Compass Rose
March-May 2016
Doing Church
by Kathy van Leuwen, Director of Religious
Education, Children’s Ministry
“Doing church,” for me, is like breathing. Some of my earliest memories are
of Halloween haunted houses and
Christmas fairs at our Congregational
church in Connecticut. At age four, I
can remember the middle school Sunday school class my parents taught,
and being doted on by those big kids.
At age five, I occupied my younger sister while my mom rehearsed liturgical
dances for the Sunday morning worship
service. There also was that awful time when the camping gear
piled on top of my family’s rust-colored Opel hatchback flew off
onto the highway on the way to the church campout. I think I
was seven.
We moved that year and started attending a new, United Methodist church. I won awards for perfect Sunday school attendance.
After church, my dad always treated us to two pieces of candy
from the local pharmacy, owned by my friend’s father, who was
Jewish (and which was why it was open on Sunday). I sang in the
children’s choir at 10 and served as an acolyte when I was 12. I
knew the minister well. His name was Rev. Carmichael, a portly
and white-haired man who spoke to me with a soft voice and kind
eyes. My parents called him Cam.
My father died unexpectedly that year, shortly before my thirteenth birthday. He had been hospitalized but had been expected
to come home soon. My dad had just begun serving as the President of the Board of our church. The hospital doctors had to track
my mom down at a church conference to tell. The only saving
grace was that she was with Cam at the time. The first memorial
service I attended was my father’s, in that United Methodist
church, led by Rev. Carmichael. My mother, sister, and I wept
every time we sat in those pews for years to come.
continued page 13
The quarterly journal of the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo  www.uusanmateo.org
Mission, Vision, and Purposes
Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo
Contents
Mission
We are a religious community of open
hearts and open minds working together to
transform ourselves and the world.
Vision
We are a growing, welcoming, and diverse
congregation, grounded in and living out
our liberal religious values.
Purposes
1
Doing Church
by Kathy van Leuwen
Features
3
A sense of transcending wonder inspires
our life together as a religious community.
Through a diversity of services and rituals,
we open our hearts and minds, and are
moved to take action in the world.
The Operations Group Update
by Francesca Guido
4
Coastside UU Splash!
by Storm Russell
Caring
6
All people are welcomed, dialogues flourish,
and relationships grow and deepen through
joyous and difficult times. Individually and
collectively, we exemplify love, compassion, respect, and hospitality, both within
our congregation and in the greater community.
Launch the Task Force!
by Mark Wandro
7
The Social Justice Ministry at UUSM
by Caryl Hughan
14
Partner Church News
by Carol Cook
Worshipping
Connecting
We invite and encourage all congregants to
participate in congregational life, and we
create opportunities, through social and
spiritual fellowship, for everyone to form
deep and lasting connections. We create
meaningful connections with other Unitarian Universalists, and with other religious
and service groups.
Learning
We have a cohesive and engaging lifespan
religious education program, which inspires
us to understand Unitarian Universalism, to
nurture our spiritual growth and identity, to
live in accordance with Unitarian Universalist principles, and to develop our leadership
abilities. Our religious education program
attracts and serves the greater community.
Acting
We demonstrate our liberal religious values
through effective social action, providing
leadership and creating partnerships in the
local community and beyond.
Giving
We are generous with our time, talent, and
money. Through our stewardship, our congregation thrives, and we create greater
justice, equity, and compassion in the local
and global community.
2
Cover
Compass Rose, March-May 2016
Sections
10
Poetry and Art
17
Announcements and Events
Unitarian Universalism’s Principles and
Purposes
As a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist
Association, we at UUSM covenant to affirm and promote:







The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual
growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic
process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice
for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which
we are a part.
The Operations Group Update
by Francesca Guido, Operations Group Chair
I see getting the congregation involved as a primary task of the OG (ask we call it); in fact, it’s the
only way to make things happen. When an individual makes something happen and it’s good, it’s an
opportunity for involvement, reflection, and growth
– sometimes spiritual. Isn’t that why you’re here at
UUSM?
The members of the OG don’t mean to be “elitists.”
We are few in number (just Deeana McLemore,
Bryan Williams, and me), but we welcome all suggestions, inquires, and requests. If you can help us,
we can put you to work, short-term, or as a full
member of the group – check in with the Nominating Committee.
Many of you found your niches in UUSM when we
held Opportunity Fairs in October and November.
My thanks to the folks who pitched in to make the
Christmas Eve Services and Reception so lovely.
The abundance and the cooperation were evidence
of love in the UUSM community. If it weren’t for the
work of Hanging the Greens and Downing the
Browns, UUSM would be a dreary place and we
wouldn’t have had those opportunities for fun and
service, for which I am grateful. I stood back in
amazement as the Open Door Committee presented yet another Martin Luther King, Jr. Reception –
what acts of grace!
Meanwhile, Deeana McLemore has been doing extensive research on pledge drives and fundraising,
and she is working with the Finance Committee.
Her experience in finance continues to benefit
UUSM.
What’s ahead (and how can you be involved)? The
Seder coordination for Saturday, April 23 is off and
running. I have two OG tasks that are delegable
and short-term (mid-April to June 5): preparation
of the Special Collections vote, and coordination of
the Awards. Could you handle one of those? We are
overjoyed that the team of Jennifer Martin and Karyn Collins are on board to lead the Auction action,
scheduled for Saturday, April 30. Contact them to
join up. We have our reservation for the Picnic at
Central Park on Sunday, Sept. 11. If you are inspired to take charge, let us know (it would help to
start by July) and the crew will follow.
The OG liaisons with the Facilities Committee, who
do an incredible and never-ending job! We have
added to their challenges by extending the campus.
