Seattle Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
Join Seattle Community Church & Friends - Caroling Team in The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition this year. The team will sing a certain 2011 dance-pop song, re-written to capture the creative Christian spirit (Jesus parody lyrics). SCC and Friends - the proud winners of People's Choice in 2012 and Most Creative in 2013. If you ever wanted to sing to a few thousand people, it's a good chance to get that off your bucket list. It's for a good cause also. Approximately 40 teams compete, last year raising over $100,000 for Pike Market Senior Center and Downtown Food Bank.
Join Seattle Community Church & Friends - Caroling Team in The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition this year. The team will sing a certain 2011 dance-pop song, re-written to capture the creative Christian spirit (Jesus parody lyrics). SCC and Friends - the proud winners of People's Choice in 2012 and Most Creative in 2013. If you ever wanted to sing to a few thousand people, it's a good chance to get that off your bucket list. It's also for a good cause. Approximately 40 teams compete annually. Last year, they raised more than $100,000 for Pike Market Senior Center and Downtown Food Bank.
Contact: Dan Williams.
Certificate Program in Children, Youth & Family Ministry
Certificate Program in Children, Youth & Family Ministry
January 5-23, 2015
Trinity Lutheran College, Everett, WA
Trinity Lutheran College will offer a three-week Certificate Program in Children, Youth & Family Ministry, January 5-23, 2015. The program is designed to equip church staff, volunteers, and pastors for effective leadership in congregational children, youth, and family ministry. It is a terrific opportunity for professional development or those who want to become more involved in children’s and youth ministry.
Certificate Program in Children, Youth & Family Ministry
January 5-23, 2015
Trinity Lutheran College, Everett, WA
Trinity Lutheran College will offer a three-week Certificate Program in Children, Youth & Family Ministry, January 5-23, 2015. The program is designed to equip church staff, volunteers, and pastors for effective leadership in congregational children, youth, and family ministry. It is a terrific opportunity for professional development or those who want to become more involved in children’s and youth ministry.
For additional information about training content, costs, housing options, and registration, visit www.tlc.edu/cyfcenter or contact Rev. David Ellingson at 425.249.4722 or david.ellingson@tlc.edu.
Wellspring Basketball League
When: 8 week League starting October 5th, games to be held on Sunday's and Wednesday's
Where: Meadowbrook Community Center (Sundays) and/or Korean United Presbyterian Church (Wednesdays)
How Much: $350.00 per team
Format: 5 on 5, 45 min games
Who can sign up: Your team must represent a church or a non-profit in order to play.
When: 8 week League starting October 19th, games to be held on Sundays and Wednesdays
Where: Meadowbrook Community Center (Sundays) and/or Korean United Presbyterian Church (Wednesdays)
How Much: $350.00 per team
Format: 5 on 5, 45 min games
Who can sign up: Your team must represent a church or a non-profit in order to play.
Wellspring Volleyball League
When: 8 week League starting October 5th, games to be held on Sunday's and Wednesday's
Where: Meadowbrook Community Center (Sundays) and/or Korean United Presbyterian Church (Wednesdays)
How Much: $250.00 per team
Format: 6 v 6 Co-Ed (minimum 2 females)
Who can sign up: Your team must represent a church or a non-profit in order to play.
When: 8 week League starting October 19th, games to be held on Sundays and Wednesdays
Where: Meadowbrook Community Center (Sundays) and/or Korean United Presbyterian Church (Wednesdays)
How Much: $250.00 per team
Format: 6 v 6 Co-Ed (minimum 2 females)
Who can sign up: Your team must represent a church or a non-profit in order to play.
Alaska Mission Trip Opportunity
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Adult work teams are invited to travel to Gambell during the summer of 2015 to help finish the interior of the new Gambell church building. Want information? Contact us at volunteer@pbyukon.org and we will be in touch!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Adult work teams are invited to travel to Gambell during the summer of 2015 to help finish the interior of the new Gambell church building. Want information? Contact us at volunteer@pbyukon.org and we will be in touch!
