Congregation established 1836

Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois

www.firstuualton.org

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister

March 4^th

“What’s New About New Iberia?”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

In late February, this church sent an intergenerational group of folks to New Iberia Parish, Louisiana , to help with hurricane relief work.   This Sunday, members of the group will tell of their experiences and the challenges they faced and what we can learn from those who live in storm-ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast .

March 11^th

“It’s What You Do”

Cary Eustis, Lewis Intern at First Unitarian Church , Saint Louis

The surviving villagers of the Le Chambon Sur Lignon plateau region in South Central France did not understand what all of the fuss was about.   When asked why they had risked their own lives to help save five thousand people during the Nazi occupation of France , they said, as if the interviewers were daft, “It’s what you do.”   What seemed to be heroism to the outside world was a way of life for this population.   How was it that this group acted so courageously when it would have been so easy to do otherwise?

(See more about Ms. Eustis elsewhere in this newsletter)

March 18^th

“Here for Good”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

The only thing worse than having too much money is having too little of it.   And the only thing worse than having to talk about money is having to pretend that money isn’t important.   Good stewardship is the first requirement if this church is to continue to be a voice for good in the community.

March 25^th

“Close Encounters”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

During the Christian season of Lent, adherents are often asked to reflect on the places in their lives where they lack connection with the divine.   One area of possible connection - or disconnection - is our ability or inability to give to others.   What can we learn from our encounters with those who could use our help?

March 4 ^th – 9:30 a.m. – About the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)    Through advocacy, education, and partnerships, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee defends basic human rights, upholding the worth and dignity of every person and the interdependence of all life.  Come learn how we put our belief in these principles into action through the UUSC, Unitarian Universalism's voice for human justice and basic human rights.  This meeting will show you how you can get directly involved in UUSC's work and how you can not only become a member of our UU community but a member of UUSC.   Beth Nalick - Social Justice Committee Chairperson.

March 11 ^th – 9:00 a.m. – Welcoming Congregation.   This ongoing workshop is open to everyone and you need not have attended previous sessions to start attending now.   This program is designed to help congregations develop individual and institutional strategies in order to become more welcoming to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their families.

March 18 ^th – 9:30 a.m. – Forum Topic – “Globalization: Is it desirable?"   Is the economic and cultural integration of the whole world desirable? Is there something valuable about the diversity of life in different parts of the world that should be preserved rather than being lost?  Is it a good thing that all of humanity is being brought together into a single global society? Should something be changed about the way that this integration is taking place?   Ron Glossop will be the discussion leader.

March 25 ^th – 9:30 a.m. – “In Search of the Historical Jesus” – Facilitator: Beth Nalick.

A First Glance

Author Toni Morrison, receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature, told a story that went something like this:   There was once an old, blind woman who lived in seclusion.   Stories were told about her great wisdom.   A group of young people sought her out intending to mock her and have some fun.   One of the boys said to her, “I’m holding a bird in one of my hands.   If you’re so wise, tell me whether the bird is dead or alive.”

After a long silence, when the kids were beginning to have trouble choking back their laughter at their fine joke, the woman spoke in a soft but stern voice.  “I don't know whether the bird you are holding is dead or alive,” she said, “but what I do know is that it is in your hands.   It is in your hands.”  

In a similar way, the church is in your hands.  

If you’ve attended lately, you know the church is alive.   There’s an energy evident that many have commented on - children run to and fro, music fills the air, the place is abuzz with conversation and welcome.  

Our teaching programs are alive and well:   the “Our Whole Lives” series has begun to teach our youth about relationships and human sexuality.   The Forum and Historical Jesus class draw interested participants each month, and the Welcoming Congregation group continues to explore lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender issues.

And we reach out beyond ourselves.   A group of fifteen-to-twenty people has recently returned from Katrina/Rita relief work in New Iberia Parish, Louisiana , and they have plenty of stories to tell.   Our connection with United Congregations of Metro-East continues to deepen as well.

And how much more could we do?   All our programs are possible because of the generosity of our members and friends, and for their gifts we are grateful.   But what else would you like to see us do?   And how much more can you help?

Many of the world’s major religions suggest their adherents give away 10% of their goods each year.   Imagine what our congregation could do - and what a voice for good we could have in the community - if we could each give just half of that.

