From Michael at Meyers-Jouan.name Thu Feb 7 18:05:43 2008 From: Michael at Meyers-Jouan.name (Michael S. Meyers-Jouan) Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:05:43 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Weekly Reader for Wednesday 2008 February 6 to Tuesday 2008 February 12 Message-ID: <015901c869e6$6e97dd20$6502a8c0@dellbhf8711> Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades Weekly Reader for Wednesday 2008 February 6 to Tuesday 2008 February 12 Editor: Michael S. Meyers-Jouan UUCP Congregational News UUCP "Outreach Bookmark" The Racial and Social Justice Team is pleased to announce the debut of our custom made UUCP "Outreach Bookmark." A proud collaboration of RSJT members and friends, Emmadora Boutcher, Jerry Boutcher, Wally Reid, Barbara Lukosi, and May Stawsky. The bookmark will be distributed at Sunday Service, and later that evening at the Puffin Author Series event, featuring UUCP member Dr. Mindy Fullilove. Enjoy using the bookmark yourself, or get into the "outreach spirit" and pass it along to a friend! "What! How did those moneylenders get back in the temple?" Mindy Thompson Fullilove, MD (a member of our congregation, will be one of the leaders of the service at First UU Church of Essex, Orange, NJ on February 10. UUCP Events Upcoming Sermons Feb 10 - "Appreciation or Appropriation" - Rev. Wendy Pantoja - In our earnest to be as inclusive of as many people as possible, it is not unusual for Unitarian Universalists to borrow elements or rituals from other cultural and religious traditions. But even with the best of intentions, too often we end up trampling on the identity of the very people with whom we are trying to ally. How can we remain in right relationship while welcoming and honoring others? Feb 17 - "Religion and Community in the Midst of Recession" - Rev Bob Fullilove Feb 24 - "Evolution Sunday" - Al Stawsky, Tom Gundling, and others - UUCP joins with over 500 diverse congregations supporting the truth and teaching of evolution science and the coexistence of religion and science in a free society. March 2 - (to be announced) - Arlene Scala March 9 - (to be announced) - Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson Science and Humanist Study Group Our next hot discussion will be Friday evening, February 8 at 7:00 PM at the Gundling's in Cresskill. The subject will be: Humans and the Great Apes Difference in degree or kind? This session will be led by our own "resident" anthropology professor, Tom Gundling. Call Al Stawsky at 201-837-9075 or alynways at aol.com for directions, information, or answers. RSVPs would be greatly appreciated. Many Voices Reading Circle UUCP's Many Voices Reading Circle is reading "The Face Behind The Veil: The Extraordinary Lives of Muslim Women in America" by Donna Gehrke-White. The book is about extraordinary Muslim women living in the US and is available in the library. The reading circle will meet March 26, 2008, 7:30 at Judy Stiller's home located at 587 Beverly Road, Teaneck NJ. Call Judy at 201-530-1393 if you have any questions. Service Auction 2008 This is our largest fundraising event ever. The goal for this year is. $12,000. Date: Saturday February 23, 2008 Place: Flat Rock Brook Nature Center 443 Van Nostrand Ave. Englewood. NJ Time: 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM Come early - stay late. We will provide a light meal and drinks. Please stay to the end to enjoy all of the entertainment and fun. And. bring guests! Pick up guest passes for free guest admission at Sunday services. 9th annual UUCP JAZZEvent The Racial & Social Justice Team announces that our annual Jazz event will take place on Friday, May 16, 2008, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Puffin Cultural Forum. Please join us! UU Events General Interest The History of Black History by Elissa Haney from www.Infoplease.net Dr. Carter G. Woodson Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as "Negro History Week" and later as " Black History Month." What you might not know is that black history had barely begun to be studied-or even documented-when the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they gained a respectable presence in the history books. Blacks Absent from History Books We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents who were former slaves, he spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at age twenty. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. The scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population-and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time. Established Journal of Negro History Woodson, always one to act on his ambitions, decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Root Shock at Puffin On Sunday, February 10, 2008, 7:00 PM, Dr. Mindy Fullilove will speak at the Puffin Cultural Forum, as part of Puffin's author series. Her highly acclaimed book Root Shock will be the topic of discussion. UU-UNO Special Theater Party and Reception Please join the UU-UNO for a special theater party and reception Saturday matinee, February 16th, 2:00 pm The UU-United Nations Office has reserved a block of tickets to the award-winning play, "Oroonoko," a tragic love story depicting the journey from kingship to slavery, rebellion, and death. Biyi Bandele, a prolific Nigerian writer, was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company to adapt Aphra Behn's 1688 novella, preserving tales from African slaves emerging from a Dutch slave