the nUUsletter

Nursing, Partners & the Laundry

by the Rev. Jeff Briere

As you probably know, Kate fell and fractured her leg a few weeks ago. Being that I am her partner and spouse, I was appointed the full–time position of Charge Nurse for her recovery. This is in addition to my duties as a homeowner, minister, cat daddy and goldfish rancher. As a perk of my new position, I was also given all transportation responsibilities, the cuisine directorate, the security detail, the agriculture department and the cleaning brigade to administer.

With absolutely no experience in this field, I know how Michael Brown felt when he was appointed head of FEMA: I only got this job because of who I know.

However, the troops rallied to my side and brought over dinner for a few days and I learned several things about partners, nursing, broken bones and laundry technique.

First thing I learned is that I don’t know from nothin’ about broken bones. I thought Kate had a bad sprain. I was operating under the delusion that if you could walk on it, it wasn’t broken. And she could walk on it. Sorta. Come to find out, she fractured her fibula in a couple of places. The fibula is the smaller outside bone that goes southward from your knee to your ankle. So I learned not to trust my medical judgement until I graduate from medical school.

Second thing I learned is that I ain’t a very good nurse. Oh, I can do nursing all right. I am just not very imaginative about it; intuition, at least in nursing, is not my strong suit. I am continually asking Kate what I can do or what I can get her and she is always asking for something, like her favorite blue shirt (She has a favorite?) or her best black pair of pants (Which of the 73 pairs does she want?) Trying to figure it out myself is like looking at a Chinese newspaper and trying to figure out which movie to see.

Third thing I learned is that one’s partner or spouse does an awful lot behind one’s back to make everything run smoothly. When she’s able, Kate does the laundry around here. She usually won’t let me touch it because she knows I’ll turn everything pink. Or gray. But now she can’t walk down the stairs to the laundry room, so she reluctantly lectures me in Laundry Technique 101. I am here to tell you that doing the laundry the right way—her way—is a big pain in the . . . Well, let’s just say that I am learning to be a better laundryman.

So this holiday season will be a learning one for me. I hope to be a better nurse and a better scullery maid by the time she’s on her feet, which she hopes, will be in time for a New Year’s party.

I think I hear someone calling my name again. God bless nurses and their patients. Happy holidays.

Note of Gratitude

Pat Mann and her family wish to thank the many people who contributed their time and talents to the establishment of the new playground. It is a wonderful memorial to Wendell E. Mann and the family appreciates all who helped.

Thank you so much.

Twisted Knitters Kick it up a Notch!

Invoking the spirit of Emeril, the Twisted Knitters will meet at the khurch at 7 pm, Monday December 5th. Kome join them for kollegiality, koffee, konversation and of kourse, knitting!

CHIONS

The speaker for CHIONS on December 10th is Diane Richardson. Diane will discuss body-mind connections. While we may think of stress responses as two-fold— fight or flight—Ms. Richardson will present four different stress responses tied to different energy styles. Diane Richardson has a Master’s degree in counseling from UTC and is interested in body centered psycho-therapies. The meeting begins at 10:30 am.

CHIONS

The speaker for CHIONS on December 10th is Diane Richardson. Diane will discuss body-mind connections. While we may think of stress responses as two-fold— fight or flight—Ms. Richardson will present four different stress responses tied to different energy styles. Diane Richardson has a Master’s degree in counseling from UTC and is interested in body centered psychotherapies. The meeting begins at 10:30 am.

Art on the Walls

For December, the artwork hung on the walls of the sanctuary is that of our children. Thanks to all the parents and children who contributed to this display.

Book Club Takes a Break

The Book Club is on vacation until Thursday, January 19th at 7 pm. At that time, they will discuss The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer.

The Interdependent Web

by Steve Hollingsworth

A belief is a lever that, once pulled, moves almost everything else in a person’s life. Are you a scientist? A liberal? A racist? These are merely species of belief in action. —Sam Harris, The End of Faith

In my column I usually walk to the beat of a different drummer because I want to reflect and amplify a wider Unitarian Universalist perspective as it overlaps and differs from what we're used to at the church. So it is a departure for me, starting this month, that I deliberately pick up the thread Rev. Jeff Briere started in his sermon The End of Faith, after the book by Sam Harris.

The sumo wrestler Jeff said he met in Harris wears another face of the “F” word, faith, that I wrote about last month. That column, in turn, was underlain by my ongoing concern that Americans may be flirting with an irreversible decline of civil society. So much of what I am and I believe in seems implacably set against other beliefs. In short, because our survival may depend on it, I want our church community to focus on this issue together.

Eventually, Harris wants us to abandon faith, but first, he poses three hypothetical situations and asks you how your life would change if you believed it.

In holiday spirits I’ll imagine believing his second pro-position, that I’ve “just won a lottery prize of one hun-dred million dollars.” Wow!

Even though I’ll get only about $2.9 million immediately because it will be paid over twenty years and there’s a significant tax bite to be paid, I can see I need some advice. I don’t need to change my lifestyle much be-cause all that I want is to live with the comfort I have now and to leave as much as possible to the causes I care about when I’m gone. I’ll want to ally with or perhaps create a foundation. I’ll contact the UUA planned giving specialists for a start. When I first talk to them they will be dumbfounded!

Uh-oh. Harris knew what comes next and wanted you to see it too. The UUA consultants will check the lists of lottery winners and where is my name? “Jeff,” they’ll call and say, “One of your parishioners is unhinged.”

Now consider the barbarity that begins when my belief cannot be tested in the here and now. Because you do not believe the way I do, you will be cast into everlasting fire when you die and you cannot prove me wrong!

I’d love to see us all read and talk about The End of Faith. Faith is a cornerstone American value but we need to find how to speak with one voice that faith without proof is bad public policy.

Green Sanctuary Initiative

Sandy Kurtz, Chair

Green Gifts for Christmas. What to give? Last minute need? How about a Green Basket, filled with Fair Share organic coffee (regular, decaf, or whole bean), Fair Share hot chocolate mix, Fair Share organic tea. You also may get some for yourself. Available in the fellowship hall after Sunday services. With your purchase you make a statement for social justice.

Green Teams—One EcoTeam is off and running; a second is in the forming stage. Don't miss out on the fun. Through participation you meet others and practice green stewardship. Call Buck O’Rear or Sandy Kurtz if interested.
Green Date—The community Rachel Carson dinner is planned for Saturday April 29. Vegetarian and catered. Attendance is not restricted to church members and Interfaith Power & Light members. Should be fun.

2006 Dates to Remember— church-wide get-together February 18; Canvass dinner March 17; Seder Supper April 13; and Rachel Carson dinner April 29.

Green Community—The local chapter of the Interfaith Power & Light group is meeting again, and considering an all-day youth gathering with a green action film, food, and fellowship.

Green Name Change—The UUA 7th Principle Project has changed its name to the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth. Our church is actively involved in becoming accredited as a Green Sanctuary, a two-year procedure through this ministry. In addition to churches, individuals are now being encouraged to become members as well. For more information, write them at PO Box 11, Lyme, NH 03768. Membership is $35. Write to .

We are also invited to write to UUA President William G. Sinkford if we approve of the UUA’s environmental thrust.

Green Promises to Keep—We have printed a number of the Green Promises made by church members last spring. Here are others:

Give away or sell stuff you don’t need. Do not throw it away. Buy used items whenever feasible. Buy organic. Buy locally, to save energy needed for transporting from distant places.

What are you doing to promote green environmental stewardship? What else could you do?

What's Going On

by Maddie Kertay

It’s finally cold out! And more than a bit wet as I write this, but that does little to dampen my feelings about the children and my time so far as Associate DRE. It has added another helping to an already full plate—a plate that is blessed with pleasant interactions with the children or with parents about their wishes, concerns or opinions about our Way Cool Sunday School. I invite all parents to express yourselves if there are things you see that need attention in the program. I promise that in return I will do my best to pursue your concerns within reason and without compromising the program.

