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Weekly Update of the
Unitarian Universalist Society
of Black Hawk County
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Hello!
I’ve heard that many of you are off on adventures this coming week. I hope you have a lot of fun, and wish you safe travels. And for those of you staying behind, or with differing spring break weeks, I am sorry our church schedule is so slim this week. We are a volunteer run organization and its amazing to see just how much get done every week--when we see a week where not many people are around. So let’s all take this as a reminder to be thankful all the many helping hands that make our community life rich and meaningful by the energy they give to it, to us.
This week I continue on with our book on the 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life. I hope that if you are in town, you’ll come join me on Sunday!
I also hope you’ve gotten a chance to get outside and enjoy some of the wonders of nature. The full moon has been stunning, and the migrating birds have brought many bald eagles and other fun water birds to Big Woods Lake. These things are always such a joy for me. May you have many moments of joy this week as well.
See you in church!
~Eva
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This Sunday 3/11/12
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Don’t Forget to set your clocks ahead for Daylight Savings Time!
8:30 am Music Rehearsal
9:30 am Service: “Charter for Compassion, Part 3”
Rev. Eva Cameron; Judy Harrington (Worship Associate)
After having a break, we continue our sermon series on the Twelve Steps to Compassion.
This week we explore the steps of “How Little We Know”, “How Should We Speak to One Another?”
and “Concern for Everybody”
No Children’s Chapel or Children’s RE
11:15 am Adult Religious Education: Immigration Stories, Part 3
In keeping with this year's UUA theme of Immigration Reform, this ongoing series is dedicated to immigration issues. Our focal point will be the UUA "common read" book The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands. Books are available for purchase - contact Sally Browne for details.
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Calendar for this Coming Week
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Tuesday
7:00 pm Religious Services Council
Wednesday Calendar Deadline
no Wednesday evening activities
Thursday
7:30 pm Buddhist Path
Friday Newsletter Deadline
All events are open, unless specifically stated. We invite all who are interested to attend any meeting or activity that sounds intriguing to them.
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Office Announcements
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The April calendar and Newsletter deadlines are this next week during Spring Break (March 14 & 16). Please get your information to us ASAP (before leaving town?).
The March newsletter is available as follows:
- for downloading UUSBHC March newsletter
- paper copies are available in the fellowship hall at church.
- Also let the office know if you would prefer to receive the newsletter by email administrator@uusbhc.org
Stay Informed/Keep Us Informed:
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Pastoral Update
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We heard from Dick Shane’s niece that his health continues to decline. He still is fairly lucid, and would love visitors. We recommend that you not hesitate to wake him up if he is sleeping when you arrive. He sleeps a lot these days. Also, speak clearly and loudly, since he is very hard of hearing. John Miller was in to see him today, and Esther and Jansaw him yesterday. He is at Lakeview Landing, room 1010.
Don Wendt and Dottie Forsberg, continue their slow decline. Although they may or may not remember you. It is certain that their spouses (Dotty and Gordon) would appreciate your company as they are both spending many hours tending and watching them. They too are in Lakeview Landing. Esther saw them as well, and said she was surprised how well they still look.
Glenyce Butschy had a fall last week and now is in Assisted Living across from Willowood apts. for a while. She is in room 204. Her phone is 266-3766.
∞∞∞∞§§§§§§∞∞∞∞
Sending love and hope to anyone who is hurting. Please reach out and let us know. And please, let me know of any other pastoral updates to include from week to week. People want to know, and send you love, prayers or bring you a pot of soup! ~Eva
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Church Announcements
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Attending District Meeting or GA?
Are you planning on attending the Prairie Star District meeting or General Assembly? We need to appoint delegates to vote on any business that comes before these bodies. Please let me know if you are planning on attending. John Miller
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Photo Directories
The photo directories have arrived and will be available at the scrip table. One per family. We also have a half-sized directory for folks that want an additional copy. Also, a PDF version will be available for your computer or portable device. Contact the office and we'll email it to you.
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UU Garden
Todd Munnik has agreed to captain the effort to grow a garden this summer! If you are interested in helping out, please seem him. Look for more information in the upcoming weeks. It will take a village to grow our garden, but with a bit of leadership--we will all have some fun with it! Thanks Todd!
