REV-elations: a column from Rev. Margaret  

A couple of transformations are on the near horizon at KUUF, the first of which is sure to generate more mixed reviews than the other. Let me tell you about them.

First, to borrow a 60’s song title, the times, they are a-changing! Beginning FEBRUARY 1, we’re venturing an experiment, nudging Sunday service times later. The first service will begin at 9:30, and the second service at 11:15. In tandem, our Children’s Religious Education program will shift its spring semester to run concurrently with the earlier service at 9:30 and will conclude by 11. Both moves are an earnest attempt to see if we can better balance attendance at our two services—less sparse at the first, more spacious at the second—and enable a warmer and friendlier welcome to all our visitors in search of a faith home like ours. 

Potential benefits and downsides to this are foreseeable, and we’re keenly aware that the changes will affect people differently. Body rhythms, distance from KUUF, commitments that extend on either side of the services, will all play a part. And the several meetings that happen Sunday mornings will need to adjust times a bit. This is an experiment, February through May, an optimal time to try it. Sunday mornings will begin half an hour later, and conclude, just as now, around 12:30. Helping it work will be the fact that I aim to hold my services to an hour in length, with Joys & Concerns extending that sometimes.

In the corner of my office you’ll find a large papier-mâché sculpture of “God’s purse” by Spokane poet-artist Lisa Conger. And sure enough, there in the bottom, is change. This is a profound truth about life itself, and always true of interim times. My special role as an interim minister is to offer change and encourage it, with no strings attached. Nothing that we try together this interim year do you have to keep. The other transformation up-coming involves the annual canvass, when members and friends are asked to pledge financial support of KUUF for the forthcoming year. We’ll be turning it around, both in sequence and perspective. A series of letters will begin to arrive in your mailbox, telling all about it, around about February 22, when I’ll reflect from the pulpit about the faith most of us actually practice and rarely recognize. You won’t be invited to bring your pledge until March 14, when the morning will be a Celebration—wrapped by a gala event in the evening, accompanying an up-to-the-moment announcement of results with delectable dessert and high spirited entertainment. A functional budget won’t be created until afterward, when we’ll know what our resources will provide. Redge and Sara Campbell will co-chair this stewardship campaign. And Kay Morgan and Jennifer Stowell have already agreed to produce entertainment for us at the evening Gala. 

I believe in giving, not until it hurts, but until it feels good. This year we want to render it so.

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
AND OTHER DECEMBER CELEBRATIONS

January 4, 2004, 9 and 11 am
“All Else is Waiting” Rev. Margaret Keip
Our interim minister offers a message to entice us from the old year into the new, inspired by an anecdote about the Flying Wallendas. — And the choir will “Ring It In”— singing for both services.

January 11, 2004, 9 and 11 am
"Investing for Justice” 
Pulpit guest, Bruce T. Herbert, of the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment, will help us explore the relationship between financial investment, social values and spirituality.  After each service there will be time to examine further these issues during a question/answer session lasting about half an hour.
The choir sings today for the 9:00 service.

January 18, 2004, 9 and 11 am
"Skin Deep" Rev. Margaret Keip 
When fruits have skins most often we peel and set them aside, and savor instead what’s within. What happens with people? What is is like, learning to be the outer color we are? — A message for Martin Luther King weekend and every other day, too.

January 25, 2004, 9 and 11 am
“The Knack of Being Wrong” Rev. Margaret Keip
Several of you may have overheard Margaret claim that “perfect” is not a value, neither human nor humane nor very useful. This morning she’ll wade into the mud and muck of how and why—with a lift from the Choir at 11:00.

Looking ahead— 
February 1, 2004, 9:30 and 11:15 am — new starting times!
“Deeper Breathing” — Rev. Margaret will ponder spirituality and breathing, pursuing her fondness for the root meanings of words and their insights about our lives. The Choir will sing at our new 9:30 hour.

NEWS FROM THE BOOK CLUBS

SPIRITUAL BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
There was a good showing for viewing the videotape The Power of Now at the December gathering.  At the next meeting, January 18, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. in the Elmore room, we will finish viewing the tape and start discussing the book The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama.  Please join us even if you haven't read the book.  Contact Sunday Farr or Bob Trainer.

MEN'S BOOK CLUB
The KUUF Men's Book Club will meet Wednesday January 20th, 2004 at 700 PM at the home of Eric Sampson to discuss Ken Follett's book The Pillars of the Earth. Jim Chapin has the details.
. 
WOMEN WHO LOVE TO READ
Women Who Love to Read will meet at 6:30 on January 26 at the home Phyllis Millard in Bremerton. The January selection is Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. For information call Anne Stout or Lene Hajek.

2004 HOST PROJECT

Last April, KUUF provided food and shelter for 12 homeless men who participated in Catholic Community Services’ HOST program. Volunteers from St. Paul’s Episcpal Church and Congregation Beth Hatkivah joined over 80 KUUF members and friends to provide the meals, hospitality and friendship that are the heart of this program. 

When it was time to sign up for HOST 2004, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation. And when we looked at the results of the Ministerial Survey, we found HOST had the most "very interested" and "somewhat interested" responses to the question about activities supported by the fellowship.

So, it’s time to get started again. KUUF is holding its start-up meeting for HOST 2004 on Wednesday, January 7th at 6:30 pm at the fellowship. The meeting will include members of last year’s HOST committee and Social Concerns committee members (who originated the program). Anyone with a passion for this project is urged to attend, and help us determine who can take on certain organizing tasks and who we need to recruit.

We’ll also be discussing options for how to deal with a conflict between HOST activities and candidating week in late April. We have approached St. Paul’s and asked if they would be the HOST site for the last half of April. And, as a back up, we have asked Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church if they would be willing to swap months with us, with HOST at CKPC in April and at KUUF in May. We’ll know more about the responses to our requests after the holidays.

For more information, contact Dirk Van Zanten or Arlis Stewart.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

     I am writing this column for the January Candle early Sunday morning December 14. I am filled with anticipation of the great happenings at KUUF. Within a few hours Vicki and I will be listening to our fabulous choir present a musical Holiday service. But that’s not the finish, that is just the trumpet’s call. The congregation came together on December 6 at the Mission/Visioning Day and let their dreams see the light. As with any collection of individuals our size, there was not “one” vision in just the same exact way. In fact, several volunteers have taken the information from that Day and are compiling it so that we can share it in more detail at a later (but soon) time. What I conclude from all that I saw and heard is that the Fellowship Members want to expand our programs and offer them in meaningful ways to those who might covenant with us and to the world that needs our messages. One individual cautioned that 5 years ago and 10 years ago the members also came together and talked of similar things and that we were still talking of those same things (parking, meeting space, etc.) But in my limited time (4 yrs) I have seen the purchase of property for expansion, the start of two services, the H.O.S.T. project, and other outreach that demonstrates significant and constant progress toward our stated Mission. That “Mission State-ment” was thought by the majority in attendance to still fit our call. We have not been in this same place in time before. To me, our meeting could not be a repeat of the past. I was not here then, and neither were over a third of our members. We celebrate our past only as we move forward.

But there is so much else happening as well. The Search Committee is into their work, and all is moving on target. See their report in this issue. The H.O.S.T. project for homeless men is also moving along with our Fellowship scheduled to provide meals and shelter for the month of April. That causes a space conflict, since we expect to be deep into meetings with the Search Committee’s candidate for our next minister during the last two Sundays in April and the full week between. We will work that out with some of our partner churches. It is all of these things and more that I want to share with you. These things that make me realize how alive our Fellowship is and what we have to offer our wider world. In fact, it has come to my attention that we, as a Board, are not doing a good job of sharing just what all is going on. So the Board has determined that in each monthly Candle will appear a column from the Board (in addition to the President’s opinion column), that will summarize the actions taken during each Board monthly meeting. Please look for the first such summary next page.

