UU Studio City Journal 2019

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JOURNAL SERVICE OCTOBER 20, 2019

Honoring

Donna Mae and Stan Pitluck

A N N I V E R S A R Y

Stan and Donna Mae Pitluck, 2018

Continued on next page

Working, Playing, and Praying with Stan and Donna Mae

by Rev. Jon Bassinger-Flores, President

One of our many 75th Anniversary celebrations featured the UU2 Band, waffles and ice cream, and the dedication of the 75th Anniversary Tree.

At Rev. Hannah’s installation as settled minister, the music and love overflowed.

We used a Star Wars theme to generate excitement for our Annual Campaign.

Social Justice Movie Night featured the filmmakers and stars of Skid Row Marathon

Gene serving chili during a membership luncheon

On Thanksgiving, Terry is cooking, Leslie is serving, and everyone is having fun with Brian and Leslie

Master host and bartender Jerry at work

Family Fun Night treats the kids to a movie while parents get time off.

Sing-along Night at a member’s home.

Our annual Labor Day barbeque at the Balisoks is a chance to enjoy good food, good conversation, and good friends.

We share our pulpit with faith and civic leaders, members, friends and other guests to broaden our outlook and opinions.

Our church choir performs during Passover Seder.

During Water Communion, we celebrate the interconnectedness of life.

A CUUPS pagan ceremony asks us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

We minister to our building and gardens on regular church work days.

The long-running Laugh Out Proud LGBTQ Comedy CafĂŠ, (top) and our new Moorpark Open Mic nights (below) foster community, empower creativity, and amplify voices.

At our Blessing of the Animals service, we honor the care and contributions of all creatures great and small – even if they are plush toys.

Cabaret photos by Barbara Allen

In the streets, in the forest, in the voting booth.

We really do live our values aloud, not alone.

We celebrated the success of the Women’s Suffrage movement, then went out and registered new voters.

Just a few of the UU Studio City marchers at the Women’s March LA (above) and the LA River Clean-Up (below)

Our annual Gun Violence Prevention March and Rally is one way we make our presence, and the fight for sane gun safety laws, known.

Religious Exploration helps children and youth become kind, respectful, fair-minded, strong, and resilient enough to side with love and fight for justice.

Our Bridging Ceremony celebrates the growth of our children from grade to grade, and from child to young adult.

Our “Time for All Ages” is one of our favorite parts of Sunday services, thanks to storytellers like Jason, Antoinette, and Lisa. Thank you, Spirit of Life!

Karen Renee‘s class in the Rainbow Room is always a place of learning, love and fun.

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Fill out visitor and “Time & Talents” forms

ROAD MAP

to Membership

City

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Attend our “New to UU” program or have a one-onone with Rev. Hannah or membership chair Barbara Allen

Volunteer for at least one service activity - greeting, ushering, and gardening are perfect for newcomers!

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Participate in a New Member ceremony and sign our Membership Book

Make a financial pledge or contribution

Ready to hit the road with us?

Email info@UUstudiocity.org or call 818-769-5911

Small Town Church in a Big City

Every day, our campus comes alive with music, meditation, laughter, learning, and love.

Contact one of the committee chairs listed below to discuss opportunities for participation and contribution.

Audio-Visual Team Greg Golden, gxgolden@gmail.com Buildings & Grounds, Rachel Bennett-Steury, rbennettsteury@gmail.com Caring Dorothy Balisok, dorothy@balisok.com Community Garden, Jeanne McConnell, jmcconnell@nickstoutllc.com Communications Cheryl Caplow, cherylcaplow@yahoo.com Emergency Preparedness Brian Bielanski, bcbielanski@gmail.com Finance Dick Bennett, bennett.richarda@gmail.com Fun & Fellowship Brian Bielanski, bcbielanski@gmail.com Gun Violence Prevention Promise info@UUstudiocity.org Homelessness Ministry Theresa Hassman, tmhassman@aol.com Journal, Bill Weber, bill@billweberstudios.com Kitchen Donna Mae Pitluck and Stephanie Prather, Co-Chairs, steffiprather@sbcglobal.net Membership Barbara Allen, bawildrose@gmail.com Men of UU Studio City Bill Weber, bill@billweberstudios.com Music Team Marilyn Shield, marilynshield@gmail.com Religious Exploration, Jason Taksony-Hewitt, dre@uustudiocity.org Social Justice, Antoinette Scully, antoinette@blackandbookish.com Stewardship & Fundraising Robert Gonsalves, uuchurchstudiocity@gmail.com Ushers Luis Harbottle, luhachi@sbcglobal.net Worship, info@UUstudiocity.org

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Greg Golden honored as Man of the Year

Becoming A Man filmmakers at movie night

Thank you Stan and Donna Mae for leading by example.

For the past fifty+ years, you have been the “steady hands” that have kept this ship on a smooth course.

Your partnership in love, life, and community inspires us. Best wishes and continued blessings!

Service Saturday in the community garden

Service Saturday at the Food Bank

Service Saturday making lunches for the homeless

SPIRIT - SERVICE - SUPPORT As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

– PROVERBS 27:17 Taking care of business at our annual barbeque

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The full choir with orchestra at our concert of “Alzheimer’s Stories” in September

Thank you, Stan and Donna Mae, for all that you’ve done, and continue to do, for us all!

Coretta Scott King once said: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

Stan and Donna Mae embody that quote in the way they have contributed to our community. They have each given countless hours over the years of their time, effort, and compassion to making our church community better.

I am especially grateful for their devotion to the choir. They have always been strong supporters of the choir and have let us know how much they appreciate the music we offer up each Sunday and at concerts.

Thank you, Stan and Donna Mae. Heather Stewart Jorden Stan and Donna Mae Pitluck have been major contributors to church activities over many years.

Donna Mae’s fabulous cooking has always left us salivating for more. She has given much of her time providing delicious edibles for the Fall Choir Concerts and our Annual Cabaret. She is also a member of the Music Team and she always adds insightful comments during our monthly gatherings. She and Stan have been very supportive of our choir for decades, attending most Sunday services and choir events. I am always thrilled when they attend a music performance!

I am also grateful that Stan has always helped our choir with set-up and take-down of chairs for all our music activities. His love for UUCSC is

visible in his work as facilities manager of our church.

Thank you Stan and Donna Mae for your love, friendship, and devotion to our choir and church community!

Marilyn Shield Music Team Chair Donna Mae and Stan have been central to so many of the activities at UUCSC for many, many years. We have grown to love them both for who they are and for all that they do.

With gratitude and best wishes, Terry and Gene Paulin Donna Mae has graced us and our palates for so many years with her warmth and superb food. Stan has tended our church home in his calm, attentive and steadfast way. They are such an integral part of our church that I want them to know how appreciated and loved they are! The world is a sweeter place with them in it!

Aviva Heston In loving tribute to the Pitlucks: they welcomed me in – and put me to work!

– but made me feel part of the UU family. I am happy to count them as friends.

With love, David Brown I love styling Hats.

“Donna Mae & Stan, I would love to make you a matching pair of party hats for Cabaret.”

“I’d like a pink hat,” said Donna Mae. On the night of Cabaret in May, Stan was there wearing my blue hat.

He looked so handsome from any angle!

I’m waiting for you, Donna Mae, to wear your pink hat with a fancy feather.

Maybe on the day of the “Horn of Plenty Gala” in November?

With Love, Yoshi Inman Donna Mae and Stan have been the staunchest supporters of the choir ever since I became Music Director in 2011.

Every Sunday, I could count on Donna Mae to say, “The choir was wonderful today!” She would make sure that we had all the desserts and wine and cheese for our receptions after the Fall Concert and Cabaret. She worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the kitchen, and always with her cheerful smile.

Likewise, Stan would oversee the setting up and taking down of tables and risers and work just as tirelessly to make sure every detail was in place for Sunday services as well as evening events.

More than anything, I am grateful for the love and goodwill that both Stan and Donna Mae bring to church every day of the week. I love them for their quiet helpfulness and their grace.

More than anyone else, they embody the love and camaraderie of the church community.

Nancy Holland Music Director

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New Year’s Eve dinner with friends

Christmas dinner at our house

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

IRLYIMLNE

SUHMETCA

EHIKNCT Follow me.

VEDOL WHEN DONNA MAE AND STAN HERD UNITARIAN CATS, THEY ---

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon

Ans:

Answers: MILLINERY, MOUSTACHE, KITCHEN, LOVED. When Donna Mae and Stan herd Unitarian cats, they – “LET LOVE LEAD”

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Thank you Donna Mae and Stan You make everyone in our church community feel welcome and well taken care of.

Thank you Dorothy Wait

Without your vision and leadership, GVVP would not be the influential and effective organization that it is today.

Dorothy Wait

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UUstudiocity.org

This trophy from 2011 was given to Stan in our back yard and reads: “Thank you for your years of service UUCSC Board of Trustees�

Honoring Donna Mae was just as deserving. We love you both and miss seeing all our friends at UUCSC. David Marsh and Maryalice Jordan-Marsh Denver, Colorado

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Proud to supply awards, signs, and banners to UU Studio City!

The Man of the Year lantern award created for the Men of UU Studio City

8855 Canoga Avenue Just north of Parthenia in Canoga Park

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We want to grow up to be Stan and Donna Mae. love, Nick & Bonnie

Rev. Jon Bassinger-Flores Wedding Ofď€ ciant Wedding ofď€ ciant for Los Angeles-area weddings, from the offbeat to traditional, spiritual to non-religious.

LAWeddingCelebrant.com 213-400-0248

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Live your values aloud, not alone, at UU Studio City