November 2008

Walking With You…
A Message from Interim Minister Martha Munson

    I love Thanksgiving! 

    It's the last major holiday untainted by consumerist excess.  (When I served congregations in Canada, I got 2 of them:  theirs in October and ours in November.  It was lovely!)  I also love the annual budget drive (or pledge, or stewardship campaign).  It provides an opportunity to be thoughtful about the congregation and generous also!  In honor or both of these November events, I offer this by my late colleague, Peter Raible, titled "A Generous Life":

    The job of religion is to build castles in the air; the job of the church is to put foundations under them....  Churches ask members to be generous, not just because programs are always dollar inscribed, but because generosity is good for our lives both practically and spiritually.  In turn, congregants should ask churches to be generous in attitude....  It is always easy to play it safe, to be driven by fiscal statements, and to play cautious with the future.  But such is not the call of the church.  The religious summons is to faith and aspiration, to striving beyond present boundaries, to realistic hope in the future despite all present pessimism, discouragement, and tragedy.  How do we do this?  We practice generosity in our personal lives and we demand that our church, which stands for the best in us, exhibit generosity in its, attitudes, practices, and hopes.                                   

    With my appreciation for your generosity in so many ways,

Martha

Email the minister 

Sunday Services
11 a.m. in the Sanctuary

November 2 - Merrily We Roll Along
-- Service Leaders: Rev. Martha Munson will share the pulpit this morning with Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, OMD-DE.

Every time we turn around, it seems that something in our lives is changing --- changes in politics, changes in the economy, changes in the congregation. Life often seems to resemble a giant roller coaster with no end in sight.  How does all of this fluctuation and change affect us?  How do we learn to cope?  What resources can we call on to help us?  We'll explore these and other shifting / changing / moving questions.

Rev. Joan Van Becelaere is the Ohio-Meadville District Executive.  Before becoming the District Executive last year, she was Vice-President for Student Services at the Iliff School of Theology, Denver CO.  She also has a background in international education and public policy analysis.   

November 9 -  "Of Love, Prizes, and Gems" 
-- Service Leader: Rev. Martha Munson

What might the best religious community look like?

November 16 - "How to Carry a Wound":  "He was cracked," Dame Edith Sitwell said of William Blake, "but it was through the crack that the light came." 
-- Service Leader: Rev. Martha Munson

A service about bringing light to a wounded world.

November 23 -   "Small Boxes, Big Dreams":  A multi-generational service for Thanksgiving.
-- Service Leaders: Rev. Martha Munson & Laura Goist, DRE

November 30 - TBA

Children in the Sunday Service: I've been asked how I feel about young children in the Sunday Service. ...  Some parents, perhaps especially visitors and newcomers, may not be comfortable leaving their child in the nursery.  Or, a child may be having a "clingy" day.  Our nursery and religious education programs for children are excellent;  we hope that families will partake.  But it's the parent's decision.  If parents need or want to have their child upstairs with them for any reason, it's fine with me.  Soft babbling sounds  are most welcome!  Of course more noise may be disturbing to thouse sitting nearby, and some parts of the service may call for more quiet than others.  It's usually best that families with young children sit near the back so that a child can be taken out easily for soothing, should he or she become loudly disruptive.  And if there are questions or concerns about any of this, please let me know.  -- Rev. Martha Munson

Upcoming Events and Announcements
All meetings are at church unless otherwise noted.

Nov. 6:
-- Welcoming CongregationCommittee Meeting - 6:30 PM
-- Social Action Committee Meeting - 7:30 PM

Nov. 8
-- Women's Alliance - 12:30 PM, at Vernon's Restaurant on Rt. 422 near the Estwood Mall.  We will discuss plans for the Thanksgiving Dinner. -- Margaret Haushalter

Nov. 9
--Pledge Kick-off. Bread and Soup Lunch following the service

Nov. 10:
-- Board Meeting -6:30 PM

Nov. 15:
-- Building and Grounds Work Party: Come one, come all. All help is needed for the work party projects. Coffee and donuts are an added bonus. -- Martin Berger

