Newsletter for March, 2022
From Our Minister:
Renewing Faith
I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, then you grow wings.
-Rev. William Sloane Coffin
My heart is breaking as I witness the violence, terror, and devastation being unleashed on the people of Ukraine. Flashbacks to the powerlessness I felt when our country invaded Iraq and Afghanistan two decades ago haunt me. As a person of liberal faith, I am still called to witness to the good, the true, and the beautiful in the world in times like these. War is almost never any of these. I am moved by the bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people and others resisting oppression and violence in places like Palestine, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
I am reflecting upon the words of the 14th Dalai Lama: “Of course, war and the large military establishments are the greatest sources of violence in the world. Whether their purpose is defensive or offensive, these vast powerful organizations exist solely to kill human beings… Since armies are legal, we feel that war is acceptable; in general, nobody feels that war is criminal or that accepting it is criminal attitude. In fact, we have been brainwashed. War is neither glamorous nor attractive. It is monstrous. Its very nature is one of tragedy and suffering.”
I pray for an end to this war and the establishment of peace and happiness in hearts of all and I pray we begin to transform our global society such that we will neither accept war nor the mentalities and machinery that make it possible as anything other than monstrous. Let us have faith in a future secured by peace.
Our Soul Matters theme this month is “Renewing Faith.” Each month we reflect together as a congregation on a spiritual theme in some of our meetings, publications, and worship services. We are people of “liberal faith” who place our trust in our open-minded and open-hearted approach to life and in our hope for a brighter future for humanity with greater freedom, justice, and love for all. We renew our faith by stretching our beings through participation in community life and by inspiration from courageous people like President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.
Our friends at Soul Matters invite us to deepen our consideration of the theme with the following questions: What have you trusted since childhood? What have you never lost faith in? Has your faith in humanity increased or decreased as you’ve grown older? How is your faith in democracy doing? Has age allowed you to be more or less faithful to your true self? Despite its losses and challenges, Covid has clarified priorities for many of us. So, because of covid, what are you now more faithful to? Is it time to take that leap of faith?
Our pastoral care leaders would like to encourage you to reach out for support if you are having a difficult time and would benefit from confidential spiritual support from our trained team of pastoral caregivers. We would also like to celebrate life’s accomplishments and joys and hold you in your times of grief, so if you have a joy, sorrow, or milestone to share with our larger community, please let us know. You can request confidential support or share news with the congregation by emailing pastoralcare@uusm.org.
Yours in ministry and love,
Jeremiah
Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
Developmental Minister
Developmental Minister
Featured Articles:
On the Banks of the Dnieper
A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Vydubychi Monastery: Saint George Cathedral (1696-1701) and bell tower (1727-1733), Kyiv, Ukraine. You can see the Dnieper River, with the apartment complexes in the background. Kyiv is home to 2.8 million people. Photo by Nick Grapsy. Wikimedia Commons finalist for Picture of the Year 2015. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Written by Sarah Robson
To support our Generous Congregations Contribution this month to the International Rescue Committee, along with our UUA theme of Renewing Faith, I feel compelled to tell a personal story about my connection to Ukraine that I hope will inspire.
At 10 years old, in 1980, I knew what I wanted to be in life – a diplomat for peace between the Soviet Union and America. With 40,000 Russian and 20,000 American nuclear warheads either ready to launch or stockpiled in the 80s, diplomacy was critical. I started learning Russian at age 12, when I found a browned copy of “Russian Made Easy” printed in the 60s. The Cyrillic was fun to learn, but unlike the promise of the title, the grammar was overwhelming. Still, I persisted.
In 1990, I got my chance to stay with a family in Cherkassy, in Soviet Ukraine. The father, Pyotr Evtushenko, was the governor of the Cherkassy Oblast (an oblast is similar to but bigger than a typical US county). He was a very proud communist and Soviet citizen. He was happily married to Tamara (Toma), who worked in a ceramics factory. She was an extraordinary cook.
Lesya, their 20-year-old daughter, wanted to become an English teacher, so she was excited to host me. She was proud of her native language, Ukrainian, and taught me a few words. One old Ukrainian word she taught me was “Bachanyutka” – you would shout it out to alert someone if they were about to step into something unmentionable. A cute word, I thought.
The family had a little dacha, which is a tiny summer house, in the countryside. We visited it to get fresh produce, and in this case – I picked gooseberries. The weather was lovely, and it was a joy to be in the large garden. I saw peculiar insects and heard the chirps and calls of birds I had never heard before. I realized during my time there how strong the community was. Food supplies were unpredictable, so people stocked up and then spread the food around. Because of the sharing, there were many friendly gatherings.
