January 2004
The
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship At Easton, Maryland
7401 Ocean Gateway, PO Box 1162, Easton,
Maryland 21601, 410-822-8103, www.uufeaston.org
Minister: Rev. James M. Bank, 301-633-4274 or 410-822-8103
Co-Presidents: Gail Woodall, 410-
820-8541, & Janet Pfeffer, 410-770-9540
Director of Religious Education: Mary Lou Keller,
410-763-6508
Music Director: Patty Rubin, 410-745-2000
Minister Emeritus: Daniel G. Higgins, Jr. D. Min., 410-745-3462
Newsletter Editor: Amy Eutsey, 410-820-7971
Two Sunday Services With Child Care, 9
& 11 a.m.
Sunday School, 11:00 a.m.
January Sermons
Jan. 4, “Meeting Neptune.” Like
so many others, Jim has a card to prove it: He once met Neptune while crossing
the Equator. Join us as he draws some conclusions from the experience.
Jan. 11, “George Doe.” A
long-ago death and too much alcohol center this sermon that looks of
friendships gone wrong, decisions poorly made, and the never-ending quest for a
better way.
Jan. 18, “The Importance of Resolution and Agreement to Our UU Purposes
and Principles.” Join guest speaker Stewart Levine for what
will prove to be a fascinating discussion. His book, Getting to Resolution,
entails an entirely new way to deal with conflict. His personal mission is to
change the way our culture currently resolves conflicts: To become reliant on
resolution and agreement for its business and personal relationships. Levine is
a lawyer, management consultant, mediator, and trainer. His clients and
students include American Express, Caterpillar, Chevron, ConAgra, General
Motors, Oracle, and others. He has been a partner in two law firms and has
served as Deputy Attorney General for the state of New Jersey.
Levine will be
presenting a series of workshops for people in any kind of relationship at
Evergreen Cove from January 16 to 17. Go to the Continued… page for more
details.
Jan. 25, “Hidden Love.” This
sermon is a tribute to gay and lesbian pride and a look at the problems some
have with the idea. Come or stay for special Choir music at the 11 a.m.
service.
Ministerial Musings
Jim Bank is in the church office Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m.
to at least 3:00 p.m., but often running into the evening hours. His e-mail
address is jmbatmd@aol.com. His personal phone number is 301-633-4274. His home
phone is 301-622-6431. Messages also can be left on the office line. Because of
meetings and conferences, it is best to call ahead and make an appointment. Jim
will be in town a third weekday as well for community events and to visit with
members.
Gratitude
As the holiday season comes to a close, I find myself filled with a
profound sense of gratitude at what I have been given. The wonderful notes and
cards and efforts of so many that culminated in the vote of the congregation to
call me as settled minister have been overwhelming. How could I do anything but
accept!
Ministry is a difficult task. There are so many wants and needs, so many
foci of interest and commitment, such a wealth of capabilities—sometimes congruent
and sometimes disparate—that it is hard to decide what the best course is, how
to relate, what to do first, when to reach out, and when to reach in. I’m sure
that I will need to trust in the graciousness of all in understanding these
difficulties. It is a grace I hope that I can return in kind because all of us
find ourselves in occasional need of the open acceptance and understanding of
others.
And here we are at the beginning of a new year. We are bonded together by
our openness to a liberal faith, our high hopes for our Fellowship, and our
compassion for the needs of our greater community. May we be a beacon to those
about us, a comfort to each other, and sustenance to ourselves in all we do
together.
Cathy and Sasha join me in wishing all of you a wonderful new year. See you in church
Sunday!
Jim Bank
From
the Co-Presidents
Joke: A Unitarian Universalist dies, and on the way to the afterlife
encounters a sign with two options: “To Heaven” or “To a Discussion of Heaven.”
The UU heads right to the discussion of heaven.
Sequel: On the way to the discussion, the Unitarian Universalist visits UUFE and
discovers that no less than FIVE new committees and task forces are in
the works. We gain a new member.
