eNews: May 18, 2012

The flowers in the sanctuary are given in quiet memory of Muriel Marcus, a loving and giving woman, mother, grandmother, and leader in her community. They are given by Lesley Carlson and family members Eric, Sonja, and Renee. The flowers were arranged by Cindy Meredith.

In the Lounge: Beacon Books Cart ◊ Environmental Task Force ◊ Fair Trade Coffee & Tea ◊ Partner Church Committee ◊ Social Justice Council ◊

Weekly Devotional · May 18, 2012

In the spring of 1988, I was a freshman at Boston University, studying to be a composer (I eventually took a degree in Music History). One of my professors remarked one day that the great German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau would soon be giving a series of concerts at Carnegie Hall; this professor urged us to consider that Fischer-Dieskau, who was in his early sixties at that point, would soon be retiring from singing - this could be a last-chance opportunity. I was (and always will be) a fervent admirer of Fischer-Dieskau's marvelous artistry, so I hopped a train to New York and heard this extraordinary vocalist perform a recital of songs by the late-Romantic composer Hugo Wolf. Although slightly disappointed that I was not hearing him perform Schubert songs, renowned as his specialty, the concert was nevertheless one of the most astonishingly rich, powerful and mind-expanding of the many musical performances I have heard in my lifetime.

What is music, after all, but a complicated series of vibrations, a mere collection of noises? For that matter, what is a painting but colored blotches on a flat surface, what is dance but people moving around, what is poetry but a bunch of words? And yet we all know from experience that art, truly great art, can do more than just amuse or distract us: it can center us in our true selves, it can invigorate us to be who we most deeply yearn to be, and great creative works and acts can encourage us to be creative, to create the world we want to bring into being. Seeing one of the most admired singers of his generation live on stage, bringing the whole depth of his being forth in an extraordinary display of the vastly complex nuances of the human experience, inspired me to want to bring something of lasting value to the world.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau died earlier today, ten days shy of his 87th birthday. I am thankful for his life.

Prayer

O blessed Creator, bless all those who are creative, those who create things of beauty and worth that dazzle our senses, give us courage, and challenge us to be better, for when we are creative in this way, we partake of a glimmer of your infinite creativity. Amen.

Follow Rev. Keely on Twitter @evanvwk.

Are You Coming to Justice GA?

Click here to continue...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Journey Toward Phoenix" on www.blogtalkradio.com/revcarltones

New episodes are posted each week now thru June 30, 2012 to inform, entertain and inspire those who are attending or may attend the Justice General Assembly and to create a national dialogue about what UUs are doing in their local communities

on the UUA theme of "Immigration as a Moral Issue."

Your host is the Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith, one of three ministers serving the UU Church of Arlington, VA. He is a member of both the Resources "Brain Trust" and the Program Development Group for Justice GA 2012.

Questions? Contact Cedar Lane Denominational Affairs co-chairs drudi.dino@bls.gov or nancyjanssen@peoplepc.com.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

Click here: Off-site Delegate Registration

Contact nancyjanssen@peoplepc.com for more information.

From the Chair:

UPDATE ON Leadership & GOVERNANCE AT CEDAR LANE

In our continuing efforts to keep you "in the loop," here's the latest:

Governance by Policy

The Board of Trustees resolved this week to pursue a two-year governance-change process at Cedar Lane, consistent with "governance by policy" principles that have been considered by the Board during the 2011-2102 church year. Details of the path that led to the Board's resolution can be found here on Cedar Lane's website.

With this resolution, Cedar Lane becomes one of an increasing number of UU congregations making a similar governance transition, and by 2014 we expect to join the more than 50 UUA congregations operating under some form of governance by policy...

Click here to continue...

Upcoming Sundays

May 27, 2012

Until It Is Finished It Is Not Done

The Rev. Evan Keely

Worship Associate: Bob Harrison

We reflect together on Memorial Day's many layers of meaning.

