Newsletter for January, 2015
From Our Minister:
A wise person once said, “Tell me what you love, and I will tell you who you are.”
One of the programs I love is Small Group Ministry, now called Heart to Heart Circles. In Heart to Heart Circles, small groups of people from all ages and stages of life come together once a month to practice deep listening and honest reflection, including sharing their spiritual journeys. Each two-hour meeting has a theme, such as Gratitude, Prayer, or Loss, and includes readings on that theme, along with questions for consideration. Most meetings also have a time of shared silence, a “check in” where group members share what is on their heart, and a time of reflection at the close of the session. This year, Heart to Heart Circles will run from February to December 2015.
Heart to Heart Circles are not discussion groups. Instead, trained volunteer facilitators create an alternative to the back-and-forth of crosstalk and dialogue we experience at home, at work, even in other church programs. In the Heart to Heart alternative space, group members and facilitators together gently help the group adhere to a covenant that limits questions and promotes a safer space for meaningful sharing. Our hope is that Heart to Heart Circles are a place where we can speak honestly without being judged or questioned for what we choose to share — or not share — with the group. As one participant wrote in the their end-of-year reflection, “We all need a safe space to share from the heart.”
Or, as another participant put it, “[I] love to be real for two hours a month. [I] crave more.”
Since this program was rekindled in 2013, over 100 people in the church have participated in this high-commitment, high-reward program. We have found that those who are able to prioritize attendance at monthly meetings, as well as joining the group for two service projects during the year, get the most out of the experience. If a monthly commitment will be hard for you in your life right now, you may want to investigate some of the other programs we offer for spiritual reflection and renewal, as well as education and community-building.
In our large congregation, whether you are a newcomer, longtime member, or somewhere in-between, it is sometimes hard to connect and make new friends. That is why Heart to Heart Circles take place in small groups of 6 to 8 people, where closer connections of friendship and belonging can take root. “Every time we meet I feel there is an extra effort made to help each other and become closer,” wrote one participant. “I’ve definitely felt a kinship and community in the group,” wrote another.
I encourage you to join Heart to Heart Circles/Small Group Ministry in 2015, so you can see — and listen — for yourself. Please sign up by January 18 at the Lifespan Religious Education table in coffee hour, or by emailing your minister and the Heart to Heart Planning Team at sgm@uusm.org, so we can send you registration
materials.
In the words of a past participant, if you do join a circle in 2015, “prepare to have your heart opened.”
With love,
Rev. Rebecca
From Our Intern Minister
“Bless you!” We hear that phrase often when we sneeze from both the religious and nonreligious alike. In fact, I suspect it contains little to no spiritual significance these days, but is simply a cultural norm. The phrase originated as “God Bless You” back in Biblical times and was widely used later during outbreaks of the plague. Sneezing was the first sign that you might have the plague, so Pope Gregory I ordered unending prayer and chanting of “Bless You” in the streets to help mitigate chances of catching the plague. So yes, the term clearly has religious origins, and many people today choose to use the German word “Gesundheit” (which means “health”) instead of “Bless You.”
On the other hand, the term “Bless You” or a “blessing” does not have to have religious connotations or originate from a higher power. “Blessing” is such a beautiful, poetic, and unique word. Though some among us might struggle with it, considering it theistic language, I wish to reclaim it for all Unitarian Universalists. Blessing can be something we do for one another, just by offering each other kindness, concern and love. I receive a blessing from someone when they think of me, or say kind words, or perform thoughtful acts. blessings are gifts we bestow on one another. They enrich our lives. I consider my family and friends a blessing; the opportunity to have a roof over my head and have enough to eat is a blessing; having good health is a blessing; and being part of this wonderful community is a blessing. These blessings are not necessarily bestowed by a divine entity. Rather, they are treasured contributions or circumstances that enhance our lives. Meanwhile, I can bless another by offering a smile, a helping hand, a consideration, or a kindness. Blessings are also natural, uplifting occurrences, such as a cool breeze on a hot day, the comforting shade of giant sequoia trees, the magical twinkling of the starry sky, or the infectious laughter of a baby.
Former Starr King School for the Ministry President, and renowned contemporary theologian, Rebecca Parker, entreats us to “Choose to bless the world.” In her book, “Blessing the World,” she writes: “The purpose of life, then, is to discover the joy or wellbeing that simultaneously pleases us and blesses our neighbor. Every act we commit is a contribution to the world; the question is whether our actions will be a blessing or a curse. The basic question of life is not, ‘What do I want?’ but rather, ‘What do I want to give?’”
It is a blessing to be your Intern Minister. This congregation is a blessing to the world. Thank you for your many blessings.
