Saltwater Church Newsletter March 5, 2021

Worship

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 7: “Committed to our Collective Thriving,” Rev. Kristen Kuriga
March 14: “Loved into Being,” Unitarian Universalist Association
March 21: ‘What it Means to be a Faith of Relationships,” Debra Valpey, Quinn Rose, Bev Ross, Healthy Congregation Team Lay Leaders
March 28: “Together We Persisted,” Rev. Kristen Kuriga

From the Board & HCT 

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 are 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.

Office Administrator Work Hours
Our new Office Administrator, Katherine Miller will be available via email Tues – Fri from 9am until 1pm.  They also plan on being available in the church office 1 to 2 days a week.  Which days those will be are undetermined at this time.  A new announcement will be posted to the newsletter as soon as those days are identified.  For those of you who missed last week’s announcement, Katherine began filling the position on Feb 24th.  Many members of our congregation may know them as “Bubba” and all are welcome to use either name.  You can reach Katherine at administrator@saltwaterchurch.org

Upcoming Events

We Foster Connection Workshop
Saturday, March 6, 10-11:30 am, church zoom room
https://saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/
The Board invites you to our next living into mission workshop. At the We Foster Connection Workshop we will explore the meaning of connection and think about how we foster connection within Saltwater Church and with the wider community. We hope you’ll join us!

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. 

Save the Date for Upcoming Living into Mission Workshops
We Nurture Spiritual Growth: Wednesday, March 31, 7-8:30 pm
We Act for Justice: Wednesday, May 12, 7-8:30 pm

Growth and Learning

“The Call to Faith,” Saltwater RJOT Discussion Group
Thursday, March 18, 7-8:30pm
saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/  
Join our Saltwater Racial Justice Organizing Team to hear again the moving words of Dr.Takiyah Nur Amin. She voiced them the first time during the Side with Love Sunday Service on February 14. We will share our answers to the questions she poses. Please pre-register at susanaigner@comcast.net.      

Ways to Live Our Values

Share the Plate for March 7, 2021
On March 7, our Share the Plate will be received in support of the UU Service Committee Texas Crisis Relief Response Fund. Our donations will support local, grassroots partners in Texas who are on the frontlines of caring for communities impacted by harsh weather conditions, power failure, and water shutoffs. 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
Rain or shine, show up for racial justice in March! Please wear a mask and practice social distancing.  3/14 in Des Moines from 2pm-3pm. Intersection of 272nd St. and Pacific Hwy S (near Jack- in- the Box and Arco gas).  3/28 in Puyallup from 2pm-3pm. 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 meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  https://zoom.us/j/7434659479 

SCAN! (Saltwater Climate Action Now!) meets the 1st Sunday of the month from 12:00 to 1:30pm, in the church Zoom Room.
All of you are invited to this month’s Saltwater Climate Action Now! (SCAN!) meeting to be held in the Church Zoom Room www.saltwaterchurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/ this Sunday 3/7 from 12-1:30. If you’re attending church services and you’re in the main breakout room following the completion of services, stay there and you’ll be routed to the meeting. If you have a smartphone and you’d like to join by phone, download the Zoom app and join with meeting ID 736 142 4210 for video and audio connection. You’ll need a password. If you don’t have one, contact Melinda at melinda@saltwaterchurch.org. We’re going to be discussing pending climate-oriented legislation in Olympia that will make our state cleaner and greener and generate family wage jobs in the process. Please join us and learn how you can help make it happen. Thanks!

Climate Message of the Week:  According to scientist Michael Mann, two new tactics by climate deniers are deflection and division. Deflection is blaming the individual to keep their focus away from systemic solutions and policies. He gives the example of BP developing the first individual carbon footprint calculator so we’d focus on our own carbon footprint instead of on theirs. According to Mann, division—the second tactic—draws effective action away from the fossil fuel industry and other big polluters by getting us to argue with each other about our climate choices and “carbon shaming about lifestyle changes”. Individual actions are important but don’t let deflection and division distract you from supporting and working for the climate laws and policies that we need.

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

Federal Way Day Center Donations Needed
The Federal Way Day Center for unsheltered adults is providing important support to our local community while practicing social distancing. Their remarkable record of providing safe care has resulted in ZERO Covid cases. Those who were most vulnerable were admitted to safe housing sites in Kent and SeaTac. Ten long-term Day Center guests will be approved for Permanent Supported Housing at the soon to open Thea Bowman Apartments in Kent.
Your help with the most needed items can go a long way to maintaining that safety record:  cup noodles, hand warmers, rain ponchos, and trash bags. You can park in front of the Day Center and call (253-893-7895) and someone will come out to pick up the donations.  33505 13 Pl S behind the Multi-Service Center.  Or you may contact Lucia lfaithfull@comcast.net or Diane ddobrowolski@earthlink.net to arrange for your donations to be picked up. 

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, 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 14, 2021.
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

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

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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