Friday, February 20, 2009

Weekly Update-2/20/09

My daughter Irene has some time off from school this coming week, so we’ll be meeting up in Chicago and heading down to Tulsa (to visit old friends) and Houston (for the International Convocation of Unitarian & Universalist Women). I’m looking forward to seeing Irene, as well as many dear friends in both locations. I’ll be gone starting today until March 3rd.
 
Take good care of each other up here while I am gone . . . and challenge yourselves to find a little something to do or say to bring a some sunshine into someone’s life. These cold days towards the end of winter are hard for many, so see if you can bring a little light and joy to someone this week!
 
See you when I return!
~Eva
 
This Sunday:
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am  Sunday Service“Lincoln Bicentennial”
 Al Hays & Julie Husband will be preaching. Lincoln’s values and causes are central to UU beliefs. Our forefathers and the forefather’s of his day had an active involvement in the abolitionist movement and other progressive causes of that era. Let’s celebrate 200 years of progress.
10:45 am Fellowship Time
11 am Children’s Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes:
“Doc” Shorts “No Logo: Brands, Globalization and Resistance”
 
Upcoming Week
Monday
6 pm Cedar Prairie Vegetarian Potluck
 
Tuesday
7:30 pm Committee on Ministry meeting
 
Ash Wednesday
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5 pm Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Family Choir Practice
7:15 pm Theoretical String Band
 
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path
 
Friday
6:30 pm Buddhist Path Movie Night
No “Cup of Joe with Eva”

Friday, February 13, 2009

Weekly Update 2/13/09

. . .  Snow flakes gently fall from darkened skies on ground now bare. February thaw invited us to remember spring, even as these flakes now falling . . . invite us to open ourselves to being here, now, in this moment. The only moment we ever really have. Cherish it! Be blessed by it.
 
I’ll be at Cup of Joe from 4:30 to 6pm tonight, you are welcome to join me.       ~Eva

Sunday:
8:15 am Drama Team Rehearsal
8:45 am Choir Rehearsal
9:00 am Children’s Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am “Love: A Service For All Ages”
Join Rev. Eva and the Service For All Ages Team for this celebration of music, drama and poetry about all the many ways love touches our lives. Children’s Choir and Drama Team debut this week!
10:45 am Fellowship Time
11 am Children’s Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes:
Buddhist Path
: Join Rev. Eva and others in exploring Buddhist spiritual practices.
Walking The Talk: Program is CANCELLED this month.
 
This Coming Week
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:00-5:45 pm Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Family Choir Practice
6:15 pm Workshop on “Self-Realization” with Crystal King
7:15 pm Theoretical String Band
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path—All are invited to explore how Buddhist teaches can help you on your path, including meditation.
Friday
9:30 am YoUUng Child Playgroup—Come play with this pres-school group!
Saturday
6:30 pm Stewardship Spaghetti Fest (see below for more info!)

 
Pastoral Update
Mary Olsen
had knee surgery a little over a week ago. Keep on sending her good wishes, cards, and  keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Halle –Chris’s Rediske’s granddaughter has been hospital this week.
She is in Mercy Hospital in Mason City Rm# 300, but may go home tonight. She has a kidney infection and E Coli . She was responding nicely, finally, to the IV antibiotics and her fever is down to normal now. Please keep her, and her whole family in your thoughts and prayers.
Staci Channie-Hill will be having some medical tests this coming Tuesday. As a cancer survivor, this is a worrisome time for her, so let’s send her a little energy and light on Tuesday.
 
Stewardship Spaghetti Fest!!
Please sign up for our Stewardship "Spaghetti Fest" on Saturday, February 21st if haven't already.  Simply go to
<http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=ppKEF-QIRCjvFDtwS8PgoFg&hl=en <http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=ppKEF-QIRCjvFDtwS8PgoFg&amp;hl=en>
and enter how many adults and children will be attending.
We will wine and dine adults that night with a special spaghetti dinner in Fellowship Hall as we talk about this year's Stewardship Campaign goals.  Both vegetarian and meat options will be offered.  It all goes to plan, we'll start with a 6:00 pm social time and end by  8:30.  There is no cost for families to attend, we just need your registration to know how many are attending.
Children will be served a separate dinner upstairs where child care and alternative activities will be provided for the evening.  Teens attending will be asked to help the child care workers with the alternative activities for the younger children.
The menu and agenda is as follows:
6:00 PM - Social time
6:30 PM - Dinner is served:   
                 Salad
                 Garlic bread
                 Pasta choices -- spaghetti, fettucini
                 Sauce -  tomato or alfredo
                 Meat choices - meatballs, Italian sausage pieces
                 Vegetable choices - mushrooms, onions, green peppers
                 Parmesan cheese
    Chocolate dessert and fruits
                 Coffee, tea and wine
7:30 PM - Program
8:15 PM - Wrap Up
Kid's Menu
Milk, Juice
Sub sandwiches -- make their own from cheese, lettuce, tomato, ham or turkey
Fresh fruit
Sun chips
Rice krispie bars
Please sign up today.
Mike Knapp
Stewardship Committee
mikeknapp@mchsi.com
291-6509
 
 Larger Community:
TAJCI IN CONCERT -- Tatianas Mateja, better known as "Tajci," was a pop superstar in Central Europe, before she discovered
the power of her faith, emigrated to the United States, and began composing music which reflects her powerful spiritual
journey.  First Assembly of God, I-Hope Ministries and the Catholic parishes in Waterloo will sponsor a Tajci concert on
Sunday, March 8, 6:00-7:30pm, at Celebration Church in Waterloo.  Freewill offering.  An uplifting Lenten experience for
adults and young adults alike.

