The 

Beacon 

Bits

A weekly publication of Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church

NW Color Logo w Name  
    

October 21, 2015 

 
 
Greetings!   
  


We hope that you can join us on
Sunday, October 25, 2015 for

The Changing Social Contract

by Guest Speaker
Larry Loomis-Price
 
with music by
Paul Klein and Klay Vage


Religious Education this Sunday:
9:30 Service:
2- and 3-year-olds: Celebrate! Class - Childcare room
pre-K and kindergartners (ages 4-6): Spirit Play - Spirit Play Classroom
1st through 3rd grade (ages 7-9): Explorers I - Explorers I class, next to library
4th through 6th grade (ages 10-12): Explorers II - Room 10, upstairs
7th and 8th grade: ChUUse Your Own Adventure- teen room
9th-12th grade: ChUUse Your Own Adventure- teen room

11:30 service:
2- and 3-year-olds: Celebrate! Class - Childcare room
pre-K and kindergartners (ages 4-6): Spirit Play- Spirit Play Classroom
1st through 3rd grade (ages 7-9): Explorers I - Explorers I class, next to library
4th through 6th grade (ages 10-12): Explorers II - Room 10, upstairs
7th and 8th grade: WhUU Are YUU? UU Identity Program - garden room
9th-12th grade: YRUU - teen room 
 
Childcare for our youngest friends is available in the childcare room.
 

Hearing assistance equipment available at the Membership table.


First Service: 9:30am 
Coffee and Conversation: 10:30am 
Second Service: 11:30am
In This Issue
Top Story
Agents: Are You Ready? 
Mission: Possible!!! 
This Saturday 
 
Attention! Your presence is requested at the 2015 Mission: Possible!!! service auction event. Your mission is to have fun and support Northwoods! Disguises and costumes are requested but not required. To enjoy the explosive fun, report to Northwoods this Saturday, October 24. Doors open at 5:00pm. This event is not restricted to agents of Northwoods. Accomplices are welcome, so bring a friend!

The cover on Service Auction events will soon be blown: look for the the 2015-2016 Service Auction Catalog in your inbox soon.  

Schedule of Events:

Doors will open at 5:00pm
Registration opens at 5:00pm
Raffle Tickets available at 5:00pm
Pot-luck Dinner begins at 6:00pm
Sign-ups open at 6:30pm
Live Auction begins at 7:00pm
 
Look for the Service Auction Catalog coming to your in-box on Thursday. Please print it out and bring it with you. Don't miss the fun, don't forget to bring a pot-luck contribution, and don't forget to come in costume!
 
If you've never attended the Service Auction before, we have a special treat for you - we'll give you $10 off your final bill.  Just let us know you haven't ever been before.
 
 
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


Mission: Possible!!
Details 
Date:
Saturday October 24, 2015 
Costumes: Encouraged but not required 
Food: Bring some to share 
Fun: Affirmative! 
Entertainment Value: Explosive!
 
 

From Rev. Donna
Hello Northwoods friends and members,

Some congregants, after hearing my sermons, have asked for written copies, especially so they can have some of my references or places I suggest they may want to look at themselves.

The reference from last Sunday's sermon is not where I suggested it is, so I wanted to give you the link to the 2009 General Assembly Ware Lecture by Melissa Harris-Perry. I am aware how hard it is to speak about our own, this nation's, the world's systemic racist past and present. You can probably tell it is the place where my passion for justice centers now. I hope you heard too that I encourage you all to find where your individual passion for justice is, and pursue that. I will continue to ask you to look at institutional racism as it exists now in this country, in our own lives. Watching three Black UU congregants be so affected last year that they either became very active in the Black Lives Matter movement, and/or felt they had to leave their UU church home in disappointment, was very hard. They were or are a part of three congregations I've served. Kenny Wiley and this church is one of those three. I can't make a difference now in the last two, and I hope that here at Northwoods we can continue learning and growing together. I have some ideas about how to do that, which I will be sharing with you gradually.

I am not in the pulpit this Sunday - my contract allows me one Sunday off each month. On November 8, worship will be a Dia de los Muertos celebration for all ages. We will have an altar where we encourage you to bring something that speaks to the love and memory of someone who has died. Starting November 8, we will have a sermon series on God, and I wanted to give you a headsup on a November 8 resource and a November 15 resource that is inspiring my initial thinking for those services.


