Our Church Circular - First Unitarian Church of San Jose

Transcripción

Our Church Circular
First Unitarian Church of San José * November 2, 2011 * 2 de noviembre 2011
160 N. Third Street, San José, CA 95112 * (408) 292-3858 * sanjoseuu.org
Waking up to delight
by
by the
the Rev.
Rev. Nancy
Nancy Palmer
Palmer Jones
Jones
I
t’s 8:45 a.m.,
and I am stuck
behind a car turning
left across a busy
Willow Glen street. Still
sleepy, I am about to be
late for a beloved dance class. I
sigh, check my rear view mirror:
Can I pull around this car? No.
I sigh again.
While I’m waiting, a young family rounds the corner on
the sidewalk, rushing toward the elementary school down the
block. Mom and young son trot hand-in-hand; daughter, maybe
seven years old, plods ahead, her backpack bouncing with each
step. Suddenly, the daughter bursts into a final half-block dash,
her face lifted and shining, her straight black hair flying. She is
running with abandon toward her day, her whole body filled
with joyful anticipation.
I realize I have just received a blessing. I wonder: What do I
run toward with such joyful anticipation?
Five days a week, I begin the day on the phone with my
spiritual buddy Alicia. We check in—“how are you, really?”—
then we lift up the “holy moments” from the day before. The
little girl
running
...longing to run toward life
to school
with joyful anticipation...
becomes one
of my holy
moments for
that Monday. Telling Alicia about it helps me to set my intention
for this new day: to be in the present moment, to notice and
receive the small blessings.
A few minutes later, I park my car across from Mi Pueblo
grocery story and walk around to drag my own heavy backpack
from the front seat. The trunk of the palm tree at the curb stops
me in my tracks. Where the bark on the bottom three feet has
“
”
November: gratitude / wonder
F
worn away, thin fibrous roots poke out like a colony of dried-up
worms. It’s unlike the innards of any other tree I’ve seen. “Oh,
you are strange,” I marvel, “strange and beautiful!”
Next, an evergreen bush flings a branch in my direction. I’m
awake now, so every spiky dark green leaf seems etched against
the sky. “Wow! Thank you!” I say to the bush.
As a minister, I talk with brokenhearted people most days,
and most days the world breaks my heart, too. But when I am
awake to wonder and gratitude, then I see the strange, strong
root system in each person, and the green spiky leaves, and the
longing to run toward life with joyful anticipation, if given half
a chance.
So what does it take to wake up to gratitude and wonder?
Practice, that’s for sure. A spiritual practice, and a
community that reminds us, coaxes us, checks up on us. For
example:
The Partner Church for my first Unitarian Universalist
congregation was only fifteen blocks uptown. To visit the
Church of the Resurrection, United Church of Christ, I just
had to walk up First Street from the Upper East Side into
East Harlem. During Joys and Sorrows on a Sunday morning,
we’d hear about all the hard things that often accompany
living below the poverty line in the U.S.A. But always, always,
someone would stand up and say, “I woke up this morning,
and I thanked God I was alive!” The congregation would
continued on page 2
noviembre: gratitud / maravilla
Despertando para el deleite
para
para la
la rev.
rev. Nancy
Nancy Palmer
Palmer Jones
Jones
S
on las 8:45, y estoy
atascada detrás de un
auto girando a la izquierda a
través de una congestionada calle
de Willow Glen. Todavía sueño, voy
a llegar tarde a una clase de baile querida.
Suspiro, checo mi espejo retrovisor:
¿puedo darle la vuelta a ese coche? No.
Suspiro otra vez.
Mientras espero, una joven familia
da vuelta en la esquina sobre la acera,
corriendo hacia la escuela primaria en
la cuadra. La mamá y su joven hijo van
trotando tomados de la mano; la hija, tal
vez siete años de edad, caminaba lenta
y pesadamente por delante, su mochila
rebotando con cada paso. De repente, la
hija explota en una carrera de la ultima
media cuadra, su rostro levantado y
luminoso, su cabello negro liso volando.
Ella está corriendo con abandono
hacia su día, su cuerpo lleno de alegre
anticipación.
Me doy cuenta que acabo de recibir
una bendición. Me pregunto: ¿como
corro con tal alegre anticipación?
Cinco días a la semana, comienzo
el día en el teléfono
con mi amiga
espiritual Alicia.
Nos saludábamos—
“¿cómo estás,
realmente?”—
entonces elevamos
los “momentos
santos” del día anterior. La pequeña niña
corriendo a la escuela se convierte en
uno de mis momentos santos para ese
lunes. Diciéndole a Alicia acerca de que
esto me ayuda a definir mi intención
para este nuevo día: estar en el momento
presente, observar y recibir las pequeñas
bendiciones.
“
”
...ganas de correr hacia la vida
con alegre anticipación...
Unos minutos más tarde, estaciono
mi coche frente a la tienda de abarrotes
de Mi Pueblo y a camino pesadamente
con mi propia mochila pesada desde el
asiento delantero. El tronco de la palmera
en el borde de la banqueta me detiene
en mi camino. Cuando la corteza en la
parte inferior tres pies ha desgastado,
delgadas raíces fibrosas sobresalen como
una colonia de gusanos resecos. Esto es
diferente de las entrañas de cualquier otro
continued from page 1 árbol que he visto. “Oh, eres extraña,” me
maravillo, “extraña y hermosa!”
holler their support and agreement:
A continuación, un arbusto perenne
“Amen!”
lanza una rama en mi dirección. Ahora,
I confess: too often I wake up with
estoy despierto, cada hoja verde oscuro
my to-do list scrolling through my head,
espigado parece grabada contra el cielo.
instead of the recognition of “Another
“Guau! ¡ Gracias!” le digo al arbusto.
day! Hallelujah!”
Como Ministra, hablo con gente
So this is my intention for the coming con el corazón roto casi todos los días,
month: through worship with you,
y casi todos los días el mundo rompe mi
through the School for Compassion
corazón, también. Pero cuando estoy
(beginning November 13, 1:00 – 2:30),
despierta a las maravillas y a la gratitud,
through my own self-care, I will deepen
entonces veo el extraño y fuerte sistema
the spiritual practices that awaken me to
raíces en cada persona y las verdes hojas
everyday delight and simple thanks.
puntiagudas y el anhelo de correr hacia
Won’t you join me? l
la vida con alegre anticipación, si me dan
Waking up to delight
Page 2 media oportunidad.
Así que ¿qué toma despertar a la
gratitud y la maravilla?
Práctica, eso es seguro. Una práctica
espiritual y una comunidad que nos
recuerda, nos persuada, este vigilante en
nosotros. Por ejemplo:
La Iglesia hermana de mi primera
congregación Unitaria Universalista
estaba solo a sólo quince cuadras de la
zona residencial. Para visitar la Iglesia de
la Resurrección, Iglesia Unida de Cristo,
sólo tenia que caminar hasta la primera
calle desde la parte alta del lado este,
al este de Harlem. En una mañana de
domingo durante las alegrías y tristezas,
escuchamos sobre todas las cosas duras
que acompañan a menudo el vivir por
debajo de la línea de pobreza en los
Estados Unidos. Pero siempre, siempre,
alguien podría levantarse y decir “me
desperté esta mañana y le agradecí a Dios
porque estaba vivo!” La congregación le
exclamaría su apoyo y acuerdo:
“¡ amén!”
Confieso: demasiado a menudo
me despierto con mi lista de tareas
pendientes a través de mi cabeza, en
lugar del reconocimiento de “otro día
!Aleluya!”
Así que esta es mi intención para
el próximo mes: a través de culto
con ustedes, a través de la escuela de
compasión (desde el 13 de noviembre,
1:00–2: 30), a través de mi propio
autocuidado, profundizaré las prácticas
espirituales que me despiertan para el
deleite de todos los días y un sencillo
gracias.
¿No se unen a mí? l
Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011
Gratitude for Life
By the Rev. Geoff Rimositis
“But we take a little here and we
give a little there
And the wind blows right
through us,
And blows the apples off the
tree,
And hangs a red kite suddenly
there.
And a fox comes to bite the
apples curiously,
And we change.
—Marge Piercy, “I Saw Her Dancing”
I
miss running. I had to stop because
of a bad disk in my lower back. There
were those few but wonderful moments
when I was lost in a runner’s high: when
conditioning and endorphins met in an
effortless stride and the brain relaxed as
it floated in its cerebrospinal fluid. My
mind, no longer concerned with putting
one foot after the other or pushing the
lungs to take deep breaths, was free to
wander over vast landscapes or simply
sink down into its own relaxation.
I have now replaced runner’s high
with hiker’s high. There are times when
I am out in the wilderness or at one of
our local parks like Joseph Grant, on
the way to Mt. Hamilton, (as I was a
few weeks ago) when I get a taste of
what a mystical experience may be all
about. I catch a glimpse of the oneness
of creation and stand in awe and wonder
of its transforming beauty. I feel fully
present and mindful of my surroundings,
and like a pupa that sheds its skin in
metamorphosis, I shed my ego and
unfold the wings of consciousness.
When I was at Joseph Grant Park I
almost dropped to my knees in gratitude
for the sight of an eagle which, disturbed
by my presence, flew over my head and
slowly circled round and round, higher
and higher, from the valley floor calling
out in piercing tones: I am eagle. Let
there be no doubt as to what I am.
I suppose if eagles were as common
as robins pulling up worms in the wet
grass I might not be so enthralled. But
to tell you the truth, I think robins are
wonderful too. Two wild turkeys turned
to look at me before they disappeared
into the brush, and it was an experience
comparable to being recognized by my
favorite musicians and movie stars. They
looked at me! They looked at me!
With the white dome of Mt.
Hamilton Observatory in view above
the rolling hills of the Diablo Range I
almost fell over myself when from the
corner of my eye I spotted a large snake
stretched out on the trail sunning itself. I
was one step away from making impolite
contact. And though I thought rattler, I
learned latter that it was a gopher snake.
It remained motionless except for a flick
of its tongue to test the air to see if I was
food or annoyance. It decided that I was
the latter.
It is amazing the restorative powers
of just spending a few hours outside,
breathing in fresh air, feeling the sun
on your face (of course with proper
sunscreen), and remembering that we
are all creatures of nature too. When you
are on overwhelm with the stresses and
pressures of deliverables piled high in
your inbox or experiencing off the chart
anxiety, put your nose in a rose, curl
up with a kitten in your lap, or just go
outside and open your eyes and take in
the awe and wonder of creation arrayed
before you.
Blessed Be,
Geoff
Primera Iglesia Unitaria de San José • Page 3
Gratitud por la Vida
Moving to Gratitude
by Alice Lynch
por el rev. Geoff Rimisitis
“ Pero tomamos un poco aquí y
damos un poco allá,
Y el viento sopla a través de
nosotros,
Y sopla las manzanas del árbol,
Y cuelga de repente ahí un
cometa rojo,
Y un zorro rojo viene
curiosamente a morder las
manzanas,
Y nosotros cambiamos.
-Marge Piercy, “La Vi a Ella Bailar”
E
xtraño correr. Tuve que parar debido
a un problema en un disco en mi
espalda baja. Hubo algunos momentos
maravillosos cuando estuve perdido en
una carrera de alto rendimiento: cuando
el acondicionamiento y las endorfinas
se reunieron en un paso sin esfuerzo y
el cerebro se relajo como flotando en el
líquido cefalorraquídeo. Mi mente ya no
se ocupaba de poner un pie tras de otro
o de empujar a los pulmones para tomar
respiraciones profundas, estaba libre
para divagar sobre los grandes paisajes
o simplemente hundirse en su propia
relajación.
Ahora he reemplazado la carrera de
alto rendimiento por senderista de alto
rendimiento. Hay veces cuando estoy
fuera en el bosque o en uno de nuestros
parques locales como el Joseph Grant,
en el camino al Monte Hamilton, (como
lo hice hace unas semanas) cuando
obtengo el sabor sobre lo que puede ser
toda una experiencia mística. Tuve un
atisbo de la unidad de la creación y estar
sobrecogido y maravillado de su belleza
transformadora. Me siento totalmente
consciente y presente a mi entorno, y
como una pupa que se despoja de su piel
en la metamorfosis, me despojo de mi ego
y despliego las alas de la conciencia.
Cuando estuve en el Joseph Grant casi
caigo de rodillas en agradecimiento por
Page 4 la visión de un águila, que preocupada
por mi presencia, voló sobre mi cabeza
y lentamente hizo un circulo , vueltas y
vueltas, más y más alto, desde el suelo del
valle diciendo en penetrantes tonos: Soy
águila. Que no quepa ninguna duda de lo
que soy.
Supongo que si las águilas fueran tan
comunes como los petirrojos tirando
de gusanos en el pasto mojado, yo no
podría estar tan embelesado. Pero les
digo la verdad, creo que los petirrojos
son maravillosos también. Los dos pavos
salvajes que voltearon a mirarme antes
que desaparecieran en el arbusto fue una
experiencia comparable a ser reconocido
por mis músicos favoritos y las estrellas
de cine. ¡Ellos me miraron! ¡Ellos me
miraron!
