May 2^nd     –  9:30 and 11:00 am

“We Need One Another”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

The churches of the Saint Louis area have a century-and-a-half-long history of eschewing the national Unitarian and Universalist associations and going their own way.  Lately, though, we seem to be reconnecting to the structures and people of the larger international movement.  This Sunday, I’ll share what I learn at this weekend’s Central Midwest District Assembly.

May 9^th  –  Mothers’ Day

9:30 and 11:00 am 

“Mothers, and Other Mythical Creatures”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

On Mothers’ Day, we might need to be reminded that mothers are neither the omniscient, nurturing saints nor the omnipotent, controlling tyrants we make them out to be.  No matter what our psyches do with them, the best moms are forever real and ultimately human.

May 16^th – 9:30 and 11 am

“A Search for Jesus”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Many people who grow up in mainstream churches leave the religion of their childhood and go off on a search for some religious truth of their own.  For a few of them - such as myself - the figure of Jesus remains compelling, not as supernatural figure but as a great teacher.

May 23^rd   –  Annual Meeting 12 o’clock noon

9:30 and 11:00 am

“A View from the Hillside”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

The 5^th of our Unitarian Universalist Association’s Principles and Purposes calls us to use the democratic process within our congregations, so all are invited to the annual congregational meeting after the second service today (though only official members can exercise their vote).  As a prelude to the meeting, we’ll talk about where we stand and how we’re doing.

May 30^th – Memorial Day Weekend

9:30 and 11:00 am

“Church on a Mission”

Rev. Jennifer Owen-O’Quill

What does it take to reach the coming generation for Unitarian Universalism?  Find out how one church is trying to reach new people in new ways - and make a difference in their city and beyond.

Rev. Jennifer Owen-O’Quill is the Executive Pastor of Micah’s Porch Community Church in Chicago, a congregation her husband Pastor Dave founded in 2008.  Micah’s Porch Community Church’s mission is to reach this nation and the coming generation for Unitarian Universalism by raising up pastors with the passion and gifts to found new churches and reach new people all across the country.  Join us for worship this morning, find out how you can be a part of shaping the future of our faith, and catch the vision!

Chalice Circles

Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle

SATURDAY, May 15^th at church   – 2 to 4 pm.

Contact:   Marcia Custer.

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

SUNDAY, May 16^th   – 12:00 to 1:30 pm in Emerson Place at church.
Contact: Diane Thompson or Sayer Johnson

Belleville Chalice Circle

THURSDAY, May 20^th  – 7 pm

at the home of Jan and Don Allen in Belleville

Contact: Don or Jan.

Men's Chalice Circle

TUESDAY, May 25^th – 7 p.m. at church

Contact: Khleber Van Zandt.

A First Glance

Spring is a season of miracles.  Not that the other seasons are not miraculous, but springtime and the reappearance of new life around us has been, for me, particularly uplifting this year.

I have lately come to the joy and wonder of starting my own garden from seedlings.  To help with that, last summer I replaced the hundred-year-old windows in the south-facing bay window of the room I use as a study in my home.  Those old, dilapidated windows allowed insects and small animals entry to and free rein within the room - to say nothing of the cold winds that blew through the windows with enough oomph to extinguish candles on my desk.  The new windows made the room bearable-if-not-toasty for the winter, but they’ve really made a difference in the greenhouse effects (the good kinds) required for starting seeds.

This year, as I have watched squash and zucchini and tomatoes and peppers go from nothing to something, I have often harkened back to my first adventure in agriculture.  When I was about eight years old, I tilled (read “dug up”) a square foot of ground next to the house I grew up in.  I carefully read the instructions on the package of carrot seeds I bought with my own money.  I planted the seeds in straight rows and at the exact depth stated on the package. 

I watered.  And I waited.  And I waited.  And I watered.  After an hour or so, I got bored and went back to playing - those carrots were never going to come up!

I forgot about the carrots for a couple of weeks and about all the hard work I’d done on them.  Then one day, I noticed little sprigs of green in the tiny mounds of brown dirt I had laid out so long ago.  Could these be the carrots I had so looked forward to?  Just to check, I pulled up a few of the sprigs and, lo and behold, the tiny roots were slightly orange-colored.  These must be the carrots! 

Over the next few days, I pulled up all the sprigs, still testing my theory that they were in fact my carrots.  The biggest one - the last, of course, about two weeks into the growing season - was less than an inch long and, as I recall, tasted more like dirt than like a carrot.

Apparently I was not destined to be a farmer.  Or to practice patience in any significant fashion.

But that was then and this is now.  The aforementioned squash and zucchini and tomatoes and peppers are all doing fine in my backyard, thank you very much, right now growing faster than the weeds around them and giving me something to dialogue with the squirrels about each morning when I go out to find another plant or two dug up.  The squirrels are as impatient as I was all those years ago.