Nov. 19:
-- The Book Discussion Group - 7:30 PM. We will discuss The Man Who Loved China: The Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom by Simon Winchester, author of many best-selling favorites, including The Professor and the Madman .  The book's central character, Joseph Needham, was a freethinking British intellectual who fell in love with a Chinese woman and eventually with China itself.  His extraordinary expeditions to the furthest frontiers of this ancient empire bolstered evidence that the Chinese were responsible for hundreds of humankind's most familiar innovations. -- Jane Knuppel

Small Group Ministry -- SMALL GROUP MINISTRY: groups that meet together for in-depth, facilitated conversation on selected religious/spiritual topics.  They are places to get to know others and to be known by others.  I've heard interest in these groups and would be happy to put some new ones together.   Please let me know of your interest by e-mail, phone, or by signing up in Channing Hall.  Questions?  Let me know that too!  -- Rev. Martha Munson

Tara Dance -- Saturdays, November 8 and December 16 -- 1-3 PM Cost: Students $5, Adults $10 (per session) For more info contact Julie Thomas.

Pledge Drive Kick-off -- “Bridging the Gap”

  The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown is a place for personal – some would say spiritual -- growth. Through the Arts and Lectures program, Farmers' Market and the Social Action Committee, UUYO plays a leadership role in the community.

  In the coming year, we will be searching for a new settled minister, and the theme of this year's pledge drive is “bridging the gap.”

  As valuable as the Rev. Martha Munson is as our interim minister, she is not the person who can bridge the gap. While she can help us, we must build that bridge to the future ourselves as we pursue our vision and our goals – and continue our generous tradition of successful pledge drives.

  Our vision is for the church to continue to build on past successes and continue to grow. Now that we have an elevator, plans are in the works to remodel Channing Hall. Many would like to see us make a stronger commitment to social justice issues in the

Mahoning Valley. And we are following up on our decision to make UUYO a welcoming congregation for the LBGT community.

  The Finance Committee will be distributing pledge cards beginning November 9. Martha promises an inspirational sermon to be followed by a pot luck lunch. We hope everyone will attend church that day, make their pledge and be a part of our bridge to the future.

  A successful transition period can be one of continued growth as we continue to work on the congregation's goals and try to live up to our mission statement. A generous pledge drive is what keeps it all going.

-- Steve Oravecz, Finance Chairman

Gala Potluck Dinner  to Celebrate the Pledge Kick-off  

  On November 9th, following the service, we will enjoy an all Church potluck dinner to begin the Pledge Campaign.  We hope to add some "twists" to this dinner to make it fun for all.  To allow parents of young children to participate more fully, we will have a supervised children's table with games, puzzles, books and art materials.  As always, participation in this activity is voluntary for both the children and parents. 

  Also we will "mix it up" by asking you to sit at tables according to your birthdate and discuss the quotes that you will find on your table.  If you come prepared with your own favorite quote, you stand a good chance of convincing your table mates to discuss it with you.

  To ensure that we don't all bring the same foods -- not bad if we end up with all chocolate, but what if all we get is pasta-- please bring foods according to the first letter of your last name: 

• A through F, please bring salad or side dish           
• G through O, please bring a main dish            
• P through Z, please bring dessert  

  To make it easier on the clean-up crew, we are asking that each family bring their own place settings.  If you forget, you may certainly use Church dishes, but please be responsible for washing, drying and putting away the dishes you use.  It may take a while to begin remembering to do this, but if we all get in the habit, it will make things a lot easier on the organizers, and maybe increase the number of potluck dinners we can have.  

--Marcia Malmer

Member News

One of our new church members, Jennie , is looking for a Friday night babysitter for her little girl. Please call the church office if you're interested. Submitted by Laura Goist

In Our Thoughts and Prayers…..

Melissa Smith is at Park Vista Rehab Center for some physical therapy and rest.  Melissa, we send you our best wishes and hope you are feeling better very soon.

With Joy and Celebration …..

Louise Lefkort was strong enough to return to California for a family wedding and for her winter sojourn.  We will miss her and look forward to her return next summer.  

Jan Clayton and Bonnie Carkido have sent us their new address in NY to share with you. They are doing wonderfully there and love the scenery this time of year. Their address is: 62 Irish Hill Rd., Newfield, NY 14867. Their e-mail addresses are still the same.

Jim Watson, Jim's Janitorial Service, was recently in the hospital with heart problems. Jim is home now and awaiting his doctor's word on surgery. We wish him well.

Do you know of any members or friends who are in need of a card or a call? Please call Jacobs or Pat Reeder, Co-Chairs of the Caring Committee.

Board Meeting Update

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown Board met Sept. 8.

•Secretary (Jan Grigsby) & Treasurer's (Steve Gyomber) reports were approved.

•President's Report- Ed Goist -- New committee chairs were approved. Finance Committee – Steve Oravecz; Sunday Services Committee (co-chairs) - Judy Stone, Hope Lovrinoff-Moran. It was proposed that the church consider being a day sponsor for WYSU this Fall. This was tabled until the next meeting.

•Minister's Report - Rev. Martha Munson -- OMD's Small Church Planning for Growth workshops – this was tabled for the present – due to the large number of participants and time commitment required. Tentative dates for the board retreat were discussed.

•Vice President's Report- Diane Barnes --Review of reports submitted by the Caring Committee, Welcoming Congregation Committee.

•Religious Education Report – Submitted by Laura Goist -- Classes will be consolidated into K-5 & 6th grade – up. There is a dire need for volunteers in the nursery.

Respectfully Submitted by Jan Grigsby, UUYO Board Secretary

RE Happenings

First off, I want to thank Jim Converse, Jan Grigsby and Karen Stangl for volunteering in the nursery this past month. Thanks SO MUCH for stepping up!!

I also want to thank Heather Appley and Audra Carlson for chaperoning the first sleepover for UUYoYo (UU Youth of Youngstown). Their generosity of time and sanity made for a very successful sleepover!

Starting Oct. 26., the Youth will be selling gorgeous UUSC holiday cards during coffee hour as a fundraiser. We hope you'll stop by and support this worthy cause!

Laura Goist, DRE

There are spaces still available
for the following UUYO Talent Auction items!

Please contact the Church office (330-746-3067 or uuyooffice at sbcglobal.net) if you'd like to participate!

WINE APPRECIATION CLASS :

Ed Goist will be conducting his introduction to wine appreciation class and wine tasting as a UUYO Talent Auction item on Saturday, November 8th, from 7:00 PM till about 9:30 PM in Channing Hall.

There are spaces still available, please contact the church office to sign-up!

Entitled 'Wine A to Z', this one-night, two-hour course will cover all of the basics of wine appreciation. Topics covered include:

• The art of winemaking: A discussion of how wine is made.
• A description of the various constituents or basic characteristics of wine.
• A brief history of wine.
• A discussion of the various types of wine.
• discussion of the most important grape varieties used to make wine.
• An outline of the world's major wine growing regions.
• How to approach and evaluate a glass of wine.
• How to read a wine label.
• How to properly serve wine.
• How to properly match wine with food.

In addition to covering the above information, the course also includes a critical tasting of six (6) different wines. Light snacks will be made available.

'Wine A to Z': the Basics of Wine Appreciation. Bid: $30.00 (includes handouts, wine tasting, & snacks)

• Where: Channing Hall, UUYO
• When: Saturday, 8 November 2008 from 7:00 PM till about 9:30 PM.

Ed Goist

BEER APPRECIATION CLASS :

Ed Goist will be conducting his introduction to beer appreciation class and beer tasting as a UUYO Talent Auction item on Saturday, November 15th from 7:00 PM till about 9:30 PM in Channing Hall.

There are spaces still available, please contact the church office to sign-up!

Entitled 'All About Beer', this one-night, two-hour course will cover all of the basics of beer appreciation. Topics covered include:

• The craft of brewing: A discussion of how beer is made.
• A description of the various constituents or basic characteristics of beer.
• A brief history of beer.
• A discussion of the many styles of beer.
• An outline of the world's major brewing nations and the styles that made them famous.
• Proper beer presentation, glassware, handling and storage.
• Beer tasting: palate identification by style.
• How to properly taste and judge beers.
• How to properly match beer with food.

In addition to covering the above information, the course also includes a critical tasting of eight (8) different beers. Light snacks will be made available.

'All About Beer': the Basics of Beer Appreciation. Bid: $30.00 (includes handouts, beer tasting, & snacks)

• Where: Channing Hall, UUYO
• When: Saturday, 15 November 2008 from 7:00 PM till about 9:30 PM

Ed Goist

Equal Exchange Chocolate Bars are Here!

