Feb-06
Featured Articles:
Judith and Catherine Launch Lifespan Religious Education
What does it take to launch a vibrant new adult program for religious explorationand faith development? The first step is to gather everyone who is interestedin creating the vision. Please join us Tuesday evening, February21, from 7 to 9 p.m., to take part in a dialogue aboutadult religious exploration in our church. Judith Meyer andCatherine Farmer will lead the meeting.
Our church has a long history of stimulating adult programs, from Psycraticato Adult Religious Growth and Learning. These programs have provided a widevariety of experiences, from lectures on world religions to workshops on "BuildingYour Own Theology" to contemplative spiritual reflection. The time has cometo generate another phase of adult religious education, as a component of "lifespanreligious exploration" for our entire congregation.
Lifespan religious exploration means two things: making sure that every person,no matter what age, has access to meaningful spiritual and intellectual growthopportunities and recognizing that we are all interconnected. The children'sprogram ought not to be completely separate from the adult programs of the church.
Our RE Council does a great job of making sure that we offer programs for nurserythrough high school, and at this point it would be unthinkable for us to skipa level - not offer anything, for example, for fifth graders. But are we offeringprograms meaningful to all of our groups of people? Young adults? Elders? Collegestudents? Parents? Women? Men? Families? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have aplanning structure for programs that carries this ethos into the work of puttingtogether a comprehensive program for the members of our church?
Lifespan religious exploration acknowledges that as a congregation we're allin this together. What is valuable for children to be thinking and learningabout and experiencing is also valuable for adults to be thinking and learningabout and experiencing. People of all ages grow spiritually. We have much tolearn from one another. This awareness can help inform how we structure ourprograms and open up opportunities for creating links between programs. We arean intentionally intergenerational community, in a society that is increasinglyage-segregated. We don't always take advantage of the opportunities we havefor meaningful intergenerational connections.
As we plan the adult component of lifespan religious exploration, we will keepwhat has worked so well in the past - our popular leaders and curricula thatare part of the life of our church. We will also introduce some new ideas. Butfirst, we want to hear from you. Please join us for a community dialogue February21.
- Judith Meyer and Catherine Farmer
A Successful Pledge Drive Increases Our Possibilities
Thanks to the more than 300 community members who made pledges of support for2006. Your stated commitments let us know exactly where you stand in supportof this church and its work, both inside our four walls and beyond them.
The success of this year's drive cannot be understated. Twice as many of youparticipated in 2005 as in 2004, and roughly half of you increased your support,many very significantly. Indeed, more of you took the time to think about yourcommitments, what it means to live your lives as Unitarian Univeralists andhow you want to put your values into action by supporting our work than at anytime in recent history. I hope this great progress is a harbinger of thingsto come.
Now I think we can go forward in the budgeting process asking some wonderfulspiritual questions, namely: How can our 2006 budget reflect our vision of whatour church and its impact on our community can be, and how can the church becomea tool for spiritual transformation?
Very heartfelt thanks to those who have worked to make this year's pledge drivea success: our stewardship committee of Phil Bonacich, Rob Briner, Sanjeev Jain,Charlene Langland, Ofelia Lachtman, and Pat Wright; special mailing army ofone, John Fels; pinch hitters Carol Agate and Carol Kerr providing invaluablefeedback throughout the process; in the trenches, Warren Mathews, and Charlesand Christine Haskell for managing all those pledge forms; Anne MacQueen andher incredible cast of letter addressers for helping with mailings; and themany volunteers who helped with Commitment Sunday. Finally to office staff MelindaEwen and Charles Craig, thank you. It is an honor to work with every one ofyou.
In faith,
- Jacki K.Weber
Stewardship Committee Chair
Dining for Dollars Events
Bidding Dates: Sunday, February 19, and Sunday, February 26, 2006. (8:30 a.m.-- 1:00 p.m.)
