The UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST News

We are a Welcoming Congregation.

The Unitarian Universalist News

of the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation

1875 South Fruitridge Avenue, P.O. Box 3070

Terre Haute, IN 47803

812-232-1193

uuputer@yahoo.com

www.terrehauteuu.org

DECEMBER 2006 CALENDAR

EVERY SUNDAY MORNING (Except when there is no service)

9:15 A.M. Wisdom Circle

          9:15 A.M.                        Rationalist Free Thinking Group

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 Think Global, Buy Local: Terre Haute’s Farmer’s Market

10:30 A.M. Andrew Connor

12:00 Soup/Salad Sunday

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10               Women Like Words, Words Like Women

           10:30 A.M.                             Dr. David Howard

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 Double Circle Dinner

6:00 P.M.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 Life as Pilgrimage—Reflections on our Journeys Rev. Bill Breeden

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 Board Meeting

7:00 P.M.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 Christmas Eve Special Service

10:30 A.M. Program Committeee

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31               Out With the Old, In With the New

10:30 A.M. Rev. Doddie Stone

A`BOUT THE DECEMBER CALENDAR` `Every Sunday, 9:15 a.m. - Wisdom Circle` `A non-judgmental spiritual group that explores the journey of self-discovery through heart to heart discussion with rotating leadership.` `Every Sunday, 9:15 a.m. - Rationalist Free Thinking Group` `Discussion Group including members of the congregation as well as members of the community. Discussion of current socio-political events and trends.` Sunday, December 3 – Think Global, Buy Local: Terre Haute’s Farmer’s Market – Andrew Connor. `Sunday, December 10 – Women Like Words, Words Like Women – Dr. David Howard.` `Combining visual and verbal tributes, this sermon is intended to offer glimpses into one man’s personal experience, coupled with insights into society’s beliefs and convictions about women` `Dr. David Howardis an Assistant Professor in the College of Health and Human Performance at Indiana State University where he teaches courses related to health and quality of life. Viewing life as the greatest teacher, and love within human relationships within life as the supreme provider of life’s greatest joys and challenges, this sermon is David’s opportunity to share his greatest blessing.` . `Sunday, December 17 - Life as Pilgrimage—Reflection on Our Journeys – Rev. Bill Breeden.` `Rev. Bill Breeden`is a native Hoosier and long time peace activist and minister. He is now fellowshipped with the Unitarian Universalist Association of churches and serves on the ministry team of the UU Church in Bloomington, IN. He has served as part time minister for the UU church in Terre Haute for approximately 6 years. He has also been involved in Central America and a peace delegation to Israel and the West Bank of Palestine. He is a volunteer prison Chaplin, and has on occasion been incarcerated himself for acts of civil disobedience in the cause of peace and justice. He and Glenda, his wife of 35 years, live in Owen county and enjoy music and playing with their grandson		Sunday, December 24 – A Special Christmas Eve Service will be presented by the program committee. Sunday, December 31 – Out With the Old, In With the New – Rev. Doddie Stone As we meet on the last day of 2006, let us recall the past year and think about all that is worth keeping and what we need to let go of. Rev. Doddie Stone will share her thoughts and invite participation of the congregation. The service will be followed by a holiday brunch. `Rev. Doddie Stoneis a retired Unitarian Universalist minister and a strong supporter of the efforts of Service Committee. In 1995 she was with the delegation that attended the UN decade of the Woman in China. She also participated in visits to other countries that are helped by projects of the Service Committee prior to her ministry assignments on the east and west coasts.` Any announcement listed in this newsletter, our weekly bulletin, or spoken from the pulpit is solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute an endorsement by our congregation of any political party or candidate for elected office. Any opinions expressed by individual members are solely their own.
DECEMBER SUNDAY MORNING TOPICS For the 9:15 Rationalist/Freethinker Discussion Group Sunday,December 3– How We Believe, Chapters 8 & 9 Sunday, December 10 - Understanding Radical, Militant Islam - “Islamism” Sunday, December 17 – Quantum Theory of Entanglement Sunday, December 24 – Christmas Eve – (No Topic) Sunday, December 31 – New Years Eve – (No Topic) Please continue to pass your suggestions for future discussions on to Ed Warner for inclusion in future plans. Thank you. ◊◊◊◊◊◊ . DECEMBER HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!! December 4 – Jon Heine l December 24 – Ian Morton December 9 – Leslie Engelland December 28 – Kay Phillips December 14 – Jonnee Western December 29 – Hilda Holmes December 15 – Dorothy Jerse December 29 – Karen Romero December 20 – Elissa