DA2016 - Registration is Now Open!

District Assembly 2016!
Congregational Excellence: 
Doing Together What We Cannot Do Alone

April 22-24, 2016
Please reserve your room by March 28th!

$170.00 Adult Registration: includes all three meals on Saturday
$85.00 Children and Youth Registration; includes three meals on Saturday (Pizza Party Saturday Night!)
Saturday Morning Keynote

Rev. Scott Tayler
Our Saturday morning keynote, "A Vision for Radical Interdependence" will be delivered by the Rev. Scott Tayler, Director of Congregational Life for the Unitarian Universalist Association.

What would it mean for us to live into the reality that we belong to one another? If you are weary of trying to be and do all things, or looking for new ideas about how we can work smarter but not harder, or longing to understand what makes our theology as radical and relevant as ever, Rev. Scott Tayler's vision will speak to you.

The keynote will be followed by a General Session on Implementing Radical Interdependence. 

Using examples from the Pacific Central District to inform and inspire, we will take some first steps to implementing a new vision in the PCD.

Friday Night Opening Worship and Banner Parade

Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt
President, Professor of Unitarian Universalist Ministry and Heritage, Starr King School for the Ministry, Berkeley CA

Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt became President of Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA on July 1, 2014.  For 13 years, she was Senior Minister of The Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York, a 175-year old Unitarian Universalist congregation on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. 

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she is a graduate of Yale University and Drew Theological Seminary.



Sunday Morning Worship

Rev. Dr. David Usher
Interim Minister

Born in Adelaide, Australia and raised in a Unitarian family, as a young man he worked as a jackaroo on sheep and cattle stations in the Outback before traveling the world.  On arrival in Great Britain he made contact with British Unitarians and became a student for the ministry at The University of Oxford, graduating in 1981. He had two ministries in England, moved to New Hampshire for nine years, and then returned to England in 2000.  Most recently before coming to Grass Valley, he was District Minister for Unitarians in London and the South East.

Rev. Usher has a Masters Degree in Philosophy & Theology from the University of Oxford, and a Doctorate from Andover Newton Theological School, Boston.  He has three adult daughters living in Thailand, Scotland and Germany.

Saturday Night Program: Improv with Leela!
Doing Together What We Would Never Dream Alone

An ensemble from Leela, a professional Improv company, will explore our District Assembly theme in this participatory experience celebrating the power of collaboration. 

Inspired by an ancient Sanskrit word, Leela was founded to create a supportive, open culture where a community of artists can grow together and take huge risks, where individuals can explore their truths and the power of the collective in the profound ensemble process.  

Picture: Leela teaches a private improv class to cast members of Disney's The Lion King - Broadway Tour | November 2012
Saturday Afternoon Workshops "A"
1:15 to 2:30 PM


A Forgotten Catalyst for Growing Unitarian Universalism
Linda Laskowski
 
A Multi-Congregational Path to More Robust 
Lifespan FaithDevelopment
Bob Miess
 
Embodying Interdependence: Doing More Together through Collaborative and EffectivDecisions
Gregory Rouillard and Jared Finkelstein
 
Empowering Lay Leadership: Conflict Resolution for Good!
Rev. Cat Cox
 
Islam & Unitarian Universalists
Ghazala Anwar, Ph.D., in conversation with Rev. Lindi Ramsden
 
Showing Up for Racial Justice: Organizing White Identified People
Rev. Kurt A. Kuhwald
 
The Future of the Pacific Central District
Presented by the PCD Board of Directors
 

Together in Exploration: Success in Small Group Ministry 
Rev. Christopher Bell and Jeanie Bates
 
Tools for Approaching Hard Conversations
Becky Leyser, Intern Minister at UUChurch in Livermore

Saturday Afternoon Workshops "B"
2:45 to 4:00 PM


Everything You Wanted to Know About Regional Collaboration (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Rev. Scott Tayler with Rev. Jonipher Kwong
 
Holy Meetings-that's not an oxymoron!
Rev. Russ Menk
 
 Just Mercy-Exploring & Implementing the UUA Common Read
Rev. Elaine G. Gehrmann
 
Kal�ka-Transylvanians Doing Together What They Cannot Do Alone
Rev. Laszlo Major
 
Presence!
Rev. Michelle Favreault and Rev. Darcey Baxter
 
Sharing the Wealth with a Worship and Music Associates Program
Rev. Christopher Bell and Sharon McCarty
 
UU's breaking Out in New Dialogue with Traditional Christians
Rev. Dr. Scotty McLennan

 
What's That I Hear? (UU Young Adults)
Zackrie Vinczen (Moderator), Amanda Weatherspoon, Kyle Merrit Ludowitz, 
Elliott Smith

Working Together for Immigrant Justice
Rev. Neal Anderson

Children & Youth Programs

Our C&Y programs will once again be led by
Leonie Pickett, M.Div., from the UU Church of Davis, CA. An experienced C&Y leader, advisor, and religious educator, Leonie now teaches Social Studies at Leonardo da Vinci Charter Academy High School in Davis, CA.  Leonie began teaching after many years as a social worker.  She has two children, one of whom is in 9th grade at DVJH.  In her free time she enjoys yoga, rock climbing, camping, hiking, and running. She loves traveling, and spends a lot of time thinking about social justice.

Nursery (Children 3 months to 2.5 years): will be loved, snuggled, and played with in our nursery by experienced child-care providers.  Snacks and meals are provided, but you are also welcome to provide the f
ood you prefer them to eat. Feel free to bring your child's favorite blankie or toys!

Rainbows (Preschool-age kids): Age appropriate stories, games, and theater activities will help pre-school aged children think about all of the ways they use their bodies in the world and all of the choices they make about keeping themselves healthy.  We will learn some basic nutrition and will create a world map of food as we learn where the things we eat come from.   We will talk about the people who grow our food, harvest it, transport it, sell it and cook it.  We would love to have swim time this year if a few parents can volunteer an hour or so of your time!  Rainbows will also be given a part to play in Sunday's Spirited Worship, so please plan to attend all weekend if you can.  Saturday evening will be a pizza party and movie night... you won't want to miss it!

Fresno Cohousing Children
Love Pirates- (Grades K-2/3): The younger elementary group will be focusing on the themes of 
healthy bodies and food justice in our lives and in the world. Through games, activities, conversations and a theater workshop we will explore some basics of nutrition, what food and health mean to us, and will begin learning about the ecological and justice issues related to food.  We will make a map of where our food comes from, talk about the path it takes from seed to our tables, study the lives of the people that grow it and talk about the impact food transport and food access has on the world.  We will also experience various types of exercise we can do to stay healthy, including yoga, swimming and dancing.  We will be using a variety of activities to help us explore our theme, including games, crafts, plays and stories. Saturday will be filled with theme-related activities, a theater workshop, pool time, and will end with pizza and a movie. The Love Pirates will also be playing a role in Sunday morning's Spirited Worship Service!

Fresno Kids
Peace Ninjas- (Grades 3/4-5): The older elementary group will explore the theme of embodiment and food, studying our eating habits, relationship with food and exercise, and learning about where our food comes from and how its production affects the world.  We will role play, do theater activities, play games and engage in a murder mystery that helps us consider our theme.  We will experience various kinds of exercise and talk about the effects it has on our bodies, including yoga, swimming, and dancing.  Saturday will be a long day including many games and themed activities, a theater workshop, pool time, and will culminate in pizza and movie night!  The Peace Ninjas will be encouraged to participate in Spirited Worship on Sunday morning.

Youth Ministry
MUUGS- (Grades 7-9ish): Junior High youth will adhere to the same goals of the MUUGs retreats: provide safe open space in which middle school aged youth can express themselves and build community. We will be offering youth focused workshops for the attendees all around the diverse aspects of food justice and what it means to live in a body. How do we feel about our bodies?  What is our relationship with food and exercise? How do we get it? Where does it come from? What are socially and environmentally responsible food choices?  How does our faith inform us about what we should eat?  Using touch groups, games, activities, worship and small group ministry techniques we will get to know each other and explore the effect food has on our lives and in the world around us.  Don't forget your swimsuit because we will also enjoy pool time! 

Task Force on Minisry to and with Youth
DYGT- (Grades 10-12ish): Senior High youth will participate in the District Youth Getting Together program- co-lead by PCD Council members and high school youth group leaders from several churches.  Through touch groups, games, activities and workshops, we will explore our relationships with our bodies and food.  High schoolers will soon be young adults making their own food and exercise choices. With that in mind, we will explore many questions: How does our culture affect our body image?  What are the social and environmental impacts of our food choices?  How does our emotional state affect our food and exercise choices?  How do our feelings about our bodies affect our relationships and decisions in the world?  Youth may attend DA without a parent, but must be sponsored by an attending adult. They will not have overnights so WILL NEED HOTEL ROOMS this year, and are encouraged to attend the whole weekend as they will begin a project Friday night that carries through the whole weekend and will have evening worship services both nights and a key part in Spirited Worship Sunday morning.  Don't forget your swimsuits! 



Pacific Central District - UUA | 510-530-1437 | [email protected]  | www.pcduua.org
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PCD | 4100 Redwood Road, #344 | Oakland | CA | 94619