Newsletter of Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
8778 Cottonwood Ave., Santee, CA 92071
Please mark your calendars-The Scene at Summit’s July 2008 edition deadline will be Monday, June 23 and the Mailing Party will be Thursday, June 26.
Sunday Services - 10:00 a.m.
June 1: Coming of Age Service
Please make every effort to attend this special service and support our Coming of Age students. These young men and women will present their own faith statements developed through this year-long program as they transition from childhood to young adulthood. A special reception will follow. THIS IS ALSO THE DATE FOR OUR CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
June 8: Blessing of the Animals Rev. Kathleen A. Green
Join us for an intergenerational, interspecies service in which you are invited to bring your well-behaved companion animals, or a photo of them. Please have your pet either leashed or caged, if appropriate. We will honor and bless our animal companions; sentient beings with whom we share our lives and our earth. Our choir will be singing.
June 15: Journeys Rev. Kathleen A. Green
Summertime is typically the time for journeying. Families take vacations and UU ministers take time off! Before we hit the road on our journeys, let us take a moment to reflect on our journey together as a beloved community and reflect on those who would be our journeying companions. This is the last service in our regular service schedule. Our Choir will be singing.
Welcome to the first service in our Summit Summer Sundays Series!
June 22: Words of Influence Service Leader: Gwen Baldwin
Words can be powerful. They can change attitudes, move a person to action or lead to deeper understanding. Michelle Beauchamp, Ken Davis, Jenny Saar and Jennifer White will share the impact influential words have had on their lives. You may wish to bring your own words of inspiration (a quote, adage or short poem/tale) to share during circle discussion. Ed Henry will provide music.
June 29: Guest minister, Dr. Peggy Rowe
Dr. Rowe is an ordained Buddhist minister and teacher in the Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. She has spoken at a number of Unitarian Universalist congregations around the country and we are privileged to have her at Summit for this service.
From the President’s Desktop
Dear Friends,
Our Congregational Meeting is fast approaching (June 1st), and may be over by the time you read this. At the meeting we will vote on next year’s budget, By-Law changes and board members. The Nominating Committee proposed the following for next year’s Board: Miles Beauchamp, Laurel Bernstein, Neal Biggart, Ellen Gifford, Chris Steussy, Gwen Curry (secretary), Jeff Garvey (treasurer), Toni Rogers (vice president) and myself as president for one more year.
As of this time the budget is shaping up well. Despite increased expenses associated with owning our own building and the loss of our renter, we are very close to a balanced budget. We should be proud of all we have accomplished over the past few years!
Given the nearly balanced budget, the difficulty in finding a renter in the current market, and the likelihood that any renter would want a multiyear lease, the Board believes that we should not attempt to rent the space at this time but use it for Summit activities. One possibility being explored is Children’s RE expansion.
The Task Force on Growth has been meeting every week to explore ways to accommodate the increased Sunday attendance. Their first recommendation, supported by the Board, is to move the wall between the Sanctuary and Greeting Room. This would result in room for over 60 more chairs in the Sanctuary. An additional 20 chairs could be obtained by moving the storage room behind the choir. (Funding for these changes would come from the Spirit Level Grant with a match from our Capital Funds.)
The Comprehensive Planning Committee has recommended an Organizational Structure that incorporates a Programs Council to increase communication within the Congregation, between committees, and between the Board and committees. The Vice President would be in charge of the Council, which would include committee chairs and task coordinators and working groups of those with common interests or overlapping activities. More details coming!
Charts of the proposed overall Organizational Structure, the Programs Council working groups, as well as diagrams of proposed changes to the Sanctuary, will be available in the Salon and posted soon on the Summit website. If you haven’t looked lately, you should visit the website and see its great new look! As always, comments and suggestions are welcome on any of these activities.
