A mosaic of churches working interdependently together to transform lives and communities
Join the Pacific Northwest Conference Annual Celebration Livestream on April 29th and 30th!
April 29th @ 7:00 PM
April 30th @ 9:00 AM
By Dawn Taloyo, Associate Superintendent, PacNWC
In the fall, West Hills Covenant hosted Wong-Heffter and Moss to help lead their congregation through sessions related to trauma and healing. Read here Pastor Stephanie Mathisā reflection and endorsement.
HOW DO WE HEAL?Ā
This past year, we received a grant for Narrative-Based Trauma Healing. We had, like many other churches, gone through difficult times in the pandemic: ongoing violence and hate towards Black and Brown people; death; loss; mental health challenges; divisive politics and conversations; deconstruction; and the list goes on. We began to ask the question, āHow do we heal”? And as we began to study healing trauma, we saw throughout the Scriptures a trauma-informed, caring God who in times of suffering and pain doesn’t shame us by asking, āWhat’s wrong with you?” but rather in compassionate solidarityĀ wonders, āWhat happened to you?”
Abby Wong-Heffter (Asian) and Wendell Moss (Black), trauma therapists and teachers at the Allender Center at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, have been integral to our transformative healing and health. We hosted two Healing Trauma events with them, one open to all and one specifically for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) on racial trauma. They have done group therapy for our BIPOC affinity groups. They have given us a framework of understanding what happens to our body and behavior when trauma happens as well as embodied tools and practices for healing and resilience.
Personally, as a pastor, I have seen God’s healing and growth in me as well as the church. People are beginning to understand their triggers better and respond with more reflection rather than reactivity. People who have experienced trauma in churches are coming and finding a placeĀ of both hospitality and hospital because of the trauma-informed care training we received from Abby and Wendell.
Abby and Wendell come with a wealth of experience, knowledge, humility, compassion, and wisdom that can be healing, first and foremost, to you as leader-humans, and secondly to your church communities.
Follow this link for more information and to register for the PacNWC 2022 Annual Celebration
By Claudio Carrasco, Pastor, Iglesia Creekside
We started this project two years ago when churches were closed due to the pandemic. We knew (our worship team and I) that we could not just go home and do nothing, so I started to produce the music for Psalm 50, record voices, and plan a video shooting. We recorded in three different locations; The Dunes in Othello, Columbia River mountains, and Everett Shores.
The original video’s release was delayed a couple of times for different reasons. When the war in Ukraine started, I knew that was the right time to release it. We finished the video with English and Ukrainian subtitles.
Psalm 50 is a message of salvation for everyone who cries out to the Lord. These are words of love and security for all those who have made a covenant with JESUS. We pray that many could be blessed by this much-needed message in these times.
Visit the Iglesia Creekside Web Page to learn more about the church and to contact Pastor Claudio.
By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Zech 9:9
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkeyā
riding on a donkeyās colt.
Lenten blessings to you Conference Family. I pray that your journey toward Holy Week has been special and anointed. How marvelous and lavish Godās love is for us! I want to share a moment that I experienced a couple of weeks ago.
I stayed a couple of days extra after meetings in Orlando, FL.Ā Yes, I went to Epcot!Ā At the end of the day, Central Conference Superintendent Danny Martinez and I decided to leave the park early after a full day.Ā On the way out we walked past the outdoor theater and saw that CeCe Winans was about to play. We sat in the front row as we were questioning if CeCe had gone mainstream instead of the gospel genre we were more familiar with.Ā Well, we were shocked to find that Disney apparently put no restrictions on what she talked or sang about.Ā We had full-on church at Epcot!Ā It was so unexpected.Ā She spoke about Pentecost, our need for a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit, and lifted the name of Jesus powerfully! Wow!Ā
For her last song, she sang āBelieve For Itā
They say this mountain canāt be moved
They say these chains will never break
But they donāt know You like we do
There is power in Your name
Weāve heard that there is no way through
Weāve heard the tide will never change
They havenāt seen what You can do
There is power in Your name
So much power in Your name
Move the immovable
Break the unbreakable
God, we believe
God, we believe for it
From the impossible
Weāll see a miracle
God, we believe
God, we believe for it
We know that hope is never lost
For there is still an empty grave
ā¦God we believe
God, we believe for itā¦
We Epcot Covenant Church worshippers were on our feet, raising our hands. It was one of those special moments when the presence of the Lord was so near. As our worship crescendoed, CeCe invited us to keep repeating.