During this month of Canvass, please consider what the church is worth to you, and then fill out your pledge card.

And remember:   “It is in your hands.”

In gratitude,

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

from Cheryle Tucker-Loewe

On behalf of the Nominating Committee, I am happy to announce that we have three nominees for the three open board positions in the coming year. 

John Herndon has accepted the nomination for President-Elect;

Suganya Dhanamitt has accepted the nomination for Trustee;

Deanna Stacy has accepted the nomination for Trustee.

These candidates will be voted upon at the annual meeting on May 18 ^th.
The three departing board members are Gerry Gilman, Stacey Wolff, and Cheryle Tucker-Loewe.

“Our Heritage – Our Legacy”

Good News from the Endowment Committee

The collection on Heritage Day, February 11 ^th, amassed $1796 for the Endowment Fund.   

In addition, to start off Heritage Day, the Anna D.   Sparks Women’s Alliance (the Anna Ds) announced the transfer of their Certificate of Deposit, currently valued at $6,483.80, to the Endowment Fund.

Not including the two amounts cited above, the Endowment Fund value as of 12 Feb, 2007 is $115,291.89.

WOMEN'S WEEKEND – April 28 ^th - 29 ^th

[Note from Mary Johnson – I’m the Alton contact for this weekend.   Many of us from the Alton church have been to these weekends when they were down in Eureka MO.   This year’s location - the Pallotine Retreat Center - is only 10 miles from Alton (a couple miles from Jamestown Mall). Previously most of us have just gone for the Saturday activities, arriving for breakfast and staying through the evening events.   It’s a great way to spend a Saturday.   On March 4^th check out the website listed below and see what this year’s activities will include.]

Sponsored by Eliot UU Chapel - Women's Weekend features a wonderful variety of workshops, a swimming pool, Saturday evening entertainment, a White Elephant Sale and Worship Service on Sunday morning.  There is always time for relaxation and socializing. On-line registration will be available on March 4^th.   All UU Women and their friends are invited. For more information - check out the website.

http://www.eliotchapel.org/WW/

Pallotine Renewal Center - April 28-29, 2007

(A mile north of Lindbergh on Old Halls Ferry Road
in North County , MO. )

http://www.geocities.com/pallottinerenewal/

The Truth About Giving – Some Questions and Answers

Dear Pastor ,

A guy at my work said he hadn’t had any financial difficulties since he started tithing to his Christian church.   Is there a “scripturally-based” promise of financial security if we tithe?   Also, if UUs aren’t usually big on scripture, where does the idea of giving originate for us?

Very Interested Parishioner

Dear V.I.P.,

Yes, you can hear a ‘prosperity gospel’ preached in many churches these days.   What it often comes down to is this:   “If I believe/behave/give enough, then I will have riches both here and in heaven.”   If your guy can find that in the same Bible I read, then he's reading it way differently than I am.   There are Bible verses that indicate believers will be rich, but it seems obvious to me that you become rich in a spiritual way, not in a worldly-goods way.

But where does the ‘impetus to share’ come from for us UUs?   First of all, the scriptures of many of the world’s great religions point to the necessity of giving back a portion of one’s gifts.   (If, as you say, we UUs are not big on scripture, I think that’s a failing.   We ought to be searching for the truths to be found in all human experience, including the great religions, which means we ought to be paying attention to scripture of all sorts - not worshipping it as so many religious sects seem to, but at least paying attention to it.)

How do we know the truth when we’ve found it?   Ask ten UUs and you’ll get at least eleven answers, but since you asked me, I’d say we should rely on four things:

1.   Experience - we have to determine the truth for ourselves, meaning we test what we hear or see against what we’ve seen or heard before to see if it rings true.

2.   Reason - since experience can be so easily misperceived or misunderstood, we must rely on our sense of reason to test what experience tells us is true.   If it doesn’t make reasonable sense, it probably isn’t true.

3.   Community - after we’ve tested an idea against our experience and we’ve thought about it to see if it makes sense, we will often run an idea by others, because when we are too self-focused or -absorbed, we can run into very deep trouble.

4.   Revelation - here’s where scripture comes in, as well as any other possible insights one might receive from sources outside oneself or one’s community.   ‘Revealed ideas’ (revelations) may come from sources that include sacred or secular writings either ancient or contemporary, or perhaps messages from other sources (mystical and the like).

