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Pastor Amy's Thoughts for July and August.

7/3/2014

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July Greetings!

It is a glorious summer day in Edmonds today – temperatures are in the 70’s and the sun is shining through gaps in large fluffy clouds.  This is why I live in the Northwest!

Living here, it is sometimes difficult to pay attention to the work of the larger PCUSA denomination, but this last week the news media reminded us what the national church has been up to!   As you may know, the 221st General Assembly was held in June in Detroit Michigan.  At the General Assembly our commissioners and advisory delegates met, discusses, prayed, worshiped and made decisions.   They commissioned new missionaries and celebrated new worshiping communities.  They heard reports of the many ways churches and individuals in the PCUSA are following God’s call into new ventures, and building coalitions to serve God and neighbor.  But there were two issues in particular that caused the most controversy, received the most press, and subsequently deserve some explanation.

One of these was the question of what faithful Christians can do to help alleviate the conflict in Israel/Palestine.   We are a church that has two historical allies in the region:  Israeli Jews and Palestinian Christians.  As Charles Wiley has said, we are like a family where two siblings are arguing, unable to resolve their conflict without outside assistance.  The PCUSA affirms and defends Israel’s right to exist as a country.  And the PCUSA also affirms and supports the ideal of a two-state solution for the region.  We long for the day when both Jews and Christians can worship freely, live in peace, and be assured of their safety.   How to do that is the big question.  After many hours of committee work and assembly discussion the assembly narrowly approved divesting from three specific American corporations who do business with the Israeli Army as a political protest against the human rights violations that have occurred.   This applies to denominational investments, such as the Presbyterian Foundation and the Board of Pensions.  This is our own choice for divestment, limited to three corporations – not an endorsement or affiliation with other strategic divestment groups. 

A second set of issues surround the reality of the legalization of same-sex marriages in many states, including Washington.  Several presbyteries sent overtures to the Assembly asking for guidance regarding the participation of Teaching Elders (pastors) in such ceremonies.   Is this forbidden, permitted, or encouraged by our Book of Order?  The Assembly issued an “authoritative interpretation” (AI) that Teaching Elders may exercise freedom of conscience in choosing to marry same-sex couples in the same way they exercise freedom of conscience in their decision to marry opposite-sex couples.    This means it is permitted – not required nor forbidden – and left up to the discernment of the individual pastor.  The assembly was careful to note that the use of a church building for such ceremonies is (as all church use is) under the authority of the session of the church.  The session may choose to allow or not allow the church building to be used for these ceremonies.  The AI is effective immediately.

A second item of business related to same sex marriages concerns changes in the language of our church’s Book of Order (constitution.)  These changes must be ratified by a majority of the presbyteries in order to become part of our Book of Order.  The proposed changes include defining a marriage as “between two people (traditionally a man and a woman)” instead of “between a man and a woman.”   Our Presbytery will vote on these changes at a meeting early in 2015. 

On July 1st, there will be a regional gathering of the Presbytery to learn more about the GA actions, 6:30 PM at North Creek Presbyterian Church.  We will gather at 6 in our church parking lot to carpool there if you’d like to share a ride.   And a final opportunity will be Sunday July 20th following worship when Karen R., our Presbytery’s Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD) will give us her thoughts and impressions on the Assembly.

Don’t forget that I am always willing to talk about the General Assembly and how it works, as well as how the actions there “filter down” to us at Edmonds. Give a call, drop by the church, shoot me an email – and we can get together and talk.

I know that the actions of the GA, while not unexpected, still raise some anxiety in our congregation and throughout the country.  Please keep our denomination and its churches in your prayers.  As Karen asked us on the Sunday following the General Assembly, please continue to pray for hope and reconciliation.

with thanks in Christ,

Pastor Amy




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News and Notes

7/3/2014

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The Story is coming! 

   Over the past few months I have been reviewing an all-church program called “The Story.”  The Story takes the text of the Bible and, by careful editing, puts a significant portion of the text into chronological order divided among 31 chapters.  That way it is possible to read the Bible as one continuous story—a difficult thing to do with the 66 books of the bible! 

At our June Session meeting we approved using “The Story” for our worship and educational emphasis for the 2014-15 school year.   We will be reading “The Story” together, from September – May.   There will be opportunities to study the chapters in depth, to hear sermons on the text, to read the text devotionally, and to share “The Story” with children and youth in your life using special story books made for that purpose.  

Come join me on Sunday, August 10th, following worship to learn more about “The Story” and see how our church can encourage each other to grow in our knowledge of God’s word as we embark on this journey together.   --  Pastor Amy  



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Stewardship, Finance, & Administration

7/3/2014

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Stewardship:  As Amy mentioned in her weekly update message on June 24th, Pay Pal is installed and working on EPC’s website.  We can receive Donations via PayPal, but with a donation fee attached.  Check writing may still be more efficient and preferable for many of us, but Pay Pal is another option for giving to our church, if you would prefer.  Look at the site.

Hope you all have picked up or received your quarterly plus giving report.  Thank you for being so faithful in your commitment to giving in honoring honor God with your pledges.

Finance:  Our Per Capita, that amount that we send in to the national Presbyterian Church (USA) to cover administrative expenses, is recorded at $1641.25 to date.  Our total per capita amount is about $1900.00 for our congregational membership for this year.  Terrific!! You all are an amazing giving group.  Thank you.

Administration:  Our church office Administrative Assistant does well.  Many of you have mentioned what a great addition she, Tamara, is to our church.  Please tell her so.  Tamara listens well.  What an asset!

Minna D.

Finance/Stewardship/Administration



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Youth Group

7/3/2014

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Youth Group:   Here's the calendar for the summer-- but there's room for more-- so send in your ideas! 

Game nights --  6:30 - 9 PM with pizza provided. 

               Wednesday July 9th  

                and Friday August 8th  



Bowling -  At Lynnwood Lanes after church on Sunday July 20th,  noon - 2.  $7.50 per person total, no charge for shoes.  Look for an email with date/time.

Ice Skating?  This is always a favorite in August.   Look for another email with date/time/location. 



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Other Tidbits...

7/3/2014

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We are looking forward to the paving of the church parking lot!  We hope to do this with minimal interruptions to our regularly scheduled events.  We give thanks for the donation that made this possible!  


Sunday June 22nd we celebrated our graduates!  Congratulations to Mike S., who completed his program at Charter College.  Congratulations to Shannon and Nick, who graduated from Meadowdale High School.   Shannon and Nick were unable to join us on Sunday, but we ate cake in their honor and will get their gifts to them soon. 


Calvin Presbyterian Church has a free Vacation Bible School July 20-23, 6-8 PM for children ages 3 yrs through 5th grade.  Find out more and register at calvinpc.org. 


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Special Events in July and August

7/3/2014

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Special Events in July at Edmonds Presbyterian Church….

July 1 — Presbytery Regional Gathering at North Creek to hear General Assembly reports. Meet at 6pm at church to carpool.

July 9 — Game night  6:30—9pm (bring an indoor or outdoor game, pizza provided)

July 13 — Congregational meeting after worship (missions meeting following congregational meeting)

July 20 — General Assembly report by Karen R. after worship - AND then bowling at Lynnwood Lanes!

Things to look forward to in August at Edmonds Presbyterian Church….

August 8 — Game night  6:30—9pm (bring a board game, pizza provided)

August 10 — “The Story” presentation after worship



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Did you know...

7/3/2014

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In a recent sermon Pastor Amy mentioned a letter we have received from Sally, the niece of 103 year-old Aunt Dixie.  Aunt Dixie is in an Edmonds care center and loves to pray for people, especially youth who are going on mission trips.   It turns out that Jean G knows both ladies!  If you'd like Aunt Dixie's contact information, please let me know. 


Our church website continues to improve.  We now have the ability to accept donations via Paypal.   Paypal does take a portion of the donation as a fee, so it's not as efficient as writing us a check, but it is convenient!  You can even set up regular monthly payments if you so choose.  Check it out at http://www.epc-pcusa.org/ - bottom of home page. 


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Presenting these before the Lord…..

7/3/2014

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· Pray for those going through serious medical issues, and pray for wisdom for doctors.

· Pray for those receiving treatments for cancer, adding our prayers for the many in full recovery and remission. Also wisdom and grace for the caregivers.

· Pray for comfort and God’s peace for all dealing with grief.

· Pray for our missionaries and missions around the world. For the work of those in South Sudan, Sweden, and the Former Soviet Union, we give thanks.  May God continue to protcect and direct their ministries.

· Pray for our service men and women who are away from home, and pray for their safe return—that God would strengthen them and keep them out of harms way.

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