The Beacon-January 2007
JANUARY WORSHIP SERVICES
January 7 – New Politics and the Constitution. As the anniversary of the U.S. Constitution approaches, we will contemplate the beginning of what may be a new political era in our nation. The Rev. Bill Metzger will be in the pulpit, and Bill Sternman will be worship associate. A congregational meeting will follow the service, for purposes of voting on governance policy.
January 14 – Africa! Africa! The second of our services focusing on themes raised by a theatre experience shared by many of our members—the production of Athol Fugard’s “My Children, My Africa!” at the Wilma Theatre. The Rev. Bill Metzger will preach, and Malika Levy will be the worship associate.
January 21 – Building Intimate Community: Small Group Ministry. In anticipation of developing small group ministry at First Unitarian Church, we will consider the ways this can contribute to deepening community. Your participation in thinking about how we go about this will be invited. The Rev. Bill Metzger will preach, and Rick Womer will be worship associate. Also this Sunday, the young adult ministry team will lead a Sunday evening alternative worship service—which will be oriented to young adults, but open to all—in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m.
January 28 – Islam and Its View of the Other. Iftekhar Hussain, a leader in the Islamic community in Philadelphia, will be our pulpit guest. He will speak on how Islam views other religions and faith groups, and on current tensions between the Western world and the Muslim world. He is currently chair of the board of the Council on America Islamic Relations in this area, and secretary general of the American Muslim Society of the tri-state area, and has been extensively involved in interfaith and peacemaking initiatives. Rev. Metzger and worship associate Val Sandberg will participate in the service. A social justice potluck will follow the service, and will feature another Muslim speaker, Manal El-Menshawy, a New Jersey woman, who will share how the attacks of 9/11 impacted her life.
Especially for Visitors and New Friends: Those wanting to know more about Unitarian Universalism and this congregation are invited to meetings after church with the minister and a church member on the second and fourth Sundays.
INTERIM TIMES
A monthly column from our Interim Minister, Reverend Bill Metzger
“Faith, hope, love, these three, and the greatest of these is love.” Also, as William Sloane Coffin once wrote, faith is the least of these, for faith often is expressed as rigid belief and infallible doctrine. And then there is hope, what Emily Dickinson called “the thing with feathers/ that perches in the soul/and sings the tune without the words/and never stops at all.”
I like that, and it is the season—with the Christmas story and the start of a new year—for the reassertion of hope. God knows that, as always, in this season of hope, we are confronted by the world as it is, not as we would wish it to be.
As always, hope is called for; it continues to perch in the soul, and it must never stop, despite the presence of terror and war, torture and the failures of will that continue to occur as if peace were impossible. Even so, we continue to hope.
Once again we face a new year and welcome the thing with feathers that tickles our soul with its tune.
This has been a festive holiday season—with a well-received Christmas concert featuring the choir and guest musicians under the direction of Chris Barnard, a children’s pageant, and a solstice service, in addition to Christmas Eve services.
Let us continue to express our gratitude at this holiday time, and the tremendous generosity demonstrated in response to the end-of-the-year challenge of an anonymous donor to match new and increased pledges up to $20,000. We surpassed that challenge by mid-December, but if you haven’t yet pledged or increased your pledge, please consider doing so. With additional pledges we will meet the optimistic goal of our stewardship campaign.
With gratitude for your love and your hope (and the faith that is expressed as trust in life), for this thriving religious home, and may God—and the spirit of the season—continue to bless us, everyone.
With Love,
Bill
CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Greetings from your CRE Director
When I signed on to be CRE Director here at First Church, I agreed to continue to further my professional training and committed to seek RE credentialing through the Unitarian Universalist Association. I took a few steps toward that goal last year and then let that pursuit go fallow until a couple of months ago, after the initial rush of the start of the church school year. Perhaps it was just as well I let go of it for that time – I had a full plate last year: getting to know the children and their parents and the teachers, “getting my feet underneath me” so to speak. I do feel like I have grown into my job this past year, in no small part due to your graciousness, kindness and encouragement. Now I have more space in my head for new ideas and concepts and have embarked on perhaps the most challenging part of my credentialing: the reading list of more than 30 books, some on philosophy, some curricula and some on the history of UUism.
