Featured Articles Archive
From Our Treasurer
Overall Comments of Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013
The fiscal year that ended June 30, 2013 continued a fifth year of planned deficit budgets. The planned deficit for fiscal year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 was - $27,748. In actuality, the church performed better than expected and the final deficit was only -$2,893. This discrepancy meant that the church performed $24,855 better than expected (with a caveat, see below*). The budget performance can be visualized in the following chart.
In reviewing the numbers for the year, total income (a
combination of pledges, fundraising, investments, facility rentals, and non-pledge contributions) was less than expected (short
by $11,800). However, expenses were also less than expected by
$36,600, based on a budget deficit of $27,748. *The caveat is that the $27,000 deficit included an estimated expense of $7,000 for the Generous Congregation (GC) program (40% of nonidentified contributions collected at Sunday services). Although these funds were contributed (the actual amount donated to the GC program was $9,876 for the fiscal year), non-identified pledges were never counted towards the income calculation because of an error in the way the bookkeeping was set up (this error has been fixed for the 2013 to 2014 fiscal year). This accounting meant that money in and out for GC was not recorded in the master report. For the report to be accurate, the proposed deficit in the budget really should have been -$20,748 (which would have reflected the absence of the $7000 expense for GC). Taking this into account, the church actually performed $17,855 better than planned (budgeted), but the budget is still not balanced, as we spent $2,893 more than we took in.
Where were these savings realized? There were a number of areas where expenses were less than budgeted. Notably, there were savings in administration, RE, and building maintenance where these departments all spent less than anticipated. Under “Administration,” the medical plan for the Finance Assistant was over budgeted; this is a savings which we will not see again since it has been adjusted for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Savings under the “Ministry” line will also not be seen again, since it included the $7000 for GC as explained above. Some of the regular maintenance that would have occurred to the offices was deferred once the congregation approved at the annual meeting the renovation project to the office and bathroom in the foyer. The office and bathroom renovation project will be paid from the Drew Still Building Fund. Also, the July 2012-June 2013 fiscal year was the first full year that the Church Administrator, Nurit Gordon, was able to be involved in the budgeting process from the beginning to the end. Her involvement helped us develop a more accurate budget, and she has been vigilant in watching the bottom line and keeping costs down in the areas that she manages (office costs, utilities, etc.).
Identified pledges for the January to December 2012 calendar year exceeded expectations (about $407,000
pledged versus about $419,000 received). However, pledges collected over the fiscal year (July 2012 to June 2013) fell below expectations (about $380,000 collected versus $397,000 budgeted).
Outlook
Income from facility rentals continues to increase ($40,669 for fiscal year ending June 2013 versus $23,432 from the previous year), as our facility continues to be an attractive location for many rental groups.
However, membership contributions have not increased substantially and continue to fall short of what is needed to fully fund the church’s programs. For the July 2013 to June 2014 fiscal year, the church again will be operating on a deficit budget estimated to be approximately -$25,000.
This past year, the church received two very generous bequests from the estates of Judy Federick and Andrew
Still. From Judy’s estate, the church received $134,443. From Andrew’s estate, the church initially received
$200,000, which was dedicated to a Building Fund. The church has also received $440,000 from Andrew’s retirement fund from his work. Because the majority of Andrew’s money was deposited in July 2013, it does not show up in the balance sheets for 2012 to 2013, which ended June 30, 2013. These bequests put the church in very good financial standing. The board plans to engage the congregation in a visioning process, with these bequests in mind.
General Comments on the 2013-2014 Budget
The congregation approved the Finance Committee’s proposed budget for July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, at
the annual meeting on May 19, 2013. The church again is functioning on a budget deficit, proposed to be approximately -$25,407. For this fiscal year, the Finance Committee decided to include transactions into the budget from dedicated funds. In the past, the fund managers, or committee chairs, who were in charge of the funds, spent this money “off budget” (and any money donated to these funds was allocated off budget as well). In an effort to account for the actual costs to run these church programs, the committee will transfer some of the fund money into the budget income lines. And, over the course of the year, when money is spent from these funds, it will be subtracted from the expense lines accordingly.
— Kit Shaw
Carol Edwards: In Memoriam
In 1968, the church decided to hire for the first time a professional religious educator to run its RE program, and the Religious Education Committee hired Carol Edwards. She had earned credentials as a childhood educator and met church qualifications. She was given an office and desk in one of the south rooms off the sanctuary. She quickly did a great job of organizing the church school, recruiting teachers, ordering supplies, etc. She was married and had a grown son, Kenny Edwards, who played bass guitar in rock bands, including for the singer Linda Ronstadt, and also composed music.
