RE News Archive
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, September 2020
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See below our September activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded. Please note that currently, all offerings are facilitated through Zoom. Contact Teri Lucas for more information and the link to the Zoom meeting.
Do you have a passion or an expertise? Are you a chef or a gardener, a historian or an actor? Would you like to offer some help, support, or some frivolity to our UU community via Zoom? We’re seeking programming that is fun, informative, and engaging. Please let us know if there’s something you’d like to offer and the Adult RE Committee will help you to do it. Email the Adult RE Committee (AdultRE@UUSM.org) or Teri Lucas (uusmREassist@uusm.org) and we can work with you on presenting your ideas.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Nature Journaling with Dorothy Steinicke Sunday September 13
We will come together again to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature by contemplating, writing, and drawing. All that is required are pencil and paper and a few objects from nature. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Dorothy Steinicke has more than twenty years experience introducing people to a love of the natural world. She leads hikes for children and for adults in Topanga Canyon, Ballona Wetlands, and Dockweiller State Beach. We will meet on Zoom from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Please contact Dorothy Steinicke for more details.
We will come together again to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature by contemplating, writing, and drawing. All that is required are pencil and paper and a few objects from nature. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Dorothy Steinicke has more than twenty years experience introducing people to a love of the natural world. She leads hikes for children and for adults in Topanga Canyon, Ballona Wetlands, and Dockweiller State Beach. We will meet on Zoom from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Please contact Dorothy Steinicke for more details.
Ukulele Strum Along Saturday September 26
Come and play ukulele with us or join with another strumming instrument. We recommend a familiarity with the ukulele for this online format but all levels are welcome (beginner to advanced). Bring a ukulele to our Zoom meeting and chords and lyrics will be provided in advance with a few folks prepared to lead some songs. We will share tips and support each other, pulling from a wide range of music. This event is for ages 15 and up, or 10 and up if accompanied by a guardian. We will need your email contact information by September 24, so that we can send you the music ahead of time. We will gather from 9:30 – 10:30 am. Contact: Kim Kalmanson.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday September 27
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet from 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm via Zoom. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday September 15
We will discuss “The Evolution of Everything: How New Ideas Emerge,” by Matt Ridley. Human society evolves. Much of the human world is the result of human action, but not of human design. Important achievements develop from the bottom up – not from on high. To receive the link, you will want to be on the group email list. We meet from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Contact: Rebecca Crawford, sci-nonfiction@uusm.org All are welcome.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays September 3 and 17
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. The topic for Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020 is: “How are you handling your aging? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of growing older? Consider things like the evolving meaning of life, how you want to be remembered, and of course, how you and your mate are handling the usual aches and pains of aging that all couples encounter, and how you are handling that dark fact, ‘Everything has an expiration date?'” The topic for Thursday, Sept. 17 is: Men generally do not like to admit to fear, but was there a time in your life when you were immobilized or driven by fear? We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:30 pm via Zoom. For more information, contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
Open Meditation Mondays September 14 and 28
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Open Meditation: Wellsprings Wednesdays and Fridays
These are exceptional times. 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. We trust each of you will use this group in the way that fits your needs. We listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal and share with each other what’s on our hearts. We simply sit together in our shared humanity. We call off the struggle to become other than we are. These are drop-in groups. You are welcome to join us when it feels right to you. If you come in late or need to leave early, just do so quietly. We meet every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm online. Contact: Bev Shoenberger.
Still Life Drawing with Greg Wood
ANOTHER NEW ADULT PROGRAM
Still Life DrawingYou are cordially invited to participate in Greg Wood’s Still Life Drawing Class. It is scheduled for Thursday August 6, from 10 – 11:30 am on Zoom. Please RSVP for Zoom information: AdultRE@uusm.org.
Why is a skill in drawing important?
Drawing teaches you to perceive the world with critical eyes, and to be faithful to any item’s details: shadows, contours, and gentle nuances in shapes and proportions. Being able to carefully see the world through an artist’s eyes will allow you to see the world in a fresh way. A common item that you had inattentively passed by can become a fascinating world of its own. Ideas, perspectives, and insights are often nurtured by creative pursuits.
The Still Life Drawing Class is for anyone open and curious about how to draw. We will practice a common technique, like drawing lines from light to dark, drawing just shadows, and drawing contours. After five minutes of drawing, we will do a show and tell, with encouraging and insightful comments.
What do I need to start?
Any pencil will do for a beginning class. The best materials for a drawing class, however, are pencils of different hardness. To start, a single soft 2B professional graphite drawing pencil is the best. For optimal results, a set of three pencils of different hardnesses are recommended: HB, 2B, and 4B. Another item you should choose is a handheld sharpener, and of course, a white eraser is a must. You will also need a small pad of drawing paper, or even spiral bound blank paper. All of these can be purchased at a local art store.
Since this is a still life class, have a few items ready – bottles, cups, cutlery, and fruit to start. Flowers are for advanced drawing and are not recommended for beginners.
Who is teaching the class?
Greg Wood will be leading the class. Greg is a professional artist, having a BA in Art from UCSC, and before he retired he was an architectural illustrator.
And why would a UU want to pick up a skill in drawing?
There is a growing recognition that everyone needs some creative output for a well-rounded and fulfilling life.
We hope to see you on August 6th!
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, August 2020
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See below our August activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded. Please note that currently, all offerings are facilitated through Zoom. Contact Teri Lucas for more information and the link to the Zoom meeting.
Do you have a passion or an expertise? Are you a chef or a gardener, a historian or an actor? Would you like to offer some help, support, or some frivolity to our UU community via Zoom? We’re seeking programming that is fun, informative, and engaging. Please let us know if there’s something you’d like to offer and the Adult RE Committee will help you to do it. Email the Adult RE Committee (AdultRE@UUSM.org) or Teri Lucas (uusmREassist@uusm.org) and we can work with you on presenting your ideas.
Limited Offerings
Still Life Drawing with Greg Wood - Thursday August 6
This is a drawing class for everyone. We will start with drawing simple shapes like fruit in a bowl, or maybe pens in a cup. We draw for 5 minutes, and then show and talk about the drawings for 5 minutes. Then I will introduce a new exercise for 5 minutes. The format is to do lots of quick exercises that stretch our visual muscles and maybe open our eyes to what is possible. Greg Wood has a BA in Art from UCSC. Before he retired, he worked as an architectural illustrator. This class shall meet through Zoom from 10:00 to 11:30 am on August 6. Contact: Greg Wood.
Tarot Meditation Workshop - One extra Tuesday, August 4The Tarot, it is said, is a symbolic picture of the universe in its many layers, from material to the spiritual and beyond. Currently, the Tarot has as its basis the mystical Jewish Qabalah, drawing into it various Medieval and Renaissance systems such as astrology, alchemy, numerology, sacred geometry and mathematics, world mythology, Theosophy, Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, and even Freemasonry. In modern times, it acquired Jungian psychological commentary as well. The Tarot itself is a fascinating, intricate system of interconnecting pictorial symbolism that is meant to catalyze helpful transformations within ourselves and our psyches, affecting not just behaviors, but perhaps even granting serendipitous opportunities. Jonathan “Buudha” Quant has been a practitioner of Tarot meditation for over 20 years and is eager to introduce you to Tarot meditation. Whether you are new to Tarot, or believe you know much, you will certainly gain fresh insights. It is preferable that participants meet for the entire sequence, but it is not mandatory. All are welcome. This class will meet via Zoom from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Contact: Jonathan Quant or Sarah Robson.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Nature Journaling with Dorothy Steinicke - Sunday August 16
We will come together again to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature by contemplating, writing, and drawing. All that is required are pencil and paper and a few objects from nature. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Dorothy Steinicke has more than twenty years experience introducing people to a love of the natural world. She leads hikes for children and for adults in Topanga Canyon, Ballona Wetlands, and Dockweiller State Beach. We will meet on Zoom from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Please contact Dorothy Steinicke for more details.
