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January 2002 Newsletter January 6 -- "We Begin Anew", by John Biedler, M.Div., Practicum Minister. On this first Sunday of 2002, like Janus, we gather with part of us looking backward and part of us looking forward. We gather on the edge of the New Year, saddened by our losses, lifted by our joys, aware of our failures, mindful of days gone by. We are eager to begin anew, hopeful for what lies ahead, promising to make changes, anticipating tomorrows and tomorrows. We invite you to join our celebration of Life, knowing that life includes good and bad, endings and beginnings. January 13 -- "Martin Luther King Tribute: Part I" by John Biedler. A little over one hundred years separated the remarkable ministries of Theodore Parker and Martin Luther King, Jr. Their activist zeal to free African- Americans and restore to them their basic human rights was their common cause. In this sermon, we will compare the dreams of these two advocates of freedom in America. January 20 -- "Tribute to M. L. King, Jr." by John Biedler. In this morning's sermon, I will blend parts of two of the most famous speeches in American history: one delivered by King on August 23, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the other, 100 years earlier in 1863, entitled The Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. This sermon is a dramatic rendering of these momentous events and speeches. January 27 -- "Science and Scientism" by Ron Shafer. In the West, and particularly in the United States, we honor and praise "science." Western science has given us such amazing technological marvels that our faith is almost "religious." But what is "science?" What are its methods, its goals, its possibilities -- and its limitations? Is there a difference between "science" and "scientism"? Other Important
Dates Jan. 9 -- 6 p.m., Women’s Book Group. The group will meet at Kathy Sorensen’s, 289 S. West-lawn. RSVP with Kathy at 428-6850. Also bring a dish for the potluck! Jan, 13 -- Noon, Board meeting. Everybody is welcome. Jan. 17 -- 1 p.m., Women’s Lunch Bunch at the new Blu Phoenix restaurant (where Blue Mill used to be on the corner of Oakland and Wood). RSVP with Andrea Smith at 864-0494 or baatsmith@home.com. Two Covenant
Groups Still Open We have two groups going. One meets every other Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m., led by Joan Brown. Another is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. every other Sunday, led by Chelso Frescura. You may ask Ron Shafer when there might be an opening in his group. You will find sign-up sheets for the two open groups in the foyer. And if you would like to see the behind-the-scenes training, that is done by John for those leading the groups, you also welcome to sit in on the Leader Covenant Group from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Fellowship. Speak with John if you would to attend this session. From the Minister: Adult Religious Education Classes Beginning Soon "As soon as they became recognizably human, men and women -- in their hunger to understand their own presence on earth and the mysteries within and around them -- began to worship gods," writes Karen Armstrong in her fascinating book A History of God. "Religion is highly pragmatic," she asserts, contending that "Any particular idea of God in history must work for the people who develop it." Consequently, as the times have changed, so have humankind's ideas about God. Armstrong gives a compelling account of the parallels and contrasts among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, along with the historical, philosophical, intellectual, and social developments through the ages that have shaped these religions and were shaped by them. In a series of Sunday afternoon Adult Religious Education classes, I will read from and lead discussions from Karen Armstrong's ground-breaking work A History of God. I will also play recordings of the author herself as she discusses the relevance and usefulness of these concepts of God, both in their time and for the future. Please sign up for these extraordinary discussions that will begin Jan. 20 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. I recommend you purchase A History of God and begin reading the Introduction and first two chapters for this first discussion class. Boston Magazine Article on UUism Positive An article on the UUA in the December 2001 publication Boston Magazine by a Michael Blanding is so good, I thought it valuable to share with you. It is entitled: "Come All Ye Faithful." It began "As Americans question their newly divided world, more and more are turning to one Boston-based religion for the answers.” I would love to reprint the whole article, but it is too lengthy for this newsletter. Of course, even this article has it's negativism, but it’s still good. If you’re interested, you can see it at http://www.uua.org/news/mblanding.html. Warmly, April DeConick has signed the membership book and become an official member of UUFD. Dr. DeConick is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Illinois Wesleyan University, is a published author, and has spoken from our pulpit. Her interests include horses and hand-hooked rugs. April is married to UUFD Vice President Wade Greiner. Anyone wishing to share a treasured print, art photograph, painting, or other art object for display in our main meeting room, please contact Jeanne Robertson at 877-6729 or kenrob@family-net.net. Have you signed up for your turn to be a coffee host? Contact Jeanne Robertson at 877-6729 or kenrob@family-net.net. If you are single, don’t be scared away! Jeanne can hook you up with another single person to share the duty with. Greenery ‘green’ Give us to know, O God, how vain are all our hopes,
how empty all our prayers, until we ourselves are ready to fulfill them. Jumpin’ January January lessons will also be from A Stepping Stone Year and will be stories about death from three different cultures. We have a new RE teacher helping us out, too: Julie Pajer, a new UUFD member. The last lesson in January and February lessons will be on Making Decisions. Along with Julie, Anne Reeser, Kathy Kline, Jeanne Robertson, and I will be doing those lessons. Kids, send us the poems, essays, and drawings about UU-related topics that you’ve done. We’d love to get them into this Newsletter! UUFD Finances As we conclude the calendar year, we need to give serious thought to our financial commitments to UUFD. For November, the UUFD financial summary boils down to: TOTAL INCOME $1,549 As we clean out and clear out after the holidays, keep the June UUFD Rummage Sale in mind. Box up you discards, and bring them to the fellowship for attic storage. Contact Vern Thistlethwaite at 429-5923 or vthistle@home.com if you need a pick-up. Attic space is limited, so if possible, label your boxes for the sale and hide them away with a note on your bulletin board reminding you not to forget them next June. If anyone has a secure building close by where items for the June sale might be stored, let us know. As we remember family and friends, we might consider a purchase in their honor -- such as a hymnal, a buildings and grounds upkeep project, or a special contribution for the work of our fellowship. We’re happy to report that former member Phyllis Hathaway Read has made a $5,000 donation to the Unitarian Universalist Association, of which UUFD will receive 40 percent upon her death. Allerton Retreat Seeking BLISS For January through May or June, we will cover The World's Religions by Huston Smith. Each month we will discuss one religion covered in the book and then view the accompanying PBS video of Bill Moyers interviewing the author. This book is a classic and is very informative. The topic for the January meeting is Islam.
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