Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin
UUCM Email Weekly!
November 29, 2018
Issue #476
Sunday Worship Services
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10:30 am
The Sunday Circle 9 am
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9 am - The Sunday Circle 

Upcoming Topics and Leaders
 
12/2/18    Make Room for Mystery                        Marcus Hartlief
12/9/18    Why Are We Here at UUCM?                 Lorayne Hansen & Carol Kerr
 
More Info and additional service topics.

The Sunday Circle is held from 
9:00 am to 10:00 am each Sunday in the Fireside Room.
 
RE nUUs
jef melcher
How is your gratitude quotient?  Making a daily gratitude practice has significant health and happiness benefits. Being grateful for what we already have opens up pleasure centers in the brain. Satisfaction in each moment grows and we find that we need less to be happy. This allows us to make better choices to change those things that might better the world as we become more connected to it and each other. Change can come through joy and empathy just as easily as angst. I wish for all of us to stay focused on the joy of gratitude and connection as we move deeper into this holiday season.

Fair Trade Chocolate Sales Return to UUCM -  This lovely youth group project is back on track and new arrivals will be in this Sunday. You might want to buy some of this slave-trade-free yummies for stocking stuffers or just to have a guilt-free treat for yourself. 

Socks Appeal   - Joan Nelson's annual appeal to bring in socks for the homeless is yet again underway. Place n ew white tube socks in  the wicker basket in the lobby. Some of these might go to victims of the fires as well this year. We are finishing up this appeal on Dec. 9th. "There is nothing quite as nice as a warm pair of socks." - Albus Dumbledore
 
Youth Families and UU Young Adult Annual Solstice Ritual - Led by the Meluch Family on  Saturday, Dec 22 we will gather at 7pm to make candles and make a wish for the coming year. Out with the old and in with the new. We share in a circle after calling the directions. Upon releasing the circle there is food and frolic with music. We aim to finish by 10 pm. All YRUU families are encouraged. YRUU graduates are welcome too.

Toiletries for the homeless and fire victims  - Please bring in your collections of travel toiletries. We will be packaging them up on Jan. 6th.
 
Jeffrey Melcher,  M.Div. 
Director of Family Ministries 
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin
Selected Upcoming Dates
Upcoming dates link to the UUCM calendar for saving on iCal, Outlook etc.
Remarkable People - November 30 
Our next Remarkable People are Ali Jenkins and David Tetta on November 30. Note date change and speaker change.

Ali is married to Michael and mother of Nathanial. She is a member of the Partner Church Committee and speaks some Hungarian. She also is a head of the Parent's Group and past member of the Board.

Dave is a native of the Bronx, married to Kim, and a father of two. He is a retired mechanical engineer and loves to swing dance. He also speaks German and Spanish.
Deck The Halls - December 2
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Sunday December 2
Decorate the tree and Fellowship Hall. Activities for young and old alike. Sher Sheldon's famous clam chowder will be served, as well as a vegan soup option! (Donations encouraged.)  12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Truth Act Forum - December 6
12/6 Truth Act Forum with the Board of Supervisors - this meeting will give the community an opportunity to confront the County Sheriff on his providing names to ICE of undocumented individuals as they are released from custody. This action is in violation with SB 54. A rally will be held at 4pm on the grassy area bordering with North San Pedro Rd across from the Civic Center PO. The meeting with the Board of Supervisors occurs at 5:30 in their offices on the 3rd floor. Please attend! As a Sanctuary Congregation, it is critical that we show our support for the undocumented community.
Transylvanian Holiday Tea - December 8
All UUCM members and friends are invited to the Transylvanian Holiday Tea with Balázs Scholar Lehel Molnár and family  Saturday, December 8, 2:30pm  at Starr King School  2441 Le Conte Avenue, Berkeley .

RSVP to Arliss Ungar  Balazs@ungar.us

A voluntary donation to the Balázs Scholars Program helps support this program. Make your check to Starr King, write "Balázs" on notation line, send to Starr King School,  2441 Le Conte Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709  or donate online (specify Balázs).
Writing Class - December 8
December 8, 2018 from 10-12 Noon: UU Writing Class: Terry Lucas, acclaimed poet  (and UUCM member), will lead this session.  His poems, reviews, essays, and stories have appeared in numerous literary journals. He is a regular guest speaker for the Dominican University of California's MFA program in creative writing. He is a gifted freelance poetry coach. More about Terry and his work can be found at  www.terrylucas.com . Terry suggests the following:

Please bring to the session as many previously written pieces that you are either working on, or that you are willing to work on, as you want. If you have no previous work, that's okay too, as there will be time to create new work in the session. I will provide writing prompts, and demonstrate a way to fold the new work into the previous work (or into your other new work) to give it more energy. No evaluation of the work will be made by anyone except yourself. You feeling good about the end result is all that matters.
Learn about MOC - December 9
SAVE THE DATE! Sunday Dec. 9 @ 12:15 in Fellowship Hall.
What exactly is MOC anyway?  UUCM is now a member of the Marin Organizing Committee (MOC).
Come to learn the history of MOC and how it is working for justice issues like homelessness, affordable housing, tenants' protections and educational equity right here in our backyard. Join Social Justice committee members and Rev. Marcus along with a variety of  MOC members from other Marin congregations. Everyone is invited!!

Christmas Eve Refreshments Help?
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We are looking for two volunteers to coordinate the refreshments after the 7 o'clock service on December 24th.
This would entail setting up the room, setting out plates of sweets brought by the congregation, making punch and taking down the room afterwards. We would use paper cups for the beverage so no dishwashing would be necessary.
Please contact Marge Hollinger or Judy Finn if you are willing to volunteer for this important event.
 Facilities Project List November 2018
Attached at the link below for your information is the latest Facilities list of pending projects.  They are categorized roughly as high, medium, and low priority, but otherwise they are not prioritized.  We have tried to reflect the feedback that we received at the last Congregational Meeting.  We will be discussing these each month at our regular meetings, and making decisions regarding which projects to move forward based on available funds.  Your feedback is always welcome.


Facilities Committee
Game Night - December 7
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1st Fridays, 7:00 PM  - 9:00 PM, Fireside Room
 
Join us for an evening of relaxation and camaraderie.
Children and adults get acquainted over board games, cards, Scrabble, Pictionary, Boggle, Trivial Pursuit, chess, and more.

Bring your favorite games!

You are welcome to bring snacks to share.
Members and nonmembers of all ages are welcome.


Editing Volunteer Positions Still Open
Are you technically inclined and want to help the Communications Committee? I am looking for one or two UUCM member volunteers to edit the Special Announcements and/or Uucmconnect newsletters using Constant Contact. Mostly this is a copy and paste operation. I will do the actual sending when the editing is finished. I will train you on using the Constant Contact software. These newsletters are sent as needed. If you are interested contact Lisa Cohen at groupemail@uumarin.org.
Social Justice Education/Action
 
If you are not already receiving emails from the social justice committee and wish to receive them along with information about social justice actions/rallies in and around Marin, please send your email address to:    socialjustice@uumarin.org
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UUSC Take Action Items - Sign petitions, learn about issues, donate money. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you want to make a difference in our county and the world? We focus on local issues which are relevant to all of us. Bring your ideas and concerns to the  UUCM Social Justice Committee.  We meet the third Sunday of each month at noon.  ( SJ meetings are on hiatus until the third week of Jan.)
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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
  
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! 
Quick Links
 
Staff Links
 Developmental Minister:  Rev. Marcus Hartlief revmarcus@uumarin.org  
 
Office hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: mid-morning to late afternoon or into the evening.
 Call, text or email to make an appointment.  
415-578-9632 (direct), 510-213-0404 (cell) 
 
Director of Family Ministries:  Jeffrey Melcher  dre@uumarin.org
 
Office hours:
Wed 10:30-2:00
Thursday 10:30-2:00
Sunday 9:00-1:00
 
Administrator: Janette Morrow  office@uumarin.org
  415-578-9577 direct 
 
Choir director:  Amanda Morando  muusic@uumarin.org    
 
Pianist:  Milton Wong pianist@uumarin.org   

Nursery Teacher: Glynda Christian nursery.k1@uumarin.org 
 
Pastoral Care Committee: pastoralcare@uumarin.org 
Don Beck: 415-892-0642 
Newsletter Guidelines
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)

Weekly, UUCM Connect and Special Announcements Editor: Lisa Cohen 
Backup Production Editor: Valerie Taylor
 
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin
415- 578-9577 - Direct
240 Channing Way
San Rafael, CA 94903