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First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit4605 Cass AvenueDetroit, MI 48201Phone 313-833-9107Fax 313-833-0127November 7, 2004 |
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First Unitarian Universalist Church
Organizational Chart 2003 - 2004 Officers Moderator Colleen Dolan-Greene Vice Moderator & Strategic Planning Jim Harvey Immediate Past Moderator Lynda Smith Board Secretary Kathe Stevens Treasurer Bob Lauer Staff Interim Minister Rev. David B. Park Minister Emeritus Rev. Larry Hutchison Director of Religious Education Jennifer Teed Music Director Todd Ballou Choir Director Lyle Brown Church Secretary Wendi Winston Building and Grounds Joe Brimmer Trustees Charlotte Allen Mark Bendure Linda Darga Carolyn Ludwig Kathleen Rock Irene Schultz Dan Secrest Ruth Seifert Dan Wiest Newsletter Irene Schultz |
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Newsletter Deadline The next deadline is Sunday, November 21, 2004, no later than 12:30 P.M. Newsletter Articles Please leave legible contributions in the Newsletter box located outside the church office. Please include your name and a contact number should there be any questions.Articles may also be emailed to me, by the deadline date and time, at ieschultz1945@yahoo.com If you email items, please specify they are for the Newsletter. Please do not write articles on little pieces of paper or contribution envelopes, the ones that don't get lost are very hard to read. |
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From the Interim Minister
Happy greetings to all!
Note: The following comments are personal and not intended to represent the views of the First UU Church of Detroit or any individual member thereof.
It is hard to lose an election in which one has invested so much energy, passion, and expectancy. I was confident that John Kerry would defeat George W. Bush. I was wrong.
For me, this election was a no-brainer. A former managing partner of a professional baseball team, whose academic credentials were slender at best, and whose record of professional achievement is wholly lacking in distinction by any standard, after four disastrous years in the White House, was asking for four more years. His opponent was an experienced member of the United States Senate from Massachusetts, our most liberal state. In spite of Mr. Kerry's inability to articulate a clear direction for his candidacy or for the country under his stewardship, the challenger was overwhelmingly superior to the incumbent in intelligence, critical judgment, and global vision. The presidential debates made clear the difference between the two men. The president repeated himself shamelessly, a clear evidence of intellectual bankruptcy. The senator displayed outstanding analytical ability and imaginative power. Mr. Kerry won the debates but lost the election. Mr. Bush lost the argument between them but was rewarded with a second term.
When I look for causes, I see before me the television set, the decline of reading in the United States, and a massive cultural divide. A half-century of television has turned the minds of the American people into mush. News is out, entertainment is in. Truth is out, propaganda is in. Character is out, "star"-power is in. Ethics is out, poll-taking and focus groups are in. People no longer struggle with issues and think things through for themselves. People support policies and programs and candidates that are diametrically opposed to their own best interest, as witness the administration's tax cuts for the wealthy, the administration's condoning of torture at Abu Ghraib, and the Vice President's defense of the Iraq War as "brilliant." Millions of American children watch television for four, six, or eight hours each day. For many, the remainder of their waking hours are spent playing video games. Are we raising up a generation of intellectual, ethical, and spiritual robots for whom, in the spirit of Abu Ghraib, violence is the best antidote to boredom?
The decline of reading is an ominous fact. To read a book, an article, a commission report is to engage the world within the disciplined compass of an author's informed perspective. We learn from the author, but we challenge the author also, line by line, paragraph by paragraph, page by page. When we have finished, our mind is sharpened, our understanding is deepened, our horizon is broadened. We know something! A professor at the University of Chicago, speaking of the intellectual ferment that characterizes a modern research university, writes, "You are only as good as your next idea." Tell me about it.
The cultural divide is between those for whom evidence precedes conviction and those for whom conviction precedes evidence. The administration is playing with fire by mobilizing evangelical Christian ministers and congregations in support of the re-election of Republican candidates. The wall of separation of church and state was established to protect individual citizens from the tyranny of a state church. Those who speak of the United States of America as a "Christian nation" need to read Thomas Jefferson's Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom (1786) in which he sketches the horrors of state-mandated religious faith. President George W. Bush is very sure of himself. On this issue he would do well to heed the words of Oliver Cromwell: "By the bowels of Christ I invite you to consider the possibility that you may be mistaken."
All of us embrace the disciplines of liberty, including submission to the will of the people expressed in quadrennial elections. George W. Bush is the president for four more years.
But I put the president on notice. My critique of his public leadership, spelled out in a series of sermons preached to my congregations during the past two years, is not effaced by his re-election. If anything my critique is sharpened and emboldened by his re-election. As a citizen, a voter, a Unitarian Universalist, I will continue to speak my mind and to call the president to account. The one citizen he must satisfy as to the adequacy, the intellectual integrity, and the ethical efficacy of his priorities and policies is David Parke. The election is over. The Republic stands firm. The Constitution is the law of the land. The beat goes on. Stay the course...David.
