Evergreen Notes. The Blessings of 2018! Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Worship Service

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1 January 2018 Volume 17, Issue 1 Evergreen Notes Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches The Blessings of 2018! Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Worship Service Theme: The Fight for Social Justice versus the Resurrection of White Nationalism COME, LET US WORSHIP TOGETHER! Monday, January 15, :00 pm New Beginnings Christian Fellowship th Avenue SE, Kent WA Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr Keynote Speaker the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr, is the James T. and Berta R. Laney Chair in Moral Leadership at Emory University and President Emeritus, Morehouse College. Inside this Issue Marcia s Parting Musings 2 A Christmas Letter to American Baptists Social Media Corner New Year Social Media Resolutions! Leader Retreat Registration Due January 5, 2018 IM Missionary Baits Accepts New Role BJC Fellows Program Opportunity UBC Challenge Maximized 7 Evergreen Way Training 7 Taste of Evergreen Evergreen Mass Choir Rehearsal Schedule in Preparation for the MLK Day Worship Service Join with other Voices from Around the Region to Form the Evergreen Mass Choir and Participate in Worship on Monday, January 15, 2018 (MLK Day) at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, 6:00 PM Rehearsals: Saturday, December 30, 2017, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Seattle First Baptist Church Saturday, January 6, 2018, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Seattle First Baptist Church Tuesday, January 9, 2018, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (New Beginnings Christian Fellowship (NBCF) Saturday, January 13, 2018, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm (NBCF w/band) Pray for Churches Seeking Pastors: Japanese Baptist Church, Community Church of Issaquah, Grace Baptist Church Tacoma, Burien Community Church, Filipino- American Christian Fellowship, Seattle First Baptist Church and Mount Zion Baptist Church

2 Marcia s Parting Musings by Rev. Dr. Marcia J. Patton This past weekend, Mylinda and Gary Baits came to my house for lunch. I put Gary to work to help hang the beautiful beaded peacock with which the Evergreen Burmese Community blessed me. I will be reminded each day of you as I see the peacock flying over my steps. At the bottom of the steps is the lovely mosaic that will remind me daily of the wonderful journey we have had. California Fires Cambridge Drive Community Church in Goleta California has at this writing been spared any concerns of evacuation or damage. Pastor Rev. Roy Donkin s home also remains okay. They are I am thankful for all the support I ve received over the years, the support of encouraging words as well as the monetary support. I pray that the support will continue and increase. Equally, I am full of prayers for your future. I pray that you will give Doug Avilesbernal as much respect and honor as you have shown me. I know that he will seek to walk with you as I have and will lead you in ways I could not. I pray you will embrace the next challenges together with Doug and God. I pray that we will all find a way to meet God with the people who have no voice or little voice. I pray that Evergreen will speak into the world with God s actions of justice, hope, and love. I pray that Evergreen churches will be stronger in part because of their relationship with Evergreen. I pray that we will continue to learn to listen to one continuing Sunday church services unless they get evacuation orders. However, air quality has been a problem and church members and friends have had real scares. Please keep the congregation another and appreciate the new insight that listening brings to us. I will be available until Doug Rev. Dr. Marcia J. Patton Executive Minister comes to be with you around January 22 and I retire from this position. But I do not quit working. The work will be different, the pace will be different, but God does not let any of us walk away from God s service, so I will continue to serve. I look forward to seeing you along the continuing journey! PS: For those in the greater Seattle Area: After January 1 you are welcome to come by the Evergreen offices and take any books on my bookshelf for yourself! I ll gladly see all books gone. Whatever is left on January 18 will be given away or recycled. and all around them in your prayers and especially those fighting the fires in Southern California. They appreciate your prayers and concerns. Asking Your Prayers for the Nine Evergreen Missionaries Planning Travel in Haiti during March 2-10, 2018 Page 2 Evergreen Notes