In this time of many happenings, remember that the Fellowship is here for you. Let any one of us know your needs. Solutions are possible when we are all working together, and our networks are expanding all the time.

Yours in Fellowship, 
Paul D. Flemm

TREASURER’S REPORT

Rather than informing you of only our pledge income and comparing this number with what we budgeted, this report gives the actual income and expenses to date. Income includes pledges, rental of the building, fund raisers and more. Expenses include administration, building maintenance, salaries, committees and more.

Total income from May 1 thru Dec 12: $122,067.22
Total expenses for same period: $116,770.72
Difference: $ 5,297.02

Income is approx $10,500 below budget and expenses are approx. $10,830 below budget.

You may remember that in order to balance the budget for this fiscal year we planned to transfer money from the reserve account. To date we have NOT transferred any money, but as the search committee for a new minister incurs more expenses we may have to dip into the reserves, but we are carefully watching all expense

Lene Hajek, Treasurer

BOARD NEWS
December 4, 2003 Board Meeting

1. The Fellowship has committed to a new insurance carrier for Comprehensive and Liability coverage on all properties. It is now carried by Church Mutual.

2. The Board supported an initiative to enroll all members in the “Chalice Lighters” support program for the benefit of our Fellowship and all UUs.

3. Several issues of maintenance and repair at the Learning Tree were reported, as was a desire for a “dumb waiter” for transport of foods, etc. between floors. The Board committed to a special meeting regarding Learning Tree issues to be set after the first of the year.

4. The Technology Committee is dealing with Fax line difficulties, along with Copier contract issues and exploration of high speed cable availability.

5. Four Board Members, Favro, Flemm, Ramey, and Rinehart reported on the Pacific Northwest District conference at La Conner which they attended in November to receive training regarding problems facing congregations of our size that are moving from a “Pastoral” size to the “Program” size Fellowship. More will be discussed at the Board retreat in January.

6. Partner Church dues have been paid for the year and the Fellowship needs to decide the level of support and communication with our Partner Church.

7. The leadership for the H.O.S.T. project was discussed. (Following the meeting Arlis Stewart stepped forward to pull the project together for KUUF.)

8. The January Board meeting will be Jan 8.

9. Two meetings for all members were set: April 25th for a vote to call a minister (date tentative); and May 2nd for the Annual Meeting. The latter will follow a single 9:30am service.

10. Blinds for windows possibly affecting the choir and others were discussed. Further choir input is sought.

11. Discussion of Sunday Service times were discussed as well as the issue of when RE would best take place. The Board authorized a move from 9am to 9:30am with the “eleven o’clock” meeting time to be set dependent upon whether RE voted to move to 9:30.

12. The Dinner Theater was confirmed as scheduled for January 30 and 31 at KUUF with Alan Searle’s troupe already finalizing arrangements and practices.

KUUF Ministerial Search Committee

     During December, the Ministerial Search Committee was hard at work sending, receiving, and reading “packets.” Packets are three-ring binders filled with information about the searching church and the searching ministers. A copy of KUUF’s packet is on display in the KUUF foyer for all to see. PLEASE, DON’T REMOVE IT FROM THE FOYER! Special thanks go to the staff, especially Sherry Attaway, for their contributions to the content. Marilyn Drengson and Jackie Westwood handled all the formatting, printing, assembly and aesthetics of the packets. Dick Norton contributed most of the pictures. We are very pleased with the results and hope you are, too. The packet will go to each of the searching ministers (currently 13) who have indicated their interest in KUUF. 

We have packets from those ministers and are busy reading them. It’s a lot of work – four to six hours each. The ministers’ packets are fascinating and stimulate a lot of thought; about the nature of ministry, the mission, spiritual and leadership needs of KUUF, theology, and about the role of Unitarian Universalism in the wider world. This is an enriching experience! The candidates vary widely in their training, personalities, theology, and experience. Our job is to sort through these committed and talented people to discern the best minister for KUUF. We are humbled by that task. 

On December 26th, the Search Committee met all day to prioritize the candidates and select with which ones we want to move forward in the search process. In January we will conduct telephone interviews with about half of them, check references, and then select three to invite to pre-candidating weekends, offsiste, in February and early March. 

The priorities we are working with to select the candidates to interview include the following: spiritual leadership, quality of sermons, ability to be supportive of a spiritually diverse congregation, support of and commitment to religious education (especially children and youth R.E.), social justice activism, counseling skills/aptitude, facilitation skills, music and arts in worship, administrative skills, and ministerial and life experience. 

Because we can’t share the identities of the candidates with you, we come to KUUF with ministers’ packets tucked into bags to exchange furtively in the parking lot. We have a running joke about secret dealings in packets, out of the trunks of our cars. We’re starting to feel like were trading in forbidden commodities. But the packets are pure treasure, to be held in trust and returned to each minister when the time is right. 

Our thanks go out to the congregation for your trust and confidence in our committee. This is sacred work and we are honored to have the opportunity to partake of it. 

Beth Wilson, Chair, Search Committee 

KUUF & UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
ANNOUNCEMENTS

Unitarian Universalists and 
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
     In 1966 the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) partnered with several other faiths in the first successful attempt to influence corporate behavior.  At the annual shareholders' meeting for Eastman Kodak, this coalition was able to convince Kodak's board of directors to provide African Americans with a proportionate share of Kodak's available jobs in Rochester, NY. Then in the 1970's the UUA took the unprecedented step of investing over 5% of its endowment in "enterprises which make a high social contribution." The UUA has been part of the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), and recently formed a new committee on socially responsible investing (SRI) to extend our involvement and leadership in this arena.  A UUA report states: "SRI allows UUA and member congregations to harness the power of our financial resources to reinforce Unitarian Universalist values." 
     When the first socially responsible mutual funds were created in the mid-1970's, the financial world laughed and predicted the speedy downfall of those who believed that investing in socially responsible companies would ever be profitable. By 1984 the first industry-wide survey by the Social Investment Forum (SIF) found that $40 billion in assets were in social investing.  In 1997, SIF learned this had grown to  $1.3 trillion; nearly 10% of US investments.  They're not laughing anymore.
     Social responsible investing is turning out to be a wise money management practice.  Corporations that don't pollute, have good labor relations, and produce products that benefit people and the environment have fewer losses due to lawsuits and violations.  Socially screened portfolios have been consistently outperforming unscreened portfolios, even during times of market decline.  So you can make money while making a positive difference in the world.
     Bruce T. Herbert, president of Newground Investment Services in Seattle, will be our pulpit guest on Jan. 11. He will help us learn more about this opportunity to advance peace and justice in our troubled world. 

INTERWEAVE MEETING
Sunday, January 25th, 12:30 pm
     Please join us if you care about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender inclusion and are interested in what we as a Welcoming Congregation can do to make a difference in our fellowship and in the broader community. This will be a re-organizational meeting and we need your ideas--about the value of Interweave as a format for activities, and about alternative ways we might organize our commitment to on-going Welcoming.  If you have any questions or are interested but cannot attend, please contact Marcie Stilwell.

COFFEE PROJECT
     The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Coffee Project is a new way for our congregation to address a consumer dilemma by buying coffee that is fairly traded. Through the project, farmers and their families earn a fairer share of income, have access to credit and technical support, and gain a trading partner they can trust, a fair trade organization called Equal Exchange. 
     Coffee is big business – it’s one of the most heavily traded commodities in the world. But for the majority of small coffee farmers, the benefits are small. The chain of events that leads from the coffee farm to your cup is long and expensive, often leaving the farmer with very little to live on. 
     Most small coffee farmers live in isolated communities in some of the poorest countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. They usually sell their coffee through middlemen, known to Central American farmers as “coyotes.” With world prices in constant flux and coyotes offering the lowest price possible, farmers never know how much they’ll get for their crops. 
     Coffee farmers—some 20 million people near the equator—often struggle just to make a simple living. The producers of a rich crop are often trapped in poverty.
     But there is an alternative: FAIR TRADE. Fair trade shares the bounty of the coffee trade with those who grow the crop, helping them build a better future for themselves and their communities. The UUSC is partnering with Equal Exchange to provide organic, shade grown, fair trade coffee to UU congregations. 
     KUUF’s Hospitality committee is now ordering the coffee for use in the Fellowship. If you are interested in purchasing Equal Exchange coffee yourself, please email Beth Wilson.  If there is enough interest, we can also make it available for sale to our members and friends. 

WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS
While you have your new KUUF Photo Directory in hand, add an asterisk to the names of the following friends listed there. They’ve signed our membership book since it was published: Stephanie Anderson, Sheila Burns, Robin Clark, Nina Cuic and Terry Mallory. Also joining us: Lejanna (“LJ”) Bayha, who comes from Olympia with her young daughter, Gabrielle Matthews. 

BECOMING A VOTING MEMBER
     If YOU, too, have been thinking about membership and would like to be able to vote at the congregational meetings on our spring calendar, be aware that one must have been a member for 60 days to be eligible. 
     To join, simply make a date to meet with Rev. Margaret. 

WE HAVE NO POLITICAL CREED EITHER
Election fever will be growing in the months ahead, giving all of us at KUUF a chance to practice what this congregation does remarkably well—upholding the diversity that our principles proclaim. The trick is remembering to do it when distracted by our own zeal. A few guidelines may help: Wearing a campaign button is as much promoting of your candidate or political cause as is fitting at KUUF events. Let folks approach you, not vice versa. And campaign literature left around may convey the impression that folks supporting this person will be most welcome here, and others maybe less so. May we never let this be true. We grow larger selves by honoring the diversity of views among us. 
                                                                     — Rev. Margaret
NOTE: With democracy as a principle, we gladly lend space for political meetings (so long as they don’t preach hatred or exclusion), but the fact of such meetings happening here does not imply KUUF sponsorship. The building reservation form includes DIRECtion on publicizING an event so as not to give that impression.

KUUF LIBRARY NEWS
     If you have not browsed in the library lately check it out. Generous donors have contributed to our collection in every field of religious life. Also we recently bought a few important books: Churchworks, by Anne Odein Heller, was called to my attention when the Rev. Margaret took it out of her wandering (interim) minister’s bag, among other treasures, the second Sunday in the pulpit with us. The subtitle says it all: “A well-body book for congregations”. It is fun reading and should be of interest to all of us who want a healthy congregation. You can find it on the shelf, catalogued by author: AO Hel.
     Another title is Finding Your Own Religion by Rev. Scotty McLennan, subtitled “when the faith you grew up with has lost its meaning”. True for me and possibly most of you.
     Science and the Search for God by Gary Kowalski is meaningful to many of us who want to define our faith. Rev. Kowalski came to us occasionally as a guest speaker when he was near Seattle. He returned east and is now UU minister in Burlington, Vermont.
                                Happy reading — Elisabeth Bondy, Librarian

PREJUDICE REDUCTION WORKSHOPS
The Seattle chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) announces three offerings of the Building Bridges Workshop, an award-winning, day-long experiential training that has been used across the world. Information about these is posted in the foyer. 

CONVERSATION CAFE
"The Media's Role in Forming Public Opinion" is the subject of the first Conversation Cafe of 2004.
Newspapers, radio, TV, and our computers are full of information but we can't possibly read, hear, or view it all. Where do we go for news? How do we know what to think? Let's talk about it on Sunday, January 25 in the Admin Meeting Room at 9:15 until 10:45am. For links to articles on the subject, or if you'd like to suggest a time that might work better for you -please contact Jo Walter. Visit the web site www.conversationcafe.org for information. The Social Concerns Committee will welcome you with café drinks and breakfast snacks.

