Sunday Services - 10:00 a.m.
May 7: “Moving into the Unknown” Rev. Fred Hammond, Intern Minister at First Unitarian Universalist Church.
May 14: “Honoring Mothers Everywhere” Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
I will share the odyssey of Julia Ward Howe, American feminist and card-carrying Unitarian, as the centerpiece of our Mother’s Day service. Homage will also be paid to all women for their personal and public gifts.
May 21: “Thanks for the Memories” & Congregational Meeting Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
On this auspicious Sunday, Summitarians will be invited to share personal memories of how 18 years in the Lodge have touched, even transformed, our lives. Following the worship service, we will conduct our crucial Annual meeting. All members and friends are strongly encouraged to attend.
May 28: “Calling All Patriots” Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
I’ll recall little known facts about the origins of Memorial Day back in 1866 as well as summon the purple heart in each of us.
June 4: “Holding Tight and Letting Go” Rev. Bets Wienecke
Rev. Bets Wienecke will describe the process which has proven to result in a successful search for a settled minister. She will serve as coach, consultant and cheerleader to Summit’s elected search committee throughout the process.
Ministerial Musings Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
For all that we’ve shared, Thanks; for all that remains, Yes! - Dag Hammarskold
The memorial month of May would urge us to be good ancestors, to stand for something bigger than ourselves, to demand the best from our homeland as well as enhance the Earth. For every minute we humans drink from wells we did not dig, are sheltered by builders we will never know, are protected by police and soldiers, neighbors and caretakers whose names are in no record books, are clothed by the labors of unknown human kin, and are tended by healing hands of every hue and heritage.
And as for our own chosen faith, well, you and I are beholden to the bravery of Unitarian Universalist ancestors who’ve given sacrificially for religious freedom and acceptance. And as for Summit, we’re beholden to the bold pioneers who shaped this precious fellowship way back in 1988–stakeholders upon whose shoulders we currently sit. Some pillars are living; others have moved away or died. Because of them, we are!
Throughout the whole of May, as we complete our stewardship campaigns and move out of both the Lodge and the Office into our very first sacred home, we will be saying goodbye with deep gratitude and saying hello with mounting passion.
May 21st will occasion a special Sunday service for Summitarians to share poignant sentiments about what 18 years in the Lodge has meant. A personal walk down memory lane, giving voice to the countless epiphanies and spiritual passages experienced on Tommy Drive. Plus a golden opportunity to offer direct appreciation for those Summit stewards who, through thick and thin, took the vow of stability to insure our house of belonging.
We also hope to have a Lodge representative in attendance to receive our heartfelt gratitude. Following what will likely be a tear-drenched celebration, we will conduct our annual congregational meeting to elect new members of both the Board and the Ministerial Search Committee, springing us straightway into our most auspicious future.
Friends, we can never properly celebrate the present, let alone chart the future, without cherishing the past, without actively remembering who we are and in whose debt we stand. As Maya Angelou rightly puts it: “We are here because somebody has loved enough to make sure that we’re still here…indeed, we’re here because someone paid for us!”
And now it’s our time to pay back and our turn to pay forward…paving a noble and beautiful path for generations to come.
It’s our time now. It’s our turn now.
WHAT WE’RE UP TO IN CHILDREN’S R.E.:
The five Sundays in April have found us looking for pearls of wisdom in the New Testament as our world religions exploration ventured into Christianity. We’ve been considering the importance of recognizing and sharing our talents (Matthew 5:14-16), the meaning and power of love (1 Corinthians 13), forgiveness (Luke 15:11-32), and the idea of helping your neighbor even when it’s difficult (Luke 10:25-37).
AND SERVICE BE OUR PRAYER:
Hygiene packets: Working with Summit’s Social Action Committee, our children assembled hygiene packets for Crisis House during activity time on April 9.
Afghan rectangles: We’re ready to turn in 63 knitted and crocheted rectangles to Warm Up America, an organization that provides afghans to people who really need them. Thanks to everyone, both adults and kids, who participated. Very special thanks to Beverly Thomas, former Summit member and forever friend now living in Sacramento, who crocheted more than two dozen rectangles for this project.
OUT AND ABOUT:
Widening Our Circle: The children of Summit will have a parallel celebration to the adults’ festivities at First UU Church on Saturday, April 29. They will have a pasta bar dinner, games, crafts and movies.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Invite young friends and relatives to Summit!
