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January 18, 2018
Issue #436
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January 21, 2018: Learning to See: Challenging Privilege in a White Supremacist Culture
Rev. Joy Atkinson
When one is in a privileged position in a given culture, it is often very hard to fully recognize it. The pervasive culture of white supremacy operates in this way, granting advantages to those it defines as "white" while denying them to people of color. White supremacy culture is "the water we swim in," even within our beloved Unitarian Universalist denomination. How can those of us in the dominant group learn to recognize the advantages we have been granted, and how can we use these understandings to help dismantle systemic white supremacy?
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Upcoming Topics and Leaders
1/21/18: Women Forward: Power & Responsibility & #MeToo
Carol Kerr and Diana Vine
1/28/18: Personal Meanings of Money
Jim Prochaska
The Sunday Circle is held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am each Sunday in the Fireside Room.
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In tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
In his last public speech before he was assassinated, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King retells the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan. In this story, a man is robbed, beaten, and left for dead on the steep and dangerous road to Jericho. Two Jewish religious leaders, a priest and a Levite, walked by the man without giving him aid, perhaps fearful because touching a body would make them ritually unclean, or perhaps afraid that the robbers might still be nearby on this dangerous road. But then a Samaritan, a mixed-race outcast in Jewish society, stopped to help the beaten man and took care of him. In his speech, Dr King remarks: "the first question which the priest and the Levite asked was, 'if I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'"
Dr. King became a voice for the oppressed, asking not "What will happen to me if I speak up?" but "What will happen to the oppressed, to people of color, to the poor if I don't?" In these times, we can ask ourselves the same question: not "What will happen to me if I help, if I speak out?" but "What will happen to those who are beaten because of the color of their skin, or those who are caught in the nightmare of human trafficking, or to the dreamers who may be deported, or to refugees seeking asylum, or to American Muslims who face suspicion and mistrust daily, or to transgender people who are attacked... if we don't speak up for them?" Let us pledge, in this New Year, to continue to raise our voices on behalf of those who are oppressed, who are denied a voice, those who are denied their rights because of their race, gender, religion, immigration status, gender identity or sexual orientation. May our Unitarian Universalist values of justice and equality inform our actions in this year and in the years to come.
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We are having a conversation about racism and white supremacy.
Did any of your kids share any of the conversation we had Sunday about White Supremacy and White Privilege? It was a really good lesson and everyone participated, even the visiting teen.
Here is the link
to the curriculum I used. It is developed by the Black Lives UU (BLUU). It also has the Ifa' Creation Story I used in the service. Please read it with your child if you missed the service.
Since "The Promise and the Practice" program asks us as a congregation to help the UUA raise funds for a matching grant to support the work of BLUU, I am going to ask families to give the children and youth a bit of money to put in our own collection basket each week. A dollar or two would be good. [A 2018 dollar is equivalent to a 1950's dime.] All donations will be matched by the UUA up to a million dollars.
If you still need a copy of the parent curriculum " How to Talk to Your Kids about Race", just toss me an email and I will send you an attachment. I can't require you to do this work with your kids, but I highly recommend it. Everybody wins when we reduce hate and fear.
Have a great week and make a nice day.
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Upcoming dates link to the UUCM calendar for saving on iCal, Outlook etc.
5 PM - 7 PM
6:30 PM - 9 PM
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
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Legacy Sustaining Event on January 20 5 pm to 7 pm
If you are like me, you want to see UUCM sustainable into the future. That is why I am inviting you to attend our Legacy Sustaining Event. Come and help our congregation be sustainable!
Have you have benefited from participating in services and activities associated with UUCM?
Would you like to increase your support for UUCM and qualify for a 10% match from the UUA (up to $10,000)?
Would you like to help rebuild our endowment that has been greatly reduced from supporting operating expenses?
Do you like good food and drink in the company of friends?
Would you like legal help with estate planning?
Do you like good music played by Milton and Christine?
Then, you want to come to our Legacy Sustaining Event on
Saturday, January 20
from 5 PM to 7 PM
in Fellowship Hall.
Live Music by Milton and Christine
Inspiration by Rev Joy and President Ted Gaebler
A skit by Doug Kerr and friends
Estate legal help from Ben Gale
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Basket Share for January 2018: MOC
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From Linda Haumann:
Basket Share for January 2018: Marin Organizing Committee (MOC)
As your new Social Justice Chair, I urge you to support UUCM to become members of the MOC. Why?
MOC is the non-partisan social justice action vehicle through which we, along with many other Marin non-profits and faith-based organizations,
is starting to make a real difference here in Marin. Issues such as
homelessness, affordable housing and immigration rights
are being addressed as
MOC helps us join together with our Marin brothers and sisters to truly live out our UU values and influence our county supervisors.
Please see MOC's Facebook page for the latest achievements and please come hear Lizzy Gore, organizer with MOC, on
Jan. 21, 2018.
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UUA 2017-2018 Common Read
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UUCM Adult Ed Committee is sponsoring the UUA 2017-2018 Common Read
Join in the national conversation!
This year we are reading
Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry edited by Mitra Rahnema
Two years in the making, this book was published as Barack Obama ended his 2nd term as president of the United States. This anthology of vital voices from our own UUA ministry speaks to the challenges of being a minister of color in our denomination. The essays are well crafted and written from the heart. The perspectives will wake you up. These caring voices show us that to create true diversity in our congregations we must listen carefully and deeply. These dedicated UU ministers give us just such an opportunity. From them we can begin to learn how to expand into truly diverse welcoming congregations. We can see more clearly the pervasive whiteness of our UU culture and forms of ritual, worship, even music. We can see how much more we could be.
