First Unitarian Church

Transcription

1 First Unitarian Church A Member Congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association Vol. 20 No. 10 October 2014 We are a church of reason and spirit that Witnesses for progressive faith, Nurtures our community and Transforms our world. What s Inside the October Edition? Women s Alliance Social Shower Photos pages MS Youth Retreat pages 6-7 Author Visit October 5 th see page 19 Celebrations of Life: Sunday Services 11:00 am See page 2 for a complete list of topics and speakers! CONTENTS 2 List of Upcoming Services 2 Staff List 3 DRE Highlights: Linette Lowe 4 RE Class Descriptions 10 Ministry Reports 11 Visual Artists Service Photos 20 Updates from the Groups 24 First U Happenings October CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS 5 First Sunday Luncheon Navigators First Meeting see page 20 Evening with Rev. Mark Morris see page New to First U Classes begin see page Drum Circle see page 16 Love is the spirit of this church... 1

2 Celebrations of Life: Sunday Services begin at 11:00 am What a variety of topics! We look forward to seeing you in church. October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26 Blessings of the Animals Speaker: Jo Ann Dale Beyond Light Bulbs: Covenant and Collective Action Speaker: Matt Meyer Living Religiously: What s the Point? Speaker: Rev. Peter Connolly Seeing Shadows Speaker: Rev. Elwood Sturtevant Photos of the Visual Artists Service on September 14 are on pages Our Staff The Rev. Dawn Cooley is on Sabbatical until January. The Sabbatical Team has worked diligently in preparation. Here is a brochure that answers many of the questions that may come up. It can be found online. If you need anything, please contact the church office. Rev. Dawn Cooley s Sabbatical: A Guide to Keep the Fire Burning Linette Lowe, Director of Religious Exploration, dre@firstulou.org Christe Lun sford, Music Director, music@firstulou.org Ethan McCollum, Accompanist Barbara Creasy, Office Administrator, office@firstulou.org Earl Reynolds, Building Supervisor, firstubldgsuper@gmail.com Christina Roberts, Childcare Coordinator NaQueesha Puckett, Childcare staff Elena Meeks, Childcare staff Carol Uebelhoer, President, Board of Trustees, president@firstulou.org The Rev. Bob Reed, Minister Emeritus Anne Miller, Director of Religious Exploration Emeritus SABBATICAL TEAM MEMBERS Jill Sampson, Mary Ballard, Kathy Drehmel, Debra Gilbert, Trish Ramey, Barbara Schweickart, and Carol Uebelhoer...and service is its law. 2

3 Religious Exploration Highlights Religious Exploration for September Linette 9:45-10:45 Lowe, ORSH: (One Room School House) Theme: Vision Envisioning a Lego maze we made for our friends October, already?! September flew by with all kinds of great activities in RE, and October promises to do the same. Here's what's coming up: October 5 12:30: Navigators USA; scouting informational meeting. Contact Bill VanRooy 6:30 pm Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed will speak on his book, The Selma Awakening: How the Civil Rights Movement Tested and Changed Unitarian Universalism October 12 9:45am: One Room Schoolhouse theme: Creation 9:45-10:0 5am: Matt Meyer speaks to children/youth about living communally 2:00: Matt Meyer drum circle October 22 5:30-6:30 pm: Creative Inclusion Working Group evaluation of 8/31 Celebration of Life, CI moving forward, Process Observer information October CONtagious Senior High Youth conference in Indianapolis October Who Are Our Neighbors? cultural diversity training at TJUUC October 26 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF during the Celebration of Life service wear your costume! November Soup for the Soul be on the lookout for details about this great fundraiser event put on by Ebb and Flow and friends! Thank you to everyone who registered their children and youth in our RE program, supported our Healthy Snacks Initiative with a $10 donation, and signed up for at least four volunteer hours in our RE Cooperative! We have several large, busy Explorations underway, and your help makes everything run so much smoother! Most of all, thank you for coming and joining in our collective faith development we are all teachers and learners in our journey together! Don't forget to take that mirror out occasionally as you shine light into dark corners! I will be hosting two webinars on Creative Inclusion in November; if you'd like to learn more about how UUs can be more radically inclusive, particularly of neurodiversity, register for a webinar on the MidAmerica website at Love is the spirit of this church... 3

4 I hope to host another painting party in October so that we can finish the Preschool hallway and maybe even paint the Preschool room itself. Dates will be forthcoming. Here's to a fun and exciting fall in RE! See you Sunday morning! Linette ORSH: Vision--It takes vision to build a marble run! Wow! Participants engage in their own faith development and contribute to that of others who are present. Church doors open at 9:30 am. Get your coffee or tea, enjoy a few short conversations, take children to the nursery or to their RE rooms and so you can arrive at your own Religious Exploration for a prompt 9:45 am start. Please be respectful and courteous to RE Leaders and Facilitators and the other people attending the Exploration by settling into you room in plenty of time for an on time start. Please pick up your children from their RE room at 10:45 am so everyone can get to the Celebration of Life at 11:00 am. Thank you. Children s and Youth Religious Exploration 9:45 til 10:45 am Class Curriculum Location Leaders Preschool We Are One, We Are Many Room 212 Christina Roberts BridgetDewson Kindergarten Susannah Onwood Love Surrounds Us Room st & 2 nd Grades Bev Daly 3 rd, 4 th, & 5 th Grades Spirit of Adventure Room 202 Seana Golder Pam Middleton Middle/High School D Oh God Room 203 danielle rogers-candee Kyle Ellison & Jay Dolen All: Second Sunday Of the Month Religious Exploration 9:45 am One Room Schoolhouse October s topic: Creation Room 205 Linette and her helpers OWL for K, 1st and 2nd grades will meet October 19 and 26 from 11:00 till 12:00. NURSERY AND TODDLER CARE 9:30 am till 12:15 pm Infant and Toddler Care is in the Nursery (near the kitchen on the first floor) during the Celebration of Life and a little after: 9:30 till 12:15. If you choose to have your infant or toddler with you during the Celebration of Life please note that in the library (double doors next to the organ) there is a rocking chair and soft carpet to crawl on or run around on and you can hear the service in the Library...and service is its law. 4

5 Adult Religious Exploration 9:45 am till 10:45 am Location Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four Library Popcorn Popcorn My Faith Path Room 103 Theology Theology UU Budd Room 205 Ebb and Flow Social Hall Coffee and Social Justice ADULT RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION CLASS DESCRIPTIONS Popcorn Theology Using excerpts from popular movies, this curriculum encourages us to explore our own choices, the concepts of truth and meaning, the right of conscience, our own faith tradition, and other religious traditions. The class meets 1st and 3 rd Sunday: in the Library. Lori Martin and Rodney Walston, Facilitators. October 5: The movie for October 5th is Forrest Gump. October 19: The movie for October 19th is Saved! My Faith Path Each second Sunday a member or friend will share their faith path with us in the Library. Deb Gilbert will share her faith Path on October 12 th. Kathy Thackeray and Deb Gilbert, Facilitators. UU Budd- We will explore Buddhist insights to apply in our lives as American UU's. Class meets in the Library. George Schuhmann and Jeff Mathias, Facilitators. Ebb & Flow: A group for all (18 years or older), conversations about living life as a UU and the many other challenges and joys that life brings. Meets every week in Room 205. Lisa Mascio-Thompson and Stacy Hagman, Facilitators. Coffee and Social Justice All are welcome to discuss the social justice implications of current events as informed by UU Principles and faith. Class meets in the Social Hall each week The weekly topic is often listed on Facebook each week. The Celebration of Life at 11:00 in the Sanctuary & Children Children's Celebration: At some point (usually just before the sermon) the children from preschool thru 3rd grade are invited to attend Children's Celebration in room 212/213. They will return to the sanctuary during the last hymn. Multigenerational Celebrations of Life occur about once a month, sometimes more sometimes less. A Multigenerational Service includes all children youth and adults, thus there is no Children's Celebration when there is a Multigenerational Celebrations of Life. In October, the Multigenerational Celebration of Life will happen on October 5 th (Blessings of the Animals) and October 12, (Drumming.) Luncheon on First Sundays and Childcare afterwards There is a Luncheon for all infants, children youth and adults every first Sunday after the Celebration of Life. There is Childcare for infants, toddlers and children through 5th grade upstairs in rooms 212/213 from 12:45 till 3:00 pm on the first Sunday. Love is the spirit of this church... 5

6 MS Youth Retreat: Piomingo Pow Wow The first annual (we hope) Middle School Youth Retreat, which the youth decided to name the Piomingo PowWow, Sept Youth from as far north as Indianapolis and as far east as Dayton, OH, came together at YMCA Camp Piomingo for 24 hours of fun and fellowship. We had 23 youth and 8 adults attend. Two Transitional Age Range Specialists from the district, Nayana and Grace, both high schoolers, came to help with the small groups (called Con Bands), worship, and closing ceremony. They were a huge help, and made the UU aspect of the retreat really special. We enjoyed teambuilding on the low ropes course, swimming in the pool during the unseasonably hot afternoon, supper together, getting to know each other in Con Bands, a roaring campfire with songs, stories, and s'mores, worship together around the fire, Nighttime Pipeline (sliding down a huge hill in a corrugated pipe on barrel sleds with glow sticks and flashlights you had to be there it was awesome!), and sleeping in the rustic cabins. On Sunday, we had breakfast together, gathered again in Con Bands, then had a morning of rock wall climbing, zip lining, and playing carpet ball and Gaga. After lunch we took pictures, played Mafia, and had our closing ceremony before departing. A good time was had by all! We definitely met our goal of having a Cluster even that would get our Middle Schoolers excited about UU gatherings, and would introduce them to other youth in the area so that they would feel comfortable going to Cons. What a great, fun event can't wait to do it again next year!...and service is its law. 6

