First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit

What Should be the Priorities for our Interim Minister?

The Board has decided to hire an interim minister for two years in order to give us more time to search for a regular minister. During March I need your feedback about the priorities that should be set with our interim minister.  These priorities will be reflected in the application that is due to the UUA Settlement Office by April 1.

In addition, we will be appointing a small Interim Minister Search Committee.  If you are interested in being part of it, please let me know.

The members of the Regular Minister Search Committee will be elected during our regular elections this spring.  If you are interested in serving on this Search Committee, please let Allison Parks (or another member of the Nominating Committee) know.

John Weston, UUA Ministerial Settlement Director asks that we provide three or fewer first-order priorities to our interim minister.  He suggests that developmental tasks for an interim could include the following:

·        Carry out the normal responsibilities of congregational ministry, including worship and pastoral care.

·        Claim and honor your past and heal your griefs and conflicts.

·        Come to terms with your unique identity, your strengths, your needs, and your challenges.

·        Clarify the multiple dimensions of your leadership both ordained and lay, and navigate the shifts in leadership that accompany times of transition.

·        Renew connections with available resources, within and beyond the UUA.

·        Renew your vision, strengthen your stewardship, prepare for new professional leadership and engage your future with anticipation and zest.

Which of these do you see as our highest priorities during the next two years?  Please let me know directly or you can join in the discussions on Sunday mornings in March from 10 – 10:45 A.M.

            Thank you, Colleen Dolan Greene-Moderator

 

All in the Family

Congratulations to Arlene Cornier and Craig Bridgeforth on the birth of their third son on February 20^th.  Baby Adam joins big brothers Gabriel and David.  We are saddened to report the death of Verne Pickford.  He and Benita Mullins have been loyal attendees of our church services, First Fridays and peace and justice events throughout the Detroit community.  Verne’s role in WWII gave him a first-hand view of the folly of war and gave him a life-long belief in world peace.  Our sympathies are also extended to JoAnn DeLor whose brother, Robert Shook, died recently in Indiana, after a long illness.  We are also saddened to report the December death of former church member June Fieger.

 

Committee News

Adult Religious Education

 A discussion of the book, What is Marriage For? (253 pgs, $15) will be held at First UU on consecutive Wednesdays, March 24 & 31 in Memorial Hall from 7-9 PM.  Contact the office or Dan Wiest for information on purchasing a book.

“A lively personal examination of what it means to choose a life partner (regardless of race or age or sex)." —Marilyn Murray Willison, The Washington Post Book World

 

Choir

If you enjoy singing and want to have a good time, the choir is the place for you. There is no need to audition, just show up at the dates and time listed below.  All rehearsals begin at 9:30 A.M. and are usually held in Memorial Hall.  The rehearsal and performance schedule for the next three months is as follows:

March 21 rehearsal and performance

March 28 - rehearsal

April 4, 11 - rehearsal with performance on the 11^th

April 18 & 25 - no rehearsal

May 2, 9 & 16 - rehearsal with performance on the 16

May 23 & 30 - Off

 

Development

I have tickets to the Detroit Repertory Theatre production of Drawer Boy which Time magazine named one of the top 10 plays of 2001.  Tickets are for Saturday, April 24^th at 3:00 P.M.  Doors open at 2:00 P.M.  Tickets are $15.00 with profits going to the church budget.  Margaret Beck - 313-882-7775

 

Membership

Please, please, wear your nametag during coffee hour.  We’re sometimes accused of not being as friendly as we might be, but it would be easier if we could call you by name when we haven’t seen you for 2 or 3 weeks.  If you need a new nametag, please sign up at the Membership table or see Sumarah Smith, Dan Wiest, Carol Bendure, Margaret Beck or Arlene Teed.

 

Nominating Committee

Following is a list of the 2004 Nominating Committee members as well as the positions the Committee needs to fill.  If you are interested in running for any of these positions, or would like to nominate someone else, please contact a member of the Committee.  Thanks!

2004 Nominating Committee:

Allison Parks, Convener 313-273-6225  arparks@earthlink.net

Lencha Acker

Cindy Hill

Gene Perrin

Anne Stewart

Hilliard Williams

Len Zettel

2004 Elections Slate:

Board of Trustees:

(1)        Moderator

(1)                Vice Moderator

(3)        3-year terms

(1)        1-year term – to fill vacancy

Religious Education Committee:

(2)                Adult Members

(1)                Youth Member

2005 Nominating Committee:

(7)                Members

Special: Ministerial Search Committee:

(5)                Members

Additional Positions:

General Assembly Delegates

Heartland District Delegates

Heartland District Alternates

 

Worship Committee

Worship Service Feedback & Planning

What services have you especially enjoyed this year?  Which ones have been a disappointment?  Are there speakers you would like to hear?  Would you like to speak at a service or help to plan one?  Please contact Arlene Teed, Worship Chair (313-441-2725) or Kathy Rock, Worship Trustee (313-791-0533).  If you have ideas for summer services, see or call Debi Rutherford (248-722-2463).  Worship Committee meetings are open to everyone.  Upcoming meetings are after church on March 14^th and May 16^th.  A lay leader gathering is planned for April 18^th.  All interested in lay leading are invited to join old timers in exploring ways to make our Sunday morning experience more meaningful to all.

