Stay after Church for Special Video

 

             On March 13, the second part of Marshall Rosenberg’s  “Language of Life” video will be shown after the Sunday service. The Board of Trustees is offering the showing as part of the ongoing project to build congregational health. This is a follow up to our recent Conflict Engagement & Right Relations (CERR) meetings.

 

             Food and child care will be provided. All members and friends are invited to attend!

 

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UU and You New Sessions    

   The Greeting and Membership Committee invites you to the "New UU and YOU" class. Learn about our history, principles, mission, and diversity. Get to know our congregation through discussion, fellowship and good food.  Child care provided. The two-hour classes will be offered

                              EITHER:

         Sundays right after church:  April 3,10,17, & 24 ( a light lunch served)

                                  OR

         Sunday evenings: April 3,10,17 & 24 (hors d'oeuvres and dessert will be served)

  

         Please register on the sign-up sheet at the back of the church.  Popular demand will determine time scheduled.

      

                 —Della Willmann, Greeting & Membership Committee

 

 

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Gather the Spirit

 

            The HUUD Program Council, working with our District Executive and Program Consultant, has put together a tremendous program for our District Annual Meeting.

                 This event will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 8-10, 2005. The Keynote Speaker will be UUA Executive Vice President Kathleen  Montgomery.

                Friday's activities include registration, a celebratory congregational banner parade, worship, budget and bylaws hearing, a reception honoring delegates, and live jazz!

                 Saturday is packed full of worship, Kathleen Montgomery, a new idea swap and learning exchange, awards luncheon, workshops, free meetings with consultants (by appointment), the district business meeting, and more.

                Whew, what an excellent program they have put together!  I urge you not to miss this!  It is wonderful to meet with UUs from all over the District and from UUA headquarters and our UUA Washington Office. 

                Check with your office administrator for brochures, call the district office at 1-888-948-48!  83, or  check our website at http://www.heartlanduu.org  where you can not only register online but pay by credit card, an option not available if you mail in your registration forms.

 

                I look forward to meeting you in Cincinnati!

               Jeff Wrisley
               People's Church, Ludington, MI
               Heartland District Trustee

 

 

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Observations on the Consultants

Our Heartland District consultants met with the congregation to finish the first phase of Conflict Engagement and Right Relations work on Sunday, Jan. 30, after the worship service. 

We had a good turnout of members and friends. We participated in a dialogue exercise which introduced us to Appreciative Inquiry, a method of approaching dialogue.  The consultants also presented us with a summary of the information they gathered on their previous visit, and suggestions on work we might do in 12 general areas.

In the weeks since, I have heard (and made) comments along the lines of, "Why didn't they tell us what to do to solve ___?", "I wish they had given us more concrete recommendations", and "What did we gain?"

In one recent conversation, when I expressed a wish that they had given us clear steps that we could follow, a wise fellow congregant postulated that perhaps the consultants understood that this was OUR work to do.

This made me pause to remember what it was we set out to do. We did

NOT expect, or even ask, the consultants to solve our problems. We did not even ask them to show us how to solve them. We asked them to gather information and help us to learn more about conflict engagement and right relations.

As with any group of human beings, we will always have problems, conflicts, disagreements.  What we need - what we asked for - is a basic framework within which we can work in a healthy, loving way to engage those issues.  How do we discuss contentious issues and still show respect for one other? 

How do we approach each other with care and concern as we try to resolve problems?  How will we treat our fellow congregants when we disagree with them?

This is the work that is before us now.  Our consultants gathered much information, and distilled it into a relatively short document. They introduced us to some ideas on engagement.  The next steps are ours.

                                                Noemi Ybarra, Board Chair 

 

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Come Discuss the Restructure of Program Council

Program Council as it was originally structured might have made some people feel that their voices have not been heard.

All members and friends are invited to attend this important meeting. Let’s work together to ensure that Program Council is a vehicle for communication as well as an essential piece of the church structure.

Robin Poindexter will facilitate this meeting Thursday, March 31, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. upstairs at the church.

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Share Your Opinion on New Building Project

The congregation has reached a turning point in our efforts to find a church home suitable for our current family and for growth.

The vote taken last Sunday was one step in the process. Options for the next steps were identified at the January and February congregational meetings.

If you were not at the February meeting, we would like your input as to the attractiveness of the options identified so far. We realize that none have been fully explored and explained in detail – at this point we are interested in your opinion as to which of the options should be investigated more thoroughly. 

Please rank the options that are listed below. There are spaces to write additional options.  Give a ranking of “1” for the option that you favor the most at this point, a rank of “2” for the next best option, etc. 

If you think a particular option is not worth further consideration, leave it blank. We will tabulate this straw vote by giving a high score to options ranked highest on each ballot, and low scores to options ranked low. Options left blank will be given no score from that particular ballot.