ship. Playwright Bandele has infused his script with drumming and dance from his Yoruba culture. We have chosen this play in honor of Black History Month and our Ghana program, "Every Child Is Our Child." After the play, we will host a reception in a nearby venue where you will have the opportunity of meeting our new Executive Director, Bruce F. Knotts, a 25-year diplomat of the State Department, who has extensive experience in Africa. Bruce will host a discussion of the play as well as the programs sponsored by the UU-UNO. Tickets for the event are $65.00 (a $10.00 discount from box office prices) which includes the play and a reception. Since tickets are limited you must send your check to the UU-UNO, 777 UN Plaza, Ste 7G, NY, NY 10017 by January 20, 2008. We will notify you of the receipt and hold a ticket for you at the Box Office of the Duke Theater, 229 W. 42nd St., NYC. As in all theatre productions, all ticket sales are final. Don't miss this special opportunity to see a challenging play and meet our new Executive Director and Board! Questions? Call UU-UNO 212-986-5165. About the Weekly Reader Submit all announcements/notices for publication in the Weekly Reader to WeeklyReader at UUCPalisades.org exactly as you want them to appear by 6:00 PM Wednesday of each week. The editor reserves the right to edit or not print based on the UUCP communication policy. E-mails that: . Cannot wait for the next weekly reader . Are of importance to the majority of the congregation, and . Pertain to official UUCP business should be sent exactly as you want them to appear to UUCP at uuserver.org. Other announcements should be sent to WeekReader at UUCPalisades.org. Announcements for services should be submitted in writing to the service coordinator at least 10 minutes before service begins. Service coordinators reserve the right to edit based on the UUCP program policy. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080207/8f30da8e/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: att3B.gif Type: image/gif Size: 12555 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080207/8f30da8e/attachment-0001.gif From jdking336 at gmail.com Thu Feb 7 20:32:31 2008 From: jdking336 at gmail.com (Jonathan King) Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:32:31 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Important Reminder of UUCP Community Meeting this Sunday from 2-5pm Message-ID: Hi everyone. This is just an important reminder that the Board has scheduled two community meetings to assist us in clarifying our vision for the future. This is a critical and necessary step before we can make decisions on what we want for ministerial support for the coming year. Also, as part of this process, we will be taking an honest look at our prior goals for UUCP, and why we have not been able to achieve them.Facilitation is being provided by the UU District of Metro NY. The first of these meetings is this coming Sunday. Dates: Sunday February 10th. And Sunday February 24th. Time: 2-5 PM Place: Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County 687 Larch Ave. Teaneck, NJ Light refreshments will be provided. -- Jonathan King, President Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades Phone: (201) 569-2238 Fax: (201) 336-9127 Web: www.uucpalisades.org Email: Jdking336 at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080207/358984f4/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 59724 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080207/358984f4/attachment-0001.jpe From jdking336 at gmail.com Thu Feb 14 11:45:06 2008 From: jdking336 at gmail.com (Jonathan King) Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:45:06 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Summary of First UUCP Visioning Workshop Message-ID: Dear Fellow Congregants, On Sunday, February 10th, 21 of us participated in the first of two visioning workshops for our congregation. The purpose of these workshops is to help us better define what we as a congregation want to focus on, for the coming years, and to determine the right size of our organization structure. This is an important first step in determining what our ministerial needs are going to be. The goal for these two workshops is to identify one primary method to strengthen our internal community through the coming year and one primary external community service or activity that we are uniquely suited to accomplish and is consistent with our vision. These sessions are being facilitated by Andrea Lerner, District Executive and Doug Zelinski, Acting Program Consultant, for the UU Metro NY District. During this first workshop session we identified and voted on various options, knowing that these are non-binding votes, and that what ever comes out of these workshops will be taken to the rest of the UUCP Community. We decided to take ?talking about growth? off the table for now. Instead we focused on how to be a spiritual community working towards a UU vision, and accomplishing a UU mission. Those present reaffirmed that the vision of UUCP is to be an intentionally diverse, spiritual, inclusive and anti-racist community, and that being this kind of community at this time and place matters in the wider world. Those present voted to strengthen our internal community by focusing this year?s programming on the topic ?Articulating My Faith.? Additionally, those present concluded that the UUCP needs to trim and streamline its? organizational structure. At the next meeting, those present will: 1. Determine the one-item external mission that capitalizes on this congregation?s distinctiveness and contributes to the vision. 