare? If so, please consider helping out with Vacation Bible School.  Many positions and opportunities are available for students ages 12 years to adult, so whether you can give 2 hours one day, or want to be part of the entire adventure, we can use you!  Below is a list all the positions we still need help with.  Volunteer training is on Saturday, July 9th at 10:00 am for all positions working directly with students (marked with an asterisk).

  Ranch Guides*               We Need 10 more!                    Every day from 8:30 to noon

  Kitchen Helpers             We Need 5 more!                      9:00 to noon, one day

   Bible Teacher *             We Need 1 more!                      Every day from 8:30 to noon min.

  Craft Teacher                We Need 2 more!                      Every day from 8:30 to noon

  Registration Helper*       We Need 5 more!                     8:40 to 9:15 or 11:45 to 12:15
  (one day min)

  Nursery Helper               We Need 5 more!                     8:30 to noon, one day min.

Decorating Supplies Needed for VBS
Every year at VBS we decorate our church to match our theme.  This year we are trying to create a ranch experience for all the kids.  Many items that we need, you might have lying around your home.  If so, can we borrow them?  A list of what we need is below.  All items will be used for decorating purposes only, and will not be used by the kids.  Do you have an item to share?  Drop it off at the church office by July 9th. Items can be picked up the last day of VBS, July 20th.  (at noon)  Want more information?  Contact Amanda.

Needed supplies:

Family Camping Trip—August 17-19th
Come and join us as we take in a weekend of outdoor fun and fellowship at Mossyrock Park.  The weekend will be packed with wonderful activities for you and your family.  So whether you just want to relax by the campfire or are the active type who loves games, boating or hiking, you’ll find it all here.  No experience is necessary, but be prepared to have a great time, meet new friends and make memories to last a lifetime.  Pick up a brochure in the lobby, the church office, or download it online.  Registrations are due August 5th.  Space is limited, so don’t delay.  

Summer Fun at Toddler Time- Wednesdays 9:30 am—11:00 am
Join us for a time of outdoor group play and fellowship every Wednesday at Toddler Time.  This is a great opportunity for kids to play on our preschool playground and for mom’s to connect with one another.  Older siblings are also welcome (Rainy day Toddler Time will be held in the Fellowship Hall).

by Muffie Namie, Director of SHL Preschool

Summer is almost here and the preschool classrooms have grown quiet now that classes are finished for the 2006-07 school year.  But even though the classes may be empty the staff and Preschool Ministry Team of SHLP are “busy as bees” gearing up for a wonderful new school year with great excitement for what God holds for this ministry of SHLC this coming Fall. 

In May we said goodbye to 30+ very special children who are graduating to the ranks of Kindergarten this September and we also said goodbye to some very special staff members – Miss Christina, our Music and Movement teacher and Miss Kathy, our 3’s assistant. 

We are grateful for their impact on this school and for the time we had with them as they shared their love of Jesus and their hearts for kids with us all. 

We are currently in the process of hiring for several positions within the school that will enable us to continue to provide the best possible Christian preschool program that Sammamish Hills Church could hope to offer this community!

If you are interested in learning about our Music and Movement and support positions, please contact Muffie Namie, Director at 425.392.7799 ext. 29 for more information. 

As always, we thank you for your encouraging prayer support as we work to prepare your preschool for a fresh start this September! 

• Church Council Meeting Minutes- 05/08/2007

How to Contact a Council Member:

Treasurer:

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