Planting Trees @ Terrell Creek

"I feel a great regard for trees; they represent age and beauty and the miracles of life and growth."

― Louise Dickinson Rich

At March’s Service Church - Terrell Creek, we helped not only to plant trees, but also have great regard for them as they sheltered us from the late winter rain!

While digging, planting and blue tubing, the sounds of Terrell Creek loudly flowing could be heard from below. This creek which flows from Lake Terrell into Birch Bay is home to not only fish, but also the vital shellfish communities in the bay as well as a diverse array of waterfowl and shorebirds. These connections are why native plants, which make water cold, clean, and clear, are so important.

Together with NSEA - Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, we put 301 trees & shrubs in the beautiful soil to ensure the hillside is protected above Terrell Creek, a chum & coho salmon habitat, for generations to come.

At Service Church & Echoes we Protect what we Love!

Ash Wednesday: For the Lengthening Light

For the Lengthening Light: A Remembering

To all who dwell in the dawning,
and to those who linger in the dusk,
on this day of dust,
Remembering….We are from the earth.

To all awaiting the light that lengthens,
for the grace that stretches,
for the strength that carries,
Remembering…We are from the water.

To all needing grace for the imperfections that make us human,
for the gratitude that fills our hearts,
for the ever-changing journey,
Remembering…We are from the air.

To all seeking the light returning,
even amidst the darkness and the burning,
Remembering…We are from the fire.

From ashes, not of perfection,
but of remnants, of our desired will to change,
new life is arising.
Remembering…We are from the spirit.

We remember you, Holy One
the One who loves us, who calls us,
who redeems us,
and who makes us new.

Help us remember ourselves.
Amen.

Written by Emma Donohew for the 2025 Ash Wednesday Service outdoors at Waypoint Park in Bellingham Washington.

Disclosure

Disclosure

Prayer is like watching for the
Kingfisher. All you can do is
Be where he is likely to appear, and
Wait.
Often, nothing much happens:
There is space, silence and
Expectancy.
No visible sign, only the
Knowledge that he's been there
And may come again.
Seeing or not seeing cease to matter.
You have been prepared.
But when you've almost stopped
Expecting it, a flash of brightness
Gives encouragement.

-Ann Lewin

May you keep finding encouragement as you continue to stop and look.

Finding Baby Jesus in A Cake

“God did not enter the world of our nostalgic, silent-night, snow-blanketed, peace-on-earth, suspended reality of  Christmas. God slipped into the vulnerability of skin and entered our violent and disturbing world.”
― Nadia Bolz-Weber

This month’s Pub Church fell on Epiphany / Three Kings Day, celebrating the time that the wise people/magi/kings followed the star and found Jesus! This story is a reminder that birth stories are messy, and we often need many perspectives to help us hear what happened.

The word epiphany comes from the Greek word meaning “to reveal”. We were treated to quite a reveal when we found our own baby Jesus in the cake!


Beyond delicious food, together in community, we discussed what is making us stop and look these days. We also were given a “star word” for the year to see how it guides us in the time ahead!

What are you following in wonder during these times?

We’re holding tight to starting 2025 by feasting on tasty Three Kings Cake & tamales, good conversation and the reminder that Jesus is everywhere!

Jesus can be found often in places we least expect it:

Even in a brewery or a cake

Keep watching, keep wondering, keep conversing!

Food=Love

At Echoes Food=Love

Birchwood Food Desert Fighters Food Boxes can use our help as we fill them each month on the 4th Tuesday! You can bring your shelf stable donations on Monday, December 23rd to Dinner Church and we will make sure they are delivered to the Birchwood Neighboorhood in time for Christmas.

Our neighbors in need, still need nourishment, especially at the start of the winter season.
We’ve still got a cold season ahead of us.
Your donations help. We’ve seen it.

