 |
|
|
"Love
is the spirit of this church and service its law"
|
|
December 2006
Sermon Schedule: 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 Why is it that at this time of year, when the days grow shorter, colder and darker; when much of the natural world shuts down for a well-earned period of rest and rejuvenation, we human beings decide it is time to get busy, frantic, and worried; to take on more tasks of decorating, traveling, cooking and gifting than at any other time of year? And to load each of these things with a strong emotional charge, a necessity to achieve perfection in order to…to what? Win approval? Achieve self-satisfaction? Prove we are “good enough”? It is my personal hope this year to keep a sense of proportion, to take a lesson from nature’s example. When I pay attention, I notice that as the darkness shortens the days, my body and mind want to slow down, to go inside, to recover and replenish, to do some self-examination and allow some relaxed time for transformation. This is the way to prepare for the increase in light that will come, when the world will green and warm, when fresh energy will flow through field, forest and family. I wish for you this blessing of peace and renewal, of reconsideration, re-orientation and re-energization. I wish this for UUCE as well. As the church prepares to find, call and settle a new minister, this is likewise a time of self-examination for the church, a time of finding new direction and re-dedication. Not quite a time of hibernation, this is a chrysalis time, when the caterpillar changes its internal form and structure to become something new: the butterfly it is its nature to become. It will emerge as a new creature that can do things it could never do before, that lives a fuller, more exciting and wide-ranging life. A life that is more full of beauty and joy. Happy and peaceful holidays, Myron Sunday Services December 3: Your
Ultimate Concern Paul Tillich wrote that religion is about our Ultimate Concern. If that is true, then religion should engage us passionately. Our worship should connect us with what is absolutely the most important thing in our lives. So should our other religious activities. That engagement is not an easy or comfortable thing. What are the signs that will tell us we are doing it well? December 10:
Framed Investigations in cognitive science have uncovered some mechanisms of human thought that are common worldwide. Linguist George Lakoff has found cognitive metaphor, based in the anatomy and physiology of the human brain, to be one of these basic mechanisms. What are the implications of these discoveries, and how might awareness of cognitive metaphor and “framing” be useful to us as religious, moral and political beings? December 17:
Gifts of a Previous Faith Many Unitarian Universalists have some other faith tradition in their past. Some have resentment, even anger at their past religious traditions. Even born-and-raised UUs are now part of a tradition that is different from the one they knew in the past, as it has changed over time. We will look for and share the good things from past traditions that have sustained us and brought us to where we are now. December 21
(Thursday, 7:00 PM) Yule Celebration This ritual will celebrate Yule, on the night of the Winter Solstice, in the tradition of the ancient European ancestors. The public is invited. December 24: Festivals of Light Consulting Interim
Minister Myron Andes Many religious traditions around the world celebrate holidays to mark the mid-winter change from increasing darkness to increasing light. We will share in this northern hemispheric celebration and embrace the paired virtues of darkness and light. December 24 (4:00 PM) Christmas Eve Service Consulting Interim
Minister Myron Andes A simple service of songs and readings geared for all ages. We will celebrate Christmas Eve. December 31:
Fire Communion An intergenerational, communal service/ ceremony. Come prepared for symbolic, year-end dusting and cleaning. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE SEARCH COMMITTEE We are completing the final reviews of our "want ad" for the new minister, and want to take this opportunity to remind the congregation of something. Soon the search committee will be contacted by interested candidates. Though we are sure that most of you are curious about these candidates, we are charged to not reveal their identities, or details of our committee business. We can answer most questions with general answers, but no specifics can be given. Please know that we each take this job seriously and will do our best to find a minister that is right for our church. BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING UUCE Board of Director's meets the first Monday of the month at 6:00 PM. The Board of Directors reminds everyone they are always welcome to sit in and hear what is discussed on the agenda. We are a group dedicated to democratic and open business of the church. Members are welcome to examine any financial report or UUCE Board action at any time. 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! PLATE SHARE Our November plate share raised $248.10 for the Boys and Girls Club of Evansville. What an overwhelming success! Our next plate share on December 17 will be a collection for the United Caring Shelter. The shelter provides three meals daily, laundry and shower facilities, aid in applying for jobs and social security benefits, and temporary housing for the homeless and transient in Evansville. WELCOMING CONGREGATION Our November movie night was not a great success. We will be having another movie night Saturday, January 27, 7 pm at the church. Popcorn, soda, and candy provided. Please plan to attend to support our congregation in its efforts for being a Welcoming Congregation. Movie title to be announced in the January newsletter. POTLUCK The December potluck falls on Christmas eve this month. Therefore it has been cancelled. Our next potluck will be on January 28, 2007. 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 25th of each month. Chocolate is once again available for purchase. Bars are $2 each or order a case with your next coffee order! SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE NEWS Our Social Justice project for December is the AIDS Christmas Project. Once again there will be a tree in the church lobby with gift requests from local families that are afflicted with AIDS. We had a great response to this project last year. Thanks for participating and helping individuals in our community. If you want more information, visit www.aidschristmasproject.org Our project for November, Heifer International, raised $60. This allowed us to buy a share of a sheep to help sustain an underprivileged family. Thanks to those of you who donated money to this worthwhile organization. Visit www.heifer.org to make a donation on your own. PIDG The Pagan Interest Discussion Group meets the second Wednesday of every month, at 7pm at the church. This month we will be finalizing our plans for the Dec. 21 Yule ritual. All are welcome. If you have any questions, contact Lauren Talley at xgj36@hotmail.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Be sure to wish the Simms’ happy birthdays this month. Travis's birthday is December 6th and Kristen's birthday is December 16th. wUUrld’s 2007 WhaleCoast Alaska Five Alaskan UU fellowships invite you to eco-cultural programs in June right after the Portland General Assembly or in July, 2007. See the REAL Alaska! For more info: www.wuurld.org., or alaska@wuurld.org or phone 1-888, 998-8753 for a brochure. Reservation deadline: February 28.
Newsletter Editor: Beth Heil |
|||||||||||||
|
About
UUCE | Sermons
| Newsletter
| Calendar
| News/Events
| Map |
Links
Send comments about this site to the webmaster |
|
|