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Sunday Celebrations at 11am & 4pm
"Rooted: Finding Strength through Deep Listening"
Reflections by John Helmiere
This Sunday we'll reflect on how the practice of Deep Listening can be an act that builds confidence and strength. We will challenge each other to "listen" to our sources of deepest truth and comfort. You'll be encouraged to dig into the spiritual practices that most settle your spirits when you feel anxious, depressed, repressed, or oppressed. We will seek strength not in the airy leaves on the tips of our branches, but in the earthy strength of our roots.
This January at V&M we will be talking about the importance of strengthening our roots so that as we go about the tasks ahead we shall not be easily knocked over. Each Sunday we'll look at one of our core values and practices, and how it can apply to us personally and communally.
At the 11am Celebration
Music by Yasmin, Sandy, and Joe Seamons
At the 4pm Celebration
Music by Hannah, Andrew, and Marilee
Encounter Groups: Planning actions for Inauguration Day and the Womxn's March, Spiritual Practice, and Quaker Meeting
Love Feast prepared by Dr. Lora-Ellen McKinney
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New Website is Live!
For months we've been working on a 100% overhaul of our website and it's finally complete! We hope this will better engage both those who are just checking us out and those who are regular participants at V&M. It contains:
- Interactive space for website visitors to share their stories and perspectives
- Real photos and representations of our community (no more stock photos!)
- Artful layout that better shows our commitment to creativity and beauty
- Link to a recording of the first reflection in 2017 (we hope to post all our reflections going forward)
- Great calendar app and list of events (if you have event descriptions, email John)
- Updated descriptions of our values, story, what Celebrations are like, and oodles more!
Check it out at www.valleyandmountain.org. It's gorgeous thanks most of all to the generously donated talents of site-builder Seamus Holman of Gridwork Design, graphic artist Dave Andresen, and others (Andrew Wheatley and Jon U to name a few). Check it out, and send us feedback at info@valleyandmountain.org!
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*Generosity makes the dolphin leap into the setting sun!*
Exceeding Our Year-End Fundraising Goal!
We did it! The symbolic fundraising thermometer blew it's top as we raised $10,760 from 68 donations to help us at Valley & Mountain and the Hillman City Collaboratory to reach our end-of-the-year giving campaign's $10K goal. We're coming into 2017 with strength! I (John here) am bursting with gratitude at the abundance that comes from real community, generous spirits, and a willingness to make sacrifices for love and justice. Here's to a great year ahead. And to the V&M'ers out there, most of these final donations came from people who aren't regular participants-- what an amazing affirmation and vote of confidence and support!
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Meet Our New Intern
Sarah Turner is joining us for the next 6 months from Seattle U's divinity program. She'll be at both services this Sunday, and she'll find out just what she's gotten herself into... so be friendly and tell her it's all gonna be alright. Here's her bio:
Sarah's dream job is to be a goat farmer and therapy llama handler. In the meantime, she is earning a Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership at Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry and also works in the office of Ecumenical & Interreligious Dialogue. Sarah is interested in fostering communities dedicated to social justice, transformation, and mutual care both inside and outside of church and is excited to learn alongside Valley & Mountain. She is a big fan of singing with others (especially her spouse), a good cup of coffee or tea, creating delicious vegetarian meals, adventure cats, hymnals, intentional communities, and public transit.
