Rev. JD Benson will preach on On the Frontier of Our Ideals: The Western Unitarian Conference and Our Creed of Radical Inclusion.

One of our Unitarian Universalist sound bites is "deeds not creeds".

Is this a creed? What are its roots in our Unitarian history? What does it mean to have a creed of radical inclusivity?

Media Democracy: Transforming our communications systems for public service will be discussed by Jeff Perlstein, Executive Director of Media Alliance at the Forum, Sunday at 9:30.

Media Alliance is one of the pioneering public interest advocacy organizations working for the greater independence and diversity of sources within our communication and media systems in the United States.

Jeff, Henry Kroll, and others will report on the recent National Media Reform Conference, where Bill Moyers gave the keynote address. The conference brought the largest number (about 4000) of concerned Americans ever assembled to discuss changes necessary in our media systems to meet the needs of our nation's citizens and to enhance democracy.

The program will start at 9:45. Come at 9:30 for conversation, coffee, and (for a slight charge) a light breakfast.

from Natalie Freeburg, Acting Director of Religious Education

You are invited to gather in the chapel at 10 am sharp on Sunday (9:45 am if you are an adult volunteering to help) as religious education learners and leaders take action on one of the 7 Principles of Unitarian Universalism and get ready for a Cool Deeds Ocean Beach Cleanup!

The participants will start with a short ceremony and then carpool to the beach. Children do not need to have their guardian/parent go with them, but must have permission slips and car seats for themselves. Heavy rain cancels, but bring rain gear if it's only a light rain.

If you are planning to drive or want to volunteer, please call Linda Harris at 215-7292 before Saturday so she can coordinate. The Cool Deeds kids will return to the church by 12:15 pm.

Those learners who do not want to attend the field trip are invited to an all-age activity at the church.

After the Sunday service you are invited to write your peace message on a blue ribbon that will encircle the Church and Center. In February, the Congregation voted to take a public stand for peace by hanging two banners and placing a ribbon around our buildings. Now the Congregation is creating the ribbon! Please think (a great Unitarian Universalist tradition... thinking ! ) about what words you will contribute.

You may want to choose words of leaders for peace like Martin Luther King, Virginia Wolff, Gandhi or our Unitarian Universalist prophets. You may want to write your own thoughts about peace. Your words will become part of the encircling ribbon.

Please join the community in the Sanctuary between noon and 2pm this Sunday to work for peace in an unique and public way. All of us, friends and members, are instrumental in naming our values. The Folk Orchestra will play. Children who come will be helped with writing or drawing on the ribbon.

The ceremony celebrating the banners and ribbon will take place on Sunday, May 13, the anniversary of Unitarian Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation of Peace. A second ribbon signing opportunity for children who are away this week will occur next Sunday, April 22nd.

The Reverend John H. Robinson writes:

I managed to contract Lyme's disease -- caught it early -- and then got a bad cold last week but I am better now. Confirmed my decision to retire in June.

Our best wishes to John and Diane Weber on his re-retirement!

---

Shirley Gibson reports that her husband, Tim Pori, had successful tumor removal surgery on his liver and colon, and that the chemotherapy sessions beforehand were also successful with their goal. Tim will spend a few more days in the hospital (much to his chagrin!), and will then return home. Cards are welcome.

Anna Rind's 89th birthday is Sunday. Happy Birthday, Anna!

In about 30-minutes on Sunday, April 22 you will eat, see live infomercials, learn where $300,000 in outreach money is going to be spent, and hear The Rev. Greg Stewart talk about this growth thing.

"You give us 30 minutes, and we'll give you 30 weeks of publicity and welcoming events," says Growing On task force chair Kristen Kekich. She swears that there will be facts flying, details delivered, and plans plotted in quick order.

Make your own plans to come to What's Growing On with your family. Your children are invited to stay in the main event or will be cared for in a quieter room where there will be pizza, if that's more appropriate for them.

The cost for being on the cutting edge of the Society's growth? The Growing On task force will ask for donations of $5 a person or $10 for a family for food, but there is no requirement to pay. Paying attention for the half-hour program, however, will be amply rewarded with knowledge and energy.

Ready to plan for a weekend out of town in the beautiful Freestone valley? Come away for the All-Church Retreat on Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28, by picking up a registration form at the Retreat table this Sunday at coffee hour.

Set aside space and time for sitting in the sun, hiking, swimming, games, and creative frolics.

The Retreat will have accessible accommodations for all ages in our community. Early-bird discount registration is available through April 30.

The rabbit ears pictured here were perfect for the day, and other celebrants wore head coverings that ranged from simple elegance to, well, gaudy. You can decide which hats are in which category for yourself by looking at the photos in our collection.