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THE CANDLE
JANUARY 2003
The voice of liberal religion on the Kitsap Peninsula
Scintillations
a column from your minister
January. A New Year. A time for looking forward, looking back, seeing
where we are, right now.
It's also a time for dreaming. Our nation seems to be marching steadily
towards war, but my dream is a dream of peace. It's a dream that echoes
the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was a committed pacifist who
urged us all to create peace, as well as being a leader for justice and in
the fight against segregation and racism. We celebrate Dr. King later this
month. What else can we do to urge peace? Write to our elected officials,
the president. Protest and pray. Seek peace in our own hearts and lives.
Work with other organizations and individuals who are seeking peace.
Our UUA President, the Rev. Bill Sinkford, spent many hours in December
doing these things. He has said that the role of religious people is to
ask key questions before preemptive military action is taken. Some
questions he and others have raised are on our minds, too: What role does
oil play in the national decision making with regard to Iraq? How can our
country afford this kind of war? What will be the cost - what kind of
justice work will be deferred, what kinds of civil liberties will be
compromised? How can we engage in such actions without creating the next
generation of terrorists? When will we understand that a just and lasting
peace in Israel and Palestine is necessary for the US to have healthy
relationships with the nations in that part of the world? (From
www.uua.org)
Many UU congregations have passed resolutions of peace, some have gone as
a group to protests, written letters to the editor, and more. Most of them
are not in our position - of living in a community where most of our
livelihoods, directly or indirectly, are linked to the military presence
here. There are activists for peace here at KUUF - and our Social Concerns
Committee has led us in letter-writing and invited us to have yard signs
and to be part of vigils. Many of us have taken part in these actions. We
have been clear that to work for peace does not mean being anti-military.
We also have kept in our minds and hearts our members and friends who
serve in the military, especially those directly "in harm's way" on ships,
subs or other locations.
I am proud of our congregation for the compassionate center we hold in
these matters and I dream of peace and act for peace as best I am able.
Please join with me.
With love and hope for our future,
Suzelle
Rev. Suzelle Lynch, Minister
360.377.4724
minister@kuuf.org
**********
January Sunday Worship Services and Other Events
Sunday, January 5, 2003 - 9 and 11 a.m. The Rev. Suzelle Lynch,
"Unitarians and Universalists - What's the Difference?" We begin the New
Year with a look at our history, and the two religious groups that merged
in 1961 to form our present religious movement. Special music today.
Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 9 and 11 a.m. The Rev. Suzelle Lynch, "Ancient,
Timeless, Inspiring: Hinduism and Our Faith." Hinduism is an ancient and
enduring religion practiced world-wide; our forebears' contact with it
changed Unitarianism forever. Come today and learn more! Today is New
Member Sunday. The day we formally welcome our new Fellowship members. The
KUUF Choir sings for both services today.
Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 9 and 11 a.m. Guest Speaker: Lionel Collins The
KUUF Anti-Racism Committee kicks off the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther
King's birthday with the offering of a special presentation by Bremerton
resident Lionel Collins. Mr. Collins will recite portions of Dr. King's
famous "I Have A Dream" speech. KUUF Anti-Racism Committee members are
participating in today's service as well. Today Religious Education
Teachers will be recognized. The KUUF Choir sings for the 11am service
today.
Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 9 and 11 a.m. The Rev. Suzelle Lynch, "The Way
of Transformation." What is it, in the process of everyday human living,
that can transform us? Some thoughts from Suzelle and from UU process
theologian and philosopher Henry Nelson Weiman. The KUUF Choir sings for
the 9am service today.
