Chalice News and Notes 12.10.21
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.
The Citizen’s Climate Lobby Meeting
meets 2nd Saturday of the month
Next meeting, Saturday, December 11th @ 9 am
Meetings are open to anyone interested in saving our planet!
Here is the sign-on info:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82274752266?pwd=YUR1enR2RXFQLzN1a0xTK0NiYXRqZz09
Or:
Meeting ID: 822 7475 2266
Passcode: 271577
Next Service
December 12, 2021 10am
For Everything There is a Season
Merlin Snider
“Joy & Woe are woven fine
A Clothing for the soul divine
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.”
So wrote the English poet, William Blake. His words call to mind the Book of Ecclesiastes: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, a time to die . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh.” In this classic work of ancient Hebrew wisdom literature (a favorite since I was 14) the sage compels us to reflect on the impermanent nature of all things human: our books, our knowledge, our possessions, our wealth, our lifespan. And in so doing we seek a path to life that is good and happy and whole.
If you wish to join us in person please RSVP by end of day today! Thank you!
RSVP link: https://rsvp.church/r/uC3iA63U
Join Zoom Meeting at 10:00
https://zoom.us/j/209555249?pwd=dkVSdDE1ZWh5dHBVcXo2ZHVKQUJkQT09
Meeting ID: 209 555 249
Phone: 16699009128
Password: 2020
Family Chapel
Sunday mornings 9-9:30am
Check In opportunities with your friends in RE!
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
Have ideas about what you want to see in RE?
Email your DRE Sam Dickerson d...@chaliceuu.org
YRUU Hangout - December 17th
Ice Cream Social for 14 - 18 year olds
Contacts: Sam Dickerson d...@chaliceuu.org
Ellis Rausch ellis....@gmail.com
Please RSVP by the Thursday prior (Dec. 16th): https://bit.ly/ChaliceHangout
Crossing Paths - for Middle Schoolers
What is Crossing Paths? Crossing Paths is an interfaith exploration program brought to us from Soul Matters. The program includes an emphasis on theological grounding, a distinct take on religious pluralism ("Many Mountains, Many Paths") and an abundance of experiential learning while also maintaining a focus on UU youth identity formation. Each month a new religion is explored, including Buddhism, Catholicism, Quakerism, Paganism, and more.
In December we will explore…
Catholicism!
This program is geared toward our Middle School-aged youth (6th through 8th grade). Each Sunday we will share in discussions, activities, videos, music, and games while we practice our Unitarian Universalist Principles of “acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations” and “a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.”
When: Sundays, beginning 12/5 and concluding 12/19
Time: 2-3pm
Where: Fellowship Hall at Chalice (Yes, in person!)
**Masks must be worn by all who attend.
Please RSVP here: https://bit.ly/ChaliceCP. Youth need only show up with open minds and hearts. Attendance throughout the month is strongly recommended. Families need not be members for youth to attend. Friends welcome!
Questions? Contact your Director of Religious Education, Sam Dickerson, at d...@chaliceuu.org.
Chalice Lighting
To start your day, a meeting, or before a meal
If ever there were a time for a candle in the darkness,
this would be it.
Using a spark of hope,
kindle the flame of love,
ignite the light of peace,
and feed the flame of justice
Last week for the Toy Drive - drop off gifts before December 14!
Our event supports The Westminster Free Clinic and Community Care Center, a non-profit health care center. They provide medical, dental, mental health, preventative health, teen internships, exercise and nutrition guidance for over 1,000 low-income families in the community. More about them here: Westminsterclinic.org
Westminster will host the toy distribution on December 15. They expect participation from up to 700 families. Let’s get some TOYS over to them!
The Details-
· All toys should be UNWRAPPED, but new.
· Been awhile since you shopped for toys? Here is a good list to get you going: Fidget pop it toys, Baby dolls, LOL dolls, Sports balls (basketball, soccer, football, bouncy balls etc), Scooters, Skateboards, mini skateboards, bikes, DIY kits of crafts— (jewelry making, slime, magnets, gems, pearler beads), Legos, Remote Controlled Cars, Earbuds, Mini Brandz toys, Barbies, My little pony toys, POP brand action figures, Board games (Monopoly, Connect 4, Candyland, Pictionary, Sorry etc), Stuffed animals, Hatchimal
Any questions?
Please contact Jill Lewis at jilll...@yahoo.com
or Pamela Lopez at pamela...@yahoo.com
Holiday Sing-A-Long
Mark your calendars, more information to come...
Saturday, December 18th - 7pm at Chalice UU Fellowship
Celebrate the season with song!
Chalice Winter Solstice Ritual will be held online via Zoom
Monday, December 20 7:00 – 9:00pm
We welcome the rebirth of the spirit child, within each one of us, on this day, with poetry, ritual, song and dance. Please bring a candle to light, a morsel of food, and a sip to drink.
Join Darcey Lober as we celebrate the winter solstice with an online ritual.
