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Transitions announced

David Schlicher was called as pastor and teacher of Northshore UCC in Woodinville. He comes from the Hawaii Conference.

Ryan Murray, who is working as a hospice chaplain with Assured Hospice in Olympia, has had his standing transferred from the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference.

Georgann Peck, who has retired from ministry, has had her standing transferred from the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference.

Charles Blaisdell has entered a four-way covenant as a regional mission interpreter with the Church Building and Loan Fund.

Donene Blair is working in a part-time contract position with Plymouth UCC.

Peter Ilgenfritz left University Congregational UCC in Seattle as of Dec. 30 after 25 years of ministry there to seek new opportunities.

Darrel Goodwin has been called from ministry at Liberation UCC and Everett UCC to serve as the associate conference minister of the Nebraska Conference, which is in a Tri Conference Ministry with South Dakota and Iowa.

Jermell Witherspoon will serve Liberation UCC and Everett UCC.

Men’s Retreat is Feb. 1 to 3

The PNC’s 27th annual UCC Men’s Retreat at Pilgrim Firs will be Friday to Sunday, Feb. 1 to 3, beginning on Friday evening with an optional day of silent retreat starting Thursday evening, Jan. 31.

The theme is: “Vitality in Our Own Lives and Communities.”

“We will meet together and in small groups, as well as join in song, share good food, take walks around Lake Flora and participate in the Saturday evening Wisdom Circle for those who want to share reflections,” said Rick Russell, organizer and member of Prospect Congregational UCC in Seattle.

“The Silent Retreat on Thursday is always meaningful for those able to participate,” he added.

For information and to register, visit pilgrimfirs.com or https://www.ultracamp.com/clientlogin.aspx?idCamp=367&campCode=nss.

Annual Meeting, board, churches build relationships

Annual Meeting 2019 will be held on just one day: on Saturday, April 27, at the First Congregational Church in Bellevue.

The day-long session will include business, workshops and approving the budget, said Wendy Blight, moderator of the PNC Board of Directors.

Andrew Conley-Holcom, pastor at Admiral UCC, is working collaboratively with various ministers and lay leaders in the PNC to prepare a heart-centered worship experience on Friday evening before the 2019 Annual Meeting opens.

“We will combine contemplative and charismatic worship practices designed to connect us with our emotions and invite us out of our heads so that we can deeply feel the abiding presence of God,” he said.

Hilary Coleman, vice moderator, is working with the Annual Meeting Planning Committee.

Wendy reported that the Board of Directors continues to be working on the goal of deepening relationships among people in the conference.

A subcommittee on deepening relationships among clergy held an Epiphany Party for ministers in the Seattle area at Wendy’s home.

Among the congregations she visited in the conference is Bellingham First Congregational UCC, where she said the community has choirs perform during the Christmas season on street corners. Bellingham UCC’s choir was among those that participated.

She said that was a witness that “our churches are an important part of the fabric of the community.”

For information, call 206-725-8383.

N-Sid-Sen plans dinner

N-Sid-Sen is planning a Dinner and Auction Fundraiser, “Grow with Us,” Wednesday, April 10, at N-Sid Sen Camp and Retreat Center.

Organizers seek volunteers to share their time and talents.

For information, email nicole@n-sid-sen.org.

Youth camp dates have been set at N-Sid-Sen

The theme for the 2019 youth and family summer camps at N-Sid-Sen, is “Peace Works - Empowering the Next Generation of Peacemakers.”

The curriculum says that “peace is a prayer for some and a life’s work for others. It’s a blessing we share with others and a longing within each of our hearts. Scripture is filled with the stories of peace and justice and camp is the perfect place to share them. Peace isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth the effort, because we know that peace works!” said Kaila Russell of the Outdoor Ministries Committee.

Kaila asks churches to begin recruiting youth to go to camp this summer.

Intermediate and Junior High Camps will be July 7 to 13.

Kids Camp is July 14 to 17, overlapping a few days with Senior High Camp, which will be July 14 to 20,

Registration is online at n-sid-sen.org.

General Synod announced

National UCC General Minister and President John Dorhauer has announced that the 32nd General Synod of the UCC will be held from Friday to Tuesday, June 21 to 25 in Milwaukee, Wis.

The keynote speaker will be Matthew Desmond, professor of sociology at Princeton University and Pulitzer Prize winner for the book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.

Preachers include Kaji Spellman Dousa, Traci deVon Blackmon, Sharon Mei-Shern MacArthur and Amy Butler.

General Synod will celebrate the ministries of retiring national leaders, Jim Moos, who is the associate general minister for global engagement, and Don Hart, president and chief investment officer for United Church Funds.

General Synod will re-elect the general minister and president and elect a new associate general minister for global engagement.

For information, visit ucc.org.

National reports due from churches

Arlene Hobson,the PNC’s executive administrator, shared informationthat the national UCC’s Data Hub is now open for churches to enter their yearbook data.

Video tutorials are available to help with entry at www.ucc.org/research_data-hub.

The reporting allows churches to be part of the national “Find A Church” at www.ucc.org to help people looking for a church. It shows denominational trends on membership, ministerial compensation and church finances, including OCWM and special offerings.

The data helps the conference understand congregations to provide support and resources. Numbers reported also determine how many delegates the PNC has to General Synod.

It allows the UCC Center for Analytics, Research and Data to conduct advanced statistical analyses that contribute to important research for all mainline denominations. It also creates a historical statistical record for your congregation that historians will learn from in the future.”

For information, call 206-725-8383 ext. 101 or visit pncucc.org

Prospect UCC to rent space

Prospect UCC on North Capitol Hill in Seattle is offering a newly renovated, 110 square-foot unfurnished office space in its building to rent to a nonprofit organization.

For information, call 206-322-6030 or email prospectucc@yahoo.com.

UC Funds offers webinars

United Church Funds offers webinars on https://ucfunds.org on planned giving and ways to ensure the future sustainability of a church or ministry. It recently produced a webinar series on “Why Your Church Needs a Planned Giving Program,” “Five Steps to a Successful Planned Giving Program,” “Using Technology to Promote Planned Giving” and “Charitable Gift Annuities.

Insurance help available

The Insurance Assistance Fund Subcommittee of the Conference Stewardship Committee is responsible to allocate assistance to clergy and local churches needing help with the costs of health insurance premiums.

For information, contact PNC treasurer Martha Baldwin at (206) 948-9799 or mahtha@hotmail.com.

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