Newsletter for March 2021
From Our Minister:
From Our Minister: Commitment
Inevitably in our lives we commit ourselves to something, whether worthy or not. The direction and intensity of our loyalties give shape and meaning to our lives. Loyalties, commitments, covenants, the promises we make to one another: These are the things [that] tell us to what we belong. By doing so they tell us who we are.Henry Nelson Wieman
Spring is in the air! Our church is filled with so much good news and positive energy at the start of this month, I’d like to share some of those blessings with you. Cleo Anderson, our Director of Religious Education, has received a UUA grant to support an innovative new skateboard ministry for our young people. Nurit Gordon, our Church Administrator, has secured additional financial grants and resources to support our congregation through this final stretch of the pandemic. Saunder Choi, our Director of Music, has received some exciting news which we will soon be able to share with all of us.
Our new Beloved Conversations anti-racism program is launching with almost twenty members of our beloved community participating in this first semester of the program. We are a community blessed by many successes and new opportunities to energize and refresh our spirits! Congratulations to our many leaders who are making a difference in our congregation and in the larger world. I am hopeful the energies of springtime will continue to propel us all away from the long months of disease, fear, and conflict and into a brighter future of health, creativity, and renewal.
Our congregational theme for March is “commitment,” which can be defined as dedicating oneself to a cause or course of action. Fidelity, devotion, and loyalty are all important concepts related to commitment. We make a variety of allegiances throughout the course of our lives and those loyalties shape our lives and help us to derive meaning from life. We may commit to being a parent, a partner, a volunteer, an agent of change, or the member of a particular group or religious tradition. Each commitment we make gives shape to our identities and our futures. Reflecting on our commitments can help us reconnect to the very essence of our lives. Our Soul Matters partners offer a few guiding questions to focus our reflections this month: What commitment has shaped you the most? What commitment most deeply defines you? What are the covenants/commitments you were born into? When we commit to one path, we leave some other path behind. Is there a “path not chosen” that still haunts you? Are you keeping a commitment that is limiting your growth?
Pastoral Care is available if you are struggling and would like a non-judgemental and compassionate companion. You can request pastoral support or submit any joys, sorrows, or milestones for inclusion in community news and our Sunday services by emailing our pastoral leaders at pastoralcare@uusm.org.
With love and commitment,
Jeremiah
Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
Developmental Minister
Developmental Minister
Featured Articles:
Rev. Ernest D. Pipes, Jr. (1926 – 2021) - HONORING A LIFE
Rev. Ernest D. Pipes, Jr.
October 6, 1926 – February 10, 2021
It is with sadness that we bring you news of the passing of the Rev. Ernest D. Pipes, Jr. He served as our Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica for 35 years and then as our Minister Emeritus since 1991. Born in Texas, educated there and at Harvard Divinity, he died peacefully at home in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 94. He is survived by his children, Bruce, Heather, and Gordon. He was preceded in death by his loving, amazing wife, Margaret Cope Pipes. With the family, we will hold a memorial service for Rev. Pipes in the future. For now, we offer a few perspectives on his legacy and encourage you to share your stories with each other.
The Rev. Judith Meyer, our Minister Emerita, writes to us today:
Ernie was at the heart of our church and its history. He ministered to all of us with intelligence and compassion. He was my dear colleague and friend. I shall always be grateful that I had the opportunity to work with him and shall always remember him with love and respect.
The Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, our Developmental Minister now, notes:
Rev. Ernie Pipes’ ministry was a beacon of liberal religion for a generation in the Los Angeles area. The church we call home was well cared for by his generous heart and spirit. During the pandemic, members and I have reached out often to Ernie, wishing that we could safely visit with him in person. We owe much to him for passing the legacy of this church’s living tradition on to our generation and those that will follow us. Let us remember, grieve, and celebrate his incredible life and ministry with us. May we continue to receive the blessings of his bright spirit and may they continue to encourage our flourishing. Rev. Ernie: We love you and we miss you deeply.
Congregational leader Charles M. Haskell writes:
The Rev. Ernie Pipes was my minister for about 23 years. His late wife, Maggie, was also my late wife’s best friend. With his passing, we have lost a fount of institutional memory and philosophical excellence. He taught us a great deal about life, death, and all that joins the two. One such lesson is the subject of my video vlog episode #18, which can be seen on my website. I join the congregation in mourning the loss of Ernie and that whole segment of church history. May his memory live on in our hearts and minds.
Congregational leader Joyce Holmen adds:
Ernie’s gone? It seemed like we might be fortunate enough to have him all the rest of our days, but no. It’s good to let the tears come, then think of another happy event shared, and something else about Ernie and Maggie that sparks respect and gratitude. From the early 1960s, the two of them were active in civil rights and justice work, inspiring many to join them as they promoted interfaith dialog and action. Not only did he lead our church with a gentle hand, elegant sermons, good listening, and a truly open mind, he guided dozens of men and women entering into or wrestling with UU ministry. Our resident philosopher read widely – and sent lots of parishioners and staff off to denominational events and training, saving his travels for weeks with Maggie in Mexico or Europe. Ernie married hundreds of loving couples, often strangers to our faith who couldn’t find acceptance from any other clergy; and he celebrated the first local gay marriage in 1955. He honored the passing of so many people, raising up in each memorial service the unique qualities of the one who died as well as the poetic, universal aspects of such a rite of passage.
