There is a terrible old joke about a man who played one note on the

Volume 30; Issue 9 May 2012
The Monthly News Forum of The
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists,
Manassas, VA
T
here is a terrible old joke about a man who played
one note on the violin beautifully. That single note was
resonant and loud and everyone in the immediate vicinity of
the man and his violin could hear it reverberating off of every
available surface. Of course, a violin that only plays one note
gets annoying pretty quick, so when one of his neighbors
asked his man why he only played one note, he responded by
saying, “well, when you’ve found the right one, I don’t see why
you should have to keep on playing the others.”
Services held Sunday
at 9:00 am and 10:45 am
May 6th
“The Truth that Becomes More True,”
Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd
As a partner sermon to April 15th,
we’ll look at the ways in which truths,
including some of our most deeply held
values, change over time. Once we find
truth, how do we hold onto it? When
do we let a true thing become even
more true by changing right before our
very eyes? once you find it, you think it’s
done, you’d like it to just stay that way
please. This is when we turn truth into
idols. We encase it in stone.
May 13th
“A Fair Trade,”
Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd
What would be a fair trade, a just
compensation, for the dedication of a
responsible parent? This Mother’s Day,
we’ll look at how we can give back to
those who have nurtured us.
May 20th
9:00 “Wild Beasts and Angels”
Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd
There is a story of Jesus’ travels which
says he walked out into the wilderness
where he was attended by wild beasts
and angels. In our journeys, we are
all attended by both wild beasts and
angels – by that which frightens us and
that which gives us hope.
10:45 – “Bridging,” Rev. Nancy McDonald
Ladd, BRUU Youth and Families
Join our bridging youth as they
consider their transition into Young
Adulthood and celebrate this beloved
rite of passage.
May 27th
Interfaith Radical Justice
Mandy Goheen
V.O.I.C.E (Virginians Organized for
Interfaith Community Engagement):
We have done the hard ground work
and now it’s time for our dreams to
transition into the reality of healing our
community.
This I fear, is sometimes our relationship to “truth,” or that which we have come
to know as truth. Once we have found it for ourselves, it can shine in our lives
as a single pure note, bright and lovely. But one might argue that even our most
deeply-held truths are never quite capable of transforming us entirely if they exist
in isolation. Like one single note out of a symphony, your truth is only beautiful
in relationship to the truths discovered by your neighbors. Your revelation is only
made real alongside the wisdom of friends.
We Unitarian Universalists are fond of reminding ourselves that the word “heretic,”
stems from a root meaning “to choose.” We are the great choosers of the theological
landscape. We are the ones who choose what we believe, what we don’t believe,
and what exactly we are called to do in this world.
As such, we choosers are given the hard work of determining what, for us, is true
enough to guide us through the wilderness and protect us from the storms of life.
We are also given the difficult task of holding our truths lightly enough that they
can coexist with the divergent, sometimes complex, truths of our fellow searchers.
Heretics like us don’t always have the blessed assurance of certainty. We have to
make choices about our values and keep on choosing even when the way is not
entirely clear.
What truths have you chosen to follow in your life? What truths have you let go
of? How do you see the many notes of our overlapping truths making music in our
congregation of freely chosen faith?
Peace,Nancy
Page 2Crossroads
WISHING CHAIR COMES TO BRUU!
Join us for a rousing evening of “folk and roll” with award winning singers Miriam
Davidson and Kiya Heartwood, who make up the dynamic performing duo, Wishing Chair!
Don’t miss this great event. Advanced tickets, $12.00; $15.00 at the door. This is a benefit
to support SERVE, our local family shelter in Manassas, VA.Friday evening, May 25th, 8:00
pm, doors open at 7:30 pmFor more questions or to preorder tickets, contact Janette Muir,
jmuir@gmu.edu
THEATER PARTY, ANYONE?
