Conversations about the Mystery

Theme: 
Renewing Faith
Sunday, March 27, 2022 - 10:30am
Rev. Kikanza Nuri-Robins
Worship Associate: 
Charles Haskell
 
How do you describe your Faith? Is it enough to say, “I’m a UU?” Or do you need to specify the kind of Unitarian Universalist you are, citing perhaps, the religion or faith or belief system that informs your appreciation of Unitarian Universalism. During this season of polemic speech in our country, it becomes harder to share what you believe without becoming defensive or feeling you need to justify your position. This morning we will talk about how one can talk about the Mystery that some call God, and the energy that shapes other beliefs, in ways that are inclusive — calling people in to share their ideas, rather than calling them out or pushing them away.

“How Rare, How Lovely, This Fellowship”

Theme: 
Renewing Faith
Sunday, March 20, 2022 - 10:30am
Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels
Worship Associate: 
Sue Bickford
 
 
The most important value for a religious community is the community. As a faith community, our fellowship is at the ground of all we receive for ourselves and offer to the larger world. When we begin to move other programs to the center of our shared identity, we begin to lose our unique purpose and strength.
 
We welcome back to our pulpit the Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels, who is a Unitarian Universalist minister working in the Los Angeles area. Growing up in Santa Monica, he received a Masters of Divinity from the Claremont School of Theology in 1998 and was ordained and fellowshipped with the Unitarian Universalist Association later that year. During his 24 years in the ministry, he has served UU congregations in La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, and Long Beach. Currently, he serves the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kern County in Bakersfield, CA. He lives with his husband in downtown Los Angeles.

A Lotus in Bloom

Theme: 
Renewing Faith
Sunday, March 13, 2022 - 10:30am
Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae
Worship Associate: 
Chela Metzger
 
 
 
Thích Nhất Hạnh — the simple Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk and peace activist — has inspired the spiritual lives of countless people of all faith traditions. In January, he departed from our mortal coil and we offer this service in honor of his profound life and teachings. We hope you will join us for this special service.       
 
 
Please also note: Daylight Savings Time begins today!

The Faith of Julian of Norwich

Theme: 
Renewing Faith
Sunday, March 6, 2022 - 10:30am
Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae
Worship Associate: 
Chela Metzger
 
In the late 14th Century, Julian of Norwich experienced 16 mystical visions that she documented in a book that is believed to be the first written by a woman in the English language. “Revelations of Divine Love” is considered a masterpiece in Christian theology that was all but lost until modern times. Join us as we explore the life and visions of this great feminist and proto-Universalist religious leader. She, too, lived in a time of plague and found herself compelled to offer a hopeful message to society that is as relevant now as it was then.

Lunches for Bunches

Sunday, March 6 at 11:30  - Join us under the shade structure after the service as we prepare brown bag lunches for our homeless neighbors. We'll pack sandwiches, fruit, chips, beverages, and desserts for as many as we can. Afterward, we'll deliver them to Turning Point - a 55-bed temporary housing shelter for homeless people in Santa Monica.                                                                 
 
Contact hunger@uusm.org for more information. If you're unable to join us, you can support the Hunger Task Force <insert giving information.
 
 
Date / Time: 
Sunday, March 6, 2022 - 11:30am - 12:30pm

"Mahashivaratri: The Bhakti Poet-Saints" - UUSM Sunday Service - February 27, 2022

Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, preaching
Michael McCormack, worship associate
 
Mahashivaratri — “the Great Night of Shiva” in the Hindu tradition — has arrived once again! For the past two years we’ve honored this important Hindu festival with a special service. This year we will hear from the great devotional poet-saints and progressive reformers of this tradition. Join us for this holiday service marking the removal of ignorance and the sacred cosmic dance of creation and destruction.
Embedded Video: 

Our Sanctuary is Open!

We are happy to report that after careful consideration of the UUA’s most recent guidance and the practices of our neighboring congregations, our COVID Steering Committee reopened our historic sanctuary to vaccinated members and friends on Sunday, February 27, 2022. 
 
Vaccinations, well-fitting masks, and social distancing are still required. (Though reservations are not.) So if you’re vaccinated and follow these basic protocols, you can just show up for our 10:30 am services on Sunday mornings. 
 
At the conclusion of the service, all members and friends will be asked to move to our beautiful outdoor courtyard for social hour. We are still not able to serve coffee or food but we know many look forward to our community time nonetheless. 
 
We recognize that participation in our community life in this way necessitates some risk and this option may not be for everyone. We will continue to offer our services and coffee hour online as well to remain as inclusive and accessible as possible. 
 
Only street parking will be available for the time being on Sunday mornings.
 
We are also reopening our church building and grounds for small to medium groups to meet throughout the week. Vaccinations, well-fitting masks, and social distancing are also required for group meetings. Reservations can be made with the church office. 
 
We hope that in the coming months it will become increasingly safer for us to gather together but we all know the pandemic has not always been predictable. We will keep you updated as the situation evolves. We thank you for your patience and understanding. 
 
We hope to see you at church or online soon! 
 

A Camp Connect Workshop with Facilitator Amy Brunell - Zoom/Online

Let’s Delve into the 7 UU Principles Together!


 

You’re invited to an exciting new program hosted by Camp de Benneville Pines and offered by our own Amy Brunell. Those of us at camp for our October weekend had a preview of this and wanted more. Here it is.

UU Principles — How do they go beyond an ideal?

Come join workshop leader Amy Brunell as we focus on the seven UU Principles and consider the proposed eighth principle. This 4-week virtual camp begins on Sunday, March 6th at 5:00 pm, with the final session on March 27th. Everyone 18 years of age and older is welcome to participate.

Starting Sunday, March 6th, at 5:00 pm for four weeks, we will dive into two principles per workshop session. Workshops will be presented via Zoom and facilitated by Amy Brunell, one of our Camp Deans and a Professional Facilitator in navigating stimulating discussions.

Attend one, some, or all! We’ll focus on two principles each week, in sequential order. These workshops will be held at 5 pm on four consecutive Sundays:  March 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th 

Date / Time: 
Repeats every week every Sunday until Sun Mar 27 2022 .
Sunday, March 6, 2022 - 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Sunday, March 13, 2022 - 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Sunday, March 20, 2022 - 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Sunday, March 27, 2022 - 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Beloved Conversations Facilitated Reflection - Zoom/Online

Date / Time: 
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Nature Journaling with Dorothy Steinicke - Zoom/Online

THE DRIFTERS – OCEAN PLANKTON

Nature Journaling on Ocean Plankton

Sunday, March 27 at 2:30pm

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, 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 many of their diverse form. All that is needed
for participation is curiosity, pencil and paper, or whatever medium you
would like to draw and write in.
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

Date / Time: 
Sunday, March 27, 2022 - 2:30pm - 4:00pm