February 26th, 2008 Volume 49, no 24
Spiritual Celebration and Programs
March 2nd
9:15AM - Spiritual Celebration: "Exploring C. S. Lewis's Moral Law"
Chris Redford explores the idea of the Moral Law, as presented by C. S. Lewis in the book Mere Christianity, from a Secular Humanist perspective. In the process, Redford will explain his personal understanding of what it means to be a Secular Humanist, the plausibility of innate moral sense, the idea of a universal and clearly evident Moral Law, and how best he feels we can approach situations of personal and moral conflict.
10:45 a.m. Program: "But She Thinks Like a Man!"
Rev. O'Neal is no stranger to our Fellowship, having spoken several times to an enthusiastic audience. She currently serves as Associate Pastor of Congregational Care at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas; she lives in the country near Baldwin and has been active in the Lawrence community in many ways, including being pastor at Centenary Methodist Church and as co-director of Martha and Mary's Way, an interfaith spiritual network for women.
NOTE! To welcome Rev. O'Neal and to kick off Women's History Month, we are planning a WINE AND CHEESE celebration after the 10:45 program. Bring goodies to share and a bottle of your favorite wine; coffee and lemonade will be available.
To UFL Members:
The March 2nd date for the informational congregational meeting has been rescheduled to March 9th. This meeting will provide updates on the building, the financial aspects of the building and programming plans, and the ministerial planning task force update on SCORE planning for our minister for 2008-9. For further information, please contact Chair of the Fellowship Judy Wilson at jwilson@sunflower.com.
March 9th
9:15AM - Spiritual Celebration: Jim Scott, UU singer/songwriter will present the program.
10:45 a.m. Program: "The Populist March of Annie Diggs". Through music and dance, historian, choreographer, and dancer Joan Stone will bring to life Annie Diggs, an early Unitarian activist.
March 16th
9:15AM - Spiritual Celebration: Marta Caminero-Santangelo will share reflections on death.
10:45 a.m. Program: Judge Jean Shepard will discuss the needs of children and women in our community.
March 23rd
Easter9:15AM - Spiritual Celebration: Led by our consulting minister, JIll Jarvis.
10:45 a.m. Program: Easter/Spring celebration led by Sherry Warren and Janney Burgess
EASTER POTLUCK DINNER TO FOLLOW. Details to be announced.
March 30th UUA JUSTICE SUNDAY
9:15AM - Spiritual Celebration: Dave Fullerton will share a reflection on Elie Weisel.
10:45 a.m. Program: Angela Ferguson, attorney, will speak about legal immigration issues.
Visit from "UU Troubadour"
Sunday March 9: Jim Scott, "UU Troubadour", to visit UFL
From our consulting minister Jill Jarvis:
The Spiritual Celebration Team has a real treat in store for you on Sunday, March 9, at 9:15. Because of this extraordinary opportunity that was presented to us, I'll be postponing leading my usual second-Sunday service that day. Instead, I'll have the honor of introducing Jim Scott, well-known UU troubadour who will be conducting a very special service, "Gaia, Mother Earth and the Oneness of Everything." Jim intersperses original songs and readings with his personal reflections on a spiritual ecological awareness. The idea of Mother Earth or "Gaia" being a living organism with the same physical attributes (heart, lungs, circulatory system) as humans leads us to a deeper connection with our life support system. Jim's uplifting songs provide the balance to the "wake up call," leaving participants with a vision and inspiration to take the healing into our own hands.
Jim's songs are included in the UU Hymnbook, and in the new "Singing the Journey" hymnbook supplement. His hymn "Gather the Spirit" has become well known across the denomination and his music is sung from church choirs to campfires. Former Co Chair of the UU Seventh Principle project, Jim helped create the "Green Sanctuary" program now undertaken by many UU congregations.
Note of Thanks
My daughter, Kathy Gilles Seidel, is grateful for the beautiful plant sent by the Fellowship after her husband's death. She was comforted by the many cards from individual members who knew her when she was in the Sunday School and high school youth group. ~Helen Gilles
Wishes Appreciated
I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to everyone who sent cards, emails, hugs, thoughts, and wishes to my family since Harley's car wreck on the 17th. He is doing really well and returns to Children's Mercy on March 10 for a check up with the orthopedic group. I would be very surprised if he is using the walker or wheelchair at that time. His homeroom teacher reminded me to let people help and learn to say "Thank you", so thank you all for helping us get through this challenge.
~Sherry Warren
Reminder
Put March 9 at noon on your calendars. This is an important meeting about the new building, the finances of the Fellowship and how to continue the use of the SCORE minister. If you have questions, we will try to answer them for you. This meeting will include a discussion of next year's operations budget. Please plan to attend this meeting being held upstairs in the main meeting room.
Book Group Forming
A noon meeting of the Adult Religious Education Committee was held on Sunday, February 10th to review/brainstorm tentative activity ideas for the coming Spring/Summer season, and the 2008-2009 Fellowship year. Several ideas emerged, including suggestions for Book Groups. One idea is to present a UU Adult Ed.Curricula Series,selected from offerings on Beacon Press's website. This could meld nicely with plans to have Wednesday evenings serve as a midweek gathering time now being discussed in conjunction with the new building.
Another idea is to find books that look at other faiths or belief systems, or even collections by well-known people who've written about their own experiences with spirituality. ( Current personal favorites are "For the Love of God" and "Handbook for the Soul", both co-edited by Benjamin Shields & Richard Carlson). These could be read over a Spring or Autumn season, with weekly or semi-monthly meetings to discuss a single chapter or story.
