The Unisingers of the Harrisburg UU Church will be our guests for the service on April 2nd. This group is currently directed by Sparkie Radcliffe, the Minister of Music at UCH. The group was formed and directed for many years by our own Sally Beaver, when she was a member there. The Unisingers will lead us in a service of singing, joining with our choir for several numbers. If you want a preview of the great sound they have, please go to http://www.uchuua.org/music. There are three songs you can hear, including "Blackbird," "How Can I Keep from Singing," and "Spirit of Life."

This service of music is designed to help us celebrate music in the life of UUCV as we bring our 2006-07 Canvass to a close. Out current count shows that we are nearly a third of the way to meeting our ambitious goal-- thanks to the matching fund and your generous pledges! Keep those pledges coming in and maybe by April 2nd we'll be able to say, "We made it!"

April 9 "Always the Quest”

Presented by Rev. Ken Belden and Rev. Judy Welles. Musician, Carole Knisely.

Today we will hear about the new U.U. congregation starting in Northern Chester County, PA. Their minister will describe the basic culture of the new WellSprings Congregation and what he considers to be liberal religion at its best: a soul-enlarging, soul-shaping journey in which the spirit of adventure, abundance and awakening call us ever forward into religious existence.

April 16 “The Loving, Living God Has Risen in the Dark”

Presented by the Revs. Duane Fickeisen and Judy Welles. Music will be provided by Sally Beaver, the Recorder Trio, and the UUCV Choir.

We will remember the mysterious Easter story of the empty tomb, the missing body of Jesus, and the on-going presence of God among us. Hope arises out of the darkness of despair, heralded by roaring thunder, and announced by a gardener.

April 23 "The Secular Soul"

Presented by Judy Marti and Dorothy Everhart, Worship Associates; with pianist, Julie Moffitt.

One of the requirements for the profession of Farmer is to have an attraction to philosophy. It came to me while weeding, that all of the noted philosopher/scientist/theologians theorized on the subject of the soul. My self-assigned research project became the topic of the existence of the soul from the viewpoint of a secular humanist farmer. Does the soul exist? Do I have one (is it for humans only)? Does my dog, Jago, have one? Does that weed have one? Does the earth have one?

April 30 “The Blessing of the Animals”

Rev. Judy Welles; Ellen Lyon, Worship Associate; Pat Spader, musician.

Through poetry and song, some silly and some serious, we will bless our animals and consider all the ways that animals bless us. Please bring a photograph of your pet or a stuffed animal that is like your pet, but no live animals; we want our humans with animal allergies to enjoy this service, too! This is an intergenerational service; there will be no regular children’s R.E. today.

Celebrating Passover: Seder Service and Dinner

All are welcome to join in the annual UUCV Seder Service and Dinner on April 14 at 6:00PM. The Seder is the annual celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt, but also reminds participants that, as part of the human family, none of us is truly free as long people live in oppression and bondage anywhere in the world.

The Seder begins with a ceremony that lasts about half an hour, followed by a meal. The ceremony, which consists of stories and rituals collected in the Haggadah, will be designed to include everyone, especially families, even if you’ve never participated in a Seder. The dinner will have chicken and vegetarian choices. Plan to arrive around 6:00PM to get settled in to the dining room, as the ceremony will begin promptly at 6:30. We probably won’t start eating until 7:00, so if you (or your kids!) are feeling hungry, have a snack beforehand.

Participants will be asked to donate $5.00 for each adult, and half that for kids, to cover the cost of the meal. If you plan to attend, please contact Ben Cohen at bac3917@yahoo.com or call 737-8882 by Monday, APRIL 10 just so we know how many places to set at the table!

From the Well

Our monthly minister’s column, this month from Rev. Judy Welles

I have recently agreed to accept a big responsibility. As of July 1, I will be the President of the Starr King Graduates Association, which will also give me a seat on the Starr King School Board of Trustees. I am very much looking forward to being of service to the seminary I love, where I learned so much in preparation for ministry (and—another important little detail—where Duane and I met).

