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Dear Fellow Travelers,
Summer is finally here! Warm weather, garden parties, vacations. We have several fun things planned for this summer at Edmonds. I am so encouraged by the life we have seen in recent months. We just added a new member on Pentecost. We also had a very successful Games Night in May. Join us for our next Games Night on Saturday, June 3rd, 7-9PM. Our partnership with the Edmonds Toy Shop is growing with a bicycle distribution event on the afternoon of Saturday, June 3rd. Come by and see what they have been working in our back sheds for the last 6 months. They will distribute bikes and offer games and snacks for the kids. We will send out a reminder flyer with details. Bible Study will be on hiatus for the Summer as usual. Instead, we will meet after worship for a sermon discussion. I am doing an 8-part series on the Book of Revelation. As an Apocalypse story, it means “revealing” in Greek. See how it is more revealing about who we are now than prophecy of the future. Please tell your friends and family about our Online Streaming Worship. Please go to the www.epc-pcusa.org website for the latest links. This is what I am planning for worship in June. Sunday, June 4th. In “Irresistible Love” I will show how the Trinity is linked to the Creation story. God said, “Let US create humankind in OUR image.” When you see how the Trinity is about mutual love in mind, body, and spirit, you can see that Creation seems irresistible. Sunday, June 11th. I begin an 8-part series on Revelation with “Seven Letters – Seeing Ourselves in Revelation.” The book starts gently by telling us how seven historic churches in Western Turkey are doing. Kind of like a report card. There is more there than it seems because we can see ourselves in the letters. Sunday, June 18th. Things get crazy really quickly in “Seven Seals – A Big Change.” I will go through the context of the book and how to interpret the wild and fantastical images with hope instead of fear. When you know the circumstances that these Christians were in, you can see how Revelation contains such important messages for them and for us. Sunday, June 25th. In “Seven Trumpets – The Great Unfolding” you will see how some of the craziest imagery is interpreted. In keeping with the style of apocalyptic literature of the day, these images helped the people understand the sweeping changes of history that they were living through. When we look at our world, we can see how these things influence us and our future. Please consider joining us for sermon discussion after worship this summer! It is a joy to serve God with you! I am thrilled to see what’s next for us. Grace and Peace, Pastor Rob MATTHEW HOUSE
Matthew House is a ministry to families of prisoners incarcerated in the Monroe Prison. Some families travel a long distance to visit their loved ones. Mathew House provides a place where families can rest and get something to eat. There is a playground for children to give them a chance to have fun before the trip home. There are some overnight rooms for families whose travel distance is too long to come and go in one day. People who want prayer, counseling or spiritual help can have their needs met at Matthew House. Food and clothing are provided for families in need, since many families have a hard time meeting their needs when a bread-winner is in prison. Children may choose a new toy to take home. Children suffer a lot when a parent is in prison. Besides missing the parent there is the stigma that goes with having a family member in prison. This is very hard on school children. They may be teased and isolated from others because they are part of a “bad” family though the children have done nothing wrong themselves. Matthew House wants to help these children feel loved and accepted. Family visits are important for prisoners. Prisoners with active family support are much more likely to stay out of prison upon release than those without any support. Really hard time of prison life falls on the families who suffer loneliness, poverty through income loss, shame, and loss of normal family stability as well as other difficulties. Matthew House asks for prayer for their ministry to continue to offer love and support to families of prisoners, for guidance for staff, and for financial needs to carry on their ministry. Matthew is one of the agencies supported with our mission funds. The May meeting of the Women’s Association was attended by five women at the Edmonds Pancake Haus and turned out to be an enjoyable social gathering. Our June meeting will be a salad luncheon at the church where we will give our annual mission offering. Our offering helps a variety of causes, obeying Jesus’ instructions to provide food, clothing, shelter, and a chance to hear the gospel message. Mission chairman, Ruth R wrote a brief summary of each one supported by our members.
