The Chalice and Chimes. June 2009

Transcription

1 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes The monthly newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor A Welcoming Congregation 120 Park Street Bangor, ME (207) uubangor@gmail.com Worship Services 10:00 A.M. June 7 - Flower Communion We will celebrate the end of the church year and the beginning of summer with a traditional Flower Communion. Please bring a flower to place in the garden to share with everyone. Worship Associate: Cindy Todd Lay Coordinator: Andrew Sarto Music: Choir will sing *June 14 - Happiness The Declaration of Independence guarantees our right to pursue happiness. Just what is happiness, how do we achieve it and how do we keep it? Using work by positivists, we shall consider spiritual happiness versus material happiness and if there is a difference between the two. What makes YOU happy? Worship Associate: Lee Giles Lay Coordinator: Christina Diebold Music: Paul Peichmann June 21 - UUSB Fathers Speaking The dads of the UUSB Building and Grounds Committee will help is celebrate Father s Day. Lay Coordinator: Susan MacKay Music: Choir will sing June 28 - God was in this place and I, I did not know. Rabbi Darah R. Lerner of Congregation Beth El will be our guest in the pulpit. Her topic will be: wrestling with God engaging with the divine in the New Millenium, old texts and new ideas. Worship Associate: Christina Diebold Lay Coordinator: Andrew Sarto Music: Nancy Lewis UUSB Annual Picnic Event will follow the June 14th service, see display announcement on page 7 this newsletter for the details! ><><><><><><><><><><><><>< REMINDER: Summer worship schedule for 9:00 AM services begins Sunday, July 5. Mark your calendar not to miss it! Sunday, Sept. 6, we will return to the 10:00 AM time slot. IMPORTANT REMINDERS The second Sunday of each month, a Food Cupboard Collection is taken during worship. Non-perishables and/or money donations gratefully accepted. Please give whatever you can. Thanks! Summer Services at UUSB: July 5 thru Aug. 30-9:00AM Sept. 6 - return to 10:00AM The Heritage-Archives Committee continues to meet throughout the summer on Wednesday mornings. Inquirers welcome. If your personal UUSB history has not bee recorded, please volunteer and make an appointment with Christian Affinity Group opportunities for summer: June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, 4:00PM at St. John s Episcopal Church for Evensong services July 19, 4:00PM, Private Garden, guided meditation Aug. 16, 12Noon, Potluck Picnic at Cascade Park For details, call Page at The end of May, UUSB experienced a break-in (despite the fact we were spare from an earlier recent series of break-ins at neighboring churches) although nothing appears missing/stolen. This serves as a remember for all of us to be diligently alert and mindful of building security. Be sure all doors are locked behind you when you leave an extra tug on the handle of a door closed behind you can make all the difference in our safety!! Please remember to schedule ALL events and meetings through the Church Office. This helps assure fewer space conflicts and less vulnerability to security breaches.

2 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes Page 2 The Muse Just what does a minister do with their summers? Very much like academics, Unitarian Universalist ministers take some vacation time,usually away from home, and then they take study leave. So, how am I spending my summer? Before I begin my vacation or study leave, I am flying to Salt Lake City to attend Minister Days, put on the UU Ministers Association, and then attend General Assembly as one of your delegates. By the way, we have two intrepid souls who will also be at GA Lee Giles and Michele Caitlin-Strout. I am so glad I will have them with me while there. This all occurs the last full week of June. This is a grand time to connect with colleagues, previous congregants, and old friends. Numerous workshops are offered ranging from administration to meditation to evangelism. This year we are also electing a new Association President, so there will be lots of politicking going on. I will then jet to southern California where I will spend a week with my son. This will be true vacation time with his wonderful culinary skills filling my tummy as well as visits to the many cultural spots in So Cal. Next, I will head to the San Francisco Bay Area where I will stay with friends while I study at the Pacific School of Religion. I am taking two courses this summer one on campus ministry and one on creating circles of trust based on the work of Parker Palmer. Both will help me be a better minister for you. Then I will come back and do a combination of vacation and study leave. I will work at creating a couple of quality workshops on Pastoral Care and the Bible. I want to see how I might plan and hold weekly vesper services. I may even write a couple of sermons in advance. I also want to spend time doing some deep spiritual work meditation, drawing, prayer. I think it is important for each of us to refresh ourselves. We have a habit of losing our sense of self,and of the Holy, by being so very busy and efficient and successful. My suggestion for your summer have some fun, but also take some time to refresh your spirit through some intentional spiritual practice. You can come back to church this fall full of the Spirit and full of a renewed sense of energy for the community in which we worship, learn and have fun. Have a great summer I know I will! Rev. Becky Contacting Your Minister: Rev. Becky Gunn has office hours Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Be sure to call ahead to be sure she is available, as there are occasional conflicts. Other times available by appointment. Monday is Rev. Becky s day off. Contacts: uubeckygunn@aol.com; Phone: (church); (home); (cell, for emergencies) LOOK NO FURTHER FOR YOUR SUMMER READING FUN SOURCE!! (see below) CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OWN UUSB s Book Treasure Trove! + + = Want a good (and cheap) read to curl up with? We now offer "Like New" books for sale in the Dorothy, on the shelf near the nametags/buttons. Got a book in excellent condition to donate? Please add it to those on the shelves. Want to buy one of these treasures? We operate on the honor system: just put your money in the designated box nearby. Price: $1 per paperback; $2 per hardcover book. Sue McKay, the well-deserved recipient of a CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD bestowed at the Annual Meeting of the Northern New England District of the Unitarian Universalist Association, which took place in Conway, NH, May 1-3, 2009.

3 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes Page 3 UUSB Accessibility Team Update: Exciting Developments! Identified Problem: UUSB has no interior means for people with mobility difficulties to move between our buildings main floors. In seeking solutions to UUSB s vertical access problem, the Accessibility Team reports the following developments: April 28, 2009: The Accessibility Team met with architect John Gordon to review his feasibility study findings. John presented further information and rough cost guestimates about two possible options Option 1: a Limited Use/ Limited Application elevator in the recently painted small vestibule area between the Dorothy/Sanctuary connector hallway and the Sanctuary itself, and Option 2: a full elevator in a small new addition that would be constructed between the Sanctuary and the Dorothy Memorial buildings. The Team weighed pros and cons and unanimously decided to recommend Option 2 to the Council and congregation. May 3, 2009: Council unanimously approved the Accessibility Team s recommended solution: to construct an addition that would contain an elevator and an ADA bathroom, with approval subject to funding. Projected Next Steps: Summer 2009: The Accessibility Team, with assistance and input from Council and Rev. Becky Gunn, will investigate possible funding sources and mechanisms to pay for capital accessibility improvements. Fall 2009: Accessibility Team and Council will hold a congregational meeting to present and vote on recommendations for project scope and funding. Detailed Report of Accessibility Team s First Year: We invite you to check the UUSB website to find a pdf copy of our May 17, 2009, annual report. To receive a paper copy of the report through the mail, call Janet Hamel, Interested in seeing a 15-minute video on accessibility? The Accessibility Team invites you to borrow a brief video prepared by the UUA A Call to Action telling four UU congregations stories in addressing accessibility issues in their own communities. The stories are uplifting and can inform us as we consider the present obstacles and future possibilities for our own building and the UUSB community. The video is available to borrow in both VHS and DVD formats. Contact Janet Hamel, , if you are interested in borrowing it. The Accessibility Team will keep you posted on progress through the Chimes, and we report regularly to the Council. Interested in joining us in this effort? Have concerns or ideas of ways UUSB can improve in this area? Contact Janet Hamel, WANT TO RING THOSE CHIMES?! Interested in what s up in the bell tower? No bats, but some pigeons! Interested in a hike across the Sanctuary ceiling? Want to see Bangor from a different point of view? UUSB is looking for new bell ringers to play before Sunday services and on special occasions. Must: Be able to climb narrow, steep stairs. Have strength enough to swing open the trap door. Endure cold in winter and heat in summer. Be able to move the levers. Reading music is a plus but not required. Will teach. Young people are encouraged to ring, with parent s permission if under age 18. Contact: JoDee Creighton or jcwimsey@myfairpoint.net DON T FORGET PLANT SALE June 6th This year s perennial plant sale is right around the corner! Put flyers up everywhere there is a bulletin board! Tell your friends! Sign up to help! Questions? Contact Natalie Gregory

4 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes Page 4 Building and Grounds Update This is a busy time of year for everyone, and we are especially appreciative of the time Building and Grounds members and other folks give to help out with the many tasks that come our way. Gail Bickford helped us out by cleaning up the interior of our Dorothy Memorial doors that were damaged by moisture of the winter, and they look a whole lot better. Thanks, Gail! Susan Wishkoski was observed raking leaves and cleaning up our gardens soon after the snow melted, which resulted in the grass greening up better and things looked really spiffy. I noticed that someone cut our lawn, picked up rocks, and trimmed around the shrubs; could it have been Bob Foss? We unexpectedly lost our sanitizer in the Dorothy Memorial. Tom Bickford got right on it and has spent many hours researching new units, making phone calls, arranging for new wiring and plumbing, etc. and doing a good deal of the work himself. Janet Hamel has been busy guiding the accessibility team and providing opportunities for communication with the congregation. I hope not to embarrass any of the folks mentioned above, but know that your efforts are much appreciated as are those of the many not mentioned here who also contribute to making of collective experience so positive. A warm, heartfelt thanks to you all! For the Building and Grounds Team, Bruce Hautala Membership/Fellowship Committee News The Membership & Fellowship Committee welcomes additional committee members. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30, for a potluck supper/meeting. Our meetings take place at various members' homes in the cold weather (to save on heating the church). The June 10 th meeting will be at Sue McKay's home in Bangor. For information about this dynamic (and fun!) committee, contact chair Suzanne Kelly ( ) or speak to any one of the committee members (we re the ones with the rainbow ribbons) after Sunday service to find out more: Bill Carlin, Lance Case, Nancy Daisey, Joanie Ellis, Balenda Ganem, Janet Hamel, Duane Hanselman, Sheila Lynne, Sue McKay, or Gayle Zydlewski. Note to All Committees and Small Group Ministries: When you are greeting and serving refreshments, try asking a new member to help. It s a great way for them to get involved. Also, remember to ask visitors to sign our guest book so they will receive more information from the church office as well as two months of the Chalice and Chimes by mail. M&F Committee Recovers From Temporary Cookie Mania After considering our options and challenges as a potential food vendor at the 2009 Folk Festival in Bangor, the Membership & Fellowship Committee decided the challenges outweighed the possibilities. We will not be operating a food booth selling cookies at this year s festival. So while we hope to see you at the festival having fun and volunteering, UUSB will not be a food vendor. 3rd Friday Contradance Series: Come dance this summer on the 3 rd Friday of every month with the Penobscot Contradancers. On June 19 th, dance to music provided by the band Upriver Reel, with caller John McIntire. Other summer dances are on July 17 and August 21. No experience necessary, and all ages are welcome! Alcohol-free and smoke-free. Come alone, or with a partner, or with the entire family. Beginners' session starts at 7:30 p.m., with the dance starting at 8. Admission: $7 per person; $18 per family of three or more. For more information: bangorcontra@gmail.com, or

