Vol. 15, No. 4A / Early April 2005 / Semi-Monthly
Editor: Dolores Moore
Please note: Calendar items are not repeated here in the newsletter. Please visit the Calendar page to view all Summit calendar listings.
Looking Up: Two Issues in the News" by Rev. Ned Wight
Two issues in the news cry out for some commentary from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. Both raise quetions about moral judgments and the proper exercise of religious and civil power.
The first is the case of ending life support for Terri Shiavo, who has been in what medical experts call a "persistent vegitative state" since her heart stopped briefly 15 years ago. Not having left any written directive, the current conflict is between her husband who contends she would not want to continue life in her current condition and her parents, who contend that she is "responsive" and her life should be sustained. Advocates for reconnecting her feeding tube hold out the possibility of a "miracle cure" some time in the future. Advocates for allowing her to die believe that her husband is amply justified in representing "what she would have wanted" to thr courts and the medical facility.
The flurry of legislative maneuvering in the US Congress points to a fundamental philosophical and ethical difference in perspective between those who place an absolute value on an individual human life and those who assess such value based on quality-of-life parameters. I, for one, side with the "quality-of-life" perspective, believing that people can legitimately appeal to "quality-of-life" in making an ethical decision to terminate a human life. This would certainly be my choice for myself, should I find myself in Terri Shiavo's unfortunate position.
The most compelling lesson from this case is to be sure to complete "An Advanve Directov and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care," making it unambiguously clear whom you choose to make end-of-life decisions for you should you be unable to do so yourself. Forms are available from hospitals, lawyers -- and undoubtedly online.
The second issue was the recent decision by the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese to deny a Catholic funeral to John McCusker's family because of the San Diego nightclub that the 31-year-old man owned. Montage was the venue for activities of which the church strongly disapproves (e.g., renting the club out for the filming of sexually-explicit videos). Within the power structure of the Catholic Church, the bishop was within his authority and rights to make such a decision. And I am grateful that he reversed it and issued a public apology to the family. It was pastorally tragic for Mr. McCusker's family to be turned away and abandoned by their church at precisely their moment of greatest need.
I am grateful to St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral and its staff for extending pastoral care and hospitality to this family when their own part of the Body of Christ chose to exclude them. And I'm grateful to our Unitarian Universalist movement for conferring upon their leaders a very different notion of ecclesiastical power and its appropriate exercise.
From the R.E. Director's ChairWhat a great thought, writing your prayers, wishes and blessings and sending them out into the world. This is just the way prayer flags work. We recently explored Tibetan prayer flags. They are a collection of colored flags covered with mantras, prayers and symbols. THe flags use specific colors that represent the elements: yellow for earth, green for water, red for fire, white for cloud, blue for sky. Tibetans believe that the prayer flags literally "bless the air passing through them." They are usualy hung outside and can be found in many settings. They can even be seen on the top of Mt. Everest!
Although hanging traditional prayer flags bring blessings, you may also design your own. Prayer flags hung in the spirit of the practice are as sacred as those printed in Tibet. Prayer flags should represent that which is in your heart. Our Summit children drew symbols, pictures and wrote their wishes and prayers on their own flags. They sent out blessings for family and friends, offered peace and love, and even wishes to be blessed with money! We hang them and our thoughts go into the wind and out to the world. It is a spiritual practice that we can all easuly use and share with others!
Namaste, Karen
Together Hand in Hand
Karen Hagberg, DRE
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Thanks from the Interfaith ShelterThank you to all who provided services to the shelter at St. Dunstan's Church on March 3 and 10. Alice May, Lynn Nelson, Janet Dixon and I provided "main" dishes. Eleanor Simmonds and Gini Schmitz cooked up some wonderful vegetables, while Liz McHugh, Sally Gross and Janet Dixon provided desserts. Hal Summers, Gary Baldwin and I were overnight chaperones. Everyone's services were invaluable in making the shelter a success. The coordinators at St. Dunstan's were pleased and grateful for our assistance.
