Kat's Korner: April Agreements

Relationships and communication are fraught with complexities and challenges, even when we speak the same language.

"If we agree in love, there is no disagreement that can do us any injury, but if we do not, no other agreement can do us any good." (-Hosea Ballou)

Mutuality is an aspect of any commitment of equal partners, as in a marriage, civil union or partnership. While the terms have connotations, as in a business "partnership," they are forms of contract that spell out the relationship between two parties. Even with a contract there is a grounding of trust, and in a marriage or union, trust is vital. Trust is also an investment fund which can protect and sustain the future of an organization, and we are greatly blessed to have one for our church.

With any agreement, writing it down and spelling things out can be a way to increase clarity and provide for regular review. Living Wills and End-of-Life decisions are difficult but important conversations for partners and families. By addressing wishes and concerns, these written documents can provide a framework for the final transition.

The religious connotations of "covenant" bring a sacred dimension or imperative to what might otherwise be just an equation or list. The human dimension calls for both high expectations and provisions for failure, redemption or forgiveness.

Email is fine for sharing information, but often inadequate for sharing feelings. As with many things, I've learned this the hard way by experiencing and seeing the damage that can be done, and the hurt which is not easily healed. Between speaking the truth and letting things slide is a very slippery slope. To speak the truth in love, is a spiritual discipline. I recall this inspiration in a covenant written by James Vila Blake, and used by many congregations.

Love is the spirit of this church, and service its law. This is our great covenant:

To dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Our FUUSM Behavioral Covenant is an agreement for a conflict mediation process. Before conflict ever arises, certain expectations should be discussed and decided upon. They may even be articulated in a covenant (as in Covenant of Board Members) or policy (Code of Ethics for Adults working with Youth). There are codes of conduct for our religious professionals as there are with most professional organizations. There is also a mutual promise in the Letter of Agreement between the congregation and the called minister.

In addition to these noted explicit agreements, there are several ways in which this plays out in congregational life. There is often an expressed commitment for confidentiality in our group settings and assurances for protecting private personal and financial information. We are careful to ask permission before sharing things in the Worship Service -Joys & Sorrows, or the newsletter and other modes of communication. [See the FUUSM Communications Policy and other documents on the website]

A final example of agreement is the annual pledge for the budget. This is both a tool for determining the budget and a measure of engagement. It formulates one aspect of the mutual commitment between the individuals and the congregation as a religious organization. It is based on a sliding scale intended to maximize freedom and recognize different circumstances. I remember well the pride I felt when I first made a formal financial pledge and fulfilled it, although I had always identified as a Unitarian Universalist since childhood. There were many years when service and time was what I could offer as I completed my studies and prepared for the ministry. I regret that I never was invited into full and formal membership as a youth or young adult, although I availed myself of many opportunities for participation.

Being a Fair Share congregation means we are doing our part to contribute to healthy budget planning and shared resources. Paying fair is just as important as playing fair. I am very proud that with the shift to a new fiscal year, we are not shirking our financial obligation, but bringing it up to date, in line with the July 1-Fiscal Year of both the OMD & the UUA. It is part of our commitment to clear communication and transparent operations.

Hymn #402 "From you I receive, to you I give, together we share and from this we live."

May we all continue to do our part as we are willing and able, for the common good, for a stronger liberal religious voice in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and a greater vision of Unitarian Universalism in our changing world?

Bright Blessings, Kathryn

Blog Extra: Kat's Korner Extras

Annual Program Fund (APF) dues to the Ohio-Meadville District ($21.50) and the Unitarian Universalist Association ($56) are based on our certified membership numbers each year (2010 FUUSM= 110), as are the number of delegates for each congregation. Rates are recommended by the boards and approved by congregational delegates at the District & General Assembly.

Acronyms and lingo can have a way of excluding people when they don't know what you're talking about. The language we use is part of our culture and it is a hot topic for reflection in our congregation, the UU World magazine and the wider Unitarian Universalist movement.