Yours in fellowship, Debbie
From the Minister’s MailboxDear Ones,
As the regular congregational year winds down, and the summer schedule starts up, my first year of ministry with you is nearing its end. I can hardly believe it! Look at what we have done this past year:
· We banded together during the wildfires and supported one another
· We made a few changes in our Sunday morning service that have enhanced the spiritual experience and offered opportunities for spiritual growth
· We held our first wedding in the facility – members Cathy Long and Chuck Young
· We celebrated three lives of members & friends who passed away – Robert Tjepkema, Lloyd Clark, Belle Kuhlwald
· We had a standing room only Christmas Eve service and were honored to have some of our returning college students participate in the service
· We had a hospitality workshop because we realize how important it is to be welcoming to guests and each other
· We formed an impressive Committee on Ministry to keep a finger on the pulse of Summit and all of its ministries
· We added fifteen new members who immediately involved themselves in Summit life by serving as Campus Greeters each Sunday, and we restructured our Membership Committee
· We held a beautiful installation service and a party to rival all parties
· We brought in guest speakers, guest ministers, and welcomed many visitors to our Sunday services
· We celebrated big birthdays and honored a gorgeous tapestry of joys & concerns
· We put the fun back into fundraising with our spectacular auction, concert series, and soon-to-be-enjoyed Ice Cream Social
· We were awesome stewards of our buildings and grounds – pitching in on landscaping, providing needed signage, remodeling our Salon, and putting touches of beauty in it all through our Aesthetics Committee
· We grew our Covenant Groups to seven, with nearly seventy people participating
· We revamped our website and have guests every week who find us through the internet
· We held a Planning Ahead Seminar to offer information on end-of-life issues, sponsored by our Caring Committee
· We kept our choir singing through transition when member Neal Biggart stepped forward as Interim Director and the search committee found our new Choir Director, Susan Simpson
· We continued to be blessed by the talents of our many musicians
· We grew our Religious Exploration program, under the direction of our beloved Director Connie Henry and her band of many teachers, and had a Coming of Age class, as well as Sr. High Youth participation in leading Sunday services
· We committed ourselves to further engagement in our seventh principle by planning to go solar
· We began a knitting ministry that is serving both the Summit community and the wider community
· We strengthened our engagement in social justice issues by continued relationship with Crisis House, Amnesty International, Interfaith Shelter, La Esperanza, and other groups – we can’t forget our fabulous Empty Bowls luncheon
· We held our very first Fellowship Nite, sponsored by our Adult Religious Exploration Committee
· We kept the office up and running with the dedication of our Office Administrator, Linda Peck and her crew of equally dedicated volunteers
· We formed a Growth Task Force to help lead us into the next steps for handling our organic growth
· We continued and grew a plethora of activities and programs such as the Writers Group, Freethinkers, Circle Dinners, and much more
Can you believe we did all of this? I’m sure we did even more than I have listed, and there’s much more to come this month. Kudos to you all! Uber-kudos to Summit’s leadership! We did all of this together and are poised to continue growing in spirit and numbers. Even though we have come, as Rev. Barbara Pescan said in her installation sermon, "So far, so soon, so fast”, we still have much work to be done and need your leadership, your time, your talent, and your treasure. In order to serve our mission and vision at Summit we need everyone – that includes you – to step up and help out. What are you passionate about and where do you see yourself contributing? I’m happy to meet with you and help you find your place at Summit. We’ve a long walk ahead of us, and isn’t that exciting?
Yours for the good cause,
Rev. Kathleen
Summer is coming! Summer is coming!
Have you ever thought about leading or helping to lead a Sunday service at Summit? Have you done it before and found it so rewarding that you’d like to do it again? Our Summer Sunday service schedule is being put together and a special opportunity is being offered to all Summit members and friends:
WORSHIP WORKSHOP 101 SAT., MAY 31 10-1
(LUNCH PROVIDED)
Rev. Kathleen will lead this workshop for all those who are interested in leading or being part of a summer service, a service any other time of the year, serving on the Sunday Services Committee, and those who are just plain interested in the topic! Please plan to join the Sunday Services Committee and Rev. Kathleen for a morning of learning, laughing, planning, and experiencing. Childcare will be available, but a reservation must be made. Please contact Rev. Kathleen to reserve your spot.
