Black Lives Matter day of action, Friday June 12

Greetings dear KUUF community,

As the last two weeks have unfolded and we have seen a powerful sustained witness to the tragic death of George Floyd, I am uplifted by the photos I have seen of our members participating in protests around Kitsap County. Our banners have been everywhere! How wonderful that because of the commitments we have taken in the past, we are able to show up in such a meaningful way when the Movement for Black Lives needs us the most.

This Friday, June 12, Black Lives Matter-King County has invited everyone to participate in a statewide day of action in support of all Black lives in Washington State. There are several ways to participate and I wanted to take a moment to outline these opportunities for you. Because of the risk of COVID-19, and because of the spike in cases we saw in Kitsap County this week, it is important to weigh the risk of each action and decide for ourselves what we feel most comfortable doing.

1. The general strike in Seattle is happening at Judkins Park at 1pm. This is a high risk event. Our parish nurse, Jennifer, recommends not attending this if you are over 60 or have any immuno-concerns. If you attend this march, you should consider getting tested for COVID-19 afterward, to monitor your exposure. Tests are available from primary care physicians.

2. There is a solidarity march happening that day in Silverdale, from 1-4pm, organized by the Kitsap Youth Activism Team. This is a medium risk event. Folks will be standing at the intersection of Silverdale Way and Ridgetop Boulevard. Nurse Jennifer recommends following all precautions to the best of your ability (masks, 6-feet distancing). If you are not able to maintain social distancing at this event, you might consider getting tested for COVID-19 afterward. 

3. KUUF members and friends are hosting a witnessing in Port Orchard. This is a low risk event. Attendees are required to wear masks and maintain strict social distancing. Folks will be standing outside City Hall at 216 Prospect, from 3:30-4:30pm. Social interaction will be minimal so as to maximize safety.

If you have attended multiple protests in the last two weeks, your risk of having been exposed to COVID-19 is high, and I encourage you to consider other ways of protesting in the days ahead. We will continue to see spikes in coronavirus cases in the next few weeks and it is important that we take care to manage the spread as much as possible.

If you are unable to protest in person and are wondering how you might participate, I invite you to read this open letter from Kitsap ERACE:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K7v2DfW9e1lYSf_8vPQu7ARJ8WAiWExu/view?fbclid=IwAR2ir5PcAlyO-XwrVl7sB07z05gIR8kjvNWQqomdQeFuummqncofmOdD1Ys

As part of our congregational commitment to dismantle white supremacy, Kitsap UU Fellowship has joined many other local organizations as part of the Kitsap ERACE coalition. We are dedicated to this movement for the long term. And it will take all of us working together, doing what we can where we are at and with what we have, to make lasting change.

And lastly, I want to express my gratitude to all of you. Again and again I am reminded what a privilege it is to serve as your minister. And during this time of uprising, I am continually uplifted by your dedication to building the beloved community. Blessings to you all.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions or want to discuss how you might participate in this effort. You can also email Nurse Jennifer at nurse@kuuf.org if you have questions or concerns about COVID exposure.

In love, faith and solidarity,

Rev. Jessica

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Rev. Jessica Star Rockers

(she/her/hers)
Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
360-377-4724 x. 2

To schedule a meeting:
https://calendly.com/revjessicastarrockers

Kitsap UU Fellowship Online Vigil

Dear beloved KUUF Community,

This is a time of grief and heartbreak. For some of us, this is not a new grief. We have carried it across multiple generations. For others of us, this moment feels new and unfamiliar. We are all being called to witness to the injustices around us, the injustice of the killing of George Floyd, the injustice of the murder of Stonechild Chiefstick, the injustice of the police brutality against black people, people of color and indigenous people throughout our nation’s history and up to today. A multi-state peaceful protest to this injustice has been co-opted by white nationalists, who have turned violent. And our police have responded by escalating the situation until riots have broken out in almost every major city. And all of this, in the midst of a global pandemic.

This Friday at 6pm we will be holding an online gathering to grieve together, as a KUUF community. We will grieve George Floyd and the loss of BIPOC life to police violence. We will grieve all that we have experienced these past several months. And we will support one another through this time of heartbreak. 

Friday, June 5, at 6pm

Kitsap UU Fellowship

Online Vigil

https://uuma.zoom.us/j/92558495821

Some of us have already shown up to protest actions, wearing our masks and carrying signs, to support the movement for Black lives. There is another protest today, in Poulsbo, and one on Bainbridge on Thursday, organized by the Kitsap ERACE organization. This is a group we can trust with whom many of us have a personal relationship. If you attend one of these protests, please be careful and follow the direction of the event organizers. https://www.facebook.com/events/581493419430083/?event_time_id=581493422763416

I am so grateful to all of you on the frontlines who are carrying our KUUF banner and taking personal risk to say that we as a community believe that Black lives matter. For those of us who feel the risk is too great, particularly because maintaining social distancing is very difficult when protesting, I would like to share another link with you. There is a huge amount that we can do from home to take action. I encourage each of us to do something on this list. https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234

You can also follow Kitsap SURJ for more actions and information in the coming days and weeks. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KitsapSURJ/

And this evening there is an online vigil hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Association. UUs from all around the country will gather to mourn together. https://www.facebook.com/events/565501584112407/

As we come together to grieve, let us lean on one another, using the collective strength of this beloved community to keep loving, keep fighting, and keep building the world which we all seek. A world of justice and dignity for each and every person, particularly Black, indigenous and people of color. Let us continue to say it loudly, that Black lives matter. And let us commit ourselves once again to upholding this truth, today and in all the days to come.

Blessings and gratitude,

Rev. Jessica

Bringing in the May

Dear KUUF Fellowship,

Happy May Day! I hope you have spent some time this week “bringing in the May” as they say, enjoying the flowers that are blooming and the sunny weather we have seen. Thank goodness for those moments of sunshine! Because it is Week 8 of social distancing here in Kitsap County and frankly, I miss you! I have spoken with so many of you lately, over the phone and on Zoom. I love seeing your faces and hearing your voices. And yet, it isn’t quite the same, is it? How wonderful it will be when we can all be together again.

The good news is that so many of you are managing well. You are caring for your families and connecting with loved ones and getting outside. Many of you have become tech experts! And a huge amount of you are bravely tackling your internet on Sunday mornings, to worship together and experience community in a new way. One of my favorite moments of the week is when I press “broadcast” on our Zoom webinar and I see each of you, one by one, pop into our virtual worship space. I especially love when you say hello in the chat! And when you share with us who is sitting with you in your home, watching alongside you. Thank you for all the ways, large and small, that you are staying engaged with the KUUF community. Your willingness to try new things and be a part of KUUF, wherever we are, is so important right now. 

This week I have been thinking a lot about how to stay engaged. Growing up, May Day wasn’t just about flowers in my house. We also celebrated the labor unions and workers’ rights. And this May Day, more than ever, I feel called to celebrate the essential workers in our communities, who often go unseen but who provide a critical foundation for our daily lives. During this pandemic, they have put themselves at risk to keep the rest of us safe and comfortable. And I am inspired by their service. 

Perhaps you are also inspired. Perhaps you are wondering, like me, how we might be of service in this time. KUUF is working with our neighbors at KIAC, the Kitsap Immigration Assistance Center, to put together several ways we can be of service and help those who need it the most. Suzanne Rowley from KIAC has written a beautiful letter for this newsletter, about ways we can help. Please do take a moment to read it.

And remember, one of the greatest things we can do to be of service right now is to stay home. That’s one of the best ways to support our essential workers. Stay home and stay healthy, take care of yourself and your loved ones, and reach out when you need help. The last part is where I come in. If I haven’t heard your voice in a while, you can be sure that I would like to hear it. If you have a moment, give me a call or send me an email and say hello. 

And if you need help, financial or otherwise, myself and the entire KUUF community is here for you. You are not alone.

Worship will continue to be there for you on Sunday mornings. Our board is available Wednesday evenings on Zoom. And I have my regular office hours every week. Bring your knitting and a cup of tea and lets chat! As this moment unfolds before us, our connection with one another will light our way through. So don’t forget to let your light shine!

Blessings on a beautiful May Day,

Rev. Jessica