We Care

The We Care program is a network led by volunteers who reach out to address short-term needs - food deliveries, rides to doctor's appointments, a listening ear in the event of a loss. The Cedar Lane congregation is organized geographically by "neighborhoods"; each neighborhood has at least one chairperson to coordinate support. Look at your nametag or the map in the church office to find your neighborhood. 

Healing wishes are with Al Reese (Neighborhood 30) who is recovering from a fall at Asbury's Wilson Healthcare Center. Visitors and cards are welcome! (Cards should be sent to his apartment: 419 Russell Avenue, Apt 320, Gaithersburg, MD  20877)   

Congratulations are with Kate and Bob Harrison (N8) with the birth of their newest grandchild. Phoebe Elizabeth was born on October 21 to Kate's son Peter and Candace Hammond. Phoebe joins brother Jeremy and sister Kazmiera. Hooray!

Should you know of a member of our community in personal need, you are encouraged to reach out to them. If you learn that this person wishes to receive a response from the church, please contact Heather Janules at hjanules@cedarlane.org.  All ministers offer pastoral care to our members so  you are also encouraged to contact any member of the ministerial team. 

Upcoming Sundays   

November 6, 2011 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
 "For They Are Now a Part of Us"

10:10 in the Chalice House Main Room (between services)

Click here for future forums 

Manna Food: Next Sunday will be our regular Manna Food First Sunday collection for the Blue Box and Smart Sacks.  Montgomery County's neediest families deserve our support.  Last year, Manna served over 172,000 Montgomery County residents.  Help fill the Blue Box. 

Music Notes From the Director of Music

Dr. Henry Sgrecci  

October 30

This morning's music reflects the diverse music of worship as it is inspired by varied religious beliefs. Bell Canto's prelude, "Meditation on Beautiful Savior," is based on a familiar hymn tune. It was composed in memory of a member of the Campanella Ringers of the First Congregational UCC of Elyria, Ohio, who lost her life to cancer. The first three notes heard in the song, are represented by the bells that she rang in the handbell choir. "Down to the River to Pray" is a familiar song that gained its current popularity from the movie, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" While identified as a "Spiritual" and included in the Southern Harmony hymnal, George H. Allan of Nashville, TN has actually been identified as the composer.   His song was included in the book "Slave Songs of the United States," published in 1867. Although going by a different title and slightly altered text, the general disposition of the song has always been about inviting people down to the valley (river) to pray," studyin' about that good old way."   The Offertory, "Ave Regina Caelorum" by the seventeenth century composer, Isabella Leonarda, is what was recognized in Catholic churches as a Marion antiphon: a song written for the devotion of the Virgin Mary and sung during the Liturgy of the Hours.   Leonarda was one of just a few female composers in the seventeeth century; she began living at the Collegio di Sant'Orsola, a convent in Novara, at the age of 16, and never left, reaching the position of Mother Superior in her later years. Virtually all of her music carried a dedication to the Virgin Mary and the independent vocal lines within the work are characteristic of the music of the times. The Anthem, "One Voice" is a recent composition by Ruth Moody, lead singer with the popular Canadian-based folk trio, "Wailin Jennys."   The song begins simply, "This is a song of one voice, one spirit," and continues, adding two voices, then three, then all voices; "singing with love, and the will to trust." It is a song of unity, beckoning all of us with our varying backgrounds to sing together as one, to be together, as one.

Special thanks to members of Bell Canto, members of Gruppo Piccolo, and Director, Richard Shrager, and pianist, Susannah Vesey.   We are grateful for their many hours of preparation and their inspiring musical contributions during this Sunday's service.

From the Church Administrator

For those of you who attended  'Living the Mission' last Saturday, what a great event.  Many thanks to Mary Karimi and Kathie Bryant for organizing and to the many who worked hard to make it work.  The Cedar Lane Timeline begun then is still up in the hallway outside the Kitchen, come by to check it out and add your information.

Sara Deshler  

Calendar

Please visit the calendar here. 

