EMERSON UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
7304 JORDAN AVENUE
CANOGA PARK, CA 91303
LEAVES,January2017
TerryHassman-Paulin,Leaves/WebsiteEditor
PleasesubmitallcontributionstotheFebruary2017newslettertotmhassman@aol.com
byJanuary15,2017.
DearReaders,
Happy2017!ThisyearisdestinedtobeanexcitingyearforEmersonUUChurch,for
California,andfortheUnitedStates.Welivein“interestingtimes,”don’twe?
ThiseditionofTheLeaves,Emerson’smonthlynewsletter,isjammedwithnewsof
eventsthataretakingplaceinandaroundEmerson.Ifyou’rewonderingwhattodo
anydayoftheweek,justcheckourEmersoncalendar,“upcomingeventsat
Emerson,”andour“WorshipServicesJanuary2017.”Therearesomanyactivities
availableatEUUCthatyoucanbeactiveeverydayoftheweek—andweekends.
Inadditiontoourusualfeatures(“SoulMatters,”“REMatters,”“FromtheBoard,”
“Emerson’sFinancialHealth,”“UpcomingEventsatEmerson”),wehaveanew
feature:“Rhod’sPicks:Movies,Anyone?”Checkitout!
Ifyouhavearticles,stories,features,orphotosthatyou’dlikepublishednextmonth,
pleasesubmitthemtomebeforeJanuary15.Seeyourideaspublishedforall
Emersonianstoreadandenjoy!
Happyreading!
TerryHassman-Paulin
Editor,Leaves/emersonuuc.org
LEAVES,January2017
1
January2017Theme
Whatdoesitmeantobeacommunityofprophecy?
Our times ask us to exercise our capacity for prophetic witness, by Prophetic witness I
mean our capacity to see what is happening, to say what is happening and to act in
accordance with what we know.... Prophetic witness ...is the ability to name those places
where we resist knowing what needs to be known.
-Rebecca Parker, UU theologian and minister
“I am not crushed. I am awake.”
- A liberal activist interviewed about the presidential election
Prophets are known for their condemnation. Images of an angry bearded man shouting
and predicting God’s judgment come to mind. But for Unitarian Universalists, the
prophetic voice has always been less about shouting “You’re evil!” and more about
pointing out “We’re all asleep!” The prophetic message, for us, is not so much “Repent!”
but “Wake up!”
Recent political events are relevant here. On Election Day, many of us realized we had
been living in a bubble. We existed in an echo chamber but told ourselves we had a clear
picture of the world. Whether it was class, condescension or comfort, something distorted
many people’s view.
And so if Election Day was about realizing we were asleep in a bubble, the question on
Inauguration Day becomes, Are we ready to wake up? And let’s be clear: this is not a
politically partisan thing; liberals and conservatives both have a ton of waking up to do.
One unemployed Michigan factory worker was quoted after the election saying, “I vote
Republican because I won’t vote for anyone who doesn’t see and respect me.” On the
other side of the political fence, black, Latino, Muslim and LGBT families are struggling
with real fear about what’s been unleashed and what may be unleashed against them. And
they are wondering if this country will wake up to and take their fear seriously.
Bottom line: we need prophetic communities now more than ever. As Rebecca Parker
says, we need circles of brave and bold people who are willing “to see what is happening,
to say what is happening and to act in accordance with what they know.” Which means
that being a community of prophecy is not just about helping people wake up to each
other’s realities and fears; there is also the matter of waking up to and being wide-eyed
LEAVES,January2017
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about the need for resistance. Most of the time, holy work is about finding common
ground among differing worldviews. But sometimes, holy work is about prophetic
judgment and knowing when some views need opposed. As that activist said, “I am not
crushed. I am awake.”
So many ways to wake up. So many people who need us to do so. Sleep is no longer a
luxury. In the end, maybe that is the most prophetic message of all.
*******************************************************************************
MUSICALMUSINGS:ANewYear’sRevelation
ByScottRieker
Director,EmersonChoir
[email protected]
I’vedebatedforweeksoverwhetherIshouldpenthiscolumn,becausetosome
folksthesubjectmatterisoffensive,oratleastcontroversial.Afterspeakingwith
severalgaykidsoverthepastmonth,especiallyabouttheirdesireforpositiverole
models,I’vedecidedtogotoprintinawaythattellshisstory,yetpermitshis
anonymity,tohelpprotectthesensibilitiesofthosewhomighttakeumbrage.
Severalweeksago,aniconandluminaryinmyfieldpassedawayafteralongand
storiedcareer.Hewasamentorto—literally—thousands,aninspirationtotensof
thousandsmore,arenownededucator,andarolemodelforburgeoning(and
established)choralmusicians.Itisimpossibletooverstatetheimportanceofthe
impactthatthisindividualhadonchoralmusic.
