Location: Seattle, Wash.

Presbytery: Pacific Coast

Organized: 1892

Membership: 63 communicant; 14 baptized

Web Site: www.seattlerpchurch.org

In 1889, a commission of the Kansas Presbytery traveled to the young city of Seattle to establish the first RP congregation on the West Coast. Two years later the congregation disbanded after the pastor and two ruling elders resigned, but a strong remnant of believers continued to meet regularly for Bible study and prayer. Another commission was appointed, and the Seattle RPC reorganized in 1892 with 42 communicant members.

During the pastorate of P.J. McDonald, who arrived in 1895, the congregation initiated a ministry to the large Chinese community in Seattle. At one time, more than 40 Chinese men participated in a midweek Bible study.

The operator of a large orphanage in the early 1900s brought all the children under her care to the RP Sabbath school, swelling the attendance to 300.

In 1947, the church relocated from downtown to its present location in the Ravenna neighborhood of northeast Seattle. The current church building was constructed on that site, with the first worship service taking place in Feb. 1971.

Donald Piper served as pastor from 1977 to his retirement in May 2008. He and his wife Boni continue their membership and participation in the congregation.

The session established a pastor search committee consisting of an elder, a deacon, and other members of the congregation. Several RP seminary students and pastors have visited Seattle and preached during this interim period. The congregation also has been blessed by the preaching of local pastors of other Reformed denominations in the area.

Ministries and Activities

In addition to the morning worship services and Bible school, the congregation gathers after the service for a fellowship meal the first Lord’s Day of the month, and on the fourth Lord’s Day holds an evening psalm sing. Small groups meet for midweek Bible study and prayer.

The congregation is an energetic and committed group, with a high level of participation in worship, social events, work parties, and acts of mercy. Members demonstrate their concern for each other by bringing meals to the ill and new mothers and by helping those with financial and other needs. The deacon board maintains a pantry for those in need of food. The congregation has supported the Union Gospel Mission, which provides food, shelter, and clothing to the homeless.

Annual activities include a Christmas dinner, caroling, Mariners baseball game, summer church picnic, and neighborhood rummage sale sponsored by the Women’s Missionary Fellowship. WMF also organizes prayer warriors; each child and young person from preschool through college has an adult prayer partner. Other WMF ministries include aid to the homeless, Operation Christmas Child, and Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated women.

The congregation is hosting the Pacific Coast Presbytery Conference at The Firs in Bellingham, Wash., July 13-17.

Although the congregation is geographically remote from other RP churches, members are active in the Pacific Coast Presbytery, Synod, and other denominational ministries, including the Synod Finance Committee, Pension Board, Committee for Church Revitalization, RP Global Missions, and the RP Woman’s Association.

Prayer Requests

• Pray that the Lord would guide the congregation in calling a pastor and that He would be preparing that man’s heart to discern His leading.

• Pray that the congregation would remain unified during this time without a pastor.

• Pray that the congregation would grow, and particularly that families with children would make this their church home.

• Pray that the Lord would provide oportunities to witness and serve in the church neighborhood.

• Give thanks for the three newlywed couples, and pray that God would richly bless their marriages.

—Karen Olson