The Summer of Families and Children

By Pastor Tim White

See I am doing a new thing - Isaiah 43:19 KJV

This summer we are doing some exciting new things.  All of it starts Sunday, June 10th. We are going to celebrate the birthdays of each child and have them come to the front to receive a present and a prayer of blessing on their life from the Pastor. 

We are moving both of our English-speaking Sunday Worship Services down to the beautiful Spirit Falls - which we are going to continue to refurbish.  There are so many things that we can’t do in the Recreation Center, such as let the kids play with side-walk chalk. So, even though we still have use of the Recreation Center, we are moving the Services down to the spectacular Spirit Falls Sanctuary. It makes it twice as easy for our set-up and clean-up crews.  And the music package will be the same in both services including Choir and extended Praise Band.  The sermons are going to be 20 minutes (during the summer) as the Pastors tell the greatest stories ever told from the Bible.  And we are going to introduce what Pastor Jackie calls our “Happy Hour”.  That is an hour of fellowship between the two services built around picnic tables with snacks and games (lots of games) and a great happy-hour of friendship available to the people attending each service.  

On Sunday, June 10th, the 9:30am Worship time is being changed to 9:00am. This will give families a chance to worship and have the whole day to enjoy.  And it will solve traffic problems.

The 11:00am service will continue at 11:00am but will move to Spirit Falls Sanctuary.

Pastor Josh and his dedicated team are going to turn the Olympic Room into an Upper Room or Youth Center.

All the other services will continue as before, with a slight change of location. The Vine Brazilian Church will be worshipping on Sunday evening remaining in Spirit Falls building.  Many churches, like this young, exciting congregation, find that Sunday night is a real attraction for young people because Saturday night is the new Friday night so many young people like to sleep in on Sunday mornings if they have been out late Saturday night.

This weekend Pastor Linda is preaching, concluding our series on Encouragement from Wisdom Literature, as she shares from the Book of Proverbs - Chapter 2 on Hidden Treasures.  Come join us at our old times and locations – Saturday night 5:30 pm in Spirit Falls, Sunday morning 9:30 am in Spirit Falls and Sunday morning at 11:00 am in the ReCreation Center.

We have so many plans and if you have any questions please call or email us at 425.869.5433 or info@wacathedral.org.   Washington Cathedral is alive and constantly on the move and I am excited about the new things God is doing in our midst.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

His Plans for My Life

By Pastor Tim White

So many great heroes of the faith have grown up in this church and gone on to do great things. One, who I am very proud of, is Pastor Rey Diaz. Rey is our International Pastor and is Executive Director of Orphan Outreach. He spends his time traveling around the world finding worthy projects that rescue orphans and at-risk kids helping to bring those organizations to a level of accountability that will allow him to find a church to support them. It is difficult, dangerous and demanding work but he believes he was born for this kind of ministry. 

This Sunday, Dr. Rey Diaz will be our Guest Speaker at the 9:30 and 11:00am worship services.  We love Pastor Rey’s preaching and we know that these will be very inspirational moments.  Rey shared with me that he has a special text that has been on his heart for Washington Cathedral throughout this last year. 

This time of the year is a beautiful season to worship at Washington Cathedral. The campus is gorgeous. The music is superb. And it feels like the worship is growing in its sincerity, authenticity and meaningful joy. I so look forward to these life-altering moments for worship.

My devotion for today was from Psalm 139, but I started with the last words from Psalm 138:8

The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
 Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

You will have to read Psalm 139 yourself to see just how encouraging God can be!

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Honor your mother (Exodus 20:12b)

By Pastor Tim White

I feel like God has outdone himself by blessing me with a mother that is way more than I deserve.  Elizabeth Jane Saunders is a bright light in the world and in the life of her family.   She was raised on a chicken ranch in Eagle Valley, Oregon.  Eagle Valley was home to the Saunders and Cundiff’s who settled there from the Oregon Trail.  Her father, Winston Saunders, had contagious enthusiasm and as an Engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad he was a larger-than-life character to all his grandchildren.  He spoiled my mom by always buying her an Easter Dress.  He was a political leader in Oregon and received invitations to more than one Presidential Ball.  
 
