Sermon Schedule:
April 1      CASA
April 8      Renewed Life
April 15    An Expansive, Generous Life
April 22    We Are The Earth
April 29    Flower Communion

Minister: Consulting Interim Minister Myron Andes’ regular office hours are Tuesday and Wednesday from 1:30-4:30.  If you cannot reach him in the office please leave a message at 474-1704 and he will return your phone call in a timely manner. 

In the Interim
Consulting Interim Minister
Myron Andes

    What a complicated month April is! Encompassing April Fool’s Day and Passover, Good Friday, Easter and Flower Communion, Pledge Sunday, Tax Day and Earth Day, it stretches our attention and emotional range perhaps to their limits.

    As I write this, with April approaching, I am re-reading Rita Nakashima Brock’s and Rebecca Ann Parker’s book, Proverbs of Ashes: Violence, Redemptive Suffering, and the Search for What Saves Us. It is a groundbreaking yet personal book in which they reject a foundational tenet of western religion and society: that violence and suffering are redemptive.

    What can we say to answer their “search for what saves us”? Violence and suffering dehumanize, separate and alienate. Steadfast love, in contrast, helps us be fully human, joins us in empathy, and creates intimacy and community. Love is the only power that can make right what violence and suffering have made wrong. The consequences of violence cannot always be fixed, but sometimes they can.

    Love can witness violence with clear eyes, grieve for suffering and rejoin what has been put asunder. Restoring right relationships and forging new, authentic connections is a powerful saving activity.

    In light of that, I am pleased to tell you about some upcoming events at UUCE that engage us in joining and making connections.

    After the service on Sunday, April 8, there will be another Inquirers’ Class for those interested in learning more about this church and Unitarian Universalism, and in exploring the possibility of membership. On Monday, April 9, you are invited to join the Transition Team in viewing an exciting video on congregational growth, reaching out and making new connections.

    You are cordially invited and heartily encouraged to join in the “Appreciative Inquiry Experience” on Wednesday, April 18. We will have the opportunity to hear and share positive things about our experience with the church and UUism, and to share our hopes and dreams for this religious community. And in the service on Sunday, April 22, we will recognize and welcome new members.

    May we all share the power of love to unite and renew!

Myron
Church phone: 812-474-1704
Mobile phone: 650-200-6803
myronandes@earthlink.net

Sunday Services

April 1 CASA
Guest Speaker Suzanne Draper, Executive Director of CASA, Inc.
Worship Associate Tom Moor

    Suzanne Draper is the Executive Director of Vanderburgh County CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children. CASA is a non-profit organization that trains community volunteers to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. She will speak about CASA’s mission and the work of its volunteers for the benefit of children and the community.

April 8: Renewed Life!            Easter Sunday
Consulting Interim Minister Myron Andes
Worship Associate Teri Rockwood

    As the natural world renews itself and springs forth with fresh life each year, so must our human spirits be periodically refreshed and reborn. At its best, our religious practice calls us to and gives us the occasions for this renewal of spirit.

April 15: An Expansive, Generous Life      Pledge Sunday
Consulting Interim Minister Myron Andes
Worship Associate Tom Moor

    Enlarging our souls, opening to possibility, being part of the flowing stream of life: these are the sources that empower our journey of adventure.

April 22: We Are the Earth       Earth Day
Consulting Interim Minister Myron Andes
Worship Associate Jan Steinmark

    We celebrate being part of the natural world, of the “interconnected web of all existence.” We share in its beauty, impermanence, and resilience. We acknowledge our responsibility to the whole.

April 29: Flower Communion – Intergenerational Service
Consulting Interim Minister Myron Andes
Worship Associate John Schaeffer

    We will share in this cherished Unitarian Universalist tradition, affirming hope and joy even in difficult circumstances.

NOW BOARDING THE UUCE JOURNEY 
   It’s time to begin this year’s annual UUCE Pledge Drive. This is the event by which we raise most of the money to support the church in the upcoming 2007-8 fiscal year (which will begin in July 2007). The theme of this year’s pledge drive is Now Boarding the UUCE Journey. As we enter this time of change in searching for a new settled minister, we are reminded that each of us is on a personal journey, and as a congregation we are on a continual journey to build the best church community that we can.

  On Sunday April 1 or very soon after, you will receive materials enabling you to make your financial pledge to the church for the coming year. On Sunday April 15^th, everyone is invited to attend a brief but festive Pledge Event Program immediately following the worship service. Dessert will be served. Our goal is for everyone to turn in their pledge at this program, or sooner. We’ll see you at the event on April 15^th!

