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Editors Suggestion:
Living with Ambiguity: Religious Naturalism and the Menace of Evil
By Donald A. Crosby(Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Colorado State University)
Review:
"Crosby argues that nature, rather than anything supernatural, deserves
reverence and devotion. He sets forth a vision of life and the universe
that is as hopeful as it is realistic." -- Nancy K. Frankenberry... More at Amazon.com
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UU Visalia
Quick Links
Home Page:
uuvisalia.org
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Want a fun and attractive
reminder of our UU Principles for your wall?
You are sure to
enjoy CLF's
Principles
and Purposes Poetry Poster.
The Church of
the Larger Fellowship offers
a poster featuring the
Seven
Principles in
limerick form!
Bright, colorful, and clever
11" x 18"
poster.
All plants, beasts and people
belong
To a web that is silent but
strong.
Every choice that you make
Leaves a trail in its wake,
So
remember you're part of the throng
$8.00
plus postage
To purchase a poster or learn
more about the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF),
contact us:
www.clfuu.org
CLFUU clickable link
The poster can be purchased online by clicking on CLF
Shop;
or
call 617-948-6150.
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Online UU Classes
As you travel to
work or on your way to some wonderful summer vacation, wouldn't you like
to take along some UU friends?
Unitarian
Universalist Podcasts -- sermons, meditations, RE
materials and more, are available from the Church of the Larger Fellowship
anytime and any place for your ipod, MP3 player, or computer. Hear the
voices of UU contributors to the CLF's
worship publication via iTunes subscription, or listen à la carte.
You can subscribe to our free podcasts atwww.clfuu.org/podcasts, or listen
to segments à la carte atwww.clfuu.org/quest. The CLF Quest podcast has nearly 1,000 subscribers
worldwide: join our community of listeners today! Visit the Church of the
Larger Fellowship at www.clfuu.org.
Questions? Contact Beth Murray:
bmurray@clfuu.org
617-948-6150
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. Full
participation in this course requires having the book A Chosen Faith,
available from the UUA bookstore at www.uua.org/bookstore. Free
The Church of the Larger Fellowship is the UU congregation through mail and the
Web. Our monthly worship publication, "Quest" (also available
in print and on-line), gathers contributions from renowned UU ministers.
For information about these courses and more, contact
The Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF)
www.clfuu.org/learn
617-948-6150
re@clfuu.org
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Worship Service Calendar
Oct 4 - "Association Sunday" presented by Jolene Edwards. A special service for UUs together everywhere. Oct. 11 - "United Nations Sunday" presented by Anna Garcia. A celebration of the birth of the United Nations.
Social Justice Team meets after potluck.
Oct. 18 - "Finding Your Way to Spiritual Practice" presented by Sam Webster.
Choir Day
Worship Team meets after potluck.
Oct 25 - "Service of Remembrance" presented by Marilyn Giese, bring pictures or treasured objects from loved ones who have passed on.
Choir day
The Social Justice Team meets after the potluck on the second Sunday of the month.
The Worship Team after potluck on the third Sunday of the month.
Please Note - Service topics are subject to change
The 5PM Worship Service is followed by a 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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Learn all about Wonderful Wednesdays (PDF)
or see our Classes & Discussions web page.
Classes Offered for October, 2009:
Film Festival -The Big Bang, Life on Earth, and the Rise of Humanity - Presented by Dr. David Christian, San Diego State University
8:00-9:00 in the Chapel
Mindfulness Meditation with Rick Meyers - As well as meditation practice, these weekly sessions also frequently discuss current literature on mindfulness and meditation.
6:30-8:00 in the Chapel
Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi Design - Learn to work with Clay under the guidance
of Master Potter, Constance Tippet
Materials Fee $15, 6:30-8:00 in the Sunroom
Men's Discussion Group - A discussion group around issues that affect men - health, expectations, work, emotions, roles, using the book Gatherings: Small Group Ministry for Men available from UUA bookstore.