I alternate today between a few tears and a little more acceptance, various memories popping up, grateful for knowing Ernie as a mentor and friend to me and to my family as well. For a decade, he was my generous colleague, promoting professionalism in Carol Edwards’ Religious Education field and in my work, Administration. He retired with typical grace, letting us fuss over him but not too much. An annual lectureship funded in his name has continued Ernie’s diversity training for us all. I have loved his steady presence in the pews throughout the years that his successors have ministered to us; he continued to practice learning, respect, and love – while enjoying a piece of cake or another potluck in Forbes Hall. May you travel light and travel easy, old friend.
From the November 2016 UUSM Newsletter:
Forbes Hall was full Saturday afternoon, October 22, for a celebration of the Rev. Ernie Pipes’ 90th birthday. Many of the UU Santa Monica members present had been in the congregation during Ernie’s 35-year ministry (1956–1991), had been friends with Ernie’s wife, Maggie, and had walked beside her in the fight for social justice. Several of the speakers at the “High Tea” spoke of the many weddings Ernie had performed in the decades during and after his ministry, including the first “committed unions” of same sex couples in California.
You can also download the program from the birthday celebration, with a full bio.
UU Santa Monica Beer Tasting Dining for Dollars – Thanks for bidding in our auction!
With brew-meister Alan Brunell choosing delicious beers from Ogopogo Brewery, a local brewery in San Gabriel, and Beth Rendeiro offering complementing snacks, a good time was had by all! Via Zoom, of course. Careful analysis in breakout rooms produced a suitable adjective for each beer, and the event was crowned with a still life from each party. Bidding for participation in the January 10 virtual Dining for Dollars event was offered as part of the Holiday Online Auction Fundraiser. Watch for the next fun auction.
Our Spring 2021 Fundraising Auction Coming in May
To our beloved UUSM community,
Now in the second year of the pandemic, life at UUSM continues, and so do our fundraising needs. This is the time of year when in the past Dining for Dollars would have rolled out. This year, we will hold our second fundraising auction. And we invite you to participate! Do you have some item of value that we could include in the auction? Would you like to hold a Zoom-friendly event?
Our first auction featured artwork and jewelry and lovely textiles that members bid on and the Church benefitted from. In a few online events, the church community was able to get together and “Make Pizza Like a Pro,” or enjoy beer tasting and wine tasting, and remember the 60s in a Beatles trivia event.
Hey UUs! The possibilities are there! Suggest an event, food-related or not, that you could host online, that the congregation could bid on, and our church will benefit from.
Zoom is not the same as face-to-face, but it can be fun. One way to “serve” food at your event is to prepare it and then offer it for people to pick up (at your home, at the church), then share in community.
How will YOU help bring people together during this pandemic? What can you offer? We’ve done it already. Let’s do it again! Just email auction@uusm.org with offers, questions, and ideas. Thanks!
News & Announcements:
Bylaws Refresh Task Force 2021 - NEW BYLAWS UNDER CONSIDERATION
Our Bylaws are about to be refreshed! The Bylaws Refresh Task Force has been constituted to realize one of UUSM’s developmental ministry priorities: to update our Bylaws, last amended in 2013, to bring them into alignment with UUA recommendations and create a foundation for our future.
Working closely with our Developmental Minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, and UUSM Board of Directors President Beth Brownlie as board liaison, the task force will review the current bylaws and make recommendations to reflect our current circumstances, thinking, and our church’s vision. The group will be governed by a RASCI that defines who is Responsible, Accountable, Supported, Consulted, and Informed. They have committed to working in a transparent fashion, with substantial congregational outreach and input and periodic reports to the board.
The initial effort is one of discovery as task force members review our current bylaws alongside best practices from Unitarian Universalist Association and other UU congregations. They recognize the need to move forward deliberately and collaboratively with the UUSM congregation.
Please contact any of the task for members with any questions or encouragements: Chair Patricia Wright, John Zinner, Bob Dietz; Rev Jeremiah Kalendae (ex officio), and Beth Brownlie (board liaison).
Consider Coming to Camp - OUR DE BENNEVILLE PINES WEEKEND
Consider coming to camp — really, start considering it now. After having to cancel our de Benneville weekend last year, UUSM’s camp committee is putting hope on the calendar. Save the dates — September 17, 18, and 19th — for a weekend in the mountains that will give us all a chance to relax and renew.
If you are a former camper, a would-be camper, or just a fan of mountains and trees, put your name on the “I’m Interested List” by emailing the committee at debenneville@uusm.org.
Also, Camp de Benneville Pines needs your support right now! If you can add on a monthly payment of even $10 a month, you can make a wonderful difference. Here’s the link for setting up a monthly contribution.
The pines and cedars, rocks, jays and flowers, and the wide open skies are calling us.
