Under the Umbrella

Inspired by our UU principles, we are a vibrant, intentionally diverse congregation that models and promotes both locally and globally: love, spiritual growth, service, right relations, and sustainable living.

Contacting Our New Minister

Reverend Ellie's email: RevEllie@uufsd.org.

To make an appointment: https://calendly.com/revellie/30min.

FROM THE BOARD

UUFSD Board Meeting

Sunday, January 8th, 12:30pm in Palmer Library

All are welcome to attend and observe

UUFSD Forum with Rev. Ellie and the UUFSD Board

This Sunday, January 8th, 11:15am - 12:15pm in the Amphitheatre

Rev Ellie and the Board of Directors invite you to join us this Sunday, January 8th, for a congregational forum as part of our Journeying toward our Deepest Selves series, our ongoing effort to renew and define our congregational identity. We will present a draft of a congregation wide behavioral covenant and a draft of proposed ByLaw changes. The rationale for each of these will be discussed and we will ask for your input.

Your participation at this forum is an important part of our process as the Board will be meeting directly afterwards to finalize changes to our Bylaws that we will be proposing. The finalized proposal will go out to the entire congregation and voted on at our January 29th Congregational meeting. The forum will be held in the amphitheater and begin around 11:15am, after a short break following the service. The forum will be livestreamed so participation via Zoom will be available.

Any questions email board@uufsd.org.

SOCIAL ACTION

MLK Day of Service & Outreach,

January 14, 8:00am - 12:00pm, in Oceanside

Our UUFSD Sunday service on 1/15/23 will commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his mission to achieve "the riches of freedom and security of justice" for all. It will challenge us to consider how we can continue the work in ourselves, our fellowship and community.

An integral part of our nation's celebration of Dr. King has been a day of service in his name. The North County NAACP sponsors such a day on Saturday 1/14/23 from 8 am to noon. Individuals gather at Mira Costa Community College in Oceanside then spread out to participate in various projects. Many from our Fellowship have volunteered over the years. If you would like to come out of your pandemic inertia, the link below will give more information and help you register. Hope to see you there!

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/4090a45a8a929a5f58-mlkday/47989701

Interfaith Shelter Network In Person Again!

Our Fellowship will participate in the Interfaith Shelter Network Program in person this year after two years off due to Covid-19. We will partner with St. James Catholic Church in Solana Beach, as we have for years, in providing shelter and food to individuals and families without homes.

The guests will spend the nights at St. James for two weeks. UUFSD volunteers will provide overnight hosts and meals for the second week which runs from January 29 until February 5.

This year Barbara Walker will create a Sign-Up Genius to allow us to sign up online to bring food or to stay overnight as a host. Guests will be vaccinated and tested for Covid before staying. They are involved in case management. The program has been very successful in helping individuals to transition to more permanent housing and jobs.

If you would like the Sign Up Genius invitation to be sent to you, please let Barbara know at barbarawalker1@yahoo.com or Mary Anne Trause at trause@comcast.net.

FELLOWSHIP LIFE

Newcomer Meet-up, Sunday January 8th, 11:15am

After the service, get your coffee and goodies and come to the table in the back of the core area, where I will be seated, to meet other newcomers and to learn about UUFSD's many activities. Bring your questions as well. Betsy Gilpin (betsygilpin01@gmail.com)

2nd Monday Book Club

January 9, 6:30-8:15pm, Founders Hall West

The UUFSD Book Club is starting 2023 with the discussion of the modern novel Little Fires Everywhere (2017) by Celeste Ng.

We will meet at 6:30pm on Monday, January 9th at UUFSD.

Send comments and questions to bookclub@uufsd.org or call/text Cathy Leach-Phillips at 650 224-1974.

About the novel:

The planned community of Shaker Heights, Ohio is the setting where two very different families meet. "Witnessing these two families as they commingle and clash is utterly engrossing" (Eleanor Henderson, NY Times Book Review)

How do questions of race stack up against the comfort of privilege, and what role does that play in parenting? And do the faults of our past determine what we deserve in the future? (from review by author Jodi Picoult)

Football Tailgate Foods Cook Off

Sunday, January 22, 11:15am

Tonya W. Bradford, co-author of a 2015 cultural analysis of tailgating published in the Journal of Consumers Research, stated that modern tailgating can be traced back to Fall Harvest festivals in ancient Greece and Rome. Those events had music, community, and plenty of food and drink; the Winter was approaching.

