Hello, church!

 

We are so blessed with wonderful people at this church. As I sit down to write to you, I've just finished meeting with April Frazier, a member of our congregation. You may know her as one of the ringers in our handbell choir or one of the co-leaders of the Grief Support Group that is starting up next week.

 

What you may not know is that April, a seminary graduate, is also a candidate for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church. As part of her ordination process, she is required to preach a sermon in her home church and submit a videotaped copy to the District Committee. We were meeting today to talk about the sermon she will offer to us at EUMC. I tell you, her eagerness and openness melted my heart. You will love hearing her preach on February 3.

 

April is one of several candidates for ordination coming from EUMC right now. Meg Rodgers, who serves on our Green Team, is attending the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University, intending to become an Army chaplain. Paul Baxter, who is teaching our high school Sunday morning class, has begun the process of becoming a local pastor in the UMC. And Sharon Ryder, our Communications Coordinator and a member of Charisma, is pursuing ordination as a deacon in the UMC. Her career goal is to work with people with disabilities and their families in a church-related setting.

 

This Sunday's worship has been lovingly planned by Sharon as a practicum project in her graduate studies at Seattle Pacific Seminary. It will be a beautiful service, including a distinguished guest preacher, music by the Cascade Percussion Ensemble, and a "liturgy of belonging" involving children and youth.

 

I'm looking forward to being back in worship with you this week. After both services, sign-ups will continue for the winter ChristCare groups---we have a record number of 166 people already signed up! Also, after the second service there will be a meeting in the Chapel for anyone who would like to ask questions or express thoughts about the change in our church's music staff, and who may have missed the meeting on January 20th.

 

It is our joy, and part of our ministry as a congregation, to be sponsoring and mentoring candidates for ministry within our larger church. Especially this Sunday and next, I hope you will join me in giving them our full support, encouragement, and every blessing.

 

Grace and peace,

 

Pastor Kathlyn