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HOW FREE IS FREE RELIGION?
Today James will explore the costs of being in a spiritual community. What are we being offered by belonging? And what it takes from us to make it happen. Might be fun.
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Mistakes Were Made:
A Meditation on the Ecological Crisis.
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Join us for Kickoff Sunday!
Join us this Sunday morning as we kickoff our three week pledge drive. Every year each one of us makes known his or her financial commitment to share in the work of PUC. The 2016/2017 fiscal year presents some especially unique challenges for all of us to take into account as we plan. Please consult the pledge materials you received in the mail this week and bring your completed pledge card to church with you. There will be additional pledge forms available on Sunday morning. If you are unable to participate in pledging this year, please speak with Reverend James in confidence for a waiver to remain a member in good standing. See you this Kickoff Sunday!
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Fifty-nine years ago last March 17, a group of about 30 people with their children met in the community room at Walteria Park to discuss the possibility of forming a Unitarian fellowship in the South Bay. We were of various religious backgrounds, mostly vaguely Christian, some lifelong Unitarians from New England, some lapsed Catholics, some Jewish, and others as well, all dissatisfied with the churches available locally. Many had been to the Unitarian churches in Long Beach or Santa Monica but those were too far away to achieve a sense of community.
Among the group was Harry Shuder, a retired Unitarian minister who offered to lead the effort without being paid. We agreed to create the fellowship and got down to the business of organizing what became the Pacific Unitarian Church. We all have to assume responsibility for carrying this legacy forward.
From the beginning, the church has been self-financed, built principally on its members’ financial support. We ought to continue this financial support. I hope you will join Barbara and me in our long-time support of a Unitarian Universalist community in the South Bay.
George Gleghorn
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Pledging Stock Can Double Your Tax Savings
It's far easier for me to give a healthy increase in my pledge amount when the IRS helps pay for it. I'm planning to give stock with a value that is almost entirely capital gain, giving me a capital gains and income tax savings equal to over half my full pledge. Allow me tell you how this works.
If you have stocks that are worth more than you paid for them, you can give any portion of that investment to PUC for a double tax reduction. One, because you are gifting, you do not pay capital gains tax on any growth you have on the donated portion of the investment. Two, you are allowed to deduct the full present value of the stock as a charitable donation (if you itemize your deductions and have held the investment more than a year).
For example: If you are in the 25% marginal tax bracket and donate $1,000 of Microsoft shares that you bought for $500, you save the capital gains tax, $75, as well as have a charitable deduction of $1,000 that can reduce your federal taxes another $250. The result is that the $1,000 donation only reduced your household budget by $625. Or it's like selling one stock and being able to invest in another stock without paying the capital gains tax. The California tax savings probably decreases the impact on your budget even more. Now that’s a great deal for you and for PUC.
Tara Unverzagt
Certified Financial Planner
2016/2017 Pledge Committee Chair
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Who's That?
To contact people named in The View please see the PUC Directory which is available in the Members Section of the PUC website. If you need the password for the Members Section, or if you do not have access to a computer, contact the PUC Office for help accessing it. The phone number and office hours are listed each week at the very bottom of The View.
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Wendy and Heather Clancy, members of the church, are seeking your prayers and good thoughts. Heather, 12 years old, and had brain surgery for a germ cell tumor, a pure cell germinoma. Cards are very welcome. Their address is in the PUC directory.
We are also putting together a meal system for the family. Wholesome, freezable meals are sought, to be augmented with fresh salads as we can. Kim will have information available on Sunday, please come by to learn how you can help the Clancy's get through this busy time.
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To have your joy or concern appear here, send it to
joysandconcerns@pacificunitarian.org
or call the PUC office. For information on how to do so, scroll down to the
end of The View.
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If you have a pastoral concern, or know of someone in need, please contact Kim Gosney, our Minister of Congregational Life at (310)-504-4919 or email
pastoralcare@pacificunitarian.org.
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Sunday Hospitality
Volunteers
It takes many hands to
make a Sunday. Special thanks
to all of our volunteers!
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Greeters
Marty Gorman
Clay Bosler
Welcoming Trustee
Mike Buttitta
Welcome Table
Lee Ann Heart
Pam Harris
Top Chef
Debi Robinson
Usher
Brad Shreve
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News from the Transition Team
The Transition Team’s recommended slate for the Ministerial Search Committee will be voted on at the Congregational Meeting April 3rd. We selected a team we felt would best represent PUC's diverse demographics and meets the guidelines for UUA's Ministerial Search Committees. Those individuals are Caitlin Masters, Darcy Carroll, Gary Hart, Janet Kissner, Maurice Chevalier, Naresh Deo, and Pam Harris.
The Transition Team is now concentrating on working with the Trustees, District, and the UUA Transition Ministry staff to identify a second interim Minister, to serve us from the time of James' departure (August or September of this year) through the arrival of our newly called Minister in August or September of 2017. We have submitted our application to the UUA and on May 9th or 10th will be given names of ministers who are interested in serving PUC as an interim for one year starting this fall. We will be reviewing ministerial applications for the interim position during May and hope to be able to make a recommendation to the Board by late May. Please contact the Transition Team at TransitionTeam@pacificunitarian.org with any questions you might have.
Clay Bosler, Lee Ann Hart, Joani Thompson, Judy Shaffer
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