March 6

“God, Atheism, and the Evolution of Religion”

Dr. Ronald Glossop, Professor Emeritus, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

The word “God” has been used in many different ways, but it usually implies both power and goodness.  I think a good way of understanding “God” is as “a force working for good.”   A persistent problem for religion has been the Problem of Evil, especially if God is viewed as all-powerful.  “Atheism” is an ambiguous word which may mean not believing in any kind of God at all, or it may mean not accepting a supernaturalist view about gods. Religion is still evolving, but older notions about the gods and God continue.

March 13

(Daylight Savings Time Begins)

 “Now Let Us Sing”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Lifting our voices together in song, we give expression to the often-hard-won harmony we have forged among us.  Whether in praise, thanks, or lament, singing together helps us learn to receive from and give back to those we sing with, even as we share our deepest selves with something larger than all of us.

March 20

“For the Love of Our Church”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

As our annual stewardship campaign winds to a close, we gather in the name of love to celebrate work well done and goals well met. 

March 27

“They, Them, Those” –  Why can’t we all be “We?”

John Herndon

How many times have people de-humanized anyone who is different by using terms like “those people,” or “They are all alike.”  Why can’t we all see each other as human beings who matter?  It is a social justice imperative to rescue everyone who is marginalized and create We instead of They.

What are you doing Sunday mornings?

Are you taking the opportunity that our church offers to grow in mind, body and spirit?  You can attend a worship service, attend a lively discussion group, or spend a quiet period in meditation.  Review your choices and make the decision to participate in one of the early morning activities at church.

March 6^th – Humanist/Non-Theist Group.  Conclusion of Chapter 3, Good Without God.

March 13^th – Dr. Ron Glossop – In order to better understand how modern philosophy starting with the 17th century is different from the Medieval philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, we will discuss how modern Western thought was influenced by Luther, Copernicus, Newton, and Darwin.

March 20^th – Tapestry of Faith Series.

March 27^th – Ethical Eating with Marcie Nagle.

During the temporary absence of the Meditation Leaders, formal Sunday meditation is suspended through March.  However anyone may use the room to meditate if they wish.

A First Glance

“I know just how you feel.”

Surely we’ve all said something akin to this to somebody at some time in our lives.  Many of us were raised to think of this as a socially acceptable way of reaching out and connecting with someone who’s hurting, who needs a little support, who needs to know there are people out there who care.

Only trouble is, it’s probably not true. 

And the person you’re trying so hard to comfort and make a caring connection with knows it isn’t true.

Not that you don’t have a window into how things feel.  You may remember how you’ve felt when you’ve experienced a loss.  Or you may imagine you know how you might feel if you were to suffer a similar loss to the person you wish to comfort.  But really now - you can never know “just how someone else feels,” can you?

The closest you might be able to come is to take the time to listen deeply, try to understand what it is they’re saying, and then work hard to put yourself in their place enough to feel something like they’d feel. 

But that’s not something very many of us do very well, if in fact any of us can do so at all.  Most of the time, it’s simply a lot easier to say, “I know just how you feel,” and keep going.

But if such a statement doesn’t ring true, if you don’t know how another person feels, if you recognize that you probably can’t know how they feel, what else is there to say?

One of the primary functions of a church community like ours is to provide care and support for one another in times of need.  We have among us a committee of caring souls we call our Care Team, and besides thinking more about the best ways to be caring and supportive, they’re trying to learn how to keep up with such a dynamic flock as ours.  With all the changes afoot, I think the Care Team is doing a pretty good job.  Sometimes we miss things, though, and need you to bring our slipups to our attention.  And if you feel you have the gifts to become part of the Care Team, please let me or someone else on the Team know.

Returning to the question: what else is there to say?  How about not saying anything at all, but doing something, like offering a hand or asking if a hug is in order?  Try it and see.

There is no sure formula for genuine caring, but I’m pretty sure that the only thing worse than saying the wrong thing is ignoring a person in pain and doing nothing at all.

Let’s keep learning together.

See you in church,

Party Time!

Dig out your favorite green garb and come help us celebrate St. Patrick's Day and the Newcomers we have in our congregation. This fun evening is scheduled for March 12 at 7:00 in the Kate Wuerker Room. Newcomers will be the guests of honor and getting better acquainted with them will be our main purpose. Members of the church and long-term Friends of the Church are asked to bring finger food snacks to share.  We will provide coffee and soft drinks. You are welcome to bring other beverages if you like. We will have St. Patrick decorations, a planned program of Irish style music, and several fun get acquainted games. For younger children, child care will be provided. For older children who aren't interested in the adult party, board games will be available.

