West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
They insist they’re actually glad to both have their giant rummage sales – gigantic rummage sales – humongous rummage sales – whatever-you-want-to-call-them rummage sales – on the same two days in March. But “dueling rummage sales” conjures up a fun image anyway. Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) and West Side Presbyterian Church are both wrapping up day 1 of those mega-sales.
Both have outdoor merchandise as well as indoor, as you can see in the top two photos. Inside both churches, you will find tables and tables of stuff donated by hundreds of families. At Tibbetts, Marie and Floy were staffing the checkout line.
Browser’s paradise, both there and West Side:
Tibbetts continues till 4 pm today, and runs 9 am-3 pm tomorrow; WSPC continues till 5 pm today and runs 9 am-2 pm tomorrow. And if you love rummage sales, you will love West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, which we are organizing/sponsoring again this year – registration information soon; the big day is Saturday, May 14th.
The new Archbishop of Seattle, The Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, was in West Seattle this morning to preside at the World Day of the Sick Mass at the Providence Mount St. Vincent Chapel today. He was joined by five other priests – Holy Rosary’s pastor the Very Rev. John Madigan, Rev. Lyle Konen of the Redemptorist Fathers of Seattle, Rev. Abraham Miller of The Mount, Rev. William Gallagher, and Rev. Richard Ward from the Order of Malta, which has a thousand-year history of devotion “to those who suffer, especially the poor and sick,” according to the program for this morning’s service.
Also participating: the Seattle University Choir:
The World Day of the Sick is commemorated each year “on the occasion of the memorial of the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes,” according to this year’s message from the Pope; holy water from the shrine at Lourdes was used in today’s service.
Another story of holiday giving tonight, this one shared by Mike Jensen:
Every December for the last 15 years, Hope Church and School has quietly been making the Holidays brighter for children and families in West Seattle.
This year the Hope Community donated gifts that touched more than 350 local kids, as well as many of their parents, that otherwise would likely not have gifts at Christmas. In addition, the Hope Community generously donated items to men from the Lutheran Compass Center as well as various Hope members and shut-ins.
But they didn’t stop there. More than 500 gifts were collected to send to mission teams in Mexico where even something as simple as a blanket is as precious as a new toy. Mary Anne DeVry, Hope’s Director of Human Care Ministries, has spearheaded the Holiday giving effort all of these years and is continually amazed at the generosity and outpouring of support from the congregation and the community.
“This response is really beyond what human beings do – as a church, we don’t have funds to buy all of these gifts, but they just pour in,” said Mary Anne. “This showing is the true meaning of Christmas, that God loves his people so much that he sent this son, but also sends his care in the form of blankets, bicycles and books!”
While this Christmas-giving season is winding down, Mary Anne encourages anyone that wants to be a part of this experience in the future to contact the Hope Church office at 206-937-9330.
We have more giving opportunities listed on the West Seattle Holidays page.
On the night of the Feast Day in honor of their church and school’s namesake, Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Christmas tree shines bright near the city’s highest point. The tree lights went on during a festive, well-attended community celebration tonight. But before the lights, and the caroling, OLG’s Father Jack Walmesley had two things to share with the crowd – news about OLG’s principal Kristin Dixon, following a tribute in memory of parishioner Mitch Forrey, who along with wife Mary inspired the annual tree-lighting celebration:
Shortly afterward, the main event, the tree countdown, led by the event’s emcee Brian Callanan, a local TV journalist, West Seattleite, and OLG parishioner:
This is the tree’s second year with energy-saving LED lights, by the way. After the lighting – with the weather still blessedly dry – it was time for lots of crowd caroling, led by OLG choir director Ann Sager. “Jingle Bells” – with car keys used as impromptu bells if need be – is a tradition at this event:
Other caroling included “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”:
Also noted during tonight’s event, Our Lady of Guadalupe’s ongoing fundraising campaign to add a new Parish Life Center and gym; according to the campaign’s website, the campaign has brought in more than half the $4.2 million they’re working to raise.
