Weekly Update -11/13/09

Weekly Update 11/13/09 . . . I write this from Ottawa Canada, where I have stepped out of a time of sharing stories and learning from other UU Ministers. There are over 400 of us here, and it is a real blessing to have to connect and pause to think about who I am and what I do from within this larger context. This year, our church is doing this work too, as the Board has had a task force busy over last summer and into the fall working on creating new Bylaws that reflect our current practices. You will have an opportunity to review the results of their work soon. That work also led to the feeling by that committee that some other elements of formal framing of who we are should be up for review . . . including the Mission statement, and the creation of a Covenant of Right Relations. The Board will have much more to say about this in the coming months, including how you can participate in this reflection and creation process. But in the meantime, while I am doing some reflecting here . . . I commend to you the idea of reflecting on the nature of our UU society, and what your hopes and dreams for it are, what you treasure, how you want it to feel at its best, how you want it to engage the stranger, the broken, those hungering for a spiritual home . . . . to pause and reflect is an amazing gift we give ourselves, we give the world.
Keep living and loving! ~ Eva

This Saturday (6:30pm)
Don't forget to attend the Treats and Talents Auction . . . even if you've never gone before, just go and have fun. Buy a little or a lot. Come is costumes or not. Bring a friend, family, or come alone. Its a fun time, and a good way to play with each other while we do make some money to enliven our church.

This Sunday
Sunday Service (9:30 to 10:45am)
“Standing on the Side of Love: Gay Marriage”
Join members Al Hays, Staci Chananie-Hill, Mica Lorenz, Lara Martinsen-Burrell
and others who will share what equal marriage rights means to them and explore
the role a congregation such as ours can have as we stand on the side of love.

Fellowship (10:45 to 11:15am)
Children's Chapel (11:00 to 11:15am)
Sunday School (11:15 to 12:15pm)
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes
Sixty for Six: “What is Good About Religion” Islam with Dr. Pecen from UNI.
Buddhist Path: Join Ralph Burr and others in exploring Buddhist spiritual practices.

12:15 pm Outreach Committee meeting
2:00 pm Sunday Afternoon small group

This Coming Week
Tuesday
7:00 pm Board Meeting

Wednesday
(Please turn all calendar items in for newsletter)
WOW! Workshops on Wednesdays
5:00 pm NO Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 pm Adult Choir
6:30 pm Self Realization Workshop (high school room)
Artistic Fun Workshop
7:30 pm Theoretical String Band

Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path (balcony)

Friday
(Newsletter deadline)
7:30 pm Community Drum Circle

Saturday
10:00 am- 12:00 pm Yoga Workshop (Contact Deblyn Russell for more information)

Next Sunday: “Thanksgiving: Festival Sunday”
Join our drama team, choir and others as we celebrate the ample bounty of our
lives. Please bring a canned good or other item for the Food Bank. We will
have a “parade of food” during the service where the children will bring the
offerings up to the altar.

Other Items
I am wondering if someone is interested in hosting a Community Thanksgiving dinner in our building this year. I am generally out of town, but it occurs to me that we have many people who are single, or empty-nesters . . . who might really enjoy a big potluck type dinner with companions from our church community. Let me know if you'd like to host such an event!

Pastoral Update
Lots of people sick with flu or colds . . . Send everyone some extra love. AND, DON'T FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN!
Please let me know if you or someone you love should be included in our thoughts and prayers!



--
Rev Eva Cameron
minister
Unitarian Univesalist Society of Black Hawk Co.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-610-6605
www.uusbhc.org