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First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit4605 Cass AvenueDetroit, MI 48201Phone 313-833-9107Fax 313-833-0127February 20, 2005 |
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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, March 6, 2005, 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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Rev. Parke is out of town recuperating from a fall.

It is with deep sadness that we report the
death of long-time member James Berry. Jim, along with wife
Janice, contributed many hours of their time to First Church
benefiting us all. There will be a memorial service for Jim
on Sunday, March 6th at 3:00 P.M. at First Unitarian
Universalist Church of Detroit. Jim will be greatly
missed.
First UU Church Needs
YOU to be Secretary for the First UU Church Board of
Trustees. If you have, at the very least, minimal word
processing skills along with an interest in volunteering
only one night a month to attend Board meetings, take
notes and prepare minutes of the meeting, Jim Harvey, Vice-
Moderator, is awaiting your call.
Women’s Alliance
All are invited to noon luncheon in Memorial Hall with the Women’s Alliance, March 16. Please make reservations by noon on Monday, March 14 by phoning the church office at 313-833-9107 or Eiko Takemoto at 313-869-6389. The cost of the meal is $6.00. The program following the luncheon will be a musical video, “The Original Three Mo` Tenors”, with afterglow.
HI
I’ve bought a fantastic video that I think will provide a wonderful opportunity for us to get together and view. How about meeting me for lunch Wednesday, March 16 at noon? The Women’s Alliance will be having a luncheon of hot, nutritious food that we can share for $6.00. After the luncheon (1:00 P.M.), I will show the video of the original “Three Mo` Tenors”. I’ve prepared a cool repast for us - wine and grapes. The Women’s Alliance has offered cheese and crackers to keep us sober. Make your reservations early so I will know how many to prepare food for. We’re looking forward to seeing you. Love, Mildred Robinson
(See Women’s Alliance notice for phone numbers to make reservations to).
Women’s Book
Club
The next meeting of the Women's Book Club will be on Sunday March 6, 2005from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM in Memorial Hall. We will be discussing “The Close” for March. Our April selection will be The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith by Irshad Manji. Please contact Maria Majer for additional information. All are welcome.
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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:
March 6, 13, 20, and 27 with performance on 27th
April 3, 10, 17 with performance on the 17th. April 24 – off
May 1, 8, 15 with performance on the 15th
May 22 & 29 off
June 5, 12, 19 with performance on the 19th.
Fundraising
On February 13th we had a Valentine & Winter sale and made $50.00 for the church treasury. Thanks to Irene Schultz for helping and all who shopped. We will soon, hopefully Saturday, April 2nd, be seeing Bryd’s Boy at the Detroit Repertory Theater. The plays are a lot of fun and raise a little money for our church. I have two musical instruments for sale. One trombone and case in excellent condition – asking price $100.00 and one clarinet for $25.00. It’s plastic and needs some work. Musicians from our church checked out both instruments.
Answers to World’s Easiest Quiz
1. The Hundred Years War lasted 116 years
2. Panama hats come from Equador
3. Catgut comes from sheep or horses
4. Russians celebrate October Revolution in November
5. Camels hair brush “hair” comes from squirrel fur
6. The Canary Islands are named after dogs
7. King George’s first name is Albert
8. The Purple Finch is crimson
9. Chinese gooseberries are from New Zealand
10. The 30 Years War did, in fact, last 30 years
The only one to respond to this quiz was Don Dickason. Don and Ardith, if you are in the Detroit area for First Friday in March, April, May or June of this year you will be our guests for dinner.
What to do about ignorance and apathy? I don’t know and I don’t care!
Dan Secrest wants YOU - for the First UU Army of Canvass Captains. We will be conducting an in-home canvass this year, and need every able bodied adult to report for basic training on Saturday March 12. Please contact Dan via phone or email to volunteer. Volunteer Now – Avoid the Draft! Dan Secrest
dsecrest1@comcast.net
313-864-0177 (home)
313-983-2173 (work)
Save the Date
2005 Heartland Spring Conference and Annual Meeting – “Gather in Spirit” – April 8 – 10, 2005 in Cincinnati, OH. Join us for a weekend of exploring who we are in relationship to one another. Details will be announced in the months ahead by co-chairs, Gwen Winston and Mildred Robinson.
Recovering…Helga Herz fell and fractured her shoulder and wrist. She’s doing well and would welcome cards. Check the church office for her address.