Gambell Presbyterian Church is a crucial spiritual center for the Gambell community. It offers weekly worship services and faith formation opportunities for all ages. The church reaches out to the community in other ways by providing counseling, self-help classes, and other ministries as desired by the community. Often the elders are called upon to go to homes and pray with community members. Learn more.
If you would like to donate to the Gambell New Building fund, please DONATE ONLINE NOW.
Please contact us with any questions at 907-276-0914 or office@pbyukon.org. We look forward to a favorable response in supporting this missionary endeavor.
WA State Tax Law Changes
The Washington State Department of Revenue has released this informative bulletin about changes in tax laws as they effect churches in Washington State. These changes may provide some additional flexibility to churches in the uses of their properties.
Changes in tax laws impact Washington State churches
The Washington State Department of Revenue has released this informative bulletin about changes in tax laws as they effect churches in Washington State. These changes may provide some additional flexibility to churches in the uses of their properties.
The Department of Revenue bulletin follows:
The 2014 Legislature passed Senate Bill 6405 which took effect June 12, 2014. This measure provides new opportunities for churches to rent or loan their exempt property to the public. The informational flyer regarding maintaining your churches property tax exemption has been updated and is available on the agency’s website. The flyer can be viewed by clicking on this link:
http://dor.wa.gov/Docs/Pubs/Prop_Tax/PropertyTaxExmptChurch.pdf
The special notice regarding Senate Bill 6405 is available on the agency’s website and can be viewed by clicking on this link: http://dor.wa.gov/Docs/Pubs/SpecialNotices/2014/sn_14_ExemptNonprofits.pdf
If you have concerns regarding this information, contact the Department of Revenue.
Churches partner with Israeli and Palestinian Kids4Peace
Recently, groups from Taiwanese and Sammamish Presbyterian Churches teamed up with Kids4Peace to provide meals for twenty-four Israeli and Palestinian kids during their visit to Seattle.
According to their website, “Kids4Peace is a grassroots interfaith youth movement dedicated to ending conflict and inspiring hope in Jerusalem and other divided societies around the world.” The local Seattle chapter works with local Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faith communities to promote the cause of peace.
Rev. Austin Ashenbrenner, Associate Pastor of Adults and Mission at Sammamish Pres., said, “It is clear that God is doing something at SPC around this topic of Israeli/Palestinian peace.” Combined with a trip to Israel led by Dick Leon last year, classes and more, Sammamish is becoming more involved in regional concerns. As Austin explains, “I’m not sure where God will lead us in our involvement with Kids for Peace or other similar efforts, but it seems that this experience has deepened the sense of connection that our church feels to this region and has also deepened our commitment to helping.”
Anna Quince of Taiwanese Pres., welcomed this chance to do some ministry outside of her comfort zone. Together with ruling elder Eric Tong and deacon Teresa Wu, they served a good lunch with a variety of Japanese dessert snacks. Most importantly they were able to bless the visiting children before their twenty hour flight back to Israel.
After lunch, many of the kids were gathered around a drum, sharing and playing. “They’re insanely good,” Michala Quince, a sophomore at the UW, explained, “Hopefully they can teach me something.”
PC (USA) Mission Worker Northwest Visit
Burkhard Paetzold, PC (USA) mission worker with the Roma people and PC (USA) regional liaison for Central Europe will be visiting the Pacific Northwest, October 15-25, 2014.
Tall Timber Hires New Director
The Board of Tall Timber is pleased to announce the hiring of a new executive director to take the place of Stan Fishburn who will be stepping aside after nearly 35 years of extraordinary service with his wife, Becky. While the board celebrates the countless gifts and priceless contribution Stan and Becky Fishburn have given to build Tall Timber from a summer camp hosting 500 campers to a year-round camp with over 5000 campers, we welcome with great enthusiasm the call of Dave Saugen. Dave currently is the camp director at Glacier Camp, a PCUSA camp on the shores of Flathead Lake in Montana.
