Ravenna United Methodist Church
and Community Calendar
(wish to add an event of interest to the calendar?
just click 'Add Event' tab at bottom.)
Volunteers
Needed for:
WE SUPPORT:
Reconciling Ministries at RUMC
We, at Ravenna, are
proud to be a part of the Reconciling Ministries
Network (RMN), a national grassroots organization that works for the
full inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender
identities within the United Methodist Church.
More information? visit the RMN website.
Loving care for kids in Kenya.
Ravenna
Community Ministries
A non-profit activity
of Ravenna United Methodist Church providing Job Training,
Education, and Facilities for Community Action.
Connected!
ravenw1@gbgmchurches.gbgm-umc.org
office phone:
206.525.7988;
email: ravenw1@gbgmchurches.gbgm-umc.org
or Pastor John Cahall at johncahall@hotmail.com; phone: 206.329.5281
Open hearts. Open Minds. Open doors.
Open to All.
106 Years of Faith and ActionRavenna UMC, together with other congregations of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, have declared our support for the Constitutional Amendment to Paragraph Four, Article IV of the United Methodist Constitution that includes all people in the life, leadership and rites of the church. Believing ALL MEANS ALL, our congregation welcomes persons of all ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, economic conditions, marital status, mental or physical abilities to attend, join, and participate fully in the life of our congregation. Such belief advances our United Methodist mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by applying the three simple rules: Do no harm, Do Good, Stay in love with God.
Enjoy the holidays and best wishes for the coming new year.
100% of your donation will go toward
Haiti Emergency Relief.
UMCOR leaders die from quake injuries
United Methodists are mourning the deaths of the Rev. Sam W. Dixon Jr., the head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the Rev. Clint Rabb, head of the organization's office of mission volunteers, who died last week in Haiti as a result of injuries received when the hotel they were meeting in collapsed. Read more...
Photos credit: UMNSThe Rev. Sam Dixon Jr. The Rev. Clint Rabb
Arizona, ready or not, here she comes
A large, fully-loaded U-haul truck, and blue SUV and trailer outside her modest Shoreline home said it all.
Shannon has left the building.
Having lost her job and unable to find work here, she felt she could no longer stay. And so, with the help of her congregation and a tireless brother-in-law, Shannon Buzard has packed all her belongings and is now headed to her new home in Phoenix, AZ, unclear as to her future. Though it will bring her even closer to her boys who already live there, it will take her away from the church she has called home for the last several years and from a congregation that has been so impacted by her presence, energy and devotion.
At our December 27th Worship Service, our congregation held a special commissioning of support and appreciation in her honor. It was a wonderful, somber, yet, tearful event during what is generally, a traditional season of joyful celebration, and she was presented with a well-deserved Certificate of Appreciation which read:
To Shannon Buzard,
In recognition for your valuable contribution and for your years of generous giving, outstanding service, dedication, and leadership to our many causes, efforts, programs, and ministries, we, the staff, the Administration Council and the congregation of Ravenna United Methodist Church, would like to express our utmost gratitude and appreciation. We hereby present to you on this 27th Day of December, 2009, this Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Active Participation, Service, Commitment and Leadership, in striving to make all churches, congregations and communities more inclusive and more open to those who are or have been excluded from full participation in the activities, services and/or membership of The United Methodist Church, or of any church, or of any community. Through compassion and the faithful pursuit and following in the loving ways of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have been a needed and supportive voice expressing the belief of our congregation and others that all persons are of sacred worth and that we are in ministry to all, where "all" truly means "ALL"! Our best wishes and heartfelt thanks accompany this certificate. We will indeed miss you and all that you have given us as a congregation and beyond our doors. We wish you well.
Presented this 27th Day of December, 2009
Signed, John Cahall, Pastor
Kay Finnell, Chair, Administrative Council and Financial Secretary
Greg L. Wheeler, Chair, Board of Trustees and Staff/Parish Relations
Our hearts and prayers are with you, Shannon, and with your boys, Matt and Kevin, and with all your loved ones.
