Scene
at Summit
Vol. 18 No. 5 May 2008 Monthly
Sunday Services - 10:00 a.m.
May 4: Yom 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.
May 11: Tending The Village Garden Rev. Kathleen A. Green
Mother’s Day is a wonderful time to consider not only those who marked our way, but whose way it is that we are marking. Indeed, the children are our future. Elaine Harper and Richard Wilkie will provide music.
May 18: A Theological Hybrid Rev. Kathleen A. Green
Labels are hard to wear, especially when it comes to personal theology. If I must wear one, let it read “Theological Hybrid”, for I am a combination of atheist, agnostic, and what the Rev. Tom Owen-Towle calls “affirmatist.”
This is our Open House Sunday and our choir will be singing.
May 25: Hope - Bob Moore
This is Bob Moore’s auction sermon, purchased by Rev. Kathleen. Ed Henry will provide music.
June 1: Coming of Age Service
Please make every effort to attend this special service and show your support of 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 to honor the coming of age class will be held after the service.
THIS IS ALSO THE DATE FOR OUR CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.
The Directory Update
The 2008 Directory update is available in the office on Sunday mornings. The first copy for members and friends is free, after that they are $2.00 each.
From Your Office Administrator…
I would like to thank Summit and the PSWD for my scholarships to the District Assembly in Del Mar this year. I went to DA 3 years ago and found it enlightening and supportive! Again, thank you so much! Yours in faith, Linda Peck
—ATTENTION—
Editor’s Corner
The Scene at Summit’s June 2008 edition deadline will be Monday, May 19th & the Mailing Party will be Thursday, May 22nd.
From the Minister’s Mailbox
Dear Ones,
Sometimes it seems as though the transitions never end! As most of you know, my family and I will have moved to La Mesa by the time you receive this month’s newsletter. We hadn’t planned on moving again so soon, but life had a different plan for us – change of address, change of phone number, change of school, change, change, change. It can be overwhelming. Summit’s transitions seem to continue as well, with a new choir director, a new budget requiring more of our finances, a Growth Task Force looking at ways to handle our Sunday morning attendance, a new slate of board members, a new custodian position, new chairs, new signs, new members, and on and on it goes.
Change is good – that’s my new mantra! But having a few constants in our life, while living through the transitions brought about by change, is also good. In fact, it is crucial to our well-being. One constant that all of us can count on is Summit UU Fellowship. No matter what changes are taking place in and around Summit’s facility, the beloved community that is Summit is constant. While we grow in numbers and spirit, the community is constant. Summit has sustained many a member and friend through difficult times and life transitions over the years and will continue to do so for many years to come. All that is required is a willingness to dedicate ourselves to the mission and vision of Summit. Our beloved community can be the constant that we need, the cause that we work for, and a beacon for the wider community.
We have a special opportunity to share Summit with our friends and neighbors on Sunday, May 18 – Open House Sunday. This will be much like the Invite-A-Friend Sundays held in past years but we hope to have some of our Summit neighbors stop by to tour our facility and join us for refreshments after the service. Please consider inviting someone to Summit on May 18. Summit may be what they need – a constant – in their life. Let’s not keep the blessing of Summit to ourselves. Let’s shine our light brightly.
Yours for the good cause,
Rev. Kathleen
From the President’s Desktop
Dear Friends,
It is hard to believe but our fiscal year is almost over! Many groups are working hard to bring the year to a smooth close. The Finance Committee is monitoring year-end expenses, and it looks like we will come in within our budget. The Capital Campaign continues to stay within projections as well. Sandy and Neal are tying up loose ends on the pledge drive, as we hope to reach our goals for next year plus cover lost income from the departure of our renter. We are not quite there yet, but wouldn’t it be great to be able to use our entire facility? If you can help, please let Sandy or Neal know. Every little bit helps!
There will be a Congregational Meeting on June 1st, at which time we will vote on next year’s budget and Board members, as well as some Bylaw changes. The Nominating Committee has proposed an excellent group of nominees 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.
The Task Force on Growth has also been hard at work. They have several suggestions almost ready to discuss, and are now considering the opportunity presented by the departure of our renter.
Norm Dessel has been leading an effort to add a Solar energy system to Summit, that will save us money in the long run while using less of the world’s scarce resources. We have qualified for dedicated funds from the State, and an anonymous donor will match any donation! Please see Norm or John McQuaide if you are able to contribute.
There are so many dedicated volunteers at Summit. Thanks to all of you! This is such a great community.
Yours in fellowship, Debbie
Summit Planned Giving (Update)
In February, the Board adopted comprehensive “Gift Acceptance Policies and Guidelines”. With these in place, other components of our planned giving program can be implemented: (1) Bylaws language that will formally establish a Fellowship Endowment Fund; (2) an “Operating Agreement” (between the Congregation and Endowment Fund Trustees) that will define responsibilities and internal controls that will apply with management and expenditure of Endowment Fund assets; and, (3) establishment of a Planned Giving Committee to coordinate and promote planned giving to Summit. Planned Giving Task Force recommendations on all three of these components will be presented to the Board in June. Tentatively in September, following an ample number of orientation sessions, members of the congregation will be asked to approve these three additional components. With approval, Summit will have accomplished another important long term goal: “To initiate a planned giving program and establish an endowment fund.” (Vic White, for the Planned Giving Task Force)
From Our Music Committee Chairperson
Susan Simpson, who has performed at the keyboard for us on several Sunday mornings in the last year or two, has accepted the position of Choir Director, and will begin immediately. She has ten years of church choir director experience and is also presently teaching music in the Ramona school system. Summit Singers and The Choir Director Search Task Force - Ed Henry, Rev. Kathleen Green, Debbie Wingard, Lisa Garvey, and Sandy Bernstein - are glad to have found a person with such comprehensive musical skills and experience.
We would like to extend our thanks to Neal Biggart, who came forward at a critical time to serve as Interim Choir Director. Notable in Neal’s leadership was her successful use of different choral music genres and forms than those the choir was accustomed to, as well as some stirring choir performances. Thanks, Neal!
PLANNING AHEAD – an event for the entire congregation
Sat., May 3rd, 9:30-noon Sponsored by Summit’s Caring Committee
This seminar has something for everyone, including our children who will be led by Connie Henry in Lessons on Loss.
9:30 Welcome and workshop overview & selection
9:45 Session I.
1. Plan Your Own Memorial Service – Rev. Kathleen Green
2. Aging and Independence Services – Kathy Holmes-Hardy
3. Legal Matters – Attorney James Provencher
10:30 Break for refreshments and perusing the guest tables with info. on organ donation, the Memorial Society, the Neptune Society, and our workshop facilitators
11:00 Session II
1. Hospice Care - Jesse Schnorr
2. Plan Your Own Memorial Service - see above
3. Legal Matters – see above
11:45 Feedback and farewell
This event is for the eldest among us, the youngest among us, those with aging parents, and those who are aging! This is for you! To reserve your spot, please contact the office.
For nursery care or to register your child in the special children’s programming, please contact Connie Henry.
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!
The Coming of Age Class for providing special music for Celebration Sunday.
Sandy Bernstein, Neal Biggart and Jeanne Hayes for chairing a very successful Celebration Sunday.
Vic White for coordinating Summit’s participation in the Interfaith Shelter Network.
Laurel Bernstein for coordinating the purchasing, assembling and selling of Crisis House hygiene packets.
Bonnie Bowman for her tremendous organizing skills and efforts contributed to Summit.
Suzanne McQuaide for researching and purchasing chairs for the Salon.
LaMar Rogers for cheerfully tackling our website redesign.
Neal Biggart for enthusiastically stepping in as interim choir director.
The Task Force on Growth for their dedication to finding a way!
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.
Come One, Come All!!
To the first
Gourmet Ice Cream Sundae, Sunday
FUNdraiser
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
Within the Congregation
♣ Please send positive thoughts and well wishes to member, Joanna Jones. She is in the hospital since April 21, for 18 days to receive a second bone marrow transplant for multiple myeloma and then home for healing. For updates on Joanna’s progress, please contact Jennifer White.
♣ Loretta Godfrey is one of Summit’s many quilters. Recently one of her baby quilts was accepted for the San Diego Quilt Show, entry #165, Aug. 28, at the Convention Center! Congratulations, Loretta!
Artists’ Reception
There will be an artists’ reception on Friday, May 23, at 7:00 pm. Currently, Summit’s “Gallery” has several needlepoint works by Lois Davies, a tapestry by Juana Page, crewel embroidery, needlepoint, and cross stitch works by Loretta Godfrey, a quilted wall hanging by Pat Metzgar, and a quilt by Connie Henry. Linda Peck has her watercolor paintings hanging in the office area and conference room, as well as a lap quilt next to a folk-art appliqué piece hanging in her office.