In 1979 it was abundantly clear that we had a very valuable treasure in Carol and the congregation ordained her as Minister of Education. As Ernie's colleague, she functioned in many ways as a co-minister, sharing ministerial duties, including weddings. Because Ernie avoided weddings at sea, (sea-sickness!) the phrase became known “Ernie by land; Carol by sea.”
Carol was widowed by the death of her first husband and in a few years married Robert Stern, who was a member of the congregation, and after a few years was widowed again. After nearly 20 years of service to the congregation in every possible ministerial function she retired and in 1988 moved to Santa Barbara, where she was again called as Minister of Religious Education. Later, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Starr King School for the Ministry.
Carol eventually retired altogether and moved to a place of communal living in Virginia. She was under hospice care when she died in August at the age of 88. Carol was a warm, caring person who was without prejudice and who was a model of an intelligent, mature professional woman.
The Rev. Ernie Pipes, Jr.
Minister Emeritus
Fellowship
Fellowship Bettye Barclay has provided this list of weekly thoughts about our ministerial theme for September. Daily thoughts are published in the weekly email announcements.
Week one. Remember and help America remember that the fellowship of human beings is more important than the fellowship of race and class and gender in a democratic society. Marian Wright Edelman
Week two. Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend. Albert Camus
Week three. To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with. Mark Twain
Week four. One of the signs of passing youth is the birth of a sense of fellowship with other human beings as we take our place among them. Virginia Woolf
Week five. … sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people. Nicholas Sparks
UUA General Assembly in Louisville
Many of us had never seen anything like it — over 3,000 Unitarian Universalists passing three Actions of Immediate Witness with a near 100% vote.
1. Amend the Constitution: Corporations are not persons and money is not speech….Be it resolved that the
2013 General Assembly further requests member congregations or their social justice committees to pass resolutions of support and endorse a constitutional amendment to establish that corporations are not persons and money is not speech…
2. Condemn the racist mistreatment of young people of color by police. Be it resolved that the 2013 General
Assembly calls upon member congregations to …: Petition local, state, and federal representatives to demand an end to institutional racism in the form of practices like “Stop and Frisk” and actively demonstrate alongside others who are fighting to change the laws that allow police harassment, which results in violence against communities of color. [This AIW was brought by members of the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn, NY. Members there have been active in the protests against the police killings of Shantel Davis and Kimani Gray.]
3. Consider Divestment from the Fossil Fuel Industry. Be it resolved that the 2013 General Assembly calls
upon delegates to begin a denomination-wide conversation within their congregations about divesting from fossil fuels or exercising shareholder influence.
And that’s not all that happened. The UUCCSM General Assembly delegates (Joyce Holmen, Ian Postel, Linda
van Ligten, Peggy Kharraz, Jessica Clay, Peggy and Rick Rhoads) reported four days of activity, beginning with the Banner Parade. Joyce and Linda carried our beautiful silk banner through the conga line of banner bearers, dancing as they went. In addition to the daily worship services, the joyful singing, and the inspirational speakers, including Eboo Patel and Bill Schulz, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) President, the workshops enriched our knowledge of the issues confronting us as Unitarian Universalists and justice seekers. We listened to workshop leaders and members talk about four further matters of concern:
An update on Roe v. Wade: Women's access to medical care including pregnancy prevention and abortion is severely curtailed in 12 states, but people of faith are continuing to work for Reproductive Justice — www.rcrc.org
The 50th anniversary of the UU Women's Federation and its contributions to the denomination, from feminist theology to small grants benefitting education, health, and spirituality for girls and women — www.uuwf.org
The critical impact of coal mining in Kentucky and other Appalachian states. This topic was considered
in several workshops and in a march through downtown Louisville on Thursday, June 20. — www.uuministryforearth.org
In the UU Humanist meeting, the ongoing theme of compatibility between different schools of thought within our UU groups came up repeatedly. A minister from a southern church spoke of walking a fine line in maintaining harmony between the very liberal Christians and the humanists/atheists/agnostics in his congregation. — www.huumanists.org/
Videos of many events and audio recordings of many more are available for free at http://uua.org/ga/2013/index.shtml
Some personal quotes:
“Attending GA for me brought out the need of covenants (the GA theme this year), not only of common beliefs but also covenants of behavior to foster respect for others and their thoughts to maintain our strong, lively UU groups in our quest for truth and extending service to others.” — Peggy Kharraz
“It gave me great delight to attend this convocation again with my son, Ian Postel, as well as all the others from our congregation. We were so very proud to be at the Service of the Living Tradition when our minister, Rev. Rebecca, was among those honored for receiving final fellowshipping as a UU minister.” — Joyce Holmen
— Peggy Rhoads
UUCCSM "Stands on the side of Love" at the Los Angeles Pride Parade
On June 9, a record 69 people marched with us. Many were first-time marchers and we thank them for coming out in support of LGBTQ rights. The Rev. Stefanie Etzbach-Dale brought a teen group from Santa Clarita; marchers also came from Sepulveda UU Society. Onlookers clapped, smiled, and shouted their support for our message of love. Photo provided by Janet Goodwin.
