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UU Visalia
Quick Links
Home Page:
uuvisalia.org
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Calendar April 2008
All services begin at 5 PM, followed by 6 PM potluck
Note: Announced Sunday topics are subject to change.
April 2008
April
6, 2008 - "Tulare County Citizens for Responsible Growth" - Sarah Graber, Executive Director, will speak about how Tulare County can prevent sprawl development, preserve farmland and open space, air quality, and water supply, and support healthier communities.
April 13, 2008 - "Earth
Day - Restoring the Creation Connection" with Janet Wood.
April 15, 2008 - 6 PM - Newcomer Orientation. Interested in exploring membership? Contact April at president@uuvisalia.org.
April 20, 2008 - "Wandering in the Wilderness - A Passover Reflection" with David Hodges.
April 25-27 - PCD District Assembly in Fremont - See more info below. To carpool, contact harold@uuvisalia.org.
April 27, 2008 - "Beltane" with Marilyn Giese. We will have a Maypole, and do a spiral dance.
May, 2008
May 4, 2008 - "Flower
Communion" with Marilyn Giese
May 11, 2008 - "Tongues
of Fire - Pentecost for UUs" - with Janet Wood
May 18, 2008 - 4 PM Please note earlier meeting time.
"Annual Congregational Meeting" No worship service today - instead we enact the UU principle of democracy by electing new leadership for the Fellowship, adopting a new budget, celebrating last year's accomplishments, and planning our goals for the next year.
4 PM meeting will be followed by socializing and a light potluck
of salads.
May 25, 2008 - "Low Carbon Diet" with Tyler Conrad. Come find out about UU Carbon Rings, to address global warming with a Low Carbon Diet.
Beginning June 1, 2008 - Our Summer Worship programs will feature Award-Winning Sermons from all around the country.
The 5PM Worship Service is followed by a light potluck supper at 6 PM to which all are welcome!
Please do not hesitate to come to church and join us for dinner potluck. Even if you forget to bring a dish, we always have plenty and your company is most welcome.
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UU Visalia Fellowship News
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven
"In Ancient Times" Adult Education Class
Begins April 5, 2008 - 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
This course introduces participants to ancient Goddesses, weaving their stories together with major concerns of women today.
Buy the book from our online bookstore! http://tinyurl.com/2oflr6This five-session religious education curriculum in feminist thealogy for adults and older youth will begin Saturday, April 5, 2008 at the home of Marilyn Giese and David Reid in Tulare. Time - 9:30 to 12:30 with a Continental Breakfast provided Sessions 2-5 are proposed for consecutive Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:00. The group will determine future locations, and whether they shall be held on Thursday or Monday evening. To sign up or more information, contact Marilyn Giese at worship@uuvisalia.orgObjectives * To raise the consciousness of participants to the religious myths and symbols of the ancient world where female images and experiences were central; * To engage participants in an exploration of the psychological and social importance to women today of reclaiming our female religious heritage. Session Plans:Session 1: The Sacred Female Session 2: In the Name of the Mother and the Daughter Session 3: Womanpower Session 4: The First Turning - The Shift from Goddess to God Session 5: Reclaiming Women's Heritage of Peace
Newcomer Orientation
April 15, 2008 - 6 PM - Join us for a free dinner and discussion sharing your spiritual journeys and considering membership in our Fellowship.
At home of Marilyn Giese in Tulare. To prepare and learn a bit about the benefits and responsibilities of membership, review our Pathways to Membership web page: www.uuvisalia.org/about/membership.html
For info or to sign up email info@uuvisalia.org or contact April, Marilyn, or Harold.
Annual Canvass Drive
Together, we are the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia, working together to promote liberal religious values in Tulare County. To assist the Board in making financial plans, we ask members to make a definite financial commitment for the upcoming fiscal year. We ask for your "pledge" by April 6, 2008, in order to prepare a well-thought out draft budget for review and adoption on May 18. Making a pledge of financial support is one of the most important ways of building our community - of saying that the life of the church matters to us.
· We need stimulating Sunday services, great religious education programs for the whole family, and even more opportunities for fellowship.
· We seek spiritual satisfaction, personal growth, good music and support to help us cope with our major life transitions.
· We need to support our denomination, which offers many forms of support in return.
· We wish to be active in our area, helping our neighbors and speaking up for our beliefs through our website, newsletter and local media outlets.
· We wish to prepare, nurture and formally train our excellent volunteer leaders who contribute hours of service.
· We must contribute to the use of Friends Meeting House, through rent payments and work parties.
SAVE THE DATE!
