mvuuc monte vista 9185 Monte Vista Avenue Unitarian Universalist Congregation Montclair, CA 91763 A Welcoming Congregation (909) 626-0520 Reverend Susan Manker-Seale, Interim Minister Reverend Ellen Livingston, Minister Emerita The Encounter September 2016 Summary of Sunday Services Rev. Susan’s Message September 4: Living In The Middle/Muddle Pages 2 - 3 Speaker: Dick Olson In the late nineteenth century, the self-educated American philosopher, President’s Message/Board Elbert Hubbard, argued that, "Life is a paradox. Every truth has its Briefing counterpart which contradicts it; and every philosopher supplies the logic Pages 3 - 4 for his own undoing." Hubbard was right. I am told by B.F. Skinner and his fellow travelers that everything I think and do is determined by my biology and my environment; yet I am told by my Free Thinking friends that they RE-flections can and should be free to choose their own beliefs and commitments. Pages 5 - 6 Some tell me to use my head, while others say listen to your heart or your gut. Some say persevere against the odds, while others say don't throw Camp de Benneville good money after bad. How do we live satisfactorily in a world filled with Page 6 massive contradictions? UUPCC Pilgrimage to the September 11: Multi-Generational Water Communion: Sharing Sacred Philippines – 2017 Spaces Page 6 - 7 Speakers: Amy Randall and Rev. Susan Manker-Seale Bring water from your summer travels or favorite, precious places, and we Wheel of the Year will share briefly the importance of sacred spaces in our lives. Pages 7 - 8 Metaphorical water works, as well (as in from the kitchen sink). We will gather in multi-generational community for the entire service. Calendar Page 9 September 18: Dreams About Flying Speakers: Rita Salama, Laura Mulroy, Maribel Dana, and Rev. Susan General Information Manker-Seale Page 10 Who are we as Unitarian Universalists here in Montclair/Claremont? Who might we become? We’ll explore the importance of having both a mission and a vision to guide us with passion as we dream about flying. The service today will be followed by a congregational presentation by our Land Use Task Force, as well as a fun visioning exercise on dreaming up a slogan. September 25: Reflections On Saving The World Speaker: Rev. Susan Manker-Seale This past week PBS aired a documentary on the Rev. Waitstill and Martha Sharp, a Unitarian minister and his wife who made a huge sacrifice and put their own lives in danger to save others during World War II (watch Defying the Nazis, Tuesday, September 20, 9 PM). What motivates human beings to go the extra mile (or thousands of miles) to help others? I’ll introduce the UUA’s action project #WeDefy, which asks us how we are defying hatred and discrimination today as we carry on the legacy of the Sharps. The Encounter Newsletter September 2016 Rev. Susan’s Message Thank you for the amazing welcome potluck you gave me after the service on August 21. It was beautiful and fun, colorful and delicious, and so many of you were there with smiles and hopes for this interim in ministry that lies before us. I know many of you planned and worked hard to put it on for me and all of us, and please know that I/we really appreciate your efforts. Last Sunday on the patio, people were continuing the fun. I was loving it to be in the midst of such good energy, when someone came and stood beside me. He commented on how great it was that there seemed to be twice as many people staying after church, and not only that, people were laughing. People hadn’t been laughing like that in a long time. Stress can do that to a congregation. Ministers, presidents, parishioners, visitors can all be waylaid by conflict in a congregation. If you are under duress, if you think people don’t appreciate you, or are on the opposite side of an issue, it shows. It shows in how you handle yourself, how quick you are to greet someone, to smile at them, to relax with them. Conflict can drive a congregation into the ground pretty fast. I have learned about quite a few nodes of conflict in this congregation that have taken place over the last numbers of years, and how difficult it has been for so many of you, including Rev. Ann, to bear up in the face of what can be very painful circumstances. Differences of opinion are fine, but when arguments get heated, or just transform from differences to argument, that undermines the sacred space that we are trying to create as a religious community. Do you think you’re alone in experiencing this depth of conflict? Let me tell you that you’re not. I served as what we call “Good Officer” for the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association for many years, and that position can be akin to a “minister to the ministers.” I have heard a boatload of stories about conflict in congregations, as well as experienced my own. It’s quite common, and no fun. So “Yay” to the happy conversations on the patio. “Yay” to the smiles and well-wishes I’ve witnessed among you, even between those of you I know are having a difficult time with one another. You might not be ready to forgive one another, but you can move on, be respectful, and one day, maybe sit down with one another and talk about your disagreements. Doesn’t mean (at all!) that you will come to some miraculous agreement, but you will smooth the emotions by practicing respectful listening. Boy. I really didn’t think I was going to say that in this column, but it’s in my heart, and I hope you can hear it. One task of the interim period is to begin to help the congregation heal, and we can’t Page 2 The Encounter Newsletter September 2016 heal until we raise up the issues of conflict which have been swirling around, and bring them to the surface. We can’t solve them, at least not right off, but bringing them out in the open is the first step. I want to thank the many people who have come to me and shared their heart-felt concerns, and hurts, as well as their worries. Hope was there in every one of those conversations, too, and that will be the grounding for our work together. As I said in the sermon on creativity, remember that “wise silence” of Emerson, and carve out of your busy lives some open, unscheduled, creative time to listen to your hearts, and maybe you will know what you care most about in faith and religious community. And, breathe in peace. And, breathe out love. Love, Susan *********************************************************************************** President’s Message Board Briefs and Updates — September 2016 Dear beloved, beUUtiful community, This is an exciting time for us as we begin our shared ministry with Rev. Susan. Among many things, we will be exploring who we are as a congregation, what our resources are, and how the two relate in regards to our vision as a congregation. To get us started the Land Use Study Group, (Maribel Dana, Bruce Mount, Vasu Dev, Megan Gallagher, Francine Younger) have been hard at work exploring the possible options for our property. On September 18, after the worship service, their report will be presented. Your feedback and questions are welcomed so that other possibilities can be explored and the information can be further refined. This is just a first step, one of many informational meetings in regards to this important resource that belongs to the congregation. We will not be voting at this meeting! At the same meeting, we will work on our vision. Our vision and our decisions about our land are intertwined. We will never be able to decide what to do with our land if we don’t have a vision of where we are going. This part of the meeting will build on the work we did in the Visioning Workshop led by Kathy Rickey of the PSWD back in August of 2015. It’s going to be a lot of fun! In preparation for the meeting, ask yourself what brought you to MVUUC? What keeps you coming back? And finally, what are you longing for in your spiritual home? I’m excited about the possibilities as we explore together! “I put my hand in yours so that together we may do what I cannot do alone.” In service, Rita Salama Page 3 The Encounter Newsletter September 2016 The next Board meeting is Wednesday, September 14, 6:30 p.m. in the Founders Room. They are open meetings and visitors are welcome to attend. If you wish to speak to an issue, please contact the Board President at least one week in advance to be placed on the agenda. Highlights of August 2016 Board Meeting First Board Meeting with Rev. Susan Manker-Seale Quinceaneras/Weddings are over budget. Visioning Update and Land Use Study Group Report to be held September 18 Office Administrator's hours increased from 15 to 18 per week Liaisons were assigned to committees and groups. New list is posted in the glass case. Board moved that a person can chair only one standing committee at any given time in order to encourage and develop more participation and leadership. Note: This motion rescinds a previous motion that limited membership on committees. Standing Committees: Adult RE, Committee on Ministry, Communication, Facilities, Finance, Long Term Planning, Membership, Nominating, Personnel, Planned Giving, RE Council, Safe Congregation Pool, Social Justice, Worship and Music.