CUUCSA ON-LINE NEWSLETTER/ VOL. 12, NO. 3/March 2000

Editor: Margaret Batschelet, mbatsche@aol.com

Nosotros, las congregaciones miembros de la Asociación UU, convenimos en afirmar y formentar el valor y la dignidad propria de cada persona.

Pledge Drive Begins

The 12th annual Fellowship Dinner was a big success. The meal was wonderful and the entertainment delightful. If you weren't able to be there, you missed a great time. And so the Pledge Drive begins. If you are unfamiliar with the process it goes like this: If you have not already done so, you will shortly receive a letter from Bob McKee, your Trustee at Large and acting Finance Chair. Bob is asking for two things: 1.) your input as to what you want from your church, and 2.) a pledge of your financial commitment to CUUC for fiscal year, June 2000 through May 2001. Pledges are due by April 2, as are budget requests from all committee chairs. The Board will take the input from the congregation, committee budget requests, and results of the pledge drive to develop a proposed budget for approval at the annual meeting in May. Please take time to give considered responses but also try to make the job easier for everyone by getting your pledges in on time. Thank You.

Budget Requests Needed

Attention all committee chairs. Budget requests for the next fiscal year are needed by April 2. Please give them to Bob McKee or place them in the Finance box in the church office.

Congregational Meeting

Recently CUUC applied to participate in the Southwest District's program to facilitate growth and we have been accepted for an exploratory visit. Rev. Jonalu Johnstone, who heads the program, will meet with our congregation on April 30 following the worship service. She will be evaluating our congregation to see where we stand and whether we are ready to fully participate in the Growth Consultant Program. This is a meeting for the entire congregation. Please plan to attend.

Bed and Breakfast Fundraiser

For the SW UU District Conf., only, April 28-30, we at CUUC are offering a Bed and Breakfast service. Conference attendees will donate $20/per person/per night to the Church and stay with host Church families. Host families will fill out forms outlining preferences and limitations to be matched with applying persons. Forms will be available in the Foyer and handled through Joan Bradshaw via First UU Church. This will be a fundraiser for our Church so let's all pitch in and see what we can do both as a service to fellow UU's and to ourselves!

Indian Dinner, Saturday, March 25

Catherine,Lisa, and Carol will plan the menu and provide recipes for an Indian Buffet. If you would like to participate, sign up by MARCH 4th. Sign up sheet in the coffee room at church or by contacting one of us. Catherine 681-4197, Lisa 493-8092, Carol 522-1526.

Renaissance Module

The Religious Education Renaissance Module Worship For All Ages will be offered April 7-9 at Stonehaven Ranch, San Marcos, TX. 512/353-8701. Contact Joan Bradshaw for additional details. The registration deadline is March 27.

Upcoming Services

Many of these titles are provisional, but the topics, speakers, and coordinators are real.

3/12 The Theology of Kinky Friedman, Henry Halff is speaker/coordinator.
3/19 Ordinary Heroines. Coordinator: Mary Grace Ketner.
3/26 Spring. Lisa Kuntz, Jensie Madden
4/2 The San Antonio Peace Center. Guest speaker: Rev. Ann Helmke. Coordinator: Jensie Madden. (Title is provisional)
4/9 Joint Youth Service presented by the YRUU, youth from CUUC and 1st UU church. Coordinator: Jensie Madden
4/16 TBA
4/23 Easter: An Intergenerational Service Speaker/coordinator: Catherine McKee.
4/30 Growth of a Congregation. Speaker: Rev. Jonalou Johnstone, District Growth Consultant. Coordinator: Jim Hoar.
5/7 TBA
5/14 TBA
5/21 Intergenerational RE Sunday. Coordinator: Mary Grace with Joan Bradshaw.

Save Those TPR Contributions

The board is trying to arrange for members to combine their contributions to Texas Public Radio (KPAC andKSTX) and offer a single contribution through the church. If we can put together a large enough sum, TPR will provide us with sponsorship air time, which will undoubtedly bring hoards of new members to the door. If you are interested in participating, contact Henry Halff (henry@quiensabe.com). Henry is also willing to coordinate a joint contribution to KSYM, with the same goal in mind.

RE News

UU RE is alive and well in Texas! I have just returned from a weekend of intense sharing, fellowship and fun at Camp Copass. While most activities centered around administrating an RE program we did have occasion to meet with the Youth there at meal time and during one shared activity, a Fishbowl, whereby each one's most pressing concern was bared. We could all be proud of Ben Batschelet who contributed worthwhile insights.

For me, the highlight was derived from the Theme Speaker, Rev. Cynthia Breen, the Director of the Department of Religious Education at the UUA in Boston. She spoke on "The Inclusive Congregation" with emphasis on children with special needs. Needless to say, much of what was presented could be used for ALL children. She addressed these topics: Do we need to diversify, what would a diverse, pluralistic congregation look like, what results and consequences could we expect, what would we lose, and what would we gain? The answer seems to be in eliminating the elements that feed on fear, ignorance and violence, such as ableism, racism, heterosexism, ageism and classism. One needs to identify each, NAME IT, CLAIM IT AND TAME IT. And to go beyond accepting it toward celebrating it. A tall order, it seems to me but certainly a worthwhile goal. The Focus Groups I attended were on Children's Literature and Curricula for small churches/multi age levels. The group on Intergenerational Worship was cancelled but WILL be presented at the District Conference in San Antonio, April 28 - 30. I hope we can ALL attend at that time. I presented one of the crafts. and had fun with that. It was GREAT meeting other persons interested in the care and feeding of our youngsters and I returned enriched, greatly and enthusiastic.

REgards,

Joan

Member News

We've learned with sadness of the serious illness of Pam Knight Minnamon. Pam was the first CUUCSA Caretaker and was married in the church. We'll keep you informed as more information becomes available.

Jim Hoar's new e-mail address is jhoar@satx.net; please update your mailing lists.

What Brings Us to CUUC?

At the January 9 service, each member of the congregation wrote on a card what, of a spiritual nature, brought them to church. Because the answers to this question tell us a good deal about ourselves, we'd like to publish one of them in each newsletter. We welcome any additional contributions from those not in attendance at the January 9 service or those who were.

Here is March's selection.

Things which bring me to church are: Fellowship, the opportunities for accomplishment, and hope for intellectual stimulation and the possibilities for improving the world in even a small way. Attendance also helps structure the week and helps one feel in touch with community.

Note: Many thanks to Henry Halff for transcribing these notecards and putting them into electronic form!

Dates to Mark

March 12 Theology of Kinky Friedman, Speaker and Coordinator: Henry Halff
March 15 - Women's Support Group, 7:30
March 19 Ordinary Heroines, Coordinator: Mary Grace Ketner
March 25 - Indian Dinner, 6:30
March 26 Spring Speaker/Coordinators: Lisa Kuntz and Jensie Madden
March 29 - Women's Support Group, 7:30
April 2 The San Antonio Peace Center, Speaker: Rev. Ann Helmke, Coordinator: Jensie Madden
April 2 Pledge deadline
April 2 Committee Budget Request deadline
April 7-9 Renaissance RE Module, Stonehaven Ranch, San Marcos, TX.
April 9 YRUU Service presented by youth from CUUCSA and 1st UU, Coordinator: Jensie Madden
April 12 Women’s Support Group, 7:30
April 23 Easter: an Intergenerational Service, Speaker/Coordinator: Catherine McKee
April 26 Women’s Support Group, 7:30
April 28-30 - SWUUD Spring Conference, First UU, San Antonio, TX
April 30 Growth of a Congregation. Speaker: Rev. Jonalu Jonstone, District Growth Consultant; Coordinator: Jim Hoar
April 30 Congregational Meeting with Rev. Jonalu Johnstone, after service
May 10 Women’s Support Group, 7:30
May 21 Intergenerational RE Sunday, Coordinators: Mary Grace Ketner and Joan Bradshaw

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