So, Happy Spring to you and yours.  May your garden come in, may your prayers for more patience be answered, and may you take notice of the bountiful miracles of the season.

See you in church,

                   Movie Night at Church

 Saturday, May 1st –

6:30 pm.

Janice Joiner

Church Committee Meetings in May

Board & Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, May 5^th

7:00 pm

Pastoral Care Team

Thursday, May 27^th

6:00 pm

Annual Church Business Meeting, Sunday, May 23^rd

During Potluck

If you plan a Committee Meeting PLEASE make sure to inform Becky in the church office so that your meeting gets on the calendar … and PLEASE send a note to the newsletter editor with the same information.  If you have a regularly scheduled meeting (weekly, monthly, etc.) please let us both know so we can make sure that the information gets out to everyone.  If we don’t know about your meeting it won’t get on the calendar or in the newsletter.

4^th  Saturday Lunch

May 22^nd

For those in need of a good meal.

Watch for a signup sheet at church and emails requesting volunteers to provide food and help.

Our lunch buffet line opens at 12 noon.  We ask that if you are bringing food that you arrive at least by 11:45 am.  Set-up help is welcome anytime after 10:30 am and cleanup help is always needed after lunch is over.

You are also welcome, and encouraged, to stay and have lunch with our guests.

If you are interested in helping to plan and organizing one of these monthly lunches please contact our Saturday Lunch Coordinator, Kathryn Chapman.

I remember sitting in church one Easter Sunday wondering, “Why am I here?”  Easter was one of those Christian things I REALLY didn’t buy.

Never one to disappoint, our enlightened minister set me up with a new perspective.  The “Easter” season was about much more than a story of Jesus rising from the dead.  It was about new beginnings everywhere.  For everyone and everything.

And it made sense to me.  In fact, it felt way more natural than those silly New Year’s resolutions we all make and break in a day, year after year.

When you look around at the earth right now, everything is starting over – successfully.  The trees are growing leaves again, tulips popping through again, seeds sprouting anew and becoming beautiful flowers and essential vegetables.  The sun has taken over again, stretching our days into the night.

I’ve taken to giving myself a chance to start over too as Spring unfolds.  All the bad habits have fallen away like dead leaves.  As have my missed goals, my resistance to forgive someone, and any other negative energy I’m harboring towards anything.  It’s all gone.  And the new leaves are all good.

This Spring is an especially joyous time of new beginnings for our church.  We are in the midst of successfully expanding to two services; taking our RE program to new heights with a permanent DRE; and welcoming an endless stream of new members, each of whom just so happens to have a unique talent that fills a hole in our church community.

I am proud and excited to be a part of what we are becoming.  Thanks to each of you for being such a vital part of our new beginnings.

Jennifer Herndon

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.

  1 May – Patrick Rebmann

  8 May – Hannah McMurray (2007)

  9 May – Andrea Gross (1999)

  9 May – Nancy Sakalauski

11 May – Diane Thompson

12 May – Marcia Salisbury

13 May – Mark Tade

13 May – Chris O’Steen

14 May – Khleber Van Zandt

16 May – Rose Hoshiko

16 May – Sharon Johnson

20 May – John Carpenter

22 May – Jacob McMurray (2006)

26 May –  Audrey Wiseman

26 May – River Johnson (2002)

28 May – Willis McCoy

28 May – Mark Antieau

Potluck Lunch ~ May 23^rd

Lunch will begin shortly after 12 noon following our 2^nd service.  Everyone is invited to stay for fellowship, conversation, and a good lunch!     Please don’t let the same few people do all the Table Set-Up and Clean-up Work.  Plan to come a little early or stay a little late to do your share.  Thanks!

A-Mc will do Set Up

M-Z will do Clean Up

Cleaning UP Includes:

• Clearing and wiping off the tops and sides of the tables (including the small tables in the seating area around the fireplace);
• Helping wash and put away dishes;
• Folding up and putting away in the table cart all but six tables;
• Putting away chairs, except for the ones left around the tables – 6 per table;
• Vacuuming the Wuerker Room – the vacuum cleaner is in the closet in the Wuerker Room.

CHOIR REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

1^st, 2^nd, & 3^rd Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 pm.

(May 6^th – May 13^th – May 20^th )

All voices welcome.  For further information contact Willis McCoy.

Current slate of Candidates for Board Offices
Election at Annual Meeting May 23^rd – Slate not yet complete.

