Weekly Update, 1/24/08

Hello Friends,

Today I am heading off to Chicago with our visiting guest from India and the Ann Arbor delegation. I’ll be heading on from there to DC for some meetings. I’ll return next Thursday Jan 31 in the evening. I’ll have my cell phone with me if you need to reach me in the event of an emergency. (319-610-6605)

This Sunday we are very excited that Lara Martinsen-Burrell has agreed to give the sermon. She’ll be preaching on the topic “Dancing over the Back of the Elephant”  . . . It promises to be delightful. I hope you’ll attend and get to know one of our newer members a bit better.

Second Hour we will have Sicko the video shown, as well as classes for youth and children.

I, obviously, won’t be at Cup of Joe this afternoon. But please go and enjoy each other’s company!

Take care of yourselves and each other. See you when I return!

~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

Weekly Update 1/18/08

Hello!

Greetings on this snowy and frigid January day. The renewed strength of the sunshine this week has left me in a good mood. I hope that something in your week has left you appreciative of being alive, and full of energy to engage the world with passion and compassion.

This Sunday will be our Annual Question Box Sunday. Join us in this celebration of one of the sacred teachings of our faith . . . That ours is a faith of questioning, seeking, exploring and learning from each other, rather than  feeling like we know “THE TRUTH.”  I still have space for more questions, just pop me an e-mail with them. UU History, Theology/theaology: my personal or stuff in general, world religions, spiritual practices, and whatever else you can think of (amusing stuff is always appreciated too!) Special guest musicians: Jordon Bancroft-Smithe and Bryn Sumner will be with us as well as Family Choir.

Second Hour will offer classes for both children and adults. At this time, we’d also like to extend an open invitation to visit with me and members of the Outreach Committee in my office about membership. There will be an opportunity to sign the membership book at that time. Feel free to pop in if you are ready to join, or just thinking about it.

Sunday afternoon at 2:30pm the Board meets. Meetings are always open.

This Wednesday we will have a special guest all the way from the Khasi Hills of India, where Unitarianism thrives: Khlur Mukhim. This is the man who worked with me to start the Sponsor-a-Student program, and is a beloved preacher in the area. Dinner will be at 5:45pm, coinciding with Family Choir dinner. Please RSVP to Mimi. If you can’t make it to dinner, but would like to hear him speak, we will have a more formal program after choir practice at 7:30pm. Mark you calendars—coming out on a Wednesday night is a lot cheaper than a flight to India, and then a trip up into the remote mountains where he is from!

And as usual, in a few hours, I’ll be at Cup of Joe for our weekly relaxing and ‘hang-out’ time (4:30pm to 6pm). Join us if you’d like, (that’s today, Friday).

Pastoral Update (1/18/08)

Shut-Ins:
Mildred Pierce 1710 Walnut St. CF
Dorothy Forsberg (Friendship Village) 312 Southbrooke Dr. Rm 24 Waterloo

Calls:
Mildred Pierce, 266-9727

In Your Thoughts & Prayers:
Rita Lynn, who  injured her good shoulder (after having lots of shoulder problems this past year on the other side.)
 
Glenyce Butschy, who had another bad fall in her house.
 
Esther’s sister, who is dying of cancer.
 
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Please help us live our vision of being a place of caring, let us know of people who should be included in the Pastoral Update—even if its yourself! We want to know. Esther Kieffer and Rev. Eva.

May we all reach out, in spite of earth’s imperfections for what is good and lasting and true in life.

~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

Weekly Update 1/11/08

Hello All,

I hope you haven’t caught this little bug that caught up with me this week! I was sorry to miss some events at church, but I hear you all had a great time. One of the nice things about a strong community is that we each know that we have things we can give, and that we also can rest when we need to. I hope that 2008 will give you many chances to both contribute to our community and allow others to give to you.

This Sunday at 9:30 am, we have a special service for you, entitled: “Where Do We Find Our Courage?” Carolyn Hildebrandt has been working with members of the George Walker Society of Music to bring some songs of courage to us as we remember the life and energy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Although there will be one longer segment with singing, children who would enjoy listening are invited to stay to the end.

Second Hour (11:15 to 12:15) there will be classes for children, youth and adults.
For adults, there will be two choices:
Circle Way:   Medicine Way Circle - Led by our own Deblyn Russell, a medicine way is a form of healing, a ritualized action that we perform with conscious intent. Medicine ways and rituals help us change our consciousness and incorporate the Goddess/God within ourselves.   They empower individuals to follow their own thinking and reconnect with ancient ways.
Stories That Changed My Life - This is a new series.   Join fellow UUs as they relate interesting and informative stories about events that changed their lives. Bill Chene will begin the series with a story.

