uucp news april · 2018-01-29 · 2 everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything...

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UUCP News April 2017 Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse PO Box 9342 420 E. 2nd Street, Moscow, ID 83843 Issue Date: April 1, 2017 Volume #68, Issue #4 Issued Monthly In This Issue April Sunday Services ............... 1 Minister’s Musings: Digging in the Dirt .................................... 2 UUCP Upcoming Family Promise Dates........................................ 2 Church Chat: Things Are Pop- ping.......................................... 3 DDD:Death, Dying and Dessert — Death with Dignity .......... 3 Lo, The Earth Awakes Again ..... 4 Environmental Task Force.......... 5 Music Notes ................................ 5 Communication & Connection ... 6 Help Wanted ............................... 6 Moving Forward: Discerning Next Steps ............................... 6 Living the 7th UU Principle ....... 7 UUCP Ren Fair Booth ................ 7 UUCP Sanctuary Video Screen Proposal ................................... 8 April Calendar ............................ 9 April Events and Dates to Re- member.................................. 10 New at UUCP: Thursday Social Justice Brown Bag ................ 11 Renewable Energy Presentation11 Wholly Crones .......................... 11 In the Family ............................. 11 Religious Exploration News: This Month in RE, RE Offer- ings & Events ...................12-13 Spring Circle Suppers ............... 14 April Month of Sundays ........... 14 UUCP Mah Jongg Party ........... 14 Earth Month Activities ............. 14 The Green Sanctuary ................ 15 Modern Celts Dance Club ........ 15 Buddhist Fellowship ................. 15 PNWD Chalice Lighters ........... 16 Retirees’ Lunch Feb. 2 .............. 16 New to UU Workshop .............. 17 Social Justice Update ................ 17 UUCP Mail/Email Information 18 This Month’s Theme: Bloom and Grow April 2, 10:00 am Art and Soul Sunday Service Leaders: Natalie Rose Greenfield and Wesley Petersen Celebrant: Rev. Elizabeth Stevens Join Natalie and Wesley as they reflect on the ways that their creative journeys have influenced their spiritual journeys, and vice versa. April 9, 10:00 am We Are Made for These Times Service Leaders: Rev. Tandi Rogers and Rev. Elizabeth Stevens We come from a long line of brave, fierce, radically loving people of faith. In these times of uncertainty and challenge, all of the lessons they have taught us come into play. How do we honor their legacy? How do we live our values to the fullest? What differentiates sacred activism from secular activism? April 16, 10:00 am Easter Service Leader: Rev. Elizabeth Stevens Cast: Ginger Rankin, Sherry Caisley, Donal Wilkinson, & Joseph Erhard-Hudson As a way to bring new life to the Easter story, Liz Huddle wrote four original monologues as reflections on particular themes, and paired each monologue with a classic rock song. A gifted actress and playwright and former artistic director of the Intiman Theatre in Seattle and Portland Center Stage, Liz graciously granted us permission to adapt her pieces to our setting. April 23, 10:00 am For the Tree to Grow, Water the Roots Service Leaders: Karen Faunce and Rev. Elizabeth Stevens How do we nourish and sustain our lives at Depth and Root? How to we culti- vate attention on what is most important to us and on those values and activities that truly serve life, and our most auspicious desires? In this service, Reverend Elizabeth Stevens and Karen Faunce will examine the principles and benefits of meditation practice as a way to create a profound and fulfilling life that is deeply rooted in the direct experience of the interconnected web of existence of which we are all a part. April 30, 10:00 am Feeling Tones: Awe and Gratitude Service Leader: Rev. Elizabeth Stevens When we cultivate our capacity to experience awe and wonder in response to even the smallest of things, we experience life as full of miracles and beauty. When we cultivate our capacity to feel gratitude, we experience life as funda- mentally good and abundant. Join Rev. Elizabeth Stevens as she reflects on how and why we might prepare our souls so that the seeds of awe and gratitude might bloom and bear fruit.

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Page 1: UUCP News April · 2018-01-29 · 2 Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument

UUCP News April

2017

Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse

PO Box 9342 420 E. 2nd Street, Moscow, ID 83843 Issue Date: April 1, 2017 Volume #68, Issue #4 Issued Monthly

In This Issue April Sunday Services ............... 1 Minister’s Musings: Digging in

the Dirt .................................... 2 UUCP Upcoming Family Promise

Dates ........................................ 2 Church Chat: Things Are Pop-

ping .......................................... 3 DDD:Death, Dying and Dessert

— Death with Dignity .......... 3 Lo, The Earth Awakes Again ..... 4 Environmental Task Force .......... 5 Music Notes ................................ 5 Communication & Connection ... 6 Help Wanted ............................... 6 Moving Forward: Discerning

Next Steps ............................... 6 Living the 7th UU Principle ....... 7 UUCP Ren Fair Booth ................ 7 UUCP Sanctuary Video Screen

Proposal ................................... 8 April Calendar ............................ 9 April Events and Dates to Re-

member .................................. 10 New at UUCP: Thursday Social

Justice Brown Bag ................ 11 Renewable Energy Presentation 11 Wholly Crones .......................... 11 In the Family ............................. 11 Religious Exploration News:

This Month in RE, RE Offer-ings & Events ................... 12-13

Spring Circle Suppers ............... 14 April Month of Sundays ........... 14 UUCP Mah Jongg Party ........... 14 Earth Month Activities ............. 14 The Green Sanctuary ................ 15 Modern Celts Dance Club ........ 15 Buddhist Fellowship ................. 15 PNWD Chalice Lighters ........... 16 Retirees’ Lunch Feb. 2 .............. 16 New to UU Workshop .............. 17 Social Justice Update ................ 17 UUCP Mail/Email Information 18

This Month’s Theme: Bloom and Grow April 2, 10:00 am Art and Soul Sunday

Service Leaders: Natalie Rose Greenfield and Wesley Petersen

Celebrant: Rev. Elizabeth Stevens

Join Natalie and Wesley as they reflect on the ways that their creative journeys have influenced their spiritual journeys, and vice versa. April 9, 10:00 am We Are Made for These Times

Service Leaders: Rev. Tandi Rogers and Rev. Elizabeth Stevens

We come from a long line of brave, fierce, radically loving people of faith. In these times of uncertainty and challenge, all of the lessons they have taught us come into play. How do we honor their legacy? How do we live our values to the fullest? What differentiates sacred activism from secular activism? April 16, 10:00 am Easter

Service Leader: Rev. Elizabeth Stevens Cast: Ginger Rankin, Sherry Caisley, Donal Wilkinson, & Joseph Erhard-Hudson

As a way to bring new life to the Easter story, Liz Huddle wrote four original monologues as reflections on particular themes, and paired each monologue with a classic rock song. A gifted actress and playwright and former artistic director of the Intiman Theatre in Seattle and Portland Center Stage, Liz graciously granted us permission to adapt her pieces to our setting. April 23, 10:00 am For the Tree to Grow, Water the Roots

Service Leaders: Karen Faunce and Rev. Elizabeth Stevens

How do we nourish and sustain our lives at Depth and Root? How to we culti-vate attention on what is most important to us and on those values and activities that truly serve life, and our most auspicious desires? In this service, Reverend Elizabeth Stevens and Karen Faunce will examine the principles and benefits of meditation practice as a way to create a profound and fulfilling life that is deeply rooted in the direct experience of the interconnected web of existence of which we are all a part. April 30, 10:00 am Feeling Tones: Awe and Gratitude

Service Leader: Rev. Elizabeth Stevens

When we cultivate our capacity to experience awe and wonder in response to

even the smallest of things, we experience life as full of miracles and beauty.

