UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST COMMUNITY OF EL PASO

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST COMMUNITY OF EL PASO
4425 BYRON STREET
EL PASO, TEXAS 79930-4905
NON-PROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE PAID
EL PASO – TEXAS
PERMIT NO. 2488
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
TELEPHONE: (915) 562-4001
CARRIE VINE, CONGREGATIONAL PRESIDENT
REV. DR. JUDITH WALKER-RIGGS, CONSULTING MINISTER
GINGER DUPLISEA, OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
E-MAIL: UUCEP@UUELPASO.ORG
WEB PAGE: WWW.UUELPASO.ORG
FAX: (915) 562-9708
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST COMMUNITY OF EL PASO
APRIL 2007
G.I. RIGHTS HOTLINE MEETING
Please join us on April 14, 21, and 28 from 9:00 to 12:00.
For further information, contact Anne Herman at 351-2643.
FOURTH SUNDAY COLLECTION
Our 4th Sunday collection for April will be for the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.
The Caring Committee currently oversees this fund.
Sometimes our members need a little financial help that we can give them
from this fund. At the present time, we have used up most of the fund.
SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES START AT 10:30 A.M.
Unitarian Mass (Christian services) will be held at 9:00 a.m.
******************************************
April 1**
It’s All Fun and Games Till Someone Loses
an Eye
UU Jihad (Alex Ceely)
Our April Fools service will be a call to arms! We
declare a Jihad on seriousness, self-righteousness, and
mean people! Come and laugh with the UU Jihad.
WARNING: Not for those who take themselves too
seriously or who are easily offended.
April 8**
Easter Stones
Rev. Dr. Judith Walker-Riggs
You don't have to be Christian to understand the
experience of rebirth -- but stones?
April 15**
Fundamental Constants, Anthropic
Principles, and You
Alan Dean – Professor Emeritus of Physics, UTEP
After the failure of Creation-Science and the court
problems of Intelligent Design, yet another attempt at
natural theology arises as anthropic principles. First
the earth was the center of the universe, then it was
the sun, then the Milky Way, then there was no center.
Anthropic principles go backward a long way – humans
are proposed to be the center of the universe.
April 22**
A Cosmic Theology? Rev. Dr. Walker-Riggs
Could there, after all, be such a thing? What might it
look like?
April 29 **
The Resurrections
David Johnson
2,000 years ago the disciples of Jesus the Nazorean told
the remarkable story of how he defied the Jewish
Parliament and survived a crucifixion attempt. 300 years
later the Roman Empire commanded its inhabitants to
believe that there had been a god called "Christ" who
literally came back from the dead and ascended
vertically into the sky in a supernatural body. How did
that happen?
** Details of R.E. Programs are found on
the Child & Youth Religious Education
page.
******************************************
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
Jessica Miller
Kati-Jo Wyatt
John Lockhart
Atticus Baldwin
Kelly Higgins
Frances Kramer
Anna Mattersdorff
Marjie Day
Barbara Herron
David Harvey
Vic Ward
David Wyatt
Patricia Apostolides
Sally Spener
04/02
04/04
04/07
04/13
04/14
04/14
04/16
04/17
04/19
04/21
04/22
04/22
04/23
04/28
Donald E. White
04/29
INTERESTED IN MEMBERSHIP?
If you have been visiting and feel that you
would like a more vital role in our
Community, we would welcome you as a
member. Please complete a Membership
Application card and give it to a greeter to
start the process.
OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE
& RECEIVE SERVICE
CONCERNS: If you have concerns for you or
others or need a ride, please call 562-4001.
FOOD COLLECTION: Clear box with a blue lid
next to the Sanctuary information table. Food is
donated to the Missouri Street Shelter.
CHALICE LIGHTING, FLOWERS, MUSIC:
For opportunities to help with Sunday morning
programs, call 562-4001.
