Pacific Sage Preschool was able to open its doors on October 1st with just an email of our "facility profile" from the state of California Department of Social Services.  This week our official paper document arrived, and per instructions, it is displayed (proudly) in a prominent place.  (Well actually, a copy is prominently displayed.  The origional is safe and out of harms way.)

After the “happy dance”, I held it and thought what an amazing and complicated thing a license is.  It grants authority, rights and responsibilities. You need one to drive, marry, practice law and medicine…or cut hair (in California).

A License! Wow! 

Wow for all the things it represents. We are recognized and authorized to provide service and care to young children and their families. It means we successfully completed a process to prove our competence and worthiness…but for me, it means more than.  It really means the Pacific Unitarian Church has consciously chosen to throw its play dough and paint into the current maelstrom of policy and debate that is Early Childhood Education. Legislators and Educational Institutions can talk the talk but we will walk the talk.

Like a pebble (beautiful and unique) thrown into a pond, I believe the school will powerfully influence and enrich more than the children that play with us.  It will also affect their families, the community and the adult students and colleges we are partnering with.  We touch tomorrow…today.

So of course, I am reminded of a quote from Spiderman…”with great power comes great responsibility”.

Warmly,
Sylvia
Director,
Pacific Sage Preschool
 

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Join PUC and our Social Justice Committee in our Season of Service.

Winter IS Coming!

PUC’s Season of Service continues with our Warm Blanket Drive throughout October.  Please bring new or gently used, clean blankets for distribution to the clients of Harbor Interfaith Services.  

Thanksgiving, Grateful Giving

In November we will be collecting food to help fill Thanksgiving baskets for Harbor Interfaith clients.  While we continue to accept any of your nonperishable food & toiletry donations, Harbor Interfaith specifically has requested cake mixes and frosting.  They will need 350 of them!  Can we challenge ourselves to put a big dent in that number?!  

Volunteers will be needed at Harbor Interfaith in San Pedro on Monday, November 23 at 10 a.m. to assemble Thanksgiving food baskets and again on Tuesday, November 25 from 9-5 to distribute baskets.  Come and experience our service in action.  For anyone whose kids have the week off of school, this is a great opportunity to involve children in a family-friendly service project.

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November 22, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, will begin our annual Guest At Your Table (GAYT) program which will continue throughout the month of December.

The primary purpose is to provide current information on the world-wide work of the Unitarian Universal Service Committee (UUSC) - the UU organization devoted to addressing issues in relation to humanitarian crisis, environmental problems, poverty, economical issues and civil rights here at home and throughout the world.

Watch for more information each week in The View.  

Sandy McNeil UUSC Ministry
 

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Craft Class this week is from 12:15 to 1:00. We need youth participation in this in order to have enough items for our coming sale. This is an easy and fun way for your child to give of themselves for their church and their broader community, and it gives you time to catch up with friends on the patio. (Kid's choir will go until 12:15. Choir is an extremely important commitment, stay with Severin until he releases you. We can always find a way for you to take unfinished work home, or another time to do it at church.) The items we make will be sold at church. The money will be used to buy Christmas presents for kids at Toberman Neighborhood Center and to buy gifts for our members who cannot come to church often.

Congratulations on being “Dedicated” go to Saphia Bethune, Alexandra and Rhiannon Garcia, and Lily and Kai Damji, and of course, their wonderful parents. If you think dedication is something you would like for your child, just let James or I know and we will put them on the list for the next dedication, and keep you in the loop on scheduling.

Last week, the RE kids from 4­13 listened to a story about “being present” to the person you are with. We discussed how staying focused on the present helps us avoid worrying about things that we cannot do anything about in the present moment, and also helps the person (people) we are with feel cared about and acknowledged. We also worked on watercolor paintings that will be cut up to make a beautiful item for our upcoming sale. Many thanks to Kimberly Storr for helping in childcare and to Carlos Angeles for helping in our RE class.

Mark your calendars for our Christmas Tree decorating and potluck, sponsored by RE families, on the evening of December 5 coming soon. All are welcomed, and encouraged to join in.  Bring a dish to share and come ready to have some fun. Details coming soon. All are welcomed, and encouraged to join in.

This Sunday, teachers will be back in the classrooms with their regular RE curriculum. Please have your child attend claases as regularly as possible; allowing them the opportunity to bond with their group and benefit from a complete program. That said, remember that fever, bad cough and other symptoms of contagious illness are a really good reason to stay home. Rest is best for your child (or you) and germs are not for sharing. 

And finally, the young and the young at heart are encouraged to attend service on Nov. 1 in their Halloween Costumes. Just a heads up.
 

