We are in the middle of the Warbler migration, and I am so thrilled to see these little friends flitting about in the tops of the trees. From my second story window, I get a great view. I remember living in Chicago as a child and loving this time of year, when even in the midst of our incredible sea of human construction, these tiny, tiny beings managed to travel their way through. I clearly remember seeing a Blackburnian Warbler outside a window, amazed by its bright orange and black head patterns. Today’s visitors are Myrtle Warblers, with a joyful call that brought them to my attention. Our pagan and earth-centered teachings remind us that the divine is revealed to us constantly in the rhythms of life around us. This time of year is one of my favorite moments in this ‘sacred scripture’ called life. Why? Because these tiny, tiny 4 inch bundles of feathers and life manage to make their way from somewhere deep south, South or Central America, all the way up past us into Canada. Flitting about in the trees, its hard to imagine them going more than next door they are so fragile looking. Yet, somehow, life does sustain them. They remind me that we each are fragile beings on an amazing journey.
Let us, as a Religious Community do everything we can to nourish and care for each other on this amazing journey—remembering that in many ways we are each as tenderly fragile and yet as amazingly strong as those warblers that are flitting about outside my window. Let us practice being a sustaining force to all that come by us, fragile beings on an amazing journey.
Sunday Service
Continuing with the Shouting Over the Back of the Elephant theme of this year, Jim and I are offering this dialogue sermon on what it means to be a Christian, particularly in the UU context. I hope you’ll come and practice your deep listening to all he has to share with you about his faith journey. We will also be holding a New Member Ingathering, where we expect at least 9 new members to be on hand. Come and give them a warm welcome. Family Folk Ensemble will share some tunes with us, and young Ryan Halevan will offer us a Prelude.
Annual Meeting (instead of Second Hour)
We are really excited to honor our Mildred Pierce for not only receive the Uunsung Hero award from our congregation, but from the entire Prairie Star District this year. (She moves on in the the national level now!) We’ll have cake in her honor at the Fellowship time, and then she’ll be present to receive her award at the meeting. Make sure you are there to congratulate her on her many, many years of loving service to our community.
We have many other important items of business too—including the annual budget, and the next phase of the nickname process. We invite all members to attend. We value the energy and care you put towards our community of love and justice.
Other Events (save the date)
Program Pow-wow
If you anticipate planning events for our community next year, please show up at this meeting Wed. May 21 at 7:30pm. We will be scheduling events, and helping each other think about the best timing for things. All church leaders in program positions are encouraged to attend, or send a representative. Those with great new ideas for church-wide events are welcome to attend. (You may come to the Family Meal from 5:45pm to 6:30pm, and then socialize until 7:30pm meeting time. Please RSVP for the meal.)
Child Dedication on Mothers’ Day
If you’d like to dedicate your infant or child, we will hold a child dedication ceremony on Mother’s Day. Ask Kathy Klink-Zeitz or me if you have questions about this, and let one of us know if you’d like to participate. Its a beautiful way to welcome children into our community of faith.
Reenact the 1908 Boone Suffrage Parade on October 25
Explore this link and let Jan Gallagher or I know if you are interested in helping us to plan a field trip!
<http://www.celebratesuffrage2008.org/>
Today is The National Day of Silence
These words from their website will help you learn about it:
“The Day of Silence is an annual event held to commemorate and protest anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender) bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools. Students and teachers nationwide will observe the day in silence to echo the silence that LGBT and ally students face everyday. In its 12th year, the Day of Silence is one of the largest student-led actions in the country.
Students face discrimination, harassment, and hate crimes based solely on their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic background, and their mental or physical capabilities. Victims of this discrimination are often met with silence by school administrations and student bodies choosing to turn the other way when they see this injustice happening. That is why, on this day, all people who recognize that racism, homophobia, sexism, and bigotry is wrong are urged to remain silent. The silence exhibited on this day echoes the perpetual silence that victims of discrimination and hate crimes have faced for years.
This day's silence will be heard louder and clearer than hatred and bigotry ever can be. On this day, we can help to abolish hatred, by simply remaining silent.”
Pastoral Update
Both Charlotte and Colton shared with us that they celebrated birthday’s last week. Its not too late to send them a card or give them a hearty congratulations!
Besides minor viruses, we haven’t heard of major illnesses or deaths. I continue to be thankful we are so well after our hard winter.
Please feel free to join me this afternoon at Cup of Joe for an informal TGIF time with others. I’m there from 4:30 to 6pm.
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
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