From the Membership Coordinator 

Welcome Workshop Saturday, Nov 5

We offer this opportunity to learn about Unitarian Universalism, our spiritual community, how we operate, what we offer, and ways to get engaged. The workshop is hosted by the membership coordinator with interactive sessions led by each of the ministers. If you are a new member, longtime member, or interested visitor, this is an ideal way to extend your knowledge of the faith, the church, and to build relationships. Lunch is provided.  No fee.

We want to extend a warm invitation to all members, friends, and visitors to our Welcome Workshop, Saturday, November 5, in the church library from 10am to 1pm.  And if you have already attended one, you are encouraged to do it again.  Because there's a different group of people each time, it's always a little different and a great way to meet new people.  Feel free to bring a friend.

For long time members this is a chance to be extend the hand of welcoming and hospitality to our new members and visitors as well as an opportunity to learn more about our church.   Each time we do this people report being surprised at how the time flies by and that they enjoyed the experience, learned a lot, and got to meet others.  It's a great event.

The workshop is free and we can provide childcare if you let us know in advance.  It is listed in the Adult Programs booklet as course A9.  To register, contact Adult Programs (Jeannette Wilson, 301 493 8300 or jwilson@cedarlane.org@cedarlane.org). If you have questions contact our membership coordinator Andy Streich, astreich@cedarlane.org.  

Andy Streich

Around the Church

BACK PARKING LOT

Please remember that the back parking lot is reserved for our RE teachers on Sunday mornings.  Thank you!

Click here for more information 

The International Concerns Coalition is looking for projects to fund through our Alternative Giving Campaign. There is a form to complete and a procedure to follow.

Please click HERE for links to forms.

Issues Affecting Local Immigrants/Preparing

for Justice GA 2012: Mobilizing Area UUs to

Transform Concern into Action! 

Saturday, November 19 8:30am-12:30pm

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church

9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4099

Joseph Priestley District of the UUA

Leadership Day

Saturday, November 12, 2011

10am to 4:30pm

All Souls Church, Unitarian

1500 Harvard Street NW

Washington, DC  20009

NovemberFest! at Rockville UU Church

UU of Rockville's new fall fundraiser, NovemberFest, will be held on Saturday, November 12, 9 AM - 3 PM. This year's event features arts and crafts vendors; a great book sale; toys, bikes, and other pre-owned treasures in a community yard sale area; signature baked goods; and of course UUCR's famous quilt raffle. For more information (and to see the quilt) visit www.uucr.org/novemberfest

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November 4, 7:00 p.m. Cedar Lane

With special guest, the Rev. Marilyn Sewell

Cedar Lane UU Church - in partnership with River Road UU Congregation and the Joseph Priestley District - is delighted to offer a screening of the documentary film "Raw Faith" as part of our "Meaning of Ministry" program series. Find out more about the series in the Fall Adult Programs booklet, page 14, or at http://cedarlane.org/ap/ REVFALL11.pdf; page 14.  Admission is open and free but donations are welcome ($5-$10 suggested.)   

If you haven't heard of "Raw Faith," in the words of the film's website,"This surprisingly open and revealing documentary follows two years in the private life of a [Unitarian Universalist] minister. Marilyn Sewell is successful and beloved in the pulpit, but behind the scenes she is lonely and yearning for change. As she considers leaving the ministry, she realizes she will be leaving her only social network. Yet when she falls in love for the first time, she realizes she does not trust intimacy. A study in contrasts, Marilyn must rely on raw faith as she questions her future, her difficult past, her God and, most importantly, her ability to love." You may view a trailer here: http://alivemindcinema.com/req.php?req=static.php&page=RawFaithFIP The subject of the film, Marilyn Sewell, will be present that evening and will engage the audience after the film.

Time to Register! JOIN CEDAR LANE'S 5th HOUSE REBUILDING MISSION TO NEW ORLEANS

February 4-11, 2012

Official registration has started and will fill up, so contact us now.  We're having a great response from Cedar Laners who want to join our volunteer mission trip to help rebuild much-needed New Orleans (NOLA) housing, badly damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.   There's still room for YOU on our team.  Contact Cedar Lane's veteran trip leader Mike Burski <mga1960@earthlink.com> or team member Dianne Seiffert <seiffert@comcast.net> who will answer your questions and tell you how to register. 

Environmental Task Force 

Click here to check out some Green Tips!