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Newsletter for June, 2016

Month: 
Jun 2016
From Our Minister: 

Hope Calls Us On!

In my sixth year of settled ministry with our congregation, we have walked together through a time of new possibilities, difficult challenges, and change and transition at 18th and Arizona. Last June, we welcomed Nica Eaton-Guinn as our part-time Summer Minister while the congregation sent me on a three-month maternity leave to welcome my son Benjamin to the world. Nica’s leadership in membership development, right relations, and worship arts were a particular gift of her summer with us.

I returned in late August to launch our church year with joyful, festive Ingathering services on the theme of spiritual journeys. The Committee on Ministry and I also completed the year-long preparations that had gone into planning my sabbatical, which began on September 28. While on sabbatical, I spent more time with my growing family, traveled to Yosemite and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and practiced the art of neighborliness in new and life-giving ways. Many thanks to Rev. Tera Little for her skillful ministry as our part-time Acting Minister during my sabbatical, including continuing to support our leadership in conflict management, pastoral care, and offering creative and inspiring worship services.

Since my return to full-time ministry in January, I have worked closely with our Board of Directors and Committee on Ministry to lead a process to better understand and clarify our congregation’s significant concerns about leadership, ministry, and our future together.

This spring and summer, we will celebrate two long-time and treasured staff members, DeReau Farrar and Catherine Farmer Loya, and mark the completion of their time with us. Before we send Catherine to the Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville, TN, and DeReau to First Unitarian Church in Portland, OR, we will have time to share our appreciation for all they have given us, and the strong programs and ministries in religious education and music they are leaving with us now. It has truly been an honor to work with DeReau and Catherine, and I will miss them greatly. The Personnel Committee and I have begun to search for new staff to lead these vibrant parts of our congregation’s ministry.

It was a delight to officiate for the wedding of Leslie Beauvais and Ed Brand this year, where we sang together the words of Kate Wolf’s song, “Give yourself to love…” as Ed and Leslie gave themselves to their joyful partnership. We remember and are grateful for the lives of those we lost this year: Jessica Fant-Chapin, Ralph Meyer, and Dave Hallinan.

I thank you for your commitment to the practice of sharing our non-pledge offering each Sunday with organizations that do what we cannot do on our own. From July 1 to April 24, we gave away 60% of that non-pledge offering, to date over $11,000, to organizations such as Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUELA), Step Up on Second, Camp de Benneville Pines, Community Services Unlimited of South Los Angeles (CSU), OPCC (Ocean Park Community Center), Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), UU James Reeb Fund for Multicultural Ministries and Leadership and Black Lives of UU, Westside Food Bank, and WISE and Healthy Aging.

As we walk together into the future, and the vital, difficult work of building right relationship among us, I hope we will be guided by our covenant with one another, and with the larger faith we serve. In the words of my colleague Kendyl Gibbons:

Words and deeds of those before us
Waken here to keep us strong
Blend our voices with the chorus
Of creation’s living song
Courage bids us lift our eyes
Upward to the shining skies…
Hope calls us on!

In faith,
— Rev. Rebecca 

This column is adapted from the Report on Ministry in our Annual Report.

 

From Our President: 

The Exercise of the Mutual Practice of Being Human, Part 1: “Church is where we get to practice being human”

We are entering into an evaluation and learning of our community. Included is how we operate, how we worship, how we communicate, and how we see ourselves, as a community and each one of us as a person.

My first “ah hah” attraction to UU Santa Monica was on my first visit. I heard or read “Church is where we get to practice what it means to be human..” My heart swelled, my eyes leaked, and I felt at home.

Now is the time to bring forth this concept as a daily practice with others and with ourselves.

Support others in their practice of being human. Encourage everyone to live with considerate candor what they feel and believe. Do so for yourself. Let us all live what we believe until we don’t believe it anymore.

Support others with the practice of empathic understanding: the feeling that we understand and experience another’s place of being. Search in interaction for such understanding. When it occurs, it changes both people. Practice that empathy with yourself. Therein is great learning and great community.

Let us do all of this together.

— Ron Crane, President

 

Featured Articles: 

2016 Annual Meeting and Elections - The Results Are In

 
The size of the crowd filling the pews showed that a quorum was easily established for our 89th Annual Congregation Annual Meeting on May 22. In all, more than 225 members (that’s two thirds of our membership!) were represented in body, or in spirit through proxies and absentee ballots. Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur opened the meeting with a chalice lighting, reading a passage from “Nothing is Static” by Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti. Here is an excerpt:
 
Everything about our existence points toward
change, flexibility, and dynamic re-creation.
And it’s hard because change involves loss.
 
Board President Patricia Wright welcomed the congregation and acknowledged that size of the crowd could be a record-breaker. She thanked the meeting officials for their volunteerism: Dan Nannini, inspector of elections; Kit Shaw and Karl Lisovsky, ballot counters; Vilma Ortiz, time keeper; and special guest Rev. Ken Brown (UUA Pacific Western Region) as parliamentarian.
 
Approval of last year’s minutes and adoption of the rules of the meeting passed quickly. Patricia announced the names of candidates running for seats on the Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee, and provided some instructions for ballot voting. A question from the floor addressed Phil Bonacich’s recent illness and withdrawal from the contest. Rev. Ken explained that if Phil were elected and unable to serve, the bylaws empower the Nominating Committee to appoint a replacement. The ballots were quickly collected.
 
Rev. Rebecca’s Minister’s Report was very brief: she referred people to her written reflection that appeared in the printed and distributed “Report on Programs.” She then read the names of members that have died over the past year, and the congregation observed a moment of silence in remembrance.
 
Jessica Fant-Chapin • Ralph Meyer • Dave Hallinan
 
In her President’s Report, Patricia shared that she has felt extremely close to this community over the past year. She seemed glad to take a step back but will remain active and thoughtful during her service as past president. She expressed a sense of accomplishment in the adoption of the Committee on Money recommendations and in the process that led to engaging Nancy Edmundson, our right relations consultant. She expressed disappointment that efforts to examine and evolve church governance had to be set aside for the time being, and she revisited her “12 wishes” that appear in the “Report on Programs.”
 
Treasurer Kim Miller delivered the Treasurer’s Report. She, too, expressed pride in the adoption of the Committee on Money recommendations, including the establishment of an endowment that will ensure the financial future of the church, and generated a round of applause for the efforts of the hardworking office staff. The committee completed extensive examination of trends in pledging, indicating that pledge income remains stable despite a drop in church membership. A town hall had been held to present and answer questions on the committee’s proposed budget before it went to the board for approval. Kim is hopeful that additional town halls will elicit more input from the congregation concerning budget priorities and raising income.
 
Vilma Ortiz presented a short PowerPoint about the budget and explained that the budgeted operational deficit has been sharply reduced — from $52,616 this year to $19,935 for 2016-17 — without cutting staff or programs. This is achieved through small cutbacks on overhead; a reduction in salary for the incoming director of music; an increase in income achieved by reducing the percentage (from 60% to 40%) of non-pledge Sunday collections donated to outside agencies (Generous Congregation program); and increased income slightly from rentals and from Dining for Dollars purchases. But the primary savings was achieved by reducing our contributions to the UUA and Pacific Southwest District to 45% of the recommended dues: a savings of $12,600 compared to last year. Vilma acknowledged the support of Rev. Ken and the regional staff and expressed hope that UUSM would soon return to or exceed our previous contribution levels of giving.
 
Congregants offered comments and questions concerning levels of funding for music and RE and concerning member retention, a commendation for bringing us closer to a balanced operational budget, and requests for increased transparency and pathways for members to become involved in setting budget priorities. The budget passed unanimously.
 
The motion to display a “Standing on the Side of Love/Black Lives Matter” banner sparked a higher level of controversy. James Witker and Cathie Gentile explained their motivations, stemming from UUA General Assembly last year and the efforts of other churches nationwide to continue to display “Black Lives Matter” banners, even though they are repeatedly defaced and destroyed. James and others offered that a banner supporting African American and LGBTQ rights explains what the congregation stands for; it would provide good publicity for the church and encourage diversity in the congregation. Support for the banner was voiced by Faith in Action members who are active in protesting local shootings.
 
