the nUUsletter

Worship

by Rev. Jeff Briere

I have been asked to explain a couple of things. One is worship and the other is canvass. I’ll address canvass in the adjacent column from the perspective of a member of the church. My thoughts about worship are below, written from the perspective of the minister.

Worship, as I use the word, refers to a program of elements promoting a theme or an idea for the consideration of the congregation. This church produces a worship service each Sunday morning and at other times for various purposes.

We can use the word as a verb as well. You can worship a deity. Barry Manilow seems to be worshiped by his fans. When we worship, we place the object of our worship on some sort of pedestal and offer our homage and devotion.

In reference to a religious service, the sense I invoke goes back to the root of the word in Old English. Worship comes to us from weorthscipe, meaning “worth–ship,” or the shape of something worthy. When I use the word as a verb, I refer to the process of giving that worthy concept a shape that we can see or hear or feel or smell or taste. In other words, bringing that worth to our senses, to life.

In a worship service, the congregation is actually the shaper, that is, the congregation determines the shape of the worth through participation in a common ritual. The minister provides the raw materials and maybe a road map, but getting to the destination is something the congregation and minister do together.

Gathering those raw materials is what service preparation is all about. Because everyone is not moved by the same thing, I try to bring many elements into the worship service so that at least one element will appeal to someone. It might be the music that moves you, or poetry or a story or the image on the cover of the program.

But at least one thing in the worship service ought to appeal to everyone present and inspire their thoughts about the theme of the service. This topic is too large to cover in one issue of the nUUsletter. Next month, I’ll write about each element in the service.

Canvass

by Jeff Briere

Canvass at its root, conveys the notion of an exhaustive procedure, an all–out campaign to accomplish something, usually a survey. As we use the word, it refers to an annual fund–raising campaign conducted in Unitarian Universalist churches. Canvas, with one “s,” is the stuff tent makers use.

The annual canvass is an all–out campaign to meet face–to–face with every member and friend of the church. During the first week in April, the canvass team will contact you for a meeting at which time you will have a chance to sound off about what you like or don’t like about the church. You can tell the canvasser what the church does for you and what you can do for the church. You can make sermon suggestions and you can grump and groan about the coffee. Of course you can make such comments any time of the year, but at least once a year you opinions will be solicited. And your comments will be read and seriously considered by the leadership of the church. I guarantee it.

Your canvasser will also ask you for a pledge of financial support for your church. This is your chance to seriously consider how you can support the organization you joined and which represents liberal religion in southeastern Tennessee.

This is the way we pay our light bill and buy postage and maintain a copier and buy supplies for the religious education program.

Your pledge helps Linda Pehlman acquire music for the choir, buys a microphone or helps put the playground together. Your pledge pays an honorarium to guest preachers. Your pledge does that and much more.

I can’t—and even if I could, I wouldn’t—tell you what to pledge. You know best what fits your budget and what fits your obligation. I’ll be happy to talk with you about the campaign or other aspects of funding for the church. You may also ask Fred Tregaskis, Bill Berry or Carolyn Moore for more information.

Thank you for supporting this church.

The Interdependent Web

by Steve Hollingsworth

Whenever and wherever Unitarian Universalists (UUs) gather we expect to talk, drink coffee, and eat. Only the relative priorities will change with the circumstances.

Nearly everyone in America eats better today than forty years ago when fancy cooking meant adding canned mushrooms to the meat and pineapple rings and maraschino cherries to the lime Jello. UUs especially, as a group, are mindful of the internal and external consequences of choosing our food.

Akin to water eroding rock my food choices are changed by knowledge of the environmental degradation that wholesale livestock production causes, by the witness of vegetarians like our interim minister Dana Reynolds, by the extravagant energy consumption in high-tech farming, by the stories of oppressed farm workers. If I’ve ever kept a New Year’s resolution it is to consider the vegetarian choices first. I do it for health and I do it because I remember the interdependent web of all existence that is the 7th UU principle.

In eating and drinking UUs frame ethical issues in ways that I can respect even when I may respectfully disagree today. I was in a different place yesterday; I know to expect that tomorrow may be different. At a General Assembly a few years ago, I went to a session on the ethical treatment of animals only because I knew one of the presenters. I was impressed by the moderate tone and sensible analysis. Oh, that we could expect the same in the body politic!

