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March 22, 2018
Issue #445
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March 25, 2018: Not My Will: The Spiritual Discipline of Surrender
Rev. Joy Atkinson
We strive to be in control so much of the time, but sometimes the wisest course of action resides in letting go or letting be. The sermon will explore the spiritual practice of surrender.
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Upcoming Topics and Leaders
3/25/18: Income Inequality
Jim Prochaska
4/1/18: April Fools Traditions: A Sacrament of Silliness
Kat Braeman
The Sunday Circle is held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am each Sunday in the Fireside Room.
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Words of Joy -
Minister's Miscellany
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Black Lives UU
We have collected $1825.40 in donations to the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism Organizing Collective for their work toward racial equality and the dismantling of white supremacy in our institution. This means that we have more than met the matching challenge, and our donations will be matched by generous donors who have pledged up to $1 million to provide matching funds to all congregations who donate at least $10 per member to BLUU. Thank you for your understanding of the importance of this effort and for your generosity!
Path to Unitarian Universalism Class-March 25
I want to extend an invitation to all who wish to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and about this congregation to attend our Path to UU class, which takes place on Sunday, March 25th after the service at 12:15 PM. Members of the Membership Committee and I will be there to discuss Unitarian Universalist history and identity, and the functions and activities of the UU Congregation of Marin. A light lunch will be provided.
Annual Pledge Drive Brunch-April 8
Join us for brunch following the service on April 8th as we begin our annual pledge drive for the support of UUCM. Stewards will be present at each table to facilitate a conversation about UUCM and to collect your pledges for the coming fiscal year, which begins on July 1st. If you can't make it to the brunch, please let the office know, and we will arrange to have a steward meet with you at another time.
Ceremony for the Welcoming of New Members-April 8
We are planning to hold a ceremony to welcome new members on Sunday, April 8th. If you have been considering joining the congregation, please speak with me or with Membership Chair Thomas Ervin. You may also attend the Path to UU class on March 25th following the service to learn more about membership. We would love to welcome you as a new member on April 8th .
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Play with a Purpose
- I've been feeling very good about the programs lately here at UUCM. The classes have been more active in play with a purpose. The Creative Compassionate took on the study of child slavery and turned it into chocolate sales. The OWL grades 4-6 had an intensive Saturday session fitting in 3 hours of material and had a really fun overnight at the church to follow. Several UUCM middle schoolers and an advisor went to UU Livermore for a weekend retreat to immerse themselves in an extraordinary community experience. (See the article from Cat Woods) It does my soul good to see serious fun while living out our UU values.
Fair Trade Chocolate, Cocoa Mix, and Baking Cocoa
In case you missed last Sunday's chance to buy from the Creative Compassionates class, you will have another chance this Sunday. You can see the choices on the Equal Exchange website
HERE
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Parent Group - Sunday, March 25th
It has been a while since we met. Time to get together to share some time and stories. After service this Sunday please stay for a while. Besides just chatting each other up, I would like to briefly address our anti-racism curriculum and mention some plans for class arrangement next year. I'd like to have some games for us to play as families together. I will have turkey dogs and salad available. If others could bring fruit and cheese potluck that would be helpful.
UUCM Retreat
- Have you registered yet? The Retreat Committee would really like your form as soon as possible to be able to get a head count and meal preferences to the Walker Creek Ranch staff.
Please register this week.
Brief calendar
March 25th: Egg coloring - please donate a dozen hard-boiled eggs
April 1: Egg Hunt after service
April 7: Saturday: YRUU overnight
April 8: Annual Pledge renewal lunch with childcare
April 22: Fourth Sunday RE classes - stay committed
April 27-29: Pacific Western Regional Assembly - PDX (Jef is gone 4/25-5/1)
May 4-6: UUCM All-Congregational Retreat at Walker Creek Ranch
Director of Religious Exploration
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Upcoming dates link to the UUCM calendar for saving on iCal, Outlook etc.
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Special report from MUUGs Retreat
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One of our Religious Education teachers (Cat Woods) attended the MUUGs (Middle School Unitarian Universalist Gatherings) retreat this past weekend and brings us this report, including a proposal to the MUUGs youth and UUCM congregation:
WHAT MIDDLE SCHOOL UUS KNOW THAT ADULT UUS NEED TO LEARN
I just got back from the MUUGs retreat at the Livermore church. What an amazing experience!
The UU youth have their own subculture that is inspiring, exciting, nurturing, and comforting in equal measure. Older adult UUs, if you ever have the opportunity to be amidst that culture, take it. It will astonish you. They have mastered solutions to cultural problems that the rest of society is still struggling to recognize. They do this in a way that on the one hand simplifies the problems and solutions to make them easy rather than intimidating, yet on the other hand allows for maximum flexibility to deal with all sorts of complexities. They are generous with one another while remembering...
Continue Reading
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UUCM Benefit Concert April 7, 4 pm
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Milton Wong and
Amanda Morando will be performing a benefit concert at UUCM on April 7 at 4 pm. The concert will honor women composers.
Admission: $20. Refreshments will be sold. Please support our pianist and choir conductor as they showcase their talents.
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Welcome to spring and the beautiful plants that are pushing their way through the soil in your yard as I write this! We will be looking for volunteers to bring a flower arrangement each Sunday in April, May and June. If you would like to participate - and I hope you will! - please send me an email [email protected] with the date of your choice. Better send a second choice too, as the schedule does fill up. Thanks in advance!
Sally
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Turn in Retreat Registration and Payment by 3/25
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If you have a Registration Form, please fill it out and return it this coming Sunday.
Forms are due no later than March 25.
If you would like to offer a workshop, please let Thomas Ervin know (
[email protected]). We are planning a joyous retreat with scrumptious meals, learning and playing together in the beautiful setting of Walker Creek Ranch. Nothing could be finer than to spend a weekend in the country in May with your family and friends! We can't do it without your registration forms. Please attach a check or pay online and note the online payment on your form.
See attached "schedule so far".
Thanks,
Thomas and Dianne
Retreat Waiver
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Shared Housing Community Forum - Save the Date
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Shared Housing Community Forum
Sponsored by UUCM: Fellowship Hall
Saturday, May 19th, 2018
10AM-noon
Open to public/No fee
Hear ways you can be part of the affordable housing solution in Marin County. Panelists from Marin Villages, Home Share,
Marin Environmental Collaborative on Housing and others will be there to educate and answer questions.
Learn about ways to age in place while helping with the housing shortage.
More info
Linda Haumann
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UU Book Group Meetings - April 1 and May 6
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The next UUCM book club meeting is on April Fools and Easter, April 1, at 3pm at Janice Prochaska's house. We will discuss "Salvage the Bones" by National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward.
We will meet May 6 at Villa Marin, hosted by Sandy Steinman, book to be determined at the April meeting.
Newcomers are welcome to join the book club!
Kim Holscher
[email protected]
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"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." James Beard. Get to know other members of the congregation eating dinners in their homes through Dinners for Eight (or Six). We would love to have more participants for the last two dinners of the year on April 7th and June 2nd.
Dinners for 8 (or Six) is a coordinated potluck. We meet on the 1st Saturday of the month, October through June. Each month a volunteer host will offer a main course and guests bring appetizers, salad/soup, dessert, and wine and good conversation. Contact Sher Sheldon at 415-892-1727 or
[email protected]
for details.
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Summer Worship Opportunities
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The Worship Committee is currently seeking members to give services from July 23rd until the end of August. You will be assisted by a Worship Associate to plan your service. Typically the 'sermon' portion lasts 15-20 minutes.
If you have an idea for a service, please contact
[email protected]. Share your words with our Congregation!
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Women's REST Program in Last Year
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Women's REST Program in Last Year -- Helpers needed for April.
Thank you to everyone for pitching in to make and service food during this last year of the REST program. For 10 years, UUCM along with other community groups has helped provide emergency wintertime shelter and food for up to 25 women a night. This is the last year of that program. Come be a part of it! We need helpers for April. Walt Littrell and the Fountain of Ukes (Ukaleles) will get your toes tapping and fill your heart with joy.
Click this link to sign up!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054aafac2e5-sunday
Questions? Ask Sarah Tiederman --
[email protected]
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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
Thank you to those of you who were present at the Promise and Practice Service. Thank you also to those who were able to attend the discussion on white privilege and discrimination within the UU denomination that took place after the service. It was a very honest, fruitful and expanding conversation. Discussions of "Centering" will be
April 22nd 12:15-1:30PM at UUCM and also at the UUCM retreat May 4-6.
This anthology of vital voices from our own UUA ministry speaks to the challenges of being a minister of color in our denomination.
Adult Ed has purchased 10 copies from the UUA to circulate for reading.
As of Feb. 25 there was at least one copy of "Centering" available to be checked out from the
Adult Ed Lending Library which is a well labeled box with a checkout form near the computer in the Community Room.
If you have a copy you are willing to circulate please leave it in the Adult Ed Lending Library in the Community Room.
It's going for $9.99 and $7.99.
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General Assembly Kansas City, Missouri
The call of our Unitarian Universalist faith has a place for each of us.
All Are Called
to join us this June 20 - 24 in Kansas City to build courageous, collective leadership with tools, skills and connections.
Financial aid for General Assembly is available in the form of working volunteer positions as well as registration scholarships and travel grants. There are several different funding sources available via the General Assembly Unified Scholarship Application, including additional funding committed by the UUA Administration to the 2018 budget to facilitate the participation of People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Persons at GA. Financial Aid applications are accepted March 1 through March 31.
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Pacific Western Regional Assembly - April 27-29
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More than 500 individuals
from the four districts of the UUA's Pacific Western Region have already registered for the PWR 2018 Regional Assembly. They will gather
April 27-29 in Portland, OR. Speakers include, the Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern,
Senior Minister at the First Unitarian Society of San Francisco; 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.
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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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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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Social Justice Education/Action
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Next Social Justice meeting: Sunday April 15
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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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