News

Sundays, September 13, 20 and 27 at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.

UUC is recruiting office volunteers for the coming church year! These volunteers will assist staff with administrative tasks and occasionally other special projects. We will train volunteers, but a basic familiarity with computers and the office printer would be helpful. This will be an as-needed role , meaning that there will not be regularly scheduled shifts. We will add all interested volunteers to a roster in UUC Connect. When a staff member has a task, we will send an email to the list of volunteers. It will be first-come-first-serve to sign up for the task. This role would be a great opportunity for someone who has limited availability and may not be able to participate in other volunteer programs at UUC that require extended commitment.  If you are interested in receiving notifications when there is a task in the office, please email office@uuchurch.org .

Wednesday, August 26, 7–8:30 p.m. via Signal Our August meeting will be held via Signal video and a call will go out to everyone who is on the UUC Pink Haven Announcements list on Signal. Contact Allison to be added to the list. The advantage of using Signal for our video call is that no special link or code is needed—just answer the call. Or if you can’t attend, don’t answer the call. The disadvantage is it calls everybody on the Pink Haven Announcement Signal group list. (Open to feedback...) Before the meeting starts, have the Signal app open and then answer the call which will connect you to the video. (The Signal app can be installed on any device (iPad/Mac/PC). We will likely return to in-person meetings in September. The Pink Haven Coalition is a national coalition responding to the baseless and severe discrimination against trans and non-binary individuals in red states who need assistance in moving to blue states. Our UUC group is part of this effort, in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, to create a welcome network for trans/non-binary individuals and their families who are fleeing their homes in order to live freer lives and, if needed, to obtain gender affirming care.

Sunday, September 13, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Each year, the Sunday after Labor Day is our Homecoming Sunday. It is the beginning of our new church year, and we return to our two-service schedule, with worship services at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae and Rev. Victoria Poling will lead the services, and our Loft Choir, under the direction of Karen P. Thomas, will be back after their summer hiatus. Children and youth will have their own Homecoming celebrations at the same times hosted by Aria Curtis, or Director of Family Ministry.

Alternate Fridays, September 4 through November 13, 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Knatvold room, by registration

After two years of service on the UUC Board of Trustees, and many, many more years as a dear member of our community, Alison McCormick has decided to move to Port Townsend to be closer to her family. She submitted her resignation as a member of the UUC Board of Trustees last week. We are deeply grateful to Alison for the dedication, humor and warmth she has brought to her time on the Board and wish her all the best as she prepares for this next adventure in her life. To fill this vacancy, the Board has appointed Rick Johnson to serve out the remainder of Alison's term, effective August 16, 2026. Rick chaired our Finance Committee for many years and has 45 years of experience in nonprofit accounting and board leadership. Rick is also an enthusiastic participant in numerous UUC groups including the handbell choir and coffee crew, and he is a Soul Matters facilitator and a new member of the Care Team. The Board is so grateful that Rick has agreed to additionally serve our congregation in this way this year. Rick's appointment will run until the next Board election at the congregational meeting in June, 2027 at which point the congregation will formally elect a Trustee to fill this position going forward. Please join us in thanking Alison for her service on the Board and welcoming Rick to his new role. With gratitude, The UUC Board of Trustees

From Karen P. Thomas, Director of Music It's an exciting time for the UUC Music Program, with two new staff members joining us in September. Our new All-Voices Choir Director is Elliot Weeks; and our new Bass Section Leader/Soloist is Charles Robert Stephens.

Sunday, August 23, 11:15 a.m. in the Dix room and via Zoom

Registration open for Saturday and Sunday, August 22 & 23, in person or via Zoom

Worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream 

On Monday, August 17, our new Lead Minister, Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae (they/them/any) arrived at UUC and started settling into their new office. Over the next few weeks they will be working with UUC staff and leadership to prepare for the coming year while also doing all of the things that come along with starting a new job, like figuring out where the light switch is for the sanctuary and how to access their new email! We look forward to their first Sunday in the pulpit on September 13, Homecoming Sunday, when they and Rev. Victoria will help us enter into a new church year and embrace an abundance of new beginnings together.

Thursday, August 20, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in Nathan Johnson Hall by appointment

UUC's UU the Vote Team put together about 100 packets of "Reclaim Our Vote" postcards (each containing 20 postcards, addresses and scripts—all needed materials except post card stamps) to be written and mailed to select voters in Texas and Virginia as part of a “Get Out the Vote” campaign for the 2026 midterm U.S. legislative elections. These packets are available to be picked up in the church office. Alternatively, you can contact co-chairs Betty Williams and Meta Thayer to pick up packets from their homes if that is more convenient for you. Betty lives in NE Seattle, email Betty.Susan.Williams@gmail.com . Meta is in the Green Lake neighborhood, email metathayer@gmail.com . Reclaim Our Vote is a project of the Center for Common Ground and a partner organization with the UUA Side with Love UU the Vote Project . “Reclaim Our Vote is a grassroots, primarily volunteer-run campaign that focuses on increasing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) voter turnout through post-carding, texting, and phone banking. Working with local, on-the-ground partners and our Democracy Centers, we build effective, respectful, and relevant campaigns that engage BIPOC voters around upcoming elections.” Check out the Reclaim Our Vote website for more information and to sign up for their textbanking and phonebanking efforts Please let us know if you have any questions. UUC's UU the Vote Co-Chairs Betty and Meta

Thursday, August 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Judkins Park

We welcome you to join us for another season of small-group sharing and deep-listening as we explore the congregation’s spiritual themes for fall: Courage, Healing, Awe, and Thresholds .  Soul Matters groups foster discovery, solace, hope, and courage through spiritual exploration, reflection, and meditative practice in the supportive company of others. Each month’s curriculum aligns with the monthly congregational theme, giving participants a shared focus to explore more deeply in a small group setting. Learn more about Soul Matters Reflection Groups .

Monday, August 24, 6–8 p.m., at the Good Shepherd Center/Meridian Playground

Today we’d link to bring two groups to your attention that always welcome volunteers. In addition to knowing that you’re doing good work, you’ll likely also meet a neighbor or two. And maybe talk a fellow UUCer into volunteering with you. Thornton Creek Alliance https://thorntoncreekalliance.info/ Green Seattle Partnership https://greenseattle.org/get-involved/volunteer/ This month’s choice of work parties in Northeast Seattle is a bit sparse. There are usually several different locations. Energy tip It’s good to have already decided what to do in the event your cooling or heating system poops out. If you are on the hook for utility costs, consider (or ask your landlord to consider) an in-home energy assessment from Puget Sound Energy, or use their Online Home Energy Assessment, both at https://www.pse.com/en/rebates/home-energy-assessment . You likely are eligible for a free in-home assessment if you haven’t had one in the last five years. (For details, scroll down a bit and click to expand "Who is eligible.") UUC's Climate Action Team would like to know your favorite local groups for giving back to the environment. Email Jane Howard , team chair.

Sunday, August 9, in the chapel following the service

Help Welcome Rev. Jeremiah!

Worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream 

Sunday, August 16, 10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. in Knatvold - please sign up

Please complete interest form by Friday, August 14 Are you looking for an opportunity roll up your sleeves and help get food to our neighbors in need? We are looking to build an intergenerational team to provide consistent volunteer hours and energy for the University District Food Bank (UDFB). Over each of the last two years, UUC has shared one Second Sunday offering plate with UDFB as part of our Social Justice ministries. We want to do more! We want to partner and build a relationship with UDFB where we support them with hands and hearts, as well as financial donations. Volunteering opportunities, generally 2–3 hours, would include onsite activities at UDFB and at UUC. Youth (12+) are welcomed and those under 16 would require parental/adult supervision. Some tasks require lifting boxes, cleaning bins or repackaging foods (see the link to the volunteer interest form below for more examples). Depending on the size of our team, each volunteer commitment might be once per quarter or month (more is always welcomed). We are targeting September to begin. If you'd like to get involved, please complete this UDFB Volunteer Interest Form by August 14 so we can roll up our sleeves and help feed our people! Peace, Gayle Childers & Doug Graesser, UUC members ( gayledchilders@comcast.net & dlgraesser@gmail.com ) 

