North County Youth, the faith-based mentoring program of LINC NW, welcomes Emily Brebner to the staff this summer.  As part of her duties, she will:

• Focus on Event Planning--see below for what’s coming up next.  Spoiler Alert:  it’s at Mukilteo Beach on July 17!

• (Along with Administrative Social Worker Mariel Gonzalez) Host Hoods in the Woods students* when they are at Faith Lakewood, before they head outdoors.  

• Schedule/host Movie Nights with the North Marysville Family Resource Center

A Washington native, Emily grew up in Everett as part of a longtime Pacific Northwest family.  She has one younger sister and extended family in the area.  Emily worships at Trinity Lutheran in Everett and has done so since the 9th grade when she joined the confirmation class.  From that moment, she was hooked on and drawn into the community.  Emily played in the bell choir (before being restricted by COVID), helped start a youth choir, and for two years served as Youth Representative to the NW Washington Synod Council.   Her pastor, Pastor Tim Feiertag at Trinity Everett, encouraged her to participate in the Council.

What does it mean to be a Youth Rep on Synod Council?:  

First, I learned what the council does--oversees the synod, approves projects, listens to ideas.  I knew nothing about it and was totally confused at first.  The acronyms!  Sox?  Oh, SAWCs!!  [Synod Approved Worshiping Communities].  A lot went over my head.  I learned about programs--Night Church, Luther’s Table (at a restaurant) and Wild Church (outdoors).  It was very exciting to hear about the cool stuff people are thinking of. 

Emily learned about the structure of the church, about missions and different congregations.  She participated in (voted on) the approval of calls for pastors and deacons (including this one!).

What difference has it made to you to serve on Synod Council?  It meant a lot.  It was great to learn about our Synod and all the missions it supports.      

Emily’s school-based interests and activities included playing volleyball in middle school and helping out with the ASB.  In high school, she joined swim and dive, diving off a one meter board at the Forest Park pool AND she volunteered at the Forest Park Petting Zoo for two years.  

Emily finds joy in a lot of things:  being in nature, reading, writing, painting, sketching and being with friends.  

At Cascade High School, she served as Book Club President where members met weekly to talk about books.  They sponsored a Read-A-Thon:  a day in the library on early-release Fridays.  They invited the school and had anywhere from 40 to 110 students attending, to sit in their PJs, drink hot cocoa/apple cider and eat pizza.  We had a librarian who broke all the classic rules.  She encouraged and hosted events, would yell when she got excited, knew everybody who came into the library and remembered what they liked to read--a really inspiring librarian!

At Cascade, Emily competed in the Battle of the Books.  Teams of 3-5 people read a list of 21 books and then compete by answering questions about those books.  Emily played throughout high school and was heavily involved in preparing other students to answer the 23 questions in each of three rounds at meets. 

This past spring, Emily graduated from Cascade High School AND Everett Community College with an Associate’s Degree (via Running Start).  As with schools at every level, learning shifted online last year--not ideal--but she adjusted.  This fall, Emily will attend Western Washington University in Bellingham where learning will continue with a hybrid format (both online and in person).  

Q: Do you have any ideas about what you’d like to study?  Yes!  Recreational and Leadership Management (in order to become a Recreational Therapist).  It’s about helping others through recreation and leisure.  Rec Therapists work in hospitals and rehabilitation centers in tandem with a number of different therapists.  The PT teaches you how to walk again; the OT teaches you how complete daily tasks again; the RT makes sure you’re having fun.  In other words, Rec Therapists make sure you can do something besides work--maybe writing, drawing, doing crafts.  

Where do you see God showing up in your life?  In a lot of different places:  friends who are there for me.  Listening.  Nature.  In Plants.  I collect succulents.  Peace Lilies.  Bamboo.  It’s a hodgepodge of about 38 plants so far. every window sill is filled!  

Welcome to the Team, Emily!  

*Hoods in the Woods is an 8-week summer program of Second Chance Outreach. Youth have opportunities to explore the world through outdoor activities like farm projects, biking and hiking. Students are welcomed to the Family Resource Center and provided with meals and community space before heading out for their afternoon activity.  Faith Lutheran Lakewood has donated lunches and  bikes for students to enjoy.