In This Issue

Unpacking Our Baggage: A Journey of Self-Exploration

July 7th

In our UU congregation, we often pride ourselves on our openness, acceptance, and commitment to personal growth. Yet, we may find ourselves holding onto baggage that hinders our spiritual journey. What baggage are you carrying? Is it the weight of unspoken doubts, unresolved conflicts, or societal expectations?

Service Leader: Rev Dave Clements

Worship Associates: Cathie Weise

Music: Gage Purdy & Crystal McDougal Purdy

Pianist: Roger Corman

The Basket: Our Own Saturday Breakfast for Our Neighbors

Equity in Sonoma County

July 14th

Join us this Sunday as we delve into a profound discussion on equity in our beloved Sonoma County. In a world where disparities persist, we are called to reflect on our collective responsibility to cultivate a community where justice and fairness flourish for all. Together, we'll explore the complexities of equity, examining how privilege and systemic barriers impact our neighbors and ourselves.

Service Leaders: Gage Purdy

Worship Associates: Veronica Jordan

Music: Gage Purdy

Pianist: Louise Bettner

Share The Basket: Planned Parenthood/Northern California

The Gospel According to Carl Sagan

July 21st

We cannot prove the existence of God, nor can we disprove it. The relationship between science and religion is much more nuanced than popularly believed.

Service Leader: Rev Bev Spears

Worship Associates: Judy Withee

Music: Sally Jones

Pianist: Roger Corman

The Basket: Our Own Religious Education Program

Anticipation

July 28th

Whether we anticipate the arrival of a new minister or the return of an old President, we all anticipate. What does it mean? How do we feel when we do it? How does it improve or hinder our wisest actions? Come explore with us. Anticipate a great service.

Service Leader: Mark Sowers

Worship Associates: Clare Whitfield Susan Thollaug

Music: Sally Jones

Pianist: Roger Corman 

Share The Basket: Redbud Resources – Building bridges between Native and non-Native communities. 

From the Minister's Desk

Reverend Dave Clements

What a church year we have had. Many of you have worked hard and all of you have done your part in moving UUCSR forward. Our new church year officially starts on July 1st. It will be an exciting year as we all are preparing for the calling of a settled minister. You have a dynamic Search Committee. They will be reaching out to all of you for your ideas, your suggestions and your concerns. Please take advantage of their meetings, their surveys and offer your support. Their task is not an easy one but I am confident that they will present to you a qualified minister that will be the right minister to lead you into this new chapter.

My main goal this coming year is to do all I can do to support the Search Committee and all of you as we all prepare for this next exciting chapter at UUCSR. When I talk to my colleagues I tell them how awesome you are and why they need to submit their Ministerial record to you in December when that process opens up. 

Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to our ingathering service on September 8, 2024. It will be the start of our gathering together to start our new year. It will be our water communion with a new twist, all who attend will have the opportunity to walk our labyrinth. We will be having six weeks of our services being devoted to talking about our UU six sources. This will start the first Sunday in October.

Thank you for the work that you all have done, for your engagement and for your support. I was overwhelmed with all of the support that you offered to me in regards to my partner Jerry. Thank you all for being the awesome people that you are. I look forward to a great year.

Rev. Dave

President's Message

New Board of Trustee President- David Reitzell

president@uusantarosa.org

Before I say another word as the new President of this congregation, I would like to thank Leslie for her amazing service, steadfast leadership, strength in surging forward always, and of course, her (ongoing) mentorship.

I would also like to thank the words of wisdom from past presidents, you know who you are, and absolutely look forward to suggestions, critiques, and support from anyone who has been in leadership positions for this congregation.

We head into our future with the formation of the Search Committee. They will do a lot of work with focus, stewardship, and love for this community. All UUCSR members can look forward to having input into the search process as we find our next minister.

I probably should introduce myself to those of you I do not yet know well. My brief Bio on the website has some information. I have been with this congregation since 2015 and have been a UU for 25 years. I am a proud Social Worker for 29 years, currently working with homeless and formerly homeless Veterans in Sonoma County. I do not have much experience in leadership as I have been a team member, preferring collaboration, while building on the synergy that the group process produces. I do not intend to change this aspect of my approach. I recognize how important it is to be open minded and transparent in decision-making. My goal in everything is to proceed with integrity and resolve, to accept ideas and suggestions given in good faith while continuing Leslie’s emphasis on consensus building as opposed to simple majority rule.

The Board of Trustees will not meet in July. We will return in August for our meeting on Tuesday, August 6th. We will have a Board retreat to set goals and come together as a governing body in later August. 

Please contact me at the above email, text or call me at 517-402-9477. Since I still work full time (at least) I may not respond immediately, but I will always value your communication.

