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UU Visalia
Quick Links
Home Page:
uuvisalia.org
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Calendar
All regular services begin at 5 PM, followed by 6 PM potluck (except Annual Meeting on 5/18/08 which begins at 4 PM)
Note: Announced Sunday topics are subject to change.
May, 2008
May 4, 2008 - "Flower Communion" with Marilyn Giese. New members wil be welcomed during this service.
"Flower Communion" is service that has become a tradition in UU Churches around the world. Please bring one flower from your garden to this service. As we put them together, the visibility of our diversity becomes obvious. Each person will then take home a different flower from the Fellowship's Bouquet.
New members will be received into the congregation on this day as well. If you have been thinking about making it official by signing the Membership Book, please let Marilyn Giese know so that you can be included in the service.
May 11, 2008 - "Salted With Fire" excerpts from Scott Alexander's writings on UU Evangelism - in celebration of Pentecost. - with David Newman.
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, a program designed to help us reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (C02) we each produce. CO2 is the primary cause of global warming. This program will save you money, save energy, and save the planet. Be part of the global warming solution.
Be one of the growing number of citizens who have decided to take global warming into their own hands.
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
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. Help decide the future of our Fellowship. Which award-winning sermons would you like to hear this summer? What would you like to see for Adult Religious Education next fall? What social justice projects do you think are most important for us to engage in? How about music? How can we better serve our community with our saving religious liberal message? 4PM meeting will be followed by socializing and a light potluck of salads.
 Will Your Vote for President Count?
Author Steven Hill will present
10 Steps To Repair American Democracy
Friday, May 30th, 7 PM at College of the Sequoias in the John Muir Room 101. This event is free and open to the public. Parking is free for this event, in lot #4 in the northeast corner of the campus.
Shouldn't every vote count in our national, state and local elections?
A Cal Tech study of the 2000 Presidential Election found that six million ballots were never counted because of faulty voting machines, improperly designed ballots, polling place errors, long lines, and registration or absentee voting problems. In the 2004 election we floundered again, repeating some of these same blunders.
Why is our electoral college system so noncompetitive, to the point that we know the Democratic Candidate will win California? Why does the US rank so low in voter participation in congressional elections, an incredible 138th in the world, placing us between Armenia and Nigeria? Why do so many of our races have so little campaigning or political debate? In recent years, 40% of 7,000 state legislative races have had no one running from one of the major parties.
Why is our representative government so stubbornly unrepresentative, with 85% of the House of Representatives male and 84% white, even though 50% of the population is female and 29% minority?
Our nation has reached a critical point. What is at stake is no less than what kind of country will we become. Will we fulfill our promise of "government of, by, and for the people," a broad majority of the people? Unfortunately, our antiquated political institutions are not up to the task before us.
Steven Hill's talk will allow you to gain a better understanding of our political institutions and their failings and how we can use this knowledge to gain back our democracy. Hill identifies ten critical problems with our democratic government and offers concrete solutions for each one. Increasing voter choice with Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is one of these 10 steps. Using IRV would inject fresh candidates, new ideas, expand voter choice, and allow more voters to feel like their vote counted for something, rather than wasting their votes on candidates who have no chance of winning or are the lesser of two evils.
A demonstration of how Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) works will be provided using a ballot with the candidates for the upcoming Presidential Election. All those attending will be allowed to vote at the beginning of the program. The IRV process and results will be shown and discussed at the end of Hill's talk.
Organizing for Political Reform in Tulare County, a workshop for those interested in becoming active in the reform movement, will be put on by Steven Hill from 8:30 to 10:00 PM, directly after the public talk and in the same location. This workshop is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by Central Valley Electoral Reform, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia, and the South Valley Peace Center.
For more information contact Tyler Conrad at (559) 594-6973 or politicalreform@uuvisalia.org or visit www.cver.org
UU Visalia Attended District Assembly April 26-28th!
See our banner third in line here?
Four
members of our congregation attended District Assembly this year -
April, Janet, Jolene, and Harold. The four of us had a terrific fun time singing, clapping, sharing, learning, and getting inspired! Some of the keynote addresses and sermons will be posted
on the Pacific District Assembly website, see: www.pcd-uua.org Hope to see you there next year! UU's joined in a Successful Earth Day in Visalia!Janet
Wood, a member of our Green Sanctuary Committee and Chair of the Sierra
Club Mineral King Group, presented a special sermon to our Fellowship
on April 13: Earth Day: Restoring the Creation Connection. If you missed the Sunday service that day, you can now download her sermon online: http://www.uuvisalia.org/pdf/earth_day_2008_janet_wood.pdfThe UU Fellowship of Visalia also had a successful table at Visalia's Earth Day event
in Recreation Park on April 19, 2008. Our contribution's focus was a
demonstration and explanation of non-toxic household cleaning methods.
