Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
The Communitarian Newsletter of the Community Unitarian Universalist Church
www.CommunityUU.org
March 2017
Joy and service—right here! Right now!
2819 W. Sylvester Street, Pasco, Washington
99301
Sunday service at 10:30am
Reverend Doak Mansfield
Minister Hours 10:00am - Noon
Tuesday and Thursday other times
by appointment 509.366.7137
509.545.6777
Www.CommunityUU.org
Www.facebook.com/CommunityUU
March 5 "Making Meaning: The Creative Journey" Speaker: Maureen McQuery Humans are wired to search for meaning, but discovering meaning doesn’t come easily. How do we find meaning through creativity in a disordered world? Maureen will discuss three truths she has discovered on her own journey: stories matter, there will always be a wilderness, and transformation is the point. Worship Associate: Donna Brown Musician: Ellen Fillion March 12 "The Rise of the Feminine " Speaker: Shannon Hays-Truex, Gayle Wilde, and Heidi Hill The Women’s March on Washington expressed not only the power of women, but embraced intersections of oppression. Join us as we explore how the sacred feminine can help us cre-ate a better world. Worship Associate: Mike Truex Musician: Mike and Shannon March 19 "On Working New Ground: Transformations" Speaker: The Reverend Doak M. Mansfield, D.Min. Are that qualities, aspects or change that can be consider transformational spiritually and morally? Worship Associate: Virginia Tomlinson Musician: Ellen Fillion and the CUUC Choir March 26 "Headed for a Train Wreck: When Faith and Choice Collide” Speaker: Rev. Vincent Lachina, Planned Parenthood Chaplain Description: People ask, “How can you be a minister and sup-port abortion?” It’s a question that is asked of every minister or rabbi who supports Planned Parenthood. Rev. Lachina will share his journey as a Southern Baptist minister who became the Chaplain of Planned Parenthood. Worship Associate: Alex Emig Musician: Mike and Shannon
2
The Communitarian
March 2017
Notes from the Journey The Reverend Doak M Mansfield March! After this winter that is a mighty good word to type. Really from last Labor Day until upcoming St Patrick’s Day life close and far has been most interesting. I love the broad use of ‘interesting’ when one is stuck in an ambivalent emotional place. Pegs and I both have had a mean time health-wise these last several months. She with cellulitis with stomach virus hitting before it was overcome, and I with great changes in my eating and weight after hiatal hernia surgery last summer. She got the stomach flu for me! We are now experienced with local 911 EMTs, ambulance service and emergency rooms and hospital stays. Pegs got more hospital experience than I did. She stayed for five days; I just went to ER twice. Thankfully we are both better. Pegs is nearly back to where she was last summer, over 30 lbs. down and back to pool. I’m 35 lbs. lighter and a bit poorer because of needing new clothes that fit. My health is tops now and my vanity a bit embarrassing. Politically and culturally we’ve been in and still are still coping with remarkable changes. Most were incon-ceivable a year ago. We have been flooded with hurtful, mean-spirited rhetoric, drastically sensationalized news, great lamentations, and the unveiling of a new reality: “alternative facts.” There is a line from one of Pegs’ and my favorite movies that signifies for me when trying to take all this in: “I’ve seen enough to know I’ve seen too much." What is my offering as a human since Truman was president and a UU minister since Carter? It’s a combination of a favorite theme I use on my Facebook ‘pulpit’ (Doak M Mansfield): ‘Study up, group up, and act up’ with a doubling down on what my ministry has been about, in good times and bad, “It is we, not me – and always together, regardless.” Be gentle with self, stay awake, and care….find good folk to be with, renew attention to inspirational sources and tend your center. May compassion and generosity guide us. It is not about being happy or satisfied; it is, I believe, about being and doing the fullest good you can man-age. I’m always cognizant that we have power, if not ultimate control, to influence life for the better. Come spring. Manifest abiding resolve and creative love, friends and neighbors. Love – Doak
Religious Education News By Pauline Schafer The elementary class spent Sundays in February exploring how our faith provides us with tools we can use in everyday life. So far our Toolbox of Faith includes a compass (for conscience), a magnifier (for questioning), and duct tape (for flexibility.) The middle schoolers continued with their exploration of right and wrong, and examined differences between what we can prove and what we take on faith, using an excerpt from the movie Contact. In March we continue with these curricula in both classes, and will start discussing a service project for the spring. There are several children who will be welcomed into the community with a child dedication cere-mony this spring, date yet to announced. Our Whole Lives sexuality class begins this month on Sundays at 1:00 pm for 4th through 6th graders from CUUC, Shalom United Church of Christ, and other community members. We will meet every Sunday, taking a few weeks off for spring break and Easter, and continuing into May. Please contact Pauline Schafer if you have any questions about the OWL class or RE program: [email protected], 469-371-3256. We always welcome help and mentoring with the classes and nursery, so come see how you can participate!