After reading the first three selections, I have an understanding and appreciation for this reading requirement. I breezed through a couple of history books on Universalism and Unitarianism and Universalism. The other book I read, Welcoming Children with Special Needs by Sally Patton, is what I want to talk about now. The book has two distinct parts. The second two thirds is an overview of specific disabilities, disorders and impairments. The first third is about the philosophy of welcoming all children. She helps us gain a perspective of what it is like to be a parent who is confronted by the discovery that their child has a disability. Some of the content is familiar to us: we all have different learning styles and paces; Ms. Patton gives a good overview of Howard Gardener’s Multiple Intelligences. She offers ways of adapting our church school classes to be more accommodating to different leaning styles. A powerful concept in her book is that we all need to have our own “island of competence” or a source of strength. Drawing from Sam Goldstein, who wrote Raising Resilient Children, she says “Identifying that island or source gives us a technique for focusing on the positive and frees us to see the whole child instead of his or her limitations and disabilities. When we focus on fostering strength, hope and resilience in our children, we can counter negative behavior and not give in to trying to control it.”
The truth is we all have our disabilities and strengths and our deficits are in some ways what make us what we are - not because we somehow overcame them or compensated for them, but because these disabilities are gifts. In his book In the Mind’s Eye, Thomas G. West’s list of famous people with learning disabilities is quite impressive: Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Leonardo DaVinci, Whoopi Goldberg, Winston Churchill, Cher, Walt Disney and others. In my case (not that I am putting myself on the same list), becoming a musician later in life, having a “developmental delay” so to say, limited what type of music I can play – I will never be a classical musician or be able to improvise like many of my jazz heroes - but it is a joy to be able to play and sing folk music for dancers and folks of all ages. I am still stretching the boundaries of my skills.
Ms. Patton has changed my thinking about being welcoming. I am more available and ready to be welcoming to everyone who walks (or rolls) through our doors. She could have titled her book Welcoming Children with Special Gifts. May we all find our own “island of competence”.
With affection,
Jansen Wendell
Special CRE Events
Sunday, January 7
Our Children’s Worship will host a special visitor: Shorty, a special needs dog will join us along with his companion, Wanda Studley, who wrote a book about Shorty’s “handicap” – his hind legs are paralyzed. He uses a cart to get around. Wanda will read her book to us and answer questions about Shorty. The CRE program will purchase a copy of the book for our growing library.
Sunday afternoon, February 25
The CRE program will host a special musical concert with the duo, Two of a Kind. They are a husband and wife group that is well known in children’s music circles for their messages of tolerance, friendship, fairness and environmental care. Tickets will go on sale sometime this month. Two of a Kind will also be performing for the children at that morning’s All-Together Sunday.
Storytellers/Homilists Needed for Children’s Chapel
Storytellers are needed in children's chapel from 11:00 -11:20 a.m. It is a one time commitment (more if you just love it). It involves reading or telling a story, sharing a talent or life experience. You can coordinate with the theme of the adult liturgy or come up with a theme of your own. For more information contact Kate Connolly, kate.connolly4ATverizon.net.
Guest At Your Table Reminder
If you haven’t already, please be sure to turn in your Guest At Your Table donation boxes as soon as possible!
GETTING TO KNOW UU
In recent weeks, Colorado Springs, CO has been in the news, as the home base of many fundamentalist religious (and right wing political) organizations. Ted Haggard’s church of several thousand adherents is located there, as is Focus on the Family and other arch conservative groups. Hearing of this concentration of radical right wingers in one place got me wondering if there was any sort of bastion of liberal religious thought where an alternative to the dogma and rhetoric might be found.
Happily, there are two UU congregations in Colorado Springs. The larger one, All Souls Unitarian Church was founded in 1891 and has occupied its current church building since 1893. With slightly less than 200 members, they have long been active in social justice work in the local area. Just as we are, they are in search for a settled minister. Their minister emerita is the Rev. Dr. Ellen Johnson Fay, whom some of you may have heard of. Their website is www.asuuc.net.
