 June 30 was a beautiful sunny Sunday, perfect for many outdoor activities. And yet, 67 percent of our active members showed up for our annual congregational meeting. Yay!!
Julia Peeler, moderator, ran a well-paced meeting, and speakers Joe Mitter and Gary Gesellchen made clear, concise presentations.
High points included
:• Julia Peeler presented and thanked our church council members and other committee leaders (see listing here). And just because she’s so awesome, she gave all of them special candy bars for their service!
• Joe Mitter updated us on the Steering Committee’s work, focusing on efforts to ensure Alki UCC’s future by generating more tenants for our church building. By this time next year, he says, the committee expects we’ll be ready for new tenants and begin eliminating our budget deficit
. • Gary Gesellchen delivered an encouraging budget report, including a 20 percent lower-than-expected deficit. He thanked the council for paying a lot of attention to the budget and Operations Manager Shannon Peterson for her great work on lowering some of our expenses.
Members voted to approve our proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. After a closing blessing from Pastor Emily, everyone hit the parlor for coffee, treats and a lovely photo presentation created by Eva T-L.
— Charlie Hinckley, council clerk
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"I've Been Meaning to Ask ..."
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Our summer worship series, I’ve Been Meaning to Ask . . . is an eight week journey of deep listening around four guiding questions:
• Where are you from?
• Where does it hurt?
• What do you need?
• Where do we go from here?
Opportunities to engage with
"I've Been Meaning to Ask . . . "
beyond Sunday morning:
Small Groups
Your participation in a small group will give you an opportunity to build relationships with others in the congregation and grow in your own faith journey. We will be forming groups of five to six people. Your group will determine how and when you will meet, as well as how often. Click here to join a group.
Conversation Church: an evening of deep listening
On Wednesday, July 24 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the parlor/front patio we will gather for a simple meal and have guided conversations in pairs. Explore questions such as, “If you could go back in time and teach your younger self one lesson, what would it be?”
Study Journal
Pick up a Study Journal at worship or request the pdf version from the church office. The Study Journal is full of art, poetry, and reflections on Scripture from A Sanctified Art. Explore on your own or use the prompts for fostering deeper connection with your small group.
Through vulnerability and authenticity, may our courageous conversations lead us to glimpse hope, joy, and beauty — growing together as disciples of Jesus Christ, courageously sharing God’s love with each other and the world.
In hope,
Pastor Emily
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Update on Alki UCC Peruvian Families Seeking Asylum
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With sadness we report that Danner and Manuela have had their asylum appeal denied. They are the final family of the three families with young children that we have been supporting for two years as they negotiated a new life here in the US.
They are considering their options, none of which are choices any of us would wish to make. We are preparing to say good-bye to them with a 'blessing' fund, which we have also given to the other two families.
Whatever their decisions and wherever they end up, they will have some money to begin yet another new life. Please keep Danner, Manuela, Yanko, Evaluna, baby Vaela and grandma Gloria in your prayers as they discern what is best for all of them.
— Vicky S
On a much happier note ... Huge thanks to all who dropped off presents for baby Vaela. The proud parents sent the following thank you:
MRS. Vicky:
For the people who sent us these gifts for Vaela,
thank you, thank you very much,
we thank you for the gesture 💕
— Danner and Manuela
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Larisa is off on her annual summer break from Monday, July 15 until Monday, August 12.
Here's who to contact for:
Email Blasts
AFTER next week, the newsletter will be on hiatus for four weeks. Look for the next issue on Thursday, August 18.
In the meantime ... Here's how to let folks know about time-sensitive information or to publicize an important event:
Send your information to Charlie H, who will edit as necessary and forward to Pastor Emily to send out on her church email account.
Send your announcement to Charlie here.
Scheduling Zoom:
Contact Pastor Emily if you need to set up a church meeting. Email her with the meeting title, date/time and duration, and she will send you the login information to forward to your participants.
Building Use
The latest July/August building calendar will be posted on the narthex bulletin board; please note the existing schedule for the church, KHN and our community groups.
