Wayside Weekly
December 30 - January 5
Wayside Friends,
Welcome to another installment of "By the Wayside" Weekly. I hope you all have a very happy new year! As always, if you have anything you would like to add to the weekly email, please contact Robbie in the Church Office (office@waysideucc.org). This includes prayers and Thank Yous. The deadline for each week's email is Tuesday morning.
~ Robbie
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My birthday falls right after the New Year. In a fun way I get to pair a new year with a new birth year. Everything restarts all at once. I get all my resolutions written in one go. I also get to bail and fail on all my resolutions simultaneously if I want. I can’t help think about how this new year is different than all the rest. Along with the ongoing pandemic this will be my “Jesus Year”.
It’s a tradition among church nerds to see a 33th birthday as a “Jesus Year”. In a macabre way this year resonates because it was the last year of Jesus life and ministry. You would think you would call the 30th year your “Jesus Year” because that’s when he started his ministry. We mark the end instead. In a lot of ways this moment is meant to reflect on the impact you’ve made. You reflect on the fact that Jesus changed the world by his 33rd year, and wonder at what you have done. It’s an unfair comparison because frankly none of us are Jesus, yet I can’t shake this question.
I know many of you are much older than 33 but do you ever wonder if your life has meant something? If you made a dent in history? Honestly, how would you even measure that or know? We aren’t all going to be celebrities but each of us in our own way leaves a mark. On the Nick Jr. preschool show Bubble Guppies, the teacher Mr. Grouper is telling the students about how germs spread. Each student is given a bunch of stickers and they place stickers on anyone they come into contact with. Soon all the preschoolers are covered in stickers. It’s a silly illustration of the invisible made visible. Far beyond germ theory this is an illustration as well of how we are all covered in imaginary stickers placed on us by those we have come into contact with. These stickers are the marks (both good and bad) that connect us to each other.
In a time when all we hear about is how bad things spread its important to talk about the positive marks that are being made. Don’t take this literally. Keep wearing your masks and isolating. We are rounding the corner on a year of isolation. As we have moved away from community, think about all the ways you’ve been marked by others. Focus on the good ways. This pandemic has given us perspective that I think we will never achieve in any other time in our lives. Isolating has served to quarantine what is important in our lives and helped us to see how much we need each other. I’ve noticed how much the stranger means to me and even more-so how much my most beloved community has marked me. This emptiness we feel in isolation can also serve to remind us of how much others have marked us positively in the past. This isolation gives us a hunger that, for me at least, makes me want to buy all the metaphorical stickers and cover (with consent) all those who I come into contact with when we are able to be together again. This time has also made me recognize that marks can be sent virtually and I cherish those moments. Those virtual marks seem to sink deeper and remind me that I am still connected to a bigger community.
I don’t know who needs to hear this but, You are important. You have left a mark. There’s something to say about the fact that we are a resurrection people not a crucified community. Resurrection reminds us that even when we have a hard time connecting to that spark of life within, that our light gives life to those around us...especially those in darkness. There will be life after this time and we need, I need, each of you. Your stickers are everywhere. Sometimes we intentionally place our mark on someone else’s life but a lot of times we don’t even realize we’ve slapped a “you matter” sticker on someone else’s back. You may never know how many marks you’ve made but they are out there.
It’s about to be my Jesus Year in this new year 2021 and god-willing there will be many more years after that. I may never know if I left a mark but when I think about all the invisible stickers that cover me from all the strangers, acquaintances, and beloved community I’ve encountered these 32 years, I imagine I’ve left a couple on others too. You’ve left a few on my back too.
~ Pastor Allysa
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Announcements
- The Weekly Gathering is on break! We will start back up in January!
- The Church Office will be closed New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
- The Congregational Budget Meeting will be held via Zoom following worship on Sunday, January 31st. A budget Q&A will be held via Zoom following worship on Sunday, January 24th.
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Help me, Pastor Allysa, plan next year’s Faith Formation programming. Even if you have never attended a Bible Study, special speaker, movie night or other educational program I want to hear from you! The survey should take 10-15 mins. You can take the survey anonymously or provide your name for follow-up. Even if you have more than one Waysider in your household everyone should take it individually. The more responses I can get the better I know how to serve you as your pastor and what justice/spiritual direction themes you would like to focus on as a church. Thanks ahead of time for filling it out! You will find the link below or click on the image above:
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Donation Opportunities
During the holidays there are plenty of ways to help your community during this difficult time.
- Federal Way Food Bank (1200 S. 336th St. Federal Way) in addition to food, is currently able to accept the following New Items for all ages/sizes:
sweatshirts
hoodies
sweatpants
jackets
socks
gloves
scares
- In addition to the above items for the Food Bank, we encourage you to think about also giving monetarily to the Federal Way Food Bank (which is part of the Multi-Service Center) and these other organizations:
- Federal Way Day Center - Donations to Catholic Community Services, ATTN: Fund Development, 100 23rd Ave. S., Seattle WA 98144-5979
- FUSION Emergency Shelter - Donations to Fusion, PO Box 23934, Federal Way WA 98093-0934
- NE Tacoma Healthy Kids Coalition - Donations can be made by going to the Browns Point PTA website (HERE).
We are asking that if you choose to make a donation to any of these organizations, you let our Outreach Team or the Church Office know, so we have a better understanding of our impact in the community.
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Reminders
- We're still in need of a Vice Moderator. If you're interested in filling this vitally important position, please contact Kim Larsen, Pastor Allysa, or Robbie in the Church Office.
- We are still accepting pledges for 2021! You can either mail in your pledge card or pledge online HERE. For those that have already pledged, thank you for your commitment to Wayside!
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Joys & Concerns
- Prayers for Carolyn Foran's son, Ken Simmons. He went in hospital Wednesday night for diabetic foot sores and was in over the weekend at least. She is able to talk with him by phone.
- Prayers for Barb Wamba and all those that live in assisted living.
- Prayers for Kim Larsen's dad and stepmom.
- Prayers of joy for quiet time to focus on family.
- Prayers for healthcare workers.
- Prayers of comfort for those that have lost someone during the pandemic.
- Prayers for compassion.
- Prayers for truth and common sense.
Only prayers requested out-loud during our worship services or emailed to the Church Office will be included in the weekly email. Any prayers written in Zoom comments or on Facebook will NOT be included.
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Gratitudes
- Thank you to Barb Miller for being the Pastoral Assistant this past Sunday and for the whole month of December.
- Thank you to Amy Johnson for leading prayer time this past Sunday.
- Thank you to Kim Larsen for leading worship this past Sunday.
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Celebrations
Birthdays
- December 30th - Colleen Lucas
- January 3rd - Allysa De Wolf
- January 4th - Janet Ash
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Please send checks and important documents to Wayside's secure mailbox:
Wayside UCC
1600B SW Dash Point Rd. #446
Federal Way, WA 98023
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Introducing Tithe.ly, a New Way to Give!
Simply download the tithe.ly app from the Apple Store or the Google Play store and search for Wayside. It's that easy! (Or, just click on the link below)
There are fees; however, the donor has the option to cover the fees. For more information, please visit our website.
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Member Section Password on Website:
W@ysideUCC
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Office Hours
Robbie is in the Church Office:
Tuesday 9:00-11:00 am Wednesday-Friday 9:00-12:45 pm
Pastor Allysa is in the Office:
By Appointment Only
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