The Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis July & August 2007 **Click here for the Calendar of Worship Services and Events!** Submit materials for the September Newsletter by August 10, for all news through September 30. Personal contact information is available via the church office. In this Issue:* * 3rd Annual (Summer) Weigh-in Food Drive* * * * Sabbatical News* * Sparks from the Flame * * I’m On My Way* * * * CoM:Gathering the Spirit* * Blossoming* * Needs Assessment Analysis* * * * On the Journey* * Religious Exploration* * New Members* * * * Green Sanctuary * * * * Calendar Highlights & Announcements* * * * Calendar of Worship Services and Events * * The 3rd Annual UUCD Weigh-in Food Drive! Sundays, July 15 & 22 Everyone is invited to join the UUCD fight hunger in Davis! We have moved the UUCD annual food drive to summer, when food in the STEAC pantry becomes sparse. At Thanksgiving we’ll coordinate a winter clothing drive (clothes for all ages) we’re calling “The Clothes Off Our Backs;” details later this year! Bring YOUR WEIGHT in canned/ non-perishable food to church on Sundays, July 15 and 22 between 8:30 and 10am or to the church office on a weekday July 16-20 between 9am and 4pm. You will not be asked to share your weight and any amount of food, no matter the weight, will be joyously accepted! Place Your Bet! Guess how many pounds we’ll collect this year. Make your bet in the Great Hall. The person guessing closest to the total will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Davis Food Co-op! Volunteer Your Truck or Your Muscle! We need people on Sunday, July 22 to weigh the food, load it onto trucks and vans, drive it to the food pantry at D and 5th Street in Davis, and unload it into the STEAC pantry. Are you able to be part of this team on Sunday? Do you have a truck or van we can use to transport food? If so, please sign up in the Great Hall or contact Mandy Dawn in the Church Office: office@uusofdavis.org 753-2581 x100 Most Needed Donations: Basic pack – cereal, meals in a can, personal items (toothbrushes & toothpaste desperately needed), small packages of cookies Needed Donations: Peanut butter and jelly, canned fruit, canned vegetables, tomato sauce, paste, spaghetti sauce, “Meals in a Can,” rice, powdered milk, can openers. Acceptable Fresh foods: potatoes, apples, onions What's Not Needed: Please, don’t donate canned beans (they have plenty!), broths, exotic foods, or items with expired dates. *Don’t forget to start collecting winter clothes for The Clothes Off Our Backs in November! Sabbatical News Sabbatical Committee: (back) Robin Datel, Carol Corbett, Linda Magrum, (front) Jerry Friis, Bryan Plude, Rev. Beth Banks As has been announced in earlier newsletter articles and at Sunday worship, our Senior Minister, Rev. Beth Banks will be on sabbatical from January 1 through June 1, 2007. A Sabbatical Committee has been formed to support both Beth and our congregation before, during, and directly after the sabbatical. The sabbatical Committee has met and will continue to meet on a monthly basis through the completion of Beth's sabbatical. We will work as a group to ensure the smooth functioning of our church during this period. One of our projects is to put together a handbook that will include contact information for all the services our church provides, as well as an outline of worship services during the sabbatical period. In addition, each member of the committee has taken on a special area of responsibility. An introduction to each committee member and a brief description of his/her special area of concern is included below. Please feel free to contact any of us with your questions regarding sabbatical planning. Robin Datel is co-chair of the Sabbatical Committee. She will coordinate the production of our sabbatical handbook as well as support our Campus Ministry during the sabbatical period. Robin has been involved with our church since 1993, becoming a Member a few years after first attending. She taught in the children's RE program for half a dozen years and served four years on the Board of Trustees, where she chaired committees on bylaws revision and long-range planning. She is currently on the Nominating Committee. Bryan Plude is co-chair of the Sabbatical Committee and will focus on worship during the sabbatical period. He has been a UU since 1989 and a Member of our church since 1998. Bryan has taught in the children's RE program and served on the RE Council. He currently sings with the Chalice Choir and is a Worship Associate. Carol Corbett will be coordinating the special celebrations associated with Beth's sabbatical, including 'goodbye' and 'welcome back' parties. Carol has been with our church for the past 15 years, becoming a Member midway through that period. When her two children were young, she taught RE classes. She was a long-time member of the Caring Network, was with the Committee on Ministry and the Stewardship Committee. She currently sings in the Chalice Choir and is a Pastoral Associate. Jerry Friis will be coordinating the pastoral care of the congregation and staff during Beth's sabbatical. Jerry has been a Member of our church for 19 years. His early work with the church was care of the church grounds. He has taught religious exploration to the 4th, 5th and 6th graders (Chalice Council) for several years, has been on the Board of Trustees and the Committee on Ministry. He was on the Ministerial Search Committee that recommended Beth Banks to the congregation for consideration as our minister. Jerry has sung in the Chalice Choir and is currently a Pastoral Associate. Linda Magrum will focus on communication between the Sabbatical Committee, Beth and the congregation during the sabbatical period. Linda has been a Member of our church for 17 years. Her early involvement was as a children's RE teacher and youth group co-coordinator. She has served on the Nominating Committee, the Board of Trustees, the Stewardship Committee, and the Committee on Ministry and was actively involved with our church auctions from 2000 to 2004. During the Interim Ministry of David Keyes she coordinated a leadership workshop on shared ministry at our church. Linda currently serves on the Welcoming Committee. SPARKS FROM THE FLAME REV. BETH BANKS Usually I encourage us all to relax in the summer and take it easier. After all, the summer is usually the time for recognition of what has been accomplished and for celebrations. This year my summer message is different. There is an urgency, an impatience, in the world right now, and we need to heed its call. Before avoiding or subduing impatience and frustration, we might see them as signs of what needs our attention. We seek balance, but sometimes it’s the feeling of balance that is our most dedicated teacher. The time has come for us to take ourselves seriously. As overwhelming a thought as it may be, we make a difference with our every interaction. The power that each one of us has is frightening, and we often give that power away because of . . . why? Do we fear what would happen if we answered the call of the urgency that is in our own spirit and that shouts from the needs of others or the news? Don’t go for the small version of yourself. Go big. Don’t cheat yourself or the world of who you are and who you are becoming. Don’t come to the end of your life wondering “what if.” Push at the edge of your abilities and stretch, becoming an inspiration to yourself and others. And don’t do it alone. If we move our edge, that’s where we’ll find the growing edges of the lives of others. It’s in that place, at the outermost edge of our efforts, where our resolve answers the call of this world’s urgency. The poet Rilke wrote: God speaks to each of us as [God] makes us, then walks with us silently out of the night. These are the words we dimly hear: You, sent out beyond your recall, go to the limits of your longing. Embody me. Flare up like flame And make big shadows I can move in. Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final. Don’t let yourself lose me. Nearby is the country they call life. You will know it by its seriousness. Give me your hand. Read this column the first time, for you, personally. Read it one more time understanding the message to be for UUism and our congregation. Some Personal Sources of Inspiration from UUCD Congregants The certainty of the miraculous gift of life. anonymous Music has been the most consistent source of inspiration in my life. It has provided solace in times of grief and resolve during protests. I feel connected to the spirit of peoples of cultures around the world when I hear and learn their music. I argue with Kurt Vonnegut who cited music as proof that God exists. I don't believe there is proof but it certainly often feels like the spirit moving. – Pat Moore-Pickett Having 500 years of history to draw upon. anonymous Knowing that we are interconnected with the religious community of Davis as well as the interfaith of the world. anonymous My source of inspiration is love: the love between us that gives the felt experience of being one with each other. – Carol Joyce A meadow of flowers, the silhouette of a Valley oak, a parade of cumulus across a blue sky, a comet in the sky, the laughter of children at play, the song of a cello or bird, the stillness of the desert, the hug of a friend, the love of family, my husband, children, and grandchildren, my friends near and far, the willingness of my Tuleyome “deep home place” community to grow and change. The floral lushness of poppies in the spring, the slower pace and bounty of summer, the turning of the leaves on crisp fall days and the dark, cold, bright-starred nights of winter. The wisdom of prophets, sages and scientists from Job to Lao Tzu to Sojourner Truth to Gandhi to Eldridge Moores teaching me new ways to know the world. The creativity and beauty of poetry and art and music touching my heart and opening my mind. To many come to mind: Gary Snyder, Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, Georgia O’Keefe, Dali, Beethoven, Mahler, Tan Dun…. The cycle of life – whether that of an insect, a redwood tree or a human. The miracle of life on this one small planet in a very large universe that is Gaia, our sole source of existence. That small voice within that calls me to live with an open mind and a loving heart, to live