West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
(Photo by Kevin McClintic)
By the time the moon rose toward the end of a beautiful weekend, we’d collected a few more photos to share. First, congratulations to Tibbetts United Methodist Church north of The Junction for its centennial celebration on Sunday:
Pictured above (thanks to Betsy Wharton at Tibbetts for sending photos) are Tibbetts Church members (back row from left) Barbara Benson, Shirley Lindberg, Betsy Wharton, Howard Bogie and (front row from left) Ted Reed – plus (continuing front row) Pat Simpson, Seattle District Superintendent, Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church; Grant Hagiya, Bishop, Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church; Joanne Carlson Brown, Pastor, Tibbetts United Methodist Church; member Douglas Hom. The celebration included displays like this:
And Betsy sums up the event:
The September 27th Centennial Celebration at Tibbetts United Methodist Church began with an 8:30am coffee hour during which members old and new gathered to greet one another and watch video footage taken 50 years ago during the construction of the Sanctuary that stands today. The Worship Service included music by a large Centennial Choir and the Tibbetts Handbell Choir. United Methodist Bishop Grant Hagiya gave the sermon and Pastor Joanne Carlson Brown greeted former pastors and friends of Tibbetts who had come back for the celebration events.
A big THANK YOU to the West Seattle Community for your support of Tibbetts United Methodist Church, over the last 99 years, during this special Centennial year, and for all the years to come. We’re 100!
Also from Sunday – we got a couple of notes about two big Navy cargo ships seen off West Seattle shores for a while today. JayDee got a photo, too.
After exhaustive online research, absent the ability to get direct info from the U.S. Navy on a Sunday night, we still couldn’t nail down exactly which ships they were; we thought this Snohomish County article about three ships visiting Everett might be a clue, but the photos of those ships don’t resemble this one. We’ll check with the Navy later today. (9:45 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Mark for the answer! He tracks ship traffic with this site, and says they were the Cape Island and Cape Intrepid, both indeed with the Military Sealift Command.)
Last but not least, courtesy of “westseattledood,” a scene from Westcrest Park on Saturday, during the Copper Cross bicycle races that took over the park for most of the day:
Thanks again to everyone who shares photos and info – you can reach us via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, phone any time.
ALKI BEACH 5K WALK/RUN: More than 1,200 people are signed up, we hear – and you can still do same-day registration if you get to Alki Bathhouse at 8 am. The run (from the Bathhouse to Anchor Park, and back) benefits Northwest Hope and Healing, which supports newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients as they struggle to continue the practicalities of life while dealing with their new fight for survival. (We’ll be tweeting pre- and during-race photos at @westseattleblog – you don’t have to be on Twitter to see a Twitter feed, just click that link.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always, 44th/Alaska, and watch @NFMASeattle on Twitter for tidbits once the market opens. (No Ripe and Ready list online today, sorry!)
TIBBETTS CENTENNIAL SERVICE: It’s been a big year for West Seattle churches celebrating 100th anniversaries, and the big party for Tibbetts United Methodist Church is today: Regional Bishop Grant Hagiya will preside at the 10 am service, during which former pastors will be recognized, and a gala banquet will follow the service. More here (including the latest on plans for the church’s next big rummage sale, in early October).
Again this fall, three “Blessing of the Animals” events are scheduled in West Seattle – in case you haven’t seen them on the Events calendar yet, we’re mentioning them here since they’re just a little more than a week away: Providence Mount St. Vincent, 10:30 am October 3rd (meet in the front lobby); Alki UCC, special service 10 am October 4th (sanctuary); St. John the Baptist, noon October 4th in the nearby West Seattle High School parking lot. (Photo above is from St. John’s event last year.) All are open to any and all pets and their owners. Blessings are scheduled in many places around the country/world in honor of the feast day for St. Francis of Assisi (patron saint of animals), which is Oct. 4th this year.
That room full of stuff is almost ready for you to browse and buy at the Fauntleroy Church Second Time Sale, 9 am-3 pm tomorrow. Volunteers have been busy all week pricing everything in those mounds of merchandise. It’s one of the church’s biggest fundraisers of the year; they’re at 9140 California SW (map). Also at Fauntleroy Church this weekend – nationally renowned singer/songwriter Susan Werner in concert Sunday night, 7 pm (ticket info on the church website). And if you’re looking for more sales this weekend – several are listed in the WSB Forums’ Freebies/Deals/Sales section (where you can list freebies, deals, sales for free).