Love and Peace,

David

Message from the Treasurer

Jan Hess

 July-May 2023/24

REVENUE

Pledges - $384K - $14.5K under budget (Remember to finish paying 2023/24 pledges by end of June)

Donations/Gifts - $73.8K, over budget by $28K

Rental Income - $36.4K, $4.4K over budget 

Fundraising still low at $18K below budget (Auction hopefully will raise this amount up)

TOTAL INCOME: $522.5K over budget by $17K (Not all categories shown, but they are included in the total)

EXPENSE

Employee Expenses - $360.4 for $27.2K below budget (This is composed mostly of wages and related costs)

Contracted Services - $3K above budget 

Expenditures - $133.9 - at $20.5K below budget 

TOTAL EXPENSE: $497.4K, $44.7K below budget

NET INCOME - $38.8K which includes $13.7K from Sat.Bfst. 

(Jan Hess is Our Outgoing Treasurer. Starting in July, Rose StJohn will be the incoming Treasurer, Thank you both for your dedication to UUCSR! )

Religious Education

Era Capone

Hello all,

Summer Break is upon us! As kids get out of school, RE is switching gears to accommodate everyone's summer plans. RE curriculum will be more focused on games, activities, and crafts, with a lesser emphasis on curriculum and several other programs will be switching up how they're run. If you'd like to learn more, you can sign up for the RE Newsletter at the link below.

For those of you looking to get 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

No Service in July due to the Holiday.

Mark your calendars for August 1st from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

From CUUPs

By Stacy Sincheff

Join our Lammas celebration after the service July 28.  

Celebrate joy, life, and fresh bread.

We pagans believe that nature is sacred, and that the natural cycles of birth, growth, and death observed in the world around us carry profound spiritual meanings. Human beings are seen as part of nature, along with other animals, trees, plants, and even stones, and everything else that is of this Earth. Paganism is not based on doctrine or liturgy. Pagans view the world as a place of joy and life, not of sin and suffering. We believe that the divine is here with us now, not in some faraway place in the sky. (Similar to many UU beliefs) We hold a deep reverence for nature and the Earth. We believe that: “If it harms none, do what you will.” Pagans use rituals to connect with the divine in the world that surrounds us. A Pagan prayer may sound like this:

Mother of all things,

Watch over me tonight

Hold me in your arms

Until the morning light.

Blessed be Mother Earth

By all her many names.

May she bless my family and friends.

May she bless the many animals

Of the world,

And all the people 

Everywhere.

The God and Goddess we pray to is Mother Earth, Father Sky, Brother Sun and Sister Moon.  

At the end of July or August 1st we celebrate Lammas, also called Lughnasad or Lughnasadh. The word Lugh means Light. It falls halfway between summer solstice (Litha) and fall equinox (Mabon). Lammas is the time that the first harvest happens, and the first bread of the year is made.  

Our Lammas celebration this year will be on Sunday, July 28 right after the service. We will be offering many kinds of bread in celebration of the first harvest. Find us in the narthex. Please come and join us in our celebration.

Blessed be.

DWSC

DISMANTLING WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE WITHIN UUSCR COMMITTEE (DWSC)

The Forgetters: An Evening with Greg Sarris

Co-hosted by the Dismantling White Supremacy Culture and Adult Education Committees

Saturday, July 27

6-8 PM, UUCSR Sanctuary

A FREE, community wide event

Book purchase and signing available after the talk

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE THE ADULT EDUCATION COMMITTEE SECTION

OR CLICK THE EVENT FLYER TO READ MORE

Soul Matters

Soul Matters takes a break for the months of July and August. Themes will return in September.

Please click on the photo to read more about Soul Matters in the Participants Guide.

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 for information

Katie Trieller: ktrieller@icloud.com 707-329-5083. smallgroupministry@uusantarosa.org

Share The Basket Donations



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

Humanidad Therapy & Education Services: $ 391.04

Ceres Community Partnership: $357.10

UUCSR Religious Education: $347.00

Saturday Breakfast for Our Neighbors Share: $275.50

Saturday Breakfast Direct Donation: $ 3,327.00

*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

From The Lay Chaplains

Those who attend services in person may enter a personal joy or sorrow in the Milestones book which is found just outside the sanctuary door on Sunday mornings. If you cannot be there in person, please email before 7pm on Saturday to: laychaplains@uusantarosa.org

Please limit milestones to personal joys and sorrows. If you have an announcement please contact the office during the week.

As always, anyone can use the email to send milestones at any time or to contact a Lay Chaplain for support.

