Last years’s tragic shooting on two mushroom farms made many of us aware for the first time of the deplorable conditions in which many farmworkers have lived for years. We currently have an opportunity to turn this awareness into action by supporting proposed farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay. ALAS (Ayundando Latinos A Soñar) and Mercy Housing are collaborating to build 40 units of farmworker housing and a farmworker resource center at 555 Kelly. A description of this project is in this flyer. The next step toward building is project approval by the Half Moon Bay Planning Commission, at their meeting on April 23. You can help by sending a letter of support to the Planning Commission before April 18. A sample letter is here.

San Mateo County Libraries is seeking multiple individuals interested in making a difference in the lives of children and families. Big Lift Inspiring Summers Learning Facilitators establish and maintain an environment that embraces the growth mindset, actively facilitates open-ended, child-directed projects, and looks for every opportunity to embrace and incorporate youth creativity. More information—on the position, camp charter, location, schedule, and desired skill sets—this is all available in the online job description. Mostly, these paid positions ($21-$31 dollars per hour) are designed to support college-aged students, recent graduates, and paraprofessionals working in youth education. If you know anyone who might qualify, please pass on this info.

On Sunday, April 7, we explore the Touchtones theme of Generosity. On that date, Bill Heavlin offers a sermon entitled “(Self-)Talk about Giving.” In a narrative mixing psychology, poetry, yoga, and a little of himself, Bill describes a subset of his journey toward becoming more generous. And how, inspired by a certain bovine stare, he winks, blinks, and then offers up a little bit more.

Bill Heavlin recently retired after a working career of 54 years. He has one son, well-established in Minneapolis. With his wife Noreen, Bill is one of the principal lay leaders of the Unitarian Universalist Coastside Community. With Esther Wallace, he recently concluded yet another iteration of the sermon-writing class for lay people, "Shared Pulpit."

Gorgeous music will be provided by Diedrik Edholm, with rousing hymns led by Tom Devine.

UUCC First Sunday services are held at 11:00 am, Odd Fellows Hall, 526 Main Street, in Half Moon Bay.

April 7 Order of Service

One-click UUCC Zoom Link

or Meeting ID: 661 775 5196 Password: UUseesea or 416762

or visit uucoastside.org for the day-of Zoom link

Please join us at 11:00 am Pacific, 2:00 pm Eastern

We had such a great discussion with our inaugural third Sunday service in March, with many regulars in attendance. Don't miss out on attending the April 21st "Gathering of Inspirations," 11am, where we'll meet in person to contemplate more deeply the preceding first Sunday service and sermon on Generosity. After Bill has offered his own Generosity Journey, we invite you to report on actions the service inspired, read out any written reflections, and present other identified resources — news reports, online articles, artworks, and poems might be examples.

Unfortunately, we cannot meet regularly at the Half Moon Bay Library. We're still in search mode for another new and less expensive venue to gather for these Third-Sunday meetings. If you know of any other possible meeting locations, please let us know.

2024 is the year of Building More Beloved Community at UUCC and we continue to offer monthly gatherings such as Feministas Who Lunch where all topics are open for discussion from politics to our daily lives. We'll meet again at the Sharp Park Restaurant, located near the Sharp Park Golf Course, on Saturday, April 13th, 1:30pm in Pacifica. We had some parking problems last month, trying to go into downtown Half Moon Bay on a sunny Saturday. There is always ample parking at the Sharp Park Restaurant, located at 2600 Francisco Blvd in Pacifica. RSVPs of Yes are appreciated when the email reminder is sent.

Our next Deeper Conversations meeting will be held again at the Half Moon Bay Coffee Company, 20 Stone Pine Rd., on Saturday, April 27th, at 1:30pm-3pm. We'll be using an old favorite card deck, called "Let's Get Closer: Questions that strengthen bonds and build relationships." Some sample questions include: "What is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you?," "Who or what has changed your life?," and "How do you wish to be remembered?" Join us as we set aside the small talk and continue bonding more deeply as our UU Coastside beloved community.

We are well on our way to starting a monthly Modern Men's Group for UUCC. So far, six have expressed their interest in participating.

UU Men's Groups can take various forms. Examples:

• Social Group—Monthly dinners, sporting events, card-playing, hiking, camping.
• Service Group—Occasional group providing service to the community.
• Discussion Group—Begins with check-in allowing personal sharing, followed by discussion of an issue relevant to men.
• Support Group—Permits sharing of personal joys, sorrows, and concerns that can only be spoken in a trust-based environment of compassionate listeners.

If interested in participating in a monthly men's group, email Bill Heavlin, who is currently working out the most inclusive schedule.

“I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on last October 7 and for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip.”

“How much suffering we see in the eyes of children, the children have forgotten to smile in those war zones. With their eyes, children ask us: Why? Why all this death? Why all this destruction? War is always an absurdity and a defeat."

Pope renews call for Gaza ceasefire, release of captives in Easter Address, Aljazeera News, March 31, 2024.

Now that we are meeting in person on First Sundays, we need help in different ways. Can you commit to helping out in any of the following ways?

• Photograph our April 7th Service
• Bring flowers!
• Greet people as they come in
• Set up chairs before, and/or put them away after, the Service
• Help unload and load video equipment for hybrid service
• Assist with setting up video equipment for hybrid service
• Pass out the orders of service and distribute hymnals
• Clean up of the hall before closing

To tell us how you can help our Beloved Community come together again, please contact us at uucoastside@gmail.com. And thanks to all who have or continue to volunteer!