Please keep in touch and let us know how things are going.
Update: Shannon has landed a job. Details coming soon. - GLW 1.24.10
And one of our members has passed away.
We received word yesterday that Opal Mott, one of our longest members, has passed away. Just a few days before Christmas, Pastor John and Greg Wheeler had one last opportunity to visit and spend some time with her and Pastor John said a prayer for her before we said our goodbyes. We are now awaiting word from her son, on whether any memorial service will be held and, if so, where. Please check back here for further information. And, please keep her and her family in your prayers. - GLW 12.29.09
Update: A memorial service for Opal will be held at our church on January 16th at 10 AM. We hope you can join us in celebrating her life. - GLW 1.10.10
A message to United Methodists
and all people of good will:
until we change our way of being in it."
|
A Pastoral Letter from the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church  |
||
|
On November 3, 2009, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church issued their pastoral letter to the church, "God's Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action" (See United Methodist News Service story.) Stating
that they "cannot remain silent while God's people and God's planet
suffer", the bishops pledge to work diligently in ways for transforming
change as God's stewards of creation and invited the church and others
around the world to join them. The focus of
the bishop's message is three interconnected global threats to God's
good creation:
The bishops recommended that the pastoral letter be read aloud in worship during the season of Advent in each of 42,600 congregations worldwide. Pastor John read it to our congregation at the Sunday's November 6 service. A liturgical setting for the letter offered responsive elements for congregational participation. They were a "lament for God's people and God's planet," confession of "failure to embody the image of God," and call to action inviting people to join the bishops in their own nine pledges for urgent, effective action. The full text of the pastoral letter and the liturgical setting are available at http://hopeandaction.org |
||
Why Church?
Many people find church a hard part of their walk with Christ whether because of hurts, time commitments, circumstances or because they sense hypocrisy. > Read more...
Oh, so you noticed, too?
People who have come to our Worship service and heard Annastasia Workman,
our new Musical
Director, play for the
first time, are now beginning to understand what we have been
saying, why we have been raving about her
musical talents ever since she started playing for us as a
substitute when our former Musical Director became seriously ill
(see Melissa
O'Neal's
courageous
story which follows). Annastasia is simply wonderful!! So warm and effortlessly talented, Annastasia brings a new freshness that only adds to our excitement as a church which continues to grow musically and spiritually as followers of Christ Jesus, and in numbers. Her up-tempo style is exciting, energetic, up-lifting and keeps us wanting more. That's especially needed on those cold Winter mornings when one's blood is still a little chilled from being outside. Yet, she can also calm one's senses just as quickly, as her fingertips lightly dance across the keys of the piano, allowing one to spiritually capture those special moments when needed while relishing in the softness and tranquility of the melodic harmonies filling the Sanctuary. And still, we are only getting a small sampling, a glimpse, of what she has to offer and is capable of playing.
What?! You haven't yet heard her play?! Well then, I think that you are really missing something! Well don't put it off any longer! Sunday is almost here again! Allow yourself to come alive, to hear her music, to be inspired! Don't miss out on another opportunity to see what all the excitement is about! Come on in and let your spirit dance, your feet tap, your hands clap, and your voice sing, even if you can't keep a beat or carry a tune! We want you to enjoy what we have been enjoying. You won't be disappointed and neither will we.
[And, just to let you know? Even Pastor John has improved.
....Oh, no, he still can't read music, but he does a pretty good job of pretending!! ]
Top
of the pageGood News after a tough battle
Melissa O'Neal, our former Musical Director, needed our prayers.
Melissa had been experiencing congestion in her chest for a couple of weeks, so much so, that it had been hard for her to sing with us. On Monday, April 7th, 2009, she went to her doctor to see if she had pneumonia. Unfortunately, she had been diagnosed with cancer.
...However, five months later, she was cancer-free! > Read more...
