From the minister

New Program Format For New Congregational Year

What do we believe? That’s a pretty big question. It’s a question that our tradition asks us to constantly explore. The second and perhaps more important question relates to how each of us embodies those beliefs. How do our beliefs impact our lives? To help us engage in that exploration, we’re doing a Sunday morning series this fall. During this series, we’ll explore many major theological issues and offer everyone a chance to participate in the process. Here’s how it will work: I will speak on two successive Sundays about related topics (for instance the first two weeks will be God and world views). On the next Sunday, members of the Sunday Morning Program Committee will facilitate a discussion about those topics. Before the discussion begins we will have a short synopsis or other viewpoints on the topics. The discussion formats will vary to try and allow for the greatest participation.

What I plan to offer in my presentations is some of the current thinking regarding these issues and my perspective. Let me emphasize that I do not assume that my perspective is the only one, or that anyone should agree with me. It is my hope that by describing the process I’m going through in developing my theology, each of you will be encouraged to do your work as well. We all have our own experiences and histories that affect what we believe and how we live. No one can think or speak for us; they can only encourage us on our own path.

This fall will be a different format for us. My hope is that we will be able to explore what we believe individually and how we can act on those beliefs as a community at greater depth. I hope to offer brown-bag lunches at noon on the Fridays before the discussions. These informal lunches will give the facilitators and anyone else who’d like to come an opportunity to talk through their thoughts with me. Please call first so I know if anyone is coming.

As you will note from our Sunday program previews on this page, I will not be here for the water communion. As much as I regret missing this fun ingathering ritual, I have another important milestone to recognize. On Sept. 7, my partner Lisa and I will be celebrating 20 years of marriage. For the past ten years, we’ve spent our anniversary beginning a congregational year. For a milestone like this we thought we’d do something special, so we will be traveling while all of you are celebrating your ingathering.

See you on Sunday,

September 4

Miraculous Year (1905)

Toby Ewing and Sam Wormley

In 1905, an anonymous patent clerk in Bern rewrote the laws of physics in his spare time. In little more than eight months in 1905, he completed five papers that would change the world for ever. Spanning three quite distinct topics - Einstein overturned our view of space and time, showed that it is insufficient to describe light purely as a wave, and laid the foundations for the discovery of atoms. Join us as we share the excitement of this Miraculous Year (1905).

September 11

The Wheels of the Bus (and Cars and Trains and Bikes) Bring Us Back to our Spiritual Home

Benette Sherman

Join us as we renew our connections on Ingathering Sunday. Meet and honor our new religious education teachers and participate in the water communion.

 

September 18

Can I Call This God?

Rev. Brian Eslinger

The word ‘God’ has undergone many transformations throughout human history. What are some of the understandings about God today? How are they a help or a hindrance in regards to the current situation in which the world finds itself?

September 25

Believing Is Seeing

Rev. Brian Eslinger

Recent research indicates that what we believe theologically affects how we understand the world. We'll explore differing connections between theological understandings and views of the world and how those affect our lives.

 

From the director of youth and children’s ministries

Children’s and Youth RE Programs Starting

Dates to Remember

Sept. 2 ............................... First Friday Family Fellowship Fun

Pay just $4 for pizza and drinks. RSVP to Adela Licona or Jennifer Williams.

Sept. 11 ................................ RE begins with 9 and 11 services

Children start in the Fellowship Hall for the

water communion and ingathering.

Oct. 2 ............................................................ Boston Trip Recap

Boston Trip Revealed!

Ever wonder what really happened on our Boston Heritage trip in August? Here’s a chance to find out! Everyone in the Fellowship is invited to see and hear about the travels and travails of our 22 intrepid teens and their six adult comrades. We’ll relive the journey from 7 until 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2. – Brian Eslinger

Children’s RE Program

Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done.

– Starhawk

I hope that the Fellowship’s ministry (service) to children and youth will help them realize this circle of community as expressed in these words of Starhawk. As we switch back to two services (9 and 11 a.m.) on Sept. 11, we’ll celebrate our connections during the ingathering/water communion. Children should sit with their parents during the first part of the service. RE teachers will be introduced after the water communion, and children will then be invited to go with their teachers to their RE rooms for a short time together.

We’re continuing with the theme of “Stories of Our World Family” this church year and will focus on Christianity, Judaism, UUism, and earth-centered spirituality. Middle school (7th-8th grades) will use Traditions with a Wink, a curriculum that explores our UU traditions with games, food, and other projects. The high school youth will focus on Art and Soul, using art to express or reveal their spiritual journey.

