number 2 february 2013 table of contents happy
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 36 – Number 2 February 2013
Table of Contents
Bread not Stone ............................................... 1
Topics for Upcoming Sundays ....................... 2
February 50/50 Sundays................................. 2
Henderson Gathering February Schedule .... 3
RedRock Gathering February Schedule....... 3
Pastoral Care Ministry ................................... 3
Town Hall Meeting ......................................... 4
UUs in the Wider World! ............................... 4
Did You Know …? .......................................... 4
Semi-Annual Rummage Sale ......................... 5
Lifespan Faith Development News ................ 6
February Birthdays ........................................ 8
UUCLV HUUmanist Forum .......................... 9
Social Justice Council News ......................... 10
Sunrise Contributors: Ian W. Riddell, Jan Hamilton, Karin Metcalf, Sue Rock, Bette LaCombe, Rita Ransom, Danielle Bell, Paul LaCombe, Craig Rock Contact Us: E-Mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.uuclv.org
Telephone (702)437-2404
Sunrise Newsletter Deadlines
Deadlines for each issue of the Sunrise are
6:00 pm on the 22nd
of the month prior to
release of the issue in which they are to
appear. Please make all submissions in 12 pt
Times New Roman font with a two-page
limit so everyone can be accommodated.
Send articles to: [email protected].
Thank you for your consideration.
Your Editor
Board of Trustees
Bette LaCombe – President
Marion Ammerman – VP
Cynthia Ortiz – Secretary
Christene King – Treasurer
Mark Bergtholdt– Trustee
Deb Hillgartner -- Trustee
Maggie Mooha -- Trustee
Joyce Murphy -- Trustee
Maynard Person – Trustee
Program Council
Terri Boling – Chair
Hilary Howarth
Craig Rock
Staff
Ian W. Riddell - Minister
Danielle Bell – DLFD
Nicole Richbow– Office Admin.
Shireen Beaudry-Johnson
– Choir Director
Sunrise Editor – Steve Winkel
Happy
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 1
A reminder of the source of the title of my newsletter column: Ursula Le Guin says in The Lathe of Heaven: “Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.”
And February will be a month exploring love in many ways — especially in our worship — we certainly aren’t just going to “sit there!”
On February 3, we’ll share the way we remake love by learning from each other and worshiping together in this multi-generational community. We’re hoping this service will stir our hearts, get our minds tingling, and help us build some connections among all ages.
On February 10, I join with clergy — Unitarian Universalists and non-Unitarian Universalists — from around the country in a “preach-in” on Global Warming, asking how it is that we show love for the world and ourselves by grounding environmental concerns in our principles and values.
On February 17, Etta James will be sharing the pulpit with me! In voice, anyway! We’ll open our ears and our hearts to the meaning of love in our life — and we’ll create a garden of flowers together.
And on February 24, Paul LaCombe will explore the story of African American Humanists.
It’s an exciting and powerful month of worship we have ahead of us. I hope you’ll all bring your open hearts to our Sunday morning services, ready to share in love that gets us moving in the world.
So what are the ways that you make and remake love in your life?
peace and love
February 2013
Ian
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 2
Feb. 3, 2013: Soul Sunday Multigenerational Work-ship: We Are Free to Learn Together — Rev. Ian W. Riddell & DLFD Danielle Bell
Join us this Sunday for a unique experience that combines worship and learning. Rev. Ian Riddell and Danielle Bell will lead participants through a series of activities that will engage and exercise our ideas about multigenerational community.
Feb. 10, 2013: Global Warming and the Interconnected Web — Rev. Ian W Riddell
As part of the "National Preach-In on Global Warming" we will share an exploration of how our understanding of ourselves as part of "the interdependent web of all existence" calls us to act to protect our environment and work with those most affected by environmental change to build a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
Feb. 17, 2013: Grappling with New Texts: Something's Got a Hold on Me (It Must Be Love!) — Rev. Ian W. Riddell
What do Etta James, May Sarton, Forrest Church, and the middle of February have in common? As Etta said, "It must be love!" Join us as we explore the question, "Just why is love the spirit of this church?
Feb. 24, 2013: African-American Humanism: A Hands-on Humanism — Paul LaCombe
What is it about the Christian faith that seduced the black man? Was eternal salvation in an ephemeral afterlife just compensation for centuries of enslavement and oppression? Not all blacks were so seduced. Paul LaCombe probes the words of blacks who said "no deal".
February 50/50 Sundays: Gender Justice Nevada
Our 50/50 Sunday recipient for February 10 and 24 will be Gender Justice Nevada. Gender Justice Nevada champions justice, dignity, and respect for Nevada's diverse “trans” and gender non-conforming persons and communities by offering innovative education, legal, outreach, and direct service programs. Half of the collection on those Sundays not designated as pledges will be donated to Gender Justice Nevada.