Ukulele Strum Along - Saturday August 22
Come and play ukulele with us or join with another strumming instrument. We recommended a familiarity with the ukulele for this online format but all levels are welcome (beginner to advanced). Bring a ukulele to our Zoom meeting and chords and lyrics will be provided in advance with a few folks prepared to lead some songs. We will share tips and support each other, pulling from a wide range of music. This event is for ages 15 and up, or 10 and up if accompanied by a guardian. We will need your email contact information by August 20th, so that we can send you the music ahead of time. We will gather from 9:30 – 11:00 am. Contact: Kim Kalmanson.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum - Sunday, August 23
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm via Zoom. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion - Tuesday August 18
We will discuss “The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars,” by Dava Sobel. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, women were hired by the observatory as “human computers” to interpret the telescopic observations of their male counterparts. Later they interpreted the glass photographic plates taken of the skies. They made some pretty important discoveries. To receive the link, you will want to be on the group email list. We meet from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Contact: Rebecca Crawford, sci-nonfiction@uusm.org All are welcome.
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 meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:30 pm normally in the NE room of the Cottage, but while we are staying home we are meeting via Zoom. The topic for August 6 is: Knowing what you do now, what other career might you have chosen – or liked to have chosen? The topic for August 20 is: “How are you handling your aging? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of growing older? Consider things like the evolving meaning of life, how you want to be remembered, and of course, how you and your mate are handling the usual aches and pains of aging that all couples encounter, and how you are handling that dark fact, “Everything has an expiration date?” For more information, contact: Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are - Mondays,, August 3 and 17
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the “who and what” we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Mondays is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation - Mondays, August 10, 24, 31
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Open Meditation: Wellsprings - Wednesdays and Fridays
These are exceptional times. 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. We trust each of you will use this group in the way that fits your needs. We listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal and share with each other what’s on our hearts. We simply sit together in our shared humanity. We call off the struggle to become other than we are. These are drop-in groups. You are welcome to join us when it feels right to you. If you come in late or need to leave early, just do so quietly. We meet every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 12:00 to 1:00 pm online. Contact: Bev Shoenberger.
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, July 2020
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, AND WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our July activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Do you have a passion or an expertise? Are you a chef or a gardener, a historian or an actor? Would you like to offer some help, support, or some frivolity to our UU community via Zoom? We’re seeking programming that is fun, informative, and engaging. Please let us know if there’s something you’d like to offer and the Adult RE Committee will help you to do it. Email the Adult RE Committee (AdultRE@UUSM.org) or Teri Lucas (uusmREassist@uusm.org) and we can work with you on presenting your ideas.
Limited Offerings
Tarot Meditation Workshops - 4 Tuesdays, beginning June 30 – Online Zoom
The Tarot, it is said, is a symbolic picture of the universe in its many layers, from material to the spiritual and beyond. Currently, the Tarot has as its basis the mystical Jewish Qabalah, drawing into it various Medieval and Renaissance systems such as astrology, alchemy, numerology, sacred geometry and mathematics, world mythology, Theosophy, Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, and even Freemasonry. In modern times, it acquired Jungian psychological commentary as well. The Tarot itself is a fascinating, intricate system of interconnecting pictorial symbolism that is meant to catalyze helpful transformations within ourselves and our psyches, affecting not just behaviors, but perhaps even granting serendipitous opportunities. Jonathan “Buudha” Quant has been a practitioner of Tarot meditation for over 20 years and is eager to introduce you to Tarot meditation. Whether you are new to Tarot, or believe you know much, you will certainly gain fresh insights. It is preferable that participants meet for the entire sequence, but it is not mandatory. All are welcome. This class will meet via Zoom from 7:00 to 8:30 pm on four Tuesdays.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Online Coffee & Teahouse Conversation Wednesdays – Online Zoom
Bring your tea or coffee cup and have a check in with Reverend Jeremiah and your fellow UUs. We shall examine our current lives, as well as focus on UUA monthly themes at our weekly Wednesday check-in. Scheduled for every Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Contact Reverend Jeremiah at minister@uusm.org for the Zoom link.
CommUUnity Connection Meetings - Wednesdays July 1, 15, 29 – Online Zoom
A time to connect with others and share experiences during this time of isolation. Margot Page and Wendi Gladstone will be conducting this meeting. Email CommUUnity@uusm.org to register for this 7:00 to 8:30 pm Wednesday Zoom meeting.
CommUUnity Connection Meeting Thursday July 9 – Online Zoom
A time to connect with others and share experiences during this time of isolation. Bettye Barclay and Denise Helton will be conducting the meeting. Email at CommUUnity@uusm.org to register for this 3:00 to 4:00 pm Thursday Zoom meeting.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, July 26 – Online Zoom
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm via Zoom. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday July 21 – Online Zoom
We will discuss “She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity,” by Carl Zimmer. This book won several science-writing awards, including the Keck Communication Award for 2019. The author covers the basics and then moves to some of the latest surprises in heredity. The cultural history of how some have responded to genetic findings, both positive and negative, are included. To receive the Zoom link, you will want to be on the group email list. Contact: Rebecca Crawford at sci-nonfiction@uusm.org for more information. We meet from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, July 2 and 16 – Online Zoom
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group with provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. The topic for July 2 will be considering articles dealing with the future of America following the protests. The topic for July 16th is recalling an important conflict in your life, did you handle it successfully? If not, did you benefit from the experience in a similar situation later in life? We meet from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. For more information and Zoom link, contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Mondays, July 6 and July 20 – Online Zoom
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the “who and what” we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Mondays is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Mondays, July 13 and July 27 – Online Zoom
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Open Meditation: Wellsprings Wednesdays and Fridays – Online Zoom
These are exceptional times. 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. We trust each of you will use this group in the way that fits your needs. We listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal and share with each other what’s on our hearts. We simply sit together in our shared humanity. We call off the struggle to become other than we are. These are drop-in groups. You are welcome to join us when it feels right to you. If you come in late or need to leave early, just do so quietly. We meet every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 12:00 to 1:00 pm online. Contact: Bev Shoenberger.
2020 Faith Forward Inquirers Series
NINE-SESSION INQUIRERS SERIES OPEN TO ALL
Many folks come to UUSM with a host of questions ranging from “What is Unitarian Universalism?” “What do UUs believe?” “What programs do you have at this church?” Our Inquirers Series is designed to help answer these questions and many others.
A total of nine sessions will be presented from Sunday, February 9, through Sunday, May 3 at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, in room 1, second floor of Forbes. You may attend any class at any time; it is not necessary to attend them in sequence nor is it necessary to attend them all, although we hope you do so.
The following is a list of sessions:
- 2/9/20 Session 1: UU Principles, Sources, and Historical Overview. Facilitated by long-time UUs John Oliver and Sharon Harrell.
- 2/16/20 Session 2: Worship and the Liturgical Year. Abby Arnold, Worship Associate.
- 2/23/20 Session 3: Campus Tour, Orientation, and Church History. Beth Brownlie, Facilities Past Chairperson, and Bryan Oakes, Architect
- 3/1/20 Session 4: Faith-in-Action Commission. Sarah Mae Harper, Co-Chair. Under its umbrella are the Peace & Social Justice Committee and the Green Committees.
- Two-Week Break
- 3/22/20 Session 5: Faith Development for Children and Youth. Cleo Anderson, Director of Religious Education. Our Whole Lives (OWL) Program, Beth Rendeiro, Coordinator
- 4/5/20 Session 6: Q & A with the Minister. Rev Jeremiah Kalendae
- One-Week Break
- 4/19/20 Session 7: Adult Programs: Opportunities for Personal & Spiritual Growth. Beverly Shoenberger, Chairperson. Heart to Heart Groups, Cheryl Sims, Chairperson.
- 4/26/20 Session 8: Pastoral Care. Ron Crane, Past President. Care Ring, Linda van Ligten, Care Ring Committee.
- 5/3/20 Session 9: The Meaning of Membership and the Path to Membership. Norm Richey, Co-Chair, Membership Committee, and Barbara Gibbs, Membership Committee.
You may attend any or all of these sessions, whether you are a visitor, a new member or a long-time member of the congregation. For first time visitors to UUSM, we offer a brief Visitor MeetUp after each Sunday Service. At the conclusion of Visitor MeetUp you will be invited to join the Inquirers Series the following Sunday.
