Highlights from Jan. 23 Congregational Meeting 

Barny Dunning provided an overview of the progress of the new building project.

Because of a significant difference between our available funds ($1.2 million) and the estimated cost as determined by a local construction company ($2.7 – $2.8 million) the New Building Committee recommended to the Board of Trustees that the current plan be rejected. 

The NBC also presented alternatives to the current plan. These included possibly doing a scaled-down design on the Union Street property, staying in our current location on Seventh Street (and improving/expanding upon the facility) and looking at other existing buildings or parcels of land. 

The Board will recommend to the Congregation on the Feb. 13 that they reject the current plan, and if the Congregation concurs, alternatives will be narrowed down and explored in more detail. 

 

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Book Group

7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 14, 2005
        The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
7 p.m., Monday, March 14, 2005
        Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

 

The UU 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.

 

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Caregiver’s Support Group Meets Monthly

If you are caring for a partner, spouse, child, parent, family member, or friend facing a chronic or terminal health issue, you need support, too. 

This small, confidential group provides a safe place to share the challenge of ongoing caregiving and receive insight and support from others – whose challenges are not exactly the same – but whose insights may prove useful. 

Each month group members remark on how helpful it is to share the puzzles, lessons, joys, and the struggles of caregiving. The group meets at the church on the fourth Tuesday of the month. If you are interested in this group you can also call the minister for further information.

 

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Love is the spirit of this church 

and service is its law. 

This is our covenant:

to dwell together in peace,

to seek the truth in love,

and to help one another. 

Congregational Meeting for Insight, Feedback, and Guidance
From the Conflict Engagement and Right Relations Consultants:
Linda Eppert and Bernie Novgorodoff

Sunday, January 30^th, 2005

Directly after the Service
Lunch and Childcare will be provided 

Linda Eppert and Bernie Novgorodoff, from the Heartland District of the Unitarian Universalist Association, have come to facilitate our journey of exploration and vision building. After a weekend of information-gathering in November, Linda and Bernie return on January 30^th to share insights they culled from their visit and their suggestions for future work to strengthen our congregation life and mission in the world. Whether you participated in the first weekend or not, please attend this Congregational Meeting. It will provide a rich opportunity to build your sense of where we are at this complex moment of UUC history and be a more active part of where we turn in the future. 

We live under covenants with others which allow and require us to share our faith by behaving in loving ways toward each other. Living in loving ways is not meant to be practiced only to the point at which we confront differences and disagreements. It is meant to be practiced through and beyond those disagreements, as we live together toward community…real community is created by working through disagreements, not by going around them and not by denying that they are real. Gilbert Rendle 
 

Mission Statement

The Unitarian Universalist Church is a nurturing religious community that celebrates diverse beliefs and encourages spiritual growth through lifelong learning. Guided by our Unitarian Universalist Principles, we support each other in our life journeys and work toward social justice in the local and world communities.

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Share a Light Lunch/Snack?

A light and easy lunch/snack is being planned for the congregation immediately following the service Sunday, Jan. 30. 

The menu will be simple foods that are easy to hold and snack on before and during the meeting. The children will join us, and then go downstairs for childcare during the meeting.

Are you able to help with this by bringing something from the suggestions list below (or something else)?  Buffet tables will be set up at the back of the sanctuary. Please contact Dianna Poindexter at 429 1264 (work), 765 893 4599 (home) or dianna1@wildmail.com.

Suggestions include: hummus and pita, vegetables and dip, bowl of apples, bowl of tangerines, pretzels, crackers and cheese, and possibly small sandwiches - foods that are easy to hold and snack on before and during the meeting. 

 

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First Sunday = Caring Cans

The first Sunday of each month will be Caring Cans Sunday.  Each month we will collect with a different food focus in mind and in February the focus foods are peanut butter and jelly including sugar free. Contact Sue Robinson or anyone on the Social Responsibility  Committee for more information.

