News & Announcements Archive
September Generous Congregation Supports the International Rescue Committee
HELP AFGHAN REFUGEES
The news coming out of Afghanistan is heartbreaking. But thanks to organizations like International Rescue Committee (IRC), there is hope. IRC provides vital support to Afghans who have endured four decades of violent conflict, as well as natural disasters and the spread of COVID-19. They are also helping Afghan refugees and Afghans who supported the US mission in their country.
The IRC works alongside communities and partners to support Afghans living in Southern California and to ensure a warm welcome for those arriving in the coming weeks. The IRC has resettled more than 16,000 Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients since Congress established the program in 2006, and IRS is committed to ensuring that these families are given a chance to seek safety and rebuild their lives here in the United States. In recent months, the IRC in Los Angeles has welcomed more than 90 Afghan newcomers, with more on the way, and many families are arriving in our community on very short notice.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Your donations will help the IRC continue to assist people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by humanitarian crises.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and the International Rescue Committee. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
UUSM Weekend at Camp de Benneville Pines Postponed
We are sorry to announce that the UU Santa Monica Weekend at Camp de Benneville Pines, Fri-Sun, Sept 17-19, 2021, has been postponed for the time being, per order of the US Forest Service.
Given that UUSM’s church camp starts on September 17, we have decided to reschedule. Any reservations you might have made are still valid, and any money that you have put down is still there! We will be in touch as we learn more.
Email us at uucamp@uusm.org with questions or concerns.
New UUSM Chalice Circles Begin in October
BUILDING BELOVED COMMUNITY TOGETHER
Explore ideas and delve into our beloved community in our monthly Chalice Circles.
Chalice Circles are a place to come connect with your church community in a “safe space” with deep listening, sharing feelings, perspectives, and personal connections on a variety of topics. The Chalice Circles being offered by your fellow congregants this year are: Transitions and Passages, Sacred Activism, and CommUUnity Connections. All groups will start on Zoom in October and some may transition to our church when it is safe to do so.
Transitions and Passages
With monthly ministry themes as a starting place, we will explore the transitions and passages in our lives and the ways they have expanded the depth and dimension of our lives.
Co-facilitators: Denise Helton and Bettye Barclay
Date and time: Third Thursdays, October through June, 1 – 3 PM (starts 10/21/21)
Sacred Activism
This Chalice Circle offers the opportunity to engage together in the lifelong spiritual work of anti-racism and anti-oppression. We will read Andrew Harvey’s “The Hope” and incorporate healing practices into our lives.
Facilitator: Jacki Weber
Date and time: Third Tuesdays, October through June, 7 – 9 PM (starts 10/19/21)
CommUUnity Connections (Zoom Group All Year)
This Chalice Circle is a place to come connect with our community by listening deeply, sharing our feelings, perspectives, and personal connections to a variety of topics. These topics may include: our human connection to nature, personal growth, love, spirit, our inner narrative about current events, and connecting deeply with each other.
Co-facilitators: Wendi Gladstone and Margot Page
Date and time: Second Thursdays, October through June, 7 – 9 PM (starts 10/14/21)
Registration for participants is open. Please send an e-mail to ChaliceCircles@uusm.org with the following information:
- Name
- Phone number
- Chalice Circle choice – please include a 1st Chalice Circle choice and a Chalice Circle 2nd choice.
Share Your Videos for Ingathering Water Communion
It's hard to believe, but it's time to celebrate our new church year with our Annual Ingathering and Water Communion Service on Sunday, September 26th at 10:30 am. Like last year, we will join from the safety of our homes. We would love to include you in the ceremony. We are hoping you will record a short video of yourself or your family pouring a libation of water into a larger bowl of water with a few inspiring words to include in the service. We ask that you consider your hopes, dreams, or prayers for the new church year.
Please be sure to record in a quiet and well-lit space and with at least a 720p HD resolution camera (found on most phones). Saunder Choi, our Director of Music, needs the videos by Wednesday evening, September 22nd. Please email your videos here. If you are unable to record a video but would still like to be included, you can email Rev. Jeremiah a sentence of a wish, memory, hope, or blessing for the new church year also no later than Wednesday evening, September 22.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you!
