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February 23, 2017
Issue #393
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Rev. Joy Atkinson
The writer E.B. White once said: "I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." How should we plan our days when we feel torn in these two directions? The sermon will explore these two approaches and how we might achieve a healthy balance in our lives.
This is a Basket Share Sunday.
(If you have an announcement for the Sunday service, send it to Linda Haumann.)
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Contemplative Service 9 am
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2/26/17
A Poetry/Humor Potluck
(This will be another of our congenial "potlucks" where you can share a cartoon, poem, or anything that has made you think, get curious, or laugh. (And you can come without something to share as well and just partake...)
3/5/17
A Jobless Future-Heaven or Hell? /Earle Owen & Doug Kerr
3/12/17
Clothing of Books & Clothing of Ourselves/Janice Prochaska
3/19/17
Non-Killing/Rich Panter
3/26/17
Celebrate Women's History/Kat Braeman
4/2/17
Achievement or Happiness?/Jim Prochaska
4/9/17
Indivisible!/ Lauren Long and Doug Kerr
Our lay-led Contemplative Services are held from
9:00 am to 10:00 am each Sunday in the Fireside Room.
The Contemplative Service was started more than ten years ago to provide an opportunity for Sunday worship in a small group setting. It gives attendees a reflective, spiritual foundation and quiet source of inspiration for the coming week. Readings introduce a silent period to reflect on a topic or idea, followed by an opportunity to share individual thoughts.
Join us. All are welcome to try this weekly alternative to UUCM's traditional Sunday Services.
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As we enter into the time for the annual pledge drive, the following (familiar to many) reading comes to my mind, as a metaphor of how we are strengthened in community if we work together.
Lessons from Geese
Fact 1:
As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson:
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2:
When a goose falls out of formation, it feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson:
If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help, and give our help to others.
Fact 3:
When the lead goose tires, it moves back in the formation and another flies to the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills and unique arrangements of gifts, talents and resources.
Fact 4:
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those in front to keep up their speed.
Lesson:
We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is greater...
Fact 5:
When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down or help to protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again....
Lesson:
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
by Dr Robert McNeish (abridged)
P.S. Just last week, when one of the female tenors in the community choir I sing with was caught singing her own version of the piece we were working on, our director stopped us, and told a story of how she saw a flock of geese flying in perfect V formation, dutifully following their leader...a seagull! -a different lesson, on how easily we can be lead astray. I guess the wisdom of geese only goes so far!
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Religious Exploration nUUs
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From Carolyn Bopp of the RE committee
Kids! If you have any living with you at the moment, you'll know what I'm talking about. It's not always easy to get mine to church on Sundays. The thing these days is that so many families have a plethora of commitments on weekends. I'm thrilled when I can convince my girl to sing with the adult choir (like last Sunday). I'm grateful that this congregation and Jef the Director of Religious Exploration makes a constant effort to accommodate busy family schedules. Last year the middle school OWL program was on a Tuesday night, and the current coming of age gatherings are on Friday nights. So even though you might not always see my girl or other kids on Sunday morning at the service be assured that this congregation is doing a great job with families.
What keeps me and my girl coming back to this congregation is the fact that everyone is welcome here. Many years ago I had a conversation with a teenage girl from the church and she told me "this is a place where I can be authentic" - that is why we love it here!
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| Selected Upcoming Dates |
Upcoming dates link to the UUCM calendar for saving on iCal, Outlook etc.
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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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The Grateful Dead: An Inside Look; Buy Tickets Now
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THE GRATEFUL DEAD: An Inside Look
UUCM Fellowship Hall, Saturday, February 25, 7pm-9pm
Call for Volunteers
Now is the time to sign up to help the youth with this fundraiser! We are still looking for willing people to help fill the following positions:
Most needed - 2 parking attendants, if possible: 2 for set-up, 2 for clean-up, and 1 shirt & food salesperson.
The senior youth are bridging this year, leaving the remaining freshmen and eighth graders to lead for the coming years! Help fund the YRUU group to allow these newcomers to attend leadership development and social justice workshops and conferences to bring the revolution back.
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Grateful Dead historian Dennis McNally, author of A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead, and Susana Millman, backstage photographer (Alive with the Dead: A Fly on the Wall with a Camera) will share their inside experiences with the Dead.
Tickets are available online:
Adults $20, Youth $15, Children
(
6-12
)
$10 - all tickets are $5 more at the door.
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Thank you to the 72 people who completed the survey about our newsletter. Your responses and comments will be considered by the Communications Committee for any changes to the newsletter but know
that the newsletter will continue to be published weekly, per a 68% approval vote.
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Basket Share - February 26
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This Sunday's Basket share will go to the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, specifically for the Walk MS in Santa Rosa.
Walk MS helps people to team up with friends, loved ones and co-workers to change the world for everyone affected by MS by funding MS research. Lisa Cohen, who is living with MS, will present the basket share.
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Movie Night -
Friday, February 24
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Friday February 24, 2017 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Fireside Room
Michael Moore's surprising and extraordinarily winning "Where to Invade Next" is all about building America up, in some amazingly novel and thought-provoking ways... it's one of the most genuinely, and valuably, patriotic films any American has ever made.
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/where-to-invade-next-2015
This the final movie night of this year due to low attendance.
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UU Roots Book Group discussion - March 19
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Adult Religious Exploration presents our next UU Roots Book Group Pick.
