The Candle
The Voice of Liberal Religion on the Kitsap Peninsula
April 2003

THE CANDLE
April 2003

Inside The Candle

Worship & Event Schedule
New Members 
News from the Book Clubs
Caring Community
Office Contact #s
Announcements
Newsletter Questions
Treasurer's Report
President's Corner
Ilahee Planning Committee
Board Nominations 
Religious Education
Rainbow World
UUA Resources 
Passing Thoughts-A Poem
Support UU's in the Military 
New Fellowship Office Hours 

SCINTILLATIONS - a column from your minister

Pray for Peace by Ellen Bass

Pray to whoever you kneel down to:
Jesus nailed to his wooden or marble or plastic cross,
his suffering face bent to kiss you,
Buddha still under the Bo tree in scorching heat,
Yahweh, Allah, raise your arms to Mary
that she may lay her palm on our brows,
to Shekinhah, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
to Inanna in her stripped descent.

Hawk or Wolf, or the Great Whale, Record Keeper
of time before, time now, time ahead, pray. Bow down
to terriers and shepherds and siamese cats.
Fields of artichokes and elegant strawberries.

Pray to the bus driver who takes you to work,
pray on the bus, pray for everyone riding that bus
and for everyone riding buses all over the world.
If you haven't been on a bus in a long time,
climb the few steps, drop some silver, and pray.

Waiting in line for the movies, for the ATM,
for your latté and croissant, offer your plea.
Make your eating and drinking a supplication.

Make your slicing of carrots a holy act,
each translucent layer of the onion, a deeper prayer.

Make the brushing of your hair
a prayer, every strand its own voice,
singing in the choir on your head.
As you wash your face, the water slipping
through your fingers, a prayer: Water,
softest thing on earth, gentleness
that wears away rock.
Making love, of course, is already a prayer.

Skin and open mouths worshipping that skin,
the fragile case we are poured into,
each caress a season of peace.
If you're hungry, pray. Pray if you're tired.

Pray to Gandhi and Dorothy Day.
Shakespeare. Sappho. Sojourner Truth.
Pray to the angels and the ghost of your grandfather.

When you walk to your car, to the mailbox,
to the video store, let each step
be a prayer that we all keep our legs,
that we do not blow off anyone else's legs.
Or crush their skulls.

And if you are riding on a bicycle
or a skateboard, in a wheel chair, each revolution
of the wheels a prayer that as the earth revolves
we will do less harm, less harm, less harm.

And as you work, typing with a new manicure,
a tiny palm tree painted on one pearlescent nail
or delivering soda or drawing good blood
into rubber-capped vials, writing on a blackboard
with yellow chalk, twirling pizzas, pray for peace.

With each breath in, take in the faith of those
who have believed when belief seemed foolish,
who persevered. With each breath out, cherish.

Pull weeds for peace, turn over in your sleep for peace,
feed the birds for peace, each shiny seed
that spills onto the earth, another second of peace.
Wash your dishes, call your mother, drink wine.

Shovel leaves or snow or trash from your sidewalk.
Make a path. Fold a photo of a dead child
around your VISA card. Gnaw your crust
of prayer, scoop your prayer water from the gutter.

Mumble along like a crazy person, stumbling
your prayer through the streets

FROM SUZELLE: Our nation is at war with Iraq now. Last night 32 members and friends of our Fellowship gathered here to hold one another, to share our feelings and thoughts. Some of us were angry, some resigned, some fearful, many confused, all anxious. It was good to be together. In these times, I am powerfully grateful for this liberal religious community.

In these times, I am still praying for peace. Even thought I am angry, even though I am close to despair, I can still pray, and like the Ellen Bass poem above, I am praying for peace with everything I do. 

By prayer I do not mean the use of words to invoke, placate or praise some "other," some god-in-the-sky. By prayer I mean reaching out with words and thoughts and hopes and plans for action because these things 
open my heart. As many have said, "prayer doesn't change things, but prayer changes people and people change things."

Many of you received the Ellen Bass poem from KUUF member Beth Wilson via the e-mail "peace list" she is keeping. On the desk in front of me is a small blue button-pin with a peace dove on it. Beth Wilson gave 
this to me as well. Last Sunday just before the 9 a.m. service, she handed me a small white card with the button pinned to it. The card said, "Will you wear the name of an Iraqi child next to your heart?" I started to cry. My button bears the name Rowa: age 13. Rowa, an Iraqi child. I am wearing her next to my heart as I pray for peace.

I am deeply sad and also terrified about this war. There is no doubt that Iraq will suffer a devastating military defeat. And no doubt that the people of Iraq - Rowa's people - will also endure devastating suffering. And our military personnel will suffer and their families will suffer. It also is devastating that our civil rights as Americans are suffering incredible setbacks, losses, erosion. The war feels like a distraction from so much more right here at home that is being devastated.

And so I pray not only for peace, but for all of humanity - for we all are impacted by this war. And I pray for wisdom and the courage to act. I hope you will pray with me, as Ellen Bass says, in whatever way you can.

With love,

Suzelle Lynch, Minister
Minister@kuuf.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES AND OTHER APRIL EVENTS

Saturday, April 5, 2003 - 7-9 p.m. WORKSHOP "Are they called Muslims or Islams?" with the Rev. Craig Moro. Please see the article at the bottom of this page for more information.

Sunday, April 6, 2003 - 9 and 11 am "Let's Hear from Rows 80-81" Pulpit Guest the Rev. Craig Moro. A chapter of the Qur'an is called a surah, which means literally a 'step' or a 'row.' What was the impact of these rows of words and verses on those who first heard them? This morning we'll try to get the feel of Islam's holy book from the perspective of the first people to hear its call for change--and justice. The Rev. Craig Moro lives in Salem, Oregon, and has recently finished three years of contract ministry with Quimper UU Fellowship in Port Townsend. He's a graduate of the University of Chicago and Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California. Rev. Moro developed an abiding interest in Islam during the worldwide controversy over the publication of Salman Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses, which led him to an intensive study of Arabic and the core texts of Islam. He has taught courses on Islam at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and Illinois Wesleyan University, as well as at several churches in California, Illinois, and the Pacific Northwest. The KUUF Choir sings at 9 a.m. today.

Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 9 and 11 am "Are We Really What We Eat?" KUUF Member Leo Boucher will share some thoughts on how conscious eating feeds him spiritually. The KUUF Choir sings at 11 a.m. today.

Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 9 and 11 am - INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE FOR EASTER AND EARTH DAY, with the Rev. Suzelle Lynch and Melinda Hughes, Director of Religious Education. So much to celebrate - the powerful Christian holiday of Easter, our powerful commitment to our planet on Earth Day, the beauty of Spring, and the joy of being in community. We will have our Ceremony of Child dedication today. If you are a KUUF member who would like to have your child dedicated, please contact Rev. Suzelle Lynch minister@kuuf.org or 360-377-4724. It's also HAT SUNDAY - so please come to KUUF wearing a hat today. The KUUF Choir sings for both services today.

Sunday, April 27, 2003 - ONE SERVICE ONLY AT 9 A.M. Rev. Suzelle Lynch "Beltaine - Bringing in the May." Join us for our fourth annual celebration of the earth-centered holiday of Beltaine, or May Day. We'll circle our chairs, and enjoy music and ritual a bit different than our usual in celebration of the start of summer in the Celtic calendar - the season of growth and renewal. Childcare provided. Special Music Today.

Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 11 a.m. KUUF ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING. All members of KUUF are encouraged to attend our annual meeting to elect new Board members, approve the budget for next year, and hear what has been happening with our committees and groups. Childcare provided. 

WORKSHOP ON ISLAM, SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH, 7-9 P.M. 
"Are they called Muslims or Islams?"
With the Rev. Craig Moro - our pulpit guest for Sunday, April 6th

The Rev. Craig Moro is coming to us from Salem, OR the first weekend in April to help all of us learn more about Islam. Rev. Moro, a UU minister who recently worked with our congregation in Port Townsend, has studied Arabic and the core texts of Islam intensively. He has taught courses on Islam at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and Illinois Wesleyan University, as well as at several churches in California, Illinois, and the Pacific Northwest.

The workshop on Saturday night give will us a chance to ask questions about Islam, no matter how basic (or embarrassing) they may seem. It will begin with a religious overview of Arabia at the time of the prophet Muhammad and the first revelation of the Qur'an (Koran.) After that there will be plenty of time for questions, answers, and discussion.