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Children’s Religious Education Notes
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No RE During Spring Break
There will no children’s RE on March 11th and 18th.
There is also no Children’s Chapel during this time. Enjoy your break!
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Alternative Activities and Nursery
During Spring Break (March11th and 18th) there will be No Alternative Activities during the service due to lack of staff. There will be nursery care available.
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Church Events
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UU Mystery Friends in April!
Kids and Adults, would you like to develop a new multi-generational friendship at the UUSBHC? UU Mystery Friends would be a great place to start!
Participate in this fun and easy program in April where RE students ages 4-18 sign up to become a mystery friend of an adult member of the congregation who has signed up to participate as well. During each week in April, the mystery friend will provide their child letters and/or trinkets. We will have a reveal party on Sunday, May 6th.
Sign up starting Sunday and through March. You can go to http://www.uusbhc.org to print off a registration form or pick one up from Moria Brown during coffee hour.
If you have any questions, please contact Angie Stafsholt or Moria Brown.
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Family Movie Night
Mark you calendars for Friday, March 23rd for the first ever Family Movie Night! Doors open at 6:00, show begins at 6:30. Popcorn will be served.
and the movie will be.....BOLT!
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The Joy of Giving: 2012- 2013 Stewardship Campaign
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Stewardship update
thanks for all of you who have returned your pledge forms for 2013. We have collected pledges for over $70,000, but are looking to make a budget closer to $124,000. A pledge form is at the bottom of the Update to use if you haven't made your pledge yet. Please consider doing so today. Every pledge enables us to continue the wonderful programs of UUSBHC. You can fill it out electronically and just email it back to me.
Questions, contact Shanlee McNally (319)296-2780 or stewardship@uusbhc.org
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In the words of Fia B. Scheyer:
Take joy in your giving
you not only enrich your soul,
you also enrich all of creation.
Giving is a simple act
that becomes a great occasion
for the benefits are incalculable.
It is with these words that we ask you to focus on your life in the UUSBHC. How does this life sustain you; make you better, give you peace, make you happy, challenge you to think, give you a place to worship, surround you with love? Take a moment to realize the importance of UUSBHC in your life.
Your giving during the stewardship campaign enables us to function as a lively religious community, to meet our program goals and our financial obligations. It is an endorsement of our shared future, guaranteeing that we remain a vital liberal religious presence in the community. This presence makes a difference in the world, sets an example for our children, and allows our church to thrive
As you consider your pledge for the coming year, please remember how good it feels to give….your time…..your treasure…..your talents. All the ways you give are important and sustain this rich community we value.
How much should I pledge?
The amount you pledge is completely up to you and your ability to give. We do not require any minimum amount. A “Fair Share” giving guide is printed on the back of your pledge sheet to assist you with determining what you might give. By becoming a Fair Share giver, you enable the UUSBHC to better translate your UU values into the actions of the congregation. This benefits not only you and your family, but the greater UU community as well. Remember, $81 of your pledge goes to meeting our denominational membership dues to the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Prairie Star District.
Your Stewardship questions answered:
When do I pay my pledge?
The pledge you make is for the July 2012-June 2013 program year. It is not necessary to make any payment until July 2012. If you wish to pay on your pledge early, make sure to indicate it is for the 2012-2011 year when making the payment. This will let us credit the correct pledge year. Monthly payment plans are also available should you chose to spread your payment out throughout the year.
Can I just put cash in the collection plate when I attend services?
Of course we welcome your free will offering, but pledging allows us to budget responsibly. By making a pledge we can easily track the amount given and budget according to what pledges will be.
I volunteer a lot, so do I still need to make a pledge?
Volunteering of your time is an essential and much appreciated gift to our society. However, being a member means contributing both your time and money. Both types of contributions are important to a healthy church community.
Can I change the amount of my pledge?
We would welcome any increase in your contribution. If, however, your life circumstances have changed and you need to reduce your pledge, simply contact Shanlee McNally to make the necessary adjustment; 319-296-2780 or stewardship@uusbhc.org
Pledge Form is at the bottom of this Weekly Update.
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Wider Faith: UU Events and Opportunities
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A Frame is Worth a Thousand Words -
A Workshop on Communication for Social Change
Hello!
I want to invite you to a valuable workshop on Saturday, March 31, at First Unitarian Church that all Iowa faith leaders and congregants interested in social justice work should consider attending. You'll come away understanding how to more effectively “frame” your messages and impact social change. Whether we're writing a letter to the editor, speaking publicly, or just casually conversing with others on issues we care about, it can be hard to frame our message so others can hear it. Learn ways to bridge the gap of understanding around politically-charged issues and build community and relationships across differences of opinion or belief. The Social Justice Council is underwriting and bringing Rev. Karen Hering and her program to Iowa to help enhance the work of all our social justice programs and projects.
Doug Aupperle
Social Justice Council Member
First Unitarian Church, Des Moines, IA (515) 244-8603
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Installation of Quad Cities UU’s New Minister
The UU Congregation of the Quad Cities is pleased to invite you to attend the installation of their new minister, Rev. Jay Wolin on March 18th at 5pm. Rev. Eva will be participating in this service.
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PSD Annual Conference 2012: April 13-15
Lessons from War and Peace
Wars and rumors of wars are so much a part of our lives that we often fail to consider that a truly peaceful world is possible. Prairie Star District takes up this theme, "Lessons from War and Peace; Stories of Hope, Faith and Courage," at its Annual Conference, April 13-15, in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Two challenging speakers will present the theme for the weekend. Reverend Jim Eller, who has spent many years working on issues of reconciliation will present the keynote speech on "The Glory of Courage and the Joy of Reconciliation." The Judy Memorial Lecture by Thomas Weiner is "The Toll War Takes on All Who Are Called to Serve."
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This weekend conference is a time to meet with UUs from our eight-state area to talk and share together our insights, questions and hopes. How can we apply our UU principles to the difficult questions of war and its costs, economic, physical and emotional.
Middle and high school youth will be attending their own Con within the conference -"ConScience," which will explore the way UUs make moral decisions, especially as they relate to war and peace. The conference will have many activities throughout for youth and younger children.
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Community Announcements
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The War on Drugs – Is it time to reconsider?
March 26, 2012 at 7:00 PM University Room, Maucker Union
Speaker: Major Neill Franklin, Executive Director, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
Lecture followed by reaction panel of university and community experts.
The War on Drugs was initiated in the 1970s in response to a perceived national problem of increased drug usage, particularly among the young. Since then, drug enforcement efforts have cost billions of dollars in federal, state, and local funds. In addition, the rapid increase in the number of individuals convicted for drug offenses and the length of their incarceration is primarily responsible for the fact that the United States has one of the highest per capita incarceration rates of all the nations of the world. Moreover this incarceration involves grossly disproportionate numbers of people of color. Finally, a number of studies seriously question the effectiveness of the War on Drugs in reducing the rates of drug addiction in our country.
Our speaker served in law enforcement for 34 years, in the Maryland State Police and the Baltimore Police Department. During much of that time he served as a narcotics agent. His remarks should encourage us to reconsider what our country is doing to address the drug problem and will open a dialog on what new, more appropriate responses should be.
Sponsors: UNI Public Policy Program, UNI Public Policy Club, UNI Student Government, and the Citizens for Undoing Racism Task Force on the War on Drugs.
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July, 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013 Stewardship Pledge Form
Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County
3912 Cedar Heights Dr., Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Name:
Address: Zip:
Phone: E-mail Address:
I/we wish to make the following financial commitment to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County for the July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013 program year.
Amount of financial commitment: $ _______________________
Prairie Star District Affiliation Dues $23.00
Unitarian Universalist Association Affiliation Dues $58.00
Total financial commitment to Unitarian Universalism
for the July 2012—June 2013 program year. $ _______________________
Signature:____________________________________________________Date: _______________
Thank you for participating in this year’s Stewardship Campaign. We appreciate your ongoing support for the UUSBHC and our denomination, and in helping to continue a liberal religious presence in our community. It is understood that financial circumstances may change during the course of the year. In the event that you need to revise your financial commitment please contact Shanlee McNally, Stewardship Chair stewardship@uusbhc.org or 319-296-2780
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