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Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia Newsletter |  |
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Quick Calendar for January 2007
Jan 7
Jan 14 :
Jan 21
Jan 28
Call to Congregational Meeting Special Congregational Meeting on January 28, 2007 at 5 PM for consideration and adoption of goals developed at the Fellowship’s Strategic Planning Retreat. Your chance to discuss, provide feedback on proposals regarding Worship, Music, Caring, Membership, Lay Ministry, Religious Education and Congregational Development.
January 7, 2006
Jan 14
Jan 18 (Thursday)
Jan 21
Jan 28
Regular Fellowship Events
Every Sunday at 5:00 PM - Regular Worship Service and Children's Religious Education. Every Sunday at 6:00 PM - Join us for Potluck after the Worship Service! Every Wednesday at 6:30 PM – Meditation Practice at Friends Meeting House. After silent and walking meditation, we continue discussion of Pema Chodron's book, Start Where You Are. For information, contact Rick Meyers at meditation@uuvisalia.org. 1st Sunday - 6 PM. - Religious Education Committee Meeting. Everyone interested in RE meet during potluck in the atrium. For info, April Hill, president@uuvisalia.org 2nd Sunday 4 PM. - Drumming Circle - Come early to the Friends Meeting House, with or without a percussion instrument. You can bring a drum, a shaker, or other percussion device. If you don't have one, we can provide one. Shared rhythm creates a spiritual feeling unlike anything else! 2nd Sunday 6 PM – Social Justice/Green Sanctuary Meeting after the service. All welcome! For info, Harold Wood, green@uuvisalia.org or visit our Green Sanctuary blog. 3rd Sunday 3:30 PM - Fellowship Board Meeting at Friends Meeting House. For info: April Hill, president@uuvisalia.org 4th Sunday 6 PM – Membership / Growth Committee Meeting in odd-numbered months, Newcomer Orientation in even- numbered months. For info, April Hill, president@uuvisalia.org 22nd of each month – Newsletter deadline. Send items for newsletter to: editor@uuvisalia.org.
Lao-Tzu reminds us that peace in the world must begin with peace in our hearts. His insight holds a key for us all. By looking inward we may see clearly the complex truths of our lives and our histories. We may then commit ourselves to the spiritual practice of waging peace - in our hearts, at home, in our congregations and communities, and in our world. It is within our most intimate relationships that we first must lay the seeds of peace, seeds that may eventually grow into respectful dialogue at the diplomatic table. The American Quaker social worker and author Mary Parker Follett, tells us: We have thought of peace as passive and war as the active way of living. The opposite is true. War is not the most strenuous life. It is a kind of rest cure compared to the task of reconciling our differences. From war to peace is not from the strenuous to the easy existence. It is from the futile to the effective, from the stagnant to the active, from the destructive to the creative way of life. Waging peace calls us to stand with all the commitment to life that our faith inspires in us. To live out Sophia Fahs' bold affirmation that each night a child is born is holy. To become willing to face and name our deepest truths, and still to open ourselves to others whose truths are different. To prepare room in our hearts and lives for a new way of being. In a culture that urges us to seek safety in ever bigger cars, houses, and opinions, we must find the courage to acknowledge our vulnerability, to admit how much we need one another's love and care if we are to forge a collective future. Let us rededicate ourselves to waging peace. Not only by resisting aggression and advocating against war, but by looking inward to find the hope that is at the root of this season. Let us answer the religious call to join hands with people of all faiths and move forward together, with hope burning bright in our hearts. I commend to you the UUA's new resource designed to support our study/action issue on Peacemaking. [link below] If peace is to exist in our world, it must begin in our homes, in our congregations, in our communities. Engaging in study of this issue is one step we all can take.
In December, 2006, we had some wonderful events! On December 3, Mona Selph presented "Painting the Mystery" a multi-media presentation showing that where words fail, artists step in to try to depict visually the awe and wonder we feel for the mystery of life and death. On December 10, Harold Wood presented "UUs Take on Global Warming." If you missed his presentation, you can download his Power Point presentation on our website. You can download the Adobe Acrobat PDF version, (2.1 MB) or the full Power Point Presentation (1.2 MB). On December 17, during our "Solstice Celebration," we explored traditions from all over the world recognizing the Winter Solstice. Our visitors from China commented that in China, Winter Solstice is greater than the Lunar New Year. On December 24, we had a quiet but engaging vesper's service of Nine Lessons and Carols, presented by Marilyn Giese, that helped us ponder the spirit of the season, of children, of natural human connections around the world. A memorial service for long-time member, Irene Walden, was conducted on December 30. Family members from across the country gathered to remember her life and lessons (remember the underdogs, especially the displaced Palestinians). Marilyn Giese conducted the service, David Reid played the bagpipes that Irene loved and several shared stories of how their lives were touched by Irene. On New Year's Eve,our young adults presented "New Year's Revolutions." We literally burned the bad habits and memories of the past (written on paper) and savored our hopes and resolutions for the future (symbolized with tangerines that grow on ever-green trees.) Thanks to Shell, Sarah, Will and Rob for sharing their deep thoughts and high spirits.
