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UU Visalia
Quick Links
Home Page:
uuvisalia.org
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Calendar
October 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 5:00 PM
"Second Annual Blessing of the Animals and Albert Schweitzer's Unitarian Philosophy and Deeds of 'Reverence for Life.'"
Bring your well-behaved, leashed companion animals (or a photo or favorite toy) to church for blessings! Learn about the great humanitarian Albert Schweitzer's life and philosophical evolution to become an Unitarian. Led by Harold Wood, with music by Allison Eriksen.
Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 5:00 PM
"The World We Have" - from Thich Nhat Hanh's book - a presentation by David Hodges.
Social Justice & Green Sanctuary Team meet after potluck.
Monday, October 13, 2008 - 5:45 PM -
Board Meeting - Location TBA. All members welcome. Call Harold to attend.
October 19, 2008 - 5:00 PM
"The Universalist Spirit" - Second sermon in a series by Rev. Christine Robinson. Presented by Jolene Edwards
Worship Team meets after potluck - all interested parties are invited.
October 26, 2008 - 5:00 PM
"Diwali" Hindu Festival of Lights - presented by Daljit & Katherine Singh.
Please Note: (Service topics are subject to change)
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 enough and your company is most welcome. |
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UU Visalia Fellowship News
GRANT APPLICATION
The
Fellowship Board submitted an application at the end of September to the Pacific Central
District (PCD) for a Chalice Lighter Grant. We requested $12,000 to support a
Weekend Minister and bring a professional to town one weekend a month to guide us through the process of growing from a small
lay-led congregation into a larger one with professional leadership
that will allow us to more effectively provide the Unitarian
Universalist religious alternative throughout Tulare and Kings Counties. Our Fellowship has been preparing and saving for this opportunity for over three years. We have sufficient funds to support the project with matching funds for two years, and plan on congregational giving and fundraising to provide for sustainability beyond the two-year project.
If selected, a call to Chalice Lighters throughout PCD will be mailed - the results will determine our funding. Encourage your UU friends to support our goal!
DETAILS ON WORSHIP SERVICES
10/5/08 - "Second Annual Blessing of the Animals and Albert Schweitzer's Unitarian philosophy and Deeds of 'Reverence for Life.'"
Bring your well-behaved, leashed companion animals to church for
blessings! For shy, nervous, or non-house-broken animals, instead of
your pet, please bring a photo, a collar, or a stuffed animal
instead to represent your pet. If you would like to honor wild
creatures, children or adults might want to come in costume, or bring a
photo or other representation. All live animals must be leashed or in
a suitable container or cage. We will be inspired by the Unitarian life story of famed humanitarian Albert Schweitzer. Did you know that he was
an honored member of the Unitarian Church of the Larger Fellowship?
10/26/08 - Diwali is a significant festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Light,"
where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within
every human being . According to one theory Diwali may have originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter. The Singhs will help us celebrate!
MEETINGS
October 12, 2008 - 6:45 PM - Social Justice & Green Sanctuary Team meeting after potluck in the Meeting House solarium.
October 13, 2008 - 5:45 PM - Board Meeting - Location TBA. All members welcome. Call Harold to attend - 739-8527.
October 19, 2008 - 6:45 PM Worship Team Meeting. After potluck in the solarium.
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 at 12:30 p.m.for lunch - Someplace new in October! Beginnning on October 3, we'll meet for the month at Watson's Veggie Garden - Health Food store on Main Street.
Join us in the beautiful garden setting in back of the store. 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!)
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."
 UU Visalia Online Bookstore Expands
Our online bookstore allows you to purchase anything available from Amazon.com (even cameras and auto parts, etc.) at www.uuvisalia.org/bookstore/ We have a number of new books in our Featured This Month section, and have created an entirely new category for "Famous UUs." We also have a large number of relevant CDs available in our new Music section. Our bookstore is a valuable resource for spiritual growth, learning and just plain fun. Please support our Fellowship fund-raising when buying online! Just visit:
www.uuvisalia.org/bookstore
Our Vegetarian Cookbook Project
Please
contribute your recipes for our Vegan / Vegetarian UU Visalia Cookbook.
Submit your items to Lesley or email them to: info@uuvisalia.org.
Reminder to GoodSearch! Search the World Wide Web with www.goodsearch.com - to benefit "Unitarian Visalia" and earn monetary points for the Fellowship.
Bring Your Used Printer Cartridges! Recycle your cartridges and earn cash for the Visalia Fellowship. Please place in the Empties4Cash box in the entry.
Share Your UU Magazines After you have read the UU World, Interconnections and/or CLF Quest publications, please contribute them to the library.
