MUUF for October 2014 LETTER Newsletter from Midcoast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

MUUFLETTER for October 2014
Newsletter from Midcoast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
services every Sunday at 10:30 am, Porter Auditorium, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta
SUNDAY SERVICES SCHEDULE
October 5: Circle Conversation
David Bailey and John Adams will lead
congregational reflection and conversation
about the working conditions of restaurant and
food workers, and how labor is a key ingredient
of authentic sustainability. This topic is inspired
by Behind The Kitchen Door by Saru
Jayaraman, a UUA “Common Reads” book.
Some members and friends have had an
opportunity to read this book during the past
month. Copies will still be available for loan
after the service.
October 12: Rev. Erika Hewitt
Hmmm: no title or description for this service.
Why not? Read Erika’s column for an
explanation.
NB: This is Pumkinfest Weekend and
Damariscotta may be very crowded on Sunday
morning. Parking will be at a premium and
some streets closed. Please plan accordingly.
Offsite parking and shuttles may be available a special email will be sent on how to access
our worship space.
October 19: “The Fear of Enlightenment”
Keith Davie, UU lay speaker, will describe his
experience of witnessing the fear that we
humans often display when faced with
someone operating at a more aware,
enlightened level than we ourselves currently
inhabit. Keith is a member of the Rockland UU
church. His past careers include father to two
daughters, airline pilot, sheep dairyman, taxi
driver, massage therapist and handyman,
among others.
October 26: Rev. Erika Hewitt
Join Erika and your chosen community at the
Fellowship, regardless of topic or sermon title.
Why no title? Please read Erika’s column.
November 2: Mimi Moore, beloved longtime
member of the Fellowship, will offer her
reflections on being in the autumn of her life.
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From our Minister:
In my work journal, I keep a running list of the
many sermons/services that I’m
planning for our year together.
It’s a fun, juicy list: atheism (or
why “Do you believe in God?” is
the wrong question); the ethical
and relational issues of power;
what it means, in spiritual terms,
to be “broken,” “healing,” or “whole”;; and even
an exploration of the evolving notions of
gender.
Why, then, am I choosing not to name them in
advance (for now)? Why would I decline (for
now) to name these topics here in our
newsletter and on our website?
For two reasons.
First, publicized sermon descriptions feel
increasingly constraining to me: either I have to
stick with what I’ve promised, or I detour by
responding to current events (or the nudge of
Spirit) — and you arrive to hear something
different than you’d expected. Not publicizing a
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topic provides more freedom and flexibility
during the creative process, honoring sermons
as living things that initiate or continue an
ongoing congregational conversation.
The other reason that I’m taking this risk —
that is, hoping you’ll join me in worship even
when you don’t know what the topic is — is to
highlight worship as a relational, communal
event.
When I choose which movie to see, I’m
deciding how I want to be entertained: Do I
want to laugh? or read subtitles? or learn about
a past event from history? And then I sit back
and let the film entertain me: ME, the
consumer, the critic, the entertainee.
Worship, for me, is a different critter: it’s a
chance to experience being together as we
are, however imperfect or needy or curious or
joyful, and knowing that it’s enough. We listen
to joys and sorrows, hear our voices singing in
unison (or harmony!), find stillness and breathe
together, and invite Spirit to show up to join us.
We move between receiving (news, inspiration,
reflection) and giving (hugs, smiles, support,
dialogue). Worship isn’t about any given
topic: it’s who we are, and what happens,
when we gather together.
As my colleague Vicki Weinstein says, “Come
no matter what the topic is, because your
church needs you and you need your church,
and it doesn’t matter what the preacher’s going
to say!” (Although, Erika hastens to add, this
preacher hopes to keep saying things that fill
your well and give you fresh strength for the
week ahead.)
Faithfully,
Rev. Erika
President’s Corner:
Welcome to autumn, a
time of change,
especially in this part of
the world; the weather,
the foliage, the tourist
traffic. The days grow shorter as do the
operating hours of some local businesses after
their last hurrah of Columbus Day weekend.
Many seasonal residents leave us this time of
year, including some of our dear MUUF
members like Andrew Twaddle and Sarah
Wolcott, on their way back to their winter home
in Missouri, and the Linkers, off to Florida.
At the same time we have members and
friends who join us once again when things
quiet down after the busy summer months full
of guests and travel. This ebb and flow is part
of the experience of living in the heart of
Vacationland. We welcome and hold dear all
who join us and make us part of their lives, and
vice versa, whether away from us one Sunday,
a few weeks, or a few months.
We welcomed autumn and recognized the
equinox at the Sunday service on September
21. At that same service we held a ceremony
affirming Rev. Erika Hewitt as she begins her
second year as our part-time minister. The
Board of Trustees and three members of the
winder Fellowship took part leading this
ceremony, and as a gesture in response, Rev.
Erika presented the Fellowship with two
beautiful and colorful quilted offering baskets,
which I am sure will be a source of joy every
time we pass them around to serve their
purpose.
