A Message from your Minister
Nica Eaton
Dearest Chalice Members and Friends,
As I begin my 10th year with you, I am filled with gratitude. It is a true privilege to serve as your minister and to share in this precious ministry with you. Our community and the work we do in the world is deeply needed at this time, so I wanted to invite you into various ways of engaging more deeply.
To celebrate our new congregational year, please join us for our Ingathering service: Coming Home, on Sunday, September 7 at 10 a.m. Come Home to Chalice to celebrate our sense of belonging, our deep connections, and the vibrant community we share. We will hold our annual Water Ceremony this year with a special opportunity to return to the source. Afterward, please join us for a congregational potluck in Borchard Park. You can sign up here and let us know what you are bringing: Potluck Sign Up Link.
The following week, join us for our We Belong Participation Fair after service on September 14, where you’ll be able to explore our various groups and programs, and ask questions about how to participate in those offerings. It’s another way to deepen your connections and engagement at Chalice.
I’m also excited to introduce our new Grateful Gathering Circles, modeled on our Chalice Circles. These small groups of 6 -12 participants will meet monthly, in person or on Zoom, from October through June. Using the Grateful Living curriculum, they offer a space for meaningful conversation, reflection, and connection. And there will be a monthly make-up session open to anyone on the 4th Sunday of the month at 12 noon. When Sam and I piloted this program in the spring, we found it rich, deep, and inspiring. We hope you’ll join a group, and if you have questions, please join Sam and me for a special zoom orientation this coming Tuesday, at 6pm. Meanwhile, you can register here:
Grateful Gathering registration
This year, rather than following the Soul Matters monthly themes, we’ve chosen to “meet the moment.” Our services will be nimble and responsive to the needs of our time and community, allowing us to engage more fully with the challenges and opportunities before us. We look forward to continuing to create and offer dynamic, topical Sundays together.
As our community continues to grow, I am always touched by the warmth, inclusivity, and generosity you bring. Your openness makes Chalice a sanctuary of love and resilience in these turbulent times. Hoping as many of you as possible can join us in the mountains for our annual Camp de Benneville retreat at the end of September 26-28. It’s a wonderful time to deepen our connections, laugh, and relax together. We want this opportunity to be open to all, so please let us know if you wish scholarship funds. You can register here:
https://bit.ly/ChaliceRetreatRegistration
Thank you for bringing your whole selves, your creativity, kindness, and dedication to Chalice’s life. We are doing incredible ministry together. Please remember, I am always here if you need extra care or support. Just text or email me.
Meanwhile, I’m wishing you a chance to rest from your labors this Labor Day weekend and enjoy our Neighborhood Network gatherings this Sunday.
Holding you all in my heart and care.
With love,
Rev. Nica
Minister, Chalice
(She/Her/Hers) Here’s why...
mini...@chaliceuu.org
www.chaliceuu.org
Cell/Text: (805) 410-3860
Zoom Meetings:
https://uuma.zoom.us/my/revnica
Mondays are my Sabbath