Special Circle Discussion on June 8th
We normally do not hold Circle Discussion after intergenerational services, but June 8th will be an exception. Please join members of our Growth Task Force to hear about their research over the past couple of months with regard to handling our growth issues in the short term and long term. The Growth Task Force looks forward to sharing the exciting ideas and options for our facility, as well as hearing your feedback. Members of the Growth Task Force are: Mark Bryning, Jennifer White, Jai Ghorpade, Barbara Sorenson, Miles Beauchamp, Mark Weedman, and Rev. Kathleen ex officio.
THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL MEMBERS & STAFF!
The Board of Directors would like to thank the following for their generous support of our fellowship. We appreciate all you do to make Summit a wonderful place to be!
Judy Carlstrom for sharing her gifts at the District Assembly by playing the hammer dulcimer at Saturday’s worship.
Shelly Lekven for donating fragrance-free natural candles for our Sunday services.
Margo Mariana and the Adult RE Committee for organizing our first Fellowship Night’s soup and salad dinner.
The Growth Task Force for the speed at which they worked to come up with recommendations.
Coming of Age coordinators, mentors and volunteers, with big props to Leslie Robard, for supporting our youth.
Jai Ghorpade and the Comprehensive Planning Committee for excellent work in devising a Committee structure.
Lisa Garvey and the Finance Committee for working hard to balance the budget while supporting the needs and desires of all our membership.
From Your Office Administrator
Summit is a busy place these days. We are all working hard to keep up with the changes and new faces in our beloved community. And people are getting ready to go on vacation! There is much to do.
We are implementing a new lock/key system for the doors to the Summit facility. Jack Shu has studied our lock systems and installed new code boxes that will hold the key to the doors they are next to. Any and all who need access must sign the security log to get the access code. The log will be at the volunteer desk. For more information, please call Jack at 619-460-9315 or email jkshu@cox.net.
I am in short supply of office volunteers and it is getting worse with summertime upon us. If you can spare one morning or afternoon a week to help answer phones, do copying or other office work please call or email me at 619-562-0833 or email summitunitarian@sbcglobal.net, to coordinate what times you might be available. The work is very light office stuff and I’m really not demanding! Thank you! Linda Peck
Come One, Come All!!
To the first
Gourmet Ice Cream Sundae, SundayFUNdraiser
Sunday, June 22nd, After Service
The Fundraising Events Committee is at it again, for one big push to raise money so we can meet our 2007 fiscal goal of $20,000. Folks we are almost there! We are so close we can practically smell it, taste it, lick it, bite it! This Gourmet Ice Cream Sundae Sunday should bring us to that goal, and hopefully topple it! Like a big maraschino cherry dangling from a mountain of whipping cream over a huge scoop of your creamy cold favorite!
This event will be fun for the family, fun for the granny, and good for the fanny. Heck! bring the Nanny! Our main feature will be the wide variety of homemade toppings inspired by many of our Summit chefs. We will have fabulous flavors of ice cream, even a surprise raffle!!
So bring some cash, and of course an empty belly for some late morning ice cream fun. See you there!!
Your friendly, FEC -Pilar Placone Willey, Mary Braunwarth, and Lisa Garvey
P.S. The committee for the June Ice Cream Social is asking for donations of metal spoons. Please bring to church your spares to donate. This will begin a collection of non-disposable ware and we can eliminate so much throw-away paper and plastic. Thanks!
Edward Davis
Within the Congregation
♥ Please remember Tyra Myles’ family in your thoughts and prayers, as her mother-in-law died on May 11.
♥ We are happy to see Pat Gille and Pat Bryning back at services! Both are recuperating after knee replacement surgery.
♥ “The Rev. Ric Masten, a poet, artist, and UU community minister died on May 9." Ric visited with Summit several years ago and shared his wonderful presence and poetry, “Let It Be a Dance.”
Sunday Café
Janet Dixon, who has been the Coordinator of Hospitality for many years, is stepping down this month. (A rousing thank you to Janet for all that she’s done each Sunday!)
With the Sunday attendance continuing to grow, it is becoming very costly for one family to provide the refreshments each week. Some weeks, there are no refreshments. We’d like to try something new – Sunday Café.
