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Contents

• Services
• Editorial
• Announcements
• Calendar
• R. E. News

NOTE that:

• Back issues are available.
• Policies for submissions, etc. will soon be available.
• In order to put the Unigram up each issue, we're being "unpolished" with formatting in the web version.
• As an adjunct to the Table of Contents above, most web browsers have a command (such as EDIT-FIND) which will search for a word or phrase.
• Your comments always welcomed.

Services

Across many religions, it is traditional at this time of year to reflect on the endings and changes in our lives. In this service we will memorialize our beloved dead, embrace our hope for healing, and give thanks for the grace which is so often ours, despite life's vicissitudes.

9:30am Forum: Ego

Unitarianism has deep roots. Institutional Unitarianism originally emerged in Transylvania during the Protestant Reformation of the fifteenth century. As Unitarian Universalists in North America in this century our Association and our congregation are in partnering relationships with our contemporary Unitarian cousins in Romania. What is the engaging story of this important part our own history and what are we doing together to ensure the future?

9:30am Forum: Creativity
 

Editorial

As I drove across the state this weekend I marveled at the turning of the leaves and the change of the season. It is true that all time is changing, and we with it, but in the fall we seem to be more aware of it than usual. Perhaps its the way trees transform into beautiful colors, or the weather cooling until first frost. But even as we are drawn into change we are also able to pause and reflect on the various transformations happening in our lives.

As a congregation we have recently experienced the deaths of a number of members or their family members. I want to thank everyone for their support of those in grief and the staff as we all minister to each other. I find it fitting that will be celebrating our All Souls Service this Sunday in which we will memorialize our beloved dead, embrace the hope for healing and give thanks for the grace which is so often ours despite life's vicissitudes. I hope that you will enter with all of us in this opportunity for reflection and renewal.

While Fall is a season of endings it also holds the potentials of renewal. In the Celtic Pagan calendar, Samhain (souwin), or All Halloweds' Eve, October 31^st, marks the end of the old year and anticipates the new year. But the day itself is seen as neither old or new year, but a time between times, when all the normal rules of life may not apply. In psychology this is seen a the plastic state of experience that comes after some dis integration in our life and before a re-integration takes place. In mythology it is the realm of chaos which all creation returns to after death and is re-born out of. It is the dark labyrinth the hero/heroine enters to confront the shadows there.

I am more and more certain each passing year that our American social calendar has created for us a period of time which acts upon us like this, but instead of it being only one day, it lasts for two months, starting with Halloween, climaxing in the re-birth and renewal holidays of Yule, Hanukah, Christmas, and Kwanza, and ending with our Western New Years celebration.

I think this explains better that anything else I have found, the level of psychological, emotional, and spiritual distress and awe we equate with the Holiday season and the sheer relief when it is over. As with death, our daily rituals and patterns fall away and we are forced by circumstances to re-engage with memories, places and people that are not part of our everyday experiences. The walls of daily familiarity are breached and we are vulnerable. Like the trees whose leaves are falling and leave them naked to the wind, we too feel newly exposed to the elements of existence.

This is why communal and family rituals and holiday celebrations are important to so many of us to cope with grief or changes. They give us a ship and compass in what feels like a rising sea of chaos. But they are also part of the pattern through which we may find hope.

We are in sacred time. In our vulnerability we have access to new perspectives and opportunities to encounter that which is beyond our everyday experience. We have access to the possibilities of renewal. As we begin the down hill sled ride through this season of accelerated change let us be open to its possibilities even as we look to each other for support, healing, reassurance and the pleasure of someone to share it with.

Announcements

On October 3 the congregation voted to accept the recommendations of the Endowment Study Committee and established an Endowment Committee. The board voted at the October 11^th meeting to call a congregational meeting for Sunday November 21 to vote on the recommendations of the Nominating Committee for this committee. This will be a short meeting, but one of importance in establishing the future of our congregation. Don Mohr is chairing the Nominating Committee and solicits your recommendations.

Administrator's Note:

Just a few reminders:

Committee Chairs:

Please be sure to schedule your meetings in a timely manner if you wish to have them listed in the calendar printed in the Unigram and Sunday order of service. In order for a separate item with meeting details to be listed, I must receive a written announcement from you.

If you and your committee members do not have copies of "Red Tape and Other Fun Stuff," PLEASE see me and get one.

Calendar Reservations:

If you or your group has reserved building space on the calendar, please let me know when an event is cancelled or when meeting times and frequencies change. We have lost paying customers because scheduled events have not taken place.

Money Matters:

Please direct requests for reimbursements and bills to be paid to me, Laura Ingram.

Partners in Dialogue Interfaith Potluck

All are invited on Thursday, November 4, at the SGI Community Center 1911 Hampton. Dinner at 6:30; Program at 7. Video, panel and small group discussion on the nature and causes of violence and faith based responses to violence. For more information see Judy Turnipseed, 252-9000.

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You can still start Talking about God

The 7-week video/discussion series "Talking About God" is being led by Rev. Price twice daily on Wednesdays through November 3 in the Social Hall. Everybody has an idea of God—even those who don't believe. But we seldom talk about our ideas and experiences of God. We can change that! This dynamic video series features major scholars, teachers and activists such as Jesus Seminar scholar Marcus Borg; Black Liberation Theologian, James Cone; Bishop John Shelby Spong and activist Janet Wolf .

This series is part of our brown bag Lunch Time Learning series of programs on most Wednesdays, from noon until 2pm. Evening classes will meet Wednesdays from 7 to 9pm. Materials fee is $4 per session. As usual fees maybe waived upon request. For more information contact Rev. Price.

Finance News

UUFC Holiday Greeting Cards

UUFC-specific holiday greeting cards will be available in November. These cards come in various styles and are simple and elegant. One example card has the chalice on the outside and the saying "Make of our lives a bridge, make of our circle one embrace, to cross in the night, to bring us grace." If you are interested call Terry Shaw or any finance committee member.

Annual Bazaar

Remember our Bazaar on Saturday, November 27, 10am-4pm. Sign-up sheet for helpers is in the social hall. Please also join us for lunch. Will Moredock is making his famous "flaming" crepes.

Endowment Committee Members Sought

The Nominating Committee is looking for four people to serve on our new Endowment Committee!! We need:

*a person to chair the committee from the date of the election until July 1, 2000. If you would like to serve in the future, it is possible that you can be re-elected for another term.

*one person who will serve on the committee from the date of the election until July 1, 2000. If you would like to serve in the future, it is possible that you can be re-elected for another term.

*one person to serve on the Committee from the date of the election until July 1, 2001.

*and one person to serve on the Committee from the date of the election until July 1, 2002.

In many ways the Endowment Committee will help us to create our future. To be a member you don't have to be an expert in the stock market. You do need to be deeply committed to our fellowship and be willing to spend a little time deciding how we should best use our resources.

If you are willing to take on this important role or if you know someone you think would be a good person to serve on the Endowment Committee, please contact the UUFC office or a member of the Nominating Committee: Carita Barr, Sandra Carnesale, Kay Gregory-White, Mary Maclachlan, or Don Mohr. We need your nominations no later than November 7, 1999.

The new and improved University Unitarian Universalists (U3) are meeting at 7pm every other Sunday for worship, sharing, companionship and service work. For more information contact U3 President, Abby McKee, or Rev. Patrick Price, 799-0845.

Dance Choir will perform at the following services: December 19 and March 5. If you are interested in being part of this group but wish to make a commitment for only one or two pieces, please call Loren. We meet Thursdays in the social hall at 7pm.

To facilitate communication between members of the Fellowship we are doing a SERVICE AND INTEREST SURVEY. If you did not yet turn in your questionnaire, please do so soon. The form is available on Sunday morning in the Foyer and Social Hall. There is a blue plastic basket in the Foyer where you can deposit the completed form. For questions or comments, please call Gertrude Edge.
 
