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Transitions announced

Marci Scott-Weis was ordained at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 15, at St. Paul’s UCC in Seattle. Marci, who earned a masters of divinity from Seattle University and a certificate in spiritual direction, will serve as pastor at Magnolia UCC.

On Friday, Oct. 5 at Wayside UCC in Federal Way, Kelsey Peterson will be ordained in a four-way covenant with Dancing Partner Ministries, a Board of Directors, the PNC and Wayside.  She grew up in Wayside where her mother, the Rev. Sheryl Peterson was pastor until her death in 1996.

Amy Hitchens will be ordained at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, as pastor of Normandy Park UCC, 19247 1st Ave S. in Seattle.

 Kevin Bechtold will be ordained at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14, at Plymouth Church UCC.  He will serve as a minister leading middle school and confirmation groups, assisting with pastoral care, developing faith formation resources and participating in worship leadership. Kevin grew up attending Plymouth.  He earned a bachelor’s in religious studies at the University of Oregon and a master of divinity from Seattle University.
   
Robert Haertig, 92, who served churches in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Washington, passed away on Aug. 21.  In Washington, he served the Congregational Church on Mercer Island (1972 to 1979) and was founding pastor of Northshore UCC in Woodinville (1979 to 1991) where he has been pastor emeritus.

He went to seminary at Mission House in Sheboygan, WN, which is now part of United Theological Seminary.  Later he earned a doctor of ministry degree with San Francisco Theological Seminary and began doing liturgical sculpture. His art is in pastels and bronze. A life celebration is planned at 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 16, at Northshore UCC in Woodinville.

Wilbur Rees, 93, of Richland, died July 6. He earned a bachelor’s in psychology at UCLA, a master of divinity at Berkeley Baptist Divinity School and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Idaho State University.

He served nine churches in California, Colorado, Idaho, and Washington. Wilbur retired from the ministry in 1987 after serving as pastor at Shalom UCC in Richland, where he held the title pastor emeritus. 

Paul Pruitt, 96, died on July 2 at Horizon House in Seattle. He graduated from Kirkland High School, the College of Puget Sound, and Yale Divinity School. His first call as a minister was to three yoked congregations in Anacortes, Summit Park and Guemes.  He went on to serve in the Philippines with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission, a predecessor of Global Ministries, from 1952 to 1956, congregations in Lowell and Everett, Mayflower (now UCUP), High Point Community Church and Christian Center in Seattle, and then at Fauntleroy UCC. He was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives and served from 1977 to 1985.

OWL Trainings, retreat set

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Trainings and a Clergy Retreat will be held Nov. 9 to 11 at Pilgrim Firs with sessions for three levels—elementary, secondary and young adult/adult.

The trainings run from noon Friday noon through 1 p.m., Sunday.

There will be a PNC Clergy Retreat from noon Monday, Nov. 12 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Pilgrim Firs on the theme “The Naked Truth: Sexuality in Today’s Church.”

This year the clergy retreat will be co-facilitated by Aaron Lauer, pastor at Coral Gables Congregational UCC, and Amy Johnson, UCC national staff for sexuality and Our Whole Lives.

Topics include: the #MeToo & #TimesUp movement, preaching sexuality, older adult sexuality, relationships that go beyond monogamy, holistic sexuality and more.  The retreat will include personal care time, dynamic worship, two evening hosted receptions and opportunity for connecting with other PNC clergy. 

For information, call 216-736-3718 or visit http://pilgrim-firs.org/calendar/.

Clergy, lay training planned

Clergy Boundary Training, sponsored by the PNC Committee on Ministry and led by the Rev. Tara Barber will be offered two times and places this fall.

One session will be from 10 a.m. to  4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 14, at Westminster Congregational. UCC
411 S Washington St. Spokane. . (The deadline was Sept. 1.)

The second session will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 15, at the Congregational. Church on Mercer Island 4545 Island Crest Way
Mercer Island. (The deadline is Oct. 1.)

Attendance for the full day is required to obtain credit.

Registration for the Eastside is online at https://bit.ly/2v132KQ Registration for the Westside is online at https://bit.ly/2OsDy0M

“Marked by the Spirit” is an opportunity for clergy and lay leaders to learn about 48 qualities of faithful, effective authorized  ministry, also led by Tara.

One session is 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 15, at Westminster UCC
in Spokane. (The deadline was Sept. 1.)

The second session is from 4 to7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Congregational Church on Mercer Island. (The deadline is Oct. 1.)

Registration for the Eastside is available online: https://bit.ly/2NSLUxN Registration for the Westside is available online: https://bit.ly/2v1hDGb

Contact Peggy Derick (westside COM Co-chair) if you have questions: peggy.derick@gmail.com or 425 495-0628.

Disaster sites host volunteers

Disaster Recovery mission trip sites are hosting volunteer groups in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Long-term disaster recovery in each of these locations is in full-swing with the UCC integrally involved with numerous collaborative partners.

Disability event is Nov. 1-3

The UCC Disabilities Ministries and New York Conference are hosting the 2018 Widening the Welcome Conference: “Living, Learning and Leading,” Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 1 to 3, at the Niagara Falls Convention Center and Sheraton at the Falls Niagara Falls, N.Y.

 There will also be a certified Mental Health First Aid class on Nov 1​, organized with the UCC Mental Health Network..

There will be a panel of people from different perspectives within the UCC, to bring awareness and insight on living with a disability and into the fullness of service to an accessible, inclusive and loving God.

For information, email jaschofield1952@gmail.com  or visit https://arena.nyucc.org/default.aspx?portal=4&page=3352&occurrenceId=239&profileId=524.

 

Copyright © September 2018

 

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