Unitarian Universalist Church -- Newsletter, Current Issue

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This issue was prepared by Kaye McSpadden

Please plan to attend the upcoming important congregational meetings

January 23-Congregational discussion of the new building

On January 23 we will gather to discuss the new building. We distributed a document just before the last congregational meeting, which recalled the new building process up to this point. On the 23rd, the New Building Committe will be present to update the congregation on the most recent developments, outline the recommendation they will have made to the Board by then, and present options.

January 30-Report and recommendations from the CERR consultants. See below.

February 13-Congregational vote on the new building

The meeting on January 30 will be a business meeting in which the congregation will vote on whether or not to build the building. While the NBC and the Board of Trustees have been working diligently and will have made our recommendations, the congregation will make the final decision.

Child care will be available for both January meetings. While the meeting on January 30 will likely be relatively short (probably not longer than an hour), the 23rd discussion may run much longer.

Our democratically-organized congregation needs YOUR participation. Please plan to attend these important meetings!

-Noemi Ybarra, Board Chair

Recent attendance

1/2: 75 adults, 29 children/youth

CERR Session on Jan. 30 - Come Listen, Learn, Discuss

Please plan to attend a session with Linda Eppert and Bernie Novgorodoff on Sunday, January 30, immediately following the worship service. Linda and Bernie are UUA Heartland District Consultants, specifically trained in the Conflict Engagement and Right Relations (CERR) process. The presentation and discussion session on January 30 is a follow-up activity to their November 13 information gathering visit to Lafayette. Whether or not you were able to attend any of the five dialogue sessions in November, you are welcome and encouraged to join in.

There will be a light snack or lunch (or potluck) between the Sunday service and the start of the presentation/discussion session (see at right).

The objectives of this activity are not to be a workshop, but 1) to hear the summary of information the consultants gathered within dialogue sessions with congregational members, and 2) to learn of recommended activities our congregation will have the option of initiating.

Questions may be directed to Dianna Poindexter or Gary Fowler. Hope you can be there!

-Gary Fowler, Board of Trustees Immediate Past Chair

How about a little lunch?

Since the Jan. 30 meeting with the CERR consultants is right after the service, a light and easy lunch/snack seems like a good idea. The menu might include vegetables and dip, fruits, pretzels, crackers and cheese, and possibly small sandwiches-foods that are easy to hold and snack on before and during the meeting. Are you able to help with this by bringing any of the above (or something else)? Please contact Dianna Poindexter at 429 1264 (work), 765 893 4599 (home) or dianna1@wildmail.com.

Please give a big "welcome" to the following new members who joined during December 2004:

Mark French, Amy French, Jennifer Kelly, Mark VanMeeter, Charles W. Coley, Jeffrey J. Lusk, Kirsten D. Reynolds, Stacy Robinson, Charles B. Reynolds, J. Chris Womack, Kitty Campbell-Laird, Kyler Laird, Lynn Richardson, Linda Temple, George Sandison, and Alanna Steffen.

Sanctuary flowers sponsored by:

1/16 Jim Salem & Kelly Earnst - In honor of the dedication of Adam and Ethan Earnst

1/23 In honor of Emma Grauerholz-Fisher's 13th birthday

Social Responsibility News & Activities

Food collection 1st Sunday of the month. Kids and adults-bring peanut butter and jelly for our collection basket on Sunday, Feb. 6! Let your kids be responsible for these food items and they can put them in the collection basket at the front of the sanctuary on their way to RE classes. A reminder that some of the jelly should be sugar free for diabetics. If you cannot bring the food items on the first Sunday, bring them anytime and place them in the designated box at the side door to the church. Our church traditionally contributes some diabetic items to meet their special needs.

Thanks for Jubilee donations! Thank you for your generous contributions to LUM Jubilee Christmas and the mitten tree. You contributed over $900 for Jubilee and many mittens, hats, and scarves that will be taken to Tippecanoe Childcare.

Join us in a meeting. If you are interested in the workings of our committee and would like to have a voice in a discussion about our committee mission and goals, join us at noon on March 20, Rm. 1 downstairs. New members are always welcome! Contact Sue Robinson for a copy of our current mission statement and goals.

-Sue Robinson, Chair, Social Responsibility Cmte.

Multifaith community events involving UUs:

Faith and Foods, a celebration on the eve of United Nations World Religion Day. Sat. Jan. 15, 5:30-8pm, Central Presbyterian Church. Contact Terrie Kercher, 742-6061.

Faith in Action:

Working for Reproductive Choice and Health. Sunday, Jan. 16, 2-5:15pm. Indiana Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. Go to www.ircrc.org or contact Kaye McSpadden at 743-3634.

Young Adults Group

Thurs, Jan. 20, 7-8:20 pm at the church

Snacks, socializing, social justice projects

Contact Charles Coley sroleg@yahoo.com

Time to return Guest at Your Table boxes

We hope you have enjoyed having a "guest" at your table the last few months. It's time to return your boxes! A basket will be in the back of the sanctuary for box collection through the end of January.

Church Mouse Recognition

The Church "Mice" this month are all those wonderful people who gave so generously of their time and expertise to enable us to have an art fair again this year. Behind the beautifully displayed artwork and the warm cozy atmosphere of the caf with all of its delectable treats, are many hours of planning, coordinating, working out details, setting up, handling the money, doing the inventory, dismantling, and so on-no small task. Our thanks and kudos to all who were involved.

UU Book Group

February 14: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The UU 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, at 463-5223 or dmurray@purdue.edu.

New Sunday attendance-taking procedure starts this week

Something's coming - something new!! Its success depends on you! How often have you sat in church wondering, "Who is that person sitting a couple of seats down the row?" How often have you needed to contact a person or committee by e-mail, phone or snail mail only to have the message sent back as undeliverable? As a new person, how hard has it been to learn the names of people in the congregation?

