The Communicator - Eagle Harbor Congregational Church
Transcription
The Communicator - Eagle Harbor Congregational Church
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Bainbridge Island, WA Permit #1870 The Communicator All the (Church) News That’s Fit to Print Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, UCC January, 2014 Holy One, untamed by the names The Communicator I give you, Published by Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, UCC in the silence name me, Rev. Dr. Dee Eisenhauer, Pastor Jennifer Merrill, Editor Mary Waterson, Circulation that I may know who I am, hear the truth you have put into me, trust the love To Contact Us: Return Service Requested Eagle Harbor Congregational Church 105 Winslow Way West Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 206-842-4657 The deadline for the February, 2014 issue of The Communicator is Monday, January 20. you have for me, Rev. Dee Eisenhauer: which you call me to live out [email protected] Church Office: with my sisters and brothers in your human family. [email protected] We’re on the web www.eagleharborchurch.org Like us on Facebook! P A G E 1 —Ted Loder “Who Are You?” T h e C O M M U N I C A T O R P A G E 2 I hope you have enjoyed the Christmas season—the weeks of preparation, the special music and the lights and the family time. I hope you all found a way to keep the feast in a way that was joyful and holy, and even had moments of peace. Now, we return in the New Year to our routines. After the holidays, it’s back to the socalled “rat race.” One of Lily Tomlin’s bits of wisdom: “The trouble with the rat -race is that even if you win, you are still a rat.” Here’s a question: can you be fully engaged with the world, rat race and all, and not be—or become—a rat? We live in a world of sin, and thus we’re constantly tempted in ways large and small to fit in with a corrupt, competitive, violent and materialistic culture. How do we engage with society and resist being completely defined by its expectations and norms? We resist peer pressures by having a firm grip on our identity as children of God and agents of grace. Our Epiphany worship series will be shaped by the overarching theme “Who Are You?” We’ll be pondering themes that help us refine our sense of identity: Follow Your Star Connect With Your Belovedness Know Your Name Claim Your Vocation Embody Beatitude Living Live With Integrity Create Right Relationships Go Beyond Proclaim Transformation As part of this worship series, we will be seeking folks from the congregation who would be willing to give a brief testimony—2 or 3 minutes answering a question that aligns with these themes. Our congregation is always blessed by hearing from our companions on the spiritual journey. We think that having a weekly testimony will not only allow us to consider some big ideas, but it will help us get to know each other better. We’ll be able to have a little fuller answer to the question “Who Are You?” after hearing from various folks. So don’t be shy! Volunteer! Or say “yes” when asked. Even if public speaking makes you shake in your boots, we guarantee that you will never find a more loving and gracious audience to address; EHCC may help cure you of a fear of microphones. I look forward to sharing the season with you. Who are you? You are beloved of God, a unique and beautiful image of the Divine. —Peace, Dee Russ Freeman How would you/please describe the evolution of your Christian faith so far? Our church and others have changed dramatically in the years I have been attending. We are more tolerant and open to new ideas. Even our music is cheerful. The changes are great, and I think I have changed with them. We are going in the right direction. Why should we pass on the Christian faith/why is Christianity (as you understand and practice it) relevant today? T h e C O M M U N I C A T O R We live in a troubled world. Christianity provides positive attitudes and action that are vital to helping make positive changes. How would/do you describe EHCC to someone who doesn’t attend our church? Come join us. Our church services are great and the people are all pleasant and welcoming. I'm sure you will find it to be an enjoyable experience. Interfaith Advocacy Day, Thursday, January 30 Want to spend an interesting and informative day with people of all faiths—and people of no faith at all—who stand up boldly to challenge the powerful? EHCC advocates will join with other Faith Action Network friends in speaking directly with our state legislators. But first, we attend workshops that will break down the issues and get current best practices on how to advocate in today’s legislature. FAN’s Top two issues this 2014 session are: Preventing Gun Violence (I-594) and Preventing Wage Theft. Other key issues will also be discussed. We already have a team going from EHCC—carpooling an option. Register via email at [email protected] and click on the registration link. Registration is $15 until Jan. 15; $20 until Jan. 30 (includes box lunch) Contact Madelyn Fox or Jennifer Merrill for more information. P A G E 11 T h e C O M M U N I C A T O R Focus on Faith: What brought you to church (initially; not specifically to EHCC)? I was very active in the youth group at Calvary Methodist Church in San Jose, California during World War II. All of the boys were invited to join the military as we graduated from high school. Eventually we all returned, re-grouped and continued to meet occasionally for several years. Leona and I met at one of those gatherings, and we were married in the church. Tell us about a specific time when participating in church was especially meaningful (not necessarily a time at EHCC). As newlyweds in 1951 we bought a "tract" house in Cambrian Park, one of many of the enormous new communities that were being built in San Jose. New communities need churches, and it was our good fortune that the Methodists chose to establish a new church in Cambrian Park, and we were involved from the beginning. Until we had a building, we held meetings, worship, and Sunday School in various homes. I put in long hours hammering nails on the new multi-purpose hall. Eventually, we had a building, a minister and a committed congregation. It was a great experience for everyone. What makes your on-going relationship with church meaningful or worthwhile/ how has participation at EHCC positively affected your life? P A G E 10 We moved to the northwest and continued to go to church for another ten years, but when we moved to Bainbridge Island in 1967 our church attendance became a rare event and continued that way for several years. One day we agreed that we missed going to church and we checked out EHCC. At that time Dale Turner was the interim pastor. Though his sermon was directed to the congregation, I felt like he was talking directly to me...and the rest is history. We made a good choice. Among other things, I have spent a lot of hours over and under the church building. I think the preservation of the building is vital. Working with others who share in caring for our building is a big part of our great fellowship. (cont. on pg. 11) EHCC Considers a Theme in 2014: Creating Compassionate Hearts Eagle Harbor Church's Mission Council has made a commitment to Compassionate Action. And, later this month, we hope you will endorse our call for action. Martin Luther King, Jr., saw what he called the beloved community as a personal experience that blossoms with the alleviation of economic inequity and the achievement of economic justice. In King's view, the beloved community is a vessel for God's love, "it does not begin by discriminating between worthy and unworthy people, or any qualities people possess. It begins by loving others for their sakes." It is King's realistic, but bold, vision we hope to advance through our conscious embrace of compassionate action. A couple months ago, EHCC held an all -church brainstorm after worship, identifying our current compassionate work, looking for ways we could grow or extend it, and brainstorming blue sky ideas—new ways to invest our time and energy in pursuit of growing the beloved community. You can see the full list of the participants' work here: http://sdrv.ms/1cm91rA. Your Mission Council reviewed that list and came up with five targets for growth and three blue sky ideas that we plan to present to the full congregation during our annual meeting on Sunday, Jan. 19. They are: Growth Areas: (1) Expand visitation to shut-ins; (2) find new partnerships for service and justice work (low-income housing, low-paid workers, isolated seniors; (3) continue all-age participation in worship to help bond church family; (4) more church fellowship (like meetings, progressive dinners, etc.); (5) work to rebuild senior high ministry. Blue Sky (new) Areas: (1) Adult mission trip; (2) more involvement in the Faith Action Network; (3) pick another community (non-Christian) to have regular sharing time—maybe quarterly. We also plan to ask the congregation to ratify the Charter for Compassion (http:// charterforcompassion.org), advanced by Karen Armstrong. The charter holds, in part, that compassion "is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community." (see page 5) Please consider prayerfully how you could support each of these areas of growth. And, if there's one area that you feel particularly called to, please speak up and volunteer to be on a task force to help bring it to fruition. —Reed Price, EHCC Secretary T H E C O M M U N I C A T O R P A G E 3 T h e C O M M U N I C A T O R Annual Meeting Come one, come all to EHCC’s annual member meeting. It will be held on Sunday, January 19 at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. It’s a little bit earlier this year as Dee is heading off shortly after that to have some R&R with family in the Far East. I really hope that you will make a special effort to attend our annual meeting because it is just that—our meeting. We’ll hear from our staff about what they’ve been up to in 2013 and what they hope to achieve this year. We’ll take a look at our proposed 2014 budget and what the Mission Council is suggesting we spend our money on next year. You get to elect our Mission Council Members...And what a wonderful job the pre- Prayer Chain Call any one of us with your prayer requests and concerns: Linda Swolgaard, 842-3338 Ann Lovejoy, 842-0108 Jennifer Merrill, 780-6937 Tonya Keaton, 852-4817 P A G E 4 Eileen Nicol, 842-1245 Dianne Speers, 855-9446 Jean Atwater, 855-4180 Marian Rees, 842-4621 Peggy Houck, 842-5868 sent Council is doing, although I may have some bias in that area. We’ll also be discussing whether or not EHCC should adopt a formal Compassion Charter. And if that isn’t enough, you get an opportunity to talk about how well we are fulfilling our Mission Statement: “We are: God-Loving, ChristCentered. Spirit-Led People of Faith. “On our journey, we: Humbly seek God’s truth together; Welcome all seekers as Christ has welcomed us; Open ourselves to the Spirit; Join with other faith communities in a quest for harmony; and Work together, reaching beyond ourselves to foster the Kin-dom of God on Earth.” Thank you for all you do and I look forward to seeing you on the 19th. —Mission Council Chair, Stephen Wilson Please Keep in Your Prayers: Deborah Allen, N.Z. Carol, Mat and John Chamberlain, Benjy Cunningham, Karen Eisenhauer, Jolene Farwell, Mickey Henshaw, Jessie Hey, Olga Macferran, Dorothy Meyer, Kate Walsh January Caring Coins On January 25, the EHCC Service Team will provide a dinner for about 80 women and children at Mary’s Place in Seattle after their Saturday liturgy. Our Caring Coins will help pay for this delicious fried chicken meal they always enjoy. Our ongoing support for this important mission empowers women and children to reclaim their lives, gives them hope and helps them grow. The success stories are many: Diane found solace and community when she discovered Mary’s Place for the first time in October, Sherry got her Section 8 housing, and Pat got a job that she really enjoys. Sarah got three A’s on her 5th grade report card, Thomas met the Seahawks mascot, Blitz, at the Hawks Thanksgiving dinner, Devyn was taking her first steps, 12-year-old Maria learned to skate, and Mark can read chapter books now! Their 48-bed emergency shelter for women and children on Bell St. has been full nearly every night and 162 families have moved through the shelter this year. The need for safe family shelter is great and growing. Our help is greatly appreciated. EHCC will also collect used winter clothing and items from the following Wish List from January 5-19 to bring with us on the January 25. Backpacks, tote bags, wheeled luggage Blankets, sheets (twin size) Cold medicine (for adults) Flashlights Hats, scarves, gloves Hand warmers Reading glasses Umbrellas Soap, shampoo, deodorant, razors Feminine hygiene products —Madelyn Fox T H E C O M M U N I C A T O R Stock Donations to EHCC EHCC is now accepting stock donations! Our new Fidelity account has made it quick and easy. There are significant tax benefits to donating stock to charity. You can claim a charitable deduction and avoid capital gains by donating appreciated property to charity. As long as the property has been held for more than 1 year, and some other conditions are met. Talk to your tax advisor or financial planner for more information. If you would like to donate stock, please contact me for instructions. —Stephanie Bowen, Financial Secretary [email protected] P A G E 9 T h e C O M M U N I C A T O R Mark Your Calendar Animate Faith: Adult Education session, Wednesday, January 15. This is the fourth in our seven-session (one meeting per month) adult faith formation program called Animate Faith. During this session we’ll take a look at the work of Pastor Shane Hipps, who challenges us to consider the meaning and responsibilities/ challenges of “salvation.” The session is titled: “Salvation: Abundant Life Now.” We’ll gather for a simple potluck meal at 6:30 p.m. and then a consideration of Hipps’ ideas at 7 p.m. Open to all! EHCC Annual Meeting, Sunday, January 19, 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. Charter for Compassion Proposed Compassion Charter for EHCC (to be voted on at the Annual Meeting): As a member of the international Compassionate Action Network Eagle Harbor Congregational Church has adopted compassion as a core value. Soup n Such, Monday, January 20, noon in our fellowship hall. Join us for a delicious lunch and then a conversation with a representative from Helpline House who will tell us about current and new programs. Open to all; suggested lunch donation of $3/person Hungry Readers book discussion group, Monday, January 