Learning when to trust — and when not to — is an important part of human development. Trust is essential to building healthy relationships and community. And most of us have learned the hard way that misplaced trust can lead to trouble.

I generally figure it’s better to take a risk and err on the side of trusting when I shouldn’t than the other way around. But I generally lock the car and house. And I avoid tempting thieves by leaving valuables in the open. I’m wary of trusting someone a second time if he or she has proven himself or herself untrustworthy. But that caution doesn’t mean that I think most people are dishonest or out to get me. It just seems to make the world work better if I am cautiously trusting.

I’ve been watching the first several seasons of The Sopranos. In the HBO portrayal of the mob, trust is an essential element, even between rivals. It’s a matter of honor — and survival — to prove that you are trustworthy. You aren’t likely to get a second chance or even an opportunity to explain if you fail.

But now there is evidence that trusting others is linked to the physical health of your body. A new study suggests that if you have a generally distrustful worldview, you’re more likely to die prematurely than if you are generally trusting. Men who agreed with the statement “people are generally dishonest and want to take advantage of others” have an increased risk of dying young, and the risk is greater than that associated with smoking according to a study by the Harvard Center for Society and Health. (See Note below.)

Maybe those who express general distrust have good reason to do so, but the implication of the study is that a negative attitude toward others is unhealthy — very unhealthy apparently.

The researchers interviewed more than 12,000 Hungarians and monitored their health over time. Feelings of jealousy also increased the risk of premature death among men, but not among women. Men who agreed with the statement “If I hear about the success of a friend of mine, I get frustrated” were more likely to die prematurely than those who disagreed with the statement.

That’s pretty remarkable. It’s not a surprise that a negative emotional state increases stress, and it has been clear for a long time that increased stress is dangerous to health, but I wouldn’t have imagined that the impact would be greater than the effects of smoking.

The Harvard study also found that spiritual or religious involvement significantly increased the life expectancy of the women, though not of men. The risk of premature death was reduced for men who felt a close connection with their neighbors, however.

It’s one more piece of evidence that friendships really count and that being part of a community matters. Your congregation matters and maybe you could even say it saves lives. So help us save even more lives. Get to know your neighbors and invite them to come to church with you. Pick up some of UUCV’s brochures and leave them in strategic places. Share this life-preserving community with others. Oh, and don’t smoke, either. We want you to be here for a long time. Your work in the world isn’t finished yet. See you on Sunday!

Duane

Note: The study results were briefly summarized by Spirituality and Health Magazine in the Sept/Oct 2004 issue. Spirituality and Health reviews films, books, and music and has a very interesting survey that is intended to help you put a name to your spiritual hungers and find practices to address them.

See http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/home/item_216.html

Sunday Service Topics

March 6 "Dissent and Opposition as a Religious Call"

Presented by the Rev. Duane Fickeisen and Richard Ellis, Worship Associate

Dissent and opposition when the culture is ‘on the wrong track’ have long-standing roots in religious practice. The Hebrew prophets protested social ills and advocated for change. One of our own prophets, Henry David Thoreau went to jail for refusing to pay taxes that supported slavery. We’ll explore the call to dissent in the context of a community of religious seekers who have a wide diversity of political opinion.

March 13 "A Gift That’s Worth the Effort"

Presented by the Revs. Judy Welles and Duane Fickeisen.

When care and effort go into the giving of a gift, the value of the gift itself is enhanced. Today’s service marks the beginning of this year’s Annual Pledge Campaign, when we ask you to consider what financial support you will give to UUCV for the coming year. We’ll consider gifts given and received, and explore how their value is enriched by the effort behind them.

March 20 "Many Hands Make Light Work"

Presented by Worship Associates Geneva Politzer and Diane Reed

As her annual pledge last year, Geneva ("Princess Mop N Glo") offered to clean the Meetinghouse, giving her the opportunity to glean a new view of stewardship, including the critical life lesson that it's always easier to clean up after others than ourselves--and that the job nourishes the spirit when one sings robust hymns while scrubbing with the help of a cadre of friends.

