FIRST UNITARIAN FOCUS
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Photo by Rev. Sunshine Wolfe, 2015 Rev. Sunshine J. Wolfe, Pastor
July 2016
Sunday Worship Services at 10:15 a.m.
Soulful Sundown Vespers Service on the 3rd Saturday at 4 pm
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July 3 A Politics of Respect - a sermon by Dennis J. Daniels and read by Worship Associate Rebecca Walters
July 10 Coming of Age In India In the Sixties: A Unitarian Peace Corps Volunteer Looks At Life with Thomas Cochran, Worship Associate Joy Hoeft July 16 Vespers July 17 Music and Spirituality with Rebecca Walters, Worship Associate Dee Evans Music: A Universal language that every human can understand. Have you ever turned on the radio and the song playing touches you in a way you can't explain? Have you paused and thought, "Wow, I really needed to hear that today."? Could it be possible that The Universe or deceased loved ones are trying to send you a message that you can understand? It has been my personal experience that this phenomenon IS possible. I believe that the physical and spiritual planes of existence are interconnected, and that music is often the bridge between them. |
July 24
Stations of the Pentacle -
with Yomi Kinder and Worship Associate
July 31
Singing Our Visions of Action, Transformation, and Hope
- with Joy Hoeft
No monthly themes from June to August. Worship Services are held at 10:15 am on Sunday as an intergenerational service with ritual, movement, a sermon, readings, and music. Soulful Sundown service is at 4:00 pm on the 3rd Saturday with meditation, silence, readings, and singing.
ADULT RELIGIOUS ENRICHMENT (ARE) < /p>
“The Seekers” For our summer schedule; each week a topic |
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A Fond Farewell “You are enough.”
It has been quite the journey these last two years. I cannot thank you, the First Unitarian Church of Alton, for letting me walk with you during this time. There has been a lot of change and I know that has been stressful for many of you. That said, I do hope that you have had the space you need to grieve Rev. Khleber and Linda leaving the congregation and had opportunity to imagine someone completely new and different being your settled minister in the future. If there is one lesson I hope that you as a community take with you into the future it is to see yourselves as a learning organization. That is, rather than focusing on problems to be fixed or perfection in all things, that you see each challenge as an opportunity for learning and growth and that you proudly name and hone those things that you are good at. You are a beautiful and powerful community. Hold onto your strengths and live into potential. Don’t let yourselves be held back by the struggles that arise. Remember that healthy conflict is useful when folks are respectful and compassionate. You have wisdom to give the world. You have love to the share. Alton needs your wisdom and love. You are enough to share it and to model for the world strength in the face of challenge. You are Unitarian Universalists. Let your light shine. In these two years, I’ve made mistakes, met challenges, learned, grown, and hopefully brought a little of my own wisdom to you. Your wisdom will go forth with me into the future conversations that I serve. Know that this time matters not just for you, but for all of our congregations. May you keep that light lit in the chalice of this congregation. I will miss you dearly. It has truly been a pleasure to serve with you these years. Thank you for the opportunity. With love and blessings, Pastor Sunshine Wolfe
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
Newsletter Deadline is on the 15 of each month.
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Religious Education for Children and Youth Will be on summer schedule – no classes until fall.
Religious Education Planning Session July 10th
Please join us for a planning session for the 2016-17 Religious Education Program for children and youth. Pastor Sunshine will facilitate with leadership from Religious Education Chair Joy Hoeft. All parents, teachers, and those interested in helping to plan the program for the upcoming year, please join us. We need your input and support.
Pastor Sunshine’s Availability This Summer
Pastor Sunshine will continue working for First Unitarian Church of Alton until July 31st. If you have an emergency or need urgent assistance, please contact gher directly. If you would like to meet with Pastor Sunshine before ghe goes on vacation on July 7th, please contact gher through church office or via e-mail at swolfe@uuma.org. Have a fun and blessed summer.
