This Week at UUP: The Same River Twice

The Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma
Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World.


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS


UUP Potluck and Concert, Saturday afternoon, January 31st, 5-7 pm, at the Eriksens in northwest Petaluma

All UUPers have the exciting opportunity to hear UU songwriter and guitarist Jim Scott at an informal potluck, concert and singalong. Jim has performed at over 500 UU churches and wrote six of the songs in our hymnbook, including Gather the Spirit. He also writes children's songs on environment and social justice issues. This is a social event for all ages.
Please bring a potluck dish to share and a donation to help cover Jim's travel costs from the East Coast. We are suggesting a donation of $8-15 for adults (sliding scale) or $15-20 for a family. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
To sign-up, email Marlene Abel at marlenea at sonic.net. The Eriksens can accommodate about 40 people in their home, so space is limited. The Eriksens live at 2125 McSween Lane, off Ely, between Corona Road and Old Redwood Highway.
Thank you, Jean Conrad, the Eriksens, and the UUP board for making this event possible.

UUP Directory 2009
The updated UUP Directory of members and friends will be in print soon. A draft will be available for review on the back table on Sunday. If your contact info has changed since January 2008, please either make note on the draft on Sunday or email UUP Admin Assistant Jen Newman at uupetaluma at gmail.com .

UUP photo: a message from Hope Stewart
I will take a UUP membership group photo after the service on Sunday, February 8th. Wear your best clothes, I mean, best smile!

Bring a friend to UUP's Fabulous Time & Talent Auction on Sunday, March 1st, noon-2:30 pm

Planning is well underway for our annual fundraising auction featuring a delicious lunch (chicken/veggie/vegan enchiladas!), a talented cast of entertainers, a silent auction, and a live auction. Do you have a talent or skill that you could share? Bright green donation forms are available every Sunday at church -- OR -- consider asking a friendly merchant in town to donate a service or an item. If there is a service you'd like to see donated, please add it to the wish list this Sunday. Email Diana Spaulding at weaverly at earthlink.net if you want to donate but can't make it to Sunday service. Other ways to contribute: donate a dessert for the yummy dessert auction, come early to help set up, stay to help clean up, or best of all bring a friend!

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CORNER Service is our Prayer
Carbon Ring
The UU Legislative Ministry of California has developed a program to help us in our efforts to be good stewards of the earth. The focus is reducing the amount of carbon dioxide each of us causes to be released into the atmosphere. You may participate to the degree that is comfortable for you. Please take a look at the Social Responsibility table and talk to Stacey or George.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
You are invited to join UUSC in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Thursday, February 6th at 7:30 pm at the UU Church of Berkeley. William F. Schulz (UUSC Board of Trustees Chair, former director of Amnesty International and former president of the UUA) will be speaking, along with Cesar Cardenas Ramirez of El Movimiento Mi Cometa, UUSC's Environmental Justice program partner. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. RSVP to rsvp@uusc.org .

SRC quote for the week: "Be the change you want to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

UPCOMING 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.)

This Sunday, February 1: "The Same River Twice"
Guest Speaker: Rev. Meghan Conrad Cefalu
Worship Leader: Jodi Boyle
In 500 BCE Heraclitus of Ephesus noted that "You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters are continually flowing in." We have to concede that change is the only real constant in life and yet it so often takes us by surprise. Amidst all the change, there is something changeless in which we can trust and have faith.
The Rev. Meghan Conrad Cefalu serves the Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains in Grass Valley, California. She and her husband both grew up in Petaluma and enjoy coming back "home" to visit their parents. The president of our Board of Trustees, Jean Conrad, is Meghan's mother.

Sunday, February 8: "Preparing for Love"
Worship Leader: Diana Spaulding
What is it to love? What is it to be loved? In honor of the upcoming celebration of Valentine's Day, we will look beyond the greeting card aspects of this romantic holiday to consider other, deeper questions about love. Come to listen, to ponder, and to share your thoughts about love, and, if you wish, to compose a haiku about love for your valentine or for another in need of love.

REGULARLY SCHEDULED GATHERINGS
UUP Worship Leaders will meet on Sunday, Feb. 1 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm in T's office
Larking About, the UUP choir, meets Wednesdays at 8 pm at David Dodd and Diana Spaulding's house, 716 Bassett St.

Religious Education Update: February 1, 2009

Letters to Obama

Last Sunday, our children wrote letters to President Obama under the leadership of KC Greaney. I asked KC to make copies of their letters before she sent them to Washington D.C., so that the congregation could hear what our kids have to say. I’ll print some this week, and some next week.