Although they were founded only 12 years ago as an offshoot of All Souls, the High Plains Church Unitarian Universalist (www.hpcuu.org) has seen remarkable growth, particularly since the arrival of their current minister in 2003, in which time they have more than doubled in size to 140 members. They are currently renting space in a middle school, but I predict they will be in their own space within ten years. The Rev. Matthew Johnson-Doyle has been warmly received by the congregation and appears poised to lead them on to greater spiritual depth and more social justice leadership in the community. May both churches continue to inspire freedom of thought and spirituality in the shadow of the Rockies.
Submitted by Ken Olin
COMMUNITY SERVICE & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Books Through Bars
A donations bin is located in our lobby, ready to receive contributions for this national program providing reading material to prisoners. Books in Spanish, how-to/job training manuals, dictionaries, inspirational books, mysteries and science fiction are in high demand.
Anyone with a car is always welcome to help transport the books either on Tuesday nights or on the first and third Saturday afternoons when packing is done. Call Nicole at the A-Space, 215-727-8170 to find out more and how regulars from Social Justice Group headed by Marilyn Ashbrook try to help out on each third Saturday. Members from 35PLUUS head over to the A-Space Tuesday nights to help.
Eat brunch and support Books Through Bars
On Sunday, January 21, Abbraccio Restaurant (820 S. 47th St.- around the corner from the A-Space) will donate 5% of their Sunday Brunch sales. They open for brunch at 11:00 a.m.
WinterShelter
Our commitment to serving the WinterShelter at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church (22nd and Spruce Sts.) has begun with resounding success. On 11/24, 15 men arrived ready to enjoy pork tenderloins prepared by Justine Hansen. Diane Frey brought rice, and Denise McKeon and Dylan and Delaney McKeon brought vegetables, and pie for dessert. Her friend Monica also helped the McKeons welcome and serve the men. The men always love to greet the families and have them chatter and welcome them. The Wednesday commitment (12/6) had Luana Goodwin, Ginny Beier and Jeff Kilburn cooking and serving. Seventeen men arrived a little early and were made to wait with coffee and tea while we heated up the fried chicken, scalloped potatoes, beans. They were ready for the grapes and the ice cream dessert immediately but the dinner had to come first. Our 4th Friday commitment will be 12/22 with Tricia Way, Lois Lax, Christina Castellano, and Finy Hansen cooking and serving. Please sign up for an upcoming date and be in touch with the coordinator Ginny Beier for specifics at 215-545-7831 or vhbeierAThep.upenn.edu. At least three people needed to serve 6:00-8:00 p.m. and cooking can be done ahead of time.
Social Justice Speaker and Potluck
“After 911: An American Muslim Woman's Perspective”
Manal El-Menshawy always considered herself an ordinary American woman from New Jersey whose religion just happened to be Muslim. Along with the destruction of the World Trade Center on 911, her world was blown apart. Join the Social Justice Committee as they welcome Ms. El-Menshawy as she speaks about her experience, the devastation and hope, since 911. Bring a salad, hot dish or dessert to share. Drinks and table service will be provided.
This special presentation will be held on Sunday, January 28; 12:30 p.m. in Griffin Hall.
Recycling
Recycling at Trinity Memorial (22nd and Spruce Sts) continues every first and third Saturday between 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. If anyone with a car willing to help the church get rid of our extra paper, contact Ginny Beier 215-545-7831 email vhbeier@hep.upenn.edu. Bring all mixed paper (including whole cardboard boxes) and plastic bottles (with necks) cleaned and crushed. Recyclable plastics in Philadelphia are No. 1&2 with a necked bottle (no tops, clean and crushed).
The West Philadelphia location is The Firehouse at 50th and Baltimore Avenues - First and Third Saturdays. The Fairmount location is behind the North Star Bar at 27th and Poplar Sts. First Saturdays only.