When we cultivate our capacity to feel gratitude, we experience life as funda-

mentally good and abundant. Join Rev. Elizabeth Stevens as she reflects on how

and why we might prepare our souls so that the seeds of awe and gratitude might

bloom and bear fruit.

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Everything that slows us down and forces patience,

everything that sets us back into the slow circles of

nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.

― May Sarton

CNN recently reported on a Dutch study that showed the mental health benefits of gardening. Re-searchers asked two groups to complete a stressful task, and then had one group garden for 30 minutes while the other group read indoors. The gardening group both reported better moods and had measurably lower levels of Cortisol, “the stress hormone,” in their blood system.

Meanwhile, an article in The Atlantic sings the praises of M. vaccae, a microbe found in compost rich soil that has been shown to boost the levels of sero-tonin and norepinephrine in human beings who come into contact with it. In other words, it functions like an anti-depressant, offering a natural high. At a time when my stress levels are high and the national news makes it difficult to remain hope- and joy-full, these two articles acted like a clarion call. “Get thee out into the garden!” my inner voice trumpets. “Get those hands into the dirt!”

At my home, I have two raised beds; I plan to fill one with strawberry plants. The other will have a mix of vegetables…snap peas, salad greens, exactly one zucchini plant and exactly one yellow summer squash, and maybe something else that captures my fancy. I plan to grow my tomatoes in pots this year. I am thinking I can move them around, and even bring them inside if we have a lot of cold, rainy days again

this summer. I am not a very successful gardener. Truth be told,

I think I spend more money than I save every year. In addition, my family is terribly unappreciative. They are not nearly as excited as I am about the fresh herbs, berries and veggies I pick out of the garden. Home-grown lettuce tastes “too leafy.” They rapidly became “tired” of snap peas, turnips, and other veggies I have been able to grow successfully. They don’t see the point of growing our own when it is so much less work to just buy them from the farmer’s market.

Perhaps if I explain to my husband and children that the point of the exercise is not so much to feed us as it is to improve our brain chemistry, they will stop complaining so much. Maybe they’ll even dig in the dirt with me! This year, I will just tell them, if they raise complaints about being asked to help weed, wa-ter or harvest: home grown veggies may be more ex-pensive than market veggies, but they are much cheaper than therapy.

(Note: If you would like to garden but don’t have space of your own, we are always looking for people to help weed the beds at church. Rod Sprague is our native plant expert, and will provide expert guidance. If you are a new gardener, we also have a wealth of experienced and gifted gardeners who are generous with advice, tips, and tours. Joel and Mary Jo Hamil-ton, Elisabeth Berlinger, and Dan and Joyce Leonard, just to name a few. Also, keep your eyes on the an-nouncements. Often, we have a generous donor offer a free garden plot down by the aquatic center.)

Minister’s Pages

Minister’s Musings: Digging in the Dirt...

UUCP Upcoming Family Promise Weeks at The Yellow House:

Sunday, April 2 - Sunday, April 9 Sunday, June 25 - Sunday, July 2 Sunday, July 2 - Sunday, July 9 (Troy & Palouse River LDS Wards handle hosting

duties while families stay in the Yellow House) Sunday, September 17 - Sunday, September 24 Sunday, December 17 - Sunday, December 24

On the first Sunday of a stay, we set up at 1:00. This allows our RE classes and childcare to take place as usual in the Yellow House. On the second Sunday of a stay, we pack up by 9:00 to allow classrooms to be set up again. The exception to this is our back-to-back hosting with the LDS wards in the summer. Be-cause there are no RE classes, we don't have to pack up on July 2. We will, however, have to arrange a dif-ferent location for church childcare on July 2.

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“Life has many ways of testing a person's will, either

by having nothing happen at all or by having every-

thing happen all at once.”

- Paulo Coelho

Holy smokes! There is so much going on. I can barely keep track of it all!

• The Committee on Ministry has finished up the Discernment Dinners, and will be working on the next steps in our collective process.

• Our Regional Staff liaison, Rev. Tandi Rogers, will visit the weekend of April 8-9, helping us with that process, as well as providing some sup-port to the Board of Trustees.

• Our talented and wonderful Music Director, Jon Anderson, asked for and was offered a four month Sabbatical. We already have gifted folks volun-teering to step up to support our music ministry during his absence…

• Adult RE opportunities abound: A new dream group may be forming, thanks to Krista Kramer and Joe Breznau, and a Social Justice Brown Bag lunch starts up on April 13. We also have a brief presentation on solar panels scheduled for Sunday April 9 immediately after church. Then there’s Donna Mills’ caring economy workshops. So much to choose from!

• Staff transitions: Tyler Churchill, our sexton, has moved away. Our own Donal Wilkinson has been hired to replace him. Meanwhile, the search for a bookkeeper will soon be underway.

• We are convening a Safety Task Force to look at planning for emergencies. We’re also convening a task force to work on the website.

• The sound system task force has put speakers into both Ginger’s and my offices, so that parents of young children can have privacy to care for them without missing out on the service.

• The same task force is also inviting feedback on a proposal to put two screens in the front of the sanctuary, and has already put tons of work (and thousands of dollars) into enhancing our A/V re-sources.

• Meanwhile, the Facilities Task Force has pre-sented and priced out some wonderful options for us to consider, and the board is moving forward with commissioning a feasibility study so that we can get an idea of how much we can afford.

