Chalice                    Miami Valley 
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

8690 Yankee St.  Dayton, OH  45458

 

 

    937-436-3628  www.mvuuf.org 

 

MVUUF's Forum February, 2018

  visit our website  HERE          visit the UUA's website    HERE

 
Service Topics for February, 2018

Sunday, February 4th
Immigration As A Moral Issue:
Stories of Dreamers, Deportees and Refugees
Members of MVUUF's Social Action Committee
Immigration is not a simple issue. Only through an 
accident of birth, people find themselves
in sometimes harrowing and sometimes hopeful situations. 
Hear the stories of people who have
been affected by immigration and displacement, and 
why it is a moral concern for UUs.
 
 
Sunday, February 11th
The Way the Night Knows Itself With the Moon
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn 
The sermon this morning will celebrate Valentine's Day. 
And d uring the service, we will also observe  the one-year anniversary 
of the death of Rev. Greg Martin with a special ritual.
 

Sunday, February 18th
Building Your Own Theology
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn
Today's It's not easy being in a religion that expects us 
to come up with our own answers to
"life's persistent questions." But it is our sacred task as UUs.
 

Sunday, February 25th
Heavens on Earth: Intentional & Utopian Communities
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn
This sermon will explore Unitarian, Universalist 
and Unitarian Universalist  dreams and practices of community.
Please join us!
February News

IN THE INTERIM
February 12th is the one-year anniversary of the death of Reverend Greg Martin. Rev. Greg was the Fellowship's last called and settled minister; her served for eighteen months before suffering a massive heart attack while on vacation. His death cut short a ministry that was broadly experienced by the congregation as an exciting path into a bright future.
 
Grieving is the internal part of loss, how we feel. Working through these feelings is a process, a journey, as Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler remind us. It does not end on a certain day or date, and it is unique for each individual.
 
Mourning is the external part, the actions, the rituals we engage in. The first yearly anniversary of a death is a time to commemorate the loss. It is also a time to honor the strength and courage of those who carried on.
 
A year ago this was a different congregation. Some part of the old congregation died with Rev. Greg. And some part of Rev. Greg lives on in the new congregation you have become, and are becoming.
 
As part of the Sunday morning service on February 11th, we will observe the anniversary of Rev. Greg's death in a special ritual. We will honor the values of this congregation which were embodied in Rev. Greg and his ministry, and name the ways we will carry them forward. The children and youth will join us for part of this ceremony,     before they leave for their classes.
 
I am honored to join with you on this occasion.
 
Yours in the faith,
 
Holly
 


SEASON OF NON-VIOLENCE
At the end of last month, we began honoring the  Season for Non-Violence , seen in the art on our walls, and a reminder in the bulletin on Sundays. The season honors the nonviolent approaches to end injustice used by Mahatma Gandhi and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and spans the 64 days between the anniversaries of their deaths: January 30th for Gandhi and April 4th for King.
 
This year as we think about violence, three kinds of violence seem especially prevalent. First is the rise of violence used by white supremacists, such as in Charlottesville, marching with torches reminiscent of the violence against  African Americans in the Jim Crow era. The second is the attention to violence against women, which occurs in the form of sexual assault. While not new, women are feeling greater protection in speaking out, an act that is not free of risk. And the third is the rise of mass shootings in this country, targeting innocent people in shocking and tragic ways. Our posters are of people who have worked for human rights, social justice, and human dignity in history. We do not have posters of people who stand for these three forms of violence. Whose poster would you put up? Maybe it could be a poster of you?



KEEPINGS TABS ON THE TIMELINE FOR OUR 
MINISTERIAL SEARCH
Greetings from the depths of the Ministerial Search Committee's secret quarters! As you've no doubt heard, we have 11 (now 12) candidates interested in our congregation, and we've been busily reviewing their Ministerial  Record documents, sermons and websites to learn all we can about their lives, interests and ministries. Whew!
 
So what's next? We have officially begun telephone interviews and by early February we will assemble our short list of pre-candidates. These are the folks we'll interview in person and watch in action at neutral pulpits (unfortunately they can't preach at MVUUF - confidentiality is critical throughout the search process).
 
By the end of March we'll select one candidate and extend to them a conditional offer. If the minister accepts, we'll inform the Board and the congregation of his or her name.
 
The week of April 29 is Candidating Week! This entire week is your opportunity to attend a variety of events to meet and get to know the candidate. In the coming weeks we'll release a schedule of events and post it on our  bulletin board in the Gathering Space. We'll do our best to have something for everyone, adults, children and youth alike, so we hope you'll plan to attend one or more events.
 
Who decides if we call the candidate to be our new settled minister? The voting members of MVUUF get the final say by voting at a special congregational meeting in early May. If 95% or more members vote "yes," we will officially call the candidate to become our new settled minister. In most cases, ministerial candidates will only accept a congregation's call with a minimum 95% plurality of votes.
 
It's an exciting time ... and a busy time! You might not hear much news from us in the next few weeks, but please know that your MSC is hard at work asking and answering questions with an eye to MVUUF's future.
---Eileen Simon, Ministerial Search Committee



WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER PAINTING PROJECT
Over the past several months the Wesley Community Center has been constructing a new food pantry. To keep the center's costs down our West Dayton Action Group offered to assist with the painting of the pantry. We are looking for volunteers who would like to help with the painting. The project is currently scheduled for  Saturday, February 17th  from 9:00 AM--5:00 PM (priming) and  Saturday, February 24th  from 9:00 AM--5:00 PM (painting). Volunteers do not need to stay for the entire time, a few hours will be greatly appreciated.  The Wesley Center will supply the paint and equipment. 

Reply to  [email protected]  or  937-304-4087  if you would like to help or if you have any questions. Let me know the day and hours you plan to come and if you would prefer to carpool. Thanks for your support of the Wesley Center!
--Steve Steel, on behalf of the West Dayton Action Group



A MINUTE FOR MUSIC
"So what's your favorite kind of music?" When asked this impossible question, I always respond with the analogy: "it's like food." ALL kinds...but it depends. On time of day (LOVE lasagna but not for breakfast) frequency (I enjoy gyros but not for three meals a day) and what mood I'm in (does anyone order oatmeal at a sports bar??) 
 
So planning music for our worship service involves discerning what best corresponds to the tone of the message. Classical? Folk? Jazz? Hymnody? Instrumental? 
 
I hope that if the musical offering on any given Sunday is not your particular taste, you will at least give it a try. You might find that if something is of high quality and well-prepared, it can be surprisingly enjoyable, even if it is new to you. Please feel free to talk to me about your personal experience of music; your likes, dislikes, preferences and favorites as I settle into my role as Director of Music at MVUUF. I can't promise to fulfill everyone's wants all of the time. But I hope over the course of the coming months, your spirit will be nourished by the music you hear.
---Sara Davis, MVUUF Director of Music
 


   
THE CASE OF THE MISSING BASKETS AND VOLUNTEERS
Donations of baskets, silent auction items and live auction lots are due Sunday, February 25th.
 
Do you love to show off your culinary talents? Then host a dinner party and submit that as a live auction lot. Other ideas might be to host a family mystery game night or a mystery tasting party. What about a mystery hike or    mystery movie night?  What service can you provide that people will pay to participate in? Donate it to the live auction.
 
Do you have a new or gently used item around your house that's worth $30 or more that you don't want taking up space? Donate it to the silent auction. We've had food (Jellies, cheesecakes and more), a bike, household items, craft items and more donated in the past. What items do you have to donate? Enter them into the   silent auction.
 
We need your help too! There is much to do for the Service Auction and we need the help of many volunteers to make it a success. Please chip in and sign up to volunteer. You can easily sign up digitally HERE or sign up in person in the Gathering Space after services. Choose from taking a shift at the bar, in the kitchen, helping out with Children's Activities, laundering the table cloths, set up, or bring food and more. There are plenty of options to choose from and we encourage to sign up for a couple, if you can. Take a shift and set up or take a shift and bring food.
 
Visit the table in the Gathering Space after services or send me an e-mail at:  [email protected]  for more information.
--Kristen Beireis, Service Auction 2018 Chairperson



RECYCLING REMINDERS
Our new recycling bin in the kitchen by the wall near the sink is getting lots of use.  However, some of the stuff that is going into the bin is not appropriate for recycling because it is coated with food residue.  Items for recycling do not need to be spotless, but they should be relatively clean. 
 
Food and beverage cartons, such as pizza boxes, can be recycled, but they should be free of food or grease.  Aluminum and steel cans; glass bottles and jars; and plastic bottles and jugs should be emptied and rinsed. Plastic bags should not go into the bin, but instead, they can be placed in bag recycling containers at a number of retail locations.  Of course, garbage should never go into the bin.     
 
Let's continue to protect our environment by recycling what we can.  And let's make our MVUUF recycling efforts more efficient by being mindful of what should as well as what should not be placed in our blue recycling bin. 
 


ENVIRONMENTAL BOOK CLUB
The Environmental Book Club's next meeting will be on Feb. 19, 7:00 PM in the Founder's room.  We will be discussing Rochell L. Johnson's  Passions for Nature: Nineteenth-Century America's Aesthetics of Alienation .  

We meet bi-monthly, on the third Monday of that month.  Contact  [email protected]  for additional information.
 
 
 
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Rev. Holly and many in the congregation have asked that we take time for both learning and healing before reconsidering whether or not to become a Level 1 Sanctuary Congregation.  The Social Action Committee has agreed to bring forward some educational efforts so that we can be better informed about policy, history, and   theology (to name just a few things) of immigration and other issues associated with it during our discernment  process.
 