A House With No Walls
On Saturday, February 10, First Church will again host a gathering of UUs from area churches centering on a play containing issues of race and ethnicity. We will see a 1:00 p.m. performance of A House With No Walls at the nearby Interact Theater, then return here for discussion and supper. The price for the theater and supper will be $25 per person. Tickets can be reserved by signing the sheet on the bulletin board or e-mailing Luana Goodwin at lugoodwinATmsn.com. Questions about the event can be directed to Luana as well. Payment should be made by January 21. We are hoping that First Church will have at least 15 participants.
Jubilee Workshop
Join us on Saturday, February 17 when a Jubilee Workshop will be offered by the Rev. Chester McCall. The workshop will engage participants in discussion about racism as it continues to exist in our church, community and world. It will prepare us to identify some areas for our own growth as well as enable us to develop some shared perspectives on community issues. It will also equip us to better collaborate with our sister UU churches, who have preceded us with this training. The timing of the workshop is likely to be 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
ADULT PROGRAMS
Women's Book Club
Due to an accident suffered by Harriette Behringer in November we could not meet at her home for our December Meeting. Graciously Christine Carlson offered her home for our discussion of Blue Diary. Most enjoyed this quick read but felt that the author manipulated the character development and left several flat characters. We may attend the author's lecture (Alice Hoffman) at the Free Library in January together. Our January 8th meeting will be at the home of Sharon Tomalin. Our goal for this important meeting will be to pick the 11 books to be read in 2007. Please Call Sharon at 215-736-5047 or stomalinATatt.net to let her know you are coming.
Please try and bring a copy of your proposed book and check out its availability in the library.
Depression Support Group
The group will continue to meet on the first Sunday of each month at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Arcenia Rosal at 215-561-6506, or Lynn Rubin at 215-567-4172.
Great Decisions
Great Decisions is a series of eight foreign policy discussions based on a briefing book published by the Foreign Policy Association. Topics for 2007 include: The Middle East, Climate Change, Mexico, Migration, South Africa, War Crimes, Central Asia, and Children. We will meet at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings to discuss a new topic each week (based on a 10-page briefing read in advance). All internationally-minded individuals, friends and guests are welcome to participate in any or all of the discussions. To order a 2007 Great Decisions Briefing Book contact Jacob Fisher (jacob.fisherATgmail.com) by Sunday, January 21 (books also available at www.fpa.org).
Interweave
Beginning in January, Interweave will change its monthly meetings after church (brunch out or pot lucks, etc) to be on the fourth Sundays instead of the third Sundays. Please mark this on your calendar. Interweave is also now helping make plans for interfaith events at the William Way Community Center. A panel discussion will be held at WW in February (date not yet finalized) will be as follows. For information, contact Gerry Parchman at lib2uusATcomcast.net.
Religion and Sex: How Are They Compatible?
Our religious/spiritual lives are supposed to include those experiences in which we feel most connected to the universe and most in touch with the source of meaning. Our sexual lives include experiences of sacred intimacy, luminous pleasure, and the integration of the disparate parts of our inner selves-experiences that should be seen as spiritual. And the long history of religions' dichotomies between body and spirit often lead us to think of sex anything but sacred. This is especially true for BGLT people who have been condemned by their religions. How might we view the body-soul relationship in terms that sanctifies our physical selves? How might sexuality be sanctified in religious ritual? How might we understand scriptural and other sacred texts as affirming the beauty and holiness of our erotic yearning and consummation? Contact Gerry Parchman for information at lib2uusATcomcast.net.
Native American Spirituality for Women Group Opening
This group has been meeting since last March, and we are opening the group for a while this year. We are studying The Thirteen Original Clan Mothers, by Jamie Sams. Sams is a Seneca woman who retrieved the teachings set forth in this book, after tracking down two elderly women who had fled the U.S. as children. The group meets on the first Friday at 7 p.m., in the church. For further information, you may see Connie Baker, facilitator, after church, call her at 856-282-7448, or send email to conniejazzATcomcast.net. Aho!
Book Club to be started about Early Christianity--What REALLY Happened?