SIDE NOTE: OLG is one of the local churches whose Christmas services are listed/linked on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page – if yours aren’t there yet, we invite you to send the information so we can add it there too!
Last year, Eastridge Church‘s turkey giveaway in West Seattle was over in about half an hour – this year, with double the turkeys (1,000 this time), they still had plenty left, and no line, when we stopped by less than an hour ago. (video added) We talked with Eastridge Pastor Steve Jamison about the giveaway:
He said they’ll be there as long as it takes to give them all away (the turkeys come with some other groceries, too) – across from West Seattle Bowl, 39th/Oregon.
(WSB photo from November 2009)
Eastridge Christian Assembly, in The Triangle, has sent word it’s doubling its turkey giveaway this year – instead of giving free turkeys to 500 people at each of its two campuses, including West Seattle, this year each campus will give out 1,000. Here’s the news release, just out of the WSB inbox:
Eastridge Church will be providing 2,000 free Thanksgiving turkeys and bags of groceries to families in need on Saturday, November 20, beginning at 9 a.m. (while supplies last) at their two locations: Issaquah and Seattle. This is double the 1,000 turkeys and groceries provided in past years.
“Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our lives and the good things that we’re experiencing, but it can also be an especially challenging time for families with limited resources,” said Eastridge Lead Pastor, Steve Jamison. “We want to show that Eastridge cares by providing a blessing this Thanksgiving to those who may be struggling to make ends meet. This is our eighth year providing a turkey and bag of groceries to families and in response to the increased need in our community, we are doubling the amount we provided last year.”
When: Saturday, November 20, starting at 9 a.m., while supplies last
Where: The Issaquah campus of Eastridge Church
24205 Issaquah-Fall City Road, IssaquahThe West Seattle Campus of Eastridge Church
4500 39th Avenue SW, SeattleThe 2,000 dinner packages will be given out first-come, first-served, with no demonstration of need required to receive the assistance.
The photo and explanation are from John Van Lierop, Jr., organist at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor).
This year, All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) falls on a Sunday. At Tibbetts United Methodist Church in West Seattle, the minister, Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown, is encouraging her members to dress in costume for that Sunday. Even though Halloween originated as a pagan holiday, it also has Christian roots as churches celebrate All Saints’ Day the next day. Oct. 31 also happens to be Reformation Sunday, when the Protestant churches mark the anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg church. Rev. Brown, who will be dressed in costume, believes in a God who delights in us and loves laughter and fun as well as praise.
In the photo are John, “dressed as he will be on Halloween Sunday,” with two of his piano pupils, Kira and Nicholas Branch, who also attend Tibbetts (which is at 3940 41st SW).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tonight’s formal dedication of the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s new Gatewood church was both a solemn occasion and a joyful celebration.
Its opening moments included that procession featuring dozens of clergy members from UU churches around the region (and from West Seattle congregations of other faiths) streaming into the sanctuary (above); its closing moments included the congregation’s children scampering into the sanctuary:
Their appearance echoed one that had kickstarted the campaign that brought the church – which met at the Masonic Hall in The Junction for two decades – into this new home, the former Gatewood Baptist/Seattle International Church (7141 California SW). The congregation moved in last month (here’s our coverage of their ribboncutting ceremony), less than 5 months after taking possession, but tonight brought the formalities and even the president of the UU denomination – our coverage, with more video, continues after the jump:Read More
We just went over to see how the Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) rummage sale was going in the first hour of its two-day run. So much stuff, some of the big, sturdy items are outside, like those bikes. And inside …
… that’s just the first of three rooms (plus a hallway, plus the stage) of stuff — clothes, dishes, decorations, books, vinyl, appliances (at least 2 sewing machines), furniture, luggage … The sale’s on at 41st/Andover (map) till 4 pm today, again 9 am-3 pm tomorrow.
The small creatures were represented by guinea pigs Cupcake (right) and Zoe – who joined more than two dozen dogs (no cats in sight, so far as we could see) for West Seattle’s third “Blessing of the Animals” this weekend, this time in the West Seattle High School parking lot next to St. John the Baptist Church.
Blessing some of the dogs in that photo are St. John’s Rev. Peter DeVeau next to (in Franciscan robe) Brother Kris Wilder (the photographer at right was from the Seattle Times [WSB partner]). Rev. DeVeau asked the crowd first, “Happy about the purple tent?” (upper right) – referring to yesterday’s big Washington Huskies win. Then, after a parade, it was blessing time:
(If you’ve missed our previous coverage – the reason this is done this time of year is that tomorrow’s the Feast Day for/birthday of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.)
Patty from Highland Park came to the Blessing of the Animals at Providence Mount St. Vincent this morning with her five furry friends, two of whom are regular volunteers at The Mount. They mingled with, and sometimes barked at, more than a dozen other dogs, till Father Lyle began the blessing:
After a prayer and reading paying tribute to pets “for the joy and happiness they bring us,” the Redemptorist priest led a procession through the building – first scheduled stop, the second-floor fish tank – to bless animals that hadn’t been brought down to the lobby. The ceremony is a tradition on or near the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi – which is coming up Monday – and there will be two others in West Seattle tomorrow, at Alki UCC (6112 SW Hinds) during 10 am service and outside St. John the Baptist Church (3050 California SW) at noon.
Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor, All Souls Church. New sponsors are offered the opportunity to let you know what they’re about – so here’s their story: All Souls is a brand new church for the city, in our neighborhood, hosting their first Sunday worship on October 3, 10 am, at Madison Middle School. They are West Seattle locals, working and serving and playing where they live. They’re fixtures in the neighborhood –– familiar faces at the farmers’ market, the beach, the places with the best kids’ happy hours, the deli with the ice cream, that beverage place, that breakfast spot with the rotating menu, the cafe in the record store, and the park with the zipline. But this growing community is forming here not because our beautiful city is whole, but because it lacks wholeness. And certainly not because it needs more religion or self-help. Instead, All Souls exists because Seattle is filled with people just like us who can’t make themselves whole on their own, and can’t perfect themselves on their own, but who long to experience healing, significance, and hope.
All Souls, part of a network of grassroots, locally grown churches committed to changing cities by renewing neighborhoods, is not a church ‘just for ourselves’ — a community that makes sense only to its own members. Instead, it’s for folks on every corner of the spiritual grid. While ‘the church’ has not traditionally been a safe place to ask questions, express doubt, and work through life’s tattered edges in community, that’s precisely the hope for All Souls: a place to process freely and safely the audacious claims of Jesus, and the inevitable tension between the beauty and scandal of the historic Christian gospel. Because we haven’t heard the gospel for what it really is if we don’t find it at once horribly offensive and staggeringly beautiful. It is both heart-breaking and heart-mending.
So wherever you are on your spiritual journey, whether skeptical or mildly curious about the Christian faith, or whether you are already a committed follower of Christ, All Souls welcomes you. Because Jesus hasn’t come merely to make us Christians. He came to make us new. Learn more at www.allsoulsseattle.org, and discover All Souls Kids at www.allsoulsseattle.org/kids.
