Sept. 2^nd 10 A.M

(Potluck dinner will be held on the 9^th)

Theme:  “Work”

Facilitators:  Zipporah Lee

Worship Associate:  Michael Tarabulski

Sept. 9^th 10 A.M

– Potluck Dinner!

Sept. 16^th 10 A.M.

Faith Rocket Sermon:  “In the Midst of It All”

Presented by Robin Crane

Worship Associate:  Dorothy Wilson

Sept. 23^rd 10 A.M.

Pastor Amy Brooks

Worship Associate:  TBA

Sept. 30^th 10 A.M.

Faith Rocket Sermon:  “Transmorgrified” by Kimberly Debus

Presented by Joy Hoeft

Worship Associate:  Ruth Mascow

'And the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of
thy labours, which them hast sown
In thy field: and the feast of ingathering,
which is in the end of the year,
when thou hast gathered in thy labours
out of the field.' --

EXODUS xxiii.16.

Join us as we celebrate fall and our return from summer adventures with a water communion.   In this ceremony, each of us contribute a small amount of water – perhaps gathered from a special lake, river or sea or just the safe, clean water from our own tap – joined into one water.   This water will be used throughout the year as it is added to the bowl that receives our stones in the ritual of Joys and Sorrows.

The choir will sing and there will be a potluck dinner after the service.   Hope to see you there!

Pastor Amy’s Corner

“I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” ~ from Luke 19:40, NRSV

Eternal Spring to Uluru

Red rock, green gardens

            ancient treasures, stolen.

Raided, despoiled, soiled.

Gaia’s treasure chest cracked open -

            Scepter and sword, unholy pry bars.

The Southern Stone wears the chains of a slave.

The people of the mountains

            have long worn the same.

Sacred stone sold for silver.

Guatemala grazed for gold.

Divinity stands and weeps

            over Her tarnished treasures

while we clutch our coins

            and hold our tongues.

©Amy Brooks

Common Read Group – “Centering - Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry”

Some Sundays, TBA, 11:15

The Seekers

Each Sunday, 11:15 in the Emerson Room

(Not when the Common Read group is meeting)

We’ll engage in a more in-depth discussion of that day’s sermon and the monthly topic.   Everyone is welcome to join in.    It’s a great way to get to know your fellow congregants and to get a deeper understanding of the lessons we are learning.

Choir Practice 7 P.M. Thursday, Sept. 6^th

All are encouraged to attend!

Calling all Singers!

Choir practice is Thursday September 6 at 7 pm at church. We will be singing for the Sunday September 9

In-gathering Service.  All singers are welcome!! We look forward to making a joyful noise together! 🎼🎶🎹

As Climate Change becomes ever more present, how are we (as UUs) responding?  The Seventh Principle reminds us that we live in an interconnected world and that each part of it is integral to our survival.  While many of us are already taking steps to honor the web of life, one way to further our commitment is to have First Church certified as a Green Sanctuary.  This is not a project for one person!  Please join me at 9:00am Sept. 23rd to explore the possibility of pursuing certification.  If you can't make it, but are interested, please email me at thowekoch@gmail.com

  Tracey Howe-Koch

Wash, Dry and Put Away!

We count on each other to be thoughtful and fair in all our interactions – that also includes seeing to it that our church home is keep clean and dishes washed up and put away. If you enjoy a cup of coffee, a plate of snacks, or a full meal, please take your turn to help with cleaning-up.

Elizabeth Bourland

Elizabeth Tudor Bourland, 82, died Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Born Feb. 23, 1936, in Brownstown, Illinois.

Elizabeth was a mother, librarian, scholar, veracious reader, author and friend. She was extremely curious and loved research.  She devoted her life to her children, friends and the pursuit of learning for all people. Beth, as she was known by many, was a loyal and giving person.  Her nature was sweet, unassuming, with a quiet determination. Beth had the ability to build long lasting friendships, something that she considered a rare and special gift.  Her friends were so special to her.

Beth worked her entire career for the Alton School District and retired after 40 years of service.  She attended St. Louis University and Southern Illinois University achieving a Bachelor of Science, Masters and Specialist Degrees.  She was an active member of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association and the American Association of University Women (AAUW)

Beth is survived by her four children that loved and admired her deeply:  John Bourland (Pam) of Jackson, Missouri, Gabrielle Taul (Ed) of Clayton, Missouri, Marianne Bourland of Wood River, and Michael Bourland of Godfrey.  Also surviving are five grandchildren, Jeremy Bourland (Haley), Jaimee Henderson (Travis), Jordan Bourland, Alexandra Taul, and Jackson Taul, and four great-grandchildren, Jenna and Paige Henderson, Mason Bourland, and Lydia Bourland.  Beth also helped to form and raise a special person she considered a daughter, Carol Cira.

Funeral services were held on Friday, August 24^th.

Memorials may be made in memory of Elizabeth to a local public library or a library of choice or Behavioral Health Alternative at 337 East Ferguson Avenue, Wood River, IL 62095

Congregational Covenant

Approved May 17, 2015

To strengthen and nurture with love, compassion and respect, wecovenant 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)

Children’s Religious Education

Remember, a new year starts this month and volunteers are necessary.  Please offer to help – you’ll be glad you did.   Contact Zippy for more information.

1^st Sunday Potluck

Sunday Sept. 9th

Our potluck dinner will be part of the Ingathering celebration this month.  Whether you bring food to share or help clean up, a good time is guaranteed.