**********
Partner Church News
Come with us to Transylvania to meet the Unitarians in our Partner village
of Recsenyéd! Five of us have committed to travel to Recsenyéd next
September. We would really like to have more people come with us, and we
believe that you would return from the trip enriched and warmed by the
friendship and welcoming love of the people in our Partner Church. In
addition to visiting Recsenyéd, we will visit famous Unitarian places in
Transylvania, see the Harvest Hope bakery and dairy projects in Okland,
visit the Unitarian headquarters in Kolozsvár, eat some wonderful food,
drink a little palinka with our hosts, and probably take a dinner cruise
on the Danube in Budapest. We can have as many as fourteen people in our
group, so please inquire about it if you are at all interested. Contact
Linda Gabriel, telephone 360.697.2378, email gablin@tscnet.com, or Barbara
Mades, telephone 360.479.4770, email bjmades@sinclair.net for any
information about our partnership or about the trip. Also, please note
that on February 2, The Rev. John Gibbons from the UU Partner Church
Executive Committee will be our worship guest speaker.
**********
News from the Book Clubs
Women Who Love to Read - The next meeting is January 27th at 6:30pm with a
discussion on Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende led by Jackie
Westwood. Everyone brings finger food for a simple potluck. The meeting
will be held at Phyllis Millard's home, women members and friends of the
Fellowship can contact Phyllis for information and directions to her home.
Spiritual Book Discussion Group - The KUUF Spiritual Book Discussion Group
will meet at 2pm on Wednesday, January 8th at the home of Lois McAllister,
3018 Parklane Dr, Bremerton. Come and join the discussion of Thom
Hartmann's book, The Prophet's Way, Touching The Power of Life. Contact
Bob Trainer, for more information.
**********
Friends of UUA Telephone Canvass
Friends of the UUA will begin their annual telephone canvass this month.
Due to the volume of calls made during the canvass they will be using the
services of The Share Group, a telemarketing firm for progressive causes
located in Massachusetts and California. To minimize potential concerns,
Friends of UUA will mail a letter to each household before calling
providing information on the benefits of UUA and information on how to opt
out of the phone call. For more information on the Friends of UUA and the
important work they do please visit the UUA website, www.uua.org.
**********
Welcome to KUUF's Newest Members!
Sunday Farr joined KUUF on November 19, 2002. She's a marriage and family
counselor in private practice, but also works with the Navy to provide
counseling and advocacy services for active duty and retired personnel and
their family members. Sunday also was very active in Compassionate
Friends, an organization for parents who have lost a child. She's a
longtime Kitsap resident who first came to KUUF in the mid-1980s for a
memorial service, and said she felt a peace here that was very healing.
She came back four years ago and found she enjoyed everything at KUUF -
"the people, the place and the philosophy." She serves on the Membership
Committee and has been helping Bob Trainer get the Evening Spirituality
Book Group started. Sunday enjoys creative work in her spare time - tole
painting, home decorating, and beadwork are current interests. Welcome,
Sunday!
Ginger Younie joined the Fellowship on November 22, 2002. She's an
occupational therapist with the Central Kitsap Schools, and has been
coming to KUUF for six years, ever since she and her husband John and
their children Jacob and Brenna moved to Bremerton in 1996. Both Ginger
and John were born into UU families in New Hampshire. Ginger decided that
it was time to join KUUF, for she enjoys our greater openness to different
ideas and spiritual paths, as well as her children's enthusiasm for their
religious education classes. She serves on the Worship Committee as a
service coordinator and also coordinating our Sunday flowers, and she also
teaches in the RE program. In her spare time she's a soccer mom and she
loves sewing of all kinds - quilting, upholstery, crafts, and making
clothes for herself and her family. Welcome, Ginger!
**********
Welcome To Our New KUUF Bookkeeper/Office Manager
Sherry Attaway began working at KUUF on December 9th as our new
Bookkeeper/Office Manager. She came to us with a love for accounting and a
solid background in bookkeeping and office procedures, and is rapidly
learning all the ways we keep track of financial and database information
here at the Fellowship. We hope you'll enjoy meeting her if you stop by
the office - we're glad to have her on the office staff team.
**********
The Kitsap County Child Protection Team Needs You!
Are you a professional who works with children and families? Would you
like to help DCFS social workers in a shared decision making process
determining local resources that can help families in crisis, as well as
making placement recommendations when it comes to children at risk? The
Child Protection Team of Kitsap (CPT) is looking for volunteers who are
willing to give 2 - ? hours a month to serve on the CPT. What qualifies
you as a potential member? If you work in the medical field, law
enforcement, mental health, chemical dependency, or domestic violence
advocacy. From foster parents to school counselors - the CPT needs you.