2. Identify the resources needed to accomplish this year?s internal focus of ?Articulating My Faith?, and the one-item external mission. 3. Express their opinions to the Board of Trustees regarding staffing and the streamlining of UUCP?s organizational structure. The next workshop session will be held on Sunday February 24th, at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, 687 Larch Ave. in Teaneck from 2:00 ? 5:00 pm. Please mark your calendars. It is important that as many of us as possible participate in this process. -- Jonathan King, President Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades Phone: (201) 569-2238 Fax: (201) 336-9127 Web: www.uucpalisades.org Email: Jdking336 at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080214/b917d4c5/attachment.html From Michael at Meyers-Jouan.name Thu Feb 14 21:28:03 2008 From: Michael at Meyers-Jouan.name (Michael S. Meyers-Jouan) Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:28:03 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Weekly Reader for Wednesday 2008 February 13 to Tuesday 2008 February 19 Message-ID: <01f501c86f82$d7318ec0$6502a8c0@dellbhf8711> Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades Weekly Reader for Wednesday 2008 February 13 to Tuesday 2008 February 19 Editor: Michael S. Meyers-Jouan UUCP Congregational News UUCP Events Upcoming Sermons Feb 17 - "Religion and Community in the Midst of Recession" - Rev Bob Fullilove Feb 24 - "Evolution Sunday" - Al Stawsky, Tom Gundling, and others - UUCP joins with over 500 diverse congregations supporting the truth and teaching of evolution science and the coexistence of religion and science in a free society. March 2 - (to be announced) - Arlene Scala March 9 - (to be announced) - Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson Science and Humanist Study Group The next meeting will be Friday, February 29 at 7:00 PM and will be held at 25 Woodland Street in Tenafly. The subject will be: Medical Ethics The discussion will be led by Judy Stiller. Medical ethics covers a very wide area - organ transplants, genetic engineering, abortion, cloning, euthanasia, allocation of limited medical resources and much more. In this meeting we will be discussing ethical questions regarding medical issues such as: . Should I be allowed to end my own life when I am old and/or in severe pain? Under what circumstances? How? Should a doctor help me? . If I have a baby born with a very severe handicap, what medical measures should be taken to help? Any measures? For how long? . Do I have the right to request extremely expensive medical care which has a very slight chance of helping when there are so many people who can't afford medical care? . Is it right to end one life (or potential life) in order to save - or to improve - many others" lives? If it involves microscopic, undifferentiated, petri dish embryos? Who decides? Advance readings will be distributed prior to the meeting. This should be a very interesting discussion on current issues where profound ethical, scientific, political and religious issues come together. For more information or directions please call Al Stawsky at 201-837-9075 or alynways at aol.com. RSVPs would be greatly appreciated. Service Auction 2008 This is our largest fundraising event ever. The goal for this year is. $12,000. Date: Saturday February 23, 2008 Place: Flat Rock Brook Nature Center 443 Van Nostrand Ave. Englewood. NJ Time: 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM Come early - stay late. We will provide a light meal and drinks. Please stay to the end to enjoy all of the entertainment and fun. And. bring guests! Pick up guest passes for free guest admission at Sunday services. 9th annual UUCP JAZZEvent The Racial & Social Justice Team announces that our annual Jazz event will take place on Friday, May 16, 2008, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Puffin Cultural Forum. Please join us! UU Events General Interest Black History Show Black History Show Bergen Performing Arts Center Exhibition: February 1 - February 29, 2008 Reception: February 21st, 2008, 5 -7pm 30 N Van Brunt Street Englewood NJ 07631 Show can be viewed 11am - 6pm, Monday - Saturday For information call 201-227-1030 In this exhibition :: Ellsworth Ausby :: James Edmonds :: Jacqueline Collier :: Jamillah Jennings :: Cassandra Jennings Hall Yin Yang 30x40 The Crones Kate Liebhold is one of "The Crones" (a dynamic dozen or so women who meet for coffee on Tuesday mornings, pulling together enough tables to make one large circle) who are having a "meet-the-artist" reception at Starbucks, 17 East Palisade Avenue in Englewood, on Friday, February 17, 5:00-7:00 PM. Last year, we mounted a show at the Englewood Library - The Peaceable Queendom. This is a show of one work of each of the artists as well as two group tableaus. Hope you can join me this Friday and meet some lively ladies as well. If not, the show is up for the month of February for you to sample, as well as the coffee. About the Weekly Reader Submit all announcements/notices for publication in the Weekly Reader to WeeklyReader at UUCPalisades.org exactly as you want them to appear by 6:00 PM Wednesday of each week. The editor reserves the right to edit or not print based on the UUCP communication policy. E-mails that: . Cannot wait for the next weekly reader . Are of importance to the majority of the congregation, and . Pertain to official UUCP business should be sent exactly as you want them to appear to UUCP at uuserver.org. Other announcements should be sent to WeekReader at UUCPalisades.org. Announcements for services should be submitted in writing to the service coordinator at least 10 minutes before service begins. Service coordinators reserve the right to edit based on the UUCP program policy. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080214/84588cba/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: attC6.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 5664 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080214/84588cba/attachment-0001.jpg From jdking336 at gmail.com Wed Feb 20 14:56:30 2008 From: jdking336 at gmail.com (Jonathan King) Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:56:30 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Service Auction Catalog Preview Message-ID: Get it while it?s hot. Attached is our latest and greatest Service Auction catalog. It is great for getting a jump on what items you want to bid on, or to show to your friends. See you Saturday evening. The Service Auction Crew -- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080220/e63c8f52/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Service Auction Catalog Preview 2008.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 67192 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080220/e63c8f52/attachment-0001.obj From MBStaw at aol.com Wed Feb 20 10:57:45 2008 From: MBStaw at aol.com (MBStaw at aol.com) Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:57:45 EST Subject: [UUCP] Fwd: Upcoming Dedicated Collection - Sunday, February 24, 2008 Message-ID: **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080220/8e226fb2/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: MBStaw at aol.com Subject: Upcoming Dedicated Collection - Sunday, February 24, 2008 Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:51:33 EST Size: 6708 Url: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080220/8e226fb2/attachment.mht From jdking336 at gmail.com Wed Feb 20 20:18:16 2008 From: jdking336 at gmail.com (Jonathan King) Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:18:16 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Weekly Reader for Wednesday 2008 February 20 to Tuesday 2008 February 27 Message-ID: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades Weekly Reader for Wednesday 2008 February 20 to Tuesday 2008 February 27 UUCP Congregational News Greetings from your Racial & Social Justice Team! The UUCP collection on Sunday, February 24, 2008 will be dedicated to the People's Organization for Progress (POP). POP is a grassroots organization that remains on the frontlines of the struggle for peace and justice. The organization's intense activity addresses numerous issues, including the war in Iraq, police brutality, violence in our communities, hospital closings, the Jena Six, racist violence, reparations, unemployment, education, health care, budget cuts, criminal justice, voting rights, civil rights, and human rights. As a member of the Peace and Justice Coalition of Bergen County POP annually co-sponsors The People's Peace Conference where "the grassroots speak". The enduring message is "Money for People's Needs Not War.!" Commemorating African American History Month this year POP in conjunction with the Unitarian Congregation of Montclair, Black Dialogues, Montclair Campaign for Peace and Justice, Military Families Speak Out, and Million Man Montclair is presenting a film series: Feb.11 - a screening of Greg Palast's "Big Easy to Big Empty : The Untold Story of the Drowning of New Orleans". Feb.25 - a screening of "Slave Reparations : The Final Passage, produced by Arlene Corsano, our UUCP member. On Feb.28 POP presents ""Slavery in New Jersey", a lecture by Dr. Larry Greene, Professor of History, Seton Hall University and Chair, Board of the NJ Historical Commission. POP led by its dedicated chairperson, Lawrence Hamm, accepts no money from government, political parties, or corporations, remaining free to "speak truth to power" in an uncompromising manner. Financial support comes from members and friends. The organization's resources often fall to critically low levels. Then is when their "All You Can Eat Dinner" fundraiser of homemade foods, lots of music, speakers, and cultural presentations becomes the proverbial 'finger in the dike'. Please give as generously as you are able knowing that the direct action work that POP does is 'on the ground' democracy in action. Thank you. UUCP Events Upcoming Sermons Feb 24 ? ?Evolution Sunday? ? Al Stawsky, Tom Gundling, and others ? UUCP joins with over 500 diverse congregations supporting the truth and teaching of evolution science and the coexistence of religion and science in a free society. March 2 ? (to be announced) ? Arlene Scala March 9 ? (to be announced) ? Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson March 16 ? (to be announced) ? Rev. Bob Fullilove March 23 ? (to be announced) ? Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson March 30 ? (to be announced) ? Social Justice Team Science and Humanist Study Group The next meeting will be Friday, February 29 at 7:00 PM and will be held at 25 Woodland Street in Tenafly. The subject will be: Medical Ethics The discussion will be led by Judy Stiller. Medical ethics covers a very wide area ? organ transplants, genetic engineering, abortion, cloning, euthanasia, allocation of limited medical resources and much more. In this meeting we will be discussing ethical questions regarding medical issues such as: ? Should I be allowed to end my own life when I am old and/or in severe pain? Under what circumstances? How? Should a doctor help me? ? If I have a baby born with a very severe handicap, what medical measures should be taken to help? Any measures? For how long? ? Do I have the right to request extremely expensive medical care which has a very slight chance of helping when there are so many people who can't afford medical care? ? Is it right to end one life (or potential life) in order to save - or to improve - many others" lives? If it involves microscopic, undifferentiated, petri dish embryos? Who decides? Advance readings will be distributed prior to the meeting. This should be a very interesting discussion on current issues where profound ethical, scientific, political and religious issues come together. For more information or directions please call Al Stawsky at 201-837-9075 or alynways at aol.com. RSVPs would be greatly appreciated. Service Auction 2008 This is our largest fundraising event ever. The goal for this year is? $12,000. Date: Saturday February 23, 2008 Place: Flat Rock Brook Nature Center 443 Van Nostrand Ave. Englewood. NJ Time: 6:30 PM ? 10:00 PM Come early ? stay late. We will provide a light meal and drinks. Please stay to the end to enjoy all of the entertainment and fun. And? bring guests! Pick up guest passes for free guest admission at Sunday services. 9th annual UUCP JAZZEvent The Racial & Social Justice Team announces that our annual Jazz event will take place on Friday, May 16, 2008, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Puffin Cultural Forum. Please join us! UU & District Events General Interest Black History Show Black History Show Bergen Performing Arts Center \ Exhibition: February 1 - February 29, 2008 Reception: February 21st, 2008, 5 ?7pm 30 N Van Brunt Street Englewood NJ 07631 Show can be viewed 11am - 6pm, Monday - Saturday For information call 201-227-1030 In this exhibition Ellsworth Ausby James Edmonds Jacqueline Collier Jamillah Jenning Cassandra Jennings Hall Yin Yang 30x40 The Crones Kate Liebhold is one of "The Crones" (a dynamic dozen or so women who meet for coffee on Tuesday mornings, pulling together enough tables to make one large circle) who are having a "meet-the-artist" reception at Starbucks, 17 East Palisade Avenue in Englewood, on Friday, February 17, 5:00-7:00 PM. Last year, we mounted a show at the Englewood Library ? The Peaceable Queendom. This is a show of one work of each of the artists as well as two group tableaus. Hope you can join me this Friday and meet some lively ladies as well. If not, the show is up for the month of February for you to sample, as well as the coffee. About the Weekly Reader Submit all announcements/notices for publication in the Weekly Reader to WeeklyReader at UUCPalisades.org exactly as you want them to appear by 6:00 PM Wednesday of each week. The editor reserves the right to edit or not print based on the UUCP communication policy. E-mails that: ? Cannot wait for the next weekly reader ? Are of importance to the majority of the congregation, and ? Pertain to official UUCP business should be sent exactly as you want them to appear to UUCP at uuserver.org. Other announcements should be sent to WeekReader at UUCPalisades.org. Announcements for services should be submitted in writing to the service coordinator at least 10 minutes before service begins. Service coordinators reserve the right to edit based on the UUCP program policy. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: Weekly Reader 20080220.doc Type: application/msword Size: 290816 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080220/c069a464/attachment-0001.doc From majbjohn at optonline.net Thu Feb 21 09:10:51 2008 From: majbjohn at optonline.net (maj-britt) Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:10:51 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Maj Thoughts and column Message-ID: <001701c8749b$f2f58a30$6401a8c0@client001> Dear UUCP members and friends, attached please find a minister's column. I'll be thinking about you this weekend. I'll be away working on my future, and you'll be in your second workshop with the district leadership, working on the congregation's. I hope many of you will attend, these are important sessions and it sounds like the first one was very productive and affirming. Best, Maj-Britt P.S. If you are unable to open this attachment let me know. I use Norton 360 which checks incoming and outgoing mail so no need to fear viruses I shouldn't think. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080221/5280bd74/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Maj Thoughts 2-08.doc Type: application/msword Size: 38400 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080221/5280bd74/attachment-0001.doc From Michael at Meyers-Jouan.name Wed Feb 27 22:37:16 2008 From: Michael at Meyers-Jouan.name (Michael S. Meyers-Jouan) Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:37:16 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Weekly Reader for Wednesday 2008 February 27 to Tuesday 2008 March 4 Message-ID: <100f01c879c3$a0535aa0$0301a8c0@dellbhf8711> Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades Weekly Reader for Wednesday 2008 February 27 to Tuesday 2008 March 4 Editor: Michael S. Meyers-Jouan UUCP Congregational News UUCP Events Upcoming Sermons Due to last week's snow storm my pre-candidating weekend out of town had to be rescheduled, therefore my preaching schedule as well. Arlene Scala kindly agreed to switch weekends with me. Thank you Arlene! - Maj-Britt March 2 - "Sacred Questions, Sacred Intentions" - Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson - The spiritual centering group participants and I have been asking ourselves some questions and doing some practices I'd like to share with the whole congregation. I hope they may even be helpful in your process of setting a new internal focus as a congregation. March 9 - "Audre Lord: No Hierarchy of Oppression" - Arlene Scala March 16 - (to be announced) - Rev. Bob Fullilove March 23 - "One Body, Different Members" - Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson - This will be our annual Easter service and will include a flower communion. The flower communion is a UU tradition, observed at Easter at UUCP and many other UU congregations, though some observe it later in the spring. We each bring a flower and leave with one another has brought. Read an interesting history of this tradition at http://www.uua.org/documents/zottolireginald/flowercommunion.pdf. March 30 - (to be announced) - Social Justice Team April 6 - "Stewardship: What I Do With All that I Have After I Say I Believe." - Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson - This will be a pre-Canvass, Stewardship service. In advance I ask you to meditate on the two parts of the title. Ask yourself: What do I have? In other words what are all my assets, material, intellectual, spiritual, and otherwise? Secondly: What will I say I believe? Sunday, March 2, 2008 is our next Food Collection Sunday On the first Sunday of each month we accept your canned food donations for the "Fishes and Loaves" Presbyterian mission, feeding the hungry. The staples at Food Pantries throughout Bergen County are dwindling while the number of needy folks is increasing. Whatever non-perishable, canned food donation you can make is greatly appreciated. To stay prepared to give, some of us have purchased several six-packs of canned fruit, and vegetables etc. at Costco in advance, and when the appropriate Sundays roll around we have this larder from which to choose. This might be a convenient method for some of you to try. We are so fortunate because once we bring our donation to the Sunday Service Cassandra Jennings Hall takes our offerings to the Bethany Baptist Church soup kitchen. Without Cassandra the whole operation would become so much more complex. Cassandra, we can't thank you enough! Looking forward to whatever you are able to contribute this Sunday. Thank you so very much. Your friendly, neighborhood Racial & Social Justice Team Science and Humanist Study Group The next meeting will be Friday, February 29 at 7:00 PM and will be held at 25 Woodland Street in Tenafly. The subject will be: Medical Ethics The discussion will be led by Judy Stiller. This rapidly expanding topic raises many new and difficult ethical questions posed by modern biomedical advances as well as many long standing ethical issues all entwined with politics, religion, and existing societal structures. The session will be held at the home of Andrew Pecorella at 25 Woodland Street in Tenafly. Directions: Traveling on Palisades Avenue in Englewood going East. . Pass the intersection with Grand Avenue/Engle Street, continue a distance and turn left at Woodland Street (this is the second left after passing Jones Road/Brayton Street and the immediate left after the Dwight Englewood school) . Continue on Woodland St. about 1 ? miles to number 25 on the right. This will be the second driveway after passing the intersection with Illingworth Avenue, where you will see a sign on the right: "Tenafly." . Number 25 is flanked by two pillars topped by griffins. Directions: From Clinton Avenue in Tenafly going East. . Make a right on to Woodland Street. Number 25 is about ? mile on the left. For more information or directions please call Al Stawsky at 201-837-9075 or alynways at aol.com. RSVPs would be greatly appreciated. 9th annual UUCP JAZZEvent The Racial & Social Justice Team announces that our annual Jazz event will take place on Friday, May 16, 2008, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Puffin Cultural Forum. Please join us! UU Events Women for Women International In honor of International Women's Day on March 8th, after the service on March 2nd, members of the congregation who are sponsoring victims of war through Women for Women International will be available to talk with those of you who would be interested in this wonderful program. ( www.womenforwomen.org) "By sponsoring a woman, you not only provide her with the financial assistance ($27/month) she needs to get back on her feet, but also the hope and emotional support that are the keys to rebuilding her life after war." Sponsorship material will be at the Social Justice table, and Maj-Britt, Judy Stiller, May, Lana and Judy Manton will be eager to share their experience at the UU Montclair church where staff members from their Washington office gave moving presentations. General Interest Paintings Exhibition February 1st, - March 31st, 2008 Manhattan Athletic Club 277 Park Avenue New York NY 212-583-3477 (use entrance on 48th Street Near Lexington Avenue) Cassandra Jennings Hall Abstract Artist dogwood blossums Dogwood Blooms series 8x8 Acrylic on Canvas Meet the Artist Date: Thursday, March 