in harmony with nature, be the best I can be, and to do my part to make the world a better place for generations to come. – Judy Moores I’M ON MY WAY; COME & GO WITH ME DIANE PARRO, BOARD PRESIDENT Last night we had the passing of the chime ritual at the meeting of the Board of Trustees that signaled the start of my time as your President. I want to thank all of you for showing me the way to my spiritual path. Thank you for the warm welcome you gave us five years ago when Jon and I first entered the Great Hall as newcomers. Thank you also for inviting me to participate in ways that nurture my soul while introducing me to an ever-greater circle of friends now known to me as family. I love being on the Board and look forward to each meeting. The chime that starts our meetings is just one of the many ways in which our gatherings are full of worship and reflection. Through deep listening as well as heated discussions over issues of policy or procedure, I have come to know and love every member. Working with the Board represents the way in which I experience our beloved community. I am very sad that members fulfill their term and leave because I miss their presence. Many of us seek out times to be together outside of Board meetings just for fun. On the other hand, I really look forward to getting acquainted with each new member that has joined our group. Joy grows in abundance when our community expands. I hope each one of you has found a spiritual home here as rich as the one that you have provided for me and I will continue to welcome everyone to the blessings we share. Thank you for entrusting me with this title and know that I do not take the responsibility lightly but I do intend to make sure it involves fun! To start out on the right foot, Jon, Josh, Cameron and I are all heading up to Portland in a few days to experience General Assembly. We’re on our way to a great year! COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY: GATHERING THE SPIRIT Article by Jeff Lefkoff One of the charges to the Committee on Ministry is to assess the shared ministry of our church and our clergy. Because our relationship with our minister is covenantal (the minister is called, not hired), an assessment process should reflect the respect, mutuality, and love embodied in this relationship. To this end, the Committee on Ministry sponsored a gathering of spirit on a Saturday afternoon in May, where about 25 members of our congregation gathered with Rev. Beth Banks to share a conversation about her ministry. We asked each attendee for personal reflections on: (1) a time when they experienced Beth’s ministry with our congregation as spiritually engaging and meaningful; (2) what they value most about Beth’s ministry with our congregation; (3) what three concrete wishes they have for the future of Beth’s ministry with us; and (4) anything else they would like Beth to know about their experience of her ministry at the UU Church of Davis. We asked that an Appreciative Inquiry approach be used. People shared many memories, feelings, and hopes that touched on many topics and ranged from the specific to the general. As everyone shared their reflections and Beth shared hers, three themes emerged. First, we are grateful for her commitment to shared ministry and we look to her to help us grow into ever deeper (and more challenging) ways to embody shared ministry in our church. We remembered that a vision of shared ministry was a major reason that we chose Beth and that she chose us during our search for a senior minister in the year 2000. Second, there is great enthusiasm for continued outreach to the Davis interfaith community. We want our UU presence, and specifically Beth’s ministry, to touch the lives of people throughout Davis and the larger region. Third, we are looking for guidance from Beth in our ongoing development as a program church. She has helped us take risks that put us in a leadership position on many programs, such as Green Sanctuary, Welcoming Congregation, Worship Associates, Intern Minister mentoring, and Pastoral Associates, and we want to continue growing into our potential. Towards the closing, Beth expressed her passion for our church and our Unitarian Universalist message. Many expressed a deep gratitude for Beth’s ministry with us. Blossoming SALLY M. BESSER, CPA, ADMINISTRATOR Sara Roberts, Bookkeeper; Mandy Dawn, Office Administrator; Sally Besser As I begin my second year as your business administrator, I am reflecting on how my work to support Beth’s ministry, to serve the Board of Trustees, and to meet each of your needs have been accomplished. My focus was to try to figure out how I could move in a direction that would do that. With your help, I was able to stay focused, and listed below are some of the things we completed together as members, volunteers, staff and committees: * We wrote formal job descriptions and set in place the groundwork for regular performance evaluations. * We wrote the first formal financial policies that serve as a protective umbrella for those individuals responsible for taking care of your money. * We developed an accounting and budgeting system that would stand up to the rigors