Her mom, Elizabeth Jane or Betty Saunders, was a hard-working lady who worked as a maid in the La Grande Hotel and could make the best cinnamon rolls in the world.  She added a touch of class to our family and had a girlish giggle.  She was also proud of her Cundiff Heritage as my mom is Cundiff strong also.  My mom met my dad when they were in grade school. And you can ask any of her four boys - this was the luckiest day of my dad’s life. She was very popular in High School and was a Student Body Officer.  We look at the pictures of her and she was just a beauty queen who looked like she could be an actress or something.  Still today I can see that undiminished beauty in her eyes and character.  She married my dad and even lived in the White family log cabin when I was a baby.  I have a picture on my wall of me and my mom and people often ask me if that is a picture of Abraham Lincoln and his mom, but it is me.  She and my dad worked their way through college and seminary and moved to the Tri-Cities to start a church which would become the Cathedral of Joy.  She canned food and picked crops with her children at her side.  She always stood up for us when a bully would threaten us in the tough neighborhood we lived in.  And she expected her boys to do the same for one
another.  She played the piano and organ in church.  And after her dad passed away of a heart attack she
became a nurse because she wanted to care for people in their most difficult trials.  She worked graveyard shift at Kennewick General Hospital with Jeannie Sutten’s mom, and Russ Smith’s mom. When she got the job, it was the first time our family had any money and she bought us our first color T.V.  

Since she had been a cheerleader, when she came to our games we could always hear her above the crowd saying, “come on Timothy!”  When my brother was playing quarterback for Eastern Washington University vs. Boise State in Boise, someone behind us began to criticize my brother’s playing.  He had thrown 3 interceptions, but he always carried the team on his back and eventually threw 3 touchdown passes to win the game.  The man behind us said something about my youngest brother and my mom said, “do you know who I am?”  The man said “no”, she said “I am that boys’ mother.”  The man said he was sorry then my dad whispered to my mom “do you know who that man is?” She said “no.”  He said, “that is the President of Eastern Washington University.”
 
My mom took care of the dying in the Tri-Cities in their homes before there was a hospice.  She cared for her mother-in-law and father-in-law when they were dying.  It got so hard with my grandpa White that I told her “Mom, grandpa doesn’t remember who he is, I think we can put him in a care facility - you can’t burn the
candle at both ends like this.”  She said “Well, I know who he is, and he is not just my father-in-law, this man was my pastor when I was a little girl. “
 
My mom helped us all on our homework, loved her grandchildren at a level that was way beyond the norm.  She has always loved my dad and been his closest friend.  In my life she always knows how to encourage me.  She tells me “you are a Saunders and a Cundiff too, so keep a strong upper lip.”  I am not sure what that means but my lip has always been pretty strong. 

When I place a carnation on the altar this Sunday, my prayer will be thanking my God for blessing me beyond what I deserve with an amazing mom - there will be a little tear in my eye as usual.  Then, when I get home, I will call my mom to see if she got my Mother’s Day present and we will talk and laugh and I will be praying that I am doing a good job of honoring the mother I love.  Won’t you do the same thing this Sunday? It’s not just another Sunday.
 

Shadow of the Most High

By Pastor Tim White

One of the most encouraging passages in all of Scripture is Psalm 91. It tells us that God is our fortress and strength.  It displays a God who comes and rescues us in the midst of the messiness of our broken lives. I’m calling this message – “The Rescuer.”  No, it is not The Rescuers that cute little Disney movie where animals came to the rescue in that animated film. But of the Living God under whose shadow we can choose to live.  Shadow of the Most High loses some of its appeal in the Pacific Northwest. But imagine a desert whose heat saps you of your strength, your courage, your peace and confidence. Maybe it’s 117 degrees like it was when I was in Jericho. A shadow sounds about as encouraging as you can get in that situation. Do you know Psalm 91 expresses God’s wisdom when you are filled with anxiety and depression?

