Outreach Update - January 2021
Outreach Fund 2020 Recap
As I review the life of the PRLC Outreach Fund over the past tumultuous year, I’m pleasantly surprised to discover the amount of financial assistance we distributed comes in a little above the figure for 2019. My surprise stems from a persistent feeling all year that we weren’t reaching the need that’s out there. The extra effort the lockdowns required of both our program and the people we try to help made connections a challenge. As everyone experienced in 2020, just accomplishing something approaching normal life during a pandemic requires exponentially more effort than before. It’s encouraging to see that we ended up close to normal at helping people in need in 2020!
One thing that far out-paced 2019 numbers was your extreme generosity in support of the fund. In 2019, you gave $26,555, which almost matched exactly the $26,329 we gave out. While we only have numbers through November of 2020 at this publishing date, in the first 11 months of 2020 you gave $47,690!!! This is during a time of economic uncertainty, consistent giving to the church general fund, and a very successful fundraiser to support our church’s tithe project. This amount is simply amazing. I’m excited to continue the work of connecting your donations to more and more of the people who need them in 2021. We can be all the more generous in our assistance because of your generosity this year!
As always, thank you for your partnership in the ministry of love and security that flows to our community from the PRLC Outreach Fund.
Race and Equity Work Heats Up!
The new year brings many opportunities for all to join the ongoing work of the PRLC Race and Equity Team. First off, you can join the zoom book group on Monday evenings at 7pm discussing Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. We’re designing the group to be accessible even if you haven’t read the material, so don’t be shy about joining! The group starts January 11and runs up until lent. You can find the link in all the usual places we share church zoom links.
Looking ahead to February, the team will honor Black History Month by presenting different voices for three adult forums in a row on Sunday mornings. We’ll hear from former PRLC vicar and now Rev. Elizabeth Peter Eckman on February 14, SPU Professor Dr. Joshua Tom on the 21, and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Michael Curry on the 28. We hope you can make it! Participation in these and other opportunities in 2021 will help us live our baptismal covenant with God to strive for justice and peace in all the world.
The Love Through Justice Project Update – Wow!
A quick update to share the good news that your additional donations to The Love Through Justice Project totaled $24,004! Wow! This will be added to our church’s tithe from the sale of the former Phinney House to total $104,004. This is simply a stunning gesture of justice by our entire community. We’re working now to transfer these funds to their designated organizations which will break down as $10,000 to our Synod to support a race and equity project, and $47,002 to both the Nehemiah Initiative and The Duwamish Tribe. You can read more about these organizations and the history of this project on the Race and Equity page of the church website. Thank you!