Newsletter of Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
8778 Cottonwood Ave., Santee, CA 92071
Vol. 16 No. 8 August 2006 Monthly
Interim Minister: President: Rex Graham , 858-232-2706 Editor: Linda Peck, 562-0833
Tom Owen-Towle, uutom@cox.net ragraham@ucsd.edu admin.summit1@netzero.net
Summit’s services and programs are held at the address above, phone number, 619-562-0833. Our website is www.summitarian.org., where the Newsletter & Sermons can also be read.
Sunday Services - 10:00 a.m.
August 6: “Hope & Death of the American Myth” Rev.Don Stouder
How do we all find hope in a time in our collective lives that might best be described as the death of the American Myth? Or, what Don Henley used to call a “graceless age” in one of his songs. For some time, Don has been wanting to rant about all that’s wrong with America… and find some hope in spite of it all. Come on the 6th and help him figure it out.
August 13: “Inter-Racial Families: Mixed Heritage, Common Ground”
Lois Santalo and Rex Graham will share experiences and insights about the new “Generation Mix.” Trumpet solos by Ken Davis and piano instrumentals by Anne Hall.
August 20: “Keeping the Dream Alive” Presented by the Ministerial Search Committee
This committee is in full gear and will be ready to talk about ministerial characteristics.
August 27: “Live One Day at a Time - But Live It!” Rev. Tom Owen Towle
Rev. Tom will be back from his summer vacation feeling refreshed and alive! He will be ready to invigorate any Summitarians willing to escape the heat and join us that day.
September 3: “Making Our Work Holy” Rev. Tom Owen-Towle
This is a Labor Day week-end sermon for all who desire to make our vocation or volunteering sacred.
Rex Graham Presidential Ponderings
Our congregation is blessed with doers and leaders. John, Joan and Jamie. Gwen, both of them, and Ed, Debbie and Toni . . . and there’s many more. When something is needed for our beloved community’s welfare, Wendell, Elaine, Lois, Pilar, Sandy and others seem to be drawn by some strong, invisible drive to landscape, search for a new building or minister, update our Website, or investigate a new sign. Long-timers and newcomers fall into this fraternity of productivity in the name of supporting our caring community. Luckily for all of us, people in our midst do such seeming unreligious things as cut flowers on Saturday afternoons and haul them in on Sunday mornings so we can absorb a splash of color, fragrance, and a tender gesture of caring.
Whatever you serve on, a committee, teach in RE, or stuff envelopes with Linda, our office administrator, you are also doing something well beyond the concrete, above the obvious. After the choir has lifted our moods and spirits and the sermon has inspired us, Summitarians have an ethic of listening with compassion when somebody shares something important to him or her. Your reactions to “check-ins” before meetings, particularly the intimate updates about personal fears or new medical diagnoses are the mortar that binds all the individually shaped stones we collectively call Summit. In these cases, you don’t have to do or fix anything. Just listen. Our minister, Tom Owen-Towle, might call it “ministering to each other.” Well, sure he would. He’s a minister. And of course he wants us to alert him when his amazing pastoral skills are needed.
Summit has accomplished a lot this past year, and I’m sure it will do more in the coming year. But I personally felt twinges of regret for the occasions in the past when I wasn’t mindful of the few seconds that it would have taken to pause amid the action. I’ve noticed that many of you are better at this than me. I sometimes get too busy, focused on the most immediate, obvious task. I guess Tom might call them my missed opportunities for mindful acts of ministry. Our 50-some-page comprehensive plan is packed with a pretty daunting set of tasks for the committees and board to accomplish this year and the next year and the next year. There is never a shortage of tasks or social actions for Summit members and friends to accomplish. After all, we actively embrace deeds rather than creeds. Summit now provides an inviting physical space to offer our faith principles to more residents of East County. I believe that an essential part of my role as a member of this community and a regular occupant of our new home includes my seizing as many opportunities for mindful acts of ministry as possible.
Rex Graham
WHAT WE’RE UP TO IN CHILDREN’S R.E.:
CULTURE CAMP SUMMER SUNDAYS: Our summer program continues to offer “Culture Camp,” a curriculum based on the idea that understanding leads to appreciation, which opens the way to empathy, and empathy is necessary for true peace. So far, Australia and India have been visited. Responsibility was the underlying theme of the visit to Australia, which included a story of an errant boy-turned-koala, as well as painting dot pictures in an aboriginal style. Fairness was the underlying theme of the visit to India, which included a play about a trusting Brahman (Ernesto Slagle and Taylor Weedman), a cunning tiger (Lily Wilson visiting from Prescott), a shade-giving tree (Lucy Slagle), a kind elephant (Marissa Olson), and a clever and funny jackal (Ben Bernstein). Roti-making, a tortilla-like bread that puffs up over the burner in a gratifying way, was also a part of the India experience. Coming up are Greece, Ghana, Morocco, Brazil and Native North America.
