Pacific Northwest Conference News - September-November 2020 - Page 1 Pacific Northwest CONFERENCE NEWS Mary Stamp, Editor 325 N
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Pacific Northwest Conference News - September-November 2020 - Page 1 Pacific Northwest CONFERENCE NEWS Mary Stamp, editor 325 N. 125th St. - Seattle WA 98133 • (206) 725-8383 or (800) 954-8777 or (509) 535-1813 September-November 2020 [email protected] Church offers classes on racism, compassion Magnolia UCC in Seattle is reaching out to its members and the surrounding community in various ways Magnolia UCC has been busy during the months of the pandemic. In the sum- mer, it rang its bell seven times at 3:30 p.m., Fridays to share a message of peace and solace to neighbors. It connects with members and the community in various ways. It engages in ecumenical outreach to support vulnerable members with food and housing. Members participated in a Black Lives Matter march after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Then in June, about 20 members of the church and community joined an eight-week class led by the senior pas- tor, Marci Scott-Weis, on Dismantling Racism, followed by an eight-week Compassion Cultivation Training course during the election season. Magnolia UCC members join in community Black Lives Matter march in the summer. Continued on page 4 Photos courtesy of Magnolia UCC Board prioritizes anti-racism, relationships, communication By Hillary Coleman - moderator We need to find ways to reimagine This summer has seemed to fly by, what things can be like, recreate systems and I continually find myself wondering Board sets goals that were never rooted in valuing the what day of the week/what month it is. for continued and lives of every person equally, and ex- I’m sure many of you can relate. These plore what reparations look like in our times of COVID sure are weird, trying, new work. communities. unknown and unfortunately not going I am grateful for your trust in me away. COVID has quickly transitioned for a master of public administration de- to be a leader along with others in the all our daily lives, as well as how many gree in September. PNCUCC during these times, and look aspects of the work in our Conference is As with others in the PNCUCC, I’m forward to the actions that our confer- done. dealing with all of these moments in ence and churches will continue to take I am also going through a number of life while also having to navigate how to show God’s unwavering love to the personal transitions (most of which were to connect virtually and in ways that world. planned). Shortly after COVID began I are safe during a pandemic, while lean- A few updates from the work of transitioned into being your Moderator ing into the call to be an anti-racist and your PNCUCC Board of Directors: in April, moved in May, got engaged in speak justice in these times where it is As I wrote in the last PNCUCC news, June, finished six years working at the far too clear that our systems are built on our board adopted anti-racism as a prior- Coalition on Homelessness in August, white supremacy and cause and perpetu- ity. This is in addition to and interwoven and I am starting at UW Evans School ate harm to bodies of people of color. Continued on page 12 Page 2 - September-November 2020 - Pacific Northwest Conference News How will you show God’s love when you vote? I was 26 years old and living in Dayton, speeches, songs and singing the South African Ohio when I met Kelvin Sauls from South Af- National Anthem with dozens of citizens who Conference rica at United Theological Seminary. were getting to vote for the very first time and supporters from all over the state. We took an Comments During the time I knew him in the early excited walk to the polling place. 1990s, South Africa was going through an amazing, tumultuous time. The freedom strug- I remember hearing from behind me the gle was at a fever pitch. Nelson Mandela was conversation between two people whose every freed from prison. All races were getting ready other sentence seemed to be some version of to vote in a general election for the first time. “I can’t believe this is actually happening!” As we got to the polling place, those preparing to It seemed as though the whole country vote grew silent. No one but South African cit- could either enter a new multiracial era or ex- izens were allowed into the polling place and, plode into violence at any moment. Every day one by one, they nervously entered. brought news of potential hope or potential disaster. Then… One by one, they emerged. The first person came out with the biggest smile In Kelvin’s conversation with fellow faith- I’ve ever seen and a tear or two. based activists in South Africa, it was clear how much fear there was and how much was Then they kept on coming and as they By The Rev. Mike Denton at stake. White nationalist South Africans were did the cheering grew and the laughing grew Conference organizing in new ways, arming themselves, and tears flowed and the songs began and the Minister and threatening violence against anyone who dancing started and Freedom itself seemed to wasn’t white or wasn’t “on their side.” weep, laugh, sing and dance. It was a holy, sa- cred moment of exuberance… There were even threats made internation- ally to those who were voting at polling sta- Voting has never meant the same to me tions set up in different parts of the world. since that moment. I think I’d had some idea of voting as a responsibility and a right but, I’d never We pulled together a couple of things in until that moment, I’d never seen it as a sacred response to Kelvin’s colleagues’ requests. act of stewardship. seen The first was something called “The Voting is not just something I have the voting Prayer and Pen Campaign.” African-American right or responsibility to do but it is something churches that had been involved in securing I give. It is not just about what I want but what as a the right to vote for African-Americans were I am called to share with the world. sacred invited to write letters of support that were dis- tributed to and read from the pulpits of Black As I write this, it is just a little less than act of South African churches every Sunday before two months from election day. the election. stewardship I won’t tell you who or what to vote for Columbus, Ohio was only an hour or so but I would remind you that your vote has before away from Dayton and happened to be one of within it power, responsibility, service, love the international polling stations for South Af- and freedom. Those things are sacred. accompanying ricans in the U.S. We are stewards of sacred things; never South Africans We decided to pull together a press con- owners. As Christians we are called to use ference at the state capital and march to the these sacred things for sacred purposes. to vote in 1994. polling place in solidarity with those South Africans who were planning on walking miles How will you show love to God and God’s to the polls in South Africa. people when you vote? How will you encour- age others to do the same? On April 26, 1994, we gathered for Pacific Northwest Conference News - September-November 2020 - Page 3 PNC online meetings listed home by social media. For information, email brigitta.ucc@ Details on online meetings for the PNC The Mourning Project will provide gmail.com. are under events at pncucc.org. 200 purple masks—the traditional color Our Faith Our Vote is at 1:30 p.m., of mourning and a combination of red and Environmental Justice Team Mondays. blue—for the first 10 loca- tions. supports voter project Worshipping Together The idea is that collec- The Conference Environmental Justice When We Can’t Be Together Conference Team invites persons and congregations in is from 1 to 2:30 p.m., sec- tive grieving can serve as an the PNC to become involved in the Envi- ond and fourth Wednesdays. News antidote to rising violence and lament can be a call for ronmental Voter Project (EVP). Courtney’s Community Briefs God to bring forth justice, It’s aim is to persuade environmentally Office Hour is from 9:30 to passionate people to vote, said Roberta 10:30 a.m., Wednesdays. She paraphrasing Old Testament Rominger, pastor of the Congregational also has an Office Hour from scholar Walter Bruegge- Church of Mercer Island. 2 to 3 p.m., Thursdays. mann, “Together let us cry for the justice and wellbeing God intends in our world.” “Statistics show that many of them Pastoral Care: Care During an Out- Mike Denton said in a recent email that don’t. This has effects, not only on the out- break is from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., first and come of elections, but on policy decisions. third Wednesdays. 12 UCC churches are participating. Politicians shape their agendas around the The Rocky Mountain Conference concerns of reliable voters,” she said. has arranged a weekly meeting for Chil- Building Church Differently The EVP targets 12 states where turn- dren and Youth Ministers at 1 p.m. PDT, sets three webinars out among environmentalists is particularly Wednesdays on Zoom. Three webinars are scheduled on poor, reaching out to them through texting Plymouth UCC in Seattle has arranged “Building Church Differently—Partners in and phone calls.