Newsletter for April, 2019
From Our Minister:
Dear Friends,
I feel heartbroken about the events in Christchurch, New Zealand, this past month. Partly for the individual people and families who lost loved ones. Partly for the mounting hate and polarizing ideologies emerging and escaping collective accountability. Partly for our penchant for turning to unilateral extreme violence to address religious-political-ethnic ideologies. Partly because of the way our Muslim brothers and sisters feel when they watch people just like them be extinguished without the sustained international outrage that we’d expect if this were truly unacceptable within a committed coalition of solidarity. Partly because of the implicit message this sends to the world about our collective culture where the unthinkable becomes begrudgingly normalized.
Everywhere, we are seeing white supremacist intolerance fueling national and international policy making from leaders like the US (fear-based immigration policies and an irresponsible level of weapons sales to foreign countries); Great Britain (Brexit); China; North Korea; Italy; Brazil; and a dozen other countries whose political climate is controlled by extreme nationalism and fear.
I’m thinking of the Arab world… of Syria… of Iraq… and Iran… and Egypt… and Palestine… I am seeing the bias and prejudice running rampant. I’m thinking of the ways in which we “other” people we don’t know – casting them in a category of “less than human.” Of judgment so powerful that it swallows all the generosity, laughter, curiosity, and wonder we want for our world down into a giant sinkhole of despair.
This is happening on a global scale.
On a global scale, ideological hate separates us. It eliminates all the ways we might show up in one another’s hour of need to restore hope and make friendships whole. It makes it unlikely we’d break bread together in someone else’s home. Every day it becomes harder and harder to see the ways our lives’ frayed edges actually fit together. We lose sight of all the evidence that says we were made from whole cloth, ripped apart, and that we are trying to find our way together again.
There is a space between all things. It is a buffer that can be – indeed, I believe it was meant to be – a holy space of invitation. It was meant to be a space of hospitality, generosity, openness, and creative collaboration. But that’s not what seems to be rushing into fill that space. Whether we’re nations, states, neighbors, or individuals, what seems to be pouring into the spaces between us is fear. And still, we wonder why we’re feeling fragmented. Less than whole.
We’re feeling fragmented because, in our anxiety to fill the spaces between us, we are quicker to invite fear than curiosity and wonder into the parlor of our imagination. And when the music stops and everyone rushes to occupy the limited number of chairs at the table where decisions get made, fear winds up with the most seats and the loudest voices in the room.
Fear is really good at filling small spaces – like that space between our ears. More and more, that space in our minds – and in public rhetoric – is being filled with worry, doubt, cynicism, or despair. Fear speaks in the recognizable phrasing of the many internet trolls who use click-bait mechanisms targeting our reactionary survival instincts to access our time or money. Indeed, if you removed all the dog and cat videos, fear (and promises to avoid or escape what frightens us) has wrapped itself around most every other aspect of our internet lives.
I don’t really know the many people who make and distribute the news. I don’t know if they love their families, if they help their children with their homework, or if they go to school plays. I don’t know if they are sad at the sight of those who die. Do they weep for those near who lose their families or those far who lose their innocence?
But I do know that unless – and until – we can cultivate a generous and responsible sense of compassion for the suffering around us (instead of the unceasing preoccupation with the abatement of our own suffering), we will remain a frightened, fragmented, and hostile version of the interdependent web we were created to be.
This is as true for those of us sitting next to each other at our Unitarian church as it is for those sitting next to each other at the United Nations. Without a daily discipline of curiosity, connection, compassion, and care, we will be prone to hesitancy and suspicion, doubt and the “everyone-for-themselves” that results when we forgo our higher spiritual impulse of generosity and service.
I’m not one who says there’s nothing to worry about. That all this rhetoric is untrue and there’s nothing to fear. But neither am I an advocate of letting fear determine our response to everything. Fear distorts reality. And we’re amidst so many distortions that we’ve begun to believe that “objects are larger or closer than they appear.”
I think if we, indeed, want wholeness, we need to find as many ways as possible to be true to the humanity that binds us together. To begin practicing a radical kind of love that is the only revolutionary force that can resist this fear. A love that defies distortion.
Take as many moments as you can to reach into the spaces that exist between people. Between you and your neighbors. You and other religions. You and other races. You and the people you sit next to at church. Offer and expect wonder. Return what you find with compassion and acceptance. It is time to heal our world by being generous with every encounter. And to keep doing it until we are all connected.
