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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! 

Sunday Worship Service

UUCM's early Sunday morning 9 am Contemplative Service in the Fireside Room is a lay led service.  Readings introduce a silent period to reflect on a topic or idea, followed by an opportunity to share individual thoughts.  

Come and widen our circle. All are welcome!  

Questions, email Carol Kerr at drckerr@pacbell.net.

Read More  

'Last week I was thinking that I had better call for a rain dance'. I don't know if many folks would actually come but anything seemed worth a try. That's where my mind wandered with the drought seeming so inevitable. But then I had a gift given to me. I went in for a haircut and in the process I was talking to the woman who was cutting my hair. She was nice, probably mid forties and we bantered around topics, the first of course being the Super Bowl. 

I have always been a Seahawks Fan, or as much of a fan as a person, who in the end really doesn't care all that much about any sport, can be. So I was sharing how happy I was that they had finally won a Super Bowl. And to my surprise she said, " Yea they deserve it, I watched the game and loved it.". Now this was not what I was expecting to hear in the Bay area where the 49ers had lost to Seattle to be taken out of the running for the Super Bowl.

"Yea I like Seattle" she said "people say it rains all the time there but it is beautiful." 

Having lived in the Puget Sound area myself all I could do was say, "Yep you're right, beautiful. But I wish we could get some of that rain here." 

She just smiled and said, " We will, it gets wet in February, I lived out on the Russian River and February is always wet. We're gonna get rain, it ain't over till it's over. March can have lots of rain. My house was flooded then too." 

I had to laugh at myself because she was right. I could remember any number of years with all kinds of wet weather in February and March both. I thought to myself, what a pessimist I was being. 

I'm still thinking I will call for a rain dance however, but to celebrate the rain and remember it has its own way of doing things, that's not necessarily mine or the over populated, and over agriculture driven state of California's. Good to remember.

Rev Chip    

RE Notes 

Neighboring Faiths is open to nonmembers. All kids grades 6-8 welcome. Do you know a family who might be interested in providing their child a multi-faith exploratory experience? Sacred texts, field trips, appreciative inquiry, and more.

eScrip: For online shopping go through the eScrip portal even for Walgreens, Dell, Apple Store and more. Use your debit card at Safeway, credit cards no longer make a contribution.

Dates to Calendar:

2/8 Crab Feed with Children's Program

2/16 Congregational Conversation (with lunch and childcare)

3/30 Congregational Conversation (with lunch and childcare)

4/25-27 PCD District Assembly - includes a really good MUUGs and YRUU program.

5/18 North Bay Revival (A Family event with UU pizazz!!!)

This year's Sockx Appeal brought in 82 pairs of socks. Yippee!! Thanks to all who brought packs of white tube socks.

Jeffrey Melcher, M.Div.

Director of Religious Education

Our February Basket Share will be with Youth Enrichment Strategies (YES), a West Contra Costa Co. nonprofit that provides children and their families with experiences in nature -- to ignite their imagination, build self-confidence, and enhance social skills. YES brings children from gritty and often dangerous Richmond neighborhoods to camps in natural settings across Northern California. The first difference to strike the children when they arrive at camp is the safety. "There are no gunshots, only crickets," one 8-year-old child said. 

Come to our 10:30 a.m. service on February 9, prepared to financially support 2 great local nonprofits: UUCM and YES!

Message from Partner Church Committee

As this year's Balazs scholar, Rev. Vass is studying at Starr King school in Berkeley and living with his wife Gyongi, his son Benedek (three years old), and daughter Veronica (two years old). He is also traveling around the country to speak and meet many UU congregations.

Please try to stay after the service to share refreshments with Rev. Vass and find out more about his ministry and the Unitarians in Transylvania.

The UUCM Board, the Committee on Ministry, and Chip Wright invite you to the third in a series of Congregational Conversations:

Sunday February 16th, right after Services 

 
We all have a vision for our congregation. This vision, though often unarticulated, exists like a moving picture in our imagination.  What is our Vision?  What is our Mission?  How do we see ourselves in five years? We hope everyone will take part in picturing the future we can create together. Please join us for this very important conversation!

Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP for childcare if it is needed. 

TWO WHO DARED - THE SHARPS' WAR:  UUCM will show the 1 and ˝ hour film on the Sharps' risky adventures on Saturday, February 22 between 7:30 and 9 PM in Fellowship Hall.  Don't be late.  Entrance is free but we will ask for donations to and memberships in UUSC.  Treats and decaf and tea available. 

Waitstill and Martha Sharp volunteered to go to Prague in 1939 to help feed, shelter and rescue refugees, including anti-Nazi dissidents and Jews.  In 1940 they went back to Vichy France on another rescue mission.  Their work led to the formation of the Unitarian Service Committee (now UUSC)

Waitstill Sharp was the minister of the Wellesley, MA church.  Martha was a social worker.  The Sharps risked imprisonment by the Nazis and threats by soldiers. Their two small children were taken care of by Unitarian members of their congregation.  Film shows scary Nazis, Hitler, frightened parents, and bewildered children with testimonials by rescued children now in their 80s.  Archive footage. 

John Quinley, UUSC Local Rep.

Wellness Dinners

Social Justice/Green Sanctuary

Are you are committed to working for environmental and economic sustainability? If so, the Unitarian Universalist Association offers you a systematic structure based on education, service, witness and advocacy.

In 2008, UUCM (after completing and documenting a fairly rigorous program) was designated by the UUA as an accredited "Green Sanctuary." The UUA now offers a re-accreditation process. Talk with Joan Nelson who documented the 2007-2008 projects and activities. And go to

http://www.uua.org/environment/sanctuary/147330.shtml

Our next meeting is February 19 at 7:30 in the Clara Barton Room. Marge Hollinger will lead the discussion of My Beloved Country by Sonia Sotomayor.

"Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2013: Happily, it is becoming a familiar story: The young, smart, and very hardworking son or daughter of immigrants rises to the top of American professional life. But already knowing the arc of Sonia Sotomayor's biography doesn't adequately prepare you for the sound of her voice in this winning memoir that ends, interestingly, before the Yale Law School grad was sworn in as the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. Hers is a voice that lands squarely between self-deprecating and proud, grateful and defiant; a voice lilted with bits of Puerto Rican poetry; a voice full of anger, sadness, ambition, and love. My Beloved World is one resonant, glorious tale of struggle and triumph. --Sara Nelson"

Members and visitors are welcome to join our discussions. 

If you were interested in Chip's "Water, Food and Life" sermon, you will be interested in the work of the Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative. The organization has scheduled a conference at UUCM on Sat. Feb. 23. Registration begins at 1:30. Program 2:00-7:00.

Registration is $45 prior to Feb. 10 and $55 afterwards. It includes a resource guide and dinner featuring delicious local food. Discount applies if we have three or more attendees.

Contact figleafjoan@comcast.net or 415-453-6221.

Kathy Truax has added several lovely paintings to her exhibit in the Fireside Room.  Be sure to take a look. Contact information for Kathy is krtruax@att.net.  Note that 20% of any artwork sold is given to UUCM.

*Early in January Kathy graciously agreed to continue her show for several more weeks.

*Now we are hoping to entice other artists to exhibit their works in the Fireside Room....Paintings, Photography, Collage, Pen and Ink, Charcoal, Fiber, etc, etc, etc.   One person or a group.

*Please contact Carolyn Planakis at cplanakis@aol.com or 415-479-5617.  

General Assembly 2014
June 25-29, Providence, RI

Early registration starts March 1.

General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

Think about being a delegate (either attending or off site). It is an amazing experience.

Women and Religion Annual Retreat in Napa, California at the wonderful Enchanted Hills Camp. It will be held February 28 - March 2, 2014.

This retreat has been going on since around 1977 with women from the UUA- PCD area. It is a wonderful gathering of women from many congregations; laughing, singing, eating, worshipping, learning from each other and empowering each other.

More info