 

This has been a season of sadness and loss for our Fellowship. Perhaps the following tender tribute to Howard by Fund contributor Laury Christie-Vaughn can speak both to the particular and simultaneously to the larger experience of us all treasuring those who have touched our lives and for whom we feel individually thankful.

Lee Minghi, for the Boozer Fund Committee
 

Elegy for Howard
by Laury Christie-Vaughn

Wisdom
reflected in the
twinkle of
blue eyes.
Rhythmic humor in a mellow voice
sending sounds
of
laughter, chuckles
about
what's behind, behind
Life's absurdities.
An artist
in the
art
of conversation-storytelling.
Life's "unmeasured moments:
can only be shared with a
true friend.
Thank you for those moments,
Howard.

Contributions for this endowment continue to be welcomed, clearly marked either via the collection plate or directly to the UUFC office. Thank you.
 
 
 
 

Have You Missed a Service that all your friends are raving about? Do you want to argue a point of theology with Patrick but can't remember exactly what he said?

Most recent and many older sermons by Rev. Price, members of our congregation, visiting ministers, and outside speakers are available for purchase in both paper copies and on cassette tape. In addition, a handful of videotaped service are available for borrowing.

See the display in the social hall after Sunday service, or call the office, if you are interested in having copies of past sermons.

Laura and Patrick would like to express their appreciation to Jessica Porter, who is managing the production and distribution of this long-awaited resource. Thanks, Jessica!

In the past few weeks we have had a number of visitors to our Sunday services who have said they want to know more about Unitarian Universalism. It is important that those who come seeking us out feel welcome and at home. I also want to be available to meet with them if I can.

To help, first I need the assistance of each member present, to make sure that anyone unfamiliar to you is greeted warmly. When someone is left standing alone at the coffee hour, it is a sign that as a congregation we are not as welcoming as we might be.

Second, I am asking that the greeters interrupt me if I am talking with a member and introduce me to a visitor. I ask that you and I try to keep our conversations short and that we make arrangements for a time when we can have more discussion other than at coffee hour. I want to have enough time with each of you and am eager to make appointments to discuss what is on your heart and mind. I also wish to meet our guests and hope you will help me do so.

Patrick
 

Calendar

Wednesday, October 27

12noon Talking about God

6:00pm Worship Committee

7:00pm Talking about God

7:00pm Long-Range Planning

Thursday, October 28

7:00pm Dance Choir

7:00pm Guitar Group

7:00pm Covenant of UU Pagans

Friday, October 29

Office Closed

5:00pm Private Rental—Sanctuary/Social Hall

Saturday, October 30

6:00pm Private Ritual in Social Hall

Sunday, October 31

8:00am Meditation in the Library

9:30am Forum

11:00am All Souls Service

Wednesday, November 3

12noon Talking about God

6:30pm Rise Up and Call Her Name

7:00pm Talking about God

Thursday, November 4

7:00pm Covenant of UU Pagans

7:30pm Social Hall Rental

Saturday, November 6

7:30pm Coffee House: Caroline Aiken

w/ Ruthie Foster
 
 

Sunday, November 7

8:00am Meditation in the Library

9:30am Choir Rehearsal

9:30am Forum

11:00am Worship Service

1:00pm Unigram deadline

7:000pm U3 -- USC UU Group at Russell House

Monday, November 8

6:00pm Board of Trustees

Tuesday, November 9

7:00pm More Cakes Group

6:30pm Social Hall Rental

7:00pm Guitar Group

7:00pm Covenant of UU Pagans

Friday, November 12

7:00pm Music Listening

Saturday, November 13

6:00pm Global PotLuck Fall Fling

$5 plus a dish to share

Sunday, November 14

9:30am Youth Adult Council

9:30am Forum

11:00am Worship Service

12:30pm Religious Education Council

Monday, November 15

7:00pm Playreaders

7:30pm Sierra Club

Tuesday, November 16

7:00pm Newcomers' Orientation

Wednesday, November 17

6:30pm Rise Up and Call Her Name

R. E. News

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