A Message from Pastor Andrea Chaumont

This week we are wrapping up the 8 week series on The Lord’s Prayer. My hope for this series has been to deepen our understanding of a prayer we say together every week and for you to both cherish praying it communally and perhaps discover the power of praying it personally. 

We end this week with “for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever” which is not in the earliest manuscripts of the gospel of Matthew. This doxology is found in some later manuscripts but was added on by the early church because in Jewish culture it was unfathomable that they would end simply with “deliver us from the evil one.”

A special thank you to Mary and Susan for organizing the beautiful fall luncheon last week. We had a great meal and good time connecting with one another in community. If you have not sent me the notes from your table discussions yet, please do so here.

I will be out of office, traveling in California this week for Thanksgiving (Monday-Saturday) and back in worship on November 30th for the start of our Advent season. I love the season of Advent, a time of intentional preparation and purposeful waiting. God’s invitation to us in the season of Advent is to slow down (just a little), take more breaths (take one now) and to turn our attention to the God who has turned towards us in Jesus Christ. My colleague and friend Rev. Erin Grayson will be preaching at Mt. Baker Park on November 30th. Erin most recently served Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island (she is ordained in the PC (USA) and currently serves in a validated ministry through our Presbytery leading congregations and individuals through grief work. 

Finally, in worship this week you will see an application and PNC profile available (also linked to this newsletter). Please consider whether you would like to serve on the Pastoral Nominating Committee and take the time to read the thoughtful profile the Nominating Committee has put together. If you have further questions about the commitment please reach out to me or to anyone on the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will receive applications until December 15th and then spend a few weeks reviewing them, praying, and discerning a slate to present to the congregation early next year. 

With joy,

Andrea