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August 2018 Newsletter
Summer Sunday Services: 9 a.m.
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August 5,12
Intergenerational Services
August 19
Moving Independently Together
Rev. Krista Taves.
We are in a nation and faith tradition that reveres independence and freedom. We are also one of the loneliest nations in the world, with Americans having the fewest close friends to lean on when things are hard. We will explore how we honor independence and autonomy and create strong compassionate communities that carry hope and healing.
August 26, 9:30 am,
Annual UU-Dedicated
Folkfest Event
Riverside Park
You're in for a treat if you come to hear Milwaukee performing songwriter Peter Mulvey, joined by his friends, the duo "Sista Strings".
Mulvey began his career in Dublin, Ireland as a busker: a street musician playing for tips. He's
an iconoclast within the singer/songwriter world. Restless and inventive, he has made seventeen records, spanning rock and roll, folk, jazz, spoken word, and Americana.
SistaStrings consists of Monique and Chauntee Ross. They label themselves “two black sisters who are about creating social change through their gifts of music.” Classically-trained, they play violin and cello, performing both classical and popular music, including gospel.
Come to the north gate of Riverside Park; concert starts promptly at 9:30. There is no entry fee, but at the concert's conclusion at 10:30, you must either purchase a Sunday day pass, or exit. Rev. Krista Taves is facilitating this year's service. Thanks to the Great River Folk Fest for allowing this 15-year UU Fellowship of La Crosse tradition to continue.
Ingathering
September 9, 10 a.m.
We will be having our traditional Service of Ingathering to welcome all to our return to full time Sunday service schedule with services beginning at 10 am. We also call this our “Rock and Water” service. All are invited to bring a rock and/or a small container of water. Each person is invited to speak briefly on the significance or symbolism that comes with the rock or water they share. The rocks are then used as a symbol of the joys and concerns that are shared during our services throughout the year.
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Rev. Taves' August Office Hours
Monday August 20. 10am – noon
Tuesday August 21. 2-4pm
Thursday August 23. 10 – noon
Friday August 24. Community Office Hours. Bean Juice. 4 – 5 p.m.
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Uncapped Conversations:
Real Talk, Real Time
We all need time to slow down and find a quiet place inside. Sometimes we can do that on our own, sometimes we need others to help us. Uncapped Conversations is a time to gather, think deeply about ourselves as spiritual beings, and reconnect to who we are, what we believe, and who we want to become. We gather in a restaurant or coffee shop, once a month, on a Tuesday evening, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. To sign up for email reminders, contact Rev. Taves at revkristataves@gmail.com.
2018-2019 Dates and Themes
Tuesday, August 21 - Unity/Diversity
Tuesday, September 18 - Vocation
Tuesday, October 16 - Formation
Tuesday, November 13 - Gratitude
Tuesday, December 11 - Peace
Tuesday, January 15 - Grace
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Free UUF T-Shirts
Now Available to Volunteers
Our Fellowship has ordered and received 27 T-shirts with our Fellowship name and UUA logo on them. And you can get one at no cost.
As a key part of the Growth Initiative, we are getting ourselves out in the community in an ever-increasing way. We want our members to be volunteering at community events where people resonate with our values. If you are a Fellowship member, and volunteer at an upcoming event, contact Emmy Carlson, who will give you one of these new shirts. Sizes currently available are unisex S through XL; other sizes can be special ordered. Shirts are grey with red printing.They were designed by Anna Nirva, with help from Carla Pena and Mary Nelson.
The next two community events are:
1)
The Great River Folk Fest, Riverside Park, Friday August 24 through Sunday August 2
6. If you have a couple hours, there are many different roles you can volunteer for. Here is their link:
Sign up, and pick up your free shirt to wear at the Fest.from Emmy.
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Save These Dates
for UUF-hosted
Everyone Votes 2018
events
UUF La Crosse will host four events to promote voter registration and participation. Mark your calendars and plan to attend and/or help out.
Fri. Sept. 14. 5-9 pm, "
Ballots & Brats at the Stein Haus". (All Ages Welcome)_
Sun. Sept. 23, 10 am - 3pm
"Empowerment Sunday at our Fellowship". (Families & Visitors Very Welcome)
Fri. Oct. 12, 5-9 pm: "
Ballots & Beers at Pearl Street Brewery". (Ages 21 and up).
Sun. Oct. 14, 1-3 pm: "
Rally for Justice for Women, People of Color, Immigrants, the LGBTQ Community & Environmental Justice" at Copeland Park.
Keynote: State of Wisconsin ACLU.
For more information contact Ron Malzer at ronsaturday@gmail.com.
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UUF's Religious Education group has fun learning to live ethically and happily in the world. Helpers are always needed. To volunteer, call Tiffany
Brubaker at
tiffany.brubaker@gmail.com
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How We Belong
Most Unitarian Universalist congregations in North America will readily say that an embrace of diversity is who we are. We don’t turn people away based on what they believe or not about a higher power, the afterlife, salvation, or the universe and our place in it. We embrace it all.
The same thing is said about this country, that we are a nation of people who came from elsewhere, either brought here through slavery or choosing to come because of any number of factors – poverty, war, political instability, opportunity. We say we are a great melting pot and hold this up as an American value.
In practice, however, it’s not that simple, either for this country or for our Unitarian Universalist congregations.
Many of us are horrified by what is happening to the most vulnerable in our country under the current administration. Immigrants, the poor, people of color, women, LGBTQ people, the disabled, and Indigeneous people are being targeted and further marginalized. While there has never been a time in our country when the vulnerable and marginalized have been truly empowered, the level of oppression that is being institutionally enforced is sobering.
This is a very important time for freedom and justice loving people to come together and resist. And because it’s so important, we also have to make sure that we have our house in order. And by that, I mean our congregations.
In most Unitarian Universalist congregations we hold up the ideal of living into diversity, but we practice it in confusing and imperfect ways. We may say we value diversity, but a particular way of being Unitarian Universalist may implicitly or explicitly exist, almost to the point of being a dogma or creed. Sometimes these unspoken expectations are enforced by policing language and political allegiances. In the choices we make in worship, the speakers we choose, the questions we ask during Response Time, the conversations we have during coffee hour, committee meetings, and social gatherings we may subtly express who is welcome here and who is not, what life experiences are validated, what theological or philosophical perspectives are warmly embraced, which are tolerated, and which need to be silenced in order to make this your spiritual home.
None of us want to be exclusionary, but in our need to be included, our fears about difference, our personal histories, and our stake in the status quo may lead us to draw lines in the sand so that we can feel safe. In other words, the same fears that are tearing apart this country are at work in us too. If we are going to be true servants of equality, compassion, and justice, we have to engage our own fears of difference. Our call as Unitarian Universalists is to stay present when we are uncomfortable and learn to discern when the discomfort is calling us to set boundaries and when it is calling us to open up and move closer into the discomfort so that we and our community can grow and become more whole. This will help us stay in a place of humility, understanding, and compassion in the face of hatred, violence and suffering. It prevents us from dehumanizing those we fear to the point that we become like them.
This is why our covenants are so important, because they call us back to who we aspire to be. We are going to fall short all the time, but that is no reason to retreat into shame, despondency, or cynicism. Our covenants anticipate our falling short and they anticipate that we will need help to come back into right relationship so that we can be ready once again to hope and service.
This month our services will be focused on Unity and Diversity, and it’s these challenging but important questions - about how we create community and serve the common good as unique individuals needing to be relationship – that will center our time together.
May the spirit of life and love, named as your heart calls it to be named, be with you.
Yours in faith, Rev. Krista.
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Touchstones Project
new this year
The Touchstones Project uses a thematic approach, with an overarching yearly theme and different monthly themes. Each month, subscribing congregations receive a Worship Packet, Religious Education Packet, the Touchstones Journal, two small group ministry sessions, a Lay Led Worship Service, Social Media resources, and Social Justice resources, all based on the monthly theme.
