nUUz Sunday Morning Services 5310 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Transcription
nUUz Sunday Morning Services 5310 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne nUUz Issue 11 ~ Volume 75 November 2014 5310 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46807 Contact information Minister: Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly revshelly@uufortwayne.org Minister Emerita: Rev. Dr. Laurie E. Proctor Congregational Administrator: Kirsten Eckert-Smith Office hours: Sun.-Thurs. 9 AM to 1 PM administrator@uufortwayne.org (260) 744-1867 (office) Director of Religious Education: Mary Lybarger dre.mary@uufortwayne.org Youth RE Committee Chair: Evan Davis Director of Music: Suellen R. Kipp music.suellen@uufortwayne.org 2014 President: Colleen Carpenter president@uufortwayne.org This Congregation is dedicated to the progressive transformation and ennoblement of individual and social life through religion, in accordance with the advancing knowledge and growing vision of humankind. Bound by this common purpose, and committed to the freedom of belief, we hold in unity a diversity of convictions. ~~ Source: UUCFW Bylaws ~~ Sunday Morning Services Sunday, November 2 11 AM: Celebrate Samhain! Join in our Multigenerational worship service to celebrate the festival of Samhain. Samhain (pronounced saah-win) observes the sacred time of Summer’s end, the harvest, and honoring the dead. We will parade about in our costumes and create altars of the harvest and to honor our dead. Please bring a photograph or small token to remember a beloved living being that has died to share as we create our altar. All are welcome to come in costume, even Rev. Shelly will be dressed differently! Following worship, join in fun and fellowship in the social hall! Sunday, November 9 11 AM: Rev. Shelly will lead worship and her sermon will be Seeking Room for Peace. The sermon is based on Howard Thurman’s reading “I Seek Room for Peace” and honors our veterans. Plan to stay for our Annual Congregational Election Meeting and a fundraising soup lunch from the Worship Committee. Sunday, November 16 11 AM: John Moore on See No Evil, Hear No Evil Israel’s Dilemma, Our Dilemma. As a denomination, we Unitarian Universalist are notoriously quick to render moral and ethical judgments on almost any topic one might care to choose, whether it be birth control, voter registration, human rights, greenhouse gas control, or questions of war and peace. Yet our denominational leadership is curiously silent on the matter of the Israeli-Arab conflict and its central underlying Palestinian component. Why is that and what does it matter to us here in Fort Wayne? Sunday, November 23 11 AM: GA 2014. Rev. Shelly will lead worship. Our time for all ages will include communion in celebration of Thanksgiving. Following worship join the Mission & Vision Café Conversations in the Social Hall (see page 11 for more details). Tuesday, November 25 7 PM: Interfaith Thanksgiving Service @ The Temple - please join us! Sunday, November 30 11 AM: Gratitude for Volunteerism. Hope Sheehan and several members of UUCFW will reflect on how volunteerism impacts their lives and their UU faith. Childcare hours for infants and toddlers are 10:45 through 12:15 Beloved Community Diverse Beliefs Shared Values Page 2 I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude. ~Brene Brown A Message from Our Minister Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly I recently attended Fulfilled Leadership, a Center for Congregation’s workshop led by one of my professors from Andover Newton Theological School, Kirk Byron Jones. Jones introduced me to the power of Howard Thurman and the practice of stillness, awareness, and playfulness. In addition, his course work invited the use of the creative lens and not simply the lengthy mid-term and final papers that I was most familiar during my seminary days. In this workshop, I was reminded of the teachings and practices of awareness and playfulness that he introduced in the classroom. I was reminded of the importance of caring for the reservoir of heart and mind with stillness, to “observe the comma” in the poetry of life. I needed this time of listening and conversation with one of my mentors more than I understood at the time. I joined him for lunch and we had a great time catching up. I shared with him our most recent multigenerational worship service that included “creative meditation” stations and how wonderful the sight from the pulpit after we returned to our chairs. There were adults and children wearing flower hats, bouquets