Chalice News and Notes March 12, 2021
Chalice Admin
We Nurture Spiritually Courageous People
Who Transform the World through Justice and Compassion.
Explore our website to learn more about everything we are doing.
Young Adults @ Chalice
18 - 30 Somethings
The YA group is hosting a virtual trash pick-up day for everyone:
TOMORROW Saturday, March 13 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM!
This event will be held remotely, and all generations are welcome to participate. You can work with your family and friends to pick-up trash anywhere you would like to show love to our Mother Earth! Please share a selfie of you and/or your team picking up trash with the hashtag #YAearthlove!
This weekend marks the one-year CA Covid lockdown anniversary, so it’s a lovely opportunity to get out into our world and help clean it up.
We look forward to seeing everyone involved!
Please reach out to Danielle Dubois at mrs.dan...@gmail.com or Aitana Sierra-Valdes at aitanasie...@gmail.com with any questions you might have.
If you haven’t done so already please take our survey so we can get to know what you are interested in and what will be best for the group as a whole. https://chaliceuu.breezechms.com/form/886281
Next Service Sunday, Mar. 14, 2021 - 10 AM
Family Chapel
Sundays 9-9:30am
Enjoy music, stories, and checking in with friends. Ideal for younger children through third grade but all are welcome!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81860584057?pwd=SkppaGd1TlhraEh0b3BSemdrUGtidz09
Please share this information with your children and youth!
Send any questions to d...@chaliceuu.org.
We have programs for our middle schoolers and elementary kids. For now, we have put a pause on meetups for YRUU.
CROP Hunger Walk - Chalice UU Fellowship
Hello, Chalice members and friends--please join in (virtually) for Church World Service's Conejo Valley CROP Walk, all day on Sunday, March 14. Chalice members and friends have raised funds annually since 1998 for CWS's local and international work. More info about CWS is here. Our very own UU Service Committee is one of CWS's partner agencies. Please contact Mary Freed, msmf...@gmail.com or Tom Stough, tast...@yahoo.com with any questions.
What: Board games! Party games! Etc games!
When: Sunday Mar 14th, 1pm to 5pm
(and theoretically Apr 4th in the future - if Easter is a problem for people, let me know)
Where: Zoom
https://roblox.zoom.us/j/95826140736?pwd=dHBpMG9DTiszSUFVTU9IR0NrUlNndz09
Meeting ID: 958 2614 0736
Passcode: 108280
Who: All ages - we usually have a good mix
(feel free to bring friends! Or snacks! Or enemies!)
Why: Because it's fun and you deserve some fun and we like you
Chalice kicked off our annual pledge campaign last Sunday, March 7th and will go until Sunday, March 21st. Pledges represent about 90% of our income, so we depend on the generosity of our members to continue our vital work. This year 34 of our congregants have volunteered to serve as visiting stewards. They will call each member to find out how you are doing, discuss the Fellowship and ask for a pledge. Through person-to-person contact we build community as we collect pledges. Please welcome the call from your visiting steward and respond with a generous pledge. Thank you! Together we can make a bigger difference!
To make your pledge for 2021-22, please go directly to this link: https://www.chaliceuu.org/giving/pledge-online/
THANK YOU FOR GIVING TO CHALICE
Here’s how to make your gifts go farthest...
We are so grateful for all and any gifts to Chalice! Thank you for helping our beautiful Fellowship thrive!
What you might not be aware of is that some of your gifts are subject to fees that reduce the funds that we get. Here are the ways that we get donations, and the associated fees, in ascending order of fees.
Cash: No fees. But we don’t generally know who it comes from, so you won’t get credit at tax time.
Checks to Chalice: No fees. Be sure to indicate on the memo line if they are for pledge fulfillment or a gift. A popular means of paying by check is to use online bill pay from your bank, which can be set up as a recurring payment. Chalice is not one of the bank’s regular payees (like a utility), but if you use “Chalice” as the name and our office address (3331 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320-2115) it will work fine.
Automated withdrawal from a checking account (also called ACH). No fees.