I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten something. Suf-fice it to say, things are really popping! My heart is full, my head is spinning, and my meditation practice is more important than ever…

Minister’s Pages

Church Chat: Things Are Popping

DDD: Death, Dying and Dessert—Death with Dignity Rev. Elizabeth Stevens and Elisabeth Berlinger are hosting a five-part series of workshops on end of life is-sues. These workshops will be very practical and down-to-earth, with guest speakers to help us learn how to navigate the medical system, legal requirements, hospice, and funeral services. Our next theme will be: Death-with-Dignity — April 29, 2017, 2:00-4:00 pm, at the UUCP Speaker: Dr. M. Seidenfeld, Ph.D. , Boise, Dr. Marty Seidenfeld maintains a limited clinical practice in Boise. He is a member of the board of directors of The Final Exit Network and serves as an exit guide for mentally competent individuals who find their lives to be unbearable and choose a hastened death. He has presented programs about end-of-life issues to numerous religious and social groups. Link to the Final Exit Network: http://www.finalexitnetwork.org This program will look at: - The ethical/moral dimension of the right to end life on one's own terms, - The challenge of achieving a "good death" given the realities of modern medical technologies and systems, - The importance of planning in order to defend one's end-of-life options and rights, - The national movement to pass physician aid-in dying-laws and compassion for those who face intolerable suffering who are excluded by the provisions of these laws. For more information please contact Elisabeth Berlinger, 208-883-4395 or [email protected]

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My heart sings every time I glimpse another crocus blooming. This winter has been a long, hard, battle on so many fronts - politically, emotionally, and meteorologi-cally, not to mention the mundane, fully-expected, but somehow still surprisingly depressing annual deprivation of sunlight. That's not to say I long for summer, though - I'm most comfortable in the transition seasons - the days of scattered showers, muted sunshine, and blue skies peeking through voluptuous clouds.

Spring comes like a gift after a long illness, or a congratulatory brunch with friends after a hard break-up. It's a consolation prize, and we revel in it, pretending like we don't know another winter is looming only months away. The burst of birdsong outside my window, the rapturous patch of sun I turn my closed eyes toward while sipping coffee, and the multitude of baby maples in unlikely cracks of the sidewalk are rare joys - ephem-eral rewards for our patience during those long, cold months - the nights of candles & misery we endured through the solstice. Now is the time for stretching our limbs, dusting neglected corners, planting flowers, and airing out musty rooms. Spring cleaning!

I was organizing my binder of church documents last night - it overflows with proposed budgets, meeting agendas & minutes, scribbled notes, reports to the board from employees, committees, and consultants - none of it hole-punched or anything near chronological - and came across the agenda for the very first board meeting I ever attended. I smiled at my misspelled name, sched-uled to be "Welcomed by All" in agenda item #1 for that night. And then, skimming the rest of the topics listed, and my smile faltered a bit. There was more unfinished business than I'd realized. The percentage of the agenda items from that meeting still being discussed & dele-gated & included in our agenda to this day was surpris-ingly high.

I don't mean to say that nothing is being accom-plished - we regularly run over the scheduled time allot-ted for meetings, even when doing our best to avoid re-hashing old information or getting carried away on en-tertaining tangents. There's never been a month I wasn't at least a little bit overwhelmed by the enormity of all the work done to keep this church a vibrant, growing, and responsive organization, and our meeting minutes are full of "action items" outlining the next steps in reaching out to our wider congregation and the forma-tion of task forces to bring new ideas to life. It's just that it sometimes feels like so many unexpected fires pop up, demanding to be extinguished, and there's nothing to do but wearily uncoil the hose before moving on to tackle

the rest of the work. The church year flows in seasons, faster than it

seems possible, and each season can seem like a marker in the path - another milepost passing by before all the things we intended to do could be completed - this meet-ing or that has been postponed, this decision is pending advice from a consultant, that projects is being, well, not halted, but reined in a bit - just until there's more feed-back from the congregation...

And a year passes. Or two. And the agenda is recy-cled. But, as I re-read those old notes, it became clear that the agenda doesn't tell the whole story. True, the line items are identical, but the perspective on each topic has changed, and our action items are more finely tuned. Where once were hypothetical situations and tentative plans are now detailed reports and task forces. What once might have been a vague dream is now a shared vision. I'm sure you've all heard jokes about the UU in-clination to form committees (without even knowing the punch line, I find the fact that one begins, "How many members of a UU committee does it take to change a light bulb?" pretty telling), but I'm willing to bet our pa-tience pays off eventually, in the deep satisfaction of carefully planned dreams come to life.

The bright beams of light, the petals unfurled, and the music of songbirds remind us yearly of how sweet the Spring is after a Winter of drudgery. We find strength in consensus and in the knowledge that being in covenant with each other might make the process longer, but it ensures that everyone is heard, included, and that their gifts of insight are lifted up for the benefit of us all. Just when it seems like we're spinning our wheels and our task will never be completed, we can look around us, at all that has been done by previous generations - count-less hours of volunteer work by generous souls now de-parted - and realize that it's all worth it. That in years to come, future generations will stand in the church home we've created and cherish the gifts of dedication and time we're now investing.

Just like the perennial bulbs in my yard flower each year from a more-developed plant, each of those two-year-old agenda items on the page in my binder is meas-urably closer to fruition than we probably would have predicted in 2015. And I can't wait to revisit them again in a few years, when they're on the agenda for the last time, as a retrospective review. Because in the end, be-yond all those cracks about committees & task forces, there's one more UU joke, from Garrison Keillor, that I find especially meaningful: "Unitarians don't want sal-vation, they want closure."

Lo, The Earth Awakes Again A Reflection on Spring from Board President Marisa Gibler

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"Every person living in Amer-ica has a fundamental respon-sibility to care for this Earth," former Obama EPA Adminis-trator Karl Brooks stated at his UI Law School presentation. "The spirit in the 1970's found

millions ready to care for the environment," he contin-ued. "The way we relate to the natural world affects the way we relate to each other." And this is the con-nection that our UUCP Environmental group as a part of PESC tries to inspire.

One way we accomplish this is by supporting other groups in their environmental efforts. On March 22, we collaborated with the Moscow Coop to bring "Divest" to the Kenworthy. We followed this on March 26 by joining UI students in a Spring Benefit Concert at the 1912 Center. "Stand Up for Water" raised funds for the grass roots efforts fighting the LNG Cove Pipeline project in Oregon.

We will start Earth Month with a display at the Moscow Public Library designed by Donna Bradberry and Melissa Rockwood. We are then pleased to con-nect with Friends of the Clearwater, the UI Environ-mental Law Club and the UI Environmental Resource group on April 6 with a panel discussion at the Law School. This event is bringing experts to Moscow to discuss the effects of climate change on the Yellow-stone area grizzly population. We will continue col-laborating with the university when we join the UI Sustainability Center to "Green Your Future" on Thursday, April 27. This forum will feature represen-

tatives from area green businesses and environmental groups. Our Dime in Time Grant will be used for the refreshments.

Tim Hatten will coordinate two symposiums for our group at the Church. On April 19, you are invited to join the community to learn about "Pollinator Con-servation to Build a Sustainable Palouse". On April 26 we will feature speakers to "Green your World: Alter-natives to Pesticides." Both events will provide baby sitting from 6:30 - 8:30 pm and include activities for children.