of paper flowers, conversations that culminated in smiles and sharing of stories. I looked out to a sea of smiles. Ten minutes is all it took to move us into an awareness of playfulness that also connected us to each other in a way that stories, songs, and silence do not. His eyes and smile widened as I shared of our ministry here at UUCFW and the stillness and playfulness we invite into our gatherings. Often times, I believe fulfilled leadership is qualified by numbers: of books read, of members, of words in the sermon, of attendees in worship or religious education, of programs offered, of meetings attended. I realized I may be chasing extraordinary moments. Perhaps, I am not alone and you too are chasing extraordinary moments. So, I invite you to remember the awareness of the commas in the poetry of life. Recall what is nourishing to your reservoir of heart and mind. November invites us into an opportunity to be aware of the harvest, to take time to recognize and celebrate those among us who have contributed to the abundance of our community in ways that are sometimes less than extraordinary. November asks us to bear witness to the turning of the season, to pay attention and practice gratitude; for happiness is right in front of us, if we only take time to see it and give thanks for all that is our life. Thank you, Kirk Byron Jones, for the reminder to breathe, to receive God’s love and embrace, to experience and express gratitude for self and other, and to welcome this moment, not one of the past or the future, but this moment right here and right now. May you witness moments of happiness in the coming days. Blessings ~Rev. Misty-Dawn Diverse Beliefs Beloved Community Shared Values Page 3 November: Gratitude Sacred Text: Gratitude Unlocks by Melody Beattie Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly Office Hours Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Rev. Misty-Dawn’s office hours are: Reflection: To set an appointment, please email (revshelly@uufortwayne.org) or call (744-1867). What are you the most thankful for in your life right now? How has your gratitude changed you? How do you show your gratitude to others? Tuesday & Thursday: 10 AM to 2 PM and Wednesday: 5 to 8 PM. Practice: Take time each day to write down three things, moments, people for which you are grateful. Share one of these on the Gratitude bulletin board in the gallery this month. On the Worship Horizon December 7: Festival of Lights Multigenerational Worship December 14: Rev. Shelly will lead worship December 14, 7pm - Healing Vespers: This is a contemplative service with long periods of silence, joined with song and reflection on the isolation and grief that comes during this holiday season. December 21: Rev. Shelly will lead worship and our Ceremony of Dedication (below) December 24, 7pm: Candlelight Christmas Eve Service December 28: Worship Committee Sunday A Ceremony of Dedication is a ritual that honors a reverence for life. A UU Child Dedication ritual is a sign of our reverence for life, our welcome of a new person, and our hope for the future of the world. Some of you may have been dedicated in this UU congregation or in another one; some of you may not. It is not required in our faith that children be dedicated. It is a choice some families make as a sign of their UU faith. On Sunday December 21, we will offer this ritual of blessing to those in our congregation who are celebrating new life. A Ceremony of Dedication is appropriate when a new baby is born, when a child is adopted, and when a family decides to join a UU community and wishes to have its children welcomed through this ritual of dedication. This Ceremony of Dedication also offers a time for those youth, under the age of 18 years old, who have joined our congregation through active engagement, to be honored and welcomed. In the Ceremony of Dedication, the community expresses its hopes that every child receives love and affection, guidance and nurture, so that each child may grow into the fullness and promise of life. Members of the congregation and those gathered welcome the child, family, youth, in love into the human community, in the spirit of humanity’s oneness, and into the fellowship on life. Families in this ceremony covenant to accept the faith’s community’s support as they nurture their children to grow as people, who will be strong in spirit, secure in self, and outward in caring. If you are interested in being a part of this Ceremony of Dedication on Sunday, December 21, during the regular worship service, please contact Rev. Shelly at 260-744-1867 