Online Events in August
We are enjoying some downtime this summer, but check out the information and links below for the UUSM online programs that are taking place this month. We look forward to connecting with you!
Upcoming Online Events
Green Committee Meeting – Sunday, August 1, 2021, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, Zoom meeting. Please email greenchair@uusm.org for Zoom link. The Green Committee informs others of the simple changes that can be made to decrease their carbon footprint and to implement social action to green our community.
UU Men’s Group – Thursday, August 5, 2021, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Zoom Meeting. The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group in provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. We will meet the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM via Zoom and in person at 1:30 PM on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at a location to be announced. To request more information or to join us, please ask the church office for information about how to contact Richard Mathias. Tonight’s topic: What it means to be a man and the ideals of manhood have changed significantly since most of us were young. How would you define “toxic masculinity”? What “manly” qualities did you respect or aspire to most when you were a child, as a young adult, and now? Which of these attributes have helped and which have harmed your domestic and work relationships?
Book Study – Gifts of Imperfection – Saturday, August 7, 2021, 8:30 am – 9:45 am, Zoom Meeting. It’s been 10 years since Brene Brown published The Gifts of Imperfection. Now she’s doing a 6-week 10th anniversary deep dive into how we can transform the gifts of imperfection into a deeply fulfilling life. Everyone is welcome. Visit https://brenebrown.com/thegifts-hub/ for more info. Then grab the book, take the Wholehearted Living inventory, check out the podcast and join us online! Hosted by Jacki Weber and Beth Brownlie. This class repeats every week until August 28, 2021, except July 31, 2021, and August 21, 2021. Email Teri at uusmreassist@uusm.org for the Zoom link and registration.
Science Non-fiction Book Group – Tuesday, August 17, 2021, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Zoom Meeting. We will discuss Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Climate Change, by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway. It would be nice if science were pure, but when high-level scientists have deep connections to politics and industry, a true sense of reality can be delayed by decades. To receive the link, you will want to be on the group email list. Contact: Rebecca Crawford, sci-nonfiction@uusm.org. All are welcome.
Open Meditation Wellsprings – every Wednesday and Friday, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, Zoom Meeting. We listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal and share with each other what’s on our hearts. You are welcome to join us when it feels right for you. If you come in late or need to leave early, just do so quietly. These are exceptional times, and we trust each person to use the group in a way that fits their need. Taking this time for quiet meditation and sharing in the intimacy of having sat in silence together can help sustain and ground us during these difficult days. Please email meditation@uusm.org for the Zoom link.August Generous Congregation Supports UUA Disaster Relief Fund
Disasters affect our congregations and their communities with increasing rapidity. From natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes to human-caused calamities, UU congregations, their members, and their community partners bear the impact.
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Disaster Relief Fund is part of a covenant — a covenant between the UUA and congregations, between congregations who give generously and those in need, and with our community partners. By aiding other congregations, we act through our faith and values. Donations from across the nation allow the national organization to respond quickly and flexibly.
Grants can be used to repair damage to congregations’ buildings or for temporary relocation; to help members and friends who require housing assistance; to support partner organizations that serve the community on the scene, particularly those that would not be eligible for other funding.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to the UUA Disaster Relief Fund. Your donations will help congregations, their members, and their communities facing the impact of disasters.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and the UUA Disaster Relief Fund. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
July 2021 Worship Services at 10:30 am
VIRTUAL SUUMMER ROAD TRIP
For all of July and August, we will be participating in GLAM’s* Virtual SUUmmer Road Trip, which will take us to worship in UU congregations across Greater Los Angeles. These services will occur at 10:30 am (please note the new time) and can be accessed through Zoom each week.
Following each service, we will gather with all of the other UUs present for a common Zoom coffee hour with breakout rooms that will allow us to get to know our neighbors better.
Our GLAM Virtual SUUmmer Road Trip will not only give our staff and worship leaders a much needed break, but it will also allow us to learn from our sibling congregations and to forge relationships across our congregations.
We plan to return to our sanctuary on Sunday, September 5th.
*Greater Los Angeles (UU) Ministry
SUNDAYS, 10:30 AM
7/4/21 - Emerson UU Church - Rev. Matthew McHale - "Should We Cancel Thomas Jefferson?"