Sign up for the workshop on the sign-up sheet in the foyer, or contact the office (360) 377-4724, alex@kuuf.org. Please indicate if you need childcare, and the names and ages of your children. 

WELCOME TO KUUF'S NEWEST MEMBERS!

Fran and Denise De la Cruz joined KUUF on March 18. Denise is a small business owner, running USANA Health Sciences, a home-based, network marketing business working with nutritional supplements. Fran is an 
anesthesiologist with the U.S. Navy. The De la Cruz family also includes Andrew, age 3 and Alex, who was born in February. Denise and Fran first went to a Unitarian church in Malden, Massachusetts a few years ago, and came to KUUF when they were looking for a spiritual home after they moved to Bremerton. Denise is glad to have a church where the all-inclusive welcome matches their value system, and Fran says KUUF is the first church they've found "where there's more than one way to get into heaven." Both are active in our Children's Religious Education program, where Fran has been teaching the 6,7, and 8th graders, and Denise serves as the RE Committee's liaison for the toddler room. Fran spoke at our lay-led service on Gratitude last Thanksgiving, and the family played the parts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in our Intergenerational Participatory Nativity service in 2001. When they have spare time, Fran enjoys mountain biking and Denise likes reading non-fiction. Welcome, Denise and Fran!

NEWS FROM THE BOOK CLUBS

Women Who Love to Read will be meeting Monday, April, 28, 2003, 6:30pm, at the home of Phyllis Millard to discuss Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women. The discussion will be led by Kathy 
Bonsall. All women members and friends of the Fellowship are invited. Everyone brings finger foods for a simple potluck. Please contact Phyllis for info or directions to her home

Spiritual Book Discussion Groups
We discuss books having to do with Wisdom, Insight and Truth. We are presently reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

Group 1 will meet at 9 am Sunday, April 13 in the Elmore Room. Contact Sunday Farr for details.
Group 2 will meet at 1:30 pm, Wed., April 16 at the home of Lois McAllister. Contact Bob Trainer.

"CREATING AND SUSTAINING A CARING COMMUNITY"
A Workshop for KUUF's Neighborhood Group Liaisons, Caring Committee Members, and All of Us.

Come learn more about creating a community of caring Saturday, April 12th, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the Rev. Peg Morgan, Minister of the West Seattle UU Fellowship. Including skill and knowledge development in:
    * Building community within neighborhood groups
    * Being a caring presence
    * Active listening
    * Helping without fostering dependence
    * Group facilitation
    * Needs of our elders
Any member or friend of KUUF is welcome. The workshop is provided free of charge, and lunch and childcare will be provided with advance reservation. Reservations can be made by signing up on the bulletin board in the 
KUUF foyer, or by calling the KUUF office (360) 377-4724. 

Questions about Neighborhood Groups? Call Lene Hajek. If you require childcare, please let us know no later than Thursday, April 10

CONTACTING FOLKS AT THE KUUF OFFICE

By phone: 360.377.4724 

Sherry Attaway, Office Manager & Bookkeeper, Wednesday & Friday, admin@kuuf.org   
Alex Miller, Office Assistant, Tuesday & Thursday 9am-3pm, alex@kuuf.org 
Melinda Hughes, Director of Religious Education, Thursday 3:30 - 5:30pm, dre@kuuf.org 
The Reverend Suzelle Lynch, Minister, by appointment, Monday-Friday, minister@kuuf.org 


UUF & UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ANNOUNCEMENTS

Canvass Has Begun - Please Pledge!
If you have not already made your pledge of financial support to help KUUF for the 2003-2004 fiscal year, please step into the Elmore Room after the service on Sunday April 6th. If you prefer to pledge by e-mail, send a message to Sherry Attaway, our Bookkeeper and Office Manager at admin@kuuf.org and let her know the amount you wish to pledge for the year May 1, 2003 - April 30, 2004. Thank you.

Pacific North West District UUA Annual Meeting
"Tributaries to Peace 2003"
This year's meeting will be held in Moscow, Idaho, February 14-16, at the University Inn-Best Western. The keynote speaker will be Forrest Church who is serving his 25th year as senior minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City, the largest Unitarian church in the country. He is one of the leading UU voices in the United States today. Activities at the annual meeting includes receptions, workshops, worship, music and entertainment. For details visit (http://www.pnwd.uua.org/agm2003.html). There is transportation by bus available to the meeting (leaving from Seattle with parking provided), for complete details visit the PNWD web site (see address above) and click on Transportation.

Your Opinion Counts
The Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) seeks your assistance in planning for future anti-racism and diversity training and activities here at KUUF. Please take a few minutes to complete the enclosed survey and return it by April 13. Place completed surveys in the ARC box in the KUUF foyer or mail it to: ARC Survey; c/o KUUF; P.O. Box 2015; Bremerton, WA 98310.

FAIR TRADE COFFEE is for sale in the foyer as a KUUF fundraiser that will also help the environment, and the Costa Rican farmers who grow the coffee. Our coffee is fair-traded, which means that the farmers are guaranteed living wages, plus we are sending back to the farmers and their families some of the $6.00 per bag we raise from KUUF sales. For more info: contact Beth Wilson.

Buildings & Grounds Committee
The Buildings & Grounds Committee is soon going to receive new window panes to replace about nine of the Sanctuary and Admin Bldg., whose seals are ruptured, i.e. they are fogged. Those which are removed can be returned to the glass company or given to any who are in search of glass for a green house or a hot-bed. Those who are interested may call Carl Hajek. 

Annual KUUF CAMP OUT
The annual KUUF camp out will once again be held at Lyre River private campground. Activities include beach combing, mountain trail hiking, bike riding, tubing in Lyre River and great UU togetherness. The large field is limited to 60 people. Kids under 6 are not counted, kids between 6 and 15 count as 1/2 adult. There will be a signup sheet available in the foyer.For additional information call Frank Seehale or Jim Chapin. 

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DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT OUR NEWSLETTER, THE CANDLE?
Get your answers here.
If your concerns are about the newsletter content, the style or suggestions for future articles contact Rev. Suzelle Lynch, 360.377.4724, minister@kuuf.org. 
If you didn't receive your newsletter, need to change your address or would like to be on our mailing list contact the Fellowship office staff who are responsible for distribution, admin@kuuf.org,  360.377.4724.
If you have questions about the newsletter deadline, if your article will fit in the newsletter or want a special graphic with your news item contact the newsletter editor (New editor being appointed at time of printing, contact Fellowship for new editor contact info.)
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TREASURER'S REPORT
As of March 14, pledge donations for this fiscal year were $129,252, just $1,373 less than the budgeted amount of $130, 625. Could this be the year we finally break even?! Thanks to all who have donated so generously!

PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Susan Weinstein

Our Fellowship, like the blooms and buds that surround our physical building, bursts with activities of many kinds. Your Board of trustees is focusing on many items also. Forefront, is our work on balancing our budget for next fiscal year with the (hopefully) successful canvass. (It's too early to tell at this writing just where we are financially). Readying our application for an interim minister follows on the heels of balancing our budget. Your Board supports the hiring of an interim minister. This is an important transition to our selection of our next full-time minister.

What you may not know about interim ministers (I didn't) is that they have specialized training to fill the role as the interim minister; they are compensated at about the same rate as a 'regular' minister; they may not be considered for the regular position where they are the interim minister; and the 'demand' far exceeds the 'supply'. In other words, many more churches request interim ministers than are available. As a result, there are some interim ministers in training who fill the gap. There will be more information about this process as we move along. Applications for interim ministers were due April 1st; so we are grateful to Suzelle for giving us the 'lead' time.

And speaking of gratitude: Our very warm thanks to Phyllis Millard and John Younie who are both ending their three year terms on the Board at the end of April. (Donna Noonan, the third person, moved to Oregon in January). Ed Ramey has been a wonderful replacement; and we are waging a major campaign (wink, wink) to have him nominated to a regular three year position on the Board beginning next month. Our appreciation to Phyllis and John for the warmth and honesty they brought to our work; and their sense of humor was a great addition too.