Sunday Café is a schedule whereby every Summit group (committees, task forces, covenant groups, choir, musicians, etc, etc, etc) would be responsible for bringing refreshments and making coffee on a particular Sunday.
Suzanne Ghorpade has graciously agreed to coordinate the Sunday Café effort (yeh Suzanne!). A schedule of dates for the year will be distributed to all in mid-June. Suzanne will send
a reminder e-mail each week to the contact person for whatever group is scheduled for
the upcoming Sunday beginning with the July 5 Sunday.
We hope that you’ll support this effort in the spirit of fun and fellowship so that we may continue to break bread with each other. Toni Rogers
Religious Exploration for Children and Youth
Coming of Age youth, parents, siblings, mentors and facilitators will come together for a celebratory dinner and ceremony on Friday, May 30, to mark the completion of the nine month program. On Sunday, June 1, at 10:00 a.m., the Coming of Age youth will present their faith statements to the congregation and will play a major role in conducting the service. Please join us!
Summit UU Roots and Shoots will begin June 22 and will comprise our multi-age summer program. Roots and Shoots is an international network of kids and adults working toward positive social change through community service and social justice projects, large and small, global and local, and designed by the individual groups (such as ours). Visit the website at www.rootsandshoots.org., and if you’d like to offer a hand with this exciting project, please contact me.
District Assembly (April 25 to 27) highlight: The Friday evening Opening Service began with a rousing banner parade. Representatives from participating Pacific Southwest District churches and fellowships proudly carried their congregations’ banners up the center aisle of the large hall and around and down both sides, accompanied by wonderful (and livelier than usual for UUs) singing and percussion. Thanks to Tania Luna-deAlva for carrying Summit’s banner and to her mom, Trish, and brother, Dante, for their assistance!
MANY THANKS to our May volunteers: Mahrya Hafner, Elinor Weed, Mary Braunwarth, Leslie Robard, Shelley Lekven, Frank Placone-Willey, Gary Baldwin, Joe Braunwarth, Pierre Vaughn, Jess Vaughn, Alix Hart, Mark Bryning, Glenn Sasaki, Alan McQuaide, Norma Pizarro, Neal Biggart, Stacey Sasaki, Mark Wheeler, Teresa Palombo, Mary Ellen Shu, Ann Olson, Mark Weedman, Viraj Ward, Patti Quint and Misha Chapman.
Please contact me with any questions, concerns or ideas.
Social Action Corner
Service Is Our Prayer
Helping Others In East County
Thanks to all the Summitarians who donated to our collection for Crisis House on Sunday, May 18th. The $658 collected will be used to purchase gas and grocery store gift cards to be distributed by Crisis House to families in need. The sagging economy and soaring gas prices are affecting everyone but is having a dire effect on families with very tight budgets. Our efforts will be greatly appreciated.
How Can You Help In Summit Social Action Efforts?
Financial:
Collection on Sunday, June 15th for Survivors of Torture. Survivors of Torture, International is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for survivors of politically-motivated torture and their families who live in San Diego County. Since 1997, this organization has helped more than 750 torture survivors from more than 55 countries to recover from their traumas through a holistic program including medical, dental, psychiatric, psychological, legal and social services. Thank you for your support of their efforts. Please make checks payable to SUUF with Survivors of Torture on the item line.
The Social Action Committee encourages you to donate to the relief efforts for those affected by thecyclone in Myanmar. You may send you checks to Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
UUSC-UUA Cyclone Nargis Relief Fund
P.O. Box 845259
Boston, MA 02284-5259
or donate on line at http://www.uusc.org/info/support_cyclonenargis.html. The local organization, Rescue Task Force, has finally made contacts that will be delivering supplies to those in need. If wish to support this group go to http://www.rescuetaskforce.org/index.html or mail your check to Rescue Task Force 864 North 2nd Street #340 El Cajon, CA 92021
Fair Trade Coffee: Fair Trade coffee and chocolate bars (while they last!) will be for sale on June 15th. The Fair Trade table will be set up in the salon, just inside the doorway. Questions or orders? Contact Lynne Slaughter.
People Power:
Amnesty International: Our next meetingis Monday, May 26th at 7:00 pm in the conference room. The June meeting will be Monday, June 30th at 7 pm. Please join us! Questions? Contact Viraj Ward.
Pride Parade Parasol Precision Team – We are assembling a group of walkers to form a Parasol Precision Team for the LGBT Pride Parade on Saturday, July 19th. Last year’s parade was a blast and this year’s should be even more fun. Join other UUs in letting San Diegans know we truly believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. For more info on the parade, go to http://sandiegopride.org/6/Parade.htm. If you wish to join the “team”, contact Gwen Baldwin (gwenbaldwin@gmail.com) or call 619-697-3485. The more, the merrier!
Please join us for the next Social Action Committee meeting in Conference Room #1 at 8:30 am on Sunday, June 8th. Newcomers welcome! Questions? Contact Gary Baldwin.
Meet the Minister on the 2nd Sunday of the month
Visitors and new members are welcome to join Rev. Kathleen after the worship service on the 2nd Sunday of the month, June 8, from 11:30-noon. We will meet in the office for informal discussion in order to get to know one another and give you an opportunity to ask the minister questions regarding Unitarian Universalism and the Summit community.
Membership Committee
MAKE SUNDAYS MORE MEANINGFUL
Volunteer once a month and give back to our vibrant, loving community
by practicing the spirituality of welcoming.
Volunteer to be a Campus Greeter, Visitor Host or an Usher. As you may have noticed we have added two Campus Greeters near the ends of the building. Our newest members have been filling that role. We need some of our “older” members also. We also have many dedicated volunteers who serve as Ushers each Sunday in the Sanctuary. We also have our loyal Hosts at the Visitor Table who give a warm welcome and information to our visitors.
Some of these volunteers will be rotating off soon. We will need others do these fulfilling jobs. Won’t you be one of the “others”? Please contact Pat Summers, Jennifer White. It is a small commitment of time but an important way to give back to Summit.
Elaine Harper Membership Chairperson
Committee Spotlight
This month’s spotlight shines on Summit’s Finance Committee. This incredible team works hard to see that the finances of Summit are in order so that our staff is compensated, mortgage and bills are paid, and other money matters are cared for. Preparing the annual budget is quite an undertaking and crunching the budget isn’t exactly the most exciting way to spend a Thursday evening, yet our Finance Committee stays the task and gets it done! This year the Finance Committee has been examining the process and implementation of a Planned Giving program and Endowment Fund. If you are interested in more information about the work of this committee, please contact one of the members. Thank you Finance Committee for your dedication to Summit.
The Finance Committee meets monthly and its membership includes:
Lisa Garvey (Chairperson), John McQuaide, Ellen Gifford, Lois Davies, Vic White, Debbie Wingard
Adult Religious Exploration
SURVEY:
Please let us know-
WHAT TYPE OF CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES WOULD YOU LIKE?
THE DAYS AND TIMES YOU WOULD PREFER ARE?
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN OFFERING A CLASS AND/OR A TALK IN THE FUTURE? IF SO, WHAT TOPIC(S)?
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ARE COMMITTEE TO PLAN FUTURE PROGRAMMING? IF SO PLEASE CONTACT MARGO MARIANA AT 619-465-7909 or e-mail at margomariana@yahoo.com .
The Drumming Circlewill gather on June 29 at 5:30 in the lobby/greeting room. All are welcome. If you would like to come and don’t have an instrument we have extras!
Freethinkers
Jai Ghorpade will present a talk and lead a discussion on the topic of Religiosity and Prejudice at the June 3rd evening meeting at 7:00 pm. Jai has been researching this subject and is ready to discuss it with us.
Wednesday morning Freethinkers will be taking a summer hiatus. Watch for new offerings in the August Scene at Summit.
Lunch Bunch
All Summitarians who would like more fellowship and food after Sunday services are welcome to gather with the lunch bunch.
June is here! On June 1, let’s replenish our energy at Jimmy’s, 6935 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee. Michael’s Grill, 9621 Mission Gorge Rd., in Santee, would be great for June 8. Father’s Day will be June 15, and it would be great if you would like to bring your father to join us at Panda Country, 9621 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee. How about Olive Garden on June 22, at 9800 Mission Gorge Rd., in Santee? And let’s wrap up the month on June 29 at Applebee’s, 107 Fletcher Pkwy., El Cajon.