20, 7 p.m. in the P A G E 8 Singer room. We’re discussing 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong. This thought-provoking book draws from many religious traditions to show how compassion is a commonly held value across religions. Armstrong gives practical help in becoming more compassionate by arranging the book as a 12-step process for the cultivation of compassion. The twelve steps she suggests begin with “Learn About Compassion,” and close with “Love Your Enemies.” In between, she takes up self-love, mindfulness, suffering, sympathetic joy, the limits of our knowledge of others, and “concern for everybody.” She shares concrete methods to help us cultivate and expand our capacity for compassion, and provides a reading list to encourage us to “hear one another’s narratives.” Armstrong teaches us that becoming a compassionate human being is a lifelong project and a journey filled with rewards. We’ll be trying to put compassion at the center of our EHCC mission in 2014, and we recommend reading this book as a beginning place. Come and join the conversation! IFC Spring Choral Concert, Sunday, February 9, 3:30 p.m. at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church. Save the date! We believe all women, men and children are called to love and treat each other as brothers and sisters. We encourage all governments, societies, neighborhoods and faith communities to adopt compassion as a guiding value. We believe the degree to which compassion is reflected in their policies will result in proportional civility, prosperity and growth. We believe treating others with compassion is the foundation for all truly positive human relationships. In furtherance of this commitment, we pledge ourselves to treat all life with kindness, civility, patience and love, and to encourage our civic communities to do likewise and become members of the Compassionate Action Network. T H E C O M M U N I C A T O R Update Your EHCC Directory Yes, it’s getting to be time for new EHCC directory, but in the meantime, please add these people to your at-home roster: Ann Brown, 428 Harborview Dr. SE # 181, Bainbridge Is., WA 98110, 451-4921 Sue and Kyle Lukins, 15830 Euclid Ave. NE, Bainbridge Is., WA 98110, 842-4424 Sarah and Andrew Ruhrdanz (Eleanor), 190 Harbor Square Loop NE # C131 Winnie Tingley, 214 Shanti, Lane, Bainbridge Is., WA 98110, 201-6877 Trevor Carlson, 650 Ericksen Ave. NE, Bainbridge Is., WA 98110, 293-678-7339 Stephanie Hanna, 10658 NE Valley Rd., Bainbridge Is., WA 98110, 780-4920 Elissa and Charlie Kratzer (Thomas and Liam), 3560 Gangemarken Ln. NE, Bainbridge Is., WA 98110, 451-4698 Marian and Keith Thackray, 291 Ericksen Ave. NE, Bainbridge Is., WA 98110, 780-6877 P A G E 5 Sunday EHCC January, 2014 5 2nd Sunday after Christmas Monday Tuesday Abbreviation Key: Wednesday 1 FH: Fellowship Hall K: Kitchen S: Singer Room Office closed AA: Alcoholics Anonymous AA 7pm S BOSIA: Bainbridge/Ometepe Sister Island Assoc. Barbara Minster OA: Overeaters Anonymous SS: Sunday School TTC: Teen Talking Circles Birthdays in Italics 6 Epiphany Thursday 2 Friday 3 4 OA 9:15am S 11 OA 9:15am S Men’s B’fast 7am FH Choir rehearsal 7pm sanctuary 7 8 9 10 Choir rehearsal 8:30am sanctuary (intergenerational; TTC 3-5pm S Book Group 5-7pm S Communion) Worship/SS 9:30am Youth Group 11am-1pm AA 7:30pm S Eugie Price Bible study 9:30am Dee’s office Bible study 6:30pm Dee’s office AA 7pm S Men’s B’fast 7am FH Choir rehearsal 7pm sanctuary Ailish Wilson Davis Harrison Suzanne Macpherson 12 The Baptism of Christ/ 13 14 15 16 17 1st Sunday after Epiphany Worship 9:30am Youth Group 11am-1pm Music recital 3:30pm sanctuary AA 7:30pm S TTC 3-5pm S Book Group 5-7pm S Bible Study 9:30am Dee’s office Animate Faith Adult Ed.: potluck @ 6:30pm; discussion @ 7pm FH Men’s B’fast 7am FH Islandwood 9:30-11:30am FH Choir rehearsal 7pm sanctuary Nicolas Pecora Kenam Sohn 19 2nd Sunday after Epiphany 20 Mission Council mtg. 7pm S BOSIA 7-9pm FH Choir rehearsal 8:30am sanctuary Worship/SS 9:30am Soup n Such noon FH EHCC Annual Meeting 11am sanctuary Hungry Readers 7pm S Music recital 2:30pm sanctuary AA 7:30pm S Erin Miller 21 Book Group 5-7pm S AA 7pm S Melanie Elliott 18 OA 9:15am S Susan Allen 22 23 Bible study 6:30pm Dee’s office AA 7pm S Stephen Wilson Men’s B’fast 7am FH Islandwood 9:30-11:30am FH Racism Discussion 6:30pm S February Communicator Deadline Saturday 24 26 3rd Sunday after Epiphany 27 28 29 30 31 Choir rehearsal 8:30m sanctuary Worship/ SS 9:30am Youth Group 11am-1pm Madrona 1-7pm FH & K AA 7:30pm S Amy Chamberlain Madrona 9am-noon FH Super Supper 5pm FH Book Group 5-7pm S Madrona 9am-noon FH Super Supper 5pm FH Madrona 9am-noon FH Bible study 6:30pm Dee’s office AA 7pm S Carl Herman Men’s B’fast 7am FH Madrona 9am-noon FH Super Supper 5pm FH Choir rehearsal 7pm sanctuary Teita Reveley Madrona 9am-noon FH Super Supper 5pm FH 25 OA 9:15am S Olivia Lunt