Others voiced opposition, objecting to the singling out of African Americans, when many other races are subjected to ongoing violence: we are an inclusive community, and perhaps other banners should be displayed. At least one member countered that the Black Lives Matter movement includes people of multiple races and multi-racial people. Others debated the motion’s use of the word permanent, as meaning “continuous” versus “in perpetuity.” The current banner is displayed only on Sundays during services. It was made clear that even if the congregation passes the motion, the City of Santa Monica has tight restrictions and would have to approve the banner and its placement.
 
A motion was made to call the question and end debate; the motion passed. The larger motion to permanently display the “Standing on the Side of Love/Black Lives Matter” banner passed.
 
The motion to pursue UUA accreditation as a Green Sanctuary was met with an immediate motion to call the question, which passed. The larger motion also passed.
 
Dan then stepped forward with the results of the unprecedented contested election:
 
President (1-year term): Ron Crane (winner) 128; Rick Rhoads 98
Vice President (1-year term): Patrick Meighan 56; Jacki Weber (winner) 161
Secretary (1-year term): Phil Bonacich 65; Beth Brownlie (winner) 144
Treasurer (1-year term): Kim Miller (winner) 126; Bill Nunan 96
Members-at-Large (2) (2-year term): Jerry Gates (winner) 120; Kikanza Nuri-Robins (winner) 202; Herb Stahl 93
Nominating Committee (2) (3-year term): Melinda Ewen (winner) 127; Barbara Gibbs (winner) 189; JoAn Peters 121
 
The winners were resoundingly congratulated, and Patricia conducted the installation of the 2016-17 Board of Directors. The newly elected members present and the three continuing members — Emily Hero, Joe Engelman and Patricia Wright — took the pledge of office and the congregation pledged our support. The continuing members of the Nominating Committee are Bob Dietz, Wendi Gladstone, Beth Rendiero, and James Witker.
 
Patricia called for new business and members’ comments, and Patrick Meighan stepped up to the mic. With his customary humor, he congratulated the congregation on running a respectful electoral process even though not everyone was comfortable with the concept of a contested election in this difficult time.
 
The meeting adjourned.
 
— Lois Hutchinson
 

Pride:  The Practice of Authenticity

Values are principles and ideas that bring meaning to the seemingly mundane experience of life. A meaningful life that ultimately brings happiness and pride requires you to respond to temptations as well as challenges with honor, dignity, and courage.

— LAURA SCHLESSINGER

Quotes about Pride

 
Bettye Barclay has provided this list of weekly thoughts about our ministerial theme for June. Daily quotes also appear in the weekly electronic announcements.
 
Week 1. Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction. — Margaret Thatcher
 
Week 2. Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld
 
Week 3. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us. — Jane Austen
 
Week 4. Take pride in exactly what it is you do and remember it’s okay to fail as long as you don’t give up. — Dan O’Brien

Right Relations Update - Congregational Task Force to meet with Consultant Nancy Edmundson

 
Nancy Edmundson, the consultant recently engaged to begin the process of designing and implementing right relations in our congregation, has served the Pacific Southwest District in a variety of roles since 1991. (A more complete article about Nancy and her welcome message appeared in our May newsletter.)
 
Nancy requested that her first step be for her to work with a short-term task force from the congregation in order to outline an initial plan of consultation and congregation activities. She further requested this task force include Rev. Rebecca, several members from our Committee on Ministry, and one or two members of our Board of Directors, with a total of six to eight members.
 
Those who agreed to serve and have been appointed by the board were announced by Vice President Dan Nannini at the May 8 service. The task force members are: Garland Allen, Emily Hero, Emily Linnemeier, Kim Miller, Margot Page, Tom Peters, John Sussman, James Witker, and the Rev. Rebecca Benefiel-Bijur.
 
In facilitating this selection process at a meeting late in April, Nancy introduced the board to some “Ground Rules for Safe and Trustworthy Space” to follow in our meeting. Additionally, she guided the board in selecting task force members that collectively as a group possesses the following desired qualities:
 
• Recent experience in our Community Life and currently active
• Within the congregation, has credibility, and is seen as trustworthy by most (due to current conflict, the “by most” becomes important vs. “all”)
• Ability to listen and hear different points of view (with understanding as individuals within the group, they are likely to have different points of view on the current conflict)
• Good communicator
• Committed to a right relations process in the congregation without attachments to specific outcomes • In considering the “full task force” — members of the congregation can likely identify with or “see themselves” in someone on the task group.
• Available in May and early June for work on the task force
 
