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 Miami Valley
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
8690 Yankee St. Dayton, OH 45458 937-436-3628 www.mvuuf.org |
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| MVUUF's Forum October, 2017 |
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visit our website
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visit the UUA's website
HERE
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Service Topics for October, 2017
Sunday, October 1st
Loss, Promise and Danger: An Interim Report
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn
Sunday, October 8th
Colors
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn
This sermon will offer reflections on some of the spiritual meanings of colors.
Sunday, October 15th
United Nations Sunday
More information regarding this service will be coming soon!
Sunday, October 22nd
Let's Break Down The Culture of White Supremacy
The Anti-Racism Team
The Anti-Racism Team presents stories of white supremacy in our community and what we can do about it.
Sunday, October 29th
All Hallows
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn
The sermon this morning will offer meditations on Halloween, All Saints Day, and the Festival of All Souls.
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October News
IN THE INTERIM
The veil thins, they say,
with each wave of receding light,
encroaching night.
Or is it we
who drift toward other worlds,
with seasonal bodies
slightly askew?
There is much to praise
in these thinning, drifting days:
the pleasing snap of autumn
repeating its theme
in all the usual places;
grasping a sack of apples,
the wholesome love of sheets and blankets
the return of walking, freed
from the burden of air,
of stews whose fragrance
fills the house
the renewal of thinking,
of words.
Things come alive-pumpkin eyes!
as the year winds down
and the spirits blow in for a visit.
Or is it we
who see differently
in the receding light,
what lingers
slightly askew of our vision,
we, who are drenched in memory
by the encroaching night?
Whichever way, I say, let the magic work.
WE ARE IN SEARCH...WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER
You probably know that our congregation is in search of a new settled minister, sometimes just called being "in search." Are you curious about the process or the timeline? Yes, the search involves following procedures and check lists and schedules, but there are also questions to reflect on about who we are as a congregation, and where we are headed. The search is a long and busy time for our congregation: there's data to collect and compile, meetings (and more meetings!) to hold, questions to ask and our future to contemplate.
The search process began when our Board worked with the UUA Transitions Office earlier this year. Then MVUUF members were asked confidentially whom they would trust with the responsibility of running the search process. At our June Congregational Meeting, we voted on a search committee based on the names suggested.
 So who makes up the Ministerial Search Committee (in case you've forgotten or hadn't heard yet)? There are seven of us: Laura Vondenhuevel (Chair), Rachel Feltner (Search Website Coordinator), Trudy Krisher (Treasurer), Cathering "CQ" Queener (Survey Coordinator), Eileen Simon (Secretary), Lathe Snyder (Arranger and Negotiation Team member), and Larry Stone (Reference Checker). We are honored to be trusted with this awesome responsibility, excited to help MVUUF continue on its journey, and determined to serve our congregation as best we can.
You may be wondering what's been happening with the search since our election in June. Our first official task was to hold a retreat, which we did in early September. It was a great way to learn about the work ahead of us (and there is so much!), get to know each other better and have some fun, too! We added some time at the end of the retreat to hold our first official meeting, where we created our covenant and decision-making process along with other official business. Since then, we've held weekly meetings and we've gotten right down to business. Currently, we're planning how to gather data, ideas, and words of wisdom from Members and Friends (and kids, too!). We're also reviewing MVUUF's search website, which is one of the most important ways for potential ministers to learn about our congregation, who we are, and what we do.
Speaking of events, we need your participation and input this month at Cottage Meetings! This is your opportunity to talk about your hopes and ideas for the Fellowship with other Members and Friends. Cottage Meetings are how the search committee gathers critical, subjective information that helps us show potential ministers who we are as a community, what we are like and what we do.
Can you help us create a detailed picture of our beloved community? We have three Cottage Meetings scheduled in October and we hope you will be able to attend one or more (child care will be available during the Sunday meeting). Read the weekly Friday E-Blast and our bulletin board in the Gathering Space (between the Office windows and the pamphlet rack) for more information.
Sunday, October 8th, 12:30-2:30 PM
Thursday, October 12th, 6:30-8:30 PM
Saturday, October 14th, 9:00-11:00 AM
We'll also have two Cottage Meetings for MVUUF's children and youth. Our young people have great ideas and hopes for their spiritual home and for a new minister so we want their voices to be heard!
---Eileen Simon, Secretary, Ministerial Search Committee
ANNUAL BABY SHOWER AT WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER
 Thanks to all for your generous support of the baby shower. After our latest inventory we have essentially met our goal of filling 12 gift baskets for the new moms. We are short a few rattles, towels, mom's gift sets and medium size stuffed animals, but we have received enough monetary donations to purchase those items. If you were waiting until the final Sunday to bring an item please still bring it. The Wesley Center will make use of any extra items we collect.
---Steve Steel
YRE BABY BOOK DRIVE FOR
THE WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER
Our West Dayton Action Group has requested  the help of our YRE kids in selecting and donating special picture books to be given to new mommies at their Baby Shower on Saturday, October 14th, at the Wesley Community Center! Books should be in new condition and, if they depict people, they should feature people of color. To help kids develop a healthy sense of self, it is very important for them to see themselves positively reflected in the books that they read.
