17540 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, AZ 85378-2581 Phone: 623.875.2550 Fax: 623.875.2552  www.uusurprise.org Email: [email protected] The Newsletter of Unitarian Universalist Church, Surprise, AZ is published monthly except August. Minister: Rev. Terry Sims Minister Emeritus: Rev. Dr. Walt F. Wieder President: Reggie Johnston January 2015 Newsletter Editor: Charlie Mannino Email: [email protected] Printing: Kathryn Pabich From The Minister’s Desk “Do you promise?” I wish I could remember what first caused me to be cautious about making promises. I suspect it involved my realization that I could not guarantee the future, not even my own behavior. I know that when the question “Do you promise?” comes from a child, I am doubly cautious. Especially with children, I do not want to promise something that I cannot be sure will happen. I do not want to risk disappointing them. As I often say when officiating at weddings, we do not know what the future may bring. We do not know everything our promises today will require of us in the coming years. But we commit to keeping them anyway. That requires an act of faith. What does it mean to live in covenant with each other? It is one thing to commit privately to living out our principles. That is a promise we make to ourselves. And those promises are critically important. They help us live authentically and with integrity, make us who we become. But they do not involve promises to others. The concept of covenant is at least as ancient as the First Testament, when the Israelites saw themselves as God’s people and God as their God. That relationship existed because the Israelites believed God made promises to them in return for their promises to God. A covenant is a set of promises that we make to someone else. And s/he makes promises in return to January 2015 us. Covenants are reciprocal. That means we become accountable to someone else for the promises we make to them, as they become accountable to us for theirs. They have a right to expect that we will keep our promises. What does it mean to live in covenant? It means binding yourself to promises you have to keep. What promises are we willing to live by? Most of those who are married made solemn promises to our spouses. But the only other common covenant I’m aware of is the covenant members of a covenantal community like our congregation make to each other. Saying that “love is the spirit of this church”, as we do every Sunday morning in our affirmation, means that we, every one of us, personally commits to making it so -- for every one of us. Our right relations covenant is a set of promises we have made to ourselves and to each other about how we will treat each other. To communicate with kindness. To look for and find what is best and sacred in each of us. To care about the pain of every member of our church. There is nothing easy about living in covenant. It asks a lot of us. It involves risk, indeed the probability, that we sometimes fall out of covenant with each other, disappointing ourselves and each other. But we commit again to keeping the promises of our covenant anyway. We begin again in love. It is an act of faith. I’ll see you in church. Faithfully yours, Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org 1 President’s Report Reggie Johnston, President Happy New Year! Happy Anniversary! We are celebrating our 40th year as a congregation! In April we will have special events, including the unveiling of a musical composition created for us by Clif Hardin, a UU Music Director and Composer. Liz Merchant and Debby Bullins are working with other members of the congregation to have a big celebration! This month we are inducting our new Board of Trustee members: Vice-President: Julian Rush Secretary: Cathy Mannino Trustees at Large: Liz Swan and Jason Hokaj, who is returning for a two-year term. We thank Jeff Hickman, Vice President, and Amy St. Peter, Secretary, for their dedication, hard work, kindness, and perspective during their term in office. Thanks to the Technology Committee, especially Charlie Mannino and Graham Taylor, we will soon have an improved sound system, including new microphones. No more “Is this on?” “Can you hear me?” Another area of thanks is to the Children’s Religious Education group, which has donated funds to set up a portable playground for the children during the Social Hour. The far back corner of the parking lot has been designated a play space, which will be marked off with orange cones. The area will be equipped with a tether ball, a moveable basketball hoop, and other games, such as bean bag toss, jump ropes, etc. Two parents will be setting up the equipment and supervising the children. Amanda Lauer and Jamie Hickman spear-headed this project. The Adopt a School program is off to a good start. We have officially agreed to adopt the Surprise School in the Dysart School District. Julie Wambach and Candy Cox report we have 30 plus people who are completing their volunteer packets. There are many ways for members to volunteer in addition to tutoring. The school district only asks for 5, yes 5, hours a year for you to be considered a volunteer. This could be stapling together papers for a lesson, 2 working on a bulletin board, reading to a child, or any number of things. In addition, members contributed tax dollars to the school with the help of Linda Vitale. This is also going to be a big help. We will make a difference! UUSC Darnell Kirksey Happy New Year! Thanks to all who donated to the Guest at Your Table campaign. We’ll let you know soon the amount given by UUCSAz. UUSC’s Ebola relief fund goal was met. Over $100,000 was raised. The money will