Welcome to Our Newest Members
|
 Last Sunday we received twelve new members into our church! They are listed below, and we’ve asked them to write up a short blurb about themselves so you can get to know them better. Each week we’ll include several of these blurbs, with photos.
Kim Becklund, Sasha Bishop (and daughter Sahale),
Sarah Blakey, Jane Clay, Gina Erickson, Gretchen Hawley,
Ashleigh Johnson, Sherrie Plymale, Andrea Saunders,
Todd Saunders, Laura Szczes (and daughter Eva),
Sara Jane Walsh
 Hello! My name is Kim Becklund. I have been a Christian since I was in fourth grade. I made my commitment to Christ then, and while my faith hasn't always been consistent over the years, I know God has never left my side and have been reminded of this over and over again. December 3, 2017 was one of these significant occasions that the Lord held my hand (or maybe it was a loving nudge) when I walked into Alki UCC and was drawn into our loving, engaging and accepting community. I knew immediately I was "home" — a place that my heart and soul has longed for! The service was "spot on" for me, and thanks to the warmth of Pastor Diane, I was encouraged practice that day with the choir and joined that day!
I am 51, a long-time transportation professional presently working for King County Metro, and am a lifelong Washingtonian with 18 of my years in West Seattle. I am a "people person." I am intrigued by and love people, value diversity and thoroughly enjoy learning from everyone! I strive to navigate through life according to three core values: loving, giving and learning. I am humbled, grateful and ecstatic to join Alki UCC! I am committed to our church community, serving one another and ensuring God's light guides our care of others; especially those without hope, those with special needs and/or those who have suffered any kind of abuse or are grieving.
Gretchen Hawley: I am a Seattle native, born to parents who each  had strong farm roots and faith. I am the mother of three grown children and by now have been divorced almost as long as I was married to their father. My education and career have centered on nutrition, but really has evolved into social service. My first position was as an Army dietitian at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. during the Viet Nam war era, and my last was as a nutritionist for Public Health in Seattle and King County. It was a wonderful opportunity for twenty years to meet immigrants from all over the world and learn about their cultures and the challenges they face as they integrate into this community. After doing this rewarding work for so long I could not conceive of simply retiring without finding another outlet for service and social activism. Thank you, Alki UCC!
I see Alki UCC as a church that is seeking to address the suffering and injustice in our community as well as providing the joy of fellowship and worshiping God for a diverse congregation where all are welcome. It is a body of believers who walk the talk of love and inclusion, and I want to walk with you. It is difficult to imagine this congregation without Diane Darling at its helm, but I pray that God will provide us with a new leader with at least half her heart, wit, spirit and brilliance!
 Todd and Andrea Saunders: We are a young, newly-wed couple living in Seattle just two blocks from the church. We have both lived all over the west coast, and moved back to Washington to be closer to Andrea’s family and to enjoy the weather. We share a commitment to public service in our vocations as a legal aid attorney (Andrea) and a science teacher at Sylvester Middle School (Todd). Todd enjoys biking, Andrea enjoys crafts, and both of us read voraciously and enjoy bad (real good) TV.
We came to Alki UCC seeking to reconnect with the kind of Christian communities we both grew up with and lost in our 20’s when we were off to college and jobs. We feel so welcomed by Alki UCC and charmed by this group that we stumbled into.
Thank you to our
Longest Time Members
Last week we also recognized those who have been members of Alki UCC for 50 years or more, and for 25 years or more.
Thank you to these folks for their faithfulness and love!
Ruth Okada 1950 Wanda Dray 1952
Doris Colbert 1954 Verona Ryan 1959
Bev Connor 1965 Jim Connor 1965
Ruth Bell 1967 Pete Jansen 1967
25+ years
John Kinsman 1971 Judy Kinsman 1971
Lowell Park 1975 Julia Peeler 1981
Rod Peeler 1981 Dave Smith 1981
Vicky Smith 1981 Anne Sakrison 1984
Dayle Banks 1987 Diane Jacobsen 1988
Trish Dodds 1992
|
|
Pastoral Care Beginning May 21
|
After Pastor Diane's last service with us on Sunday, May 20, The Rev. Susan Fairo will be your principal contact for pastoral care issues.  Susan has been a member of Alki UCC since 2012, after completing an internship with Pastor Diane. She is currently the intentional interim pastor at Spirit of Peace UCC in Sammamish and previously served as the intentional interim pastor at Penbrook UCC in Harrisburg, PA.
