UUCNH Newsletter

Last Saturday I attended Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network’s (PIIN) “Holy Ground” rally at Freedom Corner in the Hill District. The event was organized to rally community support for reclaiming local neighborhoods as safe havens, with a particular focus on this day before Mother’s Day of eliminating gun violence. As I listened to those speaking and offering prayer, I found myself becoming irritated. The theology was getting to me.

Several speakers thanked god for making the sun shine on this PIIN event. One even chided god when the sun went behind a cloud for a moment, saying something like, “Don’t make the sun go away, God. I need your light to shine on us right now.”

“It’s so unbearably self-absorbed,” I thought. “How can people actually believe that the weather over Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh has anything to do with what a few people happen to be doing there? How can anyone take this gorgeous day as a sign of some god wanting to demonstrate approval for their personal agenda? What about the devastating cyclone that recently hit Myanmar? If god makes the sun shine on Holy Ground rallies, surely god must also take the credit for that disaster. Do these folks actually believe that Myanmar could have prevented the disaster if only they had held more rallies declaring their nation ‘holy ground’ while affirming their belief in a personal god who uses the weather to communicate approval and disapproval?”

While sitting quietly, trying to hide my irritation and look ministerial in my clerical collar and LOFT t-shirt, I heard more about an all-powerful god that can surely end the violence, the drug dealing, the prostitution, the poverty and despair that plague Hill District neighborhoods. “Maybe that’s why so few people from the Hill District came today,” I thought. “They’re all waiting on god to decide it’s time to resolve these issues, to end the violence and restore holiness. What a horribly disempowering theology!” I exclaimed silently while wondering if my body language was giving me away.

Sometimes, when I hear this kind of theology, I just want to go out and be a UU evangelist. I don’t want to practice “acceptance of one another,” or religious tolerance. I don’t want to engage in interfaith dialogue trying to appreciate another’s faith. I just want to decry the hurtfulness of a theology that makes god responsible for whatever happens to people, good or bad. I want to shout, “No! Don’t you see? Today’s weather has nothing to do with you. People create the violence, not god. We don’t need god’s permission or support to stop it. We just need to come together in ways that will encourage and empower people to choose non-violence as a way of life. We need to help each other find non-violent solutions to our problems, our pain and suffering. We need to help each other choose non-violence as a way of life. It isn’t up to god; it’s up to us!”

Beyond decrying false beliefs, I want to proclaim the truth of a faith tradition that encourages thoughtful reflection and discernment rather than blind faith. I don’t want to argue or attempt to persuade with reason, for I believe that truth is compelling in and of itself. I just want to point to another way of being religious, a way we call Unitarian Universalism. I want to declare our good news!

“Here you can embrace a god of love and compassion that doesn’t take sides, judge or shun anyone,” I might say. “Here you can use your mind, explore your doubts, ask your questions, learn and grow in freedom. Here you’ll find a kind of religious humanism that empowers and invites acceptance of personal responsibility even as it encourages humility. Here you’ll find loving community wholeheartedly supportive of your desire to be true to yourself, to love and to serve.”

Might have been interesting to see what would have happened if I’d offered a more radical prayer at the rally on Saturday. If I’d spoken more like an Old Testament prophet and less like the middle-aged WASP I am. If I’d prayed not that people hear and respond to a heartfelt call to end the violence, but rather that people turn away from false beliefs and idol worship; that hearts and minds open to the good news of Unitarian Universalism and different ways of apprehending the ultimate.

Tis a fantasy I chose not to indulge on Saturday for fear of being judged wildly inappropriate and doing our movement more harm than good. Finding appropriate opportunities to speak out as a UU evangelist, to share our good news with those open to listening isn’t easy. Perhaps that’s because we UUs don’t invest enough effort in creating such opportunities–even though we share a belief that no god is going to do it for us.

Perhaps it’s time we took a different tact. How to save the world? Make our movement’s central mission one of spreading the good news of Unitarian Universalism near and far. Forget about “elevator speeches” trying to answer the question, “What is Unitarian Universalism?” and get busy writing our sound-byte answers to the question, “What compelling good news do we have to share?” Forget about self-consciously trying to grow in size, and get passionate about a heartfelt mission to spread some genuinely helpful truth, to commit ourselves to a post-modern, UU version of Jesus’ “great commission” to “make disciples of all nations.” If we get some compelling, content-rich good news out there, surely the people will come.

I’m interested to know what you’re thinking and feeling at this point, dear reader. So please let me know. Might you be interested in an adult RE program that helped you to articulate your good news, what you have to share as a UU evangelist? How could we move from publicizing or advertising our churches to sharing our faith in truly compelling ways?

I’ll most likely be reflecting on all this during my annual leave this summer. Maybe I’ll turn into a radical UU evangelist in the process!

Carol’s letter of agreement with UUCNH provides for nine weeks of annual leave, half as vacation and half as study leave. This summer Carol will be taking annual leave from June 29 through August 31. Plans for away-time remain in flux. Look for an update on Carol’s summer plans in the July Intercom. Meanwhile, feel invited to email or call Carol at home (412-492-1714) as needed.

On Memorial Day, we remember those who have fought and sacrificed for their country, many paying the ultimate price of death. But every day, each one of us gives our life energy to something or someone. What are you giving your life energy to? What is ultimately worthy of our living and our dying?

Come for a service of celebration featuring participants in our Children & Youth Religious Education Program and our traditional Flower Communion. Bring a flower from yard, field or florist to share in our flower communion. Stay for lunch afterwards and our Annual Meeting (childcare provided).

June 8:

Inside Jobs; all-church Picnic

“Inside Jobs” may seem an odd title for a service on the cusp of summer, but this one isn’t about indoor work. It’s about inside work, which can be done anywhere, anytime. Bring food to share at our traditional end-of-the-church-year picnic following the service. Drinks will be available, and the grill fired up.

What does mathematics have to do with religion? Mary Doubleday will discuss how studying and teaching math has influenced her worldview

June 22:

Spiritual Food For Thought.

UUCNH Book Discussion Group

There are estimates that about 10 million folks are involved in book discussion groups around the US. Why do so many folks want to discuss what they read? Come find out what makes our book discussion group tick! We'll share what we've learned from some of our books.

A sign-up sheet so that you can choose your Sunday to host coffee hour during the upcoming church year has been placed on an easel in Friendship Hall at the doorway near the stairs. Be the first to select your Sunday to contribute to this important part of our church community! Thanks.

By the time you read this there may be a new board president. Depends on how quickly you get and read your Intercom. The Annual Meeting is on June 1 at 12:45 p.m. Hopefully we had a quorum, gave out some much-deserved awards, elected new board members and passed a budget. Shortly after the annual meeting the new board will convene and elect a new president.

Most of the time I have enjoyed serving as president of the board. I have found this to be a real personal growth experience for me. I would urge all of you to consider volunteering as a means of personal growth. I was a real wallflower before I came to UUCNH. I have discovered through serving on committees and then chairing committees that I have some skills in organizing and leading. It’s a very satisfying experience to discover one is capable of this! I like knowing what's really going on at UUCNH and being able to make a difference. I've also discovered through serving as a greeter that I love meeting new people. Everyone has a story; the trick is to find out what it is. We have lots of wonderful folks come through our doors.

As I finish my term on the board I have two pieces of advice for the church. First, we need to be more open about money. It takes a lot of money to run the church. It takes a lot of commitment for the members to pledge. We need more transparency about what is happening with the budget. (I know it's boring and stressful but it's necessary.)

Second, we need to stop playing the blame game. It seems to me that assessing what we did wrong takes up far too much of our energy. Yes, we need to learn from our mistakes. But mainly we need to keep moving forward. Try new things. Stick our neck out. Keep what works. As the hymn says "don't be afraid of some change".

And finally I have tried to do my best for the church. I'm sure it wasn't perfect but that's part of being human. I leave you with one of my favorite quotes.

* The annual meeting of UUCNH will be held at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday June 1. The Board will provide a light lunch. There will be childcare.

This will be our first Goods and Services Auction in 5 years and you won't want to miss a minute of it!

Wouldn't you like to have help organizing your office? Or reconfiguring your electronics set-up? How about a 70-minute Swedish massage -or a Botox treatment? Babysitting, a green housecleaning, a cross country ski lesson and swing dancing for couples - all these services have been already been donated by the multi-talented members of our congregation; we will be gathering many, many more Goods and Services over the next 6 weeks.

The theme for the auction will be "Life's a Beach," so be sure to wear your beach hats and sunglasses. Desserts, snacks and drinks will be available for sale (but BYOB, please) and FREE childcare will be provided.

Doors will open at 6:30 for registration and the Silent Auction; the Live Auction with professional auctioneer Dave Russell will start at 7:30. The goal of this evening is both fundraising and fun raising, so invite your family, friends and neighbors to join us on the 30th.

P.S.: If you would like to donate goods or services - or help out with the auction- contact Mary Doubleday at marydoubleday@comcast.net.

The campsite at the Allegheny National Forest for our annual UUCNH camping trip has been reserved. The dates will be Wednesday, Aug 6 through Sunday, Aug 10. Mark your calendars now for this annual fun-filled event! To get directions and see pictures of the location in 2006 click here. For more information, contact Pam Weaver at pweaverj@earthlink.net

As part of the Barn Warming Celebration, UUCNH created a DVD about the history of our barn and Bellwood Farm. Ben Kepner (our talented young filmmaker) filmed interviews with two locals who resided on the farm as children in the 1930s and 40s, and they tell stories about life on the farm. The DVD also has pictures and historical information from the book "Franklin Park Stories." In case you missed the showing in the History Room at the Barn Warming, you may borrow a copy of the DVD to view at home. For a $12 donation to UUCNH, you can even get your very own copy. For more information or to order, contact Beth Dutton (412) 548-3736.

I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

By popular request, we'll be doing one more session on Verbal Self Defense, concentrating on the conflicts of specific, well known adversaries such as spouses, siblings, and parents & offspring. For grown-ups and older youths. Session will run 1 hour, after the service.

And then PSI will be going on hiatus for the summer. Watch your September Intercom for the new sessions.

Jesus Discussion Group - on hiatus till 3rd week in September when we will continue with the Historical Jesus.

Our June meeting is going to be held on the 2nd Friday at the church. This will be a special planning meeting for the Sunday service that we are going to be doing on June 22. If you would like to be a part of the service please come and join us. For any questions please e-mail Jill Mockenhaupt at jdm331c@msn.com. We look forward to seeing lots of you there.

This will be the fourth session of the “Low Carbon Diet”. Carol Ballance will facilitate. **Please note the change of date and time. **

Tip for the month: Schedule regular maintenance for your heating and air conditioning systems. For an explanation check with the Low Carbon Dieters!

* Call Janine Brobst (724-935-7078) to be sure no one else has offered flowers for that Sunday. Otherwise she will provide them.

* Call the church secretary (412-366-0244) by the preceding Thursday morning so that your name can be printed in the Order of Service. If your flowers are in memory of a loved one or a special event, tell the secretary.

* Flowers may be home-grown, or purchased or wildflowers from nature’s bounty or artificial arrangements. Branches trimmed from blooming shrubs are nice, too. Large vases are available at the church.

* Have your flowers in places before the pianist starts playing the prelude. The prelude starts at 10:55am.

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the Unitarian Universalist Association have joined to launch a humanitarian relief fund to help survivors of the recent Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) cyclone (Cyclone Nargis). Both organizations strive to coordinate strategic response to natural or man-made humanitarian crises, especially when rights are threatened or when those in need are overlooked or neglected by traditional relief approaches. Aid, coordinated through the UUSC, will be channeled to humanitarian relief work in an effort to help survivors - especially those left out of traditional relief strategies - regain their lives and livelihoods.

The White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church of Mahtomedi, Minnesota is one of those sponsoring a refugee family from Myanmar as they start a new life in the United States. The congregation's Minister, Rev. Victoria Safford, wrote: “This past fall, our congregation welcomed five Karen (Burmese Christian) children and their parents to our community. After years in camps in Thailand, they told us of the incredible challenges facing refugees from Myanmar. Now, with tens of thousands dead, injured, and left homeless in the cyclone, that struggle is magnified unspeakably. Our generous gifts are needed now - and urgently. I know, for we have seen it here already, that our compassion will be met with gratitude, and will strengthen the spirits of brave people fighting to survive.”

Please support this relief effort. To donate online go to: http://www.uusc.org/info/support_cyclonenargis.html.

NEW CHALICE LIGHTER CALL TO BENEFIT NEW RIVER UU FELLOWSHIP

The latest Chalice Lighter Call has been announced. New River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Beckley, WV, submitted a Chalice Lighter Grant application to ask for our help to increase their visibility and media outreach into their community. They hope to purchase and install a two-sided wayside pulpit sign with changeable lettering and hire a very part-time media coordinator to write public service announcements, write copy for a variety of media types and liaison with other media, reporters and local organizations. The Resource Development Team and the Ohio- Meadville Board Executive Committee approved this application in April. If you are interested in learning more about this call or donating to this call, please visit the OMD website at www.ohiomeadville.org and click on Chalice Lighters.

OMD UUA TRUSTEE ELECTION PROCESS BEGINS

Our current UUA Trustee, Pat Solomon, will end her second term on the UUA board in June of 2009. The district is now starting the process of finding her replacement. Trustees must be a legal resident and member of a certified church or fellowship in the district. Pat has described the effective District Trustee as someone who meets these qualifications: Someone who has a broad and deep understanding of Unitarian Universalism, with significant experience as a congregational leader, and district or broader UU leadership experience and/or participation. Also knowledge of the district is important---congregations and geography, programs and initiatives, strengths and opportunities, lay and ministerial leadership---as is a track record of effective group work and leadership in a variety of life settings. An understanding and commitment to our association’s anti-racist, anti-oppressions, multicultural journey and future is essential. Some understanding and experience with Policy Governance would be helpful. The election process of a District UUA Trustee is spelled out in our bylaws and requires that interested parties file a statement of intent and a letter of nomination from their congregational president by September 26th. If you are interested in this position, please visit the OMD website at www.ohiomeadville.org and click on "UUA Trustee" or call the district office to learn more.

SUMMER VACATION FUN FOR SINGLE ADULTS

The Adult Midwest UU Singles Enrichment (AMUUSE) sponsors three camps this summer.

1. Saugatuck, MI June 15-20;

2. Williams Bay WI July 13 - 19;

3. Saugatuck MI August 10 - 16

Morning camps offer the opportunity to connect with a small group of campers with similar interests in a weeklong group interacting on various topics. Afternoons are open for a wide range of activities - recreational, social, crafts. Evenings offer a coffeehouse, costume parties, campfires, high energy dangling or hanging out at the informal hospitality area. If this sounds like fun to you, see more details at www.amuuse.org.

The Summer Institute Planning Committee reached a milestone with the posting of the SI 2008 brochure and registration form online at www.ohiomeadville.org and at www.omdsi.org

The brochure will also be e-mailed to more than 200 past attendees of SI who have told us they would accept a brochure online vs. the more expensive and not-so-environmentally-friendly paper brochure sent via snail mail. It's not too late to get the brochure via e-mail. Just drop a note to omdsi2008@gmail.com

Once you open the 2008 Summer Institute brochure, I know you'll be impressed with the variety of workshops, the entertainment options and the quality of our Theme Speaker for 2008 - Meg Barnhouse.

The Planning Committee also listened to your concerns. We're inaugurating The Canteen in 2008, an alcohol-free space where youth and adults can hangout after evening Vespers, drinking cool ice tea or hot java. There will be board games, card games, live music and conversation. The Young Adult dorm will also have alcohol-free rooms available. The small-group ensemble concert has been expanded to a second night, Tie-dyeing will be every afternoon, and the reader's theatre Katrina/Ultreya to benefit the rebuilding of the Unitarian Universalist Church in New Orleans.

There is so much more to experience at Summer Institute 2008 at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, from July 13 to July 19. Just double click on the link to the brochure and read all about it.

UU UNIVERSITY AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2008

Ministry in the Borderlands, theme of this year’s UU University, invites congregational leaders to consider the challenges and rewards of faithful engagement across the borders of religious identity. The Rev. Nick Carter, president of Andover Newton Theological School, is passionate about the possibilities and realistic about the challenges. It is a winning combination.