go to two groups in rural areas i Liberia Lib i and d in i Sierra S in Leone - places where help is particularly needed. Also met was the goal to provide container gardens for 100 urban families in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The money will provide training, a model garden, and supplies. Justice Sunday is coming up in March. The focus will be on how climate change threatens the human right to water. One of the projects will be a partnership with the Friends Service Committee and the Franciscan Network to send young adults to Washington, DC, on March 14-17 for advocacy training relating to climate change. Thank you for all you do. District Assembly 2015 Sharon Beard, Denominational Affairs Save the dates of April 24-25, 2015 for the annual District Assembly, to be held this year at Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Chandler, AZ. Our theme is “The Vitality of Interdependence,” and we have an exciting keynote speaker. The Rev. Scott Tayler, Director of Congregational Life, will bring a vision of the future of Unitarian Universalism. Scott will share his perspective on the importance of our interdependence as we move forward in sharing our Unitarian Universalist faith. Please have information for the Newsletter submitted by Noon on the 15th of each month to the Editor, Charlie Mannino at [email protected] Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org January 2015 New Members Take the time to say hello and welcome our newest church member. Beverly Friend was born in Maine and is a proud “Mainiac.” She continues to summer in Maine in her cabin on Lake Maranacook, and lives in Surprise the rest of the year. She moved to Arizona because she loves sunshine and she also loves NBA basketball. She is a proud basketball addict! Beve (a nickname she likes, the second e is silent) lives a quiet, peaceful life after being an Addiction and Mental Health Counselor for decades. Beverly’s son, daughter-in-law and 1-year old grandson live in Nova Scotia. They like to spend May and September together in both the US and Canada. Beve’s hobbies include studying the mind-body connection, reading, gardening and kayaking. She has both a Catholic and Lutheran background. A couple of years ago she read a dense history of Unitarian Universalism and thought it might be good fit. She came for a visit and decided to join. Welcome, Beverly! New Members Orientation Debra Peevey The Membership Committee and Rev. Terry Sims are hosting a New Member Orientation on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:00 pm. This will be an interactive hour of questions and answers about the Principles of Unitarian Universalism, Right Relations and how our church works! If you have a specific question, please send it to Debra Peevey at [email protected] so we can be sure to include it. This hour- long session will immediately precede the UU History Class that Rev. Sims will be teaching at 7:00 pm. There will be a sign up sheet in the social hour so we know how many refreshments to bring. Have you named our church in your will? A simple codicil added to an existing will can provide for continuance of our liberal church ideals. Ring, Happy Bells! Liz & Debby, Co-Music Directors Happy New Year! The Music Department is busy planning the heart of our season, January through May. We have many exciting things coming. For those whose resolutions include “try something new,” we encourage singing with the choir. We rehearse at 9 a.m. the Sundays we sing (usually three times a month); there is an additional rehearsal one Thursday a month. Contact Debby at bullinstax@ cox.net, 623-975-4183, or Liz at lizmerch48@gmail. com, 623-584-0783 with any questions you might have and a schedule of rehearsals and singing times. Speaking of NEW, we have commissioned an anthem to be written by UUA composer Clif Hardin in honor of our 40th anniversary, debuting at our celebratory worship April 5. We are grateful for the Jim Flom Memorial Fund, which is underwriting this special project. It will be a privilege for the choir to sing, and the congregation to hear, this new piece written especially for our congregation and its anniversary. Some up-coming special music events to put on your calendar: Sunday, January 25, 10-10:30 a.m. Pre-worship mini-concert presented by pianist/ violinist Connie Jahrmarkt Saturday, February 28, 7:30 p.m. “Legends of the Celtic Harp” returns for an evening of instrumental music, singing and storytelling. As we begin our 40th year, we look to our worship book Singing the Living Tradition for our “marching orders”: We are the hearts and minds, the hands and feet, the embodiment of all the best visions of our people. The new year can be new ground for the seeds of our dreams. Let us take the step forward together, onto new ground, planting our dreams well, faithfully, and in joy. (Kathleen McTigue, Reading #544 SLT) For info call: Robert Deadman at 623-546-9891 January 2015 Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org  3 Generous Giving 2015 Candy Cox & Debra Peevey Our 2015 Generous Giving Campaign is in full swing and our early reports are very encouraging! We have received a total of 56 pledges representing $113,600. And - there are 57 regular pledging units that have yet to turn in their pledge cards. If those pledges come in like the first 56, we will have our best year in quite a while. Please remember to turn in your pledge card - even if your pledge is staying the same as last year. Together, er just imagine what we might accomplish! Movie Night At UU Linda Vitale Join us on January 19th to watch the movie CHICAGO. This 2003 musical film was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards and won six of them, including Best Picture. The film was critically lauded. Set in Jazz-era Chicago, the film stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere among many others. The cast received widespread universal acclaim. A rousing and energetic adaptation of the Broadway musical, CHICAGO, provides a surprising level of depth and humor. The movie explores the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption. It centers on Velma and Roxie, two murderesses who find themselves in jail together, awaiting trial. Velma, a vaudevillian, and Roxie, a housewife, fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows. Come and be entertained with memorable songs and great choreography. The movie will start at 7 pm. Run time is 113 minutes. You’ll want to bring some popcorn for this fun movie! Adult Education: Great Decisions 2015 Foreign Policy Discussion Series Bonnie Saunders Once again this year, Bonnie Saunders will facilitate the Great Decisions Foreign Policy Discussion Series at the church on eight Mondays, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on February 2nd. The briefing book, published each year by the Foreign Policy Association in New York City, will be available for $16 from Bonnie Saunders in January. If you want to understand the background of various international issues and the pros and cons of various solutions to foreign problems, join this group. If you want to participate in a lively discussion on the eight hottest topics in foreign policy this year, join this group. Foreign policy experts wrote the eight articles, which serve as a focus for the discussion and are often controversial. Mark your calendar. See Bonnie in church or contact her for further details. Topics and dates : 1. Russia and the Near Abroad – February 2nd 2. Privacy in the Digital Age – February 9th 3. Sectarianism in the Middle East – February 16th 4. India Changes Course – February 23rd 5. U.S. Policy toward Africa – March 2nd 6. Syria’s Refugee Crisis – March 9th 7. Human Trafficking – March 16th 8. Brazil in Metamorphosis – March 23rd Name Tags Janet Kafel Magnetic name tags are now available for purchase through Janet Kafel. They are $5.25 each. To order yours, see Janet on Sundays at the table by the front door of the Social Hall when she is at church or, contact her at [email protected] or 530-340-3230. When you see a name badge with a green dot, it signifies a new member. Take time to say hello, and welcome them to our congregation. We have a new Facebook page for the Church. Please take a moment to check it out, say hello, like and share as you wish. The best publicity is through our own members. 4 Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org January 2015 The Monthly Book Report MaryAnne Balzer Hello Surprise UUs! Welcome to our first monthly column featuring information from your library room. Each month we plan to bring you information on how to use the ibrary as well as highlights from a few books currently on the shelves. We hope this first column will increase your interest in browsing the Library and in checking out some of the great titles. Let’s start at the beginning: How are books arranged in the UU Library? Our library, like many other collections, continues to use the Dewey Decimal System to organize books. Many of us grew up in schools and visited public libraries using this system. First published in 1876, the Dewey system still works well with its latest revision in 2011. Useful to know: The Dewey system uses a three numeral code to describe a book’s approximate location based on subject, followed below by the first three letters of the authors last name. In addition to a Dewey number, our library also helps you locate book subjects by having the subject headings posted on the shelves. Also, we maintain a Subject Catalogue in the library that you may browse. It is housed in a drawer, alphabetized by subject. The drawer is located next to the inside door above the book return table. Look forward to more on how the library operates and our catalogue system in future columns. Now, let’s look at a few of the current books in the Library collection: “Simply Pray, A Modern Spiritual Practice to Deepen Your Life,” by Erik Walker Wikstrom, located on the shelf at number: 204.3 Wik. The author is listed as pastor of the First UU Church in Yarmouth Maine, and he is a 30-year student of Zen Buddhism. Paraphrasing book comments, the author helps readers understand the forms of prayer shared by all major religions and offers a practical new form of prayer, along with practical suggestions for composing prayers. The book is a fresh approach to the age-old question—“why pray?”. “Here If You Need Me, A True Story,” by Kate Braestrup, located on the shelf at number: 92 Bra. Reviewed as captivating, endearing, gripping, a wry intelligent memoir. It is a journey from grief to faith to happiness as the author holds her family together following her husband’s death. She writes of how she found God through helping others by becoming a January 2015 chaplain to search and rescue workers. She ponders the question why bad things happen to good people. Moreover, she does it with grace and humor. “One God, Shared Hope--Twenty Threads Shared by Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” by Maggie Oman Shannon, located on the shelf at number: 291.82 Oma. The book strikes a positive position regarding shared links of philosophy found in the books each faith reveres. The author quotes the Dalai Lama “… it is essential that we extend our understanding of each other’s spiritual practices and prayers…to do so increases our opportunities for mutual respect”. This is a beautiful and easy to read book of quotes on topics mutual to all faiths. Thanks for your reading patronage! Our library is a functioning part of Church life because of you, the readers. Any comments, questions, or just want to talk books, contact your Librarians: Marylu Rideout or MaryAnne Balzer. Have a blessed day shared with a good book! Grandmother Clock A Grandmother clock is still available and displayed in the Social Hall and for sale to benefit the Church. A Colonial Clock Company, Westminster chime, with moving moon dial! Delivered and guaranteed for a year for the astonishing price of only $250. Beautiful sound! See Ken Saunders for more info. Pizza Potluck for mystery elf reveal & Lego movie Saturday Jan 24 5-8pm All are welcome (even if you didn’t participate in mystery elf). We will be serving pizza (for a small donation) and there will be a sign up for side dishes in January. Please be sure to sign up so we have enough pizza for everyone. After our social time we will show the “Lego movie.” Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org 5 Annual UU Auction Cheryl Garrett Remember all that Pardi, Hardi, Mardi fun time we had last year? Well, it’s that lucky time of the year again! We are gearing up for “Bringing in the Green” at our annual UU Auction on Saturday, March 7 with a St. Paddy’s Day theme. The evening will begin at 4:00 PM with live Irish music, interactive booths and a silent auction. It will be followed by a catered Irish dinner (sign up and pay in the social hall) and at 6:00 we will begin with our spirited live auction led by that wild auctioneer from last year. How can you help? First, donate a quality item/items for the silent auction and bring those to the church by noon on Friday, February 28. Second, create an event to be “sold” at the live auction. Paperwork for the processes for both of these auctions are on the green paper sheets at the social hall table. If you need help with the processes or just ideas, please see Cheryl Garrett, Liz Swan or Candy Cox. Third, BRING YOUR POT O’ GOLD! Children are welcome. They will be provided a free kid friendly meal and there will be sitters for them during the live auction. Our interactive booths are designed for both young and old participation. Come and help us “Dublin’ R Pot O’Gold”!!! Identity Theft Protection Linda Vitale ONE LAST CHANCE to attend my ID Theft class. Because many of you missed attending my class in December, I’ve had several requests to offer it again this month. So, mark your calendar for January 24th, if you missed my class last month. I promise to teach you really important things that you don’t know to help keep you safe out there! DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY 2 SECONDS SOMEONE’S IDENTITY IS STOLEN? It is referred to as “The Crime of the Century”. Linda Vitale is here to help you fight back! Attend her ID Theft, Fraud/Scam prevention class on Saturday, January 24th from 1-3 pm. You’ll learn how to outsmart the criminals before they strike! You’ll be given the tools you need to learn how to spot and avoid fraud. You’ll learn ways to deter and detect Identity Theft. Learn about 6 Electronic Pickpocketing via new contactless credit cards. Awareness is your best weapon against these crimes! What you learn will make you and loved ones smarter and better protected. You will get prevention tips, booklets and lots of resources to take home. This is a topic that I’m very passionate about! The class is free of charge to everyone. My goal is to reach as many ‘ears’ as possible, so bring your friends and neighbors too! You won’t want to miss this VERY important class! To register, please see the sign-up sheet in the social hall, call 623-2931953 or email me at [email protected] Landscaping Virginia Taylor Every Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30 AM we meet to work on various projects on the church campus. Hope you can join us for the fun and a great workout! Just show up; bring your gloves for sure. We have all the tools needed. Questions?? Call Virginia Taylor @ 623 556 4739. Thank you! Religious Education Report Lisa Lawrence, DRE Another eventful year has passed and RE continues to grow and adapt with the addition of increased classes and programming. Once again, this year we held summer classes with a “Share Your Passion” program where members of the congregation shared their skills and talents with the children; then, in August, our very first “Our Whole Lives” sexuality education program for 4th6th graders was held; and in November our very first parenting workshop “Family Harmony, Efficiency and Cooperation: The Art of Shaping Family Life” was offered. The year will finish with a flourish with our annual inter generational Christmas Pageant. Next year we plan to hold our second “Our Whole Lives” program for K-1st graders focus on community and stewardship with local service and fundraising projects and learn about world-wide conservation efforts. Mark your calendars for several upcoming social events: movie nights, bowling adventures, and picnics. I look forward to spending time with all of you in the New Year. Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org January 2015 Social Activities UU Committee Council Fair Mary Anne Poggenburg Bonnie Saunders, UU CC Chair • Many of you attended the Thanksgiving potluck, originally initiated and coordinated by Ken and Bonnie Saunders and then set up by Board Members. Thanks go out to all who helped out with this event. • The Annual Dinner was well received. Boston Market came through again with a delicious main course. Please note that we’ll do something different for dessert next year! Thanks go out to the “Bar Crew” - Liz and Virginia; the “Kitchen Crew” - Mary Ellen, Nancy, and ??; the “Clean Up Crew” - Amanda, Nancy, George & Jeff; and the “Money Crew” - Pat • Berta Czeczyk will organize the Christmas Potluck. Social Hour will be at 2:00 p.m., followed by shared potluck at 3:00 p.m. Advance signup is required. Give her a call if you can help out with setting up/tearing down the Potluck. • Coffee volunteers are very much needed to sign up in the orange Coffee Hour book! We anticipate having coffee & treats only once or twice a month unless we get more volunteers. Mary Anne Poggenburg will be scheduling a “trainee Sunday” in January 4th and February 1st. • Watch for an announcement in the bulletin for a Social Activities Meeting in January. The Committee Council consists of Committee Chairs and Leaders of such program activities of the Church as designated by the Board. It has responsibility for helping to establish and for coordinating the programs of the Church. At present, we have more than 20 active Committees: Aesthetics, Auction, Denominational Affairs, Finance, Generous Giving, Housing and Property, Landscaping, Lay Pastoral Care, Library, Membership, Memorial Garden, Memorial Services, Newsletter, Nominating, Religious Education for Adults, Religious Education for Children, Right Relations, Social Activities, Social Justice, Sunday Services, Technology, UU Service Committee, UU United Nations Office. At present, we have need for Chairs of several committees; all committees could use some members. To that end, we will have a Committee Council Fair immediately after church on Sunday, January 25th. Many/most of the CC Chairs will be available to talk about what they do and how members of the congregation can contribute, either as a Committee Member or even as a Committee Chair. Before that day, members will receive a handout in an e-mail blast that explains what these committees do. “New to UU” Class Last January, Rev. Terry facilitated an exploration of theological themes that developed historically and continue to be vitally relevant to UU’s today. If you are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism, but did not have a chance to attend last year or want to refresh your memory, please join us on Tuesday evenings, January 13, 20, and 27. The first class on January 13 will begin at 7:00 and run until approximately 8:30, because Debra Peevey and Terry will conduct a general orientation to our congregation for new members from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. that evening. The “New to UU” classes on Jan. 20 and 27 will start and end one half-hour earlier, from 6:30 until about 8:00 p.m. Worship Service on February 8th Rev. Terry will be attending an “Excellence in Ministry” institute in California with about 400 other UU ministers from February 1 through February 7. He is sure he will be newly inspired when he comes back, but won’t have enough time to prepare a sermon for February 8. So his sermon will consist of answering at least some of the questions you’ve had . . . and that Rev. Terry has always been afraid you’d ask! Please be thinking about questions you would like our minister to address. You may submit your questions to Terry or to Kathryn in the church office.  January 2015 Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org 7 17540 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, AZ 85378-2581 Phone: 623.875.2550 Fax: 623.875.2552 www.uusurprise.org Email: [email protected] First Class Mail Affirmation Love is the spirit of this church And service is its law. This is our great covenant: To dwell together in peace, To seek the truth in freedom, And to help one another. Join us for Sunday service at 10:30 am Sermon Titles For January 2015 1/4 - Rev. Terry Sims .................................................................................................................................Next Year, or New Year? We begin this next year by remembering the past. But learning from our past is a very different thing than continuing to live in it. It is the prospect of something new that holds the most hope for the future. We will induct our new Board of Trustees this Sunday during the service. After the service, we will observe the Eastern Orthodox Parastas tradition of remembering family members and others close to us who are no longer with us. For the latter, please bring your photographs, keepsakes, or other items that help you remember those you have lost. 1/11 - Rev. Terry Sims ..........................................................................................How Good Do We Want to Be? Too often, we do not act in accordance with our principles. That is true for us as individuals, as a nation, even as a religious body because living according to our principles comes at a cost. Are we willing to pay the cost to be good? 1/18 - Rev. Terry Sims .................................................................................................. Resistance Is Never Futile That is the message that rings most clearly for me this year as we prepare to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We cannot ignore the events of our time but I find hope, even within the hard truths we must face about the persistence of systemic injustice. 1/25 - Amy St. Peter ..............................................................................................................................For-giving Insights and ponderings about what we give and get when we forgive and forget. If you are not a member but would like to receive church announcements by email, please send your email address and full name to [email protected].