Sign-ups for specific focus groups will be coordinated through the Chalice Office Administrator, Paula Gonzales:  chaliceofficepg@aol.com.  In addition, Committee On Ministry members will be coordinating sign-ups after services between now and the 27^th.

Please e-mail Paula to make a reservation at a Focus Group. Include your name, e-mail address (for confirmation), and first and second choice for focus group time. If you will need child care, you must let us know by March 22.

Focus Group Choices: 

Friday, March 26 - One Focus Group at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 27:  9:00 a.m. Group, 10:15 a.m. Group, 12:00 noon Group, 1:15 p.m. Group, and 3:00 p.m. Group

If there are people who are unable to attend Friday or Saturday, we will ask our representative from UUA to hold one more group on Sunday, March 28 at 1:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Paula Gonzales. e-mail: chaliceofficepg@aol.com, cell: 619-339-2832.
 

President’s Message from Callie Leef:

February is Black History Month. This month is a perfect time to reflect on the questions “How can we, both as individuals and as a community, insure that the idealism that was set in motion by the election of our first black president continue?” and “What can we contribute to the task of fulfilling the values that bring hope for our country?”

History holds lessons for us today. The ethical issues our forebears grappled with have laid some foundations for us so we’re able to answer the previous questions. One of our nation’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, was faced with issues whose solutions seemed insurmountable. Jefferson, the man who wrote “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” was against slavery and yet owned 267 slaves. He freed only 5 upon his death because “they were blood relatives.” Patrick Henry, the man who shouted “Give me liberty or give me death” owned slaves. He did not free them at his death because
he did not believe they could function as anything but slaves. Almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were slave holders. John and Abigail Adams, devout Unitarians, also owned slaves, but wrestled with the issue. In 1774, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband to ask “How can we fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have?”

In spite of these contradictions, as Universalist minister Hosea Balleu said over 150 years ago, there has
been a “moral arc of history” that “bends toward justice.” Throughout our history, the courage of the individuals who have worked to end oppression in America have challenged our nation to move beyond words alone.

The belief that discrimination is evil is one of America’s greatest gifts to the world. Even when we do not live up to that belief, it remains our ideal. This belief invigorated the women’s movement. It not only inspires our democratic spirit, but it also continues to influence movements of oppressed people around the world.

Thousands in East Germany sang “We Shall Overcome” in clandestine meetings. Iranians used the methods of the American Civil Rights Movement to overthrow the shah, and they are now using them again trying to reform their theocratic government. Students in Tiananmen Square were inspired by the words of Abraham. All of these voices spoke and all of these actions came about because of the passion and commitment these people had [and which we continue to have] that all must be freed from oppression, along with the belief that they can transform their nations. During this month of reflection and celebration in the journey toward freedom for black Americans, my question is: to what great purpose can we commit our lives today?

As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant to uphold high purposes and values that are timeless. As we honor Black History month, we think back to Abraham Lincoln, Henry Lloyd Garrison, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and many others in the struggle to end slavery. As we celebrate how far we have come since the end of slavery, we think back to A. Phillip Randolph, the man behind the scenes of the Civil Rights Movement, to Martin Luther King Jr., the public face of the movement, to Rev. James Reeb, the Unitarian minister who was killed while on the march to Selma, and to many others who gave up their lives in the struggle to end discrimination. These are the people who held high ideals and were willing to live up to those ideals, no matter the cost. May we keep these forebears close to our hearts and remember, as well, to keep them in our minds during this month.

Blessings on your journey,
Margo

This wonderful event was closely followed by Margo’s announcement of her retirement from ministry
on or around July 30, 2010. While the Board received her retirement letter with great sadness, we support her decision and wish her the best as she moves into the next phase of her life. Starting in
Feb, the Board and Committee on Ministry will be working with Ken Brown, the District Executive for
the Pacific Southwest District, to find an Interim Minister before Margo leaves and, subsequently, to assist us in calling a new settled minister. This process may take a year or more. To ensure a good
match for Chalice, we will, over the next few months, have a series of workshops to discuss what
Chalice values. This will help the UUA match us with several ministers seeking a congregation. From that
list we will choose our new minister.

