UUFD NOW
March 2005

UUFD - Something to Treasure

That’s the theme of this year’s Pledge Drive.
During March, we’ll be asking you to take stock of all the many positives you’ve enjoyed, come to expect and yes, treasured at our Fellowship. Please look inside for details on a series of special Dinners for Eight at which YOU can help!

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From your Prez

I have been missing your happy faces, but will be back about the time you read this.
This is break time for the Evans clan here on S. Padre Island in Texas. Larry joined us last week (maybe some of you might remember meeting him) and Steve and Nancy are flying down tomorrow for a few days. They have just recently settled in Tulsa, Okla., and we stopped on the way south to see them.

They took us to the All Souls UU church there, and was I impressed! It was a Thursday, but it was buzzing with activity. They have a preschool day school, and volunteers were having a meeting. They graciously gave us a tour, and I am happy to relate the UU spirit I feel in Decatur does echo there, too.

April will bring two meetings of our membership. One to approve our budget and hear the slate of officers nominated for next year and a second to elect them. This is your UU Fellowship, and it needs you in many ways. So do plan to be a part of it by attending — your input is precious.

Did you clean the closets and attic and basement during these winter months? Perhaps you put aside some things for our annual rummage sale coming up in June. Keep in mind someone may really like what you no longer need, so start getting that stash put aside for the rummage sale. Thank you!!

I mailed a second application for a grant from the Chalice Lighters in January, hoping we might be able to afford a dandy new roadside sign and improve our outreach. Chalice Lighters grants are possible because people like you become Chalice Lighters by sending the UU Midwest District $10 a few times a year. You will find applications on the foyer table.
If sunshine brings a lift to your spirit, my wish is that I could send sunshine to you all.
Marge

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In John's Words

During my internship at the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City in the late ’90s, I had given a sermon on “the attributes of an effective minister.”

I began my sermon by quoting from another sermon delivered by the famous 19th century Unitarian minister William Ellery Channing on the occasion of the ordination of Ezra Styles Gannett, the renowned organizer of the American Unitarian Association. The title of Channing’s address was: "The Demands of the Age on the Ministry."

Channing lifted up four necessary attributes of the liberal ministry. First, he said, the liberal ministry should be intellectually enlightened, attuned to the latest reasoning and “must enlarge thinking.” Secondly, Channing challenged that the convictions of a liberal religious minister “must be expressed fervently, poetically, with the freshest of imaginations … that the most important part of the theological education is not the communication of knowledge but the conversion of religious knowledge into a living, practical and soul-kindling conviction.”

The third attribute was a healthy skepticism about what he called “religious conventions,” adding a minister must have a willingness to be controversial. And finally, “a commitment to the reform of society.”

Well, I quoted all this in my sermon to the UU congregation in Oklahoma City. In the sanctuary afterwards, people seemed to be inspired.

As I stood by one of the doors leading to the fellowship hall, one of the more soft-spoken members of the congregation, a woman I would guess in her late 70s, pulled me a little to the side. She then spoke a sentence I have taken to heart ever since.

She wanted me to remember a simple phrase she felt would put me in good stead as a UU minister. She took my hand and whispered in my ear, “Never forget, John, people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

It was an epiphanal moment for me. She nodded her head, lingered a moment, and added, “First people have to know you really care about them, who they are, what they think, how they feel. Then and only then will they actually listen to what you have to say.”

It was such a brief moment, such a short phrase, but it was what the philosopher Gasset alluded to when he said, Those “who wish to teach us a truth should not tell it to us, but simply suggest it with a brief gesture, a gesture which starts an ideal trajectory in the air, along which we may glide until we find ourselves at the feet of some new truth."

This thoughtful woman, someone I didn't even knew, sent me gliding on a trajectory through the air to find myself at this truth, that people don't care how much others know, be they the president of the United States, your boss or your children, until they know how much that person actually cares.

The people in my life whom I've let in were the ones who with the briefest of comments could send me gliding on some trajectory … until I, too, found myself at truth's feet.
The opportunity to show you care is everywhere, if we will but avail ourselves of the opportunity. Thank you for listening to my story.
In faith,
John

Minister's Office Hours in March: Tuesday and Wednesdays from 10 to noon.
He is also available for appointments at other times during the week or weekends.

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Joys and Concerns

March birthdays
Mel Weinstein - March 7, Jeanne Robertson - March 11, Darwin Shroyer - March 15, Sue Weinstein - March 18, Evan Zaker - March 19, David Kent Coy - March 20, Logan Bartsch - March 26

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Now Hear This

Did you know that our new sound system allows for the taping of Sunday services? Tapes of many of the recent services are available for borrowing. Contact John Biedler for details.

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On the Board Walk

Darwin Shroyer reported on three bids received to replace the front doors of the Fellowship. The Board held over action until the March meeting.

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Covenant Curious?

Small Group Ministries are transforming the religious landscape of Unitarian Universalism. Two have established themselves in our congregation. Visit www.the-ccv.org/ to learn more about the concepts. Read where Rev. Thandeka explores five perspectives needed to understand the transformative power of Small Group Ministries.

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Class explores boundaries of humanity

“Thinking Allowed” classes will be held at the Fellowship March 13 and 27, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Rev. Biedler will be presenting a two-part video series titled “Possible Human, Possible World.”

In interviews with Dr. Jean Houston, past president of the Association for Humanistic Psychology, we will view and discuss her description of the range of human capacities among cultures.

Houston focuses on language as an _expression of the way societies cultivate human potential. She contends we are living at a unique historical moment, when the cultures of the entire world are available to us and we are challenged as we have never been before.

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UUFD, it's up to you!

We are going to ask you members in April to approve a budget for $47,450. The good news is it's almost exactly the same amount as the current year's budget. But there's a built-in challenge — $8,500 in a line item labeled "Additional Needed Income."

What that means is, above and beyond the generous pledges you had made for this year (and the folding money dropped in the collection basket every Sunday), we need to cover this "Additional Needed Income" as much as possible.

YOU need to be the ones to dig in to that budget gap — and you can do that when you "dig in" to delightful meals at one of the "Treasure" Dinners for Eight, set for this month.
We'll hand out the packets at the dinners, outlining in plain terms, what we're facing in our budget, and speakers will give a short, direct talk to underline the important points. A preview — this is YOUR Fellowship; your financial decisions will decided how far we go in the budget year beginning July 1.

Those who have been connected with UUFD for a while know we have only had the pleasure of a minister living in our community for a short part of our 50-plus year history. We don't want to give that up any time soon, if we're serious about maintaining our programs and even growing.

So, here is the schedule of the "Treasure Dinners" — Judy Thistlethwaite will have sign-up sheets on the foyer table, but if you can't make it to church, please contact her. Please complete your pledge by Monday, March 28.

Saturday, March 5, 6 p.m. @ Ken and Jeanne Robertsons'
Friday, March 11, 6 p.m. @ Vern and Judy Thistlethwaites'
Friday, March 11 @ Amy Stockwell’s
Sunday, March 20, 1 p.m. @ Dick and Lorelei Zakers'

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UU District Spring Conference Coming

Sometimes, you hear references to "The District." Sounds like "distant" to some, like it's not part of their lives. In reality, it's UUs, much like you who are doing their best to carry out our principles on a regional level.

You can get a taste of that by attending the Central Midwest District General Assembly from Friday, April 15 through Sunday, April 17. It's at the Sheraton Hotel in Arlington Heights, only about a three-hour drive from Decatur.

The theme? "Creating Beloved Community: the Challenge and the Promise." The featured speaker will be the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt from the Fourth Universalist Society in New York City.

But that's just for starters ... consider the Banner Parade with combined choirs, 30 workshops that cover topics vital to all congregations, art show, children's program, a Saturday night banquet and a joyous Sunday morning worship service.

If you've never attended a UU group assembly, this is your chance to experience something good. Also, consider it a warmup for the national General Assembly that will come to St. Louis in 2006!

The $150 registration fee includes admission, workshops, scheduled events and meals (with the exception of the banquet). The hotel room rate will be $72 a night for a room of up to four people.

Registration is requested by March 15; a late fee will apply after that. Materials will be posted at UUFD, and online registration is available at www.regonline.com/20204.

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Around the Fellowship

EDITOR’S NOTE: This has been an especially eventful time for members and friends of the Fellowship. Some services, it seems we’re due to run out of candles during Joys and Concerns. Some of these items are quite personal, so we’re only listing some of the details. Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers.

We regret the passing of the father of Elizabeth Jeffery (wife of Dave Snoeyenbos and a friend of the Fellowship).

Carla Jordan is recovering from a stroke, suffering while vacationing.

Kathy Vaught had a tumor in her breast removed and is facing chemotherapy.

However, Kathy was quoted in an article in the Herald & Review about the drive to reduce truancy in the Decatur school system. She is coordinating a program at the high schools that offers incentives to students with uneven attendance.

Kathy Sorensen also continues recuperation.

Joan Brown underwent quadruple bypass surgery and was recuperating in a nursing facility at press time.

Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Vern's mother, Bertha Shoemaker Thistlethwaite, several years ago she volunteered to help with the steps involved in mailing our monthly UUFD newsletter. I'm sure she was as wonderful as her son, Vern, and will be missed.
... June Allison

Congratulations to Sara Lovell-Troy, who has earned a degree in psychology from North Central College.

Joyce Throneburg has had a lot of added stress recently looking after her father. He apparently has had both hospital treatment and a nursing home stay. Many in our congregation are dealing with such parental caretaking responsibilities and thus can sympathize with Joyce.

Little Logan Bartsch recently had ear surgery.

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A letter from our partner church in Romania (to Marge Evans)

My name is Levente Csaki, and I write to you from Kenos, Romania. Kenos is a very nice village with very beautiful places. I'm your new partner church contact from Kenosian Unitarian Church. Welcome to Kenos!

Kimberly Bares talked about your congregation, and I'm very happy to you! My English isn't too good, but I would like to create a strong relationship with you! I will tell you about me: I'm 25 years old (very young -- smile!).

I'm a man and I'm the minister of two congregations: Kenos and Lokod. Besides I work (in Lokod village) in the Old Peoples House as a voluntary. I have lived in Kenos for three years. I'm getting my study in Protestant Theology (in Kolozsvar, Romania), and I like to work with people.
With Love: Levente

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Browse Our Past Newsletters

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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.