|
|
Celebrating Life,
Empowering People,
Caring for One Another,
Helping to Build a Better World
|
|
|
UUCSR Newsletter
June 2022
|
|
In This Issue
Click “View Entire Message” if Sections Are Missing
|
|
- Service in June
- Message from Your Board President
- Invite: Congregational Meeting June 5th
- Message from the Treasurer
- Religious Education
- From Your Lay Chaplains
- From CUUPs: Summer Solstice
- From the Adult Education Committee
- From Right Relations Team
- Celebrate Pride Month
- March in Sonoma County Pride with UUCSR
- General Assembly
- Social Groups & Events
- Committees & Working Groups
- North Bay Organizing Project
- Soul Matters: Celebrating Blessings
|
|
Please Consider Visiting the
Thank You for Your Support!
|
|
Service in June:
Celebrating Blessings
Sundays, 10:30-11:45 am PST
|
|
Bridging Ceremony
June 5th
Join us for the Congregational Meeting after!
|
|
With the school year coming to a close, we are honoring our congregation's own Rowan Craven-Pittman as he graduates high school and takes a large step into young adulthood. In this service celebrating transitions, rites of passage, and community, we will reflect on the importance of building a home that all of us can come back to.
Service Leaders: Era Capone
Worship Associates: Richard Senghas
Music: Gage Purdy & Choir
|
|
The Gifts of Age:
Perspectives from the Far Side of 80
June 12th
|
|
Today’s worship service will be led by Older and Bolder, a UUCSR friendship group for women who have passed their 80th birthday. Four Reflections will offer gifts of looking back at lives well lived, filled with a richness of experience unusual in an era when many women’s horizons were more circumscribed. Themes emerge of resilience, a passion for justice, resourcefulness, a love of adventure, gratitude, and nurturance of the children who will inherit the earth.
Service Leader: Older and Bolder Group
Worship Associate: Clare Whitfield
Music: Gage Purdy and Louise Bettner
|
|
Emacipation Does Not Mean Freedom
June 19th
|
|
‘Juneteenth’ is celebrated annually on the 19th of June to mark the date some of the last enslaved Black people in the Confederate States were notified of their freedom by virtue of the Emancipation Act. Despite slavery being outlawed for 157 years under the Thirteenth Amendment, Black Americans still face a long list of gross injustices in America. Until Black Americans are free from these injustices, no one in America is free.
Service Leader: Rev Bev Spears
Worship Associate: Linda Lampson
Music: Gage Purdy & The Choir
|
|
Universalism: Past, Present and Powerful
June 26th
|
|
Universalism: Past, Present and Powerful Universalism has a long and rich history. In contrast, the teaching of eternal damnation is not merely a harmless untruth it also has serious consequences. It leads to the possibility, perhaps even the inevitability, of wars, bigotry, oppression and abuse. On the other hand, the teaching of universalism leads to equality, respect, love and dignity for all.
Guest Service Leader: Rev. Kalen Fristad
Rev. Kalen Fristad has been a United Methodist minister for more than 40 years, and is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship. He traveled the country full time with his wife, Darlene, from 2003 to 2006, accepting invitations to speak at churches, proclaiming the hopeful message of Universalism. Following then, he served churches in Iowa half time, while spending half time on the road. He retired from the parish ministry in 2013, but continues to travel the country speaking on universalism. Over the years he has spoken at more than 240 UU churches.
Worship Associate: Eric Fischer
Music: Gage Purdy & the Choir
|
|
President's Message
Leslie Norinsky
|
|
From UUCSR Board of Trustees President:
At our last board meeting, on May 19, board members were asked to describe what they were feeling in the moment. Almost all said the word, “hopeful” and many said “and also anxious”. I am sure that most of us are feeling somewhat hopeful right now, and also somewhat anxious. We wonder what the future will hold, and wondering what happened to us in this last year. We are all still trying to figure it all out and it will take time. We have suffered trauma. But we will recover and we will come back stronger. We have all been stressed in so many ways and we have to forgive ourselves and one another for our imperfections.
At the start of this church year, the board created goals and we worked on these goals diligently through the end of March, but then we got gob-smacked. Our Interim minister left under difficult circumstances for us, our president, Natalie, felt the need to step down, and there was conflict that seemed to be unresolvable. But, we did resolve a lot, even most, of the conflict. We are now all working together for the benefit of our congregation. We’ve come up with creative solutions together. We will work together, and find ways to talk out our disagreements over governance with positive intent, lots of listening, and with the help of a new Interim Minister. That is all to say, that we feel that we need to heal, really heal, and take a little break from working diligently on some aspects of our goals. But, we should all work diligently on one goal- Goal 4- having fun. We need fun, to be able to laugh with one another, to play games, drink wine (or sparkling water), and let our hair down. That should be Goal 1. So, I’m going to break the rules and not report out on progress on the other goals. There will be time for that.
