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Newsletter for January, 2022

Month: 
Dec 2021
From Our Minister: 

From Our Minister: Living with Intention

 
 
Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent. 
 
-Parker J. Palmer
 
Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you healthy and hopeful about the future. Thank you to everyone who sent good wishes or held us with healing thoughts as my mother was hospitalized and then COVID made its way to my household last week. I am happy to report that everyone is on the mend and I am feeling revitalized after a lot of rest. The intensity of this experience really brought home the reality of the pandemic and what it takes for us to restore ourselves after such trauma. While our society has focused on responding to the physical toll it is taking on all of us, much less attention has been given to its impact on the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of our communities. It is likely that the trauma of this experience will continue to reverberate throughout our society in predictable and unpredictable ways for months and years to come. I would like to challenge us all to think about these long term impacts and how we can respond compassionately and proactively as a beloved community by ministering to spiritual needs within and beyond our congregation. Our prophetic imagaining, radical love, and deep liberal religious wisdom can help to guide us through this new year with courage and grace. 
 
Our Soul Matters theme for this month is “Living with Intention.” Each month, we are invited to reflect upon a theme of religious significance together through some of our church publications, worship services, and small group activities. Parker Palmer highlights that intention is different from goals or resolutions in that it is something that arises from deep within ourselves and connects us with our purpose in life. You are invited to sit with what intentions you are discovering, naming, and embracing within this month. Instead of asking yourself about your resolution for the new year, perhaps consider what intentions are motivating, propelling, and giving shape to your life’s course. Are they your own or those of others? Is the divine or your deepest humanity speaking to you through your intentions?
 
Soul Matters encourages us to reflect upon some additional questions as we explore this theme: What is your intention when you wake up? Some begin the day by asking, “What do I have to get done?” Others ask, “What do I want this day to be about?” Which are you? What if it’s not about what you intend to do with life, but about what life intends to do with you? They say intention arises from within. So, what do you do to stay in touch with the fire in your belly?
 
Our Pastoral Care teams are available to be with you on your journey if you are in need. They are also available to help our congregation celebrate, mourn, and mark special occasions with you through our weekly newsletter and joys and sorrows shared on Sunday morning. If you are in need of confidential pastoral support or would like to share news with the congregation, please email pastoralcare@uusm.org. 
 
Wishing you and yours a New Year of wellness, joy, and living with intention! 
 
Yours in ministry and love, 
 
Jeremiah 
 
Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae 
Developmental Minister
 
Featured Articles: 

How to Contribute to the $10,000 Spirit Level Foundation Worship Assistance Matching Grant - A HELPFUL STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL

Churches are volunteer organizations. We survive because of our members, who invest time and money to support something in which we all believe. For our own UUSM Sanctuary at Eighteenth and Arizona, the Spirit Level Foundation Worship Assistance Matching Grant offers us the opportunity to match up to $10,000, yielding UUSM a total of up to $20,000. Even though we are only slowly getting back to worshiping in our sanctuary on Sunday mornings, we can still “be there” because of the technology that we have invested in to livestream worship services through Facebook and YouTube. By late January of 2022, we had already logged $5,000 in contributions. Want to max out the matching donation and double your donation? Here’s how.
 
 
Note: If you are using this guide to complete your online contribution to this Matching Grant, you will have an easier time keeping this tab open in your browser and opening a separate tab to log into the website. Alternatively, print out this PDF file and have it handy as access the website normally.
 
 
 
Here’s how to contribute from the UUSM church webpage
 
1) Go to UUSM.org
 
At the top right corner of the home page, click on the words MAKE A DONATION (see red arrow below).
 
 
2) Once you are on the Make a Donation page, click the blue strip “UUSM ONLINE: Make a donation now” (see red arrow below).
 
 
 
3) This will bring you to the Donation page.
 
Look to the top right of the web page for the Vanco Login area. Using your Vanco login is quite handy because you can set up your donation method for this and future contributions. Here, you can log in using your existing Vanco account or you can create a new one. For the sake of this tutorial, I’ll log in using my Vanco account (see red arrow below).
 
 
 
4) After you have logged in, click on the Add Transaction button (see red arrow).
 
 
 
5) This will bring you to the Online Donation/ Donations page, then scroll down to the Program Support area of the page (see red arrow below).
 
 
6) Under the Program Support heading, you see many options, including OTHER.
 
To the right of the “OTHER” line, you see a blank field for you to designate this specific area of support. Click in that blank field and type “Worship Assistance Matching Grant” (see red arrow below).
 
