Prison Ministry - Call to Prayer

North Creek leads worship at the Twin Rivers Correctional facility in Monroe every 5th Sunday. A group of folks enter the facility and go to the chapel to lead praise singing, read God's Word, listen to a sermon, and lead prayers. Time is spent with the inmates in fellowship and mutual encouragement. Today I was planning to be the preacher, something I have done on at least an annual basis over the past decade.

But today was different...

George Taylor called this afternoon to let me know that our chapel service was cancelled because the prison was in lockdown as a security measure after a corrections officer was found dead in the chapel at the Monroe Correctional Complex on Saturday night. I understand that this took place in Reformatory chapel, NOT the place where the North Creek group regularly leads worship.

Please pray for the family, friends, and coworkers of Officer Jayme Biendl, 34, of Granite Falls, an eight-year veteran at Monroe. Pray also for those serving their sentences in prison - for our Christian brothers and sisters, for those who God wants to reach with His transforming love, and, yes, for the man who took the life of Officer Biendl.

For more information on this story follow this link to King5
http://www.king5.com/news/Monroe-corrections-officer-murdered-by-inmate-114899049.html?c=n

Humbly, and prayerfully,
Pastor Kurt

Dinner at the Creek: Gifts Shared, Blessings Received

I can't count the number of late Thursday afternoons over the years when I've seen Sheila Allen pushing a cart full of groceries from the parking lot past my office toward the church kitchen. She's always carting precious cargo - these are the ingredients that will be lovingly cooked up by the kitchen crew into (the literal) dinner at the creek. Why does she do it? If you ask her, she'll give you a simple answer: it's about using her gifts for God's purposes, so that they would benefit many people rather than just a few.

Today Pastor Paul is helping Sheila with the shipment. If you don't know already, Paul and Kathy Strawn are die-hard Dinner-at-the-Creekers, so I asked Paul what he looked forward to most whenever we host this community meal:

“I look forward to seeing the faces of the people who come to Dinner at the Creek. Simply put, this meal makes their week. They sit around a table in a family setting and talk with people who love them...and they know God is at the center of it all. I just love seeing those faces when it happens.”

Dinner at the Creek provides a warm, comfortable and safe place to share a meal on the last Thursday of each month at 6:00pm. No cost or obligation, and all are welcome!

Connecting to the life & ministry of Jesus...Mark chapter 6:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6:30-44&version=NIV

A Fresh Update from the Lamberts in Ticul

Dear All:

Our week in Ticul is coming to an end. We are so glad we came. The people here are wonderfully hospitable. Someone comes to feed us several times a day withthe most wonderful local dishes. We can only hope we have added to their lives as they have ours.
Dennis has painted nearly everyday and finished one of the three rooms of Matthew House. This where we are staying and if you missed the other e-mail it is a kind of Ronald McDonald House that is across the way from the Hospital for Obstetrics and babies. Pastor Ek is working hard to get the word out within the hospital that Casa de Mateo is available for the families whose homes are far away from the hospital.

I have seen several patients each day. Most have been issues with back and neck pain which is hardly surprising with the work they do and driving or riding on the less than ideal roads. My spanish has definitely improved trying to teach some of the elementary body mechanics and a few exercises and my hands have certainly gotten stronger as I have not given so many massages in many a year.

Today Dennis is working with Pastor Ek to learn how to use his computer. Hopefully he can soon e-mail you Betty! We have come to the central square where internet is available for free.

We have had two wonderful excursions this weeek. On Monday we went to the beach near Meriday where the Christian Camp which Pastor Ek (and the help of North Creek Pres) founded. What lovely setting for a camp. Yesterday we visited San Simon, a small village where the church here does mission work and on the way back were able to explore Uxmal, very interesting Mayan ruins. We stayed for the light show which is done there after dark and it was amazing.

Tomorrow we must say good bye to the friends we have made here and begin a very long bus ride. First to Villhermost, then after serveral hours layover there, to Oaxaca. We will arrive there on Friday morning abour 10:00am. Fortunately we have found the city to city buses here in Mexico to be very comfortable very much like first class accommodations on an airplane. I have my Nook loaded and so will be most happy. Dennis has added some Mexican music to his i-phone and will be happy also.

Adios and love and good wishes to all our friends,

Dennis and Candie

Kurt: I'm so excited to see the Lambert's photos of Casa De Mateo when they return from their travels...they'll be posted on the blog as soon as I get ahold of them. Glad they had the chance to travel around the region with Pastor Ek (he covers alot of territory for the Lord!), going to the coast to see "Camp North Creek" and seeing mission work in a village.

