The War on Terror has stretched our troops and their families thin and for those in the reserves called to active duty, impacted their other careers and employers. We’ll examine the costs of war from the standpoint of impacts on the lives of the volunteer soldiers and seek to understand the employment options offered by the demand for recruits.

September 9 – “Stories About Water”

The Revs. Judy Welles and Duane Fickeisen; music provided by Carole Knisely and the UUCV Choir.

Every year in the early Fall, we celebrate our UUCV community coming together by pouring water that we have collected into a common bowl. Without realizing it consciously, perhaps we do this because water is such a basic element of life, not only vital to physical life throughout the earth, but also as a metaphor for creativity, humility and connection. Wonderful stories about water are found in every culture; today we will hear some of them. Bring your collected water to this INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE to hear some stories about water and to celebrate the joy of being part of our religious community.

September 16 – “Building Our Youth for the Future”

Rev. Judy Welles; Worship Associate, Elizabeth Motich; music by Sally Beaver.

Today we celebrate the completion of the Coming of Age process that several of our young people have undertaken in the past year. We’ll hear from the kids and their mentors about their experiences in this program, and will ritually welcome the young people onto the next step toward adulthood.

September 23 “The Threat of New Knowledge”

The Revs. Duane Fickeisen and Judy Welles, Carole Knisely will provide music.

New knowledge often upsets the status quo and sometimes demands that we adapt our worldview or our behavior. While we may welcome new information, there may be times when we’d just rather not know. As we prepare our sabbatical leave, which will include exposure to unfamiliar places and cultures, we’ll try to sort out some of the anxieties and eager anticipations that surround new awareness.

September 30“Animals are a Blessing”
Ellen Buller and Elizabeth Motich, Worship Associates
Our lives are enriched by the love and companionship of animals. This morning we will explore relationships with pets, and pay homage to our
furry, feathered, and scaly friends.

What’s This?

Our monthly minister’s column, this month by Rev. Duane Fickeisen

A full decade has passed since Judy and I came here to be your ministers. When we arrived, we were both relatively new to the ministry and we had not yet celebrated the third anniversary of our marriage. Your congregation was new, too, and not yet chartered. (We’ll celebrate the tenth anniversary of the formal founding of the congregation next March.)

You took a big risk by inviting us into your lives and entrusting us as your spiritual guides and as the professional leaders of this new entity that you had worked hard to bring into being. The congregation was fragile as are all new ventures that are supported by voluntary commitments of time and treasure and have big missions.

We took a risk in accepting the call and moving across the country to help bring your dreams into fruition. There were only about 40 people who had declared their “intent to join” when we arrived. In March of that first year 82 adults signed the Membership Book as charter members. The budget that year was under $90,000, of which the UUA provided $25,000 and the district Chalice Lighters provided $12,000. (We currently have about 160 adult members and our budget has grown to $242,800, of which only $10,000 is expected from outside grants.)

The founding members had a big vision and they made a deep commitment to it. They believed that there was a need for a Unitarian Universalist congregation in the Cumberland Valley, and they anticipated that if they built it others would come. But they also recognized that they were building something to give away — creating a gift to the community with the expectation that new members would participate in shaping it and would make it theirs.

Indeed, that’s what has happened. As the congregation has matured (and as Judy and I have matured in our ministry), we have grown and changed together in ways no one could have fully predicted. There have been births and deaths, graduations, marriages and divorces, illnesses and loss, new careers and retirements, and other transitions. Many of the founders have moved away and new leaders have come into the community. There have been surprises and accomplishments beyond our imaginings.

As we enter the second decade of our ministry with you, Judy and I are among the longest-settled ministers in the UU congregations in our region. UUCV is still one of the newest congregations in our district, and among those that started in the last dozen years, certainly one of the most successful.

We’re sometimes asked to reflect on your success. We know that it is in very large measure due to your commitment to the vision and to the potential for the congregation to thrive and to make a difference. The teamwork of members, lay leaders, and professional staff working together has nourished the congregation. We see the results — in people’s lives and in our communities.

As we move into the next decade, we face the challenge of forging even stronger collaboration and teamwork to accomplish our shared vision. We have made great progress. We still have far to go to realize our full potential of facilitating personal transformation and meeting the needs of the world around us. If we work together from that place of courageous commitment and dedication we will continue the progress. We will surely accomplish even more great things if we join our abundant resources.

On September 9^th we’ll celebrate the beginning of the church’s liturgical year and religious education year by gathering the waters of the world. As we symbolically pour the waters into a common bowl, may we also recommit our many and varied talents to the realization of our shared vision — our hope — your community.

It is, as it always has been, your congregation. See you on Sunday!

Duane

Ministers’ Sabbatical Leave

Our ministers will both be on sabbatical leave for the four weeks from September 24^th through October 22^nd. Duane will return to serving with you then, but Judy will remain on leave for an additional six weeks, through December 3^rd. Duane will take six weeks additional leave in the spring, during April and part of May.

During their joint time off, Duane and Judy plan to travel to Greece and Turkey with an emphasis on visiting important religious sites. Judy will spend some time during the subsequent six weeks on the west coast for the Starr King School for the Ministry Board meeting. She is awaiting a reply from Skinner House to her proposal to publish the ‘Berry Stories’ and hopes that an affirmative response will enable her to prepare the manuscript during her sabbatical. Duane’s spring plans include a focus on use of visual images in spiritual development. More news about his plans will be forthcoming before April.

It is recommended by the UUA (and is a typical practice) that congregations provide a month of sabbatical leave for their ministers for each year of service, which our working agreement with the ministers stipulates. Standard terms also provide that the ministers may not resign within a year after returning and that the congregation may not take action on their tenure during the sabbatical.

Since our ministers have just completed their tenth year of service to UUCV and have previously taken six months of sabbatical each, they have accrued four more months, of which they are taking ten weeks. Because their first, six-month-long sabbatical was hard on the congregation, they have planned to be away together only for a relatively short time. They have scheduled their leaves so that both of them will be present for key events in the church year and for the major holidays.

Plans are in place to assure that worship services continue and pastoral care needs are provided for during the leave.

Nearby UU ministers will be on call for pastoral emergencies, just as they are when the ministers are away on vacation or business travel. A team of leaders from within the congregation will be available to help find assistance in case of pastoral need and to call on the other clergy as needed.

Our worship service schedule is complete through February. Worship Associates will continue to assist with preparation and leading worship and will host visiting UU ministers for about half the Sundays when the ministers are away. Current and past Worship Associates will conduct the other Sunday services.

When one of the ministers is on leave, the other will continue to be compensated for half-time service and will not be expected to do everything that both of them do when they are both working. Of course the minister who is working will be available for emergencies and pastoral care.

Information will be available about whom to call in an emergency during the leave. As always when the ministers are away, the first line of contact will be the Board leadership, starting with the president, Kit Franklin, who will help assess the needs and connect with the appropriate assistance.

More information will be distributed on Sundays in September about provisions for the leave and for getting the help you need during the sabbatical. If you have questions about any aspect of the sabbatical, please be in touch with one of the ministers, the Committee on Ministry (David Bateman, Joan Bechtel, and Liz Hoffman), or the Board President (Kit Franklin).

Remember Water!

On Sunday, September 9, we will be celebrating our annual Gathering of the Waters by pouring together water that you have collected from a place that was important to you over the summer. It could be a vacation site, or it could be your back yard hose, the local swimming pool, water from the drinking fountain at the hospital, or any other location of significance to you.

When we pour together the waters of the world, it’s one way of acknowledging how interconnected we are with everyone and everything on the planet — a good reminder of our very small place in the interconnected web. It’s also a way to acknowledge and celebrate community, and how we are enhanced and empowered by our relationships with others.

The water you’ve gathered will be used for sacramental purposes such as baby dedications, house dedications and (for the month of September) the water into which we place our pebbles during Joys & Sorrows.

