“Achieving 50% of an incredible goal
is better than 100% of a mediocre one.”
— SOCAP (2020)
This was a quote taken from a webinar I attended this week called “Reshaping Capitalism to Drive Real Change.” You can watch it here on YouTube.  If you need a dose of good news, this is the place to find it. There are great minds nurturing sustainable change in our world despite what the headlines tend to report. Alki UCC is right there with this movement, painting a fresh picture of the 21st century church. In concert with these local and national visions, the Sunday morning dive into our Exodus heritage is designed to align with the Community Book Study exploring Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. They both take a constructive look at how we move from the paralysis of problems to divine thriving and play. In other words, how do we build a peace economy in our own neighborhood, TODAY? It is possible and it has been done before. There are members of the church who have built eco-friendly, inclusive, creative and sustainable projects in all different areas of their lives and whose voices are so valuable when charting new paths forward. Through widespread participation in our House Groups last winter, which focused on discernment and direction, Alki UCC was able to formulate a fairly cohesive sense of the best way forward. The vision of our "Future Story" was presented by the Mission and Radical Redevelopment teams in September and we will engage in a follow-up, final draft conversation at the Congregational Meeting on October 25.
“People are aware that they cannot continue in the same old way but are immobilized because they cannot imagine an alternative. We need a vision that recognizes that we are at one of the great turning points in human history when the survival of our planet and the restoration of our humanity require a great sea change in our environmental, economic, political and spiritual values.” — Grace Lee Boggs (1915-2015)
Ever onward,
Pastor Kelly
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Blessing of the Animals/World Communion this Sunday October 4
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10:00 am: Worship
11:00 am to noon: Neighborhood Walk-By
 Send in pictures of your own favorite creature by noon tomorrow to help celebrate creation with the Blessing of the Animals this Sunday, October 4. There will be a chance for live video sharing of pets as well during 10:00 am worship.
This beloved service is held around the world to coincide with the Feast of St. Francis in remembrance of the great saint’s love for all creatures. October 4 is also World Communion Sunday.
From 11:00 am to noon, bring your furry, fuzzy, feathery, scaly creatures to a Neighborhood Community walk-by outside the church entrance at 6115 SW Hinds.
Important! All pets must be on a leash or in an appropriate carrier/cage. Children of all ages are welcome to bring their stuffed animals or photographs of a beloved pet.
Send your digital pictures to office@alkiucc.org by noon tomorrow, October 2.
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Alki UCC Community Book Study:
Sunday evening or Tuesday afternoon sessions offered
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Be part of one of the most compelling
conversations unfolding across America today.
Join in for what is sure to be an impactful discussion reflecting our belief that talking about racism supports Alki UCC's larger work of creating a just and peaceful world. Invite your friends and neighbors!
 We’re reading Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, the New York Times bestseller by Isabel Wilkerson. Beautifully written, original and revealing, Caste is an eye-opening story of people and history — a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and America's legacy of caste.
Add your voice! We're offering two eight-week sessions via Zoom (registration required):
Sundays at 5:00 pm beginning October 4
Led by Pastor Kelly
Register here for Sunday series
OR
Tuesdays at 2:00 pm beginning October 6
Led by Julia P and Russ T
Register here for Tuesday series
Please purchase the book, ebook, audiobook or pdf, and begin reading before the first session.
You can support local businesses by getting your copy of Caste through Paper Boat Booksellers, Pegasus Book Exchange or other WS retailers. Online resources include readabook.com, and other major booksellers.
Your Faith Formation Team, Julia, Russ & Andrea
# # #
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with your own unique link to join the discussion series.
The confirmation email includes the series meeting ID and passcode. A separate link is provided to add the information to your online calendar (Outlook, Google or Yahoo). Of course, you can also write the meeting ID and passcode in your favorite calendar.
If you normally participate in the Zoom experience by calling in on your landline, you still need to register online. When you call in to join book study, make sure you have the meeting ID and passcode from your confirmation email noted along with the call-in number.
Questions? Contact Julia.
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A New Call for Third Hymns
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We have been working through our Third Hymn inventory, enjoying singing the hymns that have been chosen so far, and appreciating the reasons for their selection. Betsy, our Music Coordinator, has been finding just the perfect suggested hymn for each worship theme; she now reports that she is ready for more.
Is there a hymn that was special to you as you were growing up? Does a certain hymn repeatedly play through your mind as you go about your day? Does one hymn especially speak (or sing) to you as you navigate this 'new normal?'
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please email me the hymn title that comes to mind for you.
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Thank you for contributing to our worship services in this very meaningful way. — Vicky S
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It's GO Time!
Mobilizing the Alki UCC GOTV Team
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Alki UCC has set a goal of sending 300 GOTV letters via the handy, online tools provided by Vote Forward. Your letters will encourage potential voters in critical electoral states to register and vote.
 Way to go! The Official Alki UCC GOTV Campaign Mailbox is already at 120 letters ready for mailing. Now, we need MORE, MORE, MORE!
Your GOTV 1-2-3-4 How-To
1) Sign up at voteforward.org;
2) Select your state(s);
3) Print/fill out letters for mailing on October 15.
4) Email the church office with how many letters you have ready to mail and to what states.
Take care to follow instructions exactly. For maximum impact, letters won't be sent until October 15.
We’re asking everyone in our community to write at least 10 letters on your own. Thanks to Shannon P for hosting our first GOTV Zoom Party ... you can, too!
Saving Our Democracy Bonus:
Write letters to win! Not only to urge reluctant citizens to vote, but to win a prize yourself! Write 10 letters to be entered into a prize drawing, 20+ letters gets your name in twice! Gift cards! Beauty lotions and potions!
Please contact me for Zoom GOTV Party info, to register for the Bonus, or with any other questions. Thank you. — Cinda S
Washington State voter registration is through October 26: ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE??
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Special prayers for Julia C's long-time friend Megan, scheduled for surgery on October 5.
# # #
Special prayers for the family and friends of Jacob Blake, Rayshard Brooks, Manuel Elllis, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, Dreasjon (Sean) Reed, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the heart-breaking list of African-Americans and other people of color murdered or wounded by police or self-declared vigilantes in our nation over many decades. We mourn with you and we stand for justice and healing.
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, transit bus and rail drivers, 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:
Todd S and family; Patty M, family and friends of Bob J, family and friends of Jim C, Kirstin and family, the family of Nancy VW, Julia P's sister; Larry G; the family and friends of Ruth O; family and friends of Shelley W; Amy Y and family
Recent hospitalization, illness and other concerns:
Bonita C, Claire F, Dayle B, Gina E and Ashleigh J, Imy P, Sandy J, Kirstin D's father, Don P, Jeff J, Bev C, John K,
Jan C
For homebound members/friends of Alki UCC: Doris C
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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Click on the blue donate button to make a secure, online credit card donation.
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Worship
This Sunday
September 20,
10:00 am
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Blessing of the Animals and
World Communion Sunday
Neighborhood
In-Creature, In-Person Walk-By
11:00 am to noon
“Origin stories
for modern times:
The role of courage, leadership and strategy
in God’s Beloved Community.”
Scripture:
Exodus 14:19-31
Liturgist:
Joe M
Tech Deacon:
Bob C
Accompanist:
Betsy S
Ministry Team Moment
Worship and Music
Click here for Sunday's Order of Worship, including the scripture reading.
The Music Corner
Enjoy the music ahead of time from your own library or the YouTube links below.
All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir
Classic children’s song by Bill Staines performed by the Alki UCC Choir
YouTube Link
Third Hymn
This Little Light of Mine
Popular Gospel song of unknown origin
Introduced by Nancy Hallberg; led by Betsy Stelzer and Joe Mitter
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Important information!
Zoom Registration Required for Worship
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You only need to register once. Zoom has upgraded its security protocol and we need to ask you to register in advance to attend Sunday worship.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with your own unique link to join Sunday worship.
For additional assistance, please phone or text Tech Deacon Shannon Peterson.
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Congregational Meeting Sunday, October 25
at 10:00 am
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October Moment of Ministry Schedule
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October 4
Worship and Music
October 11
Worship Logistics
October 18
Outreach/Social Justice
October 25
Stewardship
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"How to They/Them" Virtual Town Hall
Tonight, October 1 at 7:30 pm
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With clips from their short documentary, and insight from their book, How to They/Them, Stuart Getty and Max Delsohn introduce a gender-friendly primer saying that it’s about more than just bathrooms and pronouns—it’s about gender expression and the freedom to choose how to identify.
Sign up now! Admission free to $15. Registration and information here.
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Carl Honoré Presentation
Saturday, October 3 at 10:00 am
Steel Lake Presbyterian Church invites you to a free Zoom presentation by Carl Honoré, an award-winning writer, broadcaster & Ted Speaker for a presentation on his latest book, Bolder: Making The Most Of Our Longer Lives.
How can we all age better and feel better about aging?. It’s also a rallying cry against the last form of discrimination that dare speak its name: ageism.
Information and registration here.
Mary's Place Shine Virtual Gala
Friday, October 23
Details and registration here.
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Admiral UCC Anti-Racism Book Study
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Would you like to dig in deeper to becoming an anti-racist? The Outreach/Social Justice Ministry Team invites you to join in with Admiral UCC to explore our faith, Jesus' teachings and where we go from here. More information here.
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UCC Open and Affirming Coalition Newsletter
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Ripples, the UCC Open and Affirming Coalition’s free bi-weekly newsletter, is the go-to resource for Open and Affirming (ONA) congregations and churches on the way to an ONA covenant.
We’ll keep you connected to our growing movement, and share the latest news, resources, and opportunities for ministry, witness and advocacy. Your information remains private, and you can unsubscribe anytime. Sign up here.
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6115 SW Hinds
Seattle, WA 98116
206/935-2662
Check for church news and calendar updates at www.alkiucc.org.
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