LEAVES,January2017
3
Asthemultitudeofwell-deservedeulogiespoursin,it’shearteningtoseeallofthe
peoplewhowereinspiredbyhiswork.Hewillberememberedusingalloftheabove
accolades,and—ifaremembranceisparticularlybold—hewillbereferredtoasa
“lifelongbachelor.”Thiseuphemismisthecentraltragedyofthestory.Forall
intentsandpurposes,hewasaclosetedgaymanwhoneverfoundawaytopublicly
acknowledgehissexuality.
Forhim,therewasalwaysasociallyacceptablefront.Whentraveling,healways
broughtafemalecompanionandwasalwayspubliclyinthecompanyofone
vivaciouswomanoranother.Whenappearinginpublic,hewasalwaysreservedand
professional.Hispersonawasalmostsexless—asifnothingcouldbemoreremote
fromhisbeing.Buthisactualsexualitywasanopensecretinsomecircles,and
amongthegenerationtwopriortomine,itwasalmostabadgeofhonortohavehad
adalliancewithhim.
Noonecaneveraccusehimofactingwithoutintegrity,butonecomponentof
integrityisbeingauthenticallyoneself.Mattersoffaith,placesandexpectationsof
employment,socialconstraints,andruralconservatismallconspiredtopreventhim
fromfeelingcomfortable“comingout.”Ilamentthe“couldhavebeen”situations
lost,hadhefoundawaytointegratehissexualityintohislife.Andsohemovesinto
eternityastheiconicmentor,inspiration,educator,androlemodel,whowasalsoa
“lifelongbachelor.”
Fromthis,Iwoulddrawanumberofconclusions,buttheprimaryonesarethese:
1. Musicisanavenueforself-expressionandself-actualization,whichexpresses
realitiesthatoftenliebeyondthepurviewofmerespeech.Consequently,itis
vitallyimportantthatthispowerfulbastionbeprovidedinasmanycontexts
aspossibleforthosewhoarestrugglingwithanyinnerturmoil.(Andthatis
allofus…)
2. Iconsshouldnotbeappropriatedto“propupanagenda,”butwemustalso
behonestabouttherealityofpeople’slives.Justaswecannotgiveapassto
pathologicalpublicliars,somustweactivelyrememberthefullpaletteofan
individual’sexistence.Peoplearegoodandbad,but—especiallyforsomeone
whohasbecomeiconic—sometimesrevealingthe“bad”orthetroublesome
canprovideinspirationforthosestrugglingwiththesame.
3. Sometimesoureldersneedmoresupportreconcilingissuesthatweconsider
passé.WhenmyelderlycousinmarriedanAfrican-Americanwoman,itwasa
scandaltonooneexcepthimself,andhefelttheneedtokeeptheiractual
relationshipsecretfortoolong.Whenapersonofacertainagestrugglesto
cometotermswithhisorhersexuality,wemustbeactivelysupportive,
warm,andaccepting.
LEAVES,January2017
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4. “ComingOut”isstillathing.Itshouldn’tbe,butitis.(Afterall,noonehasto
say,“Mom.Dad.IthinkI’mleft-handed”or“World,Iamambidextrous.”)The
traumasurroundingsexualorientationisreal.
5. Whichbringsmetomyfinalpoint:Theseconclusionscanbeintegratedbya
caring,compassionatecommunity.Especiallywiththevehicleofmusic,we
canlearntobridgedividesandenlargeourcircle.So,let’sstickrainbow
stickersandequalsignsonourchoirfoldsandgomakeadifference!
REMATTERS:AChristmasEveStory
EmmalindaMacLean
DirectorofReligiousEducation
[email protected]
ThefollowingstorybyEmmalindaMacLeanfirstappearedin“Emersonians”on
December23,2017.Wereproduceithereforyourenjoyment.
IwantedtoshareaChristmasEvestorywithallofyou,althoughIwon'tbethere
tomorrownight[December24,2016];you'reallinmyheart.MerryChristmas.
Iknowmanypeoplewhoarestrugglingthisholidayseasonwithhowtocelebrate,
whenitseemsthatthereissomuchtofearandmourn.Ifeelthattension,too.This
storyfrommychildhoodhascomebacktomethisweekwithnewmeaning,andI
shareitinhopesthatitmaybemeaningfultosomeofyou.
IgrewupattheFirstUnitarianChurchofSanJose;I’venevermissedaChristmas
Eveservicethere.WhenmybrotherandsisterandIwereyoung,mymother
volunteeredinReligiousEducationclasses,andmyfatherwasthechairofthe
buildingcommitteeforyears.TheSanJosechurchwasbuiltin1889andisa
historicallandmark—it’sabeautifuloldbuildingwithamassivedomedsanctuary
andlotsofstainedglasswindows.
InOctoberof1995,whenIwas8yearsold,therewasaterriblefireatthechurch.
Thedomeoverthesanctuarycollapsed;thefiredepartment’shosesdidalmostas
muchwaterdamageasthefireitself,andwhenthesmokeclearedtherewerepiles
LEAVES,January2017
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ofrubbleandashandsoakedhymnalsinourspiritualhome.Itwasatragicaccident.
Thecongregationcried,andheldeachother,andthentookadeepbreathand
startedtorebuild.
Forthreeyearswemetintheseniorcenteracrossthestreet,butforthewellattendedcandlelightChristmasEveservicesthecongregationrentedspaceina
considerablygranderhallafewblocksaway.OurChristmasEveritualhasalways
includedpassingthelight,andtheheatofasmallwhitecandleclosetomyfacein
thedarkenedsanctuary,surroundedbyfaceseachlitbytheirownflickeringyellow
glow,isoneofmyearliestandmostvividsense-memoriesofChristmas.
ButforeachofthethreeChristmasesthatoursanctuarywasfilledwithcharred
wood,tarps,andscaffolding,wehadanotherritual.Dadhadcontinuedtoserveon
thebuildingcommittee,inspiteofthefire’smajorimpactonwhatthejobentailed,
andheoversawmuchoftherebuilding.Burningachurchdownisagreatwaytotest
people’svolunteercommitments—noteveryonestuckaround,butmyfatherisnot
someonetowalkawaywhenhecanhelp.
Soforthreeyears,myfamilyandafewotherswouldleaveChristmasEveservicesat
thebeautifulbrightlylitrentedhall,holdingourlittlewhitetapercandles,andwalk
thefewblocksthroughdowntownSanJosetothechurch.Dadunlockedthebuilding
andweslippedin,re-litourcandles—verycarefully;theSanJosecongregationhasa
particularlycautiousrelationshipwithfiretothisday—andstoodinacircleinthe
darkenedsanctuarytosingafewChristmascarols,holdingoursmallflickering
lights.Thescaffoldingandexposedbeamsmadestrangeshadows,anditfeltscary
andforbiddenanddangerousandexciting.Itwasn’tChristmasuntilwehadbrought
lightandsongintothatsanctuary.
LEAVES,January2017
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Mymotherstillsayswithpridethatinover125years,thechurchhasneverbeen
darkandsilentonChristmasEve.Evenwhentheroofcavedin,weraiseditbackup.
Evenwhenitseemedtheskywasfalling,wejoinedtogethertobringlightandmusic
intothedarkness.That’sthegiftofacommunityoffaith;that’sthegiftmyparents
gavemealltheSundaysofmychildhood,butespeciallythosedark,candle-lit
ChristmasEves,surroundedbyscaffolding,filledwithfaith,hope,love,andjoy.
Mayitbesoforallofus.
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FROMTHEBOARD
ByBettinaSalas,BoardSecretary
[email protected]
DearEmersonians,
NewYear’sGreetingsfromyourBoardandaheartfeltwishforahealthyand
peacefulyear2017!
LEAVES,January2017
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Weleftanambiguousyearbehind.Happyandsadnewsseemtohaveaccompanied
usateveryturn,andwearetryingourbesttoremainupbeatandfindsolutionsto
theobstaclesweareconfrontingduringtheseuncertaintimes.
Onaverypositivenote,wehavewelcomedoursettledminister,theReverend
MatthewMcHale,hislovelywifeAnne,andtheiradorabledaughterRiverGrace.And
notamomenttoosoonastheearth-shatteringelectionresultshaveshownus.Rev.
Matthewisverymuchanactivist,andimmediatelyaftertheresultsbecameknown,
calledforameetingtoshare,grieve,andexpresspeople’sfearsandanger.
AnotherpositivedevelopmentisanewgroupcalledJusticeAdvocacyMinistry
(JAM),whichformedearlierthisyearbythreeEmersonians.Manyofus,spurredon
byJAM,havebegunonarenewedpathofsocialactivism,whichincludes
immigrationreform,guncontrol,andmanyothersocialissues.Pleasecheckour
website,emersonuuc.org,regularlytogetupdatesonwhatyoucandotohelpour
congregationandlargercommunity.
Wehadaverysuccessfulfallfundraiser,whichofferedlotsofeventstobringpeople
together.Igotabitcarriedawaybyallthechoicesandbidonmoregatheringsand
dinnersthanIhadplanned,butthat’sokay.Idon’tenjoycooking,soIamnowset
forweekendmealsforthenextfewmonths.
Onasadnote,wehadtosaygood-byetothreeEmersonians—BarbaraTober,
DorothyLyon,andBurtSiskin—whomwewillholdincherishedmemory.
IntermsofyourBoardofTrustees,theTrustee-at-Large,ShawnQuinlivan,resigned
inDecember,andweappointedDonOrdwaytofillthispositionuntiltheelection
nextyear.Abigthank-yougoestoShawnwhowasinstrumentalinhelpingus
launchournewwebsiteandremindingusthatloveisthefoundationofourlives.
Don,welcometotheBoard.Welookforwardtoworkingwithyou.Inaddition,we
havehadthepleasureofseeingClintonBenchatsomeofourmeetingsashehas
takenontheresponsibilityoffinancialmanager.
Inthenextfewmonths,anewcommitteewillreviewandupdatethechurch’sbylaws,andyouwillbegettingmoreinformationonthisissueduringour
congregationalmeetingsin2017.Ifyourcuriosityisgreat,andyouwouldliketo
knowmorenoworbeinvolved,pleasecontactTracyWatson.
