Ministries

The primary focus of East Shore is our ministries. Through ministry we build community, grow our own souls and help to bring peace and justice to a hurting world. Ministries are carried out by our called ministers as well as numerous groups and individual church members working cooperatively together, sometimes in tandem with outside groups and agencies, to achieve a common purpose. New ministries that support the mission and vision of the church are added when enough members come together to create and support that ministry.

Worship Ministry

Lay Pastoral Ministry

Ministry for Children and Youth

Social Justice Ministries

Ministry Committee Special Project: Giving Voice to Meaning

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Earth-Based Ministry

The Earth-Based Ministry Team develops and presents celebrations around the Equinox and Solstice each year. If you are interested in learning more about this group, contact the church office.

Flower Ministry

We have a wonderful group of people who provide flowers and arrangements in the church all year round. You may wonder what it is that they do. It is a little like being flower fairies: you see the end result but not how they make the magic that you see. The team creates approximately 11 arrangements each week; times that by 52 and you have 572 a year. They also do extra arrangements through the year when needed. Thanks to this wonderful ministry team, East Shore does not have to spend $12,000 to $15,000 a year on flowers. So the next time you see a flower fairy, please let her know how much you appreciate her.

The Flower Ministry Team could not do their magic without the wonderful flowers from Cora Gardiner’s yard and the work she does. Those of you who help maintain her yard are garden gnomes who are related to the flower fairies, and that makes you special, too.

During the year, there are times when there is more to do than usual. When it comes to the winter holidays, the Flower Ministry Team decorates the Sanctuary with wreaths and other greenery. At that time you can donate money in remembrance of or to honor someone who is special to you, and the flower fairies will use your donation to purchase a poinsettia and place it in the church. East Shore at holiday time is a sight to behold!

The Flower Ministry Team is always looking for others who want to help with the flowers. No experience is needed, as they will train you how to make the arrangements. If you want to get involved and share in the fun, please contact the church office at 425-747-3780.

Memorial Garden Ministry

The Memorial Garden provides a beautiful natural area in close proximity to the church where people can find a peaceful environment in which to meditate on the cycles and meanings of life. Our new brochure, published last year, can be found on the display rack in the church foyer. It has been instrumental in helping those interested in planting a memorial to understand the purposes and procedures of the Memorial Garden.

All memorial plants are tagged with both the type of plant and the name of the person being memorialized. Families are invited to place a one-page biography in a book kept in Peter Luton’s office. The people’s names are installed on the memorial plaque in the Sanctuary. In this way our members and our congregation as a whole can honor and remember our loved ones who have died.

The committee will continue to maintain the garden with occasional major clean-ups as well as ongoing weeding, pruning, and watering during the dry months. Additional committee members and maintenance volunteers are welcome.