Upcoming Services: Sundays at 9:30am and 11:15am

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1 March 3, 2015 Minister: Rev. Douglas Taylor President: Debby Herman President -Elect: Andrea Palmeri Director of Lifespan Faith Development: Lynn Garman Music Director: Vicky Gordon Office Administrator/Beacon Editor and Lifespan Faith Development Assistant: Karen Armstrong Membership Coordinator: Rachel DellaRocco OFFICE HOURS: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays. SUNDAY SERVICES: 9:30am and 11:15am HOW TO CONTACT US: 183 Riverside Drive Binghamton, NY Phone: Fax: office@uubinghamton.org Web: TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE: Please to the office address, or a leave a hard copy on the office desk by the deadline printed below. Please include your name & phone number. The Beacon newsletter will now be published every 3 weeks. THE NEXT BEACON DEADLINE IS March 20 Upcoming Services: Sundays at 9:30am and 11:15am March 8, 2015 Trans-missions Alex Compton-Monell 2014 was considered by many to be a tipping point for the transgender movement. What does this mean and how to those looking to embody inclusivity and love support trans individuals? Continuing the Conversation: Follow ing the service, Alex Compton-Monell and Libby Anderson will host a Congregational Conversation in the Sanctuary for anyone interested in discussing Transgender issues raised in the worship service. March 15, 2015 Transcending Wonder Rev. Douglas Taylor Our UUCB Mission statement says part of our work is to encourage growth and transcendence. What does that really mean? The UUA sources refer to something similar when they talk about a transcending mystery and wonder. So let s talk about transcendence. March 22, 2015 The Gospel According to Carole King Joint choirs of UUCB and UUCAS (UU Church of Athens and Sheshequin) Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Carole King is regarded as one of the most influential songwriters of our time, and her music touches on themes which have universal appeal. Come join us as we celebrate her songs and reflect on her messages. March 29, 2015 Words of Prophecy Rev. Douglas Taylor Unitarian Universalism has a proud history of people involved in justice issues through the ages. One of our old slogans, Deeds not Creeds, still rings true and leads us to act on behalf of our faith. Where is our prophetic voice leading us today? 1

2 Minister s Column This Sunday I talked about planting seeds. It was the kick off to our March pledge drive for the coming year. Every member will renew their financial commitment to the congregation in anticipation of the year. And then the Board will craft a budget for the congregation to vote on for our June meeting. Reverend Taylor is in the office most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and can be reached at or dtaylor@uubinghamton.org Jeff Deacon, our pledge chair, offered an interesting presentation about the pledge drive. He talked about pledge drives past, present and future. In the past we used to always have balanced budgets and were very thrifty. Over the past handful of years we have had deficit budgets that have helped us grow. I spoke during the service about the virtue of thriftiness and the virtue of generosity. Both really are virtues, both are important. Sometimes we chose the smaller virtue over the greater virtue. As a congregation we call ourselves into the greater virtues. Thriftiness is a smaller virtue when compared to the greater virtue of generosity. Yes, both are important but generosity will open us to greater life. When we think about what we do in our congregation we see that we often call ourselves into the greater virtues of trust and acceptance, honest engagement and Beloved Community. It is possible to create a kind or theological diversity by shrinking our community experience down to the lowest common denominator. But we are called to rise up and reach for the highest within all of us when we share across our differences! And that sharing is the greater virtue. For the Children s story I talked about how the story of the Little Red Hen teaches us to participate ( who will help me use the flour to make bread? Not I, said the hippopotamus!) But I also told the children that there was second virtue in the story. The Little Red Hen planted the seed but she did not make the seed grow. We can learn that it is important to step up and engage (a virtue our congregation would benefit from following) but we can also learn that we must sometimes step back and trust that the seeds will do what seeds do (a virtue that will reap untold blessings!) So this pledge season, I invite each of you to plant a seed. Several years ago I planted the seed of generosity in my spirit. I heard us talking about shifting our pledge conversations into the concept of a percentage of income. I looked at my own giving and planted the seed. At that time, I was not giving even 1% - so that was my first goal. Over the years, that seed of generosity has grown and my giving has grown. I am reaching to offer 3%. Why? First, I want to be a generous person. Second, I believe this community is worthy of my gift. This place amazes me regularly. So plant a seed. What virtue do you want to nurture within yourself? This community can serve as the seedbed for your growth. Perhaps, like me, you will plant the seed of generosity. -douglas 2

