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 7: “Playing with Pavement: Laying the Steps Ahead,”
Middle & High School Youth Group
The annual youth service considers designing our way in uncertain times and culminates in our bridging ceremony, acknowledging those transitioning from our youth group into young adulthood.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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. We’ll be using the 4-part documentary “Reconstruction: America After the Civil War” narrated by Henry Louis Gates Jr. as a starting point for reflection, discussion, spiritual grounding in UU values, and action. 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 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)
SCAN! (Saltwater Climate Action Now!) Meeting (church zoom room)
June 7, starting at 12 pm
All are welcome. Please join us in the Zoom Room and bring a friend. Climate change and global warming may be taking second place with the Covid 19 crisis now drastically impacting our lives, but they haven’t gone away. If we’re going to have a livable planet for our future generations we need to confront them and we need to confront them now. Please be involved. Contact Bill Adams for more information: badams6456@aol.com
Opening All Hearts: A Vigil for Immigrants in a time of Pandemic
Tues & Wed 6:30-8:30 pm, June 9 & 10.
Hosted by Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. An educational and advocacy event about support for immigrant communities during the pandemic: https://www.waisn.org/
Tuesday in Spanish w/simultaneous English translations, Wednesday in English w/simultaneous Spanish translation.
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/
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 must drive, drive within the posted speed limits. You’ll be reducing air pollution and putting money back in your pockets the next time you fill the tank. Do yourself and the environment a favor by keeping a light touch on the gas pedal.
Upcoming Events
Zoom Potluck (church zoom room)Saturday, June 13, 6-7 pm
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
Church Zoom Room, June 14th, 12 pm
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!
We missed out on our Spring Grounds Work Party and as a result, our church grounds are getting a bit overgrown and weedy. So if you are looking for somewhere to get out and be that isn’t your own yard, come over to the church and pull some weeds or trim some blackberries. The areas most in need of attention are the spaces around our buildings and the playground.
When you work and for how long, is up to you! Take a picture of yourself to share on the Facebook page so we can all enjoy the hard work you have done. If another family is working at the same time as you, show your love by remaining on a different side of the building.
If you have questions please contact Karin at karinleisy@gmail.com or 425.922.1161
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Thank You!
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
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)
Thursdays, 7-8 pm
Members of the choir are invited to join Tom Burt, Music Director, for a time of connection and fellowship.
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
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.
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.
Email Scam Attempt
Ministers throughout the country are experiencing increased scam attempts. Most often, this happens through the person creating a fake email account that looks like the minister’s account. We have also heard of scam attempts through texting and calling through zoom accounts. The most recent one to our community was titled “Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church: Needs You Help” and is sent from a fake email account. Please know that Rev. Kristen will not contact you through these means for gifts cards or urgent requests for support. If an email or communication does not sound like it is from Rev. Kristen, it probably isn’t. For more information: https://saltwaterchurch.org/stay-in-the-loop/email-scam-attempt/