Please contact Lori Thompson via email at cptkitsap@msn.com or
360.479.0676. You can also find Lori at second service on Sundays -
wearing a blue KUUF nametag.
***********
New KUUF Office Hours
The addition of Sherry Attaway to the office staff will increase the hours
the Fellowship office will be open. Watch for an announcement of the
additional new hours.
**********
Showing of Alan Newberg's Artwork in Seattle
The M. Rosetta Hunter Gallery in Seattle will feature the "Microcredit in
El Salvador" series of paintings by KUUF member Alan Newberg. This
exhibition will run from January 21 to Feburary 6, with an opening
reception on January 22 from 5 to 7 pm. The Hunter Gallery is on the
campus of Seattle Central Community College which is located at 1701
Broadway in Seattle. The artist will also participate as a panelist in a
related event, a forum on microcredit lending which will be from noon to 2
pm on January 22. For more information call 206.344.4379.
***********
KUUF Cancer Support Group
The Cancer Support Group has met for the past two months and has been
enthusiastically attended. The group will continue to meet once a month
after the 11 o'clock service. The next meeting will be on January 12 in
the Elmore Room. Everyone whose life has been touched by cancer is
welcome. For more information, please contact Ann Lovell.
**********
A View from the District
Anne Heller, District Executive
December, 2002
Your Pacific Northwest District Board has appointed three new Task Forces,
each of which will explore a different aspect of service delivery, and
each of which wants to hear from you.
1. The Annual General Meeting Task Force will be examining the way we do
our Annual General Meeting. They will look at questions of place, of
price, and of program. They have created a survey, and you are encouraged
to fill it out and to return it. Only by hearing from as many of you as
possible can we be sure to call a meeting each year that interests and
educates and warms your heart, besides! What would most inspire your
congregation to active participation? For more information on this Task
Force, or to contribute information and opinion, please contact District
Administrator Diane Brinson at the PNWD office at (800) 313-7693 or
administrator@pnwd.org.
2. The Lay Leadership Development Task Force is assessing how we do
leadership development and training - for all kinds of purposes - in this
district. It was appointed by the PNWD board in response to priority
requests from both the PNWD Leadership Council and the PNWD President's
Convocation, and will be exploring possibilities for justice training,
adult religious education, and church organization and administration
training. The Task Force is headed by Mary Davis, past President at
University Church in Seattle, and will be seeking input from all of you as
well. Meanwhile, if you have thoughts, ideas, concerns about what a
perfect leadership development program might look like, please contact
Program Consultant Tandi Rogers at (253) 572-7693 or trogers@uua.org.
3. The PNWD Communications Task Force was appointed by the PNWD Board to
assess how, and how well the district communicates with congregations, and
vice-versa. It will examine all areas of communication: paper, electronic,
word of mouth -- and looking at their effectiveness. What do you like and
not like? What works? How much should we depend on each of these areas of
communication, and what is the best use of each of them? If you have
comments, questions or suggestions for this Task Force, please contact
District Executive Anne Heller at (360) 376-3425 or aheller@uua.org.
Each of these Task Forces will be looking to you for suggestions and
concerns. They will each be presenting a report to the district board in
May, with recommendations for implementation in the future. They will be
the most successful and effective if they hear from you. So please do be
in touch. Let us know what you want and what you need in each of these
important areas. The more of you who respond, the more productive and
exciting our future will be. We look forward to hearing from you!
Anne Heller
Beginning December 31, 2002 the Pacific Northwest District office will no
longer be subscribing to AOL and this email address will not be effective.
The following email addresses are active and can be used to reach district
staff. Please make note of the changes.
