Unitarian Universalist Church -- Newsletter, Current Issue

Place items in newsletter mailbox or e-mail lightedchalice@yahoo.com
Please place descriptive subject headings in your e-mails and do not leave message area blank.

This issue was prepared by Lynn Holland

March Board Meeting Highlights

March 7

After hearing report from New Building Committee (NBC), accepted their recommendation to move forward in the direction of buying St. Andrew United Methodist Church at 333 Meridian, West Lafayette.
Authorized NBC to proceed with appraisal of St. Andrew property.
Approved request from Program Council to hold a service auction.

March 14

Reviewed listing of agencies that Social Action will be presenting for collection for Change for Change.
Made Charles Coley official delegate to UUA General Assembly.
Heard minister’s recommendations to encourage growth.
Adjusted Michelle Tomarelli's contact to serve as 3/4 time DRE through end of June.
Reviewed and discussed finance committee recommendations for 2006 budget deficit remediation. Board asked committee to explore other options for consideration, and will discuss again at next meeting.
Long-range planning committee members needed

Complete minutes can be found at https://uufolks.org/groups/board/minutes

Church Mouse
This month's church mouse award goes to Alanna Steffan and Stephen Nelson for their contributions to the church. They have been instrumental in reinvigorating the Program Council and its role in coordinating church activities and mission.

The congregation also greatly appreciates their willingness to take on the leadership of the New Building Committee, their objective and effective leadership of that committee and all the work that goes into that process.

Dagmar Murray , UUC Board Secretary

New Building Committee Vote to Buy St. Andrew

The first week of March was a busy month for the New Building Committee.

Committee deliberations resulted in a unanimous vote to pursue the purchase of the St. Andrew United Methodist building at 333 Meridian Street, West Lafayette.

This recommendation was taken to the board and after some discussion the board also unanimously voted to support the recommendation. On Sunday, April 12 this recommendation was presented to the congregation at an Informational Congregational Meeting. The meeting generated lots of discussion, questions, and interesting ideas, which the NBC will be looking into at our next meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 7 p.m. in the Red Cross Building. All are welcome to attend. Please contact Alanna Steffen or Steve Nelson at uunewbuilding@insightbb.com for all questions/comments.

Lafayette Urban Ministry Report

Needs for homeless shelter: coffee, sugar substitute, and cereal.
Needs for after school program: snacks, snacks, and more snacks.
Needs for office manager: used inkjet cartridges, (everything except Epson) and coffee for clients and staff.

News from Patti O'Callaghan, Program Director for Lafayette Urban Ministry:

HB 1081, a bill that would remove state sales tax from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, has passed thus providing an additional $2.4 million dollars for energy assistance to low income households. Over 9,600 additional families will be able to benefit from the program.

In other news:

Tax program volunteers have helped low income taxpayers save about $81,000. Volunteers have filed 406 tax returns, and expect to file many more as word about the program gets out.

-Mary Finley, Social Responsibility Committee

Faith & Freedom Dinner

Saturday, April 22

The first annual Faith & Freedom Dinner, sponsored by the Indiana Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (IRCRC), will be Saturday, April 22.

The reception at 5:45 p.m. will feature music by Hunt and Gail Wiley, cash bar, and games with prizes.

The dinner and program begin at 6:30 p.m., featuring music by Sapphonia (ensemble of the Indianapolis Women's Chorus), awards presentation, and guest speaker Rev. Paul Simmons, Professor of Medical Ethics at the University of Louisville, speaking on "The Anti-Choice Crusade: Reclaiming the Bible from Fundamentalist Distortions."

Cost is $30/individual, $25/student, $240/table of 8. To make a reservation, go to www.ircrc.org, call 877-441-5797 (toll-free) or contact Kaye McSpadden.

(Note: Our UU Church is an organizational member of IRCRC.)

--Kaye McSpadden

From the Editors' Desk

We'd like to invite any interested member or friend to become a rotating editor of The Lighted Chalice.

This is a creative, independent task for which you'll need computer software, such as Publisher or Pagemaker, to format the newsletter. Preparation of each newsletter requires approximately one working day.

We'll explain and share the needed specs and graphics. Please contact us at the lightedchalice@yahoo.com, see us in church, or call for further information!

The Editors

Lynn Holland Nancy Patchen Kaye McSpadden

Registration deadline for District Conference extended to March 31

You now have until March 31 to register for the Heartland District Spring Conference and Annual Meeting.

This event will take place in Indianapolis on April 7-9. It will feature numerous workshops, exhibits, and a keynote speech by a UUA Consultant.

