Reflections

Last week volunteers from our church completed the final step in the Outreach Committee’s project to furnish an apartment for refugees. The project, which has been in the works for a couple of months, was through the International Rescue Committee (IRC). One aspect of their... Read more →

This week the youth who attended the Mission Trip to the Yakama Nation and Campbell Farm are delighted to share some photos with the congregation. The group worked hard priming and painting a house despite the triple-digit heat. Another day was spent packaging over 7,000 lbs of... Read more →

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Exodus 13:21 I have been thinking about this as we have been seeing weather reports that say not... Read more →

Hello First Congregation Church community! This is Mariah Pepper, your (still relatively new) Office Manager. I have been meeting you one by one over the past few months, and this week I asked Lisa if I could share a reflection that’s been rolling around in my head lately... Read more →

It is delightful to be back after a time of travel. My trip took me to visit family, and I was also able to spend time at UCC Synod in Baltimore connecting with ministries in our wider denomination. Every two years, the United Church of Christ, our denomination, gathers to build... Read more →

The joy of living in one nation and belonging to another is the ability to enjoy two firework displays in one weekend. I went to Canada to visit friends and enjoy July 1st fireworks and returned to Bellevue in time to go to the park and watch another big (and loud) display on the... Read more →

Many beloved summer activities involve food and friends.  Summer is a season for picnics and BBQ’s;  walks to get ice cream or heaping mounds of self-serve frozen yogurt with a variety of sugary toppings; long mosquito-filled evenings on the patio with extended family members... Read more →

June 11th was a joyous celebration with Confirmation and Children’s Sabbath.  It was so exciting to share with the whole congregation a “taste” of what we do upstairs in our Faith Formation children’s chapel.  Our young children were so excited to... Read more →

The end of the program year can be a busy time in many peoples lives, rushing from one thing to the next. For any who feel busy, strained, overwhelmed, or just in need of comfort, I lift up this prayer from a very ordinary part of life. May you be met with grace in very ordinary... Read more →