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, 05/16/2007

Next Mailing: 05/22/2007

Volume 50, Issue 9

May 8, 2007

 

 

Summer Service Begins May 27 One Service at 10 a.m. through September 16

On Sunday, May 27, 2007 UUCA will begin its summer service schedule. The summer service is at 10 a.m.; Children’s Religious Exploration Summer program will begin on June 17. Summer R.E is a multi-aged curriculum-based program for ages 3-4 to 10-11 years old, and sometimes youth 11 years old and up.

 

Help UUCA win the Paper Recycling Challenge!!

As many of you know we have an Abitibi Paper Retriever bin, between the main church building and the Fahs house, where the church collects paper recycling materials and receives cash for our efforts.  We have an opportunity to raise our tonnage and win!!  By increasing our amount of recyclable paper by 20% we win the first level – by increasing by 40% we win the top level!  This is an opportunity for us all to pitch in for the environment as well as our church community. 

We need ALL your: 

 

               •    Magazines            •    Shopping Catalogs

              •    Newspapers           •    Office & School Papers

               •   Junk Mail

 

It’s as easy as setting up a bin or paper bag at home or at work to collect the paper recycling and drop it off at the Abitibi Paper Retriever bin next time you’re at church.  

If you already do that, consider expanding your efforts by inviting neighbors or area small businesses to help. 

I already collect the paper recycling from home.   I’m hoping to leave a cardboard box at a couple of small businesses I frequent and asking them to just fill it up with their newspapers, discarded office paper, or junk mail.  I will collect it periodically (when I would normally go there) and bring it with me on my next trip to the church.  This contest runs from May through August so let’s see what we can do together!   I’ll keep you updated on our progress.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact me –Debbie Cole (debcole@cablespeed.com, 410-969-7986) 

 

 

               

Upcoming Sermons

 

 

May 13

“Listen to Your Mother!”  

Join our Green Sanctuary Team and Fred Muir as they explore our relationship with Mother.

 

May 20

“Music Sunday”

This Sunday's service will feature selections performed by the UUCA Choir and Jason Stearns.

 

May 27

“Living Legacy”

Rev. Amber Beland

One Service at 10 a.m.

Memorial Day began as a day to commemorate those who had died during the Civil War and later became a day to remember all those Americans who died fighting for their country.  Come join me as we explore together how we can honor those who have gone before us.

 

 

 

Celebrating Our Beloved Community

 

Volunteers Needed

The church office is currently seeking volunteers to assist with copying and folding the order of service (Sunday Bulletin). This requires a few hours of your time Friday late morning or early afternoon. Training will be provided. If you’re interested, please contact Christol Medley, Church Administrator at admin@uuca-md.org or 410-266-8044 ext 102.

 

Spring Cleaning

On Tuesday, May 29, at 2:00 p.m. the large storage room located at the end of the gallery hallway will be reorganized by the staff. All committees and programs using storage space in this room are asked to clean and organize their things to facilitate the successful reorganization of the room to meet the needs of the church.

All items left untagged and unclaimed will be donated to the Lighthouse Shelter or properly disposed. Due to limited space all large items such as pictures, posters, stands, and cushions should be removed.

 Non perishable food items should be stored in sealed containers and kept in plastic bins to prevent contamination. Bins should be clearly mark with the committee or program name. Food left in the storage room beyond the expiration date will be discarded. If  your committee needs additional plastic bins they can be purchased at your local discount store.  Please contact Christol Medley at admin@uuca-md.org or 410-266-8044 ext 102  if you have any questions.

 

Website News

UUCA has hired a webmistress to redesign and manage our website.  We are currently seeking content updates for all information currently on our site. If your program or committee has a page on the website please contact Christol Medley, Church Administrator at 410-266-8044 ext 102 or admin@uuca-md.org to get a copy of your webpage.  All changes should be returned to the management team as soon as possible.

If you would like to have a page on the website please submit your information to Christol Medley, Church Administrator, admin@uuca-md.org. Pictures and graphics are welcomed.

 

 

 

Keep the Faith

Dear City Council Member,

 

I had hoped to read this letter at the hearing on April 23, but I was unable to attend.  It is my hope that you will support R-17-07 and vote for its approval.

My family and I have lived in the City of Annapolis for nearly 25 years; our children attended public schools in the City (K-8, as well as Annapolis Senior High); I have served and written about our city in numerous ways; and while the congregation I serve is just beyond the City limits, it sees itself as part of the Annapolis community.  I share this with you not only to establish my credentials as an Annapolitan, but also to clearly reflect my commitment and passion – professionally and personally – to our city.