Anne Heller, District Executive
heller@interisland.net
Tandi Rogers, Program Consultant
trogers@uua.org
Diane Brinson, District Administrator
administrator@pnwd.org
Janet Fleck, Bookkeeper
bookkeeper@pnwd.org
Mary Marsh, Office Assistant/Resource Librarian
library@pnwd.org
**********
Contacting Folks at the KUUF Office -
- By phone: 360.377.4724 By FAX: 360.377.0424
- Sherry Attaway, Office Manager & Bookkeeper, Wednesday & Friday (hours
TBD), 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, minister@kuuf.org
**********
President’s Corner
2002-2003 Board President, Susan Weinstein
Your Board of Trustees joins me in wishing you a healthy, peaceful, and
prosperous New Year. Although the trees outside the Fellowship remind us
that it's winter, the KUUF calendar seems far from barren. And, more
importantly, our members - we act with spring-like energy.
The Finance Committee under the year-long springy energy and very capable
leadership of Ann Lovell and her five (also energetic and capable)
committee members have written a memo to the Board raising concerns about
the Fellowship's financial planning (or lack thereof).
The committee suggested that they have a special meeting with the Board to
address the concerns that were raised. This has been scheduled for
February.
The Ways and Means Committee is not having difficulty building consensus
among itself. When I say that I am happy about this, I speak both as a
member of the Board and as a mental health professional. The W & M
Committee has also provided a thoughtful memo about questions it has in
relationship to financial and fund-raising concerns. This will be shared
with Board members at our next meeting. (Jeanette Schanilec, by the way,
is THE (only) member of Ways and Means. She'd love to double or triple her
committee's membership!!)
All the Fellowship Committees' Chairpersons will have an opportunity to
express opinions, questions, and concerns about the Fellowship at the
leadership meeting planned for Saturday, January 11th with Rev. Anne
Heller. Board members are very excited about this. And judging from the
issues that have been raised by the two just-mentioned committees, as well
as issues previously raised by the (Building) Long-Range Committee, the
timing for the meeting on the 11th seems right. If you have any thoughts,
ideas, concerns about KUUF that you would like to share, you are strongly
encouraged to do so. Any one of the Board members and/or a Committee
chairperson and/or Suzelle would be very glad to relay your message to the
meeting at large so that it can be addressed.
Donna Noonan has been an active and enthusiastic Board member for almost
three years and the secretary for the Board for at least two of those
years. She has done an incredible job in taking notes (imagine trying to
organize the flow of talk among 9+ verbal UUs)! More importantly from my
point of view, Donna has shared her profound commitment to UU ideals,
particularly her strong dedication to peace, justice and saving our
physical
planet in such a gentle yet clear way that she was a kind of touchstone
for us on the Board. Thank you, Donna for this. We are appreciative of all
the work and support you and Len have given to KUUF. Donna and Len are
returning to Portland; and, we will sorely miss them. We want to wish them
well; and, hope that they will visit us when they travel in this
direction.
And a beginning at the end. A warm welcome to Sherry Attaway, our new
office manager/bookkeeper. We are delighted to have her joining our staff
and look forward to working with her. Please extend a welcome to her when
you are in contact with the office.
Peace.
Susan
**********
Treasurer’s Report
From May 1 to December 15, the budgeted amount for pledge donations was
$95,225. Actual pledge donations totaled $94,607, making a shortfall of
only $617. It's a wonderful Christmas present for our Fellowship, to end
the year almost even on donations. Thank you to everyone who helped that
happen.
Darlene Johnsrude, Treasurer
**********
Thanks to all who contributed to the January issue of The Candle. The
deadline for February issue is Sunday, January 19, 2003. There are many
people, including you the contributor, who work to get the newsletter out
on time. Thanks for doing your part and getting your items in by the
deadline.
Newsletter Editor
**********
Religious Education for Children & Youth
Director of Religious Education
Melinda L. Hughes, dre@kuuf.org
We Did It!
As Dora the Explorer (or is it Bob the Builder) would say, "We did it!"
The Religious Education Program needed 20 volunteers to teach from January
to May and 20 people have signed up. This is in addition to the 7 adults
that are facilitating our amazing youth group. Teachers for the
preschool-middle school classes are asked to attend a team training on
January 4th, from 9:00-12:00. This training will be when teaching teams
meet each other, set schedules and receive the curriculum they will be
teaching. See you there.
