Happy Thanksgiving, Alki!
I just bought my 2021 calendar from our local office supply store and found myself saying to the cashier, “Good riddance to 2020.”
 I find myself more often than I’d like to admit dreaming about how blissful and problem-free 2021 will be since surely we’ve all paid our dues to the cosmos this year. The cynical side of me still lives on so the fantasy doesn’t tend to last long.
Has everyone adjusted their Thanksgiving plans to be safe and cautious? I know this year is much more boring, lonely and panic-stricken than we’d all like. It is a hard time. My family decided to replace our traditional meal with an outside nature walk followed by hot-cocoa-to-go from our favorite coffee shop. (Secretly, I’m hoping something like this embeds itself into our annual traditions.)
The first Sunday in Advent is upon us as well and the theme this year is “A Gentle Christmas.” See story below for how to participate in the Living Advent Calendar, a warm and special message each day from members of the congregation until Christmas Day.
A very special Advent program will be offered by the Spiritual Travelers during worship this Sunday at 10:00 am. They have been preparing all fall and I am excited to hear them. Please plan to attend, it is open to all.
Blessed Advent,
Pastor Kelly
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Call for Advent Messages for Alki UCC's "Living Advent Calendar"
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It's a different kind of Advent this year, which calls for a different kind of Advent Calendar.
Announcing our inaugural Alki UCC Living Advent Calendar, a daily offering of members sharing their own words of encouragement, humor, sweetness and uplift ... a virtual way to reveal the daily magic on the Advent countdown to Christmas.
What is YOUR Advent message? Here are just a few possibilities: poems, music, random insights, YouTube or other website links, cartoons, well-wishes, pictures (either your own or something that speaks to you), personal video or audio recordings (under 3 minutes, please).
Here’s how it works:
- To schedule your message, send an email to the church office with "Living Advent Calendar" and your name in the subject line. If you have your message ready to go, great! Send it along! If not, no problem ... we just need to know that you will be providing one.
- Please respond as soon as possible so we can get the schedule firmed up.
- If you want your message sent on a specific date in Advent, you can make that request. If that date is already taken, the message will be scheduled in the order received.
- You will get a confirmation email with the due date for your message (at least 3 days before it’s scheduled) and the date it will be shared.
Other nuts and bolts:
- To get this started, the fabulous Worship and Music team got volunteered to provide messages through Sunday, Dec 6.
- Subsequent messages will be sent out as an email blast scheduled on a "first-come-first-served-basis" sequentially from Monday, December 7 (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are already scheduled).
- Email your message to the church office, either as an attachment or in the body of the email. Please provide a brief introduction.
NOTE: personal videos or audio recordings (under 3 minutes, please) are welcome, but the files may be too big to go through email. Just say "video file" or "audio file" in your schedule request email, and you'll get simple instructions on how to upload the file to the cloud AFTER saving it on your computer. It will be shared as a web link.
I’m sure there are tech issues we may not have thought of yet. We welcome your questions.
Our theme this year, A Gentle Advent, is sure to elicit some lovely Christmas offerings and beautiful music. We look forward to YOUR Advent message.
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Alki UCC "Adopt-a-Family" for Christmas
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 The holidays are upon us and we are reminded about the growing number of people in great need. Even though it appears that the pain and overwhelm increases every day, we find joy and purpose being part of a social justice community that provides opportunities to share and give, in big and small ways.
We give thanks for what we are blessed with, and commit ourselves to helping our neighbor as Christ calls us to do.
The Outreach team has a identified a special family of eight to "adopt" through Multi-Communities, a local non-profit serving immigrant and refugee families on the brink of homelessness.
Next week, we'll announce our gift wish list of items this precious family would like for Christmas ... gifts they could never dream of receiving otherwise. We will need people to shop for these gifts (online is best!).
For quite a few years we have served a hot breakfast at Camp Second Chance on Christmas Day. We are hoping that there is still interest in cooking/baking/roasting eggs, bacon, sausages, potatoes, pastries, etc. This year, will be a contactless experience of dropping off hot food at the gate for camp residents to set up and serve.
Please respond to me or the church office if you are able to participate in these activities.
Looking forward to hearing from you! — Cinda
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Mission into Reality: It's GO Time!
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 Act III is about to start.
We voted unanimously for our Future Story and it’s time to form teams, finalize plans and turn mission into reality.
Here’s the timeline:
1) Form Action Teams by the end of December;
2) Launch the research/information gathering phase during the 1st quarter: January through March;
3) Refine planning during the 2nd Quarter: March through May;
4) Present final, multi-year plan to achieve our Future Story at Alki UCC’s 2021 Annual Meeting in June.
Sign up for an action team on the Alki UCC website here. Our goal is 100% participation, whether you sign up for a team or not.
Please click on the link and look over the different areas of possible involvement. Leave a comment, tell us about any special skills, contacts or insights you have … or volunteer someone else! That’s always fun.
Your spirit, your talents, your commitment to this faith community is needed now more than ever.
Thank you.
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Call for Peaceful Presidential Transition Statement from Interfaith Religious Leaders
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Interfaith leaders from across the country join together with a plea for the current administration to respect our United States democracy and the will of the people and to honor the outcome of our 2020 presidential election. All of them share the common belief that there is an urgent need for democracy to be preserved and for the administration to accept the outcome.
It is rare that these voices would be one in common effort — and we ask that you share this as widely as possible. All efforts to uphold democracy and curtail tension or violence are being identified right now. Every little bit helps.
Shalom, Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
Watch the YouTube video here.
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"Be A Blessing" Yard Signs
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Emily H writes:
 I bought a package of 25 yards signs for our members! Titled "Be a Blessing," the signs are from the national UCC.
It is very colorful (black background with aqua, red, green, yellow pink print with lots of sayings).
