History of the
Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church
Timeline of Significant Events
February 21, 2016
April 8, 2007
Easter Service: Vivaldi Gloria
First performance of Children’s Choir, directed by Sierra Lynne White
February 18, 2007
A Toast to Jann Rose Schaub
January 14, 2007
Ministerial Search Committee approved
November 11, 2006
Serve-U makes over $23,000!
November 2006
“Iraq for Sale” with speaker Congressman George Miller
October 2006
Arliss Ungar’s book, With Vision and Courage, a history of Starr King School for the Ministry is published
Old Firehouse School of Walnut Creek opens in Dorothy White building
“An Inconvenient Truth” shown
October 22, 2006
Agnes Elfving’s 100th birthday celebrated
September 2006
Dave Travers becomes Building & Grounds Custodian
August 2006
Diane Miller, interim minister begins
MDUUC approved as Green Sanctuary candidate
July 2006
Green Sanctuary committee gives Party for the Planet
June 2006
R.E. “A Trip around the World”
Dave Sammons retires
Mt. Diablo Parent Co-op disbands (began in 1962)
May 2006
Welcoming Congregation approved
Dave Sammons’ Goodbye Picnic Celebration
April 2006
PCD Assembly hosted by MDUUC, largest ever held
March 2006
Bonnie Dlott ordained
February 2006
$1,000,000 raised for Fellowship Hall, architect chosen
January 2006
Proposed cell phone tower withdrawn
March 2005
Heather Sawyers chosen Director of Lifespan Religious Education
June 2004
Hogwarts comes to R.E. summer program
Our Global Warming Study/Action adopted at GA
Picture Directory published
June 2004
Bonnie Dlott receives UUA Stewardship Award
February 2004
Darrel Richey & Randy Schloesser married in San Francisco
January 2004
Dave Sammons’ 20 year ministry celebrated
September 2003
Mark Tuning, hired, Music Director
Share the Plate offerings began
October 2002
Christy Diggins hired, Administrative Assistant
August 2002
Patio trees donated by Jim Lincoln in memory of his UU minister father
July 2002
Art glass installed in sanctuary
June 2002
Jan Johnson voted Affiliate Community Minister
April 28, 2002
New Grand Piano first concert by Lino Rivera
October 2001
Butterfly Garden created by Nell Fraser
September 2001
Heather Sawyers named Admin. Asst.
June 2001
Hungry – U, “Surviving”
April 2001
50th Anniversary Celebration
2000
July Sonja Christopher donates $2,500 for “Survivor” participationto the Fellowship Hall fund
Sept. Services begin in new sanctuary
Gilmartin building remodeled
Dave & Jan sabbatical – Australia, etc.
Lino Rivera hired as accompanist
Marcia Olsen ordained
Ludell Deutscher’s bronze Sacred Chalice dedicated
November 1999
TIE groups – Together in Exploration begun by Jann Rose Schaub
October 1999
Dedication of new sanctuary
June 1999
UUA Distinguished Service award given to Til Evans
May 1999
Eve Gilmartin, SK honorary degree
May 1999
Return to one Sunday service
November 1998
Darcy Laine ordained
September 1997
Ground breaking for new sanctuary
Spirit Pole, Tree of Life buried
March 1997
Vote to sell land, approve borrowing to build sanctuary
Jean Wilcox retires as RE Dir., Yvonne Rochon new director
January 1997
Aron Gilmartin, Minister Emeritus, 87th birthday, 46 years of ministry
October 1996
Rachel Anderson ordained
September 1996
Our Whole Lives sexuality classes began
April 1996
Art Ungar receives PCD Distinguished Service Award
March 1996
Doddie Stone ordained
February 1996
Beverly Scaff’s, So Great A Vision, MDUUC 1951-1984, published
September 1995
Ordination of Norma Cordell
Cong. vote to join Council of Churches (now Interfaith Council)
First Coming of Age class
May 1995
SK commencement here: Doddie Stone, Bill Sinkford
March 1995
Vote to build new sanctuary
1995
