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October is a busy month for our congregation!

Last week, our Faithland Team with help from our consultants at LPA, released the Request for Information and Qualifications to solicit responses from potential development partners who want to work with us in developing affordable housing. Representatives from LPA already know of at least three developers who plan to respond to the Request. Responses are due November 14. At that time, our Faithland Team will begin the process of reviewing them, interviewing previous partners, and visiting their previous projects. We hope that early in 2026, our Leadership Board will be able to review the options and make a recommendation for a way forward. At that time, the District Board of Church Building and Location and the Conference Trustees will also be able to weigh in on the options and processes to help us make wise choices. Throughout, our own congregation and community will be kept informed and consulted at times when decisions need to be made.

Because our plans affect not only our own congregation members but also our neighbors, on Tuesday October 14 at 7:00 pm, the Faithland Team has invited neighbors to come to church to learn more about the process we are using to discern options for affordable housing in what is now the church’s parking lot. The Faithland Team has met individually with our closest neighbors and hopes this is an opportunity to share more widely what we know and what we are still figuring out. It will also be an occasion to hear from neighbors about their hopes and dreams for the future of the neighborhood, as it changes, embraces new zoning, and welcomes new neighbors. This event will also be a great time for congregation members to meet neighbors, welcome community, and hear the latest updates on the Faithland process. Since Iglesia Bethel meets concurrent with this event, the portion of the meeting where information is presented will be in the sanctuary.

In addition to discerning future development, October’s Singing the Psalms worship series proceeds with community celebrations. For the next several weeks, we have special events in worship every week. On October 12, we will have the opportunity to say thank you to our church staff on Staff Appreciation Sunday. On October 19, we will celebrate Laity Sunday by welcoming new church members and joining in some reflection time where everyone’s perspective on our faith life is invited during worship. Then on October 26, we will gather the Socktober collections and bless them for use by our neighbors in need of help warming their feet. Worship is the center of what we do as a church and I hope this month of worship celebrations brings us closer to our mission and deepens our faith.

Beyond discernment and worship, we also have several other opportunities coming up to be together as the body of Christ in service and mission, one in October and another couple coming up next month. October 25 from 9am-12pm is the Fall Grounds Clean-up and many hands will make light work to get plants and spigots and other equipment ready for winter. November 15 from 9:30 am-3:00 pm we will host a training for the Puget Sound and Sea-Tac districts that will feature our own team during worship and a key note presentation in the morning and workshops in the afternoon. This is another opportunity to practice our inclusive welcome and be of service to our colleagues in the connection. It’s also not too early to mark calendars for our All Church Conference on November 30 at 12:30 pm in the Friendship Room. More about all these events and more follows in this newsletter.