of an audit and we will have our first review by an independent CPA (Certified Public Accountant) this summer! * We began background checks on all staff and Religious Education volunteers. * We updated our internet and office networking technology which has sped processing and communication for the church, including allowing direct deposits for payroll processing. * We coordinated roof repair, parking lot light and asphalt repairs. * We had “crash” doors and new fire extinguishers installed to address member safety (and meet fire marshal codes). * We secured the short-term financing needed to move forward with an excellent architectural consultant. * We gathered water samples and coordinated the testing with two specialty laboratories in accordance with state law, compiled the data and created the mandated Consumer Confidence for issuance prior to the July 1st deadline. * We had a very successful pledge drive which enabled the creation of a sustainable budget for the ensuing year. This summer, I will have the opportunity to: (1) continue the upgrades suggested by our attorney on the Personnel Policy, (which will hopefully be ready for the Board in the early fall), (2) develop internal operating procedures for procurement, reimbursements, purchases by committee members, to provide appropriate checks and balances, and (3) work with the independent CPA to produce the church’s annual report with financial statements – which should be available in late September. And the day came when the risk to remain in a tight bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom Anaïs Nin, 1903 – 1977 French Novelist Needs Assessment Questionnaire Analysis A Needs Assessment questionnaire was mailed to Members and Friends in April, 2007 by the Building Task Force in order to solicit their priorities and values (scale of 0 – 10) on a wide range of possible changes to facilities on the church campus. There was a close to 30 percent response. Thanks for taking the time to respond to the 56 questions. The Building Task Force also appreciates the many, many written suggestions included on your questionnaires. They have been compiled and were an important part of this process. The following is the preliminary analysis of the questionnaire responses as written by Jeff Gold, our Architectural Consultant: Sanctuary/Service Activity: • Strong support is indicated for preserving the existing Meeting House and following ‘green building’ standards in whatever remodeling or new construction is undertaken. There is also strong support for remodeling or replacing the existing Great Hall with a larger space to support the social functions outside of the Meeting House. • There is almost an equal division between those that favor enlarging the Meeting House and those that favor maintaining it in its current size. Similarly, there is almost an equal division between those that strongly favor construction of a new, larger sanctuary compared to those that give this low priority. There is a slight favoring toward enlarging the existing Meeting House compared to constructing a new, larger sanctuary. • Low priority is registered for providing a small chapel, for providing upholstered seating, for development of a bookstore, and for an outdoor ‘worship space. Social Activity: • Very strong support is indicated for construction of a social hall (for a variety of activities – dances, dinners, receptions, etc.) with supporting kitchen, storage space and outdoor patio spaces. Similarly, strong support is registered for following ‘green building’ standards for this facility. • There is a wider and more even distribution (high-to-low priority) for using a large social hall as a multi-functional space for ‘worship’ services and for the RE program. • There is a preference toward envisioning a new social hall as a separate building connected with a roofed walkway compared to a building internally connected to the Great Hall. • Low priority is registered for providing shower and sleeping accommodations (for guests) as part of the social hall facility. RE Activities (all ages): • Strong support is indicated for the construction of new RE activity areas, especially for small group meeting spaces and a nursery for infant care. Strong support is also registered for providing soft seating in some of the meeting spaces, for adjoining outdoor patio areas, and for following ‘green building’ standards with these facilities. • There is a wider and more even distribution (high-to-low priority) for maintaining use of the Bridge House (expanded and remodeled) and the Cottage for RE activities. • There is low-to-moderate priority indicated for specialized RE spaces dedicated to arts and crafts, computers and music rehearsal. Site & Outdoors: • Strong support is indicated for a number of site improvements, specifically: additional bike racks, a ‘drop-off’ area close to the building entrances, additional outdoor lighting and improved accessibility for pathways and outdoor spaces. • Similar to other aspects of the survey, there is strong support for following ‘green building’ standards in the site improvements. • There is a moderate level of priority rating given to development