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Photo. Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube (left), lead minister of First UU Church, and Len Pellettieri display quilts made by young people at First Church for children at a sister church in the Philippines.
Photo by Rob Molek of Chalice UU Congregation.

Five members of First Church left San Diego recently for the Philippines where they will spend several days visiting a sister church in Malingin. "We're going there to learn," said Len, who was joined by his wife, Mary Rose, Rev. Carolyn Owen-Towle, retired co-minister of First Church, Lisa Hartman and Kathleen MacLeod. In addition to the quilts, the group will be taking books and other gifts. They're scheduled to return in mid-March.

Marriage Equality. The California Supreme Court yesterday heard arguments for more than three hours in one of the most significant cases to come before it in several years—marriage equality. According to yesterday's Los Angeles Daily Journal newspaper: “Up to a thousand spectators will watch the historic case from 9 a.m. to noon at the California Supreme Court and nearby venues. Many more will watch the oral argument on television or the Internet.” A decision is due within 90 days. In San Diego, Jan Garbosky and Bonny Russell of First Church were interviewed by Channel 10 yesterday morning as they watched the oral arguments.

In last week's newsletter, we focused on an anti-marriage equality constitutional amendment its backers hope to get on the November ballot. “We only have 47 days to stop the constitutional amendment denying us marriage from getting on the November ballot,” Jan said. “We need volunteers now to help educate the public and prevent the petition from getting on the ballot.” UUs (and non UUs) are urged to e-mail Jan, Marriage Equality Leadership Team Representative for the San Diego Cluster of UU Chuches, at jgarbosky@cox.net.

South Bay Update. “First Church—In Two Places at Once.” That's the topic of the First Church Worship Service on Sunday, March 16, when Carol Layne, South Bay Intern Minister, Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, and members of the South Bay Planning Group lay out the vision for another program and worship site in the South Bay. The Worship Service will include multi-media presentations to “inform and inspire” about the vision for the South Bay campus. The group, which has grown to 18 lay persons, is open to anyone interested in starting the campus. It meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 658 Landis Ave. in Chula Vista. The campus has a target start date of October 2008. Interested UUs should contact Carol at carol@firstuusandiego.org or (619) 947-4612.

Friday/March 14/Chalice. Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen (Vermont UUs) perform the very best contemporary and traditional folk music. Visit www.chaliceuu.org for additional information and tickets.

Saturday/March 22/First Church. Classical guitarists Fred Benedetti and George Svoboda will present a program of classical and Eastern European music beginning at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Spring Concert Series.

Friday/April 11/Cal State San Marcos. LGBTQ Pride Center Grand Opening Dinner and Celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Contact the Center at (760) 750-3077 or lgbtq@csusm.edu.

Friday-Sunday/April 25-27/Carmel Valley Marriott. District Assembly comes to San Diego.

Moving On. Stuart Holmes, Religious Education Director at Chalice, is leaving his position to go back to school but will still be a member of the Congregation.

Huge Success. The Silent Auction held recently at Chalice cleared $32,000.00far above expectations in a troubling economy. "It's a wild party," notes member Rob Molek of this major fundraising event.

Musician Sought. Summit continues to search for a Choir Director. Interested candidates should send a letter of intent and a resume in electronic format to Ed Henry, chair of the Sunday Services Committee, at ehenry@mail.sdsu.edu.

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