| 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.
The older children will be focusing on the following topics during September:
October 18:The Southwest - Buffalo Hunters,
Cowboys, and Soldiers
October 25:Revolution and Rebellion - From the
American Revolution to the War of the
Rebellion
The nursery group will be focusing on the following topics during October:
October 18:We need to Take Care of the Earth October 25:The Moon Belongs to Everyone (Chinese Moon Festival) Lesson plans are subject to change, but this is the plan. with a request to be added to the mailing list.
Contact: Wes Phillips and Sarah Brown
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Saturdays, October 10 - 31, 9 AM - 12 PM (NOON)
Although we are always developing leaders, October is Amarillo Unitarian Universalist's month of intentional leadership development. We do this by employing the Association of Congregations' Tapestry of Faith's program for leadership, Harvest the Power. This program was created not only for those who have accepted a leadership role in our congregation, but to provide intentional faith development that can be modeled in our congregation. We also encourage participation by those who are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and might want in the future to take a leadership role. All adults are welcome to participate. Teens should inquire.
It is not necessary to have attended last year's training to attend this year. We invite you to attend all four Saturdays and have scheduled the sessions so you can come in the morning - 9 a.m. to noon - and have the rest of the day for your usual Saturday activities. However, we do not require that you attend all four sessions.
Oct. 17 - Caring for Ourselves and Each Other. Looking at our own spiritual well-being. How do we model spiritual and emotional well-being? Meeting needs so we can participate with a full heart. Led by Jerry Goebel, Karen Logan, and Donna Moseley.
Oct. 24 - Integrity. Learning to live in a chronically anxious society with imagination and creativity rather than reactivity. Being spiritually and personally grounded. Healthy coping strategies to connect more fully with ourselves and each other. Led by Sharon Brewer, Keralee Clay, and David Green.
Oct. 31 - Imagination and Creativity. Inclusivity brings in more voices. More voices bring more ideas and greater creativity. Learning to listen. Asking the right questions. Mattering and marginality. Led by Larry Campbell, Bruce Fielder, and Mary Kay Wells.
Leadership development committee is Larry Campbell, Nina Stein, and Donna Moseley. Please contact us with your questions.
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"The most deadly sins in our modern world are more often like those that Gandhi once listed: 'wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, knowledge without character, politics without principle, commerce without morality, and worship without sacrifice.'"
-John Buehrens, A House for Hope, p. 79.
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Hamlet by William Shakespeare
October 22-24 and 28-31, 7:30 PM, Branding Iron Theatre, WTAMU
October 25, 2:30 PM, Branding Iron Theatre, WTAMU
Royal R. Brantley plays the role of Claudius in this production directed by Stephen Crandall. Tickets for adults are $12 and for seniors or non-WT students are $8.All seats in the Branding Iron Theatre are reserved (no general admission). For reservations call 806-651-2804. You can also purchase tickets online.
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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 Tuesday- Friday from 9 AM to noon.
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Sunday Worship - 9:30 and 11 AM
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David Green speaks on Horizon, focusing on his resignation as of November 8 and his thoughts about the AUUF's future.
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Special guest Dr. Zuriash Ferraresi speaks on Communing with Passed Loved Ones at Halloween.
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November 1, 2015
David Green speaks on Forgiving, discussing what it means to forgive and to be forgiven.
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Letter from the President
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 It is never easy to deliver difficult news and it is even more difficult when it has to be done in a "mass" way. I wish I was able to call you all personally, but that is just not feasible. Please forgive the method.
David submitted his resignation to the Board. His last Sunday will be November 8. He has written a letter with more details and you may read that online here.
I know this is a sudden and drastic change and I know there is a grieving process that must begin. Let us all honor that, but we also must come together to ensure that our Beloved Community continues our growth and momentum. David has done an amazing job of leading us on a positive course, giving AUUF a presence in the community-at-large, and showing us what is possible for our future. For this and much more, we are deeply grateful and wish him well on his new endeavor.
The Board wants you all to know that we are aggressively working on the transition. We will work to keep the congregation abreast of the process as we go. We are focusing on the following steps to start:
- Ensuring we have the worship services planned from the time of David's departure through the end of year. We want to be sure that we are continuing, as best as possible, consistency and quality. Kristy Fuller has done a superhuman job of getting this sorted out in short order. Please thank her!
- Investigating a possible interim minister to begin ASAP.
- Forming a Ministerial Search Committee to start the search for a full-time minister.
I know this transition will have its challenges, but I am also certain that we will come through it strong and continue the important work - "To be an inclusive, progressive community for spiritual, intellectual and social transformation."
David has laid the foundation for us and we are in a wonderful place to attract a new minister. We have the energy, the financial stability, and the programs to be very appealing to a wide range of candidates. We are a wealth of established, committed members; newer members with excitement and commitment; and untapped potential for people in our community that want a liberal spiritual home. All of this is very impressive to a prospective minister.
So, my dear friends, please join me in wishing David success and thanking him for his dedication, hard work, vision, and love. Also, please join me in rolling up our sleeves and continuing our work.
Peace, Love, and Light,
Keralee
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Adult Religious Education
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Please join us at 10 AM each Sunday this month for a lively discussion of these topics.
Oct. 18 - This week we will watch and discuss (or just cuss) Bart Ehrman's lecture 5 of The New Testament (The Real Story) on the Gospel of Mark.
Oct. 25 - This week we will watch and discuss lecture 6 of Lawrence Principe's Science and Religion on Galileo's Trial.
Everyone is welcome!
Contact: John Gay
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Schedule for Autumn Circle Dinners
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What is a "Circle Dinner?" It's a small gathering at someone's home where we have an opportunity to get to know each other in a different setting by spending an evening together - eating, drinking, talking, enjoying. Sign-up sheets available at the Fellowship. Additional information is available Scheduled Dates & Hosts: - Friday, October 16: Pam & Steve Mayes
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Saturday, October 17: Keralee & Tad Clay
- Saturday, October 24: Lee Shuwarger
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Sunday, November 8: Dick & Donna Moseley
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Monday, October 19, 6 - 7:30 PM
 The Women's Covenant Group studies and discusses feminine spiritual and social topics. This meeting will focus on the selection of a topic or series for future discussions.
Contact: Keralee Clay
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Tuesday, October 20 - 7-8:30 PM
 October's selection: Old Filthby by Jane Gardam - Gardam's 2006 novel follows the recollections of a respected judge whose sometimes painful, frequently comic, and always eventful life (from Malaya to Wales to Hong Kong and back to retirement in Dorset) touches on the central events of twentieth-century England. The Fiction Book Group meets in October and November on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Fellowship to discuss a new novel or collection of essays chosen by retired English professor Dick Moseley, who also facilitates the conversation. All are welcome to attend, read the month's selection, and enjoy delving deeper into some of today's best new literature. Get a book and begin reading!
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Beans & Cornbread Fundraising Dinner
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Thursday, October 22 - 6:30 PM
 The annual Beans and Cornbread fundraiser will be held at the AUUF at 6:30 PM on October 22. Mark your calendar! The proceeds go to the Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless in Amarillo.
We need donations of goods and services for a silent auction to support the Amarillo Coalition for the Homeless' annual Beans and Cornbread luncheon. If you
 are able to donate, please contact Yvonne Moore or the AUUF Office. We will need all donations by October 19. Why Social Action?
Through Social Action work we put into practice the first 2 of the 7 Principles of Unitarian Universalism, in which we affirm and promote: - The inherent worth and dignity of every person; and
- Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
Contact: Yvonne Moore |
UUA Southern Fall Conference - Glen Rose, Texas
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Fall Conference is scheduled for November 13 through 15 at Glen Lake Camp and Conference Center near Glen Rose, Texas. The theme for this conference is "Into the FUUture!" Let's all register before October 26 (for discount) to boldly go where no UU congregation has gone before to gain tools and resources for charging ahead into the coming year, the next 10 years, or the next 10 decades. There are five tracks each designed to help leaders effect real cultural change toward growing a vital, healthy, effective UU community that helps its members achieve our vision of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. Click here for more information. Contact Nina Stein to coordinate transportation and off site room sharing.
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2nd Fellowship Game Night
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Friday, November 20 - 6 PM
 Mark your calendar now-and join the fun and camaraderie with your fellow congregants and other friends. Delicious food, great conversation, and lighthearted fellowship-what more could you ask for?
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 Erik Walker Wikstrom. Serving with Grace: Lay Leadership as a Spiritual Practice. (2010)
Wikstrom contends that the work vital to the operations of a church may be accomplished in such a way that it supports the spiritual transformation of those who perform those necessary jobs. He offers several techniques and approaches that help bring together two separate aspects of church life-one's work as a leader and one's spiritual development, without any particular theological or philosophical understandings. Self-discovery, mindful meetings, leadership as spiritual practice, and mission with a sense of community can enrich lives and maximize opportunities to see with spiritual eyes what seems to some as just hard work which too often leads to burnout.
Recommendation level
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Newsletter and Website Submissions
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As always, we are eager to publish information regarding committees, boards, Adult RE, CRE, events, and services, but we need your help. The website and Facebook page can be updated daily, but the newsletter cannot. New information needs to be submitted (submissions@uuamarillo.org) by noon Wednesday if you want it to appear in the Friday morning newsletter. If you need an event placed on the website calendar, you may submit that request with description, image (or we can provide one), starting and approximate ending time, specific location, date (or dates for a recurring event), and name of contact person. Help us help you get your message out in a timely manner.
PLEASE, EVERYONE CAN MAKE ALL THESE COMMUNICATIONS MORE EFFECTIVE BY READING THEM EACH WEEK--ESPECIALLY THE WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER!
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