Editor: Steve Botts, stbotts@texas.net
Nosotros, las congregaciones miembros de la Asociación UU, convenimos en afirmar y formentar el valor y la dignidad propria de cada persona.
President
Mary Grace Ketner
Secretary
Vicki Lee Mattern
Treasurer
Nancy White
At Large Member
Sonya Graham
At Large member
Peter Van Dusen
Operations & Maintenance Committee Coordinator
John Bradshaw, Patrick Shearer
Member Services Committee Coordinators
Clem Chow, Jeff Ketner
Program Committee Coordinators
Henry Halff, Stephanie Shearer
CUUC Website Manager
Margaret Batschelet
In November, the CUUC board voted to endorse “The 10 Tree Challenge,” as my volunteer community ministry. CUUC’s social justice group then voted to participate. CUUC will plant and steward ten non-invasive trees in 2006, and challenge other churches and groups to do the same. I have begun issuing this challenge throughout the city. I’ve contacted Mayor Hardberger and officials involved in city tree planting.
Initial responses have been positive. Who wouldn’t be in favor of community involvement resulting in more trees, cool shade, beauty, and better air quality? You can even get your conservative friends, neighbors or family members to participate. We often say “that we don’t have to think alike to love alike.” This project asks us to put our value into action.
Groups including an elementary school club, a mental health group, and a men’s chorale were quick to accept the challenge. When several community organizations demonstrate their support, then businesses will want to participate. We want businesses to be involved not just to donate trees, but to plant trees on business properties. We want to compensate for the great loss of trees caused by explosive development. Community involvement is a way to leverage corporate responsibility.
You have heard of grass roots organizing. This is tree roots organizing. The 10 Tree Challenge has the power of simplicity. For a group of any size, planting and stewarding ten trees is an easily accomplished goal. If ten people from any organization will plant one non-invasive tree each, they can sign on. More ambitious groups will use their tree planting project as community service and outreach, youth education and more. Some tree planting will be done as public ceremony. Each participating organization will decide how they will implement their part of the project.
Although this project focuses on group participation, it also comes down to individuals. The entire project moves forward each time an individual says, “Yes I believe my group will want to participate, and I am willing to be your contact person.” Individuals can help in lots of other ways too.
Would you like to bring attention to our church in a way that shows what we stand for? We now have a webpage and pamphlets available. Who do you know that might like to participate? What other groups do you belong to? Call me and we will find the fun and rewarding way to participate that best suits you. It doesn’t require a lot of time or money, although we are open to all forms of generosity. Would you like more trees in our city, country and planet? Join us!
http://www.cuucsa.org/10tree.html 10tree@satx.rr.com
I wonder if there are people you personally know who inspire you and make you feel good about the world. I know there are such in my mind, and it is quite possible--in fact probable--that, if you are reading this, you are one of them.
How often I notice that SOMEONE has done SOMETHING at church that completely lifts my spirit for hours or even days! Watered the plants, hung something new on the wall, brought some pastry or other snack, created and displayed an artwork--just one of those small and random acts of k indness, thinking of all of us as a body, and not even sure any one of us would notice. I'm sure I don't notice all the small things you do, but I notice SOME of them, and they make me happy.
That's one reason I am so glad the board decided last fall to revive "Secret Friends Day." It is a way of letting one person know that you notice them and love them for being a part of our community. For everyone who wants to participate, children and adults, we'll draw names on January 29th. Then, during the week before Valentines day, Feb. 6-12, we can make calls disguising our voices or send cryptic messages to our secret friend to let them know that they are appreciated--and to give them clues as to who it is who appreciates them. On Sunday, February 12th, we'll have a brunch and reveal ourselves to our secret friend. Ta-Dah! It was ME!
If you want to take part, here's how:
To BE secret friend, sign up by January 29th--there will be a form to fill out!
To HAVE a secret friend, draw a name on January 29th.
I hope most of us will do both, but you may want to HAVE a secret friend without also being one, or you may want your child to BE a secret friend without your family HAVING multiple secret friends which you end up managing alone during the school week, so think about what would work out best in yoru case. Of course, we are ALL invited to the Secret Friends Brunch, whether or not you've filled out any forms or drawn any names whatsoever!