Words matter. They have power and meaning that is projected upon them, in addition to explicit definitions. I strive for consistent references in our guiding documents and common usage. I also refer to general UUA standards and programs in order to keep us in current conversation with the broader movement. For example, the UUA and Ohio Meadville District define youth as a specific age range as it relates to Youth Group. (It used to be 14-20, now we refer to 9-12th graders or the equivalent in home schooling.) *See Working Group recommendation noted below.

There has been continuing work toward being in right relationship with individuals and groups at all levels of our UU Association. Commitments to being anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and multi-cultural are an expression of both informal and formal agreements. Self-identification is an important aspect of respectful interaction, as in use of inclusive language and gender neutral pronouns. It marks the historical progression of culture as in the shifts through terms like negro, colored person, black, african-american and person of color. There is some variance in personal preferences, and so I have found it is better to ask, and also allow for mistakes with an attitude of humility.

Blog Extra: Techtonics

It is said that 99 percent of all species that ever lived have gone extinct. Earth, it seems, is a tough place to call home. Our planet has gone through Ice Ages and global warming trends, it has been hit by comets and asteroids (leading, in one case, to a mass extinction that felled the mighty dinosaurs), and the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere has risen and fallen over time. Our planet is always in a state of flux, and life must adapt to these changes or die.

It is a known geological fact that CO2 released into the atmosphere is primarily caused by tectonic activity. According to Sasselov, Earth's mass helps keeps tectonics in action. The more massive a planet, the hotter its interior. Tectonic plates slide on a layer of molten rock beneath the crust called the mantle. Convective currents within the mantle push the plates around. For smaller planets like Mars, the interior is not hot enough to drive tectonics.

Continents bang together, forming mountains, only to be later torn apart. Islands grow from underwater volcanoes, and elements are liberated from rocks when they are melted beneath the crust.

While all this geologic activity makes us literally stand on shaky ground, scientists have come to believe that tectonics is one of the key features of our planet which makes life possible. If not for tectonics, carbon needed by life would stay locked within rocks.

The fear today is that too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will lead to global warming. Yet too little carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would make Earth a much colder place, and the photosynthetic plants and algae that rely on CO2 would perish. The demise of these oxygen-producing organisms would leave us all gasping for breath.

Blog Extra: Fascism

In an essay coyly titled “Fascism Anyone?,” Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, identifies social and political agendas common to fascist regimes. His comparisons of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet yielded this list of 14 “identifying characteristics of fascism.” (The following article is from Free Inquiry magazine, Volume 23, Number 2. See how familiar they sound.

Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes the media are directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media are indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations

Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

This list will be familiar to students of political science. But it should be familiar to students of religion as well, for much of it mirrors the social and political agenda of religious fundamentalisms worldwide. It is both accurate and helpful for us to understand fundamentalism as religious fascism, and fascism as political fundamentalism. They both come from very primitive parts of us that have always been the default setting of our species: amity toward our in-group, enmity toward out-groups, hierarchical deference to alpha male figures, a powerful identification with our territory, and so forth. It is that brutal default setting that all civilizations have tried to raise us above, but it is always a fragile thing, civilization, and has to be achieved over and over and over again.

Selected Notes from the 2010 Annual Meeting

Sanctuary design

Ralph Olander discussed the proposal to replace the left front side of the sanctuary where the pipes for the organ are. His proposal was to update the sanctuary with other religious and philosophical traditions. The pre-meeting generated additional ideas and the following was proposed to the congregation.

Various traditions will be drawn upon including:

• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
• Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

The Decorating and Design committee will oversee this project and members are encouraged to contribute their ideas or join the committee. Final implementation will be subject to approval by a vote of at a congregational meeting.

Fiscal year change

A bi-laws change is needed to change the fiscal year. All were in favor of changing the fiscal year to July 1 to June 30 .

