Conference hires new accountant

Michelle Johansen joined the conference staff as accountant and business manager in mid July.  She will work full time, said Kathy Youde, PNC treasurer.

Michelle grew up in Ohio, attended the University of Arizona and resided for 17 years in Southern California.  She has worked with CPA firms, in private industry and with nonprofit organizations.

N-Sid-Sen hosts Outdoor Ministries Consult in October

In October, N-Sid-Sen will host the bi-annual national Outdoor Ministries Association Consultation for 50 to 80 colleagues from across the United States.  Robbie Paul of Open Door Congregational UCC will be keynote speaker on the theme, “Sacred Places, Sacred Stories,” sharing from her Nez Perce background about celebrating the sacredness of sites used by camps and of stories shared there.

2010 conference retreat and camp schedules set

Pilgrim Firs retreats begin Jan. 8 to 10 with Junior High Mid-Winter and Jan. 15 to 17, Senior High Mid-Winter.  The UCC Men’s Silent Retreat is Feb. 18 to 19; Men’s Retreat, Feb. 19 to 21; Women’s Retreat, March 5 to 7; Confirmation Retreat, April 16 to 18; LGBTQ Family and Friends Camp, May 29 to 31, and Young Adult Retreat, June 26 to 28.

The summer schedule includes Work Camp, May 28 to 30, with Deeg Nelson, managing director, as director.  Other camps will be Junior High, July 5 to 11; Senior High, July 11 to17; Intermediate, July 18 to 24; Kids Camp, July 19 to 22, and Family Camp, August 29 to Sept. 2.

Proposed dates for N-Sid-Sen are Feb. 26 to28 for junior and senior high Mid-Winter retreat; May 14 to 16 for Women’s Retreat; June 6 to 12 for Work Camp; June 27 to 30, Kids Camp; July 5 to 11, Intermediate Camp; July 11 to 17, Senior High Aqua Camp; July 25 to 31, Family Camp #1; Aug. 1 to 7, Junior High Aqua Camp, and Aug 8 to 14, Family Camp #2.

 Randy will lead a Work Camp in New Orleans in February and Bobbi Virta of Ferndale UCC will lead a Work Camp there in early March.

Seattle Taiwanese send $24,000 in typhoon relief

The Seattle Taiwanese Christian Church joined with the Taiwanese Association of Greater Seattle for a dinner benefit at the Taiwan Center and raised $24,000 for relief and assistance aid following Typhoon Morakot that hit southeastern Taiwan August 9 and 10.

The typhoon’s winds of up to 115 miles per hour and rains up to 60 inches demolished homes, shut down infrastructure, moved mountains, killed 40 people and displaced people and injured people.

Brandon Duran, who until recently led the church’s English Ministry, said families of some members have been affected by damage to homes and businesses.
“Their family members, however, were reported to be safe, even though many members of the church come from cities and villages in southern Taiwan, the area most affected,” said Brandon.

He has invites people around the conference to join in prayers for Taiwanese communities that lost loved ones, homes and villages; for the relief efforts, and for the Taiwanese community in Seattle as it seeks to respond.

For information, call 206-632-4020.

Copyright © September 2009 - Pacific Northwest United Church of Christ Conference News