COMING SOON! “The Duck Hunt”
January 30th and 31st, 6:00 PM 
The Duck Hunt was written by Alan Searle, directed by Liz Huddle and includes a cast of our fellow KUUF alumni. Dinner will be Prime Rib and vegetables and a vegetarian dish to be announced. Dinner seating will precede the performance. Tickets are $28 per person and available in advance: www.pigdogfarm.com.  At KUUF, see Sheila Weirth on Sundays. Or purchase retail at Soul Kisses, 9330 Silverdale Way NW, Suite 6, Silverdale, (360) 698-5900.Come see this comedic treatment of human relationships in the setting of a duck blind. Audience participation makes it work, with almost-Shakespearean narration provided by Lisa Johnson.

NOTES FROM BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
     In response to a KUUF parking lamp failure near the Memorial Walk the B&G Committee has trenched along the north edge of the KUUF parking lot and buried underground cable to serve this lamp. The operation was checked and found satisfactory.
     A troublesome sanctuary door which would not properly close was reset. The door now operates as it should.
     The lavatory exhaust fan in the KUUF Administration Building has failed and a replacement unit installed.  Routing this fan’s exhaust through the wall of the attic to the outdoors is planned for January ‘04.
     December: A failing stair jack has been discovered at the emergency exit from the Sanctuary, NE door. The jack will be reinforced for full capacity or braced.
                               Our thanks to Paul Wilson, Carl Hajek and cohorts!

Rainbow World
A Column on the issues of Racism, Diversity and Multiculturalism
Provided by the KUUF Anti-Racism Committee

New Year’s Resolutions By Robin Carson, ARC Member

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
for Children Youth & Adults 
JANUARY 2004  

Beginning FEBRUARY 1^st the religious education program for children and youth will meet Sunday mornings at 9:30, running during first service instead of second service. That’s right! — Religious Education classes and youth group will meet during first service at its new time, 9:30 am. During the second service at 11:15, childcare will be provided for children of crawling age through 5^th grade.

If you’ve been considering TEACHING, this time change may be good news. We expect it will be easier on both adults and younger children, who often need lunch before the R.E. programs end at 12:30. Instead, classes will wrap up at 11, and families will have their whole afternoon free. Teachers’ afternoon will be freed up too, and they may choose to attend the 11:15 service. 

KUUF CALENDAR UPDATE
To paste on the inside back cover of your new KUUF DIRECTORY (available at the Fellowship Office)

FEBRUARY CANDLE SUBMISSION INFORMATION

If you would like to place an item in The Candle please email it to Odette Hugues. The deadline for submission requests is the 3rd Sunday of January for the February edition. Submissions may be subject to approval. If you didn't receive your newsletter, need to change your address; would like to be on our mailing list or have other questions you may contact the fellowship office staff, admin@kuuf.org, 360.377.4724

KUUF BOARD & STAFF

BOARD OF TRUSTEES — 2003-2004
Paul Flemm – President
Frank Seehale – Vice-president
Ed Ramey – Secretary
Lene Hajek – Treasurer
Claire Favro
Jim Brophy
Ray Jessen
Margo Rinehart
Alan Searle
Susan Weinstein

KUUF OFFICE / PROGRAM STAFF
Office phone: 360.377.4724 
Rev. Margaret Keip – Interim Minister
mkeip@uuma.org, 360.308.8200
Melinda Hughes – Religious Education Director
dre@kuuf.org 
Jenell DeMatteo – Religious Education Assistant
jenell@kuuf.org 
Sherry Attaway – Office Manager/Bookkeeper
admin@kuuf.org  (office hours: Wed/Fri
Alex Miller – Office Assistant
alex@kuuf.org  (office hours: Tues/Thurs)

The Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship affirms and promotes the inherent worth and dignity of all persons, without regard to faith, creed, race, color, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, economic status, or political affiliation.

4418 Perry Ave NE
PO Box 2015
Bremerton, Washington
98310
360.377.4724
admin@kuuf.org

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