If you intend to join us, please print your name on the hanging sign-up sheet in the lobby during the coffee time so we can phone ahead at 11:30 for reservations. See you there!
Sunday Morning Meditation
We will have a meditation/prayer session from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. each Sunday morning before the service begins. And Wednesday Mornings at 8:30.
Summit Knitting Ministry
Summit's Knitting Ministry has given four comfort shawls to members of our beloved community and donated half a dozen blankets to an organization called the Linus Project . We currently have twenty preemie hat/blanket sets and over a dozen baby hats for distribution to Grossmont Hospital. That special delivery will take place at the end of this month and there will be a blessing ceremony in our June 15th Sunday service so that everyone can view the beautiful items made and send the items off with love from Summit. Please remember that you don't need to come to a meeting to participate in Summit's Knitting Ministry. You can work on projects from home and drop the finished items off to the Summit office. The Summit Knitting Ministry is open to all men, women, and youth who wish to participate. Contact Rev. Kathleen for more info and check the Summit calendar for meeting times.
Directory Bandaid
Please update your directory with the following information. This will cut down on calls to the office. Thank you.
Bill Stanhope’s new address: 522 Los Altos, Chula Vista, 91914
Choir Director, Susan Simpson’s email: susanannsimpson@hotmail.com
Andy Simpson’s email: opa.simpson@gmail.com
Toni Rogers’ new cell phone number: 619-857-2215
LaMar Rogers’ new cell phone number: 619-987-5714
Chris Wetzel’s email: revchriswetzel@cox.net
Flowers for Sunday Services
The flowers at our Sunday services always add a soft spirit to the room. If you would be interested in commemorating a personal special occasion or honoring a loved one by providing a flower arrangement for a particular Sunday, contact Barbara Jania-Smith at 619-461-7039. You and your occasion will be mentioned in that Sunday’s order of service. Thank you!
Solar Electrical System
We all have a great opportunity to support Summit and the environment! Norm Dessel donated his time and expertise to design and contract for a solar energy system. Now an anonymous donor has offered to match every donation to the Solar Fund, so that we can qualify for the state rebate! Combined with donations to date, we are very hopeful that we can raise the $30,000 needed. We can cancel the contract should we fall short, but really hope that is not necessary. If you can support this wonderful cause (maybe with your tax incentive? ) please contact John McQuaide or Linda at the office. We are happy to answer any questions.
Attention all email users:
If you are not currently receiving our eNews each Monday and Friday, and you would like to, please contact Wendell Rawlins at wrawlins@cox.net. The Summit website, www.summitarian.org, has a calendar with the latest schedule of events, our newsletters, and a special members only section (call the office for the password).
Information from the Larger UU Community and the UUA
The Annual General Assembly of
The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
June 25 - 29
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Featured Presentations:
hCombating the Assault on Civil Liberties
h Interfaith Youth in the Age of Fundamentalism
hWrestling with Whiteness: The Politics of Jewish Identity
h Peace-Making and the Questions of Jesus
Plus worship, workshops, fellowship, and more!
For registration and information: uua.org
Skinner House Books
Skinner House Books invites you to submit meditations for a meditation anthology to be edited by Victoria Safford, author of Walking Toward Morning. The new anthology will be published in May 2009.
Prose meditations should be between 200 and 650 words. Poetry meditations should be no longer than 54 lines each. Meditations can be serious or funny. They should be suitable for both private reflection and public worship.
Your submission should include a cover letter and 5 or fewer complete pieces of original work. In your cover letter, please provide information on how to contact you, identify your affiliation with UU’ism, and provide some context for the writing in your sample, such as the purpose for which the pieces were originally written and the themes that interest you. Submissions will be accepted until July 1, 2008. Please note that all meditations will be edited and that authors are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission to use copyrighted material.
Send submissions to: Mary Benard, Senior Editor
Skinner House Books
UUA of Congregations
25 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02108
or email mbenard@uua.org