March 27 "The Resurrection of Hope"

Presented by the Revs. Judy Welles and Duane Fickeisen

As winter draws to a close, the hints of spring give us hope for longer days of warmth and light. And as we revisit the teachings of Jesus on this Easter Sunday, we are reminded of the necessity of hope if we are to transform lives and change the world. It’s a good day to stand at the crossroads of faith and action.

Lenten Vespers

Join us every Wednesday during Lent for a half-hour of reflection and quiet during our vespers services. The services of silent candles to honor joys and sorrows, music, a few lyrical words, and silence together invite you to be still and appreciate this late winter time in anticipation of the coming spring. The services each focus on one of the aspects of our new vision statement. We meet from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Meetinghouse Library.

A Report from Your Board President on Meetings with Standing Committees

From UUCV Board of Trustees President Priscilla Laws

Every fall the UUCV Board of Trustees organizes a full day retreat to set goals for the year and figure out how to work toward them. Last October we talked about ways to use our time effectively to help us in our continuing quest to become a stronger, more active community. We all depend on each other to volunteer for vital jobs that include mounting religious education activities for our children, welcoming visitors and encouraging them to become members, promoting social justice within and outside of our community, keeping our meetinghouse and grounds maintained, overseeing budget expenditures, and raising funds.

The effectiveness of our organization depends critically on the Board and its Standing Committees having a sound understanding of the role that each group plays in serving the congregation. For this reason, one of the major outcomes of the retreat was our decision to meet with each standing committee during this year to review it’s role, understand how it operates, and identify ways that the Board can advance it’s work. We hope that be defining their roles clearly, we can give our standing committees more autonomy. We also hope that we can organize a council of committee chairpersons to help us function better as an organization and coordinate long range planning projects.

The Board has already met with the Building & Grounds Committee as with the newly formed Committee on Finance & Fundraising (a merger of last year’s Stewardship & Fundraising Committee with the Budget & Accounting Committee). So far we have learned that the ideas that the B&G Committee has maintenance and improvements could require all the money that the F&F committee can possibly raise! In fact, our building has been referred to as a “money pit!” Both of these vital committees have been doing an outstanding job and we are looking forward to an exciting and successful Pledge Campaign in the coming month for all sorts of reasons.

Additional meetings with Committees on our schedule include the Religious Education in March, Social Action in May, the Welcoming Congregation in June, and the Membership Committee in July. Anyone interested in learning more about these committees, or anything else we do, is welcome to come to any of our Board Meetings. We meet on the third Thursday of each month from 7-10 p.m.

The Board is also working on other projects. We fully expect that the newly approved Mission and Vision statements will serve as a basis for a revitalization of our efforts to plan for this future. This will require us to turn our M&V statements into actions in our quest to become a stronger, more active community. You’ll be hearing more about this in April once the Pledge Campaign is over.

In conclusion, your Board of Trustees aspires to be a group that does much more than keep minutes and waste hours!

Congregational Classes, Happenings and Interest Groups for March

March 4 Everyone is invited to join us for the First Friday Potluck at 6:30pm. It's a great way to meet people from the congregation, especially if you’re new to UUCV. Bring a dish to share, children always welcome!

March 6 Opportunities for Learning About UUCV On the first Sunday of each month, there is an opportunity to explore the “Path to Membership” with a minister and a Board member. We’ll discuss the meaning and expectations of membership, and answer questions that might help you decide whether this is the right time for you to sign the Membership Book. Listen for an announcement during Coffee Hour.

The Writer's Group will meet on Saturday, March 19 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the home of Charlotte Klein, 2624 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle. Call or email Charlotte if you plan to attend - 766-0132 - charklein@pa.net. Come join us in a casual atmosphere to share some prose or poetry written by you or others. New members most welcome.