Bradford says food around contests, such as football is not a new idea. Food has always been a natural given. A strong connection existed between many gatherings because people had to travel great distances; food was a necessity. In early years, fans of football contests often dined from wagons, and even sipped champagne. Wow.

January is the beginning of the ending of football season and there are a lot of games being played. To get you in the mood, The Kitchen Elves are having a throw down before the touchdown. After the service, kick off the day right. Bring your favorite tailgate food for UUFSD’s tailgate party cook off. Drinks and desserts will be provided. Dust off those recipes!

Suggested donation $5.00, free if you bring food. Questions, contact Louise Garrett at lovenlou@gmail.com

Sign Up for January 28 Circle Dinners!

Circle Dinners will return on January 28!

Signups will begin after the service on January 8, with online signups available the following week. As a change to the fall circle dinners, members will sign up for specific dinners, with the possibility of being on a back up list and/or last minute substitute list.

Just a reminder that this dinner was postponed from the 21st to the 28th to avoid conflicts with the concert happening on the 21st.

We are still looking for a couple of additional hosts, plus people to help coordinate the program throughout the year.

For more information, or to volunteer as a host or coordinator, please contact Nancy Hebert at nancy.e.hebert@gmail.com.

Dream Builder Committee Activity Update

The new curb and gutter along Solana Drive as required by the City has been completed. Thank you for your cooperation and patience during construction. Due to absences during the holiday break, the bid date for the Addition and Remodel of the Administration Building project (Phase 1 of Capital Campaign scope) has been extended to January 20.

In addition, we expect to receive a comprehensive budget estimate for Phases 2, 3, and 4 of the Capital Campaign work scope from White Construction within the first week of January, allowing the board to make informed decisions about pathways forward for these projects. They include Phase 2, the firetruck turnaround and additional parking, Phase 3, a new shade structure at the Amphitheater, and Phase 4, a new AV Kiosk with accessible toilet rooms and other accessibility improvements in the Amphitheater. Phases 2, 3 and 4 include their own unique components of new landscaping and accessibility improvements. 

Design Review

The Design Review Committee team is in search of additional members!

Our function and responsibility is to maintain the esthetic integrity of our campus. This includes reviews and approval of proposed improvements to the buildings or site, and other physical changes or additions to our site. There are currently two members on the committee, Irving Himelblau and Jon Luft.

It is important that the Design Review have a broader representation, as we consider a series of site improvements. We meet on an as needed basis.

For more information or to join our efforts, contact Irv Himelblau at Designreview@uufsd.org

Be A Candle of Care

Pastoral Care is a core component of our beloved community as it strengthens the meaning and experience of community. Every caring action is a compassionate action. We can all participate in caring for our community through a variety of compassionate actions. Here are some ways you can be a “Candle of Care”:

Offering to bring food to someone in need

Send a “caring card”

Visit someone who is experiencing a challenging time

Make a phone call to express your care

Offer transportation to Sunday services or for essential appointments (e.g. medical)

Give a hug (when appropriate)

If you would like to participate in UUFSD’s Candle of Care program please contact pastoralcare@uufsd.org

Book Closet Volunteers Needed!

Come one, come all! The Library Committee needs you!

We are looking particularly for members to staff the book closet before or after services on Sundays on a periodic basis. It's a chance to chat with our members and recommend some great reads! We also need folks to help us sort through donations on the first Thursday of every month at 9:30 am.

All of our used book proceeds go to support UUFSD; most recently we were able to refinish the library floor!

Contact Robin Mitchell at uu@irobin.org

SAVE THE DATE

Scripps Institute of Oceanography

Wednesday, February 25th at 10:00am

Tour the ice lab at Scripps Instittute of Oceanography with our own Jeff Severinghaus. Cost: $40 all proceeds to UUFSD.

To register: https://uufsd.org/events/scripps-institute-of-oceanography-lab-tour-auction-item/

Good News and Other Items of Interest

“Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.”

– Michael Josephson

• Aztecs Used the Mountains to Create Sophisticated Farming Calendar that Even Accounted for Leap Years: Study
• South American Songbird Hailed as Most Expert Musician of the Animal Kingdom (LISTEN)
• This Startup Captures CO2 by Injecting it Straight into Volcanic Rock–Plentiful in Barren Part of Kenya

Note: those who use the Le Port School parking lot on Sundays: the gate code is 152