Products
|
Sunday Spotlite - Kai Landauer Please join us for a special night of music with the songs of Kai Landauer! (aka Karl Lisovsky) and Eric Scerri. From his website, “I left Ann Arbor Michigan in 1976…From the very beginning…I have enjoyed my life here. I freed myself and my mind…I lived in the woods, pounded many nails, returned to college, got a degree, got married, survived cancer, raised a family, wrote much music, built a house, and grew in ways I never thought possible. California is my home. My music describes my California experience, defying the odds through my battle with cancer and my perception of life since.” We hope you will join us for this evening! Contact: Karl Lisovsky, Lisovsky@ucla.edu.
|
|||
|
Sunday Spotlite - reception |
|||
|
Sunday Spotlite - reception |
|||
|
Sunday, April 1, 2011
Sunday, April 1, 2011
Calendar of upcoming events:
Sunday, 4/8
Easter Multigenerational Service & Egg Hunt
Saturday, 4/14
Congregational Seder, 5pm (see announcement below)
Sunday, 4/15
Neighboring Faiths Field trip to Chumash Day Pow Wow in Malibu
Sunday, 4/22
RE Faith in Action Sunday – Earth Day Beach cleanup with Heal the Bay!
Saturday, 4/28
K-1st O.W.L. mandatory parent/child orientation, 2-5
Sunday, 4/29
K-1st O.W.L. class begins, 10:30-1:00
Saturday, 5/5
“That’s a Family” Screening & Family Potluck (details coming soon)
Sunday, 5/6
K-1st O.W.L. class meets, 10:30-1:00
Sunday, 5/13
K-1st O.W.L. class meets, 10:30-1:00
Sunday, 5/20
Coming of Age Sunday!
K-1st O.W.L. class meets, 10:30-1:00
Volunteer Opportunities:
· NEXT SUNDAY Easter Helpers Needed: Easter’s on April 8th this year, and I’m looking for some volunteers to help with this year’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.
· HELP NEEDED 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 (Ages 3-5 at 9:00 & 11:00): “We Need Our Families” This week our preschool classes will take part in activities that explore the beauty of our diverse families and the many ways our families take care of us. Meets in the NW room of the cottage.
SPIRIT PLAY: (K-1st at 9:00) “Passover” This week we’ll continue our exploration of our Jewish & Christian Heritage with the story of the Exodus and the origin of Passover. (K-2nd at 11:00) “Noah” This week we’ll continue our exploration of our Jewish & Christian Heritage with the sharing of the story of Noah & the Great Flood. Meets in the SE room of the cottage.
THEME WORKSHOPS (2nd-3rd at 9:00 only): “Renewal Workshop” This week we’ll begin our exploration of April’s theme of RENEWAL with a special planting project to help participants think about the ways the earth renews itself at this time of year, and how we experience renewal in our own lives. Meets in the NE room of the cottage (formerly known as “the couch room”).
UUNIVERSE STORY (4th-5th at 9:00/3rd-5th at 11:00): “The River of Life – Week 1” This week in the UUniverse Story program, we’ll begin a three-session exploration of the great River of Life. Imagine every species alive on Earth today designating a single ambassador to journey back through time, following their evolutionary lineage. Group by group, the lineages of the ambassadors begin to merge, as they come upon shared ancestors. We can take this journey together by beginning as the human ambassador, who encounters other lineages merging on the same journey back in time. We can picture this journey as drops of water flowing down a watershed, becoming rivulets, then streams, then bigger and bigger tributaries, as they all eventually come together in The River of Life. Meets in Room 4, the last room down the hallways upstairs above Forbes Hall.
NEIGHBORING FAITHS (6th-7th at 9:00 & 11:00): “Earth-Centered Introduction” This week our Neighboring Faiths classes will begin exploration of earth-based traditions including paganism as well as indigenous/native traditions. Our next field trip will be in two weeks, to the Chumash Day Pow Wow in Malibu on April 15th! Meets in Room 3, the third room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.
COMING OF AGE (8th at 9:00 only): This Sunday in COA we'll review the video of last year’s COA service, as we begin to craft our own service for May 20th. Youth should also bring their first drafts/notes for their credo statements. Meets in Room 2, the second room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.
YRUU (9th-12th alternates 9:00/11:00): Meets during the 11:00 service only this week.
After a fantastic YRUU service last week, it’s time for a break from all the hard work! Join us for fun games and yummy snacks. Meets in Room 1, the first room at the top of the stairs above Forbes Hall.
Announcements:
· NEW Congregational Seder 4/14: We will celebrate the Passover ceremony of Judaism with a Seder in Forbes Hall at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. We celebrate in the spirit of a renewed commitment to the eradication of slavery from our world. The ceremony will feature music, poetry, and Seder stories, and of course nourishing food from your kitchens. Please bring your families and help us to commemorate this significant occasion. We encourage contributions — program ideas, including readings and music — from the UUCCSM community to make this event a memorable one. You can contact Peggy Rhoads at primroads@hotmail.com or talk to Wendi Gladstone and Peggy during fellowship in Forbes Hall. A sign-up table will be available after each service on two Sundays: April 1, and April 8. The Multi-Racial Development Committee sponsors this event.
· NEW Youth Service: Three cheers for our YRUU youth for putting on a fabulous service on March 25th! It was a wonderfully meaningful service, exploring many different ways in which our youth bring balance to their lives. I was so inspired by how articulate and thoughtful (and exuberant!) our youth are. Not to mention talented – guest musician John Flynn noted that in more than 30 years of performing, this was the first time he’s ever had to follow a unicycle! What a strong testament they are to the value of our UU community.
· UPDATED COA/YRUU Event Night 4/14 – POSTPONED: Larry Weiner writes: Due to lack of response and the fact that the congregational seder is that night we have decided to postpone the Dodger night for the COA and YRUU's and families originally scheduled for April 14th. Please look for a future email because we plan to reschedule for later in the season.
· Children’s Art Submissions Requested for May Art Wall : WHAT A COMBO - Our children’s art on our Art Wall for the month of May. Please submit a framed piece done by your child for the May art wall. One piece per child per family. Three children=three pieces. It is such a pleasure to celebrate the creative talent of our RE children. We do have precise hanging requirements so make sure the art is frames and the backs ready to be placed on hooks. Beverly Alison can answer questions and she has a large collection of frames in all sizes if your entries aren't yet framed. The collection place is DRE Catherine Loya's office and Beverly is ready to help if you need some assistance. We will hang the show following the closing reception for the April exhibit. MAY MAY MAY! If you have questions, contact Beverly at balison@aol.com.
· RE Wish List: I am currently developing a “master wish list” for the RE program, which includes general and lesson-specific RE supply needs for this year’s classes. While the RE operating budget does have some money for supplies, this year’s budget is very tight and donations are happily accepted. The list so far includes:
UU Everyday (resources and ideas for practicing your UU values at home):
Chalice Lighting Words of the Week (April’s Theme – RENEWAL):
April 1:
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us have cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
-- Albert Schweitzer
For the 2011-12 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. The chalice lighting shared here will be used on Sunday in all of our RE classes, and I hope that your family will also share it at home during the following 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.
At-Home Ideas to Explore our Congregational Theme for April - RENEWAL
· Discuss with your family and friends how you would truly take a “sabbath.”
· Can you put aside work, and thinking about work or other things that you need to DO in order to fully BE present to the wonders of the world and to your family and friends?
· What is the most relaxing and renewing thing you have ever done? Find a way to recreate that feeling if not the actual experience.
· Some things that renew us actually involve being active. What activities do you do that give you a sense of renewal? It might be playing with Grandchildren, walking in nature, swimming in the ocean or creating something. Find a way to make a place for such activities on a regular basis. Put it in your calendar if necessary.
· Some people find quiet and solitude as restful and renewing. Give yourself a silent retreat. Find some time – from an afternoon to a weekend. Make an agreement with yourself and any people with you to not speak for the time selected. Choose some inspirational reading, or a question to ponder. Take the time to be alone with yourself and your thoughts.
· Take time on a regular basis to focus on your family and friends. Truly be with them and enjoy them. This is not a time for elaborate plans of fancy meals to prepare. Be present with them and enjoy them.
This Week in UU History: (From This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, by Frank Schulman)
March 31, 1818: John Albion Andrew was born in Windham, Maine. He was reared orthodox but became Unitarian at the Church of the Disciples in Boston during the ministry of James Freeman Clarke. A lawyer, Andrew also visited prisons, took on many cases pro bono, and became an advocate of prison reform. He was an outspoken opponent of slavery, and became the governor or Massachusetts in 1860, after raising funds to support abolitionist John Brown’s family. Andrew also helped found the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first African-American fighting unit. A Transcendentalist, Andrew was active in the Unitarian denomination, often speaking at conferences and annual meetings. He died on October 30, 1867.
March 31, 1889: The Universalist General Convention ordained Joseph H. Jordan as the first African-American Universalist minister. The ordination took place at Church of the Messiah (Universalist) in Philadelphia, with Edwin Sweetser preaching.
April 2, 1652: The British House of Commons ordered the Rakovian Catechism burned. The Rakovian Catechism, from the Socinians, was translated into English by John Biddle and circulated widely. It espoused Unitarian doctrines and was judged by Parliament to be blasphemous and seditious because it undermined the Church of England.
April 3, 1856: St. Lawrence University was founded in Canton, New York, by the New York Universalist Educational Society. Although St. Lawrence has expanded beyond its denominational function, the Society still uses its assets to support education for Unitarian Universalist seminarians in the study of Universalism. Canton Theological School closed in 1965, having awarded 410 bachelor of divinity degrees and issued 67 certificates in the art of religious education.
