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A Month of Sundays
One service and Religious Education at 10am
July 28
Caring for the Body is Caring for the Spirit
Rev. Roger Jones, Yoga Teacher Paige LaBrie, and Monday Yoga Members
What is the connection between the body and spiritual health? Can stretching the body help the soul to grow? Yoga is an ancient spiritual tradition about honoring body and soul, and the value of breathing. Every Monday UUSS hosts chair yoga. Come Sunday to hear from Paige and others in the congregation. We demonstrate a few chair-yoga poses, and you are free to watch... or to try one out!
August 4
The Common Good, Part 2:
What We Really Have in Common and Who Says It's Good
Adam Dyer, Starr King School for the Ministry
Adam continues the topic he introduced June 23, when many of us were away at camp. He reflects on the many ways and places that structural oppression shows up in our country. One of the most surprising is in how we deal with our physical differences, be they racial, sexual, cognitive or physical. At the University of Florida he worked as a choreographer and adjunct lecturer in theater and dance. Now his seminary studies center around embodiment, sexuality and religion.
August 11
Faith Theatricals: Movies, Media, and Building a Better World
Rev. Sonya Sukalski
How can the best of activism and community organizing pair with socially conscious media to address the most challenging issues of our time? Just like a mosquito bite that you know you shouldn't scratch, we turn to the same old sources of information and expect a different outcome from engaging with them. How could independent and social media be employed through churches and other grass roots organizations to change the national dialogue?
Rev. Sonya is Director of Faith Community Engagement for Specialty Studios and The Video Project. They harness the power of socially conscious media to touch hearts, engage minds and inspire action. From 2010 to 13, Sonya developed the UU Legislative Ministry of California's Spiritual Activist Leadership Training (SALT) for young adults.
August 18
Touching Hearts Through Bullet-Proof Glass: You Are Not Alone
Rev. Roger Jones, Mary Helen Doherty, JoAnn Anglin and others
Faithful Friends is the name of the local group of Unitarian Universalists and other people of faith who make jail visits to immigrants held in detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We give support just by listening, and we learn about the lives of people uncertain about their fate and separated from their loved ones. Discussion follows the service.
August 25
Homecoming Sunday: Ingathering Ritual
Service for All Ages at 10:00
Rev. Roger Jones and Rev. Lucy Bunch
In a single service for all ages, we kick off a new church year in which we come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. We also welcome Lucy Bunch to UUSS as she joins the ministry of our lively faith community. For the annual Ingathering Ritual, bring small containers of water representing your summer activities-from the back yard, a local river or lake, a glacier, ocean or other meaningful source.
September 1
Modern Slavery: Kids Making a Difference
Rev. Roger Jones with Aliya Stanton
and other members of the Kids' Freedom Club
Service for All Ages at 10:00
There are 27 million people in bondage today, mostly in countries where slavery is against the law! Aliya Stanton (age 10) started the Kids' Freedom Club to raise money and awareness in solidarity with adults and children who long for freedom, school, fresh air and paid work. The service is open to all ages but with child care for those who choose it. Please let Miranda Massa know by August 25 if you will. This is the last summer Sunday service at 10:00 a.m. On September 8 we return to the two-service schedule. |
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Water, Water . . .Bring Some Back!
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By Rev. Roger Jones
At our Ingathering Service August 25, we have the Gathering of the Waters at this worship service for all ages. Bring small containers of water representing your summer activities - from the back yard, a local river or lake, a glacier, ocean or other spot you may visit. This annual ritual symbolizes our coming back together and renewing our connections for a big new church year.
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Greetings from Rev. Lucy Bunch,
your Assistant Minister | |
 Hello! I am excited to be joining you this month as your half-time Assistant Minister. I am a long-time UU, but a new minister and you will be my first congregation to serve. I will be in Sunday worship this month on August 18 and 25. Please come up and say hello. My hours at church during the week will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, or other times by appointment. I am looking forward to meeting all of you in the coming weeks.
