CUUCSA On-Line Newsletter/ VOL. 12, NO. 11/November 2000

Editor: Margaret Batschelet, typea45@swbell.net

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

Community Thanksgiving

Our traditional potluck Thanksgiving dinner will be served at CUUC at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23. Sally and John Wiesen are preparing a turkey. Members and friends are invited to bring their favorite Thanksgiving dish to share at the feast. Let Lisa Kuntz or Sally know what you plan to bring and the number of people participating. Here are some of the traditional dishes we need, but if you want to bring a favorite specialty, just let us know so that we can coordinate: Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, dressing, green veges, fruit/green/jello salad, cranberry relish, specialty breads, wine. There will be a sign-up sheet in the coffee-room, incase you don't get around to calling or mailing. Also Sally suggests that not everyone likes turkey, so maybe someone could bring a ham. And, of course, we could also use a vegetarian entree.

Bread Communion

We'll have our traditional "post-Thanksgiving" bread communion service on November 26 this year. We're asking members and friends to bring a type of bread (or food) that is significant to their Thanksgiving traditions, past or present, and the story that goes with it. We'll hear the stories and "set the table," and, afterwards, share the various breads. We also welcome those who have stories only.

Public Address and Sound System

As many already know, the public address and stereo system in the sanctuary is now functional. One of its features is the availability of individual headsets for those who have difficulty hearing. Because of the importance of having this assistance available for those who need it, it is important to use the system for worship services even if the size of the congregation is not large.

The system is relatively easy to use but requires some advance familiarity to avoid unexpected delays or difficulties. Because the system is wireless and has a mixer, there are some additional things to know beyond a simple home stereo system. A black binder with instructions for the system is located on the cart with the equipment. Worship leaders in particular should probably take the time to familiarize themselves with the controls and options. As more people become familiar with the system I hope we find it serves our needs well. -Catherine McKee

Worship Committee Meeting

The Worship Committee will meet after services on Sunday, November 12. CUUCSA members and friends are welcome to attend.

Men's Group

The men's group will meet at 7:30 on Thursday, November 9. After the dancing girls, we will raffle off two SUVs and season tickets to the 2001 Spurs Season. The meeting will close with inspiring readings from Kipling, Hemmingway, and Keillor. All male members and friends of the church are welcome. The Nov. 23 meeting will be cancelled to allow members to observe Annual Football Day. The next meeting thereafter will be on December 7.

An Internet mailing list is available for those who need more frequent reminders of meetings or who want to share secret, guy-type stuff. To subscribe, send email to cuucmen-subscribe@egroups.com or visit the list's home page at http://www.egroups.com/group/cuucmen. -Henry Halff

New Internet Café

The church's new internet café is now operative in the church office on the second floor. The facility is free, but you must provide your own coffee. (Starbucks are conveniently located in Barnes & Noble at Ingram Mall and in the Colonnade at I-10 and Wurzbach).

The cafŽ's lone computer is currently configured to operate with the free ISP, bluelight.com. If you know what this means, feel free to avail yourself of the facility. Otherwise, contact Henry Halff (493-7501) for exegesis and instruction. Members who wish to visit the cafŽ at odd hours should obtain a building key from John Bradshaw (341-8506).

Lost Stuff

There is a lot of stuff at church that has been left unclaimed for some time. Please check the table in the kitchen to see if any of it is yours. After November 15, it will be either trashed or sent to Youth Alternatives thrift shop. Thanks.

RE Corner

For those of you who are not aware, our upper elementary RE students have a new name: TETS.

Catherine Mckee started out the new year with a basic introduction to World Religions. The TETS RE room has been decorated with religious artifacts from around the world and with help from Joan Bradshaw, the children have even built a cave on which they have decorated with their own "hieroglyphics". This month Catherine has been doing a wonderful job teaching TETS Buddhism. The students have learned the story of Buddha and have even put on their own production of his life and death. They have also been introduced to The Four Noble Truths and The Eight Fold Path.

TETS also participated in their first "lock in". The children spent the night at the church playing games, having a scavenger hunt and keeping poor Catherine up all night! We've decided our next lock in will definitely include a lights out!

TETS study of Buddhism will culminate November 12 with a visit from Elisa Gonzalez from the Shambhala Center. Ms. Gonzalez will teach the children Buddhist meditation skills and will answer any questions the children may have about the Buddhist religion.

I want to thank Catherine Mckee on behalf of myself and the children for all her hard work. The children not only have learned about Buddhism but have had fun while doing it.

Sandi Boyd is teaching our preschool/lower elementary children the WE BELIEVE curriculum, which is based explicitly on UU principles. Despite low attendance Sandi continues to be enthusiastic and well prepared. Thank you Sandi for your dedication to our youngest children despite a fluctuating attendance. There are still teachers needed for our preschool class. If you are interested in teaching, please contact me. All curriculum is provided. No experience is needed and I will be happy to help.