Despite the thaw of the Cold War, the KGB was still strongly interested in the activities of Americans within Soviet borders, and we were always followed by a man about 20 feet behind us. One time, I turned around and acknowledged the officer, but Lesya in a panic took me and said, “No! Do not look!” I could sense a great deal of fear in her voice.
It was in Kyiv at Saint Volodymyr’s Cathedral in the city center that I was introduced to a vastly different and intriguing form of Christianity than what I had been exposed to in the West. It planted a seed of curiosity for Eastern Orthodoxy, which has colored my spiritual life ever since.
On that trip to Kyiv, I saw firemen hosing down buildings that weren’t on fire. I asked, what are they doing? Lesya stated, “Kyiv is 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Chernobyl, so they must wash radiation from the buildings.” I looked at the puddles collecting on the streets ahead of us. I pointed, “Bachanyutka?” Lesya nodded sagely, and said, “Yes, we should go around.”
Lesya eventually got married to a man named Alexander, and they had a son, Losha. I admit, I hadn’t spoken to her in 30 years, but my dad stayed in touch and kept some dialogue through Facebook. This past week, I spoke with her through Facebook video calls. We were both in tears. The family cannot believe this war is happening. Putin has clearly lost his mind, speaking like a man having a true psychotic breakdown.
Cherkassy, also on the Dnieper River, is 100 miles south of Kyiv. It is not yet under bombardment. I quote Lesya, “Never in my life had I imagined I would hear air strike warning sirens.” Since it’s just down the river, we all worry it will be on the immediate list of targets if Kyiv is taken. My father has already offered to wire her money if they become desperate, and a gracious family in Santa Rosa is willing to take in the entire family if they can make it to LAX – I will personally escort the family to Santa Rosa if they arrive. With 2 million women and children already flooding the borders, it might be very tough to make it through.
I will keep people updated on Lesya Degtiariova, her 75-year-old mother Toma, Lesya’s husband Alexander, and her 20-year-old son Losha. Both men have been conscripted into the Ukrainian army reserves and will probably fight trained Russian soldiers in urban combat. (Her father Pyotr died a few years ago). I will follow them as much as I can – as long as Facebook still functions, thanks to SpaceX’s Starlink.
Lesya says that after the war she wants to visit us in Los Angeles with her son Losha. They will be here either as refugees or as tourists. Either way, if they survive the onslaught, I hope you meet them.
Maybe I could return to the sovereign nation of Ukraine to help rebuild Kyiv. I am even learning Ukrainian, which is similar to Russian. This is something to dream about and look forward to in a remarkably dark and treacherous time.
Even if the walls all cave in and there is nothing but dust, rubble, smashed glass, and tangled rebar; even if all the beautiful churches fall, their golden cupolas melted onto the streets, the ancient icons torn apart by tank treads; even if the once proud statues of historical and emblematic figures become headless and armless – sometimes all one needs is faith in a positive future. I do believe one day, “all shall be well,” as Julian of Norwich said. And we are most well when we stand together in camaraderie as one human family.
International Rescue CommitteeLearn more about IRC and our Generous Congregational Contribution HERE. To make a contribution, please visit archive.uusm.org/make-a-donation, opting for GCC.
To learn more about the International Rescue Committee, visit www.rescue.org.
News & Announcements:
Church is Open on Sundays Again!
After careful consideration of the UUA’s most recent guidance and the practices of our neighboring congregations, our COVID Steering Committee has decided to reopen our historic sanctuary to vaccinated members and friends. Vaccinations, well-fitting masks, and social distancing are still required, but at this time reservations are not.
March 2022 Theme - Renewing Faith
For March, our theme is Renewing Faith, so we’ll explore it in worship, small group discussion, and personal reflection. We’ll consider how UUs employ covenanting to renew our faith. When we make an agreement on how we are going to be together, we call that a covenant. We trust and hope that our actions will be governed by the promises we make in our covenants. It’s all a way of celebrating how our faith reminds us, “It is our promises that make us feel safe, connected and strong.” Lines in a covenant may include mutual respect, attentive listening, using appreciations and not put downs, and choosing to pass when called upon to speak. Over time, it’s important to revisit a covenant to see if it still reflects the promises we want to make to each other or if we need to update our agreement.
Reflecting on the faithful expectation of the Unitarian Universalism that is yet to be, the Rev. Natalie Fenimore notes, “Shirley Chisholm was asked why she, a Black woman, was running for president: ‘You don’t have a chance. Why are you doing that?’ And she said, ‘Because I am in love with the America that does not yet exist,’ and that’s how Unitarian Universalism is also. I’m in love with the Unitarian Universalism that does not yet exist. But I have to hold both the love for that thing and the love for the reality. It does not yet exist. It will probably not exist in my lifetime. I don’t think it will in that of my children, but I can’t deny my love for it. You know, wanting to be there in that struggle. That’s why I’m fighting.” And we have sung together from our hymnal the Rev. Mary Grigolia’s, “I know this rose will open. I know my fear will burn away. I know my soul will unfurl its wings.”
March Generous Congregation Recipient: International Rescue Committee (IRC)
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. This month, half of our Sunday Offering will go to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). As Russia invades Ukraine and civilians seek safety, the IRC is preparing to rush critical aid to displaced families.
Poland is preparing to receive as many as one million refugees from Ukraine, the IRC is working to scale up the support they provide to its government and local nonprofits to address the crisis and help meet the basic needs of people fleeing the conflict. Your help will support the IRC as they continue to assist people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by humanitarian crises.
To give $10 right now, text “$10 GCC” (or another amount) to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.) Or visit uusm.org/make-a-donation.
March 2022 Generous Congregation Supports International Rescue Committee
More than 2 million people have fled across borders to seek safety since Russia deployed its military into neighboring Ukraine on February 24. Bombs and shelling continue to escalate, deliberately targeting homes and civilian infrastructure in what could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.
The International Rescue Committee is on the ground in Poland, and working with local partners in both Poland and Ukraine. They are providing critical information services to some of the 1 million people who have arrived in Poland from Ukraine. They are also procuring medical supplies and essential items such as sleeping bags and blankets for distribution at reception centers on the Ukrainian/Polish border.
Inside Ukraine, they are quickly mobilizing resources and connecting with partners to provide lifesaving support to civilians forced to flee their homes.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation program supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Your donations will help the IRC continue to assist people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by humanitarian crises.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and the International Rescue Committee. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.) Or visit Make a Donation at uusm.org and reference Generous Congregation. Thank you.
Splinters from the Board:
March 2022 Board Highlights - SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD
Summary by Larry Weiner | Board Secretary
The UUSM Board met on Tuesday March 8, 2022, by way of Zoom, to review committee work and the congregation’s overall operations.
Gathering
Beth Brownlie called the Board Meeting to order. Eileen read the 7th principle (Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part) and the first source (Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life). Norm did a reading. The church theme for the month is “Faith.” All present shared a personal and a themed-based check-in.
Membership
Our membership remains at 261.
Standing Monthly Reports
The board unanimously passed a motion to accept all the Standing Reports and the February Board minutes.
Minister’s March Report
Jeremiah introduced this month’s theme from the “Soul Matters” theme resource, “Renewing Faith.” He said that the theme is timely, given the approach of springtime and the reopening of the sanctuary for worship. He spotlighted Women’s “Herstory” Month and reminded us of our interconnectedness with the Ukrainian struggle. We were asked to pray for peace. He also spoke of all the many spring holidays and how the congregation is receptive to renewal as we are coming out of the difficult COVID winter.
- In speaking of Worship, he highlighted the three services for the month of February on the theme of “Widening the Circle,” including one led by Kikanza, and the first service of this month on “The Faith of Julian of Norwich.”
- As our technology needs continue to grow, he talked of establishing a formal Tech Ministry, noting that interviews will be held to find a new contractor to lead in this important area.
- Pastoral Care will be revamped as the Pastoral Associates and the CareRing groups join forces.
- Jeremiah will be reaching out to the Spirit-Level Foundation to see if they can provide us additional financial support to help us make up for lost income.
- The IARAO Commission is promoting the next Beloved Conversations program.
- The Bylaws Refresh Task Force submitted a draft of their proposal to the Nominating Committee for consideration and feedback. They will provide their feedback to the Board. One key here is to continue to develop consensus on what leadership development will look like in our congregation as we move forward.
- Jeremiah met with Vilma and Nurit to begin creating the Budget for the next fiscal year.
- The COVID Steering Committee has decided to allow people to be in the sanctuary during the Sunday services. They have created a protocol for this. We will continue to have virtual services and virtual coffee hours.
- The report from the Committee on Ministry will be delayed.
- Jeremiah continues working with the UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee.
In conclusion, Jeremiah thanked the Board for their continued leadership and lifted up the people of Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Palestine, and all places around the globe where suffering is great.