However, the finance committee continues to work towards the financial health of our congregation, the HR committee continues to look at our hiring practices and benefits packages and job descriptions for our staff, the operations committee is still working to keep our facility running and aesthetically pleasing. Everyone is still working hard.
On Thursday, May 19th, the board passed a budget that did not require us to make any cuts to our beloved staff and they are all beloved. We made some great hiring decisions and have a strong administrative office, an incredible RE program, an incredible music program, and knowledgeable technology people. We have a capable sexton, a wonderful RE assistant, and a strong and dedicated Glaser Center coordinator. These are valuable assets that will help our congregation thrive and grow. It’s always about quality. We are so lucky.
And our congregants are quality people- not perfect, but quality folks who care about one another and our community. We have lost some people and that is very sad (maybe we can get them back). And we all wish that Covid would just go away so that we can be a whole congregation in all the ways we can be whole again. There are still people who are suffering from isolation and we want those of you who cannot attend in person to know that we care about you.
The board elected our officers for the next fiscal year
President: Leslie Norinsky
Vice President: John Mason
Co-Treasurers: Linda Balabanian and Jan Hess (board member)
Corporate Secretary: Tamara Murrell
At Large Board members are: Scott Miller, Margaret Bregger Coston, Lee Lipinski, Maria Praetzellis, David Reitzell
We honor those board members who served us so well during difficult times: Natalie Brundred, Joe Como, Mike McGirr, Paula Hammett. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And our board member who is terming out is Cathie Wiese. Thank you, Cathie!
Also in the shortness of this month, new committees formed: The Right Relations Team, and the Community Conversations Team. I think the names are descriptive of what they are about, but their formation is indicative of how much we all want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be connected to one another and to be a participant in how we govern ourselves as a congregation, increase communication, and provide feedback in healthy ways.
Furthermore, this congregation runs on the efforts of all its volunteers. Volunteerism is what allows us to have so much of what we value in this congregation. I am so grateful for all of our volunteers. And we will continue to ask for you to help. Because we NEED help. We are going to need to build a great fundraising program. In particular, if there are a few people who would like to take on our annual auction (except during Covid lockdown). The auction is a big social occasion with food, and music, and cheer, and it raises a lot of money for our congregation. This short term, but intensive, volunteer opportunity will be well worth the effort. And if you think you would be up for this opportunity, please contact me.
We will also be looking for people to help us set up a very special concert. Again, see me, Leslie Norinsky if you can get a few people working on this as soon as possible.
And finally, I am so proud of the number of people who came forward to work on our 8th Principle Task Force. I’ve lost track of how many people are a part of this effort, but I know it is more than 10! We are a mighty congregation. I hope that sometime we have an occasion to really look at all of the social justice work, and in particular, anti-racism work, our congregation does within our walls and also in the larger community. We live in a larger society where it is apparent that racism is prevalent and now mainstream. Our response should reflect our value to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
I am so proud of us for so many reasons. Thank you for being here, UUCSR, for all of us.
(I’m also going to break another rule and use the same President’s Report for the June newsletter as for the Congregational meeting).
And of course, since the newsletter deadline is before there is more news, just want to make sure that you know we have hired a new Interim minister- Rev. Dave Clements, an awesome person. He starts August 1st. Looking forward with much hope for our future!
|
|
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING SUNDAY
JUNE 5TH
|
|
Please plan to come to the Congregational Meeting June 5th after the service or join us on Zoom. A light lunch will be served during the break.
All the details can be found HERE
|
|
Message from the Treasurer
Linda Balabanian
|
|
Financial Status
At this writing, our April financial statements have not yet been completed. Through March, our pledge revenue is close to our revised budget, showing a deficit of about $4,000. With three months left to our fiscal year, we are $100,000 away from our goal of $440,000. According to Realm, April pledge payments were just under $30,000 and May, as of this writing with two thirds of the month gone, is looking dismal at only $19,000. Please make sure to pay your pledge in full before the end of June if you possibly can.
We have received several large unrestricted donations in the past few months which have exceeded the year’s budget by around $5,000 and helps offset the deficit in fundraising which won’t materialize. Our Sunday Basket is increasing as we come back to in-person services and is slightly over budget for our share but still around half of what it was prior to Covid. If you want to make sure you support our giving to deserving organizations, you can set up an automatic weekly donation to Share the Basket in Realm. If you need help to set this up, please ask me.