April 4, 1802: Dorothea Lynde Dix was born in Hampden, Maine. At age 12, she went to Boston to live with her grandmother, where she became a teacher. She wrote several school texts, Hymns for Children (1825), Meditations for Private Hours (1828), and American Moral Tales for Young Persons (1832). Although she refused to speak in public, she enlisted prominent spokesmen and wrote documents for them to present. Dix also worked for prison reform and founded the first public hospitals for paupers and the mentally disabled. The U.S. government appointed her supervisor of female nurses during the Civil War. She was instrumental in building 32 hospitals in the United States and Europe. The last five years of Dix’s life were spent as a guest in the New Jersey State Asylum at Trenton, one of the hospitals she had build, and it afforded her a home for her declining years. She had strong Unitarian connections through her friendship with William Ellery Channing, the minister of the Arlington Street Church in Boston. She was also good friends with William Rathbone, a noted Unitarian philanthropist. Dix especially appreciated the Unitarian emphasis on the goodness of God, purity of heart, openness to new knowledge, and responsibility for the welfare of all society. She died on July 17, 1887.
|
|||
|
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012 Calendar of upcoming events: Sunday, 2/26 This Week in RE: PRESCHOOL (Ages 3-5 at 9:00 & 11:00): “Everyone is Afraid of Something” This week our preschool classes will discuss feelings and learn how to name their feelings. We’ll share a story about someone who learned how to overcome fear, and will have a special puppet craft. Meets in the NW room of the cottage. SPIRIT PLAY: (K-1st at 9:00) “The Tailor” This week we’ll continue our focus on science and nature with a story about a man who shares a great example of how to find new uses for things rather than throwing them away when they begin to wear out. (K-2nd at 11:00) “The Great Kapok Tree” This week we’ll continue our focus on science and nature with a story about a logger who falls asleep in the forest and is visited in his dreams by all the creatures who depend on the Kapok Tree. Meets in the SE room of the cottage. THEME WORKSHOPS (2nd-3rd at 9:00 only): “Peace Workshop” This week we’ll begin our exploration of February’s theme of PEACE with special activities to engage participants in thinking about peace in our hearts, in our communities and in the world . Meets in the NE room of the cottage (formerly known as “the couch room”). UUNIVERSE STORY (4th-5th at 9:00/3rd-5th at 11:00): “Dem Bones, Dem Bones #1—The Fossil Record” This week in the UUniverse Story program, we’ll begin to learn about bones and fossils and how we know how old they are. Don’t miss it – this week begins our lead-up to a special field trip to the dinosaur exhibit at the LA Natural History museum on March 11! Meets in the mural room at the end of the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall. NEIGHBORING FAITHS (6th-7th at 9:00 & 11:00): “Sikhism Introduction” This week our Neighboring Faiths classes will begin their next unit of study with an introduction to the 500-year-old Sikh tradition. Meets in Room 3, the third room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall. COMING OF AGE (8th at 9:00 only): This Sunday in Coming of Age we’re tackling some heavy stuff – we’ll explore death and the meaning of life. We’ll also start to think about putting together our COA service in May. Meets in Room 2, the second room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall. YRUU (9th-12th alternates 9:00/11:00): Meets during the 11:00 service only this week. This Sunday we’ll be working hard to craft the 3/25 YRUU Sunday service – please make sure to come. We’ll also make sure to have some time for fun – Truth or Dare Jenga & Apples to Apples return! Meets in Room 1, the first room at the top of the stairs above Forbes Hall. Announcements: · NEW Assistants Needed for Peace Sunday Project 2/26: Our next RE Faith in Action Sunday is coming up soon, and we’ll be celebrating Peace Sunday right here at UUCCSM. We’re looking for a couple of adults who’d enjoy assisting during the 9:00 or 11:00 services – would you like to join our RE kids in some special peace-themed projects? Contact catherinedre@yahoo.com to sign up to help. · NEW COA/YRUU Event Night 3/3 – Laser Tag! Grab your lasers and get ready, set, go to Ultrazone in Sherman Oaks, the ultimate laser tag adventure, on Saturday, March 3 from 8PM until midnight. A futuristic version of Capture the Flag, this game is an adrenaline rush like never before. The cost is $25 for unlimited games all night long! At least 4 games lasting approximately 30 min each are guaranteed but usually more games can be played during this time. We would like to reserve your space but will need to get the fee in advance because they require full payment in order to reserve your space in this very popular event. RSVP and money MUST be received no later than Sunday, 2/26, in order to participate. Bring cash or a check made out to Erika Valore to church on 2/19 or 2/26 and hand to Catherine Farmer Loya, or leave in an envelope in her box in the main office. If you can’t be at church on either of these dates, contact Catherine at catherinedre@yahoo.com or 909-268-8622 to make other arrangements. Participants may meet at Ultrazone, or if you'd like to participate in a carpool, let us know and we'll put you in touch with other folks who want to share rides. Please RSVP by replying ASAP if you can come. · NEW Correct Attribution for 2/5 Reading: Thanks to Tom Hamilton for sending in a correction for the authorship of the reading of the week of 2/5. He writes: “The February chalice lighting is a version of what in Chinese is known as the "Da Xue" or "Great Learning". In Chinese tradition it was written by Confucius. That is probably not true, but it is certainly true that for the last thousand years it has been considered the most important Confucian text. Anyone familiar with East Asian culture would instantly recognize it. The fact that the Gray Hymnal attributes it to Lao-Tse is simply bizarre, probably reflecting the general UUA hostility towards Confucius. (The other Lao-Tse quotes in the Gray Hymnal are all legitimate.) The text is also significantly distorted. The hymnal omits the last six lines of the text (readily available in the wikipedia article for "Great Learning"). In the original, "peace in the heart" requires ethical behavior, which in turn requires observation of the real world. The UU version omits the requirement that one's actions work well in the real world. They change the Confucian requirement to consider the effects of one's actions on others to a simple requirement that one feel good about one's self. I think the difference is ethically important. Your Confucian friend, Tom” (Catherine’s note: visit this site for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Learning) · NEW Resource for UU Parents from the UUA Bookstore: With February school vacation week fast approaching here in Massachusetts, we thought we'd take a moment to highlight one of our favorite Skinner House Books from last year. Chaos, Wonder and the Spiritual Adventure of Parenting is full of poignant and enlightening essays on parenting from several of the biggest names in writing. Barbara Kingsolver, Scott Russell Sanders, Rosemary Bray McNatt, Barry Lopez and others have penned some of the most insightful words on parenting we've encountered - covering all of its joys and all of its frustrations. If you order by March 1st and use discount code CHAOS12 at checkout, you'll save 20% off of the list price! Thank you for shopping at the UUA Bookstore. Your purchase supports the work of the Association on behalf of our congregations. Order at the UUA Bookstore: http://www.uuabookstore.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1458 · Easter Volunteers Needed: Easter’s on April 8th this year, and I’m looking for some volunteers to help with this year’s festivities. We’re especially in need of coordinators for our special after-service egg hunts for the kids, as well as volunteers to hide eggs and supervise the hunts. I’m also building a small team to help plan the Intergenerational Easter service for all ages in the sanctuary. If you’d like to help out, contact Catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105. · Snack Signups for RE Classes: Parents of each RE class should have received an email request recently that you sign up to bring snack for your child’s class. Snack is a highly valued part of the RE experience – just ask your kids – and we need your help to provide the supplies. If each parents signs up just a few times per year, we can cover all of our classes without placing the burden of bringing snack on the volunteer teachers who are already donating so much of their time to make our RE program happen. Liza Cranis is spearheading the sign-up effort; please make sure to respond to her emails to sign up. · RE Wish List: I am currently developing a “master wish list” for the RE program, which includes general and lesson-specific RE supply needs for this year’s classes. While the RE operating budget does have some money for supplies, this year’s budget is very tight and donations are happily accepted. The list so far includes: RE Furniture: General Supplies: Backup snack supply RE Books Wish List on Amazon: Another arm of the “master wish list” for the RE program, is an Amazon Wishlist of books that will be used in RE lessons for this year’s program or that will be valuable resources for teachers & families in our church. We do have some money budgeted for book purchases, but we are running on a tight RE budget since the congregation’s budget cutback a couple of years ago, and donations are happily accepted. If you’d like to help out by donating a book or two 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 our way – they are so appreciated! UU Everyday (resources and ideas for practicing your UU values at home): Chalice Lighting Words of the Week (February’s Theme – PEACE): For the 2011-12 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. The chalice lighting shared here will be used on Sunday in all of our RE classes, and I hope that your family will also share it at home during the following 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. At-Home Ideas to Explore our Congregational Theme for February - PEACE “Take Time to Relax”: (from Nurturing Spirituality in Children by Peggy Joy Jenkins) Materials – An average-sized rubber band, one colored band for each child, a box or book that the rubber band will barely stretch around, and a small paper wad. What to Do – Pull the rubber band to show how much stretch there is in it, and then put it around the large box or book. “Rubber bands are made to stretch to fit around bigger items, and hold things together. But what might happen if the rubber band is stretched out for very long? If a rubber band is kept under tension, if it is stretched out all the time, it will deteriorate rapidly and break. We must allow it to return to its natural state [remove the band from the box] in order for it to last a long time. “People are very much like the rubber band. They also need to relax or they won’t function as well as they are designed to function. Some say that when things get tight, something’s got to give. When people are under tension or strain, two areas that often give way are their health and their relationships.” Perhaps you have other examples, such as schoolwork or piano practice. Someone once said that real maturity is not growing up so much as it is growing in. Explain to the children that they have an Inner Teacher who can help them with their challenges if they take some time each day to relax and listen within. Demonstrate with a paper wad that, the farther back we pull the rubber band, the farther forward it will shoot something. Remind the children that the deeper we go into our inner world, the more effective we can be in the outer world. In silence, we draw back into a knowingness of our true identity. Great works require much time in the silence. Gandhi did “silent sitting” one full day every week. Discuss what time of day would be best for the children to be alone, to relax with closed eyes, and to listen within. Generally, the amount of time should be one minute for each year of age. Give each child a colored rubber band as a reminder to have silent sitting time each day. This lesson