PRESIDENT:

Cheryle Tucker-Loewe has been a member of this congregation for almost ten years.  Her prior service on the board includes two years as a trustee, two years as president, and two years as past-president.  She worked as a lay staff member of the UU Mid-West Leadership School for three years and also served as a trustee on the Central Midwest District Board from 2006 until 2009.  She has been the chair of the RE Committee this year and welcomes the opportunity to serve as president in the coming year.

PRESIDENT-ELECT:

Sayer Johnson has been a member of the church since 2008.  He has been an RE teacher for the 2009-2010 year. He is a co-facilitator of the Parents Seeking Peace Chalice circle. Sayer participated in the church mission to Louisiana in 2009 to help rebuild. Sayer has also had involvement in the Spiral Scouts. He is proud and honored to be a part of such a open and inspiring group of people.

TRUSTEE:

Don Allen was introduced to Unitarianism in Bloomington, IL, his hometown, in the late 70’s.  He and his wife, Jan, joined First Church in St. Louis soon after they eloped in 2003 and transferred to the Alton church after Khleber began his ministry here.  Don’s a retired librarian and can still be found regularly with his nose in a novel.

He has been active in SLAUUC, the St. Louis Area congregational organization (now defunct), and Central Midwest District activities.  He heads the Chalice Circles at the church, and he and Jan are Co-Facilitators of the Belleville Chalice Circle.  They frequently visit other Unitarian-Universalist congregations when they travel around the state and country, which they do with some regularity.

Treasurer’s Note

Total budgeted income for March 2010 was $7,999.04; this was 5.8% of our annual budget.  Total budgeted expenses for March 2010 were $11,798.80; this was 8.6% of our annual budget.

At the 75% of the way through our fiscal year, our expenses are at 75.82%, which is pretty good. Our income is at 77.7%.  Hopefully, this will enable us to get through the fiscal year in the black.

I have started to familiarize myself with the church's new financial/keeping-track-of-everything software, PowerChurch.  It will take a while to get up to speed on such a complex system, but once it is properly set up it will facilitate the bookkeeping tasks that the treasurer has to do.

I am finding the two-service format to my advantage. Rather than having to rush to count the collection after the service, I now attend the first service, leave after the collection in the second service and use that time to count the collection, pay the nanny, etc., –  then I am ready to enjoy coffee hour.

Jerry Johnson, Treasurer

Church Work Day

Saturday, May 15^th

9 am – 3 pm

We will be doing some water proofing, painting, cleaning, drywall repair and landscaping.

SO – if you like to sling mud, slap paint, or just wanna’ chat … come to church on the 15^th.  There will be snacks and drinks available.

Johnny and Annie Morgan

annielives@aim.com

Interest Group Gatherings

Green Sky Sangha

The Green Sky Sangha meets every Sunday at 9:30 am in Room 5 on the lower level in the RE wing and invites anyone interested in meditation to join them. No prior knowledge of meditation is necessary.  The group practices various forms of meditation and discusses ideas related to Buddhism.   

Dee Evans

The Anna Ds will not meet in May as they have been invited to attend a luncheon on april 27^th hosted by the Women’s Alliance at the First Unitarian Church in St. Louis.

The June meeting will be hosted by Ginger McCall.

Confluence Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS)

May Day/Beltaine Celebration
Confluence CUUPS (formerly the pagan group) will be hosting a May Day/Beltaine Ritual and Potluck on Friday, April 30^th from 6-8 pm at the church.

CUUPS Plant Sale!

Confluence CUUPS will be holding a Plant Sale fundraiser between and after the church services on Sunday, May 2^nd.  Heirloom and traditional veggies, herbs and perennials grown by CUUPS members will all be for sale. Help support CUUPS and get your garden ready for summer.

Spiral Scouts 

The next Spiral Scouts meeting will be on Sunday, May 2^nd

at 1 pm at the church.

The Spiral Scouts is an all-inclusive scouting experience for children and parents of all genders.   The program begins with ages 3 - 8 with Fireflies and continues to Spiral Scouts ages 9 – 13.   Contact Sayer Johnson.

Men’s

 Lunch Group

The Men’s Lunch Group will meet on Thursday, May 13^th at the St. Louis Buffet, 672 Wesley Dr., Wood River, IL. Contact Nelson Shaner for further details.   All men in the church are invited.

LGBT Google Group

Contact Layne Simpson for more information about this new google group.

stl-uu-lgbt-plus@googlegroups.com

Mark Tade reports that the 7 volunteers who worked on the Highway 67 Cleanup on April 17^th gathered 44 bags of trash, a tire, a bumper, and a truck liner!   There’s still trash out there … so you still have a chance to help when the next highway cleanup is scheduled.

May RE Program News & Notes

May’s RE Theme:  World Peace

May’s UU Principle: 

“6 - Build a fair and peaceful world.”

We continue our year-long focus on the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles, with an emphasis this month on right relationship with one another:

May 30^th marks the end of our spring RE program.  We will all gather in the sanctuary for worship June 6^th for, among other things, Teacher Appreciation.

May 9^th is Flower Communion

This Sunday is set aside as an intergenerational service; children worship in the sanctuary with their parents.

May 16^th is Flower Planting Around the Church

This Social Service Sunday is dedicated to beautifying our church community.  We will be planting flowers around the campus.  So, send your children in their “best” gardening clothes—a hand trowel might not be amiss either for those who have them.  Please mark any hardware with your name to assure that it goes home with the right person.

Sunday Summer RE Program

Standby for more information—look for more information on our summer activities in next month’s newsletter.

Trumpets!  Fanfare!  New RE Chair

Tracey Howe-Koch takes over as Chair of the RE Committee effective this month as past chair, Cheryle Tucker-Loewe, segues to the Board as President-Elect.  The more feedback parents and members give the RE Committee, the more effective we can be achieving our mission and putting our best selves forward.  Current RE Committee membership is:

• Tracey Howe-Koch
• Cathy Tade
• Jennifer Herndon
• Marty Johnson
• Steven Mead

Thank you to both Cheryle and Sarah Drury-Dothager for their service this year on the RE Committee.

What’s an RE to do?

Howard Thurman to Sam Keen:  “Two crucial questions:  Where are we going? and Who will go with us?  God help us if we get them reversed.”  Or, said another way, “You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” - Yogi Berra.

So, it is with us in Religious Education.  We have to know where we are going.  You and your children will be given an opportunity during April and early May to participate in a survey about the RE program.  Talk to your kids who may be in our program.  Share your thoughts with us as we consider where we have been and where we want our RE program to go.  We will use your input as we prepare for our fall semester and beyond.

Whitewashing the Fence - Teaching Ministry in

 this Special Place

Remember our article last month?—a corruption of the famous scene with Tom Sawyer convincing all comers to help him whitewash Aunt Polly’s fence.  Well, our version of whitewashing the fence is teaching RE this fall—we’re recruiting this month for our fall and spring terms next year.  It pays well and won’t cost you much, except maybe “a piece of blue bottle-glass to look through.”  So, ya’ll sign up and we’ll “whitewash the fence” together and this Special Place will be the better for it.

It takes about 23 souls each semester to run our RE program effectively.  Adopting teaching teams this year has meant that teachers are teaching two times per month instead of every Sunday.  We ask that you sign up for a semester.  We have a new Teacher’s Resource Manual.  We have a new, comprehensive Teacher Orientation and we have a new Parent and Teacher Training module as well.  We use curricula designed by professionals with volunteer parent-teachers in mind.  The tools we provide can illuminate your teaching as a faith development experience.

It is likely that someone you know will personally ask you to join us.  Say yes and bring your paint brush and blue bottle glass.

Steven Mead, Temporary RE Administrator

Community

Outreach Offering

Two organizations have been chosen to receive May’s offering.

The collection taken on May 9^th will be given to the Treehouse Wildlife Center currently located in Brighton, IL. David Wiseman suggested this organization as a worthy recipient of the Outreach Offering.   The Treehouse Center, founded in 1979, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the care of orphaned and injured wildlife, with an additional commitment to educating the public about issues related to wildlife.   They have an intake load of about 500 animals each year with the goal to release healthy, untamed animals back to their natural habitats as soon as they are well.   Treehouse recently learned of an opportunity to relocate to a piece of land in Jersey County which would allow expansion of the Center’s wildlife rehabilitation efforts and its level of educational programming.   The Treehouse website is http://www.treehousewildlifecenter.com

The recipient of the Outreach Offering on May 23^rd is the Alton Area Animal Aid Association – known as the “5A’s.”  This organization has been part of the Alton community for over 50 years.  It is a non-kill shelter and saves homeless and abandoned animals, housing them until they are adopted into homes.  Around 800 animals each year are placed with families.  The 5A’s is located on a three acre site in Godfrey, IL.  The website is http://fiveas.org

Welcome our Newest Members and add them to your Church Directory.

Wasoba, Ryan* & Megan* Bryden-Wasoba   [4/4/2010]

Check the print newsletter for address and phone.
Home addresses are not given online.

mrwasoba@gmail.com

Paula Tarbell has a new address:   Check print newsletter for address and phone.

Melanie Rogers has a new email:   luvmakesafamily@yahoo.com

Picnic in the Park

When: Sunday, June 6, 2010, immediately following the second service.

Where: On the lovely grounds next to the church.

What to bring: A dish to share

Games & Prizes

Family event for all ages

Soda, bottled water, grilled hot dogs & hamburgers available for small donation.