For example, my experience tells me I feel better when I give to others, so giving seems true by the ‘experience test.’   My reason tells me that I have far more material goods than most people who have ever been alive on earth and that one way to show my gratitude for that is to give to others, so giving seems true by a ‘reason test.’   The communities I’ve been a part of have each touted this giving message in their own way, so it seems true by the ‘community test’ that I should give.   And as for revelation, you know Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all instructed by their holy scriptures to tithe, so the need for giving seems true by the ‘revelation test.’

This is a long answer to a short question, V.I.P., but such is our tradition.   When you get a chance, please let me know what you find to be true about the idea of giving in your own life.   It’s an interesting thread you’ve started here that I hope you’ll share with others.

Thanks for asking,

Your Pastor

Dear Pastor ,

I’m really glad you didn’t say that I can expect to win the lottery if I get to the 10% tithing level - I’d be really disappointed when it didn't happen.

Thanks for the lesson,

Very Interested Parishioner

Do you have questions about giving?
Contact our pastor – The Rev. Khleber Van Zandt.

Notes from Jamie –

Director of Religious Education

1.   “ Our Whole Lives” class for the youth will meet on Saturday, March 24 ^th from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

2.   Please bring in your empty ink jet cartridges for recycling.   The basket is in the RE foyer.

3 .   Stop by the RE Book Hutch in the Kate Wuerker Room to shop book titles offered by Beacon Press and Skinner House Books.

Meet Jackie McDonough

I joined the church December 17, 2006, after attending sporadically for 6 months.   I moved to Alton a year earlier from Falls Church, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, DC .   I had lived and worked in the DC area for 25 years.   Health difficulties and severely compromised vision forced me to stop working a few years ago and while lying in a hospital bed watching the news coverage of New Orleans as it was hit by Hurricane Katrina I realized it was time for me to change where I lived.   I chose Alton after much contemplation.   My dear niece and her husband and children are here and her parents had planned to move soon.   It seemed the right place for me at this stage of my life.   While I still miss the big city and the familiarity of the monuments and government buildings and knowing my why around, I am settling into life in a smaller city with a slower pace where everyone seems to know everyone else.  

One of my desires in finding a church community was to find one where I could “belong,” not where I just went each Sunday to share in worship, but where I could get to know others and take part in service projects.   I believe I have found that in First Unitarian of Alton.   My church experiences in other times of my life have varied from a small country-like church of my childhood to large (2,500+ congregants) evangelical non-denominational fundamentalist Christian churches in my 20’s and 30’s.   I had never felt I was at home at these churches; I could not agree in my heart with the doctrine and dogma that I felt taught there.   I couldn’t find a place where I could be me, even if me was different than the majority of others.   I hope that I have found more of the feeling of “home” in First Unitarian.  

Prior to my retirement, I worked in large law firms in DC.   My last position of eight years was for a firm of 135+ lawyers in three offices.   I was their Chief Technology Officer, which is a fancy title for one responsible for the computer and telephone services.   I could not tear a computer apart and put it back together, but I could find and motivate staff who where quite capable at their positions.   I also was quite good at requesting, procuring and spending large annual budgets.   I adjusted to the non-employed world easier than I expected.   Moving from sixteen hour workdays to not working was scary but I had to concentrate on my own health.   With the grace of God and the support and help of dear family and friends, I have overcome a number of issues and now go to the gym 4-6 times a week and no longer use a cane or wheelchair (YEAH!).

I look forward to becoming more active at the church and meeting more of the members.

[ Every member who joined in 2006 has been asked to submit something about themselves for the newsletter.   If you joined in 2006 and haven’t had your information included, please send it to Mary Johnson, mejohnson@mindspring.com]

Here are the names of church members and friends who are celebrating birthdays this month.  If this is ‘your month’ and your name didn’t get included, we’re sorry.   For future months please let Mary Johnson ( mejohnson@mindspring.com ) know the day and month of your birth.

   3 March – Jerry Johnson

   5 March – Eowyn Wolff (2004)

  7 March – Dennis Nalick

14 March – Emily Sutton (1992)

15 March – Pam Loucks

16 March – Avery Myers (1996)

17 March – Megan Gross (2003)

25 March – Gerry Gilman

28 March – Emma Ray (1993)

4 ^th Sunday

Sunday Pot Luck Lunch

March 25 ^th

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

Everyone will be responsible for setting food out on the buffet table.