Please remember to gather some water (it’s not too late!) and bring a small quantity with you to the service on September 9.

Want to Know More About Unitarian Universalism and About Us?

On Saturday, September 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. we will offer “Roots and Branches,” a workshop designed for new members or those considering membership. This is our basic class for relative newcomers who want a deeper engagement with our faith. It includes an introduction to Unitarian Universalist history. The emphasis is on discerning what you are seeking and identifying resources to help you find it, and on discovering your gifts and call to use them in service.

Please sign up on the sign-up sheet in the Social Hall. Minimum enrollment is 4, and the deadline to sign up is September 6. You can also sign up by e-mail to the office, uucv@pa.net

UUCV Coming of Age Millersburg Ferry Party

August 24^th from 5:00 pm to 8:30 p.m.

Join us for a celebration of the Coming of Age crowd with food (supper), drink, and music as we cruise the islands of the Susquehanna under the setting sun of late summer. We will be meeting at the Millersburg Ferry landing on the east shore of the Susquehanna at 5:00 pm.

Millersburg is located less than an hour north of Harrisburg and it can be found on any map. It’s such a small town that finding the ferry landing on the edge of the river, within the town proper requires no directions.

Space is limited to 50 people, so reserve a spot early. We’d love to see everyone who participated in any capacity in the Coming of Age program, but others from the congregation are welcome to attend as space allows. Please email me immediately if you are able to come so that you may be added to the list. I will send you an email confirmation after receipt of your reservation.

The main dishes will be provided (burgers, hot dogs, and vegetarian channa masala) as well as drink (water and soft drinks) and place settings. Please bring any side dishes to share, beer or wine, camera, lawn chair, and sun glasses.

A freewill offering will be accepted to offset some of the $180.00 cost of the ferry, music, and food. If contributions exceed the cost of the event, they will be contributed to the Coming of Age program budget. Contact: Jim Freeman 816-5841

THIS IS AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED!

11^th Annual Auction: An International Celebration

Saturday, November 10, 2007 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Join your UUCV friends for an evening filled with food, fun, music, and excitement, all served up with an international flair. The Annual Auction is UUCV’s major fundraiser, the social event of the season, and fun for the entire family. The Meeting House will be transformed into an International Bazaar and Bistro where you can enjoy delicious food and beverages all evening long while you Sign-Up for social events throughout the year, bid for valuable items in the Live Auction, and shop for handcrafted treasures in the Marketplace. The Children’s Program—featuring food, games and entertainment downstairs—will ensure our kids have as much fun as the adults have upstairs. Save the date, because at UUCV, EVERYONE COMES TO THE AUCTION!

Here’s what will happen on Auction night:

6:00 Social Hall doors open, appetizers are served, bidder numbers are distributed, children’s program opens, costumes are admired, beer, wine and soft drinks are served, and the fun begins!

6:30 The Sanctuary doors are thrown open to allow you to Sign-Up for Events throughout the year hosted by your UUCV friends, including dinners, musicals, parties, workshops, and activities. Also available are Wishing Well sign-ups: favors you can do for your friends who in turn will donate the value of your favor to UUCV!

7:00 The exciting Live Auction begins, where you can bid on works of art, valuable services, unique items…even vacations! Our professional auctioneer Tammy Erb will whip up the excitement. Review the Auction Booklet (available at the end of October) to plan your bidding strategy!

6:00 to 9:00 This year, the Auction introduces a Marketplace where you can purchase (with your bidder number) handcrafted items, wearable art, homemade foods, and much more!

Register in advance to speed your way to auction fun! Admission to the Annual Auction is $8.00 for adults (includes a full buffet dinner and bidder number) and $5.00 for children (includes dinner and 3 hour program). Dress with International Flair and YOU could be the winner of our Costume Contest!

You can help to make the auction a success, first by ATTENDING the Auction, second by VOLUNTEERING to help out at the Auction, and finally by DONATING to the Auction. Pick up the Auction Envelope with YOUR name on it after the service on September 9 (if you’re not there we’ll mail it our friends and members). Inside you’ll find all the VOLUNTEER and DONATIONS forms you’ll need to make this the BEST AUCTION EVER!

Have questions or need help? Contact Bev Motich, bmotichATyahoo.com or 432-9505 for general auction questions, specific questions about the sign-ups and wishing well, or to volunteer. Questions about Live Auction items? Contact Geneva Politzer by phone 258-8715 or email gbpolitzerATearthlink.net. Questions about the Marketplace? Contact Kim van Alkemade at 860-6641 or email to kivanaATcomcast.net.

PA UUs Unite for More Effective Advocacy

From Kit Franklin, President, UUCV Board of Trustees

Are you an activist who is deeply committed to a cause that reflects our UU principles? Do you struggle to find others who share your passion? Do you want to accomplish more, but feel overwhelmed? Then there is Good News for you! UU churches in Pennsylvania are forming a statewide action network to undertake lobbying in Harrisburg on issues that are critical to Unitarian Universalists. This network is to be called the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network, or UUPLAN. Other states have built such UU legislative networks that have provided effective voices alternative to those of the religious right, which as we know have been vociferous in our State Capitols. The more mature UU networks (NY, MD, CA) even have full- or part-time lobbyists.

There will be an organizational meeting Sept. 29 in Harrisburg to elect a board and select the first issue(s) that we will focus on, such as gun control, global warming, GLBT issues (civil rights, marriage, etc.), or immigrant rights. It is to be hoped that this effort will be picked up enthusiastically by the various churches, with representation from around the state to elect a board that is likewise representational. Let’s make sure UUCV does its part!

Our Mozambique Project is Supporting More Girls than Expected

By Priscilla Laws, SAC Bursary Initiative Coordinator

Last December and January UUCV folks raised funds to support a year of schools for 54 girls from Zambézia -- a north central province in Mozambique. Recently Karen Butt, a Canadian Missionary who manages the Bursary Project, reported that 53 girls are currently attending schools in Namarroi town – the administrative headquarters for the province. Although most of these bolseiras (bursary girls) are attending grades 6, 7 and 8, several girls are in grades 9 and 10. In addition there are 12 more girls in their second year at the Nicodala Teachers College near Quelimane where Karen and Bill Butt manage several projects for the Christian Council of Mozambique.

Karen reports that she has been able to stretch our contributions so that we are also providing partial support for 50 more girls attending school in Molumbo. This community is the largest and most northern of the four villages that our bolseiras (bursary girls) come from. It has a newly formed grade 8 class and next year grade 9 will be offered. The girls in the Molumbo area who are currently in grade 8 will no longer need to go to Namarroi town to study until they are ready to enroll in 10^th grade. So the number of girls coming from smaller villages in the region to stay at the Molumbo lar (residence ) there is growing. Our extra bursary funds help provide food and school supplies for some of these girls, and also provides some of the salary for a lar manager and guard. Since UUCV’s extra bolseira funds help support the Molumbo lar, Karen thinks we should add these girls to the list of students UUCV is supporting. So there are currently 115 girls being supported fully or partially thanks to your help.

Virginia Jackson is traveling with me to Mozambique in mid-September to help review the project. We’ll be with Karen Butt and her helper Adelia Raul for a full week between September 13^th and 20^th. We are slated to hang out with the girls in Namarroi over a weekend, present UUCV’s CWTF contribution to the congregants at La Igreja Metódista, visit with bolseira parents in several of the smaller villages, and visit the lar in Molumbo which houses a large group bolseiras from surrounding villages. Finally, on our drive back to the City of Quelimane from Namarroi we’ll stop off and see the group of 12 future teachers who are finishing their two-year program in Nicodala.

