first unitarian universalist church of wichitamayo, plans to play astor piazzolla tangos with...
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In TouchFirst Unitarian Universalist
Church of Wichita Founded 1887
GNovember 2011
Chamber Music Concert Nov. 6The first concert of our 15th Annual Chamber Music Series is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 6. Some of our favorite performers will be bringing musicians new to our space. Harpist Jane Hyde will play two Claude Debussy pieces with flutist Jennifer Erickson. Betty Hensley has invited her flute choir, The Nightin-gale Flutes, to perform. Cellist Susan Mayo, plans to play Astor Piazzolla tangos with violinist Jeremy Starr and pianist Martin Cuellars. We welcome back two duos; violin-ists Nancy Johnson and Dominique Corbeil; and Carol Neighbor on alto recorder with guitarist Greg Golding. Carol and Greg will play G Minor So-nata by the French baroque composer Jean-Baptiste Loeillet. Do plan to attend. You will enjoy the music, experience spiritual renewal, and nibble on some of the finest cook-ies served in Wichita. Two other concerts in this series will be held in January and in April. A donation of $10 is suggested.
Character References for Rob WilliamsMany of you know Rob Williams who has visited our church on many occasions and participated in social activities, often bringing friends and family members. He has shared with us his struggles with the local penal system and his efforts to improve his future prospects. He has done some handyman work and odd jobs for various members of our congregation. However, he is currently facing some tremendous hurdles with the possibility of many years of incarceration. If you feel you would be able to provide a favor-able character reference for our fellow church member Clyde (Rob) Williams, please contact Rev. David Carter with your questions and to find out how to frame your remarks.According to Rev. Carter, Rob’s lawyer says that his trial will be in early De-cember and would like to present these letters to the judge prior to the trial.If you can have your letter to Rev. Carter within the next two weeks, he will take them to Rob’s attorney with the hope that our positive experiences with Rob will help his chances for a more lenient sentence.
FOR A GOOD TIME attend the
Happy Hour Polishing Party. Time TBA. Details?
Jeanne deGrasse or Del Smith will tell all.
Matching Funds for Donations/PledgesTaking a cue from public radio pledge drives, an anonymous party has offered to match donations at our Sunday, Nov. 20, service (up to a total of $500). This can include payments made toward pledge commitment fulfillment.Our church could really use that extra financial boost, so it would be great if we could take full advantage of this offer! If you can’t be at service that day but want to contribute, send your donation in by Nov. 20 and designate it for “matching funds.”
“Oddities Augmented” on Nov. 11 Not only does she sing purty, she knows how to glue real good!.Our own multi-talented Denise Jackson Simon will turn 57 on 11-11-11, and she’s planning an art opening on that auspicious date. Called Oddities Augment-ed, the event will feature Denise’s artful assemblages. The opening will take place at Rebecca’s in OldTown from 7 to 11 p.m.[BTW, I happen to know she LOVES gadgets and gizmos and gears, so if you have any cute little doohickeys with knobs or a “vintage” look that would look neat-o in a piece of art, you might consider giving them to Denise to maybe use in one of her creations!]
f Grateful for a caring, compassionate, creative community.
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Minister’s Musings fIn TouchThe newsletter of
The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Wichita
is published monthly
316-684-3481 www.FirstUU.net [email protected]
Member UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
ASSOCIATIONMinister: Rev. David Carter
316-684-3481 [email protected]
President: David Brewer 316-687-0002
Carol Clark and Mike Felton [email protected]
Office Manager: Krista Schnee
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
9 a.m.-1 p.m.316-684-3481
Director of Religious Education: Denise Jackson-Simon
316-644-2022 [email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Melanie Jenney
Webmaster: Jack Regehr [email protected].
The deadline for In Touch
and for the monthly calendar is the third
Wednesday of each month.
Please submit items to: [email protected]
or bring to the church office.