KUUF Middle Schoolers and Youth
Compassionate Role Models
Has anyone ever wondered what the oldest members of KUUF's religious
education program are doing on Sunday mornings? They are doing their part
in creating a compassionate community here in Kitsap County.
The middle school group took shoeboxes and created wonderful holiday boxes
for some of the children at Woodland Elementary. They stuffed these boxes
with personal items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap...), school supplies
(pencils...) and toys (balls....) that they brought to the Fellowship.
At the same time the youth of our congregation were stuffing 22 donated
backpacks with similar items for women and their families who are at the
Alive shelter. The backpacks were a generous donation and the youth used
money they had earned serving at past canvas dinners to purchase the items
they stuffed them with.
We are truly blessed to have these compassionate individuals as part of
our congregation.
Some Reminders
* RE classes last until 12:30. Please do not pick up your child early. If
you must please make arrangements with the teacher so that the class is
not disturbed during their worship time.
* Visitors to RE classes need to fill out a visitor form; this form can be
obtained at the greeter table, from Melinda, or from any teacher.
* If you have not yet paid your snack donation please do so; this is the
fund that snacks are purchased with. If you would like a snack
"scholarship" please contact Melinda.
The Golden Rule in Six of the World's Religions (From UU & Me)
Christianity
Whatever you wish that people would do to you, do so to them.
Matthew 7:12
Islam
No one of you is a believer until you love for another what you love for
yourself.
Mohammed
Buddhism
Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.
Udanavarga 5:18
Confucisanism
What you do not want done to yourself, do not to others.
Analecta 15:23
Judaism
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Leviticus 19:18
Hinduism
People should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated.
Hitopadesa
Lend A Hand
RE Volunteer Opportunities
- Volunteer to keep the supply closet organized.
- Be the second adult in the Toddler Room, any
Sunday either service.
RE Calendar
January 2003
January 4th, Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm Teacher Training
January 5th, Sunday YAC Meeting
January 12th, Sunday RE Committee Meeting
January 19th, Sunday Melinda out
9:00am Sunday Supervisor, Jenny Morgan
11:00am Sunday Supervisor, Selene Patterson
**********
Rainbow World
A Column on the issues of Racism, Diversity and Multiculturalism
On The Journey Toward Wholeness-Walking The Path to Anti-Racism
By Deborah Horn, Chair, KUUF Anti-Racism Committee
In every generation, Unitarian Universalists have responded to the
prophetic call to create beloved community. We've sought ways to fight
oppression in all its forms, to build a more just and anti-racist society,
to bring much needed social and economic change to our communities. That's
why the Unitarian Universalist Association developed the Journey Toward
Wholeness Path to Anti-Racism in 1997.
The Path to Anti-Racism initiative was born out of the premise that racism
and its effects are embedded in all social institutions as well as in
ourselves and will not be eradicated without deliberate engagement in
analysis and action. It is a lengthy journey; a three-step process that
begins internally. We take a fresh look at ourselves and learn to identify
our personal and institutional relationship to oppressive systems. We then
learn the skills needed to dismantle racism in our own institutions and
restructure ourselves into anti-racist organizations. Finally, we move
from this new focus on internal change into authentic multi-racial,
multi-ethnic, and interfaith coalitions for effective, spiritually-driven
action for justice.
KUUF embarked on this path to anti-racism when it formed the Anti-Racism
Committee (ARC) two years ago. Since that time, the committee has provided
anti-racism education programs for KUUF members and friends. It hosted a
three-day anti-racism training-Jubilee World-to begin the conversation
about race and racism amongst congregation members. The ARC hosted a
couple of Sunday worship services and held two post-Jubilee World
workshops on diversity. It has provided support for our minister, the DRE
and other religious professionals in our congregation as they attempt to
provide leadership in this important but complex work. And the committee
began to reach out to our larger community by participating in community
events such as the annual Human Rights Conference, Kitsap County Fair and
the county's annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
Here's what a few members have to say about their involvement with our
Anti-Racism Committee:
"Fighting discrimination is an issue close to my heart. I've been involved
in anti-racism efforts since the early '70's, and now enjoy being a member
of KUUF's ARC as we work to more fully understand prejudice and strive for
diversity. I'm thankful for the participation of our congregation."
--Jackie Westwood
"I spent an early childhood influenced by a bigoted, prejudiced dad. I
also had a poor relationship with him. That more than anything influenced
me to take the opposite view and for that I am grateful. It did not take
me long to move past cultural bias. When the committee formed it was a
natural step to participate in what I had not done during the 60's and
70's (busy making a living). I hope I can help influence change." -Terry
Ducheane
"I was part of KUUF's Welcoming Congregation efforts in the mid-'90s and
was very glad when the Anti-Racism Committee was formed. It seemed like an
obvious "next place" for our congregation to go in terms of attention and
pro-active work, both in-house and in the larger community. Sadly, I have
been unable to attend any ARC-sponsored programs to date, but when in a
recent worship service we were urged from the pulpit to consider joining
the committee, it struck a resonant chord with me and I signed up. My
father's bigotry was deeply distressing to me and helped to formulate my
very different views. While I've given lip-service to those views over the
years, I see being part of the ARC as an opportunity to "walk the talk,"
as well as to continue to learn -- about myself, KUUF, our community,
nation, and the world beyond." --Pam McPeek
"Racial relations are still America's greatest problem and greatest
opportunity. The Kitsap UU Fellowship is part of that American reality,
both a prisoner of its own prejudices and a leader in overcoming racism.
We have much work to do for ourselves and others. I'd like to help."
--Phil Davis
"I've been an Anti-Racism Committee member since its inception. Having
been involved with the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights and due to
my political and philosophical leanings, I thought I was well informed
about the complex issues regarding human rights. I must say that I learned
more about myself, my 'place' in the human rights struggle, and the real
work I must do to create change. I discovered that I must do much more
than raise community awareness and become politically active. The core of
human rights work is introspective, to learn, each of us, how we
contribute to the problem and, perhaps without realizing it, benefit from
it. KUUF is brave and grounded enough to do this work, and, in fact, has
committed to do so. We know too much to remain uninvolved." --Jennifer
Stowell
We have only just begun and there remains so much more to do. I invite you
to join Jackie, Terry, Pam, Phil, Jennifer, myself, other ARC members Dan
Anderson, Shari Burns, Robin Carson, Carolyn Clark, Jenny Dorsey-Acosta,
Heidi Edwards and Jen Gerstel, and the many other supporters in our
congregation as we walk the path to becoming an anti-racist, multicultural
religious community. For more information on how you can become involved,
contact me.
**********
January 20th Kitsap County Honors Martin Luther King, Jr.
Come to the Kitsap Pavilion on Monday, January 20th at 10am for the eighth
annual celebration honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year's
theme is ""A Day of Unity," and the formal program will be about a 1 1/2
hours long. Rev. Suzelle Lynch has been asked to give the benediction and
closing words for the formal program. The program will be followed by a 3
hour Diversity Festival, including tables from many community groups,
including our KUUF Anti-Racism Committee. Center Stage performances will
run concurrently with the Diversity Festival, and may feature our KUUF
Choir as well as many other talented groups and individuals from around
our county. For more information contact Rev. Suzelle Lynch, 360.377.4724,
minister@kuuf.org.
**********
Call for Curriculum Writers
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), a liberal religious
organization, seeks experienced curriculum writers to design creative,
integrated programs for people ages preschool through adulthood in our
congregations. Themes include Unitarian Universalist heritage, world
religions, Jewish and Christian heritages, values/ethics, nature/ecology,
anti-oppression education, faith development, and more. Writers will work
in their area of expertise (both age level and topic) in collaboration
with other authors and UUA staff.
Application deadline: February 1, 2003. Visit the UUA website (www.uua.org)
for information further information about this position, Unitarian
Universalism and UU religious education programs.
**********
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.
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 4418 Perry Ave NE
PO Box 2015
Bremerton, Washington
98310
360.377.4724
admin@kuuf.org
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