Dear Members and Friends of the First UU Church of Detroit;
This is an important transitional year for our Church. As you know we are going through a strategic planning process and the three task forces continue to meet. If you want to learn more about them you can ask Dan Secrest about Building and Finance, or Dan Wiest about Growth and Outreach, or Irene Schultz about Worship and Ministry. In addition, Dan Secrest has created an opportunity for us to discuss issues of concern to First UU Church in an electronic forum. You can follow the link here or bring up the church web page and click on the forum link there.
You may not be aware that this transitional year is having an impact on the Church financially. My intention with this message is to make you aware of that impact and to ask each of you to help us solve it. For whatever reason, the expected regular contributions to the Church are down over
16% from where we expected them to be by this time of the year. In addition, we will not be receiving the $10,000 Veatch grant this year that we have received the past two years and was expected and built into the budget. On the expense side, our property insurance has increased from the budgeted amount of $18,000 to $22,000--double what it was just over one year ago. We are exploring other insurance alternatives.
The First UU Church Trust has agreed to make a loan to the Church to bridge the cash flow problem created by reduced contributions, increased insurance expenses and the loss of the Veatch grant. However, it would be much better if our own members' and friends' contributions were supporting the Church and its programs. It would be better if the principle of the Trust was not being even temporarily drained by the need to assist with cash flow problems.
Therefore, I am asking each of us to consider how you can help on the income side of the budget by answering the following questions:
* Have you met David Parke's personal pledge and challenge of giving 5% of his annual compensation to First UU Church?
* Have you made your pledge for this Church year?
* If you have made a pledge, have you paid 4/12 (four months--July, August, September and October) or 1/3 of the annual pledge as of the end of October?
* If you have chosen not to make an annual pledge--and a number of our regular members and friends have philosophical or personal reason why they don't pledge--are you still contributing regularly?
Please let me know if you have questions about any of this, or other ideas for growing our income or reducing our expenses.
Sincerely,
Colleen Dolan-Greene
Moderator 2003-2005
In Memoriam
It is with deep sorrow that we report the death of Debi Rutherford. Debi died on November 6, 2004. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, November 20, at 11:00am at the church. Gary also wants to have a traditional burial and funeral. Arrangements for that are being made through Perry Funeral Home located on Trumbull in Detroit. Debi will be greatly missed.
Computer Needed
Contact
Len Zettel (313) 277-3711 if you can help us out.
The next meeting of the Women's Book Club will be on Sunday December 5, 2004 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM in Memorial Hall. We will be discussing children's books. Each participant is asked to have read a children's book, any children's book. This can be one you read as a child or one you have always wanted to read. You will be given 5-10 minutes to summarize the book, and to explain why you choose that particular book. There will also be a book exchange.
All are welcome. Contact Maria Majer for more information"
Choir
Our choir is open to all who enjoy singing and being with some really nice people. Rehearsals are in Memorial Hall, unless otherwise noted, and begin at 9:30 A.M. The schedule follows:
November - 21 with performance
November 28 - off
December 5, 12, 19 with performances on the 19th and 24th (Christmas Eve)
December 26 - off
January 2, 2005 - off
January 9, 16, 23 with performance on 23rd
January 30 - off
Noel Night
Noel Night is rapidly approaching, December 4th this year, so we are looking for cookie makers, cider spicers, entertainers and vendors. If you are interested in the vendor part of it, give Irene a call at 313-838-3348 for more information. If you would like to help with the cookies and cider, see Ruth Siefert during coffee hour.
Thank You Volunteers...
Thank you to Jonathan Schultz, Irene Schultz, Hillard Williams, Dan Kosmowski, and Carol Bendure for helping direct visitors and watch over security at the Monday, October 25th visit of Ralph Nader to our church. The volunteers were keeping watch from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. that night. It is important no matter who is renting space for an event or where in the building an event is held that when our building is open to hundreds of visitors, church members must be present! Not only does it allow us to warmly welcome potential new members but also we have members to keep an eye on our precious building when several exterior doors are open. Also thank you to Building & Grounds volunteers for watching over our building on Election Day. The precinct workers reported over 3,000 people walked through the ramp door! The first precinct workers arrived at 5:30 am and did not leave until 10:30 p.m.!
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Congratulations to First Friday attendees. Every attendee made a reservation and everyone who made a reservation attended. The cooks spent $88.00 and had 13 reservations at $7 each meaning we took in $91 making a $3 profit. In the 2003-04 season First Friday had a $124.25 cost overrun. This year we hope to develop a small contingency fund. Many thanks to Dan Wiest for dish washing and the wonderful movies he brings in. December First Friday will be December 3rd, the night before Noel Night. We will be decorating the church house and Sanctuary after dinner. Please make reservations by December 1st.
First Friday cooks, Irene
Schultz and Margaret Wilkie
Welcome New Members
We are pleased to announce that five persons have signed the First UU Membership book this fall. Dan and Kathy Fitzgerald previously attended the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing. Married for 1½ years, they reside in Warren with their two cats. Kathy has a B.A in History, while Dan has a B.A. in communications. Both were recently laid off from their jobs at EDS and are becoming involved with many church activities as they both seek new employment. Lenise Whitman has been attending First Church since she moved here from Chicago a little over a year ago. A graduate of North Park University Seminary in Chicago, she was also very active in community affairs there. Lenise lives in Inkster and is currently substitute teaching in the Romulus School District while she pursues her Masters degree. You have seen Erin Knowles singing in the choir since September. She will complete her Master’s program this fall and hopes to become more active in church in the new year. Erin lives in Wyandotte. Rick Jones is a native Detroiter and is currently a student at Wayne State and works at Goodwill as coordinator. Rick is eager to complete his classes to get a degree in Economics and Information Systems. This is the beginning of his senior year which should be completed by December, 2006. Other new members will be featured in the next Newsletter. They will be officially welcomed into our congregation at the November 21st service. If you have not signed the membership book and would like to, see Rev. Parke or Moderator Colleen Dolan-Greene or stop by the Visitors Table any Sunday during coffee hour.
Attention Lay Leaders
Will you help the Worship Committee
complete its 2004-2005 Sunday Service Schedule by signing up today to serve on
the Sunday (or Sundays) of your choice? The sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin
board next to the memorial flowers sign up sheet. Charlotte Allen is coordinating
lay leaders' activities. If you have any questions or want a little coaching -
see Charlotte or Rev. Parke. Thank you
Thanksgiving Day Potluck Dinner
November 25, 2004 at 2:00 P.M.
To reserve a place and tell us the dish you are contributing, please call Jan Thompson at 313-534-4794 or Linda Darga at 313-833-3197. Help us make this tradition another success.
Worship - the Good News
Gwendolyn Winston
In discussing worship on the Sundays that Rev. Parke is not delivering the message-preaching-vernaculars for the morning sermon, we decided to play each of these services to respond to the theme "Change and Transformation". David, Jon & Irene Schultz, Joe Samples, Nora Holt, Cindy Hill, Jan Thompson, Sumarah Smith, Jennifer Teed, Arlene Teed, Robert Teed, Charlene Evans and Charlotte Allen have been contributing at our worship planning sessions. And, we can get passionate about worship. It is fun. We meet face to face, by email, casually and intentionally once a month, first Saturday, 10:30 - noon in Memorial Hall. Join us whenever you feel like it - bring refreshments! We love surprises!! There is always a space for your ideas, creativity, spirit and love. The next meeting will be Saturday, December 5. For more information call me at 313-832-2928.
Online Forum.
Thanks to Dan Secrest, Detroit First UUers have their very own online forum in which to discuss matters that interest them. To participate, go the church web site and click on the link "Detroit UU Forum".
Learn about Leadership
Barbara Stevenson is serving on the Heartland District Leadership committee. We are in need of your ideas for future training sessions. Next years Fall Institute will be in Grand Rapids. What workshops would you attend? Look for a brief survey soon.
Heartland UU District Spring Conference and Annual Meeting
Mildred Robinson and I are co-chairing the Heartland UU District Association 2005 Spring conference and Annual Meeting. It will be April 8 - 10 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Consider organizing a bus trip to Cincinnati, planning tours like the Underground Railroad Museum for the family and for those who want to do some of that and the conference. The conference is a fun spirit event. A Banner Parade and Worship Service opens the weekend. There are 54 member churches in the district. Imagine the beauty of 54 Unitarian Universalist church banners. There will be three worship services, an awards luncheon, and an opening reception to recognize 2004-2005 Delegates and Lay Leaders Training and Midwest Leadership School graduates. Our theme is, “Gather In Spirit”. We plan to gather a combined choir, consultants who will spend time with church teams to help with the thinking you may be doing around change, delegates, youth and young adults, lay leaders, ministers, religious education directors, governing board members, committee members, volunteers, colleagues, family and friends. Presidents and Moderators will dialogue with district and national board members and staff. Kay Montgomery, Vice President, Unitarian Universalist Association, will be our keynote speaker. Artists and justice will be featured in exhibition. The Cincinnati UU Council is our local committee. Save the date. Can we count on First UU to be among those who gather on April 8 - 10, 2005 in the spirit of Unitarian Universalism? We sure hope so. If you would like to be involved, call Gwen Winston or Mildred.
With thanks to Winston Churchill
And Barbara Stevenson
"If you keep doing what you've always done, you will keep getting what you've always gotten".
Garage Sales
Thanks to my neighbor, Cheryl DeLaura and my niece, Nicole Ludwig, we made $90.00 for our budget plus a printer for church. They invited me to help with their garage sales and bring over some items to sell. Thanks, also, to Cheryl and family for giving us the items that did not sell.
Entertainment Books are for sale at coffee hour for $20.00. They sell for $25.00 elsewhere. Thanks to members and friends we made $224.00 for the church. I still have 5 books left and can get more if needed.
Items will be for sale Christmas soon during coffee hour. Margaret Beck
Thank You
From Sumarah Smith... Heartfelt thanks to each and every person who sent words of comfort, called or prayed for my family and me after my mother passed away in September. I felt every good thought and uplifting prayer that was said on our behalf. It has made it easier to grieve fully and freely, knowing I have First Church embracing me with each tear.
From Paula and Felix Sirls... Thanks to all of you for your prayers, kind words and overwhelming love and affection you continue to give to my husband and me. May God bless all of you. Peace
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