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UUCLV Henderson Gathering February 2013 Schedule Of Services
February 2013 RedRock Gathering’s Upcoming Worship Services
Feb. 6th Binnie Wilkin African-American Spirituals: Freedom Songs
Feb. 13th Volunteers are Needed to speak to Our Principles: 3 Viewpoints
Feb. 20th Rev. Ian Riddell Standing On The Side Of Love: UU’s and The Work Of Saving The World
Feb. 27th Gail Knapp Cognitive Dissonance
RedRock Gathering meets on Wednesday evenings at the City of Las Vegas Veterans Memorial Leisure Center @ 101 North Pavilion Center Drive, 89144. The Center building sits between Rogich Middle & Palo Verde High Schools. Services begin at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) and end at 8 pm. For more information email [email protected], or see the web site www.uuclvredrock.com
The UUCLV/Henderson Gathering provides a safe, welcoming environment for congregants to explore life journeys through sharing thoughts, experiences, doubts and beliefs about religious concepts and Unitarian Universalism. Please join us every Wednesday from 7 pm to 9 pm for an evening filled with worship, sharing, discussion, and reflection.
Date Presenter(s) Topic
February 6, 2013 Rev. Ian Riddell Standing on the Side of Love
February 13, 2013 Cynthia Ortiz To Be Announced
February 20, 2013 Group Discussion Social Action
February 27, 2013 Terri Boling To Be Announced
Pastoral Care Ministry meets monthly, usually on the first Tuesday. We are available to
assist members who need assistance such as meals or transportation. In the absence of the
minister, committee members Cynthia Ortiz, Susan Rock, Diane Eskew or Carol Steffan may
be contacted. All communications for pastoral care are confidential. Messages can be sent to
[email protected], or call the office at 437-2404.
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 4
Town Hall Meeting Sunday February 10th at 12 Noon
Come join members and friends of UUCLV on Sunday February 10th at 12 noon. Grab a cup of coffee and come hear what is happening, what we are working on and what we hope to accomplish this year. It is a chance for you to ask questions about anything happening at UUCLV.
If you have any questions or would like to be on the agenda, please contact Bette LaCombe, President of the Board of Trustees at [email protected]
Unitarian Universalists in the Wider World! Are you interested in getting to know other Unitarian Universalists from around the country? Do you want to find ways to get connected with our movement outside of Las Vegas? Do you want to take part in shaping the future of Unitarian Universalism in our region and across the country?
Then you should attend the Pacific Western Region Assembly or the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly.
The Pacific Western Regional Assembly will take place in San Jose, California, April 26-28. For more information, see our District’s web site: http://www.pswduua.org/pages/district-assembly.php
The UUA General Assembly will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, June 19-23. For more information, see the UUA web site: http://www.uua.org/ga/index.shtml. Registration for GA and housing will open March 1.
Will you be a UUCLV Delegate? At both of these gatherings, congregational delegates will debate and vote on issues and resolutions affecting our denomination and the work we do in the world. If you would like to be a delegate for UUCLV at one or both of these gatherings, please contact Bette LaCombe. If you’d like to be a delegate for the Regional Assembly, please contact her by the beginning of March. If you’d like to be a delegate at GA, please let her know by the beginning of May.
Did You Know …? Rita Ransom
Our heating/cooling system units are not programmed. This means anyone who opens, closes, or uses the building during office and non-office hours must individually turn them ON when occupying the building and OFF when leaving, but only in those areas being used. For example, if you'll be using only the library, there is no need to turn on the system in the Worship Hall.
We all want to be comfortable in our church home, but we also want to make sure we're not wasting energy or overworking our rooftop units by unnecessarily cooling or heating the building when it's unoccupied. Those huge units get quite a workout keeping us comfortable, and we want them to last as long as possible!
"How to" instructions are located at each thermostat, but if you have questions, please ask!
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 5
Get Ready to Find
Treasures!
It's our Semi-annual
Friday,
February 8,
2013
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas
3616 E. Lake Mead Blvd.
Featuring furniture, household items, electronics,
"mystery box" raffles, snack bar, and more!
Donations wanted! Pickup available upon request.
Helpers needed, too! Contact Rita Ransom,
[email protected] or 395-6992
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 6
www.lifespanfaithdevelopment.wordpress.com
Lifespan Faith Development News — February Danielle Bell, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Coming this month!
