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Transitions announced

Amy Hitchens has been called as pastor by Normandy Park UCC in Seattle.

Sue Sutherland-Hanson, a member in discernment in the PNC and member at Suquamish UCC, died on May 19, 2018. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Washington and a master of divinity at Earlham University.

Church honors organist

Forks Congregational UCC recently celebrated Juanita Weissenfels’ 45 years of playing organ and piano for the church.

For information, call 360-374-5319 or email elhenry44@gmail.com.

Prospect shows film on energy

There was a screening of the film, “Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution,” at 7 p.m., Friday, June 15,
at Prospect Congregational UCC, 1919 E. Prospect St. in Seattle.

After the film, the Prospect Social and Environmental Justice Team (SEJT) held a discussion with a representative from 350Seattle.org.

UCC offers workshop on giving

United Church of Christ and Lake Institute on Faith & Giving are offering a seminar experience on “Creating a congregational culture of generosity: How do you inspire generosity?”

It will be held Saturday to Sunday, July 21-22, at Sunnyslope Church 3330 School St. in Wenatchee.

The pastor demonstrates how pastors and ministry leaders can energize congregational generosity by exploring steps to create lasting cultural change within a congregation. The seminar is for teams from congregations.

Seminar leaders are Andrew DeBraber and Mark Kirchoff.

Andrew is a local church pastor, community organizer, nonprofit executive director and now as a major gift officer for the UCC. He lives in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Marc, an ordained American Baptist minister is a development officer for International Cooperating Ministries. He has 37 years of ministry experience.

The fee for the seminar is $115 per person. The deadline to register is June 25. For information, call 206-725-8383.

National UCC Disibilities MInistries Board seeks two

The UCC Disabilities Ministries Board Nominations Committee is seeking two people, who are passionate about disability ministry. The Board is made up of people with disabilities, professionals who work in the disability field, and family members of people with disabilities. The mission is to encourage the denomination to create worship and meeting places, programs and leadership opportunities that are Accessible to All (A2A) and welcoming and inclusive of all persons with disabilities. The openings are for two service terms, one ending in October 2019 and the other in October 2022.

For information, visit uccdm.org.

Veradale UCC helps community address white supremacy

Since the April 20 walkout at Spokane Valley schools remembering the Columbine school shooting and calling for action to end school shootings, Gen Heywood, pastor of Veradale UCC, became aware of the presence of “white-identity” youth on campuses of University, Central Valley, East Valley and Freeman high schools.

About 150 teens from those schools engaged in a peaceful protest carrying posters and registering voters.

A few students in Alt-Right groups, called Identity and Identity Evropa, wore white supremacy T-shirts and carried other symbols during the walkouts. They were interviewed by the local newspaper.

Concerned, Gen and others in the community formed Families Against Bigotry (FAB), first meeting April 23, to help people know how to address the white supremacy presence in schools and the community.

Families Against Bigotry has organized several speakers in a summer series on “Fascism, Hate and Building Alternatives.” The events are at Veradale UCC.

One was Tony McAleer, a former organizer for the White Aryan Resistance. Speaking on “Life After Hate,” he said it’s hard to leave such a movement. He now works to fight hate.

Lindsay Shubiner, program director for the Western States Center’s new initiative to counter white nationalism and hate violence, spoke June 13. She has been involved in advocacy to defeat anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hate, and in support of community groups to expose organized bigotry and research hate movements. She addressed varieties of hate groups and ways to respond.

FAB is also collaborating with other area groups working against racism and hate, and for human rights, including the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force, Spokane Community Against Racism, the Gonzaga University Institute of Hate Studies and PFLAG.

Shon Meckfessel from the English Department at Highline University in Seattle will speak on “Free Speech When It Isn’t” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 19, at Veradale UCC.

FAB is planning an August speaker. The next organizing meeting is at 5:30 p.m., June 28, at Veradale UCC.

For information, call 408-593-9556 or email genheywood@att.net.

Spirit Workshops seek socks

On Sunday, June 10, Spirit Workshops at University Congregational UCC focused on “The Importance of Socks,” said Beth Amsbury, Spirit Workshop convener.

They talked about socks in literature, socks in life, and socks in the lives of the other. The gathering culminated in a celebration of knitted goodness: a sock drive! People brought new socks to give away, or cash to put into a kitty to buy socks.

The socks are for Camp Second Change, a Seattle encampment of unhoused neighbors and friends of Spirit Workshops.

Spirit Workshops are participatory gatherings for the spiritual-but-not religious to connect with spirit and community in an inclusive setting.

Workshop participants have been considering how to respond to housing in Seattle, and across the country with the Poor People’s Campaign.

For information, call 206-524-2322 or visit universityucc.org.

Webinar on Creation Justice set

For the June Creation Justice Webinar, the UCC has teamed up with 350.org and the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth for a session on “Successful Climate Action” at 1 p.m.,Wednesday, June 17.

Masada Disenhouse from 350.org will share how faith communities can make a difference on climate through local campaigns to transition society away from fossil fuels.

Registration is at https://ucc.zoom.us/meeting/register/f41b73a27144159cd746f627e8486654

Normandy Park hosts vigil

Normandy Park Congregational UCC hosted a Interfaith Vigil on Monday, June 18, with the Highline Ecumenical Circle in response to the zero tolerance policy at the southern U.S. border for asylum seekers fleeing violence in Central America.

Normandy Park is near to the Federal Detention Center at 200th in Sea-Tac, where 206 parents who have been separated from their children are being detained. Amy Hitchins, pastor, worked with asylum seekers during seminary at Pacific School of Religion.

The Church Council of Greater Seattle is in conversation with faith leaders and plans actions and events, including the Interfaith Vigil. There are plans for a community briefing on World Refugee Day hosted at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle provided by the Northwest Immigration and Refugee Program and community leaders.

For information, call 206-204-3855 or email info@thechurchcouncil.org.

Northshore doing teach-ins

Northshore UCC in Woodinville did a “Teach-In” related to the Poor People’s Campaign on “Everybody’s Got the Right to Live.” Another Teach-In will be held June 26, at the church, 18900 168th Ave. NE. For information, email mountainclimber4@gmail.com.

Programs receive offering

Part of the PNC Annual Meeting offerings of $3,383 went to La Casa Hogar in Yakima and part went to the PNC Communities of Practice.

A special offering was collected for Friends of the Conference. It totaled $4,156, said Kara Newsome, interim accounting manager.

An article on La Casa Hogar’s work educating immigrants is on page 17. The Communities of Practice since September 2015 has gathered clergy in local churches and specialized ministries in small support and learning groups, coordinated by Tara Barber, who is working on contract with the PNC. The program provides for peer learning and peer support that helps pastors strengthen themselves and their ministries.

For information, call 206-725-8383.

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