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Transitions announced

Sandra Kay Neal died Jan. 20 in Centralia. She had bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology and a master of divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary. Before coming to the PNC in 2005, she served as pastor in Ohio and led a substance abuse program. She was on the Global Ministries Committee.
The Cheney UCC voted to leave the UCC on Sunday, March 6.
Open Door Congregational UCC in Deer Park voted to leave the UCC on ___________.

Post-Easter Retreat set

The Post-Easter Clergy Retreat is from noon to breakfast, Monday, April 17 to Wednesday, April 19, at N-Sid-Sen Camp and Conference Center.

Women’s Retreat is at N-Sid-Sen

“Celebrating Sisterhood: For Such a Time as This” is the theme for the Spiritual Retreat for Women May 19 to 21 at N-Sid-Sen. Participants will focus a study of gender and scripture on Hagar in the book of Genesis.
The Rev. Courtney Stange-Tregear, PNC’s minister for church vitality, is the speaker along with the Rev. Kelle Brown of Plymouth UCC in Seattle.

“We will look at what it means to be a women in our day and time, how gender bias affects us and what each of us can do at such a time as this,” said organizer Jan Shannon of Westminster Congregational UCC in Spokane.

Karen Cady, a massage therapist, will offer her services during the retreat.
It is a time of rest, relaxation and renewal for women of all ages with opportunities for worship, fun, creativity, quiet, prayer, music and laughter.

For information, call 206-725-8383.

Alzheimer’s series planned

The Horizon House Marketing department will be hosting a new Alzheimer’s Association program called, “Staying Connected” at 10 a.m. for Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25 at in the Sky Lounge.
“Staying Connected” is a health promotion and social support program designed for older adults with early-stage memory loss and their companions.

The 90-minute sessions will include discussion of related topics and concerns, as well as provide opportunities for socialization and tools that enable members to build a lasting support network. The program is free and open to residents of Horizon House and the public. For information, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 206-529-3870.

33 churches take five offerings

Michelle Doherty, PNC bookkeeper, reports from the accounting department that 33 PNC congregations—more than 40 percent—are 5 for 5 churches, participating in giving basic support, and participating in five of the national UCC’s five annual offerings
Those offerings are Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support (OCWM), One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS), Strengthen the Church (STC), Neighbors in Need (NIN) and The Christmas Fund.

OCWM supports operations for the regional, national and global church.
OGHS the fourth Sunday in Lent supports work with people around the world.
STC on Pentecost Sunday invests in church development and local church projects.
NIN, taken on World Communion Sunday in October, supports U.S. ministries of justice and compassion.
The Christmas Fund on the fourth Sunday of Advent, supports retired clergy and clergy in times of need.

Plymouth hosts Good Friday

“Seven Sisters Share the Seven Last Words of Christ,” an ecumenical observance of Good Friday will be held at noon, Friday, April 14, at Plymouth UCC, 1217 Sixth Ave. in Seattle.
The observance features the Rev. Bianca Davis-Lovelace, the Rev. Patricia Hunter, Min. Emily Linderman, the Rev. Eliana Maxim, the Rev. Jane Pauw, the Rev. Amy Roon and the Rev. Linda Smith with the Rev. Kelle Brown as host and officiant.

For information, visit plymouthchurchseattle.org.

Workshops teach dialogue skills

Keystone UCC in Seattle will host a program on “Bridging the Divide: Constructive Communication in Difficult Times,”as a three-part series from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, May 3, 17 and 24, at the church, 5019 Keystone Pl. North.

The workshops, let by certified mediators and conflict engagement specialists Nora Ludviksen and Jim Levy, are geared to help people confidently engage conflict and have constructive conversations. They will offer techniques to assess, initiate and hold difficult conversations and engage on constructive, respectful dialogue.

They are for people who feel stuck, alienated, or reactive when talking with loved ones, friends or colleagues who hold different views. The workshops offer a model for building trust in these polarized times, using self-knowledge, purposeful listen, common courtesy and good faith.

For information, call 206-632-6021, email lauren.cannon@keystoneseattle.org, or register at Brown Paper Tickets.

Fund drive continues

The Adopt-A-Mattress campaign continues in its quest to purchase 300 mattresses for Pilgrim Firs and N-Sid-Sen at a total cost of $75,000. It invites commitments of $250—the cost of one mattress—or any amount.

Plans are also underway for a bigger capital campaign to fund projects at the two camps.
N-Sid-Sen seeks to build pedestrian paths under Hwy. 97 and lodge-style year-round housing for older guests, and relocate the managers residence to the North Cove area.

Projects at Pilgrim Firs include new RV sites, improved staff housing, a program and performing arts building and purchase of additional acreage.

For information visit n-sid-sen.org or pilgrim-firs.org.

UCC joins in Climate March

The UCC is participating on Saturday, April 29, in the Climate March in Washington, D.C., organized by a coalition of groups that drew more than 400,000 people in 2014 in New York City. The UCC Council for Climate Justice and the Justice and Witness Ministries are co-sponsors.

UCC signup is at ucc.org/climate_march_in_washington_d_c and there is information on sister marches around the nation at peoplesclimate.org/sister-marches.

Northshore UCC learns about witness of Valve Turners

During the March 19 worship service and after the service, Northshore UCC in Woodinville hosted presentations on “Love in a Time of Cataclysm” by the Valve Turners, five environmental activists who are facing felony charges in four states as a result of engaging in direct action to mitigate a climate catastrophe.

Justice Leadership Program Jubilee intern Lin Hagedorn, a member at Northshore and former chair of the PNC Justice Witness Ministries Committee, organized this event with 350 Seattle’s Nicky Bradford as part of her internship there.

“Valve Turners” shared what brought them to move from peaceful protest to committing an illegal act and being arrested.

On Oct. 11, 2016, the five and their support people, simultaneously shut off the flow of all tar sands oil from Canada into the United States for a day. Their actions included trespassing onto private property, cutting protective chains and turning a safety block valve on the pipeline. The Valve Turners now face felony charges, fines and possible jail time.

Annette Klapstein, Emily Johnston, Michael Foster, Leonard Higgins and Ken Ward shared their motivations for these actions, including love as the spiritual or religious basis for doing what they did.

Ken said pipelines “destroy the conditions that allow the wild riot of diverse life on the planet and that make civilization possible.

“Pipelines represent greed, fear and lassitude,” he said. “Our only hope is to step outside polite conversation and put our bodies in the way.”

For information, call 206-310-6203 or email mountainclimber 4@gmail.com.

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