Keystone Pastoral Letter

“You are exactly what God had in mind when God made you.” -Greg Boyle

Dear Keystone,

I spent the month of August traveling in Iceland and Ireland, and boy, am I glad to be home! I love the routines of fall: gardening, cooking, and of course preparing worship in what has  come to be called “Ordinary Time,” even though it is anything but ordinary. In this season, as we prepare to celebrate the end of the liturgical year with a day that acknowledges the Reign of Christ in and through all things, we can celebrate our Mission Statement: “Keystone Church proclaims the good news that God’s realm is in our midst.”

As a congregation, we continue to speak out against the disastrous misappropriation of Christian language into a violent theology that supports the current regime. As individuals, we continue to live into God’s Realm through our individual ministries and missions – gathering socks and hygiene supplies, political organizing and campaigning, registering voters, demonstrating in solidarity with those who have been put in harm’s way, writing letters on behalf of incarcerated people, and much more. 

Our first Day of Discernment celebrated the many gifts of Keystone: our work for justice and inclusion, our warm and welcoming community, our inspiring worship services. We also discussed some challenges we face: a shrinking and aging population, a building that requires increasing maintenance, a decreasing interest in attending church. In response, I created the “Welcome to Keystone” video which highlights our strengths. The leadership team also sent out a survey, asking about priorities. For our second Day of Discernment, which will happen November 2nd after the worship service, I invite you to send me questions to ask the congregation. These questions will guide our discussion of Keystone’s future.

Over the summer, the leadership team and I read the book A Little One Shall Lead: Small Congregations Create New Ways of Being Church. A number of themes emerged from this project studying small congregations like ours: “small is good” was one! Others were highly engaged laity, celebrating the gifts of every person, and church as “home.” If you would like to read this remarkable book in preparation for our second Day of Discernment, please let me know; I will have several copies to borrow in the office. 

As you know, Keystone has no “committees.” The community sets and carries out the agenda for justice, inclusion, supporting our neighbors on the margins, and creating the sacred space for our worship services. The community has, in the past, organized the Festival of Hope, the central event in Keystone’s year, raising money for important community and justice-centered organizations. As our population shrinks and resources dwindle, the question presents itself: are we content to continue with this model? Or do we have something else in mind? If so, what? These are some of the topics that may generate questions for our next Day of Discernment.

Several folks requested a Bible study with the Pastor, so I will be offering that on the third Wednesday of each month following our regular lectio divina. Many thanks for that suggestion – I always love diving more deeply into Scripture, and we will decide together how to proceed at our first meeting on September 17th. I hope you will join me!

Until then, I send you love and blessings.

Pastor Adina

Pastoral Letter Summer 2025

Dear Keystone,

“Let us not grow weary in doing what is right.” (Galatians 6:9) This exhortation, which Paul uses in his closing of the letter to the church communities in Galatia, is easier said than done. At this time when our news feeds are full of pictures of emaciated children, videos of our neighbors being kidnapped and disappeared, and stories of politicians and millionaires breaking the law with impunity, it can be easy to grow weary. Capitalism, the domination system, the consumer culture all thrive on isolation and overwhelm, leading individuals into weariness and feelings of powerlessness.

The antidote to weariness lies in community. We reach out our hands to one another, welcoming one another with extravagance, courage, and unconditional love. We follow in the steps of Jesus, our friend, who showed us the way to create a new humanity beyond the small divisions which can wear us down.

Keystone is a small community, and we find strength and power in our connections with other small communities in a web of care: St. Paul’s and Prospect UCC – our tri-church sisterhood; the communities that share our building, the Seattle Taiwanese Christian Church, Living Water Inclusive Catholic Community, the Seattle Peace Chorus and the Seattle Labor Chorus.  We now host Wallingford Indivisible and other resistance groups. We also remain strongly connected to the Faith Action Network, Nueva Trinidad in El Salvador, and of course the Justice Leadership Program. The early Christian communities that Paul established were each unique, but connected by the same web of care. At one point in his letter to the Galatians, Paul mentions that the “O.G.” Christian community in Jerusalem had approved of his preaching the Gospel to other diverse communities, as long as they all “continued to remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10).

