Multiple voices have warned that the United States is at risk of sliding into authoritarianism. The New York Times editorial board wrote, “the Republic faces an existential threat from a movement that is openly contemptuous of democracy and has shown that it is willing to use violence to achieve its ends.” The board called for “Americans of all stripes who value their self-government” to “mobilize at every level…to win elections and help protect the basic functions of democracy.” Unitarian Universalists have a proud history of standing up for human rights and against authoritarianism. The time has come to commit yourself to a year of taking actions to preserve democracy in this country, whether that be canvassing when safe, phone banking, or letter and post-card writing. Common Cause is a watchdog group based in Washington, D.C., with chapters in 35 states, founded in 1970. The organization's tagline is "holding power accountable" and its stated mission is "upholding the core values of American democracy". You can sign up for their newsletter, Democracy Wire, here.
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UUCC Congregational Meeting, January 16th, 11am |
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The Touchstones Theme for January is Renewal. UUCC holds its second Congregational Meeting on January 16th at 11am. Bill Heavlin will first offer a few words around Renewal. Then we will briefly review the progress made since our first Congregational Meeting on May 19, 2019. We plan to discuss at least three issues: (1) the where and when of Zoom-based, in-person (and "hybrid") services; (2) our approaches to volunteering and to giving; and (3) additional, alternative programming models, like Coffee Hour Sundays, Chalice Circles, Theme-based Small Group Discussions, and so on.
Our Congregational meeting will be held over Zoom and we really need everyone's participation. Please put January 16th at 11am on your calendars.
Meeting ID: 661 775 5196 Password: UUseesea
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UUCC First Sunday Service, February 6th, 11am |
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The Touchstones Theme for February is Power. On February 6, our beloved Bill Heavlin delivers a new sermon entitled “The Sacred Conversation.”
UUs often discuss topics with the implicit goal of converging on truth, assuming both the uniqueness of truth and the power implied by this uniqueness. In this sermon, we explore a second dimension to such conversations: the value of the dialog itself, of discovering and creating shared language, and of recognizing others as co-travelers on a common journey. Drawing from team sports, linguistics, and ecology, Bill offers analogies and (perhaps) even insights about power, language, and conversation.
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Senior Coastsiders Fundraiser: Update Tally |
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Our December All-Music Interfaith Fundraiser for Senior Coastsiders was a huge success. With corporate matching grants, we expect to raise just shy of $7000. A huge thanks goes to our production team: Tom Devine, Bruce Rafnel, Bill Heavlin, Tricia Dell, and Noreen Cooper Heavlin. The concert continues to receive universal praise with close to 500 views on our YouTube channel. We picked up 8 new subscribers — but are still a long way off from reaching our goal of 100 subscribers so the YouTube algorithm can increase our outreach. Please consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel. Click on these instructions on how to subscribe and note UUCC's YouTube Channel is located here. Thank you so much!
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UUCC Anniversary Fundraiser for ALAS: Final Tally |
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For our 6th year anniversary fundraiser in August, our final total is now at $2,110 dollars; including matching corporate grants of $650 and an extra $100 dollars from a Planning Committee member. Pictured here is Joanne Rokosky handing Emma Moctezuma more food cards to Mercado Mi Familia, which will be distributed by ALAS. Thanks again to all who supported our neighbors by contributing to this fundraiser. |
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Compassionate Caring Committee: |
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The UUCC Compassionate Caring Committee volunteers are often able to support our members during life events such as post-operative, illness, or can’t go out. Do you need food delivery or an errand run? Are you feeling loneliness, loss, or grief that a call might help?
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We Appreciate Your Support: |
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For supporting UUCC financially, we have two options:
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Online donation is easy. At Weekly Offerings, look for the words
UU Coastside Community. Enter your dollar amount, and at Frequency choose either Monthly or One Time. At the bottom of the page, click Continue. Fill in your name, address, phone number, and payment method. Click the box I am not a robot, then click Process. To try it now, click this link, to
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If you prefer to donate by check, please make your check payable to UU San Mateo, and write UUCC on the memo line. Please mail your check to:
Nancy Palmer
506 Willow Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-1648
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We’re looking for volunteers:
(1) Social Media Coordinator: to manage our twice-monthly newsletter, and upload content to our website and Facebook page. A four-hour commitment every two weeks.
(2) Participating in an online service is easier than you think. We are in need of Chalice Lighters and Worship Associates for our Third Sunday Gallery View services. The schedule is lighter and we'll be with you every step of the way to make it a pleasant and enriching learning experience.
(3) Fill our newsletter with the diversity that makes UU stand apart from other faiths. Send in poems, inspirational quotes, YouTube music video links, social action notices, and articles of interest to uucoastside@gmail.com.
Thanks to all of you who have or continue to volunteer!
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UUCC Planning Committee Meeting Highlights |
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Below are some key decisions from UUCC's Planning Committee meetings for November and December 2021:
- Our multi-congregation Shared Pulpit classes ended on December 13th, with many wonderful sermons given by participants from UUFSCC, UUSM, UUCLC, and UUCC. Our first Shared Pulpit graduate, Jane Thanx, presented on January 2nd. We plan on scheduling other graduates to give sermons throughout 2022.
- We continue to gather information on when and where to meet in person again sometime in 2022. A point of particular interest is the Odd Fellows Hall in Half Moon Bay.
- Bill Heavlin helped draft an inclusion statement for the Interfaith Coalition on the Coast which support CoastPride.
- Discussion on the need to update our website.
- Discussion on costs from Planning Committee members which are routinely covered without reimbursement to obtain a more accurate accounting of the true costs of running our congregation.
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Unitarian Universalist Coastside Community
Half Moon Bay, California
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Bill Heavlin, UUCC Planning Committee
Dave Rokosky, UUCC Planning Committee
Noreen Cooper Heavlin, UUCC Planning Committee
Tom Devine, UUCC Music Director
Bruce Rafnel, UUCC Technical Director
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