The Wellwisher. From the Wellspring. Bringing God s Love to Reality

Transcription

1 The Wellwisher Januar y 2016 From the Wellspring Bringing God s Love to Reality I traded a pair of new mittens for a poem down on 1 st Avenue near Pike and have been hearing the rhythm of Mark, the young poet, ever since. He really was remarkable at being able to come up with a rhyming rap when you gave him four words to use Many of you have reported giving out our Outreach Bags for Family Works in Wallingford (with their socks, snacks, and other little items for life on the streets) and you ve spoken of your wonder at how important a simple pair of socks can be to our neighbors trying to keep warm in this rainy season. Some of you are spending nights at one shelter or another, being touched by the stories and difficulties for folks having to get moving early every morning We at WUMC have chosen for our missional theme for 2016 to be in the area of housing and a place for everyone. Our goal is to address the problem at many levels, both justice and mercy How can we advocate for better relief from homelessness here in Seattle and King County? How can we get to know these neighbors-- not just for their struggles but for their talents and abilities, as well? How can we share our resources in a way that makes a real difference? The Social Concerns Team is working on strategy and projects for us, looking at how to help each of us get involved in one way or another-- using our best talents, energies and imaginations. They will meet January 10 th right after worship (you are encouraged to attend), and then on the 5 th Sunday of the month, we will have a special worship service with program following to help move us forward in our work. I pray with deep hope that we at WUMC can be a powerful, active force for those seeking shelter this coming year. For I suspect it matters a lot to the One we follow; the Christ, who knew well this concern whose first day were in manger, for there was room in the inn, who spent his early life as a refugee in Egypt, and whose adult days were as a wandering teacher, with a rock for a pillow but mostly because of Christ s great love for all God s suffering children. Blessed New Year my dear Partners in Ministry! Pastor Ann Berney It seems we are making a point of taking the effort to reach out to our brothers and sisters who are struggling with housing and I know a number of us are being touched, challenged, and awakened by this experience. Who are these individuals? What will help them get into a safe, warm and dry shelter that speaks of hospitality and hope?

2 I n T h i s I s s u e From the Wellspring... 1 Contents... 2 Sister Parish Meeting... 3 In Deep Appreciation... 4 WUMC & Pride UW Chili Cook-Off... 5 Matters of the Heart Auction... 6 Book Group... 7 November Goings-On Around Town From the Refrigerator Door..10 Small Groups Calendar Open Your Cupboards...and Feed the Hungry! WUMC Men s Group and Women s Group welcome your continuing contributions of food and incidentals to the "Grocery Cart" in the church narthex for the Wallingford (Family Works) Food Bank. They greatly appreciate these donations. Essential Information The Wellwisher January 2016 published monthly by Wallingford United Methodist Church 2115 N 42nd St, Seattle, WA Telephone: (206) Fax: (206) Pastor Ann Berney CYF Director Hannah Holtgeerts Music Director Louis Magor Office Manager, Editor Carrie Cates Wallingford United Methodist Church is a Reconciling Congregation, part of a growing network that consists of 298 congregations, 35 Campus Ministries, and 89 other Reconciling Communities and Ministries. There are over 80,000 Reconciling United Methodists. We seek to minister with all people, regardless of sexual/affectional orientation. We hope to heal the gulf between the church and people who have been alienated in the past. We affirm that everyone is a person of sacred worth. 2

3 Sister Parish Meeting January 24th, 11:15AM, WUMC Why Sister Parish? Is it still relevant? Is the Sister Parish relationship still an important part of our core ministry? How will the Sister Parish relationship figure in the future of Wallingford United Methodist Church? For discussions of these and other important questions, please join us after church as Rev. Christy Fisher leads us in a process of discovery regarding Wallingford Church and Sister Parish. A common question about our trips to Guarjila, El Salvador, is whether we are going there to build buildings, or help create local institutions, such as schools. I think the Sister Parish program is unique in this regard. The primary function of Sister Parish partnerships is relationship building. We don t build for them. In fact, they are pretty darned good at building for themselves, and while outside financial help has been important, Guarjila is a very independent community. This is from the website: Sister Parish, Inc. promotes intercultural and ecumenical understanding by establishing linkages between churches in the United States and faith-based communities in Central America. The linkages are based on person-to-person contact through ongoing communication and delegation travel. Many Americans are action oriented, and building missions are quite common. This gives the American s the satisfaction of having accomplished something, and leaves a physical presence in the community where they have worked. How typical for Americans to make the focus of their mission, their own accomplishments. I m not saying that this is a bad thing, but it s not the focus of the Sister Parish Organization. Over the last 15 years, we have built bridges of relationships, not bridges of steel or concrete. These fellowship bridges connect our two communities over thousands of miles and have potential to bridge even the greatest divides. Please join us on January 24 th to hear more about Sister Parish, and to help us guide our relationship into the future. Lunch will be served. Contact Bruce Sherman (brucesherman@mac.com) for more information. 3

