WUUnews Monthly Newsletter of Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists

HappyNewYear!Iamspendingthis irstweekof2015withmyfamilyinOhio.AsIleaveforthisshortvacation,IwanttosharewithyouabookthatmanymembersofWUUreadtogetherinthesummerof2009‐‐EckhartTolle's"ANewEarth."

TollesaysthathetookthetitlefromabiblicalpassageinRevelationthatpointsthewaytoanewheavenandanewearth.Ratherthantakingaliteralunderstandingofthesewords,heseesthisimageas"ametaphorforthestateofconsciousawarenessofin initebeing(heaven),whichcontinuallycomesforthinanewwayintonewform(earth)."

TheSpiritofLifeconstantlyrevealsitselftousinbothsubtleandstartlingways.Revelationcomesintheformofpowerfulexperiences‐‐dramaticbeauty,death,illness,reconciliation,forgiveness.Italsocomesinoneperfectlyformedsnow lakeandahugfromachild.Fromtheseexperiencesournotionsoftruthshiftandgrow.

Asadherentsofaliberalfaithtradition,wedonotbelievethatthebookoftruthisclosed.Thisiswhatmakesusanon‐dogmaticfaith.Weareopentonewtruthsthatrevealthemselvesinmanywaysandthroughmanyteachers.

 

January 2015

Continued on page 2...

1.1

Office Closed-Happy New Year

1.8

The Odyssey

1.11

Memorial Service for Rebecca House

1.18

New Member Orientation Class

1.19

Office Closed-MLK Day

1.21

Pathfinders Book Group

1.23

New Member Appreciation Potluck

1.25

Rainbow Potluck

Mark Your Calendar

January’s Spiritual Theme is “Revelation”

Rev. Jennifer Ryu

 

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January4,20159:15am&11:15am“BiblicalRevelation”Rev.DavidTetrault GuestMinister&WUUMember

ReligiousEducationLowerElementary:OurWordsMatterUpperElementary:KindnessisKeyMiddleSchool:LeanonMeYRUU:HeartIQ

January Worship Schedule 

Minister’s Article Continued …

Ifyouarelookingforafreshstarttothisnewyear,IrecommendTolle'swork.Herevealsarealitythatisrighthereandavailabletoanyonewhowillopenthemselvestoanewtruth.Herearesomeofhiswords(fromwww.eckharttolle.com):

"Onethingwecandoistonoticethelittlethingsallaroundus,payingattentiontodetailssuchasthebirdsinthetreesandthe lowersinthegardenorthepark—justnoticethebeautyeverywhere,eventhesmallestthings.Tonoticeseeminglyinsigni icantthingsrequiresalertness.Thatalertnessisthekey.Itistheunconditioned.Itisconsciousnessitself.

Inawakeneddoingthereiscompleteinternalalignmentwiththepresentmomentandwhateveryouaredoingrightnow.Thedoingisthennotprimarilyameanstoanend,butanopeningforconsciousnesstocomeintothisworld.AligningyourselfwiththeNowisaligningyourselfwithuniversalpurpose.

Awakeneddoinghasthreemodalities,dependingoncircumstancesandthenatureoftheactivity.Theyareacceptance,enjoyment,andenthusiasm.Ifthereisneitheracceptance,enjoyment,orenthusiasminwhatyoudo,youareoutofalignmentwithuniversalpurpose.Youarecreatingunhappiness,thatistosaysufferinginoneformoranother."

Maythisyearbringyouclosertoanewrevelation‐‐therevelationofyourlife'salignmentwithuniversalpurpose.Mayallbewell.Mayallbehappy.Mayallbeatpeace.

Rev.Jennifer

January11,2015

9:15am&11:15am“WhatPoetryReveals”Rev.JenniferRyu

ReligiousEducationChildren’sChapelforallChildrenYRUU:Fairness

January18,20159:15am&11:15am"BlackLivesMatter:HowtobeaGoodWhiteAlly"Rev.JenniferRyu

ReligiousEducationLowerElementary:APeaceful&FairWorldUpperElementary:AMatterofPerspectiveMiddleSchool:ServiceistheRentWePay forLivingYRUU:TBA

January18,20159:15am&11:15am"BlackLivesMatter:HowtobeaGoodWhiteAlly"Rev.JenniferRyu

ReligiousEducationLowerElementary:APeaceful&FairWorldUpperElementary:AMatterofPerspectiveMiddleSchool:ServiceistheRentWePay forLivingYRUU:TBA

January25,20159:15am&11:15am"What21stCenturyRacismReveals"Rev.JenniferRyu

ReligiousEducationLowerElementary:PeacefulChoicesUpperElementary:OurHeritage’sCallingMiddleSchool:PrivilegeYRUU:Fairness(redux)

 

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NewsfromtheBoard

WelcometotheNewYear!OnDecember21st,thesolarcalendarcompletedatimeofadvent,waitingandanticipatingtherebirthoftheearth.OnDecember24th,theChristianliturgicalcalendarcompletedfourweekscalledAdvent,waitingandanticipatingarebirthofthePrinceofPeace.OnJanuary1st,halfwaythroughour iscalyear,WUUbeginsatimeofadvent,waitingandanticipatingarebirthofallthatmakesWUUourspecialhomeandalightintheworldaroundus.

Weanxiouslyawaitthe inalresultsoftheCapitalCampaignandthe inaldesignofourexpandedsanctuarybuilding.

Weanxiouslyawaitthetimetoapprovethe inalbuildingproject. Weanxiouslyawaitthetimetobreakground. WeanxiouslyawaittheselectionofnewmemberstotheBoardandCongregationalCommittees. Weanxiouslyawaitwaystoaddresscontinuingandnewsocialjusticecauses. Weanxiouslyawait indingnewwaystomovealongourMission’spath. WeanxiouslyawaitseeingourbelovedWUUmaturefurtherintoitssecondquartercentury.Somuchawaitsusin2015.Thingsweknowandcanpredict;thingswedon’tknowandwillbesurprisedbytheirchallengesandjoys.Workingtogetherwecanachieveallwedreamofthisyearandenthusiasticallymeettheaccompanyingchallengesandjoys.

TheBoardbeginstheyearbyinvitingyoutotwoCongregationalMeetings,February15thandMarch15th.

February15th,at10:30,betweentheservices: ElectionofBoardandcongregationalcommitteemembers UpdatesfromtheBuildingOurFutureTaskForceandRev.Jennifer

March15th,at12:30,followingthesecondservice: Presentationwithdiscussionandvoteforapprovalofthe inalexpansiondesignandits

costs. Presentationwithdiscussionandvoteforapprovalof inancialinstitutiontocarryloan

forexpansion.Allmembersandfriendsareinvitedtoattendtheseimportantmeetingsthataffectthelifeofourcongregation.Ifyouhavesignedthemembershipbookandmadeanof icialpledgeof inancialsupportforthe2014‐15 iscalyear,youareeligibletovoteontheaboveissues.Absenteeballotswillbeavailableforvotingmembersunabletoattendinperson.

InmyabsencethroughoutthemonthofJanuaryandthebeginningofFebruary,pleaseaddressyourquestionsandconcernsfortheBoardtotheBoardVicePresident,RachelDelbos,rgross77@aol.com.

BestwishesfromalltheBoardfortheNewYear.

LolaWarren,BoardPresident

 

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DoyouknoweveryWUU?NeitherdoI.

That'swhywewanttoincludeabriefmemberbiographyineverynewsletter.

Maybeyou'lldiscoversomeonewhosharesyourbackground,interests,orhobby.Maybeyou'lllearnsomethingnewaboutsomeoneyouralreadyknow.Ormaybeyou'llbemovedtoreachouttosomeonewhoneedstohearfromyou.

PleasehelpusstrengthentheWUUcommunitybysharingyourstory.Together,wecanweaveagrowingweboffriendship,support,compassion,andlove. MelissaAckley,ackleymw@gmail.com

SpotlightonSusanDexterIgrewupinPennsylvaniawheremydadworkedforthePennsylvaniaRailroad.MyparentswerePresbyteriansandraisedusinthatfaith.DuringtheVietnamWar,mymotherbecameanactivistanddiscoveredtheUnitarianfaith.ImetLee,myhusbandof47years,atMiamiUniversityinOhio.HewasraisedinChicagoasaChristianScientistandstillidenti ieswiththatfaith,whilefrequentlyattendingchurchwithme.WelivedinChicagoandDayton,beforemovingtoVirginia.WeweremembersofthePeninsulaUUFellowshipforseveralyearswhenwelivedinPoquoson.

Wehavetwochildren:AllisonlivesinRichmond,andBrianlivesinMichiganwithourgranddaughter,Anna.Lee'scareerhasbeenineducation,counseling,andathletics,andlaterinMWRintheAirForceandArmy.Mineinsocialworkandlaterrealestate.Mypassionhasbeenmyfamilyandourdogs,myinterestsareinart,reading,gardening,boating,animals,politics,andsocialjusticeissues.WemovedtoWilliamsburgin1999andIjoinedWUUin2009lookingforsomepoliticallyliberalpeopleandreadytotakethetimetoexploretheUUfaith.Ihaveenjoyedgettingtoknowsomanywonderfulpeople.Ifeelathomehere.

WALTClassProposalsWelcomedTheSpring2015WALTScheduleofCoursesisnowacceptingclassproposalsuntilJanuary10,2015.WeinviteanyoneinterestedinhostingafutureclasstovisittheWALTwebsiteatwww.wuu.org/waltorcallJillWhitten–ProgramCoordinatorat757‐220‐9975.TwiceayeartheWilliamsburgAreaLearningTree(WALT)offersassorted"LearningforFun"classesthatbringstogetherindividualsinourcommunitytosharetheirknowledgeofasubjectthattheylovesothattherestofuscanlearnfromthem.WALT,acommunityserviceprojectoftheWilliamsburgUnitarianUniversalists,isanon‐pro it,educationalprogramthatencouragespeopleto"TrySomethingNew."For15years,hundredsofcourseshavebeenofferedtoeveryonefromteenagerstoseniorcitizens.TheupcomingSpring2015WALTScheduleofCourseswillbeavailableonSaturday,January31intheVirginiaGazette,onlineatwww.wuu.org/walt,inprintattheW/JCCLibraries.

 

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SharethePlateSunday,January4

GreaterWilliamsburgOutreachMission

TheSharethePlateProgramwilldonatetheentireplatecollectionforSunday,January4,toGWOM(GreaterWilliamsburgOutreachMission).Thislocalnon‐pro it–charteredin2012‐hasgrownfrom11to21faithgroups,focusedonthespiritualpracticeofassistingthehomelesspopulationinourlocalcommunities.OurWUUrepresentativeisHelenHansen,whoalsoservesontheboardandexecutivecommittee.

GWOMrepresentativescollaboratewithotherstakeholderstolearnabouttheneedsofourhomelesspopulationandcreateactionplanstoassist.

Threeyearsago,GWOMhelpedinitiatetheCommunityofFaithMissionEmergencyHomelessShelterprogram.Thiswinter,WUUwillhosttheWinterShelterFebruary15‐22

GreaterWilliamsburgOutreachMissioniscurrentlyplanningapilotprogramtoopenayearroundDayShelterthatwillofferrespite,hope,andaccesstoservices,withthehopeofhelpingthoseinneedde‐velopsuccessfulindependenceandselfsuf iciency.Thisisasubstantialcommitmentofresourcesforthislongterminitiative,soGWOMisseekingfundingfromitsmembersaswellasoutsidesources.PleaseconsideragenerousdonationtoGWOMonJanuary4.

FormoreinformationaboutGWOM,pleasevisitgwoutreachmission.org.ForinformationabouttheWUUSharethePlateprogramortonominatearecipient,emailstp@wuu.org.

Didyousee?

Thanks:

JimHallforinstallingLEDlightsonourIronboundRoadsign.Nowwecanseetheentiresign!

RogerandBeverlyBaldwinfordonatingthethreehandsanitizerunits.Ifyougetacold,don’tblamethem!

DavidBensonandJimHallforhangingthebeautifulsnow lakesinthesanctuary.

CarolineandTrotterHardyfortheJapaneseMapleinfrontofthenursery.RogerGuernseyensuredthatthiswouldbeasafeplaceforthetreeduringconstruction.

JacquesvanMontfransforinstallingdrainageunderthebricksidewayonthewaytothememorialgarden.

LesSolomonforinstallingthenewLEDlightsonFahstoenablefolkstohavesafepassagetotheircars.

Wanttovolunteerforawinterfallproject?Imayhaveonejustforyou!

LesSolomon

Chair,CampusImprovementTeam(CIT)

 

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CommunityofFaithMission(COFM)HomelessShelter

ThisyearWUUwillhosttheCOFMhomelessshelterFebruary15‐22.Wewillbeinvitingyoutovolunteerfor: Makingandservingdinnerandbreakfast. Checkingourguestsinandout. Overnightwatch(2shiftseachnight)

WUUisproudtobeinvolvedinthecommunityhomelessshelter.ThisisoneopportunitytoliveourUUprinciplesandshareourbountywithourneediestneighbors.Volunteersign‐upswillbeginsoon.Wehopeyouwillplantoparticipateinthisimportantsocialjusticeproject.PleasecontactHelenHansenhelenfoxhansen@gmail.comifyouwouldlikemoreinformationregardingtheseimportantvolunteeropportunities.

Food For FISH (our local community’s food & clothing pantry) 

JanuaryforFish..Letsgivesoupandcrackers

PLEASEcheckthedatesoncans

NOopenedpackagesofcrackers

Thank You for Socks and Underwear!  ThankstoourcaringcommunitywecollectedanamazingnumberofpackagesofnewsocksandunderwearthatwedonatedtoFISH.Thankyouforyourdonations!

MartinLutherKing,Jr.NAACPACT‐SOBreakfastThis26thannualeventhonorslocalhigh‐achievinghighschoolminoritystudentsandwillbeheldonMonday,January19,2015attheCWLodgeandConferenceCenter.Insupportofthisprogram,WUUhasagainreservedatablethisyear(10places).PleasecontactJessicaO’Brienat810‐7859ornewjb2001@hotmail.comtopurchaseyourseat.Ticketsare$40peradult.

TEACHERSneededfor“SecondSemester”Wouldyoulikeachancetospendtimewithourwonderfulchildrenandyouth?

Thenpleaseconsiderbeingateacherforthesecondsemester,beginningFebruary2015!PleasegetintouchwithAustenPetersenatausten@wuu.org.

 

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TheGayleHenionCreativeArtsGroupThisgrouphasbeenmeetingonMondaymorningssincesoonafterournewco‐ministers,JenniferandPreston,arrivedatWUU,abouteightyearsago.Rev.JenniferandGayleHenionformedthegroupbywelcominganyoneinvolvedinanyofthecreativeartstobringtheirprojectsandmeettogetheronMondaysintheFahs’kitchen.Inthebeginningthemembers’talentsrangedfrompainting,collage,calligraphy&fabricarts‐‐tocreativewritingandcomputerart.Gaylebecameourleaderandorganizer.Asagroup,weworkedtogether,sometimeswenttolunchtogether,sharedChristmaspotlucks,helpedwiththeYuleSingandbecamefriends.For iveyears,thegroupparticipatedinandhelpedinstalltheGreenSanctuaryArtExhibitintheSanctuaryeachApril.Theexhibit,CelebratingtheEarthThroughArt,wasopentoallartistsinthecongregationandfeaturedavarietyofmedia.Welostourdearfriendandleader,Gayle,in2013.ButherspiritlivesonintheGayleHenionCreativeArtsGroup,whereallwhoareinterestedinaplacetoworkinthecompanyofothersarewelcome.Ifyouloveart‐‐bringyouroilsorwatercolors,yourdrawingpaperandpencils.Ifyoucreatewithpaper,bringyourscrapbookorcard‐makingmaterials.Ifyouquilt,knitorstitch,bringyourfabrics,yarnsandthread.Allcreativeendeavorsarewelcome.PleasejoinusonMondaymorningsinFahsHousefrom10amtoNoon.ContactGraceMcArdleorDonnaStanfordformoreinformation.

DonnaStanford

MemorialServiceforRebeccaHouse

PleasejoinusaswecelebrateandrememberthelifeofWUUMemberRebeccaHouse

Sunday,January11,2015at2:00pmintheWUUSanctuary

Ifyouareayoungadult@WUU,haveyoueverwantedtogettogetherwithothersinyourowngeneration?

ThecomejoinAustenPetersen

asshehoststhe:

YoungAdultsGatheringTuesday,January20,2014

6:00PMSanctuary 

 

Ques ons, contact her at austen@wuu.org 

 

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Truth,Prayer&Miracles–WhatCouldBeNext?

AsIwritethiscolumnonChristmasEve,January’sspiritualthemeofrevelationseemsalmostprophetic.We’veheardthe“truth”aboutacapitalcampaign,“prayed”overitsoutcome,andrealizedthe“miracle”ofitsapparentoutcome.Therestistobe“revealed”inthecomingmonthsasthebudgetingandplanningleadstoaFebruaryvoteonthe inalproject.

Givenallthathashappenedinthelastfewmonths,andallthateachofushascommittedtothefuturesuccessofourcongregation,itseemsalmostinconsideratetoaskyoutogivemoretime,talentandtreasuretoWUU.Yet,forourcommonvisiontoberevealed,weneedtoinvestfurtherinourdreamsforthisreligiouscommunity.

YourFinanceCommitteeandBoardhaveadoptedathreeyearbudget,andyourStewardshipCommitteehasbeenmeetingforthelastfewmonthsinpreparationforthe2015‐16annualcanvass.Ourupcominggoalof$331,000tofundWUUprogramsfromJuly1,2015‐June30,2016ispossiblewitheveryone’ssupport.Afterall,wehavereceivedpledgesofover$327,000from190householdsinourcongregationforthecurrentyearoperations.

AsweapproachtheannualcanvassinFebruary,pleaseshareyourthoughts,concerns,anddreamswiththeStewardshipCommittee.Wewantthecanvasstobeashortandproductiveprocess,andwewelcomeyourideasonhowtoimprove.

Wealsoappreciateyourtimelyresponses.PleasecontinuetosupporttheannualoperationsofourcongregationbyyourgenerouscontributionstotheannualcanvasswhenitcommencesonFebruary22nd.

Thankyouformakingourvisionarevelationtousall.

Withyourgifts,helpWUUthriveandblesstheworld!

PeterMellette,fortheStewardshipCommittee(DaveBanks,NancyCarnegie,MarthaElim,PeterMellette,BenPuckett,JenniferRyu(exoffcio),TrennaTankersley)

New UU Orienta on Classes 

InordertobecomeamemberofWUU,potentialmembersnewarere‐quiredtoattendbeforejoining

WUU.ThosetransferringfromotherUUcongregationsareinvitedtopar‐ticipatesoastolearnaboutus

andmakenewfriends.The irstclasswillbeinFahsHouseSunday,January18from12:30‐3pmandthesecondsessionwillbeheldintheWUUactivitiesroomonSunday,January25from12:30‐3pm.YoumayregistereitherattheVisitorTableorgoto:

 

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AWinterFundraiserforCOFM

JoinusforaspecialsouptastingeveningatWARMUPWILLIAMSBURG.Localchefsaredonatingtheirtastiestsoupsforthisevent,whichwillbeheldSaturday,Jan.24,6–8pmatWilliamsburgPresbyterianChurch.Aswellassoups,there’llbebread,dessert,andlivemusic.Ticketsare$20.00.ForreservationsgotoCOFM.infoormailachecktoCOFMBox6357,Williamsburg,VA23188.HelpsupporttheCommunityofFaithMissionWinterShelter!Call220‐0484ifyouhaveanyquestionsorwishtovolunteerattheevent.

NewWUUPhotoDirectory

ThelongawaitedWUUphotodirectorywillbeprintedanddistributedbytheendofJanuary.Thankyoutoourphotographer,JimHenion.IfyouwerenotabletocometooneofourphotosessionsyoucansubmityourphotodirectlytoEllynintheof ice(of ice@wuu.org)orbringitinanditcanbescanned.Itwillbeuploadedandupdatedinourpasswordprotectedonlinephotodirectorythatwillbeupdatedeachmonth.

Wearealsotryingtoupdatedourdatabase,sopleasecontactEllynifyounoticeanyerrors,omissions,oritemsthatyouwouldnotlikeincludedinthedirectory.

MeetWUU’sOf ice“Helper”

Ifyouhavebeentotheof icesinceJulyyoumighthavemetourof icekitty,PeterParker.

OurProgramAssistant,EllynStephens,hasbeenfosteringhimfortheHeritageHumaneSocietysincehewasasickly2‐weekoldkitten.Heisnowahealthy6‐montholdandhasbeenadoptedbytheStephensfamily(addingtotheirmenagerieofpets).

PetercomestoworkwithEllyninParkerHousemostweekdaysfrom9am‐2pm—stopbyandgivehimascratch.

FridayPotluck

ThismonthwearededicatingourFourthFridayFamilyPotlucktowelcomingnewmembersandfriendstoWUU!

Friday,January23

6:00pm

WUUSanctuary

Bringadishtoshare

 

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WILLIAMSBURGUNITARIANUNIVERSALISTS3051IronboundRoadWilliamsburg,VA23185(757)220‐6830

www.wuu.orgof ice@wuu.orgJenniferRyu,MinisterLolaWarren,President newsletter@wuu.org

TIMESENSITIVE

 

RobandNanPiland

CELEBRATE!CELEBRATE!

Lookingforawaytoacknowledgeafriendorrelative'sspecialday?WhynotmakeacontributiontotheWUUEndowmentFundintheirname.WewillthensendoutaletteracknowledgingthattheWUUEndowmentFundhasreceivedagiftfromyouinthenameofthatspecialperson.Whatauniquewaytorecognizeanoccasion!ForaMemorialGiftForm,contactEndowment@wuu.org.

(Toaddyournameandmonthtothebirthdayandanniversarylist,contactEllynStephensintheof iceatof ice@wuu.org.)

KeelyBeardEveBreckerCalvinCaldwellRebeccaDelbosJaneFergusonJimKentMichaelLuchsAnneLuchsinger

KevinMooreJaneNicholsEileenO’BrienJaneReillyEmmaSavoieJoelSchiffSandyStephanCharlesTankersley