Minister’s Muse

This Sunday (May 28) I talked about the Separation of Church and State using the Federal Marriage Amendment as a starting point.  After  the service we signed lots of letters to our senators –with great help from Charles Coley – so that we can let them know that we don’t want the Constitution used to enshrine religious prejudice.  We will need to do that again as there is a similar bill going to our legislature as well.  You can read more about this issue on line at UUA.org or at American’s United for the Separation of Church and State.  It is important that – no matter how small you feel your voice may be – you take that voice to your representatives.  Share your own unique views, talk with others in the congregation and sort out your feelings and thoughts about the issues facing our nation.  Your voice really counts – that was what I learned when I visited our Senators in Washington last week. It’s easy to find their websites online, it’s really easy to read about the issues instead of that quick game of solitaire or online Sudoku.  It’s quick to make a phone call or send an email.  The messages really add up.  Particularly if we encourage friends to do the same. 

                The fact is that religious ultra-conservatives have figured out how to get people mobilized on the issues of importance to them.  Here we have a challenge, because we may not all agree on the issues – but it is still important to talk about it and to be an active member of this democracy.

It’s the beginning of June – and that means that schools are letting out, kids are returning home from college, and it is time for family reunions, trips to the beach, and General Assembly.  During the summer people tend to disperse – attendance at church drops off and the religious education program uses a relaxed format.  Still, we are a year round church.  I will preach on the first and second Sunday and be working through most of June as well as at General Assembly.

                In the meantime – June will be a key time for us as a church.  It may be that we will work something out with the St. Andrew Congregation and it may be that we don’t, but June is likely going to be the time when we work it out. I recently learned that when churches build new buildings or move into new spaces that often energy wanes.  It’s my hope that we don’t let that happen – that, instead, we build energy right now and keep it up so that we are ready not only for a move, but for all that we know that a move will bring us.  We can build energy by staying connected through the summer.

                You might consider a church social during the summer, inviting a large group for brunch after the service, arranging a play date for kids at the church while adults weed, paint, clean, work on overdue projects for religious education, or help spiff up the sanctuary.

                Summer is often a time when new people come to explore a church. Perhaps you might bring a special snack for after the service, help out with coffee bring a cold beverage for a crowd, and show up for a greeting and membership meeting. 

                You might wake up some hot Sunday and drag yourself into church – just to see who is there.  You might take some time while you are stretched out by a pool or on the beach, or while hiking some woods, paddling a river, or sailing a new lake to think about our church, what it can be at its best. Day dream about it, envision it, let yourself get excited by the possibilities ahead and then come to church some time with a ready hand to help our visions come alive. 

                                                                                       ~Hilary

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 The Fiberarts Group is SEW Great!

                The Fiberarts Group, which meets the 4th Tuesday of the month, has been busy with projects. 

                Patty Wood is making a queen-sized scrap quilt for the Service Auction on September 8. e Story “The scraps from my stash of four barrels in the barn are no wider than 1 inch. Some are only 1/8 inch wide. This way nothing is wasted. But it sure takes a lot of thread to make the quilt and matching pillow case!”

                Folks attending the Church Retreat in August 18-20 are invited to machine sew 4-patches to be made into quilts for Sue Robinson's 'meth babies'.  Patty says 3 sewing machines will be set up ready to go with someone standing by to guide you.  There will also be a sample to follow.

                New members are welcome in the Fiberarts Group.

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RUMMAGE SALE            

          Saturday, June 17       8 AM-2 PM                                                                           Church Sanctuary

Acceptance of Items and Set-Up:

6-9 pm Thursday, 6/15; 9 am-8 pm

Friday, 6/16    Please no clothing this year

For information, contact Beth Misner

Would you like to represent our congregation as a delegate to the General Assembly in June?  We still have openings for delegates.   Please contact one of the board chairs:  Barny Dunning, Noemi Ybarra, Robin Poindexter, Dianna  Poindexter.  

 

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             Religious Education Happenings                 

 RE Director Michele Tomarelli

 

Access and RE:

On Being a Welcoming Congregation

                Our efforts in RE to make religious education a good and useful experience for our Special Needs children has brought up questions about access to RE generally.  In the Religious Education Program at our church, we want to treat every child as an individual, and if one looks at it from that perspective, every child has “special needs” of one sort or another. 

                One of our biggest challenges comes from the fact that UU children tend to be very bright, and we must have curriculum that keeps them interested.  The RE committee, myself, and the teachers wrack our brains to keep our lessons fresh and creative so that we can keep our young congregants engaged while they learn about matters spiritual and historical.  From time to time, that means that some of our projects with them may sound a little odd, so please feel free to ask about anything that puzzles or concerns you.