7 MS Youth Retreat Teambuilding Wall Challenge Zip Lining Pictures shared by Linette Lowe Playing Gaga Rock Climbing Wall Love is the spirit of this church... 7

8 Other Religious Exploration Sponsored Programs UU Book Club This group meets the second Monday of the month in the Parlor. In September, the Book Club read Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed's new book, The Selma Awakening: How the Civil Rights Movement Tested and Changed Unitarian Universalism Rev. Morrison-Reed will be at First Unitarian on October 5 th. (see page ) The Book Club's October book will be American Gods by Niel Gaiman. Nancy MacPherson will lead the discussion. For further information about Religious Exploration: Visit the First Unitarian website at firstulou.org, contact Kathy Thackeray, Chair of the Religious Exploration Ministry at religiouseducationministry@firstulou.org or Linette Lowe, Director of Religious Exploration. dre@firstulou.org or see us at church, Kathy and Linette are usually present most every Sunday. First U s participation in the SoBro ArtWalk On September 14, First U participated in the SoBro (South of Broadway) Neighborhood activity, SoBro ArtWalk. Fourth Street was closed between Broadway and Kentucky Street. Four crosswalks were painted, including the one at Fourth and York that we helped paint. Area businesses, groups, and churches had tables and activities to share. We had a table with bubbles and information about the church. We also gave tours of our building. Pictures shared by Linette Lowe...and service is its law. 8

9 October Ministry Theme: Creation Creation (excerpts) by Rev. Jeannie Shero There is a fundamental human tendency to question, to be curious, to wonder, and wander, to hope for answers or at least some good clues....story and myth are powerful ways to interact with what we do know, and with all that we do not know or understand. Imagination is needed in the process of making meaning of our existence. A good creation story is a model, an example with meaning, that helps us to find and create meaning... If within the body of available stories you do not find a compelling story, create your own. Write, draw, sculpt, paint, play, dance, or speak your own creation story how you came to be and for what purposes. As Unitarian Universalists, we willingly and boldly claim that we share a calling to build a fair and peaceful world, one that includes healthy imagination, art, reason, wisdom, and heart. Rabindranath Tagore writes that love is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation. If this is to be true, we must cultivate and co-create love to be fully connected with our own humanity and existence. Create love, create life, create hope, create the future. Creation! By Rev. Hanna Petrie We are all warriors in our own heroic struggles, as we struggle to find meaning, purpose, and a definition of success in this life that we can feel good about... As human beings, we have a long way to go toward our evolution... We are only beginning to understand... how connected we are to all living beings on this planet... The good news is that, whatever it is that encourages us to create to the best of our ability, to love as well as we know how, to learn to serve a vision much greater than ourselves, is good and holy...this is why our plurality, our creedlessness as religious liberals is a good thing. Who do you think we are, where do you think we came from, and where do you think we re going? While it s true that none of us really know the answers to these questions, what matters is that we ask the questions. What matters is how our asking them inspires us to wonder, and how our wondering and figuring and imagining inspires us to act. That is the stuff of honest religion honestly not knowing, but not letting that stop us from creating our heart s greatest desire to serve humankind, to love as hard as we can love, to not fear what we do not understand, but to move forward, evolving, one gifted day at a time. Creation By Kirk Loadman Copeland Creation did not end on the sixth day as the story in Genesis would have us believe. It is a continuous process and we have become co-creators with nature. Our appropriate role is not to dominate the earth, but to use our technology to allow us to live human lives with dignity and meaning within the earth s ecological means. The first step in changing our relationship with the earth is to awaken in us and in all humanity a reverence for the earth. Thought questions: 1. What would the world be like if we lived the ethic of love for all creation, and behaved lovingly toward all beings and creation as a whole? 2. In what ways do you see yourself as a co-creator with the universe, helping to bring 3. into reality a possible, but not inevitable good future? 4. Seeing the amazing creative possibilities of the earth and others, what would you like to create, to share with the world, your congregation, your community, your family? This Month's Ministry Theme: CREATION Love is the spirit from of this Touchstones church... a monthly journal for UUs 9

