When Life Changes

By Pastor Tim

A Note to Washington Cathedral from Pastor Jared:

The word “transition” speaks to a lot happening this year. Many conversations seem to revolve around our lives changing in new ways. 

This year has brought transition for me too. In 2020 I moved back to America and found an amazing church here at Washington Cathedral. Transition continues as I have decided to step down from the youth pastor position here at Washington Cathedral. My time here has been wonderful, and I can’t wait to see what is in store next!  

Pastor Jared

We serve a God who transcends transitions.  Throughout the Scriptures we see the story of a God who can be trusted even amid huge transitions in life. There is the story of Adam and Eve transitioning from the Garden of Eden to harsh realities of life in all of its difficulties. One of their sons kills their other son and even in the midst of the shock of that horrible event God promises to help them and he does. From a flood to a new world God still works with his people through this cataclysmic change.  When his people move from freedom in the promised land to slavery in Egypt, God is still with them. From the terror of moving from slavery to the complications and conflict of freedom and moving from Moses’ leadership to retaking the promised land God is still with them. And again, through changes from a government with theocratic anarchy to leadership by fallible kings. The destruction of their society to being moved into a foreign dispersal, but God is still God. Through the birth of Jesus to his life, death and resurrection God proves to be trustworthy. Through the Pentecost to persecutions and the spread of the Gospel, God still loves and helps his people to love even their enemies. He prophesies of coming troubles and challenges but proclaims that he will work through all things for the good of those he loves. 

I have grown to love Jared and Rihanna in fact I am their friend for the rest of their lives. Not because I want to but because I can’t help it. That is who God created us to be. God will bless this amazing young couple and this church because we need not fear change. God is greater than change and the best is yet to come.

Join us for Father’s Day Sunday as we celebrate the dads in our lives. We have our In Person service at 10:30am followed by a BBQ. Also, we are online with You Tube, Facebook Live and service on our church apps at 10:30am Sunday, June 20.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim

Truly I tell you they have received their reward

by Pastor Tim White

And when you pray do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray in the synagogues or standing on street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:6

Washington Cathedral is celebrating the life of Colonel Erskine Austin United States Marine Corp. Erskine passed on to heaven Monday night while his dear wife Melinda and their three adult kids Julie, Kate and Marine Brigadier General Eric Austin were looking through Erskine’s old pictures, laughing and crying. Erskine was a Marines’ Marine. And as a Christian and Pastor he wasn’t for show he was for go.

Erskine and Melinda met in college at Oregon State University where Erskine was in the Officer Candidate School. If you look at a picture of them, they were and have always looked like a cute couple. Melinda, as you know, is one of the sweetest people on earth. Many of you may say Erskine was a sweet person but I think he would rather be remembered as a Marine. A sweet, tough Marine.

Erskine served two tours in Vietnam where he witnessed a lot of heroism which would make him tear up when he tried to talk about it. As a Major, Erskine lead the Presidential Support Detail at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, that hosted President Nixon when he visited the Western White House for a year. He was a squadron commander of VMO-2 based in Camp Pendleton as a Lt Col (1979-80), then the Group Commander of Marine Aircraft Group 39, the higher headquarters of VMO-2(1987-88), as a Colonel. He finished his Colonel Command Tour and was the Chief of Staff at Marine Expeditionary Force for his last job - retired in June of 1990 - missed Desert Storm by about 60 days! MEF was central to the Marine effort in Desert Storm, and it pained him to be watching it from home!

Once on returning from a vacation in Hawaii he was wearing a huge shark tooth around his neck. When I asked him about it, he told me that while he was snorkeling in the ocean a shark was trying to get some kids, so he swam out and fought the shark and brought the kids to shore safely. The Coast Guard shot the shark and gave him the necklace with a tooth. I was thinking, “Dang! Erskine has all the cool stories.” I was getting ready to share the story with the congregation when Melinda walked up and told me Erskine was just joshing me.

