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From the Desk of Pastor Rob

2/23/2023

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Wow, that was a busy start to the new year! Now we are in Lent, and it is a time for rest and reflection.

We are cooperating with Calvin Presbyterian and Maplewood Presbyterian again this year. Maundy Thursday service will be at Edmonds, 7 PM, April 6th. Good Friday will be at Calvin PC, details to come. Easter Sunday Sunrise Service will be hosted by Maplewood, 6:30 AM, April 9th. And of course, we will have Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services at Edmonds at the usual 10 AM. Details to come!

Plans for Easter Baskets with the Concern for Neighbors food bank in Mountlake Terrace are in full swing. Our partnership with the Edmonds Toy Shop is growing with a bicycle distribution event in the Spring. Stay tuned for details on these opportunities to serve.

Choir is back! We will sing in worship at least once per month, with practice the Wednesday before. The next practice is Wednesday, March 1 at 7 PM. We will sing on March 5 worship at 10 AM.

Our study of the Sermon on the Mount using Amy-Jill Levine’s “Toward the Kingdom of Heaven” continues. Please join us after worship or at 10AM Tuesday over Zoom.
We worked out all the bugs in our Online Streaming Worship. Please go to the www.epc-pcusa.org website for the latest links.

This is what I am planning for worship in March.
Sunday, March 5th. My sermon “Are You Kidding?” explores the joke that is built into John 3. John uses Greek puns and verbal tricks to show the cleverness of Jesus and the shallowness of Nicodemus and the Pharisees. How we see this passage tells us a lot about how we received the famous John 3:16.

Sunday, March 12th. “Be Careful What You Ask For” is about our need to complain to God. God often answers our prayers in unexpected ways. When Jesus asks the Samaritan woman at the well for a drink, she gets a lot more than she expects, leading her to say “Sir, give me this water.”

Sunday, March 19th. The story of the blind man in John 9 is very funny as well as instructive. When he talks to the judgmental Pharisees, it makes us wonder “Who Is Blind?”

Sunday, March 26th. In “In Dry Bones Wet Eyes” we see the depth of emotions in Ezekiel and in Jesus. Ezekiel wonders if Israel will ever be a nation again. Jesus cries for his dear friend Lazarus and his sisters. Jesus is beginning to know what he will be facing on the cross and he is deeply emotionally affected.

It is a joy to serve God with you! I wish you many blessings in this Lenten season.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Rob

MISSION NEWS

2/23/2023

Our congregation gave $255 to the Christmas Joy offering which was collected in January this year. This offering helps retired pastors and other church workers who face critical financial needs and also helps support students of color who attend Presbyterian-related schools. Margaret K read very meaningfully an article about the importance of the Christmas Joy offering.
“Souper Bowl Sunday” donations scored a “touchdown” for the Concern for Neighbors Food Bank. The 48 food items and $106 monetary donations will help provide much needed food for hungry people.
The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be collected on Palm Sunday. This offering will help provide relief from natural disasters, help feed hungry people, and provide help and assistance to people who are poor and oppressed.
The Concern for Neighbors Food Bank would like 100 Easter Baskets this year. Though this project is sponsored by the Women’s Association, it takes help from the congregation to fill all the baskets. Donations of baskets, animals and candy will be appreciated. Cash is also welcome if you prefer to donate that way. We will fill the baskets April 1st at 10 a.m. Anyone who would like to help is welcome to come.
Ruth R, Mission Elder

WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

2/23/2023

Eight women met in the friendship hall of the church on February 8 for a business meeting and Valentine’s Day Luncheon. Minutes of the December meeting were read and approved, treasurer report of $ 1337.37 in our bank account was approved, and Ruth R reported on our Christmas family. Ruth called Carla at Concern for Neighbors Food Bank in Mountlake Terrace, who requested 100 Easter Baskets this year. We are in need of more baskets to fill and small plush animals to put in the baskets we are encouraged to visit thrift shops and dollar stores to try to find these items.
Ruth also reported she attended a meeting where she met the new commander of Support 7 which was founded in 1981 by Ken Geydos who has spoken to our group several times in the past. (Sadly, he passed away a few years ago).
Festive decorations were provided by Kathy M and a lovely lunch was served by Kathy M, Ruth R and Jean G. Valentine candy and cookies were provided to each person attending.
A motion was passed to provide funding of up to $200 for items needed to fill the Easter Baskets. Since Easter falls on April 9 this year, we plan to meet in the Friendship Hall to put the baskets together at 10 AM on April 1. We invite anyone who is interested in helping with this project to come.
March meeting will be at the Pancake Haus in Edmonds at 12 noon on March 8. April meeting will again be at the church at 11:30 am on April 12 and we plan to have a speaker for that meeting. We hope everyone is well and able to come join us.
Margaret S, Women’s Association Moderator

EDUCATION

2/23/2023

February is National Cancer Prevention month. According to National Cancer Society, over 119 million new cancer cases are expected in the US in 2023 and about 18 million Americans with cancer are alive today. Unfortunately, people who have or had cancer often face problems with discrimination. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protection for individuals who currently have cancer, are in remission, or have a history of cancer. These protections are for individuals who are looking for a job, or already have a job. To learn more please review the following resources.
1) Cancer in the workplace and the ADA US Equal Employment Opportunity Committee
2) Your Employment Rights as a Person with a Disability and the ADA by Pacific ADA Center website: www.adapacific.org Phone 800-949-4232 (This site provides information about all disabilities, vision, hearing, medical conditions or handicaps.)
For the latest information on COVID Treatment see Health Advisory Increasing COVID Treatment.
A data dashboard explores details of opioid overdoses in Snohomish County including symptoms of overdose: www.snohomishoverdoseprevention.com/data Prompt treatment saves lives.
Margaret S, Education Elder

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

1/26/2023

Dear Fellow Travelers,
It is exciting to see all that is happening at Edmonds Presbyterian! Our Annual Meeting is on Sunday, February 5th after worship. Not only are we growing, we have many emerging plans for the coming year.

Plans for Easter Baskets with the Concern for Neighbors food bank in Mountlake Terrace are in full swing. Our partnership with the Edmonds Toy Shop is growing with a bicycle distribution event in the Spring. Stay tuned for details on these opportunities to serve.

Choir is back! We will sing in worship at least once per month, with practice the Wednesday before. The next practice is Wednesday, February 1 at 7 PM. We will sing on February 5 worship at 10 AM.

Our study of the Sermon on the Mount using Amy-Jill Levine’s “Toward the Kingdom of Heaven” continues. Please join us after worship or at 10AM Tuesday over Zoom.
We worked out all the bugs in our Online Streaming Worship. Please go to the www.epc-pcusa.org website for the latest links.

This is what I am planning for worship in February.
Sunday, February 5th. In “Be the Light” I will show you how Paul’s personal involvement in ministry mirrored Jesus’s words “you are salt of the earth and you are the light of the world.” Being spiritually integrated is important for abundant life.

Sunday, February 12th. Moses stood “On Jordan’s Verge” as he gave his grand speech to the Israelites before entering Canaan. He would not go with them, for his time had passed, but he was preparing them to be do it for themselves. Spiritual maturity is about being prepared for God’s future for us.

Sunday, February 19th. Transfiguration Sunday is a moment of clarity. “In God’s Time” shows how the confusion of the various voices in the Bible claiming to speak for God are swept away in presence of God. Our lives are confusing, and we don’t know what will happen to us. When we keep our focus on Jesus, we can see how the silly arguments of today can be set aside.

Sunday, February 26th. In “Have a Bite” we take a look at the very familiar story of Adam, Eve, and that slippery snake. This story tells us so much about human nature. How we react to the story tells us about our fears and ourselves. By looking at it a little differently, we can gain a new sense of boldness and confidence.

It is a joy to serve God with you! I am thrilled to see what’s next for us.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Rob

Education Report

1/26/2023

Bible Study continues to be held twice a week: on Sundays following church service, and at 10 am Tuesday mornings via Zoom. Our study continues in the book Toward the Kingdom of Heaven by Amy-Jill Levine. The study centers on the Sermon on the Mount as found in Matthew chapters 5-7 with practical advice on how to incorporate the bible teaching into our everyday lives. It answers such questions as how to get along with people we disagree with and how tradition is tied in with present policies of our church. It also gives us an incentive to discuss what God means to us and how to incorporate our love of God into our lives. The study lessons are led by volunteers taking turns each week with a lively discussion on every topic.
This study should be finished about the time the school year is over, then Pastor Rob has already selected a new Bible Study book for us to use to continue our exploration of the meaning of the Bible.
Margaret S, Education Elder

Mission Report

1/26/2023

With the beginning of a new year, it is time to come together and unite in worship, prayer, and service. The Special Offerings and Presbyterian Giving Catalog give examples of how to extend grace and love. When your church joins in receiving one or more of these offerings you support ministries working to provide food, shelter, and hope for “the least of these” among us, to educate and guide today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders, and advance justice, peace, and equality for everyone.
Lets look forward to working together to find solutions to these problems and work to spread hope to those who suffer through no fault of their own from crisis and disaster.
Margaret S, Mission Elder

Outreach Report

1/26/2023

Pastor Rob’s report shows that outreach continues throughout the year with his making contact with people in our community. We thank Pastor Rob for the efforts he is making toward bringing new people to our church and thank all the congregation for making everyone welcome. We continue to provide coffee and refreshments for everyone in the Friendship Hall following church services and have child care available during church .
We welcome the new members who joined our church on Christmas day and know we all feel enriched by their presence among us.
Margaret S, Outreach Elder

Women’s Association Meeting

1/26/2023

Our January meeting was held at the Pancake Haus in Edmonds with seven women attending. Since it was an informal meeting we skipped reports and had only one item of business. A motion was passed authorizing Ruth R to again send Valentine cards and candy to each of the college students from our church. If you have a college student in your immediate family please let Ruth know their name and address so she can include them in her list.
We again plan to make Easter Baskets for the food bank to distribute. We need small stuffed animals and candy to fill the baskets. Ruth will gladly purchase the candy for us if we provide the money to her. She has done this for so many years she knows where to find the best bargains. Ruth will let us know the date when we can all meet on a Saturday in the Friendship Hall to put the baskets together. Many hands make light work, so everyone is invited to assist in assembling the Easter Baskets.
Our next meeting will be at the church at 11:30 am on February 8. All women are invited to attend, we hope to see you there.
Margaret S, Women’s Association Moderator

Thank you to Our YWCA Holiday Family Giving Program Donors

1/26/2023

Due to your generous contributions, we were able to help 216 families – including 414 children and 30 disabled adults! Once again, the gift card model provided a positive experience for families as this enabled them to purchase the exact gifts that were desired by their children. Your gift was a blessing to the family you supported. Our YWCA families appreciate your participation in this program immensely.
We heard stories from parents who were moved to tears with gratitude for their gifts and overwhelmingly, the families asked that we let their sponsor know how much the gifts meant to them. One mom, while expressing her appreciation told us, we are always telling our kids ‘no’ to luxuries that we can’t afford, but this program allowed us to say ‘yes’ to their most desired items. This helped us to feel like a normal family shopping for gifts for our kids.”
To me, this sums up our program – allowing families in need to forget about their struggles for a short time and create special holiday memories for their children.”
Karla Danson, YWCA-Pathways Holiday gift program