Some long-time members may remember me from when I was a member during 1989-1993, but you may recall a different name--Karen. I changed my name in 1995 to honor my two grandmothers, Lucy and Adele. Last October I added Reverend to the beginning of my name when I was ordained by my home congregation, the UU Community Church, here at the UUSS Main Hall. It is wonderful that the beginning of my ministry was celebrated in your space.
In this time of transformation for UUSS, it will be my pleasure to serve as you transition to a new ministry team and experience the renovation of your facilities. I am honored to be part of this significant time in the life of the congregation and excited about working alongside Rev. Roger Jones. I look forward to a wonderful year together. |
| Welcome, Rev. Lucy! | |
By Rev. Roger Jones, Acting Senior Minister
As you read in July 16's Unigram EXTRA, the hiring team recommended and the Board appointed the Rev. Lucy Bunch as our Assistant Minister! She starts on a 12-month contract this month, and she's rather modest in her introductory article (above)!
To her administrative portfolio at UUSS she brings decades of project management, staff supervision and team leadership experience as an assistant dean at UC-Davis. She's been a hospital chaplain intern, and she completed an 18-month internship at the Palo Alto UU church, which has two ministers and is almost the size of UUSS. I've known her since she began seminary and can assure you she comes well recommended.
At her home church she served as the music director, a lay preacher, and in many elected roles. Recently the Pacific Central District asked her to chair its Growth Committee, and delegates to General Assembly elected her to the Commission on Appraisal of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
I am grateful to the Board for appointing this colleague, and grateful to Lucy for offering her gifts in ministry to UUSS. I'm happy!
Be sure to meet Lucy and welcome her to ministry in this lively and loving congregation.
Yours in service,
Roger
P.S.-Having enjoyed the great Saturday potluck supper at the All-Ages Camp in June, I'd love to have a volunteer team to coordinate a potluck for Saturday, August 24, the evening before our Homecoming Service. Let me know if you'd like to work on that team.
Where's Roger in July and August?
I have office hours weekdays and by appointment. I travel to New York City and to Vermont July 30 to August 6. Our Office staff knows a lot of answers, and they can reach me in an emergency.
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Presidentia: Pondering | | |
By Linda Clear, President, Board of Trustees
I'm sitting at my desk this beautiful Saturday morning and pondering my new position as your Board President. There is a part of me that thinks, "What have I gotten myself into," and another part of me is saying, "Wow, this is really exciting."
While I have served on the Board in the past and once before was Board President, this next two years will be the most challenging, at least for me, since my husband and I joined the church in 1995. We have ourselves a new part-time minister, Lucy Bunch; Roger will be our Acting Lead Minister; we are planning a move to a new temporary location next spring; and as usual, we face some fiscal challenges.
I already have my first Executive Meeting under my belt and am planning for our next Board meeting. I have been in contact with the other presidents in our district and we are already planning a get together in early August so we can meet and start sharing information. I have introduced myself via e-mail to our new District Executive, Joshua Searle-White, and look forward to meeting him when he visits our church on July 28. My husband Dennis is getting involved as the secretary of the IMP committee, so basically things are just humming along in the Clear household.
I believe in my heart we will continue to thrive because all of you work so hard to accomplish our Mission and Vision. I look forward to getting to know more of you and what your thoughts and ideas are for our church home. Please feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected]. I know the rest of the Board and I can count on your support as we move forward.
