This Week at UUP: October 19

For complete up-to-date info on the Unitarian Universalists of
Petaluma, see our website: http://www.uupetaluma.org

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(Social time with bagels / coffee / tea / juice begins at 10:00, at the Petaluma Woman's Club, 518 B Street. Worship service at 10:30)

October 23: "Rachel Carson: Her Life and Work":
Guest speaker, Lilith Rogers

There is more need than ever before for the people of our world to wake up and start protecting our air, water and soil. Rachel Carson (1907-1964), one of the most influential writers and thinkers of the 20th century, is widely regarded as the founding mother of the modern environmental movement. Her best-selling book, Silent Spring (1962), alerted the American public to the dangers posed by the widespread and careless use of pesticides other chlorinated hydrocarbons which came into widespread distribution during and immediately after WWII. Rogers tells Carson's story in the first person, revealing the many personal challenges Carson faced in her life. Rogers inspires others to realize that, through perseverance and dedication, one can achieve one's goals, that one person can truly make an important difference.

Sunday, October 30: "Un baile con la muerta"
- A Dance with Death
Guest speaker, Dr. Kimberly Bateman

Psychologist and story teller, Dr. Kimberly Bateman, will discuss how worldwide mythologies inform our understanding of the life/death/life nature of reality with an emphasis on personal applications.
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Come to a UUP Halloween Party

KC and Matt will be hosting a Halloween Party on Sunday, October 30th from 4:30-7:30 at their home at 8 Nob Hill Terrace. Bing a pot-luck dish to share for dinner (required), a pumpkin to carve (optional), and a costumed self (preferred).
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Worship Committee Suggestion Box

Worship services are planned with the congregation's wishes and needs in mind. The worship associate committee strives to be responsive to our members' comments, suggestions, constructive criticism, and praise. The worship suggestion box will be on the UU table in the back after the service this Sunday for you to pass your comments along to the worship committee.
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November 13 Harvest Folk Dance

The Ray Bierl String Band will be fiddlin' and Erik Hoffman will be callin' at our Sunday, November 13, Harvest Folk Dance. But there won't be any fiddlin' or callin' without a little volunteerin'! Openings available now for:

Raffle/Mystery-Prizes Coordinator : Work with Celeste or Barbara M-C to plan, recruit a couple of assistants, and then co-ordinate and delegate while others do the gift-wrapping.

Ticketing and Security Captain: Set up orderly and secure procedure for receiving guests, taking entrance fees, getting receipts, and keeping out large dogs. You, also, get to recruit a couple of assistants and tell them what to do!

Contact Celeste (CDurrum at PacBell.net) if you can help out.

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Contact Info Update & Our First Steps Toward Getting the "Passions & Professions Binder" Started

Please keep an eye out for an insert in your order of service for the next two weeks that will allow you to easily and quickly update your contact information for the UUP Directory. There will be a basket on the back table for you to deposit the slips in.

Included on the short form is a box to check if you would like to have a information about your business, hobby, workshops, or artwork included in our new "Passions & Professions" UUP community resource binder.
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Three Vacancies on the UUP Board of Trustees

Have you considered the possibility that you might be a good candidate for the UUP Board? This December, at our semi-annual congregational meeting, we will elect three new members to our Board.

Our Board is our day-to-day governing body, and is responsible for the nuts and bolts aspects of running a congregation. Individual Board members act as liaisons to the various committees, and take on particular areas of responsibility.

The Nominating Committee exists to nominate members to serve on the Board, and is composed of Naomi Davis, David Dodd, and Jennine Lanouette--each a former Board member--and welcomes your expression of interest in seeking election to the Board. UUP bylaws specify that members of the Board must be voting members. The term of office is three years. Please contact any one of them to nominate yourself, or to ask whatever questions you might have about the duties of a Board member.

Also feel free to speak with any current Board member about what is going on with the Board these days, and what work they are focusing on in the current year. Board members are: David Hathaway(President); KC Greaney (Chair); Karen Elliott (Treasurer); Marlene Abel; and Nancy Blake.
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Adult Religious Exploration

We have four potential activity and discussion groups planned for our Adult RE program this fall. The sign-up sheet will be on a clipboard on the back table for the next few Sundays. Everyone is welcome, so feel free to let other friends in the community know about this! If you are not going to be attending services for a few weeks you may also email Adee Swanson at uupetaluma@gmail.com to express your interest in a class. Availability is subject to interest -so sign up and make them happen. Below is a description of the potential Adult RE offerings:
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A Chosen Faith: An introduction to Unitarian Universalism
by John Buehrens and Forrest Church
(a book discussion group)

Thought-provoking, entertaining sourcebook for searchers, newcomers and lifelong learners. Discuss a chapter per month. $15
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Building Your Own Theology
(A curriculum developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association)

The classic model for developing a personal theology. Begins with an introduction to the Purposes and Principles. Participants will learn the critical steps towards creating a personal credo--a specific set of meanings, values and convictions that inform and direct the living of one's life. $16
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Spiritual Film Series

View and discuss a series of films shown in members' homes: What the Bleep Do We Know, and other films that tackle life's big questions.

Hosts needed (big screen and good sound preferred for best viewing)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Evensong

A weekly evening ritual gathering to share spiritual poetry, music, and a set liturgy to be crafted by the group in initial meetings.
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UUSC: Help for Victims of the Himalayan Earthquake

The situation is desperate in the Himalayan regions of Pakistan and India, following the major earthquake of October 8. The relief effort has still not reached over one-fifth of the villages badly hit by the earthquake, because roads and bridges are out - and because the relief effort cannot meet the magnitude of the need. The Himalayan winter is closing in. The window of time in which we can make a difference is closing.

What You Can Do:
UUSC and the Unitarian Universalist Association have created a joint fund to respond to this disaster, and UUSC's Rights in Humanitarian Crises Program has kicked into high gear. But we need your help!

Please make as generous a contribution as you can to help the thousands of people in desperate need in the earthquake-affected areas. Your donation, together with UUSC's expertise in responding to humanitarian crises, can make a difference. UUSC is already working with organizations in the area. Your special contribution today - and your compassion - can save lives.

Donations to the UUSC-UUA South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund can be made online or by mail at P.O. Box 845259, Boston, MA 02284-5259. For more information about the UUSC-UUA response to the earthquake or to make a donation online, visit our website, www.uusc.org.
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Regularly Scheduled Gatherings:

-Larking About (choir) meets Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:30pm @ Nancy's.

-Membership & Hospitality Committee will meet Monday, October 24 at Elaine's.

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If you have changed your email address or would like to be added to or removed from the UUP list please email Christian Boatsman at christian at biosearchtech.com