or revshelly@uufortwayne.org Diverse Beliefs Beloved Community Shared Values Page 4 Board of Trustees Meeting recap At the October 22nd Board of Trustees meeting the following occurred: Book review: Rev. Shelly led the Board in discussion of the book Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times by Peter L. Steinke during a carry-in dinner prior to the meeting. Nominating Committee presented its selections for 2015 positions: Nominating Committee: Susan Wenger, Ruth DeWitt and Patty Davis. Board positions: Lisa Johnson, Vice President; Terry Mihlbauer, Secretary; Danny Swim, Board of Trustees Alternate; Endowment Committee: Judy Wertenberger (second 1-year term) The Nominating Committee is in discussions with a member for the Treasurer position. Rachel McNett, representing the Finance Committee, presented the 2015 Budget. She noted that after significant cuts to the budget at two different Finance Committee meetings, which included Rev. Shelly and Congregational President Carpenter, a significant shortfall still exists. She put forth four strategies for cutting the budget, three of which were considered quite serious: staff cuts and closing during the summer. Feeling that these represented a step back for the congregation, the Board chose to pursue the fourth strategy—going back to members/friends for pledge increases before considering the other three strategies. The redesigned Scrip program was discussed, with Kira Downey expressing frustration with communication about the reemergence of Scrip. Kathi Weiss & Bev Brown discussed new proposals for the Scrip program which will be presented at the November 9th Congregational Election Meeting, along with recognition of Kira’s contributions to the Scrip program. Toni Kring noted there has been significant progress on designing the new website and the Task Force will be seeking proposals from website design firms. The website revamp should be done by our Annual Congregational Meeting in March. The Board voted on nominees for the Founders Award. The recipients will be announced at the November 9th Congregational Election meeting. Other news: Prior to the Board meeting, Greg Kroemer resigned from the Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees effective October 16, 2014. Kathryn Farnsworth is now a Board of Trustee-atlarge member, replacing Greg. Given that there are only two Board meetings for the rest of the year, the Alternate position will not be replaced. Sincerely, Colleen Carpenter – President, Toni Kring – Vice President, Bev Brown – Treasurer, Jim Reeder – Secretary, Kathryn Farnsworth, Danny Swim, and Kathi Weiss Diverse Beliefs Beloved Community Shared Values Page 5 Congregational Election Meeting Sunday, November 9, 2014 The Congregational Election Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne is Sunday, November 9, 2014 directly following the service. The agenda for the Congregational Election meeting shall include adoption of an annual budget and the election of Officers, Board of Trustees, an Endowment committee member, and Nominating Committee. Board of Trustee President: Toni Kring Board of Trustee Vice President: Lisa Johnson Board of Trustee Secretary: Terry Mihlbauer Board of Trustee Treasurer: Board of Trustee Member-at-large: Colleen Carpenter Board of Trustee Member-at-large: Jim Reeder Board of Trustee Member-at-large: Kathi Weiss Board of Trustee Alternate: Danny Swim Endowment Committee member: Judy Wertenberger Nominating Committee member: Patty Davis Nominating Committee member: Ruth deWit Nominating Committee member: Susan Wenger The Board will appoint two other members prior to April 2015 to the Nominating Committee A quorum of 15% of all voting members is necessary in order to call the meeting to order, so please be sure to put this important meeting on your calendar. The Worship Committee will host a fundraising soup lunch; childcare will be provided. Diverse Beliefs Beloved Community Shared Values Page 6 Nurturing Our UU Future Beyond Crayons and Coloring Books: Welcoming All Ages into Worship This past Sunday, October 19, the attendance of youth ages 3-17 was 27-- 15 of which were ages 3-10. It has been really exciting to see the program grow over the last several months. Over the summer, Reverend Misty-Dawn Shelly asked me how Mary Lybarger, Director often and when we should offer multigenerational worship service. My answer was every first Sunday of the month—regularly, fairly often, and at easy-to-remember of Religious Education intervals. This is no small feat! As a parent of a pre-k child, I recognize the task at hand to keep our young ones interested and engaged during a full hour of a church service. The truth is that it can be a challenge sometimes to keep Jennifer (my daughter, age 4) from throwing a fit in the first 15 minutes before the kids are sung out to their Religious Education classes. Still, the experience of sharing worship as a family, and enjoying our Unitarian Universalist faith community as families, is so much fun and rightly extraordinary, that the challenge was graciously accepted by Rev. Shelly. It is this experiential understanding, combined with wisdom from my Director of Religious Education colleagues, which inspired the development of the Worship Activity Station. Have you noticed the small shelf outside the doors to the sanctuary? It has been a work-in-progress. I knew we had to do more than pass out crayons and coloring books. Problems with that were: 1) Not all kids want to color; 2) there was no hard surface to color on; 3) I want worship activities for all ages (1-110) and learning styles; and 4) Worship activities should be related to our Unitarian Universalist faith. So, now, on the Worship Activity shelves you will find several coloring and activity pages, such as connect-the-dots chalice, decorate the minister’s stole, and mandalas. The bottom shelf has packs of crayons and a stack of trays for a hard surface. There are also pipe cleaners for hands that need to move, as well as chalice finger labyrinths. During multigenerational worship, we’ll also bring down some of the ‘works’ from the Spirit Play room. In addition to providing worship activities to help all ages and learning styles be in worship, it is also important for us all to know what it might look like to have children and youth in worship with us. All children (ALL PEOPLE!) are unique and we are committed to being inclusive and welcoming to all ages— with differing cognitive, emotional, and physical abilities. Ages 0-3 may cry, giggle, whimper, nap, laugh, fuss, chitter-chatter, squeal, or play with small toys. They may nurse, have a bottle, or a sippy cup. They may stay in the sanctuary with their parents or be held or “bounced” as long as they are comfortable and content, but they may also leave midway through if they need to move around more, be loud, or play more robustly. Ages 4-7 may laugh, clap, and sing along with their favorite hymns, ask questions of their parents about what is going on, and begin to recite chalice lighting words and other familiar parts of service. They may read, play on an electronic device, or engage with worship activities during parts of service that require sustained periods of sitting still and listening. They may talk a little loudly or wiggle a little in their seats as they learn how to share sacred space in a community. They benefit greatly from gentle, kind reminders, graciously given distractions, and smiles and encouraging words when they participate with others in joyful and helpful ways. Sometimes children this age will also need to leave midway if they need to move around more, be loud, or play more robustly. Youth ages 8-11 might sing, clap, recite words, contribute to names shared in joys and sorrows, follow along in order of worship, and contribute readings or other worship elements. They might sit with parents or with friends. They may read, play on electronic devices, or use worship activities to help them Diverse Beliefs Beloved Community Shared Values Page 7 focus and remain quietly with their families during parts of service that are a bit “over their heads.” This age often wants very much to be included and valued, and may seek out ways to contribute to and be part of the church community. They are still learning how to adapt to the culture of church, so may still be a bit loud or wiggly. Doubtless their parents are giving them quiet, kind reminders, and we can support them on the journey becoming people of faith by offering our patience and acceptance. Pre-teens and teens ages 12-17 may sit together as a group, talking quietly with one another, or sit with families. They can contribute to service in almost all the ways that adults can: greeting, reading, singing, lighting the chalice, ushering, offering stories during the Time for All Ages, etc. This age may occasionally get carried away and act a bit boisterously. A good way to handle this would be to respectfully communicate it as a concern to the DRE or RE committee chair, so that they may address it with the preteens and teens later. This age likely has well-informed and examined ideas about what it means to be UUs, and may appreciate being