of more parking, more garden spaces and additional irrigation. • A low priority rating is given to a number of other miscellaneous site improvements, such as a stage in Hedges Grove, a water garden, a built-in barbecue and outdoor recreation areas. Other: • Strong support is indicated for additional meeting rooms for groups of 20 or less. This mirrors a similar response for the new RE activity spaces. • A moderate level of priority is registered for a variety of needs, specifically: more storage space, additional bathrooms for the office/library area, and additional office space. ON THE JOURNEY KATE KENNEDY, INTERN & CAMPUS MINISTER “What next?” seems to be the most common question I hear as I leave this internship. My immediate answer is, “A job!” I feel blessed to have a job waiting for me as I complete my time here at the church. Come mid July I begin working as a hospice chaplain in Sacramento. I’m very excited for this next move into my ministry. Three years of seminary classes, one year of hospital chaplaincy training and this past year of parish and campus ministry have been full of learning and growth for me. With my Master of Divinity degree and this successful internship completed, I am happy to be doing ministry as my full-time job. What may not be so clear is that after (sometimes during) an internship a major move in the process toward ordained ministry in our tradition is interviewing with the Ministerial Fellowshipping Committee. This is a committee of the Unitarian Universalist Association made up of ordained clergy and lay people who meet with ministerial candidates to determine if they are ready to be ministers, to be what is called “fellowshipped.” In an hour meeting with this committee, the ministerial candidate gives a ten minute sermon and is then asked questions that cover a pretty enormous possibility: Unitarian Universalist history and polity, Judeo-Christian history and scriptures, world religions, UU theology, UU religious education, worship, spiritual practice, systems theory, pastoral counseling, anti-oppression theory and praxis, to name some of the categories. After this time, the committee processes the interview and makes a determination about fellowshipping the candidate – ideally with a positive outcome that says, “Yes, with our blessing, you may seek ordination!” While I focus on settling into hospice chaplaincy, I will also be studying for this major step to becoming an ordained minister. My interview is in December. It is an exciting time and I honestly look forward to completing the interview. And so, as I say good-bye to you, you have an idea of what I’ll be doing! Please know that as I move on my ministerial path, I thank you so much for being with me on the journey – and I wish you all so many blessings. With love and in faith, Kate ADULT, CHILD & YOUTH RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION KATE RAYMOND, DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION RE – CONNECTIONS Summertime and the tempo changes. Church life slows down and becomes more juicy. There’s more time to linger in the Bridgehouse sandbox, more time to Slip‘n’Slide at church summer camp. With only one worship service, there’s also more time to chat out on the shady patio…mmmm. Summer is also a time for ideas to simmer with perhaps a plan or two emerging for the fall. I’m in the fortunate position of being one who hears others’ inspirations. When someone has a light bulb go off for religious education and they share their insights with me, I’m glad. I get sparked as a result and that’s how the creativity can keep unfolding. Across are a few of the ideas that have come in – all great ways to build connections between us and our world. If you resonate with any of these, please let me know. If enough energy exists, we can take the next step together. In community, Kate Raymond Brainstorming for Religious Exploration – What about…? What about pulling together the resources from several church youth groups in our area and offering a catalog or website listing of adolescent interfaith activities? Attendance in the past has been light for the 9am children’s religious education class. What about offering a children’s choir at that time? Wouldn’t it be great to have adult RE offerings for new UUs and UUs who are ready for more complex material? Isn’t there some core knowledge all UUs might have? What about our own UUCD version of UU University? There are some great books that have changed the lives of some of our members. What about a new book club using these books? What a gift to share the loveliness of creativity and deep sharing. What about An Artists’ Way covenant group this fall? People who have had one of UUCD’s nonviolent communication classes are asking for more hands-on training and a new name for this practice. What about an onsite ongoing practice group for Compassionate Communication led by a local trainer? We are sexual beings from birth to death. What about Our Whole Lives for a wider age range than just the junior high youth we are currently serving? Our Green Sanctuary folk will be publishing their new cookbook before too long. What about holding some vegetarian