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May, 2010
A Monthly Publication of
All Pilgrims Christian Church - Seattle, WA Jeremy Matheis - Editor Norm Wells - Features Editor |
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COME AS YOU ARE,
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Sunday Schedule:
10:30 AM
Worship
11:45 AM
Fellowship Hour
Location:
500 Broadway East
Seattle, WA 98102
Mailing Address:
509 10th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98102
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I remembered, today, that I had forgotten to breathe. It was already 11:30am. What the heck have I been doing? I just hadn't even thought of it. Not once in the entire morning. When I  remembered, I was sitting in front of a computer screen, fingers on keyboard, voices of others not far off, and there were maple tree leaves outside my window gently waving with inspiration from the blowing breeze. As you may be thinking, "Forgetting?" And, yes, forgetting or not, aware of or not, having any intent or conscious effort on my part or not, I had been breathing all along. (Thank God!) It is an involuntary activity, after all, as it is just happening as I go about my day.
Maybe it seems silly to "remember" to breathe. Or, maybe not. While indeed, it is "just happening," how it is happening is worthy of review. It may be that, like is common in our society, that how I am breathing is with influence of stress and anxiety, leaving my chest to expand as I inhale instead of deeper down in my diaphragm, which brings a greater fullness of breath and all its physiological benefit. Maybe even my breathing, such a natural activity, is being affected by how I do what I do. In other words, maybe my being is more impacted by my doing than the other way around.
I find it so easy sometimes, to slip into such a myopic, narrowly focused posture to my day. Like a chicken following a line of feed, pecking one after another, head down, so much to do. Just get it done and move to the next thing on the list, the next bit of feed on the ground. The list screams, "I am your life, don't you know!" But, it's not. We are not what we do. We are the beings that are doing the doing.
As the activity of my breathing occurred to me, a couple of things happened. One: I found myself slowing down for a moment, intentionally noticing my natural breath, moving to expand my diaphragm, bringing peace and calm to mind and body. Two: in doing so, I found myself far more aware of the world around me and my life in it...screens and keyboards, people and relationships, maple trees and breezes... And third: I slipped into a prayerful mindfulness of God's sustaining love, a sort of involuntary activity, at least on my part. It just is! - as God is the One who volunteers to make it so, breathing life into us.
While chickens must peck to eat, and I certainly have a list of things to do, it is more than that. It is not so much my doing but my being that is primary. It is my human - being, after all, who is doing. In our relationship with God and one another, even to ourselves, we do well to tend to our being, first. Our being with God, our being peace and love to others, our being gracious even with, maybe especially with, ourselves.
It's funny, aware of much more in God's creation my list now appears different. Names and numbers come to symbolize sacred lives. Tasks now offer opportunities for service and care for others. If I am going to "peck" away, I believe that I owe it to you, as your Pastor, to do so with the intent and effort to ensure that I do it in love with God that God may BE in love with you through me. Isn't that the task for all of us? Yes! Let us do with the love of God, who is BEING now and forever more.
Well, as I check my list, "Write newsletter article" is next. Here we go!!! |
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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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Next New Beginnings Action Inquiry Rally May 16
As spring seems to be upon us, so too do new ministries seem to be sprouting at All Pilgrims. The Opening the Green Space and the Community Lunch/Dinner program Action Inquiries are active this spring, working with Council to research costs and logistics.
The next New Beginnings Action Inquiry Rally will take place May 16 following church. If you would like to explore an Action Inquiry, please visit the New Beginnings blog for the steps and forms involved.
Have questions or need help with your idea? Please contact Eric Liljegren or Kathleen Hosfeld.
If you are new to All Pilgrims, you may be wondering what New Beginnings is. New Beginnings is our congregational process to discern God's calling for us in this time and place. We began a process starting in 2008, of examining our clarity of purpose as a congregation following the departure of our pastoral team. We decided as a congregation to revise our mission. We have engaged since then in an active process of discernment, listening to our own hearts and learning to listen for the voice of God. We have reached a degree of clarity about our purpose and key elements of our calling. The discernment process continues as we test our purpose statement in the Action Inquiry phase and open ourselves to new learning and guidance.
The Action Inquiry Phase is open to all who want to be part of our congregational life. We extend an enthusiastic invitation to all to join in the process. Information about current and past Action Inquiries is available from the bulletin board in Stuart Hall. |
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All Pilgrims Celebrates 10 Years of
Music-Making with Music Minister Ryan Dye
This spring marks the tenth year of Ryan Dye's service to All Pilgrims as our beloved Organist and Music Minister. During this time our church has enjoyed a reputation for having an outstanding music program. Ryan brings prodigious keyboard skill, mature musicality and a deep love of the church and commitment to All Pilgrims' ministry. His partner Heather is our soprano Section Leader, and shares her beautiful solo voice with us as well. Ryan's All Pilgrims' Concert Series brings guest musicians and ensembles to our church several times each year. We have enjoyed choral, organ, orchestral and piano performances which also have provided a great way to welcome guests to our community.
Some things you may not know:
- Ryan was recommended to us by Stephen Marshall, who designed the renovation of our sanctuary a decade ago. Stephen is also a gifted organist; he is currently the music director at Edmonds United Methodist Church.
- Ryan owns North Pacific Organ & Sound, and holds the Northwest Allen digital organ franchise, traveling frequently to install and voice these amazing instruments.
- Heather and Ryan have two beautiful children, Palmer (almost 2) and Maggie (4 months).
- They also serve the music program at Greenlake Church of Seventh-Day Adventists.
- While Heather and Ryan share a penchant for fast cars, they left their wedding in Ryan's parents' 1960's VW Beetle.
Be sure to congratulate Ryan, and do let him know how much we appreciate his contribution to our ministry and worship life together.
THANK YOU, RYAN!! |
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People Happenings
Remembering Nora DeMaster
Nora DeMaster, an associate member of All Pilgrims since 1996, died of Leukemia March 21st in Lacey. Nora shared her winters with us for many years. She would move in with her mother on Capitol Hill to escape the Dundas, Minnesota cold. For the last six years, Nora has lived almost full-time in Lacey where she attended United Churches of Olympia.
Nora's Seattle and All Pilgrims friends, such as Muriel Saunders, Charlotte Ballard, Julie Stohlman and Pat Palagi, remember her as a very good friend and a wonderful listener. On many occasions, Nora would drive from Lacey to Everett to visit Charlotte.
Nora was born in Kansas and graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. She is survived by two daughters and a son, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene DeMaster and two grandchildren. Memorials are preferred to Parents of Murdered Children and Other Survivors of Homicide Victims Inc., 408 Third St. N., Dundas, MN 55019.
Sharon Nichols Shares Her Thoughts on Racism
I am a preacher's kid with a mother who was born in Africa of missionary parents. As my younger sisters and I rode places with our parents, mother would often sing a song that helped us realize that society was often unfair to blacks.
When I was in the first grade, Dad attended seminary and was a student pastor for a church in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. One afternoon, my sister, almost four years old, and I decided to see whether bias existed in our own neighborhood. We put mud all over any exposed skin and set out walking. Soon we noticed a man wearing a suit walking on the sidewalk near our home, and we greeted him enthusiastically. When he crossed to the other side of the street, we were pretty sure he thought we were black children and therefore did not want to get near us. Looking out the window, mother called us to the back door. She put us in the bathtub, shoes and all, to deal with the thick Texas mud, but did not reprimand us. "Don't get so dirty," was all she said.
The next school year, Dad had a different student preaching assignment in a small Texas town. Our mother hired a destitute black lady, Johnnie, to help with washing and ironing. One day I asked Mom if we girls could go visit Johnnie. She said "Yes", apparently thinking I meant a neighbor named Johnny. We walked many blocks, crossed the railroad tracks and arrived at Johnnie's shack. Johnnie kindly talked with us until our Dad came to pick us up. As we were riding home I asked why there were fancy cars in front of some of the shacks. Dad explained that even if black people had money they were not permitted to buy a nice house on our side of the tracks, so often they bought a nice car instead.
Later, I was living in the Northwest and was pretty sure we didn't experience racism. But, when Dad became a pastor in McMinnville, Oregon, I learned that racism had once been common. McMinnville had been known as a "sundowner" town, meaning no blacks could stay after sundown. Even today, we need to be wary: sometimes our treatment of Native American Indians and Asians can be nothing to be proud of either.
Wise parents will plant the seeds of fairness and equality at a very early age.
- Sharon Nichols |
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Groups, Committees & Events
UCC & DOC Denominations Hold Annual Meetings:
The Christian Church, Disciples of Christ Regional Assembly,
May 21-23
The Assembly will be held at the North Hill Christian Church in Spokane.
There is still time to register but the deadline is May 7. Go to www.disciplesnw.org, click on the "Poured Out in Mission" logo. The Assembly's challenging theme statement:
Inspired by the faith that moves mountains
we pour ourselves out into mission
caring for the earth and her creatures
listening anew for God's Word in each moment
living forward with courage and compassion.
Highlights of the UCC Northwest Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC was held recently, April 23-25.
*What follows are highlights Li nda Gasparovic and Paul Binneboese, who attended the gathering, have brought back.
A major highlight was Rodger Nishioka's plenary presentation of "the Eight Trends that Are Changing and Challenging the Church". His first point, "From Tribal to Immigrant Welcome" became the buzz words for the rest of the meeting (tribal referring to "insider" vs. immigrant who are the visitors/newcomers to Christian community). The point obviously hit home, since I kept hearing the term "tribal" being used throughout the rest of the conference by attendees now sensitized to the difference of "insider" vs. "outsider" language.
Another eye-opening trend was "short-term" vs. "long-term" planning for churches. Telling an amusing story about a church that spent seven years developing a ten-year plan, we were encouraged to consider re-evaluating our congregation's needs every three months in addition to  the long-term view. Being agile enough to change direction and react when needed was also essential. Like "tribal" and "immigrant", agility became another buzz word for the remainder of the event.
