Feeding Our Hungry Neighbors on May 20th

Once a month Fauntleroy Church comes together to provide a hot meal for our unhoused and food insecure neighbors. Collectively we serve approximately 100-150 individuals, and it truly takes a village. There's an opportunity to help at every commitment level.

Here are some of the many ways you can participate:

1. make or purchase food, deliver it to the venue in White Center between 11-11:30am (or ask for pick up assistance!). Reimbursement is available.

2. help with set up, service, and/or clean up-- entire time is 11am-1:30pm-ish, stay any length of time you are available

3. drop off food pantry items, clothing, shoes, tarps, tents, blankets, toiletries This is an excellent opportunity to serve our community, be in fellowship with one another, and provide some comfort, sustenance, and love to those in need.

More details and sign up HERE

It’s Advent at Fauntleroy Church!

The outside church Christmas lights are up, our halls are decked, the giving tree stands ready to have tags taken as it’s undecked, our home-grown devotionals have found their way into many hands already, our children are preparing for the pageant, our choirs are filling practices with Christmas music, and a small forest of themed trees is growing in Fellowship Hall. It’s beginning to look and sound a lot like Christmas at Fauntleroy Church!  

Advent begins this Sunday, December 27 with communion served during worship. As we make our Advent journey together, you’ll notice that we are taking what feels a tree-lined path to Christmas. That’s intentional! “Under the Tree” is our 2022 Advent theme, and immersed in it, we’ll encounter Biblical stories and passages in which perspective is gained and the indwelling presence of God felt under the boughs of trees.  

You may know that the tradition of having a Christmas tree only goes back about 500 years. But long before that, Ancient Romans were known to mark the winter solstice by decorating their homes with evergreen boughs – symbols of hope and life in a cold and dormant season. Even longer before that, humans found meaning and glimpses of the Divine in the presence of trees.  

I have a Bible in which all the passages about nature are highlighted in green. Much like the more popular red-letter Bible that highlights Jesus’ spoken words (as presented by each Gospel writer), a green Bible draws one’s attention to just how much life and faith has intertwined with nature in the experiences of many. One of the things I’ve learned in reading this “green-letter” Bible is that references to trees abound in scripture. There are cedars and spruce, fig trees, oaks, olive trees, acacia, almond, apple, pine, pistachio, willow and more. Hundreds of references to trees can be found in the Hebrew scriptures and New Testament! Reinforcing the importance of their presence are bookend references to the tree of life in the first verses of Genesis and the last verses of Revelation – its boughs hanging over the garden of Eden as life begins, and as our scriptures end, its boughs stretching to both sides of the river of the water of life, flowing from the throne of God. Under the canopy of both these trees of life, the story of our faith unfolds and deepens. 

This Advent, as we prepare for Jesus and God’s love to be born in the world anew, some of the trees under which we’ll find ourselves include the oak of Mamre, as Abraham and Sarah entertain angels unaware. Then, we’ll nod toward the hope-bringing oaks of righteousness in Isaiah 61 (a common Advent passage) as we enjoy our children’s pageant, “Under the Tree.” Next, we’ll meet Jesus and Zaccheus under the sycamore tree of Jericho as joy in that encounter prompts Zaccheus to embrace the world and life in radically different ways. As we near Christmas, we’ll draw near to the tree of life and a vision in Revelation of the world dwelling in wholeness and peace under the canopy of God’s healing, nourishing love. Though we’re taking this different, tree-lined path toward Christmas this year, the messages of the season will be found in the shade of rich boughs overhead, carols, candles and one another before finally, we emerge on the doorstep of the traditional Christmas story on Christmas Eve.    

We hope you’ll meet us under some tree boughs in worship this Advent. There together, I trust we’ll find some of the most meaningful presents of Christmas: welcome, good news, joy, shared life and the indwelling love of God!  

With hope, 

Pastor Leah 

CROP Hunger Walk Success!

We did it, Fauntleroy Church! We raised $8,717 in our CROP Hunger Walk on October 2!!! It was a glorious day for a walk through Lincoln Park. 34 people and 3 dogs walked to raise awareness and funds to end hunger. We carried signs and had several people stop to ask us what we were doing. A portion of the funds we raised will come back to local agencies that feed the hungry in our community. Thank you to everyone who walked and everyone who donated. What a great way to make a difference in this world, one step at a time!

Sarah Ackers, Team Captain

Volunteer to Help Support our Immigrant Neighbors

Do you have a couple of hours a week to help refugee and immigrant individuals, families, and/or youth and children in need? The Immigration Task Force is exploring a partnership with Neighborhood House, which is based in the High Point Neighborhood Center. Potential volunteer opportunities include conversational English, teaching or tutoring ESL, and making it possible for ESL students to attend classes at Neighborhood House by helping with childcare at their facility and offering rides to classes. Or come up with your own idea on how to help The 15-year-old neighborhood center is a gathering place that offers Head Start programs, youth tutoring and enhancement programs, Seattle Housing Authority’s Job Connection program, English tutoring for refugees and other services. High Point has been described as a vibrant mixed-income neighborhood with an emphasis on environmental sustainability featuring many parks and community gardens. It has a rich mixture of refugees including many from East Africa and Somalia. The Immigration Task Force in just in the early stages of exploring how it could help and it would appreciate assistance from anyone interested in the reward that comes from helping others. To learn more, reach out to Ev Eldridge.

An Urgent Update From Our Immigration Task Force

Fauntleroy is coordinating with Alki UCC to aid four refugee families from Peru, and we are close to finding sustainable housing for two of them.

All four groups have family and relational ties with each other. Three are living with the generous single occupant of a house near Westwood Village, the fourth is an older couple who have found temporary space in another incredibly crowded house near Morgan Junction. All need better, safer, more permanent housing. Mary and Bob Code have offered to lease a three-bedroom house (under market value) in Alki on the condition that the church guarantee the rent (that’s a common arrangement in a situation such as this).

The Immigration Task Force is working to prepare the necessary documentation and finances to present the proposal to the church Finance Ministry, executive committee and Council. In the meantime, the search continues for options to house the remaining two families.

About $5,000 has been raised from West Seattle individuals and such churches as Alki, Fauntleroy, Peace Lutheran and St. John the Baptist. We NEED so much more as the families arrived here almost penniless.

Fauntleroy has a $2,500 Neighbors in Need grant pending with the UCC, and ITF members will meet shortly with the Finance Ministry to discuss more fundraising ideas. Many furnishings and household goods have been donated, including from Fauntleroy’s 2nd Time Sale and the Microsoft warehouse donation. Storage space is also needed. More VOLUNTEER HELP IS NEEDED. And if you feel moved by the plight of refugees, perhaps you’d like to join the ITF. Please contact Bob Wyss (401-447-3628) or Dianne Sprague (401 447-4421) if you can help.

Finally, and most importantly, the offer from Mary and Bob Code has been incredibly generous and heartfelt because, to truly help these families, we need to keep them here in West Seattle, where our volunteers live. Let us hear from you if you have a lead on housing in this area. Bob Wyss and Dianne Sprague, co-chairs of the Immigration Task Force

Fauntleroy's Festival of Trees

One of my favorite times of year at my last church was November -- when tree-by-tree-by-tree, a forest of themed Christmas trees would come alive inside the church building, made possible by the creativity, joy, and wonder (with a smidge of competitiveness) of a congregation that loved to make one another smile. This year, with our approaching Advent theme of "Under the Tree," it felt a wonderful thing to attempt at Fauntleroy Church -- so, we're going for it!

Individuals, church groups, community groups, groups of friends, families, all are invited to make a fun, themed tree come alive inside our church building! What do I mean by "themed?" Well, it could be something as simple as a tree you title "the purple tree," then decorating it with all purple lights and ornaments. Or, you could do something a bit more complicated, such as...
● a superhero tree with Marvel and D.C. Comic ornaments and maybe a cape,
● a hymn pun tree where all the simple handmade ornaments are puns on hymns ● a star tree, with all star ornaments
● a pride flag tree
● a flower tree with nothing but flowers to decorate it
● a "trigonomeTREE" for the math enthusiasts among us

None of those ideas are taken, by the way, but ideas abound on the internet and in your creative minds, I'm sure! To prompt your creative juices flowing, we're making this a competition to benefit our local food banks, as people vote for their favorite trees by placing non-perishable food items "under the tree." With the help of our Parish Life Ministry and others, we'll invite the community to come at specific times, enjoy some cookies, maybe an ornament scavenger hunt for kids, some background Christmas music and vote with their food bank donations too! Your help in spreading the word for both participation and visiting our Festival of Trees in December is appreciated. We'll announce specific times at which the church will be open outside Sunday mornings for December/Advent tree enjoyment, but first things frist: WE NEED TREE SUBMISSIONS. So, if you'd like to participate, here's the form you need to complete with instructions on what you need to do. A big thanks to new member, Shirley Asmussen, who is helping to coordinate! Please note that you do need to have or borrow an artificial tree for this event. If you happen to have an artificial tree not doing anything this year and would be happy for someone else to use it, let us know that too!

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la,
Pastor Leah

Hydration and Hygiene Donations are Top Priorities for Camp Second Chance Residents

During this hot, dry weather, the lack of trees at Camp Second Chance (the tiny-home village on Meyers Way) is keenly felt, and every breeze kicks up dust. Consequently, the residents need our help staying hydrated and freshly clean.

Our Homelessness Task Force has made one delivery of sports drinks and popsicles and invites you to consider doing the same. Drinks such as Gatorade and frozen treats such as Otter Pops can be at the ready for residents in the camp refrigerator and freezer.

With the camp's new shower facilities, residents can refresh themselves anytime but they need such hygiene items as deodorants, new or lightly used large bath towels, shower shoes, multi-blade razors, shaving cream, and full-sized soap and shampoo. The camp has also seen an increased need for menstrual products.

You'll find donation boxes for these items in the narthex and lobby. Every time a member of our task force is at the camp, residents invariably say "Thank you, Fauntleroy!" We don't just bring cold drinks or shampoo; we bring the love and encouragement they sorely need in order to take their next step out of being unhoused.

Our 2nd Time Sale is Back!

Donors have already given a lot of quality items but more are welcome (see details below). "Quality" means clean, in working order, and complete (all parts). See the list of what we cannot take here. Note that we cannot take large furniture.

Setting up tables for the sale will be after worship on Sunday, Sept. 4, so plan to stay and give a hand if you can.

Another way to contribute is to help before, during, or after the sale (and have a lot of fun!). Sign up during coffee hour or call the office. Sale hours will be Saturday 9 am - 4 pm, and Sunday 11:30 am -3 pm. Monday will be clean-up day.

Homemade sweet treats are popular, too, so consider dusting off a favorite recipe for the bake sale.

Masks will be required of all volunteers and customers, plus sale areas will be well ventilated.

HOW TO DONATE

Bring small items to Fellowship Hall:

-weekdays 10 am-2 pm Sept. 7, 8, 9, 12, or 13,

-Sunday morning Sept. 11,

-or at another time by appointment; email info@fauntleroyucc.org.

Do not leave donations at the door when no one is there! To arrange a pick-up of anything you cannot deliver, email info@fauntleroyucc.org.

Helping Children Feel Welcome in Worship

One of the wonderful things about Fauntleroy Church is the way we welcome children in worship. When the kids didn’t start back in the sanctuary after we first reopened, didn’t it seem like an energy was missing in this space? Now on a typical Sunday, you lean in again when a child asks a question during the Time with Children. This is not a time when children are put on the spot or on display. This is the time when we try to set a bit of God’s word into the palm of each child’s hand, so they start wondering about a scripture story before they head out to Sunday School to wonder even wider. At the core of this time is the message that they are loved by God and by us; that this is their worship, too, and what they have to say has a wisdom we need to hear; that they bless others and we hope we bless them as God teaches us all to do. In fact, it is beautiful the way you keep singing “Go now in peace” until every last child has heard your blessing on their way to their classroom. Now the children also return to join us on Communion Sundays. While our youngest might not understand the deeper meaning of this sacrament yet, the first thing they do know is that they are an integral part of this community and there is a place for them at God’s Table. May God’s love story unfold from there. For other tips on how you can welcome children to worship, go here.

There are many resources that offer great tips about being with children in worship. Here are just a few ideas. As adults, we can:

• Show appreciation for children and their presence through our expressions and body language.

• Greet children around us, just as we would greet adults.

• Bend down to a child’s eye level to invite conversation.

• Get to know children by name. Be sure they have a name tag if adults are wearing them.

• Invite a child to help you find or to follow the hymns and scripture readings in the bulletin.

• Encourage children to bring their own offering or to add something to the offering collection if they are in worship. (Think creatively—even a picture can be an offering!)

• Encourage children to lift up a joy or concern at the prayer time if something is on their heart.

• Listen to what children have to say and answer questions in a quiet whisper.

• Ask them what they enjoyed about worship. (But make this a moment of connection rather than a pop quiz!)

As parents and grandparents, we can also:

• Have times of prayer and silence at home before meals and bedtime.

• Talk about our own special memories of church and worship.

• Explore the sanctuary when it’s empty.

• Borrow a hymnal to sing a song at a family devotional.

• Help children learn the Lord’s Prayer.

• Create a Saturday ritual: choose church clothes, gather the offering, and pack a small bag with a Bible, thank you note for a teacher, a snack for after or a comfort item, etc.

• Plan Sunday mornings so everyone has a good breakfast and no one feels rushed.

• Talk about worship and Sunday School on your way home.

Part of the extravagant welcome at Fauntleroy Church has always been the way it regards children and youth as an integral part of its community. We do most of the things on these lists so naturally, but it never hurts to have reminders to keep our commitment to open our welcoming hearts as wide as possible to every one of every age all the time.

A Successful Ice Cream Social!

On Sunday, July17, we didn’t let the cool, cloudy weather dampen our enthusiastic celebration of the Fauntleroy Ice Cream Social and, serendipitously, National Ice Cream Day. A local ice cream van piloted by super-friendly Muhammad supplied treats for almost 70 sweet treat fans. Most of all it was a chance to enjoy each other’s company.

Special thanks to the Parish Life Ministry as well as quite a few helping hands who helped set up and clean up.

Camp Second Chance on a Roll!

As Camp Second Chance, West Seattle's tiny-home village on Meyers Way, attests: It takes a community to build a village. Since 2016 when the first residents moved in, a community of dedicated people has built it into a safe, supportive, and effective waystation on the road out of homelessness.

On July 15, a barbeque at the camp thanked that community of people, including representatives from the Low-Income Housing Initiative (LIHI), Sound Foundations NW, Fauntleroy Church, camp staff and residents, and members of the camp's Community Advisory Committee.

They had several recent transformations to celebrate: new tiny homes (now 70 in total), new bathrooms with sewer service and cisterns, a spacious resource center with new appliances, storage trailers for donations, asphalt walkways, and outdoor gathering areas graced with flower and shrub planters.

Also worth celebrating was completion by our Homelessness Task Force's shoe-buying project. Because of generous donations to our giving tree, plus the support of Big 5 Sporting Goods in Westwood Village, we were able to equip 21 residents with new shoes that fit both their feet and lifestyles. "Cathy Phillips conceived this project and persevered with store manager Kendall Fischer to make it happen," said Joan Gregory, who assisted Cathy in scheduling residents to come to the store. "Big 5 clerks were extremely considerate and helpful with residents, several of whom had foot issues and personality quirks that required extra time and patience." The store provided a 10% discount to supplement giving-tree donations that paid about $45 per resident. The store also equipped camp staff with 20% discount coupons to help residents who come in on their own.

For help with the shoe project, as well as above-and-beyond dedication to the camp, the Homelessness Task Force recently presented Manager Scott Harris and Case Manager Marjorie Johnson with gift cards to spend in relaxing ways. Marjorie's response: “I am at a loss for words! Thank you so much. I do this because everyone deserves a home and a pleasant face to greet them when they come here. The camp really appreciates you and I appreciate you.” Noting that this month's barbeque came together on short notice, Joan said that our task force expects to host another in the fall, when many more of us can visit and appreciate all the improvements.

Help Feed the Hungry this Saturday!

On July 16, we have the opportunity to provide lunch to our homeless and food insecure neighbors in White Center at The Welcome Table Saturday meal. To get details about the meal and to sign up as a volunteer to help onsite during the meal and/or provide part of the meal, click here.

Additionally, if you can assist on site, it would be greatly appreciated! Please sign up on the volunteer form if you are able to do any of the following:

• Set up tables starting at 11am

• Welcome guests and point them in the right direction

• Serve food and/or help at a supply station (there are multiple tables for clothing, food pantry, toiletries, etc.)

• Break down tables and put away supplies afterward. We typically finish around 1:30.

Come for an hour or the whole time, all are welcome and appreciated! You may or may not know, in addition to the hot meal, many other necessities are distributed on site including:

• a food pantry with fresh & non-perishable foods

• clothing for men, women & children, hygiene products

• Blankets, sleeping bags, tarps when available

• hygiene products & other necessities

If you have extras of any of the above items, they would be welcomed and greatly appreciated! Note that we will now be providing the meal on the 3rd Saturday of the month for the remainder of 2022!