Friday, August 29, 2008

Weekly Update 8/29/08

Hello!

We have fun Sunday plans, including a story of the “Cobweb witch” written by Lara Martinsen-Burrell during our Chapel service at 9:30am . Please bring your Journal, we will have a journaling exercise as part of the meditation during the service. . . .  Then we’ll have the All-Church Clean-up, followed by our annual picnic. Wear your work clothes, bring some clean-up supplies for inside or out so we can prepare our space for the coming year. And bring a dish to pass (and something to grill if you’d like), for our Picnic at 12 noon. Come at 9:30, 10:30 or for the whole morning !

Pastoral Update on Bea Tate .  . .  She has moved out of ICU as of yesterday. This is because she is able to breathe without the aid of a ventilator anymore.  Today her CAT scan showed no more brain swelling , and so they were able to remove the catheter that was in her head. She is very responsive, and her family is feeling hopeful. This obviously will be a long  haul, so please continue to send love, prayers and cards to Bea and her family Tom plus kids Liam and Delaney. You can send cards to: Tates, 1007 W. 9th CF 50613

Coming up Next Week:
Tuesday Sept 2nd:
Outreach Retreat
at Mica’s home @ 6:30pm. Anyone wanting to help with sharing our faith and welcoming visitors is invited to attend.
Creative Spirits will be in the Sanctuary creating next month’s art for the room. Feel free to join them at 7pm . . . They are working on a sunflower theme.
Wednesday, Sept 3rd:
The folk band rehearsals/jam sessions start up at 7:30pm every Wednesday. Feel free to show up and play. Nate Callahan will be coordinator this year, with Tim Purdum assisting.
Also, the Small Group Facilitators meeting is at 7:30pm
Thursday, Sept 4th:
Buddhist Path meets at 7:30pm for dharma discussion and meditation. All are invited, no experience in Buddhism or meditation necessary.
Friday, Sept 5th:
No First Friday this month, look for it in October!
Next Sunday September 7th
8:30 AM Music Rehearsal
9:30 AM Service “Daring to Grow” by Rev. Eva Cameron
11 AM Children’s Chapel in the balcony
11:15 AM Sunday School
Classes for children and youth
Conscious Living in the balcony
New Member Meeting in Eva’s office
7 PM Small Group Ministry
7 PM Documentary Film: “Clay Pride: Being Clay in America
Small Town Gay Bar Out in the Heartland”

See you in church!
~Eva

--
Rev. Eva S. Cameron
UU Society of Black Hawk Co.
Cedar Falls, IA
USA
319-610-6605 mobile
319-266-5640 church
319-266-1111 home
www.uusbhc.org




Friday, August 22, 2008

Weekly Update 8/22/08

Hello!

Deep in our souls there is a pace that hungers, that calls to us, through the business of our lives, the details, the shopping lists, the many chores, work and distractions of tv, movies, video, even pleasing others . . . It calls us to authentic connection with something that is bigger than all this. Its says to us “HEY! I’m here. Pay attention! Just stop all that, and notice how big the world is, how amazing it is, how short your life is, how delicious this tedious food is that you eat each morning, day after day, dreaming of more. . . .

And so we come to church. This hunger, this call, brings us here to set aside a time to explore these realms of reality we dance in each day, but seldom give notice to . . . . Worship service reminds us to wake up, pay attention, connect! Deep conversation over times leads our minds to pathways unknown. Observing others lives gives us strength and joy to live ours more fully. Hearing stories of injustice reminds us to work for a common good. It is a communion of souls.

And so this week on Sunday, our Service will be our Annual Water Communion. A time to share the diversity of our experiences and our travels, and rejoice in coming home to our religious home to share, to offer our gifts. We symbolize our community in this way, as we bring water from near and far, to pour into a common bowl. Come and join us in this service for all ages. And bring a small container of water from your travels or symbolizing some place truly special to you.

Second Hour
We will gather to have a Visioning Session on the ideas of re-structuring the church that have been set-forth by our Restructuring Task Force. Although this doesn’t sound really ‘saucy’ . . . How we do things, how we relate to one another sets the tone for how our whole community feels about each other. So your advice is welcome!

Good-byes
We say good-bye to some church leaders this fall, and welcome new ones in their place this fall. Particularly, we will miss the ministry of our Music Director and Pianist Carolyn Hildebrandt. She has done this ministry with great passion and joy for over 10 years.  Look forward to a whole new team and approach to music as we Dare to Grow into a new place with music in our worship life! I hope you’ll send Carolyn a note with a story of your favorite song, piece of music, or music memory!

