Save the Date: District Assembly in Del Mar April 25-27

——— Save-the-date: Wed., May 14^th, at 6 pm ————

 Something extraordinary is happening at Summit on Wed., May 14^th, at 6pm. You won’t want to miss it. It’s Fellowship Nite for the entire Summit community. Come for the meal and stay for the fellowship! More details to come.

—ATTENTION—

Editor’s Corner 

The Scene at Summit’s May 2008 edition deadline will be Monday, April 21^st & the Mailing Party will be Thursday, April 24^th.

Summit’s Office Information

Minister:  Rev. Kathleen A. Green: 619-562-0833, ex. 203 / summitrev@cox.net 

Office Schedule:      Monday - Day off

Tues. - 10:00 to 4:30, call for appointments

Wed./ Thurs. - 1:00 to 4:30, call for appointments

Fri. - Minister’s Study day

DRE:  Connie Henry: 619-562-0833, ex. 204 / conniehenry@cox.net 

Office Admin./Editor:  Linda Peck: 619-562-0833, ex. 202 / summitunitarian@sbcglobal.net

President:  Debbie Wingard: dwingard@ucsd.edu

 

April 6:  Celebration Sunday - Let Our Light Shine  Rev. Kathleen A. Green

We will kick off our annual pledge drive on this day as we celebrate our generosity. Music, food, and sharing will be plenty throughout this special service. This will also be the first in a series of three services that Rev. Kathleen will conduct, focused on the topic of stewardship. Our choir will sing, along with Richard Wilkie & Elaine Harper, and our Coming of Age class!

April 13:  They Ain't Heavy  Rev. Kathleen A. Green

Second in the stewardship series, this service looks at our stewardship of each other – our brothers and sisters. What a fitting day for our New Member Welcome Ceremony. A reception to honor our new members will be held during our social time, after the service.

April 20:  Common Ground  High School Youth Group & Rev. Kathleen A. Green

This final service in the stewardship series considers stewardship of our planet. The High School Youth Group will help with this service and share their passion for this topic.

April 27:  Guest Speaker, AJ Blackwell

AJ Blackwell is a student at Claremont School of Theology, and member of our sister congregation in Costa Mesa, CA.

May 4:  Yam HaShoah and Other Times for Prayer  Rev. Kathleen A. Green

Yom HaShoah translated into English is "Holocaust Remembrance Day". It is a day of great sadness and painful memories but it is also a day to consider the idea of prayer. We will both remember the tragedy of history and celebrate the intention of prayer. Our choir will sing at this service.

From The Minister’s Mailbox:

Dear Ones,

Do you know who the happiest people in the world are? It’s those who give a fair amount of their treasure to charitable causes that mean the most to their lives. According to a report in the journal Science, people who made gifts to others or to charities reported they were happier than those who didn’t share. I read a brief article in the San Diego Union Tribune last week about how the way people spend their money makes a difference in their happiness. The lead researcher for the study quoted in the article said, "…even making small alterations in how we spend money can make a difference in happiness. The message is, given what you have, how can you make little alterations to do something for others." I can tell you that Mitchell and I will be doing just that with regard to our financial commitment to Summit for the next year. Given what we have, we will alter our pledge; increasing it by 10%. It isn’t a huge amount of money over the course of a year, but it is a little alteration that we can do for Summit. It is our way of giving to others through the good works of Summit. Will we have to cut back on, or cut out, giving to other charitable causes? Maybe. Is Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship that important to the life of our family? Yes! Will increasing our giving, and thereby helping Summit’s light shine more brightly, make us any happier? Without a doubt!

April 6^th is Celebration Sunday and I look forward to celebrating our generosity on this special day as we eat together, sing together, fellowship together, and recommit our treasure to Summit together. I am proud to not only be the minister, but to also be a pledging member of our beloved community. It is both a privilege and a responsibility that I take very seriously. It is a part of my spiritual practice. I encourage you to take some time over the next week to consider your own commitment and connection with Summit. Given what you have, isn’t there a little alteration you can make in your spending that might just make a difference in your happiness? Together, let’s let our light shine! Please join me in making this happen.

Yours for the good cause,

Rev. Kathleen

 

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESKTOP

Dear Friends.

Summit is truly a wonderful and caring community, as was repeatedly noted in our recent focus groups. Evidence can be seen every week, from individual support to those in need (i.e. rides, shopping or lending an ear), to community support for the running of our Fellowship. We could not accomplish all we do without the constant support of our volunteers and staff. Thank you so much!

One of our dedicated groups, the Finance Committee, has spent this month developing a draft budget for next year. The budget will be revised once the annual campaign commitments are completed and then voted on at a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 1^st. As part of these efforts, the Finance Committee has recommended that we hire a single custodian to handle gardening, janitorial work and minor maintenance. We currently hire multiple people for these tasks. This will be more efficient and cost effective. The Personnel Committee will be helping us with recruiting and hiring for this new position.

The Facilities Planning Committee has likewise been busy reviewing the list of priorities developed from a survey of the community over a year ago, plus ongoing input from individual members. They have compared this list to currently available income from grants received from The Spirit Level Foundation and Chalice Lighters and matching funds from Capital Campaign funds collected to date. The Finance Committee has reviewed the Capital Campaign budget (which ends in June of 2009) and has determined that we are on track to pay down the mortgage as planned, as well as collect the funds anticipated for facility improvements. The Facilities Committee has therefore recommended to the Board that we purchase an improved sound system for the Sanctuary, chairs for the Salon, outdoor play equipment for Children’s Religious Exploration (plus improved outdoor storage), and development of a landscape plan (to include improved parking, outdoor seating and designated safe pathways). Suggestions are always welcome!

Thanks again to all of these dedicated volunteers. If anyone is interested on serving on one of these committees, or any of the many others that keep our Fellowship running so smoothly, please contact Linda or someone on the Board.

Yours in fellowship, Debbie

 

TASK FORCE ON GROWTH

Summit has been blessed by an increase in membership, as well as increased attendance at Sunday services and our religious exploration program. The Board therefore established a task force to investigate and make recommendations to the Fellowship on issues brought about by this growth. Specifically the group has been asked to 1) determine how best to accommodate increased Sunday service attendance over the short term (next 6 months to a year), 2) determine how best to accommodate increased Sunday service attendance over the long term (1-5 years), and 3) address other issues related to increased membership (including RE growth and integration of new members).

The Task Force, which is meeting on a weekly basis, includes: Miles Beauchamp, Mark Bryning, Jai Ghorpade, Barbara Sorensen, Mark Weedman, Jennifer White, and Rev. Kathleen Green. Please feel free to contact any of them or any Board member with your comments or suggestions.

From Our Music Committee Chairperson

It appears that some hymnals are missing from the sanctuary. I counted 106 in the sanctuary and we had 118 at one point when Tom Owen-Towle was our interim minister. If you happen to have moved a hymnal to another room or taken one home for some reason, would you please return it to the box under or by the New Members table in the greeting area. We have to determine how many more hymnals we need to purchase.

Summit's Celebration Sunday: Let Our Light Shine

Sunday April 6th

Please plan to attend a breakfast celebration to renew our spiritual and financial commitments to Summit UU Fellowship. Our celebration will take place on April 6th in the sanctuary during the Sunday service. In addition to an inspiring program, you will be asked to complete your annual commitment card to support Summit's extraordinary efforts as a beacon of liberal religion in East County. You will also be updated about the final year of Summit's capital campaign and about Summit's solar energy project. Although we will be taking a break from campaign visits to your home this year, we still look forward to your enthusiastic support of Summit's employees, facilities and programs. For more information, please contact Sandy Bernstein or Neal Biggart.

Let Your Light Shine!

