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Transitions announced

Shalom UCC in Richland announces the passing of the Rev. Stephen Eriksen, who died on Oct. 21. He served the church and community for 22 years. His ministry was distinguished by his commitment to social justice, compassion and interfaith outreach, fostering connections with people of diverse backgrounds, including the Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist communities.

A service celebrating his life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, at Shalom UCC, 505 McMurray St.

The Rev. Bob Jackson has passed away. We will provide more information as soon as we can.

The Committee on Ministry-West has approved Adina Meyer as a member in discernment at the October meeting.

The Eastside Committee on Ministry conferred member in discernment status on Faatauvaa (Va’a) Allaelua in September. He will be ordained in February at the Christian Worship Center in Anchorage, Alaska.

First Congregational Church, Bellevue will install the Rev. Stevi Hamill as pastor of spiritual formation at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 5, at the church, 11061 NE 2nd St.

Support groups resume

The Ministers’ Financial Vitality Initiative (MFVI) helps eligible UCC authorized ministers develop a holistic approach for managing their finances through a community with other ministers, discussing their financial challenges.

Applications to participate in the January 2025 cohort of the three-year Faith and Finance program of the Pension Boards UCC are open until Dec. 31.

For information, email amy@npucc.org.

Pastor leads mission trips

The Rev. Michael Birnbaum, founder and director of Well Child International and of International Service Learning, will lead two winter mission trips.

One will be Dec. 28 to Jan. 4 from Phoenix to Baja, Mexico, and the other is Feb. 1 to 8, starting in Jan Jose, Costa Rica. Participants will help with local service projects, refugee relief projects, medical services, children’s after-school outreach, light construction, meal programs, sewing lessons or ELS tutoring.

For information, visit wellchildinternational.org/service-and-mission-groups.

UCC hosts tax webinar

A webinar on “Mastering the 2025 Tax Season” will be held online at noon ET, Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Elaine Sommerville, author of Church Compensation, Second Edition and a church law and tax senior editorial advisor, will present the latest federal reporting requirements for churches and federal income tax changes for ministers

For information, visit https://get.churchlawandtax.com/mastering-the-2025-tax-season-pbucc.

Mid-Winter Retreat planned

The PNC-UCC Mid-Winter Retreat for middle school and high school youth in grades six to 12 will be held Friday to Sunday, Feb 7 to 9 at Pilgrim Firs Camp and Conference Center. It’s a weekend of connection, inspiring activities and fun. Registration opens in December.

For information, call 360-876-2031 or visit https://pilgrim-firs.org/calendar.

Northwest Women’s Retreat set

“Embrace Joy” is the theme for the 2025 UCC Northwest Regional Women’s Retreat planned for Nov. 7 to 9 at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Wash.

The spiritual and motivational retreat is co-sponsored every three years by the Pacific Northwest and Central Pacific UCC Conferences.

The Rev. Danae Ashley is worship leader, and the Rev. Andrea Cano is keynote speaker.

For information, visit nrwr.org or follow on facebook.com/groups/369665646394.

Men’s Retreat is in person

“Born to Be Wild” is the theme for the 2025 Conference Men’s Retreat from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, at Pilgrim Firs.

Bill Comfort, retreat leader, will guide an interactive exploration on how wilderness influences who men are or can be as men.

Among the resources being considered are the Steppenwolf song, a Wendell Berry poem “The Peace of Wild Things,” a children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, and the paintings of Wassily Kandinsky.

Bill will send questions for discussions prior to the retreat.

For three nights from 7 p.m., Thursday to 11 a.m., Sunday, the cost is $250. Thursday to 5 p.m., Friday is a silent retreat.

Dinner Friday through breakfast Sunday with two nights lodging is $172. Saturday only with two meals is $55. Information on financial assistance is available from Hans Dankers at jdank@msn.com. Those who don’t need assistance may donate to the Men’s Retreat Fund when registering.

Remote attendance by Zoom is not yet feasible. Planners recommend that participants by fully vaccinated for influenza and COVID.

The Conference Men’s Retreat Planning Committee members are Charlie Torres, Don Jenkins, Hans Dankers, Jim Gaudino, Larry Kiriluk, Paul Withington and Rick Russell.

For information and to register, visit www.ultracamp.com/info/sessiondetail.aspx?idCamp=367&campCode=nss&idSession=483141.

OCWM offers webinar

Our Church’s Wider Mission is offering pastoral support committee training for lay leaders and pastors with the Rev. Tara Barber from 4 to 5:30 p.m. ET, on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

There has been confusion about the role of these committees. The workshop will help congregations understand what it means to become a Pastoral Support Committee—what it is and what it is not.

Register at https://ucc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkdeGvrD8iHt216V04M1PVnemox21V_Cj7#/registration.

General Synod is July 11-15

The biennial 2025 General Synod of the United Church will be held July 11 to 15 in Kansas City, Mo.

The theme for General Synod 35 is “Into the Deep,” based on Luke 5:4, which says, “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’”

For information, visit https://www.ucc.org/general-synod-2025-online-registration-now-open.

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