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PNC members gather to weave together stories

Roselynne Savini Selix and Emily Tanis-Likkel, co-chairs of the Church Development Committee (CDC) helped the committee convene a day of “Weaving Our Stories” on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Fauntleroy UCC in Seattle.

The event, intended as a practical and prophetic gathering, drew more than 70 people in person and more online to share stories and resources.

Youth from Samoan Congregational Christian (Ala ILe Ola) in Seattle sing during worship.

In these uncertain times, the goal was to strengthen ties that bind members of the PNC UCC churches to build God’s kin-dom, to form networks of care and to help people thrive.

The day gave space for participants to listen, share and connect. Facilitators guided conversations to weave together stories, deepen relationships, and discover shared purpose.

Emily and other conveners invited participants to leave with at least two new relationships and some actionable steps to strengthen them, their ministry and the shared life of the conference.

After half an hour of singing, led primarily by about 26 youth from the Samoan Congregational Christian Church (Ala ILe Ola) in Seattle, Emily welcomed participants, recognizing many may feel unraveled, in grief or anxious about the state of the world.

The Church Development Committee convened the gathering as a time for people to listen to each other’s stories to discover connections and common purpose.

“I hope we experience a microcosm of the good we envision for humanity, for relationships rooted in love, for diversity not division. Let us be woven together in God’s grace,” said Emily.

Committee members helping lead the worship and sessions were Emily of Alki UCC, Kaila Russell of Tolt UCC in Carnation, Catherine Foote of Bellevue Congregational UCC, Margo Richardson of Northshore UCC, Betsy Runke of Everett UCC, Va’a Alaelua of the Christian Worship Center in Anchorage, and Mana’o Satele-Vaovasa and Roselynne of Ala ILe Ola, Seattle.

In a prayer, Rose recognized that each person came from different places, stories and journeys and invited the Holy Spirit to be present in their hearts, words and listening, opening each to share their stories, listen to others and be gentle with each other’s stories.

“God, remind us that every voice matters and every story is held by your love,” she prayed. “Weave us together, our faith, our culture, our experiences, our hopes into one beautiful community.”

Emily said the CDC met last June and dreamed of a day of collaborative conversation as part of their mission of church formation and transformation.

“It’s important to connect by sharing stories,” she said.

Before the event, participants filled out a survey on the three greatest challenges their church experiences, what they need and what they can share. Based on surveys, break out group topics were chosen for the morning and afternoon.

• Some churches have big buildings and need renters for income and to infuse their spaces with life and energy. Many Samoan churches are outgrowing their spaces and need space where they don’t have to rush to finish Sunday school, worship and a meal within two-hours. Danette Koloi of the Samoan Congregational Christian Church II in Seattle led a group on use of church spaces.

• To encourage global and local partnerships, Phil Hodson, designated conference minister, led a group about partner projects, events and initiatives.

• In online group, Karen Nooney shared her experience of being on a search committee to call one pastor to serve the newly yoked Colville and Chewelah churches.

• Va’a in Anchorage led an online group on intergenerational churches and the need to listen to youth. Recently he gathered 350 youth from various churches, using an anti-racism grant from the CDC.

• Conference treasurer Andy Warren facilitated a conversation on finance, inviting ideas on how churches can raise funds for their ministries.

• For churches beginning to explore the Open and Affirming process and those who have been ONA for decades, Pastor Amy Johnson helped them explore how to live more fully into their queer affirming identity.

• For those wishing for hands-on creativity and an opportunity to weave, Kaila Russell, an artist, led a session.

• Elizabeth Maupin of Spirit of Peace in Issaquah led discussion on what is lifegiving and what is depleting in ministry.

“The wisdom we need is not in a lofty place but is here in all of us in this room. We can learn from one another,” said Emily.

Before the breakout groups, Catherine reminded, “We are not alone. We can act together.”

Seeing a weaving in Fauntleroy’s fellowship hall that Kaila had guided an annual meeting to create from strips of cloth each PNC church brought to make a new story, Catherine found the strip from University Congregational UCC. It was from a curtain that had hung in the fellowship hall when she was a child. It reminded her of people she loved, stories they told and ways they worked together.

“The church needs our gifts,” she said. “I see Christ’s face reflected in all of us. Early church writers said we are not alone and we can’t do it alone. We are in a world that wants to convince us we are alone and we can’t act, but we are here together and God will make a way. To act together, we have to know each other’s stories.

“The world wants to convince us that even though we are together, we are not enough. We’re too small, insignificant or powerless to make a difference. The early church taught us that no matter how small or broken we are as the church, God is bigger than our fears or problems. God will make a way,” Catherine affirmed.

“Our story is bigger than here and now. We came from a host of witnesses before us and are surrounded by an incredible cloud of witnesses,” she said. “There is a vision beyond us, so, church, never put a period where God has put a comma. God is not finished with us or this country. Our job is to cooperate and let God do God’s wondrous work among us to make a difference in our world.”

For information, see the worship video at https://www.youtube.com/@FauntleroyChurchUCC/streams.

 

Pacific Northwest Conference United Church of Christ News © January 2026

 

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