 |
February 22, 2018
Issue #441
|
|
February 25, 2018: The Promise and the Practice
The Program Council and Rev. Joy Atkinson
In coordination with the Black Lives of UU Organizing Collective, Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout the nation are presenting services centering the black voices among us, to continue our shared work in dismantling white supremacy in our denomination. This service will feature the voices of black Unitarian Universalist religious leaders and will be presented by members of our Program Council, an umbrella group which consists of the four UUCM Committees responsible for most of our programming: Worship, Religious Education, Social Justice, and Adult Education.
For all who would like to participate in this vital conversation, Rev. Joy will facilitate a continuing discussion in the Fellowship Hall from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
|
Upcoming Topics and Leaders
2/25/18:
The Question of Garbage: Throwaways vs. Enduring Collectibles
Meg Jordan
3/14/18: Bedtime Rituals
Kim Holscher
The Sunday Circle is held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am each Sunday in the Fireside Room.
|
|
Words of Joy -
Upcoming Denominational Events
|
|
 |
|
Several of us from this congregation will be attending this large regional assembly in Portland at the end of April. The program includes presentations by UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, civil rights activist Rev. Dr. William Barber, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. Visit the
PWR website
for more details about Regional Assembly.
To encourage participation from our District, the Pacific Central District has made some funds available to each congregation to cover some of the cost of attending the Regional Assembly. Please let our President, Ted Gaebler or me at
[email protected]
know if you are interested in attending and would like financial help.
You may also be interested in attending the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association, where over 4000 delegates and others from UU congregations gather to conduct the business of the Association, attend worship and participate in a variety of workshops and other activities. This year's General Assembly takes place in Kansas City, MO, from June 20 to 24th. Registration and housing reservations open on March 1st. Go to
https://www.uua.org/ga
for more information.
|
|
A New Experience:
Some of you may remember me mentioning during a Time for All Ages a few months ago about a dream I had where I was cutting a tooth, then woke to find I had a wisdom tooth poking through my gum.
Well, now I get to have my first experience of having a tooth surgically removed. I will be having it out next Thursday on March 1st. I expect to be out of communications for a few days and hopefully back on March 4th to oversee RE. Wish me luck!
Easter Eggs:
We are planning on egg coloring again this year on March 25th. If you can donate a dozen eggs to the cause please let me know. If you want to help Ilana and me with the kids for the egg coloring project, tell me this too. This year we have Easter, Passover, and April Fool's Day all together. Could be interesting. Maybe a few really fun hats will show up?
|
|
Upcoming dates link to the UUCM calendar for saving on iCal, Outlook etc.
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
|
|
|
Our Labyrinth in Springtime
|
|
| Take a walk in the labyrinth, access below the courtyard at UUCM.
|
|
Women's REST Sunday Supper Crew Needs YOU!
|
|
|
|
We had a heart warming start this fall -- now we're looking for more volunteers. Come join the crew who are preparing Sunday Suppers and spreading kindness at the Women's REST shelter. For 10 years, with the help of volunteers from congregations like ours, the shelter has provided a meal and a place to sleep for up to 20 women a night during the winter months.
This year we're implementing a new model with a rotating "lead" for each Sunday Supper. The "Lead" recruits participants, organizes food, company and clean-up for the meal. The Lead may chose to have or to not have Ukulele players from "The Fountain of Ukes". Our goal is to encourage more people to become involved in supporting the women in the REST Program -- so feel free to invite your neighbors, co-workers and friends!
Heartfelt thanks to Joan Nelson for many years of inspiring leadership for this program -- and to Walt Littrell who this year is connecting us with the Ukulele Players and creating a festive atmosphere. We can truly say that participating in supporting this program will lift your spirits. Join us!
Click this link to sign up!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054aafac2e5-sunday
These links give more information about the REST Program.
https://www.marinhhs.org/sites/default/files/files/servicepages/2013_12/brochure_rest.pdf
https://www.vinnies.org/news-events/news-media/
Questions? Ask Sarah Tiederman --
[email protected]
|
|
|
Retreat Registration Now Open
|
|
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.
Registration is now open. The registration form is available from the link shown below. Please access the form and bring or send it to UUCM. If you are bringing children, please also complete the Retreat waiver available from the link below and attach it to your registration form or copy on the back of the registration form.
Form and payment due by Sunday March 25.
Registration form
|
|
|
UUA 2017-2018 Common Read
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Pacific Western Regional Assembly - April 27-29
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Women and Religion PCD Women's Retreat 3/8-11
|
|
|
|
The annual Women and Religion PCD Women's Retreat is coming up on March 8-11, 2018
. All self-identified women are welcome to join us for a calming respite from our busy lives. Usually held at a retreat center near Napa that was severely damaged in October by the wildfires, this year we will be meeting at the
Anubhuti Center in Novato
. Anubhuti is a contemplative retreat center run by Brahma Kumaris, the largest spiritual organization in the world led by women. It is housed in a group of historic buildings that were fully renovated by the sisters 7 years ago, and sits on top of a hill, surrounded by 1,600 acres of protected open space, water and a wildlife preserve, with spectacular views of the Bay, Pacheco Pond, Novato creek and the rolling hills of Marin County. (note this is close by this year and $50 for Sat. with meals)
Our retreat offers something for everyone: delicious meals; workshops for mind, body, and spirit; conversations with new and old friends; time for quiet contemplation; and a boutique, silent auction, and book swap. To learn more about Women and Religion and our retreat, visit our website at
http://womenandreligionpcd.org. There you will find information about pricing, payment and date-dependent discounts as well as questions to be answered that are pertinent to retreat housing and meals for each registrant. To register, click on "Home" then "Register for the 2018 Retreat" where you can download the printable form. This year registration will be by MAIL ONLY, so you will need to print out the registration form, complete it and mail it in with your check to the address on the form.
|
|
|
Basket Share Participants Needed
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Sending Announcements for the Order of Service
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Social Justice Education/Action
|
|
|
Next Social Justice meeting: Sunday March 18, 12:15-1:30 PM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continue your commitment to environmental and economic justice by shopping at
http://shop.uusc.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
Visitor's Box
|
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!
|
|
|
Staff Links
|
|
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
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
