the nUUsletter

Friends You Haven't Met

by the Rev. Jeff Briere

There are two things that are difficult for many people to do: speak in public and meet new people. We seem to excel at both. I see no reluctance to share personal tragedy or triumph with the congregation and to seek solace within the community. In our worship service, we use the time of candles with great sensitivity. We share from the heart and that enhances our service and connects us each to the other.

When I speak to visitors, they invariably tell me that the church is welcoming and friendly, that they were made to feel welcome and at ease when they visited. And at those times, I feel proud that we welcome new people with such a generous spirit. It shows that we want to share what we found at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga.

I know that it can be intimidating to introduce yourself to visitors. You may have no idea what to say. You certainly have no idea what a visitor will say. And don’t think it’s easy for visitors. It’s even more intimidating to insert yourself into a group of people you’ve never met. Visitors are just as nervous as you are; every visitor is thinking nearly the same thoughts as you are.

So, after introducing yourself, you can ask questions. Every visitor has a story to tell you. And you have a story to tell your new friend. I know you’ll enjoy the conversation.

Below is a part of a letter from Marge Pasch, who has graciously allowed me to share it with the congregation. Although Marge wrote it about Fred Tregaskis, it touches on the welcoming and friendly atmosphere at our church. She writes, “It was meeting Fred that let me know I had come to the right church.

“Although not traditionally religious, I had started attending services at the Unitarian Universalist church last March. The third or fourth time I came, Jeff asked the members to twine into a large grapevine wreath on the wall something that symbolized their connection to others. A handsome dark-haired man wove the tip of a pine bough into the wreath, saying, ‘When I walk in the woods, I feel as if I am in a church.’ A soul mate!

“After the service, I asked Jeff who the man in the maroon blazer was, and he said, ‘Oh, that’s Fred Tregaskis. Let me introduce you.’

“Not only was Fred a kindred spirit of mine in our shared feelings of the spirituality of forests and woods, he and my husband, Ron, shared a love of hunting and of being outdoors. Whenever Ron attended services, he and Fred would confer on hunting, past, present, or future. When Fred’s health prevented him from hunting this year, Ron enjoyed sharing with him all the details of his own experiences.

“It is not easy to come to a new church where everyone seems to already know everyone else. For both Ron and me, Fred was a friendly face in the crowd, someone who always made us feel welcome and glad that we’d come. We always looked forward to talking to him.

“One day early this winter after we left church, I suggested to Ron, ‘When Fred is feeling better, let’s have him and Chris come for dinner.’ Ron enthusiastically agreed.

“Just a few weeks ago Fred e-mailed us a recipe for venison sausage and peppers, following an interesting conversation about venison cooking. I hope Fred was able to look at the recipes I mailed him. I regret that he was never able to taste our venison sausage because this year we made all our various batches with lots of garlic, something Fred said he had to avoid. Now when I make sausage and peppers using his recipe, I will treasure all over again the time we spent talking to him.

I know Ron will miss his friendship. Fred once told Ron that they were probably the only two Unitarian Universalists who hunted. They understood each other.

“Fred was a special person, a special friend. We will miss him.”

Perhaps one thing Fred left to all of us is his welcoming and open attitude towards friends he hadn’t met.

Interfaith Hospitality Network

From April 23 to April 30, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga will host up to eleven people from the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN). IHN is national in scope, helping families with children who are in danger of homelessness by pairing them with host churches who provide temporary shelter, meals, and support services. In the Chattanooga area, our church is one of 40 churches that work together hosting families for one week, three times a year. During the day the families go to the Community Kitchen or to other activities designed to help them become independent, and each night they return to the church.

New IHN coordinators Marge Pasch and Harold Linn need your help in providing meals, acting as evening or overnight hosts, driving a van on the weekend, and helping to unload the van and set up beds. Especially needed is a Food Coordinator who will be in charge of buying groceries for breakfasts, lunches, and desserts. It is helpful for the Food Coordinator to live near the church. Also needed is an Activities Coordinator who will organize games and activities for the children or schedule for individual members to come for one evening to entertain the children.

Harold Linn will be coordinator for transportation and setup. Marge Pasch will be general coordinator. Please call if you can help, or sign up on the Volunteer Board which will be in Fellowship Hall after each service, starting March 26. A successful hosting requires all of us to pitch in and help!

The New UU

In April, the Rev. Jeff Briere will conduct an orientation program for new members and for people who wish to know more about Unitarian Universalism and this church. The New UU consists of three meetings, April 4, 11 and 18, at 7 pm at the church.

Topics to be covered include your own religious journey, an abbreviated history of Unitarian Universalism and this church, and the governance structure of the church and the Unitarian Universalist Association. Time is provided to ask and answer questions.

