Our Year of Discernment:
The Next Steps
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“I plan to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
 Last Sunday, House Group Leaders Laura Petrie, Shannon Peterson and Sandy Johnson brought a bold word of hope to our worship time together. They described the next steps in the church's year-long discernment process and cast a vision of Alki UCC as a vibrant and resilient community of faith.
Two new task forces are being formed over the next few weeks – the Mission Redefinition Team and the Radical Redevelopment Team.
Which one calls to you?
- The Mission Redefinition Team will focus on writing Alki UCC’s future story and discerning the essential elements of the church’s bold mission in this next chapter. Contact Joe Mitter to join this team.
- The Radical Redevelopment Team will explore ways to steward the building and land in exciting ways consistent with the congregation’s deepest values. Contact Kim Becklund to join this team.
No time to waste! Both groups are getting started right away so contact your team point person ASAP!
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How to Join Sunday Worship at 10:00 am
(Note ... different codes than previous services)
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While in-person worship is on hiatus, join us for virtual worship via zoom.us. Here's how:
If you're joining us via your smartphone, please download the Zoom.US app before joining the meeting.
Meeting ID: 536 604 506 #
- From your smartphone, tablet or Computer use this link: https://zoom.us/j/536604506.
- To List on your mobile, click this link: +16699009128,,8806331101# US (San Jose)
- To manually dial in from a land line, call +1 (301) 715 8592 followed by 536604506# when prompted.
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Caring Community/Fellowship Team
Phone Tree
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Internet Schminternet ... Team members from the Caring Community/ Fellowship ministry have organized a good old fashioned phone tree and are reaching out to all members and friends listed in the most recent church directory to check in and see how you're doing.
If you haven't received a call by next week and would like one, please contact the church office.
Emily Hitchens, Faith Community Nurse and our Council Moderator, has also created a tip sheet for coping with a prolonged at-home stay and general recommendations to consider in case you get the cold or flu. It's posted on our website here.
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Resources for Promoting Justice
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From a letter recently sent by the Church Council of Greater Seattle:
Richard Rohr, American author and spiritual writer, suggests that “In reaching out to one another (virtually) and listening to our neighbors in need, we may participate in God’s inclusive shalom for these times, where health and healing are possible, beyond our understanding.
Please see below for resources to support others and promote justice in our area.
Matching Needs & Resources
Anti-Stigma Resources
Notifying Public Health with concerns about a case, cluster, or outbreak in a healthcare or social service setting
- *NEW* at the kingcounty.gov/covidpage, there is now an online form for facilities "to report concerns about a case, cluster, or outbreak in a healthcare of social service setting, including acute care facilities, urgent care, long-term care facilities, senior living communities, outpatient clinics, supportive or transitional housing, homeless shelters, dialysis centers, childcare programs, and correctional facilities. The Public Health - Seattle & King County COVID-19 Investigation Team will review all submitted forms and follow-up as needed."
Emergency actions in King County adult and juvenile detention
Relief for communities--such as undocumented persons--who cannot or may be unlikely to access government programs
- Matias Valenzuela is the process of organizing subgroups to look at issues related to COVID-19 response for undocumented individuals and the LGBTQ community. Please connect with Matias if you'd like to learn more about this: valenzuela@kingcounty.gov
Check our website for links to other key regional, state and national resources.
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Tonight at 5:30 pm (PST)
Join the Call ...
Poor People's Campaign
A National Call for Moral Revival
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Poverty Amidst Pandemic:
Everybody's Got A Right To Live!
Tonight at 5:30 pm (PST)
Live On Facebook
 A crisis of this magnitude magnifies the systemic immoralities that we have been, and will continue, organizing against. And, we've seen communities responding to feed, shelter, and care for each other. However you've been able to contribute - whether through donation, prayer, calling your local reps - you're amazing and we're grateful that you're part of the PPC family!