Fauquier Community Theater will be
presenting the musical “Into the Woods”
by Stephen Sondheim, the first three
weekends in May. I thought it would
be fun to get a group, or two, together
to see the show and support local
cultural arts. The theater is located in
the former Vint Hill army base movie
house that seats 200, just off Vint Hill
Rd - only a few blocks outside the SW
PWC line. Friday & Saturday evening
performances are at 8:00pm, and the
Sunday matinees are at 2pm. According
to the website description (http://
fctstage.org/current-season) the play
combines an “ambivalent Cinderella, a
blood-thirsty Little Red Riding Hood,
FIRST THURSDAY
INTERMITTENT STREAM ECOLOGY
First Thursday Nature Tales is a monthly
program at BRUU about - surprise! - nature
in the Prince William/Manassas area.
Topic for May 3 (7:30-9:00pm in
Fellowship Hall) is “Virginia’s Ecosystems:
An Introduction to Our Natural Heritage.”
Virginia is home to over 120 vegetative
communities (unique plants and their
associated soils and animals). Our speaker
is Charles Smith, with the Prince William
Wildflower Society. Join him as we discuss
the many species, varied ecosystems in
Virginia, and the challenges of managing
them for ecosystem health.
a Prince charming with a roving eye
and a witch - who raps... What begins as
a lively irreverent fantasy in the style of
The Princess Bride becomes a moving
lesson about community responsibility
and the stories we tell our children.”
Sounds sorta U-U to me... I am willing to
coordinate a family (kids 13 and older)
outing on one of the Sunday afternoons
(as in catch lunch after BRUU and attend
the matinee), as well as a separate adult
evening that might involve cocktails
before and/or after?
Tickets are only $15 for kids & seniors
(60+) and $17/adult.
Call 703.754.8191
or email ring.cw@gmail.com
GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA)
WHERE WE
ALL
COME
TOGETHER
The UU denomination holds an annual
conference and every congregation can send
delegates (the number is determined by the
size of the congregational membership).
This year the GA conference is being held in
a very HOT place - geographically, calendarwise & politically - Pheonix, Arizona from
Wednesday June 20th through Sunday
June 24th. To encourage greater interest
and participation, former members of
BRUU, Bob & Flora Conley, who now live in
Goodyear, AZ, have graciously offered their
“casita” guesthouse to anyone who would
like to attend GA. GA attendees from BRUU
can stay at their place and commute to the
activities in Phoenix OR you have the option
of extending your GA trip, either before or
after the conference, if you would like to
explore the wild, wild (dry!) Southwest to
create a vacation experience.So far we only
have two BRUUers who plan to participate
on behalf of our congregation - how about
YOU?
FAMILY VOLLEYBALL & POTLUCK
Every Monday evening (weather permitting)
from now through the summer, beginning
at 6:30pm, Mark & Ann Hempen host
an informal, intergenerational volleyball
game (all skill levels tolerated and highly
amusing). Wear comfortable clothes for
an outdoor event. Following a few loosely
scored games that conclude around dusk,
there is a picnic pot luck supper. The food
is always wonderfully eclectic - a delightful
change from standard Monday evening
leftovers. Everyone should bring beverages
and a dish
BRUU PICNIC
of taking in the dog, gave the man food
for his dog, and then sent him across the
street to the food pantry at SERVE. Before
the end of the month, the man called
the shelter to say he had safely arrived,
was enjoying his new job, had found an
apartment, and still had his dog and his
truck! I’d call that a happy story – and
thank you all for your contributions to our
Split-the-Plate collection.
The annual BRUU picnic is tentatively set for
June 17th, so please save the date! As the
new fellowship chair, this is my first year
putting this together and I definitely need
your help. Do you have a favorite picnic
activity? Let me know and maybe we can
play that game. I also need someone to
either suggest or donate a venue where we
can hold this festive event. We sometimes
get a 100 people, but if you have a big lawn
and functioning bathrooms (that knocks me
out of the running) then we can have it at
your place. But a public park might work too.
I promise to make it fun. Everyone will bring
a dish and a smile. If you can help make this
day, which is also the date of Nancy’s last
sermon memorable, I will forever be in your
debt.
Liz Alcauskas (Social Justice Committee).
Contact me at Betsimcgrath@yahoo.com.
Namaste and big hUUgs to you all.
SPLIT-THE-PLATE: MANASSAS ANIMAL SHELTER
On Sunday April 8, BRUU raised $383.50 for
the Manassas City Animal Control Services
and Adoption Center. Senior Animal
Control Officer Marc Daigle brought his
two very friendly and gentle rats to coffee
hours to answer any questions people
might have. Officer Daigle told the story
of the man and his dog who were traveling
west to a new job. His truck broke down,
and had money enough to repair his
truck, but not enough to feed himself and
his dog. So, he was giving his dog to the
shelter for adoption. The shelter, instead
May 2012
Page 3Crossroads
BRUU
FOOD PANTRY FACTS
JANUARY - MARCH 2012
is
a
Welcoming
Congregation
which
celebrates and supports the lives, the
relationships, and the individual and
group contributions of its lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender members
and friends. We affirm and promote
their full participation in the life of
the congregation and community.
We pledge our congregation’s
commitment to continue dismantling
the belief that heterosexuality is the
only normal, acceptable, and healthy
sexual orientation.
Did you know .....?
...the total number of families served?
376
...the total number of inviduals served?
1,752
...the number of bags of groceries
handed out?
1,339
...the number of meals provided?
31,203
Director of RE
Office Hours
Tuesday and Wednesday:
by appointment
...the number of times we had to severely
limit the amount given because we had run
out of fresh fruits and vegetables, or cans
were limited in number?
53
Keep your donations coming, so we can
lower that last figure!
SOUP FOR SERVE
NEXT DATE: MAY 20TH
Established 35 years ago, SERVE (Securing
Emergency Resources through Volunteer
Efforts) is a Manassas-based community
organization. SERVE’s programs include
shelter, a food distribution center, transitional
housing, emergency assistance and life
skills education for individuals and families
in need. The service area is Western Prince
William County and the cities of Manassas
and Manassas Park. Our next lunch will be
on Sunday, May 20 (due to the Memorial
Day holiday). We will also begin our “Cool
Lunch for SERVE” meals beginning June
24 and continuing July 22 and August 26.
Instead of soups, we will enjoy an array of
“cool” salads, fruits, trays of veggies, etc.
More information is on the BRUUnet and
we encourage you to join the group as a
volunteer as we prepare for the upcoming
lunches.Great things happen when we
SERVE up Soup for SERVE! If you have any
questions, you may contact Susan Wood
May 2012
Thursday, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
at susanwood.va@gmail.com. Look on
BRUUnet for the Soup for SERVE Group for
updates: http://bit.ly/JHxzSe
A ROAST FOR REV. NANCY
SAVE THE DATE FOR JUNE 9TH
Save The Date: On June 9, 2012, we will
be Roasting the Reverend! Details coming
soon! If you would like to help put together
this fantastic evening, contact Melissa
Harshman at
melissa.harshman@yahoo.com.
BRUU YOUTH RECORD VIDEO
The Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
youth thank the congregation for their
recent “split the plate” donations to the
area animal shelter. You can view it at
http://bit.ly/Jrl0c7.
You can contact Chris McCann at
re@bruu.org
Parking Announcement
– Please Read
Please be courteous to the
neighboring tenants in parking on
the weekends and evenings. We
wish to make every attempt to be
kind to our neighbors. If a parking
lot is getting full, don’t take the last
spot, please make arrangements
to park elsewhere – the (free) VRE
parking garage, a scant two blocks
away, is a great option.
Minister’s Office Hours
(Subject to change, so please call
ahead to make an appointment)
Tuesday 9:30 AM - 4:15 PI
Wednesday 2:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Thursday 9:30 AM - 4:15 PM
Office Assistant’s Hours:
9:30 AM -2:30 PM
Tuesday through Friday
Email: office@bruu.org
Music Director’s Office Hours
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Monday through Thursday
Annease Hastings
music@bruu.org
Page 4Crossroads
LET’S FIND YOU A MATCH
Hi, I’m Kelly Muzzin, and I’m the chair of
the Volunteer Coordination and Support
Committee. I have a great job – I’m a
matchmaker! Let’s say you want to get more
involved at BRUU – just talk to me, or one of
my fabulous committee members, and we’ll
set you up with a volunteer job particularly
suited to you. For instance: Do you want to
help out, but you can’t make a long-term
commitment to a committee right now? You’d
be perfect to help with set-up for BRUU’s
occasional parties! Or perhaps you prefer to
work on projects at night, in your jammies.
