Dear Alki UCC,
Have you heard Pastor Leah's powerful speech from last Monday's downtown rally, on the heels of her trip to Minneapolis? Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski is Senior Minister of our sister congregation, Fauntleroy UCC. In her speech she said, “White nationalist Christians don’t get to own my faith. I will not stand by while they preach belief in Jesus but don’t preach what Jesus preached. Jesus preached to love our neighbor, to lift up the lowly, to let the oppressed go free, to love God by loving our neighbors and to honor the dignity of every human person. These are teachings that people of many faiths and oftentimes no faith share because they are teachings rooted in love and kindness rather than fear and scarcity mindsets.”
You can listen here:
Fauntleroy UCC pastor Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski at Seattle rally
I also highly recommend listening to the talk that she gave last night at Fauntleroy UCC which you can watch here: Lessons from Minneapolis with Pastor Leah
The foundation of our faith is exemplified by the prophet Micah: what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Resisters and Protectors of Neighbors across our nation are re-imagining this verse as "Do Justice. Love Kindness. Abolish ICE.
We gather this Sunday to explore what the call to love our neighbors means for us today.
In hope,
Pastor Emily
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From the Outreach/Social Justice Team
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This Sunday, we will be handing out Alki UCC's process document should ICE or CBP (Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Customs & Border Protection) attempt entry. We wrote this up, based on KHN's document, to have a stated procedure should anyone in the building encounter ICE/CBP. Take it home and look it over please.
The following Sunday after service (Feb 8th), Cinda will lead a Q&A regarding our document. Since there is so much going on in our country with these federal agencies, specifically Minneapolis, LA, Chicago, NYC, and Portland, we anticipate that there will be questions much broader than this process document. We want to be able to address those questions, and offer a deeper training should some of you want that.
Many of us involved with the Westside Interfaith Network and providing the Saturday hot meal have been educated via WAISN (Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network) "Rapid Response" training. This is a specific training on what to do (and NOT to do) should you choose to defend the civil rights of someone being targeted by ICE/CBP.
Please watch this training, read our ICE/CBP process document, and come with questions on Feb 8th.
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As faith community grounded in love, we grieve the killing of Renee Nicole Good and the abuses inflicted on immigrant communities in Minnesota and beyond. That is why, in solidarity with our faith partners in Minnesota, we are calling on Congress to 1) prevent increased funding for ICE, 2) to hold the officer who killed Renee Good legally accountable, and 3) to demand ICE leave Minnesota immediately.
Write Representatives Here
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"Hearts for Alki UCC"
Valentine's Celebration Fundraiser
Saturday, February 14
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Join the team!
• Decorating and Setup: Led by Julia P
• Supper Donations of main course
(pasta dishes), salad, desserts); Led by Sandy J
• Donations of wine & beer to share, Led by Cinda S
• Flip the room from dining to dance floor; Led by Diane J
All Things in the Kitchen; Led by Jeff W
We’re also accepting silent auction donations. Consider contributing unique experiences or items. Here are just a few ideas:
• Hosting a home-cooked meal
• Travel opportunities (condos, cabins, boats)
• Special treasures valued at $20 or more
Please contact Cinda, who will curate your offerings to help raise funds in support of our church building and community programs.
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Here's what's in the works for our Valentine's Celebration Fundraiser on Saturday, February 14 in Anderson Hall:
🕔 Doors Open: 5:00 pm
🍝 Italian Supper Potluck:
6:00 pm ($30)
🎶 Introduction to Square Dancing: 7:00 pm (Free)
Led by our very own Diane J who will be teaching and calling as we dance the night away!
🛍️ Silent Auction: 5:00 to 8:00 pm
Cool experiences and stuff to bid on during the evening!
We're looking forward to a fun, festive evening full of great food, lively dancing and community spirit. Let’s make it a Valentine’s Day to remember.
RSVP Here
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Westside Interfaith Network (WIN)
An invaluable community resource ...
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For those of you who are unfamiliar ... Both Alki UCC and our partner synagogue, Kol Ha Neshamah, are active members of the Westside Interfaith (WIN).
From the WIN website:
We are an interfaith group in the West Seattle-White Center area working together to address the needs of our neighbors through service, compassion and action.
Our own Cinda S is WIN's President.
Consider subscribing to the WIN newsletter, sent out when there are events of immediate interest to our collective community. You'll read about a range of opportunities to have your voice heard and make a difference.