4 In Deep Appreciation... From Pastor Ann What a beautiful Advent / Christmas Season we ve had With Michael Spencer s amazing Bethlehem scene that all of us has added to in stars. Thank you, Michael and to your Worship Arts Team! Thank you to all who helped out with music, readings, candles, luminaries and more for our Christmas Eve Service Love those little Silent Night candles! Thank you to the Lou Magor for all his special music offering, preparing, coordinating. And choir WOW! Thanks for all that grand Music Sunday that stirred our souls. Thanks to all our children and their leader, Hannah Holtgeerts, for inspiring and sharing that very special version of the Christmas Story. Thanks to all who brought grace and quiet peace to our Friday nights for all who helped out with the Longest Night Service and the Quiet Meditative Service and that mysteriously Spirit-full Spiral Service. WUMC & Pride 2016 From Nancy Speer Wallingford UMC's 20-plus years of participation in.seattle s annual Pride Parade and PrideFest is, to no small degree, a part of this community s identity. Work is now underway to plan for Pride 2016 and we need your help! At least 2-3 volunteers are needed to help with this year s efforts. Due to her work with General Conference planning Nancy Speer will not be able to head up our Pride team, so we really need other folks to step up and help out. Planning for Pride is deeply rewarding and fun you ll get to work with some amazing folks from other reconciling congregations, and in other ways be part of an incredible city-wide party and celebration of diversity and inclusion. For more information please contact Nancy Speer (nancyspeer@comcast.net) or Pastor Ann (pastor@wallingfordumc.org). 4

5 UW Wesley Club Chili Cook-Off January 23rd, 1:00PM, UW Wesley Club UW s Wesley Club is looking for the best chili in the PNW! Join the Wesley Club for an afternoon of fun, fellowship, and chili on January 23 rd (note the date change from last week!) as they raise funds for Wesley s Spring Break trip to Selma, Alabama. The Wesley Club is looking for both chefs and tasters! Tasters get to put their money where their mouth is to vote for the best chili. Chefs are invited to bring their chili in a single crock pot and their recipe. Prize categories include Best Chili, Spiciest Chili, Best Vegetarian Chili, Beaniest Chili, and the Best Use of the Chili Chili. Be as creative as you want! Everyone is welcome! Contact Christy Fisher ( ) if you would like to enter your chili in the competition. The Chili Cook-Off takes place on January 23 rd at 1:00PM at the UW Wesley Club. The trip to Selma is part of an Alternative Spring Break program and incorporates community service and education about the past and present civil rights movement. Selma holds great significance in both the Civil War and the 1960s civil rights movement. The Wesley Club trip offers incredible hands-on service learning experiences in a city shaped by past and present race relations. 5

6 Matters of the Heart Auction April 2nd, Great Hall at Green Lake It s not just about raising money it s about growing the heart of our community. Save the date! The annual Matters of the Heart Auction will be on Saturday, April 2 nd, The annual auction is a time for the communities of the church and Wallingford Childcare Center (WCCC) to come together for a night of fun and fundraising. The auction is a major funding mechanism that provides mission outreach for education for youth in our Sister Parish family in Guarjila, El Salvador, and it provides funds for the Building and Grounds Committee and the WCCC for upkeep of the building and major capital improvements. In recent years, individuals, families, and friends have generated over $32,000 at the auction in net proceeds. We re excited to announce that the auction will be held at the Great Hall at Green Lake. In the coming weeks we ll be putting out information on how you can help make this event successful. Please reserve April 2 nd on your calendar, invite your friends to join you, and look forward to more information soon. 6

7 This Changes Everything Book Study Begins January 11th In This Changes Everything Naomi Klein argues that climate change isn t just another issue to be neatly filed between taxes and health care. It s an alarm that calls us to fix an economic system that is already failing us in many ways. Klein argues that the changes to our relationship with nature and one another that are required to respond to the climate crisis humanely should not be viewed as grim penance, but rather as a kind of gift a catalyst to transform broken economic and cultural priorities and to heal long-festering historical wounds. Please join members of Wallingford UMC for a book study group of This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein ( We will meet weekly for 5 weeks beginning the week of January 11 th. Please your contact information and the days you are available (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 7:00PM-9:00PM) to Jerry Jutting (jerry@jerryjutting.com). 7

8 January Goings-On Around Town The Artist s Way Winter Classes Beginning in January, Wallingford Art Center The Artist s Way by Julia Cameron is an international bestseller on the subject of creativity. Join a 12-week course in which you ll go through The Artist s Way in a small group with trained facilitators. The classes are 2 hours a week on either Mondays or Fridays and take students through the book, explore creative practices, and reenergize the creative life. Cost for the class is $375; find out full information and register online here. Nick Licata: Take Power, Become a Citizen Activist January 19th, 7:30PM, Town Hall Former longtime Seattle City Council member and champion for human rights Nick Licata will host an evening of exploring what it means to be a citizen activist. Licata will discuss the tools anyone searching for justice can utilize to help create change in their community with motivation, organization, and communication. Tickets are $5. Full info and tickets available here. Introduction to Restorative Justice & Restorative Circles January 23rd, 9:30AM, St. James Outreach Center Come be inspired and learn ways to promote a Restorative Justice culture in our homes, schools, organizations, places of worship, and justice system. Seattle Restorative Justice is hosting an Introduction to Restorative Justice and Restorative Circles on January 23rd for anyone interested in learning more about Restorative Justice. This will be a time to invite yourself and others into important and difficult conversations and to gain skills in fighting for Restorative Justice. Find out full information and register online here. 8

