april 8th, 2008 Vol 49, no 30
Spiritual Celebration and Programs
April 13th
9:15AM - Spiritual Celebration: TBA
10:45 a.m. Program: "Psychological typing and the Unitarian-Universalist First Principle: presented by Jeff Lewis.
April 20th
9:15AM - Spiritual Celebration: TBA
10:45 a.m. Program: Earth Day. "Acting Locally to Preserve Native Prairies", a panel discussion including Ken Lassman, author of "Douglas County Wild" and Hillary Brown, owner of Local Burger. The program was arranged by Angie Babbit.
GO JAYHAWKS! NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2008!
Jayhawk Nation celebrates second title in 20 years
Emerson Society Lecture
When: April 13th at 2:00 p.m.
Celebrity author and noted theologian Bart Ehrman, who grew up in Lawrence, is known for his best selling "Misquoting Jesus" and several other books on Christianity. Dr. Ehrman, who completed his Masters of Divinity and Ph.D. at Princeton University, is currently chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina. In his recently published work, God's Problem, Dr. Ehrman explores the problem of human suffering and how his exploration led him reluctantly away from Christianity to agnosticism. On February 19, 2008, Dr Ehrman was interviewed on WHYY's Fresh Air program. To listen to that interview and read an excerpt from God's Problem, go to the website http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19096131
Come to hear his Emerson Society lecture on April 13th!
Sinkford to Speak in May
The President of UUA, Rev. William Sinkford, will speak in the commons area of Lawrence High School at 4:00 on Sunday afternoon, May 18th. This date was selected by his office in Boston as he will be traveling through the Midwest then, with at least three other major speaking engagements. The historic Unitarian bell will be a backdrop. A nationally recognized leader in the field of race relations and social justice issues, Rev. Sinkford will speak on the role of liberal religion in 21st Century America. It is emphasized that this is a public address, not a religious ceremony. Community leaders and members of all UU congregations in our cluster are being invited. The "I-70 choir" will perform a short concert before he speaks and there will be a chance to enjoy light refreshments and meet Rev. Sinkford at the conclusion of his remarks. We realize that this is K.U. commencement day, but our K.U. experts assure us that will not interfere with our event. Save the date!
Executive Board Meeting
Thursday, April 10, at 7:30. Everyone is welcome.
The next Board meeting will be on Wednesday, May 7, at 7:30. Please feel free to attend any and all open meetings at the Fellowship. There will be an open meeting to discuss the budget on Saturday morning, April 26 from 9:00 to noon. This is particularly important for committee chairs but again, everyone is welcome. Remember to mark you calendars for May 18, when we conduct the annual meeting. The meeting will begin at 10:00. There will be no Service or Program that day.
Getting to Know UU Sunday
When: Sunday, April 13th
Those interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and UFL, asking questions and getting acquainted, are invited to meet informally with our minister, Jill Jarvis, and Valerie Roper, membership chair, between the 9:15 service and the 10:45 program. Look for the "Getting to Know UU" sign in the meeting hall after the 9:15 service.
Book Club Forming
As part of the planning for next Fall's activity line-up, the Adult Religious Education and Wednesday Activities Committees are asking for your input on 2 different types of Book Groups.
1) Adult R.E.: Books or LUUF Curricula Series that would explore the vast variety of faiths, spiritual practices, personal essays by well known writers like Matthew Fox, Joseph Campbell, Sister Helen Prejean, etc. Also, possible: memoirs, biographies, studies of women in the Bible...
2) Reading For Enjoyment: Almost anything is possible, but we would limit the reading to one book/month. An idea might be to use the local library's "Book Page", or another book review magazine to choose selections. This could be a very flexible group; each member reading and reporting on a book of their choice, or all sharing a single book.
Please contact Judy Wilson: jwilson@sunflower.com, or call Marilyn: 838-3057.
We could offer either group, or both; childcare/activities could be provided if held at the Fellowship on Weds. afternoons or evenings. Meetings could also be in homes, and/or Presbyterian Manor. We look forward to hearing from you!!
Douglas County Aids Walk
Fellowship members are invited to join our Unitarian Fellowship Team in the Douglas County AIDS Walk. For the past several years, about 12 to 15 Fellowshippers have participated in this walk, and we hope to field a sizable team again this year. In order to register for the Walk, teams are required to state a financial goal, and the goal I listed is a modest $250. If ten of us sign on at an average of $25 we will easily reach the goal.
The Walk is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, April 12th. It begins and ends at Maceli's, 1031 New Hampshire Street, in downtown Lawrence. Registration runs from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. There is a "stretch and run" with Red Dog at 7:50 a.m. The Walk steps off at 8:00 a.m. sharp.
For those new to the annual AIDS walk, this is a major fundraiser to support the Douglas County AIDS Project, which provides services to people who are afflicted with AIDS.
Even if you would not be available to participate in the walk, you may still contribute as a part of the Fellowship's team. To sign on as a member of the UFL team, go to http://dcap.kintera.org and follow the links for Participant Registration. ~Forrest Swall, Social Action Committee
Peace on Mother's Day
Kansas and PSD District UUs Work to Reclaim Mothers Day as a Day for Peace
Mothers Day 2008
May 11, 2008, 3:00
Overland Park, KS
Are you a Mother? Have you ever had a Mother?
If you can answer yes to one or both of these questions, you can be a part of the Mothers Day celebration as it was originally intended, a voice for peace and against war. Julia’s Voice is sponsoring an event to stand for peace at 3:00 on Sunday, May 11th in Overland Park.
Julia's Voice, a group of "mothers and others" is dedicated to reclaiming Mothers Day as it was intended by Unitarian Julia Ward Howe. The group is guided by Howe's vision to establish a day to promote peace and speak out against war. Howe was an active abolitionist, suffragette, poet and author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
On May 11, 2008, an event will be help to honor the work of mothers to teach, in Howe’s words, "patience, charity and mercy". The event, Moms Against the War will stand for peace along the public sidewalk at 3:00 in Overland Park on 95th Street between Nieman and Quivera, in Overland Park, rain or shine. This is also the location of the district office of Kansas Senator Sam Brownback.
Send a message for peace by standing with fellow Unitarian Universalists. Join with us as we standing shoulder to shoulder, lining the sidewalks of this busy intersection and with "mothers and others", Julia Ward Howe re-enactors, musicians and other special guests.
Sponsors include the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church, True Blue Women of Kansas, Iraq Veterans Against the War, the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church and American Friends Service Committee of Kansas City.
Impatiens - A Beautiful Bouquet
This was submitted by Mark Larson and from friends Arthur and Janney. Says Janney, "Hello dear ones--just wanted to share my flowers with you. This has bloomed all winter in our sun room. Spring will come! Janney" Editor's Note: Thanks for sending us this beauty of persistence!
Click on the image for the full, spectacular view!
