SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY This month s worship theme is "Perseverance"

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1 Living with Integrity, Nurturing Wonder, Inspiring Action February 2018 The Monthly Newsletter of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY This month s worship theme is "Perseverance" The times were so solemn and the daily news so somber that we snatched mirth from unlikely places and gave servings of it to one another with both hands... Maya Angelou Services are at 9:15 and 11:15 am Sunday, February 4 Rev. Julia Hamilton "Ubi Caritas" Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est is a Latin phrase which can be interpreted to mean, Where there is love and kindness, there is God. What s the difference between liking people and loving people, and what does the idea of God have to do with it? How do we sustain care and compassion over the long haul? Chancel Choir will sing. Sunday, February 11 Rev. Julia Hamilton "Carrying the Light" The Carnival season is underway in New Orleans Mardi Gras is February 13. This Sunday, let s dive beyond the beads and baubles and discover some of the long-standing traditions of carnival in New Orleans. What does it means to embrace a complex, perseverant joy? Music TBA Sunday, February 18 Rev. Caitlin Cotter Coillberg "Keep Moving On" On this Sunday we will dive deeply into the theme of Perseverance, and explore what it means to persevere in the face of things like depression, grief, and chronic illness. Join Rev. Caitlin and lay leader Catherine Callahan for an exploration of how we keep moving on in the face of life s challenges and heartbreaks. Women's Chorale will sing. Tuesday, February 20 at 7:00 pm "Song & Silence: Taizé Style" For anyone who needs a break, a breath, a chance to go deep into the quiet within: give yourself the gift of a Taizé-style service. This is a candle-lit evening of meditative singing, a few reflective words, and deep, nourishing silence. The songs are smple and no singing talent is needed, and the Sanctuary is transformed with a warm and welcoming glow as the darkness settles around us and peace settles within us. All are welcome and childcare will be available. Sunday, February 25 Rev. Julia Hamilton We Get Knocked Down, But We Get Up Again Resilience and perseverance we got em! Any organization that has been around for 146 years has gone through its ups and downs. Sometimes literally! Our first building got knocked down in the earthquake of 1925, but we came back stronger. Where does this resilience come from? What allows us to renew ourselves, individually and collectively, time and time again? This is Heritage Sunday, which means a special invitation to you long-time members: come and be recognized! Chancel Choir will sing.

2 Fashion Fling 2018 Girlfriends! The evening when the women of our congregation gather to exchange clothing, eat goodies, and share the joy of Girlfriend Fun is Saturday, March 24, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm in Jefferson Hall the Fashion Fling! Now: go through your closet and make a pile of the clothing, jewelry, hats, purses, and shoes you aren t wearing and that don t give you pleasure. Store them in bags and bring them to the Fling, where you will find lots of new-to-you replacements. If you want to join the set-up team (and get first choice of the clothing) sallyshamilton@ gmail.com. The Fling will be opened to the public on Sunday, March 25, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. We do NOT accept advance donations until the week of the event. Bring your clothing with you the night of the Fling. Japanese Student Exchange and Chaperone Summer Opportunity The Santa Barbara-Toba Sister City Organization is looking for four eighth- or ninth-grade students, ages 13 to 15, to be exchange students to Toba, Japan, during August This will be the 25th year of the program and there are a number of UU families who have participated. Four Japanese students from Toba will visit four Santa Barbara student-ambassadors for approximately eight days during Fiesta. The following week, the four Santa Barbara students will fly to Japan and share eight more days in the Japanese students' homes. The Santa Barbara students will be prepared for their experience with cultural lessons by members of the Sister City Organization. We are also looking for a chaperone to accompany the students. Please contact Sally Hamilton, sallyshamilton@gmail. com, if you are interested in being a chaperone or if you have a student to recommend. The deadline is Thursday, March 1. Religions and Other Worldviews Schedule Forty-two people participated in the first session of Religions and Other Worldviews. Ann Taves' presention on Humanism was a wonderful learning experience. The small group discussions were truly thought provoking. If you're interested in the topic and did not make it last Sunday afternoon, we'd strongly