Spring Discussions and Doings
The Financial Planning Task Force is developing a 5-year budget projection for UUFE that takes into account
projected staffing and building expansion along with other expenses and income
sources to maintain our structure and enrich our programs. The 5-year plan will
provide a schedule for projecting and regulating cash flow as well as a
foundation for fiscal confidence as we move forward. Janet Pfeffer chairs this committee with money mavens Nancy Dimond, Dick Doughty, Beth Jones, George McManus, Nancy Orr, Chan
Swallow, Edie Swallow, and Bob
Woodall. Let Janet know if you’d like to pull up a calculator.
The new Committee on Ministry
will provide an avenue for all members to work on maintaining and
strengthening the quality of all aspects of professional and lay ministry at UUFE.
This committee will serve as an impartial observer of congregational life, not
advocating particular policies or issues on behalf of members or the minister.
Members of the committee, along with Jim
Bank, are Barbara Doughty, Dan
Higgins, Del Joiner, and Laura Winne.
Please approach any of these fine people with observations, reactions, and
thoughts related to our common goals.
At least five members of UUFE will take part in Healthy Congregation Workshops on the second Saturdays in March, April, May, and June. The invitation to the workshops states that the purpose is “to provide leaders with the in-depth training to understand the congregational system in which they live and operate and how the emotional processes hinder or advance the congregation’s mission.” The workshops will focus on (a) systems thinking, anxiety in a congregation, and self-differentiation; (b) the effects of chronic anxiety in a relationship system; (c) what leaders need to do to be effective healthy role models in the system; and (d) building good relationships in healthy congregations. Thus far, Nancy Krueger, Bob Woodall, and Gail Woodall have signed on; please let Gail know if you might be interested in attending.
Beth Jones and Nancy Orr are overseeing the combined efforts of the Capital Campaign Committee and the Annual Canvass Committee. Every member and friend of our
congregation will be involved in a joint campaign this spring to gather pledges
for the UUFE 2004–2005 fiscal year and for our 3-year building expansion campaign.
Amy Eutsey, Ann Jacobs, Del Joiner, Dave
Manning, Kat Stork, Julie Striegel, Chan Swallow, Edie Swallow, Jane Terebey, and Mary Young are among those who are already involved in the
super-campaign. Talk with Beth or Nancy about how you fit in as we celebrate,
feast, and pledge.
Over the next few months the Board will be creating a Long Range Planning Task Force. This
group will involve the congregation in capturing our dreams for the next 5
years and incorporate the work of the Financial Planning Task Force. The
resulting plan also will be part of our application to the Joseph Priestley
District Chalice Lighters grant to request funding for building expansion.
Gail and I suspect that, in many ways, it’s going to be a heavenly
spring.
Janet
Pfeffer
Gatherings
Spanish–English
Potluck, Jan. 6
Please join us the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. for a Spanish–English
potluck dinner at the UUFE (Rt. 50, across from the Easton High School football
field). We have had a nice turnout each month. Even if you don’t speak Spanish,
or you want to learn some basic phrases, this is a great way to reach out to
other cultures. Participants may converse in Spanish or English, and food may
be ethnic or any favorite dish. The group is free and open to all. Please bring
a main dish, bread, beverage, or dessert. A Spanish–English dictionary is a
good idea! Call Julie Striegel (410-820-5902) for more information or just show
up! Hasta la vista!
Men’s Lunch Bunch, Jan.
7 & 21
Men from the Fellowship gather promptly at 11:30 a.m. at the Easton Airport Cafe.
Women’s Luncheon, Jan.
8
Mason’s is the place
again. Please call Anne Lemp (410-822-9370) if you plan to come so she can
reserve a table. But don’t hesitate to come at the last moment; we can always
squeeze in another.
Dinner and a Movie
Night, Jan. 9
This month’s movie is “Whale
Rider,” a contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Maori
girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. Please
bring a dish from the sea. Showtime is 6:30 p.m.
New Gathering!
Knitting, Etc., Jan. 17
Now gathering on the third Saturday of each
month is a group for knitters and other needle crafters. Come to UUFE at 10
a.m. and knit; talk; share a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa; and enjoy the camaraderie
of those who share your passion. Beginners are welcome. No need to notify us
ahead of time, but questions can be directed to Janet Pfeffer or Gail Woodall.
