|
|
The Chalice
Newsletter of the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
August 2019
If you have announcements for The Chalice,
send them to office@ouuf.org at least one week before the first of the month.
Thank You!
|
|
==================
August 4
“Lammas”
Lisette and David Burwasser
This is the season of the first major harvest in Northern Hemisphere agriculture. Of course, there was a party. Join Lisette and David for a UU recreation of the annual Lammas festival. All are welcome.
“Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”
Rev. Mary Grigolia
Our 1st principle affirms the worth and dignity of every person; the 6th lifts up the goal of world community: Together, they call us to be good neighbors. What supports us in reaching beyond ourselves, beyond fear and political polarization? How are we reaching out? How might we reach out? This is Cause of the Month Sunday, welcoming a representative from El Centro.
August 18
“Authenticity”
Sarah King, Lisette Burwasser
Part of our UU values is encouragement to spiritual growth. Sarah King will share her spiritual journey in this service about Authenticity. All are welcome.
August 25
“Gathering the Waters”
Rev. Mary Grigolia
What waters have been sources or witnesses of renewal for you this summer? Bring water to add to the community pitcher.
The UU Kendal Gathering is on hiatus until September.
==================
Will Your After-Service Meeting Require Childcare?
We welcome all ages. This means offering childcare for all Sunday afternoon meetings at the Fellowship. We need your help to make this work: If your committee, group, or program is holding a Sunday afternoon meeting, please contact our Director of Religious Exploration, Meghan Ross (dre@ouuf.org) to request childcare.
Thank you!
|
|
|
OUUF Events Calendar
*events are in the OUUF building and times are PM unless otherwise specified*
For more information, and to see when rooms are reserved for private use,
1 Thu
7:00-8:30 NAMI Connections Group
7:00-9:00 Building Committee Meeting
2 Fri
12:00-1:00 Choir Rehearsal
3 Sat
4 Sun
10:30am Sunday Service, Religious Exploration
5 Mon
6:10-7:10 RE Committee Meeting
7:00-9:00 OUUF Men’s Group
6 Tue
1:00-2:00 Meditation
7 Wed
8 Thu
12:30 Meet and Eat, Quick and Delicious, 311 S Main St., Oberlin
9 Fri
12:00-1:00 Choir Rehearsal
2:30 Membership Committee Meeting
10 Sat
11 Sun
10:30am Sunday Service, Religious Exploration
12:15-1:30 Worthship Team Meeting
12 Mon
7:00-9:00 OUUF Men’s Group
13 Tue
6:00-7:00 Meditation
7:15-8:45 OUUF Board Meeting
14 Wed
15 Thu
7:00-8:30 NAMI Connections Group
16 Fri
12:00-1:00 Choir Rehearsal
17 Sat
18 Sun
10:30am Sunday Service, Religious Exploration
19 Mon
7:00-9:00 OUUF Men’s Group
20 Tue
1:00-2:00 Meditation
21 Wed
22 Thu
12:30 Meet and Eat, Langston Express at Kendal
23 Fri
12:00-1:00 Choir Rehearsal
24 Sat
25 Sun
10:30am Sunday Service, Religious Exploration
26 Mon
7:00-9:00 OUUF Men’s Group
27 Tue
6:00-7:00 Meditation
28 Wed
10:30am Sunday Service, Religious Exploration
29 Thu
30 Fri
12:00-1:00 Choir Rehearsal
31 Sat
|
|
Mary’s Musings 
The Pause That Refreshes:
Have you watched dragonflies today? Have you looked up from your tasks to notice the clouds drifting past? As we pass the midpoint of summer, these questions arise to keep us balanced as we prepare for a new cycle of growth, a new school year (no matter how old we are!). We are wired to notice and respond to threat. This keeps us alive. In contrast, we have to create habits of attention that root us in the joy of life. When I was raising young children, I used to daydream of going on silent retreat for a year (or three) to remember what balance felt like. Then my friend Robin would babysit my kids for the afternoon. I’d go roaming in the rose garden at the end of my street, not being productive, just present. Coming back to the house, I was renewed, refreshed, in balance again. Not a year. An hour! Today, I lose balance in an aggressive To Do list. I notice signs of imbalance: grumpinesss or a stiff back. How do we pause to refresh ourselves? I look up, at something beautiful. Sometimes I get up and stretch. Or get a glass of water. And let the focus go. And remember that I am part of all this, present and evolving around me and through me all day. Opening me again to the great spaciousness within me and all around us, waiting for us to pause. And then to play. Together.
|
|
August 2019 Cause of the Month
As part of our covenant with one another, OUUF members have made a commitment to live our values in the world through Causes of the Month, which we support through our offering.
********
As part of our covenant with one another, OUUF members have made a commitment to live our values in the world through Causes of the Month, which we support through our offering. The cause for August 2019 is El Centro.
Founded in 1974, El Centro de Servicios Sociales is Lorain County’s only bilingual nonprofit social service agency, focusing on meeting basic human needs, improving physical and mental health, and providing community development. Donations support running its food pantry, creating access to mental health services, offering summer workshops for low-income youth, offering citizenship exam classes, and much more.
|
|
|
Religious Exploration
August 2019
This summer has been a busy one! In Religious Exploration, we have continued our “Circle of Trees” program. We have learned how trees benefit humans, plants, and creatures the spiritual connection many people feel with trees. We also explored the difference one person can make through a visual essay on climate change and watching videos of Greta Thunberg and Wangari Maathai. The lovely weather has allowed us the opportunity to spend time in the Zen garden. Specials thanks to Helen for giving us an impromptu lesson on the names of the plants in the garden.
In August, we will wrap up “Circle of Trees” with a field trip to the John Bartram Arboretum at Kendal on August 18th. We will receive a guided tour of the arboretum from two Kendal residents who are members of the Arboretum Committee. Parents – watch your email for details about the field trip.
As a way to give back to the OUUF community, the children and youth decided to host coffee hour. Alice helped plan the menu and everyone chipped in to bring food. Thanks go to Zeke, Beth, and Alice for making the fruit salad and bagels, Calvin for crowd control, and Colleen for making the pinwheel sandwiches. All their hard work definitely made “RE Coffee Hour” a success!
Our Whole Lives
Our Whole Lives (OWL) for grades 7-9 will be offered this fall. OWL is a comprehensive, LGBTQ+ inclusive sexuality education class that was developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ. OWL offers:
-
Accurate information presented in developmentally appropriate ways
-
Affective and emotional learning
-
Guiding values and principles
-
Activities that help participants clarify values and improve decision-making skills
-
A safe and supportive peer group
-
Acceptance of diversity
Carmen Ramirez and Meghan Ross will facilitate the thirteen week class. Parent Orientation will be held on September 8th and classes will be held on Sunday evenings starting September 15th (time TBD). More information about OWL can be found here or in the brochures near the RE space. If you have questions or would like to register your child for OWL, please email Meghan at dre@ouuf.org . Space is limited.
Calling All Cooks and Kitchen Helpers! The Fellowship will be hosting the district Youth Adult Committee (YAC) planning retreat from August 9-11. YAC is the group responsible for planning Youth Conferences (weekend retreats) for middle and high school Unitarian Universalist youth. I am looking for folks to sign up to help cook a meal on August 10th for about 15 people. Three people are needed for each meal – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Menus, directions, and ingredients will be provided. All you need to do is show up and help prepare a meal for the amazing folks from YAC! A sign up sheet will be available in the Fellowship Hall or you can contact Meghan Ross at dre@ouuf.org to sign up.
*****
Be sure to stop by and explore all the books on our RE resource table outside the RE space!
|
|
|
Membership Matters
The five dimensions of our congregation’s mission are TRANSFORMING LIVES, CONNECTING, CARING, SERVING, and CELEBRATING.
