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Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2019
Upcoming Events and Important Dates Ahead Friday, May 31 Movie Night! (6:30 p.m.)* Saturday, June 1 Men’s Group (9:00 a.m.)* Sunday, June 2 Annual Congregational Meeting (12:30 p.m.)* Saturday, June 8 Women’s Group postponed to July* (please attend panel)* Sunday, June 8 Panel on Developmental Ministry (12:30 p.m.)* Friday, June 14 Movie Night 2(6:30 p.m.)* Saturday, June 15 UUCL Youth Garage Sale (see Faith Development for details) *See body of newsletter for more information on all these upcoming events. Please also note in the Social Justice section the many Social Justice events scheduled for JUNE.
ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY JUNE 2 12:30 P.M.
Join us this Sunday for the UUCL Annual Meeting. The agenda will include votes on the 2019-20 UUCL Budget,* as well as our 2019-20 Executive Board slate of officers and nominating committee members. A light lunch will be provided. *Budget details were sent in an email message Tuesday, May 28 A drop-in budget discussion will be held Friday, May 31 5:00-6:30 at UUCL before the movie
Nominating Committee Recommendations
Executive Board Nominating Committee Chair elect Mary Holm Bill Kivett Secretary John Brewer Tom Geyer Treasurer Mark Lenz Mike Wolfe At large Belinda Holmes Rachel Gadd Nelson Valerie Roper, convener
JUNE WORSHIP SERVICES
11:00 a.m.
June 2: Back to the Future Rev. Aaron Stockwell June 9: Hypothesis Made Flesh Rev. Aaron Stockwell June 16: Even to Question Truly Is An Answer – Question Box, part 2 Rev. Aaron June 23: Social Justice Sunday led by Social Justice Team June 30: Rev. Jordinn Nelson Long, Guest Preacher, Minister of Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven, MA
JUNE 9:30 SUNDAY TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS
June 2. Celebration Sunday! Please join us at 9:30 a.m. as we celebrate and honor our Religious Exploration teachers, adult Faith Formation facilitators, the Warriner and Oldfather awardees, and all those who contribute so much to our Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence. It takes a village, not only to raise a child, but also to form and maintain a community, and we would like to express our gratitude to all of you, so please come one, come all to the Celebration!
June 9. Sandra Dickson: Behavioral Health Services at DCCCA DCCCA is a non-profit organization operating in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri providing social and community services that improve the safety, health, and well-being of the people it serves.
June 16. Barbara Higgins-Dover: River Kings. Barbara Higgins-Dover, of rural Lawrence, has created a small museum at Abe & Jake’s Landing, 8 E. Sixth St., that tells the history of commercial fishing on the Kansas River. Her grandfather, Richard Higgins, was one of the so-called RiverKings who made a living on the Kaw. June 23. Audra Fullerton: Odyssey. In line with our long tradition of Odysseys, Audra will relate her personal life journey.
June 30. Jim Peters (KU, Osher) Underground Railway in our neighborhood. During the mid-19th century, the Underground Railroad was a critical network of routes and safe houses that provided escaped slaves a pathway from the South to freedom in the North or Canada. This presentation will touch on the important role Northeast Kansas played in the Underground Railroad and will describe some of the local routes and safe houses.
MESSAGE FROM OUR INTERIM MINISTER
Dear UUCL, What was the last beautiful thing you encountered? Maybe it was a sound? Perhaps the swell of an orchestra, the laughter of a child, or the wind rustling through the prairie grass? Maybe it was something you saw? Artwork at an art museum, a craft a friend or loved one made with you in mind, or that sunset on Friday the 24th? A touch of a loved one or a friend? The way the air is perfumed this time of the year? A cup of tea, asparagus grown in your backyard? The Soul Matters theme for June 2018 is Beauty. I’ll be addressing it from different perspectives in worship where I’ll share my thoughts about the future of religion (June 2), and on aging (June 9). We’ll then reprise the question Box service on (June 16), where I will attempt to answer any questions
theological, spiritual, or congregational. Personal “get-to-know-you” questions are fine, but the questions that demand a deeper response will get turned into sermons during the 2019-2020 worship year. The Social Justice Team leads their Justice Sunday service on the 23rd. And one of your own returns on the 30th when the Rev. Jordinn Nelson Long guest preaches. It’s bound to be a great June at 11am. As I think about beauty, three quotes come to mind. Each offers a slightly different perspective on beauty. The first is from a Canadian Indie Rock band known as The Weakerthans. A song from their 2003 album Reconstruction Site includes the line: “Beauty's just another word I'm never certain how to spell.” In this way, I think that the songwriter or the narrator in the song has given up on a beauty. They take it for granted. It’s just another word. I think about the times in my life where I took beauty for granted - the year my daily commuted included an ocean drive, pieces of art I glanced at too quickly. The second quote is attributed to Rumi. Though I think it’s more accurately Coleman Barks. “Let the beauty we love, be what we do. There are hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” I appreciate this perspective because beauty becomes active. It’s a way to show devotion to something greater than ourselves. It also asks us to consider the question--are my actions beautiful? Do they add something to this rich tapestry of the world? The final quote comes Lady Bird Johnson’s diary. On January 27, 1965 she wrote “Getting on the subject of beautification is like picking up a tangled skein of wool. All the threads are interwoven -- recreation and pollution and mental health, and the crime rate, and rapid transit, and highway beautification, and the war on poverty, and parks -- national, state and local. It is hard to hitch the conversation into one straight line, because everything leads to something else.” Having been a Texan for three years, there is a soft spot in my heart for Lady Bird Johnson. While her plans for beautification partially involved planting wildflowers along highways, it also changed rules around advertising. You can also read in her words echoes of our seventh principle which references the independent web of all existence of which we are apart. As I wrap up - I wonder again - when was the last time you noticed something beautiful? Are your actions generally ones that add a little bit of beauty to our world? Would you commit to that, if you knew that it could rebuild the brokenness that exists in this beautiful world? See you on Sunday! Rev. Aaron Summer Schedule - I will be attending the UU Ministers’ Association Ministry Days and General Assembly (where the work of our denomination happens) in Spokane, WA from June 18th to June 21st, then officiating a friend’s wedding. I’ll be out of email contact from June 29th to July 22th with a brief reentry July 14-16th when I’ll be in KS. I then return to Kansas from July 23 to August 8th before going away from August 9th to August 25th to spend time in Michigan and Massachusetts. I may be in email contact during that, but will be slower to respond. There’ll be more details in the July newsletter about any pastoral emergencies or general congregational questions.
UUCL PANEL--DEVELOPMENTAL MINISTRY Saturday, June 8 at 12:30 p.m.
Learn how the Board came to consider developmental ministry as the UUCL likely option during this presentation with plenty of time for Q&A.
Soul Matters Theme for June
What does it mean to be a people of BEAUTY?
