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Newsletter - March 4, 2016
Welcome to the Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship!
Table of Contents
Quick Links
7 UU Principles
Calendar
Men's Brotherhood
Women's Covenant Group
Sermon Library
Calendar


Children's Religious Education Update
Our Children's Religious Education (CRE) program is divided into two groups by age. In CRE, which meets each Sunday at 11 AM, we challenge our children with interactive studies about religion and science. 
The nursery group topics change according to individuals who attend and cannot be listed in advance, but they fall under the curriculum Celebrating Me and My World.


During March , the elementary students will be learning about science.

Mar. 6 :  Insect Friends and Foes (Poems)
 
Mar. 13:   Stories about the Month of March
 
Mar. 20:   Religious Stories: The Story of Passover
 
Mar. 27:   Religious Songs: What makes a song religious?

Lesson plans are subject to change, but this is the plan.

Contact: Wes Phillips and Sarah Brown
Looking for a Photo
Do you have photos of the
New Member Celebration from late in
2012? There were about 19 new members, and they all wore rainbow scarves. If so, please send them to
Martha .

Literacy Book Drive

March 19 - April 2
New updates on the Children's Book Drive, city-wide and at AUUF, have been posted under Children's Book Drive on our website.  T ake a look!!
 
Contact: Linda Jackson

History of the Fellowship
For those of you who have not read Wayne Darrow's history of our Fellowship, perhaps you would like to visit this document . If you have additions to the history, please indicate at least the year (if not the actual date or month) of an event and who was involved.  We are in dire need of information covering 1975 to the present (submit by email or on paper to April as soon as possible). Remember to write down your contributions to the AUUF History Wall also.  A confident sense of self is important for our Fellowship in its search for an interim minister.

AUUF History Wall
"Institutional memory is a collective set of facts, concepts, experiences and know-how held by a group of people. As it transcends the individual, it requires the ongoing transmission of these memories between members of this group."
                                        ~ Harvard Business School
 
Do you have a favorite memory of the Fellowship? Do you know of an important moment in our history that you want to be sure is remembered by all members? Help us get a more complete history of our Beloved Community by adding these memories and events to our new "History Wall". It is located on the hallway bulletin board across from the RE rooms. There are note cards you can fill out, or bring your own. The Ministerial Search Committee will be using this to give us a more complete timeline of our history and also to provide information and context to our many newer members. 
 
Contact: Keralee Clay
Just Saying
"Unitarian Universalists must change the way we do church.  This is a journey not of optimism but of hope.  Optimists believe something will go the way they would like; they generally expect that things are going to turn out okay, with the desired outcome.  Hope, however, is knowing something is moral and right, and working for it in spite of what others say.  When we are hopeful we are willing to be involved.  Optimism is passive; hope is active."  
--Fredric Muir, John T. Crestwell, Jr., and Christina Leone Tracy, "Turning Towards Wholeness," in Turning Point: Essays on a New Unitarian Universalism (2016).

Newsletter and Website Submissions
As always, we are eager to publish information regarding committees, boards, Adult RE, CRE, events, and services, but we need your help. The website and Facebook page can be updated daily, but the newsletter cannot. New information needs to be submitted (submissions@uuamarillo.org) by noon Wednesday if you want it to appear in the Friday morning newsletter. If you need an event placed on the website calendar, you may submit that request with description, image (or we can provide one), starting and approximate ending time, specific location, date (or dates for a recurring event), and name of contact person. Help us help you get your message out in a timely manner.

 

PLEASE, EVERYONE CAN MAKE ALL THESE COMMUNICATIONS MORE EFFECTIVE BY READING THEM EACH WEEK--ESPECIALLY THE WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER!

In addition to the events described in this newsletter, you can find a complete listing by clicking on the   Calendar icon above.

Want more detail? Check both the News and the Events sections of our website, uuamarillo.org
Also on our website, you can learn more about our Fellowship and our faith, Unitarian Universalism.

All events are held at the Fellowship,
4901 Cornell St. , unless otherwise noted.

If you are unsure how to reach any of the individuals named as contacts, please email the
AUUF office or call our Office Administrator, April Myers, at 806.355.9351 and leave a message. She will return your call during her office hours, which are Tuesday - Friday from
9 AM to noon.


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Sunday Worship - 9:30 and 11 AM
March 6, 2016
Nina Stein  speaks on Who Are We?  Unitarian Universalist Identity. Unitarian Universalism is often misunderstood even by members. Who Are We?   Because ours is not a creedal religion, we are not guided by a single theology or set of beliefs. This makes it more difficult to understand who we are. Having a sense of identity is important for the individual and a congregation to function in a healthy way. Nina Stein
will be talking about concepts that give us an answer to the question, an identity.


