Our September 2023 Newsletter Is Here!
/Click here to get the full PDF newsletter!
Highlights Below





Our matching campaign begins. We hope to raise $50K from Aug. 1st to Oct. 31st. to meet our budget. All donations will be matched up to $30K.
8 / 10 - Almost There! Our “Portals of Prayer” initiative only needs 2 more subscriptions. See the newsletter for details.
In memory of Margaret E.
We continue to support House of Mercy, and we are exploring programs that reduce recidivism.
“News from the Pews” - Highlighting outreach that is inspired by Matthew 25:36.
Articles from our staff
Updates on ways that churches are reaching out to the homeless and helping those newly released from jail in the process of doing so
“Portals of Prayer” initiative - We are more than halfway there! Only 4 more subscriptions needed!
LMSN’s Executive Director has been mailing “Portals of Prayer” devotionals to various resident inmates, House of Mercy which operates 28 halfway houses, and prisons. Each quarter, we mail out 300. The largest portion goes to the libraries of institutions. We receive reports and thank you notes stating that “Portals of Prayer” is one of the most popular materials they receive.
We had been able to get the Portals of Prayer at no charge. That source is no longer available. The suggestion was made that maybe we could work with the churches to get the 300 Portals of Prayer. To get to 300, we asked for 10 congregations to order 30 “Portals of Prayer” per quarter.
Information about ordering.
· The cost from CPH is $2.13 per copy, no shipping charge.
· 30 devotionals cost a total of $63.90 per quarter. ($255.60 annually)
· Call CPH directly 1-800-325-3040, pick “option 2” for magazine services
· Have the devotionals sent to our mailing address:
o Lutheran Ministry Services NW
7040 36th Ave NE
Seattle, WA. 98115-5998
Thank you for your support of this effort. Please let me hear from you.
In Christ,
Don Sundene LMSN Executive Director
206-450-7128 ext. 4 donsudnene@hotmail.com Mat. 25:36 “You visited me”
“Adopt A Care Center” Program
LMSN is encouraging congregations to engage in Christian outreach by adopting a nearby care center. Volunteers can do things like provide song services with short Bible lessons, provide Bible studies, and encourage the residents and staff via seasonal gifts. (Think of the pumpkin deliveries we have made in October for several years now, Easter cards, etc.)
LMSN is prepared to help by -
· Visiting your congregation to do a presentation to help inspire volunteers
· Helping to establish contacts at care centers
· Training volunteers
· Providing materials such as large print song books
· Providing ongoing support to discuss experiences and share best practices
Contact Dcs. Ruth Ann Shimoi to learn more.
· 206-450-7128 x3
· ruthannshimoi@lmsnw.org
Prison / jail ministry insert - backpacks & “Portals of Prayer” initiative
“News from the Pews” - Our inaugural installment highlighting outreach that various churches are doing in keeping with Matthew 25:36. We thank Dielda K. who published Bethlehem’s newsletter for helping us with this effort. Click here to learn more.
Pumpkins galore - ~500 pumpkins delivered to 26 care centers on various days. Thank you to King of Kings Lutheran Church in Renton. Our pumpkin order was added to theirs, an annual effort by their youth group. We were able to use Thrivent Action Team® dollars to sponsor this effort - thank you! Thank you to all who delivered the pumpkins. Thank you to Dcs. Ruth Ann Shimoi for organizing the orders and deliveries! More pictures will follow, to be sure.
Happy Anniversary! We wish our friends in Christ at Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle happy 75th anniversary, and we wish our friends at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Renton happy 80th anniversary. Thank you for your years of partnership and support.
Lap robes and clothing protectors - thank you to Margaret E. and so many others who continue to sew lap robes and clothing protectors for care center residents.
Pictured - Recipients of our deliveries to care centers. We continue to reach out to care centers and care center residents even if they have to close for a time due to the pandemic. This Fall - we will do our pumpkin deliveries once again. Get in touch with us - especially Dcs. Ruth Ann Shimoi - to learn more.
LMSN is a respected 501(c)(3) corporation where people can turn when there is a need for our chaplaincy, pastoral, and spiritual care services.