Welcome to the Transformation - Bull Run Unitarian Universalists

DECEMBER, 2010
CROSSROADS
Volume 29, Issue 4
e
Upcoming Services
Sunday at 10:00 A. M.
December 5th – “Entering the Mystery of the
Season,” Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd. The holiday season, including Hanukah and Advent, each
contain rituals and practices that point to the mysterious source of light in the darkness. How do our
holiday rituals lead us into a deeper connection
with the source of all live?
December 12th – “Who Is This Child?” Rev.
Nancy McDonald Ladd. The baby in the manger,
the infant Jesus, has been a source of reverence and
fascination for thousands of years. Who is this
child, exactly, in your life? What does he represent
to you and to our faith community?
PAGE 1
December, 2010
Welcome to the Transformation
An earlier version of this article story of BRUU. Our Mission Statement (in which the key word is
appeared in Broadcast.
“nurture”) is several years old, and a
Worship is our primary shared
majority of members were not here
spiritual experience, so your Worship
when it was written. A process is unCommittee has been focusing on makderway to rewrite it, but in the meaning the worship experience better.
time we should all think about our
Working closely with Rev. mission. The message of BRUU
Nancy, the committee has had two might be phrased this way: “There is
discussions of the book “Worship That an alternative to oppressive religion,
Works,” published by the UUA’s on the one hand, and secular isolation,
Skinner House. In the second discus- on the other, and it involves being part
sion, we teleconferenced with the of our fun community.” And the story
book’s authors, Rev. Wayne Arnason of BRUU is as a voice for liberal religand Rev. Kathleen Rolenz of West ion in the heart of Prince William
County.
Shore UU in Ohio.
December 19th – “Christmas Around the
World” – services at 9:30 and 11:30. This allmusic service will include the children’s, youth and
adult choirs sharing Christmas songs from different
For those of you who are “big
cultures. In an effort to make sure everyone can be
picture”
people, here’s the big picture.
seated, we will offer the service twice. You are
welcome to bring family and friends to enjoy a funThe purpose of worship is to open
filled morning that’s sure to put you into the holi- the door to grace, which creates sacred
day spirit.
transformation in community. The
December 24th – 7:00-8:00 PM Christmas Eve experience of grace is a force greater
Candlelight Service. This traditional evening ser- than ourselves which moves us to a
vice will offer a fun retelling of the Christmas place we couldn't create all alone.
story, classic caroling, and singing of Silent Night Excellence in worship lets the newto the littlest members of our congregation.
comers and the regulars alike relax
th
December 26 – “Between Transformation into the experience of grace.
and Stability: A Critic's Perspective”, Janette
For those to whom that sounds
and Star Muir. One of life's great challenges is too churchy or too abstract, think of it
maintaining a balance between the need for perthis way: Worship is the expression of
sonal transformation and growth and the necessity
our shared community. Every aspect,
of stability for sanity and comfort. This service
from our name tags to the seat cushexplores this tension through the works of literary
critic Kenneth Burke, and offers insight into the ions, says something about how we
continual interaction between permanence and welcome newcomers, comfort the brochange. As the last Sunday of 2010, this service ken-hearted, and speak to the lives of
will include its usual combination of merriment, members and friends. We have people
reflection and shedding of burdens you don't want struggling with challenges, families in
all stages of life, and a wide range of
to carry into 2011.
personalities.
January 2nd - “The Space Between the Stars,”
Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd. What do we yearn
Worship has several different
for, really, except significance and connection, in audiences, but to reach them all it has
spite of it all – including the vastness of the uni- to convey the mission, message, and
verse and our almost infinite smallness.
One of the key audiences for worship is visitors. Because our message
speaks to the lost, the lonely, and the
broken-hearted, we have a calling to
make our worship welcoming to them
every week. That welcome begins at
the front door (which should be open,
weather permitting) and continues
right through fellowship hour. The
responsibility of creating that welcome
falls on different people, but we all
have a piece of it.
Through the discussion with
Revs. Arnason and Rolenz, the Worship Committee identified three exploratory changes to undertake. Those
changes are:
1. A new emphasis on ushering,
with seats being kept available
for visitors and late-comers, so
everyone
feels
welcomed.
