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September 2010
A Publication of First Unitarian Church of South Bend, Indiana

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Rev. Harold W. Beu Minister’s Meditation
The Rev. Harold W. Beu, Minister

Walking Together

Everything we receive in this life is a gift – a gift to be shared around the welcome table with our hungry sisters and brothers. – John Buehrens

I have been holding a workshop based on the book called The Inviting Church: A Study of New Member Assimilation by Roy Oswald and Speed Leas. The book is a study of 16 churches, including one Unitarian Universalist church, that have made significant gains in membership. The following sums up their findings: “What seems to be more important than anything else is that growing congregations have a positive personality which showed through the church’s (a) energy, (b) belief in inclusion, and (c) sense of having a unique identity.” (page 17)
I will also be holding another workshop based on the book A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion in the Twenty-first Century by John Buehrens, former president of the UUA, and Rebecca Parker, president of Starr King School for the Ministry. I have chosen to do these two workshops because we, as a spiritual community, are at a crossroads given our move to a new building. No one knows what the future will hold, but what we do know is that we have an opportunity, here, to grow in spirit if not in numbers.
I am interested in the issue of membership growth because it is important. If for no other reason, we need some growth because without any assimilation of new members, a church will die. But also, I would like to expand the presence of our liberal faith in the South Bend community because I believe we have a faith that offers a healing message to the world.
And most importantly, that which we do that will help to improve the odds that we will grow is that which helps us to create a healthy spiritual community.
Of the three attributes that encourage growth mentioned in The Inviting Church, a sense of a unique identity is most challenging for us. Indeed, Oswald and Leas point out that the reason the more conservative churches grow more dramatically is because the have clear self-identities. These churches create “boundaries”; that is they will be saying “no” to some activities and to some people, and “yes” to others. “Boundaries are needed for a healthy identity. If the church doesn’t know who it is, if it doesn’t know who belongs here – or doesn’t agree on who should belong – the invitations, the reaching out to others will be half-hearted and not convincing.” (page 19)
Now, since our religion promotes the idea that all people have worth and dignity, then this notion of boundaries and self-identity can become a problem, a conundrum. After all, we are a non-creedal religion and do not require that people have a certain set of beliefs, such as, about God, the after-life, and the purpose of life. Who then do we say “no” to?
But I would suggest that we as a community can discover a clear self-identity. It would involve a process of sharing our individual self-identities in finding our common self-identity. Many successful UU churches have developed clear self-identities around attributes such as social justice, Religious Education for families, children and adults, and the worship experience including in particular the music.
One model of a clear identity comes from John Buehrens in an article he wrote for the Summer 2010 issue of the UUA called “The Welcome Table.” He begins with a story about a Unitarian Church in Knoxville which some 60 years ago identified itself as a church that welcomed everyone, in particular African Americans. It became the only multiracial church in town and had black leaders in the church, such as the music director, Calvin Dash. It was not easy, of course, for the church to take on this identity. They faced a lot of hostility and even danger, but they continued that tradition to this present day as the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
Sadly, in August of 2008, the members of TVUUC were victims of the violence of shotgun blasts from a crazed man who hated “liberals.” Nevertheless, as John pointed out, that church kept to its identity and mission of welcoming all those who come in peace.
John, who celebrates Passover Seder with his Jewish sister-in-law and Christian Communion with his Episcopal priest wife, speaks of creating a liberal faith that is committed to a radical hospitality which will help cultivate forgiveness and justice in the world. “It is a spirit of hoping,” he said, “that I have laid down enough bitterness and anger to be able to go away humming in my heart that old song that says, ‘We’re gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days.’”
And with all the trials and tribulations we face today – the religious intolerance, economic uncertainty, challenges to our environment, divisive political discourse and violence – the world needs a church that welcomes all people who come in peace. And that, my friends, would be a splendid self-identification.

Faithfully yours,
Harold

September
Fri 3 12:30pm Mah Jongg Room 5
Sun 5 10:00 am A Very Moving Service – Moving Day
Tue 7 5:30 pm Concert Planning Group Library
    7:00 pm Finance Committee Library
Wed 8 7:00 pm The Inviting Church Library
Fri 10 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5
Fall Schedule Begins
Sun 12 10:30 am “Hello, Goodbye, Hello”
NO POTLUCK THIS MONTH
Harold W. Beu
Mon 13 7:00 pm Board of Trustees Library
Tue 14 7:00 pm Worship Arts off site
Wed 15 7:00 pm A House for Hope Library
Fri 17 12:30 pm Mah Jongg site TBA
Sat 18 9:00 am Moving Sale 101 E North Shore Building and Grounds
    6:30 pm SPIRAL Mabon Celebration off site
Services Held at 1101 E. Jefferson Blvd (corner of Jefferson and Eddy)
Sun 19 10:30 am “To Begin Anew”
Water Ceremony
Harold W. Beu
Fri 24 12:30 pm Mah Jongg site TBA
Sun 26 10:30 am “On Creating a Healthy Church” Harold W. Beu
Mon 27 7:00 pm Board of Trustees (working session - as needed) TBA
Wed 29 6:30 pm Wednesday Night Feasters off site
Mon Oct 1 6:00 pm Women’s Potluck Social Hall

Sunday Services in September

September 5: “A Very Moving Service” – Come dressed and otherwise prepared to help move some of the smaller items to our new location. See the Moving Update article further down for more information.

September 12: “Hello, Goodbye, Hello” – Our current building was not intended for church services or to meet the needs of a congregation of our size in this day and age. And yet, it was there for us when we needed it. There are stories to tell and memories to share as we create this celebration of our time of remembrance for one last time in our building on North Shore Drive.

September 19: “To Begin Anew” – As we enter our new building, we begin with a cerebration to prepare the way for a new era in our church history. There is uncertainty and probably there will be some confusion and a bit of strangeness, but we will in this time reflect on the meaning of entering a new home and sanctuary. We will celebrate our annual Water Ceremony on this Sunday.

September 26: “On Creating a Healthy Church” – Here I will share with you some thoughts about making our congregation one that fulfills our mission as a spiritual community that attends to the needs of our members and friends and to the principles of our liberal faith.

Workshops

Our new adventure of moving to a new building offers us an opportunity to reflect on who we are and what is important to us as rededicate ourselves to the health of our spiritual community and to the principles of our liberal faith. Contact Harold at (269) 271-1286 for reservations and information.
On September 8 at 7:00 p.m., I will hold a workshop using the book from the Alban Institute, The Inviting Church: A Study of New Member Assimilation by Roy Oswald and Speed Leas. This is an excellent little book that is a study of churches that have grown significantly. However, I am not interested in growth for growth’s sake. What is important, I believe, is the creation of a spiritually healthy church, and that which promotes growth is that which promotes spiritual health in a congregation. This will be the second meeting. I have a couple extra copies of the book, but even if you don’t have a book, you are invited to take part of this workshop.
On September 15 at 7:00 p.m. (somewhere in our new building) a second workshop will be held using the book, A House of Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-first Century by John Buehrens, former president of the UUA, and Rebecca Parker, president of Starr King School for the Ministry (my alma mater). This will be a theological workshop intended to help people clarify their beliefs and be able to articulate the meaning of our liberal faith, which is often not so easy to do. I still have several copies of the book available.
— Harold W. Beu

Moving Task Force Update

We have been working hard to get us (and our belongings) to our new space. Many thanks go to Kay Azar, Alice Bentley, Carlton Higginbotham, Anita Morse, Kathy Platt, Elizabeth Scarborough, Bob Shuman and Elyse Wistreich – without these dedicated people, our move would be much more difficult! Here are our important dates: (and please see list of volunteer opportunities)

September 5. “A Very Moving Service” – This is the day we need help moving all the smaller items. We will need your trucks, vans, SUVs, and any vehicle that can pack a few boxes. Childcare will be provided (at our current building), if you can’t help move, we have several opportunities for non-lifting work. Drinks and snacks will be available at the new building.

September 17/18. Moving Sale – North Shore Building – We need people to help set up on Friday (see sign-up sheet) and work the sale on Saturday (see sign-up sheet). Also, see volunteer opportunities for other options.

Building Use

Assuming we move into our space at the Good Shepherd Montessori building, the church will need to coordinate with GSM administration when scheduling meetings and other events in the building. Meetings and church events should still be scheduled through the church office, but the administrator will need lead time to coordinate with the GSM administration. Regularly scheduled meetings such as Board and Finance Committee will be on a perpetual calendar. All others must be scheduled in advance. We do not have rooms set aside for walk-in meetings. There will not be a keyless entry, so group leaders should make advance arrangements to get into to the building. Of course, you can meet elsewhere, but please still get your meetings on the church calendar.
If you want to schedule non-church events such as community group gatherings or private parties in the building, please make arrangements directly with the GSM administration.

Religious Education News

Children’s Chalice Camp
Many thanks to all the children, parents, and volunteers who helped make Chalice Camp 2010 – Honoring Our Mother Earth, a great success! We had 29 registered children, with about 22 attending each day. Children enjoyed singing and chanting, making talking sticks, animal masks, shields, rattles, and pendants. They participated in a guided meditation to find their totem animal, learned about the Native American Medicine Wheel, connected with nature, and explored Native American spirituality. Special thanks to Cindy Benedict, Kevin DeBeck, Ally Kricheff, Diana Mendelsohn, Liberty Mroczek, Kristie Noguera, and Paige Risser.

