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Mission Peak UU – Fremont, CA
The Home of Liberal Religion in the Tri-Cities and Beyond!
January 9, 2019
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Hello. My name is Ilze Duarte. I’ve been a member of this congregation for ten years and have served on the Pastoral Associate, Worship Associate, and Canvass committees. This month I’m stepping in as chair of the Adult Education Committee. Outgoing chair Linda Messia, who led the committee for five years, leaves big shoes to fill. I pledge to do my very best!
Over the years, the Adult Education committee has offered a wide range of courses and activities, open to members and friends of Mission Peak. We have had regular courses on the Enneagram (a system describing a range of personality types), meditation, poetry reading, and sing-alongs. More recently, we have had classes in EFT (a tapping technique to relieve anxiety) and how to make small talk.
Adult Education is, of course, about self-improvement, but it is also about community. Whether we meet for classes and activities all through the year or for a few sessions, we spend valuable time together exploring topics and activities we enjoy, and we get to know each other better outside of our weekly gatherings for Sunday services.
Our winter courses and activities are starting this month, and soon we will start planning for spring. We invite your ideas for new courses and activities we can offer this year and beyond. Please stop by our table outside of Cole Hall after Sunday service on January 27. Or talk to any member of the committee-Linda Messia, Len Tienmann, John Porter, Eric Dittmar, and me. Let us know what you would like to learn or what knowledge or skill you would you like to teach.
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Bring A Friend Sunday
As a congregation, how often do we invite others into our lives to participate in that which is deeply important to us? This Sunday bring a friend to experience what it is that draws you each week to the people in this community. We will focus on Vision which is our theme for the month. What does it mean to us and how can we accomplish it? We all have dreams of how we want our lives to be – let’s begin now!
Rev. Jo Green will lead the service and assisting will be Worship Associate Megan McMillen. Lynda MacNeil and Alison Klein will provide our music
*** After the service, we will have the opportunity to spend time with new and long-time friends as we kick off our celebration of MPUUC’s 25th Anniversary year with a potluck lunch. Please bring a dish to share. Drinks and dessert will be provided.
Sunday, January 20 – Shared Service with First Methodist Church
This Sunday we will share our worship with First United Methodist Church as has become the tradition for many years. Rev. Jo Green and Pastor Hee Soon Kwon will lead the service accompanied by a joint choir made up of members of both congregations in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church. We will be centering on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, his dreams, and the legacy he left the world. We indeed will be following his dream as we share worship with others of different faith traditions.
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January Board Meeting
The MPUUC Board will meet at 7:00 PM Thursday evening January 10th. For further information, including a copy of the agenda, please email President Paul K Davis at
paulkdavis@earthlink.net.
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Coffee Chat
Reverend Jo Green will be continuing the Coffee Hour series once a month this year. In January the Coffee Hour will be held on Saturday, January 12th at Mission Coffee Roasting Company, 151 Mission Blvd, in Fremont from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. All are welcome to come and chat and have a discussion. This session we will be discussing Vision, personal goals and how we accomplish them. Come one, come all, there’s plenty of room!
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Small Group Ministry Sign Ups Start this Sunday Jan 13
Small Group Ministries (SGMs) are groups of 6-10 people who meet twice per month to reflect on and discuss meaningful topics. The groups are intentionally small to allow members to have discussions on an intentional level and to be present for one another. Each group creates a set of rules on how its members will interact and picks a set of topics for discussion. Each session is structured and facilitated by a leader, and all members have the opportunity to share their individual perspectives. SGMs are an excellent opportunity to get to know ourselves and one another much more deeply,
while growing more spiritually and introspectively.
Mission Peak SGMs run February through November. We currently have four groups: Men’s on Tuesday nights (7-9 pm), Women’s on Tuesday mornings (10-12 noon), Elders on Thursday mornings (9:30-11 am) and a group open to all Mission Peak members and friends on Thursday evenings (7:30-9:30 pm). To get more information on SGM and sign up for a group, please come to the SGM table this Sunday Jan 13th after the service. February is just a couple of weeks away, so if you are interested but can’t attend this service, please contact SGM Coordinator Linda Messia at lmessia@yahoo.com.
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Healing Circle Workshop
Our Healing Circle Workshop in December was very fruitful, thought provoking and healing. We had a wonderful attendance, but I am aware that there were those who were unable to attend. I’ve had three members approach me to see if I could facilitate another smaller group and I have agreed.
I am going to send out a Doodle poll to determine when we could hold this healing circle. Those members who would like to attend need to contact me and I will send the email to you to plan this next healing circle.
Thank you all for your willingness, your introspection and courage to face the hurt or angry feelings you may have incurred the last couple of years. This is the first step in healing.
Blessings,
Rev Jo Green
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Share the Plate Update
In January we will donate our offering to an outside organization on the THIRD Sunday, to coincide with our joint service with the United Methodist Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday. Watch this space for details next week!
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News coverage of a well-known celebrity dying without a will points out the resulting difficulties. A family’s crisis over critical medical decisions dominates a news cycle. This news may inspire action, but we find both contemplating our own death and initiating a family discussion difficult. Who do we want to act for us if we become incapacitated? Could our financial affairs be resolved with ease? What are our wishes for our final days? Do we need to reevaluate our established plans and documents?
The Ministry of Social Concerns (MSC) Team from Niles Discovery Church believes that talking about these and other questions will move us toward new understandings and a sense of peace; therefore, they are sponsoring a series of conversations to spark thought and action on end of life planning.
Four conversations are scheduled for the fourth Sunday of January through April. A light lunch will be served at noon in Fellowship Hall with the presentations and discussion from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The topics for each session are listed below:
January 27 – Wills and Trusts, other useful documents
February 24 – Advanced Directives
March 24 – Hospice
April 28 – California End of Life Legislation
For more information, contact our Office Administrator
Sandra Lange and she will put you in touch with the correct person at Niles Discovery Church. Invite interested friends and family to attend, too.
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Bystander Intervention Training – January 24 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Be part of the solution in your community!
Learn how to prevent, intervene, de-escalate harmful encounters, and become equipped to train others on bystander intervention.
Please see attached flier for information on a Bystander Intervention Training on January 24.
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Volunteers needed for the county-wide homeless count
The biennial county-wide homeless count will take place on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 from 6 am to 10 am. Once again, the City will lead the coordination effort in the South County and is looking for volunteers to participate in this important event. Volunteers will work alongside formerly or currently homeless guides to count the number of homeless individuals in the South County.
Please click
here
for more information and to volunteer.
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Turning Love Into Justice:
The Tri-City Interfaith Council (tcicouncil.weebly.com) is a grass-roots organization bringing together people of diverse religious beliefs from Fremont, Newark, and Union City (California). Rev. Barbara Meyers and Paul K. Davis are members. Join in!
Call your Elected Officials!
Calls can make a difference! Contact your representatives to alert them to your views!
Congressperson Eric Swalwell 510-247-1388 or go to
house.gov
Senator Kamala Harris
(202) 224 – 3553
Senator Diane Feinstein (202) 224-3841
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Mission Peak UU | 2950 Washington Blvd Fremont CA | 510.252.1477 | missionpeakuu.org
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