Over the past week through all the mists and fog we've experienced at the end of April, I've been looking out at my lawn.  It's certainly green.  There's no mistaking that.  There's plenty of beautiful green grass.  But there's also many clumps of bright, yellow dandelions.  Now when I squint and look at my lawn out of one eye, I see green grass with pretty yellow flowers.  But when I squint and look out of my other eye, I see these yellow spiteful weeds that are growing there just to make me look bad to my neighbors. 

I live in a neighborhood where most lawns are cut by a lawn service.  And most lawns are also sprayed regularly with chemicals by a lawn service.  Except my lawn.  We do put some fertilizer on it in the spring and fall.  But then we don't do anything to it, except cut it.  Once in a weak moment, I did go out and spray some of those dandelions with a weed-killer.  Yes, I admit it.  And sometimes I'll get the energy to go dig up a lot of dandelions.  But mostly, I've given up.

I cannot see having chemicals sprayed regularly on my lawn knowing how bad that is for the environment and ultimately for me.  It's me who will eventually end up drinking those chemicals in some karmic way. 

The other day, I was walking my dog and came upon a neighbor who was out digging up some dandelions from her lawn.  I mentioned what a chore it was and that I should be joining her soon.  She said that when she saw my lawn that she felt better.  Ha! Then she apologized and said that she felt better that someone else in the neighborhood was also opting not to spray.  We had some kind of bonding experience being the ones who choose to not keep up with the Jones'.  But I could tell she was hoping that some kind of magic would come and kill all her dandelions in the night like I've been thinking.

Our lawn at the Fellowship has more dandelions than I think I've ever seen anywhere.  We choose just to see them as pretty flowers.  That is comforting to me.  I go to a church where what we do intentionally is do what is good for the environment instead of what might make our facility more acceptable or pretty in a "House Beautiful" way.  It's a statement about who we are.  Who knows, maybe somebody driving by might get that and decide to stop in to see who all these people are who love dandelions!

Anybody know how to make dandelion wine?

May 1 - A Walt Whitman Sampler  Joe Law & Others

~ In 1885 Ralph Waldo Emerson greeted Leaves of Grass as "the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed," and 150 years later Harold Bloom characterized it as the secular scripture of America.  This service features readings and musical settings of Whitman, whose wit and wisdom still speak to us today.

May 8 - Olympia Brown: Opening New Doors  Rev. Amy Russell

~ Rev. Olympia Brown was the first woman ordained in a Christian denomination.  She was ordained in 1863 as a Universalist minister.  An activist in the women's suffrage movement, she was one of the only surviving early activists to live to cast a vote in the 1920 election.  She opened the doors for women in many ways.

May 15 - The Most Difficult Love - Love for Ourselves, with original poetry by Laura Solomon, Ria Megnin & Carol Narigon.  Led by Rev. Amy Russell.

~ The first commandment asks us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  And there's the rub - how to love ourselves first.  We'll hear original poetry and reflections from some of our own.

May 22 - Coming of Age  RE classes, parents & teachers
~ Our Coming of Age class will share their belief statements with us as we celebrate their growing faith journey.  We will also honor our graduates and award the Juline Renfro Award.  After service, we'll have a farewell party for our DRE, Natalie Spriggs-Trobridge.

May 29 - On Keepsakes, Cigar Boxes & Other Memories  Trudy Krisher

~ This is our traditional Memorial Day service in which we honor those whom we have lost over the past year.  Please join us as we celebrate the lives of loved ones and share about our own treasured keepsakes that memorialize them.

Elfi Purkey, long-time member and vibrant participant in the Community Discussion Group, passed away on April 21.  No funeral or memorial is planned.  We are keeping Elfi's family in our hearts as they go through this difficult time.

Elsie Fenic is recovering from back surgery.  She's still in a lot of pain, but the surgery went well.  Cards are always appreciated, but she's not yet up to having visitors.  Her address is 224 E. Schantz Ave.  Dayton, OH  45409.

Alice Diebel's mother passed away on April 26 after complications from a heart attack.  Services will be held in Michigan.  Please keep Alice in your thoughts as she goes through this hard time.

If you are experiencing a rough time in your life, please know that your Fellowship community is here to support you.

Proposed Changes to the By-Laws

A Letter from the DRE

YRE Calendar for May:

Chalice Children class (Preschool):  

May 1 - Kindness curriculum

May 8 - Kindness curriculum

May 15 - Kindness curriculum

May 22 - NO CLASS: Intergenerational service

May 29 - Kindness curriculum

Kindergarten - 5^th grade class:                                              

May 1 - Children's worship

May 8 - Workshop rotation

~ K - 2^nd grades: Workshop 1 - Our church MVUUF

~ 3^rd - 5^th grades: Workshop 2 - Who We Are                                              

May 15 - Workshop rotation

~ K - 2^nd grades: Workshop 2 - Who We Are

~ 3^rd - 5^th grades: Workshop 3 - UU Principles Matching Game

May 22 - NO CLASS: Intergenerational service

May 29 - Workshop rotation

~ K - 2nd grades: Workshop 3 - UU Principles Matching Game

~ 3rd - 5th grades: Workshop 1 - Our chrch MVUUF

6^th - 8^th grade class:

May 1 - Class: Coming of Age

May 8 - Youth Worship 

May 15 - Class: Coming of Age (NO mentoring)

May 22 - NO CLASS: Intergenerational service

May 29 - Class: Coming of Age  FINAL CLASS CELEBRATION!

9^th - 12^th grade class:

May 1 - Senior High CON - NO CLASS

May 8- Youth worship

May 15 - Small group ministry

May 22 - NO CLASS: Intergenerational service

May 29 - Small group ministry

Community Discussion Group Topics*
May 1 - "Atlas Shrugged & the Philosophy of Ayn Rand."  Moderator: Don Heidorn
 May 8 - "Mother's Day Memories."  Moderator: Diane Bohlander
 May 15 - "If I Won 100 Million Dollars, How Would I Spend It & Why?"  Moderator: Kathy Brown
*This adult group meets every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Founders' Room for fellowship and thought-provoking discussions led by member volunteers.  For a more detailed listing of topics, please see the Sunday bulletin.

Memorial Day
During our May 29 service, we'll remember our loved ones who've passed away this year.  If you have a name you'd like to include in the service, please contact Kristin at 436-3628 no later than May 23.

Bon Voyage to Natalie!
Natalie, our fantastic DRE, is moving to Indianapolis to head up the R.E. department at the UUI.  Let's send her off in style!  Join us after service on May 22 for refreshments and fellowship.  If you'd like to contribute to a going away gift, please contact Kristin at 436-3628.  You can also put donations in the box in the Gathering Space.  We need donations of snacks, too, so contact Kristin if you can help out.  Thanks!

YRE Teacher Appreciation Breakfast
Please mark your calendars for our YRE Teacher Appreciation Breakfast on May 22 before service.  We need volunteers to sign up to donate food or work the breakfast, so please sign up in the Gathering Space.  For more information, contact Carolyn Leman. 

St. Vincent de Paul 2^nd Saturday Lunch*
May 14 Menu:  meat loaf, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, fruit salad, 2% milk, 100% juice
*All items must be delivered heated and ready to serve 15-20 people.  Donations should be taken to 120 W. Apple St. by 10:30 a.m.  Sign up in the Gathering Space or call Evan James at 286-7512.

Evening Book Club
 Please join us at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Christopher's Restaurant (2318 Dorothy Ln., Kettering).  For more information, contact Ann Snively.
May 10 - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
June 14 - Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin
July 12 - A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah
August 9 - The Irresistible Henry House, by Lisa Grunwald
September 13 - March, by Geraldine Brooks
October 11 - Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand

Lunch with Amy
Lunch with Amy is switching locations!  For the months of May & June, the lunch will be held at 2^nd Street Market in Downtown Dayton.  Meet at the tables at the far end of the market (away from Webster Street).  Lunch is on hiatus during July and will resume at Panera in August.

Smart Choices
Join Smart Choices in the kitchen on May 12 at 2 p.m. as we have a tea party!  Fancy hats encouraged!

Food Fanciers
Join us in the kitchen on May 13 at 2 p.m. when Iris Carter will prepare broccoli and cheese soup - can't wait to taste it!

Daytime Book Club Title*
May 18 - The Painted Veil, by Somerset Maughm
June 15 - Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel, by Tom Franklin
*We meet one Wednesday a month, at 10:30 a.m., in the Fellowship Library.  We then go out for lunch together.  All are welcome!

Juline Renfro Award Nominations
The YRE Committee is once again seeking nominations for the Juline Renfro Award for outstanding service to Youth Religious Education.  This award is presented in honor of a former RE Assistant who showed dedication and service beyond her call of duty.  The recipient should be someone who has devoted significant service to our young people through the YRE program, anywhere from the nursery through Senior High.  Along with your nomination please submit a paragraph or two explaining why we should choose that person.  Anyone can nominate, so please discuss this with your children and/or classes.  Some of our most heartfelt submissions come from our children.

All nominations will be carefully considered by our YRE Committee and the award will be presented at our May 22 service.  Thank you for taking time to help honor those people that really make a difference in YRE.  We have so many worthy volunteers please help us recognize them! Please submit nominations to Shannon Harper.  Nominations can also be left in the LRE Representative's mailbox in the YRE Hallway.  Deadline for submissions is May 14.  For questions call Shannon at 681-6496.

Humanitarian Giving Action Group Offering
 During May, the Humanitarian Giving Action Group welcomes donations for Homefull.  Your support is critical as Homefull strives to fulfill its mission: "to work to end homelessness by providing housing, services, advocacy and education."  Homefull was formerly called The Other Place.

Women's Retreat
There will be a Women's Restorative Retreat on May 21, 1-8 p.m., for the purpose of refilling our proverbial cups with the goodness of being together and sharing ways of nurturing ourselves.  We'll enjoy creating art, interesting presentations, making music, meditating, participating in ritual, eating, dancing, drumming...All Fellowship women are invited to come.  For more information, see Genevieve Harvey.  Please let us know you are coming!

Thank You!
 Gary Smith, head of Gar Drolma which hosted a Buddhist talk at the Fellowship on April 19, wanted to extend his sincerest thanks for allowing his group to use the building.  He was so appreciative and thought our building was beautiful.