could be especially valuable for overly active children. It could also be slanted to help the children understand why adults need their own quiet time. You may wish to take an extra few minutes and have the children do a relaxation exercise. The simplest is to have them close their eyes, take three or four really deep breaths, and then think about a happy experience. Another simple but effective technique is to have them get in a very relaxed position, close their eyes, and concentrate on their breathing while they breathe through their noses. Several books are available with centering and meditation exercises for children. This Week in UU History: (From This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, by Frank Schulman) February 16, 1691: Sir Isaac Newton wrote to John Locke to request that he not publish Newton’s Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture until after Newton’s death. Newton’s treatise attacked the accuracy of two biblical texts about the Trinity (1 John 5:7 and 1 Timothy 3:16). February 17, 1698: The English House of Commons petitioned the king to suppress all literature disputing the Trinity and to punish the authors. The Blasphemy Act in 1648 had made Unitarianism a crime punishable by the denial of civil rights. February 17, 1818: The abolitionist Sallie Holley was born in Canandaigua, New York. She attended Oberlin College and found herself defending her religious views as the only Unitarian there. At Oberlin she met Caroline Putnam, who became her lifelong friend and partner. She worked for the American Anti-Slavery Society and fought for voting rights for freed slaves after the Emancipation Proclamation. With Putnam, she worked to teach black students in Lottsburgh, Virginia, and her school became known as the Holley School. Holley and Putnam built a new school and hired two black women as assistant teachers. Sallie Holley died on January 12, 1893. February 18, 1719: The English Parliament repealed the Schism Act, which set severe penalties for anti-Trinitarian clergy. February 19, 1868: Phebe Ann Coffin Hanaford was ordained at Hingham, Massachusetts, becoming the first woman Universalist minister in New England. February 19, 1881: William Adam of Beaconfield, Scotland, died. He was an orthodox Baptist missionary who attempted to convert Rajah Rammohun Roy, the founder of a Unitarian form of Hinduism called Brahmo Samaj. Instead, Adam found himself converted to Unitarianism. February 20, 1855: Joseph Hume, a member of English Parliament who adopted Universalist views, died. He was the leader of the Radical Party for thirty years, taking special interest in financial oversight of both public and private enterprises. February 21, 1612: Bartholomew Legate, a cloth merchant of Essex, England, having been convicted of heresy for advocating Unitarian beliefs, was burned to death before a large crowd. He had not been granted a legal trial but had defended his Unitarian views in a series of private conversations with King James I, who condemned him to death. February 22, 1805: Sarah Flower Adams was born in Harlow, Essex, England. An actress who achieved a dramatic triumph as Lady Macbeth, she became ill suddenly and had to give up the stage. She was a lifelong Unitarian, deeply devoted to her Unitarian church in South Place, London, and the author of many religious works, including Vivia Perpetua (“Eternal Life”). She also composed hymns, the most famous of which is “Nearer, my God, to Thee.” Adams worked with prisons, fought for greater civil and religious liberty, and established Sunday schools and benevolent societies. She died on August 15, 1848. |
|||
|
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012 Calendar of upcoming events: Saturday, 2/4 This Week in RE: PRESCHOOL (Ages 3-5 at 9:00 & 11:00): “Black is Beautiful” This week our preschool class will experience positive associations with the color black, and will engage in activities that will expand their awareness and appreciation for human diversity. Meets in the NW room of the cottage. SPIRIT PLAY: (K-1st at 9:00) “A Good Morning’s Work” This week we’ll continue our focus on science and nature with a story about a young boy who cares for many different creatures in our interdependent web of existence. (K-2nd at 11:00) “Life Cycle of a Frog” This week we’ll continue our focus on science and nature with an exploration of the stages of a frog’s life. Meets in the SE room of the cottage. THEME WORKSHOPS (2nd-3rd at 9:00 only): “Peace Workshop” This week we’ll begin our exploration of February’s theme of PEACE with special activities to engage participants in thinking about inner peace, . Meets in the NE room of the cottage (formerly known as “the couch room”). UUNIVERSE STORY (4th-5th at 9:00/3rd-5th at 11:00): “Apples & Oranges—How Do We Classify Organisms?” This week in the UUniverse Story program, we’ll begin to explore the wonderful world of biology. Meets in the mural room at the end of the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall. NEIGHBORING FAITHS (6th-7th at 9:00 & 11:00): “Taoism Field Trip” This week our Neighboring Faiths classes will continue their study of Buddhism with a field trip to the Thien Hau Taoist Temple in Chinatown. The group will leave from the UUCCSM front courtyard promptly at 9:00 am and expects to return at noon. COMING OF AGE (8th at 9:00 only): This Sunday in Coming of Age we’re tackling some heavy stuff – we’ll explore suffering and meaning. Meets in Room 2, the second room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall. YRUU (9th-12th alternates 9:00/11:00): Meets during the 11:00 service only this week. Whether you're sleeping in after the COA/YRUU overnight, or coming just in time for our meeting, join us for some good breakfast, and a chance to work on plans for the YRUU service in March! Meets in Room 1, the first room at the top of the stairs above Forbes Hall. Announcements: NEW Easter Volunteers Needed: Easter’s on April 8th this year, and I’m looking for some volunteers to help with this year’s festivities. We’re especially in need of coordinators for our special after-service egg hunts for the kids, as well as volunteers to hide eggs and supervise the hunts. I’m also building a small team to help plan the Intergenerational Easter service for all ages in the sanctuary. If you’d like to help out, contact Catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105. · Valentine’s Craft Party & Potluck, 2/12: All families are invited to a very special Second Sunday Supper on Sunday, February 12th, from 5-7pm. At 5:00 we’ll gather for a Valentine-making project – come and make some for your friends and families, as well as some for UUCCSM members who are ill or otherwise in need of special messages of care. Then at 6:00, take part in a potluck dinner – bring a side dish to share, and we’ll supply the main course (pasta). Don’t miss it! · Time to Register for Elementary Winter Camp: The Pacific Southwest District’s Elementary Winter Camp at de Benneville Pines, is over President's Day Weekend next month, Saturday February 18 - Monday February 20. Family and Elementary Winter Camp – Treasure Huunting! February 18-20, 2011 Register at www.uucamp.org Dean: Danielle Bell Pricing - Child Camper or Adult: $145.00; Accompanying child: $85.00 Families with elementary age campers (or just the campers themselves) are invited for a weekend of treasure hunting with us up here in the snow. We’ll work on an actual pictorial treasure hunt while discovering what fantastic gifts we all carry, regardless of age or ability. Join us for tons of snow play, hot cocoa by the fire, games, crafts and community worship. Campers grades 3-6 may attend without parents and will be supervised by trained cabin counselors. Come to camp and find your own treasures! · Snack Signups for RE Classes: Parents of each RE class will be contacted soon to request that you sign up to bring snack for your child’s class. Snack is a highly valued part of the RE experience – just ask your kids – and we need your help to provide the supplies. If each parents signs up just a few times per year, we can cover all of our classes without placing the burden of bringing snack on the volunteer teachers who are already donating so much of their time to make our RE program happen. Liza Cranis is spearheading the sign-up effort; please make sure to respond to her emails to sign up. · RE Wish List: I am currently developing a “master wish list” for the RE program, which includes general and lesson-specific RE supply needs for this year’s classes. While the RE operating budget does have some money for supplies, this year’s budget is very tight and donations are happily accepted. The list so far includes: RE Furniture: General Supplies: Backup snack supply: RE Books Wish List on Amazon: Another arm of the “master wish list” for the RE program, is an Amazon Wishlist of books that will be used in RE lessons for this year’s program or that will be valuable resources for teachers & families in our church. We do have some money budgeted for book purchases, but we are running on a tight RE budget since the congregation’s budget cutback a couple of years ago, and donations are happily accepted. If you’d like to help out by donating a book or two 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 our way – they are so appreciated! UU Everyday (resources and ideas for practicing your UU values at home): Chalice Lighting Words of the Week (February’s Theme – PEACE): February 5: If there is to be peace in the world, For the 2011-12 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. The chalice lighting shared here will be used on Sunday in all of our RE classes, and I hope that your family will also share it at home during the following 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. At-Home Ideas to Explore our Congregational Theme for February - PEACE Resources: Books for Children: Resources for Adults: # 429 by William F. Schulz Peace is in Every Step: the Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, Thich Nhat Hanh, Random House, 1995 “Valentine’s Day”: (from The Book of New Family Traditions by Meg Cox): What’s Sweet About You Poster – This is like giving your kid a giant Valentine card, but much more personal. Make one for each child. If you’re having a special dinner, you could bring the posters out then. Or prop them up against the kitchen chairs, so your kids find them when they come to breakfast or come home from school. Materials: Large sheets of poster board in white, pink or red (one sheet for each poster); red and pink construction paper; scissors; glue; small Valentine candies, such as chocolate hearts wrapped in foil; markers. Instructions: Cut 9 to 12 hearts from the construction paper. The hearts should be about 4 inches high and 3 inches wide. On each heart, write one trait you love about that child’s nature. Make it specific, focusing on positive aspects of their personality. Also, praise behavior you’d like to reinforce, such as putting away toys or progress in potty training. Across the top of the poster, write “What’s Sweet About (Child’s Name).” Glue the hearts to the board, but just put glue on the bottom edges and up the sides of the hearts. Leave the top open, so they work like pockets. Put a piece of Valentine candy in each pocket. The Book of Love – Who wrote the Book of Love? You did. Buy an inexpensive blank book with a heart on the cover, or glue one there. Call it “The Book of (your last name) Love,” and each year, have every member of the family write one loving things about very other member (take dictation for young kids). Red Food Night– At the Straw household in Plano, Texas, all the food for Valentine’s dinner is red. Sue Straw serves beets or red cabbage, mashed potatoes mixed with red food coloring, and either ham (pink) or pasta with red sauce. Red fruit might include grapes, raspberries or strawberries. Even the milk is red. Dessert can be brown, as long as it’s chocolate and shaped like a heart. Valentine Tree – Trees are a great centerpiece of ritual action because they grow and change like families do, symbolize life and hope, and can be easily but beautifully decorated for any occasion. Every year, the Dodge family buys a small tree in a pot, and decorates it with a string of tiny white lights. They buy red craft paper and cut out teddy bears and hearts, poke holes in their tops, and use thin ribbon to tie them onto the tree. The decorations stay on until spring, when the family plants the tree in their yard. If you do this every year, you could designate a special Valentine Grove on your property. Have-a-Heart Awards – Each member of the family gives an award to each other member for a special act of love or kindness. Buy round, fuzzy, ping-pong-ball-sized pom-poms at your local craft store, to which you can glue little eyes and mouths and feet. Cut hearts from a piece of construction paper 4 inches square, and glue the feet to the paper heart. Write on the heart the name of the person getting the award and what they did. Perhaps one child helped a younger sibling learn to tie his shoes. Perhaps Mom or Dad earned an award for coaching Little League last summer. This Week in UU History: (From This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, by Frank Schulman) February 2, 1875: Henry Wilder Foote Jr. was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Foote, a Unitarian minister, was chairman of the Unitarian Commission on Hymns and Services, which, in a cooperative effort with the Universalist Commission on Hymns and Services, chaired by L. Griswold Williams, produced Hymns of the Spirit in 1937. This hymnal was an important early milestone on the road to consolidation of the Unitarians and Universalists in 1961, designed as it was to appeal to both denominations. Many of the resources were nonscriptural and included material for humanists. February 3, 1888: Horace Greely was born in Amherst, New Hampshire. At the age of 20, he went to New York City, where he started a small printing office and produced a magazine called the New Yorker, which was published from 1834 to 1841. In 1841 Greely founded the New York Tribune. Greely served in Congress briefly and ran for other offices unsuccessfully. He was an ardent opponent of slavery, though he sought a peaceful solution. After the Civil War, his ardent support of Reconstruction eroded his popularity. He was a stalwart Universalist. Horace Greely died November 29, 1872. February 4, 1821: Elizabeth Blackwell was born in Bristol, England . Best known as America’s first woman physician, she came to the United States with her family in 1832, living in New York City and then Cincinnati. She became a teacher in the south, started reading medical books and decided to become a physician, in spite of social prejudice and ridicule. She received her medical degree (and was first in her class) from the Geneva Medical School in western New York in 1849. She published a book called The Laws of Life; with Special Reference to the Physical Education of Girls (1852) and wrote on physical hygiene for women, which in those times were offensive and taboo. She later founded the New York Dispensary for Poor Women and Children and later the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. She moved back to England and spent the rest of her life promoting health and hygiene. Elizabeth Blackwell was a member of the First Unitarian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her family lived when she was a child. February 4, 1939: The American Unitarian Association sent Martha and Waitstill Sharp to Czechoslovakia to work with refugees from the Nazis. This marked the beginning of the Unitarian Service Committee, which was organized in May 1940 as a standing committee of the association “ to investigate opportunities for humanitarian service both in America and abroad.” The USC became independent of the AUA in 1948. In 1963 it merged with the Universalist Service Committee, which was first organized in 1945, also as a response to the war in Europe. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee focuses on humanitarian aid, development, and human rights in America and throughout the world. February 5, 1900: Aldai Stevenson was born in Los Angeles, California. A graduate of Princeton, he studied law at Harvard and Northwestern law schools and joined a law firm in Chicago, Illinois, in 1927. During World War II, he was a special assistant to the secretary recovery of Europe. She was elected Governor of Illinois in 1948 and ran as the Democratic candidate for the U.S presidency twice (1952 and 1956). Stevenson’s mother was a lifelong Unitarian and his father was a Presbyterian, but the family attended the Unitarian Church. He became a member of the Bloomington church in 1952. Adlai Stevenson died on July 14, 1965. February 7, 1812: Charles Dickens was born in Landport, England. He was reared in great poverty, an experience reflected in his writings, particularly Oliver Twist. Dickens had little formal education but spent his extra time at the British Museum reading. He wrote A Christmas Carol while a member of Little Portland Street Chapel, London. He is well known for numerous other novels, many of which had a profound effect on social changes in early 19th century England. Dickens also wrote factual newspaper and magazine articles with radical reforming intent. He died on June 8, 1870. |
|||
|
Sunday, July 15, 2012 MEETING OF PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE/MULTIRACIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES Sunday, July 15, 2012 Present: Peggy Rhoads, Cathie Gentile, Roberta Frye, Joan Verdon, Mike Monte, Diana Spears, Marguerite Spears, James Witker, Nora Hamilton. 1. UUA Justice General Assembly. The focus of the General Assembly was the immigration issue. Among the Cathie mentioned that Marshall Wong, who heads an L.A. County organization investigating hate crimes, said that African Americans are the major victims of hate crimes in Arizona. 2. UU Legislative Ministry. Cathie Gentile is the UUSM liaison with the legislative ministry, which is active on several issues, including the Human Right to Water campaign, Secure Communities, and the anti-death penalty James agreed to video some of the carwash workers and make their stories available for the new UUSM website. Rick had also brought up the possibility of showing the film Salt of the Earth, about mineworkers in Arizona, in connection with the carwash campaign. 4. The New Jim Crow Discussion. Peggy noted that several members had attended the three meetings of a workshop on Michelle Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow and that there are plans to continue the discussion in the fall, probably beginning in late September. She suggested that those who have not done so try to read the book, at least the introduction, where she lays out her contention that the mass incarceration of African Related to this issue, Peggy has been attending monthly meetings of a group at the Church in Ocean Park which was organized as a result of a racial incident at Santa Monica high school targeting an African American 5. Medicare for All. Roberta, Peggy and Joan attended a meeting of the California Nurses’ Association on their efforts to get Medicare for all in the state of California. At present they are trying to raise awareness through a petition requesting Medicare for all; copies of the petition were passed around at the meeting and will be available at the Faith-in Action table. It was noted that Single Payer Health Care legislation passed the California legislature twice but was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. There will probably be a new initiative, but it will not be as easy to pass today – hence the need to raise awareness and mobilize widespread support for the measure. Among those promoting the measure is Health Access, headed by Anthony Wright. Other possible ways of promoting the campaign at UUSM would be a showing of Michael Moore’s documentary “Sicko” and of getting someone from the California Nurses’ Association to speak on the issue. 6. New Business: the Mexico-US Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity. The caravan is part of a program to protest the current war on drugs in Mexico and the violence associated with it, and will be coming to the United States in August and September. Mexico has been a major center of drug production and trafficking for several years. In December 2006, the new government of Felipe Calderon mobilized the Mexican military to fight against the drug cartels; however the militarization of the drug war has been accompanied by a massive escalation of violence, which has resulted in at least 50,000 people killed in the past six years. The Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity was initiated last year by Javier Sicilia, a Mexican poet, whose son was killed as a result of drug violence. The caravan has traveled throughout Mexico, mobilizing other victims of violence and their relatives as well as those sympathetic to search for new solutions to the drug crisis. It is now coming to the United States because the U.S. is directly implicated in the drug issue in several ways: it is the major market for drugs coming from Mexico; it is a major source of weapons flowing into Mexico which in turn have been directly responsible for much of the violence of the drug war; U.S. banks are responsible for laundering drug funds; and U.S. aid to Mexico has been primarily to the military and has reinforced the militarization of the drug war, which many see as an important factor in the growth of violence. The caravan is calling for 1) alternatives to drug prohibition; 2) an end to arms smuggling, due in large part to lax U.S. gun control laws; 3) a crack down on money laundering; 4) an end to U.S. assistance to the Mexican military; and 5) The caravan will be in Los Angeles August 13-14. The sponsors are looking for support from progressive groups and organizations. Nora will look into what kinds of support they need and report to the committees. In the meantime, there is additional information on the caravan, its sponsors, schedules, etc at the Global Exchange (globalexchange.org) and Latin American Working Group (lawg.org) websites. |
|||
|
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012Urgent Need: Lori Pitts, a senior theatre major from Davidson College in North Carolina, is interning with the Fringe Benefits Theatre Company here in LA this summer, and will be leading our UUCCSM summer RE program in June and July, as well as co-facilitating the June 9th Social Justice Theater Training. The Fringe Benefits "Cootie Shots" program has its roots in anti-homophobia/anti-
Calendar of upcoming events:
Sunday, 6/3
RE Sunday Service – see below for each class’ role
K-1st O.W.L. class meets, 10:30-1:00
Saturday, 6/9
Social Justice Theater Training – all are invited! (see announcement below)
Sunday, 6/10
LAST Sunday with two services
Final day of RE classes
K-1st O.W.L. class meets, 10:30-1:00 (final class)
Sunday, 6/17
Summer Schedule Begins - ONE SERVICE ONLY AT 10:00
Summer program kickoff in RE!
Preschool & Rising Kindergarteners: Summer of Seuss
Elementary and Up: Mystery Social Justice Theater
This Week in RE:
RE Sunday Intergenerational Service!!
This Sunday is our annual service in celebration of this year’s RE program and the wonderful volunteers and staff who make it happen. Each RE class will be leading one element of the service, so check below to see what your child’s class will be doing! There will be a set of pews in the front of the sanctuary reserved for the members (& families for younger children) of each class to sit together. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the service to meet up with you class’ teachers and do any last minute rehearsing for the service.
Kindergarten – 1st(9:00)/2nd(11:00) grades will be offering the morning’s meditation, leading the congregation in a body prayer called the “Gandhi Peace Greeting” and/or sharing the “Love Surrounds Me” song they sing as part of their class opening each week.
2nd-3rd grades (9:00) will help lead the offertory in the service.
3rd(11:00)/4th(9:00)-5th grades will be sharing an RE Reflection about a famous Unitarian scientist – Charles Darwin – and the courage it takes us to stand up for our ideas.
6th-7th grades at 9:00 will share a chalice lighting reflection about their experiences visiting various houses of worship this year. The 11:00 class will help lead the offertory in the service. Please come at least 15 minutes early for the service to meet with the group for coordination of the presentation.
8th grade has now officially joined the high school group, since their Coming of Age program has culminated, and they get a little break, since their big service was just three weeks ago!!
9th-12th grades will be on hand to support our graduating seniors in their bridging ceremony and will be invited to participate in various elements of the service (no-rehearsal, on-the-spot volunteer-style).