UU VISALIA ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL BUSINESS MEETING:
4 PM - Sunday, 5/18/08, 4 PM - Note earlier time! The annual congregational meeting is when we elect new officers, adopt a new budget, and celebrate last year's accomplishments and next year's goals. 4PM meeting will be followed by socializing and a light potluck of salads.
Our Online Bookstore
We've added several new books this month, from seasonal celebrations to social justice and separation of church and state issues! Please support our Fellowship fund-raising when buying books online! You can purchase anything available from Amazon.com at: www.uuvisalia.org/bookstore/ Remember, anything you buy after clicking on the Powered by Amazon.com logo supports our Fellowship:
You will also find a convenient search box at the bottom of our home page.
Summer Programs 2008
Sunday Services from June through August are normally more casual. This
summer we will offer prize-winning sermons from Unitarian Universalist
congregations around the country. Learn more about our faith in all its
variety and eloquence! The basic format will be continued, with songs
and written word, but formal children's Sunday School will not be
offered, so that our teachers can enjoy the time off. Each of us can
take a turn to read aloud a favorite or two from the available
selections. You may choose from printed-out sermons or find a UU sermon
on your own. Please sign up for a date that is convenient for you.
Contact info@uuvisalia.org .
Continuing Discussion of
The Great Turning
Members of our bi-weekly discussion course on this book are being blown away by how outstanding David Korten's seminal book The Great Turning truly is. Now, you can now participate in an online version of this topic. Please visit www.facebook.com and after joining, do a search for "The Great Turning - From Empire to Earth Community." You'll be able to read summaries of the book there, and participate in online discussion.
Ongoing Meditation Sessions Each Wednesday, 6:30-8PM at Friends Meeting House. An opportunity to practice this universal spiritual discipline and discuss mindfulness.
Friday UU Visalia Social Lunch Group
Join us every Friday for the lunch buffet at the Taj Palace Indian Restaurant, at the Marco Polo Motel, corner of Noble and Linwood, every Friday at 12:15 p.m. Address: 4545-B W. Noble Ave., Visalia, CA 93277 (559) 625-2500. For more info, call Harold at 739-8527 or email green@uuvisalia.org.
Our Vegetarian Cookbook Project
Please contribute your recipes for vegan / vegetarian / dishes for our planned Vegan / Vegetarian UU Visalia Cookbook. Please submit your items to Lesley or email them to: info@uuvisalia.org. Caring as a Fellowship
If you know of any Fellowship member or friend experiencing a life challenge (including yourself!), please tell a board member so we can offer support. E-mail your request to: info@uuvisalia.org or mention during "Joys and Concerns."Let's go again!
Field trips to Other Nearby UU CongregationsSeveral us took a "field trip" to visit the UU Fellowship of Porterville, and another group visited the UU Church of Fresno (www.uufresno.org) last month! We've found these widely different UU experiences to be wonderful - in entirely different ways! Join us for a future field trip to a neighboring UU congregation on a Sunday morning. If you are interested, contact Harold at: harold@uuvisalia.org.
MEETINGS
April 7 2008 - 5:45 PM - Dinner & Board Meeting
Join us for a dinner meeting at Baker's Square restaurant (on Mooney in front of Sequoia Mall, Visalia. All UU members and friends welcome.
April 13, 2008 - 6 PM -
Social Justice & Green Sanctuary Team Meeting
During the potluck after the service.
April 20, 2008 - 6:45 PM - Worship Team Meeting
After service and potluck.
Networking & Fundraising
UU Visalia on Facebook
Please join our new UU Visalia group on Facebook! Our online group has 8 members so far, plus 7 videos! There is a space for online discussion too. See you in Cyberspace for sharing, networking, online friendship, and to support causes, political campaigns, and social justice efforts. Once you join facebook.com, search for UU friends and Unitarian Fellowship of Visalia!Recycle and Raise Funds for UU Visalia by bringing in your Used Printer Cartridges!
Use the web to Support UU Visalia
Our Fellowship earns money if you search the World Wide Web with www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo! Also, GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall that donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Just go to www.goodsearch.com
and be sure to enter Unitarian Visalia as the charity you want to
support. See also the home
page of our website, www.uuvisalia.org.
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Unitarian Universalist
Events & News
April 25 - 27, 2008
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY 2008! Fremont Marriott Hotel - Registration now open - don't delay! Four UU Visalia members have signed up already - please join us and carpool!
