The day of Epiphany is a day of paradoxes. It is a celebration of home and yet it is all about travel: the Magi’s pilgrimage to Bethlehem, and Jesus and his parents’ flight for their lives. Although it is (in the western Christian tradition) the twelfth day of Christmas, it is about gifts, not that we receive, but that we bear and bestow on others. Let’s begin the new year with a reflection on this ancient holiday and what it tells us about home and belonging.
Karen Mueller will speak in both services about Parents Helping Parents and the entire offering collection that day will be donated to them. If you miss the service on Jan 5, you may make a donation at the Action Council table on any Sunday in January or in the office. Please make checks payable to UUCPA and put “Justice Partner” in the memo line. UUCPA is proud to support such a valuable community organization.
Worship leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern
Special music: Mayan Dolev, classical guitar
Forum
Jan 5 9:00 am - Forum - Back from the Brink – Reducing Nuclear Weapons Risk
By Amy Zucker Morgenstern on Dec 29, 2019 08:45 pm
I’m so excited. A small and mighty group of UUCPA members – Kristi Iverson, Anne Frahn, and Elsa Schafer – has put together a January packed full of voter empowerment events. This project is nonpartisan, as our political actions should be, and it’s an initiative that everyone can support, wherever they are on the political spectrum: to aid and encourage everyone eligible to vote to register, and to enable everyone who is registered to cast their vote. The more voters there are participating in the political process, the better our elected officials will reflect the people’s choice.
Among the Unitarian Universalist Association’s seven principles is “the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.” It’s not frequently quoted, nor, probably, remembered, but like voting itself, it’s as plain and essential as a building’s foundation. Without it, our other dreams are likely to die young.
I hope to see you at one or more of these events!
Speaking of seeing me, I know that most of what I do is not as visible as Sunday services, so I’m going to start using this column to talk about more of those aspects of our ministry. (I report in detail to the Board each month; I’ll post these reports in our Google docs from now on so that anyone with an interest can see them.) Here’s a sampling from November and December:
Led two sessions of “Exploring Mind, Hands, Spirit & Heart through Art.”
Enjoyed the UUCPA Auction.
Led “Care and Nurture of Your Small Group.”
Led initial session of “White Folks Dismantling White Supremacy” group.
Got together with a bereaved family to plan a memorial service.
Met weekly with staff in various configurations and with the Stewardship Committee.
Had a long getting-acquainted conversation with local rabbi Amy Eilberg.
Met with two new UU ministers for whom I’m a formal mentor.
Led two meetings as chair of the Nominating Committee of the continental UU Ministers’ Association.
Had numerous one on one meetings with UUCPA folks to provide pastoral care about personal issues or consultation on their volunteer roles.
Of course, what I do is just a small fraction of everything that goes on in our thriving congregation, but I hope these mini-lists give you a fuller picture of the congregational life as a whole.
And finally, I really enjoy getting together one on one, so if you’d like to talk, use the Calendly link that’s on the bottom of my email and the back of the order of service to pick a time. I always make sure to keep available a few evening hours each month, and if none of the ones posted work for you, please send me your preference via email, and I’ll coordinate with your schedule. If you prefer not to travel to UUCPA after a workday, I’m also happy to meet via Zoom or Skype. —Blessings, Amy
Each month on the first Sunday, you are welcome to join in a small-group session of spiritual exploration through art.
January 5th session: Home.
What does home mean to you? — your ideal home, your actual home, your future or past homes …? Starting with images of many kinds of homes, we’ll each make one that represents home for us. All people of any age or level of art experience are welcome.
February 2 And March 1 sessions: Masks.
It is no surprise that masks have played a role in spiritual practices for millennia, because they are powerfully evocative of spiritual processes. They allow us to channel the power of a guiding spirit; they hide aspects of ourselves that we are not ready to show to the world; they help us express aspects of ourselves that we are shy about revealing. No matter how honest we aspire to be, we all present a different self to the world than the one we carry within, and masks can help us explore this tension. This is a two-session class so that we can make plaster masks modeled on our own faces, let them dry, and then add colors, textures, and images during the second session. It is ideal to participate in both. However, if you can only come to the March session, there will be paper masks waiting for you to decorate. If you can only come to the February session, you may of course take your mask home and decorate it when it dries.
PLEASE NOTE that March’s class will be the last monthly gathering led by Amy. She will, however, lead occasional art-based spiritual explorations, such as mask-making, prayer beads, and coping with loss and grief through art, so watch this space!
There is a new Mahjong Games group meeting on 1st Sundays starting in January, 2020 at UUCPA.