Help Welcome Rev. Jeremiah

All Ages worship service at 9:30 in the chapel and via live stream

Dear UUC Community, We are writing to let you know that over the next couple of weeks, we will be doing repairs on the doors to the chapel. The screws that hold the doors to the drywall have been stripped, which is causing the doors to sag inwards. We will be removing the doors and reinforcing the wood planks that the doors screw into. You may notice some visual impacts to the doorway over the next couple of weeks. You will still be able to use the doorway as normal for Sunday services. We appreciate your patience and care as we all work to maintain our beloved building. If you have any questions about this repair, you can email Tamar Lively, Executive for Finance and Operations, at tamar.lively@uuchurch.org . In faith, Morgan Sherwood and Tamar Lively

Thursday, August 20, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in Nathan Johnson Hall by appointment

In early July, 25 folks from UUC prepared and served up three meals at Teen Feed. Our UUC Meal Teams hosted meals on Friday, July 3 and Sunday, July 5. And on Wednesday, July 8, UUC's Youngish group joined the effort and formed a team to fill in one of the holes in the July schedule.

From UUC's Climate Action Team (CAT) Increased wildfires and smoke are unfortunate byproducts of climate change in our region, especially during years with reduced snowpack in the mountains (such as this one). Some current weather forecasts are predicting winds from the northeast, and if this happens we can expect smoke from wildfires in eastern British Columbia and Washington to impact our air quality in Seattle. Last week's CAT article on Air Quality included info on an air quality app for phone or computer, and on an inexpensive device you can make to filter the smoke particles from indoor air. If you must be outside during times with forest fire smoke, consider wearing a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask. The Climate Action Team encourages you to read about appropriate masks, and about how to minimize air quality risks to your health, at this CDC site https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/safety/how-to-safely-stay-safe-during-a-wildfire.html or this City of Seattle site https://www.seattle.gov/wildfire-smoke-safety

Wednesday, August 5, 5–7 p.m. in the Knatvold room

Beginning in September, UUC volunteers are collaborating with Eckstein Middle School to provide an added day of household supply distribution to Eckstein families who can use additional material support. This collaboration is a product of discernment with Faith Land Initiative about how to use UUC space to serve our community, as well as the Social Justice Steering Committee’s Revival Potluck last fall. More than a dozen Eckstein families from nearby subsidized housing rely on food and household supply distribution, led by Eckstein’s on-site social worker, to enable their children to succeed in school. With additional support from UUC, some of the social workers allotted funds can be freed up to assist families with critical rent and utility assistance and other support. A small team of volunteers got together earlier in the summer to help John Berta build a closet in Channing to store the supplies. John gave a masterclass in how to use basic carpentry tools, and our volunteers had a great time getting the room ready! (See photos below.) UUC volunteers intend to provide an additional twelve pick-up dates for families and to increase the volume of supplies available to families throughout the 2026-27 school year and during summer months. We’ll be coordinating at the end of each month with Eckstein staff to create a list of needed supplies (specific items and quantities). We’ll solicit and gather donations one Sunday per month, sort and organize donations and distribute items to Eckstein families on the third Saturday each month at UUC. If you are interested in volunteering to assist in this effort, please contact: Emily Joseph at emily.m.joseph89@gmail.com or Patricia Graesser at patsygraesser@comcast.net We look forward to working with you! Cynthia Salzman, Alisan Tucker-Giesy, Emily Joseph, Patricia Graesser UUC's Eckstein Community Cupboard Team

Every Wednesday, 7–9 p.m. in Nathan Johnson Hall

UUC's Climate Action Team encourages you to check out https://climate.us . Unfortunately, with the recent dismantling of federal climate policy and regulations, climate.gov (moved to noaa.gov/climate ) no longer offers trusted information. “ Climate.us is an independent nonprofit climate information platform created to protect public access to trusted, science-reviewed climate knowledge. Built by members of the team behind NOAA’s Climate.gov , climate.us provides plain-language climate news, explainers, visuals, data pathways, educational resources, and expert insights to help people understand and use climate science.”