Need ideas? We have put together a Wish List on Amazon.com: http://a.co/i108ejN
Of course, you can purchase books from the store of your choice. If you do shop on Amazon.com, please make sure to use AmazonSmile and designate "Miami Valley Unitarian Fellowship" as your charity.
Please deposit the books in a specially-marked box in the Gathering Space...the final day of the book drive will be Sunday, October 8th.
 FIRST FRIDAY MOVIE NIGHT RETURNS!
The Anti Racism Team is reviving First Friday Movie Night with the film
Moonlight
to be shown on Friday, October 6th at 7:00 PM, at the Fellowship. Snacks will be provided and there will be a discussion afterward. We hope to see many of you there! Please click HERE for a review of Moonlight from the New York Times.
SEPTEMBER UNSUNG HERO RECOGNITION
Kathleen Pennington is the MVUUF Program
 Council's choice for our September Unsung Hero recognition. Kathleen has volunteered for years in various capacities in YRE, helps keep ART organized, serves on the Aesthetics Committee, and has helped with interior painting and improvements. She also faithfully shows up when help is needed setting up events like the Service Auction or cleaning up after any number of MVUUF activities.
Please, congratulate Kathleen and thank her when you see her!
 SANCTUARY IN OHIO: FROM THE UUJO
Coming up on Wednesday, October 4th, 7-8:30 PM...the UU Justice Ohio Network (UUJO) invites you to listen in by phone or join the conversation online to learn from other UUs and Cincinnati's AMOS Project about sanctuary and other ways to support immigrants in Ohio.
To call in:
dial 1-646-558-8656 (US Toll) or 1-646-876-9923 (US Toll) with the meeting ID
390 983 1611
To join online:
go to
https://zoom.us/j/3909831611
(log on early if you have not already downloaded Zoom).
You can find more details HERE
TRANSGENDER 101
Adult Religious Education is happy to have Antonia Harter bring an updated version of her Transgender 101 workshop to the Fellowship on Sunday, October 15th, from 12:30--2:00 PM, in the Sanctuary. This will be in recognition of "Coming Out Week"!
 Antonia
has been living as a Transgender woman most of her adult life. She has
been a member of a Transgender support group for over 17 years, been an elected board member of
this group for several years, with responsibility for outreach and education, and facilitated an adult peer support group for Transgender adults. She has also presented to faculty, staff and students for colleges and universities; Fortune 500 companies; church groups; adult probation officers and at education counselors conference.
This presentation will offer an overview to many areas of being Transgender and how society relates to Transgender persons. Members of the congregation are encouraged to attend this workshop so that we all learn how to respect and better support Transgender persons.
Snacks and beverages will be served. Please sign up in the Gathering Space.
DAYTIME BOOK CLUB
The next gathering of this well-read group
will  take place on Wednesday, October 18th, 10:30 AM in the Library, and they'll discuss
Anything Is Possible
by Elizabeth Strout. And in case you'd like to be ready for the November 15th gathering, the book to read is
Dark Money
, by Jane Mayer. Choices for future meetings are:
12/20th ---
A Man Called Ove
, by Fredrik Backman
01/17th ---
News of the World
, by Paulette Jiles
02/21st ---
Road to Jonestown
, by Jeff Guinn
03/21st ---
The Kite Runner
, by Khaled Hosseini
All are invited to join them!
ANNUAL THANKSGIVING MEAL
Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, November 18th, as that
is the date of our annual Thanksgiving Fellowship Dinner!
I will have an online sign-up sheet available through SignUpGenius
soon; more details will be headed your way by the end of this month!
---Dawn Bellinger, Activities Representative to the Program Council
 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, October 12th, 11:30 AM, at MCL Cafeteria, in Kettering. Please RSVP to Allie Petersen at:
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. This month we switch our fall/winter chili menu. You can sign-up for the October 14th lunch for food donations and/or serving on the clipboard in the Gathering Space, or you can contact Lynn Buffington at
[email protected]
or by calling or texting
(937) 657-0426
. 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 September meal! We served 75, 48 in the women's group at 11:00 AM and 27 in the family group at noon.
October 14th 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.
BOOK FAIR FOUNDATION ANNUAL SALE
 Thanks to the many of you who have generously donated to the Book Fair Foundation by placing unwanted books in the collection box (located under the MVUUF mailboxes in the hallway). The next Book Fair Sale is scheduled for November 10-13 at the Montgomery County Fairground's Coliseum. Recipients of the funds from this year's sale are: The Artemis Center, Dayton Public Radio, and the Cesar's Ford Theater. Please continue to drop your unwanted books into the collection box under the mailboxes, to help support these worthy groups!
Remember to place your order for Fair Trade coffee on the first Sunday of the month (this month it's on
October 1st
)
!
Coffee will be ready to be picked up on or after the third Sunday of the month (this month,
October 21st
)
.
There are many varieties and bean grinds to choose from, including several that are organic!
Contact
Lynn Buffington
at:
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! |
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