The signs will be mailed to me on November 30 and I'll be distributing them outside the church during the donations drive on Sunday, December 13 from 10 am to 3 pm. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing me at hitchens@spu.edu. The cost is $10.00 each and I'll email you back to confirm logistics.
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Alki UCC Institutes Covid-19 Health/Safety Procedures for All Building Use
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As more and more folks use the building on a regular basis, a special team has been working on policies/procedures to make sure we keep staff, volunteers and visitors as safe as possible. Following is a general overview.
• All building use needs to be scheduled in advance. Email the church office to make a “reservation” so we can maintain an accurate public record of comings and goings for the purposes of contact tracing.
• Take your same-day temperature or oximeter reading before you visit the building.
.• Comply with the Conditions of Entry which are posted outside on the main Hinds Street entrance door: wearing a mask, maintaining a minimum six-foot social distancing requirement.
.• Stop at a special check-in table just as you enter the Narthex to review our safety protocol statement and fill out a Health Affidavit/Checklist affirming you do not have any signs of the Covid-19 virus.
• Upon your arrival and as you’re leaving, disinfect “common use” surfaces affected by your visit: table surfaces, chair hand rests, light switches, door handles, copier keypad, computer mouse/keypad, toilet handles, faucets, stair railings, etc.
Groups should assign one person to make sure the disinfecting happens and that all group members have filled out a Health Affidavit/Checklist form.
The safety of our Alki UCC family, our guests, is Job One, and we hope the above efforts will help. Thank you for your feedback and patience as we work this out!
Be well and be good to each other.
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Prayers of healing for Penny M, recovering well at home after cataract surgery last week.
Special prayers for the family and friends of Walter Wallace,
Jonathan Price, 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:
Ed B and family; Jeff Duckett's cousin Jerry Elder and his wife Tami Elder; Todd S and family; Patty M, family and friends of Bob J, family and friends of Jim C, Kirstin and family; Larry G
Recent hospitalization, illness and other concerns:
Sue B's friend Sonia, Kirstin D; Shannon P's father, Rev. Dr. Bill,; Verona's younger brother Eric; Julia C's long-time friend Megan; Bonita C; Claire F; Dayle B; Gina E and Ashleigh J; Imy P; 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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Worship this Sunday
November 29
at 10:00 am
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The First Sunday
in Advent
Lights … Camera … Action!!
The Spiritual Travelers bring you The Miracle and Mystery of Advent, Mary's story. It's the agony of Mary's parents, faced with a pregnant, unmarried daughter, and Mary and Joseph, facing and coming to terms with a frightening and amazing situation brought by God. And of course there are angels ...
Although Covid restrictions have placed some limitations on the musical presentation, Bob and Shannon's technical wizardry has allowed much of the story to remain intact.
Written by Rev. Joan Carter, with all original music composed and played by DJ Wilson, we hope you will invite your friends to attend Zoom worship this Sunday and join us to celebrate the beginning of Advent.
The Spiritual Travelers are Cinda, Vicky, Verona, Joe and Nette, Ted, Lisa, DJ and Rev. Joan.
— Joe M
# # # #
Scripture: (Luke 1:28)
And having come in, the angel said to her,
Rejoice, highly favored one.
The Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women!
Sunday's Order of Worship is posted here.
See below for Zoom registration information.
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Advent and Christmas Eve Schedule
"A Gentle Christmas"
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Dec 6 at 10:00 am
Second Sunday In Advent
Dec 13 at 10:00 am
Third Sunday In Advent
Dec 20 at 10:00 am
Fourth Sunday In Advent
Tues, Dec 24 at 4:00 pm
Christmas Eve Community Walk-By
Enjoy music of the season as you drop off your food bank donations at the front courtyard and pick up a cocoa packet, holiday treats and a worship candle for the 7:00 online service.
Tues, Dec 24 at 7:00 pm
Christmas Eve Online Worship
Our traditional Christmas Eve service with at-home candle-lighting and Silent Night.
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Office Closed for Thanksgiving
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Happy Thanksgiving to all!
In observance of the holiday, the office is closed tomorrow and Friday, November 27.
Have a gentle weekend.
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Sean Sherman, The Sioux Chef: ‘This Is The Year To Rethink Thanksgiving’
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A member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux is hoping for a national reset that dismantles hurtful narratives and fills our plates with locally sourced food.
Read about it here.
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Paid and Volunteer Positions Open
to Help Feed Our Homeless Neighbors
Dec 22 - 27
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This is the 22nd year that The Christmas People Foundation will provide free meals for our homeless Seattle neighbors; we'll be serving at three women's shelters, one family shelter and one men's shelter.
Normally we send out food in full size steam table trays. This year it's individual boxes — all 1900 of them.
There are openings for two paid positions (Working Supervisors) and 8 or 10 volunteer positions (stipend possible) from Tuesday, Dec 22 through Sunday, Dec 27.
Headquarters is an inspected kitchen at Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th Ave SW. All COVID precautions are observed and a physician will be on hand.
The Christmas People Foundation
(206) 719-4979
pialley@jps.net
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Zoom Registration Link for Sunday Worship
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You only need to register once. Due to upgraded security protocols, please register in advance to attend Sunday worship.
You will receive a confirmation email with your own unique link to join Sunday worship.
For additional assistance, phone or text Tech Deacon Shannon Peterson.
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Liturgists
December 6
Verona R and Vicky S
December 13
Cinda S
December 20
Dan K
December 27
Emily H
Moment of Ministry
December 6
Faith Formation
December 13
Caring Community/
Fellowship
December 20
Worship and Music
December 27
Worship Logistics
The rotating Moment of Ministry worship schedule is posted here.
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Click on the blue donate button to make a secure, online credit card donation and an overview of other ways to donate.
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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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