encourage you to attend future sessions. The schedule is as follows, which also indicates the UCSB Religious Studies graduate students who will be making the presentations. Jan 28 Confucianism/Daoism - Julia McClenon Feb 4 Hinduism - Ranjani Atur Feb 11 Buddhism - Jed Forman Feb 18 Native American - Margaret McMurtrey Feb 25 Judaism - Nathan Fisher Mar 4 Christianity - Nathan Fredrickson Mar 11 Islam - Caleb McCarthy Ann suggests that we read the relevant chapter in Stephen Prothero's book God Is Not One before each session. The reading is suggested, but not required. The book is available as an e-book through Kindle and ibooks, and Amazon sells a paperback version. There is not a chapter on Native American spirituality, for which Ann will provide a PDF. Your participation will be very rewarding, even if you do not get the book. Hope to see everyone next Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in Parish Hall. Ben Senauer bsenauer@umn.edu Interfaith Food & Fun Sunday, February 11 Join the Interfaith Sanctuary Alliance for Food & Fun in support of the 805 UndocuFund! February 11 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the United Methodist Church. The Undocu- Fund is a collective effort among Ventura and Santa Barbara county-based grassroots organizations to assist local undocumented immigrant individuals and families who have been economically impacted by the Thomas Fire and the mudslides in its aftermath and are excluded from many relief programs such as FEMA assistance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Page 2

3 Hey Parents! We need to know what you think about a lot of stuff. Toward that end, we will be sending several short surveys to you over the next month. This is part of our interim process, evaluating our current religious education program and looking ahead to where we would like it to be. First up... how do you feel about the timing of children s religious education? Do you like our Middle Hour format? Would you like religious education classes to be concurrent with the worship service? Does the timing of our children s programming (classes, chapels) make a difference in your regular attendance? Does it make a difference in your willingness to volunteer? Please watch Realm for each survey (I promise they will be short) and please participate. n Family Fun Night Returns to USSB in February... with Irish Music This event is for families and their children and will feature pizza, beer, soda, music, and minor mayhem. The fun will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 23. This month s event will feature USSB member Treasa McGettigan and her Irish band, The Broken Circle. So grab your kids, your friends, and your friends kids (and their friends... ) and plan to have fun learning Irish songs and jigs before Saint Pat s Day the following month. Cost is $5.00 per person and includes a slice of pizza and a beverage. Music and mayhem included, but beer and additional pizza slices are extra. Sara Sautter, Interim Director of Religious Education sara@ussb.org Imbolc Circle Saturday, February 3 Imbolc, or Brigid, is a Gaelic festival marking the lengthening days and early signs of spring. It is also the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox. Join us as we circle together and gaze into Brigid s well for inspiration and blessing. We are joining with Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation for this event. Join us at 6:30 pm at Live Oak Unitarian, 820 N. Fairview Ave., Goleta. Please RSVP to Justine Sutton queenjustine13@gmail.com. The Alliance for Living and Dying Well is a unique collaboration of local Santa Barbara entities involved in end-of-life issues and preparedness, including Cottage Health, Sansum Clinic, hospice agencies, retirement homes, physicians, faith leaders, and local foundations. The Alliance was formed with three purposes in mind: Develop and provide opportunities to foster conversation about living and dying well that are safe and supportive, Cultivate a dialogue that reduces the stress of loved ones when difficult end-of-life decisions must be made, and Enhance the quality and coordination of end-of-life care services in Santa Barbara County. The Alliance accomplishes their purposes through community-wide awareness and educational events and free public workshops where people receive materials and help to prepare their own Advance Healthcare Directives. For the past five years, the Alliance has presented Get it Done Today! a day-long, all-out effort to help people n February Outreach Offering: Alliance for Living and Dying Well complete their Advance Healthcare Directives in one sitting. The Alliance provides materials, facilitators, copy machines, and even a notary public all free of charge and all in the interest of serving as many Santa Barbara County residents as possible in one day. In 2018, the Alliance for Living and Dying Well will begin working on a new effort to expand its membership. In addition to the existing collaborative governing board, the Alliance will be working to broaden our membership to include more local hospice agencies, retirement communities, social service agencies, and faith communities. This new, more diverse and larger group of stakeholders will meet regularly to discuss end-of-life issues, create new initiatives and establish a strong local coalition of entities concerned with easing the way at the end of life. The Alliance for Living and Dying Well is helping to ensure that people in our county have the end-of-life care they desire and that families have greater peace of mind. Learn more at

