This Week on the Peak - Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation

This Week on the Peak

Mission Peak UU – Fremont, CA

The Home of Liberal Religion in the Tri-Cities and Beyond!

August 29, 2018

Hello, my name is Michealle Havenhill and I am past-president of the congregation. I have been a member of Mission Peak UU congregation for 15 years which tells you the power of this congregation and the UU movement in general. I did not grow up in churches, but I was raised with a strong moral compass. If you heard my sermon on August 5 you would understand my need to create community and stand up to injustice. I am proud to let you know that I am tasked to help the newly formed Justice Council kick off. We have a number of items that require a couple of volunteers from the congregation. The first volunteer we require is someone to coordinate MPUUC and Abode services Home Warming Project. This would be requiring the volunteer to attend meetings and coordinating the items that are donated.

The Justice Council needs help with suggestions on causes to receive our Sunday Services plate. This typically takes place on the second Sunday of the month. Suggestions can be forwarded to Allysson McDonald.

We are excited to begin this journey and hope it will be a successful first year.

Michealle Havenhill

This Sunday’s Service:

Work as a Spiritual Practice

Work is what we have to do to earn our way in our society. But work can also be a spiritual experience! “Whistle While You Work” exemplifies a positive attitude toward work. As Unitarian Universalists we believe in “encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations”. Though the encouragement is occurring here in our congregation, the spiritual growth can occur in our whole lives, including our work. I will draw from my work life, my mother’s work life, and what I have learned from others, to show ways work can be uplifting.

Paul K. Davis will lead the service and assisting will be Worship Associate Allysson McDonald. Jo Ann Schriner and Knuti VanHoven will provide our music.

Pastoral Care for August

For August, please contact Barbara Meyers at
510-796-5722 for any pastoral care needs you may have.

Don’t hesitate to reach out and thank you!

Rev. Jo is in town and on duty! She is staying in her apartment in Union City, although her goods have not yet arrived (as of Tuesday). She will be receiving emails at
minister@mpuuc.org and her phone number is in the online church directory. As with previous ministers, avoid calling on Mondays if it is not an emergency.

Her first service with us will be at the Water Ceremony on
September 9. Please join the Transition Team to welcome her at the potluck afterwards. Go to
www.surveymonkey.com/r/D6QN78Z and indicate what you will bring.

The Transition Team is still scheduling appointments with Rev. Jo for those members who have a distinct perspective on the past interim year. If you see yourself as one of them, please contact us. The team is De Anna Alm, Annette Breingan, Alan Davis Holly Ito and Valerie Stewart. You can email us at
transitionteam@mpuuc.org

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

Save the Date:

August 30 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Fremont Central Park Pavilion: One Community, One World Summer Concert. A non-religious, non-political community event which welcomes anyone who wants to foster a harmonious community spirit to build a community partnerships, and to instill and promote a common civic pride. Please click
here for flyer.

September 9: After Service (this is our Annual Water Service) there will be a Congregational Potluck Picnic – welcoming ALL to MPUUC- especially Rev. Jo.

Black & White Gala – SAVE THE DATE – November 3rd: The Black & White Gala will be Saturday, November 3 from 6:00-10:00pm. Please PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR, invite friends, plan your outfit (our theme this year is Mardi Gras), and start thinking of items you can donate to the auction and make for the boutique. It will be a great event and a TON of fun, but we can’t do it without you!!

Get Involved: Opportunities for Service

Thank you to those members who have recently stepped in to help. We do not have anyone to make coffee on the 1st Sunday of the month – so this Sunday, if you want coffee, you’ll need to make it yourself.

You can sign up on an ongoing basis to help with various tasks on Sunday’s by contacting Jen King, or you can sign up on an ad hoc basis by following this link:

here

*
Ask what committees can use new members or specific tasks done: contact someone from the Membership Committee, there is at least one representative from the committee at every service
or Jen King, Leadership Development

It’s your community. Be a part of it with a little time and talent, too!

