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Mission Peak UU – Fremont, CA
The Home of Liberal Religion in the Tri-Cities and Beyond!
September 12, 2018
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Hello Mission Peakers! I’m Summer Lander and I’ve been coming to MPUUC since 2014 when I moved to the tri-cities. However I have been a UU since I was 5 years old which is why I find our religious exploration program so important. This is my second year as the chair of the Children and Youth Religious Exploration (CaYRE) committee and I am excited for the year ahead for our children and youth. You can find me at church this Sunday signing folks up to teach and assist in our classrooms.
This Sunday, our children will be kicking off their curriculum. Our K-5 will be exploring different locations and the different religions they can find there. Our 6-8 will be visiting our neighboring faiths and we have three exciting visits planned for them this fall. Our high school youth group will be back to their small group ministry style discussion.
We are also in the process of trying to find a new Director of Religious Education. We are looking for the right fit for our congregation and hope that we will find someone who will commit to our program and the congregation.
If you’re interested in knowing more or are interested in volunteering with our youth and children, please do not hesitate to contact me.
In Peace,
Summer
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This Sunday’s Service:
Stranded in the Jungle,
When We Want to Save the World
This is a difficult era for our country and our world. How can we deal with recent setbacks to ecology, democracy, and other humanitarian causes? Our Minister Emeritus, Dr. Chris Schriner, believes we can learn from these losses. Today’s social crises can teach us crucial lessons about human nature. We can rise above ancient brutalities and overcome the forces of cynicism and greed.
In addition to his ministerial work Rev. Chris is also a retired psychotherapist, an independent scholar in philosophy, and the author of six books including Do Think Twice: Provocative Reflections on Age-Old Questions.
Rev. Chris Schriner will lead the service and assisting will be Rev. Barbara F. Meyers. Mark Kahn will provide our music.
Book Signing
After the service September 16, our Minister Emeritus, Dr. Chris Schriner, will sign copies of his books, including Bridging the God Gap: Finding Common Ground Among Believers, Atheists and Agnostics; Your Living Mind: The Mystery of Consciousness and Why It Matters to You; Do Think Twice: Provocative Reflections on Age-Old Questions; and Feel Better Now: 30 Ways to Handle Frustration in 3 Minutes or Less. 20% of the proceeds will be donated to MPUUC.
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September Board Meeting
The Mission Peak U-U Board will meet on
Sunday, September 16th at 4:00 PM at 3375 Country Drive, Fremont (the meeting room building in back). If you will be attending, please contact President Paul Davis at
paulkdavis@earthlink.net or 510-676-5477.
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Children & Youth Religious Education (CaYRE)
Teacher Training
September 23, 2018 11:30 am Ockerman 3/4
Join CAYRE at our teacher training We are excited to be exploring other faiths with our children this year and have a lot of exciting activities coming up this year. We invited both returning teachers and those new to our RE program.
We will be addressing:
RE Program 2018/2019
Check out what’s going on in RE this year.
K-5 Passport To Spirituality
Our elementary age classroom will be exploring the world and different religions. In their passport to spirituality, the children are going to imagine that they are all traveling the world. At each country they visit, the children will receive a passport sticker, learn about a different religion, engage in a spiritual practice utilized by that religion, and pick up a souvenir.
6-8 Our Neighboring Faiths
Our middle group classroom will be exploring Neighboring Faiths to increase religious literacy, by introducing young people to the actual rituals and practices of different worshiping communities. The curriculum teach religious tolerance, by visiting faith communities with values that differ from our own, and maintaining a respectful demeanor during those visits and to make good world citizens, by raising the awareness of the religious diversity of the U.S. (and the world) in young people.
9-12 High School Youth Group
Our youth group meets twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. On the 2nd Sunday, the youth participate in a social game day, allowing for connection in a relaxed setting. On the 4th Sunday, the youth group dive into a discussion topic in a small group ministry style, allowing the youth to explore spirituality and UU traditions.
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Save the Date:
Black & White Gala – SAVE THE DATE – November 3rd: Our annual Black & White Gala will be Saturday, November 3 from 6:00-10:00pm. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. It’s a great opportunity for you to dress up (if you’d like) and support Mission Peak by participating in our service auction, buying unique and handmade items at our boutique, and testing your luck by participating in our basket raffle. All while enjoying yummy sweet and savory snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Please put the Black & White Gala 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!! Tickets will go on sale starting
Sunday, Sept 9. Tickets are $25 each.
