The Chalice News Unitarian Society of Menomonie

Transcription

1 The Chalice News Unitarian Society of Menomonie A Welcoming Unitarian Universalist Congregation 105 NE 21st Street Menomonie, Wisconsin (Alano meeting room across from Mayo Clinic) December 2018 Our mission is to engage people in an open, nurturing spiritual community, promoting intellectual curiosity, honoring human rights and religious differences, and providing service to just causes. December Calendar (Sundays beginning at 10 a.m. in our meeting room unless otherwise noted) Dec 2 Christmas Family gift sorting followed by potluck brunch RE: None today Childcare: None today Dec 6 Sharing Our Death Stories. 6-8 p.m. Raw Deal upper level. Many of us have been affected by the death of a loved one. Sharing our stories offers the opportunity to connect, to gain insight, to be transformed. Join us for an evening of sharing our stories. Sponsored by Tabooyah Dec 9 Lay Minister Diane Light The Gifts of Darkness. As the days continue to shorten, we enter into a time of darkness and cold. Some of our animal neighbors are hibernating, others are developing thick coats and warm downy feathers. During this worth-ship service we will look to the natural world as we explore the gifts of darkness for the renewal of our spirits. Facilitator: Jay Greeter: Sherry RE: Lynne Childcare: Ella Dec 16 Festival of Lights. We invite all -- you, your family, visiting friends & relatives, neighbors! -- to our traditional intergenerational UU holiday celebration! Our "Festival of Lights" glimpses, through readings & music & song, the many world-wide rituals of the season: Advent, Santa Lucia Dag, Divali, Hanukkah, the winter solstice, Christmas, & Kwanzaa, among others. We celebrate the lights that are lit in the darkness during this season, and the lights that we nurture in each other. Facilitator: Karen Greeter: Dave RE: None today Childcare: Ella Dec 19 SweetWood Circle Winter Solstice potluck (5:30) and ritual (6:30). RSVP by Dec 18 to sherryhagen0115@gmail.com Dec 23 Winter Solstice Service with Storyteller Tracy Chipman. The dark time has come. The earth, in her dance around the sun, has come to Winter Solstice, a time of extremes of darkness and light. Come, listen, as storyteller Tracy Chipman weaves a tale for us in this celebration of hibernal solstice in this season of Yule. Facilitator: Judy Greeter: Chris RE: Lynne Childcare: Ella (December calendar continued on next page)

2 December Calendar (continued) Dec 25 Christmas Afternoon at the Movies! Too early to know what movies will be playing at the theater today, so watch for an with details if you are without other plans for the afternoon. We ll enjoy a sandwich or coffee afterward, too, maybe at Denny s. Dec 26 SweetWood Circle Full Moon potluck (5:30) and ritual (6:30). RSVP by Dec 25 to sherryhagen0115@gmail.com Dec 30 Luminescence Service, which was created by a UU congregation, honors the light within each of us, which makes Unitarian Universalism distinctive. Five ceremonial candles, each reminding us of a spiritual concept, will be lit to celebrate that which makes this faith our own. We honor our UU faith for allowing us to pursue spirit with reason. We express our commitment to the principles that guide us and to actions that transform the world. And we celebrate the freedom our faith provides toward seeking our own personal truths. Facilitator: Lynne Greeter: Judy RE: None today Childcare: None today Dec 31 It s a Party! You are invited to New Year s Eve at Lynne and Dennis s. 7:00 supper followed by board games, cards, and/or a movie. A toast at midnight for those who are inclined, and then lights out! Dennis doesn t drink alcohol, so he could drive anyone who doesn t drive at night. I m looking for an excuse to make Tom & Jerry s, oyster stew, and hot cheese dip! Chili too for those who don t like oysters. Bring any leftover Christmas treats you want to get rid of. Bring any friends who would like to join us! Please RSVP by Dec. 30: lynne.hausman@gmail.com I ll be shopping and cooking that day. *************** Life Events Please check out information on our website at (Services and Events tab) on services now being offered through the Unitarian Society of Menomonie including: Baby/Child Dedications and Blessings Weddings and Unions Memorial Services, Funerals, Celebration of Life