Greeters may ask people in the
pews to move over to create
room for visitors (especially in
the area where Nancy usually
stands for the spoken benedic(Continued on page 3)
PAGE 2
Seven Pounds of Corks!!
That’s how much you BRUUers have
brought in for the Green Sanctuary’s cork
recycling program. I’ve taken that first
batch to Whole Foods and they are now on
their way to a new life.
Some of you may be asking, “Why
should I bother to recycle corks?” Simply
because they are so easy to recycle. Not so
with plastic corks.
CROSSROADS
A January Workshop
As a part of our Adult RE program, Satya
Chase, Beth Hampton, and Larry Underwood
are bringing Scott Kiloby to BRUU for a three
-day spiritual retreat on Jan 14, 15, and 16,
2011. Scott is a world-renowned teacher of
“non-duality”—a fancy (and briefer!) way of
saying “an interdependent web of existence of
which we are all a part.”
Scott is a practicing attorney, recovering alcoholic,
musician, author, and
And cork trees are beneficial to the enworld-renowned lecturer.
vironment.
His teaching is down to
earth and practical. For
1. We have a growing amount of carbon
instance, he teaches that
in our atmosphere. Like all trees, cork
enlightenment—an extrees use carbon to grow. They also
panded sense of unity with
need that carbon to regenerate their
all things—is “not rebark. Most importantly, a harvested served for gurus or available only after years
tree absorbs up to five times more of practice or seeking. It is our birthright. It is
carbon dioxide than one that isn’t har- not a special state, experience, thought, or
vested, making it especially beneficial emotion that one has to find or maintain.”
to the well-being of the environment.
“The word enlightenment,” Scott points out,
“is merely a label pointing to the direct and
2. Cork forests are part of the world’s immediate recognition of timeless awareness.
Mediterranean climate regions, which This awareness holds the key to our true idencovers only 2.2 percent of Earth’s tity. It reveals that all boundaries are illusory
land surface, yet this habitat is home including the boundaries between people, reto 20 percent of all known plant spe- ligions, programs, paths, groups, and nations.“
cies. Only the tropical rainforests of Please join us for a lively, thoughtful discusthe western hemisphere and Southeast sion of these and related topics. To learn more
Asia have a greater density of plant about Scott Kiloby check out his web site and
species. Unfortunately, these two videos at www.kiloby.com.
habitats, Mediterranean and rainforest
are the two most threatened in the
“Paper Clips”
world.
Unity in the Community will be hosting
So, keep recycling those corks and REthe last of its Fall 2010 Human & Civil Rights
MEMBER -- please NO plastic corks.
Cinema on Tuesday, December 14, from 6:309:00 P.M. December's movie will be PAPER
~Diane Flaherty,
CLIPS,
a
documentary
that tells how
The BRUU Cork Manager
a Tennessee Middle School's student project about the Holocaust changed the lives of
the people in a town. The screening will take
place in the Verizon Auditorium of Occoquan
Building on the Prince William Campus
of George Mason University. The screening is
free and open to the public. Light refreshments are available before the film and a discussion takes place afterwards. Free parking
is available in the Occoquan Parking
Lot. (Get a free parking pass at the door of the
Verizon Auditorium.) A trailer for the film
may be viewed at http://www.imdb.com/
video/screenplay/vi2325414169/.
DECEMBER, 2010
BRUU 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.
Director of RE
Office Hours
Sunday 9 AM - 1 PM
Tuesday 10 AM - 4 PM
Wednesday, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
You can contact Chris McCann at
re@bruu.org
e
Minister’s Office Hours
(subject to change, so please call
ahead to make an appointment)
Tuesday 9:30 AM - 4:15 PM
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
DECEMBER, 2010
(Continued from page 1)
tion and in the back under the balcony). If you've been around for a
while, please be cognizant that when
newcomers come in and can't find a
seat, they walk back out again. At the
same time, people who need (for whatever reason) to sit on the end of the
pew can keep their spots.
2. Listing specific times in the Order of
Service to seat late-comers, so that the
service is not disrupted by people coming in inappropriately. Please honor
these out of love and respect for our
gathered community.