For more information, contact: Darcey Lober at darce...@gmail.com
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87496666310?pwd=ZFlzMGZycUQrZHBwRlorejVRNEozZz09
OR
Dial by your location
Meeting ID: 874 9666 6310
Passcode: 188782
Special thanks to our decorating elves!
Thanks to all of the helpers who transformed our Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall into a joyful place full of cheer and celebration. We enjoyed holiday music, merriment and lively conversations. It was a wonderful way to kick off the season in community. We hope everyone is enjoying the festive decor!
The Pastoral Care Team would love your help!
We are looking for people to help by writing cards of support to members of our community needing some love. Do you have time to write a few cards each month? Chalice will provide the note cards.
Please contact pastor...@chaliceuu.org if you can help. Thank you!
Feeding Hands Opportunity!
Feeding Hands meal preparation can be done in the company of a few others, or brought from home to support our local community.
Since August, Chalice has been providing 50 to-go dinners for Harbor House once a month. About a dozen dedicated volunteers, following Covid guidelines, work together to make it happen. A small team cooks chicken in the Chalice kitchen. Individuals bring in specified side dishes - each to serve 50 people. Another small team packs meals in 50 to-go containers so all meals are the same. Then the cleanup shift begins. The meals are delivered to Harbor House for distribution to people who need food. The team is amazing!
If you are interested in helping as an occasional substitute for a portion of the process, please let us know. We’re glad to provide training and share good times.
Contact: Marcy Wingard - mrwi...@hotmail.com
or Barbara Leighton - belei...@yahoo.com
We Need Your Help with our History!
Next year marks the Fellowship’s 60th year of affiliation with the UUA.
A History Committee is collecting documents, photos, and any sort of media that relates to our past that you may have squirreled away in your garage or closet. We are hoping to sort, identify and store these items at Chalice. We are also hoping to contribute to a 60th anniversary service on January 30, 2022.
If you have any such items, please leave them at the Fellowship when our administrator is there or contact Jo Ann Van Reenan (vanre...@gmail.com.) Thank you!
Starting Point Journey Circle
Let us know if you’re interested!
Do you want to explore Unitarian Universalism and your Spiritual Path more deeply?
Curious about the Starting Point Journey Circle?
For newcomers to Chalice and existing members.
Starting Point is a three session group, designed to deepen your spiritual understanding of Unitarian Universalism and to connect newcomers with members, creating a web of interconnection at Chalice. Additionally, newer people will experience Chalice’s small group culture, thereby deepening your spiritual engagement with our community.
A commitment to all three sessions is requested.
Sunday, January 23, 2022 from 1-3 pm
Session 1 explores our personal spiritual journeys.
Sunday, February 20, 2022 from 1-3 pm
Session 2 examines UU and Chalice’s history.
Thursday, March 17, 2022 - 6-8:30 pm
Session 3 looks at our UU Theological journey.
If you have any questions or would be interested in Starting Point, please contact us at SPi...@chaliceuu.org
PWR Regional Assembly - February 4-6th, 2022
So much is uncertain right now as we enter the 21st month of a worldwide pandemic. But two things remain certain: we need Unitarian Universalist community more than ever, and the Pacific Western Region of the UUA is having a Regional Assembly to bring us together.
Our PWR Regional Assembly is that inspirational, radically inclusive, beyond-the-congregation UU community we’ve missed. We can engage fully, wherever we are. Whether onsite at the Hyatt along the bay in San Diego, or online in the comfort of our own homes, we will have opportunities for connection in small groups, inspirational worship, transformative learning, and just plain community fun.
Our schedule and speakers aren’t fully worked out yet (because, well, you know, COVID) but here is what we know for sure:
We’ll start on Friday, February 4th with an optional Border Justice experience. With on-line and in-person components, our community service/learning/justice opportunity is being developed with UURISE and other local partners. All onsite events will happen on the US side of the Mexican border. Friday evening is when the main conference begins.
Our theme, Reflect, Rejoice, Renew, sums up the experience we’re creating with our speakers, workshops, small groups, and social time. We’ve been through so much upheaval, grief, and change in our lives and in our religious communities. Together we will be: rejoicing in one another’s company again, reflecting on what we’ve been through, and renewing ourselves, our commitments, and our UU faith.
We conclude on Sunday, February 6th with a worship service, pre-recorded and broadcast to both an onsite and an online audience.
We’re venturing into new territory together, with a fully-online and fully-onsite unified program. It’s our first major UUA multiplatform event! You’ll be part of history! This will be an experiment, and we’ll all be blessed with the joys, and challenges, of trying new things.
Visit our webpage to learn more and register. We are so excited to see you there—we can’t wait to be together again.
Camp is slowly opening back up and we’re planning a return to the mountains for fellowship and an exploration of Faith and Renewal! We will have a total of 22 spots available this year and will have a lottery if interest exceeds capacity. The camp is only allowing fully vaccinated campers, and may even require a booster, still to be determined. That said, our space is limited and social distancing will not really be possible. We will be cooking together and sharing the small common area during our meals and program portion. Please consider whether you will be comfortable in that setting.
The camp is 2.5 – 4.5 hours away, nestled in the Jeffrey Pines of the San Bernadino Mountains, not far from Big Bear or Redlands. We sleep in heated cabins, with full bathrooms, and meals are included. We take turns sharing in the meal preparation and most women choose to carpool to and from the retreat. Participation in the program portion is expected, and there is always time for crafts, hiking, and quiet reflection.
The price is $160, and some scholarships will be available if needed. If you choose to participate, please send an email to Andy Pletcher at andypl...@gmail.com by Sunday, January 9th! Contact Jill Schlaus or Andy Pletcher with additional questions.
Your Retreat Team:
Jill Schlaus, Andy Pletcher & Kelly Castillo
Consider joining the Chalice Social Justice Facebook group. To learn about latest events supporting Black Lives Matter, Climate Justice and other concerns, click on:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1260868657268458/
Chalice Climate Action Team Invites You!
Fridays for Future ~ Every Friday from 12-1pm
Join us every week for Fridays for Future! We'll be in front of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza at the corner of The Lakes Dr. and Thousand Oaks Blvd. every Friday from 12:00 - 1:00 PM.
Fridays For Future is a youth-led and -organized movement that began in August 2018, after 15-year-old Greta Thunberg and other young activists sat in front of the Swedish parliament every schoolday for three weeks, to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis.
All ages are welcome! Bring a mask and a sign!
Chalice Climate Action Team Meeting
Meets 4th Sunday of the Month
next meeting Sunday, December 26th at 12:30 p.m.
Join us for a discussion on action items to help tackle the climate crisis.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/873183426?pwd=K3FiL1VrYVJDM25zdjdTdHZXb0E4QT09
Or by smart phone - One tap mobile+16699009128,,873183426#
Or dial in: +1 669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 873 183 426
Password: 715302
CCAT: Respecting the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, the Chalice Climate Action Team educates ourselves and connects with others to advocate for a just and sustainable future for life on Earth.
Community Forum Team Meeting
4th Mondays of the month from 5:00-6:00 p.m
Next meeting: December 27th
Do you enjoy our Community Forums? Ever considered joining the Community Forum Team? Check out our planning meetings. Be part of sharing Chalice's values with the wider community!
Here's the zoom link for joining the community forum team meetings:
https://zoom.us/j/92215374457?pwd=Zi84N0wvT3N1R01YdjhoUE02OGp5Zz09
Or:
Dial by your location
Meeting ID: 922 1537 4457
Passcode: 306000
The Citizen’s Climate Lobby Meeting
meets 2nd Saturday of the month
Next meeting, Saturday, January 8th @ 9 am
Meetings are open to anyone interested in saving our planet!
Here is the sign-on info:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82274752266?pwd=YUR1enR2RXFQLzN1a0xTK0NiYXRqZz09
Or:
Meeting ID: 822 7475 2266
Passcode: 271577
meets the second Wednesday of Each Month
Next meeting Wednesday, January 12th, 5:30 to 7pm
Join us by Zoom, as we consider developing resources for these challenging times.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/95038163842?pwd=Z08zK3piTDkrNVhvTFFBZWNncVhwZz09
One tap mobile
Meeting ID: 950 3816 3842
Passcode: 734802
BIPOC UU Tri-County Collaborative
Meets the second Thursday of the month
Next Meeting January 13th from 6pm-7pm
If you are a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person Of Color) Unitarian Universalist, we invite you to join Matt Chapa and Ayanna Gaines of Chalice Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for an evening of support and discussion.
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/95532331455?pwd=TFI3b2MwUG96MmN0c1M5RHZiUXFsZz09
Please note that this meeting is for BIPOC folk only. Allies are encouraged to seek out other opportunities.
Thank You for Giving to Chalice!
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. To view this information visit our website by clicking here.
Again, huge gratitude for any and all gifts.
We could not exist without your generosity.
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)
Saturday, December 11
9:00am Citizens Climate Lobby
Sunday, December 12
10:00am Chalice Worship Service (Zoom 2)
1:00pm Chalice Circle: 2nd Sunday (zoom)
2:00pm Crossing Paths
5:00pm Newcomer AA Meeting
Monday, December 13
7:00pm Women's Evening Group
7:30pm Book Club (zoom2)
Tuesday, December 14
10:00am Gardenia Group (zoom)
Wednesday, December 15
1:00pm Chalice Circle: 3rd Wednesday (zoom)
6:00pm Overeaters Anonymous
7:00pm Bi-monthly Council Meeting (zoom2)
7:00pm Chalice Circle: 3rd Wednesday (zoom)
7:00pm Choir Rehearsal
7:30pm Meditation (zoomMH)
8:30pm Website meeting
Thursday, December 16
10:30am Jonquil Women's Group (zoom)
6:00pm Worship Committee meeting (Nzoom)
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
Ana Krista Johnson, Office Administrator ad...@chaliceuu.org
Tonya Kulpaca, Bookkeeper, bookk...@chaliceuu.org
Explore our website to learn more about everything we are doing.