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"Love is the spirit of this church and
service its law" |
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February 2008 Service
Schedule: February
3 Heaven: Who Needs
It February
10 A Valentine For You February
17 A Little Tillich February
24 The “E” Word CAROLYN’S COMMENTS Since we’re off to a good start, I’d like
to talk about something that has happened a couple times which is called
triangulation. The things that
happened were not serious, but raised a little flag for me. When you want a message to get to the
minister, take it to the minister. If
you give the message to someone else, this can become triangulation, and your
message may not be delivered in the spirit you intended. Triangulation gets a
third person involved when a better solution is to take the message directly
to the minister yourself. My request is that you please talk to me.
Please let me know what you need, what you like, and what you don’t like. It
is an opportunity for us to work on building this congregation. Please come and see me or phone me and make
suggestions. My tendency after a few years of doing
ministry is to listen less intently to those messages sent through a third
party. Sometimes I don’t know if that
person is speaking for someone else, or for themselves. It is difficult to know how to respond when
it is a second hand message. And to those of you who are asked to
bring a message, know that triangulation is not a good practice. If you are asked, suggest that the asker
talk directly to the minister, or offer to go with that person to talk to the
minister. As this congregation grows, this will
become more and more important. When
messages come from “someone” out there, it may create a culture where your
minister is always wondering who “someone” is and in effect begins looking
over his/her shoulder trying to figure it out. In a healthy congregation, each person
“owns” their ideas and opinions, and each person has confidence that their
ideas and opinions are welcome. We
know that everyone can’t always get what they want, but being in right
relationship is served best by taking the message to the person who needs to
hear it – often the minister. Let’s talk to each other. Let’s promote right relationship in the
congregation now and develop good habits for the future. -Carolyn BOARD OF
DIRECTOR’S MEETING UUCE Board of Director's meets the first
Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. SUNDAY SERVICES Feb. 3 “Heaven: Who Needs It” Robert Browning wrote: “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his
grasp. Or what’s a heaven for?” Has heaven become an unnecessary concept when
our lives on this planet are so rich?
Can heaven be here on earth as Jesus inferred when he said “The
Kingdom is here now.” The history of
heaven leads us to question if we would really want to be there. So, who needs it? Feb. 10 “Intergenerational Service –
A Valentine for You!” Celebrating the holiday with plays,
readings, and gifts brought to you by our children and the Worship
Committee. Feb. 17 “A
Little Tillich” Theologian and
teacher, Paul Tillich, whose ashes reside at New Harmony, is rarely spoken of
today. Who was this man who proposed
that the reformation must keep going?
What insights did he bring that we might use today? Feb. 24 “The
‘E’ Word” UUs avoid this word for historical
reasons. But the realities facing us
today call us to rethink “evangelism” in terms of sharing what we have found
with those hordes that are looking for a liberal, welcoming faith community.
On February 17th there will be a quick meeting after church to elect
three people to the Nominating Committee. Those interested in running
for a position in this election should contact a board member or Carolyn
Brown. From Pledge Drives
to Stewardship Campaigns By Chad Tew This March and April we will be kicking
off our Annual Pledge Drive. As we make the transition from our temporary
Pledge Drive Committee to our full-year Stewardship Committee, let’s take a
moment to reflect on what that change means. Stewardship is an ongoing act of
community building, whereas pledge drives focus on a act of financial
obligation to the Church. Fundamentally, it takes a community to
make a church and then a church can give back to the community and strengthen
it in a multitude of ways. The process of stewardship of our Church resources
involves acknowledging what we appreciate and receive from the Church and
then following through and acting upon what we can do to give of our time,
talents and financial resources to maintain the Church and provide for its
long-term health. It’s part of the continuity in our relationship together. Stewardship starts with care and
appreciation. In last August’s newsletter, I mused about some of the
qualities we can all appreciate about our Church. A few items I listed were
the liberal niche that is filled by our Church; the care of members in times
of need; the support of our individual journeys and the development of our
collective spiritual communion; religious education for children, youth and
adults; and the outreach we provide to the greater community in terms of plate
share or community service projects like C.A.J.E. Soon members and friends
will have a chance to tell us what they most appreciate about the UUCE or
offer any ideas about how we can better meet the needs of the community. The activities of a Stewardship Campaign
may be similar to previous Pledge Drives. We will establish a theme. Rev.
Carolyn Brown will kick off the campaign with a sermon. We will hear from
individuals during consecutive services as they speak about their
relationship with the Church and what it means to them. We will create a
package of materials to better assist you in your decision and that will help
you make your pledge. We will communicate to you needs of the church as well
as report the results of the campaign. And we will set aside a time to thank
our members and friends for their ongoing support. But as we embark on a new way of thinking
about stewardship some activities will be different. This year, we want to
listen carefully to each of you as you tell us about what you appreciate
about the UUCE and learn from you what this Church means to you personally.
To put it in familiar terms, the Church is going to have a listening tour. We
want to help you better receive what our Church has to offer and we want to
assist you in giving back your gifts to the Church. This year, we will ask each committee to
assign one member to help out with our fund-drive period. As they listen to
you, they can take your thoughts and input back to the various committees.