Annual Meeting Highlights
We held our 86th Annual Meeting on May 19. The newly elected members of the board were introduced and given their charge by the congregation. Shown here from left-to-right are Bruno Lacombe (member-at-large), Vilma Ortiz (member-at-large), Cynthia Cottam (president), Pat Gomez (member-at-large), Barbara Gibbs (vice president), Rob Briner (secretary), Kit Shaw (treasurer), and Bronwen Jones (past president). Not shown is member-at-large Rebecca Crawford. The congregation approved a deficit budget for 2013-14. The deficit will be covered by unrestricted reserves, which have been substantially increased by recent bequests. Cynthia Cottam discusses this further in her column on page 2. Photo by Charles Haskell.
Cathie Gentile led a discussion of a Faith in Action resolution supporting the UUA Compassionate Immigration Reform initiative, as published in the May newsletter. The resolution was approved by more than three quarters of the members present.
Bryan Oakes led a discussion of proposed upgrades to church property, as discussed in the May newsletter. The congregation authorized the board to spend up to $250,000 on six projects, including a new memorial wall. Small Group Ministry
About one hundred people registered for Small Group Ministry (SGM) groups, and there are now ten groups meeting once a month on various days and evenings.
Reverend Rebecca prepares a format each month with readings and questions that are the same for all groups. In addition, each group reads the SGM covenant together each time it meets.
The groups provide opportunities for people to share from their lives in ways that are different than many have experienced previously. Listening as a person speaks, without questions and comments, allows each person to speak to the readings and questions in whatever way is most meaningful to them. This attentive listening creates a space for thoughtful sharing by whoever is speaking at the moment.
The facilitators have been meeting monthly with Rev. Rebecca since September and have had a chance to
experience the depth and honesty with which people speak when others are listening in such an attentive and supportive way. Experiencing this for ourselves as facilitators, we know the value of this structure, which is indeed different from that of other groups in which we have participated.
We value the connections that have developed among us in our facilitator group. This feeling of connection
is one of the goals of SGM.
Each group will do a service project for the church and one for the larger community. Some groups have decided to host a Second-Sunday Supper, and community projects with Food Forward, Step Up on Second, Westside Food Bank, and other community agencies are being explored at this time.
One of the goals of our Small Group Ministry is to continue to be welcoming to those who may not have been
able to join the program when it first began a few months ago. If you are interested in joining this year-long program, please complete a registration form online or in the office, and we will do our best to place you. You will be contacted once you are assigned to a group.
— Bettye Barclay
An Introduction to the Committee on Ministry
How do we minister to ourselves, how do we minister to each other within this church as we build our beloved community, and how do we minister to the broader community beyond our church walls? These are questions that many of us ask, and they are questions which our Committee on Ministry, in particular, is commissioned with pondering.
Many UUCCSM members are unfamiliar with the role of the Committee on Ministry, and, in fact, the committee itself, made up of the Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur, Gerrie Lambson, Dan Patterson, Kris Langabeer, and Alan Brunell has spent some time in trying to clarify its responsibilities.
Recently, we agreed on the following Statement of Purpose:
The UUCCSM Committee on Ministry will:
• Encourage direct communication between members and the minister and staff.
• Educate itself and the congregation about carrying out effective ministry.
• Communicate with members and visitors to understand their vision for the church.
• Assess the state of ministry in the congregation.
• Empower the congregation to fulfill the church’s mission.
• Be a model of good relations.
• Report regularly to the board with recommendations for improving the entire ministry of the congregation.
• Support the minister in her professional development.
• Meet monthly, or as needed.
The following are brief introductions to the current lay members of the Committee:
Gerrie Lambson found the UU church in Kansas City in 1961. Since then, finding the local UU church has been the first thing she has done after her many moves, culminating in settling at our church around 1991. This is the longest Gerrie has stayed in one place in her adult life, and she thanks all of you for being here for her and asks us to “Please help in making sure we are here for the next person seeking a spiritual home.”
Dan Patterson and his wife, Karen Hsu Patterson, joined UUCCSM in 2009, in part so that they could vote on our new minister. Dan has been involved in fUUsion, our young adult group, since 2007, and he has been ushering since 2010. In 2011, Dan joined the Committee on Ministry and became a Youth Advisor, and recently, he became a Small Group Ministry facilitator.
