Jun-03
From Our Minister:
Excerpt from the annual report of the minister to the congregation
It was a year in which we came together to study and witness for justice andpeace; a year in which our church demanded – and received – exceptionalvolunteer commitments; a year in which we found real comfort in the warmth ofour community. It was also a year in which our country went to war; and thatwas not the only harsh reality, for lost jobs and shrunken incomes have affectedboth church and household budgets. The departure of a key staff person, ourdirector of religious education, left many of us unsettled, but brought outthe best in our teachers, parents, and leaders. And in our ministry, we havesaid goodbye to too many beloved members. This year I performed more memorialservices than weddings.
These are challenging times for us. Yet they bring out our strengths. The missionof our church – to practice love, seek truth and knowledge, dwell togetherin peace, serve humankind – is never diminished by challenges. Its hopeand its purpose are more relevant than ever.
I have been your minister now for ten years. Long enough to feel deeply attachedto the people; long enough to know when to step back and take the long view;long enough to appreciate the forward rush of time, of generational change,and of aging together.
But the best time is the present. Especially with all the energy that is goinginto religious education, faith in action, the stewardship initiative, and theemergence of new and inspired young leaders. What a joy it will be to work withCarol Kerr, our new president, in the coming year.
Change is always part of church life. Some of it comes naturally, but some ofit must be planned.
Our church membership has grown over the years. We are vibrant and active. Butour size is awkward: too large for our staff and our building, too small tohave everything we want. The building program will take care of our space needs,but the need for more staff remains.
A long-range planning group, convened by president Jerry Gates, has been workingon the problem this year. There is more work to be done, but Jerry has givenus an excellent beginning. I hope that continued long range planning will bethe legacy of his presidency.
For my part, I have been busy. This year I officiated at 6 weddings and 11 memorials.I have performed one child dedication ceremony — not nearly enough ofthose around here! –– and one ceremony for the renewal of marriagevows. I do as much pastoral work as I can. It is what I enjoy the most.
I am thankful to you, the congregation of the Unitarian Universalist CommunityChurch of Santa Monica, for giving me the best ten years of my life. I am thankfulto Ernie Pipes and Silvio Nardoni, the best colleagues I could ever dream ofhaving. And I am thankful to our common faith, which brings us together andguides us on our way.
-- Judith Meyer
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From Our President:
Hello!
I thought I would use the president’s column this month to introducemyself and our family, and to share some thoughts about the opportunities andchallenges ahead in the 2003-04 church year.
Although I grew up in Los Angeles and attended this church as a child, I movedaway for college and law school, and eventually settled in San Francisco topractice law. After I married Shawn, we were moved to Guam (courtesy of theU.S. Navy) for three years and did not return to “the mainland”until January 1999.
Returning to Los Angeles was both fun and unnerving. Shawn and I missed thestrong sense of community we had enjoyed living on a naval base, and we lookedfor a way to regain that sense of closeness in a city as big as this one. Westarted attending UUCCSM in the summer of 1999, mostly because I had fond memoriesof my childhood Sundays. We became members that fall. Our daughter has enjoyedthe religious exploration classes from the start and adores the friends shehas made. (We do, too.)
I have served on the pledge committee, the finance committee, and on the boardas treasurer. I have also worked on the capital campaign, and taught RE withsome amazing volunteer teachers. Shawn has served as chair of the RE committeeand is now a member of the nominating committee. Our daughter likes to ringthe bell on Sundays. Participating in the life of the church in these ways hasbeen challenging, but also incredibly rewarding, as these activities have beena source of enduring friendships for all of us.
What can we expect from this year? There are many exciting opportunities ahead.The results of the all-church survey can expand the participation of our membersin the myriad volunteer opportunities this church offers. We can survive theSanta Monica City Council approval process and continue realizing the visionof our building program. We can support the boundless enthusiasm of the religiousexploration program and help our children learn about their spiritual placein this world. We can see the tremendous energy of FIA continue to give ourchurch a collective voice on the important issues of the day. We can explorethe depths of our faith with the help of an inspiring senior minister.