10 The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. Ralph Waldo Emerson New to First U Classes Member Ministry.Are you new to First U? Want to know more about the UU church? Thinking of making this your home away from home? Join us! We will meet on October 12, 19, and 26, from 12:30 to 2:30, for sessions that will introduce the history and theory of Unitarian Universalism, the ins and outs of First Unitarian of Louisville, and the meaning of being a member of First U. For those who then find themselves aligned with the goals and methods of First Unitarian, membership is available. A New Member ceremony will take place at the service on November 9. If you are interested in attending these sessions, please contact Jo Ann Dale (mamajo16@yahoo.com) so that we can be sure to have a lunch for you. Worship Ministry Trish Ramey September was an extraordinary month of worship services -- three of four services were created and presented by First U members sharing their gifts with us. Pat Allison, Del Ramey, Geneva Fry, Kris Phillip, and John Grossman, we thank you for sharing your paths to spirituality with the products of your hands and your creativity. And thank you to the others who shared their artwork in the exhibit following the service (Jane, Buckley, David Runge, Lois Allen, Jill Harmer). Thank you to the members of CUUPs who shared with us their earth-based spiritual path. And thank you to Jill Sampson with her insights into considering failure and how to step up to each challenge, fresh and renewed. October will be completely different with three out of four being speakers from outside of First U. Oct. 12 See the description about UU Troubadour and Drummer Matt Meyer; Oct. 19 Rev. Peter Connolly, UU minister from Bowling Green, speaking on " "; Oct. 26; Rev. Elwood Sturtevant, UU minister from Thomas Jefferson here in Louisville, will speak on "Seeing Shadows?" Learn how Jung's teachings about archetypes, such as the Shadow, might help us to avoid making people with whom we disagree into caricatures instead of human beings with worth and dignity?" Of course, you won't want to miss the Oct. 5th service, Blessings from our Animals, also described elsewhere. Other things to look forward -- We are already well into planning the Vespers Service, tentatively called "A UU Christmas, A Living Tradition of Light and Hope" On Dec. 21st Christe Lunsford will be leading "A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual," and on Dec. 14, we will be revisiting "Blessing Bags for the Homeless". November will bring a Bread Communion, a storyteller for adults on a Veterans-related topic, and singer/songwriter John Gage will carry us inward for reflection and intimacy with others around us. See you in church....and service is its law. 10

11 Photos from the Visual Artists Service September 14 Love is the spirit of this church... 11

12 Pictures in this Celebration of the Visual Arts Service were shared by Linette Lowe and Del Ramey....and service is its law. 12

13 Love is the spirit of this church... 13

14 ...and service is its law. 14

15 All About the UUMN Christe Lunsford, Music Director Let s Get Familiar with the UU Musicians Network What is the UUMN? UU Musicians Network is a professional organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We were founded in 1983 to develop and enrich music ministry in the denomination and to support the musicians who carry out this vital work. Our current 600-plus membership encompasses both professional and lay musicians, largely from North America. As a network we welcome all musicians, including ministers and religious educators, who support music ministry in Unitarian Universalist congregations and communities. UUMN members include music directors, conductors, singers, instrumentalists, composers, ministers, religious educators, music committee members as well as individual members of congregations. Why is membership important to First U? The Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network is dedicated to furthering the ministry of music and musicians in the congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Our purposes are: To lead the denomination in establishing a spiritual and aesthetic climate which encourages excellence and diversity among those who serve in its ministry of music. To provide the community of UU musicians with a network of mutual support, education, information, and opportunities for professional and spiritual growth. To provide assistance and advice, as well as worship and music resources, to the Unitarian Universalist Association, particularly in its provisions of new material for common worship, services of celebration, and religious education. To encourage a unity of purpose among musicians and religious leaders within our churches and congregations. To reveal and celebrate that breadth and wealth of the world's music which expresses and embodies the values of Unitarian Universalism. All this sounds good but what has the UUMN really done for First U? Besides introducing almost all the new music the choir is performing this year at this past UUMN conference in San Diego? I was approached by a congregation member after service one Sunday, who was interested in singing a particular hymn that First U had done in the past but had lost over time. I was unfamiliar with the hymn however if all the words/lyrics that could be remembered could be written down and sent to me, I would search it out. When I received of lyrics a few days later, I was able to post it to the collective minds of the UUMN via a shared bulletin board chat. In less than one hour, not only did I have the title, composer and publishing information for this hymn, but I had several personal s of people willing to get me in contact with the composer. The last of those s was from the composer herself, with an attached copy of the hymn and permission to use it as I saw fit. The composer, Joyce Poley, was a UUMN mentor and had been a welcoming face when I Love is the spirit of this church... 15

