The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Featured Articles - July, 2004

New Lending Library is Open for Business

The Robert V. Stern Memorial Library is up and running, located on the south wall of Forbes Hall to the right of the TV. The library is named for a member who was married to Carol Edwards, our former minister of religious education.

The lending library will be open on Sundays during the two coffee hours. There will be a special area for our Book Club selections.

Book donations for the Robert V. Stern Memorial Library will be accepted under the following guidelines:

1. We are looking for books that are spiritual in nature: thoughtprovoking fiction, UU Book Club selections, books pertaining to classes offered through Adult Religious Growth and Learning Program and OWL.

2. Books must be in good condition, preferably hardbound.

3. No college textbooks or books that have been written in or with text highlighted.

4. Contact a committee member if you would like to donate books so the committee may review them.

5. Please do not bring in books and just put them on the shelves.

Books culled from the collection will be on sale for 50 cents to $1. It's a way of passing on someone else's books and accumulating money for future purchases. Books for sale are in Forbes Hall near the windows. Look for the sign.

Members of the Library Committee are Sandra Trutt, Librarian, Caroline Falk, Ilse Kleinman, Nedra Bickel, and Rob Briner.

—Sandra Trutt

We'll Vote August 1 on a Banner for Civil Marriage/Civil Right Issue

At the annual meeting in May the congregation discussed the following motion: “The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica will place a banner on the church stating: ‘Civil Marriage is a Civil Right.’” There was agreement, disagreement, and debate, but not enough time. The motion was tabled.

The Board of Directors has called for a congregational meeting on August 1 to address the tabled motion.

It’s time for an old fashioned congregational meeting. What is your opinion? What do you have to say about expressing ourselves publicly? What are your concerns about using a banner on the church? Bring your voice to the meeting on August 1.

Unitarian Universalist Principle #5 is: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in the society at large.

August 1 is the opportunity to exercise Principle #5. Please attend to discuss, debate, consider, influence and be influenced, and speak out with your vote.

—Ron Crane

Covenant Groups will Begin in October and November

The mission of our Covenant Group Task Force is to develop the framework to bring covenant groups to the church. Covenant groups are also referred to as "small group ministry." This grass roots movement within UU churches has grown to meet the expressed need for greater intimacy and to afford the opportunity for small groups of people to develop together spiritually.

Several church members signed up for a series of four weekly meetings in March to learn about the format and process of covenant groups. After the initial four meetings, the remaining interested members of the learning group formed the Covenant Group Task Force.

Because two qualified facilitators are required for each covenant group, the task force and others attended a facilitator training session in May. The Rev. Judith Meyer will select facilitators for the first covenant groups to be formed in October and November.

All task force meetings will replicate the format that is envisioned for covenant groups at our church. This will allow the team to continue to experience the process and the spiritual practice that are a part of groups.

Some actions for July and August include announcing facilitators, training facilitators, covenant group “taster” sessions, newsletter and order of service inserts, a “CG Ask Me” table in Forbes Hall, sign-up process logistics, sample lists and statements.

Tentative plans later this year include scheduling covenant group “taster sessions” to introduce people to the concepts, stationing a covenant group member in Forbes Hall after Sunday services to answer questions, making it possible for church members/friends to join a covenant group based solely on day and time, and developing themes, service projects, and covenants for start-up covenant groups.

—Marv Pulliam

Give Money Where You Have Given Time

When you plan your estate giving to the church, you may give money to specific programs of the church.

If your time and interest have gone to Faith in Action, Religious Exploration, Music, Building and Grounds, etc., you may direct that your gift be used for the area of interest that has most touched your mind and soul.

If you want to support the entire work of the church, you may give without directive and the money will be used where it is most needed at the time.

Contact Ron Crane or the church office to discuss how you may endow or give to the program of the church that is of most interest to you.

—Ron Crane

Men's Group Cleans Our House Next Door

Four members of the Men’s Group spent most of Saturday, June 12, cleaning up our 18th Street bungalow. Phil Bonacich, Dwight Flowers, Joel Rosenblum, and Nels Hanson tossed stuff from both inside and out, filling two dumpsters in the process.

