A Century of Service

by Dan Partridge

This year (2024) PLU graduates Todd and Tyger Penson mark milestones in their lifetime of service to the Lord.

Todd has been an ordained minister for 60 years, Tyger for 40 years. At the time Tyger was ordained in 1984, only 2½ percent of the ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America were women. Todd has served in 22 ministries, Tyger has served in 14, including several new missions starts.

In their 64 years of marriage Todd and Tyger have managed to serve in separate churches in the same location in six states, Canada and Liberia, Africa. Together they’ve shared varied experiences in and out of the ministry. For instance, Todd served 25 village churches in Kolila Parish, Liberia in 1987-89, taught Ethics at the Phoebe School of Nursing, and was a part-time professor at the Gbarnga School of Theology in Liberia. Tyger served as Pastor for four parishes, was a professor at Gbarnga School of Theology, and was superintendent of the K-12 Lutheran School at the Phoebe Compound in Suakoko, Liberia.

They escaped the turmoil of the First Liberian Civil War by catching a flight on the second to last airplane out of the country in 1990. “They were shooting around us and finally we couldn’t stay any longer and left most of our stuff behind,” Tyger said. For 16 years after they left Liberia, they donated thousands of dollars to help pay for the education of 200 children who lost parents to the fighting in the civil war.

Both raised in Christian homes, Todd and Tyger met at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Wash. He was majoring in physics; she was pursuing a teaching degree.  She jokes that she left PLU with a “MRS” degree when they married in 1960 and didn’t complete her teaching degree from PLU until 1971.

Todd says the golf course at PLU was the venue where he received his call. “I’d go out there walking in the middle of the night hoping to get a word from God on if I should become a pastor,” he said. God answered in the affirmative. Tyger’s calling didn’t come for years later when on a car trip to a synod assembly in Spokane, WA. Todd suggested she consider going to seminary.

Todd received his training at the Augustana Seminary in Rock Island, IL. Tyger received her training first from the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif., and finished her training at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkley, CA.  Her first assignment was as the pastor of a church in Ault, CO., 13 miles from where Todd was serving as a pastor at a church in Greeley, Colorado.

Family and children have always been a big focus of Todd and Tyger’s life together. They raised four children: Dave, Kathy, Julie, and Doug. They have seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Their son Dave and his wife Marcia had twin girls in October 2009 and Todd and Tyger became “day parents” for the girls for five years.     

Todd and Tyger also reached out to help children in need. In Rock Island while Todd was at seminary, they were house parents for emotionally disturbed and juvenile delinquents at Bethany Home.  They had ten boys, ages 6 to 16, for six days a week, 24 hours a day.  

In Alberta, Todd and Tyger did foster care for hard-to-place children. In New Westminster, B.C., they opened their home to runaway youth which resulted in their eventurally opening a group home for wayward teenage girls. “They came to our house instead of going to prison”, Tyger recalled.

 From seminary, Todd’s first assignments from 1964-68 were in Canada, in Wainwright, Czar and Hughenden, Alberta. This was followed by numerous calls in both Canada and the United States.

As a “mission developer” for the Lutheran Church, Tyger started new churches in Oregon, Arkansas, Georgia, and Arizona. Two of those were a joint effort with Todd. 

In 1991 Wilsonville, OR, south of Portland, Tyger went door to door in neighborhoods asking people about their interest in having a church in their town. She became the pastor of the new Community of Hope Lutheran church which met in the Frog Pond Grange Hall until they outgrew it and moved into a school. One highlight was having Christmas Eve services in the barn on Todd and Tyger’s land. By the end of Tyger’s 7-year tenure as pastor this congregation had grown to more than 300. Tyger also started the Community of Joy Church in Hot Springs Village, Ark., by going door to door. “Evangelism is in our hearts”, Tyger said. 

Since “officially retiring” in 2002, Tood and Tyger have published two books. His is “Saving Jesus from Identity Theft” and hers, “Route 66 Reflections: A Journey through the Bible.”

They remain active in the ministry. At Faith Lutheran Church in Shelton, WA, they are co-leaders of Adult Studies, such as the “Searching for the Historical Jesus” study. Their son Doug Peterson is lead pastor at Faith Lutheran and his wife Brenda Satrum is Formation pastor at the church.

“God has a plan for all of us,” Tyger said of how she and Todd have accomplished so much in their lives. “If God wants you to do something God will get you through it.” Todd added his assurance: “You and God will work it out.”  