16 attended my first UUMN conference. Joyce and I greeted each other at this year s conference like old friends, hugging and catching up on what had past in the previous year and what exciting things were in store for this year ahead. The hymn Joyce so graciously sent was Hands of the Heart and the choir sang it during Pat Allison s service on visual arts and spirituality. There was no better hymn for this service. There are so many ways the UUMN helps to enrich the music at First U. I hope that you will take time and visit the UUMN website, There is so much more than I could share with you here. You might even see some familiar faces among the photos. Welcome Ethan McCollum! Ethan has been our Interim Accompanist for awhile, but the Job Search is over and Ethan has been hired. We welcome him as our official accompanist. Save the Dates Choir & Orchestra Members: Please save the following dates as they are your scheduled Sundays to sing or play. Choir: October 12 and 26, November 9 and 23, and December 14 and 24. Orchestra: October 5 and November 2 HAVE YOU RESERVED YOUR SPACE? Saturday Oct 10 th 1:00 PM Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church Transformative Worship -- Music has the ability to engage our hearts and bodies together in an integrated worship experience. In this workshop we ll discuss what makes for a transformative experience. We ll also learn about creating new musical elements of worship that engage the congregation and deepen our connections with one another. We invite ministers, religious educators, music directors, choir members and worship committee members to explore in the exploration! (1.5 hours) To Register for the Workshops, or if you have questions, contact Christe Lunsford at music@firstulou.org You may pick up a Registration Form in the Volunteer Area. Registration Forms and your money ($10,00) can be turned in to Christe on Sundays. LET S WELCOME THE COMMUNITY IN Sunday Oct 11 th at 2 pm at First U 2:00 PM First Unitarian Church Matt's "Drumming and Spirituality" workshop is a chance for people of all skill levels to participate in hands on rhythm-making. The workshop includes instruction on basic technique, as well as information on the origins of percussion instruments from around the world. Participants will also experience the spirituality of community music-making through stories, games and discussions as well as look at how rhythm and music intersect with Unitarian Universalist values. Bring your own drum if you have one, for those who don't, enough will provided. (1.5 hours) A love offering will be collected....and service is its law. 16

17 Resource Ministry Mary Ballard The Resource Ministry at First Unitarian Church is responsible for working with church staff, team leaders and congregants to help keep building operations and maintenance running smoothly, and to oversee the aesthetics of the building and grounds. This year the Resource Ministry leader is Mary Ballard. The teams that help carry out this charge are: House and Grounds The House and Grounds team holds a work party at church one Saturday per month. They work on projects inside our church building and on the grounds. There is always more to be done and you can learn DIY techniques from this experienced crew. They ll continue to meet one Saturday per month, 9:00 am 12 noon. Contact Joe Kremer or Uwe Eickmann for more details. Kitchen Wizards The Kitchen Wizards meet regularly to clean the kitchen, toss leftover food from the refrigerator, and keep the church kitchen organized and ready for use. There is a checklist available in the kitchen for all to follow during and after any kitchen use. Churchyard Friends The Churchyard Friends have overseen some major projects. These include the removal of three dead trees along with a contract to have the stumps removed. If you haven t been in the courtyard recently, make it a point to go there is a beautiful new Courtyard Corral located on the wall of the courtyard by the kitchen door, and encloses all of the garbage/recycling/aluminum can and other bins and hoses which are kept there. There is always lots to do for the Churchyard Friends. Carol Findling has led the Churchyard Friends team for the past five years! She has accomplished so much, and is now rotating off as leader of this team. If you re interested in becoming involved and particularly in helping organize projects, please contact Carol Findling or Mary Ballard Aesthetics Team The Aesthetics team maintains ongoing projects to beautify our space, both on Sundays in the sanctuary, and with various projects throughout the building. Recently they have spent many hours cleaning and updating the church parlor, as well as cleaning out the closet under the Heywood House staircase. The team members are taking time to go through the building to look at individual spaces as a newcomer to our church might see them. They have made several recommendations for improvements and upgrades, and will pursue these as funding allows. All of the Resource Ministry teams have plenty of projects to keep them busy, and more volunteers are always needed! If you are interested in helping with any of them, please contact Mary Ballard at , or ballardmb2@bellsouth.net. Love is the spirit of this church... 17