In exchange for that I need something from you. One of my duties is to staff the program in a ratio that provides safe care and a positive environment for all of the children in our church. To provide this positive atmosphere I need the help of all parents. I am requesting that all parents work in the Way Cool Sunday School one Sunday every other month. More information on this will be available soon but don’t let that stop you from contacting me before I get a chance to contact you.
We are doing great things in our religious education program and we want to share that with you. In November we shook the biblical family tree and learned about many things, including Old Testament families, Joseph and his colorful coat and we participated in a recreation of the Jewish Synagogue experience. We raised money for the Heifer Project with the raffle of a beautiful scarf, a crafty quilt and some delicious local apples. In December we look forward to some Holiday fun with a party. Some ideas are: an inflatable moon walk and some handson time with Waldorf style felt crafts to create the symbols of the seasons that the kids will unveil at the Christmas Eve service.

The Curriculum. It has come to my attention that some parents have questions about the biblical content of this year’s program. I spoke with some and welcome input from all. The decision to dive into biblical lore was driven by the locally strong cultural interest in biblical stories as a basis of communication and shared knowledge. It is our attempt to impart the stories of the Old Testament as just that—stories. It is with that in mind that we share the stories and myths of long ago so that our children will have a passing cultural understanding of things like, who built the Ark and why Cain and Able were not poster children for brotherly love. Of course this does not mean that all we are doing is looking at bible stories. In fact they are just a spring board to an understanding of how our Jewish and Christian Unitarian Universalist roots can blend so well into who we are today.

As we spoke of Noah and the Ark, we looked at how we could help give dignity to people all around the world with the gift of some of those very animals we spoke of in the stories. As we read of Joseph and his wonderful coat of many colors we spoke of how color makes us feel and how we can use color to help us reflect on personal traits that we want to control or extol as we look for the truth and meaning in our lives. We looked at how many similar stories are held in Greek and Native American myth and how myths and stories are one of the binding parts of our interdependent web of existence.

As always, the content of our program has been carefully researched and skillfully guided by UUA resources, but we are still open to hearing the thoughts of all parents and members. If you have further questions please contact Jeff or me (and Dolores when she is back to work), or better yet, come to a monthly RE committee meeting. Come see what we do, get involved and advocate for any changes you want to see or support the program as it stands.

Winter Holidaze Party! On December 17th from noon till 3, join us for a Winter Wonderland Potluck with a little something for everyone! Astro Jumps for those who want to crawl and bounce, board games and role play gaming for those who like their fun on solid land. Music, hot cider and maybe even some dancing so please join us for a wonderful intergenerational time!

Dec 17th noon to 3. Please bring something to nibble on, we will provide the drinks. Come ready to have lots of fun. Please note: This is not a drop off event. All parents will need to stay and have fun with their children!

Tree of Lights

Again this year, we will participate in the Chattanooga Cares annual Tree of Lights program. This program provides citizens of the Chattanooga Community, who are living with HIV/AIDS, with a special holiday gift. Chattanooga Cares requests gift certificates from the area businesses such as Hamilton Place Mall, Target, movie theaters, restaurants, and so forth. The tree in the Fellowship area will have cards with the client’s age, gender and holiday wish. Gift certificates must be to the church no later than December 11th. Let’s make this a bright and cheery season for these individuals.

Angel nUUs

Hail and hosannas for all the wonderful volunteers who lead classes for the children every Sunday.

Huzzahs and Golden Wings for Kay McCurdy, who worked with the children four Sundays in a row and Deseri Papendorp, who worked three Sundays in a row.

Silver Braids & Spangles for those who filled in one time at the last moment, above and beyond their regular time to work:

Catherine Long
Eric Papendorp
Les Kertay
Nicky Ozbek
Bonny Sinclair

Ruby Slippers and Matching Halos go to those who worked in November:

Helen Solomon
Diana Solomon
Bart Solomon
Betsy & Matt Hoyt
tom kuensh
Julie Kurtz–Kunesh
Wendy Sapp
Maurine Nichols

We must have five to six volunteers each Sunday to safely run the program. The good news is that we are blessed with five to six people each Sunday. The bad news is that it’s the same core group of people. This cannot continue. The burden of support must be spread a little more democratically through the congregation. We need the help of all parents and church members to make the church experience a good one for the children.

So volunteer. It’s not that scary. The kids don’t bite. Find Maddie and tell her when you are available.

Another Halo & Emerald Wings for Velma Whittle, who came home on Thanksgiving and gave the church some badly–needed cookware. Velma took a job on the Gulf Coast a couple months ago, but we hope she soon finds work in Tennessee.