3
The Communitarian
March 2017
Presidents Message
By Alex Emig It’s so nice to see warmer weather and that strange bright ball in the sky. I don’t know about you, but I’ve struggled this past winter with seasonal depression. Seeing my friends and family of choice every Sunday was certainly a bright spot. It’s moments like those that remind me how much I cherish our growing religious community. Speaking of religious community, I’ve been very pleased with the depth and breadth of discussions in the first two Seasons of Conversation. I’m proud to be part of such a respectful and thoughtful group of people. The third and final Season of Conversation is scheduled for March 12 following the service. I encourage everyone to attend this important opportunity to provide input on the future of ministry at CUUC. - Alex
Fellowship & Spiritual Practice Gentle Yoga Weekly Gentle Yoga Classes are held at CUUC on Saturdays mornings 9:00 -10:15 am. Join us as we explore techniques to relieve stress and ease body and mind into improved strength, flexibility and balance. Yoga mats and props are available to use or you can bring your own. Drop-ins are welcome. Classes are $15 each session or you can purchase a punch card of 10 classes for $120.
Men’s Dinner The CUUC Men's Group meets on the fourth Friday of this month, although usually it is on the third Fri-day. Do not be afraid to be fashionably late! We are now primed for thought provoking debate. The world has turned, it’s time to expand the conversa-tion and get our creative juices flowing. The topics are often "out of this world." Our next meeting is March 24 at 5:30pm at the church. Email: [email protected] with questions.
Women’s Luncheon All women of the congregation are invited to lunch on second Monday of each month for fellowship and fun. This month’s luncheon is Monday, March 13th at noon. We’ll be gathering at the church. Please bring a dish to share and celebrate Spring. For more infor-mation, contact Diane Reed at [email protected]
Exploring Ideas with the Minister Exploring Ideas with the Minister is an opportunity to expand ideas shared on Sunday morning as well as perennial topics in spirituality, faith, and human history with our minister, The Reverend Doak M. Mansfield. The style is casual and inter-active. Bring a brown bag supper, coffee and juice provided. The next Exploring Ideas with the Minister will be Wednesday, March 8 at 6:30 pm.
Have you thought about becoming a member of CUUC’s Coffee Team?
Hey everybody! We need coffee makers and clean-up folks. Please take a look at the sign-up sheet on the refrigerator if you’d like to help. That would be great!
4
The Communitarian
March 2017
CUUC Contacts
Minister: Reverend Doak Mansfield
Secretary: Gayle Wilde
RE Education: Pauline Schafer
Board of Trustees:
President: Alex Emig
Vice President: Mark Painter
Treasurer: Denise Pitts
Secretary: Barb Tarasevich
Member-at-large: Larry Bolan
Member-at-large: Gail Taff
Member-at-large: Virginia Tomlinson
Committees
Worship Mike Truex, Alex Emig, Donna Brown, and Virginia Tomlinson are the current members of the worship committee and work with Reverend Mansfield to provide Sunday services for CUUC. A key element of our effort is collaborating with Reverend Mans-field in support of his Sunday services. We also dis-cuss, plan, and bring in a variety of outside speakers throughout the year. We work within the congrega-tion too, having members of the congregation lead or participate in Sunday services. Our activities in-clude preparing each week for the elements of the Sunday service. It’s quite rewarding to participate on the committee and to be involved in the genesis of service ideas and with Sunday service program-ming. While it may seem daunting, we have a good system in place and Reverend Mansfield is a steady guide for our efforts. If you have questions or inter-est in joining the committee, please contact Mike Truex at [email protected].
Hands & Heart The Hands and Hearts Committee would like to re-mind you that we are here to help, not just for big events where we all cry or laugh, but also for the lit-tle things as well. We are here to help you out in any way we can. You can seek us out at church (our name tags have the heart stickers) or call us up at home. (If one of us doesn't answer, keep on trying other numbers). If you know of somebody who needs looked in on, or if you want to discuss your own situation, please give us a ring. Bev is our card person, if you know someone who needs to receive a get-well card, sympathy card, etc. please contact her.
Denise Pitts 375-6130 Jennifer Comstock 628-8638 Marla Marvin 545-1919 Bev & Bryan 371-1572 Schroeder 308-0548 Gail Taff 375-3293
Peggy Owens-Mansfield 601-470-8746
Buildings & Grounds The Building and Grounds Committee can always use a little help. We find joy in sharing the wealth... the wealth of our service to our CUUC home and our community of users. We are focused on the day-to-day maintenance and incremental improvement of our lovely CUUC facility. We seek new committee members to lend a hand, whether you're a crafty do-it-yourselfer or a born organizer, we would love for you to have just a small share of our joy and service through the Building and Grounds Committee. Please contact a Board Member for more information.
