Dear Alki UCC,
Last weekend’s Annual Meeting of the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ at Plymouth UCC was a joyful reunion with vibrant worship and meaningful discussion.
 Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, UCC General Minister and President, was Saturday morning’s preacher. Highlighting worship was an official Conference welcome of four new congregations, two from Anchorage, one from Seattle and one from Auburn. The full service is linked here.
As Moderator Indigo Brown expressed, " it was an incredible community that came together under the theme "Forward Together." Our gathering was a powerful testament to the spirit of the Poor People's Campaign and its rallying cry, "Forward Together, Not One Step Back."
The words from 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 resonated deeply: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." These verses reminded us that  even in the face of challenges, we can find strength and resilience through our faith and our unity.
Two resolutions were adopted — one specific to our Conference. Created by the Anti Racism Task Force, it states that: “The PNCUCC will require antiracism training for all Conference staff and board members, to be renewed every three years.”
The other resolution, developed by Pastor Leah from Fauntleroy UCC, is considered a “Resolution of Witness,” an official stance on a particular issue. It states: “The PNCUCC stands in opposition to laws and initiatives of Washington, Idaho, Alaska and our nation that support regressive tax policy benefiting the rich and powerful while failing to alleviate oppression of the economically challenged.”
The 2025 budget was passed, with a deficit to be funded by reserves.
The Report Booklet, including the resolutions' full texts, Board of Directors/Committee reports, slate of committee members and Budget, is linked here.
The Board of Directors will reconvene the Conference on the evening of June 18 for a virtual meeting to vote on calling our Acting Conference Minister, Rev. Phil Hodson, originally elected to serve for six months, to the position of Designated Conference Minister for an additional two years.
Cinda and I were glad to represent you. We enjoyed our time connecting with people and learning about our wider church. We were reminded that many of our churches are experiencing declining attendance and discerning new ways to be the church today.
I am grateful to continue serving on the Church Development Committee of the Conference, particularly to empower and support leaders who sense a call to start new, non-traditional ministries. It is an exciting time of transition and opportunity in the Pacific Northwest Conference!
In hope,
Pastor Emily
# # #
|
|
Welcome to Stewardship 2024-2025
as We Imagine Together
|
We are a faith community,
growing together as disciples of Jesus Christ,
courageously sharing God's love
with each other and the world.
— Alki UCC Purpose Statement
You all provided your insights on post-it notes answering Pastor Emily’s question: "How can we be a people of healing"? We look forward to compiling your notes to inspire a future of healing!
As a community, we will Imagine Together!
Imagine: God speaks to us through prophets of ages past and through visionaries and leaders today. God speaks in our hearts “with sighs too deep for human words” (Romans 8). And God speaks through spirited debate as we seek to discern the right thing to do. In all these ways, God stretches our imagination for what’s possible and what’s necessary.
Together: God calls us into community. We follow Jesus as siblings in faith. United with other believers, we form a Christian movement living the way of Jesus. Faith is not a solitary life but one that brings our hearts close to others. As a statement of faith from the United Church of Canada affirms, “we are not alone; we live in God’s world.”
The spiritual practice of generosity arises from imagining all that God calls us to do as a community. Our donations to our congregation make it possible to turn what we imagine into a reality.
Through our annual commitments to our congregation, we imagine together all that we can do.
— Your Stewardship Team
Shannon P & Dan K
|
|
We thank you, O God, for the beauty of this life.
We give you gratitude for the relationships in our lives and this community of faith.
We pray for all those who grieve.
Comfort their hearts and hold them close.
We pray for all those who are ill, hurting or have a concern on their hearts.
Vicky S requests special prayers for a member of Alki UCC's Peruvian families seeking asylum. She sent this update:
Continued prayers for Kenyi's recovery. He had his knee surgery, but it is not healing properly so he has gone back to the hospital for a procedure to reset and start recovery all over again. Fútbol (soccer) will have to wait a bit longer.
