In This Issue

Lay Chaplains Service- Milestones

January 5th

Milestones- In this first service of the new year we will both look back and prepare for the future while also acknowledging our sorrows and disappointments. We’ll honor Milestones from 2024 and participate in a ritual to launch the New Year with hope and love.

Service Leader: Lay Chaplains

Worship Associates: Eric Fischer

Music: Alan Bell

Pianist: Roger Corman

The Basket: UUCSR General Fund

The Power of Story

January 12th

We all have stories to tell and we listen to the stories that others tell. What is the danger of hearing only one story? What stories do we tell to others?

Service Leaders: Rev Dave Clements

Worship Associates: Joe Gabaeff

Music: Gage Purdy & The Choir

Pianist: Roger Corman

Share the Basket: Saturday Breakfast with Our Neighbors

What Would Dr. King Do - NOW?

January 19th

January 20 is both MLK Day and Presidential Inauguration Day. We know that the days and months that follow will present us with momentous choices -- both as individuals and as a congregation. What are we willing to do and to sacrifice to uphold our values? And what can we learn from Rev. King right now? Rev. King didn’t shrink from injustice or adversity. He didn’t do the safe thing, he did the right thing. We'll look to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s unwavering commitment to justice and his deep courage to help us find our own strength to act in the times ahead. 

Service Leader: Rev Bev

Worship Associates: Susan Thollaug

Music: Sally Jones

Pianist: Louise Bettner

Share the Basket: MLK Jr. Birthday Celebration Committee

What is the Story We Tell About UUCSR

January 26th

We will explore what the story is that we as members and friends of UUCSR tell others? How has our story changed? What do we want others to know about our story at UUCSR.

Service Leader: Rev Dave

Worship Associates: Mark Sowers

Music: Gage Purdy & Chior

Pianist: Roger Corman 

Share The Basket: Undocufund / NBOP

Congregational Meeting

After the Service on January 26th

From the Minister's Desk

Reverend Dave Clements

A New Year’s Reflection: Celebrating Our Milestones

As the calendar turns to 2025, I find myself reflecting on the journey our congregation has undertaken over the past year. What a year it has been! Together, we have grown, celebrated, and overcome challenges, all while staying rooted in our shared Unitarian Universalist values. Today, I want to highlight some of the milestones we’ve reached; moments that mark our progress and illuminate the path ahead.

Expanding Our Community

This past year, we welcomed new members into our congregation—each bringing their unique stories, talents, and perspectives. This growth reminds us of the magnetic power of our message and the importance of creating a welcoming space for all who seek community and meaning. Our Religious Education Goals of providing a place where families can come together and learn from each other is happening. Our parent’s group has expanded to include parents with children who have become young adults as well as children and youth who are in Elementary, Middle School and High School. Under the Direction of our RE Director, programs such as Dungeons and Dragons have been expanded to include over 25 youth participating each Sunday afternoon. Our Youth are participating in a Neighboring Faith Program and have had the opportunity to visit other faith groups during their Sunday Worship services. 

Deepening Our Social Justice Impact

2024 was a year of action. We continued to support our social justice initiatives, in partnering with NBOP and have participated in several trainings and initiatives. This congregation participated in sending post cards about voting and addressed 4500 cards and mailed them out. Our Saturday breakfast program continues to be an outreach to our community and provides each Saturday anywhere from 100 to 150 meals. If this is to continue, we need more volunteers. 

Strengthening Our Spiritual Practices

Worship attendance has increased. Participation in our Sunday services strives to be more inclusive and to have services that engage, inspire and build a sense of community. Music has added to our services and much attention has been taken to make sure that the music is a part of the service not just a performance. 

Investing in Our Future

With your support, we successfully called a Search Committee who have worked tirelessly on holding meetings and listening to what you believe is important in our next Called Full Time Minister. They shared with all of us the results of a congregational survey that captured what things you valued at UUCSR. The Search Committee gathered all the information and put together a strong congregational record which prospective Ministers are reviewing. 

