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1013 8th Avenue
Seattle, WA, 98104
United States
(206)762-1991
communications@seattlepresbytery.org
The mission of Seattle Presbytery is to participate, in word and deed, in God’s transforming work through the Gospel of Jesus Christ: by strengthening the witness and mission of our congregations and members and by building strong partnerships with each other and the larger Christian community.
Heath Rada, Moderator of the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), presents his "Call to the Church" -- a request for a study of the form, function and mission of the PC(USA). Recorded at the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board Meeting, Sept. 23, 2015.
Update from Organizer Chris Lim (RE, Indonesian):
I just wanted to say thank you to Seattle Presbytery for supporting Code for the Kingdom Seattle! We had over 100 people registered, 10 projects pitched and many rich relationships formed.
Read an event summary from GeekWire.
I also had the privilege of creating the intro video: Why Code for the Kingdom? and some of the Challenges we addressed.
Here is also a podcast episode I recorded with a friend where I tell a few of the stories of God's gracious provision every step of the way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN_VXAL0S7Y
Thanks again and Glory to God!
COGA issues open invitation to discuss identity, purpose of PC(USA)
Identity conversations are taking place across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) wants to make sure all join in.
What does it mean to be Presbyterian? Who is the church called to be in this current day and time? How should the denomination serve into the future?
Valid questions are being discussed in nooks and crannies throughout the church, and now the General Assembly committee that oversees assembly work between biennial meetings is inviting the entire denomination into a churchwide conversation.
Whitworth University's Ekklesia Fellowship Program is a 10- to 12-week summer-ministry experience for current Whitworth students and those who have just graduated. The development of strong partnerships with churches and ministries is essential to this experience. We hope that, through a partnership, ministries will provide an opportunity for students to serve, develop their gifts, and discern their vocations in Christ's body. In turn, each ministry will be supported by a student committed to meeting practical needs and building the capacity of each ministry. Below are documents that contain all of the programmatic and partnership details.
PRACTICAL CHURCH LEADERSHIP SEMINARS AVAILABLE @ MENUCHA
March 19, May 7, September 10, and October 22, 2016: Practical Church Leadership workshops with Rev. Heidi Husted Armstrong (Seattle Presbytery). Back by popular demand! These Saturday workshops are specially designed for pastors and lay leaders of small churches but applicable for people from churches of any size. Participants attend the workshop from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and leave with lots of materials and new insights. Dates and topics for 2016:
For information on all of these programs, visit our website (www.menucha.org/programs) or call Program Director Scott Crane at 503-695-2243.
Menucha Retreat & Conference Center is an ecumenical outreach mission of the First Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR, and is located at 38711 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett, OR 97019. Its mission is enriching lives through hospitality, learning, reflection and renewal.
September 10, 2015 by Leslie Scanlon (Presbyterian Outlook)
Seeing the images of refugee children dying, families crowded into train stations and herded into communities of desolation by the sides of the roads, staring over the barbed wire fences, sleeping on the dirt, carrying what little they have, people around the world are beginning to pay attention.
This pain is not new: It’s been building for years on the backs of people who have no homes, no jobs, no decent education for their children, no good choices.
Gary L. Barckert
Study Leave – July 17-26, 2015
C. S. Lewis Home
Oxford, UK
This Spring I had been considering registering for the C. S. Lewis Summer Seminar, sponsored by the C. S. Lewis Foundation – Redlands, CA. Our long acquaintance with Stan Mattson (director of the Foundation) and his vision for the Kilns bred a deep interest in studying there. The opportunity to be with Earl was equally important.
Miriam’s encouragement sealed the deal and I enrolled for the second week with high anticipation.
READ MORE HERE ...
As a pastor, would you be prepared if…
Summer is a busy time at Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church. We always have a summer intern from Princeton Theological Seminary and a large part of that student’s internship involves leading Vacation Bible School. It was the first day of VBS and it was a sunny, hot day. The church was buzzing- with staff persons, parents, grandparents, and children of all ages- registering children and getting everything set.
Suddenly a woman appeared, sweating, out of breath, and extremely upset, looking to talk to the pastor. She was hysterical. I took her into my office, closed the door, and her story began to pour out in the midst of her hysteria. She has been living in an abusive relationship for the past fifteen years and surviving day by day.
August 25, 2015
Louisville
By Rick Jones, Presbyterian News Service
High winds and dry weather continue to fan the flames in the northwest as wildfires spread, damaging or destroying homes and businesses. Representatives of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance’s National Response Team have spent nearly a week meeting with the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest and the Synod of Alaska-Northwest to assess the damage and determine needs. The fires in Washington State and Idaho alone have burned thousands of acres over the past two weeks and the work to contain the fires continues.
The National Response Team consists of the Rev. Bill Neely, Jan Spence and Barbara Mason. The three report that despite the damage, volunteers and churches have mobilized to provide clothes, food and shelter for those displaced. The team has also visited some of the small, hard-hit communities of Kamiah and Kooskia, Idaho.
“Right now the people are still in shock and concerned about where the fire is burning and cannot fathom just what to begin to do for long term recovery,” said Spence. “We have helped to set up a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC), but local church leaders believe they and the other volunteers will have to make house calls in the surrounding hills to help those too traumatized and self-sufficient to come to town.”
Early in the visit, the NRT along with volunteers assembled donation bags and drove throughout the area to find anyone in need.
The Presbyterian Foundation invites you to celebrate God's inspiring work in equipping our seminaries to educate and prepare Christian leaders to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8). May these liturgical resources assist you in preparation for worship, prayer, meditation, and reflection. The Presbyterian Planning Calendar specifies Sunday, September 20th as the Lord's Day for recognition of this mission emphasis, yet you may choose an alternative date as customs dictate or circumstances require.
