History, 1978 - 1982: The Growing Years

We had 119 to 133 Members (it depends on whose notes you use). Our insurance company appraised our buildings at $110,000. After studying the cost of hiring a part time minister and with much guidance from PCD, we decided to operate at least until 1980 without a minister. We hoped to build up a cash reserve and be able to complete much needed capital improvements on the property.

We formed a program committee with a limited budget and had services by Starr King students, members and community speakers. By 1980, Marion Ericksen reported the Program Committee was aiming for two minister programs a month. Thanks to the work by the program committee, the congregation would continue to be provided with well planned Sunday Services. In 1981, Rev. Bob Forbes was performing three sermons a month, handling official functions and group discussions.

By January l983, Rod Walter was our Interim Minister. Jim Steffens organized a Pulpit Committee to solicit potential part time ministers by contacting larger churches and with an ad in the UU Magazine, (only to be informed by PCD that this wasn't the approved method).

By that time Rod had responded to the ad and had agreed to do two Sundays a month, attend Board meetings, do consulting and other functions for six months. Rod had been an executive Director for PCD and UUA for a number of years, a graduate of Starr King and previous to that a radio announcer. He requested that children be present during the first part of Sunday service, held discussion groups after Sunday sermon and attended to the cares and concerns of the congregation.

This was a time of improving and upgrading, not just maintaining the buildings and grounds. We completed furnishing the Solar (now Johnson) Room, tiled the kitchen, landscaped front and back, paved the parking lot, painted and carpeted the Fellowship. We repaired windows, put on a new roof, installed a speaker system and telephone answering service, and repaired the septic tank.

Walt Lab, Dolores Niemi and others spent two years making the stained glass windows. We dedicated them on Easter Sunday 1981. The design was inspired by Carolyn Murvo's drawing and funded by money from the Memorial Funds. Fred Herman suggested we start a Memorial Fund Plaque commemorating the donations and it is hanging on the rear wall.

Walt Lab and a committee designed and built a ramp and railing for wheel chairs. Walt also designed the walnut root lectern, and had the following slogan painted over the sliding doors:

"Love Is The Doctrine Of This Fellowship. The Quest Of Truth Its Sacrament. Service Is Our Prayer. To Dwell Together In Peace, In Knowledge And Freedom, To Seek Humankind In Friendship - This Is Our Pledge."

Religious Education:

Georgia Lynn McGrew, Rita Bankhead, Randy Siefkin, Linda Rau, Judy LeGrand, Bonnie Long, Bill Kennedy, Chris Carr, Judy McKinney, Mary Menz, Sharon Arpoika, Ken Wilmarth and Jenness Willmarth all taught RE.

We averaged ten children a week but many times there were fewer. We increased the Religious Education budget, hired a nursery attendant, tailored programs to fit junior high youth and tried publicity.

Social Action:

We made a special cash collection to aid the emergency food bank. We discussed and supported women's rights, battered women and right to life. We were active in Shelter issues, the refugee forum at MJC, the Asian Festival, the controversial housing of the marching farm workers, Amnesty International and the nuclear freeze vigil at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

The Rosicrucian Order used our building for meetings. The Fellowship agreed to sponsor a preschool program, Rainbow Circle, directed by Georgia Lynn McGrew. In November 1978, it enrolled eighteen children. This program continued until October 1989, when the fellowship found they needed more space for the planned expansion of Religious Education and a full time minister.

Activities:

Fellowship social activities continued with the completion of the Solar Room. We had potluck swim parties at the Martelli's and TenBrink's, Christmas Eve service, Persian and Iranian New year parties, Stone soup, Halloween, Thanksgiving Dinners, 12th night dinner, a Father's Day Picnic and Circle dinners.

There were many fund raising projects; walnut sales, talent auctions, wine and cheese tastings, rummage sales, a tea booth in the park and desert auctions.