Alan Brunell has been a member of UUCCSM for 7 years. Just before that, Alan’s wife, Amy, who had been part
of the Liberal Religious Youth (precursor to YRUU), brought the family for the week-long Family Camp at de Benneville Pines. After one week there, Alan realized that he had found his people. He and their youngest son, Jake, started attending that fall. Since that time, Alan has served as Treasurer and Director of the Finance Committee, Board Member, Finance Committee member, OWL teacher, Forbes Hall Renovation Committee member, and avid attendee and promoter of the Second Sunday Suppers. He is also a volunteer staff member
for Family Camp at de Benneville Pines (Amy is Camp Dean) and a regular marcher in the Gay Pride Parade.
Kris Langabeer, along with her spouse, Debbie Menzies, has been a UUCCSM member for over 20 years. She has taught RE classes, been a long-time member of Interweave, our group for LGBTQs and their allies, helped lead our church’s journey in becoming a Welcoming Congregation and our fight against Prop. 8, directed the Friendly Beasts (our preschoolers through 5th graders) for our December Pageant for the past 19 years, and currently also serves on the Membership Committee and as a Sunday morning greeter.
— Kris Langabeer
Dining for Dollars 2013 is coming!
Many of you know and love this event, but if you’re anyone new, you should know that D4$ is a silent auction where you can bid on events such as dinners, as well as gift certificates, homemade baked goods, and other
treats offered by church members and friends.
D4$ is our church’s biggest fundraiser, but even better, it’s a “win-win-win,” because the church gets the money; the hosts/ donors get tax deductions; and the bidders get to attend great events (or receive fabulous baked goodies, etc.), build community, socialize with friends, and probably meet some new people.
\Inside this issue is a preliminary list of events and other offerings — a final list will be available on the days of bidding, which will take place on February 17 and 24 after each service.
Please note that we have many more events that are still being scheduled, including the annual Choir Concert, an event by Barbara Kernochan, and many, many others. Please contact Melissa Weaver, D4$ Chair, if you would like to host an event, or offer baked goods or services or gift certificates.
Dining for Dollars Events (listed so far):
1 - Sat 3/16 - 6PM - Moroccan Feast - Bronwen Jones & Tom Hamilton
2 - Sat - 4/6 - 6PM - Beatles Music & Trivia - Janet Goodwin & Karl Lisovsky
3 - Sat - 4/13 - 11AM - Bicycle Ride & French Picnic Lunch - Francois Bar & Alison Kendall
4 - Sat - 4/13 - 6:30PM - Movie Night: “Grease” Singalong - Patrick Meighan & Amy Thiel
5 - Sun - 4/21 7-10PM - Dinner with a Persian Accent - Faz & Lucy Elahi
6 - Sun - 5/5 - 1PM - Bridge Buffet - Janet Goodwin & Karl Lisovsky
7 - Sat - 6/1 - 10AM - Pancake Breakfast - Bob Dietz & Ellen Levy
8 - Sun - 6/2 - 5:30PM - Ladies Night at the Heated Pool - Julie Nyquist
9 - Sun - 6/9 - 5PM - Scrabble and Veggie Chili - Roberta Frye
10 - Sat - 6/15 - 6PM - Mom’s Lasagna & Karen’s Pie - Karen Canady & Robert Michelson
11 - Sat - 7/6 - 6:30PM - French Dinner with Chemistry Explanations - Rebecca Crawford
12 - Sun - 7/14 - PM - Movie at Arclight Hollywood & Arclight Restaurant Dinner - Bonnie Brae
13 - Fri - 7/26 - 7PM - Cocktails & Elegant Patio Dining - Heather Thomas Brittenham
14 - Sun - 7/28 - 11AM - Country Club Brunch in Cheviot Hills - Mark Huberman
15 - Sun - 8/4 - 3PM - Gourmet BBQ - Glenn & Nancy Howell
16 - Sun - 9/15 - 5PM - 9th Annual UUCCSM Scrabble Tournament & Homemade Alphabet Soup Dinner - Elizabeth Fuller & Daniel Kegel
17 - Sat - 10/5 - 6:30PM - Provençal Evening - Kenneth & Crystal Alexander
18 - Sat - 10/12 - 9AM - 1/2 Mile Walking Tour of Great Wall of Los Angeles, with Fabulous Pizza Lunch - Peace & Social Justice Committee
19 - Sat - 11/2 - 7PM - Dia de Los Muertos Celebration (Day of the Dead Celebration) - Linda Van Ligten & Beverly Alison
20 - Sun - 11/3 - 3PM - Christmas Snaps & Snacks - Charles & Christine Haskell
21 - Sat - 12/7 - 6:30PM - Epicureans Unite - Rhonda Peacock
22 - ? - ? - 6:30PM - Music, Dinner & Drinks at Hollywood’s Catalina Bar & Grill - Rick & Peggy Rhoads
23 - $100 Discount on Weekend at De Benneville Pines - Janet James
24 - Monthly Delivery (12 times!) of Baked Goods - Kit Shaw
25 - Two Time Delivery of Old Fashioned Midwestern Banana Bread - Larry Weiner, Laura Carlson-Weiner, Jacob Weiner
26 - Gift Certificates for Sunday Brunch for 2 at Casablanca Restaurant (2 available) - Analee Haro-Simon
27 - Lacing out your Japanese Maple Tree for Health & Beauty (2 offered) - Nancy Hillman
28 - Pet/House Sitting — 9 nights - Nancy Hillman
PLEASE NOTE:
- Money donated (paid) for the winning bids is nonrefundable.
- The board-approved cancellation policy is available from the D4$ Committee.
- If you cannot bid in person, you can submit bids by email or U.S. mail — please contact Melissa Weaver for further information. NO PHONE CALL BIDS will be accepted.
- Remember — bid early and often, and to have the best chance of winning, come to the auction on February 24.
- If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Weaver.
Ode to Dayla
Nearly 10 years ago, Dayla McDonald joined the UUCCSM newsletter team as a graphic designer. In 2006 she replaced editor-in-chief Carol Agate, first as the newsletter team chair, and finally in 2009, taking the lead as editor-in-chief. Two years ago, she retired from that demanding position and the team turned the reins over to the very capable Charles Haskell.
Dayla continued as a graphic designer, but now, coming full circle, she has announced that she is concluding her work on the newsletter. It’s been an amazing 10 years, Dayla. We’ll all miss your creative and steady hand.
Don’t be a stranger!
“The editor walks the craggy wasteland. What she brings to the story is hidden behind every page. Lost in the space between sentences. Her repairs are invisible — the mechanisms of her craft hidden behind authorial drywall. Ever unknown to readers. ...let us all sing the ballad of the editor and tell their mighty stories. For it is the editor that lifts the story up so that it may catch the sun. And yet it is the author who swallows the syrup of glory.”
— Ode to the Editor, Chuck Windig, http://bit.ly/M6Qbr9
— Pam Teplitz, graphic designer
Are you a graphic design professional?
Are you a (semi-) expert in QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign or Microsoft Publisher? Have you been looking for a way to share your skills and talent with UUCCSM? You are probably the perfect person to help us continue to provide a clean, clear, and inviting traditional monthly newsletter, the primary communication vehicle for our community.
You would be responsible for designing just a few issues a year in partnership with other dedicated and experienced church members. You must have access to your own software. We can provide fonts and a clear style guide, but much of the charm of our newsletter is the unique design sensibility each artist brings to their issues of the newsletter. Make an impact at UUCCSM and join our team!
Small Group Ministry Registration Begins January 13
“I believe we can change the world if we start listening to one another again…Simple, truthful conversation where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and we each listen well.” —Margaret Wheatley
Prior to the beginning of our church’s reconstituted Small Group Ministry, 50 people participated in six Small Group “mini sessions” on December 9. The topic was “listening.”
The purpose was to give participants an experience of a Small Group meeting prior to the beginning of registration. Claudia Dikinis was one of the mini-session participants. “SGM is exactly what I need in my life. If the mini-session is anything like what I’ve got to look forward to in the future, why isn’t it February already? Our introductory session was one hour and at the end of it I felt rejuvenated.”
Through Small Group Ministry we listen and share as we explore spiritual questions and personal experience in an environment of trust and intimacy.
In the meetings we continue to develop and articulate our personal beliefs. Small Group Ministry offers ways to find unity within our diversity.
The Small Group Ministry program will begin in February. Registration Sundays will be January 13 and 20 during coffee hour in Forbes Hall. A registration form is included in this month’s newsletter; additionally, registration forms are available at the Lifespan RE table. Completed forms will be collected at the Lifespan RE table or the Small Group Ministry mailbox in the church office.
Come and be a part of this powerful program.
— Rhonda Peacock for the SGM organizing team
Dining for Dollars
It’s hard to believe it’s already 2013, but I’m excited about the New Year, which brings another great Dining for Dollars (D4$) silent auction fundraiser.
Dining for Dollars is the church’s most important fundraising event, raising between $25,000 and $30,000 each year. And it’s a “two-fer” (or maybe a win-win-win) — not only can you contribute financially, either as a host, or a bidder, or both, but it’s also a great opportunity to broaden and deepen our community experiences, and have great times along the way. Dining for Dollars allows us to connect with one another, meet new people, see old friends, share food and fun, build our social and interpersonal connections — and raise money for the church, all at the same time.
On the last two Sundays in February, immediately following each church service, we’ll have the Dining for Dollars silent auction. D4$ events include dinners, brunches, and events such as hikes and pool parties. Some D4$ events are annual church traditions, like the choir concert and the pancake breakfast. You will even be able to bid to have homemade cookies and baked goods delivered.
Events are hosted by members and friends of the church who donate their time and money to provide activities and meals. The possibilities are limited only by the creativity of the hosts — anything from sophisticated dinner soirees to family-friendly events. Lots of hosts offer ethnic specialties and themes, but you don’t have to be fancy, or even a good cook — simple fare is great! (Think hot dogs and potato chips.) And if you don’t have the room to host something at your house, you could host a barbeque picnic at the beach or a park.
Whether you haven’t ever bid on an event, or are an enthusiastic regular bidder, be sure to enjoy the silent auction action this February, and please consider hosting an event or offering your homemade goodies.
In order to line up as many events and hosts as we can, the D4$ committee will send emails and make phone calls, so get ready to be solicited, and don’t hesitate to volunteer to host, even before we call you. If you’re interested, Melissa Weaver and her committee are always pleased to take YOUR phone calls and emails. Please call them if you are interested in hosting.
We are looking forward to all the fun and work that transforms your creative ideas into unique community events that raise funds (and fun!) for the entire church community.
This year’s incredible team consists of Melissa Weaver, Sue Moore, Nels Hanson, Sue Bickford, and Jasmine
McGlade Chazelle.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to host, please contact Melissa Weaver. And when you are contacted and asked to be a host/hostess/baker, please remember how much our church counts on each one of you.
— Melissa Weaver
Public Art: Gestation
Editor-in-chief and photographer Charles Haskell offers us this spectacular photograph of a piece of public art in Palisades Park in Santa Monica. “Gestation” was created by Baile Oakes for the city of Santa Monica during the gestation of his first child. The form of the sculpture grows from a circular central opening that appears to close as one looks southwest toward the horizon line of the ocean and sky. It is precisely oriented so that the sun appears in the center of the vertical cleft during the Winter Solstice, thus celebrating the basis of all life on the planet — the cycle of the sun. Photo by Charles Haskell, December 20, 2012.
The UUCCSM 2012/2013 Commitment Campaign
“You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.”
The next pledge event that you’ll want to remember
Is coming to church on the 9th of December.
We hope you’ve committed for this coming year,
But it’s still not too late to say loud and clear . . .
We belong to this church: what we see, what we hear.
Each Sunday we gather whether rainy or sunny,
But you know we can’t do that unless we have money!
The music is lovely and Forbes Hall is clean
We have a rich program like a well-oiled machine.
We pass on good values to each girl and boy
There is something for everyone, for all to enjoy.
So join us on Sunday for a mid-eastern bash
To wrap up our pledge drive with plenty of cash.
By loving and giving to the church we all share
Eat and drink after both services . . .
The 9th of December — we’ll see you all there!
— Your Pledge Committee,
Abby Arnold, Lucy Hahn,
Natalie Kahn, Amy Lacombe
Ministry Theme Quotes for September: F A I T H
Bettye Barclay has provided this list of daily thoughts about our ministerial theme for December
December 1. Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. —Martin Luther King, Jr.
December 2. The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of Reason. —Unknown
December 3. Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith is to dance to it. —Rubem A. Alves
December 4. I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of success but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life. —Madeleine Albright
December 5. Faith allows things to happen. It is the power that comes from a fearless heart. And when a fearless heart believes, miracles happen. —Unknown
December 6. Sometimes faith means living without having all the answers... — zoka
December 7. Faith is still believing the best in all, after having seen the worst in some. —T. Rocco
December 8. Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see. —Anonymous
December 9. Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. —Saint Augustine
December 10. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are
dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. —Mahatma Gandhi
December 11. I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death. —Nelson Mandela
December 12. Believe in a love that is being stored up for you like an inheritance, and have faith that in this love there is a strength and a blessing so large that you can travel as far as you wish without having to step outside it. —Rainer Maria Rilke
December 13. When you get to the end of all the light you know and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly. —Edward Teller
December 14. Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls. —Joseph Campbell
December 15. Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe. —Voltaire
December 16. Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into. —Mahatma Gandhi
December 17. You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you
need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with
courage, faith and hope. —Thomas Merton
December 18. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. —Corinthians 13
December 19. Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith. —Paul Tillich
December 20. Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark. —Rabindranath Tagore
December 21. There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds. — Alfred Tennyson
December 22. If it can be verified, we don’t need faith ... Faith is for that which lies on the other side of reason. Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys. —Madeleine
L’Engle
December 23. Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking. —Kahlil Gibran
December 24. Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar. —E.B. White
December 25. Faith is universal. Our specific methods for understanding it are arbitrary. Some of us pray to Jesus, some of us go to Mecca, some of us study subatomic particles. In the end we are all just searching for truth, that which is greater than ourselves. —Dan Brown
December 26. Faith and science, I have learned, are two sides of the same coin, separated by an expanse so small, but wide enough that one side can’t see the other. They don’t know they are connected. —Mary E. Pearson
December 27. Faith in oneself is the best and safest course. —Michelangelo
December 28. Even the merest gesture is holy if it is filled with faith. —Franz Kafka
December 29. Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof. —Kahlil Gibran
December 30. Faith and doubt both are needed — not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve. —Lillian Smith
December 31. Faith is a passionate intuition. —William Wordsworth
Rekindling Small Group Ministry
Get Ready for Sign-Ups for Mini-Sessions on Sunday, December 9.
On January 17, 2012, a small group of people interested in reviving Small Group Ministry (formerly known as Covenant Groups) met for the first time. Bettye Barclay, Emmy Cresciman, Rhonda Peacock, Joan Verdon, and the Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur talked in that meeting about what had worked best about the previous experience with small group ministry, and how to bring the best of that program back to our church. From this group we formed a Small Group Ministry Planning Team in early 2012. Here are the goals of the PlanningTeam, which has met regularly for almost a year:
♦ learn about Small Group Ministry (SGM) at other churches
♦ adapt the SGM model to the ministry needs of this congregation
♦ recruit and train 10 to 12 skilled facilitators
♦ support a monthly meeting of a Facilitators’ Small Group, led by Rev. Rebecca
♦ launch the program for the whole community in January 2013
♦ provide regular updates about the program to the congregation during its experimental first year
♦ adapt the SGM model to the ministry needs of this congregation
♦ recruit and train 10 to 12 skilled facilitators
♦ support a monthly meeting of a Facilitators’ Small Group, led by Rev. Rebecca
♦ launch the program for the whole community in January 2013
♦ provide regular updates about the program to the congregation during its experimental first year
Small Group Ministry strengthens connections between people in the church. Margot Page, a past participant in this program who is now training to be a facilitator, says: “During the covenant group experience I felt like I really
had the space and time to get to know the other participants on a much more intimate level … Members of our first group still get together every so often for a meal and laughter.
had the space and time to get to know the other participants on a much more intimate level … Members of our first group still get together every so often for a meal and laughter.
We discussed our thoughts about issues and listened to each other in a deep and profound way. Being part of the covenant groups made me feel more a part of our church community.”
On Sunday, December 9, our first-year facilitators (Amy Theil, Wendi Gladstone, Rhonda Peacock, Margot Page, Pat Gomez, Phil Bonacich, Geoff Lee, Bettye Barclay, Amy Brunell, Amelia Monteiro, Janet Goodwin, and Leon
Henderson-MacLennan) will offer Small Group Ministry mini-sessions. Each mini-session will have six to eight people, including a facilitator. They will start at 1 p.m. and last about an hour.
Henderson-MacLennan) will offer Small Group Ministry mini-sessions. Each mini-session will have six to eight people, including a facilitator. They will start at 1 p.m. and last about an hour.
Also on December 9, the SGM Planning Team and facilitators will offer lunch following the 11 a.m. service, with a requested donation of $5. Please sign up for Mini-Sessions on Sunday, December 2, at the Lifespan RE table
so we know how many groups to offer.
so we know how many groups to offer.
Pat Gomez, a past facilitator of covenant groups, says, “The Small Group Ministry program at UUCCSM provided me with an opportunity to get to know church members and make new friends. …I am really happy that it will
again be part of community life and hope that both new and longtime members will get involved.”
again be part of community life and hope that both new and longtime members will get involved.”
We hope you will come and see for yourself on December 9.
— The Small Group Ministry Planning Team
(Rev. Rebecca, Rhonda Peacock, Bettye Barclay)
(Rev. Rebecca, Rhonda Peacock, Bettye Barclay)
The UUCCSM 2012/13 Commitment Campaign
“You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.”
Please save the date: the 4th of November,
It’s a Sunday at church you’ll all want to remember.
