Neighborhood Churches Re-Opening

Neighborhood churches are planning to reopen after being closed for almost a year.

St Stephen’s Episcopal Church (4805 NE 45th Street,) is opening its doors for limited in-person worship beginning  on Sunday, May 30th at 10 am.  

The church information sent out says:

This is an invitation to return. But remember, this is a limited re-opening. It may not be possible for us to accommodate all who desire to attend on a particular Sunday, especially at first. We are limited by the continued requirements for physical distancing and the configuration of our pews. We will increase the numbers gradually, keeping in mind your safety and the directives of the governor and the diocese. And of course, we will continue to provide our worship services online for those who choose not to attend in person at this time, and for our worshipping community at a distance. 

Everyone who plans to attend in-person worship must register on-line in advance. Registration will open on the Tuesday before the Sunday service you desire to attend. You will take your temperature before attending services, and will be asked to fill out the waiver and agreement form when you arrive. Masks will be worn by everyone ages two and over throughout your attendance. 

The only entry to the building will be at the main doors. Since our pew configuration limits how we can seat people, an usher will help place people so that we can have the maximum number of people allowed. At the Dismissal, ushers will assist keeping the usual physical distancing. You are asked not to linger in or around the buildings. There is no in-person Coffee Hour or other programming after the liturgy. 

Seattle Community Church (4501 46th Avenue NE) will also open this month starting with 15 people admitted the first Sunday and growing to more on following Sundays. 

St. Bridget Catholic Church (4900 NE 50th Street) appears to have already welcomed its congregation back saying:

I am grateful to see more and more members of our parish beginning to return to in-person participation at our Masses.

For more information go here. 

Children's Hospital Purchases Sand Point Way Church, Learn More At Informational Open House Tomorrow

Children's Hospital has recently purchased the Center For Spiritual Living campus located at 5801 Sand Point Way, for  $16,992,850.

Tomorrow at 7pm the public is invited to an informational open house at the Church to learn more and have questions answered.

The Hospital purchased the property on March 24th and will reportedly use it for classes, lectures and meetings and not for office space as the site is zoned for spiritual and educational purposes.   

The Center for Spiritual Living purchased the property in 1992 for $1,500,000 from the Fifteenth Church of Christ, Scientist.  King County assessed the total value of the property, parcel ##102504-9006, at $27,314,500. The three buildings on the property total 70, 292 square feet.

In 2007 a 35,000 square foot new 2 story addition and renovation was undertaken, which included a  new larger building with a 1200 seat auditorium, classrooms and meeting spaces under Permit #605930.  The campus also has three portables. 

Here is the Open House invitation published by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods:

The Center for Spiritual Living and Seattle Children's Hospital invite you to an open house, at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall, regarding Seattle Children's  purchase of the Center for Spiritual Living campus.

On March 27, Seattle Children's took possession of the Center for Spiritual Living's campus. In honoring the Center's covenant that is currently in place, Seattle Children's will use the existing facilities for staff and community classes, training and development.

The Center has called this campus home for almost 25 years.  They will lease the space back from Seattle Children's for up to 18 months while they determine where they will locate next.

During this time, Seattle Children's will use the Center for parking and conference space, and will install equipment needed to use the facility for training events and educational meetings.

Please join us to learn more and have your questions answered. No RSVP required.

Children's posted this press release:

Seattle Children’s Purchases the Center for Spiritual Living’s Campus

Seattle Children’s to use existing facilities for staff and community classes, training and development

Seattle Children’s has purchased and taken possession of the Center for Spiritual Living’s campus, located at 58th and Sand Point Way. The sale occurred after the center, which is planning to relocate, approached Seattle Children’s about the hospital’s potential interest in making an offer. In honoring the covenant that is currently in place, Seattle Children’s will use the existing facilities for staff and community classes, training and development.

The center’s campus is located on 4.4 acres of land, and includes nearly 50,000 square feet of auditorium, classroom and meeting space, as well as 189 parking stalls that Seattle Children’s currently uses.

“Given the close proximity of the center’s campus to many of our existing sites, and the growth in our training programs we anticipate over the next few years, purchasing the property presents a tremendous opportunity for Seattle Children’s,” said Dr. Jeff Sperring, chief executive officer at Seattle Children’s. “We look forward to using the space for the educational enrichment of our staff and the community.”

While specific details are still being developed, Seattle Children’s programs and classes that may be located at the center include the hospital’s Nurse Residency Program, Learning and Simulation Center, CPR and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) classes.

“The sale of our campus to Seattle Children’s is a perfect example of the greatest Good for all coming to fruition,” said Center for Spiritual Living’s Spiritual Director, Kathianne Lewis, DD. “The needs of our community have been shifting as Seattle has grown, it’s been harder for our congregants to get here, and so our online presence and participation has experienced tremendous growth through Livestream and social media platforms. Center for Spiritual Living has had five homes and five Spiritual Directors in its nearly 100 years. We are excited to continue our legacy as a place for all people to find connection to the Divine, and look forward to exploring new ways to facilitate that connection in our changing world. Our greatest Good, and that of Seattle Children’s is truly being served here.”

