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Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
www.cedarlane.org |
eNewsletter Volume 4, Issue 34
February 17, 2012 | |
February 19, 2012
9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary
"Cultivating Spirituality"
Nancy Bird Pellegrini
What can greater attention to spirituality do? We will examine how spiritual practices provide grounding for social justice work and encourage fellowship in our congregations.
Children and youth will be in the sanctuary in the beginning of the service before going to their RE classes.
Volunteers for the Service:
Ushers: 9 a.m.: Michael Morse, Perry and Dianne Seiffert, Laura Pillette;
11 a.m.: Glenis Bellais, Debbie Goodwin, Fred Bowen, Betsy Wilhelm
Coffee Servers: 10 a.m.: Kate Harrison; noon: Glenis Bellais
Audio: Jim Weiffenbach
Beacon Books Cart: noon: Edwina Hoffeld
Board Member at the Office Desk: 10 a.m.: Kathie Bryant;
noon: Knick Knickerbocker
Visitor's Center: 10 a.m.: Betsy Devlin-Foltz; noon: Marlene Berg
The flowers in the sanctuary are given by Ardene Shafer in loving memory of her mother, Esther H. Rose. The flowers were arranged by Lyn Peters.
In the Lounge: Alliance Books * Beacon Books Cart * Donuts & Bagels * Environmental Task Force * Fair trade coffee & tea * Passport to Adventure * Social Justice Council *
Sunday Morning Forum: Gender Violence Used as a Weapon of War in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Bernard Londoni, Ph.D student in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University.
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Weekly Devotional · February 17, 2012
Our lives exist in relationships. We have family, friends, co-workers and neighbors who are integral parts of our emotional and spiritual lives, and we are wholly dependent upon the labor and skills of others in order to survive and thrive, from professionals who take care of our most intimate needs to the people that grow, gather and distribute the food we eat. Homo sapiens is a social animal.
While we are thrust together with others who are not necessarily our chosen companions, we do choose our friends and life partners, and hopefully we choose them carefully. Hopefully we choose to spend our time and focus our energies on persons whose company is life-giving, encouraging, affirming and enjoyable for us. Yet no one can be that for us all the time, just as we ourselves can't be those things all the time.
Our workplaces, homes, communities and yes, even our churches are humans-only clubs. And we all know that humans are fallible creatures. We can't live up one hundred percent of the time to whatever high ideals we profess; we all disappoint others and ourselves from time to time. Part of being in relationship is knowing that the people we love and admire are going to confuse us, anger us, or let us down sometimes. Some disillusionments can break relationships permanently. Most of the time, though, the disappointments we feel in others are a challenge to us to stay in loving and respectful relationship despite those frustrations.
Prayer
O God, help me to be a person that the people I love deserve to have in their lives, and help me to face the inevitable challenges of my relationships with grace, equanimity, patience and understanding, as I hope others will be gracious, equanimous, patient and understanding with me. Amen.
Follow Rev. Keely on Twitter @evanvwk.
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From the Ministers:
Standing on the Side of Love
In Virginia - On Valentine's Day one of our colleagues Unitarian Universalist Minister Karen Rasmussen and her partner of 26 years Barb Brehm went to the Fairfax County Courthouse to apply for a marriage license. Their application was denied but some 300 people were there to support them and the principle of marriage equality. It was an honor to stand beside them. This reverent demonstration was organized by People of Faith for Equality in Virginia and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax in the hope that someday the state of Virginia will say yes. For more about this event go to: http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/feb/16/people-faith-gather-support-marriage-equality/
In Maryland - Members of Cedar Lane and hundreds of others gathered for lobby day in Annapolis on February 13 in support of marriage equality. The Maryland House of Delegates is expected to vote on HB 438 soon, possibly today. It is not too late to contact your delegates with your views: http://www.equalitymaryland.org/.
With best regards and hope for building a just world,
Nancy Pellegrini, Intern Minister |
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Christylez - Family Concert
Sponsored by CLARITY and CLUUC Music
TOMORROW!!! Saturday, February 18, 2012 - 7:30 PM
Hailing from Southeast, Washington, DC, Christylez (pronouced: chris-styles) is a GRAMMY Nominated Progressive Hip-Hop artist. His unique presentation utilizes the West African djembe drum, the acoustic guitar, and his human beat-box (oral percussion) to promote the oral tradition of storytelling through lyrics.