Money Matters
Third Quarter Financial Report
We’re three quarters of the way through our fiscal year now, and the results look pretty good so far. Overall, we’re about $8,000 ahead of the budgeted situation for this point in the year. This is due to our fundraising revenue, which is more than $5,000 above budget mostly due to the outstanding results of this year’s service auction. (Many thanks to Pilar and her team!) Another positive trend is that our expenses have been running lower than projected. We have saved a few thousand in our office/administrative costs (thanks, Linda!), but all of the Committees seem to have been very frugal with their budgets, too (thanks, everybody!). Unfortunately, our pledge collections are falling behind budget -- let’s all keep them up to date. Bottom line: revenue is a little less than expected but expenses are also less, for an overall positive result. If we keep this up for the next three months, we’ll have a cheerful result to report at the end of the fiscal year.
Update on the Annual Campaign
We are making good progress on our Annual Campaign. Thus far we have 83 commitments totaling almost $150,000. Our initial goal was $187,000. Now that the opportunity to make use of the computer shop space has arisen, with loss of its $10,000 annual income, a goal of $197,000 would be ideal. So, we need every member and friend to make as generous a commitment as you can. If you did not receive your campaign packet yet, it is being mailed to you. Please fill out your commitment forms and return them as soon as possible.
Thanks go to those who made the campaign kickoff on Celebration Sunday a success. We appreciate the efforts of the 19 table hosts, the 18 cooks, the ushers, greeters, speakers, musicians, furniture movers and cleaning volunteers. Special thanks go to Linda Peck, Suzanne Ghorpade, Debbie Wingard and the Reverend Kathleen for their extraordinary work.
In gratitude,
Sandy Bernstein, Campaign Chair
Neal Biggart, Campaign Co-Chair
Jeanne Hayes, Gifts Chair
Religious Exploration for Children and Youth
Our multi-age summer program this year will be active, creative, constructive and fun. We are forming a Roots and Shoots group that will design and carry out community service and social justice projects. Roots and Shoots is an international network of kids and adults working toward positive change. Its mission: “to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment.” We will have access to guidance and resources for carrying out projects large and small, global and local, using a model that combines knowledge, compassion and action. Visit the website at www.rootsandshoots.org. Summit UU Roots and Shoots will begin in mid-June.
Please save these dates and plan to attend!
May 3, 9:30 to noon: All-congregation End of Life workshop which will include a component for children.
May 14, 6:00 p.m.: Fellowship night – We come together for a simple intergenerational supper followed by a choice of activities with something for everyone (including children!).
June, 10:00 a.m.: Coming of Age service and reception.
MANY THANKS to our April volunteers: Miles Beauchamp, Alan McQuaide, Patti Quint, Mahrya Hafner, Elinor Weed, Ann Olson, Michelle Beauchamp, Mark Wheeler, Suzanne McQuaide, Teresa Palombo, Doris Wascher, Jim Weed, Jack Shu, Mark Bryning, Leslie Robard, Glenn Sasaki, Shelley Lekven, Pierre Vaughn, Frank Placone-Willey, Gary Baldwin, Gwen Baldwin, Joe Braunwarth, Trish Luna-deAlva, Katy Orr, Misha Chapman, Alix Hart and Viraj Ward.
Please contact me with any questions, concerns or ideas.
Connie Henry, DRE conniehenry@cox.net or (619) 460-4794
Social Action Corner
Service Is Our Prayer
Helping Others In East County
“Just what we needed!” The folks at Crisis House were quite pleased with our delivery of our hygiene packets. They had found themselves out of hygiene supplies but still had clients in need of them so they were very thankful when Laurel Bernstein arrived with our packets. Summit has come through for the needy in East County again. Thank you.
Thanks to all who donated dried and canned goods on Sunday, Apr. 20th. The goods will be donated to replenish Crisis House’s food bank. The food will then be distributed to those in need in East County.
How Can You Help In Summit Social Action Efforts?
Financial: Collection on Sunday, May 18th for the purchase of gas and grocery gift cards. When the hygiene packs were delivered, we were informed of a dire need at Crisis House. Due to the economy and rising fuel costs, some Crisis House clients are finding their wages are no longer enough to make ends meet. Families are coming up short for gas and groceries. In these situations, Crisis House gives emergency gift cards to help families until the next paycheck. The Social Action Committee will be collecting funds on May 18 to purchase these gift cards. Please bring cash or make your check payable to Summit. Thank you for your support.
