January 8: "Hopeful, Not Optimistic!" Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
Come worship with us and explore this enigmatic topic!

January 15: "An Inconvenient Hero" Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
It’s tempting on Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday to turn his social justice gospel into a comfortable and cozy message. As Unitarian Universalists we can’t do that; we must pay heed to the harsher blessings of his story.

January 22: "Spiritual Stories" by The Black Storytellers of San Diego
Story telling can bridge cultural, generational and idealogical boundaries. Storytellers believe in its power to give us hope and change the world.

January 29: "Save the Males" Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
Changing men… changing the world.

February 5: "The Unitarian Universalist Way in Religion" Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
This is a great Sunday to bring a friend to Summit and introduce them to the heart of our liberal religious Faith.

 _________________________

Ministerial Musings Rev. Tom Owen-Towle

My heart is moved by all that I cannot save;
So much has been destroyed
I have to cast my lot with those
who age after age, perversely
with no extraordinary power
reconstitute the world.
                 Denise Levertov

An irrepeatable span of days called 2006 (hard to believe, isn’t it?) looms on the horizon. Being an inveterate planner, I often focus upon some fresh yet fluid resolutions for the forthcoming January and beyond. Stating resolutions assists me in being more resolute of mind and conscience, as I perversely aspire to "reconstitute the world," or, more accurately, my little corner of it.

Now I harbor no illusions about my resolutions being accomplished in 365 days nor am I tyrannized by them–merely nudged. As a Unitarian Universalist, I’m gripped by a flexible and forgiving theology which claims that my life will be ultimately measured more by my aspirations than by my accomplishments. I push for progress instead of perfection; being good for something and someone, day after day after day. I second Cathy Guisewite’s counsel: "Give up the quest for perfection and shoot for five good minutes in a row."

Nonetheless, I plan to make some alterations in my personal and public behavior in 2006. Not that this past year was a waste or a flop, actually it was mighty fine; but I still hanker to make healthier choices as a citizen of the universe. To change and be changed, however slightly, requires moral guts, which reminds me of a superb Sufi story.

Nasrudin was sitting with his friends in a tea shop, reviewing his life.

"When I was young I was fiery, I wanted to enlighten everyone. I prayed to Allah to give me the strength to change the world."

"In mid-life I awoke one day and realized my life was half over, and I had changed no one. So I prayed to Allah to give me the strength to change those close around me, who needed it so much."

"Alas, now I’m old and my prayer is far simpler. "Allah," I ask, "Please give me the strength to at least change myself." Yes, it all starts with paying attention to your own homework assignments!

What follows are three primary zones for tweaking my life, what I call the three R’s of religion. I offer them for your reflection as well, perhaps adherence, as we all engage the New Year. Each possesses the prefix RE which literally means "again and again," reminding us that any resolutions worth heeding must be incarnated not once but daily.

RESPONSIBILITY We humans are not hamstrung, fate-bound creatures. In large measure, we’re response-able: possessing the capacity to respond to the vicissitudes of existence, thereby leaving our singular imprints on history. I would go so far as to claim that we’re co-creators with divine mystery in the governing of the cosmic flow. Hence, at the end of each year, indeed our entire journey, we’ll be held accountable for what we’ve done with who we are.

REPENTANCE This underrated value in our liberal religious lexicon signifies nothing more nor less than the willingness to "turn around" one’s life when need be–to elude the seduction of moral spinelessness and to brave the path of righteousness. As humans we learn how to harm the creation; as time marches on, we can equally learn how to heal the earth. You and I each know the respective areas where our deep repentance, turning around, is mandated: internally, interpersonally, and internationally.

Repent–don’t rationalize, sulk, or whine–in 2006.

REMEMBRANCE Unless we’re consciously re-membering our indebtedness as beneficiaries of life’s bounty, we’ll inevitably dis-member as individuals, as communities, and as a species. Without a keen memory we become rootless wanderers through the ages.

As we embrace 2006, let us join the caravan of responsible, repentant, and remembering creatures...and, while addressing these hefty charges, I would remind us to maintain a spirit of relentless rejoicing for the unmerited, wondrous gift of existence itself.

________________

Within the Congregation
? We extend our deepest sympathies to LaMar Rogers and his family upon the death of his father. ? A note from Gloria and Fred Gelineau says they have decided against radiation at this time and continue to monitor Gloria closely. They say the biggest challenge is heating such a big house. Send warm, healing wishes.