Wheredoyoulookforbeauty?Thereisuniversalagreementthatweallmustmaketimetovisitmuseumsandsitbeforestunningsunsets.Butseekingbeautythereisnotenough.Everyreligionagrees:Thesecrettoencounteringspiritualbeautyistovisitandobservetheunlikelyplaces.Indeed,onecouldarguethatthisisthejobofreligion.Itexiststoteachusandtohelpusobservebeautyinthelessnoticedplaces.Justthinkofalltheseeminglyoddadvicethatreligionsendsourway:“Noticeyourfeet!”There’sabelovedpoembyChileanpoetPabloNerudaaboutapairofhissocks.Inthisandotherpoems,hebringstheordinarythingsaroundustolife,helpingusseehowtheysoclearlycarrythememoriesandmeaningsofourlives.Religiondoesthesame.Ittellsusthattheseordinaryobjectsarenotjustbackgroundbutbeautifulpartners.Theydon’tjustenhanceourrelationshipwiththeworldandeachother;theyareamongthemostimportantrelationshipswehave.Theyarefellowjourneyersinandofthemselves.“Noticewhat’satthefrontoftheprotestmarch!”UUministerSeanParkerDennisonwrites,“Theabilitytoseebeautyisthebeginningofourmoralsensibility.Whatwebelieveisbeautifulwewillnotwantonlydestroy.”Withthisweareremindedthatbeautydoesmorethansootheandheal.Itdemands.Itcalls.Itcreatescommitment.Itdoesn’tjustsay“Loveandappreciateme.”Itsays“Protectme!Fightforme!”Itstepsoutinfrontofusandpointstoapreciousworldthatneedsourhelp.Itpaintsapictureofnewwaysoflivinganddeclares,“Followmethere!”It’snotjustthethingthatnurturesouractivistefforts.Itisthereasonwetaketothestreets.“Noticeyourself!”Againbeautifulthingsarenotjustobjectstobeappreciatedandadored.Theyarenotprettythingswepurchaseandpossess.Theypossessus.Theyarecontainersforpiecesandpartsofourselves.Wedon’tjustobservethem;wepourourselvesintothem.Theydon’tjustsitthere;theyopenthemselvesupandinviteustospillourlongings,memories,hopesandhurtsintotheircare.Whenweobservethem,weobserveandre-memberourselves.“Noticewhat’sbehinditall!”OurownRalphWaldoEmersonwrites,“Theworldisnotpaintedoradorned,butisfromthebeginningbeautiful;andGodhasnotmadesomebeautifulthings,butBeautyisthecreatoroftheuniverse.”TheQuakertheologianRufusJoneswrites,“Beautyhasnofunction,noutility…Itgreasesnowheels,itbakesnopuddings.Itisagiftofsheergrace,agratuitouslargesse.ItmustimplybehindthingsaSpiritthatenjoysbeautyforitsownsakeandthatfloodstheworldeverywherewithit…Ourjoyinitshowsthatweareinsomesensekindredtothegiverandrevealerofit.”Hereweareremindedthatbeautyisnotjustanelegantlypaintedportrait.Itisalsotheartisticforceoftheuniverseconstantlypaintingus.Pullingouttheeleganceineachofusandtheworldaroundustocreatetheportraitthatislife.So,yes,friends,byallmeansgetyourselvestothemuseumthismonth.Maketimetogazeatthecolor-lacedskyonyoureveningwalksinthewoods.Butlet’salsovisittheunlikelyplacesandthebeautythatawaitsusthere.
UUCL Receives Bequest from the Orel Family
UUCL recently received a gift of appreciated stock valued at over $12, 600 from the Charlyn and Harold “Hal” Orel family in their honor. Charlyn and Hal were founding members of the Unitarian Fellowship in 1958. They were active both in the congregation, where Charlyn once served as chair, and in the community. They remained members until their deaths in 2017, Charlyn on January 1, and Hal on July 31. We are grateful for their participation in this congregation and for their gift.
POP-UP SOCIAL EVENT—MOVIE NIGHT! Friday, May 31st. We’ll start with a classic. Those coming can help direct the future titles and/or dates. Set up starts at 6:30. Lively discussion afterwards pretty much guaranteed. UUCL provides the popcorn. Our second pop up movie night will be June 14. Attendees in May will set up our future events. Twice a month? Once a month? Suggested movie titles? Questions? Contact Lynne Renick for more information.
SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM
June News
The Kansas League of Women Voters has enormous information on the legislative issues in the Kansas legislature, including updates on bills of interest, and 2019 League Legislative Priorities. You can find them here--
http://lwvk.org/issues-and-advocacy/ks-legislative-reports
There will be the first Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival at the Lawrence Beer Company, 826 Pennsylvania St. on Sunday June 9, as sidewalks are opened up around the brewery and down the block for local artists while raising money for the Lawrence Arts Center. 12p-6p with a band from 2-5.
