At last we have a meeting scheduled in November with the Presbytery, the architect, and Pastor Amy to go over options. Once again, please keep us in your prayers and look for an update soon.
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Advent and Christmas are fast approaching! If you would like to sing with the choir for the holidays, please speak with Kathy Miller. A few special events to have on your calendar include:
December 1: First Sunday of Advent & Communion December 8: Women’s Association bake sale after worship December 22: The Choir will have special music, including gospel Soloist Nichol Eskridge as we share with one another the story and meaning of Christmas December 24: Christmas Eve worship 5 PM, will there be another impromptu Christmas pageant? Look for more details soon. Kathy Fladmoe works in the office and checks in clients at Concern for Neighbors Food Bank in Mountlake Terrace. Concern For Neighbors Food Bank is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that collects and distributes food to low income families. The Food Bank currently serves an average of 110+ households per week. It services families in Mount Lake Terrace, Brier, and parts of Lynnwood. Every Tuesday from 9:30A-11:30A Kathy volunteers and gets to know clients on a first name basis. People tell Kathy that Concern for Neighbors is one of the friendliest foodbanks. It makes her feel good to volunteer and treat people with respect and help without making people feel embarrassed. Kathy says “It’s a happy place and I enjoy meeting other people.” While the food bank serves all kinds of individuals Kathy has observed that it is mostly senior populations and those in poverty. As Kathy puts it “food is expensive and they get a variety of healthy food there.” Kathy says that the thing they most could use is someone to speak Russian and interpret for the families and clients that need this service. If you want to get involved too: concern4neighborsfoodbank@yahoo.com (425) 778-7227 4700 228th St SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043, USA Donations Monday/Tuesday from 8:00AM-1:00PM. Distribution Tuesday 9:30AM-11:30AM Greetings,
As we move into the fall sermon series, I’ve been wondering what living the Christian life looks like in our individual lives. The sermon series began on September 22nd with “What Does Faithfulness Look Like?” Over the coming weeks we will wonder about Hope, Obedience, Thankfulness, Forgiveness, Humility, Compassion, Courage, Peace, and God’s Future. In these ten weeks my hope is that we consider how we live this precious life that has been given to us by God. Last week I attended a memorial service at another church for a woman who has lived most of her adult life in the small community where she worshiped. She was part of a weekly women’s bible study for years. She volunteered and served her church in a variety of ways. But what struck me the most, was the many lives her life touched. How comforting it was to her family to hear the stories, and to share the memories that stretched back more than 50 years. There was laughter and there were tears. It was a beautiful tribute to a life well-lived. It was also a reminder to me that sometimes we get glimpses of heaven here on earth. I believe that in heaven our stories, our lives, will be fully known as we are fully known by God. Here on earth, we only get a glimpse of the lives we touch, or an inkling of the ways others’ lives have formed us. It is enough to reassure us and give us hope, but it is only the beginning of the story of our lives. In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, at the end of the section on love, we read, (13:12) 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. When we face the reality of death, as Christians we face it with confidence. We know that God is the one who has been with us on this life-long journey, and God will one day guide us home to that place where we will be fully known. It is a good work God does in us over the course of our lives, daily encouraging us to live our lives in ways that reflect our faith. In Paul’s letter to the church in Phillipi we read, (1:6, The Message) There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Whether you are blessed with living in one community for the majority of your life, or you have been blessed with a more nomadic existence, know that God has been with you. Whether you face the reality of death at an early age or after a long life, God is still with you. One day each of us will rejoice to see the Glory of our God face-to-face. And in that day we will be fully known, and our stories fully told. We will be filled with wonder at the many ways God moved, often without our noticing, in our lives and the lives of those we loved. And, on occasions such as the memorial service I attended, we get a glimpse of what that day will be like. Blessings, Pastor Amy We are awaiting the revised plans from the architect for the remodel of our building to support additional rooms for our Presbytery offices and several counseling rooms. Good things come to those who wait … while that’s not biblical, it is our hope! And we will share with you what we learn when we learn it. Thanks for your patience!
You’re invited to join us for an International Potluck on World Communion Sunday, October 6th, following 10 AM worship. Bring a dish from your heritage to share!
A congregational meeting was held on September 22nd to elect a new class of elders and approve the changes in Pastor Amy’s terms of call. Elders for the class of 2022 are Gay H. and Don H., Sr. Thank-you to both for their service to the church! We will elect a new class of deacons at another date. Pastor Amy’s terms of call have been three-quarters time. On Sunday we approved reducing her hours to half-time in recognition of the smaller congregational size. Much of what she does for the congregation will remain the same. A full copy of the new terms of call is available in the office.
All ladies are invited to the meeting on October 9th at the church. The business meeting will be at 11:30am, followed by lunch around noon. We will sign up for our new prayer partners. After lunch we have the privilege of hearing from Kimberly W., our new church Administrative Assistant.
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