For more information go to www.heartlanduu.org or contact Kaye McSpadden at kaye7m@aol.com or 743-3634. If you are planning to attend, please notify Board Co-Chair Dianna Poindexter.

--Kaye McSpadden, Denominational Connections

Annual Spring Picnic

Sunday, May 21

The annual spring picnic has been set for May 21, after church at Shelter #4, Happy Hollow Park.

We have the shelter reserved from 11a.m.- 3 p.m. This is a potluck following the Sunday worship service, so please bring a dish to pass and your own place setting.

Drinks and hot dogs will be provided. Frisbees, soccer balls, dogs are all welcomed! Volunteers are needed to help with setup and cooking hot dogs.

Please contact or email Lisa Pantea, lpantea@hotmail.com, 746-1710.

2006 UUC Retreat- Ross Camp

August 18-20

The Unitarian Universalist Church’s Annual Summer Retreat will be held on August 18 -20 at Ross Camp.

This event has been held for 17 years now and is one of the best ways to get to know your fellow UU’s in a relaxed, outdoor setting.

Ross Camp is located in Tippecanoe County, approximately 15 minutes from West Lafayette, along the Wabash River.

We have rented the Gordon Jones, ‘A’ Frame Lodge for the entire weekend, starting Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. The weekend is filled with workshops to stimulate your physical, spiritual and intellectual needs, a dance on Saturday night, an Outdoor Group activity on Sunday afternoon and lots of time to visit with each other.

The camp is also great for hiking, biking, fishing and golf at the Ravines which is located next to Ross Camp.

We do our own cooking and will need lots of help in planning the event to make it a success. Please mark your calendars now for Aug. 18-20 and watch for more information in upcoming Lighted Chalice newsletters.

A planning meeting will be held soon and registration forms sent out in May. This is a wonderful intergenerational event for our congregation, so I hope you all can make it!

--Lisa Pantea, Mark Krivchenia

Change for Change

Raises $402.32

It is amazing how pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and UU hearts can total

$402.32 in just seven weeks!!

Your generous collection has been sent to Head Start/Early Head start where more parent learning kits can be purchased so parents can be the most important teacher in their child's life!

We will continue for the month of March to collect our change for CASA...a voice in the courtroom for abused and neglected children.

Our generous offerings send a message to our community services that UU is a strong advocate for change for our community children and families!

Thank you!

Lynn Richardson - Social Action Committee member, Social Action Family

And Children Subcommittee, chair

No Frills Movie Group

Saturday, March 25, 7:00 p.m.

"Lemony Snicket's, A Series of Unfortunate Events "

2004. 107 Minutes. VHS. Directed by Brad Silberling. Jim Carrey, Jude Law, Liam Aiken. Inspired by an unconventional children's book, this movie is not filled with singing rabbits, exploding spaceships, or cheerleaders. Offbeat.

Movies are shown at 221 South Seventh Street, a large brick house up on three terraces on the east side of South Seventh Street just past the old railroad corridor three blocks south of the UU Church. Parking up the driveway at the south end of the lot.

--Keith Brown

Our not-so-trivial UU History Trivia

1955 - Our Sunday School was discontinued, there were only 36 names on our mailing list, many simply friends who did not attend meetings. Our treasury balance fell to $367.07.

Have you ever known a Unitarian that would give up on what they believe in? Not Jim Brewster, Caroline and Roy Barnhart, Verna and Alden Emery who were among the members at that time!
.
1956 - A questionnaire on the future of the Fellowship was sent out and only 15 responded. But of those 15 there was a renewed expressed interest in "a Sunday School, in a house we could call our own and a regular minister of our own."

1957 - 1958 - Jim Brewster describes it as "a time many of us remember with particular pleasure, for we had grown into a critical mass and had responded vigorously to the challenge of the clearly defined goal of acquiring a meeting place of our own!"
Jack Mendelson was now coming from Indianapolis All Saints Church, to lead a service every other week. The Sunday School was reinvigorated and a Finance Committee was established that raised a cash fund of $2300 and had pledged income of about $3000. -- Lynn Richardson

Book Group

7 p.m., Monday, April 10, 2006
Shem Creek by Dorothea Benton Frank

7 p.m., Monday, May 8, 2006
Atonement by Ian McEwan

The Book Group meets on the second Monday of every month at 7 p.m. 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

Religious Liberties in America Today

Monday, April 10

Join the Social Action Committee on Monday, April 10 at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary for "Religious Liberties in America Today: A Community Conversation."

The event, co-sponsored by the Greater Lafayette and Purdue chapters of the ACLU, will feature an ACLU-produced presentation followed by a panel discussion and question and answer session. Join us as we explore this timely topic.