5 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes Page 5 Financial Report from Your Outgoing Treasurer For those who weren t able to attend the Annual Meeting, you missed out on a report on the financial health of the church as of mid-may. This report reflects our April 30th status. We were in the red, but the final numbers won t be available until the end of the fiscal year, June 30. For the next newsletter, at the end of the summer, I will provide a final report. I won t be surprised if we end the year with a deficit. We experienced many unbudgeted, but vital expenditures: furnace conversion and related expenses, upgrades to our fire suppression system, expenses around bringing Reverend Becky to Maine and her installation service, and our banister heightening project just to name a few. The budgeted amount for the cleaning service was way under what was needed to get the job done. As many have noted, our building has events happening almost every day and night of the week, and on many occasions multiple events simultaneously! It has been a very good year for building and grounds projects, and great praise should be showered on that hard-working, dedicated committee. We will start the new year, July 1, with a settled minister (who survived her first Maine winter) and a new treasurer. Special thanks to Reverend Becky for her financial expertise and best wishes to Vyvyenne Ritchie as she takes control of the checkbook! Yours in service, Sue McKay Current Month Year to Date Budget FY 2009 % of Budget Spent Revenues Pledge $ 7,793 $ 78,302 $ 95, Fund Balance (BS) 0 0 5, Unrestricted Endowments ,024 56, Restricted Endowments 1,023 21,526 37, Hersey Bequest (HO) 9,552 25,000 35, Minister's Funds 0 1,189 1, Other Restricted Funds 150 6,589 4, Bldg & Grounds Funds , Fundraising Funds 4,661 20,481 31, Vanguard Interest Rental 600 7,163 7, Total Revenues $ 24,635 $ 204,987 $ 276, Expenses Payroll Expenses $ 11,739 $ 116,602 $ 133, Bldg Discretionary Funds ,545 30, Bldg Fixed Expenses 1,496 21,343 36, Denominational Dues 0 7,829 10, Office & Chimes Expenses 1,067 6,579 7, Congregational Activities Expe 5,626 28,947 58, Passthrough Total Expenses 20, , , Net Income $ 3,914 ($ 1,858) $

6 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes Page 6 News from RE Six of our high school seniors will be graduating this June. All of our love and best wishes go to Hilarie Blunt, Zoe Hamlett-Norris, Kevin Hanselman, Jordan Perry, Jeremiah Roper, and Dee Wilbur as they begin this next exciting chapter of their lives. Congratulations also to 14 of our junior youth and 18 of our senior youth for completing the OWL (Our Whole Lives human sexuality) curricula. We are now gearing up for summer camp activities. Three day-camps will be offered at UUSB this summer on the following dates: Children entering grades K-3 June 29 July 3, 2009 Children entering grades 4-6 July 13-17, 2009 Children entering grades K-3 August 17 21, 2009 Registration forms were sent to qualifying families. If you did not receive one, please contact me. These camps are paid for with funds from the Hersey Bequest, as are children, youth, and family camps at Ferry Beach. I will be continuing as Interim DLRE for one more academic year. During this upcoming year, we intend to spend considerable time and energy refining the LRE program and searching for a permanent DLRE. However, one exciting change to the program that will occur during this coming year is the addition of a part-time Youth and Young Adult Outreach Coordinator. A job description and more detailed information should be available soon on our website (uubangor.org). As always, I appreciate input from the UUSB community regarding the Lifespan Religious Education program. I am particularly interested in your thoughts and ideas for adult programming, and for children, youth, and family enrichment activities. I would also be delighted to speak with any adult (age 18 and up) who is interested in volunteering as a teacher in the program. We had a total of 35 adult volunteers this past year and would welcome even more next year. Working with our children and youth is reward enough but, as an added incentive, adults who volunteer at least half time with the LRE program are entitled to attend one week of Family Camp at Ferry Beach free of charge. I hope you all have a glorious and restful summer. Blessings, Wendy Wendy Erickson Interim Director of Lifespan Religious education uubangorre@gmail.com The Final Quarterly Meeting of the Program/Committee Council Saturday, June 13, 9:30am - 12noon Potluck Brunch and Wrap-up for this year! As has been our routine, we ll start with the brunch, begin the meeting around 10:00am for those who can t come to socialize!! All UUSB Committees: Plan to send either your chair or a rep with notes on your progress, goals for the year attained or still hoped for ( works in progress ) and ideas for the summer and fall calendar. Any questions, call Phyllis ( , ) or Laurie ( ). BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS... the Peace, Water & Wisdom Walk will be nearing completion or finished, and UUSB s Green Sanctuary certification will be that much closer. I wanted to thank all those who worked so hard to make our educational outreach, fund raising, and especially the Grand Reception such a success. It was a real team effort! Special thanks to the hard work of Christina Diebold, Michele Caitlyn-Strout, Barbara Guidotti for developing and donating the fabulous cards we had to sell; Lee Giles and the GS Committee; and to Mida Ballard of Women with Wings, who helped so much with this project and will continue to do so as we keep the educational outreach going to schools and organizations. Thank you and blessings to all who participated in this important project. - Laurie Cartier Project Leader

