Chalice                    Miami Valley 
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

8690 Yankee St.  Dayton, OH  45458

 

 

    937-436-3628  www.mvuuf.org 

 

MVUUF's Forum for June, 2018

  visit our website  HERE          visit the UUA's website    HERE

 
Service Topics for June, 2018

Sunday, June 3rd     11:00 AM 
Worship Service with
Kellie C. Kelly
This will be Kellie's second Worship Service with us during Candidating Week. Make sure to stay after the service to see if she will be called as our next Settled Minister! 

 
Sunday, June 10th     11:00 AM
Come, Come, Whoever You Are
The Rev. Dr. Holly Horn 
The sermon this Sunday will offer meditations on the practice of pilgrimage. This service will be Rev. Holly's last one with MVUUF, and we invite you to stay after the service for a gathering to wish her well on her next journey, before our annual June Congregational Meeting. 


Sunday, June 17th     11:00 AM
Rise, A Celebration of Juneteenth:  
Having Strength in the Face of Adversity
MVUUF's Anti-Racism Team
 

Sunday, June 24th     10:00 AM
Sunday Morning Service from General Assembly
(live-streamed from Kansas City)
Can't make it to Kansas City for General Assembly? We will be 
live-streaming the Sunday morning service and showing it on 
the large screen in our Sanctuary. NOTE SPECIAL TIME: It begins 
at 10:00 AM and should run until 11:30 AM. RE will follow its 
regular schedule. The service will be followed by a brief time 
together, including a time for Joys & Sorrows.
June News

              IN THE INTERIM
Pr ayer
Sunday, May 20th, 2018
 
O Thou, Nameless One, Known to us by Many Names:
God, Goddess, Spirit of Life, 
Holy Wisdom, Infinite,  the Real, 
we celebrate your presence within us, among us,
and beyond us.
 
Your presence: in the eager anticipation of new leadership,
all eyes on the future - the breathless beginning
of a fresh episode, the next chapter in a history
of ministry.
 
Relief: the match is made, soon -
fingers crossed - the deal sealed;
these intervening weeks
to carry on, to carry out
the last tasks of this liminal
ministry.
 
To say good-bye: to me, your short-timer,
as this wisp of a year disappears
behind us - thin air;
 
To ask, were there lessons
learned here, this year? Did we
grow in some way
we can say? Did the inevitable
waves of change leave small
pebbles of knowledge
on the sand? Have we gathered
them up in our hands? Given
them names? A resting place?

To say good-bye: not only to me,
and to all the ambiguities,
but to let go, at some deeper register,
of the past, Greg Martin -
not your love for him, no, not
your respect or gratitude, no, not
your many memories, no not
perhaps even your anger, no not
these - but the man as your minister
 
and all the others, too
who have served here and moved on.
 
To make a space:
a clean and clear and uncluttered area
in the heart,
a pocket of emptiness and light,
 
To make a space: an open field in the imagination,
where all pastoral tropes dissolve in silence
 
To make an interior space: a chamber of welcome.
 
May it be so. AMEN.
   
 
Wishing you all the very best MVUUF!
 
Holly
   



A MINUTE FOR MUSIC
I want to thank everyone who filled out a survey, and also my thanks to those who participated in a conversation on Sunday, May 20th about music here at MVUUF. It was a wide-ranging, thoughtful discussion that helped clarify how I can best focus my energies as your Director of Music. Some general points of consensus: there is a desire to include more kinds of music in worship, having a song leader and using the projection screen instead of hymnals might inspire more energetic singing, and all the music in worship service should relate to and enhance the morning's message.
 