With a mission toward cultural acceptance and unification through music, Christylez is constantly pushing the envelope - from becoming the first Hip-Hop artist to be featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival to performing at the National Cathedral. He mesmerizes audiences of all ages, so bring the entire family for this unique performance!
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Upcoming Sundays
February 26, 2012
9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary
"Tempered Joy"
The Rev. Evan Keely
How do we find the balance between appropriate self-restraint and living life fully and joyfully?
Forum: Gleason to Leggett: Forty Years of Executive Leadership in Montgomery County, with Charles Short, Special Assistant to County Executive, Ike Leggett.
Click here for future forums |
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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.
A Bittersweet Season: As we named in our previous eNews, Al Reese (Neighborhood 30) died in early February. A service in celebration of his life will be held Saturday, March 10th at 2:00 pm at Cedar Lane. Shortly after his death, Sarah Reese became a great-grandmother for the first time with the birth of Reese Stanton Black Knight, son of her grandson Phillip and his wife Liana. We join Sarah in celebrating this new life in this time of her family's loss.
Healing wishes are with Steve Murphy, brother of Barbara Warman (N31), who is receiving antibiotic treatments at Shady Grove Hospital.
We also offer our condolences to Robin Larkin (N16) and her daughter Lisa Chernikoff (N24) and their family as they mourn the death of long-time family friend, Jocelyn Wolcott.
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.
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Music Notes From the Director of Music
Dr. Henry Sgrecci
February 19, 2012
Our young musicians will be leading the music for this Sunday's service, along with a cameo appearance by the Whatever Four Quartet. The Youth Handbell Choir uses mallets and special ringing techniques in Celebration on Hyfrydol, the famous hymn tune which we often sing as "Blue Boat Home." The Children's Choir reaches into biblical history to sing a delightful medley of Ezekiel Saw the Wheel and Dry Bones. The Youth Choir sings one of the classic call and response tunes, Over My Head, made famous by Gospel singer, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. This particular blues infused rendition was created by UU composer Jim Scott.
The opening hymn, "Morning Has Broken," will also be a part of Chapel services today. While many associate the song with pop singer Cat Stevens, the tune stems from the Gaelic tradition of western Scotland. Children's author Eleanor Farjeon was commissioned to write words for it in 1931, and it was published in a Unitarian hymnal in 1937. When, in the early 1990s, the Unitarian Universalist Association took a survey to establish favorite hymns, "Morning Has Broken" was far and away the favorite.
The Whatever Four Quartet sings "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," from Frostiana, a suite of seven poems by Robert Frost, set to music by the great American composer, Randall Thompson. Frost and Thompson were friends and the composer's musical settings enhance Frost's layered poetry with the musical metaphors of choral harmony, melodic text painting, and folk references in addition to the literary metaphors of the "sound of sense," meter, and rhythm. This piece was originally written in three parts for a men's chorus; alto Liz Brinker composed a part for herself, honoring Thompson's harmonic structure and subtlety.
"[May God] Bless You and Keep You," composed by Peter C. Lutkin in 1900, is such a famous benediction that it is sometimes simply called "The Lutkin Benediction." The popularity of this song may be attributed in part to its use for many years at the end of the weekly radio broadcasts of the Back to God Hour, an international ministry of the Christian Reformed Church. The text is a variation on the Jewish priestly blessing, as found in the Bible, Numbers 6:23-27. The benediction and the seven-fold amen are sometimes used separately.
Special thanks to the Children's Choir, Youth Choir, Youth Handbell Choir, and Whatever Four Quartet, for their rich contributions to this Sunday's service, and to Susan Clark for her notes on the hymn and songs by the Quartet.
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Calendar
Please visit the church calendar here.
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Around the Church
New! Affinity Groups at CLUUC - Theater!
If interested in joining the Theater Affinity Group's first event, contact Marlene Berg at mgkpberg@gmail.com, or 301-704-8177. Saturday, March 10, at 8:00 pm to see the Silver Spring Round House Theater's The Language Archive.
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES
Linda Gianessi, Temporary RE Coordinator
Susan Clark, Chapel Coordinator
Vanessa Steck, Coordinator of Senior High Youth Ministry
Gale Ginther Luce and Jeannette Wilson, Administrators
For information and to register for classes and programs call 301-493-8300 x207 or e-mail RE@cedarlane.org.
Upcoming RE
Sun Feb 19 All ages begin in
sanctuary.
Fri Feb 24 Teacher Appreciation
Dinner
Don't miss:
* Our Theological House, Untold Stories of Afro-decendents, Beyond Black and White, Continuing Yoga, Free Alexander Technique, Retreat for Women
* A is for Aging, Connections-Short Term, Get a Life!, Spiritual Practice for Busy People, and many more!
* Sunday Morning Forum
Find more RE. . . |
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NOW is the time to submit your donations for our Passport to Adventure Auction on March 24.
We currently are accepting donations online (preferred) or on a paper form available at church or printable from the Cedar Lane website.
Wondering what to donate?
Consider a dinner in your home, handyman services, gardening, a ride to the doctor or airport, baked goods on demand, a delicious company dinner delivered, or some other item that you think would appeal to our generous bidders. The deadline for submissions is March 1.
To make your donation(s) online, please click here. Thank you!
P.S. Don't forget to bid NOW on your spring break beach cottage at Sea Colony at auction@cedarlane.org. Deadline for bids is Feb. 24th. |
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In This Together from CLARITY*
We have updated our information on the CLUUC website.
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| New! Affinity Groups at CLUUC
Currently CLUUC offers these small groups: connection circles, dinner discussion groups, and several support groups (p-flag, aging, l iving with cancer, and living with mental illness). Affinity groups, sponsored by the Membership Services Committee (MSC), are now another option. They form around common interests or background. Examples are Buddhist practice and study, Jewish ethnicity, LGBT, or being a young adult; these are sometimes called identity groups. Others might form around an activity like going to the theater or biking. They are self-organizing, self-directed, self-funded if funds are required, and on-going.
Join. If you would like to join one of these groups (currently in the forming stage) send an email to the contact person or give them a call.
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topic |
description |
contact | |
Buddhist Study & Practice |
for people interested in learning about Buddhism and meditation practice
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Andy Streich
astreich@cedarlane.org
240.281.7208 | |
Jewish Ethnicity |
for people with a Jewish background and their partners
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Kay Gottesman
kgottesman@verizon.net
301.530.5504 | |
Theater |
for people interested in going to live theater together |
Marlene Berg
mgkpberg@gmail.com
301.279.6790 |
Create. If you are interested in forming a new group or have questions please write to Cedar Lane's membership coordinator, Andy Streich, astreich@cedarlane.org. Affinity groups have no fees and can use church facilities for meetings. Your group must have a contact person and be responsible for communicating with its members. Andy will periodically publish affinity group information in the newsletter so the congregation is aware of what is available and how to get involved. He may also be able to help with other ways of attracting like-minded people to your group. Our intention is to be as flexible as possible as we launch groups and adjust as we learn how best to support them.
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Learning about UU and Cedar Lane
The Adult Programs booklet will be available soon, and the Member Services Committee is pleased to highlight these free opportunities especially for new members and visitors. We are also delighted when members who have been around awhile participate and share their wisdom. So register soon through Adult Programs and mark your calendars.
A5. New to UU, Wednesday, March 7, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Evan Keely, Interim Senior Minister:
This class investigates various aspects of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist today, changes in Unitarianism and Universalism in the 20th Century, and the earlier history of our faith.
A7. Exploring Cedar Lane, Wednesday, March 14, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Andy Streich, Membership Coordinator: Through personal stories and discussion with lay leaders, participants learn how people come together in committees and other groups to operate the church. This is an opportunity to share your experience of the church as well as to learn from others about theirs.
A8. Welcome Workshop, Saturday, March 17, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m: Twice a year 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. |
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Sara Deshler and Sara Davidson
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church www.cedarlane.org 301-493-8300
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