November 2014 Newsletter of the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship “We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person.” Sunday Mornings at 10:30 BHK Building (700 Park Ave., Houghton). Enter on North Side, off Waterworks Dr. November Event Schedule Nov 2: (Service) “To Be Seen” We look at each other all the time, but what do we see? Is there enough time in our busy schedules to really “see?” Nov 9: (Forum). Everything You Need to Know about Green Burials. Speaker: to be announced. Nov 16: (Service) “En-Visioning our Future” What would you like KUUF to look like in 2020? Let’s play around with some possibilities . . . Nov 23: (Service) “Gratitude” How can we share our beliefs, our theology, with others if we don’t seem to have one common set of beliefs, one common theology? We have atheists, agnostics, and theists in our congregations -- what unites us, if anything? Rev. Gabi will share with you what the Rev. Galen Gingrich, senior minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York, proposes: a theology of gratitude, a theology that can and should work for all of us. East Coast Settled Minister UUA Facilitator Visits KUUF On Sunday, October 12, facilitator Donna Dolham, from Maine, flew to Houghton and presented both a service and workshop for the Fellowship on Avoiding Categorical Thinking. Twenty-five members attended the workshop after the service, and all said it was quite worthwhile. The weather did not help with attendance: it was beautiful, so attending a three hour workshop took considerable fortitude. Nevertheless, as participant Bill Leder said, “The three hours went by really fast,” Ms. Dolham’s expertise did, however, help. She explained that she has been running this type of workshop for over ten years. Her performance was thus quite polished. Nov 30: The Celebrations Committee will handle this service. Keweenaw UU Fellowship The UUA requires fellowships seeking a settled minister to participate. The goal is to increase acceptance of ministerial candidates, November 2014 2 regardless of categories such as age, gender, sexual identification, etc. The workshop “provided me with some insights that I had not considered.” Bill Leder said afterwards. Ms. Dolham began by distributing to participants sheets of paper asking how he or she would feel towards a candidate who was _______. The blank space would be completed with terms such as “bisexual,” “gay,” or a physical disability. The next question on the sheet asked how each participant would judge the Fellowship’s willingness to accept a person in this particular category. The final question asked what the Fellowship might learn from such a person. By the end of the workshop, the facilitator had compiled the answers, gave the results, and explained how the KUUF compared to other fellowships: we showed little difference with other groups. Participants then grouped themselves at tables of 5-7 people, with each table given questions to answer, such as, “A church is located in an old neighborhood. Two members of this fellowship are speaking, and one says ‘I hope we find a minister who can lead us towards joining the entire local community.’” The second person responds with ‘I want someone who is smart.’” The implication from this hypothetical scenario is that the sample fellowship, presumably situated in a working class area, does not feel that local people are smart enough. The follow-question then asks: “Whose problem is this, and what should be done about it?” Participant Jane Hiltunen said the workshop was “excellent,” because Ms. Keweenaw UU Fellowship Dolham would not let the participants dodge the tough questions. When participants questioned whether they would accept a minister who used faulty grammar. saying “I’m really concerned about this,” Ms. Dolham asked “How would you explain this concern to the minister? What would you say?” The point here is that an issue with good or bad grammar does not necessarily lead to a successful or unsuccessful minister. With regards to candidates’ sufficient education, Ms. Dolham explained that all candidates have obtained at least a master’s degree, plus have been vetted by UUA superiors. No candidates, Dolham said, would be on the market who were not prepared. In responding to someone’s concern about a candidate who uses a wheelchair, the facilitator said that the UUA is aware of our winter weather and would not send a candidate to us who could not move around in snow. The KUUF November Newsletter Deadline is Tuesday, November 25th. Send info to [email protected] What does an Interim Minister Do All Week? In the interim, with Rev. Gabi In my eight months here at KUUF, I have been asked several questions again and again. So I thought I follow November 2014 3 the pattern of many websites, listing and answering the most commonly asked questions. Q: What’s the purpose of an interim minister? A: An interim minister helps a congregation with the transition from one settled minister to the next. In addition to the regular duties of a minister, he or she helps the congregation to claim and honor its past, to heal its grievances and conflicts; to come to terms with its unique identity, its strengths, its needs, its challenges; to clarify the multiple dimensions of their leadership, both ordained and lay; and to navigate the shifts in leadership that accompany times of transition. As your interim, I am also trying to renew your connections with available resources, within and beyond the UUA. In a few weeks we will work on renewing your vision, strengthening your stewardship, and preparing for new professional leadership. Q: How long does it take you to write your sermons? A: My UU colleagues and I agree that on the average we spend 15-20 hours a week on a sermon. That does not count the time needed for finding readings, chalice lightings, hymns, and closing words . . . Q: Aren’t all those committee meetings that you attend boring? interesting and stimulating. They give me a chance to “take the pulse” of the congregation. Especially in a place like KUUF, where people get along really well, it’s a lot of fun to sit in on planning and decision-making sessions. I’ve been in congregations with a lot of arguing and bickering, so meetings often went way overtime: not fun. Q: Do you sometimes visit congregants in their homes? A: Oh yes! I love going to people’s houses and meeting with them in a relaxed atmosphere. I’ve had wonderful conversations those last months, visiting different congregants almost every week. In case I haven’t called on you yet – drop me a line! Q: Where will you go from here? A: I have no idea! After having moved around a lot in the last ten years, I am now trying to look for a settled ministry, if possible, back in the Joseph Priestley District so that everyone in my family can remain in the same house. If that doesn’t work out, I will once again pack my bags and move wherever I’ve been called. But for now, I am thoroughly enjoying my work with you all, and the beauty of the Keweenaw! Warmly, Gabrielle Park A: Actually, the KUUF has few committees that meet regularly. But even so, I find committee meetings very Keweenaw UU Fellowship November 2014 4 KUUF Library News Do you remember when you first came to our fellowship? How were you treated? What kept you coming back? Now, as a member, how do you treat guests that visit us on Sunday? How can you do a better job of welcoming our visitors and supporting congregational growth? Our library contains a wonderful DVD, “Ideas for Growth: Welcoming the Newcomer,” produced by the Jefferson Unitarian Church of Golden, Colorado. Jefferson is a large fellowship, and it did not achieve their size by accident. The video includes concrete steps that can be taken to improve hospitality. For example, Segment #1 covers “Repelling Fewer Visitors.” This section states that the current growth of our entire denomination is a dismal 1% per year; “6% of churches account for 2/3 of national growth;” and our sluggish growth and slow decline nullify each other. The video recommends three steps. First, say hello. Cordially greet unfamiliar faces—establish a bond— and offer to sit with them. Second, “Let visitors know they are important and you are glad they came.” Above all, develop an atmosphere of welcoming. The DVD offers a bonus sermon— “Reflections on the Experience of a Newcomer.” Those in our Fellowship who have heard this sermon have agreed that it is a prizewinner. The video is ready for checkout. Bob Fiandt Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship PO Box 27 Houghton, MI 49931 Keweenaw UU Fellowship November 2014
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