Dear KUUF community,
This week the board made the difficult decision to close the KUUF building until further notice. All gatherings, of any size, are prohibited. All of our staff—including myself and Tanesha Smith, our office administrator—are working from home. During a press conference yesterday the Kitsap Health Board made it very clear that we should all essentially be sheltering in place, in our homes, until further notice. KUUF is following those guidelines and encouraging our members to do the same, as much as possible. If you are working at a job that makes this impossible, please know we support you in doing what you need to do. This is a long-haul situation and we are in it together.
And while this is a difficult time for all of us, it is especially difficult for those who are losing their income because businesses and schools have been temporarily shut down. The board and I want to make sure KUUF is doing everything we can, for one another and our larger community.
Need help?
If you are a member in need of financial assistance, please contact me directly at minister@kuuf.org.
If you need groceries or medicine delivered, contact me or Tanesha and we will get you connected to a KUUF member who can help.
Want to help?
If you are a KUUF member or friend under-60 and not immunocompromised, please consider making yourself available to deliver groceries or medicine. Email me and I will add you to our response team.
If you are able to donate financially, please consider giving to KUUF. You can donate online via Paypal at https://paypal.me/KitsapUU and in the “Notes” section designate your donation one of the following ways:
KUUF Ministerial Discretionary Fund, which helps members in need.
Kitsap Community Foundation, to help those in our community.
General fund, in lieu of our usual Sunday offering basket
Charitable Giving, which goes to our monthly charitable giving recipient
And check in with me and let me know how you’re doing! Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 12-2pm I am holding office hours on Zoom: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/265672270. And Wednesday evenings, 6-8pm, I am hosting an informal Zoom hangout: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/170960595.
And of course, I am available by phone or text at my cell: 206-890-2872.
Have more questions about COVID-19?
This Thursday, March 19, at 3pm our Parish Nurse Jenn is hosting a Zoom chat.
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/656293173
Or call in by phone: 1-669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID: 656-293-173.
I was so grateful this past Sunday to see so many of you attending our Youtube worship service and our Zoom virtual coffee hour. A lot of you are using this kind of tech for the first time! I hope you’re finding it easier than you had imagined it might be. If not, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or our media team (media@kuuf.org) with questions. We are eager to make sure you have access to your KUUF community. We will be worshipping together again this Sunday at 10:30am. Watch us at KUUF.org.
As we adjust to our new normal for the next several weeks, I invite you to stay connected with KUUF. At times like this we realize how vitally important it is to be a part of such a caring community of folks. Though we may be separated physically, we are still connected with one another. Reach out your heart in the days to come and remember that we are with you.
Blessings and gratitude to you each of you,
Rev. Jessica