[Visitors] July UUFT Beacon Newsletter

Sat Jun 28 12:49:37 EDT 2008

            Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka
            4775 SW 21st Street  .  Topeka, KS  66604  .  785-272-9233  .  www.uuft.org

            Proud to be a Welcoming Congregation

            July 2008

A Month of Sundays . . .

July 6 - A Theology of Solidarity, Jill Jarvis.  A frequent criticism of Unitarian Universalism is that, respecting freedom of conscience, we have no common "theology," making it hard to convey what we as a movement believe. Here's one idea that's been proposed: We believe that religion should not be about a cosmological world view. We believe that religion should be about responding to human suffering, grounded in our understanding of the relatedness of all humanity. This is sometimes called a "Theology of Solidarity," and its implications for our personal lives and our UU communities are profound.

July 13 - Intelligence of Your Heart, speaker UUFT member Dennis Bosley.  Crisis Intervention Team training has taken root in the Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office, and is reverberating throughout our entire community. The core concept of CIT is that the way we stigmatize others is the greatest evil. The core message to officers in CIT training is that you need to consult the intelligence of your heart, not the intellect of your brain, not the guidelines you picked up in the academy, when you are summoned to save a person in crisis. CIT is grass roots politics at its best, and takes the admonition, "protect and serve", out of the police precincts, and into the greater community."

July 20 - Rise Up and Call Her Name.  A group of members & friends recently completed Rise Up, a 13-session program that provides a unique format for learning about goddesses from a variety of traditions. By hearing and telling stories, creating sacred art, participating in rituals, and talking about important questions in feminist spirituality, the group sought to deepen appreciation of nature in spiritual life and nurture respect for the female. The service will include songs and readings from the Rise Up curriculum, and participants will share their personal experiences of exploring feminist spirituality and Earth-honoring aspects of other religious belief systems.

July 27 - Our Likeness In Kindness.  Local poet Tom Nyquist has written mostly about nature and animals in his quest to increase our respect and sensitivity to non-human species who share our planet. Recently he's expanded his writing to include the human dimension, in an attempt to embrace the totality of life and help humanity find our place in the interconnected web.

Services begin at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Welcome to the New UUFT Year!  Working for Higher Ground in Renovated Space

As the summer begins, our UUFT Board transitions to a new one on July 1st with incoming new Board members: Trustees Jon Metcalf, Candace Young, Jennifer Gray and President Elect Melanie Kitchner, Secretary Deb Fallon, Treasurer Martin Weishaar, and myself. We retain on the Board, Matt Benaka, Chris Moody and past President Mike Wilson. Many thanks to Liz McKamy, Joe Silsby, Linda Williams and Joanne Roudebush, Treasurer, for their dedication and efforts. The new Board is carrying on themes from the previous year including expansion of our space and our efforts to be "A spiritual home and beacon of liberal religious expression."

I am so thrilled to see so many new ideas develop within UUFT. Just to mention a few: expanded Children and Adult RE; the Thought Exchange; Movie and swap night as a co-adventure between the Green Dreams Committee and Social Justice Committee; the Building Committee; the Green Sanctuary and Rise Up and Call her Name. What about our Talent Show! Our lay leadership is astounding. In addition, we have excellent professional leadership that works well with our lay leaders creating a dynamic combination.

Let the ideas grow, as we will have space to put them into action.

While we were planning our Renovation, we kept coming back to the theme that we are planning for ideas for the use of our space. We are in essence, in my words only, Working for Higher Ground in Renovated Space. Thanks to the efforts of Todd Jeffries with Last Minute Folk, there is even a song called "Higher Ground" by Wishing Chair that was played live here at the UUFT. In that song it has words that are meaningful to me, including the line: "Helping each other is Higher Ground."

In my way of thinking UUFT has always been working for Higher Ground.

Let's all be leaders this Board year. So let us all give appreciation to those that have made a difference in our UUFT community, and to find ways this year to make our ideas grow into reality. I personally appreciate Mike Wilson's stellar leadership this past year and thanks to ALL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, including the past Board, and new Board members for helping UUFT move forward.

Lets keep communication open, and fill the space with ideas for our spiritual home and beacon of liberal religious expression. Reach out to any Board member about your ideas for working for higher ground.

It is a good year.

Respectfully submitted,

Beth Foerster

President July 1, 2008

Congregational Meeting and Ground Blessing on August 24

Our Annual Water Communion will be a Ground Blessing in anticipation of our building project. Agenda: At the meeting, the Congregation will be asked to review and approve the bids for the UUFT renovation and make final funding decisions. Join us in the Ground Blessing and the Meeting.