Shirley Chisholm was asked why she, a Black woman, was running for president: "You don't have a chance. Why are you doing that?" And she said, "Because I am in love with the America that does not yet exist," and that's how Unitarian Universalism is also. I'm in love with the Unitarian Universalism that does not yet exist. But I have to hold both the love for that thing and the love for the reality. It does not yet exist. It will probably not exist in my lifetime. I don't think it will in that of my children, but I can't deny my love for it. You know, wanting to be there in that struggle. That's why I'm fighting. Rev. Natalie Maxwell Fenimore
Adult Ed has purchased 10 copies from the UUA for circulate for reading. These will be available after the Sunday service to "check out." If you are able, please consider "sponsoring" a book for $15 (retail price is $18). This helps defray the costs.
It's going for $9.99 and $7.99.
Discussion groups will be scheduled in late February and March. They will be lively and vital to building a better world one congregation at a time.
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Pacific Western Regional Assembly
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The four districts of the UUA's Pacific Western Region will gather April 27-29 in Portland, OR for the 2018 Regional Assembly. Speakers include civil rights activist, the Rev. Dr. William Barber; Washington Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, advocate for women's, immigrant, civil, and human rights; and the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, newly elected UUA president.
Programming includes workshops, worship, district meetings, and an optional social justice activity. A day-long Professional Day designed for religious professionals is planned for Friday, April 27, before the start of Regional Assembly. Discount lodging is available at the Portland DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, site of the Regional Assembly. Childcare and youth programming will be available. Registration will open by January 4. Watch the PWR website (
www.uua.org/pwr
) for full details to be posted soon.
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Rescheduled Class Conversations workshop is now February 10
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The Class Conversations workshop that we had to postpone in October because of the Northern California wildfires has now been rescheduled. The new date is February 10.
UU Class Conversations Workshop
Saturday, February 10, 2018
10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
UU Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson St., Kensington CA
Refreshments and registration open at 9:30 a.m.
Workshop includes lunch (vegan and gluten-free options provided)
Childcare available if requested in advance
Sliding scale $20-50, no one turned away if cannot afford to pay
If members of our congregation registered for the workshop in October and did not request a refund when asked after the cancellation, they are still on the registration list for February 10 and do not need to register or pay again.
https://www.uuclassconversations.org
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Basket Share Participants Needed
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Are you involved as a volunteer or recipient of the services of a local 501(c)(3) agency or program?
You can help that organization raise money by initiating a 50/50 UUCM Offering Basket Share.
Complete the
application form on the UUCM website Social Justice page. Or find one at the Social Justice Table on a Sunday morning. Send it to
[email protected] or leave it in the SJ box in the Community Room.
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Have you ever dreamed of visiting Alaska? If so, WhaleCoast Alaska 2018 is for you! Four Alaska UU fellowships invite you to experience our eco-cultural and spiritual program this summer.
Alaska: Are You Going?
Did you notice the previous item about the UU-Hosted trip to Alaska this summer? Are you thinking of going?
The organizers are offering discounts for eight or more people. If you are planning to go on the trip, please email Valerie Taylor at
[email protected]
by February 1. Maybe we'll get 8 people and get a reduction in price!
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Sending Announcements for the Order of Service
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If you have an announcement for the back of the Sunday Order of Service please send it to
[email protected]
instead
of sending it to the office. Please send by 5 PM on Wednesday, any later submissions will be considered for timeliness and room. The Worship Committee members are now putting together the Order of Service and Janette will print it.
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Save the date for 2018 Retreat
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Retreat 2018
Please save the date. Your annual All Congregational Retreat at Walker Creek Ranch will be held the first weekend in May 2018 -
May 4, 5 and 6. Details and registration starting in February.
Thomas Ervin
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Social Justice Education/Action
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We have a newsletter list to inform you about
UU Social Justice actions and local issues. Sign up by
replying to this email and typing
"Yes to Social Advocates".
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Continue your commitment to environmental and economic justice by shopping at
http://shop.uusc.org
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Visitor's Box
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We cherish diversity and welcome among us
people of all races, cultures, ages, abilities, sexual
identities/orientations, and faith perspectives.
GUESTS
are always welcome. Sunday worship is a time for inspiration, renewal, and connection.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH join adults during the first part of the service, and then attend Religious Exploration classes. Nursery and toddler care is provided during the 10:30 service. There is a speaker system to bring sound from Fellowship Hall to the nursing room and the pre-K area.
REFRESHMENT HOUR
in the Courtyard or
Fireside Room follows the services.
There are four "Sunday First Time Visitor" parking spots at the top of the parking lot.
Come, join us!
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Staff Links
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Office Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday 11AM - 6PM
Other times also available. Call/email for an appointment.
phone 415-479-4131 ext 102
Office Hours:
Sunday 12:30 - 1:30 PM
Tuesday 10:30 - 1:30 PM
Thursday 12:30 - 3:30 PM
phone 415-479-4131 ext 104
Nursery Teacher: Glynda Christian
Don Beck: 415-892-0642
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I appreciate any feedback about this weekly newsletter.
eWeekly Deadline for Thursday issue:
Tuesday by 7 am - activities and announcements, Staff columns, committee reports
Weekly articles can contain:
- Notices of UUCM sponsored events, meetings, or other activities which involve the entire congregation.
- Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) or Pacific Central District (PCD) announcements of interest to the entire congregation.
(Staff article length 250 words)
Production, UUCM Connect and Special Announcements Editor: Lisa Cohen
Backup Production Editor: Valerie Taylor
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin
415-479-4131
240 Channing Way
San Rafael, CA 94903
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