MEMO FROM AMANDA
Dear Friends,
I have been hearing from quite a few Northlakers that there is a real
interest in getting the church involved in social justice and outreach
efforts.
Great! Let’s get moving!
Here are three opportunities.
Right after church on Sunday, February 20, there will be a very brief
meeting in the sanctuary for all who are interested in starting up a
social justice effort. I will contribute an idea for what to do next.
All you need to do is stay and talk for a few minutes.
If you wish to contribute money to tsunami relief and would like to do
it through a UU organization, please send your checks to: UUSC-UUA
Tsunami Relief Fund, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, PO Box
84529, Boston, MA 02284. The UUSC works with indigenous groups to help
at the grassroots level. On January 2, an envelope fattened with
Northlakers’ checks was sent to the UUSC; if you did not get a chance to
donate at that time, additional contributions are needed and more than
welcome.
One of the major civil rights issues of our time is the struggle for
equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. The Religious Coalition for
Equality invites us to join them for a rally and lobbying event in
Olympia at noon on Monday, February 14. Many area Unitarians will be
attending this event. It would be awesome to have a healthy contingent
from Northlake there! More information available from
www.religiouscoalition-wa.org.
In the spirit of joyous, faithful struggle -
Amanda
Religious Education HIGHLIGHTS
Our second Pillar of the church school year is well underway, with
lessons centering around the world’s great religions. Our focus in
learning is to understand how to live in our world by listening to what
other people have given us in their writings and stories, their symbols
and ritual, their lives and ideals. Our young people love to learn and
they are always eager to share their own insights and understanding
about what religion is.
Janet Hall and Alan Garrels are continuing with our 4th, 5th and 6th
grades, and have been discussing Hinduism, Buddhism...as well as fixing
up the Mabel Bennet room with posters, pictures of the kids, and an
impressive timeline of significant events. It is looking very festive
indeed!
Our younger mixed-age group, with Kristen Dibeh and Jennifer Reif, are
focusing on stories, the elements of worship, and on the third Sunday,
we have children’s worship, with discussion about the importance of
saying blessings and prayers to express our deepest wishes and hopes.
Soon, the children will be coming home with blessings and prayers,
mounted on decorated paper plates, to hang in your home.
I will be going to the district meeting in February, and I am looking
forward to the RE workshops and professional DRE days. I will return
with much to share with you and new ideas for our church school
programs.
Blessings,
Shannon
NEWCOMER ORIENTATION
If you would like to know more about the meaning of Unitarian
Universalism, or would be interested in knowing how to become a Member
of Northlake, the next orientation session will be after the service on
Sunday, March 6th.
Everyone is welcome. There will be information about the Unitarian
Universalist Association and about Northlake’s goals and activities.
Reverend Amanda Aikman will be present to answer questions and snacks
will be available. Child care can be provided by prior arrange-ment.
Please call Ellen Hanly at 827-5606.
Congratulations
Recently Kevin Kaukl, our pianist for services and choir rehearsals,
was named winner of the Divisional competition of the Music Teachers
National Association. Pianists from the Pacific NW States, who had each
won their state competition participated.
In April, Kevin will represent this region at the National Young Artists
Piano Competition for pianists ages 18 - 26 to be held in Seattle. He
will offer a repertoire from Beethoven, Liszt, Bach, Ravel and Grieg. A
full piano concerto is part of his program. Kevin is currently in a 5
year degree program in the School of Music which will earn him a
Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Music degree.
Kevin says "I am just going to go and play and enjoy the music and hope
for a nice performance.” We wish him success.
Submitted by Mary Leber
VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY CLASS
Ten enthusiastic folks are meeting in the Follen Room to discuss the
art and science of Voluntary Simplicity, with the NW Earth Institute
Work Book as a guide.
Among various topics discussed at the first meeting were what to do with
stuff that was too good to throw away; where to invest funds in a
socially responsible way and dry-cleaning.
Rina has volunteered the following useful web-sites:
http://www.freecycle.org
Click on the US West Coast and scroll down to Washington. Good way to
acquire or divest yourself of stuff!
For socially responsible investing:
Check out Shorebank Pacific:
http://www.eco-bank.com (based in Ilwako, Washington.)
And Northlake’s own Intentional Living website, created by our own
members:
http://www.northlake.kirkland.uua.org and click on “Northlake
Intentional Living Site”-lower left.
SAVE MONEY AND AVOID CHEMICALS
Once spring arrives, wash your winter woolens in luke warm water,
with a gentle liquid soap, rinse thoroughly in cold or warm water, then
put through the gentle spin cycle of the washer. Spread flat in the
sunshine on a towel, or hang on a padded coat hanger in the sunshine.
Saves on dry-cleaning! No sunshine? Hang over the towel rail in the
bathroom. If you put your woolens away without washing or dry cleaning,
it may attract clothes moths, who will munch holes in your favorite
sweaters!
GREEN SANCTUARY MOVEMENT
Progress is being made towards making Northlake a ‘Green Sanctuary’,
meaning, we will take steps to bring us into accord with our 7th
Principle—Respect for the interdependent web of all life”.
The things that have been accomplished so far:
- Recycling our used paper.
- Serving fair-trade, shade-grown coffee after services.
- Recycling our used printer ink cartridges.
- Buying recycled paper when possible.
Items under review :
- Conduct a review of our gas, electricity and water consumption
to see where savings could be made.
- Look into less toxic methods of weed control.
- Look into using less harmful cleaning products.
- Look into socially responsible investment vehicles.
If you have any input or expertise in any of these areas, please
contact Rina Johnson Fa’amoe who is the leader of this group effort to
make our church a “green sanctuary”.
UU Singles
Website Launched at General Assembly 2004
UUsingles.com provides match-making services for Unitarian
Universalists and other like-minded liberal religious thinkers. They
make it fun to meet other singles while promoting the inherent worth and
dignity of every individual — a fundamental principle of Unitarian
Universalism. Individuals age 18 and older of all sexual orientations
are welcome to join. Posting ads is free and membership dues are modest.
This matching service differs from other like services in several ways:
- Minimal Advertising. Keeping true to their values, the owners
limit the amount of advertising you will be exposed to while
connecting with other singles.
- Commitment to Social Justice. UUsingles.com donates ten percent
of all profits to further the work of the Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee (http://www.uusc.org).
- Privacy. Your email address will never be sold or shared with
another company or organization.
Take a few minutes and check out this new service at
www.uusingles.com.
KIRKLAND CENTENNIAL
Joie Goodwin and Carolyn Hayek are working with the City of Kirkland
Parks Dept to plan a Centennial Event scheduled for April 30, which will
involve renewal of wedding vows by 75 couples and 25 actual wedding
ceremonies. Joie and Carolyn would love to have some couples from the
church participate either as part of one of the ceremonies or as
volunteers assisting with the logistics.
Couples will pay a $100 registration fee, and will receive the ceremony
itself, a ceremonial certificate, a professional photograph, a reception
on an Argosy tour boat, and a chance at a number of prizes, including a
spa/overnight package at the Woodmark Hotel.
Registration is being coordinated by Nicci Osborn, 425-587-3342.
Information and an application form can also be printed off the city's
Centennial website:
www.kirkland100.com .
Submitted by:
Carolyn Hayek
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.
“Reading the Bible Again for the First Time” - Led by
Reverend Amanda Aikman. Feb. 8th & 15th.
Voluntary Simplicity Group - Thursdays, and running for
8 weeks. . Cost of Work Book $15.
Rina
Johnson-Fa’amoe for details.
Religious Education Classes : Contact
Shannon Gordon to reserve child care or to enroll children for the
Fall quarter.
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