Blessing Bags

Blessing Bags

For Valentine’s Day, The Youth Connection is putting together Blessing Bags for our vulnerable population. FAITH has been asked to help provide lots of items and volunteers. Some items needed include body/ shower wipes, deodorant, matches, hot hands, hats, socks, snacks,nail clippers,wash cloths, dry shampoo, feminine hygiene products, combs…

Faith Lutheran Constitution Updates for 2024

FLC Constitution Review Task Force

May 3, 2023

Attending: Joan Detrick, Jan Ray, Andrea Miller, Bob Miller

Purpose of Meeting: Review 2020 Constitution for possible future amendments

Background: The FLC Constitution was completely rewritten (following the guidance of the ELCA Model Constitution adopted in 2019), and approved during the Annual Meeting of the FLC Congregation in January 2020. Since its ratification, questions related to Council/Executive Committee term limits and the structure of Committee governance have come to the attention of the Council. Joan Detrick and Jan Ray were appointed to review the questions with the assistance of members of the 2020 Constitution committee as resources.

CLICK HERE for a link to a PDF of the 2020 Faith Lutheran Church Constitution

Action Recommendations:

1.     The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved several amendments to the Model Constitution for Congregations. The task force reviewed the changes and recommends that the Council move them in a package to be approved by the Congregation during its January 2024 Annual Meeting. CLICK HERE to view these changes. (If wording is adopted exactly as presented on the proposal from ELCA, these provisions require a majority vote of those voting members present and voting at any legally called meeting of the congregation, provided that they have been presented to the congregation at least 30 days prior to the meeting. If the Council proposes to alter any of the wording in “non-required” sections, ratification becomes a two-step voting process, that culminates in a required 2/3 majority of voting members at a Congregation meeting.)

2.     FLC Constitution task force recommends that the Council not propose any other amendments to the Constitution at this time. Rationale: The Constitution is only three years old and it’s too early to fully understand if changes are needed for smoother operation of the Congregation and its elected Council.

The recommendation is to continue to work within the structure of the 2020 Constitution (incorporating the changes from the 2022 ELCA vote) and reconsider possible amendments in 2026, when the ELCA Model Constitution will be updated (as determined by the Churchwide Assembly action every three years).

3.     The task force did not develop a recommendation on how to manage FLC’s Continuing Resolutions, which describe the authority and activities of various church-approved committees. These resolutions are approved by Council action. Currently, there is not a formal structure for ‘managing’ them. This topic needs further consideration.

2023 Cottage Meetings: Holy Hospitality

2023 Cottage Meetings: Holy Hospitality

During these meetings, the groups read the familiar parable of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10) and reflected on God’s calling for us to extend Welcome and Hospitality to our neighbors. The groups shared personal stories of welcome including times when they felt accepted and included, and times when they felt excluded, rejected or left out. These personal stories allowed the group to reflect on God’s presence in our daily lives.

Children and Family Ministries 2023-24

Dear Faith Families,

Happy Fall! With school starting up and the Seahawks back in action, it is time to ramp up our children and youth ministries at Faith Lutheran. Here is a brief overview of some of what Faith is offering to help you raise your kids and teach them about Jesus in a safe environment and loving community. Here are THREE important dates in the month of September:

1.     Sunday, September 10, 2023. This is the first Sunday of Children’s Church (10:15-11a) and Confirmation Class (11:30-12:30).

2.     Sunday, September 17. Blessing of Backpacks during worship (10am). Youth and Family Campfire at the Miller Farm, 4:00-8:00pm, with special guest, Mike Barnes.

3.     Wednesday, September 27. Youth Group, 6:00-7:30pm in the church gym. Youth and families can have supper, meet the Frosts and Walkers, and begin weekly* youth programming.

Faith Lutheran Church Youth and Family Programs, 2023-24

·       Sunday Nursery Care (ages 0-4). The newly remodeled Nursery, now known as “Linda’s Corner,” offers quiet space for parents with small children during worship. Faith is open to staffing child-care during worship, if requested.

·       Children’s Church (ages 4-11). Connie Payne has agreed to lead and coordinate a short, weekly faith lesson for young people during worship, from about 10:15a to 11:00a. Children are dismissed after the Children’s Message and return for Communion. The Family Room/Chapel and/or Linda’s Corner.

·       Confirmation (ages 12-17). Confirmation is a year-long class taught by the pastors designed to equip teenagers with basic tools and concepts of the Lutheran Christian tradition, culminating in the Rite of Confirmation in the Spring. Sundays, 11:30a-12:30p, in Room 1.