Believe me, a lot of careful consideration happens
before decisions are made; these people care. Look
around you! For the record, the Campus Task Force
will be dealing with the issues of accessibility and
security that have been stumbling blocks.
Composting: As a joint project of Facilities, the OG
and Social Justice, a more Green UUSM is coming.
Compost and recycle bins with labels are sprouting
in the kitchen and Beck Hall. Soon you will hear
more about policy, maybe see a skit during a potluck in Beck Hall, or see more instructions in useful
places. We’ll all have to learn what the local garbage service considers trash vs. recyclables vs.
compostables, and make sure what we discard
ends up in the correct bin. Won’t you pitch in?
Article Submissions
Articles for Compass Rose (max. 500 words) may be submitted for
consideration to [email protected]. (Contact the office if you
have ideas for longer articles.) Poetry, photos, and art work are
also welcome. Deadline for the next issue (covering June through
August 2016): May 5, 2016.
Events and calendar items for Compass Rose, the UUSM website,
and other UUSM publications may also be submitted at any time to
[email protected]. Please include a title, inclusive dates and
times, location, blurb (max. 50 words), cost (if any), and contact
information. Longer announcements may be considered – please
contact the office. All submissions are subject to editorial discretion
and revision.
Compass Rose
N
A compass rose is a diagram,
usually displaying the
cardinal directions of north,
south, east, and west, that
appears in virtually all maps,
charts, and other navigation
systems. (The “rose” in the term refers to
how the compass points resemble the petals
of the flower.) It is our hope that Compass
Rose, the quarterly journal of the Unitarian
Universalists of San Mateo, will likewise serve
as a guide to help you get your bearings as
you travel in your spiritual journey.
www.uusanmateo.org
3
Coastside UU Splash!
Unitarian Universalist Birth on the Coast
by Storm Russell, Member, UUCC Planning Committee
A new Coastside community of UU’s is growing rapidly in the Half Moon Bay area.
Starting with a simple announcement
through the local Nextdoor web service, a
fledgling group of UU’s has made impressive
progress with the help and guidance of UU
San Mateo.
Last July, Nancy Palmer, a recent arrival in
Half Moon Bay, put a notice on the Nextdoor
web service, asking about starting a small
UU group on the Coastside. She got over 10
replies from UU’s and non-UU’s. Within a
week, our first meeting was held at the Half
Moon Bay Coffee House, drawing 8 people. By our second meeting, we had formed
a Planning Committee with five dedicated
members (Sandy Calman, Noreen Cooper
Heavlin, Nancy Palmer, David Rokosky, and
myself), all experienced UU’s, several with
extensive experience in UU congregations
from Berkeley, Oakland, and San Mateo, to
Honolulu, Seattle, and Salt Lake City!
By September, 25 people had expressed
interest via Nextdoor and we began our
bi-monthly meetings. These are regularly attended by
10-12 people, two to three of which are completely new
to Unitarian Universalism. These first gatherings were
graciously hosted in the home of Sandra Adams and
included guest speaker Marina Fraser, the Mayor of Half
Moon Bay, speaking on opportunities for community
service. We formalized our name as the Unitarian Universalist Coastside Community (UUCC), and we reached
out to UUSM. Upon our connection with UUSM, we
gained not only the guidance of Rev. Ben Meyers and
UUSM members Tom McCune, Connie Spearing, and
Tricia Dell, but we also got a magnificent chalice, made
by Tom. In November we felt like celebrities as we were
introduced to the UUSM congregation at the Thanksgiving intergenerational service, and presented with our
beautiful chalice (appropriately made of Coastal Cypress). Following this the UUSM Board unanimously
voted to support UUCC’s development and appointed
Connie as Peninsula/Coast Liaison.
4
Compass Rose, March-May 2016
L-R: Sandy Calman, Nancy Palmer, Storm Russell, Dave
Rokosky, and Noreen Cooper Heavlin. Photo by Joanne Rokosky.
By year’s end we had our mission statement, had teleconferenced with the Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong
(Congregational Life Staff member, Western Region of
UUA), had contacted congregations in Albuquerque and
San Diego to explore the possibilities of satellite status
with UUSM, talked with Eric Bliss, Youth Ministry Specialist, to learn about Youth Group formation, and met
in our new home (now graciously provided by UUSM –
Thank you!), the classroom space of our local New Leaf
grocery store.
In January the Planning Committee, largely responsible
for all this, took a break (whew!).
It actually kind of takes your breath away when you
consider how far we’ve come in such a short time.
Along the way we’ve also adopted the monthly themes
of UU Tulsa, including “Letting Go” and “Grace,” and
we’ve begun our exploration and presentation of UU
Seven Principles, starting with the 1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every
person, during which we tested ourselves by
considering the inherent worth and dignity
of none other than Donald Trump.
We are now looking at growth by contacting
current members of the UUSM who live on
the Coastside. We want to encourage you to
join us at our regular services, usually the
first and third Sundays of the month (hey,
think about skipping that trek over the
hill??). Since we’re now posting our meetings with UUSM, you can check for changes. As we move forward we’re already planning for much of the year ahead and look
forward to great things as we explore our
own Unitarian Universalism and gather new
people – come join us!
Storm Russell is the Designated Worship
Leader of the UUCC, and will welcome any
messages with questions or thoughts at
[email protected].
UU Coastside Community Meetings
We meet the first and third Sunday mornings, 10:30-11:30 am,
in the Half Moon Bay New Leaf Market Community
Classroom (146-A San Mateo Rd., Half Moon Bay).
We are an eclectic group with many religious backgrounds and
beliefs, and all interested persons are invited.
We discuss and explore spiritual values based on Unitarian
Universalist themes and the Seven UU Principles.