To sign up, use the roster on the minister’s door or send a message to the minister.

Passover Seder

Our annual Passover Seder dinner is scheduled for Friday, April 14 at 6:30 pm. Since children play an important role at Passover we are especially eager to have young families join us. We will read from a modern UU-friendly Haggadah and eat traditional foods. Matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, charoset (a wonderful mix of apples, wine, nuts, and honey), beef brisket, chicken, and an array of scrumptious unleavened desserts will be provided by the "committee." Wine and grape juice will also be provided. Participants are asked to bring a vegetable or salad to feed about eight people. This is a kosher event-as much as possible-so please don't use or bring any dairy, bread or other flour products. If in doubt, just ask Lee Adler, Helen Solomon, or Daidee Springer. In addition to bringing a vegetable or salad there will be charge of $6 per adult, $3 for children aged 4-12, and children under 4 are free. To reserve your place at the table, please notify the office by Monday, April 10. This is always an inspiring, fun, and fulfilling (pun intended) event. Come one, come all.

The Interdependent Web

by Steve Hollingsworth

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. --Alphonse Karr

In my last column I was anticipating our trip to Mexico City and looking at what I could see from a distance of our Unitarian Universalist movement as it struggles to gain a foothold among Spanish speakers.

However many times it happens to me, I'm still surprised when my first-hand experiences give me a storyline that just doesn't connect well to what I thought I saw at a distance. The on-the-ground story of a budding Unitarian Universalist fellowship I saw in Mexico City isn't worlds apart culturally. It's a work in progress that seems ever-so-much like the stories of countless Unitarian Universalist churches in the United States. I think its story is nevertheless important because of its unique position as the first Spanish-speaking Unitarian Universalist group in Mexico.

As yet the group doesn't even have a name. Unitarian Universalists are invited to come to the Casa de los Amigos Quaker meeting house at 5:30 pm on the second and fourth Saturdays. They've only been meeting a few months and recently changed from meeting just once a month. When we visited, six adults and one child were there besides us visitors. About eight people are considered regulars.

I met the beautiful man who got it started. Francisco Javier Lagunes Gaitán discovered Unitarian Universalism from an Internet test called Belief-O-Matic at beliefnet.com. As is so commonplace among members of our congregations, he was surprised to learn that a whole religious movement already existed where he could really feel at home. As an activist already, Lagunes organized.

An expatriate Bostonian and long-time Unitarian Universalist has found the group and is offering some gentle counsel. From the beginning they have lit a chalice and passed the hat [literally!]--comfortable ritual and necessary commitment.

In 2004 I offered greetings from our Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga to the Unitarian Universalists of Transylvania County at the dedication of their own building. Just a few years earlier I had sat in a classroom at Brevard College while their pioneers carried on with no minister, a boombox for music, and a dream of what they could be. Fifty-some years ago our Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga founders met in the courthouse in Chattanooga--the time was different but the dream was much the same.

We introduced John and Alan, our Unitarian Universalist friends and hosts in Mexico City, to Lagunes and the Unitarian Universalist group. Make the connections, live through the mistakes, be in the moment. Things change but stay the same.

President's Perspective

by Daide Springer

Spring training is just about over and major league baseball will begin in earnest in less than a week. For me, this is always a time of renewal and hope. Time to hope against hope that this year will be “next year” for my beloved, beleaguered Chicago Cubs. Spring awakens my dreams.

Awakening dreams? That sounds familiar… Ah yes! It’s the theme of this year’s stewardship campaign! As I write, it’s far too early to assess the campaign’s progress. But it’s spring and I have hopes. High hopes. Awakening dreams.

I dream of a church with more storage space. I dream of a church packed with meetings of all kinds, day and night. I dream of a church that has new carpeting and new, comfortable, matching chairs in the sanctuary. I dream of a church that needs to expand its physical facility because it’s overflowing. I dream of a generous church that supports community organizations with both money and energy. And I dream of a church whose generosity builds a greater good, making a difference in our community and in our world.

Some of my previous dreams for this (not that!) church have become realities. There’s a palpable energy and cohesiveness in the congregation and we’re growing. It’s thrilling to welcome new members and embrace their wonderful energy, talents, and ideas.

Our quality of ministry is fantastic. That goes for lay ministry as well as professional ministry. So many members of this congregation reach out and are there whenever and wherever needed. We have a core of volunteers who care for the building, the grounds, the kitchen, the finances, and most importantly, each and every one of us.

Thanks to the combined efforts and talents of Dolores Wood and Maddie Kertay, Children’s Religious Education has developed into an exciting program that attracts, keeps, and excites youngsters of all ages.