7 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes Page 7 An Important Message TO: UU Society of Bangor FROM: Betsy Smith, EqualityMaine UUSB Family and Friends Picnic/Barbeque Greetings, May 19, 2009 Our opponents have wasted no time at all. The day after governor Baldacci signed the law to end discrimination in marriage, our opponents began their efforts to overturn it. This week, they begin collecting signatures to ask voters to reject the new law at the ballot box. The most important thing you can do right now is to join us in launching the next phase of the campaign. We have a plan to win, but we cannot win without you. To learn how we will protect marriage in a referendum campaign, please join us for one of our Community Conversations on Marriage. We re hosting an event in Bangor on Monday, June 1, 6:00-8:00 PM at the Hammond Street Congregational Church. For complete details and to RSVP, please Darlene Huntress at dhuntress@equalitymaine.org CONGRATULATIONS TO KENT McKUSICK...who graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry May 21st, having completed the Master of Divinity program. For the past year, Kent has been serving as a parish intern minister at All Souls church in Kansas City, MO. This summer he ll be the crew chaplain at Ferry Beach, the UU conference center and campground in Saco, ME. Maybe some UUSB families will see him there! When: June 14th, 2009 RAIN OR SHINE! We ll have the tent set up again this year! What time: After service, head on up. There will be no coffee hour after service on June 14th. Where: At the Bickford s in Orono (just about 10 miles from church): 167 Bennoch Road, Orono Take the Stillwater Ave exit in Orono (exit 193) and turn right onto Stillwater. Immediately turn right onto Godfrey Drive (first light, at the Dysarts gas station). Take Godfrey until it dead-ends on the Bennoch Road (total of about 3/4 mile from exit). Turn left on the Bennoch Road and the Bickford s are the second house (tan with red barn across from cemetery) What to bring: Volunteers: It is a potluck, but we will have burgers and hamburgers grilling for all who come. Will be recruited IT IS NOT TOO LATE to get a copy of the UUSB Annual Report. Call Susan Vernal in the Church Office to get your copy.

8 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes Page 8 Bangor will observe the 25th anniversary of Charlie Howard's death with a series of events starting on July 7. Charlie, who was a 23-year-old openly gay man, was beaten and thrown from the State Street Bridge by three teenage boys on July 7, He drowned in the Kenduskeag Stream. The week-long observance will begin on Tuesday, July 7, with a vesper service at 6:30pm at UUSB. It will be led by Rev. Dr. Susan E. Davies, Bangor Theological Seminary. After the service, there will be the dedication of the Charlie Howard Memorial at the State Street Bridge, and the casting of flowers into the Kenduskeag. This is expected to start about 7:30. A committee, representing various organizations in Bangor, has been working on this remembrance for about two years. "Our intent is to remember Charlie and what his death means to our community," says UUSB s Sue McKay, chair of the committee. "We also want to honor Charlie's exuberance and humor, and that means our program should be fun. There will be signing and dancing and laughter." Members of the Charlie Howard Memorial Committee are Sue McKay, UUSB; George Brissette, Bridge Alliance; William Carlin, UUSB; Dr. Deborah H. Carney; Jessica Carter, Mabel Wadsworth Health Center; Rev. Dr. Susan E. Davies, Charles O. Howard Foundation; Rev. Dr. Mark Doty, minister, Hammond Street Congregational Church, United Church of Christ; Lee Giles, UUSB, Maria Hautala, UUSB; Suze Howe, Eastern Maine Aids Network (EMAN); Lois Reed, president of the Bangor Unitarian Church at the time of Charlie's death; and Daniel Williams, Howard Foundation. The week's schedule of activities includes: Wednesday, July 8, 7pm, at UUSB: concert featuring Women with Wings, Voices for Peace, Maine Gay Men's Chorus. Thursday, July 9, 5:30-6:45pm, reception and exhibit, Charles Howard 25 Years Later: How Far Has Maine Come? Bangor Public Library. Friday, July 10, 6pm, pizza supper ($5.00), followed by film "Inlaws and Outlaws" (free). Hammond Street Congregational Church, UCC. 28 High Street. Saturday, July 11, workshops at Hammond Street Church. 9am-10:30am, "Marriage Equality for Maine in 2009," Darlene Huntress, Equality- Maine :30pm, "Ugly Ducklings," documentary screening with discussion. Appropriate for PG- 13. Presented by Hardy Girls Healthy Women :30pm, "Reading the Bible Through a Queer Lens," Rev. Dr. Marvin M. Ellison, Bangor Theological Seminary. There will be a dance Saturday night under the auspices of the Bridge Alliance. The time and location have not yet been determined. On Sunday, July 12, the week-long activities will conclude with the 25th Annual Charlie Howard Memorial Service at UUSB. It will be conducted by Rev. Richard Forcier, guest minister, who was the minister at the Bangor Unitarian Church, when Charlie Howard was killed. The service will be followed by a walk to the State Street Bridge and casting of flowers. When possible, events will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Bill Carlin

