The Catalyst 1 February 2017 Vol. 1
In This Issue February’s Theme: Courage
Feb. 4: Chocolate Lovers’
Hoedown
Feb. 5: Sonora Service –
Courage for the Journey
Feb. 5: Green Bag pick up
Feb. 9: Social Justice Mtg.
Feb. 10: Movie Night:
Citizen King: American
Experience
Feb. 12: Douglas Flat
Service - First Annual
Evolution Week Service
Feb. 16: UU Program
Committee Meeting
Minister’s Column
Feb. 17: Skyline
Discussion about Courage
Hospitality Corner
Feb. 20: Marguerite
Johnson Memorial Service
Chocolate Lovers’ Hoedown
Mark your calendars for February 4th
Here are ways you can help:
We need homemade chocolate items
to auction off.
If you have a skill that could be
auctioned off (lead a hike, teach an art
class, provide dinner for 4-6 at
someone’s home, a couple hours of yard work, you
get the idea) let Rachael know.
Donate a bottle of your favorite premium wine to the Wine
bucket for auction.
SELL TICKETS Please help us double our success from
last year. It will take all of us to do it.
Thanks, Rachel Contact me at 962-0805, 505-2541 or
Courage for the Journey – With Rev. Robert Klein
Sunday, Feb. 5, 10:00 a.m. Sonora Library
As we face a near future even more challenging than many
UUs had hoped, we will need courage to maintain hope
and faith for the journey. Together we stand far stronger
than we could alone. Let us reach out to join together for
the days to come and the journey ahead.
Rev. Bob Klein grew up in the Chicago area and was
educated in the mid-west. After receiving his Master of
Divinity, he entered United Methodist Ministry. Life later led him to become a UU
minister. Having served in several UU churches, he is now the settled minister at the 1st
Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton, where he has served since August 2013.
The Catalyst 2 February 2017 Vol. 1
GREEN BAGS – Mother Lode Food Project
Next green bag pick up: Sunday, February 5. Refrigerator magnets and Project information will
be available at every Sunday service. For more information call Linda at 928-4364 or email:
SOCIAL JUSTICE MEETING
Our UUFTC Social Justice Committee is looking forward to some changes this New Year. We
welcome anyone who would like to become a member. Meetings are on the second Thursday of
the month, 4:00 at Schnoogs. Next meeting February 9th.
Movie Night – Friday, February 10th – 5:30 Potluck/ 6:00 Movie
Citizen King: American Experience We were unable to watch this wonderful film last month due to technical difficulties
and were fortunate to get it again for February.
CITIZEN KING, a two-hour documentary from acclaimed filmmakers Orlando Bagwell and
Noland Walker, explores the last five years in the life of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther
King Jr. Personal recollections and eyewitness accounts of friends, movement associates,
journalists, law enforcement officers, and historians illuminate this little-known chapter in the
story of America's most influential moral leader in the 20th century.
A little-known chapter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s, during which he spoke out against the
Vietnam War and became an advocate for all of America's have-nots, regardless of race. Much is
known of his tireless efforts as a civil rights leader, but this film focuses on King's later work --
which actually caused some to accuse him of abandoning his original mission.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Winston Churchill
The Catalyst 3 February 2017 Vol. 1
Douglas Flat Service – February 12th, 10:30
Douglas Flat Schoolhouse, 1358 Main St.
Among many of the great Unitarian thinkers is Charles Darwin. Each year on his birthday, The
Clergy Letter Project promotes Evolution Weekend nationwide. The Unitarian Universalist Meeting
at Douglas Flat joins them this year with our First Annual Evolution Week Service! Drawing on
material from the Clergy Letter Project and the National Center for Science Education, John
Kramer will explore the facts and feelings behind the social-political controversy over the
teaching of Evolution in schools -this ties in with UUFTC's February theme of Courage in a
surprising way. Come to find out how!
Minister’s Column – Rev. Sonya Sukalski
Love makes us human, courage makes us extraordinary. Faryal Khan Kharal
This quote comes from our Touchstone’s Journal on Courage. I didn’t find
Faryal Khan Kharal when I Googled her, but the truth of her statement
resonates in my heart regardless of who she is, or the path in life she has
walked, or whether she identifies as a “he,” a “she,” or “they.” When
courage builds on love, it is truly extraordinary! In pondering a message
for you all this day of inauguration, I hope you will know that this comes from love.
I want to tell you about something I love these days which takes some courage to say more
publicly. In these postmodern times that often seem “post-truth,” I am having a harder and
harder time listening to “the news.” There was a moment when I was driving back from Nevada
last winter after my third trip to Reno to get out the vote in the primary. I had just lead a team of
10 to support the caucus process. No one in Reno could be found to run the caucus, so 2 locals,
and 9 people from Northern California came together to ensure a fair voting process. As I drove
home, I couldn’t find news of how the Nevada caucus had gone. I heard one sentence – that
Program Committee Meeting
All are welcome to attend the UU Program Committee meeting, Friday, Feb. 16, at
Fellowship House. We'll start at 6 p.m. with a shared potluck supper followed by the
meeting which will start about 6:30. This group, together with Rev. Sukalski, is responsible
for the Sonora Sunday Services and the Adult Programs, currently the Listening Hearts
Covenant Group. Contact Janet Telford, 928-5874, [email protected] for more
information.
The Catalyst 4 February 2017 Vol. 1
Hillary Clinton had won, with no details about the turn out, or percentages of votes, and then the
newscaster turned back to covering what the latest outrage of Donald Trump had been. The NPR
station continued with non-stop coverage that made me more and more outraged. While there
are smart and good people in the mainstream media, getting to the truth of what has happened
and what it means has gotten harder and harder. The two factors I know of that have created the
mainstream media monster many of us confront every day but are stymied to do anything about,
are the effects of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and the elimination of the Fairness
Doctrine in August of 2011.
The airwaves belong to us all, just as the air and water should. It used to be that the FCC
gave broadcast licenses under the conditions that broadcasters actively seek out the truth of a
given issue, report different sides of it, and allow anyone attacked to defend themselves. With
elimination of the Fairness Doctrine, we have seen more of a “he said, she said” kind of reporting
flourish with broadcasters acting simply as stenographers and leaving the viewers or listeners up
to their own devices to figure out the truth. This was aided greatly by the communications and
media lobby’s efforts to pass the Telecommunications Act that fueled telecommunications
mergers on an unprecedented scale to the point that we have 6 telecommunications companies
controlling the vast majority of the messaging we get about the world each day. If you get your
news from Viacom, News Corporation, Comcast, CBS, Time Warner and Disney, chances are you
will not get different stories, values, or messages from what a giant corporation wants you to
hear. I will leave it to you to decide what you think about these regulations and whether they are
good or bad for the American people and US politics. In my frustration with the messages and
stories I was getting through TV, the radio, and newspapers, I turned to alternative sources on
the internet. Now, certainly one has to be a discerning consumer on the internet – there is no
question about that. But given the above, one has be discerning to not fall victim to corporate
propaganda in the news arena in general.
In my quest I found a news organization that doesn’t take advertising, and is funded by
viewers. Through broadcasting on You Tube, and using Twitter for feedback, this organization is
able to broadcast and have real time feedback from the viewers every weekday from 3-5 pm. The
main broadcaster is Cenk Uygur (Jenk You-gur), and the organization is called The Young Turks
(tytnetwork.com). This is not your average news. The broadcasters don’t hold back about their
opinions about what is happening, and their language is neither sanitized of swear words, or
falsely objective. They try to own and name their biases, and I find the emotional honesty about
the news to reinforce my sanity (I’m often not the only one who reacts as they do), and to refresh
my sense of “the way things are.” This way of getting your news may not be for everyone, but
often when I turn on the mainstream media, I find the niggling frustration I experienced before
easier to identify as propaganda, and I can name it and let it go.
The Catalyst 5 February 2017 Vol. 1
It takes a little courage to tell you about the journey I have had in finding news that
doesn’t seem like baloney on a regular basis. I’m sure you will let me know where I am wrong.
And that is a good thing – it’s what the viewers do every day on TYT, and they often make
excellent points from which I learn. A free exchange of ideas is not only what Unitarian
Universalism is built on, it is what our country thrives on when we are at our best. May it always
be so.
These links give a little background on the issues mentioned above.
