I know nearly all our congregations have set up email lists to help their members connect to one another directly. Would doing the same thing across congregational boundaries be of interest to people? Let's find out.

We've just created a new mailing list, PCD-Connections, for the members of our PCD congregations to use in networking with one another. This is a reflection of our belief that we are better together! The list may be used to ask questions of one another about congregational life, to post news about congregational activities that may be of interest to others, to set up carpooling to District events or the Gay Pride Parade, to get a good referral for a guest musician or, on the personal side, a good referral for a veterinarian.

Subscribing to this list is easy, just go to http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/pcd- connections . You'll be asked to enter your email address and a self-assigned password. You will see another window asking for your name, and labeled "optional." We're asking that you enter your real name here, and your congregation, e.g., "Chuck Rosene, Oakland." And if you don't want to fuss with this, just send me a note, and I'll be happy to get you signed up!

The group of students, who are all at the same level in that they are all enrolled in the same class at the same college, stand on one side of a room and are told to take one step forward each time they answer "yes" to any the following questions (I won't list them all here; you can see the full list online): Take one step forward if-

• your father went to college.
• your mother went to college.
• you have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.
• your family was the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
• you had more than 50 books at home when you were growing up.
• you had more than 500 books at home when you were growing up.
• you were read children's books by a parent when you were growing up.
• you had any kind of lessons (piano, karate, ballet. . .) as a child or teen.
• the people in the media who dress and talk like you were portrayed positively.
• you had or will have no student loans when you graduate.
• you went to summer camp.
• there was original art in your house as a child or teen.
• you had your own room as a child or teen.
• your parents took you to museums and art galleries as a child or teen.
• you were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

At the end of the exercise it is visually apparent that some students are far ahead of others. They are all in the same place, but some had to work much harder to get there. The goals of this exercise are modest ones-to get people thinking and talking about privilege and class.

For those interested in taking a different kind of step forward, the deadline for online registration for Leading Congregations into a Multiracial, Multicultural Future: Now Is the Time is this coming Wednesday, January 23. This national conference is being held in San Jose, and I sure hope our congregations will be well represented!

The Reverend Gene Bridges died peacefully on January 3 at his home in Honolulu at the age of 78. A Starr King graduate, Gene served our Honolulu congregation between 1962 and 1970. Reverend Mike Young writes, "He was a stalwart supporter of civil rights, racial justice, and peace. The Hawaii ACLU's first phone was on his desk. He had marched in Selma and, at the time of his death, was advocating hard for the impeachment of the current administration. Always a contrarian, he was a practicing attorney, ran the best B&B reservation service in Hawaii, and managed to influence and change a lot of lives during his career." Messages of condolence or remembrance may be sent to his children at 3242 Kaohinani Drive, Honolulu, HI 96817- 1020.

Two candidates have formally announced their intentions to run for the presidency of the UUA when Reverend Bill Sinkford's term ends in June, 2009: the Reverend Laurel Hallman, Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Church in Dallas, and the Reverend Peter Morales, Senior Minister at Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, CO. Links to their announcements may be found at http://www.philocrites.com/archives/003847.html

The Starr King School for the Ministry, serving our congregations by educating our clergy since its founding in 1904, has received a record breaking number of applications for the fall 2008 entering class, from a group described as "an exceptionally well- qualified pool of potential students." If you are interested in enrolling, there is still space available, but your application must be received by March 1. For more information, see their web site.

Our Mission Peak congregation is seeking a part-time Director of Religious Education. The ideal candidate has organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, likes kids, and is philosophically in alignment with UUism. More information is available online, or by contacting Lucy Rich at (510) 796-3014.

The Jesus Seminar on the Road is coming to our Palo Alto congregation, Feb. 29 and Mar. 1, with a presentation and workshop on the Parables of Jesus. Pre- registration is strongly recommended, and due by Feb. 8, and child care is generally available with two weeks notice. For more information, see the Adult RE page of their web site, or contact the Reverend Eva Èeskava at (650) 494-0541, ext. 28.

Our San Jose congregation invites you to A Winter Series on Nonviolence, to explore how the world has used nonviolent conflict to achieve democracy and human rights. Long-time activist Patrick O'Connell brings a multi-media presentation that looks at some of history's greatest examples, and will lead a discussion on how to apply these lessons today. Classes are free, and will meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30, from Jan. 29 through April 1. For more information see their What's Happening web page, or contact Carol at (408) 292-3858, ext.27.

Here is a second story on Mount Diablo's Survivor survivor, Sonja Christopher, her experience on the Survivor TV show, and her generosity toward UUism. Note that this one has an AP byline, indicating that it was probably circulated around the country (it's already been published in the Sacramento Bee and the San Francisco Chronicle). And she's represented all of us very well! You can also watch a video clip of Sonja on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as she tried to answer the question, "Did you like those people?" Stewart says, "You were the nicest person on the island!"