Of course, some communities were regarded with suspicion, particularly the Galatians, who were – as I told you a few weeks ago – considered to be barbarians by the Romans. They struggled alongside other gentile and Jewish communities to stay true to the Way of Jesus in the face of the domination and brutality of Rome, which included the requirement to worship the Emperor as a God. In the face of persecution, Paul encouraged them to avoid dissention, bitterness, and dividing into factions - or worst of all, falling back into the cult activities of Rome. In his letter, Paul begs them to live by the Spirit, and to remember the Cross of Christ, which gives them a common identity and true unity in their differences.

In her book, Christianity After Religion, Diana Butler Bass writes that we are in the middle of what she calls a “Fourth Great Awakening,” times in which “old patterns of religious life gave way to new ones and, eventually, spawned new forms of organizations and institutions.” Like Bass, I believe that Christianity can and must evolve from its tribalism and dogmatism into a vibrant community of faith where “all will be one in communion with God, in harmony with the cosmos, loving each other.”

I believe this was Paul’s vision as well, which is why I will be preaching a mini “summer sermon series” on Paul’s letter to the Galatians in August. I hope you will enjoy diving deeper into this short but incredibly influential letter.

Blessings

Pastor Adina

Pastor Adina’s Letter for the Season of Pentecost 2025

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our tender fragility, in our struggles as we wait. We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Herself intercedes with sighs too deep for words?

-Romans 8:26

Beloved Keystone Community:

I was deeply honored and humbled to hear that you have called me to be your Designated Pastor for the next two years. I especially cherish the fact that you had your congregational meeting on the day of Pentecost! Since Keystone is still in a state of transition, I believe this is the perfect way to continue our relationship. I have loved being here over the past year, and as the song says, “We’ve only just begun!” 

I am looking forward to spending more time with you, in worship and study, in action for justice, and as we discern more about Keystone’s future. We are small but mighty! This summer, I have invited the leadership team to join me in reading the new book, A Little One Shall Lead: Small Congregations Create New Ways of Being Church. In it, the authors relate “encouraging stories of congregations that – despite limited worship attendance and financial resources – have outsized community impact with their ministries.” Keystone could probably have written at least a chapter of this book, if not the whole thing! I am also excited about the new book club selection, The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr, which Matthew and I are reading aloud to each other.

On July 10th, I will have my ordination interview with the PNC Committee on Ministry. I am hoping that, because of the call you have offered me, I will be able to be approved for ordination in the United Church of Christ. My gratitude is overflowing. Please keep me in your prayers during this important time.

Later in the summer, I will be sending out a follow-up survey to reflect on our first Day of Discernment and to ask you for your detailed thoughts about Keystone going forward. You will have the option to answer anonymously, so you can say what’s really on your mind.

In the meantime, for the next ten days, I will be on a silent contemplative retreat. I brought the Keystone directory with me so I can hold each and every one of you in prayer. I am overjoyed to serve as your designated pastor for the next two years, and I know the Spirit will be with us all as we continue to deepen our relationship.

With Love and Joy

Pastor Adina

Pastoral Letter for Memorial Day week 2025

Dear Beloved Keystone Community,

With a heart full of gratitude, I write to thank each of you for joining together on May 18th for our Day of Discernment. Your presence, your voices, and your open hearts made the day a truly sacred gathering.

Keystone is a rare and radiant community—one built on deep love, unwavering justice, and the courage to embrace one another exactly as we are. As I listened to the stories and reflections shared, I was moved and inspired. You spoke from the heart, celebrating the ways Keystone has been a home of healing, friendship, and collective action. 

I am especially grateful for the way you have welcomed me as your pastor in the wake of the departure of beloved Rich Gamble. It is an honor to walk alongside you as we continue to discern our path forward— to cry out for justice, live into the Realm of God, discover new ways to engage and grow, and ensure that Keystone remains a sanctuary for all who seek belonging. While we recognize the challenges ahead, we step forward with faith, knowing that the love and commitment within this community will sustain us.

