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April 2008
Service
Schedule:
April 6
Intergenerational Service
April
13
Super Canvass Sunday
April
20
Earth Day
April
27
Are We Free Thinkers?
CAROLYN’S COMMENTS
Many
thanks to all the hands and knees of the Search Committee who cleaned all
the black marks off the lobby floor!
Have you noticed how wonderful it looks?
And
many thanks to Link Christensen for bringing the church a mop bucket so that
our janitor doesn’t have to squeeze the mop out by hand.
While
we are all thinking about our budgets and how much we can increase our
annual pledges to UUCE during the next few weeks, let’s also think of one of
the ways we can increase our number of pledging units, that is, a way to
increase our membership.
Here is
a multiple choice question. If
you read the column you will find out whether you answered correctly.
How
often does the average UU bring a friend to church?
once
every three years;
B. once
every ten years;
C. once
every twenty-seven years;
D. once
every six months.
This is the least
offensive action we could take that might be construed as an attempt to
evangelize, yet it is the one we rarely do.
Once in a while someone does bring someone to church, someone who
isn’t a relative or a friend from out of town but a local friend or work
associate.
Our
average association-wide frequency of bringing someone with us to church is
(C.) once every 27 years, which means the majority of us NEVER bring a
friend.
I
mention this because one recent Sunday I heard two different people comment
after church that they wished they had brought so-and-so with them to hear
the sermon that Sunday, because it would have convinced them that UUism was
something they should consider.
Bringing a friend to church is one of those things that feels like taking a
big risk, because they might be totally turned off by the experience.
But as we think back to remember our own experiences, perhaps we
remember our delight in finding a place that felt like home.
I will never forget how quickly I realized in 1973 that the UU
Fellowship in Billings, Montana was home.
I will never forget how easy it was for me to “suffer” the Sundays
when a particularly boring speaker put me to sleep, because of the
fellowship that followed.
I
recommend taking this risk. I
cherish this pithy saying: “I wish I could take a risk that was safe.”
Bringing a friend to our church may be one of those!
BOARD
OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING
UUCE Board of
Director's meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM.
SUNDAY SERVICES
April
6-A SPECIAL INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE
will be presented by musicians Grey Larsen and Cindy Kallet.
Their repertoire includes original and traditional songs and tunes
rooted in folk traditions of America, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
Instruments include guitar, fiddle, Irish Flute, tin whistle, and
concertina, and they interject
plenty of stories that put the music into a person context.
Funding for this event comes from the special music fund, many thanks
to that donor! Worship Associate: Jan
Steinmark
April 13-SUPER CANVASS SUNDAY-Canvass Committee and Carolyn Brown
This
day we will not only make our pledges but celebrate our successful pledge
drive with a luncheon and special music presented by some of our members and
friends. The food will be
prepared by Teri Rawlings. The
service will include how we can all be committed stewards of UUCE with
special emphasis on the importance of all gifts.
This is an event not to be missed!
Note: Children's social justice project: Since April 6th is a
special intergenerational service, the children's social justice project,
usually done on the first Sunday of the month, will be the following Sunday,
April 13. The focus will be on Earth Day.
April 20-EARTH DAY-Carolyn Brown
Who will speak for the earth? Who will heal the earth and save its children?
If not we, then who? If not now, when? It is we, it must be we – people
driven by a moral vision and committed to shaping reality with a spiritual
touch. Any attempt to do this Great Work must include Unitarian
Universalists. And we are doing
it through our Green Sanctuary movement.
April 27th: Unitarian Universalism
and the Ministerial Dating Game.
Finding that special someone is a tough job. It involves research, reason,
heart, leaps of faith, plain old hard work, and, let us not forget, humor.
Join our ministerial candidate, Deane Oliva, for an exploration of how this
timely topic relates to our heritage and visioning. Pot luck follows.
Worship Associate: (one will be selected soon). Pianist: Josh Reidford.
May 4th: What's the UUCE? Tell
Me What's Happening. This intergenerational service takes its
inspiration from the wonderful music of Jesus Christ Superstar. Come
explore the vitality of UUCE through the eyes of your candidate for
ministry, the Rev. Deane Oliva. Worship Associate: Jan Steinmark. Pianist:
Sarah Bielish. Congregational meeting follows the service.
"FROM YOUR SEARCH COMMITTEE!!!"
We have a candidate!!!!!! Not only do we have a candidate, but
we have the right candidate. Rev. Deane Oliva has been
selected by your Search Committee and has agreed to the proposed contract.
Now, it is up to the congregation! She will be visiting us soon and looks
forward to meeting you all. In the meantime we'd like to share our
perspectives with you.
'For those of you who were there for the big announcement, my enthusiasm is
genuine. I cannot wait for you to meet Deane. We liked her resume and
her packet, but she truly wowed us in our first conversation, the phone
interview. She quoted back to us how many parking places we have! She had
specific ideas about all our hot topics: growth, R.E., social justice, and
community presence. When we actually got to meet her, it was a true
pleasure. She connected with each person we met along the journey of her
pre-candidating weekend, and she handled herself wonderfully as hurdles kept
being thrown her way. With her style of detail-oriented and inspired
guidance, we could rally together and go far.' -Megan Tuley
‘With our size and salary options, we (the search committee ) knew we might
be looking at relatively inexperienced candidates. In Deane Oliva, we have
found a relatively newly ordained minister who has served an intern year
(Binghamton, New York) as well as a year as consulting minister in
California. However, her ministerial study followed a wealth of experience,
including a successful career as a clinical psychologist. I found her to be
a warm and energetic "grown-up" with a strong sense of ethics. I am thrilled
she has agreed to candidate with us. I hope you all make an effort to meet
her during the visit, because I think you will share the search committee's
enthusiasm.’- Susie Feinberg
Stay tuned to Sunday services and orders of service for perspectives from
the rest of your Search Committee.
