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Mission Peak UU – Fremont, CA
The Home of Liberal Religion in the Tri-Cities and Beyond!
January 16, 2019
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Ministerial Musings
Blessings to everyone – I hope you are staying dry! We are in for some heavy storms this week according to the forecasts so please care for yourself and others. Even though the rain is sorely needed, we need to be careful. Rain is a symbol in many parts of the world for rebirth and cleansing so this could be a time in this new year to start fresh and feel renewed about something we’d like to rejuvenate or begin.
And speaking of beginnings, our 25th Anniversary celebration has begun! As we kicked off this special year this past Sunday, we have events planned to include all ages and all forms of celebration. For those of you who have past memories of this congregation, we would love you to contribute any photos, written memories or memorabilia to our celebrations in the next few months. If it’s sentimental, be sure to know they will be returned to you. You can contact Jen King our Chairperson or someone on her committee for more information.
We have so much to celebrate as a congregation. I’m looking forward to looking at the past with you, sharing those moments that bring joy and fond memories. I’m also looking forward to sharing those moments with you that may not be as fond, that may be sad or bring feelings of discontent because those are the moments where life lessons lie. We will be able to examine those moments and glean lessons and experience from those that can benefit us now or in the future. It doesn’t help to look away at past mistakes or conflicts; there are golden nuggets of knowledge and understanding when we face those times of conflict or divisiveness. We can look forward to that too for this is the year to see what our past has shown us and what the future may hold. I’ve said it before, the lovely words of Mark Twain:
“Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.”
Whatever you have experienced in the past years will only benefit you as a congregation. There are no mistakes. There are only moments to learn.
Let the celebration begin! I’m anticipating getting to know you all better, you all getting to know each other better, and to bring the knowledge you have collected over the last 25 years to a new, brighter future!
Blessings to you all,
Rev Jo
Please feel free to contact me
By phone: 510-972-3890
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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 Share the Plate Happens THIS Sunday!
As you know, on Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday, Jan. 20, we will be worshipping together with the First United Methodist Church in their sanctuary. It is our tradition to give away the proceeds of the offering on that Sunday rather than to split it between the two congregations. This year we’ve chosen to donate the offering to Abode Services Home Warming program. Through the Home Warming Program, a local faith community or other group sponsors a family or individual being rehoused by providing them with furniture, linens, kitchen supplies, a basket of pantry items, funds for deposit and moving assistance – all things that turn a new apartment into a home. The cost of deposits is very high in this housing market, and is oftentimes more than the sponsoring group can provide. Our donation on Jan. 20 will help with such assistance. Please be generous. You can either donate cash, or write a check to Mission Peak UU Congregation with “Abode Services Home Warming” in the memo line. The total will be combined and MPUUC will write a check to Abode. Currently neither congregation has plans to sponsor a family or individual, so this will be our contribution this winter. If you are interested in finding out more about the Home Warming Program or volunteering to coordinate a sponsorship, please contact Allysson McDonald.
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Volunteers Needed in Our Classrooms
We are in need of Teachers and Assistants for January & February. The K-5th class will be continuing on their Passport to Spirituality. Our 6-8th graders will continue to explore our neighboring faiths, which includes a trip to a Buddhist temple in February. If you have any questions please email
cayre@mpuuc.org
You can sign up using our new online sign up form by clicking on the link below
You can also sign up using our sign up sheet posted on the office door this Sunday.
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Join Rev Green in Oakland at the Women’s March on Saturday January 19th, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
Join with members from Tri-City Interfaith Council who will be participating in the Oakland Women’s March on January 19th, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
For further information on the march go to the following website:
http://www.womensmarch.com. If you RSVP at this website you will be updated on any changes etc.
Facts for Oakland March: The gathering for the Oakland march will be at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater between 12th Street and 1st Ave. at 10:00 a.m. from this point all will march to the Frank Ogawa Plaza.
TCIC Members Going to the Oakland March: We will meet up at Fremont and Union City Bart stations.
Take the Warm Springs/ South Fremont to Richmond train to the Lake Merrit station.
Fremont train arrival time: 8:54 a.m. Union City arrival: 8:59 a.m. This will get us to the Lake Merritt station by 9:27 with enough time to walk to the Amphitheater.
Hope you can join us. If you have any questions regarding TCIC participation in the Oakland event, contact Elaine Sanchez,
shfems@sbcglobal.net.
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Small Group Ministry Sign Ups Started last 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). February is just a couple of weeks away, so if you are interested but couldn’t attend the 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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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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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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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. Jo Green, 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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