RSVP HERE.

January 24, 2026, 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

St. John is hosting in partnership with Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) a daylong estate planning workshop. Knowing you have a plan for the future will ensure more comfort, less stress. Attendees will have access to helpful resources, and receive a free wills guide from LCEF. In addition you will have opportunity to plan how to share your wishes about funeral/memorial and health care decisions.

Facilitators will include Diana Raasch, Director of Donor Relations with LCEF from St. Louis. A panel will include an attorney, financial planner, tax accountant and Pastor Larson.  We are blessed to have Pastor Larson help us navigate through spiritual as well as practical needs surrounding memorial services, and member Dr. Dan Larson help with health care decisions. 

This free workshop is for all ages. Plan now to attend on Saturday, January 24th, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided -- a $10 donation at the event is invited to help cover costs!  RSVP here. Questions? Contact Lisa Keyne at lisakeyne@gmail.com.

Agenda for January 24

9:15 a.m. Arrival, registration

9:30 a.m. Opening prayer -- Pastor Larson

9:35-11:00 a.m. Ask the Expert panel facilitated by Diana Raasch

• Heidi Johnson Bixby, financial planner

• Ralph Doggett, tax professional

• Brian Larson, pastor

• Attorney, TBA

11:00 Break

11:15-Noon Options

Getting started on your Will

Getting started on your Trust

Reviewing a Will and Trust you've already prepared

Noon Lunch

Making your wishes known

12:45 -1:15 Completing an Advance Directive -- Dr. Dan Constein

1:15-2:00 Your Memorial or Funeral wishes -- Pastor Brian Larson

Things to be discussed January 24:

• Lutheran Church Extension Fund

• What is The POLST form? Who needs it?

• How do I complete an Advance Directive? When do I need one?

• Questions and other possible topics:

  • Why estate planning is important, making wishes reality

  • Differences between trust and will

  • Selecting necessary people

  • Avoiding probate

  • Sharing wishes about death and dying

  • Can you appoint two trustees?

  • Organizing your digital assets

Want to see additional resources?

• Clark County has a Law Library which you can access from home! "Planning for Death" has links to many free resources from Nolo, FreeWill.com, and local attornies.

• Digital Estate Planning -- Helpful article from Purdue Global Law School

RSVP here.

All are invited to read The Gallivanter Saga, three books by author Cassie Moore, this winter! In addition to being an author, Cassie is a Concordia Irvine graduate, wife of Pastor Tyler Moore at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hood River, and former student of our own Christine Lawton! Christine and her husband Bill will facilitate a monthly discussion of each book between January and March. Cassie may surprise us with a visit during one of those sessions!  AND Senior Connections participants will get to learn from Cassie at their April 9 event!

Read one, or all three! Participate in one discussion, or all three!

Three Sundays, 12:30-1:30

Book one, Saving Andiamo, Sunday, January 25

Book two, A New Wild, Sunday, February 22

Book three, Savage World, Sunday, March 29

12:30-1:30 – Bring your lunch! 

You can order each book on your own, OR St. John can get a discount if we order together. Contact Lisa Keyne at lisakeyne@gmail.com if you want to order one, two or three books at $12 each.

Review by LCMS Northwest District administrator, Dustin Kunkel: "Saving Andiamo" is a thrilling adventure story that kept me propping my eyes open and turning pages late into the night! I couldn't help rooting for Andiamo who's tough and willing to try anything... This is the kind of author that a young generation not only needs, but wants: self-assured, witty, wise. Moore has a knack for description and character development that complements her strongest skill: spinning an action-packed, feel-good yarn…Brilliant!