Living Our Values

As we begin the 2017-18 church year, we are doing a series of worship services based on our AFFIRMATION OF VALUES. Following are videos that were produced for each of the values.
Homecoming Sunday, Sep. 10
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We will be present to one another and our neighbors in our personal relationships and by creating venues for engagement where we can learn about viewpoints different from our own.
Members of our community identified these ways that they are living this value:
  • Listen more, speak less.
  • Greet grocery clerks with a smile and greeting.
  • Call and leave song messages for friends having a hard time.
  • Come together and become involved in more options and opportunities for our homeless communities. There isn’t even enough room in the shelters, let alone clean of bugs and mental health.
  • We will open up our home and invite a couple other couples at SFBC that we recently learned live near us.
  • I will attend the Oct. 18 “Love at the Crossroads” conference at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
  • Resist judgment. Embrace loving kindness.
  • Move out of our “comfort zone” to be present to visitors.
  • Engage staff at grocery store and take time to chat. The grocery store is a real community center.
  • Participate in neighborhood gatherings.
  • Remember that the extraordinary mystery is bigger from any point of view.
  • Seek our volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood.
  • Realizing that we can reach out to neighbors who need nothing more than good news.
  • I am now able to not talk when it would be better to keep my mouth shut.
Sunday, Sep. 17

We will actively work to recognize and change our own biases and to fight racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, ageism and other systemic prejudices. 

Members of our community identified these ways that they are living this value:
  • Each month I donate $50 to various charities dealing with racist issues.
  • Continue addressing racial slurs when they arise in family conversations.
  • Engaging with anti-racist parents group.
  • Read and educate yourself on racism and history.
  • Engaging with anti-racist groups.
  • Talking with students and teaching them.
Sunday, Sep. 24

We will protect our environment and support preservation programs that are based on scientific data designed to improve our resources, enhance biodiversity, and reverse human-caused climate change. 

Members of our community identified these ways that they are living this value:
  • ​Avoid bulk purchases of food that often goes bad and is wasted.
  • I recycle.
  • No bags, ever. Juggle and carry ridiculous amounts of groceries even if you forget your bags.
  • I take the bus.
  • Cleaning up Styrofoam.
  • Compose like crazy.
  • I use minimal chemicals on my garden and yard.
  • I will bring my own bags to the grocery store.
  • Use only green cleaning supplies.
  • Talking in faith to friends – how God calls us not to misuse but to caretake our creation. Psalm 8.
  • Replaced the paper towels in my bathroom with a hand towel.
  • I ride transit to work every day.
  • When I travel to places that do not have recycling I bring recyclables home and recycle them.
Sunday, Oct. 1

We will respect all religions by learning about the beliefs, values and struggles of our neighbors and by demonstrating support for them.
Members of our community identified these ways that they are living this value:
  • ​Stand with our Muslim neighbors
  • Remember to walk humbly in the midst of my neighbors.
  • I can share my beliefs that all religions are based in love with the children in my life.
  • Move to compassion by first being the dispassionate observer.
  • Bring my family and invite friends to Bon Odori (oban).
  • May we be open to new paths to God.
  • Getting to know my Muslim neighbors down the road.
  • All beliefs should be respected, as long as they don't infringe on others' ability to do the same no one is hurt through the practice of those beliefs.
  • Join an interfaith coalition with MAPS and CAIR.
  • Wear a safety pin. Explain the safety pin. Counter prejudicial comments with accuracy.
  • Teach our children about different religions.
Sunday, Oct. 7

We will welcome the stranger, including immigrants and refugees, as our Scriptures instruct. We will explore how to support their causes and advocate for justice, remembering that many of us are the children of immigrants and refugees.
Members of our community identified these ways that they are living this value:
  • ​Teach our children about refugees and immigrants.
  • Taking the Youth Group to the NWDC.
  • Continue to learn about my biases and work to soften my heart.
  • Visit the immigration detention center in Tacoma.
  • Volunteer with residents at U.G.M.
Companis Sunday,
Oct. 15

We will go deeper in faith as we do justice, love mercy, work for peace and walk humbly with God.
Members of our community identified these ways that they are living this value:
  • Creating the Worship Adventure Book is a spiritual practice - I become aware of my own beliefs.
  • Live in the light of Charles Z. Smith.
  • Introspective thoughts during daily hikes. How can I do better tomorrow than I did today?
  • To remain in an open posture. To receive opportunities to go deeper in faith by practicing these things (i.e. do justice, love mercy, ...)
  • To be the peace I am seeking.
  • Listen to the voice within.