1. society
2. racism

NEWSLETTER OF THE
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
FELLOWSHIP OF BOCA RATON
VOLUME 48 ISSUE 10
NOVEMBER 2014
LYNN BURNS, EDITOR
CALENDAR FOR THIS MONTH
WHAT’S HAPPENING - SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES...
FROM THE MINISTERS DESK- A Joys and Sorrows experiment...
FROM THE DRE...Gratitude…
RE NEWS...…
DISCERNING HEARTS AND MINDS...An opportunity to center-down for clarity.
EVENING BOOK CLUB…Reading Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte.
DAYTIME BOOK CLUB…Reading Wingshooters, by Nancy Revoyr.
MOVIE GROUP….discussing My Old Lady, with Kevin Kline and Maggie Smith.
FROM THE TREASURER…please pay early if you are able...
CONCERT AND CRAFT FAIR ...Don’t miss this wonderful event November 8th...
LESSONS FROM FERGUSON...Racism = Prejudice + Power…
UPDATED GUN POLICY...Click through to check out the new policy...
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR...Seeking weekend peace...
NAME TAGS...Make sure you have your new nametag...
GREEN SANCTUARY ...Get the latest info about their Second Hour Class...
HOLIDAY DATES, VESPERS, LABYRINTH WALK, GREEN GALA...Make sure you are in the know...
HEALING JUSTICE...
Recycling at UUFBR...
UUFBR MISSION STATEMENT…Did you know we have a mission statement?
NEWSLETTER OF THE
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
FELLOWSHIP OF BOCA RATON
VOLUME 48 ISSUE 10
NOVEMBER 2014
LYNN BURNS, EDITOR
From The Minister’s Study…
Most of my colleagues and I have a speechlet that goes something like “25 Beacon Street isn’t the
UUA. We are the UUA.” We can’t say that anymore now that The Association’s headquarters has
moved from the historic, beautiful, impossible to wi-fi, mansion on the commons in Boston to 24
Farnsworth St.- a new space for a new century..
But the speechlet is still true. We are unlike other “churches”, in our polity, our way of governing ourselves. We are not top down, have no bishops or cardinals to set direction and hold congregations
accountable. Rather we are a covenanted, democratically organized, association of free and sovereign congregations joined together for mutual support and creation of the common good. We are here
to help each other and change the world. The UUA is us, our clusters, our districts, our regions.
This past month leaders from the South Florida Cluster gathered together at The Treasure Coast UU
in Stuart for mutual support and the creation of the common good. They gathered to share best practices - things that were going really well - and to think together on some common problems. Four
members of UUFBR were there. One of the ideas that was brought back was a different way of doing
Joys and Sorrows. At the October Board meeting, this idea was shared. Following the successes of
two of the larger congregations in our cluster, a new experiment begins at UUFBR.
Starting on November 9th, we will use river rocks and a large bowl of water for the Sharing of Joys
and Sorrows. As music plays, those with something to share will silently place a river rock in the bowl.
When all are done we will close as we always have with singing From you I receive.
At UUFBR, we treasure this time each week as our moment to reach out to each other, to build the
connections, the relationships, the care that sustain us outside the sanctuary. It is an element of our
worshipping together that we will never do without. But the form it takes doesn’t work well for everyone, all the time. New folks can be put off by what appears to be a conversation among the in-crowd.
Shy folks can be put off by the need to stand up and use a mic. And although always polite, the truth
is many of us tune out when it goes on too long, becomes repetitious, is mistaken as a soap box or
used as a soap box or vehicle for announcements.
This new format tries to correct those negatives. The opportunity for deepening connections is still
present. Coffee Hour becomes the time for deeper conversations - eye to eye, heart to heart. One on
one we can hear each other more deeply, fully. Over time it may even increase the attentiveness we
give each other. We will need to watch who goes forward and hold them in our hearts till the service is
done.
The one draw back of this form is that for some walking up to the front may seem daunting. My current
solution is to offer a substitute. When those folks raise a hand, one of the ministers will bring a rock
and a small bowl of water to their seat. Standing in place they can put the rock in the water. And either
John or I will carry it forward on their behalf.
This experiment will last for 3 months. As it goes on, please share your responses, feelings, reactions
and ideas with one of the ministers.
A WELCOMING CONGREGATION
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November 2014
of a wonderful book: What is God? by Etan Boritzer.
Whatever your definition, I leave you with this quote
from Boritzer:
FROM THE DRE...
Ballot Question # 14:
"When we pray to God,
We are praying for the feeling of love
To come to us and to everybody we know.
Maybe even to all those people we don't know,
So that we can all be happy together, or apart."
Check "Yes" or "No":
Is There a God?
You will not see this on any ballot in the United
States because of the following from our Bill of
Rights from the US Constitution:
-Ellen
Amendment One: Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
RE NEWS
We are in the midst of our annual UNICEF collection! This year we handed out boxes to all families to
collect coins and bills at home or the office! Hopefully our Trick or Treat for UNICEF is bigger than
last year!
For many UUs "GOD" is a "four letter word" full of
negative energy and difficult associations. I have had
my own struggles with this word. As a Jewish child,
forced in school to say prayers that were alien to me,
I resented the feeling of my identity being diminished by an all powerful Christian male with a long
white beard.
The RE Council has new members and will meet November 9th for an hour (with childcare!) All are invited!
The last Sunday of November will be a Special Sunday for Social Action. This will be the time where
the kids decide what theme they wish to follow for
their projects this year!
I felt it was an "us" vs. "them" issue, further dramatized by how we grouped ourselves in school, which
camps we went to, and who we were allowed to date
as teens. So, I put the word “God,” on a back burner
and went on with my life.
We have had an exciting October: The middles and
teens have done a congregational poll to find out who
we are and what we believe. They plan to publish
their results soon. Many of us came in costume for
the Big Barbeque on the 26th and our middles and
teens have been getting together!
The question of a God, or the existence of God,
comes up as our children seek to make sense of their
world, as it does again when we are adults!
We have seen newcomers the past few Sundays! It is
always exciting when we welcome new kids and
families into our programs!
The good thing about "growing up" is being teachable and knowing we have the autonomy to make
our own decisions. This we can bring to our kids:
openness and the right to our own understandings.
DISCERNING HEARTS AND MINDS
I have developed my own understandings and definitions of the word: God, that negate the old man in
the beard, negate my negative stereotypes, and add
an organic universality that I can relate to with comfort. I just had to get past the "four letter word" feelings. I came to understand that I can respect other's
use of the word because they had their own. I can
use the word instead of awe, universe, love, or others, because it is simpler for me. I know what I
mean. It is not a vote for or against the existence of
God, it is just a way I can relate to the magic and
awe of all our existence.
Have you ever felt stuck? We all have at some point
in our lives… If you seem to be unsure about the
next big decision come lay it down with a group focused on listening to hearts, instead of minds. This is
your opportunity to “center down,” and receive clarity and discernment regarding a situation that you’re
struggling to resolve.
“There’s nothing that makes it feel more like
Christmas than the smell of latkes cooking.”
~ Maggie Riordan
(only from a UU kid—Harris)
We have copies for loan in the UUFBR RE Library
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November 2014
EVENING BOOK CLUB
DAYTIME BOOK CLUB
November 18, 7:00pm, Living
Room
The evening book club meets
on the third Tuesday night of
the month. This month we are
rereading a classic, Jane Eyre,
by Charlotte Bronte. Published
in the mid 1880’s, this novel
still holds up as a story about
the search for family and social
class. The story opens with
Jane, the main character, as an orphan living with a
mean Aunt. She subsequently goes to boarding school
and is faced with many challenges and choices along
the trajectory of her life. The final choice involves
her love for Mr. Rochester who has been blinded in a
fire. Come join the group to share your thoughts on
the book and help select future books. In December
we’ll be reading The Invention of Wings, by Sue
Monk Kidd.