You’d fit in well in any of our committees that
rely on email and other technology to get
their work done!
Activity Room Coordinator - The Activity
Room is next door to the Fellowship Hall,
and it provides a fun and safe place for our
children to be while parents enjoy fellowship
time and attend meetings. The Coordinator is
responsible for scheduling volunteers to staff
the room, which is open most Sundays after
the second service.
VCS Members - The Volunteer Coordination and
Support (VCS) committee matches people
with volunteer jobs that need to be filled at
BRUU. It’s a great way to meet new people,
and to get to know more about how our
terrific congregation works!
Ushers - This is another great way to meet
new people. Ushers commit to one service
per month, where they greet people, hand
out orders of service, and collect the offering.
MAC workers - The Maintenance, Aesthetics
and Construction (MAC) Committee has a
variety of different positions to fill: committee
members (help make the decisions!),
announcers of workdays (minimal time
commitment needed!), and workers for
workdays (come spackle and paint all day, or
just an hour!)
Canvass Chair - The Canvass is that time every
year when we reach out to all Members and
Friends and ask for a monetary commitment
to help keep our congregation going. The
Canvass Chair is responsible for overseeing
the Canvass Dinner, the individual canvassing,
and all materials used for the canvass. The
Chair also gets to announce our progress at the
beginnings of services! Because the Canvass
is responsible for 70% of our annual budget,
this position is extremely important for BRUU.
The most awesome Bruce Roemmelt is the
current chair, and he will provide training and
support when you take over this position.
My committee knows the jobs. Now, let us
know you!
Kelly Muzzin, vcs@bruu.org, 703.361.4182
FOOD PANTRY FACES
An interview with Marybeth Heatherly
by Susan Sinclair, Food Pantry reporter
May 2012
BRUU
9350 Main Street
Manassas, VA 20110-5150
703-361-6269
Fax: 703-392-7995
Minister
Rev. Nancy McDonald-Ladd
minister@bruu.org
Director of
Religious Education
Chris McCann, dre@bruu.org
Director of Music
Annease Hastings, music@bruu.org
“The Diaper Lady” is how Marybeth
is known at the Food Pantry where she
works handing out diapers to moms on
the second and fourth Tuesdays of every
month. She and her son, Dee Jay, came
to BRUU about three years ago, and she
eventually gravitated to working at the
Food Pantry. “Unlike the other volunteers,
I can see this job from both sides,” she
says, “as a volunteer and also as one of
the clients. So I identify with the men and
women who come in for food and diapers
for their children.” Marybeth and Dee Jay
know what it is to be homeless, to not
have enough money for food each month.
Rejected by her former church, she at first
felt very uncomfortable at the Food Pantry,
but getting to know the other volunteers
quickly changed her mind. “They are all
hard-working, sympathetic people of great
warmth,” she says, “and totally accepting
and non-judgmental of me and of our
clients.”
Marybeth has always enjoyed teaching
and working with people so she feels she
has the skills for her job. She enjoys using
what she can remember of her Spanish,
and she makes a real effort to get to know
her clients personally. “Generally, even
though many are struggling to stay afloat,
they keep a positive attitude. They are very
friendly, and they love coming here to the
BRUU Food Pantry. It has a warm, personal
atmosphere, and we serve all, no questions
asked. This is important to people.”
A little girl Marybeth had smiled at for
weeks but who always looked away from
her, this week gave her a shy smile and said,
“Hi!” “That absolutely made my day!” she
said, beaming. Anyone who has bathed
in the glow of her warm smile knows that
Marybeth gives her heart along with the
diapers to those who come to our Food
Pantry.
Office Assistant
Tina Cox, office@bruu.org
BRUU Administrative Board
President
Ross Weinberg
president@bruu.org
Vice President
Larry Underwood
vicepresident@bruu.org
Secretary
Steffany Winegar
secretary@bruu.org
Finance Director
Dorothy Greenhouse
financedirector@bruu.org
Social Justice/Worship Director
Mancy Goheen
socialjusticedirector@bruu.org
Facilities Director
Brad Harshman
facilitiesdirector@bruu.org
Ministry Director
Richard Firth,
ministrydirector@bruu.org
Treasurer
Paul Galvin, treasurer@bruu.org
Adult Religious
Education Coordinator
Melissa Harshman, re@bruu.org
Membership Committee
Joan Whoolery
membership@bruu.org
Fellowship Committee
Cathy Ring
fellowship@bruu.org
Un-elected volunteers
Newsletter Editors
Nancy Nelson, Diane Flaherty
bruu.news@gmail.com
Page 5Crossroads
CORKS, CORKS, CORKS,
ARE YOU REMEMBERING TO SAVE YOUR CORKS?
May 2012
ESCAPE TO VERMONT
MAY 25 - 28, 2012
Open a bottle of wine, drink up the delicious red or white contents. Rinse out the bottle, toss
it in the recycle bin. That last action gets you a pat on the back, but what did you do with the 1st Annual B&B Weekend offered by the UU
Church of Rutland, Vermont! Enjoy the beauty
cork? Tossed it in the trash. No, no, no! Recycle that too. Really? Yup.
of Vermont, UU hospitality, and a choice of
Once a month after services, the Green
world’s Mediterranean climate regions, guided activities: hiking, kayaking, Vermont
Sanctuary has a table loaded with coffee
which cover only 2.2 percent of Earth’s open studios/art exhibits, gardening tips and
and chocolate. Their table also has a box
land surface, yet account for 20 percent of
where you can deposit your corks. When
all known plant species. Only the tropical local organic farms, wine and artisan cheese
the box is full, the corks are brought to a
rainforests of the western hemisphere and tours, and many custom outings. Prices are as
recycle drop point (e.g. Whole Foods).
Southeast Asia have a greater density of follows: Before April 10 - early bird registration
Why should you recycle those corks?
plant species.
- $325.00 (bed) or $595.00 (couple). After
Because using corks is SO environmentallyBecause using cork does not diminish April 10: $375.00 (bed) or $675.00 (couple.) To
friendly. First of all, no trees are cut down to
the Earth. Think oil spills, open-pit mining,
produce corks. Cutting the cork bark from
caustic and poisonous contamination. reserve your spot, please send a $100.00 (per
a tree occurs about every nine-to-ten years,
Have I lost you? Plastic corks are made person) deposit with your registration form.
which is the amount of time it takes for the
from oil. Aluminum bottle caps come from Send to: UU Church of Rutland Vermont, 117
tree to regrow a thick layer of cork. Cork
bauxite. Both oil and bauxite are not only West Street, Rutland, VT 05701. For more
trees can live 150 years or more, providing
non-renewable resources – manufacturing details, and the printable registration form,
hundreds of corks.
a stopper for a wine bottle creates plenty
see our website:
Because cork forests have a high level of
of pollution.
www.springweekend.wordpress.com
forest biodiversity and store large amounts
Drink that great bottle of wine and then
of carbon (known as carbon sequestration
bring your corks to church.
which helps to reduce global warming).
For more information contact:
These forests are part of the
Diane Flaherty, The BRUU Cork Manager
Kathy Pingree (802) 353-7969
or kmpingree@mac.com
Saturday morning. Featured highlights:
RADICAL HOSPITALITY
Expanded Bookstore, exhibits from
CREATING BELOVED COMMUNITY
diverse UU organizations, 18 interactive
FOR ALL CHILDREN
workshops, innovative worship experience
The inclusion of children and adults with
on Sunday, GALA 50th Anniversary
special needs in our UU congregations
4TH ANNUAL
Celebration, Gathered Here Appreciative
is not only a matter of pragmatism. It is
GAY-STRAIGHT
ALLIANCE PROM
Inquiry to help chart the future of the
also the right thing to do. On May 19th,
MAY
5
UUA, awards for outstanding UU, Young
the author and advocate Sally Patton will
The 4th Annual Gay-Straight Alliance Prom
Adult and Youth, and recognition of YES
present a one-day workshop entitled
at BRUU is coming up on Saturday, May 5.
