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

SEPTEMBER 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, SEPTEMBER 3 Labor Day Picnic

11:30 A.M. Annual Picnic at Deming Park

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10    Water Ceremony 

10:30 A.M. Dr. Brian Morton

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 FUUN Service/Silent Auction & Dinner

6:00 P.M.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 UU Principles – Who Are We?

10:30 A. M. Rev. Bill Breeden

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Board Meeting

7:00 P.M.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24  Of Holidays and Holy Days   

10:30 A.M. Rev. Doddie Stone

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Board and Committee Chair Retreat

9:00 A.M.

ABOUT THE SEPTEMBER 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, September 3 – Annual Labor Day Picnic – The annual Labor Day picnic will be held at Deming park in the Ute Shelter. There is a large barbeque grill if you want to bring hamburgers or hot dogs. Please bring a dish to share, drinks and silverware. We will gather at 11:30 and eat at 12:00. Sunday, September 10 – Water Ceremony – Congregation and Dr. Brian Morton – The congregation will participate in the annual water ingathering ceremony led by Dr. Brian Morton. Dr. Brian P. R. Morton has a Ph.D in philosophy and started teaching at ISU this fall. He spent years writing a dissertation on the logic and history of ineffability in Bloomington, IN. He and his family then did a 1-year stint in Moscow, Idaho and then a 1-year in Auburn, Alabama and have been involved with UU congregations in all 4 cities." Sunday, September 17 – Rev. Bill Breeden. - UU Principles – Who Are We? –Reflections on the seven principles that give meaning to our mission as Unitarian Universalisms. 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 heir grandson.	Sunday, September 24 - Rev. Doddie Stone Of Holidays and Holy Days– What are the messages of Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan in a Christian Society? Rev. Doddie Stone is 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 September 30, 2006 – Board and Committee Chair Retreat - The Board of Trustees and Committee Chairs (and all interested people) will meet at the church starting at 9:00 AM to discuss goals, budgets, resources and teamwork to be used in the coming year. ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS What a great congregation! Sam and I have been working over the summer to plan for a full fledged RE program, and you guys have stepped up beautifully! We are still happy to have more volunteers to teach, sub, or do other various tasks, but I am happy to say that as of this writing, we should have a fully-staffed RE program. Our program will begin on Sunday, October 1, and there will be a Teacher Orientation during September (date TBA). Teachers and other RE volunteers will be required to attend; parents of RE students and anyone else who is interested is welcome to attend. Our RE curriculum will cover such topics as diversity and getting along; family dynamics; nature themes; and holidays and celebrations. We are hopeful that we will also be providing a regular music component. (Thanks to Louise Clark and Kate Prouty!) Robyn Morton Notice to all R.E. Parents: please be sure to fill out a registration form for your children and turn it in to the office, to me (Robyn) or to Sam Martland. This information will be valuable for helping us to keep in contact with you about the goings-on of the RE program, as well as providing us information to help us help your children shine! 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.
FUUN SERVICE/SILENT AUCTION AND DINNER SEPTEMBER 16, 2006 6:00 PM…PASTA BAR DINNER $5 PERSON; $10 FAMILY DOOR PRIZES! RAFFLE! SILENT AUCTION BARGAINS! NOISY AUCTION BIDDING! FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION 1875 S. FRUITRIDGE AVENUE TERRE HAUTE IN 47803 Phone: 812-232-1193 Contact Miren Beristain (mberistain@hotmail.com, 812-234-4488) or Doddie Stone (dodstone@juno.com, 812-242-9541) for more information. FUUN SERVICE AND SILENT AUCTION September 16, 2006 (6:00- ?) FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION 1875 S. FRUITRIDGE AVENUE TERRE HAUTE, IN 47803 Dear friends and members: This year’s SERVICE AND SILENT AUCTION is a special event which will be preceded by a dinner. There will be a pasta bar offering a variety of pasta and sauces, bread sticks, salad and desserts. The meal will cost $5.00 per person or $10 per family. (Complimentary to those who are financially challenged.) Thanks to the volunteers who have already offered to supply the sauces and desserts or help with preparation and clean up. We will need many donations for our FUUN auction. If you can bake a cake, mow a lawn, massage a back, knit a scarf, paint a picture, quilt a blanket, teach a dance, or share a talent…you have what it takes to offer an item for our congregation’s FUUN SERVICE AND SILENT AUCTION. If you can offer a meal, a vacation home, a bike ride, a theme party, a hike, picnic, a shopping spree, an afternoon at the movie, a tour, a tea, a ride in the country….you have what it takes to offer an item for this year’s FUUN SERVICE AND SILENT AUCTION. Have you ever been at a SILENT OR SERVICE AUCTION and looked for a specific service you would gladly place a bid on? Well, this is your chance to make your wishes known. Please include your request on the enclosed form and