South Valley Peace Center This local organization is in the forefront in Tulare County promoting peace and justice. They sponsor many interesting events on issues of interest to UUs. They have a free Announcements e-mail list to keep you abreast of upcoming events, meetings, and other useful information. This is an outgoing list only with a limited number of messages sent. (You do not have to be a member to receive these Announcements.) To sign up, visit www.svpc.info and click the link for Announcements Email List. Click on the link to send an e-mail to the Listserv. You will get a reply from the SVPC email server maiser@plagioclase.com. Just follow the instructions in the email to confirm your subscription. If you have any problems, send an email to Kim Loeb at krloeb@svpc.info and he will be happy to sign you up. Visalia CropWalk Volunteers needed for Visalia CropWalk coordinating committee will meet in January and February at times to be determined to plan this annual hunger awareness event, which will be held March 10, 2007. The short-term project needs volunteers to support FoodLink and publicize Church World Service’s efforts to assist people who are hungry and affected by disasters locally, in the state, nation and internationally. Walkers and sponsors are invited to pick up a collection envelope. Please contact president@uuvisalia.org or in person. The Community Alliance newspaper is a great source for San Joaquin Valley progressives, edited by Mike Rhodes who spoke at the last South Valley Peace Center forum. Check out their website www.fresnoalliance.com . The Humanists of the San Joaquin Valley (HSJV) meet on the third Sunday of the month at 1PM at the UU Church of Fresno. You may view their newsletter on website http://fresno.humanists.net On Sunday, January 21st - "Urlife: what are the leading hypotheses about the first life on Earth" By Devin Carroll. On Sunday, February 18 – the group may possibly review a few recent books such as The End of Faith by Sam Harris, Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, or Religion is not about God by Loyal Rue. Mark your calendars for 3rd Sunday meetings through August: March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15 and August 19. -
Membership Anyone interested in joining the Visalia UU Fellowship, please contact president@uuvisalia.org to discuss your interest and the rights and responsibilities of membership. Please see our new Pathways to Membership page on our website. A Welcoming Ceremony is planned for January 7, 2007. Pledges Please return your pledge letter as soon as possible, so the Board is assured that we will have the income necessary to meet the budget the Fellowship approved at the Annual Congregational Meeting and so that we can begin to plan the next fiscal year budget. (Hint: PayPal allows monthly charges to your credit card to simplify fulfilling your pledge commitment, and is easy to set up.) Guest At Your Table Please contribute to the humanitarian efforts of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee by bringing your contributions from the “Guest at your Table,” or membership in the UUSC. Individual contributions over $75 will be matched by the Shelter Rock UU congregation of New York. Final contributions will be collected on January 17 by Maxine. Coat and Cold Weather Clothing Distribution - Your contributions to Coat and Cold Weather Clothing Distribution were greatly appreciated and given to residents of a local transitional housing facility, Good News Center and the Battered Women’s Shelter. The 12/10 and 12/17/06 events were co-sponsored with the Jewish Congregation Beit Shalom and took place at their building near Blain Park. Religious Education -
Our children's' program
"Chalice Children" is off to
a great start. Great to see the kids here on
Sundays. We had a really fun time doing our Winter
studies and learned about many different religious
holidays. Get ready for our Spring kick-off to
start soon. We will be working on UU Principles
"kid style," planting seeds for Spring. As soon as
the days lengthen we will resume our "nature walks"
around Quaker Oaks and play on the playground. We
will continue to celebrate all the holidays as they
come up. So, bring a friend and see you Sunday! Green Ideas - Where can we shop for
energy-efficient, non-toxic products in Tulare
County? Please e-mail us with your discoveries!
Irene Walden, long-time member of our Fellowship, passed away on Dec. 23, 2006, at the age of 90. She had been living at Walnut Park Retirement Home and had not been able to attend services for quite a while. She leaves behind three children, including Nancy McNabb of Visalia. Irene was born in Montana on July 24, 1916, but soon moved to Seattle, where she was raised and met the love of her life, Bill, during World War II. Before marriage, she helped found a company magazine, learned to fly, and was the first in her family to earn a college degree. After marriage, while raising her children, she followed her husband all over the world. Bill was an oil engineer and this took them to the Middle East, where their son was born. During their marriage, they traveled to nearly every corner of the world. She was an artist, a photographer and a gifted writer and enjoyed playing the piano for family and friends. She had many friends and was dearly loved by her family. Memorial services for Irene were held on December 30 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia. Lyle Christman is recovering from a serious accident and will be at Visalia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 1925 East Houston, Visalia 93232 for the near future. "Get Well" cards can be sent to that address.
