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Pastor Amy’s Thoughts….

8/4/2020

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I have been thinking about God’s grace these days. What is grace? How would you define it?

What I have learned about grace over the years is that it is not something we can earn, and it is not anything we deserve. Grace is a gift of favor, and as a gift it can only be given to us, extended to us in love. We show grace to the young mother shepherding tired preschoolers when we urge her to go ahead of us in the check-out line at Fred Meyer. We receive grace when we are surprised out of our self-centeredness, and given a gift often wrapped in wonder, awe, or thankfulness. Listening to the frogs in the pond at night can be a gift of grace. Breathing the cold clean air after a week of hot weather is a gift of grace for me today. Listening to a young child make up words and sing loudly a song no one has ever heard before is a gift of grace.

Frederick Buechner, in his book Wishful Thinking, under the title “Grace,” writes these words…

“Most tears are grace. The smell of rain is grace. Somebody loving you is grace. Loving somebody is grace. Have you ever tried to love somebody?”

And just when I thought I had wrapped up my understanding of grace with a nice neat bow, author Kathleen Norris’s words remind me of the amazing depth of God’s grace. She writes,

“If grace is so wonderful, why do we have such difficulty recognizing and accepting it? Maybe it's because grace is not gentle or made-to-order. It often comes disguised as loss, or failure, or unwelcome change.”

As I thought about her words, I realized that sometimes the best gifts of God’s grace I have ever received appeared to me in times that were filled with grief, or other forms of loss. I remember distinctly a long-distance airplane ride many years ago, where I found myself crying without knowing why. The time in the air gave me the time to question those tears and realize that the tears I had first labeled grief over the death of my grandmother, were really tears for another kind of loss. I had realized through my tears that I needed to leave a computer support position that was becoming more and more life-draining. Discovering that I needed a change of direction was a gift of God’s grace, disguised in tears unleashed by grief.

Grace is also a theological word, a word that describes how God acts toward us. God’s grace in our lives is the very essence of our salvation. Buechner also describes this well when he writes,

'The grace of God means something like: "Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you."
As we enjoy the beauty of these August days, I encourage you to take a moment to sit without distraction and to consider the word grace. How have you experienced God’s loving grace in your life?'

with prayers for you and for our church community,
​
Pastor Amy


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Session News

8/4/2020

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What has your Session been up to?
 
It is a challenging time to be on the Session! We have
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· 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.
 

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WOMENS ASSOCIATION NEWS

8/4/2020

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Would the Women of the congregation like to resume meetings on the second Wednesday of each month beginning in September 2020? Our last meeting was in January 2020 and we have a few decisions to make. We can meet by Zoom as we do for bible study and coffee hour starting anytime. We can use either our phones or computers to meet and even vote and have discussions. Pastor Amy suggested that we can even have speakers with Zoom by scheduling them ahead of time. Some business to take care of includes collecting and distribution of our mission offerings, selecting officers for the year, and revealing our prayer partners.
 
We also need to rethink our role in the church in the post virus time. We may have to have some meetings outside and may not be able to serve meals with our meetings or at best have picnic style meals outside the building. How can we best serve the church now and in the future? Can we continue as a functioning group when we may not be able to physically meet together in the near future? I would like to talk to each of you to discuss our plans, so give me a call and we will make some decisions for now. I miss meeting together and hope to hear from everyone.
 
Margaret S.

 
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Missions

8/4/2020

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​The COVID problems are difficult for the mission agencies we help support. Our latest quarterly distributions to help a little were sent this month. $350 was given to Opening Blind Eyes Prison Ministry and Renewal Ministries. $300 was sent to Eagle Wings disAbility Ministries, Jan Griffith, and Lahai Health (Formerly Puget Sound Christian Clinic). $100 was given to: Jean Kim Foundation for Homeless Education, Northwest Coast Presbytery – Unified Mission, Pregnancy Resource Center, Presbyterian Hunger Program, The Salvation Army (Everett Office) and our mission partner Tyler Holms.
Here ls a little news about a few of the numerous missions we help support.
Rip Van Winkle was frustrated that his ministry, Opening Blind Eyes, was not even allowed to have e-mail contact with the prisoners he works with. He prayed for God to provide a way. His prayers were answered when he received a Father’s Day card signed by quite a lot of the people he works with. Since the prisoners initiated the contact, he can now contact them. He is looking forward to the time when they can meet in person.
World Concern is working in Bangladesh and some other places to provide education for girls so they can stay in school. Many poor families give young girls in marriage to older men because these families have a hard time supporting all their children. If the girls can stay in school, they can learn to support themselves and help their families, too.
The staff members at Matthew House are doing their best to help families of prisoners during this time, but they need prayer as their donations are not meeting the need for help. We gave them $100 last month, but I feel led to give them a $75 emergency donation now.
The Salvation Army is providing food, rent and much other needed assistance to families facing extra struggles during these difficult times.
Ruth R.


