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June 2003

The Annual Meeting of the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will be held at 9:30 am on June 1, 2003, at the Oberlin Early Childhood Center, 317 East College Street, Oberlin, Ohio. See sidebar schedule for details...

The Savior is on my mind as we find ourselves (finally) perched on the edge of summer here on the North Shore. The savior I'm thinking of comes not from a manger in Bethlehem, but a public housing complex in Akron.

One need not be a sports enthusi- ast to know that LeBron James - eigh- teen-year-old basketball phenomenon and certain first-round draft pick of the perennially underachieving Cleve- land Cavaliers - is being spoken of in terms usually reserved for royal- ty, if not deity. The Cavs, you see, were in grave danger of not just another losing season, but of being moved to another city. By drawing the first pick in the National Basketball Association's draft lottery last Thursday, LeBron James is being hailed as the savior of the fran- chise, not to mention the many "feed- er" businesses that rely upon the Cavs for their existence: bars, res- taurants, sports merchandise stores, media advertising, etc. Season ticket sales are brisk, LeBron has signed a $100 million dollar shoe contract and networks are lining up to broadcast Cavs games. In short, things are looking good for professional basketball in Cleveland.

It's a cold heart, indeed, that would begrudge LeBron James his wealth and success; all indications are that his life has not been an easy one, that he is mind-boggling in terms of ability and that he has a good grasp of reality for one of such youth and good fortune. His rise from poverty to riches is the stuff of the American dream. (And God knows, the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers are due for some good luck!)

Yet, even a rabid sports fan like myself might feel a little queasy about the amount of money and atten- tion being heaped upon young LeBron. It's a vague, nagging notion - some- thing to do with the priorities of a people who value professional ath- letes to the extent that entire local economies are affected. It's some- thing to do with the fact that about the time LeBron and his teammates begin the exhibition season next fall, Cleveland's homeless will be scouting for a warm place to sleep. It's something to do with the fact that while the real estate surround- ing Gund Arena jumped in price last Thursday evening, the public schools in East Cleveland cut yet more admin- istrators and teachers due to the on- going erosion of the district's tax base.

I'm not interested in casting aspersions on LeBron James, but I am interested in the cultural norms laid bare by his incredible success. Frankly, I fear that the crowning of our latest savior is another indicat- ion of a value vacuum - a disconnect between some critical mass of Ameri- cans and the notion of a greater good. If so, LeBron's outrageous financial clout says more about us than it ever does about him.

Something to ponder. So much for a light start to my summer break...

Per our contract with Don, July and August will be his combined vacation and time for continuing education. He will remain available for emergencies and rites of passage, and can be reached at home, 440-366-1027 or lakeview @ eriecoast . com .

Indeed, save some water from your summer travels! We'll begin the 2003- 04 fellowship year (on September 7) with the ritual known as the Water Service, combining our water samples as we celebrate our Ingathering.

Olmsted UU Congregation invites us to an intergenerational swim/cookout/ bonfire on June 7th and a tri-congregation camping weekend at Findley State Park on July 26-27.

Further details in the Announce- ments in the Order of Service, or in the Summer 2003 CHALICE.

On Tuesday, July 2, from about 9am to 3pm, Oberlin youth who attend various churches have an opportunity to visit and volunteer at Crown Point Ecology Center in Bath, Ohio. Crown Point is a 130 acre organic farm sponsored by the Sisters of Dominic of Akron. Its mission is to connect spirituality with practical appli- cations of ecology and simple living. Tasks likely for the youth to take part in may be sheep care, transplanting, or land- scaping. Kim will have details soon and will be contacting youth aged 13 and older. We will be organizing carpooling. Kids will need to pack a lunch. See Kim Peters for further details!

inally, I would like to thank Kerry Langan, Rebecca Cross, Barbara Fuchsman, Phyllis Smith, Peg Tucker, Katie Styer, Ed Miller and Keith Koenning for their dedication to our youth and children this year. YOU ALL ARE AMAZING!! We all really appreci- ate the hours of planning, creating and interaction you provided for our kids! Our Unitarian Universalist values are so key to share with one another. I thank you deeply for your efforts! I also want to thank all our families for caring enough to bring your children and youth to us for Religious Education classes. Together we are building a solid, creative, thoughtful community.

Various members of the Board have been busy writing new sections of the by-laws concerning the Committee on Ministry and the Social Action Com- mittee. Others are putting together an agenda for the Annual Meeting.

The Minister Assessment form, pro- duced by Janet Hutchison, Cal Frye and Barbara Fuchsman, was reviewed. Cal Frye, Jo Huber, and Don Rollins are working on the Mission-Covenant statements.

Barbara Fuchsman reported on the OMD annual meeting. Our annual dues to the OMD will increase.

Kim Peters reported on the progress made toward recruiting teachers. Some classes have teachers, but not all. It looks unlikely that we will have the luxury of having two teachers per class this year.

Folks, after careful consideration of the results of the survey and keeping in mind the work of past OUUF statements of mission, combined with our desire to craft a statement both vital and ringing, we (Don Rollins, Jo Huber, and Cal Frye) have arrived at the following draft statements for your consideration:

MISSION

The Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship exists to promote religious freedom with responsibility, to support each other with compassion, and to serve peace with justice.

COVENANT

We the members and friends of the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship covenant to live together in our quest for truth, love, social justice, and environmental responsibility. In this spirit of caring fellowship, we offer our combined gifts and resources.

The Annual Meeting of the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will be held at 9:30 am on June 1, 2003, at the Oberlin Early Childhood Center, 317 East College Street, Oberlin, Ohio. Besides the usual im- portant business of electing offi- cers, approving a budget and receiv- ing reports, OUUF will be considering adoption of policies that will lay out the OUUF course of for some time to come. All members are requested to attend; friends are also invited, al- though voting is limited to members.

Shortened to accommodate our Annual Meeting and picnic, this service is centered around folk music. Got per- cussion? Bring or make something to shake, rattle or plunk! All are welcome.

Our Sunday School classes will show us what they've been up to over the past church year. Some audience part- icipation required. All are welcome.

Don's last OUUF service for this fellowship year centers around selected letters written to his father across the years. We'll speak the names of the men whom we call father, living or dead, and revisit the vocation of fatherhood itself. All are welcome.

Through a short video clip and dis- cussion, we will explore the pres- sures on today's boys, and the chal- lenges of raising them. All are welcome.

Christopher Reeve is a UU, played the movie Superman, and became paralyzed from the neck down in a riding acci- dent. He intends his book, Nothing is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life, to serve as an inspirational primer for otherwise able-bodied individuals who may be thwarted by mental rather than physical wounds.

John Allton of the Sandusky UU Fellowship has asked that we read Reed's book to prepare for this service. We welcome John to the Fellowship pulpit. All are welcome.

Over the years John Marshall has provided many OUUF presentations based on his profession as a family counselor. He will be talking about the serious disorder of depression. All are welcome.

Once again OUUFers and friends are invited to share their favorite poems -- serious, funny, seasonal, eternal, spiritual, earthy. All are welcome.

We do not have information on this Forum at press time. Look for updates in the Announcements portion of the Order of Service or by email.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

As Oberlin transitions into its summertime lull with the college students gone, our Fellowship con- tinues with full children and youth programming throughout the month. This is what it looks like:

June 1 9:30 am ANNUAL MEETING - all members requested to attend, friends also invited (although without a vote). Maya S. and Lily have planned some group games during this hour as teachers will attend the meeting.
11 am Don Rollins leads a short service.
12 noon POTLUCK PICNIC on OECC grounds. Bring a dish to pass!

June 8 9:30 am RE class rehearsal for presentation at 11 am service.
11 am Kids' service, RE class presentations!

June 15 9:30 am Father's Day activity with Peg Tucker
11 am Don Rollins leads service

June 22 9:30 am Music with Andy Frantz
11 am Supervised childcare: adults still needed to volunteer their time!

June 29 9:30 am Games the UU way! Kim Peters will be leading games that use our UU principles and purposes.
11 am Supervised childcare: adults still needed to volunteer their time.