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Jeremy Matheis - Editor
Norm Wells - Features Editor |
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| A Monthly Publication of All Pilgrims Christian Church |
February 2009 |
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NEW BEGINNINGS UPDATE 
"Seeking God's Will":
The Next Step In Our New Beginnings Journey
The New Beginnings process reconvenes on Feb. 1 with the second of our Discernment Reflection Events "Seeking God's Will." Please note that this session will only be 2 hours long, giving everyone plenty of time to get home for the Super Bowl. In our gathering on Jan. 4, we took an inventory of Spiritual Gifts embodied in our congregation, and discussed how to take those and other strengths forward in four areas of congregational life. The four areas we discussed were Didache (teaching, learning), Kerygma (worship, celebration), Koinonia (community, care) and Diakonia (service, witness).
On Feb. 1 we will be building on these conversations. We will first reflect on the patterns we are noticing in these conversations. We will then reflect on the needs we see in the world - in what areas of ministry or service might we be called. Finally, we will identify some initial natural bridges between our gifts/strengths and the needs we see in the world. As a conclusion, we will take away an assignment to spend time considering and noticing our response to the idea of taking action in response to certain needs in the world.
Our consultant, John Forman, invites us to leave the session on Feb. 1 with a set of questions rather than answers. When we reconvene in March, we will gather our collective responses and continue in the next step of discernment which is "Giving Voice to Vision."
If you were not able to participate in the Jan. 4 event, you are asked to "get up to speed" by visiting the New Beginnings Blog (see related news item below or Quick Link to the right). Please watch the video and read the summaries of table conversations. If you were not able to participate in the Spiritual Discernment classes, please download the handout which is available from the blog. Our church-wide process is following the outline of spiritual discernment that is conveyed in the handout.
We are the ones we have been waiting for. It's vital that we all attend the New Beginnings process and collectively discern the future of All Pilgrims, and our spiritual lives together. Please plan to attend! John Forman provides the following quote from Rainer Maria Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet" as the right spirit to bring to our next gathering:
"Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day."
New Beginnings Blog Created!
Summaries from the "Claiming Our Strengths" event on January 4, 2009 have been posted and are available for review and comment.
Anyone who would like to post a comment or a thought in response to material on the blog may do so provided that you sign up for a Google "account." This is free and takes just a minute. If you were not able to attend the January 4 event, please use the blog as a way to get "caught up" on the conversations.
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Search Process Begins for a Long Term Pastor
We Need Your Help!
(Kathy Wells, Moderator)
We need everyone - congregation members and friends of All Pilgrims - to participate in our new nomination process. As we move through our New Beginning program to rewrite our mission, it is now time to start the process of selecting our search committee. Finding the right pastor is one of the most important issues we are dealing with as it will impact the future of All Pilgrims.
We have been blessed with 2 exceptional interim pastors, Pastor Nina Merkle Nestlerode and now Pastor Greg Turk. As you may know, Pastor Nina will be back from maternity leave in mid-March and will lead us until we have found the right pastor to lead us into our exciting future.
Make sure to read about details of how you can help at the end of this newsletter by clicking on the link below.
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 People Happenings
Jennifer & Paul Wheeler to Leave Us
Jen Wheeler - that dynamo who leads the Growing our Church committee, sings in the choir, photographs our events, is active with her cluster, etc. etc. - is going to leave us (boo hoo) and move to San Francisco. No .... we must let her go, as it's good news for Jen & Paul. Paul has worked at the Positronic company which was acquired by eBay at the end of December, 2008. Paul will be employed by eBay as a Senior Software Developer, and Jen intends to continue her work in artistic photography, also offering portrait and event photography as well. They have already started checking out churches but Jen says, "we're both very sorry to leave behind all the friends we've made and am sorry to leave the Growing Our Church committee and the choir." She adds, "we will not miss the weather." After March 1st Jen's cell phone and email remain the same, but their new address will be:
3474 17th St., Apt. 3
San Francisco, CA 94110
We wish Jen and Paul our very best, with fond hopes they will return to visit us from time to time.
Linda Purdy Nears Ordination as UCC Clergyperson
For several years Linda has inspired us with her spiritual depth and leadership - in worship, in spiritual care, in inspired sermons. We loved knowing that her leadership was motivated by a deep love for our unique church as well as an intention to eventually become ordained. On Feb. 12th, she will appear before  the UCC's Committee on Ministry to "defend" her 20-page "ordination paper" that she submitted Jan. 11th. Linda requests your prayers for guidance and fortitude as she moves through this challenging process. We're confident you'll do great, Linda, and look forward to hearing next month of your success in achieving ordination!
