The Windmill — February, 2010
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To affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person Mount Vernon Unitarian March 1, 2011 Church ... MVUC is a loving and inclusive community. Our mission is to encourage one another on our spiritual journeys and to work together to build the common good. Taking Note . by The Reverend Kate R. Walker I’m not a Luddite, but I do have a tendency to resist the particularly precious to me as a former newspaper latest and greatest new technology. By the time I bought a journalist. I love the smell of a printing press. CD player, they were not only cheap, they were being The tactile experience is also why I resisted Facebook. I replaced by the next big music technology, something that prefer looking people in the eye in person rather than at had me wishing I had invested in Apple. their photo (or their dog’s photo). I prefer hearing their I bought my first personal computer in 1995 for $200. It voice and shaking their hand, or giving a real hug rather was an original IBM desk top, complete with a dot matrix than sending an electronic emoticon hug (I don’t actually printer. In case you’re wondering, yes, that was before know how to do that). Windows. Let’s just say my next computer was an Apple, A recent study found that a group of seniors who spent an and that’s been my comfort zone ever since. Apparently I hour a day researching on Google—some of whom had have invested in Apple, just not in their stock. never used the internet before—had increased blood flow I finally gave into peer pressure and signed up on Facebook in the parts of their brains responsible for decision-making in the summer of 2009. I was convinced to take the plunge and memory. The results validated that seeking out new by one of our church members who is far wiser than I when ideas and interests helps keep the brain stimulated and it comes to techno babble. He showed me Facebook is healthy. I suspect learning to play chess will have the same another tool for my ministry. I can reach out to whole new effect. generations, above and below my middle age range. The good news is that I’m keeping my brain engaged, and It seems there are many who are fearless of technology, or accepting new technology, at my own pace. I don’t see at least recognize the future is in the present, and it’s myself Twittering at any point in the near future. And, I better to step up to greet it than to get hit by a revolution have resisted starting a blog. However, I’m proud to say I that leaves you unemployed. I’ve recently heard about a never bought an 8 Track player or cassette player! Just in certain 30-year dictator who experienced just this case you did, you can sell them on eBay. That’s on the phenomenon. He didn’t embrace the latest technology internet, in case you’re wondering. such as Facebook and Twitter, and he is now reading the The future may be upon me, but I’ll step forward when and want ads, probably on an old-fashioned newspaper printed where I choose. After all, I’ve recently learned it’s good to on actual paper. avoid a revolution in my front yard, and I want to stay Speaking of which, I’ve recently been thinking of switching employed. my newspaper subscription from my life-long familiar Cheers, Kate R. Walker routine of front door delivery to opening up my always-at- my-side laptop (yes, it’s a MacBook). But it’s the tactile (P.S.: Feel free to friend me on Facebook, and send me a experience that I know I’ll miss. The feel of the newsprint is emoticon hug.) Rev. Kate R. Walker Program Highlights B O A R D O F TRUSTEES Mark Your Calendar! Joan Darrah, Chair, 2011 Tamara de la Camp, Program Council Convener, 2011 Bill Alsmeyer-Johnson, 2011 Becky Brandt, Vice-Chair, 2012 Wednesday Fellowship Lisa Gillispie, Secretary, 2012 Wednesday, March 2 Dan Cohen, 2012 Keith Brophy, 2013 Dinner 6:00 pm, Vespers 7:00 pm Al Robbert, 2013 See page 5 Peg Bartel, 2013 Al Erickson, Church Treasurer Ian Anderson, Youth Representative, 2011 Lunch with a Book ~ ~ ~ Sunday, March 13, 12:45 pm STAFF Noodles & Company Meagan Henry, Director of Lifespan Spiritual See page 6 Growth Mark Zimmerman, Director of Music Anne Bredeck, Office Manager Good Companions Farhat Chaudhry, Nursery Caregiver Leah Choudhury, Property Manager Tuesday, March 15 Norman Comfort, Custodian Lunch 12:00, Speakers 1:00 Carol Tyrance Graves, Church Administrator Hollin Hall Dining Room Jim Kerr, Lifespan Spiritual Growth Assistant See page 5 Beth Summanen, Senior High Youth Coordinator Nina Tisara, Rental Events Coordinator WINDMILL NEWSLETTER