Please contact Stewardship Chairperson Don Cooper can set this up for you. It’s a great way to give. Email: don...@roadrunner.com
Online or text-to-give through Breeze using ACH (your bank account): Fee of 1% plus $0.25 per transaction. You give Breeze your bank account number and the bank routing number to set this up.
Online or text-to-give through Breeze using a Credit Card: Fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction. This the easiest giving method, but it comes at a cost.
PayPal through the Chalice Website: Fee of 2.2% plus $0.30 per transaction. You access this through the Chalice home page using the “giving” pull-down menu, then “donate.”
If you wish to give via text or online, you may choose to add an additional amount to cover the fees to Chalice - so that Chalice receives the full amount you intended. Thank you!
Again, huge gratitude for any and all gifts.
We could not exist without your generosity.
Are you missing our Chalice home?
Looking for a way to connect with Chalice friends and family?
Then we have the remedy for you!
It's a Stuffy Sleepover at Chalice!!
Here's how it works:
On March 20, between 11am and 1pm, drive up to Chalice and deliver your stuffy into the care of our capable sleepover staff. You will be given Zoom information and a special goodie bag so that you may participate from the comfort of your home. Log in to any sleepover activities that call to you! A special stuffy staff will watch over all stuffies while sleeping in our Chalice Sanctuary. The following morning, log back in to Zoom and join your stuffy for a special Family Chapel. Stuffies will then be readied for pick up by their families between noon and 2pm. Not to worry, a special registration process will make sure all stuffies are returned to their proper families!
We recommend you do not share your most precious stuffy or stuffy you sleep with. We would be saddened to cause any trauma or a sleepless night because someone is missing their special friend. Only one stuffy per person please!
To ensure we have enough supplies and space for all, please sign up by going to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C4FA8AF22A7FB6-stuffy. Enter only one person and their stuffy per line. When signing up, please write the name of the stuffy in the comment section.
If you have any questions, please contact the Sleepover Director, Sam Dickerson d...@chaliceuu.org.
We look forward to spending an amazing weekend with you and your stuffy!
Coming in April...
Crossing Paths: Paganism
Open to all in Middle School and High School, learn about who Pagans are and what they bring to our wonderful collage of religions. We will engage in conversations, watch videos, and enjoy some fun activities.
Sessions are held Sundays at 1pm and last approximately one hour. Contact Sam to receive the Zoom link.
Questions? Contact your DRE Sam Dickerson at d...@chaliceuu.org
Chalice Lighting
To start your day, a meeting, or before a meal
By Rev. Rebecca Parker
Let us covenant with one another to keep faith with the source of life knowing that we are not our own, earth made us.
Let us covenant with one another to keep faith with the community of resistance
never to forget that life can be saved from that which threatens it
by even small bands of people choosing to put into practice
an alternative way of life.
And let us covenant with one another to seek for an ever deeper awareness
of that which springs up inwardly in us.
Even when our hearts are broken by our own failure
or the failure of others cutting into our lives,
Even when we have done all we can and life is still broken,
there is a Universal Love that has never broken faith with us and never will.
This is the ground of our hope,
and the reason we can be bold in seeking to fulfill the promise.
Community Connection
A time for Fellowship and Spiritual Grounding
Every Thursday at 5pm join members of our Chalice community by Zoom to connect, check-in and explore a creative and spiritually grounding activity.
On Thursdays, there will be opportunities to journal together, create art, delve into poetry, meditate or engage in other creative opportunities. Each week will reveal a surprise offering in community with other beloved Chalice folk. Newcomers are welcome every week. We look forward to you joining us for our weekly check-ins and adventures.
For more information email ad...@chaliceuu.org
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/401646659?pwd=VGhkVXc2MkxIbWQxSE81Wkw5QVZVZz09
Meeting ID: 401 646 659
Password: 2020
Please bring a candle, a sprig of green, a morsel of food, and a sip to drink.
