Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg, VA June 2017
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION
1301 Gladewood Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Website: www.uucnrv.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (540) 552-9716
NEWSLETTER June 2017
Year 52, Issue 6
The picture on the left depicts our daughter Sarah’s dedication ceremony at UUC with then minister, Rev. Christine Brownlie. On the right is the day of Sarah’s recent senior prom. As you can tell, she travels at the beat of her own drummer and chose to wear a pants suit rather than the traditional long dress. So this child (and her brother), literally born into Unitarian Universalism at UUC, is growing up and moving away from us. As her Mom, this makes me both happy and sad, but mostly full of gratitude for all the people
who have supported her, Jim, and myself in this messy, confusing, joyful, stressful, ride of parenthood. Her UU sense of self is buried deep in her heart through many years of religious education, writing her credo in Coming of Age, and most recently as a member, and then leader of YRUU. After a summer of work leading backpacking trips at the UU Retreat Center in NC, The Mountain, she will head to Switzerland to follow in YRUU alumna, Luna Moore’s footsteps and work for a year at a Waldorf-type school in the Alps learning German, skiing, and making lifelong friends from around the world. After that, who knows, likely back to Virginia and VCU to study cinema. But a lot can happen in a year, as I have found.
This year is winding down for me as UUC Board President. I am so filled with gratitude for all the people that helped me along the way. As I write this, I am sitting in my favorite coffee shop, the Radford Coffee Co., which ironically is where our beloved minister, Rev. Dara, told the Executive Board 1½ years ago that she was leaving us to be closer to family in California. After congratulating her, Molly Lazar, Margo Walter, and I looked at each other with wide eyes wondering, as UUC’s leaders, how we could move on from that moment. Fast forward to today, another spring day in the same coffee shop, and we have come so far! First we formed an Interim Search Committee to find our wonderful accredited Interim Minister, Don Rollins. Then we created a Ministerial Search Committee that worked tirelessly to bring us Pam Philips as our soon-to-be Settled Minister! Meanwhile the Board learned on the run how to further our move towards a Program Church Model and to establish a new governance model at UUC.
This is my last newsletter article as President. Next weekend I will lead my last Congregational Meeting. The agenda is full including our vote to select an additional social justice focus (the most controversial of the items). The Gardiner Model for social justice is new to us and was brought to our attention by Rev. Don. It’s one of the many changes suggested to us by Rev. Don in addition to how we do Joys & Concerns, institution of a new Board structure, and adding more staff hours to our LFD program.
I thank the Board for its willingness to try new ideas while supporting our fundamental core of UUC. I also thank our Stewardship Committee for their efforts resulting in the highest number of pledges ever; the Search Committee for finding a great new settled minister; the Finance Committee for striving and succeeding in preparing a balanced budget; Strategic Planning for developing a Vision Statement for us to vote on and adopt; the Grounds Committee for toiling endlessly on our beautiful space; and through it all, our Interim, Don Rollins for looking at us with a bird’s eye view and working to make us better than ever. I am so grateful for his help and wish him the best on his next adventure. Thanks to all of you for all you do for UUC. I know I have merely scratched the surface in my thanks, but this congregation is better and stronger due to all of you. Thank you!
Signing out as UUC President, Carol Kern
Message of Gratitude from Our President
Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg, VA 2 June 2017
Interim Minister: Rev. Don Rollins [email protected]
President: Carol Kern 540-357-1918 [email protected]
Director of Lifespan Faith Development:
Karen Hager 540-577-8043 [email protected]
Administrator/ Newsletter/Website:
Lisa Evanylo 540-257-3612 [email protected]
Pianist: Jared Gibbs [email protected] Choir Director: Ella Kromin [email protected]
Lay Pastoral Care Ministry: [email protected] UUC Website: uucnrv.org
UUC Office Phone: 540-552-9716
Minister Emerita: Rev. Christine Brownlie
Contact Information
Staff Office Hours:
Interim Minister:
Unavailable — time off for vacation and study beginning June 4.
Administrator:
Mondays 9-12, Fridays 1-4
DLFD:
Contact for appointment.
