Sunday March 2 10:30 AM	Sunday March 9 10:30 AM
Sermon	“How Youth Lead” Rev. Tim Kutzmark and the amazing teens from our Senior High Youth Program	“Who Really Killed Jesus?” Rev. Tim Kutzmark Reminder:  Daylight Savings Time!  At 2 a.m. on March 9, 2008 you will turn your clocks forward one hour, marking the beginning of Daylight Saving Time (DST).
Children	Pre-k and up begin in the Sanctuary for the service When Youth Lead. This is a teacher’s choice Sunday so classes may stay in the Sanctuary for the entire service or may be dismissed for class time.  Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer. Our Whole Lives for 7th Grade 6:30 – 9:00 in Loring House. Senior High Youth Program 6:30 – 8:30 in Loring House.	Pre-k and up begin in Sanctuary and dismissed to class until 11:45. Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer. Coming of Age 10:30 – 11:45. location TBA. Senior High Youth Program 12:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall for Hunger Banquet. SHYP 4 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Loring House for Canvas Calls and SHYP meeting. Youth Adult Committee 5:00 – 6:30 in Loring House. Grade 7 Our Whole Lives 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Ushers	Jen and Rich McAneny	Linda Farley
Altar	Shelby Woods	Janet Nussmann
Coffee Hour	Dave Crosson	Needed
Welcome Table	Eileen Cummings and Margaret Soli	Linda Deveau
Greeters	Frank Fardy and Lynne Morochnick	Ken Flanders and Ruth Goldberg
Paper Recycler	Needed	Dave Crosson

Sunday, March 2, 2008 - 10:30 AM

Rev. Tim Kutzmark and the amazing teens from our Senior High Youth Program
”How Youth Lead”

Rev. Tim invites you to join in a candid exploration of the issues and questions that are at the forefront of our Unitarian Universalist Youth, including homelessness and the devastation in New Orleans.  How and why do our youth step into leadership on the key issues of the day?  Our high school age youth will share reflections on their recent homeless weekend (two days spent living outdoors in below freezing temperatures) and their hopes and fears for their upcoming New Orleans service trip. 

Sunday, March 9, 2008 – 10:30 AM

Rev. Tim Kutzmark
“Who Really Killed Jesus?”

Who killed Jesus of Nazareth?  For most of its history, the Christian religion falsely placed the blame for Jesus’ murder on the Jews, a blame that fanned the flames of anti-Semitism the world over.  But the true answer to this question is complex, insidious, and pervades and perverts modern religion and culture.  As Holy Week and Easter approaches, we’ll explore fact and fiction, and expose the truth behind this most famous of executions.

Reminder:  Daylight Savings Time!  At 2 a.m. on March 9, 2008 you will turn your clocks forward one hour, marking the beginning of Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Commitment Sunday Updates

Please note the pledge brochures will be in the mail this week.  This is a great time to take the opportunity to read it and save for the service and luncheon on Commitment Sunday, March 16, 2008.  Your UUCR Pledge Committee.

Many Hands Make Light Work……………. 

We are looking for soup cooks, salad makers, and bakers for our Commitment Sunday luncheon, which will follow the service on Sunday, March 16.  Can you help? 

What?  You are sick of cooking?  What's that? You still want to help? Perfect.  We also need prep people to set up, servers during the luncheon, and clean-up folks.  If you can help, please contact Denise Conry (978 664-6563). Thank you.

Dear Friends:

My Dad and I were recently talking about how we both are similar in at least one respect: we’re not joiners.  I think we’re both naturally suspicious of anything organized.  And I think we both tend to shy away from making commitments to any group.  I think we fancy ourselves as rugged individualists.

So, I’m always cognizant when we approach our annual Operating Budget Fund Drive (aka “The Canvass”) that I, by nature, want to run the other way.  I intellectually “get” that commitment brings the sense of “belonging” I often ache to know.  I intellectually “get” that this faith I love and this church community I cherish only exists because each year a great number of us share our time and financial resources to recreate it for another year.  I intellectually “get” that we are the church, and no one else but us builds and supports it.  But there’s always a little voice in the back of my head that wonders: “Why should I share my hard-earned cash—a great deal of it—with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading?