·       Bible: History and Places (ages 18-up). Sundays, 11:30a-12:30p, in the 3 Door Room. A year-long study of the Bible, its art, history, and application for life today. Taught by Tyger and Todd Penson.

·       Wednesday Night Youth Group (ages 10-18) and Adult Faith Formation. Food, games, and faith lessons for kids ages 10-18 (or so). Meet in the Gym on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 6:00-7:30p. Led by Chris and Shay Frost, and Marissa and Chris Walker. (*The 3rd Wednesday each month is set aside for Leadership/Planning). Parents and adults can gather with the Pastors across the hall to explore a variety of topics: spirituality, relationships, parenting, and faith formation.

·       Thursday Night Young Adult Conversations “YAC” (ages 19-35). Food, fun, friendship, and occasional deep spiritual exploration. Usually meets at the Peterson/Satrum home on Thursdays, 6:15-8:30pm.

Holy Week

MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 6:00PM

Faith joins the people of Agua Viva Internacional for a unique, collaborative, and multilingual Maundy Thursday worship experience. Since the beginning of 2023, Agua Viva Internacional has been worshiping on Sunday and Thursday evenings. So this week, we will gather in the sanctuary at 6:00pm, and worship (in Spanish), led by Pastor Eric Gomez and the Agua Viva Worship Team. The pastors of the two congregations will wash the feet of the other, symbolizing our shared mission to serve others in Chirst’s name. Then we will share the Lord’s Supper, Faith-style, symbolizing the unity we share in Christ: dos congregaciones, un Dios, two congregations, one God.

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 12:00 NOON

The people of Faith then gather at noon on Good Friday to remember and recall the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Worship will be led by the Faith Choir. Rev. Brenda Satrum will share a Good Friday message.

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 8:00AM AND 10:00AM

  • Sunrise Easter Worship at 8:00am. Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed! Come for this earlier than usual worship time, following in the footsteps of the women discovering the empty tomb on that first Easter morning.

  • Easter Breakfast, 9am-9:45am. Featuring Bert’s famous breakfast casserole and homemade pastries. A free-will offering goes to the Faith Family Crisis Fund.

  • Easter Festival Worship at 10:00am, with music from the Faith Choir and the Ascension Worship Team.


Ash Wednesday and Lent

Lent and Holy Week

ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2023

11:00am, The Gospel of Matthew w/ Pastor Doug. A weekly Bible Study via Zoom. Contact Pastor Doug for the link.

4:15pm, Ash Wednesday Worship and Imposition of Ashes

5:00pm, Soup Supper. A simple meal served in the Fellowship Hall. Free will offering.

6:00pm, Ash Wednesday Worship and Imposition of Ashes

WEDNESDAY WORSHIP, MARCH 1-29

11:00am, The Gospel of Matthew w/ Pastor Doug. A weekly Bible Study via Zoom. Contact Pastor Doug for the link.

4:15pm, Lenten Worship

5:00pm, Soup Supper. A simple meal served in the Fellowship Hall. Free will offering.

6:00pm, Lenten Worship

MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 6, TBD

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 7, TBD

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 9

  • Sunrise Easter Worship at 8:15am

  • Easter Breakfast, 9am-10am

  • Easter Festival Worship at 10:00am


Auditions: Pirates of Penzance

Connection Street Theatre

Did you know that Faith has a community theatre ministry? Connection Street Theatre (formerly known as “Faith Acts”) is an outreach program of this congregation that promotes both community and the arts.

We are excited to announce our spring musical: The Pirates of Penzance. We’ll be having open auditions (ages 14 and up) on Sunday, Jan. 22nd, 2:00 pm.


Consider getting involved in our program. We can use your help. If you would be willing to help sew costumes or create props, please email us. ConnectionstTheatre@gmail.com.

For more information on upcoming shows, audition schedules, and more, click here for the most up to date information.

Michelle Whittaker, Director

Building Community One Production at a Time

A Christmas Carol musical

Connection Street Theatre is pleased to present A Christmas Carol musical!

See the write up in the Shelton Mason County Herald

Shows are December 2-4 and 9-11. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:00pm. Sunday shows are at 2:00pm.

Tickets are available now online (CLICK HERE) or at the door.

Connection Street Theatre is a ministry of Faith Lutheran Church, Shelton.

All performances are located at Faith Lutheran, 1212 Connection Street, Shelton, WA 98584

To learn more about Connection Street Theatre, CLICK HERE.