February 2010 Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia

Worship Service Calendar For February 2010
Feb. 7	The spiritual necessity of spring cleaning	Presented by Marilyn Giese	Looking at clutter in our lives, making choices to become free of the need to acquire, maintain, repair, protect, handle, and store stuff so that you can focus on living the life you were meant to have.
Feb. 14	Standing on the side of love	Presented by April Hill	Join us and celebrate a Valentine's Day re-imagined. Love is about more than romance, greeting cards and chocolates. We want to celebrate love's power to transform communities, the historical Unitarian Universalist way.	A Choir Day and a Social Justice meeting after potluck
Feb. 21	The intelligence of Evolution	Presented by Sam Webster	Do we need a Creator? Do we need someone to manufacture the Cosmos? How does evolution proceed? How does it know where to go? Have you ever noticed Nature hesitating? Or is it really the nefarious spirit Darwin that lies behind all the choices of evolution?	A Choir Day and a Worship Team meeting
Feb. 28	Helping Children Enjoy healthy Eating Habits for a Lifetime	Presented by Jill McAuliff, Nutrition educator	Jill will provide an overview of the elementary school nutrition education program and share real-life stories of her experiences in the classroom and entertain us with the creative ways she makes learning fun.
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

6:30 to 8:00, Featured class "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven - In Ancient Times" will be offered for five weeks beginning February 3, 2010. The course is a revision of the groundbreaking feminist thealogy course written in 1966 by the Rev. Shirley Ranck, PhD., a Unitarian Universalist Minister.

This course changed the Unitarian Universalist Church, causing the UU Purposes and Principles to be reframed; the improvement of gender balance on boards and admistrating bodies; the adoption of inclusive language in all written an spoken communiations; the virtual institutonalization of the Water Ceremony as our congregtions regather each year in Sepember; and the increase of the number of women ministers from a mere handfull to over half of all our clergy.

The sessions are as follows:

February 2nd, "The Sacred Female"
February 10th, "In the Name of the Mother and the Daughter"
February 17th, "Womanpower"
February 24th, "The First Turning - The Shift from Goddess to God"
March 3rd, "Reclaimng Women's Heritage of Peace"

We have soup supper with salad and homemade bread at 5:30 to 6:00, reservations required (call Marilyn Giese 687-1891 by 9pm tuesday evening).

Evening vespers at 6:00 to 6:30.

From 6:30 to 8:00 meditation with Rick Meyers

From 8:00 to 8:45 don't miss our movie showing and discussion from the Big History Series by Dr. David Christian of San Diego State Univ.

Offered at the Friends Meeting House - 17208 Avenue 296, Visalia.

To register, contact: ww@uuvisalia.org Or ask for registration form before or after sunday service

Please visit our online bookstore!
Anything you buy from Amazon.com after clicking on

will provide a percentage to help support our Fellowship.

Editors Suggestion:The Whole World Kin: Darwin and the Spirit of Liberal Religion

by Fredric John Muir

From Amazon:Nine prominent liberal religious thinkers examine Darwin's contributions to theology, spirituality and ethics.

Further description

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UU Visalia Fellowship News February 2010

Bumper Sticker Favorites An informal poll shows the following as favorites, in order of popularity (with website note www.uuvisalia.org)

"Freedom of Belief, Joy of Service"
"We Need Not Think Alike to Love Alike"
"Grow Your Spirit"
"Keep the Faith—Drop the Dogma"
"Honor Diversity"
"Fellowship for the Liberal Spirit"
"We teach religion, but not A religion"

Please vote on your favorites at next Sunday service, and/or e-mail your ideas to info@uuvisalia.org..

VALENTINE DINNER FUNDRAISER: To benefit Social Justice Commitee projects, Daljit and Katherine Singh will host a Valentine's Dinner on Saturday, February 13th. at 6:30 p.m. at their home in Visalia. The cost is $35.00 per person. In keeping with the Social Justice Committee's "ethical eating" focus, local and/or organic ingredients will be used in preparing the meal featuring recipes from Alice Water's ART OF SIMPLE FOOD. Katherine will be finalizing the menu soon, so call her for details at 734-7213 and to make reservations for the 13th. The Singhs will be able to accomodate ten persons for this dinner.

