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summituuf.org April 2021 THE SCENE AT SUMMIT Newsletter of Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 8778 Cottonwood Ave., Santee, CA 92071 Sunday Services via Zoom begin at 10:00 a.m. Theme: BECOMING April 4, 2021 April 18 “Flower Communion” “The 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism” Rev. Everett Howe, Minister Social Justice in Action Committee and Paula Cole Jones Service Associate: Josh Barrett Service Associate: Katie Boskoff Please join us for our annual Flower Communion service! “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian We can't all meet together in person to exchange flowers, Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and but we will still find a way to give and receive flowers to promote... journeying toward spiritual wholeness by honor our working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved connection to one Community by our actions that accountably dismantle another and to our racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our beloved institutions.” community. The Social Justice in Action committee is advocating that th our fellowship vote to adopt the 8 Principle, which articulates a commitment to dismantle white supremacy within the stated principles of our faith. We welcome th Paula Cole Jones, co-author of the 8 Principle, to share with us the history of this movement, explain its rationale, and describe the process for adoption at the April 11 General Assembly. “It Takes Practice” Paula Cole Jones is a senior management consultant and Matt Meyer former Racial & Social Justice Director for the Joseph Service Associate: Joani Mountain Priestley District (now Central East Region). She is the founder of ADORE (A Dialogue on Race & Ethnicity), a Our favorite songs, whoever the artist or whatever the former president of DRUUMM (Diverse & Revolutionary style, were created in a strange alchemy of study and Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries), and is the inspiration, of strict practice and of letting go. Spiritual author of Encounters: Poems About Race, Ethnicity and Practice is a similar combination of dedication, muscle Identity, published by Skinner House Books. memory, and perhaps a little divine inspiration. Join us for a musical exploration of learning to risk, building the April 25 muscle memory of courage, and the spiritual practice of “Summit and the Eighth Principle” relationship when things around us are changing fast. Rev. Everett Howe Service Associate: Joani Mountain Matt is a musician and worship leader who has led hundreds of services for UU At our service on April 18th, we heard Paula Cole Jones, congregations across the country. He one of the authors of the proposed Eighth UU Principle, has a degree in hand drumming and speak about the history of the project, the need for serves as Director of Community Life Unitarian Universalism to specifically address racism and for Sanctuary Boston. other oppressions, and the process by which the Unitarian Universalist Association can adopt a new principle. In this service, we'll take a look at what that might mean for us here at Summit — and how we can start doing the work. FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK The Rev. Everett Howe Spring is here, and already we can see signs form soon, and if you can of new life in many different places. The rains responsibly stretch your pledge from a few weeks ago have led to greener hillsides to a higher level, please do so. and to the appearance of some wildflowers. More It will help Summit grow and metaphorically, the slowly increasing availability of thrive in the coming year. COVID-19 vaccines is raising hopes of a return to a more familiar world. We’re going to be living with And finally, we have a chance to grow in masks and social distancing for a while yet — and, another way. On April 18, we will hear from Paula personally, I hope that in the future people will Cole Jones, one of the authors of the proposed feel more comfortable wearing masks outside Eighth UU Principle. This Principle asks us to affirm when they are feeling under the weather — but as and promote the goal of building a diverse, more people are vaccinated and the number of multicultural Beloved Community by considering cases goes down, running errands around town how racism and other oppressions appear in will feel less fraught with risk. ourselves and in our institutions, and by working to dismantle the systems that support these When might we be able to meet again at oppressions. This is work that must be done with Summit? The Board has formed a task force that accountability to the people who have been most will come up with specific measurable criteria — affected by racism and oppression, and it will not related to the prevalence of the virus in San Diego be easy. This is not a “check the box and move on County, and the transmissibility of the variants to something else” kind of change — it will instead known to be in the county, and the percentage of require deep reflection, and a willingness to see people vaccinated, and so forth — that will ourselves and our community in a different and determine when we can resume various in-person sometimes unflattering light, so that we can learn activities at Summit. It will probably be quite some what we have to do to improve. time before things are close to “back to normal,” but we will be getting there eventually. The Social Justice in Action committee is working on a number of ways for us to learn Our annual pledge drive, which kicked off about the Eighth Principle and discuss it with one on March 21, is another sign of life and growth. another. I hope that we all will take advantage of We are hoping that members will be able to these opportunities, so that we too can grow this resume pledging at (or better, above) their pre- spring, both as individuals and as a community. pandemic levels. In order to start the search for a full-time minister, we want to be sure that we’ll be able to pay their salary, and support the programs With love and gratitude for you all — that are the heart of Summit. Return your pledge — Everett The Mission Statement of the Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship In spiritual community, we commit ourselves to building a compassionate, just and sustainable world. Page 2 RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION NEWS MARY CARTER-VAIL, DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION I have a question for you… connected, supported each other and have been in What happens next? We spiritual community during a time of great are watching as folks are transformation. Some of our families have stayed getting vaccinated. Some of engaged and participated in virtual gatherings us, myself included, are while others needed to step away from screen time blessed to have been vaccinated already. Viral and are waiting until we can be together in person infection rates are going down in some areas and, again. We honor all choices as each family is though we are not out of the woods yet, it is navigating this time in the way that works for beginning to feel like we will be able to “get back them. Starting last fall and with Summit Board’s to normal” soon. We are following the science approval, we have had monthly parking lot and the wisdom of healers and we continue to gathering opportunities for Summit children and wait. The question that is top in my mind is: youth. All gatherings have been socially distant What happens next? with current safety protocols in place to offer a time for children and youth to see each other and This month our theme is Becoming. Becoming is participate in fun family activities. This month we the process of coming to be something. It feels will have a chalk art flower drawing on Easter appropriate as we are in the process of discovering Sunday and Garden Harvest & Planting on April how we can stay healthy and well in community as 25th for Earth Day. (Watch your email to sign up.) we return to a “new normal”. This phrase — “new normal”— seems inadequate to me as it feels Back to my first question: What happens next? like we are in the process of becoming something We need to figure this out together. new. Sit with that for a moment and reflect. How have you changed over this past year? How have We need your voice now. Usually at this time of you been transformed? It may be in small ways or the year, I am talking to parents, children, youth in big transformations. It feels like we are all in a and volunteers about our fun summer plans, and place of becoming as we are beginning to frame the fall program for the we discover new next year. This year we are currently in what feels ways to be during this like a “Between” time as we figure out our next time. steps to returning to in person meetings. I am reaching out for your help as we discover what is We are Becoming. needed and explore our options to gather again. Our faith community This is YOUR program. Summit’s Religious is figuring out how we Exploration is for your children, grandchildren, will be together in youth and adults. What do you want and need person again. The Summit Board of Directors has a right now? How about over the summer or next new task force that is looking into the science, fall? Sit with that for a moment and let your community guidelines and health imagination wander…. What could our program recommendations that will guide us as we prepare be if we all give our attention to this becoming? to gather once again.

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