Neighborhood Weekly News
September 20, 2018
Worship
This Sunday's Service

September 23rd
There Is Nothing Wrong With You  
Rev. Arvid Straube  Guest Minister

Unitarian Universalists don't believe in original sin.  But like many in our achievement driven culture, we often suffer from perfectionism.  Is there a way out?
 
Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube has been a parish minister for 33 years before retiring to devote himself to teaching, and to a ministry of spiritual direction.  He has served congregations in Washington State, North Carolina and California. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Duke Divinity School and Starr King School for the Ministry
 
This Sunday's Offering will be donated to Esperanza International.  Esperanza International seeks to cultivate global citizenship through services experiences in working towards a better world. Esperanza partners with Fundación Esperanza de México, a Mexican NGO, who believe that all people deserve safe and dignified housing. Together, they offer service-learning immersion trips where volunteers help build homes in communities across Tijuana and have the opportunity to authentically engage in the unique border culture of Tijuana, Mexico, through the eyes of its own residents. For more information about our congregation's border trips this fall happening October 26-28, email Esperanza co-leaders Tres Izzard or Wendy Wilson. Donate online HERE.
 
Upcoming Worship Services

September 30th 
Dare to Understand!
Rev. Lissa Gundlach, Senior Minister

"Dare to Understand! Have the courage to use your own understanding ." Philosopher Immanuel Kant first used this slogan as a kind of motto for the Enlightenment, the 18th century intellectual movement whose principles influenced the founding of our Unitarian tradition. Come join Rev. Lissa for a critical reflection on the contemporary need for Enlightenment values and the necessity of a return to reason in the public square.  
Want to catch up on previous services?
Text and audio can be found HERE
Upcoming Events
September 20 - September 23
  • Thursday, September 20: White People for Racial Justice, 7:00 p.m., NH Living Room
  • Thursday, September 20: Choir Rehearsal, 7:15 p.m., Room 21
  • Friday, September 21: Creative Meditation, 7:00 p.m., Room 23
  • Sunday, September 23: Sunday Worship, 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m., Sanctuary
  • Sunday, September 23: Neighborhood People of Color Meeting, 1:00 p.m., NH Living Room
  • Sunday, September 23: Writing as a Spiritual Activity, 1:00 p.m., Room 6
September 24 - September 30
  • Monday, September 24: Bell Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m., Room 21
  • Thursday, September 27: Choir Rehearsal, 7:15 p.m., Room 21
  • Friday, September 28: Creative Meditation, 7:00 p.m., Room 23
  • Saturday, September 29: Family Trip to the Zoo, 9:45 a.m.
  • Sunday, September 30: Sunday Worship, 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m., Sanctuary
  • Sunday, September 30: Neighborhood Book Fair, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Ross Chapel
  • Sunday, September 30: Writing as a Spiritual Activity, 1:00 p.m., Room 6
October 1 - October 7
  • Monday, October 1: Bell Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m., Room 21
  • Thursday, October 4: Choir Rehearsal, 7:15 p.m., Room 21
  • Friday, October 5: Creative Meditation, 7:00 p.m., Room 23
  • Sunday, October 7: Sunday Worship, 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m., Sanctuary
  • Sunday, October 7: New to Neighborhood, 1:00 p.m., NH Living Room
  • Sunday, October 7: GLOBE Forum, 10:45 a.m., NH Dining Room
  • Sunday, October 7: Building Bridges, 12:45 p.m., Room 21
  • Sunday, October 7: Writing as a Spiritual Activity, 1:00 p.m., Room 6
  • Sunday, October 7: Jazz N Paz Concert, 5:00 p.m., Sanctuary

Visit our  web calendar  for more upcoming events.  

 

 

Volunteers Needed!! CLICK HERE to sign up!

 




For further info contact Carla Jamie  Perez at  jazznpaz@performancesalacarte.com
Congregational Life
Neighborhood People of Color Meeting
Sunday, September 23, 12:45 p.m.
Neighborhood House Living Room

NPOC is a fellowship group for church members and friends who identify as  people of  color. We welcome members to join our meetings for fellowship, spiritual rituals, sharing and reflection, and working on issues of diversity, multiculturalism, and justice. Contact Rev. Christina Shu,  cshu@neighborhooduu.org
Chalice Circles Signups Closing
Sign up by Sunday, September 23!

