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Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
www.cedarlane.org
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eNewsletter Volume 5, Issue 22
January 4, 2013
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January 6, 2013, 9 and 11 a.m.
"Resolution"
The Rev. Evan Keely, Interim Senior Minister
Worship Associate: Travis Ploeger
At this time of year, many New Year's resolutions are made. What does it mean for us to think about who we are and who we want to be?
Volunteers for the Service:
Ushers: 9 a.m.: Carol & Terry Ireland, Dianne & Perry Seiffert
11 a.m.: Jane Barton, Rick & Julie Offner, Cedric Powell
Coffee Servers: 10 a.m.: Carol & Terry Ireland
noon: Helen & Bob Pechacek
Audio: Bob Pechacek
Board Member at the Office Desk: 10 a.m.: Ariel Mora; noon: Kate Curtis
Visitors' Center: 10 a.m.: John Gubbings; noon: Maryann Dillon
The flowers in the sanctuary were arranged by Cathy Houston. The flowers in the chapel were arranged by Ellen Thompson.
In the Lounge: Beacon Books Cart ◊ Benefit Concert ◊ Donuts & Bagels ◊ Environmental Task Force ◊ Fair Trade Coffee & Tea ◊ Palestinian olive oil for sale to support peace in the Middle East ◊ Social Justice Council
This Sunday's Morning Forum: How Can Our Veterans Suffering from Visible and Invisible War Wounds Be Helped? with former Army psychiatrist, Dr. Cameron Ritchie.
Don't forget to find Cedar Lane on Facebook! Click here to find us :o)
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Weekly Devotional · January 4, 2013
Now the holidays are over, and we settle into the winter season of cold yet gradually lengthening days.
Culturally, we tend to regard the "holiday season" as beginning with Thanksgiving Day and ending with New Year's Day. I often find myself coming full circle at the end of the holidays and giving thanks yet again.
This year, I am thankful for holiday time with my family. Seeing my children relish their Christmas is a joy.
I am thankful for a job that I love. I'm mindful that 2013 is the year my sojourn at Cedar Lane will end (in June), and I'm grateful for having had this relationship. I'm grateful to be ministering to and with dedicated, caring, creative lay leaders whom I admire and respect endlessly. I'm grateful to be the co-worker of intelligent, thoughtful, gifted, committed staff members who inspire me every day.
I am thankful for a life of faith in a religious tradition that, for all its human shortcomings (for all religions are human constructs) and for all its human dignity, challenges and encourages me to seek the truth, to question, to wonder, to find awe and beauty and joy even in life's unexpected places, to strive toward leaving the world a little better than we found it, and to give thanks.
Prayer
May we be thankful for the gifts of festive times and of every time. Amen.
 P.S. - My family and I are grateful for a delicious loaf that someone in the church gave me for Christmas. Unfortunately,we had trouble reading the tag. If the kind person who left this for me would like to come forward to receive my thanks, I'd appreciate it. Follow Rev. Keely on Twitter @evanvwk. |
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Upcoming Sundays
January 13, 2013, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
"O Clap Your Hands"
The Rev. Evan Keely
Worship Associate: Kathleen Reedy
Applause in the church: an expression of reverent enthusiasm? Or a debasing of the worship experience as if it were mere performance? Questions like this invite broader and deeper questions about what it means for us to be a worshipping community.
Forum: Religion and Politics in the Islamic World with Dr. Max Gross.
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We Care
We Care is a network for short-term pastoral needs, led by lay volunteers. Examples are food delivery, a ride to a doctor, or listening during a difficult time. Cedar Lane is organized by geographic neighborhoods, with chairpersons who coordinate support. Neighborhood numbers are listed on name tags, and shown on a map in the church office. Contact the church to determine chairs in your region.
The memorial service for Zach Turner will be Sunday, January 6, at 4 p.m., officiated by Rev. Evan Keely. Our hearts are with parents Anne and Jim (Neighborhood 31), and sister Abby, as they mourn this unexpected loss on December 24. Children's Chapel on Sunday will honor Zach, and a pamphlet for families on children and grief is available from Karen Lee Scrivo.