4 Library Corner One of the highlights of February is Valentine s Day, so we looked for stories centered on romance for young and old. While this month s book selection goes a little deeper than the movie, both contain humor and end on a happy note. We always look forward to your feedback. Here are our reviews: The Movie: The Holiday This is a romantic comedy about two single women who trade homes for the Christmas holiday, hoping that loneliness will be erased with a change of place. Iris (Kate Winslett) is attempting to get over a pathetic relationship, and takes off for the home of Amanda, in Los Angeles. Amanda, a Hollywood advertising executive (played by Cameron Diaz), who has just dumped her boyfriend for cheating on her, heads for Iris s cozy English cottage. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery for positive feelings to emerge, as Iris finds out when she meets one of Amanda s elderly neighbors, Arthur (Eli Wallach). As luck would have it, she also stumbles into a friendship with Miles (Jack Black) who works with Amanda and is a soundtrack composer. Meanwhile, back in the cottage in England, it s a bit of rough going for Amanda at first. Then she meets Graham (Jude Law) and sparks fly. Is there going to be sex? Of course there is. When Amanda meets Graham s children, a change in her priorities begins. Besides beautiful women and good-looking men, really nice elderly folks and adorable children, we also have Santa Ana winds, lovely snow scenes, and everyone lives happily ever after. Although the critics did not particularly rave about this movie, according to Rotten Tomatoes 80% of the people who saw it liked it, including me. The Book: Major Pettigrew s Last Stand A novel by Helen Simonson Major Ernest Pettigrew leads a quiet life in a small village in the English countryside, filled with rolling hills and thatched cottages. He s a starchy retired British Army officer who is courtly, opinionated, and totally endearing, and who values duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. When the Major s brother dies, he begins to notice people around him, especially Mrs. Ali, the widow who owns the little shop in town, and who blends his tea. They develop a friendship based on a shared love of reading, especially Kipling. As their relationship moves on to something more, we learn about the small-minded bigoted locals, as well as Mrs. Ali s Pakistani family, who are just as unhelpful and bigoted as the Major s, including the Major s hilariously obnoxious son, Roger, and his American girlfriend. One of the highlights of the story involves the local golf club s annual costume party. This turns out to be a riotous disaster on many levels Although the Major and Mrs. Ali carry on, village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and regarding her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition? Read the first page of this delightful book and you will have your answer. Reviews by Ellie Tuazon Page 4

5 Have You Found Your Seat? Winter Adult Religious Enrichment Programs Did you know that in January and February and March we will have over 140 seats filled in our Adult Religious Enrichment Programs? If you have filled one, or two or three of these seats, thank you! It is your participation in the ARE offerings that bring these opportunities to life! Did you know that all of these current offerings grew out of the time, talent, and energy of our USSB members? Please join the Adult Religious Enrichment Team in thanking and appreciating these amazing folks! 1. Great Decisions Foreign Policy Discussion Program, organized by John Warnock for the third year; runs February through May; 2. Religions and Other Worldviews, reading and discussing the book God Is Not One, organized by Ben Senauer, with Anne Taves as lead instructor; 3. Taking Custody of Our Dying, organized by Eileen Bunning. Our collective congregation life is better for the contributions and leadership of John, Ben, Anne, and Eileen, along with their volunteer support teams. The Adult Religious Enrichment (ARE) Ministry Team is a team of USSB members that partner with Rev. Caitlin Cotter Coillberg to cultivate and curate programs for our adult members and friends to supplement our already robust program offerings of religious and spiritual exploration. We are Nancy Edmundson, Don Bushnell, Sue Fisher, Howard Wittausch, and Deb Karoff. We meet every other month or so to consider program applications and ideas from congregation members, and to help brainstorm and cultivate offerings from our congregation. What is coming next? We have several spring offerings in the works, so watch upcoming newsletters and weekly announcements for when spring courses will begin! Do you know we would like to hear from you about future programs? It is time to imagine and plan for late spring and early summer. Please submit a program application and encourage fellow members to submit a program application. Our ARE team will focus our resources by reviewing future program applications at our March meeting, so step right in! If you would like to talk through your idea before you submit an application, please feel free to reach out to Rev. Caitlin at (805) x244; caitlin@ussb.org. Ask for our ARE Team s support in completing a program application if that is helpful to you. Sometimes applications can seem daunting or another hoop. Not the case here; we are here to help you think through your ideas, and connect you with others in the congregation that you might team up with. We intend the program application process to help all of us think through all the components and considerations of offering a successful program here in our congregation. The ARE Ministry Team will appreciate you submitting your program applications and ideas for our consideration and development by March 18, and we will be delighted to know if you want to lead a class, workshop, or discussion group! We want you to be successful in this endeavor, and we have developed a list of guidelines and tips to help with the logistics of leading a class. Share your program proposal with the ARE Ministry Team by visiting org/lifelong-learning/programs-for-adults/, where you can read our guidelines and find a link to our online Google form application, or print out the application form PDF and fill it out at home. You may also or call Rev. Caitlin to request a paper form and then turn it in to the front office when you re done. The ARE Ministry Team reviews proposals at least quarterly, and as we consider your proposal we will stay in conversation with you to move on to the next step! Here s a heads-up... most often our review is WOW, this is great! We have a few questions, and some suggestions of resources to help you out! When our ARE team meets again in late March, we hope to be considering many interesting program proposals for the future. Let s see what wonderful programs we will all generate, support, and attend together. Nancy Edmundson Page 5

6 Announcing Women s Empowerment Fund Grant applications for 2018 are out! The USSB Women s Empowerment Fund announces that grant applications for the second round of this program are now welcome. A $1,000 grant will be awarded to a woman who is a USSB member and who has a new project that will benefit both her and other women. Charla Bregante was the first recipient of the award. Her project, Mujeres Apoyando Mujeres (Women Helping Women), works with low-income women to create regular community meetings and classes. The project was presented to the congregation at the January 28 services. Liza Donovan: Hear Our Voice, Women s Health March, Washington, D.C., 2017 The fund offers a $1,000 grant each year to a woman-member of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara for a project to benefit women. Please submit your application to the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, Attn: Women s Empowerment Fund, 1535 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA, For questions, please call: Rachel Aarons (805) , Joan Agress (805) , Sally Hamilton (805) , Diana Platt (805) , Carol Schwyzer (805) , or Melinda Staveley (805) The application form is on the next page, and the forms will also be in the church office. Members of the 2018 Selection Committee will be available to answer questions and talk about your project ideas each Sunday during Middle Hour in February and March. Here are some examples of women s issues that might give you ideas for your project: Project Ideas = Help young girls move beyond narrowly defined cultural roles = Help stay-at-home women develop a cooperative child care system = Educate about psychological issues arising out of the socialization of women and the culture of sexism = Provide clothing and skills for job interviews; = Campaign for equal pay for equal work = Write articles, a blog or a book on an issue of interest to women. = Advise and guide undocumented immigrants and students = Educate girls and teen runaways about sex trafficking = Promote protective services for female victims of domestic violence and rape = Protect women s freedom of choice in reproductive rights Page 6

