November 2006

In the Interim
Consulting Interim Minister Myron Andes

    On October 9^th, the Tri-State Alliance for Gays and Lesbians gave its President’s Award to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Evansville (UUCE) in recognition of service on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the tri-state area. Also receiving the award were the First Presbyterian Church and Zion United Church of Christ. I was proud to accept the award for this church, and to be in the company of so many other community members who support these often-marginalized groups. Good work, UUCE!

    Nearly 1 in 7 members of UUCE attended an exciting meeting of Congregations Advocating for Justice and Equality (CAJE) on October 16. Some other churches were represented by larger numbers of people, but I do believe we had the highest percentage of our people present. Four new congregations were added to the group, bringing the total to 14. Those assembled chose the group’s focus issue for the coming year from among several worthy suggestions. The result: Problems of the Working Poor will be added to the list of matters CAJE will tackle.

    By the time you read this, the CAJE Action with Evansville school board members and candidates will have taken place on October 30th. CAJE asked these office holders and seekers to commit to supporting two actions: 1) adopting a proven reading curriculum for use in grades K-3 throughout the district, and 2) working to direct high school students who are at risk of dropping out of school into programs at the new vocational education center. The purpose is to prevent homelessness by helping students who would otherwise be in low-income jobs learn useful skills and graduate, so they can obtain higher-paying jobs.

    We can be proud of UUCE’s participation and leadership in this effective, grass-roots justice organization. It is deserving of our continued support.

    In order to keep good results like these coming our way, I ask you to consider honing your skills, or developing new ones, at upcoming Heartland UU District “Cluster” trainings. There are three tracks at each of these one-day events: Stewardship, Membership/Lay Leader Development and Religious Education. My goal is that we have at least two people in each of these tracks this year.

    As the church looks toward the future and new ministerial leadership, it is important to have lay leaders equipped with the latest information and techniques in these crucial areas. Learn how to effectively welcome and retain new members and friends. Learn new techniques and gain confidence in planning and providing religious education. Or update yourself on the latest ideas for deepening and widening the financial support needed for the church to flourish.

    Pick up the bright green flier in the entryway, talk to me, or check out the Heartland District web site at www.heartlanduu.org for more information. It will be fun to get together with other UUs from our area. Please, take this step to help keep your faith community alive and growing.

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

Sunday Services

November 5: Heroes and Tailgate Patriots: Morphing the Veteran Mythology
Worship Associate: Bonnie Heilman

    Our guest speaker is Gary E. May, Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Southern Indiana and member of Veterans for Peace.

November 12: “History Is In the Past: It’s Not Like It is Real”
Worship Associate John Schaeffer

    The words of our title, taken from a song by Ann Reed, poke fun at an all too common attitude toward history. We will use a variety of resources to tell the history of this church and examine just how it is present and “real” to us today.

November 19: Thanksgiving
Worship Associate: Teri Rockwood

    In this season of thanksgiving we will share a Harvest Communion, cultivating gratefulness of heart and generosity of spirit.

November 26: This I Believe?
Worship Associate: Jan Steinmark

    In 1954, 16-year-old Elizabeth Deutsch shared an essay on journalist Edward R. Murrow’s radio program, “This I Believe.” In 2005, on National Public Radio’s program of the same name, Elizabeth Deutsch Earle shared a new essay called, “Have I Learned Anything Important Since I was 16?” We will consider the journey in life and thought of this Unitarian Universalist, looking for insights into our own lives.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FROM THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
     The search committee continues to meet every Friday evening. The congregational survey has been tabulated. We received responses from over 50% of our congregation. This survey will be useful in helping us complete the congregational record that will be on the UUA website for prospective candidates to see. We will have a congregational meeting on November 12th immediately after the Sunday service to update everyone about the results of the survey. We look forward to seeing you there.

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING
    UUCE Board of Director's Meeting will take place Monday evening, 6:00 PM, November 6, 2006. 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!

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE NEWS                                                                                     Monthly Collection: Our monthly social justice project for November is Heifer International. Heifer International is a world organization dedicated to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Our goal is to collect monetary donations to purchase a sheep for $120.  As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe.  Please help us support this worthy organization.

   United Caring Shelter:    Our friends at United Caring Shelter have visited UUCE and we have reciprocated with Thanksgiving Dinner preparation for several years. We have received a request for financial aid from the group. Please consider a gift to the Shelter to help them meet the demands of 200 clients for breakfast and lunch, pay insurance premiums, utilities, and extra food stuffs in the coming winter. Your contribution is always appreciated.

POTLUCK
    November 26 is the fourth Sunday in November. What better time to eat thanksgiving leftovers, catch up on Thanksgiving stories, good and horrific, and discuss our hopes for coming Christmas season.  If you get to church and forget all about potluck, please stay anyway. I have never had so little food that there wasn't enough to share.

WELCOMING CONGREGATION
   In support of our commitment as a Welcoming Congregation, we will have a movie night on Saturday, November 11, beginning at 6:30 pm.  Our movie will be "Beautiful Thing", a tender love story set during a hot summer in a South-East London housing project. Jamie and Ste are teenage boys living in the projects. The story tells of their growing attraction for one another, from initial lingering glances to their irrefutable love, which is so magnificently illustrated at the end of the film. The film deals with the tribulations of coming to terms with their sexuality and of others finding out, in light of Sandra's unwavering loyalty and defense of Jamie and the fear of repercussion should Ste's family find out. The plot is set against sub-texts of Sandra's desire to manage her own pub, and thus escape the projects, and of her new relationship with her hippy boyfriend Tony; and of Leah, the brassy girl next door who has been expelled from school and spends her time listening to Mama Cass records. This film is rated R for language and adult situations.  Popcorn, candy, and soda provided. 90 minutes.