To the Glory of Life.
April 6 Letter from UUCCSM Developmental Miister Rev. Greg Ward.
Dear Friends,
It is with a complex mix of emotions that I share the news of my decision to resign my ministry among you on June 23, 2019.
The tremendous joy that stems from deciding to make my commitment to Lucy permanent has changed me more than I originally was expecting. I felt, initially, that what called me to marriage was a promise of length — ‘till death do us part.’ But, after proposing, announcing our engagement and letting it sink in — for both of us — we began to realize that the promise we’re called to is one of depth as well.
I’ve worked a long time as an independent consultant, living at a distance from the people I’ve loved and who’ve loved me. But I have come to see things in a new way since arriving at UUCCSM. And, I must admit, it’s you who’ve shown me some very important truths.
When I came, there were some things I was very sure of: I had some tools and experience that might be helpful. That you, as a congregation, had amazing potential, and although you’d been through some great challenges, you deserved great support. I was sure, as well, that I loved Lucy in a forever kind of way. I just thought there might be time before ‘forever’ began.
But there were some things I couldn’t be sure of: How much time and attention and care this community would need to get on with its forever. And how long my forever could wait. In the meantime, you’ve taught me a couple things:
You’re amazing people with a lot to offer
That you can’t rush building community — it happens at the speed of trust
That being ‘far flung’ — a phrase I’ve been using to describe the independence and autonomy I see operating at UUCCSM — also operates within some UU ministers.
I’ve come to realize it will take UUCCSM longer to get on with its forever than I could reasonably ask Lucy to wait for ours to begin. Although I’ve no doubt that, with work, you will succeed (the world needs you too much for you not to), I need to leave before the work is complete. I’ve also realized that I — and you — would both be crazy to think I was the only possible person — or even the best person — who could help you do the work you need to do.
I hope you’ve been able to learn from me as I’ve learned from you. And that you can see, like I do, how far you’ve come in just a short time. And that you will make it where you want to go.
UUCCSM President Jacki Weber and I will be hosting a short conversation after the 11:00 am service on Sunday where I can share a little more information about what’s next for me. Jacki will also be able to share the next steps for UUCCSM and the succession of Ministers (this process is not starting at square one. UUA and regional staff have been at work for a while and contacting the best Developmental Ministers available).
I will be with you for the next few months. And we will talk about the work in front of you. Because the real truth is, your destiny is really in your hands — not the minister’s. But that doesn’t mean, in the time we have, I will love you — or push you — any less.
To the Glory of Life.
— Rev. Greg
From Our President:
Dear Friends of UUCCSM,
Inside Out…
I am sad to know that Reverend Greg is leaving us near the end of June. It has been a true privilege to work closely with someone as experienced in ministry and organizational change as he is; and to feel like the work that we began — collectively as a congregation — two years ago is starting to pay off.
I am happy to hear he is leaving to be close to the people he loves the most and I wish him all the contentment that comes with marriage and proximity to family.
And I’m sitting with mystery and uncertainty as we seek our next minister, knowing that everything is changing always. With a spiritual practice that grounds me in this moment and gives me perspective on the cosmic picture, I’m able to practice some equanimity sometimes, and I’m working to put my energy and thinking into constructive thought patterns rather than destructive ones.
Reflecting on Rev. Greg’s ministry here
As someone who specializes in Developmental Ministry, Rev. Greg has made his most meaningful life’s work helping congregations across the country become healthier and more vibrant.
In his first service in September 2017 he came with a “backpack full of tools” to help us become a congregation that honors each other and is committed to work together with purpose to make the world better with our faith.
He’s like the personal trainer who’s come to help us train for the marathon. With his leadership and support we have definitely developed some endurance and strength and we have more energy to do good work. I’m excited for what that means for us.
Specifically, we are managing differences better, learning how to communicate in ways that are affirming. We have newly skilled teams working in pastoral care, worship development, communications, right relations and stewardship. And we have increased our financial stability by gaining a greater understanding of the resources that it takes to be a congregation working for good in Santa Monica today.
The road ahead
As far as what comes next, the Board of Directors has put together a team of folks experienced in successful search for ministers. Indeed, four out of five of us on the team worked together to bring Rev. Greg here. We are working in close partnership with the UUA Ministerial Transitions Office to identify the most appropriate candidates for us. That’s part of what they do for congregations in Developmental Ministry. The process is going to be swift and we expect to be able to introduce you to our minister for the next 3-5 years by the middle of June.
