Theme Journal - April, Wholeness - Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis (UUCD)
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis (UUCD)
Theme Journal – April, Wholeness
Becoming Whole – Rev. Beth Banks, Senior Minister
We’ve re-discovered that people are fascinating. The 24 people who did the personal conversations for Generosity and
Stewardship were often surprised by the pleasure they experienced as a result of talking through a series of questions
with a friend, acquaintance, or someone they didn’t know. Many people said that they wished they’d scheduled time to
listen to the stories of others more often. We talked about subjects that weren’t often discussed and we had a good
excuse to speak at length with someone we didn’t know yet. Often the conversation continued on to other topics and,
when we started with intentional questions, small-talk became irrelevant. The all-church Soul Matters theme, from our
denomination, suggests learning about the wholeness of others. Hearing stories from other people clarifies our own
experiences. Join me in continuing these conversations. Be brave––choose someone you don’t know well.
Spiritual Practice of Wholeness: In April, invite 2 or 3 people to have a conversation with you about “Wholeness.”
Drive your kids to an event together, meet for a beer or a cup of coffee. Go for a walk together––and listen.
1. When was the first time you thought to yourself, “I’m complete”?
2. In what space or place do you feel most whole? How often do you spend time there?
3. What was your proudest moment of maintaining and standing up for your wholeness?
April Chalice Lighting: Do you have a chalice lighting ritual as a part of your day? Small group ministries are invited to
begin with these words. We’ll use it at Evensong, April 7. The Board will begin with it, April 8. Consider joining others
who gather at UUCD by using these words as you kindle the flame of the chalice.
Forget about enlightenment,
Sit down wherever you are,
and listen to the wind
that is singing in your veins.
Feel the longing, the fear,
the love in your bones.
Open your heart to who you are, right now,
not who you’d like to be,
not the saint you’re striving to become,
but the being right here before you,
inside you...
All of you is holy.
You’re already more and less
Than whatever you can know.
Breathe out,
Look in,
Let go. Anonymous, shared by Rev. Victoria Safford
www.uudavis.org Events/Publications 2018-19, April, Wholeness
Top: Soul Matters image. Bottom: Evensong flowers
Spring blooming into fullness every year is a visual reminder of the wonder and beauty that surrounds us.
It’s a good time to reflect on the wholeness of our being and the places we feel fragmented and disconnected. Have you
spent enough time yet staring at the buds emerging from the sticks of winter? How are these buds like your own
experience? What new life is emerging from you as you become even more whole? If you’re preparing to be with
family or friends on Easter or Passover, this presents another opportunity for wholeness in human connection: are there
stories to tell, questions to ask, forgiveness to offer/accept? The spring is a time when the whole of creation, including
humans, emerge with a renewed sense of life and connection to all. –- Rev. Morgan McLean, Minister, Congregational Life
My dad encouraged me to
play in the dirt and appreciate
the plants. At home and at church,
I’ve planted seeds: tomatoes, peppers,
peas, carrots, radishes, greens. As the
soil warms and the rain passes onto
sun, I watch the seeds grow. Some
varieties are thriving. The pea shoots
seem to grow by inches each day. Last
week, I ate a salad of homegrown
radish greens. One tomato plant has a
second set of true leaves and is
readying for a third. One pepper has true leaves the size of a penny. With other plants, I contemplate trying one more
time: a variety of tomatoes that––no matter what––comes up leggy and withers away before true leaves pop up. A seed
in soil is imagination for August tomatoes, jars of pickles, spinach salads. Yet, we know that not every seed will see the
harvest. To plant is a risk of faith.
Having my little garden helps me see things—my food, the seasons, religion—more holistically. I think about the people
who grow my food. I consider the passing seasons, changes in weather, and the way the light moves. I think about our
ancestors who relied on the seed, rain, and sun to live; and the faith to plant and harvest. I give thanks for this
opportunity to dig in the dirt, nurture small plants, and
harvest food for my family and friends.
– Alex Haider-Winnett, Intern & Campus Minister
Invitations towards wholeness. The Unitarian
Universalist Association’s Journey Towards Wholeness
initiative calls us to develop anti-oppressive,
multicultural, anti-racist ways of being in the world. In
the past, UUCD’s Uniting for Racial Justice and Adult
Religious Exploration offered Beloved Conversations.
Now, our Sanctuary Declaration (October, 2017) calls
on us to engage in many ways. The crisis at the border
calls us to action. The needs are great and there are
many opportunities. Immigration Justice Team (IJT)
invites you to these events (Stefan Harvey, Chair, IJT):
April 10, Attend the Yolo Interfaith Immigration
Network dinner (tickets: https://www.yiinyolo.org/).
Dine and form relationships with others committed to
supporting Yolo’s immigrant community.
April 14, 12:45pm, UU Sanctuary: Rev. Neal
Anderson describes Mt Diablo’s recent immersion trip
to the border. Bryan Stevenson, the 2017 Ware
Lecturer at UUA GA, believes that creating a healthier
society requires each of us to get proximate with the
poor and vulnerable. IJT is ready to organize an
immersion trip for youth and adults, if there’s interest.
Sunday Worship, 9:30 & 11:15am
April Hymn of the Month: Metta Prayer by Ruth Huber. Huber lives in San Jose, teaches piano, and co-directs the
Rainbow Women’s Chorus. She has won many awards for her compositions. www.ruthhuber.com
Hear hundreds of UU Music Directors learning the Matta Prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6IytLltW-c
April Offering: Farm Davis receives 1/2 Sunday offering. Social service is part of the Religious Exploration program:
children and youth support an organization through education and service. Check UUCD; memo: Offering.
April 7, 9:30 & 11:15am, Remember the Connection; Rev. Beth Banks; Jaki Levia Conklin, Worship Associate. In April, we
celebrate Earth Day We begin by honoring the connections that make us whole. This service focuses on a multiplicity of
connections: from Sparks Choir’s connection with northern CA UU choirs to the extensive collaboration that created
this service. Jaki Levia Conklin interprets Joy Harjo’s poem, Remember through movement/dance. Joy Harjo identifies as
Myskoke/Creek First Nations; Jaki Leiva Conklin identifies as Anishinaabe of Ojibwe decent.
April 7, Evensong 6:45pm Gathering; 7-7:45pm Evensong; Rev. Beth Banks &
Alison Skinner. This brief worship experience prepares us for the transition
from day to evening, from weekend into week. Invite friends to slow down and
witnessing beauty. Small Group Ministry groups can use the service as a special
evening together. Participate or let the music flow around you. Candlelight,
repetitive singing, readings, and ritual. The final Evensong for the season is
May 5. We’ll break for the summer and begin again October 6.
April 14, 9:30 & 11:15am, Wholeness; Campus Students & Alex Haider-Winnett.
April 21, 9:30 & 11:15am, Come Together: Easter & Earth Day; Rev. Beth Banks & Alex Haider-Winnett; Anne Hillman,
Worship Associate; Sparks Choir & Juuliebells. Multigenerational worship service. Our message is informed by the
2019 UUA book, Justice on Earth: People of Faith Working at the Intersections of Race, Class, and Environment, edited by
Manish Mishra-Marzetti and Jennifer Nordstrom. https://www.uua.org/books/read/justice-on-earth
Child Dedications on Easter at the 11:15am service. If you have a child or a baby to be dedicated, please
contact Alex Haider-Winnett, campusministry@uudavis.org, before April 1.
Easter Egg Hunt 10:30am, Sanctuary. Bring your basket & follow the bunny! "Under 3/Sugar Free" zone.
April 28, 9:30 & 11:15am, Our Bodies, Our Spirit: The Wholeness of Humanity; Rev. Beth Banks; Grainne Grant, Worship
Associate. How we perceive and judge our own bodies and the bodies of others is spiritual and an issue of justice.
Glenn Marla, a theater artist who blogs about body liberation, says, "There is no wrong way to have a body."
Before Sunday, you can watch episodes of, Shrill, based on the book, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West.
Listen Download or stream edited Sunday services at www.uudavispodcast.org
Podcasts: Hidden Brain, Our Better Nature, Brings Earth Day and wholeness together in an exploration of physiological and
psychological benefits of spending time in nature. https://www.npr.org/2018/09/10/646413667/our-better-nature-how-the-
great-outdoors-can-improve-your-life
On Being, What Does it Mean to Be a Man? “Society rarely provides space for men to be whole...Very rarely are cis-
men given space to interrogate and create their own definition of masculinity that includes being emotionally or mentally
sound and whole... The emotionally damaging ‘masculinization’ of young men starts even before young men have a keen
sense of self...” https://onbeing.org/blog/jonathan-p-higgins-what-does- it-mean-to-be-a-man/
Blackness & Belonging, Healing Justice, Interview with leading healer and teacher in the Black Lives Matter movement
who works at the intersection of healing and justice, and works to address trauma, move through conflict, and center
wholeness. Prentis Hemphill https://radiopublic.com/healing-justice-podcast- WznLEJ/ep/s1!0ba4b
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