President’s Points
Minister’s Moment
It is officially spring in El Paso. The yellow
poppies are starting to pop out in inconspicuous
places .The mulberry trees are dropping the green
caterpillar-like pollen filled seed pods. The wind is
ripping off doors and blowing things away. Yes, it is
officially spring in this West Texas town. There is
plenty going on within my home and within the
community this sunny, blustery season.
At home we are settling in from a move,
which added 3 people, 3 cats, 1 dog, 1 snake, and 6
gerbils to the household. We are trying to juggle kids’
activities and schooling. It has proved to be a tad
challenging, but very worth it.
Christopher and I are planning our 10th
anniversary celebration. We will be celebrating at
Ardantane in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico.
We have chosen to do a Handfasting Ritual at the
Sunfest Festival. Everyone is invited. ☺
Within the community there are a few major
projects I am involved with. The Vision, Mission,
Covenant process will have its last meetings in April.
Please attend these gatherings they are extremely
important for our community
The board has also approved to sponsor the
GI Rights Hotline. The GI Rights Hotline is answered
by a coalition of nonprofit, non-governmental
organizations who provide information to members of
the military about discharges, grievance and
complaint procedures, and other civil rights. We are
starting small and could use more volunteers.
The annual Canvass is upon us. This year
we may adjust our bylaws to change our fiscal year to
coincide with the calendar year. These changes will
be voted on at the annual meeting in May. Officers
and chairs will also be voted on at this meeting.
Watch next month’s newsletter for more details.
I hope all of you have a blessed spring. I am
sure everyone has been as busy as we have!
One of the great strengths of this El Paso congregation
lies in the variety of its people and the ideas and
personalities they bring in with them as they come.
In Your Service,
Carrie Vine
cvinex5@yahoo.com
915-565-5371
915-217-8288
As a demon quilter these days, I am oh, so aware of
what a dull quilt it would be with only one color or
pattern to it. It is precisely the variety that gives a quilt,
or a UU congregation, it's particular power and beauty.
Of course, and how often we UUs (well me, and maybe
you) forget, with this variety of people, ideas,
personalities and programs comes the sheer fact that
we can never, and should never, expect things to be
exactly the way we happen to prefer them.
As I was piecing together a complicated Victorian quilt
top today I wondered idly, does that piece of rose
colored cotton want one just like it next to it? Is it
offended by that olive green pattern? Does it wish it
would just shut up and get pink like good fabric should
be?
No, for UU congregations there is a rule different from
the rules of most other religious organizations. It is this:
If your UU congregation is doing its job, there should
always be things going on there you do not like, and
even, do not know about. Otherwise, your UU
congregation is only serving you, or people exactly like
you. Which, it has to be said, is, as the business world
would put it, an extremely limited market. Or as my quilt
would say, a bit monotonous.
So next time you feel the acid rising in your throat about
something going on at UUCEP not exactly to your taste,
or something going on you don't know all about, instead
of working up a head of steam to complain, how about a
cheer! Perhaps it just means UUCEP is doing its job.
Rev. Dr. Judith Walker-Riggs
revjwr@mindspring.com
505-524-4967
DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS – PAT WHITE
MOUNTAIN DESERT DISTRICT (MDD) OFFICE
District Executive: Rev Nancy Bowen
executive@mdduua.org
2242 S Albion Street
Denver, CO 80222
(303) 756-1378
(303) 756-1407 FAX
See Carrie Vine for more information if you are
interested in attending Leadership School, GA or the
MDD Annual Meeting:
o General Assembly for 2007 will be held
June 20-24 in Portland, Oregon.
o Russell Lockwood Leadership School
will be held July 22 – July 28, 2007 at
Alta Lodge in Alta, Utah. The
registration cost is $900 before May 15
and $1000 after that.
o The MDD Annual Meeting will be held
October 12-14 in Billings, Montana.
Check the UUA homepage for some interesting new
sites and email lists: http://www.uua.org.
