Newsletter for April, 2022
From Our Minister:
From Our Minister: Awakening to Life!
I believe God is everything, say Shug. Everything that is or ever was or ever will be… She say, my first step away from the old white man was trees. Then air. Then birds. Then other people. But one day when I was sitting quiet and feeling like a motherless child, which I was, it come to me: that feeling of being part of everything, not separate at all. I knew that if I cut a tree, my arm would bleed. And I laughed and I cried and I run all around the house. I knew just what it was. In fact, when it happen, you can’t miss it.
—Alice Walker
I hope you are finding time to get outside to enjoy the refreshing and vivifying energies of the springtime. As we cross the thresholds of the arrival of spring and the two-year anniversary since the pandemic shutdowns began, it is a good time to take inventory of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. The pandemic has certainly taken a toll on all, and the added stresses and fears that come with war and economic turmoil can make this a particularly difficult time to thrive. What do you need to find peace, stability, and wellness? How are you caring for your mental and emotional life? How is your body? What about your spirit? Leaning into community is an important way to practice caring for yourself and finding the support and resources you need to survive and thrive. Connecting with the natural world is another way to draw upon untapped reservoirs of strength, inspiration, and serenity. Spiritual exercises can also help us to instill our lives with greater compassion, discipline, and mindfulness. Please give yourself the time this month to holistically assess how you are and what you need to blossom like the fragrant Jasmine flowers.
Our Soul Matters theme for this month is “Awakening.” We reflect together each month in some of our publications, group meetings, and worship services on one theme with important religious significance. “Awakening” is a central topic of many of the world’s religions. The Buddha is called “the Awakened One.” Spiritual liberation in Hinduism is often defined as becoming aware that’s one’s soul is one with the divine. In Christianity, Jesus (peace be upon him) is often found in the Gospels calling his followers to awaken from a spiritual death to embrace life. At its depth, this theme is about transformation for the better. We are invited to explore the theme further with the following questions from our friends at Soul Matters: Are you the type that believes awakening most often arises slowly from discipline and dedication or the type that believes it is something that sneaks up on us and hits us like a ton of bricks? When did you first awaken to the truth that the world’s rules, judgements and strivings did not have to be your own? Have you ever read a book or watched a movie that “woke you up”? Are awakenings easier when you are younger or older? Has pain or loss ever led you to the door of awakening? What if the path to awakening is simply “wanting what you have”?
Pastoral support is available from our team of trained congregational leaders. We know times can be rough and having a trusted spiritual companion can lessen the burden in difficult periods. As we are regathering in our historic sanctuary, our pastoral leaders are also happy to share any joys, sorrows, or milestones in your life with the community.. To request confidential pastoral support or share any news with the congregation please email us at pastoralcare@uusm.org.
Yours in ministry and love,
Jeremiah
Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
Developmental Minister
Developmental Minister
News & Announcements:
April 2022 Generous Congregation Supports Planned Parenthood
At UUSM, we believe in fighting attacks on women’s reproductive rights. Access to reproductive health care and sex education are threatened and abridged through dangerous bills, regulations, and executive actions. Opponents of safe, legal abortion have stepped up their use of state legislation to thwart medical decisions about pregnancy that are best left between a patient and their doctor. Among these are restrictions on nonsurgical abortion and mandatory ultrasounds, waiting periods, and state-scripted counseling that inject bias and politics into the medical treatment room.
For more than 100 years, Planned Parenthood has played a key role in public health by providing high-quality and affordable sexual and reproductive services. These services are needed more than ever as states seek to overturn Roe v Wade. Through a national network of more than 600 health centers operated by their affiliates, Planned Parenthood provides education and outreach to more than a million people every year. They provide preventive care, including birth control, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and screenings for cervical and other cancers. They deliver programs, resources, and tools in classrooms, communities, and online to help people make informed choices about their sexuality and relationships.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation program supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to Planned Parenthood. Your donations will help Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. continue its work in delivering vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and Planned Parenthood. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.) Or visit Make a Donation at uusm.org and reference Generous Congregation. Thank you.
Awakening - April 2022 Theme.
For April, our theme is Awakening, so we’ll explore it in worship, small group discussion, and personal reflection. Here’s a perspective from the Rev. James Ishmael Ford, who visited our pulpit twice in recent years:
Awakening happens. You don’t earn it. You don’t have to be good. You don’t have to be smart. Awakening just happens. Awakening comes to us in the most unexpected ways, in the most unexpected times. It is a gift. It is always a gift. And it comes to us like being hit by a bus.
There are many, many practices out there that claim to help. And here’s a little secret: too many of them do nothing. The Unitarian Universalist theologian James Luther Adams once wryly noted that “nothing sells like egoism wrapped in idealism.” Much of what passes for spiritual practice is just puffing up the ego, reinforcing and guarding it against any and all assault. And — have no doubt in this matter — a real spiritual practice plays rough with the ego.
The Zen path — the spiritual practice I have embraced — is, in this regard and others, a real spiritual practice. And it is worth pursuing, wholeheartedly. But keep your wits about you, be reasonable. Don’t exaggerate any one experience. And, equally important, don’t diminish it, either. Engage it all with a spirit of invitation….
Save the Date: LA Pride is June 12th!
UUSM WILL RETURN TO THE LA PRIDE PARADE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2018
The LA Pride Parade is returning after two years of being cancelled due to the pandemic. Faith In Action is excited to announce that our application to march has been accepted!
UUSM has sent an intergenerational contingent of members and friends to support this historic event and represent our values for many years. We need your help to plan and organize our return in 2022. Please join us at this month’s Peace & Social Justice Committee meeting (Sunday, April 17 at 12 pm), if you can — or email justice@uusm.org.
More details will be forthcoming. For more images from UUSM’s participation in LA Pride in recent years, see https://news.uusm.org/save-the-date-la-pride-is-june-12th/
Faith in Action News:
Lunches for Bunches is Making a Difference Again
After a pandemic-lengthened hiatus, Lunches for Bunches is back! Join us Sundays after church to make lunches for our homeless neighbors.
Every day in Santa Monica, 120 of our homeless neighbors visit The People Concern’s Access Center at 503 Olympic Blvd. There they find showers, laundry facilities, meals, and personal goods. They have access there to case/care management, medical care, mental health services, substance use services, and financial support, as well as the opportunity to participate in life skills and wellness groups.
And every Monday, many are now receiving ample sack lunches made by their neighbors at 18th and Arizona.
A part of UUSM’s Faith in Action program, Lunches for Bunches has been a tradition for many years. It’s a simple and wonderful way for church members of all ages to make an immediate difference in someone’s life.
As soon as we returned to campus for Sunday worship, we started making brown bag lunches again. And now we’re doing it every week because, frankly, people are hungry every week. We have an abundance of resources and helping hands. And our friends at The People Concern are appreciative of the support.
“What a wonderful blessing. We are so grateful for your help,” the weekend site manager Charlre-l told us recently. Her name is pronounced Charl–Re– Elle in case you get to meet her. She’s pretty great.
Charlre-l told us that a small staff makes breakfast and lunch most days and they’re pretty slight in terms of contents: a sandwich, fruit, chips, and water. The lunches we provide add a granola bar, some cookies, and often a mini chocolate bar and the clients are thrilled.
We’re currently making around 60 lunches a week. If we have more volunteers and more donations, we can make more and lighten the load for the folks at 503 Olympic Blvd.
Want to be a part? Here are a few ways to get involved:
Join us on Sundays to assemble lunches at 11:30 under the shade structure on the patio.
Support the Hunger Task Force by choosing Hunger Fund under Program Support on our Online Donation page.
Join the squad that shops, sets up, cleans up, and delivers lunches to the Access Center.
For more information, email Jacki Weber at hunger@uusm.org
Splinters from the Board:
April 2022 Board Highlights
The UUSM Board met on Tuesday April 12, 2022, by way of Zoom, to review committee work and the congregation’s overall operations.
Gathering
Beth Brownlie called the Board Meeting to Order. Norm did a reading and lit the chalice. The Church theme for the month is “Awakening.” All present did a personal and theme based check in.
