This Week at UUP: March 1-7

The Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma
An Oasis for Heart and Mind Every Sunday in Downtown Petaluma

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

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SUNDAY SERVICES

(Social time with refreshments begins at 10:00 am , at the Petaluma Woman's Club, 518 B Street. Worship service begins at 10:30 am. )

Sunday, March 4: "Stewardship Of Your Environment"
Worship Associate: Michael Iritz
We understand the many ways in which our actions alter our natural environment. But what about our spiritual environment? Or the environment we shape within our religious community? Join us in discovery and discussion about the trust and responsibility of stewardship we each take on in a myriad of ways - from our personal lives to the care of our families and on to our larger family of community around us.

Sunday, March 11: "In Praise of Sweet Darkness"
Guest speaker: Shepherd Bliss
"In Praise of Sweet Darkness" titles Shepherd Bliss' guest presentation March 11. He will be accompanied throughout the talk by musicians from the Kokopelli Players, including award-winning art teacher and CD recording artist Larry Stefl on guitar and an indigenous flute called the huaca and by Peter Herbert of the UU Congregation in Marin on drums and other percussion.
Shepherd will focus on the benevolent aspects of darkness, such as chocolate. Rumi, Lao Tzu, Unitarian Ralph Waldo Emerson, Wendell Berry, David Whyte, Rilke and T.S. Eliot will be among the poets quoted. Mystics quoted will include St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas of Aquinas, Meister Eckhard, and St. John of the Cross' classic "Dark Night of the Soul." Psychologist Carl Jung's concept of the shadow will also be employed. Shepherd will refer to his work at Kokopelli Farm south of Sebastopol.

Sunday, March 18: "Risking Joy: Finding Wholeness"
Guest speakers: ministerial students Wendy Bartel and Lynn Kelly.
Worship Associate: Elisabeth Hathaway
In a world filled with injustice, environmental degradation, war, poverty, and our own personal struggles, how do we connect to what is beautiful and precious? How might we dare, as individuals and in community, to be part of the transformation from brokenness to wholeness? Come risk joy with us through music, meditation, ritual, and spoken word.

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Open that Blue Envelope!

This week all members of UUP will receive a blue envelope in the mail from the national Unitarian Universalist Association asking for assistance with a major outreach campaign in the San Francisco Bay Area. Just think of it: radio and TV ads, newspaper inserts, direct mail... all promoting Unitarian Universalism! The campaign will begin in the fall, but first $260,000 must be raised from the many UU congregations in this region who will directly benefit from the outreach program, UU Petaluma included. Please consider returning that blue envelope with your contribution. Didn't get a blue envelope? Look for the UUA Marketing display on Sunday morning, or contact David Hathaway or Diana Spaulding for more info.

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Town Hall Meeting Update

Please join the UUP Board as we continue to discuss issues and concerns about our proposed grant request for the Weekend Minister Program. All discussion groups will take place from 9:30 to 10:15 am in the Fireside Room at the Woman's Club.

How will the Weekend Ministry Program affect worship? Please join the board and the Worship Committee for this discussion on Sunday, March 11.

How will the Weekend Ministry Program affect our membership? Please join the board and the Membership and Hospitality Committee for this discussion on Sunday, March 18.

Sign up sheets will be located at the UUP table in the back of the worship space. Thank you in advance for your participation.

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Do You Love a Parade?

For three of the last four years, UUP has participated in Petaluma's quintessential small-town event, the annual Butter and Egg Days Parade (we won awards twice!). This year, as always, the parade will wind its way through downtown on the last Saturday in April (April 28). The parade theme will celebrate 150 years of the Petaluma Fire Department. If you'd like to be the point person for UUP's participation, the Membership, Outreach and Hospitality Committee would love to provide backup help in organizing our entry for the year. (Some ideas came up: Red T-Shirts with flaming chalices and a slogan along the lines of "You'll Never Put Out Our Fire!" or something like that...) The entry can be a simple walking group or a float.

Contact Elaine Ellsworth if you are interested! This is a great way to get to know people at UUP, and it gives our community a high profile in the larger community.

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Regularly Scheduled Gatherings

- Larking About (UUP Choir): Rehearsal Sunday at 9:30 am at the Woman's Club and Tuesday at 8pm at David and Diana's house.

- Love All (UUP Tennis Group): Friendly drop-in tennis game Sunday from 2-4 pm at the Petaluma High School courts.

- UUP Worship Associates: Meeting Monday at 8:00 pm at Diana Spaulding's house.

If you have changed your email address or would like to be added to or removed from the UUP list, please email us at uupetaluma at gmail cot com.