Yours in Faith |
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Welcome Back, Miranda! | | |
By Rev. Roger Jones
 This month Miranda returns to work after two months of teaching sign language to deaf children in Ghana. Her photos have been filled with joyful images, so we look forward to hearing the stories. She returns to a bigger job here -- Miranda is now the Religious Education Coordinator. She works 20 hours a week, up from 16 in the last budget year. She joins the Religious Education volunteers, Nursery staffers, and me in thanking JoLane Blaylock profusely for doing double duty, covering much of Miranda's job the past several weeks. Cheers! |
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Generosity Beyond these Walls-
Offering Helps Family Promise | | |
UUSS shares half our offering every Sunday with a local "community partner." In the budget year that ended June 30, we gave away $23,000 to a dozen local organizations doing important work in the community and across California. In May we sent $1,800 to Ubuntu Green of Sacramento. In June we sent $2017.14 to Gender Health Center. In July the SPCA received a share of our offering. In August, the offering will be shared with Family Promise. |
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Newcomers' Orientation to Membership | |
By Rev. Roger Jones
Would you like to get more connected here? Find out what this congregation is about? An Orientation Sign-up Sheet is at the Greeters' Welcome Table. Put your name down and we'll contact you when the next class is scheduled. This won't be until the fall, but you may pick up an orientation folder from the UUSS Office any day. Contact me to discuss joining UUSS if you just can't wait to join, or if you are transferring from a different UU congregation. Also, our key staff person for this is JoLane Blaylock, Congregational Support Coordinator. |
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TRANSITIONS: Assistant Minister Hiring | | |
The Assistant Minister hiring committee worked diligently for two months to find the right person to fill our assistant minister position. The committee members were John Abbott, Dave Dawson, Doris Janes, Linda Klein and Margaret Wilcox, along with acting senior minister, Roger Jones. We brought our recommendation to the board on June 27, and the board approved the hiring, starting in late July.
We are very excited to introduce you to Rev. Lucy Bunch, our new assistant minister. Lucy was a member of our congregation from 1989 to 1993, and she says that her experience with our congregation started her journey toward becoming a UU minister.
Her experience and skills are remarkable, and they accompany a gracious presence of caring and compassion. After the staff met with her for an hour, a comment was made that she will bring "upbeat positive energy." The hiring committee reported to the board that they recommended Lucy's hiring "unanimously, completely, and without reservation" for our half-time contract assistant minister position. Please welcome Lucy Bunch into our church community. |
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Hand in Hand | |
By Chuck and Lauren Todd, Co-Chairs, Stewardship Team
Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if thy blessings had spare days;
But such a heart, whose pulse may be thy praise.
George Herbert, 1593-1633, Welsh born English poet, orator and Anglican priest.
Have you ever had the opportunity to watch our maintenance man, Ricardo, or our custodians, Miguel, Angel and Aaron work? They are fast, efficient, pleasant and willing to go out of their way to please. They are people we want to keep and we want them to be happy. Their jobs are an example of your pledge money at work.
Q. Should everyone pledge the same amount?
A. We place a high value on diversity in our congregation--diverse views, backgrounds, circumstances and experiences. Included in this is economic diversity. We are all stewards of our church and we all pledge our financial support at our own individual levels. |
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Treasurer's Reminder | |
By Glory Wicklund
Thank you to those who have brought their 2012-13 Pledges up to date so we can close out the past church year. For many, you have two statements--your Pledge and your Capital Campaign Commitment. If you wish to pay either or both of these with stocks or bonds, please pick up a form or ask [email protected] to e-mail you one. We need the form to track whether you are paying for a Pledge or a Capital Campaign or both. When stocks or bonds come into UUSS' Schwab or Vanguard accounts, they have no donor name, just the stock ticker letters, so we rely on your filling out the UUSS form to know whose money it is and how much to credit to Pledges and how much to the Capital Campaign. Contact Michele or me if you have questions at [email protected]. |
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"Spirit Play" Training, August 24, for New and Returning RE Volunteers | | |
By Rev. Roger Jones
Next month we begin our fourth year of Spirit Play for those in grades 1-5. Plan for a refresher class and a good introduction to this innovative UU program. Even if you are just a little curious or wonder about a smaller way to be of help, please come. It will take place Saturday afternoon, August 24, in Classroom 7/8. Sign up at the RE table. Questions? Contact Miranda Massa, Carolyn Wiggin or me. |
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Support from Lay Listening Ministry | | |
By Rev. Roger Jones
We meet every two months and have an opening for at least one male adult. If you have the calm gift of listening and might want to join us, let me know. If you would like a call from this ministry, leave a message at the Office. This team offers a caring presence to Members and pledging Friends of the congregation. The team includes trustworthy people with life experience and the grace to listen. We start every meeting with Lighting of the Chalice and centering moments. We keep you in our thoughts, intentions, or prayers. |
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Re: RE | | |
By Miranda Massa, Religious Education (RE) Coordinator
Chalice Lighting
Would you like to help light the big chalice during a Sunday morning service? Come early Sunday morning and tell the worship leader so you can be first in line to practice. Worship leader volunteers love to have your assistance. Let Roger know of your interest or if you have any other questions.