There are a few spots left in the Chalice Circle Groups - CLICK HERE to learn more about this small group ministry and to register. The last day to register is this Sunday, September 23rd.  For those who have signed up already, the facilitator of your group will contact you with complete details about a week before your first meeting.  

To find out more CLICK HERE
Fall 2018 Dining for Dollars is Coming Soon! 


You can make a difference to the church by hosting a community-building event or offering a service that people will bid on during the Fall 2018 Dining for Dollars. Do you like to host lunches, dinners, game nights, teas, movie nights, or music events? Make it even more fun (and make it easier for yourself) by co-hosting with a friend. Can you offer a tour of a studio, museum, or historical area of Los Angeles? How about teaching someone to knit, quilt, make stained glass, or brew craft beer? Can you fix a software glitch, repair a broken faucet, or lead a hike? Do you have a vacation home to lend, or tickets to a sporting event or theatrical production? The possibilities are endless! You can sign up by clicking HERE .

You can also sign up at the Dining for Dollars table that will be on the patio after both services on
September 23 and 30. Please register your event before October 8!
 
Bidding on Dining for Dollars items will take place after both services on
October 14 and 21. The auction closes at 1:00 p.m. after the second service on Sunday, October 21. All items will have a Buy It Now price, so don't delay if you see an item that you really need to have! 

For more information about Dining For Dollars CLICK HERE

Questions? Contact Toni LeBel at creativealbums@aol.com .
Circle Supper Sign Ups 
Available online now HERE
or on the patio September 23 & 30.

Circle Suppers are potluck dinners hosted by Church members in their homes that include church members, visitors, and friends. Circle Suppers are a great way to meet new church members, get to know long term members better, and enjoy delicious meals together!  Available online now  HERE

Neighborhood Church is a caring congregation. The Pastoral Care Team and minister are here to help you in times of crisis or need and to rejoice with you in times of celebration. We can provide meals, rides, run errands, and offer one-on-one support.  Please contact Lyn Munro , Pastoral Care Coordinator, if you or someone you know needs assistance.

Our minister, Rev. Lissa, is also available for pastoral care visits and counseling sessions for members. Sunday worship is a time when we witness the joys, sorrows, and life-transitions of the congregation. Do you have a life event (birth, marriage, illness, death, milestone or celebration) which you would like shared in the order of service or lifted up in the prayer? 
Music
Bell Choir Rehearsals
Mondays at 7:00 p.m. 
Room 21

Come ring with us! No experience needed to join. For more information contact Thomas Simpson at  ftsimpson@aol.com

Neighborhood Choir Rehearsals
Thursdays at 7:15 p.m. 
Room 21

New singers are accepted year-round. Whenever you're ready to join, just come to a rehearsal! Once you've attended 2 or 3 consecutive rehearsals, you're invited to officially join the choir and lead worship on Sunday mornings. The choir sings at both the 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sunday services every other week during the program year. The choir also sings for special occasions and for performances with  partners  in our community. For more information, contact Dr. Zanaida Robles at zrobles@neighborhooduu.org

Social Justice
Esperanza signups
Sunday, September 23, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Social Justice Patio table

Ready, set, go-and they're off! Registration officially opens for the October 26-28 home-building trip to Tijuana. Last time it sold out so don't delay! Download the forms online  HERE or fill them out at the Social Justice table. Registration fee is $105, payable to Neighborhood Church. No refunds for cancellations within 14 days of trip. 

For more information, contact Tres Izzard at izzard.tres@gmail.com.
Explore the Small Group Social Change Ministry
Sunday, September 23, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Social Justice Patio table

A year ago, several Neighborhood Church members entered into an collaboration with Orange Grove Friends (Quaker) Meeting. Based on a UU curriculum, the Small Group Social Change Ministry (SGSCM) is a support network to prevent activist burnout while weaving spirituality into social justice. It uses an "accompaniment model", lifting up the powerful work already going on and led by communities most impacted by injustice. As its official project, SGSCM chose to visit undocumented immigrants at Adelanto Detention Center. To learn more about the project, check out our blog HERE

Interested? Luckily, SGSCM is about to open the group to new members! In addition to Adelanto trips (encouraged but not required), the group gathers twice monthly to plan actions, debrief our experiences, check in personally, and share spiritual practices. Meetings are on 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 7-9 pm. Location alternates between Neighborhood and OGFM, a mile east on Orange Grove Blvd. We always include snacks or potluck dinner. Sometimes immigration experts are invited to speak. If this project resonates with you, please let us know! Stop by the Social Justice table for a conversation with current members.
Learn about Fall Ballot Propositions
Monday, October 1, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Sanctuary

Did you know there will be 11 state measures on the November 6 ballot? League of Women Voters to the rescue! Their informed speakers will present unbiased information--background on each measure, fiscal effects, and arguments on both sides. So mark your calendar for the first Monday evening in October to learn all the Pros & Cons before your mail-in ballot arrives.



 

Food Pantry collection. . . At the end of this month, we are discontinuing the weekly collection of non-perishable food items. Until then, you can bring your donations to the Social Justice Patio table. After September, please save items for a big Thanksgiving food drive. Contact: sballard@neighborhooduu.org

 

Webinars on Accessibility and Inclusion Issues in Congregational Life

Opening our doors to people of all abilities is the less talked about test of inclusion in our congregations. This webinar will discuss "disability etiquette" and will explore the many ways in which our congregations can be more accessible and more welcoming to people with a variety of disabilities.

Tue, September 25, 2018, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT REGISTER HERE
 
Wed, September 26, 2018, 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT REGISTER HERE

 For more information  CLICK HERE
Religious Education
Neighborhood Author Book Talk
Sunday, September 23, 12:45 p.m.
Ross Chapel

The Question of Empathy - Have you ever wondered about empathy? What it is, why it matters  and how it may be related to spiritual practice? Author and NUUC member Carol Jeffers will discuss these questions and more in a talk about her new book The Question of Empathy: Searching for the Essence of Humanity in Ross Chapel, on Sunday, September 23, at 12:45 pm. Light refreshments will be served and Carol will be available to sign copies of her book. Contact Matt Vasko DRE at  mvasko@neighborhooduu.org .


LA Zoo Trip! On Saturday, September 29th, join Neighborhood families for a fun trip to the LA Zoo. We will meet in front of the main entrance to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens at 9:45 a.m. Please either pack a lunch or bring money to buy lunch there. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen. Admission is $21 for ages 13 - 61, $18 for Seniors ages 62 and older, and $16 for ages 2 through 12. Children under 2 are free. Neighborhood church member Jay Marx, a zoo docent, will be our guide. Everyone is welcome! Please RSVP to DRE Matt Vasko with the number in your party at mvasko@neighborhooduu.org.

Neighborhood Church is coming together as a community to participate in the 2.4 mile Out of the Darkness walk at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 3rd. We are walking in honor of Lukas Pender, who our community lost to suicide in 2012. This is our second year participating in the walk to help raise funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Together, we are saying that suicide cannot be ignored and that those who have struggled and still struggle are loved. We are starting early to have plenty of time to reach our team goal of $2000 to support the important work of AFSP. You can join our team as a Virtual Walker if you are not able to participate in person. Help us reach our goal of 35 team members! Sign up to join our team at https://afsp.donordrive.com/team/175967 (if the link doesn't work copy and paste it into your browser) . Contact Matt Vasko DRE at mvasko@neighborhooduu.org 
Regional & District News
Sign up now for the Leadership Experience 2019 Program

Have you recently taken on a leadership role in this congregation? Are you considering taking on a leadership role but want to increase your experience, knowledge, and skills before doing so? Are you a new board member or board president but still haven't found the instruction manual? Visit www.uua.org/pwr to learn more about and apply to participate in "Leadership Experience 2019". This is a hybrid in-person/on-line leadership development program offered by the Pacific Western Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association that will take place this coming winter and spring. Space is limited, so individuals are encouraged to apply to participate by October 15!
2019 District Assembly: Save the Date and Call for Workshops
 
                          
Save the weekend of April 26-28, 2019, for the next Pacific Southwest District Assembly at the UU Church of Long Beach, California!
 
Next year's DA Theme will be, "From the Ground Up: The Power of Our PSWD Communities."
 
The congregation is the foundation of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Everything we do as an expression of our faith is grounded in the local communities from which we all take comfort and strength. Some of our greatest joys sprout from the spiritual communities and the congregations of the Pacific Southwest District - both big and small.
 
How does this theme apply to your congregation or your life?
 
If you have an idea for a workshop, conference session or other activity that would fit well with this theme, please contact DA planning committee co-chair Michael Hart at michaelhrt3@gmail.com.
 
Workshop submissions are due by October 20, 2018.
 
For more information, contact Michael Hart at michaelhrt3@gmail.com.
Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church
301 North Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103
626.449.3470 | www.neighborhooduu.org
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