Everyone is encouraged to attend for an informative and insightful discussion.

--Charles Coley

Social Responsibility Committee

Our church has received several thank yous for our donations, so thank you for your many contributions!

From LUM, for your monthly contributions and $100 worth of food the committee purchased recently.

"Thank you for your generous donation. You have assisted in helping many families. Your support is greatly appreciated."

In addition, we received a thank you letter for the food and personal contributions to the homeless shelter.

A letter from the Community and Family Resource Center for our hat, scarf, and mitten donations for children.

Cary Home for Children stated, "What a wonderful donation! Your generosity and support helped make the holidays bright for "our" kids. Thank you so much!

Work to Help Community Agencies

Weeks of August 7, 21, 28

In order to continue to support community agencies in need, we have the opportunity to earn money at Purdue University's Ford Dining Court the week of July 2-7 and in the fall, the weeks of August 7, 21, and 28. It's easy and you can sign up for breakfast, lunch or dinner meals.

More information will come later. If each person who worked a shift last year worked one more shift, we might double our earnings from $700 to $1400. Just think of all the food we could buy! We will also support Social Action with a portion of this money.

Our annual clothing drive is coming up Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Keep the church in mind when you clean out closets. No business clothes will be separated this year as the need doesn't seem to be there now.

Sue Robinson
shrobins@netzero.net

Passover Seder

Friday, April 14

A Passover Seder will be held at the church on Friday, April 14. Gathering time will be at 5:30 p.m. with the Seder service starting at 6 p.m.

The three-hour event will be a blend of the traditional Passover service/meal and UU beliefs.

Children of all ages are welcome to this event. Child-care will be available for ages five and under up until dinner is served at which time the children in childcare will join us.

In keeping with the Seder tradition we will be asking participants to bring specific Passover foods. This has worked well for us in past years where items were easily found at Marsh stores.

Please remember to bring your own table service including silverware and bowls for Matzo Ball soup!

A reservation by Sunday, April 9, is a must for this event, as we need to know how much food to prepare.

If you will be attending please phone JoAnn Darling at 447-7739. Do not hesitate to leave your response (# of people including children) on JoAnn's voice mail. Or email her at photodarling@insightbb.com.

Sunday Morning Forum

Holocaust Remembrance Week

The uprising of the Warsaw ghetto, beginning on April 19, 1943, stands as one of the most desperate and courageous acts of resistance to the closing circle of death which ultimately erased the lives of six million men, women, and children whose only crime was being a member of a particular religious or ethnic group

Some Jews saw the handwriting on the wall and sent their children to the safety of England. There, many felt isolated and lonely among people who spoke a strange language. Most never saw their parents again.

March 26

"The Warsaw Ghetto"

Rachel Einwohner, Purdue Department of Anthropology and Sociology.

Professor Einwohner has studied the Warsaw ghetto and has a particular interest in the elements that seem to lead some people to resist impending doom while others seem more likely to give up in resignation.

April 2

"Contemporary Relevance of the Kinder Transport"

Joe Haberer, Retired Purdue professor of Political Science.

For the first two nights in England, Joe Haberer slept alone in a beach shack used for swimmers to change into bathing suits. "I was terrified…and then I shut down and sank into some sort of black hole. I had an almost total loss of memory, which lasted about two and a half years."

Under Our Roof

Our church community mourns the loss of Brian Higginbottom, who died on February 21 at the age of 46.

Although Brian did not attend UUC, he played in church on occasions with the Vagaband, whose members include Sharon McKnight, Noemi Ybarra, and Linda Hicks. Brian’s wife, Jennie, has helped with our annual Art Sale, and daughters Xoe and Grace work in our church nursery.

A funeral service honoring Brian and the beauty of music was held Saturday, February 25, at Hippensteel Funeral Home with Rev. Hilary Krivchenia officiating.

After the service, family and friends gathered at Vinton Woods Clubhouse with lunch coordinated by our Pastoral Care Group. Those from the church providing food were JoAnn Darling, Carolyn Ferraro, Mary Ann Foley, Cheryl Fowler, Amy French, Beth Misner, Lisa Pantea, Jill Salem, Jane Schmitt, and Angie Shamo. Mary Ann, Beth, and Cheryl helped with the lunch, serving food and cleaning up.

Our thoughts, warmth, and prayers are with the Higginbottom family at this time and will remain with them in the future.

UUS Meetings, Activities

Throughout March, UUS will meet weekly at Exotic Thai in Lafayette on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (except for the last Wednesday of the month when we will be hosted at the home of Ruth Ann and Don Ferris).

In April, UUS will meet weekly at City Grill in Lafayette (no host for the final Wednesday of the month has been identified yet).

Join the Social Action committee and the Unitarian Universalist Symposium (UUS) as we participate in the Lafayette Homeward Bound Walk on Sunday, April 23 at 2 p.m. at Riehle Plaza.

The Homeward Bound Walk is a 5K walk-a-thon that benefits nine local homelessness prevention and affordable housing agencies.

Assist UUS and the Social Action committee in our goal of raising $1,000 for this very worthy event. To make a donation, please contact Charles Coley at sroleg@yahoo.com or 474-7229. Checks may be made payable to "Homeward Bound" and all contributions are tax deductible.

Women’s Shelter Needs

The Women’s Shelter is in need of the following items for shelter residents: pillows, women’s underwear, and socks.

Please place your donated items in the box located under the coat rack in the hall near the kitchen. Many thanks for your continued support of the DVIPP shelter.

Wally and Jean Tyner

Canoe Trip Rescheduled

Sunday, April 30

We are planning that "rain check" for the canoe trip that was canceled last October due to creek levels. We will canoe the Wildcat Creek on Sunday, April 30. We'll have a quick picnic after the congregational meeting at Wildcat Creek Park and canoe the creek following the picnic.

All ages welcome and we're going to try to provide as many canoes as possible for everyone. Please bring your own and maybe your neighbor’s if you can borrow one. Also if you have extra life jackets, please bring them along.

For more information, see Tandy Easler or Mark Krivchenia.

Tree planting two Saturdays

April 15, April 22

The Outdoor Group will help the Wildcat Creek Foundation, which is sponsoring two tree planting days along the creek on April 15 and 22.

We will plant 800 to 900 seedlings, obtained from the IDNR nurseries, along the creek to create a riparian buffer between the stream and farmland. The buffer will filter sediment and farm chemicals out of the runoff before it reaches the stream. The buffer will also serve as a wildlife corridor and a visual buffer between paddlers and farmland.

We will be ready to start work about 8:30 a.m. on April 15 and 22. Bring shovels, buckets, and rakes (label them with your name).

If you want to help, call Tandy Easler, 765-474-5485 for directions.

Minister’s Muse

On March 12 we held a congregational meeting to hear from the New Building Committee about their research into building options.

It was not time for a vote - it is important to a healthy process that people have adequate time - not too much - not too little - to consider vital subjects.

Our facilities situation is and has been a vital subject for quite a while and fresh ideas were explored in the last few months that are full of promise. There was positive energy in the sanctuary during the meeting.

The congregation will meet again on April 30 to vote. Voting is relatively simple - but getting to the future - a successful, vibrant future for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lafayette - is not quite so simple.

On one level we simply need more space. Our children are overcrowded in their classrooms, our sanctuary is crowded - beyond the 80% that is said to be the ceiling for church attendance (at least, we are crowded until the children go downstairs).

The crowding for our children is critical, because they need real space to move, to interact, to have elbow room, to be active, and to welcome new kids.

We have less flexibility for meeting and for programming because we have few rooms and those tiny chairs are rather rough on my back.

But to get from our crowded condition - our root-bound pot - to something where we can extend our tendrils, will take real and timely planning and community effort. It will take creativity and energy - something that I feel in abundance on Sunday mornings. After sitting and talking with many people over the last two weeks - and receiving a challenge - I have decided to offer a sermon - a reflection - on April 2 - the day that we will plan to go as a congregation to visit the St. Andrew facility - a reflection on the choices before us.

That is also the day that we will visit the St. Andrew facility - so that anyone interested can get a feel for it. Now that is no guarantee that the congregation will all decide to head toward the St. Andrew facility - nor that it will be the place we finally find ourselves. It is only an opportunity to be involved and to reflect further on where our visions, needs, and choices may take us.

No matter what, this is a rich and exciting time to be a part of this congregation.

It is my hope that every person in the congregation - new or old - will get involved in this process, will listen to one another with an open heart, learn with an open mind, and participate with eager hands so that hope becomes reality - whatever direction that hope takes us.

--Hilary

Timely Unitarian Universalist Topics

Wednesday, April 5

An informative, provocative time to explore issues of concern to liberal religion in general and Unitarian Universalists in particular.

TUUT will take various formats - our responses to film clips, new reports, UUA Study Action issues - and, always, our own ideas. It is a great opportunity to discuss our thoughts, feelings, and our work in the world.

At our next meeting (Wednesday, April 5 at 6 p.m. at the church) we will view part of a video on Religion in Politics and focus on faith based funding. Our discussions are lively - come and join us on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

Stephen Levine Reflection Group

Tuesday, April 4

Beginning Tuesday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m. a group will begin meeting to explore the meaning of life.