A-Mc will do Table Set Up

 M-Z will do Clean Up

(Note: when doing clean up please do not fold up all the long tables.   We want one or two left up with chairs around them.)

Anna D. Sparks Women’s Alliance

Thursday, March 8 ^th

(note this is the 2 ^nd Thursday)

11:30 a.m.

Weston Terrace Community Room

 United Methodist Village

Asbury Ave. , Godfrey , IL 62035-9923

This will be a brown bag lunch. Bring your own beverage.  Dessert will be provided. Please call or e-mail Lorna McElhone lornamce@aol.com) if you plan on attending. RSVP no later than Monday, March 5.

Directions to Weston Terrace from the church are as follows:   North on Alby Street , proceed past Alton Square . Approximately 1 mi. past Alton Square make a right from North Alby onto Wesley Way . Proceed .5 miles until Wesley Way dead ends.  Make a right onto Asbury Ave.  At this point you will be in front of Weston Terrace Assisted Living Facility.   Meet us in the Community Room so that we can all visit with long time Anna D. Sparks members Virginia Russo and Davona Paul.

CHOIR REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 1 ^st – 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 15 ^th – 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 25 ^th – following potluck.

Contact Willis McCoy for further information.

wbmccoy@charter.net

The UU Pagans

The UU Pagans will be meeting at the home
of Yvonne McCall on Saturday, March 31^st from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   to enjoy a Bonfire.

There will be no separate childcare provided.

For further information you may contact

Yvonne by phone or Stacey Wolff at Kartoffel@piasanet.com

News from the St. Louis Area Unitarian Universalist Council
(SLAUUC)

Are you interested in riding the train (Amtrak) to Portland , Oregon for the June 20 ^th – 24 ^th General Assembly?   If enough people are willing to sign up, a private train car can be reserved.   Contact Jim Moore, your SLAUUC representative if you are interested.

The Jefferson City Fellowship is planning an Open House for their new building on March 11 ^th.

The next SLAUUC meeting will be at Eliot Chapel on May 12 ^th.   Everyone is welcome to attend.   There may be a special presentation on Policy Governance presented by Rev. Daniel O’Connell.

“Here for Good ”

Every spring we have a chance to look ahead to new growth - in our gardens, in our children, in the world around us, and at church.   On Sunday, March 18 ^th we will begin our annual pledge drive during which you have the opportunity to decide what and how much you will contribute to the growth of our church and its good works.  

Your pledge supports the Religious Education Program, an office administrator, and a full-time Minister.   It supports music each Sunday, an informative newsletter each month, and the expense of heating and air-conditioning the building for year-round programming.   Your pledge and contribution provides childcare during services and - a new addition - childcare during Adult Religious Education events so that the parents of young children can participate.   Your support provides Fair Trade coffee and tea for coffee hour so we can visit and get to know each other each week and during special activities.   Your financial support allows church members and staff to attend training sessions and conferences to bring back new ideas to share with us all.  

Your contributions provide all this - in fact, we rely only on each other’s generosity for our programming.   Think of how much more you’d like the church to do, and give accordingly.  

Please keep these things in mind as you complete your pledge card and turn it in before April 8 ^th so that this church will indeed be “Here for Good”!

Sandy Shaner ,

Chair, Finance Committee

PARTY    PARTY   PARTY

Come hear Uncle John's band (okay – well – a little band and lot of CD's) on Saturday, March 3 ^rd at 6:30 p.m . at our annual spring party.  Don your psychedelic digs and groove on over to the Kate Wuerker pad for a"1960's Deadhead Experience."   It's a BYOB pot-luck; our main course will be pots of chili.   We need food, etc., so sign up to bring something during February coffee hours or email Cathy Tade cathytade@msn.com to sign up for an item.  Hip digs are encouraged, but optional – awards await the hippest threads and the most 1960's in-the-know trivia champs.

RE NEWS

Dear Parents and Friends,

I would like to start out this month with a quote that I dearly love.

