February  10, 2019: Love Risks 

 

Past worship services

Upcoming worship services

We've begun exploring our monthly theme of Risk. Many of you will have a chance to reflect on Risk together at your first Soul Matters small group meeting. Here's what our Soul Matters packet says about the theme:

"Risk is usually associated with the dare devils and thrill seekers. The real danger, we're told, is a life of boredom. The battle is between the bland and the bold."

Yet, as James Baldwin reminds us, it's not quite that simple. He places commitment, not thrills, at the center of the game. For him, the ones to be admired are not so much the dare devils as the dedicated ones. And that Holy Grail? Well, he suggests, maybe it's not "the exciting life' as we've been told. Maybe it's the faithful life.

And that turns everything wonderfully on its head.

From this perspective, the important question about risk (and about life) is not "Are you willing to jump off?" but "Are you willing to jump in?" Not "Are you willing to put yourself in danger?" but "Are you willing to give yourself to something bigger?" Not "Will you be daring?" but "Will you stay true?"

And the message changes too. Suddenly, it's not "Run to what's thrilling!" but "Don't run away!"

It's all about remembering not to let the thrilling trump the faithful. As exciting as roller coasters and jumping out of planes might be, let's remember to remind each other that the most deeply rewarding risks are the ones that involve jumping into causes and putting our hearts in the hands of others. As the poet David Whyte puts it: "We are here essentially to risk ourselves in the world. We are meant to hazard ourselves for the right thing, for the right woman or the right man, for a son or a daughter, for the right work or for a gift given against all the odds." Bob Marley's take is equally compelling. He writes, "The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for."

And here's the twist: It's not just Baldwin's dangers, Whyte's hazards and Marley's suffering that come at us when we take the risk of living faithfully. Grace and gifts slip in there too! As the Scottish writer W.H. Murray explains,

"Concerning all acts of creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no one could have dreamt would have come their way."

How thrilling is that?!"

We'll pick up this theme with Sunday's service before our February Congregational Meeting. Hope to see you there!

With you on the Journey,

Rev. Marcus Hartlief

Like a sprout in spring that tries to find its way up through the rocky soil, we are moving ahead with a  4th-6th grade OWL class open to the wider community. We have six families from the Marin Waldorf School, thanks to Kim Holscher, and some interest from families at UU Petaluma. Many thanks to Doug Kerr, Lori Smith, Rev Marcus, and Nanci Armstrong-Temple who all helped get this project launched. It is still a sprout, but it is showing green leaves and growing quickly. With care and feeding, we will have have a unique OWL offering for grades 4-6. If you know of families who might be interested in enrolling a child, now is the time to have them contact me.  

 

Registration for the UUCM Retreat is OPEN Please register soon and remember to also fill out the waiver for people under 18 years of age.

All ages RE on Sunday 2/17 will have a theme of music and movement. Jerry Moore and Katherine DaSilva Jain will help me hold space and practice ancient spiritual practices of dance and making a joyful noise. All grades 2-12 in one room having a multi-age community experience.

My time at the   Liberal Religious Educators (LREDA) retreat  in Camp Meeker, CA was fruitful in multiple ways. Lots of workshops, conversation, and ideas for how to bring our collective RE programs into the 21st century. We have committed to supporting each other and engage our congregations in taking risks for positive change. Lots of great topics for conversation at the RE Committee level, parent group, and congregational level. We can make meaningful adjustments to accommodate and support families.

Seeking Artists: Sondra and I are getting a group together who are interested in restoring the murals that used to be in the sanctuary and get them up in the Wright Room. These clear depictions of the reverence for nature will grace the walls and make that space much more inviting for children's RE and renters' use. You can contact me or Sondra to learn more.

 

Fair Trade Chocolate: New arrivals! This Sunday buy fair trade for your sweetheart or your sweet tooth. 

 

Jeffrey Melcher, M.Div.   

Director of Family Ministries

415.578.9788

 

[email protected]

February 9, 2019 from 10-12 Noon: UU Writing Circle: Writing to Find the Voice Inside at Clara Barton Room: Join the writing group sponsored by Adult Ed led by Kat Braeman. Write for ten minutes and share with the group. Writing can build community and be a spiritual quest. Call Kat at 202/549-3696 or email [email protected] for more information.

Flyer with more info.

  Read more and register HERE.

Friday, February 15,   7- 9 pm  Fireside Room

 

Joyce Rhodes and Rich Panter are our Remarkable People for February. 

This ongoing  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.

You may know  Joyce Rhodes as one of our stalwart Membership Greeters' Team-but you may not know yet that she first performed in church at age 4, has ridden an elephant to Angkor Wat, poached a rattlesnake in Mendocino,  and was kissed by a horse in San Francisco.  She'll tell you about what she has learned from challenges, adventures, and joys in 83 years of living. 

 

Rich Panter, a first-year Board member, is in no way new to Unitarianism, having been active across 3 decades in congregations in Massachusetts, South Caroline, and Napa.  He grew up in Michigan, grew to love jazz from his detective dad who also played in a dance band and has tales to tell about his career as a documentary filmmaker.   

 

Come to the Fireside room for a Friday evening of sharing, some snacks, and learning more about our common interests and intriguing differences in life experience. 

All are welcome and there will be sustaining snacks too.

 
And for next month if you want to mark your calendar.  March 15: Kristina Gale and Ray Meluch.