Dear President Obama,
Please bring George Bush to your house, so he doesn’t start us in another war. Sincerely, Ava (age 4)

Dear President Obama,
Please help stop the war. Powell (age 6)

Dear President Obama,
Congratulations on your recent inauguration. I strongly feel that our schools need more funding and support from our government. There is much more to education than reading and writing. There is also music, languages, drama and libraries that need funding. These enrichment classes are very important in education, and they are sorely underfunded. Please help the new generation of Americans get the education they need.
Thank you, Rosemary Dodd (age 12}

Dear President Obama,
I hope you stay in office for eight years instead of four.
Sincerely, Raj (age 5)

Dear President Obama,
I am so glad you are my President. I wanted to vote for you but I am only six. But I know you are going to take care of America! Love, Isabel (age 6)


Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education

UUP Martin Luther King Day Community Cleanup

Around 25 UUP members and friends spent the morning of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day cleaning up downtown Petaluma and distributing low-energy light bulbs to low-income families. It was a great morning! More pictures soon...

Religious Education Update: January 18, 2009

What a Week!

America is full of hope, excitement and joy as we plan to celebrate both Martin Luther King, Jr,’s holiday and the inauguration of our new President in the next two days. Americans, including folks from UUP, will be performing community service on Monday, and following the festivities in Washington D.C. on Tuesday. On both days, many of us will be inspired by a belief that America can be better, that we can collectively grow closer to our ideals of being a justice seeking, liberty loving nation.

It is fitting that these two days fall so close together on our calendar. The civil rights work of Martin Luther King, Jr., and others changed our laws and our society, so that men and women of all races have greater opportunities. I’m excited that these changes have happened within my lifetime, from the segregated schools of the 1950’s to a black man, a Harvard graduate, becoming our President in 2009.

On a personal note, I’m pleased that our future President attended a Unitarian Sunday School at the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu from the age of 6 to 10. I’m also pleased at the religious instruction he received at home. Maya Soetoro- Ng, Obama’s sister, describes, the beliefs of their mother in this way: “I wouldn’t have called her an atheist. She was an agnostic. She basically gave us all the good books — the Bible, the Hindu Upanishads and the Buddhist scripture, the Tao Te Ching — and wanted us to recognize that everyone has something beautiful to contribute. Mom didn’t really emphasize the Koran, but we read little parts of it. We did listen to morning prayers in Indonesia.”

Speaking with a UU-bias certainly, I believe that Obama’s early UU training will be helpful as he governs over a nation of such religious diversity. Even more, his background will guide him in our relations with the Islamic nations and others. I believe that Obama is the U.S. President that our world needs right now.

Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education

This Week at UUP: Happy Birthday, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.!

The Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma
Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World.


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

This month's Share-the-Plate Sunday: the Petaluma Educational Foundation
In keeping with UUP's commitment to supporting our community, we will share our non-pledge offering this Sunday with the Petaluma Educational Foundation. PEF is a broadly based community foundation that secures and distributes contributions from the private sector (local businesses, parents, individuals, service clubs and private foundations) to benefit the educational program in Petaluma area schools. PEF provides grants to teachers, offers scholarships to graduating seniors and manages designated funds for school programs and activities. Founded in 1982, PEF serves ten school districts incorporating 31 public and non-profit private schools in our community.

Jim Scott Featured at UUP Potluck and Concert, Saturday afternoon, January 31st, 5-7 pm, at the Eriksens' in northwest Petaluma
All UUPers have the exciting opportunity to hear UU songwriter and guitarist Jim Scott at an informal potluck, concert and singalong. Jim has performed at over 500 UU churches and wrote three of the songs in our hymnbook, including "Gather the Spirit." He also writes children's songs on environment and social justice issues. This will be a social event for all ages.
Please bring a potluck dish to share and a donation to help cover Jim's travel costs from the East Coast. We are suggesting a donation of $8-15 for adults (sliding scale) or $15-20 for a family. No one will be turned away for a lack of funds.
Sign-ups will begin next Sunday at the Sunday service, or email Marlene Abel at marlenea at sonic.net . The Eriksens can accommodate about 40 people in their home, so space is limited. The Eriksens live at 2125 McSween Lane, off Ely, between Corona Road and Old Redwood Highway. (Marlene will have maps at UUP.)
Thank you, Jean Conrad, the Eriksens, and the UUP board for making this event possible.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CORNER:
Service is our Prayer
Thank you everyone for a very successful Guest At Your Table program. Together we contributed $1,425 and qualified for $770 in matching donations for a total benefit to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee of $2,195. This is almost double what we accomplished last year! In addition, because 18 adults and 8 youth - more than 25% of our total membership - contributed at the membership level, we have earned another ribbon for our UUSC banner. Most importantly, we have helped to fund the humanitarian and social justice work of UUSC.
SRC quote for the week: "The central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all. There is a connectedness, a relationship discovered amid the particulars of our own lives and the lives of others. Once felt, it inspires us to work for justice." -- Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed

UPCOMING 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.)

This Sunday, January 18, 2009: "Happy Birthday, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr."
Worship Leader: Joyce Tischler
January 15 would have been the 80th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, the Baptist minister who became the conscience of a nation. Let's read his words and the inspirational words of others and ask: "what would Martin say" on the eve of the inauguration of the first African American president in U.S. history?

January 25, 2009
"The Third UU Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations"
Worship Leader: Elisabeth Hathaway

February 1, 2009
"The Same River Twice"
Guest Speaker: Rev. Meghan Conrad Cefalu
Worship Leader: Jodi Boyle
In 500 BCE Heraclitus of Ephesus noted that "You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters are continually flowing in." We have to concede that change is the only real constant in life and yet it so often takes us by surprise. Amidst all the change, there is something changeless in which we can trust and have faith.
The Rev. Meghan Conrad Cefalu serves the Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains in Grass Valley, California. She and her husband both grew up in Petaluma and enjoy coming back "home" to visit their parents. The president of our Board of Trustees, Jean Conrad, is Meghan's mother.

REGULARLY SCHEDULED GATHERINGS

Membership Committee: brown-bag committee meeting after the service on Sunday, Jan 18th in the Christian Science parlor. Any questions, please call Karen Rutherford.
Larking About, the UUP choir, meets Wednesdays at 8 pm at David Dodd and Diana Spaulding's house, 716 Bassett St.

www.uupetaluma.org

This Week at UUP: A Native American Medicine Wheel

The Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma
Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World.


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

RE Committee Meeting - Sunday, January 11, immediately after the service
All are welcome to work on Religious Education plans for 2009, including RE participation in the Time and Talent Auction on March 1. Childcare will be provided for our meeting.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CORNER
Service is our Prayer
In early 2009, the Social Responsibility Committee will begin working on the Unitarian Universalist Association study issue of Ethical Eating, which includes aspects of environmental concern, world hunger and humane treatment of animals. This is part of a 4-year process that is intended to culminate in an official UUA Statement of Conscience. You are invited to join us in bringing this study issue to UUP, so that our congregation may participate along with others in the work of the UUA. Please let any committee member know of your interest. (Jan Crosby, George Beeler, Earl Cruser or Stacey Meinzen)

UPCOMING 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.)

This Sunday, January 11, 2009: Native American Medicine Wheel
Guest Speakers: Jan Ogren and Dean Watson
Worship Leaders: Jodi Boyle and Meredith Guest
Jan Ogren and Dean Watson will share from their experience apprenticing with Native American healers. They will lead us in a ritual for healing based on the Medicine Wheel, which includes a balance of gratitude for life, self healing and healing of others. The children will help us build a Medicine Wheel using animal drawings they have created. We will all join together to start the new year off with a wish for a very healing, healthy 2009. Intergenerational service, infant care provided.

January 18, 2009: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Worship Leader: Joyce Tischler

January 25, 2009: "The Third UU Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations"
Worship Leader: Elisabeth Hathaway

REGULARLY SCHEDULED GATHERINGS
The UUP Board of Trustee will meet Monday, January 12th at 7:30 pm at Jean Conrad's house.
Larking About, the UUP choir, meets Wednesdays at 8 pm at David Dodd and Diana Spaulding's house, 716 Bassett St. New singers are always welcome!

Religious Education Update: January 11, 2009

Lessons from the First Nations

Last Sunday, the children and I huddled around a “campfire” in the upstairs classroom, as I read a Native American story transcribed by Jan Ogren. Our “campfire” was made of real logs, but the “flame” was red cloth backlit with flashlights. I asked the children to pretend that they were in America 300 years ago, and that they were tribal children listening to one of their elders. Jan told a good story in her writing, and I had their rapt attention.

I explained to the children about how many tribes had an oral tradition, rather than keeping sacred books. In this tradition, all of the legends would need to memorized perfectly, word for word, so they could transmitted flawlessly to the next generation. From my perspective, it seems so much easier to have access to endless text resources. However, for many tribes with the oral tradition, white man’s writing seemed inferior, without the emotions that are part of the storyteller’s craft. They worried that much of the power of the stories would be lost if reduced to mere words on paper. As someone who loves books and libraries, how challenging it is for me to see their valid, but divergent, perspective! However, I also know the power of a good story, and have watched children and adults alike entranced by a gifted storyteller.

The people of the First Nations have so much wisdom to share with us now: how is respect the earth and the web of life; how to live lightly on the land; and how to feel gratitude for the many gifts that our earth provides. I believe that white men and women have much to learn from the stories and traditions of these first inhabitants, and I feel blessed to be part of today’s service. The First Nations preserved their land for future generations. Their spirituality emphasized their connection with the animals and plants that share our planet. It is my fervent hope that today’s Americans can learn to be better stewards of our earth, in order to leave beauty for today’s children and their descendants.

Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education