Other trends mentioned were "from there to here mission", "personal to mystery-filled spirituality", "mass evangelism to one-on-one evangelism", "traditioning to experiencing", "forming disciples to apostles" and one of my favorites (and one that All Pilgrims does well), "from official to gifted leadership".
Legislative sessions covered a wide range of topics including the abolishment of the death penalty, restructuring Washington state's tax structure, and issues related to the postponement of a vote to declare the Conference officially Open and Affirming. Paul was particularly impressed with the workshop on the upcoming curriculum Faith Practices, which can be found online at www.faithpractices.org. (It will be available beginning in September of this year.)
Overall, it was an energizing event, with multiple opportunities to hear, learn and compare ideas from throughout the conference. For a more complete look at the event, I encourage you to go to our conference news page at http://www.pncuccnews.org; there should be an article on the Annual Meeting posted soon.
Celtic Eucharistic Ritual
This exciting event will be held at Lake Washington Christian Church on May 2, at 4 p.m. in celebration of the Celtic start of summer, also called Beltaine. We will meet in the lower hall.
The Celtic tradition integrates cross cultural diversity and artistic expression by awakening Spirit through sensory experience. This tradition highly values both Scripture and nature, seeing them both as complimentary aspects of Divine revelation.
All who are curious about the Celtic spirituality and want to experience aspects of it through a time of communal praise, thanksgiving, and healing are most welcome! The gathering will be a creative weaving of word and movement through readings, conversation, prayer and table fellowship.
Local area minister Shannon Gordon and spiritual director Eileen Knoff will be the facilitators. Shannon has recently been connected with a local center for Celtic spirituality and Eileen is the founder of Brigid's Circle®, an outreach of Spiritual Directions, LLC, and an affiliated ministry of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion.
Free-will donations will be gratefully accepted to defray costs of materials, rent and facilitation.
Lots Goin' On During Pride Weekend
A planning committee, headed by Michael Small, intends to have our church very involved in the upcoming Pride weekend, June 26 & 27. Some of the activities these planners foresee:
Saturday: have the church open for a joint prayer service and possibly tours; pass out balloons, water and cookies out front while drums play in the court yard.
Sunday: worship will be an early service enabling APCC members to walk in the parade if they can. Those who walk may link up with another group for the parade or walk alone. Either way, we'll wear  our T-shirts with the logo that reads, "God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it." The parade will hopefully end at a booth that we will share with other congregations, on Capitol Hill.
The committee still has lots of work to do and hopes others will help them out. Please contact Michael for specifics. |
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A Success Story: New Budget for 2010
On April 11th the congregation approved a $295,871 budget for 2010. Steve Clagett, Finance Committee chair, reported that unlike last year when we agreed on a budget in an uncertain economy, when the church was between permanent pastors and giving was down, this year giving is up, the national economy is starting to grow and we have called a new pastor.
Last year's budget projected a need for $52,000 from the Patsy Gray bequest to cover a revenue shortfall. However, because of increased member giving that totaled $131,803 ($21,803 more than was budgeted), the Patsy Gray funds needed to balance the budget was reduced to $22,124. As a congregation, we aren't fully out of the  financial woods by any stretch. The 2010 budget projects a revenue shortfall of as much as $40,140 for the year. The good news is that revenue is trending upwards with increases in our church offerings, initiatives to grow church membership and increase rental use of our building; all of which are starting to bear fruit.
Departing from previous years, the new budget began on January 1st of this year instead of April 1st. That adds approximately $20,000 of revenue and expenses that was formerly handled through fund accounting. When the congregation votes on the 2011 budget this fall, it will be in a new format. Working with outside bookkeeping consultant Leslie Deming, APCC is changing its financial report structure. Future reports will include the church's fund balances in addition to income and expenses. Contact a Finance Committee member if you want to learn more or, better yet, join the committee! |
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APCC: Curb Appeal, and More
We send thanks to the First Impressions Group for a more beautiful entrance. This is the group that has done such a fantastic job of beautifying the front view of the church. They have done shrub pruning, shrub removing and shrub replanting; also flower planting, yard waste removal and power washing walkways and doors.
Indoor improvements: assisting Wayne Daly with replacing every light bulb in the sanctuary chandeliers, de-cluttering and cleaning the narthex (foyer), repairing the broken window (again, thanks to Wayne Daly) and improving the look of the information table, including a new Easter table runner. They're not done yet: watch for bright flowers along the entry walkway and other continuing improvements.
Members of the group are: Linda Gasparovic, Paul Binneboese, Rudy Ziemba, David Belcher, Ray Nutter, Richard Dodobara, Stephan Gerhardt, Berlena Brock and Kathy Wells. Special thanks for extra landscaping work from Norm Wells and the gardening "experts" - Richard Dodobara, Linda Gasparovic and Paul Binneboese. If you would be willing to occasionally help out with property beautification projects, please call the Office (322-0487) and let Jeremy know. |
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All Pilgrims Christian Church
500 Broadway East
Seattle, WA 98102
206-322-0487
office@allpilgrims.org |
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