Glaser Center rents may be slightly short of budget by year end but will be matched by under budget expenses so performance will be breakeven this year as budgeted.
Through March we show net income of over $43K against a budgeted loss. The main reason for that is the employee vacancies we’ve experienced periodically throughout the year. In the subsequent months, that amount will be reduced as we have a more normalized payroll, pay UUA dues and pay some of the bills that come in toward the end of our fiscal year. Projecting from here to year-end (which may not end up being accurate!!!) it looks like we may have little to no deficit this year.
UUCSR 2022-2023 Budget
You should already have received via email, the packet of documents for the June 5 Congregational Meeting. In the meeting, the Board will ask the Congregation to vote on the budget for next fiscal year. The Board’s proposed budget is included in your packet. Please print it out and bring it to the meeting if you would like to refer to it there. The budget compiled by the Finance Committee included a $67,000 deficit and the Board has gone through an arduous process of making difficult adjustments to reduce the deficit before presenting the budget to you for approval.
Oliver’s eScrip Donations
Elsewhere in this newsletter are instructions for setting up an eScrip account benefitting UUCSR specifically for Oliver’s shoppers. Oliver’s will send UUCSR 3% of your total purchase amount at their stores if you participate in this program. There are other participants in the eScrip program, but Oliver’s is the most generous and many of us shop at Oliver’s anyway. It may not seem like a large enough amount to bother with but let’s do some math, shall we?!
We have about 200 member families (or individuals) at UUCSR. If just 20%, or 40 families spent $200 a month on groceries from Oliver’s, they will have spent a total of $8,000 a month or $96,000 annually. Oliver’s will pay us 3% as the purchases occur, or $2,880 for the year! And certainly more than 20% of us have an Oliver’s nearby.
While that may not stave off the deficits that plague us currently, they would go a long way toward the small incremental income increases we’ll always need to supplement our pledge revenue. Please consider helping UUCSR in this way. See Details Below:
|
|
Religious Education:
June Hiatus
Era Capone
|
|
Hello everyone,
With the school year coming to an end, many of our families are seizing the opportunity to travel this summer! Since so many of our congregation's families and children will be out of town in these first few weeks of summer break, RE will be on hiatus throughout June. Personally, I will be using this time to work on UUCSR's various technological needs and preparing for Chalice Camp in August.
RE will return July 3rd along with additional events and activities for kids, youth, and families. To learn more about upcoming RE events, check out the RE Event Calendar below!
For any questions regarding RE, or if you'd like to volunteer, please contact me at dre@uusantarosa.org or at (707)-494-8799.
In love and gratitude,
Era Capone
Director of Religious Education
|
|
Musical Notes
Music Director, Gage Purdy
|
|
Music expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words. -Robert G. Ingersoll
How profoundly thankful I am to be a part of the incredible worship team here at UUCSR! I celebrate the bounty of my blessings in your friendship, fellowship, and stewardship - it is a joy to make music with you!
Music truly serves as a transcendent means of communicating - it is just as the sweatshirt my son wears says: “Without music, life would be flat.”
As we enter into the summer and continue to celebrate all of the blessings that abound, I invite you to consider joining the choir in raising our voices for two services in June! Further into the summer and as we approach fall, I am hoping to get an instrumental group started and we are also working on a few fundraising ideas. If you would like to collaborate, find out how you can support us, or have an idea for music at UUCSR, please feel free to reach out to me!
Two last (but ever important) items:
-
Every voice has a place in the choir! We are making jubilant music together and would love for you to be a part of it! Please join us on Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30PM in raising our voices in song - we welcome musicians of all levels.
- If you're interested in being a part of the music ministry here at UUCSR, whether it is as a soloist, small group, choir member, or an instrumentalist, please send an e-mail to musicdirector@uusantarosa.org to get started.
|
|
The past few years have been filled with challenges in our congregation, in our country and on the planet. There may be times when you feel the need for the support of a caring listener and your Lay Chaplains are available to anyone with a need. We don’t have to carry our burdens or celebrate our joys alone, and one benefit of having a beloved community is having support when it is needed.
In addition to reaching out to a Lay Chaplain, you may add your personal joys and sorrows to the Milestones Book (on the stand just outside the sanctuary door) to be shared during the Sunday service. You may also email your milestones to laychaplains@uusantarosa.org by Saturday morning so they can be included in the Sunday service.
