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Come As You Are!
All Are Welcome!
Sunday Schedule:
10:30 AM
Worship
11:45 AM
Coffee Hour
Location:
500 Broadway East
Seattle, WA 98102
Mailing
Address:
509 10th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98102
206-322-0487
office@allpilgrims.org
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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The Psalm of Icy Awareness
- adapted from Edward Hayes
The earth around my home
is now locked in a winter wrap
of bone-chilling cold, often with snow and ice.
Water, usually clear and liquid,
a joyous, flowing community,
is now freezing into crystals of ice.
Recently in humanity's long history
there has arisen an isolation,
a separation of those who share
common human flesh and bone.
While once upon a time we gathered joyfully
in families, tribes and clans,
we now so often live divorced
from earth and from each other,
with loneliness as our only company.
All isolation is ice-olation,
frigid to human flesh,
cold and lifeless to the touch,
untrue to our most basic unity, community.
And whenever I act single-handedly,
apart from an awareness of my sisters and brothers,
I become a deformed, divine disciple.
And tribeless, O God, how can I tread the path
that You have designed as a companion course.
Ah, the wisdom, so divine,
in Your Genesis words,
spoken to perfectly made, fully automated Adam,
"It is not good for one to be alone." |
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Greetings from
Rev. Nina Merkle Nestlerode
- Interim Pastor
We are beginning a new year. Most of us celebrate the reigning in of the next year at midnight on January 1st. The church calendar also celebrates a new year, but starts it earlier.
Does it begin with the birth of the Christ Child? That would make sense, but no. It starts with the first Sunday of Advent. The church year begins with a time of preparation and anticipation weeks before the holy event.
What if our calendar year followed suit? What if it began not with determined resolutions made on the first and slowly dropped a month or two later, but began with an intentional phase of preparation and anticipation to better ourselves for the holy gift of a new year?
All Pilgrims, where is God calling you to this new year? How will the gifts of Christ make manifest within you this year? Will you greet them with intention and preparation to more wholly embrace the year ahead? Or will the brilliant light of the just-passed Christmas message also quickly fade away?
In this time of renewal, may the Spirit of Peace fill you and reside within you the whole year through.
Blessings,
Nina |
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One-sentence Praise for Pastor Nina
Surprise, Nina! We didn't tell you about this article when we planned the January issue of The Vine.
As we all know, the ministry of our wonderful Interim Pastor, Rev. Nina Merkle Nestlerode, may not last too much longer. The pastoral search committee is moving ever closer to selecting a candidate for a long-term pastor of All Pilgrims.
January just happens to be the 2nd anniversary of Pastor Nina's ministry with us. So, as a surprise for her, we invited members and friends to send a one-sentence statement about what they have appreciated most about her. Boy, did we get the replies!
Here they are:
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The depth of your commitment and love for All Pilgrims is not measured in extra days and weeks and months, but in tears, and smiles, and hugs - we are so truly blessed by your presence among us.
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She has demonstrated fine leadership qualities through her steadiness, humor, knowledge of theology, and willingness to step out in front on social issues.
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Nina is compassionate yet realistic in her ministry.
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I appreciate Pastor Nina because of her intellectual pursuit of God and her encouragement of us to do the same.
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Nina's tender heart and ready humor literally speak the Gospel!
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I look forward every Sunday to your Spirit-filled sermons.
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You are a wonderful pastor - wise, trustworthy with confidentialities, spirit-filled, loving, scholarly and a great preacher who doesn't depend on a manuscript.
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She never treats me like a headcase, even when I'm being a headcase.
- Nina has brought joy and great teaching as well as uniting us in anticipation of the future of our church.
- I appreciated that Nina put so much love and effort into her work, yet has always been comfortable and at peace with the fact that her stay is temporary.
- She is always bright and cheerful, and I learn something from every one of her sermons. We will all miss her.
