Nepal Earthquake Disaster Assistance

“And after the earthquake….the sound of sheer silence, and a Voice said: ‘what are you doing here?”

— 1 Kings 19:12–13

Situation

Thousands are dead or injured from the massive earthquake and aftershocks that shook Nepal and neighboring countries on April 25th. The quake, the worst in more than 80 years, struck just west of the capital of Kathmandu and destroyed towns and mountainous villages.  The government of Nepal has officially requested international assistance and declared a state of emergency.

PDA Response

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance's (PDA) is providing emergency aid through our partnership with ACT Alliance. Members of ACT Alliance which have been working in Nepal for several years are on the ground and already working to assist many who have survived the quake, by distributing immediate life-saving supplies such as water, food, shelter and medication.

Give: Financial support for relief efforts can be designated to DR999999 with reference to Nepal. Gifts can be made online, by phone weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST), or checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburg, PA 15264-3700.

Act: Learn how your congregation can help families who have lost everything in the devastation. Stay informed and like us on Facebook, download resources and share updates with your congregation.

Pray: Pray for those who suffered loss of family or those who are working tirelessly to provide rescue, humanitarian aid, and spiritual and psychological support.

For more information, visit www.pcusa.org/pda.

Confession of Belhar approved by presbyteries

Office of the General Assembly

Louisville

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has voted through its presbyteries to add the Confession of Belhar to The Book of Confessions. The final step will be a vote at the 222nd General Assembly (2016) meeting June 18–25 in Portland, Oregon. View a video message from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, which also is available in Spanish:[Español] andKorean[한국어]. Share those videos, as well as other Belhar resources available at pcusa.org/belhar.

Learn more.

Welcome City of Glory Fellowship!

Excerpt From April 21 EP Report:

As you may know, we’ve been seeking to plant new churches again as a presbytery. The first step in that process is to discern and support those new things God is leading us to explore. Over the past year, God has led us to partner with a number of new worshipping communities, and now through the faithful work of Catalyzing Missional Communities, we welcome City of Glory, an east-African worshipping community. City of Glory worships at and is a ministry partner with Steel Lake Presbyterian Church in Federal Way. Let’s pray for Rev. Lauden Kangele as he leads this new church plant. Rev. Kangele will be the second pastor from the Presbytery of East Africa to join our presbytery. 

Free Double Doors & Pews Available

A church in Everett undergoing renovations is giving away two sets of double doors (6' wide, 7' high, each set) and pews (20' long - a dozen of them) and a set (15' long - 1/2 dozen of them). Pick-up needs to happen by the weekend of 4/18-19. Contact Gary at 206-571-3402. 

CRE Program Summer Courses

The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary is pleased to announce that we will be offering three summer courses for Commissioned Ruling Elders (CLP/CRE), scheduled from June 1 to August 23, 2015.  We would appreciate it if you would pass on this information to those who might be interested and/or advertise it in your newsletter or other publications.

• Introduction to New Testament – Dr. Annette Huizenga
• Presbyterian Polity – Dr. Scott Nesbitt
• Reformed Theology – Dr. Gary Eller

As always, current students can register by going online at http://udtslearning.net/mod/page/view.php?id=15076 or by contacting Carla Gibbons, Distance Education Coordinator (CGibbons@dbq.edu or call 563-589-3630 / 1-888-207-8218), to pay by credit card or check.  The tuition rate is $380.00 per course.

New students can apply to our lay ministry program by going to http://udtslearning.net/ and then click on "CLP Registration Information" for application and course information. 

Finally, we encourage you to regularly check our continuing education website (http://udts.dbq.edu/edu.cfm) for upcoming events. 

Godly Play Curriculum Materials Available

Rose Hill Presbyterian Church has the teaching tools and wall hangings for the Godly Play curriculum. We are no longer using Godly Play. Is there a church in the Presbytery that would like to have them? If you are interested contact Gwen North 425-827-4649 or gwen@rosehillpc.org.

A Pastoral Response to the Marriage Amendment

March 20, 2015

Brothers and Sisters of Seattle Presbytery, 

I'm sure you have read by now that the PCUSA is predicting that the marriage amendment will be approved and become part of our Book of Order this June. It's hard to find another topic that causes so many mixed emotions among us as Presbyterians. 

