HighLights

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA)
333 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 21401; Phone: 410/266-8044; Fax: 410/266-6910
mailto:newsletter@uuca-md.org Web site: The Home Page at: http://www.uuca-md.org

Staff:
Reverend Dr. Fredric J. Muir, Parish Minister

Reverend Amber Beland, Assistant Minister of Lifespan Faith Development
Francoise H. Ateto, Director of Religious Exploration
Betsy Jo Angebranndt, Minister of Music
Christol Medley, Church Administrator/Editor

Eric Kaminetzky, Intern Minister

Susan Eckert, Member’s Services Coordinator

Lori Frederick, Office Assistant/DRE Assistant

Renee Larkins, Coffee Server

John Jennings, Custodian

Church Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Next News Deadline: midnight, 05/07/2008

Next Mailing: 05/13/2007

Volume 51, Issue 8

April 22, 2008

The JPD JOURNEY TOWARDS WHOLENESS TEAM

presents its first:

YOUTH CAUCUS

A meeting of ANTI-RACISM, ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVISTS

Moving the denomination forward through work

within our congregations!

When: Saturday May 3, 2008

Where: Cedar Lane UU, Bethesda MD

10 AM -12 PM: Age related

caucuses and multimedia

project time.

12 PM: Lunch [$5-$10]

1 PM – 3 PM:

Intergenerational

Discussion

Bring your creativity

and positive attitude to

our team. Learn how to

transform your congregation,

the UU denomination, your

community? The Whole World?

For Further Information Contact:

Rev. Heather Janules hjanules@cedarlane.org

Suzanne Crockett-Jones 443.417.7057

Upcoming Sermons

April 27

Eric Kaminetzky,

Intern Minister

May 4

All in Good Time

Rev. Amber Beland,

Assistant Minister for Life-Span faith Development

In this busy and ever changing world of ours where

information and opportunities come at us fast and furious how do we begin to focus our energy and our commitment. As a church community, we get the chance to step out of the world and together create something of an alternative. What might we accomplish if we say no to some of the norms that others follow and instead challenge them? Come dream of what our beloved community might look like.

May 11

“With Civility”

Rev. Fred Muir

Senior Minister

Being in “right relationship” with each other is, I believe, a premise of our life together as a faith community. I can’t imagine many disagreeing with such a basic assumption, yet our relationships are tested routinely in our speech, behavior, and vision. Join me this morning as I explore civility in our shared congregational life.

May 18

Ministry Sunday

Come hear and learn about the many ways we engage in the ministry of UUCA.

Summer services

begin May 25, One service at 10:00 a.m. until September 14, 2008 when we

return to two services.

Celebrating Our Beloved Community

Thank you from the Light House

The following was received from Sandy Curry, Coordinator of the Food Pantry at the Light House Shelter:

To the Congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church:

We thank you so much for helping to keep our pantry at the Light House Shelter overflowing with food during the month of March. Your generosity has made it possible for us to keep lots of food moving to families in the Annapolis area. We are blessed at this time when donations to food banks seem to be minimal elsewhere. Special thanks to Judy Graham and Jan Sprinkel who organized the collection and delivery of the food. We thank all of you for your gift of love and concern to others.

Youth Trip to Transylvania - Transylvania Trekkers

Can you imagine spending two weeks traveling in Transylvania this summer? That's just what five young people from the UUCA and two adults will be doing this July. Melanie Dennis,Geoff Eckert,Ben Parafina,Karen Rose and Eric Schaum will be making the trip with Karen Dennis and Lynann Rudert accompanying them. The group will spend some time recovering from jet lag at a picturesque ski resort in the Carpathian mountains. Then it's on to Homorodalmas, the home of Arpad Csete, former minister of our partner church in Rava. A part of their time in Almas will be spent on a work project as well as sharing teen activities with their counterparts in the village. The highlight of the trip will be spending several days working and getting to know our partners in Rava. The trip will be filled with visits to Unitarian historic sites and discussions about the way we "do church". They will experience Sunday worship in Almas and Rava. Be prepared for exciting videos, photos and stories when the group returns in August!!

Web of the Woods 2008 (WOW):

WOW is an intergenerational R.E. program for celebrating the interconnected web of all existence of which we are a part. This year’s theme—DIRT!—will combine exploring the science of soil and the fun of playing with dirt. Special guests will be a gang of garbage-eating red worms! Adults, youth and children are welcome to participate on all three dates (May 4, May 11 and May 18). For more information, please pick up a flier in the Narthex or call Lori Frederick, RE Asst., at the church office (410-266-8044x101). Participants do not have to attend all sessions.

R.E.flections

When Pope Benedict XVI was here last week on his first visit to the US he addressed, among other subjects, the clergy sex abuse crisis that has caused much pain and triggered many problems in dioceses across the country. As we all know, the issue of sexual misconduct is not unique to the Roman Catholic Church, and the perpetrators are not limited to clergy. Unfortunately Unitarian Universalist congregations are not sheltered from those problems. We think of our churches as refuges from the more sordid aspects of the world, as places of safety and trust – but while we want to be open and welcoming, we have to make our best efforts to build in safeguards so that adults and children in our congregations are not put at risk.

With that in mind I spent part of my sabbatical taking an online course produced by the New England Adolescent Research Institute in cooperation with the Liberal Religious Educators Association and the UUA. “Balancing Acts: Keeping Children Safe in Congregations” is based on three tenets grounded in UU principles and practices: responsibility to educate; assurance of safety; and offering a congregational home to all. The course provided much useful information as well as guidance to use the tools available and develop appropriate policies. Some of the recommendations are already in place here at UUCA - for instance: the RE program has had a safety policy since 1995; there is a “six-month rule” and a system to screen adults involved in leading RE groups; all parents (because they will more than likely work at some point with children or youth) are asked to sign a Code of Ethics as part of the registration form; and our 7^th graders have the opportunity to take the much praised and respected sexuality education curriculum “Our Whole Lives.”

Yet there is always room for improvement, and it is obvious that prevention is better than cure. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. I pledge to ask the soon-to-be-formed RE Futures Committee to review and update the RE Safety Policy, and to find ways to offer Our Whole Lives at all levels (there are several age-appropriate components for different age groups, from Kindergarten to adults). We all have a part to play in working toward a safer environment at UUCA. Think about your role - how can you, how will you help?

Fran

UUCA Book Club

The Book Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the church library.

May 20 Water for Elephants Sara Gruen

June 17 Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama

If you have questions contact Jackie Rocca at 410-349-8351.

All are welcome to join us!

SPRING BOOK SWAP

Thank you to all who participated in the book swap – those who brought books, those who took books, and all those people who helped to set up and clean up, especially Liz, Anne, Bonnie, and Ginger. For those of you that missed it, save your books for the fall book swap.

PRAXIS: A Hard Theory Put Into Practice

A view from the balcony

Among the gifts given your Intern Ministers is the opportunity to experience the congregation from many points of view. Members and friends speak with us about hopes, dreams, and frustrations of living in your company.

As your present intern, I exist at your side, though in a parallel universe. I see some of what you see, bringing the eyes of a newcomer to the system. I live what you live, but with the past and the future cut off, because most of you were here before I arrived and most of you will be here after I leave.

The passion, pain, brilliance, failure, and triumphs of this congregation teach powerfully.

Your dedication to your intern program sends a strong message to those who would be your interns, and to congregations who would emulate your stewardship.

Most engaging, is the process you are embracing to build, or rebuild, facilities on this site.

I listen for what you hope to leave for the members and friends who will be here after you are gone. I listen for how you hope Unitarian Universalism will be embodied in an edifice created by you, for the future. I listen for how you hope members and friends will be able to live communal hopes and dreams, in the space you will build to hold and support vision.

Some Unitarian Universalists never have the opportunity to consider what it means to build a physical manifestation of, invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the change you want to see in the world.

Here’s to opportunity. What will you do with yours?

An afternoon of Poetry & Music.

Join us at 3:00pm on Sunday 27th April for an afternoon of poetry & music with poet Lucille Clifton (one of America's best known poets - Emmy award, National book award, Pulitzer nominee); Michael Glaser (Maryland's poet laureate); and our own Brian Ganz (internationally recognized concert pianist). They will be reading their own poetry with Brian playing Chopin & Beethoven in the sanctuary here at UUCA. Admission is free - but a $10 donation would be appreciated. "In consort . . . with gratitude" - please join us.

Welcoming, Caring & Connecting

ARE YOU NEW TO UUCA?

Please join us for these opportunities to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and the UU Church of Annapolis:

Newcomer Talk & Tour – May 4, after the 9 a.m. service and May 11 after the 11 a.m. service, provides an introduction to the programs and activities of the church as well as how to find your way around the buildings and grounds. We meet in the Library immediately following the service.

The New UU– Tuesday, May 20, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. covers UU theology and UU history. This program meets in the Sanctuary.

Path to Membership – Saturday, June 7, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. For those interested in joining the church; this class will focus on programs, history, governance and the meaning of membership at UUCA. An opportunity to sign the membership book will follow the class. Refreshments will be offered. Attending a New UU class is required prior to Path to Membership.

Childcare can be arranged with advance notice for The New UU or Path to Membership. Please contact Susan Eckert for further information or if you have questions 410-266-8044, x110; membership@uuca-md.org.

R.E. News

Religious Exploration Calendar:

Sunday, April 27 – No R.E. Child care will be available at 9 and 11 AM. Grades 7 (OWL), 8 (COA) and 9-12 (YRUU) will continue meeting at 9 AM for a few more weeks.

Sunday, May 4 and 11 - Web of the Woods outdoor intergenerational program; go directly to the