                Fresh curriculum is a particular challenge for the Wonderful UU Teens (WUUT), as the WUUTs tend to be a bit jaded where RE is concerned, and they have so many other irons in the fire.  The problem is not unique to our congregation; indeed, to hear the other DREs tell it, we are doing pretty well here.  In any case, I have volunteered to participate in the Heartland District committee to improve Youth Programming.  That committee is a branch of the larger UUA effort  to revise the YRUU curricula nationally.

                None of our current flock of children is mentally retarded, or even a little slow, but as I’m sure you know, we do have children with physical or interactional disabilities, and so our lessons need to be adapted to play to their strengths.  In order to do that, we have help from Dr. Sidney Zentall, a Professor at Purdue, who specializes in just those issues.  She has come and visited with several of our children and their parents, and will be visiting with a few more as the summer progresses.  Please note that visits with Dr. Zentall are entirely voluntary.  She is very kind, and her observations so far have been acute and helpful.  Parents have been giving me good feedback about their interactions with her.  Dr. Zental also had nice things to say about our teachers generally, and especially about Mark French, who was a shadow the day she was here.  She was amazed that he had no professional training in the job!  Dr. Zental is planning to do a workshop for the teachers, so that we can all do as well as Mark.

                Physical limitations are fewer among our children, and fortunately, our current building is more or less barrier-free.  That enjoyable status may change as our location changes.  At the next RE Meeting we will be discussing moving the Young Youth to the seminar room at the Mental Health Association, in anticipation of the sale of the Red Cross building.  It is not the first time we have borrowed space: the last time was when we were building the annex.  So, if approved, once we’ve sung the children out of the service, the Young Youth will walk to the corner of 9th and South to the Mental Health Association’s very nice meeting space. Most of that will be along the paths behind the church that go clear to 9^th Street, and then they will cross South Street at the light, so it should be safe. We may need to make accommoda-tion for one or two of our kids, but we will adapt, as we will for our new building when we get into it.

                As always, your thoughts, ideas and concerns are welcome.  That is how we make improvements, so never hesitate to talk to me, Amy French or Hilary Krivchenia.  And if you would like to come and join the RE team, you’ll be most welcome!

HELP WANTED!

RE Summer Teaching Schedule

Please note that except for some as yet unscheduled events, WUUT classes (for teens) do not occur during the summer session.

 

 

                    Pre-K                     1-3                     4-7 

6/4                                                            Gale and Jim Leary

6/11         Martha Gipson,

             Tandy Easler          Kim Harden                  Gale and Jim Leary

6/18         Kirsten Reynolds                                  Gale and Jim

6/25                                                           Gale and Jim

7/2                                                            Gale and Jim

7/9                                Kim Harden                  Gale and Jim

7/16         Kirsten Reynolds

7/22                                                           Mark French

7/30         Kirsten Reynolds

8/6          

8/13        

8/20

8/27         Christian Frye

 

As you can see, we have gaping holes in our teaching schedule for summer.  If we cannot get a few more teachers, we will have to start canceling RE.  To me, that sounds like a heresy far worse than any doctrinal matter, but I’m told that that is what we do.  Even if you are not yet sure what how your summer schedule is likely to be, if you would like to be an RE teacher or aide, please let us know: Michele Tomarelli, or Amy French 

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  Come to the Cabaret !                              September 8, 6 to 10 pm

UUC is hosting a Service Auction!  It should be a great party AND a chance to raise funds toward our "fair share" contribution.  We'll have good food and drink, great people and exceptional service items for your bidding pleasure.  

             The Auction committee needs some help in staging this party for our whole congregation. This is a great way to get involved in your first volunteer role at UUC.  Some of the ways to help only require an hour before or after the auction, the night during or before.  Other help we need begins now, with collecting items, planning decorations and food.

             Please contact Amy French  . We would love to have you be part of the most fun event of the year.  Save the Date: September 8th!

 

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The Scripture Study group is reading Proverbs of Ashes by Rebecca Parker and Rita Nakashima Brock and will discuss the role of suffering in Christian theology (theodicy).  If you are interested, please read this courageous work by two feminist theologians.  We will meet on Wednesday, June 14 at 5 pm.  Bring your dinner!  Further information can be gotten by contacting Rev. Krivchenia 742-0460. 

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 Purdue Work Project

                Watch for the sign-up for Purdue work at the Ford Dining Court, July 2-7, breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals. It’s fun, easy, and worthwhile. You will receive a free meal in this wonderful facility.

                Earnings will be used for our service organizations and to help fund Social Action Committee projects. Questions? Call Sue Robinson

 

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