| 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 nursery group topics change according to individuals who attend and cannot be listed in advance, but they fall under the curriculum Celebrating Me and My World.
During April, the elementary students will be learning about science.
Apr. 10: Planet Earth - Mountains
Apr. 17: Earth's Natural Wonders - Living Wonders
Apr. 24: Making North America - In the Beginning
Lesson plans are subject to change, but this is the plan.
Contact: Wes Phillips and Sarah Brown
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 Over the last few months, Unitarian Universalists have been witnessing for climate justice from Paris to the Pacific Northwest to Washington, DC. Now people of faith and conscience have a chance to collectively take the momentum for climate justice to the next level, with the second Climate Justice Month!
From World Water Day (March 22) to Earth Day (April 22), we will build resistance to climate change and add our moral voices to the movement for climate justice, taking action in our families, communities, and congregations or faith groups.
How We Will Take Action
- Every week of Climate Justice Month Commit2Respond will showcase a featured resource for inspiration, a featured resource for education, and a featured action.
- In Week 1 we will act to advance the rights of frontlines communities by advocating for water rights. In Week 2 we will join the interfaith campaign to shift to a low carbon future and model for world leaders the strong action required from us all. And in Week 4 we will march, teach-in, and advocate for reclaiming our democracy from the likes of Big Oil and the Koch brothers, growing the movement for justice.
- On or around Earth Day, we will hold worship services, Earth fairs, advocacy days, and much more, working with community organizations and fellow religious groups to grow the climate justice movement.
What To Do Now
- RSVP for Climate Justice Month to receive extra inspiration and resources by email throughout the month.
Spread the word! Mobilize your congregation, faith group, secular group, family, or other groups you are a part of to take collective action together during Climate Justice Month (get mobilization resources).
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 The AUUF Social Action Committee has produced a survey to determine our fellowship's interest in social-justice issues and projects for Fiscal Year 2016-2017. Printed copies were passed out this past Sunday, April 3, and it is available online. (The printed copy IS easier to fill out.) If you have not received one and prefer not to access it online, contact April in the office at 355-9351, and she can snail-mail you one, or you can pick one up this coming Sunday, April 10. They can be returned signed or anonymously. The committee has a deadline of April 17 for them to be returned so the info can be tallied and returned to the board. We NEED your input!
For more info, contact Mary Kay Wells (e-mail or phone--381-8109) or Janda Raker (e-mail, or phone--352-0589).
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Snack Pak 4 Kids Needs Sponsors
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 Snack Pak 4 Kids is getting ready to battle summer hunger in the area, but said they need sponsors to help.
"We know kids dread the last week of school not because they're not going on vacation, but because they're wondering 'what am I going to eat over the summer?" Snack Pak 4 Kids founder Dyron Howell said.
Snack Pak 4 Kids said they're in need of sponsors to help keep kids fed. "We have about 500 kids sponsored now and we need 1000 kids sponsored to continue this effort," Howell said.
Maverick Boys and Girls Club Director Alice Dixon said more than 80 percent of the kids at the club use the Snack Pak program, and she's seen the children's hunger first hand. "We see it when they come in on Monday morning. They're ready for breakfast and ask 'can I have 2 or 3?' That's a sign they don't have much food in their stomach from the weekend," Dixon said.
The organization says $40 can sponsor a child for the summer.
"Hunger doesn't take the summer off and neither will we," Howell said.
Snack Pak 4 Kids also say they are partnered with several local churches and the Boys and Girls Maverick Club who help pack and distribute snack bags to kids. To donate and help feed a child, click HERE.
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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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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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Rev. Addae Kraba speaks on Stewards of the Earth. On April 22 the forty-sixth Earth Day will be celebrated. How do those of us living in the Western World share resources with the other ninety percent of the earth's population?
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Vivien Young speaks on Wildcat Bluff Nature Center: Earth Day and Beyond. We need nature and nature needs us.
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April 24, 2016
Linda Jackson speaks on Food Justice for the Planet. What we eat affects our own health, and the financial and physical well-being of billions of our fellow humans. Learn about wonderful alternatives to harmful eating. Help yourself and the planet.
