The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica |
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Featured Articles - November, 2005Pilgrims Feast on November 19 Recalls the Exodus from TyrannySaturday evening, November 19, will mark the third year that our congregation celebrates Thanksgiving with a scripted ritual that has been used in our denomination for decades. The service starts at 6:30 p.m., with rehearsal at 5:30 p.m. for readers and choir members. The original draft of this service was written in 1965 by the Rev. John F. Hayward to be used at a community meal at First Unitarian Church of Chicago. Since then, it has undergone revisions by several ministers and congregation members to incorporate current sensibilities. Here are the main parts of the ritual: Introduction — Those who have participated in Passover services will recognize the pattern of this Pilgrims Feast, originally called the Harvest Feast. Passover celebrates the escape from slavery and the building of a new life and culture in a promised land. Similarly, our American Thanksgiving celebrates “exodus” from tyranny in which pilgrims accepted the risks of the sea and all the dangers of an unfamiliar continent. For generations, Americans have celebrated the event with a festive meal. Our Unitarian Universalist Pilgrims Feast celebrates the various and diverse experiences of escape from bondage and emergence into new hope. The Symbols — The meaning of the salt water, bitter herbs and maize on your table will be made clear in the service which follows. Glasses of wine or juice are sipped together after the words of blessing are spoken together. The Spirit of the Service — This service, which deals with serious matters, is essentially a festival of rejoicing and the giving of thanks. It works best when seasoned with laughter and lightheartedness. Seating is limited to 140 people. Signups began in Forbes Hall after services on Sunday, October 30. All those who plan to attend are asked to bring an assigned dish for the meal, and participate in the event with a setup, performance, or cleanup task. An offering will be taken for the benefit of a charity in our community. — Melinda Ewen, Event Chair
Help a Veteran -- Volunteer to Drive or VisitThe guest speaker at our Faith in Action Peace and Civil Rights Committee meeting on October 5 was Sadie Stewart, assistant chief of the Voluntary Service of the VA Los Angeles Healthcare System, who discussed opportunities for volunteers. Changes in the level of funding for travel have left many veterans without any way to get to VA facilities for needed medical treatment. Many have lost arms or legs, sight, hearing, or good health, and they may live a great distance from a VA hospital. Many exist on small, fixed incomes, finding the cost of transportation to a VA hospital too high. Volunteer drivers are needed. Volunteers are also encouraged to visit hospitalized veterans and to become involved as volunteers by writing letters, reading, and/or just talking and expressing some appreciation for their service. For our church’s young people under 19 the VA Voluntary Service program offers excellent opportunities to explore the healthcare field as a career, learn new skills, make new friends, and qualify for nomination for the James H. Parke Scholarship. A special events day on November 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. welcomes all individuals or groups to attend to honor the veterans. Escorted visits to the hospital wards can be made. Go to the West Lawn of building 500 at the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd. — Arvid Knudsen
More Tips on Living Green to Help Save Our PlanetLeslie Reuter recently told us about three things she is doing to involve others in being green. 1. She takes her old newspapers to animal shelters for use in the cages. 2. She asked her dry cleaners to return her clothes without paper or plastic on them, and asked them to put up a sign in their window so other customers would know they have a choice. (They did.) 3. A box labeled “household batteries” was placed in the clubhouse near her home so residents can dispose of used batteries safely. She then empties the box from time to time and takes the batteries to a hazardous waste collection site. Here is another excellent idea from Leslie on greening California: “Adopt some land and turn it green. Find a patch of land and plant it with native California plants. They will not only create more oxygen for us all to breathe, but they will use less water and will fit into the interconnected web by providing food and shelter for native birds and butterflies.” Several other church members also follow this practice. — Sandra Trutt
One Door Closes, Another Opens as Jim and Anne Cadwell LeaveAfter 10 years of membership and participation at our Santa Monica UU church, the time has come to say goodbye. My wife, Anne, and I are moving to Oakland at the beginning of November. Although we are sorry to be leaving LA and UUCCSM, we’re looking forward to new experiences and meeting new UUs in the Bay Area. (I’m told there are a few liberals up there.) I first walked through the doors of the church in 1995 as a new transplant from San Diego. It wasn’t long before I got involved in a few projects, including a communications committee (COAG) that worked on publicity elements. It was fun and I got to know more members. I joined formally in February 1996 and the next seven years turned out to be a very busy and exhilarating time for me. I have several file cabinet drawers stuffed with evidence of my activities during those years, from coffee houses to the 70th Anniversary Celebration, to taping Judith’s sermons, to fundraising, to the church board, and to helping ring in the new century, to name just a few. My most interesting, inspiring and difficult days were as the church president. I served from 1999 to 2001 and experienced some of the most exhilarating days of my life. Creating and building consensus was always the challenge — try doing that every day with a room full of UUs! I learned that I had to change, not make others change. I learned to rely and trust our board members, executive committee, church staff, and the minister. I learned that you can’t always get what you want, but it is still good to try. I learned that touching people’s hearts was the best way to communicate. I know the church still has many challenges ahead, as it always will. My two bits of advice from a past prez are: First, find and put good, broad-minded people in leadership positions as often as possible. Creative thinking can really make a difference. Second, don’t be afraid to shout out who we are. I think the times demand it. I call ours the common sense religion. Our principles, at least to me, are just common sense. We need to tell more people about this, be it banners or flyers, skywriting, casual chats, sandwich boards, or bumper stickers. Don’t be shy. Lastly, I want to say thanks to every person who, in one way or another, contributed to my amazing experiences at our church. Each of you is very much appreciated. Our best wishes to all. May the future be bright for you and UUCCSM. Anne and I will not be total strangers to L.A. so you may see us again sometime. And of course, there is e-mail... — Jim Cadwell
What is a "Fair Share" Financial Contribution?About a year ago I started attending meetings of the Stewardship Committee, mostly because I like and admire its chair, Jacki Weber. It was formerly called the Pledge Committee, focusing on the yearly fundraising drive, but its intent was broadened to include “taking care of.” (A long time ago it was called “Ways and Means,” similar to the committee that oversees tax laws in the U.S. Congress.) Whatever its name, the Stewardship Committee’s main job is still to raise the money that enables our church to operate — salaries for our minister and other staff, business expenses (sorry, but a church is a business), and building upkeep. As a previously “un-churched” person, I’ve been and still am trying to figure out how UUCCSM works. As the historian/archivist, I’ve gleaned a lot from historical documents — mostly the truth that many of the same issues are rehashed every couple of years and there’s a lot of reinventing the wheel as new members get involved. What does the pledge summary say? What does it cost to run our church and who pays for it? How does my pledge compare to others? Am I contributing a fair share? Are others? Is our 2005 budget of $458,623 being well spent? What could our church do and accomplish if I, and others, pledged more money (I refuse to use the euphemism “resources”)? These are questions that have been written about in previous newsletter articles. We all think about them incrementally, and quite frankly, they are never-ending. I have only my opinion at this time, based on a mere two years of association and membership. My opinion is, however, embedded in a well-established and growing love of who we are and what we do, and I consider my serendipitous introduction to UUCCSM as being one of the great blessings of my life. So, here’s my take on the pledge breakdown: Combining the first two categories, $1 to $700 per year, I’m surprised, and quite frankly disappointed, that 181 (53%) of all 2005 pledging units pledged less than $1.91 per day ($58.33 per month) in support of a yearly budget of $458,623. That’s less than a cup of Starbucks coffee per day, or the cost of basic cable TV per month. Now before you come at me with flaming torches and pickaxes, I know that’s not the whole story. I know (1) many people contribute money other than that credited to pledges (including unreimbursed expenses); (2) many people volunteer prodigious time and services that keep the church going; (3) households with annual income of $20,000 or less can hardly afford to pledge more than $100 to $700 per year; (4) households at any income level can have extraordinary circumstances such as job loss, serious illness, children in private schools, disabled elderly parents, etc., that limit or temporarily suspend charitable gifts; and finally, (5) everyone has a right to pledge whatever amount they want without being chastised or criticized. I’m not making a judgment; if you treat other people with respect and kindness then you’re the kind of person I like and want to get to know, and nothing else matters. I think no more or less of anyone based on their annual pledge to UUCCSM. But, I would hope, and am suggesting, that everyone in our congregation who is not officially low income/no assets and who most recently pledged $700 or less consider increasing the 2006 pledge by $20 per month (or $240 per year). If 150 pledges of $700 or less (out of 181) did that, it would generate an additional $36,000 per year toward operating expenses. No one should pledge more than they’re comfortable with, but everyone who believes in what UUism stands for and what UUCCSM is and does should strive to be a “fair share” financial contributor (calculated according to suggested guidelines or self-defined). Now I’ll take that bullet . . . — Rob Briner
Pledge TotalsSummary of 2005 Pledges $0 to $300 . . . . . . . . ..100 Total pledge units . . . 342