I don’t think the game of baseball is doing nearly as well as we are. I'm appalled at the arrogance and greed of both the owners and the players. But I still love the game. I love the game for its grace and beauty and infinite possibility. I love the game for its beautiful parks (most especially Wrigley Field, although BellSouth Park ain’t all that bad) and for the sounds of the crowd.

Fred Tregaskis shared my love of baseball. I miss our many baseball conversations and his wise counsel about the life of our congregation. Quite simply, I miss Fred. We each had faith in the game of baseball and in this church and its awakening dreams. Words from “Rank by Rank” (hymn #358) sum up my feelings. His dreams must now “be ours to do, hope [his] hopes, and seal them true.” Play ball!

Our Interactive Tradition

If you like Coffee Hour, you'll love our newest web-site feature: Discussion Forums! Our internet gremlins, powered only by fair trade coffee and sheer cussedness, have added this feature for you. We hope you will take advantage of it for a variety of worthwhile purposes, and for fun.

For example, you may enjoy the occasional kvetch... no really - some Unitarian Universalists do. Something Jeff said from the pulpit merit elaboration? Or get under your skin? Add your two bits in the discussion board on recent services!

There just isn't enough time during our Sunday morning announcements to keep everyone abreast of everything going on of interest to our wonderfully active church-goers. There isn't enough room in our nUUsletter to feature every worthwhile event of interest to individuals within our congregation. You know about the Strides of March (no? Check the nUUsletter from March!), but you may not know about the Relay for Life to support cancer research and treatment. If not, I'll be posting details about it on the Events and Projects board as the time draws near. You, too, can publicize church-related or community actions important to you, and even solicit help, without even cornering likely targets during Coffee Hour!

What's your bag? Music, art, books, theology, science? Kibitz with others who share those interests. You're sure to find an appropriate forum to discuss them, and if not, the gremlins can produce one for you!

Enjoy civil debate? Do it on the discussion boards with people who hold a variety of interesting views, so long as you remember the "civil" part. Friendly social chat? It's there. All this system needs are some thoughtful people to come and breathe life into it. That means you. Come and enjoy.

CHIONS

On April 8 from 10:30-12:00, CHIONS will meet at the church. Dr. Olin Ivey, Associate for Stewardship and Outreach at Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC), will be speaking on Creating a Sustainable Society. Dr. Ivey defines a sustainable society as “attempting to live in conscious concert with nature.”

Each participant is asked to come prepared to share one aspect of his or her life which demonstrates how to live sustainably on a daily basis. What does sustainability mean for my own life?

Religious Education: Springing Along

by: Maddie Kertay

Summer Religious Education: April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. But already my yard is filled with bright spots of color as daffodils, crocus and pansies are all displaying their sweet faces. This show of color not only lets me know that spring has sprung but that it's time to plan for the summer. I have accepted the board's offer to continue as Interim Director of Religious Education through summer as to give our beloved Dolores all the healing time she needs. Some might wonder why I would already be thinking about summer when we are only just now past our frost date. Much like the retail world that tries it's best to sell us parkas in July and bikinis in January a good summer Religious Education program takes time to plan and now is the time.

Soon I will be asking families about their expected level of summer participation. Historically, many Unitarian Universalist congregations gather and communicate outside of their churches during the summer, thus their churches do not hold service in the summer months. We are blessed to have a Church that sees year-round fellowship as a need they are happy to meet, and, although the Minister takes a well deserved break from the pulpit, church members meet to hear a variety of speakers. Religious Education does not end during the summer either. We switch gears a bit but we are still there for the kids each week and we want to know if your will be joining us. So watch for a summer participation questionnaire very soon. I have some great plans brewing and would hate for anyone to miss out!

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail: Come and join us on the bunny trail! Easter Sunday is April the 16th and we are going to celebrate with an old fashioned Egg Roll, Candy Hunt and Easter Bonnet (or cap) parade! So join us after service in your Easter best for a very hoppy time! (If it threatens to rain our parade and festivities will be moved inside).

CUUL Kids: Congratulations go to Matt Long, Cameron Zeigler, Claire Ballew and Chris Ballew, members of the 2006 Middle School Model UN delegation representing Ireland. These 4 fantastic Unitarian Universalist kids were part of the homeschool team of 12 that totally blew away the competition in this year’s proceedings against 200 other public and private school students in the area. Tell them congratulations when you see them!

Ask Cameron Z. Aaron L. where they are going this summer.

Would it thrill your child to see their name in the newsletter? If so just write me next time something cool occurs, and I will do my best to make sure it makes its way into the CUUL kids section!

