Weekly Update 5/30/09 . . . I’ve just done two more same-sex weddings in the last day. I can’t tell you how lucky I feel when I am doing one, since the couples have often been together for years and years. They tell me that its just going to be a simple affair because they’ve already been together so long. And then in the heart of the ceremony, their closest friends and family gathered ‘round, we all realize it in our hearts---this is such an amazing moment. We are living history, and something that we never thought would come to pass, is here. Right here in Iowa. Right here in this moment, as they are holding hands, and I, standing so close, am asking if they intend to love and care for each other forever. We all cry. Love. Its simply love. And I am so very humbled and pleased to be standing on this side of it, getting to witness not only history, but heartfelt commitment. Thank you again for allowing me the privilege of serving as your minister.
On another note, no matter what the weather—please do COME OUT TOMORROW for our amazing second annual Prairie Home Companion Potluck and Variety Show. You’ll be amused and amazed! Bring a friend! The $10 donation goes to help fund our growing music program.
This will be my last time in the pulpit until August. I am taking a some time off in June and July. I’ll be around doing some other church work for the first week of June. We’ve got all sorts of amazing people lined up to preach to you this summer!
See you in church!
Eva
Tomorrow/Sunday
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am Service “Question Box Sunday” Come hear the answers to all sorts of questions people have dreamed up for me to answer! Aren’t you curious??
10:45 am Fellowship Time
11:00 am Children’s Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes
The Questions and Answers Continue: with Rev. Eva in the balcony.
Garden Meditation: Join Julie Fischer in the garden for meditation in a meaningful way to you: working the garden, sitting quietly, soaking in the beauty of nature, or sketching a leaf or flower that inspires you.
12:15 pm Outreach Committee meeting eat and meet.
12:15 pm Prairie Home Potluck bring a dish to pass, (we are suggesting 50’s theme, covered dishes and jello-salads!)
1:30 pm Prairie Home Variety Show ($10 suggested donation, as a fundraiser for the music program)
This Coming Week
Monday (secretary on vacation)
Wednesday
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:30 pm Self Realization Workshop (high school room)
6:30 pm Summer Fun: Art & Games
7:30 pm Small Group Facilitator’s Meeting
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Friday
6:00 pm First Friday “Buddhist Birthday”
Pastoral Update
Please hold Dick and Vivian Shane in your thoughts and prayers. And if you could send them a "thinking of you" card. Vivian’s health is not good. Their address is 3720 Village Place #6111, Waterloo, IA, 50702. Phone 291-8513.
--
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
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Weekly Update
Weekly Update . . . 22 May 2009
Hello! I hope that you are finding moments of peace in this hectic time. Lot’s of endings and new things started up this time of year: kids finishing up school, classes ending and new ones beginning, time for the start up of summer activities and sports. It’s lots of fun and lots of re-adjusting our schedules. Amidst it all, make sure you take the time to hold fast to the things that fill you with joy, and remind you to live and love today, and every day.
See you in church!
Eva
Sunday
9:30 am Memorial Day Chapel Service
Join us for a service in remembrance of all those who died in service to our country.
10:30 am All Church Cleanup
Wear your work clothes, bring your rags, cleaners, mops and dusters. Or if you’d rather work outside: your work gloves, spades and such. We will be making our church home spic ‘n span from top to bottom, inside and out. This is always a fun intergenerational activity, with the littlest helping along side their elders.
12:00 pm Potluck Picnic & Barbeque
Please bring a dish to share. And something to cook on the BBQ, if you’d like something besides hotdogs. We’ll be celebrating all our hard work with Root Beer floats . . . an old-fashioned treat for old and young alike!
This Coming Week
Monday
6:00 pm Cedar Prairie Vegetarian Potluck
Tuesday
7:30 pm Committee on Ministry
Wednesday
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)
Artistic Fun
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band (sanctuary)
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Next Sunday: May 31
“Question Box Sunday”
We UU’s are fond of saying “Even to question truly is an answer” . . . so now’s your chance to ask Eva a question. And she will attempt to answer it to the best of her ability! Leave it in the Question Box in the Fellowship Hall, or you may e-mail it to me. Please be sure you sign your name, as I won’t answer anonymous questions.
And DON”T FORGET!!
12:15 pm Prairie Home Potluck—Bring a 50’s covered dish or jello-salad to share! The fun people might be seen in 50’s attire!