In the wake of devastation wrought by the earthquake which struck the island of Haiti on January 12, 2010, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) are launching a joint relief effort to bring aid to the impoverished island nation. The Haitian Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) estimates 2.2 million people are immediately affected in this nation of 9 million people. Contributions may be made by going to the UUSC website: UUSC Website. More information can be found here: UUA relief fund.

Call to Members for Fellowship History. Needed: digital photos of congregational events, historical documents from the past, and a videographer with equipment to tape oral histories of our founders and other long-time members. What is the story of the Visalia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship? Who started the church? (Don and Phyllis Chapin are still active members.) Where did we meet? What social issues did we get involved in? We would like to write up a history to post on the web and to format as a pamphlet. Volunteers needed to conduct and tape or film the interviews. Please contact a Board member if you are willing and able.

Please Label Ingredients of Potluck Dishes. Some members and visitors have serious food allergies and we want them to enjoy dinner without worry. We've started making a list of the ingredients of our potluck contributions on a post-it or index card. Particular concerns are peppers and wheat gluten. Secondary benefits are for vegetarians who may not be able to tell if meat is in a dish. Also, if you are willing to divulge your whole recipe, we will collect the cards to include in the Fellowship Cookbook Version #2.

SHARES from Oct. 09 to Dec. 09 $240, total for 2009 is $890. The goal for 2010 is $100 every month and $2400 for the year. Don't forget that SHARES cards are also good at FoodMaxx and Lucky.

Deadline February 1, 2010 UU Visalia is sponsoring Menu for the Future, a six-session course exploring the connection between food and sustainability, beginning on March 4, 2010 for six alternate Thursdays. If you are interested in participating in this course, please sign up by contacting Harold on or before February 1, 2010.

Discussion Course Goals:

To explore food systems and their impacts on culture, society and ecological systems.
To gain insight into agricultural and individual practices that promote personal and ecological well-being.
To consider your role in creating or supporting sustainable food systems.

February 1, 2010 is the deadline to sign up for the course and order your copy of the discussion guidebook. If you order through us, you will be given a 50% discount on the guidebook ($20 before the discount).

For further information about the course or to sign up, contact Harold at harold@uuvisalia.org harold@uuvisalia.org or (559) 739-8527.

More details are available on the Northwest Earth institute website: http://www.nwei.org/discussion_courses/course-offerings/menu-for-the-future

UU Events

NCUUCC Spring Thing at Asilomar (April 23-April 25, 2010) Come to a weekend in the beautiful seaside setting of the Asilomar Conference Grounds on the tip of the Monterey Peninsula. It is a relatively unstructured gathering of about 40 UUs and friends. The days are free for your own activities, exploring the Monterey area, with conversation and games in a friendly atmosphere in the evenings. Cost is $230 per person, double occupancy in historic Scripps Hall, for 3 days / 2 nights, 6 meals, maid service, and use of all Asilomar amenities, including jitney service. Children 3-17 yrs. are $160 and children under 3 years old are free.Registration deadline is January 17, 2010. For a registration form, contact the Registrars, Kathi and Murray Bullis, by telephone at (925) 829-4419, by mail at 9033 Craydon Circle, San Ramon, CA 94583 or e-mail mbkb2@comcast.net

May 2: Come join us for District Assembly 2010! This is always a fun-filled event with many opportunities for worship, education, seeing old friends, and making new ones!

Women & Religion, Pacific Central District, Unitarian Universalist Association "Creating Peace in a Chaotic World". March 5-7, 2010 retreat at Enchanted Hills, Napa. Co-convenors: Geri Kennedy & Barbara Schonborn Join a caring circle in a time away from the everyday world. Two nights lodging, six delicious meals. The weekend includes: workshops for the mind, body and spirit, conversations with old and new friends, shopping at the annual book swap, boutique, and silent auction. Beautiful surroundings, delicious meals. Workshop coordinator: Jewel Whitaker @ 209-683-8072

Community Events

The Visalia CropWalk is scheduled for the second Saturday in March—3/13/10. Walker collection envelopes are available now and may be picked up on Saturday Feb 6, between 4-5PM at St Paul's Anglican Church, 120 N Hall (at Center Street) in Visalia. The Visalia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Social Justice Team plans to participate more this year, so join us in walking or donating! If you're not with the Fellowship, please talk with your church or other organization about participating in this 34 year old Visalia event, which benefits FoodLink and global relief efforts (you may choose a group!) At the February 6 rally, tempting treats will reward you for coming to pick up collection envelopes with posters, hunger education activities and recruiter tips. For more information, please contact April Hill at april@uuvisalia.org or phone Richard Pieart at 786-2109 to make special arrangements to pick up collection envelopes.

