A FEW WORDS FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Lately, a topic on my mind has been the purpose of YRE. Now, you may think, "Well, you are the Director of Religious Education...shouldn't that always be on your mind?" And yes, the question-like a mantra-is always on my mind. But also like a mantra, the answer is personal. As a professional, it's my job to also understand what the purpose of YRE is to our congregation, and specifically to the families who brings their young ones here.
You see, when I ask visitors what brought them through our doors, I usually get some answer like, "We are looking for a place that teaches values in a non-dogmatic way," or "I want my children to learn about different beliefs." Unless the adult I am talking to has a personal experience with UUism, I do not hear "I want my child to grow up to be a Unitarian Universalist." And even those that grew up as UUs or have a relationship with the church would not usually make that statement, because after all, faith is about choice.
And yet, I've been hearing sentiments from congregation members, both with and without children, that express the feelings that our YRE "success rate" may in fact be at least partially determined by how many of our bridged youth become members of our Fellowship, or at least attend our Sunday morning services. That somehow "we" (as a YRE program, congregation, religious movement) have failed if the young adults "we" raised are not filling the proverbial pews on Sunday morning.
Now, I certainly cannot argue that it wouldn't please me to no end to see our bridged youth and teenagers willingly attending Sunday morning services. But my personal answer to this mantra goes far beyond what can be determined by membership or attendance numbers. You see, I view YRE as a world service. I believe that the more young people we can put into the world that know and share our Unitarian Universalist principles, the better the world will be.
What we do in YRE is teach our children to explore the world, gather information, experience things that are different, express their beliefs without apology, adapt and change their beliefs as they see fit. We teach them that being of service, being an advocate, an ally, a friend are paramount to our faith. We teach them to be creative and think outside the box, and commend them for coming up with new ways of doing and seeing things. We teach them to be the change.
So yes, I consider our YRE program to be, in some ways, the ultimate social justice project. It's true, our young people may not all continue attending Sunday morning service or become active members of another UU community when they become adults. Some may find similar communities. Some may explore other faiths or decide they don't need organized religion at all. Some may come back when they have children of their own or have a need for a familiar, safe place. And some may just decide to be part of the force that brings Unitarian Universalism into the future. But regardless, for me, the purpose of YRE will be accomplished if they are able to take what they have learned here and spread it in to the world like seeds that will eventually change the whole landscape.
---Shannon Harper, Director of Religious Education
2015 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN IS HERE!
The 2015 Stewardship Campaign is here, and we need EVERYONE who cares about MVUUF to participate!
First, join us for the Campaign Kick Off Sunday at the March 1 service to learn what we need to do to pave the way for our new settled minister, and enjoy some tasty snacks after the service. Second, sign up for one of the several Stewardship Gatherings hosted at either a member's home or MVUUF during the month of March. Sign up sheets are available in the Gathering Space, or through a Doodle Poll link you will get in an email. Finally, the campaign will wrap up on Sunday, April 12 with a Celebration Sunday event, maybe just in time to learn the name of the Ministerial Search Committee's recommended candidate to become our new settled minister!
Please look for more details in MVUUF's Friday E-Blasts, and during the Sunday announcements.
EXAMINING WHITENESS ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
Often, when Unitarian Universalists become aware of a justice issue, they want to learn more. As we become increasingly aware of disparities in the application of policing and justice, in health and education outcomes, it behooves us to learn more about what white people can do. The Anti-Racism Task Force (ART) recommends we start with understanding who we are first. ART will hold a day-long workshop on Examining Whiteness to accommodate people who may not be able to attend the regular six-week course!
The workshop will take place on Saturday, March 7, 9:00 a.m until 4:00 p.m., at the Fellowship; lunch will be provided.
Please sign up for this workshop in the Gathering Space, or contact Joe Law at: [email protected].
This workshop is recommended for people who identify as white.
DON'T FORGET!
You can keep up-to-date with all the happenings at MVUUF by viewing the Fellowship's calendar online, from a link on our website:
The calendar is updated daily, so it's always the best place to check and see what's going on!
SMART CHOICES
Smart Choices will be having a birthday party lunch on Thursday, March 26. We'll be meeting at 11:30 a.m. in a private room at MCL Cafeteria. Everyone is invited! Please RSVP to Allie Petersen at: [email protected].
FAIR TRADE COFFEE SALES
After service on the first Sunday of the month is the time to order Fair Trade coffee in the Gathering Space, for a triple win: delicious coffee or tea; economic justice and safety for growers and workers; and a commission to support Social Action activities at MVUUF. Orders are available for pick up on the third Sunday of the month...so for this month, that will be Sunday, March 15. You can also place your order at any time with Lynn Buffington at (937) 657-0426 or [email protected].
EVENING BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
The Evening Book Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Christopher's Restaurant (2318 East Dorothy Lane in Kettering) to discuss Bad Paper: Chasing Debt from Wall Street to the Underworld by Jake Halpern. Other upcoming dates and selections are:
April 14---What I've Stolen and What I've Earned, by Sherman Alexie
May 12---How To Be Victorian: A Dawn to Dusk Guide to Victorian Life, by Ruth Goodman
June 9---Fanny Seward: A Life, by Trudy Krisher.
The Evening Book Discussion Group holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of the month, at Christopher's Restaurant on East Dorothy Lane. New participants are welcome! Contact Ann Snively if you would like more information.
THE DAYTIME BOOK CLUB
We meet for discussion one Wednesday morning a month, 10:30 a.m., at the Fellowship. Our upcoming selections are:
Mar. 18---The Wind is Not a River, by Brian Payton
April 15---The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova
May 20---The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel, by Gabrielle Zevin
June 17---The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce
All are welcome to join us!
HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?
We are once again collecting books here at the Fellowship for the huge Book Sale! The group in charge of the sale is the Book Fair Foundation, and the Book Sale will take place on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Benefitting from the sale this year will be the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, the Aullwood Audubon Farm & Center, and the House of Bread.
So tell your family, alert your friends...we are once again a designated drop-off location for the huge book sale. Let the collecting resume!
WHAT IS PLANNED GIVING?
As we age, we may consider what kind of legacy we are leaving behind. Thoughtful people do estate planning, write wills, establish trusts, and provide instructions to their heirs. Through this planning, we make our final statement about what we really value: family, friends, and organizations we cherish.
Here at MVUUF, some people are including our Endowment Fund, which provides some assurance that we will be around for years to come. The funds are carefully invested for the long run, while interest, dividends and capital gains may be used to enhance on-going programs.
"Planned giving" means creating a specific plan for future gifts to benefit our church and other charities important to us. These gifts may be made during lifetime or at death. Many people first consider planned giving when preparing a Will, or along with other estate planning, but planned giving can be made part of our financial plans at any time in our lives. The planned gift allows donors to support charitable work important to them, work that reflects their values and commitments. In addition, donors may receive tax benefits.
For further information, please see our brochure in the literature rack, or consult with one of our Endowment Trustees: Sharon Harmer, or Larry Stone.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUNCH
Please join us in our long-standing 2nd Saturday ministry of serving lunches to homeless and/or low income women and families. Sign-up sheets are on the table by the windows in the Gathering Space. With the cold weather, the numbers continue to be up at St. V's. Thanks to the many who donated food and helped serve in February! If you are thinking of helping but would like more information, please pick up one of the informational half-sheets on the same table where you sign-up. March 14th Menu: lasagna, green salad, fresh fruit or fruit salad, garlic bread, and 100% juice (we will also use stock in the St. Vincent de Paul pantry for milk and bread, but do need garlic butter). We need four to five donations of each item, with each donation serving 15-20. Please bring all items, heated if applicable, to 120 W. Apple Street in Dayton (the St. Vincent de Paul Hotel) by 10:30 a.m. Sign up to serve or donate menu items in the Gathering Space. Feel free to call Lynn Buffington at (937) 657-0426 if you have any questions. Contact Lynn or Shirley Gezinski if you would like to help with menu planning and organizing.
MVUUF'S BREAD RUN
Have you heard about MVUUF's "bread run?" Every Thursday morning, a MVUUF volunteer picks up several boxes of day-old bread and other baked goods from the Dorothy Lane Market located in Springboro. The volunteer transports the goodies to St. Paul's Church and the Wesley Community Center in Dayton, where the food is then distributed to those in need. We always hear there are enough food resources in the world, but people go hungry because of the failings in distribution. The bread run is one way MVUUF does its small part to get food that would otherwise be thrown out to people who need it. Recently, Margaret Michal joined Pete Davis and Lynn Buffington as a regular bread run volunteer. If we had an additional fourth person, it would allow each of us a once-a-month schedule. Feel free to contact Margaret, Pete or Lynn for more information, or if you'd like to ride along some Thursday to see if the bread run is a good fit for you. Much thanks to Gary Courts, a former bread runner, who steps up at times now and then to substitute!
AND SINCE WE'VE MENTIONED BREAD...
Did you know that the House of Bread in Dayton transforms donated "near due date" food into a hot, calorie-dense daily lunch for 150-250 people? It's true! All are welcome to eat with no questions asked, unlike some organizations which require people to attend a religious service prior to a meal. Many clients are homeless, aged, or confused. The House of Bread helps to lift their spirits and gives them hope; they can also get warm clothing, someone to talk to, and bread to eat later. Although you can volunteer any day, Wednesdays have kind of become a UU day! The work day of preparation, serving and cleaning up begins about 10:00 a.m., and ends around 1-2:00 p.m. For more details, contact MVUUF member Mike Fanelli at (937) 433-7672, or visit their website at houseofbread.org. Additionally, this June-August, the House of Bread has been designated to receive our social action portion of the Sunday Offertory, as was approved through voting at January's Congregational Meeting.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
|