Chalice                    Miami Valley 
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

8690 Yankee St.  Dayton, OH  45458

 

 

    937-436-3628  www.mvuuf.org 

 

MVUUF's Forum January, 2018

  visit our website  HERE          visit the UUA's website    HERE

 
Service Topics for January, 2018

Sunday, January 7th
Roots & Wings
MVUUF Member Joe Law, et al
Come and join us this Sunday morning, as we enjoy 
readings & songs  that will help us start 2018 on the right foot. 
   
Sunday, January 14th
Beyond The River
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn 
 Please join us for this service in observance 
of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
 
Sunday, January 21st
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn
Today's sermon will share a view from the 
midpoint of the Interim Year; it precedes our annual
January Congregational Meeting, which begins at 12:30 PM.
 
Sunday, January 28th
Darwin On Your Bumper?
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn
This morning's sermon will examine several 
of the sites   where religion and science converge
in Charles Darwin's life and legacy.  

January News

IN THE INTERIM
A new year beckons! A fresh start! A reset!  A beginning again in love...
 
Friends, the last five months have been very hard for the Fellowship. I hope you all have been blessed with some restful holidays. And I hope we can come together in this new year to consider what we might still be able to accomplish in the remaining months of our ministry.
 
In particular, I am aware of the approaching anniversary of the death of Rev. Greg Martin, in February. In preparing for this anniversary, I invite each of you to reflect on how we might best mark this time; how most meaningfully to attend to our memories as this milestone passes.
 
And I will be most grateful if you would please share your ideas with me, either by email at [email protected] or by emailing me to set up an appointment to meet in person.
 
 
Wishing health and well-being to the MVUUF community in 2018,
 
Holly
 


LOOKING FOR A DRE
The Fellowship is currently seeking a new Director of Religious Education. Candidates must be enthusiastic about leading and growing a dynamic year-long Religious Education program for children and youth. Leadership,  organization, communication, and a desire to work with children required. Hours and rate of pay will be negotiated, commensurate with experience and ability. The ideal candidate can be either a credentialed  or non-credentialed religious educator; if not already credentialed through the Unitarian Universalist Association, a candidate with a desire to seek credentials within a reasonable time period will be supported in his/her studies, with partial funding provided by the congregation.
 
For the right candidate, this is an exciting opportunity to develop professionally and personally and to contribute to the ethical and spiritual growth of children. Candidates will provide a resume with references. To obtain a more detailed job description and/or to submit resume with references, please contact the Office Administrator, Jennie Freiberger, at:     [email protected] or 937-436-3628 .



OPENINGS IN COVENANT GROUPS!
There is still time for you to join one of the four Covenant Groups that are set to begin in January.  The group using the Heart to Heart book as a guide will begin meeting on Sunday, January 7 at 9:30 a.m. in Classroom 7.  Contact Diane Colvin to join this group:  [email protected].  The group could use a few more copies of the Heart to Heart book if you have one and will not be using it.
 
If you are interested in " The Introduction to Peace Talking ," contact Denny Smith for information of when the group will begin meeting:
 
Phil Wise will be facilitating a group that explores the "isms" so prevalent in our culture. His email is:   [email protected] .  
 
Finally, to join the innovative on-line group, contact Adrienne Clark: 

Covenant Groups are a great way to get to know members and friends better as you listen to each other exploring their thoughts about important topics.  I can almost promise that you won't be disappointed.



SHARING LOVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
It is still difficult to come up with adequate words to sum up the joy and hope I have felt facilitating the Pastoral Care Associate Giving Tree program another year. Thanks needs to go out to the entire Pastoral Care team who all played important parts and certainly eased my load. Also, many thanks to all who gave money or wrapped gifts. Seven families of various sizes and types within and closely connected to the Fellowship were blessed this holiday season. Everyone on the list got something they wanted and for many of the gifts, needed. In fact this congregation was generous in giving five pairs of shoes, three winter coats, numerous articles of clothing, and a few special items to make the holidays bright for families that otherwise might not have experienced the miracles of the holiday.

Please remember how great an impact a community of people coming together with love in the heart can make in the New Year. The generosity of this congregation never fails to surprise me. And Social Action still received great generosity on behalf of St. Vincent's shelter, but I will let Social Action make their own announcement on the success for their work.
 
Wishing everyone a joyous New Year,
Tina Porter (on behalf of the Pastoral Associate Team)
 
 
 
PRE-CONGREGATIONAL MEETING DISCUSSION
Please join us on Sunday, January 7th, beginning at 12:30 PM in the Sanctuary, where we'll offer a discussion regarding an upcoming bylaws change that will be voted on at the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 21st.



ANNUAL MLK JR. MARCH
This year's Martin Luther King, Jr. March will be held on Wednesday, January 10th, beginning at 10:00 AM at the Drew Health Center (1323 W. Third Street) in Dayton.
 
In the past members and friends have carried banners and carpooled from the MVUUF parking lot. Some members begin at the Drew Health Center, while others choose to join the march at the RTA Cultural Center (40 Edwin C. Moses Blvd.). If you would like to carry a banner, or carpool from the Fellowship, please contact Ndidi Achebe at [email protected], or Lynn Buffington at [email protected].
 