On April 29, we will join the worldwide climate movement with our own "Lori Batina Memorial Cli-mate Change March." We will meet at Friendship Square at 10:30 am for a ceremony before we leave for East City Park. Those who would rather drive, can meet the group at the Park where speakers will pro-vide inspiration and participants will be invited to share their thoughts.

We were well represented at the Nimiipuu Sum-mit on March 17-18 in Lewiston. "Treaty Rights in a Changing Environment" featured speakers from Earth-Justice and tribal groups from the Northwest. We heard stories from the Water Protectors from the Standing Rock Sioux. We were reminded that the struggle against the DAPL pipeline which will travel through the tribes' water source is not just an Indian issue. We all drink the same water.

If you share our goals to be water protectors and stewards of the earth, please join us at our next meet-ing in April, date to be announced.

UUCP Environmental Task Force April 2017 Report

Music Notes – April 2016 April services will be full of a wide variety of musical styles ranging from soul to classical, pop and musi-

cal theatre. It’s so much fun to have the flexibility to choose from all the amazing music in this world! On another note, I want to announce that I will be taking a sabbatical this fall from my music director po-

sition. After eight straight years, I must admit that I’m feeling the need for a little break. I truly think this will give me a chance to reflect and refuel! It will also give me the time I need to complete my studies to become a Registered Piano Techni-cian, a goal that I have been working towards for the past 5 years.

I would like to thank Rev. Elizabeth and the UUCP board for all their support in making this a reality. I am so fortunate to be a part of such an amazing and suppor-tive community.

Thank you all so much! Jon

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From a wildlife show on elephants, a photographer said: Their slow, heavy walk is like an easy meditation, unphased by the in-tense savannah heat or prowling beasts. That captures a strong image for negotiating life’s slow processes, both through challenges and our impatience for results. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting something so badly to go ‘right,’ for some-thing to have been ‘off’ for so long that surely it must change now, or to thrust hard to make that leap to a better world.

But passion, compassion, and wisdom aren’t the sole forces at work. They might even be a long way down the list of factors. Enter the prowling beasts and heat waves.

What do we take from that? Well, being the big-gest animal on the savannah doesn’t exclude adver-sity. Not even if it were to have the best answer or agenda. Whatever power, resources, or vision an en-tity possesses, they’ll come together with more effect if propelled with grace. Indeed, if one has the heft and strength of an elephant, it’s good not to trip over your feet.

On the other side, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye out for an elephant’s foot that might descend your way while negotiating your own path.

Whether one tends to identify with the stature of an elephant or the pride of the lion or the vast inclu-

sive landscape of the savannah through its uneven shifts of weather and oppressive droughts, life would seem to be a series of negotiations where the elephant, lion, and sa-vannah are not exclusive of one another. From policies and politics to socioeconomic

advancement or injustice, or how projects are priori-tized and decisions made, or which side of a banner one marches for—we remain connected. We are inter-dependent in a common landscape. How well we re-late to each other, communicate and progress, has a lot to do with the slow meditation part.

The elephant doesn’t often charge; that’s kept in reserve. Focus is on the social fabric where its consid-erable strength is augmented by working in tandem with others. The same can be said of the lion at the top of its line, who also increases success by working with others. And there is a respect between elephant and lion, even when wary.

To bring it all home—it all wavers in the heat. Hard lines move and blur into thin air. Everyone paces themselves eventually. Perhaps with a very long, sen-sitive nose guiding it through long distance. Perhaps with a mighty roar signaling an approach. We remem-ber our commonality in a terrain made of many ele-ments—perhaps not unphased per se, but with a steady persistence that is equal to the heat.

—Victoria Seever

Communication and Connection

Help Wanted: Are you experienced in web design and WordPress, with time/energy to devote to bringing our church website into contemporary standards of accessibility? We will provide: UUA-designed & approved WordPress template, fabulous blog & videos by Rev. Elizabeth, a wealth of up-to-date content, and linkable social me-dia accounts. Our dream is to be viewable on mobile devices, to create a stream-lined site with user-friendly navigation, and to provide easy access to the UUCP to

our members, potential newcomers, curious neighbors, and the broader community. If this intrigues you, please contact Marisa Gibler at 208-505-0239 or [email protected] to join

the new Website Task Force.

Moving Forward: Discerning Next Steps The Committee on Ministry has completed our many Discernment Dinners and

have reviewed our notes looking for common themes and next steps. Come to a congregation wide discussion to help us see where we would like to

put our energy as we move forward in this changing world: Saturday April 8, 10:00 am-12:00 noon in the Church Sanctuary, childcare provided in the 1912 Center. Pot-luck to follow discussion.

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Sometimes, I hear people say that it seems like there were more thunderstorms when they were children. Whether there were or weren’t is not for me to discuss here, but it raises the question of “how would your run-of-the-mill person in the U.S. today (Median age of 38.1 per www.worldometers.com) know what the climate was like in their grandparents’ time? Or their great-grandparents? This is an issue known as Environmental Amnesia. Environmental Amnesia is when a society collectively forgets how their world used to be and accepts the current configuration as the norm. They may interpret the way it is now to mean the way it always was.

I bring this up because as a young person coming of age in a rapidly changing world, I never know when the next piece of what I see as “what always was” will give way to the “what always was” of the next genera-tion. Every time I visit my grandparents in Twin Falls, a bit more of the eternal corn fields have been buried under a flood of suburban sprawl. And what I thought of as the corn field or orchard eternal was at one time a flood that buried somebody else’s eternal sagebrush desert.

If nobody knows what it was like before, what is to keep them from holding what they are told by the oil companies, the politicians, the church, social me-dia, rogue “news” outlets et al to be the genuine truth? It would be like asking a student to write a book report after only giving them a movie made from that book to learn from. It would be like reading the newspapers and historical manuscripts from George Orwell’s 1984, constantly updated to support the claims of the latest government agenda.

A favorite saying by the gun rights groups is that “an armed society is a polite society”. In a general sense this means that those who can stand up for themselves will not be pushed over. In the context of this writing, we are armed with the evidence that what we are be-

ing told is false. Our capability to obtain that evidence depends on two sources: scientific investigation and personal narratives from living people. The latter being in dwindling supply, our ability to prevent the wool from being pulled over our eyes is reliant on the work of scientists.

Without science, our animalistic belief system would lap up whatever propaganda was thrown out on the porch. Science gives us the voice to say “I will not be a pawn”.

What concerns me personally is not the physical state of the planet, but the mental state of us humans that allowed us to commit, in our shortsightedness, such horrific acts of modification as the planned 3,496 square kilometers of open pit tar sand mines (see Greenpeace informational PDF about tar sands pro-jects). It isn’t the mine itself that worries me so much as the children who grow up never knowing what their homeland was like before it became “Mordor” and the system that created them.