The scope of the work we have asked the members of the task force to collectively provide is:
 
• One 3-4 hour generative planning session with Nancy
• One or two hour-long video/phone conferences
• To engage fully in the process, and consider a modest amount of reading material assigned by Nancy in support of the task force work
• Offer perspective and suggestions and feedback to Nancy about her congregational proposed activities
• Support in preparing and presenting a proposal of activities to the UU Santa Monica Board of Directors no later than June 14
• Support in communication with UU Santa Monica congregation
• Possible continuation on a longer-term task force (this task is not to be assumed)
• Possible continuation in the ongoing Right Relations conversations and activities, at a leadership level, not necessarily on the longer-term task force
 
Nancy will have met with these task force members late in May, and will report back to the board, who will in turn, keep the church community aware of future steps.
 
— Nancy Edmundson

Honoring Marguerite Spears on Her 99th Birthday

 
Marguerite Spears was born 99 years ago May 5 in Fergus Falls, MN. She and her family, two brothers and a sister all now deceased, lived in North Dakota, Indiana, and Ohio where she graduated from Kent State, earning her BA and her MA in the Honors Program; for pocket money, she taught tap dancing to boys.
 
Early on, Marguerite joined sit-ins to integrate eateries in Akron. In further McCarthy-era civil rights work she met Paul Robeson, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo.
 
Through the World Federalists/Citizens for Global Solutions, Marguerite met Walter Cronkite and Peter Ustinov (president of the organization’s international arm); she arranged for members Norman Cousins and 1980 Presidential candidate John Anderson speak at our church. At a meeting in The Hague, she met Bishop Desmond Tutu and Jordan’s Queen Noor. Marguerite was in Rome for the signing of the International Criminal Court accord, signed by President Clinton but later rejected during the Bush administration. 
 
Marguerite with her daughter Diana, 6, moved to Chicago where she became YWCA Director. While working for the YWCA, she met and accompanied Eleanor Roosevelt to San Francisco on a UN matter. Together they saw Mort Sahl perform at the “Hungry i.” Later Marguerite headed an organization suing Phoenix, AZ, public schools to force compliance with a desegregation order; co-chairs of the organization were Barry Goldwater and Stuart Udall. With help from ACLU and NAACP attorneys, her organization won its case. In Santa Monica, Marguerite and her brother worked to desegregate public accommodations after a black friend in town for a NAACP meeting was refused lodging at a local motel. After working several years as director of Beverly Hills YWCA, Marguerite became District Supervisor at the LA County Department of Community Services; there she organized volunteers focusing on delinquency prevention.
 
Marguerite and Diana first joined our Unitarian Church in the mid-1950s when the Rev. Howard Matson was minister. The church split when Howard refused to sign a loyalty oath; also believing in the First Amendment, Marguerite left to join another fellowship. She returned to our congregation when Maggie Pipes befriended her; the Rev. Ernie Pipes appealed to Marguerite’s activism. She and Maggie worked on the mainly-women Social Action Committee. When Ernie retired, Marguerite and others established the annual Pipes Lecture. In the new millennium she remained active with Faith in Action programs.
 
A life-long theatre and dance enthusiast, Marguerite enjoyed meeting her sister Dorothy, a Purdue speech professor, for New York theatre performances. After retirement, Marguerite began volunteer work with the UCLA Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. She also enjoyed exhibition dancing at Arthur Murray’s Beverly Hills studio. With time for travel, she took her mother to England, enjoyed a UU trip around the world, a UU trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and traveled to Germany, Austria, and Turkey. In South Africa, she visited Robben Island, a Zulu village, and an animal preserve where she petted a cheetah. With Diana, Marguerite traveled to Ireland; the two also took a UU trip to Alaska and two UU trips to the Twin Cities, one to Garrison Keillor’s show and one to General Assembly.
 
An active senior — she walked two miles a day —she recently developed balance problems. Last December, a fall fractured her hip. Since then she has been recovering at the Sunrise Senior Living residence near our church.
 
— Diana Spears
 
 
 
News & Announcements: 

Right Relations Updates

Please watch your email for regular messages from the Board about the process and progress being made in implementing right relations in our congregation. If you are not receiving weekly announcements and emails from church or don’t use email, contact the church office at (310) 829-5436.

