Tower Echoes. The Monthly Newsletter of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church 7500 Greenwood Avenue North Seattle, Washington

Transcription

1 The Monthly Newsletter of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church 7500 Greenwood Avenue North Seattle, Washington Volume 57, Issue Four Spring, 2010 An Easterful of Forums Opportunities for adults at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays during the Spring Sunday, 25 April + Easter IV Congregational Annual Election Meeting Held in Fellowship Hall, this meeting will include election of parish leaders for the year to come, the annual report of the Endowment Committee, and the approval of an endowment fund grant. Grab a latte and join the conversation about the important spiritual issues of our business life together. Sunday, 2 May + Easter V Our 3 rd, 4 th, and 5 th Graders take the lead in educating the parish about the whole concept of Fair Trade. You see it everywhere these days coffee, chocolate, textiles. What is fair trade and why should we as disciples of Christ know or care about it? The upper elementary students will help us learn through a play, craft-making, and available fair trade items on display. Tree of Life Room. Coffee enjoyed in fellowship at PRLC is supplied through Lutheran World Relief s Fair Trade Coffee Project. For more information, go to: Gbenga Akinnagbe, of HBO s critically acclaimed drama The Wire, stars in the worldpremiere play The Thin Place. Sunday, 9 May + Easter VI An Introduction to the Intiman Theater s Production of The Thin Place What in God's name is Seattle thinking? Join guest speaker Kevin Malgesini from Intiman Theatre at the Seattle Center and Abigail Perez Jimenez at Adult Forum on 9 May in the Tree of Life. For conversation about The Thin Place a new play about our impulse to wrestle with a higher power, and either question, confront, or embrace [our] faith. In the meantime pick up discounted ticket vouchers and more information at Grace Station. (continued on page 5)

2 In the Family Died Betty Myklebust 6 March Ardell Schilke 8 March Transferred Membership Greg Emerson & Jennifer Thoreson To St. Paul s Lutheran, Santa Monica, CA Kenneth & Heather-Marie Wilson Family To Trinity Lutheran, Seattle Received into Membership through Affirmation of Baptism at the Easter Vigil, 3 March Julie Carr David Coombs Katie & Jim Hansen Sarah-Ruth Maier Jessa Nunley Thank You To the Pastors and Members of the Congregation: I would like to thank everyone who has been supporting and helping me in these last weeks. I want each of you to know how much it means to me to hear your words of encouragement and have your thoughts and prayers with me. Thank you to all the people who sent cards, food and hugs. I appreciate them all very much. Thank you all again, ~Dorothy Schilke and family Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church 7500 Greenwood Avenue North Seattle, WA office@prlc.org Church Staff Addresses: Paul E. Hoffman, Lead Pastor phoffman@prlc.org Beverly R. Piro, Associate Pastor bpiro@prlc.org Patrick Meagher, Minister of Outreach pmeagher@prlc.org Abigail Perez Jimenez, Children & Family Minister ajimenez@prlc.org Darren Hochstedler, Parish Administrator dhochstedler@prlc.org Jen Hamilton, Child Development Center Director cdc@prlc.org Julie Hutson, LYONS Director lyonsdirector@roaringlyons.org Don Boelter, Office Administrator dboelter@prlc.org Sunday Schedule: Holy Communion at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Education at 10:00 a.m. Evening Prayer at 7:00 p.m. Church Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Next Deadline: May 21 (for May 27 mailing) The mission of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church is to provide a place to worship God, to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to reach out to the community. 2

3 You ve seen it on save the date, but what does it mean? Mass of the Children by John Rutter Sunday, 2 May at PRLC at 7 p.m. Mass of the Children will be presented at Phinney Ridge Lutheran on Sunday evening, May 2, 2010, 7:00 p.m. The singers of PRLC s Chancel Choir and Choristers will be joined by members of the Northwest Girlchoir and an ensemble of instrumentalists. Please plan to attend this moving and inspiring evening of music and celebration. In February of 2003, Mass of the Children by John Rutter had its debut at Carnegie Hall. Many of the well-loved characteristics of Rutter s music are incorporated flowing melodies, catchy rhythms, pop-tinged harmonies, soaring vocal lines. Of all of Rutter s major works, it is the only one which incorporates a children s chorus. His masterful blending of adult and children s voices is effective and moving. Carnegie Hall had commissioned a work for its resident chorus and orchestra, and it was Rutter s decision to add the children s chorus. I remembered my formative moment as a pupil at Highgate School, when I sang in Benjamin Britten s War Requiem under the baton of Britten himself. That taught me how enriching it is for a child to perform with professionals, and I wanted to write a piece to bring together children and adults in the same way. The text of Mass of the Children is that of the Missa brevis, the usual parts of a liturgical worship service, not including the Creed. To these texts, Rutter added several British poetic texts. The Mass parts are sung in Latin and Greek, and the poetry is in English. Mass of the Children was Rutter s first major work in 10 years, and came at the end of 2 years in which he wrote almost nothing at all. In 2001, Rutter s oldest son, Christopher, was struck by a car and killed. When asked whether Mass of the Children is an elegy for his son, Rutter says, No, but more than one person has come up to me and said they can sense Christopher all over it. In some way I feel happier for having written it. I don t feel I ve yet commemorated my son with music in the way I would like perhaps I may yet find a way to do that. One of the wonderful things about being a musician is that you can give voice to things which are hard to articulate in words. We shall see. The Mass of the Children is being underwritten through generous donations from the Memorial Funds of Phyllis Anderson, Les Houser, and Florence Hannah. While the mass will bring comfort and hope to the memory of all our departed loved ones, we will be raising special prayers for these dearly departed saints at the brief Evening Prayer service that will conclude the evening s concert. 3

4 Around the Parish & Beyond Easter Breakfast Success! Thank You Many thanks are in order for all who helped with the Easter Breakfast. Whether you cooked, served, organized, cleaned up, or donated toward the Outreach Fund, your efforts translated into a huge blessing for the people in need in our neighborhood. With the matching funds from Thrivent Financial, we raised about $4,000 this year! That is remarkable, and I thank you on behalf of those we serve. Peace, Patrick Meagher, Minister of Outreach. Art Walk Returns to PRLC After taking last year off because of renovations, the Greenwood-Phinney Art Walk returns to PRLC on May 14 and 15, A community wide event such as this offers a valuable opportunity to welcome our neighbors. Many visitors would never step foot in a place of worship, or perhaps haven t realized the gem of our sanctuary right next door. We re excited to open our doors wide, and need the help of volunteers to extend the necessary hospitality. If you are interested in helping out either Friday from 5-9:30, and/or Saturday from 11:30-5, contact Minister of Outreach Patrick in the office, or watch for the Count Me In form on Sundays as the Art Walk approaches. We are praying for you Each Tuesday at staff meeting, the pastoral ministry staff members receive the names of three PRLC members or friends. For the next seven days, we pray for each of those persons, by name, in our daily prayers. In this way, each person in our community of faith is in the prayers of the staff for a week each year. In addition to our regular prayers for the congregation and its ministry, these weekly names give us an opportunity to focus our thoughts and thanksgivings on each of you at one time or another throughout the year. We are each grateful as well for the prayers that you raise on our behalf as a part of your regular devotional practices. Thank you. Thank you so much for Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church s generous Partner Sponsorship of $2, to King County Sexual Assault Resource Center s (KSARC) 2010 Kids are Our Business Breakfast. We are the largest and most comprehensive sexual assault resource center in Washington State, and provide programming in English and Spanish. We provide medical and legal advocacy, counseling and support services to thousands of children, families and adults in our community. We work to empower women, children and men who have been sexually victimized and assist them in making the transition from victim to survivor and beyond. Phinney Ridge Gospel Choir in Concert The Gospel Choir s season end is fast approaching but there are still three chances for you to join the Gospel Choir for some great music! On Sunday, April 25 the gospel choir will be recording their first CD in the Sanctuary. We invite you to join us at 6:30 p.m. to be involved with that process, including some congregational singing, and then stay for Gospel Choir Evening Prayer which will also be recorded. On Friday, May 14 we will be singing for the Greenwood Art Walk. We will sing three short concerts in the Sanctuary of Woodland Park United Methodist Church (77 th and Greenwood) at 6:30, 7:15, & 8 p.m. And finally, on Sunday, May 23 the Gospel choir will lead the music for PRLC PENTECOST WORSHIP at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m with special music at both services! Please plan to join us for any or all of these events! Financial information March Year to Date Income 52, ,723 Expenses 68, ,605 Net Income (loss) (16,081) (35,882) 4

