First Unitarian Church of Oakland

Transcription

1 First Unitarian Church of Oakland Volume 76, Issue 11 January 2010 I NSIDE T HIS I SSUE THE SOWER Table Talk Explorations Sun., Jan. 10 and Feb. 14 at 12:45 1:45 PM. Grab a cup of coffee or tea after Sunday services and come explore our monthly worship and learning themes. These one hour drop-in sessions are a great way to connect with others in a small group setting. Look for the designated table in the patio area in front of the church. Facilitated by Intern Minister Catherine Ishida or Rev. Kathy Huff. Exploring Membership Class Sun. Jan. 31 at 1-2:30 PM If you re considering membership please join us for an informational meeting on Unitarian Universalism and membership in this community. For more information or to register contact office@uuoakland.org or call Worship Notes and Schedule; Table Talk and Exploring Membership 2 January Theme: Resistance 3 Musings from the Minister 4 Reflections from the Intern Minister 5 Our Ministry for Children and Youth; Lifespan Learning 6 Our Shared Ministry; 3 rd Floor Office; Leadership Development Team 7 Board of Trustees; Hamilton Hall Rededication 8 Musical News; Chaplain News 9,10 Community Life 11 Publication Information; Leadership Roster 12 Community Bank of the Bay Sunday Worship Schedule January s Worship and Learning Theme: Resistance January Worship January 3 There is No End to the Circle, annual Tolling of the bells service. Rev. Susan Conrad worship leader, Jeffrey Asher, worship associate. January 10 Rev. Kathy Huff, preaching, Suzanne Van Houten, worship associate. January 17 Association Sunday. Rev. Kathy Huff, preaching, Dan Wright, worship associate. January 24 "This is What Resistance Looks Like." How do we actively resist the things with which we disagree? Join us as we explore the many forms that resistance can take. Worship leaders: Rev. Lynn Gardner and Rev. Susan Conrad. This is a Time for All Ages Sunday; children worship with their families for the first twenty minutes before going to their special programming. *January 24 Sanctuary Rededication Service today at 3 PM. Guest speakers include The Revs. Janne and Rob Eller-Isaacs. January 31 Rev. Kathy Huff, preaching, Katie Goslee, worship associate. February Worship Our senior minister Rev. Kathy Huff will be on study leave and on vacation much of the month of February. We have a splendid worship team filling the pulpit in her absence. February 7 Cat Ishida, intern minister, preaching, Rafael Coto, worship associate. February 14 Rev. Robert Balint, Balazs Scholar from Transylvania, preaching, Emily Stoper, worship associate. February 21 Rev. Kurt Kuhwald, preaching, Kristen Montan, worship associate. February 28 The Revs. Chris Jablonski and Lauren Smith, preaching. Jeff Asher, worship associate. Rev. Chris is the Minister of Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley in Kensington and Rev. Lauren is the Associate Minister serving the Unitarian Universalist congregation in San Mateo. This is a Time for All Ages Sunday; children worship with their families for the first twenty minutes before going to their special programming. 1

2 Worship and Learning Focus Building Community Together Building Community Together is our worship and learning program year focus for This year we will reflect, consider and act upon religious themes that connect us in community and help us live lives of spirit and integrity. Each month a particular theme related to our overall focus guides us as we worship, learn and grow together as people of faith. January Theme: Resistance The world says there are only two options in the face of violence: you can fight back or run away. Nonviolence gives us a third option: creative, active, peaceful resistance to injustice. Nonviolence is not passivity, or a tactic or a strategy it's a new way of life, pursuing the truth of common unity and oneness, persistently reconciling with all humanity and creation. Father John Dear, UUA General Assembly 2008 If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail. Abraham Maslow Nonviolent resistance proactively challenges those in power who engage in oppression, injustice, inhumane practices and militarism. Resistance says, I will not be complicit in your crimes against humanity nor will I sit idly by. Resistance can take the form of symbolic and actual protests, protest art, and picketing, as well as acts of civil disobedience. Examples of nonviolent resistance range from the biblical story of Shifrah and Puah the midwives who refused to obey Pharaoh s order to murder Hebrew boy-babies, to Rosa Parks who refused to obey a rule that said she must give up her bus seat for a white man, to servicewomen and men who refuse to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan. Acts of individual courage and active resistance can often spark a movement and lead to sweeping changes in the status quo. As we write, 85-year-old Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein is among a group of grandmothers who are engaged in a hunger strike in Cairo to protest Egypt s refusal to allow the Gaza Freedom March to proceed. She is one of 1,300 nonviolent protesters who have come from around the world to say enough to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza brought on by Israel s December 2008, 22-day attack and subsequent aid block into the occupied territory. Unitarian Universalists have a long history of resistance and social justice. Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East is one of the signatories to the Gaza Freedom March and the Unitarian Universalist Service committee set up the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Fund. We are at the forefront of the Marriage Equality movement and have stood shoulder to shoulder in the struggles for civil rights, LGBTIQQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, asexual) rights, women s rights, environmental protections, and a host of others. In the New Year and the new decade, let us resolve to be instruments of peace and active examples of another way to be in this world that sees beyond violence and retaliation or passive acceptance. If one person can make a difference and one voice can sound the call, imagine the transformation that can happen if we join together as one. One world dedicated to peace can change the trajectory of history for all future generations. Reflection Questions: In what ways can you practice peaceful resistance in the name of social justice? How does one best resist a pull toward aggression? How do you live and breathe peace in your own life, family and communities? What steps can you take to be an instrument of peace in your daily life? Spiritual Practices: Show up and be counted in the Feb. 14 March for Love in Oakland. Join the Gandhi King Chavez Season for Nonviolence, learn about the principles of nonviolent action and communication. Vote in all elections. Give to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Be active in the justice ministry of this church. Practice nonviolent communication with others. Go a full day without complaining about another person. Put positive energy in charge of your life. Books/Essays for Adults(A) and Children (C) and Youth (Y): Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau (A); The Story of My Experiments With Truth by Mohandas Gandhi (A); Letter from A Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.; Nelson Mandela (DK Biography) (C,Y) by Lenny Hort and Laaren Brown; Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories (C,Y) by Ellen S. Levine. We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures (C) by Amnesty International. Movies: Hotel Rwanda (R); Gandhi (PG); Amazing Grace (PG); Cry Freedom (PG); The Rosa Parks Story (NR); Freedom Song (NR), Ruby Bridges (G). 2

3 Musings from Rev. Kathy Huff, Senior Minister The good news, said my doctor after giving me the H1N1 diagnosis along with pneumonia is that you are developing resistance for the future. I nodded in my fever-filled stupor and tried to seem brave and grateful. Truthfully, it was hard in that moment to see the upside of having this double whammy. And though I was sicker than I had even been in my entire life, what I was really feeling resistant to was the instructions on what it would take to get well: lots of rest. No stress on the body. No work. Nothing taxing that would prevent my body from healing itself. Unless I wanted to end up in the hospital, I d best take the medications and cancel party plans, shopping, Christmas concerts, and the late-night eggnog while wrapping presents. This is not news a minister and a mother wants to hear in December! Resistance was futile; my body gave in and close behind, my mind. A phone call later, I was in bed and everyone else was in charge. I want to greatly thank the staff, the pastoral care team, and the volunteers who stepped in so willingly to manage things during my illness, and the congregation for all the cards, food, gifts and healing wishes sent my way. They made a difference and were a great comfort when I was feeling most vulnerable. Being so sick was a humbling experience; it gave me even greater empathy for those who suffer far more than I have with debilitating illnesses. At this writing, I still am a bit slow going and expect it may take a couple more weeks but hopefully, come the New Year, life will return to normal. But then, perhaps normal is not what s to be desired after all. Mind/body experts are the first to tell us when a body gets run down the mind and spirit can only keep up so long; eventually something has to give, or the body does something to get our attention and force the change. The question is when it s all over have we paid enough attention to follow through with what we ve learned. One of the great challenges before me and us as an institution is how can we continue to do what we love to fulfill the mission and vision of our church with fewer resources, financial and otherwise. Observers of our church often remark that we do far more in Oakland than can be expected of a church our size. We are the overachievers in our movement. We set our sights high and we go, go, go. I, like many of you, often find this exciting and compelling. And, we also may want to reconsider this strategy, if we are to sustain and thrive through the arc of time. Last June, the Board of Trustees, the Committee on Ministry and I agreed that in February this year I would take study leave and vacation. Part of this time was to be sure my furlough was in keeping with what the rest of the staff received this past July. The other part is so that I can continue my study of best practices in the large church. I will be in Tulsa for awhile, near Yosemite for a week and then at home. I plan to spend the time reading and reflecting on what I ve learned and what we will need to do together to ensure our mutual health and vitality. As usual, I am available for emergencies and have arranged for a splendid team of folks to provide pastoral care and lead worship in my absence. February is a short month, but long enough to feel the effect of this downtime. Know that I will be thinking of you and holding you in my prayers. Love, Rev. Kathy 3

4 Reflections from the Cat Ishida, Intern Minister What a pleasure it is to be back. I was a little nervous at first. I had been away for about the same length of time that I had been here as intern. But your kind words and tender hugs have melted away my fears. I am extremely grateful for your gift of time - time for me to be with my father during his last few weeks. There is no way to be fully prepared for the death of a parent. My father s condition had been precarious for some time. In the past two years, I have traveled to Japan fifteen times to visit my father. Medical emergencies were occurring with increasing frequency and I knew that he would not be with us forever. I was even beginning to hope that death might come sooner rather than later, for he seemed to be suffering from increasing amounts of pain, both physical and emotional, that could not be relieved. I was surprised, then, by how much of an emotional roller coaster ride those last few weeks with my father turned out to be. A surge of gladness came with every little improvement, and disappointment with every setback. I struggled to find words to say to him - wanting to make sure that he knew that he was loved, but also that he had permission to go and that there was nothing to fear. Even though we humans can anticipate grief, there simply is no way to fully anticipate how we will experience it. Even though we can anticipate death, there is no way to fully anticipate how it will unfold. Nonetheless, we can prepare a bit, and anticipate somewhat. Here are three books that have been helpful for me and others: Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness by Joanne Lynn and Joan Harrold; Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley; How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter by Sherwin B. Nuland. The Handbook for Mortals is a practical and compassionate guidebook on how to prepare for the possibility of a prolonged death. Final Gifts and How We Die are in depth looks at the experience of dying, the first emphasizing psychological aspects and the second the physical. Both call for an understanding of death so that we may our lives more meaningfully. Right now I am enjoying looking through old photographs, remembering the good times and giving those memories a chance to take center stage. I hadn t realized until now, but there is photographic evidence that both my father and I stick our tongues out when we are in a playful mood! Thank you, again, for welcoming me back. Cat 4

5 Our Ministry with Children and Youth CONVERSATIONS FOR ALL AGES Moo-mu, our long-legged, floppy, but cuddly, mama cow invites YOU to her rebirthing of the (church-as-extendedfamily) conversations. This udderly (groan) amazing gathering will take place on the fourth Wed. of January, also commonly known as Jan. 27. We ll gather at our mobility- and public transitaccessible and welcoming church home at 7 PM. It will be our time to share the significant stories of our lives; and most importantly to practice deep listening to the storyteller of the evening. Moo-mu will greet you with a warm drink, warm soup, and tear-able bread. This is designed to be an evening for folks of all ages and generations. Your favorite quiet and/or cuddly toys are welcome for the young-in-body or young-in-heart; some will greet you as you arrive. Bring yourself and your family, friends and neighbors to this gathering where we will learn each other s stories. For more information, call Beverly Smrha at or beverlyss@earthlink.net Education Program Schedule Updates There will be NO education programs on Dec. 27 or Jan. 3. Classes will resume Jan. 10. Time for all Ages 4th Sunday of every month! This year we will begin including the Time for All Ages in worship the fourth Sunday of every month. All children should worship with their families for the first 20 minutes of worship at both the 9:30 and 11:30 services. Children will then be dismissed with their teachers to their classrooms for the remaining class time. Please join us this fall for some wonderful learning experiences offered to you by several members of our congregation as well as our clergy and intern minister. If you re interested in registering for a class, please call or the church office, office@uuoakland.org or , or contact the individual teacher listed below. Be on the lookout for the next Chalice Chatter where other class listings will be posted soon! Speaking of Faith: Why Religion Matters -- and How to Talk About It Sunday mornings Feb 14 March 21 Some of us may remember the God is Dead controversy of the 1960s. Not only are God and religion very much alive, but all the more challenging as believers of different world religions come into more frequent contact with each other. How can we respond to issues of intolerance, ignorance and hate? How are different religions expressions of a grand and unifying struggle with the very nature of being? Come engage in this dialogue during this six-session series held on Sundays 10:30 AM 12:30 PM Feb 14, Feb. 21, Feb. 28, March 7, March 14. March 21. Led by Chaplain Jamie McReynolds. To register, jamiemc@sonic.net or call Suggested donations will be posted soon. 5

6 Our Shared Ministry From the Leadership Development Team Interested in the Board of Trustees? Our trustees are responsible to ensure we strive to achieve our vision and mission. The board's role is to lead our efforts by focusing upon establishing ends (goals) and on monitoring our progress against ends (goals). Three current trustees will complete their three year terms in March. The team is meeting with interested congregants We will provide the trustee position description, share key board documents and confirm the time commitment. All current members are eligible. If you have an interest in learning more about becoming a trustee, please contact Lauren Poole at or lpoole@sbcglobal.net. Every Member Ministry Sometimes it helps to have a visual of church life to see how it all fits together. Stop by the bulletin board outside Wendte Hall this month to see how our congregation embodies our Every Member Ministries. What s Your New Year s Every Member Ministry Resolution? Now that the new year has begun it s time to focus once again on our e- scrip program. Member and friends are encouraged to think about signing up for escrip in order for the church to receive free money every time a purchase is made at an escrip merchant. Everyone needs to buy groceries and escrip is redeemed to the church for shopping at Piedmont Grocery, Village Market, Safeway, Market Hall and Berkeley Bowl. This is a great time to go on-line to and renew or sign up your Safeway card and major credit card. Our escrip ID number is That way whenever you use your Safeway or credit cards for groceries, merchandise, dining or travel at participating merchants you earn money for the church. There is also another electronic program at Lucky grocery stores. At Lucky you need a S.H.A.R.E card. Every time the S.H.A.R.E card is used, 3% of the qualified purchase earns a S.H.A.R.E point. Each S.H.A.R.E point equals one dollar and would be credited to the church. If you would like to sign up for the S.H.A.R.E program please let Charla Weiss, church manger, know and a S.H.A.R.E card will be sent to you. From the 3 rd Floor Office Happy New Year! Office Schedule The office closed starting at noon on Thursday, Dec. 24 so that the staff could enjoy some time with their families. We will reopen on Tuesday, Jan.5, As a reminder, the office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10-3 PM. You can reach us at office@uuoakland.org or by calling Thank you Board of Trustees! The staff and office volunteers of First Unitarian Church of Oakland would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Trustees for the wonderful luncheon prepared for us in December. Great care was taken in the food and decorations and we were warmly thanked for the service we provide to the church. Rev. Kathy was ill, but she sent ornaments for each of us. And Santa provided gifts for a wonderfully fun gift exchange. Many thanks to all who helped to make this day so special for us! 6

7 Board of Trustees As we start our new year, perhaps we need to reflect a bit on where we have been in 2009, and how we are starting out in First, a look back your Board has spent much of its effort this year striving to do a better job working with you, the congregation. We are trying to improve our communications, both to receive input, and to let everyone know what the Board is thinking and doing. We now post agendas, and we are getting out summaries of our meetings in a timely fashion. We are working on improving access to the Board both through the web site and other means of electronic communication. The Board also is learning how to function more effectively in the Policy Based Governance structure, trying to improve our ability to govern by focusing on our ends or long term goals. We realize that we need to tie our review of the work of the Executive Team to these long term goals, and improve the ways we get and give feedback. Looking to the future, we of course remain in a very tight budget situation, and must all work to implement ideas and opportunities to improve the situation. We realize that many of you are also paying Capital Campaign pledges and must continue to do so in order to pay for our beautiful and safe Hamilton Hall. We hope that now that construction is behind us, we can focus on expanding our programs to meet the needs of our beloved community. So, we will keep on moving forward! Board meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm in the Starr King Room. Hamilton Hall Rededication Jan. 24 Come celebrate the successful completion of our Hamilton Hall Renovation project. On Sunday afternoon, Jan. 24 at 3 PM members, friends and supporters of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland gather to rededicate our newly-renovated sanctuary and renew our century-old commitment to Oakland. Our rededication ceremony will include reflections, ritual and recognitions. Our former ministers the Revs. Janne and Rob Eller Isaacs will join with Rev. Kathy Huff and several other local clergy and dignitaries to lead the rededication service in our historic sanctuary. In addition to our own splendid choir and bands, the Oakland Youth Chorus and Trente Morant will be our guest musicians. Immediately following the service, a gala reception will take place in Wendte Hall. Champagne and other festive beverages will be served, along with delicious sweets. Childcare for the littlest ones will be available. No one will want to miss this major event in the life of our congregation! 7

8 Musical News Music Staff Update The Music Committee appointed two subcommittees to work with Rev. Kathy to develop a vision for music and strategic recommendations about the future for staffing in the context of Vision 2012, the Dreaming Team Report and the Music Advisory Committee findings. The process also included consultations with the choir and the current music staff. The recommend- ations have now been completed and reviewed by the Music Committee. The most dramatic change is the recommendation that we hire a Music Director for All Ages rather than a director whose primary focus is leading the choir. The goal of this new position is to contribute to the development of transformative and radically inclusive worship for all ages. As the program grows we anticipate hiring a separate person whose focus is on choral conducting which can include adult and children s choirs. The Executive Team has accepted the recommendations and is moving forward with the posting of this new position in January. An interview team will be formed to consider candidates in March. For more details please see the documents posted on our website. Job Opening Church Music Director for All Ages We seek a passionate and talented Music Director for All Ages who will offer us a diverse blend of music to complement worship, from jazz to world to folk to classical to gospel and more; in short, someone who will fill us with the joy of music. The ideal candidate has many musical skills and knows how to use music as a catalyst for spiritual engagement during worship. We are looking for this person to join our worship team as soon as possible after April 11. This is a hour a week position with the possibility of benefits. Please your cover letter and resume to the church at office@uuoakland.org. Supplemental materials such as videos or recordings may be sent to First Unitarian Church of Oakland at th Street, Oakland, CA A detailed job description is posted on our church website at Position will remain open until filled. Chaplain Team News Rev. Dan Kane Joins Chaplain Team We are delighted to announce that Dan Kane, longtime church member and now an ordained minister will rejoin our chaplain team this month. Rev. Dan has been a Unitarian Universalist since 1992 when he first joined the Oakland church. He is a graduate of George Washington University s Elliot School of International Affairs, the University of California Hastings College of the Law and received his Master s of Divinity from the Starr King School for the Ministry. Dan is originally from upstate New York and has lived in the Bay Area with his life partner Darin Jensen since After completing his internship with the Arlington Street Church in Boston, Rev. Dan has been serving as the sabbatical minister for the San Mateo congregation. It is great to be welcoming Dan back after such a long time away. Rev. Dan can be reached by at revdankane@gmail.com, or by phone Other members of our chaplain team are Jamie McReynolds and the Reverend Laurel Liefert. Please note that Rev. Laurel will not be available during the months of January and February. She will be doing ministry with the Redwood congregation. 8

9 Community Life Elders and Others to Plan Resource Project Our monthly meeting will be Tuesday, January 19, at the home of Sally Kennedy. This will be a brown bag lunch, with Sally providing beverages and dessert. Please RSVP to Sally at deskennedy@att.net, or by phone at Our discussion will focus on how we go about developing a resource manual for the church identifying resources in the community for seniors. This is a project we talked about a year ago, and we need to decide how to move forward. Utunes Coffee House Upcoming Concerts! Get ready for season two of the Utunes Coffee House. This concert series in Wendte Hall was loads of fun last year, with many great bands, and yummy baked goods and coffee. Please join us! Tickets are available in coffee hour, and at Utunes Coffee House: Circle R Boys Jan. 8, 8 PM The Circle R Boys play traditional bluegrass music in the style of Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, and the Kentucky Colonels. Bluegrass Breakdown said, The Circle R Boys band has the professional, tightly coordinated sound provided by band members who have been performing in Bay Area bands for over twenty years. Church member Bob Waller is the lead singer and guitarist; please plan to attend if you can and help start off this season s Utunes series with a bang. Tickets available between services. Friday, February 12, 2010, 8:00 p.m. -- Palm Wine Boys Acoustic folk and West African palm wine music come together to make up the mellow rhythmic sound of the Palm Wine Boys. Enjoy their rich vocal harmonizing, combined with intricate guitar interplay and lilting rhythms. Last-Sunday Potluck: January 31 and February 28th Join us for the Last-Sunday of the month potlucks sponsored by the community life team! Bring a dish to share and stay for a while after church. If you can bring a dish, help out with clean-up or set-up, contact Laila Ibrahim at or ldibrahim@gmail.com. Please bring food that is prepared to be served. Other dates include: 3/28/2010, 4/25/2010 and 5/30/2010. Organic, Fair Trade Pecans will be on sale in Wendte Hall following each service until supplies are sold out. Both Chocolate-covered and plain pecans are available. $11.00/lb. for chocolate pecans and $16.00/2lb. for the plain. Proceeds will benefit UUSC. For more information contact Evelyn at: evelynsheridan@sbcglobal.net Milestones Congratulations to Cathy Rion, church member and seminarian at Starr King School for the Ministry. She has been selected by the Balazs Scholars Committee to go to Transylvania for a month, likely in March. She will also be starting an internship this fall at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Ridgewood, NJ. 9

10 Men's Fellowship Retreat, Feb Save the date and join us! Sign-ups will begin in January for the 2010 Men's Fellowship Retreat to be held in the redwoods at Monte Toyon Retreat (near Aptos) in the Santa Cruz mountains. This is a great way to renew acquaintances and, if you are fairly new to our community, to get to know other men. The retreat features workshops, good fun, time to connect, common meals, a rip-roaring No- Talent Show, an opportunity to be in nature amongst magnificent redwoods and much more. Sign up in Wendte Hall during coffee hour; first timers get a reduced fee. Info: Neil Planchon , neil@swansway.com. Community Life (cont d) Planning Ahead for the Spring Auction Please start thinking now about setting aside any cool collectible or piece of jewelry you may be done with, and keep the auction in mind if you are downsizing, simplifying, or cleaning out a relative s house or basement. These items should be easily portable and better than garage-sale quality; things from the 1950s and earlier have been particularly popular. So are professional services, craft items, home-cooked dinners and fun activities of all kinds, which are all great ways to give to this community and to get to know other members and friends of the church. If you d like to help with the auction, or to discuss ideas about how you might contribute, please contact Laura Ingram, Lcingram@aol.com, or Thanks for your support. Interweave LGBT-Themed Movie Mapplethorpe, staged set pieces, fantasy sequences Nights Starting January 15 and an invented love story, director Isaac Julien Come join First Unitarian Church of Oakland's provides a powerful meditation on the life of poet Interweave chapter in a series of LGBT (lesbian, Langston Hughes. gay, bisexual, transgender)- themed movie nights. These evenings will start at 7 PM and as a This series will look at how the LGBT fundraiser for our Interweave chapter we are asking community has been represented and portrayed by for a suggested donation of $3.00/adult and Hollywood in the 40 years since the Stonewall $1.00/under 18. No one turned away for lack of Rebellion. This is a time for us all, LGBT and our funds! We will also have a selection of refreshments allies, to get together in community and watch available for purchase. For more information contact some funny, dramatic, and sometimes sad movies Kristen Montan, together. There will be also be a time following each film for discussion. The series starts Jan. 15 with The Boys in the Band from director William Friedkin. This trailblazing 1970s drama is about a close-knit group of gay friends' reunion at their pal's Wheel of Life birthday party, where snippets from each person's Prayers, blessings and heartfelt life are revealed throughout the evening. But when the liquor begins flowing freely, and then a condolences to staffers Stefan Schneider straight male guest arrives unexpectedly at the and Linda Hodges on the deaths of their party, the gay men begin to show their true colors. loved ones. Stefan s brother Franz died In celebration of Black History Month, on suddenly in early December, and Linda lost February 19, we will screen Looking for two close relatives, Genero and Danny, in Langston. Combining archival footage of Harlem's Cotton Club with photographs by Robert November. 10

11 Publications Information: The Sower Newsletter Sower submissions are restricted to a 250-word limit. Keep in mind that long news items may be serialized over several months. Feature contributors (i.e. ministers) and Sower first-page lead articles (large fundraising events, special church events, etc.) are not bound to this word limitation. Sower: Deadline Sower deadline is 4 PM on the 10 th of each month for the forthcoming month s issue. Submissions should be ed to office@uuoakland.org. The Sower is published bi-monthly. The Chalice Chatte E-Newsletter Word limitation per submission is words (3-4 typed lines). Submissions should be ed to office@uuoakland.org. Chalice Chatter: Deadline The Chalice Chatter announcements are posted bi-weekly from September through December. Chalice Chatter announcements are due Monday at 9 AM of the week it is to appear. There is no Chalice Chatter during the last week in December. To reach the clergy or staff, dial the church office, and the appropriate extension number, listed below: Clergy and Staff Senior Minister: Rev. Kathy Huff, ext. 304, revkhuff@uuoakland.org Church Manager: Charla Weiss, ext. 303, charla@uuoakland.org Intern Minister: Catherine Ishida intern@uuoakland.org Church Administrative Assistant: Linda Hodges, ext. 301 office@uuoakland.org Facilities and Rental Coordinator: Stefan Schneider, ext. 302 rentals@uuoakland.org Facilities Staff: Frank Tobor Audio-Visual: Justin Weiss Bookkeeper: Mary Margaret Scribner Assistant Bookkeeper: Denise Lyons Interim Music Director: Matt Wolka, ext. 307, matt@uuoakland.org Accompanist & Assist. to Music Director: Renee Witon Children & Family Ministry Coordinator: Melissa James, ext. 319 learn@uuoakland.org Worship Arts and Education Coordinator for Children and Youth: Lynn Gardner learn@uuoakland.org Nursery Care: Dorothy Paul Chalice Children/Toddlers: Crystal Moore Board of Trustees Claire Eustace, president Dan Goss, vice-president Noemi de Guzman, secretary; Gail Schulz, treasurer; Giselle Ampuero, Rinda Bartley, Jon Greer, Bev Smrha, Charles Williams Executive Team Rev. Kathy Huff; Charla Weiss, church manager; Charles Masten, Lay Member Leadership Development Julie Baeder, Lauren Poole, Rinda Bartley, Scott Weiss Hamilton Hall Renovation Gail Schulz and Glen Dahlbacka, co-chairs Committee on Ministry Chris Sutherland, chair; Liam Aleguire, Rick Hecht, Charlotte Dixon, Randall Wright Internship Committee Susan Killebrew, Chris Palm, Donna Fujioka, Judith Hunt, Randall Wright Journey Toward Wholeness Sharon Dolan and Jill Miller, co-chairs. Pastoral Care Team Chaplains: Rev. Laurel Liefert, Jamie McReynolds, Rev. Dan Kane Pastoral Associates: Anne Lown, coordinator; Dick Bailey, Gil Dacumos, Carolyn Devol, Ronny Gaal, Judith Hunt, Roxie Kellam, Katrina Kellogg, Claudia Morgan, Bonnie Richman Membership Team Leader TBA Justice Council Convenor Emily Stoper Worship Arts Team Leader Kristen Montan Community Life Convenors Katrinca Ford, Laila Ibrahim, Kelly Jonick, Sheri Prud homme 11

12 Your safety is our first concern. Community Bank of the Bay is pleased to keep you safe while at worship by providing financing for seismic retrofitting of your historic sanctuary. And when you bank with us you can also rest assured your money is safe and secure. Individuals, families, businesses and non-profit organizations find us ready to meet any of their banking needs Broadway, Oakland, CA Tel Fax First Unitarian Church of Oakland th Street Oakland, CA PLACE STAMP HERE To: 12