Staff   Congregational Church of Mercer Island (CCMI)
United Church Of Christ
4545 Island Crest Way
Mercer Island, WA 98040
(206) 232-7800
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Staff Office hours
    Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p m. Friday 9:00 a.m. to noon.
    Summer: Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Contact
    Send email to the church
Pastor Samuel Sawitski
Our Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Samuel G. Sawitski was called to CCMI in October 2003. An Orthodox priest with dual standing in the United Church of Christ, Dr. Samuel Sawitski was ordained in 1977 in Moscow, Russia. Fr. Sawitski holds Th.D. from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, a Doctorate in the Ancient Ecclesiastical Art from Kremlin Institute of Art, Research and Science, and M.Div. degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary. Having been trained for two years at the Orthodox Monastery in Sacred Theology and Eastern Spirituality of the Desert Fathers, Fr. Sawitski did post-graduate work in the Department of Psychiatry, earning licentiate in Psycho-Analysis, Psycho-Pathology, Psycho-Therapy, and Cognitive Therapy.

Before coming to the USA, Pastor Sam had been serving the churches and preaching since 1974. Eight of these years had been in the church in Moscow with over 5,000 people in attendance. During the same time, he counseled drug addicts and social misfits, while working in the Kremlin as a master sculptor, stone carver and a restorer of icons, frescoes, and murals. Dr. Sawitski is a Professor of Ecclesiastical Art and Eastern Spirituality at Lehigh University and a Faculty member of Moravian Theological Seminary, and he also taught in Lancaster Theological Seminary and Mary Immaculate Seminary. His main field of expertise includes Ancient Ecclesiastical Arts and Aesthetics, Theology, Logic, and Psychology of Spirituality.

Back on the East Coast, where Pastor Sam served UCC churches for fourteen years, he is known also as an accomplished artist/designer – some of his stained glass work is displayed prominently in large churches in the Lehigh Valley and in New York City. Pastor Sawitski successfully directed the heartbreaking and difficult project of rebuilding St. Luke's Church in Nazareth, Pa. after a devastating fire in February of 2000, and completed rebuilding church in seven months. Having extended experience as a recording engineer and a musician, he personally supervised the designing of the pipe organ, which was also installed and voiced by him.

Being a representative at the United Nations for the national UCC Office for Church in Society for 15 years, Rev. Sam was awarded a UN Peace medal “IN RECOGNITION OF HIS ROLE FOR PROMOTING WORLD PEACE AND INTER-RELIGIOUS HARMONY”.

Over the years, contemplative prayer of the Church Fathers, the martial arts, cooking gourmet meals and yoga were for Fr. Sam a way of relaxation and meditation, harmonization of spirit and body which is the essence of a wonderfully simple process designed to make life more enjoyable through a coordinated integration of our bodies and minds to give our spiritual nature the energy it needs to develop and flourish. In addition, Rev. Sam regularly teaches classes on the Philosophy of Religion, Prayer and Meditation, World Religions and Art. Presently, he is working on a volume devoted to the relationship between Religion/Spirituality and Cognitive Processing, mental health, and art. Dr. Sawitski’s background, experiences, artistic skills, and sense of humor all bring a unique, intriguing and inspiring perspective. His wife, Alla, is a medical doctor; and the couple has three grown children, Kira, Samuel, and Dmitri.

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