Volunteer Opportunities:
We need you! Please consider volunteering in RE: Have you ever wondered about the nature of reality? Have you ever wanted to explore new ways of putting our UU principles into practice? Do you feel that you're still a learner yourself, and always will be? The Lifespan RE Committee is currently recruiting volunteers for the 2012-13 RE program starting in September. We're looking for teachers to lead 1-2 Sundays per month, as well as volunteers for many other parts of our large and vibrant program for children and youth.
Do you love spending time with young children as they learn about the world and make friends? Then assisting in our Nursery or Preschool class is the right place for you!
Are you passionate about sharing the core stories of our faith with children as they make meaning of their lives, grow a strong UU identity, and create a spiritual community together that honors multiple learning styles and celebrates beauty in diversity? Then join our Spirit Play team, for 1st-2nd graders.
Do science and nature fill you with mystery and wonder? Then help our 3rd-5th graders consider “How Do We Know What We Know?” as they explore the Big Bang and the origins of the Universe, the chemistry of life, the ideas of evolution and change over time, and the interconnectedness of all people from our shared ancestry with each other and every other life form on the planet in our UUniverse Story program.
Does your heart go pitter-patter when you think about helping young people explore their identities, their beliefs, their Unitarian Universalist faith, their relationships with others and their connections to the world? In that case, you'll love being a leader for our 6th-7th grade Compass Points class.
Is deep exploration of your personal theology, and engaging others in articulating who they are & what their beliefs are within the context of our UU faith most exciting to you? Then join our 8th grade Coming of Age team (9:00 only).
Are you a creative, loving, flexible adult who gets a kick out of teens and wants to support them as they grow and develop into young adults? If that sounds like you, consider joining our 9th-12th grade Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) advisor team!
If you’re interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities in RE, visit the Lifespan RE table in Forbes Hall during coffee hours this month, or talk with Catherine (310-829-5436 x105) or catherinedre@yahoo.com).
Announcements:
· NEW Summer RE Plans and Social Justice Skills Training June 9th: Summer’s on the horizon, believe it or not, and we’re trying something new in our children’s RE program this year, so make sure to check it out! Kids in elementary and middle school who come to church this summer will be taking part in a program called “Mystery Social Justice Theater,” which will be led by members of the Fringe Benefits Theater Company as well as our very own UUCCSM volunteers. Fringe Benefits is a groundbreaking theater company which has worked for more than twenty years with schools and community groups to create plays that promote constructive dialogue about diversity and discrimination issues. We’ll spend the summer engaging young people in theater with a Social Justice theme, and the program will culminate in early September with a special UUCCSM RE Talent Show! We are so lucky to have Fringe Benefits as our partners, and we have a wealth of resources to share with UUCCSM members (adults or high school youth) who would like to help lead this exciting summer program. All are invited to take part in a day-long workshop on Saturday June 9th from 10-5, to be trained to lead “Theater for Social Justice,” as well as skills for constructively tackling name-calling, bullying, harassment and other discriminatory behavior when working with children in any setting.This training is a great opportunity for anyone who works with children or volunteers in RE, whether or not you’re planning to volunteer in the summer theater program! To sign up to attend, contact catherinedre@yahoo.com or visit the Lifespan RE table during coffee hour this Sunday.
· RE Wish List: I am currently developing a “master wish list” for the RE program, which includes general and lesson-specific RE supply needs for this year’s classes. While the RE operating budget does have some money for supplies, this year’s budget is very tight and donations are happily accepted. The list so far includes:
UU Everyday (resources and ideas for practicing your UU values at home):
Chalice Lighting Words of the Week (June’s Theme – COURAGE):
June 3:
Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
But to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,
But for the heart to conquer it.
Let me not look for allies in life’s battle-field,
But to my own strength.
Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved,
But hope for the patience to win my freedom.
Grant me that I may not be a coward, feeling your mercy in my success alone;
But let me find the grasp of your hand in my failure.
--Rabindranath Tagore
For the 2011-12 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. The chalice lighting shared here will be used on Sunday in all of our RE classes, and I hope that your family will also share it at home during the following 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.
At-Home Ideas to Explore our Congregational Theme for June - COURAGE
Resource for Families:
A sample “courage challenge” from the blog:
Dr. Lisa’s Courage Challenge
Move out of your comfort zone—Give yourself and your child a courage challenge.
What is something you’ve been afraid to try?
It need not be unsafe, which would be more like a dare. A dare is more of a bold action, one for the thrill and/or fear it evokes (like hijacking a jigger)—whether or not you actually complete the dare. A dare is often posed as a challenge to prove one’s courage. A courage challenge, on the other hand, is an opportunity to learn something new, try something you haven’t yet, or stretch yourself in ways that have scared you, even a little, in the past. Courage challenges are also meant to be fun!
Tailor-making courage challenges for our children, with their input, can help you strengthen aspects of who they are that may need strengthening. Activities everyone can be involved in planning and completing…and a chance for our kids to see us being silly, adventurous, and even downright brave.
As a primer for this activity, start with your five primary senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing.
Taste:
Touch:
(Gather together a handful of different textured household items into a bag. Allow your children to explore and guess the different items in the bag, whilst blindfolded or with their eyes squeezed shut.)
Smell:
(Maybe, like me, you are the one person in your family that everyone gets to smell if the milk is past due or if the sewage pipe is leaking again in the basement. If so, you can skip this one and have a blast getting even! Or better yet, take a trip to the local florist—especially in winter—and smell all the different kinds of flowers, see if you and your child can even name a few.)
Sight:
(Get up early, earlier than you’ve maybe been up in awhile—before the coffee is even made— and witness a morning sunrise. Go on a night walk, with or without a flashlight, and feast your eyes on the moon.)
Hearing:
(Swap your iPod for the day with your teenager. Ask for some feedback from someone you trust about one thing that they might consider you could improve about yourself, e.g. being more punctual or becoming a better listener.)
This Week in UU History: (From This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, by Frank Schulman)
June 3, 1870: Norbert Capek was born in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). After a Roman Catholic childhood and early career as a Baptist minister, he converted to Unitarianism and became one of its leaders. During World War II, he was imprisoned by the Germans in 1942 and murdered at Dachau for speaking out against the Nazis. Capek devised the Flower Communion, now widely used in Unitarian Universalist churches, saying it showed that even in the worst times, we can still share beauty.
June 4, 1901: Joseph H. Jordan died of an unknown disease at the age of 59. He was born a black free man in West Norfolk, Virginia, in June of 1842. After trying his hand as a laborer and grocer, he achieved financial success as a carpenter. Jordan was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1880 but he became a Universalist after reading The Plain Guide to Universalism by Thomas Whittemore. He met with Edwin Chapin Sweetser in Philadelphia and studied under him. Jordan began preaching Universalism and the Universalist Ordaining Council voted to ordain him as the first African-American Universalist minister. A small group of Jordan’s followers became the First Universalist Church of Norfolk, which was admitted into fellowship by the Universalist General Convention. Some white Universalists who had no church of their own attended Jordan’s church. Jordan named a son Richard Sweetser Jordan in honor of his Universalist mentor.
June 6, 1563: Firty-two ministers who did not believe in the divinity of Christ met at the Synod of Podlachia in Poland. The synod convened under the sponsorship of the Unitarian Prince Nicholas Radzivil, Palatine of Vilna, Lithuania.
June 6, 1832: The famous Unitarian philosopher and political economist Jeremy Bentham died at age 84. Bentham had instructed that his body was to be embalmed, dressed, and placed in a chair. It now resides in a glass cabinet in a corridor of the main building of University College in England. At meetings of the governing body, he is recorded as “present but not voting.”
June 7, 1852: Hosea Ballou, a leader of Universalism, died at age 81.
June 8, 1867: Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. He began his practice of architecture in Oak Park, Illinois, and developed a devoted following. He lectured and wrote extensively, published An Autobiographyin 1932, and mentored many students. Wright is considered by many to be America’s foremost architect, championing what is known as the Prairie Style. He built 532 homes and other buildings, including Unity Temple (Universalist) in Oak Park, Illinois; the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin; the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo; and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. He believed that people should not have to be rich to live in beautiful homes, and he tried to design artistic, affordable housing that complemented its natural surroundings. Wright was an active member of the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin. He died on April 9, 1959.
|
|||
|
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Sunday, March 1, 2020
|
|||
|
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012 Daylight Savings Time starts this Sunday – don’t forget to set your clocks FORWARD an hour tonight!
Calendar of upcoming events:
Sunday, 3/11
Daylight Savings Time begins
UUniverse Story class field trip to Natural History Museum
Neighboring Faiths field trip to Guru Ram Das Gurdwara
YRUU Trip to Phoenix Info Meeting, 10-11
5th-6th O.W.L. meets
Sunday, 3/18
RE/Pulpit Switch Sunday – Rebecca visits RE classes, Catherine leads adult service
COA parent meeting, 10-11
5th-6th O.W.L. meets – final class
Sunday, 3/25
YRUU Sunday Service – “Balancing Acts”
K-1st O.W.L. mandatory parent orientation, 12:30-3
Sunday, 4/8
Easter Intergenerational Service & Egg Hunt
Sunday, 4/15
K-1st O.W.L. mandatory parent/child orientation, 1-4
This Week in RE:
PRESCHOOL (Ages 3-5 at 9:00 & 11:00): “Spring Makes our Earth Beautiful with Color” This week our preschool classes will take part in activities that celebrate the beauty of springtime. Meets in the NW room of the cottage.
SPIRIT PLAY: (K-1st at 9:00) “Sacred Spaces” This Sunday we’ll be sharing a story about the many different kinds of sacred spaces there are in our world, where people gather in communities to celebrate the spirit of love and justice and the mystery of life. (K-2nd at 11:00) “Creation” This week we’ll begin our exploration of our Jewish & Christian Heritage with the sharing of the Biblical creation story. Meets in the SE room of the cottage.
THEME WORKSHOPS (2nd-3rd at 9:00 only): “Brokenness Workshop” This week we’ll begin our exploration of March’s theme of BROKENNESS with special activities to engage participants in thinking about brokenness, healing, and finding new meaning or usefulness despite brokenness. Meets in the NE room of the cottage (formerly known as “the couch room”).
UUNIVERSE STORY (4th-5th at 9:00/3rd-5th at 11:00): “Natural History Museum Field Trip” This week in the UUniverse Story program, we’ll take part in a special field trip to the dinosaur exhibit at the LA Natural History museum! There will be ONE TRIP for both classes, so place plan to meet the group in the front courtyard at 8:50am. Children who do not go on the trip today are invited to attend the service with their parents. The group plans to return to UUCCSM by 12:30. Will meet in the front courtyard at 8:50am.
NEIGHBORING FAITHS (6th-7th at 9:00 & 11:00): “Sikhism Field Trip This week our Neighboring Faiths classes will continue their exploration of with a field trip to the Guru Ram Das Ashram. Will meet in the front courtyard at 10am.
COMING OF AGE (8th at 9:00 only): This Sunday in COA we'll be exploring our relationships – with friends, with our families, with all other we’re connected to - and how they bring meaning to our lives. Meets in Room 2, the second room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.
YRUU (9th-12th alternates 9:00/11:00): Meets during the 9:00 service only this week.
This Sunday we’ll be working on the 3/25 YRUU Sunday service, and saving some time for games – please make sure to come! Meets in Room 1, the first room at the top of the stairs above Forbes Hall. And don’t miss the 10-11 YRUU parent/youth meeting for the June trip to UU General Assembly in Phoenix!
Announcements:
· NEW 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.
· HELP NEEDED Help Provide Hospitality for DRE’s at UUCCSM from 3/22-24: A dozen DRE’s from UU churches near and far will be converging on our campus for a training on developing UU Identity in RE programs later this month. Please help us welcome them by volunteering as you can. We’re in need of a few more people to provide home hospitality, which helps make coming to the training affordable (attendees are coming from as far away as Missouri to attend) – do you have a guest bedroom that you’d be willing to open to a friendly UU for two nights (Thursday 3/22 & Friday 3/23)? We also are looking for a couple of folks who would be willing to do airport pickups on Thursday afternoon, and/or drop-offs on Saturday afternoon. And while we have coordinators for all of the meals, we’d like to have at least one more volunteer to help prepare and serve each meal (Thursday dinner, lunch or dinner on Friday, or Saturday lunch). Let’s show our visitors how warm and welcoming we are here at UUCCSM; please contact catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105 if you’d like to help out.
· Easter Volunteers Needed: Easter’s on April 8th this year, and I’m looking for some volunteers to help with this year’s festivities. We’re especially in need of coordinators for our special after-service egg hunts for the kids, as well as volunteers to hide eggs and supervise the hunts. If you’d like to help out, contact Catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105.
· RE Wish List: I am currently developing a “master wish list” for the RE program, which includes general and lesson-specific RE supply needs for this year’s classes. While the RE operating budget does have some money for supplies, this year’s budget is very tight and donations are happily accepted. The list so far includes:
UU Everyday (resources and ideas for practicing your UU values at home):
Chalice Lighting Words of the Week (March’s Theme – BROKENNESS):
March 11:
Help us to be the always hopeful
gardeners of the spirit
who know that without darkness
nothing comes to birth
as without light
nothing flowers.
--May Sarton
For the 2011-12 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. The chalice lighting shared here will be used on Sunday in all of our RE classes, and I hope that your family will also share it at home during the following 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.
At-Home Ideas to Explore our Congregational Theme for March - BROKENNESS
Resources:
Books for Children:
The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams Bianco, Harper Collins, 1999
The Velveteen Rabbit (Board Book), Margery Williams Bianco, HarperFestival, 2004
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Virginia Lee Burton, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1939
Further Reading for Adults:
The Velveteen Principles: A Guide to Becoming Real, Hidden Wisdom from a Children’s Classic, Toni Raiten-D’Antonio, HCI, 2006
In the Simple Morning Light: A Meditation Manual, Barbara Rohde, Skinner House Books, 1994
“The Theology School of Hard Knocks” in Roller-skating as a Spiritual Discipline, Christopher Buice, Skinner House Books, 2002
“Prayer for Healing” in Glory, Hallelujah! Now Please Pick Up Your Socks, Jane Ellen Mauldin, Skinner House Books, 1998
The chapter entitled “The Place of Self Discovery” in the book Women Pray: Voices through the Ages, from Many Faiths, Cultures, and Traditions, edited by Monica Furlong, Skylight Paths Publishing, 2001
The Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Scriptures
“Help and the Human Condition: What can we do to help?” by Victoria Safford, uuworld.org, Fall 2005,http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/1809.shtml.
The film Babette's Feast, Distributor: Festival Films, Story by Isak Dinnesen, film directed by Gabriel Axel
The New Grove Gospel, Blues and Jazz by Paul Oliver, Max Harrison and William Bolcom, W. W. Norton, 1980, 1986
This Week in UU History: (From This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, by Frank Schulman)
March 10, 1660: A conference between Roman Catholics and Unitarians took place at Roznow, Poland. Andrew Wissowatius took the lead for the Unitarians. July 10 of the same year had been fixed as the date by which all Unitarians who refused to conform to the Catholic religion would have to leave the country. John Szafraniec Wieolopolski, a senator of the kingdom, presided over the conference. He said, “If all Hell had been let loose, the whole infernal host could not have defended the cause of the Socinians more valiantly than Wissowatius had done, standing alone.” The Unitarians lost the debate and they were forced to leave the kingdom in what became known as the Great Exile.
March 11, 1965: James Reeb, a Unitarian minister, died in Selma, Alabama, after a civil rights march. Two days earlier, segregationists had attacked Reeb and the two ministers he was with, hitting Reeb on the head with a club. He was one of more than 125 Unitarian Universalist ministers who answered Martin Luther King’s call to march in support of voting rights for black Americans. Two other civil rights activists were killed during the Selma protest – Jimmy Lee Jackson, an African-American farm laborer and church deacon, and Viola Liuzzo, a Unitarian Universalist layperson from Detroit.
March 13, 1733: Joseph Priestley was born in Fieldhead, Yorkshire, England. He was educated for the Dissenting ministry and became an outstanding theologian. He wrote many books on religion, including the influential History of the Corruptions of Christianity (1782), which Thomas Jefferson credited with his conversion to Unitarianism. Priestley also became a successful preacher, despite a marked and painful stutter. However, he is best known for chemistry, the hobby he took up in his mid-thirties. He took part in a group of accomplished liberal religious thinkers (called the Lunar Society because it met when the full moon promoted safe travel) who also engaged in science. Priestley is credited with a number of discoveries, including oxygen and a method of curing scurvy at sea, which was used by Captain Cook on his voyages. His inventions included anesthesia, carbonated water, and pencil erasers. Supported in these interests by his wife’s brothers, Priestley made his inventions available to the public and received no money for any of them. Priestley’s major ministries were in Leeds and Birmingham in England, and then in Philadelphia. He taught at Warrington Academy, a Unitarian school for training ministers and a predecessor of Harris Manchester College at Oxford. There he conducted many of his scientific experiments and wrote science textbooks. Extremely liberal in his politics, Priestley was forced to leave England for America in 1794 after a mob burned his home and laboratory over his support for the principles of the French Revolution. He received numerous honors during his lifetime. Priestley died on February 6, 1804. [Catherine’s note: Joseph Priestley makes an appearance on our mural in Room 4 upstairs! His dual role as minister and scientist is depicted through clothing him on one side in a lab coat and holding a beaker of chemicals, and on the other side he wears a minister’s robe and holds a Bible.]
March 13, 1906: Susan Brown Anthony, a Unitarian and American leader for women’s suffrage, died at age 86.
March 14, 1571: Prince John Sigismund of Transylvania died at age 30 from injuries in a horse-riding accident. He was a champion of Unitarianism and religious toleration in Transylvania.
March 14, 1583: Faustus Socinus debated former Jesuit Christian Francken on the honor due Christ. Like Frandis David, Francken considered God alone to be due worship, and not Christ. Francken’s debating style was reportedly abrupt and impetuous. Socinus answered in so scholarly and thorough a manner that Francken conceded defeat and withdrew.
March 14, 1945: The American Unitarian Association voted to establish fellowships, or lay-led groups. The fellowship movement encouraged individualism and in many cases stressed social commitment. Although many fellowships grew into churches, many preferred their lay status and its varying forms of worship. Munroe Husbands and Lon Ray Call guided the movement. Call had notices during his pastorate in Louisville, Kentucky, that several small churches continued with lay leadership after they could no longer support clergy. From 1948 to 1958 the number of people joining fellowships accounted for one third of the denomination’s increase in membership.
|
|||
|
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Traffic Warning: Sun, Mar 18. Many roads in Santa Monica and Los Angeles
will be closed for the LA Marathon on Sunday. Please consult http://www.lamarathon.com/community/street-closures/for road closures and plan an alternate route to UUSM as needed.
Calendar of upcoming events:
Sunday, 3/18
RE/Pulpit Switch Sunday – Rebecca visits RE classes, Catherine leads adult service
COA parent meeting, 10-11
5th-6th O.W.L. meets – final class
Sunday, 3/25
YRUU Sunday Service – “Balancing Acts”
K-1st O.W.L. mandatory parent orientation, 12:30-3
Sunday, 4/8
Easter Intergenerational Service & Egg Hunt
Saturday, 4/14
8th-12th grade event night – Dodgers game! (see announcement below)
Sunday, 4/22
RE Faith in Action Sunday – Beach cleanup with Heal the Bay
Saturday, 4/28
K-1st O.W.L. mandatory parent/child orientation, 2-5
This Week in RE:
PRESCHOOL (Ages 3-5 at 9:00 & 11:00): “Spring Brings Changes to our Earth” This week our preschool classes will take part in activities that celebrate the beauty of springtime, and the changing of the season, even here in Southern California! Meets in the NW room of the cottage.
SPIRIT PLAY: (K-1st at 9:00) “Conversation with Rev. Rebecca” This week Rebecca will visit our K-1st class during the usual story time for conversation and getting-to-know-you activities. (K-2nd at 11:00) “Sacred Spaces” This Sunday we’ll be sharing a story about the many different kinds of sacred spaces there are in our world, where people gather in communities to celebrate the spirit of love and justice and the mystery of life. Meets in the SE room of the cottage.
THEME WORKSHOPS (2nd-3rd at 9:00 only): “Brokenness Workshop” This week we’ll begin our exploration of March’s theme of BROKENNESS with special activities to engage participants in thinking about brokenness, healing, and finding new meaning or usefulness despite brokenness. Meets in the NE room of the cottage (formerly known as “the couch room”).
UUNIVERSE STORY (4th-5th at 9:00/3rd-5th at 11:00): “Why Study Science in Religion Class?” This week in the UUniverse Story program, we’ll take part in a debrief of last week’s field trip to the LA Natural History museum, and then we’ll discuss why we think it makes sense to learn about science at church! Meets in Room 4, the last room down the hallways upstairs above Forbes Hall.
NEIGHBORING FAITHS (6th-7th at 9:00 & 11:00): “Sikhism Integration” This week our Neighboring Faiths classes will conclude exploration of Sikhism with a debrief of last week’s field trip and a review of what we’ve learned this month. Meets in Room 3, the third room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.
COMING OF AGE (8th at 9:00 only): This Sunday in COAwe'll explore our deepest selves with a session on “Who Am I?”Meets in Room 2, the second room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall. And don’t miss the 10-11 COA parent meeting in Room 2 & youth trip to Bagel Nosh!
YRUU (9th-12th alternates 9:00/11:00): Meets during the 11:00 service only this week.
This Sunday we’ll be working on the 3/25 YRUU Sunday service, and saving some time for games – please make sure to come!Meets in Room 1, the first room at the top of the stairs above Forbes Hall.
Announcements:
· NEW Children’s Art Submissions Requested for May Art Wall :WHAT A COMBO - Our children’s art on our Art Wall for the month of May. Please submit a framed piece done by your child for the May art wall. One piece per child per family. Three children=three pieces. It is such a pleasure to celebrate the creative talent of our RE children. We do have precise hanging requirements so make sure the art is frames and the backs ready to be placed on hooks. Beverly Alison can answer questions and she has a large collection of frames in all sizes if your entries aren't yet framed. The collection place is DRE Catherine Loya's office and Beverly is ready to help if you need some assistance. We will hang the show following the closing reception for the April exhibit. If you have questions, contact Beverly.
· NEW COA/YRUU Event Night 4/14 – Dodger Game: Go Dodger Blue! On Saturday, April 14th, 8th-12th grade youth will head out to Chavez Ravine to cheer on the home team as they take on the San Diego Padres. Advance ticket purchase is required. Please RSVP to parent volunteers, Laura and Larry Weiner, with the number of tickets you need by March 31. Admission is approximately $12 each for seats located in the top deck behind home plate. The Dodgers are looking pretty good this spring and it will be a very exciting season what with new ownership and all. And we will do our part to say thanks for the memories to Frank McCourt by carpooling from the church as much as possible so to save gas and pay as little for parking as possible. So what do you say...Are you in? For more information or to reserve your spot, call Larry Weiner.
· HELP NEEDED Help Provide Hospitality for DRE’s at UUCCSM from 3/22-24: A dozen DRE’s from UU churches near and far will be converging on our campus for a training on developing UU Identity in RE programs later this month. Please help us welcome them by volunteering as you can. We’re in need of a few more people to provide home hospitality, which helps make coming to the training affordable (attendees are coming from as far away as Missouri to attend) – do you have a guest bedroom that you’d be willing to open to a friendly UU for two nights (Thursday 3/22 & Friday 3/23)? We also are looking for a couple of folks who would be willing to do airport drop-offs on Saturday afternoon. Let’s show our visitors how warm and welcoming we are here at UUCCSM; please contact catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105 if you’d like to help out.
· HELP NEEDED 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.comor 310-829-5436 x105 for more information or to volunteer.
· Easter Volunteers Needed: Easter’s on April 8th this year, and I’m looking for some volunteers to help with this year’s festivities. We’re especially in need of coordinators for our special after-service egg hunts for the kids, as well as volunteers to hide eggs and supervise the hunts. If you’d like to help out, contact Catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105.
· RE Wish List: I am currently developing a “master wish list” for the RE program, which includes general and lesson-specific RE supply needs for this year’s classes. While the RE operating budget does have some money for supplies, this year’s budget is very tight and donations are happily accepted. The list so far includes:
UU Everyday (resources and ideas for practicing your UU values at home):
Chalice Lighting Words of the Week (March’s Theme – BROKENNESS):
March 18:
Earth cure me.
Earth receive my woe.
Rock strengthen me.
Rock receive my weakness.
Rain wash my sadness away.
Rain receive my doubt.
Sun make sweet my song.
Sun receive the anger from my heart.
--Nancy Wood
For the 2011-12 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. The chalice lighting shared here will be used on Sunday in all of our RE classes, and I hope that your family will also share it at home during the following 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.
At-Home Ideas to Explore our Congregational Theme for March - BROKENNESS
Resources:
Books for Children:
The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams Bianco, Harper Collins, 1999
The Velveteen Rabbit (Board Book), Margery Williams Bianco, HarperFestival, 2004
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Virginia Lee Burton, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1939
Further Reading for Adults:
The Velveteen Principles: A Guide to Becoming Real, Hidden Wisdom from a Children’s Classic, Toni Raiten-D’Antonio, HCI, 2006
In the Simple Morning Light: A Meditation Manual, Barbara Rohde, Skinner House Books, 1994
“The Theology School of Hard Knocks” in Roller-skating as a Spiritual Discipline, Christopher Buice, Skinner House Books, 2002
“Prayer for Healing” in Glory, Hallelujah! Now Please Pick Up Your Socks, Jane Ellen Mauldin, Skinner House Books, 1998
The chapter entitled “The Place of Self Discovery” in the book Women Pray: Voices through the Ages, from Many Faiths, Cultures, and Traditions, edited by Monica Furlong, Skylight Paths Publishing, 2001
The Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Scriptures
“Help and the Human Condition: What can we do to help?” by Victoria Safford, uuworld.org, Fall 2005, http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/1809.shtml.
The film Babette's Feast, Distributor: Festival Films, Story by Isak Dinnesen, film directed by Gabriel Axel
The New Grove Gospel, Blues and Jazz by Paul Oliver, Max Harrison and William Bolcom, W. W. Norton, 1980, 1986
This Week in UU History: (From This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, by Frank Schulman)
March 18, 1568: The Act of Religious Freedom and Conscience (Edict of Torda) was issued by Prince John Sigismund of Transylvania, assuring religious freedom in his principality.
March 18, 1869: Arthur Neville Chamberlain was born in Birmingham, England. He came from a Unitarian family and his father, Joseph Chamberlain, was a distinguished statesman. Neville maintained a loose connection with the Unitarian church. He served the government as lord mayor of Birmingham, chancellor of the exchequer, and minister for health. In 1937 he became prime minister and pursued a policy of appeasement toward the new German chancellor, Adolph Hitler. This policy came under fire when Hitler launched World War II. Chamberlain’s government fell, and he died within the year. Subsequent thinking has shown him in a more favorable light as England was ill-prepared for war. Chamberlain died on November 9, 1940.
March 19, 1652: Richard Coppin, a student at Oxford University in England, stood trial for his belief in universal salvation. He was expelled from the university.
March 19, 1899: Margaret Barr was born in Menston in Warfedale, Yorkshire, England. She devoted her life to working with the Unitarians in the Khasi Hills, in the state of Meghalaya in northeast India. Her work stressed education so that poor people could have their own leaders, schoolteachers, midwives, and health care workers. She opened her first school in Shillong in the 1930s. Barr’s main support came from the English, but the Canadian Unitarians and the Unitarian Universalist Association offered help as well. In 1972 the Kong (Sister) Barr Memorial Hospital opened in Kharang, and Khasi Unitarians remember Margaret Barr with affection. She was greatly inspired by Mohandas Gandhi, whom she met many times. She died on August 11, 1973.
March 20, 1727: Sir Isaac Newton, a celebrated English mathematician and Unitarian, died at age 84 and was buried in Westminster Abbey, London.
March 21, 1844: Ezra Abbot, an American Unitarian scholar, died. He served on the American Bible Revision Committee, which was charged with producing an American edition of the Bible to replace the King James Version.
March 21, 1965: More than 3,000 civil rights marchers left Selma, Alabama, for Montgomery to urge passage of the Voting Rights Act. Four days later, more than 25,000 people entered Montgomery. This successful march followed the tragic events surrounding “Bloody Sunday.” More than 125 Unitarian Universalist ministers participated in the marches (including UUCCSM’s own Rev. Ernie Pipes!).
|
|||
|
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012 Calendar of upcoming events:
Saturday, 3/3
COA/YRUU Event Night – Laser Tag at Ultrazone!
Sunday, 3/4
5th-6th O.W.L. meets
Sunday, 3/11
Daylight Savings Time begins!
UUniverse Story class field trip to Natural History Museum
Neighboring Faiths field trip to Guru Ram Das Gurdwara
YRUU Trip to Phoenix Info Meeting, 10-11
5th-6th O.W.L. meets
Sunday, 3/18
RE/Pulpit Switch Sunday – Rebecca visits RE classes, Catherine leads adult service
COA parent meeting, 10-11
5th-6th O.W.L. meets – final class
Sunday, 3/25
YRUU Sunday Service – “Balancing Acts”
This Week in RE:
PRESCHOOL (Ages 3-5 at 9:00 & 11:00): “Our Good Wishes Can Come True” This week our preschool classes will have stories and crafts that help develop the power of the imagination, and to begin to connect wishing with doing. Meets in the NW room of the cottage.
