THE REPORTERNewsletter of St. John’s Unitarian Universalist
Church of Cincinnati, OH October 1,
2006 |
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Upcoming Sunday Services Sunday services and
Children’s Religious Exploration classes at St. John’s begin at
11am. Child care is available. Church Parking: The Clifton School parking lot behind St.
John’s will be CLOSED or VERY LIMITED for the near future because of
construction on the site. We suggest you plan to come 10 minutes early to
find parking on Sunday. Parking is available behind the Clifton Mosque
(located across Clifton Avenue from the Clifton School lot) or in the Clifton
Recreation Center lot on McAlpin Ave. The church parking lot is reserved for visitors, families with small children, our older members, and those with handicapped permits. “The Open Door” –the Rev. Dr. Frank Carpenter Please join us for our “Coming Out” Sunday Celebration. The MUSE Women’s Choir will be joining with the St. John’s Choir for music. “Globalization and Us”
–guest speaker: James Buchanan
Globalization, however we define it, is a phenomenon that is impacting all of us. Mr. Buchanan, a professor at Xavier, will offer a brief description of some of the dimensions of globalization. The principle question is how do we respond to a phenomenon of such vast scale? What role should religions play in helping to shape the institutions and values that are driving globalization? What can each of us do to meet our global responsibilities? Taste of St. John’s is
coming October 14! Look for details on the Big Prize Raffle inside this issue! |
Minister The Rev. Dr. Frank Carpenter Affiliated
Minister The Rev. Bonnie Meyer Minister Emerita The Rev. L. Annie Foerster Minister of Music Dr. Catherine Roma Assoc. Director of Music Rachel Kramer Directors of Religious Exploration for Children Mary M. Darner Barbara Hadden Office Administrator Mary Jo (Josie) Arens Caretaker J. Michael Skaggs Newsletter Editor Bruce Beisner Church Office 513-961-1938 FAX 513-961-4008 Church Office Hours Monday thru Friday. 7:30am-2:30pm Church Website Next Reporter
Deadline will be Thursday October 12 at 5pm.
Send articles to Bruce Beisner via email. |
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Frankly
Speaking…..
by the Rev. Dr. Frank Carpenter Last spring seems so long ago now, as I am already embedded in events of the church. It was last spring that the Committee on Ministry conducted a survey of the congregation and an assessment of how we as a congregation are doing to achieve our mission. The assessment by the Committee on Ministry provides a mirror to the Strategic Planning process, as it asks committees about how they have addressed goals in the past year from the Plan. And what goals they have for the coming years. The survey collected a lot of data regarding your thoughts about St. John’s. Some data just demographic, as some of our goals are to increase various groups in the congregation. We also collected information about what you think about worship. Some of the comments on worship include a less rigid order of service, shorter announcements and doing things differently. Already you may have noticed we are doing things differently: the choral anthem last Sunday was switched with the opening hymn. Announcements have been shortened a bit. Sometimes Chalice Lighters will only light the chalice and give an opening readings. Sometimes we will not have a responsive reading, nor a response to gifts, nor a Wheel of Life. There is a great diversity in our congregation, not only theologically, but also liturgically. The Board and committees are responding to the data amassed by the Committee on Ministry: the Board developed goals for the year using the information at its retreat in August. The All Council meeting October 28th will use the data and goals. Other responses include posting the congregational survey on the church’s website. Ministry is realizing our vision of another, better world. Working with this process, talking, sharing with one another, we move forward. -Peace, Frank ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our
Mission: St. John’s is committed to creating a
safe and caring community, working for
social justice and celebrating beliefs that respect freedom of thought.
We are
pleased to be designated a “Welcoming
Congregation” by the Unitarian Universalist Association,
and as such we
honor and value the racial, cultural, economic, religious, physical ability,
sexual orientation and
gender diversity of our members and visitors, young and
old.
PAGE 2 The
Reporter October 1,, 2006 |
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Opportunities
&
Invitations Dinner with the LAFs (Lively
After 50) Our next outing is
Friday evening, October 13 at 6:30pm at the Old Spaghetti Factory, 6320
Gilmore Road, just north of Cincinnati Mills Mall in Fair-field. Our
experience at this restaurant last year was very enjoyable so we expect a
good time of dining and socializing. All St. Johners and friends who are
approaching or over 50 are welcome to attend. Newcomers are especially
encouraged to come. We do need to make reservations, so please contact Jan
Hay by Thursday evening October 12 at 10pm.
-Jan Hay Women’s
Book Group The Women’s Book Group will meet at the home of Sylvia Mersfelder on Friday October 20 at 7:30pm. We’ll discuss The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe. The
novel was first published in 1958 and remains true to the struggles of
professional women today. In November we’ll discuss In the Company of the
Courtesan by Sarah Dunant. During the first hour or so we discuss the
book. During the second hour we choose the next book, snack, and socialize.
All women are welcome. For directions call Sylvia and for information call
Debbie Combs.
-Debbie Combs “Exploring UU” Class This Month on a tour of the
church, discuss history and |
philosophy, church
activities and opportunities. Lunch and child care are provided at no charge.
To reserve a place, please contact Barbara Hadden to let us know your
dietary and child care needs. Please reserve by Tuesday, October 17.
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Among
Ourselves All Council Meeting
-Frances May Brooks News
from Szentlaszlo 1. October 24th
Luncheon A Big Success - The chalice group lead
by Brian Sebastian decided its service project for the year would be a Sunday
luncheon in support of the Friends of Szentlaszlo Bread for the Elderly
Program. Under this program, 38 elderly members of our partner Unitarian
congregation in Nyaradszentlaszlo, Romania receive one loaf of locally made
bread each week. The chalice group's lunch of five hearty soups, homemade
breads, and brownies raised $565. This money will fund the bread program for over four months.
The Friends of Szentlaszlo wish to extend our sincere thanks to the members
of this chalice group. In additional to John Sebastian, Rick and Connie
Prairie, Bill Luerssen, Wanda Crawford, John Fine, Kari Olsen, Andy Jewel and
Ruth Anne Wolfe helped prepare and serve the lunch. Great job folks! The next Sunday luncheon in
support of the Bread Program will be on November 5th. If your group would like to sponsor
a luncheon in support of the Bread Program, contact Tom Darner 2. Medieval Mural
Uncovered In Szentlaszlo Church - Rev. Kiss, the minister at our partner
church, reports that work is being done in his church to restore several
medieval murals located on the inside wall in the original part of the PAGE 4 The Reporter October 1,, 2006 |
building. These
murals, dating to 1344
when the church was Roman Catholic, had been covered, over the
years, by several coats of whitewash. We will report more information on the
restoration project as it becomes available. We hope to be able to post
photos of the restored works. The Szentlaszlo church is already designated an
historic building and protected by the Romanian government. This new
discovery will only add to the historic value of the church. 3. The next meeting of the Friends of Szentlaszlo will be this Monday evening
October 2nd, 7pm at the church. Anyone who is interested in
knowing more about our partnership with the Unitarians in Szentlaszlo is
welcome to attend.
-Tom Darner Thanks to St.
John’s Gardeners
Warm days, cool
nights, apples and pumpkins, football......and falling leaves of red and
gold......it's almost time for raking St. Johns leaves again. So many people
have contributed to the gardening chores around St. Johns and many thanks to
all of you. You have donated and
planted all kinds of flowers; trimmed and clipped and sawed trees and shrubs
and raked the leaves for composting. You deserve a bow, a hug and a mention
of who you are: Bev Harbaum, Judy Strong, Winnie Goodridge, Stan Loeb, Bill
Luerrsen, Michael and Janet Howe-Smith, Kathy Laufman, Tim Dewald, Rosine
Janus and son, Michael, Vivian Kline, Melanie Marsh, Susan Montauk, Joan
Seeman Robinson, Mike Rundle and Marsha Tiffany. And the same grateful words
for those who may not have been acknowledged here. Dates will be
announced soon for leaf raking and we hope you can help us again. -Barbara
Casson Sound Team Needs You! We are still looking
for one volunteer to get into the sound system rotation. The training is
thorough, and the assignment is relatively easy with only one time in four
weeks to serve. Talk to any of the current sound team: Bill Surber, Chase
Tonne, or Dick Fencl to get more details. |
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Thanks to Pete and Kathryn! Working with UUSC in New Orleans
After working in New Orleans last February with one of the UU Service Committee’s Katrina Relief JustWorks camps, my husband Cliff Shisler and I kept talking about returning to the Gulf Coast. There is so much to do. And each of us that helps is like an enzyme, a catalyst that speeds the reaction rate, in this case the rate of rebuilding and recovery. One person can certainly take 20 chairs from a room. But 5 people can do it in ¼ of the time. So we recently returned to Louisiana with Jim McDonough, another member of St. John’s. We volunteered through the Southern Mutual Help Association, www.southernmutualhelp.org founded in 1969 to advocate for the rural poor. After Katrina and Rita, SMHA formed the Rural Recovery Task Force that has helped rebuild over 400 homes, with more on the waiting list. We went to Erath, southwest of Baton Rouge, to help rebuild the home of Miss Ethel, a 75-yr old widow. This rural area had no history of flooding. So as Hurricane Rita approached last September, Miss Ethel left home with the clothes she wore, her purse, and a pot of gumbo. She was certain she’d be back in a few days. But the wind from Rita blew the ocean surge up the bayou and it was 8 weeks before she saw her home |
