Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

8690 Yankee St.  Dayton, OH  45458

937-436-3628  www.mvuuf.org 

Chalice
MVUUF Building by Lew Hann

MVUUF Forum  January 1-15, 2012


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A NOTE FROM THE MINISTER

I hope everyone had a merry & bright holiday season! I am spending this week with family, so this letter is abbreviated to a note! Take care of yourself and each other - we'll back together in the New Year.

 

~Rev Amy Russell

 

Sermon Topics

January 1 - Beginnings, Endings, Beginning Again  Rev. Leslie Woodward
~Endings are a reality in our lives, dying a given, but it is only one source of the truth of our humanity. The other, more important reality lies in the new life that is constantly being born around us, the endless possibilities which creation offers to our days, even in the midst of our good-byes. On this first day of the New Year, the congregation will be invited to participate in a Fire Communion - a ritual to envision "letting go" into the past what belongs to the past, and a "renewal," a chance to commit yourself to a new challenge in the coming year.

 

January 8 - Free Thinkers and Questers  Rev. Amy Russell
~UU Minister Tom Owen-Towle describes Unitarian Universalism as "Free-Thinking Mystics with Hands." In a recent Build Your Own Theology class, we discussed the idea that everyone who walks in our doors is a quester, someone questing for their own truth. If we're all looking for our own truth, why do we come together as a religious community?


January 15 - United We Stand, Divided We Fall  Rev. Amy Russell
~Martin Luther King, Jr. spent his life trying to bring together the races of this country to be equal. UU Minister A. Powell Davies wrote, "How strange and foolish are these walls of separation that divide us!" In this polarized political climate, what divides us? What unites us?

 

January 22 - What Does Membership Mean?  Rev. Amy Russell
~Unitarian Universalism is non-creedal. Our being together in community is considered "covenantal," not creedal. What does membership mean is a covenantal community? If a covenant is a promise, what do we promise each other?


January 29 - Loyalty and Service  Rev. Amy Russell
~In the story of Naomi and Ruth in the Bible, we hear a story of true loyalty and service when Ruth followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to their homeland after Ruth's husband died. In this service and in the reception afterwards, we'll celebrate the 31 years of loyalty and service provided by Jesse Minnefield, our custodian, to this Fellowship.

Keeping Up with Our Members

  

Jack Moody is at Bethany Lutheran Village, recovering from a colonoscopy.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

 

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

 

Around the Fellowship

 

St. Vincent de Paul 2nd Saturday Lunch*
January 14 Menu: pork & sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, fried/baked apples, green salad, 100% juice, 2% milk
*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. Contact kfreeman@mvuuf.org or sign up in the Gathering Space.

 

Community Discussion Group*
January 1 - Open Forum
January 8 - "Favorite Books of Last Year"
January 15 - "Lifetime Learning." Moderator: Priscilla Mutter
January 22 - "Reading History." Moderator: Tom Starr
January 29 -"WORM, First Digital World War." Moderator: Lindy McDonough
*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.

 

Mark Your Calendars - We're Having a Party!
 Jesse Minnefield, our custodian of 30 years turning 75 - and if that doesn't warrant a party, I don't know what does! So mark your calendars now for after service on January 29. If you'd like to contribute to a gift for Jesse, there will is a box in the Gathering Space to put your donation. Checks should be made out to MVUUF and indicate Party in the memo line. Please plan on helping us celebrate the birthday of such a wonderful staff member!

 

Congregational Meeting
Our next Congregational Meeting will be immediately following service on Sun., January 22. The agenda items include voting on the slate of candidates, voting on Study Action Issues for the UUA, and presenting the Unsung UU Award. The Board also invites discussion on building security.

 

Slate of Candidates
 In preparation for the January Congregational meeting, the Nominating Committee is working to fill a slate of candidates. The following names will be presented:
Alysoun Taylor-Hall - President
TBA - V.P.
Catherine Queener - Secretary
Pat Whitney - Treasurer
Jim Hudson - Trustee A
Duane Ferguson - Trustee B
Kate Halpin - P.C. Chair
TBA - Communications Rep.
Alice Diebel - Membership Rep.
Joe Law - Music Rep.
Carolyn Leman - R.E. Rep.
Dan Enterline - Endowment

 

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.
January 10 - The Elephant and the Dragon, by Robyn Meredith
February 14 - American Pastoral, by Philip Roth
March 13 - Paris Wife, by Paula McLain

 

Daytime Book Club Title*
January 18 - Dreamers of the Day, by Mary Doria Russell
February TBA - Still Alice, by Lisa Genova
March TBA - What's the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America, by Thomas Frank
*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!

 

Humanitarian Giving
During January, the Humanitarian Giving donation will be to the Minister's Discretionary Fund. The economy has taken its toll on many people, including those in our own church community. The Minister's Discretionary Fund allows Rev. Amy to provide assistance to our members in their time of need.

 

Chalice Light Gallery
During January, the Gallery will be displaying the photography of member Maury Wyckoff. Through Maury's lens, see revealed the majesty of our world, capturing ordinary, extraordinary, and humorous moments, and presenting them in a way that draws you in as if you are there. Or could have been there. Or wish you were there.

 

Interweave
It's a New Year and the LGBT support/social group, Interweave, is revived! Starting Mon., January 23 at 6:30 p.m., we'll meet in the Founders room. This is an organizational meeting. Bring your ideas for the group. We are going to have a potluck dinner that night, so please bring a dish to share. For more information, contact Margaret Michal at margaret.michal@gmail.com.

 

We are a liberal religious community that embraces diversity and respects the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  ALL are welcome here, no matter their race, sex, sexual/affectional orientation, gender expression, or ability.

Please visit us on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. for our worship service - we'd love to see you!