I have been deeply involved in Summit's annual and capital campaigns for the past three years, first as gifts chair, then as campaign co-chair and now as campaign chair. Do I enjoy asking people for money? Am I am especially skilled at the task? No. My efforts are simply my way of helping to compensate the Summit community for all it has done for me and my family. As a result of attending Summit each Sunday, I feel connected, centered and inspired. I leave the service, convinced that something we have done or will do can make a difference. Serving and donating to assure Summit's financial health is critical to me, because I need Summit in my life. I hope that you will contribute as a way of showing your commitment to this wonderful community.

Sandy Bernstein, Campaign Chair

 

For my entire life I have fought for gender, racial, and social class respect. I despised being automatically discounted in a man's world and I felt I had to fight prejudice, which sometimes left me beat up. Since I found institutionalized religion to be rampant with such prejudice, I became isolated from community of any sort. I came to Summit by accident, not intending to stay, but after some time, and after Bob Moore's $1000 sermon on liberal politics, I realized that I was safe at Summit. Safe to be myself, to relax, to work. I have wonderful friends whom I treasure deeply. My family is here. For this, I give as much as I can afford to make sure I continue to have a safe and loving place.

Neal Biggart, Campaign Co-Chair

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!

Frank Placone-Willey for leading an inspiring Adult RE series on Sunday mornings.

Jenny Saar, Connie Henry and Warren Nelson for contributing their incredible baking skills to the March birthday celebration.

Karen Cleland for re-organizing Covenant Groups for the coming year.

Laura Preble and Mick Rabin for coordinating the worderfully successful West Hills High Queer Poetry Night held at Summit.

Suzanne McQuaide for organizing Circle Dinners.

The Committee on Ministry for facilitating focus groups and providing lunch for everyone.
 

The Children’s Religious Exploration Committee has reconfigured and now includes Chair Laurel Bernstein plus Alan McQuaide, Mary Ellen Shu and Doris Wascher. We  met in early March to discuss ways to improve our program and to best utilize the hours of the DRE. Among the ideas generated was a new volunteer opportunity: Children’s Snack Coordinator. This would involve setting up and maintaining a schedule of snack providers for children on Sundays. With good participation, each family would provide the snack just three or four times per year. Please contact Laurel Bernstein (laurelbernstein@yahoo.com) or me if you would be willing to be the Snack Coordinator. This could be a shared effort.

Summit scavengers:  Coming of Agers and their mentors set off by foot on a recent Sunday armed with maps of the neighborhood, a set of instructions and one-use cameras. They had an hour and a half for the scavenger hunt which included taking photos of a variety of things as well as getting a signature from a stranger verifying a random act of kindness. Mentors and mentees returned with cameras full and reports of doors held, tables cleared, money donated and heavy pet food sacks lifted. Check in RE for a collage of the developed photos.

District Assembly in Del Mar:  There will be something for Summitarians of all ages at the annual District Assembly being held in Del Mar on April 25, 26 and 27. Being in the midst of large numbers of fellow Unitarian Universalists is unique and uplifting! For program, workshop and registration information, go online to pswduua.org.

MANY THANKS to our March volunteers:  Alan McQuaide, Neal Biggart, Mary Braunwarth, Patti Quint, Mahrya Hafner, Elinor Weed, Michelle Beauchamp, Roberta Osuyos, Mark Wheeler, Norma Pizarro, Suzanne McQuaide, Mark Weedman, Teresa Palombo, Doris Wascher, Chris Steussy, Jim Weed, Mary Ellen Shu, Jack Shu, Mark Bryning, Leslie Robard, Glenn Sasaki, Shelley Lekven, Frank Placone-Willey, Gary Baldwin and Alix Hart.

Connie Henry, DRE

conniehenry@cox.net or (619) 460-4794

Social Action Corner

Service Is Our Prayer 

Helping Others In East County

Interfaith Shelter Network: This year, Summit supported two churches in our area (St. Dunstan's Episcopal in San Diego and First United Methodist in La Mesa) as each provided shelter for 13 individuals, including one very recently born infant and a couple other children. Many thanks to all Summitarians that helped as cooks and chaperones: Al Mork, Barbara Sorensen, Bill Stanhope, Dorothy Greene, Ed Davis, Hal Summers, Jennifer White, Joan Chan, Lee Makeever, Lynne Slaughter, Mark Wheeler, Mary Dessel, Michelle and Ryan Beauchamp, Patti Robison-Heyer, Suzanne Ghorpade, Teresa Palombo, Toni Rogers, and Vic White. A special big thanks to Vic White, this year's Interfaith Shelter Network Coordinator for the Social Action Committee.

Social Action Committee Hygiene Pack Sale a Success!  On March 9, the Social Action Committee (SAC) "sold" hygiene packs of personal care items for homeless men and women. Packs for men and women were assembled in advance this year, and a whole or half pack could be "purchased"- that is, paid for by generous Summitarians- the packs are delivered directly to Crisis House by the SAC. This year we assembled 24 packs and they sold out easily! Many thanks for your generosity again this year. Thanks also to Ben Bernstein, Ryan Kerr, Gwen Baldwin, Gary Baldwin and Sandy Bernstein for assembling the packs, and Viraj Ward, Jennifer White and Vic White for selling the packs. Special thanks to Laurel Bernstein for coordinating this event and purchasing the needed items.

How Can You Help In Summit Social Action Efforts?

Items Needed:

Please bring canned and dried foods on Sunday, April 20^th to support the food bank at Crisis House. Please help Summit continue to support those less fortunate in East County. Thank you!

Financial:

Fair Trade Coffee: Fair Trade coffee and dark chocolate bars will be on sale April 13. Stop by our table just inside the door to the salon to make your purchase. Please let me know if there is something you would like that I may not have in stock. Questions or orders? Contact Lynne Slaughter.

People Power:

The Global Marshall Plan: An Effective Alternative to War Spending – Please join us for a panel discussion on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 11:30 am to 12:30 in lieu of circle discussion. In the years following WWII, the U.S. was successful in alleviating hunger and poverty by investing $9 billion to help rebuild a devastated Europe under the Marshall Plan.  A national organization comprised mainly of UUers, the Network of Spiritual Progressives, is proposing and promoting a Global Marshall Plan as an effective alternative to war spending. Panelists include: Isle Joy Meyer, who as young girl, lived in the bombed out rubble of Germany and saw her country transformed by the generosity of the U.S. through the Marshall Plan. Dr. Dan Meyer, the chair of NSP San Diego, who will talk about spirituality and the Global Marshall Plan. Summit's own Bill Stanhope, Outreach Chair of NSP San Diego, will talk about the specifics of the Global Marshall Plan proposed by NSP and the next steps.

Amnesty International:  Our next meeting is Monday, April 29th at 7:00 pm in the conference room. Please join us! Questions? Contact Viraj Ward.

Please join us for the next Social Action Committee meeting in Conference Room #1 at 8:30 am on Sunday, April 13th. Newcomers welcome! Questions? Contact Gary Baldwin.

Meet the Minister on the 2^nd Sunday of the month

Visitors and new members are welcome to join Rev. Kathleen after the worship service on the 2^nd Sunday of the month, April 13, 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

Joining Summit UU Fellowship

Our next New Member Welcome Ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 13. If you would like to be included in this special ceremony, and did not attend the Summit Orientation sessions in Feb., please contact Rev. Kathleen to make arrangements.

Committee on Ministry – Focus Group Summary Report:

The Committee on Ministry conducted Seven Focus Groups on March 9 to assure that Summit’s ministries are in sync with our Vision and to gauge the experiences of members/friends. Sixty Summitarians participated. Group participants were asked to brainstorm answers to the following three questions and then to prioritize the top three choices for each question. The priorities among the seven groups were then tallied for the top three choices across all groups. Summary results follow:

Question 1: What do you like best about your experiences at Summit?