Paul Flemm, our very esteemed vice-president, will be stepping up to the position of president - and how fortunate are all of us at KUUF for that. Paul brings a terrific sense of perspective, an ability to easily grasp the 'big' picture, and to explain both the big and small interworkings of issues clearly. He has a terrific sense of humor which he uses frequently; yet he can be serious and straight forward when necessary. Not surprisingly he's from Pennsylvania. That and being married to Vicki - we're in for a great year with a great KUUF president. 

Thank you for all your warmth and support during this past year. As President of the Board, I've had the opportunity to have a slightly different perspective on the workings of KUUF: this new perspective has amplified my love and appreciation of the wide-ranging talents and energy of the members of this liberal religious community that has enriched my life so fully. In short, I am blessed to be with you. Many, many thanks.

Warmly,
Susan

llahee Forest Planning Committee
The Kitsap County Commissioners has appointed a committee to work with Kitsap County Parks and Recreation to develop the master plan for the use of the forest. The committee is just getting started and since KUUF property is adjacent to the forest we have been involved in saving the land and now will have representation on the committee to develop the master plan. Ann Lovell was on the original committee and has volunteered to continue into the planning stage.

Kitsap County acquired the 352 acre forest from the State Department of Natural Resources in 2001. They have started removing debris and junk cars off of the site. They removed 13 junked vehicles and 21/2 trash bins loads during the first week of March. No dumping signs have been posted on roads in and around the property and anyone seeing dumping should take down the license number, if they can do so 
safely and call 911. 

The Planning Committee has met once and will continue to meet during March and April. The committee agreed at the first meeting to develop a vision for the forest and goals that will point park development toward both immediate needs and for future generations. 

BOARD NOMINATIONS

The nominating committee has been busy finding good people for the KUUF Board of Trustees and the KUUF Endowment Committee. The candidates will be presented at the general meeting in April for approval by the Fellowship. We have found excellent candidates for the positions. These are brief biographies of the candidates:

Board Nominees:

Ed Ramey has agreed to fill the slot on the KUUF Board of Directors left open when Donna Noonan moved and had to leave the board in January. Donna had served over two and a half years of a three-year term. Ed will be nominated for the vacancy in April. Ed is a retired high school chemistry, physics and math teacher. He taught in Bellevue for many years, and continues to do substitute teaching here in Kitsap County. He and his wife, Joy, joined the East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in the early nineties. They went to the church for their daughter's piano recitals and found themselves attracted by the literature in the foyer. They moved to Kitsap County on 1/1/01 and turned a family vacation home into a full-time residence. They joined KUUF shortly thereafter. Ed and Joy have one daughter who lives in Bellevue

Ray Jessen is a retired mechanical engineer who spent his career designing parks and large swimming pools. He was the project engineer for the parks at Horseshoe Lake, Buck Lake, Wildcat Lake and Salisbury Park. Ray and his wife were members of Saltwater UU Church in Seattle (formerly the First UU Church of Seattle) for 23 years before moving to Kitsap five years ago. They joined KUUF 2 years ago. While at Saltwater, Ray served terms as chair of the Board of Trustees and the Long Range Planning Committee, as well as redesigning the church kitchen. Ray and Nancy sing in the choir here at KUUF. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Margo Rinehart moved to Kitsap from Seattle in 1993. She found KUUF on Earth Day of 1997 and has been heavily involved ever since. She has chaired or co-chaired the Aesthetics Committee, Women's Retreat Committee, and the Canvas Committee. She has also been involved in the Toddler Group, RE, and the KUUF Walk for Life group. Margo and her husband, Kelly, live in Silverdale and have a five-year-old son. Margo works part time as a clinical social worker for the King County Court System.

Endowment Committee Nominee:

Guy Frindell first attended Unitarian services in high school in order to avoid going to Chapel at his boarding school. He began attending KUUF when his children were small. He joined in 1981, and has since served the Fellowship in many capacities, including Long-Range Planning, Finance, and the committee for building our current building. He has been the stalwart presence on the Board of the Learning Tree, and continues his work in that capacity. Guy is an engineer at Keyport. His two children, Alan and Karen, grew up in the Fellowship, and both now live in California. He and his wife, Barbara, are regulars at the annual campout.

