| First Unitarian Connection |
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Note: When the newsletter is sent via email, the text may be truncated. To be sure you are seeing the entire newsletter, please click on the "view in browser" link near the top of the message or scroll to the bottom where it says [Message clipped] and click on: View entire message
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| Sundays at First Unitarian Church |
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Sunday, May 21 - 11:00 am
"At the Threshold: Bridging"
Join us in person or watch on YouTube (not Zoom).
Today we honor our bridging seniors, other students who are transitioning from one stage of education to the next, and all who are living at the threshold between the past and what comes next. During the service, the HR Working Group will also acknowledge our First Unitarian staff.
A special thanks to all our Religious Exploration teachers and volunteers!
Service Leaders: Rev. Diana Davies and DLRE Tim Atkins; Time for All Ages: Cortney Custer; Music: Thayer Dycus, Breanna McCalla, Dianne Broyles, 1UC Choir; Choir Director: Chukwuebuka (‘Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha
Graduating Seniors: Thayer Dycus, Mason Fair, Breanna McCalla, Orion Rutel
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| It's not too late to make or increase your pledge for our next church year! |
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Upcoming Sunday Morning Services - 11:00 am
May
May 28- "Tongues of Fire" (Rev. Diana) On Spirit and Social Justice and Why It's Not Either/Or
June
June 4 - "The Transient and Permanent in Unitarian Universalism" (Rev. Diana) Using a canonical sermon by Rev. Theodore Parker as a springboard, we consider what stays the same in the midst of change and what holds us together in times of growth, change, and conflict.
June 11 - "That'll Do, Pig, That'll Do" (Rev. Diana) On Life Post-COVID, Doing One's Best, and Embracing Good Enough
June 18 - "What Is Sikhism" (Guest: Saurabh Singh)
June 25 - NO SERVICE! All are invited to participate in the Pride parade and watch the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly worship streamed from Pittsburgh.
July
July 2 - Lay-led service (Suzanne Broadbent and Deborah Shinn)
July 9 - Lay-led service (Rebecca Schaller and Zel Scott)
July 16 - Lay-led service (Joan Chambers and Celeste Flemming)
July 23 - "What Is Baháʼí" (Guest: Terri Angier)
July 30 - TBD
August
August 6 - Lay-led service (Lori Jervis and Paul Spicer)
August 13 - Lay-led service (Clare Auwarter and Susan Bishop)
August 20 - TBD
August 27 - Seeker Series Part I (Rev. Diana)
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Child Care and Nursery
The Childcare Rooms are open from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm each Sunday morning. (10:00 am to 11:00 am for childcare for any adult programming happening and 11:00 am to 12:30 pm for worship.)
Childcare will be taking place in the nursery and attached preschool room.
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Sunday, May 21 - 10:00 am
Sunday Morning Meditation (In-Person)
Please join us for meditation practice in the Buddhist tradition (lower level, next to Corley Commons).
All are welcome; no meditation experience necessary!
For more information contact Lori Jervis.
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Sunday, May 21 - 10:00 am
Adult Ed in the Eddy Room
Each week there are two options for 10:00 am Adult Ed:
- Our meditation group that meets downstairs in the Corley Commons - Meditation Room
- Our main Forum like programming will take place in the Eddy Room every Sunday at 10:00am (except the 3rd Sunday of the month it will be in Daniel Hall) and the topic will change each week.
This Sunday - TBA
Next Sunday, May, 28 - 10:00 am (Daniel Hall): Discussion of the proposed budget, prior to the Congregational Meeting.
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Sunday, May 21 - 12:00 pm
Gardening Covenant Group Plant Sale Part 2
This Sunday, May 21, the Gardening Covenant Group’s Part Two of the annual
plant sale will be on the front lawn after church. Thank you for all the sales
on May 7; we are happy with the money we received. We had so many beautiful
plants that many are left to sell this week. Everything is half price or even
“Make us an offer!” Please come support the work we do on the church grounds!
