Attention: All Church Committees!
All of the church's committees need to get year-end reports written and submitted to Barny Dunning (Past President) this month. The time frame to be covered is June 2006 through May 2007.

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Book Group
Sept 10-The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
Oct 8-The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
The Book Group meets on the second 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

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Congregational Meeting: Sept 23 at Meridian Street!
The congregational meeting will begin at 12:30, or whenever folks have gathered at the New Building on Meridian Street. (Plans are in the works to walk over with the big quilt from 7th street following the morning service at S. 7th.) Bring your own lunch or finger foods to share, to picnic together. The agenda for the meeting will include:
2008 proposed budget initiatives (Finance Committee)
Church naming project-see p.10. (Mission & Name Change Committee)
Church mission statement update (Mission & Name Change Committee)

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Greeters appreciated and needed
Special thanks to the following folks for serving as greeters on Sunday morning the past few weeks: Adam Downey, Suzan Windnagel, Ed Bowen, Dianna & Robin Poindexter, Frank Arnold, and Della Willmann. Fritz Smith, Rob Carlise, Rae Brand and Dave Shelton, Don & Ruth Ann Ferris, and Marty & Nancy Patchen will be helping out on some up-coming Sundays, but we need greeters for the following dates: 9/2, 9/16, 9/23 and 9/30. If you can spare 20 minutes before church please let Della Willmann know
Please join this great group of people who welcome newcomers, guests and members.
-Della Willmann, Greeting & Membership Committee

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Committee Spotlight
The Religious Education Relations Committee (formerly known as the DRE Relations Committee) is a committee you might not know exists. Current members are Cheryl Fowler, Lynn Richardson and Noemi Ybarra (Chair). The purpose of the RE Relations Committee is to act as a secondary conduit for communication between the Director of Religious Education or the Religious Education Committee and the congregation, with the goal being facilitation of communication and resolution of conflict. When concerns are brought to the RE Relations Committee, it first recommends face-to-face talks between affected parties before getting involved. Although the primary line of communication should always be direct, sometimes that is either not possible or not the best pathway. When that is the case, the RE Relations Committee will get involved.

Our committee is a constructive vehicle for people to voice their insights, opinions, hopes and concerns with the goal of improving the overall health of the RE program. We strive to be open and sensitive to people's concerns and issues.
It's important to remember positive ways to be heard regarding the RE Program:

Talk directly with our DRE, Michele Tomarelli
Talk directly with the RE Committee whose curent members include Jill Salem (Chair), Kathy Coder, Jennifer Cominetti-Craig, Beth Misner, Greg & Christine Reynolds, and Mark VanMeeter
Talk directly with our minister and DRE Supervisor, Rev. Hilary Landau Krivchenia
Schedule a meeting with two or more members of the RE Relations Committee

Thank you for the opportunity to serve our congregation in this important role.

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R.E. Committee says "thanks" to Michele
The members of R.E. committee would like to extend our thanks to Michele Tomarelli for her hard work, dedication, and leadership during this very busy and often stressful time of transition. Michele worked tirelessly this summer, forgoing a vacation, to ensure a smooth transition for the R.E. program as we move into the new building. We look forward to what promises to be an exciting and productive year under our new roof and Michele's continued leadership. For all you do, thank you, Michele!
-Jill Salem, RE committee chair; Beth Misner, Kathy Coder, Jennifer Cominetti-Craig, Mark Van Meeter, Christine Reynolds, Greg Reynolds, team leaders

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Final Update from the Up, Up, and Away -The Meridian Generation Capital Campaign Committee

We have almost landed and we have celebrated. As of August 26, 2007 this campaign has raised $230,617.50! We want to thank all of you who have so generously given of your time and resources in making this campaign a huge success.
First we want to thank all the committee members, Keith Brown, Bruce Craig, Ruth Ann Ferris, John Finley, Lynn Richardson, and Fritz Smith, for their time and energy and ideas. A special thank you goes to Kaye McSpadden for her artful computer work on the booklet and thank you cards.

Second, we want to thank all the canvassers who helped us in contacting people and working to give everyone the opportunity to contribute to this very important campaign.

The canvassers not noted above were Marty Becker, Cheryl Fowler, Kim Harden, Joan Jurich, Kitty Laird, Suzanne McConville, Lisa Pantea, Sue Robinson, Beverly Seese, Alanna Steffen, Mark VanMeeter, Denise Wilson and Patty Wood. They worked tirelessly. As you see we were a small group for this canvass and so there are still some friends and members that have yet to be canvassed. Please contact a member of the committee to be canvassed if you haven't heard from anyone yet and would like to contribute to this campaign. We would be happy to help you make your pledge.