However, I am realistic about what a challenge this responsibility will be. Starr King graduates are fiercely loyal to their school and very emotionally invested in it. Yet what I have noticed is that their loyalty is to the school they attended, be it the Starr King of the 1960’s, the 1970’s, the 1980’s, the 1990’s (Duane’s and my cohort), or the 21^st century. Naturally the school has changed a great deal over the decades, a fact which is not always greeted with pleasure by its graduates. Because they loved the school when they were there, some of them want it to remain just as it was, impossible as that may be. As President of the Graduates Association, I will be the most likely messenger between the graduates and the school as it currently exists. This will probably not always be fun.

Being on the Board of Trustees will give me a bird’s eye view of Unitarian Universalist theological education as it is evolving for the 21^st century. While this will be fascinating and certainly inspirational, I go into this new position knowing that the times are very difficult right now for UU theological education.

Though Starr King is financially stable, it is experiencing urgent needs for faculty endowment and financial aid for students. Funds from the UUA to support both of our seminaries (the other is Meadville Lombard, in Chicago, where Kathy Ellis is enrolled in the Modified Residency Program) are dwindling, so both schools find themselves in a fragile situation, with small endowments and thin resources all around.

In fact, one of the more interesting issues coming up is a conversation between the two schools to explore some kind of consolidation. What is under consideration is a kind of “merger” in which both campuses would remain open for residential study, with an Executive Dean on site at each campus, but with one President, one Board of Trustees, and one budget. The feeling is that the UUA is too small a denomination to be supporting two separate (and sometimes competing) seminaries.

At the same time, the percentage of UU seminarians who are studying at non-UU schools continues to increase. Many students with school-age children, working spouses or other commitments that are geographically limiting are not free to relocate to Chicago or Berkeley. So they prepare for their ministries at nearby seminaries; for hopeful seminarians in the Joseph Priestley District, these might be Wesley in Washington DC (Methodist), Lancaster (UCC), or Moravian in Bethlehem, PA.

Starr King is now offering a wide range of “distance learning” courses which are taken on line, taught by faculty or adjunct faculty who may or may not be located in Berkeley. These courses are rich resources for UU students at non-UU seminaries, but even they can not furnish the value of daily, face-to-face interactions with fellow students and faculty. With Starr King’s distance learning program and Meadville’s modified residency program, both schools are responding creatively to the complex demands of life in the 21^st century for their students.

While much remains to be decided in the conversation about consolidation, it is clear that simply holding the conversation is already strengthening the bond between the two schools and diminishing the rivalry for students and for financial resources. The results of this study process will be a stronger educational program for UU ministers; it will build on the strengths of each school and the distinctive educational style present at each campus.

There is much at stake. One savvy former Starr King Board President recently said “The future of the UUA depends on UU theological education.” Another commented that the world is in need of UU values, and the best way to get them out there is to increase the quality of religious leadership. I will be proud to do my part to help.

See you in church! Love, Judy

Religious Education News

From UUCV’s Director of Religious Education, Kevin Snow

As I write this column, it is the first day of Spring but it sure doesn't feel like it. Although, I have been taking long walks in the park and once or twice on the Appalachian Trail and signs of Spring have been peeking through the ground more and more. Flowers have started to show early signs of rising, buds are forming on branches, things are getting greener little by little and the Robins are back along with a host of other birds. As I drive on my way to work every morning to Gettysburg, I pass gatherings of Canada Geese flocking on ponds regularly and I have encountered a lot of falcons off certain parts of Route 15. Today alone I saw three big predatory birds sitting on a fence, tree and a sign. These signals of Spring amaze me, especially the birds. It can only mean that change is in the air and good things are around the bend.

With that notion in mind, please place on your calendar the date April 14th at 6pm. It is time for UUCV's Seder service. Everyone is welcome to our all-inclusive version of the Jewish holiday. If you haven't been present for one in the past, this year will mark my third time present, I highly encourage everyone attend this special event. Kids are definitely wanted. In fact, we have some special things that need prepared especially by the children. If you know you are planning to bring your children please contact me for some instructions about helping prepare the Baby Moses Salad. To find out just what a Baby Moses Salad is you will have to come in person! For general questions about the Seder please contact Susan Lara. Seder is a fascinating meal full of rituals and as in the past, I am sure everyone will find some way to participate.

