University Unitarian Universalist Society, Inc. The Connection

Volume 15, Issue 9 News and activities that are of interest to UUU’s SEPTEMBER 2007

SUNDAY SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR SEPTEMBER 10:30 AM Sept. 2nd - Sister Ann Kendrick, “Worker Justice-The Honor of Work” Sister Ann is the founder of the Office of Farm Worker Ministry in Apopka. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION She belongs to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, an order devoted to 9:30 AM working with the poor. She attended Trinity College in Washington, D.C., and ADULT RE (OFFSITE) majored in Spanish. She came to Apopka in 1971 and continues her work 9:00 AM more than 30 years later, to improve conditions for the working poor. Her organization has been awarded the Opus Prize in 2006 and a Papal award in YOUNG ADULT SERVICE 2005. They have raised 1.2 million dollars to build Hope CommUnity center. 12:30 PM Sept. 9th - Lea Hall, “Voluntary Simplicity, Joyful Frugality” YRUU Lea Hall, Ph.D., of Sarasota, FL, is author of “ Ecoliteracy” and “ Imaginary End- 6-8 PM ings.” She practices yoga and Buddhist meditation. She is the Green Team

co-chair of the UU Church of Sarasota, District representative for UU Ministry FIND US AT: 11648 MC CULLOCH RD. for Earth and is a University of FL/Sarasota County Master Gardener. As we ORLANDO, FLORIDA consider the question of “how much is enough,” we will have an opportunity to share ideas with a talk-back session. Lea has agreed to meet with anyone CORRESPONDENCE: interested after the service on the topic of “green buildings.” UUUS PO BOX 780997 Sept. 16th - Rev. John Higgins, “Jenkin Lloyd Jones and Modern Uni- ORLANDO, FL 32878-0997 tarianism” Rev. Higgins is a consulting minister at the Friendship UU Church in Rockledge. Rev. Higgins serves on the board of the American Hu- 407 737-4018 manist Association, is president of the Indian River Humanist Assoc. and foun- der of the Interfaith Alliance of Brevard County. VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.universityuus.org Sept. 23 - Water Communion and Welcoming Ceremony, conducted Inside this issue: by Gretchen Hobby and Evelyn Chiland-Long As water connects and nourishes all life, we celebrate our connection and abundance in this annual Programs for September 1 ritual. As we join our waters together, we share our inner and outer journeys. Work Day 2 We also welcome new members at this time as we are renewed by their pres- Trustee Tidbits 2 ence in our communal sharing. Please bring a small container of actual Alliance Programs 3 or symbolic water from your travels this past year to be combined Adult RE, Derrie Frost 3 during the ceremony. Calendar of Events 4 Groups, Clubs, Meetings 5 Sept. 30 - Khantijayo Bhikkhu, “Truth as Refuge” Khantijayo Bhikkhu RE News, Evensong 6 is a Buddhist monk associated with the new Kissimmee Theravada Buddhist Spiritual Movie Night 6 Temple. This presentation is on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, de- Farewell Message 6 scribed by the Buddha as the Refuge of Truth (Dhamma) to be found in one- Emailing of Connection 6 self. It is a reflection on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation Business of Qrtly Meeting 7 (insight – Vipassana) and why there is the promise of benefit and Liberation Directory on Back Cover 8 for any who would practice and develop it. PAGE 2 THE CONNECTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9

WORK DAY SATURDAY, SEPT. 22

9:00 AM to exhaustion or boredom…. no later than noon

Our garden and landscaping need attention and/or new infusions of color. General pick-up and clean-up opportunities as well as possible planting. Other locations needing attention as well. No experience necessary. All helpers will be appreciated. Please forward your ideas or comments to : John McCormack, chair of the Facilities Committee .

CONGRATULATIONS TO BECKY SA NDRIK!! We were thrilled to learn that Becky, having survived an extremely serious accident on December 30, 2006, was able to return to her nursing school in May and graduated in August! We wish her well and are eager to see her bright, smiling face at services, when- ever she is able!

