The 

Beacon 

Bits

A weekly publication of Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church

NW Color Logo w Name  
    

February 24, 2016  

 
 
Greetings!   

Please join us on 

Sunday, February 28, 2016 for

Why Do We Come to Northwoods

by Interim Minister
Reverend Donna Renfro 
 
Music by
Paul Klein and Klay Vage 
 

Religious Education this Sunday:

9:30 & 11:30 Services:
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 

9:30 Service Only:
7th-12th grade: ChUUse Your Own Adventure- teen room 

11:30 Service Only:
7th and 8th grade: WhUU Are YUU? UU Identity Program - garden room
9th-12th grade: YRUU - teen room  

 
Childcare is available for our youngest friends in the Childcare Room.

Adult Forum:
Terry Meyer will lead a brainstorming session on Adult RE and small group ministry.


Next Sunday, Terry  Meyer will lead a brainstorming session on Adult RE
and small group ministry. Bring your ideas.  


First Service: 9:30am 
Coffee and Conversation: 10:30am 
Second Service: 11:30am 

In This Issue
From Rev. Donna
Dear Northwoods Members and Friends,

Thank you for all who were in worship last week, exploring the difficult question of who are our neighbors, within the topic of racial justice. It is a topic that is hard to ignore in this country today. There are two phrases within the work that are especially hard to hear, as white people. I only used them once when I told you the mission statement of the Allies for Racial Equity. White privilege and White Supremacy. I've been experimenting with using possibility as another way to look at privilege. White people have possibilities that black people/people of color don't, from white people being the dominant culture pretty much since the first settlers landed on these shores. This is knowing our history, having the facts from different points of view, like Howard Zinn on the Young People's History of the United States. It's so important for our young people to learn that the history in their textbooks may not be the whole story. It's important for us adults to know it - many of us don't, few of you raised your hands when I asked if you'd read  A Peoples History United States. It's huge, 729 pages so I looked for a summary that you could begin to understand its significance. I mentioned the webinar I'm honored and scared to be participating in tonight - it will attempt to help us understand white supremacy, that it's not just something the KKK believes in, it's the water we swim in in the USA.

This week in worship we'll begin exploring why we come to Northwoods, and what are our dreams for what Northwoods is known for in the community. This is the beginning of looking at whether your current mission and vision statements fit where you are today. Again, I am honored to be doing this exploration with you.

Peace and Blessings, 

Reverend Donna Renfro
Foundational Ministry
Rummage Sale Serious Talk!

Your donations make a difference!

Your purchases make a bigger difference!

Each year the Rummage Team partners with a charity in the county.  We share a percentage of the rummage sale proceeds with a different group each year. This year, The Montgomery County Youth Services will be the beneficiaries.

Montgomery County Youth Services provides crisis counseling, shelter programs and prevention services to strengthen families, keep youth in school and prepare them to be productive citizens.

There is still a squeak and a whisper of room left in the team storage area. We are working on another site.  In the meantime: Call Hallie - 281-813-6328 to arrange a drop off.

Your Mission: Take the Rummage Sale flyer in your Sunday Order of Service and hand it to your favorite neighbor (the one with too much stuff). Spread the gospel of "Less clutter is More joy".

For Storage or for viewing, or to find out how you can help:
Kate Rhoad: [email protected]
Hallie Moore: [email protected], 281-813-6328
Northwoods Leaders-Stewardship Conversations

This year the Stewardship Committee is asking Northwoods committee and group leaders to host conversations with their members in appreciation of NUUC. There are two basic discussion questions-"What brings you to Northwoods?" and "What are your dreams for the future of Northwoods?". If you are a group leader and have agreed to hold a conversation, Thank You!  If you have not yet responded to the email, there's still plenty of time.  And if you have not received an email from us, it means we missed you somehow--please help us update our committee listings.  Please contact David Shontz at [email protected] for more information.
 
Avant Garden Gallery Success

Please allow us a moment of gloating and sharing!

As of February 11, just seven months into our fiscal year, the Northwoods Avant Garden Gallery has had art sales totaling $7283.50 with Northwoods receiving $2596.70 in donations!  

Thank you art committee, patrons, and artists! 

If you haven't been in the gallery, take a gander! The art changes regularly, and there is sure to be something for everyone!

Religious Education
Parents Night Out This Friday!

Parents! Start planning for a fun Friday! Parents' Night Out will return this Friday, February 26. The fun will be between 6pm and 9pm. As usual, we will have a pizza dinner, crafts, and a movie. Please RSVP to [email protected].
  g.
 

Sunday Adult Forum Returns!

Adult Forum will return this Sunday after the brief holiday hiaitus. The Adult Forums happen in the Garden Room in between Sunday services. Topics range from from church governance to social justice and environmental issues, and special interests.

Coming up in Adult Forum:
 
February 28Terry Meyer will lead a brainstorming session on Adult RE and small group ministry.
 
March 6:  Rob Wiley on Racial Reconciliation
 
March 13, 20, 27:  Dana Ashrawi will present a 3-part program:  UU's for Justice in the Middle East 

RE Updates

Parents met at a Town Hall meeting last Sunday to discuss Religious Education changes. Outcomes of the meeting include:

  • We will be keeping all RE classes open and offered at the times they currently run. There were numerous ideas suggested to help keep this our reality; from combining classes to having teachers piggyback and teach two sessions if need be.
  • There have been a couple of people step up to volunteer to be substitute teachers as need be. If you can think of anyone else (parents or no....) who would be a strong candidate to lead our youth, please give Jen Simpson a heads up or assert a little peer pressure to get them to talk with her.
  • Summer RE looks like it will follow a Dr Seuss theme.
  • Jeff Graeber is magnanimously stepping up to fill the position of RE Committee Chairperson. Thank you, Jeff!!
  • We would like to institute regular bi-monthly RE Committee meetings. AND... we would love to have some people who are not actually already RE teachers on the committee. See Jen Simpson if you are interested in this.
  • Summer Camp will fall later in the summer than usual this year. We are going to hold it after the change in fiscal year. I am not entirely sure of the dates yet, but wanted you to know that the week after public school release is not reserved for camp this year.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting. We accomplished a lot in a short amount of time!
 
Artists!

Calling all artists in all your manifestations! We are but empty chalices yearning to light our flames from the creative fire that burns within you.

Be a hero, connect with Northwoods' youngsters (they are pretty awesome and awfully thoughtful), share your talents at Children's Fellowship during the 9:30 services.

We do so look forward to learning with you, and you can bet you'll come out having learned a thing or two from us as well. Please see Jenn Simpson to schedule a time that you can come join us in fellowship

 
Congregational Life
Blood Drive - Saturday, March 5

Northwoods will host a blood drive on Saturday, March 5 from noon to 5pm in the Garden Room. To schedule an appointment, contact Cyndie Mahaney ([email protected].)
 
Service Auction Event Openings

There are still plenty of opportunities to have some Service Auction fun and support Northwoods while doing it! Below is a list of upcoming open events. For more information, click here. To register, contact the church office.
Painting with Katy Hayes Service Auction Event, February 21, 2016.


Upcoming open Service Auction events:
  • Dinner with a Jew. Thursday February 25, 2016  
  • Knitting it Together. Mondays February 29 and March 7, 2016
  • Wild Woman's Bunco. Friday March 25, 2016
  • Learn to Knit Lace. Saturday March 26, 2016
  • Beginner Beverages, Bites, and Bridge. Saturday March 26th, 2016 

 
Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch will meet at Sakekawa Japanese restaurant on Research Forest and Technology Forest on Sunday, February 28 after the second service.
 
Questions? Please ask Phil or Beth 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 2016 classes will be on:
January 10, April 10, July 10 and October 9.
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

Chair: 
Barbara Madera 

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 2016 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 2016 reading 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.
 
 
SEE Justice
Piratas of Roatan

 
Last year Northwoods collected shoes and soccer gear to be delivered to Honduras. Our donations were gratefully recieved in December, and now a new collection has started. 
 


Shoes for Honduras! Shoes for Honduras! Shoes for Honduras!

Used shoes are again being requested for children and adults in Roatan, Honduras - any size or type, especially athletic shoes, as well as soccer cleats, uniform jerseys, and any other soccer supplies such as goalie gloves, shin guards, and deflated soccer balls - and also basketballs and basketball jerseys. Feel free to contact Lynn Rippelmeyer with any questions at (281) 356- 7506 or [email protected].

Thanks to all who have contributed in the past.  It has made a huge difference in lives and is much appreciated.


 
Backback Care Packages

Let's honor our friend and fellow congregant, Ken Anderson, who is once again working on border issues in San Antonio, and is on his way on February 8 to Arizona to continue his work with No More Deaths in Tucson, Arizona. Let's collect basic supplies that a recent immigrant can carry in a backpack when s/he is put on a bus to travel to a relative's home. They are fleeing traumatic situations, but they are locked up in detention camps for months and then put on a bus - wearing the same clothes they started out with.

Here's what each backpack needs:
  • Toiletries, snacks, baby formula, diapers, a blanket, socks, and other things needed for a 3 to 4 day bus trip.
  • If you prefer, you can donate $25 to buy a backpack and fill it. Make a check out to RAICES for backpacks.

Thanks to Hallie Moore, who kicked-off the collection with her donation of eight backpacks.
 
Helping Hands Needed
DIstribute Food for Those in Need
Be A Part of the Northwoods Outreach Team!

WHEN: On Saturday, MARCH 5, 2016 from 8:00 am UNTIL 1:00 pm
WHERE: Woodforest Stadium Parking Lot near Press Box-19115 David Memorial Drive, Conroe, Texas 77385
WHAT: Help distribute food, including fresh and refrigerated, to persons in need (in conjunction with the Montgomery County Food Bank and FaithsTogether)
REQUIREMENTS:  Be 8 or older, with those under 16 accompanied by an adult (no drop offs), and sign a "Volunteer Waiver Form".  

You can register to help by contacting Paul R. Nelson at 713.857.3271, or [email protected]   Or, if you'd rather, you can click here to both register and find out more about the project.  

VOLUNTEER WAIVER FORMS (children and adult) are available in the church office. These forms can be filled out and signed on side the day of the event, but doing it beforehand and taking them with you on the 5th is recommended.

PLEASE:  If you do register online, let me know.  This will allow me to keep track of how many folks we have signed up and who all is going!  

If you want to help, but have no way to get there, contact me.  We'll arrange something. 

- Paul Nelson
SEE Justice Chair 
Julia is from Peru. She would like a loan to pay for her training as a teacher.
Donate One Hour a Month and Make a Difference!

If you would like to assist with once a month shifts to sell Fair Trade chocolate and coffee, please see Teresa Allen (281-350-3052.)

Proceeds from the Fair Trade Coffee sales are donated to Kiva, a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Kiva loans help people world-wide in three steps:
  • Lenders (us!) search through loan applications, reviewing hundreds of stories of people looking to grow businesses, get an education, build clean energy, and more.
  • With just a few clicks we make a loan to the borrower of our choice. All Kiva loans are disbursed by Kiva Field Partners who vet and work closely with each borrower.
  • As the borrower pays back the loan, the money is returned to our Kiva account, to be used again for another loan!

Fair Trade Coffee sales fully support Northwoods participation in Kiva. Volunteering is easy

A group of Cambodian women would like a loan to buy thread for their business.  

- you just come to church (which you probably already do!) and stand at the coffee display between services to make coffee sales.  

 

A dedicated volunteer is also needed to manage the Kiva account. Volunteering for this position is even easier - everything is done online.  

 

The time commitment for both positions is as little as an hour a month. 

 

 
Crisis Hot Line by Text

Statistics show that only 5% of teens are willing to call phone crisis lines, but they're more willing to text. Text 741741 to text anonymously with a crisis counselor. Trained counselors are standing by to listen to whatever is on your mind.
Calendar, Beacon Bits Submission Policy,
and Contact Information

Coming Up At Northwoods

Wednesday February 24, 2016
7:00 PM        Worship Arts Team Meeting

Thursday February 25, 2016
6:30 PM        Paul Klein & Klay Vage Rehearsal, Service Auction Event:Dinner with a Jew

Friday February 26, 2016
10:00 AM    Northwoods Play Group
5:30 PM        Service Auction Event: Week End Yoga

Saturday February 27, 2016
9:00 AM        Service Auction Event: Robotics

Sunday February 28, 2016
1:00 PM        Committee on Ministry, Music Rehearsal - Ray Cho
1:30 PM        Spiral Scouts
6:00 PM        Sangha and Meditation Group

Tuesday March 1, 2016
5:00 PM        Blue Mountain Meditation
7:00 PM        Folk Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday March 2, 2016
6:30 PM        Paul Klein & Klay Vage Rehearsal
7:00 PM        Ewe Ewe Knitting Ministry

Friday March 4, 2016
10:00 AM    Northwoods Play Group

Saturday March 5, 2016
10:00 AM    Men's Book Group
12:00 PM    Blood Drive

Sunday March 6, 2016
10:30 AM    Sundays at Northwoods
1:00 PM        Lay Ministry/Pastoral Care Team Meeting
6:00 PM        Zen Mind Buddhist

 
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 281-651-4800
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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Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church | 1370 N. Millbend Dr | The Woodlands | TX | 77380