Congregation established 1836

Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois

www.firstuualton.org

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister

January 6^th

“Passing ‘Go’ - It’s More Than Collecting $200”

Rev. Susan Palmquist

Chaplain, BJC Hospice

As we begin the new year it is a time to reflect on how we move forward.   There are many metaphors to think about, like “going through motions,” “wiping our slate clean,” “running in circles” - which of these does or does not work for you?    Together we will look at the meaning of the new year.

January 13^th

"The Role of Religion in Politics"

Dr. Ronald Glossop, Professor Emeritus

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

With an election coming up later this year, much discussion is taking place about the role of religion in politics.  What is its proper role?   What has been the tradition in the United States from its early years up to the present?   What can be done to restore the Enlightenment faith of the country's founding fathers?

January 20^th

“Our Checkered Legacy”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

It might be easy to believe the Unitarian Universalist movement has always been on the side of justice as far as questions of race are concerned.   But the real story is not always pretty.   On this Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend we’ll explore our history of prejudice and progress, and look for glimmers of hope amidst the ashes.

January 27, 2008

“The Spirit of Leadership”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

In A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, the late Edwin Friedman worried that the United States has developed into a state of cultural regression, can no longer evolve as a society, and is destined now to suffer a long decline.   How can we keep from replicating this situation as a church and in our personal lives?

January 6^th – Environmental Discussion:   “Housing and Energy.”   Discussion Leader:   John Crawford.

January 13^th – To Be Announced.

January 20^th – Forum:   “Is the Bible 'the Word of God’?”   Even Presidential candidates are being asked whether they believe the Bible is “the Word of God.”   One can also ask whether the Quran (or some other revered scripture) is “The Word of God.” Why would anyone think that a book is “The Word of God?”   But doesn't a religious group need some kind of authority indicating what the group is committed to?   Discussion Leader:   Ron Glossop.

January 27^th – A DVD Series: “From Jesus to Constantine: A History of Early Christianity.”   Facilitator:   Rev. Khleber Van Zandt.

A First Glance           The changing of the calendar is a good time for taking stock and for listing one’s blessings.   As I move into the new year, I am mindful of a few moments from the last twelve months that I’m not yet ready to let go of.   I’ll recount a couple of notable events that bookend the past year for me.

First of all, our trip to Louisiana in February was full of moments that made a deep and lasting impression on me.   Initially, I was surprised that so many of us (seventeen) could travel to the Gulf Coast for Katrina/Rita relief work - it was an entire week, after all, and we lead such busy lives that I didn’t expect so many to be able to go.  

Once we got down south, the work seemed so overwhelming that I thought we wouldn’t be able to get anything accomplished - not enough tools on hand, not enough hands with expertise, not enough time for training those hands, but nowhere else to turn for help.  

As the days progressed, my concerns were proven wrong on all fronts.   Tools appeared.   Then untrained workers formed into teams and quickly picked up difficult skills.   They shared tools effectively and pitched in wherever they were needed to get the job done.   I couldn’t believe how much we were able to get done in the short time we were on site at the two houses we were assigned to help with.

I will always be grateful to each of the people who went, but I especially will remember the kids:   Amelia and Maggie helping to cut pieces of drywall, and Alex and Ian driving screws into it to install the pieces on the walls.   (And the mile-high platter of crawfish Ian ate at the local restaurant was something to behold as well!)

The second event occurred as Christmas approached in December.   I was leaving church late one night after a Board of Trustees meeting when I had another unforgettable moment.   The fog had rolled in off the river after dark and all the city lights were twinkling in the mist.   As I turned and looked back up at the west side of our building, I heard what sounded like a brass duo begin to play a spirited rendition of The First Noël.  

I stood in the cold, taking in the scene.   I was not scared, of course - the music was not ghostly, but coming from Emerson Place where John and Ted were rehearsing for pieces they would play at worship that week.  

           A tear came to my eye, and as I watched the lights shimmer and listened to the old tune, I thought about how blessed I am to be a part of First Unitarian Church of Alton.

Happy New Year to you and yours,

  Mark Your Calendars

       A Quick Guide to

this Month’s Happenings

CHOIR   PRACTICE   SCHEDULE

You don’t have to be able to attend each choir practice to join the choir.   Practice is held at 7 p.m. on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month and at 12 noon on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of each month.