Vacancies

Rev. Kat presented Jim Grecni to the congregation for approval to serve on the Committee on ministry. The congregation approved the recommendation.

Kevin Morey nominated Debra Miller for the nominating committee. The congregation approved the recommendation.

Debra Miller representing the nominating committee presented Jim Rapp to serve on the Board of Trust Governors. The congregation approved.

Jim Rapp from the nominating committee presented three names to fill vacancies to the Board of Trustees, Virginia Henthorn, Diana Bungard and Jessie Hyde. The congregation was in favor of the nominations and approved.

Other items

Ron Tepley asked how many members FUUSM has and Ralph responded that our last count by membership committee was 110.

Jay Phillips recognized Ralph and Kevin for their work on the board over the last year.

Elin Jones recognized Jim Rapp for the great job once again on decorating the church for Christmas.

Empty Bowls 2010 PSA

Empty Bowls 2010 will be held on Saturday, April 24^th at the First Congregational Church, 318 Front Street , in Marietta. Donations to Empty Bowls, will be entirely donated to the Marietta Community Food Pantry The luncheon will start at 11:00 AM. sharp. The silent auction will start at 10:30 AM and end at 1:00 PM. Hand made food-safe bowls, with or without lunch, will be ten dollars, the lunch alone will be five dollars. The event is sponsored by the First Congregational Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the First Unitarian Universalist Church and area potters. For more information call Caroline Putnam at 740/373-4510.

Upcoming Special Events April 2010 - Looking forward to the summer.

May -Art in the Amazing Month of May

May 2 -May Day. There will be a May pole dance in the courtyard at the close of the service.

May 9 (Mother's Day) Special Guest: Michael Dowd (author of Thank God for Evolution) Evening Presentation - public welcome.

May 14-15 Universalist Convocation (Rochester, NY) see: http://nmuc.org/Convo/

Sat. May 15 Wonderful Worship Workshop

May 30 Memorial Day. Afternoon Vespers (4pm) -in the Memorial Garden

June 20 Multicultural Fest & Church Picnic in Parkersburg City Park

New Mindful Meditation begins. If you have thought about trying meditation in a group setting for support and shared exploration, plan on joining us in a newly forming/reforming group.

We'll begin on Wednesday evening. April 7th @ 7pm in the sanctuary.

The best night for regular meetings will be determined at the first session.

After a time of shared silence, reflections will be based on readings from "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh. No previous experience necessary, just an open mind and positive intention. Contact Rev. Hawbaker or Rhea Bockhorst if you're interested.

Announcements and Events for April 2010

April Birthdays:

Libby Bennett (4/7)

Courtney Bills (4/10)

Roger Patterson (4/13)

Monica Wilson (4/15)

Ernie Novak (4/17)

LuAnna Maddox (4/18)

Marlene L’Abbe (4/19)

Eileen Wooley (4/20)

Will Mullen (4/24)

Bruce Henthorn (4/29)

Rachel Hyde (4/16)

Circle Supper - The April Circle Supper will be held on April 3rd (the first Saturday). Vickie and David Earl will be the hosts. The Circle Suppers are small group potluck dinners and are purely social affairs. They are a great way for people in the congregation to get to know each other better in a much quieter, relaxed setting than our sometimes boisterous Sunday coffee hours. They are especially good for newcomers as a way of expanding the circle of familiar faces within the congregation. You are cordially invited to welcome spring (yes, we’re being optimistic) with a cozy and enjoyable evening of good food and interesting company. If you would like to attend, please contact the church office @ 740-373-1238.

Sitter Wanted—Looking for a part time Nanny/Sitter for 13 month old. Approx. 2 days a week - 4-5 hours a day Erin Toohey

There will be a bake sale following church on April 11. Everyone is invited to donate ANYTHING that's been home baked. If you would like to donate or help out contact Erin Toohey 373-3885.....100% of the proceeds will go to Brother's Brother Foundation for Haiti Relief. Their mission is to provide international health & education through efficient distribution of donated medical, educational & agricultural resources, Please pass the word on to all friends & family who may like to help out AND fill their bellies with yummy goodness!

