Prayers of the People: Week of August 31, 2020

Image description: A gray line drawing of hands surrounding a heart, superimposed by the words “Prayers of the People” in red.

In worship on August 30, we joined together in holding up these prayers:

• For Seattle schools as the school year begins, especially for students and their families who haven't received yet all the resources for a successful school year. May we help the Seattle schools in its work to educate all our students. 

• That people continue their action to keep elections fair, and that we do our work with empathy and care, and hear one another, but especially that we support young leaders who show us the way. 

• For family members who care for us, that they receive from you, O God, the strength to carry on. 

• For those who care for us and for those who will care for us. 

Holy God ... hear our prayers!

These prayers are crafted to carry those shared in worship to our whole community, in the general spirit in which they were given (one pastor or leader makes note as one prays.)  We also especially welcome you to send Rev. Lauren your note during the week with any prayer request, we are so happy to incorporate it into our online worship (if you may not be up for voicing it). We are also always glad for you to add your prayers to the Zoom chat box during live worship, and we can fold them in to the spoken prayers. Contact Keystone's pastors for any pastoral concerns (contact info is below and at the bottom of this newsletter)

Prayers to include in the newsletter? Email them to Pastor Yuki (yuki.schwartz@keystoneseattle.org), Pastor Rich (keystone5019@gmail.com), &/or Pastor Lauren:  lauren.cannon@keystoneseattle.org, or text/ call Lauren cell:  773.501.7382

Practice contemplative Lectio Divina tonight: 6:30-7 pm

Open small group tonight September 2

“Each moment is a chance for us to make peace with the world, to make peace possible for the world, to make happiness possible for the world.  The world needs our peace, and the world needs our happiness.” -Thich Nhat Hanh* 

Tonight September 2 we will take centering time to reflect on lines from the Gospel of Matthew 16: 21-28, that hold the theme of the cost and promise of discipleship.  This passage comes to us in our lectionary this month.  We will share some quiet, and then share three rounds of seeing what phrases stick with us, and how we connect with this passage.  Our last round in the practice leads us each to find what God is asking us to do through this text.

Come share a couple minutes tonight, for this simple meditative practice, done in community.  These strange coronavirus times are bringing us to be together in contemplation to restore ourselves.  If we want, this could become a weekly feast to sustain our Spirits, for the seasons ahead.  We usually sit with the text for the coming Sunday worship.

Fridays @ 10:30 AM is one time being considered, starting October.

Also please mark another Wednesday eve, September 23, we will practice again 6:30- 7 pm!

Bring a Bible if you like.  Or just listen as others rotate reading. 

Questions welcome to: Pastor Lauren:

lauren.cannon@keystoneseattle.org

*Thich Nhat Hanh: from Living Buddah, Living Christ.

Calendar Glance: Keystone events. Ways to be in solidarity, in these times

TONIGHT: Wednesday, August 26: Lectio Divina practice, 6:30 p.m. on Keystone Zoom. The practice space opens at 6:15 for conversation and a few minutes of fellowship before the practice begins. Text for tonight: Exodus 3:1-15.

Thursday, August 27: Meaningful Movies Virtual Screening and Discussion on "Stories of Us: Camp Second Chance," 6 p.m. on Zoom. Register to watch and take part in this event by clicking here. 

Tuesday, Sept. 1: Green Team monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m. on Keystone Zoom. Continuing our discussion of Jim Antel's book Climate Church, Climate World, chapter 4, as well as sharing actions we can take to promote a green and just world.

Wednesday, Sept. 2: Lectio Divina practice, 6:30 p.m. on Keystone Zoom. The space opens at 6:15 for conversation and a few minutes of fellowship before the practice begins.

Wednesday, Sept. 9: Justice Bible Study, on Keystone Zoom. Reading: Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6. 

Wednesday, Sept. 16: Keystone Storytelling, 6:30 p.m. on Keystone Zoom. Theme: Transcendence. Email Pastor Rich to sign up to tell a story (206.632.6021. or keystone5019@gmail.com). Learn more about storytelling here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bo3dpVb5jw
 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgeh4xhSA2Q.

Wednesday, Sept. 23: Lectio Divina practice, 6:30 p.m. on Keystone Zoom. The space opens at 6:15 for conversation and a few minutes of fellowship before the practice begins.

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Community listening session, 6:30 p.m. on Keystone Zoom. Come share your thoughts and ideas about how we build our connections and build up our worship and community time. 

Take 5 for Advocacy: Week of August 24, 2020

JOIN A VOTING TEAM: Barbara Anderson lifted up on Sunday her experience with Hand in Hand's Get Out the Vote Conversation Training that she recently took, and she is inviting Keystone to also be part of this movement to make sure our friends, neighbors, and family vote this year. Barbara writes:

"Election 2020 is the most important one in our lifetime.  Back on August 11th I engaged in a workshop with the organization Hand In Hand called Talk Out the Vote. We discussed many things including voter suppression - poll taxes and voter intimidation, Jim Crow Laws and yes, even the closing of polling locations. What was decided in this group was for each of us to organize a voting team.  

"I'm coming to you Keystone to ask for your help. The goal is to contact 5-10 people - your families, friends, neighbors - to ask them what their plan is for voting this year. With Covid19, some may be afraid to get out personally and vote. We have 41 states where a person can vote early, either in person or by absentee ballot or mail-in. We talked about so much more, but what is needed now: anyone interested in being a part of this group, please reach out to me at gepreston(at)msn(dot)com to let me know your interest. I can fill you in on other things discussed and help you get started by practicing a few conversations together.

"Please see Hand in Hand's conversation guide by clicking here as this might help you in taking the next step!  Thank you Keystone! Let us all rise together!"

Meaningful Movies Virtual Screening & Discussion: Stories of Us: Camp Second Chance

6 p.m. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020

Release Year: 2019
Running Time: 50 minutes
Director: Melinda Raebyne

We are thrilled to invite you all to our 2nd online Meaningful Movies network-wide event, on the topic of homelessness. The event will begin with a screening of the film followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker Melinda Raebyne, community leader Jason Cockburn, the founder of the Tacoma-based organization, Power of Two, Dakoda Foxx, and the Executive Director and Founder of Jewels Helping Hands in Spokane, Julie Garcia.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Cost: Screenings are free; however, we gratefully accept donations to help offset the costs of presenting the films we screen.
Suggestion: $5 Individual, $10 Household.  After registering, you will receive a Zoom link via email for the screening and panel discussion.

In “Stories of Us: Camp Second Chance,” director Melinda Raebyne takes a deep and personal dive into the homelessness crisis in Seattle. She interviews and follows the stories of people who are experiencing homelessness. The film takes a unique perspective on the daily challenges that people living in Camp Second Chance face. 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2639605372948752/