Come Celebrate with us as we bring ourselves out of winters’ constraints, absorb the healing fertile light of the new season, and take it in for our own growth and revitalization. On this night we nourish the child within each of us, with song, dance, and the powers of the four directions. We'll plant the seeds of our desires in our own fertile soil, and know that with our loving care, they will sprout, grow, and bear good fruit for all to enjoy.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87031825228?pwd=TkxBdG9Ibnlacmo4RjVkaFNROUJaZz09
One tap mobile
Dial by your location
Meeting ID: 870 3182 5228
Passcode: 201572
Great News!
The fabulous Chalice Auction is scheduled for Saturday May 22, 2021 from 6:30 to 8 pm!
Since we currently do not know what our situation will be at that time (think Covid) the auction will be held virtually, through an on-line portal called Paybee. It is simple to access and each person can sign on separately, even from a phone!
For 1-2 weeks prior to the Live Auction, there will be a silent auction on the same portal, where you may purchase and bid. For obvious reasons – some of our typical auction items such as our beloved dinners, may not be suitable for this auction, however, if you believe you can produce and deliver a dinner for a number of people – go for it!! Baskets are wonderful as they are exciting, can follow any theme and are relatively portable. Also, they can be photographed and the contents listed for a prospective buyer. So start thinking of interesting baskets you could put together and offer. There will be combination items such as we have had the past few years. Gift cards, event tickets and the like are always welcome items to bundle together for these. Also, services that you can perform for others, especially those that do not require face to face contact could be a great Silent Auction addition. The Silent Auction will close and be completed prior to the Live Auction. As we get more ideas from our Auctioneer (who has been involved in quite a few successful on-line auctions during this past year) and our PayBee coordinator, we will pass them on via News and Notes or in other ways.
Of course, the star of the show is our wonderful Live Auction. For the Live Auction, we are looking for spectacular items. Vacation possibilities are always great – especially if they can be provided with a longer period of time from which to choose dates – as we are not sure of how the next 6-12 months are going to play out. But people are looking for a way to change scene – get out of the house. Weekends within driving distance would be particularly appreciated by families who have a bit of cabin fever.
The most important thing to remember is that the Chalice Auction is our biggest and most important fundraiser to further the work of our beloved community . Please keep that in mind as you think about ways you can contribute to the Auction.
If you have questions or ideas about donating, it is not too soon to start talking. Call Marcy Wingard , April Fernald, JoAnn Van Reenan, Tom Powers or Willie Lubka – Auction Committee members or even better, volunteer to help with the Auction yourself! Our contact information is available on Chalice Breeze. WATCH THIS SPACE for further updates!
Taking Social Action Online
Consider joining the Chalice Social Justice Facebook group. To learn about latest events supporting Black Lives Matter and other concerns, click on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1260868657268458/
The Citizens Climate Lobby meetings are open to anyone interested in saving our planet! The meetings will continue on the 2nd Saturday of the month indefinitely. Next meeting tomorrow - Saturday, March 13 @ 9 am.
Here is the sign-on info:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82274752266?pwd=YUR1enR2RXFQLzN1a0xTK0NiYXRqZz09
Or:
Meeting ID: 822 7475 2266
Passcode: 271577
Chalice is excited to invite California Central Coast cluster Unitarian Universalist Congregations to join us for a four-part online workshop series
Witnessing Whiteness:
The Need to Talk About Race and How to Do It
with
Shelly Tochluk, Ph.D.
Thursdays, April 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd - 7:00-8:30 p.m.
This interactive workshop series will offer foundational grounding and practical skills-building practice opportunities for engaging in challenging conversations about race.
4/1 – Foundations
Know Thyself: Self-assessment and framework for engaging with other white people about racism
Context Analysis: Critical awareness when engaging across race
4/8 – Becoming a Bridge
Developing “both/and” thinking as a tool
The RACE Method, from the White Ally Toolkit
4/15 – Engaging in Difficult Conversations
Strategies for effective engagement with family, friends, and coworkers
4/22 – Developing our Emotional Capacity to Engage
Reducing Ego, Listening to the Radical
Shelly Tochluk, Ph.D., author of Witnessing Whiteness, is an educator with a background in psychology who spent years as a researcher, counselor, and teacher in California’s public schools. Dr. Tochluk works with AWARE-LA (Alliance of White Anti-Racists Everywhere-Los Angeles) and trains teachers as a Professor of Education at Mount Saint Mary’s University-Los Angeles.