A church is people. It is not a body of belief, a set of principles, or an impressive structure of stone, wood, and glass. A church has roots in the past no matter how recently the congregation was organized. A church represents a long procession of people willing to work with others toward shared goals, worship with others of similar belief, and hold in honor the wise and courageous people who have gone before them. The people who constitute a church come with their needs as well as their gifts. To the extent that they can share their concerns and vulnerabilities and become sensitive to those of others, they will be part of a beloved community. A church consists of people who are not too sure they are right, who are willing to be somewhat uncomfortable in order to correct what they see as wrong. It is made up of people who order their priorities and choose their way with a generous spirit (and often considerable rhetoric). In a church there are those who are practical about institutional needs as well as the needs of the human family. There are people who understand our interdependent web of existence, those who can share the poetry they find in the stars, and those who can circulate a petition to save the wetlands. There are those who can speak out against nuclear madness and those who can remember that the roof needs mending. Churches need people who can help feed the hungry of the world and people who can help feed the hunger deep within the souls of those gathered. A church is composed of people who continue in the long procession knowing that others will follow-others for whom they must make a better world, to whom they owe a heritage of carefully examined discoveries and challenging possibilities. A church is made up of people eager to be part of that procession yet fiercely aware of their individual identities within it and alert to the fragility of the relationship.
A church is a granite base and a silken web, a
crystal ball and a cup of fire.
January 13, 2007 in Berkeley: Annual Growth Conference “Mapping Uncharted Territory: New Directions for Growing Vital Congregations” with Larry Peers from the Alban Institute covering material on leadership, systems dynamics, appreciative inquiry and assessing the membership systems of your congregation - Welcoming, Nurturing, Empowering and Serving Leaders. Registration of $50 due by Jan 10, 2007. Three members plan to carpool on Friday afternoon. Team Member #5 comes for free! To be followed by a District representative visit to Visalia in February. For information and to join the carpool, please e-mail editor@uuvisalia.org Feb 27: RenMod Training for Religious Educators. For more information on how to participate, please contact PCD Director of Faith Development Yvonne Rochon at yvonne@pcd-uua.org or call 510-601-1437. February 24, 2007 at the UU Church of Fresno “Liberal Voices in a Conservative Landscape”, a Leadership Training conference sponsored by the California Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry (UULM), Fresno UU Church and Visalia UU Fellowship. Learn more about progressive California issues - single payer health care, marriage equality, global warming and how to improve your media skills. This is the third annual Central Valley conference and the first in our neighborhood - a great opportunity to be inspired and meet UUs from around the state. On February 25, PCD Director of Faith Development Yvonne Rochon will travel to Visalia to talk with interested Fellowship members and friends about our strategic plans goals for growth. Meeting details to be determined. February 22-24, 2007 in San Diego – UUA Conference on Contemporary Worship “Spiritually Vital & Alive”. Keynote Presentation by Dr. Marcia McFee, (website www.marciamcfee.com) . at First UU Church of San Diego, 4190 Front St. Cost $250 includes all meals from Thursday dinner through Saturday lunch. Scholarships are available. For more information www.uua.org/ya-cm/resources/Worship/ Hospitality Workshops - March 3, 2007 at First Unitarian Church of Oakland March 17 at UU Church of Palo Alto, March 31 at UU Congregation of Marin, May 26 at UU Church in Livermore. April 27-29, 2007 – District Assembly at Foster City Crowne Plaza. June 20-24, 2007 UUA General Assembly in Portland Oregon. Preceded on 6/19-20 by UU University for present and future Congregational Leaders, a low cost fast paced workshop that will cover many key leadership functions needed to be a successful leader. 6/23/07 UUSC Teen Camp for a local project. July 28-August 2, 2007 Stebbins at Asilomar, UU Summer Gathering. Applicants to be on staff may present their proposal on Saturday, December 9, 2006, 11:30AM-2:30PM at the UU Congregation of Marin. For more information e-mail ruthlorain@sbcglobal.net
1/18/07, Thursday, 7PM - Local Water Issues Speaker Program at Unitarian Universalist Church, 4144 N Millbrook, Fresno. Chris Eacock, Bureau Reclamation will speak on the basics of water distribution in California and the impact of State and Federal Water Projects. 1/20/07, Saturday, 2PM-4PM – Seeking Shelter: An Interfaith Forum on Housing. At the Mennonite Community Church, 5015 E Olive Ave., Fresno CA 93727. Co-sponsored by the Mennonite Community Church and the Interfaith Social Justice Collaborative. Sharon Stanley from F.I.R.M., Tony Miranda from Habitat for Humanity and Rev. Steve Ratzlaff will share what they are doing to promote and maintain safe, decent, accessible and affordable housing in Fresno. 1/27/07, Saturday, 1-4PM – Choral Workshop led by Jim Scott. At the First UU Church of Stockton. Guitarist, singer and composer Jim Scott writes powerful music that promotes ecology, justice and peace. Choir members and music lovers may join the fun for a fee of $15 per person. Mr. Scott will give a family-friendly concert at 7PM in the Stockton sanctuary – ticket price $15 will benefit the Stockton and Modesto congregations and their music programs. Registration is now open and seating is limited. Childcare is available if requested by January 15, 2007. Checks should be sent to First UU Stockton, c/o Rev Laura Horton-Ludwig, 2737 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95204. More information at www.stocktonuu.inreach.com or 209-466-7743. 2/3/07, Saturday, 7PM - Fresno UU Church Theater Fundraiser at Second Space Theatre showing Neil Simon’s comedy “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” and offering appetizers, beverages (including wind), desserts and UU friends with a $25 ticket.
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