- Nina has gently but firmly called us to live into our Christian values of love and mercy in how we interact with, support and encourage each other at All Pilgrims.
- I greatly appreciate Nina for her acceptance of everyone, her ability to analyze different themes from a down-to-earth approach and, because of Nina, I joined the church.
- She has a warm and loving smile.
- I have appreciated Nina's concern for me in my role as a caregiver with my husband,and the inspiration and knowledge she has given me with him during the worship hour.
- Nina, one who always has something important to say in her sermons; and says it in a loving, joyful way so that I can grasp it and take it with me for days to come.
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People Happenings
All Pilgrims Welcomes Baby Dye!
Magnolia "Maggie" June Dye was born Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009 to Ryan, our Music Minister, and his wife, Heather. She weighed in at 8 lbs, 2 oz. Maggie is also welcomed by her big brother, Palmer. Heather and Ryan continue to be rather tired but are doing well. Many blessings on this new wondrous life. Congratulations to Ryan and Heather! Your church family at APCC celebrates with you!
Ryan to be on Paternity Leave
As Ryan Dye, our Music Minister, and his family celebrate the birth of their new daughter, Ryan will be taking a three month paternity leave. Two weeks of his leave were taken in different parts of December with the remaining from January 1st through March 15th. All Pilgrims supports this important bonding time for a new family and we send our gracious blessings with Ryan during his leave.
While Ryan is away, our wonderful choir WILL continue to sing in worship. We are grateful to welcome Alex Gagiu as our Paternity Leave Choir Director. Alex, a native of Romania, holds a degree in Piano Performance from Julliard, a graduate degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College and he is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington. Alex teaches music in the Renton School District and is also an Assistant Artistic Director for the Seattle Girls' Choir.
Additionally, Alex and the choir will be accompanied by two familiar organists. We welcome back both Kathleen Dow and Myrtle Groom, who will each be covering a segment of Ryan's leave. Kathleen (Kitty) is a member of Bellevue First Congregational Church, where she served as organist in the 1960's and 1970's. She had an extensive career as a church musician and accountant. She holds a degree in Organ Performance from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Washington. Myrtle Groom served as Music Director here at All Pilgrims (Pilgrim Congregational) Church throughout the 1970's and later served almost twenty years as organist for Bellevue First Congregational Church. She studied music at Wheaton College in Illinois. Myrtle's graduate work was done at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. She is an active member of the Seattle Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, recently serving a term on their board. She also holds the Guild's Colleague certificate in organ.
Welcome and many thanks to Alex, Kitty and Myrtle!
Friend to Friend Harvest Basket Winners
Thank you to those who contributed to our harvest basket fundraiser in November.
The $92.30 received helped meet our goal of $400. It was presented to Marilyn Soderquist, Program Director, at the annual advisory board Christmas Luncheon, December 18th.
The runnner-up winner from APCC was Justin Umbright. The winner of the harvest basket is Kathy Dawson.
It is hoped that future applications will be coming in to visit one on one with residents in a nursing, assisted living or retirement center in your community.
West Seattle Chapter Coordinator - Berlena Brock |
Groups, Committees & Events
Pastoral Search
Committee Making Progress
From an original list of 77 candidates, there are now only six remaining for the position of Long-term Pastor at All Pilgrims Christian Church. Committee members, in twos, are now busy calling each of the remaining candidates references. At the next committee gathering, members will discuss, confer and compare the things said about each pastor to help in narrowing down the list of candidates. The committee will then move on to the next steps of several rounds of personal interviews and possible visitations.
This is a long search, and the committee has appreciated the help and guidance of the DOC Northwest Regional minister and the UCC Northwest Conference minister. Progress is being made, and Search Committee members ask for your prayers as they reduce the list and then make the final choice. Both the Church Council and the Congregation will vote on the Call to our new pastor.
