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Mission Peak UU – Fremont, CA
The Home of Liberal Religion in the Tri-Cities and Beyond!
February 20, 2019
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Ministerial Musings
It’s Black History month this month. Currently no matter where I look, I’m reminded by TV shows that have a Black History moment, or profile a Black American that has been swallowed up in history. And I am enjoying this a lot, learning more about American history that has been suppressed. But why is it only in February? Why only in February does The View profile an African American who contributed so much to our country but has never been recognized? Why only in February is that new show Strahan and Sara profiling an African American who made an impact on our country and has been forgotten or never recognized? I love that they are doing this, I’m just disturbed by the fact that they only do this in February. Next month we will get profiles of women who made history and were buried so that we never knew or could celebrate their accomplishments.
How can we change this? For I believe it must be changed. Just keeping one month a year as a time to recognize those African Americans who made so much of a difference in our country does not do our history justice and does not honor People of Color. The familiar names of Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth and Thurgood Marshall who we all have heard about are held up, as they should be for they were remarkable Americans, but when March rolls around all of a sudden it is back to business as usual and we forget about holding up any Black Americans who have contributed vital services and knowledge to this country.
One of my practices in the last 4 years has been to wear a Black Lives Matter pin when I go out in public. On the East Coast in New Jersey and in Philadelphia it was easy for me to do this. I had a pin on all my coats and jackets and when I went out it was pinned on my clothes for folks to see. There were times people thanked me for wearing it and other times where I received silent comment through their eyes. When I transferred to Central Pennsylvania I actually became afraid to wear my pins and I stopped wearing them. I felt in danger to wear my pin. Simply by wearing it, I felt that I couldn’t be safe there, that something could happen to me. And it was a very real fear. I could only imagine what a person of color must feel like every day. They can’t take their skin off like I could take my pin off.
So let us not just remember all People of Color who have contributed to making this country thrive just once a year. Let us honor all year round the many contributions, talents and gifts that People of Color have contributed to our history and to our country. Let’s make the effort to learn all year round how this country was really built.
Blessings to each and every one of you,
Rev Jo
Please feel free to contact me
By phone: 510-972-3890
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Who cares for the activist?
We all acknowledge our admiration for the members of our society who take action, who give service, who rise above diligently each and every day to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. But who cares for the activist, the fighter of rights, the giver of daily service? Let’s explore how to offer social justice to the world without burning ourselves to the ground.
Leading the service will be Rev. Jo Green and assisting will be Worship Associate Rev. Barbara F. Meyers. Jay Steele will provide our music.
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Sidewalk Talk
In today’s San Jose Mercury News there is an article about the work Rev. Barbara F. Meyers has been doing with Sidewalk Talk in Fremont. Here is a link:
Sidewalk Talk: Bay Area volunteers listen, offer ‘human connection’ outside library, food bank.
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Potluck & Movie Night – February 23 – 6:00-9:00 pm
Please join us on Saturday, February 23rd for a potluck and movie night in Cole Hall. We will be sharing food, munching on popcorn, and watching The Shawshank Redemption (which was released 25 years ago in 1994!). Please feel free to bring friends. You may also want to bring pillows and blankets if you want to lounge on the floor. Don’t forget to bring something yummy to share for the potluck. Hope to see you there!
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A Visual History of Mission Peak – We NEED Your Photos!
As part of our celebration of Mission Peak’s 25th Anniversary we would like to collect as many photos as we can from the last 25 years. We are especially looking for photos of the early years. If you have digital photos, please send them to Beckett Gladney at
artnfuzz@earthlink.net or
give them to her on a thumb drive. We understand that photos from the early years will not be in digital form, but if you could get any printed photos you might have to Beckett or Jen King they will digitize them and get them back to you. PLEASE put your name on the back of any printed photos that you give us (also the year the photo was taken if you know it). We would like to have most of the photos collected by March 10th if possible, but we will take them after that as well.
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Your transition team continues to work with Rev. Jo to insure a positive interim ministry and a smooth transition to the next minister. We are now moving past looking at our past and healing from losses and on to assessing our current situation and moving into the future. The transition team and Rev. Jo met with the board executive committee earlier this month to discuss the process and timeline for our ministerial search. The board is now moving forward on this process and we will continue to support that effort. The congregation is being asked for nominations and volunteers for the Ministerial Search team and all are asked to give this serious thought and to provide their input.
There are many exciting things happening in the coming months including the canvass and the celebration of Mission Peak’s 25th anniversary. Please watch for announcements about these and other events and activities.
Your transition team is DeAnna Alm (chair), Annette Breingan, Alan Davis, Holly Ito and Valerie Stewart. You can email us at
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Notes from your Children and Youth Religious Education (CaYRE) team
The CaYRE committee is taking a short survey to help us plan for our future. Your input is appreciated as we collectively strive to make our RE programs for children and youth enriching and rewarding. Your responses will be anonymous unless you choose to provide your email address at the end of the survey. Please fill out the survey at link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2ZHK2FF
We are in need of Teachers and Assistants in March. The K-5th class will be continuing on their Passport to Spirituality. Our 6-8th graders will continue to explore our neighboring faiths.
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.
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Rally against Fremont polluter Saturday 2/23
Kids deserve clean air at school, not pollution from Tri-City Rock. Join Fremont kids and parents in a community rally.
WHEN:
Saturday, 2/23, noon-1:30 p.m.
WHERE:
43157 Osgood Rd., Fremont in front of Tri-City Rock.
More than a thousand kids attend Stratford School, Grimmer Elementary and Averroes High located next to Tri-City Rock’s concrete batch plant. Tri-City Rock’s emissions go onto the school grounds, exposing kids to particulate matter pollution that causes asthma and other health problems.
Join us to demand that Tri-City Rock move to a location away from kids and families, and comply with all air pollution limits.
Sponsored by Fremont Clean Air for Children, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, and the California Environmental Justice Coalition
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General Assembly is coming to Spokane, Washington, June 19-23
General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. It is an unforgettable experience for the thousands of Unitarian Universalists that attend.
This year’s theme is about collective power, “The Power of We.” I
n a time of great challenge and heartbreak in our world, what does our faith demand from us? This year’s General Assembly will explore the power, possibility, purpose, struggle and joy of finding the path forward together as Unitarian Universalists. Attendees will leave inspired, with the tools needed to carry on the work into their own congregations and communities.
If you’ve ever thought about attending the UUA’s General Assembly, consider attending this year since it is relatively close with direct flights and other transportation options. GA registration and housing reservations open on March 1. . Registration cost stays the same until May 1, but housing typically fills up quickly. Information is on the UUA website at
https://www.uua.org/ga
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Faith, Food & Farms Conference
Join faith-based & secular leaders advancing food security & sustainability!
- Learn about successful models from diverse faith leaders in food justice!
- Bring home resources to grow your congregation’s work for healthy food for all!
- Be inspired by projects communities of faith are advancing nationally and locally!
- Prepare to influence federal and local policy!
The Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative’s 7th annual Faith, Food & Farms Conference is designed for lay leaders and clergy active or interested in food projects to connect with each other as well as secular leaders of the sustainable agriculture movement. The Faith, Food & Farms Conference emphasizes participation and problem-solving to empower congregational leaders in their own communities.
Workshop topics include: CSA (community supported agriculture), food policy advocacy, produce stands and mobile farmers’ markets, food waste reduction, and faithlands.
Who should attend? Leaders engaged or interested in food projects with their faith community and farmers seeking to develop relationships with faith-based groups.
Cost: $45 by March 1st, $55 after March 1st Click
here to register
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| Celebrating Mission Peak’s 25th Anniversary – Save These Dates!! |
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!
February 23 – 6:00-9:00 pm
– Potluck and movie night. We’ll be sharing food, munching on popcorn, and watching The Shawshank Redemption (which was released 25 years ago in 1994!)
March 16 – Canvas Kick-Off Dinner
– Location and details TBA – Watch this space for more information about this exciting event!
May 5 – Charter Sunday
– Come celebrate the Charter that started it all with a special service and a Potluck BBQ afterwards.
June 28-30 – MPUUC’s annual Campout!
This year we’ll be back at Puma Point at Anthony Chabot Regional Park so that we are close enough for those of you who are not so excited about camping to join us during the day on Saturday, June 29. We will have many fun activities planned and will end the day with a potluck BBQ and campfire.
September 8 – 25th Anniversary Picnic Celebration
– After the annual Water Ceremony at Cole Hall we will gather at one of the reserved picnic areas at Lake Elizabeth for a Picnic/BBQ celebration. We will have games for the kids, a jam session & sing-a-long, and other fun activities. Come join us and enjoy hanging out with friends & family and celebrating MPUUC.
[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].
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Movie night with FUMC – March 8 @ 7:15 p.m. in Sanctuary
Please see attached
flyer
from FUMC. Everyone is welcome to come see The Ataxian. There is no cost with a reception to follow movie.
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Second Saturday Documentaries at Niles Discovery Church
March Documentary: Come see “The Bail Trap” on Saturday, March 9, 1:30 p.m., at Niles
Discovery Church, 36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont. The free screening will be followed by a discussion. Money bail is one of the main feeders of America’s mass incarceration system – and yet something most Americans know very little about. This movie is an opportunity to change that. Learn more at
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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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