Congregation established 1836

Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois

www.firstuualton.org

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister

October 7^th

Coming Out Whole

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

National Coming Out Day is Thursday, October 11^th.  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?

October 14^th – Association Sunday

Covenants, Not Creeds

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Congregations across the country are participating in this day of celebration honoring a commitment to the national offices of our Unitarian Universalist Association.  “Now Is The Time” is the name given to this push “to grow our faith in one another, in the goodness of life, and in the positive impact we can have on the world around us.”  Our offering will benefit the Association’s anti-racism initiatives and publicity campaigns.

October 21^st

The U.N. Today and Tomorrow

Dr. Ronald Glossop

Professor Emeritus, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Since October 24 is U.N. Day, Ron will discuss the current status and work of the United Nations and what kinds of changes are needed to make it more effective in addressing global problems.

October 28^th

On Purpose:  Our Principles

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

The UUA’s present statement of Principles and Purposes is a 1995-amended, 1985-revamping of an original 1960 document that tried to articulate in a more exciting and brand-driven fashion the old watchwords of liberalism - freedom, reason, and tolerance.  How successful are the Principles and Purposes?  How well do they speak for us here in our context?

October 7^th – 9:00 a.m. ALL COMMITTEE SUNDAY

This is your opportunity to become more involved in church programs and activities.

October 14^th – 9:30 a.m. – Environmental Justice

An ongoing discussion about adapting to economic and environmental change based on Bill McKibben’s book “Deep Economy: the Wealth of Communities and a Durable Future.” Participation is always encouraged and it is not necessary to have the book.  John Crawford is the moderator.   Contact John for information about accessing the “Environmental Justice” blog where the Sunday discussion can be continued.

Welcoming Congregation Overview

The week of October 14^th begins a period of exploration centering on the Welcoming Congregation process undertaken by this congregation last year.  We have been officially recognized by the UUA as welcoming to lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgendered persons.  This month we will commemorate National Coming Out Day (which is October 11^th) with three presentations on three consecutive Sunday mornings, October 14^th, 21^th, and 28^th.

October 14^th – 9:30 a.m. – Welcoming Congregation –

Becoming an Ally

After a brief introduction to the Welcoming Congregation process, we will assess the deep levels of homophobia experienced as a result of living in this society.  We will address the questions, “What is an ally? And how do I become one?”  Finally, we will explore the costs, both personal and communal, of heterosexism and homophobia.

October 21 – 9:30 a.m. – Welcoming Congregation –

**An LGBT Panel Discussion**

Several people from outside our church community will share their personal journeys and present religious/spiritual practices as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons.  This will be held in Emerson Place.  **See elsewhere in the newsletter for information about each panelist.

October 28^th – 9:30 a.m. – Environmental Justice.  An ongoing discussion on adapting to economic and environmental change.  John Crawford moderator.   Emerson Place and online.

October 28^th – 9:30 a.m. – Welcoming Congregation

A Look to the Future

We will address the issues that come out of our two previous sessions, and then look to the future.

A First Glance

In a congregation whose cup overflows with blessings, the most precious blessing of all is our children.  It is a cliché to say that our children are our future - in many ways they are our past and present as well.

Children have historically been important to this church.  In the mid-nineteenth century, people from this congregation helped Alton children by starting the public high school in our building.  In the mid-twentieth century, students were again the raison d’être when folks from this congregation helped integrate the Alton school system.

Today, we have more then thirty kids registered for our Religious Education program, including a newly constituted youth group that’s getting ready to attend gatherings with youth from across our district.  From the nursery to the youth room, they are a lively bunch.  If you’ve been to church lately, you’ve noticed the sound of little feet running to and fro, and you know there are few quiet places in the building on a Sunday morning - which is a great problem to have, if you must consider it a problem at all.

As a rule, they are quick, connected, and good ambassadors for our church.  One of our children is featured in the photograph that graces the front of the UUA directory that goes out to all 1100 churches in the Unitarian Universalist Association.  Many can sing by heart the doxology we sing together in worship each Sunday.  And during one recent worship service, when the preacher asked the rhetorical question, “What are we doing here?” one small voice piped up in the back pew, “I was just gonna ask that.”  (Even if bored, he was listening closely!)