PEACE FRESNO'S PEACE AND JUSTICE FESTIVAL: 9th Annual Rally in the Valley; Sunday March 21, 2010 12:30 – 5:00 PM Fresno Fairgrounds, Jr. Exhibit Building Free admission and parking The festival will be the largest convergence of peace activists in the Central Valley, marking seven years of U.S. war on Iraq. The event will include speakers, music, informational tabling by the progressive community, food, and handcrafted goods. Featured speakers include Kathy Kelly, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, who has visited Iraq 24 times in the past decade and Rick Reyes, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and leader of Iraq Veterans Against War. Musicians Blake Jones and the Trike Shop, Ibice, the Sanger Academy Charter School Guitar Ensemble, and the Raging Grannies will perform. Actor Thomas Ian Nicholas will deliver a speech in the persona of Abbie Hoffman. Go to www.peacefresno.org for complete information and updates. Additional information: Dan Yaseen 251-3361. Stand up for peace!

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Purchasing UU gifts from the CLF is another way to support the work of Unitarian Universalism throughout the world. All proceeds from the CLF Shop support the many ministries of the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

Two UU Gift Ideas

The Church of the Larger Fellowship offers UU themed gifts for that special UU in your life -- note cards, pendants, lapel pins, and posters. Check out the CLF Shop. Check out this link:http://clf.uua.org/catalog/
The Church of the Larger Fellowship also publishes a monthly worship publication titled Quest, filled with sermons, poetry, and thought provoking ideas from renowned UU ministers. How about purchasing the Gift of Quest for a friend? Check out this link:https://secure.uua.org/clf/quest/gift.html

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 a la carte. You can subscribe to our free podcasts at www.clfuu.org/podcasts, or listen to segments ala carte www.clfuu.org/quest. The CLF Quest podcast has nearly 1,000 subscribers worldwide: join our community of listeners today! Visit the Church of the LargerFellowship at www.clfuu.org

Questions? Contact Beth Murray: bmurray@clfuu.org 617-948-6150

The Church of the Larger Fellowship's (CLF) mission is to provide a ministry to isolated religious liberals, promote the understanding and growth of Unitarian Universalism and institute programs to that end. For more information about the CLF and its UU ministry to members all over the world, visit their website: www.clfuu.org. Happy Holidays!

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

Out of the box

 Rainy Day, The

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This just belongs here this month.

Unitarian Universalists welcome worshippers of every age, color, sexual orientation, and religious belief (or unbelief). At First Parish in Cambridge (and UU Visalia), you'll sit next to Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Pagans, atheists, agnostics, and seekers of every variety. (No wonder we adapt our hymns!) We have only one absolute requirement: We covenant to treat each other with respect. As we call each other to spiritual growth, we also challenge each other to build Beloved Community not just in our congregations, but in the wider world. We stand on the side of love for marriage equality, for immigrant rights, for climate justice." - Rev. Fred Small pastor of First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, 12-23-09 from UU World.

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. GoodSearch: You Search...We Give. 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.

Contact Info: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visaliainfo@uuvisalia.org(559) 477-4214 We're now listed on yellowpages.com http://www.yellowpages.com/info-22106135/Unitarian-Universalist-Fellowship-of-Visalia

If you're searching for a spiritual home that is guided by a quest for truth and meaning, not by a set creed or dogma, we invite you to discover Unitarian Universalism.We are an open-minded religious community that encourages you to seek your own spiritual path, offering you resources to help you make your own decisions. Unitarian Universalist congregations are places where people gather to nurture their spirits and put their faith into action by helping to make our communities and the world a better place.