Memorial Service for Gilbert Chavez
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Saturday, April 18 at 3 PM at
Missionary Baptist Church ( map)
 Gilbert had been a regular guest at the Fellowship in the past year. Please join us on April 18 in remembering Gilbert's life Missionary Baptist Church address: Tyler Street, Borger, Texas 79007 |
Jeff Davis, a trustee on the Board serving a 2014-16 term, resigned from the Board of Trustees due to a change in his work schedule that made it impossible for him to attend Board meetings. Please join me in thanking him for his service and we hope he is able to join us again in the near future.
Per our by-laws (Article VI, Section 4: In case of a vacancy, the Board shall appoint a successor from the voting membership to the unexpired term...), the Board voted at the April 12th Board Meeting to appoint Karen Logan to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. Karen has already been a tremendous asset to our fellowship and we are thrilled that she in stepping into this leadership position. Join me in congratulating and thanking her.
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Gary Biggers Robbie Devine
Katherine Devine Cody Dye
Rosalie Falcon Cecelio Falcon
Kelley Mickey Joe Paiz
Tricia Regan Jeanette Springer
Gene Strouse Johnnie Strouse
Virginia Whipkey
Reinstate: Keith Jones
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Call for Committee Volunteers
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As we prepare for the new fiscal year to begin on June 1, the Board is looking for volunteers to assist in the various committees for the upcoming year. If you have attended a service in the last few weeks, you have noticed that I have been highlighting a committee a week in the announcement segment, "Better Know a Committee". This has been an attempt to help members and friends get to know these committees and to understand the number of people it takes to make our Beloved Community keep moving forward.
Are you wanting to get more involved, but do not know where your talents fit in? Take a look at the list of of our committees and find one (or more!) that strikes your fancy! We need chairs for many of the committees and members for all. To be a chairperson, you must be a current AUUF member, but friends of AUUF are always welcome to work with committees.
Click here to see the committees and their current chairpersons. If you have any questions, feel free to seek them out or contact Keralee Clay, Board President
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Commit to ACT for Climate Justice
A Call to Action
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April 17-22, 2015Over the past three weeks we have rejoiced and celebrated our natural world and reckoned with and grieved the losses we are confronting in the current crisis; then we reconnected with front-line communities and with Earth in her glory. Now we face the challenge of committing to a new, more sustainable, way of living on this planet. Our spiritual reflections in week one focused on the element of water; in week two, of fire; in week three, of air. How appropriate that we spend the final days of Climate Justice Month focusing on earth itself.
We have seen that our planet inspires and exhilarates us, challenges our imagination with its beauty and awesome forces, and provides such an abundance of life in myriad forms. Yet we must also face the impact that human choices to use and abuse earth's resources have had upon the very elements we depend on for survival. Our folly has pushed the planet to the threshold. We must reconnect with our covenant to "dress it and keep" the Garden, to reconnect with those souls around the world who also want to create justice by saving this world for posterity. The interconnectedness we have with all that exists behooves us now to commit to respond as individuals, groups, and nations. These final days of Climate Justice Month offer a variety of ways we can make a difference, a call to action!
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Our Unitarian Univeralist faith is not something that you can think your way through. It's not something private to your own soul and your own heart. Rather it is about how people who differ about the nature of reality itself come together to form the just and loving community.
--Rev. Susan M. Smith
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In addition to the events described in this newsletter, you can find a complete listing by clicking on the Calendar icon to the left.
Want more detail? Check both the News and the Events sections of our website, uuamarillo.orgAlso on our website, you can learn more about our Fellowship and our faith, Unitarian Universalism.
All events are held at the Fellowship, 4901 Cornell St., unless otherwise noted.
If you are unsure how to reach any of the individuals named as contacts, please email the AUUF office or call our Office Administrator, April Myers, at 806.355.9351 and leave a message. She will return your call during her office hours, which are M-W-F from 9 AM to noon.
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Sunday Worship - 9:30 and 11 AM
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April 19, 2015
David Green speaks on Earth Day Everyday, discussing the origins and ongoing impact of the annual observance focused on environmental awareness and action.
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April 26, 2015
Special guest Darryl Birkenfeld will speak on Conservation in the Texas Panhandle.
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May 3, 2015
David Green is speaking on The Heretic Next Door, discussing the surprising varieties of religious belief within American mainstream and evangelical faiths, and the civic importance of maintaining freedom of religious expression.
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Breakfast Served by Women's Fellowship
Sunday, April 19 at 9 AM
The third Sunday each month at 9 AM, members of the Women'sSimply Salad & Soup Fellowship serve a delicious breakfast. Please join us for breakfast prior to the 9:30 Worship Service, or the 10 AM Adult Religious Education.
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Women's Simply Salad & Soup Fellowship
Wednesday, April 22 at
6 PM at Texas Roadhouse
Join the Women's Fellowship and enjoy the night out! The group meets at a local restaurant on the 4th Wednesdays of each month, and on the 2nd Wednesdays, they meet at the Fellowship.
Cheddar's address:
2805 W Interstate 40
Contact: Ann Benedetti
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Men's Fellowship
Wednesday, April 22 at 6:30 PM at Furrbies (map)
Join the fun and fellowship - you'll find plenty of choices on the menu and just as many different topics to discuss as you get to know your UU brethren, but don't expect an agenda. The conversations evolve naturally.
Furrbies' address:
210 SW 6th Avenue
Contact: Eric Berg
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2015 Annual Congregational Meeting
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2015 Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, April 19 at Noon
The 5th Principle of Unitarian Universalism is "(t)he right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large." Theodore Parker, who played a major role in moving Unitarianism away from being a Bible-based faith, said that "Democracy means not 'I am as good as you are,' but "You are as good as I am."
The membership of the Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will hold its Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, April 19, immediately following the 11 AM Service.
At this important meeting, members will vote on the Fellowship's operating budget and officers for June 2015 through May 2016. Per AUUF bylaws, this announcement serves as the official posted notification of the Annual Meeting. Your vote counts, so please be present!
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Cakes for the Queen of Heaven
Monday, April 20 from 6 - 7:30 PM
 How would your life have been different if, when growing up, the divine had been imaged as female?
In this Women's Covenant Group, we discuss feminine spiritual and social topics. We are currently studying an 11 session UU Adult Religious Education curriculum, Cakes for the Queen of Heaven - a woman honoring curriculum by Rev. Shirley Ranck. More than Goddess 101, this workshop series examines important elements of today's women's lives; personal, interpersonal and societal. It examines how our culture has been influenced by Judeo Christian values. Participants are encouraged to share their own experiences and beliefs, creating trust and strong bonds of friendship.
Upcoming sessions and topics:
In Ancient Times (5 sessions)
April 20: The Sacred Female
May 4: In the Name of the Mother and the Daughter
May 18: WomanPower
June 1: The First Turning: the Shift from Goddess to God
June 15: Reclaiming Women's Heritage of Peace
On the Threshold (6 sessions)
July 6: The Hebrew Goddess
July 20: Sarah and the Priestess
August 3: The Apostle Mary
August 17: The Virgin Mary
September 7: Witchcraft
September 21: Future Fantasies
Join us as we learn and grow together as UU goddesses!
For more information, contact Keralee Clay
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Alternative Medicine Monthly Seminar
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ICAM Monthly Seminar - Integrated Complementary Alternative Medicine
Tuesday, April 21 from 7 - 8:30 PM (Every Third Tuesday)
 This monthly seminar focuses on alternative health and wellness, and is led by Rolf Habersang, MD, Medical Director of the ICAM Institute of Amarillo, and Pia Habersang, EdD, CNS, MSN, APRN of the Pediatric Wellness Center of Amarillo
Dr. Rolf Habersang's experience in Medicine and Healthcare is spanning over 4 decades. With initially a focus in General Pediatrics and Intensive Care for over 30 years he then followed many of the children with special health care needs as a professor with Texas Tech Medical School. Because of his passion for helping individuals, children and adults, to optimize their wellbeing he expanded his knowledge through continued training in Biological Medicine and Functional and now practices a holistic approach to health care based on the principles of Biological / Functional Medicine and Homeopathy. His "mantra" is "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT and THINK" . Dr. Habersang provides consults to patients who have a variety of issues, though not in the context of primary care.
Pia Habersang is the primary provider of the Pediatric Wellness Center of Amarillo has over 35 years experience in various roles / positions in the healthcare system. For twenty of those years she provided primary care as a Nurse Practitioner to children with various health care needs (Pedi Providers / Texas Tech Health Science Center). Her educational background of a Masters in Science of Nursing (WTSU 1986) allows her to continue to practice as an advanced practicing nurse (APRN/NP) which includes a strong focus on family dynamics.
Open to the Public-Free Admission
ICAM Seminar information: 806-354-5437
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Garden Workday & Grass Class
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Saturday, April 25 at 9 AM
 Please join us for a Garden Workday & Grass Class. We'll discuss using ornamental grasses to design a lovely and low maintenance garden space. It's time to get your hands dirty and enjoy the wonderful weather while we can. We will have information handouts so please let us know if you can make it so we can print enough. Click here to RSVP.
Contact: Deb Winters
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Announcement about Recycling
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 The Social Action Committee is hoping to get our congregation and friends involved in recycling, but because of lack of storage space, we're not able, at this time, to provide a place for you to bring your materials to the fellowship to be accumulated and taken to the recycler. This endeavor relates to the 7th principle of UU: "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."
The fellowship currently pays a local recycler to come to the building to pick up the agreed-upon items that result from our services and other gatherings. Most Amarilloans don't know this, but there is another recycler that does not charge for recycling and does not pick, but we have to take our recyclables to them.
Some of us are already doing so periodically, and we'd like encourage the rest of you to do so, if possible. But we're considering alternatives by which we might be able to take recyclables for those who can't or aren't comfortable doing so themselves. The recycler is Four States Recycling. They are open during regular office hours on weekdays only. Sort your materials before you go, preferably putting them in plastic bags, sorting into aluminum cans, #1 plastic, #2 plastic, white office paper including personal documents, mixed paper including junk mail and magazines, and cardboard.
Four States Recycling: 4110 E. Amarillo Blvd
www.FourStatesRecycling.com
To reach their facility, go east on Amarillo Blvd., past Grand Street about one block, where you'll reach an overpass. Don't go up on it, but get in the right lane going alongside the overpass, on the south side. A tall sign and a white metal fence on the right lead into the parking lot, toward a large blue building, where you can park. There are not employees to direct you or carry for you, though they can quickly answer questions. Carry your recyclables into the large doorways on the north side of the blue building, look in the containers, and dump your materials in the appropriate places. Keep your plastic bags to refill at home or at your office. (Bags can be recycled at your local supermarket.) Be observant so as not to interfere with the workers driving forklifts and dumping containers.
If you need more information or would like to volunteer to take recyclables out there for others in our congregation, call Janda Raker at 352-0589 or e-mail her at Ljraker@suddenlink.net.
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 In this first of an occasional series, Gary Biggers will provide his own (admittedly subjective) summaries and recommendation ratings for books related to our faith.
Searl, Ed and Briere, Jeff. 101 Reasons I'm A Unitarian Universalist. Copyright 2001. Kindle Edition 2011.
Ed Searl, minister of UU Church of Hinsdale, IL, and Jeff Briere, minister of UU Church of Chattanooga, TN, have, through a list of reasons, woven together glimpses of the Unitarian and Universalist history, notable members and martyrs, and examples of the application of the seven principles.
If you haven't read A Chosen Faith or even if you have, this succinct list of highlights is a great introduction to or a confirming reminder of the many reasons members choose to become Unitarian Universalists.
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Unitarian Universalist Association 2015 General Assembly
June 24-28 - Portland, Oregon
Early Registration Deadline: April 30
 Every two years, thousands of UUs from the US and Canada gather for an inspiring and enlightening five days of worship, lectures, workshops, and fellowship. This year's General Assembly is in beautiful Portland, OR. The theme is "Building a New Way," focusing on entrepreneurial ways we can move beyond established institutional forms of "being" UUs.
Several of our Fellowship members are already planning to attend, three of which can be voting delegates (chosen by our board) during GA business sessions. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to hear Dr. Cornel West deliver the Ware Lecture, along with numerous UU leaders offering great ideas to bring back home to our Fellowship.
Click here to register and arrange lodging. Registration fees rise after April 30! Attend all five days, or any single day; fees vary. To volunteer to serve as a voting delegate, please contact Board President Keralee Clay.
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Martha's Home- Second Chance Prom
Saturday, April 18 at 7 PM at the Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall (map)
 Anything can happen in a fairy tale. It's a mystical place where heroes slay dragons, talking mirrors offer fashion critiques, and wicked witches spin their worst but never prevail. And the Princess always gets her Prince. But fairy tales aren't real-or ARE THEY? Most fairy tales begin with "once upon a time." And our time is Saturday, April 18th when the clock strikes seven. It's the seventh annual Second Chance Prom, with its 2015 theme, Once Upon a Time, and your chance to experience prom night for the first time, or as an enchanted evening on the town with your friends! Click here for more information.
The Roof of Africa
Sunday, April 19 at 2 PM at Chalice Abbey (map)  A photographic journey through Ethiopia presented by Juliana Lightle and Dino and Zuriash Ferraresi.Click here to subscribe Chalice Abbey's weekly newsletter to learn of both special and ongoing events. |
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