Circle
of Fellowship
The
First
A
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
The
Rev. Margaret Hart, Minister 439-8375 (cell), 668-1268
(home)
Andrea
Abbott, Lay Speaker 635-7122
Janie
Garlow, President 436-2238
Ronna
Schindler, Religious Education Coordinator 623-7685
Rita
Thornton, Director of Music 699-4824
Our
church building is handicapped accessible.
Routes
49 West & 11, Post Office
Telephone:
668-6821
OUR
The
mission of the First Universalist Society of
welcoming,
diverse congregation, which values spiritual growth and
service
to the local and world community.
_______________________________________________________________
June
2008
MINISTERIAL
MUSINGS
Dear
Friends,
I don’t know about you, but I have found this to be a long and
challenging
year. I feel that many of us need a break, a change, a bit of
rest
and relaxation this summer. I look forward each summer to a
trip to
growing
up. I’ll be heading there for my vacation in early August.
Vacations can be stressful, as well as enjoyable. Sometimes just
working
to get ready and packed is more than we can bear. And then, if we
think
we have to empty our “in boxes” and make plans for everything that
might
happen in our absence, it hardly seems worth leaving.
Going on vacation can be seen as a spiritual discipline or pilgrimage. It
is
something we know will be good for us when we actually do it, but how
we
go about it is important. There is a certain amount of intention,
planning,
and preparation involved, and then there needs to be a time of
letting
go and being present in the moment. I hope you all experience
peace,
revitalization, and a bit of humor this summer and truly enjoy
yourselves.
I also hope to see you from time to time in church this summer.
I’ll be
around
most of the summer, so I’d love to talk with you. You can reach me
by
e-mail (marghart@a-znet.com)
or phone (315 668-1268 or 439-8375).
With love and respect,
Margaret
The
Saturday,
June 14.
The event was to include a rummage sale and an auction as well as
vendors
from the
CONGREGATION
RE-ELECTS JANIE GARLOW
Janie Garlow was re-elected president of the congregation for the
church
year 2008-2009 at the congregation’s annual meeting on
Sunday,
June
1.
Those elected include Bob Haskell vice president,
treasurer,
Kim Shuler-Teachout recording secretary, Chrishanthi Squires
corresponding
secretary and Steve Shuler registrar. Ann Peterson was
elected
trustee for three years. Winfield Ihlow continues as trustee for
one
year,
and Arne Hook for two years. John Landers was elected to the
Nominating
Committee for three years. Marilyn Nye continues on the
Nominating
Committee for one year, and Mary Perkins for two years.
In other business, the congregation approved a budget of $37,300 for
the
coming church year as presented by
Committee.
Because the church has less money than it hoped for, the
budget
proposes that the minister’s position be reduced to one-quarter
time,
the repair of a stained-glass window be postponed and the position
of
administrative assistant be eliminated.
Judy Linder presented the treasurer’s report and cited a shortfall in
money
contributed to the church.
The Rev. Margaret Hart made her annual report.
Kurt Schindler presented the
Committee reports were presented by Ann Peterson, Ministerial
Advisory
Committee; Winfield Ihlow and Ronna Schindler, Religious
Education
Committee; Arne Hook, Building and Grounds Committee;
Nancy
Haskell, Worship Committee;
Committee;
and Rita Thornton, Music Committee. Arne Hook also read a
report
by Nancy Hallock, chair, Social Justice Committee. The
congregation
voted to accept the reports.
Those present voted to accept the following recommendation forwarded
by
Patricia Cerro-Reehil, chair, Worship Committee, to
who
presided over the meeting:
“It is the recommendation of the Worship Committee to keep the church
open
every Sunday of every month. Members of the congregational
community
need a place to worship and feel comforted by fellow members
and
friends. If the doors are closed, we are not fulfilling our mission.
“Services during the summer months can be led by congregational
members,
visiting ministers or lay speakers. The summer services can be
slightly
less formal in style (still following the "template" for services, but
with
less focus on a sermon per se). Following the "template" is most
important
as our Unitarian Universalist routine becomes a significant part
of
the spiritual experience. In place of a sermon, meditation and/or music
or
spiritual readings by members will nicely fill the time.
“It is our hope that the Board will endorse the recommendation of the
Worship
Committee and keep the church open every Sunday of every
month.”
the
past year.
It was announced that the Community Fun Day planned for Saturday,
June
14, had been postponed.
Mary Perkins, recording secretary, read the minutes of the
congregational
meeting of June 2007. The minutes were approved.