I offer 5% of my pre-tax income to you—to us—because I believe the hope and vision we nurture here matters in our lives and in our beautiful and broken world.  I pledge because I believe that this is a community that grows in our children and youth an awareness of the fragility of our connections to each other and our earth home, and helps our young people realize that the choices we make about other people and about our environment will impact the future.  I support who we are because this place holds us as we age, comforts us as we die, and surrounds those who remain with much love.  I share because I want to support this place that welcomes those who are seeking a different, affirming and challenging spirituality of hope, courage, and conscience.   I share because I believe this liberal faith community stands for moral values and religious principles that can make our world and our community a better place.  I pledge because this we are a place that knows how to have fun, throw a good party, and make great music together.  I pledge because friendships for a lifetime can be found here.  I offer 5% of my pre-tax income to us because the Spirit of Life has blessed me and I want to be part of that Spirit’s generous and loving flow.  This church is not a charity.  I don’t make a charitable donation to you—to us.  No, I pledge a piece of my heart, spirit, and soul because here I can bring and heal and reinvigorate and educate and expand my heart, spirit, and soul. 

There are many ways to share.  There are many gifts to bring.  There are many ways to join our rugged individuality into beloved and sacred community.

What feels right for you?

May it be so.

Tim

PS: Next week my four-week workshop that explores the Christian Scriptures will begin, two separate classes on Wednesday evenings and Thursday morning.  We’ll take a liberal, challenging, and unflinching look at this most influential scripture in the Western World.  Much of what you discover might surprise you.  Contact the Church Office (781-944-0494) if you want to participate.

REFLECTIONS – home is where the heart is

Lorraine Dennis, President

Home is where the heart is. I love this slogan. It feels just right to me. My heart certainly is with all of you here in our beautiful church home. I get so much out of my church experience. But, like most important things, church doesn’t work one way. If we get, we should give, too. That’s why it also feels right that Steve and I support this special place with our time, talent and treasure. We invite you all to join us as we raise our pledge for next year. After all, the Unitarian Universalist
Church of Reading is where our hearts are.

Tom Mottl, VP Finance

Your time commitments and financial generosity make possible what we accomplish. This year’s pledge drive goal is ambitious; however, new mortgage payments and a modest operating budget increase of 4% drive a 20% increase over 2008. If we each increase our 2008 pledge by at least $300 or 15%, whichever is greater, we can do it. If you are new to our pledging family, please consider a pledge of 3%-5% of net income.

We’ve met earlier challenges in 2006 we exceeded 2005 by 32%! Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for our church.   Let’s keep up our momentum!

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 March 2 at coffee hour.  Last call to sign up!

CAREER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Do you feel in control of or controlled by your work life? Whether you are trying to launch, change, revitalize or resume a career, a clear action plan will boost your success. Career satisfaction begins with knowing your values, interests, strengths, unique challenges, learning preferences and ideal work environment. Join this workshop to explore strategies for identifying professional opportunities that allow us to grow, achieve our professional best and leave a valuable legacy to others.  Registration is requested.  Please sign up on the registration sheet located in our atrium during coffee hour or call the church office at 781-944-0494 or email the Church Office .

Facilitator: Elaine Ohlson
Saturday, March 15, 9:00 a.m. ­ 12 noon

DINNERS FOR 5 TO 9 PEOPLE COMING SOON

Looking Ahead to March!  The Fellowship Committee is starting to organize our Early Spring Dinners for 5-9 people. These will be held on Saturday Evening , March 15. You may volunteer to host, or you may be a guest if you'd prefer. Hosts will let me know how many guests you can seat, and make the calls to your assigned guests to organize your meal,and give the arrival time and directions to your home.  Guests wait for a call from you host a few days before the dinner, and bring your designated dish to the dinner. We need you to sign-up no later than March 12 so we can make up the groups and give time for organizing the meals. (Let us know if you have any food sensitivities or strong dislikes so we can try to accommodate). Sign-up will be at the next two coffee hours.  See Montserrat Michelman or Judy Riley on March 2, or Beth Brauer on March 9.  If you would prefer to let me (Beth Brauer) know by e-mail or phone call (978-664-5046). These are very popular, and a great way to get to know each other better.  If you have never attended a single one, or if you've been to all of them, please think about joining us this time.   Newcomers are  especially welcome to join in.

UUCR Recycling is Up and Running!

Thank you Linda King for all your hard work and perseverance in making this happen.

We can now recycle paper, paperboard, cardboard,  glass, cans and plastics 1-7.  Recycling will be picked up every other week on Tuesdays.

There will soon be small plastic recycling bins  throughout the church campus for paper (replacing the cardboard ones that are  currently in use). We’ll still need a “Recycler of the Week” to empty those bins  into the large paper
recycling toter located behind the  kitchen.

Larger amounts of cardboard can be bundled into 36”x36”  bundles and placed beside the paper recycling toter.

Clean cans,  glass jars and plastics 1-7 can be placed in the other recycling toter behind  the kitchen.

There will be a list of what you can and cannot  recycle, as well as how to prepare items, on each toter and on the paper  bins.

Also, we no longer have our campus dumpster, and are now  using barrels for trash.  These are also located in the room behind the  kitchen.  Trash must be in plastic bags.  It will be picked up every  Tuesday.  We will occasionally
rent a dumpster for short-term use, for  example during KK fair week.

If you have any questions about any of this, contact Linda King (781-944-3617).

We are pleased to announce that we have a new part-time Facilities Manager in our midst!  Marc Evans will be introduced at worship services this Sunday, March 2.  Marc is a local who makes his home in Wilmington.  He reports that his front door is a mere 3 miles from the beautiful façade of the UUCR!  Marc will be employed with us as our part-time Facility Manager for up to 15 hours per week throughout the entire church year, including the summer when he will put his attention to restoring spaces that are quiet in the summer months.  You will most likely see him working on campus on Saturdays and Sundays with 1 evening weekdays.  You can email him or phone him at 781-944-0494 extension 104.  Marc will be re-emphasizing our streamlined trouble/request tickets affectionately nicknamed “pink slips.”  His office will be next to Community Hall where he will share space with our Choir Director and Ministerial Intern.  He will have an inbox in our mailroom which is located off of fellowship hall in the spaces that also houses our copier across from Rev. Tim’s office.  Marc’s supervisor will be Rosemary Fiori, our Administrator.

Marc has been at the Cross Country Group in Medford Massachusetts for 16 years, where he will continue to work full-time days at their Facility Administrator. 

Marc is a sports aficionado who enjoys following the Red Sox and Patriots.  He has been married to Sue for 9 years and they have a 7 year old son Noah.

Marc always has a smile and is very enthusiastic about joining the UUCR team.  Here’s to 25 years of service Marc!

HUNGER BANQUET

The Way the World Eats: Is This Fair?
Hunger Banquet, Sunday, March 9, noon

Everyone is invited to join in an intergenerational, interactive, thought-provoking experience for learning and talking about why so many people in the world are hungry, and about how village banks can help: a Hunger Banquet. We hope you'll stay after the church service on March 9 and take part! Lunch will be served. A few will feast, and the rest of us will experience a meal similar to many meals in third-world countries.

How does it work? We'll all-children, young people, and adults-draw numbers to see which lucky few represent the world's people who eat well each day, who takes the part of those who have enough to get by, and who represents those for whom a shared pot of rice might be the day's meal. We'll eat according to our luck of the draw.

We'll have the chance to talk-discuss, question, complain!-about the issues and feelings this brief experience of the world's inequalities brings up.

A 5-minute video about village banks organized by FINCA (Foundation for International Community Assistance) will show a way that people are challenging this injustice. A tiny loan through a village bank can enable a woman or man to start a small business and start lifting the family out of poverty and hunger.

So we can plan amounts of food, please let Denise Giangregario (phone: 617-846-9044) or Ann Mark (phone: 781-944-8769) know if you plan to attend. (But if you see folks heading toward the Banquet on March 9 & decide at that moment to join in, please do-all are gladlywelcome!)