Inquirers Sessions will be held weekly from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, in room 1, second floor of Forbes after the service.
Please join us…the sessions are interesting, educational and informative!
— Norm Richey,
Co-Chair, Membership
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, March 2020
February 24, 2020 Adult Programs Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Special Workshop
Lessons of Loss Sundays, March 1, 15, 29 and April 12
The Lessons of Loss is a Life-Span Curriculum developed by Unitarian Universalist Carol Galginaitis. To paraphrase Carol Galginaitis, in Lessons of Loss, we frequently note that loss and gain are part of the same experience. We permit the certainty of death to aid our focus on those aspects of life we find most precious. We do not suppress the great pain of loss, yet we recognize that with it may come growth, greater capacity to survive change, and novel avenues of strength. When shared, we recognize that related experiences may help our neighbors, families, and children face life and its often relentless sets of losses, with grace, hope, and peace of mind. We shall explore participants’ experiences to losses large and small including those associated with death. Reflecting on experiences, we shall also explore the consequences of both sharing and ignoring feelings of loss as well as relevant, related Unitarian Universalist theses from theologians and laypeople alike. We shall meet in Forbes Hall on March 1st from 1-3 pm, and March 15, March 29, and April 12 from 12-2 pm. Contact: Leon Henderson-MacLennan.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, March 14
Do you wish to express yourself creatively in art, and yet may feel inadequate or untrained? Do you yearn to make an artistic statement, yet not sure how? Do you have too many catalogs, magazines, and advertisements, and haven’t a clue what to do with them? We welcome you to create your own collages with Stan Bemis! Stan works to bring joy and peace into people’s lives by creating art. The goal of this group is to help foster personal worth and empowerment, entering that holy place within and having sacred fun. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We will meet from 10 am-12 noon in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
International Folk Dancing with Instructors Saturday, March 21
They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends. Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted. We are meeting from 7-8:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Enter through the Arizona entrance. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Ukulele Strum and Sing-Along Saturday, March 21
UU Ukes of Santa Monica presents a monthly strum and sing-a-long. Come and play Ukulele with us (or join with another strumming instrument) or come just to sing along. All levels welcome (from no experience to advanced). Bring a Ukulele if you can, chords and lyrics will be provided and we will share tips and support each other to strum and sing-a-long, pulling from a wide range of music. We will meet in Forbes Hall on the third Saturday of the month, from 10 am-12 pm. Contact: Kim Kalmanson.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, March 22
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet one hour after the service in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, March 17
We will discuss “Sorting the Beef from the Bull: The Science of Food Fraud Forensics,” by Richard Evershed, et al. The authors go beyond the important stories of adulteration – both purposeful and accidental – and look at the methods for detection and the “arms race” as scammers respond to ever-improving technology. All are welcome. We meet from 7:30-9 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
Interest Groups:
Body and Mind Tune-Up for Seniors Every Saturday
Bruno Lacombe is conducting exercise classes for seniors, super-seniors, and people with physical difficulties. Classes are no-charge for UUSM members; non-members suggested donation $10 per class to UUSM. We meet from 12:30-1:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe.
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, March 22
Come and join us as we share stories and inspirations and find community with each other. The group offers a forum in which members can feel the benefit of its mutual support. Previous topics include: how to improve the quality of one’s life overall and how to use structure, aides, and devices more successfully/productively/efficiently in one’s life. The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on a selected topic at each of its meetings throughout this church year. There is a different theme for each month. All church members interested in the topic are invited to attend. We meet on the fourth Sunday of each month a half-hour after the service in the SE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
Parents’ Group Sunday, TBA
Come join us to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting in a group setting! Childcare will be provided. Contact Chris Brown for more information.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, March 5, 19
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group with provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. The topics for Thursday, March 5 are: “What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you,” and “We’re all lucky to be here; were there any events in your life that but for … could have resulted in tragedy and how were they averted.” The topic for Thursday, March 18 is: “What was the model of masculinity you grew up with, and how did you receive the messages of what attitudes, values, behaviors, and roles are expected of a man? Who were the key people, entities, etc. who modeled and communicated that model and those messages? How did that model affect your relationships? How, if at all, has your model of masculinity changed over the years, and what have been the consequences of that change?” We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7:30-9 pm in the NE Cottage. For more information contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Mondays, March 2, 16
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the “who and what” we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Monday is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets in Forbes Classroom 3 from 7:30-9 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Mondays, March 9, 23, 30
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet in Forbes Hall, from 7:30-9:15 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, February 2020
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, AND WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS.
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Special Workshop for February
Prayer Bead Workshop Wednesdays, February 12, 26
You are invited to participate in a special, two-part workshop on prayer beads and spiritual practice. At our first meeting, Rev. Jeremiah will share the history of prayer beads in various cultures and religions–Rosary, Tasbih, Japamala, Catholic, Anglican, Islamic, Pagan, Buddhist. We will discuss types of prayer and ways to adapt them to fit various UU beliefs. Week Two: Keeping in mind what we have learned about the purpose, intention and symbolism of materials in prayer beads, we will make our own prayer beads. We will meet in Forbes Hall from 7–9 pm. Contacts: Bettye Barclay or Sue Stoyanoff.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, February 8
Do you wish to express yourself creatively in art, and yet may feel inadequate or untrained? Do you yearn to make an artistic statement, yet not sure how? Do you have too many catalogs, magazines, and advertisements, and haven’t a clue what to do with them? We welcome you to create your own collages with Stan Bemis! Stan works to bring joy and peace into people’s lives by creating art. The goal of this group is to help foster personal worth and empowerment, entering that holy place within and having sacred fun. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We will meet from 10 am-12 noon in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
International Folk Dancing with Instructors Saturday, February 15
They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends. Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted. We are meeting from 7-8:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Enter through the Arizona entrance. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Ukulele Strum and Sing-Along Saturday, February 15
UU Ukes of Santa Monica presents a monthly strum and sing-a-long. Come and play Ukulele with us (or join with another strumming instrument) or come just to sing along. All levels welcome (from no experience to advanced). Bring a Ukulele if you can, chords and lyrics will be provided and we will share tips and support each other to strum and sing-a-long, pulling from a wide range of music. We will meet in Forbes Hall on the third Saturday of the month, from 10 am-12 pm. Contact: Kim Kalmanson.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, February 23
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet one hour after the service in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, February 18
We will discuss “The Strength Switch: How the New Science of Strength-Based Parenting Can Help Your Child and Your Teen to Flourish,” by Lea Waters. There is more than one way to raise a child to an independent adulthood. Discovering strengths can be put to unexpected uses. All are welcome. We meet from 7:30-9 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
Interest Groups:
Body and Mind Tune-Up for Seniors Every Saturday
Bruno Lacombe is conducting exercise classes for seniors, super-seniors and people with physical difficulties for UUSM members. Classes are no-charge for UUSM members; non-members suggested donation $10 per class to UUSM. We meet from 12:30-1:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe.
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, February 23
Come and join us as we share stories, inspirations and find community with each other. The group offers a forum in which members can feel the benefit of its mutual support. Previous topics include: how to improve the quality of one’s life overall and how to use structure, aides and devices more successfully/productively/efficiently in one’s life. The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on a selected topic at each of its meetings throughout this church year. There is a different theme for each month. All church members interested in the topic are invited to attend. We meet on the fourth Sunday of each month a half hour after the service in the SE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
Parents’ Group Sunday, TBA
Come join us to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting in a group setting! Childcare will be provided. Contact Chris Brown for more information.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, February 6, 20
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group with provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. The topics for Thursday, Feb. 6 are: If your father were alive today, what would he think of our advancements in technology. Is new tech improving our lives or is it distracting and isolating us? How can we fix this? The topics for Thursday, Feb. 20 are: If you could send a message back to yourself as a kid, what would you say? And what’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7:30-9 pm in the NE Cottage. For more information contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Mondays, February 3, 17
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the “who and what” we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Monday is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets in Forbes Classroom 3 from 7:30-9 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Mondays, February 10, 24
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet in Forbes Hall, from 7:30-9:15 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
A Call for UU Humanist “Elevator Speeches”
AAHS: AGNOSTICS, ATHEISTS, HUMANISTS & SECULARISTS FREETHINKERS FORUM
Do you have a good Humanist or UU “elevator speech?” You know, a quick summary that explains a complex subject to someone who only has time for a brief exchange of words… such as might occur during an elevator ride?