Spring also means that your RE Committee is busy at work putting the final touches on Summer and Fall curriculum. We have some great ideas in mind that we will start promoting more in the next few months. Also, all the money raised by the Youth Group to support the Viva House will be put to use this Spring as well. The group has met to set a date for the trip to Baltimore, but it is not finalized as I write this column. Please contact John Bloom or me if you don't know the date. Please be looking at those calendars and thinking about Sundays you might be home this summer and planning on teaching or helping with RE. We don't need as many volunteers in the summer, but we do need at least two for every Sunday, so please speak to me about possible dates that would work for you. Everything will soon be coming up roses, as they say, so see you on Sunday!!!

UUCV Nominating Committee Continues Its Work

Elections for UUCV's board are held every year at the annual meeting in May. Our bylaws require that a slate be presented by a nominating committee whose members are also elected by the congregation. Thirty days advance notice of the committee's recommendations is required. The slate will be announced from the pulpit at a service in late April and an article in next month's newsletter will provide more information on the committee's recommendations.

It is also possible for any member to be nominated by petition as a candidate for the board of trustees, and floor nominations are accepted for the nominating committee posts. All candidates for office must be members of UUCV. Three members of our board of trustees will be elected, as well as new members of the nominating committee itself. Any member interested in serving in any of these roles should contact the nominating committee now. Its members are John Bloom (245-9512; bloom@pa.net); Richard Ellis (218-9818; raellis@earthlink.net); and Janet Folsom (486-7988; janetfolsom@cs.com).

From Your Student Minister

From Kathy Ellis

Several people have asked me about the requirements on the path to ordained Unitarian Universalist Ministry. There are requirements! The UUA Ministry Credentialing Department, the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) and the Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association (UUMA) all want to do their best to have well-educated and emotionally healthy ministers.

First, I began seminary and became an “Aspirant.” For Meadville Lombard, the required M.Div. involves 36 courses. I have completed about half of the required coursework through Wesley Theological Seminary, a Methodist school in Washington, D.C., and I will complete the remaining coursework through Meadville’s Modified Residency Program. I will spend three more Januaries in Chicago.

After completing a the equivalent of a full time year of seminary coursework, I scheduled a “career assessment” at the Center for Career Development and Ministry in Dedham, MA. Two days of psychological testing, counseling and feedback can be an intimidating process even for a psychologist! I had a wonderful experience meeting a psychologist who is also an Episcopalian nun.

I sent the written career assessment report, several essays and four letters of recommendation to the RSCC (Regional Sub-Committee on Candidacy) and scheduled an interview with the committee for October 2005. My interview was encouraging. I was pleased and relieved that the committee could “see a minister” in me. I became a “Candidate” for the UU ministry.

Once granted candidate status, I became a student member of the UUMA and agreed to the UUMA Code of Professional Practice. I requested sponsorship from UUCV, and the Board agreed to sponsor my candidacy. All ministerial candidates should have an active and ongoing relationship with a congregation. Luckily, I have you!

Steps ahead of me include a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, a full-time 9 month internship at another congregation other than one’s home congregation, and continued work on the extensive MFC reading list. When I complete these steps, I will apply for an appointment with the MFC. The MFC can grant Preliminary Fellowship or send you back to do more work. It is a long and transformative process.

KATHY ELLIS WINS PRESTIGIOUS SERMON AWARD

Our beloved member and student minister Kathy Ellis was recently notified by the UUA that she is one of four winners of the 2006 Borden Sermon Award, which is accompanied by a significant cash prize as well as the adulation of her friends and colleagues.

Unlike previous years, in which the Borden Sermon contest was open to all ordained UU ministers, this year's contest was restricted to Unitarian Universalist theology students who had aspirant or candidate status prior to January 1, 2006. The eligibility rules were modified in order to better support the next generation of Unitarian Universalist ministers as they complete their theological studies and embark upon their ministry.

Kathy has offered to present the award-winning sermon on Sunday, April 9 after the service. Let’s all turn out to congratulate her and listen to a fine sermon on the topic of Contemporary Slavery in the modern world.

Communications Coordinating Council Commences

One of the goals for Year One of our Long Range Plan is to create a committee or council to coordinate the various aspects of communication related to life at UUCV. These would include both internal communications (newsletter, SAM, PrE-Views, bulletin boards, etc.) and external communications (web site, newspaper features, paid advertising, PR, etc.)

In early March a group met at Duane and Judy’s to brainstorm the ways that this council might function, and to generate some energy to get it off the ground. Some of the ideas shared were these: use excerpts from sermons as the basis for Op-Ed pieces in local newspapers; identify newsworthy UUCV activities (such as Change for the World, OWL, the “30 For 30” project at Muncy, our Youth Group’s upcoming trip to Viva House in Baltimore) and issue press releases; visually coordinate all of our printed and electronic materials with design elements and colors for “brand recognition.” We tried to imagine using technology to our advantage, such as pod casting sermons or having a place on the voice mail menu to announce upcoming activities.

We envision this Communications Council meeting quarterly, with a look ahead to activities which might be newsworthy and an eye toward the best use of our paid advertising budget. The Council will be coordinated by a Board member (perhaps Priscilla Laws) and should have representation from the UUCV constituencies that are likely to generate publicity or newsworthy activities: Membership, Religious Education, Social Action… what else?

Categories of other possible Council members would be: news writers, artists, photographers, designers, people with experience in marketing and public relations, people with well-developed knowledge of the Internet and other electronic options. If you would be interest in learning more, or would like to offer your time and expertise to this new venture, please be in touch with Priscilla (243-9525) or Judy (241-0410). The Council will probably have its first meeting some time this summer.

Adult Religious Education

Roots and Branches

Judy and Duane will lead this two-session class for relative newcomers who seek a deeper engagement with our faith. We’ll introduce Unitarian Universalist history with a quick romp through two millennia and present some information about how the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations is organized and how this congregation works. Our emphasis is on helping you discern what you are seeking and identifying resources to help you find it, and on discovering your gifts and call to use them in service.

The class will meet on Tuesday evenings, April 4 and 11, from 7:30 until 9:30 in the Meetinghouse Library. The minimum enrollment is 4, and the deadline to sign up is April 2. You can sign up in the Social Hall or by e-mail to uucv@pa.net.

Process Theology

Join Duane for a three-session class exploring process theology and process thought. Process theology posits free will and views the universe as a series of events, each of which is contingent on, but not fully determined by past events. As active agents, human beings have the power to influence the future by the choices we make. God lures us to make choices that bring about more enjoyment by being catalysts for love.

The class will meet on three Sunday evenings, from 7:00 to 9:00 in the Meetinghouse Library, from April 30 through May 14 if the minimum enrollment of six is met. Sign up in the Social Hall or by e-mail to uucv@pa.net by April 23.

Articulating Your UU Faith

This is a four session course which will help you to answer the question, “Unitarian Universalism! What’s that?” We should have great fun practicing our answers with each other. Barbara Wells Ten Hove, UU minister and co-author of the course, wrote, “Unitarian Universalism is a different kind of religion, and how we talk about it will thus reflect these differences.” We will reflect on our own experiences and listen to others’ reflections.

This course will involve thinking, feeling and doing. Expect laughter and support as we practice articulating our own faith. Expect hopeful inspiration and positive resources, plus the opportunity for meaningful connection to UUs. Six people can create this experience together but more will be merrier! We will meet on Tuesday evenings: April 17, May 2, May 16 and May 30. Kathy Ellis will facilitate meetings in the UUCV Library from 7:00 to 9:00. Sign-up in the Social Hall.

Other Adult Religious Education Offerings

See the Spring Adult RE Brochure for other offerings in April and May. Some of them require advance registration, and we’re taking signups now for them.

Congregational Events and Meetings

April 22 The Writer's Group will meet on Saturday, April 22 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the home of Mary McCarthy, 139 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle. Call or email Mary if you plan to attend in case of changes to the time/date/place. Tel. 422-6894; mmcarth@comcast.net. Come join us for a fun and creative afternoon. It's a time for sharing the prose or poetry you've written or you can read something written by your favorite author. As always, new members most welcome.

April 23 Serious Stuff's April book will be Khaled Hosseini"s first novel The Kite Runner, set in the relatively stable Afghanistan in the early 1970s. It tells the story of the friendship between the privileged son of a wealthy businessman and his close friend, the son of his father's servant. Says the Amazon review, "Hosseini has created characters that seem so real that one almost forgets that The Kite Runner is a novel and not a memoir." The group will meet on Sunday, April 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the church library.

April 29 Lord, what fools these mortals be! If you'd enjoy reviewing some of the famous quotes from the Bard's plays in and hour and a half, join us for UUCV's annual theater outing/fundraiser at the Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg to see “The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).” In this fast-paced romp through Shakespeare’s plays, the comedies are reduced to a single short sketch, and the tragedies are unmercifully spoofed. Don't miss this delightful satire performed on Saturday, April 29th at 8:00 PM. To purchase your tickets, now on sale every Sunday, contact Susan Helm after the service or call 218-5136 after 6:00 PM.

Fundraising Efforts

Spring is Here, and the UUCV Yard Sale is On!

Search your attic, your basement, and all your closets for stuff you never use and set it aside for the first (and we hope not the the only) UUCV Yard Sale of the year. The date is Saturday, May 27, and the event will be held at the home of Tom and Carole Dewall in the Chapel Hill section of Carlisle, where the annual neighborhood yard sale get bigger every year!

There are a few "no-nos," like stuffed furniture and clothes to fit anyone older than pre-schoolers, but just about everything else, the odder the better, will be welcome. So far, we're in pretty good shape for staffers, but, says Carole, we could use a few strong backs to wrestle UUCV tables to and from the Dewall house at 330 Acre Drive. (Let Carole know at carolesdw@paonline if you can volunteer.) You'll hear more later---but for now, put the date on your calendar. And start hunting for things to bring!

UUCV Sells on Ebay

We are starting to collect your donations for sale on Ebay, the online auction site. Collectibles, dolls, toys, antiques, videos, gadgets of all sorts are good sellers. If anyone has anything they are willing to donate that could be sold online, please drop off the items in the labeled box in the auction sales room behind the stage. Please let us know if you have anything exceptionally bulky or valuable so that we may arrange for the items to be picked up promptly. When leaving items to be sold, include a brief description of the item. For any questions, please contact Carol McAnulty at 249-4433/paulandcarol913@earthlink.net or Diane Reed at 386-0017/ladybook@earthlink.net.

Bursary Girls in Drought Ridden Area

From Priscilla Laws, Mozambique Bursary Fund Coordinator

Recently we received a disturbing new bulletin from Karena Butt, our Northern Mozambique Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM) contact:

“Though it doesn’t seem to have made much stir in the news of the western world, for the past two and a half years running millions of people in east and southern Africa have been suffering drought, made severe, scientists say, by global warming that keeps the Indian Ocean air from cooling enough to drop its moisture inland. In Mozambique alone, 800,000 hungry, subsistence farmer families have had no crops at all for two years, and no chance of a harvest this year till April at the earliest. CCM is distributing cassava sticks, peanut seeds and fruit-tree seedlings to 500 farmer families who live here, drought-resistant species with a chance of surviving till harvest. In addition for the next 6 months they’re also distributing food–beans, corn-meal, sunflower oil–so that people no longer will have to pass their days scavenging for wild roots, nuts and fruits in the savanna, they’ll have time and strength enough to hoe and plant their fields.”

