| Featured |
 Photo.
The
above photo of Manila was taken last year by Mike Hampson,
the San Diego Cluster's webmaster and graphic designer, when
he visited the Philippines. For more photos click on the above.
Off
To Negros. The largest group of American UUs to ever visit
UU churches in the Philippines will be there March 4-20, and
half of the 14 are from First Church in Hillcrest. There are
29 UU Churches in the Philippines, 27 of which are on the island
of Negros. The 7 UUs who have already signed up include:
Melanie Davis ("I'm going because I want to strengthen
my UUism"); her parents, Rev. Dick and Barbara
Davis, former members of First Church
and now retired in New Mexico and members
of Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe; RE
Director Liz Jones, who will take much needed RE methods and materials
to share;
Len Pellettieri, revisiting many friends he made there during
his 2008 trip, exploring microenterprises, livestock, the big
Quimada Center, our Electricity Project in Malingin and other
ways of helping empower our partners; John Schaibly, Co-Chair
of the Peace and Democracy Action Group and an ardent traveler
who will help repair and install laptops contributed by Cluster
members, and Kathy Smith, who will do prison reform work with
Rev. Rebeccca, President of the UU Churches of the Philippines.
How can you help? Len says: “Share our
joy and excitement. Visualize coming with us. Invite us to
speak at your Fellowship
when we return. And donate laptops with your names on them
so we can give you receipts for tax purposes. And children's
books
(in English). You can leave them with Chris Christenson in
the RE office at First Church.”
For more information about the Philippines trip contact Len
at (619) 239-7274 or lenp@cox.net. He chairs the Partner Church
Committee/Philippines.
Close Up. If you know an interesting UU in San Diego County,
please e-mail mkruming@aol.com.
UU
Links. Rev. Bill Metzger, whose wife, Rev.
Diana Heath, is the consulting
minister of Denton (Texas) UU Fellowship, died peacefully
yesterday morning.
Join
the List. If you know someone who would enjoy
reading this newsletter every week, please email Martin Kruming: mkruming@aol.com (or
copy and paste: mkruming@aol.com). |
|
Breaking News |
Minister
Leaving. In a letter to Members and Friends of Chalice
UU Congregation in Escondido dated
January 15, 2010, Rev. Margo McKenna Brower wrote:
“After months of personal evaluation and discernment, I have
come
to recognize that my life-long and passionate commitment
to ministry no longer remains. In light of this awareness
I am writing to inform you of my decision to retire from
the ministry.”
In
her letter, Rev. McKenna Brower noted that she “must
follow the changing direction of my life. Equally important
is the need for me to step aside in order that you may be
able to find a minister with the vision, energy, passion
and calling that for so many years guided me and that is
now gone.”
“The
time of transition ahead is an opportunity for you, as
a congregation—in the whole of your life and ministry—to
examine, evaluate and discern who you are, what you are
here in the world to do, and what the vision is that
will carry you forward,” she wrote.
She
intends to retire as the settled minister at Chalice as
of July
30, 2010, “or until the work of finding an
interim minister is completed, whichever comes first.” The
Board will be working with Pacific Southwest District Executive
Rev. Ken Brown, “to create the process that will be
occurring during the next few months.” Their first meeting
is expected to be this weekend.
“I
would like to conclude,” Rev. McKenna Brower said, "by expressing my deep gratitude for the many
kindnesses offered, the affirmation freely given, and the
generosity that has flowed over and through me during our
time together." Rev. McKenna Brower began her ministry
at Chalice on September 1, 2001 and Chalice recently celebrated
its 10th anniversary following the merger in 2000 of UU Inland
North County Fellowship and Chalice Church.
Book
Signing. Author Lois Santalo of Summit
UU Fellowship in Santee will have a book signing for her first murder mystery,
Dorothea in the Mirror, on February 20 from 3-5 p.m. at the
Fellowship. UU author Carol Straubinger will also present
her memoirs of rural El Cajon. Both women are long-time members
of First Church in Hillcrest and are among the few present-day
writers whose protagonists are avowedly UUs. All proceeds
will go to Summit, and there will be wine and cheese.
Tell
A Friend. Enjoy reading this newsletter every week?
Please tell a UU who can sign up at info@uusandiego.org.
Check It Out. The UUA has redesigned its website: www.uua.org |
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| Datebook |
Wednesday/February 3/First Church. Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube discusses
The Spirituality for the Future: Beyond Fundamentalism from
6:30 to 8 p.m
Sunday/February 14/San Diego County. Our
six congregations are filled with love. Watch for
the special section in next
week's newsletter.
Saturday/Februrary
20/Chalice. Memorial service for Delores
Shirley Brantley at 11 a.m.
February
14-May 30/Pasadena. The Pasadena Museum
of California Art presents an exhibition titled “Millard Sheets: The Early Years (1926-1944)” in the Main Galley. Rev.
Carolyn Owen-Towle is the daughter of this famous artist.
Saturday/February 27/Palomar. Social Justice Conference
from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring Adam Gerhardstein, campaign
manager for the UUA's Standing on the Side of Love campaign.
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| Cluster
Buzz |
| News
Update. Elinor Weed is serving as interim director of
children's religious education at Summit UU Fellowship in Santee.
Generosity. On February 12, members of Palomar
UU Fellowship in Vista will be making burritos for local day laborers from
4:30 to 7 p.m.
Quotable. “Chalice
has been such a gift in my life and for my ministery these
many
years, and I cannot find
words to express my gratitude for the time we have spent
together.” —Rev. Margo McKenna Brower of Chalice UU
Congregation in Escondido.
San
Diego County UU Bulletin Board. If you want
to buy, sell, barter or connect, and it's legal and ethical,
e-mail mkruming@aol.com (or
copy and paste: mkruming@aol.com).
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| Submitting
Newsletter Items |
In
addition to the Feature Story, Breaking
News, Datebook (Event items)
and the Cluster Buzz, the Cluster newsletter
continues to expand. See below. If
you have a good story, let's get it out there.
Bulletin Board. If you want to buy, sell, barter
or connect, and it's legal and ethical, e-mail mkruming@aol.com (or
copy and paste: mkruming@aol.com).
UU
Profiles: We
are offering a series of periodic profiles of UU churches
around the country. If you would like to contribute, please
e-mail mkruming@aol.com (or
copy and paste: mkruming@aol.com) with your story of 150
words or less.
Good Deeds: If
you have a good deed item, please e-mail: mkruming@aol.com (or
copy and paste: mkruming@aol.com).
Reminder, For All Newsletter Items, please
submit to mkruming@aol.com (or
copy and paste: mkruming@aol.com) at
least three weeks in advance. |
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