Bellringer July 2017 JULY PROGRAMS

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1 Bellringer Monthly Newsletter of the Olmsted Unitarian Universalist Congregation A beacon of religious freedom in the Western Reserve for 182 years JULY PROGRAMS Sunday, July 2: TED Talk: 'The Danger of a Single Story.' Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. In this TED Talk, the N igerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice - - and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Led by M arianna and Jim Carney. Sunday, July 9: TED Talk: 'Twelve Truths I H ave Learned from Living and Writing.' A few days before she turned 61, writer Anne Lamott decided to write down everything she knew for sure. She dives into the nuances of being a human who lives in a confusing, beautiful, emotional world, offering her characteristic life- affirming wisdom and humor on family, writing, the meaning of God, death and more. Led by Carol and John Walton. Sunday, July 16: 'Building a Legacy of H ealing. Led by Rev. M ary Grigolia. What does racial justice and diversity look like for UU Congregations? Rev. M ary reflects on healing the legacy of the 1968 General Assembly in Cleveland, sharing the gifts, vision and challenges from this year's General Assembly. Sunday, July 23: TED Talk: 'Why You Should Define Your Fears Instead of Your Goals. The hard choices - - what we most fear doing, asking, saying - are very often exactly what we need to do. H ow can we overcome self- paralysis and take action? Tim Ferriss encourages us to fully envision and write down our fears in detail, in a simple but powerful exercise he calls "fear- setting." Learn more about how this 1 practice can help you thrive in high- stress environments and separate what you can control from what you can't. Led by Emily Williams. Sunday, July 30: TED Talk: To Be Announced. Led by Evelyn Sobczak. Child care will be available every Sunday during the summer. Sunday School resumes on September 10.

2 MARY'S MUSINGS H EALING OLD W OUNDS With escalating political attacks on the rule of law, health care, the environment, women, immigrants, M uslims and people of color, I felt compelled to attend GA (General Assembly), the UU Association?s annual gathering, where we sing and explore how we who live by the seven UU principles might make a difference, how our faith tradition might bring hope - to us and to our culture, gripped by manipulation and blame, fear and reactivity. I heard an answer: By our relationships with one another. Across divides of race and gender, class and ability, age and theology. A beloved African American colleague shared not just what happened to him in our movement, but how he?d felt, losing faith in our movement again and again. One colleague after another, sharing vulnerability and betrayal. We wept. An African American elder who walked out of UU?ism in 1968, told the story of despairing at losing his UU faith home. Ending his remarks, present with thousands of UU?s gathered for racial justice and healing, tears welling, he gave voice, gave heart, to what we all hope: that we are ready, that he is again home. Being in the pressure cooker at GA shows us where we might go together, beyond carefully constructed facades. Opening to the heart?s yearning for wholeness, moving through all of us, beyond fear- based divi sions. N ot having all the answers. Knowing it takes you and me. Trusting in our covenant with each other. Living by our shared principles. H olding each other accountable. Trusting in Life?s yearning for healing and wholeness, in us and in our communities. ABOUT THAT INVITATION FROM REV. MARY Last month I invited you to an Oberlin/ Olmsted Visioning Retreat for Transforming Sunday Services. We formed work ing groups with themes for future services including: Living a Good Life, H onoring Science and Religion, Connecting and Caring, and Welcoming Diversity. Claire Ramsay, Kay Potetz, Brian Warren, Emily Williams, Jim and M arianna Carney joined ten members from Oberlin UU in exploring issues arising in our hearts and minds. Let me know if you?d like to join a planning group and dream with us. 2