18 A Message from the Sabbatical Team Reverend Dawn Cooley will be on her sabbatical leave for the remainder of 2014, and will return to her duties here at church in January, The Sabbatical Team meets regularly to work toward the goal of ensuring that the needs of our church as a whole and the needs of individual congregants are being met during this time. While Reverend Dawn is away, we re relying more heavily on church staff and on volunteers to make sure that the bases are covered. Our dedicated church staff members are all going above and beyond their normal job duties to help us, and we are so very grateful to them! They re taking on extra duties, and no doubt putting in extra work hours, to help see to it that nothing major falls through the cracks. Thank you to our amazing church staff members! We re also relying much more heavily on volunteers to take on tasks that might ordinarily fall to our minister. Many of our congregants have stepped forward to learn new skills, procedures, etc. so that they can take on assignments and responsibilities which are new to them. We have teams of dedicated volunteers taking care of our church building and our outdoor space, as well as taking care of the needs of other congregants, the needs of our wider community, and the needs of our church body to continue to operate in a responsible manner. Thank you to every single volunteer who has said Yes to accepting the call during this time when each and every one of us are needed! Because of the unselfish dedication of church staff and the willingness of so many congregants to become involved in sharing the load, we believe that this sabbatical period is proving to be a time of growth and celebration for us now, and a reason for great hope in the future of First Unitarian Church! Members of the Sabbatical Team are Jill Sampson, Mary Ballard, Kathy Drehmel, Debra Gilbert, Trish Ramey, Barbara Schweickart, and Carol Uebelhoer. Feel free to contact any of these members if you would like more information. To access the Sabbatical brochure, visit Stewardship: First U Mission Grants Deadline October 15 Have you ever had an idea for how to live our mission to be witnesses for progressive faith, nurture our community and transform our world, but thought it was too bad we didn't have funding for it? Now we do! Thanks to a generous donor, First Unitarian has the opportunity to set up a grant fund that is being managed by your Stewardship Committee. Maybe you have an idea about how to do work in our church neighborhood. Or perhaps you want to take our message out into the community. Apply for a grant! We can accept applications for grants as little as $500, but feel free to dream bigger, too. Fall applications will be accepted through October 15, Interested in more information? Send an to Jill Sampson at farfoff@gmail.com to get an application. Turn completed applications in to the office, whether dropped off or mailed....and service is its law. 18

19 The Board of Trustees A Personal Message from Carol Uebelhoer, President of the Board of Trustees This message was originally shared during the September 14, 201 service. As you no doubt know, our Minister, the Reverend Dawn Cooley is on Sabbatical until January. In preparation for this time, Reverend Cooley called together a Sabbatical Team to help identify and fill what we called the minister shaped holes that would need to be compensated for while the minister is not with us. The Sabbatical Team has done a great job helping us identify those things the minister does that we needed to figure out how to replace while she is not here to be the spiritual leader of this congregation. One thing that I think we didn t think about was the importance of Dawn s non-anxious presence to this beloved community. I have noticed, and I have heard others, especially staff members, talk about the rising level of anxiety among members of the congregation. At first, I thought, what can they be talking about, the anxiety level rising, we re doing just fine. If only people would pay attention to deadlines, lock the doors when they leave, plan different services, keep the kids from running around. Then I said to myself, as I felt my anxiety rise, oh, this is what they are talking about. This is the anxiety that s rising up. Then I took a deep breath and then another and felt much better. Maybe that s something we all need to do; take a deep breath when we notice something being done differently; take a deep breath when we notice something isn t being done; take a deep breath when we don t like the way something is being done. Then take another deep breath and remember things aren t being done to you. They are just being done the best way we can. Remember the people doing these things are part of the Beloved Community we get in our cars to be with on Sunday morning and that we love each other. If, after taking a few deep breaths, we find that we still must tell someone about the issue, tell it with love. Try not to send an to the whole congregation or post it on facebook. Let s try talking to someone about it. If you don't know how to approach the particular person, try talking to me or Jill; maybe we can help with that conversation. Who knows, we might make even stronger bonds in our beloved community. Special Event October 5 at 6:30 pm Meet the Author Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed A reception will follow. The Selma Awakening: How the Civil Rights Movement Tested and Changed Unitarian Universalism. Rev. Morrison-Reed will speak about his book and have a question Love is the spirit of this church... 19

20 Navigators USA: Scouting at First Unitarian Bill Van Rooy There are many members of our congregation who I have heard express interest in camping and organized outdoor activities where we can spend time together and learn from each other. Many of us have been part of scouting organizations and have left due to our conscience not allowing us to participate with them because of their position on certain issues. Do you have something you can share with a child? A campfire story or song? A hobby? Field craft? A survival skill? Knowledge of our local flora and fauna? Do you know ways to introduce our youth to community service? I know many of you do. When I see our congregation and the diversity of skills and Join Us! First Meeting October 5, 12:30 In the Sanctuary Children & Youth Volunteers Leaders experiences it makes me very proud that I am a part of it. We have Trades people, Educators, Farmers, Musicians, Craftspeople, Healers, Technical people and so much more. We are going to Charter a Navigators USA chapter at First Unitarian, open to all, to learn about and enjoy the great outdoors. Through some initial discussions with other groups and interested parties we will propose to meet twice a month, at the Church after service. The program is designed for children and adults age 5 and up. From the Navigators USA website: Navigators USA welcomes all people; boys and girls and adults no matter what gender, race, lifestyle, ability, religious or lack of religious belief. We believe the greatest challenge for the future of our planet is whether we will learn how to get along with people different than ourselves. Our Mission: Our mission is to teach future generations how to navigate the challenges of living outdoors while navigating the conflicts that arise through human interaction. By teaching the young how to think for themselves while collaborating with others they can achieve anything. Our Moral Compass: As a Navigator I promise to do my best to create a world free of prejudice and ignorance. To treat people of every race, creed, lifestyle and ability with dignity and respect. To strengthen my body and improve my mind to reach my full potential. To protect our planet and preserve our freedom. Navigators Slogan: "The more you give the more you get." Navigators Motto: Stay on course." Navigator Traits: Truthful, Respectful, Inclusive, Generous, Dependable, Resourceful, Cooperative There will be opportunities to be a Scouting Leader, Helper, or just to share the skill or knowledge you think will benefit the group. We will only ask you to serve in the capacity and frame which you are comfortable with and suits the amount of time and energy you feel you have to offer. You need not have a child in the group or be a parent to Lead or help. We have several...and service is its law. 20

