SUNDAY'S SCRIPTURE
Waking Up On the Lake Shore

Mark 1:14-20
A Look From Brook
Pastor Brook shares his thoughts
When I first heard this story on the PBS News hour, I thought it was some type of twisted joke.  And in repeating it to others, the first reaction has been a laugh and then an incredulous “you are joking, right?”  Have you heard about this?  The House Intelligence Committee is so divided...
Lent to Focus on Barbara Brown Taylor’s Book “An Altar in the World”

Pastor Brook is excited to introduce his sermon series for the Lenten Season. The series will be based on An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor.

In this book, Taylor  reviews a variety of spiritual practices with the laudable goal of showing the reader that “ the treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment, no superior aptitude or special company.” For the author, finding God is not about looking for the extraordinary, but about looking into the ordinary  “bodily experiences of human life on the earth.” She states, “ If you have run out of breath yourself—or out of faith—then this book is for you.”  Her hope for the book is that it will help the reader  “recognize some of the altars in this world—ordinary looking places where human beings have met and may continue to meet up with the divine. More that they sometimes call God .”

Pastor Brook would like to encourage the entire congregation to join him in reading this book during the Lenten Season (which started with Ash Wednesday on February 14 th!)  He suggests that covenant groups consider meeting more regularly during Lent in order to study this book. For those who are not in a covenant group, he is going to lead several studies on this book. If you would like to host one of these studies or participate in one of them please contact him by email.

This is the most completely beautiful book in religion that I have read in a very long time. Gentle, humbly crafted, lyrical, and deeply wise, Altar is Barbara Brown Taylor as she was meant to be, a pastor who understands that knowing God occurs in a place beyond theology. ” (Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence)

Cost of book is $10, payable to BCUMC. Contact Pastor Brook for more info.
Interfaith Advocacy Day
Tuesday, February 20
We Want You...To Sign Up

Several volunteers are needed to donate their time and talents to our Easter Egg Hunt on March 24th.

Sign-up today!
Interfaith Choir Festival
Sunday, February 25, 7:00pm

Join us at Bear Creek UMC for an evening of song and music to move the soul. Sit back and enjoy live performances by choirs from the Northshore Interfaith Coalition.
The Whole Megillah - Purim Event
Saturday, March 3, 7:00pm
 
Join CKA for a fun-filled evening celebrating Purim. Event includes: a highly entertaining Purim spiel, appetizers, custom cocktails, raise the paddle, and silent auctions to benefit our missions partners (Hearts in Hands and JFS Baskets). 

Costumes are optional but encouraged.
 
*Childcare is available for kids 3 and older for $5/child. Cost: $20 per person.
 
RSVP is preferred. Click the link for tickets.
Stephen Ministry
Companionship Training
Thursday, March 8, 7:00pm

Bear Creek UMC’s Stephen Ministry team is hosting a training on Companionship, with Kae Eaton as the presenter. 

Kae Eaton is Chaplain and Director of the Mental Health Chaplaincy, working with individuals and families experiencing mental illness or homelessness in Seattle and throughout the Northwest.

Kae’s trainings support both secular and faith-based communities who are engaged with and support those who are disadvantaged using the practice of Companionship , through ministries of hospitality and outreach. Kae also works as a Chaplain Fellow in the Addictions Treatment Center at Seattle’s VA Hospital.

The training is free. Please see the attached flyer for more information. 

We hope you will join us. For more information, please contact Susan Jackson.
Vision 2018 Meeting
Sunday, March 18, During Worship

A huge thank you to all who participated in the Visioning Sessions! We learned a great deal about what our congregation desires for the future of Bear Creek UMC. This feedback enables us to narrow our focus to a few areas that all groups felt were important.

In the coming weeks, the Visioning Team will creatively present to the congregation many of the findings and illustrate how your voices and opinions will help our church THRIVE in the years to come.

Here’s the great news: You get to be part of the next phase! How do we now put our findings into action? During our service, join breakout sessions. Brainstorm with others about what we can do to make our church stronger. Your ideas are greatly appreciated and a luncheon will be provided afterwards. See you there!
New: MELT Classes
March 19, 7:15pm

MELT helps people move, perform, and feel better. Using a soft foam roller and little balls for the hands and feet, MELT is an easy and gentle self-treatment to release tension and stuck-stress, re-balance the nervous system, and improve overall alignment and movement.


Due to space restrictions, class size is limited to 19 people. Contact Chris Aakre for more info.
Bear Hugs

Bear Hugs to Connie and Kirk Gagnon for the delicious French dinner they served for our Dinner and Dance night!
Bear Hugs to Dee and Tom McMillan for patiently teaching folks some dance moves and for the dance lessons they have offered weekly. Lots of learning and laughing!
- Keith & Nancy Larson

Bear Hug to Bill Hoppe for his powerful way of moving me to the Spirit with “Be Thou My Vision” - Dave Orendorff

We also have special Bear Hugs for our BCUMC congregation from Mary's Place and UMCOR. Please read the letters below...

  Want to give someone a “Bear Hug”? 
Please contact Susan Jackson .
Friday Feel Good Song! 

T.G.I.F! You have survived the grind and hustle of the work and school week. It's time to celebrate with the Friday Feel Good Song.

Let's feel the beat with "Love Runs Out" by OneRepublic.
Week At A Glance:
February 18th - February 25th
Sunday, January 18th
Worship - 9:30am
Sunday School - children's classes on break
Youth Group - on break

Monday, February 19th (President's Day)
Office Closed - All Day
Men's / Women's Reunion Groups - 7:00pm
Yoga Class  - 7:15pm

Tuesday, February 20th
Leadership Team Meeting - 11:30am
Finance Meeting - 7:00pm

Wednesday, February 21st
AA Meeting - 7:00pm

Thursday, February 22nd
(Carpool to Tukwila)
Worship Band Practice - 7:00pm
Celebration Choir Practice - 7:45pm

Sunday, February 25th
Worship - 9:30am
Sunday School - 10:45am
Youth Group - 6:00pm
Interfaith Choir Festival - 7:00pm

For our entire Events Calendar, click the button below:
Miss A Sunday Service?

Don't worry, podcasts are posted on iTunes weekly. Search for Sunday Mornings At Bear Creek.

The weekly message is also available on our website. Simply click the button below!

Have An Announcement?

Do you have something to tell the Bear Creek UMC community? Send us your announcement (60 words or less) and a preferred graphic (if you want one) and we'll place it in our publications.

Please contact the church office .
Worship:
Sundays at 9:30am

Office Hours:
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM  
Wed: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM 
Closed Weekends & Holidays

Ph. 425.788.2953