This year's eagerly-awaited Equal Exchange chocolate bars have arrived, and they are going fast! There are two new, wonderful-tasting varieties: Orange Dark Chocolate, with a lovely citrus flavor, and Panama Extra Dark, a full 80% cacao content, but with a smooth, velvety richness. We also have four other favorites: Milk Chocolate with Hazelnut, Dark Chocolate with Almonds, Very Dark Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs. They are 2/$7.00 this year, or $4.00 a piece. All prices have gone up this year, but remember, with Fair Trade products, you know that the small farmers are getting a fair price for their labor and that the farming practices are earth-friendly.

Another new product for the coming cold weather is Spicy Hot Cocoa. Add this organic and fairly traded confection to hot milk for a delicious cocoa with a “kick” of chili and cinnamon, maybe something like the way that the Aztecs and Mayans first drank their “food of the gods.”

Ellen Satre

General Assembly Report

“Facts are so inconvenient.” This simple but intriguing phrase caught my attention right away when I saw it at the exhibit hall at GA this year. The words were on a button, one of many I purchased along with t-shirts and bumper stickers all with important messages designed to make you sit up and notice. Every year I visit this particular vendor and spend a considerable amount of time and money. This particular button about facts got me to thinking about my friend from Tulsa, OK, Martin Lavanhar. I had mentioned in an earlier article how this minister's words moved me. During his sermon he mentioned how people have been given faulty history and religion since the beginning of time. To me misinformation can lead to bad decisions and can do people harm. What makes our denomination different from others is our devotion to reason which means we honor the real facts.

This year the exhibit hall was again full of interesting informational booths about our faith ranging from Humanism to Christian Unitarians. I saw information on gay issues, UU's around the worlds, theological schools, service organizations, Beacon Press publishers and military UU's. The military booth was very interesting to me because of what I learned about the part our faith played during the early part of our nation. It appears that George Washington's chaplain during the revolutionary war, John Murray, was a Unitarian minister. In fact, the total number of UU chaplains numbered sixteen at the time. The Beacon Press exhibit was once again one of the most visited booths. This is our denominations own publishing house and has a reputation for books that embrace subjects that are controversial and timely. This time around I believe I purchased eight books and I wanted to buy more.

This year in the exhibit hall there were two exhibit booths that are not seen every year. These are informational booths for candidates for President of our denomination. Our current president, William Sinkford, has served two terms and was the first black to serve in that office. Mr. Sinkford was very popular and has made efforts to help our congregations grow. What I like about Bill Sinkford is his accessibility. Me and my friend Jack Brizzi has had many personal encounters with him and he makes everyone feel at ease. The two candidates for President are Laurel Hallman, a minister for 21 years at First Unitarian Church in Dallas, TX and Peter Morales from Houston, TX. I paid a visit to both candidates information booths and engaged them both about what they wanted to accomplish if elected. Both candidates have websites and articles in the UU World. If you would like to know more about them before you vote, I urge you all to study their plans.

This convention at Ft. Lauderdale was my third one and I intend on going to Sale Lake City next June. Just as I did in Ft. Worth, TX, and St. Louis, MO. I chronicled our trip with lots of photos. I hope to soon have a poster up in Channing Hall for your viewing pleasure. In closing, I'd like to say how honored I am to represent this church at GA. I'm enriched so much every time I go.

Jim Rogers

P.S. Look for a new church banner soon that I am designing and Jenny Centric will construct. P.S.S. “Kindness is timeless”

Notes from OMD….  

Summer Institute 2009: The Summer Institute Planning Committee is pleased to announce that the 30th annual Summer Institute will be held July 12-18, 2009 at Kenyon College in Gambier, OH. Theme speaker is Thandeka, Senior Research Professor at Meadville Lombard Theological School; President of the Center for Community Values and affiliated minster at the UU Church of Rockford, IL. She is the author of several books, including " Learning to Be White: Race, Money and God in America " and " God in America ". Details will be available throughout the year and registration will open by early May. Plan to join us there now!

Chalice Lighters: Many churches joined in and celebrated OMD Chalice Lighter Sunday on October 19th or scheduled an alternate date. Thank you to everyone who has signed up to be a chalice lighter. For those who are not but would like to be, visit www.ohiomeadville.org and click Chalice Lighter in the left column. You can sign up online, or read about the program at this site. Chalice Lighters commit to pay a minimum of $10 per call up to 4 calls a year to assist congregation in projects that help our congregations grow and thrive. The next call will be sent out November 1, so check your email or the OMD website to read which exciting project has been selected.

Social Change Foci for OMD: Activists, social justice committee chairs, ministers and social agency professionals from around the Ohio-Meadville District met Saturday Oct. 11 to help brainstorm a new way of thinking about fostering effective social change work in the OMD.   The group created a number of suggestions that will now go to the OMD Board this winter for decision and action. The group also came to consensus in highlighting three social change foci or central concerns for the OMD for the immediate future, based on relevance to our region, the ability of the OMD and congregations to address the issues in meaningful ways, and energy already evident around these three foci in our congregations.  The three foci/concerns are:  First Principle Issues (diversity, anti-racism and LGBTQ concerns); Environmental concerns; and Economic Justice concerns (including Health Care Reform).

Watch for more information on the OMD website ( www.ohiomeadville.org ) and in District Doings as a new Social Change approach is finalized later this winter.   

Beth Casebolt

Farewell from your Office Administrator

November 6 will be my last scheduled day as your office administrator. I want to take this opportunity to say good-bye and ask that you welcome your new administrator with great kindness and compassion , just as you did me. Although I wasn't scheduled to leave until May or June, I felt it would be disastrous to have a new administrator and new minister at the same time.

As most of you know, my husband Gary and I moved here from Kentucky. He is finishing his residency program in June and it looks as though we are heading for the hills of Buckhorn, Kentucky; about 9 miles from where he was born. I, on the other hand, grew up in the city right across the river from Cincinnati, OH. So it will be a big difference for me.

I was recently reading an article in an issue of Kentucky Living magazine. The article was entitled Dialect Differences, why eastern Kentuckians talk the way they do and why they shouldn't worry about it, by Dr. Marshall Myers. I would like to share some of the article with you.

“Like most Appalachians, eastern Kentuckians often get kidded about the way they talk. Mostly, the dialect of eastern Kentucky results from one main influence: Scots-Irish English.

Because of religious intolerance, famine and clashes over land rents, the Scots-Irish began migrating to what is now the US during the early 1700's. With the good land taken, they moved westward toward the mountains and hill country of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North & South Carolinas, and on to Tennessee, Georgia and most of Kentucky.

The Scots-Irish in eastern Kentucky were a hardy and hard-working people who somehow scratched a meager living from the hills and hollers of eastern Kentucky. Typically, these settlers built sturdy cabins and made, grew and hunted whatever they needed. Scots-Irish were also patriotic and brave people. But what distinguished them from the rest was the way they talked.

There are other differences between the speech of eastern Kentuckians and people elsewhere, but when you get right down to it, eastern Kentuckians speak a dialect rich in traditional and influence, uniquely reflecting their world. And besides, isn't there enough prejudice in the world without prejudging people by the way they talk?

I'll be traveling back and forth for a few months while we put our house up for sale, but hope to stop in for a Sunday service when I am in town. Anyone wanting to buy an older 2 BR, 1 1/2 BA, fully fenced yard, finished basement w/ mini kitchen, all appliances, brick home on a double lot in Austintown, please let me know.

I'll miss y'all,

Teri Turner

Mahoning Valley Pride Center Has Moved -- The Pride Center has moved from UUYO. Their new address is 1523 Poland Ave., Youngstown, OH 44502. They do not have a phone yet, but you can leave messages at 330-307-9154 or email. The web site is www.mypridecenter.org

There is a sign-up sheet on the office door for those who are interested in volunteering with the mail-out preparation of the newsletter - which is usually done the Thursday after deadline.

Newsletter Editor is Louisa Berger

UUYO Office Hours
Monday thru Thursday
9 AM - 2 PM

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION
1105 Elm St .
Youngstown , OH 44505 330–746-3067
uuyooffice@sbcglobal.net www.uuyo.org

Staff:

Rev. Martha L. Munson, Interim Minister
Laura Goist, Director of Religious Education
Teri Turner, Church Administrator