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Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
www.cedarlane.org
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eNewsletter Volume 4, Issue 48
May 25, 2012
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May 27, 2012
10 a.m. in the sanctuary
"Until It Is Finished It Is Not Done"
Rev. Evan Keely
Worship Associate: Bob Harrison
We reflect together on Memorial Day's many layers of meaning.
Volunteers for the Service: Ushers: 10 a.m.: Ted Chernikoff, Bob Harrison, Nancy Janssen, Marilynn Smith Coffee Servers: 11 a.m.: Nancy Janssen Audio: Warren Thompson Board Member at the Office Desk: 11 a.m.: Bonnie Beavers Visitors' Center: 11 a.m.: John Gubbings The flowers in the sanctuary are given by Kay and Tom Bugenhagen in loving memory of their son, Jeffrey Edwin Bugenhagen. The flowers were arranged by Cathy Knapper. In the Lounge: Alliance Books ◊ Beacon Books Cart ◊ Environmental Task Force ◊ Fair Trade Coffee & Tea ◊ Social Justice Council ◊
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Weekly Devotional ˇ May 25, 2012
When you are offended with any man's shameless conduct, immediately ask yourself, Is it possible, then, that shameless men should not be in the world? It is not possible. Do not, then, require what is impossible... For at the same time that you remind yourself that it is impossible that such kind of men should not exist, you will become more kindly disposed towards every one individually... Besides, wherein have you been injured? For you will find that no one among those against whom you are irritated has done anything by which your mind could be made worse; but that which is evil to you and harmful has its foundation only in the mind.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, IX:42
Human limitations make it impossible for any of us to be virtuous, mature and kind all the time. There can be no escaping the encounter from time to time, in others and even in ourselves (though we may not be as readily disposed to recognize the latter), with words and actions that are ill-considered, mean-spirited and difficult to comprehend or justify.
Unkind acts have a toxic effect. They affect all those who witness them, as well as those who receive them and even those who commit them. What is the antidote to the poison of unkindness, irrationality, stupidity that we inevitably encounter on occasion? First: we must remind ourselves that human fallibility means that these things will never disappear. Second: we ought to strive against the temptation to react with more of the same, but instead seek to respond out of our best selves: with patience, self-respect, and maturity. Third: hurtful acts can be healed with kindness and decency. When we have been exposed to evil, we should seek the company of those we know will treat us with fairness and thoughtfulness. Yet more healing can come from performing acts of kindness ourselves.
Prayer
I cannot rid the world of pettiness, foolishness and cruelty, but may my words and deeds daily counter these with wisdom, dignity, courage and love. Amen.
Follow Rev. Keely on Twitter @evanvwk.
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There's still time to register for GA!
Click here to continue...
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"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.
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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
Click here: Off-site Delegate Registration
Contact nancyjanssen@peoplepc.com for more information.
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Upcoming Sundays
June 3, 2012
"Mother Spirit, Father Spirit"
The Rev. Evan Keely
Worship Associate: Brian Belanger
Join us for the distinctly Unitarian tradition, our annual rite of Flower Communion. Everyone is invited to bring a flower to share.
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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 name-tag or the map in the church office to find your neighborhood. Condolences are with Pat and Jim Wigginton (Neighborhood 7) as they mourn the death of Pat's aunt, Dorothy Seip, who died in her early 90's. Another regretful goodbye: We bid farewell to long-time members Frank and Sharon Adler (Neighborhood 10) who are moving to North Carolina next week to be closer to grandchildren. Their new address will be 4933 Lighthouse Court, Winson-Salem, NC 27127. Their telephone number will remain the same. Best wishes! Healing thoughts are with John Massey (N16) who received treatment after a minor fall at Suburban Hospital and is now recovering for a few days at the Hebrew Home Rehabilitation Center. We encourage the community to pay special attention to Dr. Henry Sgrecci's Music Director's Notes this week for news about a benefit to support David Chapman, the Music Director at our sister congregation, Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church. (Cedar Laners will remember David from the Sunday we welcomed the PBUUC choir in our Auditorium.) 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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Around the Church
Meditation June mini series meets in the Chalice House four Mondays in June, 7:30-9 pm. Drop-in's welcome. All levels welcome.
Paper to Pearls is back! Newly arrived necklaces, bracelets, and earrings from Uganda await your browsing pleasure in the lounge. As always, proceeds go to the Ugandan women who made them as well as to AMCAV, our project enabling education in DR Congo.
During the summer, please don't hesitate to contact Annette Scarpitta if the table is not in the lounge (annettecedarlane@spamex.com.) Hope to see you soon!
...to all who have turned in your pledge! We are grateful and appreciate your help.
However, we still have a loooooooooong way to go. We have raised $625,000. We need your help TODAY to fund our important church programs. Please turn in your pledge today. You can do this at www.cedarlane.org, or mail in your pledge card, or call Sara Deshler, Church Administrator, at 301.493.8300.
- Ardene Shafer, Chair, Stewardship Committee
JOIN the Joseph Priestley District's Jubilee Anti-Racism Training
When: Fri, August 3 (6 pm to 10 pm); Sat, August 4 (8:30 am to 9 pm); Sun, August 5 (8:30 am to 5 pm - with a break for worship service)
Do you wish to nurture your congregation's multicultural future in the face of opposing cultural currents? Do you wish to deepen your understanding of how race and ethnicity play out in our institutions and our daily lives?
Jubilee Anti-Racism Training helps participants understand what is involved in nurturing a multicultural community and working against racism in all of its forms. The workshop requires a weekend commitment, and it is worth every minute of that commitment.
This 2.5 day workshop is open to members of any congregation in the Joseph Priestley District. Church leaders are especially encouraged to attend.
Click here to continue...
Farm Market Stand Open this Saturday! 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...
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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.
Spring RE
F-Sun June 8-10 All-Church Retreat
- RE Registration for 2012-13
- All-Church Retreat 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...
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Calendar
Please visit the church calendar here.
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Music Director's Notes
Dr. Henry Sgrecci
May 27, 2012
On Memorial Day weekend we remember our countrymen and women who have died in service with songs of joy, patriotism, and remembrance. The Choir will begin the service with the Early American hymn "Liberty" composed during the early part of the nineteenth century by New Englander Stephen Jenks and published in the Sacred Harp Hymnal. The Choir will endeavor to sing the song in the style of "shape note" choirs, which is to say that if a choir member can hear the person singing next to them, they are not singing loud enough. Bob Dylan's epic song Blowin' in the Wind is celebrating its golden anniversary, being published fifty years ago this month in Pete Seeger's magazine called Broadside. Historians note that Dylan's song-writing style matured significantly with Blowin' in the Wind. Whereas his earlier songs had dealt with a particular person or event, the introspective line, "the answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind," allowed this song to embody virtually any freedom issue. The Choir's arrangement couples this American musical treasure with our most patriotic song, America. The Choir concludes with Good Night, Dear Heart, a beautiful choral setting of the final stanza of Robert Richardson's poem, "Annette." It became famous when Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) had the stanza carved into the headstone of his daughter's grave which rests in the Woodlawn Cemetery of Elmira, New York.
Are you "Friends" of Gruppo Piccolo? If so, how far will you go for a friend? Gruppo Piccolo is in desperate need of Basses. The need is so dire that the group may not continue beyond June 17 if it cannot attract basses to sing. If you sing bass, or are a tenor who has long dreamed of singing "the low notes," Ariel Mora would love to hear from you at ariel_mora1@hotmail.com.
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Environmental Task Force
Five tips to unplug your kids, get them out into nature Unplug your kids and get them out into nature this spring with these five tips. From chasing a lightening bug, to splashing through puddles, they'll have fun, and maybe even learn something about your planet.
Read More
---------------------------------------------------------------- Click here for updated Green Tips and ETF event information!
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Partner Church Scholarship Fundraising is underway!
Our annual fundraising for scholarships funds for our Partner Church congregation in Dicsöszentmárton, Romania is now in its third 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 computer science or "informatics" as they sometimes call it in their essays. All three of them express the hope that their studies will allow them to be a source of support for their families in the future - and indication of the strength of family ties and sense of family responsibility in our Partner Church congregation.
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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.
Click here to learn about some events sponsored by friends of Cedar Lane.
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Sara Davidson
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church www.cedarlane.org 301-493-8300
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