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Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
www.cedarlane.org
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eNewsletter Volume 5, Issue 31
March 15, 2013
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March 17, 2013, 9 and 11 a.m.
"Connections"
Senior High Youth Group
Worship Associate: Kathleen Reedy
Our youth will be exploring the issue of connected-ness and the ways in which we connect to our spirituality, our relationships and our purpose as a church. We will also celebrate our amazing religious education teachers!
Volunteers for the Service:
Ushers: 9 a.m.: John Gubbings, Jack & Judy Rodgers, Laure Pillette; 11 a.m.: Glenis Bellais, Debbie Goodwin, John Daniel, Mary Beth Nowinski
Coffee Servers: 10 a.m.: Kate Harrison; noon: Glenis Bellais
Audio: Rick Lohmeyer
Board Member at the Office Desk: 10 a.m.: Vicky Strella; noon: Kate Curtis
Welcome Center: 10 a.m.: John Gubbings; noon: Chris Garland
The flowers in the sanctuary are given by Michael Benefiel in celebration of the Final Fellowship for Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur, UU Community Church of Santa Monica, CA. The flowers were arranged by Cathy Knapper.
In the Lounge: Alliance Books ◊ Beacon Books Cart ◊ Congo Kids ◊ Donuts & Bagels ◊ Environmental Task Force ◊ Fair Trade Coffee & Tea ◊ Palestinian olive oil for sale to support peace in the Middle East ◊ Passport to Adventure Auction ◊ Senior Minister Search Committee ◊ Social Justice Council ◊ UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland
This Sunday's Morning Forum:
Naomi Kaminsky, co-founder of
Chevy Chase at Home, will talk about the process of establishing an aging-in-place village.
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This Weekend at Cedar Lane:
TOMORROW! March 16, Welcome Workshop from 10 - 1 p.m.
With the help of ministers Rev. Evan Keely and IDRE Karen Lee Scrivo we will explore the themes of lifelong learning, caring for one another and our UU faith. Lunch will be served. RSVP to Membership Coordinator at
THIS SUNDAY, March 17!
Congregational Conversation in the chapel after both worship services!
Have YOU attended a Congregational Conversation lately? This is an ongoing series of monthly meetings hosted by the Board of Trustees whose goal is to encourage discussion of the governance change process and transitions at Cedar Lane. If you haven't made it to one in the past, or would like an update, please come this Sunday! Conversations are scheduled in the Chapel following both services. If you want to read up on current actions before the meeting or if you can't attend but want to be informed, click on BOT/Governance by Policy http://cedarlane.org/GBP.htm and BOT/Transition Coordinating Committee at http://cedarlane.org/TCC.htm.
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Upcoming Sundays
March 24, 2013, 9 and 11 a.m.
"Who We Are and Who We Want to Be"
The Rev. Evan Keely, Interim Senior Minister
Worship Associate: Lucy Lowenthal
No individual or human group on earth is everything they strive to be. Can we narrow the gap between what we are and what we wish we were?
Forum: Who Stole the American Dream, with author Hedrick Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
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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.
We send our best wishes to the Cedar Lane
Coming of Age class traveling to Boston this next weekend, March 23-25. Eighteen 9th graders and 4 intrepid adults will spend two nights looking at UU sites in the Boston area, and learning more about the roots of liberal religion in the United States.
The CoA class will have their ceremony for participants, families and allies on Saturday, April 20. This year they will also lead worship services on Sunday, April 28, so we look forward to that. Hope they have a great time this week, and the adults enjoy being chaperons!
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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From the Administrator
Sara Deshler
Hurrah! The new locking system and the new telephone system came online in the same week. So much change the staff is reeling but we are happy to say goodbye to our tired, outdated phone system. Now, if we can only figure out how the new ones work....The electronic locking system will automatically lock the Chalice House and lower level doors at 9:30 p.m. and the chapel and front doors at 10 p.m. All doors will unlock at 8 a.m. This means that the Security Team will not have to lock the outer doors in addition to their other duties and may be able to complete their duties at an earlier time of day. We still need volunteers to help with security, so if you are interested in learning more about what is involved please contact Terry Hoffeld, jterrellhoffeld@gmail.com.
Sara Davidson and I have also been working with a web designer on our new website and look forward to being able to share it with you. It is SO COOL! Questions? Contact Sara Deshler, sdeshler@cedarlane.org.
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New Worship Associates Announcement
Please congratulate Cedar Lane's new Worship Associates: Michael Benefiel, Greg Falcigno, Emily Mellgren, and Genevieve Wall. Worship associates work with the ministers and the Worship Committee to plan and present worship services. The program is now a year old, and three of the original team will be rotating off: Brian Belanger, Susan Clark, and Jim Laurenson.
