As Lisa (Wiggins) and I head out during my Sabbatical we will not be going to North East India as we had originally hoped. The cost of such a trip, time constraints of having only half of my accrued sabbatical time to do it in, and certainly the unrest in the middle and far east have all added up to our deciding it was not the right time.  So we will be heading down to Arizona for a visit with my 95 year old father and his wife Donna Lee who live in Arizona for the winter.  From there we will go down to the border at Nogales, Mexico and learn what we can about the unprecedented numbers of young people being held in detention facilities there.  We have received some initial contact information from the UU Service Committee to facilitate our trip and introductions.  (Depending on what we find out from the young people at the border, we may go further south to Guatemala and Honduras.)     

I plan to write a lot, with the hope of getting close to finishing the book I am working on.  We will also visit Ananda, the Yoga community in the Sierra foothills outside of Nevada City which I have been a part of for many years.  We will take some retreat time there eating some of the best Ayurvedic food in the world and spending many hours meditating. And while we are in that area we hope to visit both Mt. Lassen National Park and Crater Lake which are gorgeous in the fall. 

Occasionally check into chipwright.blogspot.com in early November where, if time permits, I will blog about some of our journeys and experiences.  (Thanks to Norm and Mary who helped me navigate the intricacies of opening a blog.)   

 I will be in the pulpit on the Winter Solstice on December 21, so until I see you again, be well, keep the faith and trust the grace!!

Rev. Chip  

Every Bit Helps.

Our YRUU rummage sale was a mixed yet multiple success. The youth who are trying to raise funds to get to the UUA GA in Portland, OR next year and some of their advisors put in a full 28 hours this weekend. Many thanks go to those who donated items and those who came to help prepare and run the event.

The Saturday sale brought in $700. But even though there was good publicity, we had a low turn out. People who came did not leave empty handed. We just needed more people.

Afterward we were able to donate three carloads of clothes, books, and toys to St. Vincent's. A great success for donation collection.

A few congregants, though I don't remember who, told me they didn't want to buy anything, but would make a donation to the project. We will accept donations. Checks can be made out to UUCM. memo: YRUU GA Fund.

Director of Religious Education

(415) 479-4131 ext. 104, Dre@uumarin.org

Funds from the Social Justice Committee's Basket Share appeal, Oct. 12, will go to "The Bicycle Works," a non-profit that finds and fulfills unmet community needs. The appeal will be made by its founder, social-justice and bicycle activist, Jelani Bertoni, a UUCM Religious Ed. graduate who puts our UU Principles into his business.

Please bring your checkbooks on October 12.

Our schools will miss out if you don't renew

Renew your Safeway Club Card with eScrip!
 

Although your qualified purchases are currently earning rebates for your group, your Club Card will become inactive with eScrip on November 1, 2014 unless you renew your commitment by clicking the link below.

For the Wednesday October 15th UUCM book group, Carol Littrell with lead the discussion of The Sixth Extinction, An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert. Time is 7:30 to 9:00 pm, Clara Barton Room.

Over the last half billion years, there have been five major mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on Earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs.  In this book the author tells us why and how human beings have altered life on the planet in a way no species has before. She provides a moving account of the disappearances of various species occurring all around us and traces the evolution of extinction. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy.

All members and visitors are welcome.

Better Than Before - From Conflict to Collaboration

Rev. Cat Cox

Join Rev. Cat Cox  for a 6 week teleclass to discover how to turn tense, tough (and touchy!) situations into opportunities to build stronger connections and create long lasting solutions that benefit everyone!
 
Tuesdays, Oct. 14 - Nov. 18
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm (PST)
Save $30 when you register by October 3rd (early registration deadline just extended!)

For information and registration please go to 
http://www.revcat.net/fall-teleclass/

Pachamama symposium

If you remember Rev. Chip's groundbreaking Pachamama Sermon, you will want to mark your calendar, right now, for the Pachamama Symposium sponsored by the UUCM Social Justice Committee.

Contrary to the skepticism currently afoot in the world, it IS possible to build a just, sustainable, and thriving world.

Sign up for the symposium. socialjustice@uumarin.org

Or contact  figleafjoan@comcast.net

Suggested donation $10.

For more background on the Pachamama Alliance, go to http://www.pachamama.org/

PCD Leadership Day

Let us have some of UUCM's leaders participate.

Fostering Dynamic Leadership in a Challenging Time
with UUA Moderator Jim Key
 
PCD-UUA Leadership Day
Saturday, October 25, 2014

Kensington, CA 

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm