Friday, January 27, 2012

Weekly Update Jan 27, 2012 (cameron.eva.post@blogger.com)

Weekly Update Jan 27, 2012
Weekly Update Jan 27, 2012
Weekly Update of the
Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County
administrator@uusbhc.org  visit our website at  www.uusbhc.org  319-266-5640
Rev. Eva Cameron 319-610-6605 (cell)  minister@uusbhc.org
Hello!
I’ve had a full day listening to the grief of two families, and enjoying the joy of a young couple on their wedding day. (See the Pastoral Update for the details). But my take-away from today is that life is short, and love is beautiful. Its a privilege to be with you, as you share the rich ways that your life is shaped by love. All I can say, by way of advice in the face of my experiences .  . .  is to do it as richly and deeply as you can muster. Its amazing to hear the stories of how it shapes and transforms people’s lives.
I hope you’ll join me this Sunday, as we begin to learn the 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life. I’m excited to share with you.
See you in church!
~Eva
This Sunday 1/29/12
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am Service: “Charter for Compassion: Part 1”  Rev. Eva Cameron
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, Karen Armstrong’s new book provides practical advice on compassionate living.  Join us as we spend the next few weeks learning about what she has to teach us.  This week we will learn about compassion, take a look at our own world, and consider compassion for ourselves.
 10:45 am Fellowship Time
 11:00 am Children’s Chapel (balcony)
 11:15 am Sunday School for Children & Youth (classrooms)
 11:15 am Adult Religious Education ~ Vacationing with UU’s
Have you heard the buzz about MUUSA?  Interested in learning more?  Carolyn Hildebrandt & Linnea Sumner will share stories about the Midwestern Unitarian Universalist Summer Assembly, a fabulous week-long summer camp on a beautiful lake in the Ozarks.  They’ll give you an exclusive “sneak peak” at this year’s activities and show you how you can join!  Great fun for singles, couples, and families of all ages!  Then, Del and Christine Carpenter will tell a whale of a tale about UU WhaleCoast Alaska’s tour and will also briefly share their experiences at UU Camps & Conferences they have attended.
Calendar for this Coming Week
Monday
           6:00 pm Cedar Prairie Vegetarian Potluck
           6:45 pm Documentary “Forks over Knives”
Tuesday                
          4:30 – 6:00 pm Community Meal at First Methodist CF
Wednesday
           5:00 pm Festival Sunday planning meeting
           5:15 pm Children’s Choir
           5:45 pm Dinner: Soup!
           6:30 pm Adult Choir
            6:30 pm Guatemalan Family Support Group meeting
           7:30 pm Theoretical String Band
           7:30 pm Small Group Facilitators meeting
Thursday            
          7:30 pm Buddhist Path
Friday
           6:30 – 8:30 pm Sing-a-long with Deblyn and the Jammerz
Saturday             
          1:00 pm Nature Lovers small group
Pastoral Update
Carolyn Bellfy (son, Ty) and Dennis Harbaugh (wife Juanita)'s mother died rather suddenly on Wednesday.  Please keep this whole  family close to your hearts in the coming days.  Dennis and Juanita’s sons are traveling home to be here. Visitation will be Saturday, January 28, 3-5:30 pm at Locke Funeral Home in Waterloo.  Funeral service will be Sunday, January 29, 3:00 pm at South Waterloo Church of the Brethren on Kimball Ave. in Waterloo, with a light meal following.
Our sweet Esther Thomas suffered a massive stroke this week, and died today. Her family was around her, and we are comforted by the fact that she lives a life full of love and giving. Her Funeral service will be at our church on Thursday, February 2 at 1:00 pm. Reception and then burial in New Hartford will follow. If you can help with  set-up/clean-up prior to the service or the reception, please let Rev. Eva know.
Brittany Duball asks for a few prayers:
Prayers for my landlords: Connie and Daryl Sullivan as Daryl battles
throat cancer.
Prayers for Howard as he continues with his sobriety and being
alcohol-free and continues to work at his job at Ryder! :)
Prayers for me since I have to purchase a new Toyota Camry Hybrid
battery ($500!!) (yikes!). I am hoping there will not be any further
car expenses this winter.
Also, prayers for a safe trip next month to the Dells with Howard and
my siblings, Lexie and Logan.
Prayers for our puppy, "Lady" that we unfortunately had to give back
because of miscommunication between our landlord. I am hoping she
finds a caring, patient, and loving family soon!
Prayers for my 19 year old sister Lexie as she goes through her first
stages of pregnancy (1 month along) and to give her the strength to
tell the rest of our family and continue on with her A.A. at Kirkwood
Community College.
Sending love and hope to anyone who is hurting. Please reach out and let us know. And please, let me know of any other pastoral updates to include from week to week. People want to know, and send you love, prayers or bring you a pot of soup!  ~Eva
Church Announcements
Tech Notes
We are making a needed appeal for people who would be interested in running the sound board once a month or so. A simple training is all that is required. Please contact Staci Chananie-Hill for more information if you are interested. (319) 427-0873 or stacich@gmail.com.
Death of Josseline books
The CF Library is receiving interlibrary loan copies of Death of Josseline. So far they have two available and will probably be getting another four. UUs with CF Library cards can check them out at the service desk.  
We also now have a congregational book table account at the UUA and 12 copies of the book have been ordered and have arrived. The book will sell for $15. Contact Sally Browne if you have any questions.
Guatemalan Family
Donations to help the Jimy Gomez family are still being accepted, and may be made payable
to the UUSBHC with "u-visa" in the subject line. For continued updates about Jimy Gomez and family, please visit: http://jimyandfamily.blogspot.com/ 
or contact Heather Flory directly for questions: heather.flory@yahoo.com.
We are in the NEWS!!
Did you see the article in the Courier yesterday? Congratulations to Heather Flory for her efforts in helping the family from Guatemala, and for getting us all involved in reaching out with compassion.
-or-
Church Events
Cedar Prairie Vegetarian Potluck & Film
The Cedar Prairie Vegetarian Society will be presenting the documentary Forks Over Knives on Monday, January 30, at 6:45 p.m. at UUSBHC.  Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Feel free to bring a vegan dish to share and your own table service and join us at 6:00 p.m. for our monthly potluck before the 6:45 p.m. showing. (Please note we had the time of the potluck incorrect in last week’s newsletter . . . it is 6pm not 6:30pm)
Wider Faith Events and Opportunities
Sharing Challenges and Successes
Workshop for congregations and fellowships of the Hawkeye Cluster
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Hey UUSBHC, want to get a carpool together? Let John Miller know!
At this workshop, participants will meet with UU counterparts on similar committees and share ideas. Find out what are other Unitarian Universalist congregations and fellowships are doing in Iowa. What has worked for you? What has not worked? What are your challenges?
Meet and listen to Zach Wahls, member of UUSIC, share his experiences of having the “most popular” You Tube political video in 2011. In 2010 Zach spoke to the Iowa Legislature in support of same sex marriage and about being raised by two moms. He is now part of the “Standing on the Side of Love” campaign.
Committees/groups include: Board/Leadership, Buildings/Grounds, Green Sanctuary, Immigration, Membership, Finance/Stewardship, Marriage Equality, Covenant Groups, Worship, RE, Adult Programming, Youth Programming, Social Justice/Community Service, Leadership Development, and others.
This workshop is open to all. RSVP by Jan 30th by emailing admin@uusic.org. For questions please contact Mike Cervantes (319-834-1136) or mhcervan@hotmail.com. Childcare will be available if requested by January 30th. Lunch will be provided.
Prairie Star District Annual Conference 2012
Prairie Star District (PSD) Conference to Explore War & Peace