Woman Continues to Bless APCC After Death
Patsy Gray provided the funds for many important acquisitions by All Pilgrims during the past year; things we wouldn't have otherwise. These include an HP computer, a color laser printer/scanner, cell phones, a shredder, the cost of two mailings to the community and other items totaling over 20!
And who is Patsy Gray? She was a life-long member of First Christian Church until December, 2002, when she passed on. Unable to attend services for the last two decades of her life, Pastors continued to visit her including our own Bob Brock and former pastor Peter Drury. Two years ago, our church was notified that Margaret Sackett Gray (Mrs. Arthur) had made a will, leaving a legacy gift to the First Christian Church. After the gift was legally integrated into All Pilgrims Christian Church, the Church Council voted to make funds from the gift available for needed one-time expenses that were beyond the financial capacity of the church budget.
This brings up another subject: Our Stewardship Committee asks, "have you ever considered remembering All Pilgrims in your will, or perhaps with a Charitable Gift Annuity?" The Committee highly recommends it. If you've already created a will, all it would require is an added "codicil" to add APCC to the list of your intended beneficiaries.
Incidentally, our denominational offices both have the capacity to manage charitable gift annuities and can provide the legally-correct language to add the church. Charitable Gift Annuities reimburse the donor very generously based on age; just one example: a seventy year-old would receive a guaranteed payment of 5.7% per year! If you're interested, Norm Wells would be glad to provide details. You can talk to him in confidence anytime (normwells910@hotmail.com). He is a retired professional fund raiser who worked with two universities and has assisted many people with gift planning during his career. You should, of course, talk to your financial advisor before making a final decision. |
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 Groups, Committees & Events
Council Membership Changes
We now have 2 new council members:
Personnel Committee Chair - Norm Wells has replaced Dave Anstine to give him relief from a very busy schedule.
Growing our Church Chair - David Paul has agreed to replace Jen Wheeler as she and Paul are moving to San Francisco (see article above). We will miss you Jen, and many thanks for a terrific job!
No-Shows... "Please Notify!"
CJ, our very capable Church Caretaker implores church leaders and members to let him know of any changes in plans for room use. He recently rearranged furniture, set up chairs and heated our large building needlessly when two groups did not show up. This is not only a waste of CJ's time, it is also a waste of fuel and money as Church resources. It has been suggested that the church change its policy; that groups be required to notify ahead of time if rooms need to be set up and heat turned on. In other words, if this were to become policy, assistance, including room heat, would not be provided unless it is specifically requested ahead of time. In the meantime couldn't we all do the courteous thing and inform both CJ and Jeremy, our Church Administrator, of cancelled or changed meetings? Their contact information is in the Church Directory:
Spaghetti Lunch to Support Rabuor Village Project, Kenya
You may win a delicious cake to take home!
Be sure to mark Sunday, Feb 15 on your calendar. After the service, instead of having our usual snacks, we will be serving wonderful spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and dessert. AND we will have a Cake Walk (a little like musical chairs with no chairs). The winners will each take home one of the fabulous donated cakes. The optional donation is $5.
This donation will be given to Rabuor Village Project, the well-known local organization supported by many APCC folks, with a mission "to support the people of rural Africa as they develop sustainable community based solutions to overcome the challenges of poverty and HIV/AIDS." Get updated with new RVP photo posters which will be on display in Stuart Hall.
If you are willing to donate a cake for this event (either bake it or buy it), please contact Michael Small at mmario2mario@hotmail.com or leave a message for him at the church office (206-322-0487).
Second Men's Breakfast
Sunday, February 22 @ 8:00 am
 According to Michael Small, the last Men's Group breakfast was very promising as about 9 men showed up. They had a great time cooking, eating and being in fellowship with one another.
They talked about their roles as men in the church and what they would like to see in developing a relationship with Christ and amongst themselves.
The great part is they're still trying to decide exactly what direction to head which makes this group open for more involvement from members and friends alike. They hope to answer some of these questions at their next breakfast on Sunday, February 22nd at 8:00 am. Hungry?!......................Join Us!!
Cornucopia to Perform at Kenyon Hall
Our own Al Rustad takes his Cornucopia Concert Band to Kenyon Hall in West Seattle, Friday & Saturday, Feb. 27 & 28,2009, 7:30--9:00 PM. Performing with Cornucopia are singers Marilyn McAdoo and Michael Beach (we claim Michael as another of "APCC's own"). The concert is entitled, "The Roots of Jazz," and features the rags, blues, and dances of black composers in a commemoration of Black History Month. Reserve ahead of time and save $2 ($10, not $12) at  www.hokumhall.org.