3 Making Meaning Out of town travelling this week to celebrate a milestone birthday, I offer you the following from retired religious educator Pat Hoertdoerfer: And How Are the Children? Among the most accomplished and fabled tribes of Africa, no tribe was considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than the mighty Masai. It is perhaps surprising, then, to learn the traditional greeting that passed between Masai warriors: "Kasserian Ingera," one would always say to another. It means, "And how are the children?" It is still the traditional greeting among the Masai, acknowledging the high value that the Masai always place on their children's well-being. Even warriors with no children of their own would always give the traditional answer, "All the children are well." Meaning, of course, that peace and safety prevail, that the priorities of protecting the young, the powerless, are in place. That Masai society has not forgotten its reason for being, its proper functions and responsibilities. "All the children are well" means that life is good. It means that the daily struggles for existence do not preclude proper caring for their young. I wonder how it might affect our consciousness of our own children's welfare if in our culture we took to greeting each other with this daily question: "And how are the children?" I wonder if we heard that question and passed it along to each other a dozen times a day, if it would begin to make a difference in the reality of how children are thought of or cared about in our own country. I wonder if every adult among us, parent and non-parent alike, felt an equal weight for the daily care and protection of all the children in our community, in our town, in our state, in our country.... I wonder if we could truly say without any hesitation, "The children are well, yes, all the children are well." What would it be like... if the minister began every worship service by answering the question, "And how are the children?" If every town leader had to answer the question at the beginning of every meeting: " And how are the children? Are they all well?" Wouldn't it be interesting to hear their answers? What would it be like? I wonder... In joy, Lynn How Are the Children at UUCB? Our UUCB children are deep-thinking, romping, caring, playful, questioning, energetic and so much more! And, they need another adult or two to support and lead them on Sunday mornings. We have two openings for teachers at our 11:15 program; one in our Preschool Group, and one in our Spirit Play group (Shawn s broken ankle is not conducive to sitting with 5 7 year olds on Sunday mornings!). Teachers join a team of teachers, and lead approx 2 Sundays per month curriculum plans, supplies, materials, and of course, children, are all provided! See Lynn Garman for more information and help us say, without hesitation, The children are well, yes, the children are well! Program Calendar March 8 Continuing the Conversation: Supporting Trans Individuals March 15 UU Pals Brunch March 15 Faith in Action Easter Baskets March 22 Substance Use and Prevention Panel Presentation April 12 Coming of Age Meeting 3

4 Green Event GREEN MATTERS EcoForum: Getting to Net Zero.. No More Dinosaurs Required! We have so many new energy technologies that it is now very possible, and maybe even easy, to stop using fossil fuels. The beauty of many of these technologies is that the individual building owner can do them incrementally and affordably. Air-sourced heat pumps, electric cars, bicycle commuting, netzero homes, free energy audits, special financing opportunities -- Gay Canough will touch on all these and more. Joe Keyes, owner of Heat Tek, will be on hand as well. Sunday, March 8, 12:45 to 1:45pm, Fireside Room. Your Ideas Wanted What will our congregation say and do about climate? The Green Sanctuary Committee asks for your input as we prepare a UUCB Statement of Commitment to Climate Action for which we will request a congregational vote this June. We welcome your thoughts regarding any or all of the three sections: The Science, Our Beliefs and Values, and Our Calls to Action. Please contact project leader, Gerri Wiley at gerriwiley@yahoo.com or for more information. Join Us Want to get more involved with things environmental and have fun in the process? Then you definitely should join our Green Sanctuary group. We have lots of engaging projects that you can help out with.. or you might like to start your own project. See or call ( ) Wes Ernsberger to learn more. Green Quote Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable. - Tal Ben- Shahar Calling all UU Young Adults! You are invited to come to Campfire UUCB every 1 st and 4th Tuesday from 7-9 in Room 10. This is a worshipful gathering for young adults between the ages of 18 and 35. The gathering is a blend between SGM (Covenant Groups) and Unirondack s Campfire circles. See the newsletter for more details, or the flyer on the bulletin board. Everyone is invited to bring an element to share, and bring a candle. The theme for our March 3 rd gathering is Joy. TOWN HALL MEETINGS March 15 at 12:30 and March 22 at 10:30 DO WE NEED A SMOKING POLICY FOR OUR GROUNDS? Two town hall meetings have been scheduled so that congregants may discuss whether or not there is a need for a policy restricting smoking on UUCB property. If you have an opinion on this topic, please join us for one of the sessions and share your thoughts. These meetings may result in a congregational vote in June. A Panel Exploring Substance Abuse and Prevention Save the date March 22 for a panel presentation exploring adolescent and young adult substance use. Adolescence is a time of experimentation and risk-taking, and this can involve the use and abuse of mindaltering substances, including alcohol and recreational drugs. Join our panel to explore the issues particular to adolescence, substance use, and addiction. 4