— Nica Eaton-Guinn
From Our President:
Church Governance
Happy New Year! I’ll start with a remembrance of things past. Almost 15 years ago, on the eve of the millennium, there was a New Year’s Eve party at the church. That party was planned and executed by Ray Goodman and me. Ray, along with Joe Engleman, came to the December Board meeting (see Cynthia’s “Splinters” article) and we reminisced. I recall the millennium occasion was a grand party, blessed with the spirit of community and anticipation of what the millennium would bring. Y2K turned out to be mostly a nonevent and now 1½ decades later there remains a souvenir of the party — one bottle of champagne at Ray’s house.
The holiday season isn’t such a big deal for our small family (and I like to keep it that way) but there are two traditions that we cherish that we have been celebrating with friends. One is the Winter Solstice and the other is Twelfth Night, the Epiphany, but we call it Three Kings. On the Solstice we don antlers to honor the animals and gather outside to pay homage to the four directions. Our “high priest” is an astronomy colleague of Ned’s and so we have added the fifth “up” direction. It’s theater that we have been celebrating for years and we love it. On Three Kings, at the end of the feast, we bring out the galette des rois. Whoever gets the piece with the hidden bean is a king, and we actually pick three kings. Another tradition of the evening is a game called Snapdragon and it goes like this: Put raisins in a dish and pour a few spoonfuls of brandy over them. Put the lights out, ignite the brandy, and while it is burning snatch a raisin and as you put it in your mouth make a wish. It will be granted in the next 12 months, so they say. I wish! Our tree remains up until January 6. I have always liked easing out of the holiday season.
I look back on a few of the events that I attended in 2014 in my role as president. I might have attended them anyway, but I hadn’t in the past. One was a dinner at Turning Point. The other was the Annual Awards Breakfast of the Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition. Both made me even more aware of the work being done by so many to help our community.
Then there are the recent marches for justice for all. I was especially impressed with the peaceful march in
Washington, DC, on December 14. My friend who attends Neighborhood Church in Pasadena related a sermon that emphasized that it is relationships that will bring peace and understanding. I do have goals for this year and they have to do with peaceful living and building relationships within our pluralism. Oh, and I am going to try to overcome my fear of kayaking. Any suggestions? It’s not a fear of water. It’s a fear of not trusting myself to be able to steer a boat — no metaphor intended.
— Patricia Wright
Featured Articles:
Thanks From Our Minister
A big “Thank You” to all those listed below who made a gift or pledge for 2015 by December 10, 2014. We appreciate your support! For those who would still like to make a 2015 pledge or gift, please visit archive.uusm.org/make-a-donation or complete a pledge form at archive.uusm.org/for-members/online-pledge-form-pledge-only-no-payments
Boyd Adams
Elizabeth & Leonard Adler
Kenneth & Crystal Alexander
Abby Arnold
Kirk Attebury
Nancy Babbitt
Francois Bar & Alison Kendall
Bettye Barclay
Susan Bickford & Daniel Nannini
Rebecca & Jonathan Bijur
Harvey & Sheila Bjornlie
Edna & Phillip Bonacich
Teri Bond
Bonnie Brae
Anita & George Brenner
Rob Briner
Helen Brown
Patrick Burrows & Nancy Shinno
Natalie Burton
Leonard Cachola
Bryan & Lisa Cahill
Teresa Castelli
Jessica Clay
Clara & Ruth Cooper
Cynthia Cottam & Tom Early
Rebecca Crawford
Sheila Cummins
Lois D’Asara
Steven DePaul & Beth Rendeiro
Sanna Egan
Joe Engleman
Michael Eselun
Melinda Ewen
Jan & Bruce Ferguson
Dwight Flowers
Tascha Folsoi & Steve Neilson
Resa Foreman
Clayton Fossett
Roberta Frye
Elizabeth Fuller & Daniel Kegel
Steve Garboski
Barbara Gibbs
Wendi Gladstone
David & Gretchen Goetz
Patricia Gomez
Rayma Greenberg
Len Harris
Charles & Christine Haskell
Denise Helton
The Henderson-MacLennans
Emily Hero
Joyce Holmen & Mort Postel
Glen & Nancy Howell
Mark Huberman
Lois & Brad Hutchinson
Jay Johnson & Rachel Sene
Chris Jones
Natalie Sue Kahn
Cynthia Kelly
Berbara Kernochan
Margaret & Yacoub Kharraz
Phyllis & Robert Kory
Robert Kwan
Geralyn Lambson
Kris Langabeer & Debbie Menzies
Julie LaRue
Eleanor Long
Audrey Lyness
Katie Malich
Joyce & Warren Mathews
Patricia & Richard Mathias
Patrick McGuire
Patrich Meighan & Amy Thiel
Kim Miller
Mike Monte
Francine & Stuart Moore
Helene & James Morison
Susana Nierlich
Beth Brownlie & Bryan Oakes
Vilma Ortiz
Allee Harati & Karen Patch
Dan & Karen Hsu Patterson
Rhonda Peacock
Ernest Pipes
Adriana Poblano
Barbara Powers