Food Box Needs
hot hands   |  granola bars  |  canned / shelf stable milk  |  nuts  | canned/pouch meat/fish  |  canned beans  |  canned fruit  |  soups/stews  |  jerky  |  fruits / veggies stable in cold  |  oats  |  sauces  |  spices  |  tea / juice  |  parmesan cheese  |  syrup  |  sugar  |  cereal  |  tortillas  | sliced bread  |  rice |  salt / pepper  |  socks  |  hotsauce  |  condiemnts  |  can openers  |  silverwear

 Bring your donations to Dinner Church on 12/23 for delivery on the 4th Tuesday of the month!

Advent Meditative Service 2024

Our Meditative Service in December 2024 invited individuals to pause, light a candle and BE.

By taking time to meditate on the ancient symbols we can go deeper into the Advent Season.

We had folks meander in no particular order through each meditative prayer station.

*Candles (Fire) - Light a Candle & Pray for Peace/Those In Need
*Inspiration (Pause) - Finger Labyrinth & Art for comfort
*Nativity (Just Breathe) - Meditate on the Nativity/Read Story Proceeding Jesus’ Birth
*Guiding Light (Stars) -Follow the Star/Think on your own journey

Our bodies know what they need. Our spirits know the practices that bring us closer to wholeness.
How can we take time to hear the voice encouraging us to move with an unhurried pace?

Whether through candles, art, finger labyrinth, cosmic medtiation or just sitting, time spent in community is never wasted.

In December how are you slowing down?

Winter 2024 Spotify Playlist

We’ve created this year’s Winter 2024 Spotify playlist to share with you!

Featuring artists like Matt Pond, The O’Pears, Gungor, Dr. Dog & more!

Listen Here!

Just in time for the advent season, this playlist invites you to slow down and hear some seasonal classics in a new way. Something we hope happens with the Birth Story of Jesus every year on Christmas too.

(Even if you don’t have a spotify account you can listen for free with ads just like the radio :)

More Than Nourishment

Food isn’t just nourishment, it’s love. And this time of year we can share our love with our neighbors who need it most. Bring your donations either shelf stable food or monetary donations to our Dinner Church on 11/25 to share food with your community!

In a recent Western Front article the necessity of all forms of food donations to keep people fed cannot be overstated:

“Trish Twomey, executive director of the Washington Food Coalition, said food system stability requires support from a variety of stakeholders. 

“There's our tried and true community donations and schools and churches,” Twomey said. “But … those are small quantities of donations, and to have something stable and ongoing is really what the food programs need.” 

Most support for the Whatcom County Food Bank Network comes from organization, individual, business, foundation and grant donations totaling approximately $4.8 million annually. “

Every Bit Counts.

Thank you for your help to Feed your Neighbors.

Food Box Needs
granola bars  |  canned / shelf stable milk  |  nuts  | canned/pouch meat/fish  |  canned beans  |  canned fruit  |  soups/stews  |  jerky  |  fruits / veggies stable in cold  |  oats  |  sauces  |  spices  |  tea / juice  |  parmesan cheese  |  syrup  |  sugar  |  cereal  |  tortillas  | sliced bread  |  rice |  salt / pepper

 Bring your donations to Dinner Church on 11/25 for delivery on the 4th Tuesday of the month!

Blessing of the Animals 2024

Blessing of the Animals 2024

God, our Creator, help us to love all creatures as kin,
all animals as partners on Earth,
all birds as messengers of praise,
all minute beings as expressions of your mysterious design,
and all frogs as voices of hope.
Amen*

Prayer from Norman Habel

Gratitude for all the animals and humans who came to our Wild Church - Blessing of the Animals last weekend at Lake Padden. We blessed those present and those virtually and in spirit via photos and videos.

We noted that these past 11 years of Blessings of the Animals have seen drastic weather and so far we have made it through torrential downpour, snow, smog/sun, atmospheric rivers and light sprinkles, reminding us that blessings can happen rain or shine!

What a gift it is to offer thanks for the beloved furry friends who make our world brighter, more cuddly and muddier!