5 Helping Hands Needed Easter Basket Donations During our March 15 Faith in Action Sunday, we will be preparing approximately 20 Easter baskets for the children who eat at a local soup kitchen. We are asking for donations of small trinkets and food candy, granola bars, pencils, crayons, small stuffed animals, etc. Donations may be brought to the Faith Development Office, room 4. Social Hour: W e are in need of helpers before and after each social hour on Sundays. There is a clipboard in the kitchen where you can sign up. It is an easy task and if everyone takes a turn, no one will have to do all the work themselves. Feeling Friendly?: W e are looking to add som e new faces to the Sunday morning greeting team. If you are interested in greeting folks at the door on Sundays, please contact Christine Niskanen. There is also a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hall. It s easy, but training is provided. Rides Needed: Are you lucky enough to have a car to drive to appointments and church services? You may live near someone who isn t. Please contact Carol Finch if you would be willing to be on a list to provide rides for these people, even on an occasional basis, at c.finch123@yahoo.com Care Bag Supplies Needed: W e are still in need of a few item s for the care bags that our youth will be assembling for the needy in our community. Toothpaste, deodorant, dollar store gloves and nail clippers would be greatly appreciated. We plan to assemble bags. Remember to w ear your Nam etag so that folks can get to know you! Charitable Donations: As part of our com m unity nutrition project, please donate non-perishable foods for CHOW. You can also bring small items for Bridgewater Nursing Home bingo prizes. Collection boxes are in the coat room. Printer/Toner Cartridges: Please dona te you r spent pr inter or toner cartridges to UUCB. For a several years, we ve been able to buy most of our office supplies through this rebate program at Staples. This saves us a bundle! The collection box is in the coat room. Remember Your UU Pal! Our UU Pals eagerly look forward to receiving mail! Remember, we encourage small trinkets and notes this is not about the loot, but the fruit a new friend! Adults are reminded to look in the younger pal s bag for mail that may have been left for you! Our UU Pal Brunch and reveal will be on March 15 (its been extended a bit longer this year because local schools have a full week of winter break, and many families were traveling). 5

6 Did you hear the ghosts on Sunday? During the service on Sunday, 3/1/15 we were visited by 3 ghosts; the ghost of Pledge Campaigns past, the ghost of Pledge Campaign present, and the ghost of Pledge Campaigns to come. The Ghost of Pledge Campaigns Past We are a generous congregation. Over 3 years from 2010 through 2012, even though our membership drops by 15 members, our total pledge income increases by almost 19%. It is 2012 and we are working hard to fundamentally change how we do Stewardship at our congregation. We are engaging members and friends of UUCB in a more meaningful and inspiring way. We have our first cottage meetings where we explore the inward questions; why are we here, what feeds us and what inspires us? We hear testimony like; This is my community open-minded, welcoming, curious, seeking, passionate and compassionate I am aware - I feel, much more significantly, the things going on in the world We save lives not just in our own community but also beyond The music moving, beautiful, awesome, amazing Substantial, deep, meaningful conversation A religion from which not only we can grow, but so can the world There is growth here, not stagnation, we are moving forward, always changing Youth are known how we embrace, interact and support them Now let us travel to We are focused on visioning for the future. We are exploring outward questions; what do you envision, what would you change, what would success look like? And you say; Upgrade our building to make it a lovelier, more functional building with space for us all to gather as one congregation. Reach out to the community - serving the walking wounded or addressing issues of hunger. To be known in the community as a congregation who does this work and to have the majority of the congregation participating in activities that support this outreach. Increase publicity and advertising to let the greater community know what we have to offer so we re no longer the best kept secret in town. Reach out to and attract more young adults and college students. The Ghost of Pledge Campaign Present We are a generous congregation. From 2013 to 2014 our pledge income increases almost 8%. In 2014 we participate in an anonymous survey that asks pledge households to provide their pledge contribution as a % of gross income. Almost 50% of our pledge households respond, representing 64% of our total pledge income. We discover that, on average, we give 3.24% of our household gross income. In our first ever Leadership Summit, our leadership reflects on the responses from past Cottage Meetings. We have aspirational conversations where we refine a Shared Vision. We then expand the circle with over 70 members in 7 ministry-focused teams to create draft vision statements that are aligned with the shared vision and we weigh and rank the visionary responses from the cottage meetings. Our top 3 Ministry-focused goals are; Work on sharing the message of Unitarian Universalism with the community Work on publicizing programing & resources offered by UUCB Have a robust presence on the web and social media Our top 3 goals in support of the ministry are; Hire a Membership Coordinator Increase our annual pledge income Update and modernize our building 6

7 Our congregation adopts the Vision Statement. Before I leave you, let me read it to you... Our Congregation will become a beacon in the larger community, demonstrating our Unitarian Universalist values and principles through our actions. We will embrace a diversity of people, inspiring us all to think of the world in new ways. As we explore different perspectives and share our freedom to think and feel, we will work together with others for social and environmental justice. Celebrating our differences and the whole of life, we will foster personal and spiritual growth to help people become their best selves. We are a generous congregation in terms of our giving as well as the gifts of our talents and our energy and our time. We are a vital and thriving congregation. We have a clearer vision of who we are, what we want to do together and where we want to go. We have committed ourselves to a detailed written plan to get us there over the next 5 years. At the same time, our funding shortfall has forced us to reduce staff and cut vital programming expenses. We are compelled to have a follow up pledge campaign to balance our budget. The Ghost of the Pledge Campaigns to come It is 2020; Our members feel more connected and invested in our congregation We have a lovelier, more functional, environmentally-friendly space We are no longer the best kept secret in town. We have a deep community presence and our UU message is transforming people s lives. We are known in the community for our social justice work and most of the congregation is actively engaged in the outreach We have strong effective leaders who have the support and resources they need to be successful. We have a balanced budget. We are no longer dependent on parking lot and rental income. There is no pledge campaign shortfall and a pickup pledge campaign is a thing of the past. After the visits from the ghosts, Jeff Deacon had this to say It is the morning of March 1 st and the first day of this year s pledge drive. We stand at the threshold of building our vision into reality. The existence of this faith community and the realization of our vision require your financial support. Over the past 4 years, Douglas and the Stewardship Committee have been intentional about changing how we "do" stewardship. We've moved away from focusing on what we need meet our budget to visioning for the future and transcending to an attitude of generosity. We give because we want our contribution to make a difference, to matter, and to change lives. Our vision beckons us to not limit ourselves to what we need to balance the budget, but to advance ourselves further to achieve what we believe we can do together in our shared vision. This year s pledge campaign is titled; Strive for 4 or More. We are a generous congregation that gives an average of 3.24% of our household gross income. Strive for 4 or more is a challenge to all of us to collectively stretch to an average of 4% of our household gross income. Based on the numbers from our 2014 Pledge Survey, bridging the gap from 3.24% to 4%, roughly, ¾ of a percent, of our collective gross income should yield an increase in pledge income of $33,000. So we invite you to explore what Strive for 4 or more means to you. Collectively, our goal is to reach 4%. Individually, your goal will be based on your personal resources and circumstances. We are people of all ages, of many backgrounds, and of many beliefs. Ours is not a faith that dictates what you should or must give. We have no biblical tithe. What we do have is the vision we share for this faith community and the opportunity to give joyfully in an attitude of generosity. Your pledge of financial support is an exploration of our generosity. Let us be bold, explore together in joy, beyond where we stand today toward our shared vision. 7

8 SAVE THE DATE SPECIAL MUSICAL EVENT Jim Scott, UU musician extraordinaire, will be leading a Pete Seeger Songfest at our congregation on Saturday, May 9 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 advance, $12 at the door. This concert is a fundraiser for our congregation. Here are the details: Pete Seeger Songfest - Remembering Pete Through his Songs We ll honor Pete Seeger, singing many of his well-loved songs such as If I Had a Hammer, Turn, Turn, Turn, Where Have All the Flowers Gone and many others. All interested singers welcome, no experience necessary. Led by composer/guitarist Jim Scott, who knew Pete well and collaborated on many projects with the folk legend, we'll raise our voices for the causes Pete championed and remember the great contributions to our American heritage Pete made in his 94 years of life. We have lost an icon, but not his legacy of poetry and song to guide and inspire us. Jim Scott brings a warmth, and authenticity that turns any size audience into an intimate gathering. His lyrical melodies, well-crafted words, guitar mastery and humorous surprises moved Pete Seeger to call him Some kind of a magician. Known to many as guitarist with the Paul Winter Consort and cocomposer of their celebrated "Missa Gaia / Earth Mass," Jim is a prolific composer in his own right. Jim's visited more than 600 UU churches over three decades of travels. His much loved "Gather the Spirit" and other songs are in the UU hymnbooks. He has also become a student of the movement for peace and justice in song, compiling and arranging the "Earth and Spirit Songbook," a collection of over 100 songs of earth and peace by many contemporary composers, including Pete Seeger. For more information, visit ================== It s not too early to reserve your spot. To do so, call our office (Karen Armstrong) at or office@uubinghamton.org. SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY ALL The Money Democracy Can Buy Citizen Koch is a 2013 documentary film directed by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal concerning the political influence of American plutocrats following the Citizens In the UUCB SOCIAL HALL on Sunday, MARCH 29TH 12:30 BRIEF LUNCH, 1, FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSION DISCUSSION PANELISTS: HOWIE HAWKINS [GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR NY GOVERNOR 2014]; MARY CLARK [EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CITIZEN ACTION, SO. TIER, 8 NY]; WES ERNSBERGER [CHAIR OF UUCB GREEN SANCTUARY].

9 The Church Mouse Knows... Ed Ware has been working on the computer in the library. Scott Husted created a manual and training about building and security Mary Wahl and Katina Marino have been folding the Order of Service on Sundays Steve Kresge, Ipek McCauley, Pete Rosso, Chris Niskanen have been helping out in the kitchen on Sundays Sally Kendall, Lorraine Loren, Shawn Steketee, Mary Wahl, Simon Bange, Ryan Deacon, Tomiko Nicholson, Piran Taylor, Ellie White, Glenn Wright, Ron Kissick, Kathleen McKenna, Ray Nonnan, Christine O Donnell, Keenan Taylor, Cary and Vince Fox Volunteered at the All Saints Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen in December and January. The Cranberry Coffeehouse is Coming Up at 7:30 on Sat., March 21presents the Ithaca-based duo Nate & Kate. For the past 9 years and through almost 1,000 performances, Nate & Kate have developed their unique vaudeville-inspired variety folk duo show. Featuring cello, guitar, banjo, harmonica, piano, harmony vocals, funny to poignant original songs, sing-along favorites, and hilariously impressive musical juggling routines, the duo does its best to balance entertainment value and artistry. Nate & Kate have been called Central New York s folk super heroes. They deliver a completely unique and dynamic show fit for old, young, and all in between. The New York Times said of one of Nate and Kate s performances: the rootsy Americana music that came from their voices and string instruments (coaxed) the crowd to pop along to homespun renditions that spanned from the classic "Swing on a Star" to the Simon and Garfunkel s golden "Homeward Bound." Nate even juggled hoops. See and hear more at Important Social Justice Issue: Don't want to think about nursing homes, but want to keep your family near by? We urge our county representatives to ensure real access to quality long term care for all elderly and disabled residents, including those of modest means, by keeping Willow Point publicly owned and operated by Broome County. When the other private nursing homes have turned them away, our elderly residents who don t have $300,000 in the bank and who survive on social security and a modest pension know that Willow Point is available to provide quality care right here in their own community near their families and friends. We urge you to keep our community-owned nursing home! Please SIGN the petition on the Social Justice Bulletin Board. Questions: or

10 183 Riverside Drive Binghamton, New York RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED We offer a spiritual home where we explore, celebrate and cherish our interconnectedness, encourage growth and transcendence, and act with justice and compassion. UU Pals Brunch Sunday, March 15 10

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