Coming up @ Keystone UCC

Our season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday, March 1. We are now amidst the 40 days leading up to Easter. Lent is traditionally a season of entering more deeply into the spiritual practices of contemplation, generosity, prayer, and self-discipline. Plan to be in community at Keystone for our sacred exploration as we journey in Holy Week. Mark your calendars for our: April 10 – Table Turning Monday April 13 – Maundy Thursday Supper in Battson Hall April 14 – Good Friday Service 7pm in the Learning Center

Sacred Heart Saturday is April 1   Keystone folks will have the pleasure of preparing and serving a meal for Sacred Heart Shelter on Saturday, April 1. We need the following food dish items: - Chicken Dish - Vegetarian Dish - Salad - Rolls - Milk & Juice – Barbara - Dessert We also need 2 servers – one that can drive. Please email Michelle (mmhebner@gmail.com) to sign up! Thank you!!

Compassionate Conversations on Race and Culture Keystone wants to let everyone know about this series being offered at Interfaith Community Sanctuary, beginning Saturday, March 25 and meeting for 5 weeks (not including Easter weekend.) Please see the details below.  All are welcome.  A trusted friend of Keystone, SallyJo Gilbert de Vargas is one of the good trainers. (Download the half-page announcement here) Dates: 5 Saturdays – March 25, April 1, April 8, April 22, April 29 Time: 2-4pm Location: Interfaith Community Sanctuary, 1763 NW 62nd St, Seattle, WA 98107 In this 5-week series of 2-hour workshops, we will explore issues of race, culture, and white privilege through story-telling, activities, art, music and conversation. We hope to deepen our exploration to include an examination of institutionalized racism, intergenerational trauma, and internalized oppression.  In the process of exploring these issues our goal is to achieve a new level of self-awareness and cultural competence as we learn to get more comfortable interacting and connecting with people who are different from us in a variety of ways. Conversations and activities will be designed to engage people in conversations and exploration of topics they may have previously avoided, by creating an atmosphere of trust, curiosity, and openness. The goal is to open our minds and hearts in community, and practice compassionate listening, authentic sharing, and genuine learning and growth for everyone involved. We hope to actively shape the workshops around the needs of the participants as these needs emerge.  Participants may join one, several, or all of the workshops.  Each workshop will be different, and each will build upon the previous experiences.  Facilitators will invite questions and feedback at the end of each session, so as to incorporate suggestions and needs of the participants.      Congratulations to JLP Alumna, Alyssa Nedrow   Former Keystone JLP Intern, Alyssa Nedrow, has let us know that she was accepted into the University of Westminster to get her MA in Media, Campaigning and Social Change. Alyssa’s internship with us at Keystone included advocacy to end gun violence and homelessness, as she helped us advocate with Faith Action Network.  Among her gifts, she shared her photojournalism & videography skills, and built our Keystone website. We celebrate her news with prayers of thanksgiving and cheer for her studies ahead!   BIG WIN: Keystone celebrates faithful support of workers who have been advocating for fairness On March 1, 2017, Alaska Airlines announced they will stop contracting out to Menzies for baggage handlers. Now these can be on a pathway toward union jobs within Alaska Airlines. Nine hundred baggage handlers will now receive better wages and benefits. http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/alaska-airs-baggage-handlers-at-sea-tac-get-an-upgrade/ In a dramatic reversal, Alaska Airlines announced that they are going to stop contracting out bag-gage-handling jobs at our airport. Instead, 900 Alaska baggage handlers are now going to become employees of an Alaska subsidiary. And thanks to SeaTac Proposition 1, the workers are going to keep their jobs, and their starting wage will be $15.34/hour.   Economic Justice Coalition monthly meetings   Join this witness:  Interfaith Economic Justice Coalition monthly meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 10am.  All welcome to join Pastor Lauren & JLP Intern Iris Chavez as Keystone continues to support workers at Seatac fighting for dignity on the job and the wages they are due.  We had a training March 16 for ‘Know Your Rights’ to be with concessions workers, as we prepare to offer more faithful sup-port in the days ahead.    Beyond $15: Keystone stepping out in faith to support worker justice and dignity   REPORT BACK FROM MARCH 16 BOOK SIGNING: Pastor Lauren was a panelist for "Beyond $15: Immigrant Workers, Faith Activists, and the Revival of the Labor Movement" book launch on March 16.  Lauren and Keystone's work with the Interfaith Economic Justice Coalition, since 2012  is featured in Jonathan Rosenblum's just-released book, as he tells the inside story of how SeaTac Airport workers and faith and community allies led the first successful fight for $15, renewing the national labor movement. Click here to purchase the book For the last 4.5 years, Keystone has been supporting workers in their fight for dignity and pay at our Seatac Airport.  Here is our recent advocacy to the Seatac City Council: IEJC - Letter to SeaTac City Council Feb 2017 by JLP Intern David Choi

Christening Conversation Families with children, adults interested in baptism, friends ~ new or old to Keystone UCC~ are gathering  for a supper time discussion about this ritual in our faith. We will break bread, while we have childcare for your little one.  Wednesday evening, late March/early April. Interested?  Contact Rev. Lauren Cannon at lauren.cannon@keystoneseattle.org OR .... Keystone Membership In the season of Lent, Keystone friends are thinking about joining the church.  This is less of a formal portal to some inside privileges, but more of an opportunity to offer a statement of support for the life and work of Keystone UCC.  It is an expression of your commitment and intention in our beloved community.  Talk to Rich and Lauren to join with others who will be reflecting this season on their own Stepping Stones of faith!

SEATTLE LABOR CHORUS SINGALONG MARCH 25,  2017   Amid cold winds weather-wise and politics-wise, you can cheer yourself up by attending the annual Seattle Labor Chorus Singalong—Saturday evening March 25th, 7:00-9:30 p.m.  You can look forward to the usual spirited community singing with words provided, a silent auction, a song or two by the Chorus, great homemade snacks, fellowship, and family-friendly atmosphere.  The event will take place at the same location as last year, the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Avenue N., Seattle 98103.  There is street parking (though not in the handicapped parking near the church’s back door), or else take the #5 bus. The Singalong features great songs of labor, peace, and justice as well as some old chestnuts.  You are welcome to lead a song as an individual or a group, or to sit back and join in the singing, or, just listen.  The food will include savories, desserts, and non-alcoholic drinks.  And—you can buy tickets for the Chorus’ annual quilt raffle, or buy the Chorus CD’s.  For bidding in the silent auction, bring your checkbook or cash.  Another feature:  you can bring flyers for a community table, available to the approximately 200 people who typically attend.  Admission is by a suggested donation of $15 per adult or $5 for children, but no one will be turned away. The Singalong is the Chorus’ biggest fundraiser of the year.  It is one of the means that allows the Chorus to sing for free in support of working people at strikes, rallies, protests, and union meetings; at annual conferences, at benefits for good causes, for book signings, at memorials; and at the Northwest Folklife Festival.  Further information about the Chorus is on the SLC website— http://www.seattlelaborchorus.org.  Or contact Janet Stecher at (206) 524-7753 or atrebelvoz@aol.com.

• Sheri healing sprained ankle • Sandie healing from knee surgery • Charles healing from cold illness   Gus Wall - 3/9 Eliza Penick -3/10 Rev. Mike Denton - 3/18 Ruth Little - 3/21 Connie Voget - 3/25 Margaret Graham - 3/28   Here's wishing each of them the happiest of birthdays, from all of us at Keystone UCC! Keep an eye out here for upcoming Keystone Birthdays!