Board Development Days

A day for congregational teams (board members and clergy) to explore and learn together.

• November 3 at Valley UU Congregation in Chandler, AZ

Upcoming OWL Trainings

OWL All Three Levels Offered

• November 9-11, 2018 - Pilgrim Firs - Port Orchard, WA

OWL Grades 7-9 & 10-12

• November 9-11, 2018 - UU Congregation of Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV

Don't see a training that works for you? The OWL Training Calendar shows all the trainings across the country. You may also contact PWR's lifespan faith specialist Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh to learn whether any trainings are being planned near you.

Support and Healing in the Age of #MeToo

Survivors of sexual assault and harassment have found solace, power, and healing in gathering together for mutual truth-telling and support. Knowing that survivors are of all ages and genders, sometimes it is particularly powerful to gather in a group by age and gender. First Unitarian Church in Portland, Oregon has created a program for adult women which they are generously sharing with other congregations. On our Pacific Western Region website you’ll find a four-session program for a women's circle in both PDF and Word. You can download, adapt, and use it in your own congregation. Our deep gratitude to Rev. Mary Gear for her leadership in this area and her sharing of this resource.

Congregational Pledges and Giving

The 2018/19 fiscal year brings a change to how congregations pledge to their districts and to the UUA. Pledge forms sent to congregations this past spring reflected a request for a unified payment supporting both the APF and your district. If you have questions about your congregation's pledge or payments, please contact Congregational Giving Assistant, Katie Jacobsen, (kjacobsen@uua.org).

When congregations affiliate with the UUA, they pledge their support to the Association. Each congregation’s gifts to their district and to the UUA Annual Program Fund are the fulfillment of a promise that has already been made, and the other congregations in our Association count on your support! The 2018/19 combined pledge is designed to help make clear the fact that we are all one Unitarian Universalist Association – bound together in a network of mutual support as an Association of Congregations. Thank you for your generosity.

Five Pillars of Welcome Renewal - October Weekly Orientations

In 2019 the UUA will be launching a new Welcoming Congregations renewal program called The Five Pillars of Welcome Renewal. The goal of the program is to encourage congregations to practice Welcome every year, year-round.

As they prepare for the January 2019 launch, they are inviting religious leaders and congregants to join one (or more) of our Five Pillars of Welcome Renewal - Weekly Orientation sessions throughout October:

• October Mondays, 2-3pm EST
• October Thursdays, 11am-12pm EST

Register for The Five Pillars Weekly Orientations

Also, please share this link with others in your congregation and community who would like to know more about The Five Pillars of Welcome Renewal.

October is Benefits Tune-up Month!

The UUA Office of Church Staff Finances urges every congregation to complete this Benefits Tune-up Workbook to ensure that you are administering UUA benefits in accordance with plan rules and requirements. By offering UUA benefits, you have made a commitment to honoring the terms of our plans and congregational missteps can be costly.

Celebrating Innovative Ways of Being

We know at least three things about the future of Unitarian Universalism:

1. Organized religion is changing at breakneck speed as more people look for forms of spiritual community that better meet their needs for meaning, personal fulfillment and companionship.
2. Our Unitarian Universalist tradition and principles speak directly and powerfully to many of these people, even if our traditional ways of being in community do not.
3. Unitarian Universalist leaders of all types are pioneering new ways of being in community, worshiping, educating, expressing creativity, leading social justice and starting up social enterprises that give exciting expression to our faith.

For Breakthrough 2018-19, the UUA and UU World want to celebrate innovative ways Unitarian Universalist communities of all kinds are better serving those who need Unitarian Universalism right now. We can’t wait to tell your story.

Learn more. Applications are due November 1.

PWR Congregations in the News

Versatile organ finds new home at Unitarian Universalist Church
The Register-Guard
Organs typically have a very long lifespan, and most tend to stay in one place. The list of organs that have been traveled across the Atlantic is quite short. One such organ now resides in Eugene, at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene.

Petaluma Profile: New UU minister surfs, cooks and works for social justice
Argus Courier
After a long search, The Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma’s have offered Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae the opportunity to be their minister. Kalendae, who began work the first of August, describes himself as, "The newcomer, just learning and listening."

California UU's gather in San Francisco for Climate March
The photo at the top of this PWR newsletter features congregants and religious leaders from the more than 20 UU congregations participating. The list of congregations with members present includes Berkeley Fellowship, Berkeley—Kensington, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Stockton, Fresno, Mt. Diablo—Walnut Creek, Napa, Starr King—Hayward, Los Gatos, Santa Rosa, Davis, Palo Alto, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Petaluma, Sunnyvale, Mission Peak—Fremont, Monterey, Ventura and more. The UU Ministry for the Earth and UU Young Adults for Climate Justice were also represented amongst the more than 2000 people who marched under the banners of faith communities, the largest single group in the march.

PWR Job Postings

PWR Administrative Assistant

The Pacific Western Region is accepting applications for an Administrative Assistant. This is a 30-hour per week position that begins December 3.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Read the full job description in the PWR job postings.

Postings

• Director of Religious Education - UU Fellowship San Luis Obispo County, CA
  Application open until the position is filled.
• Piano Accompanist - Cascade UU Fellowship in East Wenatchee, WA
  Application open until the position is filled.
• Director of Religious Exploration - Evergreen UU Fellowship in Marysville, WA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Interim Director of Family & Lifespan Ministry - First UU Church of San Diego, CA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Director of Religious Education - Pacific UU Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Music Director - UU Congregation of Grand Valley in Grand Junction, CO
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Choir Director - UU Church in Livermore, CA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Director of Music - UU Community Church of Santa Monica, CA
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Rentals Coordinator - First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Facilities Manager - First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco
  Applications open until the position is filled.
• Choir Director - First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, CA
  Applications open until the position is filled.

Looking for job postings in ministry? Visit the UUA's Ministry Opportunities page.

Chalice Lighters - Starr King School for the Ministry (SKSM)

SKSM will be the recipient of the Fall 2018 Pacific Central District Chalice Lighter grant!

For over a decade, SKSM has offered the alternative of a "low residency" option to students whose family, work or financial circumstances prevent them from moving to Berkeley to attend classes. Online education, week-long "intensive" classes on campus, and immersion learning across the globe have expanded educational opportunities and helped to diversify the student body. Along with these benefits come the challenges of a more dispersed community.

Strong collegial connections are highly correlated with successful ministry. To build a stronger community and deepen collegial relationships between on and off campus students, SKSM is organizing an All School Retreat to be held in 2019 that will include all students, both "high" and "low" residency, faculty and staff.

Hard-working seminarians already carry significant student debt. SKSM seeks assistance through a Chalice Lighter grant to cover retreat center fees for all interested students. SKSM will raise additional funds for travel stipends and faculty and staff participation. Every gift matters!

Donations for this call will be accepted through November 5, 2018. Make your donation online or mail your check, payable to PCD Chalice Lighters to: PCD Chalice Lighters, 7511 Greenwood Avenue North, #414, Seattle, WA 98103-4627. Include the PCD designation on both your check and payment envelope. Questions may be directed to pcdchalicelighters@pwruua.org.

PNWD Fall Chalice Lighters 2018-2019 Call: Help put a new roof on the UUCCWC parish house!

Members of the flourishing Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County (UUCCWC) in Hillsboro, Oregon had a plan to make needed improvements to their historic 1910 sanctuary and raised funds to do so. But those funds were diverted to cover flood damage and replace a failed sewer line. Now the roof on their multipurpose parish building is leaking. Typical of their positive approach to problems, they asked us to summon your help with the urgent task of replacing the roof while they raise capital to get the sanctuary improvements back on track. With your help, they can get it all done!

Your gifts will be accepted towards this call through November 19. To make your donation online, please use the donation link. If mailed, please send your check, payable to PNWD Chalice Lighters to: PNWD Chalice Lighters, 7511 Greenwood Avenue North, #414, Seattle, WA 98103-4627. Please include the PNWD-CL designation on both your check and payment envelope.

Questions may be directed to pnwdchalicelighters@pwruua.org. Thank you for your generosity!

PSWD 2019 District Assembly

Save the weekend of April 26-28, 2019, for the next Pacific Southwest District Assembly at the UU Church of Long Beach, California! Our theme will be, "From the Ground Up: The Power of Our PSWD Communities."

The congregation is the foundation of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Everything we do as an expression of our faith is grounded in the local communities from which we all take comfort and strength. Some of our greatest joys sprout from the spiritual communities and the congregations of the Pacific Southwest District – both large and small. How does the theme apply to your congregation or your life?

If you have an idea for a workshop, conference session or other activity that would fit well with this theme, please contact District Assembly planning committee co-chair Michael Hart at michaelhrt3@gmail.com. Workshop submissions are due by October 20, 2018.

Chalice Lighters - Raising the Roof at Tapestry

Two years ago, when their landlord told the congregation its rent could increase by as much as 40 percent over the next three years, the Tapestry congregation launched a "Raise the Roof" capital campaign. They were able to purchase an office building that could be renovated to give it twice as much space as its previously rented facility, more classrooms, a separate social hall, a better equipped sanctuary and a prep kitchen.

With the help of a $200,000 Spirit Level Foundation grant, Tapestry was able to complete most of the renovations and will eventually allow them to host OWL sleepovers, regional UU gatherings and community events.

But before the congregation can obtain an occupancy permit and begin holding Sunday services, some of the renovations required to meet building codes must be done by professionals, renovations that were unexpected and not budgeted.

The assistance of generous Chalice Lighters would help Tapestry complete those renovations, especially the installation of a fire alarm and sprinkler system, and finally move into the home it has dreamed of for more than 20 years.

You can submit your donation online. You may also write a check and mail it to PSWD Chalice Lighters, 7511 Greenwood Avenue North, #414, Seattle, WA 98103-4627. If you send a check, please write PSWD CL in the memo line of your check and on the payment envelope.

Contributions for this call will be accepted through October 23, 2018. If you have any questions, email pswdchalicelighters@pwruua.org. Thank you for your generosity!

Please Confirm!

More and more youth events are using regional registrar services. As church leaders, you may receive an email titled Please Confirm, asking for some background/approval on each person that will be attending any youth event.

We established this process in order to give event staff timely feedback on who is coming and congregations timely information on the number of youth attending, so they can help coordinate supervision and transportation.

A simple one-word response of Approved or Clear, lets us know that we should expect a smooth participation of youth and that adults have a clear background check. If there are any Concerns that will help us make their weekend successful, please let us know. And if there is a reason you feel they should not participate, please Decline, and we will follow up from there.

Long-term this policy encourages high school youth to remain engaged in their local congregation. It is also an important part of helping to ensure a safe experience for our youth, and we hope it is quick and easy for you as well.

Upcoming Youth Events

Cons

• PSWD Fall Con
  October 12-14, 2018
  UU Congregation of Las Vegas, NV
  Registration closed.
• MDD Fall Con
  October 19-21, 2018
  First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, UT
• PNWD Fall Con
  October 26-28, 2018
  Camp Cispus in Randle, WA
• PCD Fall Retreat
  October 26-28, 2018
  UU Church in Livermore, CA

Trainings

• PNWD (East) Youth Advisor Training
  October 13, 2018
  Boise UU Fellowship in Boise, ID
  Registration closed.
• MDD Leadership Development Con
  November 9-11, 2018
  First Universalist Church of Denver, CO
• PNWD(ish) Chaplain Training
  November 16-18, 2018
  North Shore Unitarian Church in Vancouver, BC
• PNWD Leadership Development Con
  November 16-18, 2018
  UU Church in Eugene, OR