Reminder: 
Daylight Savings Time!  At 2 a.m. on March 9, 2008 you will turn your clocks forward one hour, marking the beginning of Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Volunteer Opportunity for Someone Who Knows about Building and Safety Codes

Jericho Road Lawrence is looking for someone familiar with building and safety codes to work on a very short volunteer assignment helping a fun and well-respected nonprofit assess where they might be able to put in a handicapped elevator in their existing building.  This assignment does not require architectural designs.  It is simply for verbal suggestions from a professional knowledgeable in this field.  It should take very little of the volunteer's time, but would make a huge impact for this nonprofit. 

If you or anyone you know might be interested in helping, contact Jericho Road's Executive Director, Joan Kulash (978-604-8803).

1st Annual Slow Food Boston Winter Film Festival

On March 9 and April 13 (4 p.m., $5 donation per person), Slow Food Boston and the Theodore Parker Church will co-host a film and discussion series about food and agriculture in the church's sanctuary in West Roxbury. Slow Food Boston is the local branch of the international organization Slow Food, a group dedicated to creating a community of people who believe in a promoting a better food system, one that is "good, clean and fair." In showing the films, the group hopes to raise awareness about sustainable farming practices and the impacts of our current agricultural system.

The March 9 films will be "Eat at Bill's: Life in the Monterey Market," the story of the market's owner Bill Fujimoto and his focus on the "world of small growers and diverse customers," plus a documentary by Nick Versteeg covering a visit to Slow Food's Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto in Italy.

More News from Our Partner Unitarian Congregation in Transylvania

Our Governing Board president, Lorraine Dennis, recently wrote to Lőrinc Fodor, the president of our partner church congregation in the village of Alsójára, in Transylvania (the ethnically Hungarian region of Romania). Very soon a reply arrived from Lőrinc, who writes (in part):

Esteemed Lorraine Dennis!

It was with great surprise and great happiness that I received the letter that you sent and read the good wishes that it contained. I send thanks in my name and my family’s, and also in the name of the whole [Alsójára] Unitarian congregation. I also send greetings to you and your family and the Reading Unitarian congregation, among whom there are already some familiar faces….

When I read that you are happy and proud to be our partner congregation, it is we who should say that! After all, you helped us financially when we renovated our church building.

I’m very happy to be able to write this letter. I’ve never personally corresponded with anyone among the Reading congregation up until now and I couldn’t give thanks in my name and the congregation’s for your kindness…. The offer that you would gladly correspond with me about church matters is a great honor for me.

I read your letter at the end of yesterday’s Sunday church service to those who were present…

I wish you all the best,  sincerely

Lőrinc Fodor

Church School and Events

Sunday March 2

• Pre-k and up begin in the Sanctuary for the service When Youth Lead. This is a teacher’s choice Sunday so classes may stay in the Sanctuary for the entire service or may be dismissed for class time. 
• Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer.
• Our Whole Lives for 7th Grade 6:30 – 9:00 in Loring House.
• Senior High Youth Program 6:30 – 8:30 in Loring House.

Friday March 7 - Saturday March 8

• Our Whole Lives for High School students overnight in Loring House.

Saturday March 8

• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Fourth Quarter Teacher Ingathering in Fellowship Hall.

Sunday March 9

• Pre-k and up begin in Sanctuary and dismissed to class until 11:45.
• Playschool with Jenn in Sawyer.
• Coming of Age 10:30 – 11:45. location TBA.
• Senior High Youth Program 12:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall for Hunger Banquet.
• SHYP 4 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Loring House for Canvas Calls and SHYP meeting.
• Youth Adult Committee 5:00 – 6:30 in Loring House.
• Grade 7 Our Whole Lives 6:30 – 9:00 p.

HOMELESS WEEKEND AND THE SENIOR HIGH YOUTH PROGRAM

Thank you to the many people who supported our youth and their Homeless Weekend. We especially thank our volunteer Advisors Ben Oyer and Roald Wilson for their commitment and compassion. Thank you to nurses Donna Colebrook and Nora Buckley for stopping by and checking on us, helping us to stay safe during the very cold and very long days and nights. We appreciate David, Ben, and Harrison Oakes and Sue Hildreth  for spending cold time with us outside. We thank Dru and Geoff Beckwith for bringing us our first meal Saturday morning and the Coming of Age class and mentors for our only warm and inside meal Saturday night. Thank you to Sue for also feeding us Sunday morning. Thank you to Sharlene Reynolds, Chip Hildreth, and  Sue Conley for making sure we had logs to burn and a place to burn them to keep ourselves warm. Thank you to Francesca Auciello for the fruit drop off, Nick’s parents for the munchkins and Paula Wisnewski for stopping in and talking to us about her old home, New Orleans.We were so grateful to spend time with Michela Tucci’s girlscout troop when they came by on Saturday to drop off donations for the Hope Haven School in New Orleans.  The support from this community raised almost $2,000.00 for our New Orleans Trip and the donations to that community.

