Highlights Newsletter

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

Eric Kaminetzky, Intern Minister

Susan Eckert, Members Services Coordinator

Lori Frederick, Office Assistant/DRE Assistant

Renee Larkins, Coffee Server

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

Next News Deadline: midnight, 12/5/2007

Next Mailing: 12/11/2007

Volume 50, Issue 22

November 27, 2007

FIRST SUNDAY OUTREACH REPORT

We have now received split-plate collections on the first Sunday of the past eight months: April through November. The process includes a choice of designating extra funds (i.e., not pledges) to go entirely to the social justice program of the month, so only undesignated funds are split with the church. As we hoped, the church has benefited at an amount higher than last year's non-pledge plate collection of $10,000. We have already received $10,861 this year for church operations, plus an additional $8,010 for outreach! That breaks down as follows:

April: $717 for Beacon House

May: $908 for Turkey Creek Community Church

June: $805 for HAVEN

July: $548 for Equality Maryland

August: $621 for UU Affordable Housing

September: $498 for the flooded UU Church of Blanchard Valley

October: $1,320 for Crop Walk

November: $2,300* for the UU United Nations Office

*there was a $1,000 donation in memory of Virginia Frederick

The Social Justice Council developed criteria and an application process which is administered by the 1st Sunday Outreach Sub-Committee. It has been followed by all eight recipients. If you would like to apply for your project or agency, please ask at the church office or email Diane Goforth (DSGoforth@aol.com).

The purpose of this outreach is to be able to identify and track funds that are given out of our hearts, through the church, to the broader community. Combined with our volunteerism, goods, and services, we are able to quantify our good works. It is a process in progress, and we welcome your comments.

Diane Goforth, Chair (410-544-2244) ,Sydnia Jacobs, Peter Crilly, Carrie Kotcho, Tatiana Johanning.

UUCA Congregational Meeting.

We will hold a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 2^nd at 10:30, in place of the second service. The Board of Trustees, Senior Minister and Staff hope you will all come to this meeting and take advantage of this opportunity to make your views heard. It will be an important meeting affecting the future of our church. Among other agenda items, the membership will be invited to:

• vote to adopt the 2008 budget,

• vote to move towards implementing our Strategic Plan,

• receive a presentation on the planned process for calling an Associate Minister

The final agenda will be published on the UUCA bulletin board the week before the meeting. This notice is provided in accordance with Article V(D) of the Constitution.

Upcoming Sermons

December 2

Lessons From Katrinaville

Guest Speaker, Jyaphia Christos Rodgers

Only Service at 9 a.m.

What the storm and recovery teaches us about social justice work.

Music by UUCA Choir

Congregational Annual Budget Meeting

Music by UUCA Choir

December 9

“Doing Nothing”

Rev. Fred Muir,

Senior Minister

Music by UUCA Choir

The two traditional stories of Hanukkah provide very different ways of not only understanding the Hanukkah event, but life in general.

Frank Sinatra sang about it with his famous lyric: “Do-be-do-be-do.” Join me at this Hanukkah mid-way point to explore the contradiction of doing nothing.

December 16

Choir Holiday Music

December 23

Christmas Sunday

December 24

Christmas Eve Services

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services will be held at 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Families with small children and infants are encouraged to attend the service at 5:00 PM which is more “child-friendly.” Join us for a wonderful, heartfelt and magical evening.

December 30

Eric Kaminetzky,

Intern Minister

January 6

Rev. Fred Muir,

Senior Minister

Celebrating Our Beloved Community

R.E. flections

"Fall is natures' grace time; giving you a chance to put things in order..." ("The Education of Little Tree"). November, the month of Thanksgiving and Veterans Day, is ending. A few weeks ago I was sitting on a plane next to a young man in uniform; his badge showed that he was a Marine. I wanted to talk with him but he quickly went to sleep, and did not wake up until the plane touched ground. Meanwhile I had tried to sort out a flurry of thoughts and emotions brought up by the presence of the young soldier.

Both of my grandfathers fought in WWI. One of them died in combat; the other survived and, twenty years later, saw the next generation go off to war again. I am touched by their noble idealism and the strong convictions that drove them to personal sacrifice in order to "end all wars."

