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And…

In our summer journey through the Unitarian Universalist Principles that name our shared values and, in theory, inform and guide our actions, we turn this week to the 8th Principle. Those of you who are familiar with the UU Principles may remember that we’ve had 7 Principles for a good long while. The 8th is a proposed principle that has already been adopted by more than 200 congregations. Our Association of congregations will vote in June 2023 on whether or not to adopt it. I am hoping UUCM will adopt it next spring at the annual meeting, just before the Association as a whole. 

Both famous and infamous for our well-honed word-smithing propensity, Unitarian Universalists are likely first to think it wordy and in need of shortening, and then to think it needs to be articulated differently and with a different spin, and then…, and then… 

Paula Cole Jones, one of the authors of the proposed 8th principle has asked us – implored us, in fact – to let go of those needs for the time being, and to ask ourselves whether we get the spirit of it. Do we get the spirit of it? Do we get what’s being asked of us, get what we would be required to do and why?

With that preamble, here is the mouthful of words, and an invitation to hear them heartfully. As with all the principles, it names what we together promise to affirm and promote. In this case: 
“journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”

Do you get the spirit of it? Do you get the spirit of it?

This Sunday, with the help of UUCM’s Bending the Arc Toward Justice Task Force, you’ll hear more about the what and the why from both our young and slightly less-young members. Then, over the course of this congregation year, you’ll have chances to explore it, talk about it, and dance and wrestle with it, so that by next May or June, members will be ready to vote on whether or not to take on this long-term commitment. 

As is so often true, this journey – both before and after such a vote – will be the destination. 

I encourage you to take to heart the where and the why of this way sign.

With care,  
Rev. Kevin 

The Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains, a progressive, theologically diverse congregation of approximately 140 members is seeking to fill two part-time positions. The church is located at the corner of Church and Walsh streets, a few blocks from downtown Grass Valley.

Our belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every person motivates everything we do at UUCM. We strive to maintain a workplace where all employees are respected and included, where individual experiences are honored, and where both glowing and challenging feedback is appreciated. UUCM is highly committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment. People with disabilities, people of color, and people from minority communities are encouraged to apply.

To apply, interested applicants can send a letter of interest, current resume, and at least three references to employment@uugrassvalley.org indicating which position they are applying for.

Choir Director

The Choir Director is responsible for recruiting, rehearsing, conducting, and communicating with the UUCM Choir September through June, with 4 weekly rehearsals per month and monthly Sunday morning choir “performances,” plus choir participation on Christmas Eve. The Choir Director works closely with and under the guidance of the Music Director and is ultimately supervised by the Minister.

This position offered is 180 hours September through June (average of 4.5 to 5 hours per week) at $18.41 to $20 per hour, depending on skill sets and experience.

Please note that the right candidate will have at least one degree in Music, have musical skill with strong choral conducting and vocal teaching skills, familiarity and comfort with a wide range of musical styles and choral repertoire, and pass a background check.

Applications are open now and will be accepted until filled. Please see the full job description HERE.

Family Ministry Program Coordinator

The Family Ministry Coordinator supervises and coordinates the care of children during Sunday morning services at UUCM. The primary responsibilities include managing the Kids’ Connection program on Sunday morning and working with volunteers to ensure that the young children of the church are well cared for in a loving and safe environment. The Coordinator is also responsible greeting and communicating with families, coordinating family activities, and submitting information to promote programs and activities church wide.

This position is 5 hours weekly and offered at $19 to $22 per hour, depending on skill sets and experience.

Please note that the right candidate will have previously worked with children ages infant to 13, be at least 18 years of age with a High School diploma, have taken child development coursework, is infant/child CPR certified (or willing to do so), and pass a background check.

Applications are open now and will be accepted until filled. Please see the full job description HERE.

The 2022-2023 Pledge documents were mailed the first week in March. Thank you to the many that returned theirs promptly. The Finance Committee will use this information to produce the budget for our next fiscal year which begins July 1, 2022 and ends June 30, 2023. Your generosity is so important for us. Our spiritual community with its dedication to social justice and its commitment to intellectual curiosity needs your financial support. A solid footing is required to meet our basic needs.

