The View: PUC's weekly newsletter
View this email in your browser
April 28, 2016
Please send View submissions to 
newsletter@pacificunitarian.org 
by noon on Wednesday.
Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.
Child care is available starting at 10:00 a.m.
Join us for a delicious brunch after the service!
Contents
May 1st Sermon
TO WELCOME THE STRANGER

Today James will explore the questions of diversity. He believes it is critical for us as a nation to be as open as possible, and he believes it is equally important for us as a congregation.

Reverend James Ford
May 8th Sermon
IN PRAISE OF THE MOTHER

Today is Mother’s Day, a complicated holiday, invoking pain as well as joy, and deserving of much more attention than a Hallmark Card can provide. James will try.

Reverend James Ford
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.
Joys
&
Concerns
_______________________________________________________________

§
Heather Clancy, 12 years old, is diagnosed with a pure cell germinoma and is undergoing chemotherapy. It has been a challenging couple of weeks for the family.
Cards are very welcome.
THE PUC FREEZER IS READY TO RECEIVE YOUR MEAL DONATIONS.
Kim Gosney, Minister of Congregational Life, has information available, please learn how you can help the Clancys get through this busy time.
§
This Sunday we will have the joys and sorrows book in the back of the sanctuary. Please feel free to write a joy or a sorrow before the service begins, and it will be read aloud during the lighting of the candles. Births. Deaths. Life markers. Please, no announcements for this part of the service.
§
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.
§
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.
 

Sunday Hospitality
Volunteers

It takes many hands to
make a Sunday.  Special thanks
to all of our volunteers!


Greeters
Clay Bosler
Marty Gorman

Welcoming Trustee
Mike Buttitta

Welcome Table
Lee Ann Hart
Pam Harris

Top Chef
Naresh Deo

Usher
Brad Shreve
 
.

PUC’s Annual Auction
Saturday, May 14
5:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Herniksen Hall

The PUC Auction lets us raise money for the good works of PUC while we have some very good fun.  If this is your first auction you will find that many of the items for bidding are gatherings around various themes at members’ homes and other locations.  While this does raise money for PUC, it is also the way many of us get to know people at church. 

Go to an event or two a year and you get to spend enjoyable time with all kinds of folks, while someone else does the work!  There is nothing like sitting with six people watching a member and his daughter prepare an authentic Chinese dinner for you, or gathering with a dozen for afternoon tea and poetry with a tarot card reading thrown in, or going sailing with several other members.  Every year we look for favorite offerings to return and to finding new events to bid on.

You have three Auction to dos:

  1. If you plan to donate something to be auctioned, this is the week to register your item using the online form.
  2. Your RSVP is important.  Please let us know you are coming through the EventBrite online invitation.  If you RSVP, you will have a free raffle ticket waiting for you at the check-in table that night.  
  3. If you need childcare, sign up by May 10 at the Welcome Table Sunday on the patio.
Your Auction Committee
Missy Rogers
Barbara Paulson
Jennifer Hocutt
Marlene Barone
The committee needs artificial trees without lights.  If you have one we can use, please email Missy (parogers2010@yahoo.com) or contact another member of the committee to let us know.


Upcoming Membership Sessions!
Sign up for May 22...Held 12 - 2 PM.
Following these classes, we will host a New Member Ceremony:  SUNDAY, May 29 at 10:30 AM. 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!

First Thusday Zen Meditation

Our monthly Zen meditation and a talk with James will feature the famous Zen koan "Who is the True Ch'ien."
Thursday, 5 May, 7pm, in the library

Who Knew Pledging Could Be So Much Fun?

We want to thank everyone for making this year's Pledge Drive such a success. Your enthusiasm and generosity made a huge difference. As a matter of fact, it made such a difference, we are still working on the final tally.  We will bring you some really exciting news soon. Hold on to your seats - we're going for a very fun ride!

Your 2016/2017 Pledge Team
Tara Unverzagt, Chair
Jean Tordella
Lora Childers
Did the dog eat your pledge?
It's not too late to make your last minute donation on the PUC pledge page.
THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!
 
May 8th Mother’s Day— Pacific Unitarian Church welcomes with pleasure the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble in concert at noon.  The deep, richly blended voices perform Russian sacred and folk music.  Kirill, Andrei, Sergey and Vadim fill the Hall with cathedral sound.  $20 suggested donation.
MOTHER'S DAY IS MAY 8th!
Great Mother's Day gift ideas are also in support of Pacific Unitarian Church. Amazon will donate to Pacific Unitarian Church. Use the link below:
Make Mom Smile on Mother's Day

AmazonSmile Mother's Day Link: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/charity/homepage.html?orig=%2Fgp%2Fbrowse.html%3Fnode%3D502659011&ein=95-2250196
Thank you!

 
Save The Date – Long Beach Pride
 
It’s that time of year again. Long Beach Pride is Sunday, May 22.  Last year over 30 people from PUC participated.  We’d like to see the same, or even more, in this years parade. More detail coming soon, but if you’d like to put your name on the list, please contact Brad Shreve or Maurice Chevalier at SOSL@pacificunitarian.org.
 
Hope to see you there.