Summer Youth Theater presents Mary Poppins at the Lawrence Arts Center, June 13-16. Performance times are at 7pm or 3pm. More information at https://lawrenceartscenter.org/event/syt-junior-disneys-mary-poppins-jr/
Social Justice Team will preside while Rev. Aaron is away on June 23, for Justice Sunday, 11am service. We hope to bring you some interesting stories and wisdom from courageous people who act on their beliefs.
Community Connection for June
The June Community Connection is Operation Wildlife: this shelter (also know as OWL) provides rehabilitation services for injured and orphaned wild animals, and wildlife education for the citizens of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri, and is the largest publicly funded wildlife clinic in Kansas. OWL receives thousands of wild animals each year, with release rates averaging 69%, 20% higher than the national average. Operation Wildlife is funded entirely on donations, receiving no federal or state funding. For almost 20 years, OWL has acted in the best interest of each animal received. After emergency needs are met and the animal is stabilized, a program for total recovery is designed. If not capable of release, many animals remain in the shelter and are taken out for public education in schools or community groups. Check out http://www.owl-online.org/ to see the rescued and released pelican.
FAITH DEVELOPMENT IN JUNE We are looking forward to June as the month we begin a very full summer of Faith Development programs! Adult Faith Development Soul Matters Sharing Circle Please join our Soul Matters Sharing Circle. We will meet at 9:30 a.m. on the first, third and fifth Sundays (June 2nd, June 16th and June 30th) in the Conversation Area of our UUCL Basement. Valerie Roper will serve as our facilitator. Each monthly theme focuses on a spiritual value that our UU faith has historically honored and calls all of us to embody in our lives. Our topic for June is “What Does It Mean To Be A People of Beauty?” The practice of savoring life’s gifts.” Parenting Discussion Group Our Parenting Discussion Group is facilitated by Jeff Hall and meets 9:30 a.m. in the Beatrix Potter Room in the Religious Education Wing on the second and fourth Sundays (June 9th and June 22). Our June 8th discussion topic is “The Sandwich Generation”. The June 22 discussion topic will be announced following our June 8th meeting.
Book Discussion Group Our Book Discussion Group is facilitated by Lynne Renick and meets at 9:30 am.in the Conversation Area of our UUCL Basement on the second and fourth Sundays in June (June 9th and June 22nd). The group will continue its discussion of the book Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown. June 9 will be the chapter “Interdependence and Decentralization”. June 23 will be “Nonlinear and Iterative”. Faith Development for Children and Youth Faith Development for Children from 4 to 5 years of age through the 4th or 5th grade. We will continue to meet throughout the summer. We will be focusing on our Seventh Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part – or in simpler language - We believe in caring for our planet Earth and every living thing that shares it with us. Our Sunday sessions will include activities that involve art and nature, special guests as well as stories and supportive media. Faith Development for Middle School Youth The Middle School Youth will not be meeting on a regular basis during the summer months during the summer months. Special activities will be announced. UUCL Youth Group—GARAGE SALE! The UUCL Youth Group is busy planning a garage sale scheduled for June15th on Rhode Island Street in downtown Lawrence near the Farmers’ Market. We are hoping that our UUCL members will be generous in providing items for the garage sale, as the money earned will support the Youth’s activities in the forthcoming year. You can bring items that you want to donate to UUCL. Donations will be accepted at UUCL through June 14 If you bring items on a Sunday morning – please bring them to the Mary Wollstonecraft Room at the end of the hallway in the Religious Education Wing If you would like to drop off during the week, we will have someone available at UUCL to receive your garage sale items on the following evenings between 6 pm and 8 pm • June 12 Weds. Evening from 6 pm to 8 pm, • June 13 Thurs. Evening from 6 pm to 8 pm • June 14 Friday Evening from 6 pm to 8 pm Please watch for an E-BLAST with additional information.
Congratulations and Thanks to our May Work
Day Volunteers! A hearty and dedicated group of volunteers made our 4 May workday a big success. They include: Paul Enos, Mary Holm, Joyce Pearl Jones & Mark Parker, Barb & Ron Johnston, Graham Kreicker, Mark Lenz, Tom Miller, Elle Patton, Lynne Renick, Val and John Roper, Emily Russell, Pennie von Achen, Carine Ullom, and
our own grill-masters, Ted & Andrew Wilson.