These words from Romans come to mind as we head into what is next for us in Seattle Presbytery: "Love must be genuine. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another." (12:9-16)

This is Paul at his missional, called to be Christ-in-community best. It may be hard to embrace at this moment, but I've seen our presbytery live this authentically and honestly--and I trust we will continue to do so. My prayer is that we live ever more deeply into what this means for us and this world as we seek to witness to the One who gave his life out of his immeasurable love for our world. 

I'm grateful for our Stated Clerk, Rev. Karen Breckenridge, who supports all of us by providing more details below. 

In Christ, 

Rev. Scott Lumsden
Executive Presbyter

---

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

By now you’ve probably seen reports of the passage of amendment 14F that makes changes to the section on marriage in the Directory for Worship of the Book of Order.  The effect of the action is to allow broader discretion to teaching elders and sessions in the weddings they will conduct and host. In states such as ours, this discretion could include same gender marriages. As stated in the amendment itself, this change to the Book of Order cannot be used to compel a teaching elder to perform a marriage service nor can it be used to compel a session to authorize the use of church property for a marriage service that is contrary to their discernment of the Holy Spirit and their understanding of the Word of God.

The Office of the General Assembly has a variety of resources to help us understand and interpret the action that has been taken. Among the available resources are:
•    an advisory opinion that answers several questions about the change
•    a letter from the General Assembly Moderator and Vice-moderator 
•    a statement from the General Assembly Stated Clerk 
Please visit pcusa.org/marriage to view these and other resources.

Many Presbyterians are experiencing strong feelings about the changes that are happening in our denomination – from joy to sorrow, from grief to celebration. Please join me in continuing to pray for our communities of faith and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we seek to be faithful to Christ’s call in our lives.

Grace and peace,

Rev. Karen Breckenridge
Stated Clerk

SeaPres Thailand & Cambodia Trip

Seattle Presbytery SEAM (Southeast Asia Ministry Team) traveled to Thailand and Cambodia on February 25, 2015 with 15 people, representing the following Presbyterian Churches: University, Seattle Community, Mercer Island, Inglewood, Wallingford, and Everett First.

Photos courtesy:  Rev. Ken Sunoo. 

SeaPres Colombia Mission Trip

Children gather at the front of the house to learn about God's love for them.

"We're using new coloring pencils!"

Comunidad Por Fin, a worshiping community of women and children supported by 7th Presbyterian Church Barranquilla
Worship led by deacons from 7th Church

Visiting El Mirador in the community of El Tamarindo where land disputes have displaced over a hundred families.

Many have been displaced from their homes and lands not just once but numerous times.

What was once fertile land with abundant crops of rice, plantain and yucca (over 50 tons grown per year) is now razed by bulldozers.

Listening to the residents' heartbreaking stories.

Where he once could farm enough to feed his family and sell the extra, this "campesino" has a small strip of temporary land suitable only for his chickens.

Universidad Reformada de Barranquilla

Pictures from the SeaPres Colombia Mission Trip, by Rev. Eliana Maxim.

SeaPres & Big Table Launch Partnership

Learn more about one of Seattle Presbytery's newest ministry partners, Big Table, and how you can get involved.

Watch Big Table videos.

Big Table Facebook.

UNEXPECTED 20s (what they are, how to give one, & more)

Tall Timber Ranch News: Fishburns' Retirement

(From Stan & Becky Fishburn, January 31, 2015)

Dear Friends and Supporters of Tall Timber:

As we wrap up 2014 and ring in 2015, we do so with more than a few mixed emotions.  As many of you know, we (Stan and Becky) are retiring at the end of January as Tall Timber’s Executive Director and Assistant Director.   We have been hearing many similar questions recently, so here are a few answers:

How long have you been at Tall Timber?  We began on May 1, 1980 on a Presbyterian mission grant to develop Program and do PR.  Three years later, we were hired as Tall Timber Ranch’s first full time, year round employees.  Last summer was our 35th summer at camp! 

Read more.

Wellspring 3rd Annual Basketball League

Wellspring would like to introduce the 3rd Annual Wellspring Basketball League.

When: 10 week league starting March 15th, 2015 games to be held on Sundays

Where: Edmonds Woodway High School

How Much: $650.00 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.

What do I need to do? How do I register?

Step 1: Form a team, your team needs to get approval from your church or non-profit to form a team. Get a minimum of 5 players (we recommend more in case of injuries or no-shows)

Step 2: Fill out the online registration form

2015 Per Capita

By vote of the presbytery, 2015 per capita has been set at $40.00 apportioned as follows: Seattle Presbytery $30.43; Synod of Alaska-Northwest $2.50; General Assembly  $7.07.