 

______            Re-do the existing design for the Union Street building as a smaller building, resulting in a plan closer to our budget.

 

______            Change to a completely new design for the Union Street property, with an eye for both affordability and other changes in design.

 

______            Look throughout the community for a different property that we could buy with the money that we have raised.  This could be a property on which we could build more affordably, or an existing structure.

 

______            Explore whether there is a congregation in an existing building with whom we could share facilities, as we increase our building fund.

 

______            Develop a plan to stay at our existing building on Seventh Street at least for the short term. The plan could either enable the congregation to fit more comfortably into our space with our current size, or allow for reasonable growth.  It is anticipated that the plan would probably involve purchase / use of nearby properties.

 

______            Other option ________________________________________________

 

                        ___________________________________________________________

 

 

______            Other option ________________________________________________

 

                        ___________________________________________________________

 

When completed, please return this ballot to the church through the mail, or place it in the New Building Committee mailbox. 

 

 

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Participate in the Heartland Annual Meeting April 8-10

 

This year’s District Annual Meeting is nearby – in Cincinnati--on  April 8-10.

 The theme “Gather in Spirit” will set the tone for a weekend of sharing, exploring, and learning. Exciting workshops, worship and social activities, and important business discussions will take place. You can find complete information online at www.heartlanduu.org, including a brochure you can print out. You can even register online!  Otherwise, watch the back of the sanctuary for brochures and registration forms soon.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gather with other UUs from across our three-state district. If you are interested in attending, please inform the Board (we are allowed to send four voting delegates).

The District meeting is a great opportunity to meet with other Unitarian Universalists in the district and learn more about what other congregations are doing. 

This year our congregation is thinking about also providing a half-day visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati.  A group of willing adults would accompany interested children and young people on the tour while others could attend the Saturday sessions.  If you are interested in this idea, please contact Sarah Boulac at 742-0460. 

Registration materials for the 2005 District Annual Meeting have gone into the mail to key persons in every congregation and are up on the District website, www.heartlanduu.org, for those who prefer to register online and pay by credit card. 

Hope to see you in Cincinnati. And perhaps in Fort Worth for the General Assembly. The District Assembly is closer, smaller, but it is a small taste of the banquet of useful information and exciting connections you can find at our General Assemblies in June.

 

 

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Program Council Restructuring

                This is an Open Invitation to all members and friends to meet Thursday, March 31, 6:30-8 p.m. Come discuss restructuring the Program Council to ensure it serves as a vehicle for communication as well as an essential piece of the church structure.

                Questions: contact Robin Poindexter

   

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Social Responsibility News     

 

         The Women’s Shelter houses many women and children throughout the year.  Many of them arrive almost empty-handed, so clothing and other items are in great demand. Currently, the following items are needed:

      —Alarm clocks

      — Hair dryers

      — Baby monitors

      — Pedialyte

      — Childrens’ sleepwear, underwear, socks, and swimwear

      — Women’s sleepwear, underwear, socks and swimwear

      — Arts and crafts supplies

  

  

  You will find a donation box at the church  near the door adjacent to the parking lot. Please leave items you wish to donate at any time. If you have questions about other items, especially large items (beds, sofas, etc.), please call  Jean Tyner.

 

 Thanks to all UU members and friends for supporting the Domestic Violence  Intervention and Prevention Program.

      

 

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New UU and You Class Starting

The Greeting and Membership Committee invites you to the "New UU and You" class.

Learn about our history, principles, mission, and diversity.

Get to know our congregation through discussion, fellowship and good food. Child Care provided.

The two-hour classes will be offered EITHER: 

• Sundays, after church: April 3, 10, 17, & 24 (a light lunch will be served)

OR

• Sunday evenings: April 3, 10, 17, & 24 (hors d'oeuvres and dessert will be served)

 

Please register on sign-up sheet at the back of the church.  Popular demand will determine time scheduled.
 

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Religious Education Happenings

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

 

      March 13 : "Ivy Tech State College: A Look Back and a Look Forward." 
 

      Betty Doversberger, Distinguished Chancellor Emeritus, will share her views and experiences with our amazing local educational miracle.

  
 

     March 20: "Malvina Reynolds, Unitarian Singer and Songwriter."
 

Marty Becker, Kaye McSpadden, Sharon McKnight.  Although she didn't take up the guitar until she was in her 50s, Malvina Reynolds became one of the most famous folk singers and songwriters in American history. Her political and social activism and love of family continue to shine through in her songs today.
 

      We will watch a portion of a film about Reynolds called "Love it Like a Fool," discuss her life and work and how they relate to our lives today,  and, finally, Sharon McKnight will lead us in singing some of Malvina's songs.

 

                                                                                —John Wilms