Saltwater Church Newsletter March 19, 2021

Worship

To join the church zoom room go to: saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/
Each Sunday we offer online worship through zoom at 10:30 am. For any of our worship services or meetings, you can join by computer or by calling in on your telephone. You can find more information about how to connect through zoom towards the end of the newsletter.

March: What does it mean to be a People of Commitment?

In the month of March, we are exploring what it means to be a people of commitment. To commit: to dedicate ourselves to a way of being, a practice, or a relationship. Some commitments are intentional, like when we take a vow or make a promise. Many commitments in our lives go unnoticed, even to ourselves. What commitments shape you the most? What commitments define our community as a people of faith?  Join as we explore and deepen our faith together.

March 21: ‘What it Means to be a Faith of Relationships,” Debra Valpey, Quinn Rose, Bev Ross, Healthy Congregation Team Lay Leaders. Your Healthy Congregation Team will present a service around our proposed new Covenant of Right Relations.  Please review documents “How Did We Get Here?” and Proposed Covenant of Right Relations, in preparation of our service.  If you have questions, you may contact any one of us (see your directory or call the church office for contact information)

March 28: “Together We Persisted,” Rev. Kristen Kuriga

Upcoming Events

Celebration of Life for Leo Nalli
Saturday, March 20, 11am-1pm, church zoom room
https://saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/
Join us to celebrate the life of Leo Nalli. Leo was a member of Saltwater church who died on March 24, 2020. All are welcome to come together as we share memories and offer care to his family. 

Gratitude Concert – featuring Oleg Dusaev
Sunday, March 21, 7pm
https://saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/

What a year, and what amazing members we have. Please tune in to this concert, and bring your family together to enjoy, dine, and allow yourselves to be thanked for all of the hard work, persistence, and support you’ve provided to the church, each other and our communities this year. Out of respect for Oleg and his talents, recordings of this event will be prohibited.

 
Sound Alliance Assembly
Wednesday, March 24th, 6:30pm
REGISTER at www.soundorganizing.org
Your Sound Alliance Team invites you to our Sound Alliance Assembly on Wed, March 24th. We will be celebrating our successes and we will be listening to one another. We are requesting your input. By joining in small breakout groups we want to learn about the issues you, your families and community are facing and concerned about. We do this so that we can organize to make life in our region better in this difficult time. REGISTER at www.soundorganizing.org  to get a link to our virtual Assembly 3/24 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

Passover Seder with Bet Chaverim
Sunday, March 28, 6-7:30pm 
http://www.tinyurl.com/betchaverimservice3
Password is 384461
Meeting ID is 
929-547-321
Bet Chaverim Synagogue has invited the Saltwater community to join together for a celebration of Passover. The seder will be led by Rabbi Jim, and Rev. Kristen will offer a brief reflection on liberation from a UU perspective. All are welcome. 
Click here for holiday hints and Seder Plate tips!
Click here for fabulous Passover recipes!
Click here for Venetian Charoset!  

Volunteer Haggadah Readers Wanted:  Rabbi Jim Mirel would like some readers from Saltwater to recite specific parts of their Haggadah during the Passover Seder service.  Ideally, we would like to have around six volunteers from our congregation to read from this sacred and inspirational narrative.  If you are interested in participating, please reach out Galen Guffy at galen6886@gmail.com or (253)315-2241.  

Save the Date for Upcoming Living into Mission Workshops
Seder with Bet Chaverim: Sunday, March 28, 6 – 7:30 pm
We Nurture Spiritual Growth: Wednesday, March 31, 7-8:30 pm
We Act for Justice: Wednesday, May 12, 7-8:30 pm

From the Board & HCT 

Covenant of Right Relations Updates
Please review the new documents, “How Did We Get Here” and “Proposed Covenant Right of Relations” that were released by our Healthy Congregation Team (Debra Valpey, Bev Ross, and Quinn Rose).  If you have any questions or comments, you may contact any one of the team members.  Please see your church directory for contact information or contact the church office administrator and they will provide any information you need. 

