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
Francoise H. Ateto, Director of Religious Exploration
Betsy Jo Angebranndt, Minister of Music
Christol Medley, Church Administrator/Editor

Theresa Novak, Intern Minister

Susan Eckert, Members Services Coordinator

Lori Frederick Office/DRE Assistant

Stephanie Meredith, Coffee Server

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

Next News Deadline: midnight, 05/2/2007

Next Mailing: 05/9/2007

Volume 50, Issue 8

April 24, 2007

CHALICE LIGHTER MONTH

The month of May has been designated as Chalice Lighter Month for our church. Each Sunday, volunteers will circulate through the coffee hours to add your name to the roster of Chalice Lighters for the Joseph Priestley District of UUA.

What is a Chalice Lighter? Since 1987, our district has formed an avenue through which it can assist congregations. Now the grants are about $20,000 each time. We have received two such grants in the past six years. It is a way to light the flame for spreading the concepts of our free religion. For just $20 per ‘call,, you will be a part of this worthy endeavor and will have a Chalice Lighter sticker placed on your name tag.

If you are not already a member of Chalice Lighters, please give your name to a volunteer—no money. The names will be passed along to the district headquarters and you will be notified later as to what you would like to contribute for each of the three annual ‘calls.’ Each time, the notice is accompanied by a paragraph telling who the grantees are at that time. What a wonderful way to help shine our light. Just $20 (or more) per ‘call.’

Here is a goal we can shoot for. The Growth and Extension Committee has a goal that each congregation have at least 33% of its members as Chalice Lighters. UUCA now has 116 Chalice Lighters out of 583 members or 20%. We need 80 new Chalice Lighters to bring us up to this modest goal of 33%. And UUCA should be a leader—not a laggard here. See the Information Area for more information, or call Kay Cave at 301-925-7224.

YRUU news

The YRUU was proud to present its annual service. Though there were a couple technical difficulties onstage, overall we had a good time and hope the rest of the congregation enjoyed it. Most of the past few weeks have been spent orchestrating the finer details of the service. Thankfully, the YRUU snack stock was replenished yet again and leftover Easter candy readily fueled the service’s creation.

Upcoming Sermons

April 29

“Living a Soul-full Life"

by Rev. Fred Muir

“Living a Soul-full Life” Unitarian minister A. Powell Davies is often quoted as having said: “Life is just a chance to grow a soul.” While I agree with the sentiments, Rev. Davies and I might disagree on the details. As we turn the page on April and get ready to greet May, this morning I’ll look at what living a soul-filled life looks and feels like. Music by UUCA Choir.

May 6

“Swimming in Deep Water”

BY Theresa Novak

Disasters like Hurricane Katrina can challenge us on many levels. How do we respond to such events both in the moment and over the long haul? Seven of us from UUCA recently went to Mississippi to help with recovery efforts. After the 11:00 service, there will be an opportunity to see photos of the trip and talk to some of the members who participated.

May 13

Green Sanctuary Sunday

May 20

Music Sunday

Celebrating Our Beloved Community

Pastoral Care team makes a difference

I wish to express my deep gratitude to this church community. Its support for me during my recent challenges of ill health and the unexpected loss of my dog Susannah was, to me, a wonderful gift…reconnection to community. The Pastoral Care Committee and other wonderful church friends nourished and sustained me in so many ways: with cards, calls, soups, help, transport to doctors/hospital/labs, recovering in a friend’s home, and most of all, with their presences. I have made new friendships and renewed and deepened old ones. Between the PCC and these friends I recognize that the “interdependence of all life” really does include and does mean these strange and wonderful beings…humans…too. So, a HUGE thank you to the Pastoral Care Committee and especially to Susan Eckert, Kathy Higdon, Anastasia Hopkinson, Marge Matthews, Carol Friend, Dave Hackett, Janette Gearing, Kathy Hughes, Phyllis Culham, Lisa and Pat Fleeharty, Candy Clark, Catherine Hewes, Lani and Don Wheeler, andTracy Gill. Thank you to the Mindfulness Practice Group of UUCAnnapolis for the Lemonthread Cedar Tree to be planted in memory of Susannah. And thank you to the office folk for sending me your cards of care and concern: Fred, Christol, Susan, Fran, Theresa, and Amber. And finally, a very special thank you goes to my friends Rhonda Malone, Kelly Bennett, and Amanda Dulin. Their patience and compassion for me during this whole time has been truly…strange and wonderful. THANK YOU!!!…Christina Fiedler

