May 2008 Newsletter of the Keweenaw
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Our
liberal religion draws from many sources including humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the
guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries
of the mind and spirit.
__________________________________________________________________________________
May 4: Liberation Theology
It's
caused quite a stir recently, but it has been an integral part of my theological
education for the past 27 years. What is this religious
endeavor anyway and what's it got to do with us? Team Birch.
May 11: Forum - Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne were all interested in the
philosophy called Transcendentalism. Jeni and Jack Jobst will explain the
key points of this concept and how it influenced the lives and thought of
these key UU forbearers. Team Oak.
May 18: Religious Education
Sunday
A
celebration of our commitment to lifelong growth and learning, with kids,
teacher appreciation and welcoming of new members. Potluck, one member from each hospitality team. Remember plates, etc. Book
sale.
May 25: Happiness
Is
happiness a goal, or a byproduct, a deity or an irrelevancy? It's in the
Declaration of Independence, so let's claim our rights and...pursue?
demand? cajole? conjure? consider? "Come, come, whoever you
are/Wanderer, worshipper, lover of journeying..."(Rumi). Team Cedar.
Children RE Classes are on
May 4, 18 and 25.
Childcare is available every Sunday.
Our Minister is The Reverend Sydney A. Morris, ph. 370-3927, samorris@uuma.org.
_______________________________________
Covenant Groups Re-Grouping
Covenant
groups are small 6-member groups whose only task is to share with one
another. There are topics like gratitude, hope, grieving and so on;
themes emerge over each 2-hour meeting. The commitment is for one year,
meeting
once a month, and doing a social service project of the groups' choosing.
Please come to the KUUF Office on May 21, Wednesday, at
Pledge info: Anyone wishing to have an
updated total of the amount they have contributed during this pledge year, June
2007- the present, should contact Barry Fink 482-4632, barryfink@chartermi.net. #
May birthdays: 2nd, Jan Dalquist; 7th,
Betty Haro; 16th, Cindy Harrison; 20th, Elen Maurer; 22nd, William Shapton;
24th, Don Arkin, Leander Wheeler; 25th, Keith Baldwin; 27th, Ellen
Bornhorst, Marty Smith; 28th, Craig
Waddell;
30th, Dustin Ensing.
In
answer to a March birthday card, Dave Watkins sent an email
note: "Thanks for the good birthday wishes. I was in DC for a
workshop, but got to celebrate with my brother who lives there. Am
enjoying
From the KUUF Membership Committee, Barry and Bill Fink, Jeanine Sewell, Alice Boyce Bill
Leder (ex-officio), and Rev. Sydney Morris (ex-officio):
At a recent committee meeting,
a number of things were suggested which might contribute to membership growth
and health.
1.
MOST IMPORTANTLY:
We want to remind everyone that the Membership Committee is in reality a
“Committee of the Whole” within the fellowship. In other words, all of us are responsible for the
smooth functioning of the membership growth of our community.
2. Realizing
that at times the Hospitality Teams may be overextended, we suggest that the
Greeting function of Hospitality Teams might be augmented by one or two
additional people not on the day’s hospitality team, to ensure that both tasks can
be adequately addressed. Some of our youth enjoy participating in the welcoming
function by opening the doors for people. We applaud them, and certainly
encourage them to continue to do so, if they wish.
If
you can volunteer to help with greeting please sign up in the Hospitality book,
whenever you can help.
3.
The following are some of the things the committee identified as being
important duties of Greeters, in order to make visitors feel truly welcomed.
a. Welcome them, ask their
names, where they are from, and any other questions you can think of.
b. Take them to the table to sign
the guest book (unless they choose not to do so) and to fill out nametags. (If
you’ve gotten their names, perhaps you can do the nametags while they sign the
guest book.)
c. IF they have children,
point out where child-care is available and where they will have RE classes at
the appropriate time.
d. Take them into the meeting
room to hang up coats, etc.
e. Introduce them to some
other member/s of the Fellowship, who can in turn introduce them to someone
else. (The answers to the questions you previously asked come in handy here to
“break the ice”.)
f. At the end of the service,
invite them to stay for coffee (or potluck) and introduce them to more people.
