Category: Session Info (church Board) - Edmonds Presbyterian Church

Session News

2/25/2021

Where do we go from here?

Our church is at a crossroads. As we start the new year, and in the process of looking for a new pastoral care, we ask that you continue to pray that God will send a new leader for our church. For the past 10 years Pastor Amy has served our church as fulltime, three quarter time and finally half-time. She has shepherded our church thru the word of God, prayers, and counselling. She shared our joys and sorrows, enjoyed church picnics, potlucks, coloring nights, and crochet group. We are grateful for the time and fellowship we had together, and we send her off with prayers to her new chapter of her life.

In this midst of uncertainty, we continue to believe that God will direct us to the new possibilities out there to be discovered. God is always faithful. Currently the session is in the process of reviewing job applicants, in the meantime we are using pulpit supply pastors from the Presbytery list so our worship service will not be interrupted. Difficult as it may be at times it is part of a larger picture. For our church family, this transition means being flexible and remembering that transition is part of the growth process. God will bless us when we remain faithful and wait. As faithful servants we will be positioned to receive and enjoy the blessings God brings through the transition. Let us keep the faith and pray for each other and for our church.

So What Now - LOVE?!

2/3/2021

Our Pastor of 10 years is gone. We are unable to worship, sing, visit and eat Jerry’s maple bars in person. We haven’t heard Brian, Alison, and Sarah, accompanied by Gina in person for 11 months. We have not heard Kathy and the choir perform in person. We haven’t been greeted at the door by Don H.   senior and Sid since last spring. We don’t get to admire one of Jim’s restored automobiles. No birthday cake and celebrations in the fellowship hall. The sanctuary and fellowship hall are empty. And the plan session had for transferring ownership of our property to Presbytery and becoming a tenant is no more. What now? Do you feel like we are alone with no-one in charge?

GOOD NEWS – God is still in charge! I will never leave you or forsake you! Joshua 1:5. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27. Working closely with Presbytery, session has    crafted a job description (on our website) describing the pastor we are seeking. There is an approved budget for 2021 that provides for our church in a financially responsible manner. By the time this article is published, session anticipates being in the process of reviewing applications and conducting interviews. By mid-March (of this year) we should have our new pastor! How exciting for us and for that individual, whomever he or she maybe?

Why exciting? Because of you. Yes, you. You may be expecting this pastor will do a lot for us, but I don’t think that will be the case. I think we will be the ones that will bless them. Why? You love so well! Over the last several months I have had the privilege of, working with the other members of session, attending the weekly bible study (a study of Christian Virtues – the current virtue we are studying is LOVE – what a coincidence?), participating in the 21-day racial justice challenge (we are now in day 200+ with no sign of stopping) and attend the regular Sunday afternoon check in. In all of these activities, I am so overwhelmed with the acts of love I see on your part. If you do not currently participate in one or more of these groups, join us! In addition, there are other groups in the church, women’s association, men’s group, and the session always have needs for volunteers for committees in    administration, finance, missions, education, and congregational life. Don’t hesitate to call Kim in the office and together we will find a group that you will “love.” There is room for you and you will be BLESSED, guaranteed.

The same love that so easily flows from you, will be needed for our new pastor. Imagine them wanting to meet and talk with you, but they aren’t able to do it in person. Many of you are amazing cooks and would host the new pastor for a visit. They would be engulfed by your hospitality, care for one another, and your delicious goodies! How are you going to share that love that so easily flows from your nature with our new pastor without meeting in person?

Yes, we have work to do. We have to get ready to LOVE our new pastor. We need to make their transition to our congregation a joyful time for them. A time when they will reflect back and realize what great disciples of Jesus the congregation of Edmonds Presbyterian Church is. They truly reflect John 13:34-35, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Maybe, we should not just do this for our new pastor, but for all of the people we meet. The stockers at the grocery store, the parking enforcement officer (Brian E.), the receptionist at the dental office, the mail carrier who comes to your door, the young couple down the block, the flight attendant on Alaska Airlines (Allison), or the teenager that walks by your place. Love one another.

Get ready for our new pastor. Be yourself and love well. God will take of you, me and Edmonds Presbyterian Church. 1 Peter 5:7 cast all your care upon God for HE cares for you!

…love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39
Submitted by the least member of Session,
Don I

Session News

2/3/2021

Dear Edmonds Presbyterian congregation,
Listed below is an excerpt from the “Northwest Coast Presbytery policy on Separation Ethics when dissolving a call” guidelines to our church stating s to what capacity we can communicate with our departing pastor.