Raising the Standard — Choir D4$ Event is June 11

If you would like to celebrate DeReau’s time here and help us bid him farewell, you will have the perfect opportunity at the choir’s annual summer concert. Join us on Saturday, June 11, at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary for “Raising the Standards!”, a night of jazz and pop tunes. Suggested ticket price is $22 if purchased in advance and $25 at the door. You can also pay what you can at the door. Tickets can be purchased by cash, check, or credit card. (Contact Nancy Thompson at 310-829-5436 ext 102 for credit card purchases.) If it’s anything like last year’s concert, you will be feeling the glow long afterward. This will be DeReau’s final concert with the UU Santa Monica choir and it is not to be missed!

— Sheila Cummins

Volunteers needed for the Men’s Group Pancake Breakfast in July

The Men’s Group will be hosting this year’s Dining for Dollars Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, July 9, at 10 am. For those who didn’t purchase tickets during the Dining for Dollars period, tickets may be purchased at the door for $15.00. The Men’s Group is requesting a few volunteers to help us: set up, collect at a table for those paying at the door, work the kitchen, and help clean up. If you have volunteered for the breakfast in previous years or can do so this year (free breakfast!), please contact the Men’s Group facilitator/leader, Richard Mathias. When we determine how many volunteers we need, we will contact you. Thank you for considering, and we’ll see you at breakfast! 

Looking for New Hikers!

Hiking Group on the Musch Trail in Topanga Canyon on May hike. If you are interested in becoming part of the hiking group, contact Steve Young.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Save the Date!

Annual All-Church Interweave Picnic Sunday, July 31, 11 am • Church Courtyard To help, contact Kris Langabeer.

Building News: 

UUSM Sanctuary Upgrade & Lighting (SoUL)Project

 
SoUL Lighting Project Update: We have completed a major step in our transformation of the Sanctuary Lighting system - which allows us more control over our energy use to be sure, and also gives us extensive freedom of expression of our services, musical performances and all things in-between. Truly theatrical capabilities nestled within our architecture. Buttons on the stations are set, as before. #3 is for Sunday Service. #4 is for Sunday Service with choir. #1 and #2 are for lower light level sitting/meeting or pass through. #5 is All Off. Check it out! 
 
Next week we will have a few folks from the lighting crew back to set up additional lighting scenes, do a few tweaks here and there, get ourselves used to our new capabilities. Per our plan, more lighting equipment will come in to round it all out, across the next weeks. 
 
Our project continues to be well under our budget. As you all know, this is a volunteer effort. Thank you! Thank you, our dedicated volunteers. 
 
Our Project Binder, detailing our expenses and project details, is always available for Member review. Please schedule an appointment with Nurit Gordon if you would like to review this detailed Project Binder. 
 
If you see something that needs attention, please tell us. Thank you all for your help and understanding during our electrical upgrade. 
 
Our Electrical and Lighting Task Force: 
Brad Hutchinson, Nurit Gordon, Beth Brownlie, Bryan Oakes, and Karl Lisovsky.
 
 
Faith in Action News: 

Sunday, June 12 is the LA Pride Parade!

Kids march; families march; even dogs march. You can march too! Join us! You don’t even need to drive! We’ll be chartering a bus that will leave from the church at 10:15 am on Sunday, June 12. Parade day coincides with the first summer service, and Rev. Rebecca has suggested that bus-riders come at 10 in order to participate in the first few minutes of the service. The congregation will then send us off on the bus by 10:15!

Round-trip, chartered bus fare is $20.00 (inquire about family discounts, OK?). Contact Janet Goodwin for more information. The first 55 marchers to sign up and pay up will each have a reserved seat. Otherwise, try to carpool with your UU neighbors.

Here are a few photos from last year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pride Parade FAQ

1. How can I get to the parade?
To make it easier and to promote participation, we are chartering a bus to take approximately 55 people from UU Santa Monica to the parade and bring them back after we march. We are asking $20.00 round trip, but please ask about a family or senior discount. The bus will leave church right after the 10 am service begins and will return around 2 or 2:30 pm. Please don’t wait to reserve your spot! Contact Janet Goodwin: goodwin@ucla.edu or sign up at the Interweave table after service on June 5. 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 them 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. 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 and moves along Santa Monica Blvd. to Robertson Blvd. The route is 1.2 miles and takes maybe an hour and a quarter max 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 “step-off”) 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?
The parade starts at 11 am; the bus will drop us off as close as possible. If you park near the end of the parade (Santa Monica & Robertson), you need to factor in a 15-minute walk to the parade. Just call me that morning to get an update, OK? Even though we won’t start till after 11, 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, June 12. That number tells us how many units/floats/ groups are in front of us. The first group will start moving at 11 am. We won’t know until we check in on Sunday exactly what our start position will be, but 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 stands on the side of love one and another that Debbie Menzies made (“Unitarian Universalists — Blessing Gay Marriages Since 1959”). We encourage every congregation to bring a congregational flag if it has one. The Sepulveda UU Society has typically brought its official “Standing on the Side of Love” banner too. Traditionally, we’ve used banners to define the beginning and end of our “unit,” but this year the truck will probably be at the head of our group. Many of us also carry signs with a supportive message, such as: 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 Janet Goodwin and Karl Lisovsky's phone 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 

— Janet Goodwin

Faith in Action FUNdraiser - June 5 / Courtyard / 10am - 2pm

Artisan Crafts • Books • Gourmet / Organic Foods &  More (open to the public beginning at 12 noon). Courtyard. Come peruse the tables of one-of-a-kind crafts, delightful oddities, thought provoking books and organic treats, (including gourmet foods from Community Services Unlimited, a South Central L.A. non-profit guest and recent partner to Second Sunday Supper in April). Lunch will be available for purchase, so make an afternoon out of the event! A great opportunity to shop for yourself, your home or for gifts. A percentage of all sales benefit the Faith In Action Committee and their affiliated programs including the Green Committee, the Hunger Task Force, Interweave, and the Peace & Social Justice Committee.

 

Splinters from the Board: 

2015-16 Board Holds Its Final Meeting

The May 10 meeting was chaired by Vice President Dan Nannini, standing in for outgoing President Patricia Wright, who was out of town. We began with chalice lighting and check-in. Our Director of Religious Education, Catherine Farmer Loya, then told us that she will be leaving us. After 13 years leading our youth programs, she has accepted a job with the Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville, TN. Her last day with us will be July 10. We were surprised and sad but also happy that she has found a position that she is excited about and that will take her closer to her extended family.

The consent agenda was approved. Treasurer Kim Miller briefly reviewed the financial reports. The board discussed some details about the Annual Meeting.

Church Administrator Nurit Gordon informed us that General Assembly will take place June 22 to 26 in Columbus, OH. We are allowed seven delegate slots, and five are already taken. Some people, including our minister, plan to attend online.

The board approved the plan for a Faith in Action Fundraiser to take place Sunday, June 5. The board discussed the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Newsletter. Vice President Dan Nannini has been in touch with the newsletter team and reports that they are not in a position to name an Editor-in-Chief at this time. Jacki Weber agreed to function as Acting Editor-in-Chief for the next two newsletters. Since there has been some conflict regarding communication among members of the congregation recently, the Board passed a motion to add Dan Nannini and Dorothy Steinicke as temporary members of the editorial staff. They will join the list of people who review the newsletter pages prior to publication.

The board voted to accept a directed donation from the San Diego Trust Foundation for payment of choir section leaders.

The board discussed the process to be used when receiving letters from members. No decisions were made, but ideas that were raised included looking at UUA resources on the topic, considering this subject as a discussion item at a Board retreat, and bringing up the topic with the Right Relations Task Force.

The board approved a proposal by Fred Kafka, a member of YRUU, to install rectangular awnings over the play area next to the cottage. Fred is undertaking this project to improve his community, so that he may earn the rank of Eagle with Boy Scout Troop 1.

This was the last meeting of the current Board of Directors, and we said farewell to one another, thanking one another for our service, and expressing our appreciation of Catherine and her amazing contribution to our community. Patricia Wright sent a message of thanks to the board, which was read by Dan Nannini on her behalf.

This is also my last Splinters column. I have enjoyed providing this avenue of communication about the important issue of church governance. I’m signing off as your reporter, and I’ll see you in church.

