Newsletters & Sermons
June 2004

UUFD NOW

Rummage Sale's Almost Here! by Vern Thistlethwaite

The UUFD Really Big Rummage Sale is coming up Saturday, June 5, at 8 a.m. A "bag full for a dollar" sale at noon encourages the sale of many less-expensive items.
Items should be at the fellowship no later than June 1. If sale items arrive later, please have them marked to sell and ready for display.

Old furniture, toys, games, kitchenware, yard-porch-patio things, books, decorative items, tools, plants, artificial floral arrangements and sporting goods go well, and clothing including shoes, boots, hats and coats are welcomed.

If you have already signed up to mark and sort, THANKS!. If you find you can lend a hand for the cleanup at 1 p.m. or can lend assistance during the sale anytime between 8 and 1, your help is most appreciated.

We have a line waiting to come in at 8 a.m. Many folks come to our sale year after year because we have a "really good sale". Kathy Vaught and her crew enable a hefty sum to be added to our financial kitty, but it is the donations of members, friends and others that make the sale a success.

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Who’s who in the news

UUFD members’ activities continue to fill up the pages of the newspaper. Mark Sorensen has been appointed Macon County historian by the board, a newly created position.
Lucy Murphy and former members Leland Roth and Greg Gravemier were awarded Life Memberships by the Decatur Branch of the NAACP.

Terry Hogg’s retirement from the Decatur School District also was noted recently.
And, the two women who were lead plaintiffs in the case that gave same-sex couples the right to marry in Massachusetts were united by UUA President William Sinkford in the UUA headquarters. The ceremony was attended by friends, family and many media representatives. from around the world.

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Beginning meditation class begins June 7

Do you need to relieve stress? Do you need to improve your mental and physical health?
These things and more are possible through the ancient practice of meditation, the benefits of which have been proven by science.

A free class in beginning meditation will be offered at the Fellowship by Ron Shafer and Mel Weinstein. The first class is at 7 p.m., June 7, with continuing sessions on Wednesdays through July 7.

Preregistration is requested. Registration forms are in the Fellowship lobby or by contacting Mel.

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In John’s words

We certainly have gotten off to a great start for the coming church year with the leadership of our new president of the congregation, Marge Evans. I think she has called every person on our friends and membership list.

Many people are saying how much they have appreciated being called by Marge and asked to participate and be on one of the committees of the congregation. There are still many needs on all the committees. If you have an interest in one of the following areas of activity in the Fellowship, I hope you will call Marge or the chairperson of the various committees. For instance, we need more people to be on the Program Committee, which finds quality speakers for the every-other-Sunday when I'm not speaking. From the recent congregational survey, these Sundays with guest speakers are highly valued among members and friends.

If you've thought you'd like to see the Fellowship reach out more to the people of Decatur and surrounding communities you might find the Outreach Committee to your liking. Its first gathering will have happened by the time this Newsletter arrives at your mailbox, but it will meet throughout the year and needs many committed members, people who want to see the Fellowship grow.

The Membership Committee is another vital part of our long term growth. It has met once and is scheduled to meet after services on Sunday, July 25. June Allison as chairwoman would welcome your ideas and participation. One of the most important needs we have right now is for the Religious Education Committee to be chaired and filled. It's been said that if you want growth in a congregation, build an exciting children's program. Lorelei Zaker did a fabulous job getting our RE going this past year. We now can build on her ideas and energy. Yes, we need many more adult teachers to volunteer to take a Sunday or two throughout the year; and, yes, we do need more children attending week in and week out. But we need a program in place to attract families. Even if you would just like to volunteer as an R.E. teacher from time to time, I hope you will let Marge know.

Some of the other committees you could contribute to are the Buildings and Grounds, Hospitality, Finance, Newsletter, Long Range Planning, Committee on Ministry, Pulpit Committee and the newly formed "Book, Bake and Botanical" committee, created at the May 16 UUFD board meeting. You'll have to ask Marge what that is -- but I can tell you, it's going to put some "fun" in "fund raising" this fall.

The excitement in the Fellowship in growing! The enthusiasm is the highest I've seen since I've been at the Fellowship these past three-plus years. Our future looks bright — and it all comes from each one stepping forward and saying "I'd like to contribute. I'd like to make a difference. Where am I needed?"

In Faith,
John

Office hours
Rev. Biedler will be available from 1-5 p.m. at the Fellowship on Tuesdays throughout June.
You may call him at the church office at 875-5442.

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Joys & Concerns

Cut the cake
Big birthday greetings to:

We’ll miss the Martys
Paulette, John and Fiona will be moving to Boone, N.C., this summer where Paulette has taken an assistant professor position at Appalachian State University. And Fiona's little brother or sister is due in November.