1:30 pm Prairie Home Variety Show—If you have an act you’d like to include, please contact Tim Purdum. This is a FUNdraiser . . . so please consider a $10 (or more) donation to help bring music to life in our congregation.
--
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
Hello! I hope that you are finding moments of peace in this hectic time. Lot’s of endings and new things started up this time of year: kids finishing up school, classes ending and new ones beginning, time for the start up of summer activities and sports. It’s lots of fun and lots of re-adjusting our schedules. Amidst it all, make sure you take the time to hold fast to the things that fill you with joy, and remind you to live and love today, and every day.
See you in church!
Eva
Sunday
9:30 am Memorial Day Chapel Service
Join us for a service in remembrance of all those who died in service to our country.
10:30 am All Church Cleanup
Wear your work clothes, bring your rags, cleaners, mops and dusters. Or if you’d rather work outside: your work gloves, spades and such. We will be making our church home spic ‘n span from top to bottom, inside and out. This is always a fun intergenerational activity, with the littlest helping along side their elders.
12:00 pm Potluck Picnic & Barbeque
Please bring a dish to share. And something to cook on the BBQ, if you’d like something besides hotdogs. We’ll be celebrating all our hard work with Root Beer floats . . . an old-fashioned treat for old and young alike!
This Coming Week
Monday
6:00 pm Cedar Prairie Vegetarian Potluck
Tuesday
7:30 pm Committee on Ministry
Wednesday
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)
Artistic Fun
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band (sanctuary)
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Next Sunday: May 31
“Question Box Sunday”
We UU’s are fond of saying “Even to question truly is an answer” . . . so now’s your chance to ask Eva a question. And she will attempt to answer it to the best of her ability! Leave it in the Question Box in the Fellowship Hall, or you may e-mail it to me. Please be sure you sign your name, as I won’t answer anonymous questions.
And DON”T FORGET!!
12:15 pm Prairie Home Potluck—Bring a 50’s covered dish or jello-salad to share! The fun people might be seen in 50’s attire!
1:30 pm Prairie Home Variety Show—If you have an act you’d like to include, please contact Tim Purdum. This is a FUNdraiser . . . so please consider a $10 (or more) donation to help bring music to life in our congregation.
--
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
Friday, May 15, 2009
Weekly Update
Weekly Update . . . May 15, 2009 Happy Birthday UUA. On May 15th, 1961 our Association was formed. In the old days, our National Annual Meeting of the Unitarians was called “May Meeting” . . . and you guessed it, they always met in May. We now meet in June and its called General Assembly (“GA”). Back in 1961 the Unitarians came together with the Universalists for form Unitarian Universalism as we now know it. Both faiths found themselves dwindling in numbers, and reached out to each other to gain some strength in numbers. The were many similarities between them, but also some major differences. One of the differences we still wrestle with, is how to be relevant to both working-class people and the educated of society. The Unitarians tended to grow from University town to University town, and the Universalists were found in rural communities and in factory towns. In towns were there were both Unitarians and Universalists, both groups pondered how to make this merger work! I think, over the last almost 50 years, we have figured out a lot about how to blend and capitalize on the merged theologies, but are still working on what a community feels like that included people from different economic backgrounds. As we wish “Happy Birthday” to the UUA—maybe we also ponder and play, experiment and dare to grow ourselves into a community were all are not just welcomed (as long as they don’t mind doing things our way), but find our ways comfortable and inclusive. Think about this, and let me know your thoughts!
See you in church!
Eva
This Sunday:
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am Service “Butterflies Under Our Hats”
Religious Education Sunday Join Kathy, Eva and our REAP team to say a big “thanks” to all those who helped in this past year. Eva is preaching on “Do You Hear?” And members of the CF High School choir will be singing, along with our Children’s Choir.
10:45 am Fellowship Time
11:00 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.
Garden Meditation: Join Julie Fischer in the garden for meditating in a meaningful way to you: working the garden, sitting quietly, soaking in the beauty of nature, or sketching a leaf or flower that inspires you
Walking the Talk: The focus for May is “Habitat for Humanity”. Sheri Huber-Otting or someone from Habitat will talk about the program and how we can participate.
1 - 5 pm COM/Board Retreat (fellowship hall)
6:00 pm What’s Up Doc?umentaries “The Future of Food” This quietly inflammatory film skillfully illuminates the alarming issues surrounding genetically engineered crops and the rapidly increasing corporate domination of our food supply.