Resistance & Transformation, Tapestry of Faith Curricula
As we work to continue to provide more adult learning opportunities to fulfill our lifespan focus, we are looking forward to bringing the Unitarian Universalist social Justice History Curricula, Resistance & Transformation to UUCLV beginning February 9. We are presenting this series in 6 sessions which hope to provide a dialogue that renews what we know, and reveals what we don’t about our UU faith and history. Read the preface below from the Tapestry of Faith Curricula authors, Rev. Colin Bossen, and Rev. Julia Hamilton:
“Certain names and events related to our social justice legacy have become familiar to many Unitarian Universalists, even if we cannot recite the details: The March to Selma during the Civil Rights movement, the abolitionist stance of ministers like Theodore Parker and Ralph Waldo Emerson, the work of women like Susan B. Anthony toward gender equality. However, these "high-profile" cases provide just a glimpse of the rich and complicated history of Unitarian Universalist engagement with social change. This program moves beyond familiar stories into a deep exploration of our history. It provides an opportunity for those who are interested in transformative justice work to delve into primary source material, to hear stories less commonly told but just as important, and to make connections between this history and modern Unitarian Universalist practice.
Playwright Tony Kushner once said, "We must participate in the historical mistakes of our time." Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists have always been subject to the events, cultures, and understandings of the times in which we live and the struggles that define our era. We can find patterns of engagement and theological growth and examples of personal courage and institutional strength in the stories from our social justice history. We also find failures, disappointments, and ignorance. We can learn from it all. This program leads Unitarian Universalists to ask the justice questions that pertain to our lives, congregations, and society today, and provides models of action that inspire us to take on the social justice challenges of our era.”
Preface, Resistance & Transformation Curricula
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 7
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 8
Thursdays with TED, TEDTalks Viewing Party: Feb. 14th 6 pm - 8 pm
What inspires you? Do you have a hard time expressing it? Have you ever had an experience when someone was able to articulate pretty close to what you were feeling? No? Try a TedTalk and have that “They get me, they really get me!” TEDTalks have the ability to affirm, and even open our eyes to broader thinking and allow you to take those next steps. Spend some time with www.ted.com/talks and introduce yourself to the world of shared compassion, inspiration and motivation. Last month we enjoyed viewing Brene Brown’s talk about The Power of Vulnerability, watch here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html, and also enjoyed wider possibilities and the human connection that technology can provide in this wonderful example of a Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir: http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html.
If you find a video that moved you, or “got you”, then let us know and we will share it with a wider audience. You are even invited to share with the group what it means to you. All are welcome. Snacks are provided.
Camp Is the Name, Gettin’ There Is the Game.
The month of March is just ahead and our youth have come together with a fundraising idea to help them get to Camp de Benneville Pines. Youth will be setting up a table with their handmade arts and craft items, and baked goods each Sunday in March during coffee hour. They are working as a collective in support of one another to help raise funds for their summer camp registration fees. If you have craft items that you would like to donate to their table to help them raise additional funds, please contact Dave Richards ([email protected]).
YRUU sponsored Game Night: February 22nd 6 pm – 8 pm
Bring your best game (or at least your favorite) to our next Game Night on February 22nd.
Our Young Religious Unitarian Universalists want to bring their community together for a fun evening of games and snacks. All ages are invited.
February Birthdays
February 10 Diane Eskew
Did we miss your birthday? Do you or someone in your family have an upcoming birthday? So we can add your birthday to our database e-mail it to: [email protected]
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 9
UUCLV HUUMANIST FORUM Speakers & Schedules
Humanists do have something to share with people who call themselves "religious" and that something is
holding what they believe "in high regard". Also, Humanists are OK with being relegated to the ranks of heretics
and other iterations of Humanists where rational thought prevails. Of the 7+ billion people alive on our planet -
most of whom know only poverty, ignorance and squalor - most of these, when capable of any articulation of
what they believe, turn to the supernatural. The supernatural offers hope and a justification for the struggle in
this life. Whatever these billions will ask of their lives, one question is sure to sound, loud and clear … "can the
planet sustain these numbers?" if indeed even a modest minority of these billions feels entitled to what it sees as
the lot of mankind. It becomes clear, as we probe the reality of these numbers, that survival of the planet as a
biosphere is intricately tied to getting a handle on the burgeoning world population, whose very magnitude
threatens global disaster.
Humanism, in its current manifestation, is not as intent on confronting belief systems that openly reject rational
thought and the use of the scientific method. In its current stance as a beacon for the survival of the human race,
it places the betterment of life for all beings at the core of its pronouncements.
Future HUUmanist Forums, which are open to all members and friends of UUCLV as well as the general
public, will be:
February 3rd: Retired Psychology professor Gail Knapp will present Skepticism 101 from a Psychological
Perspective. Skepticism is not the same thing as cynicism, atheism or conspiracy belief. It is a subset of
humanism where belief in rational thought and the use of the scientific method as the only way to understand the
universe is fundamental. This presentation will focus on cognitive psychology, memory, perception and
intellectual biases to understand some of the most important issues in modern skepticism.
