TOP, one of the newer acronyms at UUCCSM, stands for our Telephone OutreachProgram. This initiative is still in its infancy, but it shows great promise.

TOP callers make weekly phone calls, at times convenient to both parties, toassigned phone buddies. The buddies are church members who were initially contactedby the minister and who would like the friendliness and support of a weeklycall. Some of the buddies are shut-ins and are dealing with health issues, butsome simply look forward to a weekly call.

Each caller undergoes training beforehand by the TOP Committee headed by AnitaBrenner with the support of Michael Eselun. The committee meets monthly to ensurethat all phone buddies are receiving their calls and to answer question aboutthe process. New phone buddies are assigned to callers, if needed, at the meeting.

TOP is now actively looking for callers and also would like to know if thereare other church members who would like to receive a weekly call. As a caller,you will participate in shared ministry at our church; you will get to knowa fellow UU a little better and form a remote friendship with relatively littletime and effort. Calls are typically fifteen minutes long. As a recipient youknow that someone cares and is willing to listen, and you too will make a newconnection with someone from church. Our experience so far is that both partiesare enriched by the weekly calls.

Please contact Anita Brenner if you are interested in knowingmore about this new program at our church or if you would like to be a new recipientor caller.

- Lee Voegtlen and Marv Pulliam

 

Meet Our Congregation's Staff in This Major Transition Period

If you were at church on Sunday, November 6, and read the pink paper insertin your order of service, you learned that Marie Kashmer-Stiebing has resignedas our congregational administrator. Marie was our administrator for five years,working not only Monday through Friday, but also Sundays and sometimes officeSaturdays as well. There's nothing like realizing how much work someone doesonly after the person has left.

The work Marie did is now being spread between Melinda Ewen, whom you knowat church for many of her talents and often see standing under the "Ask Me"sign after Sunday services, and Chuck Craig, who came on board originally tohelp Warren Mathews with the financial tasks.

But we thought it would still be good to introduce, and re-introduce, our staffto the congregation. These are the people who keep the church running day today.

Chuck Craigstarted with the church at the end of July. With a willingness to jump in andhelp wherever he could, Chuck has also learned many of the administrative functionsin the office, including preparing announcements and the order of service, filing,and providing general office support. Chuck runs a food services business andcaters throughout the Los Angeles area. He lives in and loves Santa Monica,where he was born and grew up in the shadow of Pacific Ocean Park. He says ofour church that it is "an ideal church, a church that is open to everybody.

Melinda Ewen,who has an MBA, experience heading a non-profit, and, fortunately for the church,also some free time, will be working with Chuck over the next three months whilethe search committee looks for a new administrator. Besides helping with theday-to-day administration tasks, Melinda will analyze the tasks of the administratorand make recommendations on how to make the position fit into a 40-hour workweek .

The responsibility of the sextons is to keep the church clean and have roomsready for the various meetings and events at the church.

Kevin Rollermaintains the church during the week. Kevin has been our weekday sexton foralmost three years. He comes to the church after finishing work as a custodianat a middle school in Torrance (where he and his 15- year-old son live). Soft-spokenand friendly, Kevin has done a great job of making sure church activities andmeetings can function smoothly. He has recently taken on the role of maintainingsecurity at our church. You will also find Kevin making sure our fountain ispresentable, removing trash people throw in as well as cleaning out dead leaves.

Mark Dwyer,a friend of Kevin, started as our weekend sexton this summer after Jose Ruvalcabaresigned. On Sundays you will see Mark setting up tables, changing light bulbs,and making sure everything is in order for our Sunday activities. He is semiretiredand is overjoyed with the recent arrival of a second grandchild. He also findstime to play guitar. In the eighties, he was part of a production crew thatproduced albums for artists such as Bill Medley and Debbie Gibson. He is gladto be able to work in the welcoming environment of our church.

When you see these people, please say hello and thank them for the work theyare doing at our church.

- Nels Hanson

 

Small Group Ministry Conference Taught Us and Others the Program

A covenant group is a small relational group helping people to connect, engagein shared spirituality and draw newcomers in, giving them "a place at the table."Members become a lay ministry to one another through honoring and supportingone another, service, and joyful celebration of life.

On October 29 the UUA Pacific Southwest District presented, and our UU SmallGroup Ministry (SGM) members hosted, Dr. M'ellen Kennedy, who traveled fromVermont. She is the co-founder of the UU SGM Network. M'ellen is passionatein guiding this program's growth. Seventy-five people from San Diego, Sacramento,Santa Barbara, and beyond enjoyed a daylong instructional workshop for UU churchesstarting and nurturing covenant groups. Because a covenant group has a distinctpurpose and a unique structure, stressing support through deep respectful listening,it takes dialogue and practice to help a group to fully understand why and howto proceed.

M'ellen highlighted having a clear purpose, format, commitment to agreed-uponground rules, and shared leadership among all members. A cornerstone of a group'ssuccess is offering our love through service to our cogregation and larger community.

For the lunch break Step Up on Second provided our tasty lasagna lunch forenjoyment in our sunny garden area. Haley Paddock and her friend, Samantha,young people from our community, helped us serve.

Program members will continue to learn and support SGM. You are invited tojoin a future group, be a trained facilitator, and/or a part of the planningteam.

- Carol-jean Teuffel, for the SGM committee

 

Living Green is Possible Even at Christmas Time

As the holiday gift-giving season approaches, let's consider how to minimizeunnecessary trash and packaging.

• Use canvas totes for shopping and giving.
• Use crumpled-up newspaper instead of styrofoam peanuts when packaging boxesfor mailing.
• Make donations to your friend's or family member's favorite charity.
• Buy tickets to concerts, plays, or movies, to give as gifts.
• For church friends make a donation to the UUCCSM building fund or generaloperating fund in their honor or offer to buy them tickets for a Dining forDollars event.
• Buy consumables as gifts (i.e., food and drink) since they won't take upspace or end up in a landfill.
• Stock up on patternless wrapping paper and coordinating ribbon in colorsthat will work year round.
• Make the holidays more meaningful. Give the life-changing gift of an animalin honor of a friend or loved one. Contact Heifer International at catalog.heifer.org.

- Sandra Trutt

 

The Louis Durra Trio Jazz Concert Did It Again

Louis Durra's enjoyable jazz concert took place on November 6, at 7 p.m. Complementedby Larry Steen on bass and Jerry Kalaf on drums, and on several numbers by vocalistJulie Millet, Louis explored various moods and rhythms for a solid 75 minutes-whichis a generous set at such a high level of musicianship. The 40 people in theaudience were thoroughly entertained.

The Music Committee sponsors four Louis Durra concerts per year, which areexceptional opportunities for church members and the public to hear first classlive jazz-for the very modest admission of $10.

Next month will mark the five-year anniversary of Louis as our pianist/organist.When he started, he was introduced as a graduate of the prestigious BerkleeCollege of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and already hadtelevision and theatrical credits. Louis' next concert in the Sanctuary willbe on Sunday, January 22, at 7 p.m. Mark your calendar and invite your friends.

- Rob Briner