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Windows on west side of sanctuary. |
First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois
www.firstuualton.org
Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister July 2012 |
FIRST UNITARIAN FOCUS
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Windows on west side of sanctuary. |
First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois
www.firstuualton.org
Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister July 2012 |
ONE WORSHIP SERVICE: June through September 2 – 10:00 am
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Join us each Sunday at 10:00 am for a “Celebration of Summer” June 24, 2012 At Church: Neil Hershey At Tower Grove Park: Rev.
Khleber Van Zandt At Spring and Arsenal. Bring chairs or blankets to sit on.
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Following the service we will march
in the Pride Parade for the 6th year in a row. The parade begins at noon near Gravois and
Grand in South St. Louis City, proceeds north on Grand and ends north of
Arsenal near Magnolia. Further details
and parade meeting place will be announced later.
July 1, 2012 Marty Johnson July 8, 2012 Patrick Murphy |
July 15, 2012 Michelle Bryant Barbeau July 22, 2012 To be announced July 29, 2012 Jennifer Timpe August 5, 2012 Steven Mead To Contact
Rev. Khleber Van Zandt Email:
kvanzandt@uuma.org Cell
Phone: Missouri
– 314-223-0551 Illinois
– 618-520-0567 Adult Religious
Enrichment (ARE) 9:00 am July 1, 15, 29 Eric Johnson and Michelle Bryant-Barbeau will be teaching from the book, “Learning to be White” by Thandeka. |
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I joked at the annual meeting that I
mark my church calendar year from Campfest to Campfest. I wasn't entirely
joking. Campfest to me really sums up a
year in the life of our church. My year here at our church as President of the
Board of Trustees has been amazing, challenging, rewarding, empowering,
opportunity filled, sacred, finding truths around every corner and experiencing
mostly the best in folks, similar to our Campfest adventure. If you missed Campfest you missed a
successful experiment in intentional community – intentional community at its
finest. Leaders emerging, teamwork abundant,
and love and laughter abounding. What a
gift to watch many of our kids in an interchangeable herd, playing, connecting,
and getting to know each other. I
witnessed adults going out of their comfort zones dealing with the bugs, and
trusting that our church family would take care of each other. Which we did, which we do. There were some
conflicts, but folks kept open minds and sought support to overcome challenges.
I saw individuals in need and others
flock to support them. Similar to our life and community here
at our church. We see needs or gaps and
we empower each other to fill them. My
gratitude is plentiful. I am grateful
for the opportunity to have worked hand in hand with Juliette to plan and replan
and organize and reorganize; similar to how I have been able to connect with
Marty over this past year. We processed
and reprocessed and supported each other. I was able to see all sorts of
leadership and emerging leadership. So
many folks picked up the slack and used their skills. Robyn, Rachel, Erin, Pat, Kathryn and of
course the woman in the kitchen, Mickey.
It is like our church life. Folks
pitching in their skill sets where needed. Giving of our money and time and talent. It takes, yes, all, to create this intentional
church community. I am so grateful to
have had the opportunity to be in leadership in this church. I know there are many challenges and
opportunities approaching our community in the next year or so. I am looking
forward to the teamwork and creative problem solving. Mostly I am looking forward to our intentional
Church community. In love and light, Sayer Johnson, Past President |
This is the place in the newsletter where Rev. Khleber
Van Zandt’s column would usually be.
However, Khleber is away on vacation.
Check this space next month for a new column from Khleber. In Khleber’s words “See you in church.”
July 3 Camping Ministries will be welcoming our Alton neighbors to the church and selling soda, cookies, hotdogs and red, white and blue bracelets to create a budget for Camping Ministries. All donations of soda, hot dogs and cookies welcome! See Sayer or Juliette for more details. Please consider bringing a chair or blanket and joining us for Alton's Firework display. Fireworks usually begin around 9 pm, but come early and enjoy the summer evening with friends.
