In the Summertime

Dear SFBC Family,

It is probably no surprise to you that I love summer in the PNW. Last year when I was on sabbatical and traveling (which was an enormous gift!), I truly missed being in Seattle for the summer. I missed the cool mornings walking in Discovery Park before the mist burned off for a perfectly warm day. I missed the free outdoor music and theater in our gorgeous parks. I missed kayaking on Lake Union. I missed enjoying an iced coffee while reading in my hammock. These are just some of the things I’m looking forward to this summer!

I’ve learned over my 8 years (!) in Seattle that it’s true that summer begins July 5th. This year, SFBC will follow suit and begin a new worship series on July 5th—“In the Summertime!” Each Sunday, our worship will adopt the theme of various summer activities. Pastor Leigh and I have worked to pair stories from the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Testament with each of our summer themes. Our Music Minister Ben and Organist Christian have organized one or two “camp songs” that we will sing each week, in hopes that we will recover some of the playfulness of childhood summers.

Additionally, each Sunday the bulletin cover will feature photos of our church family enjoying summer activities—so we need YOU to send in some photos of you and your loved ones! These photos will be published in our print bulletins and online on our church social media. Our Office Manager Christina will create a collage of photos according to the weekly theme. If you’d like your photos to be included, please email them to Christina (christina@seattlefirstbaptist.org), or call Christina in the office to arrange a time to bring physical photos to be scanned.

Here are the weekly themes to get your creative juices flowing!

July 5: Camping

July 12: Summer Traditions (Our 2nd Annual “Christmas in July” service, so come ready for a lessons & carols-style worship and wear your Christmas finery—or just red & green!)

July 19: Family Vacations & Road Trips

July 26: Fun on the Water (Boating, Swimming, Water Sports)

August 2: Gone Fishing

August 9: Hiking and Rambling

August 16: Picnics (Outdoor Worship @ First Hill Park & Church Picnic Day)

August 23: Staycation (Enjoying summer close to home)

August 30: Beach

So whether your summer looks like backpacking in the Cascades or reading in the comfort (and shade!) of your own home, bicycling across the country or tending your backyard garden, we hope that reading these themes will inspire you to share a photo with our church family! It will be a joy to share snapshots of our lives with one another this summer. Part of being church together is getting to know one another more deeply, because when we know about each other’s lives and learn what joys, griefs, questions, wonders and experiences another holds, we glimpse the image of God in each other.

Beloved church, however you and your loved ones enjoy the summer, know that the Seattle First Baptist Church family is eager to hear about it! Thank you in advance for sharing yourself with us—it is a gift we do not take lightly. It will be so good to be together “in the summertime” at SFBC.

I love you and I love being your pastor.

Rev. Anita