We offer worship in two ways: in-person multi-platform service held in our sanctuary and online in our Church Zoom Room at 10:30 am. Doors and Zoom open at 10:15. To join the Church Zoom Room go to: saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/. You can find more information about how to connect through zoom towards the end of our Saltwater Church Newsletter. Our newsletter also provides ways to connect and live our values through in-person programming and via our Church Zoom Room.

Worship

Worship In August at Saltwater Church 

August 27  What Do You Think of When I Say “Beauty”? – Miriam Woito, SWUUC Member

A time to reflect on the concept of beauty as a source of ways to see our world and each other. Is beauty really in the eyes of the beholder?

September 3  What Is Necessary For Love? – Victoria Poling, Guest Minister

Author and scholar bell hooks [who uses a lowercase spelling] observes, “While ours is a nation wherein the vast majority of citizens are followers of religious faiths that proclaim the transformative power of love, many people feel they do not have a clue as to how to love.” Today we’ll explore a variety of perspectives on what is necessary for love.

September 10  Water Communion – Janeane Weprin, SWUUC Member

Please join us for our annual Water Communion service. We will mingle the waters we have saved from the places and times we have visited this past summer, places and times we hold dear, that are special and/or sacred to us. It could be water from someplace exotic, or it could be from our own backyards or kitchen sinks. What matters is the meaning of the water, what it symbolizes for you. In this way we will honor our connection to each other, to the Earth, and to Life itself.

To view our complete calendar of events, click here.
If you wish to schedule an event, click here to fill out a request form.

Gardening & Pizza Party
Sponsored by our Facilities Team
Saturday August 26, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Saltwater Church Grounds

Join our Facilities Team this Saturday to help clean up our gardens. Remove weeds, cut back blackberries that are trying to claim ownership of our buildings, and help revive our beautiful garden space. Tools will be provided. Pizza will be provided including special dietary options. Please email Glenn Andrews glenn.andrews.42@gmail.com or Nancy Corr corrnancy03@gmail.com with questions and dietary requests.

Racial Justice Stance … Three Years Later
Sponsored by RJOT
Thursday August 31, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Church Zoom Room

May 31, 2020, was the beginning of Saltwater’s Racial Justice Stance. Three years later community members are still showing up to remind our BIPOC neighbors they are loved and there is work still to be done. Join the RJOT team and friends for an evening of sharing personal experiences and reasons for continuing to wave their sign rain or shine. All are welcome to attend Thursday, August, 31 from 7-8:30 pm on the church’s Zoom room. If you have participated in the stance and would like to share, please contact Colette DeMonte at colette.demonte@gmail.com

Leadership Convening
Saturday September 9, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Saltwater Sanctuary & Church Zoom Room

Have you helped lead one of our volunteer teams? Are you interested in the future of the Saltwater community? Join our leaders, past and present, for our Fall Leadership Convening. This is your opportunity to brainstorm how we live our mission, during the upcoming church year, and to help make it happen.  If you aren’t a leader, but are interested in being one, please join in our brainstorming session. This event will be in person and over Zoom. Childcare will also be provided.

SAVE THE DATE

Celebration of Life – Julie Dickinson
Saturday October 7, 1:00pm
Saltwater Sanctuary & Church Zoom Room

It is wish sadness that we announce the passing of Julie Dickinson. Please read her obituary by following this link: https://www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Julie-Dickinson The family is making arrangements and more details will be in future newsletters.

From Our Leadership

Message from our Search Team

Right now, as we are looking for another minister, is a critical time to step up with your commitment and creativity to help bring our vision to life– so that, as a community, we practice love, foster connection, nurture spiritual growth and act for justice. Here are two things that you can do right now.

1- We’re excited to be sponsoring a learning team to attend “Leading from the Heart“!

This class will explore UU and ancestral theology, the synergy of passion and mission, and living out of conviction. Starting September 6, there will be two sessions/month for 3 months (a total of 6 sessions over 3 months): a Zoom class, where you’ll get to interact with UUs from across the Pacific Western Region, and a local (Saltwater UU) team meeting. 

This is a great opportunity to widen your circle and deepen local connections; to learn about yourself and be inspired by others. 

We started to publicize this class last week. What’s new is, Jessica Nash is coordinating a local learning team– yay!

Saltwater Church Scholarships are available for those interested in the local learning team. In return, we hope each individual will consider how what you learn can support our church community, and we want the team to share what you have learned– so we can expand the learning circle.

• If you would like to be part of the Saltwater UU learning team, and need a scholarship, after you register please forward the email confirming your registration to Jessica Nash: dffsaltwater@gmail.com. 

2- Attend the Leadership Convening, on Saturday September 9, 1 – 3 pm.

This is an opportunity for community and planning. Convening is one of the most powerful, life-altering forces in the universe. This combining of energies in our community can stir us to rise in our current situation and envision what might be possible. Join as as we combine our visions and plan how to make them happen. Help us create a new year of growth in spirituality and leadership as we work together to create what we want to have in our lives. Join us in the Sanctuary or on Zoom. Childcare will be available.

Ways to Volunteer

Your Community Needs YOU!
Volunteer Now

We invite you to take part in creating the kind of community that you want to be part of! We need volunteers of all skills and ages. Opportunities include:

Sunday Morning Opportunities: Contact Bubba (administrator@saltwaterchurch.org) if you’re interested & need to get training/ orientation. For job details click here.

Song Leaders Wanted!
Upcoming Sunday Services
Saltwater Church Choir

Love to sing? Want to be of service to our church, but can’t do choir every week? Be a Song Leader! Looking for singers who can model and encourage singing to help the congregation join in the hymns. You do not need to be a “soloist” – just share your joy of singing! Preparation and coaching provided.
Questions? Contact Tom Burt
email: music@saltwaterchurch.org
phone: 206-304-3830

Facilities Team
September meeting To Be Announced, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Church Zoom Room

Our Facilities Team helps organize the maintenance of our buildings and the upkeep of our grounds. We are looking for volunteers to help contact contractors, manage coordinating repairs, and assist with volunteer events. Our meetings are monthly and your time commitment is quite flexible. Discover how you can help support our community by attending our next meeting. _{^{***Image credit: Bubba}} 

Ways To Live Our Values

Climate Message of the Week

We’ve all seen the headlines this summer: flash floods, mudslides, drought, wildfires, heat domes, smoke pollution.

Almost every part of America and most of the world has been impacted by the climate crisis. Considering the possibilities, we need to be prepared for whatever disasters it causes. Do you have a Go Bag AND a Stay Bag? Or an evacuation plan with designated places to meet? To help you prepare, King County has information at https://makeitthrough.org/individuals/. Seattle has a form to fill out for emergencies at https://tinyurl.com/3dzb7n8k.

For more complete coverage on climate emergency preparedness read How to Prepare for Climate Change by David Pogue.

Are there topics or questions you’d like to see covered in future Climate Messages? Email suggestions to Sheri Jacobson at sheridjacobson@yahoo.com.

Ways to Connect

If you are planning to host an event in the Church Zoom Room please contact our Office Administrator (administrator@saltwaterchurch.org) the day before your scheduled event. They will need to verify your device has been registered to use the Church Zoom Room.

Weekly Meetings

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

Meditation Group 
Now In Person
Tuesdays, 7:00pm – 8:15pm
Our meditation group meets in person in the Saltwater Church Sanctuary. We follow a UU modified Zen practice that includes lighting a candle, chiming a singing bowl, sitting & walking in silence, listening to words of wisdom, sharing tea and conversation. Would you like to join our group? Contact Jean Spohn jeanspohn@centurylink.net or (206) 200-7524.

Writers Group 
Church Zoom Room
Wednesdays, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Do you like to write? Would you like to share and receive feedback on your writing? We welcome all writers at all levels! For more information, contact Janeane Weprin 630-824-8343 or jghonore@yahoo.com.

Twice a Month Meetings

Game Night Sponsored by Saltwater UU Social Club (SUUSC)
In Person – Welcome Room
1st and 3rd Saturdays, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Join our Saltwater community for an evening of fun. Friends and visitors are welcome. We play all types of board games (ranging from lighter games like Clue to more complex games like Pandemic.) Our group also plays thematic games, card games, and party & social games. Almost anything is possible, bring your favorite game and let us know about it. Our next meet up will be on September 2.

Weekend Writers Group
Church Zoom Room
Alternating Sundays, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
There’s no time like the present to start writing that novel you have been dreaming about for years!  Or maybe it’s time to share the poetry you have stashed away in your file drawer or to start immortalizing by writing down those unique memories that have been your precious life!  And it’s a lot more fun if you have an audience of other writers to share them with. We welcome new members, WE WELCOME YOU! Any questions?  Please phone me at 206-898-5452 or email me at mona_lee@centurylink.net. Our next meeting is on September 3.

Monthly Meetings

Pair Sharing by Zoom
Janeane’s Zoom Room
One Sunday a month, 1:00pm – 2:15pm
Discover the healing power in telling truth and bearing witness. Pair Sharing is the spiritual practice of deep sharing and listening. If you would like to attend please contact Janeane Weprin at jghonore@yahoo.com.

Creative Hands
In Person – Welcome Room
3^rd Tuesday, 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Join us for an afternoon of visiting and working on our creative projects. Bring your knitting, crocheting, hand sewing, jewelry making, or whatever with you. We gather monthly to foster connection through sharing our creative processes. We also support the Saltwater community with small craft projects throughout the year. Our next meeting will be September 19 . If you would like to join us or have any questions, please contact Joanne Loeliger (206) 870-1939.

Quarterly Meetings

After Service Potluck
In Person : Welcome Room
Sunday September 17
Church-Wide Potluck, Yummy! Please bring a generous dish to share. Kindly mark ingredients if not clearly visible (like nuts, soy, etc.) We will also need folks to step up and help us set up before church and take down after church. Questions? contact Debra Valpey, 206-953-5704 or deberavalpey@gmail.com.

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. If you have been affected by the pandemic financially, the Minister’s Discretionary Fund is available for one-time emergency support for members and friends of the church. Contact our Office Administrator for additional information administrator@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
Toska Rodriguez: toska_r@hotmail.com

Multigenerational Faith Formation

Multigenerational Faith Formation’s Zoom Room 
https://zoom.us/j/2349227683?pwd=aG4yL3RRb240UjJyWUR1Y2p2V0lQUT09

Tabletop Family Game Night!
Saturday September 2, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
In Person – Saltwater Welcoming Room

Members and friends of all ages will attend the churchwide Game Night sponsored by SWUUSC. Join Bert and Fernando and discover new table top games. Participants will play old classics or introduce new board or card games to the community.

Middle and High School Youth Group (grades 6-12)

Youth will meet for social events several times a month. The Youth Group works with adult advisors to plan programs which include personal sharing, discussion of religious and ethical issues, guest speakers from other religions and from the community, service projects, participation in district youth conferences, and worship. This year youth will explore the monthly church-wide themes. Contact Amanda Radak or see the church newsletter for more information.

Support for Children, Youth, & Families

Parents Facebook Group 

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

Childcare for Church Events & Services 

Childcare may be requested for any church activity at least one week in advance. As our Director of Faith Formation position is in transition, at this time all requests for childcare should be directed to our Volunteer Childcare Coordinator, Lisa Key via email at lunderhi@gmail.com. We will do our best to make accommodations whenever possible.

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 Bubba:  administrator@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 our Office Administrator: administrator@saltwaterchurch.org

A quick guide for our Zoom room can be found here. Feel free to download the file to keep a copy readily available at your fingertips.

Saltwater Church Building

The church building has opened for in person gatherings. If you wish to plan an event please use our online request form: https://saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/calendar-request/.  All gatherings are asked to follow the current COVID-19 guidelines. If you have questions about the guidelines or need assistance our Office Assistant is on-site Tuesdays and Fridays, 10am to 2pm. If you need on-site assistance outside of their regularly scheduled hours, email administrator@saltwaterchurch.org to schedule an appointment.

Donations to Saltwater Church

When making a donation on the church website (click here), 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 have questions, email or call our Treasurer, Gaye Greeves at gnatfw@aol.com or 253-508-3961.   

Please Note: Announcements, updates, and 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 (click here).