UU CREDIT UNION OFFERS LOWEST EVER LOAN RATES
The Unitarian Universalist Federal Credit Union (UUFCU) is pleased to ANNOUNCE NEW LOWEST EVER LOAN RATES. These outstanding rates, for example 4.5% for a current model car for 48 months, maximum loan amount $35,600, are one way that UUFCU is working for UU! The new rate schedule is on UUF CU's web page http://members.aol.com/uufcu, then click on loans. The loan application is also available from this site. 

WOULD YOU "CARE TO JAZZ?"
Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS) is hosting its second annual "Care To Jazz" fundraising event on Friday, July 11 from 6-10 p.m. at the Red Lion (formerly WestCoast) Silverdale Hotel. This evening gala features a buffet dinner, silent auction and live performances by jazz vocalist Greta Matassa and The Jazz Guys, led by our own Michael Stowell. Tickets are $50 each. 

Proceeds benefit PCHS, a private, nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive primary medical care and dental services to low-income, uninsured and under-served children and adults. Last year, the organization cared for more than 22,000 residents at its five health centers in Kitsap and Grays Harbor Counties. For information about ticket sales and/or donating silent auction items, contact Deborah Horn.

ON THE BORDER WORKCAMP
The UU Service Committee has teamed with BorderLinks, an Arizona nonprofit organization, to offer adults (18+) a work camp experience along the Arizona-Mexico border. May 1 - 4, 2003, volunteers will participate in workshops, service work and local trips, to learn of the unique issues facing those who live on the border. Topics include discrimination, immigration, and civil rights. For more information, please contact Melinda Hughes, DRE at 377-4724 or dre@kuuf.org. 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CALENDAR April 2003 

April 13-Religious Education Committee 9:00am
April 20-Intergenerational Easter/Earth Day Service
-1st Day of Mystery Friends

HIPPITY, HOPPITY, EASTER'S ON ITS WAY
The annual KUUF Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Sunday, April 20th, immediately following the 11:00 service. Both services this day are intergenerational so children and youth, ages 5 and above, will remain 
with the adults in the sanctuary for the entire service. For younger children, those who are crawlers through age 4, childcare will still be provided during the services. Children who are interested in participating should bring a basket or bag in which to collect eggs. Adults who are interested can begin bringing small items to stuff plastic eggs with. Stickers, erasers, small toys, rub on tattoos, animal crackers, and candies are always a hit. Please do not bring anything with peanuts. These items can be brought to the Religious Education office April 6th or 13th.

MYSTERY FRIENDS
Mystery Friends is an opportunity for children, adults and youth in our congregation to get to know each other while their identities remain secret. Adults/youth are paired up with a child they do not know, each pair is given a code name, and for five weeks they exchange items with each other (jokes, puzzles, gift bags, drawings, fun facts about yourself...). Mystery Friends will run from April 20th (the Easter/Earth Day intergenerational service) through May 18th (again an intergenerational service). More information will be distributed through Sunday announcements, handouts in classes and postings on the Religious Education bulletin board.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IDENTITY
From March 7th through March 10th I was in Oregon City, Oregon, at Atkinson Memorial Church, participating in a training with fellow directors of religious education and religious education lay leaders. There were 11 of us in all, including our two trainers, Niya Standish, from Wy'east and Pat Ellenswood, from Boston. 

These trainings, Renaissance Modules, are offered twice a year in our district. They are wonderful opportunities for those of us involved in religious education. Renaissance Modules are required for religious educators to become voting members in LREDA, the Liberal Religious Educators Association, or for those of us following the path to becoming a credentialed religious educator. I feel blessed to be the Director of Religious Education in a Fellowship that values religious education where people show their support both financially, through pledges, and time, by volunteering in the program.

This, my third Renaissance Module, was on Unitarian Universalist Identity. We discussed our Unitarian Universalist history and heritage as well as the heritage and history our individual congregations. I came home wanting to study and reflect more on what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist, and how I, as a religious educator, can support children, youth and adults in our Fellowship as they discover their own Unitarian Universalist identity. 

To this end I want to learn more about the history of our congregation and I'm hoping that you will all participate. For the next few months I am planning on including information about Unitarian Universalist history as well as the history of our Fellowship. This is where you come in. You are the historians. Help pass our history along to our children, youth and new members. What is our history? 

