Worship
Church zoom room (saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/)
Each Sunday we are offering 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.
June 14: “Sharing Our Gifts – A Musical Mosaic,”
Led by Thomas Burt, Music Director
Our Spring Music Service is taking a new shape this year. Many members will share their musical offerings in a virtual gathering of gifts. Young and old, vocal and instrumental, encompassing many styles, all bringing their spiritual nourishment to our beloved community. We will also celebrate the members who have joined since last spring and the gifts they bring to our community in a new member blessing.
June 21: “When Compassion is Hard,” Rev. Kristen Kuriga
Cedars UU of Bainbridge will be worshipping with us this Sunday
June 28: “What Compassion Asks of Us,” Rev. Kristen Kuriga
June: What Does it mean to be a People of Compassion?
This month we are exploring what it means to be a people of compassion. Compassion means to suffer with. It is part of the human experience to feel pain when others are in pain. This is central to our theology as Unitarian Universalists. We are all connected, and therefore our fates are bound up with one another. We will explore the three-part experience of compassion: noticing another’s pain, feeling with another, and then responding. When is compassion hard for me? How does compassion call me to respond? Soul Matters describes what it means to be a people of compassion as the path of healing our pain by opening to the pain of others.
Summer Worship News: Collaboration between Four Congregations
I am excited to announce that in the months of July and August we will be worshipping virtually with three other congregations: Northlake UU of Kirkland, Westside UU of West Seattle, and Cedars UU of Bainbridge. This worship collaborative is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between our congregations and find new and creative ways to worship. Saltwater will be hosting the services in our zoom room, so you will be able to connect in the same way you have been since we started worshiping on zoom. I look forward to sharing more details soon!
Technology Support for Worship
We are in need of volunteers who can help with supporting Sunday morning worship services on zoom. There are two different roles:
Zoom technology volunteer: includes screensharing videos, posting lyrics and announcements in the chat box, and being available for tech rehearsal on Saturday morning (day before the service you are the tech volunteer)
Zoom digital usher: includes admitting people, welcoming newcomers, addressing problems put in the chat box, helping with unmuting if needed, and being part of the team monitoring for zoom bombing
Training and support will be provided. The positions require access to a computer with a strong internet connection. We are looking for volunteers who can commit to once or twice per month, or who can fill in occasionally as needed. To express interest, contact Melinda: melinda@saltwaterchurch.org.
Upcoming Events
Zoom Potluck
Saturday, June 13, 6-7 pm, church zoom room
Join us for community building and connecting. The first half hour we’ll meet together for appetizers, dinner, and socializing. The second half hour, we will break into random small groups of 3-4. For more information, contact Pat Montgomery: patmontg@comcast.net
Congregational Meeting
June 14th, 12 pm, church zoom room
Please put Sunday, June 14 on your calendar for the all-important annual business meeting of the congregation. The meeting will be held via Zoom, shortly after the music service that day. To vote at the annual business meeting you must be a member for at least 20 days prior to the meeting. If you have questions about your membership status of your ability to vote, please contact Gaye Greeves, Treasurer: gnatfw@aol.com. You can find materials for the congregational meeting here: https://saltwaterchurch.org/uncategorized/congregational-meeting-materials-june-14-2020/. Materials include: agenda, minutes from June 2019 congregational meeting, minutes from December 2019 congregational meeting, candidates for the Board and Nominating committee, and new mission statement to be voted on.
Social Distancing Grounds Work Party!
For more info: https://saltwaterchurch.org/uncategorized/social-distancing-grounds-work-party/
UUA General Assembly—Registration is open!
June 24-28, 2020
The Unitarian Universalist General Assembly will be all virtual this year. This is a wonderful opportunity to worship and learn alongside UU’s from throughout the country. The cost of registration is $150. You can find more information here: https://www.uua.org/ga/registration
New Church Year Begins on July 1: Expense Reimbursements and Calendaring
Our church year begins July first, and it’s time to finish up and look forward to a new year.