We welcome Denise
Denise Lohrenz-Renfro, our newest member, was raised in Shelbina, Mo., and Lincoln. She moved to Maroa in 1987, where she lives with husband Donald Renfro. She has two daughters, Lori Bartels-Tobin who lives in Sarasota, Fla. with her husband Ken, and Brook Bartels, who lives in Rockford with partner Shawn, and her 5-year-old son, Riley. Denise is a custodian and children's supervisor at the Maroa Grade School. She also teaches monthly classes of CPR and first aid at Macon Resources. Her interests include music, making jewelry, developing small woodworking projects (such as garden ornaments), painting and gardening. Denise is gathering school and clothing supplies to ship to North Dakota for the needs of the Lakota Native American children.

Condolences
The mother of Dave Wagner, who has been a regular visitor at UUFD, passed away April 26. Carlean Wagner and Dave were very close, and she will be greatly missed.

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Dedication ceremony for Alexander Wade DeGreiner By April DeConick and Wade Greiner

Unitarian Universalists have many ways in which to welcome newborn children into the community. One of these is a dedication ceremony celebrating a child's own naming and his individuality. Much like a christening, it acknowledges the parents' and larger family's commitment to his physical, ethical and spiritual development. Also recognized are the friends who, along with the family, will shape, reflect and form the values that the child will absorb, test and carry into adulthood.

We will hold Alexander's dedication at Funk's Grove in the chapel where we were married. It will be July 18 at 2 p.m. John Biedler will be leading the ceremony.

As part of the ceremony, we will be sharing our personal blessings with Alexander. If you wish to share your blessing with Alexander, whether or not you are able to be present at the ceremony, please write your thoughts on the Blessing Card and return it to us in the mail or bring it with you to the Chapel. We will be collecting them in a special book.

Please bring a dish for the potluck following the ceremony. RSVP by June 15. No gifts please … your blessing only.

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Greetings from your Prez by Marge Evans

It has been a joy to hear so many warm and positive responses to my phone calls! Thank your for your willingness to listen and locate your niche in our lay-led congregation. This is the real UU spirit!

If I haven’t reached you yet, my intent is to keep trying, for every member and friend is special, and I want you to feel a part of UU.

Our Program Committee is 10 strong and rolling, and Kathy Sorensen has agreed to be chair. If you have ideas for a program, please contact her. Summer programs will include some great outdoor picnics and potlucks!

The Building and Grounds Committee and the Membership Committee also have 10 members. Darwin Shroyer has agreed to chair Building and Grounds, and June Allison, Membership.

Jane Brooks has assumed the duties of Pulpit Committee. Our most important Religious Education Committee needs volunteers, and we could use a few more on Hospitality.

Please come forward if you feel you can help! A list of committee chairpeople will be in the next newsletter. We have a challenge; I guess that is because we willingly take on dreams for a bigger and stronger Fellowship. Our challenge is to meet our budget; some of our dreams are ways to make that happen.

We are not alone among UU congregations that want to grow. The Central Midwest District has a Chalice Lighter Program that has given away over $100,000 in the past 10 years to congregations that wanted to grow. For only $10 three times a year, you can be a Chalice Lighter and support the growth of UUism! Sign-up forms are in the foyer.

With warmer weather at hand, we have several outdoor programs planned — hope to see you!

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Devore: our new VP!

On May 23, UUFD members voted Eric Devore our vice president for the 2004-05 church year.

Eric has helped the church with several projects and is a familiar presence at the weekly Men’s Luncheons. He and his wife, Carolynn, have been coffee hosts at services, as well.
And UUFD gets a “package deal,” in that Carolynn also was elected to a seat on the Board.
Welcome, Eric!

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Great programs ahead by Ron Shafer

The Program Committee is planning services for the coming year. In the recent survey conducted by Rev. Biedler, we learned that Sunday services ranked as a very high priority and almost everyone was interested in expanding the membership of the Fellowship. Another important finding was the wide variety of interests within the membership.

The Program Committee will attempt to provide services which address these concerns.
As a member of the Fellowship and a member of the Program Committee, one of the things which has continued to concern me is the sometimes poor attendance at Sunday services, especially when most respondents indicated that the services are important.

I have been discouraged to often see only 12 to 15 people on Sunday mornings, especially when we have guests. If I were looking for a church home and found only a few people at a service, I would look elsewhere.

I appreciate that there are occasions when health and family interfere with attendance and that there are many members who devote much effort behind the scenes. But, if we are to increase our membership, we must come together on Sundays and continue to be a welcoming group.

If any member or friend has a suggestion for an appealing program, please contact any member of the Program Committee or attend one of our meetings, which are announced at Sunday services.

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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.