Outside of Sunday mornings, there is an upcoming opportunity for social music-making. On Saturday, June 23rd, from 5-7:00 PM here at the Fellowship, Lynell Graham and Lynette Gandl invite folks to bring 4 or 5 of their favorite songs along with their voices and acoustic instruments. Contact our Activities Rep., Adrienne Clark for more info. And I'd love to have lots of singers and instrumentalists participate in an upcoming Music Sunday worship service on July 1st. Please email me ( [email protected] ) if you'd like to be involved!
---Sara Davis, Director of Music
   

 
FROM OUR  DIRECTOR  OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, PHILLIP GREEN
It may be summertime, but that doesn't mean that our Religious Education programs are enjoying any time off; on the contrary, we have lots of exciting activities planned, and you can sign up for ALL of them through SignUpGenius. Take a look:


Click HERE to sign up for 1st-8th Grade Inter-Age Summer Labyrinth Workshop

Click HERE to sign up for 1st-8th Grade Inter-Age Summer Wetlands Workshop

Click HERE to sign up for 1st-8th Grade Inter-Age Summer Trees Workshop

Click HERE  to sign up for Preschool and Kindergarten Summer Classes

Click HERE  to sign up for Summer Words For All Ages

It's going to be a great summer for children at MVUUF!
--Phillip Green, MVUUF Director of Religious Education
 


NEWS FROM THE MSC
Time to Meet Our Candidate 
and Cast Your Vote
Have you met Kellie C. Kelly, our ministerial candidate? If not, there's still time before we vote on Sunday, June 3rd! And if you have met her, come along and say hello again!
 
On Friday, June 1st, from 6-9:00 PM, join Kellie and her son Matt at MVUUF for an Octicorn Pizza Party and Game Night. We'll have a variety of pizzas, salad, fruit and sweet treats for all. Bring your favorite family-friendly card or board game and your appetite! Are you a fan of Magic: the Gathering ? So is Matt, 
and he's hoping to meet some MVUUF players.  Please sign up HERE 
 
Saturday, June 2nd is the Dayton Pride Parade and Festival. Line up with Kellie and Matt at 11:00 AM at Cooper Park (at the corner of 2nd St. and St. Clair St. in downtown Dayton) for the parade, then visit the festival at     Courthouse Square (23 N. Main St.) starting at noon.
 
Sunday, June 3rd is Kellie's second service at MVUUF. Please stay for our Congregational Meeting at 12:30 PM, where ALL Voting Members will vote to call Kellie as our next settled minister. We're hoping for a good turnout, so please plan to attend!
 
Can't make the meeting? You can still cast your vote with an absentee ballot (if you are a Voting Member at MVUUF). These were emailed and USPS mailed to voting members on Tuesday, May 22nd; you can contact Jennie Freiberger if you still need one (but act fast - ballots are due at noon on Friday, June 1st). Remember: you only need to print and fill out a ballot if you will NOT attend the meeting to vote.
 
Please note that to be counted, absentee ballots must be turned in to the Office Administrator, Jennie Freiberger, by noon on Friday, June 1st. Please place your absentee ballot in a sealed envelope, and write the words "Absentee Ballot Submitted for the Congregational Meeting on June 3" on the outside.
 
The Ministerial Search Committee would like to thank everyone at MVUUF for their support and enthusiasm during the search process - what an awesome and dedicated congregation! You have shown that we really are all in this together, and we hope to see all of you on Sunday!
---Eileen Simon, MSC member



PROGRAM COUNCIL'S UNSUNG HEROE THIS MONTH
The Program Council is pleased to honor Sarah Withrow for our monthly Unsung Hero recognition. Most recently, Sarah stepped up to lead MVUUF's participation in the Dayton Pride Festival and parade, but we likely do not know all the ways that Sarah makes MVUUF hum along smoothly, because her efforts are so often behind the scenes.
 
Sarah is one of those who pays attention to cleanliness at MVUUF; she often pitches in with kitchen cleaning (she is one of the "kitchen witches") and she organized special cleaning to prepare the Fellowship building for Candidating Week. She is a regular and valued member of CUUPs. She often quietly offers to help, whether it's to bring food for a youth event or to help organize the library. Mr. Rogers famously said "always look for the helpers," and if you do that at MVUUF, there is a good chance you will be looking at Sarah.