Kenyon Hall is located at 7904 - 35th Ave. SW in Seattle.
Ph. 206-937-3613. | |
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Come As You Are
All Are Welcome!
Sunday Schedule:
10:30 am Worship
11:45 am Coffee Hour
500 Broadway East Seattle, WA 98102 |
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Ministry Quick Links
Who We Are
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All Pilgrims' Call 
Hearkening to Christ's example, we confirm this to be our call:
To be a center of hope,
A community of joy and gladness,
A family of high compassion,
And a home for healing and growth.
- All Pilgrims' By-Laws
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| Pastoral Search - How You Can Help |
Long Term Pastor Search (Cont'd.)
The Council has approved a new search committee procedure (recommended by our consultant, John Forman). We want you to consider nominating a person(s) from our congregation who you feel will be appropriate for this very important role. Nominations must be received by Sunday, February 8.
Nominating Guidelines:
1) Any congregation member or friend of APCC can be nominated as a Search Committee participant. Read the desired qualities listed below. It is not necessary to ask the nominee for permission to be nominated at this time. Anyone wishing to be considered can ask to be nominated by another person. Don't be shy.
Desired qualities of a Search Committee member include:
o A passionate commitment to Christ and the church
o Participation in the current New Beginnings process
o A positive attitude
o Personal integrity and respect for others
o An ability to maintain responsible confidentiality
o The ability to listen deeply, to participate in a group and an orientation toward consensus
o A history (even a short one) of support for the church as demonstrated by regular attendance, financial support and other forms of participation
o The trust and respect of the congregation
o The willingness and time to make responsibility a high priority.
2) Make a nomination by listing the nominee name on paper and briefly explain why that person would be an asset to the committee. Your name is optional. Put your nomination paper in the offering plate using the provided envelope in the Narthex or give it to Kathy Wells, Moderator. It can be in person, sent in care of the Church Office or emailed to kathynorm@msn.com or if necessary by phone 206-366-6654. 3) A Task Force of 4-5 (council members and non-council members) will review the nominations, selecting nominees to complete a 5-9 member committee. These nominees will be contacted to review a "5 Commitments Sheet" and approve their participation. To follow our quest for diversity, the new Search Committee should consist of one "friend" of All Pilgrims (non- member) and reflect a balance of ages, gender and experiences.
4) Members should be prepared to meet as often as every other week but will jointly determine the frequency of meetings based on a desired profile deadline. The chair will be determined by the committee. They will write the congregational profile to be used in the search, following the guidelines of the New Beginnings revisioning process and other resources. The profile will be approved by the Council.
5) This is an ad hoc committee which will be terminated after a long-term Pastor of APCC is selected.
Tentative Timelines (but remember - we are working on God's time)
Mid-January - February: Committee selection
February - March: Committee preparation, including congregational profile
April - May: The calling of our long-term pastor; ministerial profile reviews and interviews, continuing as needed. |
 In Next Month's Issue of The Vine
Jeff Woiton Moves to Caribbean Island
Disciples of Christ Identity DVD Available
5 Same-Sex Couples Married in Oregon UCC Church
End of the Year Financial Snapshot for APCC
PLUS........
Neighbors' Reaction to the New Carillon! |
| Upcoming Events |
- Reconciling Encounters Workshops - 1:30 PM, January 31 & February 1
- Mission & Outreach Meeting - 11:45 AM, February 1
- New Beginnings Discernment Reflection: Seeking God's Will - 12:00 PM, February 1
- Stewardship Meeting - 7:15 PM, February 3
- Jesus Study Group Lecture Series with Marcus Borg - February 6 & 7
- Growing Our Church Meeting - 11:45 AM, February 8
- Church Council Meeting - 12:30 PM, February 8
- Deadline for Pastoral Search Committee nominations
- University of Washington Chorale Talent Show - 7:30 PM, February 13
- Spaghetti Feed & Cakewalk for Rabuor Village Project - 11:45 AM, February 15
- Finance Meeting - 7:15 PM, February 19
- Men's Group Breakfast - 8:00 AM, February 22
- Building & Grounds Meeting - 7:00 PM, February 24
- University of Washington Men's Glee Club Winter Concert - 7:30 PM, February 27
- Cornucopia Concert Band Performance - 7:30 PM, February 27 & 28
- UCC Women's Retreat - February 27 - March 1 - Pilgrim Firs Campground
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| Contact Information |
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All Pilgrims Christian Church
509 10th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98102
206-322-0487
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