On page five of THE NUUSLETTER*, you’ll find a recipe for African Groundnut Stew, which Daidee made for my birthday. I owe this favorite to the imagination Unitarian Universalism encourages.

*Recipe is included here for on-line edition:
African Groundnut Stew
¾ lb sweet potato, cubed
2 lbs assorted squash, cubed
2 tbsp oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp fresh ginger root, minced
2 tbsp coriander, ground
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 qt onion, chopped
1 lb tomatoes, chopped
¼–½ cup stock or water
1 cup zucchini, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 cups tomato juice
½ cup peanut butter

Adjust proportions, vary ingredients and spices to taste. Steam or boil sweet potato and squash until tender. Sauté garlic, ginger & spices in oil 1 minute. Add onions and cook until soft. Add tomatoes & stock or water. Simmer 10 minutes. Add zucchini & bell pepper and continue to simmer until all vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Add sweet potatoes, squash, tomato juice, & peanut butter, stir well. Simmer on very low heat for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Serve with rice or couscous. Enough for about 10.

Love in Iraq

For the next year, Paul Love will be working in Iraq. He’d love to hear from you. If you would love to send a card or correspond with him, send your love mail to:

Paul Love
KBR
Camp Echo G6
APO AE 09332

If You Couldn't Join Us

...there are three ways to catch up on the best worship services in town.

1. Rich Dwyer has tapes of recent services. If you would like to hear any of these, please see Rich. These are original recordings, so you must return them.

2. Exactly five printed copies of the Sunday services are available from the box on the minister’s office door.

3. You can also find the service on the church’s website. Follow the link for recent services.

Book Club

The Book Club will meet at the church on Thursday, March 17, 7 pm at the church. The book under discussion is Life of Pi, by Yann Martel. This is an excellent tale about a boy and a tiger and a lifeboat. It has many levels and meanings, so we hope you can join the discussion. Everyone is invited.

Board Highlights

by Fred Tregaskis

✓ The Treasurer reported that our finances are sound.

✓ For the remainder of the fiscal year, the Finance Committee predicts income will be less than budgeted. However, they also predict expenses will be less than budgeted. With careful monitoring of expenditures, the budget should break even.

✓ Revised instructions are complete for greeters and ushers.

✓ The Fellowship Committee needs a chairperson to oversee the kitchen and coordinate coffee servers.

✓ Enrollment in the religious education program is 68 children. Average attendance is 18.

✓ The workweek of the Religious Education Director is increased from 15 hours to 20 hours per week. A pre-kindergarten class will begin in March.

✓ The Canvass Committee consists of Bill Berry, Carolyn Moore, Jeff Briere, and Fred Tregaskis. The Fellowship Dinner will be April 2 and the Annual Meeting of the congregation is June 5.

✓ Preliminary plans are being made for a fund-raising concert and dinner in September, near the autumnal equinox.

✓ The Vice Presidents and the Personnel Committee presented recommendations for the 2005-06 preliminary budget. The Finance Committee will recommend the total preliminary budget at the next board meeting.

The next Board of Trustees meeting is Wednesday, March 16, at 6:30 pm. Meetings are open to all.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FRED TREGASKIS, President SONJA HELMHOLTZ, Secretary KARL HUNT, Treasurer MARGARET HUDSON, VP, Development LESLIE WALTERS, VP, Programs MONIQUE LEWIS, VP, Religious Education CAROLYN MOORE, VP, Ways & Means BUCK O’ REAR, Immediate Past President REV. JEFF BRIERE, Ex-officio

Twisted Knitters

The Twisted Knitters k-meet on K-Monday, K-March 7 at 7 pm. Bring your k-projects and k-yarn for a knight of koffee, konversation and, of kourse, knitting!

The Green Sanctuary Iniative

by Claire Hale & Sandy Kurtz Below are some of the actions listed in the Green Sanc-tuary Action Plan sent via e-mail to members in February. (Copies are available in the church office.)

∙ A comparative religions meditative trail
∙ A low flow toilet in the restroom
∙ A menu of environmental action activities from which our youth select something
∙ An annual vegetarian potluck honoring a Unitarian Universalist environmental hero
∙ A study of solar and/or wind use for energy
∙ Leadership in a faith-based organization to promote green sanctuaries in the community.

Activities are arranged by sections as you see below. Thanks to those who have agreed to coordinate the activities. These coordinators will be looking for you to take part in some or all of the actions. Please read over the Action Plan, choose the action you can help accomplish, and tell the coordinator. All of us together will assure that our church becomes an accredited Green Sanctuary and comes closer to fulfilling our Seventh Principle which reminds us that we are part of and interdependent with all there is.

Section	Coordinator
Woship	Amy Green
Religious Education	Wood & Hull
Environmental Justice	Sandy Kurtz
Communications	Linda Helton
Sustainable Living	Buck O'Rear

Thanks also to the Green Sanctuary Initiative members who, with input from many of you, have put the Action Plan together. They are Nancy Anderson, Pat Fogarty, Claire Hale, George Helton, Sandy Kurtz, Bill McGuiness, Buck O’Rear and Fred Tregaskis.

Who's Preaching?

On March 13, please welcome the Rev. Barbara Jame-stone, PhD, to our pulpit. At present, she is Interim Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, FL, but in previous lives she was a bank teller, high school teacher, United Methodist minister, magazine editor, world religions instructor, and hospital chaplain. She was ordained into the Unitarian Universalist ministry in 1992.

She holds a Masters in English Literature, an MBA in conflict resolution system design, and her doctoral work concerns university administration. She has training in trauma, thanatology, South American religions, and Spiritual Direction.

Here’s a few conversation starters for you: Ask her about the church renewal movement she coordinated or the many countries she has traveled in or why she enjoys wilderness and spirituality training programs like Outward Bound and Vision Quest.

Lonely Fisher Price People

The Religious Education Department lacks Fisher Price people for our Fisher Price farm, school, airport and garage. If you have any lonely Fisher Price people, please bring them to the church office. Thank you!

Art On the Walls

by Bill Hull
Our artist for February and March is Father Nick Capilos. Father Capilos was born in the mountains of Southern Greece. He came to the USA as a small child and was raised in Columbia, SC. He is married, has two teenaged sons, and is a pastor at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. His paintings have been admired in several shows since he moved to Chattanooga a year and a half ago.

Previous to living here, Nick and family lived for eight years in Savannah, GA, where he was an award winning member of the Savannah Art Association. Paintings by Father Capilos hang at the Cyberlan Cafe and the Fathom Club and have also been displayed at the Stone Cup Coffee House and River Street Deli. He has many paintings in private collections. The portraits you see on display are all oil on canvas done using brushes and oil sticks. Father Nick said, “Next to God and my family, I love art the most. It presents constant challenges to me and keeps me thinking and creating. Thanks for allowing me to share my work with you.”

Angel nUUs

You’ll notice that some of our Angel Nuus is left over from last month. This is because as the angels were flying toward our church, they got stuck in traffic on I-24 or they lost their way or maybe they flew over to Brainerd Baptist. Now that angel Walt Jenison has completed the new sound booth, we’ll need a sound technician very soon. Rich Dwyer has been doing this for some time, but cannot be in three places at once, even though he is angelic.

Another need of ours is a Kitchen Kahuna. A major responsibility of the Kitchen Kahuna is to monitor the contents of the cupboards and refrigerator and discard leftovers and food that is out–of–date. The Kitchen Kahuna should also know how to operate the coffee makers, stoves, microwaves and the new dishwasher.

A new need of the church involves a specialized knowledge of plumbing and electrical wiring. If you are a Plumber Angel or an Electrical Angel, we sure would be happy if you flew into the church someday soon. Please contact the minister or the office if you feel angelic. We are sincerely grateful for all the work that all the angels, named and un–named, do for our church. Thank you so much.

Religious Education nUUs

by Dolores Wood

January 2005 marked the completion of my first year as your Director of Religious Education. Thank you all: parents, children, youth, teachers, assistants, floaters, minister, church members and friends! I ap-pre--ciate your support, time, and hard work! Because of you, the department has grown to 68 children and youth; 40 Sunday volunteers and 10 more who helped in the construction projects. In March, we will have six classes from nursery to teen. ¡Muchas gracias!

This year’s Easter Egg Hunt includes games for all ages. Adults and youth will not be relegated to watching from the balcony after the service. Mark your calendar for March 27th and practice your bunny hop-ping and egg rolling. (And pray for better weather than last year!)

CHIONS

The CHIONS speaker on March 12 at 10:30 am is Kate McQueen. Her topic is Knowingness versus Transcendental Wisdom verus Knowledge. After receiving her Masters Degree in Mathematics, Kate spent 18 years at Ananda Ashram in New York where she was given a name meaning “intelligence surpassing transcendental wisdom.” Please join us for this interesting program.

Strides of March

by Nancy Anderson
The 10th annual Strides of March AIDS Walk will be held on Sunday, March 20th. Join in this walk to support Chattanooga Cares and its program for AIDS and HIV victims. Among many world problems, this remains crucial. This is the major fund–raising effort of the Chattanooga Cares organization. The 3–mile walk is a good way to display support. In the fellowship area are envelopes on which you can enlist contributions from your friends/relatives/associates in support of your effort. Pre-register for the event by completing an available card. Your team captain is Dolores Wood and the team is UUCC. We will meet at Coolidge Park around 1:30 pm to turn in envelopes and money and obtain T–shirts (if the funds collected exceed $75). The walk begins at 2:30 pm.

Circle Dinners

By Lee Adler
We kick off the Circle Dinners on March 5. You are invited to participate as a host home or as a guest. Every group will be given the same menu. The host will be responsible for the entree and guests will be assigned other courses. Sign up for good company, good food, and good fellowship. These dinners give you an opportunity to become better acquainted with newer members. If you haven’t registered yet, call the church office or call Lee Adler.

Pat Yourself On the Back

Heifer International has acknowledged receipt of our gift of $888.06. These funds are your generous re-sponse to the Religious Education Heifer program.

Official acknowledgment has been received from the Grateful Gobbler Walk. More than $7,000 will be dis-tri-buted through the Homeless Coalition, thanks to you and the efforts of others in this ministry.

Church members and friends continue to share their bounty with those in need. Thank you!

Mulch Party Report

The mulch party was a smash! When you see them, please thank the party people listed below, because they picked up and delivered 14 loads of mulch for the playground. Our brief “Thank you” during the worship service of February 21 was incomplete, so here they are, all the Mulchers of Missionary Ridge:

BILL BERRY, JAMES JOYNER, TONJA MILNER, JERRY SMITH, BILL KURTZ, TONIA DURAND, SCOTT EVANIETZ, DOLORES WOOD, JESSE MOZZINI, NANCY ANDERSON, BONNY SINCLAIR, DUNCAN SINCLAIR AND THE HELMHOLTZ FAMILY: KEITH the trucker, SONJA the photographer, CAITLIN, who watched the children, the Master Raker SKYLER, and SAMANTHA, who apprenticed every job.

Thank You!

Special Service March 6

by Rev. Jeff Briere
The theme of our canvass last spring was “Weaving our Paths Together” and we will do that in a literal sense for our service on Sunday March 6th. We will create a tapestry that represents our lives as we weave them together to make a community. Dolores has crafted a bowl–shaped frame from branches and other natural items. She strung the bowl with yarn in one direction to make the “warp” of the tapestry. We will place small ribbons, papers, leaves and other light weight items between the strands of yarn to make the “weft” of the tapestry. What we place in the warp will represent what we bring to the community. Or what the com-munity brings to us.

For example, a woman with a newborn baby boy might place an inch-long blue ribbon in the strands to repre-sent the birth of her son, something that was extremely important to her and during which she received support from the congregation. A couple who were married in the church might place a small wedding photo in the tapestry. The children have already woven their items into the yarn, so they will lead us in this service.

Some suggestions for the item you bring are: feathers, leather, yarn, photos, papers, ribbons, dried flowers, leaves, raffia and strips of cloth. You can attach a small item, like a sea shell or a button, by tying it to your item. Remember though, that your item should not be heavy and slippery like a bowling ball nor large and cumbersome, like a sheet of plywood.

Whatever you bring, it is best if it’s oblong in shape, about 6 inches or less, and lightweight. A collection of items will be available for visitors and those who couldn’t find just the right thing.

mUUsic Jam

If you play a musical instrument—guitar, mandolin, flute, drums or kazoo, if you like to play or sing, please join us for the next mUUsic jam. Everyone is invited and players of all skill levels are welcome. Even if you just want to listen, please join us. March 19th, 3:30 pm at the church. Bring music or chord charts.