Happy Thanksgiving … Blessed Advent! It’s one right after the other this year with Thanksgiving falling late in November while the first Sunday in Advent was December 1.
 The stories of John the Baptist calling out in the wilderness to “prepare the way!” will shape our worship this week as we move into Advent’s second Sunday. Most of the Ministry Teams paused their monthly meetings for December so that there could be a focus on the House Groups and the special Christmas services.
I hope each of you will plan to attend the Alki UCC community Christmas concert on December 15 as well as one of the Christmas Eve services — 5:00 pm or 10:00 pm. A Neighborhood Christmas Carol Sing is planned for Sunday, December 29 during worship — a festive opportunity to belt out those favorite Christmas carols one last time.
Peeking into January, there are a number of opportunities to explore your faith in new ways and I encourage you to prioritize soul-work in the coming year:
• A January Preaching Series called “Spirituality and Power” will bring four regional preachers to our pulpit starting January 5.
• The choir opens its doors for new folks to join beginning with their Saturday workshop on January 11.
• Faith Formation is hosting a great new Adult ed. series called "Painting the Stars" beginning Thursday, January 30.
Blessed Advent, Pastor Kelly
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Explore the communion of science and faith in "Painting the Stars"
Community Adult Ed. Series Begins January 30
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 Where is Christianity headed in the 21st century? Join the conversation!
"Painting the Stars: Science, Religion and an Evolving Faith" offers provocative ideas on how our faith interacts with the world of expanding scientific knowledge. The seven-session evening program features video presentations followed by small group discussions, led by moderators Bob Jackson and Russ Thornock. Check out the series trailer here.
Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
January 30 – March 12
Alki UCC parlor
Registration deadline Friday, January 24
Suggested donation to cover materials - $15
Contact Bob or Russ with questions. Register through the Church Office.
"When I have a terrible need of — dare I say, ‘religion’ —
then I go outside at night and paint the stars.”
— Vincent Van Gogh
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From Your Outreach/Social Justice Team
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 Holiday Food Drive Sunday, December 8
Bring your filled bags to church this Sunday. Thanks to all who have already donated.
Needy Family Gift Adoption
Calling all Santa Elves!
You are hereby called to deliver holiday love to two local mothers struggling to provide for their kids this Christmas.
Our adopt-a-family partner, Multi-Communities, has identified two families — two moms and seven kids — who are escaping domestic violence. As they struggle to remain together and housed, your love will go a long way to support these moms and their families.
Please review the full Wish Lists here and let me know what you can do! We need elves who can provide one gift, a few gifts or shop for the entire family! Everything is appreciated and blessed.
Please coordinate with me to avoid any dupes or kids left out.
Deadlines! Please confirm asap, but by next Sunday, December 15, at the latest. You have until December 19 to complete your shopping; gifts should be delivered to the church by December 20.
— Cinda Stenger
 Christmas Day Brunch
at Camp Second Chance (C2C)
We serve from 10:00 to 11:00 am at C2C, located in the nearby White Center neighborhood. Cooks and helping hands are needed to prepare and provide tasty egg casseroles, bacon/sausage, cinnamon rolls, orange juice and treats. Additional details to come.
Thank you,
— Outreach/Social Justice Ministry Team
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Outreach/Social Justice Team
Launches "Climate Corner"
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“Whatever you do may seem insignificant to you,
but it is most important that you do it.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
Hello and welcome to our new Climate Corner! Your Outreach/Social Justice Ministry Team is committed to bringing you all sorts of facts, opinions, insights, news and advocacy to help us all be better citizens, consumers and maybe even Christians, by heeding our biblical call to protect and cherish all of creation.
If you are struck by one image ... one statistic ... one insight that motivates you to change a habit or adopt a new point of view that reduces your carbon footprint ... you're on your way to helping save the planet.
So keep an eye out for this section of the Messenger and read up!
 Our #1 message to you is: CONSUME LESS ... less of everything: food, energy, water and just stuff. Use what you have, share, barter, borrow, don't buy more than you need.
Turn down the thermostat, turn off lights when you leave the room (and don't leave the TV on!), turn off the water when you brush your teeth (why do we run the water anyway?). Those of us who lived through the 1970's energy crisis learned all these things; it's time to return to these good habits to save our planet, NOW MORE THAN EVER.
For this week, we just want to introduce the Climate Corner and start you off with a CNN article about palm oil and an urgent online petition to sign:
The climate bomb experts
say it is fueled by you and me.
Your goal: Read the ingredients on all labels, make this a habit (yes it means more time in the grocery aisle but our planet is worth it).
If something is made with palm oil, don't buy it.
Your action this week: Ask Congress to support the Climate Stewardship Act
The Climate Stewardship Act will legislate the planting of over four billion trees by 2030, restoring wetlands, and investing in conservation agriculture practices for family farmers while creating over 200,000 jobs for urban youth and communities of color.
The bill seeks to honor the constellation of benefits that trees and tree-planting provides to us and champions reforestation as a key component to overcoming the climate crisis.
This legislation would keep us in step with the Paris Agreement, while simultaneously recognizing that the ecological crisis is much more than a crisis of carbon.
The Climate Stewardship Act respects and uplifts the biblical call to steward creation with utmost intentionality and care.
Please ask your senators and representatives to support this Bill. Sign Here
— Cinda Stenger
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Reinhardt Circle Bean Soup for Sale this Sunday
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 The signature packets, featuring 10 kinds of organic beans, make a delicious, soul-satisfying soup!
They're only $4.00 each and make a great Christmas gift as well. Proceeds benefit a local charity.
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Our Wider Community:
Of Interest Online ... Getting Out & About ...
Making a Difference!
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Celebrate community solidarity at
Kol HaNeshamah's "Pop-Up Chanukah"
Sunday, December 22 at 5:00 pm
West Seattle's Alaska Junction
Join your West Seattle neighbors to say:
"NO to Hate and YES to Donuts!"
 We the Future: Young Leaders of Social Change
Exhibit through
May 23, 2020
Gates Foundation Discovery Center
440 5th Avenue N in Seattle
We the Future showcases the stories of ten young leaders working to build an equitable and inclusive world through their respective social change movements. Inspired by Amplifier’s We the Future education campaign and co-curated with the Gates Foundation Discovery Center’s Youth Ambassador Program, the exhibit celebrates youth leadership and action across a range of social justice issues and invites audiences of all ages to imagine and become the change they want to see in the world.
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Baby Update!
New Moms Gina Erickson and Ashley Johnson write:
 We are excited to report that Cecil is up to 5 lbs 11 oz. She is growing like a weed! We are both pretty tired, but doing well. So many people from church have reached out to help in various ways and we feel very grateful for this community. We hope that we will be able to at least come to Christmas Eve service if not another service before then, we will see. I am adding some updated photos of Cecil so you can see how much she has grown.
In this delicate time, Ashleigh and Gina could use some help keeping the family fed. A friend of theirs set up an online account through MealTrain, a site you can use to gift them a GrubHub order, or schedule delivery of homemade chow. Check it out here.
Continued prayers for Dayle Banks, who is recovering at home.
For those grieving the recent death of a loved one:
The family of Nancy Van Wyk, Julia Peeler's sister; 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:
Kirstin Duckett's father, Don Peterson, Jeff Jolly, Jim & Bev Connor, John Kinsman, Lois Constantine, Kathy Herigstad's sister Jackie, Jan Cochran
For homebound members/friends of Alki UCC: Doris Colbert
Wider World: Prayers for the thousands of innocent people being displaced, persecuted and killed as a result of the administration's betrayal of our Kurdish allies in Syria; for all those affected by the increasingly cruel and inhumane US immigration policies imposed by the current administration; 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.
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Click on the big blue donate button to learn how to donate by check or a secure online credit card donation.
