If You Build It…
Can you feel the excitement at Pacific Unitarian? I can!
In addition to a new minister (who I heard really good things about), we are getting more visitors of all ages and identities, including more families with children. We have a new RE director and renewed energy around youth enrichment. We have reconstituted committees with people excited about getting things gone. We have a congregation who is activated and primed to grow!
I’ve been talking to so many people about all the ways we can harness this amazing energy during the Holiday Season, into 2025, and beyond. In addition to a broad Pacific Unitarian outreach & communication strategy that is being spearheaded by one of our amazing members, here are some initiatives in the works that I am excited to share with you.
Rebranding!
A fresh start should include a fresh image. In order to be as welcoming as possible to all identities, many of our congregants have proposed a name change to Pacific Unitarian…and I agree!
We also recently began an effort to brand our programmatic offerings beginning with the naming of our Social Justice work P.E.C. @ Pacific Unitarian (Peace, Equity, and Climate Task Force). I’d like to continue that trend with our youth and adult enrichment programming.
I’m asking for everyone’s input for both these initiatives by completing this form. If you have trouble with the form, reach out to the office for a printout.
Recurring Family Days
In addition to growing RE programmatic offerings, we will be holding regular get-togethers for families to meet each other and engage in fun and enriching activities. These will be open to Pacific Unitarian congregants, people curious about Pacific Unitarian, and the general public!
We have our “Yule Be Happy” service on Sunday, December 22 in which families and youth are invited to participate in ritual and caroling to be followed after the service with crafting of ornaments and other goodies to take home! If you are interested, we are meeting at Pacific Unitarian tomorrow, Friday, December 6th at 2pm to start the planning. If you cannot make the meeting but would like to play a part, please connect with Pastor Joshua or Haven, our RE Director, at any time.
In January and February our family days will feature getting to know me and me getting to know you! Many of you may already know I was a birthday party performer for many years so, one month I will do a magic show! The other month we will do a crafting event to “decorate the minister’s desk/office.” Please keep an eye out in the newsletter for the exact dates and times.
If you have an idea for a youth and family engagement activity, please reach out to me or Haven because we’d love to hear it!
Adult Enrichment and Small Groups
In addition to our current small group offerings including Seekers, Book Club, French Language Group, Men’s Breakfast, Sandwich Making for Community’s Child, Spiritual Writing Group, Social Justice Movie Night, Thursday lunch gathers, events from our members like Yoga and Dancing, and offerings from outside groups like Quilting and Music performances, we are in the planning stages of some possible adult enrichment offerings and classes including the following.
The Origins and Intersections of Modern Identities & Ideologies
taught by Dr. Haven Perez
dates and times to TBD
This course investigates the origins and development of race, ethnicity, and identity in the United States, Latin America & European colonialism, providing students with an interdisciplinary foundation to understand how historical, social, and cultural dynamics influence both individual and collective identities. Students will critically engage with the legacies of systemic racism, immigration, social justice movements, and intersectionality, focusing on how these elements shape communities and experiences. The course encourages students to question the formation of identity and the impact of factors like race, gender, sexuality, class, and religion.
Religion in Comedy
taught by Pastor Joshua
dates and times to TBD
This course explores the evolution and impact of religious belief, non-belief, and anti-belief in comedy. From Vaudeville and radio to clubs and auditoriums and onto print, television, film, and the Internet, Pastor Joshua will take students through a history of religion in comedy. Featuring groundbreaking shows like “All in The Family,” books like “The Cartoon History of Humanism,” and films by the likes of Monty Python, the class will include videos, readings, and lively discussions that address faith’s relationship with humor.
Death Cafe and Memorial Planning Workshops
dates and times to TBD
According to the national organization, Death Cafe, “At a Death Cafe people drink tea, eat cake, and discuss death. Our aim is to increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their (finite) lives.” Pacific Unitarian will hold its own Death Cafe’s as well as a memorial planning and green burial workshops and information sessions.
UU Wellspring, Love at the Center
facilitated by Pastor Joshua
dates and times to TBD
UU Wellspring’s new program, Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants, provides a core foundation for spiritual deepening. This small group, 11-session program provides an in-depth exploration of our shared faith within the context of our personal identities and experiences, diverse communities, and relationship with the world.
Keep an eye out for more details in upcoming newsletters and during worship announcements. If you have an idea for an adult enrichment offering, please reach out to Pastor Joshua.
Pastor Joshua (minister@pacificunitarian.org)
Dr. Haven Perz (cre@pacificunitarian.org)