January’s  rehearsals:

Thurs., January 3^rd

Sun., January 13^th

Thurs., January 17^th

Sun., January 27^th

Contact Willis McCoy for further information.

wbmccoy@charter.net

Chalice Circles

The GLBT Chalice Group will be meeting the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays after church at Eliot Chapel in Kirkwood, MO.   Lunch is at 12:15 p.m. at Kaldis on Lindbergh, near Eliot Chapel.   The Chalice Group meets at the Chapel from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m.   Contact Layne Simpson layne3030@hotmail.com for more information.

Renegade Women

Saturday, January 19^th – 3 to 5 p.m. at Church

Contact:   Marcia Custer mcuster@siue.edu.

The Saturday afternoon Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle invites all who may seek lively fellowship to join us.  We rotate session leadership and topics have included general organization, two book discussions, an afternoon of poetry, exploring the development of deeper listening skills, and sharing favorite holiday memories; all within the context of getting to know each other more intimately.

Third Sunday Chalice Circle

Sunday, January 20^th – 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at

Church

Contact:   Sandy Shaner sarapolarbear@hotmail.com

This is a “general” chalice circle welcoming all.

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

Sunday, January 20^th – 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. in Emerson Place at Church

Contact: Diane Thompson at dianeelizabeththompson@gmail.com or

Cheryle Tucker-Loewe at chtucke@siue.edu.

Men's Chalice Circle

Tuesday, January 22^nd – 7 p.m.

Contact: Khleber Van Zandt kvanzandt@uuma.org .

Men’s Lunch Group \

The men’s lunch group will meet on Thursday, January 3^rd at 11:30 a.m. at The China House – 615 Wesley Dr. in Wood River near the new Wal-Mart.   Contact Nelson Shaner for further details   nshaner@charter.net

CRISIS FOOD CENTER

The Crisis Food Center has provided quality food to a record number of 2,300
families during 2007. David Blackburn, Executive

Director of the Center, acknowledges that our church’s contributions together with all the community support have been responsible for the success of this program. He states that without
these generous, caring partners, the Crisis Food Center could not survive another month. Remember to bring your canned foods and donations to church this month to continue our tradition of helping and

giving. Thank you for your donations.       

Jen Politsch

Anna Ds

Community Outreach

The collection on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays is given away to charitable causes. The money donated does not include pledge checks or monies otherwise earmarked by the giver.   The Outreach Offering only includes “cash offerings” or checks indicating that they are to be included in the donated funds.  

November’s community outreach offering of $375 was sent to the Unitarian Universalist Fellows hip of Cape Girardeau, a new congregation. In December the offering went to the Oasis Women’s Center and the Crisis Food Pantry, along with the Christmas Eve offering to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.   In January the offering will go towards the Louisiana relief work to be undertaken in February by members and friends of the church.

^{4 th} Sunday

Sunday Potluck Lunch

January 27^th

Bring a dish to share and plan to stay after church to join in food and fellowship!

A-Mc will do Table Set Up

M-Z will do Clean Up

Photo Negatives are Missing

Audrey Wiseman writes that Virginia Russo is missing some of Joe Russo’s photo negatives that she prizes very much, and asks that if anyone knows where they are, or has an idea where they might be, that they get in touch with Audrey audie@piasanet.com.

Happy Birthday

Most people enjoy getting a card or email or phone call on their birthday.   Below is the list of church members and friends celebrating birthdays this month.   If you don’t think the church office has your birthday on file, please contact Becky Green ( church@firstuualton.org) and give her that information.

   2 January – Alex Gross

   3 January – Lisa Smithe

  6 January – Annie Kellie

11 January – Glenn Brunner

12 January – Meredith Ray

25 January – Caleb Tucker-Loewe (2000)

25 January – Erin Herndon (1992)

26 January – Doug Leavell

30 January – Deb McNaughton

Please introduce yourselves to our newest members and add their names to your directory.

(Addresses and phone numbers are not included in the online newsletter.   Please check the printed copy at church for this information.)

Martha Arnold

meaw60@charter.net

Kate Whitaker

soccershortie17@yahoo.com

In Our Church Family

The sympathy of the congregation goes out to Stacey, Mark, Freya and Eowyn Wolff on the death of Stacey’s father, Logan Henry Betz, on December 1, 2007

Davona Paul, a church member since 1950, fell in late November and sustained four fractures in her hip and leg.   She is recuperating at Rosewood Care Center in Alton ( 3490 Humbert Road ) and would enjoy having visitors and receiving cards.

