Calendar of upcoming events:

Sunday, 3/24
     RE Faith in Action Sunday – UUCCSM garden prep (see announcement below)
     8th-9th O.W.L. meets
     10th-12th O.W.L. meets
Sunday, 3/31
     Easter Sunday Intergenerational Service, followed by RE Egg Hunt
Sunday, 4/14
     8th-9th O.W.L. meets
     10th-12th O.W.L. meets
     Second Sunday Supper – fun and fellowship for all ages!  6pm in Forbes
Sunday, 4/21
     8th-9th O.W.L. meets
     10th-12th O.W.L. meets
Sunday, 4/28
     YRUU Sunday Service – don’t miss it!
     Faith in Action Sunday for 1st-5th grades – doggy treats for shelter puppies
     8th-9th O.W.L. meets (begins at 12:30 today only)
     10th-12th O.W.L. meets (begins at 12:30 today only)      

Volunteer Opportunities:

Easter Volunteers Needed: Easter’s on March 31st this year, and I’m looking for some volunteers to help with the day’s festivities.  Would you enjoy hiding eggs and/or helping to supervise the after-service eggs hunts for our kids?  If you’d like to help out, contact Catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105.

Nursery Assistants Needed 1x per month: As our nursery program has grown this year (in leaps and bounds!), so has our need for assistants on Sunday morning.  Would you enjoy spending one morning per month playing in the nursery with our younglings?  We are particularly in need of volunteers for the 11:00 program, but need at least one more volunteer for 9:00, too.  This is a GREAT opportunity for adults – or teens – to get to know our wonderful babies and toddlers.  It is such fun, and such a service to our UUCCSM parents.  Can you help?  Please contact catherinedre@yahoo.com or 310-829-5436 x105 for more information or to volunteer.

This Week in RE:

·         Preschool-Kindergarten: “Pussy Willows” This week our preschool classes will celebrate the wonder and beauty of springtime. Meets in the NW room of the cottage.

·         1st-5th Grade – Garden Prep Day: This Sunday our 1st-5th graders are invited to join Green Living Committee members for a garden prep day!  We will be digging in the dirt, putting in some compost, and maybe planting a few seeds, too.  We also need to mark our rows for the incoming plants.  This will be a fun digging day for our kids, and we’re planning another day soon to put more plants into the ground, such as tomato, squash and other yummy things.  Parents, please make sure kids wear garden-appropriate clothes and shoes (we will be getting dirty).  Bring a spade if you have one.  Please mark it with your name.  There will be an herb area/corner, and we’re in need of families to bring an oregano, a tarragon, and a mint plant.  We also will need some wooden sticks and string for making rows.  Please let us know if you’d be willing to contribute one of the plants or the sticks & string.  Meets in the cottage.

·         6th-7th Grade (Compass Points): “Two Paths Become One” This week we’ll explore why and how our two faiths of Unitarianism and Universalism  came together, and will think about what it means to have two faith traditions and a dual heritage.  How do the practices and beliefs of Unitarianism and Universalism connect with who we are today as Unitarian Universalists?  Meets in Room 3, the third room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.

·         8th Grade (Coming of Age) – 9:00 only:  This Sunday, Rev. Ernie Pipes will visit the class to talk about crafting worship services.  Meets in the mural room at the end of the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.

·         9th-12th Grade (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) – 9:00 only: This Sunday YRUU will continue working on plans for their YRUU Sunday service in April.  Meets in Room 1, the first room at the top of the stairs above Forbes Hall.

Announcements:

NEW Let’s Go to Camp this Summer!  de Benneville Pines Summer Camp Registration Open:  Flyers and registration information for this year’s Summer Camps at our lovely UU camp in the mountains are now available online.  UUCCSM has its own church camp weekend in September each year (HIGHLY recommended), but there are many more opportunities to go to camp for people of all ages throughout the summer.  See below or check out the full roster of programs at http://www.uucamp.org.

What is Camp de Benneville Pines?  Owned by our UU district (including SoCal, Arizona and part of Nevada), the camp is located in the Barton Flats area of the San Bernardino National Forest, about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. At an elevation of 6,800 feet, the camp is surrounded by a forest of towering pines, cedars, and oaks.  The mission of Camp de Benneville Pines is to provide a mountain retreat where Unitarian Universalist principles and values are lived and celebrated in community.