Upcoming Events
Our Mission:
Inspire. Create. Transform.
Inspire spiritual and ethical growth.
Create compassionate community.
Transform our community and the world through
courageous love.
Annual Congregational Meeting
All members are requested to attend the annual UUC business
meeting on Sunday, June 4 immediately following the service.
Members will vote on new officers, the budget for fiscal year 2017-
18, a social justice focus for the congregation (in addition to our
Mental Health Justice Ministry), and changes to the bylaws. If you
can’t attend in person, please give your proxy to another member.
You can also email your proxy form to Lisa. All info for the meeting
can be found at http://uucnrv.org/members_area/annual-
meeting.html. Childcare provided.
Annual Goods & Services Auction Save the date for UUC’s 2017 Service Auction – Saturday, November 11 at 5 PM. The theme this year is The Wild West. Join us as we gather to have fun at our 27th annual service auction. This is the major FUNdraising event that our community holds each year to support the congregation-approved annual budget. While raising money is important (this year’s goal is $18K), building connections within our cong-regation is also a priority, so join us for this FUN-filled evening for adults. We’ll also have extra special, FUN activities and food for the children. The theme for this year’s children’s party, once again expertly planned by Rachel Craine, will also involve The Wild West. The auction website will open at the end of August so all will have plenty of time to enter exciting, community-enhancing offerings. Questions? Want to help? Contact the auction co-chairs, Joe and Linda Powers or attend the next Service Auction Team meeting at 11:30 AM on Sunday, June 25 in room 5.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg, VA 3 June 2017
Second-Sunday Potluck Everyone is invited to enjoy lunch together following the service on June 11. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet new people while sharing a delicious meal. This month, if your last name begins with En-Hap, bring a beverage; Lan-Z bring a main dish; A-Em and Har-Lam bring a side dish or dessert. Don’t forget your list of
the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies. Please be sure to bring a LARGE DISH as there are many mouths to feed and to be considerate of those at the end of the line that are also hungry. As always, bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Sanctuary.
Two Mental Health Support Groups at UUC
On Monday, June 19 at 6 PM, our two community mental health support groups will meet at UUC. One group is designed for those with a mental health illness themselves, and the other group is for family and friends of those with a mental illness. Both are facilitated by professionals from Community Services. All are welcome. Contact Margo Walter for more info.
EarthSpirit Sisters (ESS) Full Moon Ritual & Summer Solstice
Celebration
The monthly EarthSpirit Sisters full moon ritual will be held on Friday, June 9 at 6:30 PM at Darla Bray’s home. For more information and directions, contact Diane Jackson.
ESS will celebrate the Summer Solstice on Wednesday, June 21 at 6:30 PM at the home of Ash Mills, 175 Penn Rd. NW, Floyd. Email Ash for directions from the light in the town of Floyd.
The ritual will be outside with a lovely
fire pit to dance around. All are welcome to bring
drums, rattles, and the like to joyfully greet the
longest day of light in the wheel of the year with
the heartbeat of our drums. Bring a dish or snack
to share. All are welcome to linger after the ritual
to enjoy abundance, light, and laughter.
Women’s Lunch Bunch
All UUC women are warmly invited to share lunch together on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of every month at noon, no reservations required. On June 2, we’ll gather at Outback on Pepper's Ferry Rd., Christiansburg. The lunch menu is quite varied and relatively inexpensive. On June 16 we’ll try a new place, Preston's at the River Course - 8400 River Course Dr., Fairlawn. Turn left onto Viscoe Rd. off of Pepper's Ferry Rd. and then left again onto River Course Dr.
50+ Singles’ Group Gathering
Over 50 and single? Join the fun on Saturday, June 3, at 9 AM in the Cascades trailhead parking lot for a hike to the falls and/or coffee or lunch at Panera on University City Blvd. in Blacksburg at 1:30 PM. No
RSVP required, just come if you can! Contact Annie for more info.