My father, who was only a few months old when his father was killed, turned twenty-one the year WWII broke out. I admire his sense of duty and the strength of character that kept him going through several terrible years as a prisoner of war in Germany.

My fellow passenger on the plane, in his camouflaged uniform, could have been my son who, while in college, considered a career in the military. As a mother and a pacifist, I was relieved when he changed his mind; yet I appreciate how his choices forced me to face my prejudices toward soldiers, and taught me to respect decisions I could not understand.

As the plane landed, the young Marine woke up, and we exchanged a few words. He said rather matter-of-factly that he was back from Iraq, and would have to return there for another tour of duty. I wanted to express support somehow, but could not bring myself to thank him. "Thank you" was just not the right thing to say, it seemed. I ended up just wishing him well - and that was very sincere.

What would you have said? While I believe it is good practice to feel and to express gratitude, it has to be appropriate and genuine. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to re-assert and renew our awareness of the true blessings in our lives.

November is coming to an end, and we look forward to December. May this month and its holidays bring you comfort, joy and inner peace.

Fran

Uuca outdoor club

Saturday, December 1, 2007 Savage Park Hike (Howard County) 9:00am-3:00pm Meet in church parking lot at 9:00am. Moderate 2.5 mile hike. Lunch and Christmas shopping at Savage Mill. Dress for the weather. For more information and to sign up, please contact Eloise Hoyt, ehoyt@toadmail.com or 410-768-4932

UUCA Book Club

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

The club will not meet in December. We will resume meetings in January. Our selection for January 15 is The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.

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

New books at the library; check them out!

By Judy Graham

Three new titles in the category of Transitions:

On the shelf is Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ On Death and Dying, still relevant today,

Telling Secrets by Frederick Buechner, a Presbyterian minister writing about how revealing our secrets is a step toward healing,

And Beyond Sympathy by Janice Lord offering what to say when someone is suffering an illness or loss.

New on the Congregational shelf:

Charge of the Chalice about the process of Davies Memorial Church in Prince George’s Co for welcoming diversity and becoming a multiracial ‘beloved community.’

New in the Social Issues category:

Joining Forrest Church’s American Creed and God and Other Famous Liberals and Jim Wallis’ God’s Politics, is Michael Lerner’s Left Hand of God; all prompted by what is happening in our country in religion and politics.

Sundown Towns by James W Loewen, who spoke at our church this year, is an account of the early 20^th century controversial towns where African-Americans were not allowed to live. The overwhelming majority were in the North. More recently developers built suburbia, where it continued to be understood that Blacks were not welcome. Such housing situations continue to support White’s prejudice and sense of entitlement.

HOLIDAY GIVING

Holiday Giving has been designated as the recipient of the UUCA First Sunday Outreach Collection for December. The Holiday Giving Committee is requesting funds to support their causes and from December 15-22 there will be boxes in the Narthex for individuals to donate warm gently used clothing and gifts for needy and homeless families in the surrounding area. The following groups will share in the efforts of the committee: GIVING BACK is a private all volunteer organization started by Linda Greenberg that collects, sorts and distributes items to local homeless shelters and on Christmas Eve gives out blankets and sleeping bags to the homeless on the streets of Baltimore and D.C. VOLUNTEERS are needed to help sort.

The HOLIDAY SHARING Program of the AA Department of Social Services has asked the UUCA to help with gifts – or gift certificates for teenagers in needy families.

The PROJECT ADOPT A BEAR in Queen Anne’s County is collecting wrapped gifts for children in needy families and asks for funds for last minute items. The committee will purchase Giant Food Certificates for the Food Pantry at the LIGHTHOUSE SHELTER to enable families to purchase some fresh food or even a turkey for the holidays. The funds will provide small Christmas purses for residents of OUR HOUSE, H.A.V.E.N.’s transitional housing program for people living with HIV/AIDS , so they can give presents to their loved ones. Call Gini Cushing – 410-266-7365 for more information.

Praxis: A hard theory put into practice

By Eric Kaminetzky, Intern Minister

May that be truly said of us

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!” From Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol,

The holidays are here and I can feel myself getting caught up in them.

You know the routine. You’ll see the trappings swirling around you and you’ll have to decide what to do about them.

