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Northwest Reminder VOLUME XXXIX, ISSUE XII

DECEMBER 6, 2014

A Newsletter serv ing the congregat ion and fr iends of

Northwest United Protestant Church

Website nwup.church

Pastor’s E-Mail [email protected]

Church E-Mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

(509) 946-3222

Monthly Publication

Sunday December 7th @ 5:00 p.m.

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Dear friends,

The Advent season is about patience. It’s about waiting, with hopeful anticipation, for the arrival of our Savior. We travel through time back to

Jerusalem to sit with Mary, whose pregnant glow has been replaced by an aching back and a general puffiness. She is eager for her son to be born. And we are eager, too.

We travel through time to the future day when the Son returns in glory to restore the world and to make all things new, once and for all. We sit with the rest of the saints, on the edge of our seats, waiting to see the world transformed. Eager. Hopeful.

We look back to ancient Palestine, and we look forward to the final revelation of God — whenever that will be — with great anticipation. We practice waiting attentively, like the bridesmaids with their lamps (Matthew 25:1-13), for God to come into our lives and transform us. (And perhaps, in the end, we will not need to do much time traveling after all, for God is working within us even now.)

Our expectant hearts do us good — they open us up to God, to the wisdom God would share with us, to our neighbors, to new possibilities in our own lives and beyond. Expectant hearts are watchful, looking for signs of Immanuel in everyone and everything we encounter. They are positive, they are courageous, they are prophetic.

But as we wait for the birth of our King, and celebrate this Season of Patience, we would do well to remember that not all waiting is so wonderful. There are men and women all over the world who are waiting for justice, for peace, for medicine and food. They have been waiting far too long for their dream to be realized, and are understandably impatient for change.

You don’t have to go to China or North Korea or Mexico to find such people, as recent events in Ferguson, MO and New York have reminded us. Our very neighbors are aching for justice, and for understanding, and for compassion. On page 4, you’ll find a

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statement on the events in Missouri from the Reconciliation Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Reconciliation Ministry is our church’s anti-racism office, and they are passionate about breaking down walls and bringing all of God’s children together. I hope you’ll read it, and remember that as we wait in hopeful anticipation for Christmas, our brothers and sisters despair that their dream may never be realized . May Advent be a time of spiritual patience, but also a clarion call to actively and energetically usher God’s peace into the here and now.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Liv

BITS & PIECES A SPECIAL THANKS TO . . .

our Youth Group for getting the word out and making our first Youth Lock-in a success, and also to Anna & Jim Kion (dinner), Susie Kreuger (cookies), Tara Cook (Kennewick FCC, chaperone), Adam & Tamara Fritz (Clarkston FCC, chaperones), Stephen & Rachael Gumber (Regional Staff), Aaron Riggs, Brenton Nundahl (pictures & organizing) and especially our own Pastor Liv Gibbons who gave up her weekend to ride herd on a bunch of young people . . . Bob LeVeque, Anna & Jim Kion, Pat Cahow, Donna Whiteside & her nephew Christopher Thorsen, Jan & Jesse Brinson-Wagner, Nancy & Mike Dodson, Kay Divine and Bea & Ralph Pohto for their beautiful job decorating the Sanctuary for the Christmas season . . . Matt, Sacha, Zaryn, Aydia, and Gracelyn O’Hara for loading up our Thanksgiving Food Bank offering and delivering it to the Food Bank (all 267 pounds of it!) . . . Shirley Wolf for baking the ham & rolls and coordinating the rest of our Christmas Dinner . . . Mike Dodson for his skill in crafting a “ prophet” to complete the children’s Advent Worship and Wonder set and to Pat Cahow for her work on the rest of the layout . . . and to Pastor Liv Gibbons and Sue Jewett for leading our Advent Prayer Series (with help from Pat Cahow while Pastor Liv was out of town).

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“We Who Believe In Freedom . . .” The outcome of the grand jury verdict to not indict police officer Darren Wilson in the killing of an unarmed 18 year-old African American male was met with sadness, anger and despair by many. Some of these emotions expressed themselves in unaccountable rage that resulted in property destruction and theft. Rage is justified. Violence and looting is not. The parents of Michael Brown urged protesters to engage in a non-violent response to the decision. Protestors across the country, obliged their request.

“We who believe in freedom, cannot rest. We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it come.” (The refrain from Ella’s Song by Sweet Honey in the Rock.) As a nation, we witnessed tangible unrest in response to the Ferguson grand jury decision and as a result in racial indifference toward justice. None of us are free if we in any way believe that lining up on one side or the other of the racial divide promotes peace. Silence, to the contrary, encourages division, suspicion and stereotyping. Until we are able to acknowledge and courageously address the perpetual presence of the silent rage that is buried skin-deep in black and brown citizens of this nation, we remain captive to the lie that “all men/women are created equal.” This unrest lies in wait for an opportunity to be unleashed in ways that are healthy, and far too often in unhealthy rioting, looting and stereotyping.

Forty-six years ago, our nation was in a state of civil unrest that followed as a response from the murder of another African American young man, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In response the violence and despair that followed the death of Dr. King, our Church launched the Urban Emergency Fund - Reconciliation Mission. Even in our courageous decision to address the root causes of racism and promote national healing, we were at times divided in our support of the mission. We however rallied in our commitment to covenantal relationship with one another and God, and

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successfully promoted a $1 million mission fund that supported grants to anti-poverty initiatives and congregational efforts to eradicated poverty as a root cause of racism. As our mission has evolved, we again through covenantal relationship, though not always in agreement, recognize that systemic racism such as judicial, educational and economic systems have embedded practices and policies that promote unequal access to people of color.

What happened on a remote intersection in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9th, 2014 was tragic for the community and our nation. The death of Michael Brown and the incidents that followed, have opened a door to a conversation for which can no longer remain silent. Christ is beckoning us to break the silence and act in accountable ways toward one another so we all can be set free. Let it be so.

So we turn not to the streets and social media to unleash our rage, but we lay it at the feet of Christ, our redeemer and our God. It is in Christ and only in Christ’s mercy that we take our lead to witness to one another in spite of our difference. In Christ and in covenant with one another as brothers and sisters that we rally to name our pain, ask the awkward questions and press toward the mark of our mutual liberation.

We who believe in freedom – we the community of faith, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through our commitment to Reconciliation Ministry cannot rest until freedom comes. We encourage faithful dialogues in your congregations and communities to learn how you can be the bridge to freedom. We also encourage you to consider anti-racism training to further explore how to be an ally and the social-historical nature of how we have come to this place of unrest. Most importantly we encourage your faithful giving to Reconciliation Ministry so we can provide training and grants to your anti-racism programs.

Learn more about the work of the Reconciliation Ministry

at www.reconciliationministry.org

http://www.reconciliationministry.org

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DISCIPLES WOMEN’S MINISTRIES

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION!

Calling all Northwest women! This month’s, Disciples Women’s Ministry meeting will be Saturday, December 13th at 10:00 a.m. in the Parlor. Instead of our usual brunch, everyone is invited to bring party/snack foods. There will be no lesson, just a Christmas story or two, the gathering of our Christmas Family donations and fellowship. If you only make it to one meeting all year, make it to this one. We’d love to have you!

SPECIAL DECEMBER DATES - 2014

Christmas Dinner, December 7th

Second Sunday of Advent, December 7th

DWM Christmas Celebration, December 13th

Third Sunday of Advent, December 14th

Board Meeting, December 14th

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21st

First Day of Winter, December 21st

Christmas Eve Service, December 24th

Christmas Day, December 25th

New Year’s Eve/Watch Night, December 31st

Our Stewardship Drive this year was a tremendous success, with pledges covering more than 87% of next year’s budget - thanks to you! In addition to monetary donations there were a substantial number of pledges of time and talent - essential components in keeping our church functioning efficiently.

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CHRISTMAS GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

Our church’s adopted Christmas “family” this year is again the Food Bank because their need continues year round, but it really peaks during the holidays. Please place your items at the back of the Sanctuary as you did at Thanksgiving. On November 24

th we

delivered 267 pounds of food to the Food Bank. Let’s see if we can top that during the Christmas season!

HAT AND MITTEN TREE—Our Hat and Mitten Tree is again open

for business. If you would like to warm someone less fortunate than you with a gift of a hat, mittens, gloves or a scarf, just hang them on the tree in the back of the Sanctuary. Donations will be mailed to the mission at White Swan at the end of the month.

INVITATION TO NWRCC WOMEN FROM NORTHERN CA/NEVADA REGION

TO THE WOMEN OF THE NORTHWEST REGION:

Spurred by the Super Bowl 2016 being in our "backyard" our women decided to take advantage of the heightened awareness and collaboration and sponsor a WAW (Women's Action Web), and we would like to invite anyone from any of our western regions to participate. We are currently set up to have 10 participants. Renae Earl is chairing the planning team, and LaVerne Thorpe will be our Master Teacher, so you know you will be in good hands!

The journey will be Feb. 4-8, 2015, visiting sites in Oakland, Sacramento and San Jose/Santa Clara areas. The cost is $208 which covers all food, lodging and transportation on the journey (does not include getting to/from Oakland). More information can be found at the Disciples Women page under "Ministries" at www.ccncn.org

We look forward to having some of you join us for this amazing opportunity!

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Sunday, November 2nd

Daylight Savings Time Ended! (and most people made it to church at the right time☺) All Saint’s Day—Candles were lit in memory of congregation members and close friends or family members who had passed away during the past year.

The names of additional loved ones who have died were written on rocks and dedicated on the alter. Baby Dedication—-The Groom family dedicated their youngest child, baby Audrey Elizabeth Groom, during our worship service.

Sunday, November 9th

Baptism Sunday—After 6 weeks of training with her chosen mentor (Jim Kion) and Pastor Liv Gibbons, Isabella Souriyavongsa and her grandmother Vanna took the plunge—literally—and were baptized during worship service. Farewell (but not forever)—It was also a bittersweet Sunday as we bid both the Groom family and Vanna Souriyavongsa farewell. Jeremy was transferred to Texas for a temporary (3 months) position and Vanna will be traveling to Laos, her birth country, for a 6 month visit.


