The other day, I took my two year-old son to a protest at Rep. Garamendi’s office. It was organized by local citizens, fighting the concentration camps on the border. I told him that we were mad and sad because the government was hurting families and little kiddos. We wanted our Member of Congress to do something to help those kids.

He looked up and me and said “Dada, is it church?” I smiled at him and said, “Yeah, Buddy. It is church.”

Because, this is what church does. We take care of the young and the old. We amplify the voices of the marginalized. We remember our dead and welcome new life. We pray, march, and dream of a better world for all. So, there––outside the Representative’s office––we were doing public theology. For me, it was church.

Even though it’s summer, the work of the church continues. Here, in this bonus, double-sized Journal, you will find information about upcoming Religious Exploration classes, our summer services, and other opportunities to deepen connections. I hope you find new ways to do church and a way to deepen your ministry in this community.

– Alex Haider-Winnett, Summer Minister

For the month of July, I’ll combine some of my study leave and vacation for both relaxation and study. I’ll enjoy some time with my Bay Area family and meet with friends at Dillon Beach. For much of the month, I’ll visit family in the Boston area and enjoy Chautauqua Institution with friends.

I discovered Chautauqua when I lived in upstate New York: it is a unique community of about 7,500 residents.

The Chautauqua experience started in 1874 as a vacation learning opportunity where academics, music, and art were offered to Sunday School teachers. By 1878, it had become the location of the Literary and Scientific Circle, giving the equivalent of college courses to those who couldn’t afford an advanced education. The Chautauqua Institution established a circuit of locations across the country for their lecturers and musicians. The people who benefitted were primarily women, teachers, and those who lived in rural areas. Ashland, Oregon and Aspen, CO are part of the circuit! This was probably the first example of what we now call “off-site” learning opportunities, with small group study circles.

In 2019, Chautauqua Institution is an increasingly interfaith gathering of approximately 7,600 people throughout the summer. Each week has a theme, with a wide array of lecturers whose lectures often hold opposing points of view and opportunities to enter into civil discourse. There’s world-class music and an art and music school on site.

The Unitarian Universalists own a home on the grounds, with Sunday morning services in the open-air Hall of Philosophy. I’ll be attending during Week Five: The Life of the Spoken Word. The week begins with “This American Life” host and storyteller, Ira Glass. For the full week, we’ll hear different points of view concerning political rhetoric and civil discourse, theater and poetry, podcasts, and stories told around the campfire. The question is, "What is the power of the spoken word?"

I hope you have a wonderful July with Alex Haider-Winnett serving as your summer minister. Read this Journal for opportunities to have your own ‘Chautauqua’ experience.

I’ll see you the first week of August, when I’ll join Alex at UUCD. Rev. Morgan will return slightly later in the month.

In my agreement with the congregation, I’m combining half of my allocated study leave and half of my vacation. If clergy work a six day work week, this is the recommended time for study and vacation. During the year, Friday is my day off.

– Rev. Beth Banks, Senior Minister

� www.uudavis.org � Events/Publications � 2019 Summer, July & August �

Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis (UUCD) Summer Journal – July/August

2019 July & August Sunday Worship, Summer 10am � Religious Exploration (RE) Summer Stars, 10am ONLY: Children start in worship service. Summer Stars runs through Labor Day. Adults in the congregation have fun engaging with children by sharing a favorite topic or hobby.

July: Davis Phoenix Coalition receives 1/2 Sunday offering. Gather and engage the Davis community in ongoing efforts to eliminate intolerance, for the purpose of preventing hate motivated violence and thus cultivating a broader civic culture that embraces and promotes all aspects of the city’s diverse community. www.davisphoenixco.org Check UUCD; memo: Offering.

July 7, 10am only, James Lee-Jobe and Lily Roberts, Who Needs Poetry? The Poet Laureate of Davis asks What poetry can bring to our everyday life; a spiritual nourishment, a capturing of moments to remember, and expression of emotion.

� Summer Stars: Molly Napier, DNA and Forensic Science

July 14, 10am only, Kirk Ridgeway and Anne Hillman, Beyond Strong Will. Willpower is the ability to control and direct oneself with the decisions we make. Strong will is but one aspect of willpower. What are the other aspects of willpower necessary to live the life we aspire to in accordance with our UU principals and purposes?

� Summer Stars: Karen Kurth, Leonie Pickett & Catlyn LeGault, Yoga

July 21, 10am only, Pearls of Wisdom. Join some of our beloved elders as they share reflections on their lives and experiences. This annual favorite is sure to be rich and inspiring. Please join us for a reception following worship.

� Summer Stars: Mair Winger

� 11:30am, Life Odyssey: Peg and Neil Rutger are interviewed about their lives as UUs.

July 28, 10am only, Autumn Labbé-Renault and Emily Burstein, A Service on Humor

� Summer Stars: Alex Haider-Winnett, Solar Photography

August Offering: Tree Davis receives 1/2 Sunday offering. Enhance and expand our urban forest by teaching the people of our community to plant and care for trees. www.treedavis.org Check UUCD; memo: Offering.

August 4, 10am only, Alison Luck and Grainne Grant.

� Summer Stars: Willow Spicer, Birdhouses

August 11, 10am only, Scott Ragsdale and Alex Haider-Winnett, What does a UU world look like?