This will help us so that we can better realize your vision throughout the
year. Pledge Drives have always been an
important part of church life in institutions all across the country because
a typical church relies on 80 percent of its budget through pledges. Stewardship Campaigns will be important
part of our Church life because they will make the connection between what
the Church means to you in terms of the gifts you receive and gifts you give.
The meaning has to be there.
Each year the UUA delegates attending
General Assembly choose Congregational Study/Action issues. These CSAIs end
as Statement of Conscience, which are made public representing the work and
values of our association. The Study/Action Issue adopted at the
2006 General Assembly started with the question: "…should the UUA reject
the use of any and all kinds of violence and war…and adopt a principle of
seeking just peace through nonviolent means." Our congregation has been reminded of our
opportunity to discuss, study and act on peacemaking topics. Our work can then be submitted to the
Commission on Social Witness, for consideration for inclusion in the final
draft of the Statement of Conscience. Materials are on the
www.uua.org/peacemaking website. Several areas of peacemaking are among
the issues that may be studied: A.
International and Inter-Community Peacemaking B.
Environment and Peacemaking C.
Societal Peacemaking D.
Congregational Peacemaking E.
Interpersonal Peacemaking F.
Inward Peacemaking I am reminded of the song “Peace, peace,
we need peace, and let it begin with me.”
While we are late getting started,
perhaps someone in the congregation would like to pursue planning a
discussion group and putting together a statement that the congregation could
vote on at one of our upcoming congregational meetings, so that Evansville
will have a voice in this study action issue.
The deadline for submission is March 1, 2008. -Carolyn
Brown
Take advantage of
this last opportunity to have your photograph taken before the release of our
2008-2009 Church Directory. So if you didn't get a chance to take your photo
last fall, if you're new or returning, or you want a second chance, then get
out those smiles and pose for our professional photographer. That's right,
Ann is a professional photographer. Mark your calendar for Feb. 17, before
and after service. The committee will also be circulating a draft copy of the
directory for you to correct any information before the final printing, and
that will be available in entry room before church services. If you have any
questions see Chad Tew, Hardin Rathgaber or Ann Hanat. FIRST
FRIDAY DRUMMING CIRCLE The First Friday Drumming
Circle meets the first Friday of each month at 7:00 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 PM at the church. All are welcome. FUN
DRUM We have started a new drumming circle. It
is called the 4th Sunday Fun Drum. It
will be held every 4th Sunday in the Sanctuary from 4-6 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 or
459-3067 if you have any questions (see calendar for specific
times). POTLUCK Our next potluck will be on February 24,
2008 following the service. Come join
your fellow UU’s for good food and good conversation! 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 Place your order for chocolate, cocoa,
and coffee. Contact Chris Norrington - cnorrington@hotmail.com.
Thanks for your continued support of this project that helps the Unitarian
Universalist Service Committee. SHOWING THE LOVE: taking justice, equity, and compassion to
the community, RE-style The Combined
Primary/Elementary/JrHigh Religious Education Class is currently working on
understanding the 2nd Principle: Justice, Equity, and Compassion in
human relations, or treating others fairly, and caring for others. To
practice their caring in the community, the class voted for their first
project: a drive to collect gently used clothing, blankets, and things to
help people stay warm, for distribution to those in the community who need
them more than we do. The class is still ironing out the final details,
but please bring your donations. Our deadline is Sunday, February 10th.
We hope to deliver the donations on or about Valentine's Day to let those in
need know that we care about them. There will be a collection box/barrel/bag
of some sort in the church lobby. CARING COMMITTEE Mary Helen Weldy will be taking over the
duties of the Caring Committee from Insuk.
SOME NOTES ON
GIVING AND TAXES You should have received (or soon will
receive) a Statement of Giving either from me or from Alice Carden,
describing your pledge and/or donations made throughout 2007. These
statements may require a bit of explanation. Keep in mind that our current church
fiscal year began in July of 2007 and runs through June of 2008. For those
who made a pledge, your statement will tell you how much you have paid on
your 2007-8 pledge. However, the total amount you have given for the 2007
calendar year may be a different amount. This reflects the fact that your
donations for the calendar year may include what you gave for second half of
the 2006-7 church year (Jan-June) as well as what you have for the first half
of the 2007-8 church year (July-Dec). It’s the calendar year total that will
count if you are planning to itemize deductions on your 2007 income tax
return. There were some recent changes in the tax
code that for many will make deducting your donations a slightly more
complicated process than in the past. For all single contributions of $250 or
more, a substantiating document from the organization to which you donated
with the date of each gift is required. If you made any single contributions
of $250 or more, the statement of giving you receive from UUCE will have all
your contributions listed by date. However, if all your single donations
were each less than $250 (even if your annual total was $250 or more), the
statement of giving you receive from UUCE will list the total but will not
list all donations by date. That’s because for all gifts below $250, the IRS
allows the substantiation by date to come from the organization to which you
gave OR it can come from you (in the form of cancelled check). I chose to do
it this way because it would have been more labor intensive to make such a
statement for everybody and I expect that many donors won’t need it anyway.
