A MEMO FROM REVEREND AMANDA
Dear Friends,
How wonderful it is to celebrate the winter holidays with the Northlake
community. I feel so delighted to be a part of this bustling, growing
church, full of the sounds of music and children's voices.
At this darkest time of year, as we mourn our losses-Michael Ashley,
Herb Heatley-and as we mourn the losses of so many lives in Iraq and
elsewhere around our troubled globe, let us move ever closer together in
faith and trust. The lights of Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas remind us
that hope, that fragile candle, is re-lit by the stubborn human heart,
again and again, even in the darkest of times.
May our faith in the ultimate goodness of the earth and of the divine
and of humanity, and our caring for one another and for the strangers
and sojourners of our world, sustain us and hearten us through the
darkness.
Light that candle. Sing that carol. Make that wish. Keep that faith.
May peace and love dwell in your heart.
Faithfully, Amanda
NORTHLAKE
Winter Concert - An Antidote to Seasonal Dysfunction
Tired of hearing Christmas carols in the malls and on the radio? Come
to the choir's annual winter concert with music from meditative to
soulful. The concert will be held on Sunday, December 12th at
10:30 a.m.
This year's song list includes 20th century French composer Olivier
Messiaen's spellbinding "O Sacrum Convivium" and English composer Edward
Elgar's 1889 setting of Andrew Lang's poem "My Love Dwelt in A Northern
Land" when Elgar was a relative unknown. A setting of the oft-heard
rhyme "Monday's child is fair of face..." by still-active English
composer/conductor John Rutter who layers the familiar words throughout
the choir's voices. Four songs from Randall Thompson's much-beloved work
"Frostiana" will be sung. The title reflects the use of seven poems by
Robert Frost.
Several American folk songs will round out the concert, including
"Shenandoah," originally a sea chantey, and "Deep River," one of the
best-known African-American spirituals from the mid 1800's. The quartet
"The Four Fathers" will be there! All under the direction of Art Kuller
with Kevin Kaukl on the piano.
Come one, come all. No admission charge, but the usual offering will be
taken.
TWO SPECIAL WINTER CELEBRATIONS NOT TO BE MISSED
Join the families of Northlake, as we bring warmth, light and
cheerfulness into the dark time of the year. Special inter-generational
performance service Sunday morning, December 19th. Rehearsals
after service on Dec. 5th and Dec.12th and dress rehearsal on Saturday,
December 18th. Contact Jennifer Rief or Shannon Gordon.
Join us for a Celtic Eucharist on December 19th, from 4 p.m. to 6:30
p.m. in the Sanctuary. Sean Patrick O'Reilly, MA.Div., will weave
together the rich Celtic traditions with themes pertaining to Christian
expressions of Solstice and Christmas. Opera Singer Michael Skover and
Shannon Gordon will be joining in this unique and creative worship
service.
UNITARIAN STYLE GIFT-GIVING
In line with our 7th Principle, here are some gift-giving suggestions
that involve reducing, reusing and recycling:
Buy gifts at the Northlake Craft Fair.There will be gifts of food,
candy, decorations, candles, accessories. See P.5 this issue. Unique
gifts, and a donation to Northlake at the same time!
Make gifts yourself: If not talented, scour thrift shops for things to
repaint, refinish or re-cover.
Give tickets or subscriptions to local arts groups, Bellevue
Philharmonic, Driftwood Theatre in Edmonds, etc. or PBS Channel 9.
Give gift-certificates for your time: Dog-walking, rides to the airport,
rides to church, baby-sitting etc. Saves on wrapping paper!
Buy from non-profit mail order catalogues. Buy a gift and make a
donation at the same time.
Give live plants, bushes and trees for the garden. This gift gives
twice, first to your friend and second to the environment and wildlife.
Buy bird seed, bird houses, bird feeders, wild life stationery and
jewelry from our tenants, downstairs, East Lake Washington Audubon
Society. Open Mon. Tues. and Friday 10-2 p.m. Call 425-576-8805.
QUILT RAFFLE & CRAFT FAIR TO BE HELD DECEMBER 5TH
AND 19TH
The fourth annual Holiday Craft Fair will be held after
church services on December 5th and December 12th.
The sale is sponsored by the Northlake Quilt Circle with proceeds to be
used for as yet unspecified church improvements. Items for sale will
include holiday decorations, candles, soap, wearables, photography, and
foodstuffs.
If you would like to contribute items to the sale, please contact Kathy
Bean (425-788-0637 or km_bean@hotmail.com). We welcome your special
homemade food items (jam, chutney, candy, cookies, bread, etc) to be
sold on either the 5th or the 12th. Please package any food
contributions for sale - no unwrapped food items please. Come early if
you have donations. Please come, browse and do some gift shopping with
us.
Between now and December 19th will be your last chance to purchase
raffle tickets for the quilt- "All That Jazz"- that is hanging in the
foyer. Tickets will be available from quilt circle members, at the
Craft Fair and after church services. You may purchase your chance to
take the quilt home for Christmas for $5 per ticket or 5 tickets for
$20.
A special thanks to all who contributed time and talent to create the
quilt as well as to all who have purchased raffle tickets - so far.
Please call Kathy 425-788-0637 or Jackie 206-431-5781 for additional
information.
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?
Membership in our church does not require adherence to a theological
creed. We welcome you in your search for truth and meaning, for we are
all searchers. To be an official member of our church you need only sign
our membership book and make a financial pledge of your choosing.
Financial waivers are available if there is a need.
The membership committee offers periodic orientation meetings and
recommends attending one before making the choice to join so that all of
your questions about the church can be answered. Please phone Jackie
Mason, membership committee chair, if you have any questions about the
process. email:
seattle_jackie@hotmail.com.
K.I.T.H. ADOPT-A-FAMILY PROGRAM
Northlake will once again be part of the Kirkland Interfaith
Transitions in Housing Holiday program for families in need. Every
Sunday during December, there will be a donation tin in the foyer, so
that we can buy winter clothes, toys for the children and food for the
whole family.
It means so much to these families that we care enough to give their
children the kind of holiday that they are temporarily unable to do for
themselves.
The church office has just received the following letter, telling all of
us that these efforts make a big difference :
Dear Northlake Unitarian Congregation,
Thank you all so much for your on-going generosity. We really
appreciate
the food that you donated to the women of Sophia Quest and the space
that
you provide for our meetings. Thank you for helping us to build
community
and help those in need.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Ibach
Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing (KITH)
HARVEST FESTIVAL PICTURES
Enjoy some pictures taken at the
Harvest Festival and the
related service.
Choir Practice: 6:30 p.m. Sunday Call Beth Kahn at
425-562-2296.
Circle Suppers: 3rd Saturday of every month. Dinner is
potluck, held in someone's home. Northlake members and friends share a
meal, conversation and friendship. To be a host or a guest at a potluck,
sign up in church on a Sunday or contact
Marianne Brennan 425-823-7102.
Quilting Circle: Every 3rd Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
To participate, contact
Kathy Bean.
Photography Club : Contact
Lorraine Day for details.
Short Story Book Club: 3rd Tuesday of the month—Contact:
Mary Jane Jessop 206-525-6094.
Stone Soup Folk Group: We would like to start a folk group
at Northlake. Anyone about age 10 and up who would like to join is
welcome. We can teach basic guitar cords to get people started and
should be able to find some extra guitars for beginners to try. Please
sign up on Sundays or email
geller_family@hotmail.com if you are interested. We could use some
singers and other instrument players as well. Please include your
optimal practice times.
Religious Education Classes : Contact
Shannon Gordon to reserve child care or to enroll children for the
Fall quarter.
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