Among our Joys:
Yesterday was a busy day in the life of the church. We are grateful for another successful year supporting Relay for Life. Thank you to all who donated and volunteered to help make it possible, including Tom Moore and his partner, Kris who was there early in the morning to set up our booth. It was a joy to also see Bill McDaniel there with another booth supporting Relay for Life! We have exceeded our goal with a running total of $1,011! Thanks be to God!
It was also a blessing yesterday to sit in on the Center for Spirituality and the Arts' Spring Piano recital. ___ of students taught by our own Ben Smith and Nate Dybevik proud to share their skill among friends and family; what a joy it was especially to watch Elie play a song with the help of her proud dad! This sanctuary was filled with about 100 friends and family members; what a joy it is to share in community with the blessing of music and mentorship.
Today is a bittersweet day, as many of you know, it is our fabulous intern, Justin Carlson's last Sunday with us. Justin has been a full-time pastoral intern doing just about everything a pastor does, and many things I am sure no one would guess a pastor does since September of last year, and what an absolute joy it has been watching him perfect his craft of preaching, pastoral care, youth leadership, and so much more. Justin, you have a knack for showing up and being present with the people you find; you're a non-anxious presence with a heart for creative wonderings, a sense of humor that keeps everyone in touch with their playfulness, and way of asking questions inspires awe and marveling at the mystery of our God. I feel so incredibly blessed and grateful to have gotten to partner with you this year, and have been continually impressed with your ability to pick things up and run with it. In whatever form your ministry takes you, I am confident that you will use your gifts and passion to inspire others to learn more about the world God is creating, and you will be a blessing wherever you go next, as you have most certainly been a blessing to us. I hope you'll join us after worship today for a special lunch in which we will honor Justin, and I'll have a few more words to say, too!
Among our concerns:
Dorothy Beeles, who suffered an acute stroke Wednesday of this week. She has recently been discharged and is now continuing to receive care at Virginia Mason Franciscan Hospital. She is in stable condition and though her motor skills seem to be mostly unaffected, her speech has been a challenge. I spoke with her daughter, Chris last night, and her recommendation is that if anyone wishes to pay Dorothy a visit, that you keep visits to 15 minutes or less so as to allow Dorothy to properly rest and recovery, and to limit more than two people visiting at a time. We pray for Dorothy as she recovers and thank God for the medical staff and her web of care using their skills and gifts to tend to her body and soul.
I also learned that Chris Beeles-Miller will be having hand surgery this Tuesday to address some pretty acute arthritis she's been dealing with. It'll be a long recovery, so please lift up Chris, especially as she recovers and as she helps to care for her mother, Dorothy.
We continue to pray for Mark Fry, who had another TIA episode this week. He was re-admitted into the hospital and I understand he was discharged yesterday and is in good spirits.
Charlene Housman, who was taken to the hospital Wednesday after a bout of nausea, fainting, and low blood pressure. She continues to be cared for at Good Samaritan in Puyallup and expects to go home soon. Our hope is that she will be able to keep her procedure scheduled for tomorrow to address her chronic back pain. We pray for Charlene as she continues to rest and recover, and for a successful procedure, if not tomorrow, whenever she is ready.
Danny and his husband, Gordon, have asked me to share the news that Danny has decided to receive chemotherapy treatment for his tumor. His treatment began this week and reports from Gordon are that it is having a toll on Danny, but we all remain hopeful and pray for the best possible outcome.
Laura Cohthril, continuing recovery at home
We Continue to Pray for:
Alex Tapia
Mel Peabody's mother
Pat McDaniel
Misty Hans-Zwosta
Corrine's friend, Loralie
Martha's friends, Margo and Teresa
Our homebound friends, Harry and Margaret Lobberegy, Helen Bosley, Marylu and Joseph Mills and Jane Nelson
All are invited to join us in celebrating the life of our dear friend, Margaret Cook, this Saturday at 2:00pm. Please pray for Stephen, Margaret's sisters, Marion and Marie, her daughters, Melanie and Deanne, her nephews, grand children and great grandchildren.
We also continue to pray for the Hight family as they gathered this past Friday here to memorialize Josh's brother, Shane.
Among our local and global community,
In the wake of the news of attacks and genocide, specifically in Rafah, we pray for God's peace to be the compass for all in power, and for those who find themselves disenfranchised, displaced, and at the mercy of those with power. God asks of us to care for all of God's children as they are each our family. May we rise to action as such.
We pray for the village on 6th and Orchard
We pray for our Global Ministry partners, this week in Ghana.
If you'd like to share a prayer joy or concern, please contact Pastor Doug at doug@fcctacoma.org or by calling the church office. Please indicate whether your prayer is to be shared publicly, or if you'd like it to be kept private.
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