United Church of Christ 

Fox Island, Washington - foxislanducc.org

 

Ministries

The Diaconate

     Members of the Board of Deacons are the spiritual leaders of the church and, along with the pastor, are responsible for all matters pertaining to worship, observance of the sacraments, religious ceremonies, evangelism, membership recruitment, congregational events, retreats, condolences, and care of the sick and needy.

      That being said, the Diaconate basically fills the position once taken on single handedly by the old-fashioned parish preacher.  In real-life terms, they visit the sick and home-bound, oversee worship services, coordinate the special seasonal services and events, prepare for the Communion table, keep tabs on the spiritual life of the congregation under their care, and serve as the recruiters and spiritual “welcome wagon” for potential new members.  They oversee lay leadership: scripture readers, ushers, acolytes, music and worship committee, Stephen Ministry team, offertory servers, communion servers, and greeters.  

     They are certainly more than the hard-working worship service facilitators their job descriptions enumerate.  When you are sick or grieving and receive a comforting card or visit, you know that the Diaconate is reaching out to you.  When your life has become more than you can handle and a Stephen Minister calls on you, you know that your prayers went straight to God’s ears. Whether you attend our regular worship services, or share in a Lenten Soup Supper, a Church Retreat, a Sunrise Easter Service, an Earth Day celebration, a Boat-In Service or a Blessing of the Animals, you know that your spiritual needs are being filled by the pastor and Diaconate team working together to bring order, creativity, spirituality and joy to your worship experience.

Blessing the animals 

FIUCC has held two annual "Blessing of the Animals" services, with participation growing to include many dogs and cats, and rats, and a horse!  With treats for all God's critters, children and adults celebrated the gift of companion animals, and gave thanks to God for knowing that we need His unconditional love in the form of humble creatures, dependent upon us as we depend on God.

Church Retreat 

 

Earth Day 

FIUCC celebrates Earth Day each year with a special service to recommit us to the principles of environmentally sound stewardship, as we recognize God's abundant gifts, especially here in the natural world of the Pacific Northwest.  Original music, the children's choir and groundskeeping workdays/workshops all add to our efforts to express gratitude for the excessive blessings bestowed on us.

Women's Fellowship 

Women's Fellowship 

FICRA Fair

Our goal shall be to unite all women of this church in Fellowship, Worship, Education, Service, and Giving, and to support the church program as it serves the cause of Christ in the community and throughout the world.

Welcome to Women’s Fellowship.  We are open to any woman in the church.  We meet ordinarily on the third Thursday of each month at noon.  Our gathering typically includes a potluck lunch, program and business meeting.  We plan projects to raise funds to support the needs of our church and then share with the community and world.  We are a group that just likes to get together, share our stories in fellowship, love, fun, care and concern.

Fishers of men puppet ministry 

Fishers of men 

Cast

Lynda Wickline, Director

      The Fishers of Men Puppet Ministry originated in the mid-1990’s from a memorial donation by the Harold and Elizabeth Fisher family.  Elizabeth’s grand parents were 1892 church charter members and part of the original pioneers of the historic Sylvan Colony on Echo Bay, Fox Island.  Elizabeth watched generations of island children grow to adulthood as she taught Sunday School over the years at the little white Sylvan Church on Echo Bay, taught public school at the two-room island schoolhouse, and finally retired from her teaching career at Artondale Elementary School.  No better tribute could have honored her loving work with children than the gifts shared by the later generations of talented youth who have served in the Fisher of Men Puppet Ministry over the years!

     Lynda and Bob Wickline have led and trained the puppeteers as they work their magic at summer Vacation Bible School each year, contribute in various roles at Christmas Pageants, or occasionally go on tour to other churches.  The group’s theatrical presentations are enhanced by Bob’s lively guitar and enthusiastic song leading, plus nearly profession staging, sound system, spotlight, well-written scripts, and contagious love of the Lord!  Because of the physical demands of puppetry, the reading level required, and the limited backstage space, the group membership is somewhat limited.  But enjoyment of the ministry is open to all!!!

Outreach Ministry 

"Habitat for Humanity"

At site

"The Little Sisters Fund"

Sarmila and Little Brother
Sarmila and Little Brother

Our church is involved in mission and outreach locally and globally.

Some of the organizations our congregation has supported are F.I.S.H., Habitat for Humanity, Family Renewal Shelter, Impact House, Relay for Life, Paint Tacoma Beautiful, One Great Hour of Sharing, Church World Service and Our Church’s Wider Mission among others.

The Little Sister Fund

The Little Sisters Fund  is a scholarship and mentoring program for motivated Nepalese girls living in extreme poverty.  Without Fund support, these girls might be forced to discontinue school, and would be susceptible  to child labor, child marriage, and/or child  trafficking (including the international sex industry).

Mission : The Little Sisters Fund provides hardworking, intelligent, and underprivileged Nepalese girls the opportunity to remain in school in the face of adverse conditions such as extreme poverty, deprivation, or social prejudices.

Vision : The Little Sisters Fund will foster a sustainable educational environment for Nepalese females by addressing the root causes of low female literacy in Nepal and will positively affect the in-country perception of females and their role in society. 

If you educate a boy, you educate a person. If you educate a girl, you educate a family and the next generation.
If in your life you can change one life, that is to truly make a positive difference in one life, then your life has been worth living.

History : The Little Sisters Fund is a non-profit 501c3 organization committed to the education of under-privileged girls in Nepal. The Little Sisters Fund was founded in 1998 after a young man, while trekking in Nepal, witnessed the poor state of Nepalese education and decided to change the life of one girl by supporting her education. Since then more than 300 other individuals in the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Germany, Singapore and England have committed to promoting female literacy and to saving female lives in Nepal through the gift of education.  The Fund currently supports 100 girls in Nepal in their quest for knowledge.

In South Asia in particular, girls are often seen as a financial burden on the family. All too often the accepted alternative is child labor, child marriage and child trafficking (including the international sex industry). These acts are not alternatives to education.

FIUCC has been involved with the Gig Harbor "Harbor of Hope" Relay for Life from its first year here, with members of our congregation (Carolyn Mitchell, Debbie Clegg and Sandra Purdue) chairing the entire local American Cancer Society's signature fundraising event.  For the last nine years, the FIUCC FOXTROTTERS have participated in the Relay, providing entertainment for all participants with live performances by the Wickline Downhome Family Band, organizers (Carolyn and Sandra) of the receptions for cancer survivors, flower arrangements (Sally Wax) for those receptions, Pastor Beu's invocations and benedictions, award-winning fundraisers, and the infamous leap-frog team.  Our team has followed the opening ceremonies with an all-church potluck dinner.

Pastor ~ Rev. B.J. Beu ~ 253.549.2420 | Secretary ~ MaryLou Perry ~ 253.549.2420  | foxislanducc.org