Reflections

Many Gifts: One Spirit, the theme of our Pacific Northwest Annual Gathering, brought more than 200 members from UCC congregations into our sanctuary last Friday night and all day Saturday.  On Friday night, we were inspired by four preachers:  Rev. Dr. Renee McCoy, Rev. Amy Roon,... Read more →

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”   Thank you for... Read more →

This past Monday evening, a group from First Congregational Church, Bellevue joined with hundreds of others in a community vigil and teach-in at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound. Together we mourned the victims of the terrorism at the Christchurch mosques and prepared for... Read more →

This week’s reflection comes from Office Manager Mariah Pepper:   If you’re been by the office in the past six months, then you’ve met my dog, Tilly. She’s a pretty good office dog, except when she gets startled by the door and starts barking at you. But we’re working... Read more →

I drove to work on December 31 and I made all the lights. The streets in Bellevue were almost empty, such was the room on the road, the quiet of visitors in the office—although let it be known, still too hard to find a place to get lunch. When instead we turned to January 2nd,... Read more →

We think we know the story: Angels. Shepherds. Kings. Sheep. So familiar with the chain of events, we aren’t flabbergasted by it all.  And yet what strikes me every Advent is how these familiar characters were going about their everyday lives when…. When the... Read more →

“It’s a part of life’s rich pageantry.” This is a phrase frequently used by a former boss of mine, which attempts to describe a sequencing of events that feel both magical and challenging.  We encounter the challenges in this season in particular as we add shopping for gifts to... Read more →

Advent starts this week, and this year we are looking at Silence and Song, finding the place of stillness where we can hear songs of hope. I have been thinking of this week as we prepare for a busy weekend at our church, which holds both grief and hope near at hand. Saturday, we... Read more →

November is often named as Gratitude month since Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 3rd Thursday of the month.  Giving thanks can take many forms in our lives.  We display it by adding leaves to our dining tables, making room for extended family and those new to our communities. ... Read more →