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| Annual Meeting of the Congregation |
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The Nominating Committee Is pleased to announce the following candidates or church leadership positions for 2023-2024 church year:
Our nominees for officer are:
Catherine Webster, President Elect
Deborah Shinn, Clerk
Ron Wasson, Treasurer
Jeanne Parkhurst, Moderator
Gordon Greene, Parliamentarian
Our nominees for new board members are:
Coba Neitzel – term expires 2026
Doug Vincent – term expires 2026
Ann Meeks, replacing board member mid-term – term expires 2025
Our nominees to serve on the 2023-2024 Nominating Committee with Immediate Past-President, Marshal Gimpel and Board appointee Jean McLaughlin are:
Chris Gonzales (second term)
Ruth Gordon (second term)
Sarah Gray (first term)
Our nominee for Endowment Fund Committee is: Linda Wasson – term expires 2026
Respectfully submitted by the Nominating Committee,
Chris Gonzales, Ruth Gordon, Lynn Ann Wagner and Zel Scott
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Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) Budget
The Board of Trustees has approved a proposed budget for the next church year. Members of the congregation will have an opportunity to vote on this budget at the June 4 Congregational Meeting. The Board is presenting a balanced budget but it involves significant cuts in several areas and utilizes new income sources. It's very important that all members of the congregation understand the budget and that, as a community, we ensure that it reflects our values and priorities. The first version of the budget was already emailed and mailed in hard copy to all active members. Since that budget was shared, we received an additional $8000 in new pledges. This has allowed us to make one change to the proposed budget, returning 100% of the non-pledge offering to Change for Change.
There will be many opportunities to discuss the proposed budget, prior to the Congregational Meeting.
Sunday, May 21 -- 12:30 pm, Daniel Hall, or after the reception for Bridgers, in-person only
Tuesday, May 23 -- noon, Zoom only
https://zoom.us/j/96067130378?pwd=SGQrc2JlTmdHU3FtZU1YMG1VNitUZz09
Meeting ID: 960 6713 0378
Passcode: 488542
Thursday, May 25 -- 5:00 pm, Zoom only
https://zoom.us/j/99246817691?pwd=N1RtNEJaYUh6SkdSLzNWRnlWYXo3QT09
Meeting ID: 992 4681 7691
Passcode: 377483
Sunday, May 28 -- 10:00 am, Daniel Hall in-person only
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Monday, May 22 by 5:00 pm!
Annual Reports Due!
It is getting close...the Annual Meeting of the Congregation is Sunday, June 4 (immediately after the service). If you are the chair of a group or head of a committee, please make sure you email Marlies your annual report no later then Monday, May 22.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Marlies at mgrogg@1uc.org.
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Befrienders has set up a meal train for Wendy Pitt who broke her foot and had surgery this week. The meal train can be found at https://mealtrain.com/qnz39l. The train will run now through May 25. Befrienders appreciate it when our church steps up to help others in need.
Services for longtime member, Anne Marie Grassmann, will be held at First Unitarian Church on June 10, Details to follow.
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| Lifespan Religious Exploration |
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June 5th through June 9th
SAVE THE DATE for Chalice Camp!
Every year in early June, we host a week long day camp called "Chalice Camp" that's been going for almost fifty years.
The dates for this years Chalice Camp will be June 5 through June 9! Mark your calendars!
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| Adult Education Classes & Courses |
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Social Justice News!
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. Every year during the month of May, NAMI joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Together, they fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the U.S. affected with mental illness.
NEWS FROM UUSC (UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SERVICE COMMITTEE) – Isle de Jean Charles in southern Louisiana once was 22,000 acres. Today, climate change has diminished the land to a mere 320 acres.
On a recent visit to meet with UUSC partners in the region, I spoke with several people who call the Gulf Coast area their home. Former Chief Albert Naquin of the Jean Charles Choctaw Nation told me how historically “up the bayou” Tribes were once considered inland. Now, the coast has come to them. Decades of soil erosion from levee construction, oil extraction, and rising sea level has caused the land to sink and become a saltwater marsh. Parish residents like Dwight have been forced to adapt to their changing environment by raising their houses on stilts and finding new ways to replace lost income from damaged fishing habitats. The challenges that Gulf Coast communities are facing directly result from the climate crisis, yet their calls for support and accountability are largely ignored by state and local governments. That’s why UUSC and our grassroots partner in Louisiana, Lowlander Center, are working to amplify their voices and solutions. Last year, leaders from four Louisiana tribes joined one from Alaska facing similar climate impacts to give testimony before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
UUSC’s commitment to centering Indigenous voices is a critical part of our Climate Justice work. Your support allows us to bring the wisdom and experience of Indigenous communities to international decision-making spaces.
Indigenous tribes within the United States remain structurally and systemically violated by the federal government. This is especially true for the at least 400 non-federally recognized tribes throughout the nation. For these tribes, federal support is scarce and fails to adequately respond to the needs of Indigenous citizens in community-informed and sustainable ways. Five Indigenous tribes in Louisiana and Alaska partnered with UUSC and EarthRights International to highlight U.S. government mistreatment and neglect in the face of climate disaster.