| Date | Host | Event | Time |
| Sat. March 4 | Van den Beemt | Authentic Swiss Cheese Fondue | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. March 11 | Nyquist/Gates | Ancestor's Evening Dinner | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sun. March 12 | Kernochan | French Bistro Dinner | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat. March 18 | Van den Beemt/McDonald/Guidotti/Ewen | Champagne Hike and Lunch | 9:00 a.m. |
| Sat. March 18 | Jones/Hamilton | Moroccan Feast | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sun. March 26 | Elahi | Dinner with Persian Accent | 7:00pm |
| Sat. April 1 | Groezinger | Korean Barbecue Dinner | 6:00pm |
| Sat. April 1 | Holmen/Malich/Simmons | Docent-Led Tour of Art at MTA Subway Stations | 8:30 a.m. |
| Sat. April 1 | Rosario | Cuban Feast | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sun. April 2 | Murray | Tipsy Tea Party | 3:00 p.m. |
| Sat. April 8 | Pinkham | New Mexican/Southwest Dinner | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat. April 8 | Malich/Kahn/Ring/Trutt | Pre-Stevening Event - Hors d'oevres, Wine & Beverages | 5:00 p.m. |
| Sun. April 9 | Egan | Afternoon Tea | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sat. April 15 | Parkerton | Feast as the Moguls of Northern India Once Did | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. April 22 | Stone | Sip Wine in Rose Garden & Dining City Lights View | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sat. April 22 | Lim/Burrows/Shinno | Chinese Spring Celebration | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sun. April 23 | Boothe | Hawaiian Salmon Dinner | 5:00 p.m. |
| Sun. April 23 | Loran | Northern Italian Dinner | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sun. April 23 | Hallinan | Bloody Marys & Brunch | 12:30 p.m. |
| Sat. April 29 | Westbay | Trivial Pursuit of Women | 2:00 p.m. |
| Sat. April 29 | Curtis | Flavors of the Mediterranean | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat. April 29 | Goodwin/Lisovsky | Bridge Buffet | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sun. April 30 | Bjornlie | Scandinavian Supper | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat. May 6 | Choir | Songs of Social Conscience | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sun. May 7 | Kegel/Fuller | 2nd Annual UUCCSM Scrabble Tournament & Buffet | 5:00 p.m. |
| Sun. May 7 | DePaul/Rendiero | Pizza & Parlor Games | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sat. May 13 | Steinicke | Picnic/Wildflower Walk in Topanga | 1:00 p.m. |
| Sat. May 13 | Goodwin | Joni Mitchell Night Revisited & Dinner | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. May 20 | Bar/Kendall | Five Course French Meal | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sat. May 27 | Voegtlen | Red Moon Restaurant (Vietnamese & Chinese) | 6:30 p.m. |
| Fri. June 2 | Olson | Sunset Bistro Supper at the Beach/Bel Air Bay Club | 5:30pm |
| Sat. June 3 | Burrows | Casanova in Venice Dinner | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sat. June 3 | Canady | Buffet Extravaganza - Salads & Desserts | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sun. June 4 | Greenman | Que-tannany BBQ Sing-Along | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sun. June 4 | Nyquist | Ladies’ Night at the Heated Pool | 5:30pm |
| Sat. June 10 | Bickford/Nannini | Backyard BBQ & Driveway Basketball | 5:00 p.m. |
| Sat. June 10 | Kharraz | Roman Ruins Murder Mystery Dinner | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sat. June 10 | Dietz | Dean & Bob's Fabulous Pancake Breakfast | 10:00 a.m. |
| Sat. July 22 | Crawford | Gourmet Greek Dinner with New Twists | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat. June 24 | Hermann | Life Drawing & Lunch | 12:00 p.m. |
| Sat. June 24 | Van Ooyen | Summer Solstice Celebration | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sun. June 25 | Machnik | Inti Raymi Peruvian Dinner with Music | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sat. July 1 | Hanson | Eating Italian with Gusto & Wine | 6:00 p.m. |
| Tues. July 4 | Bonacich | Celebrate a Glorious Fourth/BBQ & Games | 3:00 p.m. |
| Sat. July 8 | Gomez/Turner | Wine Tasting with Hors d'ouevers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sun. July 9 | Brae | Dinner at the Theatre Restaurant & Movie | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sat. July 15 | Fouts/Weber | Lazy Summer BBQ | 4:30 p.m. |
| Sat. July 15 | Elson/Olson | Spanish Holiday (Paella & Sangria) | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Aug. 12 | Kerr | Evening in Bangkok | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Aug. 12 | Wright | Tapas & Margaritas Fiesta | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat. Aug. 19 | Hession | Backyard Family BBQ & Pool Party | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Aug. 26 | Lambson | Cajun Brunch | 12:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Aug. 26 | Bleak/Smith | Texas Hold 'em Poker Party | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sun. Aug 27 | Bickel | Late Summer Brunch | 1:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Sept. 30 | Kelly/Olson | Tea & Tarot | 2:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Sept. 2 | March/Clark | Renaissance Role-Playing Feast (Helpers) | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Sept. 2 | March/Clark | Renaissance Role-Playing Feast (Nobles) | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Sept. 2 | March/Clark | Renaissance Role-Playing Feast (Peasants) | 4:00pm |