Calendar

Please visit the church calendar here.

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.

Our condolences are with Phyllis Reynolds Naylor as she mourns the death of her husband, Rex Naylor (Neighborhood 30) Rex died on May 12th. A Service in Celebration of His Life will be held on Saturday, June 23rd at 11:00 am at the Guild Memorial Chapel at Asbury Village, 211 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg. All are welcome.

We celebrate with Ariel Mora (N25) as she welcomes her second grandchild. Tal Eliot Henry was born on May 17th at 8 lbs, 8 oz. Tal's mom, Kerridwen, big brother Cai and dad Patrick are well. Hooray!

Healing wishes are with Frances Dearman (N8) who is recovering at home from surgery to remove a cancerous growth.

And, with regret and good wishes, we bid farewell to Ron and Gerry Peterson (N15) who are moving to Arizona next week. Their new address will be 823 W. Calle Artistica, Green Valley, AZ 85614. Gerry adds "Visitors 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 20, 2012

On this Sunday in May we sing songs of spring, the environment, and of rolling waters. The Choir will open the service with rare gem; a spirited part song, "Spring's Greeting" (Frühlingsruf) by Ludvig van Beethoven. The Anthem is the second movement from Swedish composer Hildor Lundvik's "Nocturnes;" a subdued and impressionistic ode titled, Quiet Rain. The sopranos and altos repeat the phrase "A quiet rain is falling" over a drone by the basses while the tenors sing the same text as a pensive melody. Soprano, Emma Vawter, muses "Oh, tender night, oh quiet melancholy of Spring." The Offertory is a new arrangement that is surely destined to become a favorite of the Choir. We feature the powerful voice of baritone, Kevin Miller, propelled by the surging energy and pulsating rhythms in Ken Berg's setting of the African American Spiritual Roll, Jordan, Roll.

Partner Church Scholarship Fundraising is underway!

Our annual fundraising for scholarships funds for our Partner Church congregation in Dicsöszentmárton, Romania continues this week. Generous support from the Cedar Lane community over the past several years has made attending university a feasible option for the young people in the Dicsö congregation.

Three of the students we are sponsoring this year are studying to be doctors - much needed in Romania, where health care lags well behind that of other European Union countries. Medical study in Romania is a 6-year program, combining what we think of as an undergrad pred-med program for about 3 years with medical school study starting in about the 4th year of university.

Click here to read about our three featured students this week...

From the Senior Minister Search Committee (SMSC)

Thank you for electing us at the annual meeting on April 15 to serve on the Senior Minister Search Committee! We promise you our energy and intelligence, civility and commitment in working with you to identify the very best candidate by next spring to become the next Senior Minister of our beloved church.

At the 10 a.m. service this Sunday, May 20, we invite you to hear Jean Smith, the Ministerial Search Representative (MSR) from the Joseph Priestley District, explain the process, timetable, and the responsibilities that we will share together in the coming months.

We hope to see you there!

We are pleased to announce that Karen Lee Scrivo has been selected to serve as the Interim Director of Religious Education (DRE) for Cedar Lane. Her credentials are impressive, she has many years of experience with Religious Education and Adult Programs. She is a trained Interim Director of Religious Education.

Ms. Scrivo served as Interim DRE at Paint Branch UU Church, the U U Congregation of Columbia, and at her home church of Goodloe Memorial. She is currently serving as adjunct staff for the Joseph Priestley District. She holds two Masters Degrees, one in Communications and one in International Affairs and worked as a journalist for many years. She is also Montessori trained and has taught elementary school. Ms. Scrivo is currently working on completing a Masters of Divinity at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA. Karen lives in Glenn Dale, Md with her husband, Ken Shilling. Their son, Kelson, is a junior in

college. And she even plays guitar and sings!

We look forward to welcoming her to the Cedar Lane staff on Monday, August 5.

Around the Church

Farm Market Stand Open this Saturday! May 19, 9 am-1 pm at Cedar Lane:
STRAWBERRIES are here! They are sweet and very good!
Great Rhubarb!
We have spinach, spring onions, radishes,
lettuce, salad greens, asparagus, and spearmint tea.
Arugala, stored potatoes.
..the list goes on!

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

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 20 All-Church Picnic

F-Sun June 8-10 All-Church Retreat

Spring B All Church Picnic!

This Sunday, May 20, is our annual Spring B All-Church Picnic. It doesn't matter whether or not you are participating in Spring B, it is just plain fun! Bring lunch for your family (including drinks), dessert to share and a blanket. We'll be making homemade ice cream, so churners should come early. Picnic starts around 12:15 p.m.

RE Registration for 2012-13 - Please see brochure online!
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

READ ALL the RE News Here...

From the Church Administrator

Sara Deshler

Keys Clothes Calculators, you name it we have it. What you may have lost we have found. Please check in the office after the service on Sunday to see if any of what we have is yours. Hard to believe so many folks managed to leave without their car keys, notably Toyota and Honda keys, those programmable kind that are expensive to replace. Glasses, coats, sweaters, umbrellas galore.

In This Together from CLARITY*

CLARITY* & the Denominational Affairs Committee invite you to join us in the library TONIGHT, Friday, May 18, 7 pm to view "9500 Liberty" which documents the first time in U.S. history an Arizona-style immigration law was actually implemented-and the surprising grassroots opposition that led to its repeal.

Racial tension and threats of violence erupted when Prince William County, Virginia, adopted a law requiring the police to question people who appear to be undocumented immigrants. Supporters of the law rode a wave of hysteria to an election victory. But many reconsidered when the local economy felt the impact of a sudden exodus of workers, consumers, and business owners. Despite fears of reprisal, a group of concerned citizens launched a "virtual resistance" using social media, setting up a final showdown with the law's ferocious advocates.

The Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd from Bull Run UU Church (and newly called to serve the River Road UU Congregation) will be the discussion leader following the film. Open to all, $5 at the door, if not previously registered.

--------------------------------------------------

All are welcome to drop in and join the "Tree of Life Coffeehouse," in the chapel from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. this Sunday, May 20. We invite you to share your music, poetry, or other talents, or just come to listen and enjoy. No advance registration necessary. Assisted listening devices available.

Hear Bonnita Spikes' moving words on the death penalty in MD! Enjoy the Bethesda Alumni A Capella Choir, as well as Sonja Carlson reciting poetry!

For more info contact Steve Jones at 301-571-4878 or Sue Clark at songsue@aol.com.

* 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.

Environmental Task Force

Solar & Green Home Expo

Saturday, June 9, 2012

10 am - 4 pm

Bethesda Green will host our third annual Solar & Green Home Expo to offer visitors an information-packed, showcase event featuring many green home expert services and solar providers.The goal of this event is to provide homeowners and other interested parties an opportunity to get the latest information about area services and incentives to green their homes.

More information available here.

---------------------------------------------------------------- Click here for updated Green Tips and ETF event information!

Beyond the Church

More than Play:

Rebuilding Together, a longtime partner of Cedar Lane's and a local nonprofit that repairs homes for vulnerable families to keep them living in safety, is delighting children of all ages with their fundraiser: Rebuilding Hope: The RTMC Playhouse Project. Eight one-of-a-kind playhouses are on display in front of Bloomingdales in Chevy Chase for the entire month of May, and Rebuilding Together plans to auction them off at a live event on May 31. If you are interested in a playhouse for the little ones in your life, or for your school or neighborhood, you can learn more at www.rebuilding-hope.org. They are also trying to raise $15,000 in community donations to give one of the playhouses to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, for the children of veterans receiving treatment there. Every dollar counts, and you can also make your donation at www.rebuilding-hope.org.

TOMORROW! 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.

0.960691823899371

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