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Newsletter - September 25, 2015
Welcome to the Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship!
Table of Contents
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7 UU Principles
Calendar
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 older children will be focusing on the following topics during September:

September 27: Wildlife and Plant life (or) what you can eat and what eats you.

The nursery group will be focusing on the following topics:
 
September 27 : Something to do with families

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

Contact: Wes Phillips and Sarah Brown
Harvest the Power
Saturdays, October 10 - 31, 9 AM - 12 PM (NOON)
Although we are always developing leaders, October is Amarillo Unitarian Universalist's month of intentional leadership development. We do this by employing the Association of Congregations' Tapestry of Faith's program for leadership,   Harvest the Power. This program was created not only for those who have accepted a leadership role in our congregation, but to provide intentional faith development that can be modeled in our congregation. We also encourage participation by those who are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and might want in the future to take a leadership role. All adults are welcome to participate. Teens should inquire.
 
It is not necessary to have attended last year's training to attend this year. We invite you to attend all four Saturdays and have scheduled the sessions so you can come in the morning - 9 a.m. to noon - and have the rest of the day for your usual Saturday activities. However, we do not require that you attend all four sessions.
 
The four sessions for this year are focused on purpose -- or what ends we serve:
 
Oct. 10 - Fated to Be Free: We are a free faith. Looks at freedom, responsibility, and choices. Led by David Green, Kristi Fuller, and Nina Stein.
 
Oct. 17 - Caring for Ourselves and Each Other. Looking at our own spiritual well-being. How do we model spiritual and emotional well-being? Meeting needs so we can participate with a full heart. Led by Jerry Goebel, Karen Logan, and Donna Moseley.
 
Oct. 24 - Integrity. Learning to live in a chronically anxious society with imagination and creativity rather than reactivity. Being spiritually and personally grounded. Healthy coping strategies to connect more fully with ourselves and each other. Led by Sharon Brewer, Keralee Clay, and David Green.
 
Oct. 31 - Imagination and Creativity. Inclusivity brings in more voices. More voices bring more ideas and greater creativity. Learning to listen. Asking the right questions. Mattering and marginality. Led by Larry Campbell, Bruce Fielder, and Mary Kay Wells.
 
Leadership development committee is Larry Campbell, Nina Stein, and Donna Moseley. Please contact us with your questions.
 
Contact:  Nina Stein at  ninas@suddenlink.net 
or (806)674 - 6598

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

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
September 27, 2015
Guest  Adair Buckner, Attorney at Law, speaks on  Essentials of Estate Planning.

October 4, 2015
David Green and the AUUF President lead a special  New Member Celebration Ceremony, welcoming all who have joined the Fellowship since the previous New Member ceremony.  On this special day, only one worship service is held, at 11 AM, in order for the whole Fellowship to join in welcoming the newest members of our beloved community!
October 11, 2015
David Green speaks on The Iowa Sisterhood, discussing the lives of trailblazing Unitarian ministers Eleanor Elizabeth Gordon and Mary Augusta Safford, who established UU congregations in the middle west during the late 19th century.
Upcoming Events:
Adult Religious Education

Please join us at 10 AM each Sunday this month for a lively discussion of these topics.
 
Sunday, Sept. 27: This week we are watching and discussing Bart Ehrman's fourth lecture of The New Testament ( the real story). The subject will be "The earliest traditions about Jesus." Please join us.

Contact: John Gay
Nothing Much Buddhist Covenant Group
Monday, September 28 - 7:30 PM
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. Hanh has published over 100 titles on meditation, mindfulness and Engaged Buddhism, as well as poems, children's stories, and commentaries on ancient Buddhist texts. More information about the Zen Master and the Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Centers is available here . The Nothing Much Buddhist Covenant Group has elected to read and discuss Thich Nhat Hanh's latest release, No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering. Pick up a copy and join our meditation on 2nd and 4th Mondays every month.

We will discuss Chapter 5: "Five Practices for Nurturing Happiness" on September 28.

Contact: Rick Todd
Schedule for Autumn Circle Dinners

What is a "Circle Dinner?" It's a small gathering at someone's home where we have an opportunity to get to know each other in a different setting by spending an evening together - eating, drinking, talking, enjoying. Sign-up sheets available at the Fellowship. Additional information is available
here.

Scheduled Dates & Hosts:
  • Saturday, October 3: Minnie Venable/April Myers
  • Saturday, October 10: Eileen Murphy & James Doores
  • Friday, October 16: Pam & Steve Mayes
  • Saturday, October 24: Lee Shuwarger 
Contact: Janda Raker at Ljraker@suddenlink.net or call (806)352-0589
Women's Covenant Group
Monday, October 5, 6 - 7:30 PM
The Women's Covenant Group studies and discusses feminine spiritual and social topics. We are studying a UU adult RE curriculum, Cakes for the Queen of Heaven, a woman-honoring curriculum by Rev. Shirley Ranck. Topic this week: Future Fantasies
Contact: Keralee Clay
UUA Southern Fall Conference - Glen Rose, Texas
Fall Conference is scheduled for November 13 through 15 at Glen Lake Camp and Conference Center near Glen Rose, Texas. The theme for this conference is "Into the FUUture!" Let's all register before October 26 (for discount) to boldly go where no UU congregation has gone before to gain tools and resources for charging ahead into the coming year, the next 10 years, or the next 10 decades. There are five tracks each designed to help leaders effect real cultural change toward growing a vital, healthy, effective UU community that helps its members achieve our vision of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. Click here  for more information. Contact Nina Stein to coordinate transportation and off site room sharing.
Thirty Days of Love
From Nora Rasman, Standing on the Side of Love Campaign Director---

As we kick off a new congregational year, we are so excited to announce that  Thirty Days of Love, this time dedicated to intersectional racial justice, will be back in 2016! Thirty Days is an exciting opportunity to support the emerging and ongoing racial justice organizing happening in Unitarian Universalist congregations across the country, in the tradition of organizing for civil and human rights and in support of the growing Movement for Black Lives.

After a brief hiatus this year to allow room for the newly launched Climate Justice Month, Thirty Days returns Saturday, January 16 and continuing through Sunday, February 14, 2016.  

As in previous years, each week will have a focus; in 2016, we'll be centering on racial justice as it intersects with other core justice priorities of the UUA, such as immigration justice and LGBTQ equity. We will feature multi-generational and family resources as in years' past, and will offer congregational resources for each week.

Back in 2012, the team at Standing on the Side of Love realized there were exactly 30 days between Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Valentine's Day. We had already been re-imagining Valentine's Day as a social justice holiday for a few years, so we thought we'd get creative and make something meaningful happen in between these two powerful holidays. From that Thirty Days of Love was created!

In subsequent years, it hasn't been an exact 30 days between these two holidays, but the dates still provide an important anchor to the start and close of our initiative.

So, what are the goals for Thirty Days of Love? Why is it important and why should we participate?

Thirty Days of Love brings tools for individuals and congregations to engage in listening campaigns, expanded partnership and collaboration, theological reflection, collective sharing, political education, and support for direct action.  We offer tangible resources for you celebrate the words and deeds of unsung heroes and to continue the effort to promote equality, acceptance, diversity, and inclusion.

Thirty Days of Love has been a phenomenal experience for lots of folks and we consider this year no different. We want you to join us in 2016! This year, we'll send one weekly email on a specific justice issue as it relates to racial justice, and offer you resources for reflection, education and action. There will also be a daily message or action shared via social media so follow along on Facebook and Twitter to see those messages.

In years past, we have heard the powerful voices of justice leaders both within Unitarian Universalism as well from many of our partner organizations who are on the frontlines of organizing for racial justice. We expect this year to be no different. Take your involvement to the next level by signing up to participate in Share the Love Sunday , giving a Courageous Love Award , and collaborating and organizing with local Black Lives Matter organizations to take action for racial justice in your own community.
In the Community

Jeff Sims-- "More than Meets the Eye"
Friday, September 25 - 7 PM
Artist Jeff Sims presents his art at the Process Art House, 700 S. Van Buren, in an opening-night gallery exhibition entitled "More than Meets the Eye."  The painting pictured here is Descent. The exhibit will continue to show through October 20.
 

WTAMU Homecoming and PPHM Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, September 26
WTAMU Homecoming parade is following a different route this year down 26th Ave. between 4th Ave. and Russell Long Blvd., starting at 10 AM. The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is offering cut-rate entrances at only $5 each and museum-wide scavenger hunts from 11 AM to 3 PM. Additional information is here or call 806-651-2258 (Elaina Cunningham).
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!

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

 

 

 

 uuamarillo.org