In order to be prepared for the correct number of partiers, please let Brynda McCoy, Newcomer Coordinator, know you are coming and how many children will require child care. You may contact her directly by e-mail or on the sign up sheet in the Wuerker Room.

Everyone is invited to an upcoming art show where artists Mary Lu McManus and Gene Ursprung will have their work featured.   The show will be held at By Design, 136 Front Street (located in the building behind The Telegraph) from March 4 through April 8.   The phone number for the gallery is 618-433-1400.

Willis McCoy will be playing the flute opening night, Friday, March 4, from 5 - 8 pm.

Parking is available on both sides of The Telegraph block.

Bulletin Board

In order to afford to spay her pets, Bailey Brunner, recent RE graduate and now one of our nursery attendants, is looking for donations of arts & crafts materials.   If you can help, please contact Bailey bt e-mail.

A Workshop for All Faith Communities                                       

“Culture and Your Congregation”

Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Mental Health.

Presented at our church by our church member

Dr. Dee Evans, Psy. D.

March 19 – 9 am to 12 noon

Mark your calendars now and plan to attend.

We have all seen two churches of the same denomination.  One thrives.   One barely survives. Who is attracted to your church, who joins, and who stays, and maybe even the survival of your church are determined by the culture of your congregation.   Culture is the framework for your church family.

Goals of the workshop:

To develop a clear picture of the culture of your congregation – To decide the boundaries of your congregation's culture – To develop a plan based on the knowledge of your congregational culture to successfully integrate others including those who may have problems in thinking and emotions into your congregation and meet their needs to be a member of a congregation. This will be an experiential workshop where you become the expert on your congregational culture, its boundaries, and a plan that you can bring back to your church.

Call the church office at 618-462-2462 or sign up in the Kate Wuerker Room to let us know you’ll be attending this workshop.

Choir Rehearsals

Choir rehearsals are held the first three Thursday evenings in each month from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.  If you enjoy singing, please consider coming to a choir rehearsal to learn how much fun you can have and what a contribution you can make by being part of the choir.

March 3, 10, 17.

For further information contact Willis McCoy.

POT LUCK LUNCH

Sunday, March 27 

Spring Has Sprung!

Our March potluck will be the first one of springtime so let us enjoy a bounty of spring goodies. Bring your favorite dishes that say SPRING IS HERE!

Potluck is for everyone. We hold it the 4^th Sunday of each month. We split the alphabet in two and ask one half to set up and the other half to clean up.  The next month the tasks switch.  For March A through Mc will do CLEAN-UP and Me through Z will do SET-UP

Setting up includes:

• Setting up chairs and tables
• Setting the tables with placemats and silverware
• Placing food items on the serving counter.

Clean up includes:

• Clearing all food from the counter and making sure it is taken home or disposed of.
• Clearing, washing, drying, and putting away all dishes
• Taking down tables and chairs
• Vacuuming the floor and washing all tables and counters.

Report from the Church Treasurer

Total budgeted income received in January 2011 was $15,267.45; this was 9.19% of our annual budget.

Total budgeted expenses spent in January 2011 were $12,552.56; this was 7.56% of our annual budget.

So far, the church's income has kept up with its expenses. With over four months to go in the fiscal year, your continued support is still needed and appreciated.

Jerry Johnson

The UU’s of Napa, California proudly announce the sixth season of our Wine Country Excursions.  Again, we offer a variety of options for an inside look at one of America’s most beautiful areas, internationally known for fine wines, gourmet dining and spectacular vistas.

The program runs from April through October. Our fees are below market rate for comparable services and all proceeds go to our small fellowship. For complete details contact: Tom Wilson or (707-254-7443).

Chalice  

            Circles

Fifty-Plus (50+) Chalice Circle
Saturday, March 5 from 10:30 am to noon – At Church. Contact Brynda McCoy if you plan to attend.  New members are welcome.  Those who wish to can go out to eat together after the meeting.

Belleville Chalice Circle

Thursday , March 17 at 7 pm – At the home of Jan and Don Allen in Belleville
Contact: Don or Jan.

Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle

Saturday , March 19 from 2 to 4 pm – At Church.    Contact: Marcia Custer.

