Blog Archives - Edmonds Presbyterian Church

A Word from Our Pastor

7/29/2021

Dear Fellow Travelers!
I am delighted to be your new Pastor! It is an amazing feeling to say that! I'm very excited to be walking with you on this journey. I would like to introduce myself, give you a little news about re-emerging in worship, and share a few words about my ministry direction with you.
I am a fourth-year seminary student at Portland Seminary in George Fox University, after a career in high-tech engineering, marketing, and sales. In 2017, I answered the call from God to prepare for the ministry. I promptly quit my job and started studying. Carol and I are life-long Presbyterians and long term elders. We moved to Brier several months ago to be closer to our grandkids. Being with you is a wonderful opportunity for us while I finish my studies and I prepare for ordination next year. We will split our time in Brier and Portland until my ordination. Besides studying and grand-parenting, I love to kayak, explore new places, and walk on the shore and in the forest. Carol is an artist who loves to do quilting, painting, and calligraphy. We are avid board game players. I also enjoy talking about history, travel, and culture over a coffee or a beer. I am eager to hear from each of you about your stories!
Session has decided to start in-person worship again on August 1st. With an abundance of caution while we navigate our return, we ask you to wear your masks in worship for a few additional weeks. We want everyone to feel safe and not to separate people by vaccination status. If you have not been vaccinated, or you have family or neighbors who have not been vaccinated, I really encourage everyone do it if they are able. We will provide a hybrid worship option, so those of you who want or need to stay home can worship too.
I will continue Pastor Amy's practice of recording and posting sermons on the website. Additionally, we will supply the liturgy by email. I hope to continue doing this long term so you can worship whenever you are not able to join us in-person and to share it with friends and family in distant places.
I firmly believe that prayer, scripture reading, and spiritual direction are the foundations of a thriving congregation. I know about your prayerfulness and your Bible studies, which are wonderful. I will work with you in sermons and studies to help direct us toward spiritual integration. I want you to trust in God's boundless love for you. I want you to be yourselves and celebrate the strength of your love together. I want you to be confident in God's grace in uncertain times. When we are confident together and at peace with ourselves, God's irresistible love shines out into the community and to the world.
May the peace of Christ abide with you always,
Pastor Rob

Women’s Association News

7/29/2021

Hurray! The church is open again so we can again worship and have fellowship together after a year and a half of isolation. We all get to meet our new Pastor, Rob Christ, who is starting his ministerial calling with us. Let’s give thanks to the Lord for our church and pastor and vow to support them to the best of our ability.
The small inconvenience of wearing a mask to all gatherings is of no problem since it gives an extra measure of safety from catching COVID-19 but also from catching colds or flu since many of us have been shut away and have had no opportunity to build up immunity to these diseases. We have several things to discuss:
1) If we decide to serve coffee after church we will need to decide who will prepare the coffee and how to serve it and who will clean up the area.
2) If we want snacks how can we insure their safety during preparation and serving?
3) How do we want to conduct future meetings starting up again in September with a Get-Acquainted -Again Picnic on the 2nd Wednesday at the church? The present plan is to meet for lunch at the Pancake Haus in October then at the church again in November and December.
4) Do we want to draw for prayer partners again?
Looking forward to seeing each of you and of hearing your news and views.
Margaret S, Moderator

Missions News

7/29/2021

Mission Projects currently supported by EPC are :

Eagle Wings: Serves people with handicaps, many of whom need caregivers. During normal years these people suffer social isolation and frustration in performing activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, or even getting from place to place. The Eagle Wings staff make routine calls to shut-ins, provide social activities with games for the young and encouragement for the caregivers.
Jean Kim Foundation for Homeless Education: Jean Kim founded this foundation to encourage homeless men and women to improve their lives by attending school or college, thus enabling themselves to earn a living wage and earn their way out of poverty. The foundation provides a small house equipped with electricity and a safe place to sleep and study for each student accepted into the program.
Opening Blind Eyes: Prison Ministry with the aim of bringing hope to the men of Monroe Prison. Pastor “Rip” Van Winkle provides counseling, bible studies, hospital visitations, and pastoral care to inmates and staff along with prayers and evangelism.
Puget Sound Foursquare: In support of Jan Griffin, our missionary to Sweden.
Puget Sound Christian Clinic: Mobile Dental and Medical Clinic provides free care to those in need. (Pledge of $100 per month)
Renewal Ministries Northwest: Reverend Dianna Kunce reports a large growth in the number of people seeking spiritual direction and an expansion of their programs during the past year thanks to their use of the Zoom format. They plan to continue using Zoom after returning to their normal in-person activities in Mill Creek.
Everett Gospel Mission: Offers food and shelter and a Christian message to homeless men and women and children.
Cancer Pathways: Offers support and transportation to those receiving cancer care.
Habitat for Humanity: Provides an opportunity for low-income families to work to earn their own home.
Menaul School: A boarding school in New Mexico offering education and opportunity for growth to students through high school, partly supported through box tops for education. Many graduates continue on to college and successful careers.
Northwest Coast Presbytery-United Mission: This is our own Presbytery.
Pregnancy Resource Center: Cares for pregnant women with medical services, tangible resources and community referrals. Encourages sanctity of human life.
Presbyterian Hunger Program: Administered through the Presbyterian Church USA.
Salvation Army: Everett Office
Vision House: Provides apartments and support to homeless women and children.
Whitworth University: Spokane based Presbyterian College.
World Concern: Changing lives all over the world by helping people help themselves, by digging wells for clean water, teaching how to raise crops and livestock, offering medical care, saving girls from sex traffickers, and child marriage, and being there for the forgotten, the hopeless and the hurting.
Matthew House: Provides respite, food, and counseling to families of those in Monroe Prison.
Presbyterian Church USA Mission Partner: Tyler Holm, wife Rochelle and daughter Mphatso.

Margaret S, Mission Elder

Home Communion

7/29/2021

You’re invited to join us for Home Communion - We will continue to gather over the internet to share the Lord’s Supper together. On Sunday, August 1st, at 1 PM (followed by our usual check-in coffee time) we will gather via Zoom for home communion together. Please have your own bread (simple is best), and grape juice / wine or other beverage common to your home. You may “Zoom in” in from your phone, Smartphone, or computer. Zoom instructions for all EPC meetings can be found on the last page of this newsletter.

Are You Listening?

7/1/2021

Our Daily Bread for Saturday, June 26, 2021 had a thought provoking (and humorous) story. United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt often endured long receiving lines at the White House. As the story is told, he complained that no one paid attention to what was said. So, he decided to experiment at a reception. To everyone who passed down the line and shook his hand, he said, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guest responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work. God bless you, Sir.” It wasn’t until the end of the line, greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador whispered, “I’m sure she had it coming.”

Do you wonder if God hears your prayers? For the past several months you and I have been praying for a new pastor to come along and walk with Edmonds Presbyterian Church for our next season in life. I don’t know about you, but it seemed like God did not answer my prayer. I had specifically asked for a pastor to join us right after Pastor Amy retired. It didn’t happen. What is going on? It is similar to the prayer, “Lord grant me patience, and give it to me now!”

It is a blessing that God doesn’t run on my schedule. If HE did, I would be in a terrible mess now. Think back about some of the things you have prayed for and God mercifully DID NOT grant them. I am reminded by what Ruth Graham said about her prayers for a husband. “God is mercifully and did not answer my prayers for a mate – many times. If He had, I would have married the wrong man, several times!”

As this Caller is being sent out, your session is in final discussions with an individual we believe God has called specifically for Edmonds Presbyterian Church. If this is the right person, you will have the opportunity to meet them soon. If not, God is still working to find the right person for us to love and serve with in His kingdom.

We are all aware of some of the great waits in the Bible. Times when God said there was going to be something that happened and then nothing seemed to happen. Think about the wait of some of the Hero’s of Faith, Noah, Abraham and Sara, David, Moses, Rachael, and so many more. They were all promised something and then…nothing…or at least nothing for a while and THEN – STAND BACK AND LOOK OUT!

I’ve been told many times, not your time, but God’s time. I usually think maybe God messed up on this. This is the right time, or at least I think it is. God, what is going on? Then in retrospect I see how it was divinely inspired that my time was not the right time and THANK GOD for your perfect timing!
God hears the cries of our heart. “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.” Psalm 17:6

Thank God that He doesn’t answer prayer on our schedule!