Stewardship
Jacki provided a timeline for the Stewardship Drive. The drive will be announced at the service on April 10. The stewardship letters to the membership will be mailed and emailed early in April with follow-up correspondence to follow. There will also be telephone trees for further contact. Eileen will be helping Jacki with the process. The stewardship drive will conclude by May 1.
The presentation of the budget will be around May 10. The Board will have a special meeting on March 23 at 7 to discuss budgetary issues. The projected date for the Annual Meeting is June 19.
Treasurer’s Report
Vilma indicated that there are no major surprises this month and that the work on next year’s budget has begun. The income side is where the struggles are and we need to make decisions in this area. We were able to fund the $10,000 Spirit Level matching grant for technological upgrades in the sanctuary. Our budget shortfall this fiscal year will be around the $60,000 and that had been projected.
Facilities
Vilma reported that due to increases in materials and labor, the construction cost for the work on the area around the Forbes Hall exit doors on Arizona will cost more than was originally planned. These repairs are critical in making the building areas safe. When completed, these changes will enable our return to rental income normalcy. Motion: The board unanimously passed the motion to sign a contract with Oakmont Builders in the amount of $211,471.20 to make the necessary repairs.
COVID Steering Committee
The committee decided on a safety protocol to reopen the sanctuary for congregants to attend to the Sunday services in person.
Secretary’s Report
Larry told the board that the new process would be that he will have the minutes ready for review within 48 hours. He requests that all Board members look at the minutes and make any corrections within the next 72 hours. The draft minutes will be turned over to Philip Siddons so that he can write the “Splinters from the Board” for the UUSM Community News Magazine. Larry also reported the results of an email poll regarding the Boards signing of a letter to President Biden entitled “Build Back Fossil Free.”
Youth Program Reopening
Beth reported that we are looking for social justice activities in which the kids can participate through the “Lunches for Bunches” program. We will also focus on getting OWL up and running. Beth Rendeiro will facilitate and we will reach out for youth to fill these classes.
Executive Session
The Board conducted an executive session after which the board meeting was adjourned.
RE News:
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, March 2022
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.
Community Building Activities:
Introduction to SoulCollage®: An Intuitive Artmaking Process Saturday, March 12
Soul CollageSoulCollage® 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 in person in the cottage from 1:00 – 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 send proof of vaccination to the office, and people need to stay masked at all times. Please sign up ahead of time: AdultRE@uusm.org
Nature Journaling: The Drifters – Ocean Plankton Sunday, March 27
Continuing with our ocean theme we are moving on to the drifters, plankton. Join us in nature journaling about some of the tiniest but most important living things on this planet: the ocean plankton. The ocean is where life began and some of these organisms are among the most ancient of living things. They remain crucial to life on earth, being a carbon sink for greenhouse gases, providing oxygen and being the base of the entire food web — not to mention that many are both fascinating and beautiful. We will work from photos as we journal about these ocean drifters in their diverse forms. All that is needed for participation is curiosity, a pencil, paper, or whatever medium you would like to draw and write in. The session begins at 2:30 pm. This session will be facilitated by Dorothy Steinicke, a member of UUSM and a lifelong lover of nature and the outdoors. Dorothy has spent years encouraging people to experience the natural world. To receive the Zoom link for this program contact AdultRE@uusm.org
Exploration of Ideas:
Science Non-Fiction Book Group Tuesday, March 15
We will discuss “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race,” by Walter Isaacson. Jennifer Doudna, along with a collaborator, won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her contribution to the development of CRISPR, the gene editing technique that is so easy it can be done in your garage. The author gives a glimpse of what contributed to her passion, and a sense of how many others influenced the entrepreneurial direction of discovery. To receive the link, you will want to be on the group email list. Contact: Rebecca Crawford, sci-nonfiction@uusm.org. We meet from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. All are welcome.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, March 3, 17
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:
3/3/22: “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”—Blaise Pascal. The internet, smartphones, and iPads have added to radio and TV in luring us to seek continuous entertainment and distraction by externals. Do you have any strategies or places for getting “unplugged”?
3/17/22: Setting aside considerations of family or cost, if you could live anywhere in the world for a year or longer, where would it be and why?
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.
Meditations:
Open Meditation Mondays, March 14, 28
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 evening, from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Contact Bev Shoenberger through meditation@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 meditation@uusm.org.
Reminders for Closed Groups:
For those of you who are attending ongoing closed groups, here are the reminders:
Writing For Discernment with Bettye Barclay will meet on Wednesday March 9, 7:00 – 9:00 pm on Zoom.
New Year’s Resolution Workshop with Norm Richey will not be meeting in March.