This Coming Week:
Wednesday
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)
6:30pm Exploring Sufism
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band (sanctuary)
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Friday
6:30 pm Buddhist Movie Night (sanctuary)
Saturday
5:30-8:30 pm Rental
Pastoral Update:
Jen and Jason Zeck along with son Tristan and baby Ella want to thank you for all the help and good vegan food. They are still accepting help as Jen is still having health issues. Lara Martinsen-Burrell and Diane Harwood are coordinating their care. But little cards and notes to keep up their spirits are also very helpful.
Upcoming Events:
Next weekend in the All-Church clean-up and potluck BBQ. Come in your work clothes. We will have a brief chapel in honor of Memorial Day, and then clean the whole church from top to bottom. Bring your cleaning supplies! Also bring a dish to pass and something to cook on the grill. I think we just might have Root Beer Floats again this year.
The following weekend (May 31st) will be our Prairie Home Companion Variety Show. This too starts with a potluck, but this time its theme is dishes from the 50’s . . . so get out those ‘cover-dish’ recipes, find your favorite jello salad recipe, and maybe even dig up an bit of a 50’s outfit to wear! After the potluck, we will go upstairs for the show of a lifetime! Make sure you invite your friends and neighbors! Let’s have a whooping good time and raise some money for the church at the same time!!!
--
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
See you in church!
Eva
This Sunday:
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am Service “Butterflies Under Our Hats”
Religious Education Sunday Join Kathy, Eva and our REAP team to say a big “thanks” to all those who helped in this past year. Eva is preaching on “Do You Hear?” And members of the CF High School choir will be singing, along with our Children’s Choir.
10:45 am Fellowship Time
11:00 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.
Garden Meditation: Join Julie Fischer in the garden for meditating in a meaningful way to you: working the garden, sitting quietly, soaking in the beauty of nature, or sketching a leaf or flower that inspires you
Walking the Talk: The focus for May is “Habitat for Humanity”. Sheri Huber-Otting or someone from Habitat will talk about the program and how we can participate.
1 - 5 pm COM/Board Retreat (fellowship hall)
6:00 pm What’s Up Doc?umentaries “The Future of Food” This quietly inflammatory film skillfully illuminates the alarming issues surrounding genetically engineered crops and the rapidly increasing corporate domination of our food supply.
This Coming Week:
Wednesday
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)
6:30pm Exploring Sufism
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band (sanctuary)
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Friday
6:30 pm Buddhist Movie Night (sanctuary)
Saturday
5:30-8:30 pm Rental
Pastoral Update:
Jen and Jason Zeck along with son Tristan and baby Ella want to thank you for all the help and good vegan food. They are still accepting help as Jen is still having health issues. Lara Martinsen-Burrell and Diane Harwood are coordinating their care. But little cards and notes to keep up their spirits are also very helpful.
Upcoming Events:
Next weekend in the All-Church clean-up and potluck BBQ. Come in your work clothes. We will have a brief chapel in honor of Memorial Day, and then clean the whole church from top to bottom. Bring your cleaning supplies! Also bring a dish to pass and something to cook on the grill. I think we just might have Root Beer Floats again this year.
The following weekend (May 31st) will be our Prairie Home Companion Variety Show. This too starts with a potluck, but this time its theme is dishes from the 50’s . . . so get out those ‘cover-dish’ recipes, find your favorite jello salad recipe, and maybe even dig up an bit of a 50’s outfit to wear! After the potluck, we will go upstairs for the show of a lifetime! Make sure you invite your friends and neighbors! Let’s have a whooping good time and raise some money for the church at the same time!!!
--
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
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Weekly Update
Weekly Update . . . Once again it is time for our annual Flower Communion. If you’ve never participated in this ritual, I think you’ll find it touching and beautiful. Each person is invited to bring a flower, branch or something showing spring’s awakening. We will gather them in a large vase as you come into the Sanctuary. Towards the end of the service each person will come forward and receive the gift of a flower from the vase. We will be sharing the love, the hope that spring brings. Focusing of Gifts of Love, we will also be welcoming new members this Sunday. The Martinsen-Burrell family has prepared a skit for us. And both the children’s choir and choir have special music for us!! It’s a Service for All Ages . . . so come one, come all . . . and invite a friend along too. Look forward to seeing you!
Tomorrow/SUNDAY:
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am Service “Gifts of Love: our annual Flower Communion”
New Member Ingathering & Recognition
10:45 am Fellowship Time in Celebration of New Members
11:00 am Children’s Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes:
Stories that Changed My Life
Garden Meditation: Join Julie Fischer in the garden for meditating in a meaningful way to you: working the garden, sitting quietly, soaking in the beauty of nature, or sketching a leaf or flower that inspires you.