Ready to move beyond being a visitor? Then you are invited to attend the *Spring Newcomers Orientation on Saturday, April 10th, 7 PM, at the Tings. The Membership Committee will explain how you can become more involved in our congregation and provide a packet of reference material. All followed by dessert & refreshments and time for discussion & socializing. To attend please contact Chris at the church office (740-373-1238).

Sunday Services Schedule– April 2010

Theme for Sunday Services in April: Earth

The promise of Spring may be summed up in "April showers bring May flowers". With enough rain, the flowers may come to bloom in bright colors. All life needs the nurturing water, and in return there is growth, which feeds other life in the great cycle of nature. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence means we understand our interconnections with other forms of life. "The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth." (attributed to Chief Noah Sealth) It is the fundamental relationship of cause and effect in our environment.

April 4 "Easter for the Earth" All Ages Service -Rev. Kathryn Hawbaker Everyone is invited to bring a decorated egg for the Easter Egg Exchange. Worship Associate: Jim Rapp

Springtime wakes again in the ancient cycle of death and rebirth. Resurrection is found in many stories, and is the central theme in the life story of Jesus. His teachings and our experiences of Nature will be our guide. There will be an Easter egg hunt for the children after the service.

April 11 "Earth Memories" – -Rev. Kathryn Hawbaker Worship Associate: Martha McGovern

Many memories are tied to a sense of place and a connection to the land. When we return to these places we connect the memories with lessons learned and they reside as touchstones to earlier times. Our spirits can be bound or nourished by these memories.

April 18 "Will the Earth Move Under Our Feet?" Rev. Kathryn Hawbaker The Green Revolution is underway and it is a movement that is changing lives. Information about our carbon footprint can help us to walk more lightly on the earth. But what about the earth itself? Some feel that global climate change and earthquakes are signs of the end of the world. Do you think so? *See blog for article on tectonics

Sat. April 24 Empty Bowls April 25 "Blessing Seeds" Rev. Kathryn Hawbaker Plan to visit the community garden after the service for an on-site blessing. Stories bear truths. There are ancient stories full of metaphors and exotic place names, and simple stories which offer just the facts, and humorous stories that lighten our hearts with laughter.

Worship & Music Notes for April 2010 Issue by Sara Lamb

Thank you so much to everyone for helping make the March Melissa Cox and Mythica concert a HUGE success! So many people pitched in and we put on a great concert. We raised $800 for Haiti relief and were also able to compensate the band. We can be really proud of this! Diana Bungard and Erin Toohey headed up the kitchen crew. You worked very hard and made the potluck so nice for all of us. Jim greeted and took donations. Rev. Kat was our MC. Gil ran the sound. Adeline took care of publicity while Jane Tumas-Serna, Diana and Erin helped put up posters. Friends at the Congregational church also helped spread the word and a number attended from there. This was an opportunity to invite the community to our church to enjoy lively music together and contribute to a worthy cause. Many others contributed in the kitchen and with set up and clean up upstairs. All your efforts are recognized and appreciated. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed.

On April 4th Easter Sunday please bring a decorated egg for an egg exchange. On April 11th after the service there will be a bake sale in the fellowship hall with proceeds going to Haiti relief. On April 25th we will celebrate our efforts in the community garden with a Blessing of the Garden service.

We will be starting to plan our summer services soon. Please contact me or anyone else on the Music and Worship Committee with any topics you are interested in exploring this summer. We truly value your input and ideas and hope to put together a summer program that reflects our diverse interests. (sara.kevin.lamb@sbcglobal.net)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World by "Iz"

Song referenced by Rev. Kat at the March 27, 2010 service: