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Volume XXXXIII, No. 11 December 2015
The Magnolian
Magnolia United Church of Christ “where spirit and compassion meet”
From Pastor Joy…
I believe in the power of prayer.
I imagine this won’t come as a big surprise to most of you – in fact you probably
think that it is a requirement of a pastor! I believe in the power of prayer as an avenue
to deepen our relationship with the “Big Love” many of us call God – that is at the heart
of creation. I believe in the power of prayer as a way of participating in that “Big Love”.
Prayer is a discipline that builds our compassion and empathy muscles…Prayer is an act
of intentionality, of bringing someone (or a situation) into our minds and hearts and
offering it up to the greater wisdom and peace of God that is far beyond anything we
could ask or imagine. While of course it is perfectly acceptable in prayer to ask for
anything ---sometimes it is helpful to leave words behind and simply picture the person
or situation surrounded by Light or Peace or something that resembles Courage.
The small group that has been meeting for prayer on Wednesday mornings at
9:30 am these past two years has decided it would be meaningful to increase the bounty
of prayer at MUCC by creating a Prayer Chain email ministry instead. We will still
gather with anyone that is interested on the first Wednesday of each month, but
otherwise, weekly emails will go out to those who sign-up to participate.
Pam Wallace has agreed to oversee this new ministry and will coordinate with
me in communicating the needed prayers. Those mentioned at Sunday worship will be
included and any additional ones that we learn about. If someone wants to be included
but wants to remain anonymous, we will be sure to write the request in a way that
respects a person’s privacy.
If you have a prayer request you can email me at [email protected] or Pam
at [email protected]; call the office at 206-283-1788 or call or text my cell phone at
425-361-5343.
If you have signed up to participate, we are going to gather after worship on
Sunday, December 13th about 11:30 am to have a br ief conversation about the
purpose and intent of the prayer chain. If you have not signed up but would like to,
please contact Pam or I.
“Life is short, make haste to be kind, be swift to love” --- Joy
Worship with us
in December
The Theme for
Advent this year is
“Sacred: The Sound
of Silence”
Nov 29 Sacred Time:
Psalm 130: 1-6,
Romans 13: 11-14
Dec 6 Sacred People:
Luke 1: 26-38;
Matthew 1: 18-25
Dec 13 Sacred
Space: Luke 1: 39-56
Dec 20 Sacred
Knowing: Christmas
Choir Sunday
Dec 24 Christmas
Eve Services at 4 and
10 pm: Sacred Being
Dec 27 A simple
service of singing and
reflection with Joy
and Jeremy
Past Sermons on Line:
Joy’s sermons can
be found on
our web site at
www.magnoliaucc.org
In Our Prayers…
While the holiday season is special
in many ways, it can also be a time
of stress and sadness too. Please
remember to be gentle with those
you meet, stranger and friend alike,
and with yourself as well.
The next Prayer Group meeting is
Dec 2nd at 9:30 am.
A small group gathers with Pastor Joy
on the first Wednesday of each month
at 9:30 am to lift up prayers for our
church community and beyond.
Please feel free to notify Joy or the
office if you would like something to be
included.
Faith Formation Opportunities at MUCC
The Sacred Season of Advent Begins – Sunday, November 29th
The Christmas season is a time when the juxtaposition of the sacred and secular feel sometimes blatantly
opposed, and sometimes quite blurred. The word “sacred “ points to something dedicated as “holy” and “set
apart.” This year, we invite you to a spiritual journey of seeing all things pregnant with the possibility of the
holy. What could your Advent and Christmas season experience be like if you lived it looking through the
kaleidoscope of the sacred?
After church on the 29th of November, you are invited to stay after worship and help
decorate the parlor tree or hang lights outside.
Weekly Bible Study – You are always welcome to join the lively conversation as your
schedule allows: Tuesday’s at NOON for an hour to be in conversation about the scr ipture readings
that will be used for the Sunday to come. Bring a sack lunch if you wish or just come! No Bible Study on
Dec 22 or 29.
Upcoming All-Church Lenten Book Study to put on your Chr istmas Wish List: Grounded: Finding
God in the World, A Spiritual Revolution by Diana Butler Bass
(If you found Joy’s sermon intriguing from the 15th of November about what our future might look like…
you will find this book very thoughtful, imaginative, and an avenue to help us re-imagine MUCC. We are
hoping to get as many of us to read it as we possibly can!)
The Ripple Effect (a spiritual practice)
Pick up a stone and hold it in the palm of your hand. Feel its weight.
Feel how it has been marked and shaped over time. This stone has
been on the planet for millions of years.
Drop it into the water and watch the ripples that it makes. The
stone’s action causes the surface of the water to react. Keep
watching until the water is still again.
Reflect on the ripples your actions have made in your life and in
the lives of others. However small you feel, the ripples of your
actions go on and on and make a difference in others’ lives that you
cannot imagine or ever know. Remember someone whose actions
made ripples in your life. How did those ripples affect your actions
and the ripples you sent out? Offer a prayer of gratitude for
someone who has created ripples in your life.
~Go Deep,
by Doris e. Kizinna
Treasurers Report
2015 Pledges
Our goal this year, as every year, is to finish
2015 in the BLACK. Currently, however, with
a few of our expenses up, and our income
(which is mainly from pledges) below what we
anticipated, that is looking less likely.
So please honor our 2015 pledges, and take this
as a friendly reminder to get your 2015 pledge
in by the end of the calendar year, if you have
not yet done so.
Together we can do great things, remembering
that God’s love enlivens us to be a
Christ-inspired, joyous community of faith
where spirit and compassion meet.
Paul Gibbs, Treasurer
MUCC Treasurer
2016 Stewardship Campaign
Continues
Last week, on Stewardship Sunday we
dedicated the pledges we received. To
date, we have received 42 pledges, totaling
$133,922. These include 27 who have
increased their pledge from this year, and two
that have not pledged before. This is great
news.
If you have not yet turned in your pledge card,
please do so by Sunday, Dec. 6th to save
a phone call. You can turn them in to
the church office, or put them in the Sunday
morning offering.
Thank you for your generous support!
The MUCC Giving Tree
This year we have the opportunity to give to:
-Blaine Kids In Care
-Compass Senior Housing
-Doney Animal Memorial Clinic
Choose a tag (or two or more) from
the trees, purchase the item, and bring-
ing your gift to church on or before
December 15.
Thank you for your generosity,
Anna, Celeste and Evelyn
Alternative Gifts
International
during Coffee Hour
Give the World a Present! Right up until Christmas Eve
you can give the world a present through the Alternative
Gifts International. Instead of the usual commercial gift,
you can give, in honor of your friends, family & the
people who perform serves for you, life-giving gifts like
trees, medicine, food, farming tools, seeds, livestock, &
shelter that empowers people trapped in poverty to help
themselves. Come into the office or attend coffee hour
after church & receive a catalog of gift choices for the
world. Choose from over thirty authentic gifts listed on
the form provided. When you purchase a gift, you will
receive a beautiful holiday card of your choice with your
gift inscribed, ready to give as an alternative gift that not
only honors special people in your life but helps needy
people who are not on anyone’s gift list. Give an
alternative gift so that others may thrive.
Also available are the “Be Present” mugs, for $10 each.
There are a variety of colors, wrapped and ready to give.
Get one (or a few) before they are all gone!
See you Sunday!
Lucia Schubert
The Magnolia
Quilters
The Magnolia Quilters
started in 2003 when
Paula Whitham met
with a couple of her
friends at the communi-
ty center. Now, there
are twelve of us who
meet every Tuesday at
10 AM upstairs in the
church. Over coffee and
tea we work on our latest projects and offer group
support for problem solving, inspiration and
opinions. We plan field trips to quilt shows and
shops, annual retreats, and seasonal parties.
Once a year our quilts are exhibited in the church
Narthex Gallery. This year they are displayed
November 23rd through January 10th, and we are
already working on next years projects.
Newcomers Welcome!
Contact Ruth Beckett at: [email protected]
Holiday Donations at the
Ballard Food Bank
With the holidays upon us, the following food items
are much appreciated during this season:
Turkeys and Hams
Instant Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing
Butter
Whipped Cream
Canned Pumpkin
Pumpkin Pie
For a complete list of food, hygiene or Backpack
Program items, see our cart by the church office, or
contact the Ballard food bank at:
Phone: (206) 789-7800
Website: www.ballardfoodbank.org
Email general inquiries to: [email protected]
Choir Sunday &
Christmas Brunch
December 20th
The heart of our worship on
December 20th will be our
wonderful MUCC choir, plus
visiting musicians and soloists inviting us into the
spirit of the season with the St. Nicholas Mass by
Franz Joseph Haydn.
The Annual Christmas Brunch
will follow this special worship
service. Tickets on sale Sundays
during Coffee Hour, $8 per person.
Please invite your family and
friends!
Blaine Kids in Care Update from Mike Anderson, school counselor
Last year, your summer camp funds allowed three
students to attend camps who would not have been
able to otherwise.
One student who, due to his living situation, isn’t
able spend much time outdoors participated in the
Discovery Park Nature Camp. When I asked him
about his experience he said, “It was awesome!”
“They had fun games that we played and we got to
play on the beach and in the woods!”
The second student was enrolled in a science camp
through the Pacific Science Center. He was psyched
that he got to play in dirt. I don’t know what that
means but it sounds like fun.
The third student participated in Nature Camp as well
and talked about how much he liked the day they
went to the pond and loved the final “graduation” day
when they ate pie.
Two of the students did partial scholarships, while the
third was paid in full. Please feel free to pass this on
to the congregation along with our heartfelt thanks.
And I can speak on behalf of the families that they
are extremely grateful as well. ~Mike
Facilities Update
Your facilities team is currently
beginning the process of organizing
tasks and priorities for the coming year.
This will undoubtedly include more
minor repair work, painting parties and
grounds work. We will be soliciting
your volunteer efforts in the coming
months.
We could use another member on the
facilities team. If you have any skills in
home or landscape repair and
maintenance, and have some time and
energy to dedicate to keeping our church facility in good condition, we would love to talk to you. We are
rather meeting-averse, and schedule only one 1-1.5 hour meeting each month to stay coordinated. If you are
interested, please speak with any of the members listed below.
Some good news! We just turned in a proposed facilities budget for 2016, and it is the lowest budget
recommended over the past 5 years, at least.
This is the start of what we hope is a trend that can result from the investments that we have made over the
past few years. The bulk of our investments in maintenance projects have been intended to have a long term
payoff resulting from lower annual energy usage, maintenance and repair costs.
We’ll keep you updated on how we are doing to maintain our coveted Energy Star rating as the new year
progresses.
As always, if you see something in the church building or grounds that need attention, please inform the
office or one of the facilities members listed below.
Facility Questions/Problems/Suggestions?
Contact any of the facilities members or drop off a note in the office.
Roger Seeman, Sue Olson, Charlie Evans, Bob Flack, Don Fuqua, Chuck Cox, Marilyn Krichko
Ex officio members: Joy and Scott
The MUCC Staff wish you a joyous season
of preparation, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
From Joy, Scott, Sarah, Jeremy,
Lisa, Tom and Armando
MUCC Church Officers/
Ministry Leaders
June 2015—May 2016
Coordinating Council:
Moderator, Char lie Evans 285-0274
Vice Moderator, Chuck Cox 783-2340
Past Moderator, Tom Ranken 890-8387
Treasurer, Paul Gibbs 784-0741
Clerk, Deb Fulton-Kehoe 276-6527
Members-at-large:
Ruth Beckett 298-2979
Cindy Whiston 554-1962
Anna Pedroso 283-8593
Facility Coordinator,
Roger Seeman 910-9212
Gifts Steward,
George Olson 285-5687
Pastor Congregation Relations Committee:
Tom Ranken, Patrick Hennessey, Pam Wallace,
Chris Jenkins, Betsy Hubbard, Don Fuqua
2015 Pledges
Are you up to date with your pledge?
First, thank you to all who are up to date with their
2015 pledges. And if you are not, please take this as
a friendly reminder to do what
you can to bring it up to date.
Your efforts are appreciated.
Paul Gibbs,
Treasurer
“No, No, thank you!”
I received kind words of “thank you” at the
conclusion of the Inspiring Gifts Festival, but I say,
“no, no, thank you!” Shoppers said “thank you” for
offering them inspiring gifts to purchase. Vendors
said “thank you” for giving them the opportunity to
bring gifts that offer a livelihood to artisans and
craftspeople. Cooks and servers said “thank you” for
allowing them to share their cooking and caring.
Helpers said “thank you” for giving them a chance to
contribute their time to make the Festival happen. In
one voice we say “thank you” for our shared pleasure
in having this event that allowed our compassion to
flourish and sustain. And thank God for the goodness
and joy that flows through and in us! ~Lucia
Use the card every time you shop and earn up to 4% for MUCC!
Volume XXXXIII, No. 11 The Magnolian December 2015
What’s Happening at Magnolia UCC
Magnolia United Church of Christ
3555 W. McGraw Street
Seattle, WA 98199-3213
Telephone: (206) 283-1788
www.magnoliaucc.org
Church Office Hours:
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
(Monday-Thursday)
Rev. Joy R. Haertig, Pastor, [email protected]
Scott Ward, Dir. of Community Life, [email protected]
Sundays 9:00 a.m. Choir Sanctuary
10:00 a.m. Worship Sanctuary
6:00 p.m. Chorale Sanctuary
Mondays 7:00 p.m. Al-Anon Support Group Upstairs Meeting Room & Yellow Room
Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. Magnolia Quilters Upstairs Meeting Room
12 noon Bible Study Parlor
7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 80 Pilgrim Hall
Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. Chair Yoga Pilgrim Hall
Thursdays 7:15 p.m. Choir Sanctuary
Nov 29 11:00 a.m Decorate at MUCC after worship Parlor tree and outdoor lights
Dec 1 7:00 p.m Circle of Care Parlor
Dec 2 9:30 a.m Mid-Week Prayer Parlor
Dec 13 7:30 p.m NOCCO chamber music concert Sanctuary
Dec 14 10:00 a.m Circle of Stones Parlor
6:30 p.m MUCC Book Club Pilgrim Hall
Dec 15 6:00 p.m. Coordinating Council Potluck dinner at Deb Kehoe’s
Dec 16 1:00 p.m. FASC kitchen crew Upstairs kitchen
Dec 20 10:00 a.m Choir Sunday at MUCC Sanctuary
11:30 a.m MUCC Christmas Brunch Pilgrim Hall
Dec 21 10:00 a.m Facilities Parlor
3:00 p.m Needle Exchange Knitting Group Parlor
Dec 24 4:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Services Sanctuary
Dec 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dec 28 10:00 a.m Circle of Stones Parlor
*MUCC Office closed 12/24 & 12/31*
Weekly events:
Other scheduled events:
Our meeting rooms are also regularly used by: The Magnolia Little League Board, Boy Scout Troop 80 Committee, Scout Patrol, Cub Scouts Pack 80, Cub Pack 80 Committee, Magnolia Cooperative Preschool, Friends of Discovery Park and the 36th District Republican Party, Women’s Voters League.