I have heard the names of our elders mentioned in passing, but have never heard their legacy. To start, with please share with me the stories behind the Elmore room, named in honor of Luther and Roma Elmore, the letter writing table given to the Fellowship by the Social Concerns Committee in honor of Margaret Carlson, our beautiful chalice, the quilt that hangs behind the pulpit, 
the garden benches..... You can stories to me at the Fellowship or e-mail them to me at dre@kuuf.org.  I look forward to learning more.

In faith,
Melinda

THE YOUTH PLACE

Youth Adult Committee (YAC)
Youth Members 
Drew Campbell-Chair 
Mariam Akgar-Vice Chair 
Cody Oakes- Co-Treasure 
Michelle Thompson- Co-Treasurer
Kelsey Campbell-At Large Youth 

Adult Members 
Jim Chapin-Youth Advisor
Eric Samson-Congregation Member
Thomas Oliver-Youth Parent 
Claire Favro-Board Member

Want to Know More?
If you want to find out more about our Youth Program or if you're 
interested in getting involved, please contact Melinda L. Hughes, 
Director of Religious Education at 360-377-4724 or dre@kuuf.org or Drew Campbell, YAC Chair.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COMMITTEE?
Serving on the Religious Education Committee is a two-year commitment. (May 2003-May 2005) Some of our committee members have served their two years and are rotating off, which means we will be able to take new 
members.

LEND A HAND! 
RE program Volunteer Opportunities
* Keep the supply closet organized. Swing through the supply closet at the learning tree and make sure supplies are where they belong, note any supplies that are running low.
* Be the second adult in the Toddler room any Sunday. Volunteers are needed for both services. 
* If you can help please contact Melinda Hughes, DRE (360.377.4724, dre@kuuf.org). 

RAINBOW WORLD
A Column on the issues of Racism, Diversity and Multiculturalism

Perspectives of a Navy Wife
by Emily Rohrer, KUUF friend

I have been a Navy wife much longer than I have been a UU -- and I'm still not sure of the latter -- but Rev. Suzelle Lynch invited me to write this column and share with you a bit about how it feels to be in my shoes these days. 

Let me first tell you how I came to be a Navy wife. During the fall of 1990, Operation Desert Shield began. On a lark, I took the advice of Ann or Abby, I don't remember which, and sent a motivational letter to "Any Service Member." My letter was answered by a Navy ensign named Tim Rohrer, onboard the USS Guam in the Persian Gulf. We corresponded for eight months, and met in the summer of 1991. We were married a year 
later. You might say that had it not been for the Gulf War, I would not have met or married my husband.

Last summer, Tim, who is now a lieutenant commander, took orders to serve as staff cryptologist for the battle group using the USS Carl Vinson as its flagship. In January of this year, what was supposed to be a three-week training exercise for the Vinson turned into open-ended orders to relieve the USS Kitty Hawk off the coast of Korea. My husband has been gone since January 13. He has missed all three of our birthdays, about 18 soccer games, a handful of minor holidays, three burned out overhead lights, three battles with clogged toilets, three trips to the repair shop with our only vehicle (one of which lasted a full week), and one brief, yet memorable visit by a squirrel to my kitchen. We don't know when Tim will be back.

My experiences are not unique: I am one military spouse among many, not just in the Puget Sound area, but worldwide, left behind in uncertain times. I speak only for myself in this column, not for all military spouses, and certainly not for the U.S. military itself.

As someone new to UU, I really enjoy being able to explore the spiritual choices available to me, in a non-judgmental, non-dogmatic, all-welcoming setting. But I have to tell you that when I see the "No Iraq War " signs and petitions in the KUUF lobby, I get a funny, unwelcome feeling in the pit of my stomach. I stand paralyzed between wanting to hide my face and wanting to shriek in someone else's, "How could you? Do you even know what our service families are going through?" But I remind myself that what is happening, what is being said, is not directed at me or at my husband, but is an outpouring of emotions from fellow human beings -- many of them with military connections -- who truly care about what is going on. But it still hurts. And make no mistake that it damages the morale of our troops.