Starting on Sept. 4, the RE Committee will have a registration table set up. Parents are asked to check if their children’s registration forms are correct with current information.

Most of us realize the RE program is a cooperative one, necessitating volunteers. After the first two weeks of RE, parent helpers will be needed in each classroom (preschool through 6th). This requirement is part of our safety policy (two adults always present with children) and also helps the RE teachers to accomplish their goals more effectively.

Youth Program (7th through 12th)

Our Boston-bound youth returned from the Boston trip on Aug. 9 safe and relatively sound. We’re thankful for all the good wishes and positive thoughts we received from our Fellowship community. Even though it was hot and humid in the Boston area, we all had a great time learning more of our UU history and where it was made.

And welcome to the start of a new RE year!

– Benette Sherman

Calling All Free Spirits

The Free Spirits children’s choir welcomes all Fellowship children to sing our principles. We will welcome everyone back upstairs in the piano room on Sept. 11 at 10:15 am, rehearsing until 10:45, and then meeting at 10:15 on alternate weeks (Sept. 25, Oct. 9, Oct. 23), preparing for our first presentation Nov. 6. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Kimber.

Want to Learn More? Adult Education Opportunities

It’s back-to-school time, both in Ames and at the Fellowship

–––––––– AMES ––––––––

Community Organizing Training for Ames

Date: Sunday, Sept. 11, 2–8 p.m.

Place: St. Thomas Aquinas Church

2210 Lincoln Way Ames, IA

Do you want to be a more effective member of UUFA? A community activist? A leader or a “foot soldier”?

Are you interested in enhancing your sense of connectedness in the fellowship and in our community?

Learning about the Industrial Areas Foundation/AMOS model for social action?

This one-day training is part of an ongoing learning process by several churches in the Ames area, including the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Bethesda Lutheran Church, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Collegiate United Methodist Church, and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Participants will gain a general understanding of the principles and practices of broad-based community organizing and practical information about how this model would work in the Ames community. The event is free, and dinner will be provided. To participate, or for more information, contact Marcia Brink.

Housing Everyone: “Take 2”

Date: Saturday, Sept. 29, 6-9 p.m.

Place: Bethesda Lutheran Church

1517 Northwestern, Ames

This is a public gathering with community leaders in order to address Ames commitment to affordable housing solutions. For more info, contact Bev Reddick.

ISU College for Seniors

The ISU College for Seniors is a life-long learning program and is open to all persons age 50 and over. Courses are offered in Ames and most meet one day a week for either four or eight weeks. The fall semester begins Sept. 19. For more information, contact the College for Seniors.

––––––––––––––––––– UU FELLOWSHIP –––––––––––––––––––

GA Comes to UUFA –Rev. Brian Eslinger (515-292-5960)

Come see some of the programming that inspired our UUFA General Assembly (GA) delegation. Pete Seeger, Elaine Pagels, and a cast of thousands will visit the Fellowship on Wednesday nights starting at 7 p.m. We’ll watch and discuss DVDs from three presentations that occurred at GA. They will be:

• Sept. 21: Pete Seeger and Friends
  The legendary Pete Seeger and many of his young protégés (including Emma’s Revolution, Kim and Reggie Harris, and Geoff Kaufman) deliver a rousing concert of folk and contemporary music, filled with meaning and fun.
• Sept. 28: The Ware Lecturer: Elaine Pagels
  Author of Beyond Belief, The Gnostic Gospels, and The Origin of Satan, Pagels delivers a lecture both personal and academic. Her topic of the early Christian church and the Gospels is well worth hearing.
• Oct. 5: “Born Again... and Again... and Again” – GA Sunday Morning Service
  This rousing morning of songs and stories featured the message by Rev. Robert Hardies. Come see the spectacle, hear the music, and consider the message from this service attended by nearly 3,000 UUs.

Historical Jesus Book Club – Marty Helland

Are you interested in the origins of Christianity and the historical Jesus? Do you enjoy books by John Dominic Crossan, Paula Fredrickson, Marcus Borg, or Karen Armstrong? If yes, this long-established book club may be for you. This year we will be reading and discussing From Jesus to Christianity by L. Michael White. Contact Marty for details.

Sitting Meditation – Jean Hagert Dow

Sitting meditation takes place from 7 to 7:40 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the Fellowship Hall. If you are new to meditation, come early, and one of the regulars will help you get started.

