This Week on the Peak



This Week on the Peak
Mission Peak UU – Fremont, CA
The Home of Liberal Religion in the Tri-Cities and Beyond!
January 3, 2018

 

This Sunday’s Service:
“Bummed?” Just Live a Just Life!
Anxious, depressed about the state of the country, the world? How does this shift, can it, when we find and take hold of our sense of purpose, of living a “just life?” We remember loved ones who have died in 2017 in our service today. Bring small photos of them or mementos for our Tolling of the Bells ritual.

 

Leading the service will be Rev. Benson and Worship Associate Allysson McDonald. Music will be provided by Peak Performers (choir) with Shauna Pickett-Gordon and Jay Steele.
A Celebration of Life for long-time congregation member Merrill Ito will be held
Saturday, January 6th, at 11 a.m.  It will be followed by a reception. All of Merrill’s and Holly’s family, MPUUC members and friends, and others among their friends in the larger community will be welcome.

 

Aloha (casual) attire is requested. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mission Peak UU Congregation or to the American Cancer Society.

Happy New Year!  Your Transition Team and I have begun to gear up to host a congregational event you won’t want to miss!
Mark your calendars for lunch and an important meeting on Sunday, January 21, after the Sunday service. This gathering is about our search for a new minister. Our representative from the Pacific Western Region of the UUA will be here to share information about what to expect, what will be expected of the congregation, the works!  If you’re a member or considering membership, listen & participate!

 

– Rev Benson and the Team: Beckett Gladney, Tiffany Longfield, Eric Dittmar, Shaun Klopfenstein, Terri King and Mark Rahman

 

A Message from Your DRE
 
Hi Everyone!
CaYRE will be hosting a free family movie night January 13th at 6pm. in Cole Hall.
 
Snacks will be available for purchase, benefiting the
Children and Youth Religious Education (CaYRE) Program,
 

Right Now:
 

Check this out: The Voting Restoration & Democracy Act (VRDA) of 2018 would remove restrictions that prevent people in prison and on parole from voting in California. If the VRDA passes, California would join most developed countries (including Canada, the Netherlands, France, Norway, and Japan) and two U.S. states (Maine and Vermont) in allowing people to vote from prison. See
 for details.

 

 
Call your Elected Officials!  

 

 

Call your representatives in House and Senate. Let them know how you feel about the tax bill (benefits largely to corporations and wealthiest Americans),  net neutrality (repealing this will allow providers to limit what you will see) and healthcare ( are you for ACA repeal or Medicare for All or something else?)
Congressperson Eric Swalwell 510-247-1388 or go to
house.gov
Ro Khanna  (202) 225-2631
Senator Kamila Harris
(202) 224 – 3553
Senator Diane Feinstein
(202) 224-3841
UU Class Conversation Workshop
Saturday, February 10, 2018
10:00-4:30 p.m.
UU Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson St., Kensington CA
Refreshments and registration open at 9:30 a.m.
Workshop includes lunch (vegan and gluten-free options provided)
Childcare available if requested in advance
Tickets sliding scale $20-50
(No one turned away for lack of funds)

 

Save the date:
 
 

 

 

 

UUA Pacific Western Region Conference
is coming on April 27 to 29 in Portland Oregon Follow  this link for details!

 

 
*We Have 5 Love Hero Nominees for 2018!  Let Rev. Benson know your thoughts about any or all of these. The decision about the awardee(s) will be made soon. Look for the announcement and service plan!

 

 
*One Child: provides clothing and school supplies to children in need.

OneChild began in Fremont, California and now serves families throughout the Bay Area. Their goal is to promote self-esteem in underprivileged children, so they may appreciate their individual worth.

 

*RISE Fremont Coalition (
Residents Insisting on Social Equity).

Members of RISE come from a diverse group of cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. They are united and resolved to make sure all residents are valued, especially those most in need. Their platform includes equitable development, greater affordable housing, improved local jobs and job training, and dignity for all people. (READ MORE HERE)

 

 

A Few Words from Your Minister, in the Interim
It’s a new year on the calendar and you’re wondering what’s coming next, personally, for MPUUC, for the world.  We cannot do everything. We cannot be on top of everything going on in the wider world.  Of necessity we have to pick and choose. If we don’t we get overwhelmed and immobilized and that’s not the path to fulfillment or, dare I say, happiness.  It matters who you are and what you do and say. You matter. It’s easy to say “don’t doubt it” but we all, or most all, have doubts sometimes. If you compare how you feel to how someone else appears or looks to be, it’s a mistake.  Give yourself room.  You’re special and at the same time you are one of billions. You’re unique and yet you have a common bond with all people, with all existence.  That’s the good news! You are part of and need not be apart from. Together we can do what we cannot do alone, it is said. And, for the good we’d like to be a part of, it’s true.
Blessings in this new year! To the best year yet, and why not?
-Rev Benson
Mission Peak
New to UU Class
Welcome to friends of Mission Peak! We will have a New to Unitarian Universalism class on Sunday, January 14, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. Reverend Benson, together with other congregation leaders, will lead this class.  The purpose of the class is for you to learn about the history of Unitarian Universalism, our Mission Peak Congregation, our congregational activities and more.  Everyone interested in learning more about the UU faith is welcome to take the New to UU Class.  In particular, anyone who is considering becoming a member of Mission Peak typically takes the class.  We will provide a light lunch for the January 14 class, so please sign up at the Welcome Table or email Gayle Tupper at
gayletupper@comcast.net

.   
If you will need child care during the class, please sign up by January 7.
Help for
Sunday Services Needed
Helping set up or take down for our services every
Sunday is one of the easiest ways to give back to the congregation and get involved. We currently have several spots that we desperately need volunteers for:
1st
Sunday of the Month: Set-up (1 person needed), Greeter (2 people needed), and Take Down (1 person needed)
2nd
Sunday of the Month: Take Down (1 person needed)
3rd
Sunday of the Month: Aesthetics (1 person needed) and Take Down (1 person needed)
If you can’t commit to one
Sunday per month, please consider being a substitute so we won’t have as much trouble filling slots when our regular volunteers have to be out of town.
Please contact Colleen Arnold at
colleenag@sbcglobal.net
. Thank you!
20’s and 30’s Lunch Social
Join us on January 28th at noon for a lunch social after the service. This is a great way to meet other UUs and to connect with like-minded people. We would like to create a space for people to connect with others
in the congregation who share the challenges and joys of being a young adult UU.  We will primarily be a social networking group, but we would also like to explore participation in outreach activities and have events designed to support the spiritual needs of our members.  Any young adult, married or single, is welcome to join.
JeKaren Olaoya
Adult Education
The Adult Education Committee is now taking sign-ups for the Winter Quarter. Please sign up after Sunday service or email Linda Messia at
lmessia@yahoo.com.
1.     
POEMS
John & Jackie Porter at Porter’s home       6 places
6 Mondays  7-9 pm;     Jan 8 & 22;  Feb 12 & 26;  Mar 12 & 26
 
2.     
MODERN SCIENCE FOR POSITIVE VALUES
Paul Davis  – 20 places   Ockerman 7/8
Sunday evenings  7 pm;   Jan 14 & 28; Feb 11 & 25; Mar 11 & 25 
 
3.     
SING-A-LONG WITH JACKIE & JOANN
Jo Ann  Schriner & Jackie Porter  at Schriner’s home;    12 places
Sunday evening;   7 – 9 pm;   February 11
 
4.      UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALISM IN THE UNITED STATES
Rev JD Benson
Sunday, March 4 12-2: Rev Benson: An Overview  (12 places; Ockerman 3/4)
Sunday March 11 12-2: Rev John Buehrens : The Transcendentalists

(in First Methodist’s Sanctuary: open)

 

5.     
MEDITATION & DHARMA
Eric Dittmar ;   7 – 9 pm at private home
2nd & 4th Thursday evenings each month   
 
6.     
WHAT DO I REALLY BELIEVE
Rev JD Bensom –  12 places    Cole Hall
Sunday;   noon – 2 pm;   February 4 & 11
 
7.     
WORKING WITH THE ENNEAGRAM
Linda Messia    – 8 places   Jan 9 through Mar 27
Tuesday evenings;    7 – 9 pm at Linda’s home
 
8.     
COMMON READ BOOK
Allysson McDonald ;   Ockerman 3/4
Sunday   January 28     11:45 – 12:45 pm
Mission Peak UU | 2950 Washington Blvd Fremont CA | 510.252.1477 | missionpeakuu.org
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