Dear Alki UCC,
We need sacred time and space to get ready to come close to the mystery of God-with-us. We need Advent.
Last September several of us gathered in the parlor for an afternoon of collaborative brainstorming. We dreamed up a focus for our Advent season. Amidst this generative conversation, this is what bubbled to the surface:
We love the radical, subversive message of Mary’s Magnificat in Luke’s Gospel. We would re-imagine Mary’s song today to be just as radical, just as subversive, but also collective.
We all bear new life, not just us as individuals, but the whole cosmos. We are all Mary.
We were also struck by the call for peace in the Advent Scripture readings. Our song of Mary today laments the ravages of war. We can’t talk about Advent without bearing witness to the suffering in the Holy Land. As Kelley Nikondeha wrote in The First Advent in Palestine, “The work of naming suffering is the work essential to Advent. Only the pain we name is available for transformation.”
And so, Mary is Everyone: A New Song of Liberation was born.
Join us for worship to dive into these themes:
November 30: War No More
December 7: We Are One
December 14: Joy of Liberation
December 21: Birthing the Light
December 24:
6:00 pm We Were There
11:00 pm Radical Hospitality
You’ll notice a few images emerge over the course of the season:
● The Rose. The rose represents the beauty of Mary’s union with Christ, and by extension, our union with God.
● Light. Light is sprinkled throughout our Advent Scripture readings, representing wisdom and truth.
● Stars. Stars remind us of the interconnectedness of all life. They represent our oneness with the whole cosmos.
And artwork to ground our season:
 Insurgent Peasants
by Ștefan Luchian
Mary is Forever Being Born by Kelly Latimore
Christ in the Rubble by Kelly Latimore
This Sunday we will have daily prayer cards for you to take home and use to engage with the themes of the season.
On Monday, December 1 we are offering an Advent Quiet Day for you to ground your Advent with intention (more info below).
Come with your longing, step into this sacred time and space, and be changed.
In hope,
Pastor Emily
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To schedule time with Pastor Emily, check out this handy online form.
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 Monday, December 12:00 to 6:00 pm
Begin your Advent season grounded by this reflective and spare window of time for meditation, art, rest and labyrinth walk.
Drop in whenever you'd like or stay for the duration. Light refreshments provided.
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Wishing You a Joyous and Restorative Thanksgiving Holiday!
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Tuesday Bible Study via Zoom
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Led by Pastor Emily and Rev. Penny, we meet from noon to 1:30 pm for spiritual practice, deep listening and wisdom-seeking.
Faith formation is what happens when we set aside our own agendas, individually and collectively, and show up for God. Our faith is formed when we listen to our own inner longing in response to God’s call in our hearts.
Join us for the journey!
If you already registered, just use your same unique link to join us. OR sign up to attend here.
Attend all sessions, or occasionally ... whatever works for you.
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Mayflower Circle Bean Soup Fellowship
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Wednesday, December 3 at 12:15
Alki UCC Parlor
We prepared the first Mayflower Circle Bean Soup in years for the Alki UCC October Autumn Festival and now we are meeting again to fill 32 more pints!
If you have time and are interested in the process please join us in the Parlor next Wednesday, December 3 at 12:15 pm for a time of fellowship and bean soup production.
Also, if you are interested in purchasing a Mayflower Circle Bean Soup jar for holiday gifts they will be on sale in the Parlor for $6 a jar after this Sunday’s service.
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Secure Online Giving to Alki UCC
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or
Donate Using the QR Code:
1. Open your smartphone’s camera app.
2. Point it at the QR code below.
3. Tap the link appearing at the top of your screen
to visit Alki UCC's official donation page.
4. Choose your amount and submit your gift.
Why Your Support Matters
Every donation helps us continue our work and expand our impact. Your generosity fuels ministry teams, outreach and resources that make a real difference in our communities.
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Shades of Praise Gospel Choir Presents
Kent Stevenson’s "The Gospel Magnificat"
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 Saturday, December 6
at 2:00 pm
Plymouth United Church of Christ, 1217 6th Ave
Saturday December 13 at 2:00 pm
St. Therese Parish,
936 35th Ave
Saturday December 20 at 7:00 pm
Plymouth United Church of Christ
Featuring jazz band, dancers and narration, The Gospel Magnificat is a gospel rendition of Mary's hymn of praise after learning she will bear the Son of God.
Tickets: $25 ($15 students) available online here and at the door
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Ever-present God, we give you thanks.
We give you gratitude for the relationships in our lives and our community of faith.
We pray for all those who grieve.
Comfort and hold them close.
We pray for all those who are ill, hurting or have a concern on their hearts.
We pray for Charlie's friend, Peggy, and continued healing for longtime member Bonita C; Jeff D who had surgery on October 27; for Jan and Bob's son Tom; Autumn, who had a recent heart transplant; Vicky S' friend Sue; Julia C's cousin Scott M, facing a critical health challenge; our Peruvian immigrant friends and for all who seek peace and safety in our country; for Sandy J's cousin Barbara; Dan K facing various health issues; Rev. Joan C; Cinda's mother Jackie S; Julia C's friend Jessie T and family; Amy Y's mother Corlene; Sue's B's friends Mary and Louise; and Nick L.
We pray for our wider world.
We pray for all the people and places in our world affected by war. We ask for wisdom for decision-makers and strength for justice-seekers. We pray for victims of violence, for refugees and asylum-seekers. We pray for all who are hungry, desperate, and in need of support.
In all of these things, we trust that you are with us. In all of these things, we ask for you to strengthen us. Help us to see you in those around us. Help us to love as you love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Please contact the church office to add or remove a prayer request. |
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Worship this Sunday,
November 30
at 10:00 am
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First Sunday
of Advent
Mary is Everyone:
A New Song
of Liberation
"War No More"
Rev. Emily Tanis-Likkel
Isaiah 2:1-5
NRSVue
Romans 13:11-14
The Message
Brett T-L
Liturgist
Daniel Self
Music Director
Music Highlights
#O Come, O Come Emmanuel
#112, Keep Awake, Be Always Ready
There is a Longing
Anne Quigley
Ain’t Gonna Study
War No More
African-American Spiritual
Image:
Insurgent Peasants
by Stefan Luchian
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Sunday Worship Livestreamed on YouTube
The Sunday worship Live Stream video appears at 10:00 am every week at the top of the page.
Please "subscribe" to the Alki UCC channel
in order to participate
in the live chat.
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Alki UCC Caroling and Cocoa
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Saturday,
December 13
6:00 pm
Mark your calendar and plan to join fellow carolers of all skill levels and talent (ahem, no talent) in belting out "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman" as we delight our Alki neighbors with holiday song.
We'll meet at church to warm up our voices then trek around the hood.
Wear your festive gear! We'll return to church to warm back up with cocoa and treats. Note: we received many cheers and even squeals from our neighbors last year. It's really fun!
Image: Beatriz-Camaleao on Unsplash
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Joe’s Art for Hunger Holiday Sale
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Sunday December 7 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
At our home:
8145 29th Ave. SW
(West Seattle
near Thistle St
and 29 Ave SW)
All proceeds benefit a non-profit of your choice that helps provide nutrition for those in need.
No money is exchanged when a piece is sold – the buyer simply agrees to donate the negotiated amount to a non-profit organization of choice dedicated to feeding the hungry.
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Want to lead a song this Sunday?
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If you see a song on the music highlights that you'd like to lead the congregation in singing this Sunday, come on by the church between 9:45 to 10:00 am on Sunday morning and let Daniel know which song you'd like to lead and/or co-lead.
Singers of all ages and abilities are welcome to lead singing!
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Bring your loose coins to church and fill up our container to support our fund-raising efforts!
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Collect and Bring in Your WS Thriftway Receipts to Benefit the WS Food Bank
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West Seattle Thriftway actively supports the West Seattle Food Bank by donating 1% of customer receipts to the food bank.
Save and bring in your receipts to help feed our Neighbors in Need.
Look for the labeled Tupperware container (thank you, Marilynn!) on top of the Sustainable Steward Cubbies.
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Sunday Worship Livestream
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 Alki UCC YouTube Channel Linked HERE
The Sunday worship Livestream video appears at 10:00 am every week at the top of the page. Sunday Worship recordings
are accessed at the same link.
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6115 SW Hinds
Seattle, WA 98116
206/935-2661;
Church news/calendar updates at alkiucc.org.
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