Three U.S. government officials were also in attendance, representing the Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Department of the Interior Office of Indian Affairs. While the State Department representative cited the United States’ “commitment to honoring the principles of tribal sovereignty and self-determination,” he and his colleagues failed to lay out any concrete actions for ensuring the federal recognition of all Indigenous Tribes to ensure support for frontline communities. Further, the State Department underscored the non-binding nature of the 2016 American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which lays out the rights that the countries of the Americas must uphold in commitment to the First Nation peoples whose land we occupy.
From November 6-18, the 27th Conference of Parties will be held in Egypt. During the conference, the U.S. government is expected to commit to supporting its Indigenous citizens by supporting various climate change initiatives. Stay tuned and follow UUSC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates on the event as we hold the United States accountable.
If you are interested in becoming involved in social justice programs and activities, please contact Susan Bishop at (405) 623-4017 or sdbishop50@gmail.com
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May Change for Change
For the month of May our Change for Change recipient is the Thick Descriptions.
Thick Descriptions disrupts traditional educational methods with anthropology to help humans thrive where they are building stronger communities. Thick Descriptions partners with educational institutions and community organizations to teach the skills needed to build healthier and more sustainable communities.
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| Green Sanctuary/Green Minute |
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Seal the Cracks
Every degree of difference in the temperature between the inside and outside of your home can add as much as 10% to your energy expenses. Make the most of the energy you use by insulating under doors, between floor vents, around windows and in the attic. Use inexpensive seals to caulk and plug gaps and cracks; fit dampers to fireplaces and weather-strip seams. Check evergystar.gov to learn more about tax credits to improve your home’s efficiency.
This coming Sunday, the Sustainable Living Organization will meet in the Eddy Room at 10:00 AM. Join us to discuss more ways to make a difference!
Today’s Green Minute was copied almost verbatim from True Green: 100 everyday ways you can contribute to a healthier planet, by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin; published by the National Geographic Society, 1145 17th St N.W., Washington DC, 20036-4688, 2001
If you have an idea for the Green Minute, email me, Lonney Corder-Agnew, at lacorderagnew@cox.net.
If you have a Green Tip, please send it to me at lacorderagnew@cox.net.
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The function of the Committee on Ministry is to monitor on a regular and continuing basis the effectiveness of the church’s ministry, acknowledging and praising areas of strength, and assessing the reasons behind areas of perceived weakness or dissatisfaction, so that we, as a congregation, can grow into our full potential and fulfill our mission. If you have any questions about the role of the Committee on Ministry or have concerns, praise, or ideas about the ministries of this church, you are welcome to reach out to a member of the CoM (Lori Jervis, Dex Marble, Tom Peryam, James Vaughn).
The Healthy Habits of Communication
- I tell my own story and let others tell theirs.
- When you communicate, speak for yourself and about your own experience. Trying to speak for others can be like a game of “telephone” where something always gets mixed up in the process. Your own experience is enough!
- I avoid “awfulizing” negative experiences.
- We sometimes tend to exaggerate negative experiences to achieve our goals (the goal may be trying to prove a point, trying to win an argument, getting sympathy, etc.) This can make something that was just a negative experience to seeming like something awful. Instead, try to state your experience just as it was and trust that you can still get your needs met.
- I say what needs to be said to the one who needs to hear it.
- No one can benefit from our feedback if we don’t share it with them. Don’t start a game of telephone by sharing your feedback with one person hoping it will somehow get around to the person who can do something about it. Who knows what the message will look like by the time it gets there! Your thoughts and experiences matter. Share them directly with the person who needs to know. It takes courage, and it is worth it.
- I devote at least as much energy to careful listening as to careful speaking.
- Intentional listening helps us understand others and softens our feelings towards them. It also opens us up to new ideas and perspectives. When we truly listen and understand someone else, we are changed by the experience. Let’s approach each interaction expecting to be heard and understood as well as to hear and understand others. We will all be changed for the better.
- If something prompts anger in me, I report it honestly in a way that invites positive solutions.
- We all feel anger. That is normal. And how we act on our anger matters. Anger can be useful because it tells us when there is work to be done. When we are angry, we must recognize it, acknowledge it, and then work to figure out what needs to be done. How can we turn it into something positive?
- I refrain from blaming and shaming.
- Blaming and shaming rarely bring us any closer to the solutions we seek. When we feel the urge to blame or shame, let’s work to slow down, take a step back, and remember to focus on our own experience, looking for solutions, and being the kind of people we want to be.
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Note: Most meetings continue to meet via Zoom but some groups may elect to meet in the building. Please contact the meeting organizer directly if you are uncertain of the location.