I heard a wonderful sermon at the preaching boot camp I attended at the National Cathedral a few weeks ago.

The preacher was talking about the spirit of the season being captured well when you give a gift.

He preached about the power of giving as a way to overcome the difficulty that Fall and Winter and their associated holidays can bring.

At a time of year when you might not be getting all of the love you need, one solution might be to wrap yourself up in giving some.

There are obvious places like family gatherings. But if you don’t have family close, or close family, there are other places as well.

A classmate in my Hebrew Scriptures course runs a service center for homeless folks in Chicago. Holiday time can be brutal in that community. She speaks movingly about what it means to her to spend the holidays there. She is stout of heart.

If you’ve got something to give by way of time, or energy, or money, or stuff that people need that you have too much of, think about making this season about giving a gift.

The world can always use a little more love.

©Eric Kaminetzky 2007

Beacon Press Wins!

Rev. Jack Mendelsohn, age 89, prepared the colorful display of Beacon Press books celebrated worldwide on the Harvard Square Library Website. Jack and Beacon Press are the winners in the monthly statistics we receive from some 100 countries on six continents. In October 2007 the number of Beacon Press books and authors viewed online was a new high: ten thousand seven hundred and eleven (10,711) pages!

NEW: THE HARVARD SQUARE BOOK

America’s First Independent Proclamation of Thanksgiving took place in the Harvard Square Meeting House in 1774. That’s the first story in The Harvard Square Book, our new Harvard Square Library publication available from bookstores and from Amazon Books online. The next item in this new paperback is the very first history of Cambridge written by the Rev. Abiel Holmes, the noted former minister of the Cambridge church from 1792-1829. Our new edition of his story contains, for the first time, illustrations of the town. Next comes the illustrated story of our Church in Harvard Square, presenting 14 illustrated panels from 1636 onward with text by Dr. Conrad Wright and visual enhancement by Constance and Ernest Kirwan. In section four of the book comes the story, “Harvard Honors Nelson Mandela,” portraying the outdoor celebration of 25,000 people when, for only the third time in its history, Harvard presented an honorary degree outside of its regular academic convocations. Finally comes the gallery of photographs of notable people in the Harvard Square environs by Rick Stafford, the late Harvard University photographer.

Welcoming, Caring & Connecting

Are You New to UUCA?

Newcomer Talk & Tour– December 2, after the 9 a.m. service or December 9, 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.

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

The New UU– Saturday, January 19, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. covers UU theology and UU history. This program meets in the Sanctuary.

Path to Membership – Saturday, December 8, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 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.

World aids day

The Anne Arundel County World AIDS Day Committee is sponsoring the World AIDS Day Candlelight Walk and Gathering of Remembrance. The walk will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Annapolis City Dock, and end at the Stanton Center at 92 W. Washington St. at 7 p.m., for the Gathering of Remembrance. The public can attend, and if possible, everyone should wear red in honor of those being remembered. Civic and religious organizations and government representatives are expected as well. For information, call HAVEN at 410-224-2437.

Faith Development

R.e. news

Pie Sale! Sunday, December 2 after the 9 AM service in the narthex. The Coming of Age students will bake pies at the church well into the previous night, and you will be able to take home one of their delectable creations. Proceeds will help defray the COA trip to Boston. Thanks for your support!

Calling all Holiday Pageant Participants for both services on December 23! Sign up on the sheet posted in the narthex – we are recruiting participants 9 years old and up for a variety of non-speaking parts. One mandatory rehearsal on Saturday, December 22, 9-11:30 AM.

Stone Soup: Sunday, December 9, 4:30-7:00 PM. Please remember to bring in the morning an unprepared, uncooked ingredient for the soup (see suggestions below*); if you only come in the afternoon for the event, canned or boxed ingredients would be best. You are also asked to bring an appetizer (names starting with A-L) or a dessert (M-Z names) for 12, and $2 per person or $5 per family – free for infants 2 and younger. There will be no infant care. We will make decorations for the Christmas tree, and enjoy caroling, soup and fellowship. Pick up a red flier in the Info Alcove for all the details.

* The following ingredients are recommended for Stone Soup: whole raw chickens or chicken breasts with skin on; raw stewing beef; cabbage; onions; carrots; fresh herbs of any kind; turnips, rutabaga, squash or pumpkins of any sort; peppers (mild); potatoes; broccoli; green onions (scallions). If anyone cares to bring some fish or shrimp, clams etc. that would be nice too.

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You are invited to attend

STONE SOUP

Sunday, December 9, 2007

4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Text Box: An intergenerational “crafts and food” Christmas holiday event named after the folk tale where each villager contributes an ingredient to make a wonderful soup that everyone then shares.

First: Spend the first 45 minutes creating ornaments to decorate
the Christmas tree while the soups are cooking.

Then: Hear the story Stone Soup and sing carols.

Finally: Enjoy the meal!

We will provide:

a Christmas tree.

instructions and supplies for the crafts.

the preparation of a number of soups – including an especially fine vegan soup and the usual/unusual selections (to be ready around 6 PM).

drinks and bread.

paper ware and utensils.

Please bring:

on Sunday morning, if you come to church, an unprepared, uncooked ingredient for the soup (vegetables, meat, fish, herbs, spices, etc.); if you only come in the afternoon for the event, canned or boxed ingredients would be best.

appetizers for 12 (if your last name starts with A-L).

or a dessert for 12 (M-Z names).

$2.00 per person or $5.00 per family (free for infants 2 and younger).

For more information or to volunteer,

contact Amber Beland (410-266-8044 x107 or assistant@uuca-md.org)

Social Justice & Outreach

Reverend Sinkford Presents at Social Justice Workshop December 1

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) & the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy will be sponsoring A Half-Day Workshop on Planning, Energizing, and Mobilizing Your Congregation’s Social Justice Ministry at which the Opening Address will be given by the Rev. William G. Sinkford, President, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. The workshop will take place on Saturday, December 1 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring10309 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20903 (301) 434-4050 · www.uucss.org. The cost is $20 and that fee includes Lunch, Light Breakfast, and Program Materials. When registering, include your name, address, email, congregation, and roles in the congregation. It is strongly suggested that interested congregations send teams of 3-5 people. This interactive training involves many small group exercises, and there will also be time for congregational teams to meet.

To register send a $20 check made out to UUSJ and your contact information, congregation, and role in congregation to: UUSJ; 8605 Cameron St. Suite 200; Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. For more info on the training content, contact Adam Gerhardstein, UUA Washington Office for Advocacy, at (202) 296-4672 x21, or agerhardstein@uua.org. For more info on the logistics of the event, contact Cynthia Snavely at UUSJ at (301) 588-1951 or csnavely@uusj.org.

Looking at Social Justice Through an Anti-Racism Lens: A day-long Conversation at UUCA

UUCA has a rich and vibrant history of social justice work. For many of us it is an integral way to live out our faith. Does it make a difference how we enter into this work? Could our justice-making be deepened if we consider it from an anti-racist stance?

Come join us from 9 am until 4 pm on Saturday, December 1st in the Sanctuary. The day will be facilitated by UUA trainers Jyaphia Christos Rodgers and Rev. Chester McCall. Lunch will be provided. Members of social justice ministries within JPD have been included in the invitation.

For more information or to RSVP contact ARTT@SoiVos.com

Fairly Traded Coffees, Chocolate & Teas

Café Salvador—full bodied, smooth coffee from small farmer co-ops in El Salvador $7.00

French Roast (Organic)-Dark and delicious with full body and a smooth finish $7.50

Mind Body & Soul (Organic) Medium and Vienna Roast— smooth blend, mild acidity & hints of dark chocolate. From small farmer co-ops in Latin America $7.50

Breakfast Blend—Medium & French Roast sweet and vibrant with full body $7.50

Organic Decaf/Colombian Decaf—Full City Roast—a balanced blend with full body, rich flavor and sweet overtones. Naturally decaffeinated with carbon dioxide $8.00

Organic Chocolate - Very Dark, Milk Chocolate, Mint Chocolate, Dark w/ Almonds, Chocolate Espresso Bean, Dark Chocolate w/ pure Cocoa Nibs $3.00

Organic Teas- Green Tea, English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, Green Magic, Rooibos, and Earl Grey $3.50

Tips from Green Sanctuary

First of all, a bit of clarification is due from the last green tips (“leave the leaves”).