UUF Galveston Gazette June 2010

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Galveston County 502 Church Street, Galveston, Texas 77550-5502 (409)765-8330 Online at http://uugalveston.org A Month of Sundays President’s Message

Services and Children’s Religious Education 10:30 am Adult Forum 9am

Dear Fellow UUFGC Members, June 6 It is with mixed feelings that I am writing Ken Vincent, “Universals in Religion" you for the last time as your 2009-2010 Whether the High God (or if you prefer, Ultimate Reality) connects with Board President. I welcome passing on Creation in a personal way or not, there are two things that are true about the responsibilities of preparing a monthly God: God is REALLY BIG! And God LIKES CHANGE! When it comes to meeting agenda, drafting this monthly world religions, there are five Universals: 1) Spiritually transformative ex- letter, etc. but will miss the satisfaction of periences, 2) Prayer/Meditation, 3) The Golden Rule, 4) Faith Healing, and presiding at our monthly Board meetings. 5) Miracle Stories. Dr. Ken R. Vincent is a writer and religious experience They have been invariably productive and researcher who has over 150 publications in and religion. Com- amicable. For that I thank my fellow passionate today will go to Ronald McDonald House of Galveston. board members. A special THANK YOU Greeter: Kathy Domsky Board Member: Mike Hennen Facilitator: Tony DiNuzzo Music: Margaret Canavan to Susan Persons for her counsel and support. June 13 Kay Sandor, “Attachment & : Lessons from Hurricane Ike” And I can’t thank enough the Admini- Consider the effects of the hurricane on the human psyche and how we sur- stration Team of Bets Anderson, Made- vived (or succumbed to) the natural disaster of Ike. Kay will explore how the leine Baker, Margaret Canavan, Judy prospect of danger lurks just outside our consciousness and how the fact that Glaister, Cheryl Henry & Sandra Sulli- not a single hurricane threatened the Gulf coast this past year lures us just a van for all their work (much of it unseen!) little deeper into denial. Kay Sandor is an Islander by Choice for almost 20 that insures our monthly Newsletters, years. She lives on the east end in a sea cottage that survived the 1900 storm weekly Orders of Service, and other tasks and Ike. She likes to sail, garden, and watercolor. too numerous to mention here are com- Greeter: Fanny DeGesero Board Member: Fanny DeGesero pleted in a timely fashion. Our entire Fel- Facilitator: Bets Anderson Music: Steve Hodgson lowship owes you all a big THANK YOU!

June 20 This same debt of gratitude is owed to John Gorman, “T.S. Eliot and the Experiment of Mysticism” the standing committees that sustain our Enjoy a reading with commentary of “Little Gidding,” the concluding poem of Fellowship. These include Communica- Eliot’s Four Quartets. This work is from the late phase of Eliot’s career. He tions (Madeleine Baker), Landscaping has resolved a period of religious skepticism and struggle by committing to (Martha Terrill), Membership (Cheryl Christianity in its High Church Anglican form. He’s writing from a perspective Henry), Policies and Procedures (Tony of faith, but, for UU purposes, it’s of the essence that he’s been elsewhere DiNuzzo), Program & Worship (Geri beforehand. Our speaker will attempt a simultaneous religious/psychological Carr), Religious Education (Neil Huddle- interpretation as we go through the beautifully realized and courageous ston), Social Action (Mary Hodgson), meditative process Eliot has achieved. John Gorman is Professor of Litera- nd Supper Circles (Judy Glaister) and ture at UH Clear Lake, a poet himself, and provides an annual “poetry” ser- the individual Fellowship members serv- vice for us. ing on these committees. Greeter: Susan Persons Board Member: Kathy Domsky During the upcoming Annual Meeting Facilitator: Stan Blazyk Music: Tony DiNuzzo scheduled for Sunday, June 6, we will June 27 POT LUCK AFTER THE SERVICE elect a new slate of officers, including , “Always a Good Life” President Elect, Treasurer, and two At Master Dae Gak has studied Zen for over 30 years in both the Korean Large members. Mike Hennen will take and Japanese traditions. He is the guiding teacher for Zen Students at cen- over as President and I will continue par- ters in England, & across the US. He is the founder & guiding ticipating in the monthly Board meetings teacher of , an 800 acre center in Eastern Ken- at Past President. We will also approve a tucky. He is also a practicing clinical . new Annual Budget and discuss other Greeter: Cheryl Henry Board Member: Mike Hennen matters of importance to the Fellowship. Facilitator: Mardi Mitchell Music: Woody Dickson Continued on Page 2

Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its gift. This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another. (Continued from page 1) Plan to attend. Your vote is important. Remember a meal will be served so you won’t go away hungry, ei- Social Action Committee ther in mind or body! Provocative Film Series It has been a quiet year for our Fellowship and I hope Friday, June 4, 7pm you all agree that our community continues to thrive. Our recent Attic Treasures sale was a resounding success, our Social Action committee is making an impact in the Galveston community with their Plastic Gospel Hill(2008) NR In a small Southern town, the long- Bag project, and members of the Worship committee standing residents of the Gospel Hill neighborhood are being are actively participating in the What Moves Us pro- forced out of their homes to make way for a pricey housing gram. Our building continues to serve the needs of development, pushing race relations to explosive heights in this gripping drama. Meanwhile, the mystery behind the dec- various groups in our community. See our monthly ades-old murder of civil rights pioneer Peter Malcolm haunts newsletter for details. Numerous other good things his son (Danny Glover) and the ex-sheriff (Tom Bower) who are always happening in our Fellowship community, deliberately botched the investigation and I ask all those whose good deeds I may have not . mentioned during these monthly letters will forgive my Genre: African-American Dramas, Social Issue Dra- oversights. mas, Mystery

As always, if any of you have matters to discuss, . never hesitate to seek me out during Sunday service or by email. mailto:[email protected] Free admission Bring a friend & a snack to share. Best Personal Regards, John E. Hunger About to be Past President

The Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: ♦The inherent worth and dignity of every person; ♦ Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; ♦ Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; ♦A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; ♦The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; ♦The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all; ♦ Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

2009-2010 UUFGC Board of Directors Attic Treasures a HUGE Success! President John Hunger Income of $2457.60 with expenses of $159.55 (refreshments for President-Elect Mike Hennen “early bird” reception, ads, price tags), net 2298.05. We provided Past-President Susan Persons great deals for our shoppers, bought a lot of things ourselves, and Secretary Cheryl Henry Treasurer Pete Olsen made a fine donation to the Resource and Crisis Center who car- Members at Large: Fanny DeGesero ried off our leftovers. This event is not only a fund-raiser, but a Kathy Domsky community-builder. If you weren’t part of the fun of setting up Patrick McGuffey and/or holding the sale, you really missed out. We plan to have

C o m m i t t e e s and Task Forces our 2011 sale in March. So it’s not too early to start identifying things you no longer need or want! Communications Madeleine Baker Landscape Martha Terrill Membership Cheryl Henry Program/Worship Gerry Carr Religious Education Neil Huddleston Supper Circles Judy Glaister Social Action Mary Hodgson

Administrative Team B. Anderson, M.Baker, M.Canavan, J.Glaister, & C. Henry Webmaster Amber Zainfeld

Page 2 UUF Galveston Gazette NUUws from Members Ar o u n d U U $203. June collection will be for Ronald McDonald House of Galveston. & Friends Microfinance Update: Our microfi- Houston Pride Parade and Festival David Pyle, UUFGC member and for- nance “revolving” fund added one loan June 26, 12-7pm: Houston UU Net- mer administrator and recently a semi- this month. We have now used & work will have a booth at this event, nary student at Meadville Lombard “recycled” a few hundred dollars to and will need volunteers. Come early if Theological School (sponsored by make 110 loans, totaling $3500, to re- you don't like crowds or come late and UUFGC), will be ordained at 4pm on cipients in developing countries, and stay for the parade! This year's theme June 6 at the UU church of Evanston, have donated $200 to support the ac- is "Pride, Not Prejudice". It looks like IL. If you can’t attend and want to send tivities of Kiva. We make loans as we we are all set to have a good presence congratulations, David’s mailing ad- receive donations and re-lend as exist- at Pride and show our support for the dress is 6044 S. Ingleside Ave. #3N, ing loans are repaid. All are welcome to GLBT community! Please come out Chicago, IL 60637. help select loan recipients. We are part and help us! of the Unitarian Universalist lending Holly Fortenberry has created a face- team which now has 384 members. book page for us!, as "Galveston Uni- See our “portfolio” at http:// tarian Universalist Fellowship". She will www.kiva.org/lender/ UUFGC Right Relations post info from the weekly email which unitarianuniversali3384. Covenant will be automatically disseminated to all

