Featured Articles Archive
I submit that the strength of the Unitarian Universalisttradition, and that of our church in particular,has come and will always come, not inspite of the Christian root system of our faith, butas a result of it. To consciously sing out a messageof humanism and liberal theology from the baseof the same tree that has sought to, and continuesto, question us, burn us, deride us, or trivialize us,has made our message stronger, not weaker. Somuch is implied, if not directly stated (I'll notinsinuate words out of her more than abletongue), in Judith's sermon of Sunday December16, 2007. Channing, and others who followed,made a conscious decision to acknowledge andspeak from the Christian soil they stood in, and toglean from it a new possibility of a more openendeddivinity (explicitly conscious of the otherfaiths/paths around it), and a Jesus who inspireddedication to humanism (as a living practice) - anew kind of "Word" per se.
Secondly, if the logic is that the word "Church"offends, how much more offensive is the word"Universalist," with its direct imputation of Salvationto all (forged in opposition to the draconianCalvinist plan), not to mention the word "Unitarian,"which originally derives from a response tothe doctrine of the Trinity. What references couldbe more "Christian" than those? To the avidhumanist maintainer of our UU decorum, wouldn'tthose be the first plants to be set outside? Inother words, Christianity, for better or worse, issurely our roots. (It's good to remember sometimesthat Dr. King and Mother Teresa, as well asPat Robertson, bloom from the same soil.)
Finally, it seems to me, considering the logicalarguments expressed for this change, that fundamentalism- as a principle - sometimes infectsthe rationalist (with honor and due respect tothose in disagreement here), as well as the Baptist.The latter becomes intoxicated with the slicingpower of the Bible's "Word," while the former,with the cutting power of his own rhetoric. Both,are at their peril when, a little unconsciously, perhaps,their instruments stray too close to theirown nose or feet.With deepest love and respect to all of mySanta Monica Unitarian (Yes) Universalist (Yes)Community (Yes) Church (Yes!) friends,
Jeff Greenman
UUCCSM Members and Friends Join March Against the Iraq War
Aspirited group of Unitarian Universalist CommunityChurch of Santa Monica members and friends joined thousandsof anti-war demonstrators marching in downtownLos Angeles to call for an end to the U.S. War on Iraq. The October27 protest was sponsored by a coalition of anti-war groups, led byANSWER.
Although our numbers were small (11), we raised the churchbanner high for everyone to see. Members of half a dozen other UUchurches greeted us when they saw our banner. Our hand-letteredsigns related the genocidal, anti-Muslim aspect of this war to theracist treatment of the African-American victims of Hurricane Katrinaand to the closing of Martin Luther King Hospital in Los Angeles.Along with many other demonstrators, we linked the war to theU.S. drive for control of theMiddle East and its oil wealth.
The L.A. march was small,around 10,000 people, comparedto the march in SanFrancisco, where 30,000 protesterscommandeered thestreets, but the commitment ofthe local demonstrators wasclear. We were disappointedthat more of our Unitarian-Universalist brothers and sistersdid not join us in thisprotest. Although there aremany ways - petitions, e-mailcampaigns, letters and visits tomembers of Congress - tovoice our opposition to thiswar, mass demonstrations arethe most impressive way toexpress the outrage that billionsof our dollars are beingspent to subjugate an entirepeople, and that thousands ofyoung working men andwomen are returning home toface a very difficult future - ifthey return home at all.
- Margaret Rhoads
Accessibility Committee Says, "Thanks"
We Heard You!
The accessibility committee thanks the 70 churchgoerswho responded to our October survey on accessibility.We are gratified to know that the Sunday servicesare more comfortable for many thanks to enhancementsalready in place, such as shortened pew rows toaccommodate wheelchair users, FM sound system, andlarge-print orders of service. However, you let us knowthat we should do better. Ratings showing "needs toimprove" included accessibility of the sanctuary (21%),seating (32%), hearing (28%), visibility of all parts of theservice (33%), restrooms (26%), and events held outsidethe church (26%). We also appreciate receivingindividual comments focusing on particular needs.
Committee members are eager to use these resultsto build on earlier improvements. Some will becomepart of longer-term projects. Carol Agate's "ChairChoice" article in the November newsletter explainedthe issue regarding seating. More immediately, work onthe ramp to the chancel should resume soon.
Also, Warren Mathews has generously agreed tolook into difficulties with the speakers and sound system.We encourage members to check out the assistivelistening devices, available in the office. No matterwhere you sit, you'll be able to hear just about everything.
The improvements identified above are largelyphysical. Accessibility means also that people with specialneeds should feel that they are fully accepted as anintegral part of the church. So we ask: if you have specialneeds, please explain them and ask for help. Andall of us should be sensitive to the needs of our fellowchurchgoers, and help them find the time, the space,and the accommodations that they need. As the Rev.Judith Meyer reminds us each Sunday, we intend tomake our congregation a welcoming place for all.
Committee members Sara van Dyck and Peggy Rhoads would welcome commentsor suggestions.
- Sara van Dyck
Letters to the Editors: "Shall We Change Our Name?"
We, the members of the Santa Monica YRUU, havediscussed the issue of the name change and would liketo share with you what we came up with. YRUU standsfor Young Religious Unitarian Universalists and is ourhigh school group. Please keep in mind, most ofus grew up in the church, went through Comingof Age, and many of us are members. We are lifelongUUs and have some strong feelingsabout this.
The first thing we did was look up"church" in the dictionary. American HeritageDictionary says "church - a buildingfor public worship." Using that definition,we are a church! Any attempt to somehowcover that up doesn't make any sense.Sure, the term "church" carries some baggagefor people, but hopefully by beingpart of our church, they can see the positivepart of going to church. What are we scared of?We are what a church should be - welcoming, supportive,and caring.
Also, what would we say instead? "Sunday morningI went to that religious community I belong to." Andwhat would Judith be the minister of? It just doesn'tmake sense and "church" really expresses who we are.
So in conclusion - we don't want to change it. Weare the Unitarian Universalist Community Church ofSanta Monica. It says it all.
- YRUU of Santa Monica
As I have been on my spiritual journey, the UUChurch of Santa Monica has been an important supportfor my exploration and learning about what isholy in our world.
For the past few years, I have felt an increasingrejection and lack of respect for the Christian traditionsthat many of us find meaningful. The statement is usuallythat "Christianity has hurt people deeply," but Idoubt that there is a faith tradition that hasn't hurtsomeone deeply, yet because of our shared traditions,it is easier to trash Christianity than, say, Buddhism orJudaism.
Last night I looked up Unitarian and Universalismin the Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs and Religions, andI was reminded why I chose the Unitarian UniversalistChurch as my chosen faith. Here is what it says:
"Unitarians: A religious group which, although inmany ways akin to Christianity, rejects the doctrines ofthe Trinity and the divinity of Christ."
"Universalism: The religious belief that all peoplewill be saved. It implies rejection of the traditionalChristian belief in hell. A feature of much contemporaryProtestant theology, it is motivated by moraldoubts concerning eternal punishment, and by arecognition of the validity of other non-Christian worldfaiths."
These definitions feel comfortable and perfect forme!
The simmering anti-Christianity and an evengreater atheism culture at the UU Church of SantaMonica has alienated me. Whilewe respect other religious traditions,we are snarky and dismissiveof Christian traditions.Although I do not believe Jesuswas more divine than, say,Jimmy Carter, I believe thatboth of these men reflect thehigher power of unconditionallove, the holiness ofcommunal action, and the worshipthese god forces deserve. Iwould never admit to these beliefsin a Sunday service, which is morelike a meeting or performance thanworship. The announcements, recognitions,applause, and whole servicesdevoted to non-worship activities are not what I wantto do on Sunday mornings! The removal of the multifaithbanners and the consideration of eliminating theword "church" from our name drive me further frommy spiritual home at the UU Church of SM.
In my independent religious exploration I havefound some brilliant and moving work by UU ministerswho identify as Christian. I wish they weren't in placeslike Kansas! I am a Unitarian Universalist who followsthe Universalist tradition of "recognizing the validity ofnon-Christian world faiths," as well as the Christiantradition. Like other faith traditions, Christianity hasmuch to teach us. I am especially interested in findingthe overlaps among the great faith traditions (grouppractice, kindness, self-reliance, and meditation cometo mind). Christianity deserves the respect of a UUcongregation, whether it calls itself a church or not.
I choose to belong to a church that is characterizedby ecumenical spiritual exploration and acceptanceof differing beliefs. I want my church to participatein the National Council of Churches, and as anadvocate for separation of church and state. I lovebelonging to a church that is a leader in welcoming allkinds of people, and that believes in sanctifying marriagesbetween two people who love each other,regardless of gender. I am proud to be part of a churchthat is a leader in the Religious Coalition for ReproductiveChoice. I am inspired by the variety of religioussymbols welcoming those of all faiths to our church.Most of all, I strive to respect and honor the truths andthe practices common to all world faiths. Churchshould be where that can happen.
-- Abby Arnold
How to Become a Member of the Church
There are many people on staff and in volunteerpositions that can help you with the decision of membership.Depending upon your interests and/or questions,you can set up a personal visit with our minister,the Rev. Judith Meyer; the volunteer coordinator forcongregational life, Marsha Smith; the director of religiouseducation, Catherine Farmer; our membershipcoordinator, Ofelia Lachtman; or our president, RonCrane.
To be a member you must reside within the PacificSouthwest District (PSWD) of the Unitarian UniversalistAssociation. You also must be at least 18 years ofage, or have successfully completed the church's Comingof Age program, and make a financial contributionof record, or a pledge to do so, to the Church. Havingmet these criteria, the specific path to membership isoutlined in the following steps:
Pick up and sign for a membership packet at theoffice or at the "Ask Me" center after the service. Whenyou sign and receive the packet, a person from ourmembership committee will contact you by phone toset up a membership appointment.
Decide upon your financial commitment level.Financial information on pages 15 and 16 of the packetwill help you with that decision. We understand this isa personal decision for you and one that can changeover time and as your situation permits. To be a memberof record you must pledge as little as one dollar peryear. Our fair-share giving guide, a part of the newmember packet, is what we ask our members to reviewbefore making their decision.
Sign a statement of intent to participate as a memberin the community life of the church.
Fill out the various forms in the membershippacket including the skills and interests survey so thatwe might better understand you and introduce you tothe programs and activities that align with your interests.Meet, if you like, with the minister of our congregation,the Rev. Judith Meyer.
Attend a 30-minute sign-in session where you willofficially sign the book of record and turn in your completedforms. Have your photo taken ata time convenient for you.
Be confirmed at the nextboard meeting (the secondTuesday of the month).
Receive a confirmation ofyour membership from ourpresident, currently RonCrane.
Be introduced by name tothe congregation in thenewsletter and at the firstservice following the boardmeeting.
Join the Women's Alliance
Continue the living tradition of women's programsat the Unitarian Universalist CommunityChurch of Santa Monica
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Transition Committee isgetting in gear - are you?
There are three important messagesfrom the Transition Committee thismonth:
1. The Blue House appears to be onschedule, with completion in July.
2. There are some new chairs inForbes Hall for your examination. Pleasesit on them. Decide which ones shouldreplace some of the pews in the Sanctuary.We need the ability to stack andstore seating so that we have a semisocialhall for the next couple of years.
3. There will be a "GREAT MOVINGDAY" on August 18 (a Saturday). We willprovide breakfast and lunch. We needyou to help move everything from the17th Street facility (remember thegarages) and everything from Forbes andfrom the second floor RE rooms andclosets. Will you help? Bring your childrenfor company, work, or just to hangout.
Wonderful and interesting times areimmediately ahead of us. You are invitedto be a participant rather than anobserver.
- The Transition Committee
Small Group Ministry is toContinue in the Fall
Six years ago 65% of UU congregations formedCovenant Groups to bring Small Group Ministriesinto being. To identify their highest purpose,Covenant Groups help members discover theirown ministries and increase the influence of thechurch as a whole. They provide a safe place andspace to radically or subtly cause spiritual transformation.
The Rev. Calvin Damesays, "What it takes [to dochurch well, to its fullest] isfor a congregation to determinethat this is one of themost important areas it canfocus on if it wants to growand deepen the lives of itsfriends and members. People seek out churchesbecause they want connection with other peopleand because they want to find more meaning fortheir lives and make a difference in the world.Small groups can do both."
Our current set of three groups will concludeat June's end, with new ones forming in the fall.We invite you to become part of this exceptionalprogram.
- Carol-jean Teuffel
Our Monthly Meals at Step Up on Second
"I look forward to this meal every month!"
"Thank you all for coming to feed us."
"God bless you all."
"I love these meatballs!"
"Do you have your chicken today?"
"Wow, ice cream? That's great!"
"What church are you from again?"
"I'll take a little of everything, please!"
These are among some of the many commentswe get when serving on the line at Step Up on Second,a shelter on Second Street in Santa Monica.Who are the people coming through the line?
According the information on their website,Step Up on Second helps individuals who are sufferingfrom severe and persistent mental illness.Every single day, 365 days a year, Step Up providestwo hot meals to its members, many of whom arehomeless. For the past five or six years, our churchhas provided one of these meals on the 4th Saturdayof every month.
Typically, I buy and drop off most of the foodon the Friday before serving day. On Friday night,I make around 120 pieces of barbecued chicken totake with me on Saturday. The volunteers whohelp me on the line buy, prepare, and serve one ofthe additional items, such as salad, a vegetable, ora dessert.What does my monthly shopping list look like?Here is a tally of my February 2007 receipts:
Smart & Final
3 large buckets of ice cream . . . . $15
7Stouffers party size lasagnas . . . .74
3 bags of rolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
2 boxes of rice pilaf . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
2 9-lb. cartons of potato salad . . . .16
2 9-lb. cartons of macaroni salad . .16
Costco
3 large bags of meatballs . . . . . . . .33
Barbecue sauce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
5 large packages of chicken thighs .55
TOTAL . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .$233
Does that seem like a lot? Well, for the 70 to 80people we normally serve, it's around $3 a meal.This amount of food means that everyone has secondsand a few hearty individuals occasionallyeven ask for thirds.
How can you help? The most immediate need isfor funds to mount this monthly meal. We desperatelyneed to figure out a way to create an ongoingfund for this project. Many of you have contributedto our fund and we thank our "angels" fortheir generous donations over the years.
We've had a dedicated group of volunteers -both adults and youth. I can't list all of the manyvolunteers but some of the stalwarts are ErniePipes, Rhonda Peacock, and Kim Baldridge, whohave been "on call" for close to three years. MadelineHero, currently in Coming of Age, has assisted several months in a row this past year, along withher mom or dad. Other families who have helpedinclude Margot and Ian Dodd with Rachael andGalen, Amy and Bruno Lacombe with Lucie andPriya, Jennifer Westbay with Max, Kit Shaw withTaylor, and I, too, have brought both my kids.
