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Windows on west side of sanctuary. |
First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois
www.firstuualton.org
Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister February 2012 |
FIRST UNITARIAN FOCUS
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Windows on west side of sanctuary. |
First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois
www.firstuualton.org
Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister February 2012 |
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February 5, 2012 “These Things We Pray” Rev. Khleber Van Zandt Progressives
have for a long time allowed the voices of the religious right to define
religious language in our culture. And
letting them do so has kept us from things that can be helpful. So when we pray, what are we
doing? And what does it all mean? February 12, 2012 9:30 am - “Cash
and Contradiction” Rev. Khleber Van Zandt Few
figures in recent history are more representative of American identity than the
late Johnny Cash. In his book Johnny
Cash and the Great American Contradiction, author Rodney Clapp calls for a
truce in our culture wars. We’ll explore
some of the contradictions inherent in the intersections between democracy and
religion, using Cash as the spokesperson for us common folks. 11:00 am - A play starring our children “Good King Wenceslaus” An intergenerational worship
service – no Children’s RE classes Come
be a part of what many of our kids have been working on throughout
January: an all-ages event full of new song
and timeless story and youthful energy. |
February 19, 2012 – Visitor Sunday “This Heritage Day, Our Herstory” Rev. Khleber Van Zandt In
our masculo-centric society, history may be told as just that: “his
story.” This Heritage Day, we lift up
HER story: remembering and celebrating
those who have been instrumental in our congregation’s women’s alliance known
as the Anna D’s. February 26, 2012 “Gandhi’s in Heaven” Rev. Khleber Van Zandt Mega-church
pastor Rob Bell ignited a firestorm on the Christian right a couple of years
ago when he came to the same conclusion that our Universalist forebears
did: everybody
gets to go to heaven, even a Hindu like Gandhi.
We’ll see why this is an important debate in our culture. Town Hall
Meetings to Let Everyone Have a Voice about the Upcoming Capital Campaign Sunday, February 12 – 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Sunday, February 19 – 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Sunday, February 26 – 11:00 am to 12 noon. |
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Adult Religious
Enrichment (ARE) Offerings at
9:30 & 11:00 am Nursery Care for
infants and toddlers as well as Activities for older children is provided at
9:30. Nursery Care and Religious
Education classes for children 3 and older are offered at 11:00. 9:30 am – in Emerson Place February 5 – Bible study –Tracey Howe-Koch February 12 – Introduction to Paganism – Michelle Bryant-Barbeau February 19 – Philosophy – Ron Glossop – Our second session on David Hume (1711-1776) will focus on his ideas about ethics (our views about right and wrong are based on empathy as much as reasoning) and religion (it is not rational to believe accounts of miracles such as the resurrection of Jesus, and religious beliefs have evolved and are not particularly helpful to morality). February 26 – Humanist / Non-theist Group – John Herndon 11:00 am – in the Minister’s Study Every Sunday “Spirit of Life." Various leaders. Spirit of Life classes seek to
bring meaning, beauty, inclusivity, and growth to Unitarian Universalist adults
as they deepen their spiritual awareness and connections. NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE Send Newsletter items by the 15th of each
month to the newsletter editor, Mary Johnson – mejohnson@mindspring.com and also to Becky Green in the church office church@firstuualton.org Church phone:
618-462-2462 Mail: PO Box 494, Alton IL 62002 |
I’ve
always loved old buildings, perhaps because they tell such great stories, or
because the presence of the people who’ve been there before is often so
palpable, or maybe because I appreciate things that are able to stick around in
spite of all the changes going on in the world.
I’m
not only interested in dilapidated old buildings, though - I also love old
buildings that have been updated to contemporary expectations of design and
energy efficiency. These seem to me
ultimate examples of the wisdom of recycling:
making something usable for the next generations instead of tearing it
all down and dumping it all into the trash heap. For
many years, people in this congregation have been talking about finding
solutions to the problems our old church building presents. And for several months now, they’ve gotten
serious about soliciting bids to help solve some of the more intractable
issues. For instance: -- Because the age and design of the kitchen
limits our ability to provide food service on a large-enough scale, we have
bids on renovating the kitchen and appliances so our own coffee hours and
potlucks are easier to arrange and so we can better fulfill our mission of
reaching out to and sharing meals with the neediest of our neighbors. -- Because the exterior wall of older,
single-pane windows across the Alby Street side of the building renders the
rooms on that side of the RE Wing extremely expensive to heat in the winter and
virtually unusable in the summer, we have bids on replacing the old glass,
rotten wood, and exterior asbestos siding with new energy-efficient insulated
glass and a reduced-maintenance, insulated wallboard that will make all those
rooms more welcoming and comfortable. -- Because our wonderful old building is perched
on the side of an impressive hill in Alton that makes it a challenge for anyone
trying to walk into our building, we are working on various possibilities for
parking near the building in order to better fulfill our mission of being
welcoming and inclusive, first to our present members who have increasing
mobility issues, but also to families with young children and to prospective
visitors of varying abilities. There’s
more on the list of possibilities, of course: roofing to be maintained and
turned ‘green,’, heating and air conditioning to be updated and replaced, an
elevator to solve accessibility problems.
