the nUUsletter

Rehearsal Reflections

by the Rev. Jeff Briere

For many years between high school and 1993, I called myself a “Teflon© Catholic.” When I was growing up and going to St. Joan of Arc grade school and attending church six days a week, the nuns and priests who were teachers threw a lot of religion at me. None of it (or very little) stuck. That’s why I called myself a “Teflon© Catholic.”

In those years, I thought I was unchurched, that I had no use for religion. But I realized a few years ago that I actually did go to church during that time. It was the church called theatre, and the congregants were the cast and crew of the show. We had a holy book (the script); we had a minister who loved us and cared for us (the director); we met regularly (rehearsal); we had small group ministries (cast parties) and ultimately, we were engaged in a common enterprise that was bigger than we were (the play). We connected on a deeper level than people who work next to each other in an office.

Was a time I finished one show and immediately joined another. And this went on for several years. I loved going to my new church, although I didn’t know I was going to church.

In the last ten years, I’ve had few chances to be involved in a play. I missed it, but I have been absolutely entranced with my new responsibilities as minister. So I reluctantly agreed to participate in The Exonerated.

In the play, I spent most of my time out of the action, which is different for me. It’s been a long time since I played a bit part. As I sat there and watched, I noticed that when they weren’t working, the cast would talk to each other, give suggestions, help each other understand the meaning of certain passages. I could not hear their exact words, but I knew what they are saying.

They were saying, “I’m glad to be here with you. I like your work. Let’s see what we can do together.” And again I remembered what my colleague once said, “God brings people together to create something.”

Cancer and Caring

by Fred Tregaskis

You spend over fifty years of your life working hard to preserve your health and then you learn that you have an incurable disease. How should you react? How do you react?

As for the “should,” I think a reaction script could not be written for everyone. How I did react is a result of a long lifetime of being a realist. I play the cards I am dealt, always with the goal of winning. We Cornish folk are made that way.

Some chain of physiological events, unexplainable because of our lack of knowledge, caused a lung scar to form decades ago and to now become malignant. How? Why? We don’t know enough to answer these questions but, if we did, I believe the answer would be the same to both questions.

“Why me?” is a different question, but the answer still would be the same: I was the one involved in that unknown chain of events. I leave the rest to the researchers. My job is to cope with the situation as it exists.

The outpouring of concern and support from family and friends is beyond expectations. I receive calls and cards daily. Many people tell me that Chris and I are in their thoughts. Some friends and family have my name on their prayer lists.

A Seventh Day Adventist friend is talking to the Lord about me in his daily period of worship. Another friend, a Reader in the Christian Science Church, brought literature to help me understand the power of Divine Mind Healing.

While I believe that any of these actions, by themselves, will not make a difference in how successfully science can arrest the cancer, the unconditional love expressed by so many caring people makes life worth living. And, too, that love becomes the source of the energy and strength needed to fight the battle.

Worship Services and Morning Groups

Please see the Community Calendar for details on Sunday worship services and morning groups.

CHIONS

Chions meet next on November 12 at 10:30 am. The program is A Cultural Critique from a Spiritual Slant, presented by Dr. Don Klinefelter.

Dr. Klinefelter will discuss the rise of a secular culture in the West, including an increasing focus on science and secular politics. He will address religion and the state and how spirituality affects the culture. He will also share highlights of his own spiritual journey.

Twisted Knitters - Tangled Up in Blue

Bob Dylan invites all knitters to bring their knitting projects to the khurch at 7 pm, Konday, Kovember 7th. He promises kollegiality, koffee, konversation and of kourse, knitting!

The Dishwasher

Our new dishwasher is a marvel, cleaning and sanitizing a load every 90 seconds. However, the dishwasher does not scrape dishes nor scour coffee stains from inside cups. It does not automatically drain its water after the last load. And it does not shut itself off. It is not your mother’s dishwasher. Nor your father’s. Before you wash dishes, please review the helpful directions posted on the cupboard above the dishwasher. Uncle Paul sez, “Thank you.”

The Interdependent Web

by Steve Hollingsworth

We need the curiosity and courage of a new sort of Kinsey to lay out for us the facts of what our fellow human beings—and we ourselves—truly believe. For in pursuit of that knowledge, we will frequently hear things that might disturb us. —RABIA TERRI HARRIS

Local clergy must brave the accusation of meddling in politics, a charge first made no doubt by the Pharaoh against Moses. When war has a bloodstained face none of us have the right to avert our gaze. —Rev. WILLIAM SLOANE COFFIN

Rabia Terri Harris is an extraordinary woman I had never heard of until Labor Day weekend this year. A Muslim, she is co-originator, along with a Baptist peace group, of Peace Warriors: Muslim-Christian Conflict Transformation Workshops. She is the editor of the bimonthly magazine Fellowship, published by the US Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), an organization that has stood for nonviolent resistance for more than ninety years.

Ms. Harris’ January/February 2005 editorial was provocatively titled “The F Word,” as in faith. Her message was an unexpected one, from an unexpected quarter: We are a deeply and dangerously divided people for reasons of faith. Conservatives idealize right human behavior and confront real behavior with rigidity and condemnation. Liberals idealize freedom of opinion but deny and condemn real opinions of real people.