If there is enough interest, a book club will be started in January about Early Christianity (the historical facts and presumptions of the early years before Emperor Constantine and the Nicean Creed quashed unitarian as well as gnosticv Christianity), which is not the same Christianity that most people think they know. There are many books that are more factual than The DaVinci Code, but just as exciting. We will examine some of them and learn what might have really happened in the years after the death of Jesus (if he really ever lived). The group would meet monthly at times that the most people would be able to attend. For our first meeting, we are tentatively planning for our first meeting on Saturday, January 27th at 5 pm, and then adjourn for dinner (and further discussion) at The Devil's Alley. Please contact Gerry Parchman (lib2uusATcomcast.net) for information and book references.
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTARY
January is one of those times of the year when I take a brief look back at what I’ve done and think about the months
ahead. This year my thinking has been extended to include First Church.
What are some of the highlights of the first half of our church year? What will January through June 30th bring to our church community? What do we hope to see in our greater Philadelphia community or at the world at large? How will First Church play a role in the greater Philadelphia community and the world at large?
Carl Denlinger and Virginia DeRolf, two Board friends, joined me in thinking about the past six month and the year ahead. So what were some of the highlights of the past 6 months? Virginia cited the “growth of intergenerational community. The intergenerational Philadelphia Cares Team created friendships between three generations.” Carl cited “the response of everyone to the challenge of our secret donor. It was, obviously, a generous offer from the donor, but we proved equally generous in our successful effort to match the gift. It is a marvelous achievement and we ought to be proud of our communal success.” As for me I am amazed with the energy this fall within the church and the number of people who have stepped up as leaders – the Search Committee, the revitalized Membership Ministry Team, the above average attendance at Beyond Categorical Thinking, the debut of a new holiday musical program First Noel, the new theatre group, the record breaking bake sale, new adult education courses, the flourishing CRE program, the Circle Dinners, the grant for a Young Adult Coordinator…. This place is bustling especially on Sundays. The weekly “What’s Happening at First Church” is loaded with good happenings.
So what are our hopes for the next six months? Carl hopes the members will view the success of our response to the challenge of our secret donor “as a continuing challenge for the new year so that we can become financially sound without the support of another angel. Angels of this sort are always welcome, of course, but they are often elusive.” Virginia yearns for “a church "soul", a higher principle or principles around which we organize. In 2007, I hope that the new members can help us identify and articulate in word and deed the principles that are the focus of our worship and ministry.” As for me, I can’t wait to welcome our new settled minister. And wouldn’t it be a great start for this settled ministry if we were actively engaged in the process of identifying and embracing a church “soul” and were financially sound?
As to our hopes for the greater community and the world at large, it is summed up in one word “Peace.” May we as individuals and church members strive for peace starting with ourselves, our every day relationships, our good work at church and with our contributions to the greater Philadelphia community and the world at large.
Peace in 2007,
Debby Schultz
Save the Date – January 7th Vote on Ministry and Governance Model
The key agenda item at this congregational meeting will be to vote to transition our current Ministry and Governance work from the current “experimental” stage to be the “official” Ministry and Governance model going forward. The Board will present its endorsement of this model and the key considerations behind this endorsement as well as the next steps to ensure all aspects of the model including By-Laws revisions are worked. A period for questions and answers and comments will follow. Please plan to attend this meeting. For information purposes, a quorum of 35 members is required for any vote.
FLOWERS
January 7
In loving memory of Helen P. and William E. Dailey. Given by Diane Dailey Frey.
January 14
In loving memory of Alec Tomalin and Lewis Norton. Sharon and Michael Tomalin.
January 21
In honor of Jared Marsh’s 17th birthday on January 23, 2007. Love, Mom, Dad and William.
January 28
In memory of John Carlson. Given by Christine Carlson.
Thank you to all who have donated flowers on behalf of their families, friends and loved ones. If you are interested in donating flowers for a Sunday service, the cost is $45. Please contact Connie Mast at 215-496-0840. We are still in need of a donor for our service on Sunday, February 18.