Don’t miss this week’s “song-speech” on one of the most beautiful passages of scripture. Yes – not a sermon but an innovative idea I call a “song-speech.”  Pastor Eliot will share Point #1 – “The God Who Rescues.” He will share a beautiful song from his heart which will minister to your heart like the harp of David. I will share Point #2 –“The Difference Between I Want To and I Am Going To.” And I will bless you by not singing. Then Pastor Rhonda will share Point #3 – “God’s Secret of Satisfaction in Our Lives Right Now.” And she will lift our hearts as she concludes with a beautiful solo.  Please join us.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Encouragement That Works

By Pastor Tim White

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant a time to uproot...He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 11 (NIV)

This week we are beginning a new series called: “Encouragement That Works” as we study Wisdom Literature from the Bible. I am starting with the Book of Ecclesiastes. In this book I believe you will find a ‘Big Picture’ glimpse of encouragement which could impact your emotional makeup in a God-inspired way.

When I was in college studying research psychology, one of the interesting studies going on at my University and around the world was that of sensory deprivation. Typically, the subject would have their hearing and vision shut down, be floating in salt water at their exact body temperature so that they would be totally deprived of all physical senses. They are still doing experimentation in this area still today. The reason being that in our age of over-stimulation this quietness may have some therapeutic benefits that teach us about the human condition.

In another way, a glimpse of God’s expansive view of our troubles also changes our overloaded senses. When we feel his personal care, it heals us in a way that has not been fully researched. If you wrestle with depression or discouragement I want to say to you that you are a human being who cares. God cares for you and he inspired some books of the Bible targeted to give you wisdom to navigate your way through these troubled personal times. Please join me this weekend…For Encouragement That Works.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Finally, we’ve arrived back at the beginning!

By Pastor Tim White

It is remarkable to me that some of the most complex issues are resolved in simple powerful truths.  After exasperating study, mind boggling contemplation, exhausting debate and intensive research, sometimes it all comes together in a simple profound truth.  

We have been on a series entitled “Give Us Jesus.”  It started in the Easter Story and was joyfully brought together by Pastor Becca in describing the depth of the personal friendship we can have with Jesus Christ himself.  This week I am concluding that series with a message on “How you can have certainty that you have eternal life”.  I don’t know how many times in 33 years of ministry I have had friends from this community meet me for coffee and say they want to have faith when it comes to death.  These are wonderful people whom I have the utmost respect for in their high intelligence and accomplishments in life.  I know that they are beloved by their family.  Sometimes, it is a conversation that lasts for years – though not at the same coffee shop.  But it always ends – yes - always (God is batting a thousand here) with a smile on their face, love and courage in their eye and a statement of deep confidence that God has a better plan than death and they are part of it.  

So, I wanted to end the series on “Give Us Jesus” with Great Questions - Solid Answers on Eternal Life and how each of us can live forever with Jesus.  I have entitled this inspirational message Finally, We’ve Arrived at the Beginning.  I believe this is a message you will want to make sure you don’t miss. So, I will see you there.   The music will be so inspiring!

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White
 

Love Like Jesus

By Pastor Tim White

How would our world change if everyone learned a new reverence for life, even people who don’t believe in Jesus?  What would happen if we did just a little bit better at loving like Jesus.  Here is a surprise - I am happy when I hear the Dalai Lama say something that is loving and full of joy.  As a Christ-follower it doesn’t anger me at all.  I am full of joy when I have lunch with an atheist friend and I am reinvigorated by their down-to-earth lack of pretense and personal politeness.  And I would love it if North Korea, Iran and Syria could become more loving places.  It has to just break every human being’s heart when children are killed by poison gas during a war.  The Love that Jesus is talking about runs deeper than how we identify ourselves religiously; it reaches down to the core of our creation as human beings.  