However, I will be glad to provide a complete listing of your donations by
date for anyone who requests it. Feel free to contact me at df27@evansville.edu. -David
Fentress, Treasurer BUDGET INFORMATION
NEEDED The time is upon us to begin making out a
proposed budget for the 2008-9 UUCE church year. If you are a committee chair
(or if you work closely enough with some church activity such that you are
the one who knows the costs involved) you need to be thinking of what your budgetary
needs are for the next year. I’m going to ask anyone in that position to
please let me know by Sunday February 2 how much money you’re asking for
during the next fiscal year. If I don’t receive any other
information, the amount of next year’s budget will be decided at the
discretion of the board. It will be based on what spending has been for the
past year and considering any special future needs that the board is aware
of. -David
Fentress, Finance Chair (df27@evansville.edu) ADULT RE OFFERINGS Classes beginning this week! Phone Carolyn Brown if interested at
474-1704. If people miss the 2/3 class
they can make it up. Bible for Skeptics – Using John Buehrens
wonderful book Understanding the Bible – An introduction for Skeptics,
Seekers, and Religious Liberals we will also do our own research into the
history and resources of the Bible.
This group will meet every two weeks on Sunday mornings at 8:30 am
for as long as it takes us to finish the reading, probably eight
sessions. We will begin on February 3,
meeting the first and third (this is a correction) Sundays. We need a minimum of 6 people to make this
course. (Cost $24.00 for book) Building Your Own Theology – This
curriculum has been around for a long time, but was completely rewritten in
2000 by Richard Gilbert. The new
version gives us an opportunity to take a deep look at our personal theology
and create a credo that is both individual and based on our experience
together. This group will meet each
Thursday at 6 pm for ten weeks beginning February 7. We need a minimum of 6 people to make this
course. Small Group Ministry – “There is a
revolution taking place in Unitarian Universalist congregations. It is
estimated that over two thirds of our congregations are now working with some
form of small group ministry. In these congregations small groups meet twice
per month, either in participants’ homes or in the church. Participants
gather to explore topics prepared for them by a minister or committee or
identified by a group leader.” Also
called “covenant groups” these groups provide the foundation for
congregations to grow and deal with stress.
Leadership is an important part of this program and I offer a group
that will develop the leaders for your program. We will meet every two weeks for four
months, beginning in February. We need
a minimum of 4 people to make this course.
We will meet at 6 pm on second and fourth Fridays UUCE
DISCUSSION GROUP The UUCE discussion group meets the 1st
and 3rd Sundays of the month at 9:00 AM in the Chalice Room. This month we will meet on February 3 to
discuss "Morality in the Social System" and on February 17 (topic
to be announced). Please call or email Jennifer Hyland with any questions or
to be added to the mailing list. She
can be reached at jehyland@usieagles.org
Please put "UUCE discussion Group" in the subject line if you
email her. UU
NEWS AND NOTES The information listed below was taken rom
a variety of sources. For more
information chack out the websites listed, our church bulletin board, or ask
Jan Steinmark. HEARTLAND
DISTRICT NEWS CONfetti Junior
High Youth Conference (6th-9th
graders) February
2-3, 2008 Cincinnati
OH Leadership
Development Conference (for
youth/adults who work with youth) February
15-17, 2008 Louisville
KY Teacher
Development Renaissance Module February
28-29, March 1, 2008 Beech
Grove IN 8th
Annual Meeting and Spring Conference April
4-6, 2008 Louisville
KY "Sustainable
Leadership" - keynote speaker Wayne B. Clark UU
Regional MidWest
Leadership School July
20-26, 2008 Beloit
WI UUA General
Assembly June
25-29, 2008 Ft.
Lauderdale FL PANCAKE
DAYS The 20th Annual YMCA "Pancake
Days" is scheduled for February 15, 16 and 17. The three-day event
will offer food, fun and fellowship for the whole family. Event hours
are 6 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 15 and 16, and 8 a.m. - 1 a.m. Feb. 17. Tickets
can be purchased in advance at the YMCA or during the event. In
addition to all the pancakes you can eat, milk coffee, juice, and sausage,
there will be live entertainment. The proceeds provide scholarships for
children and families who are unable to afford YMCA program fees.
Adults 13 and over-$4.00, under 13-$2.00 and children under 3 years are
free. For more information phone
423-9622. Controversial
Speaker Will Have His Day USI
Student SPJ Chapter to Host Free Speech Lecture Gary Yourofsky, the controversial speaker
whose invitation to speak at the University of Southern Indiana was withdrawn
in April 2007, will finally get his chance to appear before the public this
month. The circumstances of his cancellation last spring led to a change in
the university’s Outside Speakers Policy at USI in the fall. Yourofsky, founder of Animals Deserve
Absolute Protection Today and Tomorrow, will give his public presentation
“Ethical Veganism” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at Mitchell Auditorium,
which is located on the campus of USI. For
more information, contact: Jaime
Hess, president, jlhess@usieagles.org Dr.
Chad Tew, faculty advisor, crtew@usi.edu or
Kyle Knight, press contact, keknight@usieagles.org |
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