Come one, come all, no experience necessary. Mahjong is not just a game of concentration you play online. Come learn how to play this gin rummy-like game, with tiles of three suits. For these monthly meetings, we will:
Learn about the tiles and the game (or refresh your skills). • Divide up into three tables and play a series of games.
There will be a ‘winners’ table, a ‘wannabees’ table and a ‘whin- ers’ table. We switch tables after each game, depending on how you do.
Learn how to score, win, and earn chips.
Although no money will change hands, each player will start with $1 in chips. Winners will leave with more than $1; Losers will leave with less than $1. There will be no prizes – only brag- ging rights!
Have fun, meet new people and read the digits from 1 – 9 in Chinese.
Snacks will be provided from 12:45 to 1pm.
Details:
First Sundays every month
12:45 to 3 pm
Room 4/5
Facilitator and contact is Linda Holroyd (mahjong@uucpa.org)
In December the UUA announced its new #UUtheVote Campaign, calling on UUs to “join forces with all people who want to organize our communities and our nation to #VoteLove and #DefeatHate”, in accordance with our UU principles. The UUA is providing guidance and a framework for UU congregations to use in doing this electoral justice work, in concert with selected non-partisan partner organizations. To kick off this campaign at UUCPA, the Action Council is sponsoring four election justice events in January. These include the #UUtheVote Campaign Launch Zoom call hosted by the UUA, as well as three events organized by the two partner organizations selected by the Action Council: Reclaim Our Vote and Vote forward. January events are listed below. More detailed information on each event will be provided the week prior to the event. Please join us in working for love and justice in 2020!
UUA Event: Sunday, January 12th, 1:00-2:30 pm, Room 9
#UUtheVote Campaign Launch: UUAZoom call live viewing (60 minutes), followed by a 30-minute discussion. To register for the event, email KristiIverson@uucpa.org
Vote Forward Event: Saturday, January 11th, 2-4pm, UUCPA Main Hall
Write Letters to Register Voters in Key States: To register, email AnneFrahn@uucpa.org
Reclaim Our Vote Event: Sunday, January 19, 3:00-5:00 pm, Main Hall
Write postcards to disenfranchised voters of color in Texas or make phone calls to those disenfranchised in Colorado, alerting them, asking them to re-register before the Primary.
Reclaim Our Vote Event: Monday, January 27, 7:00-9:00 pm, Main Hall
Voter Suppression: The Biggest Threat to Democracy in 2020
Reclaim Our Vote 2020 Kickoff and fundraiser, with the film “Suppressed: The Fight to Vote”, presentation of the 2020 strategy and plan by Founder Andrea Miller, and postcard writing.
Reclaim Our Vote is a volunteer-driven, nonpartisan outreach campaign to fight voter suppression, especially in the South. We are organized by the Center for Common Ground of Virginia, with the help of the NAACP, Black Voters Matter, VoteRiders, DemLabs, Mi Familia Vota and other organizations. We phone, postcard, and text voters of color who were purged from the voter rolls, to ask them to re-register and vote.
Vote Forward is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to empower grassroots volunteers to help register voters from under-represented demographics and encourage them to vote. We build tools to enable Americans, wherever they may be, to encourage fellow citizens to participate in our democracy.
Our Annual Community Dinner happens on Saturday, January 25, at 5:30 pm in the Main Hall. All are invited to this fun, community-building event! Delicious food, company, and childcare provided.
Have you ever dreamed of visiting Alaska? If so, WhaleCoast Alaska 2020 is for you! Four Alaska UU congregations invite you to experience our unique environmental/cultural/spiritual program this summer. See Alaska through the eyes of local UUs, with friendly homestays and unique tour activities. See wildlife, including moose, bears, caribou, whales, bald eagles, sea lions, etc. Visit Denali National Park. Experience Native Alaskan culture. Forget the cruise ships — our program is truly the best way to visit Alaska! Tours led by Dave Frey, member of the Fairbanks UU congregation and Alaska travel expert. Find out more about this Alaskan trip of a lifetime.
For complete info go to www.WhaleCoastAK.org, email dfrey@whalecoastak.org or call 907-322-4966. Discount for groups of eight or more. We would love to share our Alaska with you.
January 5 and 19 are the next two deadlines to submit items for publication. Send them to newsletter@uucpa.org or leave hardcopy in the church office. Note that we do not publish personal phone numbers/email addresses to safeguard privacy.
Go out into the world in peace,
Be of good courage,
Hold fast to what is good,
Return no one evil for evil,
Strengthen the faint-hearted,
Support the weak,
Help the suffering,
Rejoice in beauty,
Speak love with word and deed,
Honor all beings.