Visalia UU Fellowship Worship Services -
5PM, each Sunday. To find us, check out our new Directions and Map page on our website, including a printable map! Go to www.uuvisalia.org |
Worship Topics Survey
The UU Visalia Worship (program) Team appreciates the 11 responses received from the survey sent to members and publicized in last month's newsletter. We would like additional opinions as we plan services for 2008-2009. Please answer the very brief 6 question survey online, which you can access here:
Worship Topics Survey http://tinyurl.com/5bk6em
If you prefer, you you may print out the survey and hand it to either Anna Garcia or Janet Wood in person.
CARPOOL INTEREST LISTS
Our Three Rivers friends have modeled ethical and economical travel for us by carpooling to Sunday services, and Carbon Ring participants have been challenged to develop climate change action plans as individuals and as an organization. Can we sacrifice some independence and establish new habits?
Proposed - sign up to commute from Visalia with a southern or northern carpool. Look for sign up sheets at the Meeting House or e-mail info@uuvisalia.org if you're interested.
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Unitarian Universalist
Events & News
UULMCA Ballot Recommendations
The Unitarian Universalist California Legislative Ministry (UULMCA) and UULM
Action Network have adopted the
following positions on the 11/08 ballot propositions. Details may be found on
the UULM website soon:
Prop 1A - High speed passenger train bond act - support
Prop 2 - Confining farm animals - support
Prop 3 - Children's hospital bond act - no position
Prop 4 - Waiting period and parental notification before
termination of a minor's pregnancy - oppose
Prop 5 - Nonviolent drug offences, sentencing, parole and
rehabilitation - support
Prop 6 - Police and law enforcement funding, criminal
penalties and laws - oppose
Prop 7 - Renewable energy generation - oppose
Prop 8 - Eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry - oppose
Prop 9 - Criminal justice system, victims' rights, parole - oppose
Prop 10 - Alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy,
bonds - oppose
Prop 11 - Redistricting - oppose
Prop 12 - Bonds for veterans housing - no position
For more information on the positions of other leading organizations on the November 2008 ballot propositions, See:
www.uuvisalia.org/newsletter/pdf/2008_ballot_propositions.pdf
 Principled Commitment - A UU Religious Education Program for Couples
Principled Commitment is a new Tapestry of
Faith program developed in response to UU
adults asking for something to support their
building strong life-partner relationships,
helping couples deepen their faith while
nourishing their partnerships. The 11-session
workshop brings the Seven Principles of UUism
into our relationships by focusing on such
qualities as Humility, Trust, Dignity,
Generosity, Connection, Play, Collaboration,
Commitment, Love, and Celebration.
See: www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/tapestryfaith/ principledcommitment/
Like all Tapestry of Faith programs, all the materials for
this workshop are available on line,
including the facilitator guides to each
session, all handouts and exercises, as well
as the homework activities. Tapestry of
Faith is the name for the new programs and
resources that grew out of focus group
conversations when UUA staff heard requests
for accessible and
interactive materials to support spiritual
growth, UU identity, and lifelong learning.
Tapestry of Faith programs, in various
stages of development, are grouped into four
age categories, for children (grades K-6),
middle school (grades 7-9), high school
(grades 10-12), and adults (with some
programs directed specifically toward young
adults). SAVE THE DATE!
October 17-19 Friday-Sunday - 12th Annual Pacific Central District (PCD) Men's Retreat
A weekend of fun, community building, kinship, singing, workshops and more around the theme of "It's All About Showing Up". Cost $225; scholarships are available. More information at http://pcd-uua.org/men/frames.htm or by contacting Harry Mersmann at 209-955-0291 or pcdmensretreat@gmail.com December 13, 2008 ~ PCD Young Adult Ministry
A one-day workshop for professional and lay leaders
interested in making their congregations attractive and meaningful to young
adults. This one will be hosted by our Livermore congregation, and will be lead by Nancy DiGiovanni, Acting co-Director
of our UUA Young Adult Ministries Office.
January 24, 2009 ~ Stewardship - PCD presents a one-day
workshop led by Wayne Clarke,
Director of Congregational Fundraising
Services, and author of the wonderful book,
Beyond
Fundraising. Wayne defines
stewardship as the growing, nurturing,
promoting, and building of our gifts, call,
and spiritual vocation. the UU Marin
congregation will host.
February 21, 2009 ~ Marketing - a one-day
workshop at our UU Society of
Sacramento, brings UUA Marketing Director
Valerie Holton back to the PCD. Help start a regional guerrilla
marketing group for the Valley-Sierra region. Everyone attending will leave with
increased understanding and effective tools
for their own congregation's outreach
initiatives.
March 21, 2009 ~ Big Ideas for Small
Congregations - UU Stockton will
host this special one-day workshop. Led by
one or both of the authors of Big Ideas for Small Congregations,
Ellen Germann-Melosh, former DE of the
Mountain Desert District, and the Reverend
Jane Dwinell, former Small Church
Specialist for what was the New
Hampshire-Vermont District, and the Editor of
Small Talk newsletter.
