1. religion and spirituality

The Beacon
June 2015
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville
901 W. Cleveland St., Fayetteville AR 72701
(479) 521-8422 | uuff.ar@gmail.com | www.fayettevilleunitarian.org
Sundays in June
June 7t h - "UU, Pacif ism and Mil it ary Service" Our denomination has as much or more
difficulty resolving our relationship to our country?s military, service members, war and our
military complex. As a diverse religious people, how do we have this conversation? Speaker Rev. Jim Parrish
*June 14t h - ?The Meaning of a UU 'Business' Meet ing? Our polity came from the Puritans
and Pilgrims congregationalism, but especially from a document known as the ?Cambridge
Platform.? It describes how religious liberals might get along, or sometimes not. Our Annual
UUFF Business Meeting will be held today! Members, please attend to the work of our
Fellowship! Speaker - Rev. Jim Parrish
June 21st - ?Fat hers, Dads, NASCAR and Gardens? You?d be surprised what a Dad or Father
really looks like. Really! Speaker - Rev. Jim Parrish
June 28t h ? ?Humanist Moral s? If morals are not handed down from ?on high,? then where
do they come from? Doug will explore morality and its human origins. Speaker - Doug
Krueger, Service Coord. - Joyce Mendenhall
Annual Meet ing
Sunday, June 14t h at 12:00 pm
At t ent ion al l UUFF Members: We will have a congregational
meeting on Sunday, June 14, 2015, beginning at 12:00 pm in the
Sanctuary.
Members wil l be vot ing on 3 it ems:
(1) New Vision Statement
(2) Election of Officers
(3) 2015-16 Proposed Budget
PLEASE NOTE: A meeting packet will be mailed to all current Members. Members who signed the Membership Book
LESS THAN 30 days before the congregational meeting may attend but will not be able to vote.
To Be Det ermined
June, 2015
Dear UUFF,
A simple report for June? same as I shared with our Board.
The church year is winding down, and I believe it is has been a good
year, maybe a great year. My mentors say to not try to do too much in
the first year of a call, to listen more than do, to learn as much as
possible before trying to change things. I find this advice sounds good
and wise, but in reality, it is not who we turned out to be as partners in religion? for the most part.
Just my stepping into UUFF changes things, and you are a dynamic people who recognized an
opportunity to grow and become, so we embarked on some initiatives that will take time to fully
fruit, but have great potential. Initiatives like restructuring the governance to recognize ministry as
what we do. We don?t ?board? or ?committee? ourselves into being religious people. Our board
and committees are the administrative structure that supports our doing Ministry!
Restructuring seems very ambitious, kind of like trying to ?do too much? the first year, but in
reality it has become a foundation of listening and learning for all of us. We used it to re-imagine
Stewardship, to Dream about our Vision and Mission, to ask questions about how things get done,
and why we do them. Which means we learned about who we are as a team, minister and
congregation, and that is a dynamic question, not answered by passivity, but movement.
This has been a great ?listening and learning? year, and we are accomplishing some of ?becoming?
on the way! It feels good, and I can?t wait for next year (except I do need some time to read,
recharge, and catch up)! Thanks UUFF!
Peace,
Rev. Jim
Sunday Services 11 am
7 Principles of Unitarian Universalism
Adult Spiritual Discussions/ Activities or Buddhist
Meditation 10-10:45 am
1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity, and compassion in human
relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement
to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and
meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations
and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty,
and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all
existence of which we are a part.
Children?s Religious Ed. (4+) 10-10:45 am
Nursery care (free) is available from 9:30-11:00 for
babies and toddlers to age 4 and from 11:00-12:15
for children 7 and under (or those with special
needs for whom attendance in the service would be
a hardship).
UUFF Mission: As a diverse faith community, we
promote justice and service while seeking personal
and spiritual growth.
