Charlotte Ballard (1905-2010)

Charlotte Ballard, the oldest member of All Pilgrims, passed away on December 14 at the age of 105.  Charlotte was born in Cadot, Wisconsin and grew up in Valdez, Alaska.  She graduated from Pacific University in Oregon in 1928 and moved to Seattle, where she worked in doctors' and dentists' offices.  She married her husband, Leland, a dentist, in 1931, and worked beside him as a dental assistant.  They raised a son, Leland Jr., and a daughter, Alta.  A third son, Alexander, died in infancy, and Leland Sr. died in 1966.  Besides her two surviving children, Charlotte leaves behind nine grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

She was a member of Pilgrim Church, and then All Pilgrims Church, for nearly 50 years and was very active in the women's fellowship during the 1960s and 1970s.  Sharon Long remembers that Charlotte considered it her special job to keep the brass cross and candelabra polished to a bright shine.

Charlotte was a gentle soul who was always quick with acts of kindness for others.  She loved to read, and she very much enjoyed the music of the organ and choir in church.  Prior to her death, her physical health had been diminishing for some years and her hearing and eyesight gradually weakened, but she was mentally sharp until the end.  She had not been able to attend church in recent years, but she kept an interest in what we were doing.  Those of us who knew her hold a special place for her in our hearts.

IMAN's visit to All Pilgrims

On December 5, about 75 people from All Pilgrims and the IMAN Muslim Center gathered in our Sanctuary for an interfaith prayer service, followed by a shared meal in Stuart Hall.  Before the interfaith prayer service, we were a part of something that, as far as any of us know, had never before taken place in our 104-year-old building, as a group from IMAN said their 5:00 prayers together, facing the direction of Mecca.

One could feel the warmth and good will in the building, especially toward the end of the evening as friendly conversation around each table turned into a facilitated exercise of sharing thoughts with each other about important matters of our faith.

The evening was organized by the Interfaith Action Inquiry team, in particular Theresa Hohman, Dave Beck, Kathy Dawson, and David Paul. Special thanks to Pastor Greg, who collaborated with Jawad Khaki, director of the IMAN Center on the lovely prayer service, as well as Ryan Dye, Dave Beck and the choir for their contribution; and many thanks also to Michael Small, Opal Liljegren and others who made and served the delicious dinner.

Resources on Islam

During this time when so much false, and often hate-filled mis­information is circulating over the Internet, on radio and television, and in private conversations, it is important that we understand what Islam is really all about.

In the pocket of the Interfaith Action Inquiry's poster on the east wall inside Stuart Hall are some resource materials that will guide you to helpful information about Islam.  Please feel free to take a copy and if the copies run out before the supply can be replenished, e-mail David Paul.