I used to hear people say that love is a two-sided coin; love on one side and truth or justice on the other.  But I think they are both pretty much the same. You can’t love if you don’t stand up for truth and justice. And if you stand up for truth and justice without love you are just being manipulative. We have so much to learn about loving the Jesus way.

With that said, I owe my capacity to love to Jesus Christ.  I have a lot to learn from him and I will always love him for loving me first.  I want to live to be over 100 just to see how loving I will become after walking with Jesus through all those years.  I like the statement by Job: When he has tried me, I will come forth as gold.  I believe my heart is in the process of being made into gold. And I know that so many of my friends are also on that wonderful adventure.  

I like to hike with my dog every day.  And we are building up to hike the Pacific Coast Trail.  We never know what we are going to find.  A beaver for my dog to play with, ducks for my dog to swim with, a new friend for me to walk with - it is always a surprise.  The weather is a surprise.  The birds are glorious.  Well that is nothing compared to the surprises in store for those of us who enter the adventure of learning to love like Jesus.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White
 

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

By Pastor Tim White

This was, in my view, the greatest Easter we have ever experienced as a church family.  And we have had a lot of great Easter Experiences throughout the years.  But more new families filled out contact cards than ever before – even more than the year we had 6,000 at Easter services.  It was amazing to have such an international group of people.  So many filled out their contact card saying that they wanted to start coming to Washington Cathedral regularly and to get more involved in their faith.  All I can say is “Thank You God!” and “Thank You!” to all the workers and members that made this such a welcoming experience including the Actors, Set Designers, the Choir, the Greeters, the Breakfast Team, the Easter Egg Hunt Teams, the Worship Band, the Sound Techs and the Parking Lot Teams.  It was a challenge with three Worship Services going on at the same time on the same campus with the addition of invited friends and neighbors.  

We knew there were going to be a lot of people gone this weekend with the school breaks hitting on Easter but there were so many brand-new visitors that it filled up the sanctuary and made the service so dynamic.

I am so excited to continue our new series on “Give Us Jesus” especially now that there are so many who are learning about Jesus for the first time.  People forget that all of Scripture was revealed to point to Jesus and it stands on his claims and teachings.  I love to tell stories of Jesus.  This week I am going to share Part Two of the message entitled “We Want ‘The Real Thing’”.  Yes, I am borrowing this line from a soda pop ad from long ago.  But what people are looking for is the historical Jesus, the biblical Jesus, the Real Jesus…pray for me as I share my heart and my love for Jesus Christ.  

I wish you could have seen the faces of the children as I told them the Easter story. I was so captivated by their sincerity and their emotion that I kind of messed up on my part.  But thanks to the quick-thinking technical support of Justin Amoruso and of Raffael Guimaraes who played the role of Jesus it all worked out. I am so excited to tell you the rest of the
Story of Jesus and Easter and Eternal Life that starts right now.  Please join us this next week for a very inspirational worship.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White
 

Easter at Washington Cathedral

by Pastor Tim White

What if I could promise you an Easter experience this year that would be so inspirational - so powerful that it would kick your life in gear!  An Easter that would engage all your faith emotions just like you hoped. An Easter Service that would be a great encouragement. Easter is God’s triumph over death, and we need to celebrate it. 

I love Easter Sunday when people greet one another with the words - “He has risen” and then we get to respond —"He has risen indeed!” A service with cute kids singing “Christ the Lord Has Risen Today” joined by the choir, instruments and congregation all turning it into a tender moment of triumphant spine-tingling faith. All followed by a re-enactment of the first Easter with the “Give Us Barabbas” scene, where the kids will be yelling “Give Us Jesus!”  You can see in their faces and written all over their countenance the impact of this simple story. The crucifixion comes alive by video shot by our beautiful waterfall. This year my sermon is a simple telling of the Easter to the children. (This is something that I am always working on as a grandpa and a pastor.)  Our praise band will lead us in emotion-filled joyful praise.  If ever I have needed an inspirational Easter service, it is this year. With most of the schools on Spring break this year, it is going to be tough. But with your help, we see a miracle happen.  Washington Cathedral needs a miracle. And you need one too, so what a combination.  Please come and bring your friends to this 60-minute experience in the Randy and Rod Re-creation Center. It is a huge building, so we have our work cut out to fill it up.