9 January Goings-On, cont. Kids & Race: Beyond Colorblindness II January 23rd, 3:00PM, Queen Anne UMC Kids and families are invited to Queen Anne UMC for part II of Kids & Race: Beyond Colorblindness. New, in-depth content will focus on how narratives and counter-narratives shape our children s personal and racial identity development. Presenters include Dr. Onnie Rogers (UW Institute of Learning and Brain Sciences) and Jason Frelot. Find out full information here. Immersions in Ignatian Prayer: Practices for Life Thursdays January 29th-February 25th, 6:30PM, St. Joseph Parish The Seattle Ignatian Spirituality Center invites you to connect with God through Ignatian prayer practices at five sessions in January and February. The sessions are Prayer: A Sacred Conversation, Examen: Finding God in Your Life, Igniting the Imagination in Prayer, An Embodied Encounter with God: Applying All the Senses in Prayer, and Deepening Your Prayer: Following God s Love in Your Life. You are invited to attend all sessions or choose a few. Registration and full information are available here. 9

10 From the Refrigerator Door From the Prayer Chain... We ask you to remember the following in your prayers and meditations: Prayers for Health Concerns: John B. Polly H. Jannine J. Betty M. Will W. Prayers of Support: Sue You are invited to place your refrigerator door items directly on the refrigerator door in the 42nd street hallway or them to the church office at: org 10

11 Small Group Meetings WOMEN S GROUP 1st & 3rd Sundays 7:00 PM, WUMC Library We meet on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. All women are welcome. For questions, contact Karen Hansen, or just come! MEN S GROUP 2nd & 4th Sundays 7:00 PM, WUMC Library Open to all men, we meet from 7:00 9:00 PM in the Church library on the 2 nd and 4 th Sundays of each month to share stories and challenges, and become friends. We also take bike trips, build campfires, go hiking, share meals, attend a ball game, and simply do those things that friends do with each other. Please join us. RACE AND SPIRITUALITY LEARNING GROUP 2nd Mondays 6:15 PM, Various Locations Our monthly meeting of a small and open group of Wallingford folks who have been diving into deeper learning about racial privileges and inequities that take place in our nation as well within our daily lives and communities. PARENTING GROUP 1st & 3rd Sundays 9:00AM, WUMC Parents and guardians are invited to a time of sharing stories, support, and learning. This group is facilitated by people with grown kids of their own. SUPPORT GROUP FOR CHILDREN OF AGING PARENTS WUMC s support group for people whose parents are aging, wrestling with health concerns, or who have recently died. The group is open to WUMC members, or anyone outside the community who is looking for a place to share questions, thoughts, or to find support among others who are facing similar experiences. Light dinner provided. For more information, please Sue Sherbrooke or Nancy Speer. 11

12 JANUARY 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Happy New Year! 2 3 9:00AM Adult Ed 9:00AM ParentGroup 9:00AM Kids Music 9:30AM Kids Class 10:00AM Worship 7:00PM Women s Group 4 7:00PM Disciple I 5 4:15PM Circle of 6 7:00AM Circle of 7:00PM SPRC 7:00PM NA 7 7:00PM AA 7:15PM Choir 8 9 9:00AM Worship Arts Sanctuary Setup 10 9:00AM Adult Ed 9:00AM Kids Music 9:30AM Kids Class 10:00AM Worship 11:30AM Social Concerns 7:00PM Men s Group 11 6:15PM Race & Spirituality Group 7:00PM Disciple I 12 4:00PM Childcare Board 4:15PM Circle of 7:00PM A-Team 13 7:00AM Circle of 7:00PM NA 14 7:00PM AA 7:15PM Choir :00AM Adult Ed 9:00AM ParentGroup 9:00AM Kids Music 9:30AM Kids Class 10:00AM Worship 7:00PM Women s Group 18 MLK Day 7:00PM Disciple I 19 4:15PM Circle of 20 7:00AM Circle of 7:00PM RESULTS 7:00PM NA 21 7:00PM AA 7:15PM Choir :00AM Adult Ed 9:00AM Kids Music 9:30AM Kids Class 10:00AM Worship 11:00AM Sister Parish 11:00AM PrimeTime & Creative Process 25 7:00PM Disciple I 26 4:15PM Circle of 27 7:00AM Circle of 7:00PM NA 28 7:00PM AA 7:15PM Choir 29 30