unitarian universalist fellowship of decatur · uufd board meeting – noon, sunday, feb. 10 soul...
TRANSCRIPT
Feb. 3: “If the Truth Be Known”with Rev. Larry Hutchison A continuous message has woven itself
into the very fabric of ourlives; yet, is it even true?Nietzsche wrote in "BeyondGood and Evil", "It is aterrible thing to die of thirst inthe ocean. Must you salt yourtruth so
heavily that it nolonger even quenchesthirst?”
Feb. 10: “Impact ofData -BasedDecision Making inHigh School” withDan Bechtel Recent changesmade in Urbana HighSchool as a result ofdisciplinary data frommiddle/high schoolbrought with them
significant friction with teachers andadministrators. The data doesn’t lie, andchanges clearly needed to be made, sowhat went wrong?Joyce Throneburg is service leader.
Feb. 17: “New Ways To Live, Loveand Think” with Rev. Larry Hutchison Happy Valentine's Day! There has been amoral tone shift in sympathy for theEnlightenment in this age of knowing moreand thinking less. We can't see tones, but
we sure can feel them, and it'snot good. There is a betterdirection!
Feb. 24:“ForeignAffairs inDecatur” Severalstudentsfrom Millikin University’sCenter for InternationalEducation will talk about thecurrent situation in their homecountries and their experiencesduring their time in the USA.
Unitarian UniversalistFellowship of Decatur
3773 N. MacArthur Rd. Decatur, IL 62526 Phone: (217) 875-5442 www.uufd.org
Our services: 10:15 a.m.,with religious education and child care
Remember ...you'll receive aneblast Sundaymorning by7:30 a.m. – ifthe service iscanceled. It’ll be from theminister if it is
Larry's Sunday orthe service leader for
that Sunday.You will benotified, only ifchurch iscanceled ...
otherwise, assume itis on.
To cancel or not to cancel?
Inside: Why are these peopleso happy? See page 8
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Jon Baxter Dies
UU Humanists – 6:30 p.m.,Wednesday, Feb. 6. Tim Rooneyleads discussion about gambling andits effects on individuals andcommunity.
Positively Plant Based for Life – 7p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12
UU Men’s Lunch – 1 p.m.,Wednesday, Feb. 13, Anna Thai, 253N. Main St., Decatur
Women’s Book Group – 5:30 p.m.,Wednesday, Feb. 13, Anna ThaiRestaurant. The book is “Educated: AMemoir” by Tara Westover. RSVP to
UUFD Board Meeting – noon,Sunday, Feb. 10
Soul Support – 7 p.m., Thursday,Feb. 21.
UU Women’s Lunch – 11:30 a.m.Wednesday, Feb. 27, RaspberryRoom in Elwin. Contact JudyThistlethwaite, [email protected] 429-5923 for a reservation.
Publish your event or meeting inthe weekly e-Blast – submit items
to [email protected] Monday of each week.
Tids & Bits
Thanks to Joyce Throneburg, Bobbie and Willa Hartman, Larry Hutchison, VernThistlethwaite, Chelso Frescura and Gary Brennan for helping Mark Sorensen unpackour 34 new chairs. New seating is thanks from a legacy of late member June Allisonand recent member donations.
Our UUFD president stresses need
We are facing a crisis in this country. Ithas to do with the (temporarily suspended)shutdown of the government. Hopefully, bythe time you read this, peopleare back to work. If theyaren't, it means that foodstamp recipients will not bereceiving their allotment. Thatmeans even more people willbe needing help at food banks.
Please donate all that you areable. Money may run out for free and re-duced lunches. Donate to pay for lunches ifthis happens. Keep informed, and help yourfriends and neighbors. If we all help a little itwill mean a lot to those who need help.
Kathy Vaught
Sorensen to talk on Lincoln UUFD member Mark Sorensen will review“Becoming Lincoln” by William W. Freehlingon Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the DecaturPublic Library’s Books Between Bites
session. The program startsat 12:15 p.m., and there arecookies. The book explains howLincoln learned from hismany personal and politicalmistakes and misfortunes torecover from a difficult earlylife and repeated defeats inorder to obtain the highestoffice in the land and save
the Union.
Jon Baxter Dies
PAGE 3 February 2019
Planting a dream on thisicy Martin Luther King, Jr.weekend starts with theproposed Recycling andComposting Center here inDecatur.
I know, it is just oneissue among many, but thetime is now. We have twoto three weeks before thevote. We must understandthe urgency of now! Wemay not get anotheropportunity like this; theland has been given to thecounty, a 30-year bondcomes off our taxes thisyear.
We need this recyclingresource badly. It isplanning for the future andthe responsible thing to do;it is turning our waste intousable products.
So, let's educateourselves on the center,write editorials to thepaper, and call or write ourdistrict representatives onthe county board, etc.Thanks!
Now, here is another wayof thinking and gettinginvolved with the center.The Media/OutreachCommittee is putting
together a list oforganizations in the countythat UUFD members andfriends have a relationshipwith, and so far, we haveover 40 organizations andover 30 different membersand friends involved in atleast one of these groups.So, here is the plan on howwe can engage ourcommunity concerning therecycling center.
First, we must meet thecommunity half way, thatis show up. Second, sharewho we are – a people ofhope, living thepossibilities.
Let's take this to thecommunity, to theorganizations with whichwe have a relationship.Let's talk about it face toface. Let's engage themwith the urgency, theimportance, and theresponsibility to take careof our waste and ourplanet. Let's call it plantinga dream or evencomposting a dream!!
You, me and planting a joyful dream
Rev. Larry Hutchison
Office hoursTues. 10 a.m. - 1
p.m.Wed. 6 - 9 p.m.
Thurs. 10 a.m. - 1p.m.
Call first or drop in if you see my car.
Or call to set up a time to meet or
email, text or Facebook
message.
Please share your birthday byEmailing [email protected]
Athena Pajer –Feb. 5Barbara Hannon –Feb. 14John Regan –Feb. 15Nancy Hutchison –Feb. 24
Please remember those in facilities,including:John Regan, Hickory Point ChristianVillage, Room 204.Mary Cleave, Primrose RetirementCommunity, Room 103.John Hays, Heritage Health, 1225Woodland Dr., Mount Zion, 62549.
We are off and running in2019! The RE planningcommittee meeting was
very well-attended, filledwith greatideas, positivefeedback andideas for funfamilyactivities. Ourfirst event will
be a family game night onFeb. 9 at 5 p.m.
This month in RE, we willcelebrate Black Historymonth by learning a shortplay and performing it bythe end of the month. Thepressure is on!
Thank you for bringing inrecycled materials for us tocreate instruments with.These instruments will beused throughout ourprogramming for the rest ofthe year.
This month, we will alsodiscuss love and emotions.I also plan to beginpracticing group-mindful-ness activities as part ofour routine.
As our program grows, sodoes the need formaterials. Please donatetoys and art supplies. Wecould really use Legos of all
sizes, dress-up clothes andcostume pieces, oldmagazines, games, andpuzzles.
The students areenjoying their new role ofgathering donated fooditems during the service.Please continue to bring innonperishable foods. This isnow a regular part of ourservice – just one of themany good ideas that cameout of the committeemeeting.
If you would like tovolunteer as part of the REcommittee we would love tohave you!
PAGE 4 February 2019
Good feedback fosters more fun for Religious Education
Lisa Coates
Family Game Night means food, fun – and you? What’s the big deal? Why,it’s Family Game Night,Saturday, Feb. 9, startingat 5 p.m.
The RE Team and theHospitality Committee arethe hosts of this informalgathering.
The activities will last acouple of hours, dependingon how things go with allages of kids and adults.
“Oh, how can I help,” wehear you asking yourself.Bring simple finger food
snacks that can be eatenwhile we play games.(Pizzas will be ordered forsnacking as well.)
Then, too, you can bringgames to share.
Other details will beannounced closer to thedate.
Meanwhile, you maycontact Judy Thistlethwaite,Mary Lovell, or KathySorensen if you canvolunteer to help set up orclean up.
And if you are asenthused about this projectas much as many othersare, bring friends. It’s agreat way to introducefamily people to ourFellowship.
PAGE 5 February 2019
Getting on Board, looking ahead, enjoying progressOn Jan. 13, your board:
g Received the flyer aboutthe impressive lineup forthe Environmental FilmSeries. The GreenSanctuary Committee plansfour movies, lastingthrough March 23.Speakers, free lunches anddiscussions make theseevents not to be missed
g Adjusted thecancellation policy forchurch services (seeseparate article)
g Heard that the RECommittee is planning aGame Night for Feb. 9. It’salso exploring the hiring ofanother RE teacher, toallow one class for youngerkids and another for older.Food collections for apantry will continue by ourRE youth
g Received an attendancereport for the past seven
years. The numbers aremoving in the rightdirection, especially withyouth numbers of 8.5,compared with just over 4in 2015. For overallattendance, this year’saverage of about 42 is thehighest since a similarnumber in 2013.
g Crystal Brockway ishelping to arrange forUUFD to have a booth inthis fall’s Youth PrideFestival. The Fellowshipmay become a sponsor ofthe event
g Rev. Larry and NancyHutchison are planning aFeb. 15 birthday party forfounding member JohnRegan. John’s turning 108at Hickory Point ChristianVillage. Nancy has sentinformation about John tothe UUA, curious aboutwhether he is the oldestliving UU.
g Learned that TravisStimeling, who attendedregularly before he movedEast, will be part of theApril 7 service and mayperform music elsewhere inthe community on his visit
g The Media OutreachCommittee has divided alist of key communitygroups among itsmembers, to pursue closercontacts with theiractivities
g President Kathy Vaughtwill set up a group tonegotiate with Rev. Larryon a contract for hissecond year. She also willform a NominatingCommittee to find officersfor next church year
g Expressed an interest inprocuring a mulchinglawnmower and leaf blower
Find us on the InternetFacebook page: UUFD - Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of Decatur, ILWeb site: uufd.org
Dick Zaker is Newsletter editor. March edition deadline: Feb. 23.
CSA to return: The Community SupportedAgriculture program shares now are on sale.This third season will run 16 weeks, Junethrough September. Full shares are $400; halfshares $200. Returning members get a 10%discount by typing the code COMINGBACK onthe website. You may purchase a share athttp://jubileefarmsclinton.com/community-supported-agriculture-csa-shares/
Or by sending a check to: Jubilee Farms UCC ,9116 Texas Church Road Clinton IL 61727
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Treasuring the moments: Pledge drive time nears While our thoughts areoptimistically turningtoward spring, we alsoneed to turn our attentionto theupcomingbudgetprocess.
Budgeting isan essentialpart of the lifeof ourcommunity: itis how we collectivelydetermine our prioritiesand keep ourselvesaccountable for achievingthose priorities.
Here’s the schedule forthis year’s process: InMarch and April, theFinance Committee will beasking each active
committee for input: theirlists of “must haves” and“it sure would be nice — wehave an idea we are readyto act on!”
Finance will meet duringthis period, and prepare adraft to be reviewed by theBoard at the April meeting.Easter Sunday will also bepledge Sunday — our firstdraft budget will be givento everyone with ourrequest that you help makeit happen.
Finance will prepare anyrevisions to the budget anddiscuss again with theBoard at the May meeting,in preparation for theCongregational MeetingMay 19. All members willbe asked to vote on the
budget, which will then beour road map for the 2019-2020 church year.
We look forward to yourhelp!
March/April: budgetinput and first draft fromFinance
April: Board discussion/approval of draft budget
April 21: Easter andPledge Sunday
May: Board discussion/approval of revisions todraft
May 19: Congregationalmeeting and vote onbudget
Amy Stockwell
Welcome to UUFD Nameplate Greats(This is intended as a
recurring feature to kindlefond thoughts amonglongtime members andinform newer people aboutthe high character of peoplewho have come beforethem. Anyone is welcome totake a hymnal and writetheir recollections about theperson listed on thenameplate.)
Wayne Gregory Wayne was one of manyat UUFD who had a lot more
beneath the surface thanmight first appear. Forinstance, he was deeplycurious about Buddhism.
I believe Wayne had beena barber.
He would sat in a lawnchair, placed in the frontrow. I always assumed thatchair gave him morecomfort from some healthproblem. Wayne always wasneatly dressed – a plaidshirt and straw hat often –
with great posture and wasvery attentive throughoutthe service.
He would engage withyoung, old and otherwiseduring the coffee break.About that Buddhism: Itwas jarring when aChristian minister declaredat his funeral in the late1990s that Wayne hadaccepted Jesus. That didn’tsquare with what we knewof him. Wayne was upbeat;I liked him.
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Birthday wishes thismonth to UUFD foundingmember John F. Regan,who turns 108 years old onFeb. 15. John and his latewife, Evelyn, came to thefirst organizational meetingof Decatur Unitarians at theHotel Orlando on March 30,1953, and a month later,became charter members ofthe new Fellowship. Johngave lay program talks,twice served as president,helped obtain our firstproperty at 716 W. WilliamSt. in 1961, and stillcontributes as he can.
John and hisfamily movedto Decatur in1919. He wasan award-winningessayist atDecatur HighSchool, editedthe schoolnewspaper,
ran track and played thetuba in the school band. Heattended Millikin University,where he served as bandlibrarian. He earned his lawdegree from the Universityof Illinois, where he alsowas in the concert band andorchestra and visited theGreen Street UnitarianChurch.
His Decatur law practiceopened in 1940. At thistime, he was president of aregional conscientious
objectors group, but in1942 enlisted in the armyon the condition he couldhave a noncombat role. Heserved in the militaryoverseas for three yearsbefore returning to Decaturin 1945.
As a teen,John’s bestfriend wasclassmateJamesParsons, anAfrican-Americanathlete andmusician.John wasupset when he witnessedJames being discriminatedagainst in a Springfieldrestaurant and movietheater during their highschool band trip. Parsonswent on to become a musicteacher, lawyer, and, finallyin 1961, the first life-tenured Negro federal judgein the U.S. He also is thenamesake of ParsonsElementary School.
John Regan internalizedthese memories, becomingthe attorney for the Decaturchapter of the NAACP, filing
racial discrimination casesand helping open Decaturrestaurants to all people.While still in college Johnwrote: “I am confirmed inthe belief … that each man,inherently, is as deservingof human consideration asany other man; that thegoal of government shouldbe the greatest good ofeverybody, and not thegreatest good of thegreatest number.”
Saluting founding member John Regan on 108 great years
John, in highschool
Luella Coates, 3 months, meetJohn Regan, nearing his108th birthday.
The Decatur Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois) · Sat, Oct 9, 1954 · Page 3
Copyright © 2019
John has been devoted toresearch on his home city,sifting through microfilm fornews items to compile intobinders.
The Decatur Herald (Decatur, Illinois) · Mon, Nov 11, 1940 · Page 3
Copyright © 2019