Sunday, September 13, worship services at 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. We will inaugurate our new church year with a special Water Communion ceremony . In many Unitarian Universalist congregations, the year begins with this gathering of the waters and then concludes with the Flower Communion in June. You are invited to bring a small amount of fresh water from a favorite location or sacred space to offer in the ceremony. We will also provide water. Libations will be poured with a word or sentence that names a hope, prayer, or dream for this new congregational year. We look forward to being with you on Sunday! Children and youth will have their own Homecoming celebrations at the same times hosted by Aria Curtis, or Director of Family Ministry. Our worship theme for September is Beginnings.

Sunday, September 13, in Nathan Johnson Hall after each service

We’re excited to share some good news about the sound system in our chapel! Many of us have experienced the challenges with sound in the chapel, particularly when it comes to hearing speakers and worship leaders clearly. We know how frustrating it can be when technology gets in the way of being fully present and connected during worship. Thanks to a generous gift from a member of our congregation, we are now able to make some much-needed improvements to our audio/visual system. Work will begin September 15–16, with the goal of improving the clarity, consistency, and overall listening experience in the chapel. The improvements are designed to address some of the underlying issues we’ve been experiencing and, importantly, to make the system easier and more reliable for the people who use it each week. For this project, we have engaged Dave May of Impulse Audio, a local, family-owned Seattle company that has been providing audio, video, and communications services since 1999. Dave and his wife, Heather, have worked on projects of all sizes, from hotels and universities to performing arts centers and, especially, houses of worship. Their portfolio includes the University of Washington IMA, Highline Performing Arts Center, Center for Spiritual Living, Holy Family, Southside Church of Christ, and numerous churches and other worship facilities throughout the region. One of the things we value about working with a smaller local company is the opportunity to build a relationship with someone who can get to know our building, our equipment, and our particular needs. After working with several larger AV companies over the years, we’re hopeful that this approach will give us greater continuity and more responsive support for our system going forward. We are deeply grateful to the congregant whose generosity is making this work possible. Their gift is an investment not only in technology, but in accessibility, connection, and our ability to hear and participate fully together. There may be some temporary disruption as the new equipment is installed and tested. We appreciate your patience as we work toward a Chapel sound system that better serves everyone in our community. We’re looking forward to hearing the difference! Tamar Lively UUC Executive for Finance and Operations

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

Thursday, September 10, 7:00–8:45 p.m. in Knatvold