R.E. Flections

Several years ago, the Coming of Age youth were sent out into the woods on a spring Sunday morning, as an enticement to write in their journal - something they had been reluctant to do. They were asked to find their own special spot, away from their peers, and spend an hour there using all their senses, reflecting, and putting their ideas down on paper. For sure, we thought, away from the usual distractions they’d enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, and inspired by nature, gain insights into the great questions of life... Imagine the surprise of the facilitators when, about fifteen minutes later, the youth started coming back one by one to the meeting room! Since then we have been more intentional about preparing the COA youth for their short “retreat” in the woods, and many of them now complain that the time is too brief.

All that may be part of a larger issue. According to author Richard Louv many children in our society—and adults as well —suffer from what he calls “nature deficit disorder,” which affects not only individuals but entire groups. In many ways the advance of technology into our lives is having negative consequences on our physical, mental and spiritual health. The less time we spend in nature, the more it feels like a strange and scary place, where danger lurks behind rocks and trees. We are always more likely to be afraid of unfamiliar places (and people too), and then to stay away because we are uncomfortable. It’s a vicious circle.

So how can we begin to feel closer to nature again, to be at home in its midst, to regain the sense of being part of it? Try immersion, try this year’s Web of the Woods – immersion into less familiar surroundings, with people of various ages, in a non-threatening situation. Stretch your body on the trails in the woods, stretch your mind and learn about trees, stretch your imagination while building fairy houses. Children as young as 3 years of age, youth and adults are all invited. You may choose to participate in the morning sessions at 9 or 11 AM, or to visit after one of the Green Sanctuary services on May 13. Take a step to connect or reconnect with nature and with each other!

Fran

Welcome 2007-2008 Board of Trustees

Peter Lamb, President

Bryan Barrett, Vice President

Dick Roop, Finance Officer

Phil Tawes, Secretary

Tod Geimer, Nominating Cmte

Toni Mattia, Trustee at Large

Olivia Stewart, Trustee at Large

Pat Simons, Trustee at Large

UUCA Outdoor Club

UUCA Outdoor Club is open to all members and friends of UUCA who wish to enjoy the fellowship of UU’s in the setting of an outdoor activity. For more information or to sign up, please, contact Eloise Hoyt 410-768-4932 or ehoyt@toadmail.com.

Saturday, May 5, 2007. Bike ride of about 20 miles on the Northern Central Railroad Trail. Fairly flat, gravel trail off I-83 north of Baltimore. (If trail is wet, we will ride on the B&A trail. Cancelled if it's rainy on May 5). Meet at 9am at the Park and Ride at I-97 and Benfield Blvd (by Severna Park Racquetball & Fitness Club). Late lunch at local restaurant near beginning of trail. For information or to sign up for ride, contact Ken Apfel or Caroline Hadley at 410-849-2608 or email kapfel@umd.edu

Saturday, May 19, 2007 9:00am-4:00pm Kayak/canoe Tuckahoe Creek, upper section, Eastern Shore. Must provide own boat, paddle, PFD. Meet at church at 9:00 a.m. Bring boating equipment, water, snacks, lunch to carry in boat. Recommend wearing bathing suit.

Coffee with Amber

The Committee on Professional Ministry for the Assistant Minister is sponsoring a series of “Coffees With Amber” to provide members of the congregation with an opportunity to get to know Amber better and to ask any questions they might have about her ministry to our church. The “Coffees With Amber” will be held after each service around the piano and thus far, have been planned for the following dates: May 20, June 17 and July 15. Please come and join us! If you have any questions, feel free to ask one the committee members: Alan Adams, Stephanie Alig, Lisa Combs, Robert Ertman, Scott Gledhill, Henry Ledbetter or Gwen Schindler.

