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!
February 14, 2018

 

This Sunday’s Service:
Living Through Our Broken Places
In the light of the #metoo movement, what do we all have to learn about wounds, healing, resilience and taking back our power? How do we let in the joy and optimism we have every reason to experience, even through the hardest wounds to heal?

 

Leading the service will be Rev. Benson.  Assisting in the service is Worship Associate Drew Wilson.  Our Time for All Ages will be offered by DRE JeKaren Olaoya and music will be provided by Peak Rocks.
A few words from our minister in the interim…
“The foundation of Mission Peak is love.
We are a spiritual community of open minds, nurturing growth and healing in ourselves and all people. Together we strive to live compassionately and courageously as we work for a nonviolent, just and sustainable world.” -MPUUC Mission Statement
Worshipping money falls into the realm of things we must not do or, for some, it is downright “evil”.   But money itself is not evil; it is a tool and one we need and need to use wisely. I have found many people are truly afraid to ask for money for their congregations, as if to ask for a pledge to the congregation was to ask for money for their own pockets. You know, it isn’t that at all. It’s asking for MPUUC to be here into the future, to be strong, to be the lifeboat it’s already been for you, for so many, and to give it what it needs to grow even stronger.
Ask of yourself that you make your commitment rich and give generously of your financial resources at every opportunity. Think through–not what you can give as in “give away”-rather, what you can stretch to, and the dollars you can and will put into your community’s health and well-being going forward.
I personally like the “aim for 5% or more of your net net income” method for figuring a good amount to pledge. It gives an idea. If more than 5% works, fine. If you need to go lower, fine. It’s just one way to think about your pledge. If you want, talk with me about figuring out your pledge. Some people come here and are used to tithing in their former tradition, for example. And not everyone has been in a congregation before or has an idea of where and how to begin figuring it out. So we can talk. Just ask.
You need the love of this community and this community needs each of you. There are others who need this community too and are not yet among us. The not yet need your commitment too. I do hope you will use the tool of money, among others, to support your congregation well.
Please note: the first service during our annual canvass brings the return of Rev. Dr. John Buehrens, former President of the UUA, on March 11th. He’s even throwing in a free lecture after the service, at 12 noon, on the subject of his newest book, Transcendentalist Disciples. Be there! Enjoy!
  -Rev Benson
A Message from Your DRE
We are proud of our children’s program and support for families here at MPUUC. Know that YOU are needed to lead or assist in the classrooms to make the program work.
Teach a little, learn a lot!  Contact JeKaren Olaoya, DRE,
dre@mpuuc.org

 

 

 

Right Now:
 

The Following statement was developed by 5 members of the Tri-City Interfaith Council, your Interim Minister, Rev Benson, among them. Please read and share broadly:
TCIC Anti-Hate Statement
January 5, 2018

As a grassroots collection of people from many spiritual traditions, we want to clearly state that our faith traditions call us to recognize all people as equal and sacred. We reject racism, bigotry, and hatred.  “read full statement here

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUR Tri-City Interfaith Council 

MPUUC is now a member organization. Only individual members can vote and anyone from the congregation may join for a $25 dues, and attend whether a member or not. Rev. Benson is a member. Join in!

 

 

 

 

                 “We Are One” Rally:

The next rally is Thursday, February 22, from 5 to 6 pm. The focus will be support for the Dreamers. Show up at Walnut & Paseo Padre!

Our friends at Temple Beth Torah will once again host the annual
Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day Service:
April 15th at 7:30 pm.  Interfaith participation is in the planning through our TCIC.
 

 

 

                  LGBT tobacco prevention project
:  Contact Tri-City Health Center,  Brian Davis, for more
information. HIV-infected individuals and Trans women on hormones have increased negative health consequences if they smoke. Help with this education project.

 

 

 

 

Anti-Racism Training: Niles Discovery Church, 36600 Niles Blvd, Fremont, CA

Saturday, February 24 2018 From 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Check-in: 8:30 AM)
Are you unsure what the difference is between racism and personal prejudice?

How racism is a system beyond individual choices? Why racism still grips the United States? And how we, as people of faith, can help dismantle it internally and socially?
If these questions interest you, plan on attending this workshop. You don’t have to have been trained before. All it requires is some time and an open heart and mind.
Registration is $40 with light breakfast and lunch included.
Scholarships: Limited funds are available to those in need. Contact Joy Barnitz via email:
jbarnitz@nilesdiscoverychurch.org for more information.

 

 

 

 

Justice: Next meeting for members to discuss MPUUC  justice efforts:
March 1, 6 pm-7:30 pm Ockerman 7

 

 

 

 

Call your Elected Officials!  
Keep your representatives alerted to your views! Keep these names and numbers where you can refer to them at any time. There’s a new bill to be introduced in the House of Representatives to decriminalize marijuana. So many people are in prison, in some places for long prison sentences, even for small amounts of marijuana.  Rep. Barbara Lee, Oakland, is one of the bill’s sponsors.  Let your representatives know your thoughts.  Let’s do all we can to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline!

And let them know what you think about immigration justice, DACA, and the proposed “wall” between the US and Mexico.

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
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
 

 

*Baby ShowerTime
:  Allysson McDonald is looking for one or two folks who would enjoy helping coordinate a virtual baby shower for an expectant mom recently rehoused by Abode Services. The money collected by our congregation in December will go towards the purchase of a crib. Rhea’s baby is due in just a few weeks! Please contact Allysson if you can help.

 

 

 

 

*Ask what committees can use new members or specific tasks done: contact Gayle Tupper, Membership or Jen King, Leadership Development
*Asap: help distribute flyers for our Will Durst benefit for MPUUC and John Buehrens’ talk on the Transcendentalists: see Rev Benson
It’s your community. Be a part of it with a little time and talent, too!

Save the date:
 
 

 

 

 

 

Our friends at Niles Discovery Church, Second Saturday film series, invite one and all:
On 3/10 at 1:30 pm the movie at Niles Discovery Church will be “Requiem for the American Dream.”  Noam Chomsky unpacks the principles that have brought us to the crossroads of historically unprecedented inequality in the United States.

 

 

 

 

UUA Pacific Western Region Conference

 

is coming on April 27 to 29 in Portland Oregon Follow  this link for details!

 

 

 

 

Anne Abrams
A Celebration of Life will be held for former member Anne Abrams at the Palo Alto Unitarian Church at
3 pm
on
March 11
. Please rsvp Leonard Abrams
lnrdabrams2@gmail.com
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)
We also need more people to sign up to fill in for coffee subs.
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
  or text her at 510-589-7481, if you can help. Thank you!

 

Mission Peak
New to UU Class – Sunday, February 18, 2018 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Are you new to Unitarian Universalism or to Mission Peak UU? Are you seeking and questioning and want to learn more of our past, present, and future? We will have a New to Unitarian Universalism class on Sunday, February 18, from 11:30 to 1:00. Reverend Benson, together with other congregation leaders, will lead this class. You will learn about he history of Unitarian Universalism, our Mission Peak Congregation, our congregational activities, and more. Everyone is welcome to attend. In particular, anyone who is considering becoming a member of Mission Peak typically takes the class.
20’s and 30’s Lunch Social
Join us on February 25th 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.
Tiffany Longfield
BENEFIT FOR MPUUC
The hilarious, politically savvy comedy of Will Durst,
Sunday,
April 22, 7pm, to be held at
36600 Niles Blvd (Niles Discovery Church).

Tickets available in advance $25 (plus small fee)
www.mpuuc.org/durst; $30 at the door.
Buy early, buy for all your family, friends, neighbors: everyone could use a good evening of laughs about now, right?
UU in America: Learning Opportunities
On March 11, from 12 noon to 2 pm, members of our congregation and the larger community are invited to hear Rev. Dr. John Buehrens discuss the subject of his newest book. The title of his presentation is “The Transcendentalists: What You Didn’t Know That You Didn’t Know About Them.”
Rev. Dr. John Buehrens was president of the UUA from 1994 through 2001 and has authored many books.
This presentation will take place in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, down the driveway. No sign up necessary.
On March 4, from 12 noon to 1:30, in Cole Hall, Rev Benson will present a general overview of Unitarian Universalism in America.
If you haven’t had an opportunity in the past, please feel free to sign up. Email Linda Messia at lmessia@yahoo.com.
Mission Peak UU | 2950 Washington Blvd Fremont CA | 510.252.1477 | missionpeakuu.org
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