Category: Missions - Edmonds Presbyterian Church

OPERATION NIGHTWATCH

10/1/2020

“Sock it to the Homeless” white sock drive will be held at our church during the month of October. Kim will put a box outside the front door each Tuesday morning during October. Socks may be dropped off between 9 am and noon. Socks should be white, crew length or longer. Cheap socks are fine since they are thrown out after use. Clean dry socks help a little to make life better for the homeless men. Operation Nightwatch does not have adequate laundry facilities to sanitize and re-use socks.

You may mail checks to the church to purchase socks if you prefer. Checks should be made out to Edmonds Presbyterian Church and marked clearly for Operation Nightwatch. Donated funds will be sent to Operation Nightwatch so they can buy the socks.

Rick Reynolds was sick with COVID –19 for 10 weeks earlier this year. Two of their tenants died in April and some had to be quarantined away from their units until it was safe to return. Their situation is better now, but not back to normal. Operation Nightwatch could definitely use prayer for the staff and clients.

One unusual, but wonderful event happened at Nightwatch this summer. Someone was baptized in the parking lot where meals are now being served. Larry wanted something different from the usual requests for food, water, socks or bus tickets. Larry wanted to be baptized. Every week, Larry would come for a meal, visit and pray with the street pastor. But Larry wanted to be baptized. One day Larry was baptized, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. His homeless friends voiced their support. Larry, with a huge grin on his face, said "I can't wait to tell everyone! “

Rev. Dr. Jean Kim’s Jubilee!

10/1/2020

Jean Kim, “mother to the homeless”, was honored in a Zoom Meeting where all the participants celebrated: Jean’s Jubilee (50th year) of immigration to the United States, her Jubilee of Homeless Mission, her publication of 5 books, and her 85th birthday. The event was organized by her son, Sam, along with other family members.

Who is Jean Kim? Jean Kim wrote about her multi-faceted life in the book, Hope in the Color Purple. The book not only chronicles her struggles, but it also tells of her passionate community advocacy for the homeless. Jean was ordained as Presbyterian minister (the 2nd Korean woman ordained by the PCUSA), and she founded the ecumenical church of Mary Magdelene in Seattle, WA which also served as a community of support for homeless women.

The Jubilee event on September 12 was a wonderful community experience! The retrospective of Jean’s life and her many accomplishments was living proof of how tough problems can be overcome. Jean’s ability to bring people together formed the foundation for Jean’s work with homeless women. Jean acknowledged the special needs for homeless women to talk, learn, and have a community of support thereby creating a climate of strength, courage, and hope for the women Jean served. In Jean’s case, her personal challenges and insights about people living on the streets eventually led her to open Mary’s Place, a women’s shelter now located in Lynnwood. The spirit of community in the Zoom celebration was captured by the series of voices that shed light on Jean. Their words made it clear that Jean understands the true meaning of “partnership.” She teamed up with George Hurst of the Lynnwood City Council to create “little homes”, Dick Gibson, the Maplewood Church pastor, and Steve Woodard, a dean at the Edmonds Community College along with many others from all walks of life. Jean knows how to bring people together and inspire them to create something out of the ordinary.

Purple was a theme throughout the celebration. It seems that purple means something to Jean. In Jean’s book she references purple as the color of Lent and in that sense, it is about suffering. But for Jean, the color also represents power, hope, and healing. For the people who know Jean, the color represents Jean because Jean, like purple, has that unusual combination of warmth, love, joy, spirit, and power. Jean has that rare ability to lift up others, restore dignity to the marginalized, and honor the sacred.
Some of the moving words spoken about Jean included:

George Hurst: “Jean does not take no for an answer.”
Thelma Burgonio-Watson: Jean showed us that, “We are all under the same sky, walking the same earth…”
Samuel Chung: “Her work transcends ethnic groups and people from all walks of life.”
Marty Hartman: Executive Director of Mary’s Place: “Told the women of Seattle that they were worthy…she scooped them up.”

Toward the end of the celebration one of the women that Jean worked with at Mary’s Place, thanked Jean for how she changed the course of her life. Her presence and simple words of gratitude made it clear that the world needs more people like Jean. As Marty Hartman, the executive director of Mary’s Place stated, Jean “treated all women as the mother or sister, they wished they had.” Jean showed how words are not enough and action is what counts…”no” was not an answer to the problems Jean wanted to solve. Jean “walked the walk” and in the process turned hardship to hope and the lost into found.
By Margaret Kulkin

Mail-in Offering for One Great Hour of Sharing

9/3/2020

The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering provides help for people who have suffered loss during natural or conflict -caused disasters, for people facing hunger, lack of water and sanitation and inadequate income. It is early in the hurricane season and already people living in Louisiana and Texas have suffered damages. In Isaiah 58:7-8, God tells his people his will is for them to provide food for the hungry, shelter for poor wanderer, and clothing for the naked, just as Jesus told his followers in Matthew 25:37-40.

PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE works with communities as they try to recover from disaster, natural or human-caused. 32% of the total offering supports this ministry.

PRESBYTERIAN HUNGER PROGRAM works to provide food for the hungry and to help solve hunger problems by giving farm animals, seeds and tools to help people grow their own food. This fund also works to care for creation, and help alleviate systemic causes of poverty so there will be enough food and water for all. 36% of the offering will provide assistance with these needs.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE helps those who are experiencing oppression, poverty and injustice. Small grants are given to help people start very small businesses to help lift them out of poverty. 32.5% of the funds will be used in this way.

Offerings may be mailed to the church. Please mark clearly that this offering is for the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. Give with thankfulness as you feel God’s leading.

Repairers of the Breach

9/3/2020

I bet that some of us, when we were growing up, were told that there were certain ways to behave in the church building, because it is God’s house. Maybe it was not to run, or to keep our voices quieted, or maybe we were taught to invite others in.

In Isaiah 58, the author is addressing a people who have returned to Jerusalem, where the Temple—God’s house—was in shambles. I imagine it was a heartbreaking scene. And in that rubble, the prophet challenges the people, not to rebuild the building or to restore their religious rituals, but to care for the hungry, the weak and the vulnerable—the prophet called the people to become the house of God. Look around you again. We are the house of God, too. We are called to become, as Isaiah promised long ago, “repairers of the breach, restorers of streets to live in.” Together, we become the household of God.

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, a special offering of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we extend shelter to those who have no place to stay, offer compassion to those who have pain—be it physical, emotional or spiritual—and we set a feast, with God, for those who lack access to enough food to eat.
When the wind and water wipe homes away, or bombs destroy the dwellings of the innocent, or people lack safe and affordable housing, One Great Hour of Sharing extends a roof.

When conflict and war cause famine, or the environment endangers the land of farmers, or those who work the fields are not paid enough to feed their families, One Great Hour of Sharing welcomes them to the table.

When water becomes scarce, or when it must be accessed by walking long and dangerous distances, or when the pipes or sources become poisoned, One Great Hour of Sharing rushes in as a spring of life-giving water.

God’s house is a place where needs are met and the broken systems that cause those needs are addressed. Across this country and around the world, Presbyterians are responding to the call we hear in Isaiah. We are God’s people and are becoming a household with the suffering and vulnerable. We are celebrating God’s goodness and grace and giving to One Great Hour of Sharing.

(reflection from the PCUSA 2020 One Great Hour of Sharing offering resources)

Building a Household with the Suffering and Vulnerable

9/3/2020

If I asked you to close your eyes while I said the word “household,” what would come to mind?

Caring people?
A table with food, shared with family and friends?
Shelter?
Warmth?
Friendly voices?
Love?

Yes? Did I think of some of the same things you did? I imagine we all think of many of these same things when we think about a household. Yet there are many in this world who don’t enjoy those comforts that we may automatically think of when we hear that word. Household.

People like Mimita whose home and life in Puerto Rico were literally torn apart by Hurricane Maria.

Or like Abdi who lost her husband and had to trek for days with her small children through a war-torn region of Somalia to bring the family to a place where they could find food and shelter. Did I mention that she was pregnant at the time?

And Monica, whose day-to-day peace of mind was threatened by a predatory landlord who brought false charges against her time after time as he tried to evict her in order to rent her New Jersey apartment for more money.

What do you think these three women think when they hear the word “household?” Not comfort but perhaps discomfort. Not a hot meal but wondering where the next meal is coming from. Not shelter and warmth but sky above where once a roof had been.

But this is not the end of these stories, for where there is life, there is hope. Where God is, there is hope. Together, we become the household of God. Through One Great Hour of Sharing, we extend shelter to those who have no place to stay, offer compassion to those who have pain—be it physical, emotional or spiritual—and we set a feast, with God, for those who lack access to enough food to eat. May we be called, as Isaiah said, to be “repairers of the breach.” To be the church in the world and active followers of our faith.

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, we are building a household with the suffering and the vulnerable— God’s household filled with love where everyone is welcome. Please give generously, for when we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.

(reflection from the PCUSA 2020 One Great Hour of Sharing offering resources)

Missions

8/4/2020

The COVID problems are difficult for the mission agencies we help support. Our latest quarterly distributions to help a little were sent this month. $350 was given to Opening Blind Eyes Prison Ministry and Renewal Ministries. $300 was sent to Eagle Wings disAbility Ministries, Jan Griffith, and Lahai Health (Formerly Puget Sound Christian Clinic). $100 was given to: Jean Kim Foundation for Homeless Education, Northwest Coast Presbytery – Unified Mission, Pregnancy Resource Center, Presbyterian Hunger Program, The Salvation Army (Everett Office) and our mission partner Tyler Holms.
Here ls a little news about a few of the numerous missions we help support.
Rip Van Winkle was frustrated that his ministry, Opening Blind Eyes, was not even allowed to have e-mail contact with the prisoners he works with. He prayed for God to provide a way. His prayers were answered when he received a Father’s Day card signed by quite a lot of the people he works with. Since the prisoners initiated the contact, he can now contact them. He is looking forward to the time when they can meet in person.
World Concern is working in Bangladesh and some other places to provide education for girls so they can stay in school. Many poor families give young girls in marriage to older men because these families have a hard time supporting all their children. If the girls can stay in school, they can learn to support themselves and help their families, too.
The staff members at Matthew House are doing their best to help families of prisoners during this time, but they need prayer as their donations are not meeting the need for help. We gave them $100 last month, but I feel led to give them a $75 emergency donation now.
The Salvation Army is providing food, rent and much other needed assistance to families facing extra struggles during these difficult times.
Ruth R.

Missions

3/4/2020

The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering will be our next opportunity to help people who really need some assistance. The offering will be given on Palm Sunday. We will have readers who will share some examples of people who receive help from One Great Hour of Sharing. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will receive 32% of the offering, Presbyterian Hunger Program will receive 36%, and Self Development of People will be given 32%.

Missions

2/5/2020

Three Mission Updates for February:

The “Souper Bowl” offering will be collected on February 2nd after the worship service. Bring either food items or money to be given to Concern For Neighbors food bank in Mountlake Terrace. (update: we raised $94 and over 40 food items!)

A total of $1,138 was given to the Christmas Joy offering. Thank-you!

Hello and blessing in the New Year from Mzuzu, Malawi. We wanted to thank you for your support of our ministries in Malawi, Africa over the past year and especially lifting up our family after Tyler’s recent bicycle accident. Please continue to pray in the New Year for Tyler’s work in theological education and Rochelle’s work in water and sanitation. Thank you! To follow our weekly family blog please visit: www.holminafrica.blogspot.com

Souper Bowl Offering

2/5/2020

In 1990, Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group:
“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.”
Since then, more than $150 million has been generated for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that transforming the time around the Big Game, into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving.
Share in God’s love for our neighbors in need and give generously on Super Bowl Sunday. 100% of every dollar or food item collected will go directly to our Souper Bowl of Caring Charity of Choice: The Concern for Neighbors Food Bank in Mountlake Terrace. We will collect this offering after worship on Sunday, Feb. 2.

Focus on Service

2/5/2020

Last year I received a pin marking 20 year of volunteering with the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Our purpose is to help people who are in disaster situations adjust back to normal living routines. We are entirely supported by charitable contributions and receive virtually no government financial assistance, although we do work side by side with several government agencies such as FEMA when there is a disaster. Our chapter has approximately 400 volunteers and 7 paid staff.
Some of our current programs are:
Sound The Alarm is a special event held in the Spring around the country at over 100 chosen locations. Here in Snohomish County we are hosting an event on Saturday, April 25 with intentions of installing 400 smoke alarms! If your smoke alarm is over 10 years old you are eligible to receive a new alarm from us with free installation. Call our chapter at 425-252-4103 to sign up for a free alarm or to volunteer to assist with this program.
Home Fire Campaign reached a new milestone of 682 lives saved through the campaign. Locally our numbers are impressive. Since July 1, 2019 we have installed 918 alarms and made 296 homes more safe. Since 2014 when the campaign stated we have installed 6982 alarms in Snohomish County.
Service to the Armed Forces is one of our longstanding programs where we assist members of any branch of the service with communicating with home by sending emergency messages informing of births, deaths or serious illnesses of loved ones, assisting with travel arrangements or arranging emergency financial assistance. This also includes retirees and department of defense civilians. Our Program Specialist is currently deployed overseas to Kuwait to work with troops in that area.
Hero’s Cafe is a relatively new program for veterans who would like to meet monthly with other veterans and share stories and experiences. All veterans from any branch of service are invited to attend. Our next meeting will be at Verdant in Lynnwood at 10 AM on January 28.
Disaster Action Response is part of our daily operation where we assist families who are displaced by fires, floods or other natural disasters in finding housing, food, clothing and household item as needed to become restored to their normal condition of operation. We recently opened a shelter for families displaced by a fire. Running totals of DAT responses for 2019 include 108 responses including 287 adults and 93 children displaced and assisted by the Red Cross. Two nurses were deployed to Minneapolis last week to assist in shelters opened to house over 200 people displaced by a large apartment fire. Blood Drives are another recent activity of our chapter. We now sponsor blood drives throughout Snohomish County.
To volunteer to contribute email www.redcrossblood.org . Up coming drives are :

Thursday, January 23 at Church of Latter Day Saints in Edmonds
Wednesday, February 5 at Snohomish County Red Cross, Everett
March 24 at Snohomish County Red Cross, Everett

If you have any questions or need further information about the Red Cross please contact me.
Margaret S.