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

Sunday, March 20 from 12:15 to 1:30 pm – In Emerson Place at Church

Contact: Diane Thompson or Sayer Johnson.

Men's Chalice Circle

Tuesday , March 22 at 7 pm – At Church

Contact: Khleber Van Zandt.

The GLBT Chalice Circle

Sunday, March 27 from 12:15 – 2 pm – At church
This Chalice Circle will meet the last Sunday of the month for the next five months.
Please contact Layne A. Simpson for more information.

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.

  3 March – Jerry Johnson

  4 March – Chad Keller

  4 March – Lauren Johnson (2002)

  5 March – Eowyn Wolff (2004)

  6 March – Kathryn Chapman

  8 March – Margaret Berkley (1997)

  9 March – Michelle Hudson

15 March – Sarah Dothager

16 March – Avery Myers (1996)

16 March – Robyn Berkley

17 March – Megan Gross (2003)

25 March – Gerry Gilman

Campfest 2011

First Planning Meeting

Are you interested in helping plan a congregation-wide camping-retreat event?
We are renting the group camp   Ouatoga  at Pere Marquette State Park.

Arrival:  7/29/2011 ; Departure: 8/4/2011.

We will need to plan activities such as a talent show, bingo, fun camp games, food, sleeping arrangements – and much more.   Do you want to be more involved at church?   Do you have a love of camping?   Then please join us!! It will be a fun-filled planning team.

We will meet following 2nd service on Sunday March 6^th   Please see Sayer Johnson for further details.

Community

Outreach Offering

In March our Community Outreach Offering will be given to the United Congregations of Metro East (UCM) http://www.ucmetroeast.org/, a peace-and-justice congregational-based community organizing institute serving Madison and St. Clair Counties.

UCM works through local area clusters of congregations – such as the Alton Area Cluster, O’Fallon Cluster, East St. Louis Cluster – to bring about community change in areas such as jobs for minorities, low-income, and women; affordable housing; health care; immigration; the environment; mass transit, and other social justice concerns. 

Members of our church actively work on UCM issues and participate in local Cluster programs.

FOOD MINISTRIES

Coffee Hour

We need people to take their turn in coffee hour clean up. I know everyone has a busy life and this is one of the main reasons we need to respect everyone and take our turn.

1. Stay until everyone is finished with their drinks and snacks.
2. Clear away all of the dirty dishes and food leftovers (this may involve putting some things in bags or containers and placing them in the refrigerator).
3. Cleaning all of the used dishes by washing in the sink, drying and putting away or loading them into the dishwasher and running it.

4^th Saturday Lunch

Fourth Saturday Lunch is a program the church has been running for awhile where volunteers create a hearty healthy menu that is served to the area homeless and needy. We also encourage our members to sit down with our guests and get to know them as they are our neighbors.

How you can help

1. Sign up to provide a dish. The menu sign up is available in the Kate Wuerker room usually by the 2^nd Sunday of the month.
2. Attend on the day of the lunch to aid with setting up chairs and tables, putting together take home bags, serving, or cleaning up. It is not necessary to stay for the whole lunch and all help is needed and appreciated.
3. Provide financial assistance. Some members have found it convenient to donate funds. Donations may be given to Jerry Johnson or Kathryn Chapman. Just specify what it is for and we will apply it as requested. As a stay-at home mother I often have the time to shop and cook, but lack the funds to make enough food necessary for the number of guests at our lunches. Funds allow me the ability to put extra dishes on the table for our guests.

I am not able to stress how very much we appreciate all of the help the members and friends of our church provide. We touch many lives with what we do and they touch ours in return. Thank you.

In order to spread the joy of service to all members of the church we are now sharing the organizing of the 4^th Saturday Lunch. This is a list of the organizers for this year.  If you would like to take a turn please see me and we’ll get you set up.

March – RE Parents

April – Jennifer Herndon

May – Lorna McElhone

June, July, & August – Mary Johnson

September – Linda VanZandt

Members

Anyone interested in being a regular member of the Food Ministries group (i.e. willing to set up coffee hour, work Saturday lunches, or be called on in the event of funeral services or other food related work) please make sure I have your name on my list so that I am able to call or e-mail you when we are in need of people to fill in or help out.

Reminder: There is a jar in the kitchen for collecting BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION. These small symbols mean money for schools. They are found on a number of packaged items from Kleenex to breakfast cereals.