The overarching theme for the 2018-2019 year is
Let Your Life Speak. Parker Palmer wrote, “Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent.” These themes encourage listening to your life as a way of shaping your days and guiding your journey.
Here, briefly, are the Touchstone themes for the next few months:
September -Vocation
Vocation goes far beyond occupation. A good way to think about it, Frederick Buechner suggests, is as the intersection between your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger.
October- Formation
Formation involves the influence of others as well as our own self-invention. Mary Catherine Bateson calls it “composing a life.”
November - Gratitude
Unitarian Universalist minister Ralph Helverson wrote, “We have religion when we have an abiding gratitude for all that we have received.”
December - Peace
John F. Kennedy wrote, “Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, the pursuit must go on.”
January - Grace
Grace is a gift that comes to us unexpected and unbidden. It is the gift of life itself as well as the surprising gifts that bless our lives.
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The UU Fellowship of
La Crosse is Hiring
Three positions are available at UUF of La Crosse in the Religious Education and Nursery areas. See the link below for job descriptions and links to applications. Feel free to spread the word!
Please consider sharing our job posting with friends, family & those who may find this a rewarding experience!
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Prepare to vote
Voter Registration & Voting
On Election Day August 14th at the polls or July 30 - August 10th at
Municipal Clerks Office
On the Ballot:
WI Governor// WI State Senate// WI Assembly
U.S. Senate//U.S. Representative
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Caregiver offers support
The caregiver can offer support to those in need by sending a card, making an announcement during Joys and Concerns, and/or publicizing your status and needs via the weekly emails. Let us know the level of care you desire. The caregiver for June through August is
Barb McPeak.
You may reach her at 608.780.9035 and
bj_mcpeak@charter.net
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From the President
Who do we serve?
Who WILL we serve?
It is an exciting time on the Board, and also a busy time, as we look ahead to this year. Over the past few months we have identified three areas to focus on for the upcoming year: supporting staff and lay leaders, improving stewardship, and a visioning process. The last one is most exciting to me, because it sets the stage for all of the goals. A visioning question might be: Who will our Fellowship serve in the future?
Since becoming president of the Board, I have been asked a lot of interesting questions like that. If you were one of those people who asked them, thank you. I learn something new each time I try to answer by doing some more research or taking the time to reflect.
Recently, I was asked by an acquaintance who our fellowship serves. Like many questions, I wanted to say, “that’s easy.” My mind quickly went to my family and the members I know best and then I remembered the new attendees I have been happy to meet (some don’t even have name tags yet).
I thought about answering with a number like “64 pledging members” or instead to say “the neighborhood” like I might if I were wearing a different one of my hats. However, that isn’t precise because I know Megan and Nathan live in Holmen, Dean in Viroqua, and several others in West Salem, Winona and La Crescent. Certainly, I should also mention the greater community in my answer because of the broad audience the Social Justice Team strives to serve through events such as People Fest. Many in our fellowship are served by covenant groups as well.
I heard Mark Ewert, the stewardship consultant who spent a weekend with us in May, say “UU of La Crosse is a regional fellowship,” and that’s true too. I also remembered the out-of-state visitors announced by greeters at the beginning of the service that we say “welcome” to.
In addition, we are a part of the support system of the greater Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) largely responsible for Rev. Krista Taves and many of the other gifted ministers who come on occasion. And what about the teams, the board, social groups, Mid-America UUA peers, youth, adult religious education participants and OWLs attendees? Certainly, many people have been served by these connections as well. Great question. “You got me”, I said before sharing some of my list with pleasure.
I wish I would have then started telling them who it
could
and
will
serve in the future too--but that is a conversation for us all. So, moving forward we need to ask ourselves, “who will our fellowship serve in the future?” and then not forget to invite them too!
In service,
Jacob Scimmas
Board President
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse
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Community events
Volunteers needed at the
Northside Library
The Northside library is in need of people to help with children and youth who are spending time there during the summer, especially between 1:30 and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The kids need help using the library resources productively and they also need someone who can develop relationships with them. Please reach out to Ms. Wacek at 608-789-8190 if you or someone you know might be able to help out for 1-2 hours per week in that time frame this summer. She is the department head for the Children’s Library Services, Winding Rivers Library System in La Crosse.
WSU Senior University
Registration is now open for 2018-19 Senior University WSU class offerings.
Senior University is a series of non-credit short courses that are peer-led by WSU faculty, retirees and community members. The goal is to provide intellectual and cultural stimulation and growth, thus providing opportunities for lifelong learning and leadership, combined with the fellowship of peers sharing a common quest for continued growth. Courses cover events, history, philosophy, science, art, poetry and literature.
Senior University is open to all adult learners in the Winona community. (La Crosse is considered part of this community.) All courses are $40.
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Summer Special Collection
The Special Collection in the summer months--
June, July, and August
-- will be for BLACK (Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge). The mission of the organization is to build seven pillars: Education, financial literacy, wellness, spirituality, youth engagement and empowerment, community engagement, and family. BLACK looks to encourage students toward the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and math. Entrepreneurship and innovation are encouraged, as well as knowledge of black history. This summer, BLACK will lead a Legacy-Keepers tour, taking 47 middle schoolers and high schoolers to Atlanta, North Carolina, Virginia, and DC. BLACK is a 401 c(3) organization.
Please place cash in the specially-marked envelope, or write a check made out to "BLACK".
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Midwest Leadership School
Carla Pena
I was chosen by the Board of Trustees to attend Midwest Leadership School (MWLS) at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa this July after I requested to attend because I would like to take on leadership role/s within the fellowship. I had no idea what it would be like but had heard that it was a good learning experience. Thank you, Board members.
Each day we had breakfast, lunch and dinner together in the cafeteria, attended history of the UU class, leadership class/s, leadership small group session and credo small group session. We socialized at meals and again at the end of each day. This gave us time to share our experiences, knowledge and discover what worked well in our congregations and explore thoughts and feelings about being a President, Vice President, or becoming a President for the first time and what was perceived as- needing change.
During our leadership and credo group sessions we learned the significance of different personality types, leadership during the time of changing culture movements and norms such as the Occupy movement, Me Too and BLM (Black Lives Matter), how behavior covenants can create a greater sense of “we”, anxious congregations and conflict.
A couple of my favorite topics were “The Tragic Gap” (can happen in conflict) and “ Intent Versus Impact.”
The tension between reality and possibility was named the Tragic Gap by Parker J. Palmer. (Read about it here -= http://www.couragerenewal.org/PDFs/PJP-WeavingsArticle-Broken-OpenHeart.pdf.) The Tragic Gap was a hit at MWLS. This gap doesn’t need to be closed in a hurry. We were encouraged to explore the and invite others into it. The Tragic Gap was humorously added to skits that the leadership groups presented the last evening together.
We discussed intent versus impact from the book
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
. Sometimes intent has had an undesirable impact. For example, in a rush to get a goal accomplished, processes were skipped and stakeholder’s ideas were excluded which resulted in hurt feelings. I ordered the book.
Every day, with 24-hour notice, a team was assigned to be in charge of the daily worship service. This leadership endeavor I found frustrating, not at all like our leadership small group sessions. We pulled it off at the last minute and no one else knew how I lived in the tragic gap for a day and what we had gone through to make service so good.
After our last meal each day, we had what was called “credo” group. The first time I heard the word I thought they had said “Cradle".
Other students thought that they had heard that too. In this small group we explored our vision, mission, experience, spirituality and values. It was a small covenant group.
It was a great experience and I hope others will seriously consider attending. I will hopefully be able to express my leadership in a way that respects others, is inclusive and helps our UUF grow from within and into the larger community.
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Contacts
Office Hours
Sunday mornings and Tuesdays from 2pm- 5pm.
Deadlines for Newsletters & Announcements:
Our Covenant (2014)
We are a caring community that inspires, nurtures and empowers one another. With trust, respect and compassion, we strive to listen deeply, communicate clearly and act with love toward one another, our community and the world.
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