Our next AAHS: Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists & Secularists Freethinker Forum is a fun chance to bring, test, or create your best elevator speeches in time for the next issue of UU Humanist Association’s journal. All are welcome, and if you would prefer just to listen to others’ ideas, that’s perfectly fine! More details below:
The Journal of Religious Humanism would like to challenge you to be creatively brief.
So, if you were asked, upon entering an elevator: “Hey, what is Humanism, anyway?”
And you had to reply before exiting, what would you say?
- In one floor? In 10-15 seconds? No more than a dozen words?
- In four floors? 20-30 seconds? No more than 50 words?
- In twelve floors? 45 – 60 seconds? 100 words, tops?
The Journal editors would love to include your positive description in our next issue. Please pick one of the elevator-ride durations as described above, and submit before Jan. 31, 2020, along with your name, phone number, connection to Humanism, and other succinct and relevant information.
We’ll try to include as many entries as we can, but reserve the right to edit, with your permission. We select and edit on a rolling basis, so earlier submissions have a better chance of being included.
Have a burning need to say more? To a four-floor speech you may optionally add up to 250 words of biography and details of what inspired you. To a twelve-floor speech, up to 750 words (also optional).
Secular Humanism. Religious Humanism. Plain ole’ humanism. Whatever you call it – tell us and our members/subscribers what it means to you.
Some unsolicited advice: perfection is rare and takes too long. We accept diamonds in the rough. Think fast, write just a little slower, revise sparingly, and send it in. Who knows? You could make us proud and we might make you famous (within a limited Freethinking universe).
If you can’t make Sunday’s meeting but still wish to submit your elevator speeches to the UU Humanist Association by Jan. 31, please email them to aahs@uusm.org and we will pass them along to Roger Brewin of the Journal of Religious Humanism.
Need some examples?
Here are some Humanist Elevator Speeches from a number of perspectives:
One-floor elevator speeches:
“Belief and trust in human effort.”
-John Dietrich, Minister, First Unitarian Society, Minneapolis, 1930s.
“Wonder, imagination, fulfillment, creativity, meaning: available to everyone – religious or not.”
-Marilyn Westfall, Humanist spokesperson and published poet, in “How to Thread a Needle,” Journal of Religious Humanism, 2015
“Religious Humanism celebrates individual rational choice in loving community.”
-Roger Brewin, UU Humanists Association Board member, 2019.
Four-floor elevator speeches:
“Engaged in the flow of life, we aspire to this vision: our informed conviction is that humanity has the ability to progress towards its highest ideals. The responsibility for our lives and the kind of world in which we live, is ours.”
-Stephanie Downs Hughes, DuPage UU Church, on Humanist Manifesto III, Journal of Religious Humanism, 2003.
“Humanism tells me human life is … worthy of respect and care. Environmentalism tells me: to be human is to be part of an interdependent circle of all life. Environmental Humanism compels me to work to reduce human practices that threaten the survival of life on earth.”
-Carol Hepokoski, Meadville Lombard Theological School, in “Being Human on a Warming Planet,” Journal of Religious Humanism, 2016
Twelve-floor elevator speeches:
“A humanist accepts the scientific worldview, its explanations of the origins of the universe and the evolution of humankind as a natural part of that universe. We believe those things for which we have found evidence, reflected on and refined by the use of reason and critical thought. It is through human will and human work that the ills in our lives can be overcome. That which we revere and find sacred is manifest in our human freedom to choose the good, our quest for truth, love of justice, practice of compassion, and creation and appreciation of beauty.”
-- Kathleen Korb, minister of the UU Congregation of Greater Naples, FL., UUHA General Assembly workshop: If Not God, What?, 2003
“As a Humanist I accept and rejoice in the reality of our world and our lives here and now. To me the idea of Heaven pales in comparison to the grandeur and majesty of this delicate planet on which we find ourselves. How can any notion of an afterlife be more compelling than the drama of our human experience: human emotions, sensations, struggles, triumphs, opportunities gained and lost? What could be more glorious than just being alive for whatever time we have, and how could we ever appreciate being alive without the sure knowledge of our eventual death?”
-- Susanne Werner, DuPage UU Church, in “Nature ‘N Us,” Journal of Religious Humanism, 2003
Rabbi Adam Chalom to Speak on Humanistic Approaches to Religious Traditions
SUNDAY, FEB. 2 AT 2 PM TO 4 PM IN THE SANCTUARY
AAHS (AAHS: Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists & Secularists) is thrilled to welcome Rabbi Adam Chalom to UU Santa Monica Sunday, Feb. 2 at 2 pm to 4 pm in the Sanctuary. He will talk about his work as Rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation and share his wisdom on humanistic approaches to historic religious traditions in today’s changing landscape of faith and practice.
Many humanists, agnostics, or the otherwise non-religious are emotionally attached to family and cultural traditions, from Passover seders to “holiday” trees, but can struggle to celebrate their heritage with philosophical integrity. What experience can 50 years of Humanistic Judaism offer towards open yet rooted cultural identities and communities?
Rabbi Adam Chalom has served as Dean for North America of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, the leadership and rabbinical training institution of the world-wide movement of Secular Humanistic Judaism, since 2007. He has also served as Rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in suburban Chicago, where he lives with his wife and two children. He is on the editorial board of the journal Humanistic Judaism and has served on the Advisory Council of The Humanist Institute.
Rabbi Chalom was raised as a Humanistic Jew at the Birmingham Temple in suburban Detroit, Michigan, the founding congregation of Humanistic Judaism. He earned his B.A. from Yale University in Judaic Studies, a Master’s Degree at the University of Michigan in Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies, Rabbinic ordination from the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, and his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in Near Eastern Studies. His dissertation was titled “Modern Midrash: Jewish Identity and Literary Creativity.”
Rabbi Chalom has previously helped organize and spoken at conferences on theism and public policy, young adult children of intermarriage, the future of Jewish peoplehood, and more. He has contributed to several published volumes, most recently “Humanistic Judaism and Secular Spirituality” in Religion: Beyond Religion (MacMillan, 2016) and the entry “Humanistic Judaism” in The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. Rabbi Chalom has also edited two books: Jews and the Muslim World: Solving the Puzzle (IISHJ, 2010) and Rabbi Sherwin Wine’s A Provocative People: A Secular History of the Jews (IISHJ, 2012). He also developed a 50-session adult education curriculum, Introduction to Secular Humanistic Judaism (IISHJ).
Contact: aahs@uusm.org
What’s Happening in Youth RE?
DRE CLEO ANDERSON'S JANUARY REPORT TO THE BOARD
Religious Exploration (RE) is in full swing now. There are many, many programs and events that comprise the RE program but not many detailed records. And so, as I began my tenure here, I began to build records and infrastructure to streamline planning and execution. The RE Committee has also begun to look at what we want new parents to know as they join our community. Overall, this first three months has been an exploratory time of growth for the RE program.
RE in General
The Christmas Pageant went really well. We had a mix of enrolled RE families, new families and congregants who make a special trip just to see the kids.
We covered Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in general RE with many of our nursery-age kids joining the elementary kids for story time and holiday crafts.
Up next will be our Second Fun Sunday: Board Games and Popcorn.
Our Whole Lives (OWL)
We have a full class at 11 students. The final session for Grades 5/6 was January 26. We’re planning the K/1 six-week program for the spring. And we’re putting together a plan for a OWL training here at UUSM in late June/early July — as well as sending interested folks to be trained for Adult OWL in March in Orlando.
Coming of Age (COA)
COA is still going along. COA journals are going to be distributed next session. We have an excellent tapestry of teachers filling in and even have two brand new kids joining this week and next. This brings us up to eight teens total!
