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Alki UCC Weekly Messenger October 3, 2019
From Pastor Kelly
There were llamas in the sanctuary! If it weren’t for the pictures, I might have thought it was all a dream. But it really happened.
 
Blessing of the Animals was a lively time with cats, dogs, stuffed animals, pictures of loved pets, a nod to the Hiawatha turkey, and three llamas (one of the trio pictured at right with owner Charley Rosenberry).
 
The Worship Logistics team and the Worship & Music team worked together to bring us this festive remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Social Justice/Outreach team and the Worship & Music team have been hard at work with World Communion Sunday, CROP Walk and Conversations around the Table — all happening this week. Our monthly practice of communion will feature breads from around the world while we hear from fellow members during the sermon time and then walk together afterwards in the CROP Walk. In addition, we will take a look at the post-it note project from last week.

Church teams are a welcoming and integral part of life at Alki UCC. They are the place where significant questions are being asked and answered. For example, Caring Communities/ Fellowship is hosting an All-Church Dinner and Ministry Team Festival later this month, Building & Grounds is exploring future possibilities for the building, and Stewardship is looking at how our financial habits determine our next steps as a congregation. (If you are not yet on a team and are available, send me an email at pastorkelly@alkiucc.org and I’ll connect you,
 
No particular experience is needed, just a willingness to learn about the various operations of the church and to work collaboratively with the other teams.
 
Ever Onward,
Pastor Kelly
 
Note: Pastor Kelly will attend an out-of-town conference exploring religious experience and encounter from October 10-12.
Alki UCC Choir Brings Song to a West Seattle Community Meal Tradition
The Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG) community meal is a monthly, free sit-down dinner served on the last Sunday of the month. Various churches partner with them in this outreach, to cook and serve, and some to sing.
 
Our choir serenaded many diners filling the gym early Sunday afternoon, September 29. We were greeted with smiles and applause, and most heartened when some people sang along with us. A special afternoon.
 
As OLG describes the meal, "Everyone in the community is invited to attend. It is conducted ‘restaurant style’ with guests being served at their tables. The goal is to create fellowship and provide a hot meal for those in our community, particularly for those who may not regularly have it." There's more information here. — Jane Gunwaldsen
Kol HaNeshamah (KHN) High Holy Days Services at Alki UCC/KHN October 8 & 9
Jews around the world welcomed in a New Year Sunday night.
The High Holy Days period culminates at the conclusion of Yom Kippur next week.
 
The High Holy Days are followed by two joyous holidays, Succot and Simchat Torah. During Succot, Jews build temporary huts in which to eat (and sometimes to sleep!), celebrating the bounty of our lives. On Simchat Torah we complete the cycle of the reading of the Torah — finishing the last portion of the Book of Deuteronomy, and beginning all over again at the beginning of Genesis. — Rabbi Zari Weiss
* * *
Tuesday, October 8, 7:00 pm
Kol Nidre
Wednesday, October 9, 10:00 am (children’s service at 9:00 am)
Yom Kippur
Services through 6:45 pm when congregants break their fast.
 
A tent is being set up in the courtyard outside the parlor to shelter guest registration. In accordance with KHN’s practice and the practice of many synagogues across the country, there will be an armed guard at the entrance to the churchagogue for the duration of the services.

Rabbi Zari notes: "KHN thanks Alki UCC for the opportunity to hold our High Holy Day services at home again this year and we appreciate the support of everyone at our partner church who is helping make this possible."
Poetry Corner
Note to Self When Walking (Because I Forget)
by Carrie Newcomer, recipient of Shalem’s 2019 Contemplative Voices Award
 
When walking in the woods,
Or on a path,
Or down the street,
In a store,
Or just upstairs,
When you are intent on going,
Wherever it is you are going,
Stop.
Stand still.
 
Notice how the mind can chatter,
Like purple finches in the trees,
Endlessly clicking and warbling,
Rising and falling and rising again.
Notice all your plans and longings,
All the things you got, but didn’t want,
All you wanted, and didn’t get,
All the circular conversations aimed at changing,
What was already said or unsaid.
Notice all the losses you are carrying,
With as much grace as you can muster.
 