Consecration Sunday—The end of our successful Stewardship Drive was marked with the consecration of the returned Pledge Cards. People

were urged to pledge not only money, but also their time and talents this year. Appropriately, Jesse Brinson-Wagner and Brenton Nundahl shared their considerable musical talent with us during both the Offertory and Special Music portions of the service.

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Saturday-Sunday, November 22—23 Regional Youth Lock-in

Northwest was invaded (intentionally) one weekend in November by 26 young people from around the region and their chaperones for a Lock-In. It must have been a success because, at the end, the building was still standing and everyone had a fun time.

Saturday, November 29th

Decorating the Sanctuary—Another Saturday invasion—that’s two weeks in a row—this time with a helpful crew of decorating elves led by Anna Kion. Please take a moment the next time you are in the Sanctuary to admire the beautiful view (soon to be enhanced

with the addition of our Christmas poinsettias).

Sunday, November 23rd

Annual Meeting and Board Elections 34 loyal souls remained after service on November 23rd to approve the proposed 2015 budget and the slate of incoming Deacons and Elders. Thanksgiving Food Bank Donations After worship on the 23rd, the O’Hara family gathered up our Thanksgiving (267 pound) food donation to deliver to this year’s lucky recipient—the Food Bank!


First Sunday of Advent—Our first Sunday of Advent we found a stranger (not really) in the pulpit. Reverend Tim Ledbetter (with a lot of help from Elder Doris Ayres) joined us to give our pastor some much deserved family time. Candle lighting was handled by our flourishing Youth Group and the Lord’s Prayer was led by the Sunday School class (with moral support from their teachers).

Birthdays & Anniversaries → 10

WITNESS OF THE SAINTS

Sunday, November 9: Worship: 65

Christian Education: 3

Nursery: 5

In Finance: General Fund $ 1,172.96

Food Bank 90.00

Mission Fund 85.00

TOPS Rent 50.00

Building Fund 25.00

Total $ 1,422.96

Sunday, November 2: Worship: 64


Nursery: 5


NA Rent 50.00

BACA Rent 35.00

Building Fund 25.00

Roofing 5.00

Total $ 2,408.75

Sunday, November 23:

Worship: 59


Nursery: 3

In Finance: General Fund $ 435.75

Thanksgiving 15.00

Total $ 450.75


Worship: 41


Nursery: 2


DWM Xmas Family 20.00

Total $ 1,327.00


Worship: 45


Nursery: 3


Timeshare 646.88

Thanksgiving 10.00

Food Bank 5.00

Total $ 3,473.88

Serving Sundays December 7 December 14 December 21 December 28

Elder J. Hansens D. Ayres M. Dodson S. Jewett

Worship Leader

M. Dodson A. Kion B. Nundahl B. Butherus

Deacons

Bold

names

are

Team Leaders

Team 1- J. Willis D. Eckard S. Wolf C. Eckard

Team 2- S. Jewett J. Jewett D. Whiteside

TBA

Team 3- N. Dodson

B. LeVeque

K. Divine

P. Cahow

Team 4- J. Kion

A. Kion

D. Whiteside

P. Medina

P. Garcia

Sound R. Pohto R. Pohto H. Galpin H. Galpin

Counters J. Hansens

B. Jenson A. Willis

J. Jakes

J. Kion

J. Willis

D. Whiteside

S. Jewett

Greeter M. & N. Dodson

D. Gratton A. Kion D. Whiteside

Nursery M. Munro D. Gratton J. Jakes D. Ayres

Sunday School

J. Hansens

J. Kion

S. Hall-Mullen

J. Willis

SS Help S. O’Hara S. Hall-Mullen P. Cahow S. Hall-Mullen

Hospitality J. Jakes J. Willis B. LeVeque

S. Jewett A. Kion

N. Dodson B. Pohto F. & C. White

D. Ayres D. Whiteside M. & P. Coon

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1-Shad Dudley

3-Anna Kion

5-Donna Whiteside

8-Bob LeVeque

10-Katie Phillips

14-Joyce Willis

15– David & Linda

Rodriguez

17-Kayle Espinosa

18-Mike Dodson

19–Brenda Berkey

20-David Rodriguez

21-Austin Phillips

25-Connie Eckard

28-Jinny Howser

29-Mel & Onnie Adams

Northwest United Protestant Church Phone:(509) 946-3222

Pastor Liv e-mail: [email protected] Church office e-mail: [email protected]

[email protected] Website: nwup.church

Staff:

Liv Gibbons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor

Joyce Willis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary

Darla Shupe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choir Director/Pianist

Leanne Groom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moderator

Bob LeVeque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Custodian

April Willis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nursery

NORTHWEST REMINDER is a non-profit monthly newsletter published by Northwest United Protestant Church,

1312 Sacramento Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354.

Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

northwest reminder · need to do much time traveling after all, for god is working within us even...

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