CAROLYN’S COMMENTS
Once
again, seems it is much too regular these days, we are faced with
opportunities for making course corrections in our lives.
Change, that is.
While these actions are voluntary, whether we make them or not can
impact not only our lives but the life of others on our planet.
“We can choose
to bless the world,” in the words of Rebecca Parker.
How? By taking time to better plan our lives to respond to
changing factors in both the economy and the environment.
As a nation, I believe we are moving ever closer to the
realization that the government can’t “fix it” in the way we
romanticized American life in the last third of the 20th
century. We are the ones
that can do it.
The prices of
gasoline, heating oil and gas, and food products are rising due to many
factors, but probably most of all to the increased demands on these
commodities as emerging nations continue to raise their expectations.
Why should Americans be the only ones to pollute the planet?
Others in breakaway economies are working feverishly to catch up
with us in depleting many already overused natural resources.
Our national
response to date seems to have been, “we’ve always done it this way and
we’re not going to ask our people to suffer any reduction in life
style.” We and many other
Americans often dismiss the importance of recycling as a drop in the
bucket. We may see no
reason to purchase long lasting energy saving light bulbs.
We may believe our time is too valuable to put off that trip to
Kroger’s in Kentucky to buy our favorite product unavailable here in
Evansville.
Our UU
institutional response has been to create a network of folks working to
create Green Sanctuaries in our churches and to influence our local
communities to go green. Our
second principle, “to affirm and promote justice, equity and compassion
in human relations” seems to me to inform us as to how to fashion our
individual UU response to enable each of us to bless the world.
Some of us are
responding positively to the opportunities for course corrections
offered by conditions arising over the past year.
We are cutting back on the use of our cars, buying cars (when we
can) that use less of our natural resources, putting our errands off
until we can do more of them at once.
We are riding our bikes.
At a local bridge club some women admitted to planting gardens
this spring, to help cut back the grocery bills.
Perhaps we are doing this as well.
Our opportunity
today is to rethink what it means when we talk about the “goal of world
community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.”
Richard Gilbert wrote a book in 2001 titled How Much Do We
Deserve? While his
emphasis is on the glaring disparities between the rich and the poor in
America, the same ethical principles apply to today’s global issues.
We might benefit by reading this again.
“How will you
use your gifts? Choose to
bless the world” by finding creative ways to live your life fully in
this time and this place. We
can do it.
- Carolyn
SUNDAY SERVICES
July 6
– WHAT WE DID AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY – Will Ranken and Carolyn Brown, our
interim minister, will attend GA June 25-30 in Ft. Lauderdale.
They will bring back their impressions of our Association and the
gifts it offered during this gala celebration of our liberal faith.
July 13
– LUCK, DESTINY OR GOD’s RANDOM CHESS GAME? - “Isn’t she lucky?”
“What a blessing!”
“Someone was looking out for me.”
“What a relief!”
“That was a close call!”
“Not again!” How does our
liberal faith help us respond to life’s seeming randomness.
“The only sure thing about luck is that it will change.”
July 20 – A HINDU PRIMER –
“A is for Atman, B is for Brahman and Bhagavad-Gita, C is for
Consciousness, D is for Dharma….” A look at the world’s oldest religion
brings us in touch with many aspects of our own liberal faith and an
intersection in time which changed the Unitarian movement.
July 27
– SACRED COWS – During our Worship Associates meeting, the subject of
“sacred cows” came up and it was one of those topics about which we each
had something to say. All of
us, our congregation included, have “sacred cows” and this service will
take a look at how they help or hinder our personal and/or corporate
growth. Presented by the
Worship Associates.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING
UUCE Board of
Director's meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM.
UUCE DISCUSSION GROUP
The UUCE
discussion group meets the 1st and 3rd and 5th Sundays of the
month at 9:00 AM in the Chalice Room.
Upcoming discussion topics were not available at press time.
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
FROM the PREZ…
As our church
fiscal year and my term as your Board President comes to an end, I want
to thank you for the opportunity to serve this wonderful congregation.
Your support and encouraging words to me and other board members
made a world of difference as we weaved our way through a challenging
year.
What a great
year it was! As we began our
journey last year, I presented the Board with five main action items for
us to focus on:
1.
Interim Minister Search -
We started the fiscal year with no Interim Minister and had
exhausted our list of candidates.
With our belief that an interim minister would be critical to our
continued growth and vitality, we felt strongly that this was what UUCE
needed for the 2007-2008 year.
A few months into the year we were fortunate to have the
opportunity to hire Rev. Carolyn Brown.
The many gifts she brought to our church have added vitality,
helped continue our attendance growth, and set the stage for an even
brighter future.
2.
Settled Minister Search - After our first year of
search did not bear fruit, we were fortunate to pull together a
dedicated Search Committee to continue the work into a second year.
I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the committee, but I
can express my joy at their success.
We called Rev. Deane Oliva and look forward with much excitement
to her ministry here at UUCE.
3.
Stewardship / Financial Soundness - We were
successful in having much improved results with our recent pledge drive.
We have seen improved plate / cash donations.
However, there is more work to accomplish.
Stewardship includes gifts of time, talent, and treasure and we
are very fortunate to have many members and friends who give generously
in each of these areas. From
a financial soundness standpoint, we have financial “opportunities” that
can offer additional benefits for our church.
These opportunity areas include; Rent, Fundraising, Directed
Giving, Utility Savings, etc.
In the Stewardship areas of time & talent, whether in serving as
a board member, or volunteering to be a greeter on Sunday, each of us
needs to consider saying “yes” when the opportunity is presented.
4.
Transition (continuation) - Successes that resulted
from our Transition Team work included improvements in our Greeting
process and visitor follow-up, our Gifts & Talents Database, work on our
Size Paradigm & Identity, as well as strengthening our Denominational
Linkage. The temporary
team was formed to “instigate” changes in how we do things so they are
more in line with a larger growing church.
Of late, the team has lost a little steam.
If we choose to continue the work of the Transition Team, we may
need some new members to re-energize the process.
There is more work to be done.
5.
Membership Growth -
We get approximately 100 to 150 visitors each year… many of whom
are “church shopping”.
Visitors become Members only if they find a place where they are
welcomed… and where they find connection.
Only the UU Church of Evansville shines the beautiful and
welcoming light of a liberal religious tradition in our area. We want to
share what we have discovered with more people.
This year, we were successful in seeing average Sunday attendance
climb. With renewed focus on
the activities that drive membership growth, we can expect continued
success in both average attendance and membership.
There is MUCH more we can do in this area.
I have a list of a couple of dozen items we can work on that will
help.
It has been my
great pleasure to serve as your Board President this year.
I offer my heartfelt thanks to my fellow board members for all
their work on behalf of our congregation.
I step aside know the Board will be in good hands with Chad Tew’s
leadership for the 2008-2009 year.
- Dave Granholm
POTLUCK
Our monthly potluck will
be on July 27 following the service.
Plan to join us and gather with fellow UU’s for
good food and good conversation!
FALL FESTIVAL IS COMING!
As enter the season of
summer vacations let’s not forget that our favorite fall event is only 3
months away! Save a day or
two of vacation to work the UUCE Fall Festival booth!
Fall Festival 2008 is October 6-11.
Plan to spend some time helping raise money for your church and
enjoying the company of fellow UU’s!
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)
or phone. I look forward to hearing from you!
PLEDGE DRIVE REPORT
As of June 20,
2008, we have 48 pledges totaling $66240.
Ten of last year’s pledge units have not pledged yet. I think we
will eventually get pledges from at least one of them.
We have ten new
pledge units. I think several of them have reported interest in becoming
members of the church.
In addition, we
received promises from ten people to share a portion (or all, in some
cases) of their Government Economic Stimulus rebate. Those amounts will
probably total about $2500 once they all come in.
So, we
succeeded in attracting new pledging units, a higher average pledge, and
some bonus donations courtesy of Uncle Sam.
We continue to look for folks who are interested in helping the
church build a solid plan to use well the time, talents, and offerings
of our community. If you
have interest in working with the Stewardship Committee, please contact
Chad Tew.
Many thanks to
those who worked on this year’s pledge drive: Chris Norrington, David
Fentress, Jack Carden, Carolyn Brown, and Nancy Higgs. Many grateful
thanks to Teri Rawlings for the food on Super Sunday, and to all those
who added to the celebrations with their enthusiasm and their talent.
SHAMANIC DRUMMING CIRCLES
The First Friday Shamanic
Drumming Circle meets the first Friday of each month at 7:00- 9:00 PM at
the church. All are welcome.
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.
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.
UU FLOOD RELIEF
Evansville, fortunately,
escaped damage from the recent flooding. Our neighboring UUs, however,
have not, and three area districts are set up to accept donations for UU
families and congregations affected by the flooding.
Heart District
(www.heartlanduu.org)
Terre Haute: members had to shovel mud and dirt from the church driveway
to make it accessible for Sunday service (an installation service for
Rev. Amy Kindred). Some congregants experienced damage, including
retired minister Rev. Doddie Stone.
Columbus: At least 4 UU families have lost everything.
Central MidWest
District (www.cmwd-uua.org)
Fond du Lac: 6 inches of water in the lower level of the new church
building. Several members with water in their basements.
Prairie Star
District (www.psduua.org)
Cedar Rapids: Water came to within a block of the church. The
congregation met for worship in an Episcopal church that let them use
the sapce. They were able to get into their own church for a couple of
hours, escorted in by the National Guard.
Iowa City: The congregation met for worship, then spent a couple of
hours carrying things from the basement up to a higher level and
sandbagging around the building. About 15 UU families lost their homes
to floodwater, including their minister, Nancy Haley.
Please help!
Many of you may remember when my basement flooded and I lost many
personal momentos and furniture - and many of you helped me by lugging
all that waterlogged stuff upstairs and outside, and offering me moral
support. That experience had a major emotional impact on me, and I can't
even imagine the depth of the devestation these recent flood victims are
experiencing. I lived in Iowa City for several years, and seeing the
flood photos on their newspaper's website moved me to tears, so I sent
my donation to the Prairie Star District. Please help, if you can, by
sending a donation to one of the three UU districts listed above.
Thank you. Jan
Steinmark
