Unitarian Universalists of
the
Online
Newsletter for January
2008
Meet UUCV’s New Music Director, David Glasgow
An Opportunity for UUCVers to Help Build Sustainable
Communities in Honduras
Bursary Campaign News: It Takes a Village
February Newsletter Deadline: MONDAY, January 21
Submit items to newsletter@uucv.net
January 6 “The Tolling of the Bells The Rev.
Judy Welles and the Rev. Duane Fickeisen.
As
is our custom at the first service of the new year, we will honor the memory of those who have died in the past
year by tolling the bell for friends and family members whose lives ended last
year. We will remember some of the public figures who died in 2007 in brief
eulogies. And we will mark the New Year by burning away that which we wish to
leave behind and stepping into new possibilities through our intentions for
transformation.
January 13 “It’s Never Too Soon” The Rev. Judy Welles; Ellen Lyon, Worship Associate. Music will be provided by the UUCV Choir.
Following
up on last week’s service, today we ask “How well prepared are you for your own
death?” Regardless of our age, the reality
of death is part of everyone’s life, or it should be. Today we will consider why it’s so difficult
to face the simple fact that we all will die sooner or later, and consider some
preparations for that event that will make things easier for ourselves and our
loved ones when the time comes.
This
service introduces a repeat of last year’s “End of Life Issues” workshop, open
to all UUCV members and friends who wish to delve deeper into the issue and actually
make some preparations. Look for further
information about date and time in UUCV PrE-Views and
the soon-to-be-published Adult Religious Education brochure.
January 20 “With
a little help from my friends.” Worship Associates
Ellen Buller and Jill Kachmar
From
early childhood through old age, our lives are enriched by friendships of many
kinds. We will consider the ways in
which friendships are formed and maintained, and the traits that we look for in
a friend. In particular, we will examine
the value of intergenerational friendship.
January 27 "The Best
Service on Humility Ever!" Ellen Lyon and Ellen Buller, Worship Associates. Music by David Glasgow and the Recorder Trio.
Does
the quaint old virtue of humility still have a place in a culture heavy on
hype? What would a humble
Our monthly minister’s column, this month by Rev. Judy Welles
January
is always a time for imagining what could be new and different, and looking for
creative ways to bring fresh energy and growth into our lives. This year is no exception at UUCV.
This
January, in the year when we mark our tenth anniversary of charter, UUCV takes
a big step forward by adding a new position to our staff with David Glasgow as
Music Director. Look elsewhere in this
issue for David’s article introducing himself; you
will immediately see why we chose him to be a part of the staff team.
David
will work closely with Ken Laws, who continues as our volunteer choir director;
David will routinely accompany the choir and occasionally conduct it. He will provide the service music for our
Sunday services, and will arrange for substitute musicians on his one Sunday a
month off. He will also work in close
cooperation with Duane and me in planning worship, bringing his sensitivity and
experience into the conversation as we continue to aim for thought-provoking,
meaningful, and moving worship experiences.
Music
can have a powerful effect on the experience of worship, as well as on the
health and vitality of the worshiping community. It can take us to a deeper level than words
can provide, allowing us to experience emotions that we can’t necessarily
articulate in words. It can build community
– you can sing alongside someone whose political and
theological views are very different from your own and still feel very
connected to them. And music is a good
teaching tool as well, since so much of our music affirms and underscores our
values.
As
staff to the Music Committee, David will also have a role in expanding the
musical life of UUCV in other ways, brainstorming with Music Committee Chair
John Kallmann and the other committee members about
where and how music could enhance our various activities. Be sure to check the Music Committee’s table
during coffee hours in January, as they are the January Committee of the Month
and they have a few tricks up their collective sleeve.
Membership
in the Unitarian Universalist Musicians’ Network is a
requirement of the Music Director’s position.
This is the professional association of UU musicians, and it’s a great
source of collegial support, advice, and resources. David will also attend occasional music
workshops and participate in other learning opportunities so that he can become
more familiar with UU liturgy and theology.