UUC Membership Directory Update Scheduled
Plan ahead and mark your calendars for October 3-7 when we’ll be asking all our members and friends to come in for portraits as we are updating our photo member directory. You will be able to schedule your session online. We will again be working with LifeTouch Photography. Be assured that you are under no obligation to make any purchases. More details as the date gets closer.
Opportunity to Take Action
William Morva, former member of YRUU in the late 90s, has been sentenced to be executed in Virginia on July 6 for two murders. Check the website, https://www.mercyformorva.com, created by Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center, for information about Will's situation and his mental illness, sign a petition and learn more about writing letters to Gov. McAuliffe requesting that he commute the death sentence to life in prison without parole.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg, VA 4 June 2017
Lifespan Faith Development
Summer RE Summer RE begins June 11!
Our Summer RE program for grades K-5 is an exciting new program by our
own, Rachel Craine! “Books and Cooks” introduces UU kids to cultural cooking
through books from around the world. Blessings, great stories and delicious
food guarantee a great time for our budding sous chefs as they learn to make
food from around the world! Sushi, mango lassis, tortillas, pancit and gumbo
are just some of the wonderful food that will be made this summer!
Here’s what’s cooking in June:
All recipes are vegetarian, and recipe cards will be provided if your chef would like to recreate the
culinary experience at home with family! Yum!
“Books and Cooks” is for kids in grades K-5. We begin each Sunday at 10:00 AM. Please note that
kids do not go into the sanctuary first during the summer.
PreK
Preschoolers have their own Sunday Funday program each Sunday morning.
Bring a toy to share as we play together and enjoy a story. Ages 3 - rising
kindergarteners.
Those moving to the PreK room this fall are invited to join Sunday Fundays this
summer to begin the transition. Parents are welcome to stay as needed to help
with the transition.
Fall registration opens in June!
Watch your email for more info.
Date Book Blessing Recipe
June 11 Everybody Cooks Rice Chinese Rice Balls
June 18 Hiromi’s Hands / Yoko Japanese Vegetable Maki Sushi Rolls
June 25 Apple Pie 4th of July Buddhist Microwave Single Serving Apple Pie
Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg, VA 5 June 2017
On-Going Classes Meditation Group
Meets Tuesdays 7-8 PM
Our meditation group meets weekly for those interested in starting or deepening their
meditation practice. Our format is drop-in, so you need not attend all sessions. Open with
centering words and basic instruction, followed by sitting practice. Meditators from all
traditions and all levels of experience are welcome.
Conversations on Our Faith
Meets Wednesdays 12-1 PM
Bring a brown bag lunch and join our conversation as we read the book, From Bacteria to Bach and Back:
The Evolution of Minds, by Daniel C. Dennett. All are welcome, even if you have not read the chapters of
the book under discussion. Group members share their insights and personal experiences, and all
thoughts and opinions are welcome. To learn more, contact Tim Pickering.
Summer Tai Chi Class
Tai chi returns this summer to UUC!
Bruce Cantrell, long-time instructor in the Senior Program at the Blacksburg Community Center, has
once again generously offered to teach a free Tai Chi (Temple Style) class at UUC.
"Introduction to Temple Style Tai Chi" will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 10-11 AM in Elarth Hall. The class will run June 13-August 3.
This class is open to all ages, is free, and is sponsored by Blacksburg Parks
and Recreation Department.
For additional information on Temple Style Tai Chi, visit Bruce’s website at
www.sadasae.com.
In the UUC Library
Speaking of Faith: Why Religion Matters—And How to Talk About It, by
Krista Tippett. Krista Tippett is one of the country's most intelligent and
insightful commentators on religion, ethics, and the human spirit. With this
book, she draws on her own life story and her intimate conversations with
both ordinary and famous figures, including Elie Wiesel, Karen Armstrong,
and Thich Nhat Hanh, to explore complex subjects like science, love, virtue,
and violence within the context of spirituality and everyday life. Her way of
speaking about the mysteries of life -and of listening with care to those who
endeavor to understand those mysteries - is nothing short of revolutionary.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg, VA 6 June 2017
May Board Meeting Highlights
Several Board members participated in a web conference which covered the nine commit-ments of a Board in Policy Governance.
The proposed budget for 2017-18 was approved.
The Board reviewed its evaluation of Rev. Don and his self-evaluation.
The Board approved presenting the proposed Vision Statement developed by Strategic Planning for a vote at the Annual Meeting.
The next Board meeting will be held on Thursday, June 15 at 7 PM. The minutes and reports of meetings for the past two calendar years are available. Contact administrator for login info.
Questions, Ideas , Complaints for the Board: Simply send an email to [email protected].
UUC Community News
Update on ½-Plate Donations
Thanks to your generosity, UUC continued its practice of helping others in both our community and beyond. The May recipients and amounts donated were:
May 7: Bending the Arc of Justice, $292
May 14: VA CARES FAST (housing for ex-prisoners), $233
May 21: Blacksburg Refugee Partnership, $134
May 28: UU Church of Spartanburg, SC (Chalice Lighter call), $130
Watch the weekly announcements and website for the coming weeks’ ½-plate recipients. Have a suggestion—fill out the form in Elarth Hall.
Honor Roll We at UUC would like to honor people who, in the last few years, have given generously above and beyond their pledges to help realize the vision and mission of our congregation. Thank you very much! If you have made a recent donation to UUC and are not listed below, please contact Bill Baker, Treasurer.
1. Bill and Susan Baker Donated to landscaping and information systems 2. Don and Susan Blanchard Forgave member loan 3. Art Buikema Art donation 4. Jim and Pauletta Copenheaver Paid down the mortgage 5. Frank and Marilyn DuPont Art donation 6. Lisa and Greg Evanylo Paid down the mortgage 7. Earle Irwin and Bob Lineberry Donation to Search Committee 8. Leon Kok Donation of grand piano 9. Julia and Roger Lewis Donation of area rug for worship program 10. Bobbie and Jim Littlefield Donation of airpot coffee maker 11. Sally Mook Art donation 12. Nancy Norton Donation of teal hymnals 13. Tim Pickering Donation for landscaping (tree removal) 14. Linda and Joe Powers Forgave member loan 15. Janet and Craig Turner Paid down the mortgage
2017 Pledge Campaign Comes to a Close
The 2017-18 UUC pledge drive has ended, and we have good news! The 150 pledges received sets a new record, and all of us involved in the campaign are very thankful to all who pledged to support the con-gregation financially. A total of $289,071.62 was pledged. We’re grateful for every penny and are confi-dent this money will be put to great use in our many programs. While the campaign won’t enable us to fully fund our stretch (or “wish”) budget which had a goal of $333,400, it does allow us to address some of the additional goals we were hoping to achieve in the coming year. As an example, our DLFD (Director of Lifespan Faith Development) will be paid for additional hours each week enabling her to work more on our Adult Enrichment Program. So, thanks again for your generosity of both spirit and money.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg, VA 7 June 2017
Unitarian Universalist Congregation Sunday Services June 2017
Services at 10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall Religious Education Classes and Nursery Care All are invited to share coffee & conversation following the service.
June 4: Rev. Don Rollins, Of Flowers, Music and Stories. Don's last service at UUC will include our annual Flower Communion as well as stories and music. UUC’s Choir will also sing. Please bring a flower for each member of your family and an extra or two for our visitors. This is an intergenerational service (no RE).
June 11: Rev. Kirk Ballin, Getting High: Changing One's State of Mind. We all probably have some preconceived ideas and images in our minds when we hear the phrase, "Getting High". Rev. Kirk hopes to make some modifications to those preconceived ideas and images. It’s a topic that goes to the heart of our being human. Rev. Kirk is a part time Visiting Minister to the Harrisonburg UUs and is a Program Coordinator of AgrAbility Virginia. UUC’s Choir will sing at the service and will then be on summer hiatus until August.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share.
June 18: Alan Forrest, Self-Compassion and Loving-Kindness through Meditation. Do you ever find it difficult to experience compassion and self-love? How often do you engage in harmful self-talk that harshly criticizes and judges yourself? You cannot fully extend compassion and love to others if you’re unable to extend them to yourself. By bringing loving kindness into your life, you will gradually experience deeper levels of love and compassion; both for self and for others. Loving-kindness is a boundless love that softens and opens the heart. It’s important to note that loving-kindness also includes the essential qualities of compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. This session will provide an overview of self-compassion and loving-kindness, a loving-kindness meditation, and how you can integrate them into your life as a way of cultivating inner healing. Dr. Forrest, Ed.D. is a Professor in the Department of Counselor Education at Radford University.
June 25: George Lally with Worship Associate David Lally, Annual Poetry Service. How does poetry inspire us and invite us to examine ourselves in the world in which we live? Members and friends are invited to bring and share poems, either their own or those written by others that they admire. Jim Kern will provide the music with a special contribution from Willie Caldwell.
July 2: Eric Thomas and Helen Wolfson with Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, Gather the Spirit. This special musical service for all ages deals with the word, “spirit”, and what that word might mean to a humanistic UU. The word “spirit” is often bandied about in UU congregations, but it seems to mean different things to different people. In this service, we visit the concept of spirit from a humanist perspective and discover that the word embodies a core concept that can be meaningful to the humanist. Eric and Helen are members of the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF) in Durham, NC. Eric is a singer/songwriter/guitarist and half of the musical duo, Constellation. Helen, plays the hammered dulcimer and makes up the other half of the duo. For samples of their music, go to this link.
By request, the links to the podcasts of Rev.
Don’s sermons will be deleted from our website within the next few weeks. Past ministers will
be contacted to see if they would like their sermons removed as well. The cumulative
calendar will still be available.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation CALENDAR: June 20171301 Gladewood Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060 Phone: (540) 552–9716 E-mail: [email protected] :P.O. Box 10116, Bburg 24062–0116 URL: uucnrv.org
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
(All Sundays)10:00 AM Worship Service &
Children's RE. No RE on June 4
(All Mondays)7:00 AM Women’s Breakfast7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast Both at Panera Bread
(Bburg)
(All Tuesdays)ℵ 7:00 Meditation
(All Wednesdays)ℵ Noon Conversations
on Our Faith 5:30 Yoga
17:00 Chour
rehearsal
2ℵ Noon Women's
Lunch Bunch: Outback (Cburg)
3ℵ 9:00 AM 50+
Singles-Group Hike to Cascades
1:30 50+ Singles-Group Lunch Panera (Bburg)
4ℵ 11:30 Annual Congregational
Meeting 11:45 Men's Group
5 62:00 Sages4:30 Mental-
Health Justice Ministry
76:00 Connection
Committee
77:00 Chour
rehearsal Committee
9ℵ 6:30 ESS Full-
Moon Ritual (offsite)
105:00 Parents'
Covenant Group
11ℵ 11:15 AM 2nd-Sunday Potluck11:30 Greeter Training2:00 Building committee
12 13ℵ 10:00 AM Tai
chi
145:45 Finance
Committee7:30 Worship Team
15ℵ 10:00 AM Tai
chi7:00 Board
meeting7:00 Chour
rehearsal
16ℵ Noon Women's
Lunch Bunch: Preston;s at the River Course (Fairlawn)
17
1811:20 Get-to-know UUC11:30 Greeter training11:30 Men's Group
19ℵ 6:00 Mental-Health
Support Group
20ℵ 10:00 AM Tai
chi2:00 Sages4:30 Mental-
Health Justice Ministry
7:00 Lay-Pastoral-Care Ministries
21ℵ 6:30 ESS Summer
Solstice (offsite)
22ℵ 10:00 AM Tai
chi9:00 July
Newsletter Deadline
23 24
2511:30 Auction meeting
26 27ℵ 10:00 AM Tai
chi
28 29ℵ 10:00 AM Tai
chi
30
Staff Office Hours: Admin: Mon. 9–12; Fri. 1– 4DLFD: By appointment
All times are PM unless noted otherwise
ℵ indicates that there is a write-up in the newsletter
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