In the report in the March Candle on the first open forum on the war in Iraq held at KUUF, the first point of agreement was that "we support our troops, and because of this, do not want them to be sent into harm's way on an illegal and immoral venture." I do look with gratitude upon those who realize that behind all the posturing and politics are people -- people who are a part of this community; people who need help, support, and smiles; people like me and my family. I admire Suzelle's honesty in her sermon of Feb. 9, in which she stated, "I do not want my strong, personal, faith-based opposition to the war in Iraq to jeopardize my relationships with people, or their feeling of belonging and safety here."

On most days, I do feel supported and safe at KUUF. I know that all of you can support our troops by making sure that their families are safe, secure, befriended and busy. Offer to mow a military family's lawn, take their kids to a playground or to a movie with yours, or invite them over for a casual supper so that they don't have to sit down to yet another meal at a table with a conspicuously empty chair at one end. But there are some days when I feel somehow slighted, as if I am in the wrong place. I know that I have many thoughts to process before I can stand in a place of personal peace. For now I stand firmly nowhere but in the crush of here and now, trying to keep my family together through daily challenges. It is neither as difficult nor as easy as I thought it would be. And as I stand here, I look down at these worn-out shoes, and I marvel at where they've been and where they have yet to take me.

PASSING THOUGHTS

I feel loving eyes of mother gone,
And see steady father standing near.
I feel the warmth of my soul mate's hand
I have not to fear.

Blinking now, I see my children,
Busy with their children.
I feel joy for life today,
But also, an awesome pull away.

Seventy years is near at hand,
Cascading memories to this day.
To know the changes I hope to stand,
But age has come, and time moves on.
My health and work are mostly gone.

The greatest gift, I've come to know,
This precious community of man.
I fear not going but fear what's here,
Waiting round the corner.

With vantage of age, I sorrow to note,
In confident, vigorous youth,
Fascination in the games of war,
Blind to the loss and grief

In loving support for all youth and the troops,
I fear striving, conniving bosses,
Who hunger for power, wealth, and fame.
But lead us down into the valley of flame.

The human condition is partly to blame.
We're still unwilling to share human rights,
In a world that's pulled asunder,
We all must share the shame.

"Democracy" for us and poverty for them,
Beyond our Bill of Rights.
We do not share the earthly goods,
Nor inspire in others' hope.

In fear, fanned by leaders,
Our freedoms will perish:
Petition, press, religion, assembly,
Free speech all we cherish.

When these rights are lost,
How can they be regained?
Can ever we again climb? At what cost?
Towards rights for everyone?

We must work for a world, no frames, no boundaries, 
A democratic voice for all,
A world united, 
Without the scourge of war.

So I fear not aging 
But deeply I fear,
For the world we love,
And its people we hold so dear.

By KUUF member Hugh H. Harkins, M.D. (retired), CAPT, MC, USN, retired

UUA PROVIDES RESOURCES REGARDING IRAQ WAR

(Boston, March 19, 2003) As the world waits for a seemingly inevitable war to occur, the UUA announces the debut of over fifty pages of materials, information, discussion board, and resources for children, youth, adults, and lay and professional religious leaders, to help during these difficult days.

The front page of the UUA website contains a letter from President William G. Sinkford directing users to the new site: http://www.uua.org/news/2003/iraq.  A bulletin board on which to post thoughts about the war is available at http://www.uua.org/news/2003/iraq/wwwboard/index.html.  Also contained on the site are UUA statements, information on military service and conscientious objection, UU-related media coverage, support for military members and families, and more.

If hostilities start, we will issue a pastoral prayer and statement from Rev. Sinkford which will also be carried on our website. For the latest news from the UUA, go to http://www.uua.org/news 

Deborah J. Weiner
Director of Electronic Communication
Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108 617-948-6104
http://www.uua.org

SUPPORTING UUs IN THE MILITARY
US Navy Chaplain Candidate Eric Johnson, who directs the UU Military Ministries, is developing a Wall of Honor to recognize and provide services to UU military personnel, both active and veterans. If you, or someone you know, is a UU and in the military, related to someone in the military, or a veteran of the U.S. Military, you are invited to contact Eric Johnson. The UUA is proud to support the UU Military Ministries in recognizing and providing care for military members and their families in these difficult days. To contact Chaplain Candidate Eric Johnson, email: uunavychaplain@aol.com.. For those in the U.S. military who wish to join a UUA-hosted e-mail list of others currently serving, information is available at http://www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/uumil.  

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