Cautious development projects require informed decisions. To make these informed decisions, we need solid, dependable information, not sensationalist twit-ter posts based on how the economy will respond to the verdict. So for the sake of the future, let’s set this century off on the right foot.

For the time being, we only get one planet to call home.

Living the 7th UU Principle The World You Want Is Up to You:

A take on the climate situation from one who will have to live with it, by Milo Flint

UUCP Ren Fair Booth It is spring time again and the Renaissance Fair is coming. The UUCP will be a major part of the food

court again this year. Once again we are raising money for important causes by selling delicious food at the Renaissance Fair. Our recipient this year is Jill Seaman and Sudan Medical Relief fund.

We are also changing things around this year. We will no longer be selling pizzas! We are adding tortilla soup and dragon legs (chicken legs) to the menu! We will still have our famous black bean burritos, and deca-dent desserts. Please join us in making this year’s booth a success. We will need volunteers to work the booth, make beans, soup and our wonderful desserts as well as a variety of other tasks. Keep an eye out for the sign-up sheets in the church foyer and emails with links to Signup Genius. Join in helping out with this exciting and traditional UUCP event.

Questions? Please contact Ken Faunce [email protected]

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UUCP – Sanctuary Video Screen Proposal:

The proposal is for two moni-tors installed on each side in the front of the Sanctuary as shown above. Screens will be large enough so people in the back can see them and bright enough that they will be readable in daylight.

Proposed uses: Worship: Screens will allow us to share the illustra-tions from our children stories, the words to the hymns and unison readings, and tasteful images and even videos that enhance our overall worship

experience. Hospitality: Newcomers often have to juggle hymnals and orders of service to find the words that

'regulars' know by heart. It feels awkward and creates an insider/outsider dynamic. Communication: They say that you have to publicize things five different ways for everyone to get the

message. Well, these days, in spite of having an announcement in the newsletter, order of service, weekly e-mail, and posted on the bulletin board, often we hear "I didn't hear about that!" The screens will offer us an additional way to get the word out about programs and events, with a slide show that can run before and after the service, as well as while the offering is taken.

Religious Education: Many of our religious education programs for children and adults have a video component. Currently, everyone just huddles around a television or computer screen. Having screens in the sanctuary would make for a much more pleasant viewing experience.

Environmental Sensitivity: While we will continue to provide printed orders of service and announce-ment sheets for people who want them, we expect to save paper by not requiring that every single person have one. It will be possible and peaceful to simply attend worship and follow along on the screen; no shuffling or dropping of papers.

Rental Income: Having access to screens will make our facility more attractive to other organizations looking to host trainings or other events.

Connection to the Larger UU Community: Many large and significant events in the wider UU world are now being live streamed. Imagine being able to watch exciting presentations such as the Ware Lecture to-gether!

Our commitments to all: � Avoid blank, ugly screens during our worship service. Rather, we'll project still shots that complement the

Triptych. � We will be judicious. Every decision to include visuals in a worship service will be well thought out and

justified. � We will preserve the calm and peaceful feel of our services. The screens will not 'shout' or 'flash.' Rather,

they will support the general tone of thoughtfulness and consideration.

We invite your comments and suggestions on this idea in the following ways: (1) talk to or call one of the task force members, below, (2) email Pat Fuerst [email protected], or (3) put your written comments in the office drop box. We will hold an open meeting to discuss all feedback towards the end of April.

Thank you, from the Video Screen task force: Pat Fuerst, John Pool, Joe Pallen, David Nelson, and Rod Spra-gue.

Page 9: UUCP News April · 2018-01-29 · 2 Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument

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April Events Sunday April 2

Babies & Bagels, 9:00 YH Mah Jongg Party, 6:30, home of Mary Joy Irving

Monday April 3 Grief Support Group, 6:00 pm, CS

Tuesday April 4 Wholly Crones, 1:30 pm, Clark Place

Wednesday April 5 PFLAG, 6:00 pm, CB Caring Economy Class, 7:00 pm, CS

Thursday April 6 Retirees’ Luncheon, 11:30 am, The Breakfast Club

Saturday April 8 Congregational Meeting, 10:00 am, CS Potluck, 12:00 noon, CB Board Retreat, 1:30 pm. CS

Sunday April 9 Solar Energy Presentation, 11:30 am, YHM Meditation Information Session, 11:30 am, CS Green Sanctuary Comm Mtg, 11:45 am, YHM Bridge Group, 7:00 pm, CB

Monday April 10 RE Committee Mtg, 7:00 pm, YHM

Wednesday April 12 Executive Committee Mtg, 10:30 am, CB Caring Economy Class, 7:00, YHM

Thursday April 13 Social Justice Brown Bag Lunch, 12:00 pm, CB Latah Co. Human Rts TF Mtg, 4:00 pm, YHM

Friday April 14 Dementia Presentation, 10:00 am, CB

Sunday April 16—Easter Sunday Worship Committee Mtg, 11:30 am, CB Environmental Task Force Mtg, 12:00 pm, YH

Monday April 17 UpStanders Mtg, 6:15 pm, YHM Board Mtg, 7:00 pm, CS

Tuesday April 18 Wholly Crones, 1:30 pm, Clark Place

Wednesday April 19 Pollinator Workshop, 6:30 pm, CS & CB Caring Economy class, 7:00 pm, YHM

Saturday April 22 Weeding & Grounds Clean-Up Party, 9:30 am, outside Chants to Dive Deep, 4:00 pm, CS Parents’ Night Out, 5:00 pm, YH

Sunday April 23 Small Group Ministry Facil. Mtg, 11:30 am, CS

Wednesday April 26 Green Your World Wkshp, 6:30 pm, CS Caring Economy class, 7:00 pm, YHM

Thursday April 27 Social Justice Brown Bag Lunch, 12:00 noon, CB

Saturday April 29 Climate March, 10:30 am, Friendship Square, Moscow DDD: Final Exit Network, 2:00 pm, CB

Sunday April 30 Walk-Bike-Carpool to Church New to UU Workshop, 12:00 noon, CB

UUCP Staff Information

Rev. Elizabeth Stevens, Minister Phone: 208-310-5937 Email: [email protected]

Office hours: Monday at UUCP 3:30-5 Wednesday at Cafe Artista,3:30-5:00

Thursday at Café Moro in Pullman 3:30-5:00 Other times available by appointment.

Ginger Allen, Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration Phone: 208-882-4328 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday10:00—1:00

And by appointment

Summer Stevens, Administrative Secretary Phone: 208-882-4328 Email: [email protected] Office Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 9:00-2:30

Jon Anderson, Music Director Phone: 882-5020

Email: [email protected]

~Check out the UUCP online at palouseuu.org~

Mondays: Purple Paisley Quilters, 7:30 pm, CB

Tuesdays: Bridge Group II, 7:00 pm, CB Buddhist Fellowship, 7:00 pm, CS (does not

meet on 5th Tuesdays)

Thursdays: Modern Celts Irish Dance, 5:30, CB Choir, 7:00 pm, CS

Fridays: Folk Dancing, 7:30 pm, CB (will not meet

March 31)

Sundays: Service, 10:00 am, CS Youth Groups, 12:00 pm, YH

Dates to Remember—

Mark Your Calendars!