Of course, there are challenges, too. As 2003 promises to be another tumultuousyear on both the economic and political fronts, the demands on this church tooffer a spiritual home are ever increasing. We need to accommodate our membersand visitors in both a physical and spiritual sense. It is clear, however, thatthe resources of our church have not kept pace with the demands made on it.So, the biggest challenge of the year will be to find ways to increase thoseresources. The all-church survey offers a chance to improve our volunteer resourcesby matching the talents and skills of our members and friends with the volunteerneeds in our programs. The stewardship committee has begun developing a thoughtfuland comprehensive approach to making this church a truly generous congregation.
The opportunities for this congregation certainly outweigh the challenges, andI look forward to the year ahead.
-- Carol Kerr
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Featured Articles:
Talented Church Members Schedule a Great de Benneville Pines Program
As this issue goes to press, our de Benneville Pines registrations exceedany for the past eight years. We are now at 90, and closing in on the camp’scapacity.
The program includes a mix of first-time events and old favorites. DeanVoegtlen will once more be leading the traditional dam building, anevent joined by many campers, adults and children, participants and watchers.Last year’s “new tradition,” Chris Brown’sseed spitting contest, will be repeated. He still hasn’t decided whetherto use watermelon or cherry seeds. And Bill Damerell will againbe leading a hike.
The lodge porch will be the setting for singing, crafts, and socializing.Joyce Holmen will lead children and adults in singing WoodyGuthrie songs on Friday and decorating cookies on Saturday. Kerry Thornewill lead the Santa Monica UU Troubadors, which includes all the campers. Thecampfire program, led by Michael Branton, will feature at leastfour guitars and promises to be scary.
Judith Meyer will lead a workshop, sharing what she learned from the religiouseducation transition process. Alan Cranis’ workshop willhelp us understand Islam. Suzanne De Benedittis’ workshop,“Finding Your Bliss,” will teach the difference between passingpleasure and lasting fulfillment. Judy Schonebaum will leada community service project of making dolls for children in need, for ages 8to 88. Chris Hero will teach landscape drawing and painting.For early risers, Judith Martin Straw will lead pre-breakfastyoga classes. Anne Silver will be doing a Sunday morning writingworkshop.
Joanie Wilk is providing a children’s program of artsand crafts for those who are four and over. The pool and hot tub will be open,with bathing suits optional after 9 p.m. Other programs are swimming at JenksLake, aerobics, crafts, and a DJ.
Best of all, we will be in the church community, enjoying the clean mountainair and each other’s company. If there is space left, come join us.
About 160 People Have Sent Us Their Congregational Survey
The survey task force is happy to report that as of the newsletter deadlineabout 160 of you have returned your surveys. Others have told me that they intendto complete and return theirs, but just haven’t done it yet. If you wantto be part of this project, now is a very good time to respond. We have begundata entry into the church’s new computer program. During June I willbe using the software to print and distribute lists to committee chairs andactivity group leaders of those who are interested in specific areas. Afterthis initial mass distribution, we will continue to add information as surveyscome in. This information will be available on an ongoing basis to those whoare in charge of committees and activities.
We would like very much to start off with your skills and interests includedin the initial distribution of information. If you have already returned yoursurvey, THANK YOU! If you can’t find the time or courage right now, wewill be glad to accept your survey whenever you get it done, but would be evenhappier to have it now. Remember that expressing an interest is not a commitment.You can say “yes” or “no” later. Surveys are availablefrom the church office or from me, via e-mail. Thank you for thinking abouthow to share your talents with our congregation.
Kathy Cook,
Survey Coordinator
Jacki Weber Tells the Stewardship Story
Last month, Judith Meyer, members of a newly-created stewardshipcommittee, and another dozen members of our congregation began a dialogue onstewardship and what it means to our church. Stewardship is defined as the carefuland responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care –and this church is entrusted to our care.
We talked about why we come to church and what we want out of it. We talkedabout how we express ourselves in ways that support our UU principles and whatthe church’s obligation is beyond our walls. We articulated what makesus feel good about being religious people and what is reasonable for the churchto ask of us in return. We didn’t come to conclusions. We simply askedand answered questions for ourselves and for each other. Everyone involved foundit gratifying and enlightening. And we’re excited to continue the dialogue.
This month we expand the conversation. During June we’ll hold a seriesof informal stewardship discussions to explore the attitudes and beliefs ofour congregation. And we want you to give voice to your own thoughts on matterslike those mentioned above.
Next month we’ll seek to synthesize that feedback, reflect it back tothe congregation, and continue the discussion in all of the committees in whichwe volunteer and from which we benefit. Ultimately, we hope to create pledgematerials that will speak to a newly articulated mission that represents theconversations we’ve been having for months.
What will be the effect? We hope to deepen our spiritual lives as individualsand as a congregation, making us a stronger, more dedicated congregation.
Please join the conversation.
In faith,
Jacki K. Weber
The Folks at Interweave Say a Great Big Thank You
As I write this,the May 18 congregational vote committing us to be a welcoming congregation,one that welcomes, embraces, and supports bisexuals, gays, lesbians, and transgenders(BGLTs), is days away. However, I trust that when you read this, the majorityof voting members will have made that commitment.
What a blessing and honor it is to be a part of this church!
As other religions face divisive debates over whether to ordain gays and lesbiansas ministers and whether to bless same-sex marriages (or have decided to somehow“love the sinner, but hate the sin”) UUs have ordained many BGLTministers, same-sex marriages are routinely performed in UU churches, the UUAhas an office devoted to our concerns, and, for the most part, when other UUsare tempted to hate us, it’s because we’re obnoxious at meetingsor we voted against the latest ballot measure — not because of whom welove! What those religions, as well as whole societies, are struggling withis basically the question of whether BGLTs are less than or fully human.
Which is why the UU welcoming congregation program is so important. When achurch becomes a welcoming congregation, it is a declaration that BGLTs areindeed fully human and deserving of love, support, and a spiritual home.
On a recent trip back to his home state of Kansas, welcoming congregationcommittee chair Ron Crane saw a bumper sticker saying, “StopAIDS: Kill a Queer.” Last October, a transgender youth in Newark, California,was murdered after a number of young men discovered she was biologically male.In our son’s elementary school, two common pejoratives are, “He’sso gay!” or “Gaylord.” This is the embedded hatred and intolerancethat we are choosing to counterbalance with our love.
Our church is no less than a haven for BGLTs, a true sanctuary from the swirlingundercurrent of threats that we face. For this, we thank you!
Participants in the welcoming congregation committee have been RonCrane (chair), Judy Federick, Charles Haskell,Christine Haskell, Achim Jung, KrisLangabeer, and Aidan Tanner.
We thank the following church friends for their generous help or support overthe past 18 months: Carol Agate, Steven Andrews,Kelly Bryan, Peggy Butler, Jim Cadwell,Alison Chipman, Kathy Cook, LouisDurra, Michael Eselun, Melinda Ewen,John Fels, Jerry Gates, Cicely Gilman,S.J. Guidotti, Joyce Holmen, SusanneIntriligator, Gina Isaacs, Max Joffe,Marie Kashmer-Stiebing, Dan Kegel, LisaKohane, Ofelia Lachtman, Lee Lipinski,Warren Mathews, Lira Maywood, PatMcGuire, Debbie Menzies, Judith Meyer,Leah Moore, Aire Norell, Pat Parkerton,Ernie Pipes, Clare Rampling, BethRendeiro, Jose Ruvalcaba, Marguerite Spears,Kerry Thorne, Linda Van Ligten, DeanVoegtlen, Steve Wight, Alyssa Wood,and Jim Weinberg.
We also thank the following church groups for their support: administrationcommittee, adult religious growth and learning, bienvenidos, board of directors,faith in action, finance committee, gallery wall, Our Whole Lives, personnelcommittee, religious exploration, social action, and women’s alliance.
And finally, we thank Keith Kron, director of the UUA officeof BGLT concerns and the following community groups for their contributionsto our welcoming congregation efforts: Invisible Lives Through InvisibleEyes multi-media exhibit; Center for Transgender Sanity; Gays and LesbiansInitiating Dialogue for Equality; Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services;BiNet Los Angeles; ACLU of Southern California; and the Los Angeles chapterof Parents, Families, and Friends of Gays and Lesbians.
-- Kris Langabeer
The Story Behind Our Website
From the first four pages in 1999, our church’s website has grown toover 100 pages today, containing newsletters, sermon summaries, photos, anddescriptions of activities. But webmaster Liz Fuller envisionseven more important changes soon.
“I have two major goals for the next year or so,” she says. “Iwant to update the site's layout and navigation system to make it even easierto find things, and easier for users to bookmark individual pages within thesite. I also want to continue to build the site’s evolving ties to thechurch’s other publications and communications efforts.”
In the beginning, recalls Liz, many people didn’t even know the siteexisted, and when they did, they didn’t consider it a useful resource.“But as the site grows, people involved in other church communicationsprojects become more aware of our online presence and the opportunities it presentsto them. I’m now working to more strongly coordinate the content and planningof the site with the newsletter, the Faithin Action Bulletin, and projects like the forthcoming ‘GettingInvolved’ brochure.”
Jim Cadwell spearheaded the original website project in 1999,and contacted fellow church member DanKegel, a software engineer and now Liz’ husband, for helpin expanding and re-designing his initial efforts. “So Dan helped Jimwith some of the technical and administrative issues of setting up a new andimproved site,” says Liz, “and then Dan and I worked together onre-designing the pages, with Jim’s input.” After it was up and running,Dan turned over the bulk of the project to Liz. “And ever since, I’vedone all the routine maintenance, updates, occasional major expansions, additions,and design changes, bringing Dan in every now and then, when necessary, to helpwith new technical challenges.”
Liz, who moved to LA in 1991 for her MFA degree in screenwriting from USC,came to our church looking for one similar in spirit to the one she attendedin her native Minneapolis. Dan, born and raised in Seattle, moved to LA in 1980to attend CalTech. In 1997, he joined the church, and that year he and Liz hadtheir first date at a Sunday service. In October 2000 they were married in thesanctuary by the Rev. Judith Meyer.
Dan is a software engineer at Ixia Communications, a company that makes networktest equipment. He specializes in creating highly sophisticated multi-user networksand works mostly with the Linux operating system. Liz is a freelance writerand video producer, winner of numerous writing awards, specializing in corporatecommunications for blue-chip clients, including 3M, Hughes Electronics, KaiserPermanente, Great Western Bank, and the LA Times.
“I got into web design about four years ago as a rather natural extensionof my other communications skills,” says Liz. “I just wanted tobe able to communicate as effectively, both personally and professionally, inthis new medium as I do in print and video.” Between client projects,Liz is writing a book of advice for aspiring screenwriters, helping remodeltheir 1926 duplex, caring for their six cats, and getting ready for the birthof their first child in July.
As if this weren’t enough, she often updates her personalwebsite and her professionalsite, and, of course, continues her creative work on our church’swebsite, which draws an increasing number of visitors each month.
“Every now and then,” says Liz, “ I receive a very gratifyingnote from someone who hasn’t really explored the site before or just gotaround to it for the first time in a long time, expressing their surprise anddelight with how much information we actually have on the site. These are alwaysfun and much appreciated!
“Several times, during the coffee hour after services, I’ve beenchatting with visitors or new members, and they’ve told me that they firstfound the church through the website. I think this is one of the most importantfunctions of the site — and we do know for sure that the church now hasat least several new members who might not have found us otherwise, becauseof it.”
And, she emphasizes, “feedback of all kinds is always welcome —just write me at webmaster@uusm.org.
-- Paula Bernstein
News & Announcements:
Committee on Ministry Wants to Hear from You
Several times a year, the committee on ministry meets with JudithMeyer to discuss issues involving her ministry and to serve as a soundingboard for her related ideas. The committee's primary function is to providean annual evaluation of the minister and to present it to the board. To thisend, the committee conducts interviews with a number of congregational members.Although formal interviewing takes place at the end of the calendar year, wewelcome congregation members' input at any time.
You may send comments to any of the committee members, currently AudreyLyness, Felicity Nussbaum, and Karen Raiford.You may also address your comments to Jerry Gates, liaisonto the board. We look forward to hearing from you about the strengths and challengesto the minister at our church.
-- Audrey Lyness
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Building News:
Plans, City Approval, and Costs are on Building Committee Agenda
May was a slow month for the building committee. We met only once, while ourarchitect, Ralph Mechur, reworked his drawings to incorporate the congregation’spreferences elicited at the March 23 meeting, and our attorney worked to completethe “findings” to submit to the city. Ralph is also waiting forappointments with the city planners. This month we will have a reception tointroduce the project to our nearby neighbors.
Our new design utilizes the existing building at the back of our 17th Streetproperty, adding a new classroom/meeting room building, a bridge connectionto the renovated existing building, an elevator, and bathrooms. The plan leavesconsiderable outdoor space along the south side of the new building and in aplaza between the buildings. The sanctuary plans remain essentially the same,widening the sanctuary into existing office space, with offices moving upstairs.
We want to reconfigure the Forbes Hall building somewhat, shifting one staircaseto the north end and opening part of the south end for storage. The new planmeets our congregation-identified need for a large gathering space (the expandedsanctuary), accessibility in both buildings, a dedicated nursery, and larger,more flexible classroom and meeting spaces. The congregation’s responseto this new design direction has been very positive.
Financially, the project remains uncertain. As we work closely with an estimatorand/or contractor in the coming months, we will explore ways to address theneed for funding additional to the one million pledged thus far if we wish tocomplete the entire building program. Steering the project through the cityprocess and informing the congregation’s financial decisions will be thefocus of the coming year’s work.
--Barbara Kernochan
Faith in Action News:
The Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition
Survival can be a daunting task for hungry and homeless people. They needhelp, whether the root cause of their plight is intrinsic (e.g., mental illness,drug addiction) or extrinsic (e.g., joblessness with no savings and investmentslimited to Enron stock). What can we do? How can we network with community organizationsdedicated to helping them? To answer, look to the Westside Shelter and HungerCoalition (WSHC).
The WSHC coordinates a wide variety of community resources for the homelessand hungry, including faith-based organizations like our own. Based on the resultsof our congregational issues elections, faith in action has been working closelywith three member organizations of the WSHC: the WestsideFood Bank, TurningPoint, and StepUp on Second. Cathie Gentile, chair of the hunger taskforce, has coordinated our involvement.
Our involvement with the Westside Food Bank and Turning Point has been exemplary.For Step Up on Second, however, we have a problem. We are committed to providingthem a major meal at 3:30 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month. So far, wehave only barely met this commitment. We need to expand the number of peopleinvolved with this program for it to survive. Please contact Lyn Armondoif you are willing and able to help.
In addition, we support the WSHC through donations and committee participation.Marge Zifferblatt and I have been working with two committees— community outreach and annual service breakfast. The first is workingon ways to more fully engage the faith-based community in the work of the WSHC.The second involves planning the annual celebration of people who have successfullynavigated the difficult path from homelessness to self sufficiency.
I am proud we value community service. Donating time and effort is a form ofgenerosity we can all afford, irrespective of economic circumstance. However,we can do more. As a matter of faith, I think we can and should be even moregenerous with our community. In that spirit, I invite you to donate time andeffort providing food for the mentally ill people cared for at Step Up on Secondand to continue your support of our hunger task force.
-- Charles M. Haskell
Chair, Faith in Action
Return to Main Faith inAction Page
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Splinters from the Board:
The current membership is 462.
A discussion was held about the benefits of having the amounts of new members'pledges included on the monthly membership report to the board. Concerns wereexpressed about making financial information, which has been confidential, quasipublic. Some on the stewardship committee favor a change in our culture concerningpledge information. Ron Crane will ask other UU churches howthey deal with this issue, and the stewardship committee will consider makinga formal recommendation.
Carol Kerr reported that pledge receipts are $20,000 behindwhere we expected them to be at this point in the fiscal year. Approximately80 to 90 contributing units (households/individuals) are not current and severallarge pledge commitments are among them. The financial report at the annualmeeting will reflect the board’s optimism, based on past experience, thatthe pledges will be honored.
The levels of approval of non-budgeted spending, without board approval, bythe treasurer and finance committee were increased from $250 and $1,000 to $1,000and $2,500 respectively.
Judith Meyer reported that the RE transition team has completedits work. A congregational survey showed much support for hiring a full-timeDRE, though some do not see the need for this change. The board endorsed thetransition team’s request to the congregation for budget authorizationto hire a full-time DRE. The search committee will include four people involvedin RE plus one person from the personnel committee.
Our high school group, Young Religious UUs, wouldlike a bylaws amendment to create a slot for a youth member on our board ofdirectors. There is not time for an amendment to be placed on the agenda forthe May 18 annual meeting. However, meetings are open to all members of thecongregation and youth are welcome to attend.
The ad hoc subcommittee on committees has drafted a document, “GettingInvolved,” listing our programs divided into three segments: activitiesand special interests, committees, and task-oriented volunteer opportunities.The ad hoc committee appointed by the board drafted a policy for posting thenewsletter on the web site.
Farewell and appreciation was expressed to Jim Cadwell forhis six years of service on the board, and Jerry Gates wasthanked for his two years of service as president.
-- Melinda Ewen
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RE News:
Liza Cranis Talks About the Summer RE Program
Fun and surprises await the boys and girls attending our RE program this summer.“It’s still in the planning stages,” says Liza Cranis,member of the RE committee. “But I can say that it will be fun and a nicebreak from the regular routine of Sundays during the year.”
More details will be available later in the order of service, in postingsaround the church, and online at the church’s website.
Liza and her husband, Alan, have been members of our churchfor nearly 11 years. “After we got married (by a UU minister) we exploredother UU churches. None felt right until we walked into this church. We knewwe were home.”
Liza became involved with the RE program about nine years ago, teaching SuperFriends.Later she became the team leader and then a member of the RE committee. Recentlyshe hosted the Disco Bingo in Forbes Hall for the events committee.
“Being involved with RE has been a real joy in my life. It has allowedme to make friendships with other parents, and especially with the kids. Thekids are the main reason I’m involved. To me, they’re the futureof this church.
“Since I’ve had my son it has even deeper importance to me, becauseI so want him to have roots with this church. I have seen children come up throughthe ranks of their classes and develop into wonderful, thoughtful, loving children,with open and questioning minds. I’d say that our program here has beenvery successful because we’re all so passionate and caring about one anotherand our children. For me and my family, RE has meant that we are home and thatour family has grown to over 400 people.”
Liza’s husband, Alan, is a school administrator for California GraduateInstitute, and Liza herself is preparing to enter the education field. Now workingas an entertainment publicist for celebrities and restaurants, she’s leavingthis month to pursue her dream of being a high school English/reading teacher.“It’ll be a long road ahead, I’ll be taking a huge pay cut– basically no money – but the rewards are endless.”
Meantime, she’ll continue to be involved with our RE program, whichstill needs volunteers interested in teaching just “one fun class”this summer. For more information, call Liza or e-mail her.
-- Paula Bernstein
Did You Know Our Youth Have an Active Program?
It’s no secret that our youth are great, but did you know we have avery active program for our teens, grades 8 to 12? Under the guidance of theYouth Activities Committee (YAC), we have our Coming of Ageprogram at 9 a.m. for the 8th graders and YRUU programat 11 a.m. for high school students. Along with this we have monthly fun eventsto give the teens a chance to just hang out together.
This year we've done midnight bowling, ice skating, miniature golfing, rockclimbing, an overnight lock-in, and laser tag, plus more planned for the future.All events are chaperoned by wonderful (non-parent) adults (a.k.a., our youthgroupies).
If you'd like more information, have a sleeping teen at home, or want to helpout, feel free to contact YAC chair Karen Patch, or just askone of our teens or their parents. We're having a great time and wanted youall to know about it.
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