Michael Benefiel is a U.S. Citizenship Test Prep Instructor at the Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity, Volunteer Day-of-Trial Mediator for the District Court of Maryland in Montgomery County, and a mediator doing business in Maryland as a sole practitioner named "Persuasive Information," formerly a career diplomat with State and Commerce Departments, with overseas tours of duty in Stuttgart, Germany, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, New Delhi, India, and Tel Aviv, Israel, negotiating regulatory change and promoting the export of U.S- made goods and services. Worked in both German and Japanese languages, including a memorable though brief time as the late Michael Mansfield's interpreter in Tokyo in the 1980's. Co-parented, with the loving and patient partnership of Elizabeth, three remarkable children born overseas, through a series of transfers, changes, and many challenges to our family life. Active as a former member of the Social Justice Council and Denominational Affairs Committee of Cedar Lane, also attended UUA General Assemblies in Portland, Fort Lauderdale, Salt Lake City, and Charlotte.
Greg Falcigno, a daytime software engineer and weekend do-it-yourselfer, found Cedar Lane in 2006 and joined with his wife Barbara and kids Sarah and Adam. He taught in the Religious Education program for several years, and has done church Rebuilding Together projects locally and in New Orleans. Greg says he is a born Worship Associate, since he's always singing the praises of Cedar Lane pens!
Emily Mellgren has taught Religious Education classes, including Spring B, and has served 4 years on RE Council. She travels every year to New Orleans with the Cedar Lane Rebuilding Together group. She is on the Labyrinth Committee, and is currently a member of the Senior Minister Search Committee--she says it has "truly been an amazing experience which I am thankful to have been a part of." She home schools her two children and plays snare drum in the Macmillan Pipe Band.
Genevieve Wall bumped into Cedar Lane current two years ago, and has been soaring alongside ever since. She is a junior in Richard Montgomery's IB program, and spends her time either outside or doing classical theater or both (often at church!). As the first youth member of the Worship Associates team, she's excited and honored by this opportunity to experience worship from both sides of the podium.
The new associates completed training in February, and will begin their duties in April. Youth associates serve one-year terms, and adult members serve three-year terms.
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International Concerns Coalition
On behalf of the International Concerns Coalition, Annette Scarpitta is proud to announce that $3850 was gratefully received by AMCAV to educate the children of violated women in DR Congo. These funds consist of funds raised for the benefit concert in January ($2503), "Congo Kids" paper jewelry sales ($1126), and Alternative Giving contributions ($330), less bank fees. Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support-and a special shout-out to our 2d session 7th graders, who are learning that our community can make a positive difference in people's lives on the other side of the world. Please remember that this is not the end of the project-sustaining it is critical. To this end, come by our Congo Kids table this Sunday and indulge in some festive jewelry to celebrate the coming of spring. Check out the photos that AMCAV just sent our way: Cedar Lane has made its way into their hearts, and they are grateful not only for the financial support but for our recognition of them as worthy human beings, which they hadn't experienced before.
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Help Make Cedar Lane's
Annual Auction a Success!
Cedar Lane's Passport to Adventure auction is on Saturday, May 4. We need your help to make sure that there are many wonderful items for attendees to bid on. An online donation form is now available. Just click here. Paper forms also are available at the church office.
Wondering what to donate? Consider a dinner in your home, handyman services, gardening, a ride to the doctor or airport, baked goods on demand, a delicious company dinner delivered, or some other item that you think would appeal to our generous bidders.
The deadline for submissions is April 1.
Questions? Just ask the auction chairs, Kate Harrison (301-652-5018) or Kathie Bryant (301-587-4615). Thank you for your support of the 2013 Passport to Adventure Auction.
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CLARITY Sunday Gathering
Sunday, March 24 at 12:15 p.m. in the Chalice House
You are invited to join members of CLARITY and the LGBT Task Force for a potluck lunch followed by an award winning film ("Let's Get Real") and related discussion on the topic of "Bullying in Schools."
We encourage you to bring food or drink to share, potluck style. If you are unable to do so, you are still welcome to come.
About "Let's Get Real"
Name-calling and bullying are at epidemic proportions among youth across the country, and are often the root causes of violence in schools. The "Let's Get Real" film features youth speaking frankly about their varied and often painful experiences related to bullying at school, and helps open dialogue about the underlying prejudice (related to such issues as gender identity, race, national origin, class, religion, and sexual orientation) that is fueling the current bullying epidemic.
"Let's Get Real" gives young people the chance to tell their stories in their own words. The film gives a voice not only to targeted kids, but also to kids who do the bullying to find out why they lash out at their peers and how it makes them feel. The most heartening part of "Let's Get Real" includes stories of kids who have mustered the courage to stand up for themselves or their classmates.
"Let's Get Real" is appropriate for middle and high school students as well as for adults.
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Upcoming Events at Cedar Lane!
SAVE THE DATE
Plans are in progress!
Sunday, May 19 at 4:00 p.m.
Ordination of Nancy Pellegrini
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
Meet the Moderator Candidates for the UUA!
chief governance officer &
highest volunteer position
Jim Key Tamara Payne-Alex
Sunday, April 14, 3 p.m. at Cedar Lane
Reception follows.
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Around the Church
Remember Committee Chairs - the deadline for submissions for the 2012-13 Annual Report is Monday, March 25. Please send to sdavidson@cedarlane.org. If it is helpful, please click here to refer to last year's report.
Notice about submission deadlines:
Please note that the deadlines for submissions are as follows:
eNewsletter: 12 p.m. each Wednesday
Order of Service: 12 p.m. each Thursday
Paper Newsletter: Click here for the schedule. The April paper newsletter deadline is next Wednesday, March 20. Please submit to
sdavidson@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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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, March 17: Senior High Youth Service - Time for All Ages, Teacher Recognition
- Sat-Mon, March 23-25: 9th Grade Boston Trip
- Sun, Ma 31 at 11 a.m.: Multi-generational Easter Service and Egg Hunt, No RE classes
Senior High Youth Lead Service with Teacher Recognition this Sunday!
House Tour in the Courtyard on Sunday
Last Sunday to get bagels & donuts in the lounge to support our youth trip!
Model Church
Easter Sunday
Casting Call
Youth Notes (Grades 7-12)
Young Adults (Ages 18-35)
Adult Programs
Sunday Morning Forum
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Calendar
Please visit the church calendar here. If your group would like to schedule an event, please contact Sara Davidson at sdavidson@cedarlane.org.
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From the Music Director
Dr. Henry Sgrecci
This morning's music is a celebration of love for our teachers and of the achievements and success of those in our Senior High Youth Group. The Youth Bell Choir rings a very unique selection in which clicking two mallets together in rhythm is an integral part of the song, as is the question-and answer-segment that the ringers have with Dr. S at the end of the work. The Festive Jamaican Folk Song, Alle, Alle, Alle, has become a favorite of the Youth Choir and today the Choir invites everyone to join in with the Chorus "Alle, Alle, Alle - luia." The spirituals "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel" and "Dry Bones" are two energizing songs that are paired together to create a very joyful arrangement for our Children's Choir, who will accompany themselves with a battery of percussion instruments.
Special thanks to members of the Children's Choir, Youth Choir, and Youth Handbell Choir who, along with accompanist Susan Easterly and the talented musicians of the Senior High Youth Group, provided a very inspiring and rewarding worship service.
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From the Senior Minister Search Committee
An Update (or, "It Seems Like Only Yesterday...")
REVIEW OF OUR JOURNEY TO DATE
It seems like only yesterday (not eleven months ago) that the search for our new Senior Minister got under way when the congregation approved the creation of the Senior Minister Search Committee at the April 2012 Annual Meeting. Together, the "SMSC" and the Congregation have participated in a fascinating journey to select only the fifth senior minister in Cedar Lane's nearly sixty-year history.
Here's a brief review of the dynamic process that you charged us to undertake:
Early on, we began meeting weekly to organize ourselves, study best practices and get a handle on the exciting but nonetheless daunting responsibility before us. Late last spring at one of our early meetings we met with two members of River Road's senior minister search committee to glean some insights and lessons they learned from their recently completed--and successful--search. In May we invited Jean Smith, the UUA Ministerial Settlement Representative, to speak to the congregation at a Sunday service on the search process and the approach that the UUA recommends to congregations. In June we held a full day committee retreat as recommended by the UUA and facilitated by Meredith Higgins, a leader at All Souls UU in DC.
As summer approached we developed the twenty questions for the Congregational Survey that many of you completed in July, August and September. In late August and September, we held twenty Cottage Meetings to dig deeper into your interests, hopes and concerns concerning the search. Responses to the Survey and the comments recorded at the Cottage meetings informed the Congregational Record that by the end of October we submitted to the UUA for candidates' review. By the end of November, which was the UUA deadline for candidates to submit their resumes or Ministerial Records, over two dozen candidates expressed interest in the position.
In early December we sponsored a Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop. We narrowed the field of candidates to ten for further review and discussion, to include preliminary reference checks. By mid-December we had further refined the list of outstanding candidates to five. We conducted preliminary reference checks and arranged to meet them initially through the magic of the Internet via Skype interviews.