Programming
We’re looking into purchasing some new curricula to use for summer. And we are looking at the logistics of running a Spring Break camp for RE and neighborhood kids that is staffed by our teens.
Attendance
When at full attendance (which has happened twice) we have 29 (soon to be 31) kids and teens onsite on any given Sunday.
RE still averages eight or nine but is frequently hitting the 12-kid mark. This variable makes lesson planning hard, but the kids are always game to adapt activities for number or ages.
But… we do only have 15 kids who have turned in RE Registration forms. Starting in February, we’ll be instituting a policy that will prohibit kids from attending class if they don’t have a completed registration form. Visiting families will be given a day-of contact form.
Thank you all for your contributions and support to our RE program!
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, January 2020
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Special Offerings for January
Esoteric Spirituality “The Diamond Approach” Saturday, January 11
The Diamond Approach offers an immense and precise body of knowledge about the nature of reality and the process of spiritual realization. Many levels of engagement with this approach are available ranging from online courses to three day retreats. Vince Draddy will give us an introduction to this approach along with a Q&A session. From 4-6 pm in the Sanctuary, with a reception in Forbes from 6:30-8 pm. Parking available at the lot at Arizona and 16th. Contact: Mark Berlin.
How to be an Antiracist Sundays, January 19 and 26, or Thursdays, January 23 and 30
Ibram X. Kendi’s concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America — but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it. In his memoir, Kendi weaves together an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science — including the story of his own awakening to antiracism — bringing it all together in a cogent, accessible form. He begins by helping us rethink our most deeply held, if implicit, beliefs and our most intimate personal relationships (including beliefs about race and IQ and interracial social relations) and reexamines the policies and larger social arrangements we support. How to Be an Antiracist promises to become an essential book for anyone who wants to go beyond an awareness of racism to the next step of contributing to the formation of a truly just and equitable society. Part 1: Sunday, January 19, 3-5 pm (Forbes) or Thursday, January 23, 7-9 pm (Warren Mathews Conference Room); Part 2: Sunday, January 26, 3-5 pm (Forbes) or Thursday, January 30, 7-9 pm (Warren Mathews Conference Room). Sponsored by Faith In Action: Peace & Social Justice Committee. Contact: James Witker.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, January 11
Do you wish to express yourself creatively in art, and yet may feel inadequate or untrained? Do you yearn to make an artistic statement, yet not sure how? Do you have too many catalogs, magazines, and advertisements, and haven’t a clue what to do with them? We welcome you to create your own collages with Stan Bemis! Stan works to bring joy and peace into people’s lives by creating art. The goal of this group is to help foster personal worth and empowerment, entering that holy place within and having sacred fun. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We will meet from 10 am-12 noon in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
International Folk Dancing with Instructors Saturday, January 18
They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends. Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted. We are meeting from 7-8:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Enter through the Arizona entrance. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, January 26
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet one hour after the service in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, January 21
We will discuss Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson quickly gives us just what we need to be fluent for the next cosmic headline. We meet from 7:30-9 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
Interest Groups:
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, January 26
The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on the topic, Seasonal Affective Disorders. We meet on the fourth Sunday of each month a half hour after the service in the SE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
Parents’ Group Sunday, January 26
Come join to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting in a group setting! Childcare will be provided. We meet from 11:30 am-1 pm in the NW Cottage. Contact: Chris Brown.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, January 2, 16
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group with provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. The topic for Thursday, January 2 is: What New Year’s resolution would you like to achieve – and/or what reflection on the New Year, or the one just passed do you have? The topic for Thursday, January 16 is: Which of the cities, towns or neighborhoods you have lived in is your favorite, and why?
We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7:30-9 pm in the NE Cottage. For more information contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Mondays, January 6, 20
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the “who and what” we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Monday is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets in Forbes Classroom 3 from 7:30-9 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Mondays, January 13, 27
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet in Forbes Hall, from 7:30-9:15 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Highlights of additional interest groups meeting in January
- Knitters and Friends NOTE: on hiatus until further notice. If interested, contact: Linda Van Ligten.
- Body-Mind Tune Up for Seniors This group is for seniors, superseniors, and people with physical difficulties. Each Saturday from 12:30-1:30 pm in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. Contact: Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.
Brave Spaces: Mindful Social Practice and Authentic Allyship
SAVE THE DATE - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2020
Please join the Healthy Congregation Council in welcoming Jeremy Arnold, son of Board member Abby Arnold, to our church for a workshop on the topic of Microaggressions. Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D., defines these as “brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to certain individuals because of their group membership.” The persons making the comments may be otherwise well-intentioned and unaware of the potential impact of their words. Jeremy will share tools for navigating fraught conversations, around marginalization, and maintaining positive relationships with fellow community members.
Jeremy, who was raised in our church, is currently Program Director at Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), an interfaith worker-justice nonprofit. At Tulane University, he studied critical perspectives including Critical Race Theory, Feminist Studies, Queer Theory, Marxist Analysis, New Media Theory, and New Historicism, and was the Community Outreach Director for the Tulane chapter of Amnesty International. Throughout his time in college, he worked in the restaurant and bar industry as well as with the local hotel workers’ union, Unite Here Local 23. In his role at CLUE, he supervises a team of community organizers who educate, organize, and mobilize religious communities to support workers and immigrants in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
We will meet on Sunday, February 2 at noon in the Warren Mathews Conference Center. For further information, please contact rightrelations@uusm.org.
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, December 2019
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Spotlight:
Dr. Christopher Cameron: Black Freethinkers
Friday, December 20
Friday, December 20
Join AAHS and friends for an evening with Dr. Christopher Cameron, whose new book, “Black Freethinkers: A History of African American Secularism,” argues that, contrary to historical and popular depictions of African Americans as naturally religious, freethought (encompassing atheism/agnosticism/humanism and other non-traditional orientations) has been central to black political and intellectual life from the nineteenth century to the present. We will meet from 7-9 pm in the Sanctuary. Contact: James Witker.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, December 14
Do you wish to express yourself creatively in art, and yet may feel inadequate or untrained? Do you yearn to make an artistic statement, yet not sure how? Do you have too many catalogs, magazines, and advertisements, and haven’t a clue what to do with them? We welcome you to create your own collages with Stan Bemis! Stan works to bring joy and peace into people’s lives by creating art. The goal of this group is to help foster personal worth and empowerment, entering that holy place within and having sacred fun. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We will meet from 10 am-12 noon in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
International Folk Dancing with Instructors Saturday, December 14
They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends. Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted. We are meeting from 7-8:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Enter through the Arizona entrance. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Exploration of Ideas:
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, December 17
We will discuss “Whatever Happened to the Metric System? How America Kept Its Feet,” by John B. Marciano. The metric system was developed and considered for adoption nearly as far back as the Revolutionary War. How does it happen that we still use feet? There is lots of history here. We meet from 7:30-9 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, December 22
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet one hour after the service in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Interest Groups:
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, December 22
The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on the topic, Seasonal Affective Disorders. We meet on the fourth Sunday of each month a half hour after the service in the SE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
Parents’ Group Sunday, December 15
Come join to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting in a group setting! Childcare will be provided. We meet from 11:30-1 pm in the SE Cottage. Contact: Chris Brown.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, December 5, 19
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group with provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. The topic for Dec. 5 is: “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” (George Bernard Shaw.) Is there a higher or lower proportion of such “unreasonable” people in our society now than in years past? Is this good or bad and why? The topic for Dec. 19 is: Which of the cities, towns or neighborhoods you have lived in is your favorite, and why? We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7:30-9 pm in the NE Cottage. For more information contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Mondays, December 2, 16
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the “who and what” we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Monday is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets in Forbes Classroom 3 from 7:30-9 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Mondays, December 9, 23, 30
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet in Forbes Hall, from 7:30-9:15 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Highlights of additional interest groups meeting in December:
Knitters and Friends NOTE: on hiatus until further notice. If interested, contact: Linda Van Ligten.
Body-Mind Tune Up for Seniors This group is for seniors, superseniors, and people with physical difficulties. Each Saturday from 12:30-1:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.
