Dr. Helen Hsu

Vigils for Oak Creek Victims

Nationwide Vigils for Oak Creek victims

 

PLease see the link above for nationwide vigils in solidarity and honor for Oak Creek victims and the Sikh Community

 

Visiting at Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist

Youth and Family Services (YFS) was invited to pay a visit to the congregation at Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist in Fremont.  Always happy to do outreach and talk with people about mental health work and education, I volunteered my Sunday morning.

As a public employee and non-secular person, I ground my work and my life in values of health and equality.  I try to avoid my own biases from creeping into the work by centering on the simple principle that one should strive to do what is healthy and promotes the well being of all.  All of us who serve the public need to keep our own personal beliefs and customs out of the business of helping those who may have very different belief systems. 

Religion can be a wonderous force in society, or it can be a source of great manipulation and harm.  I have seen people's whose faith saved and changed lives. And I have seen those who were judged and berated and harmed by dogmatic faith.

I appreciate the Unitarian Universalist mission statements and action guide which includes:

Providing educational experiences for all ages that encourage free and responsible search for truth and meaning and an acceptance of religious and social diversity.

Serving the community in accordance with our social conscience and our Unitarian Universalist principles.

Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

This day's sermon focused on the notion of "To Thine Own Self Be True", but how being true has more to do with finding meaning and giving of oneself than with wallowing in our own pleasures and laziness.  I couldn't agree more.  I have found incredible life meaning and satisfaction by serving others, that would have been impossible by any of the other means we use to placate ourselves in modern society (shopping, TV viewing, drinking).

I was invited to the pulpit to share about the work of YFS, our presence in 21 public schools, our training of 25 graduate level interns, and the families we serve in English, Farsi, Spanish, Mandarin, and Hindi.  How our children suffer from grief and loss, anxiety and depression.  How families right here locally have become homeless, and the impact of divorce, incarceration, and other life adjustments that children struggle to understand and cope with.  How our infant toddler youth program teaches parenting and attachment to parents who may never have received nurturing care themselves.

Near the end of a lovely service that featured music (I'll admit my favorite was a Tom Waits song titled "Come up to the House"), meditation, thoughts from Ralph Waldo Emerson, a humorous children's story, and the sharing of personal joys and sorrows, the congregation passed around a collections plate on behalf of YFS.  I was touched that this small group of new friends I met merely an hour ago, gave generously of themselves and donated $500 to benefit the children and families of Fremont. It always moves me to be reminded that there are people who care enough to help those they do not personally know, simply because it is kind and right.

I ended my visit by accepting their kind offerings to the children and families of YFS, (and making an adorable set of handmade purchases in their holiday boutique to add to the play therapy toys at the office).

 

For more information about Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation overall:

office@mpuuc.org

www.mpuuc.org

A mental health support group for people living with depression and other related conditions meets Monday evenings 7:30-9:00 pm at the office of Reaching Across at 3833 Peralta Ave., Suite D in Fremont and is open to people inside and outside of the congregation.  For more info: Rev. Barbara Meyers at 510-796-5722 or Scotty 510-745-9500.

A support group for Families to help and cope with a family member suffering mental illness meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays a month at 7:00 pm at Holly Community Center in Union City 31600  Alvarado Blvd. For more info: Patty Espeseth 510-727-2700 ext 4156 or Peggy Rahman 510-794-0860