Church pictured in 1909 postcard

May 2013

May 5, 2013

“A Beatitude Unto You”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Blessings come in many guises, sometimes easy to hear, other times not so much.  As people interested in increasing the peace in the world, we’re going to need all the help we can get.

Liturgist:  Cheryle Tucker

May 12, 2013

--  Mothers’ Day Flower Communion  --

--  an Intergenerational Service  --

“O Mother, Where Art Thou?”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Mothers’ Day comes with mixed emotions:  joy and tenderness, certainly, but many more difficult feelings as well.  This Sunday we’ll find ways of expressing gratitude, even if the person filling a maternal role for us wasn’t present or perfect.

-- Please consider bringing a few flowers to share during Flower Communion.  --

Liturgist:  Pat Moore

May 19, 2013

-- Annual Congregational Meeting  --

--  after 11:00 am  worship  --

“More Growth Opportunity”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

It’s been a heck of a year for our little church:  exciting, daunting, many things wrapped into one.  As we head into our annual meeting, we’ll bless our teachers and thank our leadership, recognize our new members and bless our children, and talk about where we’ve been and where we seem to be going.

Liturgist:  Debby Lovell

SUMMER SCHEDULE BEGINS –

ONE SERVICE AT 10:00 A.M.

May 26, 2013

Memorial Day Weekend

Adult Religious Education (ARE)

At 9:30 am

May 5 – Tracey Howe-Koch

The Bible.

Questions, please contact Tracey Howe-Koch.

May 12 – Dr. Ron Glossop

American Philosophy. Our 9th and last class on "American Philosophy" will focus on contemporary female philosopher Martha Craven Nussbaum (1947-    ), Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago.  Her wide range of interests includes classical Greek & Roman philosophy, political philosophy, feminism, global citizenship, human rights, and animal rights.  Her views have even attracted the attention of popular interviewers such as Bill Moyers.

May 19 – Eric Johnson

Theology Funshop.

May 26 – Michelle Bryant Barbeau

Earth-based Spirituality.

At 11:00 am

May – Each Sunday

Cheryle Tucker & Others – Spirit in Practice. 

Spirit in Practice was created to help Unitarian Universalists develop regular disciplines, or practices, of the spirit—practices that help them connect with the sacred ground of their being, however they understand it.

A First Glance

It’s a shame that we usually wait for a funeral to find out about a person:  maybe we should do mock memorial services for beloved members long before they take their final bow. 

On March 26^th of this year, church member Bob Copley died.  Bob was one of those unsung and unobtrusive folks whose quietude hid a great many talents and characteristics.  It was good to hear his family and friends telling great stories about him and the life he led with such a high degree of success.

One of the things we heard about was a poem Bob and Nancy kept on the bathroom wall when their kids were little.  Now it’s on the kids’ bathroom walls, and the grandchildren are learning it, too.  It’s Max Ehrmann’s

Desiderata:

“Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.  Speak your truth quietly and clearly;  and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant;  they too have their story.

“Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.  If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

“Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.  Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

“Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.  But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;  many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

“Be yourself.  Especially, do not feign affection.  Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.  Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.  Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.  But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.  Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.  You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;  you have a right to be here. 

“And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.  Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive (God) to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.  With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

“Be cheerful.  Strive to be happy.”

May you and yours be at peace,

Notes from the Board -

Sandy Shaner

Newsletter Liaison

Discussion at the April 1 meeting continued to focus on the results of the "Over and Above" campaign and our financial status for the remainder of this church year. We also spent time on plans for the Stewardship Campaign for the church year beginning July 1 and are looking forward to financial planning for next year.  I won't review those conversations here because, by the publication date of the newsletter, the Stewardship Campaign will be well underway.

Michelle, our Treasurer, also reported on a meeting she and Khleber held with our bookkeeper to go over the latter's progress. At that meeting they verified the bill paying process and recent payments made. Michelle also reported that the bookkeeper had provided a detailed February financial report for review; within the next week she would receive a reconciled report for both February and March and, after review, it will be posted on the wall of the Wuerker Room. The final portion of the Treasurer's Report was that all paperwork has been completed to access on-line reports from our bank.

The next Board meeting will be on May 6.  May 19 is the date for the annual congregational meeting and we agreed to have a day-long Board meeting on August 10 to review policy and governance issues.

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE

Friday May 10

8 am to 1 pm

Saturday May 11

            8 am to 1 pm

On Saturday from noon to 1 pm Fill-A-Bag for only $2.00

Organized by Lee Suarez and Char McAllister

Please go through your basements, attics, closets, and cabinets for items you would like to donate to our Church Rummage Sale.  This is a FUNDRAISER for the church.

You may bring your items to church starting on Sunday, May 5 and on each day following through Thursday.  There will be someone at church to accept your donations at the following times:

Monday – May 6 – from 10 am to noon 

Tuesday – May 7 – from 5 pm to 7 pm

Wednesday – May 8 – from 10 am to noon

Thursday – May 9 – from 1 pm to 5 pm

Among the items needed are the following:  baby & children’s clothes, electrical items, household items, tools, furniture, lawn equipment, furniture, children’s games, X-Box games, kitchen items, household décor. 

There will be a bake sale so baked goods are also requested.

 
YOUR HELP is needed to make this fundraiser Successful.  There is a job for everyone.  On Friday (May 10) at 7 am we will need hands to put items outside on the lawn for the 8 am start. We will need people to work the tables. We need posters made to put on the streets.  We need plastic bags for people to take their treasures home.

For more info contact Char.

In Our Church Family

Our church community has lost two of its beloved members in the last few weeks.  The congregation’s condolences go out to the families of Bob Copley and Dick Blanton.

Bob Copley passed away on March 26 at the age of 88.  He was a long-time member of our church.  He is survived by Nancy, six of his seven children, 16 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.  He and Nancy were married in the Benjamin Godfrey Chapel in 1948.

Bob served our country as a U.S. Marine in the South Pacific during WWII.  After retiring from U.S. Steel he and Nancy built their dream home in the Missouri Ozarks where they lived for nine years before returning to Godfrey.

A memorial service, conducted by Rev. Van Zandt, was held on March 30 at the Godrey Congregational Church, the church of Bob’s youth.

Dick Blanton passed away on April 12 at the age of 78.  He was an active member of our church, most recently coordinating the ROMEOS (Retired Old Men Eating Out) lunch group.  He was a U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran, serving our country during the Korean War.

Dick was an electrician, working for Alcoa for more than 20 years.  He enjoyed traveling, music and the arts, collecting antiques, and woodcarving.  He was an active volunteer in the Alton and Owensboro KY communities.

He is survived by his wife Pat, who he married in 1978, and by his daughter Lisa (Spiral), and sons Eric and Robert; and other family members including nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

A memorial service, conducted by Rev. Van Zandt, was held at our church on April 20.

4^th Saturday Lunch

May 25 – 11:30 a.m.

Details about the lunch will be available at church, on UU Friends, and through “This Week at Church,” so watch for more information.

Our 4^th Saturday Lunch program began in October, 2008 with 12 guests.  At last month’s lunch we served around 90 guests!  The need is there and growing.

Trish Botsko, our current 4^th Saturday Lunch coordinator, will be moving to California as soon as school is out.  One or more volunteers are needed to coordinate these lunches and find individuals or groups within the church who would like to choose a month to put on the lunch.

Let’s not let this much needed and much enjoyed community service fall by the wayside.   Contact Trish NOW for further information about lunch coordination.

FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS

Please don’t forget to bring non-perishable food donations for the Alton Food Pantry.  The collection receptacle is in the RE entrance foyer under the coat rack.

Potluck Lunch

May 26

Our monthly lunches are held on the 4^th Sunday. 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.

Our Church to Host Community Conference

Our church will be hosting a community conference to energize the Riverbend area into taking action on behalf of re-entry assistance for ex-offenders/returning citizens.  The conference will provide insight to needs, strategies for success, and how congregations and individuals can help build bridges to a better future for individuals who have served their sentences and are now back in the community wanting to improve their lives.  The conference is co-sponsored by the Returning Citizens Coalition of Alton and the United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM).  The Coalition meets at our church on Monday afternoons.

We hope that members of our church will attend this conference as participation with the Returning Citizens Coalition is part of our Social Justice initiative.

If you can help set up or clean up for this conference, please contact Mary Johnson.

2013 Annual Thaddeus Clark Memorial Lecture

Sunday, May 5 – 7 pm

Sponsored by the First Unitarian Church – St. Louis

Simone Campbell, S.S.S. (Sisters of Social Service), organizer of the “Nuns on the Bus” economic justice campaign will give the annual Clark Lecture on Sunday, May 5 at 7 p.m.  The Lecture will be held across the street from the First Unitarian-St. Louis church at the Central Reform Congregation 5020 Waterman at Kingshighway.  There will be a reception after the Lecture at the First Unitarian Church-St. Louis, 5007 Waterman.

Sister Simone’s work has been featured on many programs including 60 Minutes, Hard Ball, and The Colbert Report.  She has been recognized for her work on healthcare reform, especially as it affecting the working poor.

She is the Executive Director of NETWORK in Washington, DC.  She is a religious leader, attorney and poet with extensive experience in public policy and advocacy for systemic change.