I urge you to vote for R-17-07, ”A Resolution Concerning Atoning for the Involuntary Servitude of Africans and Calling for Reconciliation Among All Annapolitans,” because it names a grievous wrong committed by our city ancestors for which we, as their heirs, must name and own.  Annapolis was not only a willing participant in the slave trade, but prospered because of it.  The success that was our city’s – successes of 300 years – was, in part, built on what we know was a deplorable and immoral practice.  The relationships and culture created by this practice shaped Annapolis for at least 250 years and helped put in place expectations, assumptions, and imbalances that remain today.  As one of our elected leaders, naming and apologizing for this insidious, systemic legacy would be an act of courageous hindsight and foresight, which is, of course, what is expected from bold, visionary leaders.

Like Annapolis, Jamestown, VA is celebrating a colonial anniversary this year.  In a NewsHour discussion of the settlement’s role in American culture, one of the commentators remarked – and please permit me a theological reference –  that “If slavery, as it is often characterized, was America’s ‘Original Sin,’ then Jamestown was the Garden of Eden.”  Approximately 100 years later, Annapolis – another idyllic, garden-like settlement – chose to support slavery (or at least tacitly approved of those who supported it) and its demonizing and dehumanizing practices and consequences.  For many of us, Annapolis still has a garden-like beauty and simplicity to it.  But the legacy of slavery still lingers.  You cannot undo the past, but you can at the very least recognize, name and apologize for the “sins” of our early leaders and help to usher in a new awareness and promise on the eve of this anniversary year.  I hope you will vote to approve this resolution.

Sincerely,

Fredric J. Muir

 

 

 

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 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. For more information or to sign up, please contact Eloise Hoyt 410-768-4932 or ehoyt@toadmail.com.

 

Crab Pot, Anyone?

Does anyone have a crab pot that is not currently in use?  Our backyard pond has become overpopulated with red-eared slider turtles and we would like to return some of them to the wild waterways, from which their original first-generation mother/grandmother/great grandmother came.  If you can lend out a crab pot for a couple of weeks, please contact Pat Fleeharty at 410/268-9038.

 

Chalice Lighter CAll

The most recent ‘call’ for a grant will direct $20,000 to two congregations: (1) Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley, Boiling Springs, PA (founded, 1998) is a healthy congregation of about 150 members. They have an innovative Home Hospitality program, a creative co-ministry and an appealing traditional building. Make a “virtual” visit to their website www.uucy.net. (2) Sugarloaf Congregation of Unitarian Universalists (founded 1995) has just moved into their new building, has a full-time minister, and is poised for growth. See celebratory photos of their new compound on their website www.scuu.org.  Both congregations are in favorable demographic areas with good growth potential. These Chalice Lighter grants are designed to help them along their way.

Two more reasons to become a Joseph Priestley District Chalice Lighter. Give your name to the Chalice Lighter members with clipboards this Sunday or any other Sunday in May. Let’s show the district that we can have more than 33% in our congregation giving $20 or more per “call.”  For more information, call Kay Cave (301-925-7224) or Darrel Nash (301-249-5397)

 

 

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. 

 

YRUU News

This month in YRUU, we’ve been working hard on Spring Cleaning. Judging by its appearance now, all the trash had been compressed upon itself. We’ve gotten rid of a lot. Those brave enough to enter the YRUU room will be in for a treat – when we’re finished. Other than that, we haven’t really been up to much.

 

Web of Life

My family has always been one of teachers.  From the beginning of my memory, I can hear my mother and father answering my unending questions about the world around me.  Long walks in the woods near our house during which stories about the world, the trees and most of all about wonder would be told.  I can remember my grandmother walking with me down the lane leading to her house teaching me the names of the flowers and sharing stories about her life and those of her parents.  These teachers instilled in me a wonder and awe in the world around me, a sense that I was a part of a whole, and filled me with an ever-seeking spirit.  Here at church I am blessed to walk with you on your paths of exploration, teaching courses, learning your life stories, spending time laughing or crying together.  One of the ways that I learn of your journeys is through the time we spend together in PathWork courses.  Many of you who have taken a course know that there is a written evaluation that asks you what your experience with the course has been and I have noticed that on this evaluation there seems to be some question as to what is meant by growing spiritually.  As I explored what I understood it to mean I found that I kept returning to wonder and awe, some personal experience of something larger than myself, a stretching of myself to meet something challenging or moving.  Spirituality is something so personal that it is difficult for anyone to define it for another but perhaps you will feel a certain connection to this definition by the consultants on religious tolerance, they say, “spirituality consists of activities which renew, lift up, comfort, heal and inspire both ourselves and those with whom we interact."  This definition calls us to an ever-changing spirituality, one where we can question and stretch with others.  It is my hope that each of us will find the things that renew, comfort and inspire us as we walk together.

 

Blessings,

 

Amber

 

 

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.