Con la blanca cúpula del Observatorio
del Monte Hamilton vista por debajo
de las colinas de la cordillera del Diablo
casi caí sobre mí mismo cuando con la
esquina de mi ojo vi una gran serpiente
extendida en el camino tomando sol.
Estaba a un paso de hacer un mal
contacto. Y aunque yo pensé en cascabel,
aprendí más tarde que era una serpiente
ratonera. Permaneció inmóvil excepto
por un movimiento rápido de su lengua
para probar el aire para ver si era alimento
o molestia. Ella decidió que era lo último.
Es asombroso los poderes
restauradores de simplemente pasar
sólo unas horas afuera, respirando aire
fresco, sintiendo el sol en su cara (por
supuesto con filtro solar adecuado) y
recordando que todos somos criaturas
de la naturaleza también. Cuando estén
abrumados con las tensiones y presiones
de entregas apiladas en la bandeja de
entrada o experimentando ansiedad fuera
de lo normal, pongan su nariz en una
rosa, acurrúquense con un gatito en su
regazo, o sólo salga al exterior y abra los
ojos y tomen en el asombro y maravilla de
la creación desplegada ante ustedes.
Bendecidos sean,
Geoff
FUCSJ member Alice Lynch is a
Worship Associate and a Small Group
Ministry leader.
T
his month’s Small Group Ministry
session on the theme of gratitude
poses these questions: “Can you remember a time in your life when you were not
grateful?” and “How did you move to
gratitude?” Thinking about these questions, it struck me that about five years
ago, I was very dissatisfied with my job
and my relationship with my husband
(and probably other things too). Today
I feel very differently. Instead of feeling
that my job and my marriage are far from
my ideal visions of them, I feel a lot of
gratitude for both of them.
How did I move from that ungrateful
place to a place of gratitude? Granted,
I’ve changed jobs twice since then, but I
don’t think that is the root of my present
feelings of gratitude about my work.
I have spent a lot of time in therapy
working on improving my relationship
with my husband. Some of that work
involved recognizing the many positive
aspects of my marriage.
As best I can understand it, these
changes have mostly resulted from a
gradual process of doing what Melodie
Beattie describes as “turning what we
have into enough and more.” Instead of
just stewing when a boss did something
that felt disrespectful to me, I took
the risk of talking to her about it. She
genuinely appreciated the feedback, and
I left the conversation feeling positive
about her.
I’ve made peace, to a great extent (it’s
a work in progress), with differences
between me and my husband that used to
feel insurmountable. I now feel OK that
church isn’t important to him. By letting
go of wishing for him to be someone he
is not, I’ve been able to open myself more
to the wonderful person he is.
I have made some big strides in
moving from being ungrateful to grateful
about important parts of my life. And for
this, too, I am very grateful. l
What Have I to Be
Thankful For?
by Bob Miess
I
once wrote a song with that title. I still
play it every once in a while when the
moment feels right. (Or should I say
when the moment feels wrong?) The
words were cynical and expressed the
ache of a soul looking for more. It went
like this:
What have I to be thankful for?
I’m lost and I’m lonely and I haven’t
a single thing.
That’s the first verse. I would
sometimes sing it over and over until
finally I sang the second verse, which was
a one-word response:
LIFE!
I loved singing the song back then. I
remember when one person heard me
singing it, he said there was a lot of me in
¿De que Tengo que
Estar Agradecido?
por Bob Miess
U
na vez escribí una canción con este
título. Todavía la toco de vez en cuando, cuando el momento es apropiado.
(O debería decir, cuando el momento se
siente inapropiado?) Las palabras fueron
cínicas y expresaron el dolor de un alma
buscando más. Era así:
¿De qué tengo que estar agradecido?
¿De Qué tengo que estar agradecido?
Estoy perdido y estoy solo y no tengo
una sola cosa.
¿De qué tengo que estar agradecido?
Este es el primer verso. Yo a veces lo
cantaba repetidamente hasta que finalmente
canté el segundo verso, que fue la respuesta de
una sola palabra:
¡VIDA!
Me encantaba cantar la canción en aquel
entonces. Recuerdo que cuando una persona
me escucho cantarla, dijo que hubo mucho de
mí en ella. Creo que él esperaba que estuviera
it. I think he expected I’d be surprised by
that. I wasn’t. I knew how much the song
echoed with what was going on in me. I
would sometimes put my ear to the guitar
and let the dissonance of the chords
resonate through my body as the lyrics
resonated through my soul. It resonated
with the emptiness I felt, yet still carried
just a little bit of hope. If it had tried to
erase or ignore the pain, it would not
have worked. If it had had no element of
possibility, it would have left me in the
depths. Instead, it was just right.
It still rings true for me now, but when
I sing it today, the weight of the suffering
is so infinitesimal compared to the
infinite lightness of the gratitude.
There’s a simple explanation for that.
After all, I almost died once. A few years
ago, a massive heart attack almost took
my life. And I can only be grateful that
I’m alive. So that word “life” rings so very
very true.
Yet that’s an inadequate explanation.
You see, long before that brush with
death I was finding a joy in mere existence
– and not just the existence of myself, but
the existence of everyone and everything.
I had come to see myself as a part of this
immense and unfathomable universe!
And although I was just a tiny part, this
tiny part was able to see it and hear it and
ponder it … and gasp in wonder!
And on that awesome ordinary night
in which my life nearly left me, even when
I knew that I could die at any moment, it
was not fear that gripped me; it was not
regret. It was love and compassion. It was
as if I were being nestled in the crook of a
mother’s arm, and I felt myself being held
by the people who loved me, including
some of you in this congregation. And I
knew in my heart that existence would
carry on, even if I did not.
And so now I sing with gusto that last
verse:
sorprendido por esto. Yo no estaba. Sabía
cuánto la canción hacia eco con lo que estaba
sucediendo en mí. A veces quisiera poner mi
oreja en la guitarra y dejar que la disonancia
de los acordes resuenen a través de mi cuerpo
como la letra resonaban a través de mi alma.
Resonó con el vacío que sentí, aun todavía
llevan a un poco de esperanza. Si hubiera
intentado borrar o ignorar el dolor, no habría
funcionaba. Si no hubiera tenido ningún
elemento de posibilidad, me habría dejado en
las profundidades. En cambio, fue justo.
Todavía suena cierto para mí ahora, pero
cuando la canto hoy, el peso del sufrimiento
es tan infinitesimal comparado a la infinita
ligereza de la gratitud.
Hay una simple explicación para ello.
Después de todo, casi morí una vez. Hace
algunos años, un ataque cardiaco masivo
tomó casi mi vida. Y sólo puedo estar
agradecido de que estoy vivo. Por lo tanto esa
palabra “vida”, repica muy, muy cierta.