Keynote speaker, The Rev. Nick Carter is actively engaged in interfaith and inter-religious cooperation for action. He has been reading about us and will begin with the Unitarian Universalist experience, helping us focus on the ways we can bring our particular perspective to the world in ways that can heal religious strife.

This program continues the commitment to relevance and excellence in congregational leadership development. If your congregation is working in the borderlands or considering it, Nick’s stories, ideas and activities will help you develop a good plan of engagement. If you are looking for models to engage the religious and theological diversity within your congregation the lessons will apply equally well.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Pete McQuillin, member of the Allegheny UU Church, is part of Green Burial Pittsburgh, a group of environmentally concerned citizens who have formed a non-profit cemetery association to work with land conservation groups to establish Green Cemeteries in Western Pennsylvania.

“Green burial” or “natural burial” is a burial method that supports the earth's ecosystem by using no toxic chemical embalming fluids or concrete burial vaults. Caskets are made of biodegradable materials. The body is buried relatively close to the surface of the ground (about 24 to 30 inches down), so it nourishes plant growth as it decomposes. Grave markers, if they are used, are either native stones, flat on the ground, or plants such as shrubs or trees.

We can recycle just about anything made of pulp; we just need to separate it properly:

o Corrugated Cardboard (Boxes with hollow walls) should be flattened and placed in the red recycling dumpster in the parking lot.

o Paperboard (cereal boxes, or other materials; usually grey inside or when torn) should be flattened and put in the recycling bins under the Social Action table in Friendship Hall. We have to take these to Construction Junction, so it you travel near them, please take your own materials and consider helping the church by taking one of our bins, too.

o Phonebooks (white, yellow or grey pages) are the bottom of the chain. They must be separated out. Check with your telephone company, take them to Construction Junction, or you can put them in the large, grey trashcan by the overflow parking lot. Check for the labelled container-don't put them in the other bins!

o All Other Paper Materials (office paper, newspaper, magazines, inserts, catalogs, etc. Even shredded paper-but put it in a plastic bag so it doesn't blow around) can go into our PaperRetriever bin in the parking lot. Note: Abitibi sometimes get behind in their pickup schedule, so if ours is overflowing, please take them to another bin at one of the many churches on Rochester Road.

If you still have questions, or want to help, see Chris Hill during coffee hour by email (chill613@comcast.net).

For June: Canned Pasta Dinners

Please don’t forget to contribute to the "Donation Station" for the NORTH HILLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH (NHCO) Food Pantry, now located near the church entrance. The June NHCO request is to bring canned pasta dinners to the church. AND laundry detergent, toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo and bar soap are always needed. Thanks to all who have contributed lately.

Plastic bags needed by North Hills Community Outreach: If you bring your extras to the church, drop them off at the NHCO Donation Station where they can be used to sort food at the food pantry.

· PLEASANT VALLEY MEN'S SHELTER

Dates available now for 2008!

The Pleasant Valley Men’s Shelter has a list of dates available in 2008 for all UUCNH members and friends able to prepare and serve dinners to shelter residents. Please consider planning ahead for one of these dates. If interested, contact Greg Jarold at oldjar@aol.com.

The UUCNH Social Action Committee sponsors our participation in this worthwhile program.

You can help balance the church budget by buying groceries! If you shop at Giant Eagle, Festival or Kuhn’s, consider joining your fellow church members by purchasing gift cards for these stores. For every $100 in groceries you buy using the gift card, the church gets $5. If you are interested in purchasing the cards, please see Jim Noel or John Brobst during coffee hour.

This is your May notice requesting your June submissions for your July Intercom. Got that? Good. Explain it to me, okay? Our next Intercom will be published on June 15, 2007. That will make Wednesday, June 11, 2007 the DEADLINE for the July Intercom. If your material isn’t in by the deadline, it will NOT be included in the next Intercom unless you have contacted me to make arrangements.

If you email your submissions, please do it IN PLAIN TEXT ONLY; please, do not format the article in any way. Submissions may be submitted in the office mailbox in written or diskette form, or emailed (preferred) in plain text to me at WESDFS@nauticom.net.

PS. Website submissions go to the webmaster- that would be Bill@Swidal.com

GLAD TO BE UU