Category: Missions - Edmonds Presbyterian Church

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

MISSIONS

11/30/2022

With the cold weather coming upon us, we need to think of the many people who are homeless, without warm clothing or electricity to keep warm. Giving to the food bank, the traditional volunteer agencies such as Gospel Mission and Salvation Army and other volunteer agencies who help those in need helps save lives and provide comfort to those who need it. So check your coat closets for outgrown coats and sweaters and check your shelves for nonperishable food items that you can give to those who are cold and hungry.
Many new charities have sprung up in the last few years, not all of which are legitimately helping those with the greatest need, so it is important to have our charitable contributions sent through a proven agency. The Presbyterian Mission is monitored and approved by the church and we can be sure any funds raised by them will reach those truly in need and will be much appreciated and used by those on the receiving end.
Margaret S, Mission Elder

MISSION NEWS

10/27/2022

In August our allotment of $2,300 for mission was sent out and divided among 9 recipients. Several thank-you notes have been received in return along with news of how the funds are being used.

Our missionary to Sweden, Jan G joined the September Women’s Association meeting via Zoom (special thanks to Linda R for setting up zoom for us). Jan told us of her current activities of taking a class from the book Across the Street and Around the World, which focuses on and helping communicate with newcomers to the country, especially Muslims. The book is in English and is being translated into Swedish. Otherwise, Jan is continuing her duties of assisting the minister of a church and helping individual families learn about Christianity.

Our next Special Offering is Christmas Joy which will be collected in November and December. These gifts make it possible for students to learn and grow in faith at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges. Fifty percent of our gifts provide assistance for current and retired church workers and their families with critical financial needs. “If we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.”

Margaret S, Mission Elder

Missions News

4/28/2022

On March 2, the One Great Hour of Sharing campaign began. This is one of the Special Offerings sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in support of ministries of compassion, justice, hunger, education, peacemaking, and global witness. Funds raised during the season of Lent are sent to Presbyterian Mission Agency where they are divided with 36% to Presbyterian Hunger Program, 32% to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and 32% to Self-Development of People.

In 2020 the Disaster Assistance granted $6.5 million as more than 500 grants in the United States and 56 countries. Of that, $3.5 million was for COVID-19 response. Find an interactive world map with OGHS recipients may be seen at pcusa.org/oghsmap. Also, to find out more about the ongoing work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, go to presbyterianmission.org/pda.

A BIG Thank You to all who contributed either cans of soup or cash to Souperbowl Sunday. On Monday, 24 cans of soup, 3 bags of nonperishable food, and $14 cash was delivered to the Neighbors in Need Food Bank.

Margaret S, Mission Elder

Mission News

3/1/2022

On March 2, the One Great Hour of Sharing campaign begins. This is one of the Special Offerings sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in support of ministries of compassion, justice, hunger, education, peacemaking, and global witness. Funds raised during the season of Lent are sent to Presbyterian Mission Agency where they are divided with 36% to Presbyterian Hunger Program, 32% to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and 32% to Self-Development of People.

In 2020 the Disaster Assistance granted $6.5 million as more than 500 grants in the United States and 56 countries. Of that, $3.5 million was for COVID-19 response. Find an interactive world map with OGHS recipients may be seen at pcusa.org/oghsmap. Also, to find out more about the ongoing work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, go to presbyterianmission.org/pda.

A BIG Thank You to all who contributed either cans of soup or cash to Souperbowl Sunday. On Monday, 24 cans of soup, 3 bags of nonperishable food, and $14 cash was delivered to the Neighbors in Need Food Bank.

Margaret S, Mission Elder

MISSION NEWS

1/27/2022

Thank-You notes were received from several mission recipients, among them was an up-date from World Concern: Thank you for your faithful support through another difficult year. Your gift makes a tremendous difference in vital, life-saving ways:
Providing emergency food for families today and over the long-term. You saved Maria’s grandson! At six months old, he suffered from malnutrition. Sick and listless because the family could not provide the needed nutrition for him, they thought he would die! This is when you stepped in. Because of your generosity, Maria learned to plant and harvest a garden. Chickens you provided gave eggs for food and to sell. Goats you provided gave milk for the family and provided meat for the family and a source of income to buy other necessities. Her grandson is thriving now and so is the family with their goat farm.
Margaret S, Mission Elder

MISSION NEWS

12/1/2021

Support 7 sent a thank you note for our gift of $75 for the critical work our local fire departments do in Snohomish County answering 911 calls. They are grateful to us for our continued support. . They ask for our prayers of protection for their chaplains and volunteers who work 24/7, as first responders answering victims of trauma in a moment of darkness. They also ask for our prayers for the many hurting hearts in our community, as we are seeing a rise in deaths by suicide and COVID. They provide a high standard of pre-hospital emergency care, entirely through the generosity of donations. For more information or donations, visit their website at: mediconefoundation.org.

Pregnancy Resource has provided us with a Christmas family consisting of a mother and 2 children: a boy age 7 and a girl age 9. Pregnancy Resource is a Christian organization that provides counseling, classes, material help and other support to pregnant women and mothers to help them keep their babies and young children. Our church is collecting donations to buy gift cards for this family, with donations due by December 5th. Monetary donations can be sent to the church office in envelopes marked “For Christmas Family.”

As food for thought, the latest Mission Report asks us to help eradicate systemic poverty by acting on our beliefs and working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor. In Matthew 25, we are called on to serve with and for “the least important ones” by recognizing Christ’s urgent call to be a church of action, where God’s love, justice and mercy shine forth and are contagious.

Respectfully submitted by Margaret S, Mission elder

Missions News

8/26/2021

Quarterly checks were sent out to our mission partners by the session mission committee. We thank all the membership for your faithfulness in continuing your contributions to the church during this long spell of having to meet virtually due to the COVID-19 closure. It is indeed a pleasure to be meeting again at the church and to be seeing most of you on a regular basis.
We have received many Thank-You notes from our mission partners which are on display in the Friendship Hall. Among them is a letter from Tyler and Rochelle Holm giving thanks for our prayers for them and the people of Malawi. They are now living in Richland Washington and have enrolled their daughter Mphatso in the local school while waiting to return to their missionary position in Malawi. They want to continue to be in our prayers and for us to pray for all the people with COVID.
Haiti has received a double whammy in that a severe earthquake hit the island earlier this month, ruining thousands of homes and with thousands of people injured, then the island was hit by Hurricane Grace, dumping a deluge of water on the helpless residents. The US Navy and Air Force have been helping find victims and getting them to medical treatment, but there is a great need for help including food, water, and medical supplies. If you can help the people of Haiti please send a contribution to Presbyterian Disaster Relief-Haiti in care of Edmonds Presbyterian Church.
The mission committee would like to have more members, so please contact me if you have an interest in selecting our mission partners and deciding how to dispense our funds.

Margaret S, Mission Elder

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

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