In the morning they pulled carpet, anchored at random places with nails, that had been patched together, either 30 years ago or over the past 30 years. (They weren’t sure which.) They opened windows and doors and had the house much cleaner by the time people started arriving for Dean Voegtlen’s pancake breakfast. Church members coming to breakfast, many who had not yet seen the inside of the house, got a better impression of the house, though much work obviously still needs to be done to bring back some of its original beauty.

In the afternoon, the Men’s Group worked on the backyard. Most of the church has enjoyed having a spacious outdoor area to wander into after Sunday morning services and now they don’t have to look at piles of concrete, yard clippings, wood and other discards.

Throughout the day neighbors stopped by to chat. Some were concerned about tearing down the house or worried about adding cars to the street. One neighbor, who has lived on the block since the 1930s, came over and told stories of Santa Monica. A couple of neighbors talked about the tenant that had lived in the house. It was nice to informally say hello to the community.

Nothing precious was found in the cleanup, but the men felt the reward of making the place look better. Now they are thinking about what else they can do to make the house a place that the church can use.

—Nels Hanson

…and a thank you from Marie

On behalf of the church, thank you Phil Bonacich, Dwight Flowers, Nels Hanson, and Joel Rosenfeld for taking the first step in making 1248 18th Street more enjoyable and safer. If you have a project or want to participate in future church work parties, please contact Marie Kashmer-Stiebing, Church Administrator, at (310) 829-5436, ext. 100.

Gilbert & Sullivan Evening Proved to Be a Great Triumph

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who shared the responsibility for the sensationally successful Gilbert and Sullivan evening on June 5.

The most important thanks go to Richard Sheldon, whose stellar performance gave us a close-up of live theater. Thanks also go to Dean Voegtlen, who sponsored that performance. How nice to have an “angel” in our midst. We are grateful also to Michelle McWilliams and Carol Winston for their beautiful high notes and for playing their parts on short notice. Also outstanding as soloists and ensemble participants were Michael Lamb and Kathi Wight.

A big thank you is owed to our music director, Steve Wight, for his commitment to excellence (and the many extra hours he spent) and to pianist Louis Durra, who transformed an orchestra score into a piano part and made music out of it. And, of course, the choir deserves a heartfelt thank you for its performance.

The delicious and beautiful British “high tea” was planned and supervised by Maria Simpson, assisted by Beverly Alison and many helping hands. More than 50 people contributed desserts and/or time to making this a memorable occasion. A big thank you also goes to Peter Van den Beemt, who spent many hours planning and checking details for this event. And finally, a thank you to the wonderful audience that really made it all possible.

—Gaye Follmer Deal, Retiring Music Committee Chair

Appreciation

• Barbara Kernochan stepped down as chair of our Building Committee. In gratitude for her service to our church, for her faithfulness to the vision of this congregation, for her skill, her equanimity, and her patience, we thank her. As a token of our appreciation, Barbara was given the book, "Sacred Spaces: Historic Houses of Worship in the City of Angels," by Robert Berger. What makes a church a sacred space is the work, good faith, and devotion of its people. Barbara has made this place more sacred, and she has assured its place as a historic house of worship.

• Ren Renshaw, ably assisted by new member Patrick Meighan, painted the church office a few Saturdays ago. Ren's good works for the church include serving on the Adult Religious Growth and Learning committee and serving as co-leader of several classes. He is also a member of the Internship Committee. Ren is a joy to work with. Thank you, Ren, for all you give to us, and thank you, Patrick, for helping.

—Gerrie Lambson

Internship Committee Met for the Last Time

The last meeting of the Internship Committee was held on May 18. From left to right are: Ernie Pipes, Charles Haskell, Stefanie Etzbach-Dale, Beth Rendeiro, Kathy Cook, Ren Renshaw, Andy Stewart.

Remarkable Age Diversity on Our Board of Directors

With the election of 15-year-old Daniel Teplitz to our governing board at the 77th annual meeting held in May, the board now has extraordinary age diversity. Daniel, who has grown up in our RE program, was eligible under a bylaws amendment adopted several years ago allowing Coming of Age graduates to become full-fledged members of the church even if they are not yet 16 years old.

Re-elected to the board at the same time was 82-year-old Warren Mathews, who has been a member for nearly 50 years. That's a 67-year age difference, affirming different perspectives and opportunities to learn from those who have long supported the congregation and those who will be contributing long into the future. Congratulations, Warren, Daniel, and everyone elected to leadership positions.

—Rob Briner

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