My daughter, Angela, reports, "I like it becausethe people smile at you and appreciate it so much.Then, they say how cute you are and why don'tyou come next time?" All of us who do it enjoy thecamaraderie with the other servers, the friendlyrapport we have with the staff, and, of course, thehigh you get just being able to help out. Myfavorite part is looking up and seeing familiarfaces - people who recognize me and look happyto see me again. As the quotes at the beginning ofthis article reveal, hear many expressions of gratitude.In reality, we all agree that we are the onesfeeling the gratitude.
If you have questions or want to volunteer, please contact me.
- Janet Goodwin
For more than a generation, this church has hadbanners hanging in our sanctuary. They becamepart of our identity. When they wore out, for manyof us, the first reaction was essentially to maintain thestatus quo with a new set more or less like the old.
The time spent in considering a new set of bannersmay have had an unintended consequence: more timefor reflection, time for some people to move beyond the"just fix it" response, to "What are we saying with thesethings anyway?" And eventually the letter written byone congregant to the board raised deeper questionsstill: "Who are we who appear to give unqualified supportto religions with historical and even present-daybehavior that is dissonant with our own principles?" Ofwhat are we being tolerant?
Although we do have a set of replacement (plusPagan) banner designs, we are still free to determinewhether we want to use these designs, this theme, orbanners at all. We can decide that we want non-religiousbanners or no banners. We can decide to exercisesymbolism of whatever kind wherever we want, not justthe sanctuary. We can decide to give ourselves moretime to decide.
This will be a meeting to hear people's thoughts andfeelings about things that have been associated withbanners - things like being welcoming, tolerant,diverse, and inclusive - and about our place in thecommunity of faiths.
Please come and share your thoughts and feelingsfollowing services on April 15 at 12:30.
- Dan March, ChairCommittee on Religious Symbolism
Carmen Haley Joins UUCCSM Staff
Carmen Haley has joinedour staff as part-timeOffice and RE Assistant.Carmen is a native of Huntsville,AL, and is the daughter of aChurch of God minister. Sherecently moved here fromBirmingham, AL, and has a B.S.in Business Management fromAlabama A & M University andan M.S. in Counseling and Psychologyfrom Troy State University(Dothan Campus) inAlabama.
She is currently in her secondyear of a Ph.D. program inIndustrial OrganizationalPsychology at AlliantInternational University(Alhambra campus), andhopes to pursue a careerin either government ornon-profit organizations.Holly Nguyen has been promotedto Finance Assistant, reportingto Administrator Melinda Ewen.
I am pleased to report that on Commitment Sundaywe received more than $100,000 in pledges fromnearly 100 people. Our totals (as of 11/16/06) standat $225,544 in stated pledges from 150+ people. We'rewell on our way to reaching our goal of 100% participationin the drive.
A couple of numbers for you: More than 40% ofthose making their pledges have increased their supportof the church for the coming year, with the medianincrease being 20%. It's truly a testament to the vibrancyof our community and it portends important changesin the work we can consider in the coming year.
Thanks to all of you who stepped up to the plate tostate your commitment for 2007. You make thischurch's work possible.
Now comes the challenge of confirming theremaining 190 pledges from 2006. Through the monthof November, Sanjeev Jain diligently staffed the pledgetable in the church courtyard and Forbes Hall. It'd benice to think he caught up with everyone, but I'm surehe didn't. So here's what's going to happen in December.
We'll continue to ask for 2007 pledges through themonth of December, via order of service announcements,e-mail, and any other means we can devise.We'll confirm what we can by the end of December,and then send out letters to any remaining unpledgedmembers in January. We hope this will get us to our$400,000 goal in stated pledges for the year.
With pledges in hand, our church's budgetingprocess will begin and we'll determine our priorities forthe coming fiscal year. May they express our desire toplay a more integral part in the lives of our membersand our larger community.
- Jacki K.Weber, Stewardship Committee Chair
Thanks to...
Very heartfelt thanks to those who have worked tomake this year's Commitment Sunday a success: ourstewardship committee of Phil Bonacich, Sanjeev Jain,Ofelia Lachtman, and Patricia Wright; fantastic volunteersCarol Kerr, Bronwen Jones, Dayla McDonald,Marv Pulliam, Ed Field and John Fels on brunch; andToshi Nakajima, Smitha Chandrabose and SatyavanKepper at the pledge table.
Thanks as well to those who worked behind thescenes on the drive: John Fels, Anne MacQueen,Charles and Christine Haskell, Melinda Ewen, HollyNguyen and Mark Dwyer. And finally to our ReverendJudith Meyer, who is steadfastly encouraging us to justimagine the possibilities.
