Midsummer Tower Echoes: Updates
Summer Forum on Black Preachers
Join Pastor Bryon and his spouse, Pastor Britt Olson, for a series of reflection on sermons preached by preachers from the black church. The group will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning July 14th, 7:00 p.m. This forum will help Britt and Bryon prepare for their upcoming Sabbatical that will include a tour of civil rights sites and contribute to our on-going conversation around racial justice. The summer forum will look at actual sermons from preachers stretching as far back as the 1860’s until the present day. Join us for this series, a shared event between PRLC and St. Luke Episcopal. More information to come!
Deacon Call
A special congregational call meeting was held on Sunday, June 6 to vote on extending a call to Patrick Meagher to serve PRLC as an ordained deacon. Upon acceptance of the call, we will have a service of Ordination. Patrick will continue his work as minister of outreach and build upon this work, with the staff and leadership, to further the work of justice within our neighborhood and the world. This call comes as the culmination of a long process of discernment. We now look forward to new adventures in God’s work among us and through us. Thanks be to God!
Former Vicar ordained
The congregation purchased a gift for Elizabeth Peter Eckman in honor of her ordination. It is a Chi Rho Silver plated oil stock engraved with her name. This vessel is for holy oil used for anointing the sick at times of visitation. Pastor Elizabeth was ordained June 6, 2021 near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Farewell and Godspeed
Our organist, Jeffrey Cooper, will have his last Sunday with us on July 25. Jeff, Anna, and their children will be moving to Chico, California to be closer to family. We will miss them, and we will miss Jeff’s wonderful gift of making music. On his final Sunday with us, we will pray farewell and Godspeed.
Quilting the Seniors
The annual PRLC tradition of quilting the High School graduates will occur on our first in-person worship, Sunday, June 13th at 8:30 and 11:00. A quilt has been tied by our Tuesday morning quilting group for each high school graduate. The quilting will include prayers and blessings as the seniors move into their next life adventure. Honor them and pray for them:
Ainsley Hogan
Michael Huber
Malia Megargee
Jacob Miller
Tarkel Price
Jaxon Vickers
Personnel Committee
A newly minted personnel committee consisting of Al Bruck, Shannon McCarthy, Patrick Rossol-Alison, Erica Shutes-David, and Pastors Hansen and Van Kley have begun to meet. Recent staff departures have given us opportunity to take a fresh look at our congregation’s roles and functions, a good and necessary step of clarity before we seek new hires.
Congratulations, McKenzie family!
We rejoice at the safe arrival of Maya McKenzie, infant daughter of our Preschool Director, Matt and his wife, Katie. Maya joins big brother, Cameron, at home. Congratulations, and blessings!
Phinney Reads!
Are you looking for some summer reading? Join us for our summer “Phinney Reads” book series! Each month we will read a book and then have a meeting at the park by the Greenwood Library to discuss what we have read. You can pick one book, two books, or join us for all three! Feel free to invite others to join in these discussions too; all are welcome.
Inspired by Rachel Held Evans – June 24 at 6:30 pm
United States of Grace by Lenny Duncan – July 22 at 6:30 pm
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd – August 19th at 6:30 pm
Summer Music
Jeff and Beth Ann are organizing summer soloists and ensembles for worship. Would you like to sing or play an instrument? Contact Jeff at office@prlc.org or Beth Ann to volunteer, or indicate your interest on the Count Me In form.
Summer Strolls Return
Looking for opportunities to re-connect with Phinney friends this summer after a long season of “scattered church”? Then please join us for our fourth year of “Summer Strolls” this July and August for in-person small group fellowship and outdoor exercise.
Our special kick-off walk will be Saturday, July 3 at 10am. We’ll be gathering in the northern Mt. Baker neighborhood at the top of the Dose Terrace Stairs (S. Dose Terrace and 34th Ave S.). We will be following my favorite route from the classic Seattle Stairway Walks book, covering 2.4 miles (and 941 stairs) overlooking Lake Washington and Lake Washington Boulevard, Colman Park’s forested path, Bradner Gardens Park, East Portal Viewpoint over I-5 and even more sights that will leave a lasting impression.
For those not familiar with these walks, this is a seasonal drop-in group—attend as many or as few of the walks as you are available and interested in, and you are encouraged to invite non-PRLC family and friends. All ages are welcome, as well as four-legged friends on leashes. Each week I’ll send out detailed information about the walk, including parking and difficulty level.
The rest of the walks this summer will be weekly on Sunday evenings at 5pm, starting on July 11. I have several walks already planned, but I would love to hear about your favorite walks. Please let me know if you would like to plan a walk or have a walk idea. From time-to-time we break our usual format, so if you have a special place you’d like to visit with more “talking” than “walking”, and/or you’d like to host a post-walk social event, that would be fantastic. Past special events included guided tours of the Lake Union Natural Area and Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Please contact me at 206-276-4687 if you have a walk idea, would like to be added to the weekly email list and/or if you have any questions. — Don