Thank you to Jan Seagrave for leading a very stimulating discussion of "Children of the Same God" by Susan J. Ritchie.
Our next book will be "The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Change the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels " by Thomas Cahill.
Lay led discussion will be on Sunday March 19th from 12:15-1:30 pm in the Fireside Room.
This book is widely available in Marin County libraries as well as online and in bookstores so Adult Ed will not be selling copies of this book.
All are welcome. Please invite friends outside of the UUCM community to join in our discussion of these engaging subjects.
April 23rd selection.
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Retreat Registration Open/Workshop leaders wanted
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All Congregational Retreat at Walker Creek - April 28 -30, 2017
Save the date
Payments are due by Sunday, March 26th
The retreat is one of the big highlights of our program year. We want everyone to attend -- to learn together, to sing and dance and play together, and to strengthen our beloved community! If cost is an issue, please ask for a scholarship and attend. If you can contribute extra so that other families can attend, please do so.
New - At the upcoming retreat, Mary Bicknell has agreed to lead her famous Nature Walk. Mary has been a docent at the Audubon Canyon Ranch for many years, and she brings her knowledge and experience to share with us. Come to the retreat and learn about the small creatures that live at beautiful Walker Creek Ranch.
We know that many of you have talents to share. Please think about what activity, craft, skill, or discussion topic that you can share in a small group setting for approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. We need workshops geared toward adults, young adults, and kids, so there are many ways to contribute. Please contact Thomas at
thomas.ervin@comcast.net with your workshop ideas. We will help you every step of the way.
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Marin CROP Hunger Walk - March 12
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You can make a difference: Feed communities in need.
Dig wells, provide disaster relief and teach people to read.
18th annual Marin CROP Hunger Walk. Sunday, March 12th
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Starting point:
First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael, 1510 Fifth Street, San Rafael Start time 1:30 p.m.
Get your "Donations Envelope" from Joan Nelson now, so you will have enough time to collect your contributors' cash and checks. Then, bring the kids...(and grandma) to the "Grandaddy" of all charity walks. Bring neighbors, associates, friends, and friends of friends.
(There's no requirement to wear your UUCM Side-of-Love T-shirt. But it IS a good idea.)
CROP, which stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, is the theme of 1300 walks held each year all over the country. Teams of participants from congregations, clubs, youth groups, and organizations will walk three miles through downtown San Rafael to raise funds and increase awareness of the problem of hunger -- locally and around the world. The goal is to raise $18,000 to benefit the international aid organization, Church World Service, and three local service organizations: the San Francisco/Marin Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul free dining room in San Rafael, and the Marin Interfaith Street Chaplaincy.
In a world where there is enough food for all, we are moved to action by the fact that one out of every nine people goes to bed hungry each night.
Joan Nelson - 415-506-4166 - c: 415-595-6221
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Last week's dynamic speaker was Rev. Scott Quinn, Acting Director of the Marin Interfaith Council.
The Marin Interfaith Council (MIC) is a respectful collaborative that celebrates faith traditions, advocates justice and builds community. MIC cultivates a community diverse in belief, opinion, and culture. Linda Haumann is UUCM's connection to MIC. More information about MIC and to sign up for their email list.
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Summary of Recent Congregational Meeting
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A survey about the topics we discussed is under development.
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Participate in our Democracy
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Due to the state of our country there is more need than ever for information to encourage UUs to participate in social justice. But there is not enough space in the UUCM weekly newsletter to cover all the issues. So please sign up for our
Social Advocates list
. To sign up, hit return from this newsletter and say "Yes to Social Advocates."
To see a sample our latest social justice newsletter, click here.
Got a Social Justice cause or action that you want to send to the list?
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Grace Dearborn and her friends have "adopted" the Women's Shelter Sunday Suppers program for the month
of February.
Anyone can "adopt" a month or just one of UUCM's Sunday nights at the shelter. You and your circle of acquaintances will benefit from the experience several times over.
Joan Nelson - 415-506-4166 - c: 415-595-6221
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Social Justice Basket Share Update
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Annual Basket Share Program - April and May nominees needed
UUCM's Basket Share Program, a Social Justice project, is one of our many connections to our community. We do not need anyone for
March due to the pledge drive.
April 24 and May 28 are still available.
Want to nominate your favorite organization for a basket share? Email
socialjustice@uumarin.org
. Tell us your organization's name, briefly describe its work, and include a link to its website.
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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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Contribute to the 3rd Tuesday night dinner at the First Presbyterian Church.
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Do you know of an inspirational activist who would be a good speaker for one of the Social Justice Committee's education-action luncheons? If so, please contact Joan at figleafjoan@comcast.net (415-506-4166, Cell: 415-595-6221)
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Continue your commitment to environmental and economic justice by shopping at
http://shop.uusc.org
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Staff Links
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Tuesday, Thursday 11AM - 6PM
Other times also available. Call/email for an appointment.
phone 415-479-4131 ext. 102
Sunday 12:30 - 1:30 PM
Tuesday 12:30 - 3 :30 PM
Thursday 12:30 - 3:30 PM
Nursery Care Provider: Glynda Christian
Don Beck: 415-892-0642
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I appreciate any feedback about this weekly newsletter.
eWeekly Deadline for Thursday issue:
Monday by 10 pm - 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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