You, Me & Everyone

            Have a great summer!

                        Love, Larry

 

Director of Religious Education

.I am happy to announce I have been appointed the new Director of Religious Education here at First U.U.  I look forward to working with each of you, and will be very interested in hearing your suggestions in weeks and months to come.  Thanks to all of you in the church who knew of my interest in this position and have provided me with much love and support, and future thanks to those of you who will continue to support me and our Second Story Church. I will be in touch soon to discuss volunteer opportunities with many of you.

I have always looked forward to this time of year.  As much as I enjoy the lazy days and freedom of summer, I long for the sense of routine and security the fall brings. The steady pace brought on by attending classes at the University of Detroit-Mercy and working drives me to really move and do my best.  As with any new job, there is some uncertainty in my near future, however it brings a sense of anticipation for the possibilities it brings.  For many years I have expressed how much I believe 1st U.U. and 2nd Story Church have helped to make me the person I am today.  I am so excited to be able to share things I remember with the children now in attendance. This is going to be a great year!

Without any further ado, let’s get it started...September 5 - First Friday - Friends and Families, let’s join together for this event.  There will be something fun for everyone.  I especially would like to invite children upstairs to help design their classrooms for the fall.  We will decide what stays and what goes in each room, arrange furniture, and create special artwork and a wish list. September 7 - First Service of the year.  Remember to bring your water for the inter-generational service.  Children should also bring a picture (that can stay at church) other mementos of summer trips and family life events. 

We will be spending this 1st Sunday upstairs getting to know new friends and old friends better.  See you soon!  Jennifer Teed

Committee News

Development Committee

Garage sales this summer have raised almost $2300.00.  Twice as much as last year, thanks to an earlier start and lots of donations from neighbors, relatives and friends.  We’ve also had a lot of good helpers.  We have lots of like new stuffed animals at $1.00 each; children’s books ranging in price from 25 cents to $1.00.  There are also children’s clothes and baby clothes and possibly an exercise bike.  Please call Margaret Beck at 313-882-7775 to let her know when you are available to help.

 

Social Justice Committee

Action Alert! Urge senators to insist on progressive welfare reform.

With the Senate Finance Committee nearing action on welfare reauthorization, there is an opportunity for advocates to influence the final version of the legislation to extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The committee had planned to vote on its version of the bill during the week of July 21 but postponed action because there were not enough votes for approval by the full Senate. The major issues are childcare funding, work participation, and post secondary education. For more information and recommended action, visit http://www.uusc.org/news/alert072503.html.

 

Women’s Alliance

Gather your treasures, big and small, for the Women’s Alliance Rummage Sale! Anything and everything, as long as it works and is CLEAN, will be welcome.  We will be collecting your “booty” the week of September 15th and the sale will be held on Friday, September 19th and Saturday, September 20th.  A big chunk of change most definitely will be welcomed, so lets all be generous supplying and buying.

LET’S DO IT…Ann Harvey

Just a Friendly Reminder: Our Women’s Alliance September meeting will be Wednesday the 24th, the 4th Wednesday, rather than on the 3rd Wednesday.

September First Friday

The date will be September 5th at 6:30 P.M.  Our food theme will be "Summer's Not Over-Favorite Picnic Goodies". Reservations must be made by Wednesday, September 3rd by either calling the church office at 313-833-9107, calling Irene at 313-838-3348 or e-mailing Irene at the address on the front page of this Newsletter.  Because we base the amount of food we purchase on the number of reservations, if you make a reservation and can’t come, please let Irene know before 9 P.M. on the Thursday before, in this case, the 4th.  If I don’t here from you, we will have to charge you.  The cost for the dinner is $7.00 per person with children 10 years old and under $3.00.  As always, children under the age of 4 eat for free.  We don’t have an entertainment theme so please feel free to bring games (Trivial Pursuit, chess, checkers, cards, etc.) musical instruments or whatever suits your fancy.  Sand and ants may be provided. Also, when you make your reservation, please indicate if you prefer vegetarian.  Thank you.

 

September Birthdays

3.  Lance Halstead, Vern Pickford, Steve Walker

4.  Sally Moir

13. Ron Allen

14.  Joyce Simowski

16.  Art Gabhart, Carter Stevenson

17.  Cheaber Farmer

20.  Edna Koss

23.  Aydin Akcasu

24.  Earnest Wilde

26.  Arlene Teed

29.  Irene Schultz

30.  Maya Thottakath


 

Women's Book Club

"The next meeting of the Women's Book Club will be on Sunday September 7, 2003 from 1-3 p.m. in Memorial Hall.  In honor of Banned Book Week (Sept 21-27) each participant is asked to have read a banned book, any banned book.  You will be given 5-10 minutes to summarize the book, explain why you choose that particular book and explain the circumstance under which the book was banned.   All are welcome.   Our book for October will be The Life of God as Told by Himself by Franco Ferrucci.   November's selection will be The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich."

 

All in the Family

Former member Hal Lawson died recently.  The funeral was in Flint

 

Louise Walter sends regards and hopes everyone is having a nice summer in spite of the thunderstorms

 

Interim Director of Religious Education Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint

The UU Church of Flint is presently seeking applicants for the position of Interim Director of Religious Education.  This is a quarter time position, with a salary of $5280 for ten months, from mid August to mid June.  Job duties include but are not limited to supervision of church school classes on Sunday mornings, teacher support, and regular communications with the congregation, Religious Education teams, parents, volunteers, and the Church Board.  Hours are 9 A.M. – 2 P.M. Sundays, and other hours to be arranged at our mutual convenience.  Interested applicants are invited to submit a resume to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint, 2474 South Ballenger Highway, Flint, MI 48507.  Deadline for application is September 15, 2003.

 

"Singing Our Way to the Light"

Saturday, September 13, 2003, 1:00 – 4:00pm (cost $15)

In this workshop for women we will explore singing as a way to move into another spiritual dimension. We will sing, chant, move, reflect, meditate and experiment with notes that lead us toward wholeness.

Sunday, September 14, 2003, 11:00am

"Dancing Through Life: Wisdom from the Ancient Minoans"

What can we learn from a culture that thrived on the island of Crete 4,000 years ago? UU troubadour Carole Eagleheart made a special pilgrimage to Crete and came back with some surprising insights and wonderful new music.

 

Happenings

Dally in the Alley

First Church will have an information table at the Dally on Saturday, September 6.  Please contact the office to sign up for staffing times or if there is church-related material you would like displayed at the table.

 First Sunday in September

In addition to the traditional Water Ceremony for the first service on September 7, there will be an ice cream social during coffee hour afterwards in McCollester Hall.

 

Retirees and Soon to be Retirees

Mary Lou Malone and I would like to form a socialization group from First UU to meet periodically and do fun things.  Also share information on issues related to retirement.  We envision playing cards regularly, sharing tips on financial and other matters, going out to eat and seeing plays and movies.  No dues necessary and everybody only does the things they like.

Call Mary Lou at 313-837-7952 or Sally Borden at 313-533-1494 to share your ideas and plans and plan our first get together.

 

 

 

 

 

Items from the Internet

Several answers to the age old question -

Why did the chicken cross the road to Baghdad?

 

GEORGE W. BUSH

"We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or it is against us. There is no middle ground here."

COLIN POWELL

"Now at the left of the screen, you clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road."

HANS BLIX

"We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed access to the other side of the road."

SADDAM HUSSEIN

"This was an unprovoked act of rebellion and we were quite justified in dropping 50 tons of nerve gas on it."

BILL CLINTON

“I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What do you mean by chicken? Could you define chicken, please?”

RUSH LIMBAUGH

"I don't know why the chicken crossed the road, but I'll bet it was getting a government grant to cross the road, and I'll bet someone out there is already forming a support group to help chickens with crossing-the-road syndrome. Can you believe this? How much more of this can real Americans take?

JERRY FALWELL

“Because the chicken was gay! Isn't it obvious? Can't you see the plain truth in front of your face? The chicken was going to the "other side." That's why they call it the "other side." The liberal media hides that fact from you.”

ERNEST HEMINGWAY

To die. In the rain. Alone.

DR. SEUSS

“Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed, I've not been told!”

COLONEL SANDERS

“I missed one?”