J
ATTENTION CHURCH
MEMEBERS AND FRIENDS
Did you
pledge financial support to UUCE in 2007? If so, we based our current
year's budget on those pledges and we thank you!
Now...have you made good on your pledge from 2007? If not, we are now
feeling it.
With
about two-thirds of the fiscal year gone, we have received only about 56% of
the money everyone pledged to help keep UUCE going and growing strong.
Please,
please send that pledged money in to help us meet our expenses. You
can bring it in personally on Sunday for our Treasurer, David Fentress, or
you can mail it in to: UUCE / 2910 E. Morgan /
Evansville / IN / 47711.
We
appreciate it!
FIRST
FRIDAY DRUMMING CIRCLE
The
First Friday Drumming Circle meets the first Friday of each month at 7:00-
9:00 PM at the church. All are
welcome.
THIRD
FRIDAY DRUMMING CIRCLE
The
Third Friday Drumming Circle meets the third Friday of each month at 7:00-
9:00 PM at the church. All are
welcome.
FUN
DRUM
We have started a new
drumming circle. It is called the 4th Sunday Fun Drum and Feed.
It will be held every 4th Sunday in the Sanctuary from 4-7 PM.
Questions? Contact Hardin Rathgeber
PSG
MEETINGS
We are a pagan study group
that meets every Tuesday and is currently working on meditation, energy
work, magic, and ethics, as well as learning about a host of other pagan
practices and topics. You do not have to be pagan to attend these meetings.
We do hold group celebrations for the fire festivals, solstices, and
equinoxes. Contact Lauren Talley at
evansvillepsg@hotmail.com if you
have any questions (see calendar for specific times).
GREETERS NEEDED
Want to contribute to the church in a meaningful way but only have, say, 20
minutes a week to spare? Perfect! Be a greeter! Greeters
are those wonderful, smiling people you've noticed welcoming people at the
door, passing out hymnals in the sanctuary, and straightening up chairs
after the service on Sundays. It's a fun, easy, and important job that
doesn't take much time at all. Interested? See me, Lauren
Talley, in church, or contact me via email (xgj36@hotmail.com).
I look forward to hearing from you!
COFFEE
Please place
your order for Fair Trade coffee by the 25th of each month.
Contact Chris Norrington -
cnorrington@hotmail.com.
Thanks for your continued support of this project that helps the Unitarian
Universalist Service Committee.
SOCIAL
JUSTICE
The social justice committee will be collecting dog and cat food, pet
treats, toys, and cat litter for local animal shelters during the month of
April. Leave your items in the foyer and ask Chris Norrington if you
have any questions! Thanks for your support of our local charities and
non-profit organizations that help homeless animals in your community!
UUCE
DISCUSSION GROUP
The UUCE
discussion group meets the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 9:00 AM in
the Chalice Room.
Tentative Schedule of Upcoming Discussion Topics:
4/6
- Universal Health Care: Drawbacks and Benefits in the US and Abroad
4/20 -
Rap, Pop, and Hip-Hop: Its Influence on Today's Youth, with comments and
feedback from UUCE youth members
Question?
Contact the Adult Discussion Group at
uucediscussion@gmail.com
Jennifer E Hyland -- Group Coordinator (Indianapolis)
jehyland222@gmail.com
Hardin
Rathgeber -- Group Coordinator (Evansville)
hlrathgeber@yahoo.com
POTLUCK
Our
April potluck will be on the 27th following the service.
Plan to join us and gather with fellow UU’s for good
food and good conversation!
ONE WORLD FILM SERIES
Co-Sponsored by CYPRESS, EVPL, UE, and USI, the One World Film Series uses
the power of film to illuminate diversity issues and create discussion. Each
screening will be followed by discussion moderated by university professors.
This
event is free and open to the public.
The
Power of Good: "There is
nothing that can't be done if it's fundamentally reasonable ..." (Nicholas
Winton) This documentary film tells the story of one of the greatest
humanitarians of our time. Nicholas Winton, together with his team (his
mother, a secretary, and other concerned individuals) managed to save 669
endangered children, most of them Jewish, from almost certain death at the
hands of the Nazis and Nazi collaborators.
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Sunday, April 20th, 2:00pm: Central Library - Group Study Room
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Monday, April 21st, 7:00pm: University of Evansville: Schroeder Family
SOBA - Smythe Lecture Hall (170)
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Tuesday, April 22nd, 7:00pm: University of Southern Indiana - Kleymeyer
Hall
HEARTLAND DISTRICT CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April
4-5, 2008
Heartland District 8th Annual Meeting
& Spring Conference
Louisville, KY
April 18-20, 2008
CONfluence - A Social Justice Con
June 3-6, 2008
LREDA 3rd Annual Retreat
Selma, IN
July 20-26, 2008
Midwest Leadership School
Beloit, WI
For
more information, visit
http://www.heartlanduu.org.
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