Happy New Year from your Leadership Development Committee (LDC)! Over the past few months, we have noticed renewed energy and excitement about this beloved congregation. As we begin a new calendar year, we ask each of you to consider what this congregation means to you. How do you feel about our presence in this “corner” of the Bay Area? How is our congregation serving the larger community and how are we serving each other? We ask you to do a simple self-reflection. When we all work together, we can accomplish great things. Where would you like to get involved in this year? What activity/activities might invigorate you, energize you, and feed your soul? There are many ways to get involved-volunteer with the children, help with social justice, take an adult RE class, and yes- join (or check out) a committee that sounds interesting to you. The Leadership Development Committee is here to serve you, to help you find a place where you can get more involved and feel a deeper sense of belonging and sense of accomplishment. If you are not sure where you would like to get involved this year, come see us! Make 2019 a year for increased participation. You’ll be glad you did!

 

Kathy Wallcave, LDC Chair

Ilze Duarte & Jen King, LDC Members

Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time. Come hear how community ministry manifests itself in our lives today.   

 

Leading the service will be Rev. Barbara F. Meyers and assisting will be Worship Associate Mark Rahman.  Peak Performers will provide our music.  

 

 

 

During our service on Sunday, February 10, 2019, Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation honor two local teachers, Michelle Wallace and Carl Bullard, with Courageous Love Awards. The award is given in conjunction with the national Side with Love campaign, which promotes equality for marginalized communities. The goal of the campaign is to harness love’s power to challenge exclusion, oppression and violence based on identity.   Several local heroes were nominated and members of the congregation met following the service on Jan. 6 and chose to honor both teachers.    

 

The annual Courageous Love Award is given to a member of the Tri Cities community who has faced oppression, discrimination, and prejudice with grace and inspired determination; or who has inspired a local movement for love. We see these awards as a chance to uplift others; strengthen and support our community partnerships; and to join together with joy and with purpose those who have shared values. Both of this year’s awardees have been supportive of LGBTQQ+ students at Fremont schools. Michelle Wallace, Mission Peak UU member and former teacher at Thornton Junior High, founded the Gay Straight Alliance – now Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) there after hearing homophobic remarks being made in her presence. Carl Bullard, is advisor for the GSA at Washington High School has provided guidance to LGBTQQ+ students for years. In addition to making this award, the congregation will donate the proceeds of its Sunday offering on February 10th to the GSA clubs at the two schools.

“Those teachers who rise up to really lead their students and model what it is to be a kind and loving human being is the behavior we can strive for every day,” said Rev. Jo Green, Interim Minister of Mission Peak UU.  “These teachers are modeling for us how best to raise our children in loving kindness. It is an honor for us to recognize their leadership.”

2019 marks 25 years of MPUUC’s existence as a congregation and we think that’s a milestone worth celebrating.  We will have many different celebrations throughout the year.  Please reserve the following dates on your calendar now.  You won’t want to miss them!

[More details regarding these events will follow closer to the dates.  If you have questions or suggestions for additional events or you want to help with an event, please contact Jen King].

The Tri-City Interfaith Coucil and local Human Relations Councils invite you to their annual Interfaith Harmony Day event, featuring a Concert and Conversations of Love from over ten faith traditions. Be part of the Power of Love Extending Harmony on February 2, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Niles Discovery Church, 36600 Niles Blvd. Mission Peak UU participates every year with a booth to educate the public about Unitarian Universalism. Many members also attend and join in the conversations and activities, which are always rewarding. And there’s food! Hope you’ll join us this year!

 

Past topics have included Buddhist meditation, healthy eating, art and spirituality, the Enneagram, Poems, and celebration of the sacred feminine. Classes can vary from one-time events to meeting every week.

 

How can you submit a proposal? Contact Ilze Duarte at (408) 627-2558 (texts preferred) or email her at ilzeduarte@earthlink.net  with your course information.

 

Please submit your proposal no later than February 10th. Thank you!

We are in need of Teachers and Assistants in 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 here

 

You can also sign up using our sign up poster at the back of Cole Hall this Sunday.

 

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!