Minister?s Schedule:
I tend to be in the office Tuesday through Thursday from 10am to 2pm, however call first to make sure I haven?t been
called away or have another appointment if you wish to drop by. Appointments are best! Either let the office know,
call at my Office Cell: 479-439-1415, or email me at revjim@fayettevilleunitarian.org or rev.jimparrish@gmail.com. I
want to meet with you! Except Mondays? Mondays are my day off! Exceptions for emergencies of course. .
Pl anned days out of t he of f ice f or June, 2015 (and a l it t l e more):
In Tulsa for Southwest UU Ministers Association meeting the third Thursday of every month
Ministry Days and General Assembly June 22nd - 28th
Time off and Personal time June 29th - July 3rd
More time off in July and August depending on family and meditation retreat schedules TBD
I tentatively plan to be in the pulpit July 12, Aug. 2 and Aug. 23 during the summer
BIG BAD GINA
l ive in concer t on
t he Sanct uar y St age
Sat ur day, June 13
7 PM
$15 admission
Al l pr oceeds t o benef it UUFF minist r ies
CAMPUU:
FEEDYOUR
SOUL
- Roc k t he Sanc t uar y!
- Celebr at e GLBTQ Pr id e mont h!
- Rais e f und s f or UUFF!
Brilliant acoustic to radical electric, Big Bad Gina is
genre hoppin' and folkin' rockin'. This all female
ensemble combines impressive multi-instrumentalism
with blissful 3-part harmonies. BBG is comrised of
former UUFF Music Director Renée Janski,
(Ethno-Amazon vocals, gypsy fiddle, and keyboard
kinesthetics); Jori Costello, (Singer/ songbird rocker,
guitar groovin, percussion pounding Goddess); and
Melodie Griffis (Global jazz Angel with the silky
soprano voice, keeping it rollin' on the bass and
guitars.)
Get r eady for our tr aditional childr en's sum m er pr ogr am m ing! Cam p UU w ill
m eet Su n days at 10AM st ar t i n g Ju n e 7t h for ages 4 thr ough teen in a m ulti-age
setting. This year 's them e is Feed Your Soul.
Volunteer s w ill intr oduce students to a sim plified spir itual pr actice and help
them identify w hich UU pr inciple or pr inciples it engages. Inter ested in helping
w ith this faith developm ent exer cise w ith the kids? Want to know m or e? Ready
to r egister your child(r en)? Contact Gini Gottm an - ginigottm an@gm ail.com .
NEW M EM BERS
Michelle Moe - Michelle and her husband Eric moved to our area from
Phoenix in early 2015. She has been delighted with the beautiful scenery
and the more liberal political climate in our area. Michelle was excited to
find UUFF as she was a UU in Arizona prior to their move. She felt at home
after attending UUFF for a few months and was eager to be more involved,
so decided to become a member! Michelle is interested in religious
education, social interaction with like-minded people and spiritual
exploration. She enjoys music and has been participating in the choir. Her hobbies include knitting, reading,
singing and hiking. She in very out-going and says that sometimes catches people by surprise.
Eric Moe - Eric and his wife, Michelle, are recent transplants from Arizona. Fayetteville came highly
recommended by friends and family. Eric started to attend UUFF in support of Michelle, but decided to join
as he found in us a welcoming place where he could give back to the community. He is also descended from
a famous UU ? ask him which one! Eric is very interested in Social Justice, has joined the choir and is
interested in Young Adult Programs. He enjoys cars, costuming, outdoor recreations and ?geeky things?, but
says folks who meet him are often surprised to find he is progressive and liberal.
Catherine Williams - Cat is a NW Arkansas native, growing up in Eureka Springs and moving to Fayetteville in
2008. She is not a newcomer to UUism either, having attended the church in Eureka when she was younger.
She started attending UUFF because she missed having a spiritual influence in her life and wanted to be part
of an open-minded and intelligent spiritual community. She decided to become a member in order to get
more involved in a group where everyone is accepted for who they are. Cat is particularly interested in the
CUUPs group, and would like to help with the grounds, possibly with nursery care and anything involving art.
In fact art of all sorts is one of her passions in life. She also enjoys writing, gardening, and outdoor activities
and is interested in animal welfare. She reports it surprises people to find out she is a certified welder!