What is a Contribution of Record?

The UUFT bylaws state that in order to maintain their voting privileges members must make an annual "contribution of record." This simply means that each voting member must make a financial donation that can be attributed to himself/herself. That can be a donation made by check or bank draft, or cash in an envelope with the member's name on it, placed in the offering basket on a Sunday morning. Though all members are encouraged to give an annual amount that helps sustain the Fellowship's mission and ministry, THERE IS NO MINIMUM amount required to establish or maintain membership. There is, however, a requirement that the contribution of record must enter the UUFT accounting system at least 30 days prior to a business meeting. Legal requirements for nonprofit groups prohibit counting class registration fees, payments for Fair Trade products, or purchases of tickets or other items at fundraisers as contributions of record. If you have questions about whether your annual contribution of record has been accounted for this year, please contact Julie Holmes, the UUFT administrative assistant. You can e-mail Julie at office at uuft.org, or call her at the Fellowship office, 272-9233.

A Great Summer Read and a Discussion Group in the Fall- by Jim Schwartz

You're invited to read a special book this summer and to participate in a discussion group about it in the fall.

The Adult Religious Education "Seekers" group has decided to start its fall discussion series with a four-Sunday-morning exploration of readers' reactions to A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.

I'm excited to serve as group facilitator for those sessions. A New Earth describes how the human ego limits self-awareness and how becoming more conscious of our egos can help overcome our attachments to materialism, status, and roles -- attachments that create much unnecessary personal and interpersonal suffering. By developing the habit of observing our minds and emotions as separate from our most central selves, we become less controlled by our thoughts, drives, and judgments.

I'm inclined to be suspicious of pop psychology and new wave teachings. But I must say that this book goes way beyond the usual psycho-babble. In fact, I've undergone some welcomed changes as a result of having read A New Earth. I'm less reactive to situations; I'm less controlling; I'm more relaxed; and I spend more time being present in the moment--as opposed to the usual planning and reverie and evaluating that consume most of my time. 

The author makes a number of connections between his concepts and core teachings of Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism. You may find that you see some of those familiar precepts with new appreciation after reading A New Earth. You're sure to find the book a spiritual, philosophical and religious feast. I was initially put off by the book's "Oprah's Book Club" sticker and its subtitle, "Awakening to Your Life's Purpose." But once I got past those things, I found much to absorb.

You don't have to read the book to participate in the fall discussion group, but of course reading the book will improve your participation. I suggest coming to the group in September having read the book and marked parts of it that stood out for you.

(Continued on page 3)

New Horizons

By Rev. Lisa Romantum Schwartz

Wholly Sabbath

By the time this issue of the Beacon goes to print I'll be away on what's come to be called my "summer hiatus." Since a hiatus is a "gap or a missing part," that phrase doesn't really capture the essence of what this leave-taking is about. The term "sabbath" offers a fuller picture of why this time away is important both for me and for the Fellowship.

A sabbath is a time specially set aside for rest and renewal. The rest involved in sabbath-keeping enables one to bring a new energy and new ideas to a job that has become familiar, even routine. A sabbath is not simply a vacation or a few days off, though those are important, too. Giving a minister the gift of an extended break in the summer allows her some time free from the busyness and to-do lists that come with the job. An extended time free from weekly sermons and schedules, e-mails, phone calls and visits allows a minister to tend to the three relational dimensions that author Judith Schwanz describes as relationship with self, relationships with other people, and relationship with the holy. 

Here are a few more of Judith Schwanz' ideas about the importance of sabbath time:

Sabbath is a break from routine, a change of pace... Sabbath brings spiritual renewal. [It] provides extended time to practice any of the spiritual disciplines... Sabbath also provides time to reconnect with your spouse. Often in the course of weekly schedules...couples begin to feel like two ships that pass in the night... Sabbath is a break from expectations and productivity. You don't need to accomplish anything in the true sabbath. We have become so conditioned to believe that unproductive time is wasted time. [How sad, and what a telling symptom of a consumer-driven society!] ...Sabbath is a break from being in control. This may be the hardest thing for pastors to lay down... Can the world survive if you step off the merry-go-round for a day and aren't around to run things? ...Can you trust [the lay leaders] to take care of things in your absence?

Perhaps one of the most important things about this summertime sabbath is that I can model good self-care for the many committed and competent leaders at the UUFT. Parker Palmer wrote, "Self-care is never a selfish act-it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others." 

I bid you farewell for July, grateful for the gift of a sabbath, and eager to rejoin you, refreshed and renewed, in August.

Lisa

A Great Summer Read and a Discussion Group in the Fall 

(Continued from page 2)

In the group we'll explore some basic questions:

- What in the book did you find remarkable?

- What surprises did you have?

- What parts were hard to understand or hard to "buy"?

- What changes have you noticed in your own behavior as a result of the reading?

- Are there any implications for the future, stemming from broad awareness of concepts presented in the book?

The Seekers Forum discussion group will meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Darwin Room (next to the Kitchen) at the Fellowship starting Sunday, September 14 and for the following three Sunday mornings.

If you'd like to order the book, Dottie Hanger (dotdik at aol.com) will arrange to get you a copy. You can also find it at Barnes & Noble and at Amazon.com. At this moment the public library doesn't have it.

If you have questions, you can e-mail me at jimschwartz at cox.net. If you're pretty sure you'll be in the September discussion group, I'd appreciate knowing so we can have enough chairs and snacks handy.

Summer Pledge Doldrums? All Churches have summer pledge doldrums. Wake Yours Up, it helps with planning to keep your Pledges current.

Dinner for All: July 19th at 6:00 p.m. 

Absolutely, still the best way to get to know other UU's that you never really get the opportunity to speak with: July's Dinners for All!!! Members and friends of UUFT are invited to participate in the summer's 2nd Dinner for All, hosted by Mike & Maria Wilson at 3718 SW Stonebridge. Their house is 4/5th mi south of 29th and Fairlawn: turn left at Summerfield Drive (where Fairlawn begins curving west) and proceed up the hill, bending left until you come to the intersection of Summerfield and Stonebridge Ct. Their house is on the corner with three large stones in the front yard.  Please bring a covered dish, any meat items you and your family/guests wish to consume, beverages, insect repellant, and lawn chairs. Mike & Maria will furnish table service, barbecue grill, lemonade, water and iced tea. Children are welcome. This is a great way to get to know other UUFT'ers so circle the date on your calendar!  Questions: call Mike & Maria (271-8496).

Soda Bottle Collection Comes to an End

A couple years ago we began collecting 20 ounce soda bottles as a fundraiser through a great company named TerraCycle. This partnership helped us to raise $83.30 and upcycle 1,400 bottles! Many of you are probably wondering why we haven't been collecting bottles this year. Unfortunately, a change in postage rates more than tripled the cost for TerraCycle to continue this program. They've been searching for a corporate sponsor to help re-activate their Bottle Brigades but have been unsuccessful. I'd been storing bottles in my attic with the idea that I'd get a jump start when the program was reinstituted. Last month TerraCycle sent out an update advising people against hording bottles because they don't know how long this is going to continue. So join me in taking their advice and setting the bottles free at a recycling center or curb side collection service. You can visit terracycle.net for more information about the suspension of this program or to learn what they're looking for in a corporate sponsor. A big thank you goes out to anyone and everyone who dropped off one of those 1,400 bottles! The Green Dream Committee is continuously looking for ways to help lighten the impact of our steps on our planet, so if anyone hears of other programs that help to recycle or upcycle products, please contact me at matben at sbcglobal.net .

Thanks again, UUFT!

Pieces of Peace

Peace Camp 2008

The Topeka Center for Peace and Justice announces that registration is open for Peace Camp 2008. This year's theme is "Pieces of Peace." Focuses on different days by campers will be Civic Engagement/Community Development, International Issues, Social Justice and Diversity.

The annual week-long program will include a light lunch. Peace Camp will be held in the Mulvane Art Museum on the Washburn University Campus, 17th & Jewell, during the week of July 28 to August 1, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. daily. (See Peace Camp flyer, registration form, and application form for Volunteers on Sunset Wall in Scanland Hall.)

Children ages six to twelve from across the city and county are invited to this annual celebration of peace. The registration fee per child for attending the week-long Camp is $50; low-income scholarships are available.

Volunteers to work at Peace Camp are also being sought (minimum age of 16).

With the help of Peace Camp volunteer staff and community resources, Peace Campers will use art, music, storytelling, crafts and recreation to focus on the theme, "Pieces of Peace."

Local businesses, congregations or community organizations interested in sponsoring a child should call 785-232-4388.

The Topeka Center for Peace and Justice, established in 1985, works with individuals and organizations in the greater Topeka community to promote justice and peace through education and action for social change.

      July Calendar of events

            19
           Dinner for All, Mike and Maria Wilson's, 3718 SW Stonebridge, Topeka, 6 p.m.

            28
           Peace Camp begins, Mulvane Art Museum on the Washburn University Campus, 17th & Jewell, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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