To the left of that, type in the amount you want to contribute (see green arrow below). I typed in $1 so that this tutorial would populate correctly. Obviously, your contribution would exceed this amount.
 
After you have completed these two tasks, look down to the Donation Frequency “Choose One” button (see yellow arrow below). Click on that.
 
 
 
7) To the right of “Donation Frequency,” click on the “Choose One” choice button. You’ll see your automatic frequency choices for your donation.
 
In this documentation, I’m choosing One Time (see red arrow below). After you’ve made your choice, click on the Continue button (see green arrow below).
 
 
 
8) On the Online Donation / Donation Information page, choose which account source you wish to use for the source of your donation (see red arrow below).
 
 
 
9) From the choices for your donation source that you have already given Vanco, make your choice. In this demonstration, I will choose my checking account as the source for the donation (see red arrow below).
 
 
 
10) Once you’ve made your choice for the source of your donation, click on the “I am not a robot” check box (see red arrow below).
 
 
 
11) You will be forced to play the image game to prove you are not a robot. Once you’ve correctly chosen the images, click Verify.
 
 
 
12) Lastly, click on the Process button (see green arrow in step 10 above). This will complete your contribution through Vanco.
 
 
You will finally be presented with a receipt for your donation.
 
As you can see at the bottom of the receipt, you can print your receipt and return to the UUSM.org home page. Thank you for your donation.
 
 
You can use this same process to make donations and payments to other funds at UUSM.org.
 
 
 
News & Announcements: 

January Generous Congregation: YWCA Greater Los Angeles

 
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church. UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to the YWCA Greater Los Angeles. Your donations will help the YWCA in its mission to eliminate racism and empower women through advocacy, local programming, and services. 
 
There are three ways to give: text, website, or mail a check. Using your smartphone, text 844-982-0209 with the donation amount and the code for where the funds will be posted.
 
  • To make a pledge contribution, use PLG (“$20 PLG”).
  • To make another non-pledge contribution, use IDC (“$20 IDC”).
  • To make a Generous Contribution, use code GCC; for example, “$20 GCC.” 
 
Easy text giving makes a big difference. Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. The first time you give, you’ll be asked to register. You can make a one-time donation or set up reoccurring payments for your pledge or another purpose on our website.
 
Visit: https://archive.uusm.org/make-a-donation. Of course, we happily accept your checks mailed to the church office. If you are contributing to the church by check, our bank requested that the full name of the church is spelled on the “to” line: Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica.
 
 
Splinters from the Board: 

UUSM January 2022 Board Highlights

The UUSM Board of Directors met Tuesday, January 11, 2022, via Zoom.

Gathering - Beth Brownlie (President)

After Larry Weiner lit the chalice, he shared a reading from the fifth principle and the fifth source. It was about humanist teachings which counsel us to be guided by reason and the results of science – warning us against mental and spiritual idolatries. He closed with lyrics from a Cat Stephens (Yusuf Islam) song.

Check-In - Beth Brownlie

Board members reflected on intentionality in their lives. They reflected on the experiences which aroused their life’s passions (as one board member described it as making “fire in the belly”). Members’ comments diversely recalled:

  • social justice causes
  • trends toward social inclusion and equality
  • family life experiences
  • the welfare of their students
  • COVID challenges
  • the joys of journaling with friends
  • time spent with relatives
  • taking in some of the arts
  • recovery from COVID
  • gradual return to normal activities and accompanying clarity

Membership - Norm Richey

Our membership is remaining steady at 263.

Standing Reports - Beth Brownlie

The December reports that were approved are:

  • Membership
  • Generous Congregation
  • Statement of Income and Expenses
  • Balance Sheet
  • Sunday Service Attendance
  • Administrator’s Report
  • The December Board minutes.

Pastor’s December Report - Reverend Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae

Introduction
Happy New Year, beloveds! As we begin another trip around the Sun, our Soul Matters theme for community reflection this month is “Living with Intention.” What intentions are fueling how we move into the world, individually and collectively? One of the first intentions that guided my passing the threshold into the new year was healing as my household had fallen ill with COVID and my mother was hospitalized. Thankfully, we are all on the mend, but it brought home the reality of the pandemic and what it takes for us to heal from all of the ways it has interrupted or ended lives; the ongoing toll it is taking on the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of our larger communities. Although we have worked as a society to address the physical harm caused, we have yet to fully appreciate the trauma it has caused and the ways that it may reverberate through our society in the months and years to come. I would like to challenge us to think about these long-term impacts and how we can respond proactively as a beloved community, ministering to the needs of our community and the wider world. Let us set an intention to recognize this reality and respond to it with our prophetic imagining, compassion, and the healing salve of liberal religious community.

Worship
We have offered four services since our last meeting of the Board. I offered “Sources of Our Liberal Faith,” which considered our six sources and how they show up in our togetherness. I was surprised to learn how many members of our community were unfamiliar with the sources, so work remains. This was followed by our annual “Christmas Eve Candlelight Service” which was offered in our sanctuary (and live-streamed) with roughly 45 people on our church grounds. This was our largest gathering since the beginning of the pandemic and everyone appreciated the opportunity to be together. Of course, our hope is now somewhat dampened by the surge in the pandemic that we’re presently experiencing. Jyvonne Haskin directed the choir for this holiday service as Saunder Choi is spending the holidays with his family and will be returning this week. A big thank you to Jyvonne and Saunder’s artistic and programmatic leadership, especially as we work to decenter whiteness in our musical repertoire and explore diverse traditions of local and global communities. Chaplain Michael Eselun offered the service “Spiritual Report Cards” the following Sunday and, of course, this was a welcomed opportunity to hear from his deep spiritual wisdom. Although I had planned to lead last Sunday’s service, COVID made that impossible – the first time I’ve been unavailable for a scheduled service in 16 years of preaching – and, thankfully, Kikanza was able to step in to lead the service considering the Anti-Oppression ministry of Br. Jesus (as). I am deeply grateful for Michael’s and Kikanza’s gifts of ministry.

Pastoral Care
Our Pastoral Associates and CareRing groups met last week but I was unable to attend due to being sick. CareRing is working to create postcards to send to our members. Pastoral Associates will be working to discern new leadership as Bettye Barclay has stepped down after faithfully leading this work for many years. We are so grateful for her service! Together, we offered two Holiday Pastoral Care Circles last month – one in the courtyard and one on Zoom. Those were well attended and appreciated by those who were able to join us.

COVID Steering Committee
Los Angeles County is now at the Severe Risk Level for infections – the highest risk level – up from just a few weeks ago as caseloads have skyrocketed. We’ve suspended congregational attendance on Sunday mornings and in-person choir meetings. We are presently assessing anything else we may need to do in the coming weeks to respond.

We’ve summarized the safety policies and protocols and advertised them to the congregation last month. The opening committee has updated the policies and the committee will have the revised policies ready for our next retreat in January.

Bylaws Refresh Task Force
We had hoped to have a first draft of the bylaws ready for you tonight but it was delayed by my illness. It should be ready very soon. What we have so far is truly a beautiful proposal that is consistent with the guiding principles the Board identified at the outset of this process (i.e., trust, transparency, clarity, etc.). The edited bylaws will be distributed to the board members for review and discussion by way of email. It is anticipated that the Nominating Committee will be affected by the bylaws. Once the board members review the draft of the bylaws, they will be studied by wider groups within the congregation.

There has been some interest in discussing some change in the community’s name, but such conversations are tabled until a future time when we are more able to gather openly as a community.

Intersectional Anti Racism and Anti Oppression Commission (IAROC)
Our leadership team met last month to address challenges and plan for our work for the new year. We will be meeting tomorrow to further this work.

UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee
I am continuing to meet with the Committee and for clinical consultations throughout the month.

Conclusion
Audre Lorde had said, “Without community, there is no liberation…” and the truth of that statement becomes all the more real as we consider what is going to be needed to minister during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. It is here in community that we can find the support, inspiration, guidance, wisdom, and camaraderie that can enlarge our beings and remind us of our place in the interdependent web of being. Thank you for being the stewards of this community through all the tumult and strife that comes with living through these difficult times. Your leadership is exemplary and Unitarian Universalism is grateful for it.

Stewardship - Jacki Weber

A considerable portion of the board meeting was spent discussing the integral part the stewardship and financial support of our community. The praiseworthy excellence of our treasurer, Vilma Oritz, was lauded by the board. Jacki noted that all board positions should be examined in light of future rotations and the need for leadership training for future participants.

Jacki noted that she is comfortable with the mechanics of stewardship letters and follow-up programs.

There was discussion on tapping into available national UU fundraising resources. As is true with all non-profit organizations, the challenge of stewardship is to get a greater number of people involved in the process of connecting their personal sense of mission to the work of their community.

The pandemic and the isolating safety precautions have created a huge challenge with our community connectivity. Our current stability of membership support is a tribute to the competent and effective stewardship efforts. Our medium-sized community, however, creates a continual struggle in balancing the incoming revenue and outgoing expenses. The UU national site suggests resources in “Budget Drives” and wider fiscal member participation. All non-profit congregations struggle with tightening economic circumstances, resource limitations, and changing cultural priorities, and yet there are miraculous acts of compassion and good will to minister to individual needs. So we all need to be responsible participants in making our ministry resources line up with our ministry expenses.

We have excelled in using the technology of live-streaming in reaching members who must attend remotely. The largest and most complex challenges involve aligning our mission goals with the realities of the resources that are made available to the ministry volunteers and staff trying to meet those needs. It’s a balancing act between our mission and our vision, our spending and our income. Everyone in membership and leadership needs to be mindful of the UUSM mission and their commitment to strengthening that mission

Budget conversations will take place in our coming board retreat. The challenge will be to get our expenses in line with our income and rethink how we are organizing the church from a staffing perspective. Focused thought will also be placed on our youth and educational programs and our leadership development.

Treasurer’s Report - Vilma Ortiz

The December pledging was about $26,000. When we get above $25,000 a month, that is good and on target. Our giving and our other income is healthy.

We were able to raise money from other sources. Our total income is looking good. However, we are still running a deficit. To move forward, we need to be mindful of our priorities with our programming. We want to reach the broadest number of people possible.

Pastoral Care - Reverend Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae and Linda van Ligten

A conversation ensued about maximizing the joys and sorrows that are announced on Sundays. In pre-pandemic days, there was regular sharing about the needs of the community. Because of the social restrictions operating now, some consider the newsletter to be one vehicle for increased sharing. Some thought that Facebook and other social media tools, particularly the private groups, could be used. Jeremiah noted that an idea of using emailable forms on the website could confidentially bring some sharing of needs to the pastoral care team. By having additional means of sharing needs, we could have a more active follow-up and response.

These and other ideas will be discussed by the Pastoral Care team and among small groups. These methods of engaging with our community will help us grow in our ministry response.

Facilities

Reported by board members as Abby Arnold was absent.

The final plans for remodeling the Forbes Hall entryway have been accepted by the engineers and have been sent to the general contractor. Construction is expected to begin before the end of this month (January).

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned. The chalice was extinguished by Larry.

 

UUSM December Board Highlights 

 
 
The UUSM Board of Directors met Tuesday, December 14, 2021 via Zoom.
 
Gathering
 
Beth Brownlie (President)
After Reverend Jeremiah lit the chalice, Vilma Oritz led a moment of reflection on the 4th principle and 4th source. She spoke about our commitment to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning and how such a quest is derived from both Jewish and Christian teachings. These teachings call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.
 
Check-In
 
Eileen McCormack and Beth Brownlie
In conjunction with our December theme of Joy, the members were prompted to share the people, things, events, and people that bring them joy and how joy comes to be shared with others. For quite a while, each board member shared their experiences of family and friends which genuinely brought them joy.
 
New Members
 
Norm Richey
Norm cited that our total current membership is at 262 because of the death of Sherman Newson back in September. We were only recently notified of his passing.
 
Standing Reports
 
Eileen McCormack
The following reports had been submitted and were approved, along with the Consent Agenda, and October and November Board Minutes:
 
  • Membership Report for October and November
  • Generous Congregation for October and November
  • Statement of Income and Expenses for October and November
  • Balance Sheet for October and November
  • Sunday Service Attendance October and November
  • Administrator’s Report October and November
 
Pastor’s December Report
 
Reverend Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
 
Introduction
Happy Holidays! Our Soul Matters theme for community reflection this month is “Opening to Joy.” I’ve been rereading one of my favorite books, “The Revelation of Divine Love,” by Julian of Norwich. This 15th century mystical text, which is also the first book written by a woman in the English language that we know of, records a series of sixteen mystical experiences she had along with her interpretations, and it is considered one of the classical masterpieces of feminist theology. Julian is even considered a proto-Universalist, as she was continually reassured by the divine throughout her experiences that “all will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things shall be made well.” Most readers commonly attribute these words to her body of work. I was struck by another of her reflections – one on joy – as I was reading it with the lens of our monthly theme. Julian writes, “The fullness of joy is to behold the divine in everything!” So, perhaps, our “opening to joy” this month might be illuminated by Julian’s instructions to behold the sacredness of all things or the all pervasive presence of divinity and rediscover the fullness of joy in life.
 