9 June 2009 The Chalice and Chimes Page 9

10 The Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor June 2009 SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 10am Soup Kitchen (off-site) 2pm Private Piano Receitals 2 11:15am Recorder Group 6pm RE Committee 7pm Buddhist Affin. 7pm Private Piano Recitals 3 9:30am Archives Committee 12:15pm Prayer Group 7pm Private Piano Recitals 4 5:30pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm Women w/wings 7pm NAACP Exec. Mtg. 5 6 ANNUAL PLANT SALE 9am-3pm (church parking lost) 7 Flower Communion 10:am Worship 11:30am Council Mtg :15am Recorder Group 10 9:30am Archives Committee 12:15pm Prayer Group 6:30pm Membership Committee 11 5:30pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm Women w/wings 12 12:30pm Knitting Circle 13 9:30am Program Council Brunch & Mtg. 6:30pm Shawl Ministry 14 10am Worship (Food Collection) UUSP ANNUAL PICNIC (see page 7 this newsletter for all the details!) :15am Recorder Group 7pm Buddhist Affin. 17 9:30am Archives Comm. 12:15pm Prayer Group 18 11am Budget & Finance Comm. 5:30pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm Women w/wings 19 7:30pm Contradance 20 7pm Special Event Hosted by Temple of Feminine Divine: STARHAWK (Guest speaker) 21 1am Worship 11:30am Social Justice 7pm Temple Fem. Divine :15am Recorder Group 24 9:30am Archives Comm. 12:15pm Prayer Group 6:30pm Shawl Ministry 7pm Bldg. & Grds Comm. 25 5:30pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm Women w/wings pm Bean Supper 28 1am Worship 11:30am Exec. Comm. 6pm NAACP-Bangor 29 RE Summer Camp Week Begins 30 11:15am Recorder Group HAVE A WONDERFUL & SAFE SUMMER EVERYONE!! We leave you with a few reminders over the summer: Summer RE Day Camps Weeks of: 6/29, 7/13 & 8/17/09 (See page 6 this newsletter for details) Sunday, 7/7, begins a week of events commemorating the 25th anniversary of Charlie Howard s death. Vesper service at UUSB, Tues., July 7th. Archives Committee will continue to meet during the summer on Wednesday mornings. Choir and many small group do not meet during the summer; call to check with a group facilitator for details. AUW Guild does not meet during the summer. However, Bean Suppers, Soup Kitchen and Contradances do take place. The Fresh Start/Alcoholics Anonymous meetings continue weekday noon hours in the Vestry, as well as the meetings of the NAACP as scheduled certain Sunday evenings in the Dorothy Hall. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Articles for the September Chalice & Chimes newsletter should be received by the secretary in the Church Office no later than August 15th. SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!