Nursery Worker

Many thanks go to Jenny Krostue for taking care of our youngest members. Our little UUs will miss you! Jenny will be with us until the end of August. The RE Committee has begun the search for a new childcare worker. If you know of someone who might be interested, please contact Heather Eschbach or one of the RE Committee Members. Until the position is filled we will need our members to help out. A sign-up sheet is located outside the Nursery Room door.

RE Parent Breakfast

A Parent Breakfast will be held on September 19 at 9:30 in the Lounge at our new location. Come and have something to eat and meet the new RE Committee. We will explain this year’s curricula and curriculum map, answer any questions you might have, and take a quick tour of the classrooms. This is also the perfect time to register your children for RE. There will be a special time at the end of the service on the 19 for the children to go to their classrooms and meet their teachers.

RE Classes

Classes will officially being on September 26. We will begin in the Sanctuary and have a Teacher Blessing, and then children will follow their teachers to their classrooms. All children must be registered. Please see table outside of Nursery for registration forms. Nursery care, for children three and under will be provided every Sunday.

RE Committee

Thanks to Michelle Richards, Rich Wallace, Amy Bauer, Julie Wells, and Anita Morse for agreeing to be on this year’s RE Committee! We should have a very exciting year! If you have questions about anything RE or would like to be on the committee, please see any of these wonderful people.

The following RE notes are from Michelle Richards, Lifespan RE Committee Chair and DRE Search Committee Chair

Summer RE

Thanks so much to everyone who volunteered their time and talents to lead our summer sessions for children: Bryan Eschbach, Heather Eschbach, Chris Huffman, Allison Kricheff, Alexandria Trusov, David Weistreich, Josh Wells and Judy Wells. Special thanks also goes to Shannon Richards and Eric Williams who assisted by reading stories and helping with many activities. Your contributions made our summer program possible even during a chaotic summer such as this one was!
Just a reminder: There will be no RE program on Sunday of Labor Day weekend because of the moving service. Because our nursery care provider, Jenny Krostue, has resigned her position after serving us for many years with her dedication, child care will be offered by volunteers until the position is staffed again.

Fall RE

Our Religious Education program with multiple age classrooms will resume on Sunday, September 26th in the new building housed with Good Sheppard Montessori. The week before (September 19th), while our actual first worship service will in the new building will be mostly intergenerational with a brief time for children and RE teachers to locate their rooms when our regular RE program resumes the following week.
During the regular RE session, children 2 and younger will be in our nursery room (except for infants present with parents), preschool and kindergarten children (aged 3 through 5) will meet in the Preschool classroom, children in grades 1 – 3 (or home school equivalent) will meet in the Primary classroom, children in grades 4-5 (or home school equivalent) will meet in the Intermediate classroom, children in grades 6-8 (or home school equivalent) will meet in the middle school classroom and teenagers who will be in high school (or the home school equivalent) will meet as part of our senior high teen group in the Teen Room.

Acting DRE

The DRE Search committee has formed and met to discuss the search process for finding a new DRE to replace the position vacated by Mary Beth who resigned last year. As we engage in the search process over the next year, the Search Committee proposed that the board consider hiring an Acting DRE to take effect the first of October. The Board approved this action, and so an Acting DRE will be in place as we start up the busy new church year and allow us to take more time as a group to determine our priorities and establish either new responsibilities or come up with ways we may be able to extend the hours of the part-time position.

Concert Committee

We are working on putting together a concert to celebrate our new building once we are settled. Our tentative plan is for Friday, November 5 with Peter Mayer, who is a UU folksinger/songwriter with a great sense of humor and amazing musicianship. Mark your calendars, and please plan to come and bring your friends and help celebrate our new home. Some of us are contemplating an ongoing concert series. If you are interested in being involved, contact Lynn McDonald.

Care Committee

The frozen meals in the church freezer will not have a home so we encourage you to find a place in your own freezer when you make more than you need. Then you can share this with others as the need arises.
If you know of a member or friend facing a difficulty, please let a member of the Care Committee know so that we can offer support. Care Committee members are Bette Asplund, Dale Gibson, Lynn McDonald, Joy Pletcher, and Mary Hagen.
If you would care to be a “helper” without committing to meetings please contact Joy Pletcher or Mary Hagen, co-chairs.

Oktoberfest 2010

Food! Libations! Prizes! Great Auction! We expect this to be the best ever, and undeniably the first in our new surroundings. Set your calenders for November 6 and be thinking very hard about your costume. There will be a generous prize for the best dressed participant. Also we are looking for those of you willing to volunteer and many different capacities on the committee. And be thinking of those creative services you can offer for the auction. Dinners, parties, babysitting, house sitting, garden help – off-beat events are welcome, too. If you have any questions please contact Allyson Kricheff (committee chair) at ally.kricheff@gmail.com

Kudos to Glenda Bixby

Glenda Bixby would like to share her pleasure at winning the Judges Award for a large oil in a recent show, and invite you all to the one man show she has been given at the Buchanan Art Centre next spring – don’t worry reminders will be forthcoming in February/March. The other entry in the show was purchased by former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson.

Wednesday Night Feasters

The Feasters will gather on September 29 at the Wings Etc., Mishawaia. For more information or reservations, call Cathy Duncan.
Future Feasts:
Oct. 27 Katie O’Connors’, New Carlisle
Nov. 23 (Tue) Houlihan’s, Mishawaka
Dec. 29 Riverfront Café, Niles

Women’s Potluck

The First Friday Women’s Potluck is held at the church at 6:00 pm. The first dinner of this season will be October 1. This is a great way for women of all ages to get to know each other and enjoy a “night out”. Please bring a dish to share. Kathy Platt is looking for hosts. Please call or e-mail her if you plan to attend or can host a dinner. We can provide childcare if you call Kathy by mid-week.

Round Robin

Haul out your proven (or your “guinea pig”) recipes and get ready to pitch in for the first set of Round Robin dinners to be held on October 9. Old-timers know, and newbies will quickly learn, that a bunch of church members and friends gather in homes on the second Saturday evening of each month for a carry-in dinner (aka Potluck). Food and fellowship, cuisine and conversation – maybe even a quick game or two. It’s a great way to get better acquainted with your fellow travelers. You might even consider hosting a dinner – nothing fancy is required, just a welcoming home.
Please e-mail Kathy Platt at pkplatt@comcast.net if you want to participate this year. You need to register again this year even if you have attended in the past.

Mah Jongg

A small but dedicated group meets to play mah jongg each Friday at 12:30-2:30. September 3 and 10 we will meet at the North Shore building, room 3. Thereafter, we will meet at the Eddy & Jefferson building (room to be determined). Mah jongg lessons for neophytes will be available on September 24 at 11:30, but you must call or e-mail Lynn McDonald to arrange for the lesson.

SPIRAL

The Wheel turns to Mabon, the Fall Equinox . . .
Today I noticed the faint smell of fall in the air. Here it is, only the middle of August as I write this, but there was that wonderful, unique scent of August in the air - dusty, dry, the smell of the first curled and brown leaves upon us. The weather persons are telling us that there are more hot and humid days coming, but for today, I am enjoying the reminder that fall will soon be upon us in full force. We’ll celebrate on the 18th, but the fall equinox falls on September 22 at 11:09 p.m. I measure the length of the days by when I have to close the door on the chicken coop, that time when the sun falls to the horizon and the chickens come home to roost. And already, I can wander out at 8:30 and coax them in with a bedtime snack.
The fall equinox is known as Mabon on the Pagan Wheel of the Year. Mabon marks the Second Harvest, the end of the grain harvest, which began at Lughnasad. The Equinox reminds us of the struggle for balance in our lives; day and night are equal for a single day. Since the pagans in days of old were not able to determine astrological positions as we do today, the European peasantry celebrated this Sabbat on September 25. Now, of course, we know the exact moment when the earth hangs in balance. Then on to darker and darker days as we march towards the dark time of Samhain.
The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox is called the Harvest Moon, and farmers would harvest their crops by this moonlight as part of Second Harvest celebrations. I, for one, will not be picking squash by moonlight.
Lance is leading the ritual to celebrate Mabon at Susan Siemers’s farm on Saturday, September 18. Potluck begins at 6:30 pm. Consider bringing typical Mabon dishes such as squash, potatoes and onions. Also, dark bread is traditionally served. Or bring apple pie if that is what suits you. So much to choose from as we revel in nature’s fall bounty!
This event is sponsored by SPIRAL, Supporting Pagans In Ritual And Life.

Outside Our Doors

Earth & Tree Festival – Saturday, September 25, 9:00 am to noon at the green space in front of the greenhouse on Mishawaka Ave. at Potawatomi Park.
Family-friendly events include a tree and bulb planting, kids leaf crafts, small animal petting zoo, solar cooking and solar art, live music, special activities inside the greenhouse, face painting, and door prizes. The kids group; Trash Troopers, will clean up the park from 10:00 - 10:30 am. For more information contact Diana Mendelsohn.

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You can shop Amazon.com for books, videos, CDs, housewares, and much more plus shop online stores such as Target and Macy’s, and we still receive a percentage of the sale price. [You must click through from an Amazon.com link on our web site each time you shop in order for the church to get credit.] Most books listed on our site have a direct link to Amazon.com.

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