The Board Did It!

by Daidee Springer

At their March 8th meeting, the Board

• Unanimously approved a preliminary proposed budget with a bottom line of $158,721.

• Approved by consensus the President’s recommendation to have a plaque installed in the Emerson Room honoring Fred Tregaskis.

• Voted unanimously to require a sexton at all “non -church” meetings.

• Voted unanimously to ask Maddie Kertay to continue as Interim DRE at least through the end of the Summer Program of 2006. The Board also committed to revisiting her status at the June board meeting.

• Appointed David Reed chair of an adhoc committee to oversee development of the Monique Lewis Bird Sanctuary.

Annual Meeting of the Thomas Jefferson District

The Annual Meeting of the Thomas Jefferson District will be held April 21 – 22, 2006 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, North Carolina.

The theme of the Annual Meeting is Singing the Journey. The keynote speaker will be the Reverend Rosemary Bray McNatt, Minister of the Universalist Society in New York City whose keynote address will be Joy of a Liberal Faith.

The registration packet and information can be found online at http://www.tjd.uua.org/tjd-2006annual-meeting-details.htm.

Pagan Study Group

Pagan Study Group meets the first Sunday of each month at 9:30 am. Everyone is welcome! For more information contact the church office.

Books, Books, and More Books

The Book Club will meet on April 20, 7:00pm. The discussion will be on Zadie Smith’s book titled White Teeth. Everyone is invited to participate and to suggest books for the next three months.

Green Sanctuary Initiative

by: Sandy Kurtz

Privet Attacks Confirmed: Numerous privet plants were stopped in their tracks during our Spring Privet Party. Ripped from their roots, the unfortunate privet surrendered to the compost heap. In addition, our intrepid crew weeded and beautified the flower beds at the church entrance, trimmed and pruned bushes, and seeded the lower parking lot bank with wildflowers. Thanks especially to J.R. Nowlin, owner of Cut Rite Lawn Service, who showed up with valuable equipment for the tasks and a pickup truck full of mulch. Other warriors were Nancy Anderson, George Helton, Bill Kurtz, Sandy Kurtz, Jesse Mozzini, Chris McKenzie, and Jerry Smith, The privet insurgency is still devious and persistent, but our strong UU front will not run.

Rachel Carson Dinner Date Rescheduled: Numerous conflicts caused a change in our Rachel Carson dinner from April 29 to June 2. Please mark your calendar. The dinner will be open to the public. Please volunteer to be on the planning committee. Contact Linda Helton.

Hale Brings Energy DVD to Forum: Thanks to Claire Hale, Forum participants were able to view “Kilowatt Ours” in March. The DVD shows in compelling fashion the connection between the devastation to our natural resources and our electricity use in our homes. Here in Chattanooga, 65% of your electricity comes from coal burning while only 10% is from dams. That coal comes from mountain top removal and strip mining processes that ruin the lay of the land, poison streams, eliminate natural ecosystems, and destroy communities while bringing health problems and dangerous working conditions to miners. There are solutions. We want to show the DVD in other venues at the church or for the community. If you have suggestions for times or places it might be shown, contact Sandy Kurtz.

Have you signed up for Green Power? For $4 a month you can get 150 kilowatt hours produced by solar, wind, or methane from waste. Call EPB, go to http://www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch/, or contact your local energy provider, for more information. Let us know if you sign up.

How Much Do You Know About Global Warming?
Environmental Defense has put forth a quiz on global warming. Find the quiz at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/quiz.cfm. Here’s one question:

Q. What happened to the residents of the coastal Lateu settlement on the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu in 2005?

• They had to be treated for heat stroke and sunburns.
  
• They had to move inland to avoid rising sea levels.
  
• They stopped fishing and opened a new resort for tourists.
  
• All of the above

[for answer, click and drag cursor over the area below]
The answer is "They had to move inland to avoid rising sea levels."

In August 2005, rising seas forced 100 people of the Lateu settlement in Vanuatu to move hundreds of yards inland. This may be the first example of a coastal village displaced by sea level rise brought on by global warming.

Angel nUUs

Once again, the angels have been flying around our church quietly doing
things that need to be done.

J.R. Nolan and Nancy Anderson are awarded the order of the golden halo with diamond trim for continuing the pansy tradition begun by Velma Whittle. They planted the beautiful pansies in front of the church.

The entire Privet Patrol is inducted into the Angel Hall of Fame and awarded silver slippers and golden wings for their work beautifying the grounds. See the Green Sanctuary Initiative article on p. 5 for more information.

The membership committee is awarded silver and ruby wings for the wonderful welcome they gave new members.

Thank you, angels!