Upcoming Topics
February 21
The 2nd Principle, “Justice, equity, and
compassion in human relations”
March 6
(Location to be determined) The theme,
“Unity and diversity”
March 20
The 3rd Principle, “Acceptance of one another
and encouragement to spiritual growth in our
congregations.”
April 3
The theme, “Salvation”
April 17
The 4th Principle, “A free and responsible
search for truth and meaning”
May 1
The theme, “Truth”
May 15
The 5th Principle, “The right of conscience
and the use of the democratic process within
our congregations and in society at large”
We will continue meeting throughout the summer. To receive
notices of meetings, please email [email protected].
www.uusanmateo.org
5
Launch the Task Force!
by Mark Wandro
Last year, UUSM had the opportunity to purchase the
property at 314 E. Santa Inez Ave., next door to the
Cottage. So we did! This was possible due to several
very generous members stepping forward, plus the resources of UUSM’s New Building Fund.
Owning this property creates opportunity – but the
challenges are great, as the buildings (house and rear
garage) are in poor condition. What to do?!?
To address that complex question, the Campus Task
Force (note: not a “committee”!) has assembled. They
are stalwarts, all:
Diana Candee
Kim Miller
Gail Ewing
Joanne Rovno
Marty Hoffman
Steve Rovno
Roger Jacobs (Chair)
Mark Wandro
Chris LaPaglia
Mike Wilson
Tom McCune (Board Liaison)
The Campus Task Force (CTF) has three overlapping
missions:


6
Short Term: Usability. Make at least a portion
of the buildings and grounds useable for meetings, classrooms or offices. (There is already
parking for seven vehicles: two in the driveway –
handicap only, please – and five at the rear, off
Ramona Ave.). This will require moderate cost.
An initial budget of $50,000 was approved.
Intermediate Term: Space Reconfiguration?
Analyze and, if approved, implement a possible
reconfiguration of usages of the existing “campus”
– the main, RE, cottage, and 314 buildings. This
might require significant remodeling and significant cost.
Compass Rose, March-May 2016

Long Term: New Building(s)?!? Analyze the
opportunities of the combined properties if UUSM
“started over,” literally from the ground up. This
would require removal of one or more existing
buildings and major new construction. Costs will
be high, requiring a major Capital Campaign.
Initial usability efforts will be heavily reliant on “self
help.” Members on the Task Force have expertise in
architecture, design, planning, and construction.
They’re up to the job! But eventually professional construction expertise must be hired and, ultimately, a
Capital Campaign undertaken to achieve Boardapproved goals.
Part of the CTF’s mission is to facilitate a congregational
consensus about this exciting, long-term effort. Got an
idea? Suggestion? Concern? Please pass it along to the
CTF at [email protected].
The Social Justice Ministry at UUSM
by Caryl Hughan
Welcome to the Congregation-Based Social Justice Ministry at UUSM. Social justice at UUSM is a spiritual practice in which we live our UU values through discernment
and action. We urge you to join the Social Justice Leadership Group (only one meeting a month) and to participate in our ministry.
A Little History: In the past, the congregation chose one
social justice issue upon which to work for the year. For
example, we worked on literacy in the juvenile justice
system and on health care.
Recent Events: The Unitarian Universalist Social Justice
Ministry of California (UUJMCA) introduced us to Congregation-Based Social Ministry, the goal of which is to
widen congregation participation on social justice issues. The workshops provided by UUJMCA Director
Evan Junker were well received, and we voted to
work on environmental
awareness under the capable leadership of Christy
Conklin and Pat Nicholson.
We are not climate change
deniers! To this end, we
hear speakers and see films that grapple with stresses
on the environment and how we can connect with organizations and activists that make a difference.
So Far: We learned about solar energy possibilities (ask
Conrad Carlen and Richard McCluney), Barbara Du
Mond led summer workshops on food growth and consumption, and we watched the film Cowspiracy. (Don’t
miss it.) We had two meat-free potlucks, and the food
and the conversation were both organic! Pat Nicholson
brought us up to speed on the work of the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), and we heard John Englander speak
about his work on sea level rise. (It’s coming faster
than we ever imagined). We read High Tide on Main
Street, and many of us became more aware of energy
use and misuse as we measured our carbon footprint.
We were shocked into plastic damage awareness by
Beth Terry, a dynamic speaker who lived for a year
without using one piece of plastic and wrote about the
experience in her book, Plastic Free: How I Kicked the
Plastic Habit and Now You Can Too.
Who Organized These Events? Your leadership group
worked together to find speakers and films that would
stimulate discussion. We shared the work. Many thanks
for attending and supporting our efforts.
So What Is CBSJM? Congregation-Based Social Justice
Ministry involves different aspects of justice making so
that members can participate within their preferred
spheres of influence and take advantage of their unique
gifts. The aspects of congregation-based social justice
are Service, Education, Witness, Advocacy, and Community Organizing. We write letters! We have been involved in all of these aspects of social justice for the
MLK contest winner Mick McVey with Rev. Ben
continued next page
www.uusanmateo.org
7
Scenes of UUSM Social Action. Clockwise from top left: UUSMers lobbying with airline food service workers for better pay;
MLK collage for our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Reception; Jose Mendez at the picket line; Tom Newman at the pulpit.
earth and more. We won an award from Interfaith Power and Light for our energy education efforts!
What Else? We are deeply aware of immigration injustice, racial prejudice, economic inequality, and the
housing crisis. We work with Faith in Action (formerly
Peninsula Interfaith Action or PIA) on all of those issues, and work with other UU groups and interfaith initiatives. We recently heard Tim de Christopher speak
movingly about his experience of going to prison for his
climate change activism. (Search Tim de Christopher to
learn more.) We gave clothing to immigrants who were
burned out of their apartment house in Oakland, which
was deeply appreciated.
