The 

Beacon 

Bits

A weekly publication of Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church

NW Color Logo w Name  
   

October 2, 2013 

 

Greetings!   

  

We hope that you can join us this Sunday morning,  October 6, 2013 for  

 


 
The Sublime and the Ordinary
 

from

  

the Reverend Ellen Cooper   

 

with music by 

 

Northwoods Ensemble 

  


 
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

 

The Sunday Religious Education classes for Sunday are as follows:


First service:

2- and 3-year-olds: Childcare available in Room 1

pre-K and Kindergartners: Spirit Play in Room 7

 1st through 3rd  grade: Explorers I in Room 3

4th through 6th grade: Explorers II in Room 10
 

Between services:

High School: A Place of Wholeness (UU identity class) in Teen Room

Adult Forum: "General Assembly: What Did We Learn?" led by GA Delegates Teresa Allen and Sean Daugherty, in The Garden Room  

  

Second service:

Children through kindergarten age in Room 1

1st through 3rd grade: Explorers I in Room 3

4th through 6th grade: Explorers II in Room 10

Junior High: Coming of Age class in the Garden Room

High School: YRUU in the Teen Room

  

Childcare is available for younger children during and between services.

 

  

    

 
Top Story
 
COMING OUT FOR LOVE
Saturday, October 5
1-5pm

Houston may have Pride, but Northwoods UU Church and Plymouth UCC church are bringing a National Coming Out Day celebration to North Houston on Saturday October 5th from 1-5 p.m. at Northwoods UU Church, 1370 N Millbend Dr, The Woodlands.

Don't miss this chance to celebrate your own and others' coming out stories, to hear fantastic music and speakers, and to visit with some of our community partners around how the issues around coming out as L, G, B, T, Q even questioning affects our community. Honor those courageous souls who have come before whether in triumph or despair, on a Memorial Wall. We will recognize both the liberation and the rejection that coming out can bring, and continue our struggle for the full equality and acceptance of ALL people.

Join us, and please spread the word!

Print out this flyer and pass it on to all of your friends
 

 
Minister's Message
 
From Rev. Ellen

 

Dear Northwoods,   

 

As we begin our October theme, Atonement, I can't help but side-eye Washington and be thankful to be part of a community where we are willing to wrestle with the challenges of diverse thoughts and ways of being, rather than immediately assume that someone must make a sacrifice to save us all.

 

True atonement, it seems to me, is about repair and reconciliation, rather than the sacrifice of a scapegoat to appease the masses. It is about the difficult embrace of humility and curiosity, the challenging willingness to admit mistakes and wrongs, the liberating efforts to restore wholeness, covenant, and relationship.

 

It is, in many ways, an entirely ancient concept, perhaps more suited to tribal culture than to our modern, fast-paced, pleasure-seeking one. To my mind, however, that makes it all the more important to explore.We speak often about self-care, and about taking care of others. But in what ways are we equipped to adequately care for the space in between? How do we check the web that holds us together for holes or unraveled knots, and repair it?

 

I believe that Brene Brown's  work on vulnerability is one path to embracing a primal need for atonement, an act which emerges out of intentional authenticity and a yearning for a return to wholeness. I believe some of the recent cultural conversations on restorative justice are another expression of that yearning. Ultimately, our culture ill-equips us for the struggle and deep joy of the work of atonement and forgiveness.

 

Perhaps, though, we can still practice in this beloved community, even while we seek to build the larger one around us.

 

In peace,   

 

--

Rev. Ellen Cooper, Minister

 

In faith,

 

Rev. Ellen
 
 
Foundations: Church Governance
 
COM Minutes

The Committee on Ministry met on September 22.  You can review the minutes here.
 
 
Coke Machine Survey

One day very soon you will walk into the kitchen and the current vending machine will be gone. The Coca-Cola Co. in Conroe wants us to buy or lease what we have (for a lot more money than we want to spend) and we don't want to. It's old and cranky and we have no flexibility about what we put into it to sell. John Decaire has quietly, but faithfully, maintained the current machine for many years. Thank you, John. The Building & Grounds Committee has now gotten involved in the decision about what to do going forward. The question is, what do YOU want us to do? If you have an opinion either way about buying another machine we would like to hear it. You can either send an email to the office or to Kate at [email protected]. We will make a decision by the end of October based on your responses.  

 

Do you use the current machine?   

How frequently?   

How much would you pay per soda?   

What sodas would you like to see us sell?

 
 
Save the dates:

Church Work Party with pizza: October 19th 8:30 - 2:00
Northwoods Blood Drive: November 9th 2:30 - 7:00
Rummage Sale: April 5th, 2014
 
 

Viva Los Northwoods -  Come play with us!

 

 Our biggest fundraiser is coming up: the Northwoods Service Auction! Our Vegas theme will provide the setting, and we hope our Northwoods community will come out and play with us!  Please join us on November 2nd to see whose costume is the most outrageous, enjoy good food & fun, and to fill the Northwoods coffers!

 

 

Stop by the Service Auction table between services each Sunday until October 27th to complete your service auction contracts, ask questions, and get excited! If you have questions or would like a Service Auction Contract emailed to you, please contact Leslie Moseley at [email protected].

 

Remember:  The earlier you turn in your contract, the more raffle tickets you receive!

 

 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

.   

 

Ideas on how you can participate.


Have questions?  Get answers 
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
 

Gorilla Sunday Committee Forming

 

The next Gorilla Sunday will be on February 9, 2014. The committee is now forming. The theme will be chosen in October. Be a part of this fun tradition! Talk to Jerry Hensel or e-mail him at [email protected]. 
 
Congregational Life
 
A Message from the UUA

Are you:
  • a person of color, a multiracial/multiethnic person, and/or someone with racial/ethnic/cultural heritages that are marginalized today?
  • a person whose visual, hearing, mobility, mental health, intellectual, learning/attention, and/or other physical abilities (including chemical sensitivity and food allergies) make it difficult to participate fully in mainstream spaces?
  • lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or otherwise have a sexual orientation or gender identity/expression that doesn't conform to cultural norms?
If you have one or more of these identities and are a UU or have a current or former affiliation with Unitarian Universalism, you are invited to participate in the UUA's Multicultural Ministries Sharing Project to help our faith grow and best minister to you and your family in the 21st century. 
The Sharing Project Survey is open now and ends October 31, 2013. Learn more and take the survey now! www.uua.org/sharingproject

 
 
Northwoods Needs Your Historical Thoughts

Terry Leyenberger is looking for volunteers to update the Church history.  If there is something that happened over the last five years that you were intimately involved in please consider writing a short narrative describing the event or activity.  Please contact Terry at [email protected] for ideas and information.  Terry has copies of all the Beacon Bits for the last five years, and Vicky Bradley has copies of the order of service for your review.  Deadline for submission is December, which is approaching quickly.

 

Lunch Bunch 

 

The Northwoods Lunch Bunch will meet at Caf� Express, Market Street at Six Pines, on Sunday, October 6, 2013, at 1 pm. Join us for fresh food, prepared for you.

 

In our round-the-world tour, I'd call this good American food.

 

Join us if you can! Turn right out of the Northwoods parking lot, and right again on Six Pines. Continue several blocks. When you see the Woodlands Mall on the right, turn left into Market Street. Turn right again to park behind Caf� Express.

 

See you there!

 
 
Care and Concern:

It is with sadness that we note the death of Jan Brotherhood, who died on September 24th at 80 years of age after a time of poor health. Her son, Chris, notes that although she had been unable to attend church in recent years, she remained supportive of this congregation which welcomed her and her late husband Ray so lovingly 9 years ago. At her request, there is no memorial service scheduled. Cards may be sent to:
Chris and Jennifer Brotherhood
19 Watermint Place
The Woodlands, TX 77384
 
 
Religious Education
 
A Message From:
Natalie Briscoe
Congregational Life Consultant, Southern Region of the UUA

I wanted to extend a special invitation to Northwoods to our annual Fall Harvest Leadership Training. Your input and presence at this year's gathering of UUs from throughout the region would be an invaluable resource! Fall Harvest Leadership Training will be held in Glen Rose, Texas from November 8th  to the 10th, 2013.
The theme for this year's Fall Harvest Training is EvolUUtion! Evolution is all around us. Growth and change in congregational life is inevitable. Through seven tracks, we will explore the evolution that takes place in congregations and how we can foster all kinds of growth and deepen our spiritual lives in the process.
Here is a link to the Brochure and Registration.

With your help, Fall Harvest Training can be a valuable experience for many people throughout the South!

Thank you, and I hope to see you in Glen Rose!

Natalie Briscoe, Congregational Life Consultant, Southern Region of the UUA
 
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.

 

Stay Informed via Text

 

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

 

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!

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.
 

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.
   

 

Registration is still open here.  

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, or click here to register. There are only a few spots left, so make sure and reserve yours today! 
 
 
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,  October 6   

12:30pm       See Justice meeting  

1:00pm         Lay Ministry/Pastoral Care Team meeting 

2:00pm         Intentional Parenting Class
5:15pm         Millbend Coffeehouse
6:00pm         Zen Mind Buddhist meeting
6:30pm         HR Committee meeting
Monday, October 7
7:00pm         Traditional Choir Rehearsal    
7:00pm         Northwoods Writers' Group          
Tuesday, October 8     
5:00pm          Blue Mountain Meditation

7:00pm          Folk Choir Rehearsal 

Wednesday, October 9  

6:30pm           Hunter Kennedy Workshop
7:00pm           Northwoods Ensemble Rehearsal

Thursday, October 10      

6:30pm           Paul Klein and KlayVage Rehearsal

7:00pm           Medical Caregivers's Support Group

7:00pm           Medical Needs Support Grou

Friday, October 11

10:00am         Northwoods Play Group (off site)

7:00pm           Dharma Group 

Saturday, October 12    

10:00am          The Humanist Group 

7:30pm            Millbend Coffeehouse                             

 

 
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
  

 

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