UU&YOU
June 2006
Published Monthly by the Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship of
Fellowship
Year-End Picnic: June 11
The congregation will get together again at the country home of Ralph and Joyce Phipps for the annual Fellowship picnic on Sunday, June 11 at 12:00 noon. The picnic is a great way to end our Fellowship year, and is always a day of food, fun and friendship for the whole family. This year, there will be only one service at the Fellowship at 10:00 a.m. so that everyone can enjoy the picnic at noon.
Relax in the shade with a cool drink and a cup of Ralph's homemade ice cream. We'll get together our traditional volleyball game, or you can join in a friendly game of horseshoes. It's a great way to catch up with old UU friends, or connect with newcomers in a leisurely way.
The kids will enjoy swimming in the pool, swinging on the rope swings,
sliding and riding down the dirt hill, trying out the trampoline, and exploring
the grounds. And Ralph reports that the lawnmower-powered wagon train has been
vastly improved and shouldn't tip over any more! So if you think your kids need
a healthy dose of old-fashioned out
door fun, the UUFF picnic is just the ticket!
Bring a picnic dish to share, and drinks for your family if you'd like (some soft drinks will be provided). A lawn chair or blanket to sit on is a must, and bring your bathing suit and towel if you'd like to take a dip in the pool. There's plenty of shelter, so the picnic will be held rain or shine. Enjoy a fabulous day in the country in the company of old and new UU friends...it's well worth the drive!
Call 371-1304 for Directions.
News & Notes
Our Community Circles Potluck will be held on Saturday, June 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the Fellowship to discuss the Circles and answer questions. Community Circles are small groups which explore a particular aspect of life, and provide a way to become better acquainted with others and maintain a spirit of community within our congregation. All are welcome. For more information, contact Margaret McCullough or Tanya Alexander. Childcare will be provided by reservation only by contacting Tanya Alexander.
The Fellowship's Annual Meeting will be held on June 4 at 11:30 a.m. Because of this, our Beyond the Brochures newcomer orientation, generally scheduled for the first Sunday at 1:00 p.m., will not be held.
The UU Women's Group will continue to meet throughout
the summer on the third Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m., and we encourage
newcomers to join us. On June 19, we'll visit the Sunken Well Tavern
in downtown
The UU Men's Group meets on the first
and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. They have changed the meeting
place to the Hunan Chinese restaurant on
,
Juneteenth
Celebration
Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the
The events are:
--Marker Unveiling (Underground Railroad/Network to Freedom) at the Moncure Daniel Conway House, Saturday, June 17, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
--Juneteenth 2006 Celebration,
--Juneteenth Sunday Morning Service, UU Fellowship of
--Panel Discussion, "Emancipation on the
Our Fellowship has raised more than $1500 (thank you!) to help fund the
events, including bringing descendants of the slaves freed by Moncure Daniel
Conway to
--Rev. Jeff Jones
Jeff’s Journal
Rev. Jeff Jones
I need a vacation! How many times have you uttered that phrase either in jest
or with the greatest of seriousness?
In our Fellowship, the summer is often when committees might meet less often or meet to plan for the upcoming year. Of course, our Sunday Services Committee moves into high gear during the summer with all the wonderful lay-led services.
I also use the summer to plan (July) and vacation (August). During July, I do not conduct Sunday services nor do I have office hours or check email. I am certainly available for emergencies (899-8919). But most of July is devoted to reflection, studying, and planning. This year, I will focus on planning for my sabbatical which begins in January, 2007.
The Fellowship also needs time to pause and reflect or, at a minimum, not take on any new initiatives. You have all been extremely busy. I know you know it but just in case you don't believe it, here is a list of our accomplishments over the past five years:
Began fundraising with Bingo,
Formed a Pastoral Care Team,
Formed Community Circles (we have 7),
Formally became a Welcoming Congregation,
Created a new mission statement,
Published a picture directory,
Listened to one another before deciding to build a new Fellowship,
Searched for and purchased land,
Formed vegetarian, Pagan, meditation, and "UU Search for Jesus" groups,
Developed a childcare policy,
Created a personnel manual,
Formed a human resources committee,
Searched for and hired an architect,
Provided input for the new Fellowship's master plan,
Conducted a capital campaign feasibility study,
Created a strategic plan, (to be voted on June 4), and
Beautifully executed a Golden Jubilee celebration.
I am sure I have overlooked something major. Please note that all of this is
in addition to the "normal" activities of the Fellowship performed by
ten (out)standing
committees, the Board of Trustees, the Council of Committees and others.
Why have I listed all our accomplishments? Our consultant has warned us about burnout. Burnout is when individuals give, give, give, and do not take the time to receive the wonderful nourishment that our Fellowship offers. Burnout comes from a good place. Many things seem urgent and people have a genuine desire to serve.
My encouragement to the Fellowship is that we take the next two years to complete the tasks that are before us and that we utilize great restraint before taking on anything new. In the next two years, we will conduct a capital campaign, sell our current building, and build the new Fellowship. Over two years, as we accomplish what is before us, the load will be lightened.
Burnout takes its greatest impact on our leaders. In this spirit, I hope you will say "yes" if you are asked to help accomplish our current goals. At the same time, we want all our committees to be strong, so a lay leader may ask you to help in a way that you will find most meaningful.
Blessings to you all.
Love, Jeff
President’s
Corner: UUFF Accomplishments and Questions
As another year draws to a close, we have much to be grateful for!
We are, once again, a larger and more diverse congregation. More people than
ever are coming through our doors and searching for something...perhaps
something that is different than what they have experienced in another church.
