Blog Archives - Edmonds Presbyterian Church

Holy Week

4/2/2015

Our Holy Week Services this year will include two joint services with Calvin Presbyterian Church. If you have not included Holy Week services in your schedule in past years, I would encourage you to do so this year. After worshiping and remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we arrive at Easter Sunday with renewed appreciation and understanding of our faith.

Maundy Thursday, 7 PM April 2nd here at Edmonds Presbyterian Church. On Maundy Thursday we remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, and his commandment (‘mandate’ – where ‘Maundy’ originates) to “love one another.”

Good Friday, 7 PM April 3rd at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 18826 3rd Ave. NW, Shoreline. At this service we will remember Jesus’ death on the cross for our salvation.

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 5th. Join us and invite your family and friends to come with you for our joyful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The choir is preparing special music, and we will have special activities for the children, including an Easter-themed “worship bag” and Easter egg hunts.

Pastor Amy's Thoughts...

4/2/2015

Greetings,

As we enter into Holy Week this week, I am reminded again that what we do is counter-cultural. This week we will journey with Jesus’ disciples to the upper room, remembering the very first time our Lord shared the bread and the wine with his disciples, saying “this is my body, this is my blood, do this in remembrance of me.” We call that night of worship “Maundy Thursday,” because it was then that Jesus gave his disciples the mandate to “love one another.” On Maundy Thursday we gather together, share communion, and in some years, wash one another’s’ hands or feet in memory of the acts Jesus shared with his first disciples.

On “Good Friday” we will gather at Calvin Presbyterian for a service focused on the seven last words/phrases of Jesus as he died for us on the cross. This is a “Tenebrae” service, and is solemn in tone as we recall the many ways we as individuals and as a community have sinned against God by our actions and our inactions. And yet we call this day “good” Friday, a reminder of the good and holy act that Jesus did for us by freely dying for our sins on the cross.

But these two worship services are not complete in themselves. Together with Easter Sunday they comprise the “Triduum” or the three days. A benediction is not offered at the end of the services until all three are completed, a reminder to us that Maundy Thursday and Good Friday only have meaning to us in light of the resurrection of Jesus, which we celebrate on Easter Sunday.

This year we will also celebrate a Palm and Passion Sunday on March 29th. We will hear the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and also the biblical account of Jesus’ passion. This is a foretaste of the other services of holy week, and a reminder that we do not arrive at Easter Sunday without first passing through the crucifixion of Jesus. Together we will offer our heartfelt thanksgiving for what Jesus has done on our behalf.

What we do is counter-cultural. In the midst of a spring-like week, we will be contemplating last words and sacrifice. In the midst of the blossoming daffodils, we will identify with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is easy to jump ahead to the glorious resurrection, but I would encourage you not to do so. Be counter-cultural. Remember what Jesus did on our behalf, and give thanks. In the midst of the ordinariness of this week early in spring, take time to realize that we walk through holy ground as we prepare for Easter. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning has written:

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; and only he who sees takes off his shoes; the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”

with prayers for a blessed Easter,

Pastor Amy

Mary’s Place/Church of Mary Magdalen

4/2/2015

On March 11, 2015, two ladies from Mary’s Place came to Edmonds Presbyterian church as part of the Women’s Association meeting and luncheon. Mary’s Place is an organization trying to empower women and their children. They have a day center for women and their children that’s open from 7:00AM – 5:00PM, and four night shelters (one of which is rotating) to serve King County. Mary’s Place provides services such as: Two hot meals per day, AA/NA Meetings, Bastyr Naturopathic Clinic, Bon Mary’s Incentive Program, Clothing Distribution, Community Service Site, Housing and Employment Resources, Hygiene, Shower and Laundry Service, Lingerie Program, Mail and Phone Services, Medical Care, Resource Referrals, Shelter Referrals, and Support Groups. The Support Groups include: Domestic Violence, Seeking Safety, Treatment Options and Referrals. Other services they provide are: Volunteer Services, YWCA Health Access Program, Homeless Women’s Choir, Jail and Hospital Visitation, Women in Black, and Saturday Church Service (the Church of Mary Magdalene).