BEACON BITS
Parking at First Church
The Central Parking System has issued vouchers for parking at the Ambassador Garage (21st and Chestnut) on Sundays and weekday evenings for $5. Please pick up vouchers from the ushers or by contacting the church office. Free parking is still permitted on the east side of 22nd Street from Walnut to Market Streets on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Fifth Annual World Class-Rummage Sale
Got stuff? Got too much stuff? Dispose of your no-longer-needed treasures, your unnecessary Christmas gifts! Clear out your shelves, your closets! Join us on Saturday, January 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. here at First Church. We want your stuff. Keep it, collect it, amass it and donate it. Bring it into First Church the week of Monday, January 22, but no earlier. No clothing, please. Enjoy refreshments, check out all the interesting items, the books, household goods, objects d'art, etc. Sign up in the back of the sanctuary as the date gets closer if you’re interested in helping out. Look for more information in next month's Beacon and our announcements.
Donate Your Time As Well As Your Stuff
Donate not just your stuff but your time - your energy - your muscle! We need you to help with First Church's Fourth Annual World Class Rummage Sale! Helping hands (and backs) will be urgently needed to sort and sell, to lug and lift, to tag and tote, to set-up and take-down. Can you give us some time? Contact the Church Office or Phebe Shinn, 215-382-1691, for more info. REMEMBER THIS DATE! SATURDAY, JANUARY 27.
Martin Luther King Day of Service
Join other Unitarian Universalists in the Greater Phialdelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday, January 15th. We will meet at the Unitarian Society of Germantown. Ginny Beier, Luana Goodwin and Jansen Wendell went last year and had a great time. Watch for more details in "Happenings at First Church" or contact Elizabeth Terry at niaworkATjuno.com
First Church Needs You!
The annual Services Auction is our major fund-raising event. It's also a terrific way to meet and make new friends. It's also a marvelous source for your social calendar for the whole year. All this in one evening, from one big party!
The 2007 Auction (our 21st - we're of age!) is scheduled for Saturday, May 12. We have a silent auction, and during the evening a live auction as well. Attendees enjoy a Happy Hour, dinner and lots of socializing in addition to bidding on the many and various goods and services offered. Then we spend the rest of the year enjoying the items we bought and providing the services we donated.
We will need lots of helpful hands, before and during the Auction itself. We'll want coordinators for: Planning. Donations. Publicity. Catalogs. Decorations. Kitchen. Checkout. Etc.
How about one of these jobs? You'll find sign-up sheets starting the first of the new year, so you can join the happy crew producing the 21st Auction.
Got questions? Contact Phebe Shinn, at 215-382-1691, or pandgshinnATverizon.net.
All-Church Seder, March 30
Save the Date! Be sure to mark the date Friday, March 30 on your calendar. Join us for an all-church Seder dinner in Griffin Hall at 6:00 p.m.
MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
Thanks to all who attended our Beyond Categorical Thinking seminar! Our moderators did a wonderful job of making us aware of how our preconceived ideas can interfere with having an open and loving mind.
The Search Committee is full of enthusiasm as we continue our process. We have had a substantial pool of very qualified applicants and have initiated packet exchanges with a number of them. Many are specifically interested about the prospect of a ministry at First Church. We look forward to learning more about them and how their individual gifts could vitalize our church.
Later in January, we will narrow down our choices and select our pre-candidates. With so many great prospects, it will be hard to choose.
But that is a good problem to have!
Submitted by Christine Carlson
Beyond Categorical Thinking Seminar Summary
As noted above, we successfully completed the UUA's Beyond Categorical Thinking (BCT) workshop on Sunday, December 10, after service. We were fortunate to welcome Paula Cole Jones and Eddy Carroll as our facilitators, and they did an excellent job of leading the service and sharing their personal stories during the sermon, as all in attendance at the service can attest to.
After a quick church-wide luncheon in Griffin Hall, forty-six church members and friends (forty-six! thank you!) gathered in the sanctuary to participate in the Beyond Categorical Thinking seminar. The workshop focused on preventing categorical thinking in regards to the selection of our new minister in three crucial categories: people of color, people with disabilities, and people who are bisexual, gay, lesbian or transgender (Note for anyone asking "What about women?" UU churches currently have equality for female ministers in search, both in terms of ordination and pay scale. Hooray for us!).