March 13 and 27 Newcomers Orientation will be held after the service. A minister and someone from the Membership Committee will give a brief introduction to Unitarian Universalism and to UUCV, with plenty of opportunity for newcomers to ask questions and get better acquainted with us. Listen for an announcement during Coffee Hour.

March 13 Leadership Academy Do you ever go to meetings? Ever run them? Ever been frustrated by them or wished they could be more effective? Then join us for our next Leadership Academy on Sunday afternoon, March 13 from 12:30 to 2:30 in the Board Room. Duane will present materials on designing and facilitating effective meetings. This session has been rescheduled from the planned February academy in order to make it more widely available. The mission of UUCV’s Leadership Academy is to help you gain both confidence and competence in leadership by learning practical skills in leadership — nuts and bolts stuff with application in the congregation, in your workplace, in other volunteer organizations, and even in your family. All are welcome to participate in any of the sessions.

March 26 Candle-Making On this Saturday morning, you can learn some candle-making techniques from Beth Shank and create new candles for our Sunday worship. The stubs of the Joys and Sorrows candles will be melted down to make new helper candles from which the chalice is lit – and so the circle holds us close. Our joys and sorrows will become the source of the light that symbolizes the warmth and power of community. Come to the meeting house kitchen at 10 a.m. prepared for fun, fellowship, and a significant symbolic contribution to the life of the beloved community. If you have questions, call Beth Shank at 774-2339.

There will be NO Serious Stuff Book Group meeting in March. The next meeting will take place on April 3. That meeting will be a discussion of God After Darwin by John Haught which is said to be " a book full of illuminating insights that will stimulate and inform all those who are seriously interested in the science and religion debate today." That will also be the end of our talk of Darwin for the year.

Looking Ahead and Saving Dates!

Sunday, April 3: Passover Planning Anyone interested in helping to plan this year's Seder, scheduled for Sunday evening, April 24, please meet after the service in the kitchen downstairs.

Saturday, April 9: Camille Baughman will conduct a day-long drum-making workshop so that you can make your own personal drum imbued with your energy and your intentions. Details to follow in PrE-Views, the Spring Adult RE Brochure, and the April newsletter.

Saturday, May 7: All singers are invited to a morning music workshop led by Tom Benjamin, music director of the Unitarina Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD and a highly respected UU musician. Plan to polish your vocal skills and have some fun while you’re at it! Tom will also conduct our choir at the service on May 8.

Annual Canvass Campaign: Changing Lives, Inside and Out

“In like a lion, out like a lamb.”

Contributed by Dan and Joan Bechtel, Pledge Canvass Committee Members in Charge of Communications and Public Relations

As we embark on our 2005/06 pledge canvass, we hope that this old saying holds true in our efforts to fund the mission of UUCV. The theme of the pledge campaign, Changing Lives: Inside and Out, also talks about “in” and “out” in terms of changing lives both inside (spiritually) and outside (behavior) in our community and our world. By the time you read this March newsletter, you will have learned even more about our plans as outlined in the Annual Pledge Canvass brochure (if you have not yet received a brochure as yet, please contact Laurel Belding at 717-960-9111 or laurel@paonline.com).

We have also “roared” about the annual canvass Soup Suppers, where you will not only be fed well, but will have the opportunity to share with others life changing stories, hear about the financial support UUCV needs to continue the work of changing lives, and receive your pledge materials. Our Soup Supper schedule is also featured in this issue. If you cannot attend a soup supper, please welcome a canvasser into your home. He or she will come in the spirit of the “lion and lamb” who live together in peace, and will talk with you about how you can support and participate in the mission of UUCV.

Hopefully, you have heard the speakers on change during recent Sunday services. Their “Circles of Change” already hang on the Choir wall, and others are being displayed in the Social Hall. Please add yours so we can all take “pride” in what UUCV is doing to change lives for the better.