The Green Sanctuary Retreat was well attended and produced many ideas for how to be more environmentally conscious at Chalice and at home. Thanks to the Social Justice Committee for setting
up the retreat and for inviting guest speakers from the UU Church of Riverside who already have been
certified as a Green Sanctuary. Finally, the month ended with the annual Chalice Auction—another fun community building event to help fund Chalice programs and activities. We are in much better shape financially with the generosity shown during the auction.

And now, on to February. Sign ups are underway for the Winter Shelter which will take place at Chalice
from March 13–27 . Find a time and activity or more that interests you and pitch in to make Winter
Shelter successful. There will be an orientation meeting for Winter Shelter on 27 February.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Callie

“A person will worship something - have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts—but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives and character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Worship is a tough word for me to accept because it brings to mind bowing down before an unknown deity, something or someone greater than I am, and one who will hold me accountable
for all my actions before I qualify for a life after this one. The word “worship” also seems to underscore my lack of power, and my dependence on this unknown deity for comfort and meaning. I have not believed that any of those concepts exist, until the past year or so when it has just been easier to ignore the word “worship.”

Emerson, a pretty smart person schooled in philosophical and religious thought, had skills and abilities that earned him the respect of his peers and the title “the sage of Boston.” His attributes alone make it worth our taking to heart his telling us that we are going to worship something. Emerson doesn’t tell us not to worship. He believes it’s inevitable that we will worship because it’s human nature to do so. He doesn’t tell us that we are doomed to worship in only unhealthy ways, either. Instead, he tells us that we should simply “be careful what we worship.”

Our underlying values reveal themselves in our lives. We can’t hide these values because they reveal themselves clearly through the larger patterns and rhythms of our lives. This is a good thing because it provides us with a tool to use for self-examination. If we want to know what is important in our lives, all we need to do is take stock of ourselves. What does my house look like? Where do I work? How do I spend my day off? How do I spend my money? Where do I invest my money? What are my hobbies? What kind of article catches my eye in the newspaper or online? Most importantly, what dominates my imagination and my thoughts, and will it be able to sustain me through crisis?

Twentieth century liberal Christian theologian Paul Tillich, and an avid reader of the writings of Emerson, points out that humans need to ask themselves “What is of value in my life?” and “ Will that will sustain me through times of crisis?” These two questions, valued and enunciated by both Emerson and Tillich, speak of the need for something to worship that is both a positive value and one that will help carry us through crisis.

What it is that we each worship, along with what brings comfort to us in times of crisis, may be very different for each one of us. But, once we identify what it is what we worship, the object or concept becomes “the god” we haven’t yet given a name, but which is none the less deeply imbedded in our imaginations and in our thoughts. So, while we may be uncomfortable using the word “worship” when we acknowledge the object or concept that concerns us most—the value which guides our lives and which provides a source of deep and reliable comfort when things are tough—this is our unacknowledged “god,” the one that is worthy of our worship. Thus, as Emerson pointed out, we do indeed become what we worship. If that is a premise we accept, then we also need to be careful what we worship—even if it is only in “the dark recesses” of our hearts.

Margo

On Sunday, January 10th, we are celebrating Chalice’s tenth anniversary. I can hardly believe that it has been that long. Ten years ago my youngest child was in elementary school and now he is in the middle of his college years. Good thing I am not aging. Well, at least not as fast as he is. There will be two services related to the anniversary on January 10th and an afternoon reception organized by
original founding members. Come help us celebrate.

The annual Chalice auction will be held on Saturday, January 30th. This event provides a major boost to our operating fund each year. It is also an opportunity to pass on those wonderful items that you
have been storing in your garage or attic that might be ready for a new home. Join the fun as we support
Chalice.

Another notable event in January will be the kickoff of our Green Sanctuary project. Chalice is already quite environmentally conscious. We recycle as much as possible, use real cups for our coffee hours, and maintain a natural habitat among other things. This project will show us how to become even better at lessening our impact on the environment— not only around our grounds but in the wider community.

So, you can see that there is hardly ever a dull moment around Chalice. If you are looking for something to fill a bit (more) of your time, just contact those heading up these and other events and pitch in. Any and all contributions are always appreciated.

Finally, I want to thank all those Chalice folks who have given so much of their time and energy throughout the year. With your commitment and support, we have a welcoming place to learn and grow as we all experience our faith in so many wondrous ways.

See you around Chalice,
Callie