those on Facebook who connect with Social Action Committee MAY con- tinues to work on reducing the use of We will communicate openly, our page. So, everyone needs to go to honestly & respectfully. the page and click "Like This Page". plastic bags in our community. They Here is the link: http:// are planning another effort at Kroger’s We will listen carefully with www.facebook.com/pages/Galveston- in early June to encourage shoppers to open minds & open hearts. TX/Galveston-Unitarian-Universalist- use reusuable bags. They hope to re- peat this effort every other month. they We will assume good inten- Fellowship/105680989474569 . AFTER tions, practice tolerance & we get at least 25 people to link to our are hoping to develop signage for the page, then we will be able to choose a Kroger's parking lot reminding people resist the temptation to be- more user-friendly link. Thanks Holly! to bring their reusuable bags into the come offended. store. Thanks for supporting our May We will take responsibility for Sandra López is successfully recover- compassionate collection for wildlife ing from having her pesky gall bladder rehabilitator Trudy Belz, which totaled our speech, actions & feel- removed. ings, & we will be sensitive to possible conflicts & will- Reminders UUpcoming Events ing to work toward solutions. • Note: Shirley Hollingsworth NO We will consider other perspec- UUsed Book Sale: The June book LONGER needs plastic grocery bags. tives & will strive not for sale will be held Saturday, June 12, • Bring old (clean) socks and rags for 9am-2pm. Volunteers are appreciated! Judy Glaister to use for cleaning & unanimity but for mutual re- Book Club: Join the group on polishing on the Elissa. spect. Wednesday, June 9 to discuss Amigo- • Fair Trade Coffee & Tea sales bene- We will honor our own bounda- land by Oscar Casares. All are wel- fit small coffee farmers & our Social ries & the boundaries of oth- come. Action Committee. ers. “Spirituality of Poker” & Game • Sunday morning “Greeters” are We will respect & support the Night : On Sunday June 13 show up needed! Sign-up in the kitchen or con- diversity within our congre- at 6:30 at Roy DeGesero’s house for tact Vickie Francil. gation & work to foster a poker. All welcome. Games TBA. • We can get $3 credit at Office Depot welcoming envi- Supper Circle: Susan Baker and John with your used inkjet printer car- ronment. tridges. Hunger are hosting a poolside supper circle on Saturday, June 12th at 6:30. • For visitors & newcomers: Please --adopted 12/05 No swimming. Please sign up on the feel free to take copies of UU World bulletin board. magazine, from the display in the foyer.

Send us your news! Provide information to [email protected] or phone 409-765-8330, or leave at note at the Fellowship.

June 2010 Page 3 NEWS FROM UNITARIAN UNI- VERSALIST ASSOCIATION The Eliot & Pickett Houses, the UUA’s bed and breakfast in Bos- ton , is offering a discount for all new reservations made for a minimum three-day stay between May 17, 2010 and September SUMMER RETREAT 2010: June 24- 30, 2010. Discounts apply to new reservations made between April 25, 2010 and September 15, 2010. June 26 at the UUFGC Dae Gak will lead a 2 ½ day The UUA Administration invites you to send us high-quality, high- resolution pictures of your congregation’s activities. This could meditation retreat in Galveston. The retreat include pictures of your congregation at worship, engaging in so- will be held in silence and incorporate sitting cial action, on group trips, making building renovations, and much and , chanting, more! Please send your images via email to [email protected]. talks, interviews, and work practice. The re- You can find UUA Bulletins at http://www.uua.org/leaders/ treat will run from Thursday evening to Sat. announcements/congregationalmonthly/index.shtml. evening June 24-26th at the Unitarian Uni- versalist Fellowship. The cost is $120 and includes meals. Zen Master Dae Gak has studied Zen for over 40 years in both the Korean and Japanese traditions. He is a Dharma Heir of Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn. He founded the Furnace Mountain retreat center in Eastern . In addition to his teaching re- sponsibilities at Furnace Mountain, he is presently the guiding teacher of Zen Centers throughout the and Europe. He is a clinical psychologist and author of Go- ing Beyond Buddha. Dae Gak will be speak- ing at the UUF’s Sunday service.

Get Connected with UUFGC Meetings are at the Fellowship unless otherwise noted. Everyone is invited and welcome to all listed activities.

Alcoholics Anonymous Phoenix Group meets Sunday & Wednesday month at 6pm, at Mosquito Café. Meetings are open to all. evenings at 8pm. Contact Robert G. for information at 409-392-7005. Poker and Game Night is monthly and held in members’ homes, open Adult Forum meets Sundays at 9am to explore topics in religion, phi- to all. Check the calendar & weekly announcements for date & location. losophy, history & politics. Contact Neil Huddleston at (409)744-2369. Social Action Committee meets the first Sunday of each month after Board of UUFGC meets the second Monday of each month at 5:15 pm. service & welcomes ideas, energy & enthusiasm. Help plan our “deeds All are welcome to attend. not creeds”. Book Cluub meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7pm. Contact Spirit Circle Covenant Group meets each 2nd and 4th Tuesday at Fanny DeGesero if you have suggestions for readings. All are welcome. 6:15pm. Contact Gerry Carr [email protected] or leave a mes- sage at the Fellowship if you would like to be contacted by phone. Used Book Sale monthly on second Saturday, 9am . Supper Circles meet monthly. Call Judy Glaister at (409)762-8187 to Bowlers meet on Wednesday evenings to make bowls for the “Empty schedule a supper, sign up for one, or for information. Bowl” fundraiser. Contact Madeleine Baker for more information. Zen Meditation meets Mondays at 5:30pm, and Thursdays at 5:15pm. Course in Miracles Study Group meets every Monday at 11 am. Con- Contact Cara Geary ([email protected]) or visit http:// tact Laura Murrell for information ([email protected]). galvestonzen.org/ about Mondays, or Terry Conrad (409)599-7268 Dance Classes: Galveston Dance Club offers classes each Tuesday & about Thursdays. Thursday at 7pm. Questions, call Betty at 281-337-0441. UU members can join for half price. See http://www.galvestondanceclub.com. Program/Worship Committee meets the first Wednesday of each Page 4 UUF Galveston Gazette June 2010 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Galveston County

Activities are held at the Fellowship unless otherwise indicated Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 7pm - 5pm - 5:15pm - 7pm - Dance Bowlers Zen Medi- Provoca- lessons 6pm - Pro- tation tive Film, gram Cmte 7pm - TBA @ Mosquito Dance les- 8pm - AA sons Phoenix

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 9am - Adult Forum 11am - 6:15 - Spirit 5pm - 5:15pm - 9am-2pm - 10:30am - Ken Vincent, Course in Circle Bowlers Zen Medi- Book “Universals in Religion”; Miracles 7pm - 7pm - Book tation Sale Children/Youth Religious 5:30pm - Zen Dance Club, Ami- 7pm - 6:30pm- Education Meditation lessons goland Dance les- Supper 12n - Social Action Cmte; 8pm - AA sons Circle 8pm - AA Phoenix Group Phoenix

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9am - Adult Forum 11am - 7pm - 5pm - 5:15pm - 10:30am - Kay Sandor, Course in Dance Bowlers Zen Medi- “Lessons from Hurricane Miracles lessons 8pm - AA tation Ike”; Children/Youth Reli- 5:15pm - UU Phoenix 7pm - gious Education Board Dance les- 6:30 - Poker at DeGesero’s 5:30pm - Zen sons 8pm - AA Phoenix Group Meditation

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 9am - Adult Forum 11am - 6:15 - Spirit 5pm -

10:30am - Adult Service TBA; Course in Circle Bowlers ZEN ISLAND FELLOWSHIP Children/Youth Religious Miracles 7pm - 8pm - AA Retreat with Education 5:30pm - Zen Dance Phoenix Zen master Dae Gak 8pm - AA Phoenix Group Meditation lessons see http://galvestonzen.org/

27 28 29 30 Happy Birthday to:

9am - Adult Forum 11am - 7pm - 5pm - 10:30am - Dae Gak, “Always Course in Dance Bowlers Susan Persons 6/2 a Good Life”; Children/ Miracles lessons 8pm - AA Linda Price 6/12 Youth Religious Education 5:30pm - Zen Phoenix Patrick McGuffey 6/19 Don Higbee 6/22 8pm - AA Phoenix Group Meditation Joan Klein 6/24 Amanda Prather 6/27