Fair Trade Coffee: Fair Trade coffee and chocolate bars will be for sale on May 11. Stop by and pick up a bag of their newest variety of coffee that is now available in regular whole bean, a medium roast. 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 meeting is Monday, April 29th at 7:00 pm in the conference room. The May meeting will be Monday, May 26th at 7 pm. 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, May 18th. Due to Mother’s Day the SAC meeting date has been changed to the 3rd Sunday. 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, May 11, 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
Directories are available in the Summit office!
We are pleased to welcome the following new members: JoAnn Swanson, Chris Wetzel, Esther Quinn, Bonnie Bowman, Kiryn Kerr, Pam Kerr, Angela Murrell, Virginia Natwick, Elinor Weed, and Andy Simpson. That brings our membership to 157!!! Elinor and Virginia are former members who have rejoined, we are pleased to say. Our new members are fascinating and interesting people and we hope you will get to know them better and make them feel welcome.
We were pleased to see that most of your kept your name tags on for refreshment time in the Salon. It is so important that we get to know our new Summit friends. The name tags will be replaced on Sunday or early in the week to the red name tag holder so it will be there the next Sunday.
Committee Spotlight
This month’s spotlight shines on our Adult Religious Exploration Committee. Chair, Margo Mariana, and members Norm Dessel, Pat Bryning, Lois Santalo, and Connie Henry, work on programming for the adults in our Summit community. A variety of classes and gatherings have been offered throughout this year. If you would be interested in offering a class or working with this committee on future programming, please contact Margo.
Adult Religious Exploration Offerings
Summit Fellowship Gathering, May 14, 6-8 pm.
We plan to have these fellowship gatherings periodically to give more of us a chance to intermingle and get to know each other in fuller ways. We will provide a light dinner followed by short workshops of different kinds and ranges of interest.
Dinner will be from 6-7 pm so that members of the choir may join and still get to rehearsal on time. Workshops will go from 7-8pm. The workshops for May 14th will be:
-Rev.Kathleen will lead a workshop in music for the children.( wonderful and creative way of child care)
-Lois Santalo will lead a workshop in understanding and working with the Tarot cards.
-Norm Dessel will give a presentation on Atmospheric Warming, Its Causes and Implication For The Future Of All Animals and Humans & What Is Urgently Needed To Avoid Extinction.
So put this date on your calendar and come and enjoy!
The Drumming Circle will gather on May 25th 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
May 5, at 7:00 pm, Mark Wheeler will lead the discussion on “The Roots of Morality in Primates vs. Humans.” Mark is a philosophy professor at SDSU, so this should be an insightful evening.
Wednesday, May 14, Virginia Natwick will lead the Freethinkers morning group at 10:00 am. The topic will be the medical situation in this country. Is it possible to have universal healthcare in a medical environment as expensive as ours? How do we do it?
Lunch Bunch
All Summitarians who would like more fellowship and food after Sunday services are welcome to gather with the lunch bunch.
Let’s start with Applebee’s on May 4, located at 107 Fletcher Pkwy., El Cajon. May 11 will be Mother’s Day, and mothers are welcome to join the lunch bunch at Coco’s, 1025 Fletcher Pkwy., in El Cajon. We are overdue for a lunch at Panda Country, 9621 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee, so let’s meet there on the 18th. We can wrap up the month at Skootz, 9535 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee.
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.
Naming of Buildings and Rooms
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 Knitting Ministry
Members of the Summit Knitting Ministry have been busy creating preemie baby blankets & hats, blankets for Linus Project, and comfort shawls for Summitarians. All are welcome to join us on Thurs., May 1, at 1:30 in the Salon and/or Tues., May 13, at 9:30 in the conference room. No experience necessary! What a great way to spend time with Summit members and friends; talking, laughing, and creating! Please contact Rev. Kathleen for more info.
OPEN HOUSE – BRING A FRIEND – OPEN HOUSE – BRING A FRIEND
SUNDAY MAY 18
Invite your neighbors, family, and friends to join us on this special Sunday when we open our home to all. Various committees and groups on working on their part to make this day a memorable one. Our choir will sing, delicious refreshments will be provided, and tours of our beautiful facility will be offered. Please join us and let everyone know what Summit means to you.
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:
✧Combating the Assault on Civil Liberties
✧ Interfaith Youth in the Age of Fundamentalism
✧Wrestling with Whiteness: The Politics of Jewish Identity
✧ 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