Mary’s Place: Operates family shelters primarily for women, but also where both fathers and mothers can stay with children. They have a day room for women and activities for children. New Horizons: Provides live-in shelter, job training, day room, Bible Study, and discussion group for interested youth. Pregnancy Resource Clinic: Provides pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. Gives baby and maternity clothing, baby supplies and expectant classes and new mothers groups. Cocoon House: Provides shelter for youth from high school to age 2 Matthew House: Provides services to families who have loved ones in Monroe prison. Vision House: Provides apartments for people who are getting ready to transition to private housing. Provides child care while parents attend school or work. Concern for Neighbors Food Bank: Supplies food and basic cleaning supplies to low income families. Habitat for Humanity: Provides housing and repair services for low income families Each family spends 500 hours of work on the new home. Operation Nightwatch: Has some apartments for senior housing, provides dinner and bedding to people sleeping outdoors, refers as many as possible to shelters with beds available. Provides ministry with permission. Support Seven International Chaplains Ministry: Provides support for people experiencing tragedy caused by accidents, fire, or other difficult situations. Offers spiritual help to families ho have lost loved ones through tragic means. Everett Gospel Mission: Provides shelter, meals, clothing, job training, and substance abuse counseling. Has four family units where whole families can stay together. Four more are being planned. Jan Griffith: Jan grew up in our church. She has been working for a church in Sweden that operates a Christian school. Many of the students are immigrants. She is active in ecumenical ministries. She has recently had to slow down due to health problems but is gradually building back her strength and resuming more activities. World Concern: Supports people in difficult situations in various countries. Wells and water filters have been supplied where sanitation is a problem. They work to prevent malnutrition and sex trafficking. Please give or send contributions to our mission fund to Treasurer Kathy M. Checks should be made out to “Women’s Association—EPC” The June meeting will be the last meeting until September. We are wishing everyone to have a happy summer vacation. Margaret S, Elder representing Women’s Association Last month I printed my sister Mary’s recipe for sourdough pancakes. This month I am adding her recipe for English muffins and cinnamon rolls.
Sourdough English Muffins Starter: Add to saved starter the night before use: 2 cups flour 2 cups milk or water Stir together with starter in a glass or pottery bowl with a wooden spoon and leave out on counter overnight. Dough should be bubbly to show sourdough yeast is working. Next morning: save 1 cup of batter in a jar in refrigerator as a new starter. To rest of batter in bowl add: 4 cups flour 1 teaspoon soda ¼ cup sugar salt to taste (¼ to ½ teaspoon) milk or water enough to make a soft dough (about 2 cups) (optional) cooked cereal left over from breakfast, usually about ½ cup cooked oatmeal or cream of wheat. Knead gently together until mixed, then turn onto lightly floured breadboard and roll out until about 3/8 inches thick and cut into circular rounds about the size of a tuna can. Sprinkle rounds with cornmeal if desired, then let rise for about 1 hour. To cook: Heat griddle as for pancakes and bake each round 3 to 4 minutes each side until lightly browned on each side. These freeze well and can be kept in freezer and thawed as needed. Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls Start dough as for English Muffins, then after mixing roll dough into an oblong about 9 inches by 15 inches. Spread onto dough: 1/3 cup very soft butter or margarine ½ cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon sprinkled over top Add raisins and/or chopped walnuts as desired Roll up tightly, beginning on wide side, pinch ends together. Cut into 1 inch slices. Place into 13x9 pan coated with softened butter. In bottom of pan add: 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 to 2 Tablespoons corn syrup ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans Cover and let rise about 1 hour. To cook: Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 25 or 30 minutes. Immediately turn pan upside down onto large cookie sheet. Let pan sit over rolls a minute so sugar mixture rolls down over rolls. Margaret S, Outreach Elder Dear Fellow Travelers,
Welcome to Eastertide and Pentecost! As we enjoy Spring, we are preparing for Pentecost Sunday, May 28th, when we will receive new members. We are using Rachel Held Evans’ “Wholehearted Faith” to learn more about our faith and how it fits with being Presbyterian. If would like to join into the membership classes, please let me know! Our study of the Sermon on the Mount using Amy-Jill Levine’s “Toward the Kingdom of Heaven” continues. Please join us after worship or at 10AM Tuesday over Zoom. We only have 4 weeks left until the summer break. I have already selected Scot McKnight’s Bible Study on Acts for next fall. Stay tuned for summer studies and discussions. The sound quality on our Online Streaming Worship is greatly improved. We are attracting online worshipers from around the country! Please go to the www.epc-pcusa.org website for the latest links. There are also links to our Holy Week services and St. Mary’s Coptic Church Youth Easter play. This is what I am planning for worship in May. Sunday, May 7th. I will preach on “Deal Breakers” that cause people to leave church and Christianity. When we ask hard questions about accountability, biblical authority, and evangelism, we can understand what is important in our faith and helps us understand people who have left. Sunday, May 14th. This will be a fun sermon about “Talking to Athenians.” Paul was very clever in talking to the philosophers in Athens. He demonstrates to us that evangelism is about dialogue and understanding. Instead of being against skeptical intellectuals, Paul is engaging with them. Sunday, May 21st. We are brought into the upper room where the disciples saw the risen Jesus for the last time in “Mary Was There!” Jesus’s mother was very important in the earlier church. Her life bookends Jesus’s ministry in a way that is underappreciated. James brother of Jesus was also very important in the Jerusalem church after Jesus’s ascension. Sunday, May 28th. It’s Pentecost when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, our Advocate. In “Laser Rock” I will speak about the amazing events of Acts 2 and how they fit into ordinary lives. The Holy Spirit is far more present than we often realize. Let us celebrate! It is a joy to serve God with you! I wish you many blessings in this Easter and Pentecost season. Grace and Peace, Pastor Rob People in our congregation contributed a generous amount of $1,2 17.44 to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. This money, added to money other congregations gave, will soon be helping people in many parts of the world. People who have experienced disasters, hunger and malnutrition, or need equipment to start small businesses for family income, and those needing help getting social justice all will receive help from this offering. Eileen O and Amy C each read very effectively about some of the people who have been helped by the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.