We hope March leaves us not like the docile “lamb” in the old March adage, but rather like “lambs” frolicking in the pasture celebrating the new life coming into bud in our beloved community where we see signs of April blossoms (blooming pledges and more) because of your contributions and support.

Soup’s On!

“With chopsticks did I sip my soup”

so stated Seymour Snorkke,

“But that was much too difficult,

so now I use a fork.”

“Seymour Snorkke,” The New Kid on the Block: Poems by Jack Prelutsky

No matter your preference—chopsticks, fork, or even spoon—you won’t want to miss the fun and fellowship we have planned for you at the Annual Pledge Canvass Soup Suppers. These casual get-togethers provide a unique opportunity to meet new people, find out what attracted them to UUCV and how their lives have changed “inside and out,” and share hopes and dreams for the future of our church home. Pledge materials will be distributed at the suppers, with a choice of submitting your pledge that evening or taking the materials home for consideration and submission at a later date. Sign up in the Social Hall or contact Janet Spencer at 717-249-3915 or email jbsandms@epix.net. Deadline for reservations is March 13. Note: Additional soup suppers will be added if necessary.

Date/Time	Home of	Location	Pets in Home?
Wed, 3/16, 6:00 pm	Leslie Carr	Carlisle	One small dog
**Fri, 3/18, 6:30 pm	John Bloom/Amy Farrell	Carlisle
Sun, 3/20, 6:00 pm	Laurel Belding/Will Guilliams	Carlisle	Two cats
Tue, 3/22, 6:30 pm	Kit and Alan Franklin	Newville
**Wed, 3/23, 6:30 pm	Gene and Susan Walker	Mechanicsburg
Thu, 3/24, 6:00 pm	Dan and Joan Bechtel	Mechanicsburg	One dog
**Fri, 3/25, 6:00 pm	Doug and Janet Spencer	Carlisle	Dog/cats
Wed, 3/30, 6:30 pm	Dot Everhart/Kay Eaton	Dillsburg	One dog
**Children welcome

UUCV Board of Trustees Nominations

The Nominations Committee (Kim van Alkemade, Ellis, and Christopher Lemelin) are gearing up to put forward a slate of candidates for the UUCV Board of Trustees. We have three seats on the Board opening up in July 2005. We will publish our slate of nominees in the April newsletter in advance of our annual May congregational meeting. If you are interested in being nominated, or just want to know more about what serving on the board might entail, please feel free to contact any of our committee's members. Also, we're looking for people to be nominated for next year's nomination committee! If you’re interested, contact the committee chairperson, Kim van Alkemade.

Answer: Over $10,000 per Year

The question is: How much would the UUCV make in a year if all of the members used the Grocery Gift Cards to buy their groceries? The 2nd question is: How much extra does it cost for members to shop using UUCV Grocery Gift Cards? Answer to question 2: is $0, zero, nada, nothing extra, this is not a fundraiser, you get 100% of the value of your dollar spent. The 3rd question is obvious: Why aren't all of the members using UUCV Grocery Gift Cards? Answer to question 3: Let me extend a warm invitation to you to buy your groceries through the UUCV Grocery Gift Card Program, an easy way to support the Congregation and its good works. Soon you will be able to order these Grocery Gift Cards by mail, in case you don't carry your checkbook to the Sunday meeting. If you have any questions about this program, please email Judy Marti judymarti@superpa.net .

Spring Opportunities at UUV

Here’s what’s cookin’ at UUCV this spring, with something for nearly everybody.

Our annual plant sale is being coordinated by Carol McAnulty and Devonna Jonsson. Keep this in mind when dividing those persistent perennials, and wait for their sale to buy your garden flowers. Date TBD.

Cindi Butzer is organizing our multi-location yard sales, so start collecting your no longer needed items. More importantly, consider making your garage and porch as one of the sites, being a site helper/organizer (perhaps right at UUCV), or offering your truck and strong back to transport the goods. Dates TBD.