churches, Outstanding Chalice Lighter and
Radical Hospitality: Creating Beloved
That’s Cinco de Mayo! More information
Chalice Keeper. Registrations are being
Community for All Children. It’s designed
will be forthcoming, but if you’re willing to
accepted online and by regular mail (see
for religious educators, parents and anyone
help out with chaperoning, food, cleanup, or
form on the website).We hope to see you
else who is interested in the inclusion of
anything else, please contact
there! For more information of the 2012
everyone in our spiritual communities. Prom Czarina Crystal Chesher at
JPDA, visit their website at
Cost: $40. Parents: $30. Teams of
cheshercrystal@yahoo.com.
http://jpduua.org
three of more: $30 per person. Includes
morning refreshments and lunch. Limited
scholarships are available.
Mark Bernstein
SECURITY TEAM NEEDED FOR PROM
HARVEST THE POWER
Regional Growth
Do you look intimidating? Do you scare
TRAINING
OF
TRAINERS
Development Consultant
young children easily? Do you share facial
August
17-19,
2012
Central East Region of the UUA
characteristics and hairline patterns with
Pioneer Camp and Retreat Center
610-639-3389
Marty Wilsey? If any of these are true (and
9324 Lake Shore Road, Angola, NY
mbernstein@uua.org, www.cerguua.org
This weekend-long event will introduce especially so in the last case if you are a
leaders to the “Harvest the Power” woman), then we’d love for you to chip in
Leadership Development Curriculum for security at the upcoming GLBT Prom on
2012 JOSEPH PRIESTLY DISTRICT
from the Tapestry of Faith. Participants May 5 at BRUU. Volunteers will make sure
ASSEMBLY
will be “trained” to train others to lead this that undesirables don’t get in, that any press
2012 Joseph Priestley District Assembly
powerful curriculum in a congregational contacts get shepherded to the appropriate
You are invited to register for the 2012
setting. The ideal candidates for this individuals, and make sure prom celebrating
Joseph Priestley District Assembly training are experienced congregational teenagers don’t do the nasty in our building.
Looking Backward, Moving Forward:
leaders, ministers and religious educators. If you are interesting in chipping in for a
Celebrating 50 Years of the JPD, scheduled
All participants will need to submit an few hours, contact Bruce Roemmelt at
for April 13-15, 2012, at the Key Bridge
roemmelt@verizon.net.
application and a letter of support from
Marriott, in Arlington, VA. This year’s
their congregation, affirming that they
featured keynote speaker is Rev. Peter
have the experience and the commitment
Morales, President of the Unitarian
to effectively facilitate future trainings.
Universalist Association. We will have
For
more information go to this web
a two-part session of Gathered Here, a
site
http://www.cerguua.org/programs/
national conversation about the future of
harvestpower.html4
the Unitarian Universalist Association, on
Volume 30; Issue 9
May 2012
The Monthly News Forum of The
Bull Run
Unitarian Universalists, Manassas, VA
Did you know that the BRUU
newsletter is available electronically?
Using this delivery option saves BRUU
publication costs, postage, paper, and
volunteer labor. You also receive the
newsletter much sooner because it is
delivered instantly to your e-mail in
box and arrives in vivid color in Adobe
Acrobat format (PDF). You can sign-up
for electronic delivery at the following
address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
BRUU_Newsletter/
The Bull Run
Unitarian Universalists
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists exist to nurture
ourselves, our children, our community and our natural
world in the pursuit of spiritual and intellectual growth.
We give expression to our mission through celebrating
our diversity and giving of our talents and resources with
justice, equity and compassion. We work toward our
goals through an open democratic process, respecting
the views of each individual and seeking to protect the
interdependent web of life.
Return Service Requested
9350 Main Street
Manassas, VA 20110-5150
May 20th is the deadline for
the June Newsletter!
Newsletter@bruu.org
bruu.news@gmail.com
We’re on the WEB at www.bruu.org
Twitter Account (http://twitter.com/BullRunUUU)
LinkedIn Group (http://www.linkedin.com/groups)
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