Chalice News and Notes 2.6.26
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.
Upcoming Events
Feb 7 - Super (IceCream) Bowl: Multi generational sundae bar & fun filled gathering - 1:00 -4:00 pm onsite at Chalice
Feb 7 - Community Forum: “Burned by Billionaires” - 7:00 pm on Zoom
Please register for the forum in advance here:
https://tinyurl.com/BurnedByBillionaires
Feb 8 - Chalice Sweetheart revealing (with song and cake) - after service
Feb 13 - China Through My Eyes with Susan Seats - 6 pm Potluck, 7 pm presentation at Chalice
Feb 14 - Citizen’s Climate Lobby - 9:00 am Virtual & room 1
Feb 15 - Chalice Book Study (final meeting) - 12-2 pm in the Sanctuary
Feb 15 - Open Mic Night - 6 pm in the Lounge
Feb 18 - Final Day for Women’s Retreat Registration (space is limited, don’t wait!) see registration link: https://chaliceuu.breezechms.com/form/50102a423
Feb 22 - Grateful Gathering drop in group - noon in the Nest (upstairs)
Feb 22 - Pride Squad - noon in room 1 (upstairs)
Feb 22 - Chalice Climate Action Team (CCAT) - 12:30 on Zoom
SUNDAY SERVICE
Onsite & Online ~ 10 am
Michael Eselun
Ecotones
Michael Eselun, UCLA oncology chaplain and popular guest speaker, will explore those liminal spaces in which we sometimes find ourselves on life's mysterious journey -- thresholds that are neither one reality or another, and yet may open a path to our deepest truths. Possibly even the sacred.
The registration link below will allow you to register for the service with your preferred email address. A service link will then be sent to that email. This service link will be active 5 minutes prior to the service. As an added benefit, you’ll be sent a recording of the service after it is done streaming!
Registration Link for the StreamYard Meeting:
You can also view our Livestream on FB: https://www.facebook.com/ChaliceUUF
Note: This Week’s Special Collection:
Our special collection this Sunday is for 805undocufund. 805undocufund offers direct financial relief to undocumented and mixed-status families residing in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and SLO counties impacted by immigration enforcement. The 805 Immigrant Rapid Response network is a community-led initiative providing support and resources to those facing immigration enforcement actions. You can find out more here: https://www.805undocufund.org
Also, don’t forget to stay after service as we honor this year’s Chalice Sweetheart… a special Chalice volunteer who has gone above and beyond for our beloved community. Please stay after service as we celebrate this special individual with a song and cake. We invite those in attendance to stay and be a part of this community event!
Chalice Lighting
To start your day, a meeting, or before a meal
In betwixt and in between
We move in the liminal spaces
that show shades of
what can become
what can be
We light this chalice
as a symbol of courage
to move into that time of
this and that
and not this
and not that
With patience and faith
and love
and hope
that this time will pass
Like the sun that moves
in between
rising
and setting
Reminding us that
beauty resounds
In betwixt
and
In between
~ Summer Albayati
Chalice Women’s Retreat – April 24 - 26, 2026
Commitment needed by February 18th to reserve the venue
Calling all Chalice women to sign up for our weekend retreat in Atascadero! This year’s theme is Mystics of the Divine Feminine, which is the spiritual concept that embodies the qualities of compassion, intuition, creativity, and nurturing.
The weekend is an opportunity for connection and reflection, with program time, silent time, shared meals, creativity, and lots of conversation.
As our beloved Camp de Benneville isn’t working out for us this year, we are looking to try a new location – a large vacation rental in Atascadero, 6 bedrooms, each with 3 or more beds.
The property is 2.5 – 3 hours North of Chalice, just inland from San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast. There is no mountain driving required and no high altitude to contend with.
The cost will be $270 per person, and we need a minimum of 20 people to commit by February 18th in order to make it work. We have a maximum of 24 spaces. We’re hoping to have a few partial scholarships available as well. The weekend is all inclusive – lodging, meals, and materials.
We have a survey and registration link on Breeze:
https://chaliceuu.breezechms.com/form/50102a423
If you’re at all interested, please check it out as soon as possible, and/or reach out to Jill Schlaus [jills...@gmail.com, 805-504-5802] or Andy Pletcher [andypl...@gmail.com, 805-551-0456].
Super (ICE CREAM) Bowl Party
February 7 from 1-4 pm at Chalice
RSVP Here:
https://chaliceuu.breezechms.com/form/a0723766879637
Burned By Billionaires
How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and Planet
with
Chuck Collins
Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good, Institute for Policy Studies
Saturday, February 7th – 7:00 p.m. PT (via Zoom)
Billionaire power touches you – where you live, what you eat, what news you consume, what you pay for housing and even pet care! In his latest book, Burned by Billionaires, Chuck Collins exposes the hidden impact of America’s ultra wealthy on our social, economic, political, and ecological landscape. Hear Collins make the case – as well as share prescriptions for creating a society of universal abundance instead of abundant inequality!
Please register for the forum in advance here:
https://tinyurl.com/BurnedByBillionaires
UUTHEVOTE IS BACK
Our Chalice Justice hub is excited to announce
Chalice UUtheVote 2026 is launching now!
UUtheVote is a democracy action sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association. We have participated since their launch in 2020 and have twice been honored as a Good Trouble Congregation.
Each election year cycle, UUthevote is active throughout the year. For those who are new to it, Chalice members write postcards, send texts, and make phone calls to voters in states identified though the UUA. Locally, we help register voters and work at the polls. We do make democracy fun!
We are hoping for full participation in our congregation. To join, please send your email to contactu...@chaliceuu.org and you will be added to our UUTHEVOTE email list.
Postcard campaigns are coming up! We will have everything you need to participate!
Co-chairs
Pamela Lopez and Jill Lewis
The Ventura County Interfaith Community
will be hosting an
Introduction to Judaism on February 10th
On February 10th at 7:00 PM at Temple Ner Ami (515 Temple Ave, Camarillo, CA), the Ventura County Interfaith Community will present an introduction to Judaism led by Rabbi Michael Lotker, the Community Rabbi for the Jewish Federation for Ventura County.
More information is available at https://vcic.info/Judaism.
The Racial & Cultural Justice Team hosts
China Through My Eyes
with
Susan Seats
Friday, February 13 at Chalice
6 pm Potluck Dinner
7 pm Program
Susan Seats has recently visited China. She has an affection for the country as she had lived and taught there for 3 years. Her passion has been connecting with people globally heart to heart, embracing the quote by Einstein that, “Peace is never achieved by force. It can only be achieved through understanding.” Susan would like to give us a glimpse of China to be able to see it through her eyes and to hopefully come to a better understanding by seeing the beauty of its culture and people. She will be bringing her Chinese friend Hailing, to share the meaning and rituals of the Chinese New Year.
Chalice member Susan Seats taught Conversational English at Hubei University of Technology in Wuhan, China for three years.
Please bring a dish to share with others for the potluck at 6:00!
Citizens Climate Lobby
Meets Saturday, February 14th at 9am
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
Chalice Book Study Final Meeting
studying “Social Change Now” by Deepa Iyer
Feb 15th
12-2 in the Sanctuary
If you missed the first one, feel free to attend the meetings that you can make. All are welcome and perfect attendance is not mandatory!
Winter Retreat at Camp de Benneville Pines
February 27th-March 1st, 2026.
Registration is now open! Click HERE to register
Sabbatical FAQ’s
Reverend Nica’s sabbatical started on December 26, 2025. We have provided some answers to most frequently asked questions about her time away on our website (follow the link at the bottom of this post). Please note that in her absence, you can contact pastoral care at pastor...@chaliceuu.org; Ana Johnson our administrator at ad...@chaliceuu.org; Annie Barker, our president at Pres...@chaliceuu.org and the board at bo...@chaliceuu.org
Committee on Shared Ministry at CO...@chaliceuu.org Other contact information and answers to questions are available at the link below:
https://www.chaliceuu.org/blog/minister-sabbatical/
Democracy In Action
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the political climate and unsure of how to take action, you're not alone. To help sift through all of the information, the Democracy in Action Team is sending out details each week on what actionable items you can take to fight political division and its threats to equal rights, our values, and democracy. It lists upcoming in-person, local events, as well as important calls you can make to your representatives. If you'd like to receive these emails, please email Kelly Niebergall at kellyni...@gmail.com. Let's resist together.
Love In Action Link
Looking for ways to put your love into action? Check out these opportunities!
https://bit.ly/LoveInActionOpportunities
Chalice has many Social Action groups
to engage with on a monthly basis!
Racial & Cultural Justice Team: 1st Wednesday Zoom meetings at 5:30pm each month.
The Citizens Climate Lobby Meeting: 2nd Saturday of the month - 9 am
Chalice Climate Action Team Meeting: 4th Sunday of the Month @ 12:30 Community Forum Team Meeting: 3rd Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
Pride Squad Meeting (LGBTQ+ and allies): 2nd Sunday of the month - noon
Contact Justicecom...@chaliceuu.org for more information
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/
Put this on your Calendar!
Joys & Sorrows
Please email any joys and sorrows prior to service by 8 am on Sunday mornings to this address: j...@chaliceuu.org.
You may still fill out cards if you are attending in person.
Visiting or New to Chalice?
If you would like to connect and share more about yourself, take this survey: Let's Get Connected
Stay informed as a Chalice Member
Leadership Documents can be accessed from our website, click on the Members pull-down, then Members Resources to reach our Google Members Shared Drive. Members Shared Drive
Get more involved, connected and learn more about Chalice structure & Governance as a member: view links here: Making Connections 2026
We hope this is helpful. Please feel free to reach out if you need assistance or have questions: Pres...@chaliceuu.org, and Trea...@chaliceuu.org for Financial questions.
If you have special news to share with the congregation in Sunday services please write to j...@chaliceuu.org.
Or reach out to us here:
Chalice Office # (805) 498-9548 - Messages will be checked regularly.
Rev. Nica Eaton, our Minister, is currently on sabbatical, in her absence you can reach our congregation president, Annie Barker, at pres...@chaliceuu.org
Anthony Concepcion, Music Director: musicd...@chaliceuu.org
Samantha Dickerson, Director of Wisdom Exploration: 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.