what you are willing to pay for that service. Then you can make the donation when the job is completed. We will also be selling RAFFLE tickets. They will sell for $1.00 / ea. or $5.00 for 6 tickets. You can decide the item or choose cash in a 50/50 raffle where half the money will benefit the church fundraising effort. There will also be complimentary tickets to all participants for DOOR PRIZES. This year we would like to extend donations beyond our congregation. Department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, golf courses, local wineries, bakeries, are often willing to offer items. All it takes is to ask. Donations in whatever form, merchandise or gift certificate are both a tax donation and great advertising for the merchant. At the auction each donation will be marked with the name and location of the store, restaurant, or person donating the item/service. We will gladly provide the appropriate letter stating the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation non-profit status as a receipt. QUESTIONS ????? Don’t hesitate !! CONTACT DODDIE STONE ( dodstone@juno.com, 812-242-9541) OR MIREN BERISTAIN (mberistain@hotmail.com, 812-234-4488) for more information. PS. CHILD CARE will be available after the meal. Meeting of the Board of Trustees - August 20, 2006 The following is a summary of highlights.  Complete minutes will be prepared and submitted to the board for approval .      The meeting was called to order by Sylvia Oster at 7:03 p.m.  All board members were present as well as Carolyn Brown, office administrator.  Learning Tree report was included in a written Building Committee report submitted by Bill Carper. The painting and carpet replacement project has been completed. Minutes of the July 16, 2006 meeting were presented by Sara Laughlin and approved.     Treasurer’s Report was presented by John Taylor and included income and expenses as well as a balance sheet.  Finance Committee will meet to plan movement of accounts and secure signatures of new officers. Board Chair’s Comments.  Plans were discussed for a board and committee retreat to focus on goal setting, budget monitoring, and development of a policy and planning handbook.  It will be Saturday, September 30, and start at 9:00 a.m.      The request of a second pagan group to rent the building was discussed.  It wishes to have a workshop on October 12 for 12 hours but requests rooms which may not be available to rent.      Sam Martland presented a detailed written request relating to needs of the Children’s RE Committee.  It proposes to develop a folding nursery to set up in the library after the Adult RE Committee concludes its Sunday morning use of the space. The youngest children need to be separated from the older ones.  The board recognized that the library had originally been designed for use as a crying room for small children during services.   Office Administrator's Report.  Carolyn requested the board consider acquiring a new computer for the office.  In response to the request by a pagan group to use the building, Carolyn told the person making the inquiry that the board would be willing to meet with him after they developed a schedule of planned meetings.  Board discussion followed regarding potential issues relating to this and other rental proposals.  Committee Reports.  Ministerial Search Committee Update was presented by S. Oster who noted the group is close to completing the Congregational.      Finance Committee plans a letter regarding the modest proposal.  M. Beristain stated that material items are needed to add to service items secured for the September 16 auction.                              Building.  M. Beristain provided the committee’s written report.      Denominational Affairs report by Miren Beristain informed the group she had attended the Heartland District board meeting.  A revised policy document is being developed, and a committee was selected to review new district executive candidature.      Membership.  S. Oster stated an individual may be signing the membership book soon.      Children’s RE was reported on by S. Martland who, in addition to the written report, noted Robyn had secured people to teach and registration forms will be completed for students.   New Business.  None presented.                                             Old Business.  W. Barratt will work with M. Beristain on updating the rental policy.      The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sara Laughlin, Secretary
SEPTEMBER SUNDAY MORNING TOPICS For the 9:15 Rationalist/Freethinker Discussion Group Sunday, September 3 – Labor Day Picnic – No Class Sunday, September 10 – “Entropy and Economics” Sunday, September 17 – “Can Capitalism Be A Religion?” Sunday, September 24 – “What’s Happening to Marxism? Is It In Eclipse?” Please continue to pass your suggestions for future discussions on to Ed Warner for inclusion in future plans. Thank you. ◊◊◊◊◊◊ SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS!! September 2 – Betty Clark September 17 – Melessa Adams September 2 – Kathy Stienstra September 21 – Gordon Barratt September 4 – Ellen Hughes September 22 – Karl Laska September 5 – Marie Campbell September 23 – Miren Beristain September 6 – Sisir Dhar September 29 – Suzanne Carter Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time. Jean Paul Richter ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ The deadline for the October Newsletter is Tuesday, September 19. 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: