Sunday February 17 10:30 AM	Sunday February 24 10:30 AM
Sermon	“Food Glorious Food!” Rev. Tim Kutzmark	“A Mouse In My Spiritual House” Guest Minister, Rev. Erin Splaine
Children	Pre-k through Grade 5 begin in Community Hall for multiage programming. Grade 6 and 7 begin in classrooms. Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer. No Grade 7 OWL and No SHYP	Pre-k and up begin in Sanctuary. Church School follows until 11:45.  Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer House. Grade 7 O.W.L. 6:30 – 9:00 Loring House.  SHYP 6:30 – 8:30 Loring House. Coming of Age will be meeting exact times and locations to be announced.
Ushers	Camille Anthony	Needed
Altar	Paula Wisnewski Kevin, Emma, and Liam Pawl	Whitney Perkins
Coffee Hour	Eileen Cummings Membership Committee	Ken Flanders
Welcome Table	Shelby Woods	Judy Riley
Greeters	Ken Flanders and Sharlene Reynolds Santo	Needed
Paper Recycler	Judy Bousquin	Jaime Maughan

Sunday, February 10, 2008 – 10:30 AM

"We Need Not Believe Alike"
New Member Sunday
Rev. Tim Kutzmark and The Coming of Age Class

Contrary to popular belief, Unitarian Universalism isn’t a religion founded in the 1960’s by a few people who smoked a funny looking cigarette and thought it would be “cool” to start a new religion in which you could believe whatever you wanted.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Our faith is founded on a long and rich history, with roots that sink deep into the European Enlightenment.  Today, we’ll celebrate the lasting impact of the Edict of Torda, the world’s first document of religious freedom.  Crafted by a Unitarian King in 1568, it influenced Thomas Jefferson and the shapers of our Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, and even informs our current multi-faith presidential primary election.  How can the radical notion that “we need not believe alike to love alike” continue to shape our world?  Rev. Tim will lead our reflection, and the teens of our Coming of Age class will bring the Edict of Torda alive in a short dramatic presentation.  There will be a second offering for this February 10th service to benefit the Catalyst Foundation’s work with Vietnamese Orphans.  Checks should be made payable to “Catalyst Foundation.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 10:30 AM

"Food, Glorious Food!"
Rev. Tim Kutzmark

Eating can be a deeply sensual and spiritual experience. For many of us, food is a way to touch the transcendent and the divine. What food transports you? What are the comfort foods that soothe your troubled soul? Today’s sermon will be followed by a congregational “talk back” time of personal sharing on the topic. Note: After today’s service, folks new to the church are invited to join Rev. Tim and Laraine Turner (our new Member Services Coordinator) for “Tea and Tour with Tim”—a chance to talk informally about the church, ask questions, and take a short tour to familiarize yourself with the campus. Children and adults are welcome. Snacks provided.

Sunday, February 24, 2008 – 10:30 AM

"A Mouse In My Spiritual House"”
Guest Minister Rev. Erin Splaine
Worship Arts Sunday

Join Worship Arts and guest minister, Rev. Erin Splaine, Associate Minister First Parish Wayland, as she reflects on the bridge between perception and reality that we hold about ourselves in the word.

NEWCOMERS TEA AND TOUR PLANNED FOR SUNDAY FEBRUARY 17

Join Rev. Tim and Laraine Turner, our New Member Services Coordinator, after the service this Sunday, February 17th  for a casual, comfortable chance to talk, ask questions, have a tour of the church campus, and learn a little bit more about Unitarian Universalism.  We’ll have snacks for adults and kids.  Nothing fancy.  Just friendly.  We hope to see you. (We'll meet at Tim's office after the service)

Commitment Sunday – SAVE the DATE

Commitment Sunday is March 15, 2008.  Please join us for the service and luncheon following. 

Your UUCR Pledge Committee

Dear Friends:

One of my favorite spiritual authors died the day before my birthday, a few weeks ago.  I grew up in a household that joyfully celebrated my mother’s Irish roots, so I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the earthy rhythm and evocative prose and poetry of Ireland.  And so, Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue’s simple and direct prose spoke to me deeply.  As one of his obituaries wrote: “O’Donohue was a native Irish speaker, a former priest, and author of books that provided sustenance for many souls hungering for connection in a shallow, narcissistic world—a world full of what he called the ‘religion of rush.’  He was 52.”

I so appreciated O’Donohue’s simple and direct writing style.  Yes, he wrote in the genre that some derisively call “popular spirituality.”  But I’m always a fan of spiritual teachers who can share their message in a way that doesn’t require several hours to discern the meaning of one paragraph!  My favorite book of O’Donohue’s is “Anam Cara—A Book of Celtic Wisdom”.  He has a way of speaking about the Divine and the Holy that makes the Great Mystery seem so ever-present and alive.  But it is his poetry that caused my spirit to soar.  His “Beannacht” (Blessing) is his best-known poem, and can be found through an internet search or in the front pages of “Anam Cara”.  Many times that poem has carried me through difficult days.  I use it occasionally in worship.  I will use it as our pastoral prayer this upcoming Sunday.

Less well known, and from his most recent book entitled “The Invisible Embrace: Beauty” is the following poem.  It is called “A Beauty Blessing”.

A Beauty Blessing by John O’Donohue (1954-2008)

As stillness in stone to silence is wed
May your heart be somewhere a God might dwell.

As a river flows in ideal sequence
May your soul discover time is presence.

As the moon absolves the dark of distance
May thought-light console your mind with brightness.

As the breath of light awakens colour
May the dawn anoint your eyes with wonder.

As spring rain softens the earth with surprise
May your winter places be kissed by light.

As the ocean dreams to the joy of dance
May the grace of change bring you elegance.

As clay anchors a tree in light and wind
May your outer life grow from peace within.

As twilight fills night with bright horizons
May Beauty await you at home beyond.

See you on the path,
Rev. Tim

“What This Church Is All About” – from the VP of Finance

Two Sundays ago I was part of a Long Range Planning Committee session to develop a new Mission Statement for our church. There were about 30 people attending, ranging from brand new friends to old-timer members. We spent an interesting couple of hours together. The range of perspectives and depth of feelings that people have about this church and what it means to them personally was impressive.

We posted single words on a wall to capture each of our personal answers to 3 questions about our experiences at this church - in the past, in the present and looking to the future. Words that came up repeatedly were: welcoming, creative, open-minded, family, compassionate, jigsaw, spiritual, supportive, active, enriching, catalytic, social-minded, dynamic, empowering, collaborative, caring, diversity. I imagine most of you can identify with some or even all of these terms as they relate to your experiences here.

Over the last three years the good-fortune gods have been smiling down on us (read that as lots of hard work, commitment, enthusiasm, and a dash of good luck). We have a wonderful minister inspiring and serving us in many ways, a vibrant, rapidly growing religious education program for our children, a wide variety of program offerings for adults, and important ongoing social outreach initiatives. Fundamental to all these good things happening is the amazing success we’ve had in meeting our financial goals. Our fund raising drives have allowed us to grow our operating budget income by over 60%, and we raised over two million dollars that allowed us to create the church campus and facilities we now enjoy and are just beginning to explore.

The Annual Operating Budget Funds Drive period will begin next week and culminate in Celebration Sunday on March 15th. We have a lot to “celebrate” in terms of what we’ve accomplished in these last few years. Our success also gives us tremendous momentum for what we can do in the future. We each derive personal satisfaction and benefit from what this church is today. We each can contribute importantly to what it will become, and offer to us and others in the future. Your contributions of time and money are critically important to all of us. What these contributions will be this year, as it is every year, is a very personal decision only you can make. In the coming weeks, I urge you to consider these decisions carefully and fully with respect to your personal circumstances, relationship to this church, and your understanding, hopes, and vision of UUCR now and into the future.

In the spirit of the old saying that one picture is worth a thousand words, please consider this graphic as a visual outline to what I’ve tried to convey in this message.

As VP for Finance of this church, thanks to each of you for the generous contributions you’ve made to this church – both of your time and your money! 

Tom Mottl

VP for Finance

THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES:  AN INTRODUCTION FOR SKEPTICS AND RELIGIOUS LIBERALS

• Wednesday Evening Class: March 5, 12, 19, 26: 7:00-9:00 PM, Rev. Tim Kutzmark, Facilitator

• Thursday Morning Class: March 6, 13, 20, 27: 10:00 AM-Noon, Rev. Tim Kutzmark, Facilitator

Join Rev. Tim for a thought provoking (and religious liberal) tour through the Christian Scriptures.  We’ll explore the four traditional Gospels, examine the birth and resurrection myths in detail, come to understand how and why Paul changed focus of Jesus’ teachings, and see why the Book of Revelation has been such a troubling book since its inception. We’ll also take a look at the “forbidden” Gnostic Gospel of Mary, and see how a strong tradition of female teachers and preachers was part of the early Christian church. Special attention will be given to historical period in which the various books were written and the agendas that shaped their content.  No prior knowledge of the Christian Scriptures is necessary. We will learn together and discover together in a fun and informative way.  Join us, and you won’t look at the Christian Scriptures in the same way again. 

Participants will need to purchase and read selected chapters of “Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals” by John Buehrens (Beacon Press, $14.00). Participants will also need a Bible, a notebook or journal, and a pen or pencil for each session.   Participants should plan on reading chapters from the book and selected readings from the scriptures before each class.  Another text strongly suggested as an additional reference is Karen Armstrong’s brilliant “The Bible: A Biography” which is available in popular bookstores. 

Registration is required, please call (781-944-0494) or email the Church Office or sign up on Sunday at coffee hour.

POTLUCK AND SING-ALONG FELLOWSHIP EVENING FOR ALL AGES

Saturday Feb. 23, 2008, (6-8:30 or so). 

Join us for an evening of good food and great fun!  Just bring a salad, a main dish, side dish or dessert that will serve 6-10 people. No need to sign for the meal, ...just come!  Fellowship will provide plates, cups, napkins, silverware, coffee, tea, milk and juice.   

If you play an instrument and know some familiar tunes, dust off that banjo, or guitar, fiddle or kazoo and bring it along.  We'd like to have an idea of how many musicians we need to make room for, and we'd also like participating musicians to give us a list of some tunes they'd like to play that evening so we can find and make copies of the words.

Please e-mail what instrument you play and also suggest some tunes you think would be fun for us to find the words of to have available that evening. Musicians R.S.V.P. Beth Brauer

Meat our newest members!

RON SCRUGGS

My name is Ron Scruggs, and I have been a Unitarian since 2003 when I relocated to Massachusetts from Virginia.  I am an active practitioner of Earth-based spirituality and find that the beliefs and world view that are the cornerstones of the UU faith are complimentary to my own and I feel very much at home at UUCR.  There is a wonderful sense of balance at UUCR that I immediately connected with during the first Sunday worship service I attended.  I met my wonderful wife, Susan Foster, at the UU Congregation in Andover and we have been married for a year and a half.  I am currently employed as a systems engineer and I spend my spare time being a handyman.   I look forward to becoming an integral part of the UUCR community and hope to be able to learn from each of you and share some of my talents and knowledge as well.

Terri Crosson

My name is Terri Crosson and I was born and raised in southeastern Massachusetts where I grew up loving the beach and ballet.  I was married in 1986 and earned my B.S. in Education in 1988.  My teaching career began working with pregnant and parenting teenage girls, and by 1992 the dream of having my own classroom came true when I began teaching fourth grade.  I remained an elementary educator until relocating to Reading in 2006.  Since our move to this wonderful community, I have enjoyed being a full time mom to my eight year-old son, Alex, volunteering at his school, exploring the North Shore, and making new friends. I have many hobbies and interests but not enough time to pursue them all.  Perhaps I’ve most enjoyed stained glass, gardening, reading and best of all, being a mom.  I was raised Catholic but never fully committed to the faith. Although I enjoyed reading philosophy and learning about other religions it wasn’t until the birth of my son in 1999 that I began to give serious consideration to such matters.  How would I nurture my child’s spirit?  In short, my husband, Dave, and I began attending the Unitarian Church in Fairhaven, MA where we celebrated Alex’s dedication when he was four months old.  After a year of driving by UUCR, we knew it was time to enter through what turned out to be the most welcoming doors in town!  

Dave Crosson

I was raised in Dartmouth, MA a rural suburb where I spent my youth exploring the woods with my brother and dogs.  We always had animals (dogs and cats) around the house and in the back yard (geese, chickens and ducks).  We lived across the street from “The Goat Lady”, who cured her arthritis by drinking goat’s milk she collected daily from her 100+ Nubian goats.  I acquired a taste for the goat’s milk and a love for animals that I have carried into adulthood. 

I went to a Catholic High School in Fall River, graduated in 1980 and went to college the following year.  After switching majors a couple of times over the course of three years, I took a year off to figure out “what I wanted to be / study.”   During this year, I met my wife at a fitness club where I worked and decided to study Nutritional Science.  I graduated from the University of Rhode Island in May 1986, took a chemist’s position and got married in June to my beautiful wife Terri-lynn.  Five months later, I accepted a product development position at Ocean Spray Cranberries, where I worked for the next 17 years.  During this time we lived in Dartmouth and Wareham, MA and I received an M.S. degree in Nutrition.

During my newlywed years, I cultured hobbies that I enjoy today – windsurfing, tennis, computers and personal development.  In 1999, after 13 years of being newlyweds, my wife and I had a wonderful baby boy, Alex, who is now 8 years old.  Our family moved to Reading in August 2006 when I accepted a Manager of Research and Development position at a nearby company, Keurig, Inc., in Wakefield, MA.  We love the area, especially the incredible accessibility to amenities and the many state parks.  We started coming to UUCR in November 2007 and are excited to be new members in such a welcoming community.

Betsy Wilson and Scott Wilson

Betsy Mulligan grew up in Tolland, Connecticut and graduated in 1986 as a three-time undefeated, state champion soccer player.  She went on to Central Connecticut State University, where she graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Elementary Education. 

Scott Wilson Grew up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and graduated in 1986, where he is most fondly remembered as the "Class Flirt and guy with the "Best Smile". Scott went on to the University of New Hampshire where he graduated with a B.A. in Communications.

In 1994, the two met at a wedding and sparks flew.   They were married in 1996, had Tyler in 1999 and Colby in 2001.   After teaching for eight years, Betsy has spent the last eight years as CEO of the Wilson household.  In the Fall, she plans to head back to her roots and start teaching again.   Scott spent seventeen years at Verizon after college and in September left to become VP of Operations and Service at The Beacon Group.   From 1993-2000 they lived in Woburn and attended the Winchester Unitarian Universalist Church where both Tyler and Colby were dedicated.  The two now live in Tewksbury where they are active members of the community.

HUNGER BANQUET

You're invited to a Hunger Banquet:
UUCR, Sun., Mar. 9.
.at 12:00 noon in Fellowship Hall.

Q: Hunger.Banquet??? What's that? Sounds contradictory.

A: Actually, it's intergenerational, interactive, thought-provoking, powerful, rousing to the mind and spirit, and an event for all!

If the world were a village of 100 people, 15 would earn over $10,000 a year and live in the class of plenty. They might sit down to a dinner of chicken, rice, beans, juice, and cookies. Another 35 would earn between $800 and $10,000 a year and would live on the edge. They might sit down to rice, beans, and water. Another 50 would earn less than $800 a year. Rice and water-that might be all for their family that day.

A Hunger Banquet is a chance for us at the UUCR-children, youth, and adults-to experience the luck of the draw that lands people at one or another of life's tables. As we come into the Banquet space, we'll draw lots that will determine where we sit. A chosen few will be escorted to a lovely table and will be served a full lunch. A middle group will sit at a plain table for rice and beans. Many will share a pot of rice.

We'll briefly personally experience the contrasts of plenty and hunger, wealth and poverty. We'll explore the feelings this experience evokes and wrestle with some questions of fairness and justice. We'll hear about three women from Haiti-the poorest country in our hemisphere, where the majority attempt to survive on less than $1 per day.

And we'll hear about hope, and a way we can help-a joint effort this spring by our church and the Melrose UU Church to raise money to found a village bank in Haiti, where 20-30 women with entrepreneurial spirit, but too poor to borrow from conventional banks, will get microloans to start or expand small businesses. People who've gotten a start with a microloan often say, "Now I can feed my family. Now I can feed my children."

Please email Ann Mark (phone: 781-944-8769) or Denise Giangregario (phone: 617-846-9044) if you plan to come, or with any questions. The Social Action Committee hopes to see you on the 9th!

UU LOBBY DAY BEACON HILL

Save the Date: UU Lobby Day on Beacon Hill-April 3

From the UU Mass Action Network: "The issues UUs have chosen to lobby for this year are 'Global Warming' and 'Hunger & Poverty.' Between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m we will hear from Rev. Bill Sinkford, Dr. Charlie Clements, and Rev. Kim Crawford Harvie on these topics. It's a great time to get training on how to communicate effectively with legislators for church members too! At one o'clock we will visit our state Senators and Representatives. If you rarely talk face-to-face with your legislators this is an excellent opportunity!" (Meet at Massachusetts State House, Grand Staircase.)   For more about UU Mass Action's efforts on climate change and homelessness and how you can get involved, visit www.uumassaction.org

COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE SALE CONTINUES – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 17

Thanks so much to all who bought coffee and chocolate last Sunday to benefit Marton and Julia, two young people studying for the Unitarian ministry in Transylvania—continuing the heritage we celebrated in the church service and nurturing the revival of Transylvanian Unitarianism after the many years when Communism tried to still its voice.

The sale will continue this Sunday - February 17 - so please stop by for organic, fairly traded chocolate (milk chocolate & 4 flavors of dark). A small amount of coffee is left; we’ll gladly order more. Chocolate is $3.50 per bar, $6.50 for 2 bars. Coffee is $8 per 12-oz. package.

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNER CHURCH IN TRANSYLVANIA

On Friday before the Edict of Torda service, two letters arrived from our partner Unitarian congregation in the village of Alsójára, Transylvania! One letter is from our partner minister, Rev. Kornél Szathmáry-Incze. Some background for Kornél’s news: our partner congregation is small and quite elderly, living in an area that many young people have left for jobs elsewhere.

Kornél writes, in part (my notes in square brackets):

            “Thank you very much for the $250, which I received in middle of December. This supplement to my income is very useful. [This is money budgeted and sent by our congregation.]

 “Here it’s been cold throughout January. Unfortunately the water faucets froze in the bathroom. [In 2001 our congregation sent money, part of which the Alsójára congregation used to bring running water into the parsonage and construct a bathroom.] Two Sundays we held the church service in the large room at the parsonage, but then part of the congregation didn’t like it. Instead, from then on we’ve been freezing for an hour in the ice-cold church. Thus the 11 ‘regulars’ are present at the church service. Unfortunately, we can’t heat the church, because there isn’t enough wood, and it’s expensive. In the olden days, people could stand the winter cold, so they [the present congregation] insist on being in the church building on Sundays.

“On August 18, in the 82nd year of her life, Marika-néni—the widow of Szathmáry Jozsef [the former minister in Alsójára; he was minister when our partnership began] - died. For two years already she had been living in Gyulafehérvár at her older daughter’s, recently she had a stroke and was half paralyzed; that’s what she died of. [Our church owns a beautiful blue glass vase that was given to us by Mrs. Szathmáry; it’s been on the altar during various partner church celebrations.]”

Kornél actually lives in the larger city of Kolozsvár during the week and goes to the village on the weekend for church services. He lives with his 92-year-old mother, who prefers food that she’s made herself and still cooks every other day. (Kornél notes, “The Kolozsvár Women’s Alliance sends her three soups each week, but those I have to eat.”) On his mother’s bed, Kornél writes, is an afghan with pictures of Reading landmarks, given to her when members of our church visited Alsójára in 2001; “she likes the Revolutionary War–style buildings.” Imagine Old South Church and the Parker Tavern, so many miles away!

Please stop by the Partner Church table next Sunday, where photos including Kornél, Marika-néni, and our partner congregation will be on display.

Church School and Events

Friday, Feb. 15

• 7:30 p.m. SHYP (Senior HighYouth Program) Homeless Weekend begins on church campus.

Saturday, Feb. 16

• Coming of Age running a Soup Kitchen for our Senior High Homeless group. 

Sunday, Feb. 17

• Pre-k through grade 6 begin in Sanctuary followed by Multiage Programming in Community Hall.
• Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer House.
• There is no Grade 7 O.W.L. and No SHYP that evening.

Sunday, Feb. 24

• Pre-k and up begin in Sanctuary.
• Church School follows until 11:45. 
• Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer House.
• Grade 7 O.W.L. 6:30 – 9:00 Loring House
• SHYP 6:30 – 8:30 Loring House
• *Coming of Age will be meeting exact times and locations to be announced.

March 2

• Pre-k and up begin in Sanctuary for Youth Sunday.
• Classes follow until 11:45.
• Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer House.
• Grade 7 O.W.L. 6:30 – 9:00 Loring House

EDICT OF SPORTA AND COMING OF AGE

What an exciting service we had on Sunday Feb. 10! Rev. Tim shared some wonderful and powerful truths about our Unitarian Universalist History. Our Coming of Age Youth used their unique creative skills to present the educational skit on the Edict of Sporta which oddly enough is quite similar to the Edict of Torda! Thank you Coming of Age youth and facilitators Andy Furst and Susan Lederer for a job well done. And if that was not enough, our Coming of Age Class had one of the most beautifully and ornately decorated bake sale tables I have ever seen! Festive and delicious! This Coming of Age class is beginning their intense fundraising for their social action trip this summer. Our Coming of Age Program is a two year program with a week long social justice trip in the summer between years. The youth decide what trip they would like to experience and actively fundraise over their first year to make the adventure of the trip happen. Two years ago the Coming of Age Class went on the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee sponsored Civil Rights Journey. It was a dramatically life changing experience for everyone who was involved.

HOMELESS WEEKEND AND THE SENIOR HIGH YOUTH PROGRAM

Friday February 15 the Senior High Program and advisors will be creating a homeless village in the church parking lot at 7:30 at night! We will be placing tarps on the cold hard pavement and setting cardboard boxes up, taped together by duct tape, to construct a way for us to stay warm and protected as we live homeless on the church campus for the weekend. There is limited food, bathroom breaks and no access to entertainment other than ourselves! We hope that we will have a burn barrel to stand next to in order to stay warm in this very frigid February weather.

Our Youth find this an important project to engage in for several reasons:

They themselves would like to feel the extremes that thousands of our United States citizens and guests feel every day.

This is an opportunity for them to fundraise for important homeless support groups and programs. Last year the youth group planned, shopped, cooked served and cleaned up for the residents of the Harvard Square Homeless shelter. The staff at the shelter loved when our SHYP youth came because the meals were sophisticated, delicious and different than the typical food that was made at the shelter. The residents could not thank us enough for the care, respect and abundance of food that these youth shared during their shifts!  The youth also find educating the community very valuable. Last year passersby thought our youth were homeless people and they were offered jobs and material donations. These were the positive experiences for our youth. The negative responses also existed and the youth understood, albeit for one day, how homeless people are looked down upon, ignored and treated with disgust. It was an emotional experiment for everyone.

