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 We cherish
diversity and
welcome among us
people of all races,
cultures, ages,
abilities, sexual
identities/
orientations, and
faith perspectives.

 GUESTS are always welcome.
Sunday worship is a time for
inspiration, renewal, and connection.   

CHILDREN AND YOUTH  Join adults during the first part of the service, and then attend Religious Education classes. Nursery and toddler care is provided during the 10:30 service.  

REFRESHMENT HOUR  in the Courtyard or
Fireside Room follows the services.

 There are 4 "Sunday First Time Visitor" parking spots at the top of the parking lot.  

Come, join us! 

Director of Religious Education: Linda Haumann  dre@uumarin.org 

Administrator: Janette Morrow
office@uumarin.org  

 Director of Music: Philip Hildreth music@uumarin.org

Pianist: Milton Wong  milton.wong@goaaa.com  
Pastoral Care:  

Chair:  Carol Littrell 883-9676
 Partial Resource List

What does it mean to be in heaven? Can there be "heaven on earth" like some people talk about "hell on earth?" Join seminary student Emily Ann Hartnett Webb to explore the theme of heaven, paradise, and what Unitarian Universalism teaches about salvation.  

April Sunday Service Flyer 

Our Lay led Contemplative Service is from 9:00-10:00 am on Sundays in the Fireside Room.

Our Pledge Drive is quickly coming to an end, so here's a friendly reminder to return your  pledge form to the office ASAP.  Your support now helps us plan an amazing 2012-13 church year!

Reverend Chip Wright

April, 2012

In keeping with spring here in Northern California, the season for abalone has started.  It opened April 1st along the northern California coast, from the center of San Francisco Bay to the Oregon border at Crescent City.  Abalone is a delicacy found in all the oceans of the world, and there are many different types.  But the Giant Red Abalone, the largest of all, lives exclusively along this coast with one close relative in a small pocket off New Zealand.  It is particularly good.  That is, if you like abalone.  Now I understand if you don't, or if you are a vegan they might not intrigue you as a food.  But as a creature they are in my mind one of the beauties of the sea.  They also are the magnet that has offered me a view of the waters along our Northern California coast that has sustained me and enriched me for my whole life.

In many ways the times I have spent in the rocks and surf being bounced along this coast searching for this mollusk have opened a window for me to appreciate the glorious beauty that is everywhere in nature.  My father once looked at me as I was preparing an abalone dinner for him and his wife, Donna Lee, exclaiming "I created a monster!"  I looked up from my pounding -- one needs to pound abalone before cooking it -- and said "A monster, what do you mean?"

My father continued:  "You probably don't remember it, but when we lived in Cloverdale my friend was the game warden for all of Sonoma County and the North coast. He and I would go out for abalone.  I'd carry you on my shoulders, as we turned over the rocks looking for the abalone.  And I still remember watching you pound that meat; you loved to pound it and you weren't even two years old yet!"

He was right I didn't remember it then, but do now.  That is how it is sometimes:  you can forget what you know in your heart, and it takes a little reminder to bring it back. Spring is that reminder in so many ways.  For me it still is the abalone season, for others the lilacs.  But no matter what part of this season reminds us, it sure is beautiful!

Linda Haumann

Director of Religions Education

April, 2012 

I write this column surrounded by the magical light of springtime. It's truly a time of wonder and delight here in Northern California. I'm also aware of our dwindling time together with only a couple of months remaining as Director of Religious Education. My last Sunday as your DRE will be June 3rd when I will "bridge" to my next adventure along with our "bridging" youth, Bea Meluch, Maggie Shepherd and Anna Van Winkle.

This is a bittersweet time for me as I become nostalgic about all of our memorable moments together over the past eight years. It's been a fruitful time for our Religious Education program and I've been fortunate to have been a witness to the maturation of so many children into thoughtful, caring and kind young adults.

Now we turn to the current schedule of events. There are several intergenerational activities coming up over the next two months. The first is the Intergenerational Flower Communion on Easter Sunday, April 8th. Please remember to bring a flower to share for our 10:30 am service. At the end of the service there will be an egg hunt for our young ones. The YRUU and middle school classes will arrive by 10:15 to stuff the eggs and hide them in the courtyard area and then rejoin the service.

Watch out for the Easter bunny too! Please have your child bring a basket to collect the eggs! We'll have paper bags for your child so that they can take home their candy and we'll collect the plastic eggs so we can use them again next year.

Another enjoyable celebration on Friday, April 6th from 5:30-7:15pm is our Family Passover Seder Potluck. Please refer to the flyer in this newsletter or posted in the foyer. Children are welcome and we will read from an interfaith Haggadah to share the Jewish liberation story. We'll need lots of hands to help set up and clean up as well, so please contact me to sign up to help: dre@uumarin.org. 

Last but not least is the UUCM Annual Intergenerational Retreat at Walker Creek Ranch May 4th-6th.  Singing by the campfire, roasting marshmallows, stargazing, a barn dance, hikes, arts and crafts and many fun workshops for all ages are just some of the great opportunities that abound at the retreat. Please see the flyer in the newsletter and the forms in the UUCM foyer. Don't miss this wonderful way to bond with your fellow UUCMers!

Regarding Adult Education, please see the flyer for information about "Build Your Own Theology"; a course to help you clarify what is true for you regarding your personal faith and beliefs. Preregistration is required with Linda Haumann, DRE dre@uumarin.org. The class will now meet on the following 4 Mondays: April 2, 16, 23 and 30 from 6:45-8 pm at UUCM in the Fireside room. There will be no class on May 7th.

Looking forward to our time together.

With love and light,

Linda Haumann, DRE
dre@uumarin.org                                                             

To sign up for the Retreat, please download these forms: