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Transitions announced

Elyse Jaueguri was ordained in November at Eagle Harbor Congregational UCC in Bainbridge Island.

Several transitions have been confirmed by the East and West Committee on Ministry in November:

Tara Young Brown, a hospice chaplain who is a member of the Community of Interfaith Celebration in Olympia, has been approved for ordination.

Jim CastroLang will retire from his ministry at First Congregational UCC in Colville on Dec. 18. See article on his years of ministry and future plans.

Bob Feeney has been approved to transfer from Massachusetts to the PNC to serve as settled pastor at Westminster Congregational UCC in Spokane. He will be installed on Jan. 14.

Carson Hawk, who ministers to trauma survivors and other kinds of healing with a team at Magnolia UCC, has been approved to transfer to the PNC.

Yuki Schwartz has been approved to transfer to the Southern California Nevada Conference.

Sub-Committee assists

The Insurance Assistance Fund Sub-committee of the PNC Stewardship Committee allocates assistance to clergy and local churches needing help with the cost of health insurance premiums.

Confidential requests for that assistance for 2023 health insurance premiums go to Martha Baldwin of the Stewardship Committee. For information, call 206-948-9799 or email martha@hotmail.com.

General Synod announced

The theme for General Synod June 30 to July 4 in Indianapolis, Ind., will be “Making All Things New,” based on Isaiah 43:18-19.

Voting delegates will attend in person but the planning team is exploring ways to add cost-effective virtual elements for others.

For information, visit ucc.org/next-synod-now-a-year-away-will=be=in-person=hybrid-aspects-being-explored? inf_contact_key=58d474aa756bbfab8cbea5f8b71c165209c74070ac2bf3cfa786 9e3cfd4ff832.

Webinar on climate issues planned

Monthly Creation Justice Webinars focus on climate justice in 2023 and beyond.

Co-hosts Brooks Berndt, the UCC’s minister for environmental justice and Michael Malcom, executive director for Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and the People’s Justice Council, will guide discussion on “When it comes to climate justice, how do we make it out of the wilderness and arrive at the promised land?”
The discussion at 10 a.m., PT, Dec. 14, focuses on the midterm elections and the impact of young voters who care about climate issues. The webinar seeks to equip faith rooted advocates for advancing climate justice in the coming year.

The link is UCC.zoom.us/webinar/register/8716684482996/WN_AB2UsaKkRtW lGJ4cfK4hUQ.

Giving Tuesday draws gifts

Hillary De La Cruz, past moderator, thanked those who donated on Giving Tuesday “to make possible for us to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God to create vitality in the Pacific Northwest Conference. Those interested may still donate toward the $25,000 goal at www.pncucc.org/giving-tuesday.

Group for retired clergy begins

Bobbi Virta is leading a new Community of Practice group for newly retired clelrlgy who are trying to figure out what life looks like in retirement. The retirees will meet over zoom with other newly retired colleagues.

There is still space in the October through May Community of Practice group offered by the Committee on Ministry, said Amy Hitchins, coordinator.

For information, email amy@npucc.org.

Men’s Retreat is in person

The Conference Men’s Retreat Planning Committee is announcing an in-person Men’s Retreat the weekend of Feb. 3 to 5 at Pilgrim Firs Camp and Conference Center.

The retreat will be “back to normal” with music, singing, a wisdom circle and an optional silent retreat the evening of Thursday, Feb. 2.

“We were disappointed to have to cancel last year’s in-person retreat,” said team member Rick Russell. “We had hoped to follow up the success of the prior year’s remote retreat and maintain our ties and bonds. Unfortunately, it has been a difficult for the past few years and now normal isn’t exactly what it used to be.”

He and the other planners, Charlie Torres, Don Jenkins, Hans Dankers, Jim Gaudino, Larry Kiriluk and Paul Withington, recognize that living into the new sense of normal means varied levels of risk tolerance.

“Vaccines have reduced by not eliminated the chance of illness or ongoing symptoms,” said Rick, advising men not to attend if they are uncomfortable with the risk.

Because Pilgrim Firs has poor Wi-Fi connectivity, it is not possible to offer a remote video option.

“Our retreat will comply with state, local and conference center guidelines,” he said. “Details will be provided closer to the date.

For information and to register, visit ultracamp.com/info/sessionDetail.aspix?idCamp=367&idSession=382908&campCode=nss..

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