7 Women s Empowerment Fund Grant Application 2018 When you submit your application please put your personal information on a separate page. We ll need your name, phone numbers (home and cell if possible) and your address. Please answer ALL questions in the order asked. 1. Describe the project you have in mind in as much detail as possible. Give us any relevant information including: (a) The plans you have to bring it about (b) The resources you would use including a sample budget (c) What thoughts you have about what would be necessary to make it successful (d) How you would disseminate information about your project (if applicable) (e) How your project relates to Unitarian Universalist principles 2. How would it benefit other women? (a) Share your vision of the positive impact it would have (b) What is the particular population it would affect? Is it aimed at women in the congregation? Women in the Santa Barbara area? Women in the country? Or women at large? (c) How would you know whether it had the desired impact? (d) How would you propose to evaluate the success of your project in terms of its benefit to women? Be as specific as possible about the means you would use. 3. Tell us about yourself. (a) What do you want to share about your life now and in the past in relation to this project proposal? (b) What moved you to apply for this grant? And why now? (c) How is it relevant to your experience in the Unitarian Society? 4. Explain how this grant would help you as an individual. (a) How would it impact your life, your career, your future? (b) What are your specific hopes and expectations if you won this grant? Please send or deliver your application to the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, Attn: Women s Empowerment Fund, 1535 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA, The deadline for applications is Sunday March 25

8 Refresh Your Resistance! Emma s Revolution in concert at USSB Saturday, April 14 at 7:00 pm Emma s Revolution is the award-winning activist power duo of Pat Humphries & Sandy O, whose songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger, and covered by Holly Near. With beautiful harmonies and genre-defying eclecticism, Emma s Revolution delivers the energy and strength of their convictions, in an uprising of truth and hope for these tumultuous times. Save the date! Emma s Revolution in Concert Saturday, April 14 at 7:00 pm Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara 1535 Santa Barbara St. Santa Barbara, CA $20 advance/$25 door For tickets and information call (805) emmasrevolution.com Emma s Revolution is well known to Unitarian Universalist audiences, performing at coffeehouses, convocations and congregations across the country. Since their appearance with Pete Seeger at the 2005 General Assembly in Fort Worth, the duo has performed at every General Assembly since Their songs, Keep on Moving Forward, Swimming to the Other Side, and Peace, Salaam, Shalom are sung by congregations across the country and included in the Earth and Spirit Songbook, the UU Tapestry of Faith series, and the UU Spanish Hymnal. The duo were also featured performers at the Parliament of the World s Religions, singing Peace, Salaam, Shalom to nearly 10,000 global and religious leaders, grassroots activists, and practitioners from 50 traditions and more than 80 countries who gathered to collaborate to achieve a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. On their new CD, Revolution Now, Emma s Revolution covers issues from reproductive justice to refugees and Black Lives Matter to the sustaining power of love. With a Photo: Irene Young core sound featuring their trademark exquisite harmonies and acoustic guitars, the duo s songs span styles from folk to jazz and funk to rock. Revolution Now brings these tools of inspiration and motivation to fuel resistance movements at this tumultuous time. As Pete Seeger inspired them to sing on the new CD, Hope changes everything! Emma s Revolution invokes Woody Guthrie and the revolutionary mind on Revolution Now, a rocking new album brimming with songs that inspire, enlighten and unify. Mary Sue Twohy (FolkDJ, SiriusXM) Emma s Revolution remains vital and relevant with their new CD that demonstrates the talented duo s versatility. There are powerful topical songs, like Fire in Ferguson, some beautiful songs about love, and an absolutely wonderful tribute to Pete Seeger, Sing People, Sing! Nick Noble (WICN, Worcester, MA) Page 8