Of course, there are other events taking place at Washington Cathedral Easter this year.  Pastor David is going to have a delicious Easter breakfast starting at 8:00 – 11:00 am and again after the 11:00 Service.  An Easter Egg Hunt in our swimming pool is open to all the community at 2:00 pm on Saturday, with Pastor Becca White having a short, visitor-friendly Gospel message.  On Easter Sunday, right after the 11:00 am service, we will have a massive Easer Egg Hunt on the hill. As well as thousands of candy-filled eggs, there will be bounce houses and a carnival.  Of course, the kids will hear a short, creative story of the Good News of Easter If it rains, we will move this all inside.   We are so blessed as a church to be able have a contingent plan at our campus. 

At 7:00 am on Sunday, our Youth Pastor Josh will be preaching at the Sunrise Service in the waterfall sanctuary. Communion will be served and the sanctuary is beautiful with the cross scene in the waterfall. Easter Breakfast begins right after this service.

Friday night Pastor Linda will be preaching at our Good Friday Service which is a great time for our church family to all come to gather.  We are going to have a meditative time to remember the Stations of the Cross followed by an all-church communion.  And the choir will be performing to make it a very sacred service.

So, please come Sunday at 11:00 am. We need 1200 people to fill up the Randy and Rod Recreation Center, so we need your help.   The Brazilian Congregation will be packing out the Spirit Falls Sanctuary at 11am and the Korean Congregation will be in the Olympic Room so don’t get confused and miss this dynamic experience of a life-time all in English at the Recreation Center.

And bring a friend.

Give Me Jesus

By Pastor Tim White

They were the first words said by a freshman quarterback at Alabama after he shocked the world. And the Philadelphia Eagles kept repeating them after their Super Bowl win. Don’t you just love when some young man or woman begins their interview with the words:  First and foremost, I want to thank Jesus Christ for all he has done for me. I hope we, as Christ followers always keep fresh that same humble innocence in our lives. And I am sure that it has a debilitating impact on our best intentions when we lose it.
I can’t tell you what it means to a grandpa to see faith in Jesus Christ growing in young grandchildren.  It means everything to me.  I know the standard is high for our generation to model authentic faith and that is a challenge I wrestle with every week of my life.  Since we have been on this series on The Prayers of Jesus, our church has been memorizing the Lord’s Prayer and saying it almost every Sunday for those who are just memorizing it.  We are following the new version that Pope Francis had pioneered because, as many Protestant Theologians and Preachers have pointed out, the traditional form was a bit misleading when it said, “lead us not into temptation.”  The Book of James makes it clear that God never tempts us.  Instead many Protestants and Catholics are praying the French translation “let us not fall into temptation.”  Just a minor change that most people probably understood anyway.  But for me it is a delight because every time my grand-daughter sees me she says, “I wanted to pray your favorite prayer GP.”  And then with the sweetest voice she prays the Lord’s Prayer and my heart just bursts with faith and joy. 

This week I will be sharing the beginning of a new series as we look at the powerful gospel that is the hope for the world … our only hope.  I have entitled it “Give Us Jesus.”   Many people are rejecting Christianity as a religion, but they really don’t know who Jesus is.  My sermon this week is about the events preceding Easter and I have entitled it First and Foremost.  I am so inspired with the beautiful stories of Jesus that I want to yell at the top of my lungs from a mountain top…”Give us Jesus!”  So, ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves to be inspired.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White