The 

Beacon 

Bits

A weekly publication of Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church

NW Color Logo w Name  
 

September 18, 2013 

 

   

  

We hope that you can join us this Sunday morning,  September 22, 2013 for  

 


  The Fuzzies 
   

from

  

the Reverend Ellen Cooper 

 

with music by 

 

Paul Klein and Klay Vage    

  


 
Hearing assistance equipment available at the Membership table  
 Child Care and Family Room Provided
 

  

Sunday Service Times: 9:30 and 11:30am

  

 Religious Education Programming

 

This Sunday, children and youth will remain in the services with their families for an intergenerational worship experience. Worship activity bags will be available for all ages.

 

Adult Forum will take place between services.  

Adult Forum Topic:

Living Our Vision:  How is Northwoods Doing?

led by visiting UUA Congregational Stewardship Services Consultant,

Bill Clontz 

 

Childcare is available for younger children during and between services.

  

    

 
Top Story
 
A Next Steps Visit by the UUA
September 21 & 22, 2013

Bill Clontz, the Stewardship Consultant for the Unitarian Universalist Association, will be visiting our church on September 22 and 23.  The purpose of the visit is to provide our congregation and leaders with an objective eye in gathering information and identifying strengths, opportunities, and areas needing improvement.  We hope you will take this opportunity to meet Bill and to share your views and hopes about our future. Following the visit, he will develop a sequence of priorities and recommended actions. These will be designed to help us attain our long-term goals and to address our near term requirements and opportunities, including our thinking about capital projects and facilities issues. 

Saturday, September 21
  • 8:30 - 9:30AM  Stewardship Committee
  • 9:45 - 11:00AM  Capital Plans/Long Range Planning/Making Room Teams
  • 11:15 - 12:00PM  Endowment and Finance Teams
  • 12:00- 1:30PM  Working lunch with BOT and Committee on Ministry
  • 1:30 - 2:00PM  Religious Education Team
  • 2:00 - 2:30PM  SEE Justice Team
  • 2:45-  3:45PM  Membership & Communications Teams
  • 4:00-  5:30PM  OPEN SESSION- Bill available to talk with anyone about any issue that may be of interest or areas not on the agenda. 
All meetings on Saturday will be open to members of the congregation who wish to participate in addition to those having primary responsibilities in the areas noted on the agenda.

Sunday, September 22
  • 9:30 - 10:30AM  Bill attends 1 st service and makes brief comments before the offertory 
  • 10:30 - 11-30AM  Bill participates with Adult Forum
  • 11:30 - 12:30PM  Bill attends 2nd service and makes brief comments before the offertory.
Questions?  Please contact Mary Jo O'Neal at 713-301-8259 or [email protected].  

Thank you for helping Northwoods get the most out of this visit.  It's a great opportunity for us to see where we are and where we are going, and to learn what is working for others that may be relevant to us.

 
 
Minister's Message
 
From Rev. Ellen

 

Dear Northwoods,  

 

I return home, tired and pleased by the success of the unconference I was privileged to help organize this past weekend in Oak Ridge, TN. 50 UUs from 15 states gathered together to dive deep, dream big, and share the ways in which they envision life and church community being more impactful and intentional. We worshipped with the Oak Ridge UU church, our gracious hosts, in their beautiful sanctuary, and enjoyed the musical inspiration by our conference's musician, Matt Meyer. I expect we'll have him at Northwoods, eventually.

 

And now, fresh fire in my bones, we look forward to our own community presence, impacts and future.

 

We will welcome Bill Clontz, a consultant from the UUA, this upcoming weekend as we begin to explore what is possible for us in our vision of expansion and making our building fully welcoming and accessible to all. In early October, we will host the first annual Coming Out for Love event to mark National Coming Out Day, in partnership with our local UCC sisters and brothers. We are beginning to find our public, community presence and voice, and it is good!

 

In the meantime, as always, it is good to be home with you all again (although I will admit, the weather in the Tennessee mountains was absolutely gorgeous), and looking ahead as we continue to grow together.

 

What sets your bones on fire? And how can you share that with us?

 

May each day be an inspiration to you.

 

In faith,


Rev. Ellen
 
 
Foundations: Church Governance

 Northwoods Service Auction - Viva Las Northwoods!

 

The Service Auction is coming!  The Service Auction is coming!!  Out on the sidewalk, between services, find out what The Service Auction is and why YOU need to be a part of it.  Pick up (and fill out) your service auction donation contracts.  Get ideas for parties, services or items you can donate.  Sign up for a date to hold your party.  Sign up to get your own, individual bidder number.  The more contracts you fill out, and the earlier you turn them in, the more free raffle tickets you earn.

 

Our theme is Vegas this year, so come out and play!!   Date:  Saturday, November  2, 2013.  