Annual Lasagna Dinner and Variety Show Editor: Dee Dee St. Louis Saturday, March 19, Dinner 5:30 – 6:30 pm Production Crew: Phyllis Gonigam, Variety Show to Follow Dotty Ann McClelland, Mimi Stevens, Meeting House Betsy Stephens, Sibyl Pierotti, and Marge Witting. Proofreaders: barbara barry, Curtis Hunter, Phyllis Gonigam, Mimi Stevens, Lynn Alsmeyer-Johnson, Karen Tyson Webmaster: Bill Alsmeyer-Johnson [email protected] Website Editor: Ron Brandt The Windmill is published monthly. Deadline for articles is the 15th of the month. Items will be edited to fit available space. Please e-mail articles to [email protected]. Mount Vernon Unitarian Church 1909 Windmill Lane Alexandria, VA 22307 Tel: 703-765-5950 Fax: 703-765-1237 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.mvuc.org 2 March 2011 Lifespan Spiritual Growth By Meagan Henry, Director “Participating in a religious community can help Our Jr. Youth Group continues to explore parents reinforce the values they want to teach Unitarian Universalism; its historical foundations, their children in part because those values are various spiritual practices, social justice and perceived as more important if they are backed church polity, through their curriculum, “Compass up by a group—particularly one with a strong Points.” The success of this class is due to the tradition behind it. There is also a strong sense of dedication of their teachers who continue to comfort and security which comes from being in a work as a team to provide a well-rounded place and belonging to a group where there is a experience for this age group. shared belief in core values.” – Michelle Richards By the time you read this, YRUU (9th – 12th Dear Friends, grades) will have shared their annual worship We are officially halfway through the Children’s service with the congregation. This year’s theme Religious Education year. was “Keep Fear Sane” and was inspired by the Rally to Restore Fear/Sanity on the National Mall st Kindergarten and 1 grade continues with last Fall. The Youth worked hard to put together Holidays and Holy Days. In March, they will their service. Every year I am thankful for this gift celebrate Mardi Gras, Henry Burgh Day, No Ruz, from them. and Africa Day. ~Meagan Henry, Director of Lifespan Spiritual We’ve begun the second session of Tapestry of Growth Faith classes in our 2nd – 5th grades. The 2nd-3rd grade curriculum is “Love Will Guide Us.” In this program, participants learn to seek March Youth Birthdays guidance in life through the lens of our Unitarian Ben Roberts March 4 Universalist Sources, with an emphasis on love. Participants learn that asking questions is valued Travis Lane March 7 Lila Reidy March 12 in Unitarian Universalism, even as they begin to Gary Dye March 16 shape their own answers. Lilith Mizoe March 21 th th The 4 -5 grade curriculum is “Toolbox of Faith” Jason Venzke March 27 in which participants are invited to reflect on Helen Kitrosser March 29 qualities of our Unitarian Universalist faith, such Alice Thompson March 30 as integrity, courage and love, as tools they can use in living their lives and building their own faith. KUDOS! Penelope Fleming is one of the dedicated people who continually go above and beyond in their efforts for the community. If Penelope says she will do something, you can rest assured she will do it on time (if not early) and better than you thought it could be done. For example, Penelope had the great idea to integrate the worship theme of the month into the Children’s RE classes, so she is researching UU quotes and choosing ones for the teachers to use in their classes on Sunday mornings. This is a wonderful addition to our program. Thank you for this and all you do, Penelope! 3 where they visited the Unitarian Christian Church of Monthly Worship Theme Indonesia in Semarang, a city in central Java. They are GENEROSITY members of the Fairfax UU Church. Gregory Payne III was cleaning up his grandmother’s Question Box Sunday Leftovers backyard in Richmond, Indiana last spring. He noticed From August 8, 2010 a pile of folders on the side of the highway adjacent to her property. He opened the folders and discovered Q. How should I tolerate (love) those acting out of $1,400 in cash along with several documents. They intolerance? belonged to a local charity. He told his grandmother, A. With patience and intentional love for he or she is and the two of them contacted the agency to return a human being with inherent worth and dignity. the folders, including the cash. The folders had been Q. What is God? And where does God live? (Please stolen from a safe.