UUFA Woman’s Book Group – Barbi Greenlaw

The Women’s Book Group is an open group, welcoming new members at any time. The first meeting of this congregational year is Sept. 12, 7 p.m. in the Tower Room. We are reading The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl.

Wellspring Revival Help Needed – Rev. Brian Eslinger

We have four weeks scheduled for Wellspring Wednesdays from Oct.19 through Nov. 9. But for this to occur, your staff needs help! If you’d like to volunteer to host an educational opportunity (a discussion group, class, or music or art project), to help plan dinners, or to discuss the general composition of the evening, please call Rev. Brian Eslinger at 515-292-5960 or contact him via email at minister@uufames.org. For this project to happen, we need the support and guidance of the congregation.

Women’s Spirituality Group – Cheryl Lawson

All women of the Fellowship are invited to a potluck on Tuesday evening, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. This potluck is an annual event sponsored by the Women’s Spirituality Group as a way to help women connect with each other. Come for food and friendship. You may be interested in joining the Women’s Spirituality Group, or you may wish to form a different group around a common interest. Please bring food to share. Drinks and table service will be provided.

There will be an opportunity to sign up for a women’s retreat which is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 28th–30th. The retreat is at the Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat Center. Please take a look at their web site:

http://www.gbgm-umc.org/wesleywoods/pages/home.html

If you have questions about the potluck or the retreat please contact Cheryl Lawson.

From the office administrator

What Is Your Name Again? (and Again? and Again?)

Well, I’ve been here two months, and you’re still letting me sit in the office chair. One of the hardest things to do has been to learn everybody’s name. It does get rather embarrassing when I have to ask someone for their name two or three (or nine or ten) times. (Especially when they’re a Board member!) So, please be patient and just keep repeating yourself. And, don’t forget, if you don’t see me write down your request, assume that I’m going to forget it!

Thanks to everyone who signed up for the electronic copy of the bulletin. You’re saving my time in preparing the bulk mailing and the Fellowship a few cents in printing and postage. If you decide to take advantage of this, just drop me an email.

This past month, I concentrated on our calendar. We previously had two calendars kept by hand and keeping them in sync was a problem. So, I put all of our calendar entries into a spreadsheet from which I can output daily, weekly, and monthly lists of reservations. I’m also able to quickly check for conflicts without having to flip a lot of pages. Check out the monthly pages on the bulletin board outside of the office. And, while you’re doing that, let me know if you’re in charge of a recurring event that isn’t listed. For instance, I didn’t know about the Sitting Meditation group (see page 4) until the weekly calendar came out in the bulletin.

Next month, my goal is to understand and update PowerChurch, the membership database, in preparation for putting out a new handbook. If your name, address, phone, email, or family composition has changed since the last handbook came out, please send me your new contact information to make sure that I have the correct data. Thanks!

Postponed:

Pictorial Directory

but good things are worth waiting for!

How nice to see our new building space utilized by so many groups during the week! Unfortunately, this has resulted in the postponement of our pictorial directory to the fall of 2006 since the entire building will be occupied for two of our four scheduled photography days. However, we have a new date, and the space is reserved. Mark your calendars in advance: Oct. 18-21, 2006. You can plan to have an extended family portrait done as well as the photo that will appear in the Fellowship pictorial directory.

We will still be publishing our handbook this fall with updated information about members and friends. If you have any changes to your address, name, phone, or email, please get the correct information to the office via phone (515-292-5960), or email (uufa@uufames.org).

Questions? Call Cindy Scholten.

Wanted: Musicians

Are you an instrumentalist with a yen to accompany? Do you know of someone who could provide wonderful music, but may be too shy to consider themselves? We are seeking to expand our group of folks who are willing to accompany hymns and maybe play special music at Sunday services. Don’t eliminate yourself or someone else just because you don’t play the piano; other instruments are more than welcome.

If you're interested or know someone who needs to be asked, please get in touch with Mary Richards.

Found: Custodian

Our new custodian, Katy Lawson, started her duties Aug. 1. She is a senior at ISU studying art and while growing up was active in the Fellowship RE program. She has also lived in Colorado and loves the mountains. We are excited to welcome Katy and know she will help keep our space clean and tidy. Many thanks to our outgoing custodian, Isaiah Cunnally as he heads to art school in Chicago.

Molly Nesbitt and Nancy Schroeder

UU.con: Giving Life the Shape of Justice

by Sam Wormley

Erv Luedders, our Fellowship Voices choir director, has made several arrangements of the UU Hymn we are all familiar with, written by Carolyn McDade, “Spirit of Life.”

Many of you know the tune in your head.... Sing it in your mind with me:

Spir-it of life, come un-to me.

Sing in my heart, all the stir-ring of com-pas-sion

Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;

Move in the hand, giv-ing life the shape of justice.

Roots hold me close; wings set me free;

Spir-it of life, come to me, come to me.

For the last several years, I have been a member of the Annual Conference Program Planning Committee for the Prairie Star District. The committee’s tasks include selecting a conference theme, securing major speakers, and organizing workshops.

The 2006 conference theme sounds a bit like a youth con, but it comes out of a need for social action and the words are lifted right out of Carolyn McDade's, “Spirit of Life” — “UU.con: Giving Life the Shape of Justice.”

The conference is in Iowa City, next spring, April 28–30, 2006, so it is particularly convenient for members of our congregation to attend.

We hope you will all consider attending the Iowa City conference. Liz Weber, Deb Kline, Linda Barnes, Brian Eslinger and others, including me, have presented workshops at the PSD Conference in recent years.

We invite you to consider the opportunity to present a workshop that speaks to the future of Unitarian Universalism as a movement committed to social justice. We have a history of being on the forefront of important justice issues. There is again a great need for us to make our voices heard and to work together with the power that comes only from community to bring about the changes that we passionately desire. We are confident you will come up with creative, informative, stimulating, and humbling ideas for workshop topics relevant to UUs in Prairie Star District.

Please find a workshop application in this newsletter and contact any of us who have given workshop presentations in recent years. You can contribute to “Giving Life the Shape of Justice.”

Note that the deadline for returning workshop applications is Sept. 26, 2005. Workshop applications should be sent to Eric Severson, either by email or postal mail, at the address listed on the application. The committee will be selecting the workshops at that time and cannot guarantee space for admissions received after that date. We look forward to hearing from you with your workshop ideas.

See you in Iowa City, April 28-30, 2006!

Interfaith Prayer-for-Peace Service

Date: Thursday, Sept. 8, noon–1 p.m.

Place: Unity Church, 9th and Kellogg, Ames

At noon on Thursday, Sept. 8, Unity Church in Ames will host an interfaith service for peace as part of the World Day of Prayer. Members of UUFA are invited to join friends from other faith traditions in an hour of reflection and song. For more information, contact Marcia Brink.

Partner Church News From Transylvania

by Deb Kline

The Partner Church Committee (PCC) recently asked Rev. Lajos Lorinczi of our Tordatfalva congregation what specific needs his congregation and community are currently experiencing. We would like to report to you these needs as we raise awareness and elicit support for the keepers of our UU roots, and honor our relationship with our far-away friends.

• Reliable Transportation : Currently the village has one vehicle that frequently breaks down and is often in need of costly repairs. This clunker not only transports Lajos between his three congregations, but also serves as taxi and ambulance to the village. Imagine the frustration in a medical emergency. A reliable automobile would cost 6 to 7000 euros.
• Church Building Repairs : Thanks to our donation last year and the cooperative work of the villagers, the congregation was able to repair the attic floor above the sanctuary to serve as a sub-roof to the building. They are still waiting for a permit to fix the actual roof, badly in need of repair. Since this building is historic, there is a great deal of red tape to go through. Once a permit is granted, the roof repairs will cost $15,000 US.
• Education : Everyone in the village survives on subsistence farming, with little opportunity for outside income. All of Lajos’ modest salary goes for simple living expenses, or back to the church and for auto expenses. His wife, Tunde, would like to attend a nearby university, but it would cost them 700 euros per year for four years. Currently, Lajos can’t even afford to buy books.
• Connections : Thanks to our Transylvania travelers, the people of Tordatfalva have names, faces, and experiences to complement our Partner Church relationship. Just knowing that they are not alone in their isolated sector of the world is a big help to them. Any communications on a personal level will benefit us all.

The PPC welcomes your ideas and suggestions to exchange help and support. Please come to the All-Congregational Service on November 6th where we will celebrate the Thanksgiving and Harvest traditions of our two communities. The PPC members are Kitty Fisher, Ginny Huntington, Deb Kline, Joan Mathews and Roy Warman.

Next Board Meetings:
7pm, Wednesday, September 14
(with potluck dinner at 5:30)
7pm Wednesday, October 12