Many thanks to Katherine Singh for making up the non-toxic baskets and
"evangelizing" the non-toxic life style to every visitor! We are also
grateful for the help from Dave, April, Shell, Scott, Harold, Lesley,
and others. If you missed our table, download the recipes for making
your own non-toxic cleansers here: http://www.uuvisalia.org/justice/non_toxic_homes.html
Our Online Bookstore
Our bookstore is a valuable resource for spiritual growth and learning. And it is also a source of just plain fun if you use our bookstore link for all your Amazon.com purchases! (Yeah - even cameras, ipods, and auto parts are available!)  In May we celebrate the birthdays of several famous UUs: Pete Seeger, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Rachel Carson. Check out our bookstore for books and music about and by these three luminaries! 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 .
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
We're
considering several options for next fall's adult education /
discussion courses for UU Visalia. Would you like Part Two of "Building Your Own
Theology?" Or a course on "Deep Ecology"? Or how about Ethical
Eating? Or do you have another suggestion? Come to the annual meeting
on May 18 to discuss these options and to decide as a group what to
do! For more info, email: president@uuvisalia.org
Three Rivers Environmental Weekend
The second annual Three Rivers Environmental Weekend is being planned for October 2008. Events will include a Green Home Tour in Visalia, and other events at the Three Rivers Art Center, including solar cooking demonstrations and exhibits. Sequoia Park volunteers will be in charge of the main presentations on Saturday. The California Native Plant Society will have their annual fall plant sale on the same day. If you have ideas, resources or energy to share with the planning committee please contact Mona Selph at 3rivers@uuvisalia.org . Next meeting in August 2008.
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 harold@uuvisalia.org. (We do miss an occasional Friday - so call or e-mail ahead to R.S.V.P. if you can!)
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
May 4, 2008 - 6:00 PM
Social Justice & Green Sanctuary Team Meeting
Note earlier date than usual. During the potluck after the service.
May 5 2008 - 7 PM - Special Board Meeting on Upcoming Budget
Join
us for a special meeting to plan our annual budget for 2008-2009. All UU members and friends welcome. Call Harold at 739-8527 or email him at harold@uuvisalia.org to attend.
May 18, 2008 - 4 PM - Annual Congregational Meeting
See article above for details.
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! You've raised over $14.00 for our Fellowship this year already - please keep it up!
Also, GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall that donates a percentage of each purchase to your favorite cause! You can even give us points on Ebay or BestBuy or target or Apple.com! Just go to www.goodsearch.com
before you go to any other online store, 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. (P.S. If you go to Amazon.com, it is better to use our online bookstore link rather than GoodSearch - we get a higher percentage.)
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Unitarian Universalist
Events & News
Celebrating Famous UU Birthdays
During the month of May, we celebrate three famous UU birthdays:
- May 3 - Pete Seeger's Birthday - (1919 - ) - Activist, song-writer, folk singer, and environmentalist
who is a leading inspiration for many younger activists, song-writers,
folk-singers, and environmentalists. Seeger was largely responsible for
the revival of American folk music in the 1950s and 1960s. His songs,
many of which have themes embracing UU principles. check out a recent video and interview of Pete Seeger from Yes Magazine.
- May 25 - Ralph Waldo Emerson's Birthday (1803-1882) Preeminent Transcendentalist essayist who is embraced by many UU's today as a spiritual guide. Emerson resigned as minister of the Concord UU Church over a disagreement about serving communion, but his writings today are embraced by many UU's a spiritual guide, in fact the cornerstone of our unique American approach to religion. Read The Spiritual Teachings of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
- May 27 - Rachel Carson's Birthday - (1907-1964)
A scientist and evocative writer, Carson was the person who first brought our attention to the toxic threats caused
by mis-use of chemicals, and laid the foundation for the modern environmental movement through her seminal book Silent Spring. Her less known books Under the Sea Wind and The Sea Around Us remain fascinating, while her classic The Sense of Wonder is a true classic of inspirational literature.
Check out our online bookstore for featured books (and music!) by and about these inspirational Unitarian Universalists!
Exciting News for the Green Sanctuary Program!
Since UU Visalia is a certified Green Sanctuary, we are overjoyed to hear that the UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) has announced that the Green Sanctuary Program will become an official program managed by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations as a part of their Congregational Services program.
After years of stewardship by the UU Ministry for Earth board, volunteer Regional Coordinators, and congregational activists, this important program of engaged Earth spirituality and action will be managed by the UUA national office. This will be the first UUA program devoted exclusively to Earth concerns. Reverend Bill Sinkford, president of the UUA, offered the following message to UU Ministry for Earth members and Green Sanctuary congregations:
"I am delighted that UU Ministry for Earth has decided to transfer management of the Green Sanctuary Program to the UUA. This will allow UUMFE leadership to expand their address of important environmental justice issues and will, I believe, be seen as a positive development of the partnership of the two organizations. The UUA is so thankful that UUMFE has helped move us so far ahead. We look forward to working in close collaboration as we move forward together."
UU Ministry for Earth will continue to support UU congregations like ours with congregational resources and training. This new partnership shows a deepening commitment within the faith for this work, and provides an opportunity for Ministry for Earth to offer leadership and organizational capacity to address new issues of environmental justice and sustainability.
The UUMFE plans for future work include:
· Continued support for the work of Green Sanctuaries, and all congregations doing the work of Earth ministry.
· Production of a first-of-its-kind, national UU conference on environmental justice, with a focus on development of congregational resources and leadership development.
· New resources, training, retreats, and consultation for UUs and congregations concerned about environmental injustice and the future of our planet.
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
or come to the May 25th UU Visalia Fellowship service at 5:00 PM where Tyler will present the Low Carbon Diet - a program to designed to help us reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (C02) we each produce. CO2 is the primary cause of global warming. This program will save you money, save energy, and save the planet. Be part of the global warming solution. Be one of the growing number of citizens who have decided to take global warming into their own hands.
UU California Marriage Equality Update
The religious right may have enough signatures to qualify a constitutional amendment against same sex marriage for the November 2008 ballot. The UU Legislative Ministry Action Network and Equality for All campaign identified 76,000 supporters of freedom to marry and 10,000 volunteers statewide in only six weeks. The campaign director, Seth Kilbourn complimented our UU Action Network as one of the most productive and organized coalition partners, calling into action UU volunteers who stood in front of Wal-Marts, Home Depots and scores of grocery stores signing up supporters of marriage equality in places like Fresno and Sacramento, Riverside and San Diego County. "They were a visible and prominent face of the campaign, demonstrating that people of faith support the LGBT community and marriage equality. Their presence and discussions with thousands of Californians helped convince many people not to sign the petition to qualify the amendment and, equally important, they got people thinking about marriage in a whole new way." Please consider a donation at http://www.uulmcaaction.org. UU Planet TVCheck out something better than YouTube! On UU PLANET TV you can find the best UU videos and television the web has to offer. Together they portray the range of ideas, values and beliefs contained within the larger movement of Unitarian Universalism. Check out the site for scintillating titles like "You're a Uni-What?", and a cloud of topics like:
About our faith Behavior Church Spotlight climate change death democracy Educational Videos global warming good news Green Living hope Kate Braestrup lgbt Marilyn Sewell music Peter Bowden Sermon Support symbols values
UU Planet TV was created by Peter Bowden, a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, independent UU growth consultant, and television producer.
Peter says, "My ministry is dedicated to sharing our faith with those who would find a spiritual home in our congregations if only they knew we existed AND - big and - preparing our congregations to receive them. Like most UU's I don't like people pushing their religion on others. I do think we should make it easy for people to find us. As I guest preach and lead workshops I hear stories of people who discovered us later in life -- they tell me how they wish they could have found their spiritual home sooner. My hope is that this site will be a fun and educational destination for newcomers and existing UUs, and serve as a tool for showing people who we are and what we're all about."
Visit UU Planet TV online:
http://www.uuplanet.tv/
Children's Education Opportunities
Our Fellowship will not be offering Children's Religious Education during the summer months. But never fear - we have resources from the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship which you can use at home with your family!
KidTalk Web page for kids
http://www.clfuu.org/kidtalk/2008/05/index.html
With links to activities and information about holidays around the world, as well as featured people from UU history, social justice projects, spiritual practices, ways to practice our principles and a forum for kids to ask questions on religious topics, each month KidTalk provides a way for kids to connect to UUism, and for parents and religious educators to glean great ideas for religious education.
REsources for Living
http://www.clfuu.org/quest/2008/05/index.html#REsources
Each month CLF minister for lifespan learning, the Rev. Dr. Lynn Ungar, writes a column inviting kids (and grown-ups) to reflect on matters from how to celebrate holidays to what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.
These two free links from the CLF's website allow families to reflect on matters from how to celebrate holidays to what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. These two links are part of RE Express Plus, a monthly religious education email available by subscription from the CLF (free to CLF members). The two links mentioned above are open to the public, and free of charge. 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.pcd-uua.org/pcdldrship/pcdleadershipschool.htm. Congregational sponsorship is required and financial support is possible. Please contact April Hill for more information.