Joan Reighley
Joan Reitzel
Carol Ring
Christine Suarez & Mark Rizzo
Sarah Robson
Carolina San Juan & Wendell Pascual
Kim & Nalani Santiago-Kalmanson
Kristina Schauer & Eric Treat
Carol Serling
Melanie Sharp
Kit Shaw
Catherine Gentile
Diana Spears
Dorothy Steinicke
Isabel & Bayard Storey
Ellen Stuart
John Sussman
Beth TenPas
Pamela Teplitz
Erika & Steven Valore
Joan Verdon
Kay Ward
Mark Warkentin
John & Melissa Weaver
Jacki Weber & Lorenzo Pelayo
Larry Weiner & Laura Carlson-Weiner
Jenifer Westbay
Joanna Woods-Marsden
Edward & Patricia Wright
John Zinner
Finance Report
The finance committee consists of Kit Shaw, chair; Charles Haskell; Christine Haskell; Alan Brunell; Abby Arnold; and Jacki Weber. Our last meeting was on December 7.
We are halfway through our current fiscal year (ends June 30, 2015), which has an operating budget deficit of $72,000. To date, we are on track with our planned budget (less than $500 variance from the budgeted deficit). The church’s rental income continues to remain strong, as groups continue to seek out our beautiful campus to hold their meetings. As the end of the year approaches, we will soon know whether members have fulfilled their 2014 pledge commitments. In December, we were approximately $50,000 short of collecting the $410,000 pledged by members for 2014.
The church’s accounting books also recently underwent an internal audit by church members Joyce Holmen, Rhonda Peacock, and Carol Ring. The audit committee did not find any major deficiencies but had several very useful suggestions, which will be shared in a written report. The report has not yet been completed, but it will be available in the office when finalized.
As we head into 2015, the Finance Committee is discussing ways to improve the budgeting process. We are working closely with the Commitment Campaign Committee, headed by Teri Bond, since church income is so heavily dependent upon member pledges. In fact, four members of the Commitment Campaign Committee also regularly attend Finance Committee meetings, either as a member or a guest. The 2015-2016 fiscal year budgeting process begins January 2015, and our hope is to be able to maintain quality church programs with realistic input and goals from the Commitment Campaign Committee.
We are also eagerly waiting for the report from the Committee on Money, which was established at the 2014 annual meeting to research the following: (1) a method for dealing with future budgets where expenses exceed income, (2) the percent of unrestricted reserves that may be prudently used for operations, (3) use of current large donations or bequests, (4) utilization of future large donations or bequests, and (5) the pros and cons of establishing an endowment fund. Recommendations of the Committee on Money will be important to discussions of next year’s budget.
— Kit Shaw
Holiday Spectacle...
The annual parade of Friendly Beasts assembled on the chancel for the Winter Holiday Pageant on December 21. The children were led in singing by Kris Langabeer.
From Our Music Program
Eve Ahlers, Sammy Nunan, Tommy Nunan, Mari Nunan, and Piper Redman playing “Greensleeves” at the Winter Holiday Pageant on December 21.
Ministry Theme for January is Blessing
Bettye Barclay has provided this list of weekly thoughts about our ministerial theme for January.
Week 1. There are not many occasions in a typical Unitarian Universalist worship that call for a blessing and that is perhaps too bad. The simplest definition of a “blessing” is that it is a religious sign of approval. We could do with more of that in the world — both recognizing more things as blessed, and recognizing ourselves as capable of blessing. A blessing then, lifts up, honors someone or something, and calls it good. — Eric Walker Wikstrom
Week 2. The most important choices we make are the thoughts and feelings we choose to entertain, moment after moment, day after day. They shape our lives more surely than any outward circumstance. So why not opt for an experience of blessing — of blessing life moment after moment? Each moment is the repository of infinite possibilities, ever renewed. — Pierre Pradervand
Week 3. An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. — Henry David Thoreau
Week 4. To a fireman, wind is a curse. To a sailor, wind is a blessing. — Mokokoma Mokhonoana
Week 5. The thing to do, it seems to me, is to prepare yourself so you can be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud. Somebody who may not look like you, may not call God the same name you call God — if they call God at all. I may not dance your dances or speak your language. But be a blessing to somebody. That’s what I think. — Maya Angelou
Community Life
Thanksgiving Feast
Holiday Bazaar
Winter Holiday Pageant
News & Announcements:
Dining for Dollars Is Coming in February!
