12/12: Former GA Moderator Cindy Bolbach dies

Cynthia Bolbach after her election as Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010) —Danny Bolin

Cynthia (Cindy) Bolbach, Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010), died peacefully on December 12, 2012, after fighting a brave, nearly yearlong battle with cancer.

A ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Bolbach was elected Moderator on the fourth ballot as the only ruling elder in a field of six candidates. In a July 4, 2010, news release, Jerry Van Marter of the Presbyterian News Service (PNS) said that Bolbach’s brief answers and her “winsome sense of humor” won over the General Assembly commissioners.

Read more here: http://www.pcusa.org/news/2012/12/12/former-ga-moderator-cindy-bolbach-dies/

Rev. Joyce Manson Knee Surgery

Honorably Retired Rev. Joyce Manson is having her left knee replaced on December 17 and asks for prayers for a successful surgery and recovery.

Rev. Lloyd D. Roti Died

The Rev. Lloyd D Roti, 97 of Seattle, a good and faithful servant of the Lord, passed away peacefully on Oct 25, 2012. A memorial celebrating Lloyd's life and 54 years of service to the Lord will be held at West Side Presbyterian Church, 3601 Calif. Ave SW, Seattle on Nov 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM. Reception to follow.

Published in The Seattle Times on November 4, 2012

Elder Cal Uomoto Died

Calvin Masao Uomoto was born in Seattle to George and Fumiko Uomoto in 1949. He died peacefully at home on Friday, October 26, surrounded by his family.

A memorial service to celebrate Cal’s life and legacy will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 17, at Seattle First Presbyterian Church (1013 8th Avenue). In lieu of flowers, checks may be made payable to World Relief with a note specifying that funds be directed to the Detention Ministry; or donate online at worldreliefseattle.org/ and specify “Cal Uomoto” or “Detention Ministry” in the comments field.

Cal’s childhood was spent in Japan (where his parents did missionary work), in Philadelphia, and in Seattle. He earned a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Public Administration, both from the University of Washington.

Cal married Ann Shepard in 1980, and they raised four wonderful sons – Titus, Timothy, Jordan, and Brendan - in addition to numerous other sons and daughters, including John (foster son) and Hsuu Vierling. Cal was preceded in death by his father George and sister Ruth. He is survived by his wife and sons, his daughter-in-law Grace and grandson Ezra, his mother Fumiko, sisters Lois (Paul), Estelle (Robert), Faith (Jim), Hope, Grace (Rex), Joyce (Charles), Julie (Jeff), and brothers Murray (Tsuruko) and Earl.

Cal dedicated his life to working with underprivileged youth, the poor, prisoners, and refugees. He served as World Relief’s Area Director for more than 20 years. Caloccasionally taught about non-profit organizations and urban ministry at Seattle Pacific University, and was a mentor with Fuller Theological Seminary.

Cal’s life touched untold numbers of people from all corners of the world. The Indochinese Farm Project, the Mien Christian Church of Seattle, and a vibrant ministry to detainees at the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s Tacoma detention facility are a few focal points of Cal’s tireless work on behalf of those in need of hope, friendship, opportunity, and practical assistance of all kinds.

Marcus Whitman has recovered from sanctuary fire

From Rev. Lynell Caudillo: 

Praise God--Marcus Whitman will be back in our sanctuary for worship on October 14th--since the fire on April 3 we have been worshipping at Parkside Elem. School next door.

We will have a special worship service on Oct 14, and a luncheon on October 28th following worship to thank all the people who were so helpful to us in this project!

UPDATE 3: Kenyan Presbyterian Women in Bus Accident

Here is a brief update.

After the burial of those who passed away, we have continued to provide psychological and emotional support to the families. Some need financial assistance as well to cater for school fees for the children. Most of the husbands are finding it difficult to coping with the loss of their wives and mothers to their children.

Some of those who had been discharged have to continue attending the hospital for further treatment. We assist them with transportation and cost of medical bill. One had to be readmitted for reconstructive surgery of the right jaw. This was helpful and she is healing well. She can now eat some little food. Once the jaw heals, she will need to have dentures fixed.

