"I was a Pathfinder as a teenager, and the thing is, once Pathfinders gets in your blood, you can't get rid of it!"

-Felix Tan,
11-year Director of the University Church's
Torchbearer Pathfinders

Pathfinders is a church-centered, outdoor positive, recreational-spiritual program for kids in grades 5-12. Similar to "Scouting" in some respects, Pathfinders began in 1950 to provide kids with an opportunity for adventure, challenge, and education that would produce in them loyalty, teamwork, and maturity.

"Our objective is to give guidance and promote physical, mental, social, and spiritual growth in a safe, caring, and nurturing environment," says Felix Tan, the director of the University Church Pathfinder Club for the past 11 years. According to Tan, the program's strength lies in its ability to expand the horizons of kids who might not otherwise meet the kind of people or do the types of activities made available through Pathfinders. For others, the discipline it provides becomes an essential structure in their lives fostering maturity.

This year, the club has enjoyed a number of trips and camp-outs including time spent learning to survive in winter weather. The club participated in Walla Walla's yearly lights parade downtown and actually partnered with the humane society to create awareness and give the animals a bit of exercise. The yearly Upper Columbia Conference Pathfinder Fair is the final big event our club looks forward to this year. It will be held on the weekend of May 13-15 at Upper Columbia Academy.

By Libby Knapp, cross-posted from: wallawalla.edu/news

April 15 to 17, Walla Walla University will host a series of presentations and activities collectively titled The Weekend. This event is based on the spring quarter theme, “The Guts to Go.” The goal of The Weekend is to bring students and the community together in service.

Paddy McCoy, WWU chaplain explains, “The Weekend is a condensed version of Week of Worship. We are using a new format this quarter with a weekend focused on activity and service outreach.”

Every quarter at Walla Walla University, the Chaplain’s Office and the Campus Ministries team choose a theme for vespers programs to set the spiritual tone for campus. This year the Chaplain’s Office teamed up with the University Church to collaborate on a theme for the entire 2015-16 worship program. This school year has had an overall theme: “Do You Have the Guts?” Specific themes for each quarter were “The Guts to Choose” for fall quarter, “The Guts to Dig Deep” for winter quarter, and now “The Guts to Go” for spring quarter.

Jonathan Duffy, director of Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International, will speak on Friday, April 15, at 11 a.m. for CommUnity, and at 8 p.m. for vespers. Both events will be held in the University Church. 

ADRA International is a humanitarian agency operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the purpose of providing individual and community development and disaster relief. Duffy has been director since 2013. He previously served as the chief executive officer of ADRA Australia. Prior to joining ADRA Australia in 2008, Duffy was director of the South Pacific Division of Adventist Health where he gained extensive experience in health promotion and community health development. He has a master of public health degree from Deakin University in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

“I’m a fan of ADRA’s work and the initiatives they’re implementing around the world,” said McCoy.

On Saturday afternoon, April 16, of The Weekend students will have a variety of opportunities to serve and connect in the community. Groups of students will go out to various places in the community, such as to downtown Walla Walla, where they will give out free compliments, perform random acts of kindness and service, offer face-painting for kids, visit nursing homes, and simply pray for any passerby who wants to.

On Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tri-College Service Day will launch. WWU will work with the other two colleges in the Walla Walla Valley—Walla Walla Community College and Whitman College—to go out into the community to help neighborhoods with outdoor maintenance, cleaning, and many other projects. Those interested in participating in Tri-College Service Day can sign up for a project at ASWWU.com/serviceday.

“We will focus on getting out of our comfort zones to serve our neighbors near and far,” said McCoy.

All activities during The Weekend are free and open to the public. The University Church is located at 212 S.W. Fourth St., in College Place, Wash.

The Weekend events:
• Friday, 11 a.m.—CommUnity
• Friday, 8 p.m.—Vespers
• Friday, 9:15 p.m.—Prayer, Praise, and Popcorn
• Saturday, 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.—Q&A with Jonathan Duffy and other service leaders
• Saturday afternoon—A variety of opportunities to serve and connect
• Sunday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.—Tri-College Service Day

WORSHIP NOTES

Please join me in thanking the many musicians of Rogers Adventist School and their director, Patti Short. Today we hear from the 6th Grade Bells, the Junior High Bells, and the Treble Choir which, today, includes students in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6. Thank you, all, for sharing your music with the University Church.
The choir anthems feature music of distinguished American composers, Rollo Dilworth (b.1970) and Natalie Sleeth (1930-1992). Dr. Rollo Dilworth serves as chair of Music Education and Music Therapy at Temple University in Philadelphia. He conducts choirs throughout the country and has published a large amount of choral music. Natalie Sleeth, a graduate of Wellesley College in Massachusetts, wrote almost 200 pieces mostly for choir. Many of these she penned with children in mind.
As you prepare to worship I invite you to meditate silently on the words of our opening hymn, some of which are given here:

    The creature of Thy hand,
    On Thee alone I live;
    My God, Thy benefits demand
    More praise than I can give.
    My God, Thy benefits demand
    More praise than I can give.

-Kraig Scott

GIVE

The University Church budget funds many important aspects of our local ministry. Although pastors' salaries are funded by donations marked "tithe", the University Church budget is what subsidizes our amazing K-12 school programs at Walla Walla Valley Academy and Rogers Adventist School. It also makes our worship services and broadcast ministry possible. Thank you for your generous and systematic support!

As always - we welcome your gifts made right here on our website. Click Here to Give!

TOUCHES OF INTEREST

Second Service is live-streamed in Heubach Chapel as an optional courtesy for families with small kids.

Pancake Breakfast with Children & Family Ministries is this Sabbath, April 16 at 9am in the Jr. High Room.

Walla Walla Valley Academy Talent Show! WWVA ASB invites you to their third annual program that showcases students’ many talents: singing, acting, and much more! Saturday, April 16 at 8:30 PM in the WWVA Auditorium.

Walla Walla University Homecoming Weekend will be held April 21–24. Events will include an alumni banquet, touring choir reunion and concert, honor class meetings and photos, and a catered Sabbath dinner. Registration and a full list of events can be found at wallawalla.edu/homecoming, or call Alumni and Advancement Services at (509) 527-2631.

Rogers School has an opening for a third-fourth grade teacher for the 2016-17 school year.  To apply, send a cover letter and resume to principal@Rschool.org

A Special WWU Touring Choir Reunion Concert is next Sabbath, April 23, at 7pm in the Sanctuary. On the preceding Friday evening, April 22 at 8pm, the WWU Music Department will offer a program of sacred music for vespers, also in the Sanctuary.

Attend Global Leadership Summit 2016 at the University Church August 11-12. Because everyone is a leader of something, everyone is invited - everyone will benefit. This world-class training is guaranteed to energize and inspire you in the work you already are doing in any sphere. Register now for the best rates, wwuchurch.com.

Computer Saavy? Need a ministry? Join the growing team of volunteers who serve our community through social media and our website. Contact Pastor Kris at kris.loewen@wallawalla.edu for more information.

Vacation Bible Camp Volunteers Needed! Please download an application here and give to Pastor Jenn or Marci Knauft. Contact either of them with questions. VBC will run from June 13-17. We will need volunteers from 8am-4pm (morning only, afternoon only, or all day).

The Vine Newsletter for April is published! Pick up a paper copy from the literature rack or find the digital version on our website: wwuchurch.com/cfm/#currentvine.

I’m Not Leaving, a powerful documentary by Kevin Ekvall will be shown April 30 at 4:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center (FAC) Auditorium on the Walla Walla University campus. When the Rwandan genocide broke out in 1994, one American chose to stay in the country and risk everything in hope of saving a few lives. This engaging, inspiring, intense and well-crafted film tells the story of former ADRA worker and Seventh-day Adventist, Carl Wilkins, and his choice to stay in Rwanda despite all advice to the contrary. The event sponsored by The Center for Media Ministry at WWU features a Q & A with the creator of the film, Kevin Ekvall. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6ZDLW7-J3k for a 2 min. trailer of * I’mNot Leaving*.

2nd Annual Walla Walla Health Expo sponsored by the Village SDA Church, Walla Walla General Hospital, area churches, and local businesses. May 21, 2-9pm. Join us for an exciting afternoon of lectures by experts in the field of plant-based foods, a healthy chili contest by local food vendors, informational booths from local health-related businesses, and free health and wellness screenings by local medical providers. This community event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/wallawallahealthexpo or call Shelby Shewchuk at 509-525-0882.

SonBridge is pleased to report that in response to the challenge accepted by the constituent congregations in 2015, as of March 31 of this year, University Church has given a generous offering of $35,669.52 for the Education Center project.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

The Christian Aid Center has several key volunteer needs. Will you answer the call? These needs include hosting at breakfast or dinner meals, morning child care in their newly renovated space, Bible Study leaders. Contact Jeanette Regalado at 509.525.7153 ext. 114 to help!

Job opportunity at the Christian Aid Center, who is looking for an enthusiastic Christian person to work part-time as a receptionist.  Duties include answering the phone, greeting the public, providing secretarial support and assisting staff as a team member.  Must be able to work independently, have basic computer knowledge and have excellent interpersonal skills.  Current available hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with the potential for more hours.  Starting pay is $11 an hour.  Please reply with a cover letter and resume to: jwicklund@cacww.org, attn: Jason.

It’s a party! You are invited to attend a come-and-go Author’s Corner & Sampling Event on Thursday, April 21 from 4:30 – 6:30pm at Walla Walla General Hospital in the lobby next to the Gift Shop. Enjoy live music while you sample preserves, gourmet grape juices, pepper jellies, mustards, and more. Several authors will be signing books while you peruse the Gift Shop for special gift ideas.

Walla Walla Valley Adventist Single Adult Ministries hosts a potluck today, Saturday April 16 at 1:30pm as well as a vespers program at 7pm. Both events at SonBridge.

Milton-Stateline Adventist School is now open for registration for the 2016-17 school year. Thanks to a generous donation, the first ten new students in Kindergarten through 8th grade who sign up and are accepted will receive a certificate for $240 which covers the price of the entrance fee. Must not be a returning student from 2015-16.*

UCC Camp Meeting is June 22-25, 2016 at UCA: Now is the time to reserve, while lodging is still available! Visit uccsda.org/cammeeting for more information.

Upper Columbia Conference Office of Education is now accepting applications for the Students in His Service scholarship program for the 2016 summer.  See guidelines at uccsda.org/Education/Scholarships.  Applications due before May 15, 2016.

UCC Summer Work Opportunity for graduating seniors or college age men and women. “His Travelers” goes as a team to churches in the conference to offer VBS, day camps, and mentoring. Call Patty Marsh for information: pattym@uccsda.org 509.242.0621.

Free counseling for individuals, couples, and families at Pathways to Change. The clinic is located in Smith Hall and is open Sunday through Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m.  For more information, call 509-527-2654.

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