The Board of Tall Timber pleased to announce the hiring of a new executive director to take the place of Stan Fishburn who will be stepping aside after nearly 35 years of extraordinary service with his wife, Becky. While the board celebrates the countless gifts and priceless contribution Stan and Becky Fishburn have given to build Tall Timber from a summer camp hosting 500 campers to a year-round camp with over 5000 campers, we welcome with great enthusiasm the call of Dave Saugen. Dave currently is the camp director at Glacier Camp, a PCUSA camp on the shores of Flathead Lake in Montana. Dave brings into this new role his past work experience at Tall Timber, his vast connections in the Plain area, and his three years of experience giving a very positive trajectory to Glacier under his leadership. He will begin as Tall Timber’s executive director after the new year. A retirement celebration for the Fishburns is being planned for the Spring of 2015.
Prayers for the Middle East
JULY 21, 2014
Office of the General Assembly
Statement issued by PC(USA) denouncing attacks in Mosul
It is with great sadness and deep concern that we join our voice with the voice of the church in Iraq to cry out against the terrible attack being waged against Christians, Shiite Muslims, and other religious minorities in and around the Iraqi city of Mosul. We condemn all actions seeking to discriminate between indigenous residents and citizens of Iraq based on religion or sect, and actions that threaten the safety and human dignity of innocents seeking to live out their Christian or Muslim faith in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the region.
We denounce the fear and hate-based tactics of Islamic extremists being used to force Christians to convert to a particular expression of Islam, pay an unspecified tax (jizya) for their safety, leave with only the clothes on their backs, or stay and be killed. Read more...
Farewell to Stated Clerk Kathy Lueckert
Seattle Presbytery's Stated Clerk, Kathy Lueckert, has accepted the position of Director of Finance and Administration at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. She and her husband, Don, will be relocating to Prairie Village in early August -- closer to family and into a new and exciting season of life and ministry. Kevin Nollette will serve as temporary Stated Clerk.
An update from Seattle Presbytery's Personnel Committee:
Dear Seattle Presbytery,
Our Stated Clerk, Kathy Lueckert, has accepted the position of Director of Finance and Administration at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. She and her husband, Don, will be relocating to Prairie Village in early August -- closer to family and into a new and exciting season of life and ministry. We are grateful to Don for his years of service to the Committee on Ministry and Property and Finance as well.
Please join me in thanking Kathy for her tremendous work in the Seattle Presbytery for many years and especially her most recent service as our Stated Clerk. Kathy's insight, organization, and love for God have been evident in the way she serves with integrity and love. We pray for a smooth transition into this new position and that Kathy knows she is sent with much love and encouragement from the Seattle Presbytery. If you would like to send Kathy a note of appreciation, she can be reached at: kathy@seapres.org.
Kevin Nollette will be serving as temporary Stated Clerk. Kevin is skilled at the position and after conversation we are assured Kevin has the time and bandwidth to perform the Stated Clerk duties at this time. You can expect there will be a bit of transition of COM and CPM responsibilities to Scott and/or Eliana -- as per a normal staff transition period.
The Personnel Committee, under the guidance of Council, hopes to have a plan in place along with a nomination for our next Stated Clerk at our November Presbytery Meeting. Keep us in your prayers!
If you have any questions or if I can provide any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Rev. Becki Barrett
Chair, Personnel Committee
beckib@oppc.org
Pastoral Study Project Program
The Louisville Institute offers pastoral leaders the gift of time and the resources to investigate issues related to Christian life, faith, and ministry. Through its Pastoral Study Project program (PSP), the Institute enables pastoral leaders to bracket daily work routines in order to pursue a pressing and significant question for the life of faith.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 1, 2014
GRANT TIMELINE: January 1, 2015 thru June 30, 2016
Click here to download the 2014 Pastoral Study Project Application Guide.
PLEASE NOTE: The 2014 PSP Application Guide will be posted by May 30, 2014. Until then, feel free to use the 2013 version as a guide.
Click here to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.
The Louisville Institute offers pastoral leaders the gift of time and the resources to investigate issues related to Christian life, faith, and ministry. Through its Pastoral Study Project program (PSP), the Institute enables pastoral leaders to bracket daily work routines in order to pursue a pressing and significant question for the life of faith.
Grants of up to $15,000 support independent or collaborative study projects – projects that privilege pastoral perspectives and rhythms and honor grassroots research conducted by skilled clergy. PSP grantees may use a variety of platforms to share what they learn with a wider audience, extending their leadership in ways that can benefit the broader church and culture in North America. Learn more online.