Spirit Play Training/Refresher
In August, we will have a Spirit Play (1-5 grades) training for new volunteers and a refresher for those who are returning. Included will be an overview of the class and the components of how the program is run. Storytellers, Doorkeepers, Story Set makers and other avenues of the class will be discussed. If interested in attending, please contact Spirit Play Champion Carolyn Wiggin at [email protected].
Special Religious Education thanks to:
- Matt Mitchell, for his week as Chalice Camp Director and everyone else who gave time and support!
- UUSS families who continue to support our programs.
August Religious Education and event reminders
- RE schedule and calendar details, on the UUSS website at http://uuss.org/Groups/RE/index.php.
- August 5 to 9, UUSS Chalice Camp
- August 25, All Ages Service and back to two service times, 9:30 am and 11:15 am
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| Religious Education Calendar August 2013 | | |
Sunday, August 4
9:45-12 Childcare available - age 5 and under
10:00-11:15 RE ArtWorks
Monday, August 5- Friday, August 9 UUSS Chalice Camp
Sunday, August 11
9:45-12 Childcare available - age 5 and under
10-11:15 RE ArtWorks
Sunday, August 18
9:45-12 Childcare available - age 5 and under
10-11:15 Last day of RE ArtWorks
Sunday, August 25 Two service time schedule resumes
9:45-12 Childcare available - age 5 and under
10-11:15 All Ages Homecoming Ingathering Water Service
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Our Whole Lives for 7th and 8th Graders | | |
By Sally Lewis
The UUSS Religious Education office is providing the Our Whole Lives (OWL) classes again this year for youth in grades 7 and 8.
OWL is a series of sexuality education curricula, taught by trained UUSS adult volunteers and helps young people make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. These classes affirm that parents are the primary sexuality educators of their children, but provide youth with additional, accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture.
Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, OWL not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but helps young people to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.
Participating families are asked to commit to the entire nine-month program beginning with a mandatory Parent Orientation in September 2013. For more information, parents and youth are invited to the OWL Information Meeting on Sunday, August 18, in Room 7/8, at 11:30 am. To register for the OWL Program for 7th and 8th graders, please contact the UUSS RE Coordinator at [email protected] or call (916) 483-9283, Ext. 207 (please leave a message). |
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Coming of Age program, 9th & 10th Grades | | |
By Sally Lewis
Explore, discover and demonstrate in the Coming of Age program! Coming of Age (COA) for youth in 9th and 10th grades is a rite of passage program offered by the UUSS Religious Education office that helps adolescents discern for themselves what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.
COA is in addition to regular youth programs at UUSS. It begins in August 2013, and ends in May 2014.
Each COA youth is paired with a mentor, an adult member of the UUSS congregation, who offers guidance and support while the youth investigates his or her personal spirituality.
With monthly activities, youth explore UU heritage, discover theology and beliefs, demonstrate social justice, develop leadership skills, experience spiritual practice and join other UU youth in the mandatory COA Retreat Program during the year.
Parents, youth and adults interested in becoming mentors are invited to an optional COA Information Meeting on Sunday, August 11, in Room 7/8 at 11:30 a.m. To register for the COA Program, parents and youth must attend the mandatory COA Orientation on Sunday, August 25, 2013, in the Fahs room from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, please go to the RE webpage on the UUSS website at http://uuss.org/Groups/RE/index.php. |
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A Bit of History | | |
By Aggie Vawter, for the Alliance
Many in our congregation remember when Women's Alliance held large money-making events to buy many needed items for the church. They held annual Spring Luncheons and even had a fashion show one year. These are just a few of the things I can remember since coming to this church.
In the early days, the Alliance bought the stage curtains and in later years, the fountain in the hall, among other things. The purpose of the organization was to provide, whenever possible, extras that did not fit into the church budget.