6th, 2008 Time: 6:00-8:00pm Where: Manhattan Athletic Club 277 Park Avenue New York, NY 10172 212-583-3477 More:(Use entrance on 48th Street near Lexington Avenue) Cassandra Jennings Hall now located at: Parkway Studios 5 Lawrence Street Building 8, 6 Floor Bloomfield NJ 07003 201-833-2914 www.cjenningshall.com, info at cjenningshall.com About the Weekly Reader Submit all announcements/notices for publication in the Weekly Reader to WeeklyReader at UUCPalisades.org exactly as you want them to appear by 6:00 PM Wednesday of each week. The editor reserves the right to edit or not print based on the UUCP communication policy. E-mails that: . Cannot wait for the next weekly reader . Are of importance to the majority of the congregation, and . Pertain to official UUCP business should be sent exactly as you want them to appear to UUCP at uuserver.org. Other announcements should be sent to WeekReader at UUCPalisades.org. Announcements for services should be submitted in writing to the service coordinator at least 10 minutes before service begins. Service coordinators reserve the right to edit based on the UUCP program policy. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080227/36f44fb3/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: att189.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 14722 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080227/36f44fb3/attachment-0001.jpg From jdking336 at gmail.com Fri Feb 29 19:05:34 2008 From: jdking336 at gmail.com (Jonathan King) Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:05:34 -0500 Subject: [UUCP] Notes from the Second Congregational Meeting Last Sunday Afternoon Message-ID: Hi everyone, Last Sunday we had the second in a series of two visioning workshops, which was attended by approximately 20 fellow congregants. As a review, the purpose of these workshops is to help us better define what we as a congregation want to focus on, for the coming year, and to start the work to determine the right size of our organization structure. The goal for these two workshops was to identify one primary method to strengthen our internal community through the coming year and one primary external community service or activity that we are uniquely suited to accomplish and is consistent with our vision. These sessions were facilitated by Andrea Lerner, District Executive and Doug Zelinski, Acting Program Consultant, for the UU Metro NY District. I have attached Doug?s notes from the second meeting below and as an attachment. In the upcoming weeks we will be talking about the the work that was done in these two workshops, and the importance of it to our congregation. I am very excited about what happened there and look forward to talking to you about it. Please feel free to ask me or any of the other congregants who attended this two workshops about it. Jon Becoming Distinctive and Right-sized UU Congregation of the Palisades Meeting 2 of 2, February 24, 2008 Approximately 20 UUCP congregants gathered at the Ethical Culture Society for the second of two meetings to determine how to be distinctive in the community and begin streamlining the organizational structure. What?s the bottom line? 1. Those present selected, for this year?s external focus, a coordinated effort to assert the UU message and the UUCP mission to the wider community during the May Jazz event. 2. This external focus dovetails with ?Articulating My Faith? as this year?s focus for internal programming. 3. Those not present at either meeting will have an opportunity, immediately after a Sunday service, to comment on the two foci selected, after which the Board will formalize the selections. 4. A Jazz Event Coordinator along with the Racial and Social Justice Team, the Marketing Team and a new Message Team will coordinate the planning and implementation of the external focus. 5. ?Articulating My Faith? and the Jazz/Evangelism event are envisioned as congregation-wide events for all UUCP members. 6. There are success measures. They include whether we follow through with our plans and how well we treat one another as we work. 7. Work toward these two foci will require us to cut resources and person-hours for other activities 8. Jane Dwinell, author of Big Ideas for Small Congregations, will help us decide how to trim or re-allocate our resources, and streamline our organizational structure. What activities make the participants at the meeting feel good about UUCP? 1. AIDS Quilt Concert 2. Being a Fair Share Congregation 3. Family Shelter 4. Walk-in Dinner 5. Jazz Event 6. 4th of July Parade 7. Eyes Wide Open Project 8. Consistently high-quality lay-lead services 9. Covenant of Right Relations 10. Choir ? singing and listening to music 11. Spiritual Centering Program 12. Small Group Ministry program 13. Joys and Concerns portion of service 14. Being with like-minded colleagues as we serve out in the community 15. How, in times of crisis, we function at a higher level ? supporting one another, transcending our differences, trusting one another to do their part. 16. The beloved community we create 17. Our mission statement 18. Run Against Racism 19. Immigrant rights efforts 20. That our religious professionals are called rather than appointed 21. That we are a Welcoming Congregation 22. That we walk our talk when it comes to GLBT welcome and inclusion What is the External Focus? How was it Selected? The facilitator asked and received permission to synthesize all statements above into two choices for their external focus