What can we do as members of this community during this time of transition?
Connect with someone new or old and hit a Monday night meditation class.
Pack some sack lunches for homeless folks on a Sunday.
Pick something from our community garden and eat it knowing it’s been grown with love.
Join in a Second Sunday Supper.
If we can enjoy each other in the moment and tend to the spirit that helps us imagine how we can better be love’s hands in the world, all will be well.
We will welcome our new minister in September and continue the developmental work we’ve begun: laying the groundwork to equip us to do important work so that those who come after us benefit from the impact of our faith.
We’ll collectively celebrate Rev. Greg on June 23. More details to come.
Peace and love,
— Jacki
PS – if you want to reach out, I’m always available at president@uusm.org.
Featured Articles:
Important News from Jacki Weber and Kathleen Hogue, LDRE
LETTER FROM UUCCSM PRESIDENT JACKI WEBER
Dear UUSM Friends,
A week ago I wrote to the parents of children in our religious education program and our leaders in RE to share with them what was no doubt frustrating news: that the proposed FY 2020 Budget includes a quarter-time reduction in funding for the DRE position.
Indeed, last Tuesday the board moved to present in May for congregational vote a budget that has modest budget deficit and a quarter-time reduction to the DRE position.
On the heels of that vote, we learned that Kathleen Hogue will resign her position at the end of the church year. It is a difficult decision for her, as she describes in her letter below, just as it was a difficult decision for the board. RE matters. Families matter. They are the future of our faith.
Having said that, the board is fiscally responsible for managing the long-term best interests of the congregation and we can only support the size of the program we currently have and then work to facilitate its growth.
We understand that Kathleen has to do what’s best for her. We are grateful for her time and energy here and wish her great happiness as she pursues life as a new Grandma closer to home in Arizona.
Although it is sad — for all who have loved and worked with Kathleen and the RE program — it is more than that. It is an opportunity and a responsibility to take some time of honest reflection about what has worked well in the RE program that we want to retain and what is needed that our children, parents, teachers and volunteers deserve. This is a time of creativity and cooperation, not despair and anxiety.
There are amazing, dedicated, experienced and committed people — both in the congregation AND in the larger community — who are are ready to be part of communities dedicated to families raising amazing children and youth.
So what comes next?
The board voted last week to put together a task force of concerned board members, RE leaders and parents and youth. Thanks to Board VP Beth Brownlie for leading that effort. The task force will be responsible for conducting an evaluation, reporting back on what is working well in RE and what needs attention, and recommending how to make the most of our resources.
We’re also interested in broadening into a shared ownership of the ministry for our children. We all need to understand that we need to grow young, not old.
Simultaneously we are posting our position on the UUA Pacific Western Regional sites — both locally, within the district, regionally and nationally. We’re focusing on bringing someone who loves children and youth and who brings an energy, enthusiasm, and immediacy to our ministry with young people.
The Board of Directors will work with Rev. Greg and a team of RE Stakeholders on the search. We hope to have a successful candidate by the end of June who is able to start in August. Our new DRE will work with a restructured LRE program and we can begin our church year strong.
We’ll celebrate Kathleen’s service to our community on June 16th.
Thank you for continuing to walk this path with me, uncertain as it is. If we can summon gratitude and seek to be of service we may find joy in the mystery, no matter what the journey brings.
Peace,
Jacki
LETTER FROM OUR LIFESPAN DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION KATHLEEN HOGUE
To: Rev. Greg Ward
UU Church of Santa Monica
1260 18th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Dear Rev. Greg Ward,
Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as Director of Lifespan Faith Exploration with the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica as of June 16, 2019. I sincerely appreciate the opportunities I have been given during my time here, as well as your professional guidance and support.
My time here has been very rewarding making this a difficult decision for me. I’ve enjoyed my work here and witnessing how our community has grown through our shared work and love for one another. There have been challenges — for both myself and the congregation. The parts that I have enjoyed best were the ones where those challenges called us to learn and become better people and worker better together.
Living in Los Angeles has been difficult as a result of being a single mom to a disabled adult child living with me. The financial struggle has been very challenging. In addition, you may be aware, my life has recently been blessed with a grandchild. Over the past few months I have been struggling with the truth that I am not able to spend more time with her watching her and helping her grow. Family is everything. So this is why I believe it is time for me to make another move. There are things that are still not clear to me about my future but this one thing is…to be with family.
