Newsletter for June, 2015
From Our Minister:
Appreciations
Many thanks to the Committee on Ministry, Board of Directors, Hospitality Committee, and all those who hosted the festive celebration for Baby Bijur on April 26! Thank you to this community for all those who contributed to the extremely generous check that accompanied your thoughtful card. Wow. Thank you to the Knitters and Friends for their caring and beautiful crafts. By 11 a.m. we looked around to see if they could ceremonially again present us with the mouse they made for Nathan, but it turned out he had walked off with it immediately after the 9 a.m. service... a good sign. We are grateful to be part of this caring community, and look forward to introducing you to its newest member once baby Bijur arrives!
With love, Rev. Rebecca, Jonathan, Mimi, and Nathan
Mercy! Cancer, Second Chances, and Summertime
What better way to honor our monthly theme of Mercy than to celebrate those who have been given a second chance at life? Sunday, June 7, is National Cancer Survivor Day. This is a special day that is marked with marches and celebrations throughout the U.S. Many never get the opportunity to make it through a life-threatening illness or event. Having a second chance at life can change our thinking and the way we are in the world. How does surviving impact people’s lives? We will have our own opportunity to honor those who have been given a second chance at life or those who wish to celebrate the mercy experienced by their family or friends.
June is also the month in which I am delighted to begin my service to you as Acting Minister, while Rev. Rebecca spends some well-deserved time with her newborn and family. I look forward to being with you this summer from June 1 through August 23. I am serving on a part-time basis, which means I will be preaching twice a month, addressing pastoral care needs, and working with the Board and staff. We will have an enriching workshop and service with the Rev. Dr. Ken Brown from the PSWD Congregational Life staff in mid-July. And we hope to share another “Heart and Soul” service with you on July 12 before the Second Sunday Supper. Most of my appointments and meetings will take place on Sunday afternoons and occasional weekdays. If you wish to make an appointment please do so by emailing me at minister@uusm.org after June 1. During the second half of June, I will be attending our General Assembly in Portland together with many of our youth and several congregants. I look forward to returning with inspiration and ideas from our denomination’s gathering. Thanks for your consideration and flexibility around this special summer schedule. I look forward to our time together.
In faith and love,
— Nica Eaton-Guinn
From Our President:
Participate in Shaping the Future of our Church
This month I want to focus on plans for the coming year, both fiscal (FY) and calendar. Our fiscal year runs from the beginning of July 2015 to the end of June 2016. By definition, a fiscal year is a period used for calculating annual financial statements. It’s when we vote on our budget and write our Annual Reports to the congregation. It’s when we think of and plan for the time ahead of us. I articulated plans in my Annual Report from the President and here is a summary of events that I hope will be well attended by the congregation.
General Assembly (GA) 2015, June 24 to 28 in Portland, OR. GA is the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and it is rich with resources and experiences. Our particular flavor will be “Ponderings on Tap,”, an end-of-day gathering to relax and gather ideas to bring home to our congregation. In addition to the YRUU group and chaperones, at least 10 members of our congregation will be attending GA so far.
July 11 and 12 will be a weekend with Dr. Kenneth Brown from the Pacific Southwest District (PSWD) of the UUA. PSWD consists of 50 Congregations in Arizona, Southern California, and Southern Nevada, and Ken brings a wealth of expertise. He will host a Saturday half-day workshop on “Choosing a Future for Governance in the 21st Century for UUs.” The workshop is open to the entire congregation. It is an invitation to discuss how we choose governance and how it affects our organization and mission. It will be followed by a Sunday sermon titled “Choosing a Future for Unitarian Universalism in the 21st Century.”
A World Café sponsored jointly by the Board and the Committee on Ministry is scheduled for October 3. It will be facilitated by Mary Mackenzie, a highly skilled Nonviolent Communication (NVC) facilitator and co-founder of NVC Academy. This day-long event will be open to the congregation. A World Café is a structured dialog that engages people in simple questions that matter.
The Committee on Money (Co$) convened in November and presented the results of its research and recommendations on five points in a report to the Board and the congregation. The Board will be considering the recommendations in the coming months and holding meetings with the congregation for discussion, consideration, and action. There will be a Town Hall meeting in the fall, initially to focus on the recommendation of an endowment.
Our congregation has a beloved tradition of marching in the Gay Pride parade, this year on June 14. It is my hope that we can also host a UU booth next year at the Gay Pride festival that spans several days. It will require organization and staffing and I am willing to spearhead that effort.
There will be more to come from our beloved community as the year evolves, and the ideas will come from all of us.
— Patricia Wright
Featured Articles:
Highlights from our 88th Congregational Meeting
Ron Crane discussing the report of the Committee on Money and responding to a question from Melinda Ewen at the microphone during our 88th Annual Congregational Meeting on May 17. An additional photograph from this meeting appears on page 3. Photo by Charles Haskell.
• The meeting was extremely well attended and lasted about three and a half hours. Issues were discussed with vigor and a deep concern for the welfare of the church (97 present, 19 proxy ballots, 9 absentee ballots).
• We elected a new Board and Nominating Committee.
• We were informed that the Board plans one or more educational sessions on the recommendations of the Committee on Money, followed by a congregational business meeting. After discussing the issue for an hour and a half the congregation voted resoundingly that this business meeting is to occur no later than February 15, 2016 (76 yes, 6 no, 1 abstention).
• We approved a budget that calls for the transfer of funds from a variety of restricted reserve accounts and from our unrestricted reserves to help cover projected expenses. The budget reflects a growing appreciation that we need to look at our budget from a more global perspective, taking into account the prudent use of all our resources.
• We approved the “Arizona Garden Project” design, installation, and fund raising proposal. This will become the “Garden of Eternity,” which will include the opportunity to purchase memorial bricks to help us remember loved ones.
— Charles Haskell
Members of the Board and Nominating Committee
(Left-to-right): James Witker, Beth Rendeiro, Rick Rhoads, and Bob Dietz (Nominating Committee). Beth Brownlie (Member-at-Large), Leonard Cachola (Secretary), Rebecca Crawford (Board Member-at-Large), Wendi Gladstone (Nominating Committee), Joe Engleman (Member-at-Large), Kim Miller (Treasurer), Patricia Wright (President), and Cynthia Cottam (Past President). Nominating Committee member not shown: Gretchen Goetz. Board members not shown: Dan Nannini and Emily Hero. Photo by Charles Haskell.
Ray Goodman spoke at our annual meeting on behalf of the motion to establish a “Garden of Eternity” as part of our “Arizona Garden Project” design. Photo by Charles Haskell.
Make June Your 13th Month and Help Bridge the Gap!
Many families in our community make monthly gifts to the church to support our ministry and mission: to love generously, seek truth, and serve the world. We depend on these monthly gifts, combined with your generous annual and weekly contributions, to provide about 75% of our total funding as an organization.
As we approach the last month of our church fiscal year, we are nearly $35,000 short of the annual gifts (pledges) our members and friends had committed this year—that is, funds our community pledged to support the church, but were unable ultimately to contribute.
Can you help us bridge the gap with a “13th Month” gift before June 30? The 13th Month is a gift about the size of what you’d otherwise give to the church each month, or, a gift of $100, $50, or even $20 per household. We hope you’ll join us in making a 13th Month Gift toward our first-ever 13th Month Campaign.
It’s easy since we have several ways to make a gift; visit our Make a Donation page online at uusm.org/make-a-donation, mail or deliver a check with the memo “13th Month” to the church office, or simply add a cash gift labeled “13th Month” to the Sunday offering.
Thank you for helping us bridge the gap and close out our fiscal year with a bang!
Your Pledge Team: Teri Bond, Abby Arnold, Rev. Rebecca, Kit Shaw, Barbara Gibbs, Patricia Wright, and Gretchen Goetz
Quotes About Mercy
Bettye Barclay has provided this list of quotes about our ministerial theme for June. Daily quotes also appear in the weekly electronic announcements.
Week 1.
I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice. — Abraham Lincoln
There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy. — Chanakya (371 BC-283 BC)
Week 2.
Amnesty is as good for those who give it as for those who receive it. It has the admirable quality of bestowing mercy on both sides. — Victor Hugo
Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge. — William Shakespeare
Week 3.
Understanding the brokenness of other people and the pressures they experience makes it easier to be merciful. Mercy is ultimately tied to compassion and empathy. — Unknown
Computers are like old testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy. — Joseph Campbell
Week 4.
