The Unitarian
on line

July-August 2010
A Publication of First Unitarian Church of South Bend, Indiana

Minister’s Meditation The Rev. Harold W. Beu, Minister Walking Together Don’t walk in front of me. I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me. I may not lead. Walk beside me. And just be my friend. – Albert Camus A little more than a year ago during my candidating week here, I happened to catch on the television at the Marriott on the HBO network a documentary called “The Trials of Ted Haggard” directed by Alexandra Pelosi (daughter of Nancy Pelosi). I was moved by Ted’s difficult situation having been forced out of the New Life Church that he had founded because he had an affair with a younger man. Much of the movie was about how he and his family were coping – moving from their huge house to a hotel room, his trying to get back into the ministry, being forced to leave the state, trying to get an insurance job, etc. From my view, he seemed like a decent man and I was most impressed with his wife Gayle and her loyalty not only to him but to their kids. As I watched, I had this notion: he would do well to become a Unitarian Universalist, a church that truly believes in Jesus’ message about love and forgiveness. Well, it turns out that Ted and Gayle are starting a new church with a remnant of 150 members of the original 14,000 of New Life Church. Steve Rabey of the Religion News Service reports on this story in his piece “Haggard’s new flock finds faith in redemption story" [Kalamazoo Gazette, June 19, 2010]. Rabey quotes one of those members Colby Rockhill on this reasons for staying with Haggard: “Through it all, I just wanted to see him work through all this,” said Rockhill, who believes Haggard’s trials and tribulations give him a deeper perspective on forgiveness and redemption. “I believe we’re all fallen, we’re all sinners. Seeing how he has handled his situation makes me trust him, because he has been open about it.” Thus, Ted and Gayle are starting their new church, the St. James Church with a mission of reaching out to people, who in Ted’s words, “need a break.” He will open his doors to those who are openly gay and lesbian, but sadly, will not allow them to have leadership positions. That seems odd given Ted’s own history, but at least his church is taking a pioneering step for an evangelical church in promoting respect for all people. He says he will welcome all kinds of people, including Democrats [just kidding] – well he mentioned not only Democrats, but Republicans, Independents, tea party-ers, gay, straight, bi, black, white, Hispanic, Native American and confusing combinations thereof, and also adulterers, ex-cons, everyone. I am heartened by Ted’s journey, that he now understands what church should be, a place for everyone. Many churches have signs that say “Everyone Welcomed” but they do not truly mean it. And I think Haggard’s new church still has a step to go in that they need to have gays and lesbians in leadership positions to make it a true church of love and redemption. As for myself, I want our church to welcome all those folks mentioned above, but also people who are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, pagan, atheist, humanist, tree-huggers, capitalists, Communists, etc. In other words, I want our community to welcome all kinds of people with different world views, but we, the members of our church, all share the one view that each of us is valuable and unique and we honor that notion. As I like to say, I would have all of us treat each other as if we were each other’s favorite celebrity – a movie star, a best-selling author, the President – you name it – whoever you think is the cat’s meow. [I like that notion better than treating each other as if we were kings or queens, princes or princesses.] And if we did that, if we treated every other person as you would your favorite celebrity, then that would help raise our spirit and create one hell of a community. Faithfully yours, Harold July Thu 1 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay Fri 2 12:30pm Mah Jongg Room 5 Sun 4 10:00 am UU and Patriotism: Side by Side? Lay Led/Congregation Office will be closed July 5-16 while the Church Administrator is on vacation Mon 5 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay Tue 6 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay     7:00 pm Finance Committee Library Wed 7 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay     6:00 pm Moving Committee Library Thu 8 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay     7:00 pm Marketing Committee Library Fri 9 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5 Sun 11 10:00 am Poetry Sunday Michelle & Shannon Richards     11:15 am Care Committee Library Mon 12 7:00 pm Board of Trustees (business meeting) Library Tue 13 7:00 pm Worship Arts off site Fri 16 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5 Sun 18 10:00 am Our Food Tama Crisovan     6:00 pm Chalice Camp Sanctuary Mon 19 6:00 pm Chalice Camp Sanctuary Tue 20 6:00 pm Chalice Camp Sanctuary Wed 21 6:00 pm Chalice Camp Sanctuary Fri 23 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5 Sat 24 6:00 pm All Church Round Robin Dinner off site Sun 25 10:00 am Topic TBA Barbara Williams Mon 26 7:00 pm Board of Trustees (working session) Library Wed 28 6:30 pm Wednesday Night Feasters off site Fri 30 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5 Sat 31 6:30 pm SPIRAL off site August Sun 1 10:00 am Anger Mark Kricheff Mon 2 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay Tue 3 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay     7:00 pm Finance Committee Library Wed 4 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay Thu 5 9:30 am Dance Class/Glee Club Sancturay Fri 6 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5   July 6-8 WomanSpirit at Camp Ronora, Watervliet, Mich. Sun 8 10:00 am Dance Lessons Arrianna Pittman Mon 9 7:00 pm Board of Trustees (business meeting) Library Tue 10 7:00 pm Worship Arts off site Fri 13 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5 Sat 14 6:00 pm Hot Dog Roast off site Sun 15 10:00 am “The Margaret Ghost” Dale Gibson & Co. Fri 20 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5 Sat 21 9:00 am Moving Sale Building and Grounds Sun 22 10:00 am Environmentalism Garry Roberson Mon 23 7:00 pm Board of Trustees (working meeting) Library Fri 27 12:30 pm Mah Jongg Room 5 Sun 29 10:30 am Share Mary Alice Hardy & Darlene Catello From the President On June 6 the congregation overwhelmingly approved two major initiatives: To authorize the Board of Trustees to make an agreement to lease space in Good Shepherd Montessori School’s complex at the corner of Jefferson and Eddy Streets, and to sell our current building to Chuck Leone – pending a successful zoning variance application. We also need to fill a (now properly funded quarter-time) position for the church’s Director of Religious Education (DRE) and recruit a new Nursery Caregiver. Other than that, there’s not much going on <grin>. This is obviously not a typical summer for our congregation, and much help is needed. Elyse Wistreich has graciously agreed to chair the effort to transition to our new location. There are enormous tasks involved. Please call her to find out how you can help. Feel free to talk with Michelle Richards about efforts to land our next DRE. If you have ideas about a new caregiver for our youngest children – let a Board member know. Your Board of Trustees will be shifting to a two meeting per month format in anticipation of the many issues we will be dealing with this year. The first meeting will be the typical business meeting we’re familiar with. The second meeting will be reserved for hearing proposals from members or committees and/or dealing with complex issues in a deliberative manner. No action will be determined at these “working sessions” – decisions will only be made at the business meetings. As a reminder, all meetings are open to interested parties – with the exception of Executive sessions. It was a true privilege working with the folks on the Board in the last fiscal year. I would particularly like to thank Richard Wallace for his steady, calm, determined leadership as our President. I look forward to working with our new members – David Wistreich, Alice Bentley, David Mayfield and Lynn McDonald, as well as our continuing members – Ally Kricheff, Elizabeth Scarborough and Elena Wake. If you don’t know these people, please change that. They have volunteered to serve on your behalf to make the hard decisions needed to keep us going. But they can’t represent you unless they hear from you. It’s not a stretch to think that this coming year may be the most significant in the history of our church. Let’s remember to assume each others’ best intentions (as has been our habit), and be generous and truthful. If we do, we have a real chance at enhancing the health, influence, and growth of our community. — Don Wheeler Board of Trustees To facilitate the unusually hefty workload this summer, the Board will meet on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7:00 pm. July 12 and August 9 will be regular business meetings; July 26 and August 23 will be working sessions. All meetings of the Board of Trustees are open to any interested party – with the exception of Executive Sessions. Meetings are normally held in the Church Library, but may be held elsewhere occasionally. Business meetings, where decisions are made, are always held, but working sessions, where input and ideas are received and discussed, are held on an as-needed basis. For meeting/agenda information, please contact Don Wheeler. Building Feasibility Committee Update from the Committee On June 6, the Church held a special meeting. A motion was made to sell our current church building and to negotiate a lease with the Good Shepherd Montessori School at the corner of Jefferson and Eddy. There was through discussion of the issues and a total of 90 members voted. Seventy nine members (79) voted in favor of the motion, 7 voted against and 4 abstained. Thanks to everyone who participated for their civility, participation and thoughtfulness. The next steps for the church are planning for the move and for a celebration(s) to mark the event. The Moving Committee has already met. Heather Eschbach has agreed to chair this committee with the able assistance of Anita Morse. Other members of the committee are: Sanctuary Coordinators – Kay Azar and Elyse Wistreich; Library – Elizabeth Scarborough and Anita Morse; Kitchen – Kathy Platt and Alice Bentley; Religious Education – Heather Eschbach and Michelle Richards; Shed – Bob Shuman. Carlton is coordinating the office move. The move is a great opportunity to get rid of some unneeded items in the church and the committee is planning a yard sale. Another critical function of this group is planning the uses for the new space. Needless to say there are many details involved! Committee members may be calling you to help so put on your gloves and get ready! The Celebration Committee is forming and will be meeting soon. If you want to participate call Kathy Platt or Anne Mannix for more information. The zoning for the church site has to be changed so the building can be converted to condominiums. The request for the zoning change has been filed. The hearing at the Area Plan Commission will be on July 20th and the City Council will vote on the zoning change on August 9. This will be a busy summer for all of us to prepare for the move. Current plans are to have the first service at the new building on September 19. This is an exciting time for the church. If we all work on the move and associated tasks, this can be an opportunity for new growth and initiatives. So the best is yet to come and thanks for hanging in there with us. – Allyson Kricheff, Chuck Leone, Anne Mannix, Kathy Platt and Bob Shuman. Care Committee If you are in need of information regarding care giving you should take a look at Gail Sheehy’s latest book “Passages in Caregiving”. There is information that would benefit caregivers of any age. The freezer is sufficiently stocked so please hold off on placing any additional meals in the freezer at this time. The Care Committee will continue to be active as needed during the summer months. Please let a member of the comm. know of difficulties members or friends may have so we can offer appropriate support. Please contact Care Committee co-chairs Joy Pletcher and Mary Hagen or any member of the committee; these are Lynn McDonald, Bette Asplund and Dale Gibson. The next Care Committee meeting will be July 11 following the church service. Inter-Committee Meeting Held A meeting for all committee chairs and Board liaisons was held on June 14 to share each committee’s progress for the year, its plans for the future and the challenges and opportunities presented by our new building. In addition, Anne Mannix provided an overview of new ad hoc committees that will support our move and possible future relocation. The need for an intensified marketing thrust and better internal communication were seen as critical components of a successful transition. The next Inter-Committee Meeting is proposed for August, in conjunction with the annual leadership retreat. Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the meeting minutes should contact Barb Carmichael. Chalice Camp 2010 Honoring Our Mother Earth Sunday to Wednesday Evenings, July 18-21, 6:00-8:00 In this, our second year, Chalice Camp will be using Native American spirituality as an entry point into the spiritual lives of the participants. We will use stories, crafts, and songs to help children both become familiar with the spirituality of the first peoples and to teach environmental awareness and appreciation. The intent of “Honoring Our Mother Earth” is to help our children explore and learn from some of the philosophy, spirituality, beliefs, and rituals of Native American people while tying these elements to our Unitarian Universalist principles. If you would like to help our children feel connected to nature and the earth, to respect all living things, and to explore and appreciate aspects of Native American heritage while honoring and respecting their own spiritual lives, please volunteer to help us! We specifically need teachers, teacher helpers, snack organizers, set-up help, story readers, song leaders, clean-up help, crafty help, and some pre-planning help. If you are interested, please contact Heather Eschbach heschbach@sbcglobal.net or 574.271.8260. RE News Our summer RE program is in full swing. Thanks so much to everyone who volunteered their time and talents to lead our summer sessions for children: Paige Risser, Bryan Eschbach, Alexandria Trusov, David Wistreich, Florence Klecka, Eric Williams, Josh and Judy Wells and Ally Kricheff. Thanks also to Heather Eschbach and Michelle Richards for coordinating the summer RE program. The summer RE program is intended for children aged 5 to 12 in a one-room schoolhouse setting where the varied age groups learn together. All of the participants will gather for a story by Dr. Seuss and some related activities, games or crafts related to the story and a Unitarian Universalist principle or value. Children aged 4 and under are encouraged to go the nursery for free-play. Youth 13 and over may “hang out” in the teen room or attend the worship service, but there are no planned teen group events or discussions this summer unless arranged in advance by Brook and John. Note: There will be no RE program for children on July 4 (because of the holiday) and September 5 (because of Labor Day weekend). There will also be no RE program on August 8 to allow children to participate in the dance worship service that day. The nursery will still be available for children 6 and under who are not participating in the service. Unless plans change, our normal RE program with multiple age classrooms will resume in the fall on Sunday, September 26 in the new building housed with Good Shepherd Montessori. September 12 will be a final worship service in our current building and will be designed as intergenerational so that our children aged 7 and over can help participate in saying goodbye to our building. On September 19, our first worship service will be in the new building and will feature the blending of the waters ceremony with a ten-minute orientation for children and RE teachers to locate their rooms when our regular RE program resumes. During the regular RE session, children 3 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 Primary 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 Junior High 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. Because of the upcoming move, we will also need some volunteers to help us pack up RE program books, supplies and curricula. If you would like to help, please contact Michelle Richards or Heather Eschbach. If you have lots of extra moving boxes you would like to contribute, that would also be welcome to make packing and moving much easier. Junior Glee Club Children from ages 3 to 12 are invited to attend Junior Glee Club classes at the First Unitarian Church this summer. Classes will be held 9:00-12:30 Monday through Thursday on June 28-July1, July 5-8, and August 2-5 Children will learn songs and short dance combos. The songs and dances learned will be performed at a church service on Sunday, August 8, at 10:00 am. The focus of the songs/dances is on three themes: preserving our earth, hospitality, and standing up for your beliefs. Classes will be taught be Arri Pittman, who recently graduated from Clay High School’s Performing Arts Magnet. Snacks will be provided. Children do not need to attend every class to be part of the church service. They can also attend classes for the dance experience, even if they will not be available on the date of the service. ;A donation of $8 per session is suggested. Oktoberfest 2010 It may seem a bit early to be talking about Oktoberfest in June but we want this year to be our biggest yet! Set your calenders for November 6th 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. This year is bound to be bigger and better because of our new physical space. Bring your ideas to our first Service Auction committee meeting on Sunday August 22 immediately following the morning service. If you have any questions please contact Allyson Kricheff (committee chair) at ally.kricheff@gmail.com Summer Social Events Round Robin There will be an all church Round Robin at Marcia and Bob Shuman’s home on Saturday, July 24, at 6:00. All adults are welcome. For more information or to RSVP, call Kathy Platt. Hot Dog Roast Mark and Allyson Kricheff are hosting a Family Hot Dog Roast on Saturday, August 14 at 6:00. Please e-mail Ally at ally.kricheff@gmail.com if you plan to attend. Wednesday Night Feasters The Feasters will gather on July 28 at the Tabor Hill Winery, Michigan, and on August 25 at El Maguey, Elkhart. For more information or reservations, call Cathy Duncan. Future Feasts: Sep. 29 Wings, Etc., Mishawaka Oct. 27 Katie O’Connors’, New Carlisle Nov. 23 (Tue) Houlihan’s, Mishawaka Dec. 29 Riverfront Café, Niles Mah Jongg Hold onto your hat ... we have decided to meet for mah jongg at the same time every week! So, it’s Fridays at 12:30-2:30 in room 5. Mah jongg lessons for neophytes will be available on July 30 at 11:30 and August 20 at 11:30, but you must call or e-mail Lynn McDonald to arrange for the lesson. SPIRAL The Wheel turns to Lughnasad . . . The Sun God was honored on Midsummer, spending a long, long day with us. Now, as he moves through the summer season, he makes up for his daily decline by blazing in the sky. Hot days, hot nights, crops soaking it in as they mature all remind us of his presence. And so we arrive at the time to celebrate our First Harvest, known as Lammas or Lughnasad on the Wheel of the Year. Come celebrate the first harvest with us on July 31 at Susan’s farm. We will start with a potluck at 6:30, featuring the bounty of our gardens, followed by a ritual to honor Lugh, then drumming and a bonfire. For more information, including directions to the farm, contact susan@ceres-co.com. This event is sponsored by Supporting Pagans in Ritual and Life. Outside Our Doors Buddhist Venerable Wuling Visits Venerable Wuling is an American Buddhist nun of the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism. Based in Queensland, Australia, she is Vice President of the Pure Land Learning Collage and Director of the Amitabha Retreat Center. Venerable teaches a weekly class by Internet to a group of students in Elkhart. She will present four programs to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart, 1732 Garden St., Elkhart: July 24, 9 am-6 pm: One-day Buddhist Retreat! July 26, 6:30-8:30 pm: Open House August 1, 10:30 am: Sunday Service August 2, 6:30-8:30 pm: Dharma talk / meditation Previous knowledge of Buddhism is not necessary to attend the programs, which will provide an opportunity to learn more about this beneficial practice. The retreat will include Dharma talks by Venerable Wuling, discussions, chanting, meditation, and pot luck vegetarian meals. Everyone is welcome. There is no charge for the programs or the Buddhist Materials. Free-will donations appreciated. Venerable Wuling will also be teaching at Sacred Waters off Douglas Rd. in South Bend on Thursday, July 29 at 7:00 pm. For more information, call or e-mailJan Wilen or e-mail. Summer WomanSpirit August 6-8, 2010 You are invited to join us for our annual Summer WomanSpirit retreat held at Ronora Lodge and Retreat Center in Watervliet, Michigan! Workshops, woods, walking, worship and more. All ages are welcome. Early bird registration discount available until July 1. HURRY! “Sowing Seeds of Gratitude” is our theme. We all have so many things for which we are grateful, and each one is a viable seed to plant and nurture, allowing others to share in the labors which created the seeds. During this retreat we will take a special look at the gratitude we have toward the Earth and all she provides. We will also look at things for which we are grateful on a personal level, sharing what we are comfortable sharing and learning how those around us perceive their own gratitude. Contact: Gretchen Ohmann Local: Diana Mendelsohn at djmendelsohn@aol.com Read the online brochure at www.WomenandReligion.org Register online: www.regonline.com/SWS2010 We’re an Amazon.com Associate The church is an Amazon.com associate. That means you can click on the Amazon logo on our home page oranywhere you see an Amazon.com link on our site, do your shopping and benefit the church at the same time. 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. September Newsletter