By then, all secrets are out, anyway--Mary Grace
I'm always asking the people I meet about their churches. What do they like about their church? Why is their church successful? Why did they choose the church that they did? I recently asked my secretary this last question and the answer that she gave me was surprising. "I know that my church takes its work seriously because it's programs are the best, second to none." When Barbara Coeyman was here she never tired of reminding us that if we were to grow (and I think she meant in more than just numbers), we would have to change. Until this talk with my secretary, I viewed our church as a friendly spiritual community, one that expected little of its programs and easily forgave itself for missing the mark. I'm beginning to think differently, more like my secretary thinks. If we take our work seriously, we will do it well. Hence, starting with this newsletter, I present a short occasional series called "Parables for Volunteers," stories meant to promote the quality of our programs so that newcomers (and members) can say "They must take their church seriously, since they do things so well here."
The Ownership Parable. A pilot in the Navy (and in every other organization as far as I know) never climbs into the cockpit without first walking around his aircraft, inspecting it for signs of wear and damage that will or might cause problems: loose bolts, fluid leaks, and the like. From the time that the pilot walks out on the flight deck, that aircraft is his responsibility and his alone. Whether it flies or fails to fly is in his hands.
One fictional day a Navy pilot said to himself, "This is not the way to run an air force [for indeed, the Navy has its own air force]. It's the mechanics' job to make a plane flight-worthy. My job is flying, and that's what I'm going to do. I am only one person, and I won't be taken advantage of. Besides, this pre-flight inspection distracts me from my mission." So, the pilot routinely skipped his pre-flight inspections. Unfortunately, no one noticed until, one day, he and his plane fell out of the sky.
Jan 22. "Gays and Lesbians in the UU community," Worship Leader: Henry Halff.
A panel of speakers will air their views on the presence of homosexuals in Unitarian-Universalism.
About Henry Halff
Henry Halff is a lifelong Unitarian. He has been a member of CUUC since 1994. He has served on the Board of Trustees as an at-large trustee and as President. He has also chaired the Member Services Committee. He currently serves the church as co-chair of the Programs Committee, Canvass Chair, member of the Nominating Committee, Service Auction Director, and member of the Membership Committee. He participates in the Men’s Group, the Social Action Committee, and the Worship Committee. His ambitions for the church are to see it thrive and grow as a force for good in the world, as a center for all manner of spiritual thinking, and as a source of support for its members. In his services, he strives for spirituality, participatory worship, intergenerational appeal, and personal growth. His greatest love is his wife, Jean. His passions are competitive swimming, Texas music, and beer. His burdens, borne willingly, are the church and his 90-year old father. He occasionally finds time for research and development in the area of instructional uses of computers.
Jan 29. Speaker: Shaykh Narjan Mirahmadi, coordinated by Rev.Phil Schulman
The speaker is a member of a Suiffi order, Suffiism representing the mystical side of Isalm. The service will deal with Suffi practices, such as meditation and chanting and how they relate to healing and spiritual awakening.
Feb 5. Worship leader Stephanie Shearer
Stephanie will facilitate a panel of CUUC women who will present a service that deals with violence directed against women.
About Stepahnie Shearer
Stephanie is co-chair of the CUUC Programs Committee and is also active in the Social Action Committee.
Feb 12. SEX :bodies and beliefs: Rev.Phil Schulman
Sex is a source of great joy as well as anguish, pleasure but also pain. Do liberal attitudes toward sex lead to liberation or degradation? What do we teach children about sex? What do we have to say about sex?
About Phil Schulman:
Phil Schulman serves CUUC p/t as minister. He graduated from Thomas Starr King School of the Ministry in "89 and pursued a community ministry for 12 years developing peer support communities. He served previoulsy as minister of St John UU Fellowship in the Virgin Islands, and has extensive experience as a counselor, advocate, and peace and human rights activist.
Feb. 19: "Adlai Stevenson: The Unitarian Who Might Have Been President." by Peter Van Dusen
For people who think of themselves as political liberals in the classical mold (as I do), Stevenson continues to have strong appeal--40 years after his death and 50 years after his second run for the presidency. The 2004 electoral campaign got me to wondering why this was. In my research, I've discovered that, before JFK received the nomination at the 1960 Democratic convention, Eugene McCarthy--another liberal icon--placed Stevenson in nomination for a 3rd candidacy. I'm also currently reading a new book entitled "The Return of the 'L' Word," the L-word of course being "Liberalism." My service will be a reflection on these things.
About Peter Van Dusen
Peter Van Dusen Member of CUUC and Worship committe since 1996 philosophy instructor, St. Mary's University since 2001. Earned M.A. in philosophy at California State University, Long Beach in 1984; graduate, U.S. Naval Academy 1970. Areas of professional interest: ethics and economics. Amateur flutist; personal interests in classical music, history and German studies.
The RE Class talked about Guest At Your Table issues during December. We made cards and I finished them for persons at 1st UU and CUUC. You can see the newsletter and the photo page on the kiosk in the kitchen. There are also new photos on the bulletin board in the classroom. We sent or will send out 21 cards to persons at 1st UU who are shut ins or who are dealing with terminal situations.
The children had decided to give money to Heifer International. John Bradshaw offered $10.00 for raking the leaves and said the Board had voted to give them $10.00 for taking the tree down. Now all they need to do is rake, take the tree down and decor and then decide what animal (s) they want to give a share of.
This month, we will be studying Buddhism. Last Sunday we talked about the 4 Principals and the 8 fold or Mid dle Path. We did a guided meditation where we imagined ourselves in a boat on a lake --- first with the wind blowing and then with it still and quiet. The children then used clay to show how they thought they looked in the boat. The children had a hard time being quiet during the meditation and expressed frustration at emptying their minds. I told them not to feel bad - I don't meditate well either! If you give me a situation, instead of emptying my mind, I people it and character it and add trees, plants, animals and lots of color! Micaela, Elly and Crystal did some rather good clay figures though and every one should take a look at them.
We will be talking about the Birth of Buddha (and examining how it was similar and different from other "holy" births) and making Mandalas the week of 1/15. We will continue the Mandalas into Parental Covenant Group and perhaps reading The Cat Who Went to Heaven.
The following week, we will talking about Buddha & the Bodhi Tree as well as the story The Mustard Seed and will also be constructing a Zen Garden in the classroom (Thanks to John Bradshaw for making our base and supplying items for it).The kids will be collecting other items for it from outside. If anyone knows where we can get a cheap bonsai tree, let me know.
The last weekend of the month, we will be doing "Yoga With Joan Bradshaw" after discussing our stories.
I hope that everyone had a Merry Whatever and Happy Holidays & a peaceful MLK holiday.
Glenna Jones-Kachtik DRE/CUUC
"At the center of non-violence, stands the principle of love". Martin Luther King Jr.
Yippee!!!!! It's Service Auction Time again. That time of year when we offer our multifarious talents to each other, for absurd fees, which are then donated to the church.
Here's how the service auction works.
Phase I: We each offer services to be sold at auction.
Phase II: Everyone peruses all of the donations and makes bids, big bids. At the end of Phase II, there's huge party where final bids are taken and a few special items are auctioned off.
Phase III: Everyone writes a check to the church and collects the services that they bought.
Phase I starts on Sunday, January 22 and ends on February 4. Phase II starts on February 5 and ends with a bang on February 18. (RESERVE THE DATE!)
Here's what you need to do.
Below you’ll find two forms, and you should fill them both out. In fact, you should fill out many copies of each.
Form A lists your donations. Take a gander at the list of potential donations below for inspiration. Pick one; pick more than one.
Form B takes care of the people who don't recognize their own talents. Maybe someone in the congregation once brought some cookies to soup lunch and you've been lusting for those cookies ever since. Maybe you've wanted to go to dinner with someone in the church. Here's your chance to fulfill those dreams. On Form B, you put down something that you would like to buy at the auction. If you attach a name to the item, we'll make sure that it gets to the right person (anonymously, if you wish). If you don't put a name on the form, write down some qualifications. We'll post the form in hopes that the right person will find it. You can even place a bid for the item before it's offered.
You can submit the forms online at http://cuucsa.org/auction/. You can email completed forms to auction@cuucsa.org, bring them to church, or mail them to Auction Director, Community UU Church 4818 East Beverly Mae Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229.
Questions? Contact Henry Halff (210-493-7501, henry@quiensabe.com).
Ideas for Donations!!!!!
Name: _________________________________
Phone: _________________________________
Item: __________________________________
Description:
Number Offered ______________________
Minimum Bid: ______________________
Notes:
Name: _________________________________
Phone: _________________________________
Item: __________________________________
Description:
Number Required ______________________
Minimum Bid: ______________________
Potential Donor (optional) or Qualifications _______________________
Notes:
Northwest Toastmasters http://nwtm.homestead.com is a member club of Toastmasters International http://www.toastmasters.org an organization that provides support for the development of public speaking skills. The club meets every Monday at 7:00. Most meetings provide for public-speaking practice in a supportive environment. On Monday January 30, however, the club, and any members of the church who want to drop by, will watch videos of Toastmasters' presentations at this year's international competition, the olympics of public speaking (without commercial endorsements). If you have ever thought about joining Toastmasters, if you have an interest in improving your public speaking skills, or if you want to overcome your fear of public speaking, drop by and have a look at some excellent speakers, each of whom started out as a complete novice in a local club. As a lay-led church, we have a special interest in honing our speaking skills and hence a special motivation to attend.
Registration continues all month for the 20th annual SWUUWC Conference, set for February 24-26 at Doral Tesoro Hotel and Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The registration of $130 ($160 after Feb.14.) covers three meals and the Sunday evening banquet, plus access to all activities.
Registration packets are available at your church, or you can register at http://www.swuuc.com.
The Worship Committee has tenatively scheduled a retreat for Sunday, February 5th. A short regular meeting will be held right after church and we will go to lunch and when we return, there will be an unfacilitated retreat that will last at least 3 hours.
Everyone is encouraged to bring and take free magazines. The trial location is thecoffee foyer.Bring as many as you can, take as Experimental Magazine Exchange many as you wish, no charges, no paperwork.Givers should obliterate addresses and takers who might put them in public places should check that that has been done. It is proposed to get rid of leftovers at least once each year during Garage Sale.
John Bradshaw 341-8506
In order to become "more green" it was decided at the last meeting of the Social Justice Committee that we should first focus on recycling. We are probably doing a good job with and cans and bottles- the stuff that goes into the green city-curb container. But there is a lot more that we can do. We still trash a lot of paper stuff that could be salvaged in recycle bins. I would like to look into how we can go about this and have a couple of ideas of how to get started. If you can help with this in any way please get in touch. We need people with ideas, communication skills and some muscle power. Many. many. many thanks.
Phyllis Katcher (210) 764-0139, pdkatcher@gmail.com or catch me on Sunday.
Please be advised that Diane Wilson is the one person to whom all calendar information should be sent. This will include all new items, recurring items as well as any changes to existing items.
This non-profit organization was started by Unitarian Universalists in 1989 to receive federally repossessed homes, which the members repaired and sold at cost to low-income families. In 1994 UU HAC became a Community Housing Development Organization and was eligible for federal funds. Since that time it has hired contractors to repair a hundred homes in the near north and east sides of San Antonio, making low-interest loans to low-income families and monitoring the repairs so that good work is done. Some of its families live on social security, some are handicapped, and others are single parents or both parents make less than a living wage.
UUs like to be active in social justice activities in San Antonio. UU HAC IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVITY OF UUs of both churches. Here are some activities that you can do to participate in this community effort to improve neighborhoods through upgrading their housing stock and giving families pride and hope.
1. Join UU HAC
Individual membership is $20.
Group or corporate membership is $100. (Yes, CUUC is a member.) An annual membership meeting is held in March, and the board reports on the activities of the year. It is also a time for electing new board members.
2. Make a contribution to produce a first-class video to get out the word.
Henry and Jean have contributed $1,000. Let's match it! Thus far, we've received about $500 and have $500 more to go by the end of this month.
3. Volunteer
Nancy White will be coming to the office on Tuesday mornings to assist the construction manager with his files.