again. Water had come up 4’ inside her house Furniture had floated and mold covered the walls. It had to be gutted. Only her upper kitchen cabinets and 3 child-size wooden chairs were salvageable. Our group built closets, laid tile, primed trim and mudded dry wall. Jim was already an expert at laying tile. Cliff and I learned to mud drywall, eventually being promoted from the closets to walls that would show. J Miss Ethel brought Cajun food each day, hugging us, thanking us, and retelling her story. You’re needed. The United Methodist Church in New Orleans that housed our JustWorks camp was remodeling their church to house up to 100 volunteers at a time for the next 5-10 years! If you want to turn your concern into action, check out the 2007 JustWorks schedule. http://www.uusc.org/programs/workcamps/wcsched2007.html There are workcamps on the Gulf Coast in February and March. The UUSC staff will have organized for you a fine combination of education and hands-on. Each time 2 more hands show up to work, 2 more ears are present to listen, and 2 more arms give and receive hugs, the reaction rate quickens, people move toward emotional and physical recovery a little faster.
-Linda Heath Contemporary Service Equipment
We are preparing to install equipment in Krolfifer for the contemporary service starting in March 2007. Most of the equipment will be purchased, but if someone (or a company) has surplus microphones or a DVD/CD player to donate, it will save us some money. Please contact George Dershimer of the Program Planning Team. -George Dershimer From Larry Brubaker…
To the St. John's
Congregation: A heart-felt thanks to everyone for all the kind words, loving
hugs and the wonderful reception. It was a great send off on my retiring as
you caretaker. I wish you great success in the coming year. Larry The Reporter, October 1, 2006 __ PAGE 5 |
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Music
Vivace by Cathy Roma, Minister of Music The St. John's Choir
will perform a frequently performed piece (in the early 1900s) called
"Masculine Women, Feminine Men! Which is the Rooster, Which is the
Hen?" at the service to celebrate Coming Out Day. You won't believe the
words to this great little number; it truly is a celebration of our
transgendered selves and community. MUSE also joins St. John's service on October
8th with a terrific new-to-us piece called "Hattie and Mattie"
about two older women (they met through Gertrude Stein...). Lots of fun in store
on Sunday October 8th. We then welcome Brenda
Wolfersberger to join us in leading one of the hymns on October 15, and the
St. John's choir will perform a work called "Neighbor Take This Torch of
Peace" by Emma Lou Diemer, written for the Waging Peace Through Singing
project at the University of Oregon, Eugene. Join many singers from
the St. John's Choir who participate in the new Voices of Freedom Chorus
sponsored through the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. We
rehearse every other Tuesday at 6:30 at the Center. We will be the
highlighted chorus as we reopen Fountain Square on October 14 at 12:30pm, and
many of us will sing the Star Spangled Banner at the Bengals/Panthers game on
October 22. Next rehearsal is Tuesday October 10. We start rehearsing for
King Day program on Tuesday October 24. PAGE 6 The Reporter October 1,, 2006 |
Entertainment Books are Here! Once again we are
selling this cost-saving book to members and friends for $35.00. This little
coupon book gives you opportunities to save money on so many things-travel
(air fares, hotels and car rentals), dining out( places like My Three Chefs,
Nicola's), dry cleaning, movies
and cultural events like the Symphony, Playhouse, the Zoo, REDS games, canoe
rentals, the Aquarium, and fast food and carry-out restaurants galore. It's
good for your wallet and good for St. John's. We use the $5 fee we make to
support the flower fund when there are no donations or when we need to
furnish flowers for a special occasion. Books will be on sale for several
weeks after church. -Barbara Hadden RE Joys by Barbara Hadden
and Mary Darner Directors of
Religious Exploration Voices of Variety, our
kid's choir for Kinder-garten through 8th Grade, is an experience you and
your children should not miss for many reasons:1. It is a wonderful way for
our children to connect with each other outside the class they attend, 2.
They experience the satisfaction of producing joyful sounds together and the
thrill of performing for the congregation, 3. The learn that discipline and
cooperation produce results, 4. it gives parents a little time to get
acquainted with each other during the half hour of rehearsal after church, 5.
You might get to sing words in different languages, 6.. It's FUN! Mary says
so, Rachel says so, Kathy says so and I KNOW so. So, kids, parents, be here
on Sundays, get your words and the CD and be a part of our awesome singers.
Right after your class children and youth should go directly to the Rosa
Parks Room downstairs. Let's Get Singing!!! Welcome to new
families-the Detmer-Goebels Family-Emily, Scott and Ella, the Malaviya
Family, Prasanna, Melanie, Maya and Pranav, Uma and Kim Dunseth and the
Kelley-Thomas Family, Megan, Andy , Stella and Laszlo. We love having you
with us at St. John's. |
St. John’s
Church Calendar
Tuesday October 3 10am- Meditation 10am- Yoga 6pm- Adult RE: World Religious Traditions Wednesday October 4 7pm- Friends of the Collaborative 7pm- Membership Committee Thursday October 5 6pm-
Music Committee 7:15pm- Choir Rehearsal Sunday October 8 9am- Chalice Group 11am- Sunday Worship Service 12:15pm- Voices of Variety Rehearsal 12:30pm- Interweave Luncheon 12:30pm- RE Associates 6pm- EarthSpirit Sukkot Event 7pm- A Course in Miracles Tuesday October 10 9am- Staff Meeting 10am- Meditation 10am- Yoga 8pm- Adult RE: World Religious
Traditions Wednesday October 11 National Coming Out Day 5:30pm- Executive Board Meeting 6:30pm- Adult RE: Understanding Male
Behavior Thursday October 14 5pm- Deadline for The Reporter Friday October 13 Church Office Closed 6:30pm- LAFS Dinner at Old Spaghetti
Factory Saturday October 14 Taste of St. John’s!!!!! Sunday October 15 9am- Chalice Group 9:30am- Adult RE Forum: What in the
World? 11am- Sunday Worship Service 12:15pm- Voices of Variety Rehearsal 12:30pm- Green Sanctuary Partners 7pm- A Course in Miracles Monday October 16 7pm- Adult RE: Our UU Story 7pm- Our Whole Lives Parents Orientation |
Flower Donations Needed Sunday flower
donations are being accepted through the end of 2006. Please see the sign up
sheet posted on the wall outside the church office.
-the Flower
Friends “Eyes on the Prize” “Eyes on the Prize”
is an award-winning 14-hour
television series produced by Blackside and narrated by Julian Bond. Through
contemporary interviews and historical footage, the series covers all of the
major events of the civil rights movement from 1954-1985. It returns to TV
this month on CET. A number of people
in the UU black Power movement during the Civil Rights movement were involved
in its production. Check your cable
listings for times.
-Rev. Frank Carpenter Bring a Friend to Church Sunday The Reporter, October 1, 2006 __ PAGE 7 |
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Have you heard the good news? St. John’s has a raffle prize that you won’t want to miss! The prize package (valued at aprox. $400) includes: ·
Two tickets for the Saturday November 25 live
performance of A Prairie
Home Companion
with
Garrison Keillor
·
an overnight stay at The Cincinnatian Hotel in downtown Cincinnati ·
$100 for dinner at The Palace, offering fine dining at the historic Cincinnatian
Hotel TICKETS
WILL GO ON SALE SUNDAY OCTOBER 1, 2006. They will cost $5 each or 6 for $25. The drawing will be held the evening of the Taste of St. John’s (Saturday October 14). You need to be present to win. To buy tickets contact any member of the Fundraising
Committee: Kelly McMichael, Jonena Jones, Wanda Crawford or Karen
Miller |
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Thought of the Week… “Don’t
ask what the world needs. Rather
ask – what makes you come alive? Then
go and do it! Because
what the world needs is people who
have come alive.” — Howard Thurman |