3. Welcoming visitors in a way that doesn't put them on the spot. Instead of
asking first time visitors to stand and
talk into a microphone, we will invite
them to raise their hands and then
we’ll invite people seated near them to
welcome them after the service. There
will also be a brief moment to greet the
newcomers before we move on with
the service.
The Worship Committee will be having
further discussions about various aspects of
worship, including our 9:15 First Light Service and our monthly Evensong services.
These will range from the broad to the very
specific, because when the aim is excellence
then every detail counts. The policies above,
as noted, are exploratory, and we welcome
feedback.
These policies are decisions
reached by the Committee after considering
input from a variety of sources. We own
these decisions, and if you have a reaction to
them, please directly contact any of the
Committee members: Martin Crim (chair),
Paul Chmielewski, Meg Findley, Katherine
Gotthardt, Kate Granville, Bert Miller, Star
Muir, Chris Pappas, and Sarah Wright.
~Submitted by Martin Crimm
Evensong
Please join us on December 3 at 7:30 PM
for a contemplative evensong service – “A
Light Shines in the Darkness.” Around the
world at this time of year when daylight
gives way to darkness, many holidays use
light as part of the celebration ritual. Through music, spoken words and
meditation, we will acknowledge the need
for light within ourselves and for the
world. As the holiday season gets under
way, this service will offer a chance for you
step back from the busyness and find stillness.
CROSSROADS
EMMA’S REVOLUTION
Performs at a Benefit Concert
for SERVE
Emma’s Revolution will be performing
at a Benefit Concert on Friday, December
10th 2010 at 7:30 PM, Bull Run Unitarian
Universalists, 9350 Main Street, Manassas,
VA 20110.
Tickets: $16/advance, $20/door, $10/ 1217 ages, children under 12 are free with a
paying adult. Tickets are available through
http://emmasrevolution.com/live/ or through
BRUU. More info: jmuir@gmu.edu.
This benefit concert will support
SERVE, a Manassas-based community organization that includes shelter, a food distribution center, transitional housing, emergency assistance and life skills education for
individuals and families in need. For more
information about SERVE, visit their website at http://nvfs.org.
PAGE 3
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, re@bruu.org
Director of Music
Annease Hastings, music@bruu.org
Office Assistant
Tina Cox, office@bruu.org
BRUU Administrative Board
President
Brian Pace, president@bruu.org
Vice President
Kelly Muzzin, vicepresident@bruu.org
ABOUT EMMA’S REVOLUTION
Smart, funny, informative -- like Rachel
Maddow and Jon Stewart with guitars.
Emma’s Revolution is the Mt. Rainier
Maryland based, award-winning, activist
musicians, Pat Humphries & Sandy O. With
hauntingly beautiful harmonies and powerful acoustic instrumentals that deliver the
energy and strength of their convictions,
Emma's Revolution writes songs that become traditions. “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” is
sung around the world and has been called
the anthem of the anti-war movement. “If I
Give Your Name” won Grand Prize in the
John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the
band's music has been featured on NPR's
“All Things Considered” and Pacifica's
“Democracy Now!” Their CD “roots, rock
& revolution” has been called “inspiring,
gutsy & rockin’!”
Secretary
Suzanne Gee (Gupta), secretary@bruu.org
PETE SEEGER on “roots, rock & revolution”: “This record is part of the worldwide revolution which will save this
planet…these songs you’ll find yourself
singing for the rest of your life.”
Membership Committee
Finance Director
Dorothy Greenhouse ,
financedirector@bruu.org
Social Justice/Worship Director
Larry Underwood,
socialjusticedirector@bruu.org
Facilities Director
Dave Feser, facilitiesdirector@bruu.org
Ministry Director
Richard Firth, ministrydirector@bruu.org
Treasurer
Paul Galvin, treasurer@bruu.org
Adult Religious
Education Coordinator
Susan Padgett, re@bruu.org
Joan Whoolery
membership@bruu.org
Fellowship Committee
Cathy Ring
fellowship@bruu.org
Un-elected volunteers
Newsletter Editors
Ellen PercyMiller & Tom Miller
newsletter@bruu.org
abcde
DECEMBER, 2010
CROSSROADS
PAGE 4
Toward Community and Sustainability
Is your neighborhood ready for
peak oil?