The one who had a spinal injury was finally taken to the spinal injury hospital, the only one in Kenya. She is going through physiotherapy, but she is confined to a wheel chair. Doctors say she may never be able to walk again. The one who had fractures on the pelvic bone is also still in hospital. The doctors say she needs another surgery but she has developed a problem of blood clots on the legs. They are treating her for this as they evaluate her condition. her left leg still has a bad wound that requires grafting.

Your financial assistance came at a very appropriated time as we were running out of money and the hospitals are still demanding for money. Your assistance was indeed a miracle and an answer to prayer. These funds will go a long way in easing our burden and that of the affected families on the hospital bills.

Thanks for your continued prayers as well. They have done wonders. I particularly have been going through a very difficult time Please keep holding me in prayer. I also need to go through some debriefing to enable me to cope. My emotional reserves are running low and it is only by God's Grace that I am able to hold on. Pray that the Lord will create an opportunity for me to take a short 3-5 days off to a quiet place for rest. When or how or where I do not know, but I need it badly.

Finally, please pray for the church in Kenya, We are being attacked by terrorists who are now targeting churches.

Last Sunday, an Anglican Church in my neighborhood was attacked with a grenade targeting a Sunday school class. One 9 year old boy was killed and eight other children were seriously hurt and are admitted in hospital. The church is just a few meters from my house and we were getting ready to go to church when the attack occurred. As Christians, we are exercising a lot of restraint, but we don't know for how long. There is a lot of insecurity particularly where we live as the area has been "invaded " by Somalis. We are thinking seriously of moving out of this estate. Pray for us as we make the decision.

Pass my deepest thanks to members of the church for their show of true sisterhood and brotherhood in our time of need.

Many blessings,

Veronica

Veronica N. Muchiri,
P.C.E.A.National Woman's Guild Organizer/Secretary,
P.C.E.A. Head Office Secretariat,

From PCUSA: 

Click here to make a financial contribution that will assist the victims and their families with medical care, funeral expenses, and other needs.

Update from Veronica Muchiri, PCEA National Woman's Guild Organizer​ 

This is the latest update on the Bus Tragedy.

Today, we attended service at PCEA Happy Valley Church so that we could be together with and pray with the families of the departed and those who are still in the hospital. we also constituted a Committee to prepare for the funerals.

There will be a joint memorial servive on Wednesday, 15th Agust, 2012. The families will bury their loved ones at different venues and on different dates and the church will assign different pastors to be with them. Many of the families want to bury on Friday. We have mobilized a team of professional counsellors who are giving the much needed pychological support,

Jane Wambui is still in hospital in Dar-Es-Salam undergoing treatment. Initial report after the MRI indicate that she has multiple fractures on the spine. Please praying for her.

The injured are still receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital. We are also working together with the families to raise money to meet all the expenses.

Thank you again for all your prayers, and messages of comfort and love.

We have continued to anchor our hope on Christ the Solid Rock on whom alone we can stand. May Christ be glorified in this situation.

Love and blessings,

Veronica.

______

News was received today of a terrible accident in East Africa involving a group of women from the Presbyterian Church in East Africa--a group was traveling from Kenya to visit their sister church in Tanzania when their bus broke down. As the women were transferring fromthe disabled bus to another one, a speeding vehicle collided with them--11 women were pinned under the bus and died, 25 others wereinjured, one quite seriously. Rev. Veronica Muchiri from Kenya is coordinating efforts to get the survivors home and to arrange medicalcare for those who need it, as well as helping families arrange funerals for those who died. 

Please pray for God's grace to sustain one and all--Veronica and her leadership team, the families and churches affected by this tremendousloss. (Veronica is a leader/Vice President of the Tumekutana group that Pastor Lynell Caudillo of Marcus Whitman Pres. visited last fall).

David Hughes' cancer diagnosis

David Hughes, 35, son of Dennis and Ann Hughes, has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and will have surgery on Tuesday. It appears so far that the tumor is contained, but the CT scan results are not yet available. Please prayer for David, his wife, Kelsey (Olds) Hughes, their daughter, Rosalyn, and the entire Hughes and Olds family.

Update on Hurricane Isaac

Dear friends,

Seven years ago this week, Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf of Mexico, destroying homes, devastating the economy, and claiming the lives of many. Because of your generous gifts to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and One Great Hour of Sharing, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has truly been able to help these communities heal and rebuild from that disaster, as well as from the Gulf oil spill in 2010.