He accomplished so much as a Pastor on staff, in fact, it was during his time as Executive Pastor that we reached 6,000 in attendance at the Meydenbauer Center Christmas service. He took a lot of young people under his wing, and many of them are rock strong Marines today. The amount of praise that has been pointed his way since his death is overwhelming. God blessed the whole world through Erskine and his family. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

There will be a Memorial Service for Erskine at Washington Cathedral and we will let you know when we know the exact date this summer.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

YES TO LIFE!

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10

by Pastor Tim White

I was canoeing down the Mt. Hood river rapids with two friends. David Hamlin and Dan Sanders were adventurous souls, so for some reason, we had not scouted out the rapids as we should have. We were whooping and hollering with pure joy because it was spring and the river was much more exciting than we were expected. David and I were 17 and Dan was in his 20s. We managed to survive some very tough rapids and we were very surprised. Someone in the canoe, I think it was Dan, who said, “it’s time for us to get to the shore so we can portage around these rapids they’re getting flat out dangerous.” So, we all tried as hard as we could to make it to the shore; but it was just too much of a drop and the rapids were just too fast. Every effort had to be made to keep us afloat. Canoeing is a lot tougher than rafting. We started to argue - yelling to be heard over the roar of the white rapids. Dan was a great leader, but it was no time to debate on a plan. The river quieted down as it rose up to a calm but powerful high point.

I can’t remember who was in the front of the canoe, but they said, “Oh no! were dead.” I yelled “what do you mean?” and they yelled “twelve-foot waterfall!” Then they let out an adventurous scream. The boat was destroyed as it hit the massive boulder at the bottom and the three of us were all thrown into the rapids. None of us were wearing life jackets. I was underwater unable to fight the strong current and having no idea which way to the surface. I kept slamming my head against boulders until finally I was able to fight my way to get my feet headed downstream where I had defense against rocks. But I had no breath left. It seemed like forever until I surrendered to drown in the icy rapids. That was when I bobbed up and grabbed a hold of a log stuck to a bolder still in white water. I heard the yelling of my friends calling out my name. And we were all amazed that we were alive and how far down river we had traveled. My head was bleeding from being slammed against the rocks. And my friends helped fish me out from where I was stuck. I was so thankful for life realizing that it was a gift.

Join me this Sunday as we study the rest of the Sermon on the Mount and we will try to understand this sermon by Jesus who is calling each of us to say Yes to Life.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

P. S. Please join us 10:30 am Sunday’s In-Person at Spirit Falls Sanctuary or Online at Facebook Live, YouTube Live, www.wacathedral.org or our Wacath App.

For Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

by Pastor Tim White

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

This week we conclude our series on The Beatitudes with the Eighth Blessed.  We began the series looking at: Blessed are those who are poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  This was the first step to a changed life.  Blessed are the humble or teachable for they are the ones who will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Many of the translators have used this idea to try to understand what it means to be poor or desperate to learn.  In other words, there is no one so blind as him that refuses to see, no one so deaf as the person who will not hear.  

As we learn about these revolutionary words of Jesus, we discover that heaven is used in the present tense.  In other words, according to Jesus heaven is the already now, not yet reality. When Jesus is Lord of your life, the peace, joy, community and power of God starts right now. That is why you meet Christians who don’t just wish that they are going to heaven when they die.  In their words ‘they know that they know that they know’ because they have lived in the Kingdom of Heaven for a long time.  So, when the last blessed says: blessed are the persecuted for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, the blessed statements form a profound, complete circle. We are back to heaven again.

I hope you can join me in person this Sunday at 10:30am as we power through in our lives with this last Beatitude.  You can also join us on-line (Facebook Live, You Tube, Church App or Church Website) as God changes our lives by studying these dynamic verses.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Peacemakers

by Pastor Tim White

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

Do we ever need peace makers in our world today. In the Gaza Strip and Israel, in the United States and in Washington, D.C. – we need peacemakers!

