June 4^th 10:00 A.M.

Rev. Dawn Fortune

Worship Associate:  Kayci Combs-Lueker

Baby and Child Dedication Service

First Sunday Potluck and Annual Meeting, following service.

June 11^th 10:00 A.M.

Tracey Howe-Koch

June 18^th 10:00 A.M.

Father’s Day

Irene Gulovsen

Worship Associate:  Mary Johnson

"Looking Back, Looking Around, and Looking Forward."

We will "ponder" some of the seminal work of Harvard sociologist, Robert D. Putnam, as it relates to a variety of shifts in American culture, perspective, and self-understanding over the last 70 years.

June 25^th 10:00 A.M.

Kayci Combs-Lueker

Worship Associate:  Robert Kokenyesi

Baby and Child Dedication - June 4^th

Reverend Dawn

A warm good-bye.

Wishes for a bright future.

Gratitude for all your many kindnesses

and wisdom shared.

You will be missed!

            FROM THE PREZ

This will be my last column as your president.  I thank you for giving me this wonderful experience.   It has given me deep and abiding respect for and gratitude for all our past presidents.

It is a fun, frustrating, challenging, and a surprising job.   I have been in various positions on church boards before--including the Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.   But I was never president.   Of a church board that is.   Being a Toastmaster’s club president is just not the same thing.   Maybe that is why until now, I have never lain awake at night worrying about church finances or about how I could have communicated so poorly with a valued member of our church.   The job has stretched my skills and shone brightly on my good points and my weaknesses.   It has humbled me.   It has also given me future direction.   Through it all, I have fallen in love with our congregation.

I am so grateful to the board that mentored me as president elect and helped me through this year as president.   What a group of dedicated people!   I am grateful to every single person who gives to our church in money and in time.   You make this the place we can come to grow spiritually and develop close bonds with others who strive to live by the same principles.   I am grateful for Pastor Sunshine who played “All will be Well” for me when I had severe doubts as president elect that I could fulfill the president’s role.   I am grateful for Pastor Dawn who used stories, humor, and sometimes very direct communication to help me do the best job that I was capable of doing.

Where to now?   Past President role.   Maybe Social Justice or doing something in fund raising.

Or alternating doing projects in both?  Don’t know.   I know whatever I do, I will enjoy doing it in our church with you.

Ministerial Search Committee Update

Stay Tuned!   Nothing to report just yet – keep an eye for updates via “Church This Week” e-mails.

The Seekers

Be sure to mark your calendar for Sunday, June 4, when we say goodbye to Rev. Fortune, as Dawn preaches the last sermon for us.  Also that will be the day of our Annual Meeting following the service, when members can catch up on what is happening at church and vote on the proposed budget for next year.  We should also get an update from the ministerial search team at that time.  This will be an important day, so plan on being there.

Religious Education for

Children and Youth News

While the official Religious Education year has ended, plans are in the works for the youth group to get together occasionally - watch for notices in the "church this week", e-mail bulletin, the July and August newsletters and Facebook Friends page for more information.   Happy Summer!

Nursery services are available for children under 4 years of age.

Sacred Grounds

Clean Up Day

Twelve people came to the May 20 Sacred Grounds Clean Up Day at church.   This was both an indoor and outdoor work day.   Many tasks were completed but there’s always more work to be done.   If you have some free time available during the week and are interested in helping in the yard and gardens talk to Robyn Stranquist.   A lot of indoor cleaning and organizing of cabinets and closets was done, but there are still repair tasks on the building and painting that needs doing.   There will be another Clean Up Day in August (date still to be determined).

PrideFest

The theme for 2017 is "Community Proud"

Pridefest 2017 will be held from June 23rd-25th, 2017 at Soldiers Memorial Park in Downtown St. Louis, MO.

Hours of operation are as follows:

Friday, June 23rd:  4:30 PM to 10:30 PM

Saturday, June 24th:  11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Sunday, June 25th:  11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

A Special Service will be held at 10:00 am @ First Unitarian Church of St. Louis

Please arrive by 9:30am

11:00 We will be taking metro link to the Parade

The parade will take place on Sunday, June 25th, 2017 at 12:00 PM noon.   The festival grounds open one hour earlier at 11:00 AM.

I'm working with Lynn Murphy  (Elliott Chapel)
George Grimm-Howell  (1st U of StL) and Colleen Patterson  (Emerson)
I will keep everyone informed of the arrangements.

Carol McGrew (carol_mcgrew@yahoo.com)

4th Saturday Personal Care Item Distribution Saturday, June 25th

 11 A.M

Please remember our neighbors who struggle in today’s economy – your donations of toilet paper, detergent, baby wipes, shaving cream, African American hair products, liquid dish soap, laundry detergent, deodorant, shampoo, diapers, etc. – some of the necessities of life which are not covered by SNAP – make a real difference in their lives.   We always provide some food and drinks for everyone as well.   A big “thank you” to all who donated and to those who did the work.

There is a bin at the bottom of the stairs for you to put your donations or find someone to carry them down for you.  The Dollar Tree stores are a great place to purchase items needed for this community service activity of the church.

Items Needed for June event will be announced at a later date

First Sunday Pot Luck Luncheon

Wash, Dry and Put Away!

Enjoy some coffee and cookies with your conversation after church?   Thank you for being sure our dishes are taken care of and trash removed.   Keeping our church home clean and comfortable is everyone’s job.

Congregational Covenant

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)

Non-perishable foods items are always needed to contribute to the Alton Crisis Food Pantry.   It’s important to help our neighbors get the food they need.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Newsletter Deadline is on the 15 of each month.   Send info. to Dorothy Wilson and to Becky Green at church.

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

            Mary Johnson
            Robin Crane
            Kayci Combs-Lueker
            Joy Hoeft
            Robert Kokenyesi
            Dorothy Wilson
            Mike Tarabulski
            Ruth Maskow

INTEREST GROUPS:

Anna Ds – Women’s Alliance, June 1^st  11:30 a.m.

>We're in luck!  Elijah P's Burgers & Brews has the back room available so we won't have to compete with any other customers to hear/talk, just with ourselves.

The address is 401 Piasa St, Alton>, IL 62002.   Phone is (618) 433-8445   And here is a link to their menu if you want to browse in advance.

http://www.elijahps.com/index.cfm?page=4733#menuanchor

I'd appreciate an RSVP by Monday, 5/29 but will send out a late reminder if you forget or change your mind.   Sandy

First UU of Alton Pagans

Our next event will be Summer Solstice! It will be held on June 17th at 4:00 pm at Mary Lu McManus' home.   Her address is in the directory.   Please let Paula know if you will be attending through email:   paulafond721@gmail.com, or through Facebook messenger.   Updates and event dates will continue to also be posted on the regular UU Friends Facebook page.

Our events consist of a ritual relating to the specific sabbat, food and drink (potluck) and fun! More details in the next couple of weeks.

Men’s Monthly Lunch

June 11^th, 11:30 a.m.

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.

Alton Area Cluster Book Group

Healing Energy Meditation

Please note change of day, from the 2^nd and 4^th Monday now to the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of each month!

Wednesday, June 14^th and June 28^th 6:30 p.m. by the Fireplace

Fellowship and a couple hours of peaceful presence – sound good?   Join us in our journey to the center of ourselves.

Would you like to learn how to meditate?   Or just curious? We are still hoping to have a meditation class, but it’s not finalized just yet, more to come!   “Church This Week” will have all the details once the event has been finalized.