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Celebration of Deeg Nelson’s ministry will be on March 8

A celebration of Deeg Nelson’s 12 years as managing director at Pilgrim Firs Camp and Conference Center will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 8, at Pilgrim Firs.

There will be stories, music, fellowship and the chance to thank Deeg for his faithful leadership and wish him well as he pursues his passion for environmental justice.

A basket will be provided for cards and cash gifts.

Katy Lloyd of the Outdoors Ministries Task Force is compiling good wishes from those around the conference who are unable to come at revkaty@nwlink.com. Cards can be sent to Pilgrim Firs: Deeg Nelson c/o Ginny Springer, Pilgrim Firs Camp and Conference Center, 3318 SW Lake Flora Rd., Port Orchard WA 98367.

Transitions announced

Darrell Goodwin-Moultry was installed as Liberation UCC’s authorized UCC minister at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 8 in January.

Leslie Moughty, who was ordained Jan. 18 at Kirkland Congregational UCC, has been called to serve First Congregational UCC in Brainerd, Minn., where Linda Crowe, formerly of Veradale UCC, has been serving as interim.

Kizzie Jones was honored in January during a Farewell Party at Horizon House for her 18 years of ministry as director of spiritual care at Horizon House Retirement Home. In retirement, she plans to spend more time with family and writing more Dachshund stories.

The new director of spiritual care is Linda Purdy, a UCC pastor who has served as chaplain at Providence Hospice. She brings experience in congregational care, preaching and chemical dependency counseling.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Jim Smucker, will be held Sunday, June 28 at the Amistad Chapel, 700 Prospect Ave., in Cleveland, Ohio. He was Washington North Idaho conference minister from 1967 to 1971, then New York conference minister until 1987, and volunteered for the national UCC Office for Church in Society after retiring to live in Washington.

University Congregational UCC at 4515 16th Ave NE in Seattle will hold a Service of Memory and Thanksgiving at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 29, for teacher, author, scholar and friend Marcus Borg who died Jan. 21 at his home in Eastern Oregon.

Interfaith Advocacy Day set

The Faith Action Network’s Inter-Faith Advocacy Day is Thursday, Feb. 19, at the The United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Avenue SE, Olympia, gathering people around the theme, “Act on the Dream: Invest in the Common Good.”

It is an opportunity for people of all faiths to bring elected leaders the voice of compassion and justice. Participants will meet with legislators and/or their staff, join in workshops on the 2015 FAN legislative agenda, which is available at fanwa.org. For information, call 206-625-9790.

University Congregational offers two training programs

University Congregational UCC is offering a Creative Facilitation training and Safer Church Training on Friday, Feb 27, and Saturday, Feb 28.

The Creative Facilitation Training, from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, offers games, activities and discussion tactics for working with groups, and is an opportunity to meet other folks doing this kind of work.

The Safer Church Training, from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, uses the Praesidium Training, which is used for the PNC online trainings. It will include viewing videos, facilitated discussion and time for reflection.

Alan Wong, who helps high schools, middle schools, universities, non-profits, churches and other groups gain the skills they need to serve more effectively and creatively, will lead the Creative Facilitation training. He offers team-building and empowerment programs for both young people and adults.

The Safer Church Training will be led by UCUCC Pastor Peter Ilgenfritz.

The church is offering the training at no cost through funding from the Phyllis and Ralph Swanson Endowment for Children and Youth for Alan Wong and the cost of some food, said Margaret Irribarra, director of youth ministries.

To register, visit http://bit.ly/cftraining15.

Course on UCC history/polity will be given at General Synod

A course on the History, Theology and Polity of the United Church of Christ will be offered at General Synod this summer, June 24-July 1, taught by the Rev. Elizabeth Nordbeck and the Rev. Jonathan New of Andover Newton Theological Seminary.

Members in Discernment, clergypersons seeking dual standing or privilege of vall, and interested laypersons are welcome to enroll in the polity course with the option of earning seminary credit or a certificate.

For information, visit http://www.uccfiles.com/pdf/gs30-synodpolityflyer.pdf.

Applications due for 2015-16 UCC’s Young Adult Service

Justice Leadership Program manager Elizabeth Dickinson is calling young adult candidates for the national Young Adult Service Communities (YASC) network.

Six YASC communities around the country are making preparations with community agencies, justice leadership workshops and congregational hospitality to welcome young adult leaders on behalf of the whole church for a year of engagement at the intersection of congregation and world.

Young adults of ages 21 to 35 will serve from September 2015 through July 2016 in Seattle (Justice Leadership Program), Bethesda, MD, Westford, Mass. (near Boston), Philadelphia, Penna., Granite City, Ill. (near St. Louis), and Chicago, Ill.

Housing, a food stipend, health insurance and assistance with application for student loan forbearance provided. It’s a year that transforms lives of young people and the world.

Applications are at http://www.ucc.org/volunteer_yasc and are due Feb. 15 or call 206-320-0432 or visit justiceleadership.org.