All of us have had these experiences at one time or another so we are going to try an experiment. Beginning Jan. 16 a pad of paper and pen will be placed on the first seat of each row. During the offertory time, we ask that you fill out the form and send it down the row. The last person will add his/her information and send it back so that all can learn who is visiting and who is a member, and put a name with a face.

Filling in the information will also help us keep our church directory up to date. After entering correct information the first time, you will only need to make corrections when appropriate.

We've provided big spaces for clear PRINTING, and if your children are with you, please enter their names.

Please help us become a really warm and welcoming congregation.

-Della Willmann, Greeting & Membership Committee

Highlights from 12/14/04 Board Meeting

The Board is working on updating job descriptions for its various positions.

Our DRE, Sarah Boulac, has returned to work from her maternity leave.

Ministry Covenant (also known as Minister's Agreement) has been revised and updated.

Unspent money that was budgeted for choir director's position for 2004 will go
accrued fund for 2005.

     In anticipation of a congregational vote regarding the new building, the Board is looking
     into what kind of voting standards are being used by other UU congregations when making
     significant decisions.

     Barny Dunning reported that he had been in communication with the company working on
     the estimate for the "take-off bid" and that the bid had not been completed. Barny's goal is
     to have a congregational vote in February regarding the new building.

      CERR (Conflict Engagement and Right Relations) Follow-Up to Fall Sessions-Gary
      Fowler is in communication with the CERR consultants regarding their return trip to report
      on their findings.

A note from the Board Chair...

There have been several building-related concerns floating around lately, and with no Building and Grounds Committee, it's sometimes difficult to determine WHO should be told about the problems. Therefore, until the time we have a B&G Committee again (and I'd entertain any ideas you have, or volunteers!), please send those comments to me.

We (Board members) are aware of, and working on finding solutions to, the problems with bats, gutters, and water leaks. The church has been promised the donation of a used refrigerator, which will replace the old failing one in the kitchen.

If you have any other concerns or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at 420-0270 or nybarra@dcwi.com.

- Noemi Ybarra, Board Chair

Shared Hearth Suppers

The next round of Shared Hearth Suppers will take place the weekend of Feb. 4-6. For those who have not participated, these arranged potluck dinners take place in members' homes. They are a wonderful chance to get to know each other in a relaxed social setting. If you wish to participate for the first time (canvass suppers don't count) you need to fill out a form at the back of the church or call or e-mail as directed below.

As always, supper hosts are needed, so please let me know if you can provide the setting. Regular participants should also e-mail or call me if there are days they are not available. This works much better if I get the information before the invitations are issued. I need to have all the relevant data-hosts, new participants, and dates of availability by Jan 22. Invitations should go out the following week. You can contact me, Kathy Schroth, at schroth208@insightbb.com.

The Writing Interest Group will meet on Monday, January 17 at 7pm at the church.

It will meet on the 1st and 3rd Mondays thereafter. Anyone who is interested in writing is invited to come. We are a fun group who share our writings and have an interesting writing exercise each session. Come and join us!

Religious Education Happenings

Religious Education Director: Sarah Boulac
RE Committee Co-Chairs: Beth Misner, Cheryl Fowler

One of my hopes for the children and youth in our RE classes is that each will feel a sense of worth in this community, that they will understand their value as individuals and as part of the greater group. When each of our children feel accepted, they grow into adults who are empowered to use their gifts to create the change that is needed in the world.

I believe children feel this acceptance when we give them the space to be who they are without attaching our preconceived expectations to them.

I have been reading about Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences and like the perspective that each person has a way of learning about the world that is made up of more than the didactic way of learning we are taught in schools. He identifies the eight types of intelligences as: linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and natural.

Our church setting is blessed with the freedom to be able to explore these different types of intelligences, to find creative ways to connect in these various ways with our learners, and honor who they are. When we help children find their strengths (especially learners who might face challenges in their schools) we are able to watch as they gain the confidence to develop their natural gifts.

I look forward to this exploration with our children and teachers and am planning a discussion on this topic to be held in February to begin to look at various ways we can incorporate this type of thinking into our RE programming. Look in the next newsletter for more details.

--Sarah

RE Clean-Up On January 15 we will be sprucing up our RE space. All teachers are invited to come, eat bagels, and help us create a warm and welcoming space for our families. Let either your team leader or Sarah know if you can attend. We'll meet from 9-11 am.

Girl Scout Cookies It's cookie time and the Girl Scouts in our RE program will be selling cookies after the service on January 16. Scouts are invited to come at 10am to make signs before the service on Sunday.

Sixth Grade Recognition On January 23 we will honor our sixth graders and celebrate their unique pathways as they walk toward adulthood. Look for a letter in the mail and contact Sarah Boulac by January 19 if your 6th grader will be able to attend.

Guest at Your Table We hope you have enjoyed having a guest at your table the last few months. It's time to return your boxes! A basket will be in the back of the sanctuary for returned boxed through the end of January.

Youth Conference. The Birmingham Unitarian Church in Michigan will be hosting a Social Justice Conference for youth from January 14-16. Participants will meet other UU youth from around the district and learn how to start social justice projects. Contact Sarah Boulac for more information.

Class January 16 January 23

Caterpillar Teacher E. Lautzenheizer A. Dooley

Caterpillar Helper F. Lautzenheizer J. Mullen

Butterfly Class J. Dufair J. Dufair

2nd-3rd Gr. K. Schroth K. Schroth

4th-5th Gr. G. Lockwood G. Lockwood

6th-8th Gr. V. Thomas C. Falley

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.