Help Welcome Rev. Jeremiah

Worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream

Midterm Postcards As the November midterm elections are approaching, we are ramping up our UU the Vote efforts. Please help us get out the vote in critical areas around the country by completing Reclaim Our Vote postcards to be mailed to voters in early October. We provide the postcards, addresses and informational labels, you provide the stamps. Some stamps are provided for groups who need them. Contact us for more information - Betty Williams or Meta Thayer. For more information about the UU the Vote partner, Center for Common Ground, please see Reclaim Our Vote . Thanks so much for your interest and participation in our UU the Vote efforts . We had a great turnout on July 7 and organized approximately 2,000 postcards and materials into packets for UUC community to prepare for sending to “Get Out the Vote” for the midterm elections in Georgia and North Carolina. Way to go, team! We also learned about Common Power’s voter outreach efforts across the country. We can volunteer locally, nationally, and/or contribute funds. For more information: Common Power . We have some of those packets in the UUC Office available to sign out and complete. If you are part of a group at UUC, please ask the group if they want to write some postcards at a gathering. Our Soul Matters group had a social event and completed 20 postcards while enjoying each other’s company recently! We will be in touch in late August with more information and postcards for the Texas and Alabama midterms. Washington State Ballot Initiatives Important information about some Washington state initiatives that will be on our November 4 ballots: League of Women’s Voters posted this information about the Anti-Trans Girls and Women in sports initiatives : https://www.lwvwa.org/NO-on-I-638-and-I-001 . The campaign opposing these initiatives is No Hate in WA State: https://nohateinwastate.org . Initiative 645 on the ballot is to reverse the income tax for millionaires that was passed by the legislature this past session. Here is information about the law that was passed: https://budgetandpolicy.org/resources-tools/2026/03/Updated-3-3-BPC-Millionaires-Tax-FAQ.pdf . ~UU the Vote Co-chairs Meta Thayer and Betty Williams

From UUC's Climate Action Team As I write this (July 26, 2026), air quality is good in Seattle. And in 2025, there were only three days in Seattle in which smoke affected air quality. That said, consider having on hand a 20" box fan and a 20" furnace filter to build an air filter in the event of poor air quality. Use a MERV 13 or FPR 10 filter—both capture at least 85% of tiny airborne particles—and find the instructions here: https://deohs.washington.edu/sites/default/files/AirFilterInfographic_FINAL.pdf (and below). To check on the current air quality : https://www.iqair.com/air-quality-near-me and type in location. To see a record of the air quality over the last few years : https://pscleanair.gov/640/2020-Data-Summary .

On July 22, a group of eight UUC members and friends attended a t our of the King County Elections Office. It was very impressive to see our democracy in action. Key Points: The security and transparency are quite intense, with all of us being required to put our phones and bags in a locker before the tour. Even paper and pens or pencils are not allowed up to the secure second floor. No one can enter the area in the center of the second floor, where the ballots are handled, without a badge and code for the doors and all entries are recorded. Visitors can walk the hallway all the way around the perimeter of the second floor to view the activity in the center from all sides. Anyone can visit at any time for a self-guided tour. And if you want a guided group tour, you can schedule with them ahead of time. There are live webcams trained on each of the activity areas that can be viewed online by anyone: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/about-us/security-and-accountability/watch-us-in-action . The King County Elections staff has created a Voter Intent booklet. When a ballot is marked in a way that the machines cannot interpret, employees use the standardized interpretations of oddly filled out ballots, so it’s not just up to the judgement of the individual ballot reviewers to decide. To avoid any need for your ballot to be reviewed for intent regarding how you marked your choices, be sure to review and strictly follow directions for completing your ballot. Key tips include: (1) be consistent in how you mark each vote, as apparently if you fill in a bubble and put a check on others, your ballot will need to be pulled for reviewing, (2) sign and date the outside of the envelope using your official signature — every ballot envelope signature is compared by a human every time against your official signature on file (the same as on your driver's license, passport, etc.), and (3) include an email address or phone number on the envelope, so the Elections Office can contact you if your signature doesn't seem to match the ones on file closely enough. Any of this signature "curing" is done before the ballot envelope is opened. To view your voter registration information, track your ballot and read about the contests on your ballot, see My Voter Information - King County . This is also the place to sign yourself up for text or email ballot status alerts. Update your registration information or signature here: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/how-to-vote/register-to-vote . This is also the link to provide to folks who want to register for the first time . You can get a v ideo tour of the Elections Building on their website: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/education-and-outreach/take-a-tour#toc-Watch-a-tour-video . We learned that King County Elections gets visits from delegates from election teams from around the U.S.—and around the world—who want to learn from them to improve their own practices. We all left being even more impressed with what an effective and safe election system we have in King County! ~UUC's UU the Vote Team

UUC has a job opening for a part-time director of the All Voices Choir, our multi-age choir of children and adults, beginning in September. Monday evening rehearsals and one or more Sunday services per month. See job description for details and application process.

