I’m very excited to begin sharing ministry with everyone at Kittitas Valley UU Congregation this month! I’ve enjoyed meeting some of you over the summer and will look forward to meeting you all in the next few weeks – many at the church retreat on September 14 and 15, some on the following Sunday, the 16th (my first in the pulpit,) and hopefully everyone else real soon after that. I’ll be a ¼ time Minister, which means I’ll be in the pulpit generally once a month and visiting at other times as I can. I feel fortunate that Ellensburg is only a 45-minute drive from Yakima – and remembering how I had longer commutes sometimes when I lived on the west side – but not nearly as scenic. I’m planning to hold office hours on Thursdays, at a location yet to be determined.

A little about me: I grew up in the Midwest but have been living in Washington for most of the last twenty-five years (accounting for a few years off for seminary.) I’ve lived in Seattle, Tacoma, Shelton, rural Stevens County, and have been in Yakima since 2010. I truly love all the richness Washington has to offer! In Yakima, I serve as ½ time Minister at the UU Church of Yakima and live with my thirteen-year-old daughter, Willow. I love enjoying the outdoors by hiking, bicycling, camping, canoeing, etc. I’m also passionate about interfaith work and justice-making. I serve on the Board of the statewide Washington Faith Action Network, and co-chair the Yakima Association of Faith Communities. I also serve on the board of a non-profit in Yakima that is working on building a tiny house community for chronically homeless persons. I also love music and enjoy playing piano and guitar – but mostly in front of very small audiences (or, better still, no audience at all!)

I look forward to not only meeting you all but getting to know you and working together on our shared passions and ministries.

In faith,

Rev. Ken