Elementary Summer Camp, “Generosity of Spirit,” June 30 – July 6, 2013
http://www.uucamp.org/camps/2013/PSWD/elem_summer/Elem_Summer_Camp_2013.html
For youth completing grades 2-5.
Please join us as we play, sing, laugh, swim and enjoy the greatness of being in community with Unitarian Universalists from all over the Pacific Southwest District. We talked last summer about how “what we bring to the world is exactly what the world needs from us.” This summer, we will explore the many ways in which we can share who we are and be where we are needed.  As always, we will have tons, tons, tons of fun!

Jr. High Summer Camp, “Keep the Unity in ComUUnity,” July 7 - 13, 2013
http://www.uucamp.org/camps/2013/PSWD/jrhigh_summer/JrHigh_Summer_Camp_2013.html
For youth completing grades 6-8.
This year, our Junior High summer camp will be centered around becoming peacemakers in our lives and in the world! Each day we will focus on one of the following: respect, communication, listening, forgiving, and living courageously. Living peacefully - at home, at school, with friends - begins with us and spreads like ripples in water. Campers will also participate in swimming, hiking, canoeing, archery, crafts and more!

YRUU Sr High Summer Camp, “Camp IllUUminate-Us,” July 14 - 20, 2013
http://www.uucamp.org/camps/2013/PSWD/srhigh_summer/SrHigh_Summer_Camp_2013.html
For youth completing grades 9-12.
Let that little light of yours shine brightly at Camp IllUUminate-Us, a spectacular summer week of self-discovery and fun in a caring, accepting community. Roast marshmallows, tell stories and worship, all around a blazing bonfire. Join in groups to share your favorite song and learn about each other. Come to Summer Camp! You'll get to discover wonderful friendships, work together in team building games at our Summer Olympics, and enjoy an exciting star-gazing evening, all the while singing "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!" Who wouldn't want to let their individuality shine and grow within our spectacular district-wide youth community? Enjoy all of your favorite workshops and events, not to mention quite a few new activities. You can expect an illuminating and exciting week at Camp DeBenneville Pines! We hope to see you there!!

UU Family Camp, “Exploring the Interdependent Web”, July 21-27, 2013,
http://www.uucamp.org/camps/2013/PSWD/family_summer/Family_Summer_Camp_2013.html
Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote 7 key principals or beliefs within our congregations and communities. The 7th principal states: " Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.  But who is included in our web? Does it include all life? What does “respect” actually mean? What does it mean to be “interdependent?” How can we teach our children? How can we influence one another? In this year’s Family Camp, let’s explore the interdependent web and how we are each a part of it. In our beautiful natural setting, we can spend a week together making music, "capturing the flag", tie-dyeing, staring at trees, hiking, contemplating, swimming, worshiping, laughing and playing. In a co-operative environment, we will explore together what it means to be part of an interdependent web. Price includes lodging, all meals, all workshops and activities, including hiking, swimming, canoeing, playing, music making, archery and arts & crafts.  Oh yes, and all the R & R you can fit into the week!  Register early; this camp sells out.  An extra perk for UUCCSM folks: the Camp Dean is our very own Amy Brunell!

DRE Leave Planning:  Now that we’re only three months out from the arrival of the newest member of the Famer Loya household, you may be wondering about what my leave will mean for the RE programs at UUCCSM.  I have been working with Rebecca, the Lifespan RE Committee and the Personnel Committee to make plans for this time, and I am confident that all will go smoothly during my time away.  My final Sunday at UUCCSM, unless the baby arrives earlier, will be May 19th, which is Coming of Age Sunday as well as the Annual Meeting.  My leave will begin on May 23rd and I’ll be away for 12 weeks, returning to UUCCSM on August 15th.  We are in the process of searching for a part-time Acting DRE to provide staff support for our programs while I’m away, and the Lifespan RE Committee will be working with me between now and then to make sure we’re fully prepared.  We need your help too!  We will begin our recruiting for RE volunteers for the summer programs as well as the new program year which launches in September sooner than usual, so we can have as much as possible in place before my leave begins.  So be on the lookout for information coming soon about opportunities to help, particularly in the summer program.  I am so grateful for the care and support shown to my family by UUCCSM members of all ages – thank you.  It is lovely to share this joyful time with all of you, and to know that our child has such a loving community ready and waiting.

