Calendar for July 2007
(5:00 pm summer worship services continue a series based on Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays and a companion book, Emerson as Spiritual Guide, written by Barry M. Andrews. The Guide is available for borrowing or purchase at the Friends Meeting House.)

7/1/07 - "The Divinity School Address" Discussion led by April H on Emerson's talk that was delivered in 1838, six years after he resigned his pulpit at Second Church in Boston. His remarks stirred considerable debate about the Unitarian "orthodox" and the Transcendentalists.

7/8/07  - "Self-Reliance"

7/15/07 - "Compensation"

7/22/07 -  "Special Service & Concert with Jim Scott" 

7/29/07 - Report on General Assembly

8/5/07 - "The Oversoul"

8/12/07 - "The Transcendentalist" Discussion led by Lesley D. (Please note and forgive: this chapter is out of sequence.) Emerson describes the "counterculture" Transcendentalist movement and contrasts idealism (based on consciousness) with materialism (based on experience).

Volunteer Discussion Leaders are also needed on 8/19/07 and 8/26/07 for Andrews's chapters on "Circles" and "Experience."

Meetings of the Board, Religious Education, Social Justice, Worship and Growth Committee/Ministry Teams will be arranged by their coordinators and announced at Sunday services, due to various summer travel plans.

Fellowship News

Welcome 2007-08 Board Members!

President - April Hill

Vice President - Harold Wood

Treasurer - David Reid

Secretary - Debbie Wing

The Fellowship offers a second discussion group prepared by the Northwest Earth Institute. The four sessions will awaken us to the reality of global warming and the enormous challenge that lies ahead.  The first meeting will be at the Yates' home, where future meetings will be arranged.

Milestone: A Sign for the Fellowship

The June 20-24, 2007 Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) General Assembly in Portland, Oregon was energizing. Janet, Harold and April enjoyed many workshops, exhibit booths, worship services and plenary sessions. We showed off the new Visalia Fellowship banner in the opening Banner Parade and had a great time reuniting with old friends and making new ones.

Janet attended many workshops focused especially on Growth, young adults, adult education and member retention. Titles include Marketing Strategies for Growth - The Uncommon Denomination", "Interconnections", "Models of Small Group Ministry", "New Visions for Growing Congregations: Growth for Small Congregations" and "The Membership Journey- Will They Come Back?"

April added more to her reading list - Wayne Muller's Sabbath; Joanna Macy's World as Lover, World as Self;  UUA's Soul Work: Anti-Racist Theologies in Dialogue; David Korten's The Great Turning (a natural follow up to Fellowship studies of The Chalice & the Blade and The Partnership Way!). She attended workshops on  "Successful Public Witness-Planning Newsworthy Justice Events", "Supporting & Sustaining young Adult Members", "Bringing Your Spiritual Self to Religious Work", "Making Music Together: Musical Ways to Build Community", "Welcoming the Stranger: A Just Immigration Policy," "Small Congregational Growth", "Facilitator Training for Small Group Ministry", "Breakthrough Congregations" and "Statewide Advocacy: Raising UU Values - Changing Public Policy." Highlights were a Journey toward Wholeness Celebration, a Public Witness on Global Climate Change and sharing ideas on anti-oppression ministries and grants. (Notes and PowerPoint presentations will be available soon on the Fellowship website.)  April learned more about programs offered by UUA (Journey toward Wholeness, Jubilee and Welcoming Congregation), important legislation on several issues, community partnerships to nurture. She also collected curricula for small groups and a few books to support our worship, music, children's and social justice programs.

Harold attended workshops on "Best Practices for Online Communication," growth for small congregations, how to better link religious education and social justice, and several sponsored by the UU Ministry for Earth. A lecture on "The Great Turning" with David Korten was a highlight.  He also participated in the 'Open Space" ad hoc workshops, even creating one which he led on the topic of "Earth Community as the Beloved Community"' - making recommendations for the future direction of the UUA.  Harold enjoyed the small group discussions in the Open Space workshops and made some valuable contacts with other UUs.  He also accepted the Green Sanctuary Certificate on behalf of our congregation on the final day's Plenary before the thousands of congregational representatives.