Peace and blessings,

Rev. Donna
 
Reverend Donna's Phone Number
281-651-4800

Reverend Donna now has a private phone line at the church. The phone number is 281-651-4800. Please save this phone number! Since this is a private line, church members can feel comfortable about leaving sensitive voicemails. Rev. Donna is the only person who can access messages.
 
Foundational Ministry
COM Meeting Agenda

The COM will meet this Sunday. A copy of the agenda is available for review here.
 
UU Network of Houston Luncheon
 
The UU Network of Houston is hosting a Leadership Luncheon and Workshops for all area Unitarian Universalists on Saturday, November 14 from 11am to 3pm at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church (in the Westwood Hall Building.) A light lunch will be provided, during which Rev. Bonnie Vegiard will talk on the UU Voice for Justice activities, and a video presentation will be made by Natalie Briscoe and Rev. Carlton Elliot Smith on social justice in the Southern Region.
 
Three workshops will follow the luncheon:
  • UUV4J four "Action Alert" Issues
  • Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) Activities  [Rev. Chuck Freeman, Executive Director]
  • UUV4J "Action Alert" Training for those who have not completed it or want a refresher 
This conference is  open to all Unitarian Universalists in the Houston are. For more information and to RSVP by November 13, 2015, click here.

 
 
UUA's Fall Conference
Glen Rose, Texas
November 13th - 15th, 2015

The theme for this year's UUA Fall Conference is "Into the FUUture!" We will be exploring the 21st century church from a variety viewpoints, including youth ministry, mission and vision, cultural changes, congregational faith development, and relationship! This year is a great opportunity to chart a course for the future of your congregation and get tools for bringing your values into the world.

Tracks:
  • Are We There Yet? Planning As Spiritual Practice with Rev. Susan M. Smith
  • Compassionate Communication: An Introduction with Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith and Carrie Stewart
  • Facilitating Cultural Change with Kathy McGowan and Lewis Morris
  • Youth Ministry for the 21st Century with our NEW team of Youth Ministry Consultants
  • Covenant, Conflict, Community with Connie Goodbread
  • Young Adult Convocation with Montana Steele
  • EvolUUtion Camp, a Unitarian Universalist Creation Camp with Sean Briscoe and Rachel Finley (Ages 5 - 14)
  • The Littles with Tina Harmuth (Under 5 years)

For full program descriptions and registration, click here.

If you are interested in attending or know that you are going to attend,please contact Rev. Donna at 281-298-2780.
 
Library Caretaker Needed

We are looking for someone (or a group) willing to monitor the books in the library.  We can better utilize the books if they are organized and accessible.  Perfection is not required.

Contact Teresa Allen  281-350-3052
 
Spiritual Life
Planning for Gorilla Sunday

It is planning time for our 2016 Gorilla Sunday Service. The first planning meeting will be on Thursday, October 29 at 7:00pm. Anyone who is interested in getting more involved is free to come. Gorilla Sunday is a lot of fun and a great way to get involved.

For more information contact Jerry Hensel: 832-928-1667 or email at [email protected].

Come one, come all!

Congregational Life
Like Us on Facebook!

Want to stay connected and be up to date with Northwoods Events? Like us on Facebook. To access the Northwoods Facebook page, click here.
 
 
Indian Cuisine With the Lunch Bunch

The Lunch Bunch will meet at Namaste, on Borough Park behind the HEB on Sawdust for good Indian food.

Questions? Ask Beth or Phil Marshall.

For weekly updates and photos, check out and like/follow our Facebook page: Lunch Bunch Facebook.

Membership

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:  

 

Ann McAlpin

President

 

Lisa Cronce 

President-Elect

 

Larry Loomis-Price 

Past President 

  

Rud Merriam

Treasurer   

 

Bob Long 

Parliamentarian

 

Cyndie Mahaney 

Secretary 


John DeCaire

At Large

 

Kate Rhoad 

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:

 

Linda Nadler 

Chair

 

Mary Chimarusti
Sharon Ossowski

Jeff Graeber
David Shontz 

Beth Marshall 

Congregational Life

Temporary Chair: 
Sharron Ossowski


Membership Coordinator: 
Helen Sherwood
Ministries Meetings and Groups
 
Leadership Development Committee

Chair
Dorothy Kennedy
Carol Hensley
Hal Meyers
 
 
Spiritual Life
 
Asimov Humanists: Meets 2nd Saturday each month, 10am-12 in The Garden Room. Contact Karyl Paige 281-435-2644
 
Drum Circle:
Contact the church office 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 several times in the fall, winter, and spring for discussion, study, and fellowship, and sponsors vespers services for Advent and Good Friday. For  more information and dates, contact Bob Long.  
 