November 19, 10:30am, Living Room
This book club meets the third
Wednesday of the month during the day. This month they
are discussing Wing Shooters,
by Nina Revoyr. This novel
that draws breathtaking contrasts between all that is beautiful in life and the malignancy of hate. Charlie, an
alpha blue-collar male and a
bigot like his buddies, is horrified when his son marries a Japanese exchange student. Yet when his only grandchild, is abandoned by
her estranged and feckless parents and left with her
grandparents in their small, xenophobic Wisconsin
town, Charlie loves her without restraint. As Deerhorn’s first and only person of color, Michelle is subjected to constant insults and assaults, so Charlie
teaches her to fight and shoot a gun, as well as to appreciate nature and play baseball. He calls her Mike,
and she is beyond tomboyish, roaming the countryside with her only friend, her dog. The group has
chosen the next two books as well, The Rosie Project and The Light Between Oceans. Join them to
share your thoughts on this book and future selections.
MOVIE GROUP
November 13, 10:30am,
Living Room
The movie group meets on the
second and fourth Thursdays
of the month. The first movie
is My Old Lady, which stars
Kevin Kline and Maggie
Smith. Mathias Gold (Kevin
Kline) is a down-on-his-luck
New Yorker who inherits a
Parisian apartment from his estranged father. But
when he arrives in France to sell the vast domicile,
he's shocked to discover a live-in tenant who is not
prepared to budge. His apartment is a viager - an
ancient French real estate system with complex rules
pertaining to its resale - and the feisty Englishwoman
Mathilde Girard (Maggie Smith), who has lived in the
apartment with her daughter Chloé (Kristin Scott
Thomas) for many years, can by contract collect
monthly payments from Mathias until her death. See
the movie, and then come to the movie group to
discuss your thoughts.
FROM THE TREASURER
This year we will be tight on
cash until the end of the fiscal
year, so if you can, could you
pay your pledge ahead of time
or on a regular basis. Thank
you for those of you who have
already paid in full your yearly
pledge.
Pledge statements have just
gone out. If you find an inconsistency, please call the office so we can fix it. Our
fiscal year is from April to March.
The good news is that we have reduced the projected
deficit from - 22,000 to around -11,000 so far. We
need your participation in any and all fundraisers, it
is very important!
The Treasurer,
Robert
“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness
received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse
to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the
following of that impulse.”
~ Henry Van Dyke
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November 2014
in Master Classes with prominent musicians from
many countries. He has also performed recently in
concert at Florida Atlantic University. This summer he
was guest pianist at several UUFBR services bringing
congregants to their feet after one performance.
CONCERT & CRAFT FAIR
DARKO VARGA NOV 8TH
Award-winning pianist Darko Varga has announced
his program for the November 8th concert. The evening will include D. Scarlatti's Sonata E major, J. S.
Bach Prelude and Fugue BWV 874, Mozart Sonata
K333 B-flat major, Liszt Hungarian rhapsody no. 2,
and Chopin's Etudes op. 10 and Scherzo B-flat Minor op. 31.
Varga has received
awards and prizes at piano competitions in Serbia, Prague and Belgium
and been recognized for
exceptional cultural
achievement in Serbia. He has participated
LESSONS FROM FERGUSON
Racism = prejudice + power
. . . racism extends considerably beyond
prejudiced beliefs. The essential feature of racism is
not hostility or misperception, but rather the defense
of a system from which advantage is derived on the
basis of race. The manner in which the defense is
articulated - either with hostility or subtlety - is not
nearly as important as the fact that it insures the
continuation of a privileged relationship.
David T. Wellman
Portraits of White Racism, Second Edition
We have many different understandings of what
racism is: an historical fact, a social reality, a shameful
wound to be healed, a problem to overcome, a moral
failing to be addressed. We also share a conviction
that it is something to be avoided, then constrained,
and one day eradicated. We would rather live in a
world that was not racist. We would rather live in a
world where all the isms (sexism, classism, ageism,
homophobia) were a thing of the past. This isn’t that
world, yet. Until that world arrives, we would at least
be a people standing against this evil.
For most of us that means, first and foremost, that we
personally do not harbor racist attitudes or
inclinations. And then it means understanding and
standing against the institutional forces that sustain
and promote the racist structures in our society.
The doors open at 6:45 for a Craft Bazaar featuring
hand made papers, one-of-a-kind jewelry, treasure
boxes, hand-painted holiday items, fiber art, photography (note cards and framed pieces), hand made lotions
and more. Crafters will donate a portion of their sales
to the Fellowship. The concert will begin at 7:30. Beverages and pastries will be available for purchase.
Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 at
UUFBR, through eventbrite.com, or for $20 at the
door all benefiting the Fellowship. Thank you to sponsors Sharon Drew, Norma Goodall, Jim and Ann Jiovanazzo, and Anonymous.
the very structures we would stand against. Neuroscience gives us a clue. To keep us alive, evolution
created brains that quickly scan the world for like
me & safe and not like me & possibly not safe.
These judgements happen outside of conscious
intent. Think of it as a wired-in survival mechanism.
It has no moral content, because it pre-dates a brain
that thinks in words and moral concepts. Time has
moved on, our brains and our culture have continued
to evolve. We now live in a moral universe, and
these unconscious biases continue to shape how we
see and respond to our world. One thing we can do
is help evolution along. By becoming aware of the
biases operating outside of our awareness, we can
open new choices for ourselves.
Scientists and scholars at Harvard University, The
University of Virginia and The University of
Washington have teamed up to create a large
research study called Project Implicit. Through the
development of Implicit Association Tests, they
have uncovered a way to tease out those hidden
biases, making the unconscious conscious. Teaching
Tolerance has put a portal to this study on their web
site. (www.tolerance.org)
I encourage you to take one of the 14 IAT’s. They
cover a variety of racial biases as well as those
relating to ageism, sexism gender and religion. What
you discover may surprise you. Whatever you learn
will open new avenues for thought and behavior that
can help change our world, and even nudge evolution along is a direction closer to our deepest values.
One of the questions in this work is how do we who
would be anti-racist, get caught up and supportive of
5
The Reverend Harris Riordan
November 2014
UPDATED GUN POLICY
GREEN SANCTUARY UUFBR
At our October Board meeting, the Board passed an
updated firearm policy. Per our procedures, the Board
is submitting it to the congregation for 30 days prior to
implementation to allow for comments from members.
If you have any concerns or questions, please do not
hesitate to email me or any member of the Board.
Have you found yourself wishing you could make your
life more environmentally friendly? Would you like to
learn more about your surroundings and our natural
world? Are you aware of how our culture’s poor environmental practices affect parts of our human communities?
The Green Sanctuary (GS) Team at UUFBR addresses
all these questions and would love your help to steer
our congregation and community into a more sustainable direction. We would especially love to include
younger folks of any age as well as members with diverse backgrounds.
Please click here to see the complete policy or ask the
office for a hard copy.
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
I’m having a little trouble setting boundaries and
having people respect my personal time. Each
weekend I average five to six Fellowship phone calls
on my cell phone. I have to be honest, it can get a
little overwhelming: to always feel like I’m on and
have no separation from the Fellowship.
The Green Sanctuary program is a tool implemented
by the UUA to help congregations live the 7th principle—Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. It requires congregations
to complete projects from four focus areas: worship
and celebration, religious education, environmental
justice, and sustainable living. This program will
strengthen our community and increase collaboration
with other groups working in south Florida, increasing
how we walk the talk. Further information, including
the meeting minutes, can be found online at http://
www.uufbr.org/green-sanctuary-team/.
When Genevieve was little I would jokingly tell her to
come get us if she was bleeding or on fire. Other than
that she had to stay in her bedroom at night.
Now, if you are bleeding, seek medical attention and
let me know later what happened. If the building is on
fire, call 911 and then call me. Otherwise, please
respect the fact that I work Monday through Thursday
9am to 2pm. Real examples of weekend phone calls:
Friday night at 9:30pm calling to find out is there’s
a room that can be used for a meeting the next day.
 Friday afternoon calling to find out who is cooking
and what is being served for Second Hour lunch.
 Calling my husband’s cell phone because you
don’t have my number and you want me to look
up another congregants phone number.
 Calling and saying specifically, “this is a personal
call” and then asking for the Ministerial Interns’
phone number. The call to him is a personal one.
The call to me is not.
So, if you want to call and chat with me about life and
connect as a person, feel free to dial my cell phone.
But, if it’s Fellowship business please email me at the
office or leave me a voicemail.