--
Stay informed! Read the World! <www.uuworld.org>
Stay connected! Check out our Facebook Group: uusbhc
Find something out! Look it up on our webpage: <www.uusbhc.org>
Think wider thoughts! Learn about the UU Assn: <www.uua.org>
Think wider still! Learn about International U&SU <www.icuu.net>


Rev. Eva Cameron, minister
Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk Co.
3912 Cedar Heights Dr.
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
USA

m: 319.610.6605



 
 

Friday, February 6, 2009

Weekly Update

Weekly Update . . . 2/6/09  
There’s been a lot of nervous talk around the church, as everyone wonders if they’ll keep their jobs, and what the future will bring.  I’ve had a couple thoughts about this . . .
 . . . . one is that the  both the Buddha and Jesus had a good message about this. If we seek and notice what is good in the present moment, and not get to worried about what might happen, we are gift to the larger community. We help provide anchoring stability in troubling times. Let’s all try and help our friends and neighbors and children to cultivate this mindset. Its work, but it will be worth it.
 . . . . . the other thought I’ve had, is how must all remember the gift of being in community. We can do so much more if we stick together. Let’s open our hearts to be able to help those in need, as we find we may have more sudden need in our community. And at the same time, let’s not forget how to ask for help. Let’s make a plan now, that we can lean on each other. And although things will not be the same, they never truly are ‘the same’ . . . and all we can do, ever, is bring our best, wisest selves to the day.
 
I’m off to our Brazilian Carnival Party . . . hope you’ll join us!
 
~Eva
 
This Sunday:
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am “Darwin Day: A Celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th Birthday
We have a special love of the relationship of science and religion. For some, Darwin’s evolution has become their religious myth as well as a scientific theory. Let’s celebrate the man, his ideas and how they have rocked our religious world! Join Rev. Eva, Jim Demastes, Lynn Brant, Johanna Foster and Lara Martinsen-Burrell (members of the Darwin Day Team) for this 200-year anniversary celebration.
10:45 am Fellowship Time
11 am Children’s Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes:
Circle Way “Imbolc Circle Way Ritual”
All the land is wrapped in winter, but our thoughts are turned to spring and warmer weather. Deblyn Russell and Al Hays will be creating a mid-winter ritual celebrating the Celtic Goddess, Brigid. The triple aspects ofBrigid are inspiration, smithcraft and healing.
The Small Group Experience Try a Sample! Have you been wondering what Small Groups are all about? We will do a typical small group meeting during Adult R.E. Here is your opportunity to sample a small group experience and perhaps sign up for one of the open groups forming now.
12:15 pm Chili Cook off
7 pm Charlie’s 200!
This will be a continuation of “Darwin Day” with a dialogue of how he inspired religion and science
 
Calendar Updates for this Coming Week
Tuesday
7 pm Religious Services Committee
Wednesday
**Calendar Deadline**
11 am Friendship Village Service
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Family Choir Practice
6:15 pm Workshop on “Self-Realization” with Crystal King
7 pm Small Group Ministry
7:15 pm Theoretical String Band Practice
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path
Friday
**Newsletter Deadline**
7 pm “Treats and Talents” Salsa Party
 
Other Events:
Darwin Week @ UNI!!!  
Join UU members Drs. Jim Demastes, Theresa Spradling and Laura Jackson as the UNI Freethinkers and Inquirers celebrate Darwin week with a series of lectures and events.  Visit http://darwinweek.com for details. All events are free and open to the public and will take place in the Maucker Student Union in the center of the UNI campus in Cedar Falls.  
 
Save the Date: Plan on joining us for the "Stewardship
Spaghetti Fest!"  Saturday, February 21st, 6:30 pm
 
Pastoral Update:
After many months of symptoms (shortness of breath; fainting; evidence of high blood pressure), Judy Harrington had an angiogram on Feb. 3rd. The great news is that there's no evidence of artery blockage. The cardiologist did identify evidence in some heart arteries of long-term high blood pressure, and mild pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs). She is under the care of appropriate specialists and is eagerly looking forward to renewed energy.
 
Eleanore Stark was hospitalized this week due to complications from her cancer.  She really loves getting cards from all of you! They boost her spirits so much! So even if you don’t know her (she’s fairly new) . . . try and drop a card in the mail to her: 2215 Victory Dr. CF 50613, ph: 277-5531

Please let Esther or me know if you have a concern or need our help.  

--
Stay informed! Read the World! <www.uuworld.org>
Stay connected! Check out our Facebook Group: uusbhc
Find something out! Look it up on our webpage: <www.uusbhc.org>
Think wider thoughts! Learn about the UU Assn: <www.uua.org>
Think wider still! Learn about International U&SU <www.icuu.net>


Rev. Eva Cameron, minister
Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk Co.
3912 Cedar Heights Dr.
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
USA

m: 319.610.6605