The new California law, SB-91, establishes a rental assistance program, in which a small or large landlord can apply for payment of 80% of rent owed between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. If a landlord does not apply, the tenant can apply for payment of 25% of the rent owed but still owes the remainder of the back rent. Even a landlord just renting out a room in their home can apply, and landlord application provides by far the greatest benefit to both landlord and tenant. Applying for this kind of assistance promotes the concept of joining together in Beloved Community and is consistent with our Unitarian Universalist principle of “justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.” Are You Eligible To Apply For CA COVID-19 Rent Relief? Click here to find out.
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Upcoming UUCC Sunday Service, April 18th, 11am |
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The Touchstones Theme for April is Meditation. On April 18th, our beloved Tovis Page returns to speak on "Practicing Presence on the Forming Edge of Our Lives: A Unitarian Universalist Perspective on Mindfulness.”
“We come together” on Sunday mornings, writes Rev. Kathleen McTigue, “to rest for a moment on the forming edge of our lives...to claim for ourselves awareness and gratitude” (Singing the Living Tradition #435). For many of us, Sunday services are a time to pause, to be still and present, to connect, and to appreciate the goodness that exists inside and around us. But we don’t have to wait for Sunday mornings to practice this kind of presence in our lives. We can practice it anytime! Practicing mindfulness, we can actually stay "on the forming edge of our lives," being fully present to life as it unfolds, moment by moment.
Dr. Tovis Page is a candidate for Unitarian Universalist ministry, a seminarian at Starr King School for Ministry, and a member of the UU Fellowship of Redwood City. During her ministerial internship with the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo in 2018-2019, Tovis led services for UUCC monthly and is pleased to return as a guest this week. Prior to becoming a UU, Tovis studied and practiced mindfulness with Vipassana meditation communities in both Massachusetts and California. She has a PhD in Religious Studies from Harvard University and is currently the Program Coordinator for the Peninsula Solidarity Cohort, a group of interfaith leaders working for justice and compassion in San Mateo County. Tovis lives in Woodside with her spouse, 2 kids, and myriad furry, scaly, and feathered critters.
Wonderful music will be provided by Mo Robinson. And don't forget to sign in a little earlier to hear beautiful Gathering Music.
For the Order of Service, click here. Please join us at 11:00 am Pacific, 2pm Eastern. Gathering and music begin at 10:55 am.
Password: UUseesea
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UUCC First Sunday Service on May 2nd, 11am |
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The Touchstones Theme for May is Acceptance. Our beloved Bill returns to explore the multiple human and religious threads interwoven into the plot of The Big Lebowski, implied by the lifestyle of the Dude in a sermon entitled: "So, Like, the Dude Really Abides? Is Dudeism a Real Religion?"
In 1998, the Coen brothers' released the movie The Big Lebowski. A sleeper when first released in theaters, TBL has emerged as a cult hit, anchored chiefly by the appeal of its main character, Jeff Lewbowski, a.k.a. the Dude, "the laziest man in Los Angeles County." Unlike other cult hits, TBL inspired a tongue-in-cheek religion called "Dudeism," one with over 450,000 Dudeist priests worldwide as of May 2017.
So, is Dudeism a real religion? Bill doesn't work too hard on any of this, but nonetheless finds grist for laughter, whimsy, and even a little joy in examining the cultural impact of The Big Lebowski through the lens of a US-centric, religious landscape with the motto "Just Take it Easy, Mankind." Be sure and come wearing a bathrobe!
Wonderful music will be provided by Mo Robinson.
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Update on All Together Now Auction |
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UUCC is helping UUSM with their auction. They are still looking for fun and exciting ways for us to participate in the "All Together Now" Online Auction and Virtual Gala. The deadline for submitting auction items has been extended to Sunday April 18th. And we need your help!
Many wonderful items and events have already been donated, including these Coastside offerings: a delicious fish dinner for 7 at the home of Dianne Baker, a trip to the tide pools at Fitzgerald Reserve with Vasa Endicott, a gift certificate to Alena Jean Florist, and an original card-sized watercolor by Bill Heavlin.
And there’s more—vacation home stays, gluten-free baked goods, and power washing your patio. We are a creative bunch.
More items and experiences are still needed to ensure a successful fundraiser for UUSM and UUCC. You can check out this auction preview slideshow for ideas—and to get into the bidding spirit.
Let’s Showcase the Coastside! Here are a few ideas that could pepper our auction with distinctive Coastside experiences. How about a gift basket from Harley Farms; Kayak rental from the Half Moon Bay Kayak Company for two; Whale Watching via the Oceanic Society; or Surfing lessons through Pillar Point Surfing School? A Glass blowing class at Half Moon Bay Art Glass located at La Nebbia Winery would be awesome. Are you a Birder? The Half Moon Bay Coastside is an ideal place for bird watching. You could offer an afternoon of bird watching at your favorite location. Fill out the donation form here with your amazing choice.
For more information on how you can participate in this auction, please email Tricia Dell.
(Side Note: UUSM is offering special programming around Earth Day and Climate Action Week 2021. The Zoom links for the events can be accessed here.)
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UUCC YouTube Service Highlight |
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To enjoy our most recent UUCC services, visit UUCC's YouTube channel. Our most recent service is by the Rev.Tony Bernhard, who spoke of his experience teaching meditation to high security prison inmates. The service was amazing and the music was particularly spectacular. Thanks to the hard work of Bruce Rafnel, who edits all of our YouTube service uploads.
We also encourage you to hit the "Subscribe" button, since we need 100 subscribers before we can apply for a UUCC customized channel URL, which will allow people to find us more easily.
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One of the ways we weave community is by sharing aspects of our lives with each other, our joys and concerns. For our upcoming service, please email your Joys & Concerns to uucoastside@gmail.com.
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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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At our last service, Verna Barrientos, the Worship Associate, highlighted the need for volunteerism. Please let me quote her words here:
"Being part of a community can be life changing. There is something about building community that is nourishing. One of the ways that we build community is by giving. Giving can look like many different things. One way to give is by donating to the Unitarian Universalist Coastside Community. Another way to give is by sharing something that one can say is even more valuable than money—that is time. UUCC is looking for volunteers for the Compassionate Caring Committee, Choir Singers, a Social Media Coordinator, a Zoom Session Manager, and a newsletter editor."
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) Zoom Session Management: We'd like to train two more people to switch slides during our Zoom virtual services. If you are comfortable working or playing with your favorite computer apps, you'll love learning Zoom's cool features!
(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.
Thank you to all who have or continue to volunteer!
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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 Choir Creator
Bruce Rafnel, UUCC Technical Director
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