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Amarillo Literacy
Book Drive - April 3 - 17
New updates on the Children's Book Drive, city-wide and at AUUF, have been posted under Children's Book Drive on our website. T ake a look!!
Contact: Linda Jackson
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Panhandle Pride Committee Meeting
Saturday, April 9 from 3:30 to 5 PM at Furrbie's (on 6th Ave. across from Chase Tower)
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Sunday, April 10, 12:30 PM
The Officers and Trustees of the Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meet the 2nd Sunday of every month. All Board members are expected to attend; Committee Chairs are encouraged to attend, and everyone is welcome!
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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.
Apr. 10: The New Testament #12 "Jesus The Apocalyptic Prophet" Apr. 17: My Favorite Universe #3 "On Being Dense" Apr. 24: Natural Law #12 "The Thomistic Synthesis"
Contact: John Gay
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Nothing Much Buddhist Covenant Group Dinner
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 Monday, April 11, 7:00 PM at Gooney's Bar & Grill (705 Polk St.)
We shall meet for a social dinner April 11 at Gooney's for some healthy food and camaraderie. On April 25 we shall begin discussing David Michie's book, Mindfulness Is Better Than Chocolate (2014), focusing on the first two chapters at our normal meditation practice at 7:30 PM at the Fellowship. Get a copy (e-copy is available) and start reading!
As a heads-up, Zen teacher Tony Tackitt has scheduled another Zazenkai (meditation retreat) for Saturday, May 21, at Brookplace Apartments Clubhouse from 9:30 AM to 3:45 PM. There is no fee; however, seating is limited. Participants bring their own sack lunches. Mark your calendar now!
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Meet the Artist - Joe Paiz
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Tuesday, April 12, 7:00 PM
Joe incorporates a variety of stitchery to create artistic quilts and other items. His presentation includes reflection, humor, explanation, and a dazzling array of craftsmanship. You will not want to miss this MTA! Refreshments are provided and the public is welcome free of charge. MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!
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Women's Simply Salad & Soup Fellowship
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Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 PM
Our women's group meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday for good food and great conversation. The meetings on 2nd Wednesdays are at the Fellowship-potluck style. On the 4th Wednesdays, the women meet at a different restaurant each month.
Contact: Ann Benedetti
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Friday, April 15, 6:30 PM
AUUF will have its next game night on Friday, April 15. Let's eat at about 6:30 and start playing at about 7 p.m. We'll have barbecued chopped beef sandwiches with all the fixings. A sign-up sheet will be on the bulletin board by the kitchen. Please sign up so we'll know how much barbecue to provide. Bring your favorite game, and we'll have a fun evening.
Contact: Janda Raker (e-mail or phone--352-0589).
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Saturday, April 16, 3:00 PM
The Amarillo Feminists group holds monthly meetings at AUUF.
Contact: Amy Taylor
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 Tuesday, April 19, 7:00 PM
Kent Haruf's Our Souls at Night is the April selection. Haruf's last novel follows two lonely widowers in Colorado who find in each other a solace and ease from loneliness.
The Fiction Book Group meets on the third Tuesday of this month at the Fellowship to discuss a new novel or collection of stories 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.
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Thursday, May 5 at 7:00 PM 
A handful of us aging UU womenfolk have read the book Being Mortal by surgeon Atul Gawande and would like to invite any of you who are interested to attend an open discussion.
Dr. Gawande contends that our current medical model for dealing with people who are reaching the end of their lives is not adequate. He says doctors and the children of aging parents want aging people to be safe, and what aging people themselves want is usually autonomy, even at the risk of being unsafe.
He says the medical community has been asking the wrong questions, thus allowing very little autonomy on the part of the aging person. There is a new and better way emerging, in a doctor-patient relationship called "interpretive," which allows shared decision-making. The questions asked by interpretive doctors are, "What is important to you?" and "What are your worries?" If remaining in one's own home and having a cocktail with friends is more important than being safely in a managed-care facility, there are ways to make that happen.
For some time now, several of us have had dreams of a UU retirement community where we could continue our friendships, but live in closer proximity to each other where we could more easily keep an eye out for each other, and where obtaining certain services to assist us would become more convenient. How to make this happen has seemed like a pipe dream, but it might become closer to reality if a greater number of us are interested.