3 UUA NEWSALERT Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Presi dent the Rev. Susan Frederick- Gray issued the following statement in response to today's (July 28) Supreme Court decision regarding President Trump's executive order on travel: gious discrimination because they target travelers from M uslim- majority countries. Our country should wel come people regardless of their religious affili ation or lack thereof. The UUA and our member congregations will continue to offer support to immi grants, refugees, and our M uslim siblings. The UUA is profoundly disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court did not uphold the lower courts' injunctions on the Trump administration's travel ban, allowing the ban to be par tially enforced while the case awaits being heard in October. We believe that these restrictions are examples of reli- This message is also available on UUA.org at http: / / pressroom/ press- releases/ uua- denounces- supreme- court- decisiontrumps- travel- ban SAVE THE DATE! Attention all committees! Our first regular Sunday, September 10th, will be a Potluck Lunch & Committee Fair. Over the summer, please prepare a small display explaining your committee; its purpose, fun things you've done in the past, what you hope to accomplish. Each commit tee will have a small card table for their display. Please have at least 1 person at your table to talk with people. A fun way to attract new people and introduce members to the work that we do. 3

4 ADULT PROGRAMMING M any of our adult programs are on vacation this summer, including: - What Is M eeting in July? N euro- Spiritual Reflection Group - Wednesdays, 8: 30-9: 15 a.m. via Z oom. Exploring the intersection between medi tation and medicine, mind and body, spirituality and neuroscience. We?re practicing with Rick H anson?s, Just One Thing. We no longer meet face- to- face at West Shore UU Church. Led by Rev. M ary. Tuesday M editation at the Oberlin Fellowship - resumes Tuesdays in August. Care- Givers Support Group - resumes Tuesday, August 8. Living with Grief - resumes Tuesday, August 15. SOS - resumes Tuesday, August 22. BOOK Gruup? resumes Wednesday, September 6 at Olmsted UU (reading the book, Sapiens, by Yuval N oah H arari) UUnderstanding Jesus - resumes Wednesday, September 13. M editations for Living & Dying Well - resumes September 17. WISE Women - on vacation until Thursday, September 21. M editation with M udras - on vacation until Sunday, September 17. H ere's how to connect on Z oom: Join from PC, M ac, Linux, ios or Android: https: / / zoom.us/ j/ Or iphone one- tap (US Toll): , # or , # Or Telephone: Dial: (US Toll) or (US Toll) M eeting ID: Thursday M orning M editation. July 6 & 13, 10: 00-11: 30 a.m. at West Shoe UU Church, H illiard Blvd., Rocky River. Led by Rev. M ary. Yin Yoga - Wednesday, July 12, 10: 30 a.m.- 12: 00 p.m. Yin yoga works with gravity holding poses to stretch ligaments, fascia and muscles. Led by M ary Baird at Olmsted UU. Suggested donation, $15. 4

5 JULY CALENDAR Sunday, July 2 Sunday Program: TED Talk Child Care available Sunday, July 23 Summer Program: TED Talk Child care available H APPY FOURTH OF JULY! Wednesday, July 26 Wednesday, July 5 7: 00 TH E M AN KIN D PROJECT Sunday, July 30 Sunday Program: TED Talk Child Care available Thursday, July 6 10: 00 M editation at West Shore UU* * Board M eeting * Oberlin UU Fellow ship: 355 E. Lorain St., Ober lin * * West Shore UU: H illiard Blvd., Rocky River ++ N on Olmsted UU program Sunday, June 9 Sunday Program: TED Talk Child Care available Wednesday, July 12 10: 30 Yin Yoga Deadline for the August issue of 'The Bellringer' is Thursday, July 20, 10: 00 a.m. Thursday, July 13 10: 00 M editation at West Shore UU* * VACATION SCH EDULES Sunday, July 16 9: 15 Sunday Ser vices Committee Sunday Service led by Rev. M ary Grigolia Child Care Available Rev. M ary Grigolia will be on vacation from Juy 17 until July 23 and at a UU conference from July 25 until 31. Tuesday, July 18 7: 00 The M ankind Project++ Office M anager Cathy Ross will be on vacation from July 10 until July 14. Wednesday, July 19 OLMSTED UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION Minister: Rev. Mary Grigolia Director of Religious Education: Mandie Hamman 5050 Porter Road, North Olmsted, Ohio office@olmsteduu.org 5