Our Director of Religious Education, Jamie Gross, has worked with the children to produce a covenant focusing on behavior.  The kids are reminded in the covenant what sorts of things they should and should not do while at church.  It’s a great first step in teaching the youngsters about boundaries and about how we use different behaviors in different times and in different places.

As one of the presidential contenders has written, It Takes a Village to raise a child.  Parents are of course the front line of instruction for kids.  Teachers will be reminding classes about the covenant from time to time.  And all of us adults should be alert to keeping our kids safe from harming themselves or others.

Please look over the covenant found elsewhere in this newsletter.  And help the kids remember and learn from it - they are precious and they each deserve the best education we can give them!

See you in church,

Do You Enjoy Singing?

(in the car, in the shower, at work, in the garden, while exercising on the treadmill …) How About Singing in the Church Choir?

CHOIR PRACTICE SCHEDULE

You don’t have to be able to attend each choir practice to join the choir.  Practice is held at 7 p.m. on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month and at 12 noon on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of each month. 

October’s rehearsals:

October 4^th

October 14^th

October 18^th

October 28^th

Contact Willis McCoy for further information.

wbmccoy@charter.net

Chalice Circles

The GLBT Chalice Group will be meeting the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays after church at Eliot Chapel in Kirkwood, MO.  Lunch is at 12:15 p.m. at Kaldis on Lindbergh, near Eliot Chapel.  The Chalice Group meets at the Chapel from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m.  Contact Layne Simpson layne3030@hotmail.com for more information.

Renegade Women

Saturday, October 20^th – 3 to 5 p.m. at church

Contact:  Marcia Custer mcuster@siue.edu.

The group will be reading Anne Lamott’s book,
“Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith” published in 2007.

Third Sunday Chalice Circle

Sunday, October 21^st – 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at

church

Contact:  Sandy Shaner sarapolarbear@hotmail.com

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

Sunday, October 21^st – 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. in Emerson Place at church

Contact: Cheryle Tucker-Loewe chtucke@siue.edu

or Diane Thompson dianeelizabeththompson@gmail.com

Men's Chalice Circle

Tuesday, October 23^rd – 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Emerson Place at church.

Contact:  Khleber Van Zandt kvanzandt@uuma.org

Congratulations to John and Loretta Dunphy who were married in Harrisburg, Illinois on Saturday, August 25^th.  We wish them happiness and joy.

CRISIS FOOD CENTER  

We will collect canned goods and money donations for Thanksgiv-ing food baskets during October. The Crisis Food Center begins distributing these items mid-month so this earlier collection at the church will hopefully increase our contributions. The following items are needed: canned sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie filling, brown sugar, cake mixes, and icing.

Money donations for the purchase of turkeys will be collected. Thank you for your donations.

Jen Politsch  

Come shine with us! 

A Night with the Stars Party

First Unitarian Church of Alton  

October 6, 2007 , 6 p.m.

Join us for far out food (BYOB),

1-star entertainment, and

cosmic dancing.

Star-related costumes are encouraged!

Bring a dish to share.  Sign-up during Sept. coffee hour or via Cathy Tade cathytade@msn.com

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” – Og  Mandin

Directory Update

(Addresses and phone numbers are not printed in the online issue of the newsletter.)

Ott, Cliff and Kay

ok1919@juno.com

Men’s Lunch Group

The men’s lunch group will meet on Thursday, Oct. 4^th at 11:30 a.m. at the St. Louis Buffet, 672 Wesley Dr., in Wood River, near the new WalMart.  Contact Nelson Shaner for further details.  nshaner@charter.net

SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVITY

What:  Alton “CITY-WIDE LITTER CLEANUP”

Date:    Saturday, October 20^th

Time:   9 a.m. to 12 noon

Lunch:  A free cookout for everyone involved will be hosted by Alton’s Weed and Seed Strategy and will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at 5^th Street and Central Avenue on the site of the old St. Patrick’s School – now the Family Learning Center.

This cleanup campaign is sponsored by the City of Alton, the Weed & Seed Strategy, St. Anthony’s Health Center, the Sierra Club, and several business organizations.

We will probably be doing litter pickup in the blocks near our church.

Please look for the informational flyers at church and for a participant signup sheet.  Joining in this city-wide activity is a good way to extend ourselves beyond our church doors, show a congregational commitment to our church home city, and be good stewards of our environment.

Building and Grounds

We had a very successful workday on August 25, with about 20 people showing up to help with the work.  We picked up leaves and sticks and removed weeds, while Jen and Wayne Politsch tackled the bush honeysuckle in the front landscaping.  Tom Sakalauski installed some edging on the Alby side, so that gravel can be placed around the guttering. Dee Smith helped Jamie Gross put the grill, which had fallen off the porch, back together. Jerry Johnson, with some help from Lisa Alton and others finished sanding the iron railing in front.  Mary Johnson and Mona Hebert cleaned the kitchen and Wuerker Room and cleaned spider webs off the front doors.  Khleber Van Zandt installed the new solar lights on the front fence posts. Dee Smith installed a door stop on the back door and did some spot painting in the office. Khleber checked the functioning of the ice maker and a water fountain and found we need a repairman for those jobs.  Tom and Bing Gibbs installed new light fixtures in the upstairs hallway by the restroom and put some new brighter lights in other fixtures. Jim Moore cleaned the fireplace. Kate Gibbs, Cheryle Tucker Loewe, and Andrea Gross painted some furniture for the RE department. David Birchmier painted the ceiling of classroom 7.  Plus there were many others like Paul Hebert and John Herndon who helped with several jobs.  Thanks to all showed up and donated your time and talents. The only casualty of the day was the wasp sting I got while pulling weeds.  To top it off, I got stung 6 times the next week in my own yard.

Thanks to Lucy Bouton, who has taken on the jobs of re-supplying the soda in the refrigerator and taking recycled items away. Remember that you can purchase soda for 50 cents, and the profits go to buy small items needed at the church, like the new microwave in the office.  Also, please put all clean paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and aluminum items into the recycling bins next to the refrigerator.

Some members have come over on their own time to get jobs done, such as Mary and Jerry Johnson, who cleaned the tile on the front porch and applied a sealer to protect it.  Have you ever noticed the nice inlaid pattern there?  Bing Gibbs has done many minor repairs and is working on ideas for better dehumidification of the downstairs area. Gerry Gilman and Marcia Custer keep the plants watered and trimmed, and are replacing old vents with new shiny ones.  Gerry also has been working on getting the grass off the front sidewalk. Jerry Johnson has replaced all the bulbs in the Wuerker Room and Emerson Place with new brighter fluorescent bulbs.

If you see something that needs attention, please let me know.  Some jobs that are currently on the to-do list are: prime and paint the rest of the front fence, remove more of the honeysuckle from the landscaping, clean more grass off the front sidewalk, keep the spider webs off the door areas, put down landscaping material and gravel around the gutter, replace more lights, repair the ice maker, fix the drinking fountain, wash windows, etc, etc. If you have any time to donate, let me know, or you could donate money to pay for outside services to be hired. Keep bringing your old rugs for use in the cellar.

I’m looking for people with knowledge of construction work to help me with making up specifications and taking bids for work on the RE wing façade. 

Pat Moore

Building and Grounds Chairman

ANNA Ds

The October 4^th meeting of the Anna D. Sparks Women’s Alliance will be at a scenic village along the Great River Road. 

Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. at

MY JUST DESSERTS in Elsah, IL

18 La Salle St,   (618) 374-1607

  Please let Lorna McElhone know by Monday, October 1^st if you are coming lornamce@aol.com.

Community Outreach Offering

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 monies 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. 

The Community Outreach Offering in August totaled $390 and was given to the Alton Crisis Food Center.  The amount of September’s Community Outreach Offering was not available when this newsletter went to print but the offering will be given to the Oasis Women’s Center in Alton along with donations of detergent, diapers, towels and alarm clocks.

The Outreach Offering in October will be given to two different organizations.  The offering on Oct. 14^th will be sent to the Unitarian Universalist Association for its anti-racism initiatives and publicity campaigns.  The offering on October 28^th will go to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Cape Girardeau, a new startup congregation “practicing liberal religion in Southeast Missouri.”

