Chalice News and Notes 3.24.23
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.
March 26 - Crossing Paths - Paganism 1 pm Social Hall
March 26 - OWL - 1 pm
Grades 7-9 in YRUU room
March 26 - Bowls of Hope event - 11 am @ Cal Lutheran University
Tickets still available: Bowls of Hope discount ticket
April 2 - Families Care - after service in Social Hall
In Person & Online Service - 10 am
Reverend Anne Hines
AWEsome!
What does it take to touch -- or be touched -- by the Holy? How far do we need to travel to be overtaken with awe?
Join us in person or for the Zoom Meeting at 10 am
https://zoom.us/j/209555249?pwd=dkVSdDE1ZWh5dHBVcXo2ZHVKQUJkQT09
Meeting ID: 209 555 249
Phone: 16699009128
Password: 2020
Today we will have a special collection to benefit Many Mansions.
Many Mansions is a non-profit organization that provides well-managed, service-enriched, affordable housing to low-income residents of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, with a special focus on those of very low-income, who are formerly homeless, seniors, veterans, or disabled.
You can find out more at www.manymansions.org
Also, see the announcement about the Bowls of Hope Community Event Below!
Crossing Paths for Adults: Paganism!
Final Sunday! 1pm
Social Hall
RSVP: https://bit.ly/CrossingPathsRSVP
We have a lot of great events coming up in April and will not be holding a Crossing Paths for the month of April. Crossing Paths will return in May when we will explore Buddhism! May will be the final month of Crossing Paths for this church year.
OWL - Grades 7-9 in YRUU room
Meets
Through April 30th
No meeting on Easter (April 9th)
Sundays - 1:00 pm
Please address any communications or questions to: O...@chaliceuu.org
Bowls of Hope Event
This Sunday March 26 - 11am - 2pm
As a community partner, Many Mansions is offering Chalice members and friends half-price tickets for this event! Use the link below and input “Chalice UU” in the Organization box. Hope to see you there!
Get your Tickets Here: Bowls of Hope discount ticket
Chalice Lighting
To start your day, a meeting, or before a meal
This purest of flames
Let this purest of flames kindle in each of our hearts
A pledge to justice, a commitment to freedom,
And a reverent awe for the crystalline glories
That sparkle along our footpaths
Join Loretta J. Ross and Loan Tran to learn about CALLING IN!
Begins March 28th
March 28 is the start of a four-week ZOOM class with people across the country. Background, lectures and Q/A are on Tuesdays. The option to practice in guided, confidential, small groups is on Thursdays. Several of us from Chalice have attended past sessions. They are a great help in the ongoing work of building a personal “toolbox” to find meaningful responses to conflict – especially around racial justice. “Calling In” is about creating change without cancel culture. If you have questions, please contact Randall Edwards or Barbara Leighton.
To sign up or learn more visit: https://lorettajross.com/online-courses/calling-in-march2023
Lectures & QA
FOUR Tuesdays | 7pm-9pm EST; 4-6pm PT | March 28 and April 4, 11, and 18
Learning Labs
FOUR Thursdays | 7pm-8:30pm EST; 4-5:30pm PT | March 30 and April 6, 13, and 20
Fees
$5 for the first session or $20.00 total for the full Course (includes Learning Labs)
Update on the Pledge Campaign
We have responses from 108 pledge units, and we are looking to get about 40 more before we have a good idea of how much pledge income we can estimate for next year’s budget. At the rate that pledges are coming in, we will be less than 1% ahead of last year’s pledge numbers. Board President Annie Barker and I will soon start working on the budget, with input from the rest of the Board. There are a lot of relatively fixed costs: We are going to make sure we pay the rent and keep the lights on, but almost 70% of our budget goes to staff compensation. And after we pay those fixed costs, pretty much everything you contribute goes straight into the paychecks of our staff. We want to give our beloved staff as much of a raise as possible, and we need your help in the form of your generous pledge. So if you have not yet pledged, please do so soon. And if you have pledged, just think about how much Anthony, Sam, and the rest of our wonderful staff will appreciate it if you can bump it up a little.
Thank you
Don Cooper, Treasurer
Families Care will have a new Format
Starting in April
April 2 - 11:30 am in Social Hall
Sign up for donation: https://bit.ly/FamiliesCare
Families Care will be held on the first Sunday after service in the place of RE. This gives our families a chance to live our value of love in action by creating care kits for the unhoused followed by some time in community. First Sundays of the month at 11:30 am youth and adults will be together in Social Hall to assemble kits. After the assembly of kits we will spend time together, bring your own lunch and share in community.
Friday, April 14th – 7:00 p.m. PT (via Zoom)
Defending Public Education
and a Diverse Democracy
with
Betsy Connolly, DVM, Past CVUSD School Board Member
Lauren Gill, CVUSD School Board President
Michelle Nelson-Schmidt, Author, Illustrator, Public Speaker
John Rogers, Ph.D., Professor of Education, Director of
UCLA Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access
From book banning to curriculum white-washing, educators across the U.S. are being newly censored. Since 2021, more than 2/3 of states have introduced bills limiting what can be taught about race and diversity. “These attacks are undermining the role public schools play in educating for our democracy,” says John Rogers, Director of UCLA IDEA. Come hear Dr. Rogers talk about the national impact of censoring education, our school board representatives speak about the local effects, and children’s author Nelson-Schmidt share her first-hand account. Together they’ll address what can be done.
Please register for the forum in advance here:
https://bit.ly/DefendingPublicEducationandaDiverseDemocracy
Adult Play Day
April 15 12-4pm in Social Hall
Register Here: bit.ly/funatchalice
PSW ASSEMBLY
This year’s assembly will be held at the beautiful congregational facility, Unitarian Universalists San Luis Obispo. Join us to share what’s going on in your congregation and to enjoy meaningful keynote topics, an assortment of workshops, youth con activities, worship, meals and more! Keynote Speakers will include Speaker Chairwoman Violet Sage Walker of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) and Mona Olivas Tucker of the Northern Chumash Tribe.
We have 6 delegate spots, and people can attend virtually for only $50 to see speakers in the main hall, and attend and vote for deBenneville Board members. Please let Annie know at: pres...@chaliceuu.org if you plan to attend!
Full Details about the event available here:
Starting Point Journey Circle
Begins Sunday, April 16th, 1 - 3 pm
In person @ Chalice
Do you want to explore Unitarian Universalism and your Spiritual Path more deeply?
Sign up for our next Starting Point Journey Circle
For newcomers to Chalice and existing members.
We invite you to join our UU journey program called 'Starting Point’.
Starting Point is a three session series, led by Rev. Nica, 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.
All are welcome to this class by prior registration.
A commitment to all three sessions is requested.
Sunday, April 16 - 1-3 pm - Session 1 will explore our personal spiritual journeys.
Sunday, May 21 - 1-3 pm - Session 2 will examine UU and Chalice’s history.
Wednesday, May 31 - 6:30 to 8:30 pm- Session 3 will look at our UU Theological journey.
For more information, you can email SPi...@chaliceuu.org
Save the Date!
We are planning a special Spring Cleaning on Saturday, April 29th
We hope you’ll join us for community building, taking care of our sacred spaces,
and preparing to celebrate Nica's return! Stay tuned for more details!
Chalice Cabaret 2023!
June 17th 7:00pm
-
Chalice’s Cabaret is a spectacular evening of entertainment that showcases our community’s many talents. Musicians, comedians, dancers, artists and more are invited to share their art for a captivated audience. During the intermission, be sure to enjoy the fellowship, hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Tickets will be sold for a suggested donation of $15. All proceeds go to sustaining Chalice UU Fellowship. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
If you’re interested in signing up to perform, please contact the Music Director, Anthony, by email at musicd...@chaliceuu.org.
Chalice Goes to the Hollywood Bowl!
It’s finally my favorite time of the year: Hollywood Bowl Season! This is a great way to join in fellowship with your Chalice community and other music lovers. Arrive early for a picnic dinner and then enjoy a world class summer concert under the stars. (Pack your own picnic.)
If you’re interested, please reach out to the music director, Anthony, at musicd...@chaliceuu.org. Tickets will be purchased 4/5/23, so all decisions and payments must be made prior. Tickets generally range from $15-45 per person. Go to hollywoodbowl.com for more information. (FYI, John Williams is 91, and likely won’t continue conducting much longer, and Dudamel is moving to the NY Phil in 2026.)
July 7 - 8:00pm Maestro of the Movies: John Williams w/Dudamel
July 11 - 8:00pm Verdi’s Requiem w/Dudamel
July 25 - 8:00pm Rhapsody in Blue & Dvorak Symphony 9
July 30 -7:30pm Everybody Rise! A Sondheim Celebration
August 3 - 8:00pm A Live Presentation of 2001: A Space Odyssey w/LA Phil & LA Master Chorale
August 16 - 8:00pm Gladys Knight
Anthony Concepcion music director
Families with elementary age kids -
Summer camp Registration to open this month
SAVE THE DATES! Plan ahead for summer 2023 camps
(registration will open in March):
Elementary camp: July 9-15
Middle School camp: July 16-22
Sr High School camp: July 23-29
Family Camp: July 30-Aug 5th
General Assembly June 21- 25, 2023
Information can be found here:
And registration is available here:
https://www.uua.org/ga/registration
Please let us know if you plan to attend in-person or on zoom! We can have 6 delegates and one could be you! Contact pres...@chaliceuu.org
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 Meeting
Meets 4th Sunday of the Month
next meeting on Zoom - Sunday, March 26 at 12:30 p.m.
Among other things, we’ll talk about reactions from March 21, the rainy windy National Day of Action when we joined with people locally and nationwide to ask big banks (Chase, Citbank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo) to stop expanding investments in new fossil fuel projects. Since the 2015 Paris Agreement, these four major banks have collectively invested $1.2 TRILLION in fossil fuel projects.
To see more, check out the Fellowship Hall bulletin board. Or visit: www.thirdact.org or https://www.bankingonclimatechaos.org/
CCAT 3/26/23 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
UU the Vote will be gearing up soon for more opportunities to get into “good trouble”! Stand by, more democracy-saving postcarding opportunities are coming up VERY SOON!
Chalice has many Social Action groups
to engage with on a monthly basis!
Racial Justice Team: 2nd Wednesday of Each Month - 5:30 - 7 pm
BIPOC UU Tri-County Collaborative: 2nd Thursday of the month - 6 pm
The Citizen’s Climate Lobby Meeting: 2nd Saturday of the month - 9 am
Chalice Climate Action Team Meeting: 4th Sunday of the Month -12:30 pm
Community Forum Team Meeting: 4th Monday of the month
Friday, March 24
7:30pm Movie Group 1 (zoom)
Saturday, March 25
7:30am AA Meeting
10:00am OA Meeting
Sunday, March 26
10:00am Chalice Worship Service (Zoom 2)
11:30am RE: Reflections
11:30am RE: Serenity
11:30am RE: YRUU
12:30pm Climate Action Team (Zoom2)
1:00pm OWL 7-9
1:00pm Crossing Paths - for adults
5:00pm Newcomer AA Meeting
Monday, March 27
5:00pm Community Forum Planning Meeting (zoom2)
7:00pm Women's Evening Group (zoom)
Tuesday, March 28
10:00am Gardenia Group (zoom)
1:00pm Feeding Hands (food preparation)
4:00pm Feeding Hands (serving)
6:00pm Worship Committee (Zoom2)
Wednesday, March 29
6:00pm Overeaters Anonymous
6:30pm Sitevisioning meeting (zoom2)
7:00pm Choir Rehearsal
Other ways to get involved or stay connected:
Donate everytime you shop at Amazon. 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.
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
Take the Chalice Involvement in Groups, Committees, Social Justice and more Survey: How you are engaging with Chalice at this time. Click: Here
Visiting or new to Chalice and wish to receive and share more about yourself? Take this survey: Let's Get Connected
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.
Or reach out to us here:
Chalice Office # (805) 498-9548 - Messages will be checked regularly.
Rev. Nica Eaton-Guinn, Minister, is on Sabbatical until May
URGENT Calls can be sent to our board president, Annie Barker at (805) 415-4918 or pres...@chaliceuu.org
For emergency Pastoral care you can reach our Sabbatical minister at rev...@chaliceuu.org
Anthony Concepcion, Music Director musicd...@chaliceuu.org
Samantha Dickerson, Director of Religious Education d...@chaliceuu.org
Ana Krista Johnson, Office Administrator ad...@chaliceuu.org or bookkeeper, bookk...@chaliceuu.org
Explore our website to learn more about everything we are doing.