Newsletters
& Sermons
April 2004
UUFD
NOW
In
John's Words
Welcoming
new members means we're growing, and it is always a celebratory
event at the Fellowship whenever we welcome new members.
Most recently in a ceremony during the March 14 service we welcomed
Carolyn and Eric Devore. They are outstanding people who have been
contributing to this Fellowship in many, many different ways for
years. But what if no one had ever invited them to join? What if
you had never been invited to join?
It sometimes happens here at UUFD. People attend for months, even
years,
and no one ever says to them we value your presence and would you
consider
becoming a member with us. I know this phenomenon of not asking
people to join a UU church isn't just a UUFD reality. It's across
our denomination, I'm afraid.
There are a number of reasons. One I've noticed over my 23 years
as a UU is that when we see certain people attend our services a
number of months (or even years), or we see them at workshops, potlucks,
Covenant Groups, Book Clubs or one of the men's or women's gatherings,
we just assume that certainly someone has by now asked them to join.
But all too often no one has said boo. It's almost as if it's taboo
to do so.
Another possible reason is that everyone assumes the minister will
take care of such matters; that members shouldn't feel it their
place to ask someone to join.
Or maybe it's because UUs are traditionally so nonproselytizing,
so nonevangelizing, because we don't want to come across as intrusive
or "out to win souls." It's almost as though we all sort
of secretly hope guests will one day get so curious and ask, "How
DO you become a member here at UUFD?"
I'd like to shift that culture here at UUFD, that we each be a little
more "out there" with our expression of interest in having
people, first, come see what we're about, and, secondly, that we
actually let them know we'd really like them to consider becoming
a member.
Because this Fellowship is founded on the Shared Ministry concept,
where ALL members are thought of as able to minister to one another,
we can each simply say a sincere "We'd love for you to join."
And, yes, we ought to explain that it requires the signing our Membership
Book. We might explain that they could be asked to join one of the
committees that serve the wider membership. But let them know that
that is all voluntary.
So how about it, members? Your surveys nearly unanimously listed
growth as one of your highest priorities at UUFD. Let's ALL be growth-
minded. Let's ALL invite people to attend -- and let's ALL take
the time to simply ask someone if they'd thought of joining. This
IS a great community to belong to, don't you agree?
In faith,
John
Office hours
Rev. Biedler will be available from 1-5 p.m. at the Fellowship on
Tuesday
afternoons during April. Feel free to call him there at 875-5442.
If the number is busy (because of being online) you may reach John
by calling his cell phone at 972-2184. John also welcomes calls
at his home at 963-2490.
 Top
Call Him 'Dr. Morton'
Our fine pianist/musical director Jeff Morton has
earned his PhD! He had his final doctoral defense exam on March
16 and qualified as a doctorate of
musical arts in composition. He will spend the summer around San
Francisco and return in the fall to play at UUFD and teach at Millikin.
"Decatur has been really good for me, and I look forward to
another year here," Jeff said.
Top
Happy
Birthday To:
Ken Robertson
and Shana Zaker, April 6, and Kathy Sorensen, April 21.
Top
UUFD
Celebrities - By Joan Brown
Hello, all! Not only is Ken Crouch's picture on the front page of
today's Herald & Review (March 16), but so are Joan and Terry
(Ankrom) - Joan's coat and back of head, and Terry's beard. I'll
be glad to autograph copies for a small fee!
(The news event was the visit to Decatur of presidential candidate
Dennis
Kucinich).
Top
Continuing
Recovery
Lorelei
Zaker's mom still is making her way back from a stroke suffered
on Feb. 6. The family hopes to bring her home in the very near future.
Your prayers and thoughts are most welcome.
Top
De-'light'- ful
UUFD is
now fully illuminated! A security light was installed in mid-March
at the back of the Fellowship Hall. Also, new bulbs have been installed
in the spotlight at the corner and in the south side of the sign
by the road.
Top
Dollarsense
on Pledging
Pledges
for 2004-2005 are now due. Please send to Treasurer Mark Sorensen.
As of March 23, 27 pledge units have promised almost $30,000 for
the next fiscal year, beginning July 1. That leaves about 17 pledge
units unreported.
