Community Discussion Group
March 17 - "What Kind of Books Do We Read and Why?" Moderator: Jennie Hardy
March 24 - "Effective Communication." Moderator: Jim Faulconer
March 31 - "The Omega 6/3 Ratio." Moderator: Joe Lawrence
*This adult group meets every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Founders room for fellowship and thought-provoking discussions led by member volunteers. For a more detailed listing of topics, please see the Sunday bulletin.
Daytime Book Club Title*
March 20 - The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri
April 24 - Those Who Save Us, by Jenna Blum
May 22 - Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver
*We meet one Wednesday a month, at 10:30 a.m., in the Fellowship Library. We then go out for lunch together. All are welcome!
Evening Book Club
Please join us at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Christopher's Restaurant (2318 Dorothy Ln., Kettering). For more information, contact Ann Snively.
April 9 - Behind the Beautiful Forevers, by Katherine Boo
May 14 - Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter
June 11 - 35 Dumb Things Well-Intentioned People Say, by Maura Cullen
July 9 - The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Diversity, by Michelle Alexander
August 13 - Making Rounds with Oscar, by David Dosa
September 10 - Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver
October 8 - Elsewhere, by Richard Russo
November 12 - The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, by Ayana Mathis
December 10 - Marmee and Louisa, by Eva LaPlante
Humanitarian Giving
During March, the Humanitarian Giving Action Group welcomes non-pledge donations to benefit the Wesley Center.
St. Vincent de Paul lunch
Menu for April 13: Lasagna, green veggies/salad, 100% juice or 2% milk
Please bring all items, heated if applicable, to 120 W. Apple St. (St. Vincent de Paul Hotel in Dayton) by 10:30 a.m. Sign up in the Gathering Space.
Easter Egg Treats Needed
Our youth will be participating in our annual Easter Egg hunt during service on Easter Sunday, March 31. We are in need of donations of individually wrapped candy or small trinkets to put in the Easter eggs. We do NOT need donations of the actual plastic eggs. There is a bin in the Gathering Space for donations. Thank you for helping to make this event a fun, memorable one for our youth!
What Is UUJO and What Does It Offer Fellowship Members Interested in Social Justice?How did UUJO come to be?
Interested members from congregations in the Ohio Meadville District and the Heartland District met in October in Columbus to form the Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio Network -UUJO. MVUUF was represented at this meeting by Amy Russell, Alysoun Taylor-Hall, Bob Lewis and Maureen O'Meara.
What does UUJO offer?
UU Justice Ohio (UUJO) offers social justice activists an exciting new opportunity to unite in an effective network coordinating liberal religious advocacy in our local communities, the state, and beyond. UUJO will facilitate collaboration between our congregations as well as partnerships with other Ohio social justice organizations. UUJO is our social justice statewide network based on our 7 principles.
Who are the members of UUJO?
Congregations across Ohio, both in the current Ohio-Meadville District and the current Heartland Districts are invited to join. 13 Congregations were represented at the founding meeting in Columbus. UUJO will have both congregational and individual members. MVUUF's board has recommended that our congregation join UUJO, but has asked that the Social Action Committee and Social Justice Trustee first provide the opportunity for members of the congregation to express their views on this recommendation before the June Congregational meeting, so that our decision will truly represent a consensus in the congregation. Watch for an announcement in the April Forum regarding this open discussion.
How can an individual join or get information from UUJO?
In the meantime, an individual may join UUJO by completing a form on the UUJO website at http://ohiomeadville.org/uujo at no cost. The website is worth a visit, just to read the information there. Facebook fans can also share in the information exchange on the UUJO Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UUJusticeOhio. Googlers, check out the UUJO google group at https://groups/google/com/forum/#!forum/uujo. UUJO is an invaluable information source for those who want to keep up with social justice issues and opportunities to address them.
It Is Time for The MVUUF Service Auction!
Excitement explodes for Past Patrons & Service Providers! Let's not forget to congratulate all newcomers who get to experience one of the most fun & exciting events at the Fellowship. On April 27th, from 6-9 pm, expect to get your party on! And if you have a brood, tribe, basketball team, or a Mini-me (aka child[ren]): they will have a separate party & service auction item, for which, adults may later bid.
Do you sense the mystery?!
Part of the fun is becoming involved in the auction process. Donate your time: be a chauffeur for an evening. Members who may want to dine, drink, but not drive may bid upon you. Donate your talents: are you an amazing cook or have several restaurants on speed dial? Open your home and host a get-together (maybe for individuals or maybe a group). Who knows, maybe Compassionate Communication members want to test their skills while breaking bread. Or a group of parents may want to get-together and commiserate while one person hosts and another person watch the children. You can offer services as a team. Example my hubby, Tom could give a hour (individual or group) tennis or fitness lesson (worth $85/hr) and I could prepare a picnic outside (former personal chef & food...$150+) and provide access to the club pool (usually, no access to nonmembers).
Can you grocery shop for someone? Drive another person to doctor appointments? Do you like to host parties? Have you ever been on a musical-chairs type dinner experience? Want to show others your talents or teach some of your skills? How are you at massage, metaphysical healing, Tarot or extremely "brief" counseling? 5 minute offerings for donations during the service auction would be awesome. But don't forget...You may find many interesting things/services at the auction that you will want to beat out the competition and win.
I'm looking for ideas, but more importantly I'm looking for members, friends, and even youth to promote our need for community and offer your service before, during, and after the auction.
Various roles include: food planner & prep; advertising/marketing; database assistant; help with set-up/clean-up; scheduler; bartender & liquor-gatherer, etc. We have our Auctioneer, Sir Jamie McQuinn is practicing as we speak! I'm looking for a new member to Co-MC with Scott Leonard. Maybe a DJ for background tunes.
I hope many will step forward with how you can add to our Service Auction. However, I will also speak with everyone and ask your interests. Expect a call or a face-face encounter. I truly expect to make this an amazing event where the fellowship benefits, but we also feel appreciated as individuals. That is one way I plan to contribute and invest in "my" beloved community. I don't get to say it often, but thank you for welcoming my family into yours.
Namaste, Luta, Blessings and Grace!
~Heather Schroeder, 751-3265
Environmental Learning Forum Book Club
Our Environmental Learning Forum Book Club will meet in the Founder's Room at 7:00 pm, Monday March 18, to discuss A SAND COUNTY ALMANAC : AND SKETCHES HERE AND THERE by Aldo Leopold. First published in 1949, A SAND COUNTY ALMANAC is now considered to be a classic work of nature writing on par with Thoreau's WALDEN and Rachel Carson's SILENT SPRING. Leopold's treatise is a combination of natural history and philosophy written over a forty year period as he reflected on the relationship between people and the land they inhabit. Our Environmental Action Group has ordered a few copies from ebay at a discounted price of $10.11 (list price is $11.37) which includes shipping charges. To reserve a copy, contact Gary Courts at [email protected] or 436-1094.