Join fellow UUs the weekend of April 13-15, 2012 in Bloomington, Minnesota, for the Prairie Star District Annual Conference which will address the challenging theme, "Lessons From War & Peace: Stories of Faith, Hope and Courage."  

In addition to examining this profoundly moving theme, you can benefit from workshops designed to strengthen your congregation, deepen your social justice work, and enrich you on a personal level. Come and experience some of PSD's top talent, culminating with the joy of shared worship and musical celebration on Sunday morning. For more information about the conference, please visit http://www.psduua.org/AnnualConference2012.
Unitarian Universalist Association
General Assembly
Some folks still aren't sure what to expect at the upcoming General Assembly.
There will be something for everyone at this GA, no matter where you may be in the spectrum of social justice work.  Whether you're a seasoned activist or a beginner, there will be educational and preparatory programming and other opportunities for you to have meaningful involvement.
There will be community events outside as well as work done indoors. Phoenix will be hot, but you will be able to limit your exposure. GA housing is very close to the Phoenix Convention Center, and there are many food options within the Center. There will be an exhibit hall - the Justice GA Expo - with social justice exhibitors and resources. GA programming will be focused on justice issues, including topics such as the spiritual foundations of justice work, the theology of social justice, as well as a more tactical focus on organizing.
There will be Plenary sessions for governance, as well as programming and worship such as the Ware Lecture and Service of the Living Tradition. A preliminary schedule of events is available.
Much more information about the upcoming Justice General Assembly is available at www.uua.org/ga.
UU Community Schools Campaign
The Unitarian Universalist Community Schools Campaign was founded to design and build five small service-centered residential UU high schools for youth in 11th and 12th grades. These schools will be infused with the values of our faith, creating a learning environment which respects the inherent worth and dignity of each student. If you are interested in learning more about this initiative, please check out www.uucommunityschools.org 
Community Announcements        
One Iowa Legislative Reception
Please join us for One Iowa's 2012 Legislative Reception, featuring Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy!
Hey UUSBHC--who wants to carpool and go together?
When: February 6, 2012
Where: Historic Northwestern Hotel, 321 East Walnut
Time: from 6-8 pm
This special One Iowa event is a chance to meet with our House and Senate leaders at the beginning of the legislative session.  Suggested donation to help support our work: $50.
We are hosting this event because of the generous support of our One Iowa champions of equality. Please consider becoming a sponsor of the 2012 Legislative Reception at a higher level.
Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Don't miss out--RSVP today!
For more information, please contact Matt Skuya at matt@oneiowa.org or 515.288.4019 x203.
One Iowa, a 501(c)(4) organization, is the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization. One Iowa supports full equality for LGBT individuals living in Iowa through active participation in the civic process, and engaging in state lobbying. For this privilege, contributions to One Iowa are NOT tax deductible.
                        

Stay Informed/Keep Us Informed:
Please send any information for the Weekly Updates to administrator@uusbhc.org or call 266-5640.
The January  newsletter is available as follows:
  1. for downloading  UUSBHC January newsletter
  1. paper copies are available in the fellowship hall at church.
  1. Also let the office know if you would prefer to receive the newsletter by email administrator@uusbhc.org

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