UUCOD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 UUCOD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER For the week of September 23, 2018 SERVICES September 23 The Great Universalist Miracle Worship Leader: Rev. Barbara Fast Worship Associate: Brian Joyner I am becoming more a Universalist Unitarian. I hope it is because the first principle continues to call me into a practice of justice because of its demanding love. I hope it is not because I am losing faith in human nature. For whatever reasons, I love the true story of how John Murray recovered his faith at Good Luck Point, New Jersey, in I hope I see you this Sunday. It can teach us about our times too. Kurt Jordan, accompanist September 30 Freedom of Religion Worship Leader: Brian Joyner Worship Associate: Shirley LeMaster In this final service in the Four Freedoms Series, Brian Joyner will tackle "freedom of religion." Five hundred years ago, history's only Unitarian king proclaimed the right of all to worship God according to their individual beliefs. The United States began because of a desire for personal freedoms and tolerance for different religions. Unitarian Thomas Jefferson drafted the Virginia Statute of Religion Freedom, which became the basis for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. After this brief history, we will explore how "freedom of worship" has become twisted into the concept of "religious liberty" where discrimination is given a free pass in the name of faith. Brian will offer some different perspectives on how we might resolve this cultural clash. Brian will close out our Four Freedom series with inspirational words for the hard work we have ahead of us if we hope to realize President Franklin D. Roosevelt's dream of creating a world where everyone has these four essential freedoms: freedom of worship; freedom of press and press; freedom from fear; and freedom from want. Kurt Jordan, accompanist

2 CALENDAR Sunday, September 23 10a Worship Service 11:45a Sharing Circle Monday, September 24 5:30p Meditation s2s2s Rehearsal Tuesday, September 25 4p SUBUD Meditation s2s2s Rehearsal Wednesday, September 26 6:30p Choir Rehearsal Thursday, September 27 5p DOS Choir Bridge s2s2s Rehearsal Sunday, September 30 10a Worship Service BOARD NOTES Board Briefs from August 14, 2018 Board of Directors Meeting. Official minutes of this meeting will be available on September 19, At the meeting of the UUCOD Board of Directors on August 14, 2018, the following matters were discussed and/or decided: Sent notes of appreciation to Marion Ellson, Barbara Storms, and Judy Mills for their work with the church Heard a proposal from La Paloma Homes, development adjacent to church property, and Essi Engineering about sharing a drainage easement. Approved a letter of intent from UUCOD Board to La Paloma Homes Approved the appointment of Jane Zaun as 2 nd Vice President and Rod Belshee as Secretary to serve 2 year terms. Agreed to pay UUA and PWR dues in 10 monthly payments Appointed a Communications Committee to work with Rev. Barbara on publicity and social media. Members are Diane Carmony, Susan Hannon and Vikki Porter. Other members will be added at a future date when more people return. Board Briefs from September 18, 2018 Board of Directors Meeting. Official minutes of this meeting will be available on October 16, At the meeting of the UUCOD Board of Directors on September 18, 2018, the following matters were discussed and/or decided:

3 Sent notes of appreciation to Bob Woolfson, Kevin Brandt and Dan Spencer for their work with the church Approved moving forward with a counter offer with La Paloma Homes to exercise and easement for financial consideration. Affirmed agreement to support the Butterfly Project at our November 4, 2018 service including a corresponding art project installation in consultation with the Facilities and Furnishings Committee Received reports on various programs such as the Service Auction, Music Fundraiser, Children s RE and the Music Program Discussed employment policy in Executive Session ANNOUNCEMENTS Sharing Circles The Sharing Circles will start around 11:45a following the service on September 23. You will be able to share in spoken words, written words, in drawings or if you re really gifted in poetry how you re feeling. Or you might just pass and listen. In turn we hope this time together will offer up support to help you cope with this world in which we re living. The sign up /schedule sheet is in the foyer on the round table. Thank you, Bryna Blum Items for UUCOD Monthly are due If you have anything to contribute to the UUCOD October monthly, please have your articles in to me by next Wednesday (the 26 th ). Thanks! - Geoff 2018 Contribution Statements We are now distributing interim contribution statements for the 2018 calendar year. They will be available for pick up in the lobby after service for the next several Sundays. When you receive it, please review it to ensure all of your payments for this year have been correctly reflected on your statement. If you have questions or need any corrections, please contact Jerry L Hommedieu at treasurer@uucod.org or call him at WNO = Women s Night Out Girls Night Out is now Women s Night Out! Our next get together will be on October 4, 5:00 at Boulevards Restaurant in Palm Desert. Contact-Carol Lavoie mclavoie@aol.com / to rsvp. Food on the First will be October 7 Monthly non-perishable food collection for CVUSD's Oasis School healthy food pantry will be October 7 at UUCOD. The pantry distributes to families of Migrant Education students whose adult members work in Coachella Valley agriculture, but whose family incomes often are not sufficient to buy enough healthy proteins, fruits and vegetables and more. Your staples both improve nutrition and also free up household funds to buy fresh items at the market that the food pantry can't store. Please check the expiration dates on all cans and packages before donating. The pantry cannot distribute expired items to the families. Please select from four needed categories: 1) bagged rice or dried pinto beans or corn masa flour like Maseca; 2)

4 canned chicken or tuna or jars of peanut butter; 3) canned fruit, tomatoes, tomato sauce or vegetables; 4) bottled cooking oil. Have questions? Contact Sue at Women s Afternoon Book Group returns! The afternoon book group will resume for the season Friday, October 1:30 at the home of Berta Hanna. Please call Berta if directions are necessary. The book selection is a book of one's choice re the American Indians / Native Americans. There will be a discussion of the books to be chosen for the following year. Labyrinth Opening Celebration, Sunday, October 14 th Prepare to join in the Celebration of a dream realized with a special morning service by Rev. Barbara, followed by a light veggie lunch from Chef Katherine King, music by Dryad, and a walk together to the Labyrinth entrance. Be one of the first to experience the peace and joy of a contemplative walk while enjoying Dryad s debut song, The Labyrinth written for this occasion. In Concert Come and experience Michelle Fiore, Soprano, and Kurt Jordan, Accompanist extraordinaire on Saturday, October 27 th, 2018 at 2:00pm. Michelle and Kurt have performed at the Coachella Valley Repertory Theater for the last 2 years for sold-out audiences!!! Price $ Sign-up sheet in the Foyer. For questions or reservations contact Jane Zaun at jnzaun@yahoo.com s2s2s Celebrates its 10th Anniversary Season! Join us for the opening weekend of Script2Stage2Screen s exciting 10th anniversary season! That Screwy, Ballyhooey Hollywood by Pam Munter Four plays, starring women of a certain age battling for survival in historical Hollywood. This play was a finalist in the Ruckus Rockwell competition in Hollywood, which recognizes creativity in film, stage, radio, television, dance and design. Shows are Friday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 6 both at 7:30 p.m. The new schedule is at ( and will be printed in the October UUCOD Monthly. You can purchase tickets there, using PayPal, or at the door. Still only $10 the best theatrical value in the Desert! Dori Smith, Communications/Box Office/Volunteers script2stage2screen.com Via Vail, Rancho Mirage / Mail: PO Box 2853, Rancho Mirage / Drop In SCRABBLE We ve given our Scrabble get-togethers a new name so people know they can, yes, just drop in! Drop In Scrabble will meet Saturday, Sept. 29 at 2pm in the church lobby. Everyone is welcome! Annual Directory for We are gathering names to add, delete or change for the Annual Directory, and to update our church records. Check the current directory in the foyer. Forms for changes are available at the Membership table. The deadline is September 30! If you are away, you may send the information to Marion Ellson at mtellson55@gmail.com.

5 It s a Wonderful World! What can YOU donate to the Auction? The yearly Auction on Saturday, November 10 is our major fundraiser. We need all UUCODers to make it a success. Donation forms will be available on Sunday. Please consider donating an item (or items). Items already donated include ukulele and knitting lessons, crossword puzzle collection, Pacific Northwest basket, prize winning chili, books on tape, sermon of your choice. This year s theme is It s A Wonderful World. Volunteers are needed for jobs big and small. Please contact Carol Lavoie at mclavoie@aol.com or A sign-up sheet will also be on the foyer table after Sunday services. New Member Orientation Class Those interested in becoming members should see Randy Steele at the Welcome table about Fall New Member Orientation classes to be held after service on October 21st and 28th. They will be approximately 45 minutes starting at 11:30 following the service. We will have a short in-service welcome of new members on Nov. 11th, followed by a potluck lunch in the Fellowship Hall. UUCOD is talking! The UUCOD Board recently formed a Communications Committee to improve our internal and external communication. In the months ahead, you will see more and varied posts to our Facebook page (type Unitarian Universalist Church of the Desert into the search bar if you are on Facebook and not yet following the church page). We also plan to launch a UUCOD Instagram account and YouTube channel this fall. We welcome your suggestions and involvement in UUCOD s communication efforts. Current committee members are Susan Hannon, Vikki Porter and Diane Carmony. Flower Sign-up sheets For those who want to contribute flowers for Sunday s services, there are new sign-up sheets for October, November and December in the lobby. Remember that for the last half of December everyone will be asked to bring in poinsettias to fill the sanctuary. Second Saturday Stroll In October, we will start a new monthly social activity, the Second Saturday Stroll. Come get outside, socialize with other congregants and explore many of the wonderful trails in the area. Open to congregants and older youth who are able to walk at least a couple of miles. We will select hikes based on participants' preferences. Let us know what you would like by taking our survey at surveymonkey.com/r/xbbb9tk Leave your at the end of the survey to get on the Second Saturday Stroll list. See you in the great outdoors! - Rod Belshee Palm Springs Pride Parade co-coordinator needed Our experienced past co-coordinator Tim Hill needs one or more helpers to share the load as co-coordinators with the tasks preparing for our UUCOD contingent in the Pride Parade in November. Contact Tim Hill for more information. timothy.hill.713@gmail.com or A Fond Adieu It is with mixed emotions that we announce that Geoffrey Winstead, our church administrator, will be retiring effective November 2, While we are excited for him to be retiring, he will

6 certainly be missed. Geoff began working at the church on Oct. 1, 2014 and has been a valued asset of our staff. If you are around the church during Geoff s work hours, please take a moment to wish him well and congratulate him on this milestone. If you know of anyone who may be interested applying for the administrator position, please tell them to contact Sarah Gonzales or Reverend Barbara.