Top
of the page
...your continued prayers are still needed for:
Shannon Buzard, Claude Madsen, and Paul Binnobeese, all either laid off from work or facing possible layoff;
Bry Hovey, Pastor John Cahall's former long-time partner who's healing from a stroke;
Roger Jones, a member of RUMC who is recoverying from a long illness;
Lori, Greg Wheeler's sister who is very ill.
Marianne Brevoort, a new visitor who has been recently hospitalized.
Top
of the page
Getting to know Pastor John Cahall...
John
Cahall began his ministry at Ravenna UMC on January 15th, 2009 as our
new half-time Interim Pastor. At the time, he was also being considered
for a full-time commission and, for the next several months, we knew
that there was no guarantee that we would be able to retain his
services beyond June. But, we were hopeful.Having received the recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry Provisional Retreat Committee, Pastor John was fully commissioned in June. He was then given the opportunity to remain with RUMC as our permanent half-time pastor and, happily, he chose to stay. Later, he was also appointed and assigned a quarter-time pastorship with Highland Park UMC.
We, at RUMC, are grateful to be able to retain his services for the future and are encouraged by his genuine enthusiasm, easy temperament and deep spirituality. We feel that he is the type of person who fits the type of leadership we seek, in helping us move forward and grow, both spiritually and in numbers. We believe that he brings needed energy, passion, and compassion to the pulpit and to our community in and around us. > Read more...
We are excited with his feeling "alive" approach to re-entering ministry. Come share in the excitement with those who have already had a chance to meet and be around him. Along with Fr. Philip Knowles of the St.Ignatius Catholic Community, he helps coordinate our SMDSS class in the Parlor, starting at 8:30 AM, and then leads us in our Worship service in the Sanctuary, at 9:45 AM. Please be sure to join us in the Parlor for coffee and refreshments after the service, hopefully to get a chance to talk with him before he heads out over to Highland Park UMC in West Seattle, where he also conducts their Sunday Worship service (beginning at Noon).
SHOUT OUTs and recognition:
Fr. Philip Knowles of St. Ignatius Catholic Community ECC, who not long ago guided us through a literary study of the books of Genesis and Exodus for Adult Education, and, along with Pastor John Cahall, in the study of the DVD series, Living the Question 2.0. He is now leading us in Seattle's Most Dangerous Sunday School (SMDSS)'s exploration of The Bible: A Biography, a book written by Karen Armstrong. We are grateful for the insight that he brings to the table. As well as the stack of pancakes he often cooks up on the fourth Sunday of the month!
Also, let
us give a HUGE
shout out for the efforts
of Shannon Buzard, our
RUMC rep. (among other titles), who
has taken on task after task to make sure we, as a church and faith
community, are a more visible presence in the community and are
communicating with those who are seeking a place to worship and be
welcomed.
Unfortunately, there is a very good chance that she will soon not be with us much longer. Given the economic woes many have been facing, she is among those who have had to seek work elsewhere and it appears that she will be heading out-of-state in order to find that work, having been laid off earlier this year and recently down in Arizona interviewing for a job. The good news is that if she gets this job, it will move her closer to where her boys, Kevin and Matt, live with their mother.
Not only was she our rep at this year's PNWConference Annual Meeting in Moscow, ID, Shannon was instrumental this year, as well as last year, in ensuring our church's participation in Seattle PrideFest at the Seattle Center and the spreading of our message that we truly are a church and congregation that is dedicated to an open hearts - open doors - open minds policy of inclusiveness where all can gather under any rainbow despite our individual differences. She again has helped organize Seattle's annual Transgender Day of Rememberance observance, a candlelight service to remember those who have been killed as a result of transgender bias and prejudice, which, for the last three years, has been hosted at Ravenna UMC.
