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 Planning Committee has scheduled two RE Workdays for times when people could show up together and complete tasks for the opening of Fall RE that have not already been completed:
Saturday,August 17, 9:00 a.m till 1:00
Sunday, August 18, 12:30 till?
The first Sunday for RE is September 08.
Pick up a sample of water from your summer travels to share (along with the story) at our traditional water communion ingathering service on August 25. Since the sharing will be symbolic, potability is not an issue!
September 1: Volunteer Sunday, sharing service, Janet Oglethorpe
September 8: "Read Any Good Books Lately?" Soup Lunch by Worship Committee
September 15: Reflections on September 11, Mary Grace Ketner;
September 29: Bob Ireland;
October 15: Mozart Service, Coordinator: Peter Van Dusen;
November 3, Day of the Dead, Coordinator: Estella Boyes.
The Woman's Group will meet on August 26th and September 9th at 7 p.m. at the church.
The Remarkable Film Series is planning a number of films under the theme of Men Messiahs. The first film was Monty Python's "Life of Brian" on August 11. The second film will be "The Rainmaker". It is based on a novel by John Grisham and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This film will be shown at 6:00 PM on Sunday, September 15 at the church.
The annual Mozart service is being revived for this fall! The date is Sunday, October 13th. The program, featuring two complete works, is ambitious. Because the use of symphony musicians also means higher costs than in the past, the worship committee has decided to use this as an opportunity for fund-raising and outreach to the S.A. community at large.
We have applied to the Texas Commission on the Arts for a grant to cover up to half the expenses. We hope to raise the other half--and more--through (1) the collection plate that Sunday morning, and (2) by "subscriptions" from CUUC members who would like to help underwrite the program. The CUUC "half" will be approximately $600-$700. I've already given John Bradshaw my check for $50 to kick off this fund-raising campaign. I hope you'll consider joining me!
We will announce the service in the Weekender classical music section, TPR's public events calendar, and other publications. We might end up with "standing room only"! If we raise more than is needed for the musicians, it will go to the program budget to help fund more diversity in our worship programs in the near future.
For more info, contact Peter Van Dusen, 724-1614, flosfr399bc@yahoo.com
Sandi Boyd has begun a three-part lesson for the RE children, using the Discovery method, on OVEN BUILDING. They have researched on the Internet various ways to construct an oven and will start next week with the construction. Adobe bricks and mud packing were among the methods researched. We will all be eager to taste the bread they, hopefully, will bake in this creation when it is finished. So, if you want to get in on this very interesting project, be sure to come to RE this Sunday.
RE classes begin Sunday, September 8. All levels will be teaching/mentoring the UU Curriculum, Follow the Flame, which deals with each of the seven UU Principles. And, while this topic has been covered in many ways before, this will be a different approach and is directly linked to a Coming of Age program for the older students in another year's time. Each Principle will be taught by one person who we hope will have a personal interest in that particular Principle. Those still available are Principles II,IV, V, VI and VII. Also wanted is someone to oversee the December activities, which includes stories, pageant preparation and crafts. The sign-up sheet is in the Coffee Room.
Occasionally, someone on the board or in the congregation asks, "Why don't we keep a reserve for unforeseen contingencies such as major repairs?" The board has consistently rejected this suggestion because we've figured that, hey, we're not Enron. This church should not be taking your money until and unless it can tell you what the money goes for and why it's needed. Comes now a test of this approach. Before us is an unforeseen contingency, and we need your financial help to resolve it. The upstairs air conditioner in the church is so old that it's been spewing freon all over the place, and is now shut down. It needs to be repaired. The only way that it can be repaired is by putting in a new unit. There is a good chance that the job can be done for $1,800-$2,000. If we have to replace the unit instead of repairing it, we'll need to bring the enclosure up to code, which means even more money, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, our unforeseen contingency is a $2,000 expense that's not in the church budget. This means that the church needs to increase its pledge income by $2,000. If everyone could do this we could get by with a 8% increase across the board. We realize that not everyone ca do that, so please be generous in revising your pledge.
If 8% number seems large to you, think about what this church does NOT ask you to pay for. You don't have to pay for a minister, a music director, choir robes and music, a director of religious education, a secretary, an assistant minister, Haleluiah Living-Word Gospel Bus or a palatial mansion in The Dominion for the president. We're not Enron. This church is a real bargain, but part of that bargain is a commitment on your part to respond in times of need. This is one such time. We know that we can count on you. Janet Oglethorpe, our trusty treasurer, is ready to receive your revised pledges/donations, and she needs them by August 24, the date of the water communion. If we get more than it takes to repair the air conditioner, we'll rescind the pledge increases accordingly.
* From the treasurer: That's right friends -- not to put too fine a point on it, but we need your dollars (or your pledge of dollars) and we need them now. Without air conditioning, we might have to revoke the "Universalist" part of our "Unitarian Universalism", because surely we'll be feeling the heat and speaking of damnation. I'll place a special air-conditioning pledge/donation basket in the foyer where you can't miss it, and I'll be at church for the next two Sundays to threaten, I mean welcome, your donations. Feel free to e-mail your pledges to me at joglethorpe@satx.rr.com if that's easier, or drop a note in the mail to CUUC Treasurer, using the following format:
Name:
Pledge amount:
to be paid:cash or check in full weekly monthly quarterly
I thank you, the board thanks you, and the people upstairs thank you (get it???) Janet
If you have any questions, call a board member or email us at cuuc-board@yahoo-groups.com. The CUUC Board of Trustees
August 17 - RE Workday, 9:00-1:00
August 18 - "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the UUniverse," Speaker: Ben Batschelet, Coordinator: Margaret Batschelet, Summer Sunday Brunch
August 18 - RE Workday, 12:30
August 25 - Ingathering Water Communion, Coordinator:Margaret Batschelet
August 26 - Women's Group, 7 p.m.
September 1: Volunteer Sunday, sharing service
September 8: "Read Any Good Books Lately?"
September 8: RE Classes begin
September 8: Soup Lunch by Worship Committee after service
September 9: Women's Group, 7 p.m.
September 15: Reflections on September 11, Mary Grace Ketner;
September 15: Remarkable Film Series, "The Rainmaker," 6 p.m.
September 29: Bob Ireland;
October 15: Mozart Service, Coordinator: Peter Van Dusen;
November 3, Day of the Dead, Coordinator: Estella Boyes.
If you'd like to receive the e-mail version of this newsletter every month, send a message to Margaret Batschelet, the newsletter editor.