cooking classes to showcase some of those recipes? And what about your own ideas? Please come share your inspirations with me or a member of our Adult RE or Children’s and Youth RE Councils. “Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country." from The Diaries of Anaïs Nin Many thanks to our 2006-2007 RE Teachers! Erin Allen, Millie and Dan Braunstein, Marilu Carter, Jerry Friis, Marnelle Gleason, Thomas Harter, Leisa Huyck, Tom Jankowski, Autumn & Craig Labbe-Renault, Catlyn LeGault, Bess Lewis, Linda Magrum, Keiko Matsushita, Michael Meads, Janet Mercurio, Denise Minor, Karen Naliboff, Rick O’Shaughnessy, Mary Perkins, Leonie Pickett, Kate Raymond, Chris Sanborn, Debbie Shoup, Sarah Simmons, Maria & Mark Tebbutt, Virginia Thigpen, Amy Wilson, Steve Wilson, Bess Young, Dave Zastrow RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES! To register, please contact the workshop leaders or RE Staff, Kate Raymond and Leonie Pickett at 753-2581 x104 • Summer FUUN – Jr. High UUCD Youth Camp (incoming grades 7-10): Pool parties, Simpsons Fest, first aid certification, hanging out. July 8, 15, 22, 29, Aug. 12, 19, 26, mostly 1-3pm, in the Cottage. RSVP to Kate Raymond. • UU Summer Chalice Camp: July 30-Aug. 3 – Don’t delay signing up your children K-6 for this popular event. Registration fees increase 10% after July 8. There are spots left; UUs have priority enrollment until July 9. Waterplay, drama, cool crafts, the Shaving Cream Extravaganza and energetic worship, all with UU flair! Registration forms in the Great Hall and at the Bridgehouse. Confidential scholarships available. • OWL – Our Whole Lives sexuality course will be offered next year, beginning in the fall for grades 7-9. Our denomination is in the forefront of providing comprehensive values-based sexuality education for every age group. If you are interested in finding out if this program would benefit your child, please contact Kate Raymond. • New Dates: Walking the Path Together: The Celebration of Abraham – Interfaith work involves learning both about one’s own tradition as well as the beliefs and customs in other religions. We will be looking at the thread of UU interfaith history and exploring our current UU beliefs. Guest speakers will represent the Abrahamic faith (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). Rather than hear the history of each faith, we’ll be asking our speakers how they would like us to know them, and how we engage in meaningful conversation. Our final session on Sept. 11 seems to be the perfect time to honor the complexity and importance of interfaith work. We’ll meet four times in the Library: 7-8:30pm Thurdays, Aug. 30, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25 and 10am-4pm Saturday, Nov. 17. • Being A UU Parent – Join others in learning more about integrating Unitarian Universalism into daily family life. Using UUA curriculum, workshop topics include clarifying our own religious beliefs, sharing our personal stories and supporting each other as we increase our understanding of how to bring our UU values into our homes. Maximum 12 participants. Please bring a finger food potluck item to share. Sundays, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30 and Oct. 7. • UUCD History 101 – 2nd Sundays of July, Aug, Sept., 1:30-3pm, Glacier Circle. Hear how UUCD began. Bring your photos, movies, clippings. RSVP (chair count!) to Karen Klussendorf or Kate Raymond. Please Welcome Our Newest Members! Our New Members are Jodie Buschman, Christof Harper, Anne Hoffman, Jessica Luedtke, Suzanne Kimmel, Belinda Martineau, Rev. Greg McGonigle, Lynne Nittler, Lisa Oakes, Sheri Reynolds, Stephen Reynolds, Diana Schwyzer, Ryan Wessells, Marty West, Carlye Wilder and Sue Yip. Some of them are even here in the UUniverse to tell you a little about themselves. Be sure to introduce yourself on Sunday! Jodie Buschman –I have a real sense of pride in being a Member of UUCD. I'm married, with a daughter and granddaughter, (a really good softball player). I am looking for a new career. I look forward to better self awareness, the choir, dancing, helping with cooking, fitting in where most needed, learning from everyone at the UUCD, and being of value to others. Anne Hoffman is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary and ordained by the United Church of Christ. She has taught liturgy, worship and the arts and preaching at St. Paul School of Theology. She has studied percussion, Zen, and is a member of the local Bird Path Sangha. She has worked as an actor, radio announcer and social worker. Currently she works with the Center for Mindfulness at The University of Massachusetts Medical School. She lives in Davis with her partner, Jessie Ann Owens, the Dean of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies at UCD. Suzanne Kimmel – I started coming to UUCD with my children on Dec 31, 2006. I live in Davis and work at Cowell Student Health Center. I have been in several Adult RE classes. I look to UUCD to deepen my spiritual growth and my commitment to community service. Belinda Martineau has lived in Davis since 1988. She has worked as a molecular geneticist, a free-lance writer and, currently, a scientific editor at UC Davis. She has attended UUCD for eight years and has participated in children's RE classes, UUCD’s process to become "Welcoming," and several adult RE classes. She's a dedicated soccer mom to Laurel (12) and Antonia (15). Her husband, Bob Darragh, is a seismologist. Rev. Greg McGonigle is a former UUCD intern. We ordained him as a UU Minister here too! He is our UU Community Minister and Associate Campus Minister for Cal Aggie House at UC Davis. Lynne Nittler – UUCD feels like home to me. I love the music, the grounds, the heartful services, the friendly members and the welcome invitation for genuine reflection and open discussion. I've taken Deep Ecology and I'm working with the Green Sanctuary Committee. Lisa Oakes – I joined the Unitarian Church at the age of 4. In 1991 my children, Alison (Ali) and Carter Luck, and I found a home at the UU Society of Iowa City. Last spring, my husband, Steve Luck, and I took faculty positions in the Dept. of Psychology (and at the Center for Mind and Brain) at UCD. Becoming involved in UUCD has made our transition much easier. Steve Reynolds – I have lived in Davis 13 years and practice bankruptcy law. I have been married to Sheri for almost two years. She helps raise my son Nathan (15) and daughter Emma (13). Sheri Reynolds – I have lived in the Sacramento area for 8 years. I am a professor at Sacramento State in the child development department. Diana Schwyzer – I grew up UU in Santa Barbara and lived in the Bay Area for several years before moving to Davis last fall. I work on climate change and alternative energy for the California Energy Commission. I'm happy to be in Davis and to have found such a welcoming community in the UUCD young adult group and the church as a whole. Marty West – A 25-year Davis resident, I have just retired from the UCD Law School. In December 2005, I completed 8 years on the Davis School Board. I enjoy singing in the choir! Ryan Wessells – Originally from Maryland, I am a graduate student in International Nutrition at UC Davis. I am a returned Peace Corps volunteer living in N-Street co-housing and am active in triathlons. GREEN SANCTUARY GREEN THOUGHTS: More Five Gallon Stories by Judy Moores for the GS Committee For Earth Day in April, Rev. Beth noted that many people in the world have to live on less than five gallons of water per day. She challenged us to do so. Most of us quickly found that our houses defeated us before breakfast. One toilet flush took 2.5 gallons and the rest disappeared down the drain during the first minute of a shower. And we still needed water to drink, use for cooking, and washing dishes. As Tom Jankowski reported, it is possible to live on less water when camping. A few years ago, Eldridge and I camped in the Grand Tetons. We had only 2.5 gallons/person/day. Outhouses and holes dug off the trails cut out that use of water. We used our allotment for drinking, cooking and limited cleaning. With all the beautiful scenery around, we did not feel deprived in the least. On the other hand, after a week, we were very happy to have a long, hot shower! Maria Tebbutt’s goal was to NOT waste 5 gallons. In the kitchen, she saved "grey" water from boiling eggs and pasta, from rinsing a cup, and from a vase. In the shower she used a bucket to capture the 2.5 gallons before the water ran hot. All that water was poured onto the garden or used to flush the toilet. We can be thankful that we do not to have to live on 5 gallons per day. But, if we are to live our UU principle of respect for the interdependent web, we need to live more sustainably – which means using less water. What creative ways have you found to save water? Let me know at jemoores@aol.com. PLEASE DRINK FROM OUR FAUCET! Extensive water testing shows the tap water at UUCD to be safe to drink! Members received a water quality report in the mail. Reports posted in the Great Hall and available from the church office. Calendar Highlights & Announcements **Click here for the full Calendar of Worship Services and Events!** 2006-2007 SPIRITED WORSHIP TOTAL $1033! This collection benefits Casa Emaus, a children's home in Mexico. Ask the Mead-Veale Family about their time working there! Spirited Worship begins again September 16 at 10:15am. Start thinking now about possible collection beneficiaries. The Chalice Choir is on summer break. Our schedule, which mirrors the school year (details in late August), entails Wednesday evening rehearsals and singing at worship on Sundays. Generally, we sing at the 11am worship service except on the first Sunday of the month, when we sing at the 9 and 10:15am services instead. We welcome any interested teens and adults, especially tenors and basses, to join us in the fall when we will be rehearsing new choral literature to accompany an exciting array of church service topics and themes. For more information, please contact Nancy Lower, (707) 678-6567, nlower@onramp113.com Library Art Exhibition Thank you Jennifer France for sharing your pastels. Now showing: photographs by David Davies. Check your Weekly Bulletin for Event Updates & Additions! Also, **Click here for the Calendar of Worship Services and Events!**