|
Saltwater Church is an intentionally inclusive, spiritually progressive,
justice seeking community of all ages, serving South King County since 1954.
| | Saltwater Church Newsletter Janurary 2, 2026 | | |
To view our complete calendar of events on our website, click here.
If you wish to schedule an event, click here to fill out a request form.
| | |
Stronger Together Annual Giving Drive Planning Meeting
Saturday January 3, 11:00pm - 12:00pm
Church Zoom Room
You're invited to revisit Rev. Alison's short homily on the annual giving drive from last year, and if you're inspired by her invitation, please join the Stronger Together Annual Giving Drive team by joining our first meeting Saturday at 11am or by contacting Rev. Alison to let her know you're interested if you can't make the meeting.
Do You Have Pictures From Saltwater Activities or Events?
We are collecting pictures of Salties in community...at events, gatherings, services, rallies...
The pictures will be used to show the rest of the congregation and our wider community what it means to be part of our community and how we enjoy and enrich one another.
Please send the pictures to: Miriam Woito
| |
Realm Connect Assistance Sessions
Sunday January 4, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
In-Person: Church Office
Bubba will be available following the Community Potluck to assist you in using Realm Connect. If you have questions about using Realm Connect on your phone or computer, bring them to Bubba at their monthly open office Realm Connect Assistance Session.
You may also email Bubba at administrator@salttwaterchurch.org to schedule one on one time for help with using our church membership phone app. Appointments can be scheduled for in person meetings as well as zoom meetings to best accommodate your schedule.
| |
Youth Tabletop Game Night
Saturday January 3, 6:00pm
In-Person: Welcome room
Join us for Youth Game Night on Jan 3. Youth are encouraged to come hang out and play some games! Bring a favorite game to share. If you wish to try out a new game, we have a wide selection that will leave your brain and belly tired. Laughter and popcorn provided.
Friends and visitors are welcome to any of our Tabletop Game Nights. We play all types of board games (ranging from lighter games like Clue to more complex games like Pandemic). Our group also plays thematic games, card games, and party & social games. Almost anything is possible, bring your favorite game and let us know about it.
- 1st Saturdays are all-ages. Bring a game your whole family will enjoy!
-
3rd Saturdays childcare will be available upon request. Please rsvp for childcare at least 1-week in advance to Jessica Nash at dffsaltwater@gmail.com.
| |
Creativity Matters Group
Friday January 9, 2:00pm
In-Person: Welcome room
Creativity MATTERS! Come join us as we let our creative side out at our creativity matters group! We will have small group conversations based on the topic of the month. Each month we also will have 1 or 2 creative options to explore in person. Materials provided.
This month we will be choosing a word to focus on for our year and we will be collaging, drawing or just journaling about that word. If you enjoy taking photos.. search for an image of resistance around you, send your images to dffsaltwater@gmail.com. I will print and share these in our welcome room. We may use one or two in our newsletter!!!
Nikesha Breeze is a multimedia artist who uses her work to explore art as a means of reclamation and healing. Here is an exhibit that has inspired this months creativity. : Mutiny of Morning
With Breeze’s work as inspiration, we will create our own black out poem. Identify a text you have a connection to that has been used to serve an oppressive purpose and then resist and reclaim it by selectively “pulling out” and highlighting certain words that tell a different story or cast a different vision. I will bring some extra in case you do not have anything that is calling to you.
Resistance is our theme and if you find you want to explore it in a different way feel free to bring your project and work along side community.
All are welcome.
| |
Saltwater Spiral Walk through Jan 12
first half of January
In Person Church Grounds
Our Spiral Walk to welcome the New Year will remain available for those who wish to take a moment of reflection through a meditative jaunt among the branches for the first 2 weeks of January.
| |
Our Successful Giving Tree
A Giant Giving Tree Thank You!
Every year, Saltwater Church provides holiday gifts for Mark Twain Elementary students & siblings who are most in need. This year we served 50 children! We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you to all the shoppers, donators, packagers, and delivery drivers. This year our congregation was generous and we were able to provide $30 gift cards for groceries to each family in addition to the gifts for the children.
If you would like to join us in coordinating this event next year, speak with Margaret Young-Weitzel or Judy Featherstone.
| | |
To view our complete calendar of events on our website, click here.
If you wish to schedule an event, click here to fill out a request form.
| | |
Annual Congregational Meeting
Follow Up Information
Thanks to all who participated in our annual Winter Informational Congregational Meeting on December 14, 2025!
Here is a recording of the presentations made by members of Saltwater's governing Board & our Minister, Rev. Alison at that meeting. https://youtu.be/wwzlMkuqJrY
To view the slides from the meeting, CLICK HERE
| |
NEW!!!
Rev. Alison Now Has A YouTube Channel
The sharings from the Worship Team's Holidays of Light service is now available to view on YouTube. CLICK HERE to view!
As the year winds down, visit Rev. Alison's YouTube channel, where she'll be posting a retrospective of some of the services we've offered this year.
| |
Minister's Message
For Unitarian Universalists, resistance is a necessary practice of our faith, because we live in a world where our core values of Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence and Generosity, with Love at the center of them all, these values which serve as our guiding stars are constantly denied by the systems in which we live.
To read the Minister's Message on our website at:
https://saltwaterchurch.org/ministers-messages/#2jan26
If you would like to read our monthly SoulMatters packet, you may find it in Realm Connect. Go to Groups and look for Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church. If you select that group you will see a Resources tab under which you will find a document titled "SoulMatters Jan 2026 Practicing Resistance."
Ways to Reach Rev. Alison Duren-Sutherland
Phone (voice only): 206.627.5119
Email: minister.swuuc@gmail.com
Appointment Scheduling: https://calendly.com/minister-swuuc
| | Live our Values & Support our Community | | |
A Way To Help Flood Victims
The Seattle Federation is a member of the group Washington Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (WAVOAD), which is comprised of nonprofit organizations which support Washington state's emergency management response. Through WAVOAD, the state requested volunteers from member communities to help staff temporary shelters supporting those who have been displaced by the recent flooding. The Red Cross is organizing that effort, and they’ve asked for volunteers to call 1-800-RedCross to be directed where to go. Anyone interested should call that number.
| | |
We Need Digital Ushers!!!
We are looking for more volunteers to join our Digital Ushers Team.
The success of our multi-platform services depends on the presence of our Digital Usher in our Zoom Room on Sunday morning. These volunteers work remotely and sign up for a Sunday when they are available. They help by participating in before service sound check, letting people into our zoom service, sharing information in the chat box, and by keeping the zoom room open after service for virtual Coffee Time. If you are interested in joining the team please message Rev. Alison at minister@SaltwaterChurch.org.
| | |
Join A Serving Team
There is always something going on at Saltwater UU Church, which means there are always ways you can help in our success. Saltwater is YOUR community and we need your help making sure things run smoothly. Do you have a few hours a month that you could volunteer your services? Go here to view our website listing of all of our Serving Teams that could use your assistance. You can also express interest in joining a team through Realm Connect or email Administrator@SaltwaterChurch.org.
| | |
We offer many opportunities to Foster Connection with others in our community. Every month we have groups that meet regularly for a variety of activities. You are invited to drop by and join in our fun. Some groups meet in person, some via Zoom, and some offer both.
Read our Community Activities for detailed information. CLICK HERE
| | |
Saltwater has community groups that focus on ways we can Act for Justice. Our groups meet regularly and often offer activities for the community to engage.
To learn how you can Act For Justice in January, CLICK HERE.
| | |
Share The Plate for January
International Rescue Committee
During January our Sunday Collection will be shared with International Rescue Committee, a social services organization located in SeaTac, WA. To learn mor about this organization go to their website at: https://www.rescue.org/united-states/seattle-wa.
For more information about our Share The Plate program, see our website at: https://SaltwaterChurch.org/share-the-plate/. If you would like to nominate a recipient for Share The Plate you may do so by completing this form.
| | |
To view our complete calendar of events on our website, click here.
If you wish to schedule an event, click here to fill out a request form.
| | |
January 4 Our Neurodiverse Faith
Rev. Alison Duren-Sutherland
January 11 The Power of Disrupters
Director of Faith Formation & Rev. Alison Duren-Sutherland
| | Multigenerational Faith Formation | | |
In The Lighthouse
Jan 3rd : We will be making Personal Mug Pizza's to enjoy at potluck! GF and Vegan options will be available.
Jan 11th: We will be exploring DISRUPTION at our Faith Formation Sunday Service. What a fantastic way to start our year, with a little disruption! This is a service that will be filled with fun and help us look at disruptions in a new way.
This service each month (on the second Sundays) will be a service developed specifically for all ages. We will bring more active content to our service. We will also have an opportunity to exit during the longer speaking part to play a game in the welcome room (or outside).
| | Support for Children, Youth, and Families | | |
Childcare for Church Events
Childcare may be requested for any church activity at least one week in advance by contacting our Director of Faith Formation, Jessica Nash, at dffsaltwater@gmail.com. We will do our best to make accommodations whenever possible.
| | |
Sign Up To Use Realm Connect NOW!
click here
Search your email for your invitation to Realm Connect
Thank you to all who have completed their Realm sign up. If you have not received your invitation, please search your email for "Join Our Online Community" as the subject line of an email sent from: notifications@onrealmmail.org.
| | |
Saltwater Church Hours of Operation
With the exception of our minister, all of our staff are part-time employees. For this reason, it is best to set up an appointment if you will need assistance onsite with one of our staff. Contact information for our staff is as follows:
Minister - Rev. Alison Duren-Sutherland, minister.swuuc@gmail.com
Congregational Administrator - Bubba, Administrator@SaltwaterChurch.org
Director of Faith Formation - Jessica Nash, dffsaltwater@gmail.com
Music Director - Tom Burt, Music@SaltwaterChurch.org
Sexton - Marc Cabanag, sexton.swuuc@gmail.com
Administrative appointments with Bubba can be arranged Monday through Friday via email. Bubba aims to have flexibility to accommodate any member's schedule. Phone messages are checked regularly but may take longer than desired to receive a response.
| | |
How to Access the Church Zoom Room
To access Zoom, go to SaltwaterChurch.org/calendar/zoom-room/
and click on "To join a meeting-click here." You may also visit the main church webpage, select Zoom Room from the drop down menu under "news and events" on the top menu bar. If this is your first time using Zoom, follow the prompts to download the application to your computer.
| | |
Saltwater Church Building
If you wish to plan an event please use our online request form: https://SaltwaterChurch.org/calendar/calendar-request/. All gatherings are asked to follow the current COVID-19 guidelines. If you are planning an activity outside of normal business hours you will need Security Access which can be requested by completing this form. If you have questions about the guidelines or need assistance email Bubba, our Congregational Administrator at Administrator@SaltwaterChurch.org. Contact Bubba or Rev. Alison Duren-Sutherland if you are interested in renting our facilities.
| | |
Donations to Saltwater Church
When making a donation on the church website (click here), please indicate where you want your donation to go. After entering the amount of your donation, if you select "Donate with a Debit or Credit Card" you will see a line which starts with a pencil and has "add special instructions to the seller." Please click on those words to specify “pledge” or your desired purpose. It will help our treasurer get money into the right places if that line is filled in. If you have any questions please email or call our treasurer Gaye Greeves at gnatfw@aol.com or 253-508-3961.
| | Please Note: Announcements, updates, and additions to the newsletter must be received by noon Wednesday to be included in that week’s newsletter. Send your submissions to the website form (click here) | |
25701 14th Place South
Des Moines, WA 98198
(206) 651-7358
| | | | | |
