November 22, following the 11 service
 The Board has nominated the following members to serve on the Ministerial Search Committee. The purpose of this meeting is for the congregation to vote on this slate of nominees. We are thrilled to have such a dedicated, diverse, and talented group of people willing to lead the charge on this important task.
Keralee Clay (chair)
Amy Taylor
Nina Stein
Larry Campbell
Ann Hicks
John Hintz
There will be much more information on the process in the near future and we will continue to regularly update the congregation throughout the search.
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 On November 8, the Board appointed the following members to serve on the Interim Search Committee. Minnie Venable (chair)
Rick Todd
Neal Nossaman
Wendy Hearn
This committee will be charged with finding a minister to serve on a part-time basis until we have a full-time minister in place.
There are several reasons the Board feels it is imperative that we have an interim minister in place as soon as possible:
- We need to have pastoral care available to our congregation.
- Having an interim will give us the "breathing room" we need to conduct a full and thorough search. It is not in the Ministerial Search Committee's best interest to feel they need to find someone one fast. We need to get this right, not fast.
- Having another minister serve between David and our new minister can serve as a "palette cleanser", allowing us to reflect on what we want in our new minister and explore a new personality and process that may inform our needs in the search process.
We will be updating the congregation on the process of this committee regularly. Please join me in thanking these wonderful people for their commitment and love for our Beloved Community.
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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.
The older children will be focusing on the following history topics during November:
November 15: Is your House Haunted?
November 22: Visitors from OUTER SPACE
November 29: A Bible Story
The nursery group will be focusing on the following topics during November:
November 15: Cooperation is Important
November 22: Thanksgiving: the Pilgrims and the Indians
November 29: How do Animals Prepare for Winter?
Lesson plans are subject to change, but this is the plan.
Contact: Wes Phillips and Sarah Brown
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"The view of human nature that market capitalism trades on is precisely the view of human nature that . . . all humans as by nature [are] 'depraved'-self-serving pleasure seekers desirous of life without any limits and unable to care for others or meet mature obligations. Theologian John Cobb observes that this is the dominant view of the human being in U. S. culture-the theological anthropology of the marketplace. Homo economicus-the economic human-of market capitalism is self-interested, focused on immediate gratification of wants and needs, and unconcerned with what happens to others in the process of getting his needs met."
-Rebecca Ann Parker, A House for Hope, p. 133.
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Patricia Frevert, ed. Welcome: A Unitarian Universalist Primer. 2009.
 This succinct handbook presents the beliefs, principles, sources, congregational covenant, chalice lightings, worship readings, songs ("Spirit of Life" and "We Gather Together"), views on religious education, history of the movement, quotable quotations, and a helpful glossary of UU terms. It makes an excellent resource for people curious about the church and for those considering membership or who have already signed the membership book.
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SouthWest Unitarian Universalist Women Conference 2016
February 26-28, 2016
Lawton, Oklahoma
 Registration opens December 1, 2015 A non-profit organization that supports women through worship, learning, leadership, community and social justice, SWUUW addresses women's issues, explores feminist theology, promotes friendships and celebrates the diversities that make us unique women on our individual spiritual paths. SWUUW is an organization open to all UU women, particularly those women in the Southwest District of the Southern Region of the UUA.
Keynote speaker, Lauren Zuniga, is an internationally touring poet, activist and teaching artist. She is the author of two poetry collections. Her work has been featured in Upworthy, MoveOn.Org, BoingBoing, Autostraddle & Everyday Feminism.
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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 above.
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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November 15, 2015
Karen Logan speaks on Why We Love Dr. Seuss, discussing the life story of Theodore Geisel and the liberal themes contained in his stories.
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November 22, 2015
Minnie Venable speaks on The Psychology of Religious Belief, discussing the individual and societal reasons why people adopt faith.
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November 29, 2015
Nina Stein speaks on Who Are We? Unitarian Universalism Identity, identifying the characteristics that bind us as a faith.
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Adult Religious Education
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Please join us at 10 AM each Sunday.
We are rotating three subjects. Each covers a different aspect of Adult Religious Education. All are welcome. No advance reading is necessary and no test will be given.
Nov. 15: From the Science & Religion series we shall watch and discuss lesson six: "God, The Watchmaker." This subject is near and dear to many UUs.
Nov. 22: In a return to Natural Law and Human Nature series this week we discuss lecture six: "Aristotle's Clarification of 'Nature.'"
Nov. 29: Returning to The New Testament series, we discuss lecture seven: "Luke's Gospel."
Contact: John Gay |
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Saturday, November 14 at 3 PM
 The Amarillo Feminists group holds monthly meetings at AUUF.
Do you believe in equal rights and opportunities for women? Congratulations! You're a feminist! Come meet like-minded feminists of both genders at our monthly meeting on Saturday.
This Saturday, we are getting to know each other better through discussion and games. We request that each person bring a light snack, a favorite recipe, and a game that a group can play. See more here. It's going to be a lot of fun! See you there!