March 13, 2016
Jim Taylor  speaks "On Children"-As the Twig is Bent, the Tree Will Grow, examining the impact of early childhood experience on long term outcomes and the importance of positive relationships in the healing process.
March 20, 2016
Cyndy Walton and Martha Baird are speaking on Standing on the Side of Love, an interfaith organization with the goal of harnessing love's power to challenge exclusion, oppression, and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, race, religion, or any other identity.

Upcoming Events:
Adult Religious Education

Please join us at 10 AM each Sunday.

We are rotating three subjects. Each covers a different aspect of Adult Religious Education. All are welcome. No advance reading is necessary and no test will be given.
 
Mar. 6: We have finished Science & Religion and will check out lecture #1 of "My Favorite Universe" by Professor Neil Tyson as a possible replacement.
 
Mar. 13: Lecture #10 of Natural Law and Human Nature "Early Christians, Nature and Law"
 
Mar. 20: Lecture # 11 of The New Testament  "The Historical Jesus-Solutions and Methods." This lecture will be very different than what we were taught in Sunday School, Training Union, or Catholicism Class.
 
Mar. 27: To be decided between lecture #2 of My Favorite Universe or a trial of a different replacement.

Contact: John Gay
First Game Night of 2016
Friday, March 4, 6:30 PM
The first Game Night for our Fellowship for 2016 will be Friday, March 4. Let's have sloppy joes with all the trimmings for supper, beginning around 6:30 PM, with games starting around 7. Bring your friends and family and your favorite game to share. The more, the merrier! (Sign-up sheets for attendance and for food will be on the bulletin board by the kitchen.)
 
Contact: Janda Raker

Vickie Schoen Novel Signing
Saturday, March 5, 2 PM at Barnes & Nobel
UU member, Vicki Schoen, will be signing her novel, Inherit the Texas Earth, at Barnes & Nobel, Saturday, March 5 beginning at 2:00. One reviewer (Ann Warnecke, retired reviewer and journalist) said about the work:  "An important message for our times, and the mystery, romance, and down-to-earth survival struggle make it a page turner."  Our own Mary Kay Wells said, "If you appreciate fully-developed characters, you will be enthralled."
Vicki would love to see you there.

Women's Covenant Group
Monday, March 7, 6:00 PM 
The Women's Covenant Group studies and discusses feminine spiritual and social topics. 
 
Contact: Amy Taylor

Meet the Artist - Joe Nelson
Tuesday, March 8, 7 PM
Meet the Artist presents Dr. Joe Nelson at the Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.  Joe has much to share about his composition and educational efforts and the event is open and free to the public.  Refreshments will be served.

Norman J. Nelson (Joe Nelson) received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at El Paso and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in music composition from The University of Texas at Austin. He studied composition and music theory with Hunter Johnson, Kent Kennan, and Clifton Williams.  He is now a Professor Emeritus of Music Theory and Composition at West Texas A & M University in Canyon, Texas, where he taught and composed for thirty-seven years.  He has composed music for large and small instrumental and vocal ensembles and solos for various wind instruments and voice.  He has also published compositions for music education purposes.
 
Contact:  Pam Mayes and Ann Hicks

Fiction Book Group 

Tuesday, March 29,  7 PM   
Laura McBride's We Are Called to Rise uses multiple points of view to carry five well-meaning characters toward a crucial moment of choice in the aftermath of a troubled soldier's angry response to a child's letter of support. Time to start reading!
 
Contact: Dick Moseley

Read and Learn  
Fredric Muir, ed. Turning Point: Essays on a New Unitarian Universalism. (2016)
Outlining a bold vision for the future of Unitarian Universalism, twenty leaders, including Peter Morales, issue a clarion call for change. In inspiring, fresh essays, they implore us to collectively liberate ourselves from patterns that prevent us from becoming a robust faith for a new age. Emerging from a history marred by the errors of individualism, exceptionalism, and anti-authoritarianism, Unitarian Universalism faces a crossroads. Turning Point shows a way forward, by embracing promises shaped from our theology: generosity, pluralism, and imagination. With essays and stories of creative new types of Unitarian Universalist communities across the country, this essential new collection outlines a liberal faith for the twenty-first century. It offers a vision of an inclusive, multicultural Beloved Community and inspires trust that Unitarian Universalism can deepen and grow once again, meeting the aching needs of a new generation.  This book is a must read!!