Lectionary Resource: Click HERE to download the .pdf resource
Bulletin Insert: Click HERE to download a copy and/or order printed bulletin sets
August 7, 2015 by The Presbyterian Outlook
Guest commentary by Doug Kelly (Seattle Presbytery, Bethany PC)
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14)
I love when our choir breaks out into 4 or even 8 part harmony. The mixture of different notes, vowels and meter brings a rich sound. Sometimes the harmony is a simple major chord blend. However, sometimes the harmonies are pushed, tense and don’t resolve so quickly. I appreciate these harmonies too, although it takes some practice to endure them; they’re harmonies that stretch you.
I feel that way about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), our denomination. We are unified in Christ and also in a theological and ecclesiastical tradition, but that unity is being tested by differences around same-sex marriage and ordination standards. Some churches and pastors have left the PC(USA). Some churches have left the denomination while their pastors have remained in the PC(USA). And there are many churches not talking about going anywhere. Some of my friends have even asked me if I am considering leaving the PC(USA). I am not – for three reasons.
"Train yourself in godliness," the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, his spiritual apprentice," for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
To be a disciple requires a lifelong apprenticeship to Jesus. The ACD is designed to provide both instruction in and training for a life of discipleship. It is also designed to work in partnership with ministries and Christian organizations. The academy will be based on three foundational principles. First, it will equip and send people back to their local ministries as exemplars and servants. Second, it will train leaders to help establish a training program in those ministries. Finally, it will require commitment to a comprehensive vision of discipleship, which will include not only formal instruction but also deeper relationships, accountability, worship, spiritual exercises, and application to life in ministry.
The program will videotape all sessions and offer them virtually so anyone can participate.
Photo: Presbyterian Foundation
A generous donor in Seattle is making a MDC Theatre 30 organ available to a church, school or other charitable organization. Click here for details on organ. Contact SeaPres office if interested.
As followers of Jesus, we live, work, and minister in a complex and rapidly changing culture. The church is reforming and recalibrating to share the gospel and minister more effectively in this context. As we face these challenges we need spiritual renewal and to intentionally seek God’s way forward through our practice of communal discernment.
We want to hear God speak into our challenges and our opportunities. We want to learn more about how to discern well. In this program you will first learn spiritual practices that aid deepening in your relationship with God through prayer. And second, you will learn and have the opportunity to engage a process of communal discernment with your leadership team in which you listen to God together.
Posted by Seattle Presbytery on Thursday, July 23, 2015
By Chris Lim (RE, Indonesian PC):
About a hundred people gathered for the first ever Code for the Kingdom @ Microsoft on July 10-11. We prayed, worshiped, hacked (kids did too!), pitched and celebrated–it was an amazing time. Read more.
Here are some pictures, videos and tweets from the event. You can read my thoughts on the winning projects here.
One participant shared, "Initially I registered as a photographer volunteer to participate in "Code for the Kingdom" event, because I never thought I was capable of handling a software project of real user impact. But after discussing with the tutor, I suddenly got some idea. Why cannot I use the algorithms I learned in Bing for biblical verse ranking? Although got the initial idea, there are a lot of technical challenges. But I really felt that God inspired me to attack my limitation. With the help of two tutors, my project "Bible insight" got the second place out of three, winning $100 gift card. I don't think I deserve the prize, but this event was really a spiritual treasure for me!"
(Photo: Heather Graf, KING 5 News)
Thank you to the many Seattle Presbytery leaders and members who participated in the Seattle rally and march on Tuesday, July 7 to show solidarity for the Charleston church shooting victims. KING 5 News covered the event. Watch the story here.
Calvin Presbyterian Church in Shoreline, WA would like to host a Chap Clark Seminar on Saturday, September 26, 2015.
Calvin proposes to host this seminar with your help through partnership and sponsorship of Presbyterian churches in the area. As a partner, your church’s staff will attend free of charge and your church’s name will be included on all promotion materials. The cost of the seminar is $3,500. This expense will be covered by ten Presbyterian churches partnering at $250 each, and approximately 75-80 paying registrants.
Our vision is to invite all churches and their staff and congregants, as well as publicizing broadly to schools, Younglife, parents and others who work with children and youth.
We are proposing the following fee schedule for non-sponsoring church staff and others:
$15 for church staff and pastors
$10 for parents
$20 for both seminar sessions
See seminar session details below.
Event Details
Join other parents, pastors, youth and children’s ministry staff as we explore what it means to take seriously the spiritual formation of children and adolescents. Chap Clark, Fuller Seminary Professor of Youth, Family, and Culture, and best-selling author, will provide training and tools to help us understand the adolescent experience, and faithfully journey with children and youth as they become followers of Jesus.
Two seminars will be offered:
10am – 12 noon: For clergy and church formation leaders to discern ways we can better minister to families and equip parents to walk with their children and adolescents on a journey of faith.
1pm – 3pm: For parents to learn more about the world of adolescents and discover ways to be more intentional about faith formation at home.
Karen Kirkman, Director of Family Ministries at Calvin Presbyterian Church would love to talk with you about this seminar with Chap Clark and answer any of your questions. Her e-mail is families@calvinpc.org, or call her at (206) 542-6181.
A hate-inspired tragedy like the murder of nine worshipers at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, causes people of good conscience not only to grieve, but to reassess their attitudes about race, and moves people of all races to come together and take actions that reflect new commitments to heal long-standing wounds in the United States.