Nursery Care

Social Justice Planning Meeting

You are invited to attend

"Creating One Voice for Social Justice in Southern Illinois."

The Mount Vernon Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is inviting members of the U-U Congregations of Alton, Carbondale, Charleston, and Mount Vernon, Illinois to attend this meeting to discuss social justice issues and share our experiences in dealing with them.  As relatively small congregations in predominantly conservative localities, we likely have much in common.  In addition to learning from one another, we also hope to get to better know one another and possibly to identify ways that we can work together.

We will hold the meeting on Saturday September 22, with people being asked to gather between 9:30 and 10 a.m. at the Fellowship hall, located at 1600 Isabella Avenue in Mount Vernon.  Rev. Scott Aaseng, Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois (UUANI), will be coming from Chicago to facilitate the meeting and to learn about the social justice issues that we encounter in Southern Illinois.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Newsletter Deadline is on the 20th of each month.
Send info. to Dorothy Wilson and to church admin

Church Office Closed

The church office will be closed
on Monday, September 3^rd for the Labor Day Holiday.

BOARD MEETING

Did you know…..that Phil Embree and Michael Schmidt pay close attention to the needs of the building and grounds?

Both are listed as contacts for the “water alarm” company that calls us whenever we have water in the basement, and both have been active with mops and pails to erase signs of that water.  Perhaps more important, they’re also paying close attention to rain run-off with a goal of preventing those alarm calls in the first place.

Did you know…..that Phil is working with staff to assess the state of the tile floors in the basement and determine if we need to replace some or all of it after the plumbing work in the boys’ bathroom is complete?

Did you know…..,that Phil is coordinating with staff to move the basement office up to the former RE storage room across from Amy’s office?

Did you know…..that Zippy is gearing up for a full season of RE and that she needs volunteers to follow those plans?

Did you know…..that Amy is planning a New Member class that is open to anyone, even someone who’s been with us for a while but is curious about our heritage, principles and sources?

Did you know…..that Amy has found an Edwardsville/Glen Carbon satellite location and is making progress towards one in North County?

Did you know….that you’d know all about those topics if you had been at the August 9, 2018 Board meeting?  Did you know that Board meetings are generally held on the 2^nd Thursday at 7 p.m. and are open to anyone?  Did you know that, if you’re curious, you are welcome to just show up, no commitment required?

If you want to be “in the know”, please come to a Board meeting.  Listening is free and requires no commitment for future attendance.

Sandy Shaner

Our monthly distribution of personal care items to those in need will be on Saturday, September 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.   (Workers need to be there by 10:30 a.m.)

Please bring your donations from the list given below to church by September 16.

Baby diapers - Baby wipes - Body wash – Counter wipes - Deodorant (men’s women’s) - Dish washing liquid for hand washing dishes - Feminine hygiene pads - Kleenex (or other brand of tissue) - Laundry detergent – Lotion - Paper towels – Shampoo - Socks (men’s) -Toilet paper –Toothpaste.

Donations of flour and sugar are also needed to help us provide homemade cookies for those who come by.

Money is also welcome to help the Team purchase items that are not donated – but we really appreciate having items brought to church.   If you are donating cash or a check make sure you put your financial donation in an envelope, and mark that it’s for the 4^th Saturday Personal Care Program.

Thank you.

Mary, Sabrina, Robin & Carol

Anna Ds – Women’s Alliance

Sept. 6^th 11 a.m.

At the last meeting (Castelli's) those present authorized me to "just pick" for September and so I have.

We'll be at Madison's Tea Room

144B E. Ferguson Ave.

Wood River, IL   62095

(diagonal from the Post Office which is in the same block across the street)

There is street parking and usually more than the number we'll need.

       There are 2 entrances you can use to enter. The one on the furthest left is through an Antique shop and its attraction is the entry from the sidewalk w/o any steps. The one the right of it, the main entry, has 1 step up and a sturdy railing. I'll do my best to get there at 11 so I can ensure that the Antique entry is unlocked for anyone choosing it.

And here's their web site so you can check the menu before you come.   http://www.gotomadisons.com/

We've been there before and most of us took much of our lunch home so that we could have room for dessert, so be warned!

I'd appreciate RSVPs by Tuesday, 9/4. Until then, see you in church!

Sandy

Men’s Monthly Lunch

Sept. 13^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 Hebert.

Board of Trustees
Board President - Chris Strangeman
President-Elect - TBD
Past President - Michael Schmidt
Treasurer - Robin Crane
Secretary - Sandra Shaner
Member-At-Large - Phil Embree
Member-at-Large - Tracy Howe-Koch

Committee/Team Leads
Transitions Committee - TBA
Social Events - Vacant
Interfaith and U.U. - Vacant
Social Justice - Dee Evans
Fundraising - Dee Evans & Peg Flach

Pastoral Associates
Marcia Custer
Sandra Shaner

Religious Education Council
Chair - Joy Hoeft
RE Coordinator - Zipporah Lee

Stewardship Committee
Building & Grounds - Phil Embree
Canvass 2019 - TBD
Endowment Fund - Jerry Johnson, Ron Glossop & Tracy Howe-Koch
Finance - Matt Koch
Membership - Mary Weber
Sunday Support Ministries - Vacant

Worship Associates
Mary Johnson
Robin Crane
Joy Hoeft
Robert Kokenyesi
Mike Tarabulski
Ruth Maskow
Sabrina Trupia
Dorothy Wilson