The M.O.R.E. Tour stop we had planned for Seattle has been combined with Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri's stops for a digital experience. RSVP here
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Point of ChurchLady Privilege:
Special prayers and love for the Alki UCC Faith Community. xxla
Special prayers for all those on the front lines of working to protect us, keep us healthy, sane, grounded, informed, fed and comfortable during the current COVID 19 outbreak: our faith leaders, front-line health care workers, EMTs, police, firefighters, educators, farmers, therapists, social workers, shelter operators, engineers, grocery/drug store personnel, caregivers, childcare specialists, pharmacists, custodians, organizations caring for the most vulnerable, sanitation workers, dispatchers and others keeping our supply chains operational, truth-telling journalists and all the many public servants who are so vital to our community.
Blessings and our heartfelt appreciation to you all.
For those grieving the recent death of a loved one:
Family and friends of Bob Jackson, family and friends of Jim Connor, family and friends of Barbara T. Shadel Madden Andersen, Kirstin Duckett and family, 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; Amy Young and family
Recent hospitalization, illness and other concerns:
Wanda Dray, Jane Gunwaldsen, new moms Gina Erickson and Ashleigh Johnson, Imy Peterson, Sandy Johnson, Dayle Banks, Kirstin Duckett's father, Don Peterson, Jeff Jolly, Bev Connor, John Kinsman, Jan Cochran
For homebound members/friends of Alki UCC: Doris Colbert
Wider World: Prayers for all those affected by the corona virus outbreak; all those suffering from PTSD in the military and around the world; 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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Order of Worship
This Sunday,
March 29
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Prelude (Betsy Stelzer)
Welcome (Pastor Kelly)
Call to Worship
(Responsive)
A Sanctuary Tour
(Pastor Kelly)
Scripture Reading
Ezekiel 37:1-14
(Bonita Corliss, Liturgist)
Sermon (Pastor Kelly)
Offering (Betsy)
A time for online check-in and online giving.
Closing Song
Benediction
Here's the full Order of Worship, including scripture text.
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Pastoral Care Available via
Zoom. us
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If you would like to speak with Pastor Kelly via Zoom.us, contact her to set up a time at pastorkelly@alkiucc.org.
If you're new to the technology, and would like a general overview, please contact the church office.
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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.
Are you new
to online giving?
Our own Laura Petrie has created a step-by-step video on how to make a donation via the church website.
Check it out here!
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The long-awaited installation of the church’s new, donated carpeting for the Sanctuary, Parlor and Narthex began as scheduled this week.
Pastor Kelly will be hosting a virtual “tour” as part of our online worship this Sunday at 10:00 am.
Big thanks to the team who made it all possible!
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Are you receiving Alki UCC's Daily Message?
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Stay connected!
Pastor Kelly and other folks you know from the Alki UCC Council, our House Group Leaders and Ministry Teams are taking turns writing daily emails to help keep you up to date on church news and faith insights that speak to the larger story that has overtaken our community and the world. .
If you aren't getting the Daily Message, and would like to be on the distribution list, please contact the church office.
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Pastor Kelly Letter to the Editor published in "The Seattle Times"
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In case you missed it, here's a link to the letter Pastor Kelly submitted to The Seattle Times. It ran on Sunday, March 22.
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From your Outreach Team: Helping our Vulnerable Neighbors
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Thanks to all those who have recently asked how they can help vulnerable people during the unprecedented public health/econimic crise that is the COVID-19 outbreak.
Please consider passing on the word that donations to St Vincent de Paul and West Seattle Helpline go a long way to help alleviate suffering and stress.
The White Center Food Bank (10829 8th Ave SW)
needs additional funds. Low-income people recently had their SNAP (food stamp) allocations cut drastically (by as much as 40% for some) by the current administration Federal government (40% cuts for some). They need food banks now more than ever.
Exacerbating their plight, grocery stores are dealing with panic shopping and donating significantly less food to Food Lifeline and other organizations that supply food banks in normal times.
Please consider either directly donating nonperishable food or direct cash donations to our local food banks.
FYI, If you need to choose between our two local banks, consider that White Center is in a more challenging position than the West Seattle Food Bank. If you need to choose, please consider White Center. We love them both.
— Cinda Stenger
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