Zen Mind Buddhist:  
A meditation and discussion group that meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays at 6pm.  For information, contact Carolyn Cash. 
 
Blue Mountain Meditation: Meets Tuesdays at 5:00 pm at Northwoods.
Contact Hallie Moore .

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

Congregational Life 

Avant Garden Gallery:
Artists are invited to display their works in the gallery.  For scheduling, click  here. 
 
Coffee Hour:  
Between church services (10:30-11:30 a.m.) every Sunday.

Courageously Coed Book Group: 
Meets on the second Monday at 7pm in the Garden room.  Click here
for the 2015 book list.  Contact John Hammond
for more information.

Men's Group:  
Meets the first Thursday of the month.  Contact Mark Smith.
  
Men's Book Club:
Meets the first Saturday of the month at 10:00am in the Garden room.  Click here for the 2014 book list, or  here for the 2015 book list.  Contact Wally Gardner.
 
Women's Book Club:
Meets the third Saturday of the month at 10:00am in the Garden Room.  For more information contact Shirley Locke.

wUU hUU:   
Contact Darbi Hamilton or Kristin Ongeri for more information about the Young Adult Group.
 
Northwoods Writers' Group:   
Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays. Bring something you've written to read. For information contact Rusty Rhoad at 281-419-1984.
 
The Ewe Ewe Knitting Ministry:  
Meets on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Thursday of each month in the room 3. Contact Cyndie Mahaney
 
Northwoods Playgroup: Meets Fridays at 10:30am. For more information please contact Carrie Smith.  
 
SEE Justice

Monthly meeting the first Sunday of the month 12:30-2 pm in the Garden Room. Contact  Paul Nelson  for more information.
  
If you would like to nominate an organization to be the recipient of Share the Plate Sunday, click here for more information on how to do so. 
 
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.
 
 
REMinistryReligious Education
Trunk or Treat
Between Services on November 1
 
Who says the decorations have to be taken down when Halloween's passed?

Extend the fun with your Northwoods family and participate in "Trunk-or-Treat" November 1st in the church parking lot between services.

Kids (and kids at heart) come in costume and prepare to be treated to a fun time!
Adults (folk old enough to drive a car to church) who are interested in participating, decorate your trunk in all its Halloween glory and bring the leftover candies that you've vowed not to eat this year. During coffee and conversation between services we'll open our fantastically decorated trunks and gift our family and friends to a tasty treat for the eyes and tummy as they "trunk or treat" through our seasonal automotive art walk.
(I'm so excited!!!!)
 
Attention Babysitters!

Northwoods Religious Education is looking towards compiling a list of willing, experienced babysitters and child care providers. This information will be provided both to persons sponsoring functions at Northwoods for larger group childcare and to Northwoods parents for in-home family sitting.

Anybody 13 years and older with YMCA (or similar) training who is interested in being included in this venture please sign up this Sunday or contact Jenn Simpson at  
[email protected].
Calling All Youth, Fifth Grade and Older!

We are excited to announce that we are planning to change things up a little bit in our monthly inter-generational services by having our younger members help with Sunday services. Specifically, we are looking for younger members of our Northwoods family who are interested in being Youth Lay Leaders, assisting Reverend Donna, or serving as guest speakers during services.

There will be a short overview of the job this Sunday, October 18 between services. 
Please listen to announcements during church and/or contact Jenn Simpson at [email protected] for more information. 

 
Religious Education and Exploration - Contacts

Jennifer Simpson is our new Coordinator for Lifespan Faith Development starting September 20th. Jenn can be reached by email ([email protected]) or phone (281-298-2780). She is available from 1pm to 3:30pm on Thursdays and Fridays by appointment, and on Sundays. Jenn's focus will be coordinating the efforts for religious education and exploration for children and teens, and she will work closely with the RE Committee Chair, Brenda Hutchinson to continue to provide quality RE for Northwoods children.