Expense reimbursements If you have purchased anything for which you need reimbursement, please submit your receipts and expenses before the end of June. If you have questions contact CJ at administrator@saltwaterchurch.org
Calendaring If you have events that you would like to get on the calendar for the new church year, please send in your calendar requests here: https://saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/calendar-request/. A reminder that on-going events needs to be rescheduled each July. If you have questions contact CJ at administrator@saltwaterchurch.org
Ways to Live Our Values
Share the Plate for June: Black Lives of UU (BLUU)
Half of all undesignated basket donations received in the month of June will be shared with Black Lives of UU (BLUU). You can learn more about BLUU here: https://www.blacklivesuu.com/about-bluu . You can make a donation to the basket 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
Sundays, 2-4 pm, Puyallup
If able, please join Colette DeMonte and other community members in the weekly stance for racial justice in Puyallup. For the remaining Sundays in June from 2-4pm stand at the intersection of 136th and Meridian (near Puyallup Sonic). Please feel free to bring signs to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing. Contact Colette at colettedemonte@gmail.com for more information.
Side With Love/Love Resists Political Education Series
4 Wednesdays: June 10, June 17, July 1 and July 8
Unfinished Business: A Study of DuBois’ Reconstruction in America to Now
This political education series offered by Side With Love and Love Resists will explore the history of the reconstruction era (post-civil war), to give us a deeper understanding of the origin of today’s systemic racism in policing and mass incarceration as well as the Black-led movements resisting it. The political education group will begin each Wednesday at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET and you can join an hour earlier (4 pm PT/7 pm ET) to watch the film together, or you can watch on your own any time ahead of the discussion group. For more information and to sign up: https://www.uua.org/loveresists/four-session-political-education-series
Racial Justice Organizing Meeting
Thursday, June 18, 7-8:30 pm, church zoom room
Do you want to take action for racial justice? Find ways to live our UU values in this time locally in South King County? More than 30 Saltwater Church households stayed after Sunday service on May 28 to talk about the killing of George Floyd and the uprising for black lives matter and racial justice. How can we as a faith community respond? We are forming a Saltwater Racial Justice Organizing Team to start living into this question. The meeting is being convened by Diane Dobrowolski, Social Justice Operations Lead, Susan Aigner, Growth & Learning Operations Lead, Melinda Einander, Director of Family Ministries, and Rev. Kristen. If you are called to this work for justice, join us!
Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington
On June 20th, the Poor People’s Campaign will hold the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth people, moral and religious leaders, advocates, and people of conscience in this nation’s history. A global pandemic is exposing even more the already existing crisis of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. On June 20, the 140 million poor and low-income people across this nation will be heard! For more information go to: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/june2020/overview/
Racial Justice Organizations
If you are looking for more information about how to take action for racial justice, we recommend you check out these organizations:
BLUU: Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism: https://www.blacklivesuu.com/connect
BLUU is very active on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BlackLivesUU/
Movement for Black Lives: https://m4bl.org/
Poor People’s Campaign: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/
SURJ: Showing Up for Racial Justice: https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/
(this group is for white people learning to be allies)
Sound Alliance Social Connections Program
Sound Alliance is starting a new program, in partnership with King County Housing Authority, Seattle Indian Health Board and others, to increase social connections within our community. Many in our community are especially isolated during this pandemic due to age, health concerns and/or few social supports. This project hopes to address this issue by connecting members in our Sound Alliance institutions with people who are experiencing high levels of isolation and loneliness. Volunteers are needed to make phone calls twice a week to 5-6 people identified by partner agencies as needing this service. All participants have agreed to be part of this program. A 90 minute online training will be provided. For more information, contact Diane Dobrowolski: ddobrowolski@earthlink.net.
SCAN! Climate Message of the Week
If you’re able, ride your bike. You can even get groceries with your bike. You just need a pair of big panniers. So, you live on a big hill and you can’t pedal up it anymore? Then it’s time to invest in an e-bike. It will zoom you right up.
A Few Words from your H.C.T. (Quinn Rose, Bev Ross, & Debra Valpey)
Your Healthy Congregation Team (H.C.T.) stands with you during these difficult times as you navigate our new normal. This month we bring you some thoughts on Soul Matters’ theme of compassion.
Compassion means to be with (com) another’s suffering (passio). It is not neat, tidy, or conveniently nice. It is a relationship between equals and, as such, it goes much deeper than sympathy or even empathy, although those may be starting points. When we share another’s pain, we become uncomfortable ourselves and are driven to action. The truest test of real compassion may be justice, first for ourselves, then for those we care about, and ultimately for the world and for our environment.
So, let’s start with ourselves. Try making a list of all that you do (for yourself and others) and all that you are responsible for. Include everything! Even that which brings you pleasure. Then, forgive yourself for any perceived shortcomings. As the psychoanalyst Carl Rogers once said “the curious paradox is that that when I accept myself as I am, then I can change.” Then, practice appreciation for yourself and your amazing life.
Next, observe the pain that others face, rather than shying away from it or pretending that you do not notice, thereby holding onto “niceness.” Next, hold another’s pain, and see what it calls you to do. See how it changes you once you truly understand what burdens others carry. Finally, explore ways that you might take action so that others need not carry quite so many heavy burdens. Think justice at this point.
And, while you are at it, you just might want to practice some “Guerilla Compassion” while social distancing: you might leave flowers on a neighbor’s porch, weed their garden when they are ill, or even send anonymous empowering messages such as “you are a hero to me,” or “you help me smile through my isolation.”
If you are experiencing church related conflict, do not hesitate to call of one of us (Bev, Debra, or Quinn). If you are experiencing personal conflict, know that a lay minister is nearby to listen (Lynn Crow, Toska Rodriquez, Debra Valpey, and Mike Yanega)
~Debra Valpey, for the Healthy Congregation Team.
Ways to Connect
Al-Anon Support Group (church zoom room)
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, 8-9 pm
Join the meditation group on zoom to help nourish your spirit. The group will have a teaching, sitting meditation, walking meditation, and an opportunity to share.
Writers Group (church zoom room)
Wednesdays, 9:30 am- 12pm
Support Circle (church zoom room)
Thursday, June 11, 12:30-1:30 pm
Choir Fellowship (church zoom room)
Thursday, June 11th was the last meeting of choir fellowship before a break for the summer. If you have questions, contact Tom Burt, our Music Director: music@saltwaterchurch.org
Over Eaters Anonymous (church zoom room)
Fridays, 5-6 pm
Support 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: melinda@saltwaterchurch.org.
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
Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, family ministries zoom room
Junior and Senior High Youth Group
Sundays at 12 pm, family ministries zoom room
Family Support Circles
First & Third Mondays, 7:30-8:30 pm
Family ministries zoom room
All Ages Movie Nights
Saturdays, starting at 7 pm
Kid-friendly movies, all ages invited. Join us!
Family ministries zoom room
UU Summer Day Camp
The Rainbow Path June 29th to July 3rd
Animals of the Pacific Northwest July 6-10
Each day of camp will have a few Zoom calls, some offline craft projects, and some on-demand videos and stories to watch as you like. Supplies for craft projects will be put together in kits to pick up on the Sunday before camp, along with a tie-dye project to be done at the time you pick up supplies. Hosted by the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, camp is open to all, but we ask you to register and commit to as much attendance during the week as possible. Open to kids of all ages, and youth who are interested in helping to lead the kids. Free! This camp is offered by OUUC as a gift to the community and aims to be truly accessible to all. (Donations may be made to help ensure camp continues to be offered each year.) Please contact Melinda Einander for more information and to register.
Parents Facebook Group
You can also connect with other church families with children and youth for support through the Parents facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SUUCFamilyMatters/
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. All staff are working from home. Staff 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.
An Updated Membership Directory is on the Church Website
The Member’s Page of SaltwaterChurch.org has the most current directory of Members and Pledging Friends. Please look for your entry and check it. Do we have your correct email address and contact information? Are your children’s names correct? Do you have a landline or cell phone that could be corrected? Send any corrections to CJ: administrator@saltwaterchurch.org. If you are a member and do not have a login to access the members only section of the website, please contact CJ who can help you get set up with a login.