Page 11: UUCP News April · 2018-01-29 · 2 Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument

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In the Family

Congratulations to: Karen & Ken Faunce, who celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary; Sherry Cais-ley on her son Wilson turning 18 and her son Samuel turning 16; and Ellie Shinham’s daughter Jane Kauffman, who is back in Okinawa after a deployment to Afghanistan. Please hold in your thoughts: Peggy Jenkins’ son Daniel, who hurt himself snowboarding; Maree McHugh’s sister Ann & nephew Bryan, who are getting medical care and support for Bryan’s TBI and seizures; Mary Ellen Radziemski, who is recovering from three broken ribs and pneumonia; and Janice Willard & Eric Nilsson, who have moved Eric’s mother into assisted living. Condolences to: Jade Ellsworth-Keeney on the death of her Grandmother; and Nathan Foster on the death of his Grandfather;

Please notify the office, [email protected] or 882-4328, of any family news to be included here.

Wholly Crones Wholly Crones is a group of friendly “life-experienced women” who meet on the first and third Tuesdays

of every month (September - May) at 1:30 pm. Meetings are held at Clark House, 1401 N Polk, in Mos-

cow. We invite women of the UUCP to join us. We will explore and discuss a vari-

ety of topics such as aging, decision making, women’s issues, current events, medi-cal care in America, and spirituality in the second half of life. Feel free to bring a bag lunch or snack. Coffee and Tea are provided. For Questions or further informa-tion phone or email Janet Wathey ([email protected], 208-717-8323), or Sue Allard ([email protected], 208-882-7320).

Renewable Energy Presentation, April 9 at 11:30 am, YHM

Brian Ogle from Home & Ranch Solar will be covering renewable en-ergy (wind and solar) and how home owners can stay connected to the grid while producing their own power.

He will also discuss the variety of incentives available to make renew-ables more affordable. We hope you can join in this discussion!

New at UUCP: Thursday Social Justice Brown Bag Join us for a brown bag lunch on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, noon-1pm in

the church basement. We'll be discussing Social Justice issues put forward by the UUA, the UUSC, and others as the group's interest dictates.

Our first discussion will be on April 13 and will focus on the UUA's Declara-tion of Conscience. View the DOC here: http://www.uua.org/action/show-love/declaration-conscience

This initial meeting will be facilitated by Rev. Elizabeth Stevens. Future meet-ings may be led by Rev. Stevens, Ginger Allen, and/or Ken Faunce.

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Children’s classes age 4—5th grade attend the first part of our service and go to the Yellow House after the Time

for All Ages. Classes run until 11:30. Middle and High School Youth meet 12:00-2:00 in the Yellow House.

This Month in RE April 2

Spirit Play (ages 4-1st grade): Church Corner. In many preschool classrooms you can find a “house corner” where children pretend to be important people and do activities centered around their homes. In this same spirit we have a “church corner” where children can explore the various roles, items and liturgy of our church services. Today we will introduce this space to the group. UU Super Heroes (2nd-3rd grade): Pete Seeger: Sing for Justice. The children will hear about the life of a UU social justice/environmental activist. Harry Potter UU (4th-5th grade): Animal Horcux 4. Today is devoted to creating potions that explode and working on fighting animal cruelty. Middle School (6th-8th grade) YH 12 pm: Service Project. Join us for a service project to the church or another wonderful organization. May be off site- watch for updates. High School (9-12th grade; YH 12 pm): Come meet with our high school youth for sessions that support their faith development and social connections with the church and each other. Due to Family Promise please meet in the sanctuary this week.

April 9 Spirit Play (ages 4-1st grade): Easter Story. Hear a story that helps our youngest understand the themes of Easter in a uniquely UU way. UU Super Heroes (2nd-3rd grade) and Harry Potter UU (4th-5th grade): Planting Session. Today we will start our seeds for our outdoor planter box. Middle School (6th-8th grade) YH 12 pm: The Father, The Son and the Holy Guest Star. Bart is unjustly blamed for a prank and expelled from school. After looking at other schools, Marge decides to enroll Bart in St. Jerome's Catholic School. High School (9-12th grade; YH 12 pm): CON Weekend. No Class. Our youth are attending their twice yearly Youth Conference and will be out of town from Friday-Sunday.

April 16 Spirit Play (ages 4-1st grade): Feast/Egg Hunt/Work Day. Our younger children will have a special session to-day allowing them to partake in our traditional Easter festivities in a way that holds them in love and support. Children will attend their regular Spirit Play class where they will have a small healthy snack and group time. They will then be the first to hunt for canned goods outside while the older class is engaged in their own activi-ties. When they return to their classroom they will have some time for work before church is over. UU Super Heroes (2nd-3rd grade) and Harry Potter UU (4th-5th grade): Easter Children’s Chapel. Our ele-mentary students will join to hear an Easter story that relates to our UU faith and partake in a fun art project. The children will then hunt for canned goods with their class after the Spirit Play children are done. Middle School (6th-8th grade) YH 12 pm: The Middle School youth are invited to help hide the canned goods for the younger children to hunt. No separate class. High School (9-12th grade; YH 12 pm): Easter Brunch! The youth will prepare and serve an Easter Brunch for the congregation as a fundraiser. Please be at the church no later than 10:30 to prepare.

April 23 Spirit Play (ages 4-1st grade): Church Story. We will hear about our own church and building today, making connections between our faith and our church home. UU Super Heroes (2nd-3rd grade): Maria Mitchell. The children will meet Maria Mitchell the first American woman astronomer and Unitarian. Harry Potter UU (4th-5th grade): Environment Horcurx 1. We will turn our attention to fighting for the envi-ronment for the rest of our spring sessions. Middle School (6th-8th grade) YH 12 pm: MyPods and Broomsticks. The Simpsons wrestle with Islamophobia and supporting their Muslim neighbors.

Religious Exploration News

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We have many offerings for our children and youth each Sunday. Nursery: aimed at children aged infant through four years old, they meet in the eastern most room in the

Yellow House Basement, a cozy and inviting space to play and become secure in our church environment. The

nursery is available from 9:45 to 11:30 each Sunday morning. Prek (aged 4)- First Grade: Children attend the first part of the service and then move to their classes

next door after the story for all ages, classes run until 11:30. This class uses a Montessori inspired model of religious exploration and the classroom is set up to encourage each child's reflection of spirit and faith. This

class meets in the larger western room in the Yellow House Basement. Second-Third: Children in this age group also attend the first part of the service and move next door af-

ter the story for all ages; classes run until 11:30. This class is using the curriculum "UU Super Heroes" where they explore how real people used their power to make the world a better place. This class meets on the main

floor of the Yellow House. Fourth-Fifth: Children in this age group also attend the first part of the service and move next door after

the story for all ages; classes run until 11:30. This class is exploring our own ability to do good in the world through the lens of Harry Potter. This class meets in the upstairs of the Yellow House.

Middle School Youth (grades 6-8): Meet after the service, 12:00-1:30, upstairs in the Yellow House.

This class is using the television show The Simpsons to explore morality, values, faith and religion. High School Youth: open to 9th -12th Graders; meets after the service, 12:00-2:00, upstairs in the Yellow

House. This class encourages youth leadership and chooses it's own focus. World religions, living our values and providing support for one another are often explored.

RE Offerings & Events Easter Canned Goods and Humane Society Drive —Calling All Cans!! Our annual Easter Canned

Good Hunt needs your donations! Rather than hunt plastic eggs on Easter morning our children delight in hunting canned goods which are then donated to the food pantry for those in need. This teaches our children that we can always help others, especially on holidays. This year we are also collecting items for the hu-

mane society including dog/cat canned food and treats. This is part of our Harry Potter Class who is cur-rently fighting the “animal cruelty horcrux.” There will be a box in the foyer for donations.

Humane Society Drive — Do you love dogs? Can’t get enough fuzzy love from cats? You may have noticed that in the Church Basement we now have a way for you to vote for your favorite animal companion with your pocket change! Choose either dogs or cats and put your coins and dollars in the corresponding jar. All proceeds will go to the Humane Society of the Palouse as part of our Harry Potter class. We will announce the winner after Easter. Thanks!

Babies and Bagels April 2, 9:00 am Yellow House. Parents/caregivers with babies and toddlers are in-vited to the Yellow House before service to enjoy each other’s company and a bagel breakfast. We will be meeting at 9:00 am in the Yellow House. Come for the bagels, stay for the community!

High School (9-12th grade; YH 12 pm): Come meet with our high school youth for sessions that support their faith development and social connections with the church and each other.

April 30 Spirit Play (ages 4-1st grade): Flaming Chalice Sources. The children will hear about our UU Sources from which we draw our living tradition. UU Super Heroes (2nd-3rd grade): Francis David. The children will meet Unitarian Preacher and founder of the Unitarian Transylvanian Church. Harry Potter UU (4th-5th grade): Environment Horcrux 2. We will work on furthering our support of the en-vironment and learn a bit about divination. Middle School (6th-8th grade) YH 12 pm: Mentoring Session 3. The youth and their mentors will embark on a service project in support of the church or community. Watch for updates. High School (9-12th grade; YH 12 pm): Come meet with our high school youth for sessions that support their faith development and social connections with the church and each other.

Page 14: UUCP News April · 2018-01-29 · 2 Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument

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The April 2017 Month of Sundays recipient will be Family Promise of the

Palouse, a nonprofit organization that operates through an Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) to provide immediate shelter to homeless families in our commu-nity while helping people achieve lasting independence. With support from the community, 29 interfaith congregations and hundreds of volunteers, Family Prom-ise is able to provide shelter, food and support to help families in our community that need it the most. They are committed to families having a place to call home.

Our IHN is a partnership helping families who are facing homelessness. The program is an affiliate of the national Family Promise program that has served over 400,000 people -- mostly children -- over the past 20 years.

Family Promise can be reached at [email protected], by phone at (208) 882-0165. Their address is 510 W Palouse River Dr, Moscow, ID 83843, USA.

Month of Sundays—April 2017—Family Promise

Spring Circle Suppers Circle Suppers are small potluck dinners of 6-10 people in homes or in the church basement. After you

sign up using this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4CA9AE22A02-uucp or at church on Sunday the host will contact you to request what type of dish you should bring to share. It is a wonderful opportunity for good food, fellowship and making new friends. We especially encourage our newcomers to attend; it is a great way to meet UUCP folks! Contact Sherry Caisley at [email protected] or 208-596-0563 if you have questions.

Earth Month Activities Saturday April 22, 9:30 am—Weeding and Grounds Clean-Up Work Party!

Celebrate Earth Day by Cleaning up the Church Grounds and weeding the native plant beds. Bring gloves, digging implements, clippers and other tools. Healthy snacks will be provided.

Sunday, April 30, Walk, Bike and Carpool to Church Day. Cut down your car-bon footprint. Start practicing now so you will be shape and know how long it will take you to get to church under your own power.

UUCP Mah Jongg Party

Our April Mah Jongg party will be at the home of Mary Joy Irving, 1931 Or-chard Avenue, Moscow. Please come on Sunday, April 2 at 6:30 pm.

Bring a Mah Jongg set if you have one, and a snack to share. Let Joy know if you plan to come (208-882-3012; [email protected]). See you there!

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UUCP Buddhist Fellowship The Open Mindfulness (OM) Group meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 7:00-8:30

pm. This is good opportunity to drop in and try brief meditations in a group setting. Along with some guided and silent meditation practices, each week we will explore a topic and discuss how mindfulness and medita-tion might be applied in our everyday lives. Although Buddhism provides the framework, no background or experience is necessary.

Buddhist Fellowship and Book Group meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of Each month, also from 7:00-8:30 pm. This Fall we will use "Parami: Ways to Cross Life's Floods" by Ajahn Succito as a guide to deepen our mindfulness practice. The book discusses how to develop the paramis, the 10 Buddhist spiritual perfections (generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, resolve, kindness, and equanimity) in order to overcome the "floods of life" i.e. the overwhelmed, swept-along feeling that comes as we get plunged into stress and suffering. As a group we will discuss the book and explore the recommended meditations and reflections.

The book is offered freely through the generosity of the Forest Sangha: https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/parami-ways-to-cross-life-s-floods?

language=English Andre Bergeron is leading the Buddhist Fellowship this fall; he may be contacted at

[email protected].

Modern Celts Dance Club, Thursdays 5:30-7:30, CB Modern Celts is a club dedicated to experiencing and sharing the joy of Celtic dance, primarily Irish. We explore mostly Irish styles of dance including: Sean Nos dance, step dance, group dancing-ceili and set-dance; however we delve into other Celtic styles (such as Scottish) as well.

The club is non-competitive, performing is optional. Contact Jessie Hunter for more information.

The Green Sanctuary March for the Green Sanctuary Committee means the coming of spring. About a dozen hardy

people and one goldfish welcomed the arrival of spring with our fourth Vernal Equinox Sunrise Ser-vice on March 20th which was held at Cordelia Lutheran Church on Danielson Rd southeast of Mos-cow. UUCP has a strong connection with Cordelia church as they were both Swedish Lutheran churches. Cordelia is the older church, though, built in 1893. Grave stones with Swedish inscriptions still stand behind the church.