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Worship
This Sunday,
December 8,
10:00 am
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The Second Sunday
in Advent
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12
Color: Purple
Liturgist: Cinda Stenger
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Holiday Poinsettias for Christmas
Order Deadline Dec 22
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Alki UCC invites you to join in our yuletide tradition of designating a  holiday poinsettia in celebration or memory of a friend or loved one.
If you would like to honor someone, fill out the form available on Sunday and put it in the church offering plate (with payment, noting "Poinsettia" on your check).
The flowers adorn the altar for all Christmas Eve services. Poinsettias are $13.00 each. Additional contributions to the Flower Fund welcome.
Orders and final payments due by Sunday, December 22. Contact: Verona Ryan
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Spirituality & Power
Alki UCC January Guest Preaching Series
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Sunday, January 5, 12, 19 & 26 at 10:00 am
Influence. Privilege. Power. How we navigate these dynamics of life together is critical to our understanding of who we are as soulful and intentional people.
We kick off the New Year with an exciting guest preaching series, an opportunity to hear from four dynamic leaders in the Pacific Northwest and learn how they are using their influence for the greater good. Stay tuned for details.
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The Gift: An Alki UCC Musical Christmas
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Sunday, December 15 6:00 pm
New arrangements of traditional Christmas favorites and "get-up-outta-your-seats" Gospel music ... presented by the Alki UCC Choir under the direction of Marshan Goodwin-Moultry.
Tickets are going fast! $5.00 General Admission (ticket required/no reserved seating). Proceeds benefit The Youth Chaplaincy Coalition.
Limited online sales through Brown Paper Tickets available now.
Call for Treats!
After the concert on December 15, we are hosting a community reception downstairs in Anderson Hall.
We’re asking all you Treat Elves to bring some finger food for the event. Sweet or savory, homemade or store-bought doesn’t matter. Just bring it downstairs when you arrive for the concert. Easy! Thanks much!
— Dan Kennedy
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Call for Christmas Gift Bag Items for the Homeless
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Westside Interfaith Network (WIN) is assembling 200 gift bags for our homeless neighbors. Please check your home for any of the following items, or add some to your shopping list. New gift bags are also needed.
Suggested donations:
Hygiene and personal care items such as hotel size shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, small toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, hand sanitizer, lip balm, cough lozenges, bandaids, tissue packs, disposable razors, deodorant, hand warmers, nail clippers/files, combs, moist towelettes.
Transportable food items including soft granola bars, crackers, string cheese, Vienna sausages cans, foil tuna packs, fruit cups, small raisin boxes, small oranges; oatmeal packets, small sweet treats such as candy and cookies.
New socks, hats, gloves: WIN needs 220 pairs of socks, 220 pairs of gloves (stretchy knit preferred) and 220 hats.
"Gift" items including flashlights/batteries, umbrellas (used OK), baseball cap (gently used OK), thermal coffee cup, backpack/duffel bag/tote bag (gently used OK), calendars, crossword or word search or other activity books, small games like checkers or chess, deck cards, small toys, books (gently used AOK), sofa-size fleece blanket, 4’x6’ tarps.
Bring your items to church by Sunday, December 15 and look for the "WIN" basket in the narthex.
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December 8
Second Sunday
in Advent
8:30 am Stewardship
10:00 am Worship
December 15
Third Sunday in Advent
10:00 am Worship
6:00 pm Alki UCC
Community Christmas
Concert featuring
our own Alki UCC Choir
(childcare available
with reservation)
December 22
Fourth Sunday in Advent
10:00 am
Community Christmas
Pageant during Worship
Tuesday, December 24
5:00 & 10:00 pm
Christmas Eve
Worship
Wednesday, Dec 25
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 29
10:00 am
Neighborhood
Christmas Carol Sing
during Worship
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Harbor Church, 1059 NE 96th, is offering is offering a brown wood-tone parlor grand. Free; new owner pays moving costs
Reports are that "it's a good piano that's been well cared-for over the years."
Contact Walt Gustafsen for details.
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