Over time, perhaps this will be a good place to share ideas, patterns, tools,
and extra yarns.
Vegetarian Potluck, Jan.
20
Join us the third Tuesday of each month at 6
p.m. for vegetarian fare and discussion. We highlight seasonal vegetables, or
you can bring salad, bread, or dessert. The theme this month is holiday
favorites. There’s always lots of good food, so stop by and sample our cooking.
Also, tell your vegetarian friends about our group. Even if you aren’t
vegetarian, you will enjoy the food and company, guaranteed! Call Dana Keller
(410-763-6508) for more info.
New Gathering!
Young Adults Group,
Jan. 20
Adults 18 to 35 years of age are encouraged
to get together monthly to converse and perhaps plan events to attend together.
Join an all-ages group first for the Vegetarian Potluck, then stay and see what
develops, or just show up at 7 p.m. In this small community, this could be a
great opportunity to meet like-minded people in an informal atmosphere. Call
Mary Lou Keller for details.
Pens & Paper
Potluck, Jan. 27
We have a lot of writing talent in our
midst, and it grows best when supported. After a quick potluck meal, starting
at 6 p.m., we will settle the children down with a video while we writers
compare notes and encourage each other. Bring a dish, something you have
written and would like to share, or just an ear and some kind words. See Mary
Lou for details or just show up.
New Date and Time…
Book Discussion Group, Jan.
29, 11:30 a.m.
The changes are to accommodate some of
our readers who will be away the preceding week. This gives you another week to
read the widely acclaimed novel, Atonement, by
Ian McEwan, which we will discuss, using a discussion guide. Anyday Books in
Easton may still have a few copies left. If you don’t get it read, come anyway
with your bag lunch. The kettle will be boiling.
Chinese New Year, Feb. 1
Back by popular demand! We will celebrate a festive
Lunar New Year but with a new twist. Join us at noon for this brief, but
action-packed occasion!
Children’s Religious Education
Saying YES!
When I
was a child I moved frequently, living in Argentina twice and attending high
school in Switzerland. Every time my father was asked to move his growing
family to a foreign country, he called a family meeting and asked all seven
children for our opinions. I remember a sense of excitement and optimism that
we were gong to have wonderful adventures together. We had complete faith that
our parents would keep us safe and provide us with everything we needed to do
well in our new environment. We always said YES, with gusto (well, until
romances got in the way for several of my brothers…). The only hard part was
saying good-bye to our friends and family that we were leaving.
I find myself having similar feelings
now. Dana and I have an opportunity to move south this coming summer. Dana has
left his job and started consulting. He has also written a book. We will both
be looking for full-time employment in Florida, where Dana has family in
Sarasota. As a bit of background: Because of an early divorce, Dana did not see
his biological father for 33 years, and would now like to support him and his
stepmother through some difficult health issues they face. He also has
half-siblings he barely knows, and their interesting new families have been
very welcoming to us. We have always wanted to live where there is more sunshine,
and we feel compelled to move south now that we have more resources and
freedom. Sarasota is lovely and has an active UU community, as do many of the
cities along the Gulf Coast of Florida. Both our sons will be in college, and
they still have my father and other family nearby as well as steady girlfriends.
I am excited and optimistic about the adventures ahead, and I have faith in our
ability to succeed. I am saying YES, with gusto.
So, although we have enjoyed these 7
years in Easton, it seems like the world is telling us it is time to move on.
The only hard part is saying good-bye to friends and family. We have made many
deep connections here, which will make leaving difficult. I am especially aware
of the strong bonds I have formed with most of the children and want to be
sensitive to the different level of impact my leaving will have on them. But I
know there are many caring adults in their lives who will quickly make up for
my absence, and they are somewhat used to “teachers” being transient. We have a
strong and vibrant village here to help raise our children, and it is full of
talent, so I have faith the RE programs will continue to prosper. Someone great
will say yes to the job of DRE.
The one benefit is that you will have a
friendly place to visit, wherever we end up.
Peace,
Mary Lou
Heifer Project a
Success! More To Come…
We
gathered almost $400 for the Heifer Project this holiday season! This is enough
to buy a water buffalo and a llama for villages in the neediest parts of the
world. Thanks to all the generous donors and to the children for their efforts.