We pray especially for Dan K facing various health issues, Jim J's 93-year-old Uncle Don, Rev. Joan Carter, Cinda's mother Jackie S, Alki UCC's Peruvian Families Seeking Asylum, Dan’s friend, Mary, as she deals with dementia and a new place to live, Julia C's friend Jessie T and family, Amy Y's mother Corlene, Davney and Bob S, Sue's B's friends Mary and Louise, and Nick L.
We pray for our wider world.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
Phil. 4:6-7
Wars and conflicts continue to escalate around the world, and our hearts especially go out to the people of Palestine.
UCC Action Alert:
by rejecting further military aid and assistance to Israel
and by supporting
continued financial contributions to UNRWA.
Injustices and inequalities manifest as racism, discrimination, gender-based violence, economic disparities, and other issues. As a communal response to uplift these sorrows and support our neighbors near and far, General Minister and President, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson calls the church to a season of prayer. Prayer undergirds our witness, ministry, and advocacy as we work for peace and a just world for all.
This is an open invitation to anyone who feels called to offer a prayer to end violence in any manifestation, and to bring about peace. Share your prayers using the People’s Prayers for Peace form on this page. New prayers are published on this page daily.
Publishing is at the discretion of the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ and prayers may be edited for content and length.
# # #
Please contact the church office to add or remove a prayer request. |
|
Sunday Worship Videos Posted on YouTube
|
Sunday Worship recordings now online! Check out Alki UCC's very own YouTube channel. |
|
6115 SW Hinds
Seattle, WA 98116
206/935-2661;
Church news/calendar updates at alkiucc.org.
|
|
|
|
Worship this Sunday,
May 5
at 10:00 am
|
Sixth Sunday
of Easter
with Communion
A World Made Whole
Rev. Emily
Tanis-Likkel
Liturgist:
Diane J
Scripture
Isaiah 35
Stephen Anthony Rawson
Music Director
Music Highlights
Like a Healing Stream Bruce Harding
There’s a Spirit of Love in This Place
Mark A. Miller
Way Maker
Sinach
#340, We Are People on a Journey
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You
Ludwig van Beethoven
Amen, Amen
African-American Spiritual
# # #
If you've already registered on Zoom, just use your personal link. If not, welcome! You can register here. When you register, please use your first/last name plus your email.
|
|
Community Collaborative Art and Social Justice Event
|
Sunday, May 19
11:15 am to 12:30 pm
Front Patio
In collaboration with
Kol HaNeshamah
"This is What
Justice Looks Like"
50 days after the tearing of the flag, we'll gather to transform a vandalized sign into a collaborative artistic vision of affirmation and equality.
Intrigued? Stay tuned!
|
|
Plan on joining in for fun and fellowship at a Progressive Dinner at the church on the evening of Saturday, June 8.
Details to follow.
—Vicky S
|
|
Alki UCC is providing the hot meal at WIN's Welcome Table on Saturday, May 25.
Start thinking about what you might want to prepare for the meal (your yummiest casserole? A fresh salad? desserts?) and block out the morning to early afternoon to volunteer at this beautiful community event.
All are welcome! More info to come. — Cinda S
|
|
Tuesday
Online Bible Study Continues
|
Noon to 1:30 pm
Join us via Zoom for our ongoing Tuesday study group. Attend every Tuesday or whenever your schedule permits!
Explore multiple options throughout the year for Bible study, book/video discussions and classes.
If you're already registered for Tuesday Bible Study, just use your unique link to log in.
If not, welcome! Register here: Zoom Registration
|
|
For secure, online giving through Give Lively, click the button, OR, send your check, made out to "Alki UCC," to: 6115 SW Hinds,
Seattle, WA 98116
|
|
Sunday Worship Registration
|
If you've already registered on Zoom, just use your personal link. If not, welcome! You can register here.
When you register, please use your first/last name plus your email.
|
|
|
This past Sunday, we kicked off seven weeks of Stewardship with the subject of healing. 
