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UU Visalia Quick Links
Home Page:
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Calendar for September 2007
9/2/07,
5PM Worship Service - "Worship." Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay - last
of summer discussion series.
6:45 PM - Drum Circle resumes.
9/9/07, 5PM Worship Service - Ingathering "Who Is Your God?" (and what is your spiritual type)
6PM - Green Sanctuary & Social Justice Team meets during the potluck after the service.
Monday, September 10, 7PM. Harold & Janet's house - UUFV Board Meeting
Thursday, September 13, 7 PM, Worship Ministry Team meeting at Marilyn & David's house.
Sunday Service, 9/16/07, 5PM- "What Does It Mean to Be at Peace?"
We shall practice being at peace, and visualize a world at peace beginning with ourselves. Come prepared to participate in a guided meditation, to sing songs of peace, and to listen to the sounds of Native American flutes.
9/16/07, 6:15, Friends Meeting Sunroom - DVD and discussion about Welcoming the Newcomer / Ideas for Growth from other UU congregations.
9/23/07, 5PM - The Autumnal Equinox, with Croning Ritual
Sunday, September 30, 3:30 PM - Newcomer Orientation for the 10/18/07 New Member welcoming ceremony.
9/30/07, 5PM - "Sukkot - Festival of Tabernacles"
The 5PM Worship Service is followed by a light potluck supper at 6 PM to which all are welcome!
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WORSHIP SERVICE DETAILS
September
2 5PM
will be the last of our summer Emerson discussion series.
6:45
PM - Drum Circle resumes.
September 9 5PM Worship Service will feature our annual Ingathering and consideration of "Who Is Your God?" As we recollect our summer journeys, and celebrate our diversity through the sharing of water from the various places we have visited, we will seek to identify what our spiritual type is as well as our spiritual tradition. Which of the four spiritual types are you? With which of the seven traditions are you most comfortable? Come take the test and find out.
September 16 5PM "What Does It Mean to Be at Peace?" We shall practice being at peace, and visualize a world at peace beginning with ourselves. Come
prepared to participate in a guided meditation, to sing songs of peace,
and to listen to the sounds of Native American flutes.
September 23 5PM
- The Autumnal Equinox is upon us, and the wheel of the year makes another turn. Wiccans call the time Mabon, and we shall celebrate by participating in a "Croning Ritual". This is for all women who having reached the age of fifty, or having gone through menopause, or having become a grandmother, or having decided, for a reason deemed right by the woman herself, that it is now appropriate to claim this status. Men are also welcome and encouraged to be there as support and to help empower the women. In order to prepare everything needed, it would be helpful to know how many will be participating in the ritual itself. Please
make your reservation with Marilyn Giese, at 687-1891 or mjgiese_weaver@yahoo.com
September 30 5PM - Known more widely by the term "Festival of Tabernacles", Sukkot is celebrated for seven days and begins on the fifth day after Yom Kippur. Come
and find out what a sukkah is,
what each of the seven days celebrates, and the significance of this holy
day in relationship to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is suggested for potluck that we try some Jewish recipes. A
good source for these would be: http://www.epicurious.com/tools/browseresults?type=browse&att=17
MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS
September 9 at 6 PM - Green Sanctuary & Social
Justice Team will meet at 6 PM during the potluck in the Sunroom at the Meeting House after the service. Everyone welcome to help plan our new year finding opportunities to make a difference!
September 10, at 7PM -
UU Fellowship of Visalia Board Meeting at
Harold & Janet's house - all are welcome. Call 739-8527 for directions.
September 13, at 7 PM - Worship Ministry Team meets
at Marilyn & David's house.
September 16 at
6:15 PM - DVD of "Repelling Fewer Visitors" and discussion of Welcoming the Newcomer / Ideas for Growth from other UU Congregations. Everyone in the congregation is encouraged to participate in this special video and discussion. Friends
Meeting Sunroom during the potluck.
September 30 at 3:30 PM - Newcomer Orientation, in preparation for October 18 new member welcoming ceremony. Read more at our Pathways to Membership web page.
September 6 - Building Your Own Theology Class begins. Rather than finding meaning and truth in a specific creed, Unitarian Universalists believe that religious faith is uniquely personal and evolves as we each engage our inner search and in our life journey. We find our quest is enriched and empowered in community, a community that embraces and welcomes all persons.
Buddhist Meditation (Wednesdays, 6 PM) As well as meditation practice, these weekly sessions also frequently discuss current literature on mindfulness and meditation.
Save the Date!
Thursday,
October 18, 2007 - 6 - 9PM, Visalia
location TBD - "Having Another Look at the
Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes" -
Participate in our congregation's review of
the UU Principles and Purposes and
provide feedback to UUA. We hope to make
interesting discoveries about Unitarian Universalism,
ourselves as a local congregation and as individual
UUs. (Recommended readings include "A Chosen Faith" and
"What UUs Believe: Living Principles for a Living Faith" in
our library.)
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven - (Begins mid-October, 2007) - Explore the re-birth of women's spirituality (for both men and women).
Website Redesign - Please review our redesigned website and send your suggestions to harold@uuvisalia.org
REMINDER: Recycle and Raise Funds for UU Visalia by bringing in your Used Printer Cartridges!
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Unitarian Universalist
Events & News
Make A UU Statement - To purchase lapel pins, and other UU jewelry, go to www.clfuu.org
Flaming chalice lapel pins cost $5-$29 and are designed as ¾-1" double
circles and ovals in sterling silver, gold-plate and pewter. Click on
"CLF Shop" or call 617-948-6150. CLF brings Unitarian Universalism to
religious liberals throughout the world. Learn more about CLF at www.clfuu.org
From Friday, September 21 noon until Saturday, 9/22 at 5PM, Santa Monica. Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry (UULM) Statewide Leadership Summit for UULM-CA congregational and regional organizers, statewide steering committees and board of trustees. Organizing, training and legislative updates. Contact April president@uuvisalia.org
if you are interested in becoming active in UULM.
Humanism Today: Issues and Origins - an Online Course from Church of the Larger Fellowship. Starts 9/30/07. Costs $40. This course will explore the history of humanism in classical philosophy, western intellectual and religious development and examine the unique spiritual resources offered. For information about courses contact re@clfuu.org. All proceeds support the many ministries of the CLF.
Save the Dates!
Saturday, October 6, 10 AM - 3PM, Livermore. PCD Leadership School Annual Reunion. An opportunity to connect with graduates and staff of the Pacific Central District's Leadership School. Renew the spirit as we learn, share, worship and celebrate together! Breakfast snacks for early arrivers; a catered lunch will be provided. Nominal cost. For more info or to volunteer, please contact April at president@uuvisalia.org.
Sunday, October 14, special "Association Sunday" service at UU Fellowship of Visalia (and across the country). Learn more about the Unitarian Universalist Association and the campaign to grow our faith. UUA provides UU World magazine, "InterConnections" newsletter, growth resources for small and mid-size congregations, capital & operating campaign consultants, lay leadership resources website, district staff, lifespan religious education curricula and programs, congregational management resources, conferences, over 250 electronic mailing lists, support for start-ups of new congregations, young adult programs. A special collection that day will support the UUA's growth and outreach projects. We are better together!
Upcoming Pacific Central District Events
October 19 - 21: 10th Annual PCD Men's Retreat!
Calling all men of the Pacific Central District for a weekend of fun, relaxing, learning and camaraderie! This event is held at the Westminster Retreat Center in Alamo, CA. Regular registration is $225, late registration (Oct. 1) is $235, and a special rate of $199.95 is offered for those who bring a new member to the retreat. For more information, please contact Ed Massey at massey1281@yahoo.com or 408-297-9478.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT DAY
UU Church of Palo Alto
Saturday, January 12, 2008
A SPECIAL WORKSHOP WITH REV. LARRY PEERS!
UU Church of Berkeley (Kensington)
April 25 - 27, 2008
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY 2008!
Stay tuned for more information about this "not to miss" event! |
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Community Events for Social Justice and/or Personal Spiritual Development
September 28 (Fri) - 7:00 PM - The Great Warming - Free showing of the film narrated by Alanis Morissette and Keanu Reeves, The Great Warming is a dramatic film about climate change that sweeps around the world to reveal how a changing climate is affecting the lives of people everywhere. The Great Warming includes hard-hitting comments from scientists and opinion-makers about America's lack of leadership in what is certainly the most critical environmental issue of the 21st century, as well as new scenes documenting the emerging voice of the American Evangelical community urging action on climate change. See www.thegreatwarming.com for more info. The film will be at Tazzaria Coffee & Tea, 208 West Main St. Visalia. Sponsored by Sierra Club Mineral King Group. Thursday, October 11, 8:30-4PM Fresno Faith & Mental Health Symposium and 7-9PM worship service. - co-sponsored by Interfaith Justice Committee, NAMI Fresno and Mental Health America of the Central Valley. Daytime workshops at Temple Beth Israel, Fresno for $10 fee. Advance Register for the symposium by e-mail to namifresno@sbcglobal.net with name, phones, e-mail and street addresses. Interfaith Worship Service at Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries, 1940 N Fresno St. from 7-9PM.
The Female Leadership Academy of the Advocacy Coalition of Tulare County for Women and Girls (ACT) is currently recruiting young women, ages 16-24. This leadership program is beginning its third year this October and is looking for young women who want to participate in an 8-month leadership program. The purpose of the program is to empower, to motivate them to become active citizens in their communities, and to continue their education. . Do you know a young woman who would fit into this program? Check out ACT and the Leadership Academy at http://actulareco.org/node/contact or talk with Graciela or Marilyn. Applications available on-line.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
By Mona Selph
Here in our town and our valley in general, we have long had a problem with air pollution. If not in our own family, we all know those who have suffered breathing problems, and those who have even moved away because of it. Now another huge problem has been identified and felt both globally and locally, and the 2 problems are linked. It not only seems like it is getting hotter, IT IS.
Based on National Climate Center data, 9 of the top ten warmest years globally have occurred since 1995. Adding to the evidence of direct
temperature measurements, multiple studies by independent teams of
researchers indicate that, across the Northern Hemisphere, the 1990s
were likely the warmest decade of the past millennium --- and possibly
the past 2,000 years.
- From The Union of Concerned Scientists
What can we do as individuals and as a community to reduce our impact on the health of our planet and all life dependent upon it? Or do we just resign ourselves to it, believing that as an individual or community we can't make much difference?
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia recently completed an environmental study course on "Choices for Sustainable Living." Besides the many individual efforts for small but important changes in habits, several larger benefits came out of the group. For example, member David Hodges initiated a project to provide 500 compact florescent light bulbs to families of London, an outlying community in northwest Tulare County. It has certainly made a difference.
Now, a small group including Three Rivers and Visalia members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia and other non-members and friends have also met for a five meeting discussion group titled "Global Warming: Changing Course". The course also used materials from the Northwest Earth Institute. Believing in the importance and urgency of the issue, the group invited other interested members of the Three Rivers Community to participate.
Plans call for a final celebration on October,13 which will feature solar cooking demonstrations and more. For more information, please email April Hill at <president@uuvisalia.org>, or call Mona Fox Selph at 561-4676.
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