Lastly, we want to thank those friends and members who have pledged to this campaign. Without your pledge, our transition to our new spiritual home would not be possible:
 

Please be reminded to pay the amount that you have pledged for 2007 according to the payment schedule that you indicated on your pledge card so that we can fund the projects that we need to complete in 2007 as we land on Meridian Street.
We wish to say that it has been our pleasure and our honor to serve the UU Church as the co-chairs of the important task and we are very pleased with its outcome.

Sincerely, Edie and Volker Thomas, Capital Campaign Committee Co-Chairs

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Purdue football parking will earn us $$$!!! Volunteers needed!
We can earn several thousand dollars over the fall by parking cars on our new church property during Purdue football games.ÿ There are seven home football games, with the first on September 8.ÿ We will need to have six or more people each Saturday to hold signs, direct cars, and collect money.ÿ Helpers need to come to the church early on Saturday; otherwise people will park without paying.ÿ We will also have to put up signs each Saturday, indicating where NOT to park and other messages, and take them down after the games.ÿ St. Andrews has given us some pointers on how they did this, so we have good advice. All we need are people!ÿ Most of the work will be finished well before the game starts, so football fans can help the church and attend the games on the same day.ÿ You don't have to volunteer for all 7 dates (unless you are a REAL UU football fanatic). Janice Kritchevsky's son Phillip is interested in organizing this project for his service learning project required by school. If you are willing to help, contact Phillip Sojka
Home football game dates-9/8, 9/15, 9/29, 10/6, 10./20, 10/27, 11/10

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It's time to start planning the holiday art sale!
This year many changes are in store for our church, but the art fair must go on! This is a big church event that we need lots of help with, and that means starting early to bring people and things together.
Generally it is held the first weekend in December to coincide with the Downtown Lafayette Dickens of a Christmas, so this year it would be November 30 and December 1. Since we will be in our new building, we need to do a lot of planning this year and I really really need your help. So please-if you have any ideas or even a little time, contact me and let me know what your thoughts are and what you would like to help with.
Thanks much!
-Jennifer Cominetti-Craig, Art Sale Coordinator

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Funding Social Justice
Many thanks to those activists who worked at the Ford Dining Hall from August 13-26.
The money they earned will go to the church and will be used for a number of social justice causes. Together they worked a total of 51 shifts! Participants were Frank Arnold, Bill Asher, Rae Brandt, Lakin and Ann Brown, John Carlson, Sallie Cooke, Don and Ruth Ann Ferris, Mary Finley, Mary Ann Foley, Cheryl Fowler, Marge Hood, Nina Kirkpatrick, Bob Kozak, Joan Marshall, Kathleen Peyton, Robin and Dianna Poindexter, Chuck Reynolds, Jane Schmidt, Kathy Schroth, Julia Seese, David Shelton, Alice Taylor, Dick Trent, Jean Tyner, and Della Willmann.Another big thanks goes to Sue Robinson who coordinated this work project with Ford Dining Hall personnel, a task that she has taken on for a number of years!
-Jean Tyner, Social Justice Committee

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Church retreat participants create suncatchers
At our most recent retreat at Ross Camp inspired children and adults produced Sun Catchers for the Welcoming Committee. They are to be hung on the narthex window when we move. They were made using plastic discs painted with acrylic 'lead' paints and hung from copper bands. We have lots of paints left over and will do it again using glass discs sometime in January.
-Patty Wood and Ruth Ann Ferris

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New license grants church groups right to show movies
The Social Justice Committee has purchased a movie license which will permit our UU church groups to show movies legally over the next 12 months.
We are not permitted to advertise the specifics of the movies (i.e. title, producer, etc.) outside of our congregation, but we can advertise them within our building, and we can advertise to others that we are showing a movie. The license covers many of the major studios.
We hope all UU groups, including our youth groups, will take advantage of this opportunity if it is relevant to your activities. For more information, please see the following: (the terms) www.cvli.com/about/terms.cfm (list of producers)

www.cvli.com/producers/index.cfm?process=list
-Jean Tyner, Social Justice Committee

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September "Change for Change" helps families reach self-sufficiency
For September, Change for Change supports Transitions, a program designed to help struggling families meet life's challenges. The program is offered free of charge through Area IV and serves clients from four counties, including Tippecanoe.

Most families enroll for a period of two years, during which time they work with family development consultants to achieve self-sufficiency. Clients establish long-term goals (such as buying a house), medium-range goals (i.e. finding a job), and short-term goals (making a doctor's appointment) with assistance from staff at Transitions, who meet with their clients bimonthly.

The program addresses issues which may impact families in crises, including: employment, physical and mental health, housing, relationships, parenting, education, transportation, substance abuse, family violence/abuse, money management, divorce, child care, family development, social support, and community resources.

Area IV also offers a Money Management Program for clients in need of assistance with their financial affairs. Staff members (and volunteers) assist clients in establishing budgets, paying bills, and learning how to manage their income. -Jean Tyner. Social Justice Committee

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Note of appreciation received for Change for Change gift
Dear UUC,
Thank you so much for your donation of $263 from "Change for Change." These funds will go for the purchase of a sound system to be used to show the educational DVDs with Section 8 participants. Your thoughtfulness is aprpeciated.
-Edie Pierce-Thomas, Executive Director

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Did you know that perfume causes breathing difficulties for some?
Learn what you can do to help
We are a diverse community; we are strengthened, challenged, and our lives are enhanced by the wide variety of life experiences we bring to the church every Sunday. We try hard to make sure that every person who wishes is able to contribute to, and participate in, our services, our RE classes, and our meetings.

We have an elevator to assist those who need help getting up to our sanctuary, we have enhanced listening tools for those who need help hearing the services, and we have large-print hymnals to aid those who have difficulty seeing smaller-sized print. Before we move into our new building, we are making changes to the interior and exterior to make access easier for all of our congregants.

But some disabilities are not so apparent, and until we are aware of them, we cannot make changes in the way we do things. I hope that this article, and subsequent notices in the Order of Service, will help to make us all conscious of another challenge which some members of our church face-many people experience serious illness from exposure to chemical products, including fragrances, personal care and maintenance products, fragrance emission devises and systems, pesticides, wall and floor coverings, and building materials.

While there are some things on this list that cannot be solved within our church setting, there are a couple of simple things we all can do to help fellow congregants who are struggling. From now on, we will only use unscented candles in our services. In addition, I am looking into the purchase of soy-based or beeswax candles, as these are the least likely to trigger allergic reactions. Our sanctuary itself will therefore be as welcoming an environment as possible.

What can you do to help? To create the most comfortable atmosphere possible, we ask that you refrain from using perfume, cologne, essential oils, and other fragrances when you come to church.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. I know I can count on each of you to do your part; after all, this is just another example of putting our Seven Principles to work.

-Gale Kvam, Music and Worship Committee

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Last service on 9/23 to feature kids' "pilgrimage" to Meridian Street
During the service on September 23-the last one at 7th Street- there will be time spent for young and old to share our farewell to the 7th street building.

During the service the spectacular quilt will be taken down. When the young people leave the service there will be a contingent, with adults, who will carry the quilt to the new church building on foot.

The service will continue and provide time for memories, for tears and laughter, to honor this precious building. When the service ends the rest of the congregation will drive to Meridian Street for a quick lunch and congregational meeting (see at right).

Please be a part of this and our other historic days to come.

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Information about the "Ingathering" and "Mingling of Waters" on Sept. 9
In many UU congregations the Sunday after Labor Day is a time of Ingathering. It is a time when people who have been scattered during the summer see one another again and celebrate.

Often this time of Ingathering is symbolized by mingling water. During travels in the summer or just out of the hose in the back yard or the local river, people bring water to pour into a common bowl. We usually have spare water for those who have left their water on the countertop at home or in the Kankakee River or on the Wildcat.

Famileis or individuals come up and pour in their water and share, in a few well chosen words, the meaning they found in the summer-perhaps at the place they traveled to, or in the garden they watered, or in the sink at the hospital. Bring your water - it might come from your tap and be symbolic of the place you traveled. It is not a time for a travelogue. So many people can't travel to far exotic places. It is a time to simply share insights gained and experience treasured-words like family, friendship, refreshment, loss, hope, adventure, risk.

The service sometimes runs a little longer but it is a time of warmth. This year the water that we pour together will travel to Meridan Street and be poured into the ground of the new church home.

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Choir Call-out
Every fiber of our church is readying for the move into our new space, and the choir is no exception. In preparation for these important weeks and months, I have carefully chosen music that will uplift this momentous time in the life of our congregation. It is my hope that if you enjoy singing, you will join us.

The conductor, Kenneth Jennings, said "It is the sharing, the cooperative venture in great art {that} helps to make the singers more alive, more sensitive, and more perceptive as human beings with an awareness of something beyond themselves."

Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the sanctuary, on 7th St. for now, but on Meridian very soon. If you enjoy singing, help us to uplift this momentous time. Help us raise "an awareness of something beyond" ourselves.
For inquiries, contact Choir Director Denise Gilliland

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SUNDAY MORNING FORUM
The Sunday Morning Forum meets at 9am in the Red Cross building across the parking lot from the church. Everyone is welcome! Childcare is provided.

Looking to the future means, for us, looking at a new church home on Meridian Street. For members of the larger community, the future will undoubtedly be marked by continuing interest in improving education, enhancement of the Wabash River, the possible development of high speed rails and the ever present concerns about conditions in Iraq. Each of these topics will be discussed at Forum during September.

Sept. 2. William Keirce, "High Speed Rail" Gliding along comfortably from Paris to Avignon at 100 miles an hour, American travelers invariably wonder why America can boast no comparable rail travel. Bill Keirce, retired professor of English and railroad buff, is preparing a monograph on high-speed rail in this country and will offer some views abut possibilities and prospects.

Sept. 9. K. D. Benson, "Enhancement of the Wabash River Corridor" Those fortunate enough to have taken the lovely river walk in the heart of San Antonio have glimpsed the large contribution river enhancement can make to an urban setting. K. D. Benson, Tippecanoe County Commissioner, is continuing to work to upgrade the Wabash River Corridor in our area.

Sept. 16. Sheryl Braile, "Teaching from the Heart" Sheryl Braile doesn't teach like her hair's on fire; she is much too calm for that. But her love and passion for teaching have won her a Golden Apple Award and a special place in the hearts of many an elementary school pupil who has passed through her classes in the West Lafayette school system.

Sept 23. Cecil Shoemaker, "Teaching Music in the Public Schools." Music programs were among the first casualties of the "return to basics" emphasis in the public schools. Cecil Shoemaker, however, never faltered in his missionary-like efforts to keep the children singing. With many years at both Glen Acres and Tecumseh, Cecil has been a tireless champion for the role of music in the full development of children

Sept. 30 Keith Shimko, "The Petraeus Report-Implications for a Withdrawal Strategy in Iraq" By mid September, General Petreus will have provided the President and the Congress with his assessment of progress in Iraq. Will this report offer hope that sufficient stability can be realized to permit a draw down in our military forces? Keith Shimko, Associate Professor of Political Science at Purdue, specializes in the analysis of international affairs.

 

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What's in a name? Learn about the church naming project
Last spring the Mission and Vision Committee (members are: John Carlson, Charles Coley, Barny Dunning, Gary Fowler, Hilary Krivchenia, and Joan Marshall) sponsored several evening discussions focusing on what kind of spiritual community we want to be when we move to our new home on Meridian Street. If a change in the name of the church seemed to be important in expressing a specific vision, we asked participants to put their suggested name changes in a box for the congregation to consider at a later point in time.

We now have a list of 78 names, which follow. Please look over this list and think about which names best reflect your own vision of the church. At the congregational meeting on Sunday, September 23, we will consider several frameworks for naming a church. These will help us answer the question: what do we want our name to say about us as a spiritual community? Prior to the meeting, we will send out written statements offering different approaches to church naming for you to read.

We will not be taking a vote on the names (as was announced at the Sunday service on August 26) at the congregational meeting. Instead we will look over the names and consider what we want our church name to reflect about us as a congregation, with a vote to come at a later time.

-Joan Marshall, on behalf of the Mission and Vision Committee.

ChUUrch of Religious Liberty
Our Liberal Religious Home
UU Church of Religious Liberty
Church of Religious Principles
The Principled Church
Unitarian Universalist Church
Kaleidoscope Unitarian Universalist Church
ChUUrch of Religious Freedom
Church of Religious Liberals
Church of the Religious Spirit
Mendelssohn Unitarian Universalist Church of Lafayette (named for Jack Mendelssohn a former and celebrated UU minister)
Mendelssohn Chapel Church of Lafayette
Tippecanoe Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Welcoming Congregation of Unitarian Universalists
Wabash Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Greater Lafayette
Welcoming Congregation of Unitarian Universalists
Welcoming Congregation of Unitarian Universalist
Greater Lafayette UUC of Lafayette
Keep it the same
Unitarian Universalist Church/Congregation of Greater Lafayette
Church of the 7 Principles
First Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of The Wabash Valley: a Welcoming Congregation
First Unitarian Universalist Church of The Wabash Valley: a Welcoming Congregation
First UU of Lafayette
Wabash Valley Unitarian Universalist
The Church on Meridian
Somewhere Under the Rainbow
Open Door Church: Unitarian Universalist
Star of Truth Church, Unitarian Universalist
Web of Creation Church, Unitarian Universalist
Discovery Church Unitarian Universalist
Fusion: Unitarian Universalist
Church of the Open Mind, Loving Heart, and Helping Hands: Unitarian Universalist
Wabash Valley Church: Unitarian Universalist
Labyrinth of Truth Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lafayette
Love is the Spirit Church
Good Works Church: Unitarian Universalist
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Greater Lafayette
Unitarian Universalist Church of Love
Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lafayette
The Meridian Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Old Prairie Unitarian Universalist Congregation
New Prairie Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Church of Many Paths
The Church of the Journey
The Meridian Unitarian Universalist Congregation
First Unitarian Universalist Church and something about the Labyrinth
Spirit of Life UUC

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Former member leaves generous bequest
Some members will remember Page Karling who was active with our church community a number of years ago. Page died recently without heirs and left an estate which is being divided between friends and 20 local organizations, one of them being our UU church. We will probably receive around $10,000.00 when funds are distributed in approximately nine months. The board will be considering how this generous gift will be allocated.

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Board news
The new board met for their annual retreat on August 24-25 at CampTecumseh, with leadership from Nancy Combs-Morgan, Interim District Executive from our Heartland District (at no cost because we pay our district dues). Participants explored qualities of effective leadership, characteristics of covenanted relationships and UUC organizational structure, focusing on the challenges ahead involved in the transition to a new facility on Meridian Street.

One issue that may need to be addressed by the congregation at a future congregational meeting was brought up during the retreat. It was noted that our church's bylaws may not be in compliance with Indiana state law regarding discussion of confidential personnel matters in public meetings. The board has requested legal advice regarding the practice of going into executive session when considering personnel matters. Although the board is committed to transparency of proceedings, we must comply with state law. This may require a bylaws amendment.

Board meeting schedule change: The September Board meeting, originally scheduled for 9/9, has been re-scheduled to 9/16.

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Note from Capital Campaign Committee Chairs/Asst Treasurer
We regret to share with you at this time that we have resigned our positions as Co-Chairs and Treasurers of the Capital Campaign Committee and Volker as the Assistant Treasurer of the Board of Trustees for the UUC effective September 1, 2007. Over the past two months we have become increasingly aware of serious concerns with the RE program and the Director of RE. Our attempts to convince the leadership of the congregation of the urgency of the RE issues have failed so that we no longer can support the leadership›s handling of the situation. We remain committed to finding a solution to the recent RE issues and to bringing back the vibrancy and excitement that the UUC RE program used to have.
-Volker and Edie Pierce-Thomas

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LUM (Lafayette Urban Ministry) Report
Homeless Shelter The Homeless Shelter is in need of coffee, toothbrushes, toothpaste and disposable razors.
Office Needs. Used inkjet cartridges of any brand would be greatly appreciated.
LUM Camp. This year's LUM Camp was a great success. Campers enjoyed swimming, crafts, and other outdoor activities. They were also treated to a performance by a group of jugglers and fire eaters from Purdue. According to Joe Micon it was "the best LUM Camp EVER!."
Hunger Hike. This year's Hunger Hike will take place on September 16th. Registration forms are now available so start forming your teams! See the display at the back of the sanctuary or go to www.hungerhike.org for more information.
Afterschool Program. LUM has hired a new Afterschool Program director. Her name is Cindy Haley. Cindy is an ordained United Methodist pastor. The Afterschool Program is in need of juice boxes, low sugar snacks, fruit, and cereal.
-Mary Finley, LUM representative

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Social Justice Committee highlights Iraq Moratorium event
The Social Justice Committee would like to call your attention to an upcoming event in the local community. On Friday, September 21, the Lafayette Area Peace Coalition will sponsor an Iraq Moratorium, part of a national effort to force the media and the politicians to recognize that the American people want to end the war in Iraq.

Locally, demonstrators will gather at 5:00 p.m. at the Purdue Memorial Mall, and they will march to the Lafayette Courthouse at 5:30 p.m.
The Moratorium will culminate on Saturday, October 27, with seven regional actions. The Midwest action will take place in Chicago, and plans are being made to transport people to Chicago.

Marchers are asked to wear black ribbons and armbands to mourn all those who have died in the war.