Perhaps
you have ideas or concerns you’d like to share.
A series of Town Hall meetings will begin soon that should give everyone
in our congregation the chance to be heard as well as to learn more. Or you can forward comments or questions to
your minister or any member of the Board of Trustees. See you in church,
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Family Night @ Church When: Saturday, February 25, 6:00 pm Where: First Unitarian Church of Alton, Kate Wuerker Room What to bring: A Cajun/Creole
dish to share, drinks, breads of all kinds and don’t forget the KING CAKE! Sign-up Sheet in the Wuerker
Room Kids Welcome 4 and under, childcare available. We’re talkin’ red beans & rice,
jambalaya, gator stew.
Youth
Group News This
year, the Youth Group will be meeting on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
Sundays of the month from Jan - May. We
will be selling coffee between services on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Catherine
Oldt is doing a great job as our coffee coordinator. Lily Tade has been assisting. Youth need to
be sure to attend 50% of our meetings to be eligible to attend the awesome
Mini-Con we are planning for March 24th. Also, the BIG
NEWS: We have rented the Riverbender.com Community Center for our MINI-CON on
Saturday March 24 for our MINI-CON! Cathy Tade. |
Your
Church Board 2011-2012 President – Sayer Johnson President Elect – Marty Moore Johnson Past President – Cheryle Tucker-Loewe Secretary – Sarah Lazarz Treasurer – Jerry Johnson Trustee – Jim Moore Trustee – Don Allen Youth Rep. – Lily Tade Board meetings are the 2nd Wednesday each month at 7 pm and are open to the church members.
SAVE THE DATE! CAMPFEST II The 2nd annual congregation-wide campout at Pere Marquette
State Park will begin on Friday, June 1st at 2 pm and ending on June
5th at 11 am. Details to come … Camping Ministry Meeting Do you enjoy camping? Looking for a way to get involved in the life of our church? This may be the committee for you! We’ll meet every 1st Sunday following the second service. Questions? See Sayer Johnson or Juliette Crone-Willis. |
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Belleville Chalice Circle Every 3rd Thursday. Thursday, February 16 at 7 pm. Contact Don or Jan Allen for the location. Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle Every 3rd Saturday. Saturday, February
18 from 10 am to 2 pm
The UUA "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven"
workshop will continue this Saturday. Bring a lunch.
Parents Seeking Peace Chalice
Circle Every 3rd Sunday.
Sunday, February 19 from 12:15 to 1:30 pm in
Emerson Place at Church.
Men's Chalice Circle Every 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, February 28 at 7 pm at church. Contact: Khleber Van Zandt. The
GLBT Chalice Circle The last Sunday of each month. Sunday, February 26 at 12:15
Look for them on facebook under
“GBLT UU Chalice Circle - Alton, IL.”
To Contact
Rev. Khleber Van Zandt Email:
kvanzandt@uuma.org Cell
Phone: Missouri
– 314-223-0551 Illinois
– 618-520-0567 |
February Birthdays Most people enjoy
getting a card or email or phone call on their birthday. Below is the list we have 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 at church@firstuualton.org) and give
her that information. Feb. 1
Jeff Cassens Feb.
2 Mary Johnson Feb.
8 Leah Bailey Feb.
8 Nancy Conniff Feb.
11 Gene Eaton Feb.
11 Debora Miller Feb.
14 Megan Bryden-Wasoba Feb.
14 Yvonne Mccall Feb.
15 Amanda Grippi Feb.
15 Andrew Unangst Feb.
15 Dennis Bailey Feb.
17 Ron Glossop Feb.
17 Ryan Wasoba Feb.
23 Beth Bourland Feb.
23 Jack Morgan (9) Feb.
26 Donna Young
Support the Alton Crisis Food Center Please remember to buy “extra” when you do your
grocery shopping this month and put those “extras” in the food donation boxes
in the RE entrance foyer at church. |
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FOOD
MINISTRIES
Coffee Hour: Signup
sheets are in the Kate Wuerker Room for you to sign up to bring refreshments,
or to set-up for Coffee Hour, or to clean-up after Coffee Hour. Throughout
the year please volunteer at least once in each of these areas. Taking part in helping to make Coffee Hour
enjoyable for everyone is a great way to build community.