March 3rd: Mike Sheffer will facilitate this forum which will come from a TED talk entitled Atheism 2.0. This
fascinating video is presented by philosopher-writer Alain de Botton. "Religion is far too subtle, complicated
and intelligent that it is not fit to be abandoned for the religious alone. It's for all of us."
If you have any questions, please contact Paul LaCombe at [email protected]
Paul LaCombe
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 10
by Craig Rock
As most of you know, the Social Justice Council is co-sponsoring an art show about social injustice along with the Left of Center Art Gallery. More than seventy-five people attended the opening reception on January 12 (see photo above). UUCLV members met local residents along with community members from the Culinary Union, the Nevada Desert Experience, and UNLV.
Created by local artists, Looking the Other Way is about people seeing others suffer from hunger, homelessness, prejudice, spousal abuse, and war, conditions made worse by citizens looking the other way and not facing the issues. On the positive side, the featured art is also about multicultural understanding and hope. Some of the art of exhibit may be seen on the social justice page of www.uuclv.org.
A special exhibit is also featured on the effects of nuclear testing on people living near test sites in Nevada and the U.S., and in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. Artist renditions of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are included.
Community forums will explore some of these related issues through the stories of people in Las Vegas and the Southwest:
February 2013 the Sunrise Page 11
Three Community Forums on Social Justice (12:30 PM to 2:30 PM)
On Saturday, February 16, a panel discussion will focus on one aspect of the battle for civil rights in Las Vegas. This panel covers the good, bad, and exceptional strides made by the Las Vegas black community in housing, economics, spiritual pursuits, work, gaming, and entertainment. The panel will be facilitated by Claytee White, director of the Oral History Research Center at the UNLV Library. Her publications include "Eight Dollars A Day and Working in the Shade: An Oral History of African American Migrant Women in the Las Vegas Gaming Industry;" "The March That Never Happened: Desegregating the Las Vegas Strip;" and "Marking the Unique Moulin Rouge Era."
On Saturday, February 23, a community forum will include people affected by nuclear testing in southern Nevada and Utah, as well as information about testing in the Marshall Islands after World War II and testing in Kazakhstan by the Russians. Speakers will include representatives of ranching communities in southern Utah, and from a UNLV group who participated in an exchange program with students from Kazakhstan. Both student groups studied the ill effects of nuclear weapons testing in the countries they visited. This panel is facilitated by UNLV History Professor Andy Kirk whose research and teaching focus is on the intersections of cultural and environmental history in the modern United States with a special interest in the American West. He has written extensively on these issues including the 2007 book, Counter Culture Green, The Whole Earth Catalog and American Environmentalism.
On Saturday, March 2, a community forum will discuss the struggle for fair wages and benefits in Las Vegas. Workers who experienced various labor actions will discuss: (1) the 1984 Citywide Strike; (2) Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride; (3) the Frontier Casino Strike; (4) The Workers' Fast at Palace Station; and (5) Historically, how the Culinary Union impacted the African American Community. This panel is facilitated by UNLV Law School Professor Ruben Garcia. He has written extensively on labor issues including: Marginal Workers: How Legal Fault Lines Divide Workers and Leave Them Without Protection (2012).
All three forums are being held at 12:30 PM at the Left of Center Art Gallery, 2207 W. Gowan Road, North Las Vegas NV. The social justice exhibit runs through March 2. Hours: Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 PM, Saturdays, 10 AM to 3 PM.
Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of Las Vegas
3616 East Lake Mead Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89115-6306
LABEL
Contact Us: E-Mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.uuclv.org Phone: (702)437-2404 Fax: (702)437-0176 Mail: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas, 3616 East Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89115-6306
Come Worship with UUs!!
Sunday Morning Service held at 10:30 am.
Youth Life Span Faith Development (‘Sunday School”) is provided at that time, as well as competent nursery care for preschoolers and toddlers.
Children are always welcome in Worship Services.
Visitors are always warmly received….
You will be welcomed!
Our Mission
Our mission is to share the principles of Unitarian Universalism and provide a spiritual home for religious liberals; to encourage and facilitate sacred journeys; and to assist victims of injustice.
Our Vision
UUCLV is a non-creedal liberal religious community where people of diverse ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations and beliefs unite around common values. Our multi-site ministry shares the principles of Unitarian Universalism with all of Southern Nevada by providing a home and a voice for spiritual seekers while serving as a force for social justice in the greater community. Here, congregants are challenged to think for themselves, to grow spiritually, and to express and live their values.