5 An Easterful of Forums (con t. from page 1) Sunday, 16 May + Easter 7 Parish Nurses Several of the members of PRLC who spend their life s work in nursing are learning through Pacific Lutheran University what it means to bring nursing to the parish level. Come learn from Janel Milliren, Peg Radford, and other PRLC nursing professionals, about what they re learning in this important new opportunity in parish life. As the population ages and as health care practices change, one of the ways that God s people can show love and care is by providing some of the essential services needed to help, nurture, and care for others. Sunday, 23 May + Pentecost Teacher Appreciation! Join in the Tree of Life Room as thanks are shared with all those who have given of their time and talent in to make Christ come alive through educational opportunities week after week after week. Holden Evening Prayer Schedule Beginning in the month of June, Evening Prayer will be offered once each month rather than once each week. On the fourth Sunday of the summer months, plan to gather with other PRLC friends and neighbors to join voices for the singing of Holden Evening Prayer in the chapel at 7 p.m. As has been the custom in the past, evening prayer will also include opportunities for receiving holy communion and for individual healing rites. That s 7:00 p.m. on the 4th Sunday of the month this summer... June 27 July 25 August 22 Smile, You re on Camera! Perhaps you noticed that there was some rather professional-looking videography taking place this year during the Easter Vigil. A variety of requests have come the way of the congregation for educational assistance in helping others move into an Easter Vigil tradition. Not only will such film and narration be helpful at our own congregation s events about The WAY, and those at which PRLC staff and members speak across the country and world, but also Augsburg Fortress has expressed an interest in having some footage from PRLC for consideration in upcoming baptismal resources and adult faith formation educational offerings. Filming and photography are not normal practices at congregational liturgy when the focus and praise of God is the first and foremost focus. The opportunity to be of service to others and to help bring people to a richer and deeper understanding of our Lutheran theological heritage in baptism made this opportunity an important one to consider and encourage. 5