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34789-democracy-in-peril-twenty-years-of-media-
consolidation-under-the-telecommunications-act
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-
the-fairness-doctrine-in-one-post/2011/08/23/gIQAN8CXZJ_blog.html?utm_term=.bd6fd4de9589
Celebration of Marguerite Johnson’s Life
February 20, 10:30 am, Skyline Place
Marguerite Johnson was a force of nature, and made significant
contributions to community endeavors both in Sonora and the bay
area. We will celebrate her life with Skyline residents who knew
her and UUFTC members and founders.
The family plans to do a more inclusive memorial service later, so
this one will be smaller, just for our UU Fellowship, and her
friends at Skyline since space is limited.
Discussion about Courage February 17, 3:30 pm Skyline Place
The Unitarian Universalist group takes up February’s topic, Courage – we will
discuss the Touchstone’s Journal articles on Courage with Rev. Sonya Sukalski.
February Birthdays
Judy Schroeter * Linda DuTemple
The Catalyst 6 February 2017 Vol. 1
Hospitality Corner February 2017 This is a recipe for a dish featured at our Chocolate Lover's Hoedown!
Eggplant Caponata - serves 6-10 as an appetizer
Ingredients
3 cups olive oil
2 lb. eggplant, cut into 1″ cubes
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 rib celery, roughly chopped
Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to
taste
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1 cup crushed canned tomatoes
6 oz. green olives, pitted and roughly
chopped
1⁄2 cup white wine vinegar 1⁄2 cup golden raisins 1⁄4 cup salt-packed capers, rinsed and
drained
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. finely grated unsweetened
chocolate 1⁄2 cup finely shredded basil
2 tbsp. pine nuts
Instructions Heat oil in a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add eggplant and fry,
tossing occasionally, until browned, 3–4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggplant to a
large bowl; set aside. Pour off all but 1⁄4 cup oil, and reserve for another use. Return skillet to heat,
add onions and celery, and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring often, until beginning to
brown, 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, and add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until
caramelized and almost evaporated, 1–2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and continue cooking
for 10 minutes. Stir in olives, vinegar, raisins, capers, sugar, and chocolate, and cook, stirring
occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Transfer to bowl with eggplant, along with basil
and pine nuts, and mix together. Season with salt and pepper, and let cool to room temperature
before serving with crackers, crostini, or a rustic bread.
UUFTC: 19518 Hess Ave Sonora, CA 95370 / (209) 533-8883
Quick links: UU Fellowship of Tuolumne County/ www.uuftc.org ; Pacific Central District/ www.pcd-uua.org
UU World Magazine/ www.uuworld.org ; UUFTC Calendar/ www.uuftc.org/calendar
UU Service Committee/ www.uusc.org UU Association of Congregations/ www.uua.org
the Catalyst appears on our website each month. When each new issue is posted, notification of its availability is sent to all
subscribers via email. We do not share our list of addresses.
Linda DuTemple, Editor 209/928-4364 [email protected]
Laurie Livingston, Web Design
______________________________________
Rev. Sonya Sukalski, Minister / Rev. Craig Scott, Minister Emeritus
209/533-8883 Church Office
The Catalyst 7 February 2017 Vol. 1
UUFTC Gallery
Truffle Making
Truffle box construction
The Catalyst 8 February 2017 Vol. 1
UUFTC Sunday Service-January 15
the Catalyst 1 February 2017 Vol. 2
In This Issue February’s Theme: Courage
Feb. 16: Ladies Lunch
Bunch – Columbia Kate’s
Feb. 17: UU Program
Committee Meeting
Feb. 17: Skyline discussion
on Courage
Feb. 18: Listening Hearts at
Fellowship House, 11:30
Feb. 18: Introduction to
UUFTC 5-7 p.m.
Feb. 19: Sonora Service:
Whose American Dream?
Feb. 19: UU Adventurer’s
Hike 1:00
Feb. 20: Marguerite
Johnson Memorial Service
Feb. 24: TGIP
Feb. 26: Douglas Flat
Service on this month’s
theme: Courage
Whose American Dream? With Rev. Sonya Sukalski
Sunday, Feb.19, 10:00 a.m. Sonora Library
Courage may well be one of the important things that lie
between you and me. Courage may be what lies between
what we love and what we hate. This Black History Month
we take up the theme of courage inspired by the struggle of
African Americans. From abolitionists to black activists in
the civil and voting rights movements, to children trying to
learn about a parent's too early death, Rev. Sonya Sukalski
and worship associate Monty Thornburg will share stories
you will want to know!