District Assembly is for everybody! It's our annual gathering of the tribe, featuring outstanding programming for all age groups, over two dozen workshops, inspiring worship, exciting networking opportunities, and lots of UU tradition and ceremony. Harold says: "Don't let anything keep you away! District Assembly is almost as good as General Assembly!" Featuring presentations by: Rev. Robert Latham, author of Leaving Church Folly Lane, and Rev. Victoria Safford, author of Walking Toward Morning: Meditations. Join
400 vibrant and vital UUs at the Fremont Marriott. Make your hotel
reservation by April 10 to get a special low rate! Use the Booking
Code "PCUPCUA" and call (510) 413-700 or register online at their web site. For more information on the workshops and presentations, and to register see: www.pcd-uua.org
To carpool from Visalia, contact Harold at: harold@uuvisalia.org or call him at 739-8527.
UU Legislative Ministry of California
Low Carbon Challenge: Join UUs to Lose One Million Pounds!
Making lifestyle changes to reduce our carbon footprints require purpose, planning, and practice. It is difficult to do alone. That's we're issuing the UULM Low Carbon Challenge - to inspire and help UUs across the state to lose one million pounds of carbon by Earth Day 2009. "With a wonderful small group curriculum offering support from our faith community, we can help each household lose at least 5,000 pounds of carbon, " said UULM Executive Director Lindi Ramsden. Together we can lose 1 million pounds!
The California UU congregation with the highest percentage of households participating before Earth Day 2009 will win a prize. (Hey - our small size in Visalia gives us a big advantage here!) Join us to organize Carbon Rings in UU Visalia.
For information about "Carbon Rings" forming in our UU Visalia congregation, contact Tyler Conrad and download the materials posted on the UULM website:
http://uulmca.org/main.html#climate
Evolutionary Life E-ZineThose who enjoyed Michael Dowd's expression of evolutionary spirituality last month will enjoy the e-zine, Evolutionary Life: Voices of an Emerging Movement for Conscious Evolution which celebrates Cosmic, Earth, Biological, and Human History as Sacred. Check it out online at:
Website: http://www.evolutionarylife.org
March 2008 Issue:
http://www.evolutionarylife.org/March-08.html
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Socially Responsible Investing:
"Making a Difference with Ideals, Impact, and
Involvement"
FREE Teleconference Workshops
The UUA Committee on Socially Responsible Investing offers free
learning
sessions on using money as a tool for social justice. Sessions are
conducted by telephone, with Power Point presentations that you
download beforehand. Each session includes a 45-minute presentation
followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers. Choose all or just one
of these topics:
Community Investing - Saturday, April 12th, 1:00pm EST
Investment Screening - Saturday, April 19th, 1:00pm EST
Shareholder Activism - Saturday, April 26th, 1:00pm EST
Download the information flyer:
http://www.uua.org/documents/csri/080301_teleconferences.pdf
Adult Education and Online Spirituality from the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF)2008 Winter Online Courses for UUs
You do not have to be a CLF member to take these courses.
A Chosen Faith: Self-Study Guide (On-going)
A guided examination of Unitarian Universalism, based on the book
A Chosen Faith by John Buehrens and Forrest Church. Free
For New Unitarian Universalists (On-going)
This is a four week introduction to Unitarian Universalism. It covers basic UU beliefs, history and organization, as well as information about the Church of the Larger Fellowship. There are opportunities to ask questions, and to discuss the readings. Free
For information about these courses and more, contact
Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF)
www.clfuu.org/learn
617-948-6150
re@clfuu.org
Leadership School
Saturday 8/2/08 until Friday 8/8/08
Unitarian Universalist Leadership School
at Camp Tuolumne Trails, Groveland near Yosemite.
This week long residential camp intends to integrate the needs of the individual with the tasks and functions of our religious communities. Curriculum includes Worship Design, Religious Heritage, Identity and Vision Wisdom Circles, Community Building, Conflict Management, Leadership Styles, Group Styles. Visit website at www.pce-uua.org/pcdldrship/pcdleadershipschool.htm. Congregational sponsorship is required and financial support is possible. Please contact April Hill for more information. Early bird discount for registrations paid in full before 4/30/08.
Unitarian Universalism: Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World |
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Community Events for Social Justice and/or Personal Spiritual Development
Thursday 4/3/08 5:30 PM - 7 PM - U.S. Green Building Council, Tulare-Kings Branch hosts "The Central Valley's Role in the Future of the Environment" with guest speaker and native Visalian, California Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman. Cellar Door Wine Bar, 101 Main St., Visalia, Free.
