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Samoan church honors Phil Hodson on April 19

Anastasia Vaitele, the youth leader of the Seattle Samoan Congregational Christian Church II, shared about her church’s April 19 visit from PNC Designated Conference Minister Phil Hodson and Mark Boyd, executive director of outdoor ministries.

Anastasia Vaitele takes a selfie with Phil Hodson, May Alaelua, Dawn Koloi, Mark Boyd and Ta’atauva’a Alaelua. Photos courtesy of Anastasia Vaitele

Her church invited Phil to bring God’s message and invited the Samoan churches in the Seattle area who are members of the PNC-UCC and the Everett Marshallese UCC to worship and a luncheon after the service at the Burien Elks just up the street.

“It was a great turn out, praise God!” she reported

Soon after Phil and Mark arrived and went to the office of the Rev. Kelekolio Koloi, the pastor, they were joined by the Rev. Fa’atauva’a Talamoni Alaelua and first lady, May, from Anchorage, Alaska, who were in town for a family funeral.

“Our sanctuary was filled with youth from our sister church, Ala I le Ola with the Rev. Fili Togi. The Rev. Elder Nofoaiga Moi and first lady, Apaula, also came,” she said.

The youth led with prayers of thanksgiving, forgiveness and needs, and read the scriptures. Pastor Koloi led the service and Phil brought the word.

Those who attended the Samoan farewell for Phil Hodson.

“God’s spirit was present within the full house of worshippers. Our choir was singing joyfully and reverently unto their Maker, God of the universe,” she described. “What a day it was, worshipping together with these clergy from various UCC churches and with our families, friends and visitors.”

Phil read from Luke 24:13-35 and preached on “The Road, The Table, The Fire.”

“He ended by saying that if you don’t remember anything else, just remember these two words, ‘Thank You.’ He emphasized the theme of our PNC-UCC Annual meeting ‘Come and See.’ He thanked our Samoan churches for pouring into him and into our PNC-UCC and walking besides him in the last two years and for coming and seeing,” Anastasia said.

“The crowd encouraged him, shouting, ‘Amen, Praise God, Hallelujah.’ I seldom hear such shouting during our regular Sunday worship, but today it was so encouraging that God’s spirit was moving within the hearts of those who attended,” she reported.

Anastasia said that as a youth and young adult leader in her church, she has learned much by being involved with the PNC-UCC under the leadership of “my spiritual parents Kelekolio and Dawn Koloi.”

She has seen her church and youth, and others in the Samoan Seattle Conference grow stronger in understanding the ministry in the UCC “under the loving guidance of our designated conference minister.”

She described Phil as a personable person who lifts up people of any age with his words of wisdom” “We enjoy his company, when he’s nudging us with what we need to do or sending our youth to the Annual Meeting and camps,” she said.

“Phil is a positive, uplifting pastor/ We are sad that he will be leaving our PNC, but we are glad for the positive lessons he leaves with our PNC, and we’ll continue to run with it,” Anastasia continued.

At the luncheon, the Samoan leaders and church members gave witness “to God’s goodness in the ministry” of Phil in “our Samoan traditional way.” Children danced and people put candy and shell lei’s on Phil and hugged him.

When they taught Phil the men’s dance, Anastasia said, “it was hilariously joyful.”

The Samoan community shared their traditional food with pig cooked underground and taro.

“All good things come to an end. Rev. Phil gave parting words, thanking us for our time together. We ended with our traditional Samoan song, thanking our special guests and remembering our home, Samoa,” she said.

“My heart and the hearts of Seattle II church and our Samoan Seattle Conference are full of thanksgiving. We are grateful for the loving work he has done for our community and people. We will miss you Phil and, as our pastor says at the end of his sermons, ‘Go with Jesus,’” she said.

Anastasia added that the offering collected was donated to the PNC camps. She also praised Mark and looks forward for her church to build their relationship with him and the camp.

Along with thanking Phil, she expressed gratitude for the staff and the Pacific Northwest UCC Conference “for supporting and guiding our Samoan UCC churches, for patience with us as we continue to learn the culture of the PNC-UCC,” she concluded. “We are happy to go alongside you and learn. Thank you! Fa’afetai tele!”

 

Pacific Northwest Conference United Church of Christ News © Spring 2026

 

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