After the United States Supreme Court issued its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), stated, “The Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health decision does not alter Unitarian Universalists' commitment to Reproductive Justice. The overwhelming majority of Unitarian Universalists (UUs) support keeping abortion legal in all or most cases. This is rooted in our Principles and our core religious beliefs that affirm gender equity. It also reflects a moral commitment to the idea that reproductive care is healthcare and is essential to the well-being of individuals and families.” In addition to supporting candidates for office who support a woman’s right to choose, consider joining Side with Love, the UUA’s public advocacy campaign. For more information on actions you can take in response to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, click here.
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UUCC First Sunday In-Person Service, July 3rd |
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The Touchstones Theme for July is Circle of Life. UUCC is honored to host Rev. Russ Menk, from the UU Fellowship of Santa Cruz County. On July 3rd Rev. Russ presents the sermon "Will This Ever End?"
No doubt about it, the world’s a mess. While the pandemic transitions to a new phase, we are buried in sadness and grief of mass shootings, wars, politics, and climate change. Where can we find hope? Will this end—or is the THE end? Our ancestors knew not to mistake a season for an eternity, but what can we do now?
Is hope to be found—or generated?
On July 3, the UU Coastside Community hosts four other congregations tuning in for Rev. Russ: the UUs of San Mateo, the UU Fellowship of Redwood City, the UU Fellowship of Santa Cruz County, and the UU Community of Lake County. So don't miss the opportunity to join UUCC on what promises to be an excellent service.
Since May, all of UUCC's first Sunday meetings are in-person at Odd Fellows Hall in Half Moon Bay. Since no one attending our in-person services has caught COVID, our masking protocol seems to be working. As a reminder, UUCC requests proof of vaccination and booster for those who attend our in-person services to protect our cherished seniors who attend. We will also be using an abundance of caution by requiring mask wearing for churchgoers throughout the service, with the exception of those actively speaking at the front of the room.
For those wishing to access the service remotely from home, our UUCC YouTube channel will carry a livestream.
Please join us at 11:00 am Pacific, 2pm Eastern
Gathering for service and music begin at 10:50 am
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CoastPride Check Giving Ceremony on July 3rd |
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Another reason to join the in-person service at Odd Fellows Hall this Sunday, July 3rd: a special check giving ceremony. CoastPride's leadership will be on hand to accept a $2,400 dollar check from UU San Mateo. Presented by Tricia Dell, ten percent of this year's All Together Now auction was redirected by UUCC's Planning Committee for the benefit of CoastPride. We are delighted that 100% of this donation will fund support groups, speakers series, school support, and other CoastPride projects benefiting LGBTQ+ youth, families, and adults on the Coastside. |
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Tom Devine's "Church, Community and Vision" |
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Tom Devine delivered an exceptional sermon on “Church, Community, and Vision" last Sunday. In case you missed his inspiring sermon, you can now view an edited version of the service on UUCC's YouTube Channel here. Tom's inspiration comes from poet-prophet-philosopher William Blake (1757-1827) about the nature of Human Consciousness, Imagination, and Vision. Blake considered himself a religious seeker but not a joiner. Although his works aren't intrinsically tied to Unitarian Universalism, in hearing Tom's sermon, you may discover how Blake's writings are deeply compatible with our UU tradition.
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UUCC Joins UUSM on July 17th, 10:30am |
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In continuation of our popular third Sunday "Sharing the Pulpit" series, UUCC will join UUSM on Sunday, July 17th, to hear Shared Pulpit graduate, UUSM's Shaun Collins, deliver a sermon entitled "Keep the Faith." Shaun will ponder some of the bigger questions of Life while exploring his own personal spiritual journey and why he thinks it is important to believe in something beyond yourself. What is faith, after all?
Shaun Collins is a Bay Area native. He is married for over 25 years with two college age boys. He has worked in IT for over 30 years including extensive oversees travel managing many multi-national projects over the years. He is known for triathlons, signing songs, writing poetry and the occasional Disney trip.
And Shaun has spoken at UUSM many times before. He is a graduate of the Fall 2021 Shared Pulpit class, the one taught by Tovis Page and Kathryn Jay, and sponsored jointly by UUCC and the UU Fellowship of Santa Cruz County.
UUSM meets at 10:30am, a half hour earlier than UUCC. Options to attend both UUSM in-person and over Zoom will be detailed in the next newsletter.
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Volunteer Jobs Needed for In-Person Services |
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Now that we will be meeting in person on First Sundays soon, starting May 1st, we'll be needing some help in different ways. Can you commit to helping out in the following ways?
- Photograph our July 3rd Service
- Staff the check-in table to verify vaccination status
- Greet people as they come in
- Set up chairs before the Service, and/or put them after Service
- Help unload and load filming equipment for hybrid service
- Assist with setting up film equipment for hybrid service
- Bring flowers!
- Bring snacks and drinks
- Pass out the order of service and distribute hymnals
- Assist with hand-held cameras for hybrid service
- Clean up of the hall and kitchen before closing
To tell us how you can help our Beloved Community come together again, please contact us at uucoastside@gmail.com. And thanks to all who have or continue to volunteer!
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Compassionate Caring Committee: |
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The UUCC Compassionate Caring Committee volunteers are often able to support our members during life events such as post-operative, illness, or being homebound. Do you need food delivery or an errand run? Are you feeling loneliness, loss, or grief that a call might help?
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We Appreciate Your Support: |
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For supporting UUCC financially, we have two options: |
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If you prefer to donate by check, please make your check payable to UU San Mateo, and write UUCC on the memo line. Please mail your check to:
Nancy Palmer
506 Willow Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-1648
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Unitarian Universalist Coastside Community
Half Moon Bay, California
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Bill Heavlin, UUCC Planning Committee
Dave Rokosky, UUCC Planning Committee
Noreen Cooper Heavlin, UUCC Planning Committee
Tom Devine, UUCC Music Director
Bruce Rafnel, UUCC Technical Director
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