First Unitarian Universalist
Church of Detroit

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I had the wonderful opportunity to accompany the 1st UU Youth on their pilgrimage to Boston from June 23 to June 30, 2007 with our own Rev. Athena Kolbe. I discovered we have bold and brilliant youth in our Church community. I am honored to have journeyed with them to Boston to learn more about our history, heritage and the UUA. I hope you received your postcard and I encourage you to ask our youth about their journey over the next few weeks.

The journey also reinforced for me my commitment to this congregation and to Unitarian Universalism. We have much to be proud of as a religious community and as a congregation, yet we have much to create for our future history.

On July 21, 2007, your Governing Board will hold a retreat to not only learn the best way to work with each other but to continue the planning started for the evolution of our community into the vision of our mission statement: To liberate the truth, radiate kindness and love courageously. We will then continue our monthly meetings on the second Monday of the month at 6:30pm. As the minutes are approved from each Board meeting, look for the posting on the “Governing Board” by the restrooms.

I would like to take this opportunity to confirm your Board: Linda Darga, Past President, Glenn Maxwell, Vice-President, Dan Weist, Treasurer, Donna Walker, Secretary and Trustees Lencha Acker, Sally Borden, Trey Greene, Dave Lingholm and myself, Alicia Biggers, President. We will have our contact information posted on the “Governing Board” for you to use to share your thoughts.

As I sit in our sanctuary, I think of the members before us who carved out a place for themselves (and building ingenuity) as well as a foundation for us to thrive, which brings to mind some of the activities you can act upon. First, Rev Drew Johnston offered several areas for your talent (June 10th Newsletter) to contribute, so I expect he will have more volunteers than opportunities! Then we have the Woodward Avenue 200th Celebration coming in August where we will participate in the Gleaners Food Drive as well as “hold hands” along the human chain on Woodward from Downtown Detroit to Pontiac. We have had great hand holding practice so I expect to see many members holding hands along Woodward. Don’t forget to wear your 1st UU T-shirt available from the Youth at $17 adult and $15 youth (2 styles to choice from). We can put our principles into action!

The second Students for a Democratic Society National Convention will take place July 27-31 at Wayne State University in Detroit. We will be hosting students during this weekend and we welcome volunteer greeters and chaperones, so if you would like to “hang” with the students, just see Carmen Mendoza-King or Dan Wiest.

Friday, July 27th is our next Film Night (sponsored by the Membership Committee) for the viewing of “Freedom to Fascism” at 7pm. I hope to see you there too!

As we have many groups active from M.O.S.E.S. to Women’s Alliance from Worship Committee to Membership, I hope you take part in our history today by taking a part, continuing a part, from being a Worship Associate to hosting Coffee Hour from taking part in our UUA programs to local social justice programs.

Remember, together we can liberate the truth, radiate kindness and love courageously.

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Anyone interested in playing cards (and board games) on a regular basis? We were thinking that we would take turns at people's houses, maybe monthly. Many of us are rusty when it comes to card playing, so we'd have to brush up our skills. This is just for fun. If interested, call Ruth Seifert at 313.340.0671 or Sally Borden 313.533.1494.

The 2008 Entertainment Books will be available for sale August 12 or 19th. The cost is $20.00 per book with $4.00 going to the church. After 20 books are sold, we get two free ones. I have also reserved 16 seats for the November 17th matinee at the Detroit Reparatory for the play Doubt by Patrick Shanley. See me if you are interested in either one. Margaret Beck

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I would like to thank all the dependable people who have ushered in the last two years. Sorry if I missed anyone –
Al and Lencha Acker, Mark and Carol Bendure, Sally Borden, Ivan Cotman, Charlene Evans, Ross and Yvonne Fowler, Sharlene Gage, Trey and Colleen Dolan-Greene, Ann and Earl Harvey, Jim and Ruth Harvey, Nora Holt, Neil Hunt, Ric Jones, Alma King, Carolyn Ludwig, Rose LaBolle, Mary Lou Malone, Edie and Bill McKnight, Jerry and Marilyn Mitchell, Bob and Mary Neale, Dr. Linda Darga and Dr. Eugene Perrin, Patricia Pilafian, Kathy Rock, Pearl Samples, Irene and Jonathan Schultz, Mark Schwing, Dan Secrest, William Sefcovic, Ruth Seifert, Lynda and Stuart Smith, Kathe Stevens, Alexandria Stevenson, Carter Stevenson, Helen True, Janet Thompson, Jan Thompson and Cindy Hill, Jerry Wahl and Mary Nelson, Joseph White, Dan Wiest, Margaret Wilkie and Jerry E. Williams.     
John Angry – Head Usher

Ed. Note…And we thank you, John, for all your much appreciated contributions to our church family. Irene

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Date	Celebrant
2	Lynda Smith
6	Cal Delor, Helga Herz
15	Rhonda Rodgers
16	Jane Kriner, Cindy Hill
17	Jan Thompson
19	Robert Walter, JoAnn DeLor
26	Pat Pilafian
27	Carolyn Reed
28	Dwight Rinke

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A reincarnation of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) will be holding a conference at Wayne State University the weekend of July 27-31. Our own Carmen Mendoza-King is one of the organizers and has been interviewed in a Nation magazine article on the subject. First UU will be offering spartan accommodations for those attendees willing to rough it. We will need help checking in SDSers and having chaperones stay overnight for that weekend. Anyone who would like to help out should contact Alicia Biggers or Dan Wiest.

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Under the leadership of Gwen Foss, we will meet at 7:30 pm at our church on July 25, August 8, and August 22. For additional information, contact Gwen at (248) 473-4566 or gwenfoss@netrek.net. The goal is to sing together for fun in a nonjudgmental atmosphere on a regular and ongoing basis and to offer encouragement to those who would like to sing a little better. All forms and styles of music are welcome, including instrumental music and original songs. You are invited to bring a few copies of the music you would like the group to sing.

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Gleaners Community Food Bank Drive and Hands Along Woodward
1ST UU Summer Project and Event

WHO: Everyone, members & families & friends of 1St UU

WHAT & WHERE: (1) Donate to the Gleaner’s Community Food Bank by bringing items on the list below and placing them in the designated boxes in McCollester Hall. (2) Join as many who are willing and able to be part of the Hands Along Woodward event celebrating the 200th birthday of Woodward Ave. The organizers of this event, Woodward 200, are hoping tens of thousands will come out to make a human chain from the Detroit River to Pontiac at 2:00 PM on Sunday Aug.19. The holding of hands is to symbolize a region of strength, heritage, diversity and pride.

WHY: “Hands Along Woodward” is the signature event commemorating Woodward’s 200th birthday in 2007. The event is also part of a month long food drive with Gleaners Community Food Bank to obtain 200,00 pounds of food in the metro Detroit area.

WHEN: Items can be donated until Aug. 19. The “Hands Across Woodward” human chain will happen at 2:00 pm on Sunday, Aug. 19. 1ST UU youth are selling T-shirts and wearing matching shirts would be a great way to show spirit on the 19th

Non perishable items requested include: Canned fruits, veggies, soups; Boxed macaroni & cheese, hamburger/tuna helper; Peanut butter & jelly. Also needed, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo.
NO GLASS CONTAINERS, PLEASE!

For more information or to help out, contact Alma King.

Hunger Facts from the Gleaners web site:
*Gleaners distributes food for roughly 65,000 meals everyday. That translates to 71,000 pounds of food daily.
*Gleaners feeds more than two million households annually, representing approximately 44% of all households in the state of Michigan.

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September is almost here! It’s time for the Rummage Sale at 1st UU.

Why have a Rummage Sale?

1. The Sale provides a community service.
2. The Sale is a form of recycling.
3. The Rummage Sale is the principal fundraiser for Women’s Alliance. The funds that we raise through this support church activities and assist with building care projects. Some of the uses of funds in the past few years include: scholarships for church members to attend Heartland conferences; Christmas gifts to Church staff; many improvements to Memorial Hall such as new carpet and cleaning, window repair and curtains; cash donations for food items for ministers’ retirement parties; equipment for kitchen use; coffee urns used at coffee hour and special events.

The sale to the public this year will be on Thursday, Sept. 13; Friday, Sept.14; Saturday, Sept. 15. The sale hours will vary from day to day.

Here is what you can do to help:

1. Save clean, useful items over the summer and start to bring them for the sale on Sunday, Sept. 9. Please donate clean repaired items only. While we act as recyclers, we cannot handle moldy, mildewed, or damaged items. Also, please consider who are potential buyers here. For example, kitchen items, small bookcases, lamps do well but ski boots and old gardening tools probably won’t.
2. You can bring items to the church during the week of the rummage sale - Monday through Wednesday - between 10 am and 3 pm. If you have large items, please contact a member of the Women’s Alliance and we will try to arrange pick up.
3. Volunteer your time. Consider donating some hours that week. We can use your help any set up day and on sales days. If you can only come for as little as a few hours on one day, that is still helpful. If you can come for several days to help, that is even better. If you can come during the actual sales hours, you can get a better sense of what the neighbors are like. When the sale ends at 2:00pm (new ending time) on Saturday, there is the huge task of bagging and boxing up the remaining items. The more help we have at that time, the more quickly it gets finished. What we have taken all week to sort and display now gets boxed and bagged to be ready to be picked up by a charity. We need to take care of that so Pullman Hall can be returned to order. Clean up for the last two years has been swift and super because of all the generous help we have received.
4. Last but not least--come as a shopper ready to search for treasures and bargains.

Mark your calendars for September 9 to September 15.
Sunday, September 9: After church, drop off your donated items.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: Setting up and organizing. 10am -- 3pm in Pullman.
Thursday: Sale Opens—12:00 Noon to 7:00 pm.
Friday: Sale Day--Noon to 7:00 pm.
Saturday: 10:00am to 2:00 pm. 2:00 pm clean up begins!