Category: Strengthen Churches

Asher Ernst and City Covenant Church

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By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC

Erik Cave interviews Asher Ernst, of City Covenant Church in Spokane, Washington. They discuss the church’s recent name change and the excitement of acquiring their building, giving them a permanent home. Ernst also talks about looking forward to hosting the Annual Celebration April 27-29.

Annaweinita Miller, Mending Wings and SLAM Trips in the Yakima Nation

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By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC

This week Erik Cave interviewed Annaweinita Miller in the Yakima Nation. Annaweinita is the Director of Students Learning About Missions (SLAM) Trips and part of Mending Wings Ministries. Miller shares with us about her work and the opportunities for churches, NextGen ministries and families to get involved. https://mendingwings.net

Anna Carlson, Church Visits for Cascades Camp

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By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC

This week Jill Riley interviewed Anna Carlson about Cascades Camp and Conference Center. Anna shared exciting things about the upcoming camping season and invites churches and individuals to get involved in promoting what promises to be a great year for campers. For more information and to schedule a church visit, contact Anna at annacarlson@cascadescamporg

Lunar New Year in McMinnville

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By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant, PacNWC

On Saturday, January 21st, Pastor Ted Yuen and many members of McMinnville Covenant Church participated in a Lunar New Year celebration. Pastor Ted is part of a newly formed group called the “Asian Heritage Association”, which hosted the event. The celebration was held at a large Asian-owned business in town called Mac Market. This was the organization’s first public event and “blew away expectations.” Online pre-registration sold out at 700 but had many more attendees than that. The mayor came to kick off the event, telling the story of Asians in Yamhill County, including the history of discrimination and exclusion.

Jean Thompson, who is Chinese and attends the Covenant Church, headed up a dumpling-making team at the church. Church members and members of the community made 500 dumplings which sold out in two hours.

There were many Asian-owned vendors selling products, cultural groups leading a Lion Dance, a Tai Chi demonstration, and lots of activities for kids.  According to Yuen “For a small community that has an Asian population of less than 2%, this was a landmark event that connected the Asian community with the entire community. There was a sense of joy and celebration throughout the day. It felt like shalom.”

CLICK For more information on the history of the Chinese people in McMinnville.

Exploring Call Retreat

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By Rev. Sharon Anderson, retired Covenant Pastor and Spiritual Director

“What is God inviting me into this next season?”  “How might my gifts and experiences intersect with God’s kingdom work?”  “Am I really being called to serve as a pastor?”

These were some of the questions raised as a group of twelve women gathered for the Exploring Call Retreat at Dumas Bay Center this past November. We came from eight different conference churches and represented a wide range of ages, all gathered to discern possible steps forward in vocational ministry.  While the ECC has ordained women for ministry since 1976, there haven’t always been spaces where women can seriously consider the Spirit’s leading toward pastoral ministry. Our 44-hour retreat provided a rich opportunity to learn, worship, pray, and laugh together as we listened to the Spirit and to one another. 

“I loved hearing the clergy ‘call’ stories and being surrounded by a diverse group of women loving Jesus in all kinds of ways,” expressed one participant. We engaged in teaching sessions, creative activities, listening prayer, and small groups that opened hearts and explored possibilities for vocational ministry. Another woman described how helpful it was to “have community…assist in validating your call or giving insight to your concerns.” The retreat provided open time for walks, crafting, spiritual direction and  just resting, all in a beautiful retreat setting overlooking the Puget Sound.

This is the third time the Exploring Call Retreat has been hosted in our conference, and the first time we were able to gather in person after online options during the pandemic. I am grateful for the leadership of our associate superintendent, Rev. Dawn Taloyo, as she champions this experience for women in the Pacific Northwest Conference. The retreat team leaders – Rev. Amy Muia, Rev. Sharon Anderson, and Rev. Nancy Sugikawa –blessed us by walking alongside women who are paying attention to God’s call on their lives. We are already planning the next Exploring Call retreat for November 2023. What women might you invite to consider a call to ministry?

 

Everyday Humility with David Robinson

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By Erik Cave, Director of NextGen Ministries, PacNWC

This week I was excited to interview Pastor David Robinson, Lead Pastor of Beach Community Church in Cannon Beach, OR. David recently published a new book “Everyday Humility: Twelve Humble Steps Into a Life of Joy”. I had the opportunity to hear his passion for the relationship between joy and humility. He also shares about a retreat opportunity for PacNWC Clergy and Leaders at Mount Angel Abbey. (Sorry you can’t see my face. I had camera difficulties.)

David’s author webpage where you can find “Everyday Humility: Twelve Humble Steps Into a Life of Joy” and all the other books he has authored: http://www.waterpaths.org

Beach Community Church’s YouTube channel featuring David’s seminars based on
‘Everday Humility: Twelve Humble Steps Into a Life of Joy:” https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUPkRWzkgfm7Pu4CX6Wv2Tg

A Quiet Place: Contemplative Retreat for PacNW Clergy and Leaders https://pacnwc.org/event-calendar/a-quiet-place-contemplative-retreat/