Safety and Security is everyone’s responsibility

With the recent clearing of the property in front of UUCA, the church has become more visible from Bestgate Rd. UUCA is no longer protected by the blanket of trees and native planting that once shielded us from the larger community. Safety and security concerns have increased, and we must increase our awareness that it is everyone’s responsibility to protect the resources of the church and each other.

Last week, on several occasions we discovered that the doors and windows of the church had not been secured, and the light were left on. If we are to continue to enjoy the safety and security that UUCA has provided for the past 50 years, we must be proactive in protecting our resources.

How can we protect the valuable resources of the church without putting a strain on the budget? Here’s a list of a few simple things we can do:

Lock all doors when you exit the building. Do not assume the next group will lock the doors.

Close and lock all windows.

Don’t use a chair or wooden block to prop open entrance doors. Instruct members to call ahead if they will be late for a meeting or use doors closest to where meetings are being held.

Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Certain hallway lights are left on for your safety.

Report problems with doors and windows immediately to the church office staff.

Complete a self-clean checklist to ensure that you have not forgotten to secure the building.

For All That is Our Life

Theresa Novak, Intern Minister

Spring has sprung, and by now, most of you have paid your income taxes for last year. Congratulations! I felt lucky this year because after several years in starving student mode, I actually made enough to pay some taxes on my income again. It feels good to be able to contribute, to do my small part in helping meet the needs of the local community and of the country. Governments, which are supported by our tax dollars, provide so much that is important to the quality of all of our lives. From roads and parks, to libraries and food inspection, we would miss the government if it wasn’t there. As a former government employee, I always get a little grumpy when I hear the phrase, “good enough for government work.” The people I worked with for twenty-five years at the Social Security Administration were hard-working and dedicated to providing excellent service to the public. Resources were usually too tight to do it as well as we would have liked, but we tried our best.

When I prepare a meal just for myself, I tend to be pretty simple, some soup, maybe a sandwich. But if I am cooking for others, I put a lot more effort into it. For a church potluck, I like to prepare something really good. If we really believe that we are all connected, then public and community service is the highest calling around, and deserves our very best effort. We feed the web of the world with what we contribute to the communities of which we are a part. This is true of governments as well as churches. Paying your taxes and being generous with your financial support of the church are both a form of religious practice. It also takes being involved, engaged with the process, adding your energy and ideas, your spirit, to help do the work needed to help create a world where all may thrive. Happy spring!

1st Sunday Town Hall Meetings

What is your vision for UUCA in transforming our local community and the world? Come to the next Town Meeting on Sunday, May 6th between services (10:20 a.m.-10:50 a.m.) to share your views on UUCA's community outreach. Meet at the front of the sanctuary with Phil Tawes and then move to a quiet room for discussion.

UUCA Book Club

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

Our selection for May 15 is Noah Feldman’s Divided by God: America’s church-state problem and what we should do about it. For June 19 we have chosen Salman Rushdie’s Shalimar the Clown, an international tale of love and revenge.

If you have questions, contact Jackie Rocca at 410-349-8351. All are welcome to join us.

Great Decisions

The Foreign Policy Association of the US is again offering its popular video/discussion program, Great Decisions. Meeting on the fourth Sunday of each month through September, the Great Decisions course is covering the following subjects: WAR CRIMES (May); MIGRATION (June); CENTRAL ASIA (July); SOUTH AFRICA (Aug.); and CHILDREN (Sept.). The group meets in the Emerson Room at the Fahs House at 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. for bag lunch (you provide) and conversation; a video on the topic is shown, after which discussion follows concerning the topic on the video. This course is sponsored by the UUCA United Nations Global Justice Committee. For more information, call Kay Cave at 301-925-7224. All are welcome to attend.