— Cynthia Cottam

 

RE News: 

From Our Director of Religious Education:
“We Will Model a Healthy and Loving Separation”

It is with both joy and sorrow that I share the news that I have accepted an offer to join the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, TN as their Director of Religious Education, and thus will reach the end of my time at UU Santa Monica in July. My final Sunday will be July 10.

Saying goodbye is never easy. How can I put into words how I feel about the many, many gifts you have given me in the past thirteen years as we have worked together to build the wonderful RE program that we’ve created here in Santa Monica?

Deciding that my path was leading me elsewhere was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I have loved working with all of you, I have grown tremendously myself in the time that I have been here, and I have delighted in watching our kids and youth grow and stretch as well.

I know transitions are hard, and I know that change is scary. I also know, however, that the RE program of this church is strong, and that I am not the program. I am leaving, yes, but the work we’ve done together remains. We have a great plan in place for the summer and the next year’s RE program, and a cadre of wonderful teachers and committee members will be in place to sustain it before I head out on my new adventure.

I have two priorities in the time that I have remaining here: to make sure that everything is in place for program maintenance while you’re in search for your next DRE, and to take the time to say a loving and healthy goodbye. We’ll be doing both of those things in the next month.

And truly, my friends, for you this is not an ending! It is a separation, yes, but is also the opening out of many wonderful possibilities for where you will take your programs as well as your DRE position. As a congregation, you will be able to step away from your emotional commitment to the person who fills the position, and can then look more clearly at the staff role in supporting your programs, and at your own needs and resources to discover how best to proceed.

You are the church. You are the program. You are the leadership that you need. In this transitional time let’s celebrate our time together, and do the good work of preparing for the future. It will be a good one.

— Catherine Farmer Loya

Summer 2016 Adult RE Groups

Groups Continuing in June

Thursday Night Centering Meditation
We will do centering meditation where you choose a word to say silently to yourself as you enter the silence. You can choose a word such as “peace,” “love,” or “joy.” There will be a brief time of comments, sharing, and questions. We will end the evening with a guided mindfulness meditation.

Please contact the facilitator, Bettye Barclay, beforehand.

Groups Beginning in June

UUA Foundational Texts: Emerson’s Harvard Divinity School Address
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Divinity School Address, delivered to the graduating class of Harvard Divinity School in 1838, was so shocking for its time that Emerson was not invited back to Harvard for another 30 years. What was so controversial? The “sage of Concord” implored the students to cast aside nearly all they had been taught about Christianity. He inveighed against “stationary” theology and urged them to live, learn and speak from their own life experiences — to show that “God speaketh, not spake.” Like other radicals in their own time, Emerson expressed ideas that would have a profound influence on the future of Unitarianism.

When: June 9, from 7 to 9 pm
Location: NE Cottage
Facilitator: James Witker: jwitker@mac.com

The 2016 UUA Common Read: “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson (2014, Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House)
Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, has dedicated his legal career to defending those who are trapped by an often capricious, political, and willfully unjust criminal justice system — poor people, people of color, children, and others over whom the system has run roughshod. The book speaks to justice, mercy, and compassion, themes of concern to us as Unitarian Universalists and as human beings.

There will be one session on Sunday, June 26, from 3 to 5 pm.
Location NE Cottage
Facilitator: Natalie Kahn

According to interest, more sessions may be scheduled in July. You can purchase your book online at www.uuabookstore.org A free online study guide is also available at the above website. GROUPS BEGINNING IN JULY An Enjoyable Dive Into the Who and What We Are This on-going, once a month class is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants have a regular meditation practice.

When: First Monday night of each month
First Session: July 4th
Location: TBD
Time: 7pm-9:30pm
Facilitator: Bill Blake and Co-facilitator: Dave Watson

UU Santa Monica Summer 2016 Youth RE - Join the FUN!

A SUMMER OF SEUSS
For preschool-aged kids: The Glunk that Got Thunk, Horton Hatches the Egg, The Lorax, What Was I Scared Of?, The Big Brag, The Zax, I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today, The Sneeches, Yertle the Turtle, and Gertrude McFuzz.

 

HOGWARTS ACADEMY for Young UUs
Wands, Potions, Professors and Four Houses that celebrate Peace, Love, Hope, and Justice. Curriculum may include: Wand Shopping and Sorting Hat, Charms, Magical Creatures, Brewing Up Mindfulness: the Potion of Awareness, Incantations, Potions, Spell Play, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Volunteer professors may bring their own ideas. For kids elementary ages and up. 