"If your plan is for a year, plant rice. If your plan is for a decade, plant trees. If your plan is for a lifetime, educate children." -- Confucius

Right now, this church is in the process of doing all three of these things.   We are planning for the next year with the canvass and budget process.   We are planning into the next decade with the new goals and objectives that the board is in the process of developing.   However, we are also planning for a lifetime by educating our children.

 In the quote Confucius makes it sound like these are completely separate endeavors depending on one's level of personal commitment, but in a church setting all three of these time frames are interdependent.   We cannot hope to plan for the lifetime of our children if we cannot keep the doors of their classrooms open for the next year.   This is where our annual canvass comes in.

The religious education department of this church is fully funded by the operating budget.   We do not ask for registration fees, supply fees, or snack fees.   We are simply one of the program outlets of this church.   There are a lot of exciting things that we are doing in our classrooms this year.   We are moving forward with some new and progressive approaches to RE, and we have added some additional program offerings for our youth, both on Sunday mornings and at other times of the week with our new “Our Whole Lives” Sexuality Education Curriculum being offered for the first time in this church.   In order for us to keep offering more and exciting programming to people of all ages, we must have the resources, both human and monetary.

The new five-year plan that the board is currently working on is showing promise for even more expanded and exciting programming to come.   This may mean that I will be spending more and more time in my work for this congregation.   It may mean that the building is in use almost daily.   Hopefully it will mean that we will continue to grow both in numbers and personal experience.   Which will certainly mean that we will be spending more on snack and activity time.

Whatever all of this planning comes to mean, it is my hope that you will keep these things in your thoughts and hearts when the time is come for you to think about what it is that this community of learners means to you on a pledge card.

Thank you, Jamie Gross

Building and Grounds News

We had a very successful winter workday, with about 30 adults and children coming to volunteer. We were able to get a lot of small pesky jobs completed. Thanks to the following people, and also to those of you who didn’t get your name on the list:   Britney Brunner; Marcia Custer; Kirk, Susan, Luke, and Zak Folk; Gerry Gilman; Jamie, Andrea, and Megan Gross; Corinne Hawkins; Mona and Paul Hebert; John Herndon; Mary and Jerry Johnson; Ruth Maskow; Kevin, Amelia, and Margaret McCarthy; Brenda and Willis McCoy; Jackie McDonough; Jim and Pat Moore; Diane Thompson, and Khleber Van Zandt

Another workday will be scheduled this spring (date is still to be worked out).   We’ll focus on some outdoor cleanup, lighting installation, general cleaning, and a few small painting jobs.

Thanks again to all those folks who braved the cold weather to help with clearing sidewalks on those days when we’ve had snow or ice on Sunday mornings.   We will continue that as a volunteer project for next year.  

According to reports, the new dishwasher is working well.   Thanks again to Lucy Bouton and Beth and Dennis Nalick for providing it for us. Remember to use the Light Wash or Regular Wash cycles, and don’t use a heated dry. It’s OK to leave the dishwasher to complete its cycle after you’ve left the building.   The next person to work in the kitchen should put away the dishes from the last use.

Thanks also to Lorna McElhone for donating money to pay for the dehumidifier for the RE department. Donations are needed for the purchase of new sofas for the Wuerker Room.   The old couches will find homes in the nursery and play rooms.   Also, we could use a small microwave for use in the downstairs. Make donation checks to the church, with a notation of what the donation is for, or if you have an item to donate, please contact me.

Donations are also needed to replace the office computer to upgrade to the current Vista operating system.   This will help with internet security and will provide faster and better working conditions for our office administrator.   She has been working without an updated system for several years.   Anyone interested in purchasing the old computer (maybe for one of your children), call Becky Green at the church and make an offer.

We are looking for a lawn maintenance service for the coming season.   Is there a member interested in bidding on the job or do you know a good service to suggest?   Maybe one of you has had success with a service you use at home or at work.

I’m still seeking volunteers to take over the jobs of recycling and restocking the soda supply.   Anyone interested?   Both jobs require doing about once a month, as you have the time.

Pat Moore

Building and Grounds Chairperson

Welcome to Our Newest Members

We’re Glad You Joined!

On Sunday, February 11 ^th the following people signed the membership book. Pictures of new members will soon be posted on the Bulletin Board in the Kate Wuerker Room.     Please take every opportunity to get to know them and make them welcome.

Thomas and Nancy Sakalauski

Jennifer Herndon

John Crawford