We walked the picket line with Unite Here! Local 2, to
lobby (not always a negative word) for decent pay for
airline food service workers, some of whom work in refrigerated rooms. Thanks to Rev. Ben and others who
stood with them at San Francisco hearings, they
achieved their goals!
8
Compass Rose, March-May 2016
We greeted our neighbors in January as we sponsored
our 27th Reception for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Poetry
and Essay Contest that has been part of the North Central Neighborhood Association for 33 years. Some of us
were contest judges and our kids participated. Congratulations to winner Mick McVey and to all who enjoyed
the experience. We live our values in our community. In
addition there are the congregation faithful who volunteer at Homework Central and Home and Hope.
Every third Sunday is Social Justice Sunday and you will
find one of us at the Social Justice Table with letters to
sign and books to read. Please thank Kaby Birdsall for
the new rolling bookcase for the Free Multicultural
Lending Library.
Some of us belong to the San Mateo Branch of NAACP
and enjoy personal and professional interactions with
our African-American community. You come, too!
What Are You Doing? Many of you have passions and
organizations to which you devote time and treasure.
We’d like to know what they are. Black Lives Matter?
The League of Women Voters? Gun safety groups?
Food insecurity? Tell us at the Social Justice Table.
What would you like the congregation to tackle next?
What Do We Need? We need to expand our Social
Justice Ministry Leadership Group. We need someone
to work with our local and state representatives like
CA Senator Jerry Hill and Representative Kevin Mullin.
Raise your hand, step up, join the party, come on
down. Please call me at 650-692-4147 for meeting
dates and times.
Contact Rev. Ben, Jose Mendez, Caryl Hughan, Barbara Du Mond, Christy Conklin, Pat Nicholson, or Connie
Spearing to join in justice making.
▪▪▪▪
The Conscientious Projector Series
From the Social Justice Ministry Leadership Group
Part of the Social Justice Congregation-Based Ministry
is to watch films together and discuss their content,
its impact on us, and how we relate to it. Some of us
recently enjoyed – well, “enjoyed” isn’t exactly the
right word – but we watched Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, a film about the impact of animal
agriculture on our earth. In terms of water consumption and as the source of all greenhouse gasses, we
had to confront the real cost of our hamburger and
steak consumption. Yes, what we eat impacts water,
land, and energy consumption, and we talked about it
and looked at the truth. Some of us are eating less
meat.
What films would you like us to see as a congregation? What night would be best for you? We are thinking that Friday nights might work.
Let Caryl Hughan know.
Making It Easier Than Ever
to Pledge to UUSM
by Deeana McLemore
Last year after reading the book Making the Annual Pledge Drive Obsolete, Rev. Ben and other
members of the leadership decided we want to do
something like this in our Congregation’s financial
life by simplifying that annual exercise known as
the “Pledge Drive.” Each year the congregation’s
leadership has had to meet with members and ask
for a pledge. This uses up an enormous amount of
volunteer hours, and most members don’t enjoy
the exercise at all! Quite a lot of energy is expended on a project that interrupts our programs
and activities each year. Since fundraising is not
our mission or the heart of our community life,
why should it consume so much of our congregation’s energy every year? This year we want to
“tidy up” our process and phase out that old model. We will be inviting members and friends to increase their financial pledges, then to sustain the
vision of UUSM by keeping these pledges ongoing
until changed.
UUSM is a successful congregation. We’re taking
care of ourselves, our community, and the next
generation. We’re engaged in the spiritual, personal, and social justice activities that brought us
here in the first place. Let’s take the time and energy of the old pledge drive and channel it into
new ways of connecting with each other and fulfilling our future goals.
There will be more information about this new
pledge system in the coming months. In March,
we hope to speak with every member or friend
about signing up for this new way of contributing.
We are designing a new pledge card, setting up
easier ways of payment, redesigning the website
“Giving” area, and preparing a new brochure
about pledging.
We are looking for volunteers to assist the pledge
team in these undertakings and to help with
meeting with members. If you could take a little
time to help out between now and the end of
April, please contact me at 650-483-4223 or
[email protected], or the office at 650-3425946 or [email protected].
www.uusanmateo.org
9
Poetry
& Art
see me with your old soul
i belong to the wind, to grandmother moon
to the vision of the hawk, the depth of the sea
i am the heart of a lion drinking the sun
i am the true journey, the undiscovered path
i am the life in the fox, centered and silent,
apparent in the stillness between breaths
i am the flame of meaning that lights the night
see me with your old soul, your wise owl eyes
- Jamie Dedes
a.k.a. Jamie Dedeoglou
Flowers in charcoal by Grace Wilson
10
Compass Rose, March-May 2016
Piglets … three little ones by Rob Voss
FEAR THIS
Race
Mains
For some reason some external structure
A leaf flutters, caresses the ground,
In void and frost my middle girth
Enters my mind insidiously.
Ending its journey without a sound.
Shows slashing spikes of little worth
An array of overt conformist stricture
Soft paling sun still lends a ray
That translate harsh the griddled earth,
Recrudesces with childhood memory.
To purple flesh, now free to decay.
A white hoar masked belittling dearth.
Throw it away, throw it out!
I rush and thrash, crashing about,
Icy crystals on glassy panes
Hate the outer with passion.
Still full of life, still full of doubt.
Settled on by hoary veins
Invoke your right to kill the doubt
For all this noise, I quickly stop,
Of frosty white light powder plains
Simmering away your hard won fashion.
Shuffling pause, my forehead to mop.
Freeze the content of my mains.
I query the leaf, do you feel left out?
For ending a whisper without a shout?
It worries me now, I return to my pace,
And glance back, nervous, for the lie in my race.
more next page
artwork by Grace Wilson
www.uusanmateo.org
11
Miles
by Sam Watson
Two Nine Zero Nine.
When it happens this far away, it’s easy to overlook.
Easy to act like it never
One Eight Five Five.
happened. Easy to pretend that no
one died. That no one was
One Seven Five Three.
there when it happened. But it did happen.
It is happening. It’s happening in your amber
One Zero Eight Eight.
fields and your purple majestic
mountains, and beneath your spacious skies. You can
Four Three Four.
say “people kill people.” And yes, people do
kill people; people kill people using guns. You are forgetting
Eight Three.
artwork by Grace Wilson
Not Afraid of the Light
. . . . . .Resting. . .
in that place where endless sky meets ocean wave,
where plump blue berry meets thin green leaf,
where illumination gifts fifty shades of joy.
. . . . . Breathing and breathing and never minding
the lessons of our history, our recent history, and as they
say, those who fail to learn from history are doomed
the house begging for repair, the tree wanting a trim.
Never minding the floors awaiting the broom,
the accounts begging for their balance . . .
Four Seven.
. . . . . . Only joy …
to repeat it, and we are repeating it, over and over, and these tragic
events are no longer as far away as they once were. America,
from the quiet mind and the still hand,
Joy! dancing on sunbeams and resting
on the limb of a moonlighted tree . . .
One Two.
I promise you, If this continues, you
will do worse than has already been
Zero.
. . . . . .Joy! Only joy …
. . . . . . . . . . .in Light!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .more Light
done.
- Jamie Dedes
a.k.a. Jamie Dedeoglou
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;
the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the
light.” - Plato
12
Compass Rose, March-May 2016
Doing Church
continued from front page
That summer, Rev. Carmichael ministered to my family,
dropping by our house unannounced to see how we
were doing. For my confirmation, my grandfather, who
cleaned his church every Saturday and played the organ
every Sunday service, stood in my father’s place. A few
months later, I was serving as an acolyte and seated at
the front of our Methodist church. Rev. Carmichael baptized a baby that morning, and when it came time to
place the infant in the arms of a member of the congregation, he gave the baby to me.
Rev. Carmichael retired and we got a new minister with
a young family. I babysat his children, but didn’t feel
the same connection. Church friends, who taught my
Sunday school class, introduced my mom to their neighbor, who’d been recently widowed himself. When I was
15, he and my mom married in his Ukrainian Catholic
church in an incense-scented, elaborate wedding ceremony I found very strange. He and his three children
moved into my house. My life changed in a big way and
it felt like nothing would be the same again.
I attended church less and less frequently in high
school. I became increasingly uncomfortable with the
mainstream Protestant faith I grew up embracing. Reciting the Apostles’ Creed felt insincere. In college
I stopped going to church altogether.
And that was all right for a while. After college
I moved to the Bay Area, far from my family.
Life was exciting and my world was larger
than ever. At the same time, it was unbearably complicated and increasingly confusing. I
missed the feeling of having a faith to draw
on. I missed having a community to turn to.
When I was 25, I found myself going to church
on Easter Sunday by myself. The familiar
hymns and rituals were comforting, though
the theology still didn’t fit just right. Then my
college sweetheart proposed and I set out to
find someone to marry us. I considered marriage a sacred ritual and wanted a religious
ceremony, but one that was true to who we
were. A friend introduced me to her minister,
Janne Eller-Isaacs, who at the time served the
First Unitarian Church in Oakland. She married
us at Old St. Hillary’s in Tiburon in a heartfelt
ceremony that felt just right. I asked her if
there was a UU church close to San Mateo
where we would be living.
Twenty-three years later, I am still at the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo. UUSM and the people here
have become an indispensable and precious part of my
life. You have held my hand when I was sad, brought a
love wrap to my home when I was ill, kept faith with me
when the twin towers fell, and worked together for
peace and justice. You have helped me raise my children in the liberal religious values we share and
watched in amazement with me as they grew. You have
been there for me when I felt alone or scared or hopeless, when the worst happened, and the best. You are
my beloved community.
I know that UUSM is not perfect and that at times we
disappoint one another and ourselves. Still, I celebrate
all the good of what we are: a place where is it safe to
be our true selves, a place to explore and honor what is
most sacred to us, a place that challenges us to live a
good, full, and honest life, and a place to come together
with others to heal a broken world. And most of all, for
me, UUSM is a place where lost faith can be found.
Thank you for “doing church” with me.
UUSM Worship Associate Program
by Caryl Hughan, Worship Associate Coordinator
The Worship Associate Program at UUSM is an opportunity to deepen your spiritual grounding and impact
the worship life of our beloved community. Crafting a
worship service with the minister and the music director is one of the most gratifying experiences of church
life. Our beautiful services that are integrated wholes
do not happen by accident. The readings, reflections,
poetry, and music all strengthen and sustain the
theme of the service, and being part of that planning
can transform your spiritual life. Sound interesting?
You will be well supported as you learn how to craft a
service and be part of the team that ensures soulsatisfying Sunday services.
Contact: Caryl Hughan at [email protected] or
Rev. Ben at [email protected]
www.uusanmateo.org
13
Partner Church News
by Carol Cook
The culmination of the trip was Partner Church Sunday
on Feb. 7, when Arman shared the pulpit with Rev. Ben.
Guest musician Francisse Bondoc sang a beautiful solo,
Tanging Yaman, in Tagalog. Arman’s message ended
with the Tibetan proverb: “A child without education is
like a bird without wings. Let us help these children develop their wings ... they can fly and face the world
with the confidence that they will succeed.” After the
service the Chalice Oval Bake sale and other generous
donors helped support Education Partners and the Ulay
College Fund.
Link to Partner Church Sunday video:
https://goo.gl/JxquAZ
Links to photos from Arman's visit:
Partner Church Sunday, Feb. 7:
http://goo.gl/0dgKA1
Rev. Ben Meyers with Arman Pedro
Arman Pedro, UU Church of the
Philippines, at UUSM
In the first week of February we were blessed by the
presence of Arman Pedro, global scholar at Meadville
Lombard Theological School in Chicago, and one of the
new generation of talented leaders in the UU Church of
the Philippines. It was an eventful week, including a
visit to Starr King and lunch with President Rosemary
Bray McNatt in Berkeley, a whirlwind tour of San Francisco with Rev. Ben Meyers (something to do with a
“superb owl?”), and two festive dinners with UUSM
members hosted by Lynn and Gail Ewing, and Carol and
Susan. Arman gave an inspirational presentation on
New Pathways to Enterprise, an innovative program
empowering women in impoverished rural areas of the
Philippines to start and run their own businesses. If you
missed it, here is the link to their website:
www.newpathwaystoenterprise.org. We hope to learn
more about how to extend this program to more congregations of the UU Church of the Philippines, and expand marketing in the US.
14
Compass Rose, March-May 2016
Starr King Visit:
http://goo.gl/VmtzSv
We wish Arman well as he pursues his studies and
dreams, and look forward to his next visit to UUSM!
The Ulay College Fund needs your support! To learn
about the options, please contact Carol Cook, and/or
pick up a flyer in the Ann Benner room. To join the
Partner Church Committee, or learn more about our
Philippine partnership, contact Carol Cook at
[email protected], or Lori Fox at [email protected].
Your Generosity Reaches the
Philippines
Because of your generous support, our partner congregation in Ulay on Negros Island in the Philippines is
thriving! There are now 25 member families, with 30
students benefiting from the Education Partner program. Seven students are in elementary school, 20 in
high school, and three are in college. 29 UUSM members and friends, six families, and the Chalice Oval partner with these students: sending letters and a yearly
Faire, contributions to the annual Partner Church
special collection, and other donations throughout
the year. This past December a total of $3,182 was
donated to the Alternative Gift Faire, including $147
from the Youth lunch. Of that total, $1,040 will cover the cost of one year of Share A Meals, and
$2,142 will help support Ulay college students.
We now have a short waiting list to join the Education Partner program. New students may be added
in the spring. If you wish to become an Education
Partner, please contact me or Lori Fox, Partner
Church committee co-chairs. It is a mutually transformative experience!
Letter from Rev. Lopez, Minister of
the Ulay Congregation
Ulay youth in the Education Partner program
stipend. In addition, the RE Youth exchange letters with
two students. The opportunity to attend school and
complete an education is a miracle for this community,
and would not be possible without you. Your support is
deeply appreciated, both the financial aid and the letters, artwork, and photos that you send to your partner
students.
The first phase of the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program,
adapted for the Philippines, was incorporated into the
Annual Youth Convention in December 2015, and was
very well attended. Topics included: Adolescents’
Reproductive Health, Child Sexual Abuse Prevention,
STI’s and HIV/AIDS, and Faith and Sexuality, among
others. Many thanks to all who gave generously to
make this vital program possible. The next phase, in
May 2016, is Training for Trainers, for members of every congregation.
Finally, many thanks to all who support the Ulay Education and Share a Meal programs via the Alternative Gift
We recently received the following letter from
Rev. Rogelio Lopez, minister of our partner congregation in Ulay on Negros Island in the Philippines. His
daughter, Mary Grace Lopez, was the first Ulay college
student sponsored by our congregation. She graduated
from college in March 2011, and several of us from
UUSM attended her graduation. This past December we
sent each family in the congregation a Christmas gift
bag of food, soap, toothpaste, and school supplies. Here
is the letter, the first we’ve received from Rev. Lopez:
To all at UUSM:
Good day to everyone!
Merry Christmas!
I'm Rev. Rogelio T. Lopez, I have a big thankful to everyone who help us, especially with my daughter Mary
Grace Lopez that she graduated her course through
your contribution. If there is no one who help her, we
cannot send her to continue her studying in college.
Thank you so much for your support. She is now in Kuwait. I'm just a local minister here in Ulay congregation
to give cheerful to everyone. Through your big help
continued next page
www.uusanmateo.org
15
with us and your support many of those students can
continue their education even though it’s only on high
school. We are so proud to all of you that you are helping our congregation and to all our members. I hope
that you will continue what you are starting. Even if you
are so far from here but you still visiting our congregation to see each other. But we are sad that many of
members they never talk to you because they don’t
know how to speak English. But we have students who
wants to talk with you. But you still come here.
Our congregation is always in a good way. We are
thankful that we are many members here in Ulay congregation. And you give us a budget which is the lunch
of ours. It is so big thanks to all the members who attend the Sunday service, especially those members that
is far from here. They cannot reach their lunch when
they are going home because it almost 12:00 noon
when the Sunday service will be done. But because of
this they have no problem about their lunch.
In regards of your support, it is so big help to our every
members and especially with our students. Some of the
parents they cannot sent their child to go to school. But
because of your student support their child will have an
education.
I am happy upon receiving my package. Thank you so
much. Our Sunday service is always active. Once again,
I will thank you all for saving me from my sickness and
for my operation on kidney in year 2011. You are my
saviors. And until now I am here in our religion which is
UUCP for my better life. I hope that you are happy always. Take care always and may the Lord bless us.
God bless us and thank you very much.
Love,
Rev. Rogelio T. Lopez and family
16
Compass Rose, March-May 2016
Rev. Lopez with Ulay youth
Announcements and Events
Upcoming Services
Worship services take place at
UUSM on Sundays, 10:00-11:00 am.
Please check www.uusanmateo.org
for more information.
Religious Education
RE Social Justice Sunday
Sunday, March 6, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Courtyard
Children and youth will participate in a
project to support the environmental
justice ministry at UUSM. Regular RE
classes will be held for children in Pre-K
through 2nd grade.