Most people consider the FOR’s positions to be ex-treme. I know that I doubt I could have embraced a pacifist position in World War II against the madness of Hitler but I do appreciate the role an organization like the FOR can play in helping us understand our full range of options.

Unitarian Universalists are also extremists in the minds of many. To praise questions instead of answers is apostasy. To say there is no god or many is heresy. Yet, we can begin with one or another of our seven principles and give reasoned alternatives beyond the paltry few debated in the local paper.

Our country is once again mired in a war where our options seem limited and our choices all seem bad. As our nation adjusts its course, I believe that as UUs we must speak up for our values in our neighborhoods and workplaces. I believe it makes a difference when our UU leaders, lay and clergy, make their voices heard. And I put far more faith in Ms. Harris’ vision of Muslim-Christian transformation than I do in America’s idea of a free and democratic Iraq.

Visit FOR at www.forusa.org. Send mail to: Fellow-ship of Reconciliation, 521 North Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960. Or call 845/358-4601.

Come to the Welcome Table

by Kate & Jeff Briere

We cannot claim credit for this idea. The minister of The First UU Society of Syracuse, the Rev. David Blanchard, cooked this one up. Nonetheless, anyone who ever had a good idea has been ripped off, so, with David’s blessing, we invite you to Thanksgiving Dinner at the church. Our contribution to the idea was to give it a good name: Come to the Welcome Table!

The rules are pretty simple:

1. Sign up if you want to participate. This is important. The roster is on the window near the kitchen.

2. We’ll prepare the turkey and stuffing.

3. Y’all come and bring a dish to pass and your own beverage.

Some folks like to eat at noon and sleep it off; others like to eat after the football games and then sleep it off. We’ll split the difference and eat at 3 pm.

Adults and children, vegetarians and omnivores, believers and infidels, turkeys and bald eagles—everyone is encouraged to make this holiday their own. We can all sit down at the welcome table.

We hope to see you Thursday, November 24th.

The Board Did It!

by Daidee Springer

At their October 12th meeting, the Board of Trustees

• Appointed Catherine Long to a three-year term on the Committee on Ministry. Other members are Linda Pehlman and Bill Keiss. Linda’s term expires at the end of this fiscal year and Bill’s expires at the end of next fiscal year.

• Confirmed their phone call vote to hire Maddie Kertay as on–site Director of Religious Education for five hours per week while Dolores Wood works fifteen hours per week from her hospital bed.

• Decided to concentrate on raising money for the Heifer Fund this year instead of participating in the Guest at Your Table drive of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. See the following article.

How You Can Help

The UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) “advances human rights and social justice around the world, partnering with those who confront unjust power structures, and mobilizing to challenge oppressive policies.” It’s an associate member of the Unitarian Universalist Association, but receives no general financial support from the UUA. Because of what might be called extenuating circumstances, we won’t participate in their Guest at Your Table drive this year. In lieu of this, we encourage you to become a member of the UUSC. You can do that for only $40. Your unrestricted gift of $75 or more will be matched dollar for dollar by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, NY. Shelter Rock is also matching each dollar given after October 1 to the joint UUA–UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund. In addition, the UUA and UUSC are appealing for relief funds to aid victims of the devastating earthquake in South Asia and floods in Transylvania. To learn more about UUSC membership or to make a donation, visit www.uusc.org. If you don’t have access to the Internet or simply want more information, check with Jeff Briere or Daidee Springer.

Green Sanctuary Initiative

by Sandy Kurtz

Ecoteam Begins. Excitement mounts as our first Green Action EcoTeam starts a series of meetings this month! Sheila Carman, Pat Fogarty, Carol Hobbs, Mary Hunter and Marjorie Pasch are the members. They aim to create a smaller footprint on the Earth through actions at home. Please contact Buck O’Rear if you would like to be part of a second Green Action EcoTeam.

Holidays Coming Soon. When November arrives, you know it’s not long until gift giving is in order. Many are already enjoying our fair trade organic coffee available Sundays. Soon, you will be able to purchase not only ground regular and decaf coffee, but whole bean coffee, hot chocolate mix and organic tea. Individually each is an excellent small gift or put several together in a basket for a special seasonal gift. You will also be making a statement for social justice when you purchase these free trade items.

Improvements Added Outdoors. Thanks to those who participated in our fall work day especially Nancy Anderson who led the day, to Pat Fogarty who put in the oak–leaf hydrangea by the steps to the lower parking lot, to Jeff Briere, who hacked away a ton of privet around the sign and to Claire Hale who provided food. Plan to help the next time for continued privet attack.

IPL Makes Plans. The Chattanooga Chapter of the Interfaith Power & Light group recently met in the church to set directions. Representatives from Catholic, Quaker, Unity, Congregational and Unitarian Universalist denominations decided a city–wide film festival and youth rally might be just the path to greater awareness of stewardship in churches. Plans are not yet in place. Volunteers are needed. Contact Sandy Kurtz if you are interested in being part of this initiative.