(Many visitors feel that they should not stay for potlucks if they didn’t bring
a dish. Reassure them that there is always enough for everyone!)
g. Let
Future Newsletters may have more
ideas to foster growth. There are many things we can do! #
Thoughts
from Your President
Recently I was able to open
the door of our shed for the first time since November, and yes, all the summer
equipment was still there, just as I had left it. The lawn mower had a familiar
smell. I started raking those patches of our front yard that are no longer
covered in snow, exposing green grass, ready for another season of growth. I was reminded of the cycle of life.
Another cycle at KUUF has
begun too. Our 80 in ’08 Canvass is well
underway. During the Stewardship Sunday
Service on April 20, I announced that early pledging by Board and Finance
Committee members raised $33,500. What a
wonderful start! I’ll be providing
updates on a weekly basis as the Canvass grows toward our goal of $80,000. As I experience our Sunday services and
marvel at the breadth and depth of so many activities that we as a community
accomplish, I am uplifted. The warmth of
our collective generosity permeates our Fellowship.
Our Canvass will continue
until the end of May. We will, among
other actions, vote on a final FY08/09 budget during our Annual Meeting
scheduled for June 22.
In April I decided to step
down as Building Committee Chair, a post I’ve held for about four years. This change will allow me to focus more on my
role as President. I’m very pleased that
Roger Held and Marty Smith have agreed to co-chair the Building Committee and
have every confidence that they will lead our continuing journey toward a home
of our own.
Do you want to be in one room
with 5,000 UUs? It’s not too late to make
plans to participate in the UU General Assembly in June. If you would like more information please
contact Sydney or me.
In fellowship, Bill Leder #
Your Fair Trade coffee
purchases make a difference! - Sherry Zoars
The "Equal Exchange (EE) Small Farmer Funds" are donations EE makes
to their Interfaith Program Partners, such as the Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee (UUSC), based on the volume of sales generated by UU
churches. The donations are used to promote human rights and economic
justice in coffee-growing regions. Using these funds, the UUSC has
awarded a grant of $29,245 to Porvenir Financiero, a financial training and
literacy project in
In
addition to supporting the grower co-ops through our purchases, we are also
supporting larger community initiatives through the UUSC. Now, that's
guilt-free coffee drinking! Thanks to all KUUF coffee, tea, and chocolate
buyers. #
Growth News from
Many of you remember Roger
Bertschausen from his presentations here as a visiting minister. In the latest newsletter
from his congregation, the Fox Valley UU Fellowship in
In the newsletter Dottie
reported on her recent trip to a large church conference in
1. Ambivalence about governance and authority – Our liberal theology has the unintended effect of
causing us to be suspicious of leadership. But in order for growth to happen,
we need to authorize our leaders to lead.
2. Inadequate Staffing –Paid staff and volunteers sometimes lack competence
and initiative. He said fast food McDonalds Corp. spends more per employee for
professional development than most UU congregations.
3. Limitations of space – More frequently it is psychological space
limitations rather than physical ones that reduce opportunities for growth.
4. Underutilization of small group
ministries We have the potential for
far more flexibility. We can provide options for people to find groups
representative of their special interests.
5. Underutilization of interactive
technology and media – The internet
and other forms of technology present us with immeasurably powerful tools for
increasing membership.
6. Lack of market differentiation – Newsweek called UUism the quintessential religion of
Baby Boomers. Thus there are many who would like to join us in our work to
build a better world --- if only they knew of us. We each have to understand
and affirm the joy-filled message of here-on-earth salvation that UUism offers.
7. Pervasive low or mediocre
expectations – UUs too often act out
of an underdeveloped sense of communal convictions and commitment and,
therefore, we aspire to be far less than we could be – as individuals and as a
congregation.” #
Building a Culture of
Peace: Can UUs Lead the Way? (from
the uua.org web site)
Through
our seventh principle we express that humans are inextricably connected to the
web of
life.
