Communitarian

Published Monthly July 2012

I have been impressed with the board's leadership under the able presidency of Ben Cervantes, and working with a great staff. While I'm sorry to see the administrator Krista Snyder, go, I think recently hired Nichole Ybarra will fit right in. Thanks to Janet Bonner and the Personnel committee for helping me interview and hire Nichole. I went through lots of resumes! Our DRE Michelle Mueller has done a creative job, as has Music Director, Curtis Mannah. We'll miss our pianist, Hali, but are looking for a new one. Thanks to the many committees and committee chairs as well. After almost 30 years since I started learning about how church works, I have a good idea of how many people it takes, how many hours, how many meetings, and how many discussions; it takes to run a church, and twice as many as that to run it well! I'm excited about the start up of the new Emerson Coffeehouse, which you'll hear more about shortly. Ill be appearing in October! I also have just received the Teaching Company course I'll be leading this fall: "Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know." This will be a 10 to 12 Session course. I've been working closely with the Worship Associates to plan for the summer I feel like I'm leaving the church in good hands, and have even offered some of my sermons to be read. Have a good summer. Shalom, Art

Ministers Message
The ART of Interim Ministry
As I get ready to return home for July and August to have hip surgery, I look forward to returning in September for another year to continue working with you. I have enjoyed the last 5 months and felt very warmly received. People will be able to reach me at me cell phone 210-823-2513 if they'd like to talk. I have been meeting with folks to talk about their experiences with the church, especially over the recent past, and want to hear about yours as well. Make sure you sign up to attend the small groups to talk about what you want in your next minister and in that same sense your next chapter of the history of this church. What do you want the church to be? And even more important, what should the church be in the future (when perhaps you won't be around)? Maybe even ask yourself if you'd be willing to increase your pledge or maybe leave an endowment. You HAVE planned for the church in your will haven't you?

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Sunday Services July

July 1 Come Sing a Song With Me; Hymn Sing Sunday. Come join us as we raise our joyous voices in singing some of our favorite songs from both hymnals. Worship Leader: Jan Vernor-Howard Worship Associate: Dwane Milnes July 8 T-Shirt Theology Worship Leader: Christina Cervantes Worship Associate: Jan Vernor-Howard

Religious Education News Summer Religious Education Schedule

July1 Baking sweet and tasty cinnamon rolls for kids to make and for adults and kids to enjoy at coffee hour. Children come straight to the kitchen at 10:30. Let's measure, mix, stick our hands in some gooey dough (if you want to), and bake, bake, bake. Looking forward to seeing you all there with Art Cofod and Matt Green July 8 SCIENCE with Sarah Blessinger and Beth Day July 15 Solar Cooking with Bev Blum and Juanita

July 15 Exploring Islam for Ramadan Ramadan is Islam's Blessed Month which moves around the calendar each year because it is based on the lunar calendar. This sermon was originally titled "Saving Islam," and explored the question of whether Islam could be brought into the modern world, not whether it could be "Saved" to Christianity as might be implied by the title, so Art changed it. Sermon by Rev. Art Severance Read by Dwane Milnes Worship Leader: Dwane Milnes Worship Associate: Sara Milnes July 22 Western Farm Workers Worship Leader: Jan Vernor-Howard July 29 i-Pod Sunday Worship Leader: Art Cofod Worship Associate: John Peters

July 22 Mystery lesson with Harry Welte and Floyd Cranmore

Michelle returns July 29, presumably with stories from Utah! Youth Group Families: Look for emails from Chesa Garlough or Michelle Mueller about summer activities! Two are in the works . . . .

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Social Justice News Social Justice Collection

Sunday, July 15
This months social justice collection, on July 15, has not yet been determined. Keep an eye out for an announcement in our weekly A Look Ahead emails very soon! Do you know of an organization that would be a good candidate to receive one of our social justice collections? If so, please contact Board President Ben Cervantes or board member Lauri McKindley. We meet periodically to decide who will be the recipients of our social justice collections, and we welcome your ideas!

Book Group Meeting

July 25 The book club meets this month on July 25 at 7:00p.m., in Jackson Hall. We will discuss The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Alison Hoover Bartlett. Dwane Milnes will be our facilitator. BOOK CLUB SCHEDULE 2012 The books receiving the most votes are listed by Month and Facilitator. August: Sorrow Mountain: The Journey of a Tibetan Warrior Nun by Ani Pachen & Adelaide Donnelley (278 pgs.) Facilitator, Claire Trujillo September: Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (528 pgs.) Facilitator, Barbara Bower October: Cold Dish by Craig Johnson (400 pgs.) Facilitator, Carol Clark November: August in Osage County by Tracy Letts (a 72 page play) Facilitator, Anne Struck December: To be decided.

June Social Justice Collection

Our June Social Justice Collection raised $141.00 in support of The Emergency Food Bank of Stockton. Thank you to everyone for your generous contributions!

Congregational News & Updates Mens Group Meetings

July 4 & 18 The Mens Group, a biweekly social/support group for men, meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Members meet at 7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Meetings for this month will be held on July 4 and 18. If you are interested in becoming a member of this group, please contact Al Babylon at (209) 9566838 or at [email protected]

New members or drop-ins are most welcome. If interested in joining, contact Herman Washington at 209-957-8433 or [email protected]. Herman Washington Chairman, UU Book Club

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Please note! For the days Wednesday 7/187/24 2012 neither Christina nor Ben Cervantes will be available to help with church issues. We will both be in Pittsburgh, PA on a business trip for Christina. If you have matters that need to be discussed, please contact Dwane Milnes for assistance. Thank you, C & B Cervantes

Church Office Will Be Closed July 4

The church office will be closed for the holiday on Wednesday, July 4th. Regular office hours will resume on Thursday the 5th.

Collecting Bottles and Cans

The Church is collecting aluminum cans and plastic bottles (water, soda, & juice ONLY no other plastics) for recycling. Two barrels for your donations are in Jackson Hall; on e for cans and one for plastic bottles. Please drain all liquids before placing in receptacles. Every Monday the cans and bottles will be taken to a recycling center. For more information, contact Judy Andrews at (209) 476-9828.

Updates to Your Church Directory

Please make the following changes in your Directory for the following members and friends of the church: Typographical Correction: John Peters 415 Flora Street #8 Stockton, CA 95202 Address Changes: Muriel DeSelm No longer at the Inglewood address Carole Green 3031 Terra Linda Drive Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Heather Hartman-Jansen and Lloyd Jansen Both are now living at the Maryland address Remove: Doris Byron (Deceased) Joanne and John Carvana (Moved)

Welcome Nichole!
Nichole Ybarra joins our staff as the Churchs Office Administrator. I was born and raised in Stockton. I have 3 children Alexis 18, Christopher 14, Jonathan 13, and grand-daughter Aubrey 5 months. I attended San Joaquin Delta College where I studied Criminal Justice and Early Childhood Education. I have over 10 years experience as an Administrative Assistant and am very excited about working with the church and getting to know everyone.

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UU Alliance News Fall Raffle Begins in October!

The Alliance Summer planning session was held June 13. Plans were made for a Fall Raffle using the popular $250 Lincoln Center Gift card usable at many Lincoln Center locations. Raffle tickets will be on sale for the month of October and the drawing will be held Sunday, November 4 after the church service. Tickets are $5.00 each or a book of 10 tickets for $50. Tickets will be prepared for church members and friends to take and sell to their family, outside friends and co workers. The money from Alliance fund raising will be used for special church needs and projects. A list of Alliance gifts to the church over the past 20 years is available on request from Joan Briscoe. The bean jar soup project will not be held this year but a Spring fund raising event is being planned for later in the year.

program. Lois Hulsey is the current liaison from the church that gathers and delivers these toiletries to the Women's Center for distribution. Other needed unopened items are toothbrushes, tooth paste, deodorant, hairbrushes and combs. Children's items include infant toys, crayons, water colors, children's movie DVD's, etc. All items must be unopened or unused. A basket for your contributions is available in Jackson Hall and marked For DAWN House. The Alliance

Other UU Events & News Beyond the Congregation Registration Open! 2012 UU Living Legacy Civil Rights Pilgrimage

DAWN House Needs

For many years the Alliance has gathered your unopened sample soaps, lotions and shampoos from motels and other vacation travels. The Women's Center DAWN program houses abused women and their children and offers extended shelter, counseling and an excellent children's

The next UU Living Legacy Civil Rights Pilgrimage is scheduled for October 6-13, 2012, and registration is now open. This unique bus trip is much more than a Civil Rights history tour through Alabama and Mississippi. We will be visiting historic sites and meeting veterans of the Civil Rights Movement, and but will also be spending time together and with guests exploring what racism, white privilege, and barriers to equality look like today in Southern towns we visit---and in our own hometowns. Beyond experiencing first-hand the civil rights legacy, our goal is to develop
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commitment, vision and mechanisms within our group to work on issues of race, injustice and inequality that still bedevil our congregations and our society. The Living Legacy Pilgrimage is hosted and organized by the Reverend Gordon Gibson and Judy Gibson; the Reverend Hope Johnson; the Reverend James Hobart; Janice Marie Johnson; Annette Marquis; and Donna Sequeira, and co-sponsored by the Southeast District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. For more information and to register, please visit www.uulivinglegacy.org. Don't miss your chance to be on the bus!

Office of Dr. Garfolo 1350 W. Robinhood Dr., Suite 14 Stockton, CA 95207 Monday through Friday 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm (209) 473-1011 St. Marys Interfaith Community Services 545 W. Sonora St. Stockton, CA 95203 Monday through Friday 7:30am 3:30pm (209) 467-0703

Fourth of July Parade July 4

Come out for the 4th of July Parade on the Miracle Mile from 10:00 am to 12:00pm! There will be great entertainment, food, and the All American Spirit! ! Parade starts at Lincoln St. and Harding traveling east to Pacific then north to Tuxedo. There is reserved seating for elderly and handicapped at the front lawn of the Stockton Unified School District and reserved seating for recently returned veterans at the AT&T parking lot. For more information please call (209) 9486453 (MILE).

Stockton Area Events & News 10th Annual Christmas in July Shoe Drive
The Christmas in July Shoe Drive supports St. Marys Interfaith Community Services in helping homeless and financially burdened men, women, and children to have at least on pair of well-fitting shoes. Shoes are a basic need and your support will offer relief from foot discomfort, pain or illness fro homeless and financially burdened individuals and families in our community. Shoes collected will be distributed and fitted by Dr. Garfolo at an event to be held on the St. Marys campus. Shoes can be dropped off at the following locations:
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Haggin Museum of Stockton Southern California Trip August 20 through 25

On Monday, August 20, we will journey to Hollywood where we will stop for dinner. From there we will proceed to San Diego for two

The two evenings will be free to attend the Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmo nic Orchestra. Thursday night will feature the L.A. Philharmonic playing Mozart, and Friday night the guest artist will be Canadian Jazz Pianist and Singer Diana Krall. On Saturday, the 26th, we will drive to President Reagans Library in Simi Valley where lunch will be available in the cafeteria. Then on to Stockton with a stop at Harris Ranch. Priced at $999, the trip includes transportation, hotels, all admissions, bus drivers gratuity, and bay cruise. Tour escorts: JoAnn Moore (477-6733_ and Beverly Fitch McCarthy (463-6957).

nights. On Tuesday we will attend the Titanic Exhibition in Balboa Park. There will be time for one or two additional museums your choice. A one-hour bay trip will take place late afternoon. In the evening we will bus over to the Hotel del Coronado (optional). Otherwise you are on your own for the evening in the Gas Light District (where we will be staying), or wherever else you may wish to dine. Wednesday morning we drive to Laguna Beach for the Pageant of the Masters. Thursday morning we are off to San Marino to the Huntington Library. We will spend two nights in Hollywood. While there we will visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Cathedral of the Angels, and Fran Lloyd Wrights Hollyhock House.

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Regular Church Activities Come Join Us!

Regular Groups & Meetings Book Group All are invited to read & discuss books selected by the group. Monthly Meeting Date(s) 4th Wednesday 7:00 PM July Date(s) July 25 Contact for More Information Herman Washington (209) 957-8433 or
[email protected]

Mens Group All are invited who wish to participate in our conversational sessions. Youth Group Formerly called YRUU, our youth group offers opportunities for social get-togethers and service projects.

1st & 3rd Wednesday 7:00 PM

July 4 & 18

Al Babylon, 956-6838 or
[email protected]

Special Events as Scheduled

Dates will vary. Please check the church website for more information.

Michelle Mueller, 466-7743 or [email protected]

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JULY 2012 First Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton

Sunday
1 10:30 AM Service Come Sing a Song With Me; Hymn Sing Sunday.

Monday
2

Tuesday
3

Wednesday
4 7:00 PM - Mens Group

Thursday
5

Friday
6

Saturday
7

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY

8 10:30 AM Service T-Shirt Theology

10

11

12

13

14

15 10:30 AM Service Exploring Islam for Ramadan

16

17 7:00 PM Board Meeting

18 7:00 PM Mens Group

19

20

21

(Newsletter Deadline)

Congregational Meeting
(Social Justice Collection)

22 10:30 AM Service Western Farm Workers

23

24

25

26

27

28

7:00 PM Book Club

29 10:30 AM Service i-Pod Sunday

30

31

Purpose
(Article III, By-Laws of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton) We, the members of this congregation, shall foster Unitarian Universalist principles. We encourage each individual to determine his or her own creed and standard of theological belief. Toward those purposes, we are committed to creating a loving religious community through worship, study, service and fellowship while honoring diversity and respecting the inherent worth and dignity of each individual. We shall strive to render enlightened service to the various communities of which we are a part. We respect the interdependent web of all living things. Interim Minister Rev. Art Severance ..........................................466-7743 [email protected] Director of Religious Education Michelle Mueller, M.Div. ...............................466-7743 E-Mail........................... [email protected] Music Director Curtis Mannah. ................................................466-7743 E-Mail....................................... [email protected] Administrator Nichole Ybarra .................................................466-7743 E-Mail........................................office@stocktonuu.org Board of Trustees President Ben Cervantes .................................................. 373-3957 E-Mail ................................ [email protected] How to Contact Us Phone ...................................................... (209) 466-7743 Fax ........................................................... (209) 466-6474 E-Mail .................................... [email protected] Web .............................................www.stocktonuu.org Mail/Office .................................. 2737 Pacific Avenue Stockton CA 95204 Office Hours ......................Mon. 8:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Tues., Wed., Fri. 8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Thurs. 8:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m.

First Unitarian Universalist Church 2737 Pacific Avenue Stockton CA 95204

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