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:
Sign up after the Service this Sunday
to join our team for Coastal Clean Up at Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge on September 15,
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. We’ll meet 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!
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
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On
Saturday October 13th
from 9:15 to noon,
1st Unitarian Church of San Jose is hosting an event for Rise Against Hunger, a group that sends food to countries in dire need. Around 50 volunteers will put together around 10,000 packets at the event, 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. They’d love to have volunteers from Mission Peak! They’d also love to have 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.
Call your Elected Officials!
Calls can make a difference! Contact your representatives to alert them to your views!
Congressperson Eric Swalwell 510-247-1388 or go to
house.govSenator Kamala Harris
(202) 224 – 3553
Senator Diane Feinstein (202) 224-3841
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Plan to Attend the Communication Workshop
The Rev. Cat Cox will be coming to Mission Peak on Saturday, September 29th to facilitate a workshop on building a nurturing, joyous and loving community through Compassionate, Non-violent Communication and living in right relationship with one another. In short, tools that allow us to become the best people we can be, so Mission Peak can become the best Congregation it can be.
Mission Peak already has many wonderful qualities, but this workshop will help us make it an even better place to worship, grow, learn and thrive. The day will start with coffee and light refreshments at 9:30 am, with the workshop starting promptly at 10:00 am. There will be a time set aside to eat a brown bag lunch that you bring from home, and the workshop will end at 4 pm. During the workshop there will be small and large group practice sessions that use what we are learning.
And, thanks to the generous donations from members of the congregation and a matching grant, we are able to offer this workshop for free. But there will be a donation box where we will be collecting money for future community building and leadership workshops. If you are inspired by this workshop, please consider making a donation.
I will have a sign up sheet at the next couple of coffee hours, so Rev. Cat can bring enough materials for us. Or you can email me at
drewwilson@comcast.net if you plan to attend.
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Leadership Development Workshop
Calling all committee chairs! The Leadership Development Committee is excited to present its first workshop, so mark your calendars for Saturday, October 20th. It will be held from 10:00 AM-Noon. This first workshop will address how to make your committee more effective and how to improve communication both within the committee and within the congregation. A light breakfast will be provided, but please bring your own beverage. More information to follow. Save the date! If you are not able to attend, please plan to have a member of your committee attend. If you have any questions, please email Kathy Wallcave at
kwallcave@gmail.com
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Common Read Discussion Group
Dates: October 14, 21, and 28
Time: following the service (11:30 am- 12:30)
Place: Cole Hall
Members, friends, and the public are invited to join a discussion of the UUA 2018-19 Common Read:
Justice on Earth: People of Faith Working at the Intersections of Race, Class, and Environment
, edited by Manish Mishra-Marzetti and Jennifer Nordstrom (Skinner House Books, 2018).
At a time when racial justice, environmental justice, and economic justice are seen as issues competing for time, attention, and resources,
Justice on Earth
explores the ways in which the three are intertwined. Those on the margins are invariably those most affected by climate disaster and environmental toxins. The book asks us to recognize that our faith calls us to long-haul work for justice for our human kin, for the Earth and for all life. It invites us to look at our current challenges through a variety of different perspectives, offers tools to equip us for sustained engagement, and proposes multiple pathways for follow-up action.
Books will be ordered at a discounted price for those who register by Sept. 16.
Childcare provided if requested by October 1. Please contact Allysson McDonald.
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EAST BAY PEOPLE’S CHOIR
Is this YOUR choir?
…yes it is!
A new choir for ALL people is opening in Fremont.
Mission Peak Chamber Singers breaks ground in a new, unique musical initiative that opens the doors of a choir experience to everyone.
The recently founded
EASTBAY
PEOPLE’S
CHOIR is like none other –
A non-auditioned, fee-free, open ensemble, where people of all ages and all backgrounds can learn to sing together.
Please click
here for more information.
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Mission Peak UU | 2950 Washington Blvd Fremont CA | 510.252.1477 | missionpeakuu.org
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