Seattle Archbishop Alex Brunett – the region’s top Catholic leader – was in West Seattle this afternoon to bless and dedicate a new project of the Archdiocesan Housing Authority, which has 1,900 units around the region: Santa Teresita del Nino Jesus, described as “permanent housing for families transitioning from homelessness”; it’s in the 2400 block of SW Holden (map), with 26 two- and three-bedroom units in four buildings, all already rented. The archbishop spoke in English and Spanish about the saint for whom the complex is named:
Also at the ceremony: reps from the city’s Office of Housing, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Homestead Capital, along with Holy Family’s Rev. Horacio Yanez, and a resident of the new housing, Evelyn Gomez-Ortiz.
Several West Seattle churches have celebrated their 100th anniversaries in the past year; among them, Tibbetts United Methodist Church, whose Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown is shown in the top photo, shovel in hand, as she and church members worked to help spruce up Lincoln Park earlier this month. All ages pitched in:
(Kathryn Ushimaru and Nora Hallmon)
Sara Carter shared the photos, explaining, “As part of (our) centennial celebration, we wanted to give back to our community.”
(Amy Hallmon and Howard Bogie)
She added, “Tibbetts is proud to have been living the Way of Jesus in West Seattle for 100 years and we’re looking forward to the next 100 years.” They invite anyone interested in finding out more about their church to check them out online at tibbettsumchurch.org; the church is at 3940 41st SW (map). Other West Seattle churches that have recently celebrated their centennials — or are still in the midst of festivities now — include Fauntleroy Church, Alki UCC and Holy Rosary. And by the way, you don’t have to be part of a group to help beautify a West Seattle park – there are work parties every weekend, always listed in our West Seattle Weekend Lineup, and browsable even sooner at greenseattle.org.
Perfect timing for sunshine’s return, as hundreds of people picnicked on closed-for-the-occasion 42nd SW between Holy Rosary Church and School, in honor of the parish’s centennial. A special nod to history lined the streets – classic cars, some attended by people dressed in fashions from when the cars were new:
Had to take a closer look at this beauty:
Centennial-celebration events continue on into the fall (all listed here), culminating in two special Masses on October 11th, with Seattle’s Archbishop Alex Brunett expected to take part, and a time-capsule opening too. (And before then, it’s Holy Rosary School’s annual WestFest, itself celebrating a big anniversary this year – the 20th – that’s coming up September 18-19.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: So much summer fruit is at its peak, and that’s some of what you’ll find at the Farmers’ Market today, 10 am-2 pm; here’s the “Ripe ‘n’ Ready” list.
CUB SCOUTS’ CAR WASH: Scouts don’t just go for woodsy, outdoorsy activities – you’ll also find them washing cars sometimes, like noon-3 pm today at Alki Auto Repair, where Cub Scout Pack 799 from the Arbor Heights area is having its annual car wash. What’s it cost? Donations, says assistant cubmaster Craig Harrold (who shared that photo from the “Crossover” event that’s held at Camp Long to “close the Cub Scout year,” he explains).
HOLY ROSARY CENTENNIAL BLOCK PARTY: 100 candles on the birthday cake for yet another West Seattle church, and today’s block party (42nd SW will be closed alongside the church/school) is the next big event for Holy Rosary‘s 100th birthday celebration. 1-4 pm, with picnicking, treats and – according to online discussions of the event – classic cars evoking the parish’s bygone days.
Saturday morning, members and neighbors of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church got to work clearing an area south of the church, along SW Hanford (map), that they’re hoping will become a “park-like space” for the neighborhood. Among the helpers, Charlie the Bichon Frise:
“He’s the boss!” one of the volunteers told our photojournalist. For the human volunteers, next step is planting drought-resistant native plants later this summer. Not a bad idea, given our dry weather, which took a turn for the foggy this morning:
Greg Wright shared that look at the downtown skyline seemingly floating over the fog. The forecast does not mention a rerun for this morning; another weather note, famous forecaster Cliff Maas says the stats show that last Wednesday wasn’t the only recordsetter – the entire month of July goes on record as Seattle’s hottest July ever.
