• How to Be the Church while Social Distancing
• Easter Activity for All Ages!
• Giving
• Minister’s Greeting
• Masks
• Weter-Roberts Grants
• Church Board Minutes
• Prospect’s Kimball Organ
• Save the Date: Church Camping Trip July 27-29
• Ongoing Groups
• Pacific Northwest Conference News
• PNC-UCC Annual Meeting 2020
• Save the Date!  Women's Retreat at Pilgrim Firs!
• Compassion Cultivation Training
• Preschool News
• Online Giving
• April Volunteers
• April Birthdays

How to Be the Church while Social Distancing

Although we can’t meet in person for worship or other church events, we are learning how to be church away from our building. Worship continues each Sunday at 10:30 a.m., but online instead of in our sanctuary. Bible study and team meetings have gone online, too. Watch for word of small groups that will be organized to keep people connected. We thank everyone for their creativity and flexibility in this time of upheaval and confusion.

We expect the situation to continue at least through April, including Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter.

To join online Sunday worship, including Palm Sunday (April 5) and Easter (April 12):

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/267383079

Meeting ID: 267 383 079

One tap mobile
+12532158782,,267383079#

Dial by your location
        +1 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 267 383 079
(Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/akLOmMhJI)

To join online Maundy Thursday Service,

Thursday, April 9 7 pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/341263210

Meeting ID: 341-263-210
(Use the same phone number as above to join by phone, using meeting ID 341-263-210) 
 

1. Once you are in the meeting, move your cursor to the bottom of your screen, where you will see a row of control icons. 

2. You'll see a box that asks you to choose between a phone call or computer audio.
3. At this time, you may start video (lower left) if you wish to show your face to the other participants.

4. Please mute yourself once the worship service has begun. To mute yourself on phone, click *6. To mute computer audio, click the microphone icon in the lower left.

5. To connect by phone, dial the number (starting with 1). 

6. You'll be instructed to enter the meeting ID shown in the box on your screen. Be sure to end it with the # sign.

7. You'll be instructed to enter your participant ID shown on your screen. Again, be sure to end it with the # sign.

Giving

While we have had to cancel in-person worship services, Prospect still has expenses. To continue giving, you may set up automatic payment with your bank or mail checks to the church yourself. We also offer three ways to donate electronically:

1. Go to https://www.prospectseattle.org/donate to set up electronic giving online for one-time or recurring donations;
2. Download the free Give Plus Church mobile app: here for iOS and here for Android;

   - Choose Give Plus, Vanco Payment Solutions;
   - Select Prospect Congregational UCC;
   - Create an account using your email address. (If you already have online giving set up, you can sign in using your same login information on the app.)
   - Watch this video if you still have questions.

3. NEW! Text-to-give to our general operating fund:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. –Psalm 23:4 (King James Version)

Friends, we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death right now—as individuals, as a region, as a nation, and as a planet. COVID-19 is in our midst. For some, it carries mild symptoms or none at all. For others, it is deadly. So the most Christian thing we can do in these days to love and protect our neighbors is to stay away from each other. Which we have been doing.

Along with churches around the world, we have been learning how to “be church” online. It is good to login to our Zoom worship space on Sunday morning and see so many of your faces there! How I wish we could all gather in our familiar sanctuary, shake hands and hug each other, sing and pray together. And we will do these things again when this virus has cleared out.

In the meantime, as we practice social distancing and self-isolation, Psalm 23 reminds us that God is with us, even and especially in such disturbing times. Whether we are healthy or sick, alone or with loved ones, we are in God, for all of creation is a part of God.

As we travel the road to the cross and resurrection this year, we may have a new appreciation for what it means to feel entombed in our own homes, cut off from our regular lives, friends, neighbors, and family. We are joining Jesus in that Holy Saturday space of waiting for resurrection and new life. It can be too quiet. Claustrophobic. When will we get to break out of this confinement, gather together, celebrate resurrection and new life in community?

One pastor I know was thinking of putting off celebrating Easter until everyone could gather in person. I understand the wish to wait. But I am also seeing with new eyes that the joy of Easter comes not when everything is perfect, but in the midst of trauma and despair. The disciples are grieving the death of their teacher, friend, and spiritual leader. The core has fallen out of their world. They do not know what comes next and are huddled in a house together—self-isolating from the larger world—out of fear. This is exactly when the women visit the grave and return with amazing, surprising, miraculous good news. The story isn’t over! There is hope beyond death! The oppression of Rome and the fear of the high priests has not carried the day.

This is when we most need to hear that Christ is risen and living in our midst. Our God does not abandon us, even when we must huddle in self-isolation from the world. We are launching a small-groups project to help us all keep in touch with each other on a regular basis, to remind ourselves of old and new ways in which we can “be church.” We are forced to learn new ways of gathering together online, and after this coronavirus is all over, we will still have these new tools and skills to put to use in worshipful ways, even as we return to the old practice of gathering in person.