 ____________________________

WHAT WE’RE UP TO IN CHILDREN’S R.E.:

Before resuming our exploration of world religions, we’ll spend four weeks of January learning about stewardship. Stewardship is taking care of what we value and helping it grow. The goal is for all of us to be caretakers of that which matters to us (self, family, congregation, community…) and to have a vision for the future. We will be adapting a UUA curriculum called "Stewardship: The Joy of Giving" which was given to us by our capital campaign consultant, Larry Wheeler. The lessons are constructive, interesting, and geared to each age group, and if you’d like to help with one, please contact me.

Pennies from Heaven: The mountain of pennies and other change collected by Summitarians added up to $350.50, which will be sent to the Palomar UU Fellowship, sponsoring a family displaced by Katrina as well as a partner church in La Combe, LA. Thanks to all who participated in the cluster-wide project. 

Afghan rectangles: We’re still knitting and crocheting (intergenerationally!), and soon we’ll have enough rectangles ready to assemble an afghan for the organization, Warm Up America. Please join us at and after coffee time in the lobby where instructions, yarn and good company are available.

New efforts: As part of the stewardship curriculum this month, each R.E. group will design and complete a service project. Check next month’s newsletter for an update.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Return your Guest at Your Table boxes on January 8 and help with your donations to support this 30-year-old UU Service Committee program. The UUSC works to protect the right to safe and affordable water, to strengthen workers’ rights, to preserve the rights of vulnerable people after disasters, and to defend civil liberties and the democratic processes. Thanks to the covenant group led by Harriet Nissenbaum for coordinating Guest at Your Table this year.

Consider working with our kids one Sunday, either as a leader (lesson plan provided ahead of time) or assistant. THANKS VERY MUCH to our recent R.E. volunteers: Juli Graham, Kathy Radinovsky, Mary Ellen Shu, and Diane Slagle.

SPECIAL THANKS ALSO to Barbara Orth for generously donating supplies and ideas for our Simple Gifts Workshop on December 18.

If you have any burning ideas for covenant group service projects, please send them to Harriet Nissenbaum: phone 463-9437 or email HTBaum@cox.net.

_____________________

The Rev. Frank Placone-Willey continues to lead a meditation session from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. each Sunday morning at the Masonic Lodge before the service begins. The group focuses on mindfulness practices and receives training on topics related to these practices. Those who choose to may also assist in setting up for our 10 a.m. worship. If you have questions about this new group, please contact Frank at work at (619) 889-0312.

__________________

Dear Summitarians,

The Board of Directors and New Home Committee are very happy to announce that a congregational meeting will be held after the service on Sunday, January 22^nd, at 11:30 AM. The vote will be on the possible purchasing of a church site at 8778 Cottonwood Avenue and Buena Vista in Santee.

Between now and the congregational vote on the 22^nd, the New Home Committee will be proceeding with a variety of tasks that will enable us to give you as much information as possible. We will be offering an all congregational tour within the next week or two. Please watch your e-mail and the order of service announcements for notices. Before the vote, we will provide a presentation of the information gathered throughout this process to help answer any questions you may have.

If you do happen to drive by this property, please do not stop in and walk around on your own. The current church is being occupied. All visitations are upon scheduled viewings only. The property you see includes all the buildings, including the hair salon.

The New Home Committee and Board consider this property to have a good deal of potential. It is an attractive building, only 10 years old, surrounded by parking and landscaping. It offers easy access from HWY 67 and Mission Gorge road. Additional parking surrounds the neighborhood. Although the building is a "strip mall" designed in an "L" shape, we think you will be surprised. We all were. There is plenty of RE space, Administrative office space, sound booth, handicap bathrooms and ramps, and ability to expand the meeting room that currently seats 110. We will need furnishings of our own in the sanctuary and elsewhere. There is also space to convert offices into a social room and kitchen area. This may not be a permanent home, but it will increase in value as Santee is in its development boom. The entire lot is approximately 8/10 of an acre, priced at $1.3 million.

Due to the seller’s eagerness, with your trust, we have had to move swiftly. We made an offer on this property for $1.3 million. A previous buyer made this same offer but was turned down due to an inability to provide a large enough down payment. This is why we came in at the same price. The offer was accepted and signed on Christmas Eve. A refundable deposit of $15,000 has been given to the escrow company handling this account. It looks as though our New Year is starting out with a BANG!!

WE hope to see you at the new site tour, presentations and the congregational vote. Please keep your eyes on watch for announcements; they will be coming at you for the next few weeks.

Our best to you all!!!
Pilar Placone-Willey
New Home Committee Chair
Board Member

These services are held monthly at First Church in San Diego. For information regarding UU Christian Fellowship activities please contact Michelle McCarter

                ____________________________________

The Ned Wight Fund

The office is still receiving inquiries regarding the Ned Wight Fund, established last autumn to honor the many years of service Rev. Ned spent with Summit. Anyone interested in contributing can send their check, payable to GIF, (with a note "Ned Wight Fund" on the memo line of the check) to: 

UUA, Attn: Marcy Bailey-Adams
25 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02108

News from Summit UU Fellowship's
Combined Campaign Committee

The Financial Feasibility Study Process

The Financial Feasibility Study interview process, conducted by UUA Fundraising Consultant Larry Wheeler, will take place with interviews being done January 12-14. Thanks in advance to all who are participating in this process -- both those who arranged it and those who will be interviewed. Larry will quickly forward his report to the Board for their review. The Board will then share the report with the entire congregation, along with their recommendations. The congregation will be given an opportunity to attend one or more Town Meetings to discuss the report in advance of a Congregational Meeting that will be called to approve next steps in the process that might lead us to a Capital Campaign.

Here are proposed key dates in this process:

Jan. 12-14 –Financial Feasibility Study (FFS) interviews take place.

Jan. 18 or 19 -The Board, Rev. Tom, Debbie Wingard (Combined Campaign Director), and Jamie Cleland (Comprehensive Planning Committee – Benchmarks) receive FFS Report.

Jan. 22– FFS Report handed out at Sunday service.

Jan. 23– FFS Report mailed to all who didn’t get it at service.

Jan. 25– Consultant on conference call with those listed on Jan. 18 or 19.

Jan. 29– First Town Meeting.

Jan. 30-Feb. 3– Discussion groups about the FFS Report –OR— Have a second Town Meeting on February 5th.

Feb. 12– Congregational Meeting (at which Consultant is present) to vote on Boards recommendations to the congregation.

Introducing Larry Wheeler

What a busy month this is shaping up to be! In addition to all the activities surrounding a possible new home, this month we will again be visited by our UUA Fundraising Consultant, Larry Wheeler. Larry will be in town to meet with the Combined Campaign Leadership Team on Jan. 11 and conduct Financial Feasibility Study interviews Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 12-14. The interview process will give 25 sets of Summitarians an opportunity to express their opinions about our readiness to undertake a Capital Campaign in combination with our regular Annual Campaign in early Spring. They’ll also get to know Larry better so they can appreciate first-hand – as we have – his voluminous expertise, incisive wit, and ready sense of humor.

Larry has been a UU for 38 years. After stints in Connecticut and Massachusetts, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1971. Currently, he and his wife live in the mountain community of Dillard, Georgia, in the extreme northeast corner of Georgia, just 100 yards from the border with North Carolina, just down the road from The Mountain. They live at an elevation of 3,500 feet in a resort complex that features a golf course where he likes to unwind. The Wheelers have two sons and five grandchildren – one family in Atlanta and the other in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Larry divides his congregational life between the UU Church of Atlanta (900 members) to which he’s belonged for 34 years, and the Franklin, North Carolina Fellowship (fewer than 100 members). The Franklin congregation is only 14 miles away, while the Atlanta one is 115 miles away – but he often has to miss both of them due to his busy travel schedule consulting for congregations like ours across the country.

How does Larry view his mission as Summit’s consultant? "I see my role as being able to show you what’s possible and point you on your way. So many congregations don’t understand the potential they have and need to have that reinforced." He declares that Summit has huge potential from everything he sees: "Now is the time to take the first big step that will enable you to start doing things that have been much more complicated without your own 24/7 space."

What does he see as our strengths and challenges? "Your strength that stands out to me are your people – what a great group of talented folks who obviously care about Summit. Further, you’re pleased in having Tom as your Interim Minister – I can’t think of a stronger person to help you through this process. . . . The only challenge that I can think of is not believing in yourselves – you CAN do all of this."

Larry has been a UUA Fundraising Consultant since 1994. He served for many years in Mid-South District and UUA leadership positions. Some other highlights of his 8-page Curriculum Vitae include: He holds an MBA from Columbia University School of Business; successfully managed a $70 million Maxwell House Coffee business for General Foods Corporation, 1967-1979; served as Executive Director of the Georgia Council on Child Abuse, 1988-1993; co-directed The Mountain UU Camp & Conference Center, 1979-1985; and served in directors’ roles for The Mountain Retreat & Learning Centers, 1977-2004.

Besides Summit, Larry is also currently providing campaign consultancy for congregations in Olympia, Washington; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Mission Viejo, California, in addition to numerous assessment workshops and other special projects criss-crossing the country. "Being a UUA consultant," reflects Larry, "enables me to meet so many wonderful people and to help our movement grow as the congregations work to achieve their dreams."

– Deena Tuttle

__________________________ 

Fortune Magazine says "Richard Rainwater is something of a behind-the-scenes type--at least as far as alpha-male billionaires go. He counts President Bush as a personal friend but dislikes politics, and when he gets worked up, he says some pretty far-out things that could be taken out of context. Such as: An economic tsunami is about to hit the global economy as the world runs out of oil. Or a coalition of communist and Islamic states may decide to stop selling their precious crude to Americans any day now. Or he read on a blog last night that there's this one gargantuan chunk of ice sitting on a precipice in Antarctica that, if it falls off, will raise sea levels worldwide by two feet--.... And then he'll interrupt himself: "Look, I'm not predicting anything," he'll say. "That's when you get a little kooky-sounding."

On Tuesday, Jan 17, we will read and discuss Fortune Magazine's Dec 26, 2005, article on Rainwater. Copies will be provided. Freethinkers meets in the Summit office at 7:00 p.m. at 6062 Lake Murray Blvd., #110, La Mesa, CA 91942.

January starts the new year with a batch of birthdays of Summitarians. Nobody on New Years Day, but Kelly Bergeson was born on the third, Pat Bryning on the fifth, and Lois Santalo on the seventh. Jo Cunningham came along on January 12^th, John Evans on the 20^th, Gini Schmitz on the 23^rd, and Alice May on the 25^th. Then the birthdays come thick and fast: Lisa Garvey, Liz McHugh, and Delores Nims were all born on the 27^th—probably on different years. Gwen Baldwin and Rod Orth share a birthday on January 29.

If you should have been on this list but aren’t, please let Bob Moore know at (619)465-0501 or robeveret@aol.com, so at least he can get it right in 2006!

_________________________________

Social Action Corner

Thank you, Summitarians. Your generosity has again brought a smile to the faces of an East County family this Christmas. Our Crisis House adopted-family found itself in need and you answered the call. Thanks to all who took a gift ornament and then bought and wrapped a gift. Your efforts are appreciated.

Please remember to put in an extra dollar in the offering this Sunday, Janurary 8. The first $45 of the plate is taken to sponsor our Esperanza student. For those who don't know, Esperanza is a school that provides an enriching education to the children in a very poor area of Tijuana.

In February, we will again collect items for our hygiene packets for the Crisis House. Crisis House distributes these packets to the homeless and others in need. Watch for our giving tree. If we each do a little, we can get a lot done!

March 2 and 9th - We will again be providing food and chaperones for the Interfaith Shelter at St. Dunstan's for the first two Thursdays of March. Please contact Kathy Radinovsky if you are willing to volunteer.

We would love to see you at our next Social Action Committee meeting! The more the merrier! Our next meeting is on Sunday, January 15 at 8:30 am in the office.

Now there is an easy, convenient and painless option for making your Summit pledge payments. Auto Contributions allow your payments to be deducted automatically on a schedule of your choice -- monthly, quarterly, etc. Our Treasurer John McQuaide has the new Auto Contribution forms together with a cover letter explaining this program. The forms will also be available for pickup at the Summit office. Or you can call Linda Peck, 463-4676, and request that a form be sent to you which you can fill out and then mail back to the office.

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006 - Congregational Meeting

Saturday, Apr. 1, 2006 - Orientation Workshop

Saturday, Apr. 29, 2006 - Campaign Kickoff

Sunday, Apr. 30, 2006 - Commitment Sunday

Sunday, Jun. 11, 2006 - Celebration Sunday

The fruits of the money tree on the piano in Summit's office - $50 this month - were sent to Mercy Corps to help with earthquake disaster relief in northern Pakistan. Mercy Corps, like Save the Children, already has relief workers in place in most war torn nations and so they're often first responders to new disaster.

90% of the homes in remote villages were reduced to rubble. Food was scarce, livestock lost, people had no roof over their heads - and the nights have become colder. Initially, Mercy Corps provided food, tents and other critical items such as plastic sheets and blankets. Knowing that they could could not survive a winter at elevations higher than 6,000 feet, villagers moved to lower elevations.

Mercy Corps stepped up with a solution for vulnerable households in the area - an innovative cash-for-work program to build winter shelters. The program is mostly using recovered materials from destroyed homes to build these heavy-duty, multi-family buildings.

Through the ever-expanding cash-for-work program, Mercy Corps has helped build shelters for over 2,600 households. Nearly 30,000 beneficiaries have been reached already. Their emergency teams continue to deliver items such as blankets, stoves, sheets and tools to help vulnerable families get through the winter.

Thanks for your generous contributions to the money tree. Just keep pinning those $1s, $5s, and $10s to the money tree. Why not make it a family project to stop by the office and try out those tiny clothes pins.

Thanks for being good stewards. The Gardener

New member Ellen Gifford was born and brought up in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived there until World War II, when she enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where she fulfilled the advertising slogan "Join the Marines and release a man for combat duty." Later, after the war, she met the Marine she had released. He had not originally been grateful, since he had a family happily ensconced at Camp Lejeune until he was released and ordered to the Pacific Theater of War.

The war over, Ellen returned to finish her education at Cleveland State University with a degree in accounting. While still a student, she was recruited to sing in the choir of a Unitarian church, with a stipend of a dollar a week—serious money for a struggling student in those days. Seated in the choir, she was subjected to the whole service, including the sermons, and after awhile she realized that she found Unitarianism more palatable than her father’s Christian Science, her mother’s Methodism, or her own earlier Presbyterian affiliation.

In 1951 she married a young engineer named Charles Gifford and went with him where his work required, from New England to San Diego, where he worked on the San Onofre project and eventually chose to retire here. Meanwhile, Ellen had worked as an accountant and eventually set up her own accounting company, which specializes in giving service to small businesses.

During their travels, both of them attended UU churches, some of them with tiny, struggling congregations which required everyone’s help to keep them afloat. First Church of San Diego was in some ways a welcome relief, but too big to make them feel at home. They attended sporadically, but never settled in. But there they met Dona Foster, and when she organized and started Summit Fellowship, they began coming to our services, but never regularly. When Charley died on August 27, this year, Ellen realized that she had friends at Summit, began to attend regularly, and now, in November, has elected to join us.

Her outside interests include active membership in the ACLU, participating in discussion groups, and the Library Board, of which she is the first female member! She is also keeping up with her music. She says that what she most likes doing is simply staying alive. (I guess we all share that one.)

Ellen dislikes necessary housework, and she can’t stand arrogant people. Welcome, Ellen.

A regular component of the board meetings has been updates on the Capital Campaign. These updates will be shared regularly with the congregation on a special colored insert in the newsletter.

The board held a retreat at San Carlos United Methodist Church on October 29th, facilitated by Frank Willey. An action plan approved by the directors was the implementation of an Administrative Steering Committee (ASC) comprised of the officers of the board. We meet one week prior to the board meeting to review correspondence and plan the agenda for the board meeting. This has streamlined our agenda and is a support to Jeff Garvey, our president.

Treasurer John McQuaide has arranged for automatic electronic deduction of pledge from bank accounts for those wishing to access this service. Forms are available.

The Nominating Committee (Chairperson Al Mork) will be meeting in January to start preliminary work on constructing a slate of candidates to fill the expected vacancies on the board.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 7 PM at the office. The meetings are open to members.

For the work of Summit,
Patricia Summers, Secretary

If you’d like to get together after the Sunday service for food and conversation with other Summitarians, we will be gathering on January 8 at Chopsticks Inn, 8687 La Mesa Boulevard, phone 466-4470; on the 15^th at Jimmy’s, 6935 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, phone 448-8994; on the 22^nd at Coco’s, 1025 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, phone 442-9271; and on the 29^th at Frank’s Happy Chef, 6171 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego, phone 285-9235. (You might want to car pool to this one: parking is pretty tight.) Please let Carol Rawlins or Bob Moore know at the coffee hour if you are coming, so they can phone reservations ahead.

A Note From the Membership Committee

Calling all members of Summit! We are targeting Feb. 5 as "Bring a Friend" Sunday. The challenge is to engage the entire congregation as team members for building our beloved community. All of us know someone, be it a close friend, neighbor, or co-worker, that has a more liberal mind or heart than most. So we are asking that every one at Summit reach out and invite and bring a new visitor on Feb. 5. (It might feel a little evangelical but… hey, try something new yourselves!) Old visitors are welcome, too.

On Sunday, January 15. there will be a new member ceremony. Be there to warmly welcome 5 new members!

And, lastly, if you are interested in finding out more about the Unitarian Universalist faith, we invite you to attend our "Learning About Summit" classes. The next class will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21, form 7 -9 p.m. in the office at 6062 Lake Murray Blvd., #110, La Mesa, CA 91942.

The January The Scene at Summit’s deadline will be:

With all the activity at Summit, the holidays, and the day to day adjustments that have been necessary, the newsletter is reaching some of you later than we thought it would. Beginning with 2006 the end of the 3rd week of the month will be the deadline so we can create it one whole week early. This will make sure all the current info for the upcoming month reaches everyone in time.

And I want to thank everyone for getting your articles into me on time. This is a great help to me.

Happy New Year to my Summit family!

Linda Peck, Editor