Our Church Circular - First Unitarian Church of San Jose
Transcripción
Our Church Circular - First Unitarian Church of San Jose
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 Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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 Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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? What have I to be thankful for? I’m lost and I’m lonely and I haven’t a single thing. What have I to be thankful for? 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: Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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 Primera Iglesia Unitaria de San José • Page 5 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 Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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 Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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 Primera Iglesia Unitaria de San José • Page 7 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, Ramsden Fireside Room 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 Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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 Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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 Primera Iglesia Unitaria de San José • Page 9 Announcements & Coming Events Women’s Alliance Thursday, November 3, 7:15 pm, Ramsden Fireside Room 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 Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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. Our Church Circular • November 2, 2011 • 2 de noviembre 2011 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 Primera Iglesia Unitaria de San José • Page 11 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