We hold Penny Douglas (N8) in our thoughts and prayers, as she grieves the loss of husband Bruce on December 31. A memorial service will be held at Cedar Lane on January 26 at 2 p.m.
Stew Grubman's father has died, and the family is traveling this week to attend services. Our condolences to Stew, Cathy, Julia and David (N8) for the loss of parent and grandfather during this holiday season. Wanda Van Goor (N2) continues to recover from surgery at Wheaton Manor Care. This week she is being treated for infection, and staying stable. Cards are appreciated, and daughter Holly will bring them if mailed to Wanda's home address. 
If you learn of a congregant in need, please do offer assistance, asking how you might support the situation. If the person would like church response, or you have a concern to share, please contact Louise Green, lgreen@cedarlane.org, Sabbatical Minister for Pastoral Care. You may also contact Evan Keely or Karen Lee Scrivo, as all members of the ministerial team offer pastoral support to the congregation. |
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Around the Church
The Board of Trustees is hosting the January Community Lunch this Sunday!
Members and visitors are cordially invited to join us this Sunday, Jan. 6, in the Chalice House beginning at 12:15 p.m. following the second service. We hope you'll join us for warm New Year's hospitality, a delicious soup and salad buffet, and to make new connections, renew old ties, and share what's happening within our community. No RSVP required.
During the second week of each month many Cedar Lane members contribute food to Martha's Table, an inner city organization that helps at-risk children, youth, families and individuals improve their lives by providing food, clothing, and educational programs. If you would like to volunteer to make a monthly food donation to Martha's Table, please see Karen Lerner at (or near) the Social Justice Council's table in the lounge after each service this Sun, Jan. 6.
Please join us for our annual Silent Retreat from 7:00 PM Friday, January 12 to 6:00 PM Saturday, January 13, 2013. The Silent Retreat provides extended time for reflection and walking the labyrinth. You are welcome to spend the night at the church or at your home Friday night. Please call Cedar Lane to register at 301-493-8300 or Carol Edwards at cs.edwards@verizon.net for details. The cost for Cedar Lane members is $15 and $20 for non-members.
Play Area in Lounge during Coffee Hour!
So that our families with young children can more easily enjoy the coffee hour after the service we've added a play area in the Lounge with a few toys. The target age group is pre-school but older children are welcome too as long as they play gently. All children will need to be supervised by their parents. Any questions or suggestions? Contact Membership Coordinator, Allison Cox, at membership@cedarlane.org.
Don't forget to check out Cedar Lane! Find us on...
If you would like your event posted on Cedar Lane's social media, please email
socialmedia@cedarlane.org.
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Beyond the Church
UULM-MD Celebration of Question 4 & 6 Victories and Organizing for the 2013 Legislative Session
Saturday, January 12, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Join UUs from across Maryland, elected officials and advocates as we celebrate the November 6 victories on marriage equality and the DREAM Act, discuss how UUs can become more effective advocates and learn more about UULM-MD priority issues for 2013. Go to www.uulmmd.org, contact info@uulmmd.org, or call 410-266-8044, ext. 111 for registration information.
Click here to learn about some events sponsored by friends of Cedar Lane.
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Religious Education for All Ages
Karen Lee Scrivo, Interim Director of RE
Vanessa Steck, Senior High Youth Coordinator
Gale Ginther Luce & Jeannette Wilson, Administrators
For information and to register for classes and programs call 301-493-8300 x207 or e-mail
Upcoming Calendar:
- Sun, Jan 6: RE Classes Resume; Smart Sacks; Youth Groups Ski Trip Registration deadline
- F-Sun, Jan 11/13: Youth Group Ski Trip
- Sun, Jan 20: Time for All Ages; MLK weekend
- Sun, Jan 27: Teacher Renewal
Holiday Craft Day Plates are IN!
Guest at Your Table
7th Grade Toiletry Drive
Youth Notes (Grades 7-12)
Young Adults (Ages 18-35)
Adult Programs (AP): Spring 2013 Brochure is coming later this month!
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Calendar
Please visit the church calendar here.
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From the Music Director
Dr. Henry Sgrecci
This Sunday's music celebrates the coming of the New Year and its prospects for hope, peace, and good cheer. Thomas Guthrie's organ prelude is a delightful set of miniatures based upon our opening hymn, "May Nothing Evil Cross This Door." The Swahili Folk Song, Bwana Awabariki, is a light, bright a capella prayer, "May God grant you a blessing evermore" in which we add our own concerns. Composer John Kramer is Director of Music for the Unitarian Society of Winchester, Massachusetts. His a capella song, The Work of Christmas, captures the essence of Howard Thurman's text from our hymnal, and reminds us that after all the carols have been sung, after the story of the Christ child has been told, after the pageantry is over and the decorations have been put away - that is the time when the work of aiding those in need and enabling those who cannot stand by themselves really begins. Peter Warlock was the pseudonym of Welsh born composer Philip Heseltine who was active as a composer and music critic during the first third of the 20th century. He had taken the pseudonym in order to create music that reflected the musical style and period text of the sixteenth century. He composed his rather boisterous carol, What Cheer? Good Cheer, in 1927 as a present to a wealthy uncle, in hopes of a receiving a financial gift. (Much to his chagrin the only recognition he received from the relative was a letter of thanks).
The Benefit Concert is coming on Saturday evening, Jan. 19, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. A night of wonderful music and good friends to benefit AMCAV! Be sure to stop by the display in the lounge on Sunday to learn more.
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Environmental Task Force
Green Tip of the Month (from Nancy Floreen's monthly enewsletter):
You can recycle your Christmas tree by placing the entire tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on your recycling collection day. Just keep your tree in its natural state and remember to remove the stand and all decorations, including lights, ornaments, tinsel and garlands. There should be nothing attached to the tree. Do not place your tree in a plastic bag. Trees with root balls are considered "live" and therefore cannot be collected as part of this recycling program. In addition, artificial trees cannot be collected as part of the recycling program. Wreaths, garlands and roping made from evergreen trees are typically bound together with wire and cannot be recycled unless the wire is removed from the greens. If there is no wiring attached, place the greens in paper bags or in reusable containers or bundled as yard trim and place them at the curb for collection on recycling day. You can also recycle branches and needles at home by placing them under outdoor trees and shrubs as temporary winter mulch, or you can chop them up and add them to a backyard compost pile or compost bin.
Holiday Light Recycling
MOM's is hosting a Holiday Light Recycling Drive through January 31, 2012. Bring old
decorative lights to MOM's to be recycled and receive a coupon for 30% off energy efficient LED holiday lights. More.
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From the Senior Minister Search Committee: "We've Gone Dark!"
How is your Holiday Season shaping up? In the most positive sense, we members of the Senior Minister Search Committee are having an exciting time!
We've had an outstanding response from ministerial applicants in response to the announcement of our senior minister vacancy. Despite the brightness of the Holiday Season, you won't be hearing much from us over the next several weeks. We're on a tight timetable, so we'll be "going dark" for a while as we do the work entrusted to us. We're now in the process of assessing ministerial packets from all candidates and narrowing the field by checking references, conducting phone interviews, and setting up off-site visits with top candidates in January and February. Our goal: by mid-March to identify the candidate to be presented to you during Candidating Week at Cedar Lane, April 7 - 14, 2013.
Thank you again. We are humbled and inspired by your support and encouragement. We couldn't do it without you!
SMSC members: John Gubbings, Bob Harrison, David Hawver, Emily Mellgren, Ann Meyer, Carolyn Morrissey, & Lyn Peters
We also encourage all the check out the final 2012 SMSC Congregational Survey results. Click here to view!
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eNews: Sara Davidson
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church: www.cedarlane.org; 301-493-8300
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