And speaking of New Orleans…we have just a little over a month before we leave for the New Orleans Trip. We could use one more adult driver for our trip. We leave on Friday April 18 and return Friday April 25. There is no luxury to this trip as we will be sleeping on church floors during the drive down and back and on the school floor at Hope Haven School. This is a trip for the strong compassionate hearted and those of determined social justice bones. If you are a youth friendly, youth empowering adult who is passionate about social justice and making a difference, no matter what (as in no matter if you get a shower or not, and no matter how much peanut butter and jelly you eat) then this is the ideal trip for you! Contact Aileen Dashurova, DRE (781-944-0494 ext. 108).

HIGH SCHOOL OUR WHOLE LIVES

Are ready for their next overnight and class Friday March 7 through Saturday March 8. Way to go high School students, volunteer overnight chaperones and facilitators Rob and Susanne!

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. – 11 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.

LOOKING TOWARDS AND BEYOND!

As we begin the movement into Spring the energy for the Fall is not far behind…
What?! What could that possibly mean?! Well, as we look towards the beautiful spring just a bit away, the RE Committee and the Director of Religious Education must look beyond. This is the time of the year in which we begin our present and future multitasking! As the excitement and joy of this church year continues to flourish and guide our days, we begin to connect with the vision for next year, before everyone transitions to their summers. We look for commitment from class coordinators for the 2008-2009 church year, we begin talking to people about joining the robust and very fun Religious Education Committee, we search for potential Coming of Age facilitators and plan out the Our Whole Lives program. There are many things to think about as we put together our budget and look ahead to another promising and fulfilling church year after the summer.

As an educational system made up of almost all volunteers we do an amazing job here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading. Everyone works hard to offer our children and youth wonderful experiences and education. We build community among ourselves and with the larger congregation not to mention the larger Unitarian Universalist Association.

Thank you to everyone who has been so wonderful at teaching, coordinating, facilitating, mentoring, advising. We are a blessed community. Blessed by our children and youth and blessed to see the value in being present with them.  In the next two months you will be asked if you want to continue to coordinate your child’s class, or if you want to join the Religious Education Committee. You may be asked if you would like to be trained to be an Our Whole Lives Facilitator or maybe a Senior High Youth Advisor. Perhaps we see that you would be fabulous as a Coming of Age Facilitator or someone who would shine as a member of our Youth Empowerment Adult Team. Please know that when we ask you to consider one of these positions it is because we trust you, we believe in you and we see that your skills and personality as a valuable asset to these programs. We ask you because we know that you will offer great things to our children and youth. We also believe that you will enjoy yourself and your life will be positively affected by the relationships and experiences that each commitment affords you. We ask you because we see the “win-win” for everyone in asking you to participate and add your spark to the glowing fire of commitment to our Religious Education Program. Thank you for listening to us, hearing us out and considering the wonderful role that we offer you. We appreciate your willingness to think it over!

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS - INVITATION TO HUNGER BANQUET ON MARCH 9TH

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. At a Hunger Banquet, we can briefly experience the world’s inequality of wealth and food distribution, and we can talk as a church family about fairness and about helping others. It should be a lively, interesting hour for all ages. You might want to describe the banquet to your child or children ahead of time and mention that people will be getting different meals, some noticeably more/less than others.
If you have questions about the banquet, please contact Aileen Dashurova, DRE (781-944-0494 ext. 108), Ann Mark (781-944-8769, amark@mit.edu) or Denise Giangregario (617-846-9044) from the Social Action Committee.

Reminder:  Daylight Savings Time!  At 2 a.m. on March 9, 2008 you will turn your clocks forward one hour, marking the beginning of Daylight Saving Time (DST).