Moving Gets Derailed: Plan B--Tuesday

We got sidelined by stomach viruses, but are definitely on the mend now, and will be moving throughout the day on Tuesday. Moving trucks don't fit in our alley here, so Josh will be making several trips with a cargo van, lifting heavy things when the help to do so exists, and focusing on lighter things otherwise. Molly and the girls will hold down the fort at the old place until the late afternoon. Any help we can muster up--an extra person to load or unload boxes, somebody strong to help Josh get big heavy furniture in or out, or even just smiles for the children are welcome at any time. Since this isn't a "weekend style," one-chunk-of-time moving party, let us hear from you if and when you might be able to lend a hand, so that we can make certain to cross paths most effectively. Of course, we realize that many of you will be working on Tuesday, but we wanted to put the word out. Thanks.

Moving to South Lake Union

We found a place! We're excited to be diving into the neighborhood, but a bit overwhelmed at moving (so soon!) and going there "alone" (the group we've dreamed about on this blog is just us).

We're having a moving party on the 25th from 1pm-5pm, beginning at the old place on 20th Ave NE and ending at the new place with beer and MAD Pizza. Let us know if you'd like to be in on it.

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4. "maintaining 'one foot in, one foot out" of Union Church"

We trounced into worship at Union Church a little over three years ago just for the sake of supporting a friend who was having a first day at the microphone. We came back because (unlike every other church we knew about) they let children be around. Then we met people. And overlap between what we did during the week and who we saw at those Sunday worship gatherings started happening. And particular parts of what Union is all about resonated with us and intermingled with other things we were interested in and learning about. And Josh's job sort of moved to South Lake Union. So now there is a neighborhood where we can be rooted geographically--live/work/worship/etc.

It seems that whatever we do, if it has a foot in Union, it just feels so much more right. As if doing so helps us stay rooted. Union's vision is compatible with ours. So, having other people from Union alongside us is like having a backbone. It's as if people from all over the region are there to support who we really are and what South Lake Union can really be like. Union, as part of University Presbyterian, and the whole denomination, represents the tradition that the people of God have worked through over the years. We need to be part of this larger Christian community focused on South Lake Union, and we need to work alongside people who are also a part of it.

What does it look like, you might ask, to maintain one foot in and one foot out of Union Church? For me, it simply means that some people are part of Union and some people aren't. So, if this group that we're describing on this blog ever forms, we hope that at least half of the people will be a part of Union's core practices in some way, and that some people won't. We love overlap.

(We are heading up a South Lake Union based group seeking to be intentional about: 1. moving into close geographical proximity to one another 2. supporting one another through daily community practices that help us follow Jesus 3. connecting ourselves and our resources to the people of South Lake Union 4. maintaining "one foot in, one foot out" of Union Church)

3. "connecting ourselves and our resources to the people of South Lake Union"

Joshua's perspective on "connecting ourselves and our resources to the people of South Lake Union"

It's easy to miss the people in news coverage of South Lake Union. It's mostly about new buildings, transportation projects, and how many thousands of jobs the mayor can claim. In the past couple of years, we have been drawn into connection with South Lake Union despite ourselves. We got connected to Union Church through a friend, and made more friends. We walked around the neighborhood. I started working in SLU with UW. We attended events, met friends at parks, and played away the summer. It's been good to get to know our way around the neighborhood, but it's only the first step. Step two will be the geographic proximity.


Molly's perspective on "connecting ourselves and our resources to the people of South Lake Union"

Of course, this one depends heavily on being in close geographical proximity and being rooted in who we are. Really, it's an extension. An important one. We're not interested in the sort of intentional community that is removed from the rest of the world. We want to be intentional about community for the sake of being in the world meaningfully. It's critical to our understanding of the Gospel.

We only know a little bit about what this will look like. For example, we know that we want to support neighborhood businesses when we need things. We know we're going to be spending a lot of time with people at Cascade and Denny parks, and probably the Cascade People's Center and 415 Westlake. But really this only scratches the surface.

Soon after we move to South Lake Union (we're working on it!), we'd like to set aside 7 weeks or so to scope things out. I imagine going into every nook and cranny that I can (no, not in any sort of rude or inappropriate ways) and saying, "Hi, I'm Molly and I just moved here. How's it going for you? What's it like to do what you're doing in the neighborhood?" I just want to engage with the people of South Lake Union--the construction workers, the lady who's always yellin' on that certain corner, the folks who will be working at Amazon, the guys hanging around the People's Center, the CEO of Tommy Bahamas, children at the playground, the people who run the food bank--everyone. It won't be our job to fix everything. At all. But listening and engaging with the people of South Lake Union will help us see where God is at work and how we can be a part of it.

It's exciting, and scary, to really think about connecting ourselves and our resources to something we don't yet know.

(We are heading up a South Lake Union based group seeking to be intentional about: 1. moving into close geographical proximity to one another 2. supporting one another through daily community practices that help us follow Jesus 3. connecting ourselves and our resources to the people of South Lake Union 4. maintaining "one foot in, one foot out" of Union Church)