 

Women's Alliance

Nora Holt, member of First UU Church, will speak to the Women's Alliance about her trip to Africa after the Wednesday, March 17, noon luncheon in Memorial Hall.  All are invited to attend.  For luncheon reservations please phone by Monday noon, March 15, the Church office - 313-833-9107 or Eiko Takemoto at 313-869-6389.  The cost of the luncheon is $6.00.

 

Women's Book Club

The next meeting of the Women's Book Club will be on Sunday April 4, 2004 1:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall.  The book for April  will be Atonement: A Novel by Ian McEwan.  Our May selection will be The Pagan Book of Living and Dying by Starhawk.  The book for June will be Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik.  Our September selection will be Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.  The July and August choices will be announced at a later date. Please contact Maria Majer at 313-899-1694 for more information.

 

 

First Friday

Our next First Friday will be April 2^nd.  Along with the usual happenings, we will be celebrating the anniversary of the day Alex Mercer joined First UU back in 1934, the same day the Unitarians and Universalists came together at Cass and Forest.   We realize this date conflicts with the Heartland District Meeting but those of you who aren't participating in the District Meeting are welcome to join us. Please make your reservations by March 31^st by calling Peggy Wilkie at 313-255-5048, the church office at 313-833-9107 or Irene Schultz at 313-838-3348 or email Irene at the address on the front of the Newsletter.  Also, when making your reservation please indicate if you would prefer a vegetarian meal. 

Ø      A note about reservations...First Friday in March about half of the 30 attendees made reservations after the deadline.  We purchase the food based on the reservations we have on the deadline date so we had to purchase more food.  Please make reservations by the deadline.  The chefs thank you.

 

 

Heartland District Annual Meeting

Save the dates - April 2 - 4, 2004 for the Heartland District Annual meeting at the Westin Hotel in Southfield.  We need volunteers: greeters, workshop monitors, office volunteers, childcare volunteers, ticket takers.  Two events will be held at First UU on Saturday evening.  If you can help, call Mary Lou Malone at 313-837-7952.

 

 

Easter Breakfast

Our breakfast will be held April 11^th from

9-10:30 A.M.  Please see Carter Stevenson, Dave Robinson or Earl Harvey to make reservations, by the 9^th of April, or call the church office. 

We could use some men to help prepare, cook and serve.

 

 

First UU Celebrating 70 Years

On Sunday, April 4^th, we will be celebrating the 70^th Anniversary of the joining of Detroit's Unitarian and Universalist congregations at Cass and Forest.  Alex Mercer, who attended that first service here as a child, will be the primary speaker.  Rick Robinson, DSO bassist, who grew up in our church school in the `60's, will provide special music.

 

If you would like to share any special memories of our First UU history from 1934 through the eighties at that service, please contact Arlene Teed at 313-441-2725 as soon as possible.  We would also appreciate photos.  Please bring albums that day or give individual photos to Arlene by March 28^th. A special invitation is being extended to long-time members whom we've not seen recently.  If you know someone who may be missed by this Newsletter, please invite them to join us for the service and special coffee hour.  We look forward, also, to sharing some of our glorious history with visitors and newer members.

 

Let's Talk

Some of us are already (unofficially) exchanging ideas about directions we could take as a church during the next two years of transition under an interim ministry.  We plan to be in McCollester Hall from 10:00 – 10:45 A.M. on Sundays, beginning March 7, and invite members to come and share your ideas, too.  Find the LET'S TALK sign and join us for coffee and chat about anything and everything.

Gwen & Janice

 

UUSC Holiday Card Design

If you are a creative person who is passionate about human rights then the UUSC needs you.  All are invited to submit designs for new UUSC holiday cards. Submissions must be received by April 15.

Mail to: UUSC  Holiday Card Contest 130 Prospect Street  Cambridge, MA  02139 or email to volunteerservices@uusc.org

 

Item from Internet

THAT'S AMORE

When the moon hits your eye,

Like a big pizza pie,

That's amoré.

When an eel bites your hand,

And that's not what you planned,

That's a moray.

When our habits are strange,

And our customs deranged,

That's our mores.

 When your horse munches straw,

And the bales total four,

That's some more hay.

When Othello's poor wife,

Becomes stabbed with a knife,

That's a Moor, eh?

When a Japanese knight,

Uses his sword in a fight,

That's Samurai.

When you ace your last tests,

Like you did all the rest,

That's some more "A"s!

When your chocolate graham,

Is with marshmallows crammed,

That s'more, eh.

When you've had quite enough,

Of this dumb rhyming stuff,

That's "No more, eh!

 

A Bill of Assertive Rights

Author Unkown

Adapted by Dorothy Kirby and read to the Women’s Alliance in February

1.       You have the right to judge your own behavior, thoughts, and emotions, and to take the responsibility for their initiation and consequences upon yourself.

2.       You have the right to offer no reasons or excuses to justify your behavior.

3.       You have the right to judge if you are responsible for finding solutions to other people’s problems.

4.       You have the right to change your mind.

5.       You have the right to make mistakes - and be responsible for them.

6.       You have the right to say, "I don't know."

7.       You have the right to be independent of the good will of others as you interact with them.

8.       You have the right to be illogical in making decisions.

9.       You have the right to say, "I don't understand."

10.   You have the right to say, "I don't care."

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY NO, WITHOUT FEELING GUILTY