Patty Gullick and a friend will be coming during the noon hour on Mondays to help the loan officer with her files.
If you have a consistent block of time, please let me know, and I'll find something for you to do. We have 5 staff, but we each have to do all of our own work, so filing often gets way behind. It may seem a little thing, but we are dealing with federal funds and need to be organized.
4. If you have access to these, UU HAC needs:
* comfortable conference-room chairs (15 -20),
* someone to cover the 3 really old tables in the conference room so * that they look good,
* filing cabinets (don't want to be too picky, but would like to be able to lock),
* an office chair,
* a printer for a "My Compaq 7500", and
* portable classroom boards for counselors to teach clients money management.
Historical Notes:
As you may know, I was the executive director of UU HAC from 1994 - 2002 and have just returned as its interim executive director until a permanent director is found (hopefully by the end of March). John Bradshaw has served on the board as treasurer. Some of the first "repairmen" were Gene and June Kachtik and Bob and Catherine McKee.
Contact information:
U. U. Housing Assistance Corporation
221 W. Poplar Street, SATX 78212
O: (210) 731-8203
F: (210) 731-8222
My email: ExDir@uuhac.org
UU HAC is located between SAC and downtown, between San Pedro and Main Avenues.
I am looking for a house/pet sitter for about 6 weeks in June and early July. Anyone who might be interested or knows someone who might be, please call Nancy White 650-4785
Nancy E. White
3840 Barrington
San Antonio, TX 78217-4168
(H)210-650-4785
All parents and those with an interest in children are welcome to join the PCG. The group meets for one hour after church on the third Sunday of each month for the purpose of getting to know each other better. By creating an open, supportive, nurturing environment, we promote and facilitate spiritual growth and mutual, interactive care for one another. We follow the typical covenant group rituals - opening words, a question everyone answers briefly for the purpose of transitioning to the group experience, discussion of a topic, and a closing question and words to send us on our way. Discussion topics vary from month to month. This summer we also went swimming on the Guadalupe River in Kerrville and explored Natural Bridge Caverns. In addition to regular meetings and family activities, as a covenant group we committed to providing a service to the church and to the community. PCG prepared and led the worship service of 8/28/05 and hosted a group of young people away from their families at one of our church picnics.
The Women's Support Group is open to women and friends of the church. We meet every 2 weeks, on a Monday night at the church, starting at 7 p.m. and usually finishing before 9 p.m. Each woman usually talks for about 10 minutes about anything she wishes. However, you don't have to talk if you would rather not. What is divulged is kept confidential unless otherwise stated. It is a great way to get to know the women in the church on a more personal level in a safe environment. We invite you to come and join us and let us get to know you.
The Cuuc men's group meets every other Sunday from 6:30 - 8:30 P.M. The current schedule is 9/25,10/9,10/23. All CUUC men or visitors are welcome to join us.
Group leadership rotates from meeting to meeting. The leader for each meeting is also the host, and he is responsible for furnishing snacks and drinks.
We usually start off meetings with a clearing, in which each member is allowed to talk about recent events in his life, if he wishes to, for as long as he sees fit. Next, the facilitator introduces the topic for the evening. This may involve a short reading - a poem, an article or other text. The subject could be just about anything that the facilitator would like the group to address: What's going on at CUUC, religion, economics science, health, family, friendship, etc.
Around 8:30, we wind things up by deciding who is going to facilitate the next meeting, declare this one finished, clean up, and leave.
The Remarkable Film Group consists of members and friends of CUUC who gather each month to view one feature film and discuss it afterward. Everyone is welcome to attend. The films are usually shown at church at 6 PM on the third Sunday of each month. Films are shown in a series. The attendees select the theme and content of each series normally compose of four films of a common theme, directed by the same person or featuring a specific actor or actress. Past film series have carried such themes as Women Messiahs or include films directed by John Sayles or those featuring Peter Sellers. Current leaders of the group are Clem and Joyce Chow. Any questions about this group may be directed to Clem or Joyce.
If you'd like to receive the e-mail version of this newsletter every month, send a message to Steve Botts, the newsletter editor.