Those present thanked Kurt Schindler for the refreshments provided
prior
to the meeting.
A LETTER OF THANKS
Dear Friends:
Please thank the members of your congregation for supporting the work
of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee with the Guest at Your
Table gifts of $360.00, which we received on February 4, 2008.
Since 1939, supporters like you have helped UUSC become a leading
voice in advancing human rights worldwide. We pledge to honor your
commitment to us through our efforts to defend the human right to water,
to abolish U.S.-sponsored torture, to ensure workers' rights, and to
preserve the rights of vulnerable people after disasters.
You can learn more about our work, our courageous program partners,
and ways you can become involved in the struggle for human rights at
www.uusc.org.
Thank you again for your generous contribution to our work promoting
human rights and social justice. Your support will make a real difference
in the lives of people in the
United States
and around the world.
Sincerely,
Charlie Clements, President and CEO
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
GREEN
MINUTE: DO GREEN BULBS CONTAIN MERCURY?
Yes, the energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) each contain
a
tiny amount of mercury but this amount is too small to pose a health
threat
according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Exposure
occurs only if the bulb breaks.
If a CFL breaks, do not use a vacuum to clean it up. Instead, ventilate
the
room
for at least 15 minutes, use a damp paper towel to clean up the
broken
glass and powder while wearing rubber gloves and place the
materials
in a sealed container. If you would like more information on safe
cleanup,
check out the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation’s
Web site: dec.ny.gov/chemical/8787.html.
What do you do when that CFL eventually burns out since it lasts 10
times
longer than the standard incandescent bulb? Don’t throw it in the
trash;
instead, contact your community’s recycling coordinator because
most
communities accept these bulbs during household hazardous waste
collection
events. To find out when your community is having one of these
events,
go to dec.ny.gov/chemical/8780.html. You can also find local
recycling
sites at epa.gov/bulbrecycling or Earth911.org. If your
community
doesn’t have hazardous waste collection, most Ace, True
Value
stores will recycle them.
Replacing three extensively used incandescent bulbs in your home with
CFLs
is the third step of the 1-2-3 Pledge. If you haven’t pledged to reduce
your
thermostat setting at home by one or more degrees, reduce your
driving
speed by two or more miles per hour and replace at least three
bulbs
with CFLs, please take a minute to consider this ─ you can save
nearly
$100 per year and save 1,320 pounds of carbon released into the
environment
if you take these three simple steps. If you want to know
more
about the 1-2-3 Pledge, check the bulletin board in the church dining
room
or ask a member of the Green Team.
─ The Social Justice Committee’s Green Team
THE
MARTINS BREAK THEIR HIPS
Mary Perkins and your newsletter editor have received several notes
from
Linda Martin-Morris of
The first reads:
“Jane and Hartley Martin (of
have
each suffered sequential hip fractures. Jane also fractured her
shoulder.
Both are rehabilitating in Lehigh Health and
Center
(
recovery
and to be discharged by June 1. Hartley’s injury was more
serious
and his rehabilitation (both mental and physical) is more
challenging.
We are currently unsure he will return to a semi-independent
life.
The Martins are planning to sell both homes and move nearer to their
daughter
Cathy in
An update received by Mary on Thursday, May 29, reads:
“Mom goes home today. David and his youngest daughter will visit her
starting
Sunday to do her chores and get her to her appointments.
“No
update on Dad. One day I think it will be – nursing home bound,
another
day I think he might pull off enough recovery for assisted living.
It’s
getting kind of frustrating for all that he is so variable.”
(Mary points out that David is the Martins’ son.)
A
HAPPY ADDITION
Madelena May was born to Cheryl and Mike DiGiovanni at 11:08 p.m. on
Friday,
May 23. She weighed 8 pounds and measured 20.5 inches. She
joins
her sister, Marra. Happy grandparents are Chet and Mary Perkins of
Hastings
and John and Gina DiGiovanni of
MEMBERSHIP
COMMITTEE
Thanks to Andrea Abbott and Arne Hook, Marcia Burrell-Ihlow and
Winfield
Ihlow and Kim Shuler-Teachout for serving as greeters and/or
hosting
the coffee hour. We need volunteers for June. If you would like to
help,
see someone on the Membership Committee or use the signup sheet
in
the dining room.
Don’t forget to give our guests a warm welcome to our church and get to
know
them better during coffee hour.
─ Chet Perkins
SOME
THOUGHTS FROM YOUR PRESIDENT
My
Dear Friends,
There is a saying that I see on tee shirts, caps, cups, what have you. I
have
two or three items myself. It reads: “LIFE IS GOOD.” I have learned
that
part of having a good life is about the choices we make. It is not
always
easy to make the right choice and there is no absolute choice. We
should
not run others’ lives, but we do have a responsibility to shape and
form
our own life through our good choices. Affirm and reaffirm life by
taking
the high road. I have learned the hard way that if we are indecisive
or
procrastinate it will keep us from moving forward and drain our energy.
If
I waited long enough there was no choice to be made -- good or bad.
During our stewardship campaign, I enjoyed meeting with one of our
new
members. She told me an analogy she recently read in a book by
James
Patterson. It went something like this: Life is like juggling five balls.
One
ball represents work; the other four are integrity, family, health and
friends.
If you drop the work ball, it is made of rubber and will bounce
back,
if you drop any of the other four they will chip or break because they
are
made of glass. Take care and honor these four balls by making the
right
choices. They are priceless and once broken not easy to mend.
On the other hand, we can make every effort to live a good life but there
are
circumstances we do not have any control over: for example, the
recent
floods and earthquakes in
unpredictable
role of existence does play a role in all our lives for good or
for
bad. Our determination to always make good choices will help us grow
through,
not merely go through, misfortune. “LIFE IS GOOD!” Choose
well!
Namaste,
Janie
VIDEO DISCUSSION GROUP
The Video Discussion Group will meet at the church at 7 p.m. on Friday,
June 13.
Subject to change of course, plans call for the showing of some of the
following segments from the PBS program, “Bill Moyers Journal”:
● International lawyer and law professor Philippe Sands, author of
“Torture Team,” talks about the approval of coercive interrogation by
high-level American officials.
● The
California
Nurses Association proposes “CheneyCare” for what
ails
America
.
● Melody Petersen talks with Moyers about her new book, “Our Daily
Meds,” and how pharmaceutical companies market medication.
COFFEE AND CHAT
Women and men of the church will gather for Coffee and Chat at Panera
Bread on Route 31 in Clay at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18.
All are welcome to join in casual conversation and to enjoy coffee or tea
and other goodies.
The women’s and men’s groups meet separately. For information about
the women’s group, you may contact Nancy Haskell. For information
about the men’s group, you may contact Chet Perkins.
EXTENDED CHOIR PRACTICE
Extended choir rehearsal will be conducted from 10 a.m. to noon on
Saturday, June 14.
─ Rita Thornton
DOWNSTAIRS SCOTTY
Remember the Downstairs Scotty as you shop. Our congregation's
contributions to this local program are non-food items: soap, detergent,
bathroom and facial tissues, toothpaste, and the like. Our collection box is
in the East Room, under the water dispenser.
RETURN THOSE BOTTLES
You may continue to help the environment and make money for the
church by leaving your returnable bottles at the church.
For some time now, Larry Linder has been
taking the bottles from the
church
bottle recycle can to a deposit center and giving the cash to the
church
treasurer.
CALENDAR
June
8 ─ 9:30 a.m., Choir practice. 10:30 a.m., Worship service led by Andrea
Abbott, lay speaker. 11 a.m., RE classes.
13 ─ 7 p.m., Video Discussion Group.
15 ─ 9:30 a.m., Choir practice. 10:30 a.m., Worship service led by the
Rev. Margaret Hart. Flower Communion. Please remember to bring a
flower or leafy twig with you. 11 a.m., Last day of religious exploration
classes until September 7.
18 ─ 9:30 a.m., Coffee and Chat at Panera Bread.
22 ─ 9:30 a.m., Choir practice. 10:30 a.m., Worship service. To be
announced.
29 ─ 9:30 a.m., Choir practice. 10:30 a.m., Worship service. To be
announced.
July
6 ─ 10:30 a.m., Worship service. To be announced.
10
─ 12:30 p.m., CNY Cluster.
13
─ 10:30 a.m., Worship. Rita leads; dress as your favorite hymn.
16
─ 9:30 a.m., Coffee and Chat at Panera Bread.
19
─ Board Retreat at the Garlow home.
20
─ 10:30 a.m., Worship service led by the Rev. Margaret Hart.
22
─ Sunset service to celebrate centennial of the church.
27
─ 10:30 a.m., Worship service led by
Andrea Abbott, lay speaker.
August
3
─ 10:30 a.m., Worship service led by
Andrea Abbott, lay speaker. (The
Rev.
Margaret Hart away for vacation.)