6 New Adoption GIFT Group A group is forming at PRLC for families and individuals touched by a corner of the adoption triangle. Whether you are an adoptee, an adoptive parent, or a birth parent who gave your child up for adoption, I want to extend a warm invitation for your presence at our initial meeting on Monday, May 10 th at 7 p.m. Dessert will be served at my house, and we will discuss the direction we hope this group will take. Who am I? I am your Minister of Outreach Patrick Meagher, but I am also an adult adoptee who has spent the last 2 years connecting with my birth family after not knowing a biological relative for 32 years. My wife and I are also considering opening our hearts to adopting a child down the road, and this group would be great for anyone who may someday grow their family through adoption. In true GIFT Group tradition, we will gather around scripture, fellowship, service, and a chosen topic (adoption) as we explore the unique experience of adoption from many perspectives. Please contact me if you are interested in attending: pmeagher@prlc.org, PRLC Hospitality Teams: On the Front Line of Sharing Welcome Four teams of people who love to give of themselves are always on call when the need for welcome and hospitality are called for in our parish s life. It could be serving a meal at a congregational meeting. It could be providing a welcome reception for a grieving family and friends following a memorial service. It could be a Sunday morning coffee or any one of a number of different ways for showing that PRLC is a place where good food, good friends, and beautiful surroundings are a welcome treat for all. Under the leadership of Candi Olson, Randi Valdok, Jo-Ann Cress, and Marilee Pearson, four teams rotate these responsibilities. Each team serves in one way or another about four times each year. The folks who offer a willing hand are listed below. If you d like to be a part of this important ministry, feel free to contact any of the four hostess leaders and give them your name and contact information. The parish s thanks go out to these men and women who serve so willingly, often with very little advance notice: Jo-Ann Cress Tom Foster JoAnn Thuring Julie Bishop Ruth Moore Sylvia Maier Sylvia Lorraine Joel & Patty Maier Brit Blaney Elsie Schleiger Randi Valdok Elaine Burgwald Mary Lou Carlson Mary Cooley Ruth Nielsen Karen Peterson Mabel Rockness Candi Olson KC Ramaekers Toby Kawahigashi Lisa Newton Alice Gregory Karen Snedker Lori Chrisman Midge Beers Marilee Pearson Dianne Carlson Piper Peterson-Lee Marian Klingensmith Ken Bartanen Virginia Schafer Francine Barr Carolyn Hostetler 6

7 Take the Food Bank Challenge The Back Page, by Pastor Hoffman A couple of weeks ago when several of the members of the Young Adult Sunday School class were asked by the Food Bank Mission Team to Take the Food Bank Challenge, Donna and I decided to hop in, too. In preparation for the upcoming Pheast of Phinney, the Food Bank Challenge is an opportunity to experience what it s like to live on the food that any other food bank client would receive for a period of one week. This can t be that hard, I thought. We re pretty creative and adventurous cooks and eaters. I m pretty sure we can make this work. At this writing, we re just a few days into our week-long challenge, and I can t believe what I ve already learned about some of my attitudes about God, food, and privilege. And I know there are plenty more insights yet to come in the few days that are left. Here are some of the things I ve learned so far. Food is a gift from God. I always thought food came from the grocery store. Another way of saying that is that I always thought I was my own provider. I didn t know I thought that, but I did. Not until food came from what little was on the shelves at home and what was in the food bank box did I realize as fully as I do now, food is a gift from God. I am a person of privilege. The day that I was scheduled to pick up my food bank box, it was raining outside. Even though I forced myself to go outside to the back door of the church to pick up my food, the thought crossed my mind more than once: I could just pick this up via Fellowship Hall and never go outside in the rain. I didn t do it, but I could have. That little episode has made me think a great deal about how privileged I am in other areas as well. Clean house. Nice car. Good, steady work. Loving family. The list is endless! I m thinking about food more this week, not less. I thought having less food to choose from would make the choices simpler. But just the opposite is true. When you have less choices, you have to be more careful, more sparing, more creative. This is harder than having the possibility of endless selection. I m eating more often, more sporadically, and with less attention to health. I ve always had some pretty strange attitudes to food, having once been significantly overweight. But I find that when I m not sure where my next meal is coming from, I m more apt to snack, to eat more, and to pay less attention to what is healthy. Any one of these insights would have been worth the week-long experience and, as I said, I am sure there are yet more insights to come in the next few days that are left. But I must say that I m grateful to the Food Bank Team for this challenge, surprised by how much more aware of the blessing of abundant, healthy food that I have each day to enjoy, and more grateful to God for endlessly supplying and satisfying my need for daily bread. Always learning. Yours in Christ, Pastor Hoffman 7

8 7500 Greenwood Avenue North Seattle, WA Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Seattle, WA Permit No RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED TIME VALUE Save a Tree Get this newsletter by ! Send your name and to office@prlc.org Featuring Nancy Kirkner, Solo English Handbells Kathleen Dow, organ Janet Anderson, piano Sunday, April 25th, 3:00 4:00 PM Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church Suggested donation $10/adult to benefit the Parish Outreach Fund Families welcome; invite a friend!