Please sign up to bring snack for your child’s RE Class:  Most of our RE classes still have lots of open spots for parents to sign up to bring a snack to class.  Children and youth value snack highly as part of their RE experience; parents, please take part in making sure it’s available every Sunday!  Here are links to online signup pages for each class; just fill in your last name for the Sundays you’re willing to help out, and you’ll get a reminder email midweek leading up to the Sundays you’ve signed up for.

·         9:00 Preschool-K: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ufVuIEr6mprU7qJoBIB5zLLa_3jE9N7fr3A4zTaWhMk/edit#
·         9:00 1st-2nd Grades: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AF3KpLXhQQ3VjhG6iUoJ_pnLty_UXzI9ZeitbBd0H8M/edit#
·         9:00 3rd-5th Grades: https://docs.google.com/document/d/110AaDJ89pZT_ZjO9lVreQ27fKGmKOFOho7AKExSyLRI/edit#
·         9:00 6th-7th Grades:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EKU4mbGqhw44nPj9LdfW27-csnLDHW5QmxOrejIam74/edit
·         9:00 8th Grade (COA): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FB5jHL7YoaH108ssr5IJGlnhiK8jg20s0Koj11Lm3ps/edit
·         9:00 9th-12th YRUU:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oqqIus8jaWyxtJYmWcNpmbsosVpi1TfA-F11_sSAwnU/edit
·         11:00 Preschool-K:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gPziJCMxNoRq40griRoMOrkjZZ5jMqfEzieCUTWpFs/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs
·         11:00 1st-2nd Grades:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UnitBIIPUViUOH-hIAYZD4eMoNSv_Tbpd8pFyCs-q34/edit#
·         11:00 3rd-5th Grades: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zMN3zUu13da4GFt8xgIBQbnoRP1PLh_kA3qr_IYx_xE/edit#
·         11:00 6th-7th Grades: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12d_JtawEjyetDi1mFIKU_Ds8v0KqpCcVEiTGhHEIJZE/edi

RE Books Wish List on Amazon:  Another arm of the “master wish list” for the RE program, is an Amazon Wishlist of books and supplies that will be useful in RE classes this year or that will be valuable resources for teachers & families in our church.  We do have some money earmarked for purchases, but we are running on a tight RE budget, and donations are happily accepted.  If you’d like to help out by donating to the program, check out the Amazon list at http://tinyurl.com/rewishlist.  (Used books in “good” condition are just fine!)  THANK YOU to the members who have already sent books or other supplies our way – they are so appreciated!

UU Everyday (resources and ideas for practicing your UU values at home):

Chalice Lighting Words of the Week (March’s Theme – EVIL):

March 24:
There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

For the 2012-13 church year we’re trying out a new way of living as one lifespan religious community: congregation-wide ministry themes.  Each month we’ll explore a new theme, and in March our theme is EVIL, a challenging concept for many Unitarian Universalists!  The chalice lightings shared here will be used in all of our RE classes, and I hope that your family will also share it at home during the week.  I’m tickled by the idea of all of our UUCCSM families sharing a reflection in common each week as we go about our daily lives.

An At-Home Activity to Reinforce our UU Values – “Easter”: (from The Book of New Family Traditions by Meg Cox)  Easter is the most important festival of the Christian church, and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Washing Hands – Since Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, bring a bowl of water, soap, and a towel to the table one night at dinner, and have family members wash one another’s hands, with care and tenderness.  Talk about what it means to be a disciples, and the importance of being humble, even as a leader.
Fasting Ritual – Fasting isn’t a good idea for small children, but having occasional meals where the family eats less than usual is one way to ritually experience fasting.  The next night, talk about whether everybody was a it hungry when they went to bed, and what that felt like.  One family tried an experiment of computing how much money a family their size would get for food for a week if they were on welfare; they spent only that much money at the supermarket, and ate only that food for the week.
Sunrise Bonfire – Light is a symbol of Jesus, and “seeing the light” figures in many hymns.  At darn, or as early as you can wake the family, walk outside and make or bring a light of some kind.  You may choose to make a small “bonfire” in your yard (or even on an outdoor grill), or have everyone bring a flashlight.  Read from the book of Luke about the resurrection, and break your fast with sweet rolls or other treat food.
Creative Egg Hunts – To avoid fighting over eggs, designate a color for each child and make sure there are the same number of each color hidden.  Some people add extra eggs that are specially marked with a “X” or a sticker; anyone finding those eggs gets a special treat or prize.  One family makes finding the Easter baskets more fun by hiding them in the house but attaching long ribbons to them; the kids wake up to find one end tied to the foot of their bed, then have to follow it to the basket.
Garden Celebration – Rain Mako in Arkansas celebrates Easter with her family as the earth’s rebirth.  They put a brightly colored flag at each of the compass points in the family garden, and the flag colors represent the four elements of earth (both), air (blue), fire (red), and water (white).  As they drive in the four stakes, they talk about how these elements are required by all living things.  The family dresses up in party clothes, beats drums, and sings songs about spring.  Many Christian churches have a tradition of Easter sunrise services, and dawn would also be a good time for a family garden ceremony.

This Week in UU History: (From This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, by Frank Schulman)

March 23, 1657:  Richard Coppin was arrested a second time for preaching Universalism.  One of the first two Englishmen known to have preached universal salvation, he was arrested under a 1648 statute that required belief in future judgment: “Those who held to the final salvation of all people shall be seized and imprisoned until they give assurance that they will teach such doctrine no more.”  There was an outcry against the law, and Coppin was released.  Some sources say he was executed after 1659, others that he lived on without notoriety.  His works were reprinted in the 1700’s and vigorously denounced by James Relly, who used other methods to derive his own theology of universal salvation.

March 24, 1935:  Caroline Julia Bartlett Crane died at the age of 76.  She was a Unitarian minister and activist for public kindergarten and urban sanitation.

March 24, 1882: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet and Unitarian, died at age 75 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.      

March 25, 1525:  Laelius Socinus was born in Sienna, Tuscany, Italy.  He was expected to study law as many in his family had, but he was seized with the reforming spirit of his day and studied the scriptures instead.  He found them so different from the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church that he became a disciple of Michael Servetus and Bernardino Ochino.  A Latin scholar, Socinus wanted to study the Bible in Greek as well.  His views led him, with his nephew Faustus Socinus, to the formation of Socinianism.  In Venice he met with about 40 others who embraced the principles of the Reformation.  He left Italy in 1547, fearing for his safety because of his radical religious views.  He traveled in France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, where he became acquainted with Sebastian Castellio and encountered constant opposition to his anti-Trinitarian opinions.  Although Laelius Socinus left numerous writings, his main influence was through his nephew Faustus.  Laelius’ brother Camillus also embraced the principles of the Reformation and carried his views much further than the leading reformers of his day.  Laelius Socinus died in his prime at age 37 of May 14, 1562.

March 25, 1881:  Bela Bartok was born in Nagyszentmiklos, Hungary.  He was an outstanding composer, but his greatest passion was for Hungarian peasant songs.  Bartok was professor of piano at Budapest Academy, but his anti-Fascist stance during World War II forced him to leave Hungary for the United States, where he died in 1945.  Still beloved in Hungary, he is an honorary member of the Hungarian Parliament.  Bartok was an ardent Unitarian and his son served as president of the Hungarian Unitarians.

March 25, 1965:  Viola Fauver Gregg Liuzzo was murdered in Selma, Alabama, at the age of 39.  She was in Alabama to participate in the freedom march between Selma and Montgomery, lef by Martin Luther King, Jr., to secure voting rights for African-Americans.

March 27, 1813:  Nathaniel Currier was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts.  With James Merritt Ives, he produced highly popular lithographs and prints.  They showed typical scenes and events in American family life, decorated with lively young men and women.  Both their sons succeeded to the business.  Nathaniel Currier, a Unitarian, died on November 20, 1888.

March 28, 1841:  At the suggestion of Unitarian minister William Ellery Channing, Dorothea Dix made her first visit to a prison, experiencing such a strong revulsion that she devoted the rest of her life to institutional reform for both convicts and persons with mental illness.