We will have a session on Sunday, February 4th, after the Worship Service, which will involve discussions of policy. Drawing on the UUA's Immigration As A Moral Issue curriculum and other resources, we will try to bring you a   program once a month throughout the year. 
---Alice Diebel, Social Action Committee
 
 

SANCTUARY TASK FORCE UPDATE
Nineteen people attended the most recent Sanctuary Task Force Meeting on Sunday, January 14th. We learned the deportation status of the immigrant MVUUF voted to accept into sanctuary if requested remains very unclear as no final legal decision has been made. We are now in direct communication with this individual who currently is not expressing a desire for sanctuary but is very grateful for our concern and support. We remain on standby should this individual decide to seek sanctuary. Additionally, an architect has been contacted and has offered   suggestions for building modifications to install a shower at MVUUF. No formal plan has yet been created. Finally, we agreed to host a public meeting on Monday, February 19th at 6:30 PM in hopes of forming a coalition of faith groups and individuals with or without religious affiliation who wish to work together to support our immigrant communities through advocacy, sanctuary, and by forming a visitation program to the immigrant detention center in Butler County.
 
The next meeting of the MVUUF Sanctuary Task Force will be March 11th at 12:30 PM. All are welcome.
 


PROGRAM COUNCIL'S UNSUNG HERO FOR JANUARY, 2018
The Program Council is proud to honor Iris Carter as the first monthly Unsung Hero of 2018. Iris has been a member of MVUUF for more than 50 years. Among many other efforts for MVUUF, she helped raise money to build our current church, she served on numerous committees including the Finance Committee and the Aesthetics Committee, she is an active member of our Women's Group and she organizes the project that provides us with fresh flowers in the Sanctuary every Sunday.
 
Please thank Iris when you see her! MVUUF depends on loyal volunteers like Iris.
 


DAYTIME BOOK CLUB
The next gathering of this well-read group will take place on Wednesday, February 21st, 10:30 AM in the Library, and they'll discuss Road To Jonestown by Jeff Guinn. All are welcome to join them. 

Choices for future meetings are:
 
March 21st - The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
April 18th - The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
May 16th - The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
 
 
 
BIBLE STUDY-THE GOSPEL OF MARK
Did you know that MVUUF has a Bible Study group? It's true! They meet every second Sunday of the month, at 9:30 AM, in class room #4 at the Fellowship. Currently, they've been discussing Chapter 10 in the Gospel of Mark.
 
Why not join them? New members are welcome at any time.



SMART CHOICES BIRTHDAY LUNCH
Members & friends of MVUUF (that identify as women) are invited to join this fun-loving group as they celebrate birthdays on Thursday, February 8th, 11:30 AM, at MCL Cafeteria, in Kettering. Please RSVP to Allie Petersen at:    [email protected].
 

 
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUNCH
Please join us in providing food and/or serving for our long-standing second Saturday lunch ministry for women and families staying at Dayton's St. Vincent Shelter.  For the February 10th lunch we will continue our fall/winter chili menu.  You can sign-up for food donations and/or serving on the clipboard in the Gathering Space, or you can contact Lynn Buffington at [email protected] or  call or text  (937) 657-0426.  You can also check on what is  needed  at  Sign Up Genius (no need to log in unless you also want to sign up through Genius).  
 
If you would like more  information regarding volunteering, please take one of the info flyers near the sign-up sheet. Thanks to everyone who pitched in providing food and/or serving the January meal!  We served 118!!!  That included 74 in the women's group at 11:00 AM and 44 in the family group at noon, with 23 of the 44 being children.  And while a few volunteers had to cancel due to driving conditions and illness (it's flu time!), others quickly stepped in and we were fully staffed!   
 
February 10th  menu :  Our needs include hearty chili,  fresh fruit salad or fresh fruit, chili toppings (shredded cheese and sour cream), green salad, orange juice, and dishes made with fresh vegetables (anything from a hot vegetable dish to carrots &    celery sticks).   We need several donations of most items, with each donation serving 15-20 people. Please bring all items-heated if  applicable-to the side "donation"  entrance at  120 West Apple Street in Dayton (St. Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter for Women and Families) by 10:45 a.m. Thanks to the many who have already signed up for February!
   

 
      FAIR TRADE COFFEE SALE!
Remember to place your order for Fair Trade coffee on the first Sunday of the month (this month it's on  February 4th ) !

Coffee will be ready to be picked up on or after the third Sunday of the month (this month, February  18th ) . 

There are many varieties and bean grinds to choose from, including several that are organic!  Contact  Lynn Buffington  at:

(937) 657-0426  or  [email protected]
 
 
     
DON'T FORGET!
Y ou can keep up-to-date with all the happenings at MVUUF by viewing the Fellowship's calendar online, from a link to our website  HERE  
 
The calendar is updated daily, so it's always the place to check and see what's going on!

       
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We are a liberal religious community that embraces diversity and respects the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  ALL are welcome here, no matter their race, sex, sexual/affectional orientation, gender expression, or ability.

 

Please visit us on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. for our worship service---

we'd love to see you!