Weekly Update

Weekly Update 4/10/09
Greetings to you on this Good Friday!  I want to offer some reflections on the meaning of this holiday, for those of you who didn’t make it to the service. Sometimes, you can’t see the beauty in anything, until you’ve cried away your sorrow. Without those tears, without that bone wrenching grief, nothing can touch your heart, and move you. The Easter story offers us this message. It lays side-by-side two of the strongest emotions: grief and the glorious bliss of returning to oneness. This is what resurrection really is; it is the coming together of grief with unbounded joy.
I love this poem, which speak of this so well:
To Free the Heart by Francis C. Anderson, Jr.

Through dreary sodden days
The field sponged up
The graying skies.
And now the sun
Lies soft as birth again
As if the earth had just begun.
And blossoms on the vines
Designed in spring
Come out to sing again.
And everywhere the ripening
Pushes falling leaves apart
To free the heart
For freshening.
As through the seasons
Of our years
Becoming
Often waits the nourishment
Of tears.
 
Those last three lines, “Becoming often waited the nourishment of tears” speak to my heart. May this season be a time when you acknowledge and celebrate not only your becoming, but the tears and sorrows that brought you to this place.
 
One such resurrection, in my mind, is our new law in Iowa for weddings.  See us, and one of our church members in the Courier today! <http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2009/04/10/news/local/11183075.txt>
I will be needing some help to organize ourselves better to prepare for couples coming from out of town. Stay tuned for a meeting time to roll up our sleeves and get to work on this!
A very happy Easter to you! Hope to see you in church! But many blessings and joy wherever you are for this holiday of hope!
~Eva
 
I’ll be at Cup of Joe shortly (4:30ish) until 6pm tonight for anyone who wants to visit!
 
This Sunday
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am  Sunday Service“Easter Angel” For some of us, this powerful story of resurrection gives us hope; and for others of us, we turn to other stories of resurrection – but we all find hope in life restored, in goodness and joy restored. What “Easter Angels” have been in our lives, coaxing us, encouraging us to indeed see the moment for what it is – a moment of great joy? Join Eva for this festival  service complete with brass and choir!
10:45 am Easter Brunch Potluck & Easter Egg Hunt

Easter BrUUnch!
Spring seems to be springing.  What better time to gather with your UU family and friends for good food and conversation?  Do bring your favorite casserole (ovens will be set on warm), fruit (some fridge space available), breads or whatever sounds good; we'll provide beverages plus plates, flatware and other necessities.  The presence of your guests is all that we ask--we UU's know how to prepare meaningful worship services, and good food for a crowd!
 
Looking forward to Easter Sunday--
Mimi Kuester, for the Religious Services Committee
 
Calendar Updates for this Coming Week
Tuesday
7:15 pm Religious Services Committee
 
Wednesday
 Calendar Deadline-please turn in calendar items to Mica
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:00 pm Children’s Choir (sanctuary)
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Family Choir Practice (sanctuary)
6:30 pm Self Realization Workshop (high school room)
6:30 pm Artistic Fun: “Prayer Flags Workshop“
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band (sanctuary)
 
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
 
Friday
Newsletter Deadline-please turn in all newsletter items to Gerry Chamberlain
5:30 pm Rental
 
Pastoral Update
Glenyce Butschy could use some notes and calls to help boost her spirits after the death of her daughter-in-law. Please reach out!
 
Happy Birthday to our many birthday this week, most particularly Gordon Harrington who’s birthday falls on Easter this year!
 
 
 
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Rev. Eva Cameron, minister
Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk Co.
3912 Cedar Heights Dr.
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
USA

m: 319.610.6605