Wearealsointheprocessofdevelopingpolicyonsolicitations,donations,and
fundraisersandareconsideringhowbesttogetthisinformationtoyou.
TheBoardisintheprocessofdesignatingthefrontparkinglotforpeoplewith
mobilityissuesandvisitorsonlyduringSundayservices.Pleasebeonthelookout
forsignstoannouncethischangesothatwecanaccommodatethosewhoneedour
assistancemost.
Finally,pleasemarkyourcalendarforFebruary5,2017,rightafterSundayservices,
whenweareplanningournextcongregationalmeeting.Hopetoseeallofyouthere.
LEAVES,January2017
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Mybestwishesfor2017goouttomyfellowcongregantsandthelargercommunity.
Let’srememberthatweneedeachotherandarepartoftheinterdependentwebof
life.
Yours,
BettinaSalas
************************************************************************************
EMERSON’SFINANCIALHEALTH
ByClintonBench
FinanceManager
[email protected]
WearealmosttothehalfwaypointinFiscalYear2017,andourfinancialstandingis
keepingprojectedpacewithourbudget.Thankyoutoallourmembersandfriends
forkeepingusfinanciallyhealthy!Currently,ourstatementofaccumulatedearnings
andlossesshowsanetincomethatis15%aheadofour$102,000inbudgeted
expensesthroughNovember,butthisispartlyduetotheregularunevenpaceof
rentalincomethroughoutthefiscalyear.Therateofpaymentsonpledgeshasalso
increasedsinceitsslowdowninSeptember,whichhasresultedinourbeingabout
5%aheadofbudgetforthatlineitem.
Totalministerialandstaffcompensationcontinuestotrailourbudgetedamount,
partlyduetoslightlymoreunpaidleavethanexpectedintheearlymonthsofthis
year,partlyduetolowerbillablehoursworkedsofarbyprogramstaff,andpartly
duetoconservativeexpensebudgetingonourpart.Theminister’smovingexpenses
havebeenfullyreimbursed,andhisfrugalityallowedustobewellunderbudget!
Thankyou,ReverendMatthew!
TheFallFling(ourfallfundraiser)wasagreatsuccessandgeneratedmoreinbids,
sales,andentryfeesthanbudgetedfor–moregoodnews!However,notallincome
hadbeenreceivedfrombidsatthetimeoftheNovemberstatement,sotherelevant
revenuelineitemstillshowslessthanthebudgetedamountforthefullyear–most
oftheseoutstandingbidswilllikelybefulfilledinDecember.Overall,thesefactors,
combinedwithourexpectedtrends,suggestthatweshouldreachthehalfwaypoint
ofthisfiscalyearinahealthyfinancialposition.
LEAVES,January2017
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JANUARY 2017 WORSHIP SERVICES
January1,2017
“PROMISES,PROMISES”
TerryHassman-Paulin,WorshipAssociate
Eachnewyearprovidesanotheropportunitytobeginanew.Wecanwipetheslate
cleanandstartallover.Joininthisinteractiveservicetodefinethepromisesyou’re
goingtomaketoyourself,yourfamily,yourchurch,thewidercommunity,the
country,andeventheplanet.Resolvethat2017willbetheyearyoukeepthe
promisesyoumake!
ForourSpecialMusic,LynnPragerwillsing“Promises,Promises,”byBurt
Bacharach.
January8,2017
“APROPHETOFTHEPEOPLE”
Rev.MatthewMcHale,Minister;LindaFitzgerald,WorshipAssociate
Whenwetalkofprophets,manyofusthinkofthemessengersofGodintheHebrew
Bible—largerthanlifepeople,whostoodupforandspokeoutagainstKings—and
offeringvisionsofabettersociety.Yet,RebeccaParkersays,“Itisamistaketosee
[theprophet]asanisolated,heroicindividual.Itisbettertosee[them]asthecrest
ofawave.”Howmightweindividuallyandcollectivelybepartoftheupswell?
January15,2017
“RECLAIMINGKING”
RevMatthew,Minister;DonOrdway,WorshipAssociate
LEAVES,January2017
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Overtime,MartinLutherKinghasbeentamedinourcollectiveconsciousness,tobe
rememberedandhonoredsolelyassomeonewhononviolentlystruggledforcivil
rightsforBlackpeople,andhehasbecomereveredbyalmostallAmericansasa
greathero.ButthatsanitizedversionofKingobscurestherealitythathewasdeeply
divisiveatthetime,particularlyasheexpandedthescopeofhisradicallove,
becominganoutspokencritic,notjustofracism,butalsopoverty,militarism,and
materialism.ThisSunday,wereclaimtheradicalKing,andexplorehowKing’s
messagecanimpactustoday.
January22,2017
“THEPROPHETICIMAGINATION”
Rev.MatthewMcHale,Minister;MelissaMarote,WorshipAssociate
Theliberalunderstandingofwhatitmeanstobepropheticistodecrytheinjustices
inoursociety,butitoftenoverlooksthecriticalneedtoofferalternativestothe
dominantparadigm.Atthebeginningofanewpresidency,howcanwenotonly
fightagainstinjustice,butalsouseourimaginationtonourishandevoke
consciousnessandperceptiondifferentthanthedominantculture?
January29,2017
“SERMONTOPICTOCOME”
GuestSpeaker;DavidEarly,WorshipAssociate
Sermondescriptiontocome
LEAVES,January2017
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UPCOMINGEVENTSATEMERSON
Sunday,January1,2017,ALL-EMERSONFIRST-SUNDAYPOTLUCK
WewillbehavingourAll-EmersonFirst-SundayPotluckimmediatelyfollowingthe
service.Pleasebringahealthydishtoshare.Thenjoinintheeatingandfun!
“Oursocialhour’smeetingandgreeting
isevenmorefunwithethicaleating,
Sobringatastytreattoshare,
homemadeorstorebought,toshowyoucare,
Andsetupandcleanupcanbeagifttoo,
whenyouspendhalfanhourwiththefirstSundaycrew!”
[email protected](818)346-0902formore
information.
Sunday,January8,JustWebMeeting:RefocusingOurPurpose
JustWebmeetonthesecondSunday,January8,from12:00to1:30intheSanctuary,
todiscusswhetheritwillbereplacedand/orrefocusedasEmerson's"Climate
Group"for2017.Emersoniansinterestedintheenvironmentmaybeabletoact
moreeffectivelyifwesetoursightsonsomespecificclimatechangegoalsforthe
immediatefuture.Letusknowwhatyouthink.
LEAVES,January2017
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Formoreinformation,[email protected]
(818)346-0902.
Friday,January13,2017:OperainCanogaPark!
Emersonwillbeopeningupitssanctuarytoshowcasethetop-notchtalentofthe
CenterStageOperaCompanyonFriday,January13,at7:00p.m.
ThemissionofCenterStageOpera(CSO)istobringfirst-rateopera,Broadway
productionsandconcertstotheSanFernandoValley.
CSOwillbepresentingindividualariasandduetsfromvariousoperasatEmerson,
accompaniedbypiano,featuringCo-ArtisticDirectorsShiraReneeThomasand
DylanF.Thomaswhowillbeperformingbelovedfavoritesfromtheoperaticstage,
singingworksbyPuccini,Gounod,Verdi,andothercelebratedoperaticcomposers.
Suggesteddonationis$15.Boxedsandwichdinnersmaybepurchasedinadvance
foranadditional$15.GetyourticketsaftertheSundayserviceinthePavilion,atthe
door,oronlinethroughEventbrite.
Formoreinformationaboutthecompany,contactJerryBrown,GeneralDirectorat
818-517-4102orvisittheirwebsiteatwww.centerstageopera.org.Formore
informationontheeventcontactSpikeat818-224-9091oremailspike@aieac.org.
LEAVES,January2017
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January14,2017,MEMORIALSERVICEFORBURTSISKIN
AllareinvitedtocelebratethelifeoflongtimeEmersonmemberBurtSiskinon
Saturday,January14at2:00p.m.intheEmersonsanctuary.
Aninformalreceptionwillfollowtheserviceinthepavilion.Ifyou’reable,please
bringaplateoffingerfoodtoshare–crudités,cheese&crackers,fingersandwiches,
deviledeggs,cookies/brownies–foodthatcanbeservedatroomtemperatureand
doesnotrequireutensils.Pleasebringfoodonaservingplatereadytoplaceonthe
buffettable.
Ifyouhaveashort,funstoryaboutBurt,pleasewriteitdownonpaperandbringit
totheservice.Thesewillbeassembledintoabookforhischildrenand
grandchildren.
Inlieuofflowers,donationsmaybemadetotheWoodenAthleticFund
(woodenathleticfund.com),whichsupportsUCLAstudent-athletes,ortheUnitarian
UniversalistServiceCommittee(uusc.org).
Formoreinformation,contactTraciDavis,MemorialServiceCoordinator
([email protected]),orLynneMasuhara,MemorialReceptionCoordinator
([email protected]).
Sunday,January15,2017:JusticeAdvocacyMinistry(JAM)Meeting
Emersonians’socialactivismexperiencevariesfrombeginnertodecadesof
protestinginthestreets.Thismonth’smeetingwillfocusonthebasicsof
communityorganizing—howtogetpeopletogetheraroundacommoncause,how
torunmeetings,howtogetthewordout,knowingwhattheparametersarefor
assemblinginpublic,andotherimportantstrategies.Peoplenewtoorganizingwill
definitelywanttoattendthismeeting.Old-timersareinvitedtosharetheir
experienceofwhathasworkedovertheyearsandwhathasn’t.
We’vegotalongfouryearsaheadofus,andweneedtobepreparedandreadyto
meet,organize,rally,protest,lobby,anddowhateverwehavetodotoconfrontthe
manyinjusticesthataregoingto,happeninthewakeofthepresidentialelection.
UnitarianUniversalistshavealonghistoryofdefendinghumanrights.Astheonly
UUcongregationintheWestValley,Emersonwillbeneededtoleadpeopleinthe
LEAVES,January2017
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WestValleywhoarepassionateaboutsocialjusticeissuesandwanttoresistand
fighttheinjusticescollectivelyhereathome.Don’tmissthisvaluableworkshop.
FormoreinformationcontactRenéeLanç[email protected],Meredith
[email protected],[email protected].
January20,2107,EMERSONWOMEN'SLUNCHEON
Emerson’sWomen’sLuncheonisscheduledforFriday,January20,2017,at11:30
a.m.atMaggiano'sRestaurant,6100TopangaCanyonBlvd.,WoodlandHills91367.
AllwomenwhoattendEmerson(andthosewhoidentifyaswomen)areencouraged
tosharecompanionshipalongwiththismeal.PleaseRSVPnolaterthanThursday,
January19,toPatLindenauerat818-205-7632orviae-mailat
[email protected].
January28,2017,VEGETARIANDININGCLUB
ThismonththeVegetarianDiningClubwillmeetonSaturday,January21,2017,at
6:00p.m.toenjoythecozyatmosphereandtheamazingfauxmeatflavorsensations
offeredattheVeganJoint.Theaddressis:VeganJoint,20855Ventura
Boulevard,WoodlandHills,CA,(818)884-6383.
LEAVES,January2017
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Asalways,thecostis$15perperson.
Who'shungry?ContactTracyWatsonat
[email protected](818)346-0902ifyouplantoattend.
January19,2017,ELDERS’CIRCLE
Ourfirstmeetingof2017willbeheldonThursday,January19,2017,at10:30a.m.,
inthePavilion.
Issuesofagingcomeupformostofusatsometimeinourlives.ManyEmerson
membersandfriendsaredealingwiththeseissues,alongwiththeirlovedones.The
ELDERS’CIRCLEisaspacetotalkaboutissuesaroundagingwithRev.Matthew,
membersofourPastoralCareTeam,andeachother.Itwillalsobeanopportunityto
findsupportincommunity,andgainresourcesandtoolstohelpnavigatethe
challengesthatcomewithage.
PastoralCaremembersHeatherMedvitzandotherswilljoinRev.Matthewforthis
firstmeeting.
Thisgroupisforcaregiversandthoseneedingoranticipatinggrowingneedsfor
care.Thiswillbeourthirdmeeting.Amongotherthings,wetalkaboutcaregiver
support,aginginplaceresources,andthedocumentationweneedtopreparein
advanceforourselvesandforourlovedones.
Ifyouneedaridetothismeeting,pleasecontactHeatherMedvitz(818)222-4430,
atleastadayortwobeforethemeeting.Pleaseleaveamessageforacallbackif
thereisnoanswer.YoumayalsoemailHeatheratjhmedvitz@yahoo.comandtitle
youremailElders’CircleRide.
CHUCKMOORE’S85thBIRTHDAYCELEBRATION
Abig“thankyou”toeveryonewhohelpedtomakeDad's85thbirthdayawonderful
celebration.Isendaspecialthankstothemanypeoplewhohelpedsetupand
decorate,cleanup,andsendallthepicturesandnotestoBonnie(thankyou,
LEAVES,January2017
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Bonnie!)whocreatedthelovelymemoryscrapbook.
And,ofcourse,thankstoRenéeandPaul,twoofDad'slongestandclosestfriends.
Thepartywouldn'thavehappenedwithouttheirorganizationalskills,time,and
love!
Thankyou,again,BarbaraMoore.
ChuckandJaneMooreGatheredFriends
Abig“thankyou”toeveryonewhohelpedtomakeDad's85thbirthdayawonderful
celebration.Isendaspecialthankstothemanypeoplewhohelpedsetupanddecorate,
cleanup,andsendallthepicturesandnotestoBonnie(thankyou,Bonnie!)whocreatedthe
lovelymemoryscrapbook.
And,ofcourse,thankstoRenéeandPaul,twoofDad'slongestandclosestfriends.Theparty
wouldn'thavehappenedwithouttheirorganizationalskills,time,andlove!
Thankyou,again,BarbaraMoore.
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ACAUTIONARYTALE
BySusanSiskin
Iamwritingthisarticleinthehopesofsparingsomeoneelsefromthecostlyand
traumaticexperiencethatIhavejustbeenthrough.
Iwasscammedlastweekoutof$4,500andspent4½hoursbeing“tortured”onthe
phonebyaverygoodmanipulator!
LEAVES,January2017
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Itisthenewscamgoingaround,andIfeelembarrassedandstupidtohavefallen
forit.Basically,a“detective”calledupandtoldmeIhadtwowarrantsoutformy
arrestfornotappearingforjuryduty.Normally,Iwouldhavesmelledarat
immediately.ButbecauseIhadjustlostmyhusband,Burt,Iwasextremely
susceptibletothisploy.Thecallerinsisteditwouldonlytakehalfanhourtoclear
upthesituation,andthenI“wouldnothavetoworryaboutbeingstoppedbya
policeofficerandtakentojail.”