Final Class in the
Life Skills for Progressive Christians
Don't miss the final workshop in the Life Skills for Progressive Christians series, Thursday, January 28, 7 to 9 PM. The final event will focus on "Building Trust." Our instructor, John Forman says that trust is the product of intentional decisions to be credible, reliable and accountable. He will teach us about the trust "formula" and how our actions "add up."
A $5 suggested donation is welcomed. Refreshments provided. Child care will be provided based on interest. Please contact the Church Office by the Friday before the workshop to discuss child care availability.
If you have attended past classes and want copies of handouts or the PowerPoint Presentations, please visit the New Beginnings blog article:
All the workshops are there except the upcoming workshop on Trust.
APCC to volunteer for
Community Lunch on Capitol Hill!!
Are you interested in a hands-on volunteer opportunity to feed others?! Come join us! All Pilgrims is putting together a team of volunteers to serve lunch to the hungry on Friday, January 22nd at the Community Lunch on Capitol Hill (CLCH). Currently CLCH feeds hundreds of people each Tuesday and Friday at the Central Lutheran Church, just across from Cal Anderson Park. All Pilgrims has been asked to bring a group of volunteers to help with lunch!
We are bringing a group to help such an important operation in ministry. There is also a possibility of considering All Pilgrims as an additional site to expand their weekly meals on Capitol Hill. So let's help while also exploring if this is a future fit!
We need a group of 8 - 12 people who are available from 9 AM - 2 PM (shift options available based on turn-out). So grab a friend or come on your own to join us. To sign-up to volunteer or for more information,
contact the Church Office either by phone (322-0488) or by e-mail (office@allpilgrims.org) or call/e-mail Pastor Nina.
Be a part of a successful meal program! Volunteer with us and the All Pilgrims' team Friday, January 22nd!
Taking Down the Greens
Help is needed to take down all the Christmas decorations that have beautified our church over the past month. Even if you can only stay for a half hour , your help is needed. Plan on joining us, Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 10:00 AM. Refreshments will be provided.
1st Annual Preaching Festival
The First Festival of Preaching Northwest. This unique and engaging series of educational events will allow ordained and lay leaders alike the opportunity to take part in a wonderful experience of worship, conversation, inspiration and renewal during the beautiful Northwest Spring season in
Seattle, Washington.
Six of the nation's most outstanding preachers and teachers will be on hand: Lillian Daniel, Martin Copenhaver, Ayanna Johnson, Heidi Neumark, Kenneth Samuels and Will Willimon. All of our preachers will preach or speak at least two times during the Festival. Register today!
Early bird, student and group discounts available! Questions? Contact Festival Conference Coordinator Rebecca Withington. Dates: April 19-21, 2010. Location: Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC) in Downtown Seattle.
More information:
http://www.festivalofpreachingnw.org/
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The Church Council of Greater Seattle and the Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry invite you to a  Week of Prayer for Christian Unity event on Tuesday, January 19th at 7 p.m. at St. Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E., Seattle. Bishop Greg Rickel of the Diocese of Olympia will preach.
Around the world, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be celebrated from January 18 - 25, 2010 with the theme "You are witnesses of these things" (Luke 24:48). | |
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Angel Corps:
Divine creatures who show up when we need them most!
Our Christian and Jewish scriptures contain many stories of angels who appeared to humans at times of greatest need. So it is with the All Pilgrims Angel Corps! The Angel Corps is a new group of volunteers, organized by Stephan Gerhardt that represents people who are willing to be called when there are short-term projects to get done around the church.
Hanging the Christmas "greens" was the first job for the Angel Corps. Taking them down again will be another. All Pilgrims often has needs for yard clean-up and other one-time events . This is a great way for you to get involved at All Pilgrims without making a long-term committee commitment.
As a member of Angel Corps you are not required to show up for ALL events. You are just willing to be contacted to be asked for help. To put your name on Stephan's Angel list, please send him an email at: gerhardt_stephan@yahoo.com, call him at 206-781-4560, or talk to him during coffee hour after church. |
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