Kindred in Christ,

As your Lead Pastor (Paul Ortiz), it is my deep joy to introduce you to our new Worship Leader, Ben Fowler (pictured above)! I am beyond grateful for the commitment and discernment of our search team that made it possible for us to get to this point. Ben will begin leading us in worship on Sunday, Dec. 4^th. Here’s his bio:

Ben is excited to be joining the staff at U Gathering as a Worship Leader. His experience in the church is vast and varied and has at times been a bit rocky. Coming out late in life presented some challenges to his personal life and faith and he’s grateful to be joining a community that celebrates LGBTQIA+ people and where it’s ok to ask questions, doubt, and not have things all figured out.

Ben lives in Seattle with his partner, Grant. He has four amazing kids that he absolutely adores; they live with their mom nearby.

Ben grew up playing music of all kinds and went to the University of Washington where he majored in clarinet performance and orchestral studies. He still plays a lot of music and has been getting into his roots and learning the Irish flute.

He loves to be outside and feels fortunate to live in such a beautiful area with access to all kinds of recreational pursuits. He grew up skiing and wakeboarding and likes to hike and camp. His latest hobby…sewing.

In the photo below: Ben, Grant, Aria, Karis, Cadence, Selah

Here’s what some members of our search team are saying about Ben:

Kindred in Christ,

I have long loved the trinity of observances that just passed, Halloween (Oct 31), All Saints Day (Nov 1), and Día de los Muertos (Nov 1 & 2). For me, and for many around the world, these days are a threshold season—what some refer to as a thin space, where the veil between the living and the dead becomes thinner. I have increasingly found that this is a time of paying attention, for listening at the threshold, and for being empowered by our loved ones who have gone before us yet are with us in God’s eternal embrace.

This Sunday we will spend some time at the threshold as we reflect on our connection to the great “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). We will explore how remembering their stories and relying on their continued presence compels us forward—like the divine cloud that led the Israelites in the wilderness.

You are invited to bring pictures of loved ones or objects that remind you of them to add to our altar this Sunday (see below for more details). We will also continue in our series, Building to the Future, as we consider the importance of or ancestors and saints in moving forward. For, during this time of year, we are invited to remember that the veil thins not only towards the past but also towards the future. As we are asked: How are we moving through this life in a way that will help make possible the paths of those who follow? How will we be remembered in the future as someone’s saint or ancestor?

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz

Kindred in Christ,

This Sunday we begin our new sermon series, Building to the Future. I hope you will join us each week in-person or online as we consider the different “building blocks” of the kin-dom of God. This first week we will consider the importance of allowing the Spirit to move us from a mentality of scarcity and scorekeeping (which is pervasive in our society) and towards a posture of abundance and grace. This week we also kick off our pledge campaign series, where you will be invited to prayerfully consider giving of yourself and finances, not only so we can plan a responsible budget for 2023, but so we can continue to reach more people as we continue the long legacy of our congregation and build relevant ministry into the future of U District.

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz

The late Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice and LGBTQIA+ rights and former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town was known as a person of deep joy. In fact, Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama co-authored The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World as they reflected on a spirituality of deep joy in the face of the violence and oppression.

Last week we began our new series, The Heart of Worship, and we considered the real presence of Christ available to us in corporate worship, especially when we gather for Communion. This coming Sunday, we will consider how that encounter can ground us in a deep and lasting joy. This joy is not a circumstantial happiness, nor one that ignores the suffering of the world, but rather one that can root and empower us during changing circumstances. Join us as we explore the joy of worship.

I hope to see you this Sunday, in-person and online!

Alongside you,

Re. Paul Ortiz

What does it mean to be in awe of something or Someone outside of ourselves? How does coming together as a spiritual community to worship on Sunday mornings make a difference in our lives and in the world? During this time of transition, as our church searches for a new Worship Leader, we will take time to reflect on the heart and meaning of worship. Join us Sundays, Sep 4th – Oct 9th, in-person or online!