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.

CROP WALK
    The CROP Walk will be held on Saturday Nov. 5. The CROP Walk is a fundraising walk that is approximately 2-3 miles in length, that raises money for hunger relief worldwide. This is an interfaith event with members of several Evansville churches participating, including UUCE. The walk begins at 10:00 AM, at St. Paul's United Church of Christ. If you are interested in walking or sponsoring, contact David Fentress, at df27@evansville.edu.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
   Thank you to all the RE volunteers!  RE classes are off to a good start.  September and October classes have been taught by Bryan & Kristi Walker, Nancy Higgs, Bonnie Heilman, Susie Feinberg, Joel Haffner, Ann Hanat, Mollie Pharo, Lee-Ann Assalone, Natasha Goodge, Mary Helen Weldy, Suzan Ozel, and Chad Tew.  We’ve learned a bit about Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, Divali, and Eid Al Fitr.  We’ve had two Social Justice projects planned and supervised by Jan Steinmark and her assistants.

    The Primary and Elementary classes will be celebrating Halloween (October 29th, with Terry Rockwood, Becky McDonald, and Tina Sizemore), the Birth of Baha’u’llah (a Baha’i holiday, Nov 12th with Beth Heil, Teri Rawlings, and Mary Helen Weldy), the birthday of Guru Nanak (founder of the Sikh religion, Nov 26th with Bonnie Heilman, Mollie Pharo, and Mary Helen Weldy).

    There will be no classes November 19th, when the service will be intergenerational.  Social Justice will have projects in the Board Room November 5th and December 3rd.

    Bryan and Kristi will continue leading the High School class, and Nancy the Jr High class.

    If you go over to Chalice House to pick up children or visit, please use the kitchen door rather than the ramp door if you arrive before 11:15.  That way you won’t disturb classes that don’t end before 11:15. Thanks!

PIDG    
   The Pagan Interest Discussion Group meets the second Wednesday of every month, at 7 pm at the church.  At this month's meeting we will be planning a Yule ritual/service that will be held at the church on the evening of Dec. 21.  All are welcome (to the meeting and the service in Dec.!).  If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Talley at  xgj36@hotmail.com.

A MESSAGE FROM PAST UUCE’RS
   Hello all E'ville UU's,

   This note is prompted by my brief phone call with Nancy Saturday night while she was serving OUR African Chicken at the Fall Festival booth.  Our daughter, Jessica, and her husband went by for their 2nd helping and handed Nancy her phone.  Jess and Gary live in Speedway, IN. and always come back for Fall Festival.

     We think of you all often.  I visited your web site and was very impressed.  We, too, are in a search for a minister.  The UU Los Alamos congregation is very active.  We have jumped right in and are busy.  I am advisor to YRUU and Bill has just started as House and Grounds Chair.  Check out our website, www.uulosalamos.org. 

     We love New Mexico and invite you to come and see for yourself.  We would love to hear from our Evansville friends.  If anyone comes this way, please let us know.  We are just 40 minutes from Santa Fe, 2 hours from Albuquerque.

     Bill is still working for the the security subcontractor that protects the lab.  I have a private practice in psychotherapy here in town.  Our son, Colin, is in Denver going to school.

     We haven't been back to Evansville since Jessica's wedding in June 04, except for a few hours Christmas day 04 when you had the BLIZZARD.  That was incredible.  We visit Jess in Indy and my brother and sister in Lawrenceville, IL (Vincennes) when we come for the holidays.

     Now that we live in vacation paradise we don't need to go anywhere.  We've been to Colorado and Arizona several times and to Utah once.  AND, if you will forgive me for bragging, we are only 10 miles from Bandelier and we can see Colorado from our back yard on a clear day.  Our little community is perched on the Rio Grande gorge.  We have our own ski hill (Bill and Colin do; I don't).  Even though this is a desert (18 inches in a good year), we are only minutes from higher elevation where there are spruce and fir trees.  We are almost 7000 feet and the ski area tops out at 10,400 feet.  We hiked up part way this week end.

     Our love to everyone.  Good luck with your search.

Pam Risley and Bill Rodgers          
48 La Paloma Drive, Los Alamos, NM 87544

CHECK OUT THESE WEBSITES!

www.uujme.org
The UUJME is an independent affiliate organization of concerned UU's working for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel, including a settlement affirming the equality, dignity, and freedom of all peoples involved.

www.iarf.net
The International Association for Religious Freedom is a group of UU's and others who believe that people need freedom of oppressive interference from state or societies institutions that are based on the grounds of religion or belief. They promote mutual understanding, respect, or at least "tolerance" between communities and individuals of different religions and beliefs.

www.meadville.edu
Find links to UU Sermons from the Midwest preeminent UU theological school, Meadville Lombard. Located in Chicago, IL, they have links to text and audio sermons on their website that you may find interesting.

www.uua.org/bookstore
Take a few minutes and browse the bookstore. There are some fabulous resources there as well as provocative manuscripts about all things liberal. It can be a great time searching on a rainy afternoon.

UU LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

OTHER OPPOORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

The Call to Hospitality: Faith Communities and Disabilities, Nov. 9-10, Lexington, KY. Cost is $45. The brochure with registration form is available in the church entryway, from Myron Andes, or on the Heartland District web site.

Newsletter Editor: Beth Heil
December Newsletter info due to me by midnight November 20. Thanks.
email: uuceeditor@hotmail.com