Sacha Todd - Sacha has lived in NW Arkansas since 1998, but has only recently started attending UUFF on
the recommendation of a friend. She has greatly enjoyed our community, and the friendliness of our
members helped her decided to become a member. She is looking forward to enjoying the fellowship of our
services and activities and getting to know other people. Sacha would like to be helpful in any way she can.
Her hobbies include arts and crafts ? including painting, animals, baking and being a pen pal. Folks who meet
Sacha are often surprised at the wide variety of her interests.
Karl Brown - Born and raised in Fayetteville, Karl had never heard of UUFF until recently when he began
attending with his partner, Melanie Chandler, at the suggestion of a friend and out of his own curiosity. Karl
has found that he loves our fellowship and was excited to become a member. He is looking forward to
contributing to and learning from our community and would like to be helpful in any way he can. Karl is
interested in creation of any sort and reports people he meets are surprised at how mature he is for his age.
Melanie Chandler - Melanie is a native of Fayetteville. She and her partner, Karl Brown, first attended with a
university friend and found they loved our community. Melanie decided to become a member when she
realized she had found a community that thinks and feels in ways she agrees with and can rejoice in. She
finds a sense of community very appealing and would like to become involved in existing acts of service that
UUFF performs and perhaps begin some new ones. She is interested in the great outdoors and in Social Work
? she just received her degree from University of Arkansas with distinction!
Tracy Cookson - Tracy moved to NW Arkansas 25 years ago with her grandma, most of whose siblings had
retired to our area. She did the ?belief-o-matic? quiz on-line one day and came up 100% UU so sought us
out, bringing along her daughter, Savannah. Tracy decided to become a member when she realized she loved
the services ? especially the gratitude moments, our activities and the freedom to embrace beliefs and
people that aren't celebrated elsewhere. She has been involved in the Women's Wisdom Circle, frequently
helps with Lunch Angels, has agreed to join the Membership Committee and is also interested in Social
Justice. Her hobbies include reading and camping.
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(continued )
Savannah Cookson - Savannah was born and grew up in NW Arkansas. She and her friends were discussing
Unitarian Universalism one day and found us on Google. She has been attending regularly since then with
her mother, Tracy. Savannah decided to become a member when she realized this was the first time she
had been in agreement with the message of a faith group and appreciated the chance for sharing in
community. She has been attending the Women's Wisdom Circle and would like to become an active
member of the Young Adult group. She also has interest in helping with Social Justice activities.
Clayton Williams - Clayton has lived in NW Arkansas for 18 years. He was drawn to Unitarian Universalism
seeking a liberal space to explore the religious diversity of human experience. Clayton decided to become
a member because he found UUFF to be a religious community with liberty. He is excited about the idea of
exploring different religious traditions, would like to become involved in issues of environmental social
justice and participate in cultural activities. His hobbies include philosophy, nature and Pop culture.
Clayton says people he meets are often surprised as his diversity of thought.
Ines Polonius - Ines moved to Fayetteville in the fall of 2014 due to a job change. She had been an active
member of the UU church in Little Rock since 1997 and was looking for a like-minded community in her
new home. She learned from her previous involvement how important it is to make a commitment of
treasure and talent, so decided to become a member of UUFF, but will wait for the New Member Ceremony
until her partner, Mark Schuyler, can complete the Path to Membership classes. She is interested in Social
Justice, meditation and spiritual growth and would like to be actively involved in improving the energy
and water efficiency of our building. She is interested in helping with the meditation group when needed
and has agreed to pitch in with the Membership committee, having previously taught new member classes
in Little Rock! Folks who meet her are often surprised by her outspoken advocacy for rural communities
and lifting up those living in persistently poor towns.
CUUPS - Covenant of UU Pagans - Group Approved
In April, UUFF's Board approved the creation of a local CUUPS group. CUUPS was chartered by the Unitarian
Universalist Association at the General Assembly in 1987. Membership is open to individuals and chapters
affiliated with a UU Congregation. Find out more at www.cuups.org.