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NAME TAGS
For those of you who have not picked up your new
nametags, they are available from Lynn. Please
contact her during the week (not on Sunday) to
arrange your preferred backing and how to pick it up.
They cost $4 to make. Any contributions you can
provide will help us make new ones for incoming
folks.
The GS Team currently hosts the Second Hour class
series “Our Place in the Web of Life”. Its first session in September, ‘Gratitude for Our Place in the
World’, revealed how much our identity determines
what we love and feel connected to and how much
there is to be thankful for. The second session of the
series developed into a powerful reflection on the impact of production, consumption and disposal on the
planet. Watching the video “The story of stuff”
(available on youtube), we discovered how the real
costs for most items that we buy and throw away on a
daily basis are paid for by people and countries of the
third world, using their resources, life time and health.
In the third session, which was well attended, we
mapped the impact of UUFBR in the world. We found
out 1) where our air, water, electricity and waste originate from and go to, 2) what and who impacts the quality of these and 3) who is impacted by UUFBR’s actions. Join us in Rockberger to continue the discussion.

Nov 2—Ethical Reflections on Our Place in the Web of Life,

Nov. 23—Lessons Learned. Next Steps and Evaluation.
The GS Team meets every first Tuesday of each Month
at 7 pm in Hartley. Please join us on November 4th or
any other month you can make it!
6
November 2014
GREEN AUCTION GALA EVENT
COMING IN 2015
THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!
THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!
We need You to join the team!
Before you know it they will be here.
We are creating a dynamic evening event, to take
Put these dates on your calendar:
place on Saturday, March 28, 2015 which will include
 December 9, 5:30pm, Tuesday—UUFBR Holiday Party.
a Silent and Live Auction, dinner, entertainment and
 November 16—Tickets go on sale, $15 adults, $5 children lots and lots of fun. All of this is to raise money to
and $25 for families.
support UUFBR and the Florida Earth Festival.
Our traditional feast of There are a lot of ways for you to help. We need volham, turkey, tofurkey,
unteers for the Auction Committee, which will coordilatkes and all the trim- nate the solicitation and presmings, fit for omnientation of all the donations
vores, vegetarian and
for the Silent and Live Aucvegans. Entertainment
tion. And, the Gala Event
and even a visit from
Committee needs volunteers
Santa Claus.
for everything from decoraTo pull this off we need tions and dining to promotion
Angels and Elves! The and put away.
holiday party is hosted by the minister and is meant to Please contact Karen Corbin at [email protected]
be a fundraiser. Every year angels have appeared do- or 561 449-6125.
nating the cost of a ham, turkey or tofurkey.($25)
Consider being an angel this year?
Elves are needed to work with the minister. Elvish
gifts include: Costco runs the week before the party.
Helping in the kitchen the day of the party is needed.
And the many elves who help to set up and decorate
the sanctuary are very appreciated.
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Vespers services
begin on Tuesday,
November 11th at
7:30pm. These
services will use
the elements of
November 23—Angel Express kicks off. Buy gifts or dobread
and
cup
(found
in
traditional
Communion
rites
nate money to buy gifts for children in need from Family
and the Seder Meal) to give greater depth and dimenPromise and AVDA.
sion to our religious expression. The readings, music
November 24 to 27—Office closed Thanksgiving Week.
and reflections will be based in our UU Traditions and
November 30 to December 7—Give back by volunteering Spirituality and are also based on The Communion
for Family Promise. We are hosting at the 260 House and Book compiled by UU Minister Carl Seaburg. They are
can always use dinner hosts, assistants and overnight
time to reflect and traverse new terrain in the landscape
hosts.
of our souls. They will attempt to touch a spiritual diDecember 14, 10:30am—Hanukkah Service.
mension that cannot be expressed in language.
December 14, Noon—Cookie Exchange and Wrap party
for Angel Express.
December 20—Angel Express Christmas Party for Family LABYRINTH WALK
Promise.
Also starting this month
December 21, 10:30am—Family Christmas.
on the 4th Tuesday at
December 21, 7:30pm—Solstice Service: A quiet respite 7:00pm, a meditative
walking of the labyrinth.
in the midst of holiday bustle. This is a service to bring
your friends to, especially those who suffer from any form Together, in community
we will walk the labyof church allergy.
rinth and take a moment
December 24—Candlelight Christmas Eve.
