A Message from the Personnel Committee
Personnel Committee, with the approval of Church Council, is happy to announce the hire a short-term Congregational Chaplain to support ministry at First Congregational. The purpose of this position is to provide phone and video pastoral care and support to members and friends of our congregation through prayer and presence. Even as vaccinations increase, our members and staff continue dealing with the emotional and psychological effects of this year-long pandemic. Through phone visits, the chaplain will join our pastors and Called to Care team in praying with and checking in on how members are faring in these turbulent times. This is a four-month position which will go through the end of July.
Our chaplain’s name is Stevi Hamill. She is currently in her final quarter of seminary at Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry. Prior to seminary, Stevi worked as an educator during and after earning her bachelor's and master's degrees in philosophy. She lives with her partner Clayton, calico cat Ginny, and rambunctious kitten Appa in West Seattle where she is also a Member-in-Discernment at Fauntleroy Church.
We asked Stevi to share about her faith journey and why she wanted to join us in ours. This is what Stevi shared, “I was dedicated to the church at 6 months old and somehow--by God's grace and perhaps my own stubbornness--still find myself in the church. In the care of Evangelicals, Wesleyans, Jesuits, UCCers, and other faithful people from so many spiritual backgrounds throughout my life, I came to hear God's call toward ministry. I believe that God's call and the mission of the church is to partner in God's good work toward wholeness and redemption in the world. As we join in Jesus' prayer that God's kingdom come and will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, we pray to take part in co-creating the Beloved Community. My hope, as I enter into the position of Congregational Chaplain at FCCB, is that I can take part in holding open spaces of care, listening, and prayer so that the love of God and the love you extend to one another can continue to take root in the already beloved community that is First Congregational Church."
As we inch ever closer to in-person worship, I am reminded we must continue to remember the importance of maintaining the connection with each other and focus on building a community of love in word and actions. To that end, take a minute to pick up the phone, send an email, or drop someone a note in the mail. We are all in this together.
In Christ,
The Personnel Committee
And now, a video message from Stevi.