11 CONTACT INFORMATION Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor 120 Park Street Bangor, ME Sunday Services: 10:00 AM A Welcoming Congregation Rev. Becky Gunn, Minister Nancy Lewis, Music Director Wendy Erickson, Interim Director of Lifespan Religious Education Susan Vernal, Church Administrator Church Office Hours: 9:00 AM 12:00 PM, Tuesday-Friday Tel uubangor@gmail.com Minister s Hours: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Tuesday-Thursday Be sure to call ahead to be sure she is available, as there are occasional conflicts. Other times available by appointment. Monday is Rev. Becky s day off. Contacts: uubeckygunn@aol.com; Phone: (church); (home); (cell, for emergencies) Mission Statement of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor: The Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor is a historically liberal religious community, celebrating diversity and supporting spiritual growth and social responsibility in each child and adult. The UU Society of Bangor is A Welcoming Congregation: We welcome individuals and families of all religious upbringings, racial and ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations. We, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Unitarian Universalist Principles: We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all; Respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part. About our newsletter: The Chalice and Chimes is published ten times a year (Sept-June). It is sent free of charge to all members of the UU Society of Bangor. Visitors receive the newsletter free of charge for two months, as a way to welcome them to our community. The deadline for submissions is the 14th of each month. Contributions are solicited and should be sent to the Administrative Assistant at the church office. Articles may be edited for space, at the editor s discretion. (See Editorial Policy. ) Editorial Policy Church Council: Phyllis Havens, Chair pdhavens@aol.com Laurie Cartier, Vice Chair amalaurie@verizon.net Michele Caitlyn-Strout, Clerk manyfaunas7@roadrunner.com Sue McKay, Treasurer suemckay@midmaine.com Thomas Bickford bickford@mainerobotics.org Lance Case Lc4468@gmail.com Duane Hanselman d.hanselman@gmail.com Deb Leon dleon13@gmail.com Gail Werrbach gwerrbach@aol.com Articles submitted for publication in the Chalice & Chimes must strive to include, in an unbiased way, only that information that is consistent with the UU faith. Articles should deal with issues of a spiritual nature meant to inspire, encourage, educate, or inform. Although every effort will be made to be inclusive, the Editor reserves the right to determine which articles are accepted for publication. The Editor has the right to edit for space, availability, libelous remarks, or unwarranted personal attacks. Newsletter Delivery We are sending this newsletter by land and . For its economy we prefer the latter, but we know that others prefer paper in hand. Let us know if you would like to change. If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, send us a note or reply to the with Remove in the subject box, or Susan Vernal at uubangor@gmail.com. Thank you all!!

12 My Dad's Hands Bedtime came, we were settling down, I was holding one of my lads. As I grasped him so tight, I saw a strange sight: My hands...they looked like my dad's! I remember them well, those old gnarled hooks, there was always a cracked nail or two. And thanks to a hammer that strayed from its mark, his thumb was a beautiful blue! They were rough, I remember, incredibly tough, as strong as a carpenter's vice. But holding a scared little boy at night, they seemed to me awfully nice! The sight of those hands - how impressive it was in the eyes of his little boy. Other dads' hands were cleaner, it seemed (the effects of their office employ). I gave little thought in my formative years of the reason for Dad's raspy mitts: The love in the toil, the dirt and the oil, rusty plumbing that gave those hands fits! Thinking back, misty-eyed, and thinking ahead, when one day my time is done. The torch of love in my own wrinkled hands will pass on to the hands of my son. I don't mind the bruises, the scars here and there or the hammer that just seemed to slip. I want most of all when my son takes my hand, to feel that love lies in the grip. - David Kettler Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor 120 Park Street Bangor, ME JUNE Inside this issue: Worship Minister Accessibility Membership Building Comm.. 4 Treasurer Report.. 5 Religious Ed Announcements...7 Welcom g Cong..8-9 Calendar Contacts Visit us on the Web: