A mosaic of churches working interdependently together to transform lives and communities
By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC
Pam Christensen shares with Erik Cave about her passion for Disability, Accessibility, and Inclusion ministries in the church. Pam talks about her passion for the church to reach and include people of all abilities.
Email Pam for more information
By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC
Listen in while a group of young adults chat with NextGen Director for the PacNWC, Erik Cave, about the recent Emerge retreat. They share their reflections on the retreat and why they are so excited about future retreats.
Discover more about PacNWC Young Adult Ministries.
By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC
Jill Riley and Pastor Katy Andlovec talk about Katy’s call to ministry and God’s work through her life while pastoring at First Covenant Portland. Katy is excited about the children and youth in the church and is passionate about them sharing their gifts with the larger community.
Message Katy at katy@firstcov.com
Visit the First Covenant Portland through its Website.
By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC
Jill Riley catches up with Amy Muia, the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care at Bethany Covenant Church. It is a wonderful conversation about her work with the incarcerated, in congregational care at the church, and things she loves to do. Don’t miss this inspiring and encouraging conversation.
Message Amy at amy@bccmv.org
Get to know Amy and her writing more through her Website and her Author Page on Facebook.
Learn more about New Earth Recovery, at NERecovery.org
Visit the Bethany Covenant through its Website.
By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC
Join Jill Riley as she catches up with Greg Yee. Together they talked about Greg’s favorite memories of growing up, family, sports, and ministry. Don’t miss this great conversation.
By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC
Bruce Bruns, Pastor of Milwaukie Covenant Church, in Milwaukie, OR shares his ministry journey with us. He also shares what things help to define who he is and what he is passionate about. Let’s welcome Bruce to the conference! https://www.facebook.com/bruce.bruns
By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC
Jill Riley, Communications Assistant for the PacNWC, interviews Michael Lee about the recent Merger of Encounter Church, Mercer Island, WA
By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
Thanks to all who attended our 133rd annual meeting in Spokane and online. What a special time it was to be together. What a gift it was to see and interact with the conference family there and with each other. It just felt like God was smiling upon us with the incredible weather and sweet spirit we shared while we celebrated God’s work.
Thank you Gathering House, City Cov, Immanuel, and The Garden for hosting us so warmly. Your testimonies of God’s faithfulness blesses us. Your joy in the work of the gospel is inspiring. Your faith in following Jesus spurs us on.
If you were not able to attend, I encourage you to watch the recording of the meeting and access the many resources shared:
As I was departing Spokane with a full heart, one thing clarified for me. It’s spring! The effects of a long winter are still present in places, but there has been an explosion of energy and new life.
Around our churches, different challenges and significant questions continue to exist. Certainly in our seemingly increasingly complex times, the work of disciple-making continues to evolve. But the sweet aroma of hope pervades the air. I was so excited by the many reports from large Easter celebrations including many baptisms and creative community activities and connections. This added to what we experienced in the incredible story of God’s work in Spokane and having space to share so many stories from around the conference was rich. All of this has been like pollen seeding life among us. Encouragement is growing.
As we step into this new year, let’s pray for the seeds of our ministries to fall on good soil. In the mean time, let’s not miss any opportunity to do any necessary weeding. Let’s not be paralyzed by any needed hard work. Let’s not let inattention or neglect poison the well water. Let’s continue to pray and make difficult decisions. Let’s let some things conclude. Let’s plant something new.
Mission Friends, continue to think of your church as an orchard or farm built for fruitfulness, not a boutique garden. Pour your premium time and most valuable assets into people. Go and make disciples!
Many blessings conference family. The staff and I join Jesus in praying for you. We look forward to what God will lead us into this new year.
by David Robinson, Lead Pastor, Cannon Beach Community Church
On March 28-30, twelve Covenant pastors and ministry leaders from the Pacific Northwest Conference got away “to a quiet place” on a three day contemplative retreat just before Holy Week. A Quiet Place, sponsored by the PacNWC Ministerium, was held at Mount Angel Abbey, in Mount Angel, Oregon. Pastors came from Oregon and all over Washington to attend this retreat, including some who drove six or seven hours to attend.
The retreat sessions explored ways to pray the Psalms, practice lectio divina, and live by a Rule of Life. I offered a picture of a vineyard trellis system as an image of how a Rule of Life provides the structure our lives need to bear much fruit, as Jesus promises in John 15. Retreatants affirmed the importance of reviewing, revising, or refreshing their Rule, and seeking new ways of living daily according to a Rule of Life. Retreatants were invited to attend any of the monastic worship services each day, known as Liturgy of the Hours, including Vigils, Lauds, Midday, Vespers, and Compline.
We enjoyed sharing life together over excellent meals at the beautiful, newly renovated Abbey Guesthouse, and stayed in elegant Guesthouse private retreat rooms. We also enjoyed time together basking in the sun over craft beverages at Benedictine Brewery, a short walking distance from the Abbey.
Those who came to A Quiet Place Retreat expressed gratitude for having time. We were grateful to join with others who shared a common interest in contemplative life. Retreatants enjoyed getting to know Benedictine monk, Brother Cyril, who offered rich insights into spiritual contemplative disciplines from forty years in the monastery. We also celebrated ecumenical dialogue and unity in Christ, as we explored shared spiritual vision and practices between Catholics and Covenanters during informal conversations with our Benedictine brother.
A Quiet Place Retreat provided sweet time for quiet prayer, study, reading, taking walks, spending time in the beautiful monastic library, naps, enjoying a cup of coffee at the Abbey Coffeeshop, browsing the Abbey bookstore, or walking stations of the cross on the Abbey grounds. We hope you’ll consider joining us in 2024 on A Quiet Place retreat.
By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC
Rollie spends some time with Jill Riley explaining how National Covenant Properties can be of benefit and great help to churches in our conference. Contact Rollie for more information. He would love to talk with you. You can also email him. For more information on National Covenant Properties.