Mission Peak Justice Corner – Allysson McDonald

At its August meeting the Mission Peak Board approved the creation of a new “Justice Council”. Like the old Social Justice Committee it will oversee Mission Peak’s justice activities – coordinate, publicize, and create opportunities for us to live into our mission. Chaired by past-president Michealle Havenhill and co-chaired by trustee Allysson McDonald, members of the Council represent various activities that happen. The group met in late August and will meet again September 23rd after the service. Here’s some news from the council:

Volunteer to Help Clean the Bay:

September 15, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Join thousands of people around the world for International Coastal Clean-Up Day and meet us at the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge in Fremont at the fishing pier at the end of Marshlands Road. Bring a hat, sturdy shoes, water, sunscreen, and gloves and a refillable water bottle if you have them. Removing invasive non-native plants may be an option on this day.
Children under 18 may participate with parental approval. Speed up the registration process by downloading and completing the
Volunteer Agreement form and bring it to the event. Look for your Mission Peak Team!

September Share the Plate: Our September Share the Plate relates to both school and water! On
September 16 we will donate the proceeds of our offering to The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society for the Grey Goose Bus Fund. The Fund pays for buses that enable school field trips to visit the
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge as a learning laboratory. The Fund enables school groups to participate in programs that actively involve students in investigating the diverse habitats and wildlife of the refuge. Hands-on, small group activities are designed to teach basic ecological concepts and to introduce endangered species, migratory birds, and wetland habitats to the students. Donate cash or checks made out to Mission Peak UU Congregation and we will write a check for the Bus Fund. If you can’t be at the service you can send your own contribution and note that you are donating as part of our congregation.

Volunteer to Make Sandwiches:
The Sandwich Squad is looking for volunteers to help make sandwiches on September 16 and the third Sunday every month! The Squad starts after grabbing a cup of coffee after the service and meets in the kitchen. All supplies are provided. They usually finish by noon or a little later. The sandwiches are dropped off during the week at TriCities Volunteers for distribution to the needy in our community. Speak to Don Ramie for further information.

More Ways to Be of Service:
Represent Mission Peak with the RISE Coalition
– Residents Insisting on Social Equity is a coalition of church, unions, tenants, and others, fighting for stronger renter protections in South Alameda County. We’d like someone to attend their meetings, inform us about what we can do to help, and participate in their activities. This is a great group of young and old working together to make change happen! Contact Allysson McDonald for more information or to sign up!

Represent Mission Peak with Abode’s Home Warming Committee
– Abode Services partners with local congregations to help clients with move in costs, furnishings, housewares, and welcome baskets. We need a representative to attend monthly meetings, coordinate our assistance, and share information. It would be great if you have a truck and possible storage space. If you can help, please contact Allysson McDonald. We cannot partner with this program without a coordinator.

Volunteer for Voter Registration
– Interested in helping register teens and young adults to vote in the upcoming election? Kathi Bayne has been working with a group that does this! They can use volunteers at school sites and other locations as well as folks who can help at home by highlighting forms, etc. Please reach out to Kathi (our newest member! Yay!) to let her know you are interested.

Volunteer or Donate to Help Schools Overseas
–
On
Saturday October 13th
from 9:15 to noon, 1st Unitarian Church of San Jose is hosting an event for the organization ‘Rise Against Hunger’, a group who puts together food packets to send to countries in dire need. At the event around 50 volunteers put together around 10,000 packets using the food and supplies provided by ‘Rise Against Hunger’. These are sent mainly to schools with the idea of helping students attend school. Tasks are available for volunteers of many ages making this a family event with
children welcome.
We would love to have volunteers from Mission Peak! We would also love to have any cash donations to ‘Rise Against Hunger’. Contact Elizabeth Owen
lowen@data-time.com
to sign up.

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. Barbara Meyers and Paul K. Davis are members. Join in!

Vision Statement
To promote respect, understanding, cooperation, and appreciation for the many spiritual paths and faith traditions within our community which inspire and teach us to love and support one another more fully.

Mission Statement
We are people from various spiritual backgrounds and experiences who envision an inclusive society in which people of all faiths and traditions respect and appreciate one another.