~The Hopeful Camp Committee
March Generous Congregation Supports Trans Lifeline
TEXT NOW TO SUPPORT TRANS PEOPLE IN CRISIS
Many trans people in our community exist in a constant state of survival; survival in a system that judges and marginalizes them. In an unjust system, crisis and distress are normal and rational. Studies have shown that trans persons are at greater risk for suicide as they are twice as likely to think about and attempt suicide than LGB people.
Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis—for the trans community, by the trans community. Founded in 2014, the Hotline remains the only peer-support service in the country in which all operators are transgender. The Hotline has evolved into a comprehensive resource that employs trans people working as paid operators and team leads.
In time, Trans Lifeline came to recognize that the epidemic of suicide in the trans community is inextricably tied to the economic justice issues trans people face at alarming rates, and that meaningful emotional support often requires financial support as well. Microgrants provide trans and nonbinary people with low-barrier funds and support to correct names and/or gender markers on identifying legal documents, and support to our trans siblings behind bars.
Generous Congregation
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
UUSM’s Generous Congregation supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to the life-changing work of Trans Lifeline. With your support, we can keep these vital services available to those in our community who need them most.
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and Trans Lifeline. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
RE News:
Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, March 2021
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See below for our March activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded. Please note that currently, all offerings are facilitated through Zoom. Contact Teri Lucas for more information and the link to the Zoom meeting.
Do you have a passion or an expertise? Are you a chef or a gardener, a historian or an actor? Would you like to offer some help, support, or some frivolity to our UU community via Zoom? We’re seeking programming that is fun, informative, and engaging. Please let us know if there’s something you’d like to offer and the Adult RE Committee will help you to do it. Email the Adult RE Committee (AdultRE@UUSM.org) or Teri Lucas (uusmREassist@uusm.org) and we can work with you on presenting your ideas.
Special Offerings, continuing March 2021:
New Year Resolution Workshop Wednesday, March 3 – Last day for participants
To remind our participants, this is a continuation of the full and closed group: “Increase your ability to follow-through and achieve success with New Year Resolutions in our New Year Resolution Workshop, a 3-session workshop on Zoom. The New Year is the time we typically set out our list of things we want to do, change, see, and accomplish. If you’ve had problems keeping those resolutions in the past, this workshop is where you want to start. Over the course of three sessions, Norm Richey, MSW, and Certified Life Coach will introduce you to new skills that will help you achieve your resolution and goals for 2021.” The final class will be on March 3, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Nature Journaling – Sunday, March 14
Come and join us in observing, learning about, and enjoying nature. Whether you are spending some time outdoors or not stepping out your front door at all, you can still enjoy and appreciate nature. You are welcome to join even if you have no knowledge of nature, botany, drawing, or writing. The subject we will be focusing on will be birds. The nature journaling group has been meeting monthly to contemplate, write about, and draw various aspects of nature. It is a way to slow down and come to a deeper appreciation of the world around us. No knowledge, skill, or experience is necessary and new participants are always welcome. People who attend these groups remark that they are reminded of times in childhood when they had the time to get lost in wonder at the natural world. As adults, we rarely give ourselves that permission. We will meet from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Contact: Dorothy Steinicke.
Spiritual Grounding and Productivity Drop-In Weekday Mornings
Join us for a weekday morning short meditation and check-in session to encourage connection and accountability around mindful presence and daily action. We will meditate for 10-15 minutes and share priorities, victories, and stumbling blocks in our work-at-home/family life in this unprecedented time. We meet weekdays, from 9:00 – 9:30 am. Contact: Jacki Weber for the March schedule.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, March 28
The Freethinker Forum is a monthly interactive meeting sponsored by AAHS: Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists & Secularists of UU Santa Monica. All are welcome to join in a lively discussion where a diversity of viewpoints are encouraged and respected. We’ll meet from 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm via Zoom. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, March 16
We will discuss “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race,” by Margot Lee Shetterly. During the labor shortages of WWII, a group of black math teachers from the South were recruited into the space program. These human computers played a big role in getting us into space. A Keck Communications Award winner. All are welcome. We meet from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Contact: Rebecca Crawford, sci-nonfiction@uusm.org.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, March 4 and 18
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group in provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. The topic for Thursday, March 4 is: “What were the hardest truths you eventually came to learn about the world and/or about yourself? Did life become better for you as a result or did this knowledge prove dispiriting?” The topic for Thursday, March 18 is: “If time travel were possible, what era and place would you want to visit for a day or longer, and why?” We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:30 pm via Zoom. For more information, contact Jim Rheinwald.
Meditations:
Open Meditation Mondays, March 8 and 22
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Open Meditation: Wellsprings All Wednesdays and Fridays
These are exceptional times. Taking this time for quiet meditation and sharing in the intimacy of having sat in silence together can help sustain and ground us during these difficult days. We trust each of you will use this group in the way that fits your needs. We listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal, and share with each other what’s on our hearts. We simply sit together in our shared humanity. We call off the struggle to become other than we are. These are drop-in groups. You are welcome to join us when it feels right to you. If you come in late or need to leave early, just do so quietly. We meet every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm online. Contact: Bev Shoenberger.