By the end of December we unanimously agreed on three people whom we felt would make an outstanding Senior Minister for us. In January and February, we arranged to meet with these excellent candidates over the course of separate three-day weekends. We asked each of them a series of comprehensive questions and answered their questions about Cedar Lane. We heard them preach at a nearby church. We also interacted with them informally over meals and conversations. We learned a lot about them on behalf of the congregation. It was an in-depth and rigorous process. We expanded our reference checks.
WHERE THE SEARCH STANDS NOW
In summary, we recently completed meeting our top three candidates. We believe they each have the skills, temperament and experience to serve as our next leader and to partner in a collaborative and dynamic ministry with us. On or about March 21st, we will, in accordance with a timetable recommended by the UUA, invite our chosen candidate to meet us during Candidating Week in April. The candidate will preach at each Sunday Service, engage in many hours of sharing who they are and learning about us "up close and personal" (and vice-versa). After the second service on the second Sunday there will be a light lunch followed by the Annual Meeting, at which all eligible members will have a chance to cast their ballots on whether or not to call this final candidate to Cedar Lane to be our new Senior Minister.
Stay tuned!
SMSC members: John Gubbings, Bob Harrison, David Hawver, Emily Mellgren, Ann Meyer, Carolyn Morrissey, Lyn Peters
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Leadership Development and Nominations Committee
The Leadership Development and Nominations Committee is pleased to present the following slate of candidates for the Leadership Development Nominating Committee. The candidates are Betsy Devlin-Foltz (2013-2016) and David Hawver (2013-2016). This slate will be voted on at the annual meeting on April 14 at 12:45 p.m. in the sanctuary.
We are also pleased to present the following slate of candidates for the Board of Trustees. This election will also take place at the Annual Meeting on April 14.
The Candidates for the Board of Trustees are:
- Assistant Secretary (2013-2015): Susannah Vesey
- Assistant Treasurer (2013-2015): Paul Strella
- At Large candidates (2013-2016): Maryann Dillon, Lyn Peters and Michael Thoryn
- At Large candidate to replace unfilled term (2013-2014): John Wing
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Environmental Task Force
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Stewardship Dates for Spring:
Please enter them in your calendar now!
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April 26 - stewardship dinner @ Cedar Lane to begin raising funds for FY14
- May 4 - Annual church auction to supplement the current fiscal year
- May 5 - The auction committee celebrates meeting and exceeding their goal
- May 31 - Pledge drive is over and we enjoy the fact that all members and friends have pledged on time and with great generosity
- June 1 - The Finance Committee begins working frantically on the FY14 budge to have it ready by July 1, 2014 and they are gratified that everything we want will be fully funded.
- July 1 - The new church year begins and for the first time in 6 years, we have exceeded our goals.
- August 1 - We welcome our new Senior Minister and he or she is delighted that Cedar Lane enjoys much generosity from its members and friends.
Giving is a joyous process. It has the potential to help us grow spiritually. Please help us support the good work of this church and its staff and members with your generosity during the pledge drive and at the annual auction.
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Beyond the Church
Cedar Lane's Denominational Affairs Committee matches grant for youth at General Assembly
The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries has scholarships specifically for youth and young adults planning to attend General Assembly (GA).
March 31 is the deadline for the GA Planning Committee's Matching Grant Program and the Youth and Young Adult Scholarship Program. This pays registration costs and up to $250 to send a delegate to GA. CLUUC's Denominational Affairs Committee is pleased to match this grant. Priority is given to congregational leaders, delegates from new congregations, and congregations that have not recently sent delegates. Grants for youth and young adults will pay registration plus up to $500.
March 31: Applications to be volunteers at GA
are due. Adult volunteers are required to work 24 hours over GA. Youth and those who qualify for reduced registration rates are required to work 14 hours. Online applications will be available March 1.
April 30: Applications are due to the UUA's Stewardship and Development group for scholarships from the Davidoff Fund, which subsidizes the attendance at GA of lay leaders who have not been to GA in the past three years.
You are invited to be a delegate to GA'13!
Keynote Address: The Welcome Table!
Rev. Dr. Rob Hardies & Rev. Dr. Susan Newman, All Souls Church, Unitarian
Fri., April 12, 6 p.m. - Sat., April 13, 6 p.m.; University of Delaware, Wilmington DE
Register NOW at www.jpduua.org to be a delegate!
(advise Denominational Affairs drudi.dino@bls.gov or nancyjanssen@verizon.net.)
Click here to learn about some events sponsored by friends of Cedar Lane.
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eNews: Sara Davidson
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church: www.cedarlane.org; 301-493-8300
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