In January, we will start another Heifer Project concept—Read to Feed—where children read
books and adults pledge a small amount for each book read in the 2 months of
the project. Stay tuned for details during Sunday morning announcements.
Multicultural
Homeschool Outreach, Japan
On Tuesday, January 20,
from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., we will invite
area homeschoolers to join us in an exploration of the fascinating country of
Japan. The children will enjoy arts and crafts, music, stories, and Japanese
cuisine, with the Lunar New Year being highlighted. Please let Mary Lou know if
you have something special you could offer this program.
Parent Meeting, Jan. 11
This month, we will talk
about how we got through the holidays and what worked best. Bring a
child-friendly potluck item and join us in the RE wing from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
Youth Overnight, Jan.
23–24
From 5 p.m. Friday to 2
p.m. Saturday, the teens will take over the building for the night, so be
prepared for some major clutter if you stop by. We could use another couple of
chaperones to spend the night or some portion of the time with us. Let Mary Lou
or Eric Striegel know if you can make it.
Youth
Group
Youth group meets weekly for supportive
conversation, CupNoodles, and coordinating of events. Our group is open to all
youth ages 14 to 19, so if you know someone who could benefit from a liberal,
positive peer group send them over on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the RE
porch. This month there will be an overnight, and we will attend a CON in
February. Eric Striegel, Tom Anovick, and Mary Lou Keller are the youth
advisors, and we could use another woman to round out the group. Let Mary Lou
know if you are interested.
Joys and Concerns
Once again, we celebrate the joys and share the
concerns that our members and friends have experienced during the past month.
We
continue to share the concern of Amy and
Dwayne Eutsey for the health of Amy’s parents. A recent chat with old
member/friends, who now live in Portland, revealed that Nelson Marshall had suffered a stroke but seems to be making a fine
recovery, and Grace was reported to
be feeling her old self following a bout with a serious stomach ulcer. Nancy Orr has shared her
concern for a favorite nephew who is critically ill. Our hopes and prayers go
out to each of you.
Ella Janssen, with the help of Len’s good care, is recovering nicely from spinal surgery, and we
hear she is beginning to get out and about. Hope to see you soon, Ella!
Happily, we celebrated our large UU
presence at the ecumenical Thanksgiving
Service at the Synagogue. It was good to share the meaningful service and
the fellowship that followed with so many of our friends in the community. We
look forward to the return of Cathy Miller
who has been in California receiving further training in “process
acupressure.”
Welcome New Members
We wish to
extend a warm welcome to new members:
Leah Sinderman
Frank and Lois Greenburg
A Word From Joe Thome
Joe assures us that he intends to face his
long struggle to recovery from a stroke this past September. He recently phoned
Karl Lemp and asked that word go out to his many friends at UUFE that he is MOST
grateful for the cards and letters people have been sending. Because he can
only write with his left hand presently, he won’t be able to acknowledge and
thank those who have written, but he has not forgotten them and hopes that they
will continue to remember him. He wishes happy holidays to all! Please contact
the Fellowship for Joe’s address and phone number.
Adult Religious Education
Jan. 14,
“Improvisational Creation With the Arts.” There are certain qualities that all arts share: contrast, repetition,
texture, etc. By applying these qualities in our daily lives, we can find the
keys to life creation that open all doors. Leader: Sue Loweree
Jan.
21, “…And Justice for All?” The UUA has asked all UU congregations nationwide to take a stand on the
U.S. Patriot Act. Join us as we examine this act and its impact on American
society. Leader: George McManus
Jan. 28,
“Conversations With God.” Based on the
book of the same name, tonight’s discussion will focus on the “big picture”
search for answers to questions about God, life, and right and wrong. Leader:
Ann Jacobs
Music Notes
Choir Calendar
Choir rehearsals are every Thursday evening
from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday morning rehearsals for the month of January are
10:30 to 10:45 a.m. on the 11th and 18th and 10:10 to 10:45 a.m. on the 25th
(special Choir music Sunday). There is no Choir on the 4th.
Two Mondays a Month!
Song Circle, Jan. 19
& 26