Kathryn Chapman,

Food Ministries Coordinator

Lenten Luncheons

A first for our church – on March 23 we’ll be participating in the annual Alton Lenten Lunch program.  On every Wednesday from March 9 through April 20, churches in Alton will take turns having a short worship service and a lunch for attendees.  The turnout for the noon-time event is usually between 100 – 150 people!  Those attending the lunch pay $3.00 per person.

The usual procedure is for the minister of the host church not to preach in her/his own pulpit but to preach on a different Wednesday in a different church.  Thus, the service at our church will be conducted by a minister from another denomination. 

Food Ministries is excited about this opportunity to open our church to a great number of people from the community.  The menu will simple – probably soup, sandwiches and dessert.  However, help will certainly be needed from YOU in setting up, preparing food, serving food, etc.  So mark your calendars for March 23 and watch for further information at church.

Anna Ds Women’s Alliance

All Women in the Church are Invited to the

Anna D’s Luncheons

The Anna D's will be meeting on March 3 at the Red Apple Restaurant at 132 W. MacArthur Dr., Cottage Hills at 11:30.  Please notify Brynda McCoy if you plan to attend.  Please do this by Tuesday evening, March 1.

Lorna McElhone will be stand-in host at the luncheon as family obligations will keep Brynda from hosting in person that day. However, reservations should still be made through Brynda.

Some interest in Ann D’s has been expressed by women  of the church still in the workforce who are unable to attend our noon luncheons. If there is enough interest in having an Evening Anna D's group who would meet for an evening meal once a month, there is no reason why this couldn't happen. If you would be interested in such a group and/or helping to organize one, please contact Brynda at the above phone or email address.

Future months:  April - Audrey Wiseman; May - Lorna McElhone; June - Joan Hashimi.

Men’s Lunch Group

All Men in our Church Family are invited!

The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at 11:30 am on Thursday, March 10 at the St. Louis Buffet, 672 Wesley Dr., Wood River, IL. Contact Dick Blanton for further details.

Confluence Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS)

Contact Jimmy Christodoulou for meeting information.

SpiralScouts

Spiral Scouts will meet on Sunday, March 6 from 1 to 3 pm at the church. Contact Stacey Wolff for further information about SpiralScouts.

SpiralScouts Meeting Dates and Badge Topics are as follows through June 2011.  (All meetings are from 1 to 3 pm at church.) Mar 06 Drumming / Apr 03 Photography / May 01 Astronomy / June 05 Painting

From UUA Stewardship Blog

Living and Dying Churches

(Adapted from   Pilgrim United Church of Christ   newsletter, Port Charlotte, Florida
by UU minister the Reverend Sam Trumbore)

Living churches always have a parking problem; dying churches don’t.

Living churches are constantly changing their methods; dying churches don’t have to.

Living churches have lots of noisy kids; dying churches are quiet.

Living churches expenses always exceed their income; dying churches take in more than they ever dream of spending.

Living churches are constantly improving and planning for the future; dying churches worship the past.

Living churches grow so fast you forget people’s names; dying churches you’ve known everyone’s names for years.

Living churches move forward and out in faith; dying churches operate totally by sight.

Living churches support community work heavily; dying churches keep it all at home.

Living churches are filled with healthy pledgers; dying churches are filled with tippers.

Living churches dream great dreams of beloved community; dying churches relive nightmares.

Living churches have the fresh wind of love blowing; dying churches are stale with bickering.

Living churches don’t have can’t in their vocabulary; dying churches have nothing but.

Living churches EVANGELIZE, dying churches fossilize.

March RE Program News & Notes

RE Parents Sponsor the March 26^th Fourth Saturday Luncheon

An important part of our RE program is social service.  From time-to-time we set aside our regular classroom learning to participate in social and community action activities.  Our March Social Service Sunday, March 20^th, will relate to the following 4^th Saturday Luncheon served at the church to the hungry Alton community.  RE parents are sponsoring the March 26^th luncheon.  Children are invited to attend on the 26^th with their parents and help out in age-appropriate ways.  More information will become available through worship service announcements, the weekly Church bulletin e-mail, and Sunday take home notes.  Save the date!

RE Thank Yous!

