Introducing our New President, Rod Belshee

On a hike a few weeks ago I came across at strange creature that looked like half a moth at one end and nondescript at the other. Dr. Cameron Barrows explained the fascinating story to me.

When a moth emerges from the cocoon its wings are folded up and soggy. It quickly pumps hemolymph (insect blood) into the veins of the wings, blowing them up like a balloon. The wings dry in a few hours and then another magical process occurs: several chemical changes sclerotize the wings, cross-linking the proteins into a rigid matrix.

What does that have to do with the creature I saw? The poor guy didn’t get out of the cocoon fast enough. His wings hardened half way out and he died.

And what does that have to do with UUCOD? The world around us has changed. The rise of hate, bigotry, and authoritarianism is alarming. And, like the pupae, when the world changes we have to act.

Many in our congregation already act individually: volunteering for Street Medicine or at Galilee Center or other places, writing postcards, and so much more. And we have collective action like marching at rallies, food and formula and socks collections, Laundry Love, Share The Plate, and more.

But can we make a bigger impact? We propose to Meet the Moment by focusing hyper-locally to reduce harm caused by our federal government to the local immigrant community. We are meeting with front-line organizations, discussing their needs and our capabilities, to see how we can help and follow their lead.

It involves some soul searching – are we disrupters willing to put our bodies on the line, or would we prefer to generously help fund relief organizations from a safe distance, or something in between? In fact, Rev Ian is leading a class, Social Change Now, which is helping participants understand the roles in which they shine. (If you didn’t enroll in this series, do sign up for the next one.)

Stay tuned as we discern what it means for UUCOD to Meet this Moment, collectively, to reduce harm to local immigrant communities. We cannot be like the poor Sphinx moth. We must act, and once we start we need to sustain our bold actions.

~ Rod Belshee, UUCOD Board President

Thomas C. Wolfe (1900 – 1938), who once said he wrote a book to forget it, was a North Carolinian originator of the autobiographical fiction genre and is credited with coining the term “you can’t go home again.” Awaiting the connecting flight to North Carolina, I go...

A Message from the Board President Have you ever learned something significant about yourself unexpectedly? Has a personal insight ever suddenly awakened you in some way? The other evening, I was catching up with a friend. She asked me what I’d been doing since the...

"The decisions—to volunteer at the shelter and to keep rather than turn in a stray dog— have been some of the better decisions of the year. Working with, caring for, and simply loving and petting these dogs got me out of the troubles of the day" Perhaps the morning...

Have you noticed the uptick in attendance? Wasn’t it nice catching up with everyone and celebrating our 65th birthday? Did you see all the prospective new Members taking their orientation classes? Are you looking forward to representing UUCOD at the 39th annual Greater Palm Springs LGTBQ Pride Parade and cutting loose at the annual service auction in the next couple weeks?

This time of year always seems to bring  the hustle and bustle of church.

It’s the end of September, snow birds are returning, church seats are filling up, groups are re-assembling, and the new church year begins. The new Board—constituted by two new Members and one re-elected Member—has now met twice and taken some actions of which to be aware.

Look at how full the church calendar already is! One occasion of which to take note is our 65th birthday on October 13. The first Church Council follows on October 19, and then November brings the Pride Parade on the 3rd and our annual service auction on November 8 and 9. New Members are celebrated on November 17

From June 20–23, more than 3,400 Unitarian Universalists from around the country and world gathered and attended this year’s all-virtual UUA General Assembly, GA is the annual gathering of UUs, where, in addition to conducting official business of the UUA, they join in community, explore the faith’s theological underpinnings, and emphasize the UUA’s mission, values, and principles. GA 2024 had 2,757 credentialed delegates from 734 congregations in fifty states; Washington, D.C.; Canada; the U.S. Virgin Islands; Mexico, France, and the Philippines. Five UUCOD leaders represented the church: Rev. Riddell; Walter Gendell; Linda Savard; Jane Zaun; and me. This year’s theme was “Love Unites, Stories Ignite,” meant to celebrate the profound impact of love as a binding force that transcends boundaries and divisions.

In some climates, where seasons change, “April showers bring May flowers.” Reportedly, April, the name of the month, originally takes its name from the verb “to open,” as in the season when flowers and trees begin to open. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that April brings Earth Day, on the 22nd.

As we usher in the opening season, are we open to change? Do we encourage enough spiritual growth? Have you transformed lately? Do you value transformation? Rev. Riddell will be asking us to consider transformation this month in his Sunday messages: