Join us for services
Worship Every Sunday – 10:30 a.m.
All Are Welcome! Interactive, Online
This Sunday, April 12, 2020
Third Sunday of Easter
Preaching: Rev. Rich GambleWorship leaders: Rev. Lauren & Rev. YukiText: Luke 24:13-35
Theme: At a Distance
(Want to spend some time in reflection over this text before Sunday? Click here for some seeds for spiritual meditation from the UCC).
We are continuing to meet online for interactive worship through the Zoom Meetings platform that lets us connect, see, and/or hear one another when we gather together. The online worship space on Zoom opens at 10 a.m., for a "bring your own coffee hour" where folks can meet and have some time to see each other and talk before worship.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE: Our Sundays together begin with Sunday School & Storytime with Teacher Anita at 10 a.m.. Children and families spend 20 minutes in a Zoom Breakout Room with Teacher Anita, then return to for worship, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Also, this Sunday we're celebrating April birthdays! Stay for a few minutes after church and wish our April stars a happy birthday month!Pastor Yuki emails the Zoom access information (which remains the same for every worship or study meeting each week) via the newsletter every Saturday and Sunday morning. If you have trouble accessing our space, email Pastor Yuki at yuki.schwartz@keystoneseattle.org or text/call 360.689.3832.
You can invite others to come to our Zoom worship by sharing the link and password with them through calls, emails, or texts, but please do not share Zoom info on social media. Also please let us know who you've invited so we know to let them into the space.
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| Happy Listening Anytime: Miss a Sermon? Down at Classroom? Audio Available Online: Click on a file for a listen HERE, and share! You can now watch sermons and worship services on our new YouTube page here. |
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New Keystone Newsletter Schedule
Since we began physical distancing because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pastors Lauren and Yuki have been using the newsletter more often to keep us all in touch. In addition to the usual twice-a-month newsletter blast, we've been sending smaller updates throughout the week.
We've decided to change things up a bit to streamline our communications and contact with you.
While we're following physical distancing policies, we'll consolidate the big bimonthly newsletter into two shorter newsletters each week: a Midweek Update (this one's your first), and a Weekend Reminder that has the easy links into the Sunday worship, and any news that didn't make it into the Midweek Update.
Deadline to send information to Pastor Yuki (yuki.schwartz@keystoneseattle.org) or Pastor Lauren (lauren.cannon@keystoneseattle.org) for the Midweek Update is noon (12 p.m.) Wednesdays. Deadline to send information to Pastor Yuki or Pastor Lauren for the Weekend Reminder is 5 p.m. Friday.
We hope this change helps keep us in touch with one another, and focused on the issues and concerns that we're taking action around. Got suggestions or questions? Email or call us and let us know! |
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Our prayers keep going out:
- Continued prayers of support and holy patience for all families holding school at home, and thanks for all the extended family & friends sending sustenance from a physical distance!
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Act Up for Earth Day/Climate Week
 Happy Earth Day! Today is the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, and there are a lot of collective actions centered on climate justice that will carry on the work of climate justice beyond today to the rest of this month. Check out this list of events, and get involved where you can.
The Seattle Climate Strike isn't being hampered by physical distancing. Learn more about the Seattle Climate strike and how you can get involved by clicking here: https://seattleclimatestrike.weebly.com/. Also, Paisley will talk to us more on Sunday after worship about the Seattle Climate Strike and how we can support this important movement.
Washington Youth Climate Strike Online Education
Wed. April 22, beginning at 10 a.m. Topic: Amplifying indigenous leadership.
Thurs. April 23, beginning at 10 a.m. Topic: Divestment.
Fri. April 24, beginning at 10 a.m. Topic: Political mobilization.
Click on this link to the WA Youth Climate Strike to find out more about what education and actions are happening near you. Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light Earth Day Gatherings
Wednesday, April 22
Happy Hour: 5:30-6:30 p.m. PST
Register HereSince we can’t gather in person as we normally would, we are inviting Earth Ministry/WAIPL Colleagues and others in the faith community to come together for a Zoom happy hour. Join virtually for a casual conversation to check in, share what’s happening with your congregation, and reflect on how we can carry the message of Earth Day moving forward. Staff will also briefly share about the release of our new action toolkit. BYOB and see you online!