This workshop series is being offered to California Unitarian Universalist congregation members and friends committed to dismantling racism.
To help defray costs, a total donation of $20 per household is requested.
However, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Maximum participants: 200.
Please register in advance here:
http://bit.ly/WitnessingWhitenessWorkshopSeriesChaliceUU
Your Voice Matters!
Public feedback is the backbone of the General Plan Update. Our team has put together a variety of tools to help you learn more, explore, and share your thoughts on the Land Use Alternatives. There is no need to review all the materials in one sitting! Take time to scroll the 57-page briefing book, watch the February 2 GPAC meeting, and watch some of the Virtual Office Hours before you submit your final comments and feedback through the survey.
The deadline to submit the survey is March 15th, 2021.
Link: https://www.toaks2045.org/landusealts
Community Forum Planning Meetings (Next meeting is Mar. 22, 2021)
Do you enjoy our Community Forums? Ever considered joining the Community Forum Team? Check out our planning meetings now being held regularly on 4th Mondays of the month from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Our next meeting will be Feb 22nd. Be part of sharing Chalice's values with the wider community!
For more information, contact: fo...@chaliceuu.org
Chalice Climate Action Team - (Zoom meeting - 4th Sunday at 12:30pm, March 28, 2021 CAT@ChaliceUU.org
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/873183426?pwd=K3FiL1VrYVJDM25zdjdTdHZXb0E4QT09
Meeting ID: 873 183 426
Password: 715302
Next Racial & Cultural Justice Team meeting on Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 at 5:30 pm
The Racial and Cultural Justice Team meets monthly to reflect on issues and develop action plans for education/service, advocacy/coalition and witness/protest. For more information contact Randall Edwards rcjco...@chaliceuu.org.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95038163842?pwd=Z08zK3piTDkrNVhvTFFBZWNncVhwZz09
One tap mobile
Dial by your location
Meeting ID: 950 3816 3842
Passcode: 734802
Dear friends in the Pacific Southwest District,
On Saturday, February 13, the Pacific Western Region (PWR) held a virtual Regional Assembly. PWR staff led a workshop on regionalization. Regionalization is the process of restructuring all UUA districts into five Regions. The new structure is meant to better utilize the resources of staff and volunteers.
The PWR is the only region whose districts have not restructured into their designated geographic Region. The Pacific Southwest District (PSWD) is one of four districts in the PWR.
During the regionalization workshop, PSWD Board President Rev. Kevin Lawson gave an update on the status of the district. He shared that there were no nominees to fill any of the upcoming vacancies on either the PSWD Nominating Committee or the Board of Trustees.
Given this information, the members of the PSWD Board discussed dissolving the district board and recommended that the district be absorbed into the PWR. Without enough board members to officially conduct business it would be difficult for the PSWD to function effectively.
A dissolution proposal will be presented at the PSWD annual business meeting on Saturday, April 17, 2021. The goal is to affirm the dissolution of the PSWD at a special business meeting on Saturday, October 2, 2021.
Three of the five PSWD Board members who would have transitioned off at the end of their terms this June have agreed to stay on through October 2 to facilitate the dissolution of the District. Camp De Benneville Pines is an independent Covenanting Community within the PSWD and will not be affected by this transition.
To address questions and concerns about the shift to regionalization, the PWR staff have scheduled six online forums to engage congregants in the process and revelation toward a fully-integrated Region. Each forum is focused on a different aspect of regionalization where attendees can ask questions, share ideas, and experiences. The first forum was on Monday, March 1, Widening the Circle of Concern was the topic. The next forum is on Monday, March 15 from 6:30-8 PM (PST), Camps and Covenanting Communities will be the topic. Learn more about and register for these forums here:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/PacificWesternRegionUUA/LoveRightThroughForums
Share feedback and ideas about regionalization at any time using the following form: Love Right Through Feedback (cognitoforms.com)
You can submit this form as many times as you wish. Please contribute to the vision for a PWR that sustainably supports our communities in their mission to make a more just and equitable world.
