Hello, members and friends of Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation. I’m Paul K Davis, and I am your congregational President for the present term. Most of you know me, but it’s good to review from time to time.

My father was a Methodist Minister during my childhood. My mother was a Baptist. Though I no longer agree with all of their beliefs, they have strongly influenced me. I seek to honor and respect them while pursuing my own logical search for truth, and living a loving life.

It was early apparent that I had a gift for mathematics and science, which led me to earn a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California in Berkeley, and to spend much of my career working for NASA designing space telescopes. In the process I served two terms as President of the Ames Federal Employees Union.

In 2005, after many years without a religious affiliation, I joined my friend Mark Rahman here at Mission Peak. I treasure my experiences here, especially what I have learned from Reverends Chris Schriner, Barbara Meyers, Joy Atkinson and Jeremy Nickel.

The congregation is not my only interest in my retirement. I am a board member of the Sacramento Archeological Society, a volunteer at the Fremont Cultural Arts Council, an active member of the Fremont Area Writers, and a frequent violinist or violist in local community theatre pit orchestras.

During my presidency, and next year during my service as Past-President, please feel free to talk with me about congregational issues. We are a democracy, and all members are an essential part of democratic success.

Paul K. Davis

 

 

Rev. Jo is in Minneapolis this week for UUA training for Interim Ministers.  She met with the Transition Team on Saturday, August 18 to schedule her earliest activities with Mission Peak members and the various Committees, Councils and Boards of the Congregation.  Her goods did not arrive before she left. The movers said they had a ten-day window for deliveries, so we may still be asking for volunteers to help her unpack next week (
Aug 27-31.) Please e
mail transitionteam@mpuuc.org

 

Rev. Jo will be in the pulpit for our Water Ceremony Service on September 9. Please plan to come for this special, annual service and to meet Rev. Jo.  We will have a Congregational Potluck after the Service to allow time for lots of introductions.

If you are interested in scheduling an individual meeting to get to know Rev. Jo, those will take place beginning in October and you can email the Transition Team to set up a date and time. If you have any questions about Rev. Jo and our new beginning together at Mission Peak, please email the Transition Team at transitionteam@mpuuc.org.

DeAnna Alm (chair), Annette Breingan, Alan Davis, Holly Ito, and Valerie Stewart.

 

 

 

 

At the MPUUC Board meeting this week the Charter for the new Fellowship Committee was approved!
The Fellowship Committee is tasked with creating fellowship opportunities at Mission Peak in the following ways:

1. Planning and executing events designed to bring together Mission Peak members & friends for different activities such as: Potlucks, picnics, game nights, musical events, etc.

2. Serving as a resource for other committees who want to plan an event.  The fellowship committee will be available to help plan events and possibly oversee some or all of the logistical aspects of the event (food, audio visual, set-up, clean-up, etc.) leaving the members of the committee or group sponsoring the event to focus on the content of the event.

3. Planning and executing the annual Black & White Gala fundraiser for the congregation.

So, now we have a charter and a mission – l
et’s get this party started! All we need is YOU!!  After the service this Sunday (and many Sunday’s to come) we will be outside during coffee hour with sign-up sheets galore!  We will be soliciting your ideas for events, asking for committee members & ad hoc volunteers, and asking you to sign up to help plan, implement, and participate in this year’s Black & White Gala. Please stop by and sign up!!

If you have more questions about the Fellowship Committee, please check out our charter on the Mission Peak website or talk to Fellowship Chairperson – Jen King.

The Rev. Cat Cox, a community minster with long experience helping congregations with community building, living in right relations and compassionate communication, will be coming to Mission Peak on
Saturday September 29th in Cole Hall. She will lead us in a workshop on how to communicate effectively with love and compassion, and other skills necessary to build the sort of community we’d all like Mission Peak to be. Some details are still being worked out, but the event will basically run from
9:00 am to 4:00 pm with a break for lunch. I anticipate some small charge to cover incidentals, but thanks to the generous folks who contributed to Share the Plate this past
Sunday, plus some outside funding, we have raised most of the money to cover Cat’s fee!

If you weren’t able to contribute
on Sunday, August 12,  but would still like to, simply drop a check made out to “Mission Peak” in the collection plate this Sunday with “Communication Workshop” written in the memo line. Any money left over after the event will be used for future community building and leadership training.

Thanks, and hope to see you there.

Drew