                            JUNE ACTIVITIES!
Friday, June 8th, 7-9:00 PM, Sanctuary at MVUUF
Chalice Night : Showing of the movie Black Panther
Please bring a snack or beverage to share.
 
Saturday, June 23rd, 5-7:00 PM, Founders' Room at MVUUF
Jam Session and Sing Along
Bring an instrument and/or some favorite songs to share. The atmosphere will be casual, and all acoustic music, including beginners, are welcome.
 
Sunday, June 24th, 12:30-2:00 PM
Sunday Potluck Meal
Bring a dish to share. Activities for all ages, weather permitting.
 
As always, if you have questions or need more information, please contact our Activities Rep., Adrienne Clark, at [email protected].
 
 
  
IMMIGRATION EDUCATIONAL SERIES
The Social Action Committee will show several short videos on the topic of Asylum on Sunday, June 17th, 12:30 PM, as a part of their Immigration Educational series.
 
A short discussion will take place in between each video, and an overall discussion will take place at the end of the program . We hope you will join us as we learn about the atrocities so many people have unfortunately  experienced.
 

 
BIBLE STUDY
Our MVUUF Bible Study group will soon begin a Bible overview by Prof. Marcus J. Borg, famous as one of the   leaders in modern Liberal Theology. His book Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but Not Literally is described below. Copies are available in libraries and online. I will be buying new paperback books from Amazon for $10.75 each. Contact me to order a copy or for any questions.
---John Bierman, [email protected]
 
"Many Christians mistakenly believe that their only choice is either to reconcile  themselves to a fundamentalist reading of scripture (a "literal-factual" approach) or to simply reject the Bible as something that could bring meaning and value into their lives. In Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, Marcus Borg shows how instead we can freshly appreciate all the essential elements of the Old and New Testaments-from Genesis to Revelation-in a way that can open up a new world of intelligent faith.
 
In Reading the Bible Again for the First Time , Borg reveals how it is possible to reconcile a scientific and critical way of thinking with our deepest spiritual needs, leading to an insightful experience of ancient text. This unique book invites every reader-whatever his or her religious background-to engage the Bible, to wrestle with its meaning, to explore its mysteries, and to understand its relevance. Reading the Bible Again for the First Time shows us how to encounter the Bible in a fresh, new way that rejects the limits of simple literalism and opens up the rich possibility of living a life of authentic faith."
 


WOMEN'S GROUP TAKES A BREAK THIS SUMMER
The Women's Group is taking a break for the summer - a hiatus to refresh our spirits, renew our curriculum and revive participation as we all believe this 9:30 AM Sunday morning covenant group is a very important part of our beloved community. We share deeply on topics important to us and all women and we build lasting friendships.
 
So if you've been a fairly regular participant, enjoy the break. Talk about the importance of this group with other women and come back in September with a friend. All women and those who identify as women are welcome.



DAYTIME BOOK CLUB
The next gathering of this well-read group will take place on Wednesday, June 20th, 10:30 AM in the Library, and they'll be discussing The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash.
 
Upcoming choices for discussion are:
July 18th..... The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
August 15th..... Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
September 19th..... Facism: A Warning by Madeline Albright    
 
All are welcome to join them!
 



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, June 14th, 11:30 AM, at MCL Cafeteria, in Kettering. Please RSVP to Allie Petersen at:                     [email protected].
 
 

I AM ONE WHO...
Gail Cyan is our current ChaliceLight Gallery artist, sharing a collection of her SoulCollage® cards in a show called "I Am One Who..." SoulCollage® is a spiritual collage meditation practice, where you assemble a collection of images on a small 5" x 8" cards. These cards represent different parts of the creator's life: people, guides, chakra energies, archetypes, and elements of the creator's inner being and identity. Gail explains:

You let the images choose you. Sometimes when you find an image that is troubling to you, these can turn into a deep exploration of your soul. Part of the practice is to journal about each card. You start by holding out the card you have created and allow the card to 'speak' to you. The starting phrase is "I am one who..." and you fill in the rest with whatever the card is revealing to you in that moment. What a card says to you will evolve over time.
 
This show is deeply personal for me, but it is also an invitation for you to explore what the cards are saying to you. I invite you to view the images and reflect on what YOU see in the cards, as if they are speaking to YOUR soul. Ask what strengths the images offer to you, what are their shadow sides? When I see this image, I find myself feeling... What lessons does it hold for you?
 
In the practice of SoulCollage® there are very few rules, except the size of the original card and encouragement to NOT use words. Words take you to a different part of your brain, whereas images come from a deeper place in your subconscious. Anyone can take up this creative practice, no artistic skill is needed. There are several local groups, led by trained SoulCollage® facilitators.
 
Because often the images are cut from copyrighted magazines, the prints of the cards cannot be sold, but they can be shared! If there is an image that speaks deeply to your heart, let Gail know and you can have it when the show comes down.
 
For more information about SoulCollage®, go to:
 
www.soulcollage.com .
 


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 the St. Vincent de Paul Shelter. You can sign up for the Saturday, June 9 lunch for food   donations and/or serving on the clipboard in the Gathering Space, or you can contact Lynn Buffington at 937-657-0426 (call or text) or [email protected] . You can also check on what is needed at Sign Up Genius by clicking HERE  (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 ALL who pitched in by providing food and/or serving the May meal! (The photo is of our May servers). 
Much appreciation was expressed for our fresh and varied food. One dad made a special point to say his daughter is a very picky eater but she had seconds on sloppy joe sandwich - kudos to Robin Farinet and her recipe!   We served 59 diners with 36 in the women's group and 23 in the family group and most of those were children. Our numbers were up a bit from April but still much lower than in the fall and winter.
 
June 9th menu : Our needs this month include sandwich filling (BBQ pulled pork/chicken/beef, sloppy joes, or chicken/egg salad) vegetable dishes (pasta salad with LOTS of veggies, cole slaw, or other vegetable - steamed broccoli with Italian salad dressing has been popular!), green salads, fresh fruit/fruit salads, 100% orange juice and reduced-fat milk (we use buns from St. Vincent's pantry for the sandwiches). We need several donations of most items, with each donation serving 15-20 people. Please bring all items---heated if   applicable---to 120 West Apple Street (the St. Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter) by 10:45 am.
 
 
 
WEEDING AT MVUUF
When I've got some time and my allergies are not so bad, I will head to the Fellowship to do some pruning and weeding, and I invite anyone who wants to join me. I don't expect others to always be free, but if you have 30-45 minutes and are near the Fellowship at some point in the coming weeks , or if you just arrive early for a meeting and happen to have your garden gloves and a spade in the car, go for it!!
 
At this time of the year, it's a struggle to keep the undesirable weeds from choking out the plants we want to keep. If you are willing but don't know what you're doing out there, and would rather work with someone else, let me know. Hopefully, I can join you or pair with someone who knows their way around the garden bed. I am not an   official chair, but I know some stuff, and can help in this area. Dave Dickey is the official Operations Rep., and I think he mostly trusts me with weeds.
---Genevieve Harvey, 937-477-2385
 

 
WE ARE A FRAGRANCE-FREE FELLOWSHIP
Remember...due to allergies, asthma, and other sensitivities, we ask you to please refrain from wearing scent when at the Fellowship (perfume, aftershave, scented hair products, lotions, etc.). Thank you for helping us to be a safe as well as welcoming congregation!
 


      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 June 3rd ) !

Coffee will be ready to be picked up on or after the third Sunday of the month (this month, June 17 th ) . 

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!