The 

Beacon 

Bits

A weekly publication of Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church

NW Color Logo w Name  
   

October 16, 2013 

 

Greetings!   

  

We hope that you can join us this Sunday morning,  October 20, 2013 for  

  

I love you, Goodbye: A UU Theology of Partnership and Separation
 

from

the Reverend Ellen Cooper   

 

with music by 

 

Folk Choir

 
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 are as follows:


First service:

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

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: "Atonement: A Counselor's Perspective,"  

led by Toby Picker, 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
 
Celebrate the Fall at Northwoods' Harvest Festival!

On Saturday, Oct. 26 from 4-7, join your friends and neighbors at Northwoods for an evening of fun, food and fellowship for all ages at our first Harvest Festival! There will be treats and prizes, a costume contest, storytelling, games and seasonal crafts as well as an Ancestor Potluck: everyone is invited bring a dish to share that reminds you of your family or heritage, with an opportunity to share the stories behind the dishes you bring. This is the time of year when the veil is thin, when the harvest is gathered, when the past becomes present. Join us in celebration of the turning of the year and the turning of our lives.

We are looking for volunteers to help with all areas of this event:

We would love for this event to reflect the diversity of Northwoods and your wonderful ideas. Does your family or cultural heritage or spiritual path offer any activities, stories, crafts or rituals that you think you'd like to share with Northwoods? If so, contact Sarah!

We are also looking for folks to decorate the trunk of their car and hand out goodies to costumed adorable children. Would you like to participate in our Trunk or Treat in this way? If so, contact Sarah!

We are also looking for folks to help out with setup, potluck, cleanup and behind the scenes help before the event... Would you like to help out in this way? If so...you guessed it...contact Sarah!   
 
 
Minister's Message
 
From Rev. Ellen

 

Dear Northwoods,   

 

By many standards, Northwoods is a young congregation. Compared to someplace like First UU Parish in Weston, MA, which was founded in the 1600s, its in its toddlerhood. And yet, we have a rapidly maturing, deepening congregation, that tolerates the change that growth has inevitably brought, well.

 

Change can bring with it a certain amount of anxiety, uncertainty, those nagging, "But...what if...?" questions that lead our minds way out to the deep end before we have even put a toe into the water. But change is also an inevitable fact of congregational and human life. In the past ten years, about 75% of the congregation has changed. With each new arrival, we are changed. With each new season of the church's life, we are called to stretch and grow and meet it with thoughtful, considered responses.

 

We are incredibly blessed to be in a congregation that has wise, thoughtful and capable leaders, that values learning together, and that works now to ensure the long-term health, vitality and flourishing of liberal religion in this area.  There were others, decades ago, who held the vision and took the risks and extended trust to one another so that we might be the stewards of this community now. Some of those visionaries are still among us. Some of our current visionaries and stewards and keepers of the faith may still be here decades hence.

 

"Don't be afraid of some change...today will be a joyful day!" the song in our hymnal goes. As we use our varied and various gifts in any number of ways to continue to help this community thrive, grow, and be all that we say we are and wish to be, I offer you this look back at some of the brave Northwoods pioneers who weren't afraid of some change...and when faced with the unknown, had the foresight and the courage to keep saying, "YES!" (And if you see any of them on a Sunday...tell them thank you!)

 

With gratitude for leaps of faith,

 

Rev. Ellen  

 
 
Foundations: Church Governance
 
New Directory Coming Soon

Have you recently moved?  Has your phone number changed?  If you would like to make changes to your directory profile please email Jamie at [email protected] so the directory can have the most up to date information.   
 
 
Viva Las Northwoods!

Northwoods Service Auction is coming up, so get your contracts in! Come out and play with us November 2nd for costumes, food & fun! There may even be a visit from Elvis ... Look for an extra special Beacon Bits with detailed information to help you make the most of this year's auction.
 
Each year, the Service Auction offers a Helping Hand Scholarship Fund. This fund helps people who otherwise would NOT be able to attend any of the Service Auction events. Thanks to the many generous donors the Service Auction classes, events for children, dinners and parties can be available to all.  Please consider donating to the Helping Hand Scholarship.  It's a way to gift your love and appreciation to other members and volunteers.   Contact Linda Nadler while at church or email her at [email protected] or call her at 281-989-4447.  Checks should be made out to NUUC and contain "Helping Hand" in the memo field.  If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please contact Reverend Ellen or Linda.  You do not have to be a member to qualify.  
 
Stop by the Service Auction table between services the next two Sundays 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].
   

 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.

Service Auction Logo
 
 
From Building and Grounds 

Tables in the Hallways
In order to make the building a more welcoming space by making it feel large enough to accommodate everyone who enters, PLEASE collapse and put away any table you use. Leaving empty tables up in the hallways is not attractive and it makes them feel crowded.

Speaking of Items Left at the Church...
People are so generous at Northwoods. Not a week goes by that items are not dropped off in the kitchen or actually put away in the cabinets or storage rooms of the church. If you are cleaning out and would like to offer stuff to the church, please leave it in a bag on the kitchen counter or with Jamie with a note saying it is being donated. That way we know what we are dealing with and can act accordingly. PLEASE do not get your feelings hurt if the items you donate don't get integrated into the building. We have a pretty good idea of what we need everywhere in the church and if it isn't needed we will find a new home for the items.

Right now, Sarah is in need of a table (smaller than a folding table) to use as an altar in Rm. 10. If you have one that you would like to donate please let Sarah, Kate or Jamie know.

Work Party Coming Up
Please plan on joining us on Saturday, October 19th for our quarterly work party to take care of our beautiful building. Someone will be there as early as 8:30 and we will finish up by 2:00. Pizza will be served at noon. We will do maintenance both inside and outside of the building, so come prepared with "tools" for your area of choice to work.

We Need Your Eyes
The Building & Grounds Committee tries to stay on top of maintenance issues at Northwoods, but we don't always know when there's a problem. Please help us out and let us know if you see something that needs to be done inside or outside of the building. The B&G Committee consists of Ralph Stephenson, Sean Kenneth, Sue Ridgway, Susan Hammond, Doni Langolis and Kate Rhoad. Let any of us know and we will get the matter taken care of.

 
Rummage Sale

Our next rummage sale is scheduled for April 5th , 2014. Donations for the event can be delivered on April 4th at Northwoods or can be stored in Rob Wiley's garage as of now. Remember - we want only good stuff and no clothes! Please save the date and plan to attend the sale or to help on the 4th and/or the 5th. 
 
 
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.
 
 
BOT Minutes

The Board of Trustees met on October 13, 2013.  The meeting minutes can be reviewed here.
 
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:

 Chair:  Kate Rhoad

 

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 Trustees 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.

 

 
From Stewardship

Northwoods Congregants,

We are fortunate to be members of a congregation where individuals give their time, their talent, and their financial resources. The Stewardship Committee is proud to engage the congregation in the Second Annual Time and Talent Drive, and to foster the development of the Church and its programs by conducting the annual budget drive. The Board of Trustees recently considered arequest by the Stewardship Committee to allow the Committee to have full information of pledges by pledge unit. The Board approved this request, for which the Stewardship Committee is grateful. There were two forces requesting this policy change: Stewardship has been discussing the need for this policy change for nearly three years, and mentioned to the Board at our annual presentation that we would be bringing a proposal forward in October. The second force behind this policy change is the recommendation from Bill Clontz of the UUA in his Next Steps report. 

In the past, the committee was only privy to the number of pledge units and the total amount pledged. The policy change allows us to know the dollar amount pledged by all pledge units in the congregation. We requested the change in policy for three main reasons. Primarily, we want to be better prepared to recognize all givers, not just lead-givers and fair share givers. Giving our small committee the ability to have this information will only strengthen our mission to foster a community that is appreciative of the bounty that surrounds us. Secondly, while the committee recognizes that giving financial resources is not mandatory for membership, and that many people give their time and talent in lieu of financial resources, we do feel it is appropriate, prudent, and beneficial to have conversations with all members about the reasons that they do or do not give financial resources to Northwoods. Thirdly, it is imperative that Northwoods has the financial and volunteer resources to continue to meet the needs of our growing and diverse congregation. We believe this policy change will allow us to be more efficient and targeted in our approaches to serving the Northwoods community.

Every member has a story about what Northwoods gives them and what they give Northwoods. A healthy Stewardship relationship brings the reality of giving to the center of the conversation and allows a mutual respect to foster appreciation between the Stewardship Committee and those they serve: ALL.

I can assure you that every member of the Stewardship Committee realizes the private nature that pledges to the church represents. We all know that we have been given a responsibility that will be treated with our sincerest respect and desire to protect your privacy. Northwoods is built on a foundation of respect, love, and shared experiences. We will continue to nurture the church and you - and we feel that the Board of Trustees has granted us the ability to better serve the needs of the Church with this decision.

Please feel free to email me at [email protected], call me at 832-515-6756, or stop me at Church to discuss this recent policy change. The Stewardship Committee is proud to continue the work of supporting Northwoods in its real and reachable goals - and a healthy discussion about Stewardship is always welcome by all of the committee's members.