Leader: David Reid
Cost $10.00, 6:30-8:00 in Classroom One
Also offered for everyone:
Twilight Vespers - Clear your mind and ready your spirit with a Vesper Service featuring candles, soft music, and selected readings.
6:00-6:30 in the Chapel
Supper in the Dining Room
5:30-6:00 pm
Enjoy delicious soup, salad and homemade breadsticks for only $4.00 per person Reservations are requested by 5:00pm on Tuesday of each week. Call 687-1891 (Marilyn) to make reservations. You may make a monthly reservation by paying for the meals in advance.
Offered at the Friends Meeting House - 17208 Avenue 296, Visalia
Registration Fee: $25 per quarter (Scholarships are available) (Oct-Dec, 2009). Registration entitles you to Social Period & Vespers, followed by your choice of simultaneous classes.
To register, contact: ww@uuvisalia.org
Or ask for registration form before or after sunday service
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UU Visalia Fellowship News
October, 2009
The weekend of September 11 - 13th
2009 witnessed a series of important decisions and meetings as we
welcomed our new quarter-time consulting minister Sam Webster to our
Fellowship. Most of the Fellowship's various congregational teams
met with Sam over the course of the weekend, almost like having a
retreat weekend.
The Membership Team discussed plans to
delineate more carefully the role of greeters and buddies to welcome
everyone attending our worship services. The team also planned a
newcomer orientation for mid-October - if you would like to attend
please contact April Hill - april@uuvisalia.org
or call (559) 477-4214.
Our Religious Education team met and
prepared materials and curriculum for children's RE. For Adult
Education, the Team plans a new and ambitious program called
"Wonderful Wednesdays - A time to recharge your Spirit." (see
article in this issue).
The Social Justice Team met and decided
after much discussion to emphasize this church year the topic of
"Ethical Eating." To learn more, see Ethical Eating: Food and
Environmental Justice 2008-2010 Congregational Study/Action Issue
adopted by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations:
http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/ethicaleating/
The newly organizing "Communications
Team" met and discussed improvements to our newsletter, website,
and signage. We're planning to create a congregational
bumpersticker, and notecards for better welcoming new folks to our
fellowship. The group also made plans for expanding and improving its
presence on Twitter, yelp.com, ning.com, and other Web 2.0 tools.
The Fellowship's board discussed a
series of projects, and agreed to study together the Gallup
organization's book Now, Discover Your Strengths to see how
we can better work together to strengthen our congregation.
Finally, most of the congregation met
to brainstorm on ideas for fundraising. We're going to consider
everything from a possible art auction, to a "reverse" service
auction, "gourmet dinners" put on my congregational members, and
maybe even a prosaic garage sale. Discussions are underway to use
some online networking tools to make these fundraising efforts easier
and more successful.
Now is an exciting time for our
congregation! We appreciate everyone who has gotten involved, and
welcome anyone else who would like to get active in any of the
activities mentioned.
Harold Wood
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UU Visalia and Web 2.0
We are experiencing today a re-making
of the Internet in new and exciting ways in what is often called "Web
2.0." Once upon a time websites could only be created by people
with special programming skills. Now anyone can have a website, using
"social networking" sites, blogs, and other forms of interactive
content online. Most importantly, these platforms allow for a lot
more give-and-take than static web pages do.
Your Fellowship is exploring what
opportunities it can have using this "second edition" of the
World Wide Web. While our website at www.uuvisalia.org
is still a mainstay, we've expanded our Internet presence in a
multitude of other ways! Here are just a few of them - hope to see
you there - all of these allow for your personal participation!
Facebook - Our Facebook group
offers all the interactive features that Facebook offers -
opportunities to network with other people, discussion boards, and
wall postings. We have quite a few folks who currently live outside
of Visalia who like to follow us on Facebook! Let's show them more
about those of us who live here! Visit us
here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7135785678
Google Maps - Our Google Maps
page features photos, a detailed map of our location, videos, and
even a set of coupons with humorous-spiritual messages you can print
out to invite your friends to visit us!
Twitter - We just started a
twitter feed, a micro-blogging service that allows no more than 140
characters at a time to be posted. One of our latest posts read,"
"Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of
discovery." - Robert T. Weston. You can read more of our
postings from our website home page, or directly on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/uuvisalia
Yelp.com - this popular
interactive website allows visitors to restaurants, hotels, churches,
etc. to post their own reviews on the website. Our presence there is
too young to have any reviews yet - you could be among the first to
submit one! We were able to post some information and announcements
on the site. Check us out on yelp.com
here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/unitarian-universalist-fellowship-of-visalia-visalia
Ning.com - this interactive
tool allows any group to create what is sort of an "in-house"
Facebook limited to its own members. We can share discussions,
events, sponsor internal groups, photos, videos, etc. Look for us to
activate a members-only presence on Ning.com in the near future. We
hope to use this site to provide a platform for advancing some of our
projects described elsewhere in this newsletter, and to help build
community among our members.
Harold Wood
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Unitarian Universalist
Events & News
13th Annual PCD Men's Retreat: Friday-Sunday, October 16th-18, 2009
Theme: What will it take for you to be happy?
Come join men from
all around the Pacific Central District for a weekend of fun,
community-building, kinship, singing, workshops and more! We will be
gathering once again at the Westminster Retreat Center in Alamo (10 miles south
of Walnut Creek), a beautiful location for reflection and enjoyment of natural surroundings.
The cost for the weekend is $225, with a deposit of $100 at time of
registration. Please register now, since the cost rises to $235 as of Oct. 1.
To register or to get more information, go to http://pcd-uua.org/men/frames.htm
We'd love to see you at this event! Questions? Contact us:
Gordon Smith at 408-393-6182 or gordonsmith100@gmail.com
Harry J. Mersmann at 209-955-0291 or pcdmensretreat@gmail.com
Unitarian Universalism: Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World |
Community Events for Social Justice and/or Personal Spiritual Development
Thursday
10/1/09, 5:15PM-8PM - "Crossing Lines" community workshop with Fresno
Interfaith Social Justice Collaborative at Alliant International
University, 5130 E Clinton Way, Fresno (at Fresno Airport). Modern
tools of communication for students, families, educators, activists,
businesspeople & clergy, using story as entry to relationship and
change. Facilitators Libbie and Len Traubman cofounded the 17-year old
Jewish Palestinian Living Room Dialog of San Mateo CA, coproduced two
films "Dialogue at Washington High" and "Peacemakers: Palestinians
& Jews Together at Camp". Free how-to videos and literature to take
home. Event information at http://traubman.igc.org/fresnonight.htm
Event info link
Three Rivers Environmental Weekend, Oct. 3 & 4, The two day event will be October 3rd and 4th, at the Arts Center on Saturday, along with a green home tour on Sunday. Saturday's event
will start at 9:00 with the CNPS annual fall plant sale outside, and inside exhibits and information, featuring a presentation by artist/scientist John Muir Laws at 1:00 p. m. He spent 7 years in the field sketching and doing research for his spectacular Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada, and gives an inspiring presentation, which the CNPS has sponsored for the afternoon. A morning presentation and exhibit will feature Max and Jane Eggman of Terra Bella. They produce the only comb honey in the area, and will have some to sample and for sale...Read more:
LGBTQ On-line info and discussion:
The Tulare County Chapter of Marriage Equality USA(MEUSA and Porterville LGBTQ invites LGBTQ organizations and supporters in Tulare County and surrounding areas to share ideas, announce event info, and discuss LGBTQ issues. I have started a new yahoo group to
keep MEUSA and Porterville LGBTQ members connected with other groups
such as PFLAG, Gay Visalia, COS Pride Club etc. Please join this group
by going to MEUSA-TulareCounty-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Jamie Garza, Chair Porterville LGBTQ, Tulare County Chapter Leader Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA)
Visalia Farmer's Market - Saturdays - 8-11:30 AM at Sequoia Mall Parking Lot (near Sears) and Thursday evenings in downtown Visalia.
November 6-8, Quaker Center, The Sacred Depths of Nature - Exploring the religious potential of our scientific understandings of nature with Ursula Goodenough.
Lawn Mower
Exchange Program: Registration began 4/23/09 for So Cal Edison's Lawn Mower
Exchange Program. Pay just $100 or $160 for a brand new electric
cordless mower valued at $400 or $500 when you exchange your gas mower.
Find quick registration instructions and program details online at
ww.sce.com/lawnmower or call 888-425-6247 once registration opens.
Please give or send any anouncements you have to Bryce Lane, joandbryce@sbcglobal.net, we need more.
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Out of the Box
We are out of the box. We have been for a long time; And now I have proof. There is lots to read in both archives about how our little corner of the woods came to be planted and tended-to.
History of UUs Archive
This one is more general, though I doubt any of us would feel excluded.
History of Liberal Religion Archive
Religion isn't always all about being on guard all the time to make sure your favorite angry friend in the sky doesn't get his feelings hurt by what other people do. Sometimes it talks about friends in the sky, air or earth, that might really be worth having...
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ONGOING FELLOWSHIP EVENTS
Invite Your Friends to the Fellowship!
We have a convenient way for you to invite your friends and acquaintances
to our Fellowship. Many people are turned off by "organized religion" but
they have no clue that there is such a wonderful religious alternative
like Unitarian Universalism that that is guided by a quest for truth and
meaning, not by a set creed or dogma. So we've created handy "pocket
coupons" to help you share the good news! The "coupon" entitles
your friend to a FREE potluck dinner, "A Message to Celebrate Life," "Lively
Discussion" and Free e-mail Newsletter. A brief summary of the seven principles
and time and place with directions to our Sunday services are included. You
can download our "Pocket coupon" from our website, and print your own
with text back-to-back, then cut the page to provide yourself with four
handy pocket coupons to carry with you. The
pocket coupon is available on the public portion of our website,
on our "Welcome to Visitors: page, here: follow
link or http://www.uuvisalia.org/visitors/
That's a good page to refer your friends to so they can learn more about our Fellowship, and learn the good news of the liberal religious alternative!
Ongoing Meditation Sessions
Each Wednesday, 6:30-8PM at
Friends Meeting House. An opportunity to practice this universal
spiritual discipline and discuss mindfulness.
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."
Please Use your S.H.A.R.E.S. Card at Save-Mart
Our Fellowship is participating in the Save-Mart S.H.A.R.E.S program. If you take one of our S.H.A.R.E.S. cards and give it to the clerk at the check-out counter, our Fellowship will receive 3% of your grocery purchases from Save-Mart, at no extra cost to you. Please get your own S.H.A.R.E.S. card from Jolene. And... bring your receipts for the Raffle!
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
An
increasing number of our members and friends are networking with each
other and our Fellowship on the social networking website,
Facebook.com. Please join our UU Visalia Facebook group
and have some fun with online interaction and sharing! It's a good way
to learn more about each other, and to keep in touch between Sundays!
Friday UU Visalia Social Lunch Group
Join us every Friday at 12:15 p.m.for lunch - we'll be visiting different locations each week! If you'd like to attend, contact Harold at 739-8527 or email harold@uuvisalia.org to be added to our weekly notification list.
Join Our Choir
The Choir practices at 4 PM for rehearsal
on several designated Sundays each month. If you are interested in joining the choir, contact Ken Elias at kelias@prodigy.net or phone: (559) 561-0610.
Carpooling
Save money, gas, and the planet! Sign up to commute to Fellowship Worship
Services from Hanford, Three Rivers, Tulare, or Visalia. Look for sign up sheets at
the Meeting House or e-mail info@uuvisalia.org if you're interested.
Reminder to GoodSearch!
Search
the World Wide Web and support our Fellowship at the same time!
Use GoodSearch to support our Fellowship! Identify "Unitarian
Visalia" as "who you search for" 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.
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