B RANCHES PAINT BRANCH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH Affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person since 1954 November 2011 SUNDAYS AT 10:00 AM Families with young children are invited to sit in front for a better view until the Sing-Away Song. Nursery care is provided in Room 5 every Sunday from 9:45 to 12:45. Religious Exploration for Children and Youth after the Sing-Away Song Refreshments and Fellowship after the service. Enrichment Hour from 11:45-12:45, with childcare provided. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ November 6th Still Loved Rev. Diane Teichert with Ken Redd, Worship Associate, and the Choir Is a person without memories still the person, and how do we cope with these losses – our own and our loved ones? Today we will thank and covenant with the lay leaders who help us be a “caring community,” our Pastoral Care Associates and We Care Coordinators. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ November 13 th Annual Public Education Sunday Featuring students from Suitland High School’s Center for the Performing and Visual Arts Rev. Diane Teichert with Marilyn Pearl, Worship Associate The performances by these young people are always inspiring! The sermon will explore “what makes a great teacher,” so please contact the minister with your story about a favorite teacher or, if you are or were a schoolteacher, a story about a favorite student. The Special Collection will be for the string program at Suitland High School (see p. 6 for details). DARTT will host a brunch before the service for the students and accompanying friends and family. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ November 20 th For All that is Our Life Rev. Diane Teichert with John Sebastian, Worship Associates Erica Shadowsong, Director of Religious Exploration, and the Choir Gratitude and praise, humility and generosity… why ought these Thanksgiving themes be our everyday disciplines? Today we begin Guest at Your Table, a holiday-long fundraiser for the UU Service Committee’s empowerment work around the world (see p. 7 for more info). ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ November 27th What Should a Good UU Do? Guest Preacher Doyle Niemann with Carol Carter Walker, Worship Associate and Abby Crowley offering the Together Time Multi-age activities for children after the Sing-Away Song Overcoming our weaknesses and charting a positive path in a changing world… or how do we avoid being our own worst enemy? Our guest preacher, a PBUUC member, is a representative in the Maryland House of Delegates (learn more about him on page 10). TELL A FRIEND, CO-WORKER, OR NEIGHBOR… WHY IT IS THAT YOU ATTEND PBUUC? AND INVITE THEM TO COME WITH YOU THIS SUNDAY
15
Embed
PAINT BRANCH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH Affirming … · BRANCHES PAINT BRANCH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH Affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
BRANCHES
PAINT BRANCH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH Affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person since 1954
November 2011
SUNDAYS AT 10:00 AM Families with young children are invited to sit in front for a better view until the Sing-Away Song.
Nursery care is provided in Room 5 every Sunday from 9:45 to 12:45.
Religious Exploration for Children and Youth after the Sing-Away Song Refreshments and Fellowship after the service. Enrichment Hour from 11:45-12:45, with childcare provided.
November 6th Still Loved Rev. Diane Teichert with Ken Redd, Worship Associate, and the Choir
Is a person without memories still the person, and how do we cope with these losses – our own and our loved ones? Today we will thank and covenant with the lay leaders who help us be a “caring community,” our Pastoral Care Associates and We Care Coordinators. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 13th Annual Public Education Sunday Featuring students from Suitland High School’s Center for the Performing and Visual Arts
Rev. Diane Teichert with Marilyn Pearl, Worship Associate
The performances by these young people are always inspiring! The sermon will explore “what makes a great teacher,” so please contact the minister with your story about a favorite teacher or, if you are or were a schoolteacher, a story about a favorite student. The Special Collection will be for the string program at Suitland High School (see p. 6 for details). DARTT will host a brunch before the service for the students and accompanying friends and family. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 20th For All that is Our Life Rev. Diane Teichert with John Sebastian, Worship Associates
Erica Shadowsong, Director of Religious Exploration, and the Choir
Gratitude and praise, humility and generosity… why ought these Thanksgiving themes be our everyday disciplines? Today we begin Guest at Your Table, a holiday-long fundraiser for the UU Service Committee’s empowerment work around the world (see p. 7 for more info). ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 27th What Should a Good UU Do? Guest Preacher Doyle Niemann with Carol Carter Walker, Worship Associate
and Abby Crowley offering the Together Time Multi-age activities for children after the Sing-Away Song
Overcoming our weaknesses and charting a positive path in a changing world… or how do we avoid being our own worst enemy? Our guest preacher, a PBUUC member, is a representative in the Maryland House of Delegates (learn more about him on page 10).
TELL A FRIEND, CO-WORKER, OR NEIGHBOR…
WHY IT IS THAT YOU ATTEND PBUUC?
AND INVITE THEM TO COME WITH YOU THIS SUNDAY
B R A N C H E S ~ 2 ~ N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1
November Services .................................................................................................................................................... Front Page
Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 The Minister’s mUUsings ....................................................................................................................................................... 3-4 Religious Exploration.............................................................................................................................................................. 4-5 Pastoral Care Associates .........................................................................................................................................................4-5 Social Action Committee (SAC) News .................................................................................................................................... 6-7 Lobbying for Marriage Equality .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Important Meeting Date Change ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Buy a Blue Sweatshirt ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Special Collection Update ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 November 13 Special Collection for Suitland High School .................................................................................................... 6 Guest at Your Table on November 20 .................................................................................................................................... 7 Diversity / Anti-Racism Transformation Team (DARTT) .......................................................................................................... 7 Monthly Meeting Update ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 JPD 7th Annual Racial Justice Conference Highlights ........................................................................................................... 7 2011 PBUUC Auction! .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Green Team News ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 PBUUC Certified as a Green Sanctuary! ................................................................................................................................. 8 Food/Film/Fun Update ............................................................................................................................................................ 8
In and Around Paint Branch .................................................................................................................................................. 9-10 Beautification Day Update ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Announcing Children’s Choir .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Water, Water Everywhere Waterscape Photographs ........................................................................................................... 9 Path to Membership ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 Guest Preacher for November 27 .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Annual PBUUC Holiday Meal ................................................................................................................................................. 10 Help Lease Our Space ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 The Wider Unitarian Universalist Universe ......................................................................................................................... 10-12 Murray Grove Retreat & Renewal Center ..........................................................................................................................11-12 Wheel of Life ............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Holiday Events ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Spirit of Life Center ................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Deadlines for November/December Branches, and Sunday Bulletin Announcements ..................................... 15
Table of Contents
B R A N C H E S ~ 3 ~ N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1
L ast June at our Annual Meeting, the members voted unanimously: “…to declare ourselves an inclusive,
Intentional Multicultural Congregation. Therefore, we commit ourselves, the
Board of Trustees, staff, committees, affinity groups and lay leadership to actions to
transform all aspects of congregational life in ways that affirm our multicultural iden-
tity as the foundation of the church's strength.”
Since then, consideration of “actions to transform all aspects of congregational
life...” has taken place in various groupings of staff and leaders. For example, at the
June retreat of the Board of Trustees, it was a full hour of the tightly-packed agenda.
At the August planning meeting of the Worship Staff (your Music, Dance and Reli-
gious Exploration Directors and Minister), we explored what it means to our worship
experience. It should be (because we voted it to be) on the agenda, and implicit in
the discussions, of every lay and staff group responsible for any aspect of congrega-
tional life (and if it isn’t yet, please ask for help from me or the folks who have been
leading DARTT events for these past four years)… including the topic of this column, our theology.
Do we Unitarian Universalists have a theology? When we ask that question, where is the emphasis? On the word “a”
meaning “one” or on the “theology” meaning “study of the divine”? Actually, I just looked it up (again) in my Webster’s
New World Dictionary and see that, while “theos” is Greek for “god,” its roots are in the word for “breath” which sug-
gest to me that theology is actually about “that which sustains us” as basically as breath sustains us.
What sustains you? What sustains you? As your minister, from conversations with many of you, I know that what sustains
us varies a lot among us; we are theologically diverse. This is a nearly invisible form of diversity that we ought to reveal
to each other more easily, more often. After all, we are a religious community – here you are free to be open about your
beliefs without fear of unthinking judgment; here our faith journeys are a matter of (our third and fourth) principles not
creeds. The word “religion” is related to the word “to bind.” Will we be more bound together as a Beloved Community
when we know each other theologically?
Unitarian Universalists have been asking theological questions of us for a long time. Our most influential twentieth cen-
tury theologian, James Luther Adams, did a great job of answering, in a way that invites a very wide range of
theologies to be bound together, including both theists and humanists:
"Religious liberalism depends on the principle that 'revelation' is continuous." Our religious tradition is a living
tradition because we are always learning new truths.
"All relations between persons ought ideally to rest on mutual, free consent and not on coercion." We freely choose
to enter into relationship with one another, including what religious community we join.
"Religious liberalism affirms the moral obligation to direct one's effort toward the establishment of a just and loving
community. It is this which makes the role of the prophet central and indispensable in liberalism." Justice.
"We deny the immaculate conception of virtue and affirm the necessity of social incarnation." Agency: Good things
don't just happen, people make them happen.
"Liberalism holds that the resources (divine and human) that are available for the achievement of meaningful
change justify an attitude of ultimate optimism." Hope.
The Minister's mUUsings…
B R A N C H E S ~ 4 ~ N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1
Religious Exploration
In this year, which I’ve declared from the pulpit to be a year of “telling our stories,” I hope that we will share more about what sustains us individually and from that discover more about how we are bound together in community. What will emerge as a common (choose your metaphor) thread, warp, woof, glue, ground, design, melody, hue, dance-move,
By the time you read this letter, we will be moving into a time of the year that is culturally associated with family,
celebration and…well, food! And yet, as I write this now, it is two weeks until the October 30th service I am helping to
plan, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the darkening time of the year. And so, I must confess, my thoughts
are preoccupied with darkness.
By now, many of you know that I practice a largely earth-centered spirituality, so it may come as no surprise to
you that the turning of the seasons takes on a special meaning to me. In my personal life, I am exploring something
known as “shadow” work. Shadow work begins with one very important principle, and that is taking a good, hard look
at one’s “shadow” self. What does that mean for me? Well, it means getting a good old reality check with honesty, first
of all.
There was a moment in October that brought this home to me. I was scheduled to give a storytelling perform-
ance at a talent showcase event with some groups of people I did not know very well, but hoped would come to know
and accept me. Through a miscommunication, I sat through the whole event expecting to be the last performer, only to
watch it end while I was never acknowledged! Immediately, all sorts of suspicions rose in my mind like a lump in my
throat, and I was beset with thoughts of having been deliberately snubbed. The logical side of me finally gathered the
courage to straighten it out, and it turns out the mistake was partly mine. Even so, I was very ashamed that I had been so
disappointed, and that it took so long to shake off! Wasn’t I supposed to be “grown up” enough to be past this kind of
thing already?
It was then that I realized it is time to take a look at my own “shadow,” the unconscious influences, prejudices,
old wounds, weaknesses, and perhaps other aspects of myself that have gone unnoticed over the years. To work with
one’s shadow is to behold and acknowledge aspects of yourself of which you may be less than proud, and to commit to
work toward healing them, even when you’d rather deny them. Hard work, indeed; yet, the cycle of life has an uncanny
Gazing at ShadowsGazing at Shadows
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
“To rid ourselves of our shadows - who we are - we must step into either total light or total darkness.” Jeremy Preston Johnson
If you or someone in your immediate family is hospitalized or if a PBUUC member or friend is dying or has died, or if you would find it helpful to talk about your faith, your church involvements, or the decisions, transitions, joys or sorrows in your life...please call Rev. Diane Teichert.
A memorial service for Donald Munro’s father, the late
Donald Munro, Jr., will take place on Sunday, October 30
during Enrichment Hour in the RE Building, Room 4, hosted
by the Spirituality Circle. All are welcome.
We received word from Dottie Burke that her mother, Alice
Gadol, a former member of PBUUC, died on Tuesday,
October 11 at the age of 91. Dottie’s address is 9444 Ridge-
wood Road, Columbia, MD, 21046. A memorial service will
be held at PBUUC on a date to be determined.
Yvany Peery informed us that her mother, Darnelle Peery,
died on Monday morning, October 10. She was the wife of
the late Ben Peery, long-time PBUUC member. Yvany would
appreciate cards at 1204 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Our hearts go out to John Sebastian and his partner Michael
Legér. John’s mother died on Saturday, October 15.
POST THIS ON YOUR FRIDGE!
November Guest Branches Coordinator
Mary Dancy organized the article listings and graphics
for this issue of Branches.
The Wheel of Life
HOLIDAY EVENTS
Saturday, December 3rd 4-8:30 pm: All Ages Holiday Party with Annual Holiday Craft Fair Pizza/salad for a donation of $5, carols, make your own crafts, and decorate the tall Meeting House tree! Hosted by the RE Committee Sunday, December 4, 10 am: Holiday Choir Service Sunday, December 18, 10 am: All Ages Solstice Service Noon: Holiday Meal Saturday, December 24, Time: TBD*: All Ages Christmas Eve Service Time: TBD*: Candlelight Christmas Eve Service Sunday, December 25, 10 am: Carols and Stories for Christmas Day Sunday, January 1, 10 am: Service Honoring Kwanzaa * Parents and choir are being polled re-garding possible new times. Please contact the church office at 301-937-3666 to add your committee’s holi-day event or activities.
Spirit of Life Center Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church 3215 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783 Web: www.pbuuc.org Phone: (301) 937-3666
LIFT YOUR SPIRIT AND IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE!
“CHANGE YOUR HABITS; CHANGE YOUR LIFE”
Balance can bring you vitality-a restored sense of purpose-and improve your quality of life. Join us at the Spirit of Life Center at PBUUC to renew yourself with a half day retreat of classes and workshops on Saturdays. Attend one or more of the classes/workshops as described below:
Meditation Foundation Course Workshop: by Meditation Museum Understand yourself and gain inner clarity and power to foster better relations and decisions.
Dance Class: by Sharon Werth The Dancer in You! Discover the movement that is in your body. Start your day stretching and moving, and let the dance of your inner spirit out!
Shamanic Journey Class: by Mary “Tyrtle” Rooker Intuitive Guidance through Shamanic Journey. This simple-yet-powerful ancient “drumming meditation” helps you ac-cess your intuitive right brain’s answers to life’s challenges, from the mundane to the sublime.
Simplicity Circle Workshop: by Simplicity Matters Earth Institute Simple living is about making conscious choices about what you do with your time, your money, and your energy. Simple living is about mindfulness, not deprivation. Simple living is about focusing your energies on what you personally con-sider important, and improving your quality of life as a result. 7 sessions following the book ($22.00 for book)
Laughter Yoga-mix Class: by Tina McCloud A fun and gentle yoga mix of breathing, poses, stretches, meditation, and laughter therapy. All physical levels are wel-come, as we are able to modify any limitations (mat, floor, wheel-chair) or skill levels. No experience necessary.
Zumba Class: by Shawna Webster An exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning class that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.
Quality of Life Workshop: by Raman K. Pathik Explore the meaning of quality of life for you and develop a blueprint to implement better habits that will improve bal-ance in your life. Experience how to connect with your true self, nature, your family, your community, your finances, your body, health and the world.
TIME WORKSHOPS CLASSES
8:00 AM OR 1:00 PM
Simplicity circle (7 sessions) ($22. for book + $5 donation)
2 hrs. Dance Donation $10/class or $32/4 classes
1 hr.
10:00 AM Meditation Course (6 sessions) (Suggested donation $5/each)
1 hr. Laughter Yoga Donation $10/class or $32/4 classes
1 hr.
11:00 AM Zumba Donation $10/class or $32/4 classes
1 hr.
12:00 PM Quality of Life (6 sessions) (Suggested donation $5/each)
If you would like to take more than 2 classes, you can pay a donation of $25.00 per week for a half day retreat or however many classes and work-shops you desire.
Co-chair Susannah Schiller 301-776-1887 Co-chair Bettie Young 301-890-2967 Vice chair Don Gerson 240-293-6570 Vice chair Michael Léger 301-589-6808 Trustee Don Henderson 301-977-1186 Trustee Mark Shute 301-442-6312 Trustee Charles Towe 202-547-7053 Trustee Peter Wathen-Dunn 301-270-2391 Trustee Evangeline Wells 301-422-3614 Secretary Melody Lawrence 301-379-3864 Treasurer Mike Stark 301-441-2473 Asst. Treasurer Marilyn Pearl 301-805-1218
Pastoral Care Associates Lynn Johnson 301-890-1852 Teresa Meeks 301-774-8151 Mike McMenamin 301-490-7506
Claire Boston (2011-12) 301-585-4183 Celinda Marsh (2011-14) 301-585-2106 Don Mitchell (2009-12) 301-776-2359 Marilyn Pearl (2011-12) 301-805-1218 Ken Redd (2011-14) 301-486-4631 John Sebastian (2010-13) 301-589-6808 Carol Carter Walker (2010-13) 202-636-8138
PBUUC Leadership Directory
Committees
Adult Religious Education Michael Léger * 301-937-3666 Arts Council Pat Tompkins 301-474-3858 Buildings & Grounds Paul Young 301-440-0612 DARTT (co-chairs) Tricia Most 301-445-2821 Carol Carter Walker 202-636-8138 Denominational Affairs Donald Gerson 240-293-6570 Finance Kate Brett 301-931-9024 Green Sanctuary Penny O’Brien 301-586-9005 Karine Bouis-Towe 202-547-7053 Legacy Fund Ken Redd 301-486-4631 Leasing Team Carol Carter Walker 202-636-8138 Membership TBD Ministry Peter Dowling 301-589-3025 Nominating Jonathan Mawdsley 301-982-4520 Personnel Will Snyder 301-219-2870 Religious Exploration Alice Tyler 301-935-5279 (Co-chairs) Matt Elliott 301-441-4508 Social Action Nancy Boardman 301-982-3450 Spirit of Life Center Raman Pathik 301-890-9072 Stewardship Sherry Mitchell 301-776-2359 Visual Arts Jane Trout 301-572-2898 *Temporary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Groups and Activities
Auction Carol Carter Walker 202-636-8138 Theresa Shute 301-442-6312 Bridge Penny O’Brien 301-586-9005 Chalice Dancers Jennifer Grant 240-426-1277 Choir David Chapman 301-937-3666 Coffee Coordinator Raman Pathik 301-890-9072 Community Café Esther Nichols 301-864-2068 Ethnic Dinners Marilyn Pearl 301-805-1218 Handcraft Circle Marj Donn 301-474-1353 Head & Heart History Kweli Powell 301-275-6360 Marriage Enrichment Don Fairfield 301-552-4330 Mediation Program David Haberman 301-498-7086 Men’s Group Peter Wathen-Dunn 301-270-2391 Mystery Book Club Kathy Kearns 301-277-3211 Nature Spirituality Circle Tabitha Pierzchala 301-592-0294 Quest Discussion Group Lowell Owens 301-345-1572 PB Facebook Page Tish Hall 301-681-1457 (Co-coordinators) Ken Montville 301-464-8367 Poetry Out Loud Shantida 301-593-0417 Shamanic Journeying Mary Tyrtle Rooker 301-891-1288 Simplicity Circle Raman Pathik 301-890-9072 Spirituality Circle Amy Steiner 301-890-9072 TWedHUULK Marge Owens 301-345-1572 Ushers Esther Nichols 301-864-2068 Warm Nights John Bartoli 301-275-6226 Webmaster Mark Shute 301-442-6312 Women’s Retreat Tish Hall 301-681-1457