R.E. FAMILY GATHERING: Thirty-three Summit children, parents and grandparents got together for the first social event in our new facility on Friday, June 30. We had a salad bar supper, played Farkle and sang songs. Would you like to know how to play Farkle? Check the Summit website under Children’s Program. Better still, ask a Summit child.
AND SERVICE BE OUR PRAYER: Jordan Graham and Ryan Beauchamp continue to contribute recycling proceeds to our capital campaign. At last tally, they were at $75. We will have a detailed list of what is accepted for recycling in the next newsletter, but for now please bring aluminum cans and leave them on the bookshelf by the piano in the R.E. wing.
MANY THANKS to our July volunteers: Suzanne McQuaide, Diane Slagle, Leslie Robard, Juli Graham, Susan Goodrich, Patti Robison-Heyer, Ann Olson, and Laura Preble.
Connie Henry, D.R.E.
(619) 460-4794 / conniehenry@cox.net
Freethinkers
There will be no meeting in August but we will return to a normal schedule in September.
Lunch Bunch
All Summitarians, who would like more fellowship and food after Sunday services, are welcome to meet with the lunch bunch. On August 6 we will eat at Jimmy's, 9635 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, phone 448-8994. On the 13th, we'll be at Applebee's, 107 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, phone 593-3066. Then on August 20, we'll "gorge" at Panda Country, 9621 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, phone 449-7061. On August 27, we dine at Mimi's Cafe , 9812 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, phone 562-2644. If you let Carol Rawlins or Bob Moore know during coffee time you’re coming, we can arrange for a table the right size.
Calendar
Announcing a Committee Summit
With an eye on our own intelligent design, Summit’s committee structure has been evolving splendidly. It’s been fueled by our search for and purchase of our new home, remodeling and moving into it, searching for a settled minister, and other major changes. Some committees have undergone a Darwinian demise as they have accomplished their ad hoc goals, while the need for new functions (if not new committees) is growing as Summit grows and settles in on Cottonwood.
Rather than simply adding to our roster of 30-some committees, the board has encouraged a revisiting. Summit will hold a “committee summit” at 9:30 a.m., Aug. 12, in the sanctuary to discuss novel committee groupings that similar-sized UU congregations have adopted and consider groupings of our own that make sense for Summit. All committee chairs and members are urged to attend. It may even be fun. The ultimate goal of any realignment will be to empower our committees to be more effective and efficient while also looking for ways to improve communications at all levels and better meet the needs of our congregation.
-- Rex Graham (President) and
LaMar Rogers (Vice President)
Sunday Morning Meditation Offered at 8:00 a.m.
We will have a meditation/prayer session from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. each Sunday morning before the service begins.
Wednesday Morning Prayer/ Meditation
Please note: we will start our Wed. morning prayer/meditation group at 8:30 am from now on.
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.
Schoolpop Visa Card
The Schoolpop Chase Visa Card earns 1% for Summit on all purchases made with the card, whether you are vacationing or just around town. Visit www.schoolpop.com to apply for the Schoolpop Visa Card and to register with Schoolpop. Summit’s Schoolpop I.D. number is 0629279.
THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE A COMMITMENT!
The following is a list of Fair Share contributors who agreed to be acknowledged by level of giving. Please let us know if there are any errors or omissions. We would like to thank everyone appropriately and will republish this list in the fall when remaining members have been visited.