21 members who have already expressed interest in being Leaders and we would also like to extend that opportunity to anyone in the church who feels they have something to offer. If you are willing, I would like to share your skills and experience with our community. I am asking for those of you that would be interested in having a child participate, or adding your skills and time to a program like this to let me know. Please me at firstunavigators@gmail.com or approach me directly. I will try to answer any questions you may have and I can send you more information if you request it. Part of our Mission Due to recent events where several organizations have closed their doors to their scouting groups I feel that there are many Scouting families that may have been left without a home. We will try to reach out to those who may have been displaced and invite them to join our group. We will also be looking to our local Neighborhood to invite in those without a current Scouting home to join our program. I was a Scout throughout my entire childhood and gained so much from the experiences that it offered. I want to assure that as many children as possible have access to those opportunities. The core of the organization is Service to you fellow man, your community and your natural world while building character, and a healthy conscience. We will learn together how to apply our Principles while exploring nature together. I think this will be a good way to reach out to those who are looking to be a part of a group like this, put our principles into practice, and strengthen our bonds. Women s Alliance Social Action Shower They donated much needed items for Scholar House. For more information about Scholar House, go to Photos by Lois Allen Love is the spirit of this church... 21

22 and answer period. The Ministry Council is sponsoring this event. Women s Alliance Social Action Shower The Women s Alliance's met in September for the annual Social Action Shower at the home of Linda Parry. All women of the church were invited. The gifts were shared with Scholar House. Their mission is to end the cycle of poverty and transform our community by empowering families and youth to succeed in education and achieve life-long selfsufficiency PIE SALE Coming in November! The annual Women's Alliance Holiday Pie Sale. Plan to pick up a home-made pie the Sunday before Thanksgiving....and service is its law. 22

23 The Green Scene Carol Findling Healthy Trees and the Louisville Area Tree Canopy You may have read or heard that Louisville s sparse tree canopy is partially responsible for the heat island effect, and that there is a move in our city to plant more trees to both provide shade for cooling and respiration to help clean the air. Some areas around our Church could definitely use more tree cover. We ve had to remove 4 trees recently and hope to be able to plant others as we can afford to do that. Autumn and spring are both good times to think about trees and their health. Here are just a few things to think about now. 1. Watering trees This year has generally been good year for rain. However autumn is especially important to be aware of how much rain we re having. If more than 2 or 3 weeks go by, water both young and mature trees with a sprinkler or hose laid near the trunk for 2 hours or so. Once freezing temperatures set in trees can t make use of moisture, so they need to be moist going in to low temperatures or may have trouble in spring. 2. Climbing vines Some people like the look of an ivy-covered tree, but most climbing vines are not good for trees. Don t let a climber get taller than you can reach. Think of climbers as parasites that rob trees of needed moisture and nutrients. Some climbers are worse than others: wisteria is more like a boa constrictor. Virginia creeper, ivy, and euonymus cling to the tree bark, shading it from needed sunlight as well as weighing it down. In a strong wind, the extra weight and size can cause a weakened tree to fall over. 3. Mulching A light (2-3 ) loose organic mulch of wood chips or mowed leaves laid several inches away from the trunk to as close to the drip-line of the tree as you can, provides the best fertilizer, as well as retaining moisture in times of drought. 4. Winter and ice melting If your tree is within splashing distance of a roadway that is treated with any kind of ice melting chemicals, protect it with additional mulch that you remove in late winter before it is absorbed by the tree. 5. Pruning Late fall to very early spring is one of the best times to prune trees and shrubs and also one of the cheapest. If you hire a professional tree trimmer, you usually can get a discount during winter months. The tree isn t growing actively so you won t cut off new growth and you can better see the tree s structure. Cut dead branches at any time, dying ones or structural problem branches in late fall to early spring (November-February). Other times are okay, but these months are optimal. If you want more information or would be interested in helping, please contact Carol Findling. Love is the spirit of this church... 23