 
 
HUMANITARIAN GIVING RECIPIENTS FOR 2018
In 2018, MVUUF will again be sharing 100% of its non-pledge offerings with four human service agencies. These agencies are selected by members of the congregation under the guidance of the Social Action Committee and the Humanitarian Giving Action Group. In the past, the majority of the agencies have served in the Dayton community.
 
All of the agencies nominated will be placed on a ballot to be voted on during the January Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 21st, 2018; the agencies  will be chosen based on suggestions from YOU!
 
Please send the names of any agencies you would like to have on the ballot, with a short description of the service they provide (and a link to their website if available) to Rachel Feltner at [email protected] or Ndidi Achebe at [email protected]  no later than Wednesday, January 10th.
 
After the worship service on January 14th, you will have the opportunity to share why you think the agency you've nominated is worthy to be selected for the ballot. And if you have any questions, feel free to contact Rachel or Ndidi.
 
 
   
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. We trust you had time during the holidays for healing and rest.
---Alice Diebel, Social Action Committee



SEASON OF NON-VIOLENCE
At the end of this month, we begin 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?

We learned through our interfaith partnerships of three events in Dayton to commemorate the Season for Non-Violence organized by Colette Harrison of the Baha'i community. All three events will take place at the Northwest Library (corner Hillcrest and Philadelphia) with refreshments from 4:30 PM and a program from 5-7:00 PM.
 
  • January 30th - Opening Program: "Introduction to Kingian Non-Violent Communication" 
  • February 13th - Town Hall :  "Becoming More Welcoming-- Eliminating Racism and Islamophobia in the  Greater Dayton Area" 
  • April 4th - Closing Program:  "Thinking Globally and Acting Locally - Promoting Peace in the Greater Dayton Area" (starting with a short film "World Peace: A Baha'i Perspective")

 

Finally, you may be interested in participating in the on-line daily meditation with an interactive Peace Mandala at this link.
 
 
 
THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP & GENEROSITY
Pastoral Associate Tina Porter expressed how incredibly grateful she was for the outpouring of gifts that our Fellowship provided for families and friends in need this holiday season. It is a spiritual experience to give freely with no expectation of anything in return. We are a generous congregation who can always be counted on to share what we have when we see a need.
 
Beyond dollars and presents, I see every week all the gifts we give to each other: maintaining our building and grounds, preparing the sanctuary for worship, providing hospitality to visitors, making coffee (and cleaning up!), stocking a food pantry, sharing our skills and talents. I want to know about all the ways in which we are giving our resources both within our walls and in the wider community. We should borrow from the Christian practice and spread the good news of our work! Would you be willing to send me a message about what you or your committee or group is doing so I can share that with our Stewardship team? 
 
As we leave behind the traditional season of gift-giving, may we carry into the New Year the belief that, together, we have everything we need.
---Sara Davis, Stewardship Committee



DAYTIME BOOK CLUB
The next gathering of this well-read group will take place on Wednesday, January 17th, 10:30 AM in the Library, and they'll discuss News of the World by Paulette Jiles. All are welcome to join them. Choices for future meetings are:

February 21st
Road to Jonestown , by Jeff Guinn
March 21st
                                                       The Kite Runner , by Khaled Hosseini
 
 
 
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, January 11th, 11:30 AM, at MCL Cafeteria, in Kettering. Please RSVP to Allie Petersen at:

 
 
 
FROM THE ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE
Do I need a will?
  When a person needs a will, it's too late to make one. For one reason or another, the majority of Americans die without wills. When a person dies without a will, a tax collector is perhaps the only one to benefit. In some cases, federal estate taxes and state death taxes can erode an estate considerably.
 
Do I really need a will if my estate is small?   Yes, the smaller the estate, the more important that it be settled quickly; delays usually mean more expense.
 
Does everyone have an "estate"?   Yes, if they own anything at all. The term applies not just to real estate but to cash, cars, furniture, books...any property at all.
 
Aren't charitable bequests made mainly by people who have no close relatives, or whose estates are so large there is plenty left over for charities?   No, even modest estates today are larger than the average estates of past generations, and people are finding it more and more convenient to make charitable bequests.
 
How do people usually make charitable bequests?   Many simply designate a percentage of the estate to go to one or more charitable organizations. Others name specific property, a specific dollar amount, or the remainder of the estate after other heirs are taken care of.
 
The Trustees encourage our members to include the Fellowship in their wills!
 

   
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 January 13th 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 December meal!  We served 62,  53 in the women's group at 11:00 AM and only 9 in the family group at noon because of a special holiday event at another location for families, but we heard there were more than 100 children in residence!
 
January 13th  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 AM. Thanks to the many who have already signed up for January!
 

 
AND SPEAKING OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL...
Thank you to everyone who donated items or money for the Social Action Giving Tree to  benefit Dayton's St. Vincent's shelter.  Our Giving Tree targeted St. Vincent's highest priority needs and on December 26, Steve Steel delivered 38 packages of children's underwear, 24 packages of socks, 3 packages of T-shirts, 7 blankets, 2 winter hats and 14 stuffed animals! Most of those packages contained several items each! Thank you for helping to make the holidays a little merrier for the many children in temporary housing at  St. Vincent's.
 

 
      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  January 7th ) !
  Coffee will be ready to be picked up on or after the third Sunday of the month (this month, January  21st ) . 

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!