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"Water Abundant: Tears of Longing, Tears of Joy"
Celebration in the Park (not the Collab)
11:00am
@ Martha Washington Park!
(see map below, or use 5799 S. Warsaw St. 98118 in a mapping app)
Rain Location = Collab
When tears unexpectedly spring from our eyes our souls ask us to pay attention. What emotion is being stirred within? How might our spiritual gardens be watered by tears of longing or tears of joy? The Psalms (a setlist of 150 songs and poems in Bible) are a rich resource of emotional vocabulary. Psalm 42 reads, “my tears have been my food day and night.” This Sunday, Rev. Emily Tanis-Likkel will share a reflection on how she experiences the abundant flow of tears in her own life following years of mostly dry eyes. Come and wonder about the revelations of your tears.
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Continuing Our Celebrations-in-the-Park for the first 2 weeks in September!
There has been such enthusiasm for being outside in these summer months that we are extending them for the first 2 weeks of September (so this includes 8/27, 9/3, 9/10). On Sept 17th we'll be back in the Collab, as weather becomes less predictable going forward. Note the location we have in the park is accessible to wheelchair users!
Our location is Martha Washington Park, just a 5 minute drive from the Collaboratory. Bring a blanket or camping/folding chairs, or just stand. It will be in an accessible spot. Stay afterwards to swim, picnic, socialize, and play!
Map of where the park is:
Close-up map of where we'll set up:
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6:30 PM Visioning Meetings this August (no more 4 PM Celebrations)
The 6:30pm Meetings
While we did not have the critical mass or resources to continue the 4pm as it stood, clearly it was meeting important needs in our community. We have been meeting this month on Sunday at 6:30pm to identify what needs it was meeting and what other crucial needs we see in the community-- so that whatever we might do next will have a CLEAR PURPOSE, not just be a fun-sounding program that a volunteer is willing to lead. We have also been identifying our assets to ensure we have have a reasonable shot at meeting the need well. This includes creating a leadership team for whatever will come next. In the past we've often empowered individuals to run with a program and they end up carrying too much weight on their own.
A few clear needs that have been identified are: a highly spiritually/theologically inclusive space for people who don't identify strongly with Christian language and symbolism, contemplative gatherings for spiritual renewal, interactive/participatory space spiritual practice, anti-racist and anti-oppression organizing, containers for building deep relationships, discussion and study on the intersection of spirituality and social justice. Of course we cannot meet all the needs. But if we find a critical mass of people willing to co-create one thing that meets a clear need, then we can take that one step closer to manifesting our vision.
Email hannahholtgeerts@gmail.com and john@valleyandmountain.org with input!
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Quarterly Meetings on Sept 12th and Nov 28th
Quarterly Meetings provide space for congregational input, visioning, and communication about big developments. They are open to anyone who feels committed to V&M's mission, vision, and people.
Tuesday, Sept 12th, 7-9pm @ Collab (side room).
Main topic: creating the V&M Board
Tuesday, Nov 28th, 7-9pm @ Collab (main room).
Main topic: This is our Charge Conference, which is our annual business meeting facilitated by UMC Seattle District Superintendent Rich Lang, including a short workshop on challenging the rise of "pseudo-Christian fasicm" (e.g. Charlottesville rally) and things like approving a budget.
More about the 9/12 meeting: I'm consulting with the Finance Team (which has been the Acting Board when necessary over the years), while working out the details of board responsibilities, what qualities are needed for board members, and probably a slate of members to be voted on. If you have ideas, input, or board member suggestions, feel free to reach out to john@valleyandmountain.org soon.
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Celebration Team meeting, Sept 10th, 12:45pm
The Celebration Team meetings have been on hold for a month or two, but resume their monthly pattern of meeting on 2nd Sundays of the month at 12:45pm this Sunday, 9/10. We'll meet at the Collab. Service is in the park, but has been ending by noon, so there will be time to pack up, grab a bite to go, and meet at the Collab by 12:45pm.
Emily Tanis-Likkel is the Celebration Team convener, so reach her at rev.emilyjoy@gmail.com with questions or ideas!d
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Retreat Delights! We're going back next year!
32 of us went on a weeklong retreat to Holden Village, a beautiful retreat center deep in the Cascade mountains. We hiked, used looms, let our kids roam wild and free, learned about sustainable living off-the-grid, attended evening services, napped, played poker with potato chips, bonded, had deep spiritual discussions, and more. Almost everyone said they were very interested in going back next year, so put that in your consideration cap! We can't apply for specific dates until January, but keep an eye out for news around the new year about signing up for Holden retreat 2018!
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Marriage News
Ames and Delaney, two dedicated V&M co-creators who had a great impact on our community and the Collaboratory, are getting married this weekend! Freddie and John are co-officiating their ceremony in Idaho on Saturday. (and will be back for the 11am service, believe it or not.) So send blessings and prayers of gratitude and support as they participate in this powerful rite of passage.
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Co-Creators Wanted
11am Clean Up Managers is The Clean Up Manager doesn't do all the cleaning solo, they simply announce that we start clean up after the service and it's a team effort. Then they are available to answer questions and direct people who offer to help. This is a crucial job for the Collab as a whole!
Power Point Manager Wanted It is really exciting that we are beginning to use the screens on Sundays for the lyrics! This allows us to create a cultural of looking up when we participate and save paper! We are looking for someone who can dedicate their time during celebration managing the power points which display the lyrics of our songs.
11am Snack Bringers Wanted One of the ways we live into our mission of radical hospitality is providing snacks for folks at the 11am. We all know food is fuel, and gives us energy, so that we can CELEBRATE! We are looking for 3 families to join the snack bringer team. Your family will be assigned one Sunday a month to bring snacks!
*V&M can/will reimburse if you like, you as long as you bring the receipts*
Contact John if you are interested in using your gifts to help co-create celebration in this way.
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