3 Happy Holidays to One and All This is simply a Thank You note for allowing me to serve you as your Association Board Chair. This has truly been a learning experience and also we built good relationships which helped make my responsibilities easier. Please know that the Joy I have, the world did not give it to me. So, as I step aside and hand the reins to our new chair, Sandy Stice, please rest assured that Evergreen is in good hands with the newly affirmed leadership. I look forward to working with our new Executive Minister, Rev. Douglas Avilesbernal. There is still plenty of work to do within our local churches and on the regional and national levels. Again, I thank you for the opportunity to serve you, Evergreen Association. MAY GOD S LIGHT CONTINUE TO SHINE BRIGHTLY OVER ALL EVERGREEN CHURCHES Blessings, Priscilla Priscilla Lowe, Association Chair; Mbr. New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Kent WA A Christmas Letter to American Baptists from Dr. Josué D. Gómez-Menéndez, administrator of Academia Bautista de Puerto Nuevo in San Juan, and incoming president of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in every way it could. The biggest natural disaster to tear over our Dr. Josué D. Gómez-Menéndez tropical island in many decades; the storm took so much from us. But it also showed us that it s good to be part of a family a great family joining with us on this journey of healing. American Baptist family is one of the gifts that Maria gave to us. At the start of the Advent season, my family received a gift a string of batteryoperated Christmas lights from the Rev. Judy Fackenthal, president of American Baptist Churches USA. This detail is significant because my home remains without electricity. As I write, it has been 75 days since Maria hit, and we continue to use a generator. My family hung the Christmas lights at the door between the living room and the terrace. Now, at night, when everything is dark, everyone sees our Christmas spirit. Last Sunday I awoke early for a brief jog before Sunday worship. I went to the sink, but nothing came out! The situation felt hopeless 75 days since Maria s landfall, and it s still like day zero. No electricity and no water. It s frustrating, unfair and wrong. As I walked down the stairs, I saw our Christmas lights. I remembered that, for the last 2,000 years, a light has shown a path to hope for those still living in darkness for the wise man, for the ones who work in the fields, for all those who are still looking! This holiday season, more than ever, I give God glory for the promise of light in the darkness the darkness that still envelopes so much of my homeland, Puerto Rico. Thank you, American Baptist family, for living this journey with us for sharing goods, praying, texting, calling and for your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing that help us so much. But, more importantly, thank you for being part of our family. May the blessing of light be yours, my sisters and brothers in Christ, in this holiest of seasons. Evergreen Notes Page 3

4 Social Media Corner New Year Social Media Resolutions! We all know social media is the way people are connecting today. This is not the wave of the future; this is our reality now. To help all of us, here are some New Year s Resolutions for Social Media Use, for individuals as well as churches! Individual New Year s Social Media Resolutions: 1. I will not put down social media use. I will not say this is something that only young people do. The fastest growing demographic for social media use is still age 65 and over, with 36% and climbing that s more than 1 out of 3 seniors! 7 out of 10 Americans use social media to connect with one another I will use social media to share the good news of Jesus, of what Christ is doing through my church, and to connect and engage with both old friends and new acquaintances. I will share posts from my church on my personal page. Mindi Welton-Mitchell Pastor, Queen Anne Baptist Church and Evergreen Social Media Specialist 3. I will try a new social media platform in addition to Facebook. If you need help picking one, here are some suggestions: Instagram (for sharing photos), NextDoor (for connecting with my real-life neighbors), Twitter (runs like text messages), Pinterest (is a virtual bulletin board to which you can pin articles, pictures, ideas). 4. I will reach out to someone I haven t seen or heard from in a while to check in on them, to ask them if they could use prayer, and/or invite them to church, to an event, or simply to coffee. Suggestions: use the Facebook messenger app, text messaging on your phone, or even the message feature on games such as Words with Friends! 5. I will remember to share Evergreen events, news, photos, and more, and use the hashtag #ebaabc, or #IAMEBAABC to share what Evergreen means to me! Social Media Resolutions for Your Church: 1. We will post at least once a week on our church s Facebook page to remind our followers what is coming up on Sunday. 2. We will share more than just text information. We will take pictures and share them. We will create an event using the Facebook Event feature to invite people. We will explore creating a Facebook Ad for an event. 3. We will adopt one other Social Media platform to help share the good news of what God is doing through our church. Suggestions are the same as above! Joining NextDoor as a business is a bit trickier, see if the pastor can join as an individual using the church address. 4. We will create a hashtag for our church congregation, publicize it and ask individuals to use it! Examples: #jbcseattle, #qabaptist, #buriencc 5. We will also be sure to repost and share Evergreen news, events, and more, and use the Evergreen Association hashtag #ebaabc! Blessings and Happy New Year! Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell revmwm@gmail.com Sharing the Evergreen Way! Facebook: Hashtags: #ebaabc #IamEBAABC Pray Especially for these Sister Churches during the Month of January Arlington Community Church First Baptist Church, Berkeley First Baptist Church, Bountiful Burien Community Church Confraternidad Cristina Eben-ezer, Burien Page 4 Evergreen Notes