ART IN FOUNDERS HALL
Our artist for May-June is Kathleen Anderson, with Watercolor and Oil Paintings. The artist says the following about her work: I have loved art since I was a child and owned my first box of bright-colored crayons. The anticipation of turning the world around me into beautiful scenes filled with “happy” colors made every day a new adventure. I painted in watercolor for about 15 years, then added oil painting for the past 10 years. The Impressionists are my favorite artists, and I am particularly entranced, as they were, by the effects of light and shadow in the scenes before me. My subject matter ranges from landscapes to city scenes to flowers and animals. More recently as I’ve spent more time exploring the medium of oil, I find I am drawn to plein air landscape painting and the experience of being surrounded by nature in the great outdoors. In both mediums, I tend to paint directly all at one time, rather than build up layers of paint. I always photograph a scene and try to paint a small study. Many of these end up being references for larger studio paintings.
UUCL MEN’S GROUP The Men's Group will meet at UUCL at 9am on Saturday, June 1 for pastries, coffee and conversation. For other information contact Bob Burbank, 785-766-8154, [email protected]
UUCL WOMEN’S GROUP
UUCL women's group will not meet in June
The UUCL women's group will not meet on June 8, but instead all are encouraged to attend the 12:30PM discussion with members of the UUCL executive board regarding developmental ministry - what it entails, how might it be useful to UUCL, etc. - for after Rev. Aaron leaves us at the end of his second year with us. This is a very important topic for all of us; the board is holding these meetings to be sure the whole congregation has a chance to understand their thinking, to hear from us, and to be transparent in their deliberations. See you June 8, 12:30PM, at UUCL.
UnitarianUniversalistCongregationofLawrence AWelcomingCongregation
1263N.1100Rd.Lawrence,KS66047,785-842-3999www.uufl.net
TocontacttheNewsTeam,[email protected]:TheRev.AaronM.Stockwell,InterimMinisterRev.Stockwellmaybereachedthroughthislink:https://calendly.com/rev-aaron-stockwell/orbyphone785.330.5665orbyemail:[email protected]'mavailableformeetingsbyappointment.Yourbestbetistoscheduletimetomeetthroughthislink:https://calendly.com/rev-aaron-stockwell/.Thislinkisalsopartofmyemailsignature.Ifthetimeisshowingasfree,Iamavailabletomeet,clicktoschedulethetime.Mycellphoneis785.330.5665,ifIdon'tpickup,pleaseleaveavoicemail.Iwilltrytolistentovoicemailsassoonaspossible.Youcanalsoreachmeatmyofficehereatthecongregation'sbuildingat785.856.1016,butmycellphoneisthebestbet.Ionlyreceiveemailsat9am,1pm,[email protected],ifit'ssomethingthatrequiresamoreurgentresponse,callme.Mondayismysermonwritingandworshipplanningday,andIwillrespondtoemaillessfrequently.IalsotrynottocheckemailonFridayandSaturdayasthosearemysabbathdays.IwillacceptanyFacebookfriendrequests,butIwillnotinitiatethem.I'vebeenonFacebooksince2005,somyfeedisfullwithpeoplefromhighschool,college,andseminary.IfyoupostapastoralconcerntoFacebook,Iwilllikelymissit.HelpingHandsTeamuflhelpinghands@gmail.comorcallUUCLoffice,842-3339Thisteamprovidesshort-termpracticalassistance,e.g.,meals,respite,rides.TransportationLine (toUUCLeventsormedicalappointments)Please call UUCL 785-842-3339 and leave a message. AdministrativeOfficeHours:AdministrativeofficehoursaretypicallyMonday10:00a.m.-noonTuesday1:00-5:00p.m. Thursday8:30a.m.-4:30p.m.Friday1:00-5:00p.m.Pleasebesuretocallfirst,785-842-3339,ifcomingoutduringtheweek,asdoorsarekeptlocked.
