Sand Point Community United Methodist Church is a community of believers called to respond to the reconciling love of God in Jesus Christ by nurturing all people in their faith journey.
 

Our pastor, Rev. Cathlynn Law
Phone (206) 523-3040 e-mail: sppastor@qwestoffice.net
Rev. Cathlynn Law was appointed to serve Sand Point Community United Methodist Church in November 2008.   She is an ordained Elder in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, receiving a Masters of Divinity at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.  Pastor Cathy previously served Snoqualmie UMC, Marysville UMC (Associate Pastor), and Calvary UMC in San Francisco. She also worked for a year as a hospital chaplain in San Francisco. Her passion in ministry includes inviting people to respond to the great love of God as they move toward healing and wholeness in their lives, and building relationships with those who have been “churched” for decades, as well as those who find themselves new to the faith and church.  She connects faith and life together in a relevant way through sermons that challenge, affirm, and make meaning of this life we have been offered through the grace of God. When not at church, Cathy loves to travel, bike, hike, play the guitar & piano, read, & spend time with friends.

  Reflections from Pastor Cathy, January 24, 2012

If people outside the church asked you what the best thing about our church is, I imagine there would be a range of possible
answers.  At one time I remember Ana Eagen answering the question "Why Darling, Happy Hour, of course!"  She was
referring to our Coffee Hour following our worship service every Sunday.  It's the place where coffee, tea, juice and goodies show up miraculously each week, served with gracious hospitality. It's the place where people greet old friends, where new people and visitors tentatively take their first step into the foray of our faith community, it's the place where our children learn a sense of
belonging in an intergenerational gathering, and no doubt it's where everyone is discussing the content of the sermon and
worship, not just the length of time.

When I first arrived at Sand Point three years ago, Joan Bohn made all the phone calls and arrangements to find someone to host coffee hour, and Sheri Vahey secured worship assistants, greeters and communion servers for worship. What a big task for both.  So, we decided to get the whole congregation involved by creating Good Shepherd Hospitality Groups to coordinate all the responsibilities needed on any given Sunday.  There are seven different groups that rotate being responsible for various roles for worship and Coffee Hour every seven months.  The groups are finding it relatively easy to find people to be the worship assistant or greet at the door, but trickier to find help with the Coffee Hour.  Sometimes just a couple of people take charge of Coffee Hour; sometimes it's 4 or 5 people who are on deck.  Each group figures out how to coordinate the effort in a different way.  This is one of the most crucial points of entry for newcomers, and a vital aspect of ministry for our existing members.

Are you an active part of a Good Shepherd group?  Would you like to be? Check the bulletin board to see the schedule and what group you are a part of.  If you don't see your name, ask me how to  become  a  part  of this  vitally  important  ministry each week.
Many hands make light work.  Let's all be about our ministry of hospitality together!

 Director of Children’s & Family Ministries, Cindy Akana
Cindy holds a degree in Biblical Studies from SPU, and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.  In addition, she has professional training and experience in WIAA Coaches School, mediation, and counseling.  Cindy has spent the last three years at Des Moines UMC (WA) as Family Ministry Coordinator and Worship Leader.  She currently coaches High School swimming and volleyball.  Cindy also brings a wealth of musical gifts as a singer/songwriter/musician, playing with many bands over the years.   

Director of Music: Jeremy Matheis
Phone (206) 819-6972 , e-mail:  jdmatheis@hotmail.com
      Jeremy Matheis has been Director of Music for SPCUMC in Seattle since August, 2007.  He has served in similar roles for Catholic, Lutheran and Disciples of Christ churches in the Seattle area.  A native of Lynden, Washington, Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois.  He then completed his coursework at the University of Washington in the Masters of Choral Conducting program while studying with Geoffrey Boers, Abraham Kaplan, Peter Eros.  Jeremy has also worked with Peter Hallock while being a member of the St Marks Compline Choir.
     Jeremy has been active in church ministry since holding his first position as Choir Director at the age of 22. He has also worked as a Preschool Director and Sunday School Leader.  Aside from his time at Sandpoint, you will also find Jeremy directing or singing with many other groups.  He directs the Seattle SeaChordsmen, the Cascade Foothills Chorale, and sings weekly with the St Marks Compline Choir where he is also Assistant Director.
Living in Seattle affords Jeremy and his partner Jeff the perfect opportunity for outdoor exploration through hiking, backpacking and snowshoeing.  Traveling, concerts and hosting social events are also favorite activities of both Jeff and Jeremy.
Jeremy makes his home in Seattle with his partner Jeff, who works for ZymoGenetics, along with their French Lop Ear rabbit, Spartacus.

 

Who We Are - a message from a member of SPCUMC