You said it
I believe it
You said it
It is done
As we continued this confession with increasing surrender, CeCe walked from the opposite side of the stage slowly toward our side. She was speaking into our lives and praying over us for areas of challenge we may be facing.
Discouraged by the pandemicā¦health challengesā¦profound lossā¦ God is with you!
You said itā¦I believe itā¦You said itā¦It is doneā¦!
Challenges at workā¦challenges financiallyā¦ God is here!
You said itā¦I believe itā¦You said itā¦It is doneā¦!
And as she walked over to our side of the stage, she called out, āAnd whatever your family is going through and whatever challenges youāre facing with your childrenā¦ā. Do you believe God is working?ā¦
You said itā¦I believe itā¦
Like a moment of delayed grief, I started to weep uncontrollably. I had been holding onto a lot of sadness with some family matters. The moment laid me out before the Lord. After the concert, she didnāt bow or bring any attention to herself. She wanted God to have center stage as we concluded. You said itā¦I believe it. You said itā¦It is done!
I continued to weep as we walked toward the park exit – 18,000+ steps that day. My feet were sore, but my spirit brightened with a fortified faith and sustaining joy.
We are people of Good News in a difficult and broken world. We are Easter people. Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Friends, as weāve walked through the challenges of these past years and as we continue to swim in the unanswered questions before us, I pray that your ongoing worship, and especially your Eastertide worship brightens your spirit with increased faith and joy – that in and through us Christ is lifted up.
I also want to remind you that we will be gathering for a celebration dinner and concerted time of worship and prayer Friday night at our annual meeting. I desire for us to give Jesus center stage. I want it to be a time of surrender and pouring ourselves out to God. I eagerly hope that we will experience a fresh wind of the Spirit. Join us on April 29th at Harbor Covenant Church (details)!
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Psalm 80:19
Mary Hendrickson, ECC Director of Missional Vitality, Start & Strengthen Churches, invites you to her workshop at the PacNWC 2022 Annual Celebration; Taking Your Church’s Temperature. This workshop features the new Periodic Health Checkup.
pHcheck is an assessment tool for congregations. Churches are given overall scores in three key indicators of church health: Missional Identity, Vision, and Leadership. In addition, sub-scores are generated in each category giving invaluable tools for planning by church leaders. Resource links are also provided for each church health area of assessment enabling quick access to tools to strengthen areas of growth. Email mary.hendrickson@covchurch.org to schedule an assessment.
Visit the PacNWC 2022 Annual Celebration page to register
By Stephanie Rosic
Portland Covenant Church canceled our church service, but this time it wasnāt for Covid, or a surprise snowstorm. That Sunday, the church congregation and residents of King Community, where Portland Covenant is located, gathered together outside to serve the King neighborhood, while also honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his life of leadership, service, and commitment to justice.Ā
Equipped with buckets, bags, and pickers, 75 volunteers hit the streets to clean up their neighborhood and community. Walking up to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School the group was instructed by longtime Portland Covenant member and Founder of Neighbors helping Neighbors, Terrance Moses. As someone who has served the houseless community for years by picking up trash from the houseless and disposing of it on their behalf, Terrance was uniquely equipped to aid the greater King community in leading those gathered for this task.
Spread out over a 25 square block area, congregants and residents walked together, collecting trash along the way. Cars pulled to the side, rolling down their windows to thank those that were making the place they lived in cleaner, safer, and more beautiful. Residents came outside to greet those collecting trash, eager to learn the reason behind this undertaking in their neighborhood. As people slowly returned to Portland Covenant to drop off their full buckets, we gathered to eat lunch together and share stories from our experience. At the end of the day, participants had collected 600 pounds of trash from the King neighborhood streets.
Canceling service may seem like a difficult choice in this current climate. But grace and love propel us not only into the streets but to think practically today about acts of service for the communities we all live in. With souls motivated by love, and hearts full of grace, even beautifying a few city blocks becomes a radical act of service as we honor the place and the people we live among.
