WEDNESDAY WALKS- 10a.m.

Our walks continue to be very popular.  There are usually about 5-8 walkers, and so far we have had about 20 walkers join us.  Our walks are for about one hour, with walks at different paces.  Marilyn May is coordinating our walking group.  If you would like to be on the hiking list, call Marilyn at 425-271-8226 or email her at M.J.May@comcast.net.  

SUMMER HIKES- dates to be announced

As of this writing, Ron will be guiding the much-loved Hurricane Ridge area hike this weekend.  Watch for other hikes to be announced. Hikers normally meet at church at 8:00 a.m. to carpool.  Bring a sack lunch, water bottle, all weather gear, and good hiking shoes. For more info, or to be on hike email list, contact:
Ron Steiner- 425-255-2198, ronmarsteiner@hotmail.com or
Dale Peterson- 425-271-5678, peterdale42@comcast.net  

WETLANDS/FOREST RESTORATION- Ongoing

How is the summer going so fast???  Thank you to all who have helped with weeding, salvaging, and clearing.
If you can help with jobs, let us know.  We always need your help!
September and October jobs:
*Clear blackberries along creek trail, *Weed, *Plant natives, *Stabilizing areas, *Wheelbarrow compost, *Salvage native plants.  If you need youth work camp funds, need community service, or want some “Good God” exercise caring for God’s Creation in our 2 ½ acres of wetlands and forest at church, call Sharon Kenyon at (H) 425-271-2080 or (C) 425-306-7089 (wetlands’ phone).  

WANTED: Salvaged Native Ferns

Sword, lady, licorice, deer, bracken, wood, maiden hair, oak, beech, goldenback, spleenwort, fragile, spiny and shield. 

CHILDREN’S CREATION CARE

What fun we have had.
In June, we made stepping stone of recycled materials, which we will put in our church grounds.
In July, we went back 500 years to the time of the local Native American (N.A.) children.  We hiked to the creek and beyond, looked for things that did not belong, talked about plants for food and clothing, collected big sticks for playing giant pick-up-sticks, made a Native American long house where we prayed, talked about N.A. beliefs and values, and tasted many N.A. foods. (popcorn and berries being the favorite)

September Greening TIP

Slow down and take the time to enjoy, and care for God’s Creation and each other.

Lauri Johnsen- a life wonderfully lived……

It is with joy and sorrow that I look back on the wonderful life of Lauri Johnsen.  Lauri was such an important part of our Greening Task Force and of our church family.  She had such a passionate and quiet way about her.  She was so wonderful with the children.  She could have them all in a magical, peaceful silence, listening to the sounds of God’s Creation by our church creek or at the outdoor chapel.  She loved nature and was so good at talking to children about bats, butterflies, dragon flies, ladybugs, frogs, birds, fossils or rocks.  She liked helping in the church forest/wetlands and on native plant hill behind church.

In the wetlands, she helped pull ivy off of trees and cleared blackberries, and then helped replant areas with native plants.  Some were salvaged from her home, some from bare roots she had gotten from the county, and others were bought from our church native plant fund she helped to support.

At her family home, she had also planted many natives.  The garden near the front door has many evergreen huckleberries, snowberries, and short Oregon grape. She also had a passion for recycling, and she, with Gregory, organized our recycling of the more difficult items to recycle.  Lauri helped and walked many years with CROPWALK. She was always so concerned over the birds and fish eating part of a helium balloon and refused to help with balloons.  I will never forget the quiet, firm look she gave me when I lost a balloon I had just blown up.  It was the last year we ever did balloons for CROPWALK.

Lauri was very into healthy, local, organic foods, and liked making goodies for our GTF hospitality hour.  She was excited about saving energy, Steven’s electric car, and buying green power.  What ever she did, ate, or bought, she thought about the impact of this on God’s Creation and others.  She had a green thumb and the golden touch for making the world more beautiful and loving.  Her dear, sweet, quiet, loving, greening, and living by example ways will influence our church family forever.