Welcoming, Caring & Connecting

Young adult Spiritual retreat

UU Young Adults (age 18-35) are invited to a spiritual retreat sponsored by the Joseph Priestley District UU Young Adult Network. This annual event is traditionally known as Mayhem (because it is held in May). Mayhem 2007 will be held at Camp Pecometh in Centreville, Md, the weekend of May 18-20. The theme for this year's retreat is "The Spirituality of Creativity.” Workshops include "The Zen of Knitting," "Creative Movement," and "Nature Writing." Canoeing, a coffee house talent evening, and a bonfire complete the festivities. The event costs $50-$75 sliding scale, which includes dorm housing, meals, and programming. Young Adults should log on to www.ConnectUU.com to register for this and other UU events of interest to 18- to 35-year-olds. Register for "Mayhem: The Spirituality of Creativity” by May 15. Please request child care by May 1 and contact Rev. Lyn Cox at 202-262-0485 or lyn@jpduua.org for more information.

Classes & Introductions for newcomers

Please join us for these opportunities to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and the UU Church of Annapolis. The “Newcomer Talk & Tour”– Sunday, April 29, 12:30 -1:30 p.m. provides an introduction to the programs and activities of the church as well as how to find your way around the buildings and grounds. The New UU – Saturday, May 26, 8:45 a.m. – 12 noon covers UU theology, UU history and the UU Church of Annapolis. Anyone thinking of becoming a member of the congregation is strongly encouraged to attend the New UU class. Please contact Susan Eckert for further information or to request child care 410-266-8044, x110.

Young Adult Talk Circle Time Change

The Young Adult Talk Circle which meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 49 West Street, Annapolis, MD will now be held from 12:30 to 2:00 pm starting Sunday, May 6, 2007. People ages 18 to 35 are welcome. Here we speak from the heart creating a safe space for spiritual growth through conversation. This is a circle of sharing rather than a roundtable debate. The group is connected to the church and affirms UU principles, but does not require membership in the UUCA. Ask another young adult if you would like to carpool after the second service. Come and see what everyone is talking about!

For more information contact Assistant Minister Amber Beland at 410-266-8044, x107 or assistant@uuca-md.org or show up on Sunday.

Who Am I?

The first ordained Unitarian minister of Japanese ancestry in the United States, served the Japanese Unitarian Fellowship at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, D.C. He was also, for thirty-five years, a cataloguer, bibliographer, reference librarian, and head of the Japanese Section at the Library of Congress.

Resource Stewardship

1^st Sunday Outreach Collection

Unitarian Universalism is a faith rooted in a spirit of abundance; ours is a faith community that shares itself not only with its members, but with the community-at-large. UUCA’s good works and generosity have meant a great deal of financial support (along with volunteerism, goods and services) for social justice action and outreach. It is our hope to strengthen, deepen and focus our giving to those in the larger community whose mission and vision reflect UU Principles by implementing the First Sunday Outreach Collection. The offering on the first Sunday will be split between the church and a community project or program (selected and announced ahead of time by the Outreach Collection Committee). The recipient outreach project or program will receive one-half of the Sunday collection. To contribute to the Outreach Collection with a check, make it out to the order of UU Church of Annapolis; if it is your wish that the check not be split, but the total amount go the outreach program, indicate this in the memo line. To designate your contribution as your church pledge, please use a pledge envelope or note “pledge” in the check memo line.

On Sunday, May 6 the Sunday offertory will be shared with:

Turkey Creek Community Initiatives (TCCI) is an innovative non-profit community development corporation engaged in the comprehensive revitalization of coastal Mississippi's low-income, historic, and environmentally challenged Turkey Creek community and watershed.

Recognized in 2001 as one of Mississippi's Ten Most Endangered Historical Places, the Turkey Creek estuary was settled following the Civil War by African-American freedmen whose twenty-first century descendants now find themselves besieged near the geographic and commercial epicenter of Mississippi's second largest and fastest growing city (Gulfport).

Facing urban sprawl, environmental racism, and political-economic isolation since the arrival of casinos, airport expansion, and municipal annexation in the 1990s, community members organized TCCI in 2003 to conserve, restore and utilize for education and other socially beneficial purposes the unique cultural, historical and ecological assets of their irreplaceable community, creek and coastal stream basin.

TCCI Goals

preserve Turkey Creek's architectural heritage through historic restoration and compatible housing development

promote the restoration, conservation, and public enjoyment of Turkey Creek's unique land and water resources

establish the community and watershed as important sites for cultural, historical, and ecological research

design and implement quality educational materials and programs for learners of all ages and backgrounds

model sustainable coastal and urban development by integrating the above with environmental justice for all - regardless of race or class

Since Hurricane Katrina struck on August 29, 2005, TCCI has provided relief for survivors, facilitated community-based recovery planning, and broadly advocated for a more just and sustainable future for coastal Mississippi's most vulnerable communities. It is one of the community organizations that the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) has partnered with in its efforts to assist in Katrina recovery. In March of this year, seven members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis went to Gulfport and Biloxi with the UUSC Justworks program and stayed at the volunteer camp created by TCCI and worked in the Turkey Creek community. After the service on May 6, photos and experiences will be shared by some of the participants. More information about TCCI can be found at www.turkey-creek.org

Finance Notes

Last May, the congregation approved changes to the Constitution and Bylaws to go with our switch to policy governance. An important part of that change was a new requirement that UUCA undertake an audit or financial review at least every other year. Here is what you should know about it.

In the past ten years, UUCA has relied on its members to occasionally review its books. Past Finance Officers would find somebody not involved in Church business, not a member of the Finance Committee, and ask them to look things over. Such an “internal review” took place about four years ago.

Two factors make it a good idea to have more frequent reviews and to have such reviews done by outside professionals. First, our budget has grown substantially. Second, we may need to borrow money to implement our Strategic Plan. Most financial institutions will lend money only after they see an auditor’s review letter or full audit report. And of course, regular audits are simply good practice to provide confidence to our congregation that the Board and Staff are managing the Church’s money responsibly.

The Constitution now dictates that the Board must establish an Audit Committee each year in May. The Board appoints an Audit Chair, who finds at least two other persons to serve on the Committee, and the Committee reports back to the Congregation at least one month before the Annual Meeting. We are now searching for qualified people to chair and serve on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee’s primary responsibilities will be to hire and oversee the activities of an outside professional and to report to the Board and Congregation.

To prepare for this formal external audit, the Finance Committee has undertaken an internal audit that will serve as a “dry run” for the Management Team and identify any weaknesses that need to be fixed before an outside (expensive) auditor arrives. We started this internal audit activity on March 24 and hope to issue our report to the Board and Management Team soon.

Dick Roop, Finance Chair

Gallery at 333

See “Art in the Garden” featuring selections by artists Gail Higginbotham, Bill Jaeger, Martha Oatway, Donna Rhody, Dick Scheider & Marietta Schreiber from May 3 to June 30. The Gallery at 333 is open weekdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Contact Debbie Boudra at 410-255-9787 for more information.

Faith Development

Religious Exploration News

Religious Exploration Calendar:

Sunday, April 29 – Last “regular” Religious Exploration sessions and “room clean up day” 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 6 and 13 - Web of the Woods outdoor intergenerational program; go directly to the Memorial Garden at 9 or 11 AM for a short worship service, followed by activities.

Sunday, May 20 – Web of the Woods: one combined session from 9 to noon, with field trip to Arlington Echo.

Nursery coverage will be available on all of the dates listed above.

Coming up: Web-Of-The-Woods (WOW!): Our spring R.E. intergenerational program will be held on Sundays, May 6, 13 and 20, 9‑10:15 AM and 11:00 AM-12:15 PM. This year’s theme is Enchanted Forest; as usual, the program will include a lot of outdoor group activities in the woods surrounding our church. Participants do not have to attend all sessions. See flier for details.

