A prayer for today

 Lord our God, we come before You as a shattered, broken people.  In this polarizing time where fear, despair and rage seem to be our only common ground, we come before You in need of Your healing presence that binds the brokenhearted and sets the captive free. 

Forgive us for glibly claiming Your blessing upon our country while violence and hatred reign in our streets and racial tension tears our communities a part. Forgive us for our armchair complaints in our current election season and our blindness to what we can do to protect the vulnerable in our community.  We have allowed jealousy, bitterness and cynicism to corrode our hearts, remaining silent for too long instead of claiming our position of privilege and power as Your means to bring healing and restoration.

Lord of all nations, we gather together to lift our eyes toward You and to give You praise. In You there is no favoritism.  Your compassion is our only hope.  Through Your Spirit, embolden us to be Your people who arise for love and justice.  Through Your protection and wisdom, stir within our local, national and international leaders a passion to make righteous choices that are for the good of all humanity.  Convict the hearts and minds of the candidates to seek Your expansive way of freedom and flourishing for all.

And, in all that we say and do, give us courage to never stop pursuing our call to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You until all people are treated with dignity, respect and compassion.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Thank you to all who helped host Immanuel Community Services' Benefit Breakfast

Very early on the morning of October 6, people from Union Church began to file into 415 Westlake to prepare for the ICS Benefit Breakfast.  Through the generosity of many people of our faith community stepping in to set up, make breakfast, serve and host,  we were able to provide a low-cost, delicious, welcoming breakfast for almost 200 attendees.  And, through this breakfast event, ICS raised almost $50,000 to help alleviate the effects of poverty, hunger, homelessness, and addiction by providing community-based social services to those in need in our SLU and Cascade neighborhoods.   

Through our acts of kindness we are bringing the outrageous hope of Jesus to our neighborhood and showing that each person has dignity and worth   Thank you!!

Disrupted for Good: Outrageous Hope

10/2Luke 1:1-4  That All May Know

10/9 Luke 1:5-25 You’re Prayers Have Been Heard

10/16: Luke 1:26-45 Let It Be with Me

10/23: Luke 1:46-56; 67-79  Songs of Hope

10/30: Luke 2:1-21  To Ponder & Praise

11/6: Luke 2:22-54  Salvation for All People

11/13: Luke 3:1-21  A State of Expectation

11/20: Luke 3:21-38 Beloved

Jesus entered into a tumultuous time. God had seemed silent for too long, rebellions had come and gone and the dominating empire created a culture of fear and isolation.  Where was the hope?

In our own time of uncertainty and instability, we ask a similar question. Where is the hope?  In this polarizing time where fear, despair and rage seem to be our only common ground, we need the disruptive healing presence of the One that binds the brokenhearted and sets the captive free.

This fall we will spend time with people to whom God first revealed his outrageous hope; people to whom God said, “Your prayer has been heard.” What begins with a few people will expand to a message of outrageous hope that is for all of humanity!
Outrageous is not a tame word; neither is Jesus.

Sept. 25: A WORSHIP IN ACTION SUNDAY

Jesus invites us to live outwardly focused, “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18).

Fourth Sundays, Worship in Action, provide a way for us to spend time with neighbors in South Lake Union and beyond. We are always dreaming of more ways of connection and if you have ideas, please share them with us: reneen@upc.org.  

Note meet at 415 Westlake Ave N at 10 a.m. unless time or location specified. 

Refugee Resettlement Support
9448 25th Ave. SW Seattle WA, 98106
9 to 11 a.m.  Help care for a home in West Seattle that is used as transitional housing for refugees. A small group of adults is needed for weeding/weed whacking, raking, mowing the grass, picking up any trash, and trimming. Supplies provided.
Children are welcome to come with supervision.
Contact: nichelle@keatleyphoto.com

Prayer Walk for Lowell Elementary School
1058 E Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98102
Union Church has committed to come alongside our local elementary school through support to students and teachers. Already we have painted, weeded and provided backpacks. Join us this Sunday for a “Pray with your eyes wide open” walk around the school. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the entrance, 11th and Mercer. Children are welcome. There also is childcare at 415 Westlake. Contact: 2meads@gmail.com

A Fresh Coat of Paint for 415 Westlake
Outside 415 Westlake
Join James B to brighten up 415 Westlake by painting the outside. Meet at 10 a.m. in your paint clothes. Contact:  jamesbn@upc.org

Breakfast at Mary’s Place Guest Rooms
2213 8th Ave, 98121                                                    Prepare and/or serve breakfast for the families living in the newest family shelter in SLU. If you can join us, please arrive between 8:45  and 9:00 a.m for set-up and serving.  Children welcome.  We also need a few more hands to help cook at 7 a.m. at 415 Westlake.   Contact: stephanie@templinashford.net

Hymn Sing at Skyline Retirement
725 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
This focus is perfect for families as it is kid and adult friendly. Meet in the lobby at the NE corner of the building. We will sing hymns and visit with  elderly residents. Contact:  ruth.branch@gmail.com

Seattle Cancer Care Brunch Team
207 Pontius Ave N
Meet at 415 Westlake at 10 a.m. to carpool, or go directly to 207 Pontius Ave N, 2nd floor dining room
Serve food and engage in conversations with residents staying here for treatment.  This is a vital ministry of presence. Contact: reneen@upc.org
 
Help for the Hungry
415 Westlake
Pack sack lunches for the Immanuel Community Services Hygiene Center.  The ICS Hygiene Center, located in the gymnasium of Immanuel Lutheran Church, provides the opportunity for homeless men and women to wash their clothes, take a shower, and spend the morning in a warm, safe, and clean environment. The Center is open weekdays from 8:00 am to noon. 
  
Acts of Care to End Sex-Trafficking
415 Westlake
In response to our commitment to partner with International Justice Mission’s work in the Dominican Republic to end slavery, we are providing ways to come alongside IJM and local agencies such as Seattle Against Slavery (SAS) to show our support. Join us for some hands on projects and learn more about how to get involved.   

This Sunday, September 18th

INVITATION TO FREEDOM                                       

For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free!  (Galatians 5:2)

Join us this Sunday for a time of worship with communion  as we give thanks for the gift of freedom and spend time asking what it means to participate in setting other free. 

We are privileged to have Jocelyn White as our preacher on Sunday.  She serves as a Director of Church Mobilization for International Justice Mission. Jocelyn and her husband co-founded Slavery No More, a non-profit organization working with law enforcement and the public to fight both domestic and international human trafficking. Jocelyn is also an active member of the Los Angeles Metro Task Force on Human Trafficking Outreach Committee and has worked with Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) survivors now living in an aftercare home in Southern California.

If you missed Brian Cress' sermon, Justice for Life, on August 7, we invite you to listen here by clicking audio above.

This Sunday, September 11th

INVITATION TO FREEDOM

Shared Faith; Shared Freedom

Whether  it is strapped by debt, boxed in by stereotypes or the slavery of human trafficking  our spirit cries out for freedom. What hope is there for freedom and what does it mean to live into that freedom for ourselves and others?  

Join us this Sunday for a time of worship with discussion in groups as we spend time learning from two men in the 1st century who were divided by economics, class and position. And, one man who could not stay silent and had to speak up on behalf of another and against injustice.  

How does Jesus change how we see one another? Where are we being invited to speak up on another's behalf?  

If you missed Brian Cress' sermon, Justice for Life, on August 7, we invite you to listen here by clicking audio above.  He speaks of the work of hope International Justice Mission is providing to free those who are entrapped in modern day slavery.  And, he encourages us to pray about how we can be people who pursue justice for life. 

September Focus with Union Church

For freedom Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1