Ifellforit.They(thereweretwoofthemgrindingmedown)keptmedrivingall
overtown,gettingmoney,goingtotheChatsworthcourthousetwice,goingtothe
bank,goingtotwodifferentRiteAidstobuyGreenDotMoneyPakcards.Itwaslike
asceneoutof“MissionImpossible.”TheyinsistedthatIkeepmyphoneonspeaker
thewholetime,andtheywereyellingatmetillmyheadthrobbed.
Becausetheykeptmetalking,Iwasneverabletothinkhowfishythisallwasorto
callafriendorcheckontheInternet.Ihavefiledapolicereport,butthemoneyis
longgone.Apparently,theoldgambitwassomethingtodowiththeIRS,butthisone
isfarmoreeffective!
Pleasetellyourfriendsnottofallforthisdirtytrick.
IknowIwillbeextremelycautiousinansweringmyphonefromnowon.The
“detective”actuallyhadthenervetocallmebackthenextmorning;heprobably
thoughthecouldgetmoremoneyoutofme.Itoldhimwherehecouldgo!
RHOD’SPICKS:Movies,Anyone?
Thismonthwe’rebeginninganewfeatureinTheLeaves
andonemersonuuc.org.Theidea,dreamedupbyRhod
Zimmerman,istoshareshortdescriptionsofmoviesthat
wereallyenjoy.Wecouldalsostartupamoviegroupthat
meetsmonthlytoviewandthendiscussoneofthemovies
selected.
Here’smorefromRhod:
Weprobablyallhavefavoritemovieswehaveenjoyed.Ithinkitmightbefunto
sharelistsoffavoritemoviesforotherstosee.I’vemadeupalistof11moviesI
wouldclassifyasmyfavorites.(Idon’tclaimthesetobethe“best”movies—just
onesIlike.)
Maybewecanstart(actually,re-start)amoviegrouptomeetonceamonth,watcha
movie,anddiscussitafterwards.Wewouldhavetomakesureweavoidviolating
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anycopyrightrules.Wewillusesomecareinhowandwherewemeettowatchthe
movie.
MYPICKS
Note:IamabigJamesBondandJasonBournefan,butIdidnotincludeanyoftheBondorBourne
moviesasapersonalfavorite.
AmericanDreamer(1984)JoBethWilliams,TomConti
WomanwinsatriptoParis,hasaccident,thensheawakestoimagineherself
asacharacterinabook.Veryfunnyromp.
Babette’sFeast(1987)StéphaneAudran,BodilKjer,BibiAndersson
Twodevoutandelderlysistersallowtheircook,aFrenchrefugee,toprepare
afeastinhonoroftheirlatefather’s 100thbirthday.
BreadandTulips(2000)LiciaMaglietta,BrunoGanz
Rosalba’slifeisabouttochange.Whensheisaccidentallyleftbehindwhile
onvacationwithherfamily,shedecidestotakeaholidayonherowninravishing
Venice.RomanticComedy
EyeoftheNeedle(1981)DonaldSutherland,KateNelligan,StephenMacKenna
DonaldSutherlandplaysaruthlessNazispywhofallsinlovewithamarried
womaninthistaleofespionageinWWIIBritain.
Hopscotch(1980)WalterMatthau,GlendaJackson
MilesKendig(WalterMatthau)isrelegatedtoadeskjobbyhisboss.He
quits,seeksoutanoldgirlfriend(GlendaJackson),andproceedstowriteabook
aboutsomelittle-knownCIAactivities,leadinghispreviousemployerstochasehim
allovertheworld.
LikeWaterforChocolate(1992)LumiCavazos,MarcoLeonardi,ReginaTome
TitaispassionatelyinlovewithPedro,buthercontrollingmotherforbidsher
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frommarryinghim.WhenPedromarries hersister,Titathrowsherselfintoher
cookinganddiscoversshecantransferheremotionsthroughthefoodsheprepares,
infectingallwhoeatitwithherintenseheartbreak.
LoveatFirstBite(1979)GeorgeHamilton,RichardBenjamin,SusanSaint
James
RichardBenjamin,SusanSaintJamesandGeorgeHamiltonstarinthis
Draculaspoof.Hamiltonandtheothersarebrilliantinthiscomedy,asheand
BenjaminpursueSusanSaintJames.
NorthbyNorthwest(1959)CaryGrant,EvaMarieSaint,JamesMason
ThisistheclassicHitchcockthrillerstarringCaryGrant.Ihadtoincludeone
ofHitchcock’s49moviesforthesheerbrillianceoftheman.
TheThomasCrownAffair(1999)PierceBrosnan,ReneRusso,FayeDunaway,
DenisLeary,BenGazzara
It’shardtoclassifythisremakeoftheSteveMcQueenversion,butitisso
muchbetterthantheoriginal,inmyopinion.PierceBrosnan,ReneRussoandDenis
Learyturninstellarperformances.
ThreeDaysoftheCondor(1975)RobertRedford,FayeDunaway,Cliff
RobertsonandMaxVonSydow
ArogueelementwithintheCIAmurdersallbutonememberofabookreadingteam.Redford(Condor)becomesatargetashetriestosolvethemystery.
YoungFrankenstein(1974)GeneWilder,MartyFeldman,PeterBoyle,Cloris
Leachman,MadelineKahn
AnAmericangrandsonoftheinfamousscientist,strugglingtoprovethathe
isnotasinsaneaspeoplebelieveisinvitedtoTransylvaniawherehediscoversthe
processthatreanimatesadeadbody.ThisisGeneWilderathisbest.
Ifyou’dliketosubmityourlistofmoviepicks,pleasesendthemtoRhod
[email protected]
[email protected],letusknowifyouliketheideaofamonthlymovie
group.
LEAVES,January2017
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REMEMBERINGBURTSISKIN
(March7,1930toNovember18,2016)
BurtandSusanSiskin
BurtpassedawayonFridaymorning,alittleshortofhis87thbirthday.Burtwasthe
middlechildofJeanBernegerandIsidoreSiskin.HegraduatedfromLosAngeles
HighSchoolandlaterwenttoUCLA,gettinghisMaster’sdegreetherein
Anthropology.
Burtmarriedhisfirstwife,Barbara,onJanuary12,1957.Theyhadtwochildren
together:DavidandMichael.Burtworkedathisfamily’sbusiness,theAngelus
FurnitureCo.(establishedin1901byhisgrandfather)beforeteaching
AnthropologyforLAValleyCollegeandLAPierceCollege.Headoredteaching.It
washisreasonforbeing.Burtwasamazedthatafteralmostfiftyyearsofteaching,
hecouldstillhaveanimpactonhisstudents.Hetaughtupuntilfouryearsago.
Burtmarriedhissecondwife,Susan,onNewYear’sEve,1981.Theyhadthree
childrentogether:Sarah,Molly,andJake.Burtwasamarvelousstoryteller,andhis
friends,family,andstudentswerethebeneficiariesofhiswisdomandhumor.He
lovehistoryandwasobsessedwithWorldWarII.Heenjoyedreading,walks,biking,
music,travel,andvolleyball.Burtwasanavidcollegesportsfan;heespeciallyloved
UCLAbasketball,football,andtrackandfield.
Hediedabelovedandhappyman.Heissurvivedbyhiswife,Susan,andhisfive
children,hisgrandchildren,HannahandMax,andhissister,Susie.Hewillbe
especiallymissedbyhisdearestfriendofsixty-sevenyears,Dr.RandyParker.A
memorialservicewillbeheldatEmersonUnitarianUniversalistChurchinCanoga
ParkonSaturday,January14,2017,at2:00p.m.Donationsmaybemadeto
woodenathleticfund.com.
LEAVES,January2017
21
MYDAD,BURTSISKIN
ByJakeSiskin
Hewasborn67yearsbeforeIwas,anditwassometimebeforeIlearnedthatit
wasn’tlikethatforallkids;Ididn’tknowthatallkidscouldn’tjustaskaboutThe
GreatDepression,ortheFallofRome,ortheKoreanWar,andhearaboutthem
fromsomebodywhowasREALLYthere(joke).
ItwasalittlewhilelaterthatIrealizedthatnotallofthesetalesreallyhappened,
buthisstoriesallinvariablymanagedtobetrue,somehow.
MyDadwasthegreateststoryteller.Iknowbecauseofhowheinspiredmeand
countlessotherswhohavecrossedhispathtotelltheirownstories.Hisstories
havecontinuedtoinspireme,whethertheyhappenedornot.So,keeptelling
stories,andkeepinspiringeachother,becauseIthinkthatiswhathewouldhave
wanted.
BurtSiskintellingsonJakeoneofhisfamousstories
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JANUARY2017BIRTHDAYS
CongratulationstoeveryonecelebratingabirthdayinJanuary.
Ellie
Eric
Phyllis
Patrick
Andrew
Leslie
Barbara
Doris
Nancy
Sheila
Virginia
Louise
Sharron
Rosloff
Durham
Carey
Ventura
Reuter
Moore
West
Young
Emery
Margerum
Rovner
2-Jan
3-Jan
6-Jan
8-Jan
8-Jan
9-Jan
10-Jan
11-Jan
11-Jan
13-Jan
14-Jan
17-Jan
Hermalee
Jeff
Kirsten
Emma
Krista
Traci
Christina
Bettina
Greg
Helene
Scarlett
Ben
Schmidt
Bandy
Rosselot
Turken
Johnson
Davis
Kustak
Salas
Buesing
Fernandez
Marote
Meisel
17-Jan
19-Jan
19-Jan
19-Jan
20-Jan
21-Jan
23-Jan
24-Jan
25-Jan
28-Jan
31-Jan
31-Jan
EMERSON’SJANUARY2017CALENDAR
http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=L6N8M7G1G1H
2N8N8H2
LEAVES,January2017
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LEAVES,January2017
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