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Transitions announced

Tara Barber’s installation is June 11 as specialized minister of support for clergy and congregations at Alki UCC in West Seattle, preceded by a Clergy and Lay Leadership Training on Saturday, June 11 at Kirkland Congregational UCC with workshops and guest speaker, the Rev. Elizabeth Dilley from the national UCC setting.

Maria “Dancing Heart” Hoaglund died after being hit by a car in Olympia in April. She had just returned to the area after spending a few years in Arizona. She was born in Tokyo, Japan, to missionaries. She studied in Kobe, at Yale University and Chicago Theological Seminary (MDiv). Maria served First Congregational Church in Everett (interim), Lummi Island Congregational, Japanese Congregational, and Columbia-Lakewood Community Church (interim). She was a transition coach, a spiritual counselor and bereavement specialist. She is also an author of two books: The Last Adventure of Lifeand The Most Important Day of Your Life: Are You Ready.

Fire damages Vancouver UCC

On Wednesday, May 25, fire broke out at Vancouver First Congregational UCC in the Central Pacific Conference. A neighbor awoke about 3 a.m., saw a ball of fire coming from the steeple and called 911. The arson fire did about $2 million in damage.

They had done an extensive remodel in recent years of their unique sweeping steeple and cross. Response by the insurance agent led to swift efforts at cleanup.

The next day the Liberty Bible Church of the Nazarene, also in Vancouver, was set on fire and Bethesda Slavic Church in Brush Prairie, Wash., were also burned. All three were considered arsons.

“The evening of the fire 200 members, neighbors, ecumenical partners and conference members joined in a prayer vigil outside the church,” said Walter John Boris, CP Conference minister.

The 228-member congregation, which was established in 1891, is meeting several Sundays on their labyrinth near the church for worship, then will meet at Congregation Kol Ami, which once met at the church.

Asbestos contamination will complicate rebuilding, Walter John said.

Jennifer Brownell, who was previously associate pastor at Magnolia UCC in Seattle, is interim pastor there.

For information call 971-340-6316 or email rev.brownell@gmail.com.

Muslim Assn. of Puget Sound holds interfaith iftar June 15

The Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS) invites family, friends and neighbors to the 10th annual MAPS Ramadan Interfaith Iftar on at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, at MAPS, 17550 NE 67th Ct., Redmond. Dinner is served at 9 p.m.

Speakers are Sr. Maha el-Geneidi, founder and CEO of Islamic Network Group that counteracts bias against American Muslims, and Sr. Aneela Afzali, an attorney and graduate of Harvard Law School, and a member of the MAPS Interfaith and Outreach Committee, a builder of interfaith alliances.

MAPS leaders say The Quran teaches that in times of difficulty and hostility, the choices of reacting in kind or responding with kindness are not equal. It calls people to master their inner selves by responding to fear and hostility with kindness and to work closely with many willing and eager partners in the community to spread the message of peace, respect and valuing one another.

To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/MAPSIftar2016.

PAAM meets in Federal Way

The Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries of the UCC will hold its 22nd Biennial Convocation for the first time in 42 years in the Pacific Northwest. PAAM participants from Hawaii, California, Nevada, the East Coast and Midwest will gather July 7 to 10 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 2415 S. 320th St., in Federal Way.

UCC General Minister and President John Dorhauer and former General Secretary of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa Emau Petaia will be featured speakers, addressing the theme, “PAAM: Together in Ministry.” Pacific Northwest PAAM moderator Nathalie Fuentes said there will be sacred conversations on race and racial justice issues particularly related with Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans.

PAAM was organized in 1974 on national, regional and local levels in the UCC to address racism, advocate for human rights, and strengthen clergy and lay leadership.

For information, 206-313-0483 or email nathalie@q.com.

Center for Progressive Renewal offers classes

The Center for Progressive Renewal offers an opportunity for congregational vitality, called ReVision, a year-long journey beginning with focused worship, intentional small groups and spiritual practices to move congregations into discernment.

A Convergence Summit brings people together to determine what God is saying to the church about what it can do in its community. Proposal teams take dreams, ideas and initiatives for the congregation for feedback before implementation.

The first seminar was June 8. A second webinar will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 16.

To register, visit, https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5718661505811913474.

Our Whole Lives training set for Nov. 11-13 at Pilgrim Firs

An Our Whole Lives and Sexuality and Our Faith (OWL) training will be held Friday to Sunday, Nov. 11 to 13, at Pilgrim Firs. Participants can choose elementary, secondary or young adult/adult. An early bird rate will be given before Sept. 1. For information, email amy@diligentjoy.com or wade@pilgrim-firs.org.

OWL is a sexuality education curriculum. Training prepares facilitators to succeed in their role and enables their faith development team members to understand their own and others’ sexuality within the context of United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalist values.

Approved facilitators will be prepared to implement the curriculum in their congregation or settings.

For information, call Amy Johnson, UCC Our Whole Lives coordinator at 216-736-3718.

St. Paul holds recycling event

To raise funds to help St. Paul UCC in Ballard recover from a recent fire, there will be a recycling event for personal electronics, computers, appliances and stereo equipment. Items are to be brought between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday, July 9, to Magnolia United Church of Christ, 3555 W. McGraw St. Seattle, said Becky Withington.

For information, call 206-290-9884.

Wayside UCC is ONA for 25 years

On Pentecost, Wayside UCC in Federal Way celebrated its 25th year as an ONA congregation, the 63rd ONA church nation-wide, said Dennis Hollinger-Lant, pastor.

For information, call 253-838-0915 or email dennishl@waysideucc.org.

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