May 1-3, 2009 - PC DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
2009!
Featuring: Rev. Laurel Hallman & Rev. Peter Morales, Candidates for UUA President. We will gather once again at the Fremont Marriott! REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN!
"How to Remember the Seven UU Principles"-
Song Lyrics to the tune of "DO-RE-MI"
ONE - Each person is important
TWO - Be kind in all you do
THREE - We're free to learn together
FOUR - And search for what is true
FIVE - All people need a vote
SIX - Build a fair and peaceful world
SEVEN - We care for Earth's lifeboat
That will bring us back to me and UU ... (repeat)
from Carol Benson Holst, Religious Education Director, UU Church of the Verdugo Hills, Las Crescenta, CA - via Aubree Smith, UU Church of Fresno
Unitarian Universalism: Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World |
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Community Events for Social Justice and/or Personal Spiritual Development
October 4-5, 2008 - 2nd Annual Three Rivers Environmental Weekend
On Saturday October 4 come to the Three Rivers Arts Center to
enjoy Solar Cooking Demonstrations, video and PowerPoint presentations
on the environment, information on green options for your home and
life, an exhibit of Yokohl Valley photographs, plus a drawing for free
door prizes!
On Sunday October 5th, the Three Rivers Environmental Weekend will again sponsor
an Earth Friendly Home Tour, this time on the Valley floor, in Visalia
and Elderwood. Two tours will be held, one leaving Three Rivers
at 12:00 noon and another at 1:00 p.m. Attendees from Visalia will
meet at the first stop for each tour. You will visit the new police
station in Visalia using straw bale construction, and 3 green homes in
the Quaker Oaks area. Those include rammed earth, double adobe brick,
straw bale, radiant slab floors, photo voltaic, and more. The home in
Elderwood is passive solar with an insulating earth berm on the north
wall. Cost is $15.00 per person or $25.00 per couple, and reservations
are required, since space is limited. Proceeds from the tour will
benefit Tulare County Citizens for Responsible Growth, under the
umbrella of the Sierra Nevada Alliance, and are earmarked for the
effort to save Yokohl Valley.
For information or reservations for the 12:00 o'clock tour, phone 561-4676. For the 1:00 p.m. tour, phone 561-4149.
October 19, 2008 - PFLAG-Tulare Kings County The
newly formed Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays
(PFLAG) meets on the third Sunday of each month from 3-5PM. The location has changed to the Family Health Care Network office at 305 Center Street at Bridge Street
(the old Razzari Ford building.) October 19 - phone bank to encourage
support for same sex marriage and opposition to Proposition 8. Programs
and support group, dialogue about sexual orientation and gender
identity. Come to a meeting to learn more or check
www.pflag-tulare-kings.org. PFLAG has a Straight for Equality community and encourages a thoughtful statement of support that may be found on-line:
The Straight for Equality Pledge
"As a straight ally committed to supporting and advocating for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people, I will"
Come out - I
will acknowledge and work on any uncertainties I may have in "coming
out" as a straight ally, and, as I grow in confidence, I'll
increasingly let my family, friends, and colleagues know that I support
equality for GLBT people.
Speak Up - Whenever
I have an opportunity, I'll say something supportive of GLBT people,
whether I'm responding to a homophobic joke or remark, commenting
positively about a current event, or making the case for equality in a
discussion.
Join in - I
will review the many recommended actions provided through Straight for
Equality that will help me create change in big and small ways and
incorporate those with which I am comfortable into my growth as a
straight ally to help move equality forward.
Friday, October 24, 2008, 7PM - College of Sequoias - Ponderosa Hall Terry Philips, of KVPR's weekly radio program "Quality of Life," will moderate a roundtable discussion about the 2008 local, statewide and national elections. The impact of the election on the San Joaquin Valley will receive special attention. Panel participants will take questions from the audience and the evening's discussion will be recorded live and broadcast on KVPR. More College of Sequoias Arts & Lectures 2008-09 Season information at www.cos.edu/artsandlectures/perform.asp
November 14-16, 2008 - Green Festival at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center. Global Exchange and
Co-op America gathering with renowned speakers, workshops, green and
fair-trade businesses and non-profits, organic food and drink, live music, eco-films. Featured speakers Rian Eisler, Van Jones, Winona La Duke, Mutabaruka, Dr. Cornel West, Greg Palast, John Perkins. More info at www.greenfestivals.org
Visalia Farmer's Market - Saturdays - 8-11:30 AM at Sequoia Mall Parking Lot (near Sears). Come buy locally grown fruits and vegetables. Remember - buying locally grown food is reduces your impact on global warming! It's all part of Ethical Eating! | |
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