All members and friends with your faith and your love
Will pledge just like last year — or even above!
Your new committee will all warmly greet you,
With encouragement, love, and of course we will feed you.
We’ll have lox and bagels, and cream cheese — how great.
It’s your generous love that we hope to create.
The Stewardship committee has gone over the edge
By collectively saying we'll increase our pledge.
How much YOU should give is all up to you,
Make it meaningful, generous, and do what you can do.
Be loving and giving to the church that we share
Both services — 4th of November,
We'll see you all there!
— Your Stewardship Committee,
Abby Arnold, Lucy Hahn, Natalie Kahn, Amy Lacombe
GRATITUDE
Bettye Barclay has provided this list of daily thoughts about our ministerial theme for November
November 1 Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust
November 2 At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer
November 3 The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude. Friedrich Nietzsche
November 4 One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. Carl Jung
November 5 I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. Gilbert K. Chesterton
November 6 Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. Henry Ward Beecher
November 7 Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. William Arthur Ward
November 8 If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it. Lyndon B. Johnson
November 9 Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you. Eileen Caddy
November 10 Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent
moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. John Milton
November 11 No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. Alfred North Whitehead
November 12 Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. Aesop
November 13 One can never pay in gratitude: one can only pay ‘in kind’ somewhere else in life. Anne Morrow Lindbergh
November 14 We learned about gratitude and humility — that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean . . . and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect. Michelle Obama
November 15 Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy. Jacques Maritain
November 16 Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep. Felix Frankfurter
November 17 All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. King for his bravery and commitment to civil rights and nonviolence that changed this nation — and world — for the better. Eliot Engel
November 18 Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind. Lionel Hampton
November 19 Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks
continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude. Ralph Waldo Emerson
November 20 Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good. Maya Angelou
November 21 If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough. Meister Eckhart
November 22 I made cranberry sauce, and when it was done put it into a dark blue bowl for the beautiful contrast. I was thinking, doing this, about the old ways of gratitude: Indians thanking the deer they'd slain, grace before supper, kneeling before bed. I was thinking that gratitude is too much absent in our lives now, and we need it back, even if it only takes the form of acknowledging the blue of a bowl against the red of cranberries. Elizabeth Berg
November 23 We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. John F. Kennedy
November 24 Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of
Gratitude. A.A. Milne
November 25 You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance. Kahlil Gibran
November 26 Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr
November 27 We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. Thornton Wilder
November 28 Do not tell the man that is carrying you that he stinks. African Proverb
November 29 I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking …The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides. Carl Sagan
November 30 For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. Ralph Waldo Emerson
UUA Minister Evaluation
When Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur was called to our congregation two years ago, she was given a Preliminary
Fellowship, which means that she cannot supervise an intern or mentor other ministers. In addition, during her
Preliminary Fellowship, she is required to submit an annual minister evaluation to the Unitarian Universalist
Association (UUA).
There are several steps to our minister evaluation process, which includes substantial input from Rev. Rebecca, the board, and the Committee on Ministry (CoM). The CoM consists of Dan Patterson, Gerrie Lambson, Alan Brunell, and Kris Langabeer. First, the CoM met with UUCCSM staff to review their input for evaluation. The CoM and the board each submit their own comprehensive review, and Rev. Rebecca completes a self-evaluation. These three reports are all shared among the CoM, the board, and Rev. Rebecca, who will then all gather at the October 9 board meeting to discuss, edit, and clarify all reviews. Final reviews will be submitted to the UUA by October 15. The UUA will provide feedback about the reviews to Rev. Rebecca in February, including whether she is approved for Final Fellowship.
Please feel free to approach members of the board, the CoM, or Rev. Rebecca if you have questions about this
evaluation process.
— Dan Patterson
More Q&As on setting up your website account
Q: When I try to create a password, I'm told it's not strong enough so I try several more until I find one that passes the test but it's so complex I can't remember it.
A: The filter we're using to prompt you to enter a stronger password does not reject your weaker one. If that's really the password you want to use, just click OK. You can change it later if you decide you want a stronger or different one. Remember, this is your church website account, not your financial account.
Q: I never received confirmation that my member account has been set up. What is my status and do I have access to the member section of the website?
A: We don't send out confirmations. Within a few hours your name will be checked against our current membership directory, and your account upgraded to member status if you are listed in the directory. You can check your status by logging in. Please let us know immediately with an email to webmaster@uusm.org if there's an error in your status.
Also to help reduce confusion, next to the LOGIN link at the top of the page, is a new HELP link with a list of
common Q&As that will be updated as issues arise, with a link to send an email to the webmaster.
— Pam Teplitz and Elizabeth Fuller