Updated Info: Unaccompanied Children Crisis
Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children are fleeing Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Many are arriving in the United States where it is expected that this nation will receive more than 60,000 children at the end of the fiscal year. The president has called the situation a humanitarian crisis. The federal agencies, Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, are racing in a collaborative relay to answer the need. Read more...
Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children are fleeing Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Many are arriving in the United States where it is expected that this nation will receive more than 60,000 children at the end of the fiscal year. The president has called the situation a humanitarian crisis. The federal agencies, Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, are racing in a collaborative relay to answer the need. Read more...
Partner with Presbyterian Disaster Assistant (PDA):
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is working to provide financial support to congregations and mid councils along the border, and members of the National Response Team are helping mid councils devise strategies to meet the needs of the children and families. We are also collaborating with ecumenical and interfaith partners who have experience working with refugees and immigrants and are also responding to this growing crisis.
You too have an opportunity to respond with compassion, generosity, and the acceptance of God’s call. Please stand in the GAP for the children and mothers.
Partner with churches in El Paso, TX:
Dear friends,
The needs for the unaccompanied children gathered in El Paso change on daily basis. Annunciation House, one of the organizations that is involved on this, is working with Grace church in el Paso in taking care of the children. Our churches in El Paso are also involved and working with other organizations to provide care for the children some of them alone and others with their mothers.
Here is the updated list of needs we received from Rev. Jessica Vaughan Lower, jessica@epcgrace.com, pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in El Paso. Please take a look of the list to see if your church or yourself can help. Here is the list of needs she prepared:
1) People. They need volunteers for a variety of tasks, times, and reasons. Volunteer duties range from sitting in front of a fire alarm, to cooking food, to working at the center of it all, and more. If you can offer any time and can be reliable, please!, contact Jesse Moore at jsmoore7595@gmail.com or go to Loretto Academy/Nazareth Retirement center and let them know you are willing to help.
2) Trial sized deodorant
3) Brushes, combs, hair ties.
4) Women's undergarments: underwear sizes XS-M, bras 34-36B.
5) "Flip flop" sandals, children's sizes up to women's size 8.
6) Small toys for children
7) We also receive and deliver financial donations. Make check payable to Grace Presbyterian Church El Paso and note in the memo that they are for the "Unaccompanied Immigrant Children."
Rev. José Luis Casal, General Missioner
The Presbytery of Tres Rios
Presbyterian Church (USA)
1201 W Wall
Midland, Texas 79701
Office - (432) 682-5297
Cellular - (432) 638-3564
Media & Links:
One Million Meals Campaign
Make your summer all about food and fun! Join the One Million Meals Campaign to feed hungry kids in our neighborhoods.
About 99,000 children rely on free or reduced-price lunch during the school year. But only 1 in 7 takes part in free summer meal programs. Last year, One Million Meals Campaign volunteers served 490,000 free summertime meals to kids and teens all over King County. Our goal this year is to reach 1 million meals. Read more online.
GA 221 Recap Resources
Theological student advisory delegate Kari Olson speaks from the floor about how encouraging the assembly has been during a speak-out session.
Dear Friends of Seattle Presbytery,
We want to share some resources and encourage you as you consider the work of the 221st General Assembly of the PCUSA. It was a blessing to watch our six commissioners, YAAD, and TSAD, in action as they served our church this past week in Detroit. They represented Seattle Presbytery so well.
The assembly itself was calm and respectful throughout even while dealing with issues on which we disagreed. As you are well aware, the decisions that were made brought joy to some and grieving to others across our communities. However it should be noted that the commissioners also sought to find common ground during their deliberations - a truly hopeful sign and a practical expression of the theme verse, Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Emphasis throughout the assembly was on the success of the 1001 Worshiping Communities initiative being undertaken in many presbyteries across the church and to renewed missional efforts abroad. The move toward fostering new Christian communities wherever God is planting them, continues to be breathe new life into churches and presbyteries across the PCUSA. The presbytery staff continue to deepen our connections with this national movement.
Resources for the commissioners’ actions on marriage and divestment are contained among the links provided. Regarding marriage, the key issue going forward is that councils (sessions) and pastors have discretion in discerning who may be married in their churches (building). No session or pastor shall be compelled to act in any way that goes against their conscience. Though that is consistent with our polity as a church, it was reiterated around the issue of same-sex marriage.
I pray that despite the opportunities and the challenges that are ahead of us as a presbytery, we might remember to lift one another up and encourage one another in the ministry of the Gospel; that we might listen with ears to hear how God is speaking through the hurts and pains as well as the joys and triumphs of our friends, congregants, and fellow colleagues in the PCUSA.
The presbytery entrusts to our Seattle Presbytery commissioners the duty of interpreting the actions the 221st General Assembly as we prepare to vote on GA recommendations in 2015. Presbytery staff who also attended (Scott Lumsden, EP; Kevin Nollette, Associate EP, and Eliana Maxim, Associate EP, Kathy Lueckert, Stated Clerk) are available and willing to serve as a resources for interpreting GA actions and presbytery process going forward.
May God bless you and guide you as your serve Christ’s church,
Rev. Scott Lumsden
Executive Presbyter
GA Recap Resources:
- GA recap bulletin inserts (published by Presbyterian Outlook). Download regular size insert. Download large print insert. Korean version. Spanish version.
- Assembly in Brief - 221 General Assembly (2014).
- OGA Pastoral Letter.
- Fellowship Pastoral Letter.
- PC (USA) FAQ: Civil Union & Marriage. Korean version. Spanish version.
- PC (USA) FAQ: Middle East Issues.
Other Links:
- Drink from the firehose: Twitter conversation on #ga221, follow @GA221
- Official reporting: Presbyterian News Service
- Curated photos & articles: Presbyterian Outlook on Facebook, Spirit of GA on Facebook
- Photos from our staff: SeaPres Facebook page
Congrats to Rev. Mansour Khajehpour
Rev. Mansour Khajehpour (Seattle First PC) has received a new call as the Executive Director of Sat-7 PARS (a Christian satellite television ministry broadcasting in the Persian language).
Rev. Mansour Khajehpour (Seattle First PC) has received a new call as the Executive Director of Sat-7 PARS (a Christian satellite television ministry broadcasting in the Persian language).
A message from Mansour:
This new calling is anther reminder to trust God in all things. For my family and I this will be a journey of faith. I thank God for being my Leader in this adventure. Some of you have been a part of this discernment process with the Board of Sat-7 PARS and my family. To you, I say THANK YOU for your prayerful support! I will keep myself accountable to God, to the Board, to you, and to my church family. Please keep my family (and our needs) in your prayer, share your wisdom with me, and plan to visit us in Cyprus.
Nahid and I commit ourselves in praying unceasingly for the fruits of our efforts. As I acclimate and adjust to my new duties and Greek culture, I will continually seek your prayers, support, and wisdom. On Sunday June 22nd at 10:30 AM, Seattle First Presbyterian Church ( www.firstpres.org ) commissions and send me as a tent-maker missionary. It would be a joy if you (who live in Seattle area) would consider joining in praying and sending us.
May as a result of this small token we get to see more souls saved, believers strengthened, churches built, and God's name be glorified.
Your Brother in Christ,
Mansour Khajehpour
Investing in our Greatest Resource
Giving to the Pentecost Offering makes it possible for the church to encourage, develop, and support its young people, and address the needs of at-risk children. A large portion of this offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community.
Giving to the Pentecost Offering makes it possible for the church to encourage, develop, and support its young people, and address the needs of at-risk children. A large portion of this offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community.
Your gifts to the Pentecost Offering help support:
Young Adult Volunteers | Ministries for Youth | Child Advocacy
Watch a video to learn more about the Presbyterian Youth Workers Association.
Queen Anne PC organ available
Queen Anne PC is looking to give away a beautiful, small, old foot/"pump" organ. Please contact Pastor Doug Early if you're interested.
Hymnals Available at Madrona Grace PC
Madrona Grace PC has 70-80 Presbyterian Hymnals available to donate.
Madrona Grace PC has 70-80 Presbyterian Hymnals available to donate. Please contact Cynthia Wyrick-Dampier if you're interested.