by Jackson Harper, PhD
Environmental Biology & Public Policy
Walking in the evenings with my wife,
O.G., and our hound dog Chiquita, in our
neighborhood my thoughts turn to how my
neighbors will fare in the aftermath of peak
oil which the International Energy Agency
just announced occurred in 2006. World
crude oil production has been on an undulating plateau for the past five years. The next
shoe to drop will be the beginning of the terminal decline in oil production. Many analysts have forecast that the decline will start
in the next 2 to 5 years. We could likely handle an oil production decline of 2% a year,
though it would be very difficult, but 4% a
year or higher would be catastrophic according to Dr. Robert L. Hirsch in his new book,
“The Impending World Energy Mess”.
Transportation could become a big problem for my neighbors as fuel prices rise and
rationing waits in the wings. There are no
buses for them and commuter rail is 9 miles
away. Will some residents move closer to
their work or buy hybrid or electric
cars? Cycling to grocery stores and services
6 to 7 miles distant is possible with electric
bikes if bike lanes were to be built. Fuel fees
would increase the costs of home services
such as trash removal, plumbing, heating and
cooling, electrical, home health, mail and
parcel delivery, and food delivery.
Food resilience for a few of my
neighbors is already evident in their vegetable
gardens which produce enough surplus tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, and peppers for
canning, freezing, and dehydrating for winter
use. One neighbor keeps chickens for fresh
eggs. Some neighbors have extensive lawns
which could easily be turned back into the
corn fields they once were two generations
ago. Existing ponds and the possibility of
others on the rolling terrain could produce
fish such as tilapia which is a low calorie, low
carbohydrate, and low saturated fat protein
source. Water is pumped from aquifers at
each home from depths of 140 to 800
feet. Emergency water could be carried from
nearby streams and lakes for boiling and
treatment before use.
Electricity could be generated from solar
panels on neighbor’s rooftops and from
ground mounts on the large lawns for alterna-
First Thursday Nature Tales
tive household power. Woodlots consisting
On December 2, the First Thursday Naof native hardwoods already supply firewood
ture
Tales program is going to the
for backup winter heating for some
birds.
Our speaker at 7:30 PM will be Harry
neighbors.
Glasgow, a seasoned local birder
Size up your neighborhood for the effects ("seasoned" means he used to go bird watchof peak oil which will change all of our ing with Methuselah...). Attracting wildlife
lives. If you and your neighbors live within to one’s home is, in principle, a fairly easy
walking or biking distance of your job, gro- task. In practice, however, it can get complicery stores, shopping, and public transit, cated, expensive, and frustrating. Harry has
count yourself fortunate. Growing some of set up backyard bird feeding programs all
your food in your yard or in a community over Northern Virginia, as well as served on
garden will increase your food security. A the Fairfax County Park Authority board and
three month emergency food and water sup- the Tree Commission. He will discuss how
ply which can be rotated with your regular to attract birds to our backyards, while dismeals provides extra insurance. Backup elec- couraging unwanted species of wildtrical power from solar panels and heating life. Come learn about various bird feeder
with wood or heat pumps will give you added types, seeds and other foods specific to bird
flexibility. Work with your neighbors to feeding, plantings to encourage birds, and
make your community more resilient to en- methods to make the most of this very enjoyable pastime. A "who has the smartest
ergy, economic, and environmental shocks.
squirrel" discussion is inevitable, so bring
In talking with my neighbors on our eve- your favorite tales. For more details, contact
ning walks, I know that some of them are Charlie at cgrymes@gmail.com
aware of the lifestyle changes coming and
that others are uninformed or physically unable to participate in the transition which will
Holiday Pot Luck Supper
bring us all closer together in our daily
lives. At this point no one knows how severe
On Sunday, Dec 19th there will be an intthe terminal oil decline will be or exactly
ergenerational dinner in the Fellowship Hall
when it will begin, but we do know that it’s
for three reasons. First to have a warm, fullon the way and that we can work together to
feeling welcome home for our BRUU choir
soften the consequences.
following their performance at the National
Christmas Tree on the White House lawn!
Second, to cap off a few hours of holiday
decorating activities including a tree and
decking the halls, walls, railings, and the
window sills. Lastly, to be together in fellowship because we make really good food
and love to be with each other (weren't you
at the Auction?!).