I would also like to remind our congregation how lucky we are, thanks to the hard work of Daron Sachs and others, to have a wonderful playground for our children to play on. However, work needs to be done in order to keep our playground safe and enjoyable for our children. RE, in cooperation with our Grounds Committee, will be working on the playground on Saturday, November 18. Anyone willing to help is welcome to come to the church anytime after 9am. We are usually done by noon. No experience is needed, just a willingness to help. Thank you in advance.

Anita Ferguson-Hinebaugh, DRE CUUC

Entertainment Passbooks

I will be selling Entertainment Passbooks between now and mid-December. Each book is $20 (make checks out to CUUC), $5 of which goes to the church. If you use it a few times, it pays for itself. Two-for-1 dining coupons, fast & slow....auto rental...Border's 20% off $25 purchase...eyeglasses discount, etc. To get the most use out of it, carry it with you in your car and index major categories. Here are the ones I use most: The Wash Tub: 50% off car wash/vacuuming (they all recycle water) ¥ Dry cleaning: 50% off. Many different cleaners. Comet accepts all coupons. ¥ Indian Cuisine: Simi's, Little India, India Oven, India Palace, Taj Mahal ¥ Habanero's (giant, custom wraps) ¥ Snake Farm (not as cheesy as it sounds...I went once!) ¥ Gini's Restaurant & Bakery Many more. LOOKS GOOD: ¥ Cafe Anansi ¥ Meson European Dining ¥ City Market ¥ Specht's Store For info, e-mail or call Lisa at 493-8092 or lisaannk@mciworld.com

Ric Masten

"Let It Be a Dance! through the good times and the bad times too," wrote Ric Masten, the Unitarian Universalist Troubadour Minister. Since 1968 Ric has inspired over 500 UU congregations in the US, Canada and Great Britain. with his songs and poetry -- wit and wisdom. Those were the good times. Now he is confronting "the bad times too". Ric has advanced prostate cancer, now metastatic & hormone refractory (in other words, traditional treatments are no longer effective). He has found an alternative medicine, PC SPES that is working, but its $420 per month cost is not covered by Medicare or insurance. So, to raise the money for this medication Ric is creating a new book entitled WORDS & ONE-LINERS to be published in a fancy, hard cover, boxed, numbered, limited edition, personally inscribed, with a broadside suitable for framing included in the package. The book will feature Ric's poetry, lyrics (both old and new) along with his unique single line drawings. Orders must be in by December 1, 2000. Price $100

CPC Masten
CARMEL PUBLISHING COMPANY
P.O. Box 2463,
Carmel, CA 93921

publisher@carmeliving.com
(831) 624-3881 -- (831) 659-4536
fax (831) 624-8619

Ric Masten can be contacted directly by e-mail; his web-site address is: http://www.ricmasten.com tel 831 625-0588 fax 831 625-3770

District Events

Here are some upcoming SWUU District events to mark on your calendars: January 19-20: Small Church Conference, Horizon Church, Carrollton, TX. For more information, contact Rev. Jonalu Johnston.
February 9-11 SWUU Women's Conference, "Women in Their Natural State," Little Rock, AR. For more information, contact Linda Van Blaricom.
February 9-11 Young Adult Leadership Development Conference. For more information, contact J. Alva Dennis.
April 20-22 Spring Conference and Annual Meeting at Baton Rouge, LA.

Members (and Friends) News

Julia Spears, who now lives in Brenham and is following her bliss as a painter, has a show opening November 11 (noon to 3)at the library there. Called "Fighting the Wild Fires," they are inks and watercolors based on Internet news photos of the wild fires out west this summer, as well as how people cope with fires around the world. Sales will benefit the Brenham Fire Department. The show will continue through November, during regular Library hours (M-Thurs 'til 7:00; Fri 'til 5:00; Saturdays 'til 4:00, closed Sundays). Call Julia (979-277-9007) if you need directions or info re overnight stays. There are lots of harvest festivals going on in that part of the state, and it would make a nice fall outing.

Mary Jean Reynolds, a friend of CUUC would like to share with you her personal Web Page. It can be found at www.soul-butterfly.freeservers.com

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 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 November's selection.
CUUC represents the one time a week when I pause - reflect, ponder or ruminate - without simultaneously doing other things.

It also represents the opportunity to converse, learn, & enjoy life with friends and acquaintances.

These are the things that bring me to CUUC.

Dates to Mark

November 8: Women's Group, 7:30
November 9: Men's Group, 7:30
November 10-12: District Leadership Conference
November 12: "UU's, the Military, and Liberal Religion," Coordinators: Henry Halff and Margaret Batschelet, Coordinators
November 12: Worship Committee Meeting after services
November 18: Playground clean-up and fix-up, 9 a.m.
November 22: Women's Group, 7:30
November 23: CUUCSA Thanksgiving potluck dinner, 2 p.m.
November 26: Bread Communion, Coordinator: Mary Grace Ketner
December 6: Women's Group, 7:30
December 7: Men's Group, 7:30

To Subscribe

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