Church Potluck Lunch July 3 @ 11:30 am
Gather ‘round to share food and fellowship. Bring a dish to share and stay to help clean up, while enjoying your church community. |
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News from the Board of Directors Summarizing Annual Congregational Meeting and June 14 Board Meeting The Annual Congregational Meeting was held after church on June 5. President Debby Lovell announced the following:
The Board, with UUA help, has worked out a plan to share an Interim Minister with Emerson Chapter for the 2016-2017 church year, since neither congregation could afford full time settled ministry at this time. Rev. Dawn Fortune has been hired by the Board, and is looking forward to working with us. Plans are being worked out with Emerson as to how Rev. Fortune’s time will be spent, and that information will be shared ASAP. The Board and any other interested persons met with UUA Transistions Rep, Dori Thexton, to discuss what to expect with a shared ministry. Rev. Wolfe reported on progress that has been made during gher interim and things ghe sees as still needing work. Dee Evans reported on progress made in reorganizing committees such as Membership, Sunday Support, Endowment, Canvas, and Building & Grounds. She still needs a volunteer to organize Sunday Support. Treasurer Lisa Strangeman submitted a written report. She says that all pledges have not yet been paid, and we have had to use money from our reserves to pay bills. The budget for next year has been updated to show the shared ministry, which should give us about $6000 surplus for other purposes. Jerry Johnson reported that the Endowment Fund is currently at $165,026.87. According to the formula, the fund was able to return about $5100 to the treasury. The Congregation voted to make some changes to the by-laws to bring them up to date with current practices. |
Sabrina Trupia and Paul Fischer are leaving the Board, and Robin Crane and Mike Schmidt were elected to serve as assistant treasurer and President Elect respectively. A new search committee will be elected in the fall. The Board meeting was held June 14 The Board voted to approve the hiring of Rev. Dawn Fortune for half time Interim ministry for Church year 2016-2017. New Policies on bank accounts, leadership roles and responsibilities, and annual disbursement of Endowment Funds were approved. The Interim Minister Rev. Sunshine Wolfe gave a thorough report:
The treasurer, Lisa Strangeman gave a written report and will be sending out notices soon about where you stand on your pledge for this last year. The Ministerial Search Committee submitted a report with suggestions for the next committee. The Board spent some time reflected on ideas for next year and the future, We may want to start thinking about a new long-term plan for our congregation. Sabrina Trupia will take on the job of Social Justice leader for next year. Sabrina, as nomination chair has found several people to serve on the next Search Committee. If you are interested or would like to suggest someone, speak to Sabrina or any Board member. Submitted by, Pat Moore, Board Secretary |
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Friday July 22 from 3pm till Sunday July 24 at 5pm. All ages cooperative camping experience. Cost is $30 per person. Includes rustic shared cabins meals activities and a private pool. Email Sayer Johnson for more information. Reservations and payment due by July 1.
Approved May 17, 2015 To strengthen and nurture with love, compassion and respect, we covenant to: Honor and make space for our diversity, respect our volunteers, leaders and staff by Supporting balance in their lives and in their personal and professional pursuits; Encourage each member to develop a personal spiritual practice that cultivates honesty and acceptance; Remembering our humanness we acknowledge our imperfection and extend forgiveness to ourselves and others; Engage within our own and larger community with integrity, by taking responsibility for our actions, facilitating right relationships, and living into the Journey. (The acronym for our Covenant is HERE)
Please remember to bring non-perishable foods to contribute to the Alton Crisis Food Pantry – It’s the right thing to do.
