We offer worship in two ways: in-person multi-platform service held in our sanctuary and online in our Church Zoom Room at 10:30am. 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 both in-person programming and via our Church Zoom Room.

Worship

Live multi-platform worship in the sanctuary and online through Zoom!

Theme for March: Transformation

As the world transforms, we transform with it. We know that we are always learning more and as we learn we must reevaluate what we thought we knew. A transforming movement has the potential to always be vital, no matter what conditions we find ourselves in. As we move toward the Equinox, we witness transformation in the more than human world that makes the journey from Winter into Spring. Embracing transformation embraces the wisdom of the turning wheel of the year and acknowledges our place in it.

Worship In March at Saltwater Church

March 17 Rising Green: Celebrating Spring Equinox – Rev. Alison Duren-Sutherland (in-person)

The Equinox, where day and night are equal in length, is an in-between time of balance on the wheel’s turning throughout the year. As we gather to honor this pagan holy day, we will explore the beauty of the both/and that Equinox brings, and celebrate the ascendancy of daylight, growth, and new life that comes with the Spring.

March 24 Joyful Community – Rev. Alison Duren-Sutherland (in-person)

Ours is a joyful community made up of members and friends who come together of our own free will to put our mission into action. With this service, we officially kick off pledge drive season, where we ask members and friends to make a commitment of financial support for the next church year. While we can’t put a price tag on the joy that bubbles up from serving and being served by this community, we can make a pledge to support the costs associated with bringing this joyful community into being.

March 31 Ramadan, Easter and Passover – Honoring Traditions as One Joyful Community – Lay Led

This Easter Sunday, we will honor the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We will hear about Easter and about Passover from members of the Haitians Christian United Church and the Bet Chavarim Synagogue, with whom we share our sanctuary. We will also hear a story about Ramadan from the Islamic tradition. In these times of terrible war and violence, let us be a beacon to the world and show that we can peacefully coexist and honor each other’s faiths in love and hope.

Events Coming Soon

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

“Saltwater Family” Art Gallery
Sunday March 17, 9:30am
In Person – Welcoming Room

Let’s Create Our Very Own “Saltwater Family” Art Gallery! Members and friends of Saltwater, along with any of YOUR extended family and close friends are invited to display their art here. Children’s art is welcome too. It can be for sale (a minimum of 20% of sale price stays with Saltwater) or marked as not for sale. Other requirements are that the works be labeled as originals or reproductions and that all pieces are ready to hang with frames or wrapped canvases and hanging wires (no saw-tooth hangers, please). Any two or three-dimensional work is welcome as long as it can be hung with wire on the cable hanging apparatus in the Welcoming Room. Contact Debra Valpey (debravalpey@gmail.com) and/or your Community List Serve if you desire more information and/or assistance with hanging preparations of artworks. The plan is to hang such works on March 17 at 9:30 AM. Our first broad-based theme will be “nature in its glory and with its challenges.” _{****Image Credit: Snow White}

March Faith Formation Sunday – Multiplatform
Sunday March 17, 10:30am – 2:00pm
In Person – Saltwater Church AND Church Zoom Room

Join us the third Sunday of the month for Faith Formation Sunday, where we will explore our March theme of Transformation! Those who are attending in-person may stay after the worship service for a provided lunch (noodle bar – vegan and gluten-free options included) followed by a short ritual and all-ages programming. For our faith formation programming after lunch, we’re excited for our Leading from the Heart team to guide us through a journey of reflecting on our individual gifts and how they transform us.

Remote guidelines: Those who are attending Faith Formation Sunday remotely are invited to return to the Church Zoom Room at 12:40pm for our multiplatform programming. Zoom attendees will be able to participate in the opening ritual and will be led through the programming with a Zoom host. We hope you can join us!

Speculative Fiction Book Group
Saturday March 23, 1:30pm
Saltwater Conference Room and Speculative Fiction Book Group Zoom Room

Join fellow Saltys in reading science fiction (and maybe a little bit of fantasy) in UU community! Our next meeting will be March 23 at 1:30pm in the conference room and via zoom. We will be discussing Legion by Brandon Sanderson. Even if you can’t make it to the meeting, please feel free to read along with us!

Our scheduled reads for the rest of the church year are:
April: All Systems Red and Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
May: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin
June: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

Celebration of Purim
Saturday March 23, 7:00pm
In Person – Saltwater Sanctuary

Members and Friends of Saltwater Are Invited! Bet Chaverim will be presenting a play in celebration of Purim on March 23 in the Sanctuary at Saltwater Church. Rabbi Mirel will conduct a brief service starting at 7:00pm, which will be followed by the play at 7:30pm. This is a humorous play about Queen Esther, King Ahasueris, and others. It will last about an hour. Participants will be in biblical costumes, and there will be a story line, songs, and light refreshments afterward. Purim is a Jewish Holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Persian Empire whose name was Haman. I hope some of you can attend! – Judy Schainen of Bet Chaverim

Social Club Hike
Sunday March 24, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
In Person – Saltwater Church

Join us for a walk down to Saltwater State Park Beach after the worship service on March 24. The trail is an easy walk 1.5 miles round trip. Please bring comfortable hiking shoes, water, snacks (optional), and a spirit of adventure! If you have questions, please contact Robert Snipes.

Leadership Announcements

Board of Director’s Update

The Board is grateful to Rev. Alison for her ministry and our relationship with her – and we are eager to continue it. We recently completed a 4-month review, as promised in our contract with her, and heard the same from staff, key leaders and teams who gave input.

Those who participated in the review said we are at our best when we grow beyond what we were before – and Rev. Alison is helping us do that. This has been a year of learning, for all of us. And looking forward, we want to build on the current buzz of excitement. Rev. Alison put it this way, “We are called for our faithful witness on the side of love.”

We hope to successfully negotiate a contract with Rev. Alison, to go through the next two years. We look forward to learning and living our faith, together!

Minister’s Messages

Rev. Alison posts regular messages to our community through our church website. On the 3rd, she shared from the pulpit some guidelines for photography, pets in worship, and nuts at potlucks that arose from conversations in the community and on the Board. If you didn’t hear this announcement, we encourage you to click through and read it in the Minister’s Message. You can find Rev. Alison’s message via the home page of the church website or here: Minister’s Messages. 

Please continue to be in touch with Board members and Rev. Alison about these and other issues of importance to our community. We have also installed a suggestion box near the our main entrance for those who would like to remain anonymous. Because we are a community that values transformation, nothing is written in stone, and we know we will come up with more creative answers to the question of how we meet the needs of everyone in this beloved community by working together.

Rev. Alison will be in-person again at Saltwater Church from Sunday, March 17 – 24.

Ways to connect with Rev. Alison
Phone (voice only): (206) 627-5119
Email: minister.swuuc@gmail.com
Online Meeting Scheduling: https://calendly.com/minister-swuuc

From our Treasurer – 2023 Tax Statements

If you would like a statement for tax purposes showing your contributions for calendar year 2023, please contact Gaye Greeves, Treasurer, at gnatfw@aol.com or (253) 508-3961. They are sent out to those people requesting them. Thank you! _{****Image Credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich}

Special Event

Saltwater Church RETREAT 2024 – Registration
Friday April 26 – Sunday April 28
Off-Site – Seabeck Conference Center

The Saltwater Retreat is coming up April 26 – 28 and it’s time to register! Our annual retreat is a time for rest, reflection, and fun…and they feed you! We hope you’ll join us for this treasured annual event, with guest speaker Liz James of the UU Hysterical Society. The deadline for registration is April 1.

For this year’s retreat, please view:  https://seabeck.org and look at the campus map, the housing charts, and the floor plans for each house, and you can also look at the pricing plans. We have the following houses this year (PLUS $50.00 IF YOU WANT A SINGLE ROOM, and please add 15% to the prices below to cover our program costs):

• Annex and Reeser: Full time is $252 per adult, $189 per youth (12-16), $126 per child (3-11)
• Madrona and Tamarack: Full time is $189 per adult, $142 per youth (12-16), $124 per child (3-11)
• Huckleberry: Full time is $252 per adult, $189 per youth (12-16), $126 per child (3-11) 
• DAY USE ONLY: $10, plus meal costs of $10 (A), $8 (Y), $8 (C) for breakfast; $12 (A), $9 (Y), $9 (C) for lunch; and $14 (A), $10 (Y), $10 (C) for dinner.  
  -Go to the website to check out the housing placement on campus, whether you need a room for accessible needs, etc.

PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED.  Unless your animal is a service animal, you should leave Fluffy home. Please make your arrangements now.

REMOTE REGISTRATION:  You must email saphroniayoung2016@gmail.com to advise whether you are staying the whole weekend, just Friday, just Saturday, or day-use only (Saturday is the logical day to do that). You must advise your 1st, 2nd and possibly 3rd choice for housing. Usually, you’ll get your first choice if you register in the first two weeks. You must identify how you’ll pay (and then do it!).  

WAYS TO PAY:  
1.  Pay online HERE. In “special instructions,” please put that this is your retreat payment, and any extra amount for scholarship should be identified.  
2.  Pay by check:  You can bring it to church, drop it in the donation basket with “RETREAT” marked in the memo line, or hand it to Saphronia Young.  
3.  Pay by Credit Card at church at the retreat table:  We will have a Square Card Reader available on retreat sign-up Sundays.

Save the Date

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States – Book Study
Starts Tuesday March 26, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Church Zoom Room

The Saltwater UU Racial Justice Team invites you to join a book study of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States (Youth Edition) by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortez. The 2-hour sessions will begin March 26 and meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of April, May, and June.
In seven sessions we will together:
• Trace the history of colonization from the Indigenous perspective
• Learn to think more critically and completely about our own history
• Support one another as we work through the stories presented in the book
• Share our responses and reactions to learning the history
• Explore how to support Indigenous-led campaigns to expand sovereignty and self determination
• Share ideas about building relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities
In addition to reading the book, you will be asked to do personal journaling and research. Worksheets and suggested resources will be provided for each session. The depth of your study will be up to you.
If you have taken or plan to take the Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization course, this will compliment and deepen your work.
To sign up or if you have questions, please contact: Miriam Woito – miriamwoito@gmail.com or (208) 890-6074

Celebration Dinner and Sing-Along
Saturday March 30, 5:00pm – 8:00pm
In Person – Welcoming Room

The pledge team is delighted to announce our second annual Celebration Dinner and Sing-Along on March 30 from 5:00pm -8:00pm (dinner from 5-7, sing from 7-8). Our event will be an appetizer buffet, catered by May21 Catering, specializing in Mexican and Latin American cuisine. Vegan options will be available. Please RSVP HERE before March 14 to allow us to ensure the food is plentiful.

Annual Spring Leadership Convening
Saturday April 13, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Multi Platform – Church Main Building & Church Zoom Room

If you are a leader in our church community, or want to be involved as one, come to the Spring Leadership Convening on Saturday, April 13, 1-3 pm.

As a community, our mission is to practice love, foster connection, nurture spiritual growth and act for justice. The Leadership Convening is our chance to check our course. Are we on the same page? On track? What’s next?

Let’s be creative together!

Social Justice Announcements

UU the Vote Postcard Writing
Now through Thursday May 9

It is not too late to support Saltwater’s UU the Vote postcard writing efforts. Postcards won’t be mailed until April 22. We are writing postcards to registered underrepresented voters in Georgia providing them nonpartisan information about voting in their Congressional primary election. Postcards need to be mailed between April 22 and May 9. Let me know how many postcards you want (in multiples of 20, please) and I will give you the postcards and all the info you need (scripts, directions, etc. You provide stamps.) I will be at the service this Sunday, March 10, but you and I can discuss other delivery/pickup options.
Susan Aigner—for your Saltwater Racial Justice Organizing Team: susanaigner@comcast.net, (253) 569-8156

UUA Condemns Violence Against Gaza, Urges Immediate and Total Ceasefire

On February 14th, the UUA released a new statement regarding the events in Israel and Palestine. In keeping with the desire to keep the congregation informed of what our Unitarian Universalist Association has to say about these events, here is a link to that statement: 
– https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/uua-condemns-violence-urges-ceasefire

Additional resources and statements from the UUA on this issue can be found here:
– https://www.uua.org/international-justice/uua-statements-palestine/israel/resources-engaging-palestine-israel
– https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/catastrophe-gaza-and-israel

Ways to Share Our Gifts

Be a Part of Welcoming New Members
Join our Welcoming Team

The Welcome Team is seeking long-time Saltys to revive our tradition of pairing new members with folks who know the community well and can help answer their questions about getting involved. If you are interested in being a mentor or buddy to our newer Saltys, please contact Rev. Alison at minister@saltwaterchurch.org.

