August 2002 Newsletter

Sunday Sermons in August

All services begin at 10:15 a.m. There is religious education for children and child care for babies and toddlers.

Having recently experienced the death of my own mother on July 5, and with the memorial service of Ann Limerick to be held on Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Fellowship Hall, I thought it fitting to speak on why it is we do memorial services. For whom are they actually meant? What are they to accomplish for those attending? And most importantly, what do you suppose might be said about you when that time comes? I won't make this service too terribly somber, but reflection upon our lives is healthy to undertake. Wasn't it Socrates who said the unexamined life wasn't worth living?

With the Aug. 4 service having been about honoring lives fully lived, I thought it timely that this service be about lives yet to be lived -- the lives of our children. From time immemorial, parents have brought their children before their families and religious communities to be rejoiced over. By doing so, they affirm that their children's lives are sacred. This morning we celebrate the unique expression of this time-honored ritual with the dedication of Fiona Marty, daughter of Paulette and John Marty. The sermon will expand on the place of children in the future of UUFD.

No service -- however, you’ll be doing “service” for UUFD! Our annual Church Clean-up Day will be from 9 a.m. to noon, then we’ll join together for lunch and fellowship! Bring cleaning supplies. Food and drinks for lunch will be provided; however, if you want to help out by bringing something, contact our host, Mark Sorensen.

Ann Limerick service

The memorial service for Ann Limerick, longtime member of the Fellowship, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at UUFD. John Biedler will be officiating. Members of Ann's family will be flying in from both the east and west coasts for this service. A luncheon will be served in her honor following the service.

Other Important Dates

Wednesdays at 1 p.m. -- The Men’s Lunch Group, “We’re Only UU Men”, new Red Lobster. All men are welcome!

Thursdays at 1 p.m. -- Weekly Women’s Summer Lunch Bunch. RSVP Lorelei Zaker, 429-1355 or newsletter@uufd.com, by the Monday before so they know what size table to save. Schedule: Aug. 1 -- Leon’s on Taylorville Road; Aug. 8 -- Schlotzsky’s; Aug. 15 -- Raspberry Tea Room in Elwin, meet in the Southtowne Plaza parking lot, near Video Revue, at 12:30 to car pool; Aug. 22 -- Red Lobster; Aug. 29 -- HomeTown Buffet in Forsyth.

Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. -- Women’s Book Group, at Karla Peterson’s, 1405 Country Lake Dr. in Champaign. The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan will be discussed. RSVP with Karla at karla_p@earthlink.net or 398-0835. Meet in front of Tina King’s, 3478 N. Water St., at 5 p.m. to car pool. Bring a dish to share. The September book is Paradise News by David Lodge.

From our Minister

What a packed summer! I'm sitting here at my laptop keyboard, writing you and longing to finally get settled into a house where everything is in its designated place. I can't find anything! Oh I know, even after getting settled in somewhere there will always be boxes left unopened for weeks. OK, months. (Yes, I've moved before!) But at least Gwen and I would like to have all the essentials of life in one location!

We both feel like we've been "moving" for the last six months -- and including all our packing days -- we literally have!

Gwen packed her things in February, and we moved them into storage here in Decatur in April (thanks to those goodhearted helpers from the Fellowship who assisted us in unloading the truck!).

After unloading Gwen's things, I then packed up all my things in Chicago and placed them in storage in Chicago. I have yet to move them to Decatur!

While packing for what was to go into storage, Gwen and I had to set aside those things we would need for our whirlwind trip to the UU fellowships in Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels, where I preached and conducted Enneagram workshops in May and June.

On June 14, Gwen and I had our wedding ceremony atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It all was just perfect. . . the weather, the UU minister from England who conducted the ceremony, the guests -- my daughter from Tulsa, Gwen’s best friend from England, and a crowd of well-wishers who gathered all around and applauded loudly at the end. We even opened a bottle of champagne and had a round of toasts! It was simply a delight -- and remember, I DID invite all of you to be there!

Then we returned to the U.S., only to pack again for my family reunion and our "legal" wedding on July 3 on an island off the Washington coast. We exchanged our vows in a small white chapel (complete with a steeple bell), surrounded by rolling hills and bleating lambs grazing in nearby pastures. I'm not kidding -- it was exactly that unbelievable a setting.

Then the sad news of my mother's passing, and having to pack for a two-day trip to Gladewater, Texas, and my mother's funeral.

Yes, I'm tired of this “packed” summer -- and I’m ready to UNpack, and stay unpacked, for a long time!

Phew!
Warmly,
John

What a sale!

Over $1,000 was earned at our annual Rummage Sale in June! Much thanks for the work and expertise of Kathy Vaught and Vern Thistlethwaite, who put in countless hours. In fact, too many people to name put in a lot of hard work! Kudos to all those of you who donated family heirlooms. Thanks also to Chelso Frescura, Amy Stockwell, Sue Donovan, and others for big donations.

Bits 'n Pieces

Birthdays this month include Rosemary Idleman, Aug. 5; Tim S. will be 9 on Aug. 6; Lois Worley, Aug. 20; Vern Thistlethwaite, Aug. 21

June Allison, B.A. from Millikin University, will begin graduate school at ISU in the fall to earn her master’s in social work. * Erica Throneburg, bachelor’s in Exercise Science, St. Louis University, will be continuing for her master’s in Physical Therapy. * Mason Throneburg, Environmental Engineering from U of I, will begin Johns Hopkins for his master’s. * Laura Vaught, BA in English from SIU, plans to work for a year, then go to graduate or law school. * Sara Fornoff, bachelor’s in psychology from Millikin, will stay in Decatur until she begins graduate school, probably in the winter term.

Opera fans may soon be familiar with the name Leann Sechrest. The daughter of UUFD member Laura Sechrest and husband Carl recently completed performances as the lead in "The Mikado", a production by the Chicago-based Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. Leann is involved with singing and theater groups at the University of Chicago, where she is a sophomore.

Our sympathies go to our minister, John Biedler, and Leslie Martin, both of whom lost their mothers recently.

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