Late submissions may be omitted.
www.FirstUU.net 3
Coming Attraction:Afternoon Tea PLUS Brand New Books!On Sunday, Nov. 20, the Chalice Bookstore will present “New Books in Ye Olde Tea Shoppe” with our First UU version of afternoon tea, complete with baked goods available for purchase. Jeanne deGrasse, tea sommelier, will pour. What an opportunity to learn the difference between “high tea,” “afternoon tea,” and having a “cuppa.”Millie Cherryholmes and Kathryn Vernon are organizing the bake sale. Don’t wait for them to ask you, but step up and offer to make your favorite cake, cookie, nibble or other goodie to enjoy with a cup of tea on the spot or to take home to enjoy later. See them at church or call - Millie, 316-282-3920; Kathryn, 316-210-2731.The tea/bake sale is one day only, November 20, but the Chalice Bookstore Fall Sale will continue through December 3. Books have been selected by UUA Bookstore staff to reflect the interests and diversity of UU congregations. All are published by Beacon Press or Skinner House Press. If a title is sold out during the three-week sale, additional copies will be ordered by Chalice Bookstore.“Reason to Celebrate: Recipes and creative ideas from the Meatless Monday Group” will be available for purchase at the bargain price of $5.00. You can be sure these recipes are well tested and quite tasty! Perfect gifts, we discovered when the group published their first cookbook in 2009. Don’t forget that we have a local source for excellent teas at Charles Merrifield’s Fair Trade table open each Sunday. But wait! There’s more! Some interesting items will be up for silent bidding during the November 20-December 3 Sale. A lovely afghan (Amy Geyer); gourmet cheesecake (Deb-bie Wadman); painting (Mary Erickson); chalice necklace (Del Smith); Japanese doll (Vivien Minshull-Ford); and two heritage teapots (Anne Welsbacher).Not done yet!We’ve been offered some pristine condition mysteries - not new, but hard to tell the difference. They’ll be on sale in the library Chalice Bookstore area. (We never close!)All profit goes to First UU’s Operating Fund.
RE CornerWe miss seeing several of you at church. We do hope you’ll join us for fun and exciting times on Sundays. We have new lessons planned for this year, as well as many celebrations and special events. We just had our Fall Family Round-up, camp style, which was lots of fun. And last Sunday, we built a sukkah in honor of the Jewish harvest holiday and celebrated with a meal inside our sukkah.On Sunday, Oct. 23, high school foreign exchange students shared a bit of their cultures with us. On Oct. 30, we honored those close to us who have passed by celebrating the “Day of the Dead.” As November approaches, we will have Way Cool Sunday School and lessons in the classrooms.Please try to come. It is much more fun when you are here!Denise Jackson-Simon (DRE)
You are Invited: Happy Hour Polishing PartyJeanne deGrasse and Del Smith are throwing a Happy Hour Tea Service Polishing Party to prepare for the No-vember 20th event. [See related article at right.]We haven’t set the date or time yet, but most likely it will be an evening the week of November 14th. We’ll have the silver polish, we’ll have the rags, we’ll use our own elbow grease, but the UU Silver Tea Set hasn’t been used in a very, very long time and we can use more help! Coffee and tea and a cookie or two will be yours. If you want another type of beverage during our Happy Hour Tea Service Polish-ing Party, feel free. Let Jeanne or Del know if you can lend an elbow!
“Forks Over Knives” Event a Resounding Success!On Sunday, October 9, 1st UU hosted a showing of the movie, Forks over Knives, which “examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degen-erative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.” [www.forksoverknives.com]Instead of the anticipated audience of 50, approximately 125 people filled the chairs in the sanctuary. Most of these people were new to the church, and some expressed an interest in learning more about the church and UUism. Following the movie, we were treated to some delicious, healthy food including lasagna and chili prepared by d’Sozo’s Chef Miguel. Overall, a resounding success! If you missed this but would like to see the movie, it is now available on Netflix or on DVD through the website or on Amazon. And, coming next spring, we will feature Vegucated (www.getvegucated.com), a film by UU Marisa Miller Wolfson!
Zip Lines to Hosaphones! For sale,
November 20-December 3
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Did you Know? Answers to FAQs.If you need a plastic bag at church there are two bag holders in the kitch-en near the door to the meetinghouse and the door to the storage rooms.If you need a bandage there is a first aid kit in the kitchen.The recycle bins are to the left of the fridge and paper recycling is also a wicker basket near the office door.
“Road to Rouen” at Wichita Center for the Arts, November 16-20ROAD TO ROUEN by Anne Welsbacher Nov. 16-20, Wichita Center for the Arts (near Central and Webb Road)Featuring Melissa Nay, Rob Summers, Beth Wise, and Susan Hearn and directed by John BoldenowChurch member Annie Welsbacher’s play ROAD TO ROUEN will be per-formed at the Wichita Center for the Arts the third week of November Wednes-day, November 16, to Sunday, November 20; all shows except Sundays are at 8 p.m., and the Sunday matinee is 2 p.m. The play tells the story of Meg and Stuart, the daughter and ex-husband of world-famous composer Suki Schulman. They have been called to Suki’s Paris apartment for the reading of her will by her attorney and longtime companion, Solange. A surprise clause in the will stipulates that Meg and her father must perform together a new, never-heard Concerto written by Suki or forfeit any proceeds from Suki’s estate. This means Meg must return to the music she aban-doned as a child prodigy pianist, and face her estranged father, her surrogate mother Solange, and memories of her mother and her bitter Chicago childhood. While together in Paris, Stuart and Solange try to persuade Meg to return to the piano. As Meg begins exploring the new composition, she makes discoveries about her family’s past — love notes from her mother hidden in the music, se-crets about the relationship between her mother and Solange, and the previously unrecognized depths of her father’s difficult but real love for her.Annie Welsbacher grew up in the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Wichita, which her mother Betty joined when the Welsbacher family moved to Wichita in 1958. Betty brought along her husband Dick and son Rick (then “Ricky”); both have been members of the church since then. Betty died in 2008. Although An-nie moved away from Wichita from 1981 until 2005, she was a member of UU churches in Minneapolis and Santa Monica, and re-joined First UU when she and now-husband Corey Swertfager moved back. Although the play’s story is not biographical, longtime church members and friends of the Welsbacher family will recognize elements of its story. Annie’s mother Betty was a skilled pianist and well-known music educator. She also composed music, although in contrast with the brilliant classical opii written by the fictional Suki, Betty’s works leaned more to lighthearted ditties for church fundraisers. Annie’s father Dick does have a politically incorrect tendency to speak ill of the French, as does the fictional Stuart. Both Welsbacher parents were known to exploit the eccentric musical skills of son Rick, as the fictional Meg describes them from her own childhood. In particular, the party she de-scribes in the play might have been any number of church choir parties from the 1960s and early ’70s. Road to Rouen is directed by Center Theater’s artistic director John Boldenow. It features veteran actors Rob Summers as Stuart and Beth Wise as Solange; Wichita newcomer Melissa Nay plays Meg. In addition, a musician representing the musical past of Meg will be performed by Wichita musician and actor Susan Hearn. For more information, call 316-315-0151, visit wcfta.com or email [email protected].
High Tea? Not quite! But close.....
Find out the difference on November 20th.
Kitchen Reminders Please bring back any of the church’s kitchen items you may have borrowed or accidentally taken home. If YOU’VE misplaced something at church, be sure to check the “lost and found” in the storage room west of the kitchen.Please always label your items in the fridge and do NOT put open contain-ers (of pop especially) back in the fridge. Lid it or Forget it! Thanks :)
First Sunday Lunch in November will feature delicious homemade
soups served up hot and provided by "Dinners for 8" participants.
Please plan to attend!
It’s only right to buy Fair Trade. Guilt-free good taste!Charles Merrifield has the best chocolate and finest teas!
Find him in the church foyer after Sunday services.
Millie and Kathryn want YOU!... (and your best
cookies and cakes!).
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EvEry Month at First UUFull Moon Dances are open to both women and men. Join in the dance to connect with the earth’s power, celebrate the elements, and discover your personal power. Information: C.U.U.P.S. of Wichita, (708) G0-CUUPS or (708) 402-8877. E-mail is [email protected], or on Facebook.New Moon Circle meets at the church. Intended to complement the Full Moon Dances, we offer this time to gather on the New Moon for study, meditation, and ritual exploration of earth-centered spiritual growth. C.U.U.P.S. of Wichita, has New Moon Circle and Full Moon Danc-es, where the New Moon Circle is a time to gather, for study, meditation and ritual exploration of earth-centered spiritual growth and Full Moon Dances is where everyone’s welcome to join in joyous song and sacred dance of the full moon as we celebrate the ever-changing wheel of life. For more information: C.U.U.P.s of Wichita, phone (708) GO-CUUPS or (708) 402-8877, [email protected], or on Facebook.Eclectic Readers group meet the 3rd Friday of the month at 11:30 a.m. at the church. Contact: Del Smith, 612-0826Book Discussion Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Joe Brewer, 2531 N Roosevelt. You are welcome to attend whether or not you have read the book. Information: 686-8575 Ethical Eating group meets the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Meal followed/accompanied by round table discussion. Bring a vegan dish to share! Contact Dianne Waltner, 946-1115, or [email protected], for additional information.Membership Committee meets the 4th Sunday at 10 a.m.Personnel Committee meets the 4th Sunday at 10:15 a.m. in the library.Dinners for Eight. Date varies. Contact Maxine Wells, 681-0442 or Mar-cia Ellsworth, 688-5352.Music Committee meets the fourth Sunday following service.EvEry WEEk at First UUTai Chi classes on Wednesdays, 7 p.m., $5 per class. Dress comfortably. Please first contact David Larsen, 612-4726 or [email protected] Adult RE meets Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the southwest corner R.E. room. Current topic: Skeptics and Believers. Contact: Corey Swert-fager, 201-6921Meditation: Establishing a Practice taught by Rev. Carter. This class is an introduction to Sitting Meditation, helping students learn to bring about a state of inner peacefulness and happiness, learn to reduce stress and to integrate the personality. The class also discusses the philosophy, goals, and techniques of the Science of Yoga. For further information, feel free to contact Rev. Carter by email at [email protected]. Meditation and Book Discussion on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Contact: Bob Feleppa, 304-9170Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) – Meets Sundays at 7 p.m. SOS is an alternative recovery method for those alcoholics or drug ad-dicts who are uncomfortable with the spiritual content of widely available 12-Step programs. SOS takes a reasonable, secular approach to recovery and maintains that sobriety is a separate issue from religion or spirituality. All are welcome. Call Ryan Howey with questions, 518-8959, or email at [email protected]. You can also check out S.O.S.’s Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/SOSWichita.
Book Discussion group CleopatraThe Book Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Joe Brewer. We will be talking about Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. You are free to choose any book about Cleopatra from novels inspired by her life or even the play by William Shakespeare. The Wichita Public Library has 52 different listings for Cleopatra. At our December meeting we will con-sider the novel Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides which discusses the pursuit of the American Dream and explores gender identity. Please call Anne Bailey at 943-3861 for further information.
eclectic reaDers Nov. 18 & Dec. 16 SelectionOur November selection is Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code,” which sparked interest among many about the history of Christianity, particularly as related to feminist theology. You may have “seen the movie,” but we recommend you “read the book!” Members of the group who read the book when it first came out report enjoying it second time round. It reportedly is the best-selling English language novel of the 21st century and caused controversy in some quarters. In December we return to a Kansas setting in the novel “The Persian Pick-le Club” by Sandra Dallas. Hard times in a small town during the Depression were softened for women who par-ticipated in a convivial weekly quilt-ing group called The Persian Pickle Club. If that sounds like “chick lit,” don’t overlook the fact that it is also a suspense story. Plenty of copies are available through the public library.All are welcome. We meet at 11:30 on the third Fridays for a brown-bag lunch and discussion.
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Every gift buyer dreads the thought that the gifts they give could soon be collecting dust. Gifts are meant to be appreciated! The solution is an “alternative” gift. By shopping at the Wichita Alternative Gift Market on November 12, your gift-buying will be enjoyable and informative. The mar-ket, sponsored by dozens of local ser-vice organizations and congregations, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.An Alternative Gift Market (AGM) offers a wide variety of gifts that are tax-deductible and support local and global humanitarian and environmen-tal causes. AGMs are a concept of Alternative Gifts International (AGI), a nonprofit organization that inspires support for such causes by offering donors the option to donate chari-table gifts through carefully selected non-profit agencies in honor of their relatives, friends and associates.Gifts of farm animals, medical train-ing and supplies, micro-loans, clean water, and textbooks-these are the kind of authentic, life-sustaining gifts made available through AGI.Last year’s 2010 Wichita Alterna-tive Gift Market (including several "mini-markets" held after market day by co-hosts at their own organizations or congregations) raised $23,467, exceeding past sales figures. Of that amount, $19,501 was disbursed to Al-ternative Gifts International to support 41 national and international projects and $3,966 was disbursed amongst six local agencies: ROCKO, GraceMed, Great Plains Nature Center, Ethiopia Reads, Legacy Ministries and Mothers 4 Mothers.An Alternative Gift Market offers an unusual and timely alternative to the frenzy of holiday gift shopping. At the market, shoppers can visit informative displays about local and worldwide projects. They can purchase items for the causes that they select and will
2011 Wichita Alternative Gift Market Find Unique Gift Solutions at the Wichita Alternative Gift MarketSolve your gift-giving problems at the 17th annual Alternative Gift Market, Saturday, Nov.12 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 5002 E. Douglas in Wichita
receive cards with descriptive inserts about their gifts. The cards can be personalized and sent to friends and relatives, informing them of the alter-native gift given in their honor.Mrs. Pat Poulter, new shopper at last year's Market, said, “It was the most glorious shopping day I've ever had in my life. Christmas shopping-this is the way it ought to be! It finally felt like it had a point.”AGM shoppers can sample foods, fair-trade crafts and more from around the world. The market is an event that the entire family can enjoy; for kids who want to learn about and share with needy children worldwide, for grand-parents who enjoy giving caring gifts, and for people who want to reach out toward a better global society with each gift they give.There is something for everyone at the Wichita AGM – shoppers and gift recipients alike.The concept began in the early 1980s and has grown throughout the USA by hundreds of organizations (such as congregations, social clubs, inter-faith groups and schools) hosting AGMs. Wichita hosts one of the largest such markets in the nation. Since the incep-tion of AGI, more than $23 million has been raised for humanitarian and environmental causes.
Anyone who is unable to attend an Alternative Gift Market can receive a free catalog by calling 1-800-842-2243 or visit www.alternativegifts.org to order on-line or learn how to initiate an Alternative Gift Market in your community, school or workplace.AGI’s main office in Wichita, Kansas, employs just five people, but raises at least one million dollars each year in this grass-roots approach to fund-raising. They operate year-round on a 10% share of the gifts purchased and re-distribute and monitor them through dozens of other humanitarian and environmental non-profit orga-nizations. All gifts made to AGI are tax-deductible.More details-such as local co-hosting organizations, local project sponsor-ships, musical groups, and more-will be announced soon. Stay tuned for ad-ditional media releases and mailings.For more information, please contact:* Julie Brin, Volunteer, 316-841-4391, [email protected]* Laura McFall, Wichita AGM Chair-person, 316-684.521684-5215, [email protected]* Tony Princ, Director of Operations, Alternative Gifts International, 316-269-0635, [email protected]
Church Nursery NewsHave you noticed the Church Nursery has been updated recently? Painters are needed for the church nursery... if you are interested in donat-ing an afternoon, please contact Judy at [email protected] or 706-0412. Earth friendly! No VOC paint will be used!Also, those providing care in the nursery would appreciate the donation of a Glider Rocker (non-finger pincher type) with or without ottoman. First UU’s sleepy babes will also thank you!
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Return Service Requested
First Unitarian Universalist Church7202 E 21st St NWichita, KS 67206
www.FirstUU.net
Sunday Programs9:30 a.m. Adult Religious Exploration11:00 a.m. Children’s RE and Nursery
11:00 a.m. Worship Service
In ThIs Issue: Chamber Music Concert Nov. 6 ........ 1Rob Williams References ................. 1Matching Funds Offer ....................... 1 Minister’s Musings ............................ 2 Chalice Bookstore Update ................ 3 Happy Hour Polishing Party ............. 3 RE Corner ......................................... 3 “Road to Rouen” Nov. 16-20 ............. 4First UU Groups Schedule ................ 5Alternative Gift Market ...................... 6Church Nursery News ...................... 6November Calendar ......................... 7
Vision Statement It is our Vision:
To be a growing, inclusive, vital congregation that encourages shared values
amidst differing beliefs and nurtures creative exploration of
intellectual and spiritual paths.
To be a visible community leader that promotes human equity and
compassion, and celebrates life through the arts.
Mission Statement
Our mission, consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles, is to provide a joyful, safe, healing
environment where diversity is embraced.
We will inspire and uplift the whole person through enriching programs and services
for all ages, and serve the larger community through social action
and active promotion of the arts.
upcomIng servIces November 6 — Lara Pollock 13 — Rev. David Carter: The Joys of Responsibility 20 — Sara Wagner Yost: Gratitude27 — Rev. David Carter: Why Do You Ask?
Rev. Carter’s OFFICE HOURS: Monday Noon – 3 p.m. thUrsday 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. sUnday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Third Sunday Socializing!Stick around after church, make some new acquaintances and nosh on some tasty tidbits served up by the member-ship committee.