Stephen Levine's book "A Year to Live" has formed the basis for many groups of people to meet and explore the depth at which they live their lives, their anxieties about life and about death, and to shape life-paths that bring them richness and hope - no matter the length of our lives.

This will be a covenanted group - it will honor confidentiality, caring communication, and will meet on a regular basis - at least once a month.

You do not need to have read the book before coming to the group - but it would be good to get a copy and read the first chapter - you can find it fairly easily. Von's has at least one copy and will order other copies in short order. A journal is also recommended to continue the exploration between meetings.

If you have questions please call Rev. Hilary Krivchenia at 742-0460.

Religious Education Want Ads

Wanted: small step stool to replace the Playskool stool donated by Patty Woods ages ago. Must be steady enough and small enough to allow little people to have access to the water fountain.

Wanted: Dungeon Master to teach WUUTs to play D&D. Must have sense of adventure. Please send resume to tomarelli@insightbb.com

Wanted: Snacks and drinks to replenish the RE food cupboard. Ideally snacks should be wholesome, but some scandalous food would be appreciated.

Wanted: Cook. Must have sense of humor to help various ages of Youth to create one-pot dishes to take to LUM. Please contact Michele at 497-7792.

Wanted: WUUT teachers. Must be willing to keep secrets. Probationary period required. No parents of WUUTS need apply. Leave message in RE mailbox, please.

Free to a Good Home: Hugs and giggles. Aides are needed in nearly every classroom to help the RE teachers. Call Dr. Tomarelli at 497-7792.

Wanted: Information about who donated the big tire in the side yard. 497-7792.

Wanted: "Handyman" with a big tough drill bit to drill holes in the Big Tire in the Side Yard. Mosquitoes will nest in it if we're not careful. tomarelli@insightbb.com

Note: Any of these ads can be answered at tomarelli@insightbb.com or 497-7792 or in my mailbox at church.

Heartland District Annual Meeting

April 7-9

The Unitarian Universalist Heartland District Annual Meeting will be held in Indianapolis, April 7-9, 2006. Additional information can be obtained from www.heartlanduu.org, or by telephoning Barbara Hamilton, District Administrator, at 888.948.4883 (toll free).

The Embassy Suites Hotel, location for our 2006 Annual Meeting & Spring Conference, has informed us they will honor our group overnight room rate of $112 per night as long as rooms are available.

To still get the group rate, you must call the hotel directly at 317-872-7700 (Mon-Fri, 8 am to 5 pm), ask for Reservations, and indicate you're with the Heartland Group. The group rate cannot be honored if you call their 800 # or go online to their website.

Please make your overnight room reservations early. Remember, if the District comes out ahead on this event, rebates will be offered to all fair-share congregations.

Your patronage of the conference site is important to our success.

The 50th anniversary of Samara, the Frank Lloyd Wright house in West Lafayette, is taking place now.

One of the scheduled activities is a trip to Oak Park, IL, on April 29, and will include a visit to the Unitarian Church there.

I asked my friend, Linda Eales, who is heavily involved in planning this anniversary celebration, to give me some information on the trip for possible inclusion in our church newsletter. It might be of interest to members of our congregation. Jean Tyner

Why Oak Park?

Why is Oak Park a MUST SEE for the person interested in Frank Lloyd Wright? This is the place Frank started, the foundation for his architectural genius was established here, and there is no other location in the world that contains as many of his designs as Oak Park.

What will we see? Of the 30 or so Wright designs in the Oak Park, River Forest area, we will see between 10 and 12. Furthermore, we will get inside tours of two of his masterpieces. His own Home and Studio – the house he built for his family in 1889, expanded in 1895 as the family grew, and expanded again in 1898 when he decided his architectural practice needed to move from downtown Chicago to a quiet atmosphere more in line with his principles of “organic architecture”

Unity Temple – a remarkable church designed in 1904. This building is an early example of Mr. Wright’s ability to use vertical space in public buildings.

We will take a walking tour that highlights Mr. Wright’s designs, both in initial construction, and in remodeling from 1892 to 1923. Nowhere else will one find Wright buildings in the ‘Victorian’ or ‘Tudor’ styles. These were the building blocks that would result in his world known ‘Prairie’ and ‘Usonian’ designs. Remodeling isn’t what we usually think of when we think about Wright, but he was a master at taking someone else’s building and creating a thing of beauty. We will see several examples of his skill in this area.

Mail reservations to: Linda Eales, 312 Sylvia Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906.

Questions? Call 765/743-4009. Reservation deadline: Monday, April 24, 2006 or sellout.