The Center for Spiritual Living, nearing its 100th birthday, has called its current campus home for almost 25 years. As it determines where it will locate next, the center will lease the space back from Seattle Children’s for up to 18 months. During this time, Seattle Children’s will use the center for parking and conference space, and will install equipment needed to use the facility for training events and educational meetings.

Holiday Church Celebrations In The Neighborhood

 

 

Here are the holiday events scheduled at the various churches in the neighborhood:

St. Stephens (4805 NE 45th Street):
Christmas Eve Festival Service - 10 PM

Christmas Day - 10 AM

Sunday, Dec. 30 - Lessons and Carols Service - 10am

 

Seattle Community Church (4510 46th Avenue NE):

Christmas Eve Worship and Dessert Potluck Fellowship - 7:30pm

New Year's Eve Celebration - 6:00-9:00 PM including dinner

 

 

St. Bridget's (4900 NE 50th Street):

Christmas Eve Mass - 5:00pm and 10:00pm

Christmas Day Mass (include the Children's Choir Singing) - 10:30am

Last Neighborhood Church Softball League Game On Sunday

Sunday is the last softball game of the season for the neighborhood Church Co-ed Softball League.

The game starts at 5pm at the park between the Stones Team from St. Stephens Church in Laurelhurst and Faith Lutheran Church in Wedgwood.

Here is a post we did about the history of this interesting and very long-standing league of almost 20 years of which many neigborhood people play on the Stones team, one neighbor for almost 20 years.

Neighborhood Church Softball League Nearing 20th Season

Did you know that the Seattle Church Co-Ed Softball League has been going on for almost 20 years?

And we've learned that one of our readers, Ken, who lives near the school, has been playing for almost the entire time. Amazing!

This unique softball league just started up again and continues most Sunday afternoons through the end of July. Most games are played at Laurelhurst Park, once the Little Leaguers fences are removed.

Michael Romoser, coodinator for the the St. Stephens Church 'Stones" softball team, gave us the scoop, from how it all got started, how there are no umpires, how league rules state players most socialize after and much more.

Read on to learn about on this great league and long standing tradition amongst churches in the neighborhood emphasizing fellowship.

"The Seattle Church Co-ed Softball League is a great thing — a well organized league that’s nearing twenty straight years of fellowship at Laurelhurst Park."

Mike says he believes the origins of the league got started by the former Priest at St. Bridget’s Church who got a team together to play St. Stephen’s Church.

"I think those were the first, so it was a Laurelhurst community thing from the early ‘90s," Mike says.

He goes on to say:

"By the mid ‘90s Green Lake Adventist and Assumption Parish had joined in. Seattle Community Church, also right there across from Laurelhurst Park, also got a team together by the late ‘90s. St. Catherine and Faith Lutheran joined about five years ago.

So it’s been the same six teams for about five years now: St. Stephen’s, Assumption, Community, Faith Lutheran, Green Lake and St. Catherine. Works out nicely because a team plays the other twice each year for a ten-game season.

St. Bridget pulled out 4 or 5 yrs ago, deciding to join a more competitive league.

Ours, while spirited, is not particularly 'competitive' as we have moms and dads, mostly in their 40s and 50s, making up most rosters. Big age variance though; there are lots of players in their 30s, and a few in their 60s and 20s, too.

The league has always been an adult co-ed league.

To balance things out a bit, the gals get to hit a smaller, 9” diameter ball that can really take off. The guys are only pitched 10” “Limited flight” balls, though it’s hard to tell that they are that limited. Also, there’s no encroaching the infield on weaker hitters. All outfielders must remain 30’ from the infield dirt for all hitters until the ball is struck.

Importantly, the league rules repeatedly refer to 'the spirit of the league.' That it’s a church league designed for fellowship. For example, it is written in the rules that both teams should stick around afterwards to visit.

The 'most participants' award probably goes to Community Church, with its bevy of young couples.

Most games they show up as a true 'community' with barbeque grills and lots of little ones running about the sidelines.

A real family affair. Often, both parents play; one watches kids while the other is batting.

It is a common thing that the game waits a moment to resume while dad or mom races back to the field after dealing with a little kid issue off field. It’s a good thing.

Being in a park setting like Laurelhurst is great for the young families that play. Kids can play on the playground while mom and dad, just steps away, play with their adult friends on the diamond :)

Important to note there are no umpires. Each team provides a 1st and 3rd base coach who make all the calls. Those base coaches are essentially making calls on tight plays regarding their own team, and in the spirit of the league, really close calls tend to go to the fielding (opposing) team.

That’s what it’s about. Having fun."

Thanks Mike for all this interesting information and the pictures!

(Team picture above is from 2005 with the 1st Place Stones Team
Picture below is Tracy from the Stones Team)