The Youth Group is launching Second Sunday  extended time meeting (name TBD). All youth are invited to stay, have pizza lunch, with time for check-in and making plans for fun and projects. They anticipate finishing up around 2:30 or 3pm. This will allow for the youth to have more of a ‘youth group’ experience, than the short time of Second Hour allows. (Parent’s hopefully you got a letter about this. If not, please contact Kathy Klink-Zeitz.)  Its sounds like FUN!

Pastoral Update (1/11/08)

Shut-Ins:
Mildred Pierce 1710 Walnut St. CF
Dorothy Forsberg (Friendship Village) 312 Southbrooke Dr. Rm 24 Waterloo

Calls:
Mildred Pierce, 266-9727

In Your Thoughts & Prayers:

Mica Lorenz, who fell on the ice at work on Wednesday. She had to have stitches on her head. Ouch! Hope you are feeling better and better Mica.
 
Nate Callahan’s sister-in-law, Peggy,  just had surgery yesterday on her neck to repair some bone degeneration. Prognosis is good, and she is in recovery.
 
Marlin Nissen’s mother, Irene, is in room 310 at Sartori.  She has pneumonia and is not doing very well.  Please remember her in your prayers and if you know her, perhaps send her a card or stop in to visit her.
 
Esther’s sister, who is dying of cancer.
 
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Please help us live our vision of being a place of caring, let us know of people who should be included in the Pastoral Update—even if its yourself! We want to know. Esther Kieffer and Rev. Eva.

May we all reach out, in spite of earth’s imperfections for what is good and lasting and true in life.

~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

Weekly Update 1.4.08

Dear Ones,

At 6pm tonight, we will celebrate our monthly “First Friday” by learning a bit about Orthodox Christmas . . . Bring a dish to pass, bring a friend, just come and enjoy the food, fun and fellowship. Come one, come all. It starts at 6pm.

This Sunday we celebrate Anniversary Sunday. Many years ago, on a cold winter's morning, our ancestors gathered here in Waterloo to create the First Universalist Church of Waterloo. Once a year we remember their courage and vision. Del and Eva will revisit an old Universalist sermon to learn some of why our ancestors thought it was okay to discard hell despite teachings all around them, and we will share Communion with the historic communion silver. I hope you’ll join us for this look back at the past, as we prepare to leap into 2008!

Children’s Chapel is at 11am. In the Second Hour (11:15 to 12:15) there will be classes for both children and adults. The adult’s are invited to meet with me to discuss the topic of hell and salvation, sharing in the mode we’ve been practicing “Shouting Over the Back of the Elephant.” Also, Conscious Living will be hosting special guest Mary Ellen Dunford, to learn about non-toxic and environmentally friendly household cleaners.

This Wednesday, Family Choir begins a new session. If you haven’t tried joining us yet, give it a try this coming week. Its fun for people of all ages. (and the food’s great too!)

In a couple week’s time, it will once again be “Question Box” Sunday. Make sure to get your questions in now! Eva and Judy will answer all the questions we can as long as they are not anonymous. Look for the Question Box downstairs in the Fellowship Hall, or send me an e-mail.

Looking forward to seeing many of you back from your holiday trips and adventures!
See you in church!
Eva

Weekly Update 12.29.07

Hello,

I hope your holiday was a lovely one, and that you got a chance to enjoy some small thing that you delight in.

This Sunday Deblyn Russell and John Miller will lead us in a chapel service that welcomes in the New Year. They write, “New Years is the only holiday that celebrates the passage of time. Perhaps that's why, as the final seconds of the year tick away, we become introspective. Inevitably, that introspection turns to thoughts of self - improvement and the annual ritual of making resolutions, which offer the first of many important tools for remaking ourselves.” Join Deblyn and John as they share the passage of time this Sunday at 9:30am. Childcare is available.

Afterwards, there will be hospitality (with cake, see below!).
Because of the holidays, we will not be having for classes for children or adults in the Second Hour.

Pastoral Update (12/28/07)

Shut-Ins:
Mildred Pierce 1710 Walnut St. CF
Dorothy Forsberg (Friendship Village) 312 Southbrooke Dr. Rm 24 Waterloo

Birthdays
Cheers go out to Bob Robinson this week. Join him for cake after church on Sunday to celebrate!

I’m thinking we should start a calendar downstairs in the Fellowship Hall, so I know more of these dates in advance. Look for it in the coming weeks, and let us know the day you were born!

Calls:
Mildred Pierce, 266-9727

In Your Thoughts & Prayers:
Esther’s sister, who is dying of cancer.


∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Please help us live our vision of being a place of caring, let us know of people who should be included in the Pastoral Update—even if its yourself! We want to know. Esther Kieffer and Rev. Eva.

May we all reach out, in spite of earth’s imperfections for what is good and lasting and true in life.

See you in church!

~Eva