Let's begin a bigger conversation about how we want to live as we grow inevitably older and need more assistance. You do not have to read the book before this meeting, although you may want to afterward.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!
Contact: Minnie Venable
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Registration for General Assembly is in full swing. Rates increase on May 1, so you may want to register soon. You can register HERE. The theme of this year's GA is Heart Land: Where Faiths Connect. More information is available at UUA website.
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 July 24-29, 2016
The Point is a customizable Unitarian Universalist retreat for all ages.
Imagine five days of UU covenant and community in a resort-like setting on the shores of Fort Gibson Lake in Oklahoma. The Point offers personal growth, faith renewal, learning opportunities, spiritual practices, community worship, music, excellent cuisine, sustainable practices, social gatherings (dance, movie night, talent show), outdoor activities, programming for all ages and interests, and an engaging theme speaker. Each day begins and ends with worship, but how you spend your day is completely up to you! Register here.
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 "The eighteenth-century Jewish sage Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan . . . is called the Chofetz Chaim
(Seeker of Life).
Chofetz Chaim's Guidelines for Right Speech
- Do not spread a negative image of someone, even if that image is true.
- Do not share information that can cause physical, financial, emotional, or spiritual harm.
- Do not embarrass people, even in jest.
- Do not pretend that writing or body language or innuendo is not 'speech.'
- Do not speak against a community, race, ethnic group, gender, or age group.
- Do not gossip, even to your spouse, relatives, or close friends.
- Do not repeat gossip, even when it is generally known.
- Do not tell people negative things said about them, for this can lead to needless conflict.
- Do not listen to gossip. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt.
Another eighteenth-century rabbi, Israel Salanter, founder of Musar, the school of Judaism focused on virtue, taught that the key to righteous living is to 'say what you mean, and do what you say.' That is not as easy as it may sound." ---Rabbi Rami Shapiro, The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice (2012).
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 Rabbi Rami Shapiro, The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice (Living a Spiritual Life). (2006)
This practical guidebook explores the Thirteen Attributes of Lovingkindness from the book of Exodus as the framework for cultivating a life of goodness. Shapiro translates these attributes into practices drawn from the teachings of a variety of faith traditions. With candor, wit, and honest, Shapiro shows you that by choosing to act out of love rather than fear, with kindness rather than anger, you can transform how you perceive the world and ultimately lead a more complete spiritual life. Roshi Joan Halifax, abbot of Upaya Zen Center, describes the book: "Powerful and rich . . . written so skillfully and accessibly that it will be read by peoples from all traditions. Opens for us the great beauty and necessity of kindness in the world today."
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FASO's 2015-2016 10th Anniversary Season, Final Concert
 Sunday, April 10, 7:30 PM
at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Internationally famed concert organist Thomas Trotter, Britain's most widely admired musician, performs the final concert of the season. The excellence of his musicianship is reflected internationally in his musical partnerships. He performs as soloist with, amongst many others, the conductors Sir Simon Rattle, Bernard Haitnik, Riccardo Chailly, and Sir Charles Mackerras. He has performed in Berlin's "Philharmonie," the "Gewandhaus" in Leipzig, the "Concertgebouw" in Amsterdam, the "Musikverein" and the "Konzerthaus" in Vienna and London's Royal Festival Hall. Individual tickets are $30 and available online.
Distinguished Lecture Series - Robert Herjavec
Monday, April 11, 7 PM at First United Bank Center
Robert Herjavec is a dynamic entrepreneur and leading shark on ABC's Emmy Award-winning hit Shark Tank. Herjavec is a best-selling author and placed 6th competing on Dancing with the Stars. Open to the Public Free of Charge.
WTAMU 7th Annual Social Justice Conference
April 14-15 at WTAMU Jack B. Kelley Student Center - Free Event
The scope of the conference is: Social Movements: Identity, Borders, and Activism.
More information is available here about the speakers and various sessions at the conference.
All break-out session speakers are available if you click on the Register Now hyperlink and scroll down the page for times, topics and speakers.
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