I see that the path of progress has never taken a straight line, but has always been a zigzag course amid the conflicting forces of right and wrong, truth and error, justice and injustice, cruelty and mercy. — Kelly Miller
You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution. — Nelson Mandela
FAQ: LA Pride Parade on Sunday, June 14
1. How can I get to the parade?
To make it easier and to promote participation, we are chartering a bus to take 56 people from our church to the parade and bring them back after we march. We are asking $15 round trip but we can arrange a family discount. The bus will leave 18th and Arizona Ave. after the 9 a.m. service (about 10 a.m.) and return to UU Santa Monica around 2 to 2:30 p.m. Please don’t wait to reserve your spot! Contact Janet Goodwin at Goodwin@ucla.edu or sign up at the Interweave table after service. And if you can sponsor yourself and another person, we’d love to be able to offer some discounts or free rides to those who need it.
2. What if I want to drive?
If you choose to drive (and some of you will HAVE to because we want way more than 56 people!), you’ll want to park near the END of the route near Santa Monica Blvd. and Robertson. There will be some street parking and during the parade ALL parking meters in West Hollywood are FREE so the posted rules don’t apply (just for West Hollywood, though, not Hollywood) and also the Pacific Design Center has a parking structure, but it’s not free. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the head of the parade (see it’s a REALLY short distance).
3. What is the exact parade route?
The parade route begins at the intersection of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights along Santa Monica Blvd. to Robertson Blvd. The route is 1.2 miles and takes maybe an hour and a quarter maximum at a leisurely “parade” pace. The staging area (where we meet to line up) consists of the 3 feeder streets: Crescent Heights (north and south of “stepoff”) and Santa Monica (east of “step-off”). I will receive more precise information about where our group will line up when I attend the safety workshop in early June.
4. What time do we meet?
By about 10:45 a.m. is good. If you park near the end of the parade (Santa Monica and Robertson), you need to factor in a 15-minute walk to the parade. Just call me that morning to get an update. Even though we won’t start until after 11 a.m., it’s still FUN to be together and to see the other marchers. If you’re late, just call us and you can try to join us en route.
5. What time do we march?
I will get a “number” when I check us in the morning of the parade on June 14. That number tells us how many units/ floats/groups are in front of us. The first group will start moving at 11 a.m. and although we won’t know until we check in on Sunday exactly what our start position will be, as I said above, I am hopeful that we’ll be in the first hour of marchers.
6. What does our “unit” consist of?
This year we are again renting a pickup truck. If you come early enough, you can help us decorate it. It will be moving slowly — with us marching beside/behind it. We have also invited other local UU marchers from the LA area to join us. We also have multiple banners — the “UU Santa Monica standing on the side of love” one and another that Debbie Menzies made (Unitarian Universalists Blessing Gay Marriages Since 1959). The Sepulveda UU Society has typically brought the official “Standing on the Side of Love” banner, too. Traditionally, we’ve used banners to define the beginning and end of our “unit.” However, the vehicle will probably be at the head of our group. We encourage every congregation to bring a congregational flag if they have one. Many of us also carry signs with a supportive message: “We teach love not hate.” “Service is our prayer.” “ Love is love.” “No H8.” Feel free to make one and bring it!
7. What should I wear?
Any colorful shirt is FINE. I try to bring a few extra in various sizes but any colorful shirt or tie-dyed shirt or UU shirt or Standing on the Side of Love shirt would be fantastic.
8. What should I bring?
• Your cell phone (if you have one) and it might be a good idea to add our numbers to your contact list
• Water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• A little rainbow flag if you have one
• Colorful leis, if you have them
• Sign with a supportive UU message
Just to give you an idea of the pride experience, here’s a video made by a group of UU churches in Dallas: http://vimeo.com/49690449
Wouldn’t you like to be part of a similar group here in LA? Join us on Sunday, June 14, as we stand on the side of love, equality, and justice for all.
— Janet Goodwin
News & Announcements:
Save the Date! Annual All-Church Interweave & Women’s Alliance Picnic
Sunday, July 19, 11 a.m. Church Courtyard *Interweave is our church’s group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and our friends and allies.
Big Hair + Big Voices Celebrate Motown @D4$ Choir Concert
Motown is, without a doubt, the greatest record label in American history. The instantly recognizable, vivacious, flirty and endlessly romantic Motown Sound is back in a big way with a record-breaking smash hit musical in Hollywood and a not-to-bemissed D4$ choir concert in Santa Monica.
Join us on Saturday, June 13 at 7 p.m., when the sanctuary and Forbes Hall transform into a swank music club as the choir presents classic tunes such as “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” “Stop in the Name of Love,” and “Under the Boardwalk.” Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives, and made us all move to the same beat.
Dress up for fun in your favorite fashion and mod-glam hairstyles of the 60s and 70s to feel the vibe just like Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, and other hipsters of the time. With inspiration from The Daily Melange blog, here are a few tips:
Huge earrings: The Supremes adored long sparkly earrings to match their brightly designed outfits.
Pale lipstick: Diana Ross loved wearing white and silver lip shades, but most girls were rockin’ nudes or very pale pinks.
Bright colors and bold shapes: It didn’t matter if you were a hippie or a mod, either way your clothes were blinding — and that’s just fabulous. Mini-skirts, Go-Go boots, headbands and skinny ties are always a good bet.
Advance tickets are still available for only $15; tickets at the door are $17. All are welcome. Bring friends! A dessert reception and dance party will follow. Free parking is nearby in the structure on 16th just south of Arizona Avenue. Childcare is available; please let us know by June 5. Questions? Contact Teri Bond for more information.
— Teri Bond
Attention Church Artists
July is the month of our annual exhibit. If you have work you wish to exhibit on the Art Wall contact Diana Spears by June 15.
Call for Craft Artisans, Purveyors of Edibles, and providers of other saleable goods...
...for the Faith in Action Commission fundraiser the first Sunday in July. Artisans can retain a goodly percentage of their sales. Contact Diana Spears by June 15 to be included.
Building News:
Sanctuary Upgrade & Lighting (SoUL) Project
Our Sanctuary Upgrade and Lighting Project (SoUL Project) has moved forward. Our UU Santa Monica Board approved the contract for our electrician on April 14 and work on replacing the electrical and lighting system in the Sanctuary began on May 4. So far, we have replaced switches and electrical outlets in the Sanctuary. We have added a couple of outlets in the Foyer. We are making sure our system meets the highest standards and the California Energy code, Title 24. The electricians are very courteous and do a great job at cleaning up at the end of the day.
Please join us for our Town Hall Meetings scheduled for June 7 and 21, 12:30 p.m. in Forbes Hall, for more information on this Project and it’s next phase of work happening this summer.
Thank you for your kind consideration as we honor our 7th Principle and move our congregation towards energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint on our lovely Mother Earth. Thank you for your help and understanding during our electrical upgrade.
Our Electrical and Lighting Task Force members are Brad Hutchinson, Nurit Gordon, Beth Brownlie, and Karl Lisovsky.
— Beth Brownlie
Faith in Action News:
Petitions against racial profiling by SMPD submitted to City Council
Sunday, May 10, over 106 UU Santa Monica members and friends signed petitions to the Santa Monica City Council to institute a procedure for people to file reports about racial profiling and harassment by the Santa Monica Police Department. With these signatures and the many more collected by the UU Santa Monica Peace and Social Justice Committee and the Committee for Racial Justice, we join together to continue our work in fighting racism in the city and the surrounding communities. The recent unnecessary arrest of African-American Justin Palmer in Virginia Park for charging his Prius in a public park at night, and the killing of Brendon Glenn in Venice, have made it clear that racism is not dead and must be defeated.
The petitions were submitted on May 21 to the City Manager and the Police Chief in preliminary discussions before a meeting of the Santa Monica City Council May 28, at which the Police Department presented its budget proposal for the coming year. Community members attended that meeting to express our concerns about growing police intimidation and use of force. The Peace and Social Justice Committee thanks Rev. Nica for announcing the petition at both services May 10, the 11 people who circulated the petitions, and the congregation and friends for their involvement in this important work.
— Peggy Rhoads
Splinters from the Board:
Goodbyes, Greetings, and Gratitude
The meeting of May 12 was the last meeting of the church Board year. We said a grateful goodbye to our departing Board members: Barbara Gibbs, who served as Vice President for three years; Kit Shaw, who served as Treasurer for three years; and Pat Gomez, who served two 2-year terms as member-at-large. There will be an orientation for next year’s Board at the next meeting on June 9.
This was also Rev. Bijur’s last meeting with the Board before beginning her maternity leave. Part-time summer minister Nica Eaton-Guinn will meet with the Board in June, July, and August.
The Consent Agenda was passed. New members are Paul and Suzan Matueszewki, Tony Patel, and Ruth and Allen Potts. Total membership now stands at 333.
Charles Haskell presented a motion from the Finance Committee that the Board establish an account with the UUA Common Endowment Fund by setting up the account and depositing $10,000. The Board voted to table the motion. There will be a Town Hall meeting in October for the congregation to discuss the establishment of an endowment fund and the desired amount of the deposit.
The Board voted to allocate $2500 from unrestricted funds for the World Café, to be held on October 3, 2015. The World Cafe will be an event open to the entire congregation and facilitated by Mary Mackenzie, a certified trainer of Nonviolent Communication.
The Board approved the appointment of Barbara Kernochan and Leon Henderson-MacLennan to serve on the Committee on Ministry. They will replace Kris Langabeer and Alan Brunell, who are stepping down after completing their 3-year terms of service.
The Board was pleased and grateful to accept a $10,000 gift to support two of our four lead singers for a year. Our anonymous choir-loving donors are making this contribution for the second year in a row.
The Board discussed plans for reviewing and acting on the Committee on Money recommendations. First, the recommendations will be discussed at the Board retreat this summer. Second, there will be a Town Hall meeting in the fall for further discussion and education of all, to be followed by a congregational business meeting, also in the fall.
The Board continued moving forward with its exploration of policy-style governance by discussing leadership for creating a Governance Task Force to better educate the Board and the congregation about governance.
The Board will be attending the Annual Meeting, and will schedule a retreat for summer or early fall.
— Cynthia Cottam
RE News:
FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:
Teach Our Kids — 8 Answers Why
It’s that time of year again — the Lifespan RE Committee and I are recruiting volunteers for the summer and 2015-16 RE program year, and I invite YOU to consider teaching this year. You may have questions about volunteering; potential volunteers often raise similar concerns, so here are answers to some of the most common questions that come our way about teaching RE.
1) Why do teachers volunteer their time?
The best way to get an answer to that is to ask one of our teachers. Sharing the excitement of learning and exploring new ideas with children can be a very special experience. We learn as much, or more, from them as they do from us, and their fresh outlook helps us to keep our youthful perspective. The curriculum materials we provide allow you the opportunity to explore and clarify your own religious ideas and delve into the varied religious heritages that have influenced Unitarian Universalism.
2) I’m still forming my own beliefs. How can I teach religion to children?
As UUs, most of us spend our entire lives formulating our religious beliefs. It’s a part of what we’re all about. Since we have no creed, we don’t try to “teach” our children religion. Instead, we help them to question, to wonder, to grow their own spirituality. We teach them how to think about religion, not what to think about it. Our teachers don’t need theological certainty, just open minds and open hearts.
3) But I don’t know how to teach!
That’s okay — we’ll help you! We’ll have a training workshop on a Saturday in September before classes begin so you’ll feel right at home with our RE program. The Lifespan RE Committee and I will provide support, both practical and emotional, at any time.
4) But I can’t do it alone!
Of course you can’t, and we don’t expect you to. You’ll be a part of a teaching team of three or four teachers per class. When it’s your turn to teach, another member of your team or a class parent will be there to assist. The DRE and LRE Committee will check in with you, offer suggestions when asked, and help provide the supplies and resources you need.
5) But I’m not good at arts and crafts (or music, drama, or whatever).
You don’t have to be. Our curricula are designed to be easy to use and are so complete that all you need to do is follow the directions. Just add love and stir! Remember, the members of your teaching team will have complementary strengths. Our congregation is a wealth of talent, and we will help you find that guitarist-dancer-scientist who can add the touch of expertise you want.
6) I don’t have kids (or my kids are grown up). Why should I get involved in RE?
Social responsibility begins at home, within our own church family. What better way to assure our future, as well as that of our denomination, than to work with children and youth, who are its heartbeat? It is very rewarding to share the joy of celebration and discovery. The children will benefit from your viewpoint — differing perspectives are invaluable to their growth.
7) I enjoy the sermons too much to miss them.
Good News! We have two services each Sunday, at 9 and 11 a.m., so you may still participate in worship on weeks when you’re teaching. Many of our teachers, particularly those who don’t have young children currently in RE, volunteer at one service and attend worship at the other each week. Your commitment as a teacher is two Sundays per month (once as lead teacher and once as assistant), so you’ll also have two or three Sundays every month without classroom responsibilities when you can attend the service of your choosing.
8) I have a crazy schedule, so I can’t teach. Is there another way I can help?
Yes! Our LRE program can use volunteers in countless ways. We need nursery and classroom helpers, teacher substitutes, snack providers, and more. We need resource people in many fields. A “guest appearance” adds a dimension to a young person’s religious education. Perhaps you have a professional expertise that could be utilized to support our teaching staff. We also have plenty of opportunities for those who would like to plan or supervise parties or activities, intergenerational events or service projects, or help organize the RE library and supply closets. Choose what interests you!
To learn more about volunteer opportunities or to sign up, visit the LRE table during coffee hour, or contact me at catherine@uusm.org or (310) 829-5436 x105.
— Catherine Farmer Loya
Interview with Roxanne Bell by Sabina Mayo-Smith
The next in our series on RE for children and youth at UU Santa Monica is an interview with Mrs. Roxanne Bell, the teacher for the Sunday morning preschool class.
“Mrs. Roxanne, Mrs. Roxanne!” The sound of excited young voices greeting their teacher will let you know you have reached the UU Santa Monica preschool classroom where Mrs. Roxanne Bell works with our preschool children at both the 9 and 11 a.m. services. A staff member at UU Santa Monica since 2012, Roxanne Bell graciously agreed to talk with Sabina Mayo-Smith to share something about herself and what happens in “Chalice Children.”
S: Roxanne, what other work do you do?
R: For the last two years I have worked as a nanny with a family with two girls in first grade and kindergarten. Among other things I work with them on educational activities.
S: How did you get involved with working with children?
R: Sixteen years ago, I was a waitress in Atlanta, Georgia. Every day I passed a childcare center in my neighborhood. As time went on, I just got the feeling that this was the work I was meant to do. One day I went in to talk with the director of the center to see if there was a job. I didn’t have a phone at the time so — this was before cell phones — I went out and got a pager! She interviewed me and right after I left, I got a page from her. She brought me into a classroom and I stayed with that center for two years. I have been working with children ever since! And now I have an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education, with a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
S. What do you enjoy about working with children?
R: I enjoy their innocence. I enjoy hearing what they have to say and learning from them. I enjoy providing consistency for the preschool children every Sunday. They come into this classroom knowing what the structure of the day is and knowing what to expect from me.
S: Tell us about the preschool class on Sunday mornings.
R: Every week I put together a lesson plan for the day. During the year, I have had units on various topics including “I Am Special” which helps children look at how they are unique, “My World: Light and Dark” and “My World: Animals” to name a few. These units may take one or more weeks to explore. Each Sunday, children come into the classroom and get settled for Circle Time. We greet each other, “light” our chalice, and sing our song “Little Chalice Burning Bright.” I share with them what the plan is for the day. We start with an activity, which usually is a craft related to the day’s topic. After that we clean up and have a snack. I end the morning with reading a book that addresses the day’s topic.
S: How are UU values part of your classroom?
R: We talk about respecting each other, our community, and ourselves. We also practice respect in the classroom. S: What do you like to do with your free time? R: I have three boys ages 16, 14, and 8. Now that they are older, believe it or not, I do have free time. We like to do tourist things in Los Angeles, like go to the Getty and the Griffith Observatory. I also have regular dates with my husband. We like to watch foreign films on Netflix and go out to eat. When it’s just me, I like to read.
Music News:
From Our Director of Music:
Summer Music Lineup: Electric and Eclectic
As we transition into the summer months, I thought the congregation would appreciate knowing more about upcoming summer music events.
Our annual HymnSing series will take place for an hour on the following Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. June 25, July 2, July 9, and July 16. We will use this time to continue to journey through our hymnals, both with singing and light discussion. We will meet in Forbes Room #2.
I am very proud of our Summer Guest Musician line up! It is as follows:
June 28 — Ken Herman
Organist and recently retired Director of Music of First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego.
July 5 — Zachary Provost
Singer-songwriter and Music Director for Josh Groban.
July 12 — Scott Roewe
Jazz saxophonist and Director of Music of Unitarian Universalists of Santa Clarita.
July 19 — Pete Snell
Classical guitarist and composer.
July 26 — Lynn Angebranndt
Cellist.
August 2 — Mariachi Las Colibri
All-Female stringed mariachi.
August 9 — Ruben Villalobos
Sitarist and songwriter.
August 16 — The Crocker Sisters
Folk Band offshoot from The Evangenitals.
August 23 — Allison Bjorkedal
Harpist, presenting music by our own Rima Snyder.
September 6 — Nevenka
Bulgarian women’s choir.
— DeReau K. Farrar, Director of Music