Minister Elizabeth Stevens led the service with Jon Anderson playing the organ. We lit candles to greet the four cardinal directions, North, East, South and West. As we looked out the west windows as Elizabeth spoke of water, we could see the pump installed a few years ago which supplies Cordelia Church with water. Ironically March 20 was one of the coldest mornings of the previous couple weeks, but four years of vernal equinox services have taught the participants to dress warmly. Even so, hot coffee along with baked goods and hard boiled eggs ( symbols of spring) was very welcome after the service.

April is Earth Month with various activities. A work party is planned for Saturday, April 22 to weed the native plant beds and generally clean up the church ground after the ravages of winter. Meet at the church at 9:30, bring work gloves, digging implements, clippers and other garden tools.

April 29 the Green Sanctuary Committee joins PESC for a local climate change march which will be called Lori Batina Memorial Climate March in memory of the March for survival that Lori organized with PESC in September of 2014 on the Chipman Trail as part of the International Climate March.

April 30 will be Walk, Bike and Carpool to Church Day. Walkers, Bikers and Carpoolers will be re-warded with stickers and treats in addition to the knowledge they are living more sustainably. Check the UUCP Facebook page for more information about these and other Green Sanctuary events.

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PNWD Chalice Lighters The Chalice Lighter Program is a grant program ad-ministered by the Pacific NW District of the UUA that enables congregations within the district to attract new members and grow their congregations through secur-ing professional religious leadership, improving build-

ings, and community outreach. The UUCP has benefited from this program in the past, using funds to reno-vate the Yellow House and the church basement, and most recently upgrade the sanctuary sound system.

UU members throughout the district sign up each year to pledge a minimum of $15 in response to "call letters" three times throughout the year. Each call letter identifies the congregation in the district that has sub-mitted the request and how the funds will be used.

Our congregation is considered to be in "good standing", with 35% of our members participating in the program. This level of participation ensures that we remain eligible for grants in the future.

The current Spring Call will help the Oregon City fellowship to remodel their kitchen and attract new members. To donate, please use the PNWD web link, where you can also donate once for the entire year. The new URL for the Chalice Lighter Program is https://pnwduua.org/programs-resources/chalice-lighters/

Please feel free to contact Jim Frenzel you have any questions about the program or how to enroll and thank you for your support of this valuable program for spreading the UU message throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Jim Frenzel, [email protected], 208-882-3963.

PNWD Chalice Lighters Spring 2016-17 Call:

A remodeled kitchen for the historic UU church in Oregon City. Members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls, OR (UUCWF), formerly Atkin-

son Memorial Church, have a new name, a new settled minister, and a growing number of new members. They also have a serious need to revitalize their church kitchen, which is awkward to use, unsafe, and does not meet current code. Doing so will allow hosting church and community events, including weddings, memorials, recit-als, and fundraisers. This increased presence and outreach in the community will help them grow as well as pro-duce rental income.

$17,000 is sought for a Chalice Lighter grant to augment funds already donated towards a complete make-over of the archaic kitchen. Your donation will help UUCWF attract future UUs looking for a community where all spiritual beliefs are accepted with love and without judgment.

What was funded with the most recent call? In March 2017 your generosity helped Magic Valley UU Fellowship in Twin Falls, ID with funds toward putting a new roof on their first church home.

Please respond now with your contribution to help our neighbor congregation in Oregon City. We are grateful for whatever you can contribute. Payments will be accepted towards this call through May 8. Ten per-cent of each call reimburses expenses to administer the program. If you prefer to make your payment online, please see the NEW donation page link (on the front page at www.palouseuu.com). Or mail your check, payable to PNWD Chalice Lighters to: PNWD Chalice Lighters, 7511 Greenwood Avenue North, #414, Seattle, WA 98103-4627. Include the PNWD CL designation on both your check and payment envelope. Questions may be directed to [email protected] or 206-384-9718. Thank you for your generosity!

UUCP Retirees’ Lunch—April 6 We meet on the 1st Thursday of each month at 11:30 am in the back room of

The Breakfast Club, 501 S. Main, in downtown Moscow. Everyone is welcome, re-tired or not. Join us for good food and conversation.

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New to UU Workshop

Are you a newcomer at UUCP? Would you like to know more about us? Please consider joining Rev. Elizabeth Stevens for a NEW to UU Workshop and light lunch. There will be time to get ac-quainted and ask questions as you are introduced to Unitarian Universalism, including a little history and understanding of our shared values and principles. You will come away with a better under-standing of what our congregants love about this church and what keeps us coming back for more at the UUCP.

We are offering one more workshop this spring, so please let us know if you’d like to at-

tend. When? Sunday, April 30, 12:00-2:00 pm Where? The church Fellowship Hall (basement) RSVP please to: Summer, our administrative secretary at the church office, 208-882-4328 or

[email protected], or Pat Rathmann at 208-882-8262. Child care is available upon advance request.

Social Justice Update Everyone is still motivated in the social justice area and there is so much to be

done. Groups across the Palouse and the nation are active in fighting injustice and mak-ing our communities more inclusive. New at UUCP: Thursday Social Justice Brown Bag.

Join us for a brown bag lunch on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 12:00 noon-1:00pm in the church basement. We'll be discussing Social Justice issues put forward by the UUA, the UUSC, and others as the group's interest dictates. Our first discussion will be on April 13 and will focus on the UUA's Declaration of Conscience. View the DOC here: http://www.uua.org/action/show-love/declaration-conscience

Declaration of Conscience | UUA.org—www.uua.org Sign your name to the Declaration of Conscience to commit to putting Unitarian

Universalist values into action to resist hate, fear and bigotry. This initial meeting will be facilitated by Rev. Elizabeth Stevens. Future meetings may be led by Ginger

Allen, and/or Ken Faunce. On April 13th at 6:00 pm The Moscow Human Rights Commission will hold an Education Forum at the

1912 Center “Under Pressure”, students from a UI Diversity and Social Stratification class will talk about race, the men’s rights movement and capitalism.

A “Sexual Violence Awareness” panel will be held on April 20 in Pullman. Other events are in the plan-ning stage. More and more people are becoming active and working to support the most vulnerable in our com-munity. That is what makes out church and our community great. Think about how you can help or get in-volved on any level to support Social Justice in our community. For more information on Human Rights and Social Justice issues, or how to become involved please contact Ken Faunce.

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UUCP Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse PO Box 9342 Moscow, ID 83843 Return Service Requested Mail Pledge Payments to address above General Church Information UUCP Phone: 208-882-4328 Office Email: [email protected] Rev. Elizabeth Stevens, Minister: 208-310-5937 Judy LaLonde, Treasurer: 208-882-3556 http://www.palouseuu.org

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