Here are the names of church members and friends who are celebrating birthdays this month. We have many new members and friends whose names possibly didn’t get on the birthday list. If this is ‘your month’ and your name didn’t get included, we’re sorry.  For future months please let Mary Johnson (mejohnson@mindspring.com) know the day and month of your birth.

  6 October – Freya Wolff (2000)

  8 October – Nancee Magilson

11 October – Becky Green

18 October – Johnny Tade (1999)

24 October – Ken Hoeft

24 October – Roland (Kit) Schoenborn

27 October – Cliff Ott

28 October - Pat Moore

30 October – Peg Flach

COMMITTEES MEET ON OCTOBER 7^th

Committee Sunday is scheduled the first Sunday of every other month at 9:00 a.m. to allow time for discussion and planning.  If you are not currently serving on a committee please consider joining one.  Your ideas and talents are needed.  Below is the list of committee chairs for the year.  If you are interested in working with a specific committee please contact the chairperson.

Adult Religious Education: John Crawford

Building & Grounds:          Pat Moore

Finance:                           Sandy Shaner

Growth:                           Cheryle Tucker-Loewe

Members:                        Marcia Custer

Religious Education:         Lisa Alton

Social Justice:                  Mary Johnson

Stewardship:                    Ted Loucks

Worship:                          John Herndon

How Can You Help the Environment?

Recycle: glass, plastics, steel/tin, cardboard, chipboard (cereal boxes), aluminum, office paper, newspapers, and maga-zines.  Check with your waste hauler about pickup or find a local drop-off site in your area.

Buy:  Post-consumer paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, facial tissues, table napkins) – Post consumer products are made of materials which have already been used by the end consumer and are taken to recycling centers.  These materials are then collected for recycling as different products.  Much of the paper we use, even though marked “recycled” is made of paper scraps and leftovers from the original paper manufacturing process and are pre-consumer.  “Seventh Generation” is one brand of post-consumer paper products that on occasion can be found at Schnucks and Dierbergs and usually always at Whole Foods.  Check the PCW percentages on paper products you purchase to see if they use any post-consumer waste.  

Use:  Canvas/cloth bags to bring your groceries home instead of the plastic or paper bags supplied at the stores.   The major supermarkets sell cloth bags (with their logo of course), but you can take any sort of re-useable bags to the grocery with you.

Change:  Your incandescent light bulbs for energy-saving fluorescent bulbs.

RE NEWS

Dear Parents and Friends,

Religious Education classes are now up and running.  I want to take this time to welcome all of our new families and welcome back all of those who are returning.  As we continue to grow communication is vital.  If you have not yet done so, please turn in your registration forms to me as soon as possible.  These contain information that will help in keeping your child safe and you informed of everything that is going on this year.

            In an effort to keep everyone in the congregation informed about the exciting events that will be happening in church this year.  I have developed a RE calendar.  This will also be posted in the RE section of our church website for your reference throughout the year.

September Famous UU:  Horace Mann

September   2:  Children’s Chapel

September   9:  Intergenerational Ingathering Service

September 16:  First Religious Education Class

October Famous UU:  Albert Schwitzer

October  7:  Children’s Chapel

October 28:  Halloween Party (Costumes are encouraged.)

October 28:  Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

November Famous UU:  Martha & Waitstill Sharp

November   4:  Children’s Chapel

November 18:  Intergenerational Bread Service

November 25:  Guest at Your Table

December   2:  Holiday Gift Shop

December   9:  Art Day

December 16:  Mitten Tree

December 23:  Intergenerational Holiday Service

December 30:  Everyone’s Birthday Party

January Famous UU:  Theodore Parker

January   6:  Children’s Chapel

February Famous UU:  Susan B. Anthony

February 3:  Children’s Chapel

March Famous UU:  Henry Bergh

March   2:  Children’s Chapel

March 23:  Easter Hunt (Canned Goods)

April Famous UU:  Dorthea Dix

April   6:  Children’s Chapel

April 20:  Intergenerational Earth Day Service

May Famous UU:  Julia Ward Howe

May   4:  Children’s Chapel

May 11:  Intergenerational Flower Communion

May 25:  Peace Pole

Thanks, Jamie Gross,
Director of Religious Education

Behavioral Covenant

Religious Education Department

2007-2008

The following are ways we have agreed to be together with each other this year and in the safe space of our church:

No Bossy/Bullying behavior.