Notice the sky, the feel of the air on your skin,
The sounds or what hangs in the silence,
The hard knot in your throat.
Notice all these things and more,
Because there is always more.
Then let your heart open,
Even just a crack,
A dribble or a dam break,
It doesn’t matter.
Because it is in that opening,
You’ll find a clear space
The one you keep finding
And losing
And finding again.
 
Remember to love it all,
All of it.
Hold hands and high five
With what’s easy and dear,
Ephemeral and brilliantly ordinary.
Wrap compassion like a blanket
The kind we place tenderly,
Around other people’s shoulders,
When the disaster is done and the worst is over.
Love it all,
Without looking for any way out,
Not condoning, just allowing,
For it all to just live,
Where it lives.
 
Love everything that broke your heart open
That changed you forever,
That made you softer,
And helped you understand,
What you could not have understood otherwise.
Love what you’ve endured,
Love what you are still enduring.
Love the purple finches and the sidewalk,
The view from the upstairs window,
The brambles and wild asters,
And the click of the keyboard.
 
Love all of this
Small and fragile,
Big and beautiful,
Life.
 
Then take the next step.
Our Wider Community:
                                         Getting Out and About
National Coming Out Day
Hiawatha Community Center
October 10 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Whether it's coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) or as an ally, we come together in celebration and advocacy of equality and living openly. You'll enjoy activities, music, performances, food and access to resources to learn more about and demonstrate support for the LGBTQ community.

 
Seattle City Council Candidates' Forum
Monday, October. 14, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Our Lady of Guadalupe gym
7000 35 Ave SW.
Both Phillip Tavel and Lisa Herbold are meeting with us. The reason for hosting this event is to have community people come, to become more informed about issues and candidates' viewpoints.
 
 
Fall Fundraiser
Advocates for Immigrants in Detention (AIDNW)
Saturday, October 19
Bischel Hall at St.Leo’s Parish
10 S 13th St, Tacoma
AIDNW is a volunteer a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing assistance to the immigrants housed in the ICE Detention facility in Tacoma, The Fall Fund Raiser will provide the financial resources necessary to support the services that AIDNW provides for immigrants. TICKETS available at Brown Paper Tickets.
UCC News & Resources
UCC Call to Fight "Moral Atrocity"
Faith leaders rally for refugees, urge members to push Congress against refugee ban
 
United Church of Christ advocates, distressed and angered by the administration's plans to limit the number of refugees resettled in the United States to 18,000 in 2020, joined other faith leaders and humanitarian groups in the streets of Washington, D.C., on Friday, Sept. 27. The rally for refugees began in front of the White House and ended at the Trump hotel.
 
"It is a moral atrocity to turn our backs on persecuted people at a time when there are over 25 million refugees, more than at any other time in history..." Read more here.
 
 
UCC Webinar: “Lessons from the Frontlines:
  Sisters in the Struggle for Justice

The next Creation Justice Webinar features four African American women who are leaders in the environmental justice movement: Leslie Fields from the Sierra Club, Adrienne Hollis from the Union of Concerned Scientists, Jacqueline Patterson from the NAACP, and Heather McTeer Toney from Moms Clean Air Force. We will focus on the moral center of the movement: frontline communities that suffer the most from environmental harms. Even if you can’t make it, register to receive a video recording. Sign-up for the webinar now!

In Our Circle of Prayer
Prayers for Don Peterson, who suffered a fall last night and is coming home today from Harborview Medical Center.
 
Prayers for Dayle Banks, in the hospital for an distressed vertabrae. She is in good spirits and is awaiting a move to Park West on California Ave in West Seattle.
 
For those grieving the recent death of a loved one:
Larry Gill, the family and friends of Ruth Okada; family and friends of Shelley Webster, Kathy Herigstad and family, Amy Young and family,  Lesa Henry

Recent hospitalization, illness and other concerns:
Jeff Jolly, Jim & Bev Connor, John Kinsman, Lois Constantine, Kathy Herigstad's sister Jackie, Jan Cochran

For home bound members/friends of Alki UCC: Doris Colbert 
 
Wider World: for all those affected by the increasingly cruel and inhumane US immigration policies imposed by the current administration; for all those affected by Hurricane Dorian; prayers for fewer guns, for all victims and those affected by gun violence; victims and survivors of extremist violence around the world; migrants seeking refuge around the world, and for those who are trying to help 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.
CROP Hunger Walk This Sunday
12:30 pm Registration for 1:00 pm Walk
As a CROP Hunger Walker, you help fight hunger in solidarity with all people around the world who are walking for food, water and firewood every day.
 
 
Walk ... Give ... Change the World
 
Sign up here to join the Alki UCC Team, sponsor a walker or donate!.
Worship 
This Sunday,
October 6
at 10:00 am
 
 
"The Future Church"
Sermon Series
 Through October
 
The 17th Sunday
  after Pentecost
Scripture:
Lamentations 1:1-6, 3:19-26
Color: Green
Liturgist: Scott Mathews
 
Volunteers needed this Sunday after worship to remove pew materials. Please stay for a few minutes and help out!
Upcoming:
Church Council & Ministry Teams
Building & Grounds
Sunday, October 6
  after worship
Music & Worship
Sunday, October 13
after Worship
Worship & Logistics
Sunday, October 13
after Worship
Caring Community/ Fellowship
Monday, October 14
at 6:30 pm
Sandy Johnson Home
Faith Formation
Sunday, October 20
after Worship
Personnel
Sunday, October 20
after Worship
Stewardship
Sunday, October 27
after worship
Outreach
TBD

 
Ministry Teams!! Your written updates are due to Emily Hitchens (Council Moderator) and the Church Office by next Wednesday, October 9 for inclusion in the October 16 Council paperwork. 
 
Church Council Meeting
Wednesday, October 16 
6:30 pm
 
Church Council Workshop & All Church Potluck
Sunday, October 20
(see story below)
 
Officers:
Emily Hitchens, Moderator
Joe Mitter, Vice Moderator
Julia Peeler Treasurer
Charlie Hinkley Clerk
 
Member Reps of Ministry Teams
Andrea Saunders
  Faith Formation
Kim Becklund
  Caring Community
  and Fellowship
Gary Gesellchen
  Stewardship
Jeff Duckett
  Worship Logistics
Gretchen Hawley
  Worship and Music
Cinda Stenger, Outreach
Church Council Workshop and Congregational Potluck
Sunday, October 20
Church Council Workshop:
3:00 to 5:00 pm
We will review our ‘principles of operation’ as we implement the new Bylaws, considering such concepts as Communication, Authority and Accountability.
 
All Church Potluck:
5:00 to 7:00 pm
The Caring Community & Fellowship Ministry Team has invited us to participate in a Sunday evening potluck supper in Anderson Hall. The focus of the evening will be the Ministry Teams sharing their goals and activities.
Call for Socks!!
 
It’s sock time at Operation Nightwatch! Let's help them collect 20,000 pairs of socks to give out to our homeless friends.
.
Clean, dry socks are the most requested item by our homeless neighbors
 
Please bring your donations of new men's socks to the donations bin in the Narthex. We'll deliver all we collect to Operation Nightwatch on 
Sunday, November 24.
PNCUCC Fall Gathering
Friday & Saturday, October 18-19
Richland, Washington
 
Weaving Together
to Win:
Progressing from Value Statements
to Concrete Action
 
We read and study, discuss and learn…but how do we create change? Join your regional UCC conference to explore this new way of weaving. We will listen, share, discern and leave with a plan for concrete change to address systemic problems in specific, actionable ways. Register here. 
WS Blog: Update on Admiral Church Development Plans
Read about it here.
 
Town Hall scheduled for Tuesday, October 8.
Of Note on the World Wide Web
Religica is a most interesting website, 
Illuminating themes at the axis of religion and society,
 
 
Religica is constructing a coherent, comprehensive and accessible platform online, with a focus on strengthening individual and local communities.
 
The site features a Blog, Podcast and Response Series.
 
Current topics include Ecosystem vs. Society, 1.5 Degrees & Changing Climate - Happening Quickly and Religical Response to a Changing Climage.
Alki UCC Website
Check for church news and calendar updates at www.alkiucc.org.
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Alki UCC • 6115 SW Hinds • Seattle, WA 98116
http://www.alkiucc.org
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