Community Faith thinks big in 50th year

 Faith Community Church is not the least bit disappointed with the fact that it failed in reaching its 50th Anniversary goal of 50 service projects in one year.

“When the church celebrated its 50th Anniversary in April 2007, we adopted the goal of finding 50 different ways to serve our community,” says Pastor Phil Assink.  “It was an ambitious goal that we failed to reach in 12 months, but we will be there by the end of this year.”

            The church hosted community groups, helped clean up after civic events, collected food, clothing and gifts, and gave away water at community events. “The church was not trying to create new or more organizations, so many of the projects were done in partnership with other organizations.”

            Some of these groups included the Edmonds Parks Department, Police Department and Chamber of Commerce, Rosary Heights Retreat Center, Puget Sound Blood Center, AA, local schools, the Edmonds Food Bank, Boys and Girl Scouts, and “Sew Much Comfort.”

            Two projects stood out during the year. On Veterans Day, the church hosted a special dinner honoring military veterans at the Edmonds Senior Center. Vets from World War II to the present were able to come and be honored.

Students from Serene Lake Elementary School made personal cards of appreciation that were given to the guests. Nick Baker, a local blind music artist, played a medley of service theme songs and led in group singing. An ensemble from Meadowdale High School played the National Anthem and other patriotic music.

            At Christmas, one of the small groups in the church spearheaded a book drive in cooperation with the Edmonds Food Bank. The goal was to collect 700 to 800 new and gently used books to give to children. By the time the drive was complete they had collected over 1,800 books.

            “We hope people in our community were well served by our projects, but honestly we found that our efforts generated a great deal of joy and built a lot of wonderful relationships,” says Pastor Assink.

“The effort really helped to change the way we see our community.”

            The church’s next major project is a hosting a mobile blood with the Puget Sound Blood Center on Monday, June 2 from 1 to 7 PM. You may call the church for an appointment at (206) 542-8883.

“You can give a pint of blood and receive the satisfaction of knowing you have helped to save as many as three lives!” says Pastor Assink. 

Holy Land spotlighted at EUMC

By Joanne  Peterson
The Beacon

Rev. Sandy Brown, executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, is keynote speaker at a presentation called "Israel/Palestine: Heartbreak and Hope," at the Edmonds United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6.

The EUMC is located at 828 Caspers Street.

 The subject of Rev. Brown’s presentation reflects his findings during his recent trip to the Holy Land, leading a delegation from the Church Council of Greater Seattle.

Other participants in the presentation are Mona Stucki, an Arlington resident of Palestinian descent; Bill Ellis, a long-time student of the Middle East, and Dr. Hank Landau, an Edmonds environmental engineer.

The public is invited.  There is no charge for the event.

For more information call the church office at (425) 778-2119.

“Artists at the Organ” season finale at Trinity Lutheran

Trinity Lutheran Church’s season finale of its popular recital series “Artists at the Organ” will feature two local musicians, noted for their talent and mastery of Baroque-era music.

         The concert is set for 7 p.m. Sunday, May 18 at Trinity Lutheran (6215 – 196th St. SW).

         Les Martin, an organist/choirmaster and adjunct music professor at Seattle Pacific University, is a renowned continuo player with such organizations as Philharmonia Northwest and Seattle Philharmonic. 

         Violinist Kim Zabelle is a member of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra and the Iris Quartet (a period instrument flute quartet).  She performs on both baroque and modern violin and viola, and has performed internationally at festivals such as Tanglewood, Salzburg, Victoria and Vancouver. 

         Mr. Martin and Ms. Zabelle have performed together in the past, to great critical acclaim.  Their program will include the music of Corelli, Biber and others.

         Suggested donation: $10; students and seniors pay as able.

         For more information, call Norma Aamodt-Nelson at (425) 778-2159 or Penny Lorenz at (425) 745-1316.