5 EVERGREEN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES 409 Third Avenue South Suite A, Kent WA REGISTRATION DUE BY JANUARY 5, 2018!! Please Complete and return to Clem Winbush LEADER RETREAT REGISTRATION FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JANUARY 26-27, 2018 CAMP BURTON RETREAT CENTER VASHON ISLAND, WASHINGTON Event is scheduled to begin with lunch at noon on Friday and end approximately 2:00 pm on Saturday. Overnight accommodations at Retreat Center, double occupancy will be provided. Drivers should plan on leaving Association Offices at 9:00 am on Friday. Sailing schedule from Fauntleroy to Vashon (Winter Schedule) weekday: 9:05 am 9:30 am There is an approximately 20 minute crossing time plus 20 + minute 10:20 am drive to Camp Burton. 10:30 am 11:15 am NAME: CHURCH: ADDRESS: CELL PHONE NUMBER: I plan to arrive at Camp Burton Retreat Center Friday Saturday (Approximate time): Please mark all that apply: I will be driving and can accommodate passengers I will be driving and can pick up passengers that arrive by plane at SeaTac Airport and then transport them to Camp Burton I would like a ride from Evergreen Offices or other designated location to Camp Burton Other location I will be arriving by plane and need a ride to Camp Burton Airline and Flight #: Date and time of arrival: If you need Thursday night accommodations, please let us know and we will make those arrangements for you. Volume 17, Issue 1 Page 5

6 Japanese Baptist Church Seeks A Senior Minister Seattle s historic Japanese Baptist Church is in the process of searching for a Senior Minister. If you are interested in applying, please your resume and cover letter to seattlejbcsearchcommittee@gmail.com. If considered, we would then be glad to share with you a more in-depth church profile and continue the conversation. International Ministries Missionary Mylinda Baits Accepts New Role The Rev. Mylinda Baits is a pastoral artist and trainer. After five years serving as IM regional consultant for Iberoamerica and the Caribbean, Baits has accepted a new role as global consultant for Training through Restorative Arts. In this position, which will begin on January 1, 2018, she will partner with IM colleagues, national church leadership and social change organizations around the world to seek justice, healing and transformation through restorative art and creative expression. Compelled by Jesus prayer that God s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, (Matt. 6:10) Baits will create opportunities in which servant leaders and those who do the hard work of rescue, relief and restoration can be nurtured and renewed. Mylinda Baits and her husband, Gary were commissioned as IM global servants in 2000 to serve in Costa Rica. The couple currently resides in the state of Washington, where Gary is now working as a high school Spanish teacher. Baptist Joint Committee Fellows Program Opportunity Young professionals who want to deepen their religious liberty knowledge and develop tools to advocate for the cause can apply for the BJC Fellows Program, sponsored by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Applications are available for the 2018 class, which includes an educational seminar at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia from July The seminar will equip the BJC Fellows for activism, utilizing Colonial Williamsburg s educational resources in conjunction with preeminent scholars and BJC staff members. The program covers lodging and most travel expenses. There is no religious requirement for the program; all individuals with six years or less experience in their current profession are eligible. BJC Fellows must commit to being advocates for religious liberty in their houses of worship and communities after completion of the seminar. All BJC Fellows will have projects to complete during the seminar as well as individual projects following the seminar. Visit Fellows for more information. Applications are available on the website, and are due February 17, Volume 17, Issue 1 Page 6