Workshop to Focus on Congregations and the Environment

Caring for Creation by Going Green is the title of a Workshop sponsored by the United Congregations of Metro East (UCM) Alton Cluster, of which our church is an active member.

The workshop will examine the realities of global warming and consider appropriate individual, congregational, and community responses in advocating for environmental sustainability.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, February 9^th from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the National Great Rivers Museum located at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam off Highway 143.

Registration is at 8:30 a.m. with an eco-justice worship service beginning at 9 a.m.   Following will be a session entitled “Greening Our Congregations and Communities” where specific ways of becoming more environmentally friendly will be discussed.   The second session will focus on Cool Cities – an initiative to help communities like Alton commit to smart energy solutions to help reduce global warming.  Lunch will begin at noon with an opportunity for discussion and sharing of ideas.

Lunch is included in the $10 Workshop registration fee.   Advance tickets can be purchased from Mary Johnson or Wayne Politsch.   Tickets will not be available at the door.   Seating is limited so if you’re interested in attending, get your ticket soon.

If you have questions about the Workshop please talk to Wayne or Mary.   Flyers will be posted in the Wuerker Room.   We hope that our church is well represented by attendees at the Workshop as its theme fits so well with our 7^th Principle – “. . . respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”

KNITTING GROUP

The knitting group will meet on Saturday, January 12^th from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the church.   If you weren’t able to attend the meeting last month, come this month anyway.   Questions?   Contact Sandy Shaner at   sarapolarbear@hotmail.com.

Recycling as Community Outreach

Lucy Bouton is now managing our recycling from the kitchen bins and she writes – “As a small contribution to our community outreach effort, we are now giving our used and rinsed soda cans to Joey – a well known figure in the Upper Alton area.   In spite of having some real physical challenges, Joey works hard at collecting and selling aluminum cans and is able to completely support himself.   Joey takes pride in being self-sufficient and the fact that he does not have to accept State welfare.”   Thank you Lucy for helping our recycling efforts.

RE NEWS

Dear Parents and Friends,

Who is your child’s Religious Educator?   Many of you would, of course, answer that I am.   After all my job title is Director of Religious Education.   Others may answer that it is the classroom teachers who are actually doing the Religious Educating of your children, since they are the ones who are in the classrooms week after week with your child.   While we do participate in the Religious Education of the children of the church, I would contend that as with most areas in life you are doing far more of the Religious Education of your child than anyone else.  

The teachers and I are only with your children for 52 hours a year, and that assumes perfect attendance.   There is only so much that can actually be imparted in that amount of time, and part of that time is spent on the process of building a community of Unitarian Universalist Children.   While that time is very important, and a lot of knowledge is imparted this way, you are the only ones that can share your personal religious values with your child.  

How can this be accomplished?   Whenever you are in the process of “Living out your Faith,” share this with your child.   Explain why it is you do what you do, and how you feel that you are living as a Unitarian Universalist.   It is only through this kind of “Faith in Action” that our children will truly see what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist adult.

We have a great advantage in our religion that we are able to choose for ourselves what exactly it means for us to be a Unitarian Universalist, and speaking as a parent as well as a professional Religious Educator, it is very important and exciting for me to pass this freedom of thought and conscience onto my children as well as yours.

Thank you, Jamie Gross

Louisiana Work Trip

Volunteers Needed!

Last February the church sent a group of volunteers to New Iberia Parish, LA.   We worked with Southern Mutual Help Association rebuilding houses damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.   Everyone who went found the experience rewarding and moving.   There was also plenty of time to enjoy the culture and food of the Gulf Coast .  

We will be returning to Louisiana this coming February to work wherever SMHA needs us. It may or may not be in the New Iberia area.   Our 2008 work week is scheduled from Monday, Feb. 18 through Friday, Feb. 22.   Carpooling will be arranged among volunteers.

No experience in construction is necessary, only a willingness to work hard.   Children and youth are welcome.   SMHA will provide a place for us to stay, with cooking and laundry facilities.

If you plan to come with us, or have questions, contact Kevin McCarthy at dissimilator@gmail.com..

Those that would like to volunteer should fill out an online profile at SMHA's web site and send it directly to SMHA. http://southernmutualhelp.org/VolunteerProfileForm.cfm