An Evening with Dr. Christopher Cameron and “Black Freethinkers”
READING AND DISCUSSION
Join us on Friday, December 20 at 7:00 pm for an evening with Dr. Christopher Cameron, professor at UNC Charlotte and author of the new book, Black Freethinkers: A History of African American Secularism. UUSM’s AAHS: Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists & Secularists group is hosting the discussion in the Sanctuary, and signed books will be available.
Cameron is an associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is the founder of the African American Intellectual History Society, the author of To Plead Our Own Cause: African Americans in Massachusetts and The Making of the Antislavery Movement, and a coeditor of New Perspectives on the Black Intellectual Tradition. In Black Freethinkers, he argues that, contrary to historical and popular depictions of African Americans as naturally religious, freethought has been central to black political and intellectual life from the nineteenth century to the present. Freethought encompasses many different schools of thought, including atheism, agnosticism, and nontraditional orientations such as deism and paganism.
Cameron suggests an alternative origin of non-belief and religious skepticism in America, namely the brutality of the institution of slavery. He also traces the growth of atheism and agnosticism among African Americans in two major political and intellectual movements of the 1920s: the New Negro Renaissance and the growth of black socialism and communism. In a final chapter, he explores the critical importance of freethought among participants in the civil rights and Black Power movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
Examining a wealth of sources—including slave narratives, travel accounts, novels, poetry, memoirs, newspapers, and archival sources such as church records, sermons, and letters—the book follows the lives and contributions of well-known figures, including Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, and Alice Walker, as well as lesser-known thinkers such as Louise Thompson Patterson, Sarah Webster Fabio, and David Cincore.
Contact aahs@uusm.org for more info.
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, June 2020
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, AND WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Do you have a passion or an expertise? Are you a chef or a gardener, a historian or an actor? Would you like to offer some help, support, or some frivolity to our UU community via Zoom? We’re seeking programming that is fun, informative, and engaging. Please let us know if there’s something you’d like to offer and the Adult RE Committee will help you to do it. Email the Adult RE Committee (AdultRE@UUSM.org) or Teri Lucas (uusmREassist@uusm.org) and we can work with you on presenting your ideas.
Special Offering
Nature Journaling Sunday, June 21 – Online Zoom
Dorothy Steinicke will lead a brief discussion of how important natural places have been to us. We will then engage in some exercises using writing and drawing to more closely observe natural items. She will address the anxiety that the majority of people feel about drawing. We will take time to work individually and then share, not necessarily what we have done – although that will be welcome, but what insights we gained from making our observations. We will start with brief times of observation and then gradually extend them. Dorothy has designed this group so that it can be done by people who do not currently have access to the outdoors. Contact: Dorothy Steinicke. We will meet on Zoom from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Dorothy Steinicke has more than twenty years experience leading hikes for children and for adults and introducing people to different aspects of nature in Topanga Canyon, Ballona Wetlands, and Dockweiler Beach. She surveys beaches for the Audubon Society looking for endangered beach birds. She has been involved in programs that document amphibians in local creeks and has been involved in programs to monitor turtle populations.
Dorothy Steinicke will lead a brief discussion of how important natural places have been to us. We will then engage in some exercises using writing and drawing to more closely observe natural items. She will address the anxiety that the majority of people feel about drawing. We will take time to work individually and then share, not necessarily what we have done – although that will be welcome, but what insights we gained from making our observations. We will start with brief times of observation and then gradually extend them. Dorothy has designed this group so that it can be done by people who do not currently have access to the outdoors. Contact: Dorothy Steinicke. We will meet on Zoom from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Dorothy Steinicke has more than twenty years experience leading hikes for children and for adults and introducing people to different aspects of nature in Topanga Canyon, Ballona Wetlands, and Dockweiler Beach. She surveys beaches for the Audubon Society looking for endangered beach birds. She has been involved in programs that document amphibians in local creeks and has been involved in programs to monitor turtle populations.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Online Coffee & Teahouse Conversation Wednesdays – Online Zoom
Bring your tea or coffee cup and have a check in with Reverend Jeremiah and your fellow UUs. We shall examine our current lives, as well as focus on UUA monthly themes at our weekly Wednesday check-in. Scheduled for every Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Contact Reverend Jeremiah at minister@uusm.org for the Zoom link.
CommUUnity Connection Meetings June 3 – Online Zoom
A time to connect with others and share experiences during this time of isolation. Margot Page and Wendi Gladstone will be conducting this meeting. Email CommUUnity@uusm.org to register for this 7:00 to 8:00 pm Wednesday Zoom meeting.
Ukulele Strum and Sing-Along To Be Announced
UU Ukes of Santa Monica presents a monthly strum and sing-a-long. Come and play Ukulele with us (or join with another strumming instrument) or come just to sing along. All levels welcome (from no experience to advanced). Bring a Ukulele if you can, chords and lyrics will be provided and we will share tips and support each other to strum and sing-a-long, pulling from a wide range of music. Contact: Kim Kalmanson for updates.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, June 28 – Online Zoom
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm via Zoom. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday June 16 – Online Zoom
We will discuss Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond, by Sonia Shah. The author, a science journalist, concentrates on the viruses and how their infectivity and pathogenicity change over time and circumstance, with particular emphasis on cholera. Politics and preparation are woven in. The book was published in 2016. To receive the Zoom link, you will want to be on the group email list. Contact: Rebecca Crawford at sci-nonfiction@uusm.org for more information. We meet from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, June 4, June 18 – Online Zoom
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group with provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. The topic for June 4 is: “There are in fact no masses, but only ways of seeing people as masses.” (Raymond Williams (1961), Resources of Hope: Culture, Democracy, Socialism) It seems that it is human nature to label and categorize people we do not know well personally. What is an example of people you realize that you tend to regard mainly by a group label? How is this bad for them and for you? The topic for June 18 is: Recalling an important conflict in your life, did you handle it successfully? If not, did you benefit from the experience in a similar situation later in life? For more information and Zoom link, contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Mondays, June 1 and June 15 – Online Zoom
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the “who and what” we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Mondays is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Mondays, June 8, June 22, June 29 – Online Zoom
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet from 7:30 to 9:15 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Open Meditation: Wellsprings Tuesdays and Thursdays – Online Zoom
These are exceptional times, 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. We trust each of you will use this group in the way that fits your needs. We listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal and share with each other what’s on our hearts. This time of quiet meditation and sharing can help sustain and ground us during these difficult days – supporting us to pause and rest in our embodied experience, as it is. We simply sit together in our shared humanity. We call off the struggle to become other than we are. These are drop-in groups. You are welcome to join us when it feels right to you. If you come in late or need to leave early, just do so quietly. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 12:00 to 1:00 pm online. Contact: Bev Shoenberger.
News from Children & Youth RE, June 2020
STAYING IN TOUCH WITH FUN AND GAMES
You aren’t seeing us now, but we’ve been busy organizing and arranging a number of activities for our children and youth. Even though we are staying at home along with all of you, we are busy on Zoom with fun and games to help while away the hours.
Our Children and Youth Religious Exploration Committee has been calling all the families in our congregation to check in and make sure that all of people we care about are feeling well and loved. Please do check in with us, any time. We’d love to hear from you: call Director of Religious Education Cleo Anderson and leave a message for her at 310-829-5436 ext. 105.
Here is a sampling of the events we have going on…and the best part is that you’re all invited!
Pre-School Check In—Tuesdays 11:00 am to noon.
Meet us on Zoom for a chalice lighting, story, and discussion of our favorite parts of being at home.
Middle School Logic Puzzles—Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.
Join us on Zoom to try to solve some logic puzzles as a team.
Elementary Check In—Thursdays 11:00 am to noon.
Join us on Zoom for a chalice lighting, check-in, and a few fun videos and quizzes.
Coming of Age
Demonstrating their impressive command of the 5th Unitarian Universalist Principle, the use of the democratic process, this year’s class has elected to mostly halt our formal Zoom gatherings until it’s safe for us to return to in-person meet-ups. In the meanwhile, Coming of Age participants are moving forward with their church community service project, which can be done while safer-at-home orders are in place. We’re also connecting via Zoom about once a month to check in and connect socially. We hope to complete the program with our full cohort and schedule a Coming of Age service in the fall.