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING
    UUCE Board of Director's meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. 

DISCUSSION GROUP
    The UUCE discussion group meets at 9:00 a.m. on the first and third Sundays each month.  Copies of articles about the subjects we discuss can be found in a folder on the table in the lobby.  Please join us!

POTLUCK
    Our next potluck will be on April 22, 2007.  Come join your fellow UU’s for good food and good conversation!

COFFEE
     Fair Exchange coffee order forms are available in the foyer or contact Chris Norrington at cnorrington@hotmail.com.  Please place your order by the 25^th of each month. Chocolate is once again available for purchase.  Bars are $2 each or order a case with your next coffee order!

PLATE SHARE
   April's Plate Share will be the UU-UNO (Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office).  They have many outreach programs to help stop human trafficking, improve international human rights, preventing malaria, and coordinate peacebuilding.   Please visit their website at www.un-uno.org or contact Chris Norrington for more information.

WANTED: GREETERS
    As the new Greeter Coordinator, I need your help in making sure that there are smiling faces to greet newcomers and good friends alike on Sunday mornings before church.  The goal is to have two greeters for every Sunday.  You don't have to get there super early, just by about 9:40 or so.  For a complete job description and to sign up, see me, Lauren Talley, in church or email (xgj36@hotmail.com).  Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

HOUSE & GROUNDS

House and Grounds chair Dale Mossberger would like to remind folks to sign up for lawn mowing duty.  Please call him with any questions.

APRIL SOCIAL JUSTICE
Monthly Collection
    We will be collecting Coffee, peanut butter, and personal care (travel size) items for the United Caring Shelter.  Place them in the Chalice Room in the box provided.  Thanks!

Horse Protection Act
    Horse slaughter has become a major issue in the news lately.  House Resolution 503 and Senate Bill 311 have been introduced to amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes. If you would like to support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, contact your congressman or senator.  Also ask Rep. Ellsworth to support House Resolution 249 with the aim of restoring the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act to its original language, to help federally protected wild horses and burros.

Rep. Brad Ellsworth
513 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1408
Phone: (202) 225-4636
Fax: (202) 225-3284

Senator Evan Bayh
131 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1404
Phone: (202) 224-5623
Fax: (202) 228-1377

Senator Richard Lugar
306 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1401
Phone: (202) 224-4814
Fax: (202) 228-0360

FIRST FRIDAY DRUMMING CIRCLE
    The first Friday Shamanic Drum and Healing circle is at 7:00pm on the first Friday of each month.  All are welcome.

PSG MEETINGS
    The Pagan Study Group will meet at the church on:

4/3 PSG Meeting 7pm
4/10 PSG Meeting 7pm
4/17 PSG Meeting 7pm
4/24 PSG Planning 6pm

LAKE GENEVA UU ASSEMBLY
  Lake Geneva Unitarian Universalist Summer Assembly, often referred to LGSA, has moved about 40 miles north from Lake Geneva to the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, which is just 2 miles north of I-94 along Wisconsin Highway 67.

    LGSA is now Midwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Assembly (MUUSA) and will be held at the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.    MUUSA is held July1-7, 2007. Only the name and location has changed, all of the wonderful programs and people will be at remain.

    Your can access and down load the 2007 MUUSA brochure at www.muusa.org, or contact Susan Porter at msrporter@aol.com or  317-251-7346.

A WORLD OF INSPIRATION
    On Saturday, April 28 there will be a workshop called A World of Inspiration in Indianapolis.  It is being held at the Circle UU Fellowship from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The registration cost is $10, which includes lunch.  It is a Small Congregation Workshop on Worship and Programming, and discussions include program topics, the order of service, duties of the Worship/Program Committee, and useful resources.  Although we do have a minister here at UUCE, we have other speakers or presenters at least once a month, and sharing information with other small congregations might be very helpful.  To to www.cuuf.org and click on "programs" for more information.

A NEW LOOK FOR UUA.ORG
    A brand-new website will debut on April 2, 2007!  The UUA website began in 1996 and in the last ten years this site has grown from a few pages to over 10,000!  It has over 30,000 web visitors a day.  SO - they have developed a new look, with special entry points for visitors, members, and lay and professional leaders.

 MIDWEST LEADERSHIP SCHOOL will be in Beloit, Wisconsin July 21-28.  If you are (or hope to be) a UUCE board member or lay leader, this is an invaluable experience.  Brochures are available in the foyer at church, or contact Jan Steinmark for more information

UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
June 20-24 2007 General Assembly. Portland, OR.