24 CUUPs: Join us for Samhain on Sunday, October 26, 2014 Now in the Darkening of the year, the veil between the worlds draws thin And those gone on ahead draw near, like a Harvest gathered in In the hours of quiet remembrance, the waning season brings We may feel their whispered presence, like the brush of gentle wings. Please join CUUPs as we celebrate Samhain on Sunday, October 26, Samhain means End of Summer and is the third and final Harvest. The Dark half of the year commences on this Sabbat. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. It is said that communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on Samhain. Our Sabbat Celebrations are on Sunday night. The doors open at 5:30pm and the Circle starts at 6pm. A potluck dinner will follow around 7 pm. The Covenant of UU Pagans of First Unitarian Universalist Church or CUUPs offer Sabbat Celebrations and classes in topics relating to earth based traditions or nature spirituality. Watch soon For details on Galt House Kalightoscope ticket sales to benefit First U Information on the Way - New Luminaries New Exhibits CUUPs is a free and open community of people who practice earth-based spiritualties. Our classes are a blend of lecture and discussion with seekers, those new to the path and experienced practitioners in attendance. We meet the first and third Wednesday of each month. Our classes start at 7pm and last till about 8:30pm. If you need additional information, please us at cuups@firstulou.org There is no charge for Circle Celebrations or classes First U Happenings "VIVA LA FRANCE!" Shout the Brownbaggers, VIVA LA RUNGES Come join the fun on Monday, October 13 as the Brownbaggers welcome David and Claudia Runge who will tell us all about their recent bike trip through France (beautiful pictures and exciting stories guaranteed). Lunch and socializing in the church library from 11:30 to 12 noon - program from 12 to 1:00. Invite a friend. SOLAR ARRAY The First U Solar Array Project would like to remind you that the 2014 Louisville Solar Tour is slated for Saturday, October 11 from 10-3 PM. The tour is sponsored by Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light (KIPL) and there will be bus, bike and self-guided tours from which to choose. See www. Kentuckyipl.org for details....and service is its law. 24

25 First U Happenings TA TA TA TAAAAAAA - HERE IT IS, THE NEW KROGER FIRST U COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM (ACTION REQUIRED ON YOUR PART) Please help the church by signing up for this new program (see below). The old gift card program is dead and gone! TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM: 1. Register online at or 2. Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and register your card with First Unitarian Church as your organization after you sign up. (This isn't the card you re-loaded previously.) If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus card, please let them know that they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger. 3. Click on Sign In/Register Most participants are new online customers, so they must click on SIGN UP TODAY in the New Customer? box. 4. Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions 5. You will then get a message to check your inbox and click on the link within the body of the Click on My Account and use your address and password to proceed to the next step. 7. Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. 8. Update or confirm your information. 9. Enter the name of organization, (First Unitarian Church) or select the organization from the list and click on confirm. 10. To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization s name on the right side of your information page. 11. REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your group until after you register your card(s). 12. Do you use your phone number at the register? Call , select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number. 13. Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count Love is the spirit of this church... 25

26 When We Meet: Calendar of Group Meetings Office Hours 10:00-2:00 Monday-Friday See the complete calendar on the webpage for the latest information. Sunday Morning Schedule 9:10 Music Rehearsal 9:45 Religious Exploration 11:00 Celebration of Life Sundays 1 st Sun. 12:15 First Sunday Lunch 1 st /3 rd Sun 12:30 Navigators 1 t Sun. 12:30 Mission & Outreach 1 st Sun. 1:00 RE Meeting (Oct.8 th ) Mondays 2 nd Mon. 11:30 Brownbaggers, library 2 nd Mon. 6:00 Book Club, parlor 3rd Mon. 7:00 Pagan Pride, library Tuesdays 2 nd Tues. 5:30 Finance Committee, library 3 rd Tues. 6:00 Board Meeting, library 4 th Tues. 5:30 Ministry Council, library Wednesdays Weekly: 10:30 Staff Meetings, library Weekly: 6:30 Solstice Choir, choir room 1 st /3rd Wed. 7:00 CUUPs Class, library 3 rd Wed. 6:30 Worship Ministry, Parlor Thursdays Weekly: 7:00 Choir, Choir room 1 st Thur. 5:30 Sabbatical Team Meeting Saturdays 2 nd Sat. 8:00 House and Grounds 4 th Sat. 9:00 Churchyard Friends First Unitarian Church of Louisville ~ A Member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations ~ 809 South Fourth Street Louisville, Kentucky (502) FREE PARKING: The parking lot off 4th Street next to the church is free all day Sunday. The lot off of York Street, across from the Library, is free until 1:30 pm. We Are a Welcoming Congregation We embrace all persons equally, no matter your sexual or affectional orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, ethnicity, neurodiversity, social or economic class, education level, family structure or abilities. If you need special accommodations, please let us know so that we can try to make appropriate arrangements. We welcome all to participate fully and openly in our congregational life. STEEPLETALK Published every month by First Unitarian Church of Louisville Editor: Barbara Creasy office@firstulou.org Next Deadline: October 15 (for the November newsletter). Items for the weekly mid-week updates and Sunday FYI, are due in the office by noon Wednesday....and service is its law. 26