As we step into 2025, let us carry forward the energy and love that fueled these accomplishments. Each of you is a vital part of this congregation, and together, we will continue to make a meaningful impact—within our walls and beyond. Here’s to a bright 2025 filled with shared purpose and boundless possibilities.

With Gratitude and Hope, Rev. Dave

President's Message

Board of Trustee President- David Reitzell

president@uusantarosa.org

Wow, a new year full of possibilities. The Month of January will be eventful for our church, community, and country. The holidays brought some beauty and tradition into our lives. I hope there were restful times for each of us.

This year it feels like Martin Luther King Jr Day has extra meaning as we strive to prevent our society from sliding backwards. We have such opportunity and obligation to make a difference. It seems the bubble of living in California can’t thoroughly protect us. We can remember that there is joy in the struggle as we move forward together with this wonderful community and be a light for others. 

We have a Congregational meeting coming up on Sunday, January 26th where we will be discussing and voting on the bylaws. This committee has been working for over a year on bringing our church’s bylaws up to the modern age. This is vital, if not sexy, work and we a grateful for it. We will discuss our finances and even look forward to the next couple years. We may even get an update from our search committee even though they are in blackout and will not be able to give us much specific information. They continue to work hard even though we do not get information at this time. They will soon be receiving applications and resume’s to consider. 

Peace and Love, David Reitzell

Financial Report

November 2024 Financial Report

REVENUE

Pledges - $180,745.81 ($3,662.50 more than what was budgeted)

Donations/Gifts -$14,043.81 ($11,185.31 less than what was budgeted)

Rental Income - $16,412.00 ($1,088.00 less than what was budgeted) 

TOTAL INCOME: $227,136.33 ($10,009.41 less than what was budgeted) (Not all categories are listed above, but they are included in the total)

EXPENSE

Employee Expenses & Contracted Services - $178,601.48 ($2,446.70 less than what was budgeted)

Expenditures - $56,488.06 ($6,637.04 less than what was budgeted)

TOTAL EXPENSE:$235,089.54 ($9,083.74 less than what was budgeted)

RESTRICTED FUNDS

Saturday Breakfast – Negative balance of $5,865.22 (this is an improvement over last month and includes the proceeds from the fundraiser)

NET INCOME – We had a loss of $8,356.53 which includes the $1700.00 monthly reimbursement from the Saturday Breakfast for janitorial and carpet cleaning. 

Religious Education

Era Capone

Hello all,

Happy new year! We have lots planned for RE this upcoming year, including 4th-6th grade OWL, special events for families, and lots of fun, kid-friendly services. We've been very fortunate to see more kids attending RE these past few months as many families seek a community committed to making our world more compassionate, loving, and equitable through our actions. With a new administration looming and many people wondering what we can do to protect those who will be most affected, I am humbled by our congregation's children and families, who continue to show us why fighting for our UU values matters more than ever.

For those of you looking to get your family, friends, or self involved in RE, we would love to have you join us! If you're interested in volunteering, leading an activity, or just want to learn more about our programs, please email me at dre@uusantarosa.org. There's a little something for everyone in RE, and we can't wait for you to join us!

In love and gratitude,

Era

dre@uusantarosa.org

Taize at UUCSR

Begin the New Year in the spirit of awakening joy and mindfulness by joining us for the first Taize service of the New Year on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. 

From CUUPs

A New Year, A New Beginning!

By Lucia Kasulis

Each January the CUUPs group reviews the celebrations held in the past year and considers which ones we will plan for the coming year. We just held our Winter Solstice/Yule celebration as a regular Sunday service on the 22nd. This year December 21st is on Sunday, would the congregation like CUUPs to do the Sunday service again as a Solstice celebration? The next time December 21st falls on Sunday will be 2031. Some of you may have gone back to stardust by then…  

Let us know what you like best from us so we can begin planning our celebrations for this bright new year of 2025. We invite you to join our group and have a say and participation in which wheel of the year celebrations we hold on-site or at a local park, weather permitting. 

The wheel of the year has 8 defined celebrations; come celebrate with us! We meet the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6:00-7:30pm on Zoom and schedule celebrations when it fits our group’s lives. 

For more information contact cuups@uusantarosa.org 

Soul Matters

Soul Matters theme for January is,

Living Love Through The Practice of: Story

(Click on the photo for more information)

Soul Matters is a deeper spiritual version of Small Group Ministries where we meet monthly or twice monthly in small groups to dive into our own spirituality and get to know each other in a more personal sharing.

Contact Katie Trieller for information:

ktrieller@icloud.com 

707-329-5083. 

smallgroupministry@uusantarosa.org

From The Search Committee

From January 2nd until mid-March your Search Team will be rolling from application review to preliminary interviews to pre-candidating visits. This will be the most demanding and the most exciting part of the Search process. This is also the period when we are required to keep things very confidential so we won’t be able to share a lot of details with the congregation.  

If you haven’t already done so, this would be a great time to read the book recommended by UUA called Seeds of a New Way: Nurturing Authentic and Diverse Leadership. A few copies are available in the UUCSR library or you can order it HERE. It is a short book written by UU ministers telling their own stories about what it is like to be a minister. It is an honest and eye-opening account of the challenges of doing this sacred work.  

For questions, please contact Robert Howseman or Judy Withee.

Warmly, Your UUCSR Search Committee

From The Bylaws Team

The new bylaws are here! They will be voted on at the congregational meeting Jan 26. Thank you for your many useful suggestions as we continue to fine-tune the bylaws.

Give us your input now – last chance before we vote!

Summary of major changes

Read the proposed new bylaws (UPDATED!)

See all the changes between the current and new bylaws (UPDATED!)

Email comments and questions to the team co-chairs, John Mason or Richard Senghas at bylaws@uusantarosa.org, or talk to any one of us (other team members are Caroline Hobbs, Ethan Foote, and Ellen Skagerberg).

Plan now to attend a Q&A/discussion workshop:

• Wed, Jan 8, 5:30 – 6:30 pm (Zoom only)
• Sun, Jan 12, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Board Room

Here is the Zoom Link for the Zoom accessible meetings: ZOOM HERE

Your feedback will help ensure that the final version of the bylaws we submit for a vote will reflect, as far as possible, the needs, concerns, and shared vision of the congregation. Thank you for participating.

From The Nominating Committee

Dear fellow UU’ers,

As we move towards this new year and the many upcoming activities happening at UUCSR and beyond, one way to get involved is at the national level by attending General Assembly (GA). You can meet other UUs from around the country and attend different workshops. If you decide to be a delegate you have a chance to vote on national issues. Here is the link to get more information: www.uua.org/ga.

Questions. Email me or the Nominating Committee at nominating@uusantarosa.org

Sincerely, Mary Wolfe 

From Your Lay Chaplains:

2024 has been a significant year for most of us. There are milestones in our own circles of family and friends, and our country and the planet have been impacted by many things. The Milestones service on January 5th will include appropriate readings and reflections by the Worship Associate and the Lay Chaplains. You will have the opportunity to be inspired, to release what no longer serves you and to set an intention for 2025. We hope you will participate.

Adult Education

The Politics of Jesus 

Three Sessions on Saturday January 11, 18, and 25, 10 AM-12:30 PM 

Board Room 

One session Saturday February 1, 12:30-3:30 PM 

Founders Room 

Rev. Bev Spears 

Rev. Spears will investigate the following topics:

Week 1: The roots of Jesus’ political consciousness 

Week 2: Jesus’ political strategies and tactics 

Week 3: The distortion and corruption of Jesus’ ministry, including the current White Christian Nationalist movement.

Week 4: Documentary film “Bad Faith” about White Christian Nationalism. Open to the congregation (but not the public) whether or not you attended the above classes.  

Recommended book: “The Politics of Jesus” by Obey M. Hendricks, Jr. 

The Republic of Georgia at the Crossroads: Between Soviet Legacy & Western Dreams 

Sunday January 19, 12-1 PM 

Founders Room 

Robert Hope 

Join the documentary filmmaker Robert Hope for a screening and discussion of his most recent film, which explores the complex history and uncertain future of the Republic of Georgia. His film focuses on the residents of Tusheti, Georgia’s most remote and isolated area. The film and discussion will delve into the lingering Soviet legacy, the tensions between modernization and tradition, and the geopolitical forces shaping both the remote Tusheti community and the nation of Georgia. Hope’s work focuses on community, loss, and the concept of home. He has spent most of the past year living in the Republic of Georgia.  

Fighting Global Warming—The Case for Sunlight Reflection

Thursday February 6, 4 PM

Glaser Center

Dakota Gruener

Unchecked climate change can all but guarantee extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and catastrophic population displacements. What to do? Dakota Gruener, co-founder of Reflective.org, will share research on a possible solution--Sunlight Reflection. 

Cost: $20 for members (includes UUCSR members), $30 for non-members.

Wine and cheese reception to follow.

To register go to our Web home page: WACSC.org

The Adult Education Committee members are Steve Sweaney (chair), Nadene Carroll, Carol Daeley, Linda Lambert, Leslie Norinsky, and Clare Whitfield. 

First Sunday Flowers Dedication

FIRST SUNDAY FLOWERS

Dedicated to the One I Love

Would you like to dedicate a bouquet of flowers to someone you love, or in honor of a special occasion? Choose First Sunday Flowers! For a sliding scale donation, you can have flowers placed on the Chancel on the first Sunday service of the month in honor, memory, or celebration of your special person or event. The deadline to sign up is the 15th of the preceding month. We hope you’ll join in this expression of love and floral delight.

Please contact the Flower Committee at flowercommittee@uusantarosa.org, for more details.

The Offering Basket Donations

Share the Basket offerings from Sundays and direct Donations for the month of October 2024

F.I.S.H. – Friends in Service Here: $421.50

NBOP: $348.00

UUCSR General Fund : $ 359.00

Saturday Breakfast for Our Neighbors Share: $ 204.50

Saturday Breakfast Direct Donation: $ 4,765.97

Please note that Share the Basket Donation checks need to be made out to UUCSR in order for us to process them and send the intended donor their share. We are not able to process checks made out to the individual organizations. Thank you.

~ ~ ~

Please consider joining the Share committee. It is a very rewarding position.

Your Share the Offering Project members,

Elaine Wellin, Mary Louise Jaffray, Jan Prater, Judy Wismer

A4SJ-Council

Introducing the Advocates for Social Justice COUNCIL

A new network of social justice projects has come into being. The Advocates for Social Justice Council, known as the Justice Council, has been formed from folks engaged in established projects. We welcome any of you who might be interested in participating to attend a meeting and find out if this might be a good fit for you.

As you know working for social justice is a major part of our value system as expressed in UUCSR’s mission and principles; empowering people, caring for one another, helping to build a better world, (1) valuing the inherent worth and dignity of every person, (2) justice, equity and compassion in human relations, (7) respect for the independent web of life, and (8) dismantling racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. No doubt you can find more principles that call us to look inside and outside our congregation to work for justice.            

The Justice Council meets monthly and serves as a support and a source of inspiration for those of us in the congregation who are engaged in social justice projects. We invite you to connect with any of us at justice.council@uusantarosa.org with questions, comments.

Glaser Center

If you have a non-profit group or a religious event (memorials, weddings, etc) and need a space to rent, please remember the Glaser Center!

Please contact the rental coordinator, Leslie at: leslie.jacobson@uusantarosa.org