Any questions?  Email: [email protected].

 

Service Auction Links:

   

Keep up to date with Service Auction events by visiting the Service Auction calendar.

If you would like to make a donation for the Service Auction, please complete this online form or print and complete this paper form.

Have questions?  Get answers here.
 
BOT Minutes

The Board of Trustees met on September 8.  To review the meeting minutes, click here.
 
COM Meeting and Agenda

The Committee on Ministry will be meeting this Sunday, September 22.  To review the meeting agenda, click here.
 
Endowment Committee News
Finance Seminar
 
The Endowment Committee is holding a special Financial Seminar for members and friends of Northwoods.  Mr. Travis Rhoad will be giving a 90 minute presentation on financial planning at Northwoods on Sunday October 20 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm.  The seminar is free and lunch in included.  Lunch will be served starting at 12:30pm.  There is limited seating for this event, so if you would like to attend please email Terry Leyenberger at [email protected] to reserve your spot.  Only those who have pre-registered will be admitted to this special event.
 
 
Spiritual Life
New Night, New Time, New Topic
Northwoods Progressive Christian Fellowship
Starting this Friday, September 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Northwoods Progressive Christian Fellowship is now meeting on the third Friday of the month, from September to June at 6:30 in the Avant Garden Gallery for a member-led discussion series:  Reclaiming the Traditions.

 

This month's topic is Communion:  What Does It Mean to Us Now.  We will share bread and wine or juice at the end of the hour.

All at Northwoods are welcome to join with this group of individuals who follow their progressive/liberal
Christian faith within the UU church.
 
Drum Circle
Saturday, September 21 at 6:30PM

We will gather in the church sanctuary at 6:30pm on Saturday for Drum Circle followed by a feast. Please bring an instrument(s), a dish to share, and a beverage. You are welcome to bring something for the alter, as well. If you don't have an instrument, there will be extras that you are welcome to use. You are also welcome to invite friends and family to this event.

For more information, click here.


Pathways to Membership Class

The Pathways to Membership class scheduled for Wednesday, September 18, has been cancelled.  For information on the next class, please email [email protected].
 
 
Congregational Life
Calling all Writers

Terry Leyenberger is the Northwoods "Unofficial" historian and he is looking for stories that celebrate the church.  For more information on submitting a story, please click here.


 
SEE Justice
null
Coming out For Love
October 5, 2013

Plymouth United Church of Christ and Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church have come together to bring the celebration of National Coming Out Day to Montgomery and Harris Counties! The celebration will take place at Northwoods UU Church from 1 to 5 PM on Saturday, October 5th. Northwoods is located at 1370 N Millbend Dr, The Woodlands, Texas. Doors will open at 12:30 PM.

Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate your own and others' coming out stories! You will hear speakers who have guided many through the process, and who have created a supportive community where we can freely share our journey and learn from those who made the journey before us. And the path of that journey will be vividly illustrated through music and poetry. 

Visit with area support organizations and agencies to learn how they provide support and community for those who are in all stages of that journey, who educate to clarify the many questions that arise, and who advocate to ensure equal opportunity for everyone.

The afternoon focuses on four areas to address the full scope of coming out. The first hour will focus on Self, the second - Family, third hour - Church, and the fourth hour on Nation and World. And along the way, we will recognize the rejection and the liberation that coming out can bring, and our struggle to achieve full equality and acceptance. 

Straight allies, Moms, Dads, family members and friends, you are CRITICAL to the support of the LGBTQ individual that you love! Your story is very important too, and your voice for education and advocacy in the community is vital to achieve our goal of full equality and acceptance. Please come so that your voice can be heard!

Please join us Saturday afternoon and please spread the word!
 
Quick Links
Membership

Membership Class

New to Northwoods?

 

Considering membership? Want to catch up on your UU history and theology? Join us for Pathways to Membership class. The next class will be in October. This class is recommended as a prerequisite for signing our Membership Book. Please register by contacting the church office. Childcare available upon request. 

 

Board of Trustees

The Northwoods UU Church Board of Trustees meets at 1 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month.  The Board is responsible for governing policies, finances, human resources, buildings and grounds, and congregational communication.  The Current Members of the Board are:  

 

Stephanie Coleman, President

Larry Loomis Price, President-Elect

Shari Wood, Past President
Darbi Hamilton, Secretary
Keith Armstrong. Treasurer
Bob Long. Parliamentarian
Dorothy Kennedy  and 
Michele Buselli, At-Large  

Committee on Ministry

The Committee on Ministry meets on the fourth Sunday of each month and is responsible for the shared ministry of the congregation in the areas of Spiritual Life, Congregational Life, Religious Education, and Social Justice and Outreach (SEE Justice). Current Members of the Committee on Ministry are:

 

Mary Branson, Co-chair

John Hammond, Co-chair
 Mary Chimarusti

Susan Blackmore
Olivia Carrender

 David Shontz

Weekly/Semi-Monthly Activities 

Congregational Life:


Coffee Hour: Between church services (10:30-11:30 a.m.) every Sunday, a chance for some good coffee and great conversation. Suggested donation: $1.00.