Pastoral Update
Some of you will remember Bea Tate who we told you had a stroke with complicating blood clot moving into her brain last week. Well, she remains down in Iowa City Hospital, but has been stable for the past few days. All signs are good, but she is a LONG way from returning home. So we ask that you keep her and her family (Husband Tom &  kids: Liam and Delaney who attend Lincoln School). There is a online site were updates are being posted about her health. It is on Caring Bridge, entitled “BeasBuzz.” Here is the link to get there: http://www.carepages.com/carepages/BeasBuzz
You will need to create an account to use the site, but its free.  You can send cards to: Tates, 1007 W. 9th CF 50613

If you have other news, Joys or Sorrows, please let me know—so the whole community can carry you in our hearts.

I’m off to Cup of Joe for our weekly ‘hang out’ time (4:30 to 6pm). Hope to see you there!  

See you in church!
Eva
--
Rev. Eva S. Cameron
UU Society of Black Hawk Co.
Cedar Falls, IA
USA
319-610-6605 mobile
319-266-5640 church
319-266-1111 home
www.uusbhc.org

 

Friday, August 15, 2008

Weekly Update 8/15/08

Hello,
It’s mid-way through August, and what a gorgeous day it was!  It looks like we will have a GREAT weekend for our retreat.

Pastoral Update:
We have heard that UU friend Beatrice Tate had a stroke suddenly last night (Thursday). She is down at Univ. of Iowa Hospital. Her friend, and our church member Jenna Berendzen, called me this evening to say that the next few days are rather critical in her recovery, but that things are looking optimistic.  Jenna will let us know more as things progress. But in the meanwhile, keep the Tate family (including their 2 kids) in your thoughts, meditations, and prayers.

Please let Esther or me know when you learn of other pastoral concerns in our congregation.

Our Annual Retreat is THIS weekend!
Here’s a reprise of Leigh’s message from earlier this week. It would be great to see you for whatever part of this event you can make it to. If you didn’t RSVP, show up anyway. You can even bring a friend. We want to celebrate the start of our new year together.

If you will be there Sunday morning . . . I invite you to bring a new journal or notebook to write in. We will be using it throughout the year, so pick something fun. OR, I will have notebooks there for you to use.

See you at church!
Eva
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's COMING TOGETHER!!!

Yes, our weekend retreat will be this coming weekend. We anticipate a good turn-out

We are trying to get an informal count of how many people will attend.

Please fill out the form at http://tinyurl.com/5p3lsk

It's fun.  It's easy.

Hope to see you on Saturday.

Leigh


Don't forget the AWESOME sock hop on Saturday night from 7:00 - 8:30.


==============================================
 
We will get together on Saturday evening (you can even camp-out Saturday night if you want) and all-day Sunday.  It
s an opportunity to laugh, play and share with your friends.
 
**** Saturday: We will begin Camp UU with an evening of fun, food and music.
 
4:00 p.m.        Intergenerational Activities, Games and FUN!!!

5:30 p.m.        Potluck Dinner
Camp UUers are asked to bring a dish to share, their own beverages and whatever they want to grill.  Grills will be provided.  Bring your own table service and lawn chairs.

6:30 p.m.        Intergenerational Activities, Games and more FUN!!!!!!!

7:00
8:30     Sock Hop Band: Wayne and 3 Chorders
                            Dance to your favorite tunes.

8:30 p.m.        Campfire Songs and S
mores (Kids < 99 years old)

9:00 p.m.        Snores Time
               You are invited to bring a tent and sleep on the church lawn.
               ALL children MUST be accompanied by parents for overnight.
 
**** Sunday: We begin with our delicious Pancake Breakfast. The morning includes chapel and group activities.  After enjoying our catered lunch, we will meet for committee work and Leadership Council.
 
8:00 a.m.        Pancake Breakfast
Bring your appetite and funny hat.  ($4/person $10/family)

9:30 a.m.        Chapel
the Reverend Eva Cameron

10:00 a.m.      
Dare to Grow"
                       The Rev. Eva Cameron will introduce us to her spiritual theme for the new church year.

Noon               Catered Lunch
Organized by Esther and her Hospitality Miracle Makers

1:00 p.m.        Committee Breakout
Time to join committees, set committee goals and timelines for the coming year.  Board will meet briefly to approve the July Minutes and Financial Report

2:00 p.m.        Closing Words
Rev. Eva Cameron

2:05 p.m.        Leadership Council: The Executive Board will host this meeting with all church officers and chairs of standing committees, advisory committees, and ad hoc committees.   Jim Paprocki, Shanlee McNally and Leigh Zeitz will make a presentation about a restructuring proposal.
 
It will be 24-hours that you won
t forget!!!
 
*** Parents ***
Free childcare will be provided 9 am
3 pm on Sunday. Please register your children at http://tinyurl.com/57comx   This is important because it will help Kathy calculate how many child care workers will be needed.