Decorating will begin at 4 PM and the
eating will commence when the choir bus
returns from DC. Assistants will be needed
for:
•
•
•
•
Food Coordinator
Supper Set Up & Clean Up
Kid Crafts & Activities
Creative Decorators (what can we do
with evergreens, gold orbs, and white
snowflakes and ribbons?)
Music Makers Contact Cathy Ring
(703.754.8191 or ring.cw@gmail.com) by
December 5th to participate.
DECEMBER, 2010
CROSSROADS
PAGE 5
Social Justice News
News from the Social Justice
Committee
The good news is old news now, but
BRUU made a great showing at the Woodbridge High School rally on November 15
when the Westboro purveyors of hate came
to town. Our “Standing On the Side of
Love” banner made the front page of the
local paper. We were part of a large and diverse crowd sending out, loud and clear, our
message of Love and Respect for our fellow
human beings, including those sad, hatefilled ones across the street. We all felt good
being there that morning and proud to be
UU’s.
Our field trip to SERVE was interesting
and worthwhile. It was good to see firsthand
what BRUU’s many fundraisers and Soup
lunches contribute to. SERVE is a thriving,
busy place, with plans to build an addition
for more emergency housing. The Food Pantry is huge, and a lovely Head Start facility
will open soon. The most important part for
me was that, other than a few paid staff, it is
entirely a volunteer operation. There are
countless opportunities to help SERVE,
from the Food Pantry, to driving clients to
doctors or job interviews, to cooking meals
on the weekends, to teaching much-needed
computer skills. If you have a few free hours
a week, call SERVE!
‘Emma’s Revolution” is coming to
BRUU on December 10, thanks to Janette
Muir, who says they give a fantastic concert.
The SJC is sponsoring this event and the
proceeds will go to SERVE. So, buy tickets
for the family and enjoy this great musical
evening at BRUU.
Kelly Maitland and the SJC are again
sponsoring the Un-Trim-A-Tree program
that sees that hundreds of needy children and
seniors will receive gifts at Christmas. Just
sign up at coffee hour, pick a card off the
tree, take your children along to buy a gift or
two, and know that you’ll bring smiles at
Christmas. We welcomed several new members to our committee in November and look
forward to more in December. Come join us,
as a member or a friend, and share your
ideas for Social Justice at BRUU. Our next
meeting is December 12, and all are welcome!
It was wonderful seeing Randy Earl at
BRUU after so many months away! We
miss you and our thoughts and prayers are
with you during your recovery.
Susan Sinclair
Acting Chair, Social Justice Committee
Split-the-Plate – 2nd Sundays
October Soup for SERVE
The October Soup for SERVE was another success! This month the donations for
the luncheon and Panera Bread added up to
$338. We also sold three bowls from Manassas Clay. All proceeds go to SERVE
which helps the homeless and disadvantaged
in our community. Many thanks to all for
nd
Our December 2 Sunday Split-the-Plate
your generous donations!
partner will be Capital Hospice. Established
in 1977 as one of the first hospice programs in
There were delicious non-vegan and
the United States, Capital Hospice, formerly vegan soups, biscuits, fresh salad and a
known as Hospice of Northern Virginia, is a wonderful variety of Panera breads to ennationally recognized leader in hospice care joy. This month our gracious soup makers
and the largest in the Washington metropoli- were: Brian Pace, Cathy Ring, Tanya Whittan area. Capital Hospice is a non-profit or- ner, Milton and Jesse Schwab, Denna
ganization that gladly serves 1,000 patients Brown, Sandy Feulner, Amanda Capps,
daily from all walks of life. And yes, it’s Jenna Cooper, Sarah Wright, and Gary
true… our doctors and clinicians still make Wood.
house calls. Our expert team comes to your
As always, a special “thank you” to the
home wherever that may be and provides you
kitchen staff: Star Muir, Jessie Thompson,
with pain and symptom management, emoLanie D’Alessandro, and to Jenna Cooper
tional and social support, and equally as imwho collected the money. Another very
portant spiritual support. We are always lookspecial “thank you” to Gary Wood, Ed
ing for compassionate, caring and dedicated
Davis, Richard Firth, and Joey D’Alessanvolunteers who can truly make a difference by
dro for their help with the set-up and takeproviding comfort in someone’s life. We also
offer a unique program designed for our His- down.
panic friends and neighbors that alleviates the
Special note: Due to the upcoming
language barriers to access care.
holidays, the next Soup for SERVE will be
held on Sunday, January 2, 2011. The next
If you have suggestions for future Split- BRUU Chili Cook-off will be held on Sunthe-Plate partners, please feel free to contact day, January 30, 2011.
me.