   

Northwoods Writers' Group:  Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays. Bring something you've written to read. For information contact Rusty Rhoad at 281-419-1984

 

Medical Needs and Cancer Support Group: Survivors and Caregivers: Thursdays at 7:00pm at Northwoods. Contact Mary Chimarusti at 936-856-3525 for both groups. 


The Ewe Ewe Knitting Ministry: Meets on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Thursday of each month in the room 3. Contact Cyndie Mahaney

 

Circle of Friends: A women's group that meets the 1st and 3rd Fridays at 10:00am.

Contact Mary Temmen.

 

Northwoods Playgroup: Meets on alternating Fridays and Thursdays from 10:00am-1:00pm. For more information please contact Hollie Baraldi or   Audrey Goodwin.

 

Spiritual Life:

 

Progressive Christian Fellowship:  Meets on the 3rd Friday of the month until June 2013 

 

Zen Mind Buddhist: Meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays (Meditation and Discussion Group): contact Carolyn Cash

 

 

Blue Mountain Meditation: Tuesdays at 5:00 pm at Northwoods.

Contact Hallie Moore .


Folk Choir Rehearsal: Northwoods. Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Contact Rusty Rhoad at 281-419-1984.

 

Dharma Group meet the Second and fourth Friday at 7:00 pm in the Garden Room. Contact Dave Smith at 281-686-7315.

Monthly Activities
Foundationsal Ministry of Governance:

Board of Trusstess meets the 2nd Sunday of each month at 1 p.m.

Building and Grounds Committee
meets on the second Thursday of every month. For more information contact Kate Rhoad.
 

Congregational Life:
 

Courageously Coed Book Group Meets on second Mondays at 7 pm in the Garden Room. Click here for the 2013 book list. Contact  John Hammond for more information.

 
Men's Group: The First Thursday of the month, Contact Mark Smith at [email protected]


Men's Book Club
: 1st Saturday of the month at 10:00am in the Garden room. Click here for the book list.  Contact Wally Gardner

 

Women's Book Club: Every first Saturday at 10:00am   For more information contact Shirley Locke


wUU hUU:  See Darbi Hamilton or Kristin Ongeri for more information about the Young Adult Group.

[email protected]  or

[email protected] 

 

 

Spiritual Life: 

 

Drum Circle

Contact Peggy Walton  or

at 936-718-7777  for more information.

  

CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans). Meets every 2nd Sunday of the month in the Sanctuary at 1 pm. Contact: Tess Bennett.

 

Northwoods Progressive Christian Fellowship:

Meets the third Friday of each month for fellowship. The group  sponsors Vespers Services four times during the year. For information contact 

 Susan Hammond  or at 281-465-4683 

 

SEE Justice:

 

SEE Justice

Monthly meeting first Sunday of the month 12:30-2 pm in the Garden Room. Contact Sarah Mattner for more information.

 

Millbend Coffee House:   

Live music every second Saturday at 7:30 pm at the church. This event is sponsored by Northwoods and is open to the community. Contact Teresa Allen at 281-350-3052.

 

 
Religious Education
Stay Informed via Text

 

Parents!  To find out how to get text reminders and information about RE classes, click here.

 

Children and Youth Programming: Registration Still Open!
If your youth or child has not registered, you may still register them by clicking here. For more information on our class offerings, download the class prospectus or pick up a brochure in the entryway on Sunday.

 

Adult Faith Development Semester Theme: Allegiances

 

For Adult Faith Development programming this fall, we'll be exploring the idea of "Allegiances": To what do we pledge allegiance? What does it mean to hold allegiance with Unitarian Universalism? Our nation? Our planet? Our families? Our own identities?

 

Be on the lookout for an AFD brochure in the next couple of weeks outlining the many opportunities to engage this topic, from classes to guest speakers to discussion groups and more!

 

Circles of Life Workshop: Opening the Higher Mind

 

led by Dr. Hunter Kennedy

6:30-8:30 on Sept 25, Oct. 9, Oct. 23, Nov. 6 (every other Wednesday)

 

Feeling hectic? Overwhelmed by events and circumstances? Out of balance-or out of control? Welcome to modern life! We may feel powerless in some aspects of our life, but we always have the ability to turn our attention inward and find new insight there.


Join us for this four-part series designed to expand awareness of self and open the higher mind. Hunter will guide participants through a process of personal discernment, with the goal of increased consciousness of our own multiple identities and competing interests, as well as how to manage the imbalances that are inevitably part of life.