Love and Wonder to Each of You,
Vicki Gavel
Director of Religious Education
veejaygavel@gamil.com

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Religious Education Fall Calendar*  

October

Each Sunday in October there will be a special craft making class staffed by your DRE and Child Care Providers that will meet from noon until 1:00 p.m.  Children must be signed in. Parents and others welcomed to participate.

October 4: “Solve It Sunday” with Michele Bethune
October 11: RE Classes
October 18: Class with Vicki & Child Dedication
October 25: RE Classes

November
Our post-service craft sessions continue through mid November.

November 1: Multi­generational Service for Day of the Dead
November 8: RE Classes
November 15: Class with Vicki Gavel, DRE
November 22: RE Classes
November 29: Assembling gift baskets for PUC members who are unable to attend church.

December
December 6: “Solve It Sunday” led by Michele Bethune
December 13: RE Classes
December 20: Solstice Celebration with Vicki

*Adjustments are always a possibility.

Autumn Journey to Membership Session
Sunday, November 8
12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
PUC Library

Prospective members may attend either.  Following these classes we will host a
New Member Ceremony:  Sunday, November 15 at 10:30 a.m.
Sign up, and you will receive the packet to read and to fill out before the session. Get information at the Welcome Table or email Kim Gosney at membership@pacificunitarian.org  We so look forward to getting to know you better!

The Environmental Priorities Network (EPN), a local South Bay volunteer organization, is presenting a public forum on how we can help create “good” food systems to replace our current industrial food system that is harmful to people and planet. The “Creating Healthy, Just and Sustainable Food Systems” public forum will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Pacific Unitarian Church. 

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  
You are invited to enjoy light refreshments and drinks as you visit tables with information from local groups involved in creating these food systems.

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Speakers will discuss these two systems of food production, why we need to transition to better ones, and how we can be part of that transition. Jim Montgomery from LabelGMOs.org, DW Ferrell from Slow Money Southern California and Localism, Inc. and Rishi Kumar from The Growing Club will be speaking.

12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Continue visiting tables, networking with others and enjoy a healthy, organic lunch for purchase from “Green Truck,” a local, sustainable business whose mission is Healing our Planet One Meal at a Time.

Cosponsors include the PUC Green Sanctuary Committee and the South Coast Interfaith Council. Admission is free, but contributions are welcome. For more information, contact Jim Montgomery at jim.f.monty@gmail.com or at 818-257-0879.

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Women Reading and Responding Book Club
Third Monday of Each Month
Next: November 16
11:00 a.m.
PUC Library

Looking forward to having you join us! Contact Robin Arehart if you have any questions.

November  
Paris by Edward Rutherfurd, a novel about Hemingway
December 
The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx

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Gentle Yoga Class for All
Wednesdays
11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.
Henriksen Hall

A class designed for all levels, shapes, and ages.  We will focus on a gentle practice through movement to help unblock your flow of energy and increase your mental and physical flexibility while releasing stress and enhancing body awareness.  Poses and exercises build strength, relieve pain and stress, and improve balance.  Questions: Debi@omhappy.com.

Suggested Donation: $15/class.  Taught by Debi Robinson.

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This Sunday's flowers will be provided by 
Michele Bethune.
 

                     John Einhorn – President 
                     Bruce Lewis – Vice President
                     Randy Ripley – Treasurer
                     Trish Botsko - Secretary

              Mike Buttitta
              Ben Cowan
              Dee Masters
             James Ford – ex officio

Ways to Contact Your Trustees

board@pacificunitarian.org
This email is forwarded to the trustees, Lead Minister, Director of Congregational Advancement, Director of Religious Education, and Pacific Sage Preschool Director.

trustees@pacificunitarian.org
This email is forwarded to the trustees & Lead Minister (ex-officio.)

For Sunday morning announcements contact Kim Gosney
 Welcome@TheCenterAtPUC.org
 

We are located at
5621 Montemalaga Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

 

Office Hours

The office hours will shift as Gaby, our new administrator, continues her training.

In the near term the office will be open:
 

                Sunday            8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.                       

                Monday           Closed

                Tuesday           Phone messages are checked during the day.      
                Wednesday     10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

                Thursday        12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

                Friday              Phone messages are checked during the day.    

                Saturday          Closed

Hours for Reverend James Ford, Interim Minister
Appointments are always recommended.

               Tuesday         11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

               Wednesday    11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

               Thursday        11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Click here for Directions

Contact Us:

Office: (310) 378-9449    Fax: (310) 378-1508

admin@PacificUnitarian.org     www.pacificunitarian.org 

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