Dining for Dollars is an annual silent auction that raises income essential to meeting our UU Santa Monica budget goals. Members and friends can bid on events and services such as dinners, baked goods, gift certificates, and concerts offered by other members and friends. Whether you’re new to the church, or a regular, Dining for Dollars is a fun (and delicious) way to get to know the people at UU Santa Monica. The bid sign-up sheets will be in Forbes Hall after both services on February 15 and 22 this year. Everyone is encouraged to participate, both as a donor of dinners or services and as a bidder. But NOW is the time to sign up to offer an event or service. Thank you for your contributions to the church!Hear to Heart Circles:
Sign up now through Jan 18 at www.tinyurl.com/heartcircles or grab a paper form from the LRE table in Forbes Hall. New groups begin in February.
New Year Retreat 2015: Let Your Life Speak
Sign up now through January 4 for the New Year Retreat at the LRE table in Forbes Hall. This day-long retreat will be held on January 10 from 8:30-4:30. For more information contact Rhonda Peacock.
Undy Sunday returns in January
Wundering who? Wundering why? Wundering where? No, no, no! Not underwhere, underwear! Undy Sunday is approaching fast. Are you ready? Please don’t be shy. When you see those new briefs, boxers, socks, panties, bras, slips, hose, and anything else one wears under whatever one wears for the day (on sale or not), just purchase them. Then on any Sunday in January, truck ’em into good ol’ UU Santa Monica (to Forbes Hall). Westside homeless adults and children will appreciate your gift. Contact: Geralyn Lambson or Jessica Fant-
Chapin.
— Jessica Fant-Chapin
Faith in Action News:
Peace and Social Justice Events: 2014
During 2014, the Peace and Social Justice Committee (PSJ) continued
its work in the areas of peace; economic justice; immigration and immigrant detention; and racism and mass incarceration. Ongoing activities included participation in monthly anti-war vigils; actions on behalf of car wash and hotel workers in collaboration with CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), including distribution of flyers; participation in picketing at Doubletree Hotel, and participation in the boycott of Millennium and Santa Monica carwashes; visits to immigrant detainees in Orange County; and support for initiatives to oppose construction of additional prisons and jails, to reduce sentencing for certain offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, and to promote alternatives to prison such as drug treatment and facilities for the mentally ill. Following are some specific activities.
January 11. Los Angeles/Valley/Santa Monica Cluster Meeting of UU Justice Ministry (now UU Social Ministry) in
Forbes Hall, attended by several members of congregation.
January 15. Abby Arnold organized a celebration in Forbes Hall of hotel workers’ victory in securing living wage and union card check agreement in future Oto hotels to be built in Santa Monica. Faith in Action (FIA), working with CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), was active in supporting this movement.
January 19. Congregation member Lyman Johnson spoke at the UU Santa Monica service commemorating Martin Luther King Day.
January 20. PSJ participated in MLK Jr. Westside Coalition celebration and staffed a table, providing information about the activities of the committee, at the subsequent fair at Soka Gakhai.
February 2. Speaker, Tanya Golash-Boza, Sociology professor at UC Merced who has interviewed 150 deported immigrants and published several studies on immigration and deportation issues, gave a presentation, including slide show, on Mass Deportation, Racism, and Global Capitalism. Prof. Golashi-Boze described the massive growth in immigration and deportations, linking the increase to changes in global capitalism, including
the displacement of rural and urban jobs in immigrant-sending countries due to foreign trade and investment and the decline in middle-class manufacturing jobs and the growth in low-wage jobs in the U.S. that attract immigrants.
February 11. Over fifty Valentine notes were sent by members of the congregation to immigrants in detention. Many of the recipients have responded expressing appreciation for support.
March 2. At FIA Commission meeting, James Witker became co-chair, with Rick Rhoads, of FIA.
April. FIA responsible for the Art Wall, which included posters and photographs of carwash campaign, visits to immigrant detainees, textbook campaign, and various speeches. April 20. Presentation, “Making Sense of the Syrian Tragedy” by Ziad Abu-Rush, Ph.D., candidate in History at UCLA specializing in the political economy and culture of state formation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Abu-Rush described how the initial non-violent uprising in Syria was transformed into a militarized conflict resulting in over 130,000 killed and the displacement of 9 million, and the respective interests of external powers — the United States, Russia, Israel, and Saudi Arabia —
in Syria.
May 22. Annual Giants for Justice breakfast of CLUE, attended by the Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur, who gave the benediction; Rev. Emeritus Ernie Pipes; and several members of UU Santa Monica congregation. FIA has worked extensively with CLUE in union organizing campaigns for carwash and hotel workers.
July 13. PSJ presented Robert Greenwald’s “Unmanned: America’s Drone Wars” at Second Sunday Cinema.
July 27. Arts and Edibles Fair raised funds for co-sponsors, FIA and Adult Religious Education, through sale of art, crafts, and food.
August 5. CIVIC (Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement) presentation of videos and audio recordings of immigrants in detention, co-sponsored by FIA.
August 10. Film “Which Way Home?” about the difficult journey of young Central American and Mexican migrants to the United States presented by PSJ and Second Sunday Cinema.
September 14. Presentation by Angela Sanbrano, President of the Board of the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), at 11 a.m. service on needs of Central American children who migrated unaccompanied to the United States and efforts of CARECEN on their behalf. The non-pledge offering of the Sunday collections for the month of September went to CARECEN to support legal representation and other services for unaccompanied children immigrants.
September 14. Second Sunday Supper, sponsored by FIA, attended by former immigrant detainee Maynor and his two children. Members of PSJ Peggy Rhoads, Roberta Frye, and Carrie Lauer supported Maynor and his family through immigration hearings that finally resulted in his release in August. Members of the congregation have been visiting immigrants in detention on an ongoing basis in collaboration with Friends of Orange County
Detainees and CIVIC.
September 27. A narrative reading of “If the Shu Fits,” a play on solitary confinement written by Andy Griggs, co-sponsored by FIA and the Committee on Racial Justice of the Church in Ocean Park. Organized by Diana Spears and Peggy Rhoads, and directed by Morna Martell, the performance was followed by a discussion with playwright Griggs and a panel with representatives from CURB (Californians United for a Responsible Budget), Justice Not Jails, and PSJ as well as a former detainee in solitary confinement and family members of prisoners.
November 9. PSJ sponsored the film “Oh Freedom, After While,” which portrays the struggles of sharecroppers in Missouri during the 1930s, at Second Sunday Cinema. November 16. One man play, “To Begin the World Again: The Life of Thomas Paine,” presented by Ian Ruskin, drawing on the works of Paine, including “Common Sense” and “The Age of Reason.”
November 22. PSJ presented the introduction for the annual Thanksgiving feast.
December 10. Program on conflict in Israel and Palestine, with discussion by Rick Chertoff of Jewish Voices for Peace and Mohammad Lahan, formerly a resident of Gaza, and excerpts from the film “Occupation 101.”
December 14. PSJ sponsored Second Sunday Cinema film, “Occupation 101,” about the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
— Nora Hamilton and Cathie Gentile
Congregants turn out to protestnon-indictment of Ferguson cop
The Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur and her family and Intern Minister Nica Eaton-Guinn were among the 15+ UU Santa Monica congregants who participated in a candle-light vigil Tuesday evening November 25 to protest the grand jury’s decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the Ferguson, MO, police officer who killed Michael Brown in August. The vigil, in front of Santa Monica City Hall, totaled about 60 people — black, Latino, Asian, and white. It was sponsored by the Committee for Racial Justice (CRJ), a multi-racial group originally formed in the Church of Ocean Park in response to a racist incident at Santa Monica High School.
CRJ had decided to hold a rally at Santa Monica City Hall at 5:00 p.m. the day the grand jury decision was announced, if that happened before 5 p.m. Pacific Time. When it became known that the decision would be announced at 6 p.m. Pacific Time Monday November 24, CRJ decided to hold a rally that day anyway. Despite the short notice, 30 people showed up for the Monday rally, including three from UU Santa Monica: James Witker and Rick Rhoads, co-chairs of our Faith in Action Commission, and Peggy Rhoads, co-chair of our Peace & Social Justice Committee.
At the Monday rally, the grand jury’s decision not to indict was received on a cell phone and played through the rally’s portable sound system. Before and after that, we heard singers and speakers.
Rick, one of the scheduled speakers, noted that those “most victimized by systemic racism, the most impoverished, the most oppressed and exploited members of our society” are typically the targets of exhortations to non-violence. He suggested that preachers of non-violence “turn around 180° and tell the cops to put away their tanks and helicopters and other weapons of mass destruction and keep their guns in their holsters…and tell [U.S.] politicians and generals to close down their roughly 1,000 military bases in 135 countries around the world.”
“Some say white people have no stake in fighting back against police murders of black people,” Rick added. “Nothing could be further from the truth. For centuries white working people have been told to accept miserable conditions because, “At least you’re not black.”
