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March 29, 2018
Issue #446
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April 1, 2018: Easter Sunday: Fools for Love
Rev. Joy Atkinson
It's Easter in the Christian calendar, and it's April Fools' Day! The two themes come together in a historical and unusual image of Jesus, which can speak to us in modern times. We will also celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover.
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Upcoming Topics and Leaders
4/1/18: April Fools' Traditions: A Sacrament of Silliness
Kat Braeman
4/8/18: Building a Relationship with Death
Steve Prince
The Sunday Circle is held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am each Sunday in the Fireside Room.
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Words of Joy
Season of Laughter
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I refuse to be intimidated by reality anymore. After all, what is reality anyway? Nothin' but a collective hunch. My space chums think reality was once a primitive method of crowd control. I made some studies, and reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it. I can take it in small doses, but as a lifestyle I find it too confining.
--Trudy the Bag Lady, played by Lily Tomlin in The Search For Intelligent Life in the Universe, by Jane Wagner
How often has someone really had you going on some disturbing piece of news, only to end it with a shout of "April Fool's!". April Fools' Day is a day dedicated to humor, usually in the form of these little pranks. Its specific origins go back to the initial confusion among French peasants when, in 1582, the Pope changed the calendar year. Up until then, the New Year was April 1st, a few days after the Spring Equinox. The Pope changed it to January 1st, a few days after the Winter Solstice. But that first year, in the absence of mass media, some peasants hadn't heard of the change, so they continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1st. Those who did so were the target of pranks, and were called April fools, or April fish, poisson d'Avril, after the young fish that appear in France in early April-fish that are easily caught.
The custom of tricks on April 1st spread to the British Isles, where people were sent to buy left-handed hammers (I could use one of those!) or pints of pigeon's milk, and the tradition was brought here by British settlers. Today we still are subject to, or plotters of, little loving acts of deceit.
With April Fools' Day, which this year occurs on Easter Sunday (this coincidence hasn't happened since 1954), we enter a month whose name may come from the Latin "aperire," to open. Whether or not that is its etymology, April is a month of opening up: buds and bulbs tightly closed against winter burst open to reveal their color and scent. We can finally throw open our doors and windows to let in the warmed air. Our very lives seem to open up toward spring, and we have a hard time sitting still at our indoor desks. May we all be touched with the comic festival that is spring, and may each of you fully enjoy the season of playfulness, and at least at times, may you abandon all reason and the heaviness of too much reality, and become a frolicking April Fool!
May you have a happy April Fools' Day and a blessed Easter/Passover season.
Joy
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Hippity Hoppity
Our annual Egg Hunt will begin just before service ends with our regular visit from our giant rodent friend. Children and youth of all ages are invited to participate. We will release waves of children to the hunt starting with the youngest and give them a few minutes before the next age group is released.
Fair Trade Chocolate
Our children's study in childhood slavery prompted them to provide education to the congregation about the trade in cocoa beans is part of the slavery culture. We must no longer be complicit. Equal Exchange chocolate will be available again April 1st. Special orders are possible.
Our chocolate source, Equal Exchange, has a partnership with the UUA and sends 20% of its profit to the UU Service Committee. Any profit our kids make on the sales will go to related charities and/or the UUCM Youth Leadership Fund.
YRUU Overnight
April 7th is the next teen overnight date at UUCM. RSVPs needed to George Pegelow or Jef Melcher.
Notice:
Please get your Retreat Registration in ASAP. This is one of the best events of the year! Even if you can only come for the Friday dinner and campfire, it is worth it.
Director of Religious Exploration
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Upcoming dates link to the UUCM calendar for saving on iCal, Outlook etc.
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UUCM Benefit Concert - April 7, 4 pm
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You're invited to an afternoon concert celebrating women composers. Soprano Amanda Morando and pianist Milton Wong will perform music by women composers, including Fanny Mendelssohn, Cécile Chaminade, and Amy Beach. April 7 at 4 pm, doors open at 3:30 pm.
Beverages, and refreshments will be available for purchase.
Tickets at the door - $20 General, $15 Seniors and youth under 17.
All proceeds benefit the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin.
Poster to share with your friends.
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Last call for Retreat Registration
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If you were thinking of coming to the Retreat this year but forgot to bring your form last Sunday or maybe you did not come last Sunday, There is one last chance this coming Sunday to register. We have to give Walker Creek Ranch a head count on April 4. If you are on the fence, now is the time! What could be finer than a weekend in the country among friends? Scholarships available. If you would like to give a workshop, we also need to hear from you.
Thomas
Retreat Waiver
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REMARKABLE People Again... April 20 7 pm
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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.
You may know Lynne Scarpa from her work on the Board and leadership in the search for an incoming Developmental Minister. But you might be less familiar with her legacy as a third generation Californian. She also knows more than any of us about what communities can and should do about stormwater.
Michael Jenkins has also served on the Board in the past. You could know he is an exercise expert with three gyms across Marin County. But you can come learn more about what and where is Lackawanna, New York, and then be able to ask this question: Why was Michael on TV at the age of 4?
Come hear from these good UUCM folk who have lived experience of how to stay fit and keep our communities safe in the face of climate change.
Be remarkable yourself and come enjoy!
And coming up next month:
May 18: Christine Davenport and Amanda Morando
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Welcome to spring and the beautiful plants that are pushing their way through the soil in your yard as I write this! We will be looking for volunteers to bring a flower arrangement each Sunday in April, May and June. If you would like to participate - and I hope you will! - please send me an email [email protected] with the date of your choice. Better send a second choice too, as the schedule does fill up. Thanks in advance!
Sally
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Shared Housing Community Forum - Save the Date
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Shared Housing Community Forum
Sponsored by UUCM: Fellowship Hall
Saturday, May 19th, 2018
10AM-noon
Open to public/No fee
Hear ways you can be part of the affordable housing solution in Marin County. Panelists from Marin Villages, Home Share,
Marin Environmental Collaborative on Housing and others will be there to educate and answer questions.
Learn about ways to age in place while helping with the housing shortage.
More info
Linda Haumann
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UU Book Group Meetings - April 1 and May 6
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The next UUCM book club meeting is on April Fools' and Easter, April 1, at 3pm at Janice Prochaska's house. We will discuss "Salvage the Bones" by National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward.
We will meet May 6 at Villa Marin, hosted by Sandy Steinman, book to be determined at the April meeting.
Newcomers are welcome to join the book club!
Kim Holscher
[email protected]
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"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." James Beard. Get to know other members of the congregation eating dinners in their homes through Dinners for Eight (or Six). We would love to have more participants for the last two dinners of the year on April 7th and June 2nd.
Dinners for 8 (or Six) is a coordinated potluck. We meet on the 1st Saturday of the month, October through June. Each month a volunteer host will offer a main course and guests bring appetizers, salad/soup, dessert, and wine and good conversation. Contact Sher Sheldon at 415-892-1727 or
[email protected]
for details.
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Summer Worship Opportunities
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The Worship Committee is currently seeking members to give services from July 23rd until the end of August. You will be assisted by a Worship Associate to plan your service. Typically the 'sermon' portion lasts 15-20 minutes.
If you have an idea for a service, please contact
[email protected]. Share your words with our Congregation!
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Women's REST Program in Last Year
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Women's REST Program in Last Year -- Helpers needed for April 8.
Thank you to everyone for pitching in to make and serve food during this last year of the REST program. For 10 years, UUCM along with other community groups has helped provide emergency wintertime shelter and food for up to 25 women a night. This is the last year of that program. Come be a part of it! We need helpers for April 8. Walt Littrell and the Fountain of Ukes (Ukuleles) will get your toes tapping and fill your heart with joy.
Click this link to sign up!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054aafac2e5-sunday
Questions? Ask Sarah Tiederman --
[email protected]
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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
Thank you to those of you who were present at the Promise and Practice Service. Thank you also to those who were able to attend the discussion on white privilege and discrimination within the UU denomination that took place after the service. It was a very honest, fruitful and expanding conversation. Discussions of "Centering" will be
April 22nd 12:15-1:30PM at UUCM and also at the UUCM retreat May 4-6.
This anthology of vital voices from our own UUA ministry speaks to the challenges of being a minister of color in our denomination.
Adult Ed has purchased 10 copies from the UUA to circulate for reading.
As of Feb. 25 there was at least one copy of "Centering" available to be checked out from the
Adult Ed Lending Library which is a well labeled box with a checkout form near the computer in the Community Room.
If you have a copy you are willing to circulate please leave it in the Adult Ed Lending Library in the Community Room.
It's going for $9.99 and $7.99.
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UU Spring Adventure at beautiful Camp Sylvester in Pinecrest, CA! May 11-13th!
The weather should be great and the lake will be beautiful. Enjoy activities like volleyball, hiking, archery. and ping-pong as well as the usual camp games, evening activities, cooking in the amazing kitchen, and making art and music together. It is Mother's Day so a special invitation to all mothers. Why not celebrate with a fun getaway weekend?!!
Please click the link below to register! For more information feel free to email:[email protected].
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General Assembly Kansas City, Missouri
The call of our Unitarian Universalist faith has a place for each of us.
All Are Called
to join us this June 20 - 24 in Kansas City to build courageous, collective leadership with tools, skills and connections.
Financial aid for General Assembly is available in the form of working volunteer positions as well as registration scholarships and travel grants. There are several different funding sources available via the General Assembly Unified Scholarship Application, including additional funding committed by the UUA Administration to the 2018 budget to facilitate the participation of People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Persons at GA. Financial Aid applications are accepted March 1 through March 31.
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Pacific Western Regional Assembly - April 27-29
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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.
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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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Next Social Justice meeting: Sunday April 15
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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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