Ten years ago, representatives from the Seattle Presbytery and the Presbytery of the North Coast in Colombia (El Presbiterio de la Costa Norte) signed a covenant of partnership with one another. Since then, our relationship of mutuality and accompaniment has flourished, providing abundant opportunities for learning, growth, and joy for both presbyteries.

All are invited to join us on Sunday, June 8, 5-6PM Pacific, in the spirit of Pentecost, for a shared worship service via Zoom, including music, liturgy, and storytelling celebrating this milestone.

Please register by clicking here.

Join us for an unforgettable weekend with Rev. Jerry Sittser, author of A Grace Disguised, A Grace Revealed, The Will of God as a Way of Life and other deeply meaningful books, as he shares profound insights on faith, grief, and spiritual resilience. Jerry’s powerful messages, drawn from his personal journey and years of study & teaching at Whitworth University, especially speak to those of us who have walked through the dark and wonder if God is still good, still present and still loving!  

Saturday, June 7th Workshop/Lunch provided:  We will dive into life-changing topics of faith, suffering, and redemption amidst loss. Bring your hardest questions and engage with Jerry on topics like navigating life’s challenges, finding hope in hardship, and growing spiritually through adversity. Whether you’re struggling with grief, facing a personal challenge, or simply want to grow in your faith, Jerry’s wisdom and own life experiences will speak to your heart of God’s grace in difficult times.  Jerry will also be SPC's guest preacher for worship, Sunday, June 8th.

This is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the most insightful Christian voices of our time. Don’t miss this chance to be inspired, encouraged, and equipped to live a life of greater hope and resilience.  “Grace will meet you, even in the darkest moments.” — Jerry Sittser

To register, click here: 

https://spconline.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2667731

STATED PRESBYTERY MEETING
TUESDAY, may 20, 2025

thank you to our HOST WEDGWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Learn more & register online.

A practical, skills-based conference equipping clergy, church staff, & lay preachers to bring the Word to life in Cascadia

Saturday, May 3, 2025
1:00-5:30pm followed by optional Mocktail Mix & Mingle
Calvin Presbyterian Church, Shoreline, WA
Cost: $99 Learn how you can attend for free.

https://transformingengagement.org/preaching-conference/

Download event flyer.

Contact SeaPres communications for free attendance with partner discount code.

Rainier Beach PC invites you to special presentation on Saturday, April 5, at 3:30 PM. Rev. Tom Kirkpatrick and Rev. Duncan Ferguson will introduce their new books and discuss the findings of their research.

Duncan Ferguson and Tom Kirkpatrick have recently had books published on topics that may be of interest to pastors and laypeople in our Presbyteries. Duncan's is titled Living Wisely and Well in the Evening of Life: Foundations for Flourishing--A Spiritual Perspective. And Tom’s is titled Signs of Hope and Health in Mainline Churches: Guidelines for Creating Hopeful and Healthy Congregations. 

It's time to replace lament over problems facing 21st century mainline churches with aspirations of hope and possibilities for health. And Princeton Seminary theologian Gordon Mikoski says this about Duncan's book: "Duncan Ferguson offers decades of open-minded Christian life and service, wise guidance for those seeking to navigate the 'evening of life' with meaning and dignify, and mature reflection on the significance of the life and teachings of Jesus for the living of these perilous days."

Join the Church Council for a day of workshops and reflection on the community organizing principles and anti-racism values that ground us in transformational change for liberation & justice. Stay tuned for workshop descriptions and more information! 

Únase the Church Council para un día de talleres y reflexión sobre los principios de organización comunitaria y los valores antirracistas que nos fundamentan en un cambio transformacional para la liberación y la justicia. ¡Pronto estaremos enviando descripciones de los talleres y más información!  

When

March 8th, 2025 from  9:00 AM to  4:30 PM

Location

University Congregational United Church of Christ
4515 16th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98105

March 6 webinar designed to help Presbyterians ponder what they believe and why

Dr. Martha Moore-Keish of Columbia Theological Seminary will lead the webinar, part of the Leader Formation series.

The deadline to register for the March 6 webinar “Pondering God with Presbyterians: What Do We Believe and Why” is Wednesday, Feb. 26.