Unitarian Universalism: Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World |
 Saturday, 5/10/08, 8:30 AM
Visalia/Tulare CROP Walk
(Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger and poverty are rampant in our world, and something can and must be done about them. This year's CROP Hunger Walk is a great place to start. For a few hours and a few miles, friends and neighbors will be coming together to, in the words of I John 3:18: "...love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." Various church, business and organization groups and individual families will gather at St. Paul's Anglican Church at 120 N. Hall Street on May 10th at 8:30 A.M. to walk in Visalia for one block or up to seven miles. CROP Hunger Walk funds will benefit the overall work and ministry of Church World Service -- working in some 80 countries to help those in need help themselves through refugee assistance, self-help development programs, advocacy, and disaster relief. Twenty-five percent of what we raise will help FoodLink of Tulare County in their important work to fight hunger. If you can't walk on that day, you can contribute at cropwalkonline.org. For more information, please contact April. Community Events for Social Justice and/or Personal Spiritual Development
Saturday, 5/3/08, 9:00-11:00 AM Workshop: Spring Cleaning at Kaweah Oaks Preserve sponsored by Sequoia Riverlands Trust. Learn how to make and use natural cleaning products in your home. With favorite Teri Van Huss. Donation requested. Saturday 5/10/08, 7:15 AM until day's end. Audubon Society vehicle trip to Bravo Lake and Drum Valley to view foothill birds and wildflowers. Wednesday, 5/14/08 - 6 PM - Sierra Club Dinner Social - Black Bear Diner, Tulare. R.S.V.P. with Beverly Garcia at (559) 732-3785 or email: bev.garcia@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org Friday, 5/16/08, 7PM, Audubon Society Chapter Meeting and Program at Tulare Co Office of Education "Pit" at the corner of Woodland & Burrel Ave in Visalia. Featured speaker is Kerry Arroues, Soil Scientist. Saturday, 5/17/08 - Sierra Club Outing to Tokopah Falls in Sequoia National Park. If you would like to join this outing, call 559-733-2078 or e-mail joanne.dudley@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org to find out time and meeting place. This will be an easy 3 mile hike. Limited to first 15 callers. Saturday, 5/17/08, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Guided Walk: Circle J-Norris Ranch. Join Sequoia Riverlands Trust on a visit to Circle J-Norris Ranch in Springville, where longtime resident and ranch owner Eleanor Norris will lead a walk through this beautiful 620-acre area, dotted with oaks, a five-acre pond and year-round running stream. Donation $5 for Sequoia Riverlands Trust members; $10 for nonmembers or join that day and attend the event for free. Memberships start at $35 for individuals or $50 for families. Faith Program Kicks Off Mental Health Month In a unique mini series KNXT's (Channel 49) "Forum for a Better Understanding" airs three consecutive segments entitled "Faith & Mental Health". Mon. 5/5/08 at 9:30 PM and Fri 5/9/08 at 11:30 AM - "Are These Two Ministries Compatible" Mon 5/12 at 9:30 PM and Fri 5/16 at 11:30 AM - "What Can Religion Say and Do?" Mon 5/19 at 9:30 PM and Fri 5/23 at 11:30 AM - "Connecting People and Services"
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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Donate a Water Purifier for a Needy Family
who Lacks Safe Drinking Water!
The Community Water Center of Tulare County is celebrating National Drinking Water Week May 5 - 11th by highlighting the lack of safe drinking water in local communities and soliciting donations for in-home water filters for needy families without alternative water supplies.
Tulare County has the highest number of water systems with Safe Drinking Water Act Violations in the State. Many families don't have safe drinking water in their homes. In 2006, approximately 326,700 people in the San Joaquin Valley were served by public water systems with levels of contamination over a legal limit.
Tulare County also has some of the highest poverty rates in the State. Most of these families with unsafe water in their homes cannot afford treatment technologies or alternative water supplies. In fact, many families are paying up to 10% of their household income for water they cannot drink. Families are forced to make the choice between buying bottled water or other basic necessities.
What can you do?
Donate an in-home water filter for a needy family. Donations sent to the UU Fellowship of Visalia marked "Water Filter" will go towards buying and installing a reverse-osmosis water filter and education on proper maintenance and operation for a needy family in Tulare County. Or use PayPal.com to make an electronic payment with your credit card or PayPal account, payable to: treasurer@uuvisalia.org - note that the donation is for a water filter for the Community Water Center.
For more information please contact Maria Herrera of the Community Water Center at (559) 733-0219.
http://www.communitywatercenter.org/
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