Don I.
Session Administration and Finance

Missions News

7/1/2021

Last month we sent $1800 to Presbytery for distribution to the following mission recipients: Eagle Wings, Jean Kim Foundation, Opening Blind Eyes, Puget Sound Foursquare (Jan Griffith), Lahai Health, and World Mission (Tyler Holm).

We received the following letter from Rochelle and Tyler Holm:
Thank you for your prayers and advocacy and we want to share an update about our next transition. The Furlough Home in Louisville, Kentucky, where we have been staying will be closing and we need to move out in July. We are grateful that with the prayers of many of you we have found an apartment in Richland, Washington, and while near family, it will also allow private space to remain socially distant while we quarantine on arrival from Kentucky. The short term lease gives us the time to get back to Malawi. We are set to borrow most things to furnish the apartment.

In Washington state we will continue sheltering-in-place and working remotely as we have been for the past year. Please pray for us as we pack up to move in Louisville, enroll Mphatso in a new school in Richland, set up our apartment, and for COVID-19 victims around the world. Please also pray for Malawi as COVID-19 has recently increased again and the borders were again closed for travelers. Thank you for your prayers, we will let you know more after our move to Washington state.
Grace and Peace, Tyler, Rochelle and Mphatso Holm

Margaret S, Mission Elder

Women’s Association News

7/1/2021

The EPC Women’s Association held their last meeting of the spring on June 9, 2021 with 8 women attending. Secretary Ruth R. gave an excellent summary of our mission projects that we work all year to support and promote. They include:

Mary's Place: Operates five family shelters where fathers, mothers and children can stay together. Many support services are provided for homeless and low income people, including a day room, children’s activities, and job training and placement services. One service, Popsicle Pete, offers a safe place for children with special needs and chronic health issues.

Everett Gospel Mission: Provides shelter, job training, addiction counseling, and help getting employment and permanent housing. Those who want to can hear the gospel message of God’s love and salvation. There are separate shelters for women and children and another for men. Cares for about 145 men and 70 women and children each night.

New Horizons: Provides help for homeless youth, including live-in shelter, day room, job training, and Bible Study and Christian discussion time for interested youth.

Pregnancy Resource Center: Provides pregnancy tests and ultrasounds for women who want them. Gives baby clothes and supplies, maternity clothes, classes for expectant parents, new mothers’ groups, and a chance to hear God’s message of salvation for those who want to hear it.

Cocoon House: Provides shelter a d other services for youth from high school age to age 24. Works to improve relationships with parents, helps people overcome addictions, provides a safe place to study and help older youth to obtain jobs and permanent housing.

Matthew House: Provides services to prisoners families while their loved ones are incarcerated. During the pandemic they have been delivering food,, clothing, and other necessities to needy families because there is not enough space for safe distancing. They do have rooms where people can come to pray. Their goal is to meet the spiritual and practical needs of the families during a difficult time. It is often hard for children to understand why their fathers can not be with them.

Vision House: Provides private apartments for people who are homeless and are getting ready to transition into permanent housing. Sometimes their need comes from job loss or medical costs. Gives child care while parents attend school or work. Gives furniture and household items to families getting ready to move into permanent housing.

Concern For Neighbors Food Bank: During COVID, the food bank is open for business, but is carrying packaged groceries to cars instead of letting clients enter facility to choose some items. This is the Mountlake Terrace Food Bank.

Habitat For Humanity, Snohomish County: Stores are now open again, which provides some income to finance their construction or repair of housing for those willing to work to obtain their own home. They are building new houses on a site in Gold Bar with room for 12 new houses, two are built and occupied. They are also planning to build six four-plexes on a site in Everett. Each family puts in 500 hours of work toward finishing and owning their new home.

Operation Nightwtch: Dinners are still being prepared for pick-up rather than being eaten on the premises. Overnight shelter is found for as many people as possible. If too few beds are found for the homeless they are given a warm waterproof blanket to make sleeping outside a little easier. They have a street ministry that provides water, clean socks, food and blankets to people staying outside. Those who want to, have a chance to hear the gospel message of God’s love and gift of salvation.