If any of you would like to join our
Respectfully submitted,
Soup
for SERVE group, please email me
Gladys Robinson
and
I’ll
add you to the list. Great things
Glad_Oma@yahoo.com
happen when we SERVE up Soup for
SERVE!
Thanks to the generosity of our congregation, Project Mend a House received $601
from our November 2nd Sunday Split-thePlate. I’m sure the organization will greatly
appreciate the contribution.
BRUU “Grateful Dogs” at our recent Thanksgiving Service.
Photo by Tom Miller
PAGE 6
DECEMBER, 2010
CROSSROADS
Volume 29, Issue 4
December, 2010
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 email inbox 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/
Thanksgiving Service
Photo by Tom Miller
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
December 19th is the deadline
for the January Newsletter!
Newsletter@bruu.org
l
We’re on the Web at
www.bruu.org
DECEMBER 2010
CROSSROADS
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December 2010
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12/1 Adult Choir, 7 PM, Music Room
12/2 UUP Beats Choir, 1 PM, Music
Room
12/2 Youth Choir, 6:30 PM, Music Room
12/2 MIME Rehearsal, 7 PM, Sanctuary
12/2 First Thursday Nature Tales, 7:30
PM, Hall
12/3 Evensong, 7:30 PM, Sanctuary
12/4 “Warm for the Holidays” fundraiser,
7 AM to 3 PM, Hall
12/4 Manassas Christmas Parade, 10
AM
12/5 First Light Service, 9:15 AM,
Chapel
12/5 Sunday Service, 10 AM, Sanctuary
12/5 Activity Room, 11:15 AM, Room
105
12/5 Children’s Choir, 11:30 PM, Music
Room
12/5 Membership Committee, 11:30 AM,
Room 305
12/5 “Weighty Issues”, 11:45 AM, Conference Room
12/5 CUUPS Service, Noon, Chapel
12/5 Woman’s Chalice Group, 4 PM,
Room 305
12/5 Youth Choir, 5 PM, Music Room
12/6 Young Adults Chalice Group, 7 PM,
Room 210
12/6 Great Religions Course, 7:30 PM,
Hall
12/7 Board Meeting, 6:30 PM, Room 210
12/7 BEACON ESOL, 7 PM, Rooms
208, 304, 305
12/8 Adult Choir, 7 PM, Music Room
12/9 MIME Rehearsal, 7 PM, Sanctuary
12/9 Building Use Committee, 7:30 PM,
Room 210
12/10 USDA Food Distribution, 11:30
AM, Room 208
12/10 Emma’s Revolution, 6 PM, Hall
12/11 Parent’s Night Out, 5 PM, Hall
12/12 Men’s Group, 8:30 AM, Library
12/12 First Light Service, 9:15 AM,
Chapel
12/12 Sunday Service, 10 AM, Sanctuary
12/12 Activity Room, 11:15 AM, Room
105
12/12 Social Justice, 11:30 AM, Room
208
12/12 Writer’s Group, 11:30 AM, Room
210
12/12 Youth Choir, 11:30 AM, Music
Room
12/12 RE Council, 11:30 AM, Room
304/306
12/13 Great Religions Course, 7:30 PM,
Hall
12/14 Food Pantry, 9:30 AM, Room 208
12/15 Adult Choir, 7 PM, Music Room
12/16 UUP Beats Choir, 1 PM, Music
Room
12/16 MIME Rehearsal, 7 PM, Sanctuary
12/19 Holiday Choir Service, 9:30 AM
and 11:30 AM, Sanctuary
12/19 Activity Room, 11:15 AM, Room
105
12/19 Worship Committee, 11:30 AM,
Library
12/19 Green Sanctuary Committee,
11:45 AM, Room 208
12/19 Dancing, Noon, Chapel
12/19 Woman’s Chalice Group, 4 PM,
Library
12/19 Honor and Welcome Home Holiday Potluck for the BRUU Choir, 4
PM, Hall
12/19 Crossroads Newsletter Deadline 6
PM
12/20 Great Religions Course, 7:30 PM,
Hall
12/23 MIME Rehearsal, 7 PM, Sanctuary
12/24 Christmas Eve Service, 7 PM,
Sanctuary
12/26 Men’s Group, 8:30 AM, Library
12/26 First Light Service, 9:15 AM,
Chapel
12/26 Sunday Service, 10 AM, Sanctuary
12/26 Soup and Salad for SERVE, 11
AM, Hall
12/26 Activity Room, 11:15 AM, Room
105