Visit Portland Covenant Church’s Facebook Group to see more pictures from the event
Visit the Portland Covenant Church website for more information about the church
By Tim Anderson, Associate Pastor of Worship & Youth, Creekside Covenant Church
MUD 2022 was all about one thing: reconnecting. After two years over 150 youth and their leaders gathered at Cascades Camp in Yelm once again. We worshiped, played games, talked, prayed, and ate together. Kids jumped around, talked together, and reminded us all what it means to spur one another on in love.
We spent the weekend diving into our theme, The Blueprint, where Tim Ciccone, Director of Youth Ministry for Make and Deepen Disciples in the ECC, challenged students to ask themselves important questions: Who Is God? Who Am I? Where Do I Belong?
We were reminded that our lives are built on Jesus; that the adventure we are living is worth pursuing even in the midst of great challenges. Students engaged in interactive prayer stations, sang out and lifted hands in worship, and shared in small groups about what God had been doing over the weekend.
We had a ton of fun, too: Jeneeth Pathula from Kent Cov led our session games and our big game outside in the ball field. Erik Cave and I ran Family Feud on Saturday night peppered in with some fun youth group games. Cascades Camp staff and volunteers were so hospitable, as always, and made sure the camp was ready for our kids to, ‘just be kids,’ at camp again.
What stood out the most was seeing youth groups from around the PacNWC gathered again: laughing, eating, playing 9-square, chasing each other around camp. God shows up anytime we meet up and it was clear at MUD 2022, as well. While we all took precautions and Covid tests before meeting at Cascades, we were reminded again of how important it is to be close together again. Even just seeing youth pastors and leaders reconnect, talking with Cascades staff and their families, sharing stories of life together – all of this was so deeply encouraging.
As you continue to support and pray for the PacNWC, please remember all that youth pastors, camp ministries, volunteers and leaders are sharing with our next generation. God reminded us at MUD that together we are the Body of Christ, those given the Holy Spirit to enrich and encourage one another and share God’s strength through times of healing and reconnecting. God is good!
By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
I want to invite you to our Annual Meeting Celebration April 29-30, at Harbor Cov, but first I must share a personal update.
My oldest son got engaged two weeks ago (ā¦thank you!)! This is especially wonderful news since his high school sweetheart broke off their engagement at the beginning of the pandemic and moved on. It was a tough, dark period for him after that shock.
Last year, Jordan met Xina at Coffee Meets Bagel and it was pretty much love at first sight mutually. Their description of that date is so sweet that it would make your teeth hurt!
Jordan and Xina live in north Los Angeles. Xina is from Austin, and leading into the big weekend she expected friends in town. Jordan wanted to include both sets of friends (20 total!) in the actual proposal, so plans started to hatch.
Everything revolved around a hike that Xina and her friends planned to the Tunnel to Nowhere. In preparation, the LA friends hiked well ahead and hid in the shadows of the tunnel waiting to turn on battery-powered candles on cue. When Xina entered the tunnel Jordan walked toward her with his candle. He later described to me that this was a surprisingly overwhelming experience. Iām sure it was a foretaste of their future wedding processional. As they approached, Jordan got on his knee and proposed.
Jordan later explained the candles and having so many present at, what I always assume, is a more private moment. He thoughtfully reflected that after the first failed engagement, he went into a pretty dark place – a dark cave/tunnel. He described with a smile that he learned more about what it means to fear the Lord.
He likens this to being in a pitch-black cave where all God gives us is a candle. We canāt see much of whatās ahead. We certainly canāt see the whole road. It can feel frightening at times when we go at it alone. However, God Himself, Creator, Father, Defender, gives us that candle and we are invited to depend on Him.
Jordan further explains that when God blesses us with a life partner that they have a candle too. Now there are two, and when you are in meaningful community – people who love you despite anything – they also bring their candles.
On that first fateful date, Jordan didnāt want to make too much of the fact that Xina had a candle tattoo on her forearm when they met. It felt like a sign after months of darkness, crying out to God, and soul searching. āIs this a sign?!ā He knew he was still vulnerable and feeling things out again as he was getting back āout there.” The tattoo – a single candle – would come to represent so much more.
She said yes, and A beautiful testimony of Godās gifts and Godās call upon us is sharedā¦.
What a beautiful picture of the gift and strength of togethernessā¦communityā¦our churchesā¦the conference.
The author of Hebrews, inspired by the Holy Spirit, calls his audience to persevere in faith during persecution and hardships. He writes,
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one anotherāand all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Heb. 10-23-25
A good word for us as we make decisions to re-engage more deeply again. I hope that you are doing more relational exercising to get that muscle memory back. Remember, it takes 30-40 days to create a habit. Weāve had two years of learning how to be distant from other candles. Letās exercise!
Thank you for letting me share a proud daddy story. What I really want to do is invite you to our Annual Meeting Celebration! Ministers, weāll be meeting Friday morning. After lunch, all are invited to attend two of four workshops that will be offered (descriptions will be announced soon). We are also planning a special celebration dinner so we can share a meal together. Friday night we will have a special prayer and worship time. Iām especially looking forward to that! Saturday will be a hybrid annual meeting where we will have delegates online and in person.
It will be so good to be together again to meet new family members, see old ones, share stories, and celebrate Godās gift of gathering our collective candles from around our four-state region. Please register to attend our worship, dinner, and time of worship and prayer. And make sure your church sends their delegates (either online or in-person).
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
John 8:12
Enjoy this 7-minute video interview with Josh Cramer, the Lead Pastor of our new church plant, Ressurection Covenant, in Boise Idaho. Click below to hear about his background, passions, and the strangest job he has ever had.
Connect with Josh:
By Dawn Taloyo, Associate Superintendent, PacNWC
I wonder when the time will come when every article I read doesnāt begin with some reference to our current experience with this pandemic? I look forward to that. Maybe you do too. Iām sorry to say this is not one of those times, for we continue to linger in that liminal Covid space. Is this the beginning of the end? Is there light at the end of the proverbial tunnel? Dare we hope?
As Iāve sat with pastors and church leaders in various contexts the past couple of weeks, Iām starting to see glimmers of light. Iāve heard a variety of stories of churches experiencing a steady stream of new faces and holding large new member classes. There have been surprise financial gifts allowing churches to meet budgets, and leadership teams finding the time and mental space to begin discerning vision and new mission.
However, itās not universal. There are also many churches still experiencing the disorientation of the last couple of years. They are having to make hard decisions, including my own congregation which recently voted to conclude our ministry. As a result, I now find myself in transition and discerning our familyās next church home. It raises many questions.
Last weekend I attended my cousinās wedding. Rather, I should say, I attended the post-wedding reception. In stark contrast to every other family wedding experience, my cousin and his bride chose to only invite immediate family for a very small, in-home ceremony, which was officiated by his older sister. In addition, the reception was bereft of previous family traditions. There was no receiving line or first dance. Instead of a wedding cake, there were donuts. And, alongside the charcuterie were sliders and French fries. My aunt, the mother of the groom, noted: the pandemic changed all the rules around weddings. I thought to myself, maybe churches too.
What is church? That is the question Iāve been pondering with my spiritual director. The pandemic has been a huge disruptor to allegiances and certainly church attendance. I call it the great sorting, as many brothers and sisters have either opted to change faith communities or opted out of the institution of church altogether.
What is church? The pandemic has raised this important question for me personally, and perhaps for all of us as followers of Christ. What is essential? What do I believe is the purpose and value of church? Who is my faith community and what role do they play in my life?
How would you answer these questions? Read on if youād like to hear my current and personal musings as I prayerfully discern what is next.
There are many New Testament passages that I could turn to for pictures and imperatives regarding the gathering of the people of God. Acts 2:42 and Hebrews 10:19-25 come immediately to mind as personal favorites and are hopefully familiar to you. I will not use this space to offer an exegetical exploration, as that would take too much time and space. However, I offer the themes that are emerging in my recent readings and reflections, not as a conclusive list, but as a starting place that might confirm or inspire your own reflection on the question: What is Church? Not a surprise, I have three points.
I trust none of the above strikes you as surprising or new. They are, however, the best way I can articulate at this point the essential, orienting elements that define church. While no faith community is perfect in living all of this out, it is the road map that helps orient my discernment. They are what compels me to seek out, and remain connected, to a faith community and to not give up meeting together. (Heb 10:25) What about you? How would you answer What is Church?