Worship
In November, we considered the congregational theme of “Holding History” and in December, we’re considering the “Opening to Joy” theme. Our congregation has conducted five services of worship since our last meeting. In November, “The Danger of a Single Story” was offered by the Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins. She asked us to consider how appreciation of multiple perspectives helps us in our lives and ministry. “Honoring Thanksgiving/Thanxgrieving” was offered by me and it reflected upon holding gratitude and grief in this season in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples through my traditional telling of the story of the first Thanxgrieving. In December, “8 Elements of Effective Congregational Ministries Revisited” continued my series on the basics of Unitarian Universalist religious life, identity, and practice, with emphasis on the role of shared ministry in our tradition. “Cultivating Gratitude and Joy” was offered by UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. This was a special project and gift of the UUA to help alleviate some of the stress on religious leaders this season and to provide the first joint national service with the UUA President. Lastly, the powerful service, “Forgiveness: Restitching the Fabric of Society” was offered by Joshua Berg who will begin serving as the Sabbatical Minister at the Emerson Church. We hope he will join us again for worship in the spring or summer.
 
Pastoral Care
Our Pastoral Associates took a break from meeting this month but I did meet with our Care Ring team this month and then with our Pastoral Associates leadership to plan the Holiday Pastoral Circles. Bettye Barclay plans to complete her service to the Pastoral Associates next month. We are most grateful for her years of steady and wise pastoral leadership.
 
Holiday Circles
Our Pastoral Care Teams will host two community circles for members and friends to check in around the stresses and difficult feelings that sometimes accompany the holidays. One will be held in an online space and the other will be at the church. The information for these meeting is as follows:
 
Holiday Pastoral Care Circle (Zoom – Online)
Tuesday, December 21, 7:00-8:30 pm / Host: Bettye Barclay
 
Holiday Pastoral Care Circle (At church in Forbes)
Wednesday, December 22, 3:00-4:30 pm / Host: Linda Van Ligten
 
To register (which is not required) or to request the Zoom link, members and friends can email pastoralcare@uusm.org.
 
COVID Steering Committee 
Our Steering Committee met and we discussed the fluctuating nature of the pandemic and the practices of Neighborhood UU Church in Pasadena. Our COVID County Data has been shifting between “High Risk” and “Medium Risk” for about 2+ months now. The new UUA Guidance treats these as essentially the same category. This allows for medium-sized groups to gather following the basic protocols of masks and distancing. Based on this information, we decided to expand our church seating capacity beginning on Christmas Eve to the following:
 
Sanctuary – 20 Members & Friends + 5 Staff Members*
Forbes Hall – 20 Members & Friends + 5 Staff Members*
 
*Total Number of Members & Friends is reduced by 10 in Forbes when Choir Present
 
On Sunday, December 5, I was able to visit Neighborhood UU Church, which has reopened faster than the UUA recommends, to assess how things are going with them. I discussed their practices and the challenges they’ve faced with their Interim Minister, Rev. Dr. Teresa Cooley. This firsthand appraisal in addition to the new December 1, 2021 UUA Recommendations, convinced me and the rest of the Steering Committee that we could safely begin to expand our capacities on Sunday morning. We will continue to evaluate and assess the possibility of other normative practices (i.e., singing, food/drinks) resuming in the coming weeks and months.
 
Bylaws Refresh Task Force
Our Bylaws Refresh Task Force has met twice in this period. We put most of the finishing touches on our first draft of proposed bylaws. A special thanks to Patricia, John, Bob, and Beth for their extensive contributions towards achieving this developmental goal.
 
Intersectional Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Commission 
The leadership team and I are meeting to prepare for initiatives in the New Year.
 
Social Media Team
I also met with the social media team this month and we explored the various types of ads we are using. We will be increasing our expenditures to be consistent with what was authorized. We will be promoting cross-posting with our Generous Congregations partners to expand reach and encourage community giving.
 
UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee
My service to the Ethics Committee is ongoing. I have attended a regular meeting and a clinical ethics consultation meeting in this period. This work continues to be rewarding and helps to keep me apprised of an array of ethical issues in our larger community and those which members may face themselves.
 
Regarding the question of the vaccinations. I would hope our position was understood from the email that Beth and I recently sent. We mentioned vaccines being required on campus. I think we’re just going to have to ask people. We’ve surveyed the community. In that survey and, with the exception of one person, we found that everyone has been vaccinated. I think the chances of someone attending who isn’t vaccinated is highly unlikely. But we will still just ask people to make sure and when people register to attend, we will ask them to send in a copy of their vaccination card if they haven’t already. It’s not ideal but it is how we are adapting to the challenge.
 
Conclusion
Thank you for continuing to model non-anxious, self-differentiated, and values-based leadership through the multitude of changes we’ve weathered in recent months. Let’s remain optimistic as the holiday celebrations continue and the New Year arrives. Happy Holidays, everyone! Let’s be the beacons of peace, good-will, and holiday cheer!
 
 
Adult RE Report – Semi Annual Adult RE Report
 
Larry Weiner summarized it because several committee members were unable to attend the meeting.
 
Sarah Robson and James Witker have been doing an outstanding job of teaching Karen Armstrong’s challenging book “History of God.” Sarah also submitted a thorough summary of the committee’s class offerings.
 
Reports on last year’s leadership classes were excellent.
 
The Adult RE Committee has been very active, polling the congregation about educational needs and preferences. The team has been doing a splendid job.
 
Website
 
Norm Richey reported for Lois Hutchinson and the Communications Team.
 
Our current websites are out of date. The Communications Team has been working overtime in the transition to the new website. Their report was fantastic. As a result of the thousands of hours of work, the website is going through its metamorphosis in order to become that beautiful butterfly. Ultimately, the new design will handle three interrelated areas of technology: event planning, the newsletter, and the membership database.
 
The switch to the new website is a complex project. Staff and committee members have been working on the site despite their own very demanding full time jobs. Things are moving along. As complex as these website-related tasks are, the project will culminate in an excellent public-facing site and a sophisticated internal resource for members. So, it’s moving along – while not as fast as everyone would like, but it’s moving strategically. It will be an excellent interactivity of ministry, information, and marketing.
 
Faith-Forward and Leadership Developments
 
Norm Richey
The pandemic has caused multiple challenges. The stated goals were hospitality and inclusivity, but our community is also committed to maintaining safety for all. We think a balance of these three approaches is legitimate. We will continue to focus our conversations within the COVID steering committee.
 
PWR’s Fall Leadership Development series – Leading from the Heart
October 13, November 10, December 8
The initial proposal was that the program be for four hours for the next couple of months. This will allow for some of the data entry. This will be followed by a concluding two hour period.
 
The program will be planned for January and will be held on consecutive Sundays. And we’ll plan them with the facilitators.
 
We’re going to be one of the pilot churches across the country that will be conducting these events. We’re going to be working closely with Murray Luna who is a certified membership professional. She does a lot of work with the Faith Forward program. We have been approved for the program and are excited about that we will be working with her. We will be begin working with facilitators who will be participating in the Leadership Series. This will be once a month for several months once we get started. We are looking forward to it.
 
Treasurer’s Report
 
Vilma Oritz
 
Finance Reports for November
I provided a Treasurer’s Report that had information for both October and November. I didn’t have the financial records last month. Our pledge income continues to look pretty good. Most months, we’re just a little bit under what we expect to receive, which is $25,000 a month. Overall, we’re taking in about as much money as we expect on the expense side. November’s expenses were somewhat high.
 
In terms of the year-to-date expenses, we have spent more than we then we budgeted but some of our expenses are lower. For instance, with everything that has to do with Sunday worship, we don’t pay for parking and so on. But we’ve invested in a number of other important things like getting all of the equipment set up so that we can livestream our services. We are investing in getting our website set up. That is where we have some higher expenses than anticipated. We have a little bit of rental income but we had one or two groups that have continued to pay rent even though they’re not using our building. That is a small amount.
 
Forbes Hall Repair Task Force
 
Abby Arnold
 
We want to make sure that the building is going to be able to meet the demands with the proposed changes. We are optimistic and believe we will get an approval by the end of the year. There doesn’t seem to be any major glitches with it. Once the plans are finally approved, our contractor will give us a final bid and we’ll be able to move ahead with construction. So, it is in process. The staff has been good about providing updates and maintaining communication with our members. It also helps that everyone is mindful of the overall process. By keeping the communication high, we hope it prevents people from becoming anxious as the process unfolds.
 
One issue we’ve dealt with has to do with whether or not we should have a ramp at that entrance on Arizona. The fact is that there are federal and state laws involved. We don’t have a choice. It is a sticky problem that our architect and the city building approval people will need to work out. There are a combination of complex requirements involving ramps, stair steps, handrails and angles of the incline.
 
COVID Response Steering Committee
 
Eileen McCormack and Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae
 
Jeremiah covered most of the important points in his in his minister’s report above. After Christmas services, we will continue the process of opening up and keep reevaluating our working document. We will calibrate our responses according to whether we are in the red, orange or yellow zone of COVID monitoring. It certainly has been a changeable environment for the last few months.
 
It’s a pretty big increase as we change from having about 20 people in the building to having 50 by using both Forbes Hall and the sanctuary. Not everybody is going to be in the sanctuary. If people sign up to attend, it’s going to be first come first served to attend in the sanctuary and then we will populate Forbes Hall. We realized we can use Forbes Hall because it has the screen in there along with being able to see the music performances. It’s a trade off either way because you get something in each space that you don’t get in the other space. We’ll just have to see how it goes.
 
