The Green Team met on Tuesday, Sept. 1, for our monthly meeting, the theme of the meeting was how we can make sure our neighbors and community members are voting. Do you have a plan for voting? Have you talked to your friends and family, especially friends and families in other states who might be voting by mail for the first time, about their plans for voting? We discussed the various scenarios that could prevent people's mail-in ballots from reaching their county election boards, between the efforts to slow down the US Postal Service and rules which might prevent ballots from being counted. We also worried together about the weeks after Election Day, while the ballots are being counted and the anxiety this uncertainty will create. We committed to talking with as many people as we can between now and Election Day to help people come up with their voting plans, and we'll be talking to Keystone folks as well to make sure your plans are in place!
We also talked about the Sierra Club's upcoming workshops on commenting at the upcoming hearings on the Kalama methanol refinery (see Take 5 for Advocacy article above), and the need to stay on top of strategies of disinformation that big polluters put out about plants like these.
Finally, we continued our discussion into Jim Antel's book Climate Church, Climate World, chapter 4, which centered on the action that churches can do to be a partner in the fight for climate justice. We recognize the need for lifting up in prayer the harm that human beings have done to the earth, and how those of us currently living today are leaving an unjust world for the generations who follow us. We decided to start working on connecting our efforts as a UCC Creation Justice church and a Green Team with other Creation Justice churches and Green Teams in the Pacific Northwest Conference and across the US. How can we support one another, and how can we learn from one another in the work we're doing for climate justice? And how can we join our voices and power to others so we can make real change in this work? That's what The Keystone Green Team is committed to this month.
The next Green Team meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. on Keystone's Zoom. We'll discuss Climate Church, Climate World Chapter 5, report back on our work to help our neighbors with their voting plans, and other issues.
~ reported by Pastor Yuki
An Invitation to Make Your Offering
Every Sunday when we gathered at the Keystone Church building, our church service would contain a time for an offering. It is an important part of each service because it is an acknowledgement that each of us contributes to the work of our faith in the world.
Since the Covid pandemic we have been worshipping in our homes. We are still Keystone Church but in a new way. Our internet worship services have not had a time for offerings, so there is no weekly reminder of the importance of sharing our offerings in support of the work of Keystone.
Some of us may need a gentle reminder to support Keystone as our common commitment to each other and the greater work of faith.
You can make your offering by sending a check directly to Keystone, or through the PayPal button on the front page of our website (scroll to the bottom) and at the bottom of this newsletter. You can also make your offering through the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC at pncucc.org/donate, and designating Keystone to receive your gift.
Let’s share what we can and keep Keystone strong, now and long into the future.
~ Pastor Rich
Take 5 for Advocacy: Week of August 31, 2020
Image description: A logo that reads “Take 5 for Advocacy, “ featuring the words “Take 5” in red, with the 5 in a circle of lines that indicate a watch face, and the words “For Advocacy” in green. The words sit in front of a pattern that looks like a mosaic of stones, with a green cross surrounded by multicolored blocks.
Actions You Can Take This Week
STOP KALAMA METHANOL REFINERY: The Washington State Department of Ecology was expected to announce on Sept. 2 when the online hearing to accept or deny the permit for the world’s largest methanol refinery in Kalama will be scheduled. The announcement of the hearing will then trigger a 30 day comment period. The Sierra Club is training people twho are opposed to this issue to virtually "show up" by writing comments. You can learn more about how to write effective comments and letter to the editor at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KxK_8pzDJE708Zm4j8NA0imAyvV_cJcPnjzQK24UovY/edit, or how to use social media to effectively spread your message at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OqLh3nb0t6y17Wg3kf4A6lSXEZvdfHCtgNUFcenjtBE/edit. Talk to Rich Voget, who also shared this flier (download here) on the Kalama Refinery and why Sierra Club opposes it, to find out more about the training workshops.
PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO SHELTER: The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance is asking people to comment on the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's attempt to remove safety protections for trans people in need of HUD assistance and at homeless shelters. A proposed rule by HUD Secretary Ben Carson would allow shelter providers to refuse services to trans people based solely on their gender identity.That means the proposed rule would remove the anti-discrimination protections for transgender people seeking shelter. Our current administration and HUD justifies this proposal by citing “religious freedom” and supposed privacy and safety concerns rooted in negative stereotypes rather than on evidence. The ability of trans people to be able to access safe housing without being discriminated against can mean the difference between life and death. Please submit your comment now and tell them #HousingSavesLives at housingsaveslives.org today.
SUPPORT A FEDERAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE AGENCY: The United Church of Christ's Creation Justice Ministries invites people to add their support for the establishment of a national climate adaptation program, which would be responsible for implementing common-sense climate resilience efforts across federal agencies. You can support this effort by adding your name and comments here.
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.