Now we are known simply as Alliance and, though open to all, our numbers have decreased. We no longer hold money-making events, but we still meet monthly to lunch together and hear a series of interesting programs. We have a free will offering of $3 with which at the end of the year we purchase a needed item, thus maintaining the purpose of the organization--to provide something beyond what is in the budget.
This year, we bought four sturdy and good-looking new card tables to replace the old ones stored in the foyer. In addition, we have donated over $100 to the coffee fund. We are already planning our programs for the coming year. Watch for notices in the blue sheet and will find another need to fill. |
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UU Readers Book Discussion | | |
By Rev. Roger Jones
The Book Club meets the last Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Jim Glidden facilitates. Reach him at [email protected]. |
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Welcome to IMP - Implementing the Master Plan!
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By Barbara Gardner
Our congregation is at the point where we are working to implement our master plan (translation: start construction!). Our master plan was unanimously approved by the congregation in early 2012, but work on this process began in 2008. The two major guiding forces have been 1) our collective vision for the future and 2) our desire to be responsible stewards of our resources and not spend money on our facilities without a long-term perspective and plan in place.
The process leading to our current position has been collaborative and the congregation has ratified the decision steps all along the way. Some highlights of this process have included:
- the decision to stay on site and not relocate,
- identification of the need to develop a master plan,
- development of Campus Development Criteria,
- collective visioning of our future,
- hiring and working with architect Jeff Gold to guide us and develop formal plans and strategy for this master planning process,
- obtaining detailed input from the congregation through focus groups, questionnaires, congregational conversations and discussions, and formal voting when appropriate,
- a unanimous vote to approve the master plan in January 2012,
- a successful capital campaign in the fall of 2012,
- a congregational vote to augment the master plan budget (initially just the funds from the capital campaign) with bequest funds and anticipated revenue from the pending sale of the duplexes and
- obtaining a use permit from the County.
There are many different steps between now and the dedication ceremony of our 'new' Social Hall, Phase 1a of our Master Plan. We plan to post information about these steps on the website as it becomes available. Some of these steps include:
- complying with the terms of the use permit,
- detailed design development,
- making definitive decisions about specific features of the plan,
- obtaining a building permit,
- clarifying our budget and ensuring smooth cash flow for the process,
- choosing a general contractor and project manager,
- determining the details of relocating our Sunday services during the construction phase and
- communicating effectively with the congregation about these decisions as well as about the logistics of the project and what to expect. We hope to start construction in the early summer of 2014 and move back in during the early summer of 2015.
Thanks to all of us for the energy and commitment that continue to move this landmark project along!
PS--This Sunday, July 28, is our Congregational Conversation on Implementing the Master Plan. Bring your questions and insights to share at 11:30 AM.
(IMP members include Dennis Clear, Carrie Cornwell, Ginger Enrico, Barbara Gardner, Christine Gerwig, Gordon Gerwig, Barbara Hopkins, John McMillan, Matt Mitchell, Judy Moran, Eric Ross, Joan Rubenson and Colene Schleapfer.)
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Loving Our Earth Symposium | | |
By Dee Ward, Coordinator of Academic Programs,
Starr King School for the Ministry
Dear UUSS Members: With great pleasure, I invite you all to attend Loving Our Earth, An Urban Retreat on Environmental Justice. This is our 2013 Symposium featuring honored teacher Joanna Macy and environmental and racial justice scholars and activists. It is free of charge and takes place August 28 and 29, at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland and the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (Oakland). You can read more about our program at www.sksmsymposium.org.
Please register even for portions of the program and feel free to share the information with your networks and community.
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Theater One Meeting | | |
By Laurie Jones
UUSS's theater company, Theater One, will have its regular third Thursday meeting on August 15, at 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at UUSS. We are eager to continue our success from our July 14, summer service performance of a one-act play called Death of Me by Norm Foster. We now hope to reprise this play at UUCC.
Any experienced/novice/wannabe/interested/curious actors, directors, or technical, backstage, marketing, etc., people are welcome to attend. At least for fall semester, due to class schedules, monthly meetings will probably change to a Sunday after the second church service. Contact Laurie Jones at (916) 342-3226 or [email protected]. |
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