The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Featured Articles - November, 2006

New UUSM Website Features

If you haven’t visited our church website recently, you’ve missed some exciting and useful new additions. They include:

• A Visitor FAQ, to help newcomers feel welcome: http://www.uusm.org/visitors/
• Self-printable parking passes for the UCLA garage: http://www.uusm.org/contact/parkingpass.pdf
• A page outlining the path to church membership: http://www.uusm.org/about/membership.php
• Live, automatically updated feeds of news headlines from the UUA and UU World: http://www.uusm.org/about/uuaheads.php and http://www.uusm.org/about/uuaworld.php
• Weekly RE Updates from Catherine Farmer: http://www.uusm.org/re/weekly.php
• An order form for Judith's book: http://www.uusm.org/services/book.php
• Updated texts of all 40–50 official church policies (very useful to the committees that keep our church humming): http://www.uusm.org/about/policies.php

...and, best of all...

• A Google-powered search box (on every page!) to help you find what you’re looking for.

Please stop by uusm.org and take a look around!

— Liz Fuller, Webmaster

Covenant Group Program Expands

Two years ago, in the fall of 2004, the Small Group Ministry Program began here at UUCCSM with the formation of two covenant groups.

Since then more than 50 members and friends have participated in this enriching program. Friendships have developed or deepened. New church members have become involved in church life, and our church and the larger community have benefited from group service and work projects.

All who participate are provided the opportunity to explore topics, generally relating to some aspect of spirituality, through the sharing of their personal experiences and stories.

As the new church year begins, the Covenant Group program, after a brief hiatus this summer, returns with an added dimension. In addition to the conventional Covenant Groups, this year’s program offers the opportunity to explore the UU curriculum “Building Your Own Theology” as part of a Covenant Group.

Groups are now forming, and if you have not had the chance to sign up, stop by the Covenant Group table in Forbes Hall after Sunday Services to pick up information, sign up, or chat with a CGIT (Covenant Group Implementation Team) member. Or, feel free to contact any member of CGIT by phone: Sanna Egan, Pat Gomez, Gerrie Lambson, Marv Pulliam, or Carol-jean Teuffel.

— Pat Gomez

Judith's Book is a Great Gift

If you are looking for a holiday present for someone who has everything, consider giving a copy of Rev. Judith Meyer’s book of sermons, “Leaving Room for Hope: Sermons for Uncertain Times.” If you don’t know anyone who has everything, the collection would also soothe a friend going through difficult times, or make pleasant reading for a hospital patient, or serve as a happy answer to that persistent question, “What is it that Unitarian Universalists believe, anyway?” When you give the book to someone, you will have managed to do two good deeds at once in sharing Judith’s wisdom with a friend, and contributing to the future of the UU church. “Leaving Room for Hope,” with a foreword by the Rev. Ernie Pipes, is a real bargain at $15. It is available from the bookstore on Sundays in Forbes Hall, or here .

The entire amount of the proceeds from the book’s sale goes to the building fund. As an added incentive, Judith has offered to sign copies for church members. The books are selling quickly, so buy your copy, and a copy for a friend, today, before the supply is gone.

— Felicity Nussbaum

Recycling at Church

According to Santa Monica Solid Waste Collection, these are the things that should go into the recycling bins and those that should not:

Yes - Glass and plastic bottles and tin cans
Yes - Hard Plastic labeled #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
No - Plastic film or cellophane
Yes - Dry paper and cardboard with no traces of food or grease such as on pizza and cake boxes
Yes - Aluminum cans and foil with no food residue.
No - Plastic grocery sacks or vegetable bags; these need to be put in the special receptacles at the markets

We can reduce the volume of recycling by buying items in bulk and larger sizes. One two-liter bottle goes in the recycling bin instead of 12 cans or eight small plastic bottles.

Thank you for using the recycling containers in Forbes Hall and in the kitchen. Look for the “Battery Recycling” jugs on the Faith In Action table during coffee hour. Together we can make a difference.

— Sandra Trutt and Leslie Reuter, Green Living Group

Holly Nguyen

We are happy to Welcome Holly Nguyen to our staff. She has accepted the position of Office Assistant. Holly graduated from UCLA this June, having majored in Sociology and Statistics. She is good with computers and math. Holly spent part of the spring and summer traveling throughout Europe. Ask her which countries she visited. She likes to hike, shop, and watch CSI on TV. Holly is working full time, so stop by the office to say hello.

Back to Features Index