Membership
Our membership remains at 259. Karen Patch and Allee Harati moved away.
Standing Monthly Reports:
Motion: A unanimous motion was passed that all the board committee standing reports and the March 8th Board minutes be accepted as presented.
Minister’s April Report
In his Introduction Jeremiah announced that “Awakening” was the Soul Matters theme for the month of April. He mentioned that this month has the multi-religious aspects of Ramadan, Passover, Easter, and Earth Day all in the “soup” with a dash of Stewardship for seasoning. It is a time to reflect on what all these sources provide in the way of inspiration as we and the earth reawaken from the winter and as our spirits become “verdant green” in the glow of service to life.
Recent Worship has included 5 services:
- a memorializing of the life of Thich Naht Hahn
- a service on fellowship given by Reverend Rick Hoyt
- conversations about mystery offered by Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins
- the poetry of awakening offered by Rima Snyder and
- a Stewardship Sunday service to kick off our Stewardship drive in which Jeremiah explored UU Muslim Identity and practice in the holy month of Ramazan.
Jeremiah mentioned that he took time off to celebrate turning 40. He acknowledged the worship associates for taking on beautifying the chancel including the purchase of a new lectern to support social distancing.
The blending of the Pastoral Care Associates and the CareRing continues to move forward. There was a heart/brainstorming session that included Chairs Linda, Denise, and Jeremiah.
In a Tech Ministry Update it was announced that after interviews that involved Saunder and Aubrey, Mia Bringas has been hired as our new Audio-Visual Coordinator. Please make her feel welcome.
The Stewardship Campaign was launched. We offer our heartfelt thanks to Jacki Weber for her hard work and leadership for implementing our process.
There will be two Bylaws Refresh Town Halls designed to bring the congregation up to speed on what the task force has created and to get feedback from the membership.
We have applied for a Spirit Level Grant to help complete our repairs. The grant has the potential to raise $100,000 if we can raise the $50,000, which they will match. The plan is to have Autumn and Spring Concerts as fundraising events. Saunder will use his genius to devise a plan for these projects.
We are considering a proposal to bring on a Consulting Minister to help us rebuild our RE program and augment our professional ministry.
The COVID Steering Committee did not meet in March but we are moving ahead with our reopening. Our attendance is growing as we keep one eye on the new COVID variant. More to follow.
Ushers and Greeters are back and are helping to keep our services as safe as possible.
There are no major updates from our Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression Commission.
Beloved Conversations has launched for Spring. Jeremiah continues to participate with the UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee and finds it fascinating and worthwhile.
In Conclusion, Jeremiah hopes that we are emerging from the worst of the pandemic and acknowledges the hard work and leadership of the Board during this difficult time.
Stewardship
Jacki talked about the timeline for the Stewardship drive. The Stewardship letters have gone out and the emails will begin soon. There will be a Stewardship table at the church after the service for the next several weeks to collect pledge cards and answer questions. Larry volunteered to person it with Jacki this coming Sunday. We will be making calls to members with Eileen coordinating and that will also start soon.
Website
Lois Hutchinson gave us a tour of the new website and talked about how it is 90% ready. The last 10% will be a heavy lift. It looks engaging and fresh. There was a question about the best way to display our financial documents and also whether we will need to budget for a consultant on an ongoing basis moving forward. Website security may be an issue.
OWL
Beth Rendero talked to us about what might be possible moving forward. She will not continue as our OWL coordinator. The classes we were planning to start this Spring did not generate enough students to fill them. Beth acknowledged Linda, Mike, and Larry for being OWL facilitators. Shanna Shaked and Nick Henning want to train others. OWL is a premier program for us and we just have to figure out how to get from here to there.
Treasurer’s Report
Vilma said that there are no major surprises this month. She wants to move the financial town hall to June 5 and hopefully only have one meeting that will be in-person. She anticipates we will approve the budget for the next fiscal year at the May board meeting.