The Clark Memorial Lecture series is sponsored by First Unitarian-St. Louis in memory of former minister Thaddeus Clark who was a leader in the St. Louis and Missouri mental health association and also taught philosophy and religions at Washington University.

The free Lecture series was established to bring outstanding leaders of opinion and through to the St. Louis community.

Chalice Circles

Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle

Every 3^rd Saturday.

Saturday, May 18 from noon to 2 p.m. at church.

April’s meeting was cancelled because the Memorial Service for Dick Blanton was held during the time the Renegades would normally meet.

In May will continue her presentation from March about the book "The Tools: Transform Your Problem in Courage, Confidence, and Creativity"  by Phil Stutz and Harry Michels, published in 2012.  Contact the facilitator Dee Evans for further information.

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

This Chalice Circle is on hiatus for the time being.
Contacts: Diane Thompson or Sayer Johnson.

The GLBT Chalice Circle

Cancelled for May due to the Annual Congregational Meeting which will be held at the GLBT meeting time.

Contact:   Staci Bratten.

UU Family Campfest

at Pere Marquette

Please join us for an all-inclusive inter-generational camping event on July 5 to 11.  The cost is $12 per person per day (children 3 and under free) this includes rustic cabin to sleep in, hot showers, 3 meals and drinks per day. 

Activities include private pool and fellowship.  Come for the day or the whole time.  We will hold a special outdoor service on Sunday at 11 am. 

Online registration will be available or see Juliette Crone Willis or Sayer Johnson

Spiral Scouts – Every SUNDAY from 1 to 3 pm. 

This program for children and youth includes interpersonal skills, traditional woodland lore, camping, and outdoor living skills.   Please use this email and our facebook, as it will give updated information about what we are, upcoming events and what is going on in our meetings.

Amy Eichen

ANNA Ds on Thursday, May 2

The May meeting of the Anna Ds will be hosted by Ginger McCall at Meridian Gardens.  We’ll meet there at 11:30 am.

Please contact Ginger by Monday, April 29 if you are planning to attend.  You will need to bring cash for payments as the restaurant there does not accept credit or debit cards.  The cost will depend on what you order.   Soup and salad is $5.50.   You probably will not need to spend more than $8.00 according to Ginger.

The address is 101 Evergreen Lane in Glen Carbon. Take highway 157 to Meridian Rd. Go to Auerbach (first street on the right), turn tight and then left onto Evergreen which is the first street on the left.  Turn right into the parking lot.

In late April, the Anna Ds hosted a delightful luncheon for members of the Women's Alliance from the First Unitarian Church in St. Louis.  None of our guests had ever been to our church and was delighted by the ambiance of the sanctuary, especially the windows, and several commented how pleasant our fellowship hall was.  The fireplace glowed a lovely welcome and Peg Flach brought bouquets of tulips for the tables.  The women from St. Louis were all duly impressed with our new kitchen and coffee center.  Sandy Shaner ordered box lunches from River City Savories - delicious sandwiches of either egg, tuna, or chicken salad accompanied by a green salad.  Tasty cheese spread appetizers from Savories along with selections of wine chosen by Jaimie Hileman started off the luncheon.  Dessert was a choice of three pies - also from Savories.  Mickey Gould-Oldt organized the kitchen cleanup.

After lunch, Sue Gorline, a friend of Mary Johnson's, presented a very interesting slideshow of old postcards.  Some were of the Alton area (including one from 1909 of our church), some were of sights in St. Louis or other cities, and some were political postcards ranging from WWI to the Clinton administration.  Everyone seemed to enjoy Sue's program.

The ROMEOS – Retired Old Men Eating Out – will meet on Thursday, May 9 11:30 am at the Best Buffet at 615 Wesley, Drive in Wood River IL  All men in our church are invited!

Worship Associates

TUESDAY, May 7

7:00 to 8:30 pm

The discussion topic for this month’s meeting is the role of “ENERGY FLOW” in the worship service. 

Anyone interested in “worshipful things” – i.e., things of worth, is invited to come to this gathering.

For more information contact Khleber Van Zandt kvanzandt@uuma.org.

Your ATTENTION is Needed to

Maintain the Church Building & Grounds

Come to Outdoor Workday – May 18 – 9 am to noon.  There are garden and yard related tasks to get done to keep our grounds looking good.

If you notice something in the church building that needs attention or repair, please contact our Building Co-Chair, Lee Suarez

If you notice something around the church grounds that needs attention or repair, please contact our Grounds Co-Chair, Bob Larson

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.

The Caring Ministries Committee is ready to welcome several more members! If you are interested in engaging in conversations with other church friends and getting to know them on a deeper level, please consider joining our group! Please contact Sabrina Trupia.