included in social hour conversations about meaningful topics or asked to help with or contribute to the vibrant life of the Fellowship. Check with parents, youth advisors, or RE leadership if you’d like some support with this. In the coming months I have enrolled in two faith development webinars from the UUA that will support my professional development as your DRE and help me to help you all continue to offer new and improved ways to worship with all ages and abilities. The first is Body/Spirit Family Spiritual Practice on October 29: Exploring the whys and hows of encouraging spiritual practices for families at home or in your congregation. The second is Creative Inclusion: Living into Our Radical Welcome on November 13: What can we do to help our congregations become informed about and more comfortable with neurodiversity so that we can more fully live our philosophy of radical welcome? Then, on Tuesday, November 18, 7-9pm, join Rev. Shelly and me for an enrichment meeting about offering Time for All Ages and planning and participating in Multigenerational worship services. We are eager to share and learn together! Worship Enrichment Workshops Join Rev. Shelly, Mary Lybarger, our DRE, and members of the Worship Committee for two evening workshops that will help deepen your understanding of worship and our shared pulpit. These offerings are open to all youth and adults interested in collaborating and creating inspiring worship. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7-9pm: Time for All Ages & Multigenerational Worship with Mary Lybarger & Rev. Shelly. Register for this workshop with the office by Sunday Nov. 16th. Questions, speak with Mary or Rev. Shelly. Thursday, Dec. 4, 7-9pm: The Shared Pulpit: Creating lay-led worship services led by Rev. Shelly. Register for this workshop with the office by Sunday, Nov. 30. Diverse Beliefs Beloved Community Shared Values Page 8 Mark your Calendars for This Important Collaboration (view a clip by clicking on the movie) UUCFW and the Temple Achduth Vesholom, in partnership, are presenting the film Two Who Dared: The Sharp’s War on Sunday, April 19, 2015, 2-5pm at the downtown Allen County Public Library Theatre, in conjunction with Yom Hashoah. For their work in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and Vichy France, the Unitarian minister, Waitstill Sharp, and his wife, Martha, were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem - the highest recognition accorded by the state of Israel to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during World War II. They are two of only three Americans to be so honored. This film that recounts their heroic story is in the process of being remade into a PBS event. Proceeds from our showing of the film will contribute to that production and move it closer to being aired on PBS stations. Two Who Dared will be shown at the downtown library theater between 2 and 5pm on Sunday, April 19, and will include a reception and a talk-back panel. Peter Braunfeld, Holocaust survivor from Champaign, IL, will participate in the talk-back. He will also be the featured speaker for Yom Hashoah for the Temple on April 20. There will also be an art competition/show for middle and high school students held during weeks prior to Yom Hashoah. The art show theme is Mourning the Holocaust and Genocide: Past and Present, and will hang in the Wunderkammer gallery from March 21-April 20. Susan Wenger and Judy Wertenberger have been working with the Temple to publicize and organize the art show. We will be looking for volunteers for this event, but most of all, we’ll be looking for participants. This is a wonderful opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the long history of compassion and collaboration between UUs and the Jewish community. We will offer a 90 minute workshop on the topic on Sunday, April 12 ,after morning worship. So, mark your calendars for the workshop and the film. Beloved Community Diverse Beliefs Shared Values Page 9 The Finance Committee has been diligently working on the 2015 budget. There are some final things to look at and it will then go to the Board of Trustees for review. Once the Board approves the budget, it will then be presented to the Congregation at the November 9th Congregational Meeting. In terms of September results, our year-to-date income continues to exceed the year-to-date budget amount by about $13,000. While this is very good, we have to remember that there are still 3 months left in the year that we need to get through. On the expense side, we are currently running about $10,000 in year-to-date expenses vs. year-to-date budgeted. This is due, in part, to charges for travel, lodging, etc. for GA, as well as the repair to 2 windows in the area outside both the Admin Suite and Choir Room. And, don’t forget (as much as we’d like to) the overabundance of snowfall last winter that resulted in higher than anticipated costs for snow removal. Generally speaking we are on good standing for this time of the year; however, the gap between income and expense, while still positive, is closer than in prior months. We will need to be very diligent in monitoring both income and expenses. In doing so, and if the last quarter of the year equals or exceeds the same time period last year, we should end up the year on a positive note. Greg Kroemer Finance Chairperson Beverly Brown Treasurer Wheel of Life In Memoriam Scott Mertz, Greg Kroemer, and their family are grieving the death of their father, Bill Mertz Dee Koehl and her family are grieving the death of their mother, Irene Koehl Celebrating October Birthdays Greg Kroemer, Robyn Valdizón, Parker Angelos, Zac Thorn, Raj Chowdhury, Susan Wenger, Ruth Langhinrichs Celebrating October Anniversaries John & Hope Sheehan, Raj & Janette Chowdhury, and Jenna Gervasi & Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly. Of special note: Cynthia & Ed Powers celebrated their 55th year together in October. In Recognition Of Emily Schwartz Keirns and her Marathon of Good (marathon race date Nov. 8) Beloved Community Diverse Beliefs Shared Values Page 10 The Gatekeepers (view a clip by clicking on the movie) The Gatekeepers is an unprecedented look inside Israel’s Secret Service. For the first time ever, six former heads of the Secret Service, Shin Bet, share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions over the years. Charged with overseeing Israel’s war on terror, the head of Shin Bet is present at the crossroads of every major decision made by the Israeli government. The Gatekeepers offers an exclusive account of the sum of their successes and failures. It validates the reasons that each man individually and the six as a group came to reconsider their positions and advocate a conciliatory approach toward their enemies based on a two-state solution. The Gatekeepers was a 2012 nominee for an Academy Award for Best Documentary film and earned numerous other documentary. November Social Action Third Sunday Collection Ghana Sewing School Project Attendance & Giving Records Our certified membership as of 02/01/14 is 123 Our current membership, as of 07/20/14, is 125 October’s average weekly attendance: 60.5 Our October Third Sunday Collection benefited The Carriage House. Half of the loose cash totaled $89.13. Thank you for your continuing support of our Third Sunday Collections! Wellspring Food Pantry Needs The latest needs from the Wellspring Food Pantry include: chili without beans kidney beans canned hash canned green beans canned corn dry milk oatmeal cereal canned fruit oil deodorant feminine products (tampons & sanitary napkins) Diverse Beliefs Beloved Community Shared Values Page 11 Mission-Vision Café Sign up for Mission-Vision Café Conversations We need YOU for the Mission/Vision Café Conversations! Three hours: Nov. 23, at the Meetinghouse. Shape our future. Signup online or on the sheet in the Gallery. Beverages with Board or, this time around, Dessert & Discussion (cheesecake!), Tuesday, Nov. 11, 7-9pm. Kathi Weiss and Kathryn Farnsworth are your hosts. Copyright: http://www.123rf.com/profile_abluecup Sisters Over Seventy (SOS) Thursday, November 13, 10:30 AM, here at the Meetinghouse Safe Space Workshops! At the beginning of our services we recognize that we are a “Welcoming Congregation” and that “we promote acceptance, inclusion, and equity to those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender”. To strengthen our commitment to our inclusivity and to build a common knowledge base, the Board invites all UUCFW members and friends to attend a free 1-hour Safe Space workshop in the next few months (the Board itself attended a 2-hour version of this workshop on Sept 14th). The workshop guides attendees through LGBTQ terminology, recent events, and developing affirming ally skills. The workshops will be held both at UUCFW and the Temple next door. Please plan on attending ONE of the four sessions at either congregation. Please sign up at this link or on the sign-up sheet in the gallery. Sunday, Nov. 16 - 9:30-10:30 a.m. @ UUCFW Tuesday, Dec. 2 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. @ The Temple Monday, Feb. 23 - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. @ UUCFW Sunday, March 1 - 1:00-2:00 p.m. @ The Temple Beloved Community Diverse Beliefs Shared Values Page 12 Gratitude for MidAmerica Region and Its Former Districts by Kathy Burek & Amy Taylor (Kathy Burek was President of Prairie Star District from July 1, 2010 to present. Amy Taylor was President of Heartland District from November 2010 to June 30, 2013. Both served on the Regional Transition Team and on the MidAmerica Board for the first year of the Region.) Kathy It is time for us to move on to other things, but we want to say THANK YOU for so many things. Thank you for your trust and your willingness to live into the unknown and to carry a vision forward of what can be done together. Thank you for your honesty, your truthful responses and your shared wisdom as we worked on regionalization. Amy We have had the privilege of working with, to quote a consultant, “very high functioning Boards”. We have known the joy of having the right talent, in the right place, at the right time and having these people unselfishly committed to the work of regionalization and continuing to run the Districts at the same time. Please continue to support and send people to Leadership School and provide leadership training for your youth and adult members. Volunteering for this faith is a gift given and for us has been an unexpected gift received. We have had the privilege of working with a courageous staff that supported us, no matter what we explored, no matter how it pushed their comfort levels, entertaining possibilities of creating something beyond any previous visions, creating together. We are officially no longer trustees on the MidAmerica Board but we feel confident that the current MA Board will vision things we couldn’t see and work with staff and you to create a region of interconnected UUs in covenant with each other, changing the world. We are powerful individually but even greater together. Assuming goodwill, working in cooperation, tackling hard questions, we have done things as Districts and as a Region that others thought impossible. Let’s live our vision: The MidAmerica Region: Building a New Era in Unitarian Universalism where UUs: Visibly live our faith Create connections Grow our membership Welcome all persons who share our UU values Beloved Community Diverse Beliefs Shared Values Are you interested in serving on a particular committee? If yes, contact the chair directly. Religious Education Committees Congregational Ministry Department Congregational Ministry Chair Ed Powers (ZzEdPowers@aol.com) Worship Committee Kira Downey (kleostage@frontier.com) Congregational Music Committee Dee Koehl (dkoehl@frontier.com) Hospitality Edith Helbert (Helbert.edith@gmail.com) and Beth Jamieson (imoxymoronic@gmail.com) Publicity Member Services Department Board Liaison Kathi Weiss Membership Committee Rachel McNett (ramcnett@gmail.com) Care Committee Visitation Coordinator Toni Kring (TKring47@aol.com) Cards & Calls Coordinators Patty Davis (pjduuhome@comcast.net) Cynthia Powers (ZzEdPowers@aol.com) Memorial Services Jacqueline Moore (Rashana1999@gmail.com) and Kathi Weiss (ahimsa48@comcast.net) Stewardship Department Board Liaison Bev Brown Adult RE Rebecca Reeder (reederr@frontier.com) Finance Committee Youth RE Evan Davis (airlords@comcast.net) Endowment & Planned Giving Judy Wertenberger (qjane11@aol.com) Building & Grounds Department Board Liaison Jim Reeder Building & Grounds Coordinator Edie Stoneking (edithstoneking@gmail.com) Memorial Garden John Moore (jtmoore20112@frontier.com) Social Action & Service Department Board Liaison Colleen Carpenter Social Action In need of a chair Langhinrichs Gallery Cathie Rowand (crowand@jg.net) Fun Romeos contact John Moore (jtmoore20112@frontier.com) Sisters in Good Company Cathie Rowand (crowand@jg.net) Sisters Over Seventy Ann McKenna Fundraising Betty Carroll (betty_casbeer_carroll@hotmail.com) & Kathryn Farnsworth (mkfarns@gmail.com) Annual Pledge Drive (for Fiscal Year 2015) Dennis Shipley (denishipley@froniter.com) Committee on Ministry Norm Newman (nnewman1@ivytech.edu) nUUz The Langhinrichs Gallery is featuring Unitarian Universalist Congregation 5310 Old Mill Road Fort Wayne, IN 46807-3017 Next nUUz article deadline: 11/20/2014 Love is the spirit of this church … Visit our website at: http://uufortwayne.org Follow us on Twitter @uufortwayne Gratitude Reflection, pg. 3 Board update, pg. 4 Annual Congregational Election notice, pg. 5 Two Who Dared, pg. 6 The Gatekeepers, pg. 10 Safe Space training, pg. 11 … and so much more! Works of Appleseed Art Quilt Bee