I would like to thank everyone in the congregation who helped make the Easter baskets for the Concern for Neighbors Food Bank possible. Everyone who gave monetary donations, bought animals, candy and baskets all played an important part in providing the beautiful and well-supplied baskets for the children served by the food bank. Thirteen ladies and one boy helped fill the baskets. Roza K, Mary C, Margaret S, Linda R, Carol C, Pat T, Kathy F, Kathy M and her grandson, Freddie, Linda R, Nancy B, Jean G, Charlotte B and Ruth R all busily filled 105 baskets in just a little over one hour on April 1st. The Everett Gospel Mission, one of the recipients of our mission allocation money, now has 4 family units where whole families or single fathers with children can stay together. Another 4 units are being constructed. It is so much better for the families when they can stay together. The families can stay in these units until they can find permanent housing. Help in finding employment is also provided. Mission Elder, Ruth R The coming months will be busy as several General Assembly-mandated research projects will be distributed. The GA-MC-12 CHANGING FAMILIES is a survey designed for members, attendees, and staff.
Here is the link: https://surveys.pcusa.org/s3/Changing-Families-in-the-PC-USA This survey will remain open through May 31st to allow churches ample time to share this survey with those in the fellowship. For assistance with technical issues related to this survey, please contact Research Services: research@pcusa.org . Let me thank you in advance for your patience and participation with the General Assembly mandated surveys and the Ecumenical Minister Study. Sincerely, Susan Barnett, PhD Director Research Services Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Secretary Ruth R reports that two college age students, Kate S and Emily S received valentines and candy for Valentines Day. Emily said it is the first time an organization sent her candy and she loved both the card and the candy and wants to thank the church and women who sent it.
Easter Baskets were filled on April 1 by 13 women and 1 boy: Ruth and Linda Rs, Nancy B, Charlotte B, Mary C, Carol C, Jrean G, Linda R, Margaret S, Pat T and Kathy M and her grandson, Freddie. We thank everyone who helped contribute supplies and candy for the Easter baskets. We couldn’t have filled 105 baskets for he Neighbors-in Need food bank without you. Ruth and Linda R and Margaret S delivered the baskets to the food bank on Monday, April 3 and they were distributed to families with young children on April 4 by Linda R and Margaret S. We received many smiles and expressions of appreciation from the food bank recipients and want to thank the entire church for your support in this project. The Women’s Association voted $200 toward purchase of the baskets and a booklet containing the Easter Message to be included in each basket along with a small stuffed animal and candy. The April meeting was held at the church and it was confirmed that the Women’s Association contributed $300 back to the church mission fund. Sunshine committee is sending get-well wishes to Jerry G, congratulations to Wubishet and Roza on their anniversary, and condolences to David and Kathy C on the passing of David’s mother, Ila, a long time active member of our church and women’s group. Services for Ila will be held at our church on May 20. Ruth read off a list of our mission recipients and gave a short explanation of their activities. We will again collect money for mission projects at our June meeting at the church on June 12. This will also be a salad luncheon. Lunch consisted of Pizza and salad and a delicious cake and ice cream provided by Kathy M. Our speaker was Suzanne Peterson from the Everett Gospel Mission women’s mission, who told us of recent happenings at the mission. They now provide family shelter where married families can remain together with their children, a single father may stay with his children or a grandparent may stay with their caregiver. Currently there are 80 people sheltered at the mission, 45 of which are children. They welcome gifts of slightly used linens as well as financial assistance. Our May meeting on May 10 will beat the Pancake Haus in Edmonds at 12 noon and all are welcome to join us. Margaret S, Moderator |
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