Rev. Addae Kraba holds office hours in the Fellowship on Tuesday and Thursday each week from 10 AM to 2 PM, or by appointment if necessary.
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The Board of Trustees has added some new members we need to welcome to our leadership.
Among the officers, new to their positions are Bruce Fielder, president; Larry Miller, vice-president; and Rosalie Falcon, treasurer. Among the trustees new to their positions are Michael Timcisko and Gary Biggers. We also have new people filling various chairs of committees, including for the Caring Committee-B.J. Oppermann, Ann Hicks, and Joe Paiz; for the Finance Committee-Mary Kay Wells; for the Leadership Development Committee-Nathan Morrow; for Personnel Committee-Keralee Clay; for Outreach Committee-Karen Logan; for Children Program Committee-Victoria Saker and Lydia Miller; and for Worship Committee-Amy Taylor and Larry Miller. Please let these people know you are grateful for their service to the Fellowship. To find the complete listing of chairs and co-chairs of our committees, CLICK HERE. To find the listing of officers and trustees, CLICK HERE.
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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 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 June, the elementary students will be learning about:
June 26: Our Solar System (continues)
Contact: Tori Saker or Lydia Miller
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Part-time Coordinator of Religious Education
Job Opening
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 Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is seeking a Part-time Coordinator of Religious Education. A brief job description follows:
Plan and administer a comprehensive religious education program, including recruitment, training and coordination of volunteers, and serve as a resource in using UU religious education curricula and programs. May involve teaching. Initial focus is on youth with potential expansion. The successful candidate will understand and affirm the seven Unitarian Universalist principles found on our website. Qualifications include experience in an educational and/or managerial setting, willingness to receive further training, and ability to work with children. Job is 20-30 hours a week at $12-$15 an hour. Send your resume to arrive at AUUF, 4901 Cornell St., Amarillo, TX 79109 by July22, 2016.
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Update on Standing on the Side of Love
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 Even as thousands of UUs are traveling to Columbus, OH, for General Assembly, Standing on the Side of Love has shared their report of assessments from congregations and individuals of past actions and future plans of their campaigns. They were particularly eager to include the vision and experience of movement leaders such as Black Lives Matter, Immigrant Rights, and LGBTQ Liberation. Read the brief Executive Report.
Caitlin Breedlove, Campaign Director,
Standing on the Side of Love
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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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Keralee Clay speaks on Parenting Beyond Belief, navigating religion and beliefs with love.
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July 3, 2016
Rev. Addae Kraba speaks on Roots Hold Me Close, Wings Set Me Free. Unitarian Universalism is grounded in the claiming of community that embraces each other in our varied stages toward a grander vision of a just and compassionate world. It's not an epitaph, but a challenge to church life that needs to be met. It's an ever-growing and ever-changing living tradition.
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July 10, 2016
Rev. Addae Kraba speaks on Living Our Values, Expanding Our Consciousness. There is often an underestimation of the power or sphere of our value, but Unitarian Universalist's first principle calls us to recognize the inherent dignity and worth in all. If we recognize and acknowledge this in each encounter, we become an example to others.
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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.
June 26: Lesson 15 of Natural Law. "Natural Law and the Founding Fathers."
Contact: John Gay
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Pride Film: The Danish Girl
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 Friday, June 24, 7:00 PM
The Danish Girl is a biographical romantic drama film loosely inspired by the lives of Danish painters Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili Elbe was one of the first known recipients of a sex change surgery. The two lead roles have won acclaim for the actors, Eddie Redmayne as Lili and Alicia Vikander as Gerda. Redmayne was nominated for Best Actor and Vikander won Best Supporting Actress in this film. Critical reviews have generally been positive despite some historical inaccuracies in the film, excused by the director as creative license. No one argues that the acting and the photography are anything less than splendid. The film is powerfully emotional in its impact, but probably not appropriate for children.
The doors will open at 6:30 PM Friday June 24 and various refreshments will be available. The film will begin close to 7:00 PM and will be followed by a discussion led by Sandra Dunn, a transgender woman from our community.
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Panhandle Pride Celebration on Sunday
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Panhandle Pride, June 24-26, offers something for just about everyone! It starts Friday evening with the screening of The Danish Girl followed by a discussion led by Sandra Dunn. The film begins at 7:00 PM at the Fellowship and refreshments are provided courtesy of Reed Beverage and 575 Pizzaria. On June 26, Sunday, the Festival and Celebration in Memorial Park begins at noon and continues to 6 PM. Come join us for a fabulous afternoon of fun, food, and festivities! Bring your family, friends, and lawn chairs, sunscreen, and favorite side dish! (Public parks in Amarillo forbid glass containers!) Entertainment includes the Panhandle Pride Parade in the Park at noon followed at 12:15 PM by Mike Fuller on stage. At 1: 30 PM the Queens from The 212 Club present a Drag Show appropriate for all age levels. At 2:30 PM MaryLyn and Dean of Insufficient Funds take the stage and at 4:00 PM Dear Marsha performs on stage. MCCA and Furrbie's host a Potluck Picnic and Wells Fargo Bank hosts a Silent Auction. This year a Panhandle Pride Volleyball Tournament joins the action as well as LIVE remote broadcast on 100.9 The Eagle Radio Station, from noon to 2 PM. The Bouncy House for children returns this year as well as on site free and confidential HIV testing by City of Amarillo, Dept. of Public Health. Many vendor booths of supporting organizations and businesses provide diverse ways to enjoy the celebration appropriate for the whole family. Finally, Sunday night at 10:30 PM, the 212 Club on SW 6th Avenue holds the Miss Gay Top of Texas @ Large 2016 Pageant.
AUUF Workforce for Pride
Friday Pride Film: Food Servers: Yvonne Moore, Joe Paiz; Beverage Servers: Rosalie Falcon, Marilyn VanPetten; ID Checker: Bruce Fielder; Merchandise Sales: Gary Biggers and Amy Taylor.
Sunday 8 AM Set Up: Trish Regan (take tables and chairs in truck), Kelley Mickey, Amy, Yvonne, Gary, and Joe.
Noon: Booth Workers: Suzy Fuller, Laksmiwati Cortes, Rosalie, Yvonne, Gary, and Amy.
Other members are invited to come by the booth and help as they may wish from noon till 6 PM.
Take-down 6 PM: Wendy Hearn, Trish, Yvonne, and Amy.
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Nothing Much Buddhist Covenant Group
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Monday, June 27, 7:30 PM
The Nothing Much Buddhist Covenant Group has selected as its reading David Michie's book, Mindfulness Is Better Than Chocolate. This book focuses on the benefits of mindfulness in every aspect of life. We shall discuss chapters 8 and 9 on June 27.
Contact: Tony Tackitt
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Tuesday, June 28, 7:00 PM
The 2015 Amazon Best Book of the Year, the read for June is Lauren Groff's novel, Fates and Furies. "Lauren Groff is a writer of rare gifts, and Fates and Furies is an unabashedly ambitious novel that delivers - with comedy, tragedy, well-deployed erudition and unmistakable glimmers of brilliance throughout." -The New York Times Book Review (cover review).
The discussion will be led by Dr. Dick Moseley on the fourth Tuesday of June.
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Just How Supportive Are We?
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 UUA posted these 10 Ways to Celebrate Pride on its website. As an evaluation of how well AUUF has engaged in Pride (supported the LGBTQ community), those addressed by our congregation and/or social action committee over the past year appear in RED.
- Fly a rainbow flag to show your support for Pride.
- March in a local Pride parade.
- Table or booth at a local Pride event.
- Craft a Sunday service around the topic of Pride.
- Take time to discuss and include identities other than lesbian and gay.
- Build and strengthen relationships with local LGBTQ organizations and groups.
- Engage or reengage with the Welcoming Congregation Program.
- Host a community forum, panel discussion, film screening, or other event on an LGBTQ-related topic.
- Host a community-wide interfaith event or service to bring people together in a safe space.
- Take action for the rights and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people!
Eight out of ten is an accomplishment of which we can be very proud!
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Peter Morales on Orlando Massacre
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 "Unfortunately, this is the kind of violence that is predictable when hatred and fear are aroused by demagogues and when firearms are easily available. There are about 100 gun deaths per day in the United States. Only mass shootings are newsworthy. This is madness. May all people of good will, people of all faiths and no faith, renew our determination to end racism, end demonization of those of other faiths, end homophobia, and create a society where access to lethal weapons has some rational control. Otherwise we will wait helplessly for the next atrocity."
--Rev. Peter Morales, Unitarian Universalist Association President
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 June, 2016
We live in a world where there are routines for nearly everything. We take the same route to work, to the gym where the physical fitness regimen is the same, and many times we prepare the same meals week after week. And this is not a bad thing, because there has been a ritual developed. But it's amazing to me how many people forget, or ignore, or are oblivious to creating a routine for meeting their spiritual needs. In our efforts to be as productive as possible, we rush around in an attempt to meet our many obligations, and arrive at our appointments on time. However, our spiritual nurturing takes a backseat. "I don't have time to meditate, I don't have to journal"? These are the routines that can be factored into your day just as breakfast, lunch and dinner. But then again I've often heard some of my good friends and colleagues say that they're too busy to eat lunch. How silly is that? As if the body will continue to function at its maximum without proper nourishment.
Our spiritual body requires the same attention. Nurturing ourselves spiritually is what provides the energy and grounding that's needed to keep our lives on track. This kind of routine grounds the spirit in the body so that we remain anchored in ourselves as we move through each day. How you choose to nurture yourself spiritually is a personal choice. For some people meditation or prayer once or twice daily may be what they need to remain centered. Repeating affirmations for happiness and well-being throughout the day can help you live with optimism and enthusiasm. Meditation or just sitting in silence indoors or out might be just the right thing. No matter what form it takes, having a routine for nurturing your spirit takes an unexpected turn into a difficult period of life, but allows you to not only stay on track in your life, but your life to stay on track with you.
Heart to Heart,
Rev. Addae
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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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