7 Thank You for Helping Us Maximize the UBC Matching Funds Offer for Haiti School & Puerto Rico Relief On the 15 th day of December, Executive Minister Patton sent the following to University Baptist Church leaders: I m delighted to report that the challenge of UBC to Evergreen to raise money for Puerto Rico saying that you d give $1 for $1 given up to $5000, was successfully Evergreen Way Training Designed for all church leaders and essential for every Evergreen pastor, this training/ reflection event is underwritten by a Palmer Grant. The five day training costs only $250 which covers room/board and resources as well as a travel scholarship for those outside of Western Washington. Pastors can get an ABHMS scholarship to cover the $250 registration fee. MAY 21-25, 2018 achieved. Our churches and individuals have given $11,063 to date, and with UBC s generosity it means that we will have exceeded the $15,000 ask from ABHMS! Good News! In addition UBC put a challenge to our churches that for every $2 given UBC would give $1 up to Camp Burton Retreat Center Vashon Island, Washington $10,000 toward finishing College Motondo in Haiti. To this date, individuals and churches have given $13,119.62, your matching gift will help us in reaching our overall goal of $60,000. Thank you! Additional Note: And to each giver, thank you! Registration and additional information available soon online at Give us a taste of your culture. Sign up to contribute food representing your culture. Contact Sandy Stice at or jsstice@gmail.com $10 per person $25 for three or more in a family Questions?? Contact Merletta Roberts Humor4U@mac.com Volume 17, Issue 1 Page 7

8 Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches 409 Third Avenue S, Suite A Kent WA Phone: eba@ea-abc.org Like us on Facebook: Hashtag: #ebaabc #IamEBAABC Return Service Requested Non-Profit Organization US PAID Kent WA Permit No. 451 Evergreen Notes, the newsletter for member churches, ecumenical partners, national affiliates, and friends of the Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches is published monthly. Please submit articles by the 20th of the month prior to expected publication. You are encouraged to copy and/or reprint information and articles. Building Bridges, Resourcing Churches & Translating Our Unity Calendar of Upcoming Events Evergreen Mass Choir Rehearsals: Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Seattle First Baptist Church Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Seattle First Baptist Church Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship (NBCF ) Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm (NBCF w/ Band) January 15, 2018, MLK Day Worship Service, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, 6 PM January 26-27, 2018 Evergreen Leaders Retreat at Camp Burton; Starting with lunch on the 26th; ending 3 PM on the 27th. Registration form on page 5 February 24, 2018 *9 AM Association Board Meeting, Seattle First Baptist Church (SFBC) *4-8 PM -Taste of Evergreen Fundraiser, Panther Lake May 18, 2018 Association Board Meeting, SFBC, 9 AM May 21-25, 2018, Evergreen Way Training Event, Camp Burton. Details on page 5 Executive Committee Meets Monthly, Third Wednesdays 6:30 PM, Seattle First Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Marcia J. Patton Executive Minister MISSION STATEMENT Being a culturally diverse people who are one in Christ and who value the liberties of our American Baptist Heritage, the Evergreen Baptist Association will Build bridges between communities; Provide resources to equip member churches to share Christ and teach God s word; and Translate our unity to the world.