- Sunday Morning Meditation – Every Sunday at 10:00 am, Meditation Room (Corley Commons – contact Lori Jervis for information - see article above)
- Adult RE – Every Sunday, 10:00 am in Daniel Hall (contact Tim Atkins for information - see article above)
- Qigong - Every Monday and Friday, 12:15 pm (contact Janice Martin for information)
- Tuesday Discussion Group – Every Tuesday, 11:00 am (contact Ron Wasson for information - see article above)
- Bell Choir Rehearsal – Every Wednesday, 5:45 pm (contact LaDonna Hunt for information)
- Choir Rehearsal – Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm (contact 'Ebuka Ezeakacha for information)
- Radical Welcoming Team - Tuesday, May 18, 6:30 pm (contact Lynn Ann Wagner for information)
- Exploring Spirituality – Friday, May 19, 6:00 pm (contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider for information)
- Auction Item “Cookie Decorating” – Saturday, May 20, 12:30 pm (contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider for information)
- 1UC VOICE Meeting – Sunday, May 21, 9:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Maureen Harvey for information)
- Sustainable Living Organization Meeting - Sunday, May 21, 10:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Rob Hamm for information)
- Gardening Covenant Group, Plant Sale Part 2 – Sunday, May 21, 12:00 pm, Church Lawn (contact Barbara Gallivan for information)
- 1UC VOICE House Meeting – Sunday, May 21, 12:15 pm, Eddy Room (contact Maureen Harvey for information)
- Proposed Budget Discussion - Sunday, May 21, 12:30 pm, Daniel Hall
- Board of Trustees Meeting – Tuesday, May 23, 6:30 pm (contact Marshal Gimpel for information)
- Membership Meeting – Thursday, May 25, 6:00 pm (contact Nathan Boone for information)
- Yoga with Rev. Diana – Saturday, May 27, 10:00 am, Daniel Hall (contact Rev. Diana for information)
- Fiber Connections – Saturday, May 27, 10:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Paula Geisinger for information)
- Proposed Budget Discussion - Sunday, May 28, 10:00 am, Daniel Hall
- UU Book Club – Thursday, June 1, 7:00 pm (contact Steve Gryglewicz for information)
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Current Safety Level: Masks Are Encouraged
Masks are optional at all church events but are always welcome and encouraged.
- If you choose not to wear a mask, it is especially important that you do not attend services or events if you have any symptoms typical of COVID, flu, or RSV. Please stay home and join us online.
- Please continue to wash your hands frequently. And please be sure to throw away used tissues. Don't leave them in the pews.
- No one should ever be pressured into removing their mask. Please honor everyone's choice.
- If you haven't yet had your latest COVID booster please get it now!
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If you (or someone you care about in our community) would like a caring card, a ride, a meal delivered to your home, a prayer, or a pastoral visit, please fill out a pastoral care request form on our website: https://1uc.org/connect/pastor... or contact Rev. Diana or Susan Bishop (chair of the Befrienders).
Please contact Rev. Diana directly if you need financial assistance. The Minister's Discretionary Fund is available for anyone who needs emergency financial support. In the past, the fund has been used to help cover rent, groceries, fuel, home repairs, medical costs and other needs. Allocations from this fund are completely confidential.
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If you have a newsletter article you would like to submit please email your article to mgrogg@1uc.org no later than Tuesday (the day before the newsletter goes out) by 5:00 pm.
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Did you know that you can access all church policies and procedures as well as Board meeting minutes on our new website? Just go to 1uc.org, and click on the "members" link in the upper right-hand corner (just to the left of the Facebook and other social media icons). This will open a page that says "Protected: Members." The password is @600NW13thSt [Note: the password is case-sensitive; do not put in additional punctuation or spaces.]
From here, click on "church documents." All official policies and procedures can be found in the "policies" folder. The bylaws and Board of Trustees meeting minutes are in the "governance" folder. Please disregard the "website SOPs" folder, which is for administrative use only.
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In order to save printing and mailing costs and to conserve natural resources, the Annual Report will not be mailed by default to all congregants. Instead, it is available online. Please contact Marlies Grogg (mgrogg@1uc.org) if you would like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Report.
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CHURCH STAFF
Lead Minister - Rev. Diana K. Davies
Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration - Tim Atkins
Choir Director - Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha
Congregational Life Coordinator - Nathan Boone
Office Administrator - Marlies Grogg
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021-2022
President of the Congregation - Marshal Gimpel
President-Elect - Marcia Woodward
Immediate Past President - Lynn Ann Wagner
Clerk - Deborah Shinn
Treasurer - Ron Wasson
Clare Auwarter Lorriana Lee-Knapp Larry Little Laura Lochner Ann Meeks Becky Tallent
Committee on Ministry
Lori Jervis Dex Marble Tom Peryam James Vaughn
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