Letters from Boston: The Coming of Age youth and chaperones are back from Boston and had a grrrrreat time! Read their (mostly very enthusiastic) comments posted on the hallway bulletin board downstairs.

Check your bookshelves, please! The Religious Exploration library is mainly a resource for our volunteer R.E. facilitators; it saves them a trip to the public library to find a story to fit the session they are leading. A recent inventory of our R.E. library (housed in a hallway closet downstairs) showed that a lot of picture books are missing. Please check your bookshelves at home, and return any books you may have borrowed (they are stamped “Unitarian Universalist Church - Religious Education” usually on the title page). Just leave the books on the lower shelf of the R.E. library closet so they can be re-shelved in the proper place.

Chanting Circles

Come join us as we embrace our spirituality with sound. We will do meditative chanting on Sunday, May 12 at 4:00 p.m. in the Wright Rm. If you wish, bring a meditation cushion, a percussion instrument, and your voices. Contact Christina Fielder at 410-267-6208 or finbones@juno.com with any questions

Building Your Own Theology

This 8 week course invites each person to write their spiritual odyssey and examines a structure for a liberal theological model, varieties of religious experience, human nature, ultimate reality, history, ethics and religious meaning. Weekly journal writing as well as the class meetings assist participants in their work towards their own personal “credo statement”.

DATES: Thursdays starting April 26

TIME: 7:00—9:00 pm

FACILITATOR: Scott Eden

For Your Safety

Parking on the grass along Old North Lawrence is prohibited.

Please use the Fahs House parking lot and the overflow parking area.

Web of the Woods 2007

Enchanted Forest

Sundays, May 6 and 13 at 9 AM at UUCA

(A streamlined version will offered at 11 AM)

Field Trip on Sunday, May 20 from 9 AM to Noon

Web of the Woods is an intergenerational Religious Exploration program for lovers of the outdoors.

Children 3 and up, youth and adults are welcome (at least one parent of children ages 3 to 5 is required to participate in the same activity as the child).

Attend any or all sessions.

No advance registration necessary, except for the May 20 field trip.

Nursery and childcare are available at the church for younger children and for those who cannot participate.

This year’s WOW — Enchanted Forest — will combine science and fantasy. We will focus on trees, observe how they fit into the ecology of the woods around the church, and how they can inspire the imagination.

{ On Sunday, May 6: Fairy Houses

Come to dance the May pole, hear about the Celtic legends of the fairies, and build fairy houses in our woods.

{ On Sunday, May 13: Adopt a Tree

Celebrate Mother’s Day! Join a group and adopt a tree — learn its name, study its special features, take bark rubbings, observe the life around it—then share with the congregation when they visit after the Green Sanctuary service.

{ On Sunday, May 20: Field Trip to Arlington Echo (9 AM-Noon)

Both sessions will be combined for a field trip to Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Millersville; meet in the RE sanctuary at 9 AM to carpool; return to the same place at noon. All participants are asked to register by May 13; parental permission form required for all under 18 years of age (walk-in registrations will be accepted if there is space in the carpools).

Please use form on the back of this flier. Childcare will be available at the church for children who cannot attend.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis

WEB OF THE WOODS

FIELD TRIP TO ARLINGTON ECHO OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER

May 20, 2007—One combined session—9:00 AM to Noon

All participants are asked to register by May 13 to help us plan activities and rides.

Parental permission form is required for all under 18 years of age.

We will gather promptly at 9:00 AM in the R.E. Sanctuary (downstairs) at the church, and organize rides in private cars.

Walk-in registrations will be accepted if there is space in the carpools.

At least one parent is required to accompany children 3-5 years old; childcare will be provided at the church as an alternative.

Please keep in mind that activities may be messy—old clothes and shoes are appropriate!

We will return to the same place at noon so that parents can pick up their children.

REGISTRATION FORM

FOR ARLINGTON ECHO OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER

FIELD TRIP ON MAY 20, 2007

(to be filled out for all participants