Pacific Northwest District
Church of the Brethren
Continuing the Work of
Jesus, Simply, Peacefully, Together
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jan-April 2013
I’m
going to ‘borrow’ from myself this time to share some personal thoughts and
reflections on my ministry to, among and with you. At our District Strategic
Planning Team meeting a few months ago when we were talking about how we would
continue our work, three words resonated with me. “Shalom”, “Service” and
“Stewardship”.
On
Sunday February 3 I had the opportunity to share a Message in Music at my home
church here in Wenatchee
It is apparent to me that in light of our
work together in this wonderful District we now call the Pacific Northwest District
it would be worthwhile for all of us to consider what our congregations, faith
communities and in fact our personal lives would look like if we were to take
these three words seriously. What kind
of SHALOM or peace do we want in our own lives?
What one small step can each of us take to ‘make peace’? What form of SERVICE will each of us do? What would a service project look like in
your congregation? How will you continue
to serve each other?
Finally, what about Stewardship? What steps will you take this year to more
fully share the gifts God has provided for you?
How will you be a better steward of your time, energies, gifts and
talents? What will you do to take better
care of yourself?
I continue to be challenged by all of
this. Each of you are a link in my chain
of Grace……………….let’s be links for each other.
In
God’s service and yours,
Colleen
News from our Churches
This congregation continues its vital
service to the local food bank and some of the members are actively involved in
the movement to stop gun violence. The
church has opened its doors to community meetings for discussion, discernment
and action in this arena. Member Jim
Yatman, Pastor Howard Ullery, his wife Dianna and District Executive Colleen
Michael participated in a peaceful demonstration on the grounds of the state
capitol.
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Olympic View
Community Church :
Once again took the leadership in our annual Snow Camp at Camp Koinonia
Pastor Ken and others participated
again in the Guatemalan Immersion mission.
We anticipate their safe return early
May. Stay tuned for an opportunity to
hear all about their trip.
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Lael
Vickery and Colleen Michael traveled with Al Schuster, Real Estate agent with
Century 21 in Wenatchee to Outlook and met with Kenny Nelson, Real Estate agent
in Sunnyside. Together we toured the Outlook
Church
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On Monday Feb 11 they hosted a
community wide seminar dealing with “Suicide: questioning, intervening and
preventing”.
Debbie Roberts, Area Minister
facilitated an all church retreat on February 16. The congregation has spent the past few
months sharing ideas for enriched worship and community outreach among other
areas of their life together. These
Visions for ministry in the neighboring community is the primary focus of the
retreat. There is evidence of interest
in developing a children’s ministry.
Movie nights are being planned as well as the possibility of an after
school program.
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Tacoma Larchmont and Columbia Lakewood
congregations are exploring the opportunity to participate in the Vital
Ministry Journey. VMJ is an initiative
of the Denomination under the umbrella of the Congregational Life Ministries
office. This initiative begins with a 60
day intensive small group Bible study/discussion for the purpose of exploring
scripture in a unique, guided way allowing for Holy listening and the
development of stronger relational faith community.
If any District
congregation is interested in additional information about VMJ please contact
any of our Area Ministers or the District Office. Basic information is also available at Church
of the Brethren.org .
Strategic Planning
Team Update:
Jeremy
Ashworth, Jan Eller, Carol Bowman with Roger Edmark and Colleen Michael as
ex-officio members have not met face to face since we last reported to the
District in a newsletter however, our work continues. A meeting is planned for June 8 at the Covington Community Church
Carol Bowman
has completed the final DRAFT of the
position description for our three Area Ministers. This draft has been reviewed by the Executive
Committee of the Board, the Strategic Planning Team and each of our Area
Ministers.
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News
from the BOARD:
We have received official
verification and affirmation from the Attorney General of the State of Oregon
Highlights
of Board meeting March 9:
♦Approved
the Area Ministers position description
♦Reviewed
financial reports to date.
♦Reviewed
the recommendations from the Strategic Planning Team re: board structure. SPT was asked to develop a flow chart that
would clarify what the new structure would look like (Carol Bowman accepted
this challenge)
♦Ministry
Focal: three persons recommended for
licensing interviews. Mike Titus, Carol
Mason and Colleen Michael have agreed to serve as the interview team for these
three candidates. Bobbi Dykama, Tony
Easterly and Marty Evans.