On June 8th, you will have the opportunity to make a decision together about my relationship with you as pastor moving forward. My term as transitional pastor was set for one year, ending on June 30th, and now, as a community, you will decide whether to continue with me in this role, begin a search and call process, or explore other possibilities. The leadership team will be presenting all the choices to you, ensuring that this decision is made with clarity, care, and collective discernment.

As we look to the future, we can trust the wisdom and creativity of this congregation. Together, we will work to expand outreach and membership, engage with social justice groups and strengthen relationships with our  partners. Participation in the Faith Land Initiative discernment cohort will help us continue to make Keystone a vibrant hub—hosting community events, inviting new voices, and exploring ways to make our space a center of connection and activism. We will continue to elevate our public presence, deepen collaborations with justice organizations, and discern how best to sustain our mission in meaningful and lasting ways. These are not just ideas—they are invitations to dream and act together, shaping the next chapter of Keystone’s journey.

Please reach out to me if you are interested in learning more about the Faith Land Discernment Initiative. May we continue to nurture one another, strengthen our bonds, and embrace the opportunities ahead with open hearts and open arms.

With deep gratitude and love,
Adina

Easter Pastoral Letter 2025

 Dear Keystone Family,

This past weekend, your moderator Barb and I had the privilege of traveling to Yakima for the annual Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ. What an inspiring time it was! We connected with members from across the conference, celebrated the welcome of new churches, explored uplifting and challenging ideas, and listened to some truly transformative preaching.

Friday kicked off with a variety of workshops led by passionate and knowledgeable presenters. I attended a powerful session on religious trauma led by Rev. Dr. Christie Love, Senior Pastor at Englewood Christian Church in Yakima. As a trauma theologian, she shed light on the kinds of experiences that lead to religious trauma and the groups most affected by it, such as LGBTQ+ individuals and those who’ve been homeschooled in strict religious environments. She also shared profound insights into how we, as a church, can offer pastoral care to those seeking healing.

Next, I joined a workshop on anti-racist practices in churches. I was deeply moved and inspired by the work of Sunnyslope Church in Wenatchee, who recently hosted a community workshop with Sarah Augustine, author of a thought-provoking book on the Doctrine of Discovery. Meanwhile, Barb dove into sessions on faith advocacy and support for church moderators, gathering valuable tools for leadership.

The weekend was full of meaningful moments, including a keynote address by Reverend Freeman Palmer, the Conference Minister for the Central Atlantic Conference. Reverend Palmer’s message was both thrilling and thought-provoking as he preached from Luke’s Gospel, in which Jesus encourages his host to invite the marginalized to the feast. Reverend Palmer posed the question: Who in our day is left out of the invitation? He challenged us to consider our trans siblings, immigrant neighbors, and those who’ve traditionally been excluded. Even more, we were urged to ask, “Who is setting the table, and what barriers are keeping people away?” It was a call to self-reflection, justice, and radical inclusion.

On Sunday, the weekend’s message culminated in a sermon by Reverend Bianca Davis, a powerful and prophetic Black woman preacher whose voice was vibrant with liberation, empowerment, and the call to uplift God’s people. She shared a compelling vision for the church, reminding us that as old structures fade, we are given the opportunity to create something entirely new—rooted in love, justice, and compassion. I left her sermon thinking how incredible it would be to have her bring her message to Keystone one day!

Barb and I returned to Seattle filled with hope and renewed energy, ready to share the spiritual momentum we experienced. As we journey forward together, I’m excited for what lies ahead. Remember, on May 18, we will gather as a congregation to discern the future of Keystone. This will be a chance to share stories, enjoy a meal, celebrate our accomplishments, and dream together about what God is calling us to become.

I am so grateful to be on this journey with you all. Let’s continue to grow, evolve, and set the table for a vibrant and inclusive future!

With joy and hope,
Pastor Adina