12/26 Writer’s Group, 11:30 AM, Conference Room
12/26 Drumming Circle, 11:45 AM,
Sanctuary
12/26 Hakuchis Native American/Inca
Spirituality Group, 1 PM, Room 105
12/27 Great Religions Course, 7:30 PM,
Hall
12/28 BRUU Book Group, 7:30 PM
12/30 MIME Rehearsal, 7 PM, Sanctuary
DECEMBER 2010
UUBRidge Charter Service
CROSSROADS
INSERT PAGE 2
Everyone should take heed – there is a
new UU Congregation in the area with the
energy and vibrancy which rivals… even that
On Sunday November 21, 2010, I had the of BRUU!
unique privilege & honor of attending the
~Dave Propst.
Charter Sunday Service of the newest UUA
We extinguish this flame, but not the light
Church, UU Blue Ridge Congregation, UUof truth, the warmth of community, the fire
BRidge, in Sperryville, Va.
of commitment. These we carry in our
http://www.uubridge.org
hearts until we meet again.”
Never having been to a Charter Service
-Elizabeth Selle Jones
before-I did not know what to expect, I was
profoundly struck with how everyone in attendance was filled with excitement. There
were nearly 60-70 congregants at this their
inaugural/official event.
There were representatives from the UU
Church of the Shenandoah Valley, Katie
Mack; the UU Congregation of Fairfax, Craig
Bennett, and yours truly from BRUU.
Also attending were; Bob Johnson, NewCongregation Organizer, JPD, Mr. Mark
Bernstein, Regional Growth Development
Consultant, UUA and finally the Rev. Dr.
Richard Speck, District Exec. JPD.
Thanks for letting us do the
BRUU Newsletter
It may not be a surprise to our regular
BRUU Newsletter readers but we have
been producing the BRUU newsletter
every month since July 2001. That
makes the copy you are now reading our
114th edition. We have enjoyed doing
this and always believed it was an important contribution to the BRUU community.
Unfortunately, our editorial duties will
soon come to an end as Tom has accepted a position abroad in England and
we will move there in mid-January.
Thanks for letting us capture in words
and photos the many special BRUU moments that have filled up so many newsletters.
~Ellen PercyMiller and Tom Miller
This new UUA congregation originally
began its austere life almost three years ago at
the Town Hall in Washington, Va. with about
30 very determined UU souls headed up by
one of the nicest individuals who welcomed
me graciously, Mr. Emery Lazar.
Their place of worship is in The Link Community Center in Sperryville (formerly the
Sperryville Emporium) a fitting location resting in the shadow of their namesake, The
Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Rev. Evan Keely, Consulting Minister,
UUBRidge, whom Dr. Speck described as
truly a UU evangelist, gave a truly resounding message; Our Ultimate Commitment.
Then Rev. Keely asked those who wished
to may “sign their membership book” at
which time I believe Mr. Emery Lazar was
the very first one to sign and rightly so. I
believe 44 souls became members today!
Upon the close of the service everyone
immediately swung into a business meeting
in order to vote upon their Board – which
once completed, a wonderful social hour (my
favorite) commenced.
The sunlight which streamed into the building this morning unnecessarily added to the
warmth of those present - everyone exuded
the Love and warmth – of this moment in
time.. this truly was a wonderful event to
witness.
BRUU Children’s Choir
Photo by Tom Miller