From the minister:
All Contribute to Our Ministry Together
Last month we had a number of opportunities to reflect,
celebrate, and reconnect with our Fellowship’s sense
of purpose. I was surprised and grateful for the inclusion
of the recognition of our 10 years of ministry together
at the Celebration of Ministry on May 4. This evening marked
the ends of service for our first intern, Dawn Cooley,
and for Benette Sherman, who has served our youth, children,
and families for nearly a decade. Both of them have made
invaluable contributions to our Fellowship. While this
was a farewell to Benette and Dawn, it was even more a
recognition of the strength of our fellowship approach
to ministry.
The next evening, we said goodbye to Erv Luedders, who
had directed the Fellowship Voices and gave so much to
our Fellowship. The congregation came together with Erv’s
wife, Dorothy, and their families to mourn our losses and
to celebrate Erv’s life. The heartfelt sharing of
stories and the lifting of voices in song truly gave us
a chance to pay tribute to Erv.
While in so many ways these evenings reinforced our sense
of community and the power of our ministry together, I
was distressed to hear that one group felt left out by
the end of the evening. This was a group of four people
who, both nights, did the final room cleanup and washing
of dishes. Cleanup is not a glamorous task, but without
it we’d cease to function as a fellowship. I was
saddened to hear that a number of people, when asked to
do a simple task such as moving chairs, didn’t. It
takes just a couple of minutes, agreeing to a request and
letting others know their work is appreciated.
We talk about hospitality. But too often we’re only
talking about new people. Being hospitable extends to everyone
in our Fellowship. This means not just being friendly but
sharing the tasks that are the ministry of our Fellowship.
There are two ways we can be engaged in such ministry.
One is signing up to make coffee, to pick up chairs, to
take meals, to be part of a committee or group that helps
you connect by serving. The other is by stepping up when
asked. This could be a spontaneous moment when you see
someone cleaning up and pitching in, or it could be responding
to something you read in the newsletter. It’s all
about making connections to other people and the reality
of what it takes to be a fellowship.
I’d like to express my thanks to Dawn Cooley for
giving us the opportunity to explore what it means to host
an intern. She brought a great deal of energy, ideas, and
enthusiasm and leaves us with many good memories, a revived
campus ministry program, and a deeper sense of our own ability
to contribute to the training of ministers. Also, as we
end a partnership between the Fellowship and Benette Sherman,
I’d like to say thanks to you, Benette, for putting
your heart into your work with our children, youth, and
families. Luckily, our UU universe is a small enough place
that I am certain our paths will cross again. I look forward
to the future and watching the directions that Dawn’s
and Benette’s careers will take.
During part of June, I will be visiting our partner church in
Transylvania. After July 1, I will be on vacation for the
remainder of the month.
Safe travels on your summer’s journeys, be they to the
neighborhood pool or the heights of Machu Picchu. I hope
that your travels bring you peace, a deeper sense of
connection, and a settling toward harmony. Also, don’t
forget to bring a bit of water with you from your travels
for our Sept. 9 water communion service.
-- Brian |
Sunday, June 3, 10 a.m. only
Planting Seeds: the Flower Communion
Dawn Cooley, the Rev. Brian Eslinger,
Benette Sherman
Bring a flower to share for this traditional
all-congregational service in which we engage in an historical
celebration that reminds us that, just as the diversity
of the flowers enhances their beauty, so, too, our community
is made richer by the presence of each of us.
All-Congregational
Sunday, June 10, 10 a.m. only
Living from the Center
Kathryn L. Bowman, the Unitarian
Church of Davenport
Living from the center is not just about combating overconsumption
and an acquisitive lifestyle, but an overall orientation toward life.
Readings from Annie Dillard, ecotheology as explained by Sallie McFague,
and practical advice from Spirituality in an Age of Consumerism by Jay
McDaniel will be woven together by logic and poetry, pointing toward
a new way of living from the center, focused on right relations among
our Creator, our People, and the Planet.
Sunday, June 17, 10 a.m. only
Choosing Our Charities
Mary Richards
Many religions require or encourage charitable
giving by their adherents. Whether you view sharing with
those less fortunate as a moral imperative or as a convenient
income-tax deduction, it’s nice to know that your
contributions are actually getting to the intended recipients.
This program will mix practical advice with philosophical
reflection.
Sunday, June 24, 10 a.m. only
Back from Transylvania
the Rev. Brian Eslinger
Join us as the Rev. Eslinger shares his
reflections on his journey to the Unitarian homeland in
Transylvania.
Sunday, July 1, 10 a.m. only
Patriots
the Revs. Brian Eslinger & Jean Marie Marsden
As we prepare for our nation’s anniversary,
we’ll explore the question of what it means to be
a patriot.
Sunday, July 8, 10 a.m. only
Stand Up for Darfur! What You Can Do to
Make a Difference
Alissa Stoehr
The genocide in Darfur has been going on
for more than two years and has started to envelop neighboring
countries, including Chad and the Central African Republic.
Alissa will update the congregation on the current status
of the genocide and give us practical ways that we all
can help the people of the Sudan.
Sunday, July 15, 15 a.m. only
The Iowa Sisterhood Tames the Frontier,
Unitarian Style
Dr. Melinda Knutson
In the late 1800s, Iowa was a hotbed for
the women’s rights movement, as well as providing
fertile ground for UU values. We will celebrate the accomplishments
of pioneer women ministers who established the first Unitarian
congregations in Iowa and the Midwest. Dr. Knutson is a
wildlife biologist and a member of the Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship of La Crosse, Wis., and is a former member of
this Fellowship.
After the program, everyone — members, friends, and guests —
is invited to Mary Richards’ home for the annual UUFA summer
brunch. (See page 11 of the newsletter.)
Sunday, July 22, 10 a.m. only
to be announced …
Later this month, check out the Sunday
services part of the UUFA Web site
to discover what treasures have been planned for this day.
Sunday, July 29, 10 a.m. only
What Could the Pilgrims Have Done?
Xenda Lindel, First Unitarian Church
of Des Moines
What could the Pilgrims have done other
than killing the people who lived on this continent as
it was settled by white folks? The question is really about
religious dissidence — mine, yours, and others’.
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