Our Lay Chaplains are: Rob Carlisle, Judy Ervice, Bruce Hope, Barb Kezur, Sandy Brewer

Adult Education:

The Forgetters: An Evening with Greg Sarris

Co-hosted by the Adult Education and

Dismantling White Supremacy Culture Committees

Saturday, July 27

6-8 PM, UUCSR Sanctuary

A FREE, community wide event

Book purchase and signing available after the talk

In his latest book, The Forgetters, Greg Sarris continues his sharing of stories of the Pomo and Coastal Miwok peoples. In How a Mountain Was Made, he brought alive their creation stories for settlers who might never have heard them. In The Forgetters, he shares stories that illuminate the experience of these indigenous peoples living with settler cultures. Sarris continues in this book to remind us of the power of story and song to heal and inspire and to create a home we can all call our own. But we can only do this if we understand the consequences of Forgetting. What does it mean to be a part of indigenous history that includes settlers? 

The Dismantling White Supremacy Culture and Adult Education committees invite and encourage you to join us in this opportunity to spend an evening with Greg Sarris to hear about and discuss this vital question, and to feel the power of Place and its stories. As Leny Mendoza Strobel says, “This collection of stories really penetrates the bone marrow and provides medicine for all of us who live on this land—and other places where colonization has distorted our relationship with the Land and her Stories. The Forgetters is an invitation to linger a while under the spell of indigenous Storytelling, to dive deep into that corner of our Heart that is seeking Medicine.”

For Event questions, contact Liz Larew at etl55@sonic.net or Linda Lambert at linlambert@mcn.org. 

For directions to UUCSR go to uusantarosa.org

Greg Sarris is serving his sixteenth term as Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and his first term as board chair for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. He is a Distinguished Chair Emeritus at Sonoma State University. His publication history is long and impressive. https://greg-sarris.com/ 

The Adult Education Committee offers a wide variety of courses and programs in such areas as film, science, current social and political issues, skill development, personal growth, and forms of religious understanding. We always welcome suggestions from anyone who would like to present or participate in a program. Our members are Steve Sweaney (chair), Nadene Carroll, Carol Daeley, Linda Lambert, and Clare Whitfield.

UUCSR Women's Retreat October 4-6, 2024!

Our Women's Retreat is scheduled for October 4-6 this year and will take place at beautiful Camp Newman in northeast Santa Rosa. We, at Women Together, are very excited about the retreat this year and are busy putting together a program that we think you'll love. At Camp Newman, our group will be lodged together in one set of cabins. Each cabin room has its own 2 stall bathroom and a shower and 4 well-spaced beds. The dining hall is lovely and has an outdoor area that will make mealtime special. There is plenty of room to move around and we'll be able to hear each other and converse at mealtime which has been such a challenge in past years. And best of all, no one has to walk up or down any steps unless they want to. Camp Newman, mostly rebuilt after being destroyed in the Tubbs Fire, is completely ADA compliant!

Our theme this year is Change, which seems pretty appropriate on several levels! Some new workshops this year will be Watercolor Painting and Flower Arranging, along with some of your old favorites. We'll also have Croquet and Cornhole games available throughout the weekend. There are some lovely outdoor areas for chatting as well as hiking trails within the camp. We are planning for an outdoor service on Sunday in one of several beautiful gathering areas. You can expect a lot of the same lively discussion and camaraderie that you've come to enjoy at our annual retreat. There is something for everyone!

We will be sending out more details in the coming weeks and months but be sure to mark your calendars now for October 4-6. You're not going to want to miss it!

Swap

August 24, 10-2pm

Climate Action invites you to a Swap of what you no longer need with something that you could use!

FALL CIRCLE DINNERS

Sign-ups in August!! 

A great way to get together with old and new friends over food and conversation.  

Organizers: Sandy Brewer scbrewer@sonic.net and Cathie Wiese cathie@sonic.net

WHAT are Circle Dinners??? Circle Dinners are informal social gatherings over a pot-luck meal. They are opportunities to enjoy getting to know folks you might never have met otherwise. As participants, we have had some wonderful times visiting other members' homes (large and small---it doesn't matter!) and always look forward to great food and conversation.

HOW do they work??? Members and Friends (interested in membership) of UUCSR let the Circle Dinner organizers know they want to be on the list. We then take all

the names and shuffle them into groups of 7 or 8 (singles and couples) which becomes a "Circle Dinner Group" for the 4 months of the Circle Dinner period.

WHEN? In the September Newsletter we will post the Fall Circle Dinner Lists. The groups then contact each other, decide on a date, time and place to gather and who will bring what. The rest takes care of itself! Before the fun is over, the group decides the who, what , where and when for the next month's gathering. You don't need dinner service for 8, a family sized dining room, linen napkins, or even a room with a view! All you need is an enjoyment of meeting new friends, connecting with old friends, and the love of a good meal and conversation. Some groups meet for lunch and some even decide to meet at a restaurant.  

WHERE? We will be taking sign ups in THE SOCIAL HALL. Look for the sign up table. Also we will do sign-ups via email. We will need your name and phone number to post on the list so that your Circle can connect!

Watch for more information in the weekly Newsblasts. Sign ups will begin Sunday, August 4th through Sunday, August 26th.

Glaser Center

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

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