Our RE library has grown from the generous donations by Juliette and Kelly Crone-Willis, Sarah and Jason Dothager, and Pat Moore of:

1. Unitarian Universalism is a Really Long Name—Jennifer Dant
2. Living Simply with Children—Marie Sherlock
3. Celebrating the Pagan Soul—Laura Wildman
4. The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family—Patrick Lencioni
5. The Thundering Years:  Rituals and Sacred Wisdom for Teens
6. Seven Times the Sun:  Guiding Your Child Through the Rhythms of the Day—Shea Darian
7. Living Passages for the Whole Family:  Celebrating Rites of Passage from Birth to Adulthood—Shea Darian
8. Youth Group Handbook

Spring Teacher Volunteers

We have for the first time ever, a complete roster of volunteers committed to our teaching ministry!  Here is our spring Teaching Team line-up:

Substitutes:

RE Town Hall—RE Committee Decisions

Over 25 congregants (of all ages too) participated in the January 9 RE Town Hall meeting—a fine exercise of the Unitarian Universalist fifth principal:  all people need a voice.  Based on what we heard, the RE Committee voted to:

1. Keep the RE program at the 11:00 a.m. time slot and not move it to 9:30 a.m.
2. Move the Youth Group Room to what is now the 1^st-3^rd grade room at the bottom of the steps downstairs; the other rooms will move down one room accordingly.  The Spirit Play room will not change.  We will make these changes over the summer after coordinating with Youth, Building and Grounds, and the Green Sky Sangha meditation group.

Additionally we heard the consensus that the Youth Group should be supported more than it is now—keep this in mind as we move into a capital campaign.  What could be done through the campaign that would further our mission and improve our program?

Celebration!  Guest at Your Table

Our Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s (UUSC) Guest at Your Table collection totaled $916.62—almost twice last year’s.  Thank you everyone who collected change this winter.  Please share this news and its meaning with your children.  For those of you who wrote checks, you will receive from UUSC a thank you/2011 tax receipt, and an annual UUSC membership matching your giving level.  All individual and family unrestricted contributions of $100 or more are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, N.Y.

Funds raised through Guest at Your Table are vital to UUSC’s continued human-rights work.  From human-rights education for Afghani teachers to support for Ugandans returning home to rebuild after years in camps, UUSC programs are made possible by our generous donations.  UUSC accepts contributions throughout the year by way of their secure web portal at:  http://www.uusc.org/.

Steven Mead, DRE

Summary of UUA Stewardship Consultant’s Assessment Report

On the weekend of January 21 – 23, Ms. Kay Crider, a Congregational Stewardship Consultant from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) visited our church at the invitation of the Board to do an Assessment Visit focusing on the congregation’s readiness for a capital campaign and related issues.

She talked with church staff, had meetings with the Board, met with members of every Standing Committee, had several meetings with the Stewardship Committee to help them plan the upcoming pledge drive, and conducted a workshop on Appreciative Inquiry.

She sent a 19 page Assessment Visit Report.  The summary of that report is as follows.

A. Commendations

• Well-developed, meaningful social justice program

• Fantastic member growth

• Excellent progress on annual financial commitments

• Full-time, highly successful pulpit ministry

• Positive enhancement of religious education for children and youth

• Operation of budget in the black

• Filled out, high-functioning committees

• Amazing community and great sense of fellowship

B. Observations

• Annual stewardship depends on 12 households for 50% of pledges

• The scope of building project can be further defined to support a campaign

• A strategic plan will help define your path forward

C. Recommendations

• Strengthen your annual budget drive process by:

·         incorporating one-on-one stewardship conversations

·         using and promoting the UUA’s Suggested Fair Share Giving Guide.

·         creating and utilizing a program-based budget to illustrate how generosity is funding the mission and vision of the church

• Engage in a rapid yet thorough congregation-wide discernment process to analyze and discuss options for your building and your programs. Identify the steps that will best allow you to fulfill your mission and vision for the next five years and summarize those in a strategic plan.

• Implement a detailed timeline to accomplish your goals

Kay handed out surveys to those who she met with.  In all thirty-seven surveys were turned in.  The following are the questions with the most responses.

1. How has your membership at this church changed/affected your life?

                  12 people responded that they are “enriched by community, friendship and support.”

2.  What are the three greatest strengths of this congregation?

                  18 people said caring and committed people/volunteers

                  13 people said social justice/outreach

                  12 people said minister

3.  What are the three most important issues or challenges the church needs to address in the next 5 years?

                  30 people said building maintenance/renovation/expansion/location

                  11 people said continued growth in membership

                  10 people said continued growth in stewardship & funding/financial stability

4.  Over the next five years I would like to see our membership experience the following annual growth rate.

                  13 people said 10%

                  10 people said greater than 15%

                   9 people said 5%