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After that Sunday service, the Board of
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Trustees hosted its monthly meeting where
members of the Fellowship have a chance
meet and talk with the Board topics important
to the Fellowship. Sunday’s topic was the financial status of the Fellowship. This topic
was timely, in anticipation of our Annual
Meeting in November when we present the
budget for the coming fiscal year. Our
Treasurer, Robert Lightfoot, presented financial
reports showing where we stand currently in
relation to our projected budget. Several
members attended to stay informed about the
business of the Fellowship, and to ask
questions and brainstorm as we consider goals
and challenges ahead.
In the next month or so we will begin to solicit
pledges for the coming fiscal year. Your
pledges are important for budget planning, so
once you receive your pledge forms, we urge a
timely response (before the Annual Meeting),
as well as an effort to contribute as you are
able to help maintain the financial health of the
Fellowship. Your generous contributions have
enabled us to grow and change in recent
years, especially in the ability to hire a half-time
minister.
As we gather in for the colder months, let us
reaffirm our faith and commitment in each
other and the Fellowship. Continue to give as
you are able, in presence, friendship, spirit,
and any various means of support that make
us thrive. Whether near or far, you always have
a home here, and each one of us is a host.
In peace,
John
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Meetings with the Minister:
Articulating Our UU Beliefs & Questions
Rev. Erika invites you to join her on
alternating Thursdays in October and
November (3:30 to 5:00 p.m.) for
conversations about UU identity. Each meeting
will center around activities and conversation
topics taken from the wonderful UUA
curriculum “Articulating Your UU Faith,” by the
Revs. Barbara Wells and Jaco ten Hove: What
does it mean to you to be a Unitarian
Universalist? Sometimes we feel reluctant to
talk about our beliefs, or uncertain how to do
so. How do you feel when you describe UU’ism
to others? What does it mean to articulate your
Unitarian Universalist beliefs?
Join Erika in the upstairs Carpenter Room of
Skidompha Library from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. for
ANY or ALL of the following four sessions:
Thurs., Oct. 9th: What, if any, longstanding
religious beliefs do you have? We’ll share our
credo statements as well as our “credo
journeys” — the ways our beliefs have
changed over the years.
Thurs., Oct. 23rd: How do we talk about
Unitarian Universalism? You’d be surprised
how many angles there are for describing our
religious tradition. Together, we’ll explore new
ways to articulate our beliefs as well as our
questions.
Thurs., Nov. 6th: Need a refresher on history?
We’ll take a quick look back at our Unitarian
and Universalist histories, and provide practical
experience for effectively answering questions
about our faith.
Thurs., Nov. 20th: To wrap up our 4-part
program, we engage in fun collaboration,
discussion, and practice of individual “elevator
speeches.”
Are you new to Unitarian Universalism? This is
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for you. Have you been a UU for years and
years? This is for you, too! All are welcome; we
learn the most when we learn together. Feel
free to call Erika with questions: 650-5757.
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Treasurer’s Report
Through the end of September, the
Fellowship’s total income amounts to about $36,600, which is about $2300 more than
budgeted. Prepaid pledges amount to about
$1900, so excluding these, our income is $400
over budget. This is due to the matching
challenge at the beginning of the year, which
accounts for $2900 of additional income.
Compared to last year, our total income for this
nine-month period is about $1200 higher.
Income from the Blueberry Festival totaled
$3544, and expenses were $1273, yielding a
net profit of $2271. Our budget for the Festival
anticipated a net profit of $4000.
As we approach our annual canvas for the
coming year, it may be interesting to see the
range of pledges the Fellowship receives and
how that range is distributed. For 2014, 20% of
the annual pledges fell in the range from $60 to
$300. The next 20% ranged from $350 to
$500. Another 20% ranged from $500 to $800.
The next 20% fell between $900 and $1200,
and the top quintile ranged from $1320 to
$3000. The midpoint was $600. As we strive to
meet our budgetary demands, please consider
moving up this ladder of giving.
Hospitality Schedule
Refreshments/Greeters
Oct. 5 - Ann Foskett (Blue Pod)
Oct.12 - Nancy Holmes (Red Pod)
Oct. 19 - Jennifer Ober (Purple Pod)
Oct. 26 - Sandra Barth (Indigo Pod)
Nov. 2 - Kate Pennington (Green Pod)
Several of the Pods were left very shorthanded this summer. It is critical that if you
know you will not be able to be at the
Fellowship on the day your Pod is "on duty"
that you make arrangements to switch with
someone else who can be there.
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November Newsletter
Send items to David Bailey at
dasyl@roadrunner.com by October 20th
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Annual Labor Day Weekend Service and Picnic
(this year again at Ann Foskett's lovely home
& garden)
Nancy Slobodnik as
under Ann's covered porch
Frances Perkins
Recent charitable contributions from our thirdSunday plate collections include Ecumenical
Working Group on Homelessness ($99), Great
Salt Bay School’s Miles of Friends program ($121), and CHIP, Inc. ($197).
Bob Lightfoot
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Under umbrella