Sermon Library

The Reverend Emily Tanis-Likkel
Rev. Emily Tanis-Likkel sensed the call to ordained ministry when she was eight years old, baptizing her baby dolls and creating worship services for her family. She was ordained in 2005 at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Bainbridge Island.

Her roles in the last seventeen years of ministry across several denominations have included associate pastor, church planter, children and family minister, teacher and workshop/retreat leader. When Emily was called as Bridge Pastor of Alki UCC in July 2022, she came home to her denomination and home to pastoral ministry.

Emily believes it is essential for churches to be a beacon of hope in their communities, acknowledging that each person is of infinite worth and value. Humanity bears the image of God. Beautifully unique in our diversity of race, culture, disability and ability, personality, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, we reflect God, who is wonderfully reflective of all. Everything that we are, God is.

 Emily lives in West Seattle in a multigenerational household with her creative-techie spouse, Brett, daughter and college sophomore Eva (who works as tech deacon at Alki UCC), son and high school sophomore Day, and her parents, Marti and Keith Tanis. The Tanis-Likkel family is known for their giant popcorn bowl, frequently filled to the brim.

 Emily writes, teaches, preaches and leads from a foundation of embodied spirituality, expansive theology and wonder. She loves walking labyrinths and reading novels. She is trained in Nia, a holistic movement practice, which has informed her own spiritual practice of embodying Scripture. Learn more about Emily at emilytanislikkel.com.

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