SPIRIT PLAY: (K-1st at 9:00) “Sacred Spaces” This Sunday we’ll be sharing a story about the many different kinds of sacred spaces there are in our world, where people gather in communities to celebrate the spirit of love and justice and the mystery of life. (K-2nd at 11:00) “The Tailor” This week we’ll continue our focus on science and nature with a story about a man who shares a great example of how to find new uses for things rather than throwing them away when they begin to wear out. Meets in the SE room of the cottage.
THEME WORKSHOPS (2nd-3rd at 9:00 only): “Brokenness Workshop” This week we’ll begin our exploration of March’s theme of BROKENNESS with special activities to engage participants in thinking about brokenness, healing, and finding new meaning or usefulness despite brokenness. Meets in the NE room of the cottage (formerly known as “the couch room”).
UUNIVERSE STORY (4th-5th at 9:00/3rd-5th at 11:00): “Dem Bones, Dem Bones #2—The Fossil Record” This week in the UUniverse Story program, we’ll continue to learn about bones and fossils and how we know how old they are. Don’t miss it – this week continues our lead-up to a special field trip to the dinosaur exhibit at the LA Natural History museum on March 11! Meets in the mural room at the end of the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.
NEIGHBORING FAITHS (6th-7th at 9:00 & 11:00): “Sikhism Visitor” This week our Neighboring Faiths classes will continue their exploration of Sikhism by welcoming a special guest, Niranjan Singh Khalsa, who is visiting us from the Guru Ram Das Ashram. Meets in Room 3, the third room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.
COMING OF AGE (8th at 9:00 only): This Sunday in COA we'll be taking a walking field trip to the park at nearby McKinley Elementary. It's a short (maybe 10 mins.) walk, but if everyone's on time that'd be a big help. We won't leave right at 9am, we'll allow a small window for late-comers, but if you arrive after we've left please plan to join your family in the regular service as there's no alternate COA activity planned. We'll be discussing Ultimate Worth, what's sacred?, what's holy?, and what those ideas mean to each of us as individuals. Meets in Room 2, the second room down the hallway upstairs above Forbes Hall.
YRUU (9th-12th alternates 9:00/11:00): Meets during the 11:00 service only this week.
This Sunday we’ll be working hard to craft the 3/25 YRUU Sunday service – please make sure to come! Meets in Room 1, the first room at the top of the stairs above Forbes Hall.
Announcements:
· NEW Membership Invitation: "UUSM is my spiritual home, but I just haven't gotten around to signing the membership book..." We have good news for you: our next service of welcome and recognition for new members is Sunday, March 11, at 11am. Please contact Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur at minister@uusm.org or 310-829-5436 x104 for details.
· NEW Help Provide Hospitality for DRE’s at UUCCSM from 3/22-24: A dozen DRE’s from UU churches near and far will be converging on our campus for a training on developing UU Identity in RE programs later this month. Please help us welcome them by volunteering as you can. We’re in need of a few more people to provide home hospitality, which helps make coming to the training affordable (attendees are coming from as far away as Missouri to attend) – do you have a guest bedroom that you’d be willing to open to a friendly UU for two nights (Thursday 3/22 & Friday 3/23)? We also are looking for a couple of folks who would be willing to do airport pickups on Thursday afternoon, and/or drop-offs on Saturday afternoon. And while we have coordinators for all of the meals, we’d like to have at least one more volunteer to help prepare and serve each meal (Thursday dinner, lunch or dinner on Friday, or Saturday lunch). Let’s show our visitors how warm and welcoming we are here at UUCCSM; please contact catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105 if you’d like to help out.
· Easter Volunteers Needed: Easter’s on April 8th this year, and I’m looking for some volunteers to help with this year’s festivities. We’re especially in need of coordinators for our special after-service egg hunts for the kids, as well as volunteers to hide eggs and supervise the hunts. If you’d like to help out, contact Catherinedre@yahoo.com or call me at 310-829-5436 x105.
· RE Wish List: I am currently developing a “master wish list” for the RE program, which includes general and lesson-specific RE supply needs for this year’s classes. While the RE operating budget does have some money for supplies, this year’s budget is very tight and donations are happily accepted. The list so far includes:
UU Everyday (resources and ideas for practicing your UU values at home):
Chalice Lighting Words of the Week (March’s Theme – BROKENNESS):
March 4:
For every time we make a mistake
and we decide to start again, we light this chalice.
For every time we are lonely
and we let someone be our friend, we light this chalice.
For every time we are disappointed
and we choose to hope, we light this, our chalice.
-- M. Maureen Killoran
For the 2011-12 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. The chalice lighting shared here will be used on Sunday in all of our RE classes, and I hope that your family will also share it at home during the following 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.
At-Home Ideas to Explore our Congregational Theme for March - BROKENNESS
Resources:
Books for Children:
The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams Bianco, Harper Collins, 1999
The Velveteen Rabbit (Board Book), Margery Williams Bianco, HarperFestival, 2004
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Virginia Lee Burton, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1939
Further Reading for Adults:
The Velveteen Principles: A Guide to Becoming Real, Hidden Wisdom from a Children’s Classic, Toni Raiten-D’Antonio, HCI, 2006
In the Simple Morning Light: A Meditation Manual, Barbara Rohde, Skinner House Books, 1994
“The Theology School of Hard Knocks” in Roller-skating as a Spiritual Discipline, Christopher Buice, Skinner House Books, 2002
“Prayer for Healing” in Glory, Hallelujah! Now Please Pick Up Your Socks, Jane Ellen Mauldin, Skinner House Books, 1998
The chapter entitled “The Place of Self Discovery” in the book Women Pray: Voices through the Ages, from Many Faiths, Cultures, and Traditions, edited by Monica Furlong, Skylight Paths Publishing, 2001
The Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Scriptures
“Help and the Human Condition: What can we do to help?” by Victoria Safford, uuworld.org, Fall 2005,http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/1809.shtml.
The film Babette's Feast, Distributor: Festival Films, Story by Isak Dinnesen, film directed by Gabriel Axel
The New Grove Gospel, Blues and Jazz by Paul Oliver, Max Harrison and William Bolcom, W. W. Norton, 1980, 1986
This Week in UU History: (From This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, by Frank Schulman)
March 3, 1568: The second religious debate between Unitarian Francis David and Calvinist bishop Peter Melius opened at Gyulafehervar, Transylvania. It lasted 10 days. Tradition has it that after returning home from that debate, Francis David preached standing on the “round rock” at the corner of Torda street in Kolozsvar and converted all who heard him to Unitarianism. The stone is now in the narthex of the First Unitarian Church in Kolozsvar. The series of debates began at the Diet of Torda and ultimately resulted in the conversion of Prince John Sigismund of Transylvania to Unitarianism.
March 4, 1864: Thomas Starr King, a Universalist and Unitarian minister and missionary on the West Coast, died at age 39 of diphtheria. When he died, President Lincoln ordered guns to be fired from U.S. forts in recognition of his service to the country.
March 5, 1761: John Taylor died at age 67. A minister in Norwich, England, his religious studies emphasized Hebrew languages and Jewish scriptures. To accommodate those wishing to enjoy his simple form of Christian worship, the Nonconformist congregation of Norwich built the Octagon Chapel and became Unitarian. Taylor was the author of several theological works and principal and tutor in theology at Warrington Academy, England.
March 6, 1582: The debate between Simon Budny and the Catholics began at the Synod of Iwie in Poland. A native of Lithuania and a Calvinist priest, Budny had met disciples of Faustus Socinus, George Blandrata, and other Unitarians and joined their ranks. He founded the sect called Budneans in Poland. His view was that Jesus was born naturally and was not an appropriate object of worship; he also rejected infant baptism. A biblical scholar, Budny translated the entire Bible from Hebrew, Greek and Latin into Polish (1572). He gained a large following in Lithuania and Poland, where he was denounced at the Synod of Luclavice, Poland, and excommunicated. He was told the excommunication would be lifted if he would renounce his “obnoxious opinions,” but he refused.
March 6, 1888: The beloved American writer Louisa May Alcott died at age 55 in Boston. Louisa’s father was Bronson Alcott, a founder of the Transcendentalist Club who ran a school in Concord, Massachusetts, and educated Louisa and her sisters at home. She worked as a teacher and a domestic worker and eventually began to write poems and short stories for children. Alcott was an ardent abolitionist and served as a nurse during the Civil War. This experience provided material for Hospital Sketches (1863), which established her literary reputation. She also wrote various stories for children, of which Little Women(1868) is the best known. It was largely autobiographical and a great financial success. Alcott wrote numerous other stories, including Gothic tales published under the pseudonym A. M. Barnard. She devoted her later life to reforms, including temperance and women’s rights. Alcott did not like formal church connections, but her beliefs were Unitarian and she moved among such prominent Unitarians as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, Samuel Gridley Howe, and Julia Ward Howe.
March 7, 1601: A Socinian conference opened at Rakow, Poland, to discuss the nature of Christ, his relation to God, and whether he should be worshipped.
March 7, 1844: The Dissenters’ Chapels Act was introduced in English Parlaiment, aimed at giving Unitarians legal rights to their church property. It was an important step in religious freedom in England. It passed by a vote of 202 to 41 and Queen Victoria gave it the royal seal on July 15, 1844.
March 7, 1920: Seven people met with Egbert Ethelred Brown, and African-American Unitarian minister, in Harlem to form the Harlem Community Church of New York City, the first African-American Unitarian congregation in the United States. Maurice Dawkins, an African-American, became the minister of education there in 1948.
March 7, 1965: Six hundred civil rights marchers who set out from Selma, Alabama, on their way to Montgomery to urge passage of the Voting Rights Act, were attacked by local law enforcement officials at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Known as “Bloody Sunday,” this event led Martin Luther King to call on clergy of all faiths to join him in Selma. More than 125 Unitarian Universalist ministers answered the call, including UUCCSM minister Rev. Ernie Pipes. On March 21, 1965, more than 3,000 marchers left Selma for Montgomery and by March 25, 1965, 25,000 marchers entered Montgomery. On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. Three people were killed during the Selma marches – James Reeb, a Unitarian Universalist minister; Jimmy Lee Jackson, an African-American laborer and church deacon; and Viola Liuzzo, a Unitarian Universalist layperson from Detroit.
|