Now communities like Plaquemines Parish, profoundly impacted by both Katrina and the oil spill, are in great need once again as a result of Hurricane Isaac. We respond in faith and affirmation that God’s might is greater than any storm.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) stands ready to immediately respond to needs identified by mid councils in the affected areas. Trained National Response Team members are being deployed to provide a ministry of presence and help with assessments and other identified needs. Cleanup buckets and Gift of the Heart kits are being assembled for the cleanup and recovery process. Your generosity will make a big difference in the effectiveness of our response.

How You Can Help

We ask that you stand in the GAP for those who are being affected by this devastating storm:

GIVE. Isaac has both national and international impact; we ask that you prayerfully consider giving online to DR000148. You can give $10 now by texting PDA to 20222.

ACT. Volunteer work teams may be needed to help with cleanup efforts. Contact Eden at the PDA Call Center, (866) 732-6121, to let her know of your team’s skills and availability. You can also download and share this bulletin insert with others to inform them of the needs brought about by this situation.

PRAY. Please pray for those who have already been impacted by the storm and those who will face coastal and inland flooding. Pray for affected families and those who will help with emergency, relief, and recovery efforts. Pray that the hope of Christ will be evident in our response.

Read more about how PDA is responding and download a bulletin insert for use in Sunday services →

Ron Reese is Cancer Free!

We share in Ron and Bonnie's ​joy and relief at the news that Ron is cancer free!

​From his Caring Bridge site:

"The radiologist who read my recent PET and CT scans told Dr. Weeks, my cancer doc, “There is no sign of cancer in this person’s body,” and “These results are great!!” Dr. Weeks was pretty excited when he called to give us the test results. He was also clear that no test is conclusive and that we need to continue a lesser version of the treatment to secure the ground we’ve gained.

Since then, Bonnie and I have been letting it register that we may have finally emerged out of the dark tunnel of the last five months and we have been feeling the issue of what life will look like now – which must not be an environment that allows cancer to take hold, as my life the last few years must have been.

One way life will be different now is that I know, like never before, that the God I’ve opened my life to is a God who heals....

Dave Ulm tragic death leaves behind young family

Dave Ulm of Inglewood Presbyterian lost his life helping a complete stranger. He left behind a stay at home wife, and 2 young children. For more information and ways to help the family, please click here.

Kenyan International Community Church welcomes their new pastor, Rev. Geoffrey Wanyoike

UPDATE: Join in celebrating Rev. Wanyoike's installation--details here.​

Prayers of thanksgiving for Kenyan International Community Church welcoming their new pastor Rev. Geoffrey Wanyoike from the East African Presbyterian Church in Nairobi, Kenya.

Pastor Geoffrey's wife and children will be arriving in early August to join him.

Prayers for their transition to the Seattle area and their ministry to the Kenyan Fellowship.

Alice Nishioka's passed away

Please pray for the family of Alice Nishioka who passed away on June 30, 2012. Her memorial service will be held at 2 PM at the Japanese Presbyterian Church (casual dress encouraged) this coming Saturday, August 4.

Alice was an elder, and the wife of the Rev. Dick Nishioka who served as a pastor at Presby for 30 years..

Her obituary at the Seattle Times can be found here.

Inglewood, Kenmore/Kirkland - New Pastor

Welcome Rev. James Kumin, arriving in mid-August, 2012, to Inglewood Presbyterian Church.​

From Inglewood:​

We are very excited to announce that we have hired a permanent pastor, James Kumin! His first Sunday preaching will be August 19th, so be sure to come out in support! Following the service will be an all-church BBQ and we would love to have you join us in fellowship and to bring a warm welcome to our new pastor and his family!

Pastor James is moving to the Kirkland area from Ann Arbor, Michigan with his lovely wife, Liz, and their young son, Jonathan.

He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and then went to school at Pomona College in Claremont, CA. While living in California, he met his wife and was a church youth worker from 1996-2003. He ministered to a diverse community of youth and saw many come to faith in Christ!

In 2006, James graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary where he received his Masters in Divinity. Then, moving with his wife to Michigan, James served at four different churches, seeing growth at each congregation.

We are so blessed to finally say that we have a pastor, and we are even more excited that James Kumin is filling that role!