The speaker on March 11, 2015, was a woman named Marty H., and her quest, Bobby Jean. Marty H. is the Executive Director for Mary’s Place and has been there for 16 years. Mary’s Place’s mission statement is: “Empowering homeless women, children and families to reclaim their lives by providing shelter, nourishment, resources, healing and hope in a safe community.” Marty talked about many of the services they offer women and children at their Day Center. Women who attend the Day Center have their basic needs met, receive toiletries, resources, medical attention, and people to talk to. Marty had mentioned that a great deal of women there are going through some sort of trauma or grief and Mary’s Place provides a safe space to talk about the issues these women are dealing with. Mary’s Place believes that to battle homelessness, one has to deal with the root cause of it. One also has to build community and form connections with one another. They also believe faith is an important part of eradicating homelessness. Marty talked about modeling after Jesus and his 12 disciples to demonstrate the building of community.

After Marty completed her speech, she introduced a woman named Bobby Jean, an older African American woman who was very skinny and moved slowly. Bobby Jean started her speech by saying “They kept my sanity.” She told the Women’s Association how she moved in with her daughter and her daughter’s family. Not long after she moved in, she had to move out because of conflict within the family. Mary’s Place and Operation Nightwatch took her in, and now she has her own room and two meals per day. She was very proud to say that and proud to show us her keys.

She also showed us her teeth. She told us before June of 2014, she didn’t have any. She recalled how she could hardly eat because of her missing teeth which caused her to lose a lot of weight. Mary’s Place provided her with dental services and she now has a wonderful smile she loves. She was so grateful to Mary’s Place which was obvious by her tears of joy.

In King County, there is a place to go for women and children who otherwise have nowhere else to go. There are many different reasons why people are homeless. Many of the homeless are women and children. Mary’s Place is devoted to helping these women “keep their sanity” and their dignity. They provide training and resources to help women and their children escape from homelessness and into homes of their own. All of their services are free of charge and are easily accessible. They welcome volunteers of all kinds and donations of almost anything. This organization offers services 365 days of the year to help end homelessness. If you want to volunteer, contact Erin at (206) 621-8474 ext. 113 or volunteer@marysplaceseattle.org. For more information about donations contact Mary’s Place at office@marysplaceseattle.org or (206) 621-8474.

April 18th Presbytery Leadership Summit

4/2/2015

Our presbytery will have a leadership summit on Saturday, April 18th. We will have commissioners and pastors traveling from Alaska, the San Juan Islands, and the Peninsula who are in need of housing. If you are able to host someone Friday and Saturday nights, feeding them breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings, please let Pastor Amy know and we’ll forward your name to the Presbytery office. The Presbytery leadership summit will be at Maplewood Presbyterian Church in Edmonds, which is why we have been asked to advertise the need for home stays.

Easter Baskets Stuffed!

4/2/2015

On Saturday, March 28th, the women’s association gathered under the direction of Ruth Roberts to fill over 130 Easter baskets for distribution at the food bank. Thank-you to Ruth for her leadership and coordination of this event. It is a blessing to see all those baskets ready for the children to enjoy.

Summer Camps

4/2/2015

If you have a young person in your life who would like to attend a Christian summer camp, we have two Presbyterian camps in the area that provide excellent summer programming. Brochures for both camps are available on the back table in the Sanctuary, or you can find information online at Tall Timber Ranch (www.talltimber.org) or Sound View Camp (www.soundviewcamp.com). Camper-ships are available thanks to generous donations. Speak with Pastor Amy for more information.

Stewardship/Finance/Admin

4/2/2015

Stewardship

To date we have received about $1,800 in per capita, a little over half of the $3,451 that we owe the Northwest Coast Presbytery. We are making progress. Per capita is a set amount of money per member that congregations must pay to the larger national Presbyterian Church once a year. Please remember that your per capita of $48.60, if not paid, comes out of the operating expenses money, which then impacts our ability to further our church’s mission. Please remember to pay your per capita, as well as to honor your pledge.

Finance

Our pledges to this church are a vital part of the business of our church. Without your honored commitment and dedication to the paying of your pledged amounts or even more, our church cannot meet its expenses, from payroll to paying for utilities. Being a part of Edmonds Presbyterian Church is a privilege which we hold dear because our Christian fellowship and worship enable us to grow and move closer to God. We continue to dedicate ourselves to God as we pay our chosen amount to further the work of our church. Thank you for all you do to further God’s work in and through us.

Presbytery of Northwest Coast Regional Gathering

4/2/2015

Our Presbytery will meet in four regions early in April. Our region will be meeting at Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church, 6:30 PM on Tuesday April 7th. Topics to be covered include: What’s happening in the Presbytery? What can we learn from growing churches? There will also be a preview of the April 18th presbytery voting on General Assembly actions. All are welcome to attend.

Renewal Ministries Presents...

4/2/2015