Facilities Team
3^rd Wednesdays, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
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 on March 20. _{^{***Image credit: Bubba}} 

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.

Ways To Live Our Values

Share The Plate for March
Northwest Abortion Access Fund

All undesignated donations received for the first 4 Sundays in the month of March will be shared with NW Abortion Access Fund. https://nwaafund.org/. On the 5th Sunday, March 31, the collected funds will supplement the Minister’s Discretionary fund.

Funding abortion and breaking down barriers to abortion access for people in the Northwest is the mission of the Northwest Abortion Access Fund.

The organization serves the people of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Trained, compassionate volunteer advocates run the toll-free hotline. The Access Fund helps people pay for their abortion care by sending funding directly to the clinic. They also provide transportation to and from the clinic and make sure people traveling for care have a safe place to stay.

Due to the generosity of a matching donor, the total amount of all undesignated funds in today’s offering basket will be donated to the NW Abortion Access Fund AND half of what we collect will go toward Saltwater UU’s general operating fund.

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. _{****Image credit: Kindel Media}

Share the Plate – New Opportunities for 2024 to 2025!

Have you ever wondered how Share the Plate beneficiaries are selected? Members submit a nomination form, the form is reviewed by the Share the Plate Committee, and the Committee selects the recipients and the month of the donation for the next calendar year. The Committee consists of Kathy Jorgensen, Collette DeMonte and Peggy Lovellford. Currently, we have eleven beneficiaries selected for 2024. Nominations may be made at any time, and when it’s time to select beneficiaries, the Committee will review all of the applications submitted. A generous anonymous donor has agreed to match the plate donations through December of 2024, do you have an organization you’d like to nominate?

Hospitality House, Federal Way Day Center, and Duwamish Tribal Services will continue to have ‘grandfathered’ approval and do not need to be nominated. For all other organizations, a church member will need to nominate or re-nominate a beneficiary. The nomination form can be entered by clicking here.

Expanding our recipient criteria to include “primarily” King County organizations has allowed us to fund those emergency groups outside of King County. The criteria are simple:

• Organization must be a 501 (c} 3 nonprofit
• The organization must primarily serve South King County.
• The organization’s mission must align with UU values and principles.

What organizations do you feel we should be supporting?
Have you volunteered in the past with an organization you would like to support?
What is a favorite organization you are affiliated with and would like to nominate for Share the Plate?

Please complete the form which can be accessed from the link above. When the committee meets, we will review all the applications and make our selections.

Pajama Party – Crafting for the Community
1^st Tuesdays, 12:30pm – 2:30pm
In Person – Welcoming Room

The monthly Saltwater UU Pajama Party is a chance to put your crafting skills to work for those in need in our community. Bring your sewing machines if you have them, flannel and patterns will be provided by Pajama Party convener, Sally. The pajama bottoms we sew will be donated to those in need in our community, including local women’s shelters, and we can also make other items with the donated material as well. Remember, crafting knows no gender, so ALL are welcome to come and create for the wider community. Stop by for the crafting or for the community. Contact Sally Caldwell for more information. Our next meet up will be April 2. Join us in Sewing for Social Justice. _{****Image credit: Evg Kowalievska}

Racial Justice Organizing Team (RJOT)
1^st Fridays, 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Church Zoom Room

The next meeting will be on April 5. Our Racial Justice Organizing Team meets monthly to discuss more ways to support our community in our anti-racism efforts. We share ideas, provide support, learn about additional opportunities, plan events for our members, and work together to advance our commitment to Act for Racial Justice. _{****image credit: Diva Plavalaguna}

Sound Alliance
2^nd Saturdays, 10:00am – 11:30am
Church Zoom Room

The Sound Alliance team works on multiple issues in alignment with our commitment to Social Justice. The issues we focus on change from year to year, depending upon the concerns voiced by members of the congregation. All members and friends of Saltwater UU Church and Bet Chaverim are most welcome to join us in our conversations and Act for Social Justice. Our next meeting will be on March 9.

Stance for Racial Justice
2^nd & 4^th Sundays
In Person – Des Moines at 12:30pm & Puyallup at 2:00pm

Rain or shine, we Stand for Racial Justice two Sundays a month.  Join us as we stand together in solidarity with our signs for justice. Our next gathering will be on March 24 in Puyallup from 2:00pm – 3:00pm at the intersection of 136th and S. Meridian (near post office and Sonic restaurant).

We will meet again on April 14 in Des Moines from 12:30pm – 1:30pm at the intersection of 272nd St. and Pacific Hwy S (near Jack in the Box and Arco gas). Contact Colette DeMonte at colette.demonte@gmail.com for more information.

Climate Message of the Week

Greata Thunberg may be the best known female climate activist but she’s only one of many women leaders in the climate movement. Whether they’re climate scientists like Katherine Hayhoe or in climate groups like Moms Clean Air Force, women are making an essential difference in contending with the climate crisis. Celebrate Women’s History Month by learning more about women who are at the forefront of the climate movement. A good place to start is the book “Girls Who Green the World” by Diana Kapp. It highlights 34 women working on issues from fossil fuels to an artist creating “trashon”, clothing made from beach debris. _{***Image credit: Bubba}

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 
Church Zoom Room
Tuesdays, 7:00pm – 8:15pm
For the fall and winter months we will be meeting over Zoom. 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.

Lunch Bunch 
In-Person – Location Varies
Wednesdays, 1:00pm
We meet weekly for an informal lunch together. The restaurant location varies week to week. Email Diane Dobrowolski at ddobrowolski@earthlink.net to find out where to meet us. All are welcome!

Twice a Month Meetings

Game Night Sponsored by Saltwater UU Social Club (SWUUSC)
In Person – Welcoming Room
1^st and 3^rd 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 March 16.

• 1st Saturdays are all-ages. Bring a game your whole family will enjoy! 
• 3rd Saturdays, childcare will be available upon request. Please rsvp for childcare at least 1-week in advance to Jessica Nash at faithformation@saltwaterchurch.org.

Coffee & Care with a Lay Minister
In Person – Saltwater Sanctuary
2^nd and 4^th Sundays, 11:30am
After the service on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, one of our lay ministers will be available in-person in the Sanctuary to talk one-on-one with anyone who needs some support. Get your coffee or tea in the Welcoming Room, and then peek into the Sanctuary. If the lay minister has an open chair, please come in, sit down, and receive the benefit of compassionate listening from a trained lay minister. Join us next on March 24.

Monthly Meetings

Online Caregiver Support Circle
Caregiver Support Circle Zoom Room
1^st Saturdays, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Are you caregiving for a significant other in your life? Having a parent, partner, or adult child experiencing physical, neurological or mental health challenges requires so much from the caregiver — YOU need care and support too! Join Rev. Alison and other caregivers in our Saltwater UU Community to share the joys and sorrows of caregiving and to give and receive support with others who are also in this essential and tender role of caregiver. Our next meet up will be April 6. Contact Rev. Alison at minister.swuuc@gmail.com with any questions.

Quiet Connections
In Person – Saltwater Sanctuary
1^st Sundays, 11:30am – 12:00pm
If the Welcoming Room is too busy for you, or you are enjoying the conversations that start there, but would like to deepen them, the Newcomer and Visitor Team is offering “Quiet Connections” in the Sanctuary to welcome both new folks and longer-term members. We want to get to know you, invite you to get to know us, on a bit quieter, deeper, and more intimate level. A few snacks and drinks are provided. Join us on April 7.

Paint n’ Sip
In Person – Welcoming Room
2^nd Mondays, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
All ages welcome! Bring any size canvas. No experience required. All paints and supplies provided. Our next meet up is April 8. RSVP to Jessica Alexander at jazz.itup@live.com. If you would like childcare, send a request at least 1-week in advance to Jessica Nash at faithformation@saltwaterchurch.org.

Saltwater Genealogy Club
Church Zoom Room
2^nd Wednesdays, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Do you love to talk about your family history and research? Saltwater Church has a Genealogy Club! We are not experts; we just share stories and research ideas. Our next meeting will be April 10. If you would like to join us or have any questions, please contact susanaigner@comcast.net.