| Sat. Sept. 2 | Hermann | Dealers Choice Poker & Barbecue | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sun. Sept. 3 | Patch/Harati/Paddock | Beach Barbecue at Dockweiler Beach | 5:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Sept. 9 | Voegtlen/Malich | Indian Summer Swim Party & Light Lunch | 1:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Sept. 16 | Pulliam | Delices Du Mer | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Sept. 23 | Snyder/Nakajima | Japanese Curry Dinner | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Sept. 23 | Reitzel | Garden Brunch | 12:00 p.m. |
| Sun. Sept. 24 | Otero/Marques | Taste of Brazil | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Oct. 7 | Jones/Hamilton | Buffet Dinner & Musical Instrument Construction | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Oct. 7 | Long | Casual Dining Venice Beach/Stroll on Boardwalk | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sun. Oct. 8 | Paddock | Napa Valley Brunch | 1:00 p.m. |
|
Sat. Oct. 14 |
Goetz | Mexican & Margaritas | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Oct. 21 | Kory | Evening in Tuscany | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sat. Oct. 12 | MacQueen | Beach Walk at Sunset/Autumn Dinner | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sat. Oct. 28 | Alison/Van Ligten | Day of the Dead Celebration | 7:00 p.m. |
| DePrima | Scenic Sea Ranch Getaway | ||
| Camp de Benneville Pines Weekend | |||
| Camp de Benneville Pines Weekend |
Join a Church Covenant Group and Experience the Rewards
Small Group Ministry has been in place at our church since autumn 2004, whichis a little more than a year. We have four Covenant Groups meeting now. Whatattracts people to come to these small gatherings twice a month to spend twohours with six to ten other UU church members or friends?
I go because it gives me the opportunity to be present, to focus, and to listen.The format and setting of each session is intended to provide a calm and sereneenvironment for the attendees. Members are encouraged to speak from their personalexperience using "I" statements on topics that have a spiritual aspect. Memberschoose the topics in advance. Some typical examples are love, courage, learningfrom failure, expectations, hospitality, kindness, patience, justice, and joy.
Everyone usually has some personal experience and some point of view on thetopics. The facilitator suggests some questions to explore further. Topics maycontinue for multiple sessions, if the members agree.
The objective of the Covenant Group process is to promote active listeningto one another rather than engaging in a debate where one party seeks to presentthe most convincing argument. This is a change from a contentious intellectualUU arena.
Covenant Groups offer a forum in which to find common ground. With one personspeaking at a time, the rest practice deep listening. This is how the membersget to know each other at a deeper and richer level. Often, I make a connectionin empathy with the speaker and gain a new insight. I have found that to suspendjudgment is to open the door to learning and personal growth. In a few meetingsbonding with the other members is inevitable (intimacy) and, after a particularlymeaningful session, I feel really connected to my universe (ultimacy).
- Marv Pulliam
Greening Your New Year's Resolutions
It's not too late to make a New Year's resolution to "Live Green." The UnitarianUniversalist Seventh Principal states: "We need to take care of the earth, thehome we share with all living things." (Kid-friendly version.) Have you madea "Green" resolution?
One very easy Green resolution would be to join the Living Green e-mail discussiongroup sponsored by this church. You can subscribe at LivingGreen@yahoo.groups.comor by writing church member Sandra Trutt at sntrutt@aol.com. Snail mail or messagescan be left with the church office.
Even if you don't join the Living Green discussion group, please share yourGreen resolutions with us. We hope to include them in our Earth Day newsletterarticle.
Looking for inspiration? Talk to fellow church members or your friends abouthow they live Green. Look for the book "50 Things You Can Do to Save the World,"or similar titles. Browse through any one of a number of magazines. Or checkout UUministryforearth.org.We look forward to hearing from you.
- Katie Malich
News & Announcements:
Secret Pals Program Will Resume This Year
The Secret Pals program is a month-long event bringing together new friendsfrom different generations through the exchange of letters and "clues." Onceyou sign up to be a secret pal, you will be assigned a secret pal to leave messagesfor, and someone else will be assigned to leave secret pal clues for you. Thematching is done so that every adult is leaving clues for a child, and eachchild is leaving clues for an adult. And we need lots of adults - not just parents- to sign up to be the secret pals.
Signups will take place through February 5, and the program will kick off onFebruary 12 after each service, when you'll be given the name of your Pal, andwill have an opportunity to decorate your goodie bag. Then from February 19to March 12, make sure to leave clues, or letters, or photo hints (Baby photo?Extreme close-up of your eye? Be creative!), etc. in your Pal's bag each week.
Mark your calendars now for March 18, 7 to 9 p.m. for our secret pals party,when all will be revealed. So, whether you're a kid or a grown-up, don't missout on this great opportunity to get to know more about someone new at UUCCSM- or maybe someone you already know. Be on the lookout for signup tables inForbes Hall. For more information, contact Catherine Farmer at the church office.
Thank You
John-Michael and Karl Lisovsky, who tookdown the Christmas decorations on New Year's Eve; to Arvid Knudsen,head greeter for the 11 a.m. service, who has organized a cadre of church peopleto welcome everyone as they come to church Sunday morning; to CarolynBerry, for providing home hospitality to Jim and BettyGrant while they were with us during Judith's sabbatical; to JackiWeber and the Stewardship Committee, for the bestpledge drive ever.
Your Services are Needed to Help Us Raise Money
Please join us in helping to balance the church budget. During February andearly March we are asking you to donate personal services that can be auctionedto our congregants and friends in the spring. Please come by the gallery wallin Forbes Hall after church and talk with one of our volunteers about thesedonations.
Questions about this fund-raising effort can also be addressed to LeslieReuter or (818) 451-9175, or Kathy Cook. This is agreat way to help our church and to honor the part of our church covenant thatstates "service is our prayer."
Nominating Committee Seeking Recommendations for Candidates
The Nominating Committee is starting work on the slate for the Board of Directorsand for the Nominating Committee to present at the annual meeting. Each yearseveral positions must be filled: all officers, three members at large, andtwo nominating committee positions. This year new people must be elected toserve as president and treasurer because the incumbents have each served threeyears. If you have thoughts or suggestions about people or characteristics thatyou think should be considered, please contact any member of the NominatingCommittee: Kathy Cook, John Fels, SJ Guidotti, Audrey Lyness, Victor Paddock,or Linda Van Lighten.
Music Committee Provides Opportunity for New Talent to Perform on Sunday
February 5 will be our second Church Talent Sunday. These are the music program'seffort to showcase the talent in our congregation, to give the less experienceda chance to perform, to generate involvement of church members in the services,and to enrich our community coming together in this way.
We've just begun, and we're looking for more members who would like to takepart. You don't have to be the next Elvis or Sinatra to do it (though if youare, we'd be thrilled to give you your start), but if you sing or play an instrument,then please sign up.
If you'd like to have Louis accompany you, all you need is a chart of the pieceyou want to perform. If you'd like to team up with different instruments orother vocalists, let us know what you're looking for, and we'll do our bestto match you up.
For more information or to sign up contact Peter van den Beemt.Come join us and contribute to our church in a whole new way.
Faith in Action News:
Town Hall Meeting Will Discuss Pending and Future Resolutions
All church members and friends are invited to the sanctuary at 12:30on Sunday, February 12, for our annual winter Town Hall meetingon UUA Statements of Conscience, Study/Action Issues and Issues of ImmediateWitness.
AGENDA
1. Discuss and conduct a non-binding vote about commemorating the threeyear anniversary of War in Iraq on Sunday, March 19.
2. Discuss the proposed 2006 UUA Statement of Conscience entitled "GlobalWarming."
3. Discuss and vote on whether to participate in the current Study/ActionIssue entitled "Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society."
4. Prioritize new Study/Action Issues for a vote by our delegates at GeneralAssembly in June.
5. Decide whether or not we want to undertake one of the current Issues ofImmediate Witness.
Complete information on these issues may be found on the web site of the UUACommission on Social Witness
- Charles Haskell Chair, FIA Commission
Splinters from the Board:
At the January 10 meeting, Alison Kendall, for the Building Committee, explainedthat the decision of the City Council requires a written statement of the conditionsof the parking agreement by city staff and written proof of the agreement for12 parking spaces at the Seventh Day Adventist lot. Application for buildingpermits cannot be made until that is done.
Consideration of alternative parking possibilities and appearances at hearingshas required extensive time from the architect in excess of that expected andagreed. The board approved an additional payment of up to $5,000 from the capitalfund.
Marv Pulliam gave a presentation on Covenant Groups. Since the first ones wereformed in October of 2004, there have been six groups, and four of them arenow meeting. Fourteen facilitators have been trained and six are currently active.In all 34 people are now members of groups and there are 20 alumni of past groups.
The lessons learned so far are that a group can be formed with a minimum ofsix members and that groups can grow by addition of new members, though a commitmentto regular attendance is necessary for groups to thrive.
Plans for the future include training additional facilitators, adding membersto the implementation team, and developing programs in coordination with otheradult religious exploration goals.
Charles Haskell reported that the Search Committee for a new congregationaladministrator will continue to advertise the position and accept applicationsthrough January. A short list of candidates for interview will be ready by February.
Melinda Ewen said current membership is 464. Warren Mathews said he now projectsa surplus of approximately $20,000 for the budget year 2005.
Judith Meyer reported that her book, "Leave Room for Hope," is almost readyfor production. Felicity Nussbaum has served loyally in achieving this goal.Judith's major concerns at this time are seeking a prompt transition in officestaff, working with Catherine Farmer to develop a lifespan religious explorationprogram, supporting the membership and leadership group and other membershipinitiatives, and working with the young adult leadership to increase young adultvisibility and outreach, including the new group at UCLA.
Judith's December 2001 sermon, "A Season Turns," was published in Quest, thepublication of the Church of the Larger Fellowship, and the Pakistani churchhas requested that it be translated into Urdu for a wider distribution.
Catherine Farmer reported that she is working with Michele Prichard to co-ordinateSocial Justice Month in which each class explores some aspect of homelessness.Consideration is being given to realigning the lower grades' classes to geta more effective balance in class sizes. The focus of classes during the secondhalf of the church year will be Principle 5: The Right of Conscience and theUse of the Democratic Process.
Melinda Ewen reported that Chuck Craig has agreed to continue as part-timeoffice assistant, but she has been unable to hire anyone as parking attendant.Antivirus software is being updated. Additional virtual memory is being installedin several computers with the help of Shawn Kerr. A new fax machine has beenordered to replace the very old one.
Security continues to be a problem. It is not acceptable to have homeless peoplein the courtyard because of trash accumulation and neighbor complaints, andcity police report that three parolees, one a violent offender, occupied thevacant house across the street. One panhandler said he collected $100 from peopleattending our Christmas Eve service.
- Gerrie Lambson
Other UU News & Events:
An Online Dating Service for UUs Now Available to Browse or Join
UUsingles.com providesmatchmaking services for Unitarian Universalists and other like-minded liberalreligious thinkers. They make it fun to meet other singles while promoting theinherent worth and dignity of every individual - a fundamental principle ofUnitarian Universalism. Individuals age 18 and older of all sexual orientationsare welcome to join. Posting ads is free and membership dues are modest.
This matching service differs from other like matchmaking services in severalways:
RE News:
February RE Star - Michele Prichard
Social justice has long beenone of Michele Prichard's passions. Remember how hard she worked on the campaignto achieve a living wage and to improve the working conditions for hotel workers?Michele has shared this deep social commitment and conscience with the RE programin a variety of ways.
Several years ago, Michele became the first social justice chair in the newWay Cool format, planning and leading monthly RE classes on social justice issues.This past fall, Michele gathered materials that taught the kids about UNICEFand why we hold a carnival each Halloween to raise money for it. This January,our social justice month, Michele designed and led sessions at both serviceson helping the homeless.
How many of us joined the church so that our kids could be part of a sociallyconscious and involved community? Well, thanks to Michele Prichard, our kidsare learning what it means to help your neighbor who may be less fortunate thanyou. In addition to being warm, funny and sweet, Michele is an incredible listener- take a moment to see how the kids respond to her.
For all the loving kindness she exhibits, for the resources she provides andfor the faith she truly puts "in action," we honor her this month. Way to go,Michele!
January Social Justice Event
InJanuary the religious exploration children participated in the social justiceprogram launched this month. All the elementary classes met together to participatein a project related to homelessness. On January 15 they made lunch to sellafter the services to raise money for a microwave oven to be donated to TurningPoint Shelter, a transitional home for formerly homeless people, a program ofthe Ocean Park Community Center.