Facilities
Abby reported that the permit to repair the Forbes Hall entryway on Arizona Ave. could be approved as soon as tomorrow. The contract is in place and the contractors are ready to go. Karl Lisovsky gets a big high five for refinishing the exterior of the wooden doors. We have a member who has the expertise to do a physical needs assessment.
COVID Steering Committee and Youth RE reopening
We are reopening to the point that we need to consider parking, coffee, and cookies and what to do with the kids who are attending. We are averaging 4 to 6 in the different age groups. We need a point person to manage the children and may hire an older teen for coordinating this. Perhaps Nurit can hire someone. The parents may be able to help.
Motion
A motion was unanimously passed that the meeting be adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Larry Weiner, Board Secretary
Larry Weiner, Board Secretary
RE News:
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, April 2022
Come, come, whoever you are!
Welcome to an exciting journey of questioning, challenging, and celebrating life’s mysteries and wonders. For generations, Adult Programs at UU Santa Monica has welcomed seekers, exiles, and interfaith families along with those who have grown up in our own Unitarian Universalist tradition. We are a congregation made up of people who believe in God or a higher power, people who do not, those who are content to live with the mystery, and those who are ever searching for answers to the big questions. Most of all, we are enriched by one another’s life journeys, diverse beliefs, shared progressive values and uniting UU Principles as we learn and explore together.
Our Purpose and Our Guide
At its core, the purpose of our educational ministry is to provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to deepen their spiritual lives, and to live with compassion, integrity and joy as we nurture beloved community and work together for peace and justice in this world. Adult Programs offers classes, discussion groups, and special events on an array of topics relevant to the Six Sources and our congregation’s spiritual life. Some of these may include in-depth study of theology and spirituality, discussion of science writing or Humanist ideas, opportunities to explore music, arts and crafts, or chances to connect socially for fellowship and fun. Many programs are made possible through the time and talent of our members and friends.
An Invitation
Do you have an idea for a program or event? We want to hear it. Email the Adult RE Committee (AdultRE@UUSM.org) and we can work with you on presenting your ideas.
Community Building Activities:
Introduction to SoulCollage®: An Intuitive Artmaking Process Saturday, April 9
Soul CollageSoulCollage® is a collage art endeavor founded by art therapist Seena B. Frost, MA, MDiv, in which the participants create a personal deck of cards. The method of creating cards develops one’s creativity, encourages self-discovery, and provides personal guidance. Using the cards can help access those inner and outer resources in difficult times, access the sacred, strengthen our awareness of our dynamic lives, make decisions mindfully, and help resolve personal or interpersonal conflicts. Community is also very important to the process as we explore our group’s imagery together. People who have done this program before, claim that the creation and usage of these self-crafted cards is transformative. This process is being shared across the world, in many languages, and enjoyed by people of all ages, genders, and cultures. So bring your curiosity, your wonder, your wisdom, your imagination and a beginner’s mind to this introductory workshop. This workshop is led by Adrienne Sumpter, who is a trained facilitator for SoulCollage®. We will meet in person in the cottage from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. If you are new to the process, we ask that you come 15 minutes ahead of schedule. It is okay to attend only one workshop. Please note that there is a 10-person maximum for groups held in the cottage. All participants need to send proof of vaccination to the office, and people need to stay masked at all times. Please sign up ahead of time: AdultRE@uusm.org
Nature Journaling: Whales Sunday, April 24
Come nature-journal with us as we consider the massive gray whales that pass through our near ocean waters twice every year. We will learn a bit about the lives and travels of these enormous, intelligent mammals. Then we will try to know them a little better by drawing them from photographs. All that is needed for participation is curiosity, a pencil, paper, or whatever medium you would like to draw and write in. The session lasts from 2:30 pm until 4:00. This session will be facilitated by Dorothy Steinicke, a member of UUSM and a lifelong lover of nature and the outdoors. Dorothy has spent years encouraging people to experience the natural world. To reach Dorothy for the Zoom link, you can contact AdultRE@uusm.org
Exploration of Ideas:
Science Non-Fiction Book Group Tuesday, April 19
We will discuss “Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?” by Frans de Waal. A revolution in the field of animal cognition reveals how much we have underestimated animals’ abilities. As quoted from the Barnes and Noble site, “Hailed as a classic, [this book] explores the oddities and complexities of animal cognition—in crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, chimpanzees, and bonobos—to reveal how smart animals really are, and how we’ve underestimated their abilities for too long. Did you know that octopuses use coconut shells as tools, that elephants classify humans by gender and language, and that there is a young male chimpanzee at Kyoto University whose flash memory puts that of humans to shame? Fascinating, entertaining, and deeply informed, de Waal’s landmark work will convince you to rethink everything you thought you knew about animal—and human—intelligence.” To receive the link, you will want to be on the group email list. Contact: Rebecca Crawford, sci-nonfiction@uusm.org. We meet from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. All are welcome.
UU Men’s Group Thursday April 7, Saturday April 23
The Men’s Discussion Group provides a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join in thoughtful and stimulating discussion and meet others with UU perspectives:
- 4/7/22: When you were younger, what was the main thing you were searching for? Did you find it? What are you seeking now? (This Thursday session will be held on Zoom from 7:30 – 9:00 pm)
- 4/23/22: Imagine that you were able to go back in time and could give your child or children a gift (tangible or an experience or advice) at a key time in their lives. What is it and why do you believe that it might have made a significant difference in their lives? (This Saturday session will be held in the Patio from 1:30 – 3:00 pm)
To request more information or to join us, please ask the church office for information about how to contact Jim Rheinwald or Richard Mathias through the Adult RE Committee email, AdultRE@UUSM.org.
Meditations:
Open Meditation Mondays, April 11, 25
We gather and listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal and share with each other what’s on our hearts. We explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. This is a non-guided, quiet meditation that may be deeply nourishing. A time to simply “be” amidst all the “doing,” calling off the struggle to become other than we are. We meet every 2nd, 4th, and if possible 5th Monday evening, from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Contact Bev Shoenberger through meditation@uusm.org
Open Meditation: Wellsprings All Wednesdays and Fridays
Taking time for quiet meditation and sharing in the intimacy of having sat in silence together can help sustain and ground us during these difficult days. We trust each of you will use this group in the way that fits your needs. We listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal, and share with each other what’s on our hearts. We simply sit together in our shared humanity. We call off the struggle to become other than we are. These are drop-in groups. You are welcome to join us when it feels right to you. If you come in late or need to leave early, just do so quietly. We meet every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm online. Contact Bev Shoenberger through meditation@uusm.org.
Reminders for Closed Groups:
For those of you who are attending ongoing closed groups, here are the reminders:
Writing For Discernment with Bettye Barclay will meet on Wednesday April 13
New Year’s Resolution Workshop with Norm Richey will be meeting April 20
Music News:
Celebrating Saunder Choi’s new music
UUSM Music Director Saunder Choi is headed to Purdue University this week for a residency, where Jacob Stensberg and the acclaimed choirs of Purdue Musical Organizations will be performing several of his works, including a new piece, “I Came To Your Shore as a Wayfaring Stranger” on April 1 — and he’s presenting a short lecture on Philippine Choral Music on March 31!
Afterwards, Saunder is headed up to Chicago for the long-awaited premiere of “Verum Corpus” (it was one of the cancelled premieres of 2020!!!) with William Southerland and the Windy City Performing Arts (Windy City Gay Choir/Windy City Treble Quire) — featuring the poetry of Amir Rabiyah. He is sharing this concert premiere with fellow composer Kyra Leigh! Performances are April 2 and 3.
The Windy City Performing Art’s Facebook page describes Verum Corpus as “a beautiful, multi-movement work for chorus and string quartet that sets text from trans and two-spirit, disabled, queer, femme poet Amir Rabiyah alongside the Christian text Ave Verum Corpus. Choi’s collaboration with Rabiyah and Rabiyah’s text on the story of transformation, completion, and attainment of the true body has delivered a stunning commission that draws parallels relevant to the experience of queer and transgender survivors of abuse and marginalization.”
Congratulations, Saunder!
