Ministerial Musings

 

Happy glorious New Year of 2020 to you all! It’s a brand new year, one full of possibility. That’s always the feeling I have at the beginning of a new year, how much delightful brilliant happenings are there to anticipate. The beginning is always more joyous to me than what happens next. It might be overly theatrical of me to anticipate what the new year holds and then it doesn’t measure up. That is a character defect I need to work on. On the other hand, it is delightful to revel in this feeling of anticipation and hopefulness. I indeed wish to feel that all the time.

 

We have choices to make when we feel different feelings. My Spiritual Director has often told me how I think a thought and that brings on a feeling. I used to argue with her that it was the opposite. No, I would say, don’t we feel the feeling first and then think the thought? On the contrary she said, your thoughts influence what you feel. And if you decide to act on that thought, you will feel a feeling supporting that thought. Or you can choose to recognize that thought and discard it and a corresponding feeling will not arise.

 

I knew she was right, and I’ve been working on paying more attention to my thoughts. I’m also wondering if all the energy people are expending right now to hate or resent or antagonize others is hovering over us like a cloud that can be suffocating. We’re putting out so much animosity into the world right now that it has to have an effect on us. These thoughts are bringing about feelings that we then are choosing to act upon or not. The theme this month is Belonging and there’s a lot of anti-belonging sentiment swirling about us right now. The dangerous animosity between us and Iran, the actions of our administration that could be viewed as murder, all of this energy is spinning around us, and it must be having an effect on us. I am feeling such tension in myself just from day to day knowing that any minute we could be on the brink of war, yet another conflict we will be sending our troops to fight. And it feels like it’s escalating and that only creates more fear.

 

What can we do in our communities to combat this? Individually we can all create practices in our daily lives to calm ourselves, to give ourselves a sense of peace within. We can also bring those practices to our communities and gather each other together to combat these feelings of acrimony or bitterness. But will that community spread out into others, into other states or even countries, to combat the direction we seem to be traveling? Do we have enough of an influence to turn the tide, build a bridge, hold hands with others to create a more peaceful existence? I don’t have an answer for that. I do know that we need to try. We need to consider how we combat these dangerous feelings, how do we change the thoughts before they bring about feelings, before they bring about actions, before it affects the entire world? How can we influence the thoughts in the beginning so that we can bring about change? How do we help others to change their way of thinking to ones of peace, consideration, thoughtful ness and service?

Rev Jo

By phone: 510-972-3890

Please feel free to contact me

By email:  minister@mpuuc.org 

This Sunday’s Service:

What can we do as Unitarian Universalists to bridge this divide that so many of us feel? Our country is divided. We hear it daily and we are now officially in an election year. How can we get a sense of belonging and create the world our 6th principle affirms? Join us this Sunday as we explore the goal of world community together. 

      

At our last board meeting on Dec 19 ^th we:

 

*    Approved a new version of the draft ministerial contract for the Ministerial Search Team.

*    Approved a procedure for the Justice council to approve charters for its committees.

*    Talked about our Governance Review status

*    Approved update to CaYRE charter

 

For complete board minutes of previous meeting or text of committee charters go to the members only section of our web site at mpuuc.org/about-us/members-only

Our next board meeting is Thursday Jan 9^th at 7:00 p.m. at Allysson’s house. 

 For more details or questions email president@mpuuc.org

 

Steve Wallcave 

During the course of my Interim work here with the Mission Peak UU Congregation, there has been some fun work we’ve done and some challenging work we have done.  I am asking for one more challenge that I would love to see every congregational member participate in.  

The book White Fragility was highlighted at our last General Assembly and I even was privileged to speak with her and have her sign my copy of her book.  I would like to have the congregation read this book and have a discussion on it on January 25, 2020 at 1 p.m. in Ockerman 3/4. I can provide you the book if you cannot afford it, and also I can order them in bulk for those who would like me to.  You can also order it on your own.

Please contact me if you would like me to order you a copy and we have over a month now to read it.  I would appreciate your participation as I believe this is vital territory that we need to explore here in our congregation.  

It takes courage to do this work.  I believe you all are up to the task.  

Thank you for your courage.

Blessings,

Rev Jo

Allie King plans to attend the January 25 training and Paul Davis plans to attend the January 11 training and may be willing to carpool.

On December 25 Warner Brothers releases Just Mercy, starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Fox. It tells the true story of Walter McMillian, who,with the help of young defense attorney Bryan Stevenson, appeals his murder conviction. The 2015- 16 UUA Common Read selection, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson (2014, Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House), is the book that inspired the movie! Let’s revisit the book after watching the story play out on the big screen and discuss it February 16 after the service. This will be a public event- see the movie with friends and family and invite them to the book discussion!

 

If you would like to see the movie at Pacific Commons on Saturday, January 11, at 11 a.m. for $11, contact Allysson for tickets. 

 

Allysson McDonald 

Every day we hear news about oppression and violence. As Mr. Rogers so famously said, “look for the helpers.”  We not only want to look for them, but to honor them! Mission Peak UU Congregation will present an award on February 16 to an individual or group in our area who has been courageously showing up to challenge oppression and violence. The award will be paired with our February Share the Plate, so will come with a monetary prize. Our nomination period is open now! Contact Allysson McDonald by Thursday, January 9 with your suggestions and a few words about your nominee and why you are nominating them. Join us for a brief meeting after the Service on January 5 to consider the nominations. For more information, and some ideas for people or organizations you might consider nominating this year, click here.

 

Tuesdays at 7 PM

          

 First Unitarian Church of Oakland

January 21 through March 24, 2020

Co-Facilitated by Reverend Mary Foran, Affiliated Community Minister and Spiritual Director, together with Patricia St. Onge, Spiritual Director and Coach, Seven Generations Consulting and Assistant Adjunct Professor at Mills College, Department of Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

 

A Spiritual Direction Group for seekers who want more spiritually grounded lives. With liberation for all in mind, our aim is a diverse group of 10 to 12 participants, who are willing to experiment, reflect and support each other’s search for inner wisdom. Click here for more information. 

 

 

Color Printer for the office

Printer Desk 

 

Please contact Rev. Jo or Sandra if you can help with these items for the office.

 

Thank you. 

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!  

   

Join the Interfaith council as we stand together for the

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bedlam   The February Second Saturday Documentary is the film Bedlam, an examination of a national health crisis-our failure to deliver needed mental health care. Impossible to mask when untreated, severe mental illness symptoms shove people who live with them into the path of police officers, ER doctors and nurses, lawyers, and prison guards. See the film on Saturday, February 8, 1:30 p.m., at Niles Discovery Church. Admission is free; a discussion led by the Rev. Barbara Meyers will follow the screening. Click here for flyer.