You
probably remember that we were able to open the search for this new staff
position because we were awarded a Chalice Lighters grant last year. These grants, administered by the Joseph
Priestley District’s Growth and Extension Committee, are intended to support
congregations in various efforts focused at growth. Our three-year grant is for $20,000, with
$10,000 to be awarded in the first year, $6,000 in the second and $4,000 in the
third.
Notice
anything about this…? The amount
decreases each year, but the Music Director’s salary and benefits won’t! This means that it will be up to us to make
up the difference, and continue to be fair and just employers by paying a
generous salary and providing good working conditions for our staff (not just
David, of course, but all of the staff).
When canvass time rolls around, please be mindful of this commitment to
our staff that we all have made together.
Duane
and I are looking forward with delight to the new experiences of 2008
that lie ahead. Come along and join the
parade!
Love,
Judy

“Music
expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.”
—Victor
Hugo
By
the time I was 3, I was reaching up to the keyboard of my mom’s piano and
plunking out songs I heard on the radio, so when I turned 6 my folks signed me
up for piano lessons. I quit three times over the years, claiming
disinterest, but it never took—I always ended up back at the piano.
Growing
up, I was always active in music at the United Methodist churches my family
attended, so it was very natural to take a job directing contemporary music at
a church when I graduated from college. I loved the way music could add an
exclamation point—or a question mark—to the pastor’s sermon. Joy, peace,
gratitude, affirmation, conviction… Sermons could remind me that I ought
to feel these things, but music, with ruthless efficiency, burrowed past my
defenses and made me feel them. It was a tremendous privilege, I realized,
to be able to use music in this way. And as always, with great privilege
came great responsibility: I could help people “get at stuff” that was buried
deep within themselves—but what to do when the song
ended and the tears remained?
I
spent a few years in seminary looking for the answer to that and other questions;
what I found was that the truest of religions are much less about finding
answers than they are about learning to live in the questions. That tears
are often a cure, not an ailment. That the most fundamental truths can’t
be expressed in words, and that silence—and music—are often our closest means
of approach to these truths.
I’m
delighted to join the ministry team at UUCV, and to complement the abundance of
gifts already represented here, with my own commitment to authentic,
vulnerable, passionate worship. I can’t wait to get started!
Peace
& worth,
David
David
welcomes comments and suggestions regarding the UUCV music program and worship
music. He is best reached by e-mail at david@uucv.net
by
Wonderful news in Musicland to begin our year—be
sure to wish a hearty welcome to David Glasgow, UUCV’s
new Music Director. David is on the
A joyous thank-you to
John Kallmann for agreeing to chair the music committee,
allowing Ken Laws at last to step down. Ken will remain active on the
committee, and will continue to work closely with the choir and music director.
Please be sure to thank Ken for his years of chairing the committee, and for
all of his ongoing contributions to our music program.
Music’s on everyone’s
mind as we find ourselves still humming a favorite carol while packing up the
holiday trappings. What better way to begin the new year
than in celebration of music? Stop by the Music Committee table during social
hour this month and see what’s happening in UUCV’s
music program. Keep your ears pealed for some special music, too. Our lives
flow on in endless song--how can we keep from singing?
Don’t forget to come out
and support our choir and UUCV’s many fine musicians
and performers at the Talent Showcase January 19th.
From Kit Franklin, President, UUCV Board of Trustees
As
I write this, the sun is gleaming off a few icy crystals remaining on branches,
and the wind is calming after pruning some of the trees and removing
others. The storm is passing on to the
northeast and we are picking up the pieces.
UUCV
has had another financial storm, too, but we are hopeful, not just of full recovery,
but of expansion and growth.
We
start 2008 with several new additions: We
now have a new, part time Music Director - please welcome David Glasgow! At the end of 2007 we tried a new outreach
activity by housing some of
Early
in 2007 a Task Force looked at possibilities for improving our sanctuary and
sound system - we can’t afford it yet, but a generous gift has boosted our
Building Fund and our spirits.
In
the meantime, we have enhanced the entrance area outside the sanctuary with the
addition of a beautiful mural and the removal of an unused coat rack.
Have
you all noticed the new welcoming sign outside the Social Hall door?
And
the fresh paint in the downstairs hallway?
I’m
sure I missed some things, but the point is that we are moving forward with
strength and enthusiasm.
But
we have needs, too. Our committees are
working very hard with too few human resources.
Would you be able to give UUCV an extra hour or two a month of your
time? Each committee is being featured
for a month during the Sunday Social Hour with information and a committee
member to answer questions. Please look
over the committee activities and see where your skills or interests might
fit. It isn’t just a matter of attending
meetings, and it’s a great way to get to know others in the congregation and to
enhance the feeling that UUCV is your spiritual home.
Best wishes for 2008 from Kit Franklin, President UUCV Board of Trustees
By Kevin C. Snow
Did you have a happy
holiday? I hope so. Every year I dread the onset of the holiday season and all
the driving in bad weather and trips to stores and gatherings that I usually
don’t want to be at, but in the end enjoyed more than I like to admit.
So, the holiday season is sort of strange for me. I am a
self-professed humbug, who mumbles and mutters under my breath about all the
“to do” and expense but then I sit back and realize I find much of the holiday
rather pleasant. I usually take the week of X-Mas
off from work during which I see all sorts of friends and family that I don’t
see enough of during the rest of the year. I love all the feasting that
occurs at this time of year . . . a bit too much for my own good and I even get
a kick out of the winter weather. I have always felt most comfortable in
the cold months, no seasonal affective disorder running through my blood.
So, why then, do I
complain every year you might ask? I guess it is because I think we
usually spend our money on the wrong things and I despise all the
commercialization of otherwise well intentioned celebrations. So, this
year I hope you found a way to celebrate that took you outside of the typical
or expected gluttony of the season. Christmas seems to be more and more
about over indulgence in all things and it seems to me a great way to counter
this is to celebrate with restraint and thoughtfulness rather than mindless
spending. If you achieved this goal in your life over the holidays I
invite you to share it with me and your fellow congregants. After all,
just being with the people you love and giving of yourself to the needy in life
should be enough of a celebration and we can do that all year round!
So,
enough about the holiday season.
I will hop off my high horse (I don’t ride very well, after all) and talk about
some RE related activities. One important event that all parents at UUCV
should place on their calendars is a Parents’ Meeting on Feb. 24th
after the service. Our ministers and I would like to hear from all
parents at the meeting on various topics related to the future of RE and family
worship services. This meeting isn’t intended so much as a report card
but rather as a sounding board for you to tell us what you want to see more of
and what you would like to eliminate. More information will be on the way
in the near future, but for now please add this to your calendar.
On another note, many of
our middle school parents will recall receiving a schedule of activities for
the year including each church visit outside of our congregation. I would
like to express that this list was tentative at the time and that many changes
have already been made and more could come in the future. I will attempt to get
an updated schedule to you, but things could change more as the RE Committee
tries to adjust to some internal changes. Your best source of upcoming
church visits or guest speakers is the Pre-Views and Sunday bulletins. I
will make my best attempt to have visits announced two weeks in advance or more
so please read the announcements and Pre-Views weekly!!
Lastly, the Youth Group
has struggled along in the first half of the year and Jill Kachmar and I
apologize for not having more events. We will make great effort to rectify this
error the second half of the year. We will try to go back to two events a
month and we want your input, teens. So, please stay tuned for fun things
to come. As always, see you on Sunday!
By Terri Smiley
The indigenous Chorti Maya people of northern
Typical homes are constructed of stick and mud walls, dirt floors, and thatched roofs. The roof thatch provides a home for the Chagas bug, which infects children and eventually leads to heart failure. Cooking facilities are open wood fires inside the huts, which contributes to rampant respiratory disease and leads to deforestation.
Heifer International has been working with local Chorti communities to build a more sustainable lifestyle, and to improve living conditions for children. Once village leaders have achieved consensus about their priorities, Heifer works with the community to implement improvements such as cement block houses with metal roofs, efficient woodstoves, latrines, as well as the traditional Heifer gifts of livestock. Volunteers work alongside villagers in these various efforts to “pass along the gift” of the many blessings we as US citizens have received.