We thank All Souls Church for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
(At 2009 St. John the Baptist “Blessing of the Animals,” Br. Kris Wilder blessing Pizazz the dog)
It’s an annual tradition around the Feast Day for St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, and again this year, three West Seattle “Blessing of the Animals” events are planned. First, we just got word from Providence Mount St. Vincent about this planned event this Saturday, 10:30 am (after 9:30 am Mass) – gather in the lobby (4831 35th SW). From the announcement: “Participants will convene in the lobby. Father Lyle Konen, CSsR, will be the Mass celebrant and will lead the participants – pets with their owners – throughout the building to bless all of the Mount’s cats, dogs, birds and fish.” And from the WSB Events calendar, St. John the Baptist Church in Admiral will have its annual Blessing of the Animals this Sunday at noon in the church parking lot, rain or shine. From Rev. Peter DeVeau‘s announcement: “The community is invited to bring all creatures great and small for this celebration and thanksgiving for the gift of animals. This is an annual event hosted by the people of St. John’s Episcopal Church.” Minutes after publishing the first version of this story, we also found Alki UCC‘s website notes they’re having a Blessing of the Animals again this year, 10 am Sunday service.
Today, you had the chance to see what’s new at Chief Sealth International High School and at Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor) – tomorrow, Fauntleroy Church and the co-housed YMCA (WSB sponsor) invite you to come see what they’ve been working on for about nine months! Judy Pickens showed us around for a preview – she’s in this photo with pastor David Kratz:
The renovations come just two years after Fauntleroy Church celebrated its centennial:
Tomorrow’s dedication and grand-opening event at Fauntleroy Church/YMCA starts at 2 pm – everybody’s welcome. (9140 California SW – here’s a map.)
That’s a jubilant Rev. Peg Morgan and congregation president Paula vanHaagen cutting the ribbon on the Westside Unitarian Universalists‘ new Gatewood home just an hour ago, cheered by members and visitors who crowded onto the sidewalk (and inside the foyer) at the busy California/Othello corner. Afterward, they streamed in for their first service inside the 60-year-old building, which previously housed Seattle International Church and Gatewood Baptist Church; WSUU bought it this spring after 20 years of meeting at the Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction. (Here’s our story from last night with a peek inside at the results of the renovation work that’s been under way for more than four months.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation closed the deal last April to buy the ex-Gatewood Baptist/Seattle International Church at California/Othello (map) – finally, a home of their own – they knew it was a fixer-upper.
What they didn’t know was just how much fixing up it eventually would need. But it’s almost done – done enough for the congregation to have its first service there tomorrow (Sunday) morning, right after a ribboncutting ceremony – the entire community’s invited – at 10:15 am.
We first toured the site last April with Rev. Peg Morgan, board president Paula vanHaagen, and congregation member Laura Matson, the day WSUU took possession. The same trio met us there this morning for a post-makeover tour, even as work continued inside and out – like final touches on the interior doors that rested atop sawhorses at midday, to be hung by day’s end:
They are taking great pride in the outside work as well as what’s inside – read on as our story continues with more photos:
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
On the eve of the first day of school for 2010-11, Our Lady of Guadalupe drew a crowd this afternoon to celebrate the kickoff of its major fundraising campaign to build a new Gathering Hall/Gym on parish property at 35th and Myrtle.
And it began with big news – OLG’s Father Jack Walmesley (above) announced to the crowd gathered outside that they had already raised $1.25 million toward their $4 million goal, thanks to a major benefactor: Former parishioner and West Seattle resident Mike Hession, who left $1 million to the parish in his will to be used toward the new building (you can see a rendering here).
Designed by Richard Glasman of M/G Architecture, the new building will be a community center, gym, full kitchen and meeting spaces that will be open to the community. Father Jack says the intention of the building is to be a community resource to assist social-action groups and functions; he mentioned Family Promise of Seattle, which helps homeless families find resources (but is currently going through a tough time itself, as first reported here).
Father Jack adds: “This is a step toward reaching the full potential for ourselves and our community. It’s fun to watch people utilize their talents—this is happening because of (their) talents.”
The fundraising campaign will last through Christmas, with the intention of beginning construction in June of 2011. There’s more info online here.