Many churches offer Vacation Bible Camp (or School), but what’s happening at Hope Lutheran this week is evidence it can be a melding of faith and fun. This week’s camp at Hope Lutheran is “Son Rock Kids Camp”; Leighellen Landskov shared the photo above and says they’ve had more than 140 kids and 50 volunteers each day, with activities ranging from “silly songs” and “campy crafts” to nature learning and a daily “Mission Outreach” project – Tuesday, campers brought canned food for West Seattle Food Bank; Wednesday, they brought socks for Compass Center. Registration is still open through the end of the week – kids PK-4 through 5th grade, 9 am-noon daily (with dropoffs OK as early as 8:30), and the fee only $5 – you can call the church at 206-937-9330, e-mail church@hopeseattle.org, or Leighanne says, “simply show up around 8:30 at the main entrance to the church at 4456 42nd Ave SW.”
That’s the back of Jane Taylor‘s car this past Sunday, after the summer’s first collection for Lettuce Pray, which so far has 10 area congregations participating in collection/distribution of nonperishable food and fresh produce. Jane reports, “Between the eight of the ten member churches who had food to collect, we collected 176 pounds of canned goods and 26 pounds of fresh produce. As the summer and the harvest season moves forward, we anticipate that that percentage will shift and we’ll be gathering more fresh produce than canned goods.” Here’s just one of the participating groups – at Grace Church, from left, Jane (who’s coordinating Lettuce Pray area-wide) with Grace’s LP coordinator Ali Kerr and donor Martha Heuschele:
Jane adds, “Our goal for the 12 week collection period is 2000 pounds of fresh produce and an equal amount of canned goods. We are well on our way!!” So far, participants are:
Alki UCC and Congregation Kol HaNeshamah (shared location)
St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church
Tibbetts United Methodist Church
First Lutheran Church of West Seattle
Holy Rosary Parish
Eastside Christian Assembly
Westside Unitarian Universalists
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
Grace Church
St. Bernadette’s Parish
Jane says that if you would like to donate produce from your garden, “you can take it to any of (those locations) on Sunday morning and we will pick it up between 10:45 and 12:30 and deliver it into cold storage at the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank. If other churches would like to be on the collection list and mobilize their congregations to donate their spare homegrown produce, they can e-mail (me) at janeatay@msn.com.” Jane also added a special thanks “to Kristen Parsons-Rosen for helping with collections and documenting our great day in these photographs” – this last one’s from Our Lady of Guadalupe, as Lisa Keith shared a tomato plant with home gardener Flora Cantos, for future Lettuce Pray collections:
Three Lutheran ministers on one bamboo bicycle, traveling cross-country to fight hunger: They’re the Tour de Revs, receiving an enthusiastic welcome tonight as they rolled up to Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood (with PLC’s Pastor Erik Kindem leading them in), midway through a 100-day tour. Yes, we said “bamboo” bicycle:
They’re bicycling to fight hunger around the globe, and reps from our area’s hunger-fighting agencies were on hand, including Pete Spalding from the West Seattle Food Bank board of directors and Audrey Zemke (below) from the White Center Food Bank:
One of the Revs, the Rev. Dr. Fred Soltow from Shepherdstown, West Virginia (here are the bios of all three), talked about where they’ve been and where they’re going:
After tonight’s block party (till 8 pm if you see this before then), the Revs and others planned to head downhill from Peace Lutheran toward Lincoln Park for a sunset ride.
If you drive Thistle between California and Delridge, you’ve probably noticed that banner outside Peace Lutheran Church. We first reported June 6 about the Tour de Revs heading this way — three Lutheran ministers on one special bicycle, pedaling around the country to fight global hunger — and now we’ve got an update on the street party/barbecue that Peace Lutheran is planning for their visit 6-8 pm Thursday — Kristie says everyone’s invited to a barbecue, and to ride with the “Revs” afterward:
We’ve officially been granted the permit for this all-invited Block Party featuring the three cycling Revs on the bamboo bike designed by well-known eco-bike maker Craig Calfee … Bring a donation for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks and something to share. Picnic fare available. Ride with the Revs and hear about their cross-country journey! 6-8 pm, ride following.