Recommendation level
 
Climate Justice Month
Over the last few months, Unitarian Universalists have been witnessing for climate justice from Paris to the Pacific Northwest to Washington, DC . Now people of faith and conscience have a chance to collectively take the momentum for climate justice to the next level, with the second Climate Justice Month!
From World Water Day (March 22) to Earth Day (April 22), we will build resistance to climate change and add our moral voices to the movement for climate justice, taking action in our families, communities, and congregations or faith groups.

How We Will Take Action
  1. Every week of Climate Justice Month Commit2Respond will showcase a featured resource for inspiration, a featured resource for education, and a featured action.
  2. In Week 1 we will act to advance the rights of frontlines communities by advocating for water rights. In Week 2 we will join the interfaith campaign to shift to a low carbon future and model for world leaders the strong action required from us all. And in Week 4 we will march, teach-in, and advocate for reclaiming our democracy from the likes of Big Oil and the Koch brothers, growing the movement for justice.
  3. On or around Earth Day, we will hold worship services, Earth fairs, advocacy days, and much more, working with community organizations and fellow religious groups to grow the climate justice movement.
What To Do Now
  1. RSVP for Climate Justice Month to receive extra inspiration and resources by email throughout the month. 
Spread the word! Mobilize your congregation, faith group, secular group, family, or other groups you are a part of to take collective action together during Climate Justice Month ( get mobilization resources ).
In the Community
Twenty-First Annual Bach's Lunch Series
The "Bach's" lunch series is (Bach) back by popular demand!  Bring a "box" lunch and some friends with you.  The Bach's Lunches are a wonderful time for Lenten reflection and good music among friends.  Held at various churches every Friday during Lent, each program will begin promptly at 12:05 PM with a 24-minute organ recital.  Following the recital, the host church will provide tea, coffee and a place to eat.  You'll have plenty of time to get (Bach) back to work by 1:00 PM.  This event has been very well received for the last twenty years, so plan to attend the Twenty-First Annual Bach's Lunch Series!  Mark Your Calendar NOW!

Friday, Mar.  4, 2016 -  St. Thomas Catholic Church, Jim Gardner, Organist
Friday, Mar. 11, 2016 - St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Margaret Lacy, Organist
Friday, Mar. 18, 2016 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Michael Johnson, Organist

For more information, call 806.352.5629.  The "Bach's" Lunch series is sponsored by the Amarillo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

FireSongs Songwriter Series
Wednesday, March 9, 6:30-8:30 PM
FireSongs Songwriter Series is a new, weekly series that is unique in Amarillo, in that each Wednesday night, a different area songwriter or combo will perform entirely original material---no covers. We have a wealth of creative energy here in the Panhandle and this series aims to celebrate those who express this energy through songwriting.
The shows are at Fire Slice Pizzeria (7301 SW 34th Space 10, Summit Shopping Center) on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. It's a listening environment, so talking is discouraged in the concert room while the show is going on, but this makes it a much nicer environment, and of course Fire Slice has wonderful food which may be enjoyed throughout the show. There is no cover, but reservations are suggested to guarantee seating in the listening room. Call ( 806) 331-2232 .   The artist performing March 9 is John Williams.  The artist performing next week on March 16 is Johnny Reverb Holston.

Teddy Roosevelt Performance - WTAMU
Thursday, March 10, 7-9 PM  
Alumni Banquet Hall, WTAMU
Open and free to the public
Clay Jenkinson, Humanities scholar, author and historical interpreter, will perform as Teddy Roosevelt.  Clay has spoken to this congregation in the past and his program The Jefferson Hour broadcasts every Sunday from 5-6 PM on High Plains Public Radio. Mark your calendar NOW!


Those Guys in Concert
Saturday, March 12, 7:30-9:30 PM
The Fibonacci Building (3306 SW 6th)
This concert is hosted by High Plains Public Radio.  For additional information, click here.   A suggested $10 donation is taken at the door.




Wednesday, March 23, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Race and ethnicity, systemic racial inequities and social injustices are at the core of disproportionate and disparate outcomes for far too many Texans.  This interactive workshop presents an opportunity for professionals, community members and anyone interested in improving our social conditions to collaborate and learn more about these issues in a nonthreatening, productive environment.
 
The workshop objectives are:
  • Use a common language to facilitate dialogue on racial inequities and the impact on systems and communities.
  • Identify and recognize the existence of systemic racial inequities within systems.
  • Introduce the Texas Model and show how it can be used to address racial inequities within systems.
Introduction to Courageous Conversations on Race Equity
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
8:30am to 12:30pm
Cal Farley's Community Engagement Center
601 SW 10th Avenue, Amarillo, Texas
 
Register  here and print out your free ticket .  Free DSHS certified CEU's for multiple professional disciplines are available.

Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
4901 Cornell St.
Amarillo, TX  79109
806.355.9351

 

 

 

 uuamarillo.org