This week’s sermon on the Beatitudes is so timely for what we are living in today. I believe that we are raising up Peacemakers at Washington Cathedral. Those who are not so enthralled with peer groups opinions but who understand that God sees everything, and His view is much higher than those of us who are caught up in reacting against others. He can see the good intentions of those who are on the right and the left and where we have been misdirected. He sees the truth in those who can bring others together and where we can act on the truth that we all understand.

Join us this Sunday at 10:30am either in person or on-line to celebrate the peacemakers. Let’s explore this path that we need to follow.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

PS - For connections to online service venues Click Here.

Rockin' the Dream

by Pastor Tim White

Saturday night, May 15th, you are invited to join Jackie and I at the Rockin’ the Dream banquet in Spirit Falls Sanctuary and Patio. It is part of the plan to restart the great caring network that we have invested our lives in bringing to life. Jazz soloist/pianist Dave Irish, who is one of the legends of the Pacific Northwest, will be there to inspire us. The Taco Bar dinner is catered by Ooba Tooba Mexican Grill in Redmond.

If you are unable to attend on Saturday, then please join us for a live interactive meeting via Zoom on Monday night, May 17th, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Jackie and I, along with other staff members, will be with you on Zoom. We will be recording the best parts of Saturday’s event to share with you. In addition, we will have time to dream together and answer any questions you might have. This may be the most interactive event online in all of Washington, in fact in all of America, and maybe the world.

“Times like these try men’s souls.” These are the exciting words of Thomas Paine who called the colonies to form a new nation the United States of America. Today is another exciting time to try the souls of all who listen. It is not a trial that causes collapse but one which forges strength in the challenge of 2020.

Like restaurants and other small businesses, the question is: Can we survive and thrive after a pandemic, closure of commerce and the political turmoil that we have gone through as a nation?

I want to tell you from every fiber of my soul the dream of Washington Cathedral’s great caring network will emerge from the ark of last year to reinvent itself to se a whole new world.

Please join us in person or online! It is the first step to an all-new great caring network.

Your friends for the rest of our lives,

Pastors Tim & Jackie White

PS: Below is the link for the Zoom Session on Monday, 5/17, at 7:00 pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83295639980?pwd=STdHQmNvWjFiOXcrcUpEU25nUmthUT09

Meeting ID: 832 9563 9980
Passcode: 300208

Mercy of Mom's

by Pastor Tim White

“Blessed are those who are merciful for they shall receive mercy.”

What a perfect Beatitude to study on Mother’s Day. Where would we be in the world if all mercy were removed? It would be a dark, unimaginable world of civil war, genocide, holocausts, and other atrocities that pits one human against another. It would be a world that no-one wants with everyone looking out for #1. Narcissism, would rule the world. Egocentrism would be the fashion. Revenge and an ‘eye-for-an-eye’ thinking would tear our society apart.

I submit to you that much of the mercy in the world comes through mothers. My mom, Elizabeth Jane Saunders White, is the most merciful person I have ever known. I remember while growing up my mom would say “Timmy, you need to be a friend to this kid at school” or “go change a tire for that lady” or “mow the lawns of widows for free.” She was a nurse during the day and would also take care of many who were dying in their homes. When I was a Pastor, she would point me to people needing hospital calls, funerals or counseling. She has shown amazing compassion throughout her life.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day and I am going to praise God for my mom by remembering this Christ-like trait that our world could do well to appreciate more.

Your friend for life,

Pastor Tim White

PS: A special flower and yummy cookie will be given to every female in the In-Person 10:30 am worship service.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with us at our In-Person Service or Online Service at 10:30 am Sunday morning. Below is a link giving you access to all of our Online Service Options.

Worship Online

Living Water (Copy)

by Pastor Tim White

I want to be more like Jesus. I say that knowing I have my share of experiences of not being like Jesus and discovering how bad it is for me and the people I love when I make my own headstrong choices, choosing to ignore the directions of Jesus. I am convinced that Jesus is the answer for the world today and above him there’s no other. Jesus is the way.

Let’s consider a question from the Beatitudes. How can we better “hunger and thirst for righteousness?” Because if we are truly hungry for Jesus’ way, we will be fulfilled. Jesus told us that the water He has will quench our thirst.

Perhaps if we enjoy a little righteousness, we will be so satisfied that the hold of unrighteousness will be broken and we will simply want more righteousness.

This morning my daughter Elise sent me a recording of our sweet little granddaughter, Isabela, singing in her bedroom. Her beautiful voice was so clear and touching to my heart as she sang these words alone in her bedroom…“Everything is awesome, everything is cool when you are part of a team. I’m living the dream.” Something in her sweet little voice made me say. “Yea - why would I want anything else than to be on Team Jesus?”

What an opportunity we have this Sunday to study “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they will be satisfied.” Won’t you join us for worship -- In Person in the Spirit Falls Sanctuary, Sunday at 10:30 AM. Or, if you can’t be there in person, you can join us Online at our same time 10:30 AM. Below is link that you can use to get to any of our online venues – Facebook Live, YouTube Live, our Website or our App.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Link to Online Venues

Living Water

by Pastor Tim White

I want to be more like Jesus. I say that knowing I have my share of experiences of not being like Jesus and discovering how bad it is for me and the people I love when I make my own headstrong choices, choosing to ignore the directions of Jesus. I am convinced that Jesus is the answer for the world today and above him there’s no other. Jesus is the way.

Let’s consider a question from the Beatitudes. How can we better “hunger and thirst for righteousness?” Because if we are truly hungry for Jesus’ way, we will be fulfilled. Jesus told us that the water He has will quench our thirst.

Perhaps if we enjoy a little righteousness, we will be so satisfied that the hold of unrighteousness will be broken and we will simply want more righteousness.

This morning my daughter Elise sent me a recording of our sweet little granddaughter, Isabela, singing in her bedroom. Her beautiful voice was so clear and touching to my heart as she sang these words alone in her bedroom…“Everything is awesome, everything is cool when you are part of a team. I’m living the dream.” Something in her sweet little voice made me say. “Yea - why would I want anything else than to be on Team Jesus?”

What an opportunity we have this Sunday to study “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they will be satisfied.” Won’t you join us for worship -- In Person in the Spirit Falls Sanctuary, Sunday at 10:30 AM. Or, if you can’t be there in person, you can join us Online at our same time 10:30 AM. Below is link that you can use to get to any of our online venues – Facebook Live, YouTube Live, our Website or our App.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Link to Online Venues

The Meek are not Weak!

by Pastor Tim White

Everything Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount is counter intuitive. It is the opposite of what most of us would think is true. His statements are shocking. The humble will inherit heaven. Those who mourn will be happy. The meek will inherit the earth. It’s not what you would guess. And yet these statements are so life-giving that we would spend the rest of our lives pursuing them to continue to grow.

I loved coaching kid’s football. When I coached for the Kirkland Boys and Girls Club it was a blast. Each of these little kids were precious regardless of whether they played football in the future or not. One of my boys, who always fell down and cried, went on to be a Starter for the U of W and made it in the NFL. But every boy on those teams was a delight. I remember one kid was so big that he was intimidating to the other kids. I lined him up as a defensive end and he was extremely timid. So, I spoke to him showed him what to do and told him he was a big strong tough defensive end. In a little voice he replied, “No I’m not! I’m just a cute little guy in a big body.” Well that cute little guy was a strength in God’s economy. And that is tough to learn.

My wife Jackie has been working on me for years to not finish other people’s sentences. It is a bad habit as a parent, a husband, a Pastor and as a Christian. That is a tough one because it takes meekness to be that kind of person. Meekness was defined by Aristotle as power in control -- like a strong war horse that you can put a baby on its back and the baby is safe because it’s power is in control. We could all use another dose of meekness.

Won’t you join us for worship this Sunday at 10:30 am as we look at what this means and how to live in it. Below is link that you can use to get to any of our online venues – Facebook Live, YouTube Live, our Website or our App.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Link to Online Service Venues