Aun es una explicación inadecuada.
Ven, mucho antes de ese estar cerca con la
muerte, yo estaba encontrando una alegría
en la mera existencia – y no sólo la existencia
de mí mismo, pero la existencia de todo el
mundo y de todo. ¡Había llegado a verme
a mi mismo como parte de este inmenso e
insondable universo! Y aunque era sólo una
pequeña parte, esta pequeña parte pudo verlo
y escucharlo y reflexionar... y ¡exclamar en
maravilla!
Y en esa impresionante noche ordinaria en
que mi vida casi me deja, incluso cuando ya
sabía que podía morir en cualquier momento,
no era miedo lo que se apoderó de mí; no
era arrepentimiento. Fue amor y compasión.
Fue como si yo estuviera acurrucado en el
doblez del brazo de una madre, y me sentí
a mi mismo sostenido por la gente que me
ama, incluyendo algunos de ustedes en esta
congregación. Y yo supe en mi corazón que
existencia llevaría, incluso si no lo hice.
Y por lo que ahora canto con gusto ese
último verso:
LIFE!
FUCSJ member Bob Miess is the
Pacific Central District’s Ministerial
Search Representative, a former
president of this congregation, and an
emerging health coach. l
¡VIDA!
Miembro de la FUCSJ, Bob Miess es
representante de búsqueda Ministerial
del Distrito Central Pacífico, un ex
Presidente de esta congregación y un
entrenador de salud emergente. l
With Older youth:
Mindful Eating
I
Here are some ideas for family activities that you all can
enjoy.
With younger children:
Giving Thanks for the Food on Our Table *
L
ong ago, people kept a fire burning in a hearth, sometimes
all day and all night, to cook their food, eat together, tell stories, and stay warm. Where do you gather to share food for the
body and food for the spirit? When homes were built of rocks,
plants, and earth, and most food was gathered or grown, earth
centered peoples made hearths of compacted earth or a ring of
stones. Their rituals honored the spirit of life believed to be in
all natural beings and things.
Make a symbolic hearth.
Fill a shallow dish (or pie tin) with earth or sand. Set a votive
candle firmly. Circle the candles with stones. Place your hearth
where family members gather. Light it to mark your time
together and your connection with the earth and all its gifts.
Draw inspiration from the wisdom traditions, with words of
blessing that resonate for you. Here are some table blessings that
you might use:
Thank you, Great Spirit, for the roof over our heads, for being
together, for all the food we eat.
—UU blessing inspired by Earth-centered traditions
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything your goodness sends,
Thank you!
—Adapted from a grace of Ralph Waldo Emerson by the Rev. Phil
Lund, sung to the tune of “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Loving spirit be our guest.
Dine with us, share our bread
That our table might be blessed
And our souls be fed.
—By the Rev. Gary Kowalski, sung to the tune of “Mary Had a Little
Lamb”
We receive this food in gratitude to all beings
Who have helped to bring it to our table,
And vow to respond in turn to those in need
With wisdom and compassion.
—Buddhist mealtime blessing
—adapted from The UU World Magazine
Page 6 n his book Present Moment, Wonderful Moment: Mindfulness
Verses for Daily Living, Thich Nhat Hanh offers meditations
from the Vietnamese Buddhist tradition for tasks such as
brushing one’s teeth and washing one’s hands. Here is a way to
bring a meditative, reflective attitude to the everyday, physical
experience of eating.
Choose two fruits or vegetables that everyone in the family
can eat – for example, strawberries and carrots. Get enough for
everyone to have one of each. Wash the strawberries and carrots.
Slice them and arrange them on simple trays or plates. Use a
separate tray for each fruit or vegetable.
Gather silently in a circle and sit down. Pass the tray of
strawberries. Invite each person to take one and slowly, quietly
chew it. Encourage everyone to take their time, to chew
thoroughly and deliberately, to fully experience texture and
flavor.
Ask them to imagine the earth, the sun, the water, and the
air that nurtured the strawberry. Invite everyone to taste the
sunlight in the strawberry. When everyone is done, pass the tray
of carrots, with the same instructions.
Share a moment of silence. Then, talk about what it was
like to eat such simple foods silently, together. What new
understandings came about strawberries? About carrots? About
food and eating? Can you imagine eating a whole meal in
mindful silence? Why or why not? l
In Our Own Voices...
Gratitude and wonder
In just a few words, our members and friends have captured
both the wisdom and the confusion stirred by this month’s
theme of Gratitude and Wonder. Which words come closest
to describing your own experiences?
We invite you to pause for a moment. Let your mind wander down
whatever paths these words inspire. Marvel at our common human
struggles, and whisper “Thanks!” for the hope that these examples
offer.
F Loving the life you have, rather than wanting something else.
Acknowledging how very much we need and depend on others: no one
stands alone.
F Gratitude and wonder are the source and the heart of spirituality.
F How do I find the time for sacred moments, let alone the ability to see them
and help them lead me?
F Experiencing gratitude and wonder can help with stress.
F Gratitude keeps me in the present, keeps my glass half-full versus halfempty, helps me appreciate all the goodness in people and life.
FGratitude is at the very beginning of the ability to experience life as it really
is. Without it, life is meaningless.
F Gratitude turns enough into wealth. l
Science as a
Spiritual Practice
by Tamara Payne-Alex
Tamara Payne-Alex is a lifelong
Unitarian Universalist and the Program
Officer for our congregation.
M
y grandfather dismissed the
Lutheran theology of his childhood
when he found pictures of dinosaurs
in the library. From that day forward,
he turned his considerable intellect to
the study of physics and science. An
enthusiastic atheist, he studied nature
with passion and awe. He would wake me
in the wee hours of the morning to gaze
at planets through a telescope or to walk
over a frost-covered meadow at dawn to
see a doe and her fawn.
The Qur’an instructs Muslims to
consider the wonders of creation. The
study of science is a way to honor Allah. I
experience science as a way to draw closer
Ciencia Como
una Práctica
Espiritual
por Tamara Payne-Alex
Tamara Payne-Alex es una Unitaria
Universalista de toda la vida y Oficial
del Programa y Operaciones de
nuestra congregación.
M
i abuelo se retiro de la teología
luterana de su niñez cuando
encontró fotos de dinosaurios en la
biblioteca. A partir de ese día, volvió a
su considerable intelecto para el estudio
de la física y la ciencia. Ateo entusiasta, estudió la naturaleza con pasión
y asombro. Él me despertaría en altas
horas de la mañana para observar los
planetas a través de un telescopio o para
caminar sobre un prado cubierto por las
heladas de la madrugada para ver una
cierva y su cervatillo.
El Corán ordena a los musulmanes a
considerar las maravillas de la creación.
El estudio de la ciencia es una forma
de honrar a Alá. Yo experimento la
to the miracle of life and the mystery of
the universe. Science is a way to deepen
my faith. When I set aside my grown-up
lists and deadlines to gaze at the world
with curiosity and awe, time slows, and
my sense of connection is renewed. I feel
myself firmly positioned in an amazing
and expansive universe.
Working with children has allowed
me to indulge in the spiritual practice of
science. Teaching about surface tension
gives me an excuse to gaze deeply into
a mountain of bubbles, noticing the
dancing and shifting rainbow swirls
of color on each bubble. Knowing the
science that causes the psychedelic
designs makes them even more
entrancing.
Have you ever experimented to see
how many drops of water you can fit on
a penny? The water
molecules cling to
one another until
the water teeters
ciencia como una
manera de acercarse
al milagro de la
vida y al misterio
del universo. La
ciencia es una forma de profundizar
mi fe. Cuando yo deje de lado mis
adultas listas y fechas límites para
contemplar el mundo con la curiosidad
y el asombro, el tiempo se retrazo y mi
sentido de conexión se renovó. Me siento
firmemente posicionada en un universo
sorprendente y expansivo.
Trabajar con niños me ha permitido
disfrutar de la práctica espiritual
de la ciencia. Enseñando la tensión
superficial me da una excusa para mirar
profundamente en una montaña de
burbujas, notando los remolinos y
cambios de color de arco iris bailando
en cada burbuja. Sabiendo la ciencia que
hace que los diseños psicodélicos que los
hace aún más fascinantes.
¿Alguna vez han experimentado el ver
cuántas gotas de agua pueden caber en un
centavo? Las moléculas de agua se aferran
las unas a las otras, hasta que el agua se
tambalea improbable, más de dos veces la
improbably more than twice the height
of the coin itself.
I like to think that our congregation
is like water, with an observable force
holding us gently but firmly to one
another.
At the recent church retreat, a
multigenerational group of six “scientists”
joined me to dissect owl pellets. Some
were amazed at the beauty of the fragile
skulls and skeletons found in the pellets.
We wondered aloud about the origins of
the bones, posited the size of the owl, and
marveled at the fragile miracle of life.
The study of science is a spiritual
practice that can deepen our faith. Science
allows us to lose ourselves in childlike
wonder and curiosity about the world.
Considering the wonders of creation in
this way is a deeply religious act. l
altura de la misma moneda.
Me gusta pensar que nuestra congregación es como el agua, con una fuerza
observable que nos sostiene suavemente
pero con firmeza los unos a los otros.
En el reciente retiro de iglesia,
un grupo de seis “científicos” multi
generacionales se unieron a mí para
hacer la disección de las regurgitaciones
de búho. Algunos estaban asombrados
de la belleza de los frágiles cráneos y
esqueletos encontrados en las bolitas.
Nos preguntábamos en voz alta sobre
los orígenes de los huesos, sugeríamos el
tamaño del búho y nos maravillamos del
frágil milagro de la vida.
El estudio de la ciencia es una práctica
espiritual que puede profundizar nuestra
fe. La ciencia nos permite perdernos en
infantil maravilla y curiosidad por el
mundo. Considerando las maravillas de
la creación de esta manera, es un acto
profundamente religioso. l
SUNDAY SERVICES / SERVICIOS DE DOMINGO
November: gratitude / wonder F noviembre: gratitud / maravilla
10:15 am
11:00 am
Servicios en español
Todos los domingos –
Alabanzas en Español
Media Hora de Reunión del Pequeño
Grupo del Ministerio Multicultural.
Venga a unirse a nosotros para
este servicio simple de oraciónmeditación de media hora (sin
sermón) a las 10:15 a.m en una
mezcla de inglés y español en la
sala Fireside Ramsden. Accesible e
incluyente para todos, este servicio
ofrece tiempo para cantar, meditar
y reflexionar en un pequeño grupo
en preparación para el servicio de
las 11: 00 am.
Every Sunday – Alabanzas
(Spanish Lauds)
A half-hour multicultural Small Group
Ministry gathering. Come join us
for this simple prayer-meditation
service (without sermon) held in
a mixture of English and Spanish
in the Ramsden Fireside Room.
Accessible and welcoming to all,
this service provides time to sing,
meditate, and reflect in a small
group in preparation for the service
at 11:00 am.
November 6 F 6 de noviembre
Grateful, Grateful …
Services in English
Worship Leader: Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones
Worship Associates: Bill Bowman, Bruce Halen, and the
Transylvanian Travelers
We rediscover gratitude for the sheer fact of being alive
in this service of shared reflections. We honor those who
serve in our armed forces as Veterans Day approaches,
too. What spiritual practices help you to stay connected to
gratitude and wonder, in good times and in tough times?
This morning, we fill up our spiritual tank!
Progreso e los Peregrinos: Historias de
agradecimiento de nuestros viajeros de verano a
Transilvania
Nuestra Congregación envió dos grupos de jóvenes y adultos
a nuestra iglesia hermana en Rumania el verano pasado.
Vengan a escuchar cómo experimentaron el multiculturalismo
Worship Leader: the Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones
en Europa Central y exploraron nuestras raíces Unitarias
Worship Associate: Alice Lynch
en el Valle de Homorod. ¿De que estan mas agradecidos
nuestros peregrinos? ¿Lo que les trajo asombro y maravilla?
Agradecido, Agradecido...
Nosotros redescubriremos la gratitud por el puro hecho ¿Qué podemos aprender acerca de una “actitud de agrade estar vivos en este servicio de reflexiones compar- decimiento” para nuestros viajes diarios más cerca de casa?
tidas. Honramos a aquellos que sirven en nuestras Dirige: Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones
fuerzas armadas mientras el día de los veteranos se Asociados de Culto: Bill Bowman, Bruce Halen, y los
acerca, también. ¿Qué prácticas espirituales ayudan a viajeros de Transilvania
mantenerse conectado a la gratitud y maravilla, en
Flos
November 20
buenos tiempos y en tiempos difíciles?
November: gratitude/wonder
noviembre:
grati-Celebration Sunday: All-Ages Worship
Dirige: la Rev. Nancy
Palmer Jones
Asociada de Culto:
Alice Lynch
Sharing Wisdom, Sharing Thanks
tude/maravilla
November 13 F 13 de noviembre
Pilgrims’ Progress: Grateful Stories from Our
Summer Travels to Transylvania
Our special guest, Tulku Jamyang Gyatso, is a young Buddhist
teacher and reincarnated lama from Nepal with an informal,
straightforward approach to the teachings of the Buddha
and life’s Big Questions. He shares a message for all ages
about his own personal experiences as part of his Northern
California “In Pursuit of Happiness Tour.” We’ll pause to think
about a Unitarian Universalist approach to Thanksgiving, and
share messages of gratitude and wonder with each other. A
morning filled with special gifts! Please join us!
