And September is a month of anniversaries at MBPPC. First, the building has a 100th anniversary coming on Saturday, September 21st. On that day in 1924, the cornerstone of the sanctuary was put in place. MBPPC was chartered on another September day — September 24th 1906 (meaning that our 118th anniversary is also coming this month ..read more

As we begin September and enter the fall season, we also move toward the conclusion of another contentious presidential election cycle. I have been struck by how pervasive the feeling of concern, and even peril, accompanies people’s daily lives…no matter which presidential candidate they plan to vote for ..read more

I hope everyone enjoyed our annual Old-Time Gospel Sunday, with the hymns and choral music and great food on the patio. My thanks to Tim Beggs and the choir members, The Grace Quartet, Ellen McLain and John Lowry, and Ben Saboonchian — our musicians. And thanks to Mary Lou Adams for the pulled pork, Linda and Wellington Westbrook for the pulled chicken, Ellen McLain for the coleslaw, and Charlie Logan for the lemonade ..read more

I did not attend worship services during my vacation. Is that blasphemy? I gave it serious thought. Lisa asked where I wanted to go. But I did not go. This was intentional, during the very rare time when I am given the choice of what to do on a Sunday morning. Here are some things I learned ..read more

I will be on vacation July 15-30. In the meantime, I want to invite everyone to pray for and consider helping with Vacation Bible School: Vacation Bible School (VBS) will be offered every day from Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9, 9 a.m. until noon. Our VBS is for children K-5, and is open to those who attend MBPPC and those who do not. Best of all, it is free! This will be a fun and lively week of fellowship, learning, music, and creativity centering of the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. The VBS Ministry Team seeks the following supplies and assistance: shoe boxes or simila ..read more

Two of the quietly amazing things we have done at MBPPC over the past quarter century are: welcomed more than 20 seminary interns, and ordained seven women to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament (I am pretty sure that is more than any other congregation in the Seattle Presbytery). It has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my ministry here to serve as a teacher, mentor, and pastor for these people. So I grieve the fact that we have not had an intern since before the pandemic, and that it is far less likely we will in coming years. The practical reason for this change is the closure of two ..read more

By the time you read this, Juneteenth National Independence Day 2024 will have just passed. For those of you who are not familiar with this U.S. national holiday, it commemorates June 19, 1865, when U. S. Federal troops brought enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, officially ending slavery, to the State of Texas, the last confederate state this enforcement reached (though slavery in non-confederate states would not officially end until December 6, 1865). It seems to me that an element of our country’s current political crisis is significantly connected to the Emancipation, its enforce ..read more

What a joyful day we had last Sunday — our annual Appreciation Sunday! I want to thank the members of the chancel choir, who sang so joyfully and, as always, so well. May you enjoy a summer of resting your pipes and anticipating another great year together come September. And any of you who have entertained the thought of joining the choir — do it! I sang with them for a few months after the pandemic (and before I became too busy with other pastoral tasks). It’s fun and it’s a very welcoming group. Thanks, also, to our Session members Mike Stob, Ben Saboonchian, Matt Bayer, and Beth Azuma-Moy ..read more

Appreciation Sunday is this Sunday, June 9. Every year on the second Sunday in June, the last day before our chancel choir begins its summer break, we take time to give thanks for the treasure that each person who worships and serves at MBPPC is to this community and its mission. It is always a joyous and inspiring thing to call forward in worship the many people who have contributed to the life of this congregation over the preceding year. So, now is the time for you to think back over the year, remembering your contribution. Here are the many ways you all have pulled together to build a stro ..read more

As we approach the summer of 2024, many questions swirl around us. Will there be a heat dome sending Seattle temperatures well above 100 degrees? Will there be forest fire smoke? Will there be drought? As we anticipate the autumn of 2024, many questions swirl around us. Who will be elected President of the United States? What will be the outcome of war in Ukraine, or will it drag on horribly toward winter? What will be the outcome of war in Gaza, or will it simply follow its current, tragic path? As we live through a time of challenges, unprecedented in the lifetimes of many among us, we are f ..read more