--
Rev. Eva S. Cameron
UU Society of Black Hawk Co.
Cedar Falls, IA
USA
319-610-6605 mobile
319-266-5640 church
319-266-1111 home
www.uusbhc.org





Friday, August 8, 2008

Weekly Update-8 August

Hello!
It was great to get away on vacation, and cease doing all the things that I normally do. I had a wonderful time traveling, seeing old friends and family, swimming, reading long novels, and working on my house and garden. It was a delight not to march to the rhythms of the daily, weekly and monthly schedules. It always reminds me of who I really am and what I really care about.  I heartily advise taking some time to stop.

And now it is a delight to return to our community of love and hope. It fun to think of all the things that have been going while I was gone, and all the ways you have been caring for each other. Its fun to think about the great activities that will be resuming in the next month or so, as we slowly crank all our programs, activities and groups into gear. It was a joy to return and see the amazing new art that the Creative Arts group have installed in the Sanctuary. I hope you’ll take the time to read about their thoughts, posted on the wood wall (east).  Already this week, I’ve met with the Small Group Ministry Facilitators, and the Buddhist Path. Those encounters refreshed my memory on how truly lucky I am to serve this congregation. I look forward to our coming year together!

Stay tuned for more ways you can get involved, join groups or help on projects!

This Sunday’s Service (9:30am)
The Cruel Sea . . .
(an Auction Sermon) Bob Robinson bought this sermon at the Service Auction last year, where you get to pick a book for me making into a sermon. I thought it would be fun to do in the summer—since picking up a novel on a lazy summer day is one of life’s pleasures. Bob says this book is a delight, and gives us a glimpse of life in the north Atlantic during WWII. It follows the life of two men on two different ships for the full 6 years of that battle to keep the shipping lanes open. Come see how I spin sermon from this story . . . . Ruth Walker will be our pianist, and Esther Kieffer our Worship Associate.

Children’s Chapel & Second Hour (11:15 am to 12:15pm) will resume in September

FRIDAY—I will NOT be at Cup of Joe. Sorry about that. I have decided to take Irene to see her friend performing in a play in Des Moines, and the timing just is too tight. Please feel free to enjoy each other’s company without me.

Upcoming Events:
I really do hope you’ll plan on attending.  Its a delightful mix of fun and getting ourselves organized for the coming year!  New this year, we have a Sock Hop!
CAMP UU - All Congregational Retreat
August 16th and 17th

SATURDAY SCHEDULE
 4:00 p.m. - Intergenerational Activities, Games and FUN!!
  5:30 p.m. - Potluck Dinner ~~ "Camp UUers" are asked to bring a dish to share, their own beverages and whatever they want to grill.   Grills will be provided.   Bring your own table service and lawn chairs.
  6:30 p.m. - Intergenerational Activities, Games and FUN!!
  7-8:30 p.m. - Sock Hop ~
Wayne and 3 Chorders
 7:30 p.m. - S'mores Time (kids)
  8:00 p.m. - Campfire Songs (kids)
  9:00 p.m. - Snores Time
You are invited to bring a tent and sleep on the church lawn. All children must be accompanied by their parents for this overnight.

SUNDAY SCHEDUL
E
  8:00 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast ~ bring your appetite and funny hat.
  9:30 a.m. - Chapel ~~ th
e Rev. Eva Cameron
10:00 a.m. - Intro To This Year's Theme :   Th
e Rev. Eva Cameron will introduce us to her spiritual theme for the new church year and lead us in thinking of various ways we can communicate.
   Noon       - Catered Lunch
  1:00 p.m. - Committee Breakout ~~ Time to join committees, set committee goals and timelines for the coming year.   The Board will meet briefly to approve the July minutes and financial report.
  2:00 p.m. - Closing Words
  2:05 p.m. - Leadership Council ~~ The Executive Board will host this meeting with all church officers and chairs of standing committees, advisory committees, and ad hoc committees.   ***Restructuring Presentation b
y Jim Paprocki , Shanlee McNally , and Leigh Zeitz

 
Pastoral Update:  
Karen Impola had a fall, and it was thought she had broken her ankle. However, late-breaking news has it that she’d now learned its not actually a break. She’s got a boot, and is on the road to recovery. Thanks to the Caring Committee for providing meals for her and her family this past week.
Please do let Esther or I know if you are in need of some support: physical or spiritual!

See you in church!
~Eva

--
Rev. Eva S. Cameron
UU Society of Black Hawk Co.
Cedar Falls, IA
USA
319-610-6605 mobile
319-266-5640 church
319-266-1111 home
www.uusbhc.org