Our congregation sent two groups of youth and
adults to our Partner Church in Romania last summer.
Come hear how they experienced multiculturalism
in Central Europe and explored our Unitarian roots
in the Homorod Valley. What are our pilgrims most
grateful for? What brought them awe and wonder?
What can we all learn about an “attitude of gratitude” Worship Leaders: Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones and Rev.
Geoff Rimositis, with Tulku Jamyang
for our daily journeys closer to home?
Worship Associate: K’Ailsa Rowan
Save the Dates
F November 3, Thursday, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, PACT Fundraiser Luncheon, Wyndham Hotel
F November 3, Thursday, 7:15 pm, Women’s Alliance Meeting, Ramsden Fireside Room
F November 6, Sunday, 10:00-11:50 am, HUUG First Sunday Forum, Hattie Porter Hall
F November 6, Sunday, 12:45-2:00 pm, PACT report, discussion and pizza lunch,
Ramsden Fireside Room
F November 6, Sunday, 2:00-4:30 pm, Jane Austen dance, Hattie Porter Hall
F November 12, Saturday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm, Service Is Our Prayer work party at church
F November 13, Sunday, 1:00-2:30 pm, School of Compassion Class with Rev. Nancy,
F November 13, Sunday, 2:00-4:00 pm, Book Discussion Group: From Jesus to
Christianity with Bob Miess, Conference Room
F November 19, Saturday, 4:30 pm, New Improved Service Auction and Gift Faire
F December 10, Saturday, 7:30 pm, UU Coffee House, For the Love of Broadway, Hattie
Porter Hall
Page 8 Domingo de Celebración: Servicio de todas las Edades
Compartiendo Sabiduría, Compartiendo el
agradecimiento
Nuestro invitado especial, Tulku Jamyang Gyatso, es un joven
maestro budista y lama reencarnado de Nepal con un enfoque
informal y directo de las enseñanzas de Buda y las grandes
interrogantes de la vida. El comparte un mensaje para todas
las edades sobre sus propias experiencias personales como
parte de su recorrido “en la búsqueda de “la felicidad” en el
Norte California. Haremos una pausa para pensar acerca de
un enfoque Unitario Universalista del día de Acción de Gracias
y compartir mensajes de agradecimiento y admiración entre
sí. Una mañana llena de regalos especiales !Únase a nosotros!
Dirige: Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones y Rev. Geoff
Rimositis, con Tulku Jamyang
Asociada de Culto: K’Ailsa Rowan
School for Compassion
November 2011 through March 2012
Programs for all ages
C
hildren and youth attend the first
part of the service at 11:00 am,
and then are sung out to their morning
program. Classes last until 12:30 pm.
Parents please pick up your children in
the nursery and in the PreK-1 class. All
other students will be dimissed to rejoin
their parents in Hattie Porter Hall.
Nursery: Birth through three years
Location: Lower Level Nursery
Childcare Staff: Maria Elena Olvera, and Sandra Sotelo
Help Lead Worship!
T
he Worship Associate program
provides an exciting and enriching opportunity for
members of the First
Unitarian Church
of San José to help
plan and present the
Sunday-morning services that are at the heart of our Beloved
Community.
Worship Associates, who serve for
one calendar year, work closely with the
ministers and a multidisciplinary worship
team on five or six services during that
year. They also set up the worship space
for another five or six Sundays.
Ongoing training is provided in
periodic gatherings, the next of which is
on Saturday, Dec. 3. Interested folks are
invited to RSVP to the number below.
In addition to making a critical
contribution to congregational life,
participation in Worship Associates
is a wonderful way to deepen your
understanding of Unitarian Universalism
and to get to know some super people!
You’ll find details on the church
website at http://www.sanjoseuu.org/
OurWorshipLife/WorshipAssociates.
html Questions? Phone Mary Martin at
(408) 354-8878. l
PreK-Grade 1: Love Surrounds Us
T
his program explores UU principles
in the context of beloved community including family/home, school and
neighborhood. (lower level, room 4)
Grades 2-5: Faithful Journeys
C
hildren explore how Unitarian
Universalism translates into life
choices and everyday actions. (lower
level, rooms 5-6)
Grades 6-8: Heeding the Call
E
xplores oppression in our society and
promotes the understanding of values
that counteract the marginalization of
others. (Rooms 2-3, lower level)
Grades 9-12: A Chorus of Faiths
E
ach Sunday youth address issues of
concern to their lives and spirituality
through discussions facilitated by adult
advisors.
Our Whole Lives
Sexuality Education
OWL: Grades seven-nine
FRequired parent meeting, Sunday,
November 13, 2:00-4:00 pm
FClasses run January 8 through May
6, 2012
OWL: Grades ten-twelve
FOctober 9 through December 18,
2:00-4:00 pm or 2:00-5:00 pm,
depending on the class, Youth Room
Facilitators: Michealle Havenhill, Rev. Jack Michael,
(First Congregational Church of San José), Rev.
Geoff Rimositis
For more information about our
programs for children and youth
please contact our family minister, the
Reverend Geoff Rimositis, GRimositis@
sanjoseuu.org
W
e will engage in spiritual practice
and support for one another in
living a compassionate life that begins with
compassion for oneself and then moves that
compassion out into the world. Resources
for personal learning and transformation
include Karen Armstrong’s book The Twelve
Steps to a Compassionate Life and Frederic
and Mary Brussat’s Spiritual Literacy.
The Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones along with
Christy Baker (Candidate for the Unitarian
Universalist Ministry) will be offering the
class on the second Sundays of the month
from 1:00 to 2:30 pm in the Ramsden
Fireside Room beginning November 13.
RSVP with the Rev. Geoff at GRimositis@
sanjoseuu.org. ●
Book Discussion Group:
From Jesus to
Christianity
November 13 and second Sunday
each month, 2:00 - 4:00 pm,
Conference Room
I
n his book From Jesus to Christianity:
How Four Generations of Visionaries and
Storytellers Created the New Testament
and Christian Faith, L. Michael White
explains how the early Christian storytellers responded to the events of their times
and how those responses shaped what we
now know as the Christian Testament
and the Christian Faith.
Providing multiple viewpoints to
consider along the way, he provides
opportunities for each of us to explore,
form our own understandings, and place
the stories into the context of our own
faith journey.
