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April 19, 2018
Issue #449
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April 22, 2018: Earth Day Service: Earth Teach Me
Rev. Joy Atkinson
The service will celebrate the 48th annual Earth Day and explore the principle of "biophilia"-our human sense of kinship with other living things that share this planet.
The Board will share new developments in the search for a developmental minister this Sunday at the beginning of the 10:30 service.
Those attending the 9:00 Sunday Circle will also receive a update at the end of the gathering.
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Upcoming Topics and Leaders
4/22/18: Karma of Clothes
Kim Holscher
The Board will share new developments in the search for a developmental minister this Sunday and the Sunday Circle members will receive a update at the end of the gathering.
4/29/18: Increase Your Connection by Owning Your Projections
Jack Travis
The Sunday Circle is held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am each Sunday in the Fireside Room.
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Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.
Henry David Thoreau
As Thoreau says, one can expect wonders when there is a seed present. I believe that a seed of hope and vitality exists at UUCM, and it has already sent up green shoots of new growth. This congregation feels vital, healthy and ready to embrace its new future. And I am looking ahead to the exciting unknown of retirement after over four decades of Unitarian Universalist ministry. The horizon looks rosy with promise.
As my time among you begins to draw to a close, I find myself looking back on two very busy, and very rewarding, years. In the next couple of months, I know I will find various occasions to sum up the interim work we've done here together and the changes we have seen-via Board and Committee meetings, in conversation and from the pulpit. But for now, I am just pausing on the cusp of a new change in the life of UUCM and in my own life, enjoying the view. We have done much together in this interim time, and I am overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude to so many people for their hard work.
The wheels of change keep on turning, and each new season turns, taking us to places in our lives that we will not see again. So may we pause from time to time on the brink of these many changes, to remember with gratitude those who have graced our journey thus far.
Fondly, Joy
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Conscientious Objector
During the first Iraq war, when I was doing youth work in Oregon, I researched what it takes to qualify as a conscientious objector. As it turns out, being a UU does not automatically qualify you as it does if you are a Quaker. UUs have such a strong individual moral aspect to our religion that each individual must prove his own moral predilection to pacifism. One must keep a journal of movies, books, and events that they have participated in. A history of written essays on the subject is nearly required. All of this has to be documented as having occurred before one is called into service. No Draft you say? Don't bet your life on it.
DRE to UUA PWR RA- Your Director of Religious Exploration, me, is going to Portland, OR for the Pacific Western Region's Regional Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Geez, no wonder we use abbreviations and acronyms! I am going early to take a class and staying a few days extra to visit with family and friends. (I used to live in OR for nearly a decade.) I will be gone: April 25th - May 1st.
Mini-schedule
April 22 - 4th Sunday, remember the commitment to 2nd and 4th Sundays. Please bring your youth and children to RE. We are preparing for the end of year presentations, youth worship service, etc.
April 29 - regular RE classes
May 4-6 - UUCM Retreat - Hooray!
May 6th - No RE classes, but Nursery-K1 room open and staffed.
June 3 - RE Sunday: All children and youth to participate in the service. Please put this in red on your
calendar.
June 10 - Flower Communion: a multigenerational service. year end potluck after service, last day of RE until Aug 25th.
FYI - There is a Harry Potter Alliance chapter that had a great success in moving the fair trade chocolate issue to action with Warner Bros.
Jeffrey Melcher
. M.Div.
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Upcoming dates link to the UUCM calendar for saving on iCal, Outlook etc.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
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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 experiences 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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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, Lilypad Homes and others will be there to educate and answer questions.
Learn about ways to age in place while helping with the housing shortage.
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UUCM Readers' Theater invites members and friends to join our fun-loving group. We meet twice a month, on the second and fourth Monday of each month, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at UUCM. Most of the time, we read short plays aloud when we meet, but every 6-8 weeks we rehearse and then present short prose or poems during a service. No memorizing required, but you should be willing to ham it up and be silly. Information: Jan Seagrave (
janseagrave@gmail.com
).
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Classical Concert Postponed
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Our April 7 classical concert,
Celebrating Women Composers,
is being postponed due to Amanda's vocal health issues. It has been rescheduled for Saturday, June 2nd at 4pm.
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Survey for Support of Immigrant Families
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The Social Justice Committee is working with the Marin Interfaith Council in developing a support system for our immigrant community. As part of that endeavor, we need to determine what level of support each congregation could provide and who could be contacted when the need arises. If you are interested in helping, please fill out the survey at this link.
https://goo.gl/forms/s9Q0baJtSiOptZN72
Your contact information will only be used within our congregation.
Thank you
UUCM Social Justice Committee
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UUA 2017-2018 Common Read
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Please Join in the
UUCM Adult Ed discussion of the UUA 2017-2018 Common Read
We will meet on April 22nd 12:15-1:30PM in the Fireside Room
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
that can
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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UUCM Book Club Dates - May, June
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The UUCM book club will meet at Villa Marin on
May 6 at 3pm
to discuss "The Unamericans," stories by Molly Antopol, chosen by Sandy Steinman.
On
June 3rd
, we will again meet at Villa Marin to discuss poetry by Kay Ryan, chosen by Kat Braeman.
Anyone interested in the books is welcome to join us! Kim Holscher
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We are Getting a New Website!
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New Website Going Live Soon!
UUCM has a new website! Using a well-designed and tested template provided by the UUA, we have created a new website to support our communications to both the outside world and among our members and friends. We expect the new site to replace the old one before the end of April. So if you go to
uumarin.org
in a few weeks and see something completely different, you're in the right place!
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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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Spring Transylvanian Tea - April 21
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Starr King School for the Ministry cordially invites you and your friends to our Spring Transylvanian Tea, a fundraiser for the Balázs Scholars Program. Saturday, April 21, 2018, 2:30pm,
at the Starr King School for the Ministry,
2441 Le Conte Avenue, Berkeley. $25 suggested donation.
Featuring
Rev. Lidia-Emese Bodor
2017-2018 Balázs Scholar
Religion Teacher and School Chaplain
Janos Zsigmond Unitarian High School, Kolozsvar
and
Rev. Sofia Betancourt
Assistant Professor of Unitarian Universalist Theologies and Ethics
Starr King School for the Ministry
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UUA General Assembly - June 20-24
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General Assembly Kansas City, Missouri
General Assembly is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association. Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend; congregations must certify annually to send voting delegates. The 2018 General Assembly will be June 20-24 in Kansas City, Missouri. Most General Assembly events will be held in the Kansas City Convention Center. GA will offer more than 175 programming selections over the course of five days. Major worships this year will be lead by UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray and Rev. Sofia Betancourt.
Be a delegate from UUCM or go on your own. GA is a fabulous experience.
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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:dleschyn@gmail.com.
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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
socialjustice@uumarin.org 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
worshipassociates@uumarin.org
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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