9 Alliance Friday, February 2 at 2:00 pm, join us for the presentation "More Than Showers," a look at the Showers of Blessing program with our own Ken Ralph. For more information, see The Alliance Presents on page 8. Vegan Potluck Our next USSB vegan potluck will be Saturday, February 3 at 4:15 pm in Blake Lounge. Please bring a plant-based, vegan dish that serves people, and bring utensils, dishes, cups, and napkins. Cathy Albanese to RSVP, and for more information visit potluck. USSB Women's Group Our February meetings will be on Monday, February 12 and February 26 at 1:30 pm in La Paz Lounge. Unless we know how we got here, how do we know where we are? At the next Women's Group on Monday, February 12, Karen Bradstreet and Karolyn Renard will lead a discussion on interesting and little-known aspects of the early settlement of America from several books we have been reading. Frontier, a nonfiction personal and historical account by Louis L'Amour, and The Jamestown Project, by Karen Ordahl Tupperman, which brings together the many influences that led to the first barely successful colonization venture. This history is relevant to where we are today as a society and adds to the conversation about the origins of Western Civilization that Marika Davidek started several months ago with her presentation on pre-classical Greek civilization. USSB Women's Group, which meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month, focuses on general interest subjects and activities of interest to women. We have a variable format, including topical discussions, speakers, group book readings, and open topic meetings. Healthy snacks will be provided. Newcomers welcomed! Contact Karolyn Renard for more information. Ongoing Events at USSB Quantum Field Theory & Consciousness Affinity Group Our next meeting will be Monday, February 19 at 7:15 pm in Blake Lounge. Gatherings will open with an understandable video describing quantum mechanics and consciousness by leading physicists and metaphysicists, followed by intellectual discussion. We normally meet the third Monday of each month. Book Discussion Group Meets the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm in La Paz Lounge. The next meeting will be February 20. Contact Al Melkonian for more information. Science Night Join us Tuesday, February 20 at 7:30 pm in Blake Lounge. Come for the interesting presentations and the thoughtful discussion that follows. You don t need to be any kind of expert on science to enjoy this. We are now watching the DVD Skyglow, which shows night sky all over the world in various conditions. The photography is breathtaking. It was done by two photojournalists as a four-year project after they graduated. Potluck Game Night What could be more UU than board games and a potluck dinner? Bring a dish to share and your own tableware. Our next Potluck Game Night is on Friday, February 23 in Parish Hall from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. All are welcome! n Thanks to Secret Santas To all you Secret Santas who bought gifts for the women and children staying in the Domestic Violence Solutions Shelter over the holidays, here is a thank you message from the shelter: We cannot thank you enough, again this year, for your kind hearts and extreme generosity. Your gifts made a lifetime of impact on DVS clients and their children. We are forever grateful! Over 80 gifts were donated right during the time of the Thomas Fire. Bravo and thank you! Love, Sally Hamilton Page 9

10 The Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara 1535 Santa Barbara Street Santa Barbara, CA Office: (805) Fax: (805) Rev. Julia Hamilton, Lead Minister, Rev. Caitlin Cotter Coillberg, Assistant Minister, Erin Wilson, Director of Administration, Ken Ryals, Choral Director, Sara Sautter, Interim Director of Religious Education, Megan Moyer, Membership Coordinator, Greg Otero, Facilities Use Coordinator, Eden Kennedy, Office Manager, Rob Brown, Building Manager, Jon Diaz, Sexton, Heather Levin, Accompanist Mahlon Balderston, Organist Emeritus Rev. Kenneth Collier, Minister Emeritus Sunday Worship Services at 9:15 and 11:15 am Nursery & Children s Care: Sunday 9:00 am to 12:30 pm in Starr King Office is open Sunday mornings and Monday to Thursday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Deadline for the March issue: Monday, February 19 Kaleidoscope@ussb.org The Alliance Presents Friday, February 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm in Parish Hall Join us to for our program, More Than Showers, a deeper look at what Showers of Blessings actually does, featuring our very own speaker extraordinaire, Ken Ralph. Ken has been, and still is, an important contributor at USSB over the years, serving on the Board of Trustees, the Worship Committee, as Facilities Manager, and much more. Friday, March 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm in Parish Hall March is Women s History Month is the Year of the Woman. Our very own Marty Blum, whose many accomplishments include Mayor of Santa Barbara will speak about women in leadership. Be part of this women s Revolution. Bring your friends. Join us the first Friday of each month from October to June for a stimulating presentation and the informal talk and delicious afternoon treat that follows. All are welcome: USSB congregants, friends, neighbors, and men and women of all ages. Contributions of some goodies to share is appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you. Page 10