Pray for Churches Seeking Pastors or in the Discernment Process:

Washington Kachin

Baptist Church,

Fremont Baptist

Church, Filipino-

American Christian

Fellowship, Mount

Zion Baptist Church;

First Baptist Church—

Mountlake Terrace,

and Community

Church of Issaquah,

“Freedom from Hate” 2

Annual Meeting Schedule of Events

3

Annual Meeting Registra-tion Form

4

2019 Annual Meeting Lodg-ing Information

5

Japanese Baptist Church 120th Anniversary Cont’d

5

Seattle First Baptist Church 150th Anniversary Kickoff

5

Nakagawa Saying, “It’s Happening AGAIN!”

6

Latino Caucus & Evergreen Association Say Thank You!

6

News from Churches of People from Burma & Pan-ther Lake Community

7

Inside this Issue

September 2019

Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches

Volume 18, Issue 9

Evergreen Notes

ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR EVERGREEN

Do you sew, knit, or crochet? Do you draw or paint, do woodwork or pot-

tery, make note cards or jewelry? If you’re involved in these or other crea-

tive endeavors, you are invited to donate some of your productions for a

fundraising opportunity in support of the Evergreen Baptist Association

that will take place during the association’s Annual Gathering on October

11th and 12th.

To donate items, you may bring them to the Annual Gathering at Mt. Zion

Baptist Church, where tables will be set up in the hospitality room, or you

may drop them off in advance at the Japanese Baptist Church. Items will

be available for sale throughout the Gathering. The Asian Caucus is spon-

soring this event to raise funds for the Evergreen Association.

Evergreen Annual Meeting Mass Choir Needs You!

The Annual Meeting Planning

Team makes this call for Voices

for the 2019 Evergreen Annual

Meeting Mass Choir .

The Mass Choir will rehearse and

minister under the direction of

Mrs. Phyllis Brydwell, Minister of

Music at Mount Zion Baptist

Church.

While we have not yet set the re-

hearsal dates, the choir will partic-

ipate in two worship services: 7

PM Friday and Saturday evenings,

October 11th and 12th at Mount Zi-

on Baptist Church, 1635 19th Ave-

nue S, Seattle WA.

Rehearsal dates and music selec-

tions will be shared as we ap-

proach the dates of the Annual

Meeting.

Please encourage representa-

tives from your congregation to

add the dates to their calendars

and plan to participate. It will

be awesome,

And if you are a geographically

distant church, we will make

every effort to get the music to

you so you might have a chance

to familiarize yourselves with

the songs, before you ar-

rive. That way, folks who are

geographically distant, may also

participate in the Mass

Choir. We are working out those

details, too.

We are excited about this oppor-

tunity for Evergreen to share

our diversity and love of God

through music.

We will gather next month for

our annual meeting. Our theme

will be part of our on-going Yes

We Will! call to follow Christ.

This year we will discuss ways

to free the captives still in Luke

4:18. Our workshops will help

us gain tools to work to end

various forms of captivity,

human trafficking,

incarceration pipeline, and

more. We need the time

together and the tools to answer

Jesus’ call effectively.

In thinking of this problem, I

cannot help but think that most

of these are symptoms of the

fear of the other prisons in

which many of us live. Most

worrying for me is how that

fear shows up in hate much too

often in our world. I have also

spent months trying to figure

out what our role is in all of

this. Should we publish our

concern and be a visible voice?

How much authority do I have

to speak on behalf of our

churches? Should we encourage

our churches to…something?

I’m exhausted from worry about

how bad things could get, but

what can we do?

My strongest desire is to

condemn.

I want to condemn those in

government spewing hate,

those who remain silent

because speaking out might

mean they lose their seat

and thus their power.

But my strongest condemnation

is reserved for all those who

minimize our journey to

radicalization.

All the people who know

someone and choose to

unfriend them on Facebook.

Freedom from Hate” Those who remain silent

when they spew the vitriol

they learn.

All the friends who say, so

and so is crazy, just ignore

him when he gets on his

rants.

The parents and adults who

have learned and taught

their children to never talk

politics with each other. That

same community who cannot

imagine that anyone who

looks like us can be

radicalized into unhinged

zealotry that leads to

murder.

I want to condemn all who want

to convince themselves that

racism is in the past, and that

these mass murderers are just

sick individuals, that the racist

comments coming from our

government are not actually

racist.

All who want to embrace the

comfortable blanket of

accusing perpetrators of

mental illness that frees us

from communal

responsibility and guilt.

I want to yell out how our casual

toleration of racism in private

and our silence in the face of it in

public do contribute to mass

murders, cruel and

dehumanizing immigration

policies and the flourishing and

emboldening of hate.

In the end, I have come to the

conviction that one way is to

follow Christ into freeing the

captives, including ourselves.

The how is more difficult. Maybe

it is time for organized love. We

need systemic love. We need a

structure that helps these men

(mostly) come to terms with

the fact that what

they might

experience as

anger is in fact

fear. That fear is

born from our

society equating

value with

supremacy. That fear is that if

we are not on top, they will

treat us like we treat the

bottom.

I want to condemn; yet Jesus

calls me to stand in the

middle and love. However, I

must admit I have not been

very good at following Jesus.

Perhaps together we can be

better?

Join us this October so we

may help each other to love all

into freedom.

“Let us consider how to

provoke one another to love

and good deeds, not neglecting

to meet together, as is the

habit of some, but

encouraging one another, and

all the more as you see the

Day approaching.” Hebrews

10:24-25

Will you join us this October

11-12th?

NOTE: Registration form

and other information on

pages 1, 4 and 5 of this

newsletter.

Rev. Douglas Avilesbernal

Volume 18, Issue 9 Page 2

Page 3 Volume 18, Issue 9

12:00 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Table conversations: Definition and Experience of Captivity

5:30 pm Dinner

7:00 pm Worship: Priscilla Eppinger preaching

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

8:00 am Continental breakfast

9:00 am Business meeting

9:30 am Caucuses Meetings

11:00 am Plenary

12:00 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Workshops

Mass Incarceration

Human Trafficking Prevention

Young Adults

Resistance & Empire

3:30 pm Living History (Stories of captivity)

5:30 pm Dinner

7:00 pm Worship: Priscilla Eppinger preaching

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

Evergreen Association of

American Baptist Churches

409 Third Avenue South

Kent WA 98032

Phone: 253-859-2226

Web: www.evergreen-abc.org

Email: clem@ea-abc.org

EVERGREEN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES

2019 ANNUAL MEETING At a GLANCE

October 11-12, 2019

Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Avenue, Seattle, WA

Host Pastor: Rev. James O. Stallings, Interim Minister

Theme: FREE THE CAPTIVES (Luke 4:18)

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Priscilla E. Eppinger,

Executive Director, American Baptist Historical Society

SCHEDULE of EVENTS

Volume 18, Issue 9 Page 4

EVERGREEN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES

2019 ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION

October 11-12, 2019

Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Avenue, Seattle, WA

Host Pastor: Rev. James O. Stallings, Interim Minister

Theme: FREE THE CAPTIVES (Luke 4:18)

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Priscilla E. Eppinger,

Executive Director, American Baptist Historical Society

NAME _________________________________________________________________________________

STREET ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________

CITY/STATE/ZIP _________________________________________________________________________

TELEPHONE _____________________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP____________________________________________________________________

REGISTRATION FEE [Required] $15.00 $15.00

Friday lunch $10.00 ______

Friday Dinner $15.00 ______

Saturday lunch $10.00 ______

Saturday Dinner $15.00 ______

TOTAL ENCLOSED $_______

___ I need child care (6 years old & under) for these ages: ____________________________

___ I have special meal needs (Please let us know if you need vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.)

____________________________________________________________________

___ I need interpretation (Circle one) Burmese Spanish ASL (We will do our best to provide it.)

___I need quiet/sensory space. (We will do our best to provide it.)

Limited Scholarships are available. Contact Doug at 253-859-2226.

Please submit a separate registration form for each person attending. Checks may be combined for more than one person’s fees. Return completed form(s) with check or money order payable to

Evergreen Association—ABC, 409 Third Avenue S, Suite A, Kent WA 98032, or register online at http://www.ea-abc.org/annual-meeting.html

*Please note that Mt. Zion has a policy of no backpacks in the sanctuary*

Evergreen Annual Meeting Lodging Information October 11—12, 2019

Volume 18, Issue 9 Page 5

For a discounted hotel rate, follow the instructions below to reserve your room at the Silver Cloud Hotel:

ONLINE BOOKING LINK: FIRSTBAPTIST

1. Select arrival and departure dates and input the number of guests.

2. Click “Search for Availability.

3. Click “Reserve” for your preferred room type.

4. Enter all guest information: . Name, Address, Phone & Email

5. Comments: Provide estimated check-in/out time. Special Requests, etc.

6. Click Agree to hotel policies.

7. Click Make Reservation and a confirmation email will be sent automatically.

PHONE RESERVATIONS

Call the hotel directly at 201-325-1400, ask for the First Baptist Church account, and a guest ser-vice agent will assist with booking your reservation.

CHANGES:

Should you need to change, cancel or update a reservation, please email desk@broadwaysilvercloud.com or call 206-325-1400 and a guest service agents will be glad to assist you.

Silver Cloud Hotel Broadway

1100 Broadway

Seattle WA 98122

Seattle First Baptist Church

invites you to join them in the 11:00 AM Homecoming Worship

Service,

1:00 PM Open House (Refreshments,

Activities, and More!) and at

1:30 PM the 150th Anniversary Kickoff!

Sunday, September 8, 2019

See You as Your Schedule Allows

Japanese Baptist Church Continues 120th Anniversary Year Celebration August 4 — September 14, 2019

Join JBC for the Remaining Events:

September 7 Senke School Ikebana Show

September 14 120th Anniversary

Banquet, Hyatt Regency,

Renton-Sponsor a Table

Email or call JBC for details at

jbcHistoryTeam@gmail.com or

206-622-7351

Evergreen Notes Page 6

Please give online. Visit www.ea-abc.org and click on “Give”.

Thank you for your continued support!

The Latino Caucus & Evergreen Association Say Thank You!

A beautiful day, wonderful fellowship and a grand time together!

Yosh Nakagawa Relates Japanese Intermment with Issues Today, Saying “It’s Happening, AGAIN!”

Yosh Nakagawa, former vice president of American Baptist Churches USA, briefly notes the

relevance of his internment in camps during World War 2 to today's situation. Interview rec-

orded at the ABC-USA Biennial Mission Summit at Virginia Beach, Va., June 21-23, 2019.

Video produced by EthicsDaily.com. Go to EthicsDaily.com to view the video.

Page 7 Evergreen Notes

Both the Panther Lake

Community Church and the

Karen Community Church have

had their own youth retreats for

several years, but this year they

decided to hold one together.

Pastors John Armagost and

Maggie Po assembled leaders

from both congregations to plan a

Thursday-through-Sunday event

at Camp Bethel. A total of 52

individuals took part, including

our Executive Minister Doug

Avilesbernal and his family. The

theme for the retreat was

“Responsible Freedom.” Guest

speaker Mindi Welton-Mitchell

Churches Join for Youth Retreat By Paul Aita

presented two sessions on

responsible use of social media.

Bible study leader Gail Aita

focused on our call to

encourage one another. Camp

pastor Paul Aita led devotions

each morning and a prayer

time at the closing campfire.

Participants were divided into

four teams, each of which

contained members from both

churches. In addition to

discussing various issues

together, teams competed in a

variety of games, made posters,

and presented skits illustrating

the theme of the event. Other

activities including tie-dyeing

and kite-making. A trip to

Pacific Beach on Saturday

afternoon proved that the kites

could actually fly!

Busy Month for Washington Kachin Baptist Church By Paul Aita

The Washington Kachin Baptist

Church is a small but active con-

gregation, made up of about

twelve families, mostly young

adults with children in elemen-

tary school or younger, meeting

on Sunday afternoons in the facil-

ities of the Panther Lake Commu-

nity Church in Kent, and has

been ministered to throughout its

five years of existence by a series

of Kachin pastors visiting from

Burma for periods of six months

or less, though Paul Aita is cur-

rent serving as their interim pas-

tor.

Despite its size, the Ka-

chin church has an active pro-

gram of worship, Christian educa-

tion, fellowship, and mission. On

August 10th, joining with other

members of the Kachin communi-

ty in the area, they held a fund-

raising event to provide scholar-

ships for orphans who are

among the many Internally Dis-

placed Persons (IDPs) in Burma.

(Preliminary reports show that

they raised well over $3,000 af-

ter paying all expenses.) The

following day, they worshiped

jointly with Panther Lake

church and then in a picnic at a

Panther Lake member’s home.

The Kachin children sang during

the service and one of their adult

members read the scripture in

the Kachin language.

Later in the month, the

congregation met at the home of

one of its members to celebrate

the birthday of one of its chil-

dren. As is customary among

Christians from Burma, this

involved first having a time of

worship (with hymns, prayers,

and a sermon) before singing

Happy Birthday with a light-

ed cake, followed by a full

meal. The church ended the

month with a weekend of tent

camping and fishing in the

Nisqually area, attended by

all its families. Guests for the

camp-out included a Kachin

college student studying mu-

sic in Spokane and a Kachin

pastor and his family from

Burma, newly arrived in the

US as immigrants and now

living in Portland. The pastor

led the congregation in wor-

ship before they all headed for

home.

Executive Committee meets monthly on the second Thurs-

day each month at 6:30 PM, Japanese Baptist Church.

**October 11—12, 2019: Annual Meeting, hosted by

Mount Zion Baptist Church, Seattle

November 10, 2019: Faith Action Network (FAN) Annual

Fundraising Dinner, Renton Pavilion. Info at fanwa.org

Early 2020—Euro Caucus Sponsored Fundraiser. Plans

are underway.

** 2019 Annual Meeting schedule, registration, meals,

and hotel information can all be found at www.ea-

abc.org/annual-meeting.html Churches may send up to 5

delegates. All are welcome to register and attend!

MISSION STATEMENT

Being a culturally diverse peo-

ple who are one in Christ and

who value the liberties of our

American Baptist Heritage, the

Evergreen Baptist Association

will

Build bridges between

communities;

Provide resources to equip

member churches to share

Christ and teach God’s word;

and

Translate our unity to the

world.

Building Bridges, Resourcing Churches & Translating Our Unity

Calendar of Upcoming Events

409 Third Avenue S, Suite A Kent WA 98032-5843

Phone:253-859-2226 E-mail: eba@ea-abc.org

Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches

Evergreen Notes, the newsletter for mem-

ber churches, ecumenical partners, national

affiliates, and friends of the Evergreen Asso-

ciation of American Baptist Churches is

published monthly.

Please submit articles by the 20th of the

month prior to expected publication.

You are encouraged to copy and/or reprint

information and articles.

Non-Profit

Organization

US

PAID

Kent WA

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Rev. Douglas Avilesbernal

Executive Minister