Conscious awareness cannot be given to someone, but we can learn ways to develop within ourselves what Hunter calls, "the inner kingdom." And best of all, the models you will learn can be used throughout your life in many different situations.


Each one of us faces our own obstacles, but the power of those events is often determined by the way we perceive them; how we choose to respond shapes our experience.
   

 

Learn more about Hunter Kennedy and his practice at hunterkennedy.net.
Questions about the class? Contact Sarah. 

 


One Church, One Book

 

This fall, we invite the members of Northwoods to read Unwind, by Neal Shusterman. We will be scheduling discussion groups to explore this book as a community in January.

Unwind is a 2007 science fiction novel by young adult literature author Neal Shusterman. It takes place in the United States, somewhere in the near future. After a civil war-known as the Second Civil War or the Heartland War-is fought over abortion, a compromise was reached, allowing parents to sign an order for their children between the ages of 13 and 18 years old to be unwound-taken to "harvest camps" and having their body parts harvested for later use. The reasoning was that, since 100% (actually 99.44% taking into account the appendix and "useless" organs) was required to be used, unwinds did not technically "die", because their individual body parts lived on. In addition to unwinding, parents who are unable to raise their children to age thirteen for retroactive abortion have the option to "stork" their child by leaving it on another family's porch. If they don't get caught, the "storked" baby then becomes the other family's responsibility. Click here to purchase a copy of the book through Northwoods.  

 

Parenting Class

This fall, as part of our Allegiance programming, Susan Blackmore will again offer her class, Intentional Parenting (with a UU Perspective) to the Northwoods community. The class will meet from 2-5 p.m. for six Sundays beginning September 29 and ending November 3. Here's what Susan has to say: 
 
Parenting is the hardest job there is. Part of each three-hour session will be structured. A portion of each session will be used for discussing specific questions, needs, or issues the group brings forward. Participants will role play, see demonstrations, and learn practical ways to create an effective family. Learn how to grow children who are strong, confident, and able to live their UU values. This is a very lively, hands-on experience. It is not a quick-fix approach to parenting, but a way to look deep and to parent for the long term relationships you want to have with your children. All ages, grandparents, babysitters, teachers, and anyone who wishes to maximize their communications will benefit. There will be homework and some reading, but nothing you can't handle. Topics will include: self-care, encouragement, self-esteem, birth order, siblings, parenting styles, misbehavior (and what to do with it), consequences, family team building, handling feelings, spirituality, and more.

A fee of $25 will cover the cost of materials. Childcare will be available. Contact Sarah if you would like more information.
 
 
Millbend Coffeehouse
 Millbend Hosts Two Shows in October!   
 
October 6:  David Massengill
Only David Massengill can make an Appalachian dulcimer sound like an orchestra.  Couple that with his amazing songwriting and you get an enjoyable and memorable evening of entertainment.

October 14:  David Berkeley
An eloquent new voice on the Folk and Americana music scene.  David gives a fresh view of life and the human condition - and delivers it with power and authority.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Millbend website

   
Calendar, Beacon Bits Submission Policy, and Contact Information

 This Week At Northwoods

Sunday,  September 22   

                                     UUA Consultant  

1:00pm                         COM Meeting
Monday, September 23 
7:00pm                         Traditional Choir Rehearsal                

Tuesday, September 24     

5:00pm                         Blue Mountain Meditation

7:00pm                         Folk Choir Rehearsal 

Wednesday, September 25

5:30pm                        REC Meeting
6:30pm                        Dr. Hunter Kennedy Workshop
7:00pm                        Northwoods Ensemble Rehearsal

Thursday, September 26     

6:30pm                         Paul Klein and KlayVage Rehearsal

7:00pm                         Medical Caregivers's Support Group

7:00pm                         Medical Needs Support Group

Friday, September 27

10:00am                       Northwoods Play Group (off site)

7:00pm                         Dharma Group   


 
Submission Policy

Send submissions for the next issue of The Beacon Bits to [email protected] no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Any member of the Northwoods family may submit material to the Beacons.  Ideally, most submissions will come from a contact person or chairperson of a group or ministry team. The Beacon Bits will not publish any advertisement or notices promoting individuals or buisnesses.
 

Contact Information

 

 

Phone 281-298-2780  Fax: 281-419-189  northwoodsuu.org  

Church Office Hours: Tues. - Fri. 10 am- 3pm 

Congregational Administrator: Jamie Thompson: [email protected]

 

Minister: Reverend Ellen Cooper-Davis,  [email protected]   

Office Hours:  Tues, Thurs, Friday 10am-3pm and by appointment

Minister's Blog at Chron.com   

 

Sarah Prickett:
Director of Lifespan Faith Development
[email protected] 
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 12-4pm
  

 

Like us on Facebook