This discussion group will take
advantage of those opportunities. For the
session on November 13, we will discuss
pages 1-39, Chapters 1 and 2. So if you
missed the intro last month, this is a great
time to jump in. Questions? Contact Bob
Miess, [email protected],
408-781-7073. l
Announcements & Coming Events
Women’s Alliance
Thursday, November 3, 7:15 pm,
We’ll be doing a reading of a short play
about the time in 1872 when Susan B.
Anthony voted--even though women did
not gain the right to vote until 1906. All
are welcome to join us. Contact Nancy
Coleman at [email protected] or
408 985 5778 for further information.
HUUG First Sunday Forum
Sunday November 6, 10 -10:50 am,
Hattie Porter Hall
Facing our Mortality, part 1: The
“ethical will.” This is an expression of
gratitude, values or wishes rather than
a legal document. It could also contain
an apology or simply be a letter from
the heart to future generations. For
further information please contact TJb@
TimBlackwood.com.
PACT Report and Discussion
Sunday, November 6, 12:45 - 2:00 pm,
Ramsden Fireplace Room
Our PACT committee invites everyone
to an after-church report and discussion.
The committee reports on our multiple
ongoing interfaith efforts to address local
issues related to immigration and racism.
Pizza lunch included! Please come share
food and your questions.
Jane Austen Dances
Sunday, November 6, 2:00 - 4:30 pm.
Hattie Porter Hall
Dance like Miss Bennett and Mr.
Darcy! Dancing Master Bob Fraley will
teach you everything you need to know,
Gratitude as a Spiritual Practice
(FUCSJ member Kasthuri
Veeraraghavan recently returned home
to San José with her family after living
for 18 months in England.)
I
learned the concept of gratitude as a
spiritual practice through Al-Anon, a
12-step program. I began by writing a
gratitude list daily. Now I’ll do a quick
mental list of the things I am grateful for,
and sometimes I’ll write it down. It works
in many ways.
Using gratitude as a tool helps me to
be aware of my negative thinking about a
person or situation in my life.
In the beginning, it helped me
counteract the thinking that “I don’t do
enough, I don’t have enough, hence I
am not enough.” Now I look for all the
small and big things in my life that I am
grateful for and am happy about.
Over a period of time, making a
list and being aware consciously of the
things that I am grateful for helps me
to recognize and get in touch with my
intuition and myself.
Practicing Gratitude helps me to grow,
be more kind and tolerant of my own
flaws and others’ too.
Page 10 by Kasthuri Veeraraghavan
When I am grateful for my good life,
I have more love to give and receive,
especially with my family.
Having an “Attitude of Gratitude”
prompts me to let go of the unknown
fears and deal with frustrations,
disappointments, and anxieties.
For example, before my second
son Nilesh was born, there was much
uncertainty about his birth and his
health. Being grateful for one more day,
one more week of pregnancy, helped me
overcome fear and anxiety.
When I am in “Gratitude,” I can
appreciate the small and big wonders in
my life, like the temperate sunny weather
we have in San Jose—unlike the English
weather, when we lived overseas. More
importantly, now I don’t take these things
for granted.
Being intentionally grateful helps me
to be “right where my feet are”—not to
be in the polar opposites of negativity
and disappointments OR happiness and
joy.
Gratitude helps me appreciate and
accept my life as it is. l
and live music by William Allen and
friends will lift your feet. Casual dress
and comfortable shoes are encouraged.
Suggested donation: $10 to $25; no one
will be turned away. Proceeds to benefit
the co-sponsors: The Music Program
of the First Unitarian Church of San
José (sanjoseuu.org) and The Bay Area
Country Dance Society (bacds.org)
HUUmanist group meeting
Monday, November 21 at 7 PM in the
youth room.
Program under development. Please
contact Tim Blackwood at TJb@
TimBlackwood.com or 408-6233168 for an update on the program or
cancellation.
Silent Auction and Dinner
Saturday, November 19
Get set to have fun and SHOP at
our annual Service Auction and Gift
Faire, Saturday, November 19, beginning
at 4:30, with a scrumptious dinner
provided, too! See you there!
“For the Love of Broadway”
Saturday, December 10, 7:30, Hattie
Porter Hall
This UU Coffee House performance
features great line-up of experienced
performers, the familiar songs you love,
and lots of sing-a-longs. Families and kids
welcome.
UUthful Spirits
Second and fourth Sundays, 12:45 pm,
Hattie Porter Hall
Join our young-at-heart fellowship
group for Sunday brunch! Meet in
Hattie Porter Hall about 12:45 p.m.
We also host a happy hour on the first
Friday. For information, contact uuthful_
[email protected].
Yoga Classes at our Church
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:15 to 10:15 am;
Wednesdays, 6:15-7:15 pm
Beginning yoga classes benefit Third
Street Community Center or FUCSJ
music program; Suggested donation: $5$15 no one will be turned away. l
Consider Small Group Ministry!
By Kathleen Bardin, Small Group Ministry Coordinator
Adapted from Small Group Ministry Member Information at
http://www.sanjoseuu.org/FUSJC_SGM/index.html
W
hether you are a newcomer or a long-timer, please consider how Small Group Ministry might enrich your life!
If you’ve never been in a small group or have been away for a
while, this is a great time to join! If you’re in a group but would
like to get to know some new people by switching groups, Open
Enrollment offers the perfect opportunity.
What can Small Group Ministry do for you?
Small Group Ministry is a unique experience that will give
you the opportunity to:
1. Discover what you really value, and express those values in
your actions.
2. Participate in an open, supportive, nurturing environment
for spiritual growth and mutual care for one another.
3. Search and grow at your own pace and in your own way
through telling your story, learning, loving others, and
contributing yourself and your resources.
4. Feel affirmed and accepted. Experience a high level of caring
and intimacy.
5. Identify and use your spiritual gifts.
What can you expect in a Small Group Ministry session?
Each session has a Preparation, which is distributed by the
leader ahead of time. It contains an explanation of the topic,
4-5 questions or exercises, and some related quotes. You choose
whichever questions or exercises are relevant to you.
Each session has an Order of Worship that includes lighting
the chalice, readings, sharing, silence, simple singing, and
closing/extinguishing the chalice.
Each session includes a check-in when each member has a
chance to share briefly highs and lows since the last meeting.
During Sharing/Deep Listening, each member has about five
minutes to share his or her thoughts on the topic as the other
members engage in active listening. While each person is
speaking, the others listen respectfully and in silence; this is not
a conversation. After all have shared, the group usually opens a
brief period for discussion. Members are asked to be brief and
supportive in their remarks.
What sort of time or commitment is involved?
Most Small Groups meet twice a month for about two hours,
usually at the home of one of the members. Members are asked
to consider a commitment of meeting twice a month for a year.
The annual Open Enrollment is a great time to try out this
program and see if Small Group Ministry is for you.
Look for Open Enrollment information through January 2012!
For more information, please contact Kathleen
Bardin, Small Group Ministry Coordinator, at
[email protected], or leave a
message for her at the church office: 408-292-3858.
Pastoral Care:
Noticing Who’s Missing
H
ave you ever looked around an 11:00 am service or a
church potluck and realized you haven’t seen a familiar
face in a long time? Ever wanted to light a candle for a church
member having a rough time but didn’t have the chance that
week?
To make it easier for everyone to watch out for each other
and get pastoral care for those in need, there will be an insert in
every week’s announcement enclosure to your Order of Service
to put in a box on the Pastoral Associates table and a similar
form in the newsletter. Those suggestions will go straight to the
ministers’ attention for prompt action.
Thanks for being a part of the pastoral care ministry at First
Unitarian! l
Membership Sunday, December 11
T
here will be an ingathering ceremony for new members of
our congregation on Sunday, December 11 at the 11:00 am
service. If you are ready to stand on the side of love and declare
that this community, whose mission is to bring the transforming
power of love into our lives and out into the world, is for you,
then it may be time for you to affirm your participation in our
congregation by becoming a member. Please talk with one of our
ministers about the rights and responsibilities of membership
in the First Unitarian Church of San Jose. Rev. Geoff,
[email protected] , Rev. Nancy, [email protected]. l
Let us give thanks!
A
re you longing for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with
friends? Then let’s have one!
On Thanksgiving, let’s have a potluck to celebrate the
holiday. Bob and Sherry Howd will supply turkey and dressing
and request that others provide additonal dishes, including
beverages, if they’re able to. Everyone is welcome, including
children. (Separate child care will not be provided; we hope
children can join us at the table.)
Please RSVP to [email protected] or call 408-257-6844. Let
us know who is coming and what dish you could provide. If you
prefer tofurkey,
that would be
wonderful to
“Like”
contribute! We’ll
Us On
gather in Hattie
Facebook!
Porter Hall
on Thursday,
tinyurl.com/
FUCSJ-FB
November 24,
from 4 to 7 pm,
and hope to see
you there! l
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH of San José
160 North Third Street
San José, CA 95112
Want to Receive the Newsletter?
To receive the newsletter on paper,
fill out the form at this link:
http://sanjoseuu.org/form/index.
php?sid=2 or call (408) 292-3858
To receive the newsletter via email:
[email protected]
or join the church’s Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uusj
Next issue copy deadline:
3:00 pm Wednesday, November 9
Assembly: Tuesday, November 15
Mailing: Wednesday, November 16
View this newsletter online in PDF
format at: sanjoseuu.org
Donations are welcome to help defray
the cost of printing and mailing. Suggested
donation: $18-$20 per year – please mail to
Office Manager.
Cuidado Pastoral
For Pastoral Care
Our community strives to offer compassion, companionship, healing, and joy
to all its members. Our pastoral care coordinators can help you find the listening ear or
helping hands that you may need in difficult times. Please contact the Rev. Geoff Rimositis.
Contacting the Ministers
Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones and Rev. Geoff Rimositis feel honored to
serve this congregation, and we cherish your trust! Here is how reach us: Nancy
(408) 292-3858, ext. 23 Mon.-Thurs.; cell (408) 952-9418; e-mail: revnpj@yahoo.
com. Geoff: (408) 292-3858, ext. 25 Mon.-Thurs.; cell (408) 309-7796; e-mail:
[email protected].
Nuestra comunidad se esfuerza en ofrecer la compasión, el compañerismo
curativo, y la alegría a todos sus miembros. Nuestros coordinadores en cuidado
pastoral pueden ayudarle a encontrar un oído que escucha, o las manos que ayudan
cuando ustedes lo pudieran necesitar en épocas difíciles. Para el cuidado pastoral, por
favor, comuníquese con el Rev. Geoff Rimositis.
Contactando a los Ministros
La Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones y El Rev. Geoff Rimositis se sienten honrados de servir
a esta congregación y apreciamos su confianza! Aquí esta como puede contactarnos:
Nancy (408) 292-3858, ext. 23 de Lunes a Jueves; cell (408) 952-9418; e-mail:
[email protected]. Geoff: (408) 292-3858, ext. 25 de Lunes a Jueves; cell (408)
309-7796; e-mail: [email protected].
READY TO BECOME A NEW MEMBER OF THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF SAN JOSÉ?
Contact Rev. Geoff, [email protected]
NEWSLETTER STAFF
Editorial Team:
Catherine Leeson Pelizzari,
Rick Merritt, Shirley Worth,
[email protected]
Our Church Circular is published
on the first and third Wednesdays
of each month. Circulation is
about 500.
Translator: Roberto Padilla
Assembly Coordinators: Andrea
Dinolt, Jasmine Kelly, Rebecca
Mason, Diana Wirt
Thanks for all the work you
do and care you put into the
newsletter.
CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS: Monday: closed; Tuesday-Thursday:
9:00-12:00 am and 1:00-4:00 pm.; Friday
9:00-12:00 am, staffed by a volunteer.
Phone: (408) 292-3858 (plus staff extensions)
Fax: (408) 292-4744; [email protected]
Website: http://www.sanjoseuu.org
Rentals: (408) 841-7542 or [email protected]
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT Madeline Morrow,
[email protected]
SECRETARY Nancy Coleman,
[email protected]
TREASURER David Proulx, [email protected]
PERSONNEL OFFICER Liz Shivell,
[email protected]
PROGRAM OFFICER Tamara Payne-Alex,
[email protected]
FINANCIAL OFFICER Dena Dickinson,
[email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cheri Goodman, [email protected]
Nancy Taylor, [email protected]
Rodrigo Garcia, [email protected]
Rob Strong, [email protected]
CHURCH STAFF
SENIOR MINISTER, The Rev. Nancy Palmer
Jones, Ext. 23, [email protected]
ASSOC. MINISTER FOR LIFESPAN FAITH
DEVELOPMENT, The Rev. Geoff Rimositis,
Ext. 25, [email protected]
OFFICE MANAGER, Susan Burke,
Ext. 10, [email protected]
BOOKKEEPER Sue Evanicky,
[email protected]
CUSTODIAN Edgar Cruz
NURSERY Sandra Soleto & Maria Elena Olvera
PROGRAM AND
OPERATIONS COUNCIL
(POC)
John Burk, Social Justice,
[email protected]
Sherry Howd, Outreach,
[email protected]
Patrick Myers, Building,
[email protected]
Jean Embree & Diana Wirt,
Stewardship and Fundraising,
[email protected]
(open), Inreach
(open), Lifespan Religious Education

Our Church Circular - First Unitarian Church of San Jose

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