New Lending Library is Open for Business

The Robert V. Stern Memorial Library is up and running, located on the southwall of Forbes Hall to the right of the TV. The library is named for a memberwho was married to Carol Edwards, our former minister of religious education.

The lending library will be open on Sundays during the two coffee hours. Therewill be a special area for our Book Club selections.

Book donations for the Robert V. Stern Memorial Library will be accepted underthe following guidelines:

1. We are looking for books that are spiritual in nature: thoughtprovokingfiction, UU Book Club selections, books pertaining to classes offered throughAdult Religious Growth and Learning Program and OWL.

2. Books must be in good condition, preferably hardbound.

3. No college textbooks or books that have been written in or with text highlighted.

4. Contact a committee member if you would like to donate books so the committeemay review them.

5. Please do not bring in books and just put them on the shelves.

Books culled from the collection will be on sale for 50 cents to $1. It's away of passing on someone else's books and accumulating money for future purchases.Books for sale are in Forbes Hall near the windows. Look for the sign.

Members of the Library Committee are Sandra Trutt, Librarian, Caroline Falk,Ilse Kleinman, Nedra Bickel, and Rob Briner.

-Sandra Trutt

 

We'll Vote August 1 on a Banner for Civil Marriage/Civil Right Issue

At the annual meeting in Maythe congregation discussed the following motion: "The Unitarian UniversalistCommunity Church of Santa Monica will place a banner on the church stating:'Civil Marriage is a Civil Right.'" There was agreement, disagreement, and debate,but not enough time. The motion was tabled.

The Board of Directors has called for a congregational meeting on August 1to address the tabled motion.

It's time for an old fashioned congregational meeting. What is your opinion?What do you have to say about expressing ourselves publicly? What are your concernsabout using a banner on the church? Bring your voice to the meeting on August1.

Unitarian Universalist Principle #5 is: The right of conscience and the useof the democratic process within our congregations and in the society at large.

August 1 is the opportunity to exercise Principle #5. Please attend to discuss,debate, consider, influence and be influenced, and speak out with your vote.

-Ron Crane

 

Covenant Groups will Begin in October and November

The mission of our Covenant Group Task Force is to develop the framework tobring covenant groups to the church. Covenant groups are also referred to as"small group ministry." This grass roots movement within UU churches has grownto meet the expressed need for greater intimacy and to afford the opportunityfor small groups of people to develop together spiritually.

Several church members signed up for a series of four weekly meetings in Marchto learn about the format and process of covenant groups. After the initialfour meetings, the remaining interested members of the learning group formedthe Covenant Group Task Force.

Because two qualified facilitators are required for each covenant group, thetask force and others attended a facilitator training session in May. The Rev.Judith Meyer will select facilitators for the first covenant groups to be formedin October and November.

All task force meetings will replicate the format that is envisioned for covenantgroups at our church. This will allow the team to continue to experience theprocess and the spiritual practice that are a part of groups.

Some actions for July and August include announcing facilitators, trainingfacilitators, covenant group "taster" sessions, newsletter and order of serviceinserts, a "CG Ask Me" table in Forbes Hall, sign-up process logistics, samplelists and statements.

Tentative plans later this year include scheduling covenant group "taster sessions"to introduce people to the concepts, stationing a covenant group member in ForbesHall after Sunday services to answer questions, making it possible for churchmembers/friends to join a covenant group based solely on day and time, and developingthemes, service projects, and covenants for start-up covenant groups.

-Marv Pulliam

 

Give Money Where You Have Given Time

When you plan your estate giving to the church, you may give money to specificprograms of the church.

If your time and interest have gone to Faith in Action, Religious Exploration,Music, Building and Grounds, etc., you may direct that your gift be used forthe area of interest that has most touched your mind and soul.

If you want to support the entire work of the church, you may give withoutdirective and the money will be used where it is most needed at the time.

Contact Ron Crane or the church office to discuss how you may endow or giveto the program of the church that is of most interest to you.

-Ron Crane

 

Men's Group Cleans Our House Next Door

Four members of the Men'sGroup spent most of Saturday, June 12, cleaning up our 18th Street bungalow.Phil Bonacich, Dwight Flowers, Joel Rosenblum, and Nels Hanson tossed stufffrom both inside and out, filling two dumpsters in the process.

In the morning they pulled carpet, anchored at random places with nails, thathad been patched together, either 30 years ago or over the past 30 years. (Theyweren't sure which.) They opened windows and doors and had the house much cleanerby the time people started arriving for Dean Voegtlen's pancake breakfast. Churchmembers coming to breakfast, many who had not yet seen the inside of the house,got a better impression of the house, though much work obviously still needsto be done to bring back some of its original beauty.

In the afternoon, the Men's Group worked on the backyard. Most of the churchhas enjoyed having a spacious outdoor area to wander into after Sunday morningservices and now they don't have to look at piles of concrete, yard clippings,wood and other discards.

Throughout the day neighborsstopped by to chat. Some were concerned about tearing down the house or worriedabout adding cars to the street. One neighbor, who has lived on the block sincethe 1930s, came over and told stories of Santa Monica. A couple of neighborstalked about the tenant that had lived in the house. It was nice to informallysay hello to the community.

Nothing precious was found in the cleanup, but the men felt the reward ofmaking the place look better. Now they are thinking about what else they cando to make the house a place that the church can use.

-Nels Hanson

 

...and a thank you from Marie

On behalf of the church, thank you Phil Bonacich, Dwight Flowers, Nels Hanson,and Joel Rosenfeld for taking the first step in making 1248 18th Street moreenjoyable and safer. If you have a project or want to participate in futurechurch work parties, please contact Marie Kashmer-Stiebing, Church Administrator,at (310) 829-5436, ext. 100.

 

Gilbert & Sullivan Evening Proved to Be a Great Triumph

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who shared the responsibility for thesensationally successful Gilbert and Sullivan evening on June 5.

The most important thanks go to Richard Sheldon, whose stellar performancegave us a close-up of live theater. Thanks also go to Dean Voegtlen, who sponsoredthat performance. How nice to have an "angel" in our midst. We are gratefulalso to Michelle McWilliams and Carol Winston for their beautiful high notesand for playing their parts on short notice. Also outstanding as soloists andensemble participants were Michael Lamb and Kathi Wight.

A big thank you is owed to our music director, Steve Wight, for his commitmentto excellence (and the many extra hours he spent) and to pianist Louis Durra,who transformed an orchestra score into a piano part and made music out of it.And, of course, the choir deserves a heartfelt thank you for its performance.

The delicious and beautiful British "high tea" was planned and supervisedby Maria Simpson, assisted by Beverly Alison and many helping hands. More than50 people contributed desserts and/or time to making this a memorable occasion.A big thank you also goes to Peter Van den Beemt, who spent many hours planningand checking details for this event. And finally, a thank you to the wonderfulaudience that really made it all possible.

-Gaye Follmer Deal, Retiring Music Committee Chair

 

Appreciation