Spring Egg Hunt
Sunday, March 27, 11:15 am
Petite Sorbonne, UUSM Courtyard
We hold a Spring Egg Hunt after the
Easter Sunday worship service. Children
6 years and younger should meet at
Petite Sorbonne; youngsters 7 years
and older should meet in the UUSM
Courtyard. Happy Hunting! There will be
no RE this Sunday. Childcare and nursery care available during the worship
service and adult Coffee Hour.
Mystery Friends Reveal and Sundae
Sunday
Sunday, April 3, 11:15 am-12:00 pm
Beck Hall
Mystery Friends get to meet that special
person they have been corresponding
with past two months and get acquainted over ice cream sundaes. (There will
be ice cream for non-Mystery friends,
too, as well as non-dairy treats.) There
will be no RE this Sunday.
Youth Led Worship
Worship Leaders: UUSM High School
Youth
Sunday, April 17, 11:00 am
Sanctuary
Come enjoy a meaningful worship experienced planned by the High School
Youth. All ages welcome. Children 3rd
grade and up are highly encouraged to
attend. There is no RE this Sunday.
Childcare and nursery care available
during the worship service and adult
Coffee Hour.
Bridging Service
Sunday, May 8, 10:00-11:00 am
Sanctuary
ry care available during the worship
service and adult Coffee Hour.
Join us for this worship service as we
celebrate several of our wonderful
UUSM youth as they “bridge” from
youth to young adulthood. All ages welcome. Children 3rd grade and up are
highly encouraged to attend. There is
will be no RE this Sunday. Childcare and
nursery care available during the worship service and adult Coffee Hour.
Community Events
RE Social Justice Sunday
Sunday, May 29, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Courtyard
Is Unitarian Universalism and this congregation the place for you? Visitors,
friends, and new members are invited
to a light supper and workshop to share
what brings us to this place at this time,
and to learn more about UUSM. Please
RSVP at [email protected]. Childcare provided if requested.
Children and youth will participate in a
project to support the environmental
justice ministry at UUSM. There will be
no RE this Sunday. Childcare and nurse-
UU & You: Finding Your Path at
UUSM
Part 1 – Thursday, March 31
Part 2 – Thursday, April 7
6:00-9:00 pm
Cottage Living Room
Announcements continued next page
Membership Corner
Here are some special events and opportunities for Newcomers,
Visitors, Friends, and any Members who wish to deepen their
connection to our Unitarian Universalist faith tradition:
First Sunday of every month: Newcomers Circle in Hemingway Lounge
March 13
Bring a Friend Sunday. The perfect time to invite
someone to find out what we are about.
March 31
UU & You, Part I. Finding your path in this faith tradition.
April 7
UU & You, Part II. Deepening your relationship with your
faith community.
May 1
Bring a Friend and Welcoming Ceremony for New
Members.
May 14
New Member Reception. Opportunity for new members
to relax and get acquainted with one another and with
long-time members of their new congregation.
For info, contact Connie Spearing, Welcoming Team Chair, at
650-692-3720 or [email protected].
www.uusanmateo.org
17
Social Action
Home and Hope at First Pres
June 5-12
First Presbyterian of San Mateo
194 W. 25th Ave., San Mateo
Five temporarily homeless families will
live as guests in our partner congregation, First Presbyterian. For more info,
contact Joy Thomas at 650-520-9997 or
[email protected].
Pacific Central District-UUA
District Assembly 2016
Congregational Excellence:
Doing Together What We
Cannot Do Alone!
Saturday, April 22-24, 2016
Hilton Hotel Newark-Fremont
www.pcduua.org
UUSM Community Passover
Saturday, April 23
Sanctuary
This popular event allows our community to come together to enjoy Jewish
ritual, fellowship, and food, as we retell
the ancient story of the Israelites escape from bondage – but from a
uniquely UU perspective. For info, contact Sheila Sandow at 650-341-5621
or [email protected], or Jennifer Kiernan at 510-386-7213 or
[email protected].
Congregational Meetings
Sundays, April 24 and June 5,
11:30 am-1:00 pm
Sanctuary
Be sure to join the upcoming Congregational Meetings. We will be voting on
our 2016-2017 leadership at the April
meeting. Childcare available.
UUSM Auction: Let’s Have a Ball!
Saturday, April 30, 6:00 pm
UUSM
Contact Jennifer Martin at 650-2122567 or [email protected], or
Karyn Collins at 650-212-7560 or
[email protected] if you would
like to help.
18
Compass Rose, March-May 2016
Ongoing
Knitter’s Group
Every Sunday, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Ann Benner Room
All skill levels welcome! For info, contact Christina Berdoulay at 650-3435042 or [email protected].
Newcomer’s Circle
Every 1st Sunday, 11:15 am-12:00 pm
(next dates: March 6, April 3, May 1)
Hemingway Lounge
Visitors are invited to our basic course
on what Unitarian Universalism and
UUSM are all about. No RSVP needed.
Meditation Group
Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, 11:30 am12:00 pm
(next dates: March 6 and 20, April 3
and 17, May 1 and 15)
Sit down and be still! (And meditate.)
For info, contact Rob Voss at 650-6586918 or [email protected].
Social Justice Sundays
Every 3rd Sunday, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
(next dates: March 20, April 17,
May 15)
Beck Hall
Check out the Social Justice tables in
Beck Hall! Volunteer and put your UU
principles into action!
UUSM Book Group
Sundays, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
(see below for upcoming dates and locations)
Upcoming books to be discussed:
April 3
Between the World and Me by
Ta-Nehisi Coates (Offsite)
May 1
Brief Encounters by Dick
Cavett (Offsite)
May 22 The Chosen by Chaim Potok
(Hemingway Lounge)
For info, contact Anne Silver at 650-740
-7221 or [email protected].
Walkie Talkies
Every 1st and 3rd Monday, 9:30-10:30
am
(next dates: March 7 and 21, April 4
and 18, May 2 and 16)
Offsite
Women’s group strolls twice a month.
For info, contact Phyllis Mitchell at 650340-9091 or [email protected],
or Cynthia Fernald at 650-638-14 or
[email protected].
Women’s Potluck
Every 1st Monday, 6:00-8:00 pm
(next dates: March 7, April 4,
May 2)
Beck Hall
UUSM’s women gather for a monthly
potluck! For info, contact Anne Peter at
650-343-7852 or [email protected], or
Phyllis Mitchell at 650-340-9091 or
[email protected].
Age-ing to Sage-ing
Every other Tuesday, 1:30-3:30 pm
(next dates: March 1, 15, and 29,
April 12 and 26, May 10 and 24)
Hemingway Lounge
Seniors meet for mutual support. For
info, contact Kim Mortyn at 650-5743250 or [email protected], or
Dick Davis at 650-348-3966 or
[email protected].
Parenting Circle
Every 3rd Sunday, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
(next dates: March 20, April 17,
May 15)
Hemingway Lounge
Women’s Age-ing to Sage-ing 1
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 7:008:30 pm
(next dates: March 8 and 22, April 12
and 26, May 10 and 24)
Hemingway Lounge
We meet to help each other raise our
children in healthy ways and alleviate
some of the stress of parenting. Childcare provided. For info, contact Sara
Shafiabady at 650-430-6277 or
[email protected].
A Sage-ing group just for women. For
info, contact Lillian Barden at 650-4016089 or [email protected], or
Randi Paynter at 510-333-4746 or
[email protected].
Men’s BBQ Night
Every 3rd Thursday, 6:00-8:00 pm
(next dates: March 17, April 21,
May 19)
Patio, Beck Hall
Join the UUSM men for a meal from the
grill and topical conversation. For info,
contact Truman Smith at 650-740-9773
or [email protected].
A warm and happy place
where learning is nurtured with love







Preschool & Kindergarten Ages 2.5-6
Full & Half Day Programs (8:00 am to
6:00 pm)
Small Class Size
Excellent Child to Teacher ratio
Art, Music, Computer, and Chinese
Classes
Experienced Montessori Certified
Teachers
10% discount for UUSM members
(650) 340-8819
300 E. Santa Inez, San Mateo
KinderAcademyMontessori.com
UUSM Choir Rehearsals
Every Wednesday, 7:00-8:45 pm
Sanctuary
Join the choir and lift your voice in song!
For info, contact Music Director Grace
Renaud at 650-445-0175 or
[email protected].
First Friday Family Fun Nights
Every 1st Friday, 6:30-8:30 pm
(next dates: March 4, April 1, and
May 6)
Beck Hall
Join this monthly multi-generational
family night with pizza and salad. Cost:
$5.00/adult, $2.00/child, up to a maximum of $15.00/family (plus your help
cleaning up afterward).
In the Wider UU
Community
WhaleCoast Alaska 2016
National Park Tour, June 11-20 ($2,879)
All-Alaska Tour, July 15-27 ($3,711)
Four Unitarian Universalist Fellowships in
Alaska invite you to our unforgettable,
23rd annual Alaska tour program. From
the coastal waters to the sunny Interior,
from wilderness to modern cities, we
offer the best of Alaska. Included are UU
homestays, meals, and dinner parties
with Alaska UU’s who treat you like company. Deadline: March 1 or until 36
guests register.
More info: www.WhaleCoastAK.org, 907322-4966, or [email protected].
Women’s Chalice Oval
Every 2nd Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 pm
(next dates: March 9, April 13, May 11)
Hemingway Lounge
Unitarian Universalists
of San Mateo
Ministers
Rev. Ben Meyers, Minister
650-445-0172
[email protected]
Rev. Joy Atkinson, Minister Emerita
[email protected]
If you wish to meet with Rev. Ben
Meyers, please contact him for an
appointment.
Board of Trustees
Francis Prévot, President
Katherine Preston-Watson,
Vice President
Tom McCune, Treasurer
Anne Silver, Secretary
Conrad Carlen, Trustee
Shaun Collins, Trustee
Wade Leschyn, Trustee
Paula McCaa, Trustee
Connie Spearing, Trustee
Operations Group
Francesca Guido, Chair
Deeana McLemore
Bryan Williams
Rev. Ben Meyers (ex officio)
Staff
Kathy van Leuwen, Director of Religious Education, Children’s Ministry
650-445-0173
[email protected]
Heather Sawyers, Director of Religious Education, Youth Ministry
650-445-0174
[email protected]
Grace Renaud, Music Director
650-445-0175
[email protected]
This women’s Chalice “Circle” continues!
For info, contact Debby Leschyn at 650591-6616 or [email protected].
Glenn Ricafrente, Office Manager
650-445-0190
[email protected]
Women’s Age-ing to Sage-ing 2
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday, 1:002:30 pm
(next dates: March 3 and 17, April 7 and
21, May 5 and 19)
Hemingway Lounge
300 East Santa Inez Ave.,
San Mateo, CA 94401
650-342-5946  fax 650-342-1777
[email protected]
www.uusanmateo.org
A second Sage-ing group just for women. For info, contact Kathy Kinner at 650
-571-7622 or [email protected].
For more info on upcoming events,
please visit www.uusanmateo.org.
Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday,
10:00 am-5:00 pm
www.uusanmateo.org
19
Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo
300 East Santa Inez
San Mateo, CA 94401
Return Service Requested
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage Paid
San Mateo, CA
Permit No. 146