Serving God by Volunteering at Woodside Elementary

Mary Dill. Joyce Simpson. Kris Geyer. Ed Schafer. Peggy Upton. Marti Dean. Leslie Kastelle. Brenda Malone. Stephanie Sharpe. What do these North Creekers have in common?

They are all at Woodside Elementary school today assisting with a Reading Assessment, engaging kids one-on-one in an effort to enrich reading skills. This is at the invitation of the school administration, and the third time North Creek has supplied volunteers for this activity. Thanks for serving God’s kingdom mission at Woodside Elementary School today!

A New Name, A Wider Mission for North Creek

What was the Woodside Partnership Team is now the Elementary School Partnership Team (ESP). Members of the team are Jana Larson, Leslie Kastelle, Rosa Torres, Becky Hitchcock, Lu Loree, Chris Schuh, Betsy Schuh, and two more who are in the process of joining! Chrystal Helmcke currently coordinates this team.

Recently, God gave a clear call to expand this ministry beyond just Woodside school to include Challenger and Horizon Elemenary schools in the Evergreen Way/Casino Road area of South Snohomish County (Mukilteo School District).

Challenger’s principal, Dirk Atkinson, and Dean, Christy Johnson, visited NCPC during the January meeting to present the opportunity for volunteers to help staff their brand new "Parent's Club" on Thursday evenings from 5 - 7 PM. This is open library time at Challenger Elementary where parents are encouraged to interact with their children via computer programs, board games, homework help.

New team member additions Chris and Betsy Schuh have expressed their call to fill the leadership role for Jubilee 2011. They will work with 2010 Coordinator Jeff Jensen to expand the service day to serve our three schools ~ Horizon, Challenger and Woodside.

Following up on our work with Horizon Elementary during Jubilee 2010, on a tip from Allison Oyster, the team has begun talking with Tyrone McMorris, Exec. Director of Casino Road Ministries. CSM is a non-profit ministry called to serve the communities and share the Gospel along Casino Road in Everett and Mukilteo, and they host bi-weekly Homework Clubs at Horizon Elementary as well as several evangelism-focused Kid's Clubs at the "home location" of South Everett Foursquare church and Casino Road Apartment complexes. Next month the NCPC team will take a "field trip" to a CSM Kid's Club to learn more about how NCPC members might be able to partner in their work. Learn more about this ministry here: http://casinoroadministries.org/

Finally, over $900 was joyfully given to "Operation Snowman" in Dec. 2010. This money was turned into gift cards given to the Woodside Elementary staff for distribution to families in need of extra holiday assistance. Thanks for being a part of this work of God’s kingdom!

Joyfully,
Pastor Kurt

Togo Church Choir coming to North Creek in April!

Just met with Henriette Bodjolle to prepare for the Moment for Mission this Sunday. It will announce that a Choir from a Presbyterian Church in Lome, Togo will be coming to the Seattle area. This is jointly sponsored by Lake Forest Park PC and North Creek PC, and the choir will sing at both churches (LFP on April 17, NCPC on May 1). The most exciting aspect of this choir tour will be the opportunity we will have to host choir members in our homes during their stay in the area, from April 16 to May 2. The world is coming to North Creek and knocking on the doors of our homes. Let's open up to the joy of close Christian fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ from Togo!

In Christ,

Pastor Kurt

The Lamberts are in Ticul with Pastor Ek & Casa De Mateo!

Dennis & Candie Lambert are in Ticul, Yucatan, Mexico with our mission partners led by Pastor Severo Ek. Dennis is working on finishing touches for Casa de Mateo ("Matthew House," a ministry to families in need inspired by Pastor Ek's visit to North Creek a few years ago) and Candie is helping people out by providing physical therapy. I can't wait for them to return and share their photos and stories, and I would love for you all to get to know the Lamberts if you haven't already. Here's their first email report...

Sent: Sun, January 23, 2011 12:58:39 PM
Subject: We're here in Ticul

Family and Friends:

After one very long day on three airplanes, we arrived in Merida approx. 1am and were met by Pastor Ek, his wife and two friends. A drive of about 1 hour and we were at our new home (for seven days). We slept in hammocks somewhat fitfully, but this morning felt pretty rested.

Friday, Candie saw several patients for therapy advice and Dennis began painting the inside of Matthew House. Matthew House (where we are staying) is a new structure near the hospital to provide housing for family of patients. It is quite nice and well built.

Painted again on Saturday. Have one more coat to go on the wall of one of the sleeping rooms and it will be done.

Today attended services at the church. Were introduced to the congregation and all welcomed us. Met many more people. Understood some of the service. This afternoon had dinner at Pedro´s home (a friend and helper on Matthew House).

Everyone here is very nice, and trying to teach us Mayan along with our (very) rudimentary Spanish.

More later,
Dennis and Candie