Dear Alki UCC,
We need counterweights.
I feel my stomach clench every day as I scan the morning headlines. We need tools to stay awake to what is happening in our country, to be informed without becoming completely overwhelmed. It's a huge balancing act.
Last Sunday, I drew from the theology of Saint Julian of Norwich. Her work is a counterweight for me. Her Revelations of Divine Love a counterweight of a widened, expansive vision of God and God’s love.(Sermon linked here)
Way back in the 1300’s Julian wrote, “As truly as God is our Father, so truly God is our Mother.” Julian understood the divine feminine in all three persons of the Trinity. She imagined God in the most non-binary way that her language could access. If she lived today, I believe that she would use they/them pronouns for God. God is both. God is beyond. God is all.
This expansive understanding of God is the counterweight we offer as a church. It’s a counterweight to the heaviness of patriarchy, heteronormativity and the binaries that seek to separate us.
Julian invented the term "oneing" to describe the mysticism of humanity being one with God, one with each other and one with creation. She wrote, “By the force of this precious 'oneing' we love, see, praise, thank and endlessly enjoy our creator.” This "onening" is not for a select few, it is for all.
What has been a counterweight for you this week?
What meaningful thing might you pull out of your pack, look over and consider?
It all belongs.
In hope,
Pastor Emily
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PNC UCC Conference Minister
Search Committee
"Listening Session"
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This Sunday After Worship
11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Hosted by Tyler Torres (see bio below)
The Search Committee looking for our next Conference Minister is putting together a 'Conference Profile' as the first step in the process. This involves hearing from as many churches as possible to answer some questions we have about our identity and relationships as a conference.
Your participation is greatly appreciated!
We hope to see you there.
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My name is Tyler Torres! I live in Seattle with my partner and my cat. We've lived here for four years, having moved from the San Francisco Bay Area, and have been attending Fauntleroy Church UCC for two years.
I have the pleasure of serving in our Christian Education ministry and leading our Sunday evening youth groups, and get excited about creating spaces where we can realize God's kingdom through relationship.
I am so happy to have found the UCC, with all of its diversity of people, theology and expressions of love. Outside of church, I study Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Seattle University, and enjoy walking around West Seattle (say 'Hello!' if you see me!).
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Alki UCC Donations Drive this Sunday, May 17
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11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Front Courtyard
This Month's Priority Need: FOOD!! Feed the People!
Wanted: non-perishable items like canned meats, peanut butter, tuna fish, cereals, beans, tortillas, bread, ramen and snacks for kids.
The Westside Interfaith Network (WIN), our donations drive partner, also requests clean and wearable men's/women's outerwear suitable for the season, hygiene items and camping gear to be distributed through WIN's "Welcome Table," a weekly Saturday meal for low income and unsheltered folks hosted in White Center.
This distribution serves as a stop-gap for many people relying on weekly visits to the food bank. Thank you for your generosity!
Remember: You can bring your donations to the church any time! Just deposit in donations barrel on front entrance porch
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Stewardship Season Underway!
Abundance Grows Where We Give
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When I was asked to share my thoughts on stewardship, being a superfan of Alki UCC, my immediate answer was: yes!
Whenever we gather at Alki UCC, I feel extravagantly welcome. It feels good to be there. I feel safe, accepted and inspired.
One of the many unique things I love about the UCC is that it has no rigid doctrine or strict attachment to creeds and structures. The life and organization of the United Church of Christ is the local church.
Sometimes that can make it challenging when asked, “So what does the UCC stand for?” I deeply believe in the values and mission of the United Church of Christ and am always eager to share what excites me about the UCC.
Believing that each person is on a spiritual journey and that each of us is at a different stage of that journey.
Believing in the power of peace and work toward nonviolent solutions to local, national and international problems. God calls us to serve others and to be faithful stewards of the earth’s resources. Did you know the UCC Economic Justice Movement has a blog? The Pollinator. You should check it out!
I embrace the UCC’s commitment to justice through its eight Just World Covenant programs, including disability ministries, immigrant welcoming, and Open and Affirming (LGBTQ+). These programs help local churches, like Alki UCC, strengthen our devotion to building a just world for all through ministry, mission and witness.
The UCC 5 for 5 program also has a special place in my heart. I am proud that Alki UCC participates each year: Basic support (Our Church’s Wider Mission) along with all four UCC Special Mission Offerings: disaster relief (One Great Hour of Sharing), justice initiatives (Neighbors In Need), clergy support (The Christmas Fund), and church growth (Strengthen The Church). Knowing that our gifts are part of creating a more just and compassionate world is comforting to me.
But what I think I love most about the UCC is its approach to the Bible: not as a rigid rulebook, but as an inspired and shared foundation for faith, inviting progressive, contextual interpretation, reminding us that “God is still speaking.” Wow! Breathing room to explore, to grow and to listen to God speaking in our lives today!
I cheerfully donate my time, talent and treasure to Alki UCC because I believe in this church. I trust that my gifts are being used wisely and faithfully to support the mission and values we share, sustaining a community that welcomes, serves and loves others.
— Diane J
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Calling All Cooks!
Alki UCC Hosts Welcome Table Lunch
Saturday, May 23
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Hello friends of The Welcome Table-
Along with our friends at Admiral UCC and the Westside UUs, Alki UCC is responsible for providing the Welcome Table hot meal next Saturday, May 23.
 We need to plan to feed 150 people so lots of casseroles, deli chicken (and other main course protein), roasted veggies, fruit salad, and desserts- lots of desserts!
Hope you can contribute and/or join in the fun with serving the meal or passing out donations and our various tables.
And speaking of donations: our food pantry has been kinda sad lately. Along with a casserole could you bring a couple of cans of tuna, fruit, peanut butter, box of cereal, or whatever? That table feeds a lot of people and they've come to count on your donations.
We're always looking for men's outdoor work clothing, sturdy shoes and boots, socks socks and more socks.
Please LMK and thank you thank you thank you! — Cinda
We set up at 11:15 am and welcome folks in at noon. If you’re bringing desserts please bring by 11:45, food pantry donations can come anytime after 11:00 am — cereal, canned foods, tuna, peanut butter, bread, tortillas, boiled eggs, snacks, etc. All needed and all given away to our hungry neighbors!
New Beginnings Church:
1320 SW 102nd St, White Center.
2 blocks east of McClendon’s across from Steve Cox Park
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Spring cleanup energy is alive and well at Alki UCC.
Thanks to all who have taken the initiative to tend to areas that have needed tidying for far too long ... and are now spaces of organization and beauty, thanks to their new caregivers.
We have lots of spaces in the church
that could use organization and regular attention.
Would you be willing to adopt a space
at church to sort and tend?
Possibilities include the Lost & Found, kitchen, parlor kitchen, the closet next to the office level restroom, the storage room in Anderson Hall and the stage. Ask a friend or two to help or do it on your own and at your convenience.
Please contact Charlie or the church office and we will connect you with a space!
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Join us via Zoom for Ongoing
Tuesday Bible Study
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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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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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Worship this Sunday,
May 17
at 10:00 am
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Counterweight:
"We Are
Witnesses"
Rev. Emily
Tanis-Likkel
Designated-Term Pastor
Marilynn M
Liturgist
Scripture
Acts 1:6-14
New Revised Standard Version, updated edition
Daniel Self
Music Director
Music Highlights
Open Our Hearts
Jim Strathdee
O Christ, When You Ascended
Blessed Be the
Tie That Binds
John Fawcett
Abide With Me NCH 99
Image:
Irewolede
on Unsplash
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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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Tonight! Free!
"Earth Mother" Alki UCC Spring Community Concert
7:30 pm
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Daniel Self,
Music Director
The "Earth Mother" program, featuring the Alki UCC Community Choir and friends, celebrates themes of nature and motherhood through a range of provocative and compelling contemporary choral works by living composers:
A Green Voice
Mari Isabel Valverde
Earth Song
Frank Ticheli
Fire from “The Elements” Katerina Gimon
The Music of Living
Dan Forest
The Rose
Ola Gjeilo
They Are Mother
Jennifer Lucy Cook
The Water Is Wide
Rene Clausen
Free Admission/
Donations Welcome
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We encourage you to consider carpooling to worship this Sunday, May 17 to avoid the added traffic along Alki Beach for the annual 5K Run.
We have permission to use the Admiral UCC parking lot, 4320 SW Hill St, as a carpooling hub that morning.
If you would like to join a carpool, please meet at the lot at 9:40 am. Alternatively, peruse the church directory if you have one and form a carpool of your own!
If you are attending the Listening Session only, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding parking, as the runners will likely have cleared out by then.
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Diana W
Pianist for
"The Little Mermaid"
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Bellevue
Diana invites you to come out and enjoy the show!
Tickets available at the door: $12 & $15
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UCC Wellness Ministries
"Mind, Body, Spirit" Newsletter
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Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
Our Mission Statement
To inform and engage UCC congregations in ministries of health and healing for the benefit of each congregation and the community it serves.
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Preventive Health Screenings at Alki UCC
Friday, May 22
Anderson Hall
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Lifeline Screening, a company offering preventive screenings
for heart disease, stroke and other diseases at 14,000 locations nationwide, has rented Anderson Hall to offer the larger community non-invasive preventive health screenings
that are typically not a part of a routine physical.
Four Preventive Health Screenings Offered:
Carotid Artery Disease
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Atrial Fibrillation
No Insurance Required!
Contact for
Special Pricing Info
or
Call toll-free: 1-800-324-9458 Priority Code: HABC001
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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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6115 SW Hinds
Seattle, WA 98116
206/935-2661
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