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Sunday, November 15 at 9 AM
The Women's Simply Salad & Soup Fellowship provides a delicious breakfast every third Sunday at the Fellowship. Help yourself before going to 9:30 AM worship service or to the Adult Religious Education class at 10 AM. Bon appetit!
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Monday, November 16 from 6 to 7:30 PM
The film for discussion at this meeting is Half the Sky. It is a worldwide study of the oppression of women based on Nicholas Kristof's book of the same name. Half the Sky is a passionate call-to-arms, urging us not only to bear witness to the plight of the world's women, but to help to transform their oppression into opportunity. Our future is in the hands of women everywhere.
Contact: Keralee Clay
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Tuesday, November 17 - 7- 8:30 PM
at the Fellowship
 November's selection: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki - In Ozeki's cleverly structured 2013 novel, a Canadian novelist becomes obsessed with a diary discovered in flotsam washed ashore from Japan. Her attempts to discover the writer and perhaps to save her life produce a magical journey into the past. A Booker Prize finalist.
The Fiction Book Group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every 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 your copy now and start reading!
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Alternative Medicine Monthly Seminar
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 Tuesday, November 17 from 7-8 PM at AUUF
(Every Third Tuesday)
Open to the Public-Free Admission
This month's seminar topic is WATER: Everything You Wanted or Needed to Know
. Focusing on alternative health and wellness, this monthly seminar 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.
ICAM Seminar information: 806-468-4616
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Friday, November 20 - 6:30 PM
 Mark your calendar now! "Sociable" UUs will gather between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., bringing ingredients for Mexican pile-on, and begin eating around 6:30. When the meal is over, probably around 7 or so, we'll play games until around 9:30 or 10. If you have a favorite game, bring it to share. We'll post on the bulletin board by the kitchen a signup sheet for the dinner ingredients. If you prefer to come for just the meal or just the games, of course you're welcome. We hope to have a lively group to share in the festivities.
(For those with young kids, let's just include them in the fun rather than arrange for a nursery. There'll be games easy enough for them to play, with a little adult guidance. Some grandparent-types have already volunteered.) Contact:
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Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Lunch and Service
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Sunday, November 22, 12:30 PM
Temple B'Nai Israel, 4316 Albert Ave.
Each year, members and friends of our Fellowship participate in Amarillo's Interfaith Thanksgiving Lunch and Service. All are invited to this opportunity to share food and give thanks with members of other Amarillo faith traditions. Mark your calendar now!
We need eight AUUF representatives to sign up to bring a crockpot of vegetarian soup each for the lunch; please look for the sign-up sheet.
Contact: April Myers
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Nothing Much Buddhist Covenant Group
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Monday, November 23 7:30 - 8:30 PM
(2nd and 4th Monday of every month)
Meditators take notice!
 The Nothing Much Buddhist Covenant Group has selected as its new reading Dr. Mark Epstein's Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart: A Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness.
This national bestseller explores the similarities between Buddhist or Zen meditation techniques and those used in psychotherapy. Epstein has been a practicing Buddhist since his early twenties, when he traveled to Ajahn Chah's forest Buddhist monastery near Bangkok, Thailand, together with his American Buddhist teachers Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield, and Richard Alpert.
Publishers Weekly had this to say about the book: "Epstein shows through sparkling prose and effervescent wit how spiritual practice can transform our everyday lives."
If you have been curious about the Nothing Much Buddhist Covenant Group or wondering when would be a great time to begin meditation with the group, NOW is your time to jump in. Get yourself a book and start reading!
We shall be discussing Chapter 1: Emptiness at the November 23 meeting at the Fellowship.
Keep your meditation practice consistent and persistent to train the brain to find its focus.
Contact: Rick Todd
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Thanksgiving Lunch at the Fellowship
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Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 26
12:30 PM
We will have our traditional Thanksgiving lunch at the Fellowship on Thanksgiving Day, Guests are welcome!
Set up will begin at 12:00. There is a sign-up sheet on the kitchen bulletin board. Along with traditional dishes, we will need some gluten free, lactose free, and vegan dishes. We will need people to stay and help clean up afterwards.
Please email Janda Raker, Nina Stein, or April Myers with questions.
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The Panhandle: After Dark
Process Art House and Palace Coffee present the night time photographs of Jim Livingston at 7 PM Saturday, November 14, at the Palace Coffee location at 420 15th Street in Canyon.
Festival of Trees
Thursday, November 19 6-9 PM
Galleries at Sunset Center (3701 Plains Blvd)-in their special event room.
Free admission.
 Festival of Trees features a Christmas Tree Auction and Holiday Shoppe. The proceeds will benefit Panhandle Community Services families and Amarillo College's Adult Students Program.
Christmas trees and hand crafted items have been designed and donated by our community's favorite stores and designers. All Christmas trees will be auctioned fully decorated and ready to display in your home or office.
There will be dessert and coffee.
Contact: Terrie at (806) 676-3724
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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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