Building use not previously scheduled will be on a first-come, first-use basis. Just show up and if a group is already in the room you wanted to use, please use another space. KHN is aware of this arrangement.
If you want to book a room for after August 13, please hold your request and contact the church office by email as usual.
The church office is open through next Friday in case you need anything or have a special request.
Be well and be good to each other ... wishing you a happy, safe, fine and fizzy summer!. xxxxxla
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 Make a pledge (and act!) to reduce your plastic usage and purchases. Can you get it to zero??
Ideas to get started right now:
• Stop purchasing shampoo/conditioner, body wash, laundry and dish detergents in plastic containers. Instead find alternatives in bars, pods, and sheets.
• Stop purchasing plastic floss picks, instead use ones made from bamboo or straw.
• Stop using disposable plastic k-cups, instead find compostable ones or those that you fill with your own coffee.
• Stop using plastic bags for purchasing your produce, instead bring reusable bags along with your reusable grocery bags.
You can do this! We can be better stewards of this beautiful God-given earth if we choose to!
— Cinda
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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. Sandy J requests prayers for "Mary Jane’s family and friends as she died last night. We had been friends since 1969!"
We pray for all those who are ill, hurting or have a concern on their hearts.
Vicky S requested special prayers for Catherine, Sam and Janelle. We pray 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 (especially Kenyi), 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.
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Please contact the church office to add or remove a prayer request. |
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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,
July 7
at 10:00 am
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Seventh Sunday
after Pentecost
with
Communion
I’ve Been Meaning
to Ask
. . . Where are you from?
Rev. Emily
Tanis-Likkel
Liturgist:
Rev. Penny M.
Scripture:
Genesis 2:4b-15
Stephen Anthony Rawson
Music Director
Music Highlights
For the Beauty of the Earth
Way Maker
Sinach
Ubi caritas
Hamba nathi
(Come Walk with Us)
Image: Four Rivers of Eden
by Hannah Garrity
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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. |
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Alki UCC
Donations Drive
Sunday, July 21
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Bring your donations to the church any time!
Conversation Church: an evening of deep listening
Wednesday, July 24
6:00 to 7:00 pm
(See story above left)
Presentation by Rev. Joanie Henjum
How We Will End the Sexual Abuse of Children
Sunday, August 4
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Choir Room A light lunch will be provided. Please RSVP and direct any questions to Pastor Emily
Alki UCC Summer Concert Series
Tuesday, August 6
7:00 pm
Asia Tanis
Singer-Songwriter
Wednesday, August 14
7:00 pm
Eric Likkel Trio
Jazz
Wednesday, August 28
7:00 pm
Stephen Anthony Rawson Trio
Classical
Alki UCC Fall Retreat
at Pilgrim Firs
September 20-22
See story below
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Fall Retreat Planning Team Forming Now!
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Alki UCC Fall Retreat
Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 22
Pilgrim Firs Camp and Conference Center
Port Orchard, WA
Join the fun!
Now that we have a long-coveted date for a retreat at Pilgrim Firs, which is a wonderful camp and conference center just across the water not far from the Southworth ferry, it's time to discuss and clarify our theme.
We're assembling a team of a few folks interested in coming together to share and collaborate on goals for our time away.
What calls to you?
Please contact the church office office to express your interest and we'll get back to you with some potential meeting times. — Vicky S
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Calling all Archivists-Wanna-Be’s!!!
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The Archive Room on the Third Floor needs care. If you are interested in looking through a hundred years of Alki Church history, this invitation is for you.
The room needs cleaning, organizing and potentially digitizing memories of papers, pictures, and historical documents stored in a room for many years.
Meetings TBD to be set by the team.
Please let Julia P know if this is a commitment in which you have an interest.
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Sunday Worship Videos Posted on YouTube
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Sunday Worship recordings now online! Check out Alki UCC's very own YouTube channel. |
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Sunday Worship Registration
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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.
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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
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