July 28 Work
Day There’s
always outdoor work to be done around the church. Come from 9 am to noon to lend a hand, and
stay for the 4th Saturday Lunch. Bring
gloves and personal yard tools if you have them. NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE Send Newsletter items by the 15th of each
month to the newsletter editor, and also to Becky Green in the church office church@firstuualton.org Church phone:
618-462-2462 Mail: PO Box 494, Alton IL 62002 |
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Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle will not meet
in July. THE Belleville
Area Chalice CIRCLE will not meet in July. Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle Every 3rd Saturday. (Note place
change.) Saturday , JULY 21 at Princivalli’s Café (3rd and Henry Sts. in Alton) 11:30 a.m. Contact Beth Bourland for further information. The GLBT Chalice Circle The last Sunday of the month. Sunday, JULY 29 at 11:15 am. Contact Staci Bratten. |
Your
Church Board 2012-2013 President Marty Johnson President Elect
Jennifer
Timpe Past President Sayer
Johnson Secretary Sarah Lazarz Treasurer MichelleBryant Barbeau Trustee Kelly
Crone-Willis Trustee Sandy
Shaner Youth Rep. Lily
Tade Board meetings are the 2nd Monday each month at 7 pm and are open to the church members. WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS Jennifer Timpe Michelle Bryant Barbeau Sandy Shaner Kelly Crone-Willis AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO RETIRED FROM THE
BOARD THIS YEAR FOR ALL THEIR SERVICE Cheryle Tucker-Loewe Jerry Johnson Jim Moore Don Allen
Medical
Mission to Guatemala Once again church member
Mona Hebert will be going on a medical mission trip to Guatemala from August 4
– 12. Last year they saw about 850
patients and this year they have added a dentist and a nephrologist to their
team so they hope to be able to care for about 1000 patients. For hygienic purposes, they want to be able
to give person or every family toothbrushes, a large tube of toothpaste, and
soap. Mona would greatly appreciate any
contributions of toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap. If members of the church would prefer to give
her money, she will purchase these items from Dollar Tree stores. Mona and the people of Guatemala thank you! |
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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 don’t think
the church office has your birthday on file, please contact Becky Green at church@firstuualton.org
and give her that information. 7/01 Stacey Wolff 7/06 Joan Hashimi 7/08 Kay Ott 7/09 Jonah Koch, (11) 7/15 Paul Berney 7/16 Claire Grippi, (5) 7/18 Dick Blanton 7/20 Kevin
Mccarthy 7/21 Paula Moore 7/22 Kati Prado, (8) 7/23 Dan Conniff 7/23 Catherine Oldt, (16) 7/23 Veronica
Schoenborn 7/24 Midge
Hallett 7/26 Lyric Johnson, (4) 7/26 Cheryle
Tucker-Loewe 7/28 Erkin Baker 7/28 Patricia Fischer 7/29 Grace
Madison 7/30 Alex Hoeft,
(19)
Interest Groups NOT MEETING in July
Anna Ds – next meeting is Thursday, September 6. 50+ Forum – next meeting is Saturday, August 4. Men’s Lunch Group – next meeting date/place to be determined. The St. Louis Buffet has closed. |
General Information: One-half of the cash
collection and one-half of any
undesignated checks put in the collection on the 2nd and 4th
Sundays are given away to charitable causes.
The entire amount of a check
designated for a specific cause is donated to that cause. The money donated does not
include pledge checks or money otherwise earmarked by the giver. If you have a suggestion about an
organization we should support with our Community Outreach Offering in the new
church year please contact Cheryle Tucker-Loewe, our Social Justice Chair. July’s COO will go to Women for Women International that
provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the
tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and
self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies.
4th Saturday Lunch – July 28 Trish Botsko is now the 4th Saturday Lunch
Coordinator There will be a “food needed” signup sheet in the Kate
Wuerker Room. Please contribute
something to the meal and stay to share lunch with our guests. Helping at our 4th Saturday Lunch is a way
you can contribute your time and talent and also share life stories with our
guests whom you might otherwise never meet. At these lunches we also give out personal care items
such as toilet paper, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products,
etc. Please donate some of these basic
need items. Sabrina Trupia collects and organizes
the personal care items. |
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Campfest Poem by Delores Ele The mountaintops’ woodland trees Offer sanctuary Relax, let go of things that bother you Let the campfire smoke arising From embers that glow orange red Carry away all your troubles tonight Laughter wafting From the waters of the pool Fade into sleep for the night The sky’s blood color Bleeds through gaps Between the leaves rustling in the breeze Eat the delicious food – Mexican tonight – Let all your worries take their final flight The trees’ arms frame The fullish moon and attendant clouds Later the Big Dipper takes that stage Dream another existence Start today and renew Dream another life Soar high and far and fast Heart, mind spirit – heal Dream another reality Where hearts entwine And all can fly Dream another time When people support one another In good times and bad. A place and time like this!!! (Delores also says
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Below is the current list of members of the Caring Ministries Committee. You may always contact one of them in time of illness, loss, crisis, or other need. Keep this list of contact people available in case you or your family is in need of pastoral support. |
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Summer RE Program Calendar · Summer Break June 3 through July 8 — teachers take a well-deserved break! There is no RE Program planned during these weeks — children remain in the sanctuary with their family. · Pre K-K — Spirit Play July 15 - Sep 2. If we get enough volunteers, Amelia McCarthy has volunteered to teach Spirit Play periodically during the summer. So Spirit Play will resume July 15 and continue most Sundays through Sep 2 — keep watch on the weekly e-mail to view the weekly schedule. · Grades 1-6 — Keepers of the Earth July 15 - Sep 2 — A Native American look at the nature of earth and human society; 10 a.m., in the Emerson Place Room, led by Steven Mead, DRE. · Youth Group does not plan to meet during the summer. ·
Nursery
care is provided all summer long. Summer Teaching Volunteers Summer teaching is simplest of all — sign up for just one Sunday — no preparation necessary, just come and have some fun. You will be helping with either with Spirit Play led by Amelia McCarthy, or Keepers of the Earth curricula, led by Steven Mead. Sign up is in the Kate Wueker Room on the easel cleverly labeled Teacher Recruitment! A New Classroom! We are adding a new classroom for our 7 - 8th graders this fall. We are creating this space from the RE Resource Room. We are asking for the following donations for this room and for our other three classrooms:
We do not need a table or any plants. We have no place to store these items until the space is prepared (sometime in August). Do not bring any furnishings without first talking to Steven Mead.
2012-2013 Teaching — Participate on First Unitarian’s Teaching Ministry Team The religious education of the children and youth in our church school is the responsibility of the entire congregation. This cooperative concept implies that everyone is invested in a commitment to excellence in religious education — the nurturing of young minds and sacred souls. Our program relies on this community spirit — it relies on the belief that this is our church school and we are all involved in it. Our children benefit because they encounter a wider cross-section of adults than they might otherwise. Adults benefit, not only because they are interacting with joyous and curious young people, but because they also get a chance to see how Unitarian Universalist religious education is taught, what UU values are, and more about UU history than they may have learned before. Teachers are supported throughout the year by materials, curriculum, staff, and fellow teachers. Deepen your relationship to one another, to our community, and your faith experience. With a full complement of teachers (around 30+), teaching is a commitment of about 12 - 15 Sundays out of 52. To volunteer, put your name on the sign-up sheets in the Kate Wuerker Room or contact Steven Mead, Director of Religious Education (DRE). Nine of 30 volunteers have committed to next year so far. 314.239.5694 (cell) |
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Return to First Unitarian Church of Alton - Newsletter Archive Page
A Letter from Sayer
A First Glance
Watch the Fireworks from the Church Lawn
July RE Program News & Notes