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We gather following the election to reflect upon our liberal religious principles as strong moral guides in times of tumult and change. We are a prophetic tradition that has helped to lead social progress in our country throughout its history. Today we explore the application of our principles to this new era and envision a future of justice and equality for all.

We Shall Be Released

We the People...

The democratic principles of our society have been distorted, threatened, and ignored over the centuries. Our religious ancestors played a critical role in establishing democracy in the United States and our fifth Unitarian Universalist Principle affirms: “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.” Join us this Sunday as we explore the state of our democracic republic and what these times are demanding of us.

We Will Walk on Our Own Feet, We Will Work with Our Own Hands, We Will Speak with Our Own Minds

This declaration, famously made by Ralph Waldo Emerson, reflects the watershed moment in 1837 when Transcendentalism became a major cultural movement in our country. At the time, it was a rejection of Unitarianism — but in this first of a two-part series, Rev. Erika will trace the connections between our two worlds, weaving the lives of our religious ancestors into who we are as modern Unitarian Universalists.

Weave the Web

The seventh principle of Unitarian Universalismstates that we respect the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. The interdependent web offers us a rich image of what we can be as a religious community. 2 p.m. Shirlee FrankMemorial Service in the Sanctuary

Webmaster

If you have questions or comments about this site, or encounter any problems with its operation, please contact webmaster Elizabeth Fuller at webmaster@uusm.org.

Website Help

Current Known Issues:

My browser says I'm logged in, but the website still won't let me access content in the For Members area...or the browser says I am not logged in, but I have found that I can ignore the warning and still access content in the For Members area.
I don't see the audio player under sermon listings where audio files should be available for listening.
I am a former church member, and can no longer access the For Members area of the website. How can I keep reading the PDF newsletter?

Current Known Issues

My browser says I'm logged in, but the website still won't let me access content in the For Members area...or the browser says I am not logged in, but I have found that I can ignore the warning and still access content in the For Members area.

If your browser and/or the website seem to be confused about whether or not you are logged in, please try clearing your browser cache and/or cookies (for more information on how to do that, see https://kb.iu.edu/d/ahic), and then log into the site again with your user name and password. This should solve the problem. Also, to prevent it from happening again, you can also try logging out of the site when you leave (rather than just moving to another site or tab). This may help prevent the browser/site log-in confusion when you return for your next visit.

I don't see the audio player under sermon listings where audio should be available for listening.

Our current audio player uses a tool called Flash, which has been deprecated (less supported) in recent versions of Chrome (and possibly other browsers). If you don't see the audio player graphic under a sermon for which there should be audio available, or if - when trying to play sermon audio - you're getting a message that you need to either install Flash or update your Flash player...please note that you probably do not need to do either, especially if you've been able to listen to the sermons on our website in the recent past. Instead:

1. Look at the URL address bar near the top of your browser. Find the little icon at the left-hand end of the bar (it should be either a circled "i" (which says "Website Information" when you mouse over it), or a little padlock with the word "Secure" next to it). Click the icon.

2. At the bottom of the small pop-up window that opens, click "Site Settings."

3. In the Settings page that opens, scroll down to "Flash," and at the right-hand side of the page, click the little down-pointing arrow to open the drop-down menu. It is likely set to "Ask" by default. Change the setting to "Allow."

4. Return to the church site, re-load the page, and the Flash player for the sermon audio should now be showing...and should remain available whenever you return to the site using Chrome on that particular computer.

I am a former church member and can no longer access the For Members area of the website. How can I keep reading the PDF newsletter?

There's good news and bad news here. The very, very good news is that we no longer distribute paper versions or electronic PDF files of a monthly newsletter. Instead, you can now find all our news, published as it comes in, on our separate newsletter website, at news.uusm.org - and you don't have to be a church member to access it.

The less good news is that if you are looking for our old newsletter PDF files, but you are no longer a UUSM church member, we may have downgraded your website account (if you still have one), from "member" to "friend" status, so you will no longer be able to access those old newsletters PDFs on the website.

Other Common Questions - and Answers - About this Website

How do I create a website account?

To create a website account, click "Log In" in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. When the white pop-up box appears, click "Create an Account" and follow the directions from there.

How do I get "church member" status for my account?