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UMC Seattle District Training Day, "It's Time for Change"
The Seattle District UMC is holding a training day from 9am-3pm on Saturday, Jan 28th. Email John with questions or interest. You are invited! Among the workshops offered will be:
Discipleship Small Groups:The Method at the Heart of Methodism -- Rev Jim Head-Corliss
From Oak to Acorn --- Rev. Sarah Casey, Rev. Neal Sharpe, Rev. Shalom Agtarap
Unleashing Generosity! –Rik Jamison
How to do Climate Activism --- Rev. Jenny Phillips
The Bible and Human Sexuality Rev. Keith and Joan Hackett
Changing the World, One Child at a time: Building a Children’s Ministry that Matters --- Nancy Roseen: Director Children’s Ministries & Adult Education Kent
Trustees –Rik Jamison
Teach us to Pray: Experiencing Contemplative Prayer as a Pathway for Transforming Church --- Andy Lang
The Adventure of Discipleship: Using John Wesley's 3 Strand Discipleship Model and The Lord of the Rings to Create a Framework for Christian Formation ---Rev. Christy Fisher Wesley Club Campus Pastor
Table Turning Theology and Practice -- Rev. John Helmiere
Homelessness: What to do in a State of Emergency –Pastors Jan Bolerjack, Michele Campton-Stehr, Kelly Dahlman Oeth & Paula McCutcheon
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Marching For Freedom
This January there will be multiple opportunities to take to the streets to proclaim that another better world is possible. Contact john@valleyandmountain.org if you're interested in being part of this or being a contact person/rallying person for V&M'ers at these events.
MLK Day Rally and March, Mon. Jan 16th
Inauguration Day, Resist Trump's Agenda March, Fri. Jan 20th (*there is a planning meeting on Thursday Jan 5th at 6pm at City Hall and another on Jan 14th; email john if you're interested. several V&M'ers were at the first planning meeting)
Seattle Womxn's March, Sat., Jan 21st
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Women's* Circle Updates
January Potluck and New Small Group forming
1. Friday, January 6th- women's group potluck gathering. Check the women's group listserv for more info, or email clemintisti@gmail.com about tonight's gathering.
2. Starting Wednesday, January 11th a small group themed: Deep Listening, Creative expression. The group will meet every other Wednesday for 6 weeks. The group is designed to be a closed group once it starts, to foster deeper connection and sharing. We will be sharing life updates and exploring ways to embrace creativity. You need not identify as creative, join us to explore new ways to tell your story and build community. Email if you are interested. Rebekah.clinger@gmail.com
3. If you are looking for a way to become more involved, women's group is looking for someone who would like to be the point of contact and organizer for regular potlucks and bonfires. It is not much of a time commitment. Let us know if you would like to know more. It is a great opportunity to connect more with women of V&M. Contact for more info: Rebekah.clinger@gmail.com
* Women's Circle events are open to all who identify as female, or anyone who doesn't identify with the gender binary, but feels called to share this female-orientated space.
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Book Group in the New Year
Dr. Lora-Ellen McKinney, one of the facilitators of the Howard Thurman reading group last season, is suggesting another book reading group in the new year. If you're interested, contact l-em
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Men's Group
The V&M men's group is one of our ongoing small groups that gathers to seek spiritual maturity and deep relationships. They meet every other Monday night at 7pm. Contact Tommy at tommmypwalsh if you are interested.
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Pledge Drive:
97% of the way to our pledge goal!
Pledging Goal (updated): $80,000 in total pledges. 100% participation from regular V&M'ers.
Pledging Current: $77,806 in pledges from 45 pledges (representing 85 active members), including 18 new and 12 increased pledges.
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Solidarity with our Muslim Neighbors
From John: "I had to privilege to convene a meeting on Thursday morning with Attorney General Bob Ferguson, 4 lawyers from his office, and local Muslim leaders and community organizers. We addressed a local governmental attempt to begin mapping and registering our Muslim brothers and sisters. We talked about hate crimes, Islamaphobia, fear, accountabiltiy, and building alliances and power to fight back. The community leaders spoke powerfully and AG Ferguson was a good listener and responded with what felt like sincere offers to help. Good first steps. We met at Abu Bakr Mosque, 15 minutes from where I live and work. Even in supposedly left-wing places, in these dangerous times we must organize and collaborate in order to stomp down the seeds of dehumanization wherever they spring up. One way to stop despair from taking hold is to put on your stomping boots."
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2016 Year End Co-Creators Gathering Report
We had an excellent meeting on Wednesday, celebrating highlights and hard work from 2016, sharing a vision for structures and leadership training systems to accomodate our growth and support the transition to V&M being a truly co-created community, and passing a 2017 Budget (click here to see it).
Here is a link to the meeting minutes, as recorded by Davidson.
We even ended (almost) on time. It was a great night and thanks to all who participated!
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