A huge UU shout out to the crew who helped last Saturday give our courtyard garden a facelift! Please join me in personally thanking Jannette, Joe, Gary, Gene, Jerry, Eric, Rick, Wendy, Mary Kay, and April. We still have some work to do but, as always, the group effort produces real results.
Thanks to all,
Deb Winters
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Forget Something at the Grocery Store?
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If so, we have a solution - we are now accepting cash donations for SnackPak4Kids! Be sure to notate on your check or on the donation envelope that you want the money to go to SnackPak, drop it in the offering bowl, and we will take care of it from there.
Thank you all so much for your support of this terrific program!
Contact: Yvonne Moore
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| Children's Religious Education Update |
Our Children's Religious Education (CRE) program is divided into two groups by age. In CRE, which meets each Sunday at 11 AM, we challenge our children with interactive studies about religion and science.
Our elementary-age children are continuing their study of homes, using the Creating Home curriculum from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Our younger children (up through pre-kindergarten age) will have a different focus each week, as follows:
- May 3rd - Beltane & Spring - We will talk about Beltane & Spring, and we will start a garden in our planter box with the aid of Linda Jackson. She and I will supply the soil and a couple of plants. We will also be starting some plants from seeds. Any parents who wish to donate plants or seeds are welcome to do so!
- May 10th - Mother's Day - We will talk about mothers and how special and important they are.
Contacts:
Vicki Schoen and
Sarah Brown
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Revelation comes to those who are radically hospitable to what they do not know. The choice to take the next step is an act of holy curiosity. It could also be called an act of faith.
Rebecca Ann Parker, A House for Hope (2010)
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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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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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May 10, 2015
In Askville, David Green answers questions on religion, ethics, and social issues submitted by members and selected at random.
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May 17, 2015
David Green is speaking on The Journey is Half the Fun!, discussing how we can understanding the meaning of life as an ongoing adventure of discovery.
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Monthly Potluck Lunch
Sunday, May 3 at
12:30 PM
It's the first Sunday of the month: that special day to bring a yummy dish to share as we enjoy the great food and fellowship!
Always good...and good for you!
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The Woman's Covenant Group studies and discusses feminine spiritual and social topics. We will launch this group by studying an 11 session UU adult RE curriculum, Cakes for the Queen of Heaven - a woman honoring curriculum by Rev. Shirley Ranck.
Click here for upcoming sessions and topics.
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Men's Fellowship
Wednesday, May 6 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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Living the Questions Discussion Group
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Thursday, May 14 at 7 PM
(2nd & 4th Thursday every month at 7 PM)
 Skeptics are welcome!
Are Christian ideas still relevant in today's world? Living the Questions is a discussion group using curriculum and media for the "church alumni association" for anyone whose questions about traditional Christian beliefs and ways of interpreting scripture have made them unwelcome elsewhere. The group meets twice each month in the classroom at the Fellowship, with discussion facilitated by Lyle Raker.
Lyle says:
I have a lot of people ask, "What is 'Living The Questions'?" It can be different things for different people. I think of it as a liberal progressive study of the Christian religion. Jack Spong calls us "believers in exile." We are people who have left the traditional Christian church because of its refusal to take our questions or life situations seriously.
Participants expecting to receive clear and concise answers to all questions will be disappointed because there are not answers for everything. The traditional church says it has the truth for every issue, but we know that's not so.
Some could hope that "Living the Questions" would become the beginning of a reformation of Jesus' ministry in our time.
So bring your opinions, beliefs, questions, and skepticism to UU on the 2nd and 4th Thursday nights at 7 pm.
For more information, contact the AUUF Office or call 806.355.9351.
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Meet the Artist - René West
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Tuesday, May 12 from 7 - 8 PM
(every 2nd Tuesday except June and December)
 Join us for the exciting monthly program, Meet the Artist. This month, René West, photographer, will be the featured artist.
Refreshments will be served, and admission is free. We'd love for more community members to attend - so invite your family, friends, and neighbors!
Enjoy and discuss the creative process with these acclaimed artists - each month a different visual, performing, or literary artist will be featured. They will display and/or discuss their work and creative process, and take Q & A from participants.
Upcoming schedule:
- May 12: René West
- June (no meeting)
- July 14: Brent Biles
- August 11: Kyle Singleton
Contacts: Ann Hicks and Pam Mayes
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In this series, AUUF member Gary Biggers provides his personal summaries and recommendation ratings for books related to our faith.
Sylvia Boorstein. It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness. (1995).
This collection of brief essays, or perhaps more appropriately lessons, explores these broad areas: spirituality demystified, the path to happiness, and hindrances to clear seeing, wisdom and compassion. With humor and timeless insight, Boorstein weaves the ancient wisdom of Buddha into everyday experiences. This bestseller is a very accessible introduction to the basic tenets of Buddhism and their practical application.
Recommendation level
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From the Stewardship Committee
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 As with any organization, funds in excess of our day-to-day needs are thoughtfully invested. We believe you'd like to hear about the important work - outside of our local community - that your contributions do through our investments with Oikocredit. Oikocredit is a worldwide financial cooperative that promotes global justice by empowering disadvantaged people with credit. During 2015, together with 53,000 other investors, our investment with Oikoscredit contributed to: - Financing over 800 partners across 63 countries worldwide;
- Continued strategic foci on Africa, agriculture, and inclusive finance, while diversifying into new sectors; and
- Collaborating with microfinance partners to reach over 28 million low-income earners.
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Election of Officers and Trustees: 2015-2016
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 AUUF is self-governed by a democratically-elected Board of Directors which includes 4 Officers and 4 Trustees. This is in keeping with the 5th Principle of Unitarian Universalism: That we affirm and promote the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. We are delighted to announce that our Beloved Community has elected the following individuals to serve as officers of the Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship from June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016. The election was held during the 2015 Annual Congregational Meeting on April 19, 2015.
Please join us in welcoming these individuals to our governing Board!
President: Keralee Clay
Vice-President: Jerry Goebel
Secretary: Sharon Baker
Treasurer: Mary Kay Wells
Trustees serve for a term of 2 years:
Ed Van Petten (entering 2nd year of term; will serve through May 31, 2016)
Karen Logan (completing remainder of the unexpired term to which Jeff Davis was elected; will serve through May 31, 2016)
Kristy Fuller (entering 1st year of term; ; will serve through May 31, 2017)
Bruce Fielder (entering 1st year of term; ; will serve through May 31, 2017)
We wish to express our gratitude to the officers for their continued service, and also to outgoing Trustees Larry Campbell, Martha Baird, and Jeff Davis for their many contributions.
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Friday, May 8th from 9 AM - Noon
Amarillo College West Campus Lecture Hall
Cost: $35.00 in advance; $40.00 at the door
Click here for more information.
To RSVP, call 806-367-0525 or click here to send an e-mail.
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