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21 Day Racial Justice Challenge from PCUSA

8/4/2020

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An amazing group of 12 people are gathering three times a week to learn more about Racial Justice. We have used, as our starting point, the 21 day Racial Justice Challenge from the PCUSA, and included additional    videos and articles as people in the study have recommended them.
Some of the topics we have studied thus far include Racism, Environmental    Justice, the Doctrine of Discovery, and Implicit Bias. We have found that it is   particularly valuable for us to do this study in the context of a church community. As Christians, we affirm Jesus’s commands to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves, and Paul’s proclamation in the letter to the Galatians, that “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) These core      principles have given us a particular Christian lens with which to study, learn, and begin to act together regarding racial justice.
Here are a few quotes from our participants that highlight what we are learning as we hit the half-way point of our time together.
“I have always been interested in history. This study has revealed much about our history that has been purposely omitted in the curriculum that we have been taught. This study has also pointed out that over the years the systems of oppression are inherent in the very core of our country. These systems were instituted many years ago but the effects of them are still present in our current society. We have a lot of work to do to be the people God calls us to be.” Linda R
“It is impossible to list only one thing, but I will try. It is confirmation that our knowledge of these issues is not simply facts or statistics. No. It is the lives of our brothers and sisters -and all people are our brothers and sisters. Not just Christians, or people who vote like us.” Sue S
 “White people are racist whether we want to be or not because the American culture caters to the needs of white people.”  Debbie B
"The group discussion revealed how focused I can be on what I think is important, when I am unintentionally blinding myself to the injustices around me. I also thought it eye opening to review how racism has created pockets of injustice by limiting some communities to access of water, safety, natural beauty, and clean air. The damage is insidious, yet real. Whether or not a person can live in the place of their choice is so often pre-determined by generational attitudes, creating a climate where some are more “equal” than others. When learning about environmental racism it dawned on me that each of us can act by welcoming others into our lives, our neighborhoods, and our communities." Margaret K



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You’re invited to join Pastor Amy for Home Communion

8/4/2020

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While we cannot gather in person, we will gather over the internet to share the Lord’s Supper together. On Sunday, August 2nd, at 2 PM (following our usual 1 PM check-in) we will gather via Zoom for home communion together. As we have done previously, 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 page six in the newsletter.
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​Bible Study

8/4/2020

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Our weekly Bible Study continues to study the Psalms of Ascent, the portions of the book of Psalms from Psalm 120 – 134. We are on Psalm 125 on Tuesday, August 4th at 10 AM, or Wednesday,     August 5th at 3 PM. You are welcome to join us whenever it works in your schedule.


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​Gardeners! We thank you!

8/4/2020

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Have you noticed the church grounds lately? Many thanks to lawn mowers Eric M and Tim A, weed whacker Don I, garden tenders Donna P and Sue S, and everyone else who has snuck in to help pull weeds or water plants – we thank you! Contact Gay H or Pastor Amy if you’re able to help, or just stop by!


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COVID-19

8/4/2020

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Building Re-opening Plans

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Your session has approved the required re-opening document that will allow us to re-open the building for different types of gatherings starting as early as Phase 4 of the Washington State COVID-19 phases for Snohomish County. Contact Kim or Pastor Amy if you’d like to receive a copy of the document.
 
Don’t forget – We have special procedures for using the church building during    COVID-19
Please log in and log out whenever you use the church building. On the form provided, check the boxes for the areas of the church you visit. Currently there are no meetings scheduled at the church building and staff is using the facility on a limited basis.
 
We also ask that you monitor your own symptoms and if you have fever, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, headaches, or sudden loss of smell and taste, fever or chills, cough, muscle or body aches, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea, please do not visit the church building.



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Sunday Worship by Mail, too!

8/4/2020

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​Do you know someone (maybe you?) who would like to receive a mailed copy of the Sunday worship and sermon each week? Contact Kim or Pastor Amy to be added to our list.

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