Social Action

Interested in Tutoring a Child?

CREER, our OCCCO partner community group in San Juan Capistrano has English and math tutoring needs for their young children. Are you available Saturdays from 3-4? They start up again on Saturday, January 10, at the Christian Science Church in San Juan. If interested, please sign up at the social action table. We’re also forming small groups of adults for English and Spanish instruction. Times will be flexible. There’s also a signup for that. Questions to Jan Meslin at

In Darfur, a Play

In Darfur a mobile production play is coming to Tapestry in February. The play is the provocative account of three intertwined lives at a camp for internally displaced persons in Darfur. The story follows an aid worker's mission to save and protect lives; a journalist's pursuit to deliver a Page One story; and a Darfuri woman's quest for safety. It is a searing story of urgency and international significance you won't want to miss. Stay tuned for details!

Food Donations Urgently Needed

With the economy in dire straits, more and more people are needy. Local food banks continue to run out of food. Please help by bringing nonperishable food items and place them in the South County Outreach food bin in the social hall. This is an ongoing project.

Environmental Action Group

Green Sanctuary

We did it! We’re officially a Green Sanctuary- certified congregation! Hats off to Bev Huff and her committee who led us through this process. During the last year, many of us have changed the way we think about the world and have also begun to take actions to protect our Mother Earth. Encouraged by the actions of the Sustainability group, a Simplicity Circle is forming. Of course all of these actions are ongoing so you’ll keep hearing from us! For details about green sanctuary congregations, also called the Seventh Principle Project, visit the UUA Green Sanctuary page. Or come to a Green Sanctuary meeting; we meet the 4th Sunday of every month upstairs at 12:30 p.m.

Sierra Club Global Warming Meeting

The Sierra Sage, a local Sierra Club group, will be hosting a panel with energy experts and a local governmental official on climate change on January 27. See the Community page for details.

Social Justice Group

Marilyn Schroeder has taken over the leadership of this group.  Paul Carlton is continuing the CREER hikes this year, but Sierra Club requires that the drivers all be trained Sierra Club volunteers and that they use a van. Tapestry's role will be to serve the food provided by Sierra Club. So we have decided that we will move on to a project with South Country Outreach or Second Harvest as a viable alternative.  UUA is clarifying Environmental Justice to mean eating ethically which involves fair production, distribution and consumption of food .
Bev Huff

Religious Education

Judy Tracy has taken over the leadership of this group. She will coordinate activities between the Sustainable Living Committee and Religious Exploration for Children & Youth to ensure that we are working on similar projects.

Worship

Gary Livesey facilitates this group.  Dave Salahi will do a sermon on Living Simply.  Gary is trying to schedule an Episcopal minister from Long Beach who spoke at the OCICE conference last year for a spring sermon.

Sustainable Living Committee

Melanie McCullough joined this group facilitated by Carol Semelroth. She brings her interest and resources on ethical eating. They have gone above and beyond as far as keeping sustainable living in front of the congregation by having Green Sanctuary Sunday on the second Sunday of each month.

Community Services

Karen Nichols reports that Tapestry has once again helped those in need during the holiday season. Of course we have a nonperishable food and used clothing drive throughout the year, and we’ve recently helped several families to make their holiday time more special.

Thank you to all who contributed to the EOPS families we supported. (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services at Saddleback College is committed to the outreach, success, and retention of college students. The EOPS Program is designed to assist students from educational and socioeconomic disadvantaged backgrounds. The goals of the EOPS Program are to prepare students to transfer to four-year universities, complete an Associate Degree or achieve a vocational certificate.)

We also sent money to the South County Outreach program. And thank you to all for contributing more than 200 canned and non-perishable food items to the South County canned food drive!

GLBTQ Alliance

For all of you who would like to help repeal Prop 8 or otherwise find ways to support equality, consider joining the Orange County Equality Coalition. Contact Jocelyn Cooper for more information.

Mexico Home Building with Corazón

Corazón, does that ring a bell? Eighteen of us, including several from Laguna Beach UU Church, took part in a Corazon rebuilding project in Tijuana a couple of years ago. We worked so hard, had a great time, and really helped a wonderful family get an addition to their home. Several who like to get their hands dirty have mentioned the desire to do this. We're currently planning a project in June 2009. Check back soon for more details.

Charlie Clements, Pres. UU Service Committee

Charlie Clements, President and CEO of the national Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Saturday, January 17, 1:00 p.m., Orange Coast UU Church, 1259 Victoria St, Costa Mesa.
On this holiday weekend, when we honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., Charlie will reflect upon his legacy in the context of the 2008 presidential elections. Charlie is a great person and an enlightening speaker!

Have You Been Wanting To Get Involved With the Social Action Committee? We Need You!

"...to support commitment to service in the wider world."
These words, taken from the UUCSC mission statement, describe the spirit and commitment that motivate the members of the Social Action Committee. We represent the aspects of Unitarian Universalism dedicated to making our world a better place to live. We need your ideas, your energy, and your help! We encourage each other's struggles with the hard questions. We are working together as a team to bring these questions to the attention of the larger community. Please join us at one of our meetings or events.
Jan Meslin, Chair ()

Events/Programs

Jan Meslin ( ) and Shirley McGovern (), Co-chairs
We address the symptoms of violence and injustice in today's world through a once per month letter writing campaign, programs and events to educate the public on current issues, and demonstrations. We welcome newcomers to our planning meetings. Our mission is to provide current and credible information related to issues of peace and democracy through email, information tables, programs and events. We do these things in an effort to enhance our collective understanding of world events and foster compassion for those who are suffering. In the end, we believe that these things lead to greater peace and justice, both within our local community and beyond.