Last night, after five hours of deliberation at a third meeting, the Half Moon Bay Planning Commission voted to approve 40 units of very-low and extremely-low senior farmworker housing at 555 Kelly. The tortuous approval process underscores the challenges in creating affordable housing when powerful members of our community appear to value aesthetics and convenience over everyone’s need for housing. As part of Affordable Housing Month, the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County is offering a series of free classes on the many barriers to housing for all. For example, on May 23 is a webinar on Article 34, the 73-year-old state constitutional amendment being used to block conversion of a hotel into permanent housing for unhoused people. You can learn more and sign up here: Affordable Housing Month – Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County (hlcsmc.org)

HMB Odd Fellows Hall hosts a series of "Vintage Films for the Early 20th Century" with live piano accompaniment by Shauna Pickett-Gordon this Saturday, May 18th, 7:30pm. The double feature includes "Safety Last" with Harold Lloyd and "Flash Gordon." Come experience the era of Silent Cinema in the early years before sound. Shauna has researched period music and sets it to action, which creates a unique family treat. This is her tenth year doing this, and it is something you will not want to miss. UUCC rents space at Odd Fellows Hall for both our first and third Sunday gatherings. Ticket sales support their Youth Services Program which awards scholarships to Coastsider youth in need.

$10 dollars at the door, 526 Main Street in Half Moon Bay.

On Saturday, May 25, at 7pm, Emma's Revolution will play at UU San Mateo for a "Raise Your Voice: Get-Out-The-Vote Concert." Emma's Revolution is the dynamic, award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries & Sandy O, whose songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger, and covered by Holly Near. With beautiful harmonies and genre-defying eclecticism, Emma’s Revolution delivers the energy and strength of their convictions, in an uprising of truth and hope for these tumultuous times.

Purchase tickets in advance here for $25 and $20 dollars, or pay at the door. The Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo Church is located at 300 East Santa Inez Avenue in San Mateo.

On Sunday, May 19th, at 11:00 am, UUCC meets again, in person at the Odd Fellows Hall kitchen/reception area. The event is entitled "A Gathering of Inspirations (Equity)" The format is a group discussion and somewhat informal. We hope (a) to explore further the monthly theme of equity and (b) to contemplate more deeply Ronnie Boyd's May 5 sermon on affordable housing. Everyone's invited to describe inspired acts, reflections, and resources — news reports, online articles, artworks, and poems would be examples. Odd Fellows Hall is located at 526 Main Street, in Half Moon Bay.

Come join us Sunday, June 2nd, when Rev. Ryan Althaus presents a sermon entitled “Humility or Humiliated: A compass amidst the stormy seas of the ego” at 11am, Odd Fellows Hall.

"Humility," as C.S. Lewis states, "is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." Hence is the difference between humiliation and humility. We are blessed beings with a lot to be proud of, but pride can be a double-edged sword. This Sunday join in an exploration of the ego as we seek to find balance and acceptance within our own being and outwardly through our social interactions. 

Rev. Ryan Althaus is minister of interfaith relations for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz and the regional Inclusion advocate for the Presbyterian Church USA. He is the author of several books including the recently released, "Expanse: Homos, Hobos and the Holy Hereafter." Ryan lives in Santa Cruz, CA with his dog Rafiki and leads a nonprofit centered around getting diverse individuals from populations with special needs, in recovery, and the houseless playing with one another in an empowering and healing way. Learn more about Rev. Ryan's work around mental health via his site, www.thesurfingmango.com and his nonprofit work at www.urbanworks-sc.org.  You can also join the fun on one of his free community 'Spirit-filled sails' any Saturday at 3pm leaving from the Santa Cruz Harbor.

Our next Deeper Conversations meeting will be held again at the Half Moon Bay Coffee Company, 20 Stone Pine Rd., on Saturday, May 25th, 1:30 pm-3 pm. We'll revisit the Actually Curious deck "Human Rights Edition." Some sample questions include: "Are there any types of work you feel are immoral or unethical? What influences that view?," "What is one social norm you would abolish if you could? Why?" and "What's the biggest step you've taken to reduce your environmental footprint in your daily life?" Join us as we set aside the small talk and continue bonding more deeply as our UU Coastside beloved community.

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, June 8th, 1:30pm in Pacifica. 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.

We're closer to starting a Some Kind of Monthly Men's Group (SKMMG) for UUCC. So far, six have expressed their interest in participating. We'll likely discuss briefly the details of a kickoff meeting at the May 19 Gathering Inspirations Sunday.

If interested in participating in some kind of monthly men's group, you can still email Bill Heavlin.

Students march and rally for the Palestinian cause on the UCLA campus in Westwood. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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 June 2nd 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!