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.
The church's annual tree-trimming party will start at about 6:30 PM on Saturday, December 21. Please help keep the kids from getting sick on tiny marshmallows and other decorating materials by bringing a dish for a potluck dinner.
Dave Collins, our church caretaker, is charged with keeping track of people who use the church for committee meetings, etc. Please let Dave know if you're scheduling a meeting in the church, either on a regular basis or ad hoc.
Blue Moon Circle meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday at 7:30 pm. We will also be hosting the soup lunch on January 5th to benefit the emergency fund. We are also doing a canned food drive throughout the holidays for the food bank.
December 15 - "Spiritual Practice for the Holidays," Speaker: Barbara Coeyman
December 22 - Holidays Service, Speaker: Henry Halff
December 29 - "The Wisdom of Eeyore," Speaker: Peter Van Dusen
January 12 - "Selling War," Speaker: Margaret Batschelet
January 19 - "Civil Rights and Affirmative Action," Speaker: Steve Boyd
January 26 - Worship Committee Service
The Woman's Support Group will meet on December 16 and 30, at 7 p.m. at the church.
The Remarkable Film Series continues to feature films of Peter Sellers. The film Casino Royale will be shown at 6:00 PM on Sunday, January 19, 2003. It is based on the first Ian Fleming novel featuring his famous secret agent but it is unlike any other James Bond films in the franchise.
We need a sign-ups for self-chosen Holiday activities (Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Christmas). These could be music, crafts, discussions, or any creative activity that you enjoy. Share your special talents with the kids. You can have support or team-teach if you desire. Please tell us what you will be teaching so that there will be no duplication. Happy Holidays!!!! joan
Our speaker for Sunday, December 15, is Barbara Coeyman. Barbara is a Unitarian minister currently living in Austin. She has interned with Unitarian churches in the Midwest.
On January 26, we'll hold our semi-traditional Worship Committee service where we talk about the service we've had during the previous year and ask for service topics and possible speakers for the upcoming year. Please think about the services you enjoyed and services you'd like to see. You're also welcome to come to meetings of the Program Committee every second Sunday after services; the next meeting will be January 12. One of the joys of a lay-led church is having direct input into what happens on Sunday!
Two back-to-back seminars will be held at First Unitarian Church beginning January 5. The first, taking place the four Sundays in January at 7 p.m. will focus on Civil Rights and the Patriot Act. The second will take place at 7 p.m. on the four Sundays in February and will deal with Economic Globalization. These seminars are open to everyone; for more information, contact Marilyn Stavinoha at 344-6884.
The following is by Kristine Halls Reid, DRE of UU Fellowship of the New River Valley in Blacksburg, Virginia. It was first printed in the REACH newslist for UU RE leaders.
A message from your Director of Religious Education
"We ordain people in religious education to bring peace into the world. We all need to step back from ordinary tasks and see the big picture, i.e. peace in the world. In doing our work, we are saving the world".
- Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, president of the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA
Whether we are sharpening pencils, sweeping the sanctuary floor, preparing an RE lesson, or planning a social action project, when we are participating in the work of our faith community on any level, we are participating in the essential work of peace. The world changes, one person at a time. Peace is built, one person at a time, and it begins here at home.
Soon after the snipers were caught, I read a newspaper article that looked into the past lives of the two suspects. There were many signs of trouble. A girl, who had been in some school classes with Malvo, the younger of the two men, was quoted. She recalled that Malvo kept to himself; he was a loner and didn't seem to have any friends. I couldn't help but wonder, what if the kids had reached out to him? What if there had been people to care all along the way, people to show him kindness and love? What if he had grown up in a faith community? No doubt, history would have been changed.
In his book, "Why They Kill" Richard Rhoades contends that one never really acts alone when doing good or evil. We are ALL born with the capacity for doing both good and for harming others. Growing up, we all had coaches, for better or worse, helping us learn how to relate to the world around us. These coaches are the silent partners in acts of good and evil. Coaches come in many forms - parents and other adults, school and RE teachers, classmates, friends, and YOU.
The opportunity for some of our most essential work as religiously aware people can happen in the seemingly unimportant moments in life. Reaching out to one another. Reaching out to our children. You might not be an RE teacher or work directly with our children, but you are a coach none the less, whether explicitly or implicitly, in the way you choose to interact with our children. They are learning from us. They are learning from you. What more can we hope for, work for, strive for, than to nurture and coach our children to be the ones who will reach out to someone and make a difference.
December 15 - "Spiritual Practice for the Holidays," Speaker: Barbara Coeyman
December 16 - Women's Group, 7 p.m.
December 29 - Blue Moon Circle, 7:30 p.m.
December 21 - Potluck Supper and Tree Trimming Party, 6:30 p.m.
December 22 - Holidays Service, Speaker: Henry Halff
December 29 - "The Wisdom of Eeyore," Speaker: Peter Van Dusen
December 30 - Women's Group, 7 p.m.
January 5 - Soup Lunch after services, Blue Moon Circle
January 5 - Civil Rights and the Patriot Act seminar, First UU, 7 p.m.
January 12 - "Selling War," Speaker: Margaret Batschelet
January 12 - Program Committee Meeting after services
January 12 - Civil Rights and the Patriot Act seminar, First UU, 7 p.m.
January 13 - Women's Group, 7 p.m.
January 19 - "Civil Rights and Affirmative Action," Speaker: Steve Boyd
January 19 Ð Remarkable Film Series, ÒCasino Royale,Ó 6 p.m.
January 19 - Civil Rights and the Patriot Act seminar, First UU, 7 p.m.
January 26 - Worship Committee Service
January 26 - Civil Rights and the Patriot Act seminar, First UU, 7 p.m.
January 27 - Women's Group, 7 p.m.
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