 

Summer R.E. news

During the summer months, multi-aged curriculum-based program for ages 3-4 to 10-11 years old, and sometimes youth 11 years old and up. Parent volunteers are expected to lead and or assist with a group at least once over the summer. For children under the age of three, nursery care is provided.

 

Summer Service Begins May 27 One Service at 10 a.m. through September 16

 

 

 

 

 

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 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 childcare 410-266-8044, x110.  The “Newcomer Talk & Tour”– Sunday, June 17, after the 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 (time: approx. 1 hour). Please join us for these opportunities to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and the UU Church of Annapolis.  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 childcare 410-266-8044, x110.  The “Newcomer Talk & Tour”– Sunday, June 17, after the 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 (time: approx. 1 hour).

 

 

 

Who Am I?

Unitarian minister, suffragist, civic reformer, and social gospel advocate. Among the first wave of American college-educated women, she broke gender barriers as a journalist, newspaper editor, and minister before leaving the ministry to develop a new career as a "municipal housekeeper"—applying "womanly" principles of housekeeping to the public sphere. She became known as "America's housekeeper."

 

PASTORAL CARE TEAM NEWS

UUCA PASTORAL CARE TEAM IS HERE FOR YOU!

During the month of April Team Care Providers:

Helped a member family with moving household items out of storage

Provided transportation for several members on four occasions

Visited a member admitted to Anne Arundel Medical Center

Made a home visit to a church family unable to attend services regularly

Coordinated two memorial receptions

Made numerous phone calls to follow up on various individual care needs

Mailed three cards from the Care Corner

We would like to express our gratitude to Carol Friend and Kathy Higdon who have retired from the Team.  Carol has been one of the key originators and organizers of UUCA’s current form of pastoral care ministry and served as Care Minister Coordinator for 4 years.  Kathy joined the Team as one of the first Care Ministers 3-1/2 years ago.  We thank Carol and Kathy for being dedicated members of the Team and for countless hours of service to this important ministry.  Becky Morris and Kathy Hughes will take over as Care Minister Coordinators.

Are you in need of a caring friend who will listen, empathize, encourage and provide confidential care and patiently support you as you work through a crisis or difficult time?  Do you know a church member who could benefit from this type of care?  Then contact one of our Coordinators.  They can tell you more about our Pastoral Care Ministry and how you can be matched with a Care Minister.

 

Care Minister Coordinators:

Susan Eckert        (410) 266-8044 (weekdays)

Becky Morris        (410) 544-2738 (evenings, weekends)

Kathy Hughes      (410) 798-4719 (evenings, weekends)

 

Care Ministers:

Nancy Eaton       Marge Matthews

Pat Fleeharty       Rob Slawson      

Jerri Kohler

 

Welcome new  members

We would like to welcome our newest member, Sally K W Kiernan, who signed the membership Book on May 6.

It’s good to have you with us!

 

UUMeN News

The Unitarian Universalist Men's Network is a continental membership organization for UU men.  Women are also welcome.  Our purpose is to build a mature, liberal religious masculinity: male-positive, pro-feminist / womanist, gay-affirming, culturally and racially inclusive and diverse.

Our primary objectives are: developing a continental resource network, supporting the personal and spiritual growth of men at the district, and continental levels, and working with other UUA groups committed to a social justice.  Members receive a local newsletter, may vote at our Annual Membership Meeting held in June at GA, and are eligible for discounts on materials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith Development

The Great Story” is coming to our area

You are invited to attend The Rev. Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow, “evangelists of cosmic evolution” who were featured in the Spring 2006 issue of the UU World magazine, will present worship services and workshops at various area UU churches:

 

Paint Branch UU Church (www.pbuuc.org)

Sunday, May 13 Worship service at 10 AM with Connie Barlow

Tuesday, May 15, workshop 6:30–9:00 PM

 

Bull Run Unitarian

Universalists (www.bruu.org)

Sunday, May 13 Worship service at 10 AM with Michael Dowd

Monday, May 14, workshop 7-9 PM

 

Information is available at www.thegreatstory.org and www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/2679.shtml

 

 

 

Religious Exploration News

Web-of-the-Woods (WOW) – Enchanted Forest: the outdoor intergenerational program for children 3 and up, youth and adults, continues!  All sessions will be held outdoors (weather permitting) and may be messy - dress appropriately.  A parent must attend with any child 3-5 years of age.  Nursery care will still be available inside for the youngest children.

 

•   May 13: please go directly to the Memorial Garden at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM (or in the RE Sanctuary in case of rain). 

•   May 20: both sessions will be combined for a field trip to Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, 9 AM-Noon.  Meet in the RE Sanctuary at 9 AM so carpools can be organized.  All participants are asked to register by May 13 for this event; walk-in registrations will be accepted if there is space in the carpools.  Parental permission form is required for anyone under 18 years of age.  Forms on green paper are available in the narthex.  Childcare will be available at the church for children who cannot participate. 