Sincerely,

AJ LiVecchi

Stewardship

 
 
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
 
Gobble Gobble

Looking for someone to wear the Turkey Hat!  Would you be interested in continuing the Northwoods tradition of Thanksgiving at church? Started many, many years ago, Northwoods has a wonderful tradition of hosting a wonderful family-style Thanksgiving dinner here at church.  I've organized it for the last several years but this year will be traveling and can't do it.   We organize it potluck style so you get to have everyone's favorite yummy for the day  Folks bring their own place settings and games.  It's a fantastic community-building event.  I'll be here to help with all the sign ups and organizing ahead of time - it pretty much works the same every year.  Please let me know if you can help keep the ball rolling this year!  :)

Thanks everyone!

Susan Powers
713-205-1807  
[email protected]
 
 
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
 
It's Greek to me; I hope it's Greek to you!

Lunch Bunch will visit Olive Oil on October 20. Opa!  Join us at 1pm at Olive Oil, 373 Sawdust Road, for the best Greek food we have found near The Woodlands!  Phil and Beth Marshall chair the Lunch Bunch, and you are invited to join us!
 
 
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
 
 
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?

 

Pick up an AFD brochure this Sunday outlining the many opportunities to engage this topic, from classes to guest speakers to discussion groups and more!

 
Real Talk with Rev. Ellen

Nov. 14, 6:30-9:00

Facilitated by Rev. Ellen Cooper

 

Join us for a new event at Northwoods that will hopefully be repeated regularly  throughout the year. Bring a potluck dish and join your Northwoods family in conversation with Rev. Ellen about this semester's theme:

 

What does it mean to have an allegiance to this faith?

 

How do our lives express that allegiance?

 

Childcare will be provided upon request, but children are also welcome to attend this event.

 

 
 

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 Amazon.  

 

 
SEE Justice
 
Share the Plate 
October 20, 2013

Share the Plate is This Sunday.  All of the undirected cash donations in the collection plate, and all checks marked "Share the Plate" in the memo field, will go to a charity chosen from member recommendations. Our charity for October is Montgomery County Emergency Assistance (MCEA).

MCEA is a non-profit organization established in 1981 which provides real solutions that help rebuild families throughout the county whose health and well-being are threatened by an unexpected crisis or need.  They are the only agency with a county-wide reach for emergency assistance.  Their mission is to aid residents of Montgomery County who require temporary financial assistance to regain self-sufficiency.  Last year, they serviced over 12,000 county residents - the elderly, single parent, two-parent, veteran, disabled, and economically disadvantaged households with or without children.

MCEA goes beyond the "band-aid" to provide emergency assistance in times of crisis.  They focus on building stronger client relationships by assisting families to establish attainable goals, to access community resources and to gain valuable skills.  When situations fall outside of their scope of services, they do their best to leverage other resources to meet their clients' need. And their forward-looking vision involves continuing their work with community partners to fight against hunger, homelessness, and poverty.
Please give generously to assist the critical work of this organization, and thank you for your support.

 
 
Blood Drive Heats Up

November 9th 2:00 - 7:00pm at Northwoods is our last blood drive event for 2013. We have had great participation during our first two drives and because of this the blood center is hopeful that we will want to continue working with them indefinitely. As long as you all keep signing up and showing up we're happy to keep organizing Northwoods to do this important work. Please look for the sign-up sheet on a clip board in the church hallway or feel free to contact Kate Rhoad ([email protected]) directly to let her know you would like to participate.  
 
Millbend Coffeehouse
November 9:  Caroline Aiken  

A legend in her own time, Caroline's wordcraft is unsurpassed, as is her ability to captivate and entertain an audience.  She is a powerful and evocative presence onstage, where she speaks her mind and takes no prisoners.

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 20

12:30pm       Endowment Committee Estate Planning Seminar    

1:00pm         Dwight Brown Leadership Experience Meeting   

1:00pm         Stewardship Committee
2:00pm         Parenting Class
6:00pm         Zen Mind Buddhists
Monday, October 21
7:00pm         Traditional Choir Rehearsal    
7:00pm         Northwoods Writers' Group          
Tuesday, October 22     
5:00pm          Blue Mountain Meditation
7:00pm          Folk Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, October 23    

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

Thursday, October 24        

5:30pm           Flute Rehearsal 

6:30pm           Paul Klein and KlayVage Rehearsal

7:00pm           Medical Caregivers Support Group

7:00pm           Dharma Group  

Saturday, October 26      

3:30pm           Harvest Festival and Trunk or Treat   

                              

 

 
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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