eNews: May 4, 2012

Ours is a religious tradition that values reason, knowledge, and inquiry. We appreciate intellectual rigor. Living in this part of the country certainly doesn't do a whole lot to diminish these tendencies. A Unitarian Universalist congregation in a place like Bethesda, Maryland is a place where it's not hard to find some very accomplished, very smart people.

It is a fine thing to have a great deal of knowledge, and to be known as a person with a witty, incisive mind. And a vigorous intellect is an asset in any religious practice. We do well to learn the complexities of history, the varied influences and movements that have become part of our heritage, and to study the great theologians and thinkers among our ancestors. The great Muslim mystic Rumi, however, reminds of other things that are also important. A whole religious life is not only intellectually sound, but also makes room for compassion and adoration, for unknowingness and bafflement, for a sense of mystery and awe and wild, full-throated thankfulness.

Prayer

O God, it is a fine thing to be clever, knowledgeable and witty; these things have their place: but give me also the strength and the wisdom to lose myself in kindness and joy. Amen.

Follow Rev. Keely on Twitter @evanvwk.

Are You Coming to Justice GA?

Join Sarah Deshler, Glenn Farley, John Gubbings, Cathy Knapper, Mike Harris, Mary Beth Nowinski, Gerry Peterson, Sandy Shaw and our ministers at the UUAGeneral Assembly, Phoenix, AZ, June 20-24!

Click here to continue...

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2012 UUA JUSTICE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ORIENTATION & BRIEFING FOR PROSPECTIVE GA ATTENDEES

(Sponsored by the Chesapeake UU Growth (ChUUG) Committee)

Saturday, May 12, 2012, At Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church

9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, Maryland

(in Chalice House above main building)

Click here to view flyer

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You Could be An Off-site Delegate for the UUA General Assembly!

Registration Deadline: June 8, 2012 by 5 p.m. Eastern

Can't join Sara Deshler, Glenn Farley, John Gubbings, Mike Harris, Cathy Knapper, Mary Beth Nowinski, Gerry Peterson, and Sandy Shaw as Cedar Lane delegates in Phoenix?

Click here: Off-site Delegate Registration

Even if they cannot be present physically at GA this year, congregational delegates, ministers, and credentialed directors of religious education can participate in the business of GA in Phoenix, June 20-24, by serving as off-site delegates.

Off-site delegates can:

Watch live streaming video of all Plenary Sessions online.
Vote online and speak during debate in General Assembly business sessions from home, office, or congregation, or as part of a congregational cluster.
Listen to discussion and vote during business mini-assemblies.

Using a telephone and a computer with high-speed access to the Internet, off-site delegates participate in the Plenary business sessions and mini-assemblies right along with the delegates who are in Phoenix.

All delegates are required to submit a certified GA credential from their congregation. An off-site delegate will count against a congregation's total number of delegates allowed; so off-site participation is not recommended for congregations that can send a full delegation to attend GA in person. Contact nancyjanssen@peoplepc.com for more information.

From the Chair and Transition Coordinating Committee (TCC):

UPDATE ON Leadership and GOVERNANCE AT CEDAR LANE

The Board continues to educate ourselves about effective governance, and to prepare for leadership transitions at Cedar Lane. We want to keep you "in the loop!" Here's the latest:

What is happening with the RE Program?

RE classes finished out the year under the extremely capable oversight of Linda Gianessi, our Temporary Religious Education Coordinator, with help from our wonderful staff and RE Council volunteers. The TCC is actively interviewing candidates for the Interim Religious Education position for a two-year term (one year renewable to two) beginning this August. We expect to make an announcement about the RE position very soon.

Click here to continue...

Upcoming Sundays

May 13, 2012

10 a.m. in the sanctuary

"Who We Are..."

Nancy Bird Pellegrini

Worship Associate: Susan Clark

As we celebrate Mother's Day, Intern Minister Nancy Pellegrini will explore what makes us who we are as individuals, members of the congregation, and Unitarian Universalists. This will be Nancy's last Sunday at Cedar Lane as her internship concludes.

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.

Wishes for swift healing go out to two members of our community recovering from a fall:

John Gubbings (Neighborhood 14) is recovering at home after minor surgery to repair a leg injury.

And Nancy McKean (N11) is healing from a fractured arm and wounded shoulder.

Cards and calls are welcome!

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.

Two Of Your Ministers...

Are now on Twitter:

Follow Rev. Keely @evanvwk

Follow Rev. Janules @revhkjanules

Music Director's Notes

Dr. Henry Sgrecci

May 6, 2012

This morning's Offertory is a work that has enjoyed dual identities. Composers often "reuse" their material and Belgian composer Flor Peeters first composed his aria as the slow movement of a three movement sonata for trumpet and piano in 1943. Two years later Peeters made slight revisions and set the work for solo organ, giving it the title "Aria, Opus 51." Both Henry Sgrecci and Thomas Guthrie have been performing the work for their respective instruments for decades. This morning they perform the original version with the trumpet offering the floating melody against the organ's soft, pulsing chords set in the myxolydian mode.

Born in the village of Tielen, Peeters spent the bulk of his life in Belgium, pursuing his organ and composition studies at the Lemmons Institute in Mechelen and returning to the Institute to teach organ as a young man. He also became the chief organist at St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen, holding the position for most of his life.

From the Church Administrator

Sara Deshler

We are pleased to announce...

That Marcia Montanio has accepted the Church Accountant position. She will be starting this weekend to train with Bruce and will be available to train with him on a part time basis until she has finished her last 2 weeks at her previous job. Marcia has previous experience working with church accounting, she was the Parish Accountant at Visitation Parish in Darnestown for 14 years. Marcia and her husband have 2 daughters, the younger of whom is graduating from Maryland this spring. Welcome Marcia!

Calendar

Please visit the church calendar here.

Around the Church

Don't forget to check out Cedar Lane! Find us on...

COMMUNITY LUNCH, Sunday, May 6! Please join us for the May Community Lunch in the Chalice House following Sunday's service. This lunch is open to members and visitors. The Sharing Group Connection Circle is hosting, with support from the Member Services Committee. Come partake of a delicious meal and great company!

UU UNSUNG HEROES WANTED!

The Cedar Lane Board of Trustees is seeking nominations for individuals who have made exceptional contributions of their time and talents to ensure that Cedar Lane remains the vibrant community it has been for 60+ years. We need your help in nominating those whose service deserves the title of "Unsung Hero."

Nominees for these awards should not have been honored in this way during the past five years, nor have received compensation for the services for which he/she is being honored. To nominate an Unsung Hero, please contact Board member Debbie Goodwin at 301-340-1935 or by email at goodwink@comcast.net

with the name(s) of nominee(s) and an explanation of why you believe that person or persons should be recognized in this way. Deadline for nominations is TODAY, May 4. The Board will vote on the nominees at it May 15 meeting, and the Unsung Heroes will be honored at a Sunday service in June.

The Kecklers are offering a discount for all folks in our congregation who sign-up for the CSA with the pickup on Saturday morning's at the church. If folks would like to sign up they can go to the website

www.orchardcountryproduce.com

and sign-up online.

At the checkout put in this coupon code: CEDARLA and you will get a $10 discount. It doesn't matter what size share or which session is chosen.

Dinner Discussion Group Meet-up

Many Cedar Laners love their group and have been happily gathering for years.

Want to join in?

Is your group looking for new members?

Come to an informal meet-up in the Lounge on Sunday, May 13, after the service. We'll see if we can make some new connections.

For more information:

Michael Thoryn

michaelthoryn@verizon.net

The Music Committee is seeking a new member to serve a three-year term beginning in September of this year. The Music Committee, in conjunction with the Director of Music, actively supports and facilitates the operation of all aspects of the CLUUC music program, as well as overseeing long-term goals and direction. The Committee promotes communication among the congregation, choirs, ministers, and the Board of Trustees regarding the role of music in our worship and congregational life. We meet at least every other month through May or June. If you have never served on a Committee this is great way to start. No musical skills required. All expressions of interest are welcomed and should be sent to music@cedarlane.org.