Rev Donna Renfro will consult with Sue Powell for Adult RE programs and Small Group Ministry.
 
Spiral Scouts

If your children are interested in participating in Spiral Scouts, please contact Cyndie Mahaney ([email protected]) for a meeting schedule.  Spriral Scouts is a co-ed, Pagan based scouting program for all ages.

 

 
SEE Justice
UUA Efforts to Help Syrian Refugees

It seems there is a never-ending stream of news regarding war and the resultant tragedy of death, destruction, and homelessness heard and seen on the radio, television, and web of late. None can be more tragic than that of the Syrian conflict and the resultant displacement of over 10,000,000 residents who have been forced to leave their homes during the more than four (4) years of uninterrupted fighting, bombings and terror.  As empathetic and caring individuals, as well as UU's, it seems imperative that we take action in the coming weeks and months to help these displaced persons in any manner that we can.  To that end, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee ("UUSC") and the Unitarian Universalist Association ("UUA") have announced two (2) initiatives regarding the crises.  Both the president of UUSC and the president of UUA have expressed grave concern about the status of refugees globally and are have condoned the following actions:

  • A special UUSC-UUA Refugee Crisis Fund has been established, with the goal of raising $250,000 (and more).  Please click here to access that Fund and get more information.  On that page, you'll find RESPONDING TO THE REFUGEE CRISES, with more information regarding the initiative and use of the funds, as well as how to donate. 
  • A petition drive has been initiated. The petition's purpose is to pressure the Obama administration to raise the number of refugees that can be admitted into the United States to 200,000.  According to the petition, the US admitted only 105 Syrian refugees in 2014. 

I hope you'll take the time to visit these two sites, as well as the UUSC home page for more information about the many political and human rights injustices that UUA is attempting to address through its ministries.   

 

Thank you for your concern and interest.   

 

- Paul R. Nelson, SEE Justice Ministry
 
 
Food Collections

The hungry aren't only hungry at Christmas and Thanksgiving.  They are hungry all year long and you can do something to help.  Food donations have been very low lately.  Please bring a non-perishable food item to church on Sunday and drop it in the basket in the hallway next to the office. 
 
Calendar, Beacon Bits Submission Policy, and Contact Information
Save the Date

Saturday, April 2, 2016
Northwoods Mega Rummage Sale
Donations being taken now.


Coming Up At Northwoods

Thursday October 22, 2015
6:30 PM    Paul Klein & Klay Vage Rehearsal

Friday October 23, 2015
10:00 AM    Northwoods Play Group

Saturday October 24, 2015
5:00 PM    Service Auction Event

Sunday October 25, 2015
1:00 PM    Committee on Ministry
6:00 PM    Progressive Christian Fellowship Gathering
                   Sangha and Meditation Group

Tuesday October 27, 2015
5:00 PM    Blue Mountain Meditation
7:00 PM    Folk Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday October 28, 2015
7:00 PM    Worship Arts Team Meeting

Thursday October 29, 2015
6:30 PM    Paul Klein & Klay Vage Rehearsal
7:00 PM  Gorilla Sunday Planning Meeting

Friday October 30, 2015
10:00 AM    Northwoods Play Group

Sunday November 1, 2015
12:30 PM    SEE Justice Meeting
1:00 PM    Lay Ministry/Pastoral Care Team Meeting
6:00 PM    Progressive Christian Fellowship Gathering

 
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 Beacon Bits.  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 businesses.
 
Contact Information
 
Interim Minister: Reverend Donna Renfro
Phone 281-298-2780
Office Hours:

Monday: Sabbath and day of rest. Emergency calls only, please.

Tuesday: Thursday 10am to 3pm

Friday: Sermon Writing Day, 10am to 3pm, by appointment only

Saturday: by appointment only

Sunday: Worship


Congregational Administrator: Jamie Thompson
Phone 281-298-2780   
Church Office Hours:  Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 am- 3pm 
   
Coordinator of Lifespan Faith Development: Jennifer Simpson
[email protected]
Phone 281-298-2780

  
 
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