Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, Oregon 4/6/05 Newsletter

Salem Interfaith Hospitality Network

We had an exciting week with the three SIHN families that included a couple with two boys and a baby delivered during the week! There was also a mom and four children, and a diabetic man with his two lovely daughters who translated for him.

We had wonderful new volunteers: Kay and Phil Cogswell, Mary Jo Eyler, Nancy Storey, and Judy Franklin, who all provided dinners. Stephen Henderson did three breakfasts, and Rosa Barton assumed many tasks and helped coordinate, as usual. Dani Adams stayed over night twice, as she often does.

Thanks to everyone- - - -and to the whole congregation.

Loraine Stuart

Reverential Ramblings

Recently, on a drive home from an out of town wedding, I was waiting at a stop light next to a Carl’s Hamburgers. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a sign on the edge of their property that read: THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING CARL’S TO EXIST.

“Hmm,” I thought. “Now there’s a new strategy in corporate marketing. Instead of touting the superiority of their product (the traditional ploy of those trying to sell anything) this fast food chain is affecting a pose of abject humility – addressing the general public with prayerful gratitude, as though each one of us is a powerful deity, who could, at any moment proclaim: “Today, just because I can, (or because they overcooked the burger or forgot the mayo or because the counter clerk was surly) I hereby ordain that this entire fast food franchise cease to exist. Poof! Carl’s begone!” This certainly takes the philosophy that the customer is always right to it’s logical extreme: customers (including all potential customers) are as gods.

Naturally, I did a double take to read more closely. My peripheral vision had, in fact, juxtaposed a few letters. The sign actually read: THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING CARS TO EXIT. A bit disappointing. I kind of liked the zany existential, bordering on blasphemous quality of my initial reading.

I believe we do, as many wisdom traditions attest, have something sacred and divine within us, but we are mere mortals, not gods. Perhaps we do underestimate our awesome creative (and destructive) capabilities. Our words, deeds and actions do bring new realities into being. Here I’m not thinking about procreation but rather our beneficent and baneful powers. We can dream, design, build, organize, plant, nurture, paint, write and compose. We can speak kindly, act compassionately, love, hold and hug. Or we can demean, diminish and destroy. We each have awesome power.

Ironically, it is often when we fall prey to the illusion that we are as gods (righteous, infallible, beyond reproach) that we are most prone to be destructive. Beware of those who cannot humbly recognize their own humanity and fallibility.

A primary reason Unitarian Universalists do not embrace any particular theological creed as absolute is because we recognize that we fallible mortals are the authors of creeds (and scripture) – not God. (Which is not to imply that they lack any transcendent inspiration and meaning whatsoever.) Yet there are those who ignore or deny the human origins of their creeds and scripture and claim that they inerrantly reflect the mind and will of God. Armed with absolute conviction these blind believers march out into the world full of self righteous zeal, on missions to remake the world in their own image. They do not approve of the existence of any who are different, and they yearn for the time God will destroy or damn all others. Such hateful intolerance!

To some extent, we all invite others into fuller being or will them into nonexistence. When we affirm and accept ourselves and others– we grow and blossom. When we harshly judge and demean ourselves and others – we wilt and wither. Maybe we should have pins and bumper stickers that say: “THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO EXIST.” That might start some interesting and fruitful conversations. Love, Rick

Creating the UU Church of the Future Seminar

On Saturday, March 12, members from our congregation attended a workshop at the Hillsboro UU Church. The workshop was presented by Michael Durall and was based on his most recent book, The Almost Church, Redefining Unitarian Universalism for a New Era. Durall contends that unless we as UUs change many of the ways we do church, our religious movement will continue to decline losing both members and effectiveness in our communities. As part of his premise he suggests that we have much to learn from the mega-church phenomenon that is so prevalent in our society today. Durall believes that mega-churches are much more responsive to current cultural trends, make better use of technology, have more effective outreach programs to the community, and have a more stable membership because they require more from their members. Although most of us (including Durall) agreed that we would not want to re-create an exact mega-church culture in our own congregations, it was exciting to spend time contemplating new ideas and examining the ways that things are done in a theological culture that is very different from our own.

The ideas that excited us most were:

Further developing a Ministry of Hospitality. According to Durall, most visitors make up their minds about a church within the first 11 minutes after their arrival.
Designate 10 percent of our congregational budget to outreach. We could steadily work up to this goal over the next few years
Newcomer integration. We want to make sure that folks continue to be welcomed and feel necessary to the life of our congregation after they have joined.
Integrity of Membership. We want people to believe that it is meaningful and important when they join our religious community and not something to be taken lightly.
Alternative worship forms. This idea might include instigating a contemporary weeknight service where we could experiment with a wider range of art forms within our liturgy.

All of the above, at this point, are still ideas. We wanted to share our ideas and inspirations with you and get feedback about how the rest of the congregation feels about changes in these and other areas. If you have thoughts to share, please contact a Board member, or members of our Transition Team. The Transition Team is continuing to hold small group meetings to encourage discussion among congregants about their vision for our church’s future. Transition team members are: Jon Walton, David Boaz, Chuck Howard, Don Wolf, Stephanie Jernstedt, Kelli McKnight, Rev. Rick Davis and Claire Diehl. Lise Adams Sherry

Women’s Alliance

Come to Women's Alliance, Thursday April 7, to hear Rose Drake, our Office Administrator, and enjoy the fellowship of women in our congregation. Take this opportunity to listen to Rose tell about experiences in her life. This is the final program this year of our "get-acquainted series". Don't miss this one. Marge French

Share Your Concerns with the Committee on Ministry

Committee on Ministry members Kay Young, Ernest Perez, Hudson Schweickert and Margaret Boyle will be available after the service on Sunday, April 10, to meet with anyone who would like to share a concern or pass on some thoughts and ideas relating to our common ministry. This informal meeting will be in the sanctuary, by the choir area.

One of the goals of the COM is to promote healthy communication within our church community. We welcome your input.

The Voice of Oneness

The Oneness Coalition and Oregon Peace Works present The Voice of Oneness here at UUCS on Sunday, April 12, at 7 p.m. - inspiration from many of the world’s faith traditions. All are welcome.

Volunteer Needs

UUCS Soup Kitchen

Volunteers are welcome to help out at our next scheduled commitment to the Jason Lee Methodist church soup kitchen, Sunday April 10 after our church services.

If you would like to contribute home-made soup, food grade containers marked UUCS soup kitchen are available in our kitchen. Please help yourself so you don’t have to worry about your favorite soup pot.

Volunteers are also welcome to serve and help clean up.

Dedicated soup chefs take notice: The UUCS Soup Bank, coordinated by Don Wolf has a continuing need for your wonderful creations!

For more information about the Soup Ketchen contact Dennis Ehrp; for the Soup Bank call Don Wolf.

Sunday Services Speaker 4/17

Phil Carver, UUCS member, and member of the Sunday Services Team will be the speaker at Sunday Services on April 17. Phil has a PhD in resource economics and for the last 25 years has worked on energy issues for the Oregon Department of Energy. He has followed the science of climate change for the last 16 years. In 2004 he was the technical chair for the Oregon Governor's Advisory Group on Global Warming.

Humanist Potluck

A Humanist Potluck will be in Hanneman Fellowship Hall on April 17^th. The social hour begins at 4 p.m. All interested persons are welcome to join us. Please bring a main dish, a salad, or a dessert and your beverage of choice. Call me with questions. Nancy Jackson

Oregon Prescription Drug Program

The church has received several informational packets on the new Oregon Prescription Drug Program available to Oregon residents at least 54 years old, with certain eligibility requirements. This drug discount plan was created by the 2003 Legislature. The packets, including applications, are on the Information Table in Hanneman Hall.

Dick Boyle, Social Action Team

Cover the Uninsured Week May 1-8

As you know, 45 million Americans have no health care coverage, including more than eight million children. The involvement of faith communities underscores the moral and ethical dimensions of this growing problem and highlights the imperative to respond. We cannot afford to remain silent. Speak up for an America where everyone has health care coverage! For more information go to: www.CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org/interfaith:

Mothers Day Book Sale

Think Mother’s Day and give a thoughtful gift which will last and inspire.

Your Library Committee is having a special book sale the Sunday before Mother’s Day, which is May Day, May 1. Stop by to look at some new books, plus the golden oldies.

Barbara Hanneman, Library Committee

Creating the UU Church of the Future Seminar

The ideas that excited us most were:

Further developing a Ministry of Hospitality. According to Durall, most visitors make up their minds about a church within the first 11 minutes after their arrival.
Designate 10 percent of our congregational budget to outreach. We could steadily work up to this goal over the next few years
Newcomer integration. We want to make sure that folks continue to be welcomed and feel necessary to the life of our congregation after they have joined.
Integrity of Membership. We want people to believe that it is meaningful and important when they join our religious community and not something to be taken lightly.
Alternative worship forms. This idea might include instigating a contemporary weeknight service where we could experiment with a wider range of art forms within our liturgy.

News of the UUCS Community

A huge leap into the future is ahead for Angela and Carlos Herrera and their two children. Last issue we had the first word of Angela’s acceptance into the Master of Divinity program at Harvard University, step two in her determined march toward the UU ministry. The program is three years’ duration, after which they hope to return to the Northwest. Angela and Carlos will fly east in May to find a place to live and prepare to move there in July. In June she graduates from Marylhurst College in Lake Oswego with a BA in Religious Studies and a certificate in Mediation.

In the interim the family will visit Carlos’ family in his homeland, Columbia, his first visit in over 15 years. Dangerous political conditions in the country and high travel costs have prevented visits before this. Carlos writes, “We’re pretty excited about this trip; we plan to enjoy all kinds of Columbian foods and tropical fruits.” Angela will visit with a professor of history at the University in Popayan and visit the Divinity School of the Javeriana University in Cali.’