Congregation/Caring Diverse Community
Sunday Services/Minister
Social Activities/Small Group Participation

Question 2: What would you like to see improved upon?

Facilities/Grounds (Sanctuary Space/Landscaping/Parking)
Improved Communication (To Congregation/Between Committees/Outreach)
Volunteerism

Question 3: How would you like information about important upcoming changes/events communicated to you? Are there ways in which you feel that you are not able to get information?

E-News/E-Mail
Direct Verbal (Pulpit Announcements/Congregational Meetings/Circle     Discussion)
Website

Many efforts have already been in progress addressing some of the above, i.e. Task Force on Growth, Website Redesign, Facilities Planning, Monthly Board Announcements, etc. In addition, the Committee on Ministry and the Board of Directors will be working to develop action steps to respond to other identified priorities. We’ll keep you posted. Stay tuned……

The Committee on Ministry-

Toni Rogers (Chair), Rev. Kathleen, Gwen Baldwin, Pat Bryning, Mark Wheeler

Program Spotlight

This month’s spotlight shines on Summit’s Caring Committee. What is it and what is its purpose, you might ask? The Summit Caring Committee is a group of volunteers who organize and directly participate in a network of Summit members who supplement the minister’s pastoral work by listening to and being supportive of those in the fellowship who find themselves in need.

• Services of the Summit Caring Committee include:
• Coordinating and/or providing transportation to Summit events or other appointments
• Coordinating and/or providing meals and assistance in times of need
• Coordinating and/or help with shopping or errands
• Keeping in touch through visits or by phone
• Sending notes of concern and care to members and friends
• Assisting in memorial service receptions

The Caring Committee meets monthly and its membership includes:

Rev. Kathleen, Ed Davis, Mary Dryden, Dorothy Greene, Marian Kraus, Rod Orth, Carol Rawlins, and Vic White

The Summit Caring Committee will be sponsoring a very special event: "PLANNING AHEAD" – SAT., MAY 3, AT SUMMIT, FROM 9:30AM-NOON. Save the date, mark your calendars, and get ready for an awesome morning of invaluable resources! This seminar will offer workshops such as: Hospice Care, Plan Your Own Memorial Service, Legal Matters for the Sunset Years, as well as special programming for children on issues of loss. There will be refreshments to enjoy and information tables for your perusal. This seminar is for the eldest among us, the youngest among us, those with aging parents, and those who are aging! This is for you!

For more info. contact Rev. Kathleen. For nursery care or to register your child in the special children’s programming, please contact Connie Henry.

Visitor Hosts

The Membership Committee has added a new group to welcome visitors to our Summit campus – the Campus Greeters. The table greeters are now the Visitor Hosts. Patti Robison-Heyer has been the able and dynamic leader of the Greeters. She will continue with Jennifer White to coordinate the Campus Greeters.

Gwen Curry and I have taken over as Visitor Host Coordinators. There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer for Visitor Hosts, 2 each Sunday. Commitment will be for one Sunday a month, 3 hours each Sunday, from July, 2008 to June 2009.

Patti and the current greeters have allowed for a smooth transition thus far. Thank you to all the current greeters. I will have their schedule under our sign-up sheet in case you have questions for them. And also, to acknowledge their commitment to Summit this past year.

Pat Summers (619) 589-0755 and Gwen Curry (619) 461-8264.

Adult Religious Exploration Offerings

Lois Santalo has offered to give a workshop on writing your own biography. This would be a short term(perhaps 2 sessions) to test the interest level and if there is real enthusiasm she would offer something more on going at some time. If you are interested please contact her at her e-mail: loiswellssantalo@hotmail.com. You can also call her at 619-588-2806.

We have been getting some other good suggestions and requests for possible activities for ARE. We will be putting out a simple questionaire to be answered and will make note of your suggestions.