♦Took
action to appoint Jim Miller and Colleen Michael as official representatives of
our District to accompany Stan Noffsinger, General
Secretary Church of
the Brethren and Mary Jo Flory-Steury, Associate General Secretary to Grants Pass , OR (Fruitdale Church
♦Colleen
shared that she has called A Stewardship ‘brain trust’ including Carol Bowman,
Ken Neher and Ben Green met for the first time in February. Their work was shared at the Board meeting on
March 9. Their primary focus is on
strengthening the financial support of our District Ministries. A second focus is on development of
policies/guidelines for investment/distribution of the larger sums of money
that are received by the District such as the payoff of the Klamath Falls
Focus on our Area Ministers:
Debbie Roberts has been active
in the ministries of the Whitestone, Ellisford, Sunnyslope and Wenatchee Brethren-Baptist
Churches
·
Regular contact
with pastors for pastoral support and envisioning
- Facilitated the planning
retreat with WBBCU on February 16 and brought the morning message on February
17.
- Continues to work with the Leadership Team at
Ellisforde to put together a Ministry and Pastoral Evaluation. Survey completed, results were analyzed
and a series of Congregational Council meetings have been held to review
the outcome and to develop an action plan for enhanced ministry.
- Continues to have conversations with the
Whitestone and Ellisforde congregations to promote district programs and
vision, and encourage congregational financial support
Carol Mason’s
cluster of congregations includes: Covington,
Columbia Lakewood, Tacoma
♪Connecting regularly with pastors for ongoing pastoral
support.;
♪Participated in the licensing interviews for Bobbi Dykama,
Tony Easterly and Marty Evans.
♪Completed the conversations with Pastors David Ortega and
Jeff Barker re: their congregation’s participation in the Vital Ministries
Journey initiative. Study guides and
Journals have been received from the Congregational Life Ministries office for
review.
♪With Colleen she represented our District at the
Interfaith Works Dinner conference at the School
of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University
Jim Miller’s cluster
includes: Springfield, Portland Peace,
Grants Pass, Lacey, Salkum and Mossyrock. Jim continues his work with the Springfield
Congregation in their new housing venture that will include worship space. He has also been active with -the initial
ground work in the Pastoral Search process with Portland Peace. Traveled with Colleen Michael, Stan
Noffsinger and Mary Jo Flory-Steury to Grants Pass
in response to the letter received from the Fruitdale Church
This is your space:
Send information
about your congregations’ activities, concerns, joys, ministries or whatever to
the District office at pnwdcob@nwi.net.
We can only know what is happening in our District if the information is
shared.
Annual Conference
www.brethren.org/ac
June 29-July 3---Charlotte , North Carolina
“Move
in our Midst”
Why should you come?
Day of Spiritual Renewal on Sunday
--Preaching by Philip Yancey and Mark Yaconelli
30 Equipping Workshops to take learning back to your
congregation
Concert of Prayer ; Engaging Worship; Connecting with Brethren
from across the country
Hymn singing with 3,500 other Brethren
Activities for all ages
MOMENT
FOR MISSION
UPDATE: Carol Mason reports that every congregation
in our District has answered this ‘call’.
Thanks to each of you who ‘stepped up’ and volunteered to serve our
District and the denomination.
Ministry Update:
The Licensing Interview Team of Carol Mason, Mike Titus and
Colleen Michael will be recommending Tony Easterly, Bobbi Dykema and Marty
Evans to the District for licensing in the Church of the Brethren. When all of the required documentation is
received in the District office it will be sent to Kirby Lauderdale our
Ministry Focal person. The Executive
Committee of the Board will be asked to affirm these three gifted people. The delegates at District Conference will be
asked to affirm their licensing.
Serving God and each other,
Peacefully, Simply, Together
Pacific Northwest District
|
Planning Ahead:
May 5-9 Council of DE’s West Mountain Grove MO
May 18 ½ day Webinar New Church
May 19 Congregational Council Ellisford**
June 2 Installation service for Audrey DeCoursey
Living Stream CoB**
June 8-9 Strategic Planning Team Covington
June 25-July 3 Council of DE’s and Annual Conference**
July 16-20 Family Camp at Camp Myrtlewood
July 21-26 Song and Story Fest**
August 11-17 Kids Camp at Koinonia
September 2-6 National Older Adult Conference, North Carolina
September 13-15 District Conference Camp Koinonia
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