In closing, we must acknowledge the concerns of the suddenness of this announcement. For our board members, this is just as unexpected and abrupt a shift for our District as for our congregations and communities. Given the current circumstances, the PSWD Board believes this is the best course of action to recommend and is committed to proceeding as timely as possible. This would help the PSWD focus its energy on the new transformational work in the PWR.
If we have more information to share about this transition before the PSWD annual business meeting on April 17, 2021, we will. Register for the PSWD annual business meeting here: PSW Virtual District Meeting 2021 (cognitoforms.com)
AmazonSmile is a program that donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases on Amazon to a charity of your choice.
Give to Chalice while you shop!
All you need to do is start your shopping at smile.amazon.com. You can then choose to donate to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Conejo Valley at no extra cost to you. It's an easy way to support this congregation.
Thank you for your support!
Are you looking to Connect more deeply with Chalice activities and friends? Or are you currently actively involved in Chalice? There are ways to share this information using Breeze.
1. Take the Chalice Interest and Skills Survey: A way for newer members to find ways to get involved. How would you like to contribute, work with others, be in community and stay involved at Chalice? Click here: https://chaliceuu.breezechms.com/form/a0a810
2. Take the Chalice Involvement in Groups, Committees, Social Justice and more Survey: How you are engaging with Chalice at this time. Click here: https://chaliceuu.breezechms.com/form/d9b495
3. Visiting Chalice and wish to receive and share more about yourself? Take this survey: https://bit.ly/ChaliceConnection
Information from these forms will help both Community Life and the Leadership Cultivation Committee help YOU find ways to connect at Chalice. Thanks!
(Form 1 & 2 can also be found on your Profile page in Breeze)
Have you ever wanted to take voice lessons, learn to play the piano or study music theory? Has the pandemic left you with extra time on your hands and a desire to learn something new? If so, consider contacting Chalice’s Music Director, Anthony Concepcion. Anthony is currently offering zoom lessons at a discounted rate of 20% off for Chalice members and friends. Email him at musicd...@chaliceuu.org to ask any questions and schedule a trial lesson. Peace, love and music!
Weekly Calendar of Events
Saturday, March 13
9:00am Citizens Climate Lobby
12:00pm YA Neighborhood Trash Pick-up Day
Sunday, March 14
9:00am Family Chapel - PreK – 2nd / Lower Elementary (Zoom B)
10:00am Chalice Worship Service (Zoom 2)
11:45am Worship Committee
1:00pm Games!
1:00pm Crossing Paths (Zoom B)
5:00pm Newcomer AA Meeting
Monday, March 15
7:00pm Chalice Circle 3rd Monday (zoom)
Tuesday, March 16
10:00am Gardenia Group (zoom)
6:30pm Choir Tuesdays (Zoom B)
7:00pm Board Meeting (Zoom)
Wednesday, March 17
6:00pm Overeaters Anonymous
6:30pm Choir Rehearsal (Zoom)
7:00pm Chalice Circle 3rd Wednesday (zoomB)
7:30pm Meditation (zoomMH)
Thursday, March 18
10:30am Jonquil Women's Group (zoom)
5:00pm Community Connection (zoom2)
Our Community Cares - Pastoral Concerns
It's so important to stay connected during these times. In News and Notes we will share joys and concerns within our Chalice community. Let us know if you’d like to share something here. Also, if you have special news to share with the congregation in Sunday services please write to ad...@chaliceuu.org or Rev Nica at mini...@chaliceuu.org.
May we hold each other up and support our Chalice community.
Staff Contact Information -
Chalice Office # (805) 498-9548 - Messages will be checked regularly.
Rev. Nica Eaton-Guinn, Minister, mini...@chaliceuu.org
URGENT Calls or Texts to Minister (805) 410-3860
Anthony Concepcion, Music Director musicd...@chaliceUU.org
Samantha Dickerson, Director of Religious Education d...@chaliceuu.org
Chavonne Estrella, Office Administrator ad...@chaliceuu.org
Tonya Kulpaca, Bookkeeper, bookk...@chaliceuu.org
Explore our website to learn more about everything we are doing.