Learn how to talk about the

Maryland Dream Act

A training about the Act and how to lead

individual and small group conversations

in support of the Act and the November

ballot referendum for members of Maryland UU Churches (and all other interested supporters)

Saturday, May 12, 2012

9:00 to 11:30 AM

Cedar Lane UU Church

Spread the word!

training at the Social Justice table on

Sundays or email h_strang1@verizon.net

MD-IAF gratefully acknowledges funding support from UUs for Social Justice for this event.

New! Affinity Groups at CLUUC-Theater!

If interested in joining the Theater Affinity Group's next two events, contact Marlene Berg at mgkpberg@gmail.com, or 301-704-8177. Saturday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m. to see the Capitol Steps in downtown Washington D.C. http://www.capsteps.com/live/ and on Saturday, July 21, to see a murder mystery at the Blair Mansion Dinner Theater in Silver Spring, doors open at 6:00 p.m. http://www.blairmansion.com/category/ dinner-theater.

Beyond the Church

Opportunity to here in DC to hear Palestinian Christian peace-builder Daoud Nassar speak, preach & discuss:

Monday, May 7, 2012 - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

St. Columba's Episcopal Church

4201 Albemarle St. NW, Washington, DC

(one block west of Wisconsin Ave. &

Tenleytown Metro Station on Red Line)

Daoud Nassar will discuss his peacebuilding work near Bethlehem in Palestine (sponsored by St. Columba's Peace Fellowship)

Info: Ann Loikow, aloikow@verizon.net

Daoud Nassar is a Palestinian Christian whose family works its 100-acre farm and orchard just outside the town of Bethlehem. There they strive to maintain a haven of peace and brother/sisterhood through the activities atTent of Nations, a dynamic peace and local education center established by the Nassar family in 2000.

Immigrant Voices Workshop

with Paula Cole Jones,

May 16, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

at Owen Brown Interfaith Center This interactive workshop honors the immigrant experience in the United States and deepens our understanding of immigration. Through the voices of immigrants in poetry and prose, we encounter their life experiences and make connections to the political, social and economic structures that have shaped these experiences. A donation of $5-$10 is suggested, but not required. Snacks provided. Childcare available upon request at least one week in advance - please send names and ages of children to childcare@uucolumbia.net. For more information, contact Carla Miller, dlgl@uucolumbia.net, 410-381-0097.

The Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville (UUCR), Peace Action Montgomery, and Pax Christi invite you to their annual Peace Luncheon on May 19 at 11:30, to benefit the Afghan Women's Fund (www.afghanwomensfund.com),

a terrific organization providing literacy, medical and other services for rural women in Afghanistan, and the national office of Peace Action (www.peace-action.org).

Click here to learn about some events sponsored by friends of Cedar Lane.

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.

READ ALL the RE News Here...

Spring RE

Sun Apr 29-May 20 Spring B

Sun May 6 Graduating
Senior's Service

Sun May 20 All-Church Picnic

F-Sun June 8-10 All-Church Retreat

Spring B is here!

If you have not yet registered for class, you can do so on Sunday morning at the administration table on the lower level. Some classes are already filled.

First Sunday Smart Snacks
Dinner Discussion (D&D) Group Meet-up
RE Registration for 2012-13 Coming May 13!
All-Church Retreat coming June 8-10

Youth Notes (Grades 7-12)

Youth Activity Group
(YAG, for grades 7-8)

Senior High Youth Group
(grades 9-12)

Young Adults (Ages 18-35)

Adult Programs (AP) Spring 2012

Lots is still happening with Adult Programs!

READ ALL the RE News Here...

The Welcome Workshop

for Saturday, 5/5/12,

is canceled!

THIS WEEKEND!

We're flipping for Cedar Lane

on Sunday evening, May 6!

On Sunday, May 6, from 5:30-7:30 pm, The Board of Trustees will do the cooking for you!

So take the night off, bring a crowd or come solo - to Cedar Lane's Pancake Supper.

Individual tickets are $10, Family tickets are $25. Tickets will be available at the door.

We hope to serve you there!