When we reach out to people in the community and ask them to be involved in Sunday services or adult programming or social outreach works that we do, that is one way of living into this mission.
|
|
CLIMATE COVENANT CIRCLE
Spiritual Resilience for a Healthy Planet
Climate change represents an existential crisis to the interdependent web of which we are a part, and as a result to all other values that we hold dear. This threat requires action on all levels — the personal, the political, the institutional… and also the spiritual. How can we acknowledge and work past the despair and paralysis that come from facing such a huge problem? How can we build the personal and collective resources to respond compassionately and courageously to the needs of our planet and to those around us, both nearby and across the globe?
This covenant group will provide a nurturing space for those seeking to respond more effectively to our ecological and humanitarian crisis on all levels. This is not a study group or an activist group, but a place to explore our deepest fears, to nurture our courage and hope, and to support each other in acting out our values and convictions in the world.
Please join us for our first exploratory meeting on August 27th at 6:30 pm at the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Open to anyone who will commit to attend regularly, who seeks to face the existential crisis of climate change head on through spiritual courage, and who can gather in harmony with the 7 principles of Unitarian Universalism. (You do not need to be a Unitarian Universalist to attend, nor are you expected to become one!)
|
|
|
Mary’s Programs
Olmsted UU is located at 5050 Porter Rd., North Olmsted
West Shore UU is located at 20401 Hilliard Blvd, Rocky River
Sundays
Meditation with Mudras
at Olmsted UU
Not meeting in August
Hand positions to welcome intention and affirm harmony of body, mind and spirit. All are welcome.
Facilitated by Emily Williams.
Tuesday Meditation
at Oberlin UU
Tuesdays:
1-2 p.m., August 6 & 20
6-7 p.m., August 13 & 27
(Normally meeting on 1st, 3rd & 5th Tuesdays, 1-2 p.m.; 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 6-7 p.m.)
Meditation from the beautiful heart, drawing on many traditions.
Led by Rev. Mary and group members.
Care-Givers Support Group at Oberlin UU
Tuesday, August 27, 4:00-5:00
Do you care for a spouse, partner, parent, friend or child? Join us.
(4th Tuesdays, drop-in, meets monthly, all are welcome)
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Thursday Morning Meditation
at West Shore UU
August 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 10-11:30 a.m.
Drawing from many sources, facilitated by Rev. Mary and members of the group.
Dream Gruup
at Olmsted UU
Thursday, August 1, 2-3:30 p.m
(Usually held on 1st Thursdays)
Bring your dream journals, share a dream or a cameo or image, and explore together what you’re hearing from your deepest wisest self. All are welcome.
WISE Women Journaling Group at Olmsted UU Thursday, August 15, 2-3:30 p.m.
Bring your journals, laptops or tablets; we’ll respond to writing prompts from Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
WISE Women
at Olmsted UU
Thursday, August 22, 2-3:30 p.m.
We’ll listen to Clarissa Pinkola Estès, from The Power of the Crone.”
|
|
Thanks to all who share Joys and Concerns on Sunday mornings, drawing on the heart of community. This month, we lift up these transitions, challenges, concerns and joys:
We share the sad news of the death of Fellowship member, Karyl Lee. Karyl generously shared her love for art with members and friends of all ages. She was a devoted and long-time supporter of our Religious Exploration program for children and youth. She will be deeply missed. And her artwork in the Social Hall and the RE room will keep her visibly present for years to come. Tentative plans for a memorial celebration of her art and a silent auction of her artwork is the 3rd weekend in October in Spring St. park. We will also hold a service at the Fellowship, date to be announced.
Transpersonal joys shared this month included a Happy Asteroid Day (6/30) and the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing.
Transpersonal concerns included immigrant youth at risk; the terror to LatinX families of ICE raids; racist attacks by the President on four women in Congress; escalating climate crises, especially friends in the heat wave in Europe; earthquakes; roll back of rights for women and LGBTQ people.
Shared joys included: Katie C., who enjoyed the Baroque Performance Institute; Ran T. is newly back home in Oberlin.
We wish Gerlind J. well as she leaves Oberlin to care for her granddaughter in Florida.
We send thoughts of care and well-being to those living with chronic illness, adjusting to loss, living with financial stress, grieving the death of a loved one, caring for a loved one, recovering from or preparing for surgery, or in medical treatment: Elizabeth A.; Vi B., (on hospice); Thom C; Ann C-F.; Bill and Barbara F.; Jo H.; Sarah K., L.D.M., Mary Lee O.; Diantha P., Joanne R., Ran T.
Thanks to all who led services, contributed music, and stories for all ages in July – Kathleen C, Katie C., Rev. Mary, Josh H., Elizabeth R., Don L., Meghan R., Jeff W.
Thanks to all who set up on Sunday morning for coffee hour, those who brought food and cleaned up afterwards.
Thanks to all who serve on Committees and the Board.
Happy Birthday, August babies!
Let’s stay connected. If there’s someone you haven’t seen for awhile, please reach out with an email, a phone call or by sending a card, to let them know we care and miss them.
|
|
MORE ABOUT OUR
COMMITTEE & TEAM EVENTS
Worthship Team
Our mission is to facilitate worthship that is transformational for the individual, congregation, and beyond.
Our goals are: To respond to the needs of our community by creating services that draw on UU principles and sources, for guidance, wisdom and grounding.
To continue to lift up racial justice and participate in the UUA efforts to dismantle a culture of white supremacy.
To sponsor a training for service leaders, encouraging members to share their faith journeys and enabling continuing service leaders to hone their skills as service leaders
We meet on Sunday, August 11, at 12:15 in Rev. Mary’s office. All are welcome!
Care Team OUUF
Our mission is to visible the “spirit of caring fellowship”, facilitating care for members and friends in their times of need.
Adult Program Team
Our mission is to provide transformational adult programs for spiritual exploration and ethical living for members and friends of OUUF and the larger community.
Adult Program Team meets on Tuesday, August 27 at 7:15 p.m. in Rev. Mary’s office. All are welcome!
Meet and Eat
August 2019
UUs gather on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 12:30 pm to break bread together at a local restaurant. There’s no program, just informal sharing that helps build a sense of community. All are welcome! (Contact Elizabeth Aldrich, tobymccall@yahoo.com)
Thurs., Aug. 8, 12:30 pm at Quick & Delicious, 311 S. Main St., Oberlin.
Thurs., Aug. 22, 12:30 pm: Langston Express at Kendal. We’ll go through the cafeteria line, pay for our a la carte lunches, then take our trays to the Penn Room. Some of our Kendal members in the Stephens Care Center will join us.
|
|
|
Announcements
NAMI Connections Group
For adults (21 and older) living with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc. The group provides a safe place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and HOPE! Beginning February 2019 we meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. 7pm-8:30pm at the OUUF building. Trained facilitators, Richard & Christine. Register with NAMI office; 440-233-8181 ext 224. |
|
Social Justice News
In preparation for the annual report it was amazing to recount the work of the SJC this part year.
The energy and commitment of so many people engaged in social justice work prompted new
discussions, identified committee priorities, and yielded information about what is important and
what folks would like to delve into more deeply.
During our retreat we discovered that people had much to share. Those heartfelt discussions led
the agenda into different directions which revealed an urgency for many to ” do something”. This
phrase “do something” was repeated often during the retreat and throughout the year. Because of
the work done this past year, the SJC is committed to increasing their “do something” work in
the coming year.
As a Fellowship, we have been fortunate to have the leadership of L.D. Moore and Mary
Grigolia in increasing awareness of racial justice issues. Through robust discussions and Sunday
services we have gained knowledge about BLUU, BLUU Box, and other valuable resources. If
you haven’t already done so please visit the “BLUU” table in the social hall where you will find
additional resources for you to continue expanding awareness of racial justice issues.
Throughout the year we touched on immigration issues which are becoming increasingly
complex and even dangerous for migrants across the globe. Though we engaged in letter writing
campaigns, participate in Guest At Your Table, protest vigils, and have had Sunday services
addressing this issue, there is much to compel us to do more. Particularly now as child detention
continues to grow, ICE arrests increase, and economic threats are being used to coerce decisions.
The Climate Change talks that occurred in Germany in June heightened awareness of the
urgency that is globally needed to address this issue. Climate Change can no longer be a
negotiable priority for the SJC, it must be a if not the priority when we reconvene. Please
consider using some time over the summer to create ideas to share during our September
meeting. Here are two great websites that could help with that:
How blessed we are- we have so many creative, caring, and generous people who attend our
Fellowship. What a pleasure it is to look forward to the next SJC meeting on:
Wednesday September 18, 2019 at 7:15 pm at OUUF
Please reserve the date and contribute to the energy- you are most welcome.
Peacefully, Sarah
|
|
|
UUA News
Rev. Alicia Forde Appointed Director of International Office
The UUA announces the appointment of Rev. Alicia Roxanne Forde as Director of the International Office. Starting April 1, Rev. Forde will lead the UUA’s engagement with global Unitarian, Universalist and interfaith partners, including supervising the UU United Nations Office and the Holdeen India Program.
“Rev. Forde brings the perfect combination of experience, collaborative leadership, global perspective, and innovation to her new role,” says UUA Executive Vice President Carey McDonald. “Her appointment represents the UUA’s recommitment to cooperation with the UUA’s international partners, and to a collective approach to advancing our faithful values of liberation and justice in the world.”
Read more about this here.
UUA Youth Opportunities
From involvement in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to leading the faith caucus to establish the International Criminal Court, to overcoming UN apathy about sexual orientation & gender identity issues, the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) has a long history of providing strong leadership in all aspects of human rights at a policy level.
With a deep passion for and commitment to international human rights, youth and adults from all over North America gather annually for our three day seminar to dig deeply into issues with global impact.
The intergenerational seminar is an opportunity to collaborate with others while learning how to be a global activist. Through workshops, peer and expert-led panel discussions, community building activities, and worship services, participants undergo a transformative process of learning, reflection, and growth as we explore some of the most challenging issues facing humanity today. Registration for the 2019 Seminar is open through February 25.
Exploring Class and Classism UU Class Conversations provides Unitarian Universalist congregations and organizations with the tools and language to explore class and classism through a distinctly UU lens. Building upon our faith community’s ongoing diversity work – from race to gender to sexual orientation to gender identity – the project aims to produce more welcoming congregations while strengthening our shared commitment to social justice.
Download the Why Talk about Class Flyer 2016-17 for more on our project.
Multicultural Leadership & Inclusion
Effective justice ministry depends on partnership, since racial discrimination touches everyone. UU partners in racial justice work, beyond the Unitarian Universalist Association, include UU State Action Networks, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, the UU College of Social Justice, Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), and Allies for Racial Equity. UUs also form interfaith partnerships, such as with the Interfaith Organizing Initiative, Congregation-Based Community Organizations, the Forward Together movement, the NAACP, and the Living Legacy Project. Learn more here.
Decisions about children, families and sexuality are some of life’s most profound. We advocate not only for the freedom of those choices in each person’s life journey, but also for the ability of all families and communities to realize a sense of wholeness with regard to their sexual and reproductive lives. We create safe and healthy environments for children in our faith communities and campaign publicly for just and compassionate laws for family planning, reproductive health, and gender equality. Read about what we’re doing here.
|
|
|
Read the June Board Minutes here.
The next Board meeting will be on Tuesday, August 13, at 7:15. All are welcome!
|
|
|
Employment Opportunities
OUUF is hiring a Youth Advisor (stipend offered). To apply, send a resume and cover letter to:
Attn: Religious Education, PO BOX 0354, Oberlin, OH 44074,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
355 E. Lorain St.
Oberlin, Ohio 44074
Phone: 440-775-0355
Services every Sunday
at 10:30am
All Are Welcome!
STAFF
Minister:
Mary Grigolia
minister@ouuf.org
Office Manager:
Eva Wynn
office@ouuf.org
Director of Religious Exploration:
Meghan Ross
dre@ouuf.org
Music Director:
Katie Cross
crossk_connect@yahoo.com
Custodian:
Jason Wnek
Board of Trustees ’18-’19
President: Thom Colon
Vice-President: L.D. Moore
Secretary: Ann Cook-Frantz
Treasurer: Jo Huber
Members-at-Large:
Sarah King
Jeff Witmer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