Peacemaking for humans therefore cannot be separated from peacemaking for all
beings
and our
earth home. We humans know that we are whole only as we consider our rightful
and
peaceful
place within the community of mixed species. From nearly the beginning of
Unitarian
history
in the
nonhuman
world. Our sixth source (Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions
which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony
with the rhythms of nature).captures our central hope of Unitarian Universalist
faith in a time of consequences – a time when the consequences of our violent
action towards one another and the earth may endanger all life, as we know it.
On their web site the UUA invites us to join in a series of informal
discussions by teleconference featuring noted UU leaders and scholars,
on the topic of how UUs can provide leadership in building a culture of
peace. Also at the web site you can read a sermon by the Rev. Richard
Gilbert, a longtime UU minister and creator of "Building Your Own
Theology". Here is an excerpt from his sermon entitled "War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning! And Peace?"
“Rebecca Parker, President
of
seminary in
narrative about her visit to a dying
parishioner who fought in
ordered him to lay an ambush which Bill
knew to be foolhardy. He refused until his superior
questioned his patriotism, his loyalty and
his manhood. At last he obeyed orders and lost
virtually all of his men – one of whom
died in his arms – and he fell apart. He had been carrying
the burden of this event all through his
life and now, facing death, had to clear his soul of the
anguish.
"’I saw the truth. Back there in
was right to feel the order should be
disobeyed. And when I broke down because my buddies
died, I was right to cry.’ As Bill spoke
he placed both his hands on his own chest. ‘This is my
manhood,’ he said, tapping a rhythm with
his hands upon his body. ‘That I can feel. That I can
care. That I can grieve. That I can love.
That I hate war. That I had the courage to question. That I was willing not to
obey.’ I'm not afraid to die now, because I know what love is. I know where God
is.’ Hands again, pressing against his own flesh. ‘This is what I wanted you to
hear from me before I die.’ He took my young hands in his old ones and looked
at me. ‘It is important for you to know this. You are a preacher. Tell my story.
People need to know what I'm telling you. You need to know what I'm telling
you.’”
There is in warfare an arrogance of power
that is destructive of people and nations. Candidate
Bush spoke of humility in foreign policy;
but it is collective arrogance that moves us now – our
Manifest Destiny in the world – our policy
of pre-emptive warfare – our withdrawal from
international treaties – our Lone Ranger
policing of the world. The President’s dramatic landing
in full battle regalia on an aircraft carrier
deck just four years ago proclaiming the war to be
essentially over struck me as unrestrained
hubris. His “bring ‘em on” bravado in response to the
assaults on our troops indicates to me he
has imbibed the elixir of war. “Mission Accomplished” has become “Mission
Impossible.”
Mr. Bush once spoke of Jesus as his
favorite political philosopher; how then explain Jesus urging us to love our
enemies? Or Jesus’ words, “He who exalts himself will be humbled; he who
humbles himself will be exalted.” Or the
Sermon on the Mount’s “blessed are the peacemakers.”
Or, in the face of massive tax cuts for
the wealthy, how do we explain Jesus’ words, “It is easier for a camel to pass
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
I contrast this hubris with the case of
Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War as he was besieged
by clergy delegations from both North and
South, both claiming to know God’s will in the matter at hand. Said
Clearly, war is a force that gives many
meaning. It does bring out our need for a transcendent
goal; our capacity to sacrifice; to invest
ourselves in a cause beyond ourselves. It does all these things, and it is
therefore the most dangerous of all human behaviors” #
From Merle Kindred: I will put my passive solar, super-insulated home on
Crestwood Dr. in Hancock on the market. I'll have it appraised and ready to
show in mid-May. Also I have for sale 1/4 acre (4 small lots, 2 good building
sites) in Hancock on
The
KEWEENAW FREE THINKERS discussion group will meet TUESDAY,
May 6 at
From in the Northwoods UU Newsletter:
1. Candace Sorensen: Welcome! Welcome! I remember my first visit to the Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. The congregation earned high marks for
their warm, friendly greetings given to me. I was anxious to return for
Religious Education and services the following weeks. A few memories make the
time still warm when I look back. The building was intimate and comfortable.