Consider working with one of our classes one Sunday. Our groups are divided into five to seven year olds, eight to nine year olds, ten to twelve year olds, and teens. You would be provided a lesson plan ahead of time. Supplies for the lesson would be provided – you need only familiarize yourself with the plan.
THANKS VERY MUCH to our recent R.E. volunteers: Kathy Radinovsky, Leslie Robard, Stacey Scott, Barbara Sorensen, Susan Goodrich, Barbara Gates, Juli Graham, Suzanne McQuaide, Patti Robison-Heyer, Teresa Palombo and Judi Bonilla.
(619) 460-4794 / conniehenry@cox.net
Automatic Contribution Option NOW Available
In case you haven’t heard, 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 are also 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 Morning Meditation Offered at 8:00 a.m.
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.
Social Action Corner
Service Is Our Prayer
Laurel Bernstein delivered the personal items, generously donated by Summitarians and organized into hygiene packs by our children, to the Crisis House. Laurel reports that the Crisis house personnel were very excited to receive our donation. Many thanks to all those who made this project a success, especially Laurel.
Carol Rawlins reports that Summit’s Giving Tree collected $165 dollars to help Esperanza’s ongoing construction of sidewalks, retaining walls and drainage systems for their new high school. Thanks to all those who contributed.
Reverend Ken Brown, Pacific Southwest District Executive Director, has given us the great news that an $18,000 donation to the San Diego Habitat for Humanity in support of the Cedar Fire victims will arrive in May. This money comes from the UUA Fire Relief Fund established in 2003 with donations collected nationwide. A representative from Summit’s Social Action Committee will present the check to Habitat.
How can you help Summit’s efforts in social action?
People Power - Gardening, Anyone? The Social Action Committee would like to invite all interested and motivated Summitarians to join us on Saturday, May 13, 10 am -12:00 pm to spruce up the grounds of our new home at 8778 Cottonwood Avenue in Santee. Bring your gloves, weeders, kneepads and other gardening implements. Hope to see you there!
Financial – Don’t forget to put an extra dollar in the plate on May 7 to support our Esperanza student.
Goods – On Sunday, May 14, the Social Action Committee will be collecting canned and dried goods for Crisis House. If everyone can bring one or two items, we should be able to collect enough food to fill several shopping carts.
Due to the move to our new home, there will be no May meeting. Please join us in our new home on Sunday, June 18, at 8:30 am.
Summit Notices
The Greeters at our Sunday Services are requesting Members to wear their name tags to church so they can tell you from the visitors.
Chalice Lighters is an organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging growth of Unitarian Universalism in the Pacific Southwest District by providing resources to congregations through the distribution of grants. Congregations with 15% of their members participating in Chalice Lighters can be eligible to receive such grants. If you are interested in joining in the support of UUism, applications to Chalice Lighters are available at the church and the office. For those unable to get to either destination please contact Linda Peck at 619-463-4676 and she can mail or email an application to you. Keep yoUUr fires burning!
The Honoring/Memorial Fund
This Fund has been established to accept contributions to celebrate moments in our lives such as weddings and to commemorate deaths of loved ones.
Within the Congregation
Remember in your prayers long-time Summit member Bob Tjepkema, who has suffered with a long illness. To those that remember Bob and wish to enquire, please contact Rod Orth.
Pat & Mark Bryning have announced their daughter Jennifer’s engagement to Aaron Alton. Congratulations! And Pat is up and about, recovering from knee surgery.
Gini Schmitz is home from the hospital after a week of being implanted with stents to improve her circulation. We want to wish her a speedy recovery and more happy gardening. Past member and artist, Phebe Burnham, sends a contribution to Summit’s new home and a card. The card is in the office for those who wish to hear tidings from Phebe.
"There are not enough words to say thank you to each of you for your thoughts, wishes, food, cards, phone calls, etc., during my latest encounter with a bad bug. Summit comes through again!! Love to you all." -- Harriet Wright
New Summit Directories
The long awaited and long promised Summit Directory is available at the office at 6062 Lake Murray Blvd., #110, or can be picked up at Sunday services. Members and Friends get the first one free. After that they cost $2.00 each.
Freethinkers
Freethinkers group meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 7 PM at Summit's office. The point of gathering together is to read papers, view videos, and discuss everything from politics, economics, religion, ethics, immigration to whatever. Members choose the topics. We're open to most subject matters, except that Dolores is getting tired of economics. Come join us.
