Surprised
January 8, 2022
Dear Beloved Union Family,
Do you feel this first week of January has caught you by surprise? The surprise has arrived both in the realization that it is truly 2022 and also in the uncertainty of how to best make decisions in light of the increase of covid cases, the challenges of weather, the delay of flights, the questions about whether school will meet in person, and the grief over the continued divide in our country as we continue to wrestle with the impact of last year’s insurrection at the Capitol. What has caught you by surprise?
Last Sunday James B prepared us for the celebration of Epiphany (the visitation of the wise scholars/magi from afar to Jesus’ home) by giving us this invitation: “return home by an alternative road.”Just as the magi encountered the Spirit of God and chose not to listen to Herod and go back to him, what is the alternative road that God is inviting you to take as you seek God’s wisdom in your decisions and your commitments this year?
This Sunday, as we enter into the season after Epiphany (which simply means “appearance”), we celebrate that Jesus’ appearance in the world is real and life-changing and full of surprise for those who first encountered him…and for us. How does the good surprise of Jesus, counter and transform the challenging surprises of our world? How does Jesus’ appearance change how we live in the challenges of our world? Join us for four weeks of being “Surprised” by Jesus.
January Sermon series; Surprised
Sunday (1/9) Surprised by Who I Am: Luke 3:1-22
Sunday (1/16) Surprised by Joy: John 2:1-12
Sunday (1/24 (Evening worship): Surprised by Freedom:: Luke 4:16- 30
Sunday (1/31) Surprised byInvitation:: Luke 5:1-11
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in God so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:5
Christmastide Gratitude.2021 and a New Year of 2022
Dear Beloved Ones,
On behalf of all of our Union, Kakao, and 415 Commons staff, we say THANK YOU for being a community of faith that is generous, imaginative, and thoughtful. We are humbly overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of financial, spiritual, and emotional support you’ve given to us. We’ve paused often during this week of Christmastide to reflect on the joy of journeying with you. We live in a time, when the way before is hard to see and comprehend. Our Lord, however, has made it clear that the way is clearer when we support ONE ANOTHER, loving as Christ has loved us. Wow! Throughout this year, we’ve learned from your courage and tenacity to practically and tangibly LIVE faith, walk in hope, and grow in love.
And, now we journey into a new year together.
On Christmas Eve we sang Joy to the World with gusto.
In this time of Christmastide as we celebrate that the babe born in the manger, is the One who guides us in this time of challenge and uncertainty, we need to keep singing:
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His Love!
We are eager to continue to learn together how we can imaginatively and restoratively, live the Gospel in our time of uncertainty, that all might flourish and discover the abundant life that Jesus Christ offers.
In faith, hope, and love, Renee & James B
Christmas Eve 2021
The story of Christmas is your story
IN PREPARATION
for our time of worship on Christmas Eve, we invite you to meditate on Zechariah’s prayer from Luke 1:78-79
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high has broken upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
May you ponder this reality of your relationship with our God:
God created. And, God said, “This is good!” God created sky and sun, earth and water, every living plant, and all living creatures that dwell beneath, upon, and above.
God created and said “ This is tov meod! -- This is very good!”
Meditate on this today.
God created you and says, “Tov meod!”
The Christmas story that holds us shines forth a message of goodness. God so delighted in you that God broke through the heavens to declare your worth and to declare the worth of creation.
God broke through the heavens because God knows that we humans lose our way. We wander. We stumble. We get lost in the dark.
Christmas tells us the story of God not giving up on us and meeting us instead in our vulnerability to show us the way of peace; becoming the most vulnerable of all that all might discover that grace and freedom is accessible for them. Jesus, who became a refugee in another violent time, is the Refuge of the vulnerable, communicating a love that defies any human made border or boundary.
Just as the sky blazed with light for the shepherds as they heard angels declare, “good news of great joy for all the people,” and the star guided the wise men from the East -- Jesus, God born in human flesh, is our LIGHT back to God and the One who guides our discovery that we ARE created in God’s image (tov meod!) and created to be light in this world.
We celebrate Jesus, our LIGHT in the world, who guides us forward to live as LIGHT.
To be people who listen with hope.
To be people who love without judgement.
To be people who trust that God is with us, breaking in again and again, to bring healing, restoration, and promise that we are a part of a story that stretches back to creation and forward to eternal restoration.
You are not isolated nor irrelevant , though it can feel that way. You are at the center of God’s story of love.
May the story of Christmas hold you and invite you to hold forth good news in our desperate, lonely world. Jesus, the babe, is the one who is our peace and who breaks down the walls of hostility to create a new humanity, a people who love one another as Jesus loves us.
“This, you see, is how much God loved the world: enough to give his only, special son, so that everyone who believes in him should not be lost but should share in the life of God’s new age.” John 3:16 (NTE)
Joyfully, Renee and James B
Simple and Sustaining Advent Prayer Gathering
A time to pause, breathe, & reflect with tangible spiritual practices
Online Sunday evenings, 11/28, 12/5/ 12/12, 12/19 | 8 pm.
Guided by Renée Sundberg, each gathering is a stand alone time. We welcome you at participate in as many as you are ble.
To receive preparation material for the zoom prayer gathering, click here
Advent is a season to anticipate the radical inbreaking of God with us. We are invited to linger, ponder, wait, behold and wonder. So often we are rushing, worrying and busying. For these four Sunday evenings we will practice a rhythm that encourages pause and pondering through simple practices meant to center and fill us and, perhaps, sustain us beyond this season.
Join as many or as few sessions as you like. To deepen reflection and centering, consider creating a comfortable space for yourself as you join. A candle is needed for November 28, which you may want to use each week. For December 12, you will need paper, pen and colored pencils or markers.
November 28
Sustaining Tension | Light and Darkness
Prayer of Examen
John 1:1-5
December 5
Sustaining Images | Windows to Prayer
Lectio Divina with Images
Psalm 130:5-6
December 12
Sustaining Activity | Prayer in Color
Doodle Prayers
Luke 1:46-55
December 19
Sustaining Imagination | Senses in Prayer
Imaginative Contemplation
Isaiah 2:1-5
Journey to Gratitude
Our first responsibility, the most potent offering we possess, is gratitude.
Robin Wall Kimmerer Braiding for Sweet Grass
Gratitude. It is a word that can make one’s heart light and also can become stuck in one's throat. Gratitude can fill your soul with joy until you read a certain email or text that sinks like lead to the pit of your stomach. Gratitude is a practice of trusting that God is good and greater than our closed, human created systems. And, it is not easy.
There is a reason our scripture invites us again and again to a posture of gratitude toward God, who is our Creator (it is God who made; and we are God’s - Ps. 100:3) AND our Lord who is near to the brokenhearted (Ps. 34:18).
We invite you into a week of Journeying with Gratitude. This is a real journey that involves honestly expressing what you are NOT grateful while giving space to pay attention for what you are thankful. Here are some ways to engage.
Note these special events coming for Thanksgiving week.
Wednesday, November 24: Thanksgiving Eve Worship |7:30 pm | In person and online
A time of prayer & reflection on gratitude about how God is in the midst of our families and community as we move into this holiday season that can be filled with joy, grief, confusion, and expectation. Take a deep breath and BE in the presence of the One who delights in you.
Thursday, November 25: Thanksgiving One Another!
Once again Union is providing turkey dinners to St Martin’s Senior Men’s Housing and Lake Union Tiny House Village (LUV) on Thanksgiving Day and there is a place for you --even if you have early plans on Thanksgiving! Jump in on Wednesday to carve turkey, clean pans or prep dessert. On Thursday: chop, mash, pack, count, clean or deliver! Enjoy community serving community! It would help planning immensely to know if you will be there either Wednesday (anytime between 3:30pm-7:00pm) or Thursday (anytime between 8:30am-1:00pm)—please text availability to 206.355.5751 or email jeanette@415Westlake.com. Thank you!!
Sunday, November 28: Worship in Action & First Sunday of Advent| 10 am
Outdoor Worship at Lincoln Park.
WORSHIP IN THE PARK. Sunday | 10/24 | Jefferson Park
Union Family Oktoberfest on October 24 | 10 am | Jefferson Park
We hope that you are all staying healthy and well. As the days get shorter and colder, this is the perfect time to gather and connect! We invite you to Union’s Oktoberfest with a fish & loaves story, an opportunity to assemble “stop-light kits,” and connect over a warm sandwich. There will be a panini truck! Lunch is on us!:)
https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/Reserve/Picnic/jefferson.pdf
Here are the details:
When: Sunday, October 24th, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (We will start gathering around 10 am. Please see below if you or your kids would like to help with preparations)
Where: Jefferson Park (4101 Beacon Ave. S. in Seattle) We will meet at Shelter 3 near the giant red sculpture on the north part of the park. Click here for the exact location.
Parking: There is parking on the East side of the park, accessed from Beacon Ave.
What: Introductions, Story, Assembling of “Stop-light kits” (to hand out at stoplights or other places), Playing & Connecting, Food Truck
Who: Those with kids & those who want to connect with kids and families
What to Bring:
Warm clothes & rain gear (let’s pray for dry weather)
Readiness to learn & have fun, even in the cold!
If you would like to contribute to the kits, please bring any amount from the below list. If you think of other things to include, feel free to bring those too.
Granola bars
Other snacks (nuts, apples?)
Bottled water
Wet wipes
Kleenex packets
Toothbrushes/Toothpaste
Gloves / Beanies
Instant Handwarmers
Socks (#1 asked-for item)
Bandages
*If possible, bring multiple or bulk of an item or two.
**If your young person would like to help out by getting the items ready for assembly or taking food truck orders, please come at 10 am. We would love their help!
Menu: Here is the menu at the Panini Truck.
https://www.seattlefoodtruck.com/food-trucks/the-panini-truck
Lunch is paid for already, but if you would like to contribute to the food truck fund, you can go to: http://www.unionchurchseattle.org/giveand select “Children’s Activities.”
We look forward to seeing you there!
Meeting Spot: Questions? You can contact:
Sharon Mead- (206) 931-2392
Karen Shively-Sanders: (206)718-9044
Sayuko Setvik - (206) 790-3023