3 Juliana Schmidt, Board Chair One of our guiding principles, Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, speaks to me. Recently, it has me thinking deeply about how we treat each other, especially in this country. We hear daily that our country is divided. According to historians, the Civil War was a time when it was extreme. But now we have some of the worst vitriol I have witnessed, a scary time. The last time I felt as fearful was 1968 as I thought about going to college. Many colleges and universities across this country experienced violent protest and bombings because of the Vietnam War. More currently, I fear for a different reason; leadership from the top espouses hate speech, possibly emboldening some because of religious differences, or skin color. The pandora s box is open and we see the results of hateful words. Words do matter. So much darkness and negativity are poisonous. At this time of year, we think of our blessings and I am especially grateful for good health. Recently I spent a few days in the hospital with an acute attack of pancreatitis. As I m usually very healthy, this was a real smackdown. As I encountered people in the hallways, and in my constant contact with the nursing staff, I was struck by how kind everyone was to me. I know it s their job to care for patients, but everyone from housekeeping to doctors would greet me and smile. Why was it odd that people seemed so kind? I concluded that in a lot of public discourse there is little kindness or compassion. Each day we are bombarded with name-calling, and derision of others by those in power. To me, a stark contrast exists between poisonous rhetoric and the kindness I experienced in the hospital. Maybe I sound sentimental and naive, but the simple act of saying hello and smiling at a stranger is needed more than ever. No money or grand gesture here. As Unitarians, our second principle guides us to affirm and promote compassion in human relations. I made a little vow to myself that I was going to do my bit to foster and promote compassion, even on a small scale. Remembering my stay at the hospital makes me want to pay it forward. One of the ways to do so, and live our second principle is to participate in making and purchasing gifts for our adopted anonymous family at Christmas. Here we can make a difference for people having a rough time. We gather on December 2 to organize our gifts for pickup. A chance to pay it forward, a chance to live our faith. The Gift Be still, my soul, and steadfast. Earth and heaven both are still watching though time is draining from the clock and your walk, that was confident and quick, has become slow. So, be slow if you must, but let the heart still play its true part. Love still as once you loved, deeply and without patience. Let God and the world know you are grateful. That the gift has been given. by Mary Oliver Please think about friends or family members who would enjoy receiving a copy of The Chalice News. their names and addresses to me, and I will mail them a copy. Please items for the newsletter stories, poems, events, news by the 20th of the month. Thank you! Judy judyferber625@gmail.com

4 Social Action Chair Chris Kvalheim Religious Exploration for school age children is offered during second and fourth Sunday services. Lessons explore world religious traditions and holidays through story, song, and crafts. Each lesson is based on Unitarian Universalist principles and draws from sources of wisdom found in world religions and beliefs. Children join the worship service for the opening words and then go to the RE classroom or, weather permitting, outdoors. We welcome children and hope to provide a fun, meaningful experience. Childcare for preschoolers is also available during regular services. Parents may choose to join children in the play area at the back of the meeting room or take children to the play room, staffed by Ella Syth-Ivens, childcare provider. Lynne Hausman, Interim RE Director ********** Former USM member Roger Hartz passed away recently in New Mexico. Christmas Family A reminder to bring all gifts for our Christmas Family on December 2 at 10:00. We will sort and bag all gifts for the children. Please consider bringing wrapping supplies, gift cards and gift receipts to help the parents provide a special holiday for their family. We ll enjoy potluck together afterward. If anyone can t attend on December 2, please me for pick up at cmkv@live.com. Thank you!! ****************** Election I would like to acknowledge all the Unitarians that worked so hard to make the mid-term elections a success. There were many who spent many hours registering voters, canvassing door to door, writing postcards, making phone calls and working at the Dem s office. Just two more years and we can do it all again!!! Chris Kvalheim ***********

5 Diane Light, Lay Minister A Reflection. We are standing on a fast moving, spinning and tilting planet: our Earth home. As I write this, the Earth is spinning at about 1000 miles per hour, while moving around the sun at 66,600 miles per hour. So much power, and yet the only movement we are aware of is self-generated: walking, riding in a car, rocking in my chair. Even though we can scientifically explain this moving while standing still phenomenon, I am filled with awe at the wonders of our planet. our solar system, and the universe! We are literally moving toward solstice as our Northern Hemisphere is bathed in cold and darkness. This is the time for many of our animal neighbors to hibernate or to grow thicker fur or more downy feathers. It is our time to cozy up with cups of tea, good books, and warm blankets. It s also the time of year where we remember those for whom winter is a challenge: the more than 553,000 folks who are homeless this year. It s hard to feel awe and wonder when the only shelter you have is a tent or your car, and it s below freezing outside. As we prepare for our celebrations of light in the darkness, let us be mindful of the hidden homeless people in our own Dunn County. Let s offer our support, both with our hands and hearts, and with our pocketbooks, to those organizations that offer food and shelter and a bit of coziness, so that all may experience the blessings of this season. May it be so. ************. to our webmaster, Kate Kramschuster, for all her work on our website! The Unitarian Society of Menomonie: Our mission is to engage people in an open, nurturing spiritual community, promoting intellectual curiosity, honoring human rights and religious differences, and providing service to just causes. ***************** From Reverend Nancy Last year at this time the Holdens were living in a warehouse that had been a home, fighting panic at what remained to be done. On 12/1/17 we packed the very last precious possessions--four cats into four carriers, and Doug took them to our new home in Minnesota. I had already left with our CA son Willie, whose presence was a lifesaver. Now Willie just survived a very close call with his own home in Thousand Oaks. Fire was so close to them they were in mandatory evacuation, and the home they came back to was filled with the smell of smoke. Winter has suddenly descended here, another kind of catastrophic threat, forcing homeless people to scramble for warmth and safety. Meanwhile the promise of the Statue of Liberty has been violated, and then... no, I cannot go on if I want to sleep at night. UUs care, work, donate, organize, and vote. We don't do that because we're so generous and unselfish, but because we love life and dream of a better world. Merry Christmas, Menomonie! revnancy

6 BUILDING YOUR OWN THEOLOGY A Workshop in January and February, 2019 As Unitarian Universalists, we are a creedless faith. There is no dogma handed down from our central association, and no required beliefs from our local Unitarian Society of Menomonie fellowship. Without the certitude of such creeds and beliefs, what do you believe? How do you explain your religious grounding to others, particularly those who don t know much/anything about Unitarian Universalism. Beginning with the first Sunday in January, we ll be offering a four-session workshop called Building Your Own Theology. Based on an adult religious education program by that name put together by the Rev. Richard Gilbert, of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY, we ll explore how to develop your own personal credo, which is your fundamental religious beliefs, values and convictions. During the workshop, we ll consider five developmental tasks to help participants come to terms with human nature, ultimate reality, history, ethics and religious meaning. Dave Williams will serve as facilitator of the workshop. Participants are encouraged to use the Building Your Own Theology book, which costs $16. If you have interest in joining the workshop, which will meet January 6 and 20, and February 3 and 17 at 10 a.m. at our Unitarian meeting house, please let Dave know by at williamsda@uwstout.edu, or by phoning him at 715/ Dave will order the needed books and get them to participants ahead of time. MENOMONIE CARES GOING STRONG Immediately after the 2016 election, when the national discourse seemed especially negative, a group of Menomonie people got together to form action groups around a variety of topics. One, subsequently called Menomonie Cares, and with significant involvement by members of our fellowship, has focused on making our community a welcoming place for imigrants, new citizens, people of any sexual orientation, and others. The group meets regularly and has accomplished a number of important initiatives. The welcoming lawn signs around the county were our first effort. The City of Menomonie has passed a welcoming statement which can be found on the City s website. We took a similar statement to the school board, though it was not adopted there. The group has worked hard to help members of the LGBTQ community feel supported and welcome. And the list goes on. If you have interest in attending a Menomonie Cares meeting or learning more, please contact Dave Williams at williams-