I will miss this congregation. I will miss the work that we accomplished together as a staff and as a community. I will miss the pot lucks, the softball games, the conversations, the celebrations and the kids. It is my deepest hope that this congregation continues to work together to create more love, more justice and more hope in the world. And I know you will.
I know my departure will add to the transition already in place. My hope is that this is something you will all see as an opportunity for a new start. If I can assist with the transition, I am happy to help things go well. We are one world.
“To everything,
There is a season.
And a time to every purpose, under heaven.”
Sincerely,
Kathleen Hogue
LDRE
UUSM Church Governance: Let your Voice Be Heard
2019 ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL MEETING: MAY 19, 2019
All members in good standing who have been members for at least 40 days prior to the Annual Meeting are eligible to vote.
Come to the meeting; let your voice be heard.
The Nominating Committee will present its slate of nominees for the open seats on the Board and Nominating Committee to the Board of Directors by April 18. The slate will be posted in the Church Office April 19. It is the practice of UUSM to nominate one person per open position.
Any member of the congregation who chooses to run by petition for an open position on the Board or Nominating Committee will also appear on the ballot.
Once the Nominating Committee’s slate is presented to the board, any member of the church who has been a voting member for at least a year may run for any open seat on the Board of Directors or Nominating Committee. To do so, submit your petition, signed by 10 or more voting members, to the church office. All submitted petitions and signatures must be reviewed by the Secretary of the Board, Norm Richey, for validation by April 29, 2019.
The final ballot for the May 19 elections will be included in a church mailing to be sent in early May. New and renewing members who were read into the rolls at the April 9 board meeting will become voting members after 40 days, and thus will be eligible to vote.
Voting members may vote in person, by proxy, or by absentee ballot.
A quorum is needed, so please come to the meeting and vote in person. Your presence, your voice and your enthusiasm for our beloved community is needed and welcomed.
Board of Directors
The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer serve one-year terms, so those positions appear on the ballot every year. These officers can be nominated to the same position for three consecutive terms.
Members-at-large serve for two-year terms and may serve for three consecutive terms.
Nominating Committee
There are two open seats on the Nominating Committee, currently held by Barbara Gibbs and Liza Cranis, that will appear on the ballot for three-year terms.
Linda van Ligten, Nalani Santiago-Kalmanson, Kikanza Nuri-Robins and Pat Gomez will continue their current terms.
News & Announcements:
Looking for a few good ushers
Want to help out with worship services but don't like meetings? Do you like handing out things and counting money? Usher as much or as little as you want. Email Dan Patterson (patterson169@gmail.com) if you are interested in being trained as a UUSM usher!
The UUSM softball team practice ⚾️
Practice will be this Sunday, March 10th from 4 pm to 5 pm at Veterans Park in Culver City. If you're an athlete, not athletic or just athletic curious you are welcome. It's really about building community and having fun in an interfaith league. For more info contact Erik Paesel.
Annual Reports on Programs
The Annual Reports on Programs are due by Friday, April 26, 2019. If you are a staff member or a Committee Chair and received the Annual Report on Programs request, please make sure to email your report as requested, or any questions to Nurit Gordon at admin@uusm.org. We will not be able to publish reports received after Friday, April 26.
Journey of the Universe: An Earth Sunday Screening
Join us on Sunday, April 28 at 1 pm for a special Earth Sunday screening of Journey of the Universe, a unique odyssey of cosmic, biological, and cultural evolution that offers insight and inspiration for our present ecological challenges. In a single 60-minute narrative, writer and host Brian Swimme guides us through a scientific and spiritual Great Story, from the birth of the universe to the emergence of complex structures, from the dawn of life as we know it to the conscious present moment. The whole experience is framed by a single day on the Greek island of Samos, a crossroads of history and discovery.
Different from purely scientific approaches, Journey is the first film to integrate arts and humanities into the cosmic big picture. Drawing on the work of the late Fr. Thomas Berry, a cosmologist, historian, and eco-theologian, Journey won an Emmy Award for Best Documentary in 2012 and has birthed an online video series and podcast, as well as a sequence of online courses through the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology.
Learn more and see the trailer at the official website: https://www.journeyoftheuniverse.org/
(This event is sponsored by AAHS.)
More information from the filmmakers:
Journey of the Universe narrates the 14 billion−year story of the universe’s development, from the great flaring forth at the universe’s inception to the emergence of simple molecules and atoms to the evolution of galaxies, stars, solar systems, and planetary life of greater complexity and consciousness. This is a story that inspires wonder as we begin to understand such complexity through science and appreciate such beauty through poetry, art, history, philosophy, and religion. It also awakens us to the dynamic processes of evolution that are chaotic and destructive, as well as creative and life-generating.
Journey of the Universe is a cosmology, although not just in the scientific sense of the study of the early universe. Rather, it is a cosmology in the sense of being an integrated story that explains where both humans and life forms have come from. All cultures have had such stories. We now have the capacity to tell a comprehensive story drawing on astronomy and physics to explain the emergence of galaxies and stars, geology and chemistry to understand the formation of Earth, biology and botany to envision life’s evolution, and anthropology and the humanities to trace the rise of humans. Journey draws on all these disciplines to narrate a story of universe, Earth, and human evolution that is widely accessible.
Journey weaves science and humanities in a new way that allows for a comprehensive sense of mystery and awe to arise. Such an approach expands the human perspective beyond an anthropocentric worldview to one that values life’s complexity and sees the role of humans as critical to the further flourishing of the Earth community.
Splinters from the Board:
Board Highlights for March 2019: Website Renovation and Support for LGBTQ Methodists
SUPPORT FOR THE PLEDGE DRIVE AND CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF "BIG ROCKS"
The UUSM Board of Directors met on March 12. After check-in, the board approved the consent agenda and discussed some of the changes to this Newsletter you’re reading. With the resignation of the Newsletter Editor-in-Chief Abby Arnold, after a 3-year term (many thanks, Abby!), the Newsletter Committee is proposing to name Pam Teplitz and Barbara Andres as co-managing editors. This change in structure would be part of new policies and procedures for the new online Newsletter format. The board asked that the Newsletter Committee submit a charter and revised policies to the board for review.
There are two new members from February: Todd Withers and Leo Forrester.
The board agreed that Faith in Action would be involved with raising funds toward a more-permanent Black Lives Matter/Siding with Love banner that would be hung in a safe place.
There was a long discussion regarding the ongoing stewardship campaign. Connectors have been reaching out to virtually all of the membership. Although continuing pledges (“roll-overs”) will still be honored, there is an effort to encourage pledgers to be more active in their commitment by turning in a pledge card. The Connectors are having many conversations with the “Connectees” they have been assigned. The one-on-one conversations gives each party a chance to know someone better and build community. The end of the campaign is Sunday, March 24, and on that day, following the 11 am service, there will be a financial update from the board. This meeting will inform about possible ways to deal with any shortfall.
We are getting closer to this year’s Pacific Southwest District Assembly April 26-28 in Long Beach, CA. The UUA General Assembly is in Spokane, WA, June 19-23. in mid-June. If you are interested in being a delegate from UUSM, speak with the Rev. Greg Ward. Offsite participation and scholarships are available.
Our treasurer reported that our current deficit is about $40,000 more in the red than predicted for this time in the year. The Ray Goodman bequest came up as a topic of discussion.
The board authorized up to $5,000 toward funding a new office telephone system, which will be drawn from the Capital Building Reserve.
As has been the case recently, there was a discussion involving ongoing, important tasks, “Big Rocks.” As charters and committee responsibilities have become clearer, it is apparent that some changes to policies are in order. There are also places where policies will require changes to the bylaws. This work will involve continued deliberation, as this step requires congregational approval.
Mission and Vision (Big Rock #2) is in a very early stage. It was proposed that board-sponsored quarterly congregational conversations would be helpful. Big Rock #3 relates to being a healthy congregation, where we become a “We” congregation, instead of an “I” congregation. This work requires moving from a “safe space” to a “brave space” by going beyond hospitality to being intentionally inclusive. Leadership development continues to be discussed; Beth Brownlie is piloting a leadership class. Toward the Big Rock dealing with safety, Rev. Greg has a draft document.
The Website Team has been busy developing a plan to renovate our website, in large part to make our online presence more appealing. Toward that end, they requested additional funding beyond the remaining Project Dazzle monies. The board approved $6000 from a fund to be determined. The Website Team expects to present more detail as the plan progresses.
The board voted to support a request from the local United Methodist Church to co-sign a letter to the editor supporting LGBTQ rights within their denomination. The letter was published in the Santa Moncia Daily Press.
-- Rebecca Crawford
Other UU News & Events:
RE News:
From the Director of RE
Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education for Adults of all Ages and Stages – ages 18 – 98
Join with other adults to fully consider this vital aspect of being a whole person.
O.W.L. is fun and engaging too… we promise! When: Four Saturday sessions: April 6 & 27, May 11, June 1 (Forbes Hall), Followed by five sessions in the fall. Sign up at the RE Table or email uusmdre@gmail.com.
Our Whole Lives is a human sexuality class focused on developing positive relationships and respect for others across the spectrum of gender identity and sexual expression. Honest, accurate information about sexuality changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives. For these reasons and more, we are proud to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula for use in both secular settings and faith communities.
Using values, communication skills, and spirituality as starting points, this program explores sexuality issues for adults of all ages. With it, we will build on the understanding of healthy sexual relationships, affirm diversity and help participants accept and affirm their own sexuality throughout their lives.
Please consider if you will be able to commit to regular attendance. Space is limited so register early!
Camp de Benneville Pines 2019 UU Family Summer Camp Circle of Life -2019 UU Family Summer Camp will be from Sunday, July 28 to Saturday, August 3, 2019
Family camp provides families a place to enjoy one another—to share and care. It also provides an atmosphere of warmth and friendship—to share and care about others outside of one’s immediate family. Together, and in the community, explore Unitarian Universalist values, worship together, play together and commune. This summer sing and dance and generally just have a blast. Through creative workshops, arts and crafts, groovy tie-dye, capture the flag, games, a walk to the fairy forest, archery and so much more, families will celebrate together the circle of life! Go to: https://www.uucamp.org/ to register
Schedule a Conversation and Tea with the DRE- Come tell me how your family is doing. What is going on in your lives? What is your vision for the church and the RE Program? What can I do for you?
Contact me to set up a time to meet after church. (Bring the kids!) uusmdre@gmail.com Director of RE, Kathleen Hogue
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, April 2019 - YOU ARE INVITED
March 27, 2019 Adult Programs Events, Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
Special Event:
Passover Seder Saturday, April 20
passover sederA special intern rabbi will lead the Passover Seder and service, which will include a reading of the Haggadah. Traditional Passover food and wine will be served. A donation of $15 per person or $30 per family is requested. Please also bring a side dish, such as a vegetable, salad, or dessert (macaroons, honey cake) to share. No one will be turned away for their inability to pay. Attendance is limited to 40 people to preserve an intimate family setting, so please sign up at the Adult RE table in Forbes or send an email to the facilitators, Resa Foreman or Teri Lucas. If you are interested in volunteering to help with organizing, set-up, and clean-up for the event, please contact the facilitators. The event itself will take place from 5:00-9:00 pm in Forbes.
Community Building:
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, April 13
Do you wish to express yourself creatively in art, and yet may feel inadequate or untrained? Do you yearn to make an artistic statement, yet not sure how? Do you have too many catalogs, magazines, and advertisements, and haven’t a clue what to do with them? We welcome you to create your own collages with Stan Bemis! Stan works to bring joy and peace into people’s lives through creating art. He has taught many who didn’t realize they had creative talent, from all across the world – from California to Palestine/Israel. He welcomes any age, from youths to older adults. The goal of this group is to help foster personal worth and empowerment, entering that holy place within and having sacred fun. The objectives are: 1. to create works of art; and 2. to possibly create cards for events or celebrations. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We meet from 10:00-12:00 pm in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
Come Dance with Us! Saturday, April 27
They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends! Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted. We meet from 7:00–8:30 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Exploration of Ideas:
UUA Common Read: Justice on Earth Sunday, April 7 and 14
Justice on Earth bookcoverJoin us for the 2018-2019 UUA Common Read, Justice on Earth: People of Faith Working at the Intersections of Race, Class, and Environment, edited by Manish Mishra-Marzetti and Jennifer Nordstrom (Skinner House Books, 2018). As we kick off Climate Justice Month (World Water Day to Earth Day), Alison Kendall and James Witker will facilitate a three-part discussion on the intersectional challenges of combating today’s environmental crisis and its many interconnected ills. Together, we will read and respond to this engaging anthology of essays from diverse authors within our greater UU movement. We will also consider recent developments like the proposed Green New Deal, Los Angeles’ decision to shutter natural gas power plants, and the latest international climate news. We are meeting from 3:00–5:00 pm in Forbes. Contacts: James Witker or Alison Kendall.
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, April 28
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. For April, we’ll return to the fascinating topic of emergence and complex systems. New explorations in science and philosophy are working to understand why, and how, the universe can be an engine of explosive (if unguided) creativity under the right conditions, wherein new systems of organization arise from simpler structure and reality comprises of more than merely the sum of its parts. We meet 1:00–3:00 pm in the Warren Matthews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Interest Groups:
The Disability Support Group Sunday, April 28
The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on a selected topic at each of its meetings throughout this church year. There is a different theme for each month. All church members interested in the topic are invited to attend. For April, we will be discussing Interactions with Local, State, and Federal Government. We meet the fourth Sunday of each month from 12:30–2:00 pm in the NE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
UU Men’s Group Thursday, April 4, 18
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group in provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month. The topic for April 4 is: Getting away from our regular life by going on a trip is restorative to a person and especially to a relationship. What trip and hotel or campground stay was your most memorable and why? The topic for April 18 is: What person in your life do you wish you had spent more time with? What questions would you have asked of this person? We meet from 7:30-9:00 pm in the NE Cottage. Contact: Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Monday, April 1, 15
This ongoing class helps participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. This group meets on the first and third Mondays from 7:30-9:00 pm in Classroom 3. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Monday, April 8, 22, 29
We sit quietly for 20 minutes, walk with gentle awareness for 7 minutes, and explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through journaling, readings, and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We meet on the second, fourth, (and fifth) Mondays from 7:30-9:00 pm in Classroom 3. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Personal Development:
Adult OWL (Our Whole Lives) Saturday, April 27
Our Whole Lives is a human sexuality class focused on developing positive relationships and respect for others across the spectrum of gender identity and sexual expression. Honest, accurate information about sexuality changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives. For these reasons and more, we are proud to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula for use in both secular settings and faith communities. Using values, communication skills, and spirituality as starting points, this program explores sexuality issues for adults of all ages. With it we will build on the understanding of healthy sexual relationships, affirm diversity, and help participants accept and affirm their own sexuality throughout their lives. Classes for adults will be held in the spring of 2019 at UUSM. Four Saturday sessions – April 6 and 27, May 11, and June 1 – followed by five sessions in the fall. Sign up at the RE Table after services or email uusmdre@gmail.com Please consider if you will be able to commit to regular attendance. We will be meeting on April 6 8:00 am–4:00 pm in Forbes Hall, and then on April 27 12:00–6:00 pm in Forbes Classroom 4.
Awakening the Sage Within: a Free Workshop with Connie Zweig, PhD, Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28
Today, for the first time in history, most people approaching their elder years can expect to live for another two or three decades. But how do you want to live those years? Research now shows that people with positive self-perceptions as they age will live longer, healthier lives. We will gather for two 3-hour workshops to explore Sage-ing or conscious aging, a model for late life that can help us to live with more awareness, joy, and purpose. This inner work of aging opens the opportunity for seniors to become Elders – Awakening the Sage Within. We will introduce aging as a spiritual journey, our images/fears of aging, harvesting wisdom from our life review, forgiveness to release the past, and facing our mortality. Free! Preregistration is required; no walk-ins. Recommended reading: “From Age-ing to Sage-ing” by Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi We will meet Saturday, April 27, 2:00–5:00 pm and Sunday, April 28, 2:00-5:00 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: DRE Kathleen Hogue for registration.
Conversations and Connections Saturday, April 20
Come join Sue Stoyanoff and Bettye Barclay for Conversations and Connections. Each person attending sits one to one with several different people during the time we are together. In these dyads there is time to talk, to listen, and to dialogue about the questions presented each time. It is our intention that these times will be relaxing, enjoyable, and an opportunity for people in our congregation to create a growing web of connections. We meet 10:00 am–12:00 pm in Forbes Hall. Contacts: Sue Stoyanoff or Bettye Barclay.
Highlights of additional interest groups meeting in April:
Knitters and Friends - Please join us for fellowship in between services on Sundays. You are welcome to bring any project. All Sundays 10:00–11:00 am in West Forbes Hall. Contact: Linda Van Ligten.
Body-Mind Tune Up for Seniors This group is for seniors, superseniors, and people with physical difficulties for UUSM members. All Fridays 10:00–11:00 am in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.
Fiction Reading Book Club - We will be reading Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout (272 pages). Nine linked tales about overcoming miserable childhoods, severe losses, disheartening marriages, and war trauma to experience moments of amazing grace, resulting in comfort and reassurance. We meet Monday, April 15, 7:00–8:30 pm in Classroom 1. Contact: Lucy Hahn.
Science Non-Fiction Book Group - We will discuss Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space, by Janna Levin (256 pages). The story behind the discovery of gravity waves and other esoteric physical phenomena, from a theoretical astrophysicist with a reputation for lyricism. All are welcome. We meet Tuesday, April 16 from 7:30–9:00 pm in Forbes. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
Journey of the Universe: An Earth Sunday Screening
Join us on Sunday, April 28 at 1 pm for a special Earth Sunday screening of Journey of the Universe, a unique odyssey of cosmic, biological, and cultural evolution that offers insight and inspiration for our present ecological challenges. In a single 60-minute narrative, writer and host Brian Swimme guides us through a scientific and spiritual Great Story, from the birth of the universe to the emergence of complex structures, from the dawn of life as we know it to the conscious present moment. The whole experience is framed by a single day on the Greek island of Samos, a crossroads of history and discovery.
Different from purely scientific approaches, Journey is the first film to integrate arts and humanities into the cosmic big picture. Drawing on the work of the late Fr. Thomas Berry, a cosmologist, historian, and eco-theologian, Journey won an Emmy Award for Best Documentary in 2012 and has birthed an online video series and podcast, as well as a sequence of online courses through the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology.
Learn more and see the trailer at the official website: https://www.journeyoftheuniverse.org/
(This event is sponsored by AAHS.)
More information from the filmmakers:
Journey of the Universe narrates the 14 billion−year story of the universe’s development, from the great flaring forth at the universe’s inception to the emergence of simple molecules and atoms to the evolution of galaxies, stars, solar systems, and planetary life of greater complexity and consciousness. This is a story that inspires wonder as we begin to understand such complexity through science and appreciate such beauty through poetry, art, history, philosophy, and religion. It also awakens us to the dynamic processes of evolution that are chaotic and destructive, as well as creative and life-generating.
Journey of the Universe is a cosmology, although not just in the scientific sense of the study of the early universe. Rather, it is a cosmology in the sense of being an integrated story that explains where both humans and life forms have come from. All cultures have had such stories. We now have the capacity to tell a comprehensive story drawing on astronomy and physics to explain the emergence of galaxies and stars, geology and chemistry to understand the formation of Earth, biology and botany to envision life’s evolution, and anthropology and the humanities to trace the rise of humans. Journey draws on all these disciplines to narrate a story of universe, Earth, and human evolution that is widely accessible.
Journey weaves science and humanities in a new way that allows for a comprehensive sense of mystery and awe to arise. Such an approach expands the human perspective beyond an anthropocentric worldview to one that values life’s complexity and sees the role of humans as critical to the further flourishing of the Earth community.
Music News:
Spring Music Fundraiser (Immediately After SSS.) - Leslie Beauvais and Friends in Concert
Sunday, April 14th, 2019
After Second Sunday Supper
Doors Open at 7:15 PM
Concert 7:30 - 9:00pm
Come and join us for an evening of everything from
Broadway and Jazz Standards, to original Singer-Songwriter music, to Blues, Pop, Folk, and Classical selections.
The concert features Leslie, along with Pat Quinn, Saunder Choi, Thomas Ahern, Ken Alexander, Teri Bond, Kai Landauer — and a few surprises!
New Orleans born and raised, Leslie’s musical journey began in musical theater, performing with the Young Americans in the national Broadway touring company of “Les Miserables”, and in the original production of the Richard Rogers Award winning musical “Hidden Sky”. Leslie has recorded several fine albums, including “Stop the World” and “Waiting for My Conviction”. Her latest CD, “Chemistry”, is an album of personal transformation — a savory gumbo of Pop, Rock, Country, Folk, and Jazz, with just a touch of New Orleans spice. Check out her website to hear and purchase her albums at www.lesliebeauvais.com.
Sanctuary doors open: 7:15 pm
Concert starts: 7:30 pm
Suggested donation: $15 (or whatever you can pay)
Your donation helps the Music Fund pay our lead singers, buy music for the choir, and tune up and repair our piano and organ.
Bring your friends to see Leslie Beauvais and Friends in Concert. We’ll see you there!