After hearing some statistics about the applicant pool and settled ministers in UU churches nationwide in regards to these three categories, we began the bulk section of the workshop. All present were asked to full out a worksheet broken into nine grids. For each of the three categories mentioned above (color, disabilities, BGLT), participants were asked to give there honest feedback about 1) their own personal concerns, 2) the anticipated concerns of the congregation, and 3) benefits, if a minister belonging to one of these three categories was called. We then handed in our sheets, which were re-distributed, so that each opinion could be read aloud anonymously.
For the next hour and a half, we went through each of the nine categories, hearing everyone's thoughts and concerns, and having people raise their hands if the opinion read aloud matched what was written on their sheet, Once a concern was shared, and tally taken of how many sheets/people had a similar concern, we moved on to the next. Finally, after covering all nine categories, the facilitators presented us feedback on the opinions presented, how they compared to other congregations who had participating in a BCT, and how we should process and handle the information shared.
The results were very interesting, and eye-opening to all involved. While there were some concerns shared that surprised some people, there was also a great deal of support and embrace of the diversity of human relations of which we find ourselves a part.
If you'd like to hear more reflections or detail on the BCT, feel free to ask any of the Search Committee members, we were all present, or any of the other thirty-eight members and friends who attended. I think it's safe to say we all took some valuable insight away from this thought-provoking workshop.
Submitted by Seth Carrier
Your Ministerial Search Committee is All Ears!
We want to hear your ideas, hopes, dreams (and yes, any concerns) about our next settled minister in order to find the person who is the best possible match with our congregation. Members of the committee will be available in the SE corner of the sanctuary during coffee hour on January 14, January 28, February 11 and February 25. Please stop by to talk with us; we will listen.
Congregational Survey Results
Results from our recent survey are now available on the Ministerial Search Committee page of First U's updated website, www.firstuu-philly.org.
MINISTRY FOR THE ARTS
Theater Discussion Group
If you are interested in participating in this Theater Series as a part of the new Ministry of the Arts, please sign up at the table in the rear of the sanctuary. You can also sign up or direct questions to Val Sandberg at valsandATearthlink.net
My Children! My Africa! Dec 6, 2006-Jan 7
WILMA THEATER
Caroline, or Change March 8-April 8, 2007
ARDEN THEATER
The Life of Galileo April 11-May 13, 2007
WILMA THEATER
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY TEAM
Hi all, the Young Adult Ministry Team has been hard at work the past couple of months on our mission and vision statements (see below). Now that we have those in place, we are in the planning stages of how to fulfill our mission and vision for the year. An online survey has been sent out to the young adult listserve, which will help us achieve part five of our vision statement below. We are continuing our search for a Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, and should be interviewing candidates by the time this article comes out. And most importantly for you all to note, we have begun planning the alternative worship service, oriented towards young adults, which we will be calling "Sunday Evening Worship." Our first Sunday Evening Worship will be held Sunday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All are invited to attend - while the service is young adult oriented, it is certainly not young adult limited! Hope to see many of you there!
First UU Philly YAM Mission:
The mission of the Young Adult Group at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia is to provide a welcoming community for individuals ages 18 to 35 by cultivating opportunities for friendship, spiritual growth and community action as entry points into the larger church community.
First UU Philly YAM 2006-2007 Vision:
1) We plan to start an alternative worship service, oriented towards young adults, meeting once a month starting in January 2007.
2) We will conduct a successful search for a Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, with a coordinator installed by the end of January 2007. We expect that the YAMC will immediately begin to help with the alternative worship service, work on the Young Adult Membership directory, and implement a fourth monthly Young Adult activity in February.
3) We plan to recruit two to three young adults to join the Young Adult Ministry team over the course of winter and spring, bringing the full YAM team to six or seven members by June 2007.
4) We will work with the YAMC to implement an inter-generational dance in the spring, to occur by June 2007.
5) We will survey the young adults by the end of January 2007, to help us better understand the needs of the young adult constituency.
6) We plan to organize a group of 10 or more young adults to attend a UU retreat or conference in the winter/spring of 2007.
7) We envision spear-heading a second all-church community service project this winter/spring, with at least ten young adults participating, to be completed by the end of the church year.
Submitted by Seth Carrier
MATCHING GIFT UPDATE
$20,000 Matching Gift Attained
On December 14, with more than two weeks before the matching gift challenge deadline, the congregation had raised $20,790 in new or increased pledges, towards the $20,000 matching donation:
• 28 increased their pledges for a total of $12,725.
• 9 new pledges for a total of $8,065.
• Total for the 2006-07 pledge drive is $185,261.
• Adding in the matching grant, our total to date is $205,261.
• The budgeted amount was $207,000 (based on a $230,000 pledges received with 90% collected)
• Many thanks to our anonymous donor and all the members and friends whose new or increased pledges help insure our financial stability during this fiscal year.
MEMBERSHIP MINISTRY TEAM
New Directory
The church directory of members and friends will be re-issued in January, so now is the time to make sure your entry is correct. The membership ministry team is recommending that the directory be published in January of each year, rather than in the summer. That way, it can contain more updated information about ministry teams, activities and new members.
Dropping Names…
Letters have been sent to about 35 persons who are now listed in the directory, telling them that they are no longer on our rolls and will not be receiving the newsletter or other communications. This is a sad task, and one we put off every year. The “drop” letters were sent to persons who did not reply after several attempts by the church to communicate with them. We’re hoping some of them will return as active members in the future, and that they’ll continue to visit. Our requirement for members is a pledge of record during the church year as well as communication about their intent. Our dues to the Unitarian Universalist Association are based on our membership, and we pay more than $100 per member in dues and mailings. If a member or friend asks that the pledge requirement be waived for personal reasons, we happily comply.
Orientation Sessions
For persons interested in membership or in knowing more about our faith, Orientation sessions will be held two Sundays a month for about 45 minutes after church, led by Rev. Bill Metzger and a Board member. In January, the sessions are January 14 and 28, beginning about 12:30 p.m. in the Fahs Room. A “New UU” course will be held in February. Sign up now to attend this three-session interesting course.
Team Meeting
The Membership Ministry Team will meet January 10 at 5:15 p.m. at the church. Refreshments will be served. Our meetings are open. We welcome new team members. Among items on our agenda will be a request from the Board to make a recommendation regarding requirements for membership in our church. Right now, the church brochure (you’ll find it in every pew) contains the following: “Those who join the church make a commitment to (1) attend Sunday services on a regular basis; (2) be involved in church life beyond attendance; (3) make a generous financial contribution to support the work of the church—suggested fair share pledge is 2-4% of gross annual income; (4) attend to their spiritual development, and (5) share the good news of Unitarian Universalism with others.”
Circle Dinner Groups
Thank you to Sharon Tomalin, Membership team member, who organized five dinner groups from the 50 persons signed up. Hopefully, each group is in communication with its members and is planning a January dinner. Several groups got an early start in December with a get together. These dinner groups are a wonderful way for newer members to become acquainted; Sharon did a great job of mixing old and new, young and not-so-young persons in the groups. If you are interested in joining, give Sharon a call at 215- 735-5047. She has several people on the ‘wait’ list, and needs another half dozen to form a new group.
Everyone a Greeter
Virginia DeRolf and Seth Carrier are planning a proposal to put to the Membership Team at our January meeting, for a ‘radical hospitality’ outreach to visitors to church. We hope a majority of our members will want to be involved. More about this will be forthcoming.
A LETTER FROM OUR RECENT GUEST SPEAKER
Dear friends,
I enjoyed your warm welcome, the connection, and the dialogue of my visit to your church celebration on Sunday. The Shalom Center publishes every week or so the on-line Shalom Report, with comment on current issues from a progressive and spiritually rooted Jewish perspective; reports on our work with the Tent of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah on multireligious action; a weekly comment on a biblical text; and resources for our Beyond Oil work. (For instance: we've created a ritual for teen-age confirmation, baptism, and bar/bat mitzah ceremonies that calls the generations to turn their hearts to each other through environmental work "lest the earth be utterly destroyed" [see the last passage of the Prophet Zechariah].)
If you'd like to get The Shalom Report , you can subscribe by clicking to http://www.shalomctr.org/subscribe/.
Submitted by Rabbi Arthur Waskow
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