The UUA guidelines allow us to have a maximum of 50 people, which is pretty good. There might be some room to expand that number in the coming weeks.
 
I hope we keep moving in this direction because we’ve been in this lockdown space and we need to return to our sense of community. People are starting to go to theaters and restaurants. At some point, we’re going to have to accept the fact that there’s a risk and that people need to participate in certain activities in the community. We’re hoping we are in a paradigm now of gradually reopening things.
 
This is the hopefulness I think of for 2022. We have learned to do online streaming. We have learned how to do online worship. We’ve got that down. Our next logical space will be our experimentation with how do we bring people back to church safely. That’s going to be the work of this next year.
 
The board concluded its meeting with an executive session and then adjourned.
 
 
RE News: 

New Year’s Resolution Workshop

It’s a new year, fresh with possibilities. I know there are some of you who think there is nothing special when the year changes another digit. But this is the best time to reflect, to dream, and to plan. And what better way to do this than with your UUSM friends? The participants of this workshop will provide each other camaraderie, encouragement, and accountability. It’s a way to rocket forth our intentions into a firm reality.

Norm Richey, who is a certified life coach, will talk about “SMART” goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timebound. This workshop will help you determine your own SMART goals and will give you the impetus to achieve them.

Take me, Sarah R, for instance. I took the workshop last year. I wanted to record my pipe music and create music videos for those pieces. I realized I couldn’t do this with my regular acoustic pipes. I needed a digital chanter first. So I purchased one in January. I also needed to purchase a headset. Then I realized I needed to connect it to recording software. I did some research and bought an Apogee. With this I could connect and record directly to my phone. And thus, I can record anywhere I’d like – in a café, in a park, even on the train.

With a music sample recorded, it was time for that video. So I learned how to use GIMP, an open source photo manipulation software. I created artwork, took photos, manipulated them in GIMP, and built-up frames for the videos. I then found ShotCut as a decent program. I downloaded it, learned what I can do with it, and created two whole videos for my music pieces.

I was successful because my final goal was well defined, and I used a stepladder of SMART goals to achieve that larger goal. It took fearless acquisitions, research, and learning new things. Everything was a challenge, but there was a lovely emotional payout.

I am sure others will have plenty of dreams they wish to share and work towards, and these ideas may excite you too. So, what might you want to do differently this year? Come sign up for the workshop. Room is very limited, so act quickly to get your spot!

Send an email to AdultRE@uusm.org. The workshop is by Zoom on January 19, this coming Wednesday night, 7:00-8:30 pm. We are considering moving the follow-up dates to the third Wednesdays, on February 16 and March 16, instead of the second Wednesdays as previously advertised.

Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, January 2022
NEW AND CONTINUING PROGRAMS

Come, come, whoever you are!

 
Welcome to an exciting journey of questioning, challenging, and celebrating life’s mysteries and wonders. For generations, Adult Programs at UU Santa Monica has welcomed seekers, exiles, and interfaith families along with those who have grown up in our own Unitarian Universalist tradition. We are a congregation made up of people who believe in God or a higher power, people who do not, those who are content to live with the mystery, and those who are ever searching for answers to the big questions. Most of all, we are enriched by one another’s life journeys, diverse beliefs, shared progressive values and uniting UU Principles as we learn and explore together.
 
Our Purpose and Our Guide
 
At its core, the purpose of our educational ministry is to provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to deepen their spiritual lives, and to live with compassion, integrity and joy as we nurture beloved community and work together for peace and justice in this world. Adult Programs offers classes, discussion groups, and special events on an array of topics relevant to the Six Sources and our congregation’s spiritual life. Some of these may include in-depth study of theology and spirituality, discussion of science writing or Humanist ideas, opportunities to explore music, arts and crafts, or chances to connect socially for fellowship and fun. Many programs are made possible through the time and talent of our members and friends.
 
An Invitation
 
Do you have an idea for a program or event? We want to hear it. Email the Adult RE Committee (AdultRE@UUSM.org) and we can work with you on presenting your ideas.
 
