Unitarian Universalist Church -- Newsletter, Current Issue

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Tune into Sunday morning services!

Our church now has an FM broadcaster incorporated with the PA system in the sanctuary. It is currently set at 88.1 FM. This means anyone with an FM radio can tune in. The broadcast distance is very limited, but if you are anywhere in the building or in the parking lot, you should be able to hear the broadcast with no trouble.

ALL-CHURCH PICNIC

This Sunday, June 5, after the service. Ft. Ouiatenon, River Shelter

Hot dogs & drinks provided. Please bring covered dish, veggies, or dessert to share, and bring your own place settings. Canoeing, outdoor games. Please bring outdoor game equipment. Pets welcome.

Clean Out Those Closets!

Saturday, June 11

9am-1pm

Mark your calendar for our clothing collection on Saturday, June 11, 9am-1pm in the church parking lot. Goodwill gives us a $5 voucher for each bag of clothing collected. These vouchers are given to LUM, Cary Home, and the Women’s Shelter to be distributed to low-income individuals and families.

Last year we were successful in collecting a few slightly used men’s and women’s business clothing on hangers and covered to be distributed to people needing clothing for interviews, funerals, etc. Also keep in mind that Tippecanoe County Child Care can use dress-up clothes or jewelry when you are sorting your give-away clothing.

Note: Helpers needed on the day of the clothing drive! See the sign-up at the back of the sanctuary. —

Sue Robinson, Social Responsibility

“There are many things that spiritualize my soul: music, dance, nature, some art, but when I really get down to the basic thing that adds depth and meaning to my life, it has to be entering into meaningful experiences and dialogue with other people.”

—Della Willmann, from To Spiritualize Our Nature, a project of the UU Writers Interest Group. Thoughtful essays by seven congregants are featured in an attractive publication. Copies are available at the back of the sanctuary.

Flower communion this Sunday

Please bring a flower from your garden, field, roadside, or shop to exchange during the flower communion service this Sunday. By exchanging flowers, we show our willingness to walk together in our search for truth, disregarding all that might divide us. Each person takes home a flower brought by someone else, thus symbolizing our shared celebration in community.

Weekday evening service for this month:

Wednesday, June 22, 7pm “Celebrating the Summer Solstice”

Caring Cans — This Sunday June 5

Bring items for Lafayette Urban Ministry

Coffee, sugar, salt & pepper, socks, combs, paper towels

Collection upstairs as the children leave for R.E. classes

The UU Social Responsibility Committee thanks you

Highlights of May 10 Board Meeting

• Janice Thiel was acknowledged for her outstanding work as interim secretary.

• The board approved the hiring of a new secretary pending the signing of the contract by the appropriate people. Past-chair, Gary Fowler, expressed appreciation to Gale Kvam and Lynn Richardson for their very helpful work in the search process.

• Job descriptions for all board positions have been approved. This information will be especially helpful to those serving on the nominating committee in the future and for those considering being a candidate for such positions.

• We have had a request from a Mennonite congregation to use our building on a regular basis—5:00 to 7:00 each Sunday. It was suggested that the Union Street building be considered if they are interested.

• Right Relations Covenant—a small group of people has committed to working on this project.

• Gale Kvam, treasurer, reported that we have paid our dues to the UUA and to the Heartland District, continuing our tradition of being a “Fair Share” congregation. She also suggested that, to facilitate people’s access to the finance report each month, she will send a copy to the church secretary who will in turn send copies out to those who request them.

CHURCH MOUSE AWARD

The award for May goes to Kyler Laird. We are very grateful for the many ways that Kyler has so generously and graciously contributed to our church community. He has taught R.E., he has helped introduce the use of a therapy dog for one of our students, and he has been part of the effort to look into the possibility of having a dog park at the Union Street property (and has put up fencing toward that end). He has also brilliantly contributed to the improvement of our sound system, making the service more accessible to people who need adaptations as well as facilitating an in-house radio broadcast for those working in the nursery. Thank you, Kyler, for all you do!!

IRCRC at the County Fair

The Indiana Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is co-sponsoring a booth at the Tippecanoe County Fair with Planned Parenthood. Helpers are needed in 3-hour shifts from 1-9pm, 7/16-7/23. Please contact Kaye McSpadden 743-3634 or kaye7m@aol.com. The UU Church has a special relationship with IRCRC and will be considering becoming an organizational/associate member in the coming months.

Small donations can make a big difference for the Women’s Shelter

Many thanks for your ongoing support of the Women’s Shelter. As summer approaches, the Shelter will be very crowded and can use many donated items, including the following:

Over-the-counter medications
Infant and children’s Tylenol
Pedialyte
Baby wipes
Alarm clocks
Women’s new or gently used socks, underwear, swimwear

Additional items that would be much appreciated are:

movie passes
gift certificates to stores
roller skating passes
Imagination Station passes

The donation box is located downstairs near the kitchen. Thanks so much to all UUs for caring about the Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program. If you have any questions about items to donate, contact Jean Tyner.

Looking for “Spiritual Journeys” speakers

The Worship & Music Committee would like to hear from you if you are interested in sharing your “spiritual journey” sometime in a Sunday service.

“Thinking Scripture”

Thursday, June 2, 7:00pm

Guest speaker: Rabbi Audrey Pollack of Temple Israel

If you have questions contact Rev. Hilary Krivchenia or Janice Thiel

“Survivors of Suicide”

Thursday, June 9, 6:30pm

Guest speaker: Becky Nahvi, Lafayette Crisis Center Director. A program on the effects of suicide on those left behind, as well as resources and support that are available.