Book Group: “Religion is not about God” with Pat Malloy
This Coming Week:
Tuesday
7:15 pm Religious Services Committee
Wednesday
11:00 am UU Ministry at Friendship Village
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)
Artistic Fun Workshop
Integral Life Practice Small Group
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band (sanctuary)
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Friday
5:00-9:00 pm Rental (Wedding)
Saturday
5:30-8:00 pm Cedar Falls Annual Community Read for the
Environment
Tomorrow/SUNDAY:
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am Service “Gifts of Love: our annual Flower Communion”
New Member Ingathering & Recognition
10:45 am Fellowship Time in Celebration of New Members
11:00 am Children’s Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes:
Stories that Changed My Life
Garden Meditation: Join Julie Fischer in the garden for meditating in a meaningful way to you: working the garden, sitting quietly, soaking in the beauty of nature, or sketching a leaf or flower that inspires you.
Book Group: “Religion is not about God” with Pat Malloy
This Coming Week:
Tuesday
7:15 pm Religious Services Committee
Wednesday
11:00 am UU Ministry at Friendship Village
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)
Artistic Fun Workshop
Integral Life Practice Small Group
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band (sanctuary)
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Friday
5:00-9:00 pm Rental (Wedding)
Saturday
5:30-8:00 pm Cedar Falls Annual Community Read for the
Environment
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Weekly Update
Weekly Update 5/2/09 Once again I am posting this on Saturday instead of Friday. I’ll try and get back to my usual habits soon. This sunshiny day is filling me with hope and joy. I’m loving all the green that our many rainy days have brought. I particularly like the rough and ragged looking spring lawn. I few people have already mowed, but a lot of lawns are all tuft-y. They look like life—alive and full of spring-green hope, and yet imperfect, irregular, erratic, and full of unbridled joy at reaching onwards and upwards (to the sun, to the source of life, to god, towards human potential, justice, righteousness, love.) Let’s stretch ourselves upward with just as much unbridled love of life as a spring lawn!!
See you in church!
~Eva
This Sunday:
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am Service “Love a Lichen” Yep, a lichen! Come and find out why I think Lichens have something to teach us!
10:45 am Fellowship Time
11:00 am Children’s Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes:
Conscious Living: Join us as we share how choices we make and actions we take can have an impact on ourselves, our community, and the health of the planet.
Garden Meditation: Join Julie Fischer in the garden for meditating in a meaningful way to you: working the garden, sitting quietly, soaking in the beauty of nature, or sketching a leaf or flower that inspires you.
New Member Meeting: If you’re new to the UU’s then this would be a good time to sit down with Rev. Eva Cameron and Mica Lorenz in a relaxed atmosphere and learn more about being a UU member.
Circle Way: Celebrate Beltane with May Pole dancing and our men in kilts!
6:00 pm What’s Up Doc?umentaries (join us for pizza)
“Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home”
7:00 pm “A Gathering of Women” small group
Calendar Updates for this Coming Week
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)
Artistic Fun Workshop
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band (sanctuary)
7:30 pm Small Group Facilitators Meeting
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)
Friday
7:30 pm Community Drum Circle
Saturday
4:30-8:30 pm Rental
Other Items:
Next week is Flower Communion. If you’ve never been to one before . . . it is a ritual that comes out of war-torn Prague, when 50 some years ago, a Unitarian minister decided it would do everyone some good to look around for small “messengers of hope” that spring. Everyone brought something they found in nature to church to share. UU’s around the world now share in this tradition each spring. Usually people bring a flower, but a branch or other small sign of life and hope is welcome too!
Pastoral Update:
Jen Zeck and baby Ella are at home resting and healing. Lara and Diane are coordinating meals and rides and other things to shelter them with love and care. Please contact them if you’d like to offer to help.
Lara Martinsen-Burrell lara@undersea.com
Diana Harwood dianaharwood@gmail.com
And I myself, have had a busy week with 2 trips up to Mayo for more tests and consultations. I’ll keep you posted about the progress as I learn more. Please keep in mind that this is considered an indolent lymphoma, which means its very slow growing generally . . . and people generally live for years. Its also very rare, so they don’t know so much about it, and its prognosis. So if I seem vague or if it seems like things are taking a long time, this is why. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, even from some of you who I don’t know (but who read my blog on our website!!)
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