Barratt December 31 – Frank Young December 9 – Sharon Russel Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life. Daniel Francois Esprit Ayber ◊◊◊◊◊◊ Update to Service Auction - This is a reminder to make sure that you deliver the service you sold or receive the service you purchased during our Service Auction. If you cannot remember who the donor or recipient is, please contact Miren Beristain @ 234-4488. Please also make sure that our treasurer has received your payment! The success of our Service Action rests on the successful delivery of these services. It is a often a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with other members and friends of the congregation. ••••••• Holiday gifts available for you from the Church of the Larger Fellowship; Visit the CLF website www.clfuu.org Click on CLF shopTo view and purchase products. •••••••• THIRD ANNUAL HOLIDAY DECORATIONS TRADE: Beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving (November 26) and continuing until December 17, we will have a table for sharing of holiday decorations that you would like to send to a new home. Items of interest are free to the first takers. This is your opportunity to shed unhappy memories and replace them with joyful anticipation of a new season. Please contact Doddie Stone for additional information Social Action We still have a few boxes for the Guest At Your Table program. For those of you who are new to GAYT, the idea is to put money into a small box every time you have a meal. The money will be collected in January to send to the UU Service Committee. The donation should be given to us in the form of a check. The UUSC works in the U.S. and in selected countries around the world on four issues. The right to water, civil liberties, disasters and the right to a living wage. We have only one fundraiser for the UUSC each year and this program is it. Please give if you can. The UUSC is the heart of UU social action. A membership costs $40, and any donation of $70 or more will be doubled with a match from a UU church in New York. ••••••• Christmas Family As is our custom, we will be helping a family in need this year. Our family is chosen by the social worker at the Maternal Health Care Clinic at Union hospital. The family will give us a list of gift items they would like to receive. You may sign up to bring one or more of the items. The items may be used or bought new. You may also give cash. Unlike in previous years, we will be giving cash collected this year to the Council on Domestic Violence (CODA). This money will be used to assist families who are being served at the shelter. Most women who come to the shelter only bring the clothes on their back and need help setting up a new household away from the abuser they have left. Most of them have children who have many needs as well. The shelter staff will choose how to spend the money. I might add, one of the items they need constantly is new underwear in large sizes for the women. Many women do not have time to pack clothes before they go to the shelter. It is also an emergency situation that brings them to the shelter. People often donate grooming products including shampoo and soap. The shelter prefers to receive full size containers of these items. They request that you not donate hotel soap to them. ••••••• Col. Dan Smith's Talk In September the Social Action Committee sponsored a presentation on how to get out of Iraq by retired colonel Daniel Smith from the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington, DC. He is their Senior Fellow for Military and Peaceful Prevention Policy. For a number of years he was the Chief of Research for the non-partisan Center for Defense Information. He is known as the "Quakers' Colonel" and writes a column for the FCNL weekly with that name. You can reach his column at fcnl.org. As a graduate of West Point and the War College and a soldier who saw combat in Viet Nam, he is able to give advice and direction to the Quakers from a military perspective with regard to issues related to war. He gave an excellent presentation and a number of people stayed to continue the conversation with him afterwards. I was contacted by the Quakers in September so we did not get this announcement out in our last newsletter. Col. Smith also spoke at ISU and Rose-Hulman. Speaking of Iraq, the next national march against the war will be on January 27th in Washington, DC. Our local peace organization, TH Stop War on Iraq will have a local solidarity demonstration and other activities that week. Although the message in the recent election was to get out of Iraq immediately, the pressure still needs to be on Congress to make sure they follow through on this.
