The 2020-21 Stewardship Drive is underway!
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Everyone should have received a mailing this week with your 2020-21 Stewardship Pledge Form. We have been sending emails, Messenger articles, and delivering Stewardship moments during Zoom Sunday Worship. But most of us still appreciate a real piece of paper in our hands!
New in this year's mailing was our first attempt at a "Narrative Budget." While new to Alki UCC, Narrative Budgets have been used by many missional organizations to better tell the story of how their members' financial commitment furthers the organization's mission. Since Alki UCC has a mission of "Courageously Sharing God's Love With Each Other and The World," we tried our best to break things out that way. Imperfect no doubt, but an attempt to tie Money and Mission together in a meaningful way.
 Also new in this year's mailing is the budget summary on the booklet's back page. We are not going to abandon our full line-item budget, but it can be tough for most of us to grasp. The one-page summary is an attempt to make our finances easier to understand. We expect to end the current fiscal year with a large deficit, but a little smaller deficit than the beginning-of-the-year budget projected. That's a positive note!
The Council gave preliminary approval last week for a 2020-21 budget that looks a lot like this year's budget. The preliminary budget maintains our current staff and their benefits and keeps the church fully operational for the coming year while we work to unveil our Third Act. This is huge, because we need all of our staff as well as all of our hands, hearts, and minds fully engaged to complete the tasks we have given ourselves and pull back the curtain on our future.
The preliminary budget proposal does not count on miracles and is grounded in reality. It does require that those actively involved in the church find it within them to keep contributing at past levels, and that those who can generously add a bit more.
We ask that you please mail your pledge cards back over this coming weekend so our financial secretary can give the Council the good news about the generosity of the congregation next week! Please also keep an eye out for a Friday email from Stewardship detailing other ways in which to can make your pledge.
Your 2020/21 Stewardship Team:
Gary Gesellchen, Julia Chase, Charley Rosenberry & Laura Petrie
How to Pledge
Either fill out the pledge card you receive in the mail OR make your pledge online at the link to be included in tomorrow's email.
Then, you can:
- Set up payments through your bank or credit union’s automatic Bill Pay system.
- Mail checks made out to “Alki UCC” to 6115 SW Hinds, Seattle, WA 98116
- Make secure, online donations via the donate button at alkiucc.org
- Write “alkiucc” in the message of a text and address to 44321. You will receive a return text with a secure contributions link.
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Major Food Giveaway for Westside Region
Begins this Saturday, May 30
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Spread the word!
A major food give-away is scheduled for our westside area. Beginning this Saturday, May 30, more than 900,000 food boxes will be given away weekly to those in need on a first-come-first served basis:
Saturdays, May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Holy Family Church parking lot
SW Roxbury and 19 Ave SW
The distribution is managed by local nonprofits in cooperation with the federal government and three different 25 lb boxes are available: fruits & vegetables, dairy products, meats & assorted -- all transported to the distribution site via refrigerated truck.
 On Saturday, enter the parking lot as indicated and follow the marked lanes. Boxes will be loaded by volunteers directly into car trunks or pickup truck beds. Note that sections of Roxbury are being paved near the church, so plan your trip accordingly.
Each family can take up to 75 lb of food (one produce box, one dairy box, one assorted box). Those picking up for several clients can take more boxes as needed. No ID or personal information is required.
Please pass on this information to any person, family or any group of people whom you feel could benefit from this resource, such as a community center, a congregation that has significant number of low-income or unemployed members, a school group.
We have been contacting various local community groups, but may have over-looked somebody; email Cinda at cstenger49@gmail.com with your suggestions. At present we are serving people living in the westside area.
This is a HUGE project being pulled together in very short time.
Prayers!
Cinda
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"Weekly Seeds" Community Bible Study
Continues Every Tuesday Through June 16
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It's Tuesdays at Two! Join Pastor Kelly to explore "Weekly Seeds" a free, email summary of UCC's popular resource for lectionary-based Bible study. Weekly Seeds teachings spotlight a Sunday Bible reading, brief meditation and reflections from ancient or contemporary sources.
The Weekly Seeds Bible Study has finished reading Acts and is picking up Romans, an incredibly rich and thought-provoking letter in the New Testament. The Bible Study is open to all so come check it out each Tuesday at 2:00 pm.
Your assignment is to read Romans 1 for June 2
Tuesday at Two sessions run through June 16. Sign up today to receive a weekly teaching right in your inbox.
Zoom login here:
Meeting ID: 863 4583 8616
Password: 301975
Dial: +1 253 215 8782 US
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Sunday Zoom Services Posted on YouTube
Here's the link to our official page: Alki UCC - Alki United Church of Christ.
 While you're in Social Media mode, visit the Alki UCC FaceBook page Shannon Peterson has been busy keeping it updated and refreshed to show the vibrancy of our community.
Thanks to all the fine folks working on our social media presence.
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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.
For those grieving the recent death of a loved one:
Patty Magnuson, 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:
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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Online Worship
This Sunday,
May 31
at 10:00 am
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Pentecost
this Sunday
Many languages! How do you say "peace" in other languages?
Send your submissions to the church office by tomorrow (Friday) at 6:00 pm for inclusion in the Pentecost service this Sunday, May 31.
Wear Red for Pentecost Worship this Sunday!
Liturgist:
Joe Mitter
Tech Deacon:
Bob Conder
Accompanist:
Betsy Stelzer
Guest Musician:
Dave Dolengewic
Click here for the Order of Worship, including Sunday's scripture reading.
Please read ACTS 2 for this Sunday.
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Important Update:
Transition from Online Worship
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At the most recent Worship & Music Team meeting, we discerned that it would be best for our Alki UCC faith community to continue online worship via Zoom throughout June with possible in-person gatherings starting in July.
We are meeting regularly and will provide guidance for July re-opening procedures in the coming weeks as we craft our approach.
Sincerely,
Worship & Music Team
Save the Date
Sunday, June 7 at 11:00 am
Budget Informational Session with Stewardship Team (Zoom)
Sunday, June 28 at 10:30 am Annual Congregational Meeting (Zoom)
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Zoom Info for Online Sunday Worship
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Meeting ID: 536 604 506 #
From your smartphone, tablet or Computer use this link: https://zoom.us/j/536604506.
To manually Dial in from a land line, dial +1 (301) 715 8592 followed by 536 604 506# when prompted.
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Pastoral Care Available via Zoom
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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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Download Zoom Security Upgrade by May 30
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Zoom advises us that all users need to upgrade their devices to a security-enhanced update. If you're not prompted to do the download next time you log into Zoom, please take a few minutes to use this link to make the download:
After May 30, Zoom will automatically download the upgrade next time you log into a meeting.
Note: For phone and digital apps, you should update through your app store.
Contact the church office if you have any questions.
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New Members Class Begins
Next Month
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A new online formatis coming in June 2020 for the new New Members class.
Contact the church office if you would like information on how to participate. Scheduling logistics will be confirmed shortly and new members will be acknowledged during a Sunday worship in July. .
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Staying Conncted Gatting Involved
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Call for Tech Deacons and Liturgists
Both roles are integral to worship!
Zoom is a user-friendly platform to manage worship and meetings, and we need more people to help keep our online events running smoothly.
Contact the church office with questions or to sign up as a Tech Deacon or Liturgist.
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The US Census is hiring.
Conduct 5-10 minute door-to-door household interviews in your own neighborhood. This vital demographic information for the US Census is used to allocate US Congressional representation and $800 billion dollars in federal funding over the next 10 years.
Flexible hours/Weekly pay
$23/hr + $.58/mile driven.
Apply online at
2020census.gov/jobs
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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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