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Dear Siblings in Christ,
 
Now that Labor Day is behind us, our church calendar shows signs of the new season. This Sunday, September 13, the Ministry Fair will kick off our fall programming as a church. After worship, I hope you’ll stay to support the ministry areas, committees, and teams with your presence and interest. If you want to participate in the Fair with a table to tell others about your group’s activities, more are always welcome. Tri-fold presentation boards are available at church this week if you need one. This year the Fair will be in the Friendship Room during Coffee Chat.
 
In addition, we have another Game Night Potluck coming up on September 18, this time with Camp United We Stand invited. Plan to bring a dish and a game and have a great evening, starting at 6:00pm. The summer Game Night Potluck was a lot of fun and included some new faces, so I’m hoping this one is even more of a success.
 
Another sure sign of fall is that our Fall Grounds Clean up is scheduled. That date will be Saturday October 10 from 9am-12pm. As usual, there will be snacks and many friends to make light work. Please bring gardening gloves and tools if you have them. There will be plenty of jobs for all ages and ability levels.
 
Beyond our own events, this fall our church welcomes a new organization to the many who share the church building and engage in active community development from the same address. The Seattle Flute Society will be rehearsing in the Fellowship Hall most Sunday afternoons starting next week, September 20 from approximately 2:30-7:00 pm. On weeks when there are schedule conflicts in the Fellowship Hall, the Flute Society will meet in the Sanctuary. Each week, there will be three separate flute ensembles rehearsing, the first from 3-4pm, the second from 4:15-5 pm, and the last from 5:15-6:45 pm. Throughout the year, the groups will have concerts, some of which will take place at our church in the Sanctuary. The first concert will be on November 22 at 4:00 pm. In addition to concerts, several times throughout the year, some of the participants from the Flute Society will participate in worship with us either on Sunday morning in the sanctuary or on Wednesday morning at Aegis or for a special service.
 
At least as important as the new group, we also welcome back many of the building users who have been part of our community in years past including the Caledonians, Iglesia Bethel, Overeaters Anonymous, and others. Many will remember that most of the girls in the Girl Scout troop who met at Haller Lake UMC for many years have now graduated from high school. There is not a new troop looking to meet regularly at our church, but the leaders’ meetings will continue, beginning next Thursday, September 17 in Fellowship Hall. One troop will be with us on Veteran’s Day, November 11, for a work party to help with projects around the church.
 
Please join me in marking your calendars, welcoming these programs, and offering hospitatlity when possible as we all begin a new fall season. If you are in the building at the same time as another group, I hope you will extend a kind word and hearty greeting.
 
With gratitude for the ways that our church is part of ministry in a wider community,
 
Pastor Laura