UUC has a job opening for bass-baritone section leader, beginning in September. Thursday evening rehearsals and Sunday morning services. See job description for details and application process.

Beloved community, I am reaching out with a heavy heart in the wake of another violent tragedy, this time in our own backyard. If you have not yet heard, last night there was a mass shooting at Bite of Seattle that took the lives of multiple people and injured several others. Events like this can bring up a variety of feelings, and we want you to know that the UUC community is here to support you as you process and grieve. Our Care Team is available to listen and can be reached by emailing care@uuchurch.org or by calling (206) 454-7722. If you are a parent or caregiver seeking resources for talking with children about gun violence in age appropriate ways, I encourage you to check out this webpage , put together by the Unitarian Universalist Lifespan Faith Engagement Office. Lean on each other and lean into community this week. The UUC staff are wrapping you in love and tenderness. In faith, Morgan Sherwood Congregational Engagement Coordinator

Tuesday, July 28, 6 p.m. at Gasworks Park

Help Welcome Rev. Jeremiah

Sunday, July 26, 11:15 a.m. in the Dix room and via Zoom

From Tamar Lively, UUC's Executive for Finance and Operations Dear Beloved Community, I'm writing to update you on an important piece of our building; the decorative wood-framed glass screen on the west face of the sanctuary. Many of you know it as one of the most visible and beloved architectural details of our chapel, and I want to make sure you hear directly from me, and hear the full picture, about what's ahead for it. A bit of history The screen has needed attention before. Water damage led to a full disassembly and reconstruction in the 1990s, and it was repaired again in 2009 at a cost of about $56,000. When our Capital Reserve Study was completed in 2024, it noted that the screen was stable overall but that several sections of the wood frame were showing wear, and it set aside a placeholder budget of $85,000 for the next round of repairs, with the caveat that the real scope and cost wouldn't be known until we had actual bids in hand. Where things stand now Recent inspection has shown that the wood framing has deteriorated further than we'd hoped, to the point that we need to move on two fronts: Temporary emergency shoring , to make sure the screen remains safe and stable in the near term, and A complete rebuild of the screen, similar in scope to the 1990s reconstruction. This is a bigger undertaking than the 2024 estimate anticipated, and I want to be upfront with you about that rather than let you be surprised by it later. What we're doing about it We've already engaged SKHS Architects to assess the screen and prepare bids for both the emergency shoring and the full rebuild. Once we have those bids in hand, we'll know the real scope, cost, and timeline—including whether standard permitting or an expedited emergency permit process will apply—which will affect how quickly work can begin. We are looking at materials options that will also extend the life of the screen, rather than a one to one replacement of the existing materials that need to be replaced every few years. On funding: the congregation has approximately $500,000 set aside in our capital reserve investment account for projects like this. Because that account is invested and its value moves with the market, I don't want to quote you an exact figure today, but I can tell you that we planned ahead for exactly this kind of need, and we are not starting this project from zero. We have other capital projects coming up as well, but this project must take precedence. What to expect Once shoring begins, you'll likely see some visible changes to the entrance including scaffolding, barriers, or temporary supports, and there may be some disruption to how we use that space over the coming months. I don't yet have an exact timeline to give you, since it depends on the bids and the permitting path, but I'll share firm dates as soon as we have them. I'll keep you updated (on our News page and in future issues of the Gateway enewsletter) as this project develops: when we receive bids, when shoring begins, and when we have a clear schedule for the full rebuild. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly with any questions. Thank you for your patience and your continued care for this special building . Warmly, Tamar Lively Executive – Finance and Operations

Saturday, July 25, 1–3 p.m. at the NWDC, 1623 East J Street, Tacoma

Worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream

Congratulations!

Wednesday, July 22, 11 a.m. in Renton Optional 10 a.m. carpool from UUC Please sign up by Monday, July 20

Worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream