This Week at UUP

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


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

"Get Me to the Church on Time!"--Don't Forget to Set Your Clocks Forward This Sunday
March 8 will be the first day of Daylight Saving Time this year, so please remember to set your clocks forward on Saturday night, and be prepared to show up on time for this Sunday's service--details below.

Share the Plate this Sunday with COTS
COTS offers help and hope to homeless persons in Sonoma County by providing safe shelter and housing, helping people develop steady incomes and helping them get back under a roof of their own.They help homeless families become stable and break the cycle of homelessness by teaching homeless parents to make their children's needs a high priority and to provide a safe, loving and secure home for their children. As we express our support of our community, UUP will share its non-pledge offerings this Sunday with COTS. Visit them online at www.cots-homeless.org.
See the Social Responsibility Corner for info on this Sunday's COTS food collection.

The Miracle Worker at Burbank Auditorium, Santa Rosa, this Saturday, March 7th at 2 pm

A few tickets are left! Please call Marlene immediately at 763-0443, or email at marlenea@sonic.net , if you wish to join us. Our very own Harley Boatsman is performing in SRJC's production of the Miracle Worker, the story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Come support Harley, enjoy this moving story of triumph over great difficulties, all in the company of other UUPers. Religious Education has reserved a block of three rows of seats at the bargain matinee price of $5 per seat. We are arranging carpools for children who need a ride. Recommended by SRJC for ages 10 and up, but slightly younger children may attend at their parents' discretion. Of course, all UUP adults are very welcome to join us!

Religious Education Field Trip to Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa, Friday, March 20th from 5 to 9 pm

Shabbat service from 6 to 7 pm. Children and youth, first grade and up, and invited to our field trip to Shomrei Torah. We will carpool from Petaluma at 5 pm and meet a friend of Marlene Abel's and fifth grade teacher at Old Adobe Elementary School, Heidi Doughty, for an orientation to the Shabbat service at 5:30 pm at the synagogue. We will also have a light snack. After the musical, intergenerational service, we will eat pizza at a Santa Rosa restaurant and discuss our experience. Our return to Petaluma is estimated to be 9 pm. We will need adult drivers and chaperones. Contact Marlene for more information.

SAVE THE DATE! Join us for the Annual UUP Memorial Day Retreat, May 22nd-25th!
We have room for fifty people (usually 30+adults and 20+ kids!) at Four Springs Retreat Center for our seventh annual four-day have-a-great-time-together fun fest. We live in community and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy: cooking & meals together, swimming pool, rustic cabins, beautiful remote location, a smattering of fun groups and mostly: time to visit and get to know each other. ALSO: Let T know ASAP if you want to help create & organize! We especially need people to organize kid events and support, support with food/meals, to plan the Worship Service, and to organize/communicate/administer the details! If interested, contact T Hathaway. Yay!

Butter & Eggs Day Parade
The Butter & Eggs Day Parade is on April 25th, and it's a time for UUP to really show our community what we're all about. The theme is "Recycle, Reuse and Remember", and we want everyone to remember us! If you have creativity to lend to this project or even a few hours on April 25th, please help us out. Kids especially welcome. Talk to Stacey Meinzen for details.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CORNER - "...service is our prayer"
Food collection for COTS this week: This Sunday, in addition to designating COTS as our share-the-plate beneficiary, we will be collecting food items for the Petaluma Kitchen. COTS has sent out a plea for "urgently needed food" for our hungry neighbors. Due to the current economic situation their requests for food assistance have increased 36%, donations have decreased, and food supplies are running dangerously low. COTS is requesting "immediate help from the community" to meet this need. They are especially asking for "substantial items that go a long way toward supplying a meal, such as pasta and sauce, rice and beans, or boxes of cereal in family sizes." Please come to church this Sunday with a generous heart and a donation of food to help meet this critical need. And if anyone would like to volunteer to deliver our donations to the Petaluma Kitchen after the service, that would also be greatly appreciated.
Speaking of food… all members, friends and visitors to UUP on Sunday March 29th are invited to stay after the service for UUP's first ever "5th Sunday Luncheon”. More information to follow next week!
SRC quote for the week: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill

Adult Religious Exploration Groups are Forming
If you are interested in participating in any of these three short courses of religious exploration sign up on Sunday or contact Diana Spaulding. Each course offers you the opportunity to deepen your spiritual life and to make friends at UUP. Availability of each course is subject to interest -- sign up to make it happen!
1) Building Your Own Theology
Developing a personal theology is not an academic exercise; it has to do with the very stuff of our lives. This 10-session class invites you to develop your personal credos: the fundamental religious beliefs, values and convictions that inform and direct the living of your life. Workbook cost $17. Co-leaders: Bruce Eriksen and
2) Evensong
Gather together with a small group of people for 8 sessions of earnest listening and sharing of thoughts, beliefs, and journeys in spirituality and religious life. Evensong is an experience of shared worship. Weekly or biweekly; time TBD. Looking for 1-2 facilitators.
3) A Chosen Faith: An introduction in Unitarian Universalism (a book discussion group)
Thought-provoking, entertaining sourcebook for searchers, newcomers and lifelong learners. Discuss a chapter per month or week. Book costs $15; some copies available for load. Meeting times TBD; looking for 1-2 moderators.

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.)

Sunday, March 8: "To Whom It May Concern": Unitarian Universalist Approaches To Prayer
Guest Speaker: Sue Magidson
Worship Leader: David Dodd
For UUs who don't believe in a favor-granting God, prayer may seem superfluous at best. Why pray if you don't believe that your prayers will be answered or that anyone is listening? During this service, we'll look at different types of prayer through a UU lens and consider why we might want to heed the admonition of UU Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom to "Simply pray!" regardless of what we believe.
Sue Magidson is a lifelong UU, a longtime member of the UU Church of Berkeley, and a third-year M.Div. student at Starr King School for the Ministry.

REGULARLY SCHEDULED GATHERINGS
The UUP Men’s Group will meet at George Beeler's house on Friday, March 6th - tea 7pm, starting 7:30. Come join us at 100 Fair Street, cross street Douglas.
The UUP Board of Trustees will meet Monday, March 9th 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!

Links:
www.uupetaluma.org
Facebook Page (be sociable with UUP friends!)
Flickr Gallery