UUCV to Co-Sponsor Sr. Helen Prejean at Dickinson Lecture

October 4, 2007 - 7:00 p.m. Anita Tuvin Schlecter Auditorium of Dickinson College - Louther Street between College and Cherry Streets

Recalling her triumphal introduction to central Pennsylvanians ten years ago, Sister Helen Prejean has agreed to present the annual Fred Speaker Memorial Lecture. The lecture is entitled, Dead Man Walking, the Journey Continues. Sister Helen is the author of Dead Man Walking which was made into an Academy Award winning movie starring Susan Sarandon, playing the part of Sister Helen. Her latest book, Death of
Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions, is internationally known for its description of the torture involved in the death row experience and execution. Even as she maintains the humility of her order, Sister Helen has become a world renowned
speaker, raising public awareness to the problems involved in the death penalty process. Sister Helen will be signing copies of her book after the lecture.

At the event, The Legislative Initiative Against the Death Penalty, another cosponsor of the lecture, will be awarding its annual Justice Award to the Pennsylvania Sisters of Saint Joseph Order and to Kathy Bell, UUCV member and prison activist. Sister Helen is a member of the Sisters of the Saint Joseph Order.

From the DRE

By Kevin C. Snow

Excitement is in the air! Can you smell it? As you read this column, another season of religious education at UUCV will be getting under way and the excitement for this year’s program is electric! So many new opportunities are in store for our young UUs that I can barely contain the enthusiasm I have for our programming this year. Every year we have new challenges and obstacles to embrace in the creation of a successful RE program and I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t expect some to rear their heads in the next few months, but fear not! Your trusty RE Committee is well prepared to take on these challenges and spin them off into another successful year of RE!

Before I get too far into my wild abandon, there are several important dates for people to keep in mind. Most important is the Water Service on September 9^th. This year’s service will be an all inter-generational affair to kick of the year of worship at UUCV and welcome back any summer wanderers. Our ministers have special things in store for everyone and don’t forget to bring your water to add to the mix. There will be no RE during the Water Service but nursery care will be offered. September 16^th then kicks off the first classes for the RE season. Once again we will have a multi-generational class for our pre-k through 5^th graders who will be focusing on social action throughout the year. For those in grades 6^th-8th, a separate class will be held in the youth room that will be focusing on learning about comparative religion and exploring other faiths within our community via field trips and guest speakers. Those young adults from 9^th grade up will be enjoying our Youth Group lead by the capable Jill Kachmar and are encouraged to attend services on Sundays.

Speaking of the Youth Group, several activities have been lined up just for them. By the time this newsletter gets out, many of the kids will have gone along with Amy Farrell to Baltimore on August 25^th to learn from the radical Catholics at the Viva House and discover how they help inner city poor. Over $300 dollars raised from last Spring’s Valentine’s fund raiser will be used to buy food and other needed goods for the inner city program. Also, parents and kids please take note that on September 9^th, in the afternoon following the Water Service, we will be hosting our official Youth Group kick off. Please plan on joining us at Midway Bowling Alley at 2pm for some fun. Around 3:30pm we will be heading back to the church for sundaes and other fun. Please RSVP to me ASAP if you are coming. Parents may join in as we will need some adults to help escort us back to the church (although we may banish you to a far away lane!).

Also by the time this notice will be read, the Millersburg Ferry party that Jim Freeman is hosting for those who participated in last season’s coming of age group, and other interested parties, will have sailed and come back to shore! The group set out on August 24^th for a chartered tour on the ferry that sounded like a blast. Your DRE only regrets he works a second job that kept him away from the event.

The last exciting offering that will begin at a date as yet to be determined is another course for 7th-9th graders on OWL: Our Whole Lives, the UU sexuality program. Several awesome adults, including yours truly, will be in training during September and October in order to offer this great program and Jim Freeman will be returning as a teacher too! Keep your eyes and ears posted for more information about this program and be thinking about families you know who are not UUs who might like to have their kids join us. We had several in this category last time and most of them liked us so much they joined our Youth Group! So, get ready for a great year of RE! See you on Sunday!

Unitarian Universalist Leadership Training Institute

By Rachel Teates, Jon Tarrant and Jill Kachmar

From July 28-August 3, 2007, Jill Kachmar, Jon Tarrant and Rachel Teates attended the Unitarian Universalist Leadership Training Institute (UULTI) at Juniata College. This institute was sponsored by the Murray Grove Association and brought together leaders and participants from 5 UU districts (Joseph Priestly, Ohio-Meadville, St. Lawrence, Metropolitan New York and the Pacific Northwest), as well as the Cape Town Unitarian Church in Cape Town, South Africa and the Washington Ethical Society in Washington D.C. Before attending, each person picked a specific track of learning to concentrate on. Jon and Jill picked Small Group Ministry and Rachel picked Congregational Growth and Development. While there, participants were able to view their tracks and congregations through specific lenses such as Faith Development, Shared Leadership, UU Story and Values, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression and Multiculturalism, Emotional Systems and Young Adults. These lenses helped the participants to view themselves and their congregations through different aspects of congregational life. Each day consisted of morning worship services, track groups, various workshops, covenant groups and nightly vespers. Participants found inspiration as well as valuable ideas from both leaders and other participants. The week helped each individual to grow personally and spiritually, as well as helping them to become better leaders. Throughout the week, the individual churches formed home teams. This enabled the participants to not only show what they were learning, but to see what their congregations were doing well and what aspects needed improving. The group from UUCV has been invited to the board retreat at the end of August where they will be able to share their experiences and ideas with the board. At the risk of sounding cliché, UULTI really was a transformative experience. Jon, Jill and Rachel feel that more people from UUCV would benefit from this institute and they strongly encourage UUCV to take advantage of amazing experience.

March on Washington to Oppose War in Iraq

Join Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, the ANSWER Coalition, and thousands of others in Washington DC on September 15 for a huge antiwar protest timed to coincide with the report by General Petraeus on the "Surge" in Iraq.

SAC is organizing a UUCV group to attend the March and is coordinating activities with other groups in our area. There is a sign-up at the SAC table in the church hall or you can contact George Fohs at (717) 249-6106 or gfohs@pa.net. SAC is exploring the feasibility of arranging bus transportation if we determine that enough people would be interested. If available, the estimated bus fee is $25.00 with the possibility of some limited sponsorships for children’s bus fees. If the bus is not feasible, we are interested in learning whether you could provide transportation or would be looking for a ride.

People will begin assembling at the White House in the late morning. There will not be an opening rally. A March will form with the front contingent of Iraq war veterans, family members of soldiers and marines, and other veterans. When the March arrives at Congress, the Iraq War Veterans and family members will lead a mass Die-In symbolizing the deaths of an estimated 4,000 U.S. service members. The Die-In is a civil disobedience action that will involve at least 4,000 people who are able to risk arrest. It is a strictly voluntary action and is not part of the actual March. For those not wanting to participate there will be an opportunity to leave the area before the Die-In starts. The bus, if we have one, will not be able to wait for those who choose to participate in the Die-In. For additional information about the March, visit sept15.org or answercoalition.org. SAC will keep you posted on the arrangements for the March, and will pass this information on in PrE-Views. Watch for any changes, or contact George Fohs.

Project SHARE In The News

Thank you so much for the 33 pounds of food and the 51 items for the back-to-school drive donated in the month of August. A special thanks to Beth Shank for the many household items clothing which she donated.

Project SHARE continues to be very busy. In July, 832 households, a total of 2017 individuals, were served. Because SHARE continues to grow, a new distribution system was inaugurated in August. While this allows us to better serve the clients, it is also very labor-intensive, requiring more volunteers. The food bank would welcome anyone with a few hours to spare to help with distribution, which occurs the week of the third Thursday of the month. Distribution that week is Tuesday am and pm, Wednesday pm, Thursday am and Saturday am. If you can volunteer, please call Pam Bream at 249-7773. Thank you for your consideration.

September ingathering will be Sunday, September 16. Greatest need is for spaghetti sauce, fruit, peanut butter, canned chicken, beef stew and pork ‘n beans.

It’s Not Only the Kids Who are Going Back to School

Sharpen your pencils and break out a fresh notebook. It's back to school time for UUCV's Sunday Morning Adult Religious Education Program.
The fall semester will open on Sept. 16 when Anne Gero, retired professor and former chairwoman of the Social Work & Gerontology Department at Shippensburg University, will reprise her presentation on a multi-year study of successful older women. A discussion of the findings and their relevance to men and women will follow.
Then an occasional series of oral histories offered by UUCV members and friends will begin on Sept. 23, when Kathy Bell talks about her experience working for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in Oklahoma. Mary McCarthy will continue the series on Sept. 30 when she describes the 14 years she spent putting out a magazine (in English and Spanish) to help empower low-income residents of the Lower East Side of New York City.

Coming Up: In October look for psychologist Liz Hoffman to discuss her book "Staying Focused in the Age of Distraction" and expect an oral history presentation from Max Lara on what it was like to flee Castro's Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Sunday morning adult education classes are held from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the dining room. Child care can be arranged if you contact the office by the Thursday before.

On A Musical Note

Sing and rejoice
Lend us your voice
Let all suggestions
Ring out and rejoice

Adapted from one of this author's favorite hymns to remind everyone that the music committee has a suggestion box on the food table of the social hall. We want to hear from UU! Give us an answer to this question: Which hymns are your favorites? We would like to plan a hymn sing on a Sunday when we have an accompanist, possibly before the service begins. What would you most like to sing?

Other things to think about suggesting:

1. How best to learn unfamiliar hymns (with the choir singing one verse and then having the congregation join in, with leaders posted throughout the sanctuary, with a director, other ideas?)

2. What are some ways to get youth involved in the music program? Perhaps you have some ideas about getting our kids to sing and rejoice at UUCV.

3. How can the music program be further enhanced?

And one more thing, the choir is always recruiting. If you would like to sit in on a choir practice or inquire (should that be spelled in-choir?), contact Ken Laws (lawsATdickinson.edu) with your email address to get involved. The choir meets on Thursday evenings at 7pm either in the UUCV sanctuary or at the Laws' residence. We have a potluck approximately once a month which is an added bonus and Ken is pretty good about letting the choir go promptly at 8:30. Young voices are also welcome to join in. Perhaps this rehearsal time would occasionally fit into your child's schedule? Look for additional announcements about special events especially for kids to join with the adults.

Congregational Happenings

September 7 The September Pot Luck Supper will be held on Friday the 7th at 5:30 P.M. Music for the evening will be Country and Western. Come with a dish to share, and join the festivities by candlelight while listening to a great selection of musical hits.

September 15 The Writer's Group will meet on Saturday, September 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the home of Charlotte Klein, 2634 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle. Call or email Charlotte if you plan to attend in case of changes to the schedule. Tel. 776-0132; tkleinATkuhncom.net. We provide a casual atmosphere for sharing our own writings and/or listening to the writings of others. New members most welcome.

September 23 The Serious Stuff bookgroup will meet on September 23, 2007 in the meetinghouse library to talk about the novel Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Mixing art and politics can have unexpected results, but rarely are they so poignant. A birthday party is held for a Japanese CEO in an anonymous Spanish-speaking country. World-class lyric soprano Roxane Coss is the irresistible bait for the opera-loving Mr. Hosokawa. As she finishes singing, terrorists burst in and take everyone hostage. So begins a four-and-a-half-month siege, during which friendships and love grow between guests and gunmen. (adapted from The New Yorker) It's a beaut. Please join us. Questions? Contact Leslie Carr lgcarr22@yahoo.com

All in the UUCV Family

Peter Baker, son of Leslie Carr and David Baker, a recent college graduate, has accepted an internship at The Nation, a liberal magazine with headquarters in New York City. Lucas Bateman came in seventeenth in the Junior National Championship Time Trials (bicycling) in his age group (10-12 year olds). That’s NATIONAL… Way to go, Lucas! Congratulations to Mary McCarthy, whose first great-grandchild, Vivian Elizabeth, was born in early August. We send loving condolences via Joan and Dan Bechtel to their son Peter and his wife Ruth, whose farm in Swaziland was destroyed by fire for the second time in seven years. Welcome home to Michael Politzer, who spent a week at a camp for kids with skin problems, Camp Horizon. “It widened my horizons,” Michael says. He’s also enjoying his new armless wheelchair, which is easier for him to get in and out of and helps him to sit correctly. Ask his mother, Geneva, if she’s glad that it only weighs 27 pounds. We’re glad that John Bloom has a normal heartbeat again after a corrective procedure in mid-August. Supportive thoughts and loving prayers for Will Guilliams as he awaits further diagnosis and a treatment plan for melanoma in the lymph nodes in his neck. We are going to miss charter member John Jacobsen, who will be moving to Minnesota this month to care for his 100-year old mother. Brandon Stolley is recovering at home from a serious motorcycle accident. His progress has been much faster than anticipated, and he expects to be walking on his own in about 8 weeks. The Stolley family appreciate messages of support and concern.

We would love to share your news with the UUCV family, but we won’t know what it is unless you tell us! Please send news for this column to Judy Welles, jcwelles@earthlink.net.

Take Note! New Ministers’ E-Mail Addresses

Please note that Judy and Duane have new e-mail addresses. Judy’s is judy@uucv.net and Duane’s is duane@uucv.net. You can reach them simultaneously with a message to ministers@uucv.net. Please change your e-mail address books accordingly.

Joseph Priestley District

Want to know what’s happening in our UU district? Just click on http://www.jpduua.org/ and check our the Packet 2007 for monthly information, or browse the site for happenings at our neighboring congregations.

UUCV Contacts and Resources

This information is meant to facilitate participation and communication among friends and members of UUCV; please do not share information without the person’s consent. Our ministers, staff and trustees have made their emails available to facilitate communication.

Ministers Rev. Duane Fickeisen & Rev. Judy Welles

Email: ministers@uucv.net. Home study telephone: 241-0410

Office Assistant Elena Yarlett

Hours: Thursdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Phone: 249-8944 Address: PO Box 207 Boiling Springs, PA 17007 Email: uucv@pa.net

Dir. of Religious Ed. Kevin Snow

Phone: 249-8104 Email: dre@uucv.net

UUCV Board of Trustees

Kit Franklin (president), akfrank@kuhncom.net

Ed Glasgow (vice-president), edwinglasgow@aol.com

Larry Berger-Knorr (treasurer), bergerknorr@gmail.com

Priscilla Laws, lawsp@dickinson.edu

Carol McAnulty, (clerk) paulandcarol913@earthlink.net

Jon Tarrant, jwtarrant@comcast.net

Sue Roberts, b.s.roberts.ivjl@statefarm.com

John Kallmann johnkallmann@earthlink.net

Bev Motich bmotich@yahoo.com

Committee Chairs and Other Leaders

Building and Grounds: Letty Kress, kresswolf@paonline.com

Music Committee: Ken Laws, laws@dickinson.edu

Finance & Fundraising Committee: vacant

Membership Committee: Rachel Teates, willowtrek23@yahoo.com

Committee on Ministry: Liz Hoffman, hoffpsych@mindspring.com & Joan Bechtel, bechteljo@aol.com

Religious Education Committee: Ann Berger-Knorr, annabellej@comcast.net

Social Action Council: Priscilla Laws, lawsp@dickinson.edu

Caring Circle: Bee Miller, beemiller@sprylearning.com

Coffee Coordinator Joyce Lukima, joycelukima@hotmail.com & Gail Witwer

Sunday Music Coordinator Nancy Bittinger, nbittinger@comcast.net

Newsletter Editor: Laura Rumley, lmrumley@yahoo.com

Flowers Coordinator: Mary Lynn Lynch, marylynn_lynch@yahoo.com

Potluck Coordinator: Bill Vernon, wwvernon@earthlink.net

Small Group Ministry: Ann Gero, annegero@mac.com & Margery Andrews