The Book Club Sez: Read This!

The Book club meets at 7 pm November 17th to discuss A Thread of Grace, by Mary Doria Russell.

What's Goin' On

by Maddie Kertay

Just last week, after service, while watching over the children that had not connected with their parents, I heard a woman I don’t know well ask nobody in particular where all the children had come from. Indeed there were kids everywhere, some laughing, some crying, some wanting to play outside and some just wanting to go home to eat some lunch. While it was nothing that fazed this mother of five I can see how it might have been a bit of a shock to someone who did not live a kid–cultured life. I told her that they had come from downstairs, from Way Cool Sunday School, full of the joyful noise of the day. She said, “Ah, I always wondered what went on down there.”

It occurred to me that if you don’t have kids and you’re not on the volunteer teacher roster (I need to talk to you about that!) that you might not really know what we have been doing underneath the worship service each Sunday.

For October we continued our exploration of Old Testament stories with a fun and informative look at the story of Noah and the Ark. In addition to this we launched our yearly Heifer Project with great success. Watching our children come to an empowered understanding that no matter how young they are, they can do a project and raise money that will make a real difference in the life of another child. Well. Let’s just say, “Pass the tissue please!”

The younger groups of children combined a look at Noah’s furry and feathered shipmates with a look at those animals most needed by the Heifer Project. While it was agreed by all that it indeed would be cool to send some giraffes, it was also agreed that it would be much more practical to send a litter of piglets to those in need. To that end, for two Sundays the children worked on quilt squares that will be put together into a quilt that will be raffled the last Sunday of the month and the first Sunday of November.

The children also explored Noah’s crew by making a large “Animals of the Ark” mobile which is hanging downstairs for all to admire when they tour the classrooms. We have been exploring having the different age groups together in a shared classroom and it has been delightful to see the genuine friendships developing between children of all ages as they work side by side on their projects.

In November we are going to be shaking the biblical family tree by looking at stories about the matriarchs and patriarchs of biblical lore. Along with this we will be talking about families and their place in our lives. I expect this to be an enriching experience for all. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me during the time I serve as Interim DRE, and after that, please check with Dolores when she is back at the helm.

Wednesday Night Out

After a summer slump, Wednesday Night Out is making a comeback! This is a relaxing and fun way to meet other members of the church. Each week a different restaurant, everyone goes Dutch and it begins about 6:30. Call Leslie Walters.

See the Community Calendar for details.

Angel nUUs

Hail and hosannas for everyone involved with The Exonerated.

Holy Hosannas to KENT SLAWSON who built the risers for the right hand side of the stage. A pair of golden wings for LESLIE WALTERS who took charge throughout rehearsal and performance. A better production stage manager does not exist. Many thanks to Loud Angel TONIA DURAND who assisted Leslie with lights and crowd control. Other angels flying in and out were JESSE MOZZINI, JOE LEWIS, CATHERINE LONG, PRISCILLA KING, CHRIS TREGASKIS, LESLIE & BUCK O’REAR, ALEX KING, ROGER DAVIS, NICKY OZBEK, SHELA VANNESS, MARGE PASCH, LINDA HELTON, LEE & PAUL ADLER, MADDIE KERTAY and NANCY ANDERSON.

Huzzahs for the cast: RICH DWYER, JERRY SMITH, MICHAEL WALTERS, LINDA PEHLMAN and JEFF BRIERE.
And of course, a very big huzzah for KATE BRIERE, who molded this show into something everyone could be proud of.

Thank you all so much.

Editor Angel Needed

The nUUsletter needs a new editor. The current editor finds that he must devote more time to other important areas and thus has less time to edit the newsletter. The benefits are too numerous to mention here. The requirements for this job are few, but critical: The editor must be proficient with a word processing program and must have an e-mail account. Desirable traits are timeliness, consistency, an awareness of style and attention to detail. If interested, see Jeff Briere.

Unitarian Universalist Receives President's Volunteer Service Award

Dr. Raymond Goodman, a retired medical doctor and professor and active Unitarian Universalist, received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President George W. Bush on Thursday, October 20, 2005, at the Los Angeles International Airport. The award honored the 85-year-old Goodman for his three years of work with the Medical Reserve Corps of Los Angeles, a national volunteer group set up after September 11th to assist during natural disasters or a terrorist attack. Goodman is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica External Site and has observed that his commitment to generosity and wish to make the world a better place has been nurtured by Santa Monica minister emeritus the Rev. Ernest Pipes and current minister the Rev. Judith Meyer.

Art on the Walls

We thank Robin Townsend for sharing her art with us. A native New Englander, Robin discovered painting upon moving to the mountains of Tennessee. “Painting provides an escape from many of the demands and stresses of daily living. I see art as a mode of communicating the inner heart and bringing levity to others. I want to lighten people’s days.”

With a Master’s and Phi Beta Kappa honors from Middlebury College and with workshops at the Taos Institute, Robin’s colorful, often whimsical landscapes and figurative imagery has brought her recognition in national and international competitions and has brought gallery representation in Georgia, California, Rhode Island, Utah and Tennessee.