The Newsletter, March 2018   
           

Joy

This month in worship and religious education 
we explore the spiritual dimensions of joy  
  

Service Auction 
Coming Soon 

Our annual service auction will take place on the evening of Saturday April 14 at 5 PM. This will be a night of fun and excitement for the whole family with the theme "Country Bash." The main events will be the exciting live, silent, and theme basket auctions, and the kids' raffle auction. Also, there will be fun activity booths, great food, wine, and lots of decorations to go along with the Country Bash theme. In addition, there will be door prizes for both adults and kids throughout the evening. Both admission and food will be free plus childcare will be provided.
 
It's Time to Get Your Donations Turned In. The Service Auction Planning Team (also known as your "Service Auction Magic Makers") requests your donation forms by Mon. March 5, and we REALLY need more donations. It is the goods and services you all offer and then provide that make this annual fund-raiser a success. Dinners are always a favorite. People also enjoy game nights, help with housework or gardening, getting music or art lessons.... You name it, someone would appreciate help with it. In addition, you might consider donating a quilt, artwork, food, or a theme basket. Whatever your interest or skill, it can become a donation for the Service Auction, and it would be so very much appreciated!
 
The service auction is our primary fund-raiser at NUUC. This year we hope to raise $9,500. Buying something at the service auction is a great way to support NUUC and still get something in return. In addition, the service auction is not only fun for one evening, but also provides opportunities for year-round community and comradery as people gather for dinners and do services for each other. So, please attend, and consider donating items for the auctions. If you cannot attend, we can arrange for a proxy bidder to bid for you, who would follow your bid limits / instructions.
 
To submit your donation, you can use either the online All-In-One Donation/Volunteer Form found at www.nuuc.org/service-auction/ or the paper donation form available in Fellowship Hall. Also, at this weblink, you can see previous years' catalogs, FAQ, and other service auction info.
 
For questions about your donation, contact Chris Aultman ( chris.aultman@gmail.com or 614-365-0944), who is working on the service auction catalog. Or, you can talk to one of the Service Auction Magic Makers, who are Jan Bourke, Dee Burlison, Lynn Foreman, Marty Keith, Azin Sharifi, Trina Timson, and Bob Keith (chair).
 
With your help, let's make this the best service auction ever. Get ready for our "Country Bash!"



Adult Enrichment News
 
 Dick Leavy's discussion class, "A Spiritual Exploration," held in the evening on February 14, 21, and 28, was well attended.

Moving on toward spring, NUUC offers continuing and new opportunities for adult enrichment.  Stephanie Henderson teaches yoga usually every Sunday at 5:00 pm in Fellowship Hall.  Also, "Brown Bag Books" meets on the third Tuesday of each month, when participants share thoughts about the book chosen for the session.  And, entering its fourth year, the "Second-Monday Covenant Group" starts at 10:00 and ends at noon.  Members take turns leading the discussion of a topic decided upon at the previous meeting.  Please feel free to attend any of these activities.

People who like to write and share their poems, journals, and other prose come to Mindful Writing, facilitated by Marty Keith, on the third Wednesday of the month.  The next meeting will be March 21 at 6:30 in Fellowship Hall.  Subject matter will be...whatever you like!  Some of us are working on themed poetry or vignette projects.  Everyone is welcome!  A few new people have expressed an interest.

NUUC's Women's Group convenes on third Mondays (6:30, Fellowship Hall).  We recently have finished discussing Yaa Gyasi's novel, Homegoing.  The next book to examine is The Power, by Naomi Alderman.  But to give us time to read this scifi novel, on March 19 we will consider "Not me, not now-What expectations will we say "no" to, and what would we rather be doing?  Marty Keith is also the contact person for this group.  Anyone identifying as a woman is welcome.  Now and then, some of us go out to lunch after the service on fourth Sundays.

Finally, another round of spring "Eat and Meet" dinners is in the planning stages!  Marty will post a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to see who might be interested.  Established and newer members (and NUUC friends) will gather for pot-luck suppers at a host's home.  Hopefully one dinner can be planned for late March, and possibly two in April...and May...and early June(?)  Marty will help with the organization of each get-together.  These dinners are fun ways to get to know each other.

Annual Congregational Meeting Called for after Worship March 11

Your Board of Trustees has called a meeting for after worship on March 11.  We will elect new members of the Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee, receive the annual report, and hear and update on our building project from the Steering Committee.   Babysitting hours are extended until 12:30 PM.  



...from your Steering Committee

As we move forward in our journey to a building that helps us live our mission, the Steering Committee wants to update the congregation on the progress we've made through February.

*After a flurry of activity at the beginning of the year and a buildup of excitement for moving ahead, the steady forward movement has begun in hearing what the congregation envisions for NUUC's future facilities.

*On February 4 Allison Fagan and Rod Myers from the Steering Committee held a question and answer session after service. This session included a history of how we got to where we are now. It was well attended and a good discussion followed.

*End of January to mid February Dave Kerr, our architect, held conversations with Worship, RE, Music, Administration, and other key groups which enabled vocalization of their needs/wants/dreams. In addition, with all voices needed for such important work, the opportunity was made for all members to provide their vision of what is needed to continue the work of NUUC via a Survey Monkey online.

* By March 4, the congregation will receive an email with Dave Kerr's summary on what he has heard from us on our needs and desires for NUUC.

*On March 11, Dave Kerr will attend the Congregational Meeting. One item on the agenda will be a "Check for Understanding" discussion for all congregants to ask questions.

* A new website is being developed where it will be easy to follow the journey and steps toward our collective vision of new facilities. Timelines, the Next Step Weekend report from Barry Finkelstein (our Feasibility Study consultant), and our Mission Statement are just a few of the items to be included on the website. Watch for announcements as soon as it is up and running.

*As always please contact the Steering Committee at steering@nuuc.org with any questions, ideas or concerns.

Until next time....

Teri Cornell
Member of the Steering Committee and Communications Team
 
Social Justice News
 
MARCH LOOSE CHANGE:
Our Loose Change Offering on March 11, 2018 will be donated to the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America which "was created to demand action from legislators, state and federal; companies; and educational institutions to establish common-sense gun reforms. Moms Demand Action was founded by stay-at-home mom Shannon Watts on December 15, 2012, in response to the devastating shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The organization quickly flourished into a leading force for gun violence prevention, with chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network of moms that has successfully effected change at the local, state and national level. In December 2013, Moms Demand Action partnered with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to unite a nationwide movement of millions of Americans working together to change the game and end the epidemic of gun violence that affects every community.   Moms Demand Action supports the 2nd Amendment, but we believe common-sense solutions can help decrease the escalating epidemic of gun violence that kills too many of our children and loved ones every day.
 
Every day, 96 Americans are killed with guns. Your generous donation helps us work to prevent gun violence and save lives by:
 
  • Pressuring lawmakers to improve our gun laws
  • Raising awareness about gun violence
  • Educating the public about common-sense gun laws and responsible gun ownership
  • Mobilizing grassroots supporters
  • Connecting and amplifying the voices of survivors of gun violence"
 
UU JUSTICE OHIO: Be Part of the Ohio Campaign to Fight Addiction and Reduce Incarceration. This month we have an opportunity to join in the effort to place The Neighborhood Safety, Drug Treatment, and Rehabilitation Amendment on the November 2018 Ballot in Ohio.  All of us -- UUJO and our Ohio UU Congregations -- are invited to work together with other partner organizations across the state to free people from addiction and reduce incarceration. This transformational criminal justice reform will help restore communities and strengthen families. It will reinvest resources to move people out of the prison system into drug treatment, mental health services, and education opportunities. If you are interested in learning more about the ballot initiative and how you can help, you can attend a breakfast coordinated by The People's Justice Project (PJP). RSVP to join us on Monday March 12th for a clergy and faith leader breakfast at St. Philips Episcopal Church 166 Woodland Ave from 9:00am to 10:30am. PJP is participating in a statewide weekend of action on March 18th and needs help collecting signatures. See the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall for more information.

EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP AT COLUMBUS SCHOOLS GLOBAL ACADEMY ON SUNDAY, APRIL 22ND from 12:30-4:30. The Interfaith Association of Central Ohio (IACO), Peace Builders and the Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) are co-sponsoring this event. A Community Celebration with food and music will follow from 5:00-7:00. The Columbus Global Academy is located at 4077 Karl Road, Columbus, OH 43224. It is a program for students in grades 6-12, designed to meet the needs of students from around the world who have recently arrived in the United States, many of whom have little or no literacy skills in English or in their native language. There are approximately 600 students in the school. Countries represented at Columbus Global Academy include: Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Turkey, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen. The school (and area around the school) is somewhat run down and can use help in making it a more inviting/attractive place for these young people.  With planning, there are short-term projects both inside and outside the school that can be carried out by volunteers and the students. If you would like to volunteer, please email office@iaco.org by April 18th and indicate which hours you are available to volunteer. More information is posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. This is a great opportunity to welcome our neighbors, serve our community, and enjoy a meal with people from around the world. You are encouraged to bring your teenage kids or grandkids and don't forget to bring a potluck dish to share.
 
IACO (Interfaith Action Coalition Ohio) SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE wishes to bring together individuals and congregations from the larger faith communities to support Social Justice Advocacy programs contributing to the well-being of the underserved and at-risk in Central Ohio. Are you interested in becoming a Congregational Representative (CR) to IACO's Social Justice Committee?  As a CR, you would learn about committee projects and have the opportunity to pass that information on to your community for possible action. Some of the committee's current projects include: One ID Columbus Program; Ohio Coalition for Common Sense gun control; Interfaith March for Peace and Justice; serving meals at the Van Buren Homeless Shelter; and Care and Share Time Bank. Other projects being considered for the future include advocacy for the homeless, the environment, and voter rights. If you are interested in learning more about being a congregational representative to the IACO Social Justice Committee, contact Pam Patsch at pgp723@aol.com. See the bulletin board for more information.
 
IACO participation in serving meals at the Van Buren Homeless Shelter has been postponed and will start in May. More information will be posted in the May newsletter.
 
SAVE THE DATE: THE INTERFAITH MARCH FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE - Sunday, April 29, 2018. More information to come.
 
TURKISH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF OHIO (TASO)would like to invite you to their upcoming Turkish Food Festival! The Food Festival will take place on Sunday, March 4, 2018, from 11:00am-4:00pm at TASO (2885 W Dublin Granville Rd. Columbus OH 43235). There will be a buffet, a variety of pastries and desserts, and of course Turkish tea and coffee! Enjoy the wonderful food AND support our Muslim community. See the bulletin board for more information.
 
UUSC FAIR TRADE COFFEE: Shop for delicious Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate after the service on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Your purchase of Fair Trade products means that workers along the supply chain are provided a living wage. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) supports a number of worker-owned, local producers who are in danger of being replaced with multinational corporations that have little respect for workers' rights. Making consumer choices that are aligned with our UU Principles is one way to help create a more just world community.