All new accounts are verified by the webmaster and checked against the most recent church member directory. If your name appears in the current member directory, you will be automatically upgraded to "church member" status. To make it easier for us to verify your member status, please use your name somewhere in your profie when you create your website account (it's much easier to verify "John Smith" as a member than "js2161.") If you have joined the church since the last directory was published, please e-mail webmaster@uusm.org and let us know that you do qualify for a member-level account. We'll verify this with the church office and upgrade your status.

How does a "church member" account differ from a regular account?

People with "church member" accounts can view items in the "For Members" area. This includes the weekly announcements, board documents, old newsletter PDF files, classified ads and more.

I tried to register, but keep getting a message that my password isn't strong enough...but I don't want to create a more complex password, because it's too hard to remember.

The password warning is advisory only. You can ignore the warning and use a simpler password if you choose to.

I didn't get a confirmation of my registration - how do I know my account is active?

We do not send out confirmations, but most accounts are active as soon as they are created. To test your activation, just try logging in to the site. Church member level upgrades may take a few hours, since they are done manually by the webmaster.

How do I know if my "member" status has been approved?

If you log in and can see the menu items under the "For Members" heading, your status has been approved.

I forgot my password.

To reset your password, click the "Log In" link in the upper right-hand corner of the front page. When the white pop-up box appears, click "Request New Password" and follow the instructions. If that doesn't work, or you're still having problems for any reason, please contact the webmaster at webmaster@uusm.org and she can help you re-set it.

I'm not currently a member, but was a member (or employee) for many years...and now it looks like I'm locked out of the Members area of the website. Can I still access the "members-only" files, such as the newsletter archive?

When members (and employees) leave the church, their website accounts are re-set to "Friend" level. This means you will no longer have access to the Members area of the website.

Why does my profile say "Member for xxx" length of time when I've actually been a church member for MUCH longer than that?

The "member for xxx" months or years is a record of how long you've had an account on this website. It doesn't have anything to do with your tenure as a church member. (We're not fond of the confusing language, either, but it seems to be the default of our Drupal platform here, and it doesn't look like there's a way to change it.)

I have a website user name and password, but I still can't log in.

Please note that both user names and passwords are case sensitive. So if your user name is "John Smith," you must type it exactly like that. "JohnSmith" won't work, and neither will "johh smith," "johnsmith" or any other variant. The same is true for passwords. If you have tried every password variant you can think of and are still having problems, please follow the prompts in the log-in box to set a new password, or e-mail webmaster@uusm.org, and she can re-set the password for you.

Why can't I log into the donation site with my website account information?

Donations are processed by an outside company, Vanco, which requires its own set of user IDs and passwords. When you click on our "Make a Donation" link, you will be taken to the outside site, where you will be asked to create a new ID and password exclusively for the Vanco donation site.

OK, I've read all this and you still haven't answered my question. Now what?

Please e-mail webmaster@uusm.org and we'll try to help. We may even post the answer here after helping you, so others can benefit from your experience.

Website Operation

SPECIAL PAGES:

UPLOADED IMAGES PAGE - This is a special page intended for attaching images which you feel may be useful on other pages. Once uploaded here, their URLs can be pasted into the SRC argument of an IMG tag.

BLOCKS:

SUNDAY SERVICES BLOCK (front page) - The list of upcoming Sermons is gathered automatically. Other features of this block can be changed:

Website Policies

Approved by the Board of Directors August 8, 2006

The responsibility for the editorial policies and practices of the church website ultimately rests with the board of directors. The webmaster is responsible for the production and maintenance of the site and for implementing board policies, including making reasonable discretionary decisions relating to the content and design.

The primary functions of the website are to inform the congregation and visitors of church issues, programs and activities, and to provide information for prospective members and visitors about the culture and philosophies of our church and denomination, as well as other basic information that will help them find and be comfortable visiting us.

Website content includes:

Monthly updates reformatted from the church newsletter, including:

Sunday Services
Columns by minister, DRE, president, FIA, stewardship, building, capital campaign
Calendar and UUpComing events
You Are Invited
Splinters (board meeting notes)
Gallery Wall
Sunday morning music
Appreciations
RE Star
Church meetings, programs, or party announcements
Articles from committees
Adult classes
Interviews and personal stories
District, UUA, de Benneville, and UUSC events or announcements
Church history
Past events
Letters to the editor
Events in other congregations or districts
UU biographies
Filler

(Privacy Note: Newsletter items not used on the website include Turning Points, New Member bios and other features which may include personal information that should not be made available to the general public. We also do not include the names of children shown in photographs, or personal street addresses, phone numbers or e-mail addresses without permission from their owners. Any such information that is included in newsletter items is excised before the item is posted on our website.)

In addition, we have less-frequently updated sections outlining church policies and organizational information, location and contact information, our Music, Religious Exploration, Small Group Ministry and Faith in Action programs, and a Get Involved section listing various volunteer opportunities and social groups in which members and friends may participate. We also post a comprehensive list of all sermons delivered in our church (with full texts of sermons by the Rev. Judith Meyer), as well as Chalice Lighting texts, when available and approved by their authors. Finally, we provide a collection of links to other local, national and international UU institutions and programs.

Sunday Order of Service announcements are not usually included on the website, unless by special request. Classified ads and literary contributions are not accepted. Other appropriate items may be submitted to the webmaster for approval and inclusion.

The webmaster may edit material for length, style, grammar, etc., and refuse material that is not appropriate.

Any questions or problems concerning the website should be addressed to the webmaster at webmaster@uusm.org. Disagreements about what should be published will be resolved by the minister, the president, and the webmaster.

All material on the website is copyrighted and is the property of the church.

Website Welcome Wagon for Members Only - Zoom/Online

The Website team would like to welcome you to the first (and perhaps last) Website Welcome Wagon. Members of the Website Team will be on hand to give tours, take questions, and help UUSM members discover the fresh, new uusm.org. We'll look at the public and Members Only calendars, the new News, cookie management, member resources, and more. Bring a favorite beverage and join in!

We’ll be meeting in the Coffee Hour Zoom Room, and if you need the link, they can email website-helper@uusm.org.

Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Rentals

“Love is the doctrine of this church…”

Our enchanting, 1920s-era Mission Revival sanctuary, newly refurbished reception hall and beautifully-landscaped courtyard are the ideal setting for your Santa Monica wedding and reception.

This warm little corner of Santa Monica has everything you need to make your wedding unforgettable:

Beautiful, historic church that seats 200
Steinway grand piano and magnificent pipe organ
Spacious, renovated reception hall with a receding glass wall that opens out to an enclosed, trellis-lined courtyard
Refurbished kitchen with new, commercial-grade fixtures
Covered garage parking available

The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica has long been a staple in the Westside wedding scene, and we pride ourselves on the welcoming diversity of our community. We are dedicated to sharing our space with all couples, regardless of religious background, and without regard to sexual orientation. In fact, UUCCSM has performed same-sex weddings and commitment ceremonies for decades… longer than any other church in Los Angeles!

RESERVATIONS

To inquire about availability or to get a quote, please call our Rental Assistant, Cyndee Hayes, at (310) 829-5436, ext. #102.

	BUILDINGS & GROUNDS Located at 1260 18th St. (the corner of 18th and Arizona.), UUCCSM boasts a charming Mission Revival building.
The sanctuary, designed in the 1920s by noted Santa Monica architect John Byers, features a high vaulted ceiling, original exposed beamwork, old oak floors and scrupulously-inclusive iconography.
	Terraced courtyards embrace the sanctuary on two sides, with classic Saltillo tiles to the east and cobblestone-pattern pavers bridging northward to our historic, fully-renovated 1914 Craftsman Bungalow.
Our lush Wisteria-rimmed trellises are the ideal background for photographs you’ll treasure forever.
	And our renovated reception hall and expanded, commercial-grade kitchen can accommodate both formal and informal receptions.
Also, a children’s play area and nursery staff are available to keep the little ones occupied during your formal ceremony or reception.
	THE CEREMONY UUCCSM’s Mission-style sanctuary can seat up to 200 guests in a simultaneously intimate and ample setting. Boasting original preserved wooden pews and bathed in warm light from both northern and southern windows, our church sanctuary is the perfect place to exchange your vows. Overhead and natural lighting can be supplemented with graceful candelabras placed at each pew.
A Steinway grand piano and a 1,000-pipe organ are available for use during your wedding, and elevated filming is available from our organ loft, so your videographer won’t miss a moment.
	THE RECEPTION Our completely-refurbished 1626 square foot reception hall is the perfect location to entertain your wedding guests, with new flooring, brand new sofas and café tables, fully-remodeled and pristine restrooms, and an expansive artwork display system along the full length of the eastern wall.
Or perhaps you’d prefer to take the party outside? Simply pull aside the receding glass wall and open your reception outward onto our enclosed, two-tiered courtyard.
	Whether you’re eating indoors or out, our full commercial kitchen is available to help you or your caterer make this an event to remember.