Weekly eNews, April 10, 2025
Together we are the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Each week this newsletter will endeavor to share some of the happenings around the Conference in the hope that they will be a resource and blessing to the congregations and pastors we journey together with in our shared covenantal ministries.
Annual Meeting – April 25-27This year’s Annual Meeting will be held April 25-27 at the Yakima Convention Center. General information, links to hotels, registration link and more are available here.The Annual Meeting Report Booklet has been revised and may be found here, and the Tentative Agenda has been added.NEW INFORMATION – Click Here!
Annual Meeting attendance (in person or online) is required for all Authorized Ministers in the Pacific Northwest Conference (specialized, retired, dual standing, etc.) Please contact Cindy Bauleke of the Committee on Ministry (cindybauleke@gmail.com) to request to be excused. This does not apply to ministers with Exempt Standing.
Magnolia UCC April Learning Forum
Monday, April 21st, 7:00 pm via Zoom
Advanced Registration is Required
This month Magnolia United Church of Christ is hosting a Learning Forum via Zoom on the topic of Homelessness and the Meaning of Home and we would welcome all to join in that learning!
Loss of a home, whether through financial difficulties, divorce, illness, or natural disasters like wildfires, is a widespread and growing problem affecting all of us. Often thought of as only an urban problem, homelessness also occurs in suburban and rural areas throughout Washington State. In this talk, author and professor Josephine Ensign will share her research on the history of homelessness in her hometown of Seattle, along with discussion of what these stories can teach us about the contemporary crisis of homelessness throughout our state and country. Dr. Ensign (she/her), is a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. Her scholarship and practice as a nurse practitioner focus on trauma-informed care and health inequities for people marginalized by poverty and homelessness and experienced homelessness herself as a young adult. She is the author of several books including Skid Road: On the Frontier of Health and Homelessness in an American City.
This session has been underwritten by a grant from Humanities of Washington. Advanced registration is required! You can register for this special learning forum here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Rv1yKPWIS36hJ2AosCsE7g#/registration
YEARBOOK REPORTS – DaD
Churches now have the option to submit their yearbook data by completing a secure survey through SurveyMonkey that will collect all of the data. If you’ve encountered a problem with the data saving, all you need to do is click on this link and complete the survey. The deadline is today, April 11. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and perseverance. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UCC_Backup_YB_Data_Entry_2025.
UNITING THE INLAND NORTHWEST
April 27 at Montvale Event Center, 1019 W. 1st Ave., Spokane
Free registration:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uniting-the-inland-northwest-tickets-1254890644699?aff=oddtdtcreator
Join FāVS News for a gathering focused on bridging regional divides. Humanities Washington bureau speaker Itohan Idumwonyi will deliver the keynote address on Ubuntu philosophy, which emphasizes community building and interconnectedness.
The event includes six breakout sessions addressing homelessness, food and faith, youth perspectives, LGBTQ+ faith experiences, interfaith dialogue and refugee connections.
Doors open at 3:30 p.m., keynote at 4 p.m., conclusion at 7 p.m. Food available for purchase.
Celebrate Ministry in the Outdoors!
This week we lift up our dedicated volunteer Summer Event Directors. Long before their actual time at camp in July or August, they are busy learning, recruiting, planning and preparing! We are very excited and grateful to have such an amazing group leading the way this summer.
Women’s Retreat at N-Sid-Sen
May 16-18, 2025
The Relaxation Response: Resiliency in Troubling Times
For more information, click here.
UCC Webinar
Climate Scientist and Evangelical Christian to Keynote UCC Earth Summit
The Jim Antal Keynote for this year’s UCC Earth Summit will be delivered by Katharine Hayhoe, one of the world’s leading climate scientists. Through television appearances on PBS and Showtime as well as her widely viewed TED Talks, Hayhoe has reached a broad audience with a compelling perspective on science, climate, and faith. The summit will additionally feature a panel of grassroots leaders in the struggle against environmental racism in North Texas. This two and a half hour online summit will begin at 2 pm ET on April 26th. Register now!
Schedule a Conference Minister Conversation!
Rev. Phil Hodson, our Designated Conference Minister wants to get to know you!
Click the link below to schedule a Zoom or Phone conversation.
Share your story and build a new relationship!
Schedule A Visit
You can also engage with Rev. Hodson on most Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:00 AM during his Zoom office hour and a half. Use the link below on Wednesdays to join the conversation.
Resource Available
Rev. Joanie Henjum is offering a presentation and resource for congregations entitled “How We Will End the Sexual Abuse of Children.” To learn more, click the button below for a flyer and contact information.
Click Here to Download More Information
UCC NW Regional Women’s Retreat
In 2022, I took a leap of faith and drove 6 hours to the Oregon Coast to attend my first UCC Northwest Regional Women’s Retreat. Still feeling the stress and anxiety of the pandemic, I was hoping the retreat would sooth my heart and my mind. I’m so glad I went! I was thrilled to worship with Rev. Amy Johnson, to listen to wisdom about ancestry from keynote speaker Rev. Jennifer Garrison, to sing in the retreat choir, to participate in creative workshops, and to participate alongside the most lovely women. I left the retreat energized in my faith and looking forward to the next one enough to join the planning committee for this year’s retreat!
This year’s retreat will take place November 7-9 at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, WA. The regional retreat is for women in the PNW and Central Pacific conferences and takes place every three years. This open and affirming gathering warmly welcomes all who identify as women. Our aim is to create a supportive and empowering environment where everyone feels valued and included. The theme for this year is “Embrace Joy”! The planning committee is excited to have Rev. Andrea Rose Cano joining us as the keynote speaker and Rev. Danáe Ashley joining us as our worship leader.
Women of the PNW UCC conference, I hope you will attend this year’s retreat with me. Come for fellowship, good food, worship, music, learning, and embracing joy!
For more information and to register for the retreat visit: https://www.nrwr.org/
Follow the retreat on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/369665646394
Peace,
Sarah Ackers
Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator for Fauntleroy Church, UCC & 2025 NRWR Planning Committee Member
The U.C.C History and Polity summer offering begins May 7 and runs for 12-weeks. The course will include an exploration of denominational identity, hidden histories within the denomination, case studies around current issues of polity and structure, current ecumenical conversations, emerging trends within the United Church of Christ, and more. Successful completion of this course will fulfill the history and polity requirement for authorized ministry in the United Church of Christ in many associations and conferences.
Go to the PATHWAYS website (pathwaystheological.org) to learn more and to apply for these and other courses.