Mako Hayashi-Mayfield and husband Stan Mayfield are sharing our enjoyment at the annual cherry blossom grandeur. In Japan the ‘sakura,’ cherry blossom, begins in Kyushu in late March and has just arrived in Toyama, where they live. Mako recommends holding a ‘Hanami,’ flower viewing party! ‘Cherry blossoms are very short-lived, and to the Japanese, they represent the ephemerality of life. It is a lovely thing to have a picnic under the blooming trees and have the palest pink petals drift down upon you.’ (My note: Since reading her letter while enjoying the cherry blossoms in our commercial cherry orchard, I’ve fixed on Mako’s use of the term ‘ephemerality’ as applied to the short period of bloom. So much in life is like that!)

Pam Ruona writes of life in Korea. Son Dominic’s ceramic art project recently won a regional contest and is headed to the national contest this summer (associated with Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs). Congratulations, Dominic!

Pam has begun tutoring students at Osan American High School with study skills and college preparation while also working on her Master’s Degree in Human Resources via the University of Oklahoma.

John/Tom’s son, Ivan from Portland, and grandson, Carter from Michigan, will visit the family in Korea over Carter’s spring break.

Millie Rochester, former UUCS DRE and currently Interim Minister of RE at First UU Church, Chicago, wrote last week of her recuperation from acute respiratory distress (pneumonia and emphysema) brought on by a reaction to chemotherapy following surgery for breast cancer. Just one treatment wiped out her immune system which resulted in the major infections. She noted, “I’m not doing chemo anymore! Between the mastectomy and the new generation of anti-estrogen drugs, the chance of a recurrence of the cancer is minimal. Being more intentional about what I do and how I feel are a part of my spiritual practice now as never before, and life is good.”

Condolences to Lee Coyne who daily lives with the stress of being a continent away from his 92 year old mother, dying in an Atlanta nursing home of complications with recurrent siezures and pneumonia.

Good news: Maggie Shank, who has been suffering with sciatica was able to return to church for the Easter service, and reports that dedication to her exercises and physical therapy, are helping her deal with the chronic pain.

Alice Hill, Jo Bateman’s sister, has a most successful outcome from surgery to remove a malignant lump from one breast. She will have six radiation treatments after the incision is healed.

Despite our reluctance to say adieu to Barbara and Wilson Wyant, we’re cheering over the good news that their West Salem home sold last week! Purchase of the new home in Bothell, Washington closed last week and by mid-month they’ll be off on a new phase of their lives.

Harold Hutchinson, one of UUCS’ venerable members, has completed the relocation from his apartment in Madrona Hills to a far more convenient apartment at 1740 Center Street NE in a complex owned by his brother, Raymond. His valued caregiver from Madrona Hills continues to help him daily, and the street level location now allows him to venture outdoors where his extensive collection of potted plants has been arrayed.

The move was executed by his sons, Harold, Jr. and Tom, who arranged the move and accompanied Harold on a two-week cruise on the Caribbean, including a passage through the Panama Canal and northward to San Diego. Harold has the same phone, but especially enjoys visits from UU friends who do not need to call first. Note: the apartment driveway turns immediately south from Center Street, across from Noble’s Tavern.

Joan Bent has recently moved to Redwood Heights Assisted Living Center. She acknowledges that moving from her home of many years is challenging, and she will welcome visits from UU friends, but asks that people call her first.

Jim and Sally Hockin wrote of the new chapter in their lives, having relocated in Sisters. Jim has a job doing heating/cooling installations, and Sally is office manager at a retirement center. “After 34 years in Salem, this is a big adjustment. It was a huge job to downsize from a 3000 sq. ft. home, close out the adult foster care business, but we are now trimmed down. We have left so many wonderful people, including those of you at the church. We so loved UUCS and will keep you always in our hearts.”

Barbara Hanneman’s daughter, Laurie Speight, diagnosed only one year ago with Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease, has through her networking with other PALS and the ALS advocacy movement, made significant contributions toward research to find a cure. Unlike other fatal diseases with a longer history of fund-raising, May will see the 8^th Annual National Advocacy Day and public policy conference in Washington. In Oregon, May 14 will be ALS’ 6^th annual fund-raising dinner and auction at the Multnomah Athletic Club, Portland. For tickets and information, contact Cindy Burdell.

Sharing, caring, and supporting are underpinnings of our commitments at UUCS.

Joan Erickson

SUNDAY SERVICE AND CHURCH SCHOOL

10:30 a.m. (Child care available)

April 10 “Circles of Faith” The Reverend Richard R. Davis

The Reverend Craig Moro

The new carving on the front of our pulpit depicting eight religious symbols deserves an official dedication and requires some explanation. On this Sunday, our minister, Rick and his colleague and friend, Craig – who created this carving – will share some thoughts and engage in a free flowing dialogue.

April 17 "Global Warming: The Next 50 Years" Phil Carver

Sunday Service Team

What are the likely consequences of continuing our current practices? What are the alternatives? Global warming is the UUA study topic for 2004-2005.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, Oregon

Creating the UU Church of the Future Seminar

Creating the UU Church of the Future Seminar