Unity through Diversity:

by Chris Morton
Executive Director at Associated Ministries

Division seems to be at the heart of the Church today.  The Church is what I know about, so I won’t suggest that the same is true in synagogues, mosques, temples, or other houses of worship.  But if division is central to a gathered community, then each time that we enter that community emotions deep within are being stirred.  Deep emotions that are often paradoxical:  righteousness and humility, hostility and compassion, impatience and understanding. 

Mentor a family in Transition

Associated Ministries kindly requests the participation of your congregation in our mentorship program, which brings members of the faith community together to help individuals and families transition successfully from welfare to work.

All the Good you Can

Rev.  Leslie Ann Knight

Fircrest United Methodist Church

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

(John Wesley, English Evangelist, founder of Methodism.  1703-1791)

Woven throughout scripture is the requirement that the poor – especially widows, orphans, and foreigners – be treated with respect and fairness, and not denied basic needs.  The people of God are to draw persons in need into their circle of concern and care – and justice. 

The Growth of a Spiritual World

Chris Gilbert, Tacoma Baha’i

Baha'i Communities around the world participate for nine days every three months in Intensive Programs of Growth. These focused outreach efforts support the building of spiritual neighborhoods and occur somewhere in the world every day of the year.

Our Writings remind us, "We are the leaves of one branch."  And, "So powerful is the light of unity it can illuminate the whole earth."  Baha'i Communities around the world participate for nine days every three months in Intensive Programs of Growth.  These focused outreach efforts support the building of spiritual neighborhoods and occur somewhere in the world every day of the year.

Compassion Weekend

Pastor Ralph Kalms
Christ Lutheran Church, Lakewood

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.
                                                                                                         Romans 12:1 (The Message)
Compassion Weekend is a name we’ve given to an attempt to have our congregation worship by serving.  I saw this idea originally at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California and have been thrilled at how its’ been embraced at two different congregations I’ve served at since.  The idea is simple: we pick a weekend in which we commit ourselves to serving our community for a full day Saturday and half day Sunday.  We cancel our regular morning worship services as a way of saying that God can be worshipped outside a sanctuary as we give ourselves away on behalf of others.  And we commit not only our time and energy but our money as well in paying for whatever work we do. 

Celebrating unity within our diversity

10 years ago, after the tragedy of September 11th, more than 3,000 people gathered at Cheney Stadium. We responded as one community in an interfaith candle-light vigil to show that despite tragedy & crisis and through our differences, we would respond united as ONE. Since then, you have responded to the calling of your faith in service and relationship to others in your community in a number of ways, both large and small.
In all of our diversity, we have continued to come together these past 10 years. Each time that we gather; whether to volunteer, to help our children with one of their activities, to elect someone to office, to protest in peace or support something that we believe in---each time that we gather, with our diverse perspectives, from our varying religious traditions, ethnicities, nationalities and cultures we witness to our commitment that we are a community that will not be divided.  Read more

Community Needs Forecast

These Community Wellness Indicators tell the story of quality of life in Pierce County, Washington. We offer them as a tool kit to help human service providers and those who support them. You could call these the global pulse of the most vulnerable among us.

On this website, you will find 70 indicators, divided into 11 categories: http://indicators.uwpc.org/

Rev. Christopher B. Morton’s keynote speech at the Forecast release on June 21, 2011 with a link to the pdf

Accessing shelter and housing in Pierce County starts with one phone call: 253-682-3401

Pierce County, together with Associated Ministries, is implementing a new centralized intake and referral system for families or individuals at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. It’s called Access Point 4 Housing, and offers a single, trusted access point to which people can be referred to for homelessness prevention services, assessment, case management and housing services.
Anyone in need of prevention or re-housing services can be assisted through this new centralized intake process and referred to the best local housing and other resources best suited to meet their needs. Find out more

The Crystal Judson Family Justice Center seeks volunteer chaplains

The Crystal Judson Family Justice Center is seeking volunteer Chaplains to offer spiritual guidance, answers religious questions and provide general moral support to the victims of domestic violence seeking assistance at the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center. Ordination is not required. Training will be provided and the time commitment is flexible (3-20 hours/month). For more information, please call 253-798-4310 or email familyjusticecenter@co.pierce.wa.us.

Blake Marzloff, is the new Director of the Pierce County Asset Building Coalition

From Valorie, Director of Project Interdependance

It is my privilege to introduce Blake Marzloff as the new Director of the Pierce County Asset Building Coalition.  Blake not only comes to Associated Ministries with an impressive skill set, experience, educational background and recognized leadership, but he comes to our agency with an enthusiasm and genuine personal commitment to social justice that is reflected in his work on behalf of low-wage individuals and families.