We’ve had email exchange with Karena. As a result, the UUCV Social Action Committee approved the transfer of an additional $1000 of Bursary Funds to CCM. Through we hate to give just food aid, we were convinced by Karena that an extra $1000 would go a long way toward feeding the families who are working on the reconstruction of the student residence (Lar) in Molumbo Village where a spring storm blew the roof off. This will enable a group of about six families to finish the Lar rather than “scavenging for wild roots.” Then both girls and boys from outlying villages can attend upper primary school (6^th and 7^th grades) in Molumbo and hopefully the families can harvest their crops. Let it rain! Thanks to all of you who gave so generously to the 2006 Bursary Project, we had the flexibility to help out.

See http://www.uccanlonconf.org/divisions/DWO/Mozambique/letter%20151.htm for the full story. Also, look for photos and more details in the next issue of the SAM newsletter. If you want to be added to an email distribution list and get progress reports on the girls from time to time, contact me at lawsp@dickinson.edu.

Social Action at UUCV

Social Action is Looking for Enthusiastic People!

A few of our SAC Members have started new tasks mostly for UUCV. We need fresh energy! If you would like to join one of our relatively new initiatives such as the Bursary Project (Priscilla Laws), Correctional Justice (Kathy Bell), Clean Air Board Activities (Priscilla Laws, new leadership sought!), and GLBT Rights (Alan Franklin) please contact the coordinator. Alternatively, we’re looking for people to take on the organization of ongoing activities designed to keep us all informed while contributing to the local community – movie nights, helping Carol McAnulty with Change for the World coordination, the spring and fall discussion series, and so on, please contact a member (Julie Ham, Susan Walker, Alan & Kit Franklin, Sue Roberts, Becky Smith, Harold Piety, Priscilla Laws or Kathy Bell). The Social Action Committee meets at 7 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the home of Priscilla & Ken Laws, 10 Douglas Ct., Carlisle.

Local Clean Air: A New Environmental Initiative

Central PA’s filthy air has forced your Social Action Committee to expand into the environmental arena. We have long wanted to do that, but have not had enough people to take it on. We still need you and your friends to participate in this important cause. If you enjoy breathing, come help us all to breathe with safety. A new interfaith group, The Central PA Clean Air Board (CAB) has formed to do something about it, and UUCV’s Social Action Committee is supporting that effort. Here is what YOU can do now:

1. SIGN CAB’s “Resolution Regarding Air Quality”.Copies are available on the Social Action Table in our Social Hall. You may leave your signed copy on the table, mail it back to either of the addresses on the back of the resolution, or bring it with you to the event below.

2. ATTEND CAB’s Symposium, POLLUTION IN PARADISE: The Threat, The Facts, The Call to Action The symposium will be held on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2006, from 9 am to noon at Second Presbyterian Church 528 Garland Ave., Carlisle. It is free. There is more information on the back of the resolution and on posters on the Bulletin Board in our hall.

3.MAKE a batch of cookies or mini-muffins for the symposium. Dee Lauderbaugh has agreed to receive your contributions and get them to the event. Call her at 249-6964 to make arrangements.

SAC’s April Discussion Series at Dickinson College

Social Action is sponsoring several discussions in April. All discussions will be held in Tome 227 immediately after each of the following events:

1. Tue, Apr. 4 at 8:00 PM Arthur Miller adaptation of Ibsen’s play An Enemy of the People. Holland Union Building (A $5 ticket can be purchased before the play starts.)

2. Mon, Apr. 10 at 7:00 PM Soldier's poetry read by author Brian Turner in Stern Center

3. Thu, Apr. 20, 7:30 PM: Talk on the Jewish Approach to Justice by Rabbi Donna Berman. Great Room, Stern Center; and

4. Tues, Apr. 25, 7:00 PM: Talk by Holocaust survivor Judith Sherman in Stern Center.

SHARE In The News

Project SHARE thanks you for the 39 pounds of food (42 items) donated in the month of March. With the Feinstein Grant in effect, which provides one dollar for each donated item, UUCV was able to provide 42 dollars for the food bank. This grant is still in effect during the month of April, so this is a great opportunity for us to increase our contributions.

Because of Easter, distribution in April has been moved ahead one week. Ingathering will be April 9. Thank you for helping to provide SHARE’s clients with a happy Easter.

