Transforming Ourselves, Each Other and the World
As you may have noticed, this printed newsletter is different from the UUCPA Bulletins you used to receive. The UUCPA bi-weekly Bulletin will be taking a break for a while (Aug. 9, 2020, was the last one). We hope to have new plans for The Bulletin by the time we resume meeting at UUCPA in person. In the meantime, please accept this interim printed version to keep you informed.
Join services via Zoom: zoom.us/j/485021387. The password is available by emailing sundayservice@uucpa.org or on UUCPA’s outgoing voicemail message, 650-494-0541. It is also included in the weekly update emails. To watch services live on our Facebook page visit: facebook.com/uucpa/live.
While there is much to be feared, worried about, and fretted over at all times, creating intentional joy is a way we can make a continued and sustained effort in activism and our pursuits to create the better world we know is possible. This service … read more.
In what has become an annual tradition, Amy takes your questions and answers as many as she can in the time usually allotted to a sermon. The identities of the questioners will be confidential. And she has a question for you, too: “What question would … read more.
The Unitarian Universalist Association president invites a distinguished guest each year to address the General Assembly as the Ware Lecturer. This year, two champions of freedom and equality shared the stage:
Stacey Abrams, who served as Democratic Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives for … read more.
This message is to notify you that on July 28 the Board of Trustees of UUCPA unanimously approved sending a letter of support for the UUCPA Safe Parking program to the Palo Alto City Council on behalf of the Board and the entire congregation. For background on this request and the Safe Parking Program, please see this related document.
The following letter was approved by the Board:
We, the Board of Trustees and the Congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, strongly urge the Palo Alto City Council to support the Safe Parking Program permit for our church, following the recommendation of the city staff. This program will enhance safety in our community by helping people on our streets into permanent housing and employment. Palo Alto should support this evidence-based initiative that is an ethical and effective means of supporting vulnerable citizens.
UUCPA’s permit application will be discussed at the August 9th meeting of the Palo Alto City Council. Please see the separate request for expressions of support from the congregation.
For questions, please contact the Safe Parking Committee (safeparking@uucpa.org).
Dear UUCPA Community,
The many small groups and activities we offer at UUCPA transform lives. When we attend groups like the Forum, Brown Bag Books, a Chalice Circle, or a Choir rehearsal, we grow, we create beloved community, and we have a lot of fun. To make safe in-person meetings possible, the Small Group Covid Compliance Task Force has developed these group requirements. We are relying on group leaders and participants to follow the requirements as a way of caring for one another and the wider community.
We used the current Federal, State, and County regulations as our baseline, knowing that these will change in the coming weeks and months. This task force will continue to meet as long as needed, updating the requirements as conditions and regulations change.
If you are a group leader who is ready to plan your first on-campus meeting, please start by doing the following:
Please reach out to any member of the Task Force if you have questions regarding the requirements, and enjoy your return to the UUCPA campus!
Members of the Small Group Covid Compliance Task Force
Geetha Rao, Board Trustee and Small Group COVID Compliance Task Force Chair
Gregg Williams, Board Trustee and Small Group Portfolio Holder
Paula Hillard, Board Trustee and Adult Religious Education Portfolio Holder
Harry Wachob, Member of the Hybrid Services Committee
Brooke Bishara, Board President, brooke_b@uucpa.org
Dear Beloved UUCPA Community,
As COVID conditions change rapidly, the Small Group COVID Compliance Task Force has updated our current requirements to comply with the newest recommendations of the Santa Clara County Health Department. Note that anyone meeting with a group indoors will need to be masked, regardless of vaccination status. We also still need to wear our masks when moving about the campus.
Task Force members include: Geetha Rao, Paula Hillard, Harry Wachob, Gregg Williams, Bruce Olstad, and Brooke Bishara (brooke_b@uucpa.org). Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any one of us– we are all in the directory.