November 15, 2006 Serve the Heartland on the District Board The Nominating Committee of the Heartland Unitarian Universalist District is searching for committed and talented lay leaders to serve as members of the Heartland Board of Trustees. The Board is focused on carrying the vision of the District and setting policies that are designed to achieve our desired impact in the world. To guide their work, members of this leadership team utilize the Carver Model of Policy Governance, a comprehensive theoretical foundation for the governing board’s role in business, nonprofit, and governmental organizations. Board members are elected to two-year terms at the HUUD Annual Meeting each spring, with terms commencing July 1. In addition to the Annual Meeting, members are responsible for attending quarterly weekend board meetings in a central location, which includes a transition retreat in June. Additional phone or e-mail communication is required throughout the year. Members are compensated for travel, lodging and other approved expenses. Board members must be voting members of member societies of the District or of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Larger Fellowship residing within the geographical area of the District. To be considered as a candidate for the HUUD Board, or for more information, please contact Kyle Bagnall, Nominating Committee member, at wildshore@charter.net or at 989-513-0961. Candidates are required to submit a letter of interest and a vitae detailing their professional and lay leadership experience. Please include two references who are familiar with your service as a UU leader. Send materials to Kyle via e-mail (preferred) or by mail to 2809 Dawn Drive, Midland, Michigan 48642. ⃟⃟⃟⃟⃟⃟ From the Chair of the Board Great month behind and ahead! Wonderful programs for which we are most grateful (much thanks to Rev. Doddie Stone, Veanne Anderson and Cathy McGuire) and for programs to which we look forward (awkwardly). We also had a wonderful multi-faith program on November 21st with great participation by the congregation in general and the choir most specifically. We should all be proud. In addition, we are the proud owners of a new computer in the office. Soon we will have a wireless microphone to pass around during the service for Joys and Concerns, thanks to Kay Phillips from the Bob Phillips Memorial Fund. The holidays are ahead of us, great time for family and friends to remember how truly blessed we are. It’s also a time to think of others less fortunate. Please don’t forget the mitten tree (bring mittens to decorate the tree and then have them donated to CODA) and the needy family we identify from the Maternal Health Clinic. Proceed with the joy of the season. Faithfully, Sylvia First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Terre Haute Monthly Meeting of the Board of Trustees November 19, 2006 The following is a summary of information to be submitted to the board for approval . The meeting was called to order by Sylvia Oster at 7:03 p.m. Present were Sylvia Oster, chair; Sara Laughlin, secretary; John Taylor, treasurer; Sam Martland , member-at-large; Elisabeth Friedman, member-at-large; and Carolyn Brown, office administrator. Absent were Will Barratt, vice chair, and Miren Beristain, past chair. The chalice was lit by Sylvia Oster who shared a brief inspirational reading with the group. Minutes of the September 30, 2006 meeting were presented by S. Laughlin. S. Martland moved to accept the minutes. J. Taylor provided a second. Minutes were approved as presented. No minutes of the October meeting were presented since no meeting was held due to lack of quorum. Treasurer John Taylor reported income for the fiscal year so far was exceeding expenses though the anticipated heating costs and hiring of a minister may change that. Board Chair S. Oster reported on a special meeting held October 29. Board members S. Oster, J. Taylor, W. Barratt, and S. Martland voted to approve the purchase of a new computer for the office. The Retreat was discussed with notation made that it had been agreed that no Double Circle Dinners would be held in summer months and that the congregation’s membership directory would be removed from the literature rack and not be made available to the general public. Office Administrator's Report was presented by C. Brown who thanked J. Taylor for setting up the new computer. She reported a wedding has been scheduled for Saturday, January 13 from 12 to 4:00 and coverage by a member will be needed even though Doddie will be conducting the ceremony. A key to the outside message board has been found and information may now be updated. Joyce reported that on November 4 various doors inside and out were found unlocked. The Master Calendar was reviewed. Committee Reports. Ministerial Search Committee. S. Oster reported the congregational record had been submitted to the UUA. Time at the last meeting was spent discussing the contract or letter of intent content. Building. It was noted Mark Oster had repaired the leak in the men’s room. S. Martland reported he had spoken with Joyce Cox regarding her cleaning responsibilities. It seems her time is spent in general areas of long term cleaning such as detailed dusting and polishing which is not done weekly but in increments, things she does because they appear to need to be done such as window washing and cobwebs near the ceiling in the sanctuary (things previously done on congregation’s volunteer work days), cleaning after the Learning Tree’s cleaner, and finally, things in her original job description. A need exists to review and update her job description. Grounds. The city is to move the light by the street to another pole so light will not be blocked. Membership/Social Activities. It was noted that Doddie has conducted three sessions of “New to UU.” RE Adult. The new book group is meeting and a film group is being considered. RE Children. Childcare compensation was discussed. Pastoral Care Committee. M. Alexander is in physical rehab at Union Hospital but comes home for visits. No New Business was presented. Old Business. Rental Policy is still in need of updating. The meeting was adjourned and the chalice extinguished at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sara Laughlin, Secretary Coffee News New Products In! Just in time for the holidays! In addition to our full line of regular and decaf coffees, hot teas and hot cocoa, we now have new chocolate products. We have tins of baking cocoa now available, perfect for your holiday baking (and a great touch to a batch of chili). One 8-oz. tin is $6.00. We have also added 3 varieties of chocolate bars: Dark Chocolate with Almonds, Very Dark Chocolate, and Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts. Each 3-oz. bar is $3.00. These make wonderful stocking stuffers, as well as stress relievers for when the holidays overwhelm! As always, these products are all organic, and are all Fairly Traded, helping to make the holidays bright for farmers around the world: “Fair trade was like the sun coming up over the horizon. Before that, we saw that there was no future for us.” –Barend Salomo, rooibos tea farmer, South Africa . Hospitality We want to thank our Hospitality Volunteers for (end of) November/December. They are: 11-26: Karen Romero 12-3: Soup & Salad Sunday (we all pitch in) 12-10: Dee Hoke 12:17: Pegge Smith 12-24: (open) 12-31: (open) Please sign up to volunteer for hospitality. You will receive an email/snail-mail reminder and a set of instructions if you sign up! RE News The RE department now offers nursery care for children ages 6 months through 3 years of age. The RE committee has hired Emily Richards as primary caregiver for the nursery. Emily has a solid background in childcare, and is enthusiastic about the position. We look forward to her caring for our kids! Any parent (and child) wishing to take advantage of this service is welcome to. Please fill out a child registration form and turn it in with Emily, or any member of the RE committee. These forms will be kept on file, and are an important security measure for the nursery, as they will include information such as known allergies and who is authorized to pick up your child from the nursery. Each time you drop your child off, please remember to sign him/her both into and out of nursery—this is another important safety measure. Soon we will be circulating a sign-up sheet for “floater” volunteers. “Floaters” are people who will periodically pop into the nursery to offer any needed assistance to Emily. Please sign up when the sheet comes around, or email me (Robyn) or Sam Martland if you are willing to float! (And hey, who isn’t willing to float?)
COMMUNITY EVENTS December 1 at 7:00 p.m. & December 2 at 2:30 p.m. – Holiday Radio Hour at Scottish Rite located at 727 Ohio Blvd. Tickets are $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for Children. Sunday, December 03 through Tuesday, December 26 – Christmas in The Park Twinkling lights and sparkling decorated shelters welcome you to this annual holiday celebration. Tickets maybe be purchased for a ride on the Holiday Express miniature train, or an enchanting carriage ride through the park. If you prefer you can drive through the park to view the decorations or enjoy a walk through the park on a crisp moonlit night. Free admission. For more information: Terre Haute Parks & Recreation Department Call: 812-232-2727 Visit: http://www.terrehaute.in.gov Wednesday, December 06, Leadership Wabash Valley's Holiday Social Wednesday, Location: Farrington House Join your friends from 7:00-8:45 PM. Hor douvers and wine will be served. Cost $20 per person. RSVP by December 1. For more information: Leadership Wabash Valley Call: 812-237-3031 or visit: http://www.indstate.edu/lwv Friday, December 08, through Sunday, December 10, Holiday laser light show - Location: Allen Memorial Planetarium 3737 South 7th Street. The laser light shows are approximately 35 minutes in length. Laser light images are projected on the dome of the planetarium while Holiday favorites such as Jingle Bells play in the background. The cost for this program is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children 12 and under. For more information: Allen Memorial Planetarium Call: 812-462-4272. Visit: http://www.quia.com/pages/amplanetarium.html Friday, December 08, 2006 Classical Pianist Edward Auer - The first American to win a prize in the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. Tickets: Adults $12, NON-RHIT students $10. Show begins at 7:30pm. The deadline for the January Newsletter is Tuesday, December 19. Items received after that date may not be included. Please send your news items to the editor, Carolyn Brown, at uuputer@yahoo.com or drop it by the church office FROM:_____________________________________________________________________ First Unitarian Universalist Congregation Located at: 1875 S. Fruitridge Avenue Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3070 Terre Haute, IN 47803-3070 TO: