Congregation established 1836

Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois

www.firstuualton.org

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister

August 3^rd

To Be Announced

The Youth Group will lead the service.

August 10^th

"The Basics of Justice:  Leftists and Rightists"

Dr. Ronald Glossop
Professor Emeritus, Southern Illinois University

at Edwardsville

The 6th Purpose & Principle of the UUA is "the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all."  This sermon will examine in detail the alternative views which leftists and rightists have of what is "just" or "fair" and how these views are basic to various political ideologies.

August 17^th

“Coming Out Whole”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

This is a sermon first preached in honor of National Coming Out Day last year.  Millions of people have chosen to live their lives as ‘out and open’ persons of non-majority orientations.  How did they acquire the courage required to do so?  What can those of majority orientations do to support that courage and to show compassion for the struggle of lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgendered persons?

August 24^th

“Theodore Parker’s Pistol”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Transcendentalist Unitarian minister Theodore Parker’s raspy personality and radical abolitionist stances were too much for most Unitarians in the time before the American Civil War.  In our time, would you see anything wrong with my keeping a pistol on my desk as I prepare sermons?

August 31^{ST -} Labor Day Weekend

“Freely and Responsibly Searching”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Our Fourth Principle says we will “affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.”  How do we know where to look?  How do we even know where to start?  Right here, right now, let’s get going together.

August   3^rd – Non-theist/Humanist Roundtable.
What do non-theists think about what comes after death?  Is there some level of existence after death?

August 10^th – UU World magazine article(s) discussion.

August 17^th – Environment Discussion Group
What is the state of our local ecosystems?

August 24^th – Open Discussion.

August 31^st – UUA Peacemaking Initiative

Are we ready and willing to become a "peace" church?
What does that mean, and how do we begin?

Mark Your Calendars:

       A Quick Guide to this Month’s Happenings

A First Glance

The charge was delivered to this year’s General Assembly on the last Saturday night of June.  The lecturer in the main hall that night, Van Jones, spoke eloquently about our growing environmental crisis, about the recent signs and impending dangers of stagflation, and about the need to lift up those communities that have been left out of previous economic recoveries.

Mr. Jones told several thousand of us UU’s that we had been right on all the issues.  Over the years we’ve stood for civil rights, we’ve opposed wars, we’ve been welcoming to people of different sexual orientations; in all those areas and more, we’ve been leaders in questioning the dominant paradigm.   But now, he said, now we have a problem.

And the problem is this:  we’re about to win.  The tide is about to turn and we’re going to have to stop sitting around on the sidelines kvetching and critiquing.  Jones said that we’re going to have to do more than simply complain – we’re going to have to step up and begin to govern.

I don’t know about you, but I am not used to such an insider role.  Like Groucho Marx, who famously didn’t want to be a member of any club that would have him, I am not sure it’s a good idea for me to consider myself part of any political establishment that will have me.  Anyway, our religion doesn’t abide dominant paradigms very well, either, and I don’t think we ought to start now.

Earlier in the week, before General Assembly got going, the UU Ministers’ Association welcomed theologian Walter Brueggemann as its keynote speaker.  Dr. Brueggemann is as fine an Old Testament scholar as you’ll find (he spent decades teaching at Eden Seminary where I’ve just begun studies again).  True to form, he described how the biblical text can be seen as a narrative of two competing paradigms.  On the one hand is Solomon with his belief in and reliance on wealth, power, and wisdom.  On the other is the reign of hesed, rahamim, and ‘amunah -  Hebrew for steadfast love, compassion, and faithfulness.  It was a long and impassioned argument Brueggemann gave, one I will do my best to flesh out in upcoming sermons on “re-minding” and “re-membering.”

For now, though, when asked to choose between exercising worldly, political, Solomonic power on the one hand and placing hope in the power of steadfast love, compassion, and faithfulness on the other, I want to choose rightly and well rather than expediently.

I hope Van Jones is right, and I hope some of us stop kvetching and start governing.  I also hope that we will not be seduced or co-opted by political power anytime soon.

See you in church,

On June 29^th I was privileged, along with 23 other people from our community, to attend the Annual LGBT Pridefest Parade in St. Louis.  We went to let it be known that we, as a church and a denominational movement, stand for the Right for all to marry as they see fit.  Our banner proclaimed: “Laws don’t make families, Love makes families and your family is welcome here.”  I heard from the crowd one spectator told us to hold that banner proud and high.  As I looked in to the crowd I saw many people who cheered when they noticed who we were and what our message said. Some chanted U-N-I-T-A-R-I-A-N as we passed; one of our youth remarked, “They are treating us like Gods.”  I may be dreaming or over reaching but I saw many faces that looked grateful, and seemed to be saying thank you over and over.  It was a life changing experience for me, one of many since I have belonged to this church, and a profoundly religious experience.  I saw people who have been ridiculed and persecuted all their lives who were comfortable with people who accepted their dreams and their existence.  I think as a church we are not only standing in the margins - we are marching through them, breaking down fences and standing shoulder to shoulder with those who have no voice and no one else who cares.  I am already looking forward to next year.  Love is absolutely the doctrine of this church!

Peace and Love,

John Herndon,

President of the Board of Trustees

Photo of some of the people from our church community
who participated in the Pride Parade.

Chalice Circles

Renegade Women Chalice Circle

Saturday, Aug. 16^th – 2 to 4 pm at Church

At our June meeting we took a deeper look at how we explain ourselves as Unitarian Universalists by developing “Elevator Speeches.”  That would be what you could explain to someone who asks in the time it takes you to ride an elevator 6 - 8 floors. See the column on Elevator Speeches to see one of ours.  Come to our next meeting Saturday August 16^th to enjoy more of this kind of provocative discussion.  We meet at the church from 2 - 4 pm on Saturday afternoons.  Contact Marcia Custer mcuster@siue.edu for more information.

Third Sunday Chalice Circle

Sunday, August 17^th – 11:45 am to 1 pm at Church

Contact:  Sandy Shaner sarapolarbear@hotmail.com

This is a “general” chalice circle welcoming all.

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

Sunday, August 17^th  – 12:00 to 1:30 pm in Emerson Place at Church

Contact: Diane Thompson at dianeelizabeththompson@gmail.com or

Cheryle Tucker-Loewe at chtucke@siue.edu.

Men's Chalice Circle

Tuesday, August 26^th – 7 pm at Church

Contact: Khleber Van Zandt kvanzandt@uuma.org.

CRISIS FOOD CENTER DONATIONS

The need for food doesn’t take a summer vacation and supplies at area food pantries diminish during the summer months, and especially as a result of the recent area flooding more people are in need.  Please bring your donations of non-perishable food to church and they will be delivered to the Alton Food Pantry.

Jen Politsch

4^th Sunday

Sunday Potluck Lunch

August 24^th

Bring a dish to share and plan to stay after church to join in food and fellowship!  If possible please bring a dish that serves at least 6 to 8 people.  With an average attendance of almost 80 people on a Sunday we need to make sure there’s food for everyone.

A-Mc will do Clean Up

M-Z will do Table Set Up

Everyone helps put food out.

CARE AND CONCERN

Please contact your Pastoral Care Team Leader or Rev. Khleber Van Zandt if there are concerns that need to be brought to their attention.   If you do not know if you are connected with a Pastoral Care Team, please contact Marcia Custer mcuster@siue.edu

Community Outreach Offering

One-half of the collection on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays is given away to charitable causes. The money donated does not include pledge checks or money otherwise earmarked by the giver.  The Outreach Offering only includes “cash offerings” or checks indicating that they are to be included in the donated funds.  August’s collection will go to the Alton Salvation Army to assist in their local area flood relief efforts.

Suggestions for offering recipients are welcome.  Please email Mary Johnson with your suggestions.  mejohnson@mindspring.com. Members of the Community Outreach Committee are Khleber Van Zandt, Willis McCoy and Mary Johnson.

CHOIR REHEARSALS RESUME

Join the Choir as we begin a new season of song.  All voices are welcome!  Rehearsals begin at 7 pm on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month and around noon on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays.

August’s schedule is as follows:

Thurs., Aug. 7^th

Sun., Aug 10^th

Thurs., Aug. 21^st

Sun., Aug. 24^th

Contact Willis McCoy for further information.

wbmccoy@charter.net

Presidential Campaign Heats Up

 … no, not for the White House … for the leadership of the
Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)

At the UUA General Assembly (GA) in 2009 at Salt Lake City, representatives from our church, along with Unitarian Universalists from all over the country, will elect a new president for the Association.   Two people have already declared their candidacy – the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman, Minister of the First Unitarian Church in Dallas Texas and the Rev. Peter Morales, Minister of Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden Colorado.  There are several ways to learn about each of these candidates.   You can read about each candidate in the UU World magazine or go to different websites, including those as those given below.

http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/102213.shtml

http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/102214.shtml

http://www.hallmanforuuapresident.com/

http://www.moralesforuuapresident.org/

You can also check out a personal blog developed by a Martin Voelker that includes transcripts of the candidate forum at GA and will have ongoing commentary that you might want to add to.   http://uuapresidentialdebate2009.wordpress.com

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 (church@firstuualton.org) and give her that information.

  1 August – Atticus Rebmann (2005)

  4 August – Jim Elliott

  4 August – Rosemary Mullikin

  5 August – Emily Loucks (1995)

  7 August – Jack McCall

10 August – Lorna McElhone

10 August – Bev Carter

13 August – Ginny Allred

14 August – Lily Tade (1995)

16 August – Anna Whitaker (1996)

23 August – Paul Hebert

24 August – Amelia McCarthy (1996)

SQUARE DANCE

 For EVERYONE – kids, youth, adults, singles, couples – bring friends

Bring a snack to share and join in the fun on Saturday, August 23^rd at 7:00 pm.  Contact Diane Thompson dianeelizabeththompson@gmail.com if you need further information.

All Men in the Church Invited to the Men’s Lunch Group

The Men’s Group will meet on Thursday, August 14^th at the St. Louis Buffet, 672 Wesley Dr., Wood River, IL.  Contact Nelson Shaner for further details nshaner@charter.net.

Annual Church Leadership Retreat

There will be a church leadership retreat for all Board Members and Committee Chairs on August 23^rd at the church from 9 am to 5 pm.

If you are on the Board or Chair a committee, plan to come and spend the day with fellow leadership companions in an invigorating and spiritual atmosphere, hopefully learning ways to grow our congregation in spirit, mind and action.

UU Elevator speech

What you'd say when you're going from the sixth floor to the lobby and somebody asks you, 'What's a Unitarian Universalist?

What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist?

Unitarian Universalism is the result of the1960s merger of the Unitarian and Universalist churches in the U.S. Universalists were known for preaching universal salvation, and Unitarians for their view of Jesus as a great teacher rather than part of the Trinity.

The UUs have no specific creed, but have adopted a set of Principles and Purposes to live by. Worship traditions among churches can vary considerably. Although some congregations retain Christian, Humanist, or even Buddhist, traditions, most seek guidance for living a meaningful life from many sources.  UUs also tend to have primary goals of service to preserve our planet and its inhabitants rather than preparing for an afterlife.

From a participant in the

Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle

RE NEWS

Dear Parents and Friends,

Registration for the 2008 - 2009 RE year will be starting very soon.  We have gone to a paperless registration system, so please check your email for that.  This is the World Religions year of our three year rotation.  This is something that we do as Unitarian Universalists that many other religious traditions do not do.

The question has been asked why we do not just teach our children what it means to be Unitarian Universalists.  Why do we bother teaching them what it means to be a Pagan, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist, Christian, or Muslim?  There are some who would say that if we are expecting to grow UUs we should not be showing the children what the other options are.  This is, after all, one of the “secrets of success” of some other religions.  This could also be one reason why there is so much fear and fighting between different religions in this world.

Our Unitarian Universalist faith draws from Six Sources and two of them explicitly call us to learn from other religions.  Our third source states that our living tradition draws from “Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspire us to our ethical and spiritual life;” and the fourth source which states that it is drawn from “Jewish and Christian teaching which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.”

In this way when we take the time to learn about other religions, especially when they are put into the context of our children’s lives as UUs, we are actually learning where our own religious tradition comes from.  

Hopefully, as the year progresses with a new religion introduced each month, our children will also learn how to better get along with those that we share our lives with both in our church community and the wider world.

Thank you, Jamie Gross

A Course on Voluntary Simplicity Offered at Church

Registration Opens on Sunday, August 3^rd

This is a seven session course addressing the distractions of modern society that keep us from caring for ourselves, our relationships, and our environment.   The course was developed by the Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) of Portland, Oregon.   http://www.nwei.org

When:  Every other Monday evening, starting on September 8^th and going through Dec. 1^st.

Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Cost:  $18 to cover the course book.  The $18 is due when registering.

Class limited to 12 persons:

Registrations will be taken on a “first come” basis.  There will be a signup sheet at church or you can email Mary Johnson for further information at   mejohnson@mindspring.com

The course is open to the community through the Green Academy program of the UCM Alton Cluster.

Childcare will be available at no charge if requested when registering.

Course Facilitator:  Kevin McCarthy

Topics Covered

• The meaning of simplicity:   The concept of simplicity, as a religious practice or philosophy of life, has a long history.   Both inner simplicity and outer simplicity are involved.   What are some common misconceptions about a simple life?

• Living more with less:   Accumulating material possessions is part of the American Dream.   For some, the dream has become a nightmare.   When do material possessions add meaning to our lives and when do they detract?

• Your money or your life:  A growing number of people wish to resolve the conflict between desire to make and spend money and the desire for a simple life.  Why is that so difficult in our culture?

• Do you have the time?:   In modern society, our minds are focused on the “busyness” of the day, our current problems, and our future challenges.   Are there alternatives to the fast pace of our mainstream culture?

• How much is enough?:   As a society, we engage in patterns of material consumption that are damaging the environment.   How much do we really need?

• Swimming against the tide:  Our country’s current guiding economic principles push growth, consumption, and technological advance as inextricable and desirable goals.  In our efforts to live simply, we may feel like we are swimming against the tide.

• The practice of simplicity:  There are countless practical benefits in moving towards simplicity.  What steps can be taken to move toward a life simple in means, rich in ends?

Alton Fireworks Display Cancelled for 2008

The annual firework display, postponed from July 3^rd to September 5^th has been cancelled until next July due to the extra expenses the City has incurred as result of the recent flooding.