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Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
www.cedarlane.org
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eNewsletter Volume 4, Issue 49
June 1, 2012
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June 3, 2012
10 a.m. in the sanctuary
"Mother Spirit, Father Spirit"
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.
Volunteers for the Service:
Ushers: 10 a.m.: Lisa Chernikoff, Nancy Janssen, Gail Riley & Tom Nixon
Coffee Servers: 11 a.m.: Helen & Bob Pechacek
Audio: Rich Clark
Board Member at the Office Desk: 11 a.m.: Bill Zellmer
Visitors' Center: 11 a.m.: Marlene Berg
In the Lounge: Alliance Books ◊ Beacon Books Cart ◊ Environmental Task Force ◊ Fair Trade Coffee & Tea ◊ Partner Church Committee ◊ Social Justice Council ◊
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Weekly Devotional ˇ June 1, 2012
This year marks the ninetieth anniversary of the founding of what is known today as the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians. Its first minister, the Rev. Dr. Norbert Fabian Capek, created a ritual that is celebrated by Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists all over the world, Flower Communion. Čapek described the ceremony in a 1923 letter to Samuel Atkins Eliot II, president of the American Unitarian Association: "Each is to take one flower just as it comes without making any distinction where it came from and whom it represents, to confess that we accept each other as brothers and sisters without regard to class, race, or other distinction, acknowledging everybody as our friend who is a human and wants to be good."
The marvelous natural beauty of the flowers that are brought to these ceremonies is certainly inspiring, but it is of the utmost importance that we continue to learn the broader and deeper lesson this rite teaches. The idea that we should accept one another, with all our differences, and that we should even celebrate one another's uniqueness, is a radical notion in any age, but in Europe in the 1920s it was downright dangerous; it became ever more so, of course, in the decades that followed, especially as Czechoslovakia found itself among the first nations to succumb to the opportunistic infection that was Nazism. The Nazis, of course, represent the polar opposite of Čapek's ideals. Flower Communion is a defiant No! in the face of the brutal racism of Hitler and of the fascists' craving to erect towering, horrific empires upon pediments of subjugation and terror, and it is a joyous Yes! to diversity, equality, and liberty.
We will celebrate Flower Communion this Sunday, as so many Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists all over the world do so at this season of the year. As we do, it is good for us to consider what it is that we are saying No! to, and where our joyous Yes! is. Do we continue to defy the forces of intolerance that would seek to deny same-sex couples their civil right to marriage under the illusion of "defending" heterosexual marriages (like mine)? Do we stand together clutching bouquets of righteousness and justice in our hearts as we persevere in demanding compassion for immigrants, for laborers, and for the poor? Do we say Yes! to a future for our planet in which we will coexist with all life harmoniously?
Arrested by the Nazis for the "crime" of listening to foreign radio broadcasts, Čapek spent fourteen weeks at Dachau before being martyred in October of 1942 in the Nazi gas chamber at Schloss Hartheim. He is remembered around the world for how he died, but more so for what died for - and what he lived for.
Prayer
O God, give us the strength and courage to say No! to oppression, cruelty, bigotry and fear, and the heart to rejoice in the Yes! of your love by living lives of compassion, dedicating ourselves to justice, and accepting one another in love, even as we seek acceptance in 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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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 10, 2012
"Question Box Sermon"
The Rev. Evan Keely
Worship Associate: Travis Ploeger
Got a question about theology, ethics, the meaning of life? Or about life at CLUUC? Or about just about anything? Our Interim Senior Minister will take questions from the congregation and engage us in responding.
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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. Our condolences are with Margaret Saunders and Steve, Julian and Cary Spector (Neighborhood 8) with the death of Margaret's mother, Marnie Saunders, who died on May 25 after a long illness. We celebrate with Diane & Bill Wallenmeyer (N25) who will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on June 1. Congratulations are with Nell Quinn-Gibney (N33) whose writing will soon be included in Walter Johnson High's literary magazine Spectator, once voted "the Most Outstanding High School Literary-Arts Magazine" by the American Scholastic Press Association. You may read the current issue here. Readers of the UUA's magazine UU World recently learned that the Prague Unitarian Congregation will soon be celebrating its 90th anniversary.  As part of their celebration will include a "virtual flower communion," we emailed this photo, from last Sunday, to the congregation's minister. The arrangement was created by Cathy Knapper and dedicated by Kay and Tom Bugenhagen, in memory of their son Jeff (displayed in the photo frame. Jeff's son, Erik, is standing between his grandparents.) We sent the photograph with this note: The space in which we worship is designed like a Japanese temple. Hence, it is fitting that the flower arrangements designed for each Sunday morning are created in the ikebana style. This arrangement was offered in memory of a man who died rather young within the past year, at the request of his parents and son. The arrangement was created by the family's good friend. In many ways, this photo reflects who we are: a community that celebrates life through creations of beauty (like these flowers and the gifts of our many musicians) and that comes together in times of distress and sorrow...We offer our congratulations and best wishes as your community celebrates its 90th anniversary! 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
Do you have a graduate in your family whether from high school or college? Please contact Linda Gianessi (lgianessi@cedarlane.org) if we can announce their name, school and future plans in the next newsletter.
Meditation June mini series meets in the Chalice House four Mondays in June, 7:30-9 pm. Drop-in's welcome. All levels welcome.
Come visit the Paper to Pearls table this Sunday, the last day before summer services. 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.)
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.
Click here to continue...
Farm Market Stand Open this Saturday, June 2! 
NEW ITEMS this week! Sweet CHERRIES! These are the early small dark ones!
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
June 3, 2012
The organ prelude and postlude for this special Flower Service were composed by Richard Purvis. Thomas Guthrie writes: "The music of Richard Purvis (1913-1994) holds a very special place in 20th century American history. His compositional style has unique melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic qualities. He was a master of composing and arranging concise, definitive, colorful, and listenable pieces. Mr. Purvis is remembered for his many years as organist/choirmaster of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco."
The Choir sings De Colores in recognition of the Flower Service and also in honor of the upcoming GA in Phoenix, Arizona, and the ongoing call for immigration rights. Flowers is a simple yet elegant song composed by Miriam Therese Winter and arranged for choir by Henry Sgrecci. Ms. Winter, a member of the Medical Mission Sisters of Connecticut, is a popular composer of sacred songs, many of which are published in the book, "Songlines," and the author of several popular alternative hymn texts. The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring is a delightful song composed for the ultra-popular opera, "The Mikado," by Gilbert and Sullivan. The opera premiered in London's Savoy Theatre in March of 1885 and enjoyed one of the longest runs in the history of British light opera with over six hundred fifty performances.
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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Partner Church Scholarship Fundraising 
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. The four students we are featuring this week are studying a variety of subjects. When reading their essays (in English), it's useful to remember that all of these students are ethnic Hungarian, and speak Hungarian at home, but most of their education is in Romanian. They have all also studied English, and most of them also speak at least one other language - French, German, Spanish, or Italian! |
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Beyond the Church
UUs for DC CAPITAL PRIDE
Cedar Lane, as part of a collaborative group of local UU Congregations, will be participating in the celebration of this year's DC CAPITAL PRIDE. There will be a UU contingent marching in the PRIDE PARADE on Saturday evening June 9th (gathering at 4:30 PM), and a UU booth at the PRIDE FESTIVAL on Sunday, June 10th from 11 AM-6 PM. All are welcome to join these festivities. For further information contact Marge Dimond (margeryjd@aol.com) or Stephen Colgan (smcolgan@hotmail.com).
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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