Possibilities for Festival of Hope 2020

Red letters that read “A Festival of Hope” with three pine-looking branches to the right of “of Hope.”

In an ordinary year, we would already be making plans for our annual Festival of Hope alternative holiday fair and bazaar. Unfortunately, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, an in-person Festival of Hope isn't possible, but Eliza and other Festival leaders are working on some ideas to bring it about in a virtual form. More details to come as they get ironed out, but for now, something to keep on your radar is that Kim has graciously offered to continue her tradition of providing us with pies (up to 30), despite this strange year. These will be offered for our church community only and Kim will deliver to the church and we will handle distribution to our members. Pies are $12, with all funds for the Festival and we need the headcount by Sunday, Sept 27. Please place your pie order by emailing Eliza at: elizapenick@yahoo.com. 

Also, folks can still buy items from Seattle's Ten Thousand Villages, one of the Festival participants, through their web site. You can check them out, give a donation, or buy some items at https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/seattle. 

Take 5 for Advocacy: Week of Sept. 14, 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

GET UNSHELTERED FOLKS INSIDE: The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance is asking people to tell Gov. Inslee to use emergency resources to help get indoor shelter for people who are unsheltered or living outside. This includes placing people in hotels, unused dorms, and other vacant spaces, in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. They're also asking people to tell Gov. Inslee that the state should also ensure that everyone who lost their home to fire has adequate shelter, and ensure that low-income households who lost homes are prioritized in the recovery. Protecting people experiencing homelessness is equally important and urgent. Shelter should be made available to anyone without a safe, indoor space, who is living in an area with unhealthy air, not limited to people who have been displaced by the fires. Raise your voice and send your message by clicking here and filling out the advocacy form. 

RAISE YOUR VOICE ON KALAMA REFINERY PROPOSAL: The time is NOW to give your comments to the Washington State Department of Ecology, about Northwest Innovation Works' and the Port of Kalama's application to build the world’s largest methanol refinery in Kalama. The Department of Ecology will take public comments through October 2 both online and at public hearings, which will be conducted remotely when possible. You can read more about the comment process at the Department of Ecology's web site here, and leave a comment online here. You can also register to participate in the first public hearing, which will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 17, online here. Future public hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sept. 22, also online. Rich Voget has provided this handout to help guide your comments and make them more effective. He also shared this flier (download here) on the Kalama Refinery and why Sierra Club opposes it, to find out more about the training workshops, and connect with Sierra Club at monthly meetings on the topic every third Thursday on Zoom. Email sept.gernez@sierraclub.org for the Zoom link.


"TEXT BANKING" THE VOTE: Last month some members of Keystone took part in the Environmental Voter Project's "text-banking" day of action, where they sent texts to voters and asked them to commit to voting on Election Day. Our texts were part of the 27,000 that were sent by members of the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC on that day. The Environmental Voter Project is inviting folks to do more text banking in the weeks leading up to the election. Every Wednesday, starting on Sept. 16, from 2-4 p.m., folks can send texts to encourage people around the country to vote, with training for those new to the project scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21, and Wednesday Sept. 23. Sign up to join this effort here. For more information, e-mail Roberta Rominger, who is part of the PNC's environmental justice task force, or talk with Pastor Yuki about how you can get involved. 

Prayers of the People: Week of Sept. 14, 2020

A line drawing in gray of two hands holding a heart, behind words in red that read “Prayers of the People”

In worship on Sept. 13, we joined together in holding up these prayers:

• For the communities who have suffered losses because of the fires in California, Oregon, and Washington. For those suffering from the smoke from these fires. Please send hope and carers and rain so that the fires can get under control. 

• For the firefighters and for people who don't have shelter from the smoke. 

• For dear friends who have lost family members, send them peace and healing, and help us be there for them as friends and co-workers so we can be supportive to them. 

• For dear friends who have passed away, and for those of us who miss them. May they feel the peace and love of God, and may God be with us in our grief. 

• For children who care for their beloved parents, give them strength and endurance and love. 

• For our loved ones who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns, help us be a light and bring life to their sadness. 

• For the work of Megan Phelps Roper, who left the Westboro Baptist Church because of its intolerance of LGBTQIA+ people and others, who carries her insights into conversations with others so that people can understand the power of love and forgiveness. 

• For everyone experiencing grief and fear and anxieties and other unfamiliar emotions right now, and who are uncertain about the future, that we may be able to help them find the comfort and support they need to get through each day, and help them feel not-so-alone, even though it feels that way. Help us help them know that they are loved and to remind them of how much they love others, so we can all make it through together. 

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), while guarding their privacy as this newsletter is carried into the digital world.  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

UCC News: Week of Sept. 7, 2020

Every Monday at 1:30 pm starting on Sept. 14, the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC will host a consultation and organizing effort using the UCC resource Our Faith, Our Vote,  a program to help churches make choices in the elections grounded in their faith. At the Sept. 14 gathering, the speaker will be  Sandy Sorenson (Director of the United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries, Washington, DC office). She is staffing Our Faith Our Vote and will share information and ideas about the program and ways you can get involved. If you're interested, contact Pastor Yuki for the link for the online meeting. You can also sign up for emails from the Our Faith, Our Vote program here. 

Meaningful Movies Virtual Screening & Discussion: Alive Inside

A rectangle featuring two boxes showing two images. In the left box, which has a white background, are two speech bubbles stylized to look like film strips, one in red and one in blue, with the words “Meaningful Movies Project” beside them. Beneath these words is the website address: www.meaningfulmovies.org. and “Social Documentary Film and Community Discussion. The right box is a segment of a movie poster for the film “Alive Inside,” these words are in black type, with the word “inside” set inside a box. The words, as well as images attesting to the film’s critical acclaim, are on top of part of a face of a light skinned person with blue eyes, who appears to be looking up.

5:30 p.m. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

Release Year: 2014
Running Time: 78 minutes
Director: Michael Rossato-Bennett“Alive Inside” follows social worker Dan Cohen as he demonstrates music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore victims’ sense of self. An uplifting exploration of music and the mind, the film offers visits with family members and interviews with experts. A joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken our souls.Free showing of the film on Saturday Sept 12 @ 5:30 p.m. PDT http://SnoKingMeaningfulMovies.org/movie or watch the film any time on Amazon PrimeOnline discussion of the film at 7:30 p.m. PDT
http://SnoKingMeaningfulMovies.org/discussion

MORE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: Latinos Behind the Reel: Challenging a Media Stereotype, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. This documentary focuses on Latino representation in the media industry and how those images create real life consequences. Watch the film on Kanopy at home and then join us for an online discussion with Lance Rhoades, Seattle-based film critic. Release year: 2012. Running time: 85 minutes. Directors: Chyng Sun, Miguel ParkerRegistration required.  Please register here with your email and you will be sent the Zoom link or phone number on the day of the event.