� Summer Stars: Ginger Gee, Balloon Animals

August 18, 10am only, Rev. Beth Banks and Autumn Labbé-Renault, Preserving Joy. The UC Davis Community book this last year was The Book of Joy, focusing on the wisdom of the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, written by Douglas Abrams. These two wise spiritual leaders explored how they live with joy in the midst of the inevitable struggles of life. Here’s a spiritual practice to try this summer. Break the hold of anger, disappointment or feelings of bitterness when you experience them. Acknowledge their presence and then offer three gestures of kindness for other people. Hold the door open; pay for someone's coffee; smile genuinely; send a note of appreciation. If the feelings are still dragging you down, the prescription is three additional acts of kindness. And so it goes until you find your balance again. The Message for All Ages during worship will be a child-appropriate story about people seeking asylum. The children will prepare baked goods during their religious exploration time in the Bridgehouse and sell them during coffee hour. The proceeds will benefit the Families Together Project, a program supporting two asylum families from Guatemala who are living in Davis.

� Summer Stars: Bake Sale for Families Together

August 25, 10am only, Rev. Beth Banks and Worship Associates, How Goes It With Your Soul? UUCD’s Worship Associate program invites participants to dig deep into mind and spirit and sometimes to accept sometimes unexpected challenges. The Associates will focus on the same poem but interpret it through their own unique life experience. Each year this service is an opportunity to get to know the Associates and be brought into their lives.

� Following the worship service, we’ll host a cool indoor picnic in the Social Hall. Bring your favorite picnic tablecloth, your own plates and silverware, lunch for yourself, and just a bit more to share. What’s your favorite picnic food? If you forget to bring lunch? Experience tells us that there will be enough food to share. We’re going to create a party!

� Summer Stars: Rebekah Reichenbach, Slime Party

September 1, 10am only, Alex Haider-Winnett and Steve Burns, Labor Day is for All. The origins of Labor Day trace back to socialist and anarchist roots. How do we return to the radical intentions of mutual support for all?

� Summer Stars: Lindsay Weston, Tree Identification and Botany

September 8, RETURN TO TWO SERVICES, 9:30 & 11:15am, Ingathering Water Communion, All-Ages service. Bring a small sample of water that represents your summer experiences and your energy to do what matters.

Listen Edited Sunday services at http://uudavis.org/worship-2/past-worship-services/

Special thanks to Kirk Ridgeway, who edits and posts all of these worship services!

SUMMER ADULT RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION & OPPORTUNITIES

� "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Unitarian Universalism (But Were Afraid to Ask)" 11:15am, June 30, Senghas Room. Members, friends, visitors ask about history, theologies, practices of UUism.

� Life Odyssey: Peg and Neil Rutger are interviewed about their lives as UUs. Sun, July 21, Sanctuary, 11:30am. After the Pearls of Wisdom service and reception, join Peg and Neil as they reflect on stories from their lives.

� Write Your UU Elevator Speech workshop, led by Alex Haider Winnett, July 28, 11:30am-12:30pm, Senghas Room. Do you ever struggle to explain why you go to church? Do you find yourself at a loss for words when you talk about Unitarian Universalism? Are you ever embarrassed by your inability to speak eloquently about our faith? Come to this workshop to dig deeply into our shared and personal theologies and, using contemporary advertising techniques, learn how to share our faith with confidence and pride. All are welcome!

� Sage-ing Wisdom Circle for Elders with Kate Raymond, four meetings: Aug 6, 8, 13, and 15; 9:30-11:30am, UU Library. This group may then decide to continue meeting once a month on Sunday afternoons throughout the year.

This is the work I am doing for myself, trying to be more present with my own aging, losses, and the inevitable changes that life brings. What I know is that we find more richness, freedom and often joy if we learn to pay attention to our inner lives and practice facing what is. It would be much more enjoyable doing this work with you!

Maximum size of the group is 12 people. Please register with Kate at raymondkate@gmail.com. There is no fee for this group. Kate will give you the info about the book we'll be reading when you register.

Kate Raymond is a certified sage-ing leader through Sage-ing International and has led local Aging to Sage-ing groups for several years. Kate is also a UU Lay Community Minister and is completing her Masters in Social Work with a focus on mental health.

� Benefit Dinner for Families Together Project and La Cocina, SF, August 9. Dinner features recipes from the just-released cookbook We Are La Cocina, Recipes in Search of the American Dream.

Hosts include the Service and Justice Ministry at the Davis Methodist Church; the Social Justice and Outreach Committee at the Episcopal Church of St Martin; and the Immigration Justice Team at UUCD

� Getting to Know UU: A brief intro. to UUCD and our larger faith. Aug 18; 11:15am, Senghas Rm.

� The Spiritual Practice that Begins with “Dear,” Wed., August 21, 7-8:30pm, UU Library. Rev. Beth Banks. This Adult Religious Exploration session is back by request and is an extension of the August 18 sermon, Preserving Joy. One avid letter writer whose spiritual practice was to write to a favorite Saint, shared, “Writing a letter can’t help but leave us a little bit transformed.” Beth shares her thirty-year spiritual practice: writing of messages of appreciation to those who would never qualify as Saints. Of course, there’s a touch of theology involved.

A pattern of expressing written thanks creates a message that is meaningful for both the writer and the recipient. Over time, the practice changes how you see the people around you.

Bring six stamps for letters. Notecards provided: they are intentionally without ornamentation. The focus is on the message you’ll create. We’ll bless the cards during or session and mail them immediately after the session!