Camp de Benneville Pines Retreat
June 10, 11, 12
Angelus Oaks, CA

Come join with friends and family at PUC's annual retreat at Camp DeBenneville Pines from June 10 through 12. This year our theme is May the Forest Be With YUU and features themed events and activities that will be lots of fun! Camp Co-Deans Andy & Janet Kissner will be on the PUC patio most Sundays between now and camp to answer questions and provide registration information. Please email Andy at andykpuc@gmail.com or Janet at jlkissner@gmail.com with any questions. We hope to see YUU there!
 
de Benneville Memories

At camp all the fun is home made.  Each year we create the experiences we want.  So jump in with an idea.  Share your enthusiasms.  “Hey, we should…” has launched many adventures.   You won’t know what this year holds in store until you get there.  But we can tell you that the heart of your experience will be the people you talk to and the things you do with them.

Tara Unverzagt and her husband came to PUC with toddlers in tow, raising all three of their children in this church.  Their many de Benneville memories include one year’s epic game of capture the flag on a Saturday afternoon. “There was a TON of participants, most all of the kids and large percentage of adults. It was fun having everyone locked in battle. Some on your team, others your enemy (friendly enemy).”   

This year they will recreate one of their fond memories when they host a Wizz table on Friday night.  If you haven’t been before - Friday night is when everyone is rolling in.  After dinner the tables are cleaned up and some are stored away.  Others stay out for conversations, puzzles, and games.  Wizz is a really fun & easy to learn card game, great for small groups and large.  Come check out the Wizz table Friday night after dinner.  You’re all invited!
A Meditative Moment: Walking the stone labyrinth
There still is time to sign up and join PUC as we partner with Friends of the LA River and over 9,000 volunteers from throughout the Los Angeles area to clean up the LA River!  PUC volunteers will be posted right in our own back yard, at the Golden Shore Marine Reserve in Long Beach.  Families/kids are welcome!  Join us for the fabulous community event!  You must sign up in advance — so stop by the Social Justice table on Sunday or contact Missy Rogers or Cindy Byrne.  
 
 
Playing in the Sage…

                                                               
“Not much goes on in the mind of a squirrel.  Huge portions of what is loosely termed "the squirrel brain" are given over to one thought: food.  The average squirrel cogitation goes something like this: I wonder what there is to eat.”
                                         ---- Kate DiCamillo, Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminatetd Adventures
 

This is “Sammy,” Pacific Sage Preschool’s squirrel and 99% of the time I would say the quote is correct. The friends and I see him (though we can’t say for sure he’s not a she) every few days looking for peanuts or a little toast. He sits in our coral tree or perches on our beautiful fence and lets the children watch him eat and fluff his magnificent (his word) tail. This is usually his “Whatcha got to eat?” look, but we’re going to say this is his “I can’t believe you’re thinking of not coming to the Open House!” look.

Again, we open the doors of our “home” to family and friends on Saturday April 30th from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Join us and spread the word!


Warmly,
Sylvia
Director
Pacific Sage Preschool

RE Holds a Special Remembering Circle
Memorial Day Weekend
Sunday, May 29
After the Children Are Sung Out of the Service
RE Classrooms

The Sunday of this Memorial Day weekend, all the children in RE will be together for a Remembering Circle led by member and former parent-child educator Tracy Blender.  They will talk about people who have passed, including PUC’s recent administrator, Craig Block, who was known to many of the children and who passed in December.  The focus of the holiday, those who die in service to their community and country, will be discussed.  Together they will talk about why this happens and what it might mean.  If your child thinks he or she might like to talk about the passing of special people, he or she is invited to bring a photograph.  All the children will have an opportunity to talk about their own now-gone people, if they chose.  Parents & grandparents are invited to attend.  Of course, children who may be very sensitive about this topic are always welcome in child care during the activity.  Please let RE chair Michele Bethune know that morning and she will explain how.
Religious Education Spring Calendar

May  

May 1 Solve It Sunday (Kimberly and Co.)

May 8   Mother's Day 

May 15 RE Classes

May 22 RE Sunday

May 29 Memorial Sunday (TBA)

Women Reading & Responding Book Club

Third Monday of Each Month
11:00 a.m. PUC Library    

May: A Tale for the Time Being - Ruth Ozeki
June: The Jane Austen Bookclub - Karen Joy Fowler

Contact Robin Arehart if you have any questions.

Return

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. 

Return






This Sunday's Flowers 
 
Please sign up for your turn to bring Sunday's Flowers on the Flower Calendar inside the door of the PUC Office
 
 
CALENDAR
 
PUC's calendar of events can be found here.

Congregational Meetings & Town Halls

Additional details on the specific topics will be distributed prior to the meetings. 

May 1, 2016
Town Hall
Annual Business Meeting Preview & Dialogue

June 5, 2016
Congregational Meeting
Annual Business Meeting
The PUC Board of Trustees

                     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.)

 

John Einhorn, President      johneinhornrhino@gmail.com
Randy Ripley, Treasurer     treasurer@pacificunitarian.org
Phone numbers and individual email addresses for all other Trustees can be found in the Member Directory.

To request a Sunday morning announcement contact Kim Gosney
 welcome@thecenteratpuc.org
 

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

 

Office Hours

Sunday             8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.                             
Monday            Closed 
Tuesday           Closed   
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 
Share
Tweet
Forward
Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.
*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*

Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*