7/11/21 - Neighborhood UU Church - Rev. Matt Meyer - "It Takes Practice"
7/18/21 - UU Church of Santa Clarita - Rev. Megan Visser - “Knots in a handkerchief: Signposts in the Labyrinth of Faith"
7/25/21 - Throop UU Church - Rev. Tera Klein - "Our Earth As Sacramental Commons"
NOTE: GLAM’s Virtual Road Trip Zoom link will be emailed to all members and friends. It will also be available in our private Facebook UUSM Group (you must be a member of the group), contact the office, or email ZoomCoffee@uusm.org.
You can continue to make financial contributions each Sunday morning to support our congregation and good work in the world. Text the amount of your donation to 844-982-0209 with the code GCC. Or visit our DONATION page.
2021 Annual Report on Programs
It has been a busy year for the church and although all events continued to be held virtually, we had plenty going on. If you’d like to read about the activities and programs from leadership and staff during this past year and get a glimpse of what’s to come in our new church year, click on the image below to read our Annual Report on Programs, Fiscal Year July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.
Our Spring Dining for Dollars Ended May 23rd in Success!
Dear UUSM Community,
Thank you all for participating in our Spring Auction. It was a HUGE success, in which we made more than $7,300!
Donors, we all appreciate you stepping forward to offer your arts and crafts and planned Zoom events with food, drink and fun conversation. And Bidders, well, you actually paid for things, helped build back better our Church budget.
Bidders: Now it is time to connect the dots: If you have paid your balance due, GREAT! If not, please do, ASAP. Use the link to CHECKOUT in the Bidder Statement. After that, you can claim your winnings.
Thanks for making this auction a success!
The UUSM Fundraising Committee
June Generous Congregation Supports TransLatin@ Coalition
Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex (TGNCI) communities are one of the most marginalized communities in our society, but many lack the the knowledge and resources to address social and health inequities in our Los Angeles communities. Additionally, the conservative political right has long targeted trans communities through divisive anti-trans legislation, policies, and litigation. Discrimination runs rampant in the lives of trans people regularly, especially for those that identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Barriers to accessing housing, health care, education, employment, and other basic needs have only been exacerbated by COVID-19. In a time that we are met with emergency and scarcity, we are seeing the effects of a society that has historically failed to address the many specific needs of TGNC people.
The TransLatin@ Coalition began in 2009 as a grassroots response to aid Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, and Intersex (TGI) immigrants living in the United States. Eleven years later and they have grown into a nationally recognized organization in 10 states across the US and provide direct services for those in the Los Angeles and West Hollywood areas. Their goal is to not only meet the specific needs of the TransLatin@ community but to improve the quality of life.
In addition to the variety of services they offer, including warm meals, outreach, case management, advocacy, and a re-entry program, they are working to develop TGI individual as leaders and to advocate for the needs and issues of the TGI community.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to TransLatin@ Coalition. With your support, we can help TransLatin@ continue to provide resources, as well as advocacy work and leadership development for the TGI community.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and UUFME. To give $10 right now, text “$10 GCC” (or another amount) to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
Our Spring Dining for Dollars Is Almost Here!
There will be wine tastings and trivia contests and artwork to bid on. We’re holding Dining for Dollars online!
Can you think of a Zoom-friendly event that YOU might host? Something that would bring people together, that could make money for the Church AND bring people together?
Please offer an event by Sunday, May 2nd.
Contact us at auction@uusm.org
Bidding for the UUSM Spring Auction will take place Sunday May 16th through Sunday May 23rd.
Events will be held between end of May and Ingathering.
Thanks!
Beth, Pat, Greg, Karl
April Generous Congregation Supports UU Ministry For Earth (UUMFE)
TEXT NOW TO SUPPORT UUMFE
Climate change is happening and it’s human-caused. This will affect almost every area of life including the economy and our health. Whether it’s the cost of damage from extreme weather or the number of hospitalizations from asthma, issues arising from climate change are only getting worse.
The Unitarian Universalist Ministry For Earth (UUMFE) aims to be a wellspring of spiritual and educational grounding and practical support for bold, accountable action for environmental justice, climate justice, and the flourishing of all life. They have a variety of programs, tools, and actions for everyone from youth through elders to help avert climate chaos while following the core spiritual practice of Unitarian Universalism.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to UUMFE. With your support, we can help to empower bold action, partnership, and connections to promote environmental and climate justice through UUMFE’s campaigns.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and UUFME. To give $10 right now, text “$10 GCC” (or another amount) to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
Dining for Dollars is BACK!