Should Generosity Be a Core Value of a Religious Person?I’ve been reading a couple of books, “The Almost Church” and “Creating Congregations of Generous People,” both written by Michael Durall, a UU. While they’re not for sissies, I wish we could make these books required reading for the whole congregation. Durall writes that at a time when many of the values and messages of UUism are embraced by an increasing number of religious groups and society at large, most UU churches are on plateaus or in decline. When people are asked what they yearn for, they say that they wish their church had a more significant, visible community impact; that they yearn for a more adventurous congregational life, a willingness of their church to live more boldly, to take risks, to accomplish great things or affect lives. Durall writes that when asking church leaders what prevents them from accomplishing their hopes, dreams, and yearnings they say: “We believe members are impoverished, and can’t ask them for more money.” “We don’t want to offend anyone.” “There is a sense of giving leftovers to the church.” “Membership is too easy here.” “We are constantly worried about running out of money and this limits any dreams we might possibly have.” Giving in mainline churches has declined for the last 30 years. Many congregations operate on the tradition of “just enough money to scrape by and no more.” Familiar patterns become institutionalized. Congregations are not challenged to dream bigger dreams and to reach out to society. Many congregants believe that if the church’s doors remain open, there is no reason to increase giving, rather than thinking about the rewards and benefits of a growing and generous faith. Research cited in “Financing American Religion” showed that parishioners who give the least are motivated by maintaining the building and the congregation. More generous members believe they are helping other people and strengthening their relationship to the divine. What do our members believe? Durall says that in his opinion, for a church to be successful, there must be “an attitude among clergy and lay leaders that money is an instrument to accomplish much good in the world, not a ‘necessary evil.’” Rather than something to be dreaded like some sort of congregational root canal, giving, for Durall, is an affirmation of one’s life and the embodiment of the hopes of a group of people. Should generosity be one of the core values of religious people? Is it possible to lead miserly lives (or lives of great indulgence) and give little to the church yet consider oneself to be a person of faith? Giving in the Jewish tradition is expressed through the concept of tzedakah, which means “righteous giving,” in which sharing is not a matter of individual preference but rather a duty and expectation. Jews believe that not giving would be like failing to provide for their children — an unthinkable dereliction. Why isn’t our congregation more generous? Durall writes: “We suspect that a consumer mentality has become a part of church life; that people expect to receive benefits from the church at a low ‘cost’ and don’t believe they need to give more. Why pay more for something that already costs little or nothing?” What is our church like and for what does it want to raise money? Durall says, “Many churches sustain the belief that they can accomplish anything they set out to do. In literally every one of these congregations, regardless of program costs or economic makeup of their church community, the money is usually there.” UUism is often referred to as “the best kept secret.” Most people I meet have never heard of it. How tragic. People in our community and our world need what we have to offer. How I wish that I hadn’t been over 35 years old before I found the UU church. How I wish I had raised my son in this church. Some words adapted from Michael Durall: Churches seldom die from taking risks; they expire from complacency. Plain and simple, we need more resources in order to truly share our message of love and faith that can transform lives. Durall continues: “Charitable giving should make some difference in how we as religious people experience life from day to day. If giving to your church is similar to writing a check to pay the electric bill, and then forgetting about it until the end of the next month, you are not giving enough. “If you take spare change or a dollar or two from your pocket or purse for the weekly collection and never notice the difference, your giving has too little meaning for you or for your church.” One stewardship consultant believes that it takes a five-year minimum to change the giving culture in a congregation. Friends, it’s time to get started. — Charlene Langland
"Get Up, Bambi, You Must Get Up!"Anyone viewing Walt Disney’s classic animation of “Bambi” remembers the perilous forest fire when Bambi’s father finds him trapped by smoke and flames. “Get up, Bambi, you must get up!” his father urges. This empowering message to never give up is for all of us who “must get up” and help in contributing to our church’s mission. The $o Much to Do, $o Little Time campaign is on during October, November and December. In October and November we are asking members to solicit the donation of gift certificates from the local merchants they patronize or to donate a gift certificate from the business they own or where they work. Please, don’t be shy in asking merchants for their help with movie passes and gift certificates for sports equipment or events, spas, bakeries, restaurants, electronics, theater tickets, golf, tennis and music lessons, coffee houses, miniature golf course, dry cleaning, markets, and anyplace else you may regularly patronize. Donated gift certificates collected this month will be combined with next month’s donation drive of fabulous gifts to create beautifully arranged gift baskets for the church’s silent auction to be held in the spring. This is an ambitious drive. Please, won’t you “get up” and help in reaching our fundraising goal of $5,000 by asking someone you know or do business with for a gift certificate this month. You may drop it off at either service in the colorfully decorated box in Forbes Hall next to the cookies on Sunday. — Diane Ludowitz
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Carol Ring's Art Featured at Tar Fest