Columbia Heights Journal

Join Us For Our 40th Anniversary Celebration September 25, 2011

2011-09-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 25th we will celebrate the start of the 40th year of Columbia Heights Church in Hunters, Washington. Founding Pastor, Don & Mavis Bowe will be in attendance along with many family & friends. Also in attendance with be Rev. Randy & Colleen Martin, Missionaries to Indonesia and former pastors at Columbia Heights. Rev. Martin will be speaking at the 10:30 am service. A lunch will follow with the 40th Celebration to begin at 1:00pm. Cake & refreshments will follow. We are anticipating a great time and hope you will join us.

Coming Up...Ladies Spring Tea

2009-04-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

Blessed with abundance!

2009-02-13T11:05:00.000-08:00

Jim, Barbara & Gunner just returned from Arizona with a load of citrus. They blessed us personally this week with this sweet bucket-load. On Sunday there will be an abundance to be shared in the church foyer for each one to help themselves. Thanks to the Cartwrights for this blessing!

posted by Elaine

It's been 1 year...today!

2009-01-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

It's really hard to believe that we've been @ Columbia Heights for one year now. We came to the church through a willingness to help out for a few months while the church went through a pastoral search. To my knowledge, they never even began a search, I think that when they found us they just began to 'hope' (and pray) that they could keep us. Our minds weren't there at all, not because we didn't want to, we just hadn't allowed ourselves to even dream about it or to think that far ahead. We knew what we were asked to do and that's what we were doing.

The weeks turned to months and it seemed that it was just the logical solution for us to stay. We were happy...they were happy...what else was there to do? We felt the Lord work in our hearts during those weeks and our hearts began to feel at home.

Speaking of home, this was such an interesting place for me (Elaine) to find myself, for, I was indeed home. Between the ages of 6-16 this church was my home. It was my dad's first pastorate and boy oh boy did I find myself in a lot of mischief during those years but it was all encompassed with wonderful, wholesome memories. I enjoy each week, meeting together with so many of the dear people that we met with back then...just another feeling of home.

There's no way to determine our future. God had this whole year planned so long ago and we are confident that the rest of our lives are in His hands...we're really just along for the ride.

family picture taken while we lived @ Hunters

this picture taken after we had been gone a few years and added a new baby to the family :-)

taken in front of the church - ready to leave for summer camp

written by Elaine

The Beauty of God's Handiwork!

2009-01-25T06:54:00.000-08:00

My profession is to always find God in nature.
- Henry David Thoreau

Each season has its own wonder, it’s own special place, and
purpose in the pattern of creation.

Nature is the art of God.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Each week we have a few opportunities to cross over the Addy-Cedonia pass. Some weeks it's not the favorite part of our trek to the other side (especially for Elaine) because we've had some difficult traveling conditions, but the beauty is often so amazing and breathtaking. This just happens to be one of those weeks. We are thankful that God has us where we can enjoy the abundance of His beauty.

2009-01-04T22:47:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, just getting in the front door of the church can be a minor miracle! With all the snow we've had this winter, it might make a person wonder about that "global warming" thing some politicians keep talking about. We've missed seeing many of our church family these past few weeks because of the bad weather and various illnesses going around...well, we just wanted to let you all know that you are loved, missed and this picture proves that we've cleared a path for ya! Hope to see you in church real soon!

Christmas Food Baskets

2008-12-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

For the last few weeks we have been collecting food to help with the Grange/Foodbank Christmas baskets. If you would like to participate, please let Pastor Ben know. We will be getting the food and any cash donations received to Annette Herbert on Tuesday, Dec. 23rd. May the joy of Christmas fill your hearts and lives.

December Happenings....

2008-12-18T08:45:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday evening was our "Open House". It was a very enjoyable time for everyone who was able to brave the cold, wintery conditions and make the drive over the pass. Elaine did a fantastic job on preparing an overwhelming assortment of food. We are just so thankful for the people of our church and were excited to have them over to see where we live. Christmas is such a wonderful time to connect with people...people within the church and people who are outside the church. I want to encourage everyone at Columbia Heights to make contact with someone this week and invite them to church this Sunday. Who knows, they may finally receive the most wonderful gift of all....

Sunday review

2008-11-30T20:45:00.000-08:00

It was a good day today...we had some church family guests visiting because of the Thanksgiving weekend...we were missing some of our regulars, I'm sure for the same reason. Thought I'd share some of todays prayer requests:
Annette's mom who was just diagnosed with Parkinson's disease is having trouble with the medications.
Burla has not been feeling well.
Ceocee, Trevor and Richard are in need of prayer.
My great-niece, Madeline, was taken to the hospital and has been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes.
We also heard from some more folks who were blessed by the Thanksgiving Baskets...lets continue to keep these families in our prayers....
have an awesome Monday!
Pastor Ben

A Thanksgiving Service To Remember

2008-11-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

I spent the early afternoon getting the facility ready for the Community Thanksgiving Service...setting up chairs, moving things around, getting the all-important Costco supplies into the kitchen. Then just as I pulled the vacuum cleaner out, it happened.......the power went out. Thinking it was going to be a minor delay I went about other tasks for about 30 minutes...when the power didn't return I phoned the electric company, they hadn't heard of any issues. So they dispatched a crew...that was at 3:00pm.....they arrived at 5:00pm. Still time to have the power on for the service...or at least so I thought. After replacing & blowing a couple of transformer fuses it was determined that our transformer was bad...it would be 10:00pm before it would be replaced. Not exactly the "impact service" I was looking for.... After some phone calls and as others arrived to prepare for service, everybody shifted into "lets make it happen" mode. The service moved downstairs where the woodstove was already going, chairs were moved, cars were strategically parked in the parking lot with their lights on to provide a lit walkway, a generator was brought with flood lights to illuminate the building to show that there was church and to power the coffee pot for the fellowship time afterward...the service took place under the light of propane lanterns and electric flashlights...it was a good service that will be remembered for a long time. thanks to everyone for making it happen...

The Thanksgiving Baskets Go Out

2008-11-23T18:15:00.000-08:00

Today was an awesome day at Columbia Heights...after the morning service we all went downstairs to the fellowship hall and filled baskets of food for families in our community. With over 100 locals losing their jobs in the past few weeks, we knew this was something that was going to be needed. It was exciting to see all the people grabbing boxes and "shopping" from the tables stacked with food and from coolers full of frozen turkeys. After all the boxes were filled we prayed over them and then assigned volunteers to deliver them to the designated families.
We've already heard back from some people how this has touched the lives of the families receiving the food as well as those delivering it....and that's what it's all about...we want to be a church that is "Loving God & Loving People".

Praying for baby Jeremiah

2008-11-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Just one month old...born with a heart condition, hospitalized and undergone surgery, this little boy needs your prayers. They will be taking him off the respirator today...he continues to be in God's hands. The doctors don't expect him to live....but we will still pray for him and his family.

A turn of the page, a new chapter, our journey continues....

2008-11-14T21:10:00.000-08:00

This weekend Elaine and I will be installed as the pastor's of Columbia Heights Assembly of God....in what can only be described as God's plan and purpose for our lives. It's been a very interesting journey over this past 12 months, having resigned our position as pastor's of Mountainview Christian Fellowship in Sultan, Wa. to filling the interim pastoral position in Hunters to now accepting the position on a permanent basis. I will try to keep this blog current with posts on what's happening in our lives as well as the church.

You can read Elaine's take on the day at .....http://tinkerverve.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/sunday-inspiration-12/