In addition, Super Bowl Sunday is the Sunday we will be taking up a special collection for Food Finders Food Bank after the service and during our special Food for Thought (or soup and sermon) social time. Please bring your checkbook or a bag of non-perishable foods to contribute.

 

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Please join us for A Night at the Auction 

2005 Service and Talents Auction

with guest auctioneer Jim Van Schepen 

6.30 p.m. — bidding starts promptly at 7 p.m.

Friday, February 11, 2005 • At the church  

Bring a dessert or hors d’oeuvres to share • Childcare provided 

Come and bid on the following items • live and silent auctions 

• A weekend in Chicago: Stay in a fully furnished condo in Oak Park (sleeps five) 

• A private airplane ride  • A fun-filled Physics demonstration 

• Handmade quilt  • Camping trip • Firewood    

• Theme parties  • Lathe-turned wooden container  • Computer tune-up  

• A family photography session • The sermon of your choice 

...and much, much more! 

We are still taking submissions — what could you donate? Do you have a skill that could be auctioned in some way? (organizing, entertaining, artwork) • Are there household tasks that you could do for someone else? (yard work, hauling, raking leaves, cleaning gutters, window washing) • Professional services that you could offer? (massages, accounting) 

Be creative — we’re always up for new ideas!

 

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Board Highlights from 11 January 2005 

 

Long Range Planning Committee: Joan Marshall has kindly offered to help re-activate this committee. 

Building and Grounds: Need a chair for this committee, but in the meantime, please report problems to Noemi Ybarra, Board Chair.

Gutters: We have one estimate for the repair of the gutters, but are waiting to hear from two other contractors.

Delegates: We have enough members to send an additional delegate (bringing us up to four) to our district and national assemblies. District Assembly this year is in Cincinnati; General Assembly will be in Fort Worth, Texas.

Art Fair: Netted $6,700.

Budget: Our carry-over to 2005 is $3,141.

NBC: The committee recommended to the Board that the building project be rejected due to the estimated cost running far over our budget.

Stewardship Committee Policy: The Board adopted proposed changes to this policy. 

 

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Church Mouse Award

 The award goes to Rae Brandt for the many ways she contributes to the life of our church—particularly in serving as our representative to Lafayette Urban Ministry and in coordinating the LUM Jubilee Christmas project. Rae, thank you for all you do to help us keep our church’s covenant of service and helping one another.  

 

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Choir to participate in Religious Arts Festival Event -- Others Invited

Our church choir will be participating in the Religious Arts Festival event called "Music of the Faiths" on Sunday, Jan. 30 at 4:15 p.m..

In this event, local choirs perform and share a hymn from their tradition. We have selected #347 "Gather the Spirit" (by UU composer Jim Scott) from our hymnal.

We invite anyone in the congregation to join us for this event -- you don't have to be a full-time member of the choir. The event will take place at Central Presbyterian Church (a block away from UUC). 

We will gather at the UU Church at 3:30 p.m. for a brief rehearsal and then walk down to Central Presbyterian together. There is also an arrangement of "Now Thank We All Our God" which ALL choirs will sing together. We will have copies of that, and will go through that piece as well.

If you enjoy singing hymns and would like to be part of a UU presence in a local community event, please join us. If you plan to participate, or if you have any questions, please let me know. Kaye McSpadden, choir accompanist.

 

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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.

 

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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

Religious Education Happenings

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

 

Each year, the RE Committee likes to show our appreciation for the teachers in our Religious Education classes by getting together as many as are able and share our thanks over food and discussion. The energy and time our teachers give to our classes is what makes this program work. Without you, we simply could not do what we do! So, I hope many of you can join us as we look forward to giving our thanks over breakfast on Saturday, March 5.  

On this day, we will gather not only for food and appreciation, but also for conversation and stimulation around how we can meet the needs of all of our learners, particularly through the theory of multiple intelligences.

I hope this will inspire new ideas and fresh thinking about our program as well as offer each of our teachers support as they meet with our children and youth from week to week. This is also a good time to check in with team leaders and fellow teachers. By staying connected with one another, we get the support we need to use the teaching experience to enrich our own lives. And when we feed our own souls, we have that much more to offer our classes, our families, and our world.  

                                     --Sarah


Upcoming Events

 

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 through the end of January. 

Apple Juice – It’s that time again!  Please help us stock up our juice supply by bringing in a 64 oz. bottle of apple juice. Leave donations on the kitchen counter.

Child and Youth Dedications – On Feb. 20, we will have a service to dedicate children and youth whose families are interested.  See the article in this edition of the Lighted Chalice or contact Rev. Hilary Krivchenia or Sarah Boulac, DRE, for more information.

Teacher Appreciation – Mark your calendars, RE Teachers!  On Saturday, March 5 we would like to honor you with a special breakfast. We plan to have a discussion about multiple intelligences and being welcoming to special needs students. More information to come!

A UU Christmas Carol – Kirk Arndt and Gale Lockwood have shared their recording of our Christmas Pageant!  If you would like to check it out, please see Sarah Boulac. 

                                                                  

Attention Youth and Adults interested in getting involved!!!

On February 25-27 our Heartland District is having a Leadership Development Conference at the UU Church of Kalamazoo in Michigan. This is a great opportunity for youth and adults alike to learn concrete leadership skills, grow in your self-confidence as a leader, and learn more about YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists).  Contact Sarah Boulac if you have any questions or if you are interested in going!  414-2432 or sboulac@hotmail.com

 

Child and Youth Dedication Service

 

In Unitarian Universalist Churches, we have what are called Dedication Ceremonies for children or youth which welcome them into our community.  In this dedication, we affirm the child or youth as an individual, parents make an outward commitment to the spiritual development of their child, and our congregation recognizes our role as a community who will shape the child or youth as he or she matures.

While these ceremonies are often done when children are babies, this is not necessary nor is it always the case. Frequently, families with older children join our church, and families with children who have grown up in the church may have postponed dedicating their children.

The Religious Education and Worship Committees are planning a Dedication Service to welcome any child or youth whose families are interested in participating. This special intergenerational service will take place on Feb. 20.  As part of the dedication, parents may choose to present their child with a chalice necklace or other symbol as a token of this special event in their lives. 

We hope many of you will take this opportunity to deepen your commitment as a family to this faith and formally dedicate your children as a part of our congregation as you dedicate yourselves to their spiritual journeys. Please let Hilary or Sarah know if you are interested in participating, if you have any questions, or if you would like help in purchasing a special gift for your child/ren.

 

Service and Talents From RE

R.E. children and youth are invited to help raise money for our church through the “Service and Talents Auction” on 2/11/05.

There are two ways you can help:

Religious Education will be putting together four baskets, and each will be sold to the highest bidder.  The following baskets will be assembled:

• Pet Care Basket – items for pets or pet care, treats, toys, chewies
• Spa Basket – lotions, bath/shower gel, candles
• Rainy Day Basket- art stuff, gently used books or games
• Garden/Backyard Basket – seeds, tools, gloves, birdseed

You can contribute an item for one of the baskets.

Or, if you have a craft you could make (for example, origami or knitted scarf) or a service you could provide for someone in our church (such as baby sitting, pet sitting, or yard work) fill out the form in this newsletter.

Please bring your item and/or form to church Jan. 30 or Feb. 6, and give these to Sarah Boulac, Beth Misner, or Cheryl Fowler.

Thank you for supporting our church programs!


Teacher Schedule

                                    January 30                          February 6 Caterpillar Teacher             A. Dooley                          E. Lautzenheiser
Caterpillar Helper               C. Frye                              F. Lautzenheiser
Butterfly Class                    J. Dufair                             D. Murray
2-3 Class                           K. Coder                            K. Coder
4-5 Class                           G. Lockwood                     G. Lockwood  
6-8 Class                           V. Thomas                          C. Falley