“Anybody who falls for this is a sucker. Cops get away with murder — sometimes literally — toward white working people precisely because they can murder blacks and Latinos with impunity. And wages, working conditions, and benefits for white workers get worse precisely because the floor is lowered by the super-exploitation of, and huge unemployment among, black and Latino workers. Racism hurts all working people. We need multi-racial unity against racism. Not charity. Solidarity!”
Several speakers at the Monday rally, including Oscar de la Torre, executive director of the Pico Youth and Family Center and member of the Santa Monica School Board, spoke about racial profiling by the Santa Monica Police Department. Although the police department denies that it practices racial profiling, de la Torre noted that many black and Latino youth and adults in Santa Monica have experienced it. The CRJ accordingly launched a petition campaign urging “the Santa Monica City Council to develop an independent method of collecting, summarizing and publicizing feedback from community members concerning their interactions with local law enforcement officers.” The petition is available after services at the Faith in Action table in Forbes Hall.
At both gatherings, drivers on Main Street saw the handmade posters that participants made on the spot and honked in support.
— Peggy and Rick Rhoads
Splinters from the Board:
Following dinner, check-in, chalice lighting and covenant, our president, Patricia Wright, reported the good news that 100% of Board members have pledged, contributing $33,000 towards the support of our church.
Ray Goodman and Joe Engleman, attending as guests, presented a proposal to the Board regarding the establishment on church grounds of a space called “The Garden of Eternity.” The purpose of the garden would be to honor a deceased member of our church and also to enhance the financial status of the church. The Board agreed to get back to them by the next Board meeting to begin creating a task force to consider the details of this proposal, develop it, and ultimately help in bringing it before the congregation for a vote.
Sue Stoyanoff attended as a representative of the Committee on Ministry and discussed their recent activities. The Board passed a motion formally charging the Committee on Ministry with recruiting and making an offer to an Acting Minister(s) for a planned maternity leave and sabbatical leave for Rev. Rebecca.
The Board did further work on its investigation of Policy Governance by discussing a statement of wishes or aspirations. This statement will reflect what we would hope to gain by any governance changes that are made.
We have four new members: Barbara Powers, Clayton Fossett, Wendell Pascual, and Carolina San Juan. Total membership stands at 378.
Church Administrator Nurit Gordon reported that 75 reminders were mailed to people who have not yet fulfilled their 2014 pledge commitments. She reported that the AAA (Agnostics and Atheists AA) held a convention at our church the weekend of November 7. This is the biggest event we have had so far, utilizing almost every area of the church campus. The group was happy with the facilities and would like to rent again next year. Our income totaled $4,300.
Nurit helped us review the update on the 2015/2016 pledge drive prepared by Teri Bond for the Fundraising Committee. So far, we have raised $205,830; we still need $244,000 to reach our goal of $450,000. We have raised 46% of our budget from 36% of our pledging units. In January, as prescribed in our Bylaws, we will automatically roll over all pledges from 2014 to 2015 for all members who have not contacted the office by that time.
Catherine Farmer Loya reported on community building activities within RE. The YRUU high school group will perform a chalice lighting once a month for Sunday services and are exploring additional opportunities for developing their leadership in the congregation. Catherine also reported that this year the Friendly Beasts pageant rehearsal will include a pancake breakfast.
Rev. Rebecca spoke about our many and diverse winter holiday services. She informed us that the Small Group Ministry groups would have their last meetings in December. They will start up again in February and will be called “Heart to Heart” to emphasize the heartcentered practices of reflection and deep listening. She informed the Board that she and Patricia Wright have been accepted to participate in the Alchemy Leadership Seminar. Alchemy is a program of the Annenberg Foundation, which seeks to help leaders of nonprofits become highly effective leaders in their communities. The seminar takes place for two days in January and one day in April.
Kit Shaw, treasurer, presented the Treasurer’s Report. Total pledge receipts are on budget for the year to date. Rental income is above budget. Facilities expenses are over budget, largely due to the payment of our insurance premium in November ($13,000). Net income is slightly lower than budgeted, with a current deficit of $54,286 compared to a budgeted deficit of $53,819.
Alison Kendall attended as a representative of the Green Committee. She discussed the issues involved in the pathways and plantings for the Arizona Garden Area and reported on the town hall meeting on this topic. The focus of the Green Committee is currently on educating the congregation about water use and using the garden as a demonstration area for good practices. The area is also meant to serve as a memorial. She pointed out that a city-approved plan exists, which dictates the general appearance of the area from the street. She also discussed the issues involved in making the area accessible to people with wheelchairs and walkers. The area will require grading and replacement of tiles in the Anderson Courtyard, and this work will need to be done by
professionals.
The Board will host the Second Sunday Supper in February. The Board set the date of the Annual Meeting as May 17, 2015.
-- Cynthia Cottam
RE News:
From Our DRE:
Where does Religious Education happen? What is the Religious Exploration program at UU Santa Monica all about, anyway? We’re now halfway through our church year and it’s almost time for us to start planning for the next one. Because of this, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what RE is. But I wonder what we might learn about RE if we also think about where it happens.
The easy response is that religious education happens on Sunday morning in our classrooms. It happens when we gather together in groups to learn about our faith and its history and about the world’s religions, and it happens when we ask our young people to think for themselves and to find meaning in the world and in their lives. It happens when we lead our kids in creating caring communities right there in their classrooms, and it happens on RE Faith in Action Sundays when we work together to make the world a better place.
But is that the end of the story? Does religious education stop when we leave the church grounds? Is one hour a week (assuming perfect attendance) enough to give our young people a grounding in what it means to be UU, to teach them to think for themselves, model kindness and compassion toward others, and take action to make the world a better place? Of course not. Rev. Phil Lund created a list of “7 Tools for Building a UU Home” that gives some wonderful suggestions for engaging our UU values throughout the week, not just on Sundays when your family comes to church. These tools include:
1. Bedtime ritual
• Read UU stories
• Comment on UU values in other stories
• Share joys and sorrows
• Participate in a UU prayer/reflection ritual (my suggestion: T-H-I-S prayer – one thing you’re Thankful for, one thing you Hope will happen, one thing you’re sorry about and would like to Improve, and one person to Send loving thoughts to)
2. Caring Conversations
• Make time for conversations about what really matters
• Tell your family members what you believe
• Just be present
3. Celebrating Holidays
• Match the holiday with your UU values
• Answer these questions: Why is this holiday important for a UU? Which of our 6 Sources does this holiday stem from?
• Create rituals for the holiday that mirror what is done at UU Santa Monica
• Attend UU holidays
4. Congregational Participation
• If a family is engaged, the congregation will be an important part of a family’s emotional support system
• Look for opportunities to connect your family with others of all ages
5. Family Meal and Grace
• Light a chalice
• Speak joys and sorrows
• Say grace
6. Family Service:
• Volunteer — families can “Do Good Together”
• Look for service projects for the whole family, within the church as well as in the community
7. Symbols of our Faith:
• Adorn your home with symbols of Unitarian Universalism
• 7 Principles and 6 Sources in art
• Create an altar using UU symbols or those from the sources of your childhood faith
• Display RE class projects
Why Come To Church? Children who come to church regularly:
• Make friends they look forward to seeing on Sunday
• Know their teachers and develop a valuable relationship with them.
• Understand the theme of the curricula
• Are familiar with and “at home” in the church
• Naturally memorize the repeated words and songs in worship.
• Know and look forward to the cycles of events and rituals of the church year
• Develop a sense of belonging; know names of many people of all ages
• Develop a sense of stewardship about the church and feel fulfilled when they have helped
• Feel a sense of ownership of their religion, their church and the RE program
Adults who come to church regularly experience similar satisfaction, too!
Children who drop in once a month or less do not experience the richness of the community. It becomes another “thing to do” rather than an integral part of family and spiritual life. Busy lives need spiritual practice that binds the family and community in shared experience. What are my responsibilities as a parent in my child’s religious education? You are your child’s primary religious educator. Share your religious beliefs with your child. (If you’re not sure what they are, consider participating in UU Santa Monica’s Adult RE programs and classes related to personal and spiritual growth, such as “Building Your Own Theology.”) Let your child know why you chose this church and what it means to you. Talk about how you act on your beliefs about such topics as fairness, tolerance, and caring for the earth, and provide your child with frequent opportunities to act on his or her own beliefs.
— Catherine Farmer Loya
Children's RE
This month in the UU Santa Monica RE program, preschoolers will explore ways we can help ourselves and each other when we’re feeling sad, or need some extra care, and will begin to learn about special rites of passage in our church community, such as weddings and baby dedications. Participants in the Kindergarten to 2nd grade Spirit Seekers class will continue this year’s focus on sacred stories from the world’s religions with stories from the Islamic tradition. Over the course of the month in our 3rd to 5th grade UUniverse Story class, we will explore the history of our current best theory about the origin of the Universe, the Big Bang: what was thought before, how the Big Bang idea was developed, how it was tested, how scientists stumbled on the “smoking gun” evidence, and how it was ultimately accepted. Middle-schoolers in the 6th to 7th grade Interfaith Quest class will also be learning about Islam this month, with an introduction to the faith as well as a field trip to experience a worship service and to meet with youth their own age. Youth in our 8th grade Coming of Age program will continue exploring the “big questions” of life this month, including exploring spirituality through film as well as sessions on concepts of God and theist/agnostic/atheist perspectives on faith. A big thanks goes out this month to all UU Santa Monica members for your generous contributions to our RE Faith in Action project in November; RE participants compiled 82 hygiene kits for donation to OPCC’s ShWashLock facility, which provides showers, washers and lockers for homeless members of our Santa Monica community.
Adult RE
A new year brings new program offerings from Adult RE. In addition to ongoing programs, such as Wednesday Night Writers, Patio Chats, and Bluestockings, we have some very intriguing courses in place for the next few months, including an introduction to the fundamentals of Marxism, meditation workshops, interfaith visits, and more.
At the time of this writing, specific dates and times for several programs were still to be determined (TBD). please look to upcoming announcements, and visit the LRE table in Forbes Hall after Sunday services for the latest information.
Our Adult RE committee has also been hard at work in recent months, creating exciting new tools and resources for programming, including a new Course Proposal Packet. As always, if you have suggestions or ideas for programming, please don’t hesitate to speak with someone on the Adult RE committee, or stop by the LRE table in Forbes Hall after Sunday services.
— Karen Hsu Patterson
NEW PROGRAMS
Fundamentals of Marxism
Marxists led the Russian and Chinese Revolutions. They’ve also been a major part of the leadership of most struggles for social justice in the 20th century. In the U.S., that includes the trade union movement, particularly the drive to organize industrial unions in the 1930s; the civil rights movement; the fight for unemployment benefits and Social Security; the women’s liberation movement; and, of course, the movement against the Vietnam War and other unjust wars. So is Marxism fundamentally revolutionary or reformist? Does it fight for “a fair day’s wages” or “abolition of the wage system”? And why did the Soviet Union/Russia and China return to capitalism? Is “the 99%” a Marxist notion? What does Marxism say about “political economy” and “state power”? And what the heck is “dialectical materialism”? This seminar will take up these and other questions. We’ll meet once a week for six weeks, at a time or times to be determined by polling those who sign up.
— Rick Rhoads
Meditation Workshops and Groups
Bettye Barclay will facilitate a weekly meditation group based on Centering Meditation, for people who want to begin, develop, or deepen a meditation practice. This method of meditation is a powerful way to experience deep renewing silence. This course will meet for six sessions in Cottage SE starting on January 6.
Bill Blake will facilitate another meditation course, The Way to Go: Meditation. This eight week course will explore a variety of meditation practices and benefits, enabling participants to create their own meditation toolkits. (Dates/times TBD.)
Interfaith Visit: Bahá’í Faith. In the spirit of religious exploration and understanding, we continue our series of interfaith visits. We are planning a visit to the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center (date/ time TBD). The Bahá’í faith is a monotheistic religion emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. All are welcome to join in this
interfaith visit.
ONGOING PROGRAMS
Wednesday Night Writers: A welcoming space for all writers, regardless of prior writing experience or expertise. Join us January 14 and January 28, at 7 p.m. in Forbes Hall for writing, helpful critiques, and moral support. No signups required — just show up!
Patio Chat: Join us Sunday, January 25, 10:10 a.m. on the Patio, for lively, thoughtful monthly UU Santa Monica Ministry Theme discussion with Leon Henderson- MacLennan and Natalie Kahn. January’s topic is Blessing.
Bluestockings: A Feminist Salon. Join us January 25, 5 p.m. in Forbes Hall, for a potluck supper and feminist discussion. We will discuss the book “How to Be a Woman” by Caitlin Moran. All are welcome. Contact: Karen Hsu Patterson
New Tools And Resources: Course Proposal Packet
As a part of its efforts to bring high- quality programming to our community, the Adult Programs Committee is excited to share its new Lifespan Religious Exploration Course Proposal Packet (v 1.0.1)! T
The goal of this packet is to be your one-stop-shop for all your course proposal needs, and it explores:\
- How to set learning goals for workshops, and establish a vision for your program.
- Our new UU Santa Monica Leadership Covenant, located at bit.ly/uusmlrecovenant — The covenant is a helpful reminder that course facilitators act as representatives of the LRE Committee and of UU Santa Monica as a whole.
- Our new LRE Course Proposal Form, located at bit.ly/uusmlreproposal — The new form helps to clarify your goals and vision for the workshop, and has the environmental benefit of being pa per-free.
This exciting packet of information is a living document, and if you have any questions, corrections, or suggestions for edits, you can always reach out to our friendly neighborhood Director of Religious Education,
Catherine Farmer Loya, at catherine@uusm.org
— Eric Huang