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We had a great Alki UCC turn-out at the We're Still Standing rally and March last Saturday in West Seattle. Here are a couple of photos with our new banner! Resist!
 
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Statement and Prayer by Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
UCC General Minister and President
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“This is God’s Message: Attend to matters of justice. Set things right between people. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Don’t take advantage of the homeless, the orphans, the widows. Stop the murdering!” (Jeremiah 22:3, MSG)
The peace we long for seems elusive, as we witness the violence in Minneapolis. We are shocked by the murder of Alex Pretti by ICE agents today in the streets of Minneapolis, a mere 17 days after the murder of Renee Nicole Good. We grieve the loss of these lives and pray for their families and loved ones during this time of grief and sorrow.
We pray for the city of Minneapolis, for its leaders and for clergy and spiritual leaders who are offering care to this city that continues to experience the violence, tyranny, and oppression in the presence and actions of ICE agents. We pray for an end to the violence and hatred unleashed on immigrant communities and pray safety for those most vulnerable, even as we pray for those who seek to care for those whose lives are threatened by the presence of these federal agents.
The United Church of Christ joins the faith community in strongly condemning the on-going actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as it continues to bring death and violence to the streets of Minneapolis. The use of lethal force on unarmed and non-threatening individuals continues to result in loss of life and injury. The abduction of people on the streets of major cities, the profiling of individuals, the targeting of immigrants, and the escalation of deportations are violating the human rights of millions. Added to the increased militarization of cities, communities that house some of the most vulnerable now find themselves under siege. It is time to stop the murdering. It is time to stop the violence. It is time to return peace to our nation’s cities.
The deployment of masked agents in the nation’s cities has escalated fear, anxiety, and tension in communities where immigrants and people of color continue to be profiled and targeted to be stopped, detained, and arrested. As people of faith, we call for the removal of ICE from Minneapolis and other cities, and for the removal of the National Guard. We call for truth telling and for accountability in these two deaths, seeking justice for the lives lost, and for those whose lives are disrupted by the actions of ICE.
Today we mourn, weeping at the injustices being meted on neighbors. We mourn the loss of freedom, dignity, and respect. We mourn the loss of these lives.
Alex Pretti
Renee Nicole Good
God, we long for peace in our communities, peace that is promised, peace that is everlasting. We cry out for the loss of lives to violence in the streets of the United States. Grant us the courage to see and speak the truth. Help us to be witnesses to your presence and to the call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Restore peace to the land and to our communities. Set things right among us we pray. Amen.
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6115 SW Hinds
Seattle, WA 98116
206/935-2661;
Church news/calendar updates at alkiucc.org.
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Worship this Sunday,
February 1
at 10:00 am
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Fourth Sunday
after the Epiphany
Rev. Emily Tanis-Likkel
Scripture:
Micah 6:1-8
Liturgist:
Diane J
Daniel Self
Music Director
Guest Oboist
Bruce Carpenter
Music Highlights
What does the Lord Require? by Jim Strathdee
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Gabriel’s Oboe
by Ennio Morricone
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Bruce Carpenter
Break the Bread, Pour the Wine
by Mark Hayes
Alki UCC Community Choir
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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Have you longed for a spiritual practice to meet the needs of your progressive family?
Come and experience Godly Play at Alki United Church of Christ!
The Godly Play® method is a creative, imaginative approach to Christian formation and spiritual guidance. Godly Play values process, openness, discovery, community and relationships.
Godly Play at Alki UCC is for kids ages 3-12 and their caregivers.
Sessions are the first Sunday of the month
in the preschool space downstairs, 11:30am-12:30pm.
Children and adults explore spirituality alongside one another in our circle. Contact Pastor Emily with questions.
Godly Play
Where Childhood Spirituality Matters
I wonder what part you will like best . . . ?
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Merciful God, we give you thanks.
We give you gratitude for the beauty of this life, for our relationships and our community of faith.
We pray for all those who grieve.
May they find strength and peace.
We pray for all who seek comfort, guidance or healing.
We lift them up to your loving care.
We pray for our wider world.
We pray for the earth, your good creation entrusted to our care. We pray for those affected by violence, war, and disaster. We pray for leaders to act with integrity and be held accountable for their actions.
In prayer, O God, you hear us and know us. In prayer, we are unburdened and restored. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Please contact the church office to add or remove a prayer request.
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Sunday Worship Livestream
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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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