Saturday 4/12/08 - 2 - 4:30PM, Valley Yoga, 1616 W. Mineral King Ave., Visalia - "Breathe With the Trees" Yoga Workshop with Holly Jones, Live Music by Matt Horton. Come synchronize your breath with movements of your body and feel the freshness of Spring as we celebrate the Trees. All levels welcome. No experience necessary. $25.00 - Pre-registration is appreciated. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Trees for Life International. To register send a check payable to Valley Yoga to P.O. Box 552, Three Rivers, CA 93271. For more information: 559-786-6068 or 559-561-1017, bren@theworks.com or www.valleyyoga.net
Saturday, 4/12/08, 6-8 PM - "Peace Begins with Me" Art Exhibit at the Spiritual Awareness Center, 117 S Locust, Visalia. 625-2441.
Sunday 4/13/08, 1:30-4:30 PM speaker Aman Motwane "Yes, You Can Change the World" at the Spiritual Awareness Center. $25. Aman Motwane is the author of the best selling The Power of Wisdom and the profound Yes, You Can Change the World" He merges Eastern thought and Western ingenuity to reveal seven fundamental wisdoms and change the way people look at the world.
Monday, 4/14/08, 11:30AM. League of Women Voters speaker on water issues. The Depot restaurant.
Friday, 4/18/08, 7 PM - Audubon Chapter Meeting & Program at Tulare Co. Office of Education "Pit", at corner of Woodland & Burrel Avenue in Visalia. Featured speaker is Louise Culver, wildlife rehabilitation specialist with Critter Creek.
Saturday 4/19/08, 7:15 AM until day's end - Audubon Society vehicle trip to egret and heron rookery, spring migration and breeding spots. Meet at the Sears parking lot in Visalia on the corner of Mooney & Caldwell
Saturday, 4/19/08, 8 AM-12noon - Earth Day 2008 at Visalia Recreation Park, 345 N Jacob St. - Visit our UU Fellowship of Visalia booth with information on Interfaith Power & Light, Green Sanctuary, The Great Turning, and more.
Saturday 4/19/08, 6PM - Congregation Beit Shalom Community Passover and music by Evo Bluestein & Tom Simonian. $20. RSVP 625-0289. David H and April H went last year and thought it was great! Check their website at www.congregationbeitshalom.org.
Saturday 4/26/08, 8AM Sierra Club hike on the Wishon trail in foothills above Springville. A moderate 6 mile hike along the Tule River. Meet in front of Taco Bell in Mary's Vineyard at Noble and Ben Maddox. To sign up, call Joanne or David at 733-2078.
SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, 5/10/08 - 8:30 AM CropWalk, an annual hunger awareness event and fundraiser for FoodLink of Tulare County (postponed from usual 2nd weekend in March). Pledge envelopes available from April. Start walking at St Paul's Episcopal / Anglican Church at Hall and Center in Visalia. Please walk, pledge or volunteer on the day!
Saturdays - 8 AM - 11:30 AM - Visalia Farmer's Market
Come buy locally grown fruits and vegetables every Saturday, all year long at Sequoia Mall Parking Lot (near Sears). Remember - buying locally grown food is more sustainable and reduces your impact on global warming! It's all part of Ethical Eating!
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UU California Marriage Equality Leadership Team
Right now,opponents of equality are attempting to qualify a ballot measure for the November election which would write discrimination into the California state constitution and prevent same-gender couples from marrying in this state. The UU Legislative Ministry of California has joined a campaign made up of a diverse coalition of organizations, called Equality For All, determined to stop this injustice through public witness. UUs are concentrating our efforts in six key locations throughout the state. One of them is Fresno. We are invited to donate some time to this effort during the next six weeks until mid-April.
Paid signature gatherers are standing outside stores attempting to get shoppers to sign the petition, often through providing misinformation. We are asking volunteers to help educate these shoppers concerning the harm this ballot measure will cause and ask them not to sign the petition. Volunteers are needed to participate in phone banking during week nights and information tabling on weekends. Training will be provided for both.
This is truly a time when a small number of committed individuals can shape the course of history. What happens in California in 2008 will set the precedent for the rest of the nation. We have the ability to stop this initiative from ever reaching the ballot - if we choose to take action during the next six weeks.
The Equality For All Campaign Regional Coordinators for Fresno are:
Trina Olson 612-718-0770 trina.olson@gmail.com and Kian Boloori 202-841-0291 kboloori@thetaskforce.org
If you are able to join the team or willing to be the contact for further information or updates, please contact Stephanie Stolte, stoltelli@earthlink.net or get more information from the UULM website. The UULM is developing a list of congregational leaders who can keep their communities in the loop. Thanks.
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