In this time of self-isolation, be looking for where there is new life. Perhaps it is in your newly cleaned-out closet or garage, which is now organized and usable. Perhaps it is in the blossoms outside your window, heralding spring as they always do. Perhaps it is in relationships affirmed and even strengthened through phone calls, letters, emails, Zoom meetings, and Facebook. I am hearing stories of neighbors shopping for one another, dropping things off on each other’s porches. Now is our opportunity to live out our love of neighbor in new ways.

If you are struggling during this time, please reach out—to me, to others in the church, to neighbors and friends. We may be isolated physically, but we are still here for each other. And so is God. Know that God walks with us through this valley and always.

Blessings,

Meighan

Masks

Local hospitals are in desperate need of surgical masks.  Cora Trujillo is sewing reusable face masks and is looking for donations of supplies.  She needs 100% cotton fabric, 1/4 inch clothing elastic and thin, flexible wire such as twist ties.  The fabric can be from used clothing. Contact Cora at 206-330-4201 or trujcs1@gmail.com and we'll figure out a virus free hand off arrangement.

Present: Terri Dowling, Meighan Pritchard, Consi Javier, Adam Dahl, Jan Kinney, Patsy Severson, Suzanne Fry, Louise Morehead.

Meeting held via Zoom

Check in and prayer

Approved Minutes from last Board Meeting.

No agenda additions, agenda accepted.

Office Manager report - accepted

Coronavirus:

Q. was asked, “How are we reaching out to people and parishioners stuck at home?”

Meighan encouraged people to be in contact with one another via phone or small groups with discussion questions. How would this be organized? ZIP Code? Karen might be able to sort members by ZIP Codes and then we would send out lists to people with postcards or some other method of staying connected.

Meighan will put out a worship bulletin with Friday email so people have something to follow along with via Zoom worship.

Consi suggested a “well check service” based on a roll-call provided by Adam to check on people who aren’t participating in Zoom worship services. Discussed how to keep people engaged via technology. Do we create a “tech deacon” team where tech-savvy people at Prospect would make sure parishioners with barriers to accessing technology knew how to participate via telephone, smart phone, or other means? Jan volunteered to assist Consi with this project and proposed using a checklist or script to stick to.

Meighan recommended activating the Pastoral Care Team via Rick Russell or Judy Hooper.

Currently in a situation way beyond our control. Terri says she is assisting in the redesign of the church website to increase outreach and community engagement. Talk of hosting a bike safety event in the neighborhood for kids or a technology recycling event (similar to Windermere Real Estate’s event). Question was asked about A-board signs in the neighborhood and if they should be collected? Patsy agreed to do walk the neighborhood the next time she comes in to sign checks. Jerry Sams is able to control church furnaces via his smart phone to save costs when building is unoccupied.

Finance Report:

This month there appears to be a surplus of income over expenses. We are still on track to have the budget deficit initially anticipated. Congregational meeting to discuss this issue has been postponed due to restrictions on gathering in person and concerns about members’ access to technology to participate in a Zoom meeting.

Smart Goals Survey:

12 responses. Tabling Goal-setting conversation until next Church Board meeting.

Pastor’s Report:

Meighan applying for Clergy Renewal grant through Eli Lilly Foundation which is due at end of March. Theme of sabbatical will be “Seeds, Soil, Seasons, and Spirit” and she is looking into permaculture design course on Orcas as well as touring the country via rail to see church farms/farm churches. Meighan’s new driveway on Whidbey is “draining and fabulous” and her building permit was approved after 20 weeks.

Other:

In person worship cancelled through April to follow suit with Seattle Public Schools.

Submitted by Adam Dahl

Prospect’s Kimball Organ

Prospect’s organ is the only organ of its age never to have been removed and relocated. It is an historical instrument—it was the top of the line for its age and model.

Carl Dodrill of the Pipe Organ Foundation and Frank Trujillo recently tuned up the organ and repaired a few holes in the leather baffles in the main console. All is functioning well again.

During the tuning process, Frank discovered that one of the keys to the pipe rooms was bent. Anyone who needs to enter the pipe rooms on the 3rd floor is asked to please use caution and use the right key. Each door has its own key. Be especially careful not to bump the pipes themselves. This causes tuning issues. So far no major damage has happened.

This organ will be 100 years old in about 15 years or so and it needs to be used with care. For all users, play the instrument but please be careful with this Kimball Organ.

Save the Date: Church Camping Trip July 27-29

The Prospect Church summer Camp trip has been scheduled for Monday, July 27 through Wednesday, July 29, 2020. There is no cost to campers, check in is after 2:30 pm, Monday, check out is after 1:00 pm Wednesday. For further information contact Bill Van Pelt, 206-356-4986.

Beyond Belief Faith Study is on hiatus until we can resume in-person meetings. Rick Russell facilitates.

Beyond Fundamentalism Book Group meets monthly at the home of Jim & Mary Alice Power, 1107 22nd Ave E.

Bible Study meets most Mondays online to study the lectionary texts for the coming Sunday. All are welcome; weekly attendance is not required

Godly Play Sunday school is offered for children ages 3-10 during the worship service once a month, usually on the second Sunday. It will not be offered while we are not meeting in person, but Cora Trujillo is preparing video to share with our Sunday school families. Please contact Cora Trujillo with questions: trujcs1@gmail.com or 206-330-4201.

The Spring 2020 issue of the Conference UCNews is now online at https://www.pncuccnews.org with information on:

• The Conference's and congregations' response in this time of COVID-19
• How camps are gearing up - and some regular camp stories.
• Lenten story sharing facilitated by Courtney Stange-Tregear
• Plans to cancel the in-person Annual Meeting and emerging plans for live streaming some parts|
• An introduction to the PNC's upcoming moderator, Hillary Coleman
• The success of the Climate Change Task Force out of the Fall Gathering
• Lora Rathbone educating Richland's Shalom UCC on environmental justice
• Andy and Jim CastroLang bringing a UCC justice witness to Spokane City Council.
• Magnolia UCC's second Community in Service Sunday
• Pilgrim Firs' gift to update South Lodge and the couple giving funds
• N-Sid-Sen's need to replace cabin 8

PNC-UCC Annual Meeting 2020

On Monday, March 16 the Board of Directors affirmed a recommendation brought forward by the Annual Meeting Planning Committee to not hold an in-person Annual Meeting in April 2020. This decision was difficult but given the state mandate and the likelihood that COVID-19 will still be with us in April, the Board felt this was the best decision. 
 
The Annual Meeting Planning Committee is still working out the details but here is part of the plan:

• Offer an online connection, probably worship, during the weekend of April 24-26 in coordination with Conference staff, Conference leadership, the Annual Meeting Planning Committee and others. Please watch for details!

• The main business items planned for a vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting were the slate of new Conference leaders, the 2020/2021 Budget, and four sets of bylaw changes. Our current bylaws give the Board of Directors the authority to act between Annual Meetings of the Conference and so the Board will act as necessary to keep the Conference functioning.  Here is the current thinking:

  • The Slate of new Conference Leaders – the Board will vote on the full slate at their meeting on April 20. 

  • 2020/2021 Budget - a couple of online opportunities may be offered for people to hear about the budget and provide input before the Board votes on the budgets for Conference operations and the two camps. 

  • Bylaw changes – changes require an affirmation by 2/3 majority at a meeting of the Conference, so any voting will have to be pushed to the future.

March brought us some unexpected turns of events that have left our preschool, our community, our nation, and the world with a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. The preschool made the difficult decision to temporarily close its doors on March 17^th for two weeks, although that was our most optimistic projection. During our closure we are still offering Family Support Services remotely so that are most vulnerable families, that are so heavily impacted by public school and local business closures, do not find themselves in a time of crisis with no one to reach out to for help. On a more positive note, we had the opportunity to redesign our classroom with fresh décor, window treatments, and lovely houseplants. So when we do return to the program we will have a fresh and inspiring space to learn in.

At this point in time, we still have every intention of holding our annual auction if the health threat has alleviated by then. But realistically, we have to also prepare for the possibility that our region will not be back to business as usual, and we will have to consider postponement or alternative options. Tickets are still on sale at www.charityauction.bid/PEP56, and don’t forget to use your promo code for the discounted rate available to the congregation. You may also make an item donation or Raise the Paddle pledge from the website, as well.

With this COVID-19 outbreak, routines and social norms are changing almost daily. In these troubling times it is important to remember the core values we teach our children at Prospect: compassion, empathy, and kindness. Now, more than ever, we need to ask those around us “Are you ok?” and comfort when we see someone is upset or afraid. We need to try to see how others are feeling before we put our own emotions in the situation. And although it may be difficult, we must put the needs of others before our own wants. If we can continue with these basic practices, then we can retain our normality through this volatile time.

1. Go to https://www.prospectseattle.org/donate to set up electronic giving online for one-time or recurring donations;
2. Download the free Give Plus Church mobile app: here for iOS and here for Android;

   - Choose Give Plus, Vanco Payment Solutions;
   - Select Prospect Congregational UCC;
   - Create an account using your email address. (If you already have online giving set up, you can sign in using your same login information on the app.)
   - Watch this video if you still have questions.

3. NEW! Text-to-give to our general operating fund:

April Volunteers