We write to inform you, well in advance, of the dates for Rev. Kevin’s renewal
leave (sabbatical) which will be divided between the fall of 2022 and the spring
of 2023.

By next fall Rev. Kevin will have accrued six months of renewal leave (sabbatical), one month for each year of service. With the Board’s approval, he has chosen to divide that important time into two segments, six weeks in October/November 2022, and 4.5 months between February 1 and June 30, 2023. Such leave is used by ministers for spiritual renewal, study, writing, meditation, and other forms of professional and religious growth.

Renewal-Leave-Letter-2021-12-31Download

UUJEC Healthcare Task Force

We’re currently exploring ways that we can get involved in RIP Medical Debt—a program that buys medical debt at a discount rate and forgives it, freeing people from crushing obligations and the spectre of bankruptcy. You’ll hear more about it in the UUJEC April webinar, and we’ll let you know when our plans have jelled.  more info.

Drawdown Eco-Challenge Customized for UUs
Join us! Volunteers are putting together a “custom” Drawdown Eco Challenge for UUs that will be ready for sign-ups in mid-March, with detailed instructions, and will go through June 2021. (Note: There is also an Earth Month April 2021 EcoChallenge).  Go to our newsletter page for more info.

Sacred People, Sacred Earth with GreenFaith Int’l.,
March 11 UUs and others gathering at the Washington monument will carry the Sacred People, Sacred Earth coalition’s Ten Demands (https://bit.ly/2Poq3o9) to our U.S. representatives.  Go to our newsletter page for more info.

All In for Climate Justice: Food Equity & Sustainability
Are you passionate about food justice, global justice and climate justice? The 2021 UUA conference builds off last year’s climate justice theme, focusing on the connections between food and climate justice. Programs will ground, connect, and equip participants to take action toward achieving climate justice through more equitable and sustainable food systems.   Go to our newsletter page for more info.

We, members of congregations
of the Unitarian Universalist Association, have covenanted to affirm and promote our Seven Principles.  Go to our newsletter page for more info.

Webinars, for more info, click here

Thursday, March 10, 2021 
5 PM Pacific, 6 PM Mountain, 7 PM Central and 8 PM Eastern

To join our Zoom meeting, email us by hitting “reply” and ask for link and passcode
or go to the UUJEC Facebook page for Facebook Live.Maya K. van Rossum will speak on the Green Amendments movement.  Maya is the author of The Green Amendment, Securing Our Right to a Healthy Environmentand the founder of Green Amendments For The Generations, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring a movement to amend state constitutions to recognize and protect environmental rights on par with other inalienable civic and political freedoms.  She is also the Delaware Riverkeeper, leading the regional advocacy organization, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, for over 26 years.  For more info, go to our webinar page.

Thursday, April 10

5 PM Pacific, 6 PM Mountain, 7 PM Central and 8 PM Eastern

To join our Zoom meeting, email us by hitting “reply” and ask for link and passcode
or go to the UUJEC Facebook page for Facebook Live.
The Earth is now experiencing human-caused climate disruption at an ever-accelerating pace. At present, even the best case mitigation strategies will not stave off catastrophic changes that are already heated into the biosphere. How, then, shall we Live? The talk will give a brief overview of how far along we are with climate disruption, then shift into spending the majority of time addressing how we find meaning, and purpose, during such a time.  For more info, go to our webinar page.

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Your UUCM Carbon Dividend Task Force, in conjunction with the local chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, has a new initiative. We have been seeking ways to demonstrate support for climate change mitigation that is compatible with avoiding the virus.

Here is your opportunity. We want to populate the yards of Grass Valley and Nevada City with yard signs as shown above. We have the signs. Please place a sign in your yard. You can do this for a week or two and then pass it on to a friend or you can keep it there until we have made real progress.

If you really love the planet then get 3 signs. Place one in your yard and ask two friends to put them in their yards and encourage them to get two more. This is called going viral. It works for you-know-what so why not for CCL yard signs?

We are paying about $13 for each sign. If you want to contribute that is great but we are happy to make the signs available at no cost to you. We deliver. There are a few available for pick up at UUCM.

We are collecting photos of signs in people’s yards with or without the owner.

To get your sign(s) contact Bob Miller (bob@sierramiller.com).