As a pending chapter of the national CUUPS, UUFF's group supports Pagans
at UUFF, promotes Paganism within UUFF and the wider community, and
promotes Unitarian Universalism within local, regional, and state Pagan
groups, organizations, and activities.
1. We support and fulfill UUFF?s vision, mission and goals.
2. We bring a UU approach to Paganism ? we draw from many sources,
and we oppose any attempt to establish orthodoxy or anything
resembling it.
3. We value Nature, our experiences of Nature, and our relationships with
Nature.
4. We are interested in deities and spirits, and we are open and
accepting? individually and collectively ? to what they are and what it
means to experience them.
5. We are a gateway to bring Pagans into Unitarian Universalism.
CUUPS Meet -up Sunday, June 14 @ 5:30 PM in the Sanctuary
Come explore earth-based spirituality during a potluck supper. We'll be learning and singing elemental chants
about earth, air, fire & water.
June
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
S = Sanctuary
D = Downstairs
O = Office
A = Annex
M = Minister's
Study
1
6-7:30PM
Drum Circle (S)
2
3
4
5
6
10AM Women's
Wisdom (A)
4-7PM Ozark
Druids (A)
7
10AM RE (A/ D)
11AM Service (S)
12:30-2PM
Council of
Committees (S)
6-8PM Theology
Cafe (S)
8
6-7:30PM
Drum Circle (S)
9
10
11
6:30PM
Chalice Team
12
13
10-11:30AM
RE Task Force (D)
1-4:00PM
Full Circle (A)
6:00 Big Bad
Gina Concert (S)
14
10AM RE (A/ D)
11AM Service
12:00 Annual
Meeting (S)
5:30-8:30PM
CUUPS Potluck
Meeting (S)
15
6-7:30PM Drum
Circle (S)
16
6:30PM
Board Mtg. (S)
17
6:00PM
Membership
Committee (S)
18
19
20
10AM WWC (A)
11AM Lunch
Angels
4PM Druids
Midsummer
Ritual-Gregory
Park
21
10AM RE (A/ D)
11AM Service (S)
22
6-7:30PM Drum
Circle (S)
23
24
25
26
4:00 Private
Event / Rental
(S)
27
Private Event /
Rental
28
10AM RE (A/ D)
11AM Service
29
6-7:30PM Drum
Circle (S)
30
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF
FAYETTEVILLE
As a diverse faith community, we promote justice and
service while seeking personal and spiritual growth.
901 West Cleveland Street
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Office: 479-521-8422 | Email: uuff.ar@gmail.com
www.fayettevilleunitarian.org
June 2015
GOVERNANCE- Our congregation is
self-governing. We adopt our own bylaws and
budget, and we elect our officers. An elected
Board of Directors conducts the business of
the church. Members are Caroline Lennox,
President; Marty Smith, Vice President; Susan
Schroeder, Treasurer; Brooke Eldredge,
Secretary; Kris Hargis, Gini Gottman and
Andrew Gaber.
WHO WE ARE
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of
Fayetteville
Sundays: Sunday Services 11 am
Adult Spiritual Discussions & Activities 10 am
Children?s Religious Ed. (4+) 10-10:45 am
STAFF
Reverend Jim Parrish, Minister
Fawn Smith, Administrator
Teresa Honey Youngblood, RE Coordinator
Rhimmon Simchy-Gross, Piano Accompanist
Kristy Mezines, Choir Director
Rose Netherland, Nursery Coordinator
Office Hours:
Mon: Of f ice Cl osed
Tues/ Wed/ Fri: 12-3 pm
Thurs: 12-4 pm
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion. We
believe personal experience, conscience, and
reason are final authorities in religion. We put
religious insights to the test of our hearts and
minds. We uphold the free search for truth.
We are bound to neither statement of belief
or creed.
We offer a comprehensive religious education
program for children and youth. We explore
religious identity, social justice, teachings of
other faith traditions, and our own
Jewish-Christian heritage with a sense of
worship and fun.