Your Lay Chaplains are here for you. Contact us at laychaplains@uusantarosa.org, or call us: Lucia Milburn, Barbara Kezur, Bruce Hope, Mary Lee Lill, Gayle Shirley, Judy Ervice (chair)
|
|
From CUUPs
By Lucia Kasulis
|
|
Litha.. Summer Solstice.. Midsummer’s Eve
Prayer to the Sun god
The sun is high above us
shining down upon the land and sea,
making things grow and bloom.
Great and powerful sun,
we honor you this day
and thank you for your gifts.
You are the light over the crops,
the heat that warms the earth,
the hope that springs eternal,
the bringer of life.
We welcome you, and we honor you this day,
celebrating your light,
as we begin our journey once more
into the darkness.
-Author unknown
Everything we do revolves around nature; it is why so many of the ancient practices were nature-based..... Click Below to Read Full Article:
|
|
From the Adult Education Committee |
|
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
-Mahatma Gandhi
The Good News about Dying
Join us for a discussion about dying, led by Gretchen Vap, a former Nurse Practitioner and longtime UU member. How do you want to die? What are your values and your wishes? How much can you plan? What is your perspective? Can you change anything about dying? Gretchen will help us look at these issues and share some resources that may be helpful. Gretchen gave this class about a year ago. Our committee has received many requests for a repeat.
Date and time to be determined.
On the Dao De Jing
Dwight Sims, who with Steve Sweaney led the recent Adult Education course on The Happiness Hypothesis, plans to offer a fall course of four sessions on the foundation work of Daoism. One of the most translated works of world literature, the Dao De Jing has inspired many interpretations and many ways of incorporating its principles into our lives. More information about the course will be forthcoming.
Dates and time to be determined.
|
|
From Our Right Relations Team: |
|
UUCSR has a Right Relations Team!
We are Jeanie Bates, Jonathan Choe, Kitty Wells, Susan Bartholome, Lucia Milburn, and Alan Bell, all of us former members of COSM (Committee on Shared ministry). COSM has disbanded, but we still want to be available to our beloved congregation.
Various global challenges in the last few years, i.e., a dangerous viral pandemic, global warming, the rise in hatred and violence (to name a few) seem to have set the stage for less tolerance of change and different points of view. We here at UUCSR have not been immune to these effects. The Right Relations Team has been created to help us get back on the loving, respectful path that has served us in the past. We strive to promote healthy communication and relationships among UUCSR members, committees and staff. Conflict avoidance and resolution is a priority. We hope our efforts will help ensure that issues and concerns are addressed and resolved amicably and in a timely manner. The Right Relations Team can also be a conduit for members to convey ideas or concerns regarding the congregation.
The Right Relations Team is an official UUCSR team (our charter was approved by the Board of Trustees) We, of course, must abide by Our Mission and Vision, the bylaws and BOT decisions, but our authority comes from you, the congregation. Our congregational covenant guides us as we keep a finger on the pulse of UUCSR.
We respect confidentiality of all matters before the team. Call or Email us:
|
|
Celebrate PRIDE Month
The Diversity Project
|
|
“Each of us has worth and dignity, and that worth includes our gender and our sexuality. As Unitarian Universalists (UUs), we not only open our doors to people of all sexualities and gender identities, we value diversity of sexuality and gender and see it as a spiritual gift. We create inclusive religious communities for LGBTQIA+ justice and equity as a core part of who we are.
All of who you are is sacred.
All of you are welcome”
UUA Justice & Inclusion
June is Pride Month. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, it is a time to celebrate our wins, our culture, each other and to lift up building community and connection. A reminder that we deserve to be here, our identities are valid, and our voices matter.
And a sobering reminder of the work ahead.
Currently, there are approximately 150 anti-transgender bills moving thru state legislatures across the country. From banning participation in sports to so-called “bathroom bills”, to legislation that criminalizes providing life-saving gender-affirming health care, these bills are deadly for trans and nonbinary people of all ages—BIPOC youth are at highest risk.
On June 12th, our Share the Basket recipient is Amor Para Todos (APT).
APT is a grassroots advocacy group here is Sonoma County. This amazing group collaborates with local school districts to cultivate more gender and LGBTQIA+ affirming environments for our youth. This advocacy helps to change the systemic invisibility for queer and gender non-conforming youth, reducing mental health disparities, improved wellness and strengthened social connections.
As UUs, we are all called to the hard work of Queer Justice. To learn more how you can make a difference:
|
|
March in Sonoma County Pride |
|
The Sonoma County Pride Parade is this Saturday, June 4th! UUCSR will be marching in the parade, and we would love it if you and your family joined us! Here is the information you will need for the day of the event:
LINEUP NUMBER: 29
CHECK-IN TIME: 10:15am
CHECK-IN LOCATION: Brookwood Ave. at Fourth St.
PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE CHECK-IN LOCATION BEFORE 10:15AM
The parade will start at 11:00am, and will finish at 12:00pm in courthouse square, before dispersing along 5th street. We will be marching alongside members of the Diversity Project, as well as many other adult members of UUCSR. You can find a map of the parade route attached.
Please bring your own signs, banners, and/or flags from home! We encourage marchers to dress festively and appropriately. Rainbows, pride flag colors, and/or a UUCSR t-shirt would all be perfect! In addition, make sure to bring with you sunscreen, a water bottle, and snacks if needed.
|
|
Please Sign Up No Later Than Thursday, June 2nd |
|
Beloved community- Please click on the link below to find out about General Assembly. It is an annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists and it will be both in person and virtually on-line. The General Assembly is in Portland this year, from June 22nd through June 26th. And you are invited to attend either way. If you plan to attend in person, I urge you to check it out as soon as possible, as hotel reservations are already filling up. If you do attend, either in person or virtually, please let me or Aphrodite know. We are entitled to a certain number of delegates, in addition to regular attendees. Delegates have voting rights. There is also a choir that you can sign up for. It will be fun to meet UU’s from all over and to celebrate our faith together.
Thanks, Leslie Norinsky (President, Board UUCSR)
|
|
In this month's newsletter:
- Book Group
- Men's Groups
- Men's Group Picnic in the Park
- CUUPS
- Older and Bolder Women's Group
- Saturday Breakfast
|
|
Committees &
Working Groups
|
|
In this month's newsletter:
- Volunteer Stewardship Opportunities
- Membership Committee
- Ushers & Greeters
- Caring Connections Committee
- Flower Committee
|
|
Check the UUCSR Calendar on the Website for Important Event Dates
|
|
New Art Show in June
On June 1st Chlele Gummer will hang her latest work, the portrayal of animals and plants that are becoming extinct. The polar bear and the grey whale we know about as the climate destroys their habitat. The plants she highlighted are found in Sonoma County; their enemy is the wine industry as it spreads into the plant’s place. The Endangered Species Act has saved over two thousand animals and plants since it started fifty years ago. A reception will be held on Sunday June 19 after the service.
|
|
North Bay Organizing Project
|
|
NBOP IS HELPING US RAISE OUR VOICES:
Sorrow-Solidarity-Action
In the wake of the tragic events in Buffalo, Laguna Woods and Uvalde, we grieve for those whose lives were lost and rise in solidarity with those under threat in our broken nation, and we commit to take action for lasting change in the days ahead.
PLEASE READ THESE WORDS FROM OUR FRIENDS AT NORTH BAY ORGANIZING PROJECT:
|
|
Want to connect more with other people and enjoy an opportunity for spiritual growth? Watch for emails listing the available times and locations (Zoom and in person) for the groups.
Not familiar with Soul Matters? It's about exploration, connection, support, and transformation, Each month all of us receive an email with a Soul Matters packet filled with rich resources to help us explore a particular theme. For June, we will be exploring the theme "Celebrating Blessings." Inside the packet are poems, inspirational quotes, questions for reflection, and links to videos and films. It also contains spiritual exercises to deepen our experience and help us embody our UU principles in a deep and meaningful way.
In addition to exploring the riches in the packet on your own, you can do it with the support of a small group. Once or twice a month, we get together in our small groups and share what we’re discovering: what we’re learning about ourselves, what new perspectives or insights we’ve gained, or where we feel challenged to grow. We listen to each other and we listen to our own lives, because when we are listened to by trusted companions it helps us hear our own voices.
Soul Matters invites us to dance with life in a new way. Through spiritual practices and questions focused on our daily living, we engage the world not as an obstacle course to get through, but as a host of holy voices calling us to greater loving and living.
|
|
The Health Advisory Team
UUCSR Pandemic Policy,
Updated May 17, 2022
Covid cases have risen in the last month to some degree. It is still clear that having been vaccinated is protective against severe Covid, but new variants may escape the immunity that vaccination provides. Until this situation is clear, HAT recommends that masks remain optional but encouraged. HAT wants to remind all our congregation that wearing masks protects the wearer and lessens chance of spread these more contagious variants. We encourage anyone with concerns for their personal safety to continue to wear a High quality mask for any indoor activity. You are considered vaccinated if you have received at least two doses (at least one of which is an MRNA) vaccine.
Please contact the HAT Lead, Gretchen Vap if you want to share your thoughts about this update gvap@att.net.
Thank you
|
|
547 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Phone: (707) 568-5381
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