Volunteer Opportunity – Nominations Committee
Our Nominations Committee each year is responsible for finding volunteers for two positions on the Church Board and two positions for the “NomCom” itself. Each year, the Board rotates for two new board members with a 3 year term, as their predecessors’ terms expire. This is also true for the “NomCom,” two new members are chosen as two members’ 2 year terms expire. If any of you reading this and is interested in volunteering for any of these positions, please let Nelson Schmitz know, and if you have questions thereof, they are also welcome. Nelson can be reached at ntschmitz@comcast.net or 425-444-7494.  Thank you.

Ways to Live Our Values

Share the Plate for March: Save the Weyerhauser Campus
Half of all undesignated donations received in the month of March will be shared with the non-profit Save the Weyerhauser Campus: http://saveweyerhaeusercampus.org/about/. You can make a donation to share the plate through the donate button on our website: https://saltwaterchurch.org/stewardshipstewardship-overview/stewardshipdonate/ or mail a check to the church office with “basket” in the memo line: Saltwater UU Church, 25701 14 Pl S., Des Moines, WA 98198. 

Stance for Racial Justice
Monthly on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, 2pm – 3pm
Rain or shine, show up for racial justice every other Sunday in March! Please wear a mask and practice social distancing. We will gather in Des Moines on 3/14 from 2pm until 3pm at the intersection of 272nd St. and Pacific Hwy S (near Jack- in- the Box and Arco gas).  On 3/28 we will gather in Puyallup from 2pm until 3pm at the intersection of 136th and S. Meridian (near post office and Sonic restaurant).  Contact Colette DeMonte at colette.demonte@gmail.com for more info.

Racial Justice Core Team (RJCT)
Monthly on the 3rd Tuesday, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Join Saltwater’s RJCT meeting to discover more ways to support our community in our anti-racism efforts. Share ideas, provide support, learn about additional opportunities, and work together to advance our commitment to racial justice. Meetings are being held in our main zoom room: https://zoom.us/j/7434659479 

Saltwater Climate Action Now! (SCAN!)
Monthly on the 1st Sunday, 12pm – 1:30pm
Join our SCAN! monthly team meetings and learn how you can make a difference as far as Climate Justice for all is concerned. Meetings are held in our main Zoom Room https://zoom.us/j/7434659479  

Sound Alliance (Church zoom room)
monthly on the 2nd Saturday 10:00 – 11:30 am. 

Climate Message of the Week: Americans waste nearly 80 billion pounds of food per year!  That averages out to approximately 219 pounds of waste per person and $1,600 in food dollars for a family of four.  Producing the food that we throw away takes a heavy environmental toll.  The World Wildlife Federation calculates that the production of wasted food here in America is the equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 37 million cars.  Cut your food waste by planning ahead, shop from a list, cook with what you have on hand, plan ways to use leftovers, find recipes that use the parts of your food items that you typically discard. Compost food that must be thrown out.  

Supporting Our Saltwater Community

Donations to Saltwater Church
When making a donation on the church website, please indicate where you want your donation to go.  After entering the amount of your donation, if you select “Donate with a Debit or Credit Card” you will see a line which starts with a pencil and has “add special instructions to the seller.”  Please click on those words to specify “pledge” or your desired purpose.  It will help our treasurer get money into the right places if that line is filled in.  If you would like a statement of your donations for calendar year 2020 for tax purposes to email or call our treasurer Gaye Greeves at gnatfw@aol.com or 253-508-3961.   

Handmade Cards Fundraiser
Send beautiful cards to foster connection, while supporting our beloved community! Your purchases from HandmadeWithDove.Etsy.com will continue to support Saltwater year round, with $5 from every item sold going to the church. 

Ways to Connect

Pair Sharing
(Rev. Kristen’s Zoom Room https://zoom.us/j/7434659479)
Alternating Sundays, 11:45-1:00 pm.  The next session will be March 28.
There is healing power in telling truth and bearing witness. Pair Sharing is the spiritual practice of deep sharing and listening. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Janeane Weprin at jghonore@yahoo.com  

Al-Anon Support Group
(private zoom, contact saphroniayoung2016@gmail.com for link)
Mondays, 6:30-7:30 pm

Creative Hands 
(church zoom room)
Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm
We will support one another in our creative ventures, as well as discuss ways that we can help our communities during this time.

