The Rev. Ann Holmes Redding has “abandoned” the Episcopal Church by joining a faith “not in communion” with the national church, according to a church committee. Redding will be automatically defrocked if she does not recant her Muslim faith by March 31, 2009, according to the Episcopal Church.


Starfield, Above the Golden State coming to Longview
LONGVIEW — Starfield, Sparrow Records award-winning Canadian rock band, will bring the “I Will Go Tour” to the Columbia Theatre in Longview on Nov. 11. Portland’s Above the Golden State, a new Sparrow group, will open for Starfield at the concert.

“We’ve taken this tour out in Canada twice, once with Shane and Shane and a second time with Will Graham, the grandson of the great Billy Graham,” said Starfield guitarist Jon Neufeld. “It will be great to finally bring this show to our friends in the U.S.”

Above the Golden State released their self-titled debut album in July. The band’s members described their style as “West Coast Rock, Pop.”

“We’re doing our best not to call it surf-rock,” said frontman Michael Watson. “But yeah, basically it’s that with a touch of rainy Northwest.”

After a summer of leading worship and concert events, Above the Golden State is excited to be on the 25-city tour.
“These songs are meant to be sung in the heart and mind of the listener, like a soundtrack to our lives,” Watson said of the album. “Every one of us is singing a song to the Lord, whether we know it or not, our lives are ascending to God. How awesome that he would listen, even take notice of us, and what a responsibility to live every second unto him.”

For more tour information, visit www.starfieldonline.com.


Conference urges Church toward ‘sexual healing and wholeness’
BOTHELL — The Christian Network Forum for Sexual Health will present “Mobilizing the Church to Sexual Healing and Wholeness” at EastLake Community Church in Bothell on Nov. 14. The event is designed to bring Christian leaders and Christian therapists together to “build a bridge between these two healing communities to address the significant challenge of sexual addiction recovery and wholeness.”

The conference is sponsored by Cedar Park Assembly of God Church, Christ the King Community Church, EastLake Community Church, First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, Mars Hill Graduate School, Northshore Baptist Church, Prodigals International, and the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, among others.

Keynote speakers for the conference will be Dr. Dan Allender and Dave Browning.

Allendar serves as president and professor of counseling at Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle and is an author and speaker on sexual abuse recovery. His keynote theme will be “Integrating the Sexual Addiction/Recovery Model with a Christian Foundation to Achieve Healing and Wholeness.”

Browning is the lead pastor of Christ the King Community Church, a multi-location church with a “culture of recovery that has emanated from Dave’s personal story of brokenness.” His first pastorate ended when an affair came to light.

“Having the mask ripped off was simultaneously the worst thing that ever happened to me, and the best thing that ever happened to me,” Browning said.

The theme for his keynote address will be “Creating a Culture of Recovery in the Church.”

The “Mobilizing the Church to Sexual Healing and Wholeness” conference will also feature breakout sessions, panel discussions and other resources for churches. Registration for the event is $69 per person and includes lunch. For more information or to register for the conference, visit http://mobilizingthechurch.eventbrite.com or call (206) 686-3093.


Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission launches One Meal … One Hope campaign
SEATTLE — “Economic times are tough,” said Herb Pfifner, executive director of Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. “We are determined to feed anyone who is hungry, but we need the community to partner alongside us in our mission.”

In response to rising unemployment, hunger and homelessness this fall, Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission has launched the One Meal … One Hope Campaign to remind everyone that “although everyone is feeling a pinch in their budget, people grappling with poverty or homelessness are in dire straights and are quickly losing hope,” according to a press release.

The goal of the campaign is to serve 142,000 meals and offer 44,000 safe night stays out of the cold fall and winter temperatures, from now through the end of the year.

The “One Meal” stands for meeting the most basic needs of the hungry and homeless in the community through the Mission’s street-level response. The Mission’s Men Shelter doors are “always open during freezing temperatures.” And volunteers hit the streets with the Mission’s Search and Rescue Van delivering hot chocolate, bag lunches, blankets and clothing.

The “One Hope” refers to “the promise of a future that in some cases has been all but lost, but still flickers in a person’s heart under the layers of pain and brokenness,” according to a press release. “Many hurting men and women come to the Mission for help but find hope and chance for a future. Many go off to college to start a career. Others find jobs and learn to give back to society.”

To learn more about the fall/winter campaign, visit www.ugm.org.


Medical Teams International ‘Gifts of Hope’ catalog offers unique presents
REDMOND — Medical Teams International’s “Gifts of Hope” catalog offers 10 lifesaving presents to give to family and friends this Christmas season. Shoppers can choose from various projects that range from teaching Liberian mothers and their children lifesaving health skills, to providing bed nets to protect children from Malaria and medicines to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to their children.

Each gift ordered from the catalog will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $200,000. One local gift option will help provide dental care for Oregon and Washington state school children in pain.

“In these challenging times, this is such a great cost-conscience way to Christmas shop while spreading joy to families who struggle to care for their own children,” said Dick Frederick, executive director of Medical Teams International in Washington state. “These gifts bring positive change to difficult situations in places like Darfur, Haiti, Cambodia and right here in the Pacific Northwest.”

Gift items can be browsed online at www.medicalteams.org/catalog. Print catalogs can be requested by phone at 1-800-959-4325.


Matthew West brings ‘Something to Say Tour’ to Pacific Northwest
PUGET SOUND — Dove Award-winning singer and songwriter Matthew West will bring the “Something to Say” Tour, sponsored by World Vision, to Evergreen Community Church in Olympia on Nov. 20 and Overlake Christian Church in Redmond on Nov. 22. West is joined on the tour by Josh Wilson.

Prior to recording his latest album, titled “Something to Say,” last year, West was diagnosed with a vocal chord injury that required major surgery, after which he entered a required two-month period of silence. His struggle and the lessons learned during that time influenced the album heavily.

“God is at work in every circumstance of our lives, even the silence,” he said. “He wants to take the part of our lives we consider damaged goods and turn it into good.”

“World Vision is so excited to be partnering with Matthew on the ‘Something to Say’ Tour,” said Ben Greene, artist representative for World Vision. “His heart and passion for the most vulnerable children of the world is contagious, and we know that all in attendance will receive an experience to remember.”

For more detailed information on local concerts, visit www.matthewwest.com.


‘Readerboard Church’ celebrates 70 years
KENMORE — Kenmore Community Church, often affectionately referred to as “Readerboard Church,” will celebrate its 70^th Anniversary on Nov. 23 with a special service and lunch beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The church originally opened its doors in the fall of 1938. It was then called the Kenmore Chapel and inhabited the old Tip Top Inn. Burlap curtains separated areas of the interior of the roadhouse into classrooms and a sanctuary, while towers were added to enhance the exterior, according to a press release.

In October 1976, the congregation completed construction on a new church building. And in 1979, the church erected its famous readerboard, a large sign marking the remains of the old inn beneath it.

“One of the church’s most effective ministries continues to be providing encouragement and chuckles to thousands of drivers passing by,” a press release read.