Support 7, International Chaplain’s Ministry: Their website hasn’t been updated, but when I spoke to a volunteer at the Chamber of Commerce in January who is a part of the support ministry, he said their work of supporting firefighters is continuing even though Ken G, the founder, passed away. The new director lives in Lynnwood. They still provide spiritual and emotional support to people facing tragedies and emergencies such as fires or accidents or other difficult situations. Accident victims can find a place to obtain water or snacks or quiet rest in the Support 7 Vehicle.

Jan Griffith-our home grown missionary to Sweden: Jan grew up in our church where her parents, Bob and Marian were very active in our congregation. Jan has been working with the minister in a church which operates a Christian School. Some of the families attending the school are immigrants. Jan has also been active in ecumenical outdoor Passion Plays and in spiritual development classes. For several months Jan has been suffering from exhaustion syndrome. She has to rest a lot and would like prayers for her recovery.

World Concern: World Concern was founded by a former member of our congregation. The foundation strives to improve living conditions primarily for people in Africa living in difficult circumstances. They provide wells and clean water in some areas such as a village in South Sudan. They work to prevent malnutrition and sex trafficking. They teach improved farming techniques and work to provide tools and livestock and seeds to people to grow their own food and help lift themselves out of poverty. Their goal is to provide impoverished people a means to earn a sustainable income.

Our Women’s Association collected nearly $600 last month and voted to take funds from our treasury so we can pay each of these mission projects $75 in support of their operations.

Prayers for Kathryn G., Kathy M., Linda R., Marcia P. and Jerry G. that they will continue to heal and gain strength, and also for our members who are unable to attend meetings.

Our next meeting will be on September 8, 2021 at our church where the officers will provide a picnic lunch and we will make plans for the coming year. What a joy it will be to see each other face to face again!

Margaret S, Moderator

What Do You Do with a Chance? By Kobi Yamada Illustrated by Mae Besom

7/1/2021

The 44- page book, What Do You Do with Chance is a gem. It is a beautiful combination of clear, yet evocative prose along with breathtaking illustrations. The reading level is for children ages 5-8, but truly, it is a book for kids-at-heart, of all ages. The message hits home and would be an inspiring read for any stage of life.
The story is about being courageous and getting outside of your comfort zone. What Do You Do with Chance teaches that chances are opportunities that we can pass by, but to our own peril. The boy in this book wondered why chance wanted him, so he ignored the chances when they came his way. Fortunately, he knew something was missing. One time he decided to finally take a chance, and it seemed like everyone was laughing at him. He describes reaching for a chance and then falling. Then one day, he realized, he had to joyfully embrace chance when it came around, and this time he did not fall. Instead, he held on with all his might. He was using his courageous heart to embrace the opportunity before him.
Isn’t this a perfect message for our church as we embark on our next chapter? What I love about this book’s positive message is that it so universal. Chances can be anything as small as sharing a cookie with a new friend to bigger things like the chance to serve each other, to forgive each other, and to love each other. The book beautifully illustrates that change comes with a price. One must first embrace the opportunities that are put before us-with courage, heart, and commitment.

Book review by Margaret K.

The 21 Day Racial Justice Challenge group at Edmonds Presbyterian Church wants to thank and congratulate all of you, in and out of our congregation, that have supported the purchase of books for Westgate Elementary to expand Black, Indigenous, and People of Color representation in their library. We have reached our goal! We are so very thankful for your help, and hope that the books will show the students of Westgate that they are valued in our community not matter what they look like or where they may be from.
Thank you!

You’re invited to join us for Home Communion

7/1/2021

While we cannot gather in person, we will gather over the internet to share the Lord’s Supper together. On Sunday, July 4th, at 1 PM (followed by our usual check-in coffee time) we will gather via Zoom for home communion together with Pastor Emily. Please have your own bread (simple is best), and grape juice / wine or other beverage common to your home. You may “Zoom in” in from your phone, Smartphone, or computer.

21 Day Racial Justice Challenge

7/1/2021

Our group is alive and going well. We have hit our goal to provide Westgate Elementary with books that serve their BIPOC community! This month we will meet on July 28th, at 7pm via zoom” Please join us to learn and grow as a community.