- JW
Veterans Day at Arlington West
Rev. Judith Meyer and the UUCCSM choir participated in last month's Veterans Day Sunday UU memorial service at Arlington West.
New Talent Shines at Saturday Spotlight
The Loungebillies kicked off last month's SaturdaySpotlight program with their own brand of ironic Texasblues-rock, composed by church member Kyle Bergersen.Then vocalist Katie Gross, 16, who grew up inour church, demonstrated her ability to present matureand haunting emotion with her clear and powerfulsoprano voice. We look forward to watching her musicalcareer.
Greg Wood modestly informed the audience that hehasn't written many songs, then launched into his compositionabout the vicissitudes of modern love, expertlyaccompanying himself on guitar and harmonica.
Judith Martin-Straw read "Early Girl," one of hershort stories, graphically expressing the thoughts, feelingsand sensations of a young mother barefoot andalone in her garden at dawn.
Karl Lisovsky performed "The saddest song I'veever heard," his own composition about an elevenyear-old friend who lost both his parents. Tom Ahernsang "God Bless the Child" in his rich bass voice,accompanied by Jeff Greenman on guitar. Jeff, representingthe Poetry Group, then put to music an Americanclassic poem, "The Highwayman." It was a storybeautifully sung.
Comic relief was provided by husband-and-wifeteam Lauri Semarne and Lisle Leete. One hilarious skitwas based on the premise, "What if there are real peopleliving the life depicted in those story-problemsfrom high-school math class?"
DWP (Dayla McDonald, Wally Giffen, Peter van denBeemt) performed "Crying in the Rain" (Peter), "Big YellowTaxi" (Dayla), and "'Til Kingdom Come" (Wally).Intricate medieval part-songs were performed a cappellaby Music Director Steve Wight, Michael Lamb, Rima Snyder,and Kim Miller, eliciting vigorous applause.
New church attendee Daniel Nahmod closed theprogram with thanks and a love song that embracedUU philosophy.
Musicians Jeff Greenman (guitar), Wally Giffen(bass), and Steve Wight (piano), accompanied severalof the performers, while Norb Gallery provided musicaland technical expertise in running the soundboard.
Kudos to Bronwen Jones for spearheading theevent, to comedian Kathy O'Keefe, who emceed theshow, and to Melissa Parkerton for organizing thechampagne reception that followed.
- Sherman Neusom
If you are looking for aholiday present for someonewho has everything,consider giving a copy ofRev. Judith Meyer's bookof sermons, "LeavingRoom for Hope: Sermonsfor Uncertain Times." Ifyou don't know anyonewho has everything, the collection wouldalso soothe a friend going through difficult times,or make pleasant reading for a hospital patient, orserve as a happy answer to that persistent question,"What is it that Unitarian Universalistsbelieve, anyway?" When you give the book tosomeone, you will have managed to do two gooddeeds at once in sharing Judith's wisdom with afriend, and contributing to the future of the UUchurch. "Leaving Room for Hope," with a forewordby the Rev. Ernie Pipes, is a real bargain at$15. It is available from the bookstore on Sundaysin Forbes Hall, or here.
The entire amount of the proceeds from thebook's sale goes to the building fund. As an addedincentive, Judith has offered to sign copies forchurch members. The books are selling quickly, sobuy your copy, and a copy for a friend, today,before the supply is gone.
- Felicity Nussbaum
Recycling at Church
According to Santa Monica Solid Waste Collection,these are the things that should go intothe recycling bins and those that should not:
Yes - Glass and plastic bottles and tin cans
Yes - Hard Plastic labeled #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
No - Plastic film or cellophane
Yes - Dry paper and cardboard with notraces of food or grease such as onpizza and cake boxes
Yes - Aluminum cans and foil with no foodresidue.
No - Plastic grocery sacks or vegetable bags;these need to be put in the specialreceptacles at the markets
We can reduce the volume of recycling bybuying items in bulk and larger sizes. Onetwo-liter bottle goes in the recycling bininstead of 12 cans or eight small plastic bottles.
Thank you for using the recycling containersin Forbes Hall and in the kitchen. Look for the"Battery Recycling" jugs on the Faith In Actiontable during coffee hour. Together we canmake a difference.
- Sandra Trutt and Leslie Reuter,Green Living Group
Holly Nguyen
We are happy toWelcome HollyNguyen to our staff.She has accepted theposition of OfficeAssistant.Holly graduatedfrom UCLA this June,having majored inSociology and Statistics.She is good withcomputers and math.Holly spent part ofthe spring and summer traveling throughoutEurope. Ask her which countries she visited. Shelikes to hike, shop, and watch CSI on TV. Holly isworking full time, so stop by the office to sayhello.
Groundbreaking Crowns Capital Campaign
Groundbreaking for the makeover of the blue housetook place Sunday, September 17, with a brief ceremonyand the long-awaited first shovelful of dirt.
The service itself led up to the event. Two of ourBuilding Committee chairs lit the chalice, Barbara Kernochanin the first service and Alison Kendall in the second.Alison described the process of getting to this pointin terms of the application of our UU values - and let herintonation convey the humor in our having survived somany hurdles laboriously cleared.