Widening Our CircleAnderson, Kay
Anderson, Rhonda
Baldwin, Gwen & Gary
Beauchamp, Miles & Michelle
Bernstein, Laurel & Sandy
Biggart, Neal
Boone, Betty & Jim
Braunwarth, Joe & Mary
Bryning, Pat & Mark
Chan, Joan & Philip
Chapman, Misha & Russ
Cleland, Karen & Jamie
Curry, Gwenda & Ron
Davies, Lois
Davis, Ed
Davis, Carol & Ken
Dessel, Mary & Norm
Dixon, Janet
Dotseth, Elly
Downing, Mac
Dryden, Mary & Robert
Gaarder, Ferne & Al Mork
Garvey, Jeff & Lisa
Gates, Barbara
Gelineau, Gloria & Fred
Ghorpade, Suzanne & Jai
Gifford, Ellen
Gille, Patricia & Len
Goodrich, Susan
Graham, Julie
Graham, Rex
Greene, Dorothy
Gross, Sally
Hall, Anne
Harper, Elaine & Richard Wilkie
Hart, Alix & Mark Wheeler
Henry, Connie & Ed
Jacobson, Vivienne & Charles
Long, Cathy
Makeever, Lee
Mariana, Margo
McHugh, Liz
McQuaide, Suzanne & John
Metzger, Pat & Erv
Moore, Dolores & Bob
Myles, Tyra,
Nissenbaum, Harriet
Olson, Ann
Orr, Katy
Orth, Barbara & Rod
Osoyos, Roberta
Owen-Towle, Carolyn & Tom
Page, Juana
Palmer, Mary
Palombo, Teresa
Peck, Linda
Placone-Willey, Pilar & Frank
Radinovsky, Kathy
Rawlins, Carol & Wendell
Robard, Leslie
Robinson-Heyer, Patti
Rodriguez, Angel & Sonia
Rogers, Toni & LaMar
Santalo, Lois
Schad, Rene
Scherrer, Brian
Schmitz, Gini
Scott, Stacey & Glenn Sasaki
Shu, Jack & Mary Ellen
Simmonds, Eleanor
Slagle, Diane & Jack
Slaughter, Lynne
Sorenson, Barbara
Spevak, Fran
Stanhope, Bill
Steussy, Chris & Norma Pizarro
Straubinger, Carol
Summers, Pat
Thompson, Richard
Tuttle, Deena
Vaughn, Pierre & Debbie Wingard
Ward, Viraj
Weedman, Mark
White, Victor & Jennifer
Williams, Pam
Wright, Anne
Wright, Harriet
The UUA has suggested Fair Share guidelines (based on adjusted annual income) for contributing in support of the annual expenses of our beloved community. Listed below are commitments received by 6/8/06 from our members and friends.
Fair Share Approximate Giving Percent of Percent of
Level of percent of units those with FS total
Giving income range information units___________
Full Tithe 10% 4 7 5
Visionary 5-9% 16 28 19
Sustainer 4-6% 6 10 7
Supporter 3-5% 28 48 32
Not fair share 4 7 5
Total units w/info 58 100 —
Declined to state 28 -- 32
Total giving units 86 -- 100
Ministerial Search Committee Update
During July, the Ministerial Search Committee worked on developing a congregational survey, which will be mailed to each member and friend in mid August. The survey will afford you an opportunity to share with us your personal hopes and dreams for Summit’s settled minister.
Though we’ve tried to make the survey as brief and user-friendly as possible, there’s much information that we need to gather. With your participation, we’ll be able to present who we are as a congregation to ministerial candidates and to state what we’re seeking in a minister.
For us to truly represent your preferences, we need your input. After you receive the survey, please take the time to complete it and return it to us by the due date listed on the survey.
Also, mark your calendars for Sunday, August 20. Our Committee will be leading the Sunday service, “Keeping the Dream Alive”, where we’ll be talking about ministerial characteristics.
Following the service in lieu of Circle Discussion time, we’ll be conducting focus groups to further “pick your brain” as to your thoughts on the congregation, the settled minister and our future.
If you are unable to attend the focus group on Sunday, August 20 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, there will be other focus groups on Saturday, August 26 from 9:00 am – 10:30 pm and Tuesday, August 29 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Fellowship. Please make it a point to attend one of these. This activity is vital to accurately describe our congregation and our ministerial needs.
Toni Rogers (Chair) Pat Bryning Wendell Rawlins Mark Wheeler
Gwen Baldwin Ferne Gaarder Pierre Vaughn
Thank you and stay tuned……..Ministerial Search Committee
Rebate Fundraising
It’s easy to earn merchant contributions for Summit through our Rebate Fundraising Program. Call Fran Spevak (619-469-9836) for information, or look for the flyer on the information table at church.
PSWIRL - An Adult Mountain Retreat Sunday, Aug. 20 - Friday, Aug. 25, 2006
Theme speaker, Rev. Jon Dobrer, will present “Islam, Judaism & Christianity Intertwined: What Does It Mean for You?” This is offered through the PSWD and takes place at Camp deBenneville Pines. Relax, swim, or choose from a variety of activities. Scholarships are available. More information and reservation forms are available in the Summit office. http://pswirl.org
Calling all Gardeners --
The present schedule for the Landscape Committee is Aug. 12, Aug. 26, Sept. 9. We plan to start by 8:00 am to beat the heat. Any one interested in joining us is welcome. We are proud of our new home and enjoy the fellowship of gardening together.
Any questions, contact Susan Goodrich at (619)322-1725.
Social Action Corner Service Is Our Prayer
UUA Fire Relief Funds Presented to Habitat for Humanity
At our July 9 Sunday Service, Gary Baldwin presented a check for $18,000 to Habitat for Humanity representative, Cheryl Keenan, for Habitat’s work in rebuilding homes destroyed in the 2003 fires. These funds were collected by UU congregations nationwide and were distributed by the Pacific Southwest District (PSWD) of the UUA. It is great to see our UU values at work.
July’s Crisis House Collection
Thanks to all who brought baby items for the Crisis House on July 9th. We have been told that these are much-needed items. Also, a tip-of-the-hat to Vic White for delivering the baby items to a grateful Crisis House.
Fair Trade Coffee
The Fair Trade Coffee project overseen by Lynn Slaughter and Vic White got off for a great start with Jai Ghorpade buying an entire case of coffee. Thank you Jai and thanks to all who purchased coffee at the July 16 service.
Santee Collaborative
Tyra Myles, serving as the Social Action Committee’s representative, attended last month’s meeting of the Santee Collaborative. Tyra has begun the process of investigating ways we can become involved in the Santee community. Please visit the Santee Collaborative website, http://www.santee.k12.ca.us/collaborative/, to learn more about this community-based organization.
How can you help Summit’s efforts in social action?
Financial: Please remember on Sunday, August 6 to put in an extra dollar in the offertory to support our Esperanza student, Lina Marleth Martinez. For those who don’t know, Esperanza is an elementary school that offers an enriching education in a very poor neighborhood in Tijuana.
People Power: Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information on this year’s AIDS Walk on Sunday, October 1.
Please join us for the next Social Action Committee meeting on Sunday, August 27th, 8:30 am, in the conference room. Please note that this is the 4th Sunday of the month.
Hello Summitarians!
I am still looking for a few brave souls to help fill the void since Bob and Dolores have hung up their “Office Volunteer” hats. The tasks are answering the phones, folding brochures, making copies and calls sometimes, label mailings, and whatever else needs to be done to keep Summit running as smoothly as possible. We’re not pushy so we will never give anyone more than they can do. We are also short handed doing the newsletter.
Al Mork has stepped forward to help me out on Thursday mornings and Janet Dixon on Monday afternoons, but I still have Wednesday morning and Thursday and Friday afternoons open. Even if you can only help occasionally that would be great, too. Sincerely yours, Linda Peck
2006 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
All Contributors (86 units as of 6/8/06)
Each and every gift is important. Please let us know if there are any errors or omissions. We would like to thank everyone appropriately and will republish this list in the fall when remaining members have been visited.
Thank you to everyone who made a commitment to
Summit’s Annual Campaign!
Full Tithe (n=4)
Davies, Lois
Dotseth, Elly
Spevak, Fran
Wright, Harriet
Visionary (n=16)
Chan, Joan & Philip
Dixon, Janet
Goodrich, Susan
Graham, Rex
Hall, Anne
Harper, Elaine & Richard Wilkie
Moore, Dolores & Bob
Orth, Barbara & Rod
Osoyos, Roberta
Palombo, Teresa
Rawlins, Carol & Wendell
Simmonds, Eleanor
Slagle, Diane & Jack
Summers, Pat
Tuttle, Deena
Vaughn, Pierre & Debbie Wingard
Sustainer (n=6)
Bryning, Pat & Mark
Hart, Alix & Mark Wheeler
Makeever, Lee
Weedman, Mark
2 Anonymous
Supporter (n=28)
Baldwin, Gwen & Gary
Bernstein, Laurel & Sandy
Biggart, Neal
Dryden, Mary & Robert
Gelineau, Gloria & Frank
Ghorpade, Suzanne & Jai
Greene, Dorothy
Mariana, Margo
McQuaide, Suzanne & John
Orr, Katy
Radinovsky, Kathy
Robard, Leslie
Rogers, Toni & LaMar
Scherrer, Brian
White, Victor & Jennifer
13 Anonymous
—ATTENTION—
Editor’s Corner
The Scene at Summit’s September edition deadline will be:
August 21 Deadline/ August 24 Mailing
Linda Peck, the editor
? Remember Roberta Osuyos and her family in your prayers at this time. They have lost her brother, John Shelton, to his battle with cancer.
? We want to congratulate Cathy Long on finding her job in her chosen field! Her background in child development has secured her position here in East County. Cathy is currently looking for an apartment or room to rent in this area. Call her if you hear of anything.
? Chris Smith, past Summit intern and friend, has also found full time employment in the area. Congrats Chris!
Within the Congregation
Requested From Rev. Tom’s July 2, 2006, sermon…
A Prayer, Sort of . . .
O Karma, Dharma, pudding pie,
Gimme a break before I die:
Grant me wisdom, will and wit,
Purity, probity, pluck and grit.
Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind,
And forgive, Ye Gods, some humble advice -
These little blessings would suffice
To beget an earthly paradise:
Make the bad people good -
And the good people nice,
And before our world goes over the brink
Teach the believers how to think.
- Philip Appleman
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.
After Mike Evans passed away, one of our long time members, Rod and Barbara Orth started this fund. They wanted to contributed in honor of Mike’s life and contributions to Summit. Rod and Barbara are hoping this becomes a tradition.
For more info, contact the Summit office at 619-562-0833.
It’ Circle Dinner Time!
Circle dinners are occasions where we eat dinner together at each other’s homes (6 to 8 people per home). It’s a chance to meet new people and learn more about people we already know. The first dinner will be held at 6:30 pm Saturday night, Sept. 16, 2006. You may sign up as either a guest or a host, during social/coffee time on Sunday mornings beginning in mid-August.
As a host you will cook the main dish and ask the guests to bring whatever you request (salad, desert, etc.). A week or two before the dinner date we will sort through who will eat where and pass the information on to each of you. The dinners are open to adults. Of course, if you’re hosting, your children are welcome to dine with you and your guests. I’m hoping you can be a part of this community building event!
-Suzanne McQuaide, suzanne-m@cox.net
Membership News
Please welcome warmly three new members to our Fellowship. Marian Krauss, Stephen Oerth and Victor White who bring with them many gifts and talents which they wish to share with our congregation. They will be participating in our next new Members’ Ceremony on Sunday, September 17th.
In July, the Membership Committee consisting of Gwen Curry, Joan Chan , Elaine Harper, Vivienne Jacobsen, Patti Robison-Heyer and Roberta Osuyos were joined by three of our committed members: Susan Goodrich, Pat Summers and Vic White. We welcome their active support and participation.
On July 20th, the Membership Committee informed the Board members that we are preparing an updated directory of active members and friends of Summit.
Since there is no definition of “friends” in our by-laws, the Board approved of the following description until a change in our by-laws occurs. A Friend of Summit typically attends services and/or actively participates in activities or makes a contribution of record. Letters are being sent to a list of friends to inquire whether he/she wishes to be listed in our directory or not; while others may only wish to subscribe to our newsletter. A Member, according to our by-laws, is any person who is in sympathy with the purpose and program of this Fellowship, has signed the Membership Book and has made an annual financial contribution of record. Members of the congregation have the opportunity to vote at congregational meetings and receive The World, the magazine of our denomination, from the Unitarian Universalist Association.
We are hoping to have the new directory ready for circulation by the end of August so that those members who have moved, gotten new telephone numbers, new email addresses since the publication of our last Directory in February: please let either Joan or Elaine know before August 18th.
We always welcome any input and suggestions from members.
Joan Chan (Co-chairperson) and Elaine Harper (Co-chairperson)
From the Caring Committee…
Your Summit Caring Committee is responsible for providing transportation for those members who are unable to drive and need help getting to our Sunday service, meetings or medical appointments. At present, the need is modest, so volunteers should not be overtaxed.
If you are willing and able to help occasionally, please let us know. We’ll try very hard to make it convenient for you. Please contact Rod Orth at 619-583-3405.
Flowers for Sunday Services
The flowers at our Sunday services always add a soft spirit to the room. If you would be interested in commemorating a personal special occasion or honoring a loved-one by providing a flower arrangement for a particular Sunday, contact Barbara Orth (619-583-3405) or Vivienne Jacobson (619-469-4945. You and your occasion will be mentioned in that Sunday’s order of service. Thank you!
Engaging Our Theological Diversity
Our own Rev. Tom Owen-Towle will be presenting this workshop through the Pacific Southwest district. On October 7 the workshop will be held at UU Fellowship of Solana Beach, CA, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Summit’s cost would be $25 and as many as would like to go can. Registration deadline is Sept. 7. Please see the flyer in the Summit office.
Sound Help Needed!
We will need another person to do sound on the second Sunday of the Month, starting in January. Training will be provided by Mark Weedman. Please drop by on a Sunday or call Patti Quint. Home: 619-441-9095 / Work: 858-554-8411
