MUUFLETTER for October 2014 Newsletter from Midcoast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship services every Sunday at 10:30 am, Porter Auditorium, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta SUNDAY SERVICES SCHEDULE October 5: Circle Conversation David Bailey and John Adams will lead congregational reflection and conversation about the working conditions of restaurant and food workers, and how labor is a key ingredient of authentic sustainability. This topic is inspired by Behind The Kitchen Door by Saru Jayaraman, a UUA “Common Reads” book. Some members and friends have had an opportunity to read this book during the past month. Copies will still be available for loan after the service. October 12: Rev. Erika Hewitt Hmmm: no title or description for this service. Why not? Read Erika’s column for an explanation. NB: This is Pumkinfest Weekend and Damariscotta may be very crowded on Sunday morning. Parking will be at a premium and some streets closed. Please plan accordingly. Offsite parking and shuttles may be available a special email will be sent on how to access our worship space. October 19: “The Fear of Enlightenment” Keith Davie, UU lay speaker, will describe his experience of witnessing the fear that we humans often display when faced with someone operating at a more aware, enlightened level than we ourselves currently inhabit. Keith is a member of the Rockland UU church. His past careers include father to two daughters, airline pilot, sheep dairyman, taxi driver, massage therapist and handyman, among others. October 26: Rev. Erika Hewitt Join Erika and your chosen community at the Fellowship, regardless of topic or sermon title. Why no title? Please read Erika’s column. November 2: Mimi Moore, beloved longtime member of the Fellowship, will offer her reflections on being in the autumn of her life. _______________________________________ From our Minister: In my work journal, I keep a running list of the many sermons/services that I’m planning for our year together. It’s a fun, juicy list: atheism (or why “Do you believe in God?” is the wrong question); the ethical and relational issues of power; what it means, in spiritual terms, to be “broken,” “healing,” or “whole”;; and even an exploration of the evolving notions of gender. Why, then, am I choosing not to name them in advance (for now)? Why would I decline (for now) to name these topics here in our newsletter and on our website? For two reasons. First, publicized sermon descriptions feel increasingly constraining to me: either I have to stick with what I’ve promised, or I detour by responding to current events (or the nudge of Spirit) — and you arrive to hear something different than you’d expected. Not publicizing a Continued on next page topic provides more freedom and flexibility during the creative process, honoring sermons as living things that initiate or continue an ongoing congregational conversation. The other reason that I’m taking this risk — that is, hoping you’ll join me in worship even when you don’t know what the topic is — is to highlight worship as a relational, communal event. When I choose which movie to see, I’m deciding how I want to be entertained: Do I want to laugh? or read subtitles? or learn about a past event from history? And then I sit back and let the film entertain me: ME, the consumer, the critic, the entertainee. Worship, for me, is a different critter: it’s a chance to experience being together as we are, however imperfect or needy or curious or joyful, and knowing that it’s enough. We listen to joys and sorrows, hear our voices singing in unison (or harmony!), find stillness and breathe together, and invite Spirit to show up to join us. We move between receiving (news, inspiration, reflection) and giving (hugs, smiles, support, dialogue). Worship isn’t about any given topic: it’s who we are, and what happens, when we gather together. As my colleague Vicki Weinstein says, “Come no matter what the topic is, because your church needs you and you need your church, and it doesn’t matter what the preacher’s going to say!” (Although, Erika hastens to add, this preacher hopes to keep saying things that fill your well and give you fresh strength for the week ahead.) Faithfully, Rev. Erika President’s Corner: Welcome to autumn, a time of change, especially in this part of the world; the weather, the foliage, the tourist traffic. The days grow shorter as do the operating hours of some local businesses after their last hurrah of Columbus Day weekend. Many seasonal residents leave us this time of year, including some of our dear MUUF members like Andrew Twaddle and Sarah Wolcott, on their way back to their winter home in Missouri, and the Linkers, off to Florida. At the same time we have members and friends who join us once again when things quiet down after the busy summer months full of guests and travel. This ebb and flow is part of the experience of living in the heart of Vacationland. We welcome and hold dear all who join us and make us part of their lives, and vice versa, whether away from us one Sunday, a few weeks, or a few months. We welcomed autumn and recognized the equinox at the Sunday service on September 21. At that same service we held a ceremony affirming Rev. Erika Hewitt as she begins her second year as our part-time minister. The Board of Trustees and three members of the winder Fellowship took part leading this ceremony, and as a gesture in response, Rev. Erika presented the Fellowship with two beautiful and colorful quilted offering baskets, which I am sure will be a source of joy every time we pass them around to serve their purpose. _____________________________________________ After that Sunday service, the Board of Continued on next page Trustees hosted its monthly meeting where members of the Fellowship have a chance meet and talk with the Board topics important to the Fellowship. Sunday’s topic was the financial status of the Fellowship. This topic was timely, in anticipation of our Annual Meeting in November when we present the budget for the coming fiscal year. Our Treasurer, Robert Lightfoot, presented financial reports showing where we stand currently in relation to our projected budget. Several members attended to stay informed about the business of the Fellowship, and to ask questions and brainstorm as we consider goals and challenges ahead. In the next month or so we will begin to solicit pledges for the coming fiscal year. Your pledges are important for budget planning, so once you receive your pledge forms, we urge a timely response (before the Annual Meeting), as well as an effort to contribute as you are able to help maintain the financial health of the Fellowship. Your generous contributions have enabled us to grow and change in recent years, especially in the ability to hire a half-time minister. As we gather in for the colder months, let us reaffirm our faith and commitment in each other and the Fellowship. Continue to give as you are able, in presence, friendship, spirit, and any various means of support that make us thrive. Whether near or far, you always have a home here, and each one of us is a host. In peace, John _________________________________________ Meetings with the Minister: Articulating Our UU Beliefs & Questions Rev. Erika invites you to join her on alternating Thursdays in October and November (3:30 to 5:00 p.m.) for conversations about UU identity. Each meeting will center around activities and conversation topics taken from the wonderful UUA curriculum “Articulating Your UU Faith,” by the Revs. Barbara Wells and Jaco ten Hove: What does it mean to you to be a Unitarian Universalist? Sometimes we feel reluctant to talk about our beliefs, or uncertain how to do so. How do you feel when you describe UU’ism to others? What does it mean to articulate your Unitarian Universalist beliefs? Join Erika in the upstairs Carpenter Room of Skidompha Library from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. for ANY or ALL of the following four sessions: Thurs., Oct. 9th: What, if any, longstanding religious beliefs do you have? We’ll share our credo statements as well as our “credo journeys” — the ways our beliefs have changed over the years. Thurs., Oct. 23rd: How do we talk about Unitarian Universalism? You’d be surprised how many angles there are for describing our religious tradition. Together, we’ll explore new ways to articulate our beliefs as well as our questions. Thurs., Nov. 6th: Need a refresher on history? We’ll take a quick look back at our Unitarian and Universalist histories, and provide practical experience for effectively answering questions about our faith. Thurs., Nov. 20th: To wrap up our 4-part program, we engage in fun collaboration, discussion, and practice of individual “elevator speeches.” Are you new to Unitarian Universalism? This is Continued on next page for you. Have you been a UU for years and years? This is for you, too! All are welcome; we learn the most when we learn together. Feel free to call Erika with questions: 650-5757. _____________________________________________ Treasurer’s Report Through the end of September, the Fellowship’s total income amounts to about $36,600, which is about $2300 more than budgeted. Prepaid pledges amount to about $1900, so excluding these, our income is $400 over budget. This is due to the matching challenge at the beginning of the year, which accounts for $2900 of additional income. Compared to last year, our total income for this nine-month period is about $1200 higher. Income from the Blueberry Festival totaled $3544, and expenses were $1273, yielding a net profit of $2271. Our budget for the Festival anticipated a net profit of $4000. As we approach our annual canvas for the coming year, it may be interesting to see the range of pledges the Fellowship receives and how that range is distributed. For 2014, 20% of the annual pledges fell in the range from $60 to $300. The next 20% ranged from $350 to $500. Another 20% ranged from $500 to $800. The next 20% fell between $900 and $1200, and the top quintile ranged from $1320 to $3000. The midpoint was $600. As we strive to meet our budgetary demands, please consider moving up this ladder of giving. Hospitality Schedule Refreshments/Greeters Oct. 5 - Ann Foskett (Blue Pod) Oct.12 - Nancy Holmes (Red Pod) Oct. 19 - Jennifer Ober (Purple Pod) Oct. 26 - Sandra Barth (Indigo Pod) Nov. 2 - Kate Pennington (Green Pod) Several of the Pods were left very shorthanded this summer. It is critical that if you know you will not be able to be at the Fellowship on the day your Pod is "on duty" that you make arrangements to switch with someone else who can be there. _____________________________________________ November Newsletter Send items to David Bailey at [email protected] by October 20th _____________________________________________ Annual Labor Day Weekend Service and Picnic (this year again at Ann Foskett's lovely home & garden) Nancy Slobodnik as under Ann's covered porch Frances Perkins Recent charitable contributions from our thirdSunday plate collections include Ecumenical Working Group on Homelessness ($99), Great Salt Bay School’s Miles of Friends program ($121), and CHIP, Inc. ($197). Bob Lightfoot _____________________________________________ Under umbrella