Music News: 

With Gratitude for DeReau “Welcome to the zoo...”

With those words and a gentle smile, DeReau K. Farrar welcomed me to my first choir rehearsal, in August of 2013. I began tentatively, unsure of my voice. But joining new friends to create music was an immediate source of joy, and as my confidence grew, I fell completely in love with choir and with the music program as a whole. In time, my involvement in choir and the music program has become one of the most meaningful ways I participate in church. On a broader scale, the music program that DeReau has developed here at UUSM has become one of the best things in my life. When I was going through rough patches, the communion of choir and music was a lifeline. I do not exaggerate when I say that the music ministry saved me.

Under DeReau’s tenure, the UUSM choir has sung a beautifully diverse range of music, including traditional classical choral pieces, African American spirituals, eclectic modern‐ day arrangements, and new pieces composed by contemporary Unitarian Universalist musicians. We have sung pieces in Spanish, German, Korean, Hebrew, French, Latin, Akan, and more. We have performed large-scale Requiem pieces in remembrance of loved ones for “Day of the Dead” evening Vespers services. Many pieces have been quite harmonically and rhythmically challenging. In choir rehearsal I’ve joked, “DeReau, you’re so ambitious!” and yet, I am so proud of our choir for meeting the challenges he has given us. We have so much fun during the process, and it is so rewarding. I have loved singing such a wide variety of music, often with powerfully emotional results. Through all of this, DeReau has been a source of constant encouragement, inspiration, and good humor. Under his skilled leadership, and with valuable guidance from our choir section leaders and our fantastically talented pianist, our choir has blossomed into something truly special.

DeReau’s impact on the music program as a whole cannot be overstated. Every Easter Sunday I eagerly awaited what instrumental guests would join us. Summer evening “HymnSings”, in which we sang our way through the UU hymnals, were a great joy. Some of my favorite music events have been the occasions that bring together various UU congregations throughout the greater Los Angeles area, such as the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. day UU choir festivals, as well as selected UU choir exchanges. I have enjoyed making music and sharing musical space with our wider UU community. (And I’m sure there are additional elements of the music program, including guest musicians, that I’ve neglected to mention here!)

DeReau’s musical gifts, skills, talent, and leadership will be greatly missed here at UUSM. He has truly transformed the music program, has fostered a welcoming musical environment that invites play and growth, and in his too‐short time with us, has left a great legacy and “big shoes” for our next music director to fill. Dear DeReau: THANK YOU for all you have given to our music program, and for the many ways your music ministry has fed and nurtured our collective spirituality, heart, and soul. It is with the deepest gratitude that we bid a fond farewell to a dear friend. We wish you all the best as you embark on your next great adventure in Portland, Oregon — I hope they realize how lucky they are to have you! Blessings to you on the musical journey!

— Karen Hsu Patterson

Keep On MovingForward

I do not think there are sufficient words in my own vocabulary to express the deep sense of gratitude I feel for the brief time I have spent with you all at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica. There has never been any time in any church I have served where I felt more supported and upheld, both in vision and in person. I am not certain what my future experiences will be like, either in Portland or in whatever church I land at in the following year, but I do know that my memory of being in Santa Monica will remain a highlight of my personal and professional life.

I appreciate the ways many of you have expressed that you are sad to see me go. It feels good to know that my work has had a positive impact on so many of you and your relationships to the church. That said, there are obviously some (rather hilarious) opportunities for change, as a result of me being gone. Perhaps some of you have your eyes on the choir seating area, wondering how to change it. Perhaps others of you will be relieved to not have to hear the cajon and/or the organ for awhile. And, perhaps still others of you will hope for more guest folk musicians in the coming years.

Whatever change you seek, in this time of great transition, I hope you will pursue it in the spirit of moving forward — not moving back, not moving on, and certainly not moving in place. Each of you comprises a church made strong by its incredible history and traditions and kept strong by its resources and capacity for vision. With that, I urge you to gird yourselves with love and compassion, with gentleness and kindness, and with patience and humility, and keep on moving forward.

I anxiously await that smiling time when I can see you all again. Thank you for these 4 years!

— DeReau Farrar