Thank you for your support as we work to reopen our campus and resume in-person programs safely. This transition is challenging, but with patience, perseverance, and caution, we can come together.
-Brooke Bishara
This message is to notify you that the Action Council and the UUCPA Safe Parking Committee have requested a letter from the church be sent to the Palo Alto City Council in support of the permit UUCPA has applied which would allow four-passenger cars to park overnight in our parking lot. For background on this request and the Safe Parking Program, please see this related document.
Request to Board of Trustees:
The following draft letter will be voted on at the July 28 Board meeting:
“We, the Board and congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, strongly urge the Palo Alto City Council to support the Safe Parking Program permit for our church, following the recommendation of the city staff. This program will enhance safety in our community by helping people on our streets into permanent housing and employment. Palo Alto should support this evidence-based initiative that is an ethical and effective means of supporting vulnerable citizens.”
If you have questions or concerns about this request for endorsement, please contact the Safe Parking Committee (safeparking@uucpa.org) or the Board (Board@uucpa.org) no later than Wednesday, July 28.
Additional Request to the Congregation:
Please consider writing to the city council supporting our permit whether you work, live or attend church in Palo Alto. You can find recommended language below you can modify to email the council. Please also consider calling them at the numbers listed below. We recommend adding a personal touch to any written or verbal communications.
Dear ,
I am a citizen of Palo Alto and I am writing to support the UUCPA’s permit application to start a safe parking program. The program will help ensure the safety of all residents and address the homeless crisis in our city. I strongly urge you to support the UUCPA since they are following a proven methodology that has a strong local and national track record in helping people into homes. Getting vulnerable people housed keeps them from sleeping on our streets or in our parks which makes our entire community safer, cleaner, and healthier.
Sincerely,
| NAME | PHONE | |
| Tom DuBois (Mayor) | Tom.DuBois@cityofpaloalto.org | (415) 377-8455 (c) |
| Pat Burt (Vice Mayor) | Pat.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org | (650) 892-0925 (c) |
| Alison Cormack | Alison.Cormack@cityofpaloalto.org | (650) 329-2480 (c) |
| Eric Filseth | Eric.Filseth@cityofpaloalto.org | (650) 329-2162 (c) |
| Lydia Kou | Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org | (650) 308-9893 (c) |
| Greer Stone | Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org | (650) 575-0405 (c) |
| Greg Tanaka | Greg.Tanaka@cityofpaloalto.org | (415) 968-9436 (c) |
| President | Brooke Bishara |
| VP Finance | Kevin Crane |
| VP Facilities, | Barbara Smith-Thomas |
| Secretary, | Joe Bailey |
| Social Justice | Kristi Iverson |
| Visitors | Jeb Eddy |
| Denominational Concerns | Maria Almli |
| Policies | Geetha Rao |
| CYRE | Emma Grant-Bier |
| Adult Religious Education | (Open) |
| Treasurer | Kay Brown |
| Communications | Thida Cornes |
| Staff Relations | (Open) |
| Planning | Dave Joki |
| Small Groups | Greg Williams |
| Membership | Jim Basiji |
| Parish Minister | Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern |
| Minister of Religious Education | Rev. Dan Harper |
| Religious Education Assistant | Grecia Uribe Sanchez |
| Community Minister | Rev. Jen Dillinger |
| Community Minister | Rev. Melissa Thomson |
| Community Minister | Rev. Stefanie Etzbach-Dale |
| Assistant Treasurer | Barbara Smith-Thomas |
| Head Child Care Worker | Pari Mahjoubinia |
| Music Director | Bruce Olstad |
| Accompanist | Veronika Agranov-Dafoe |
| Congregational Administrator | Jeff Cashdollar |
| Membership Engagement Coordinator | BJ Wishinsky |
| Office Administration Assistant | Debra Heinz |
| Bookkeepers | Kay Brown and Jeff Cashdollar |
| Custodian/Sexton | Enrique Infante |
| Handyman/Gardener | James Nelson |