We are quiet when others are speaking.

We are respectful of others.

We are responsible for our actions.  They must be safe for everyone

around us.

Fire safety is very important.  Never leave candles burning or

play with matches.

Remember that younger children can be more fragile than we are

and be careful around them.

Follow all safety signs that are posted in the building. 

Keep doors closed that need to be closed.

Attend church service and classes respectfully.

Treat the Sanctuary, the Church, and all church property with

respect.  Do not touch things that are not yours.

Stay where you should be.  There is a time for being upstairs

and a time for being downstairs.

Violence does not belong in church.

Try to have fun and learn something.

RE ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Please remember to bring in your ink jet cartridges for recycling in basket in the foyer.
• Please stop by and check out the RE Book Hutch in the Kate Wuerker Room.
• Please bring in your change for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF on October 28.  Children are encouraged to come in costume to trick-or-treat during coffee hour.

Panel Members for the GLBT Discussion at

9:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 21^st

Everyone is encouraged to come to this interesting and informative presentation which will be held in Emerson Place.

Robyn Berkley: I am a college professor at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in the area of Human Resource Management and received my doctorate in business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  My research and teaching focus is on diversity and discrimination in the workplace, specifically issues surrounding sexual harassment.  I live with my partner of 1 year, my two children, as well as our menagerie of pets.

Robin Hanson: I was raised as a Methodist.  I'm a doctoral candidate at SLU and founder of the Themisian Temple's Institute of Women's Spirituality.  As a woman and as a lesbian (out for 23 years), I found that organized religion didn't provide the spiritual guidance I needed.  As an anthropologist and archaeologist, I looked to the past for that guidance and found it in Pre-Abrahamic, Anatolian-based religions where the feminine aspects of spirituality proved more prominent.

Mary Jones:  Education: Master of Arts in Organizational Management, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN /  Bachelor of Social Work, University of Missouri, St. Louis.

Occupation: Business Owner, and Organizational & Community Development Professional.

Religious Background: Mormon & Southern Baptist, baptized as Methodist.  Rather than going to church I would prefer to attend a sweat lodge, and rather than kneeling with my hands placed together in prayer, I let sweetgrass be feathered over my entire being for spiritual cleansing and allow the smoke to carry my prayers into the heavens.

Patricia Murrell:  I was reared in Alton and have lived here most of my life.  I am currently retired from MO Dept. of Mental Health, do part-time counseling & hypnotherapy.  My religious background is:  primarily Baptist (till about 12), Catholic (until about 24), then sort of turned off to all formal religions for about 8 yrs, then became interested in the goddess, pagan religions, Wicca, and eastern religions, and became a minister in the Universal Life Church in 1983.

Eric Robinson : Eric is a native of Alton and was educated at Howard University and the University of Missouri-Columbia, as well as the University of Chicago . He was reared a member of Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Upper Alton

and was active in the Sunday School, at times substituting for his mother Joyce Robinson as a Sunday School teacher; he also taught in the Vacation Bible School . Currently a member of Unity Fellowship Church, he teaches History at Lewis and Clark Community College and he is the proprietor of J. E. Robinson, Tours . He is also an award-winning essayist and poet.

Jerry Wunderlich: Single, lives in Godfrey, IL, a registered investment advisor, stock broker (25 years). Some college and raised Catholic. No religious affiliation at this time and consider myself an atheist.

^4th Sunday

Sunday Potluck Lunch

October 28^th 

Bring a dish to share and plan to stay after church to join in food and fellowship!

A-Mc will do Clean Up

M-Z will do Table Set Up

Everyone will be responsible for setting food out on the buffet table.

Knitting for Peace –

A Social Justice Project

Under the guidance of Sandy Shaner and Beth Nalick we hope to have a knitting group to make scarves and other handmade items to give to people needing winter wear.  No experience in knitting is necessary to participate.  Sandy will teach you the basics or help you improve your knitting techniques.  Both youth and adults are encouraged to sign up on the interest list in the Kate Wuerker Room.