Religious Exploration Idea Box: the “RE Idea Box” will be out just a few more Sundays, and you still have a chance to let us hear your comments and suggestions about the RE program!  Drop a note into the “R.E. Idea Box” (found in the narthex and by the downstairs entrance).  Although the notes could be anonymous, it would be helpful to have names and contact information to facilitate further conversation.

 

Mindfulness Group UU Open House for Beginners, 7 PM Thurs. June 21

UUCA's Mindfulness Practice Group invites the interested (or merely curious) to the first of our two open houses for '07.  Want to see how UUBus [UUBuddhists]fit into your UU experience?  Join us for a shortened 25 min. of meditation in the sanctuary at 7 PM June 21 or just come to the program starting at 7:30, ending at 8:30, on "Transcendence? Here on Earth!"  This highly interactive program with meditative walking, chanting, and mindful discussion will explore how UUism and American Buddhism were entwined in the 19th century through such UU heroes as Ralph Waldo Emerson and through the home-grown, nature-loving, democratic, Transcendentalist movement.  No lectures--just EXPERIENCE and discussion with friends, just as Emerson and Henry David Thoreau would have wanted it!  You may come promptly at 7 PM for the meditation; if you don't come for that, we do ask that you wait just a few minutes until meditation is over and enter at 7:25 during the break.  Watch for the announcement of our SECOND open house the next week, June 28, with a beautiful visual program on Christianity and Buddhism. 

 

Chanting Circles

Come join us as we embrace our spirituality with sound. We will do meditative chanting on Sunday, May 13 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 finbones@juno.com with any questions

 

 

 

Resource Stewardship

Finance Notes – Facility Costs

      Facility costs make up a substantial part of UUCA's expenses.   For 2007, we plan to pay facility expenses of about $130,000 out a total budget of $733,600.  So building use costs us about 18% altogether.  We plan to spend in the categories of utilities (4.3% of annual expenditure), major repairs (4.1%), building maintenance (2.3%), mortgage (2%), and everything else like insurance, furnace maintenance, toilet paper, sound booth, snow removal, and exterminator.  Facility expenses are often staggeringly large (like the $40,000 roof repairs we need), sometimes unpredictable, and (as any homeowner knows) difficult to manage.

      On the other hand, revenue from building use is a very small part of our annual budget, about 3% of our planned income.  Colonial Nursery and the New Annapolitans contribute about half of the building use income, and "other sources" contribute the other half.  Other “non-Church” users of our building include the All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis Al-Anon, and many others, such as people who schedule weddings in our facility. Of course, worship services and Church programs are the major users of our facilities, and we don’t expect such activities to pay for building use.
     The Management Team works very hard to resolve various facility-related issues. Between Church programs and non-Church use, there is a lot of demand for meeting space.  Also, our buildings chew up a lot of our money and require a lot of time to take care of.  To bring better balance between the expenditure for facilities and the much smaller income, the general trend over the past years has been to charge non-Church groups more.  UUCA has steadily increased the rents charged to Colonial Nursery and New Annapolitans.  And they have paid these increases willingly, because our facilities are nice and not overpriced in the Annapolis market.

      As demand for our facilities increases, UUCA faces major choices in how we allocate space between revenue-generating users and Church programs that are clearly entitled to meeting space.  These are issues with no easy answers in sight, although we can hope that SPARC – the Strategic Planning Actions & Resource Committee – provides information and recommendations to help.

 

Dick Roop, Finance Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social Justice  & Outreach

 

Gallery at 333 

The Gallery at 333 is pleased to announce the opening of “Art in the Garden,” a show featuring six local artists’ impressions of gardens and landscapes. This show is a luscious celebration of nature and its beauty.  Included are the works of Eva Carson, oils and pastels, Gail Higginbotham, oil pastels, Bill Jaeger, watercolors, Donna Rhody, digital photography, Dick Schneider, photography, and Marietta Schreiber, watercolors.

      The artwork will be on display and for sale from May through the end of June.

 

Movie & Discussion on the film "Wilderness Journey."

On Monday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. we will hold a Movie & Discussion on the film "Wilderness Journey."
This film is a series of first-hand testimonies of participants from a time in our Unitarian Universalist religious movement that affects our work an attitudes toward systemic anti-racism today.  It explores the old issues that still exist under the surface of much of our work to heal, transform and invigorate anti-oppressive and anti-racist work.  "Wilderness Journey" tells a story of people in varied stages of understanding and readiness for anti-racism that parallels places many of us are in today.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JUNE 1st! An Evening with Jim Loewen, noted author of "Lies M