Hello UUs at UUSM! Remember this poster?
Dining for Dollars is BACK!
Our congregation is mostly surviving the pandemic, and though we are not quite ready to return to in-person events, we can get together online to have some fun!
In May 2021, we will have the UUSM Spring Auction, which is our way of doing Dining for Dollars online. In the first auction, held over the holidays, several people hosted events that involved food and drink: there was a pizza-making class, a beer-tasting as well as a wine-tasting get-together, even a Beatles trivia event. Also, many items were sold: textiles, jewelry, and antiques.
- Bidding for the Spring Auction will take place Sunday May 16th through Sunday May 23rd.
- Events will be held between end of May and Ingathering.
Can you think of a Zoom-friendly event that YOU might host? Something that would bring people together, that could make money for the Church AND bring people together?
Offer an event soon! Contact us at auction@uusm.org
Thanks!
Beth, Pat , Greg, Karl
Please Save the Date: A Celebration of the Life of Rev. Ernest D. Pipes, Jr. -
October 6, 1926 – February 10, 2021
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 1 PM
Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae & Rev. Judith Meyer Officiating
An invitation with a Zoom link will be emailed prior to the service
Save the Date! UUSM Camp at de Benneville Pines
We are planning for Friday, Saturday, Sunday – September 17, 18 and 19, 2021.
“May it be so.”
Stay tuned…
2021 Women’s Virtual Spring Retreat at Camp de Benneville Pines, April 30-May 2
FOCUSING ON WORK THAT RECONNECTS
Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2, 2021
Presented by Dean Kathleen Moscato, Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson,
and members of Palomar UU Fellowship, Vista CA
“The Spiral of Resilience & Renewal”
Keynote: Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson
Join Palomar UU Fellowship of Vista, CA as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Camp de Benneville Pines and explore “The Spiral of Resilience & Renewal”!
These challenging times have taught us the importance of being present to and honoring all of our experiences, our feelings and bodies. This experiential keynote will create a space to ground together and process whatever is present through our bodies so that we can effectively channel our energy into what is needed and what is ours to do.
Participants will engage in a four-part spiral design of experiential processes and practices from the Work that Reconnects, developed by Joanna Macy, now including an equity lens, that will: ground us in Gratitude, while Honoring our Pain for the World, exploring what is possible in this moment by Seeing with New/Ancient Eyes, and Going Forth with resilience and love.
Organizers are still working on the final schedule for this weekend virtual retreat. There will be a wide range of online workshops throughout the weekend, including performances by Emma’s Revolution and Karen Hart. And…as we did at our in-camp retreats, join us on Thursday evening for a pre-retreat get-together hosted by Lonna Leghart. Come connect with friends (old and new), play some games and have some laughs! Click here to see the “work in progress” schedule. Final schedule will be email to all registrants by no later than Tuesday, April 27th.
This retreat is for women 18 years of age and older. Young women, 17 and younger, are invited but must have parent/legal guardian consent.
In the spirit of welcoming all, we are offering a sliding scale registration fee based on your assessment of your ability to pay. We have established a base cost of $60 per person as our registration fee and attendees determine what amount they can comfortably contribute. Those who pay at the highest levels are making a donation to help those in financial need for this event. Please remember that for a sliding scale to work, we need the same number of people with means to generously pay more to balance the needs of those who can afford less. (This is one way we try to build the Beloved Community!) See below for details.
This retreat would be a terrific Mother’s Day gift to an important woman in your life or just a way of saying “I support you being the best you can be.” So, grab a friend, family member, or sister-in-spirit and register for this retreat. It’s going to be an awesome weekend!
Previous joyful Women’s Retreat at Camp de Benneville Pines.
Bylaws Refresh Task Force 2021 - NEW BYLAWS UNDER CONSIDERATION
Our Bylaws are about to be refreshed! The Bylaws Refresh Task Force has been constituted to realize one of UUSM’s developmental ministry priorities: to update our Bylaws, last amended in 2013, to bring them into alignment with UUA recommendations and create a foundation for our future.
Working closely with our Developmental Minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, and UUSM Board of Directors President Beth Brownlie as board liaison, the task force will review the current bylaws and make recommendations to reflect our current circumstances, thinking, and our church’s vision. The group will be governed by a RASCI that defines who is Responsible, Accountable, Supported, Consulted, and Informed. They have committed to working in a transparent fashion, with substantial congregational outreach and input and periodic reports to the board.
The initial effort is one of discovery as task force members review our current bylaws alongside best practices from Unitarian Universalist Association and other UU congregations. They recognize the need to move forward deliberately and collaboratively with the UUSM congregation.
Please contact any of the task for members with any questions or encouragements: Chair Patricia Wright, John Zinner, Bob Dietz; Rev Jeremiah Kalendae (ex officio), and Beth Brownlie (board liaison).
Consider Coming to Camp - OUR DE BENNEVILLE PINES WEEKEND
Consider coming to camp — really, start considering it now. After having to cancel our de Benneville weekend last year, UUSM’s camp committee is putting hope on the calendar. Save the dates — September 17, 18, and 19th — for a weekend in the mountains that will give us all a chance to relax and renew.
If you are a former camper, a would-be camper, or just a fan of mountains and trees, put your name on the “I’m Interested List” by emailing the committee at debenneville@uusm.org.
Also, Camp de Benneville Pines needs your support right now! If you can add on a monthly payment of even $10 a month, you can make a wonderful difference. Here’s the link for setting up a monthly contribution.
The pines and cedars, rocks, jays and flowers, and the wide open skies are calling us.
~The Hopeful Camp Committee
March Generous Congregation Supports Trans Lifeline
TEXT NOW TO SUPPORT TRANS PEOPLE IN CRISIS
Many trans people in our community exist in a constant state of survival; survival in a system that judges and marginalizes them. In an unjust system, crisis and distress are normal and rational. Studies have shown that trans persons are at greater risk for suicide as they are twice as likely to think about and attempt suicide than LGB people.
Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis—for the trans community, by the trans community. Founded in 2014, the Hotline remains the only peer-support service in the country in which all operators are transgender. The Hotline has evolved into a comprehensive resource that employs trans people working as paid operators and team leads.
In time, Trans Lifeline came to recognize that the epidemic of suicide in the trans community is inextricably tied to the economic justice issues trans people face at alarming rates, and that meaningful emotional support often requires financial support as well. Microgrants provide trans and nonbinary people with low-barrier funds and support to correct names and/or gender markers on identifying legal documents, and support to our trans siblings behind bars.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to the life-changing work of Trans Lifeline. With your support, we can keep these vital services available to those in our community who need them most.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and Trans Lifeline. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
February Generous Congregation Supports The People Concern
A multiplicity of factors has led to an ever-growing number of individuals in crisis and living in cars or on the street, including many working people who cannot afford our city’s high housing costs. A lack of meaningful coordination among government agencies and a focus on criminalizing people who live on the street have converged to disproportionately affect people of color, particularly African Americans. LA’s 2020 count of unhoused persons showed another rise in numbers year over year. And the 2020 count was conducted before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Even with mortgage relief and protection from eviction, the problem could worsen significantly as the pandemic rages and businesses close.
One of Los Angeles County’s largest social services agencies, The People Concern, formed in 2016 in a merger of two trusted social service organizations: Ocean Park Community Center (OPCC, an ally long supported by our congregation) and LAMP Community. Informed by more than 57 years of work in the community, The People Concern provides, and advocates for, evidence-based solutions to the multi-faceted challenges of homelessness and domestic violence. A fully integrated system of care – including outreach, interim housing, mental and medical health care, substance abuse services, domestic violence services, life skills and wellness programs, and permanent supportive housing – is tailored to the unique needs of homeless individuals, survivors of domestic violence, challenged youth, and many others who have nowhere else to turn.
Generous CongregationUUSM SUpport The People Concern
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to The People Concern. Your support will help one of Los Angeles County’s largest social service agencies empower the most vulnerable among us to rebuild their lives.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and the great work of The People Concern. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
Darwin Day: A Declaration of Interdependence
FEBRUARY FREETHINKER FORUM
Special AAHS Freethinker Forum—Sunday, February 28, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
In February, science enthusiasts along with humanist and liberal religious groups sometimes celebrate the birthday of Charles Darwin to commemorate and reflect on the legacy of his incredible discovery and what it means to our world.
UUSM’s Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists and Secularists (AAHS) group will host a special AAHS Freethinker Forum for Darwin Day (note the later start time) this month. We’ll view and discuss a video presentation by the Rev. Dr. David Breeden, Senior Minister of First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, a Unitarian Universalist congregation originally founded in the late 1800s by a group of people wanting to read and understand Darwin’s work. David asks us to consider how “Darwin’s dangerous idea” interrupted what Western societies had long believed about “the great chain of being,” and how evolution by natural selection continues to both challenge and inspire us.
Darwin’s discovery paved the way for a new understanding of what some might call a sacred or meaningful connection to the natural universe, embodied in the 7th UU Principle: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.” Indeed, the legacy of natural selection on the development and evolution of liberal religion in the past 150 years has been profound, and may be under-appreciated. Writing in UU World, the late Rev. Dr. William Murry, former president of Meadville-Lombard Theological school, ruminated:
“I believe that evolution by natural selection is one of the most important insights not only in the history of science but in the history of the world because it has radically changed our traditional Western understanding of how we came to be, what we are, and of our place in the world. However, just as it took several hundred years for the full implications of Copernicus’s discovery to be felt, so also all the implications of Darwin’s idea have not yet become fully apparent…
Despite the great variety of life forms that have evolved over the millennia, the awareness, rooted in evolutionary biology, of the kinship of all living organisms leads us to regard all human beings as members of one extended family. The spiritual implication of this realization is that we should live together in love and caring, be tolerant of our differences, and take responsibility for one another…
Darwin’s idea also fosters a deeper, nature-centered spirituality by shifting the focus away from the supernatural to nature itself—its amazing fecundity and diversity and the remarkable process Darwin called natural selection and descent with modification. In a post-Darwinian world, emotions such as awe and wonder and reverence evoked by the natural world are often identified as religious emotions. A natural spirituality is the result…
Every religion needs a story, and Darwin’s idea has given us a place in a new story with multiple layers of meaning. That story, the great epic of cosmic and biological evolution, is a religious story because it calls us out of our little self-centered worlds to see ourselves as part of a great living system. It gives a larger meaning and a broader ethic to our lives. As Darwin wrote at the end of The Origin of Species: ‘There is grandeur in this view of life.'”
I’ve thought a great deal about the nexus of science and spirituality since becoming involved with Unitarian Universalism and Humanism. Some of these ideas formed the foundation of two summer sermons about Darwin, Cosmology, and Religious Naturalism that I was privileged to give at UUSM in 2018 and 2019.
In this age, as we struggle with the near-term challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and the long-term threat of the climate crisis, it seems that fostering a closer and deeper connection to the interconnected web of nature and life could not be of more vital importance.
All are welcome! Join us at 3:00 for a lively discussion where a diversity of views is welcome and respected! Email aahs@uusm.org for the Zoom link.
AAHS (Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists and Secularists) is part of UUSM’s lifespan learning for adults and a member group of the UU Humanist Association. Keep current on future discussions and events via our Facebook Group.
Join Us for Beloved Conversations: Virtual!
A few months ago, the UUSM Board of Directors authorized our Intersectional Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Commission to begin laying the foundation for us to more effectively engage with this critical work. Our first programmatic offering is Beloved Conversations. This faith-formation, anti-racism program offered by the Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago, Meadville Lombard Theological School, went virtual last fall and more than 1,200 learners joined the first phase. UUSM is all-in for for the spring semester! This experience of connection and spiritual development is not to be missed.
The Spring Term registration closes on February 26, and classes begin March 16, with lessons published every two weeks, as well as biweekly small-group check-ins and monthly large group worship and discussion. In the program’s current phase, ‘Within,’ we engage with a personal exploration of race and our work for racial justice. With two caucuses, our white participants are invited into the Un/learning for Liberation course and our BIPOC+ (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) participants are invited into the Gathering Ourselves course. In Beloved Conversations, we are here to heal the impact of racism on our lives. Learn more at meadville.edu/beloved. The program and our church have full and half scholarships available for those who need them, so please don’t let the cost be an obstacle to your participation.
Beloved Conversations—the signature offering of The Fahs Collaborative at Meadville Lombard Theological School—is a program for Unitarian Universalists seeking to embody racial justice as a spiritual practice. In Beloved Conversations, we seek to “get free together.” The program is now offered online and members of our community can study and reflect together in the two separate groups for white and BIPOC Unitarian Universalists to process their unique experiences with racial identity, white supremacy, and racial justice.
I want to offer a special thanks to those who stepped up to help advise and lead UUSM’s commission in this tumultuous period of our history: Susan Hendricks Richman, Edna Bonacich, Nalani Santiago, Mike Monte, Linda Van Ligten, James Witker, and Cleo Anderson. Collectively, these leaders bring considerable experience and expertise to this ministry of liberation.
How is the program structured?
Work in both groups will include six, bi-weekly, online lessons, done at your own pace, using videos, music, and readings, accompanied by reflection prompts and suggested conversations with a Critical Friend chosen by the participants; six bi-weekly small group conversations in a Learning Pod; and three larger, monthly, facilitated Meaning-Making Sessions on Zoom.
This curriculum does not require you to sign up as part of a larger congregation or community. However, if you choose, you can agree to engage the curriculum with folks you are already in relationship with from your congregation or community. We hope you will sign up for the work with members in our Santa Monica Community.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a virtual learning opportunity. Basic skills with email, simple websites, and the online meeting platform Zoom are essential to successful participation in this program.
What are the important dates for Spring Term 2021?
February 26: Registration closes for the Spring Term. Once you register and pay, a Welcome & Orientation Lesson will be available on the learning platform.
March 16: The first Lesson drops onto the learning platform for individual study and reflection at your own pace (followed approximately every two weeks by Lessons 2-6, through the end of May/beginning of June).
Ongoing: Small Group Learning Pod gatherings, approximately every two weeks, as scheduled by your Pod.
Meaning Making Sessions Participants will choose one date/time to attend for each of three sessions. If you cannot attend a Session live, they will be partially recorded and posted to the learning platform for later viewing.
BIPOC Meaning Making Sessions (Open to all BIPOC participants): Thursdays 5:00 to 6:30 pm Pacific Time or Saturdays 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.
White Folks Meaning Making Sessions: (Open to all white participants): Wednesdays 12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time or Wednesdays 5:00 to 6:30 pm or Saturdays 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.
How much does it cost?
NOTE: Prices are per Term—Fall Term and Spring Term will have different content. You may complete one or both but we are only registering folks for Spring Term 2021 right now.
Sliding Scale Pricing (ages 18+):
- $250 US dollars per person
- $300 US Dollars per person*/**
- $350 US dollars per person**
Full and partial scholarships are available for those who need them (see more info below)
*Reparations Note: White participants with the means to do so are encouraged to consider paying an additional $50, in recognition of the historic legacy of racist economic policies and the ways in which generational wealth and greater access to economic opportunity have privileged white people as a group for hundreds of years. These extra funds will go towards providing scholarships to those who need it to participate in this program.
**Interdependence Note: Regardless of your racial identity, if your class privilege and/or professional expense budget allows you to pay more so that others may pay less, please consider adding an additional contribution to your total. These extra funds will go towards providing scholarships to those who need it to participate in this program.
Equity Note: Regardless of your racial identity, full and partial scholarships are available to those who need them. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us at belovedconversations@meadville.edu before registering, to request a scholarship. You may also request a full or half scholarship from the church.
How do I register?
If you are registering and paying for yourself, there are four steps to signing up:
Step 1: Go to www.meadville.edu/beloved to read more about the program. When you have all of the information you need, click the link to our registration page.
Step 2: You will register through the curriculum website Teachable for the course that aligns with your racial identity (Gathering Ourselves for BIPOC or Un/Learning for Liberation for white folks). This will include signing up with your name and email address and paying with a credit card or coupon code (or both).
Step 3: Once you register and pay, you will be directed to a Google Form we will use to collect the rest of the information we need from you. YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERED REGISTERED FOR THIS PROGRAM UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS GOOGLE FORM.
Step 4: Email belovedconversations@uusm.org so we can track your registration at church.
Questions? Please check out the Beloved Conversations website at www.meadville.edu/beloved or contact us at belovedconversations@meadville.edu.
I hope you’ll consider taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity to join in this transformative work!
UUSM Online Auction: Zoom Pizza-Making Party
THE FIRST EVENT OF THE SEASON!
This event was organized on BiddingOwl.com/UUSantaMonica, our (still ongoing) UU Santa Monica auction, and was realized on Zoom. A great time was had by all!
Many items and events are still open at BiddingOwl.com/UUSantaMonica. The auction has been extended through January 6, 2021.
Bid high! Bid often!
Generous Congregation Recipients: UNICEF, then the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
We come together for more than ourselves. On Sunday, January 3, 50% of the offering will be donated to the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and territories, UNICEF does whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines, it supports child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation. Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Created in 1946, non-political and impartial, UNICEF is never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.
For the rest of January, 50% of the Sunday offering will be donated to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC is closely associated with its first president, Martin Luther King, Jr., who had a large role in the American civil rights movement.
Thank you for your generous support.
Christmas Eve Candle Lighting — Light Your Candle
AN INVITATION
This Christmas Eve service will be like none other. To bring in the sharing of the light that we usually do, we would like to include a candle lighting from as many people as we can get. If you submit a short video of you or your COVID pod lighting a candle following the parameters listed below, we can include it in the December 24th service. Please note the time frame plus the email address and subject line so we can get your video in time to include it with the other elements of the service.
Videos can be submitted with the following parameters:
- Portrait mode is preferred if possible.
- Hold steady for at least 5 seconds, then light your candle.
- Move the lit candle closer to the camera, as if offering the light to the world.
- Hold that pose for about 30 seconds, before ending the video.
In keeping with the spirit of Christmas Eve and our theme of stillness, be mindful of any background sounds as you are taking the video.
Videos can be sent to worshipassociates@uusm.org with the subject “Candle lighting video” by December 16th.
Here is a demonstration:
What a gift to be able to see as many people as we can this holiday season! Please join us at 6:00 pm Thursday, December 24th as we joyfully sing the carols of the season from around the globe and consider the deeper meaning of the story of Christmas. The night’s offering will benefit the Minister’s Discretionary Fund, which is used to help members and friends in need and to fund special projects throughout the church year.
December Generous Congregation Supports UNICEF
“I am happy for the reopening of child friendly spaces and we missed it a lot during COVID-19” says Muzhgan from Ferdousi Internally Displaced camp, Nahri Shahi district of Balkh, a north province of Afghanistan. In 2019, with partners and through funding from the European Union, UNICEF Afghanistan supported a total of 38,649 children (18,292 girls, 20,357 boys) in the most at risk areas and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) settlements across Afghanistan. These children benefited from psychosocial support services and essential social services in 234 Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs) in the targeted communities over 4 regions in 15 provinces, bringing the total for the programme to 56,641 children. © UNICEF/UNI367271/Fazel
UNICEF, also known as the United Nations Children’s Fund, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories.
For more than 70 years, UNICEF has worked in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. UNICEF’s mission is to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
The world’s largest provider of vaccines, UNCEF supports child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation.
Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies and despite remarkable challenges, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, they are never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to the UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. Your donations will help the UNICEF fight for the rights of every child seeking safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflicts, and equality.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and UNICEF. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” (or another amount) to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
Holiday Community Dialogue Circle
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 7-8:30 PM ON ZOOM
What do “The Holidays” mean to you? How have they been different so far this year? How will they be the same?
In the past, the winter holiday season may have meant family reunions, worship in the sanctuary, good food shared with friends, and festive outings. For many, this time of year may amplify an existing sense of loneliness — especially during the pandemic, or alienation from religious beliefs and rituals, or disenchantment with commercialism, or generalized stress.
If you would like to share your thoughts and feelings about the holiday season in a supportive virtual circle, you are invited to a facilitated dialogue on Wednesday, December 16, from 7-8:30pm. In gratitude for the gathered community of caring, we will speak our truths and listen, with compassion and humility, to each other’s deep expressions of self.
For further information and to obtain the zoom link, please email stories@uusm.org.
Invite a Friend for Christmas Eve Online at UUSM