--Kathy Radinovsky, SAC
Summit's Giving TreeThe giving tree on the piano in Summit's office has once again produced fruit. The $50 that you clothes-pinned to the tree, in small denominations, has been donated this time to the Faithful Fools ministry serving the street people of the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. Belle Kuhwald's son, UU minister Kurt Kuhwald, is a member of that ministry. On March 19, The Fools began their annual retreat into the streets, this time for seven days and seven nights. Kurt writes, "The Tenderloin, especially when I am there on retreat, tells me that is is direct experience, not belief, that liberates; it is the direct experience of the real, not any belief about it, that cracks the heart open, that shuts down the inner noise machine, that truly makes me available to myself, to others and to life. The Fools offer these retreats, tahe these retreats, as a testament to the human spirit, as a way to keep shaking the boundaries, as a way to repeatedly puncture the myths that sustain our complacency, our numbness, or most simply put, our separateness."
You are invited to hold the Fools and the street people of the Tenderloin District in your hearts and prayers. And let's get that tree filled again for our next one-time giving project.
Thanks,
Carol Rawlins
Carol Hepokoski and Jim Scott at District Assembly
It is time to make those reservations for District Assembly in Prescott, Arizona. We will be gathering at the Prescott Resort April 22-24. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Carol Hepokoski, professor at Meadville-Lombard Theological School; her address is titled, "Spirituality and the Land: Lessons for a Sustainable Practice." UU musician Jim Scott will be taking part in workshops on Saturday sponsored by deBenneville Pines and providing special music at the opening celebration on Friday.
After the opening, we will share in a soulful sundown service. There will be 24 workshops on personal growth, social justice, and congregation leadership. The banquet on Saturday evening will have special entertainment from Prescott. We sill conclude on Sunday with a Bridging Ceremony and a worship service. Registration information can be found on the PSWD Web site or by calling Mary Nelson at 818-769-5917. Reservations for the Prescott Resort should be made directly by calling 800-967-4637 (ask for the UUA rate of $75 for a single or double).
Worker Justice Events in AprilApril is a busy month for the Interfaith committee for Worker Justice, whose Executive Committee Rev. Ned chairs. If you are interested in the well-being of San Diego's lowest paid workers, here are some gatherings to which you are most cordially invited:
~Friday, April 1, 10 a.m. - noon: ICWJ Monthly Meeting, this time at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, 4321 Eastgate Mall (near University Town Center) in La Jolla. Immediately following the meeting, we will join suburban janitors in a march for family health insurance.
~Tuesday, April 12, 12:30 - 3 p.m.: Rally and Prayer Service for a Living Wage Ordinance, meeting on the Concourse outside San Diego City Hall, followed by 2 p.m.City Council meeting. We're hoping for a large crowd.
~ Thursday, April 21, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Second annual Labor Seder hosted by Rabbi Alexis Roberts at Dor Hadash Synagogue, 4858 Ronson Court, SD 92111. This is a very moving event.
For additional information about these events, contact Rev. Ned.
Rev. Ned's April Travel ScheduleRev. Ned will travel to Boston for meetings of the UUA Board of Trustees from Wednesday, April 13 through Sunday, April 17. He will also participate in the District Assembly in Prescott, Arisona from Wednesday, April 20 through Sunday, April 24. During these periods, please contact Summit intern Chris Smith for emergency pastoral needs.
Rev. Ned's Regular Office HoursExcept when Rev. Ned is away, he is generally in the office every Tuesday afternoon from 1-4 p.m. and every Wesnesday morning from 9-12 (immediately following the 8 a.m. meditation group). During these times, you can call him or drop by to visit. Of course he welcomes calls to schedule meetings or visits at other times. Monday is his day off, and he appreciates being contacted only for significant pastoral emergencies on that day.
Vons and Keil's ShoppersPlease contact Fran Spevak to register with eScrip. As an eScrip supporter, you'll earn at least 1 percent of your purchases for Summit.
Schoolpop Rebate IncomeSummit's eight Schoolpop Visa Card holders earned $1,059.54 in rebate contributions on purchases made in 2004 with their cards. Anyone who wants to help Summit can apply for a Schoolpop credit card. Contact Fran Spevak for more information.
Women's Retreat UpdateCurrently the Women's Retreat is full. However, if anyone is still considering going, sign up on the waiting list. There may be changes in someone's schedule and an opening could pop up. Catch one of the committee members for more information: Liz McHugh, Vivienne Jacobsen, Teresa Polombo, Katy Orr, Pat Bryning, Karen Cleland or Barbara Gates.