While some of this is due to the growth of the
We have devoted committees and employees who take on their functions here with a great deal of passion for what they do. Witness proceedings at any Council of Committees meeting and you will find the heart and soul of leadership at UUFF, dealing head-on with vital issues of on-going management. We have enjoyed the benefits of professional staff in both music and religious education. Our minister, Jeff Jones, has now completed over 6 years of service to our Fellowship. His presence here has provided much to our Fellowship through this important time of transitions.
We have made a lot of progress toward our goal of moving to a new building
at
Your Board of Trustees has spent much time in an on-going discussion of
"Managing our Vision." These meetings have highlighted many issues
that are sure to be on-going as we move ahead: 1) What
is the role of the Board of Trustees in managing the affairs of UUFF? 2) What
is the role of our minister? 3) What comprises the heart and soul of our
Fellowship? Are we to provide more of a sanctuary for spiritual growth, a
celebration and coming together of our diverse community, or should we focus
more heavily on issues of Social Justice? 4) Should we move more toward a
traditional liturgical style of worship or adhere more closely to our humanist
underpinnings? 5) What direction should we accept from the leadership of UUA in
These and other questions will continue to confront us as we move toward our Vision and our new building. It has been my pleasure to serve as your humble servant over the past year. I have learned much about UU, UUFF, and Steve Brown. And I look forward to the new chapters in the journey in the days ahead!
--Steve Brown
From the
Religious education Committee:
With Greatest Appreciation
SUMMER RE KICK-OFF PARTY!!! BRING YOUR T-SHIRTS!!!
June 11, 10:00 am
That's right, Summer RE sessions are going to begin
on June 11th. Children in grades K-6 are welcome to attend in the back of the
hall each Sunday for creative activities and a great time. Our teachers this
year are Amy Roberts, Lori Klopp, and Amy Jenerette. If you plan to attend the
kick-off party during the service on June 11th, please bring a white t-shirt to
create sun-painted Summer RE t-shirts. We hope to see you there.
From the Religious Education Committee:
With Greatest
Appreciation
The RE Committee would like to thank our teachers and assistants who volunteered for the 2005-2006 session of UUFF RE classes. You all did a fabulous job! Volunteering in the RE program at UUFF is part of the important work that our members and friends are doing each day to raise thoughtful and intelligent children. We believe that it is through the group efforts of parents, guardians, and volunteers that our UU children will grow into responsible and well-informed adults.
Committee members have sought to provide the best, most consistent program possible for our UU children over the past year. We chose the curriculum covering Unitarian Universalism so that our UU youth could discuss the principles, beliefs, and values that make our Fellowship strong. With the assistance of our tireless and exuberant new DRE, Lori Watson, teachers lead the younger children through thought-provoking lessons and hands-on activities that brought home core UU values. Middle school aged children had the opportunity to discuss worldly topics that were straight from the headlines of today's news, all the while circling back to the UU principles we try to emulate in our lives. The older teens formed a new YRUU youth group (ages 14-20) to tackle tough subjects in a proactive and socially conscious way. This last group is most inspiring, as they are proof that what is important to our Fellowship is not lost on the youth of today. They are carrying a torch into the future with a new desire towards responsible social activism. UUFF RE has made some grand strides this year, and none of it would have been possible without our generous teacher volunteers and assistants.
With these achievements in mind, the RE Committee would like to propose some changes to the volunteer scheduling for next year. Through all of the growth and development of the program, the one constant thorn in our side has been the level of consistency that we offer our children during the Sunday program. We would like to try a different approach to next year's teaching schedule. Starting in September, we would like to arrange teams of four teachers to teach for one trimester of the regular calendar year. Teachers would work as a unit, two to a class, on a rotating schedule. For instance, if a volunteer is in a team of four teachers for a middle school class during second service, he or she will teach as the first of two teachers one week, and the second of two teachers the next. Once he or she was finished with the second week of teaching, the other teachers on the team would cover the next two weeks. The following diagram will give you a better idea of this concept.
Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6:
Teacher A Teacher D Teacher C Teacher B Teacher A Teacher D
Teacher B Teacher A Teacher D Teacher C Teacher B Teacher A
Open up the newest UU World magazine and you will find an excellent article on how young UUs perceive their importance within the fellowship they attend (Survey results show youth experience, Pg. 51, Summer 2006). According to the survey, only 58% of youth polled said that their RE programs met their spiritual needs. By pursuing the goal of teaching consistency, our children will experience a comfort level that we believe will alleviate the stress of having a brand new teacher each week, that will allow for a more trusting and open exchange of ideas, and will create coherence among the teaching groups that we have not been able to develop in the past.
More than anything, we wish our teacher volunteers a fantastic and relaxing summer. We hope to see you again next year, and please remember that we recognize that it is with your help that our UU youth are developing into incredible young adults. THANK YOU!!!!
RE Committee 2005-2006: Amy Jenerette, Carol Buffum, Joni Wilson,
Cindy Ross, Guy Crumpley, Yvette Crumpley, Cathy McNichols
Celebrating Our
High School Graduates
Congratulations to our high school seniors who are graduating this June:
Josh Brock graduates from
Calvin Roberts is also graduating from
Barbie Broome will graduate from
Lauren Elstein is the valedictorian of the
Scott Heppe is graduating from
Building A Legacy...Money (ugh!)
Money, money, money, money...money and more money! Let's face it, we can't take it with us into the afterlife…or can we? Some people believe that our souls move on to an afterlife of some sort. Do we need money there? No one has ever said we needed money in the afterlife. Nevertheless, what ever you believe and I am not sure if I do believe in the after world, the building we are about to build will most likely be standing, bar any crazy development scheme for our property, long after I am gone. So why not give as much as I got now! My contribution will give us today and future generations a sense of place and sense of purpose and a sense of my love. My legacy will live on long after I am gone. The money that I give today will be what I can leave behind in a meaningful way. Instead of spending it on junk that fills our trash piles, a.k.a. landfills, or leave it to my children, who will spend it on junk that will fill our landfills, I can spend it on the place where we rejoice in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, where we can celebrate diversity and acceptance of one another, where we can be free to believe in our own destiny, our own purpose in life, where we can mutually respect one another no matter our differences, where we can delight in life's mystery, truth and meaning. How awesome is this?
I have already decided that I am going to give all that I got to give. I want my legacy to live on. I want to give something of my soul now and leave it behind. I can always make more money. That's the beauty in it. Believe it or not, money is an unlimited resource. It's out there for the taking…and the giving. Don't be afraid to give. All your needs will be met even when you do give all you got. Haven't they always been? Trust yourself, give all you got now, make more and let your love shine now and forever.
--Sandy Lovell, Co-Chair, New Building Committee
Coffee Talk
Welcome to our newest members: Eugene Brunelle, Andi Grimsley, Joset Powell,
Rose Wesson, Jeanie Kline, Cheryl Cooper, Janelle Kennedy, and
Ron Wasem (a former member who re-signed the membership book). We're glad
to have you with us!
Former member Barbara Kenny will be a featured artist at LibertyTown Arts Workshop during the month of July. The First Friday artist reception is July 7, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing Barbara and Tibby in town again.
Congratulations and best wishes to Joni Wilson and Harold Williams, who will be married on June 10. Joni and Harold have been together for 14 years and are the parents of 8-year-old Hannah. We wish the "newlyweds" all the best!
Nancy and Richard Gilmore celebrated their 26th wedding
anniversary with a wonderful 12-day trip to
The UUFF "Lift Up Jake" benefit for Jake Walther, held this past November, raised enough money to provide the family with an elevator for their home. Kit Carver and Randy Walther report that the installation of the elevator was completed in May, and is already making life much easier for the family.
Congrats to Melanie Hill, Michele Wyckoff's daughter, who is
receiving her Master's Degree in Hearing and Speech Science from the
Kudos to Rebecca Kutzer-Rice, who won first prize for the second year in a row in the teen poetry contest sponsored by the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Check out this great Free Lance-Star article about her from May 15: fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/052006/05152006/188371.
The Free Lance-Star also published an article on May 13 about our Fellowship's building plans and Jubilee events. Visit fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/052006/05132006/189533. (For easy access to these links, check out the html version of the newsletter online, or become an email subscriber.)
UUFF Youth Group (Hold Your
Fire)
This year has marked the beginning of a YRUU Youth Group; we're off to a good start. Looking back on the past few months, we have achieved so much. We must acknowledge the adults who not only supported us, but encouraged us and supplied us with the materials that we needed to get things done.
On April 29, we spent the night in a public park
The next day, we attended a Darfur Rally, where we joined
with UUs from all over the country to march on the mall and witness amazing
support for the families who've lived under terror in southern
We are planning an HIV/AIDS awareness event at our Fellowship as part of the Fredericksburg Pride Week on August 23. Entertainment will be provided by our choir, as well as a local comedian and others. PLEASE, if you have talent you'd like to share_WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU!!
We're now fundraising so we can help offset some of the cost for the whole Youth Group to attend SUUSI this summer. We sold cookies, brownies and drinks during the last Fellowship yard sale and raised over $120! More to follow…
This year we have accomplished so much! We hope and we plan to do so much more over the summer and in years to come. We would like to make a difference in this world we are growing into. We hope to leave no oppression, no 1984 style government, no wars, no corrupt judicial systems, and no injustice left standing. We want to leave a better world for the next generation.
We, the UUFF Youth of Fredericksburg, are out to change the world, one problem at a time.
--Kaila Crumpley
Feasibility
Study Update
The Feasibility Study has been completed. There is great news: the study indicates that we can raise the $750,000 necessary from congregational giving for our building to be a success.
Our consultant, Dave Rickard, interviewed 32 representative members of our Fellowship. A copy of the summary was mailed to all the members of the Fellowship on May 23. If you are not a member of the Fellowship and wish to see the summary, contact Anne Little and a copy will be emailed. There are also copies of the summary available in the Fellowship Hall at the greeters table. The full Feasibility Study report is available at the Fellowship in a binder. It can be found behind the greeters table or contact Anne Little for a copy.
Here is a summary of our consultant's findings:
The proposed building program is very well understood and supported with few suggestions for change. The priority in the life of the Fellowship was 8.4 on a scale with 10 as the highest.
The indicated financial support for the building project from current members is most likely between $750,000 and $800,000.
Four issues need to be addressed but none of them appear to threaten the success of the Capital Campaign. The issues are: 1) the tension between the humanists and those following a more spiritual path; 2) the minister's involvement in the details of the day-to-day operation of the Fellowship; 3) the tendency to assume that one who is liberal religiously will automatically be liberal politically; and 4) the stress and potential burnout of leaders and volunteers probably attributable to the four major projects the Fellowship has undertaken at one time.
Sixteen persons volunteered to be canvassers and another twelve offered to
help in other areas of the proposed Capital Campaign. This level of
volunteering, quite high in comparison to other feasibility study results,
suggests that the congregation is committed to having a capital campaign.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Hold a capital campaign in the fall of 2006 with the goal of raising at least $750,000.
2. Take steps to deal constructively with the four issues raised in the interviews. The lay and professional leadership were aware of the issues before this report. At least part of the solution may be to reemphasize the nature of the shared ministry among lay and professional leaders to accomplish the goals of the Fellowship. In addition, it seems appropriate to remind members and friends that the Fellowship is bound by a covenant and not a creed. It is the covenant among us that enables the community to flourish. The key elements of that covenant are stated in the UUA Purposes and Principles. In addition to a renewed affirmation of that covenant, it probably will be helpful to develop a policy and related procedures to manage conflict within the congregation on a constructive basis.
3. Maintain the excellent communications with the membership about the building program and the capital campaign.
The Fellowship will vote at our annual meeting on June 4 to authorize a Capital Campaign for the fall of this year. If you cannot attend on June 4, please be sure to fill out an absentee ballot found at the greeters table.
We will need the help of every member of the Fellowship to make this campaign a success. I realize that this year has been very intense for many of our members, but in the end we will have our new building that will enable UUFF to thrive and grow.
--Anne Little
KEY DATES: NEW
BUILDING CAMPAIGN
6/4: Congregation votes to authorize
9/30: Campaign Leadership makes their pledges
10/6-10/7: Consultant trains canvassers for Capital Campaign.
10/8-10/14: Canvassing of the
Canvassers
10/15: Capital Campaign Fellowship kickoff event
10/16: Canvass Sunday
10/16-11/4: Capital Campaign General Canvass
12/3: Congregation votes to authorize final plans and approve construction
Winter 2006: Site plans and building permit documents are submitted to County for approval
Spring 2007: Break ground on
new building
Fall 2007: Move to new building!!!
There will also be time allocated for more feedback regarding building
details throughout this process. In addition, all members of the Fellowship are
welcome to attend the New Building Committee meetings at any time. Contact
Sandy Lovell or Bruce Callander with any questions.
2006
UUFF Annual Meeting
The UUFF Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, June 4, 2006
at 11:30 a.m. at the
Fellowship. A quorum of 59 members is needed to hold the meeting. Child-care
for children
nine years old and under will be provided by reservation only. Contact Emily
Gilmore for reservations.
The Annual Meeting information packet has been mailed out to members. If you
have questions about your membership, contact the office by June 1. Absentee
ballots
will be available at the Greeters' Table on May 28 and during the early service
on June 4.
Capital Campaign
Update
Reflections on Jubilee Sunday, May 21
Today the UUFF celebrated our 50th anniversary as a Fellowship, and the excitement and sense of community that was inside our Fellowship hall today still fills me with a sense of warmth and pride as I sit here typing this article. Today is a watershed moment when we look back at 50 years of growth, and forward to a new building and the growth in our Fellowship that will come with that new beginning.
We all crowded into our Fellowship hall today knowing that our next big anniversary would be celebrated in our new building. Many of you expressed that thought to me and the smiles of anticipation were all around me. We are finally achieving that dream of over 16 years.
This will be the last newsletter before summer break, but the Capital
Campaign Committee will be working throughout the summer. We have a lot planned
for
this fall, but we need to get ready and so do you. I urge all of the members
and friends of our Fellowship to begin talking about what they want to
contribute to our Capital Campaign. I want to urge you to talk about the
campaign as you socialize this summer and try to begin to think outside of the
box when it comes to how you can support this campaign.
Carl and I had originally thought we would pledge $25,000 to the Capital Campaign. Carl is retiring next year but we looked at some of our investments and decided that we could reap some tax benefits and give generously to the campaign at the same time (we will hold a seminar and publish a handbook on tax benefits this summer for our members). We thought that our decision had been made and we were moving on.
Then our consultant visited two weeks ago, and he talked about thinking
outside the box and new ways to give (some of these stories will be shared with
you throughout the campaign). This led
Carl and I to rethink our contribution. I am on an advisory board for a company
that I used to work for. I found the work a bit boring and was going to resign.
I have decided that I will keep that job for the next three years and
contribute an additional $5000 a year to our new building campaign.
Why am I telling you this? Do I want affirmation? No! I am hoping that this will nudge you towards starting to talk about your contribution with others in our Fellowship. This is not a competition. For some, $1 a day will be a stretch. The point is we need to stretch. We need to reach deep and contribute until it feels good. If you have already decided what your contribution will be please rethink it. If you are still pondering _ do not decide in a hurry. This is a process and we all need to work through it, keeping that warm feeling glowing that was generated today at our 50th anniversary party.
--Anne Little, Capital Campaign Comm.
SUNDAY
DISCUSSION GROUP
The Sunday Discussion Group meets in the Boardroom from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. after services on most 1st and 3rd Sundays. Note that on June 18, we will begin our Summer schedule of meeting from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. The topics scheduled for the summer are:
June 4: What is "Price-Gouging"? Who is Responsible? What Should Be Done?
June 18: Why the Big Deal About Terrorism?
July 2: Are All Actions Governed by Self-Interest? Should They Be?
July 16: Does
Aug. 6: What Should the Immigration Policy of the
Aug. 20: What Should Be
Sept. 3: What is the Definition of "Rich"?
Pastoral Care
Team On Call
Starting in late June (when I attend General Assembly in
If you have a pastoral concern or an emergency, please contact one of the members of our wonderful Pastoral Care Team. They are Diane Elstein, Nancy Gilmore, Robert Polickoski, Bonnie Webber, Bill and Lynne Wood, and Allyson Zadnik.
--Rev. Jeff Jones
In Our Hearts
We send get well wishes to David Boone, who was recently in an auto accident, and was hospitalized for a few days. We wish David a speedy return to good health.
Bonnie Dixon is recuperating from successful eye surgery to stop further vision loss from glaucoma. We wish her all the best in her recovery.
Jeanne Roberts recently had an acute bronchitis attack and was hospitalized for a week. She is doing well now, although she requires oxygen assistance. We will keep Jeanne in our thoughts.
We are sad to report that Susan Ohle's 93 year old father, from
Dave Doucette's daughter, Brittany, had spinal surgery in May. We
send
Committee Clipboard
Leadership positions are open to interested parties for the next church year. The Finance and Building and Grounds Committees have top coordinator vacancies. The other Standing Committees are welcoming individuals who want to help. (You don't necessarily have to attend meetings.) If you would like to help with specific tasks, we would love to hear from you. Working together to make our Fellowship run smoothly is an opportunity to meet new people and be an active part of the UUFF. Contact Nancy Krause, any committee chair or the UUFF office.
Have you noticed the beautiful new curtains hanging in the Fellowship Hall? What a lovely look_ just in time for our Jubilee! Suzanne Logan and her many volunteers have been stitching and hanging these curtains over the last several months. Let these busy sewers know how much you appreciate their hard work. Thank you so much for working so hard.
The Good Stuff Yard Sale on May 13 successfully raised $1,163. Thank you to
the Social Concerns Committee and all the volunteers who set up, cleaned up,
sold and bought good stuff.
The Welcome Wagon Potluck was a fulfilling event that brought newcomers and UUFF regulars together for an enjoyable evening. Good food, new friendships and a 20 question game made the dinner memorable. The Membership Committee hopes to host more of this kind of event.
Just a reminder to all committees and subcommittees to get their events on the upcoming church year calendar as soon as possible. Even if your event is not at our building, let Cheryle know, so two major events are not scheduled at the same time.
The Sunday Services Committee will present a special service on June 25, 11
am. The 90-minute service will be Winter Wheat: The Betrayal of
Stanton and Her Woman's Bible. It is very educational and would appeal to
children in Middle School and above.
--Nancy Krause
Attention: UUFF Teens/Tweens/Parents
POTluck Picnic at
Motts Run Reservoir
Saturday, June 10--11:30 - 4:30
Last year we had a marvelous picnic at Motts Run Reservoir, complete with canoes, and we vowed to do it again! Can you believe a year has gone by since that glorious day?! Canoes are again an option, but Calvin also wants to run a Capture the Flag game this year. He says Motts Run is PERFECT for it.
The event is open to all Parents of Teens (you may attend with or without your teen), and to teens and tweens, and any friends that they invite.
We'll gather at the park off of
Please let me know if you can attend and approximately how many people you will bring so that I can coordinate who is bringing what. Please respond, Yeah or Nay, right away!
Please note that parents will be responsible for their own teens/tweens and their invited friends. This includes paying for their canoe rental, and supervising them regarding the canoes, if desired.
--Laura Roberts
Newsletter
Deadline to Change
In the time I have been the editor, the UUFF newsletter has grown from 2 to a record 12 pages. Over the years, the time it takes to produce and process the newsletter for mailing has steadily increased, but the deadline has remained the same: the second to last Sunday of the month.
Beginning with the September 2006 newsletter, the deadline will be one day earlier to allow an extra day for production. The NEW deadline will be the Saturday BEFORE the second to the last Sunday of the month (got that?).
So far this year, over 65 families have become email subscribers. My goal is to have the majority of the congregation receive the newsletter via email by next June. Some printed copies will always be available for visitors and those without access to email. This will reduce our costs and streamline the production process.
Thanks to all of you who have submitted articles to the newsletter this year.
--Maryann Brown
It's Curtains
For Us!s
Thank you to the Sweat Shop Sewers & Helpers who worked on the curtains
covering the upper walls at the Fellowship over the past year: Kit Carver,
Paula Barnes, Karen Kallay, Chris Groth, Lori Klopp, Ruth Golden, Don
Emmerling, Mike Logan, and even Rev. Jeff, who did some trimming!
And never fear, the final fabric has been shipped, and a final workday will occur soon to finish around the front. Consider this a big hug around everyone when they are in this space.
--Suzanne Logan
Teen Summer Party
Attention teens! On Friday, Aug. 11, from 8:00 p.m. until
midnight, you'll be dancing and partying at the UUFF. Kids, call Adam Brown to
help with decorations and set up, music, etc. Parents, please call Ainsley Brown
to donate beverages and snacks and to help with chaperoning.
Social Justice Committee Activities
Equality
Virginia
The next EV FRED CAT (Equality Virginia's Fredericksburg Community Action Team) voter education event will occur on Tuesday, June 13 _ the Democratic Primary at polling places in Fredericksburg, Stafford and Spotsylvania. We need volunteers to help pass out literature on the amendment and encourage voters to pledge to "vote no" in November.
Please consider joining us in this worthwhile effort to educate voters about the consequences of the so-called Marriage Amendment. The experience during the city elections on May 2 was overwhelmingly positive for all volunteers and we obtained approximately 150 pledges from registered voters who will be "voting no" in November!! :)
WHAT? Voter Education and Identification at Polling Places
PURPOSE? To educate voters about the amendment and to identify voters that are willing to pledge to "Vote No."
WHEN AND WHERE? June 13th at various polling places in Fredericksburg, Stafford and Spotsylvania.
WHAT TIME? Whenever you are available!
DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING? All materials will be provided by EV FRED CAT.
IMPORTANT: NO prior experience is necessary to participate in this event.
EV FRED CAT members will be available at
each shift to help answer questions and provide training to volunteers who feel
like they need more education on the specifics of the amendment.
LIKE TO ATTEND? Please RSVP to Leigh D'Lugos if you would like to volunteer, and she will coordinate shift times and polling places.
Building Bridges
The Social Justice Committee of the UUFF (the Committee) has identified a need to specify more detailed standards for the functioning of the Committee. Four areas have been identified that need consideration.
1. Adoption of Projects. This will be the process by which the Committee will identify two to three projects each year that the members of the Committee will focus their energies on.
2. Standards of Research and Education. Here we will focus on where will we get the research materials that we will use to educate the Fellowship, the general public, and ourselves on these issues. What will be the medium that we will use to get this information out? And, how much effort should be given to dissenting viewpoints?
3. Adoption of Positions as a committee and as a Fellowship.
4. Standards for SJCUUFF Activities with Outside Organizations. These need to be identified and proposed to the Board of Trustees.
There are several goals of this process:
--Ensuring the use of democratic process and other UU principles
--Providing support to members who want to apply the above to promote public awareness, discussion, and possible changes to public law and policy.
--Reassuring more members about the breadth and balance of background information provided by the Committee
--Reassuring members that Committee activities will not lead to any efforts to coerce or tell members what is right or what they should do
--Building broader membership support for Social Justice status activities.
So that this process incorporates all of the ideas and concerns of the UUFF community, we would like to invite all of you to participate. We will have an organizational meeting in June at the Fellowship where we invite any questions or comments that you have. Stay tuned for the date and time. We will also be forming working groups to study and make recommendations on each of the four areas outlined above. Joining in is your best opportunity to influence the Committee's work. Please come with your ideas and a willingness to work to improve your committee.
Results will be posted on the UUFF webpage in the Fall for all to refer to and be proud of. For more information, please contact Janelle Kennedy.
Council Member
Forums
Janelle Kennedy would like to set up quarterly neighborhood meetings with newly-elected City Council members _ Meet and Greets _ to encourage Fredericksburg residents to actively participate in local politics. These forums will build upon work we started last month before the Council elections. If you're interested in helping, contact Janelle.
From the
Comprehensive Affairs Committee
In preparation for the Annual Meeting in June, the new UUFF Strategic Plan (FY 2006-2010) is ready for viewing in several notebooks near the main entrance to the Fellowship. The Executive Summary of the Plan is being mailed to each member of the congregation the third week in May. The congregation will vote at the Annual Meeting to accept the Strategic Plan.
The Plan provides guidance and direction to the UUFF through FY2010, including the new Vision and Mission statements, Strategic Planning Goals, 14 guiding Programs, and estimated operating budgets through FY2010.
--Carl Groth
Treasurer's
Report
as of April 30, 2006
Income for April totaled $16,225.54. Our expenses for the month, $25,309.47, were significantly more than income. Income for the current fiscal year, through the end of April, totaled $168,109.39, which is slightly behind expenses to date of $168,802.01 for the year. We have adjusted our operating budget for the remainder of the year to more realistically reflect our anticipated income, and maintain a firm financial standing.
Of the total income this fiscal year, the amount attributed to pledges reached $126,084.00 by the end of April. This is $18,476.00 less than projected at this point, and was a significant factor taken into account in the recent budget revision for this year.
--Carl Little
UU
Vegetarians
The Vegetarian Group will meet Saturday, June 3, 11:30-1:00 for a potluck lunch. Chris Kerr will be our chef. He will demonstrate tofu on the George Foreman Grill. This will be our last meeting until September.
It has been a great year. We had programs that heightened our awareness of the importance of food/lifestyle choices on our bodies and our environment. At two of our meetings we gave all donations to programs that care for animals (SPCA and Rikki's Refuge). We had food demonstrations by Pat Chen, Debbie Bennett and Nurcan Izler. Reta Goldman began a newsletter, and now Heather Lowry and Alison Zadnik are our editors. We have a lending library of tapes and books, coordinated by Nancy Neil. Sheila Clark is in the process of organizing our recipes of food shared at our delicious potlucks. Anne Little began a "Veg Night Out."
The Vegetarian Group has given us support, education, wonderful food and excellent conversations. We are thankful for all that have made this year successful. For further information, please contact Gloria Lloyd.
--Gloria Lloyd
The
Power of Meditation
Most people today think of meditation as a form of stress relief, a way to lower blood pressure and reduce fatigue. In fact, the focus of meditation until the past twenty or so years was something far different. Meditation was developed over thousands of years as a vehicle for plumbing the depths of who we are and to help us experience reality intimately. Although meditation practice does have a calming effect on our physiology, which leads to greater health and well-being, it can also reduce our dissatisfaction with life by focusing on what it is that makes us unhappy.
About 2500 years ago, a man determined to end his suffering and the suffering of others discovered some startling truths: 1) To be human is to be dissatisfied, 2) The cause of our dissatisfaction is twofold: we want something we can't have and we don't want something that we have, 3) We can disassemble our dissatisfaction by investigating its content, 4) The three-fold training we must practice in order to find freedom from dissatisfaction: living our lives in such a way that it promotes positive states of being for ourselves and others; the practice of concentration and mindfulness, which allows us to view our life story with dispassion; actualizing the wisdom that we have gained from positive living and mindfulness practice.
The essence of an ethical life is that we don't harm ourselves and others through unwholesome actions (what we do and what we say), and that we promote a wholesome way of living that is beneficial to ourselves and others.
The difficulty of following this practice lies in our approach, which stems from the manner in which we relate to ourselves and the world around us. Our way of relating is the result of things that we have come to believe about ourselves because of the way we were treated by others in our childhood—both positive and negative. Over the ensuing years, what we believed to be true about ourselves reinforced our behavior, which in turn reinforced our personal belief system—an endless cycle of activity that resulted in our dissatisfaction. What we didn't know, and this is no fault of our own, is that what we believed to be true about ourselves was, in many cases, a fiction; an expectation that was created for us by someone else, an expectation that we internalized as our own. Over the years, the triumphs and tragedies of our lives, based on what we believed about ourselves, became our stories—the thoughts and emotions of our internal world manifesting into word and deed in the external world. Lost in our story, or the dream of our lives, we continually pursue the past, angry with our failures or regretting the passing of something wonderful. It is for these reasons that we lose ourselves in the future, anticipating or planning what is to come. And so, we are never completely present with ourselves, and as a result, we are not in full control of our actions or their consequences.
A way to become present, to live intentionally and fully aware, is through the practice of meditation. There are two aspects of meditation: concentration and mindfulness. Through concentration we learn to stabilize our minds and focus our energy, a state of calm alertness that is deeply connected with the present moment. Mindfulness is the ability to be aware of what is going on around us as it unfolds, to see things as they are, whether they are pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. In other words, mindfulness does not judge good or bad, but sees what is.
The practice of meditation deepens our ability to concentrate on what is before us through non-judging awareness, or mindfulness, and leads to greater stability and freedom in the choices that we make in our lives, alleviating a great deal of dissatisfaction or suffering. Or in the words of the Awakened One, "Looking deeply at life as it is in the very here and now, the practitioner dwells in stability and freedom."
If you are interested in following a path of truth that releases you from your suffering, or if you are simply interested in learning more about the practice of meditation, particularly from the Buddhist point of view, please visit the UUFF meditation group this summer. We meet every Thursday in the Fellowship Hall at 7:00 p.m.
--Todd Drake
JUNE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SUNDAY
SERVICES
SUN., JUNE 4, 10:00 am
Rites of Passage, Rev. Jeff Jones & Rites of Passage Participants
This Sunday, we will hear from those who are coming of age (8th and 9th graders) and those who are bridging (graduating high school seniors) as they share their credos (statements of personal belief).
There is only one service this Sunday. The Annual Meeting follows the service at 11:30 a.m.
SUN., JUNE 11, 10:00 am
Humanism: Past, Present, and Future, Rev. Jeff Jones
In this ninth sermon series on the history of Unitarian Universalism, we will explore the Humanist Movement in the early 20th century, and the role humanism played in our Fellowship's founding and its importance in our Fellowship today and in the future.
There is only one service this Sunday. The UUFF Picnic will be held at
noon at the Phipps' home. See page 1 for details. On June 18, we begin our
summer schedule of one service at 11:00 a.m.
SUN., JUNE 18, 11:00
Juneteenth
Rev. Jeff Jones, Johnny Johnson
Juneteenth is the celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States. We will explore both this important part of our nation's history and what it means today.
SUN., JUNE 25, 11:00 am
Winter Wheat: The Betrayal of
Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Her Woman's Bible
Laurie James
SUN., JULY 2, 11:00 am
Spinoza
Frank Dixon
SUN., JULY 9, 11:00 am
Musical Service with Readings
Bill & Lorain Harouff
SUN., JULY 16, 11:00 am
Drumming Service
Ken Crampton
SUN., JULY 23, 11:00 am
How Are You Living? Thoughts on Being Present in Your Life
Darlene Nipper
SUN., JULY 30, 11:00 am
Resurrecting Jake
Kit Carver & Randy Walther
SUN., AUG. 6, 11:00 am
The Crucifixion, as Idea & Inspiration
Steve Sanders
SUN., AUG. 13, 11:00 am
My Life as a Dyslexic
Mike Carter
SUN., AUG. 20, 11:00 am
Memoir Writing
Memoirs Group Participants
SUN., AUG. 27, 11:00 am
Little Known American Heroes
Gae Pinschmidt
SUN., SEPT. 3, 11:00 am
The Silverback Comeback
Patrick Neustatter
Upcoming
Events
July 7 : Barbara Kenny at LibertyTown
School Dressing Days: Volunteers needed beginning July 19
August 23: HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
August 26: Teacher Orientation
Don't forget to collect water from your summer travels
and activities for our Water Service in September!
Religious
Education News
SUMMER 2006--LORI WATSON, DIRECTOR OF
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
SUMMER RE: This summer we have a fun and exciting program planned for our
Religious Education classes. Our three teachers, Amy Jenerette, Lori Klopp,
and Amy Roberts, have spent a long time planning, to ensure this summer
is even more interesting than last. They look forward to starting on June 11.
START IN FALL: This fall we will be starting our Religious Education program on September 17. This year we will be focusing on Social Issues and Social Concerns. This is a hot topic lately and we are looking forward to enlightening our students on this important subject. We will also be moving classes around next year. Stay tuned for more information.
PRE-REGISTRATION: Parents, below you will find a pre-registration form. Please return this form as soon as possible. The Religious Education program is growing so fast and we need this information to ensure all our needs are met. Thank you in advance for your prompt response.
TEACHER ORIENTATION: Teachers, please clear your schedule on August 26. We will be having an action-packed orientation planned that day. We look forward to seeing everyone attend. This will be an important day in hopes that we are prepared for the new RE year.
THANK YOU TEACHERS & ASSISTANTS: We will be having a parents' night out on the June 23 for all our teachers and assistants who have helped out this past school year. If you are interested in taking that evening off, let Amy Jenerette know by emailing her. We will have to know ahead of time and have limited slots, so sign up early!
CONGRATULATIONS: We would like to congratulate our Rites of Passage
students. Our Senior Bridging students are Josh Brock, Barbie Broome, and
Calvin Roberts. Our Coming of Age students are Michael Buffum, Josh Crumpley,
Kaila Crumpley, and Shandra Weinkauf. Congratulations and good luck on your
next
stage of life!
SUMMER BIRTHDAYS: There will be a lot of birthdays this summer for our registered students. The following students have summer birthdays. JUNE: Adam Brown, Anna Burnett, Joshua Burnett, Robert Calvert, Lila Cobey, Harper Lovegrove, Macie Neville, Allison Slominski, Anna Slominski, Savion Watson, Kiersten Wyman, and Miranda Wyman. JULY: Michael Buffum, Anna Carlson, Aynsleigh Escher, Corwin Hayward, Shayli Lesser, Madeline Lovegrove, Helen Rathgeb, Katherine Rathgeb, Madeline Shown, Claire Watkins, and Collin Yasaki. AUGUST: Barbie Broome, Taylor Johns, Erin Logan, Isaac Loy, Katie Loy, Lili Watkins, and Shandra Weinkauf. SEPTEMBER: Kristine Cralle, Kevin Grant, Elena Noll, Guy Paramore, Calvin Roberts, and Nicole Yasaki. Your teachers, assistants, the Religious Education Committee and the DRE hope you have a wonder filled day.
We intend to primarily attend the ______10:00 or _______11:30 service
(please choose one)
The following students will be attending:
First & Last Name
Birth date Age in
9/2006 Grade in 9/2006
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
OWL: We will be offering the OWL (Our Whole Lives) class next year for
7th and 8th graders. This is a year long sexuality education course that
"helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their
sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate
information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal
skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a
holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives provides not only facts about
anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values,
build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social
aspects of sexuality." The OWL program takes a lot of time and dedication
from student and the family. Once the class begins, we will not allow new
students to start. This promotes a safe and comfortable environment for all.
For more information, please see this site: www.uua.org/owl/what.html
____ I have a student who wishes to participate in the OWL program.
____ I would like to speak with the DRE. Please call me at
____________________.The best time to contact me is ________________.
¨ Unfortunately, we will not be attending the Religious Education
program next year. (If you are comfortable, please explain.) _____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The
Betrayal of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Her Woman's Bible
Standing ovations have been greeting a new, original solo drama that will
be presented at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg on June
25 at 11:00 a.m. Entitled Winter Wheat: the Betrayal of
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her Woman's Bible, it brings alive a fascinating
story of betrayal and controversy during the years 1887-1902 when Elizabeth
Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony heatedly argued, when organizations,
libraries, schools, ministers, and Christians threw out The Woman's Bible
as heresy.
Stanton's book, The Woman's Bible, is rarely acknowledged today. It was published with commentaries by her committee of women scholars and establishes these women as major foremothers of feminist theology.
The highly acclaimed UU actress/author, Laurie James, plays Stanton during the brilliancy of her 80s when she was considered "one of the great heretics, beginning with the radical reformer Jesus."
The storm of controversy led to the break-up of her 40-year friendship with Anthony and the women's rights movement, culminating in Stanton's marginalization in history. She was not commemorated on a silver dollar as was Anthony, nor was she memorialized with the Nineteenth Amendment, known as the Anthony Amendment. Yet Stanton was first to advocate votes for women and led the woman's rights movement with theory and facts, and had written many of Anthony's speeches.
The author/actress Laurie James is best remembered for her portrayal of Margaret Fuller in her original solo drama, Men, Women, and Margaret Fuller, which toured UU churches and theatres across USA, Mexico, Scotland, and Hong Kong. Her books include the biography, Men, Women, and Margaret Fuller, The Wit and Wisdom of Margaret Fuller, and Why Margaret Fuller Is Forgotten. She also organized the scholarly panel "Emerson's Circle of Women," for the Emerson Bicentennial at GA, and contributed the article by the same name to the Journal of UU History.
Attention RE Volunteers:
PARENTS' NIGHT OUT!
NEW DATE: JUNE 23
The RE Committee would like to show our appreciation for all that you have done this year by hosting a parent's night out at the Fellowship hall on Friday, June 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
In order to provide the safest number of sitters, we will be taking reservations until Wednesday, June 21. The age limit for this evening will be nursery through sixth grade. When you call, please provide the number of children who plan to attend and their ages.
Contact Amy Jenerette if you'd like to take advantage of this evening of free babysitting. THANK YOU for all that you have done this year
Office Manager:..............Cheryle Phillips
Fellowship Phone:.......................371-1304
Fellowship Email: uuoffice@uuffva.org
UUFF Website: www.uuffva.org
Minister's June office hours:
Tues., Wed. & Thurs., 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Sept. Newsletter Deadline:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
Submit articles to Maryann Brown