Susan says: I was raised Presbyterian and found my way to the “God Is Still Speaking” UCC when I returned to church after a decades-long hiatus. I have a BA from Evergreen State College and an MDiv from Seattle University. I enjoy biking, baking, singing with the Seattle Women’s Chorus, sunshine and warm weather, reading and sharing meals with friends.
During Susan's summer vacation, The Rev. Amy Hitchens will be available for pastoral care. Amy has been a member of Alki UCC for thirteen years and was, until May of 2017, in four way covenant as a hospital chaplain with Alki UCC. Amy recently has been serving as pastor at Normandy Park UCC.
The Rev. Bruce Wilson, who will be our Visiting Pastor for Sunday worship beginning June 10, will also be available for pastoral care as needed.
Contact information and other details will be included in future Messengers, in the Directory and in the Sunday bulletin.
|
|
Tomorrow!!
Call for "Tiny House" Volunteers
Weekly Build Scheduled at Camp Second Chance
Every Saturday until Seven Tiny Houses Completed
|
Calling all Volunteers! We need you this Saturday!
8:45 am start time
Camp Second Chance, 9701 Myers Way S
Parking lot is in the front; carpooling encouraged
Please contact Kathy ASAP if you plan to join us.
We are well underway with building seven houses! Much to our  surprise, we arrived at Camp Second Chance last Saturday to find four houses with the walls tilted, roof rafters in place and houses wrapped! All of this was completed during the week by Jim, Dave and Robert, residents at Camp Second Chance (CSC). This speaks to the partnership we have with CSC and how we truly are building community within a community. Residents are sharing ownership in the building process, part of a team working together in a positive direction.
Last Saturday, a small, but dedicated group of people placed the roof decking and roof felt on five houses.The last platform for the 7th house was set and we are ready to complete the next stage of the build this Saturday, May 12.
I also want to give a huge shout out and thank you to Cindy Ogasawara for bringing her delicious chili and Linda Anderson for her wonderful ribs. A fantastic feast for a hungry crew.
Our goals for this Saturday are: Place the smart siding on the houses, insulate the interior, cut the openings for the doors and windows and put in place, apply three-tab roofing. This can be done, but we need to have several teams of three-four people. Each team will have a designated job for each house. Final planning and information on Saturday.
The weather is supposed to be warm tomorrow ... a clear and sunny day of building.
Important Logistics:
Upon arriving at Camp Second Chance, stop at the security office and sign in. You will be directed to our building site where you should sign in as well.
The plan for Saturday is to tilt the remaining front and back walls onto each platform and wrap them. Doug's team will start the roofing. Remember that this is an occupied living space and we will be working near the residents' homes.
Here's other information that will be helpful:
Dress for the weather
Wear sturdy boots or shoes (stepping on nails and other construction materials)
Bring:
Hammer
Safety glasses
Work gloves
Ear plugs (I will have extra)
Knee pads
Make sure you label/mark your tools with your name or an identifier.
FYI:
Porta potties on site
There is no running water
In appreciation,
— Kathy
|
|
Save the Date!
All Church Progressive Dinner June 9
|
Our annual all-church Progressive Dinner morphed into an Alki and Admiral UCC Progressive Dinner last year and we had such a great time with our UCC neighbors that we'd like to do it again!
 For those of you who have not participated before, it's a lot of fun (and a pretty cheap evening!) getting to know people in a couple of small groups: one small group for appetizers and a different small group for dinner. Then we all meet together at one of the churches for dessert.
For those who attended last year, we're simplifying down to only three stops. Less frantic, more time to visit.
Participants choose whether they would like to host appetizers in their home, host dinner in their home or help co-host dinner in someone else's home, or provide a dessert and then help set up the desserts and clean up at a church.
Please mark your calendar for Saturday, June 9, beginning about 4:00 pm, and we'll get you more details soon.
— Vicky Smith & Wendy Henderson
|
|
For those grieving the recent death of a loved one:
Kristin Michael, Lesa Henry, Jeff Jolly & family, Charley Rosenberry, Russ Thornock, Trish Dodds, Cynthia Jolly
Recent hospitalization, illness and other concerns:
Lisa Burke, Bev Connor, Patty Magnuson’s brother, Shelley Webster, Jan Cochran
For home bound members/friends of Alki UCC: Ruth Okada, Doris Colbert
Wider World: Prayers for fewer guns and for all victims of gun violence; victims and survivors of extremist violence around the world; the migrants seeking refuge around the world, and for those who are trying to help and serve them. The rest of the missing schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, who remain in our hearts as long as they remain missing. The hungry and homeless, the ill and the addicted, the lost and the lonely; the unemployed.
|
|
Click on the big, blue donate button at alkiucc.org to make your secure online donation.
You will be redirected to our contributions page where you click on the PayPal button to donate online. Other giving options are also explained.
|
|
Make sure you get the newsletter:
|
Please add "office@alkiucc.org" to your Safe Sender list, or click the Subscribe button below to help keep your newsletters from going walkies:
|
|
|
|
This Sunday,
May 13, 10:00 am
|
This Mother’s Day we get to baptize Ethan and Tyler Van Pelt, the twin sons of Anna and Miles Van Pelt.
Anna has been a member of Alki UCC for many years, but several years ago she decided she needed to find a UCC church closer to her home in Shoreline and started worshiping at University UCC. She asked Pastor Diane to baptize the twins (who are now 16 months old), so here we go.
One of the pastors from University UCC will be with us for the service. Since it’s Diane’s second to last Sunday here, her message will continue with reflections on our time together.
|
|
Worship
& Church School
Sunday at 10:00 am
Choir Rehearsal
Tuesday at 7:00 pm
|
|
Pastor Diane
Sendoff Celebration
Sat, May 19 at 6:00 pm
Pastor Diane's Last Sunday Worship
at Alki UCC
Sun, May 20 at 10:00 am
Sunday Worship
The Rev. Katy Lloyd,
Guest Pastor
Sun, May 27 at 10:00 am
Music Sunday
Marshan Goodwin
Moultry, Minister of
Music
Sun, June 3 at 10:00 am
Sunday Worship &
Annual Meeting
The Rev. Bruce Wilson,
Visiting Pastor
Rod Peeler, Board
Chair
Sun, June 10
at 10:00 am
|
|
Thank you to Claire Foster and Dav’ne Stahley of the Pastoral Relations Committee for setting up the small group “farewell gatherings” that have been happening since April 8.
And many thanks to those who volunteered to host one: Marshan and Darrell Goodwin-Moultry (the choir party) Sallie Neillie and Liese Frankenstein, Julia Chase and Joe Aprile, Laura and Shelley Petrie, Verona Ryan, Dav’ne and Bob Stahley, Jeff and Cynthia Jolly, Kim Becklund, Russ Thornock and the Wednesday Bible Study Group, and Jane and Doug Gunwaldsen who are hosting tonight.
We have been feasting on these final opportunities to break bread together, tell stories, laugh, cry, and personally thank so many of you for the blessing you have been in our lives and in the life of the church.
— Pastor Diane and Mary (Photo by Peter Junkerman)
|
|
The 2018/2019 Pledge campaign starts this Sunday, and the excitement is already building. Be among the first to sign up for a new year of giving to Alki UCC!
Read the email you  received on Thursday to check out all the details. We’ve added new information this year so everyone can PLUG IN to activities that support our church family and our community.
Special Fun: See the indulgence basket on Sunday! This much-coveted prize could be yours, just for turning in your pledge. Early pledgers will be entered multiple times, so jump in and sign up.
Look for your smiling, helpful stewardship team members on Sundays. We’ll be at our post from May 13 through June 3, ready to help get those pledges in.
Your Stewardship Team
— Charlie Hinckley, Jane Gunwaldsen, Julia Chase, Bob Stahley
|
|
Just over a week to go before the fabulous, festive farewell party for Diane and Mary. This is the final bash!
Party updates went out this week, so please check your email if you didn’t see it. New details were included.
Our fantastic food team would love to get a head count, so please respond to that party email and let us know if you expect to attend. Or just send a new note to the Church Office. BUT— even if you forget to respond, please come anyway at 6 pm on May 19, Saturday. Anderson Hall will be jumping! Child care will be provided.
Questions: contact Charlie Hinckley. Your party team thanks you!
|
|
Support Initiative 1631 for Clean Air, Clean Energy & Good Jobs
|
Sign the Petition!
Initiative 1631, sponsored by the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, promotes a ballot initiative for clean air, clean energy, and good jobs.
Please consider signing a petition next time you're at church; they're on the publications table in the narthex. More information here.
|
|
Time to Empty the Lost & Found
|
It's Spring Cleaning Season, and all items in the building's Lost & Found bin will be donated or tossed if not claimed by Monday, May 14.
|
|
Alki UCC Board of Directors
2017-2018
|
Rod Peeler, Chair
Shannon Peterson,
Vice Chair
Jason Huynh,
Secretary
Charlie Hinckley
Emily Hitchens
Sandra Johnson
Dan Kennedy
Patty Magnuson
Scott Mathews
Ex Officio:
(Voice but no vote)
Kristin Michael,
Business Manager
Julia Peeler, Treasurer
Diane Darling, Pastor
|
|
|
