Hello Church! (A Message from Rev. Phil) 

This coming Sunday marks the traditional start of “Holy Week”, where we prepare for and move towards Easter Sunday. We have several great opportunities for you, and I hope that these may be able to play a role in how you reflect and engage in this special season.

Palm Sunday
This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday of the Month, which means that in addition to being Palm Sunday, it is also an ACT Sunday. Where Palm Sunday tells the traditional story of Jesus entering Jerusalem to shouts of “Save Us!”, this coming ACT Sunday will help us explore some of the ways we can work to save each other, through the spirit of God's mission for social justice and reconciliation. The event starts at 1PM on ZOOM. Click here for event info.

Good Friday
We will be offering a short video meditation for Good Friday that walks through each of the traditional stations of the cross. The video will be available on our church website starting next Friday morning (April 2nd) and will be available all weekend until Easter. While it is traditional to hold some remembrance at noon on Good Friday, all that is required of you is a willingness to enter into a space of quiet reflection. Consider setting aside a 30-minute window next weekend for you to join us in this meaningful practice. Find the event link and info here.

Easter Sunday
Lastly, please plan to join us for a virtual Easter Sunday service next week (April 4th). In addition to our regular worship elements, we will be setting aside time after the communion service for fellowship, conversation, and laughter! Feel free to invite friends or family, and I’ll look forward to seeing you all then! Click here for Easter Sunday event info.

May Grace and Peace be with you all!
 

Rev. Phil Antilla
Lead Pastor

Helping the children in our neighborhood: Jubilee Reach and Backpack Meals
Close to 250 Bellevue students are homeless. Approximately 3400 (17%) students qualify for free or reduced meals, including 57% of children at one elementary school, 44% at one middle school, and  38% in one high school.  For many of these children, the only meals they get are those at school. We are helping to meet the need for more food!

• Jubilee Reach Groceries for Families provides groceries for 2,000 children in Bellevue each week. Five to twelve families from our church have paid for groceries for one family each for more than a year, now and we've also been lucky enough to get a grant from the greater UMC for $5000 dollars last fall and $4500 from our Endowment Committee this spring to fund even more necessities.
• Bellevue Backpack Meals for Kids provides a backpack full of food to 200 children each weekend and throughout the summer so that children who rely on meals at school are fed when not at school as well. Sunday, April 25 our church will be packing enough backpacks with food to feed those children for one weekend. If you want to help, sign up here and if you want to support the program financially, please donate here.

Family Camp 2021:  Friday to Sunday, May 28 - 31 (Memorial Day Weekend)
Ballpark Campground in Snohomish
Come for friendship, fun, food, and the great outdoors!  Pancakes Saturday morning, potluck Saturday night, and worship Sunday morning.  Join us for some or all of it!  Please fill out this form if you are interested in attending.

UPDATED 2021 DIRECTORY
If you are listed in our directory, you should have received an email with an updated copy. Please check your junk and spam inbox if you have not received it. Can't find it? Email the office and Aya will send you one. You can also email her if you'd like a paper copy mailed to you. 

LECTIO DIVINA
Mondays from 4 - 5:30
Join here. Lectio Divina is a contemplative method of reading the Bible with ‘the ear of the heart’ so as to be transformed, more than simply informed, by the text. We hope this group will help us focus on how the Bible can help to navigate this cultural moment and uplift us with needed hope in this season of upheaval.