Celebrate Sophie Morse's ordination!

The Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC and Suquamish Community Congregational UCC are celebrating the ordination of Sophie Morse, from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, November 8, 2020, via Zoom. Sophie served as a pastoral leader at Keystone several years ago.

This past February, Sophie was approved for ordination by the Westside Committee on Ministry for the Pacific Northwest Conference for the United Church of Christ. She will be ordained into a specialized ministry in Conflict Consulting for faith organizations, a culmination of much preparation, training, and discernment. As part of this call, Sophie will be in covenant with the Suquamish Church, the Pacific Northwest Conference, the Dispute Resolution Center of Kitsap County, and an independent Support & Accountability Board. She is excited to be able to branch out and serve her community in this way!

Donations during the service will be accepted to help support the scholarship fund for Members in Discernment (those studying to become ministers in the UCC). For those who want to take care of this ahead of time, here is the link. Choose “Other” under Conference Donations, fill in your amount, and write in “Sophie’s Ordination.” Or you can mail checks to: “PNCUCC” 325 North 125th Street, Seattle, WA, 98133 and note “Sophie’s Ordination” on the check.

To attend Sophie’s ordination, you must register by emailing Sophie at sfmor1@gmail.com. You will receive a link to attend the service.

Congratulations and many blessings on your ministry, Sophie!

Wednesday eve- come for Lectio Divina 6:00 pm tonight: reflection on a Psalm- come you who are weary!

Tonight and each Wednesday eve come into the Keystone online space for a little reflection on scripture.  We meditate on the upcoming Sunday passage from 6-6:20 p.m. using a practice called Lectio Divina, for a type of  centering prayer.  

Tonight we will sit with one of the lectionary texts: Psalm 90 below (Rich’s sermon text gets to go off lectionary this week.) Join Pastor Lauren as we share a few prayerful moments with this text, so that “the favor of our God may be upon us, and prosper the work of our hands!”

Look for the ‘cheat sheet’ in your email, or email Pastor Lauren: lauren.cannon@keystoneseattle.org for the Zoom link.

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17

O God, you have been our dwelling-place
  in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth
and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting
you are God.
You turn us back to dust,
and say,
"Turn back,
you mortals."
For a thousand years
in your sight
are like yesterday
when it is past,
or like a watch
in the night.
You sweep them away;
they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed
in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes
and is renewed;
in the evening it fades
and withers.

Turn, O God!
How long?
Have compassion
on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning
with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice
and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days
as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years
as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest
to your servants,
and your glorious power
to their children.
Let the favor of the Sovereign
our God be upon us,
and prosper for us
the work of our hands--
O prosper the work of our hands!

~ ~ ~

Calendar Glance: ways to be in solidarity, in these times

Continuing Through Sunday, Oct. 11 Meaningful Movies Social Justice Film Festival, from Oct. 1-11. Learn more at https://www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org/.

TONIGHT, Wednesday, Oct. 14: Lectio Divina practice, 6 - 6:20 p.m. in Keystone Zoom.

TONIGHT, Wednesday, Oct. 14: Parables Study: reading the book Short Stories by Jesus.  Introduction, plus chapter 1 (+ aspirational:  Ch. 2, and 3!)  6:30 p.m. in Keystone Zoom. 

Wednesday, Oct. 21: Lectio Divina practice, 6 - 6:20 p.m. in Keystone Zoom.

Wednesday, Oct. 21: Keystone Story Night, telling tales under the theme of Transcendence, 6:30 p.m. in Keystone Zoom. 

Wednesday, Oct. 28: Lectio Divina practice, 6 - 6:20 p.m. in Keystone Zoom.

Wednesday, Oct. 28:Concerns of the World, new gathering time dedicated to sharing our worries and hopes about the world around us. 6:30 p.m. in Keystone Zoom. 

Wednesday, Nov. 4: Green Team meeting, 6:30 p.m. in Keystone Zoom. Topics: debrief or continuing to debrief the election?!  Jim Antal's book :  Ch. 5 & 6.  Come join Green Team action planning.

Wednesday October 14: 20 minutes contemplative practice

Tonight and each Wednesday evening, come into the Keystone online space for a little reflection on scripture.  We meditate on the upcoming Sunday passage from 6-6:20 p.m. using a practice called Lectio Divina, for a type of  centering prayer.  

Tonight strengthen your Spirit with a small group of others with Pastor Lauren. We will have a few moments to pray over this coming Sunday 10/18 scripture: to hear something new in those old commandments Words for Living Exodus 20 Rich’s theme for Sunday is “Rules for the Road.”

Look for the ‘cheat sheet’ in your email, or email Pastor Lauren: lauren.cannon@keystoneseattle.org for the Zoom link. Bring a favorite Bible if you like!

Prayers of the People - lifted October 11

Please continue to add your prayers for these lifted during online worship together:

• As people on a journey, may we follow You O God, to do things right, to love neighbor, earth, and self. 

• Give all those fighting voter suppression, great strength and all cleverness, as we help all votes count.

• For new caregivers, we give thanks, for those wanting to serve, with hearts open, who work with a presence of love.

• For all bravely facing mental illness or depression, to discern away from posting fear and conspiracy, and toward a knowing that distancing need not be isolation, that we can help promote health.

• Our loved ones in procedures & treatments, for healing breakthroughs, for strength, for doctors. 

• For us to bring loving care to those  sick; for us all to engage in action to change our systems. 

Holy God, in your mercy ... hear our prayers!

These prayers are crafted to carry a sense of the ones shared in worship to our whole community, in the spirit in which they were given, but not in specifics, as we guard our community's privacy.  Also welcome: send Rev. Lauren a note during the week with any prayer request.  We are happy to incorporate it into our online worship (if you may not be up for voicing it).  

Contact Keystone's pastors for any pastoral concerns (contact info is below and at the bottom of this newsletter)

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