The Communitarian Newsletter of the Community Unitarian Universalist Church September 2016

Transcription

1 Newsletter of the Community Unitarian Universalist Church September 4 "Stop Building Walls and Set The Table" Speaker: Rev. Doak M. Mansfield, D.Min. Description: Some considerations on the ideas of boundaries and hospitality: close at hand and universally. Worship Associate: Alex Emig Musicians: Mike & Shannon Truex Souper Sunday follows our service; please bring a dish to share W. Sylvester Street, Pasco, Washington Sunday service at 10:30am Reverend Doak Mansfield Minister@CommunityUU.org Minister Hours 10:00am - Noon Tuesday and Thursday other times by appointment office@communityuu.org CommunityUU September 11 "Our Covenant" Speakers: The Committee on Ministry Description: We covenant together in community at our church, creating a welcoming, safe, and supportive atmosphere for religious exploration. Members of CUUC developed this covenant and we all take part in continuing to nurturing it. Worship Associate: Mike Truex Musicians: Mike and Shannon Truex September 18 "Orphans all, Cousins all" Speaker: The Reverend Doak M. Mansfield, D.Min. Description: Thoughts and feelings on the nature, nurture debate and the complexity of relatedness in a post-modern, postreligious world. Worship Associate: Donna Brown Musician: Ellen Fillion September 25 "Youth Health" Speaker: Bethany Hickey Description: Bethany Hickey from Planned Parenthood will help us understand youth health issues. Worship Associate: Alex Emig Musician: Mike and Shannon Joy and service right here! Right now! 1

2 Notes from the Journey The Reverend Doak M Mansfield And so, Summer 2016 passes. Sure, it isn t official until September 21, but our cultural calendar marks Labor Day (September 5) as the milestone of transition. Given the issues with climate changes, as with so much, that might need adjusting for sure. Our second year together begins September 1. Our visit last winter for the interview with the search committee was our first to the Pacific Northwest. We opted for this adventure in a new locale. Laramie, Wyoming, and Waco, Texas, were the other top three options. Tampa, Florida, was really a good posting and there were numerous Interim ministry postings that were options but I wanted a "developmental" style opportunity. I enjoyed, and found so beneficial, my extension ministry training after my 9 years in Cincinnati (Heritage UU Church). When I look back, my efforts were really a "developmental" ministry in Cincinnati. That congregation is an amazing story of renewal. Huntsville, Alabama, was a classic extension ministry success story. I was there 15 years until my health intervened. Our relocation here was a near 3,000 mile "hop" from Tampa. Thus began our involvement with marked different qualities of heat and life. There are distinctive regional differences in this country. Those of us who are vagabonds know that. While there are more and more shared characteristics (big box stores, traffic, communications/media, fashion, etc.) each section has deep rooted qualities: societal, geographical, and ideological, especial varied philosophical-religious-spiritual nuances expressed and practiced in varied strengths and ways. Surveys show that our region (Pacific Northwest-West Coast) is the least traditionally religious. It is a "lab" for creative ways to be spiritually progressive, open-minded and hearted and to participate and support a post-traditional religious-spiritual community. Identifying such a thing and sustaining it is an abiding challenge. We re involved in creation, production, and marketing, not just memorizing and marketing. Our predecessors established this free faith franchise in 1948 and each generation since has styled and shaped its existence in response to evolving needs and realities. As our knowledge and understandings change, so must the metaphors for the meanings that they signify. We were and are about being and maintaining a network of mutuality, dedicated to intellectual and emotional freedom and engaged with ideas and actions that offer affirmation, encouragement, and hope. Our centuries-old faith traditions inspire us to deal with meanings and express caring. My catch phrase (for now) for this enterprise is: rational, relational, and responsible. I m very pleased, delighted, to be here contributing to this our shared adventure. We fly from Spokane to New Orleans Labor Day for laparoscopic surgery at Ochsner Medical Center to correct my 7 cm (baseball size) sliding hiatal hernia: pre-surgery tests and preps are Tuesday Thursday with procedure scheduled for Friday, September 9. We fly back the following Sunday, September 11. We're advised that it is a limited invasive procedure, with a very good success rate. Medical folk say that it is routinely an easy recovery light duty and slow pace for month or six weeks, but nothing severely limiting. Restricted diet I need to lose some weight! Please sent good thoughts and vibrations to Peggy and me across the great divide, with a little right English, and down to the "Big Easy." Stay cool, safe, and wondering. Love ~ Doak From the Worship Committee Would you like a turn to light the chalice at the beginning of our service? Reserve a Sunday for yourself or your whole family to commemorate a special occasion, celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or just because you re happy to be a part of this community. Look for the sign-up list in the sanctuary and plan your participation in the service at least one week ahead of time. 2