-Jean Tyner, Social Justice Committee

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Gender Spectrum
An educational town meeting on transgender and intersex identities
Tuesday, Oct. 2, 7-8pm
Tippecanoe County Building (corner of 3rd & Columbia in downtown Lafayette)
This event will also be broadcast live on WBAA public radio.
Join community leaders and interested individuals to discuss topics such as: What does it mean to be transgender or intersex? What is the incidence in the population, in our community? What do legal and medical experts say? Is discrimination a reality?
The panel will include medial and legal experts and transgender individuals
This town meeting is presented by the Human Relations Commissions in Lafayette, West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County, and is supported by 25 university and community organizations, including the Unitarian Universalist Church.

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Please be a part of the Video Diary project
This week I started interviewing people about the move - if you haven't yet been interviewed it is very simple. It only requires about 10-15 minutes of your time to answer three questions: "What significant memories do you have about the 7th Street space?" "What in the physical space has had meaning for you?" and "What do you look forward to in the new space?"
It is my hope that every person will schedule a time to be interviewed-new or old part of our community. I cannot do all of these interviews alone so I have been blessed to have Chuck Reynolds join me in the video taping. But please, when we call you say yes and take a few minutes to meet and talk with us. And if you are on a faster schedule call one of us by calling the church office at 765-742-0460 and the Administrative Assistant will get us connected. The time will be valuable for now and the future. Thank you. -Hilary

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Minister's Muse
I can hardly believe that I am writing this right now! We are moving this month! Amazing! After the service last Sunday (the 26th), there were lots of people, even the youth, moving around the church and helping to pack and clean. Just like a move at home: it always looks so much easier when it is all on the shelves than when you start to box it up. Lost treasures, lost trash. Memories of good times and challenges emerge from drawers and closets and come down off walls. Things that make people laugh, cry, and remember.
It was heartening that so much work got done in such a short time. It was amazing how much got into boxes, got labeled and how much good communicating got done while all of this went on! Some people can't help with moving, often for health reasons, and when they talk with me I can hear real regret in their voices-they want to be part of the moving spirit in the congregation.
I can hardly believe that by this time next month we will be home at Meridian Street and by the following Sunday we will be celebrating. Forum will be meeting in the as yet unnamed double room, we will be reading the covenant aloud in the new sanctuary, we will gather for coffee in the Fellowship Hall, and we'll be trying to figure out which of many bathrooms to use.
There may still be some construction going on at that time, but this was the timing that Transitions and the Board needed to go with for many reasons. But if that is so, it will be deeply symbolic. A congregation is a work in progress-trying to refine, to grow in maturity, to imagine and create new ways of being.
This is an unprecedented time for this congregation. In an Atlanta UU congregation, I attended a series of workshops on the work of the Unitarian philosopher, Henry Nelson Weiman. He had an expression I loved: "creative interchange." It is the dynamic process between two people or more, between people and their environment. This is a time of creative interchange. This is a time to dream new programs and make them happen, a time to meet new people and grow new connections. This is a time for laughing over a long lost fuzzy cap and weeping over an old photo.
At times I notice the anxieties that many share about moving. Heck, when I started putting more things in boxes today I had this strange, uneasy feeling- I realized it was the feeling of finally letting go of what I know and moving my whole self to a new place. It is no easy task, so we will take time to grieve, to dream, to talk, to celebrate, and to feast. In services and outside of services. I encourage you, whether you can move a box or not, to participate and feel a part of this move.
I am grateful to the Transitions Committee for all the work and planning that has gone into this move and grateful in advance to every person working on this move. For me this is not only about more space and all that cool stuff-it is also about putting Unitarian Universalism in a position to make a greater difference in people's lives. It is about taking a lot of growing energy that I have seen in the congregation in the last few years to the next level.
Most intimately, it is about changing where the congregation meets, eatsm plays, and works. It is about finding ourselves meeting in one space-under one roof with plenty of room for all this rich diversity and your many gifts. On a larger level this is a time about feeling the connection with the larger movement of Unitarian Universalists and about making this tradition stronger in the Heartland.
But finally, it is about moving, now in September. When I married Jane Alexander and John Roach in August they ended their wedding with Etta James singing "At Last." The lyrics don't entirely fit, because this is about the dreams of many people, but at last, something which has been a dream will be made real. --Hilary

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Hand-chime workshop
Thursday Sept 13, 6:30pm in the sanctuary
Led by professional hand-bell director, Sarah Ann Bowman
All are welcome; materials provided
For more info: Beverly Seese,

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