Edmonds Presbyterian Church
  • Home
  • About
  • Sermons
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • Facility Rental
  • Education

Pastor Amy's Thoughts...

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Greetings!
             It is a crisp autumn day as I sit down to write this article. Each season of the year brings with it a certain amount of change and an anticipation of what is to come.
The month of November begins with the celebration of All Saints Day (November 1st), which is a remembrance of all the saints (all who followed Jesus) who have come before us on this walk of faith. It is fitting, then, that November is the month when we are celebrating over 50 years of faithful ministry of this congregation. Tamara, our office administrator, is at work creating a slide show for that day from the various scrapbooks and loose photos stored here at the church. As we look through our scrapbooks, and search our memories, who would you like to see join us in worship on November 12th for this celebration of our congregation’s history? If you have not already done so, extend an invitation and let them know that you’d love to see them here for our celebration.
As we think of these everyday Edmonds saints, I am reminded of my colleague, Rev. Dennis Hughes, and his passionate encouragement to have Presbyterians celebrate All Saints Day. His widow, Ann, shared with me an unpublished book chapter on this subject that he finished prior to his death. I look forward to sharing the full text with you once it is published. Two ideas shine through in his writing. The first is a call to a biblical understanding of saints, rooted in our understanding of the sacraments. We are all part of the “communion of saints,” the group of believers, past present, and future, who have followed (or will follow) Jesus. Our observance of All Saints Day is therefore a celebration of the church from the first Christian believers through the end of time. A second idea that struck me is his call to uphold and celebrate the Christian role models that have come before us. Every generation needs heroes and heroines. The Christian faith has these in abundance – faithful people who have lived their lives in service to God, in both great and small ways. We see that in Paul’s first letter to Timothy, where Paul tells him that it is because of his mother’s and grandmother’s faith that Timothy heard the good news of the Gospel of Jesus. And we see that in our study of the history of the church from Jesus’ time until now. How many of these saints can you name? I have a series of read-aloud books on my shelves at home that tell the stories of kings, queens, explorers, heroes, and early saints of the church. In each volume they describe the lives of faithful men and women. The first book in the series is: “Early Saints of God (Family Read-Aloud Collection) (Vol 1)” by Bob Hartman. I think they are great reading for adults, too. We all need Christian role-models, saints, whose lives illumine our own.
As we move into this season of remembrance and thanksgiving, I wonder, who are the saints in your life who shared with you the good news? Who have you shared the good news with? And isn’t it a joy to know that the good news that began with the first disciples continues today and even beyond our earthly lives into the future!

In Christ,
Pastor Amy


0 Comments

Missions

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The church, together with Men’s Fellowship and Women’s Association sponsored a sock drive for Operation Nightwatch during the month of October. The Women’s Association, with help from the church will sponsor a needy family from YWCA Pathways for Christmas. We should have information on our family soon. Pastor Rip Van Winkle from Opening Blind Eyes, one of the ministries helped by our mission dollars, has been having some health problems, so prayers for his health as well as the ministry would be helpful. Some services provided by Opening Blind Eyes include pastoral care, bible studies, Christian witness, and hospital visitation for the inmates at Monroe Prison.

0 Comments

New Roof

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
A new roof has been installed over the east wing (offices and classrooms) of the church. Thank-you to Jim Nickle and Gay Hawkins for coordinating this effort. Now we have the delightful problem of too many black buckets -- feel free to take one if you can use one!

0 Comments

Drainage Upgrade

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
After much discussion and consideration, we are installing a French drain on the south side of the church, running from what we sometimes call “Lake Edmonds” to the drainage ditch on the east side of the property. Hooray! Thank-you to all whose faithful donations allow us to complete these projects without a need for special fundraisers! But if you’d like to make a special offering to help us offset the cost, you may do so. Please put “maintenance reserve” in the memo line of your check.

0 Comments

Reformation Roots Class:

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
We have begun studying the history of the Reformation, using a study titled, “Reformation Roots.” Each lesson has a short video and questions for discussion. There are 12 lessons in the material, and we will spread them out over the fall and into 2018. The class meets following worship on November 5th, 19th, 26th, and December 3rd. After a long holiday break, we will resume the class in January. Thank you to all who are sharing in the leadership of this class.

0 Comments

Food Bank

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Don’t forget that we support the Concern for Neighbors food bank in Mountlake Terrace, located at Terrace View Presbyterian Church. Bring your non-perishable items, brown paper bags, or empty egg cartons and Jim Nickel will take them to the food bank. In case you are wondering what to purchase, here is a list of the “top 25” healthy non-perishable items most needed by food banks: canned beans; dry beans; peanut butter, or other nut butters; rolled oats; canned fruit in juice, not in light or heavy syrup; canned vegetables, with no or low-sodium; low-sodium soups; canned tuna in water; canned chicken; brown rice; quinoa; nuts, unsalted; seeds, unsalted; shelf stable milk and milk substitutes; whole grain pasta; low-sodium pasta sauce; popcorn kernels (not microwave popcorn); canned stews; unsweetened apple sauce; whole grain, low-sugar cold cereals; olive or canola oil; canned tomatoes; dried fruits, no sugar added; honey; chicken, beef and vegetable broths and stock.

0 Comments

Deacons Fund

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
As we head into the fall, the needs in both our church community and the larger local area increase as the temperature falls. If you would like to assist the church in helping with immediate needs in our community, please consider a gift to the Deacons fund. The Deacons have their own account. Please write your check to “Edmonds Presbyterian Deacons.” And again, thank-you for your generosity.

0 Comments

Christmas Card Writing and Coloring Party

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Come join us on Friday, December 1st at 7PM for a Christmas card writing party. Bring your supplies and get your cards done with the help of hot cocoa, cider, Christmas music and good company. Or, if you don't do cards, bring your coloring supplies (or use ours) to color some holiday cheer. Bring a friend! 

0 Comments

Women’s Association

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
The Women’s Association will meet on November 8th at 11:30AM. The “Thank Offering,” which goes to the national Presbyterian Women, will be collected during the meeting. The money collected nation-wide will help fund programs to improve health, education, living conditions, and provide nourishing food and spiritual help to this country as well as internationally to people who desperately need assistance. A good lunch, with time for visitation, will be served around noon. The program will be about Clear Option phones for people with hearing loss. All women and their friends are invited to attend.
0 Comments

Bake Sale

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The annual bake sale will be on December 10th after worship. The proceeds from the sale of mouth-watering goodies will all go to help various agencies provide service to children, teens, and adults who need help with shelter, food, permanent housing, employment, counseling, and a chance to hear the message of salvation.

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    The Caller

    A monthly newsletter of upcoming events, celebrations, and news of the church community.

    Categories

    All
    Bible Study
    Deacons
    Education
    Events
    Fellowship
    Jobs
    Mens Fellowship
    Missions
    Music
    NW Coast Presbytery
    Pastor Thoughts
    Prayer
    Scouts
    Session Info (church Board)
    Stewardship
    Sunday School
    Womens Assn
    Worship
    Youth

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from KarenBorterPhotography, peddhapati, Jamie In Bytown, Evim@ge