Meditation Group 
(church zoom room)
Tuesdays, 7-8:15 pm
We follow a UU modified Zen practice that includes lighting a candle, chiming a singing bowl, sitting and walking in silence, listening to words of wisdom, sharing tea and conversation, now all virtual via Zoom. Contact Jean Spohn if you have questions.
jeanspohn@centurylink.net or 206-200-7524

Weekly Writers Group 
(church zoom room)
Wednesdays, 9:30 am- 12pm

Weekend Writers Group
(church zoom room)
Alternating Sundays, 6pm – 8pm. The next meeting is March 28.

Support Circle 
(church zoom room)
Thursdays, 12:30-1:30 pm

Over Eaters Anonymous 
(church zoom room)
Fridays, 5-6 pm

Support Is Available
Do you need support? Please let us know, we want to help. Are you feeling lonely or isolated? We can connect you with a lay minister or another member of the congregation. Are you in a higher risk group and do not want to venture out to the grocery store? We may be able to connect you with someone in your neighborhood to help you get the supplies you need. If you have lost income from being sick or unable to work, or do not have enough money to buy extra food and supplies, the Minister’s Discretionary Fund is available for one-time emergency support for members and friends of the church. Contact Rev. Kristen:  minister@saltwaterchurch.org. Do you need to go to work but don’t have childcare? Are there other needs that your family has? Please be in touch with Melinda at  melinda@saltwaterchurch.org.

If you are in need of emotional or spiritual support, you can reach out directly to a Lay Minister:
Debra Valpey:  debravalpey@gmail.com
Mike Yanega:  bowfinboy@gmail.com
Lynn Crow:  lynncrow1@gmail.com
Toska Rodriguez: toska_r@hotmail.com

Support for Children, Youth, and Families

Family Ministries Zoom Room  https://zoom.us/j/2349227683?pwd=aG4yL3RRb240UjJyWUR1Y2p2V0lQUT09

Religious Education Class for Kids and their Grown-Ups 
(Note the class address.)
Sunday mornings at 9:30 am https://tinyurl.com/NUUC-SUUC-RE

Junior and Senior High Youth Group 
(Note the class address.)
Sundays at 12 pm, https://tinyurl.com/NUUC-SUUC-RE

Jr./Sr. High Youth Group Game Night (Joint with Northlake UU)
3rd Friday of each month, 7-9 pm. 

We will be using an online game platform as one of the options for games (boardgamearena.com – free account is plenty), so if possible, please let Margaret know if you plan to attend so we can get set up ahead of time. We hope to see you there!

https://tinyurl.com/CRE-NUUC, Meeting ID: 309 145 529, Password: NUUC

If you are interested in having your youth (and/or yourself) receive reminder texts directly for game night and Sunday youth group, you can sign up for them by clicking this link and entering the information: https://www.remind.com/join/nuuc-6-12 
Contact Margaret Rogers for more information:  dre@northlakeuu.org

Family Support Circles
First & Third Mondays, 7:30-8:30 pm
Family ministries zoom room

Parents Facebook Group 
You can also connect with other Saltwater Church families with children and youth for support through the Parents Facebook group: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SUUCFamilyMatters/    

The Saltwater Church Family Ministries Library Wants to Visit Your Home!
Have your children run out of books to read, with school and public libraries closed? The Saltwater Family Ministries library has books to share! Contact melinda@saltwaterchurch.org to borrow books.  

General Information

How to Access the Church Zoom Room 
To access Zoom, go to  saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/
and click on “To join a meeting-click here.” Or from the main church webpage, select Zoom Room from the drop down menu under “news and events” on the top menu bar. If this is your first time using Zoom, follow the prompts to download the application to your computer.

If you would prefer to join by phone, dial 1-669-900-6833 and enter Meeting ID: 736 142 4210 when prompted. You may need a password. If you do not have the password, please contact Melinda: melinda@saltwaterchurch.org  

If you have a smartphone, you can download the Zoom app and join with Meeting ID: 736 142 4210 for video and audio connection. You will need a password. If you do not have the password, please contact Melinda: melinda@saltwaterchurch.org

Saltwater Church Building
The church building is closed to all in-person programming, groups, and meetings.  Staff are working from home.  Staff members will be going by the property to collect the mail and to check on the campus.  Planting Flowers has resumed providing essential childcare support to families.

Please Note:  Additions to the newsletter must be received by noon Wednesday to be included in that week’s newsletter.  Send your submissions to administrator@saltwaterchurch.org or use the website form at https://saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/calendar-request/

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