for the year, both of which: 1. Flowed from the mission of the congregation, 2. Embodied the most energizing comments of the participants, 3. Capitalized on existing strengths of the congregation, 4. Seemed distinctive to the wider-community, and 5. Were ?right-sized? - realist and doable. The participants voted as follows: * 8 votes for capitalizing on the high-quality lay-lead service skills of the congregation to ?package? an anti-racism lay-lead service and deliver it to UU and non-UU congregations and other receptive ?external? venues. * 12 votes for making the 9th annual Jazz event an opportunity for intentional ?evangelization? by celebrating UUCP and its mission during the event, making sure speakers share the ?good news? of Unitarian Universalism, having every member bring at least one guest and ?articulate their faith? to the guest, and more?all in a welcoming, inclusive, non-threatening way. Regarding the voting itself, it was noted that how we respond to ?winning? or ?losing? this vote is a spiritual concern. Do we acknowledge the disappointment of those who lost? Do we appreciate how valuable the good will and passion of both sides is? Will we reunite around the chosen activity? What are the Success Indicators for the Jazz/Evangelism Event Participants identified what ?success? of the Jazz/Evangelism Event would look like: 1. Increased public visibility of UUCP and its distinctive mission - so ?closeted UUs? know we are here. a. The number of images and sound bites that declare this is a UUCP event and what UUCP?s mission is. b. Press coverage c. Distributing outreach brochures d. Personally sharing our connection to UUCP to people at the event e. That the agenda, as planned and executed, reflects these goals 1. Increased sense of cooperation and accomplishment for UUCP members. a. The number of UUCP members that participate in this project and follow through on their commitments. b. How well we treat one another as we do this project i. We support each other ii. Cooperate iii. Really listen rather than just wait for our turn to talk iv. We include all v. We appreciated one another vi. We trust in those making decisions, we don?t second guess them, we support the decisions even if we disagree. vii. We hold ourselves and one another accountable. The following third measure of success is proposed by the facilitator based on discussions with Leyn, the ?Jazz Event Coordinator?, after the Sunday workshop. 1. Increased appreciation for the UU faith and the mission of UUCP. > 1. Members can remember and describe the feelings and reasons they first chose > to affiliate with Unitarian Universalism. > 2. Members can describe one joyful moment at UUCP and identify one important > lesson they have learned by being a member of UUCP. > 3. Members know the mission of the church and know how their skills and > talents, as well as their shortcomings, currently fit with that mission. > 4. In time for the May event, each UUCP member can i. Each describe how the UUCP congregation has made a heartfelt difference in their life - in one easily comprehended sentence. ii. Each say why Unitarian Universalism matters to the world - in one easily comprehended sentence. iii. Extend an invitation to a future UUCP event with pride and confidence. How will this get done? The implementation organization is as follows: Jazz Event Coordinator ? Leyn: 1. Reminds himself and others of the overarching goals of the event 2. Calls meetings so the team leaders can: a. Integrate their plans b. Set the overall Time Line c. Discuss progress, revise the Time Line. d. Offer appreciation, support and assistance to one another and to the teams. e. Solve unforeseen challenges 3. Tracks activities against the overall Time Line. 4. Lets the congregation know the jobs needed to be done by volunteers. 5. Keeps it all simple. The Teams: 1. Racial and Social Justice Team ? Wally, May, Ron, Al, Barbara, Lana, Jerry and others: a. Manages the logistics as in year?s past. b. Provides logistics information to other teams so they can integrate their activities c. Remains open to changes so the event reachs it?s overall goals 2. Message Team (new team name needed?) ? Bonnie, Eddie, May, Brandy, Wally, Sydelle, Renee a. Understands the audience and defines the message that: i. Celebrates UUCP and its Mission ii. Explains Unitarian Universalism in an accessible and entertaining way. iii. Invites people to explore UU and UUCP. b. Coordinates the message with the messengers c. Coordinates the evenings agenda to meet the overall goals d. Works with the Marketing Team to create the event branding and by-lines. 3. Marketing Team - ??: a. Works with the Message Team to create the event branding and by-lines b. Creates and distributes the marketing materials. c. Advertises and promotes the event 4. Each team is encouraged to have a process observer during every meeting. At the end of the meeting the observer comments on meeting dynamics relative to Success Indicator #2b, above. -- Jonathan King, President Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades Phone: (201) 569-2238 Fax: (201) 336-9127 Web: www.uucpalisades.org Email: Jdking336 at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080229/717c805f/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Distinctive and Right-Sized - Meeting 2 notes.doc Type: application/octet-stream Size: 52224 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.uuserver.org/pipermail/uucp/attachments/20080229/717c805f/attachment-0001.obj