TREASURER – CAROL IRWIN
CHECKING ACCOUNT ALERT!! UUCEP's checking
account is alarmingly low. Not coincidentally, pledge
checks are coming in slower than usual for this time
of year. So CHECK your pledge statements, CHECK
your CHECKbook, and write a CHECK ASAP. Thank
you
the next eight months. We will then do a
canvass in the fall for next year.
ON-GOING FUND RAISERS: Our on-going
fundraisers include the Albertsons Community
Partner card and E-scrip. If you don’t have an
Albertsons card please see Carol Irwin or me to
get one. Present your Community Partners card
the next time you shop at Albertsons when you
present your Preferred Customer card and the
cards will be linked. Present your Preferred
Customer card to get Community Partner
benefits even if you don’t buy any specials.
The E-scrip system is just as easy. Register your
Master Card and/or Visa Card at
www.escrip.com. We get a percent of your
purchases made with registered cards at
participating merchants credited to our checking
account. Stores in the area that are in the
program include Pep Boys, and several
restaurants including Bangkok Pepper, Jando’s
Italian Cuisine, Panache, Ye-Ye Kitchen, La
Cuesta, Michelino’s, Downtown Sports Bar,
Medallions Restaurant, Cincinnati Club, Bar 26,
Cappettos Pizzeria, Café Central, and Hudson’s
Grill. Macy’s is also in the system but you need
to have a Macy’s card to register and use. Go to
www.escrip.com for more information about what
stores are in the system.
We are also selling UUCEP t-shirts and
cookbooks on Sundays; T-shirts are $15 for adult
sizes and $10 for children’s sizes, and
cookbooks are $10 each.
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE – PAT WHITE
MEMBERSHIP – CAROL JACKSON-LONG
CANVASS: We are in the middle of our noncanvass. As of the middle of March, we have 39
pledge cards in for a total of $43,328.64 (which
would be $64,992.96) on a 12-month basis). If you
haven’t received a pledge card yet, please contact
Pat White. If you haven’t turned in your pledge card
yet, please do so ASAP. We’d like to finish by April
10. On the basis that the congregation will agree to
change the fiscal year to coincide with the calendar
year, we are asking you to continue your pledge for
Keith Thompson will join with Mike Priester as
the newest members to participate in the
induction service for the UUCEP for 2006 with
Rev. Dr. Judith Walker-Riggs. Cora I Jensen will
become the third new member to be inducted at
this time.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: THURSDAY, APRIL19
Please give hard copy items to Ginger to be typed and
sent to the editors, or email submissions directly (include
all three email addresses):
rmwitzky@utep.edu
akmiller76@yahoo.com
uucep@uuelpaso.org
MOVING? NEW PHONE OR E-MAIL?
Any time you move, change your phone number or your
email address, please let Ginger (our office administrator)
know so she can update our church records. Just send her
an email with the information at uucep@uuelpaso.org.
RAY ASHWORTH MEMORIAL TRUST
Applications for grants from the Trust are now being
accepted through April 30, 2007. Please submit in writing,
and place in Trust mail slot at lower right on large desk, or
give to Ginger. For camperships, please apply to Camp
Thunderbird Board.
CHOIR PRACTICE
Choir practice is held Tuesdays at 7 pm in the
Fellowship Hall – new members welcome! Call Stanley
Ross, 845-5847.
CAMP THUNDERBIRD
Our annual family camp will be held
Tuesday, July 3 – Sunday, July 8 this year.
Have you saved the dates and remembered to get your
leave requests in early so that you can join us for a
wonderful time in the cool Gila Mountains? If you
enjoyed camp last year, it will be even better this year.
Brochures will be out soon and will contain a financial
aid form for financial assistance in the form of jobs or
camperships. If you don’t get one in the mail, we have
more at UUCEP. The fee is only $32 a day or $160 for
the entire camp (half-price for children). Can’t come for
the whole time? That’s okay. You can still come for part
of the time at the daily rate. Cabins are available or you
can bring your own gear. Remember, the fee is the
same whether you stay in a cabin or bring your own
gear. Contact Carol Veit, Pat White, Joe Knapka, or
Alex Ceely for more information.
VISION, MISSION, AND COVENANT PROGRAM
Do you want a say in where the UUCEP is going, how we are
going to get there, and how we treat each other along the
way? Do you want a say in defining what is important to
UUCEP? Do you think CYRE is important? Social Justice?
Great sermons on Sunday? Then, please come and
participate in the UUCEP Vision, Mission, and Covenant.
The Vision, Mission, and Covenant task force is leading small
group programs to help us define where we are going, how we
are going to get there, and how we treat each other along the
way. The Covenant programs will be held on the 2nd and 4th
Friday of April. Your participation in one program is kindly
requested. Please contact one of the facilitators listed below to
let them know you will attend.
2nd Friday
April 13, 2007
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
4th Friday
April 27, 2007
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Janet Kincaid – home
Ann Singer – home
Joe Knapka – UUCEP
John Padalino – home
Byron Chesbro – home
John Pearson – UUCEP
UUCEP sessions will meet in the Fellowship Hall,
and childcare will be provided.
MEN’S GROUP
The Brother Spirit Men’s Group meets at UUCEP on the third
Sunday of every month at 6:30 pm to drink beer, eat pizza and
discuss topics ranging from “What is Truth?” to why the Lone
Ranger is our hero. If you need more information please call
John Pearson at 838-3816. We hope you can join us.
NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION CIRCLE OF LIFE
If you want to explore the different ways of communicating with
an interesting, supportive group of people the NVC Circle of
Life has brown bag lunch discussions on the 2nd & 4th Sundays
of every month at 12 noon. If you want to know more please
talk to Janet Kincaid, Anne Herman, Kimmy Cleven or John
Pearson after services, or call John at 838-3816.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
BUDDHIST FELLOWSHIP
(AKA BORDER ZEN CENTER)
Meets: Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:30 pm (Sanctuary)
El Paso’s only Zen practice group welcomes newcomers for
meditation, readings, tea and discussion.
Synthesis of Workshop Conducted at UUCEP in December 2006
by Rev. Dr. Judith Walker-Riggs
Things We Want the Minister To Do
Think – and reflect thought in sermons (19)
Be a caring person (17)
Provide a bridge between our members, bringing unity (11)
Be active in local social justice (9)
Encourage the growth of the Community (9)
Be participatory and sociable (8)
Present UUism to the El Paso community (8)
Be half-time/part-time (5)
Respect us (4)
Inspire us (4)
Encourage all spiritual paths (4)
Perform ministerial work with members (4)
Conduct rites of passage (4)
Be a positive role model for the kids (3)
Be bilingual (2)
Be appreciative of the uniqueness of our border culture (1)
Things We Don’t Want the Minister to Do/Be
Be authoritarian/dictatorial (13)
Focus too much on one path/doctrine (7)
Push us into too many projects for our energy (4)
Be a politician/take sides (3)
Support cliques (3)
Overly spiritual services (3)
Be complacent/disengaged (2)
Child-Youth Religious Education Program 2006-2007
Mark Your
Calendar
for Monthly
Events…
April 1st:
RE Students
will be putting
together Easter
Baskets for the
elderly and
children. If you
wish to.donate
any items,
please leave
them in the
large tub
located in the
RE Room at the
Community.
April 7th:
Delivery of the
Easter baskets
to the Horizon
Health Care
Center and
Annunciation
House-- We will
depart from the
Community at
10:00 am.
April 8th:
Easter egg hunt
for the
elementary
students and
toddlers- bring
Easter baskets
or containers to
hold goodies!
April 14th:
CYRE Meeting
at the Crane
House is
scheduled for
12 noon.
Anyone
interested in
teaching or
working with
the youth, is
cordially invited
to attend!
CYRE Sunday Class Schedule:
April 1st: 10:30 am: CYRE
classes will put together
50 Easter Baskets for
children and the elderly.
Lower Elementary RE:
Teacher: Janet Kincaid
Upper Elementary RE:
Teacher: Pat White
Teen RE: Teachers: Carrie
Vine/Sara Chesbro
April 15th: 10:30 am: “The
Balanced, Brick, & Jellyfish
families. How does your
family stack up?
Lower Elem. RE: Teacher:
Janet Kincaid
Upper Elem. RE: Teacher: Pat
White
Teen RE: Teacher: Violet
Gilson
April 8th: 10:30 am:
Teens will hide Easter
April 22nd: 10:30 am: “Is
Eggs while the elementary there a bully in your
students participate in a family? What are the
characteristics he/she
“Colors of Spring”
exhibits at home? Is there
children’s chapel.
a difference in behavior
Toddlers will have their
when he/she is outside the
hunt in the backyard.
family unit?
Older children will be
Lower Elem. RE: Teacher:
supervised in the front.
Lower Elementary RE: Teacher:
Janet Kincaid/Sara Chesbro
Upper Elem. RE: Teacher: Alex
Ceely
Janet Kincaid
Upper Elem. RE: Teacher: Alex
Ceely
Teen RE: Teachers: Nick
Emerick/Carrie Vine
April 29th: 10:30 am: “What
tools and strategies can be
implemented by the family
when dealing with a bully at
home?”
Lower Elem. RE: Teacher: Janet
Kincaid
Upper Elem. RE: Teacher: Alex Ceely
Teen RE: Teacher: Violet Gilson
Cowardice asks the question: is it
safe?
Expediency asks the question: is
it politic?
Vanity asks the question: is it
popular?
But conscience asks the question:
is it right? And there comes a
time when one must take a
position that is neither safe, nor
politic, nor popular—but one must
take it because it’s right.
Martin Luther King Jr.
*Worth reading once more!
Teen RE: Nick Emerick
CYRE AT A GLANCE
Easter Basket
Deliveries:
On Saturday, April 7th,
the CYRE youth and
teens will once again
deliver 50 Easter
Baskets to the Elderly at
Horizon Health Care on
Mesa and to the families
staying at Casa Vides/
Annunciation House!
We will depart from the
Community at 10:00am
and play “Bunny Bingo”
with the residents at the
center. Winners will
receive an Easter basket
as a prize. Of course,
everyone is a winner.
Children team up with a
partner and get to play
as well. Then it will be
off to Casa Vides/
Annunciation House.
After all deliveries are
completed, we will then
hop over to Baskin
Robbins for a tasty
treat! If you are
interested in driving or
participating in our
Easter Vigil, please
contact Janet. The
CYRE philosophy is
always, “the more the
merrier!”
Easter Egg Hunt:
Just a reminder that we
will have an egg hunt
for the children on
Easter Sunday! Don’t
forget to bring a
container or basket for
your child to place
his/her eggs in. Four
golden eggs will contain
special coupons that
may be exchanged for
cool prizes. Of course,
“cascarones” and
candy filled eggs will
also be a part of this
traditional event. Come
join us after the service!
Anti-Oppression CON:
1st Universalist in Denver
will host The Antioppression Con on April
27th-29th. The Con begins
Friday evening at 9:00 pm
and concludes on Sunday
by 8:30am. If enough
teens are willing to
participate, Janet and
another adult will drive
and supervise. Deadline
for registration is April
14th! Checks for $35 may
be made out to MDD.
Summer Program:
Anyone interested in
participating in the CYRE
Summer Program is
encouraged to contact
Janet Kincaid. Summer is
all about having fun!!
Come share your hobby
or special talent with the
children or teens. Check
your May newsletter for
more information!