Susan Helm will be selling tickets to an April 30 Little Theater event; the next article in the newsletter will tell you more.

A big thank you to each of these women for heading up our spring fundraisers! You can make them successful by patronizing their event, of course, but also by volunteering your time, lending sales assistance, and perhaps shadowing them so you can help lead these events in future years. Here’s their contact information – make their day and volunteer. Carol (249-4433 or paulandcarol913@earthlink.net), Devonna (240-1286 or djonsson@mindspring.com), Cindi (240-2651 or cbu50@earthlink.net ), and Susan (218-5136 or shelm@newportsd.org).

It's not too soon to think about June! Our Strawberry Shortcake sale is not until Foundry Day in June, but if you like art festivals and enjoy creating delectable desserts, this event could be yours. Not only is the Strawberry Shortcake sale a great fundraiser for UUCV, it is our way of participating in the Boiling Springs community. Mariel Martin and Kim van Alkemade were last year's coordinators, and they would be happy to pass on their wisdom and a complete "how-to" kit to the next Shortcake coordinator. Contact Kim at 530-5427 or kivana@pa.net, or Carole DeWall (249-3900 or carolesdw@paonline.com), Finance & Fundraising Chair, for more information.

Little Theater Fundraiser!

The Little Theater of Mechanicsburg Fundraiser is going to be April 30th this year. The show is a musical revue about the life of legendary Sophie Tucker. It will be a cabaret-style one-woman performance celebrating her life and music. Buy some tickets on sale every Sunday to commemorate a birthday, for adult Easter gifts, as gifts for friends or relatives, or just for fun! Any questions, please contact Susan Helm at 218-5136 or shelm@newportsd.org.

S.H.A.R.E. In the News

During the months of march and April, the Feinstein Foundation will donate $1.00 for each food item given to the Food Bank. Last year during this drive, 63,000 items were collected , resulting in a very large financial contribution to S.H.A.R.E. This year it is hoped that even this large number can be surpassed. Won't you please consider increasing the number of items you donate these two months, since one dollar will be donated for each item to help purchase even more food and help the Food bank meet its financial obligations?

In February, UUCV contributed 31 pounds of food. Thanks to all who gave. Next in-gathering is March 13, but items may be put in S.H.A.R.E.'s tub (by the SAC table in the Social Hall) anytime. Most needed items are baby food (not formula), hot cereal and pork'n'beans.

Congratulations Auction Committee & Others

At the congregational meeting, we celebrated a unique event at UUCV in January, and that was to approve an amended budget because we had MORE funds than expected. The happy occasion was the result of successful fundraising, and that wouldn’t have occurred without the excellent planning for our annual auction and new grocery store cards, as well as YOUR participation in both of these programs.

Certainly, a big round of applause is due to the auction committee, who have raised $21,218 through December 31, the most ever. The key organizers of Janet Spencer, Dave & Missy Molino, Keith Bittinger, Sherry Holsten and Carole DeWall, plus Amy Farrell as the post-auction sales coordinator, were ably assisted by Laurel Belding, Geneva Politzer, Susan Helm, Sandi Freeman, Melissa Stolley, Kim Clark, Bev Motich, Bruce Henrickson, Rick Heckman, Brad Whitlock, Cindi Butzer, Devonna Jonsson, Bob & Wendy Hankes and others too numerous to name. Thank you, thank you!

The initiative and fast start award goes to Judy Marti, who volunteered to learn about grocery card sales, and in a very short period, she is netting UUCV about $100 each month. Thanks Judy! Now you can pay the same price for your groceries, but UUCV receives 5% of all you spend.

Equally happy news is that, as efforts on both of these fronts continue, so will the profits, with your continued support. Certainly, keep on buying the grocery cards during social hour (remember to bring your checkbook), consider using them for gifts, offering to sell them at church on a specific Sunday each month, and maybe even marketing them to your co-workers.

As for the auction, many of the lead committee members are staying on for the 2005 event, and we hope to have a full slate of volunteers on board by April for a theme and planning meeting. If you’d like to join the winning auction team (who likes to have fun), or perhaps apprentice with an expert so you can help lead the 2006 event, we’d love to have you! Just speak with any of the members noted above to find out more. Of course, don’t forget to check out the remaining items/events from the 2004 auction; information is on the stage in the social hall.

All in the UUCV Family

Congratulations to Ben Cohen, who recently attained his PhD. in Education Policy Analysis from the University of Maryland. Ann Sheehan’s mother, Charlotte Ames Sheehan, has become a pemanent part of Ann’s household, much to her relief. We are grateful to Ann’s son, Jonathan Drake, for agreeing to maintain the UUCV web site for the next few months until a permanent new webmaster can be found. Jonathan is headed for graduate studies in Planetary Geology next year; offers of scholarships and stipends are starting to come to him. Carol Lindsay is recovering well from knee surgery in mid-February.

The Wider UU World

Unitarian Universalists of Gettysburg UUG holds weekly Sunday services at 3:00 PM at Trinity UCC, Stratton & High Sts., Gettysburg, PA. Religious education for our young people is a top priority. "In Our Hands," a peace and social justice program will be the focal point for our K--6th graders; the older youth group will explore what they believe they stand for. Nursery care. Everyone welcome. For more information, call 717-334-5141, or visit www.uugettysburg.org.

Mar 6: Rev. Sandra Fees, minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County, located in Reading, PA. Rev. Fees presents “The Art of Imperfection.” We Unitarian Universalists are notorious for our striving and for our efforts toward achievement. Self-improvement is a worthy goal, but is perfection? What would it mean to practice the art of imperfection instead? Refreshments follow service.

Mar 13: Rev. John T. Morehouse, Minister of the UU Congregation of Frederick; his topic is "Letting Go." Rev. John Morehouse explores the power of forgiveness as a spiritual practice. Potluck follows service.

Mar 20: Dr. Kristen Urban, Political Science Department, Mount St. Mary's University: “Islamic Perspectives on Human Rights: Contradictions in the Middle East Today.” The talk will explore the values within Islamic tradition that correspond with Western notions of human rights and the political complexities that account for the state of Human Rights in the Middle East today. Refreshments follow service.

Mar 27: Rev. Ron Crawford, Pastoral Minister of theUnitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick: “A Community of Communities.” Rev. Crawford focuses on the role of relational groups in the development of effective congregations. Refreshments follow service.

JPD Annual Meeting Sounds Like Fun! Families with children of all ages are especially encouraged to attend this year’s annual meeting of the Joseph Priestley District on April 8 and 9 in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (near Valley Forge). On Friday evening there will be a concert by Nick Page which is guaranteed to lift you right out of your seat! Workshops for adults and age-appropriate activities for children are scheduled all day Saturday, along with worship, an awards ceremony, and a moving “Bridging Ceremony” which welcomes youth group graduates into young adult programming. Talk to Judy or Duane for more information and brochures, or go to http://www.jpduua.org/ to view the entire program. On-line registration is available.

UUrld’s 2005 Whale Coast Alaska Five Alaska UU fellowships invite other UUs from “outside” for our UU eco-spiritual/intercultural programs in July, 2005. See the REAL Alaska! Stay in UU homes in Anchorage, Seward, Fairbanks, Juneau and Sitka and enjoy discussions and dinners with Alaska UUs. See whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, bears, moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, puffins, eagles and other birds in the wild from the Arctic Ocean to the Inside Passage in the south. Visit Denali’s Mt. McKinley and Kenai’s fjords and glaciers. See totem poles, native arts, dancing, story-telling. Rev. Dick & Mary Weston-Jones, leaders. Visit website www.wuurld.org, e-mail dick@wuurld.org, or phone toll-free 1-888, 998-8753 for a brochure. Reservations due April 1.