Faith Formation Sunday
In Person – Saltwater Church
3^rd Sundays, 10:30am-2:00pm
Join us for fun, growth, and belonging as we delve deeper into the monthly Soul Matters themes our worship is built on. Faith Formation Sunday includes worship, lunch (sometimes potluck), then age-specific programming (adults, youth, and children). Our next gathering is March 17 and lunch will be provided. Questions? Contact Director of Faith Formation, Jessica Nash, at faithformation@saltwaterchurch.org.

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

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.

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
Jean Spohn: jeanspohn@centurylink.net

Multigenerational Faith Formation

Questions about Children’s and Youth Programming? Contact our Director of Faith Formation, Jessica Nash: faithformation@saltwaterchurch.org. To join the Faith Formation Zoom Room go to: https://zoom.us/my/saltwaterfaithformation

Middle and High School Youth Group Game Night
Saturday March 16, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
In Person – Welcoming Room

Due to High School Con on the first weekend of March, we are moving Youth Group Game Night to the 3rd Saturday in March. Join us on March 16. Youth are encouraged to come hang out and play some games! Bring a favorite game to share. If you wish to try out a new game, we have a wide selection that will leave your brain and belly tired. Laughter and popcorn provided.

Adults of Youth Support Group
Saturday March 16, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
In Person – Saltwater Church

Those parenting Youth (grades 6-12) are invited to join Director, Jessica Nash, during the first hour of Youth Group Game Night. We will connect with each other through the Soulful Home curriculum, supporting one another on our shared journey of parenting. Our next meet up is Saturday, March 16. After the meet-up, join the game night for more fun and connection. _{****Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio}

Faith Formation Sundays – Elementary and Youth
3^rd Sundays, 10:30am – 2:00pm
In Person – Saltwater Church

Join us the 3rd Sunday of every month for an extended day of fun, growth, and belonging tied to our monthly Soul Matters themes. Faith Formation Sundays include elementary and youth programming during and after worship with lunch in-between. Our next meet up is Sunday, March 17 where we will explore the theme of Transformation. Lunch will be provided. _{****Image credit: Jessica Nash}

Easter Egg Hunt – Children and Youth Event
Sunday March 31, 11:30am – 12:30pm
In Person – Saltwater Church Grounds

On Easter Sunday, we invite you to come for this delightful springtime tradition! Children, bring your baskets (or borrow one of ours) and hunt for eggs for a prize. The hunt will begin after the church service. Youth grades 6-12 will meet during the church service to set-up the egg hunt and prize selection with their advisors.

The Con UU will Never Forget – Youth grades 8-12
Friday April 19 – Sunday April 21
In Person – Quimper UU Fellowship

Youth grades 8-12 are invited to gather at Quimper UU Fellowship in Port Townsend, WA for a weekend of new connections, radical inclusivity, welcoming rising freshmen and bridging senior youth, and tons of fun! More info and registration available at: The Con UU Will Never Forget Registration Form (google.com). Registration deadline is March 30.

Camp Blue Boat – Youth grades 6-12
Sunday June 30 – Friday July 5
In Person – Camp N-Sid-Sen in Harrison, Idaho

Get ready for an unforgettable summer experience at Camp Blue Boat at Camp N-Sid-Sen in Harrison, Idaho! This year, registration includes a bus from Denver, so no need for a second registration. Don’t forget to look for the discount if you’re not taking the bus. And the Sibling and Early Bird (by March 15) Discounts return.

This summer camp is perfect for youth from rising 6th-grade to 12th-grade graduates. It offers age-specific housing and programming, where campers, counselors, and staff will explore being in relationship with oneself, others, and the wider world. The camp is based on four basic pillars, including community, spirituality, justice, and equality. After attending, youth will be able to articulate beliefs grounded in UU theology and values, develop spiritual discipline, engage in social change, and build personal and religious resilience. There are plenty of fun activities such as field games, crafts, hikes, swimming, bonfires, and more. Come join us! Register here: Camp Blue Boat in the PNW | Pacific Western Region | UUA.org

Why are we moving?  Because our old site wants to use their camp for their campers, so we get to go back to N-Sid-Sen, where Camp Blue Boat started.

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 

Childcare may be requested for any church activity at least one week in advance by contacting our Director of Faith Formation, Jessica Nash, at faithformation@saltwaterchurch.org. 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, 9am 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 the website form (click here).