3 Dinner for ANSIL October 20 Our congregation will provide for a Harvest Appreciation Dinner October 20 for the volunteers and clients of ANSIL (A New Start in Life - homeless services) - 5 PM Thursday at Gettman Hall, 2625 W. Bruneau Place (off Vista Way) Kennewick, WA The honorees include volunteers from our congregation who staff the Hygiene Center three days a week and provide educational and other support, lift, and equip services-activities for the growing number of homeless of the Tri-Cities. Most clients are youth and young adults. Day Spring Ministries, a local Christian food service, partners with ANSIL and will join our 12 volunteers and families for the appreciation recognition. 4O-50 are expected, volunteers and clients. Needs include: contribution of dishes for meal, set up for the dinner, decorations for tables, servers, and clean up. Specific details and signup information for food and chores will be forthcoming in next newsletter with sign-up sheets at church later this month. The Flaming Chalice: your design A few weeks ago I during the children s circle I displayed variations of flaming chalices from simple repurposed cups, stemmed bowls to very creative pieces of art I gathered from closets and room at church. I invited the children and congregation to create a graphic (drawing, print) for use on the covers of our weekly order of service. Jenny Rieke in her beautiful and uniquely fitting design of our wonderful Community Unitarian Universalist Church flaming chalice communicates about us, our place. She includes sagebrush for flame, our three rivers giving form to chalice, and a grounding of representative agricultural products encircled by two circles. Today mounted on the wall behind the pulpit is a metal rendering of the design by Chris Foster. I suggested incorporating similar elements in a drawing (rendering) suitable for copying. Computer graphics skills offer great opportunity to craft some special creations with elements that represent us, our faith, region, and community. I showed the beginning of a hand drawn concept I did of an encircled flaming chalice overlaying simple lines depicting the rolling mountains, horizon, and three rivers. Please take a bit of time and try your hand at a unique creation of a flaming chalice. Maybe giving thought to our area s bridges, rivers, terrain, memorial features, and of course of 7 principles can offer inspire, focus? Styles from impressionism to realism welcomed.your call. Black on white is desired depiction, colors are tricky when copied with a black and white copier. PDF, Word Doc or hard copy will work. Experiment might be that we can get in Google Images Flaming Chalice category! -Doak See the last page of this newsletter for a space to start your doodling. You can send them to education@communityuu.org or give to the RE Coordinator, Pauline Schafer. 3

4 Religious Education News By Pauline Schafer Throughout August we continued our Sun theme by trying out homemade solar ovens (and sharing pizza with the congregation), making ultraviolet light-detectors, and refracting and filtering the colors of sunlight. This brought us to the topics of living lightly on the land, being careful with power, and appreciating diversity. The summer season closes with our Mingling of the Waters service and we focus on what we bring to the community along with our summer experiences. Throughout the next few months the middle school youth will be exploring right and wrong with the Tapestry of Faith curriculum Amazing Grace, which encourages them to draw upon their Unitarian Universalist identity on their journey to independence. The elementary age children will be reminded of the importance of asking questions as they explore the curriculum Love Will Guide Us. RE Parent & Mentor Orientation Join us for RE Orientation Sunday, September 11 after the service. All parents and caregivers bringing children and youth to RE classes, as well as volunteer teachers and mentors, are invited to learn about the program for the upcoming year. Lunch and childcare will be included. If you have been a teacher or mentor for RE in the past, you know how rewarding it can be to spend a session learning our faith along with children. And if you are thinking about giving it a try, please do! Come to our lunch and orientation after the service on September 11 to learn more, or talk to me anytime. We always need help in the nursery too, supervising and playing with our youngest members during the service. Contact me at education@communityuu.org or Adult Religious Education: Field Trip We have an opportunity to take a field trip to see and discuss Particles on the Wall, on display at The REACH Museum through October 21. Physicians for Social Responsibility describes their exhibit: Particles on the Wall (POTW) is an interdisciplinary exhibit that uses art, science, and history to explore Hanford, the Columbia River and the Atomic Age. The exhibit features visual art, literary works, memorabilia, and scientific displays to provide a deep and well rounded look at the complicated issues that surround Hanford s history and current cleanup. The museum is normally closed on Sundays, but we are able to plan a Sunday visit after the service on either October 2 or October 16 while it s open for another tour group. Watch for a sign-up at church, or contact Pauline at education@communityuu.org if you are interested, and indicate which date you prefer. We could stop for lunch on the way to The REACH, or bring lunch to enjoy on the patio there. Cost would be $7 per person, $5 for students or seniors. Find more information about Particles on the Wall at 4

5 ANSIL Team Notes by Leiloni Mahoney The below graph of ANSIL Hygiene Center statistics gives a great view of just how much our volunteer support has made a difference since we started mid-march -- it's significant! Our presence continues to grow with enough volunteers to begin offering center hours on Mondays. More volunteers to help split shifts and/or provide 'substitute' support continue to be welcomed. Contact Peggy Owens-Mansfield for more info. We will soon be initiating efforts to reopen the relocated Ed Center on Saturday afternoons. Watch for news and announcements from Dion Sunderland for specifics and how to sign up. Leiloni Mahoney will continue to provide school liaison support to ANSIL Hall young adults this school year; ANSIL will provide free residency for up to six full-time high school students. The Board has also approved the ANSIL Team leading a UU-sponsored dinner at the ANSIL campus in October. The dinner will be provided for the homeless as well as an opportunity to recognize and thank the Dayspring Jail and Prison Ministries volunteers who provide daily soup kitchen meals. See the separate notice on page 3 for more specifics, and watch and listen for sign-ups at church. The next ANSIL meeting is Thursday, September 8 at 6:30pm at the church. 5

6 CUUC Contacts Minister: Reverend Doak Mansfield Secretary: Gayle Wilde RE Education: Pauline Schafer Board of Trustees: President: Alex Emig Vice President: Mark Painter Treasurer: Denise Pitts Secretary: Barb Tarasevich Member-at-large: Larry Bolan Member-at-large: Gail Taff Member-at-large: Virginia Tomlinson Committees Worship Mike Truex, Alex Emig, Donna Brown, Virginia Tomlinson, and Diane Reed are the current members of the worship committee and work with Reverend Mansfield to provide Sunday services for CUUC. A key element of our effort is collaborating with Reverend Mansfield in support of his Sunday services. We also discuss, plan, and bring in a variety of outside speakers throughout the year. We work within the congregation too, having members of the congregation lead or participate in Sunday services. Our activities include preparing each week for the elements of the Sunday service. It s quite rewarding to participate on the committee and to be involved in the genesis of service ideas and with Sunday service programming. While it may seem daunting, we have a good system in place and Reverend Mansfield is a steady guide for our efforts. If you have questions or interest in joining the committee, please contact Mike Truex at mike.shannon.truex@gmail.com. minister@communityuu.org office@communityuu.org pauschafer@hotmail.com alexemig79@gmail.com jadeendynion@gmail.com denapit@hotmail.com juntarasevich@gmail.com lebolan2@gmail.com gataff@charter.net tomlinvm@gmail.com Hands & Heart The Hands and Hearts Committee would like to remind you that we are here to help, not just for big events where we all cry or laugh, but also for the little things as well. We are here to help you out in any way we can. You can seek us out at church (our name tags have the heart stickers) or call us up at home. (If one of us doesn't answer, keep on trying other numbers). If you know of somebody who needs looked in on, or if you want to discuss your own situation, please give us a ring. Bev is our card person, if you know someone who needs to receive a get-well card, sympathy card, etc. please contact her. Denise Pitts Jennifer Comstock Marla Marvin Bev & Bryan Schroeder Gail Taff Peggy Owens-Mansfield Buildings & Grounds The Building and Grounds Committee can always use a little help. We find joy in sharing the wealth... the wealth of our service to our CUUC home and our community of users. We are focused on the day-to-day maintenance and incremental improvement of our lovely CUUC facility. We seek new committee members to lend a hand, whether you're a crafty do-it-yourselfer or a born organizer, we would love for you to have just a small share of our joy and service through the Building and Grounds Committee. Please contact Fred Dunhour at fred.dunhour@mindspring.com with your questions or suggestions. 6

7 Create some new chalice art! The flaming chalice is a symbol of our faith, Unitarian Universalism. It has 3 important parts: The chalice (a cup with a stem) means sharing The flame means hope and courage circles around it show that Unitarians and Universalists came together to form one church. Here is the flaming chalice we use to symbolize our church, CUUC in Pasco. Can you find what makes it unique for our special place in the world? Look for the 3 rivers, a tumbleweed, and crops that grow here like grapes and wheat. We would like to see your version of a flaming chalice. Draw your own in the space below. If you make it just one or two colors, we can put it on our printed materials. If you make it colorful, we can display it in our church building. Add your name if you like. 7