Following the health guidelines from King County and the recommendations of the UCC Conference Minister, we have made the decision to cancel in-person worship on Sunday March 8 and Sunday March 15. This decision was made by Church Council, to respond to the best recommendations from public health, as we work to care for the […]
Today we are sharing the prayer written by our 2/3rd grade class for Children’s Sabbath, along with some photos of their wonderful worship service on February 2nd. And we are grateful for the congregation’s donation of $510 worth of coins, a total of $710 in donations going to the World Wildlife Federation, and UNICEF! (That
On Thursday, Jan. 29th, ten early bird members of our UCC congregation and myself participated in Environmental Lobby Day in Olympia where we teamed up with other activists to speak up for the environment. We gained skills on how to be persuasive constituents and put them into practice with the legislators or their aides from
Sometimes when I am trying to explain what kind of a congregation I serve, I am tempted to begin by explaining what we are not. You look at the way that Christians are portrayed in the media, and from the get-go we start on the defensive that we are not-closed-minded and that we are not-like-THOSE-Christians.
Experiencing play in community can be a holy thing. Halloween, has long ago-Christian roots, and today along with its spooky connections can be a time of dressing up in community. It can be one of the times that we cross thresholds to know our neighbors and where young and old can meet across a doorbell.
Over the last couple of weeks, the news of tragic events has been constant. People’s responses have been made public in news reports, social media platforms and in private conversations. Over time, the words we use in response to tragedy has varied. I can remember a time when the phrase “I’m holding you in my prayers” was used
Our reflection today comes from Office Manager Mariah Pepper: It was hazy when I woke up this morning, and my first thought was “is it smoke season already?” It’s not yet, but we all know it’s coming. This is our new normal. The first year we had prolonged smoke cover, it felt to me,
On the day you honored me with a call to ministry at First Congregational Church of Bellevue, I remember feeling like the winner of a beauty pageant as I stood in the chancel of our wonderful sanctuary. On that day in November of 2017, I had no idea what mysteries lay in the wings of this
This week’s reflection comes from Office Manager Mariah Pepper: It’s summer, which means things have slowed down a fair amount around the office. It also means it’s time for me to get going on all the big organizational projects I wrote down all year for “when I have time.” Well, I finally have time! I’m
Called to serve this congregation as the Pastor for Children and Youth, you have known me to love sacred silliness. Such theologians as Meister Echkahrts, C.S Lewis, John of the Cross and Therese of Lisieux are some of the official sources that formed this theological perspective of mine, but really it is by interacting with