Save the Date/Save the Planet
On Saturday, May 14, 2005, the UU Social Justice Network will host a conference at BUC from 9 – 1:30. The topic is the environment. The theme, “Working on behalf of the environment in your own backyard” will focus on advocacy, taking actions at home, monitoring local government and doing your own part – such as recycling, gardening and conserving energy. Mary Lou Malone and Barbara Stevenson, of First UU Church, are serving as co-chairs, and Hillard Williams has joined the committee. Five UU churches attended the last meeting and Randy Block serves as the group facilitator. The next meeting will be Tuesday, February 8 at 7:00 P.M. at the Northwest UU Church. For more information contact Mary Lou.
An Environmental Action Event
for the Whole Family
"Saving the Environment in Your Own Back Yard"
· Keynote Speaker & Breakout Sessions
· Justice Training & Action
· Volunteer Opportunities
· Networking
· Family Activities
SAVE THIS DATE
Saturday, May 14, 2005 (9 am - 1 pm)
Birmingham Unitarian Church
Sponsored by the Michigan UU Social Justice Network &
Local Environmental Action Groups
Contact Randy Block (248-549-5170)
George Lentz (248-223-9947)
wUUrld’s 2005 WhaleCoast Alaska
Five Alaska UU fellowships invite other UUs from “outside” for our UU eco-spiritual/intercultural programs in July, 2005. See the REAL Alaska! Stay in UU homes in Anchorage, Seward, Fairbanks, Juneau and Sitka and enjoy discussions and dinners with Alaska UUs. See whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, bears, moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, puffins, eagles and other birds in the wild from the Arctic Ocean to the Inside Passage in the south. Visit Denali’s Mt. McKinley and Kenai’s fjords and glaciers. See totem poles, native arts, dancing and story-telling. Rev. Dick & Mary Weston-Jones are the leaders. Visit website www.wuurld.org, e-mail dick@wuurld.org, or phone toll-free 1-888, 998-8753 for a brochure. Reservations are due April 1.
Ed. note…I think it would be a fabulous idea if the congregation chipped in and sent me on this trip to celebrate my 60th birthday, 18 years of doing this Newsletter and being married to Jon for 37 years.
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Eiko Takemoto was spotlighted in the Detroit Medical Centers Newsletter for over 20 years of volunteer service, mostly in Carrie’s Clothing Closet. Ask her about it.
The Military Budget: Does it Affect Us?
March 6, 2005
The President sends his budget proposal to Congress and officially opens “budget season” in February. The proposal suggests amounts to be spent on each federal program for the next fiscal year, which starts the following October 1. What you can do (suggested by Women’s Action for New Directions Education Fund, A Guide to the Soap-Opera Saga of the Federal Budget Process): Copies of the budget proposal (including a brief summary) are available at government book stores, major libraries, and by computer on-line www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget See if the President’s budget represents your priorities. Check with organizations working on issues you are concerned about to find out what they think about the budget proposal. Then express your opinions to your Representative, Senators and the President.

March Birthdays
1. Maria Majer
3. Larry Hutchison
5. Julia Meyer
7. Gene Perrin, Janet Thompson
8. Don Dickason, Harold Bailer
13. Dolly Wagner
19. Linda Darga
23. Kathy Fitzgerald
26. Juanita Fowler
28. James Harvey
29. Lencha Acker
31. Janice Berry
Circle of
Creativity
Are you interested in learning how to sew, knit, quilting, crochet? If you already know how to do any or all of these things you are welcome to join us, as well, for an evening of creativity and conversation. Join us the first Wednesdays of the month, beginning April 6th at 7:00 P.M. We will be meeting in Memorial Hall at First UU Church. Bring your projects and a light snack to share. For more information call Peggy Wilkie or Irene Schultz.
Explore the New Virtual Tour of the UUA
The virtual tour currently includes a tour of the physical building at 25 Beacon Street along with photos and information on the portraits and artifacts on display there. More items are coming soon.
Items from the Internet
AIRLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Occasionally, airline attendants make an effort to make the "in-flight safety lecture" and their other announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:
* Pilot: "Folks, we have reached our cruising altitude now, so I am going to switch the seat belt sign off. Feel free to move about as you wish, but please stay inside the plane till we land ... it's a bit cold outside, and if you walk on the wings it affects the flight pattern."
* After landing: "Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
* Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you or your money more than Southwest Airlines."
* As you exit the plane, please make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses. Last one off the plane must clean it.
* From the pilot during his welcome message: "We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry...Unfortunately none of them are on this flight..."
* Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
* Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of us here at US Airways."
Saturday February 12 our families with young children celebrated Valentines Day here at church with a party! It was so wonderful that almost all our families were able to make it; we sure missed those of you that didn’t. It was a nice time for people to sit and chat with each other. Parents and children had the opportunity to get to know some people better and meet others for the first time. One of the activities at the party was making valentine cards for Grant’s uncle and his friends that are serving in the military in Iraq. Everyone enjoyed the Middle Eastern dinner we purchased (with a grand discount, thanks!) from Byblos restaurant. As you may have noticed we have a very small high school group (bigger than the last few years, but still quite small). Due to the size and consistency in attendance we have been struggling with programming for this group. Jim Brown and Janis Thompson are their advisors, we met last week and have come up with a few ideas to move things in a more positive direction, and hopefully draw some new youth to the program. The monthly schedule will be as follows (I will distribute something more detailed soon). On the 1st Sunday Jim and Jan will teach together. Keeping with our Social Justice theme we are asking the youth to bring in songs to share, the youth will then discuss the song lyrics in a UU context. The 2nd Sunday Jan will teach, showing a movie clip and then discussing that with the youth. The 3rd Sunday Jim will teach, also showing a movie clip and leading a discussion. On the fourth Sunday the youth will go out to brunch together. When there is a 5th Sunday, the youth will attend the community ministry church service. The high school youth are also interested in starting a social youth group that would meet after church on the 4th Sunday of the month. We are also getting some draft/CO info for them. I am very excited about this “fresh start” for our high school youth! In Peace, Jennifer A, Teed
February 27 at 1:00- Ice
Skating at Campus Martius
Park with UDM Student Chaperones!
February 27 at 2:00- Mandy Carter speaking on the draft.
March 4- First Friday at Church
March 6- Souper Sunday
March 6 at 1:00- Planning for Draft/ CO educational workshop etc.
March 13- Serving Breakfast- we will be serving breakfast at The Cathedral of St. Paul for those in need. We will meet there at 8:00 am and leave at 11:00. (Corner of Woodward and Warren).
March 18- March against war (Details will follow soon)
March 20- Potluck
March 20- RE Meeting 12:45
March 27- Easter Inter-generational Service
April 23- RE Mission & Visioning workshop.
If you are interested in making soup on March 6 please contact Jennifer.

Celebrate Passover with First UU at our community Seder on Sunday April 24th (after church). All are welcome. If you would like to participate in leading the Seder by greeting, reading liturgy or leading singing/music, please contact Athena Kolbe. There is no cost to attend however Seder participants are asked to either bring a dish (we will provide the recipe) or make a donation towards the cost of food.
Making Matzah -- and other Passover favorites! Join us on Saturday April 23rd as we prepare food for the community Seder which will be held the next day after church. We'll spend the afternoon learning how to cook traditional pesach dishes as we discuss the history of Passover as a holiday of freedom and liberation. Children are welcome. RSVP to
Athena Kolbe
This is a program our church has been a part of for the last 2 years. Camp Detroit was running the program with Larry’s direction, with Camp Detroit moving the ACTS program is very interested in us picking up where they left off.
The program should be offered each Monday from 3:30-6:30, it is free for youth 6-17. There is a small budget for supplies, refreshments and staff. I am very interested in leading it. Are there others of you who may be interested in either working with the children on Mondays or helping to plan and recruit? Do you have suggestions of others in our congregation who may like to help? Recruiting will be our biggest issue! We are responsible for recruiting our own kids. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED CONTACT ME ASAP.
Needed…
· Secretary for RE committee
· Elementary Sunday School Teachers
Fourth Annual First UU Women’s History
Month Dinner
Sunday, March 20, 2005
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
-“All serious daring starts from within” Harriet Beecher Stowe
Come as a woman from history that you admire…Tell us her story – share photos, books, and insights to her life.
Join us for a delicious catered dinner with beverages, souvenirs and door prizes. The cost is $12 in advance or $15 at the door.
Please RSVP by March 16 by calling Barbara Stevenson at 313-863-6891 or Irene Schultz at 313-838-3348
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit
4605 Cass Avenue
Detroit , MI48201