Our American Roots - Unitarian Universalism in North America: A 5-week adult religious exploration course facilitated by Rev. Kathleen on Sunday mornings, beginning April 13, 8:45-9:45, in the Salon. This fascinating class offers an overview of some of the most  significant issues, people and moments in Unitarian and Universalist history in the early days of our country, giving newcomers and old-timers alike a unique perspective on the development of our nation and the significant role of our religious forebears.  This is NOT your grandfather's religious history class!  BYOC (bring your own coffee) and be ready for some stimulating discussion promptly at 8:45am on Sundays, April 13-May 11.  Please reserve your seat by calling the Summit office.

The Drumming Circle will gather on April 27th 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

On April 1st, at 7:00 pm, Donna Daum will present a discussion on the book, “The Left Hand of God Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right,”  by Rabbi Lerner.  He asks:

Q: Would I rather see the Political Right and its allies in the Religious Right continue?

OR

Would I prefer to overcome my negative feelings about people who are in a different place than I am on religious issues and questions about God so that I could make common cause with them (become Progressive Spiritual Politics)?

Carol Straubinger will lead the April 9^th gathering at 10:00 am. For this session we will consider ways to deal with various problems in the US economy. Some ideas will come from "Reviving the American Dream" by Alice M. Rivlin, an economic expert who has been active since 1975 in US government and at the Brookings Institute.

Lunch Bunch

Since we have had our April showers all winter, the weather should be clear for getting together after services to dine and have fellowship a little more. April 6^th we will have our Let Your Light Shine Breakfast service at the church. Let’s gather at Olive Garden, 9800 Mission Gorge Rd. in Santee, on April 13. For the 20^th, we will meet at Skootz, 9535 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee, and lastly, on the 27^th, at Coco’s, 1025 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.

The Board has been asked to consider the naming of buildings and rooms at Summit, and in particular the Salon. After some discussion, the Board realized that there are several issues involved and that it will take more discussion and some research before we are ready to recommend a policy on naming. For example, do we want to name buildings or rooms after people, and if we do, under what circumstances? If not, are there other ways we can honor individuals within the congregation? Some institutions avoid naming any part of their facility after an individual. Others institutions may limit the practice to individuals who are no longer living, or to a person who has made a financial contribution which amounts to a significant endowment. The Board is going to look into policies set by other UU congregations and then discuss with the Congregation. In the meantime, please note that in France, a "salon" is a living room used for the social gathering of artists and intellectuals. One dictionary offers the following as the first three of four definitions: 1) a large room, such as a drawing room, used for receiving and entertaining guests, 2) a periodic gathering of people of social or intellectual distinction, and 3) a hall or gallery for the exhibition of works of art.

Summit Singers Choir

Summit choir will be singing twice a month during the Spring und the direction of Neal Biggart, interim director. If you like to sing, please join us at rehearsals on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 pm.

A task force to find a replacement for our last choir director has been formed and includes Rev. Kathleen Green, President, Debbie Wingard, Personnel Chair, Sandy Bernstein, and Finance Chair, Lisa Garvey, and Sunday Services Committee Chair, Ed Henry, who is also chairing this committee. In order to find the best available person, the committee has placed a position announcement on the UU Musicians Network web-site, in the Cluster Newsletter and our own newsletter, and on music department bulletin boards at local colleges and universities.

Summit Knitting Ministry

The Summit Knitting Ministry will meet on Thurs., April 3, at 1:30pm in the Salon. We will also meet on Tues., April 8, at 9:30am in the office conference room. You can choose to attend one or both of these meetings. What a great way to fellowship with one another and reach out to the community among us and beyond us. All are welcome – bring your friends! Please contact Rev. Kathleen for more information.

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

Norm Dessel has donated his time and expertise to design and contract for a solar energy system. There remains a short time to qualify for state rebates. Although we are hopeful that we can raise the $30,000 needed, we can cancel the contract should we fall short. Several members have approached me wishing to, in addition to their pledges, donate funds toward the solar energy system. We are happy to answer any questions. ~ John McQuaide, Treasurer

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

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.