This online gathering, part of the Leader Formation series of webinars, will explore some basic theological convictions of the faith, including what Presbyterians hold in common with other Christians and the peculiar treasures of the Reformed tradition. “Want to learn more about the mystery of the Trinity, justification by grace through faith, or learn the puzzle of predestination? Come join the conversation,” organizers say.

This event is provided free for participants and is funded through per capita dollars. The webinar will be provided in several languages with interpretation based on requests made through the registration process, necessitating the Feb. 26 registration deadline. Advanced registration is not necessary to access the recording, which will be made available in English following the event.

Dr. Martha Moore-Keish, the J.B. Green Professor of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, will lead the webinar. She worked in the PC(USA)’s Office of Theology & Worship and taught liturgical studies at Yale Divinity School before becoming a professor of theology at Columbia Seminary. She’s published books on eucharistic theology and prayer, a research guide on Reformed theology, a commentary on the Book of James, and co-edited the 2023 reference volume “The T&T Clark Handbook on Sacraments and Sacramentality.”

In addition to research on liturgical and sacramental theologies, Moore-Keish has a long-standing interest in interreligious issues, particularly Christian-Jewish relations and the religions of India. A Reformed theologian committed to theology for the church, she also serves on the PC(USA) committee to write a new confession for the Book of Confessions.

The March 6 webinar is set for 7 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Register here.

Learn more: https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/march-6-webinar-designed-help-presbyterians-ponder-what-they-believe-and-why?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2QuJ_VvWXVUJKmDgi62zRa9tSqJgqN7Mlc5Bo5CxN-mMcEXy2uqOzrkBc_aem_KbLnkcPVaQCB5rDru5meXQ

For such a time as this! Standing in the Gap!

A message from the Office of Public Witness in collaboration with many other programs of the Interim Unified Agency

Join us for a new monthly series — fourth Wednesday each month — hosted by the Presbyterian Church (USA) As Christians, we are called to act in the face of suffering, injustice and strife — to be repairers of the breach. The fuel behind such action is a mixture of faith, hope, discernment, spiritual nourishment, and community.

Presbyterian Advocacy Hour will bring together committed people of faith each month to fuel up with information on the most pressing issues. Church members, lay leaders, pastors, mid council staff, all Presbyterians and friends are welcome! Get nourishment for your spirit, essential connections and resources, relationship building, and direction for how to stay in righteous movement while being your best self.

After the first overview session in February, each month we’ll dive deeply into one area of concern and provide the knowledge you need to take effective and focused action. The hour will start with spiritual grounding and then move to in-depth analysis of key issues. There will be an additional optional 30 minutes for time to network, movement-building, community-building and feedback on helping to shape what you need from these monthly advocacy hours. There is a barrage of pressing issues we might react to, but we contribute most faithfully with quality action and a loving presence. Let’s resource each other and do church in a world that needs every single one of us!

Monthly Advocacy Hour ~ Fourth Wednesdays — First session will be on Wednesday, February 26th 9 a.m. (PST), 10 a.m. (MST), 11 a.m. (CST), 12 p.m. (EST)
Register for Presbyterian Advocacy Hour: pcusa.info/advocacyhourregistration

Installation service for rev. maggie breen

February 22, 2025, 3:00pm at Calvary Presbyterian Church

Seattle Presbytery and Calvary Presbyterian Church invite you to join us to joyfully celebrate a worship service for the installation of Pastor Maggie Breen.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

During Messy Church 5:30pm - 7:00pm
The service from 6pm-6:30pm will be live-streamed from Calvin’s website Calvinpc.org.

Calvin Presbyterian Church,

18826 3rd Ave NW, Shoreline, WA 98177

Please join Seattle Presbytery in a Messy Church service of worship for the ordination of Linda Erickson, who has received a call to a validated ministry as chaplain to Harborview Medical Center, Seattle. 

Note: Clergy are invited to wear stoles but please not robes.

STATED PRESBYTERY MEETING
TUESDAY, January 21, 2025

Sammamish presbyterian Church

4:30PM: pre-gathering with refreshments
5:00PM: Meeting begins (in person)

Please contact the Executive Board if your church is able to host a presbytery meeting in 2025.

Learn more & register online.

Hosted by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), Immigration Issues and OPW to prepare for new U.S. policies and actions against immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

A special showing of the highly regarded documentary about an asylee family that fled violence in Honduras and made a new home in West Seattle will be in Fellowship Hall December 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. The film, All We Carry, is being sponsored by Hazelwood School and the Immigration Task Force. Refreshments will be available, and donations will be accepted on behalf of the ITF and the film producers.

All We Carry tells the story of the family of Mirna, Magdiel and their children as they flee persecution—migrating in cargo trains across Mexico, claiming asylum at the US border, and enduring separation in detention before being released in Seattle. There, the West Seattle synagogue Kol HaNshamah based at Alki UCC sponsors the family for two years while they await the final decision on their asylum case. As the family tries to settle into their new home, they navigate countless life-altering and every-day moments where memory, joy, and grief collide.

Magdiel as a local businessman is well known to many here in West Seattle and he has aided the Immigration Task Force in the past. One of their children attends the Hazelwood Pre-School, which initiated the local showing.

A trailer can be seen here. https://www.allwecarrydoc.com

In this time of unprecedented attack on immigration this film offers both hope and promise on how Seattle and America has been protecting asylees. The Immigration Task Force has begun exploring how it can step up efforts to help refugees in the coming years.

Learn more & register.

The next Service for Peace and Unity will be at Epiphany Seattle. Everyone welcome!

Monday, November 4, 7 PM

Epiphany Seattle

1805 38th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

https://epiphanyseattle.org

More background:

You are invited to a service of prayer, peace, silence, song, and lighting of candles.

The election is now days away. Our neighboring churches  know people are concerned and have fears about what the future may hold. We want you to have a place to take your fears and to share your concerns for the elections and all that is going on in our world.

We are hoping this will give you an opportunity to release some of your worries, fears, and anxieties that these elections are producing for a lot of us.

Participating churches include Mount Baker Presbyterian Church, Japanese Presbyterian Church, Epiphany Episcopal Church, and Madrona Grace Presbyterian.

Hope you will choose to join us for all or even just for part of this very special service of peace and prayer for all that is going on with the elections and in our world.

STATED PRESBYTERY MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024

Mercer island pc

5:00PM: Meeting begins (in person)

Please contact the Executive Board if your church is able to host a presbytery meeting in 2025.

Learn more & register online.

Installation service for rev. haley ballast

October 11, 2024 at 6:00pm @ Wallingford Presbyterian Church.

Seattle Presbytery and Wallingford Presbyterian Church invite you to join us to joyfully celebrate a worship service for the installation of Pastor Haley Ballast.

Seattle-Barranquilla

Colombia Partnership Trip

Feb. 4-11, 2025

The Colombia Task Force is excited to announce the dates for our annual trip to Barranquilla, Colombia for 2025: February 4-11, 2025! The first step in preparing for this trip is to gather a delegation of folks who would like to travel with us. If you are interested in learning more about the trip or about the partnership between Seattle Presbytery and the Presbytery of the North Coast in Colombia, please mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 9 at 7pm, when the task force will host an informational Zoom meeting. For more info please contact Haley Ballast (pastor@wallpc.org) or Eliana Maxim (eliana@seattlepresbytery.org).

Board of Pensions Workshop for Churches and Congregational Pastoral Leaders

An Overview of the Benefits Plan 2025

Seattle Presbytery

Date/Time: August 22, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. on ZOOM

Click here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtdOysrDojE9LorgoVa97w9KD-F7C55Z_j

Join Board of Pensions Church Consultant, the Rev. Christine Long, for an online, one-hour

workshop to review the basics on the 2025 Benefits Plan updates for congregational pastoral

leaders (i.e. installed pastors, non-installed pastors, Commissioned Pastors). This review will help

churches and their congregational pastoral leaders understand choices and costs for benefits in

2025.

The workshop will review:

- The Covenant Package

- Congregational Pastors Package

- Transitional Pastor’s Participation

While anyone interested is welcome to attend, the workshop is designed for congregational

pastoral leaders, Personnel Committee chairs, Session elders, finance employees or volunteers, or

other appropriate benefits decision makers in PCUSA congregations.

Pastors in unique situations such as: split service, couples sharing one position at the same

congregation (14-09 couples), Formula of Agreement pastors, non-PCUSA pastors, validated

pastors, and pastors receiving dues incentives are encouraged to contact Christine Long directly for guidance.

Following are links or attachments to help you learn about the changes coming with the Benefits

Plan 2025:

• Dues Packages: Benefits Plan 2025

• Calculators – 2024 Calculators

• Benefits Plan 2025 Decision Guide

• seasonofrebuilding.pensions.org – link to the microsite for the Benefits Plan 2025

Contact Information for Christine Long

Email: clong@pensions.org

Office phone: 215-587-7264 ◆ Cell phone: 215-704-7360

Download event flyer.

Board of Pensions Workshop for Churches and Congregational Pastoral Leaders

An Overview of the Benefits Plan 2025

Seattle Presbytery

Date/Time: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. on ZOOM

Click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsdO6sqD0sGtFWuIq9VFVhm2_g6REZtfDQ

Join Board of Pensions Church Consultant, the Rev. Christine Long, for an online, one-hour

workshop to review the basics on the 2025 Benefits Plan updates for congregational pastoral

leaders (i.e. installed pastors, non-installed pastors, Commissioned Pastors). This review will help

churches and their congregational pastoral leaders understand choices and costs for benefits in

2025.

The workshop will review:

- The Covenant Package

- Congregational Pastors Package

- Transitional Pastor’s Participation

While anyone interested is welcome to attend, the workshop is designed for congregational

pastoral leaders, Personnel Committee chairs, Session elders, finance employees or volunteers, or

other appropriate benefits decision makers in PCUSA congregations.

Pastors in unique situations such as: split service, couples sharing one position at the same

congregation (14-09 couples), Formula of Agreement pastors, non-PCUSA pastors, validated

pastors, and pastors receiving dues incentives are encouraged to contact Christine Long directly for guidance.

Following are links or attachments to help you learn about the changes coming with the Benefits

Plan 2025:

• Dues Packages: Benefits Plan 2025

• Calculators – 2024 Calculators

• Benefits Plan 2025 Decision Guide

• seasonofrebuilding.pensions.org – link to the microsite for the Benefits Plan 2025

Contact Information for Christine Long

Email: clong@pensions.org

Office phone: 215-587-7264 ◆ Cell phone: 215-704-7360

STATED PRESBYTERY MEETING
TUESDAY, July 16, 2024

Calvary pc, enumclaw

5:00PM: Meeting begins (in person @ Calvary PC)

Learn more & register online.

A Service for Personal Peace is being offered by the Rev. Reggie Avant, Pastor of Madrona Grace Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Lee Seese, Pastor of Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church, on Wednesday, June 12, at 7:00 p.m., at Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church. This meditative service is an invitation to find rest and peace during these tumultuous times. All are welcome.

“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity. It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.          
It is like the dew on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.”   
Psalm 133 

Dear friends, 

We are blessed to have faithful and diligent leaders throughout the presbytery serving in many ways: the Executive Board, the Commission on Ministry, the Commission on the Preparation for Ministry and a variety of task forces and committees. And this presbytery has delegated much of its work to these entities.  

Although we scheduled a presbytery meeting for this coming Tuesday, April 16, upon reviewing the draft docket, we realized there is no business coming before the body.  

Reports have been filed by the above-mentioned leadership bodies which we encourage you to read and see what business has been conducted on your behalf. But the Executive Board has determined there is no need for an official presbytery meeting and has cancelled it. 

And yet, because we do enjoy gathering as a community of faith, we will still gather on the 16th at 5:30pm at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church for dinner and fellowship. We look forward to the opportunity of simply being together in conversation without any particular agenda before us. 

We do want to assure you though that Scott and I are aware of a few significant items of business with potential impact on our congregations and presbytery. One of them is the changes to the Board of Pensions benefits. We will be attending a BOP sponsored informational gathering on the 23rd of this month and will engage with COM and the broader presbytery to share information and strategize how Seattle Presbytery can be a faithful partner to our churches and pastors amid these changes. 

The other item is the proposed overture to the General Assembly regarding inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity among categories that the church does not discriminate against. We are in conversation with many as we seek to be informed and prepared for how the assembly may vote. 

These – and other – topics will be reviewed and discussed in the next couple of months. We invite you to stay connected and stay tuned. 

In conclusion: no presbytery meeting on April 16th but yes presbytery gathering for dinner and fellowship that same date. Be sure to RSVP so we can plan appropriately. 

Eliana Maxim & Scott Lumsden

Direct link: https://www.1946themovie.com/