Everything was in view. I appreciated the lovely woods, the smell of coffee
perking in the kitchen, and the busy bird feeder outside. Paul was right there at the door with his UU sweatshirt,
a handshake, and interested in my story. We all have a memory of what brought
us to that first visit. Tom Sommerfeld's great music was special. Mary Ann Fields
and Doris Eberlein immediately involved me in social gatherings at the UU
Fellowship and dinner at
How does our congregation welcome
new members? Welcoming guests is the job
of everyone. The assigned greeter is often too busy to follow through and may
introduce the visitor to another fellow member, someone like you. Don’t leave
it to others.
·
Make eye contact,
cross the room, and greet visitors.
·
Invite them to
sit with you, join you for coffee hour afterwards, and show pride in our
building.
·
Take the time to
explain our Religious Education Program on alternate Sundays.
·
Be a good
listener and understand what brought them to our UU Fellowship.
·
Include children
in the discussion and offer a tour of the building. Knowing your way around
gives an extra level of comfort and sense of belonging.
Coffee hour is our time to get to know each other
better and perhaps make new friends. Try to keep Fellowship business to a
minimum. Don't forget to take the time to welcome our
returning snowbirds. Making new members and visitors feel welcome takes everyone's attention.
2. Alan VanRaalte talking about a speaker there who asked the audience
to picture evil - “Two of the atrocities
that I recalled were committed by Americans.
Not that
For anyone who didn’t hear my comments during
Talk Back on Sunday, this, I believe, is a quote from Abraham Lincoln: “There’s
so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us, that it
ill-behooves the most of us to talk about the rest of us.” #
Earth Day – Sydney Morris
A bright spot of news: A pale-bellied bird
species, Beck's petrel, last seen in the 1920s and long thought to be extinct
has been rediscovered near
A national advertising campaign by the Unitarian Universalist
Association (UUA) is continuing this spring with ads in two more issues of Time. The full-page ad in the April 14 issue
carried the slogan, “When in Doubt, Pray. When in Prayer, Doubt.” It includes
an offer for a free 10-minute DVD, “Voices of a Liberal Faith,” to introduce
newcomers to Unitarian Universalism.
The May 12 issue, which is the annual “Time 100” issue featuring 100
of the most influential people in the world, carries a Unitarian Universalism full-page
ad with the line, “My God is Better Than Your God,” and also includes the free
DVD offer. (You can see the two ads at uua.org.)
Last fall and winter the UUA ran ads in three issues of Time. Visits
to the visitors’ page on UUA.org increased by 126 percent during that time
period.
The UUA is also running a Google AdWords campaign this spring. When users
search for words the UUA has chosen, they may see a relevant ad for Unitarian
Universalism. If the internet user then clicks the link in our ad they are
connected to UUA.org. For the Google ad
Keweenaw
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
campaign, the UUA used keywords such as “Unitarian Universalist,”
“spirituality,” “definition of religion,” “what is agnostic,” and “gay-friendly
church.” Keyword choices for the spring campaign are still being made. The key words
help people find Unitarian Universalism even if they’re not aware of it. More
than 100 words and phrases are being used. During the ad word campaign last
fall almost 10,000 people found their way to the UUA.org. web site
No more Time ads are planned after May 12. Google AdWords will be
used into July. The UUA marketing team and its advertising agency will do an
analysis to determine what type of ad campaign might be possible for next fall.
The UUA's national advertising campaign is supported by UU congregations
who contributed to Association Sunday, a fundraising effort held last fall. #
There are photos and information about KUUF activities
at our web site: kuuf.net.
Please send material for
the June Newsletter to K. Kraft, 41209 Pike River Road, Chassell, MI 49916, 523-4748, kkraft@portup.com by May 20.
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