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Mission Peak UU – Fremont, CA
The Home of Liberal Religion in the Tri-Cities and Beyond!
August 14, 2019
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Hello Mission Peak UU Congregation!
Your ministerial search team (DeAnna Alm, Lance Holliday, Tiffany Longfield, Stephen Longfield, Don Ramie, Ilze Duarte and Megan McMillen) have been working hard throughout the summer, laying the groundwork for hiring a new settled minister. We started out with a full-day retreat at the end of May, and have been meeting two to three times a month since then. The team has been doing a lot of thinking, discussing, emailing and planning, and we wanted to give you an update on some upcoming activities.
First of all, we will be sending everyone an extensive survey on September 8th. This survey serves two purposes: one, to give the congregation a chance to provide the Search Team with some feedback on what you are looking for in a minister and in Mission Peak UU Congregation itself; two, to give potential ministers a “snapshot” of MPUUC and its members. The survey is long, so we will be giving you two weeks to complete it, as we are asking you to give it serious time and attention. We strongly prefer that you fill it out online, as that makes collating all the answers much easier, but we will have some paper copies available for those who prefer that format.
Second, after the service on Sunday, September 22nd we will have a Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop, so please save that date! This workshop gives us all a chance to examine our own assumptions about what might make someone a good ministerial fit for MPUUC. Please see article below from Don Ramie with more information about it, but please do make time in your busy calendars to attend this event. We will have childcare available if it is requested ahead of time.
In October (dates/locations are being worked out now), the Search Team will also be holding small discussion groups to enable you all to share more of your thoughts and hopes for MPUUC and its new minister.
I hope you are all enjoying your summer and are feeling energized and enthusiastic as we head into our second interim year with Reverend Jo Green!
DeAnna Alm
Search Committee Chair
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“A Simple (Starter?) Credo”
Writing and sharing a statement of your beliefs promotes our Third Principle of “acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth,” but nothing says your personal creed-your credo-has to be complete. Eric Dittmar shares what he wrote for his “Build Your Own Theology” credo to invite discussion, along with some thoughts about why a simple in-process credo might serve you as well.
Leading the service will be Eric Dittmar and assisting will be Worship Associate Paul K. Davis. Jay Steele will provide our music.
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RECESS RALLY:
Friday, August 16, 2019
6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Stevenson & Paseo Padre, Fremont
It’s time to Disarm Hate!
Brady and the gun violence prevention community are calling for action! NOW is the time to demand that Mitch McConnell suspend the Senate recess and bring forward legislation to address gun violence in the U.S. Waiting means that thousands more Americans will die by gun violence. NOW is the time to contact your lawmakers.
NOW is the time to speak with one voice and remind them of the power of your vote.
WE NEED ACTION NOW!
Please click here for flyer.
Sandwich Squad Reminder:
You are invited to join Don Ramie and the Sandwich Squad to make sandwiches for Second Chance Addiction Recovery and Safe Alternatives for Violent Environments.
Location: Cole Hall Kitchen
It’s interactive, fun and rewarding. Please join us!
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The Great Pivot: Creating Meaningful Work to Build a Sustainable Future
MPUUC, Sat., Aug 24, 10am-12pm
By Justine Burt
We need millions of new green jobs to build a sustainable future. With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s release of the Green New Deal Resolution in February, our society is now having a conversation about the GND. Justine will present an overview of her book The Great Pivot, which details 30 projects in energy, transportation, the circular economy, reducing food waste, and restoring nature that will fix the crisis in the world of work caused by outsourcing, automation, and the gig economy. We have the talent and the resources to pivot from business as usual and build the sustainable future that we and future generations need. In the process of saving the planet we may just save ourselves.
This 45 minute presentation by the author will be followed by 20 minutes of breakout discussions then the group will come back together as a whole to discuss for 20 minutes.
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Save the Date! Workshop on Accompaniment of Asylum Seekers + August/September Share-the-Plate
At the UUA General Assembly this June, it was officially resolved “that the UUA supports its members and others in their actions to protect and assist immigrants and asylum seekers in their attempts to lawfully enter and/or remain in the United States”.
This summer, MPUUC is evaluating whether our congregation could provide direct support to one or more people seeking asylum in the United States. If you haven’t heard about this project yet, you can read Allie King’s pulpitorial from Sunday, July 13
here: Allie has been sitting at a table after services for the past month gathering feedback from the congregation. If you haven’t filled out a feedback form yet, you can do so online
here: We want to hear your ideas and your concerns!
So far, one family in our congregation is considering whether they could sponsor an asylum seeker, and in a remarkable coincidence, a guest at our services this summer, Ingrid O’Brien Avery, is already signed up to sponsor an asylum seeker through the organization Freedom For Immigrants. She will likely be matched with someone within the next three months, and she’s interested in having our support. Ten members of MPUUC have expressed interest in being part of an accompaniment team, and others are interested in volunteering less frequently and/or doing fundraising.
If you’re hoping to be part of this project, or if you just want to learn more, please save the date for two upcoming workshops, both to be held after Sunday services:
Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 11:30 AM – after the church service
Lisa Hoffman, Development Director at East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC,
https://eastbaysanctuary.org) will host an information session and Q&A about ways congregations can support asylum seekers. EBSC runs a walk-in center and provides pro-bono legal services to refugees, with special programs to support LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors. Over the years, Lisa and her wife and son have personally hosted several LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in their home. Lisa asked us to send her our questions and concerns ahead of time, and she will try to address those in her presentation (email Allie King at
allie.king@gmail.com with those questions and concerns).
Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 11:30 AM – after the church service
Kelly Younger, the new Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Team coordinator at Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI, http://www.im4humanintegrity.org/) will lead an introductory workshop on accompaniment of asylum seekers. Even if you won’t be able to be involved in this project, consider attending the workshop to learn about the accompaniment process.
As a thank you to the organizations hosting these workshops, our Share-the-Plate collections for August and September will go to East Bay Sanctuary Covenant and Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, respectively.
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Sign up for Fall Adult Education Courses and Activities
The Adult Education committee is pleased to announce its fall 2019 offerings. Detailed descriptions of our courses and activities can be found in the fall Adult Ed brochure. To sign up for our classes and activities, please visit us at our table outside Cole Hall after the service on August 11, 18, and 25, or contact Ilze Duarte at
ilzeduarte@earthlink.net.
Meditation & Dharma
Eric Dittmar
Max number of participants: Open
2nd & 4th Thursdays of each month, 7-9 PM (Sep 19; Oct 10, 24; Nov 14; Dec 12)
Private Home (unless the group grows too large)
Exploring the Enneagram
Linda Messia
Wednesdays 7 – 9 pm: Sept 25; Oct 9 & 23; Nov 6 & 20
Private home; 8 places
Poems
John & Jackie Porter
Mondays 7-9 p.m.: September 9 & 23, October 14 & 28, November 11 & 25.
Porter’s home 6 places
Sing-a-Long with Jackie and Jo Ann
Jo Ann Schriner and Jackie Porter
Sunday, November 10, 7-9 p.m.
Private home 8 places
Spiritual Literacy
Jackie and John Porter
Sundays 6-8 p.m.: September 15 & 29, October 6 & 20, November 3 & 17
This group is currently full, but you can get in touch with John Porter to be placed on a wait list.
Porter’s home 5 places
The Adult Education committee
Eric Dittmar, Ilze Duarte (chair), Linda Messia, and Len Tiemann
Detailed descriptions of our courses and activities can be found in the fall Adult Ed brochure, which you can read here. We will also be handing out the brochure on Sundays, starting August 4.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Our congregation is looking for a new minister, and perhaps distinct images come to mind of what a minister is. A person of a particular gender? Race? Age? We can have biases we’re not even aware of, and limit ourselves in finding the minster who is really best for Mission Peak.
On Sunday, September 22, there with be a free workshop to help us be fair and open-and heard. The Unitarian Universalist Association is sending a facilitator to conduct “Beyond Categorical Thinking.” This will help us consider our hopes, expectations and concerns about a new minister.
After the Sunday service, there will be a light lunch provided for all attendees, with the program to run from noon to no later than 3:00 p.m. Childcare will be available if your RSVP. Use this online form to RSVP, or contact Don Ramie.
If you want to have input that will help the Search Committee find a great new minister, this workshop is for you! All are strongly encouraged to attend.
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Children & Youth Religious Education (CaYRE)
CaYRE’s summer program started June 16th. All children and youth may find a member sharing their passion, a fun craft to make or an exciting game to play. It will be a fun summer filled with social time with all participants meeting in room 1. Nursery care will continue to be offered.
We are taking signups for teachers and assistants. This summer it’s teacher’s choice: Share your passion what ever it may be or get into the fun with a game day! Please sign up using our google form https://tinyurl.com/yy8wgeoa or on the poster in Cole Hall.If you have any questions, please contact us at cayre@mpuuc.org.
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Black & White Gala – November 2, 2019 – Save the Date!
This year’s Black & White Gala will be Saturday, November 2 starting at 6:00pm. Please put the date on your calendar and start picking out your outfits, making items for the boutique, and thinking up offerings for the auction. I’ve been making jam…what have you been doing to get ready?
For those of you who are new to the congregation, our annual Black & White Gala is our biggest fundraiser of the year. It’s a great opportunity for you to dress up (if you’d like) and support Mission Peak by participating in our service auction, buying unique, handmade items at our boutique, and testing your luck by participating in our basket raffle. All while enjoying yummy sweet and savory snacks and alcoholic
and non-alcoholic beverages.
Jen King
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WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!
We NEED your help!?? Cole Hall does not magically transform into a special place for our services each Sunday.?? It requires a small army of volunteers.?? We’ve had a few ‘retirements’ lately and we have some spots
to fill.?? PLEASE let Jen King know if you can fill in for any of the following:
URGENT: We have no one to do set-up for the 2nd Sunday of each month!
We also need people for the following:
Additional Set-up assistance for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sundays of each month
Additional Greeter for the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month
PPT Clickers & AV Technicians for ALL SUNDAYS (We will train you! We
promise!)
Additional Take-down assistance for the 2nd Sunday of each month.
You can sign up on an ongoing basis for the Sunday’s indicated above by contacting Jen King, or you can sign up on and ad hoc basis by following this link:
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| Celebrating Mission Peak’s 25th Anniversary – Save This Date!! |
2019 marks 25 years of MPUUC’s existence as a congregation and we think that’s a milestone worth celebrating. We have had many different celebrations throughout the year. Please reserve the following date on your calendar now. You won’t want to miss it!
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 this event will follow closer to the date. If you have questions or suggestions for additional events or you want to help with this event, please contact Jen King].
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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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