For more information go to www.lafayettecrisiscenter.org. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please call the Crisis Center anytime at 742-0244 or call 1-800-SUICIDE to reach the crisis center nearest you.

Book Club

Enjoy a book this summer and share the experience with friends. Join us for discussions of the books we’re planning to read this summer:

Monday, June 13, 2005 Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

Monday, July 11, 2005 One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

Monday, August 8, 2005 Julie and the Dream Maker by P.J. Fischer

The Book Group meets on the 2nd Monday of every month at 7pm at Borders Bookshop in Wabash Landing in the lounge area where it joins with Panera’s. All are welcome to join us for discussions of books selected by participants.

For more information contact Dagmar Murray

Tibetan Buddhist Monks Meditation Ceremony—Wed, June 15, 6:30pm.

In addition to this event at the UU Church, the Monks, from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India, will present several other programs in the Lafayette area from June 14-21. For more information go to www.gomang.org/lafayette.htm.

Chair lift help available

Do you need use of the chair lift (elevator) to attend Sunday services? Two of us, Marty Becker and Patty Wood, will be operating the chair lift on Sundays before and after the services, as part of the greeting function. We also stand ready to train others who would be willing to handle the chair lift when we may be unavailable.

It turns out the operation is not very technical, but the aid to users is critical, both before, during, and after the ride. We could use your help. Also, there may be occasions when we may not be available when you can step in. Patty and I will schedule a training session during the summer months. Contact us if you are interested.

—Marty Becker & Patty Wood

Looking for volunteer pianists

Our wonderful staff pianist, Lisa Drake, plays for roughly 3/4 of the Sundays during the year. On other Sundays volunteer pianists play. If you would like to consider becoming a volunteer pianist, please contact Kaye McSpadden at 743-3634 or kaye7m@aol.com. Typically, the pianist plays the hymns, about 10 min. of gathering music, an offertory piece, and a postlude. Sometimes a brief meditation piece or other special music is requested.

Religious Education Happenings

RE Co- Directors Sarah Boulac and Michele Tomarelli
RE Committee Co-Chairs: Beth Misner, Cheryl Fowler

In July 2002, I was hired as the Director of Religious Education for this church. What an exciting adventure I began – traveling to various conferences, learning about the history of Unitarian Universalism, getting to know the families and individuals who make up this congregation, and accepting the challenges and rewards that have come with this great opportunity. This has been a remarkable experience, one I will draw from and keep near to my heart.

However, it is with sadness that I announce my resignation as Co-DRE. I believe the twists and turns of life lead us where we are meant to be, even when it is unexpected. My family faces such a turn as my husband returns to Purdue. We are excited about this opportunity for him to explore this new path, and I am in search for a full time position for financial reasons.

I know the future of this Religious Education program is bright. Directors of Religious Education before me ensured a strong foundation for the program and the current and future leaders will take it to even more exciting places. I look forward to remaining involved in the church and to doing more teaching in RE. I will stay on through the summer, consulting with Michele Tomarelli and with the RE Committee, supporting a smooth transition and the many great things that are already being planned.

So, the adventure continues. I know I am a bit older and wiser from my experiences here, and I hope the RE Program has also incorporated lasting and positive changes that will continue to grow and blossom

~Sarah

Upcoming Events

Summer RE begins June 5. Children and youth will be grouped in the following manner according to the grade level you were in during the 2004-2005 year!!

*Nursery (Room 2)

*Preschool/Kindergarten (Room 3)

*1st-3rd grades (Room 4)

*4th-8th grades (Red Cross)

If you are interested in teaching RE, write your name on the list on the green poster on the RE bulletin board downstairs, or speak to Sarah Boulac or Michele Tomarelli, Co-DREs.

Children’s Day Camp Help Needed. For the past few years, RE has offered a summer day camp for children over one week in the summer. In order to run the camp this year we need volunteers! If you are interested and available during the day to lead our campers in a UU exploration, please contact Sarah Boulac at 414-2432 or sboulac@gmail.com.

Teacher Schedule

June 5 June 12

Pre/K Tchr A. Dooley E. Lautzenhiser

Pre/K Helper M. Foley F. Lautzenhiser

1st-3rd Tchr K. Coder K. Schroth

1st-3rd Helper C. Womack

4th-8th Class G. Lockwood G. Lockwood

4th-8th Helper K. Arndt K. Arndt

The Sunday Morning Forum meets at 9 a.m. in the Red Cross Building across the parking lot from the church. Everyone is welcome! Childcare is provided.

June 5 “Can God be Free?” William Rowe, Ph.D. Professor Rowe specializes in the philosophy of religion. In this book, released last year, Rowe raises an interesting question: If God has perfect knowledge and perfect goodness he would have to create the best world possible. If he had no choice, we have no reason to be thankful to God for creating us since he couldn’t do otherwise. Professor Rowe proposes the need for some substantial revision in contemporary thinking about God.

June 12 “Do Economics and Morality Mix? A Perennial Subject.” George Horwich, Ph.D. Professor Horwich has had a long and distinguished career as Professor of Economics at Purdue’s Krannert School of Management. Economic theory suggests that man is always behaving in his own best interest. Morality, on the other hand, implies putting the interest of others on an equal, if not elevated, plane over one’s self interest. Can these two guides to behavior exist together comfortably?