Jan. Jean Wilcox & Robin King in “Love Letters”
1994
Authorize campaign for new sanctuary
Dedication of Norma Cordell’s “Tree of Life” (spirit pole)
Sept. Two Sunday services – 9 & 11am
Nov. New Facilities Task Force plans for future
Beverly Scaff building loan paid off
April 1993
Jean Wilcox takes $2,000 from “Shirley Valentine” to our Transylvania church
Meadow Homes tutoring begun by Florence Pierson
January 1992
New Pulpit designed by Bob Hill, built by Art Ungar
1991
Voted to become Sanctuary for conscientious objectors
Nov. Ordination of Lowell Brook
October 30, 1990
Beverly Scaff retires, office named the Beverly Scaff Building
Jan Looney becomes Administrator
June 1990
Vote to seek status as Welcoming Congregation, for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender persons
1990
Starr King scholarship created honoring Eve Gilmartin
1988
Promise the Children-$12,000 grant, Children’s Task Force created
July 1987
Counseling program created
June 1987
Concord Naval Weapons/Port Chicago procession, Vigil began
June 1987
Memorial Garden, Dedication of Bob Forbes memorial fountain
1987
Began fund for grand piano
Angel Michaels, new choir director
November 1986
Office building groundbreaking, dedicated in Nov.
May 1986
Celebrated 35th anniversary of church
March 1986
Voted to sponsor Central American family in sanctuary
January 1985
Unitarians of Rossmoor began
May 1985
Voted to provide sanctuary for Central American refugees
October 1984
Former Interim Minister Bob Forbes dies
May 1984
Aron Gilmartin’s 50 years of ministry honored
January 1984
Dave Sammons called as Minister
Ludell Deutscher created our beautiful chalice in clay.
September 1983
George Prall, new choir director
March 1983
Couples Club formed
January 1983
Bob Forbes called as Interim Minister, ordained 2-83
August 1982
Peter Christiansen to retire Aug. 83.
Til Evans called as Minister to 12-82
April 1982
Meditation service begun by Ludell Deutscher & Lynne White
1982
LRY became YRUU
December 1979
Bob Baker began annual Clam Chowder & Carol Songfest
May 1979
Sydney Nugent began Caring Committee
March 1979
Til Evans ordained as Minister of Religious Education
February 1979
Deanna Henderson hired. First paid music director
January 1979
Smoking controversy resolved: no smoking in sanctuary and R.E.
September 1978
Barbara Bowers resigns
March 1978
Jim Ocean manages Coffeehouse – best venue for music groups
1978
Hungry U videotapes Hungry U XVII, a first
October 1977
Gil becomes Minister Emeritus
Purchased 65 Eckley for Peace Center and Ecology Center
September 1976
Peter Christiansen chosen Minister
1976
Family U, Childrens’ Hungry U and Art Auction
December 1975
Tom Lindemuth, choir director
October 1975
Ben Chapel killed by train on Sierra LRY trip. Memorial Redwood Grove created by Chapels
July 1975
Jo Bartlett chosen as Interim Minister
April 1975
Barbara Bowers, choir director
March 1975
Gil retired – 15 years as Minister
May 1974
First Joyful Whatzit midweek service became Vespers Service
1974
Sharing in Growth – UUA helps us set goals
April 1973
Extended Family programs began
January 1973
Gil’s sabbatical, church run by Crisis Committee
June 1972
First annual Auction, became Serve U
Church member Pete Stark, bank president (and later Congressperson), established Employee Day Care Center here
1971 – 1972
Switchboard, Rurban Alternative School occupied church
May 1971
May Day multi-media Art Festival
May Pole ceremony
Abbreviations:
SK, SKSM – Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley
RE – Religious Education
LRY – Liberal Religious Youth
YRUU – Young Religious UU’s
PCD – Pacific Central District
UUA – Unitarian Universalist Association In Boston