Weekly Update - 1/22/10~~~This has been a rough week for many of us, as we watch, listen and read about the continual unfolding of the painful life and death stories in Haiti. The individual images and stories shake us into the reality that is unfolding thousands of times over, in a mind-boggling amount of suffer, with bursts of great joy. I find it hard to take in. And read something this week that a scientist has been studying the human capacity to feel compassion. They are learning that we are less able to feel compassion for groups of people suffering than for one person. They even studied the difference in human reaction and deciding to help, from one person needing help, to just two people. Even with two people, we humans had less of a desire to help. As I pondered what this meant, to me as someone who wants to feel compassion for the world …I realize that I have to pay attention the most to the small stories, the picture of the individual. Allow my heart to open to that one person, and not let the fact that that person is multiplied by 20,000 (or however many) blind my heart to their individual plight. At the same time, we can only feel compassion when we are feeling safe and strong enough to not be consumed with our own survival. So I am doing what I can to notice all that is good and right--in my own life, and in the world around me. I am listening to cheerful music, and sending my friends notes of cheer and thankfulness. An attitude of gratitude sure can make a difference. While I'm at it, have I said lately how thankful I am to be your minister, and to have the gentle presence of your lives as a witness to what it means to be human.
See you in church! ~Eva
This Sunday:
8:30 am Music Rehearsal:
8:30 - TSB rehearsal
9:30 am Sunday Service: "Chalice Lighter Sunday" with Rev Eva Cameron.
Jim Paprocki &, Al Hays (Worship Associates)
Join us as we share with you some news about the Chalice Lighter program of our District.
Our neighboring UU congregations have been using the funds for projects.
Just what have they been up to? Come learn about this fun UU way to share and help each other. Be inspired by their visions!
10:45 am Fellowship Time
11:00 am Children's Chapel
11:15 am Sunday School for children & youth
11:15 am Adult Classes
Sixty for Six: "Anglo-American Christianity" Pastor Mark Lukisch of the local
Seventh Day Adventist Church will present. (balcony)
TRIBE: Team, rhythm, instruments, & body ensemble (sanctuary) with TIm Purdum
This Coming Week
Monday
6:00 pm Cedar Prairie Vegetarian Potluck
Wednesday
5:00 pm Children's Choir
5:30 pm Dinner (Please RSVP)
6:15 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)
Other items
UU's Lobby on the Side of Love!
Calling all Iowa Unitarian Universalists to stand on the side of love to
protect marriage equality for all Iowans! Join together at the Iowa Capital
Building in Des Moines on Wednesday, February 10, to talk personally with
your state legislators about why you support equal protection under the law
for all Iowans. Encourage the legislators to support it, too, by opposing a
state constitutional amendment that would take civil marriage rights away
from lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Iowans. This effort is
part of One Iowa's Lobbying Day. One Iowa is a state-wide advocacy
organization working for full equality for all LGBT people, including
preserving the right to civil marriage.
The goal is to bring 100 UU's representing every UU congregation in Iowa to
the Capital for this event. Make sure our congregation is
well-represented! Can you think of a more worthwhile way to spend a half or
whole day of vacation, adding your voice to this important cause?
Meet at 8 a.m. in front of the Judicial Building (across the street south of
the Capital) for pastries, hot beverages, and a group photo. Registration
and training are from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at 315 E. 5th St. Then proceed to the
Capital to start talking with legislators at 10:45. You can leave whenever
you wish. If you stay until 2 p.m., there will be a closing reception at
the Capital. Don't forget to wear your "Standing on the Side of Love"
T-shirt, too, for the group photo! Contact Allen Hays at allen.hays@uni.edu,
319-266-8406, to get more information and sign up. We will be carpooling from church.
Pastoral Update
Jen Zeck has been hospitalized in Iowa City for some diagnostic work. She's not feeling well, and they aren't certain what is wrong yet. She would appreciate calls to cheer her up. 319-353-9861) We will keep you posted, as we learn more.
--
Rev Eva Cameron
minister
Unitarian Univesalist Society of Black Hawk Co.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-610-6605
www.uusbhc.org
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