New Ideas…
Watch your emails for announcements on new art and dance class offerings. Let us know the best times to offer these classes. We’ve got some experts lined up to bring the arts right to you. Fun for all ages and all families.
Our attendance varies from week to week, and we know our children have school work to do alongside their time to play. If you have any ideas of something you’d like to do/see/attend, please let us know. Email Teri at uusmREassist@uusm.org or Cleo at dre@uusm.org. We’re open to fresh ideas and want to involve and connect with as many of you as we can. We do miss seeing you!
Nature Journaling with Dorothy Steinicke–Sunday, June 21
DISCOVER THE REFRESHING BEAUTY OF NATURE
In this time of quarantine and sheltering indoors, reconnecting with nature is most important. Exposure to the natural world can help with feelings of deep connection, clarity, serenity, peace, joy, amazement, and rejuvenation. It helps maintain a healthy balance, and it is well documented that having a strong connection with nature and spending time attending to the natural world, gives us a heightened sense of well being and happiness. It is good for both our emotional and mental health. One can argue that it is good for our spiritual health as well.
Nature journaling, even if you are limited to the indoors, can be a healthy addition to your life. In our workshop, we will strive to reconnect. We will work from direct observation and from memory, recording through words and drawings what we remember, observe, and wonder about our chosen natural objects. With drawing the natural items, the aim is not to be perfectly realistic, but rather gaining insight upon close observations. We may gain greater appreciation from these reflections, and it is an enjoyable way to spend time. We may find that even in our homes we are more connected to nature than we had realized.
To participate, you do not need access to the outdoors (a yard or a balcony) although you may feel free to make use of those if they are available to you. You just need a pencil, a sheet of paper, and a few items from nature that most of us can find around our homes: a stone, shell, potted plant, a piece of fruit or a vegetable. By journaling, the natural world opens its immense beauty to us.
This group will meet on Sunday, June 21, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm on Zoom. Please RSVP to AdultRE@UUSM.org, with Nature Journaling in the subject line.
A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Dorothy Steinicke has more than twenty years experience introducing people to a love of the natural world. She leads hikes for children and for adults in Topanga Canyon, Ballona Wetlands, and Dockweiller State Beach. She surveys the beaches for the Audubon Society looking for endangered beach birds. She has been involved in programs that document amphibians in local creeks and in a program to monitor a sensitive turtle population.
Tarot Meditation for UUs
A FOUR-PART EXPLORATION
The Tarot is a fascinating, intricate system of interconnecting pictorial symbolism that is meant to catalyze helpful transformations within ourselves and our psyches, affecting not just behaviors, but perhaps even granting serendipitous opportunities.
Jonathan Quant, aka “Buddha,” has been a practitioner of Tarot meditation for over 20 years and is eager to introduce you to the practice. Whether you are new to Tarot, or believe you know much… you will certainly gain fresh insights. The workshop will run June 30, July 7, July 14 and July 21, from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Please RSVP to AdultRE@UUSM.org, re: Tarot Meditation.
Jonathan has kindly provided some additional information on the Tarot, its sources, and its relevance for Unitarian Universalists:
What is the Tarot?
The Major Tarot consists of 22 pictures that demonstrate a plenitude of interconnected symbols, drawing from such systems as the mystical Qabalah, astrology, alchemy, numerology, sacred geometry and mathematics, world mythology, Theosophy, Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, and even Freemasonry. In modern times, it acquired Jungian psychological commentary as well. It is meant to catalyze helpful transformations within ourselves and our psyches, affecting not just behaviors, but perhaps even granting serendipitous opportunities, leading to the discovery of one’s true identity and full self-realization.
The Tarot draws primarily from Hermetic Philosophy, which had a great impact on the Renaissance, the Reformation, and even continuing with the Enlightenment. Hermeticism helped spark the development of science from 1300 to 1600 AD, with the philosophy that alchemy and its related magical systems could control nature in a transcendent way. Sir Isaac Newton greatly valued Hermeticism in his endeavor to understand the physical world.
The Hermetic philosophy teaches that the entire physical universe, including humanity (called the microcosm), reflects the Absolute (or the macrocosm): thus, the maxim “as above, so below.” What happens on any level of reality (physical, emotional, or mental) will happen on all other levels of reality. Thus, what one absorbs as they view the Tarot cards will have an impact on the multiple layers of oneself.
Why would a Unitarian Universalist study Tarot?
As one of its primary tenets, Hermeticism asserts that there is a single, true theology which is present through all spiritual paths. In Hermeticism, the ultimate reality is referred to variously as God, the All, the Absolute, or the One. Hermeticism is monotheistic, deistic, and unitarian.
Universalist thought has much in common with the tenets of Hermetic Philosophy. Hermeticism had a large impact on the Transcendentalists, of which Unitarian Universalism is a direct descendant. Ralph Waldo Emerson was greatly inspired, and co-authored “The Hermetic Book of Nature: An American Revolution in Consciousness.”
Launching Faith Forward
NINE-SESSION INQUIRERS SERIES OPEN TO ALL
Many folks come to UUSM with a host of questions ranging from “What is Unitarian Universalism?” to “What do UUs believe?”. Our Inquirers Series, developed by the UU Church of Dallas specifically for visitors and new members, is designed to help answer these questions and many others.
A total of nine sessions will be presented consecutively each week from Sunday, October 13, through Sunday, December 8. They will be held in Room 1 on the second floor of Forbes Hall from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm after the Sunday Service. It is not necessary to attend them in sequence nor is it necessary to attend them all, although we hope you do so. The entire series of nine sessions will be offered again beginning January 12, 2020.
The following is a list of classes:
10/13/19 Session 1: UU Principles, Sources and Historical Overview
10/20/19 Session 2: Campus Tour, Orientation and Church History
10/27/19 Session 3: Worship and the Liturgical Year
11/03/19 Session 4: Q & A with the Minister, Rev Jeremiah Kalendae
11/10/19 Session 5: Practicing our UU Faith — Small Group Connections:
Heart to Heart
Our Whole Lives (OWL) program
11/17/19 Session 6: Q & A with the Minister, Rev Jeremiah Kalendae
11/24/19 Session 7: Social Action and Community Service
12/01/19 Session 8: Pastoral Care
CareRing
Healthy Congregation
12/08/19 Session 9: Membership 101 and Congregational Life
Everyone is welcome, with priority given to visitors and new members. Registration will be limited to 15 participants. Other members are welcome on a space-available basis.
Please note: Visitors attending our Church for the very first time are warmly invited to attend the Visitor Meetup in the Cottage at 11:30 am after the Sunday Service.
Registration will be held at the Adult RE table in Forbes Hall during Fellowship after the Sunday Service and at the conclusion of Visitor Meetup for first-time visitors.
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, November 2019
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regards to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Gentle Yoga Mondays
We will explore traditional yoga poses in a safe, compassionate, non-competitive environment that is welcoming to all who can get up and down from a yoga mat. We will be working on traditional yoga poses with a focus on creating a safe, productive, compassionate, non-competitive environment that is welcoming to all. We will work on strength, flexibility, restorative poses, and deep relaxation. We recommend the following props for the best experience: Yoga mat (required); two yoga blankets or beach towels (required); two yoga blocks (suggested); yoga strap or any belt (required); yoga bolster (recommended). For more information, drop by the Adult RE table on Sunday or email AdultRE@UUSM.org The group meets from 6-7 pm in Forbes Hall on Mondays.
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, November 9
Do you wish to express yourself creatively in art, and yet may feel inadequate or untrained? Do you yearn to make an artistic statement, yet not sure how? Do you have too many catalogs, magazines, and advertisements, and haven’t a clue what to do with them? We welcome you to create your own collages with Stan Bemis! Stan works to bring joy and peace into people’s lives through creating art. He has taught many who didn’t realize they had creative talent, from all across the world – from California to Palestine/Israel. He welcomes any age, from youths to older adults. The goal of this group is to help foster personal worth and empowerment, entering that holy place within and having sacred fun. The objectives are: 1. to create works of art; and 2. to possibly create cards for events or celebrations. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We will meet from 10 am-12 noon in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
International Folk Dancing with Instructors Saturday, November 9
We are back! They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends. Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted. We are meeting from 7-8:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Enter through the Arizona entrance. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Exploration of Ideas:
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, November 19
We will discuss “Clean Meat: How Growing Meat without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World,” by Paul Shapiro. All are welcome. We meet from 7:30-9 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, November 24
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet one hour after the service in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Interest Groups:
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, November 24
The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on a selected topic at each of its meetings throughout this church year. This month’s topic is “Personal Boundaries.” All church members interested in the topic are invited to attend. We meet on the fourth Sunday of each month a half hour after the service in the NE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, November 7, 21
This 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. The topic for November 7 is: What was the most alarming thing that happened to any of your children? If no children, what alarming/serious thing happened to your significant other – or to you? The topic for November 21 is: How did you meet your wife/significant other and when did you know that you wanted to be together as long as possible/marry? We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7:30-9 pm in the NE Cottage. For more information contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Mondays, November 4, 18
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the who and what we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Monday is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets in Forbes Classroom 3 from 7:30-9 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Mondays, November 11, 25
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet on Monday November 11th in Classroom 3, and Monday November 25 in Forbes Hall, from 7:30-9:15 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Highlights of additional interest groups meeting in November
Knitters and Friends NOTE: on hiatus until further notice. If interested, contact: Linda Van Ligten.
Body-Mind Tune Up for Seniors This group is for seniors, superseniors, and people with physical difficulties. Now on a new day of the week! Each Saturday from 12:30-1:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.
AAHS welcomes Vanessa Gomez Brake, 2019 UU Humanist Award Winner and Associate Dean of Religious Life at USC
For our November Freethinker Forum, AAHS is honored to welcome Vanessa Gomez Brake, Associate Dean of Religious Life at USC and recipient of the 2019 UU Humanist Association’s Person of the Year Award.
This month, we’ll meet in the Sanctuary on Sunday, November 24 at 12 Noon.
Vanessa is the first Humanist chaplain to serve in her capacity at any American university. In her role, she works to support and promote university religious and spiritual life broadly conceived. She helps oversee more than 90 student religious groups and 50 religious directors on campus. She also provides confidential counseling and support to immigrant and international students.
Vanessa received the Person of the Year award at the UU Humanist Association’s annual meeting at UU General Assembly in Spokane, WA, in June. The UUHA board has roundly expressed gratitude for Vanessa’s role in higher learning, which reaffirms the value humanism brings to any spiritually and religiously diverse community. Amanda Poppei, President of the UUHA, frames Vanessa’s work and role on even grander terms. “Vanessa’s work as the first-ever humanist university religious affairs official highlights the growth of humanism as a core part of America’s religious landscape.”
Awarded annually, the UU Humanist Association Person of the Year Award honors individuals whose work affirms, promotes, and advances the ideals of Humanism within the Unitarian Universalist Association or in society at large. It recognizes leadership and effort in promoting values reflected in the UU Humanist Association’s Mission.
All are welcome to join us for a lively discussion moderated by James. Contact: aahs@uusm.org
More about Vanessa:
Vanessa Gomez Brake is the Associate Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California. She is the first humanist chaplain to serve in this capacity at any American university. By the recommendation of Provost Quick’s Advisory Task Force on Immigration, Vanessa also provides confidential counseling and support to immigrant and international students.
Previously, Vanessa worked at Stanford University’s Office for Religious Life, where she helped lead campus programming and worked closely with numerous student religious groups. At Stanford, she organized ceremonies, events, programs, and worship services at the historic Stanford Memorial Church and CIRCLE: Center for Inter-Religious Community, Learning, and Experiences. Additionally, she played a supporting role at the Windhover Contemplative Center, and the campus-wide series Contemplation-by-Design. Vanessa also coordinated a delegation of Stanford students and staff to attend the Parliament of World Religions in 2015.
As an accomplished Filipino folk dancer and multi-instrumentalist, Vanessa has performed at the White House and Carnegie Hall for Filipino American History Month celebrations. Her folk artistry is an extension of her interfaith work, as her performances showcase the diverse traditions, rituals, and beliefs of Muslim, Christian, and indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
Vanessa received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies and Psychology from Arizona State University. She received her Master of Science degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. She is currently completing her Master of Divinity degree at the Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), where she also received the 2018 Rabbi Herman E. Schaalman Interreligious Leadership Award. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association – Person of the Year Award. She holds a Certificate in Humanist Studies & Leadership from the Humanist Institute, and is endorsed as a humanist chaplain by the Humanist Society.
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, October 2019
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regards to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Continued Offering:
Preparing Your Own Advance Directive for Healthcare Saturday, October 5
Your Advance Directive is a legal document that can speak for you when you cannot speak for yourself. It empowers an agent that you select to make medical decisions for you and act as your advocate in difficult times. In this workshop we’ll explore materials that can help you make the choices to mark on your directive. Bring your questions, maybe a previous directive or “living will” document, and join us for homemade muffins Saturday morning, from 9:30 am to noon in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. This is the second of two workshops. All are welcome, including all who couldn’t make it to the first offering. Contact: Joyce Holmen. One time materials cost: $5.00.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Gentle Yoga Mondays
We will explore traditional yoga poses in a safe, compassionate, non-competitive environment that is welcoming to all who are able to get up and down from a yoga mat. We will be working on traditional yoga poses with a focus on creating a safe, effective, compassionate, non-competitive environment that is welcoming to all. We will work on strength, flexibility, restorative poses, and deep relaxation. Some equipment is required, including a yoga mat, two blankets, and a strap, and several other suggestions. The instructor Mary Lee Olsen has a 500 hour certificate as a yoga teacher. The group meets from 6-7 pm in Forbes Hall.
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, October 12
Do you wish to express yourself creatively in art, and yet may feel inadequate or untrained? Do you yearn to make an artistic statement, yet not sure how? Do you have too many catalogs, magazines, and advertisements, and haven’t a clue what to do with them? We welcome you to create your own collages with Stan Bemis! Stan works to bring joy and peace into people’s lives through creating art. He has taught many who didn’t realize they had creative talent, from all across the world – from California to Palestine/Israel. He welcomes any age, from youths to older adults. The goal of this group is to help foster personal worth and empowerment, entering that holy place within and having sacred fun. The objectives are: 1. to create works of art; and 2. to possibly create cards for events or celebrations. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We will meet from 10 am-12 noon in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
International Folk Dancing with Instructors Saturday, October 19
We are back! They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends. Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted. We are meeting from 7-8:30 pm in Forbes. Enter through the Arizona entrance. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Exploration of Ideas:
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, October 15
We will discuss “How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming,” by Mike Brown. In 2005, astronomer Mike Brown discovered a 10th planet, Eris. More discoveries followed. How many planets could we have? All are welcome. We meet at 7:30-9 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, October 27
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet a half hour after the service in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Interest Groups:
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, October 27
The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on a selected topic at each of its meetings throughout this church year. This month’s topic is “Personal Boundaries.” All church members interested in the topic are invited to attend. We meet on the fourth Sunday of each month a half hour after the service in the NE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, October 3, 17
This 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. The topic for Oct. 3 continues from our last meeting when only two guys could describe: What has been your biggest life blunder, if you had one, or something close, and how did it turn out? The topic for Oct. 17 is a huge problem in LA and Santa Monica: What do you believe is necessary to turn around the homeless problem in LA County? We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7:30-9 pm in the NE room of the Cottage. For more information contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are
Cancelled through October
Open Meditation Mondays, October 14, 28
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet on the second, fourth, and fifth Mondays from 7:30-9:15 pm in Forbes. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Highlights of additional interest groups meeting in October
Knitters and Friends
NOTE: on hiatus until further notice. If interested, contact: Linda Van Ligten.
NOTE: on hiatus until further notice. If interested, contact: Linda Van Ligten.
Body-Mind Tune Up for Seniors This group is for seniors, superseniors, and people with physical difficulties. Now on a new day of the week! Each Saturday from 11:45 am-12:45 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.