Amazon Employees for Climate Justice Daylong Livestream
Friday, April 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST
Amazon Employees for Climate Justice are calling for an Amazon-wide "Sick Out" (like a "Walk Out" but adapted to this time of COVID-19), to tell Amazon that workers are sick of the firings, sick of silencing and censoring, sick of putting their lives at risk with inadequate protections, sick of racism, and sick of inadequate climate action. The daylong livestream will include stories from warehouse workers about what it’s like on the ground right now, talks from climate leaders, Naomi Klein and Bill McKibben, discussions about the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, and Amazon, and other activities throughout the day. Click here to register or to watch online. Earth Day Northwest
Earth Ministry/WAIPL is part of the Earth Day Northwest 2020 movement, which shares a long-term commitment to prioritizing equity and inclusion, preserving the natural environment, and ensuring healthy built communities. Earth Day NW 2020 will be launching a social media campaign called Voices Carry as well as sharing virtual events.
Interfaith Power & Light Cool Congregations Calculator Webinar
Thursday, April 30, 12 p.m. PST
Earth Ministry/WAIPL is happy to co-sponsor this webinar about a new resource from national Interfaith Power & Light. This new Cool Congregations Calculators will help measure the footprint of your congregational facilities and your own household. Click here to register.
Sunrise Movement Sunrise School
Thurs. April 28-Fri. May 1.
Young leaders can learn about how to build connections, take action, and learn about the links between the Covid-19 pandemic and the Green New Deal. Register for Sunrise School here, or send this link to a young leader in your life: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/sunrise-school.
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Keystone UCC Supports Protections for State's Undocumented Communities
Keystone UCC leaders added our name and support to a letter from the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network to Gov. Inslee and Washington state legislative leaders urging them to include Washington residents who are undocumented to the economic, legal, and political protections in the $2 trillion relief plan from Congress. People who are undocumented were not included in that plan. This letter asks Gov. Inslee and our state leaders to recognize the many contributions undocumented residents provide to our state and communities. It also asks state leaders to address the needs of undocumented communities by:
1. Creating a “Washington Worker Relief Fund” through the Governor’s office with at least $100 million initially allocated to it. The Fund will be administered by community based organizations to provide emergency economic assistance to undocumented Washingtonians, so that everyone has access to the relief they need during the pandemic; and,
2. Working with caucus leadership to create a permanent system that will provide wage-replacement protection to workers who lose their jobs and are excluded from the current unemployment insurance system, including undocumented immigrants.
You can read more about the letter by downloading a PDF here. We'll also keep you posted on any new actions that may come from this letter. Thank you to the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network for your work in keeping our immigrant neighbors and family members protected!
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Tell Your Story: Small Things That Changed Your Life
From Pastor Rich:
Greetings Keystone in Exile,
We will meet this Thursday, April 23, in our usual Zoom space at 6:30 p.m.for our storytelling session.
The theme for storytelling this week is: “A small thing that had a big influence on my life.”
If you can think of a story to tell then craft it so that it has a beginning, middle and end. Aim to tell the main action of the story in seven minutes or less and then add three minutes of description to place the action in a setting, for a total of ten minutes. Tell it, time it, cut or add to it to meet the time parameters.
Everyone is a storyteller and we can all improve with practice. So there is no reason why we can’t all give this a try.
Let me know if you would like to tell a story this week: call 206.632.6021 or email keystone5019@gmail so that I can schedule you.
If you would like to spend a little time with other storytellers here are a couple of videos you can watch on the internet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bo3dpVb5jw
And: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgeh4xhSA2Q
I look forward to seeing and hearing from you on Thursday.
Peace,
Pastor Rich
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The Pacific Northwest Conference has a new home for sharing news and information about goings-on in the conference: GoogleGroups. If you'd like to become a member of the Google Group, send an email to pncucc@gmail.com.
Worship with the PNC on Saturday at 7 p.m.
On Saturday evening, the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC will have a Conference-wide worship service via Zoom at 7 p.m. this Saturday, April 25, on Zoom (Pastor Yuki will send you the link in the Saturday Weekend Reminder newsletter blast). The worship service will be a mixture of real-time parts and pre-recorded aspects (including music, and time for fellowship in Zoom breakout rooms after worship).
The Conference invites people to start logging on to the Zoom link (to come) at 6:40 p.m. to begin greeting one another in the chat box. Worship will start at 7 p.m. and fellowship and a brief greeting followed by break out rooms for connection will begin around 7:30/7:40 p.m. with the experience wrapping up around 8 p.m.
Beginning the week of April 27, the Conference begins a weekly series of conversations that will bring the work of the Conference, the successes, the challenges to you in an engaging way. Watch for these videos in the Google Group (see above) or in our newsletter blasts. |
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Glance- down- the- Calendar
Today, April 22: Earth Ministry/WAInterfaith Power & Light Gathering, Happy Hour @5:30 p.m. Register here.
Thurs. April 23: Washington Youth Climate Strike online conversations on divestment, beginning at 10.m. Click here for more info and to register.
Thurs. April 23: Solidarity Through Storytelling workshop, 6:30 p.m. at Keystone's Zoom space. Theme: A Small Thing That Had a Big Influence on My Life. Call or email Pastor Rich to tell a story (206.632.6021. or keystone5019@gmail.com).
Fri. April 24: Washington Youth Climate Strike online education on political mobilization, beginning at 10 a.m. Click here for more info and to register.
Sat. April 25: Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ Conference-side worship service, @ 7 p.m. on Zoom (link to come on Saturday).
Tues. April 28-Fri. May 1: Sunrise Movement Sunrise School, online. Times vary. Click here for more info and to register.
Thurs., April 30: Interfaith Power & Light Cool Congregations Calculator Webinar, online @ 12 p.m. Register here.
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Rita Peterson - 4/5
Jake O'Neill - 4/7
Danielle- 4/8
Jonathan Sabo - 4/9
Julia Blackburn - 4/11
Sheri - 4/14
Nick Havey - 4/18
Here's wishing them each the happiest of birthdays, from all of us at Keystone UCC! On the last Sunday of the month- we shall have cake at coffee hour (even on line cheer these days!)
Please let Barb know additions/ omissions!
Keep an eye out here for upcoming Keystone Birthdays!
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Reaching Keystone UCC Pastoral Staff:
Reach us at your Keystone church office: (206) 632-6021. This phone is also checked remotely since all staff serve part-time.
Pastor Rich is available Tuesday to Thursday mornings and Friday evenings, and holds additional office times on Saturdays and Sundays. (Sabbath = Mondays.) Not all of these times will Rich be in the church office. If you want to see him, it is best to make an appointment. Email him at keystone5019@gmail.com
Pastor Lauren is on Sunday thru Friday half days (Sabbath = Saturdays). Email is a great way to line up a meeting: lauren.cannon@keystoneseattle.org
Pastor Yuki (they/them) is at church two Sundays a month and is available to meet by appointment (Sabbath = Fridays). Email them at yuki.schwartz@keystoneseattle.org. |
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Give your gift to support Keystone and its many ministries, including the Sacred Heart Shelter, and the Solar Panel Fundraiser. Click the PayPal button below or send your check directly to Keystone. You can also donate through the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC at pncucc.org/donate.
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To submit content for inclusion, email Lauren & Yuki @keystoneseattle.org addresses above. Content must be received by Wednesdays at Noon for the weekly Midweek Update, and 5 p.m. Friday for the Weekend Reminder.
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Next deadline for Newsletter announcement submissions:
to Lauren & Yuki: Friday, April 24 @ 5 p.m. and Wednesday April 29 @ Noon
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Communion (we invite you to keep some food or drink to represent the elements of communion near you. It can be bread and juice or a donut and coffee, anything that best represents this meal with what you have in your pantry. And if you forget to have these nearby, don't worry, you'll have time to gather them during the Hymn of Communion).
the extension of the statewide eviction moratorium that will help keep tenants in their homes if they cannot pay rent during this time, and expands that protection to include transitional housing such as motels/hotels, mobile homes, and commercial properties.