Pot Luck Lunches: Our
monthly lunches are held on the 4th Sunday following the second
worship service. In February that will be on February 26. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share
This is an all-church event so we all participate
in setting up and cleaning up, but Food Ministries members are the people
who help others find serving spoons, use the microwave, and give general
kitchen guidance.
4th Saturday Lunch February
25 Please consider coming to church to share a meal with our guests who
may be in less fortunate situations. Helping at our 4th Saturday
lunches are a way you can contribute your time and talent and also share a meal
with people you might not otherwise ever meet. We will have a sign up sheet as usual and appreciate everyone’s
contributions to this activity. |
Choir Rehearsals Help contribute to the joy of our Sunday services by
singing in the choir. All voices
invited! We practice after church two Sundays each month and on
two Thursday evenings each month. This
schedule allows people who can’t come out at night, or who can’t stay after
church on Sundays to have more opportunities to rehearse. The choir usually sings for services one Sunday
each month. Sunday – Feb. 5 – 12:30 to 1:30 pm
For further information contact Willis McCoy
http://cakesforthequeenofheaven.org/ Plan to join us on Saturday, February 18th at 10 am in the Kate Wuerker Room for Cakes for the Queen of Heaven, sponsored by the Renegade Women's Chalice Circle. Bring a sack lunch and perhaps a snack item to share! Questions? More information? Contact: Peg Flach. |
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General Information: One-half of the cash
collection and one-half of any
undesignated checks put in the collection on the 2nd and 4th
Sundays are given away to charitable causes.
The entire amount of a check
designated for a specific cause is donated to that cause.
The money donated does not
include pledge checks or money otherwise earmarked by the giver. February’s Community Outreach Offering will help enable one or more low income families to purchase shares in the Community Supported Garden at La Vista in Godfrey IL. http://www.lavistacsa.org/. The families themselves will pay 10% of the cost of a share. “Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) consists of a
community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the
farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the
growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and
benefits of food production. Members or shareholders of the farm or garden
pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and
farmer’s salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm’s bounty throughout
the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the
land. Members also share in risks, including poor harvest due to unfavorable
weather or pests.” — USDA definition Whole Shares (weekly) and Alternative (every two weeks) shares are available. A whole share is $550 and an Alternate Share is $300.
Condolences to Jeff Cassens on the death of his mother
in January. |
Irene B. Mondhink died on January 1, 2012 at the age of 85. She worked for many years as a supervisor at the Alton Mental Health Center. She was an avid birder and volunteered much of her time at local bird sanctuaries. As per her wishes, there were no services held for her, although friends at the January Anna Ds meeting shared memories of times spent with Irene.
Below is the current list of members of the Caring Ministries Committee. You may always contact one of them in time of illness, loss, crisis, or other need. Keep this list of contact people available in case you or your family is in need of pastoral support. |
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Interest GroupsThe ANNA DsWomen’s Alliance GroupThe Anna Ds will meet at 11:30 am on Thursday, February 2nd at Best Buffet & Grill located at 615 Wesley Dr. in Wood River, IL 62095. (618-258-1888) It's in the small strip mall by Taco Bell and Steak & Shake across the road from the entire Wal-Mart complex. RSVP to Sandy Shaner by Monday, January 30th. All women are invited to attend, whether or not they’re members of the Anna Ds.
The “Fifty Plusers” will meet on Saturday, February 4th from 10:30 am to noon in the Kate Wuerker Room. Afterwards,
as always those who can will continue the discussion over lunch. The Fifty-Plus
Forum is coordinated by Sandy Shaner, Pat Murrell, and Mona Hebert.
Sunday, February 5th from 1-3 pm. The SpiralScouts youth program includes interpersonal skills, traditional woodland lore, camping, and outdoor living skills. To check on meeting times or for additional information you may contact Amy Eichen, Primary Contact for RiverDragon Circle 254.
The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at 11:30 am on
Thursday, February 9th at the St. Louis Buffet,
672 Wesley Dr., Wood River, IL.
All Men in our Church Family are invited! |
Joining 1/22/12 ADAMS,
Will* (Madison, Will, Peyton, Daniel, Gina) (The online version of the newsletter
Greetings from Diamond Kharbithai One of the Unitarian Students in India Supported by our Community Outreach Offering. First of all let me wish you a very happy New Year 2012 to all the members of the Unitarian Church there. I pray to God that you have a fabulous and blessed year ahead. I was home for Christmas and New Year and I would be leaving Shillong on January 10 for my second semesters in BSc Nursing at Bangalore. My parents and my siblings spent quality time with each other during the festive days and we spent our time at home mostly. Let me tell you that all of us attended a special new year service at the Kharang Unitarian Church. We sang and prayed together for a prosperous year ahead. Not the least, but I do remember your church in my prayers everyday. I am thankful to all at your church for supporting me. It is indeed a blessing for me and in return I would like to give back my service to the people when I am done studying. Loads of Love and Hugs. Diamond Kharbithai |
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Pallottine
Renewal Center in Florissant www.EliotWomensWeekend.com Theme :
A Single Branching Tree The
long tradition continues - Eliot Chapel sponsors a time to retreat, relax, and
find community among other women. Please
join us at the Pallottine Renewal Center located in Florissant, MO. You
have a choice to spend one night or just come for the day. Women's
Weekend is a great time to relax, participate in exciting workshops, meet new
people and more. The
theme, "A Single Branching Tree", brings women together in one
community. Each woman is like a tree with many branches - branches of emotion, spiritual connection, creativity, unique relationships with others, and diverse experiences. Rev. Terry Davis will lead the Sunday worship service in the beautiful chapel at the center. This retreat is open to all UU women and friends including Alton, Emerson, and First UU St Louis. Register on-line at www.EliotWomensWeekend.com in February or contact Carolyn Burke at womensweekend@eliotchapel.org.
PLEASE … GIVE A BOOK A HOME Winter and snow are here, and inside is generally preferable to
outside. Do you have enough good books to get you through bad weather while you
curl up with somewhere cozy? If not, take a look at the church bookshelf by the
red door to the Kate Wuerker Room. New donations keep coming, so it's worth
checking frequently, and the prices stay the same: $1 for hardbacks and 50
cents for paperbacks. And, once you've read them, bring them back for someone
else to buy and enjoy until warm weather beckons you outdoors again. We have an
overflow of books right now and would like to be able to put out books as they
come in, but the shelves are full. |
2012 Monthly Electronic Recycling Drop Off Locations,
February through November 2012 ~ except Mother's Day and Easter Sunday Fridays 12 pm to 6 pm 1st
Friday Alton/Jerseyville Bank
of Edwardsville 4415
MLK Drive, Alton, IL 62002 2nd
Friday Collinsville Collinsville
Overflow Lot, 223
W. Main St., Collinsville, IL 62234 4th
Friday Glen Carbon/Edwardsville Bank
Of Edwardsville 2142
S. State 157, Glen Carbon, IL 62034 Saturday 10 am to 4 pm 2nd
Saturday Granite City America's
Central Port Former
Army Depot Commissary Parking Lot Seventh
and “A” Streets off RT 3 Granite
City, IL 62040 Sundays 10 am to 4 pm 3rd
Sunday Macoupin County Public
Works Parking Lot 21480
IL Route 4, Carlinville, IL 62626 4th
Sunday Hardin U of I Extension Parking Lot 818 S. Park Street, Hardin, IL 62047
You can
take your items directly to these processors/businesses for FREE
Cell: 618-593-2981 or office 618-463-2954 2700 Missouri Avenue Granite City, IL 62040 Toll Free: 866.470.5763 |
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February Schedule
February 12 The
Play! Good King Wenceslas Children’s Moment always ends
with “You have only two things to do:
have fun and learn something!” We
tell teachers that the curriculum is not what you teach from, but what you
teach with—if you can share with children who you are and what you value, that is what they will remember. While performing a play we learn how to
cooperate, work as a team, develop esprit de corps, take direction, achieve a
goal, and tell a story from which we can learn a lesson. Alas, if only our grown-up world could do as
much! Come witness our hard work and
join us as we tell a story of generosity and loving kindness. We return to our regular
religious education programming February 19, 2012. Youth Conferences (CON) March is a busy month for our
youth, so save the dates!
February 26 Religious Education Town Hall
Meeting—Emerson Place Room Come join us after second
service from 12:15 to 1:15 (vegetarian sandwiches will be served) as we discuss
our growing program, we will especially want your views on offering Religious
Education at both services. We have 70
children enrolled from nursery to senior high and more on the way; our average weekly attendance is 43 and we have
spiked at 60. 314.239.5694 (cell) |
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Men’s Lunch Group
