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February 15, 2018
Issue #440
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February 18, 2018: Fact, Fiction, and Faith
How do we find meaning in our lives, especially when facing death? This is a challenge for many of us all our lives. It is a question that arises for anyone who is suffering from depression. As with all deeply meaningful issues, we as UU's are not given a pat answer. However, Unitarian Universalism can help, and the intention of this talk is to provide hope.
Rev. Dr. Jane Ramsey has a doctorate in ministry from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is recently retired from working as a hospice chaplain and is an affiliated community minister with the UU Church of Berkeley. She provides spiritual direction and facilitates workshops relating to death and dying, including such topics as Advance Directives, the California End of Life Options Act, and Writing Ethical Wills. She is certified in Grief and Loss through the UC Berkeley Extension Program, in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement through the Association of Death Educators and Counseling, and in Interfaith Spiritual Direction through the Chaplaincy Institute.
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Upcoming Topics and Leaders
2/18/18: Courageous Crusader: Ida B. Wells
Carol Kerr
2/25/18:
The Question of Garbage: Throwaways vs. Enduring Collectibles
Meg Jordan
The Sunday Circle is held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am each Sunday in the Fireside Room.
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Pacific Western Regional Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association
Portland, Oregon, April 27-29, 2018
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.
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Spring fever anyone? I know it is Ski Week for schools around here, but my fruit trees are blossoming, the grass needs to be mowed, and my desire to be outside is stronger than ever. Spring energy can move us to clean out the old, finish tasks and get our creative juices flowing to plan new projects for the coming year. Let's tap into this and ring the joyful work future building to fruition.
I know some families might actually be going skiing this coming week.
So,
- No OWL class 2/18
- RE classes will be multi-age combined 4th-10th grades. Jef will lead everyone in music and a fun values clarification game (power shuffle).
- Jef out next week for a few vacation days. I am going to add a couple of days of vacation to the President's Day holiday next week. I will be off Monday through Wed and back on Thursday.
UUCM Retreat
My daughter and I are signing up for the Annual UUCM Retreat. She has been coming to the retreat since she was 8-years-old and looks forward to it every year. The crafts, campfire and s'mores, low ropes challenge course and tie-dye for teens. We want as many families as possible to attend and connect, have fun and chill together. Registration forms are in the UUCM foyer and are online. Bring an instrument, bring a game, bring a book to sink into. Come, come, whoever you are ...
Parents in the classrooms
We will be making contact soon to invite parents to come sit in on an RE class sometime this Spring. We want parents to have first-hand experience with the curriculum. You will not have to prepare anything, just come and participate. We all learn together; adult, youth, and child learners.
Snack
I am preparing a snack sign-up list for the children and youth to practice petitioning. Please expect to be approached and asked to sign up for one more Sunday to bring the snack for the Sunday RE classes.
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Upcoming dates link to the UUCM calendar for saving on iCal, Outlook etc.
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Remarkable People - February 16
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Friday, February 16, 7- 8:30 pm Fireside Room
The ongoing Remarkable People series gives us time to learn about each other from the interesting stories of individual lives. Whether you already know them by name or not, you will learn what you don't know in the evening of sharing and community. Each person talks and there is time for questions and general sociability and usually some sustaining snacks.
Kim Holscher
and
Dianne Estrada
are our February people of the month.
Kim Holscher
has been attending UUCM since August 2016 and, with her husband Dave, re-generated our hilltop Labyrinth. She is a German immigrant, a Waldorf teacher, and a handcrafter. She has been studying Biography as Social Art and will describe the events of her life through the OTHER PEOPLE involved in it.
Dianne Estrada
was born in the San Fernando Valley and this makes her a birthright suburban " Valley Girl". This may explain why her favorite music comes from early 80s hard rock but not why she went on to a career as an actuary. We don't know if that predicted having two wonderful children but she did. Leaving a 25 year marriage in 2011 sparked her to find our congregation, where she kindled a lot of new energy: stepping into lead the annual Retreats, then into Board leadership, and now with the fired-up Facilities Committee.
Jump in and learn about these good people.
Be remarkable yourself and come enjoy!
Next in the series:
March 16: Karen Auroy and Jim Harrison
April 20: Michael Jenkins and Lynne Scarpa
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Discussion after February 18 sermon
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Adult Ed, through generous funding from a Wesley Grant, is sponsoring a "Talk About" discussion led by Rev. Jane Ramsey
Feb. 18th in the Fireside Room from 12:15 - 1:30 PM. This will be a facilitated discussion of her sermon Fact, Fiction and Faith: Finding meaning in life when facing death.
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Women's REST Sunday Supper Crew Needs YOU!
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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]
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Retreat Registration Now Open
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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.
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
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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 - April 27-29
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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.
Register for our Regional Assembly. Early Bird Registration now closed.
www.uua.org/pwr
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Women and Religion PCD Women's Retreat 3/8-11
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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.
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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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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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