Meetings could be incorporated into the Weds.night (with built-in childcare) programming, at Presbyterian Manor, or our own homes. We could also look at a day- time group, for those unable or not wanting to go out at night.
Finally, there is the possibility for an "ordinary old book group", just like any others you might have been part of over the years (or wished had room for you to join). We'd be reading for pleasure, and the subject areas are wide open for discussion.
The committee is looking for feedback on all three ideas. With enough interest, we could have all of the groups up and running by Autumn, or start slow, with whichever has the highest response, running during the Spring season. We need everyone's input to make this kind of activity a reality!!
Please contact: Marilyn Ph.838-3057 or by e-mail mgroy@sunflower.com or Judy Wilson by e-mail jwilson@sunflower.com We look forward to hearing from you!!
Stepping up to the Challenge!
Thank you for stepping up to the challenge! The general operations checking account balance almost doubled this weekend! You are tremendous! We'll be able to meet our obligations in March.
But, don't rest on your laurels too much. In order to meet the pledged amounts for this year's budget, UFL needs to receive $7,950 per month or $1,835 per week, or $262 per day. In order to fund, fully, the budget as amended, UFL needs to receive $9,107 per month or $2,102 per week, or $300 per day! Chair Judy Wilson has requested that spending be curtailed as much as possible, due to the probable short-fall, but some obligations are non-negotiable. They must be paid! Thank you again for your support. ~Susan Harper, Treasurer PS: Don't forget to make out two checks if you are contributing both to general operations and to capital campaign. Two different banks!
Calling all Talented Youth!
This summer will be your time to shine! The Spiritual Celebration team would love to highlight your talents this summer. The ULF Choir will be on vacation, so we hope to fill the musical interlude portion of the first service with your talent. This is a wonderful environment for young performers (beginners as well as accomplished), as the listeners care and support our youth. Jitters, nerves and mistakes are ignored. If you are interested in participating in the musical interlude (piano, instrumental. vocal, dance, something else???), please contact Susan Harper, musical director, at 785-830-8487 or sbharper@sbcglobal.net. Please include your name, your contact information, your talent and the dates you will be available. Thanks again! ~Susan Harper
Sufi Two-Day Retreat
Devi Tide is head of the Sufi Healing Order of North America. In this two-day retreat, we will focus on combining the power of prayer with action. This is the science of prayer. There will be an introductory lecture Thursday evening, March 20, open to all. The retreat itself is Friday and Saturday, March 21-22, which is Easter weekend. For more details and a registration form, see the bulletin board in the basement of the Fellowship. ~Submitted by John Brewer for Dr. Shaffia Laue
Lunafest Lawrence 2008
Sunday, March 9th, 2 and 7 p.m.
Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts
Tickets: $10 / $8 for Students and Seniors.
From October to April each year, LUNAFEST events take place across the U.S. and Canada with all proceeds donated to charity - 15% to the Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) and the remaining 85% to local community nonprofit organizations.
100 Good Women and WomenSpeak are excited to bring LUNAFEST to Lawrence again. The 9 short films selected for LUNAFEST are incredibly diverse in both style and subject matter, united by a common thread of exceptional storytelling by...for...about women. The films celebrate the talents and stories of women, captivate audiences, and compel dialogue or even action. For more on this year's titles, directors, and countries of origin go to http://www.lunafest.org/the- films.cfm
The 2008 beneficiaries of LUNAFEST LAWRENCE:
- The Breast Cancer Fund dedicated to eliminating environmental causes of breast cancer.
- KU Theatre & Film Dept. scholarship fund for women film students WTCS Womens Transitional Care Services, Inc., the first battered woman's shelter in Kansas , has been helping women and children escape violence since 1976. WTCS provides over 274 women and children with shelter and services every year.
- GaDuGi Safe Center works locally toward ending sexual violence. Staff provide 24-hour advocacy and support services for victim-survivors of sexual violence and foster innovative prevention education and community awareness programming.
Summary
Feb. 25, 2008 9:15 a.m. WISDOM OF THE HEART:
Jill Jarvis and Sherry Warren led children and adults in acting out a mayor's election in a mythical town. The town wanted a mayor with a "perfect heart" but they chose instead the old woman at the well. She had a "lumpy, scarred heart" because she had made many mistakes in life, but she kept trying to help others and love others and she "said yes to life." Our goal as Unitarian Universalists is not to love what is easy, what is safe, or what is already loveable. Our goal is to help move the world to a better place: to be fair when life isn't, to love the weak in strong ways, to reach out in compassion to repair a broken world. Who could help but smile at the high-tech heart-monitoring machine in the play (a picture frame) or the exchange of candy "hearts"?! Who could help but be uplifted as our Choir and members sang "Standing on the Side of Love," which Jason Shelton wrote during a rally for gay and lesbian rights?! ("We are standing on the side of love/hands joined together as hearts beat as one/emboldened by faith.") ~Summary by Jean Dirks
After the reading of a "UU's Lenten Diet" by Graham Kreiker we were joined by Guitarists Andreas van Zeost and Sandra Flessau. The duo has been in Lawrence for a performance at KU's Swarthout recital hall. They traveled here from our German sister city, Eutin. In the introduction by Frank Baron, Mr. van Zoest was described as "an inspiring teacher". As we heard during the three pieces, he and his students are inspiring artists. Mr. van Zoest and Ms. Flessau performed "Divertessment" by Fernando Sor, "From Holberg's Time" by Edvard Grieg and an excerpt from J.S.
Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". Every work was an opportunity for us to watch and listen to musical communication being accomplished at the very highest level. Several times during the performance we could hear the artists breathing together to start a phrase. The standing ovation at the conclusion was well deserved. ~Summary by Bo Dingus