We will be welcoming new members during Sunday’s
service.
Celebration
of Marguerite Johnson’s Life
February 20, 10:30 am, Skyline Place
Marguerite Johnson was a force of nature,
and made significant contributions to
community endeavors both in Sonora and
the bay area. We will celebrate her life
with Skyline residents who knew her and
UUFTC members and founders.
The family plans to do a more inclusive memorial service
later, so this one will be smaller, just for our UU Fellowship,
and her friends at Skyline since space is limited.
the Catalyst 2 February 2017 Vol. 2
Ladies Lunch Bunch
February 16, 11:30 at Columbia Kate’s Teahouse
22727 Columbia St, Columbia, CA 95310
UU women, their guests and friends will gather together
for this monthly luncheon. All are welcome. Please call
Peg Sheldon, 586-9182, by Tuesday, Feb. 14, for a
reservation.
We'd like to honor Black History Month this year with
books that not only explore aspects and moments of
black history but also look at the larger context of these
issues as they continue to affect black communities and our society today and in the future.
www.uua.org/bookstore
True South: Henry Hampton Like One of the Family:
and Eyes on the Prize, Conversations from a Domestic’s
the Landmark Television that Life by Alice Childress
Reframed the Civil Rights
Movement by Jon Else
The Price for Their Pound of Flesh: The Value of the Enslaved, from Womb to Grave, in the Building of
a Nation by Daina Ramey Berry
They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement by
Wesley Lowery
Darkening the Doorways: Black Trailblazers and Missed Opportunities in Unitarian Universalism by
Mark Morrison-Reed
It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before... to test your
limits... to break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight
inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anaïs Nin
the Catalyst 3 February 2017 Vol. 2
Discussion about Courage February 17, 3:30 pm Skyline Place
The Unitarian Universalist group takes up February’s topic is Courage – we will discuss
the Touchstone’s Journal on Courage with Rev. Sonya Sukalski.
UU Adventurer’s Hike February 19
Join us after lunch at the Chinese Restaurant for an exploration of Tuttletown with Bob
Smitheman and Rev. Sonya Sukalski. We will explore the trails near New Melones Lake, weather
permitting. Bring your waterproof shoes and gear, water, and a spirit for exploration! RSVP to
Bob: (209) 586-5975. Meet at 1 pm Washington St. Parking Lot
Program Committee Meeting
All are welcome to attend the UU Program Committee meeting, Friday, Feb. 17, at
Fellowship House. We'll start at 6 p.m. with a shared potluck supper followed by the
meeting which will start about 6:30. This group, together with Rev. Sukalski, is responsible
for the Sonora Sunday Services and the Adult Programs, currently the Listening Hearts
Covenant Group. Contact Janet Telford, 928-5874, [email protected] for more
information.
Introduction to UUFTC February 18, 5-7 pm Fellowship House
This is your chance to learn more about the Unitarian Universalist faith – its origins,
some of the influential thinkers, and how the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of
Tuolumne carries this work on today. RSVP to Dave Jenkins (209) 533-1903 so we
have enough pizza!
the Catalyst 4 February 2017 Vol. 2
UUFTC Photo Gallery
UUFTC members at Women’s March
on Sacramento, January 21
Judy Schroeter’s sign
made ABC news that night
the Catalyst 5 February 2017 Vol. 2
HOEDOWN 2017
Marilyn, Linda and Judy getting the raffle baskets together
Then the party
the Catalyst 6 February 2017 Vol. 2
UUFTC: 19518 Hess Ave Sonora, CA 95370 / (209) 533-8883
Quick links: UU Fellowship of Tuolumne County/ www.uuftc.org ; Pacific Central District/ www.pcd-uua.org
UU World Magazine/ www.uuworld.org ; UUFTC Calendar/ www.uuftc.org/calendar
UU Service Committee/ www.uusc.org UU Association of Congregations/ www.uua.org
Each issue of the Catalyst is posted on our website as it is released. When each new issue is posted, notification of its
availability is sent to all subscribers via email. We do not share our list of addresses.
Linda DuTemple, Editor 209/928-4364 [email protected]
Laurie Livingston, Web Design
______________________________________
Rev. Sonya Sukalski, Minister / Rev. Craig Scott, Minister Emeritus
209/533-8883 Church Office
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