May Birthdays

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

5/03        Makala Lappin, (7)

5/05        Mickey Gould-Oldt

5/07        Jeff White

5/08        Hannah McMurray, (6)

5/11        Tracey Howe-Koch

5/11        Diane Thompson

5/12        Laura White

5/13        Mark Tade

5/14        Khleber Van Zandt

5/16        Sharon Johnson

5/22        Jacob McMurray, (7)

5/26        River Johnson, (11)

5/26        Audrey Wiseman

5/28        Mark Antieau

5/28        Brigham Dimick

5/28        Willis McCoy

Requests from the Church Office

I have been making the deposits of pledge checks and because I’m new at this, please be very clear on the memo line.  Examples:

2012-2013 pledge

2013-2014 pledge

Over and Above (to help the budget shortfall)

Capital Campaign

Restricted Donation and what it is for

For a split donation, please show the amounts for each.

Also,

If you leave a note in my mailbox or on my desk that reads, “Let me know if you have any questions” – Please sign it!   

Thank you, Becky Green, Office Manager

May 2013 RE Program News & Notes

UU Youth Midwest Leadership School, Beloit College, Wisconsin, July 14-20, 2013

Youth Midwest Leadership School is a weeklong intensive experience designed to engage participants in all aspects of leadership in a Unitarian Universalist faith community.  It will challenge and train Unitarian Universalist youth in three areas:  Leadership Skills Development, Worship, and Religious Values & Heritage.  This Leadership School is an intentional community and learning experience.  Students should be motivated to learn and engage.  They should be able to manage their time and needs in an environment with long days filled with group and individual learning opportunities along with theological reflection.  They need to be mature and emotionally stable.  Youth entering grades 9-12 may attend; youth entering grades 10 –11 are especially encouraged.

Attendance is not cheap; however, partial scholarships are available from the CMwD, our own RE funds, and the generosity of this Beloved Community—so don’t let cost be an insurmountable barrier to your participation.  By every account, this is a fabulous experience.  This offering fills up fast, so registration needs to happen soon.  For more information:  http://www.mwls.org/youth/youth-home. 

Flower Communion—Celebrate and Join Us

May 12th

Bring flowers to share!  “The Flower communion service was created by Norbert Capek (1870-1942), who founded the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia.  He introduced this special service to that church on June 4, 1923.  For some time he had felt the need for some symbolic ritual that would bind people more closely together.   The format had to be one that would not alienate any who had forsaken other religious traditions. . . So he turned to the native beauty of their countryside for elements of a communion which would be genuine to them.  This simple service was the result.  It was such a success that it was held yearly just before the summer recess of the church. . .The significance of the flower communion is that as no two flowers are alike, so no two people are alike, yet each has a contribution to make.  Together the different flowers form a beautiful bouquet.  Our common bouquet would not be the same without the unique addition of each individual flower, and thus it is with our church community, it would not be the same without each and every one of us.  Thus this service is a statement of our community.”  —Reginald Zottoli; http://www.uua.org/documents/zottolireginald/flowercommunion.pdf.

Birthday Bags—May 19^th Social Service Activity

Let’s Party!  Well, let’s make it possible for others to party.  Our May social service activity is to prepare Birthday Party Bags for the Alton Crisis Food Center and the Oasis Women’s Shelter to distribute.  We are gathering birthday party goodies to provide our neighbors with birthday fun.  To do this, we need help from the congregation.

Please bring one (or more!) of the following to church by Sunday, May 19th:  Cake mix, canned icing, birthday candles, 9x13 disposable pans, party hats, party plates, party napkins, party blowers, and any other birthday supplies you can think of.  Our kids will assemble these supplies, and add their own personal touches to the birthday bags.

First Unitarian’s Teaching Ministry Team—

Fall Volunteer Opportunities

One of the vital components that makes First Unitarian a “Special Place,” the RE Program runs only by the dedication of volunteers who teach our children.  We have adopted team teaching consisting of four teachers per class.  To join our Team is a year-long commitment—about 14-16 Sundays for the whole year—but you can discontinue during the year if necessary.  You are supported by the DRE, the RE Committee, your teammates, teacher forums, and quality curriculum and support materials.  Deepen your relationship to one another, to our community, and your faith experience.  To volunteer, please sign up in the Kate Wuerker Room or contact Steven Mead, Director of Religious Education (DRE).

Summer Program

We are taking the summer off this year.  There will be no Religious Education programming from June 2 through In-Gathering, September 8.  Children and Youth are welcome to worship in the sanctuary during Sunday services.  Our fall program resumes September 15, 2013.

Steven Mead, DRE

314.239.5694 (cell)

dre@firstuualton.org