To Individual Members of the Congregation.
Pursuant to G-2.0905 it is important that, with particular friends, it be made clear that the pastoral relationship will come to an end. This does not mean that friendships must come to an end. Friendships are priceless and are to be preserved, but there is a special responsibility on the part of the departing pastor to prevent friendships from becoming confused with the pastoral relationship. The pastoral functions of counseling, calling, conducting weddings, funerals, or baptisms are not appropriate. Neither is the rendering of opinions or judgments about the ministry of the former church or its pastor. If the former pastor receives a request to return to the congregation for a particular occasion, it is important for her/him to remind those making the request that the present pastor is the one to whom the request should be made.

From Session
Edmonds Presbyterian Church

SESSION NEWS

12/1/2020

What has your Session been up to?
It is an active time to be on the Session! We have
· Drafted a preliminary budget (we are still waiting for your pledges!)
· Begun preparing a job description for the next pastoral leader, in consultation with our Presbytery liaison, Rev. Ted S.
· Continued to support our mission causes.
· Sent our cards and gift-cards of thanks to all seven of the active teachers connected with our congregation. Please keep them in your prayers. They are doing great work during a difficult time.
· Continued to offer worship, bible study, fellowship, and Women’s Association via Zoom.
· Continued to reach out to every member and friend in the church directory – online or by phone – to offer our prayers and support, with the assistance of the deacons and staff members.

Please continue to keep your session elders and their work on your behalf in your prayers.

PRAYER WALK

12/1/2020

Since our property is visited by many members of the neighborhood community we wanted to invite them to walk the property looking for messages of hope, the Session approved a project to create a prayer walk on our property.

We started by ordering some inexpensive non-permanent yard signs to see how this idea is received. The committee hopes to have these signs in place the first part of December, We welcome you to drop by and visit our church commons. We invite you to walk the property. Take a moment to reflect on the 7 messages. We hope to be a blessing to you and your family.

Linda K. R.
EPC
Elder Clerk of Session

THANK YOU RUTH

12/1/2020

Thank-you, Ruth! Many thanks to Ruth R. who has finished her term as an Elder on the Session. She ably led us with her heart for mission to learn about and support our mission causes. Thank you, Ruth!

SESSION NEWS

11/10/2020

What has your Session been up to?

It is an active time to be on the Session! We
· Have begun work on the 2021 budget
· Have begun looking at models of pastoral ministry
· Are able, because of COVID-19, to keep elders and deacons on their respective boards for an additional year. We are grateful that both Elder Don I and Deacon Nancy B have agreed to serve for another year
· Continue to support our mission causes
· Continue to offer worship, bible study, fellowship, and game nights via Zoom
· With the assistance of the deacons and staff members, we continue to reach out to every member and friend in the church directory – online or by phone – to offer our prayers and support.

Please continue to keep your session elders and their work on your behalf in your prayers.

Session News

10/1/2020

It is an active time to be on the Session! We have:
· Completed two initial sessions for discerning what’s next for our congregation and its ministry.
· Begun work on a project to bless our immediate neighbors with messages of hope.
· Met with our Presbytery Executive, Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, and continued to meet with our Presbytery Liaison from the Commission on Ministry, Rev. Ted Schuldt. We are learning what options are available to us for future ministry, and beginning the process of discerning the first next step.
· Received a Northwest Coast Presbytery grant for future architect plans, if needed.
We also:
· Continue to support our mission causes.
· Continue to offer worship, bible study, fellowship, and game nights via Zoom.
· With the assistance of the deacons and staff members, we continue to reach out to every member and friend in the church directory – online or by phone – to offer our prayers and support.

Please continue to keep your session elders and their work on your behalf in your prayers.

Session News

9/3/2020

It is a challenging time to be on the Session! We have:

· Scheduled two initial sessions for discerning what’s next for our congregation and its ministry.
· Met with our Presbytery Liaison from the Commission on Ministry, Rev. Ted S.
· Added checklists for our COVID-Response-Officers to use as they make sure we follow our plan once we are able to reopen.
· Applied for a Northwest Coast Presbytery grant application for assistance with new Post-COVID-19 ministry needs
· Continued to support our mission causes.
· Continued to offer worship, bible study, fellowship, and game nights via Zoom.
· With the assistance of the deacons and staff members, we continue to reach out to every member and friend in the church directory – online or by phone – to offer our prayers and support.

Please continue to keep your session elders and their work on your behalf in your prayers.

Session News

8/4/2020

What has your Session been up to?

It is a challenging time to be on the Session! We have

· Adopted the required COVID-19 response plan that we will follow as we gradually reopen the building or grounds for group use in phases 3 and 4.
· Worked on a Northwest Coast Presbytery grant application for assistance with new Post-COVID-19 ministry needs .
· Continued to support our mission causes.
· Continued to offer worship, bible study, fellowship, and game nights via Zoom.

With the assistance of the deacons and staff members, we continue to reach out to every member and friend in the church directory – online or by phone – to offer our prayers and support.

Please continue to keep your session elders and their work on your behalf in your prayers.