Change for the World Update

January we collected $217.20 for the Good Samaritan Fellowship to assist folks with their energy bills in an emergency situation. February we did just as terrific, collecting $211 for CAN which provides similar assistance to needy families located in and around Shippensburg. April we will be collecting for YWCA of Carlisle-Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services of Cumberland County. This program provides counseling and support to victims of sexual violence through crisis, individual and group counseling. They also accompany victims and their families through the medical and criminal justice systems as well as providing vital prevention education programs to the community.

Family Friendly?

From Kathy Ellis

Several parents have expressed the wish that UUCV be more “family-friendly,” and both the board and the ministers are taking the requests seriously. What would this mean for us? How would we know that we were more family-friendly? How would we better support families?

For my January course at Meadville Lombard, I read Tending the Flock: Congregations and Family Ministry. There were nine case studies of the family ministries of very different congregations. Each congregation responded to families in its own way. Each had strengths and each had continuing problems.

An essential part of the analysis was to examine how the congregation defined family. In order to be family friendly, we, too, need to know what we mean when we say “family.” Several congregations defined family as all of those in a household. I particularly liked the description of the family perspective of “Congregation Beth El.” For administrative purposes, they define family as all those who share the household. Theologically, they “hold a vision of family that is inclusive of diverse forms and views family within a generational perspective. . . The family is seen as central to the passing on of Jewish identity.” What would it mean for us to have a generational perspective with the intent to pass on Unitarian Universalist identity? Could this be a goal for our congregation and our families?

City of Refuge Church in San Francisco was founded by Pastor Yvette Flunders in 1991 to serve those with HIV/AIDS and people with substance abuse issues. The church serves a primarily BGLT community, and it expresses a theology of love, of “restoration and reconciliation.” Many members of this congregation have been cut off from their families of origin. City of Refuge defines family as “two or more persons sharing the same life chances . . . who have made the decision to be accountable to each other; to care for each other; and to be responsible for each other’s . . . health and well-being.” This inclusive definition values the intention to be in relationship. I think this expresses our ideal. How well do we live up to our desire to be inclusive of all kinds of families? Are we friendly to families with young children? Are we friendly to teenagers? Are we friendly to young adults?

Robinson Community AME church defines family “as a collection of individuals . . . who provide a sense of trust, stability, tradition, patience, and respect for differences among themselves.” Their definition emphasizes care for member’s needs and “growth and healing.” The congregation “sees itself as representing a haven, sanctuary or place of safety for the purpose of growth and healing.” Isn’t this also our congregation’s aspiration? How are we doing? Do we help our families to grow their emotional and spiritual resources? Is UUCV a safe place for you and your family now?

What do you think is needed to make UUCV more family-friendly? Please send me an e mail (elliskl@comcast.net) with your thoughts about UUCV’s family ministry. How would you define “family”? What is working well for you and your family? What might we do differently? What is needed for you and your family to feel that UUCV is a vital, nurturing and family-friendly congregation?

UUCV Welcomes New Members

On March 12, five new members of UUCV were introduced to the congregation. Now please introduce yourselves to them!

Lisa and Jeb Boyd live in South Middleton township with their 11-year old daughter, Eleanor, and with 7 cats, 1 dog, 1 bird, 1 turtle, and 5 fish. Lisa is a lifelong resident of central Pennsylvania who is currently between jobs and has taken over as Pledge Administrator at UUCV. Jeb has traveled enough to love his country and its people, yet develop an even greater appreciation for his lifelong home in central Pennsylvania. A family man, car enthusiast, and amateur photographer, Jeb has agreed to be the coffee coordinator for UUCV.

Anne Gero lives in Carlisle with her husband, Donald Klinedinst. Anne recently retired from Shippensburg University, where she had been Chair of the Social Work and Gerontology Department. Currently she is consulting with several agencies, including the YWCA, where she works with low-income women to help them become financially self-sufficient. Anne is an avid reader and gardener, who is also passionate about photography, her children and grandchildren, travel and feminism.

Virginia Jackson was born and raised in Carlisle by her beloved parents, Ken and Priscilla Laws. Before her children were born, she lived abroad for two years, one year in Japan and one in Costa Rica; she has also held various jobs in social work and education. Virginia is married to David Jackson. She is currently a stay-at-home Mom to two pre-schoolers, Adam and Kyra. She is also a member of UUCV’s Worship Associates program.

Jill Kachmar moved to Carlisle in 1995 after living overseas for her first fifteen years. Following graduation from Millersville University, she began working at the Department of Public Welfare where she currently manages case management programs for the HIV/AIDS population. She enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew, who share her passion for reading. Jill lives in a townhouse in Carlisle with her rabbit Bunaboo and her cat Pretzel.

All in the UUCV Family

Congratulations to Geneva Politzer, who will soon start a new job at Michael’s (the arts and crafts store). Rachel Teates will also be starting a new job in April at the Army Heritage Museum. We send loving condolences to June Hoch and to Threecrows, whose fathers have died recently. Michael Collins is now working as an Associate in the law firm of Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto, Cumberland County’s largest law firm. Dot Everhart is expanding her talents into writing an advice column, “Ask Dot” for Alternative Central, a bi-monthly Harrisburg newspaper for the gay community. Second generation congratulations to Ken and Priscilla Laws, who have just become the grandparents of Hana Elizabeth Laws, born on March 11. And the same congratulations to Eileen Wolfe, whose first grandchild, Noah Keith Brown, was born on March 3. Ann Sheehan has begun a new life chapter after retiring from twenty years of working for the Commonwealth. David Jackson was awarded a CPC-Mellon grant of $6,000 to support his physics project "Investigating Finger Width in Magnetic Liquids."

From U to U

A place for members to exchange appreciations, concerns, and ideas.

Canvass Thanks

A great big UUCV "thank you" to Geneva Politzer, the Concert Coordinator and emcee, and our wonderful musicians for the concert on 3/18th! Seventy members and friends of UUCV thoroughly enjoyed the variety concert that showcased the talents of singers, instrumentalists and pianists. During intermission, we feasted on goodies provided and served by Susan Walker and her crew of bakers, servers and brewmakers. The program featured cover art by Jan Ruby and was designed on the computer of David Politzer-Ahles, Geneva's son. What a splendid way to "kick-off" our celebration of music as the focus for our 2006-07 Canvass, which has as its theme, "Come, Sing a Song with Me"! Many folks have been heard to ask, "When's the next UUCV concert?"

Thanks to these hosts for welcoming us into their homes for the Music Meetings as part of our Canvass this year: Priscilla and Ken Laws, Susan & Gene Walker, Kit and Alan Franklin, Carole Scott DeWall and Tom DeWall, Leslie Carr, Doug and Janet Spencer (twice!), Sandi and Jim Freeman, Dan & Joan Bechtel. Thanks to these folks who volunteered their time to be trained and to present the Canvass material at the Music Meetings: Priscilla Laws, Susan Walker, Kit Franklin, Carole Scott Dewall and Tom DeWall, Chuck Folsom (twice!), Larry Berger Knorr (and Anne), Bev Motich, Duane Fickeisen. Thanks, also, to Janet Spencer for her endless hours of telephoning and organizing and coordinating so the Music Meetings could happen!

Are you impressed with the beautiful 2006-07 Canvass Brochure and the attractive "Come, Sing a Song with Me!" logo? We have Greg Bear of GB Media Design to thank for that! Greg is a new member of UUCV and was willing to donate his expertise and talent to create the logo and to do the layout for the brochure, including taking digital photos. We hope that anyone needing professional graphic design work will return the favor and contact Greg to use his professional services.

Many writers and editors contributed many hours to choosing and arranging (and rearanging) the words of the text for the Brochure. Among these were: Marilyn Durr, Joan Bechtel, Priscilla Laws, Laurel Belding, Duane Fickeisen, Judy Welles, Geneva Politzer and Dot Everhart. Some say many hands make light work. In this case, many minds made nice words! A special thanks to Priscilla Laws for arranging and coordinating the printing at the Dickinson College Print Shop and to Duane and Judy for preparing the brochure for mailing.