New Offerings:
 
New Year Resolution Workshop Wednesday, January 12
Only 8% of people continue their New Year Resolutions after the first month. Be one of the 8%! Increase your ability to follow through and achieve success in this New Year Resolution Workshop. The workshop will consist of three 1.5 hour sessions on Zoom and a check in at 6 months. The New Year is the time we typically set out our list of things we want to do, change, see, and accomplish. If you’ve had problems identifying and or keeping those resolutions or goals in the past, this workshop is where you want to start. Over the course of the workshop, Norm Richey, MSW, and Certified Life Coach, will introduce you to new skills that will help you achieve your resolutions for 2022. The workshop will meet on three of the 2nd Wednesdays of the month beginning on Jan 12th, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm, continuing to February 9th and March 9th. This is a closed group, and there are only 12 spots available. Email AdultRE@uusm.org to reserve your spot.
 
SoulCollage® is a collage art endeavor founded by art therapist Seena B. Frost, MA, MDiv, in which the participants create a personal deck of cards. The method of creating cards develops one’s creativity, encourages self-discovery, and provides personal guidance. Using the cards can help access those inner and outer resources in difficult times, access the sacred, strengthen our awareness of our dynamic lives, make decisions mindfully, and help resolve personal or interpersonal conflicts. Community is also very important to the process as we explore our group’s imagery together. People who have done this program before, claim that the creation and usage of these self-crafted cards is transformative. This process is being shared across the world, in many languages, and enjoyed by people of all ages, genders, and cultures. So bring your curiosity, your wonder, your wisdom, your imagination, and a beginner’s mind to this introductory workshop. This workshop is led by Adrienne Sumpter, who is a trained facilitator for SoulCollage®. We will meet on two Saturdays in the Warren Mathews Conference Room: January 15th, 1- 4:00 pm, and February 12th, 1 – 4:00 pm. It is okay to attend only one workshop. Please note that there is a 10-person maximum for groups held in the cottage. All participants need to be fully vaccinated, all vaccination records need to be forwarded to the office beforehand, and people need to stay masked at all times. Please sign up ahead well of time. Email AdultRE@uusm.org to reserve your spot.
 
Community Engagement:
 
Nature Journaling: Sea Shells Sunday, January 30
Hosted by Dorothy Steinicke, sea shells are the former homes of sea creatures, usually mollusks. The shells that they leave behind are often beautiful and intriguing. We will spend this nature journaling session considering some of the sea shells of the Santa Monica Bay and learn a little about the animals that used to occupy them. If it is possible, Dorothy asks that you come to our session with a local shell or shells to journal on. If it isn’t possible, she will have photos that you can work from. This session will be facilitated by Dorothy Steinicke, a member of UUSM and a lifelong lover of nature and the outdoors. She has spent years encouraging people to experience the natural world. The class is held from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. To receive the Zoom link for this program contact AdultRE@uusm.org
 
Exploration of Ideas:
 
In this final class, we will discuss modern challenges to theism, and the future of monotheism in the West. So far in this book discussion series, we have asked how and why concepts of God have changed over time and across cultures, yet remained resonant and important. How have the three great monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — shaped the image of God in their own ways? How have these faith traditions influenced each other? Join us for a theological and historical exploration of monotheism in its myriad forms and possibilities, guided by Karen Armstrong’s classic, A History of God. This group is facilitated by both Sarah Robson and James Witker, and will be held from 9:30 -11:30 am on Saturday 8th. Contact: AdultRE@uusm.org for the Zoom link. All are welcome, even for just the last session.
 
Science Non-Fiction Book Group Tuesday, January 18
We discuss a new title every month. All are welcome. We meet from 7:30 – 9:00 PM. For this month’s reading, contact: Rebecca Crawford at sci-nonfiction@uusm.org.
 
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, January 6 and January 20
The Men’s Discussion Group provides a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join in thoughtful and stimulating discussion and meet others with UU perspectives:
 
  • 1/6/22: For those in the group who have retired, why did you retire and how has it been for you? In retrospect, was it the right time? Was there anything that you didn’t expect and anything you would have done differently? For those who are still working, when do you plan to retire and why?
  • 1/20/22: What personal event and what public event do you believe had the greatest influence in shaping your life?
 
To request more information or to join us, please ask the church office for information about how to contact Jim Rheinwald or Richard Mathias through the Adult RE Committee email, AdultRE@UUSM.org.
 
Meditation:
 
Open Meditation Mondays, January 10, 24, 31
We gather and listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal and share with each other what’s on our hearts. We explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. This is a non-guided, quiet meditation that may be deeply nourishing. A time to simply “be” amidst all the “doing,” calling off the struggle to become other than we are. We meet every 2nd, 4th, and if possible 5th Monday evenings, from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Contact Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring through the Adult RE Committee email (AdultRE@UUSM.org).
 
Open Meditation: Wellsprings All Wednesdays and Fridays
Taking 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 through the Adult RE Committee email (AdultRE@UUSM.org).