December 25—January 1—Office closed to recover from to breathe and reflect on
our collective lives.
all of the above.
7
November 2014
HEALING JUSTICE
"In the moment of crisis the wise build bridges and the
foolish build dams." This quotation comes from a Nigerian proverb. I love it because it causes me to think
about how people are with one another on many levels. Dams keep things in, hold things back and keep
other things out. If they work well, they keep the
downstream side of the dam safe from harm. The
proverb also speaks to the wisdom of building bridges.
Certainly, I value and try to live out building bridges
between and among people, hopefully linking different points of view. While the proverb also says "…the
foolish build dams," dams may often be necessary in
the short term to provide time to enact a longer term
solution. Then again, if we look more deeply, it may
truly be more efficient to build a bridge. It depends on
the problem, the resources, the time available and
many other factors. Trying to learn more about this
quote led me to yet another quote from an African
proverb, ""If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you
want to go far, go together." As I contemplated both
quotes, I realized that despite the lessons from each,
which on first blush seemed clear, are complex. They
are a blend of many ways to deal with the issues that
face us in life. When faced with a problem in today's
world, we need both dams and bridges and we need
both speedy solutions along with those that take more
time.
ness. When the classes ended, many of its members
wanted to continue to learn more about how the U.S.
criminal justice system has perpetrated injustices. We
also wanted to know what we might do to begin to
correct the injustices Michelle Alexander wrote about.
These injustices, often committed against blacks and
other economically disadvantaged people of color are
too many to name here. In fact, we keep learning
about more. When we started to meet, we were pretty
typical of any new group, and definitely typical of UU
folk. We had a variety of thoughts and opinions about
how to go about our work. As a new group, we were
able to agree on how to begin to join together to address and further understand some of the issues inherent creating healing justice. We learned that the issues
and our approaches to them are as diverse as the two
African proverbs. To create healing, we need both
long-acting and more immediate results. Some of our
approaches will help put out the fires of injustice now.
Others will help to prevent smoldering injustices from
becoming future fires. Both approaches are essential to
addressing justice issues for a more far-reaching sustainable future. To see how our efforts fit with the larger parent organization, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), please go to: http://www.uua.org/
multiculturalism/index.shtml. To learn more about the
UUFBR Healing Justice group, visit the UUFBR website: http://www.uufbr.org/healing-justice/. We would
love to have you join us as we continue to plot our
course. Our next meeting is November 5, 2014 at 7 PM
How do these proverbs relate to Healing Justice at
UUFBR? Healing Justice is a relatively new group at
UUFBR. It started in Fall, 2013 when a Second Hour
in the Hartley room at UUFBR.
class read Michelle Alexander's book, The New Jim
Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of ColorblindCarolyn Brown
Member UUFBR Healing Justice group
RECYCLING AT UUFBR
UUFBR MISSION STATEMENT
We have a blue recycling bin in the kitchen and a
yellow bin in the office. Commercial recycling costs
money, but we have an Angel, Jay Rosenbloom, who
does all the recycling for the Fellowship. He takes
the bins home once and week and puts them out in
his community. It’s a personal commitment that he’s
made to helping with our environmental footprint.
You can help him by making sure you remove lids
before you place items in the blue bins. Also please
rinse out all food containers (remember he’s taking
these home in his car.) Also, feel free to take a bag
of yellow bin paper or blue bin plastics to your house
for recycling. And, make sure to tell Jay thank-you.
To provide intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth experiences for all ages and stages of life in a free, liberal,
religious setting...
By preserving and promoting UU principles within the Fellowship and through outreach programs
By deepening our interdependent connections to the
greater UU community by providing quality Lifespan Religious Education
By promoting and enhancing a nurturing, caring, inclusive,
and responsive community
By using music, art, and ceremony to promote joy, and to
celebrate diversity, community and friendship.
By being a financially sound and well-organized community.
8
November 2014
HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING!
Daytime
Sundays
Book Club: Meets the 3rd Wednesday each month at
10:30am to talk about books of interest to the group. Fun
and enlightening book discussions. Please feel free to bring
friends –membership to UUFBR is not required.
Gardener's Work Party: Meets the 3rd Saturday of each
month at 8:30 am. This lively group helps trim, weed, and
clean up UUFBR's “manicured wilderness.”
Movie Group: Meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday each
month at 10:30 am to discuss movies of interest–
membership to UUFBR is not required.
Tony’s Team: Meets Wednesday at 9:30 am. Helps with
the routine maintenance of our buildings and grounds.
Writers Circle: Meets weekly from 12:30 to 3:30 in the Living
Second Hour: UUFBR’s popular lunch and second-hour
classes resumed Sept. 21. Second Hour happens Sept 21,
Oct 5 & 19, and Nov 2. Classes are: Owning Your Religious
Past, What Moves Us: Unitarian Universalist Theology, Introduction to Mindfulness, and Our Place in the Web of Life:
An Introduction to Environmental Justice.
The Forum Discussion Group: Sundays at 9:00 am, Living
Room. This group meets every Sunday Morning to discuss
social and political issues. Louis Willstein, coordinator.
Odyssey Group: The 3rd Sunday of the month 30 something’s (give or take ten years). Meet at Harris’ House at
6:30 pm. Bring something for the grill—salads, beverages
and desserts provided. Directions are at the Visitor’s Desk. Room. The group is open to all who seek a supportive peers for
Night-time
Choir: Thursday rehearsals at 7:30 pm. New choir members
welcome—please contact our Music Director, Stephanie
Nixdorf (email [email protected]), if you are interested.
Evening Book Group: Meets the third Tuesday of the
month at 7:00pm, in the Living Room, to discuss a book and
choose future books to read.
First Friday Fellowship: The 1st Friday of each month at
the VanCamp household. Bring a dish to share or something to throw on the grill and hang out with your friends.
This is a child-free zone with children dropped off at Harris’.
Girl’s Night Out: The 3rd Friday of each month UUFBR
Ladies, their friends, and sympathizers will meet for an evening activity. For more information contact Carrie Viles.
Guy’s Night Out: The 2nd Friday of every month UUFBR
Men, their friends and whoever else they drag out, get together for a fun evening. Joe Konkel has more information.
Healing Justice: The 1st Wednesday of each month at
7:00pm in Hartley. All are welcome to become a part of this
group as we work for justice in our communities.
Labyrinth Walk: The 4th Tuesday of the month at 7pm we
will walk the labyrinth and spend time in meditation.
Mystics and Metaphysics - The Spiritual Quest: This
group meets the second Sunday of the month at 6:00pm at
Harris’ House. This is an adult-centered group to explore
individual spiritual quests. Pot-luck meal and discussion.
Non-Violent Communication Learning Circle: The 2nd
Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm in Hartley. Learn a
peaceful method of active communication.
Vespers Services: Once a month meditative services at
7:30pm. Vespers Services focus on the broad definition of
communion in the Unitarian tradition.
thoughtful, constructive comments on their writings. Interested
writers should contact Carolyn Brown.
On-going
Community Food Pantry collections: Please bring in nonperishable food items (no glass jars) for Boca Helping Hands
and Similac Formula, Ready to Feed with Iron, for Florence
Fuller Child Development Centers.
P.E.A.C.E. People Engaged in Active Community Efforts. A
congregation-based community organization charged with the
mission of effectively fighting injustices in the communities of PB
County. Current work includes affordable housing, health care,
homelessness, and alternative schools.
Family Promise: The faith community’s unique response to
homeless families is a network of area congregations who open
their doors to families in need. Families receive hospitality from
congregations for a week, with each family sleeping in a private
area at the facilities. The program is to bring temporary shelter,
meals, and support to these families.
Remembering Their Names. The last Sunday of each month
during worship. Creating peace and justice in the world calls us
to explore the power of peace in ourselves. In December 2004
we began a meditation practice. We remember the names of
coalition forces killed in conflicts abroad. With this ritual we
stretch our hearts so that together we might find a path to peace.
Share the Plate. Half of each Sunday’s offering is given to
groups and organizations that create peace and strengthen the
Boca Raton community. This plate is shared by giving half of the
offering to two local organizations which support reproductive selfdetermination for all women: Planned Parenthood of South Florida, Inc. and Emergency Medical Assistance, Inc. Established
locally by UU Harriette Glasner, both reflect UU beliefs in personal choice and in the value of quality of life. For more go to the
UUA and search “Right to Choose,” or go
to www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-south-florida
-treasure-coast & www.emawpb.org/.
9
NOVEMBER 2014 FELLOWSHIP CALENDAR
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2
9:00am Forum
10:30am Services
(Nursery care available)
10:30am RE (Religious Education) Classes
Noon Second Hour Lunch
1:00pm Second Hour Classes
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
9:00am Forum
10:30am Services
(Nursery care available)
10:30am RE (Religious Education) Classes
10
9:30am Tony’s
Team
12:30pm Writers
7:00pm Green
Sanctuary Meet- Circle
ing
1:00pm Preaching
Seminar
7:30pm Choir Re- 7:00pm Healing
hearsal
Justice Meeting
6:30pm First Friday
Fellowship
12
9:30am Tony’s
Team
11
14
7:30pm Darko Varga
Concert
15
8:30am Gardening
Group
12:30pm Writers
Circle
Noon RE Council Meeting
7:30pm Vespers
Service
6:00pm Mystics &
Metaphysics
16
9:00am Forum
9:15am Endowment Meeting
10:30am Services
(Nursery care available)
10:30am RE (Religious Education) Classes
13
10:30am Movie
Group
6:45pm Craft Fair
17
18
7:00pm Non Violent
Communication
Learning Circle
6:30pm Guy’s Night
Out
19
9:30am Tony’s
Team
20
21
22
10:30am Book Club
12:30pm Writers
Circle
7:00pm Evening
Book Club
6:30pm Odyssey Group
6:30pm Discerning
Hearts and
7:30pm Choir ReMinds
hearsal
24
25
26
23
9:30am Tony’s
9:00am Forum
Team
10:30am Services
(Nursery care available)
12:30pm Writers
Circle
10:30am RE (Religious Education) Classes
Noon Green Sanctuary Class 7:00pm Board of 7:00pm Labyrinth
Trustees MeetWalk
ing
27
6:30pm Girl’s Night
Out
28
29
5
6
Office Closed Thanksgiving Week
30
9:00am Forum
10:30am Services
(Nursery care available)
10:30am NO RE (Religious
Education) Classes
1
2
3
4
9:30am Tony’s
Team
12:30pm Writers
Circle
7:00pm Green
Sanctuary Meeting
1:00pm Preaching
Seminar
7:30pm Choir Rehearsal
Family Promise Week
10
6:30pm First Friday
Fellowship
U N I T AR I AN U N I V E R S A L I S T F E L L O W S H I P
WE COVENANT TO AFFIRM
2 6 0 1 S t . An d r e w s B o u l e v a r d
Boca Raton, FL 33434
(561) 482-2001
F AX: 482-2011
AND PROMOTE

The inherent worth and dignity of every
person.

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
The Reverend Ms. Harris Riordan, Minister
John Smith, Ministerial Intern
Ellen Cormier, Director of Religious Education
Stephanie Monsour-Nixdorf, Music Director
Lynn Burns, Administrator
Jay Rosenbloom, Accounting

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation.

A free and responsible search for truth
and meaning.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Jane Tobal & Erika Venable, Co-Presidents
Robert Duchemin, Treasurer; Jeff Crews V.P.;
Greg Dora, Secretary
The right of conscience and the use of
the democratic process within our congregation and in society at large.

The goal of world community with
peace, liberty, and justice for all.
TRUSTEES:

Respect for the interdependent web of
existence of which we are all a part.
email: [email protected]
www.uufbr.org
STAFF
OFFICERS:
Jan Booher, Martha Nungesser,
Dave Van Camp
Upcoming newsletter deadlines
November 16
TO:
Change Service
Requested
BOCA RATON, FL 33434
2601 ST. ANDREWS BOULEVARD
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
Time Dated Material–Please Expedite
11