Tuesday, May 2, 7 PM at the Summit office, we will view and discuss a video of a panel discussion by four of the attorneys from the Center for Constitutional Rights who wrote the Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush. Amy Goodman of Democracy Now is the panel leader.
Tuesday, May 16 we will read and discuss Metakinesis: How God Becomes Intimate in Contemporary U.S. Christianity by Tanya M. Luhrman.
ABSTRACT Contemporary U.S. religion is shaped by a new emphasis on bodily and trance experience. This article describes the learning process through which evangelical congregants come to use language and bodily experiences in particular ways, which I call here "metakinesis." Through this process, congregants build remarkably intimate relationships with God.
Lunch Bunch
Want a congenial group to join for Sunday’s noon meal? Then after church join the Lunch Bunch on May 7 at Applebee’s, 107 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, phone 593-3066; on the 14th for a potluck at the Lodge; on May 21st at Baker’s Square, 5270 Baltimore Dr. (corner of Parkway Dr.), La Mesa, phone 464-7833; and the 28th at Chickenest, 7200 Parkway Dr., La Mesa, phone 589-0088.
If you plan to come, please contact Carol or Wendell Rawlins during the coffee hour, so they can phone ahead for reservations. If you miss them, come anyhow—those tables can be stretched.
May Birthdays
I have records of only eight Summitarian birthdays in May—and all of them belong of females! At any rate, they are a quality group. Kay Anderson and Roberta Osuyos were born on the fourth, Elaine Harper and Christina Shu on the fifth. Barbara Sorensen’s birthday is the 13th (not a Friday this year), Mallory Orr’s is the 15th. Chrissy Roberst arrived on the 16th and Julia Shu on May 23. Happy Birthday to you all.
Widening Our Circle
News from Summit UU Fellowship’s
Combined Campaign Committee
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR EARLY
DONORS TO THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN!
The following wonderful people have contributed to our Capital Campaign over the last two years, getting us off to a great start. In alphabetical order, they are:
• Janet Dixon • Mac Downing • Michael Hoctor • Belle Kuhwald • Suzanne McQuaide • Bob and Dolores Moore • Virginia Natwick • Mary Palmer • Betty Pengelley • Kit and Trixie Stowell
In addition, several members and friends have generously contributed during the past few weeks to help us cover our down payment and moving costs. As of press date, they include:
• Sandy and Laurel Bernstein • Mark Buckles • Lois Davies • Janet Dixon • Susan Goodrich • Rex Graham • John and Suzanne McQuaide • Rod and Barbara Orth • Carol and Wendell Rawlins • Alix Hart and Mark Wheeler • Debbie and Pierre Vaughn
Thanks to these early donors and to everyone for their hard work and anticipated support of the Campaign! Once the Campaign kicks off and is officially under way, additional donors will be thanked in future issues of this newsletter. Please note that any omissions are unintentional. If your name should have been included but wasn’t, our sincere apologies. Please let Debbie, our Campaign Chair , know right away so we can rectify it. And Thank You!
FYI - Things Are Happening!
Construction workers have begun the remodeling on our new church home. The walls that were chosen for demolition are down, carpet has been chosen, sanctuary chairs have been ordered, and the old carpet removed!
Potluck!
May 14
This will be the last All Fellowship Potluck at the Lodge. It will be held right after the service on the above Sunday.
Hot food can be kept warm in the ovens and cold in the refrigerators. Coffee, tea and juice will be available. Janet Dixon is looking for volunteers to help with set up and clean up. Please let her know if you are willing to help.
Cluster Kicks Off
“Imagine a Religion”
Available in the Summit Office
The San Diego Cluster is kicking off an eye-catching campaign called “Imagine a Religion” that features local UUs and is designed to attract visitors to our five congregations for Easter services.
The “Imagine a Religion” campaign grows out of the “I Believe” campaign of 2005 which also featured several local UUs. The postcards being mailed are part of a series of six different designs created by Lyon & Associates of Encinitas, which has been working with CIAO (Cluster Inreach & Outreach) for the past two years.
To view a sample postcard, please click on www.uusandiego.org. A million thanks for using the postcards to spread the word about UUism. -Martin Kruming for CIAO
As some of you may have noticed, there are a few errors in the new directory. And, no sooner than it was printed, Summitarians started moving and changing email addresses, etc.
Betty & Jim Boone: ejboone@san.rr.com &
bettyboone@san.rr.com
Eleanor Simmonds: 619-590-1169
Cindy Wead:
azwoman49@yahoo.com
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
- Author unknown
Welcome New Members
On March 26, Summit welcomed 16 new members! We usually run their photos and a short biography of those just coming into the “fold,” but with so much happening at this time we will do that over the summer months. But here are their names so not-so-new Summitarians can introduce themselves.
Rhonda Anderson
Michelle & Miles Beauchamp
Mary & Norman Dessel
Len & Pat Gille
Alexis Lytle
Erv & Pat Metzgar
Tyra Myles
Ann Olson
Bill Stanhope
Chris Steussy
Norma Pizarro
Richard Thompson
From the Board of Directors
Annual Congregational Meeting date:
May 21, 2006:
Agenda:
Election of Officers
Election of Search Committee
Election of Nominating Committee
Board meeting:
May 18, 2006 ASC meeting
May 25, 2006
Congregational Meeting date:
June 18, 2006:
Agenda:
Adoption of Budget
Save These Important Dates
Thursday, May 18, office at 6062 Lake Murray Blvd. closes
Sunday, May 21, after morning service - Annual Congregational Meeting
Wednesday, May 25, office reopens at 8778 Cottonwood Ave., Santee
Sunday, Jun. 4, 10:00 a.m. - Rev. Bets Wienecke, UUA Settled Ministry Consultant
Sunday, Jun. 11, 10:00 a.m. - Celebration Sunday at our New Home
Sunday, Jun. 18, after morning service - Congregational Meeting
May 29 Deadline/
June 1 Mailing
The office will be moving into our new site on May 20. This will give us a week to set things up before we have to crank up the presses and deliver the newsletter. The Mailing Party will be at the new church!
Linda Peck
Stock Contributions
It is now possible to transfer stock to Summit’s stock brokerage! If you are considering a contribution of stock, call Linda Peck at 619-463-4676 for details.
The Scene at Summit’s June edition deadline will be:
Office Moving Day
Tentatively, Summit’s office on Lake Murray Blvd. will close May 18. Please plan any activities and needs you may have in advance. The 18th and 19th will be spent packing the office and the movers are set to haul things to the new site on Sat., May 20th. The 23rd and 24th will be setting up the offices only. We will open for regular business, with some burps and hic-ups I’m sure, on May 25, at 8778 Cottonwood Ave., Santee. At press time we still haven’t established a new phone number.
Sunday services will still be held at the Lodge, until June 11.
I will make email notices as help is needed to prepare for the move. Please don’t just show up to pack as things will have to be coordinated around getting the regular office work done. Thank you. - Linda Peck
Public Service Announcement
The City of La Mesa is offering a workshop for seniors on the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program on May 4, 2006. It will be held at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr. RSVP: 619-464-0505.
UUSC Human Rights Forum
Human Rights Today:
Labor Rights, Water Rights, & Civil Rights
Saturday, May 6, 2006 at
Orange Coast UU Church
Conference runs 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration at 9:30 a.m.
All day attendance - $20 with pre-registration mailed before April 30. Includes lunch for the first 120 registrants/ $25 at the door
Students, $10; no one turned away for lack of funds.
For more info call Lucia: 714-545-4006; Birdie: 714-969-1824 or Ruth: 714-567-0188
Women Together Retreat
September 23, 24, 25, 2006
Camp Stevens in Julian
The San Diego UU Church will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Women Together at Camp Stevens in Julian on September 23, 24, 25, 2006. This silver jubilee celebration will include Rev. Carolyn Owen-Towle, one of the founding women of this traditional annual event.
San Diego UU Church extends an invitation to the women of Summit UU Fellowship to participate in this retreat. This will allow our Summit sisters to meet other UU women while engaging in a three-day retreat that has a 25 year history of events, ceremonies, and comradeship for women, by women.
Application forms for the retreat will be sent to interested women in late May. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Pat Summers at plsummers@cox.net or phone # (619) 589-0755 if you are interested.
The Movers
A UU Joke
You may be a UU if you think socks are too formal for a summer service.
You may be a UU if you know at least 5 ways to say “Happy Holidays!”
You may be a UU if your idea of a guy’s night out is going to a N.O.W. rally.
If you find yourself rewriting a church survey, rather than taking it, you might be a UU.
You may be a UU if you refer to construction paper as “paper of color.”
If the name of your church is longer than your arm, you might be a UU.
- From Northwest Community UU Church