LGBT Winter/Spring

Film & Discussion Series Friday evening May, 11

7:00 to 9:30 PM

Cedar Lane UU Church Library

9601 Cedar Lane Bethesda, MD 20814

Film: "Pariah" "Pariah" is a recently released, award-winning film, which has been described by critics as "inspiring, vibrant, moving and heartfelt". The film focuses on Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay) -- a 17 year old African American lesbian high school student, who lives with her parents (church-going mother and police detective father) and younger sister in Brooklyn New York. She has a flair for poetry and is a good student at her local school.

On the surface, "Pariah" is a coming of age story, but it is also a smart and layered tackling of gender, sexuality, religion, and even class - an essential layer of complexity needed to accurately portray the diverse experiences of queer people of color, which has long been absent from mainstream LGBT films. Rather than depicting homophobia as the only kind of oppression experienced by the LGBT community, Pariah's world is a varied socio-cultural landscape in motion featuring an all-People of Color cast.

In the film, Alike is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. With the support of her openly gay best friend Laura, Alike is especially eager to find a girlfriend. At home, her parents' marriage is strained and there is further tension in the household whenever Alike's development becomes a topic of discussion. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, Alike strives to get through adolescence with grace, humor, and tenacity - sometimes succeeding, sometimes not, but always moving forward. The film showing (sponsored by both the LGBT Task Force & CLARITY) will be followed by a facilitated discussion.

General Information: $5.00 (suggested contribution) at the door; refreshments will be served.

For additional information contact Catherine Schuler (cschuler@umd.edu); Marge Dimond (margeryjd@aol.com); Ariel Mora (ariel_mora1@hotmail.com); or Stephen Colgan (smcolgan@hotmail.com).

Environmental Task Force

Cedar Lane's SPRING 2012

ROCK CREEK CLEAN-UP

Sunday, May 13, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Rain date Sunday, May 20

(the last day of Spring B)

Organic picnic lunch 12:15 - 1 p.m.

We want to provide enough food, so please let us know if you will be joining us for lunch by contacting

Charlotte Brewer Jarvischarlot@aol.com,

(301) 656-0467.

Come for as long as you can. Wear old shoes, and rubber boots if you might get in the creek.

Come to Charlotte's car (a gold Honda) in the teachers' parking lot on the Beach Drive side of our church for gloves and bags provided by the Montgomery County Parks and Planning Dept.

Join with the Rock Creek Conservancy to maintain our CLEAN Rock Creek.

Click here to view the full flyer!

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Climate Action Day

Join others around the world as they make a targeted statement how climate change is already a part of their lives, with 350.org Climate Action Day this May 5. Click through to learn more and tell us what you are doing.

Click here for updated Green Tips and ETF event information!

In This Together from CLARITY

All are welcome to drop in and join the "Tree of Life Coffeehouse," sponsored by CLARITY, in the chapel from

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. as part of the Spring "B" program (May 6, May 13, May 20). We invite you to share your music, poetry, or other talents, or just come to listen and enjoy. Performers may sign up at the door. No advance registration necessary. Assisted listening devices available. For more info contact Steve Jones at

301-571-4878 or Sue Clark at songsue@aol.com.

On May 6, we will be honored to have Roz Pelles, Board Chair for the Highlander Center join us. The Highlander Center was critical as a meeting place in the Civil Rights movement. Martin Luther king went there a number of times, and Rosa Parks was trained there shortly before being arrested in her famous action in Montgomery, Alabama. We'll pass the hat to help support their excellent ongoing work.

See our CLARITY web pages

for additional upcoming

"Events of Interest."

Hands

Members and friends of CLUUC who are committed to our work of anti-racism and multi-culturalism are encouraged to become part of our team. If you are ready to join, send a request to CLUUC-CLARITY-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

CLARITY meetings are generally held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the Chalice House.

* CLARITY/"Cedar Laners Against Racism -- In This Together --Yes!" is part of Cedar Lane's Social Justice Council. Our mission is to lead the process of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church becoming a welcoming, multi-cultural, multi-racial congregation.

0.960691823899371

Sara Davidson
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church www.cedarlane.org 301-493-8300