West Seattle’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic parish has announced a community event for the end of this month as it revs up a fundraising campaign for a $4 million project. The rendering above shows what they’re hoping to build. Here’s the full text of the announcement sent by a PR rep for the church:
Our Lady of Guadalupe, an 800-family Catholic parish in West Seattle, will kick off Building for Our Future: The Next 50 Years Campaign with a community celebration at Noon on Sunday, August 29.
The event, which will take place on the parish campus at 7000 35th Avenue SW, will feature food, music and games for kids to mark the official start of an initiative to build a new Parish Gathering Hall/Gymnasium to serve Our Lady of Guadalupe’s church and school. The 10,000-square foot Parish Life Center/Gymnasium will include beautiful spaces for large events, a full kitchen, outdoor play areas, and a bright and modern gymnasium.
“More than a meeting hall, more than a gym, the building will benefit every person in our parish while also allowing us to better serve the greater good of our entire community,” said Father Jack Walmesley, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
To learn more about the campaign, read our fact sheet or visit the website at www.olgfuture.org.
According to this breakdown on that website, OLG hopes to raise at least half of the $4 million through donations from individuals and businesses. (They’re accepting donations online, too.)
Second story in a row about something turning up in a local yard – this, however, is no mystery: The Admiral Congregational Church Youth Group is the latest local organization to engage in the festive practice of flamingo-flocking … and today, their “target” is The Kenney, who shared the photo. (CEO Kevin McFeely tells WSB that the birds are in honor of a resident who’s an Admiral UCC congregation member.) WSB contributor Keri DeTore also spotted the flock last week outside a home on California SW in Gatewood:
P.S. If you’re interested in flamingo flocking, the cost and details are now on the Admiral Church website – you can even order online – go here. You can also call the church office at 206-932-2928.
Definitely the season to make sure you have good walking shoes. Yesterday it was Walk with Us to Cure Lupus at Alki, next Sunday it’s the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk (co-sponsored by WSB) and car-free Seattle Summer Streets, and today … a 50th anniversary milestone: The Our Lady of Guadalupe Fun Run/Walk, which took parish members from the church’s 35th/Myrtle headquarters to Chief Sealth International High School‘s campus, where the church had its first masses half a century ago. Other half-centennial celebrations are coming up, as noted in the church announcement we published on Monday.
This Sunday afternoon, you’re likely to see a lot more people than usual on the sidewalks of 35th SW and SW Thistle, through Gatewood and Westwood – part of a “Fun Run” (or walk) celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe Church‘s 50th anniversary, with many other special events to come. Read on for the full announcement and an explanation why the route will take parish members to Chief Sealth International High School‘s permanent site:Read More
Sunny evening on Alki as representatives of at least 10 local churches gather to lead the National Day of Prayer rally at Statue of Liberty Plaza. Jonathan Stumpf, covering it for WSB, sent that cameraphone photo and will have more visuals/info later.
ADDED EARLY TUESDAY: Jonathan reports more than 100 people participated. Among the clergy who spoke/prayed, Pastor Ken Ross of Arbor Heights Community Church, praying on behalf of “the media,” which by his definition early in this clip, includes people who use Twitter:
Jonathan reports that other prayer subjects during the event included: military and national leaders, state and local leaders, business, education/youth, families/marriage, the West Seattle community, and church/pastors.
There were performances as well as prayers:
The National Day of Prayer is designated by presidential proclamation – but a court fight under way could potentially end that.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After 20 years without their own building, the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation finally has one.
Friday was WSUU’s first full day of owning the former Gatewood Baptist/Seattle International Church building at California/Othello (map).
Congregation leaders and members didn’t waste a minute of Day 1. At 9 am Friday, a group was on the site whacking weeds that were starting to get out of control, and when we visited to speak with church leaders between 5 and 6 Friday night, another work party was busy tidying up the church’s side yard along Othello, looking for all the world like they weren’t likely to leave before dark (if then):
The building needs work inside too before the first scheduled service in 4 1/2 months – but the Westside Unitarian Universalists couldn’t be more excited – read on:Read More
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