We often have people ask what they can do for us during the weekend. Currently each youth must raise at least $50.00 in order to have the staples to live for the weekend: sleeping bag, blanket, hat, gloves, warm coat. If you know a youth from SHYP please consider contacting her or him this week to offer a donation to their “staples” list for the weekend. (this would be great way for past Coming of Age Mentors to reconnect with their youth and offer to support them at homeless!) The current Coming of Age class will set up a “Soup Kitchen” for us Saturday night. We will have enough food for the weekend. We ask that the congregation consider three ways to show your love and concern for us and your encouragement of our Homeless Weekend:

1. Donate money to our Homeless Weekend and with that money we are making an April trip to New Orleans to support the Hope Haven School among other places.(checks can be made out to UUCR with Homeless or New Orleans in the memo and sent attention: Aileen or left in the main church office.)

2. Donate items on the wish list for Hope Haven School. (at the end of the RE Page)

3. Think about how much you worry about us this weekend and how much you want us to be warm and fed. Carry that love and worry about us to the homeless people in Boston, Cambridge, Reading and all of the other towns nearby. Instead of coming by with food for us, buy and make the food for the Reading Food Pantry, Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, someone you see living under the subway stairs in the T. Stop by Homeless Weekend and tell us about what you did for others. Take what you want to do for us and give it to the community that will not be going home Sunday afternoon to a warm house, full refrigerator and loving family. We have all that yet so many people do not.

Thank you and we’ll see you at church on Sunday!

HIGH SCHOOL OUR WHOLE LIVES

..had another wonderful weekend program lead by facilitators Rob Craig Comin and Susanne Sullivan. This weekend was the “Baby-Think-It-Over” weekend! The church owns an amazing real life mechanical baby named Lili. She cries and needs gentle care. All of the things that Lili feels such as being shaken, crying with no resolution and being picked up with no head support are kept track of on a computerized program. At the end of the sleepover session a print out of the treatment of Lili is reviewed. I understand that this High School Our Whole Lives Class did quite well and although they all seemed to learn that NOW is clearly not the time in their lives to have a baby (thank you crying Lili!) their results show that they will make fine parents should they choose that path in their future lives!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION RETREAT

The Religious Education Committee had their second retreat with Rev. Dr. Elizabeth  Strong facilitating. Rev. Dr. Strong is the Mass Bay District Religious Education Consultant. The RE Committee had the pleasure of working with her last year. The RE Committee is focusing on the program teaching philosophy, evaluating the intention and quality of the current curriculum as well as reaching out to learn about other Religious Education programs. The Religious Education Committee is also working on their leadership skills as individuals and as a Committee to support the growth and wonderful expansion of our Religious Education Program.

MULTI AGE GAME NIGHT A HUGE SUCCESS!

Thank you Samantha Poland, Heather Ballou, Bob Love and David Gould for planning and hosting the well attended multiage Games Night! There were over 35 adults, parents, children and youth eating pizza and playing games! Thank you for all of the work hosts and hostesses and thank you to participants for coming and sharing community! We are excited to see what plans you have for us next!

4TH  QUARTER TEACHER INGATHERING

Calling all Principle in Action teachers to get those brainstorming and creative juices going for our Saturday, March 8 4th quarter Teacher Ingathering. We will meet from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Loring House. With donuts and orange juice to spur us on, we will do the exciting work of creating our 7 sessions for Principles in Action. Our 4th quarter teachers have done an incredible job of reviewing an overall theme and offering fun education programming based on the theme and our 7 Unitarian Universalist Principles. The 4th quarter is a multiage learning opportunity that is hands on and active. We take our 7 UU Principle and support our children in putting them into action.

ITEMS FOR HOPE HAVEN SCHOOL IN NEW ORLEANS

guitars, a portable keyboard, small percussion, some mikes and mike stands, an amp or two to teach the musically gifted students how to be a garage band.

1. garden tools and seeds/plants to start a horticulture program

2. really fun games, fun educational games, tiles and manipulatives for Math, and all kinds of science kits

HUNGER BANQUET

Children, youth, and adults are all invited to the Hunger Banquet on March 9 (at noon in Fellowship Hall). Please see the notice in the Social Action section of the newsletter. A Hunger Banquet is a positive, thought-provoking event where we can briefly experience the world’s inequality of wealth and food distribution and where we can talk as a church family about fairness and about helping others. SHYP youth will be taking part, and we hope many UUCR folks of all ages will share in this event.