We hope these will come in soon and raise the pledged amount at
least $5,000
more. Pledges may be paid weekly, monthly, quarterly, whenever you're
in town, or in a lump sum during the year.
Money pledged last year and not yet paid is due by June 30. Most
people have
been very generous. And remember: Without your support, there is
no Fellowship.
Thank you.
Top
Happy
Birthday, Decatur & Macon County!
The citywide
celebration of the city and county's 175th anniversary will begin
at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 17 in downtown Decatur. John Biedler
and John Hays have been involved in the planning of the festivities,
and Rev. Biedler will portray Stephen Decatur himself!
After a parade and ceremonies in Central Park, there will be free
food and entertainment. Ham and beans and apple cobbler should be
able to provide
a kind of 1829 flair.
Top
Chalice
Lighters
The Elkhart,
Ind., UU congregation is using a Chalice Lighter grant from the
Central Midwest District to conduct market surveys to learn how
many people in their area might be receptive to UU values. The remaining
money will fund an ad campaign, enhance their Web site and help
Religious Education.
Could such a grant help our Fellowship? There is interest in such
an idea, but our chances will be improved if we have a good record
of making Chalice Lighter contributions. Donors usually agree to
send $10 or more three times a year to the District. The pooled
money is awarded to congregations with specific
plans for growth.
If you want to take the first step in getting involved, send your
check to CMD, UUA, 4415 W. Harrison St., Hillside, IL 60162. Make
your check payable to CMwD and note Chalice Lighters in the memo.
Top
Summer
Services?
At the March
14 board meeting, John Biedler recommended that we continue
programming in the summer as much as possible. John will preach
two Sundays in June and two in July or August. Mark Sorensen suggested
that special events, such as a picnic or other outings, could be
scheduled in the summer also to maintain interest. The fall schedule
will officially start Sept. 12, with a Biedler
service.
Top
Countdown
to Rummage Sale
Our annual
rummage sale will be Saturday morning, June 5. Kathy Vaught will
head up the preparations and sale yet another time - she's done
them all!
Here's where YOU come in:
- Collect
items that you are willing to part with, box or bag them, and
either drop them by the fellowship or call Vern Thistlethwaite,
429-5923,
for a pick- up.
- Alert
your friends, relatives and neighbors that all items are appreciated
and that a tax form is available, should the donor wish to claim
the donation as a deduction.
- Plan
to lend a hand in the sale - many hands are needed to set up,
sort, price, sell, assist buyers and clean up.
Top
'Civil
Marriage is a Civil Right'
That's
the wording of a banner that hangs from the national headquarters
of our Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston. That philosophy
is powering the efforts of President William Sinkford and others
to give legal status to same-sex unions.
Rev. Sinkford also announced a fund for UUs to help pay for the
effort. "Unitarian Universalism calls us to fight for the civil
and religious rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender
people, and this new fund allows us to fully participate in the
public debate in favor of civil marriage as a civil right,"
he said.
Those interested may make donations online at:
www.uua.org/giving.
Meanwhile, two UU ministers were charged with criminal offenses
in March
for marrying 13 gay couples in what is believed to be the first
time in the United States that clergy members have been prosecuted
for performing same-sex
ceremonies. The charges against the New York State ministers carry
a fine of
$25 to $500 or up to two years in jail. Whatever your particular
view on this issue, it promises to stay on the public scene, in
the courts, the legislatures and the presidential campaign trail.
It also is a prime UU national issue.
Top
In a nurturing environment of
openness, mutual respect, and friendship, the Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship of Decatur is a welcoming, diverse congregation. We share
values and seek to celebrate life and support one another in our
inward and outward searches for spiritual meaning, provide a liberal
religious presence, and strive for compassion and justice in our
community and our world.
Our newsletter is printed monthly.
Dick Zaker is the editor and Jennifer
Gardner makes it available on the Web. Articles can be submitted
through e-mail at newsletter@uufd.org,
by putting them in the newsletter mailbox at UUFD, by mailing them
to him in care of the fellowship, or by leaving a phone message
for Dick at 429-1355.
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