This Fall, in conjunction with Peninsula Family Services, CoastPride is launching a new group for older adults. They are looking for volunteers in their 40’s and 50’s who are part of the LGBTQ+ community or who are community allies. Volunteers should have a general understanding of the challenges that older community members experience. Peninsula Family Services will prepare the volunteers/facilitators in a training course, which begins in October. If interested in volunteering, please contact cameron@coastpride.org.
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UUCC First Sunday In-Person Service, August 7th |
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The Touchstones Theme for August is Ambiguity/Paradox. On Sunday, August 7th, Bill Heavlin delivers a sermon entitled "As Beautiful as the Last Summer Flowers: Ambiguous Loss and New Hope." Coined by therapist Pauline Boss, ambiguous loss refers to a decline in relationship whose onset is either gradual or seems temporary. In this talk, Bill deploys this concept to consider our collective emotional journey during the Pandemic. In so doing, he draws from the poetry of Kwame Dawes and concepts of Jewish spirituality. And the healing Bill uncovers blossoms from its own paradox.
Bill is one of UUCC's favorite lay speakers. Integral to the production of UUCC's online Zoom services, he has taken on every role possible. At work, Bill is part of Google's Applied Science team, functioning as a research statistician. At home, Bill enjoys hiking Coastal trails, painting watercolors, and feeding wild backyard birds.
This live in-person service takes place at Odd Fellows Hall, 526 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019.
Please join us at 11:00 am Pacific, 2pm Eastern
Gathering for service and music begin at 10:50 am
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Consider Visiting Us in Person This Sunday |
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On August 7th, the UU Coastside Community hosts three other congregations: the UUs of San Mateo, the UU Fellowship of Redwood City, and the UU Community of Lake County. The historic Odd Fellows Hall, 526 Main Street in Half Moon Bay, was founded in 1868. Odd Fellows Hall has been recently renovated and now includes a new elevator, an ADA compliant restroom, and a new advanced air handler ventilation system, one that exceeds CDC guidelines for healthy indoor air quality. The beautiful hardwood floor meeting space with antique chandeliers holds a capacity of 220 people, so there's plenty of room for social distancing. We invite everyone to visit us in our beautiful new home.
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. Since May, with our mask protocols in place, no one attending our in-person services at Odd Fellows Hall has caught COVID.
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7 Years Strong: Our Beloved UU Coastside Community |
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On August 2nd, we celebrate the seven-year anniversary of the genesis of UUCC. Our congregation was launched by founder Nancy Palmer; who posted on NextDoor in July 2015, asking if there was an interest in starting a UU group on the Coast. Our name, the Unitarian Universalist Coastside Community, was first suggested by Laurel Frishman. We would not be where we are today without the physical, financial and moral support of all of you who continue to share a collective vision of a Unitarian Universalist presence here on the Coast. We'll mark this anniversary at the upcoming August 7th service with some words and song.
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UUCC "Sharing the Pulpit" Sunday, Aug 21st, 11am |
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In continuation of our popular third Sunday "Sharing the Pulpit" series, on August 21, we hear from our final Shared Pulpit graduate, Sylvia Forsyth from the UU Fellowship of Santa Cruz County. Her sermon is entitled "Beginning Again."
This service will be presented over Zoom.
After all the trauma in our lives these days, how can we “Begin Again” in a positive and hopeful way? Join us in thinking about our lives and how a few changes can be positive and help us “carry on.”
"Who is Sylvia, what is she, that all the Swains adore her?" Sylvia's dad was a tenor and he sang this song! That’s how she got her name.
Sylvia grew up in Soquel, just outside of Santa Cruz. She returned to Soquel 34 years ago when the LA life was getting more hectic and her three sons were on their way. She has been with UU Santa Cruz County ever since, serving on the Board, on many committees, and, for 5 years, as Director of Religious Education.
Sylvia first became a UU in Pasadena at the Neighborhood Unitarian Church, just about the time the Unitarians and Universalists joined together. John Barker was a dynamic minister and they were the only church in Pasadena (and there are many of them) that took a stand on the Fair Housing Act! That got her!
Sylvia greatly enjoyed the “Pulpit “ class so much and is happy to share her thoughts and experiences with you on Sunday the 21st.
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Volunteer Jobs Needed for In-Person Services |
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Now that we are meeting in person on First Sundays, we need help in different ways. Can you commit to helping out in any of the following ways?
- Photograph our August 7th Service
- Staff the check-in table to verify vaccination status
- Greet people as they come in
- Set up chairs before, and/or put them away after, the Service
- Help unload and load video equipment for hybrid service
- Assist with setting up video 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
- Bring even more flowers!
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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UUCC Planning Committee Meeting Highlights |
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Below are some key decisions from UUCC's Planning Committee Meetings for July 2022:
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Appreciation of two wonderful services in July: Rev. Russ Menk's service in Odd Fellows Hall and Shaun Collins' excellent Shared Pulpit sermon at UUSM. Special appreciation for the group of 10 from UUSM who attended Rev. Russ' in-person service on July 3rd.
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Further discussion on potential and upcoming speakers in the Fall, including Gregg Berman's September 4th talk on "The Healing Power of Nature's Awe," with information on Forest Bathing.
- Decision for now to wait on purchasing more silver and teal hymnals for in-person services.
- Preliminary discussion on the December holiday fundraiser.
- Discussion on changing contact information for UUCC to email only.
- Notes shared on community meetings attended by UUCC Planning Committee members in July with the UUA Western Region President's Meeting, CoastPride's Multi-faith Partner's Meeting, Coastside Faith in Action, and Coastside Collaborative.
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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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