Judith, in her sermon, "The Quest for Truth," equatedthe path of our building program to the path to truth, withchanges of direction and new lessons learned.
At the end of the service, Charles Haskell, churchpresident, Carol Kerr, Building Committee chair, and RonCrane, Capital Campaign chair, each spoke briefly.Charles discussed how the life of a building parallels aperson's life, with the same milestones. Carol outlined thesteps that will be taken converting the blue house tooffice space, and Ron, after announcing that Sisyphushad finally reached the top, thanked the many generouscontributors to the capital campaign.
When the service ended, Judith was at the front doorof the church to lead the recessional that was to follow,but UUs being an independent lot, most went to thebackyard of the blue house by way of Forbes Hall.
With everyone assembled, including the childrenfrom RE, Judith said a few words of dedication, thendug the first shovelful of soil. After the first service, shewas followed by Charles Haskell, Barbara Kernochan,Heather Thomas, Rosy DePaul, and Sophia Silver. Afterthe second service, Charles Haskell, Alison Kendall,Skye Menzies Langabeer, Ian Postel, Capital Campaignco-chair Ofelia Lachtman, and minister emeritus theRev. Ernie Pipes each took a turn.
After the years of hard work and dedication by somany wonderful people, our vision took its first stepinto reality. Congratulations to all of us!
- Peter van den Beemt
More Groundbreaking Photos
Defining Commitment -- A Moving Target, a Worthy Process
Last fall's very successful pledge drive was inspiredby Peter Henrickson's "Financial Management inthe Church" and his admonishment that throughour giving we support, not the church's budget, but thechurch's mission.
Henrickson talked about the idea that our charitablegiving should be substantial in nature and that as UnitarianUniversalists we should not shy away from the idea ofsupporting the church with 5% of our household income.Indeed, great big commitments are those that will transformour work and transform us, changing the way weinteract with the world individually and institutionally.
Last year we began to ask people to support thechurch at that 5% level, and we received many substantialincreases. My research into local household income levelssuggests, though, that as a congregation we are generallygiving around 2%.
Two percent is not chump change for most us. But Isuggest that when we strive to give to the church at thatlevel it affects the way we go through life, not to mentionthe work our institution can do to support each other andto affect the larger community not just on Sundays, butbetween Sundays.
So 5% of what? The way Henrickson talks about it, it'sdifferent for each of us. A simple definition would be 5%of money after taxes and before fixed expenses like mortgage/rent and tuition. But some of us have extenuatingcircumstances: child support, parental care, or extensivemedical needs, to name a few. Only you can determinewhat your 5% number might be.
For my family, if I look at the money that's depositedinto our bank accounts from our paychecks, we're notgiving 5% of that number. It's closer to 3%. But we aretwo working parents with two small children and we haveto pay for childcare because we don't have family near.And we're paying a Los Angeles mortgage. Factoringthose things in, we are giving 20% of what's left, our "discretionarycash."
So, what we do is go through a process every year atpledge drive time. We look at our "after-tax income" andconsider what 5% of that would be. We look at our "discretionarycash" and consider our current pledge, and wetry to increase our pledge toward that 5% number by asmuch as we reasonably can. And just about every yearsince we've joined the church we've found a way to makean increase. Honestly, it will take us years to get to 5%,but that is our aim. And as long as we aim for it, eachyear we will get closer.
In a few weeks, you'll receive letters in the mail askingyou to make your pledge for the coming year. You'll beasked to fill out a pledge card and participate in CommitmentSunday, November 5th.
I hope you will consider the transformation you seekin your own life: to become more compassionate, to workfor social justice, to provide spiritual grounding for yourchildren, to step back from the day-to-day grind andrevel in the great wonder of this universe. Think abouthow this church facilitates that transformation. Then gothrough the process that we do and join us to celebrateyour commitment on November 5. I look forward to celebratingwith you.
- In faith, Jacki K.Weber
Author, Author
Rev. Judith Meyer celebrates the publication of hernew book, "Leaving Room for Hope: Sermons forUncertain Times" with congregant and editor FelicityNussbaum. The book is available in Forbes Hall afterservices, or via an online order form. Allproceeds benefit the church building fund.
Living Green
Did you know that theCity of Santa Monicavoted a ban on styrofoamplates and cups in alleating venues? Styrofoamnever degrades or disappearsfrom the planet. Using paperplates and cups is more ecofriendly.To act on this, the Green Living Group proposesthat we switch to paper plates and cups for allchurch functions. We hope you will support this changein the church and in your homes.
In our desire to be good neighbors in our city andour world, to decrease the amount of gasoline burnedand pollution emitted from automobiles, we are introducinga Rideshare Program for our Church. As part ofthis program we are organizing carpools to Sunday services.If you wish to share a ride or to provide a ride forsomeone in your neighborhood, contact Robin LowneyLankton. She will put you in touch with a rider or driver.
In addition, Laura Eklund is providing would-bebus riders with information on which bus lines to taketo church, including details from your nearest bus stop. This informationis also available on our website, at http://archive.uusm.org/contact/addmapphone.php
Owners of bicycles are encouraged to give riding abike to church a try. Now that the weather is cooling off,enjoy the breeze, the speed, the sights and sounds of thecity as you make your way to 18th and Arizona. Plus,build up your muscles and stamina.
The same goes for walkers who, in addition to theabove, can commune with nature.
So, try something new, have an adventure, meet anew friend, and be kind to the earth all at the sametime. Live green!
For more information contact Sandra Trutt or Leslie Reuter.
Getting Involved Sunday
Have you heard about or noticedgroups and committees at thechurch but know nothing aboutthem? How many of the approximately 50groups and committees at UUCCSM canyou name? To help match interests andopportunities, the Membership and LeadershipCommittee has scheduled Sunday,October 15, as "Getting Involved Sunday."On that day, after both services, a significantnumber of groups and committeeswill have a representative at a table in thecourtyard or in Forbes Hall. Ideally, thiswill become an annual event at whichnewer members in particular can meetothers who are involved in a specific areaor areas, expand their knowledge of peopleand activities, and maybe find a new nichein our community. If you want to start anew group or committee, contact thecoordinator of this event, Rob Briner, to reserve a spot at"Getting Involved Sunday."
Highlight Sunday, October 15, on yourcalendar and allow some extra time forconversation and making new friends.
- Rob Briner
Taking Stock, Looking Forward
In September it's hard to discount the"back to school" excitement or ignore thechanging of the seasons. As the daysbegin to shorten, I find it hard not to look atmy life, my family, my community, the largerworld...and take stock. I acknowledge myseemingly insignificant position in thelarger, tumultuous universe. But I don't lethopelessness overtake me. I still havevisions for the future.
It turns out it's not just "back-to-school"time. We're also entering the season for ourannual pledge drive at the church. As we do,it's important to take stock of our congregationand look forward.
But first, a look back: we had a fantasticpledge drive last fall. With your increasedcommitments and the approval of our newfiscal-year budget, we've become a strongercongregation. In an effort to become morewelcoming, newcomers and members arenow treated to coffee and tea after service.Sermons are distributed free so we can morebroadly share the good news of our faith.Lifetime Religious Education offerings arebeing expanded to support our free andresponsible search for truth and meaning.We're now distributing 25% of our weeklyoffering to community organizations workingfor human rights, social justice, the environmentand other values that reflect ourprinciples. And we've begun paying our ownstaff the "living wage" we've clamored forover the years for Santa Monica hotel andhospitality workers. Good for the people inour community for advocating these importantchanges, and good for the congregationfor supporting them.
Now, let's look forward. Across the congregationI hear rallying cries for increasedinvestment in our spiritual development. Weare here because we want to learn how tolive our lives caring for one another, to practicecompassion in community, to bandtogether with others to make our calls forsocial justice heard. But we don't developour skills in a vacuum. We need programsand people to support us.
Leadership is now considering how best toinstitutionally support these desires. Agroup of people interested in long rangeplanning are trying to help guide the processand figure out the resources we need to getthere from here. In the coming months,many specific ideas will bubble up. We'llconsider them democratically. We'll planstrategically. We'll be asked to supportsome...financially and otherwise.
You'll be asked to commit to the communityagain with a pledge for the coming year. Hopefully,you'll take one step closer to 5% of yourincome-that most meaningful number that surpassesyour budget for entertainment but doesn'tquite match your rent-to support your (and our)continued transformation.
I hope you will participate in the process.When you do, you cannot help but bechanged for the better.
In faith,
Jacki Weber
What I Did on My Summer Vacation...or Adventures at GA
This year I had a chance to go to my third GeneralAssembly (GA) in St Louis. For those whohaven't been, they are enormous fun-full ofworship services with thousands of UUs, lots ofgreat music, a staggering number of workshopsto choose from, and an exhibit hall full of UUstuff. Next June will be in Portland, OR, and Ireally recommend attending. More informationcan be found on the UUA website (uua.org) andin our UU Worldmagazine.
At GA we also conduct the business of ournational body at plenary sessions. It often feelswe UUs are a small voice in some very troublingtimes both nationally and internationally. Wedo have ways to be heard collectively throughour offices at the UN, in Washington DC andSacramento. It is decided at the plenary sessions,through our delegates, what directionswe want to take together on these larger stages.Much important work has begun and here iswhat is already happening at our SM congregation:
Ministry to and with Youth: Did you knowover 90% of our youth leave our faith once theygraduate from high school, and do not return?Most of our current youth identify themselvesas UUs but do not consider the church theirspiritual home. This is not a problem for thefuture of our faith alone, but it shows we arefailing our youth. What can be done? Congregationsthroughout the country are looking atthis important issue. Our RE program will be8 SEPTEMBERworking on this problem now, and more will beforthcoming. We hope the entire congregationcan get involved-we are all stakeholders.
Anti Discrimination/Oppression is animportant topic that the YRUU teens have beenstudying for many years. The truth is, people ofcolor do not feel at home in our churches. Arewe really as welcoming as we say we are? Westill have a lot to learn and a long way to go.The plenary body made a pledge to our youththat every congregation will do something thisyear on this subject. Our Adult RE program willbe offering workshops on this to help everyonebetter understand. (As Stephen Colbert said toJessie Jackson, "So what are you doing now thatracism has ended?")
Statement of Conscience (Global Warming),Study/Action Issue (Moral Values in a PluralisticSociety), and Actions of Immediate Witnesswere discussed and voted on by the GA delegatesin the plenary sessions. We now takethese issues to our congregations to work on.Our Faith in Action committee will be lookingat GA results and setting a course of action.(The committee can also explain the somewhatcomplex categories and what they mean, too.)Everyone is welcome to participate in the September24 Faith in Action Issues Election.Before the next GA we will need to review thenext set of issues, so our delegates can representus and vote on them.
Follow your passion. Get involved. Togetherwe can bend the world toward justice.
-- Karen Patch
FUUsion Forms Again at UUCCSM!
On July 9, FUUsion officially (re)launched as the group for 18-to35-year-oldsat UUCCSM. Longtime members and first-time visitors alike gathered at CloverPark for an afternoon picnic. We enjoyed the summer sun, met each other, andshared great vegetarian food.
FUUsion formed again in response to the many new members in the church whofall into that nebulous category between high school and middle age. I personallyhave found myself looking for other people like me: students and young professionalswho want to be social and share my commitment to UU principles. If you fallinto that category, this group is for you.
The FUUsion picnic kicked off with 11 people and our e-mail discussion grouphas quickly grown to 17 members. We're looking for more people to join ourgroup. We'd like to get to know you and welcome new ideas for activities. Asfall approaches, look for our events on the second Sunday of each month. OnSeptember 10, we're going hiking in Will Rogers State Park. On September 26,we'll attend the Santa Monica Drive-In screening of "An Inconvenient Truth."
If the group of these activities interest you, contact us. To keep everyonein the know, we've launched a Yahoo group. To join, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/grou/uuccsmya where you'll find upcoming events, other FUUsion members, and pictures of ouractivities. We hope you'll join us.
-- Robin Lowney Lankton, FUUsion Coordinator
New Greeter Co-Chairs Boost Church Welcoming System
The Membership and Leadership(M&L) Committee would like towelcome and thank Judy Federickand Grace Phillips, who have volunteeredas co-chairs for the Greeter and MembershipCenter programs. They take overfrom Arvid Knudsen and Richard Boothe,each of whom contributed enormously tosustaining these two important programs.Judy and Grace are now tasked withimplementing many of the ideas thathave come through interviews and focussession with our community. This inputhas driven new efforts to sustain, grow,and integrate the Greeter and MembershipCenter, as well as coordinate with thechairs of all the programs - includingushers, Ask Me, and coffee hour, andsome small group ministry activities -that make up the church's welcoming system.
As co-chairs, their appointment also represents theemerging philosophy to "lighten the load" in becominga volunteer. Using co-chairs with term limits andreducing perceived "big commitments" into manageabletasks or activities, the M&L Committee wants toprovide opportunities for volunteers to make meaningfulcontributions without feeling that "if I touch it, itbecomes a life-time commitment."
In getting started, Judy and Grace will focus ondeveloping an orientation and training program foreveryone in the welcoming system, raising communityawareness for every individual to become involved inwelcoming guests and members, improving the contentand packaging of church information that is givento our visitors, (which will be available on our website), and increasing the number of volunteers for theseprograms. Please join us in welcoming Grace and Judy,and in giving a big thank you to Arvid and Richard forall of their contributions and hard work.
If you would like to learn more about how you canbecome involved in our church welcoming system,please contact Laurel Bleak or tolearn about how you can become a greeter, please contactJudy Federick.
- Laurel Bleak and Marsha SmithMembership & Leadership Committee Co-chairs
Living Green
Here is another gem of information from our UUSustainability class. Many of our members and friendslive in Los Angeles and are able to use the LA DWP'sresidential Green Power program.
The workbook from Sustainable Works, a non-profitorganization affiliated with the Center for Environmentaland Urban Studies on the Santa Monica College campus,explains the DWP program. Youcan choose 100% renewableenergy with 20% coming from newsources. The extra cost for thepackage is 6% or approximately $3a month for the average customerwith a monthly bill of $50. Thisextra cost can be offset by free energy-efficiency productsand services provided by LA DWP. Check outhttp://www.ladwp.com and click on "Green LA."
Sorry to say that in Santa Monica and other nearbymunicipalities, Southern California Edison does notoffer a similar program. The best you can do is to offsetyour energy use through an organization such asNative Energy, which invests in Wind Power on NativeAmerican Lands. Visit www.nativeenergy.com.