If you’ve ever had a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of water or lemonade, or had a snack during coffee hour, or enjoyed a potluck lunch at church, please take YOUR turn at doing coffee hour cleanup. It should not take more than 30 minutes to take care of the dishes following our policy of “wash, dry, and put away
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CHURCH LEADERSHIP 2016 - 2017
Board of Trustees Board President - Dee Evans President-Elect - Michael Schmidt Past President - Debby Lovell Treasurer - Lisa Strangeman Secretary - Pat Moore At-Large - Robin Crane At-Large - Paul Hebert Committee/Team Leads Transitions Committee - TBA Social Events - Vacant Interfaith and U.U. - Vacant Pastoral Associates Marcia Custer Sandra Shaner Religious Education Council Chair -Joy Hoeft
Stewardship Committee Building - Kelly Crone-Willis Grounds - Robyn Stranquist Canvass 2017 - TBA Endowment Fund - Kelly Crone-Willis Finance - Matt Koch Membership - Mary Weber Sunday Support Ministries - TBA
Worship Associates Tom Cochran Robin Crane Dee Evans Joy Hoeft Yomi Kinder Rebecca Walters |
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The current issue of The Journal of Unitarian Universalist History (v. 39, 2015-2016) was published in May 2016 and has an article by Mary Johnson about our church’s 2nd minister, the Rev. William D’arcy Haley. The article, entitled “William D’arcy Haley as Liberal Minister and Editor in the West” focuses on Haley’s time in Alton (1853-1856), including his involvement in the purchase of the property where our church now stands; his sermons for the workingman; his summer vacation in 1855 spent among the Chippewa in Minnesota; and his words and actions regarding the political and moral issues of the times, the final outcome of which was to guarantee the ministers of this church freedom of the pulpit. After leaving Alton he was the minister at the Unitarian Church in Washington DC for a short time, but joined the Union forces at the start of the civil war. Later Haley published books and articles, and one article about Johnny Appleseed stood for many years as the definitive work about John Chapman. Haley also started and edited several newspapers on both the east and west coasts, but never stayed in one place for very long. A copy of The Journal of UU History is available in our church library.
For those who don’t know, the park next to the church is the ideal spot to watch the Alton fireworks, and hundreds of people show up to sit on the lawn every year to enjoy the display. |
Suspended for the Summer:
Noting that we didn't have enough volunteers, many of us would be out of town over the next few months, and the old stalwarts were still stressed out, Sabrina, Mary Johnson and Robin Crane decided that we were not able to pull off 4th Saturday lunches this month and through the summer. In August we will try to meet with people from the Salvation Army and the OASIS Crisis Center to see if we can devise some way to be useful to the people we have been serving but in a way that requires not quite so many volunteers. Thanks to those who said they would help this month; your availability is appreciated. So, at least for the rest of the summer, no more 4th Saturday lunches. Please bring us any suggestions you may have about redesigning this program.
Shared Ministry with Emerson Chapel
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INTEREST GROUPS:
July 7th, 11:30 am
We will meet on Thursday, July 7, at 11:30 am. We'll be at Bluff City Grill, 102 W 9th St, Alton, it's on your left as you go north on Piasa / Hwy 67 before you reach St. Anthony's hospital or the mall (Phone: (618) 433-8288). http://www.bluffcitygrillalton.com/ Please PSVP to Sandy Shaner by Monday, July 4 for a confirmed number the next day.
Men’s Monthly Lunch July 14th, 11:30 am The men’s lunch bunch (Retired old Men Eating Out) meets on the second Thursday of each month. Join us at the Best Buffet at 615 Wesley Dr. in Wood River. All men in our church are invited (retired or working, old, or not). For further information contact Paul Herbert
Free For All
Between the holiday weekend and the fact that several of our regulars will be on vacation that week, we decided not to meet on July 2nd. What we do in August is still up in the air as we await our new interim minister and hear how we can support the agenda they and the Board will develop. We'll do an e-mail poll of our group in July/Aug and let you know what we decide. |
WHAT: Time for Something Better WHERE: First UU of Alton WHEN: Saturday Nov 12 and Sunday Nov 13, 2016: Veteran’s Day weekend This is an all-gender church and community event Saturday afternoon mini-retreat Saturday evening catered dinner Saturday night concert featuring The Troubadours of Divine Bliss Sunday Spoken Word service featuring local writers and the Troubadours. WHY: Because we all need a Weekend of WOW
Wellness,
Here is a link to the Troubadours performing their song, as well as the lyrics:
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Return to First Unitarian Church of Alton - Newsletter Archive Page
4thSaturday Lunches