Though she is not yet gone, we can see the writing on the wall. She is currently packing up her belongings at her house in Richmond Beach. We believe that she is coming south, but we don't anticipate that that next stop will end in Seattle closer to our church. We have mixed feelings on her departure, but we know that she has to do what she has to do. We wish her well. We can only hope for the best for her and her family and let God continue to lead both her and us on the journey which lies ahead. Our trust in God makes it easier to say "Good bye."
But......................not quite yet!
There are of course many others; thanks for all your efforts.
Wet and cold...then Sunny and kinda warm...then mo-o--rre c-c-old, followed by frr-rr--eeeez---zzzzing...
Well, I've been making a lot of headway over the last few months or so.
Please let me know what you think by emailing me. I'd appreciate the feedback. - GLW 12.11.09
Ravenna
United Methodist
Church
5751
33rd Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(See the map
for the approximate location or click here
for directions.)
or email Pastor
John Cahall at johncahall@hotmail.com
WORSHIP
9:45 AM (See NOTE
below)
Scripture Readings
for
January 24, 2010:
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19 (UMH 750)
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
Pastor John Cahall is on vacation until Tuesday, January 26th. Sunday's sermon will be given by Greg L. Wheeler.
Dress is casual, and coffee and refreshments in the parlor afterward allow everyone
a chance to get to know one another and to talk with our minister.
Children are welcome, and childcare is available for smaller kids.
LARGE PRINT HYMNALS AND BULLETINS available upon request.
SUNDAY ADULT EDUCATION (SMDSS ) & ELEMENTARY EDUCATION 8:30 AM
ARCHIVES
NOTE:
WORSHIP SERVICE and ADULT
EDUCATION (SMDSS) SCHEDULE
Pastor John has been with us for almost an entire year now and we expect that he will be continuing serving the needs of this congregation for a long time. However, within the next few months, we also anticipate that his duties at Highland Park UMC will increase somewhat, should he be granted and accept a half-time pastorship there as well, of which he currently holds a quarter-time position. We have been pleased with how things have been running so far and don't think that that will change too much, should his duties there increase. Highland Park UMC has always cooperated with us and adjusted their schedule to make things run smoothly. We will continue to do our best to make any necessary adjustments to accommodate his being able to efficiently serve both congregations well. Whatever happens, it will work itself out.
- GLW 12.07.09
Rev. James' Weekly
E-Mail
Welcome. Look around. Make yourself at home.
We
think you've come to the right place.
Links to the other congregations that share our building RAVENNA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 5751 33rd Ave. NE, Seattle WA 98105:
...and from the other
side of things, our Catholic connection - 'What does Fr.
Philip really
have to say?'
St. Ignatius
Catholic Community ECC, Rev. Philip Knowles, Pastor
SMDSS
(Adult Education) in the Parlor, 8:30 AM; Mass in the Upstairs Chapel, Sundays 10
AM.
JUST. FAITHFUL. CATHOLIC.
Dignity/Seattle
(DignityUSA, Seattle Chapter) is a faith community of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender Catholics, our families and friends in Seattle since 1973.
Meets second Sundays @ 6pm for liturgies & prayer services in the Sanctuary
What's going on...
Keep
up-to-date with
our Ravenna
United Methodist Church and Community
Calendar.
Have an event of interest we should know about? Click
'Add
Event' tab at the bottom of the calendar.
Continuing, On-going Events:
Our Missional
Events
Let us not
forget that there is still an urgent need
to help those who are less
fortunate than ourselves. These are trying times and some people who
have never needed help before, may very well need it now.
Let's
not be complacent and think that everything is fine and well, just
because we, ourselves, are doing fine and well. Collection areas are
located near the entry doors. Thank you for your help.
Seattle's Most
Dangerous Sunday School (SMDSS) continues!!!: Adult
Education/Bible Study
Meets every Sunday morning at 8:30 AM in the Parlor
Join us for
SMDSS--Seattle's Most Dangerous Sunday School. Meets every
Sunday at 8:30 AM in the Parlor and
ends just before Sunday Worship. Plenty of lively
discussion, study, and debate. Currently, our focus is
on The
Bible: A Biography
by Karen
Armstrong. Fr.
Philip Knowles of St. Ignatius Catholic
Community is
coordinating the
class. Coffee will be provided.
Pancake
Banquet, A
Combined Faith Community Monthly Event.
Next one, Sunday, Jan. 24th, after morning Services in
the Parlor: Following Worship and Mass, Ravenna
United Methodist Church (RUMC) and St.
Ignatius Catholic Community
will again be combining our culinary talents and invite you to
share in
our
monthly pancake banquet being prepared in the Parlor. Please come
and enjoy a fine meal and a chance to socialize with members of both
communities. If you'd like to help and/or contribute food supplies,
there's a sign-up sheet in the Parlor above the coffee counter.
Tentatively Scheduled Event to take Note of:
The
Rhinestones recording,
tentatively scheduled for Monday, December 14th in the Sanctuary.
Date/time not yet confirmed.
Scheduled Upcoming Events:
North
End Interfaith Community Luncheon
Wednesday, December 9th, 11:45 AM at the Vios Restaurant on NE 65th
Author
Event: "Shaper
of Seattle: Reginald Heber Thomson's Pacific Northwest"
by William (Bill) H. Wilson, Washington State University
Press, 231 pp., $29.95
December
12th, 2 PM at Seattle Public Library, Downtown
It's
official!!! From our very own!!! Bill Wilson's book has been published
and is now out. There will be an Author Event at 2
pm on December 12, at the downtown Public Library. Bill is introduced,
talks (SHORT talk) about the book, the Library does its thing, and the
whole thing is sweetened by a reception, coffee, cookies, etc. He'd
appreciate seeing
friendly faces, but it isn't crucial. For more information regarding
his book click on the following link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2010427958_thomson06.html.
Dignity/Seattle
Mass and Potluck
Sunday, December 13th, 6 PM
Ad
Council Meeting
Thursday, December 17th, 6:30 PM
Musical
Christmas Program, being coordinated by Angela Garner,
assisted by Annastasia Workman
Sunday, December 20th, 7 PM in the Sanctuary
St. Ignatius'
Christmas Eve Service
Thursday,
December
24th, 10PM
Upcoming Events, but not yet Scheduled:
TGIFFF (Thank
God, It's Friday, Food and Friends) Potluck,
Friday (Date
& Location TBA), 7 PM.
Movie Night, "Ice Age 2", Saturday, (Date & Location TBA), 7 PM.
Top
of the page
Click
here
to find out more about our Upcoming Events!!
BEING RESCHEDULED!!! Seattle's First Independent Transgender Health Fair at Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Ave., Seattle), unfortunately, did not take place on Oct 25th, 2008. It is being rescheduled; check back for details (additional info can be found on the Ravenna United Methodist Church and Community Calendar). Not likely to happen anytime soon; no updated information can be found.
Oops, I missed that...
Recently Past Events:
World AIDS Day 2009, held on December 1, 2009
World AIDS Day 2009
Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.
TGIFFF After
Thanksgiving Dinner,
hosted by Kay Finnell
held Friday,
November 27th, 7PM in the
Parlor
North
End Interfaith Community's 2009 Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service
held Wednesday,
November 25th, 7PM
The
North End Interfaith Community's 2009 Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve
Service will be held on Wednesday, November 25th at 7 PM at
St. Bridget Catholic Church, 4900 NE 50th St.,
Seattle. The congregations mentioned in the previous section
above
along with Lake City Christian Church and Pastoral and Spiritual Care,
Children's Hospital are sponsoring this event. Please bring a
dessert
for the reception that follows the formal service. Gifts of blankets or
warm gloves will go to the homeless. Monetary gifts and gifts of
non-perishable food will go to the University District Food Bank.
Please join us. For more information, email Greg Wheeler @
gregwith2gs@juno.com
or Denny Duffell @
denny@stbridgetchurch.org.
RUMC's
Special Sunday Worship Service of Rememberance: TDOR Extended
held
Sunday,
November 22nd, 9:45 AM in the Sanctuary.
Please
join us in this special worship service as we continue to
remember
those who have died due to anti-transgender hatred or
prejudice. Our Musical Director Annastasia Workman is
currently in
the process of putting together
a special music-filled program and gathering some awesome
musicians to perform during the service. If you have never
heard
her play before, this would be a good time to come. From my experience,
I can only expect it will be very, very good indeed. Shannon
Buzard, who will have coordinated the past three TDORs in
Seattle
and our Lay Leader and a vocal activist for the GBLT community, will be
substituting
for Pastor John Cahall and delivering the sermon as she did for last year's TDOR Sunday Worship
Service.
We, here at RUMC, are quite familiar with Shannon's powerful sermons
from the pulpit. It's now time that you have the opportunity to hear
her, too. (Click here
for a link to Shannon Buzard's sermon from last year's TDOR Sunday Worship
Service,
November 23, 2008).
Again, this is still in the works. The talent is still being assembled. The sermon has yet to be written. But, I can only say, that I believe that something good will come out of what, for many connected to and in the Transgender community, has resulted from something bad. May you come and pray, sing, remember and heal.
Please return here for further details. If you would like to be included on our mailing list for other similar events, please email ravenw1@gbgmchurches.gbgm-umc.org.
Nordo Came
and Left. Held
October 15th - November 22, 2009 at Theo Chocolate South End
Thursday's,
Friday's, and Saturday's at 7 PM
Cafe
Nordo. Now touring SEATTLE. Only 17
seatings. Now
serving THE MODERN AMERICAN CHICKEN. Focused on the bountiful Northwest
fall, the menu reflects local, sustainable, and seasonal food. Dinner includes
a wine flight. Music features original compositions
from our very own Musical Director, Annastasia Workman.
For more details and to buy
tickets, visit www.cafenordo.com
.
2009
Seattle Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR)
held Wednesday,
November 18th, 7 PM in the Sanctuary.
Website: http://www.SeattleTDOR.org
Program: http://seattletdor.org/Program2009.pdf
(pdf)
A candlelight vigil remembering those victims of violence who have died in the past year due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, combined with a service of worship and song addressing the role of transgendered people of faith in the life and future of the church.
As part of this event, theatrical performance activist,
Peterson
Toscano will present his play, Transfigurations—Transgressing Gender in the
Bible in an updated version with
specially crafted segments for Seattle Transgender Day of
Remembrance. If you saw it last year, you will find that this
presentation goes farther and deeper as it brings in the stories and
lives of people in the Seattle area.
In this one-person
play, Peterson unearths transgender
Bible characters--those people who do not fit in the gender binary, and
who in transgressing and transcending gender, find themselves at the
center of some the Bible's most important stories. For more info, check
out Transfigurations--Transgressing
Gender in the Bible. For additional information
on
the TDOR, contact Shannon
Buzard at 206.931.6170 or email ShannonBmail-UMC@Yahoo.com.
Admission is
free.*
*The event is free, but there will be donation baskets available. All proceeds will support next year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance program.
North
End Interfaith Community Potluck at Sand Point Community Housing
Association,
held Tuesday,
November 3rd, 6PM
The
North End Interfaith Community hosted a potluck dinner for the
residents of the Sand Point
Community Housing Association on Tuesday, November 3rd at 6PM
in the Sand Point Housing
Community
Room, 6940 62nd Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Participants in this year's
event besides RUMC were Assumption Catholic Church, Sand Point
Community
UMC, St. Stephen's Episcopal, Congregation Beth Shalom, St. Bridget
Catholic Church, Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, Our Lady of the Lake
Catholic Church, Temple Beth Am, Wedgwood Community UMC, Wedgwood
Presbyterian, University Congregational Church, Faith Lutheran Church,
and Idriss Mosque. RUMC had been asked to bring soft drinks or juice. It
was a fine event and show of support; RUMC
was well represented and there was plenty of food and desserts on hand
to feed the 105 people that attended. Thanks for all that joined us.
For more
details, email
Greg Wheeler @ gregwith2gs@juno.com
or Sandy
Spelman @ francis220@comcast.net.
Outreach Planning Meeting, held Tuesday, October 27th, 6:30pm.
Pancake
Banquet, A
Combined Faith Community Monthly Event.
held Sunday, Oct. 25th, after morning Services in
the Parlor: Following Worship and Mass, Ravenna
United Methodist Church (RUMC) and St.
Ignatius Catholic Community
will again be combining our culinary talents and invite you to
share in
our
monthly pancake banquet being prepared in the Parlor. Please come
and enjoy a fine meal and a chance to socialize with members of both
communities. If you'd like to help and/or contribute food supplies,
there's a sign-up sheet in the Parlor above the coffee counter.
RUMC's Charge Conference, held October 22nd, 6:30 PM, in the Parlor.
The
Jesus Study Group Lecture Series of University
Congregational United Church of Christ Presents
John Dominic Crossan's "Paul:
an Appealing or Appalling Apostle?" (A total of four lectures)
"Rome and the World of Paul", held
Friday, October 16th, 7- 8:30
PM,
"Luke & the Life of Paul", "Equality & the Community of
Paul", and "Justice & the Vision of Paul", held Saturday,
October 17th, 9 AM - 3 PM.
John
Dominic Crossan, one of the progressive
religious
leaders/lecturers featured in our most recently completed Seattle's
Most Dangerous Sunday School's (SMDSS) DVD lecture series, Living the
Question 2, will present ideas from his newly published book, The
"First" Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church's
Conservative Icon,
co-authored with Marcus Borg.
For ticket information, contact UCUCC: 206.524.6255,
ext 3447 or jsg@universityucc.org
The Seattle
Electric Vehicle
Association (SEVA)
Monthly Meeting
held Wednesday, October 13th, 7 PM, in the Sanctuary.
The various electric-powered
vehicles, including a folding bike and
a scooter (which was later
auctioned off for $50.00) began arriving at 6:30 PM,
and at 7 PM The Seattle Electric Vehicle
Association, a Chapter
Member of the The Electric
Auto Association, met last
night and, unfortunately, for the last time,
in our Sanctuary. A vote had been taken during the meeting on
whether the group should remain here at RUMC or return to their
previous location, the Church of the Nazarene on 44th in
Wallingford, now that the repairs have been done. There were
pros
and cons to each choice, with President Steve Lough (who lives around
the corner) along with the
minority,
voting to stay, but the lack of a parking faciliIity was a major reason
cited for the return, though the fact that there was also a Dick's
drive-in right behind their old facility made the decision for them not
to return a little harder to swallow. We thank SEVA for the opportunity
to showcase their vehicles and host their group. We wish them all the
best in their goal to get the gas guzzlers off our roads and into
driving something more electric.
"Promoting the use of electric vehicles since 1967"
"To convert a gas car to electric is the HIGHEST form of recycling."
TGIFFF (Thank
God, It Friday, Food and Friends) Potluck held on October
2nd, 7 PM.
Pastor John
invited us over to share in the
blessings
of food, friends, fun...and his new home, a
few blocks from RUMC with
a great view towards downtown Seattle. We all met at RUMC at 6:30 PM
and vanpooled down.
Kay Finnel's meatless and chicken enchiladas were a big hit with
everyone, as well as Bill Brammer's pineapple salsa. We all expect even
better
sermons from Pastor John from now on, given his
more peaceful surroundings, which he views as a more tranquil
place in
which to gather himself and write down his thoughts.
He even has suggested that we can have Sunday Worship in his "new
meditation room". Pastor... be careful what you ask for!
Dignity/Seattle's Annual Membership Meeting and Potluck held Sept 26th in the Parlor
Their previous meeting place was heavily damaged by fire and was too costly to rebuild, so we are accommodating them here. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 13th.
"Promoting the use of electric vehicles since 1967"
"To convert a gas car to electric is the HIGHEST form of recycling."
8th Annual Community Barbecue held Aug. 12th at the Idriss Mosque
From Hiroshima
to
Hope 2009
TO-RO NAGASHI
(Lantern floating Ceremony) held
Thurs., Aug. 6th at Green Lake
This
annual event remembering those who perished in the Hiroshima and
Nagasaki bombing, commemorated
the 64th anniversary
of the bombings.
This family-oriented program, organized
by a coalition of peace, religious, civil liberties and cultural
heritage organizations,
concluded with the Buddhist Toro Nagashi ceremony, a candle-lit lantern
ceremony honoring and remembering the victims of war and other
violence. For more
information on
next year's event, visit www.hiroshimatohope.org.
Past Events of the Current Year:
The
Greater 33rd Avenue Independence Day (4th of July) Block Party
The
Seattle area had its warmest July 4th weekend in years,which only added
to the fun and excitement of the festivities that took place at this
annual event open to all who
live in
the 5500 and 5700 blocks of 31st, 33rd and 34th Avenues NE, as well as
to those who have participated in the past. There's always plenty to
see and do, from watching the parade led by the fire truck from station
38 which opened the event, to the racing of the pinewood
derby
cars. And as always, there was plenty of food that the
neighbors all shared in.
held June 29th
This
year RUMC again had two table displays set up, and like last year the
rainbow ribbon crosses were a huge draw, but not the biggest. It seems
that the various colorful beads we had on hand were what most people
were interested in. Our display theme centered on the fact that we were
one of "three congregations sharing one building" and that "maybe
there's one for you?", while also promoting our inclusiveness,
our
openness to others' differences, our diversity, and our
interconnectiveness. Our weekly Seattle's Most Dangerous Sunday School
(SMDSS), our monthly Sunday Pancake Breakfasts, our yearly
Trangender Day of Remembrance are just a few examples of these; three
congregations coming together, sharing and interacting, regardless of
our differences.
21th
Annual Pride Week Breakfast held June 27th at Central Lutheran
Church
Dignity/Seattle
again served up a wonderful pancake breakfast with the proceeds
benefitting those in the LGBT community. This year the
Bailey-Boushay House was a recipient. Thanks D/S for your generosity.
And, thank you for taking steps to reduce our environmental imprint by
providing a recycling dropoff for old cellphones and empty ink
cartridges.
PNW Annual
Conference held June 18-21, 2009, Tacoma,
Wash.
This
was the 136th annual session.
Our Current and On-going Missional Efforts:
Our
collection efforts
for coats and
socks have
increased in order
to meet the higher demand for
them as the winter chill takes its toll on the less fortunate.
Hunger is no less in decline at this time and appears that many
people will be added to the rolls . As jobs are being lossed
due
to the financial crisis and floundering economy, many food
banks report that donations are noticeably down. Therefore, we
thankfully ask that "if you can, spare a can."
We've recently added another outreach program to our list. Our four
Missional Events currently
taking
place to help are:
Sock It to the Homeless:
Coats With Notes:
If You Can, Spare A Can (Food Bank Donations):
Pass on the Gift (Heifer International) :
Your monetary gifts and support can help provide the means for those in many parts of the world to acquire young livestock/flocks, tree seedlings, and education and training in sustainable agriculture, increasing one's chance of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and survivability in a world with ever-decreasing supplies and resources.
Please remember those people in our community who are hungry, who are struggling to make ends meet, or who are having difficulties by giving generously and often. There's always a need, especially as the temperatures gradually decrease and food becomes less plentiful. All donated items will be collected at the church on Sundays from 9:15 AM - 12 Noon, or by contacting Greg Wheeler at 206.949.8295 to make other arrangements. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Our Doors Are Open to All!