Terri Smiley is inviting UUCVers to join her as a volunteer with Heifer
International in
Look for Terri’s Adult RE class
on Changing the World and Transforming Lives in
The
number of toxic and non-biodegradable cleaning chemicals will be greatly
decreased this year. We will be using products like vinegar, baking soda and
“Simple Green” for our general cleaning. Labeled bottles will be in the closet.
We will use what we have until they run out and then no more. Spray and
“sit around” air fresheners will also disappear. These are harmful to the
environment and to people that have respiratory problems. Recycled paper
products will be purchased once I find a reasonable cost. Below is a list of
some of my favorite household cleaning tips.
Floors
– a little vinegar goes a long way and most no wax floor manufacturers are
recommending its use. For general cleaning, just use warm water and a good mop.
For a good cleaning or spots, dilute some vinegar in a bucket of water and mop
away. I never measure anything but it’s probably no more then a ½ cup to a gallon
of water. The smell dissipates as the floor dries.
Carpets
– vinegar, vinegar, vinegar! Can I say anymore? I have two very large dogs and
one was very sick all over the bedroom floor. When I say all over, I mean all
over! I thought that I was going to have to replace the carpet. After using
several very expensive harsh products, I bought a jug of vinegar doused the
areas, scrubbed and waited for it to dry. Gone.
Cutting
boards- using vinegar actually cleans and disinfects them.
Sunburn
– Vinegar, rub it on, dump some in your bath. Aahhh…
Sinks,
pots and pans, dried on food on dishes – rub some baking soda on, rinse, and
watch your things sparkle.
Laundry
– Baking soda and/or vinegar. Both help with those nasty smells. Vinegar helps
remove stains including those underarm stains. Just pre-treat the area and
wash. I love baking soda. It takes a lot of those musty and gross smells right
out.
Dog
Kennels – “Simple Green”. No smell and I know it’s clean.
Toilets
– You can use vinegar but it takes a lot and I like the job to be quick and
know that it’s clean. My dogs would rather drink out of that then their water
bowl. Yuck! I love this Simple Green stuff.
Cars – “Simple Green”.
I’m
sure there are other products out there but these are the ones that I like
using. They do the job and they’re cheap! By switching to these three products,
I’ve done a small part for the environment, my budget, my health, and you would
not believe the space that I have in my cupboards. Make sure to use white
vinegar and anytime that you clean something, test a small area first. Unless
your like me and are at your breaking point, “either it works or I’m throwing
it out”.
If
you would like to share your green cleaning tips with me, please email me at b.s.roberts.ivjl@statefarm.com
.
Bursary
Campaign News: It Takes a Village
By Priscilla Laws
My
daughter, Virginia Jackson and I visited the Bursary girls in
Last
April Adelia and Karen learned that Lucinda*, one of
the 12 girls attending the teacher’s college in Nicoadala,
was pregnant. The father to be was also a student at the Teacher’s College.
When Karen and Adelia visited with the 18 year old
father and his parents, they agreed to give sacks of grain to the expectant
mother from time to time. Since pregnant girls cannot live in the residence, Adelia arranged to rent half of a small house for Lucinda
and one of her good friends who offered to help. So Lucinda continued attending
classes until mid-September when her baby arrived. Lucinda’s mother, one of the
leaders of the AIDS prevention club in
Mozambicans don’t name their
babies right away, and Virginia and I learned shortly after returning to
As of Dec 15 the gifts needed to support 98 girls during the 2008 school year reached 25% of the $20,000 goal. We hope that those of you who haven’t given yet can do so by January 6th (though we’ll be grateful for your gift anytime you feel ready. A check made out to UUCV with the subject line stating “Moz Bursary” can be put in the collection basket.
*Not
her real name
The Serious Stuff Bookgroup will meet on January 27 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in
the library of the UUCV meetinghouse as always.
The book for discussion will be Letter To a
Christian Nation by Sam Harris.
“Thousands of people
have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile
of these communications have come from Christians. This is ironic, as
Christians generally imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of love and
forgiveness more effectively than their own. The truth is that many who claim
to be transformed by Christ’s love are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of
criticism.
While we may want to
ascribe this to human nature, it is clear that such hatred draws considerable
support from the Bible. How do I
Know this? The most disturbed of my
correspondents always cite
chapter and verse.”
So begins Letter to a
Christian Nation…
Please join us for
spirited conversation or just for listening. If you have questions about
anything related, contact Leslie Carr at lgcarr22@yahoo.com
In response to your
requests, the Membership Committee is starting up a new “Circle Supper”
program. These will be bimonthly potluck
dinners in people’s homes for members and friends of UUCV, hopefully with a mix
of long-time and newer people who will enjoy getting to know each other over a
meal. The dates we are considering are: Jan. 12, March 21, and May 10.
Look for a sign-up
sheet in the Social Hall if you would like to participate in this
community-building and fun activity.
There will be a place to indicate if you can host a supper in your home
(6-8 guests is ideal); of course this will only work if we have enough
hosts! Guests will be assigned to the
hosts before the assigned date, and the host will call the guests to give
directions and arrange for their food assignment (hosts will probably provide
the main course). These suppers can be
as simple or as elaborate as you would like them to be. It will be a wonderful
occasion for sharing our fellowship.
If you have questions,
please, contact Gisela Roethke at roethke@dickinson.edu or call in the
evening at 245-2360.
The Writers’ Group will meet on Saturday, January 19
from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. at the home of Mary McCarthy,
In December, UUCV
donated 46 ½ pounds of food and one bag of children’s clothing to the food
bank. For the year 2007, UUCV donated in
excess of 600 pounds of food and sundries. On behalf of the staff, volunteers and clients
of Project Share, we thank you so much for your generosity throughout the past
year, and sincerely wish for you and yours a most happy New Year.
January ingathering
will be Sunday the 13th.
January’s
CFTW donation will go to Heifer International’s homebuilding project in the Copan Ruinas area of
1. All funds raised will go directly to house
materials, e.g. cement, metal roofing, rebar, dimensional lumber, etc.
The villagers make all the cement blocks using a form provided by
Heifer. Purchased materials for each house cost around $1100.
Just as the villages in
2. Ellen Buller has signed
Terri Smiley up to do an adult RE session on Building Houses with Heifer in
January 6 and
13: We start the new semester with a vicarious journey to
of Ramadan.
January 20 and 27: It's an inalienable right,
says our Declaration of Independence. But unlike life and liberty, which
we are given at birth, we have only the right to look for happiness.
And happiness is elusive. It sometimes evades us for weeks, months,
or years at a time. This two-session course by Dan Cozort,
professor of religion at
Classes meet from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the dining room. Child care can be
arranged if you contact the office on the Thursday before the class.
Congratulations
to Jill Kachmar, who has begun a new
job as policy analyst for the Department of Children and Youth Services in the
State Department of Welfare. Terri and Doc Smiley are
delighted at the arrival of their first grandchild, Ellie, who was born
recently in
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.
January 4: The Pot Luck Supper will be held on Friday, Jan. 4th at 6:30 P.M. Music
for the evening will be large orchestral arrangements. Bring a dish to share,
dine by candlelight and join in the festivities.
January 6: Path to Membership, immediately after
service
January 13 and January 27: Newcomer’s Orientation, immediately after
service.
Want to know what’s happening in our UU district? Just click on http://www.jpduua.org/ and check our Packet 2007 for monthly information, or browse the site for happenings at our neighboring congregations.
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 or duane@uucv.net or
judy@uucv.net. Home study telephone:
241-0410
Office Assistant Elena Yarlett
Hours:
Thursdays from 8:30am to 4:00pm. Phone:
249-8944 Address:
Dir.
of Religious Ed. Kevin Snow
Phone: 249-8104 Email: dre@uucv.net
MUSIC DIRECTOR DAVID GLASGOW
Email: david@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@embarqmail.com
Jon Tarrant, jwtarrant@comcast.net
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,
md.andrews@comcast.net; Duane Fickeisen,
duane@uucv.net