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS Joan Lund

September is an important month in our congregational lives. Often it is the time we look forward to a new church year, initiating new activities and programs. Perhaps it is a time for your group to welcome new members to your board of trustees. Whatever you are doing for a great year I wish you the best. In the past I have written about the Partner Church Council and the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), part of our work as U*Us on the international scene. This month I hope to interest you and your congregation in the work of the Interna- tional Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU). ICUU is a network of Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist organizations. Member groups come from 23 countries. This organization of Unitarian and Universalist societies from around the world seeks to strengthen the worldwide network of Unitarian, Universalist, and U*U organizations. About a dozen years old, the ICUU has met every two years around the world to experience specific programs designed to foster and nurture better international understanding among all members of the global community. The organization is growing steadily and members include national organizations such as the UUA and the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC). In addition to these two North American organizations, many North Americans are aware of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church, the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches in Britain, and the Religious Society of Czech Uni- tarians. The member groups of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, affirm their belief in reli- gious community based on: liberty of conscience and individual thought in matters of faith, the inherent worth and dignity of every person, justice and compassion in human relations, responsible steward ship of the earth’s living sys- tem, and commitment to democratic principles. This coming November the biennial meeting of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists will bring together congregations and groups from all over the world - from North East India, Philippines, Canada, Roma- nia, Germany, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Africa, South America, United States, and more. The purpose of the meeting will be to conduct the business of the ICUU member groups. And there will be much more: special religious celebrations, services, sharing, discussion, cultural events, and workshops. Our congregations are local liberal religious communities; our communities are linked to other liberal religious communities around the world. I hope your congregation will choose to discover the connections and the relationships and add dimension, vision, and qual- ity to your congregation by becoming a member of the ICUU. Contact me for further information, your questions, and concerns: [email protected]. Thanks for your support. VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9 THE CONNECTION PAGE 3 Alliance Programs, September 2007

We welcome you even if you don’t want to ‘sort and price for the Continuing Bazaar!’ Come and learn about some optional activities we’re exploring! Bring your needlework, knitting or a deck of cards, and socialize either before or after our lunch at noon. Would you be interested in a book group? A conversation, and shar- ing of your art projects? Is there someone who would like to teach us calligraphy? We hope you’ll stop by the church some Tuesday between 10:30 and 1:00 and check out the Alliance. Bring your ideas and your lunch. It’ll be a good time!

September 4 10:30 Sort and Price for Continuing Bazaar 11:00 Board Meeting Noon Lunch, Board Report

September 11 10:30 Sort and Price for Continuing Bazaar 11:30 Eat out at Lam’s Gardens, Colonial Drive near Bumby

September 18 10:30 Sort and Price for Continuing Bazaar, make sandwiches for the homeless. Noon Lunch and conversation

September 25 10:30 Continuing Bazaar Noon Lunch, and Winnie Tyler will speak about her experiences almost two years after the hurricane, “Katrina Revisited”

Nancy Kellman & Jean Siegfried Programs

I am very sorry to share some sad news. Derrie UUUS Breakfast Club...Adult RE passed away at home on Tuesday, August 7, 2007. The UUUS Breakfast Club continues each Sunday to have lively discus- She was diagnosed with an sions on various subjects of a meta- aggressive cancer a few weeks ago. She was acutely physical nature. Last week we had ill for only a few days, 13 attendees! On Sunday, August and her doctors made sure 26, we begin a discussion of “The that she was as comfortable Universe In A Single Atom,” by the as possible. Her two sons, Dalai Lama. (copies are available in Larry and Peter, and I the church office for $12). If you were with her when she died. Derrie and Jack Frost want to enjoy a hearty breakfast and spirited discussions, join us I have requested that no memorial be held but that each Sunday at 9 am, at the Holiday friends and family remember Derrie as the vibrant and Inn Select dining room, near the in- energetic woman with whom I shared my life for over 60 tersection of University Blvd. and years. Alafaya Trail. Jack Frost Roy Scherer, Adult RE PAGE 4 THE CONNECTION VO LUME 15, ISSUE 9 September 2007 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Ongoing: 9 a Adult RE 1 9:30 a kids RE 10:30a service 12:30p Young Adult service 6-8 p YRUU

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Investment LABOR Group 12 pm DAY

Board Meet- YRUU 6-8 p ing 7pm

9 10 11 12 ROSH 13 14 15 Potluck HASHANAH Spiritual Movie YRUU So- Night 5:30 pm “The Secret” cial Action YRUU 6-8 p Doggie Dog CON RAMADAN CON continues

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Work Day Council Lunch Bunch 9 am - 12 pm YRUU Book Discus- Meeting 12 p Noon Trans In CON at sion Group Vero Beach 10 am CON ends Spiritual Ex- Trans In CON 9:30 am plorers 7pm YOM KIPPUR continues

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

YRUU 6-8 p

FALL EQUI- NOX

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YRUU 6-8 p VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9 THE CONNECTION PAGE 5 GROUPS, CLUBS, MEETINGS:

Book Discussion Group Meeting: This group regularly meets on the 4th Saturday of each month. Uni- versity UUS Book Discussion Group will meet Saturday, September 22nd, 10 am at the church. The book that will be discussed this month is, “Letter to a Christian Nation,” by Sam Harris. Please contact Steve Hall with any questions: [email protected]

Spiritual Explorers Covenant Group: The Spiritual Explorers will meet on Wednesday evening, Sept. 19th, at 7 pm. We will center in the sounds of a quartz bowl and surf the higher dimensions. Please join us. Contact Judy Minear for more information: [email protected]

Lunch Bunch: The Lunch Bunch returns from its summer vacation with a meeting in September. This group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, making sandwiches and enjoying a variety of speak- ers. The September meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 19th. They welcome Diane Miller as their guest speaker, who will present a photo journey of the back roads of France. Join them at noon at the Clubhouse at Winter Park Towers, Club 24, 1824 Summerfield Road.

The UUUS Women’s Group: The Women’s Group meets on the last Friday of the month. Please e- mail [email protected] or call the church office for more information! We really hope you will join us!

Investment Group: The purpose of this group is to examine the current and future trends in the stock, bond, currency and other financial markets. The resulting information is intended to assist participants in maximizing the return from their own investment portfolio. Meetings are usually held at 12 noon, follow- ing the service, on the first Sunday of each month. You are invited to join us! For further information, please contact Bill Long via email at [email protected]

Circle Suppers: Due to the move of Janet and Allan March, we have no one heading up our circle/first Saturday suppers! If you are able to take on the organization of this wonderful monthly event, please let Chris Reid know. (You are not responsible for hosting each month, only identifying a host/hostess and helping to organize the gathering.) This is a great way to get to know more people, have a delicious meal and make those connections that we all need.

Zen Meditation... We have enjoyed this group during the summer months, but now that school has be- gun, the Zen group will no longer be meeting. Thanks for your participation!

Wanted!!! Alive and Kicking

The UUU is seeking people to get involved in learning how to operate the audio and computer equipment during services. We have Nathan Hyatt, our new resident expert, who will sit with you as you actually learn while doing a service. A short cheat sheet as well as a more detailed manual be able to do the audio service so that it doesn’t all fall on one person, like our beloved but over- worked Link Christensen! There is a sign up sheet. Please see Gary Przyborski or Nathan Hyatt. PAGE 6 THE CONNECTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9

RE Needs: Our children’s RE program has a list of recycled items that they would like to collect, for use during the coming year. If you have any of the items, or any other unwanted craft supplies, consider bringing them in to share with our RE program.

One copy paper box with lid, one shoe box for every child, juice cans, twist ties, material remnants, old socks, foam trays, magazines, yarn, newspaper, paper bags, and any other unwanted craft supplies.

We will put a large box in the front corner of the sanctuary, near the flag. If you have larger items, just bring them back to the RE rooms. Thanks for your participation and support!

The Fall RE schedule will begin the weekend after Labor Day. We are excited to begin a new curricu- lum. If you are interested in participating as a teacher or being active on the RE committee, please con- tact Stephanie Dryden: [email protected]

Evensong….

Eric Christensen will be leading an eight-week series of gatherings entitled Evensong. This pro- gram is an opportunity to build community and spiritual connections through shared readings and discussions. Anyone interested in attending, please contact Eric ([email protected]) or call 407 365-7225. The dates and times are to be determined based on interest.

Spiritual movie night…

Kim Williams will be hosting a Spiritual Movie Night at UUUS once a month beginning on September 12th at 5:30 pm, as a way to gather like-minded individuals who want to experience films that inspire, uplift and empower humanity. The first film explores “The Secret” that supposedly brought success to such greats as Plato, Leonardo de Vinci, Albert Einstein and Andrew Carnegie. In this video, “The Secret” is re- vealed and taught by over 50 teachers, including writers, philosophers, doctors and scientists, to empower viewers to achieve success in their careers, relationships and health. Bring your dinner and stay for dis- cussion after the film. Titles to follow will include: Deepak Chopra’s films “How to know God” and “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success;” also “Pass it on,” “Conversations with God” and “The Indigo Evolu- tion.” Call Kim with any suggestions. Future dates to be announced.

A SAD FAREWELL…. We had a lovely Potluck after services on August 12th and “roasted” the two fami- lies who are leaving us for Gainesville! We will surely miss Allan and Janet March , who have both given so much of their time and talents to our congregation, from the “hostess with the mostest” to the presi- dency! Shannon, Bill and Harrison Coleman have been equally involved, providing new insight, energy and ideas for the running of the congregation to paving the way as the first church administrative assis- tant. Harrison has been the congregation’s baby...we all helped raise him! We will miss you all and wish you happiness and success as you follow your dreams! Don’t forget to visit us.

THE CONNECTION TO BE EMAILED TO ALL WITH ACTIVE EMAIL ACCOUNTS…. In order to be more environmentally friendly and to save on postage we are working on hav- ing the monthly Connection automatically emailed to anyone with an active email account. If you still want a printed copy to be picked up or mailed to you, please notify the office. PAGE 7 THE CONNECTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9 Business from the Quarterly Meeting, held August 19, 2007:

The Building Expansion Committee (chaired by Dave Symonds) presented the floor plan that has been de- veloped by the Committee, who would like congregational approval to proceed with cost estimates based on this floor plan. There was a 20 minute discussion that included an explanation of the features of the addition, the committee’s desire to create and build an energy efficient, low impact structure that would take into consideration many elements of “green” building concepts, but not include “green certification,” and what that meant, as well as the committee’s desire for someone to join them who might have “green” experience to help them make these choices. There was good involvement in the discussion and many items were addressed and discussed. The question was raised that it might be better to wait for more representation (a quorum was present) before accepting this plan and moving forward. The congregation (with either 1 or 2 objecting) voiced their willingness to proceed with the approval of the plan as pre- sented, enabling the committee to move forward with cost estimates, etc. If you are interested in being an active member of the Building Extension Committee, please contact Dave Symonds.

As a congregation, we discussed the changes made to the proposed Membership Covenant first presented at the Annual Meeting in May. Additional changes were adopted. The final result, as adopted by the con- gregation at the Quarterly Meeting, is as follows:

Membership Covenant

As members of UUUS, we covenant with one another to:

1) Participate in UUUS’s communal activities. Our worship services, celebrations, festivals, and other rituals are wonderful opportunities for reflection and life-long learning because our diverse members and guests make them so. The presence of each member enriches our shared experi- ences as a community and helps make UUUS an active, vibrant congregation. 2) Help UUUS operate . We organize services, manage church finances, teach religious education classes, volunteer for kitchen duty, distribute information, clean and repair facilities, and much more. We share our time and talents as regularly as possible. 3) Care for fellow members and our larger community. We care for one another through indi- vidual action and the care-related services of our church. Our congregation also is enhanced by our members’ service to local communities. 4) Respect one another’s beliefs and differences. We value the opportunity to hear and learn from people of different backgrounds, including different religions. We accept and embrace one another and demonstrate tolerance. 5) Value children . Through religious education classes and UUUS rituals and service, we involve our children in activities that model the behaviors and value of caring, learning, and spiritual reflec- tion. 6) Ensure our church’s financial health. Regular contributions from members allow us to maintain our facilities, support church programs and projects, and pay annual dues to the Unitarian Univer- salist Association. Each of us contributes his or her fair share.

Additional business included passing a motion that limits the numbers of charities to be included in our Share the Plate program to 4 per year and that these 4 will be selected annually at our August Quarterly Meeting, based on congregational input and subsequent research by the Social Concerns Committee. The four charities that were approved by the congregation for the coming year are: Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Office for Farm Worker Ministry/Farm Workers of Apopka, Planned Parenthood of Cen- tral Florida and the Greater Orlando Food Bank. UNIVERSITY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY, INC.

PO Box 780997 Orlando, Florida 32878-0997

Phone: 407 737-4018 Email: [email protected] Website: www.universityuus.org

Summer RE Magic with David McElroy

Directory of University Unitarian Communications Universalist Society Webmaster...Gary Przyborski… [email protected] UUUS Board Newsletter...Chris [email protected] President Rachel Christensen...highgear3@gmail. Information Tech Mgr...Paul Gabriel Rowley… com [email protected] Vice President Chris [email protected] Secretary Youth Treasurer Bill [email protected] Owl...Kim Carter-Williams… Trustee [email protected] Trustee Dave [email protected] YRUU...Eric [email protected] Trustee Joie [email protected] YRUU...Cleveland Williams… Past President Allan [email protected] [email protected] YRUU...Bruce [email protected] Administrator: Kim Carter-Williams… [email protected] Young Adults/Campus Ministry Liz [email protected] Committee Chairs Facilities...John [email protected] Activities Finance...Julie [email protected] Book Discussion...Steve Hall… Hospitality...Ann [email protected] [email protected] Member Concerns...Evelyn Chiland-Long… Chess Club...Paul [email protected] [email protected] Circle Suppers...Janet [email protected] Programs...Judy [email protected] Great Decisions...Kate [email protected] Public Relations...Gary Przyborski… Investment Group...Bill [email protected] [email protected] Religious Education...Stephanie Dryden… Lunch Bunch...Eileen Aist (contact church office) [email protected] Spiritual Explorer’s...Judy Minear… Adult RE...Roy [email protected] [email protected] Social Concerns/Green Sanctuary...Paul Gabriel Women’s Group...Christina Miller… [email protected] [email protected]