Peace Lutheran is at 39th/Thistle (map). You can read all about the Tour de Revs (and see their unique three-person bicycle) at their website – including this section with frequent updates.
On the surface, it’s just a little sign outside a not-too-big church here in our unassuming corner of the city. But take a bigger look, through the prism of the world’s woes: It’s a Christian congregation and a Jewish congregation, finally declaring to the world that they share a building, and not in an “uneasy truce” sort of way. Listen through this video to the end of the Bible passage that Kol HaNeshamah president Eric Orlin read at last night’s dedication ceremony:
Also speaking at the ceremony, Alki UCC Board chair Gail Christianer (with the church’s Rev. Diane Darling at her left):
As we showed you last month, Alki UCC is celebrating its centennial this year; Kol HaNeshamah, as you heard Eric Orlin say in the first clip, is six years old. The synagogue’s sign was designed by artist Michael Dupille, who is a member of KHN.
As reported here last month, the 80-year-old former 6th Church of Christ, Scientist, now known as The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd and Lander; map), is nominated for city landmark status. And now, a date is set for the Landmarks Board to consider the nomination: 3:30 pm July 1st, on the 40th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower downtown (here’s the official notice, which also includes information on how to comment in writing). Part of the info packet includes this note:
The owner is nominating this property for City of Seattle Landmark status as part of an application for a Conditional Use Permit to establish a non-conforming adaptive reuse of this historic West Seattle community church.
And this interesting bit of history from the church’s past (its congregation merged with the Fauntleroy Christian Science church before the building was sold in 2002):
The church’s first service was held on January 1, 1930. The total cost of construction was under $37,000. However, because Christian Science churches are not dedicated until they are free from debt, the Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist was not dedicated until February 8, 1942. There were initially fourteen charter members of the church.
You can see the entire nomination document, with tons of details about the building and its history (that’s where we found the 1937 photo at the top of this story), here.
They’ve been in the same building a while, but what you see above is a new sign – literally – of a permanent relationship. Here’s the news release just in from Kol HaNeshamah regarding an event celebrating its relationship with Alki UCC:Read More
As noted here earlier in the week, several West Seattle churches are marking momentous anniversaries this year – including centennials. That was the occasion that sent members and leaders of Alki Congregational United Church of Christ on a special pre-service walk this morning: They gathered at Weather Watch Park for a “Centennial Parade” to the nearby site where their church was founded in 1909, at Chilberg and Carroll (map), and then to its current site. In addition to the video above, here’s a photo, with the parade headed by Rev. Diane Darling (carrying the staff) and the church’s longest-term member, Ada Hallberg, who’s been attending Alki UCC since 1941:
(You might have recognized another church attendee in that photo, King County Council Chair Dow Constantine.) When they reached the current church at 61st/Hinds (map), they entered through the sanctuary doors from 1926, on their way into the sanctuary built in 1958 after Rev. Darling discussed history and led song on the steps:
If you noticed that many parishioners were wearing red – that was in honor of this being Pentecost Sunday. Centennial congratulations also go out tonight to Tibbetts United Methodist Church, which continued its 100th birthday celebration with a talent show/ice cream social this afternoon.
It was once the Sixth Church of Christ Scientist, built in 1929 at the corner of SW Lander and 42nd SW – what you see in the Google Street View image above is the south side, immediately across the street from Hiawatha (more photos in this Vintage Seattle post). Now, it’s an events venue called The Sanctuary at Admiral, and city landmarks coordinator Beth Chave confirms to WSB that the city has just accepted a nomination this week proposing Seattle landmark status, submitted by The Sanctuary’s owner (and months in the making), which means this is one of two West Seattle buildings currently under consideration — the other is the Seaview building at The Kenney (as noted in our coverage of the ongoing Design Review process for its proposed redevelopment). Landmark status can bring some economic benefits, like tax breaks, though it also brings restrictions – if the city Landmarks Board decides to designate the building as a landmark, that means that any changes to it (remodeling, etc.) would require their approval. Chave says neither this nomination nor that of the Seaview is listed on the city’s “current nominations” page because the applications are still being reviewed for completeness; once that’s determined, hearings will be scheduled for the board to review the proposal, and public comment will be part of the process (as explained here). You can find a list of West Seattle sites that already have landmark status by going here; meantime, here’s more on The Sanctuary’s history, from its website. The venue, by the way, hosted an event of worldwide note earlier this month – the International Food Bloggers’ Conference (podcasts available on the IFBC website).
Of all the Alki sights and sounds noted and discussed in recent weeks, this is the first report we’ve gotten of “drive-by” street preaching. Ben Hutchinson sent the photo and his account of what he saw from his apartment near Alki Bathhouse, so we’re sharing:
Just a couple minutes ago, there was this guy standing on the back of a pickup truck that went by. He was standing there with a microphone and big amplified speakers (like those used at a rock concert). And it sounded like he was preaching the Christian gospel. Now I’m a Christian myself, but I don’t think it’s right to be so disruptive. The pickup was driving slowly and holding up traffic.
Then he sent a second note, with the photo above:
Well, they came back again, so I was able to get a picture of them on their way back. This time I also was able to see a bit more too (they went right in front of my apartment this time). This time nobody was standing up (all were just sitting), and I was able to see 3 people in the back of the pickup truck this time (probably were there before, but I just had a better view this time, because it looked like only 1 the first time). When they were not preaching they were playing rap music.
Anybody know who this was?
It’s been a big year for West Seattle churches with big history to celebrate. Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) and West Seattle Baptist Church celebrated centennials within the past year – Alki UCC celebrates its centennial next weekend (and posted in the WSB Forums recently seeking wedding photos to feature) – centennial events are about to begin at Holy Rosary with a Homecoming Mass/Luncheon June 7 (details here) – and since Tibbetts United Methodist Church (left) has 100 candles on its birthday cake too, they’re inviting you to a big event coming up next weekend:
Tibbetts Has Talent!
Tibbetts United Methodist Church is hosting its Centennial Talent Show & Ice Cream Social on Sunday, May 31st at 3pm. This fun-filled celebration includes a variety of drama, music and more.. and will be held in Adams Hall, entrance by the reader board sign. There’s an ice cream social following the Talent Show featuring fantastic flavors from Husky Deli. We hope you’ll join us!
Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW (map).
Special T-shirts are part of the festivities through 1 pm today as Our Lady of Guadalupe welcomes one and all to an open house at its new Pastoral Center (that’s Father Jack Walmesley at right).
Seattle Archbishop Alex Brunett helped dedicate it two weeks ago (photo here). Inside the new center: 6,800 square feet of accessible meeting rooms, offices and storage. You can tour it today and enjoy refreshments too; OLG notes that this is just the start of its campus master plan – next phase, a Pastoral Life Center/Gym. Here’s a map to OLG’s location at 35th/Myrtle (on the highest hill in Seattle!).
Among today’s highlights:
We got that video at a cheering station along Alki Ave during last year’s Walk with Us to Cure Lupus 5K — today, another sunny day for the fundraising walk, which starts from the Alki Bathhouse at 10, after check-in at 9 (more info here).
Also at 10, Furry Faces Foundation‘s plant sale/pet adoption event starts its second day at 3809 46th SW (map), continuing till 4 pm. Even more pets today, dogs and cats, and as of our visit around 2 pm yesterday, Riley (shown above with the Animals First Foundation folks) hadn’t found her permanent home yet. As for the plants? Vegetable starts and flowers, sun and shade, and if you’ve got questions, some great folks are there to help – like F3 leader Teri Ensley‘s mom Lila:
Gardeners who also enjoy beer and art have an event tailor-made for them at West Seattle Nursery – joining forces with Prost and Twilight for its first “Beer Fest” 1-5 pm, combining beer, gardening and art. Pretzels too, according to the WSN website. Part of today’s sales go to West Seattle Helpline in honor of the occasion.
Also today: In The Junction, as always, 10 am-2 pm is West Seattle Farmers’ Market time – here’s the link to today’s list of what’s fresh.
One more event of note: Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrating its new Pastoral Center with an Open House, all welcome, 9:30 am-1 pm (more info here; the new center’s on 35th just north of Myrtle – here’s a map).
This has been a big year for church milestones around West Seattle – and the next to celebrate its centennial is Holy Rosary in The Junction. Read on for the announcement of its Homecoming Mass and Luncheon planned for June 7, with tickets available now:Read More
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