Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence MONTHLY ...uufl.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/UUCLMonthly-News-07-01-19.pdfwhat are ways Unitarian Universalist worship can embrace

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

JULY 2019

Upcoming Events and Important Dates Ahead

Saturday, July 6. Men’s Group. UUCL (9:00 a.m.)* Sunday, July 7. Artist Reception (10:30-11:00)* Friday, July 12. Movie Night (6:30, movie at 7:00 p.m.)* Saturday, July 13. LINK* Saturday, July 13. Women’s Group (2:00-4:00 p.m.)* Sunday, July 14. Presentation of Oldfather Award to Beth Schultz 10:45 by the Peace Pole Tuesday, July 23, Board Meeting (7:00 p.m. at UUCL)* *See body of newsletter for more information on all these upcoming events. Please also note in the Social Justice section the many Social Justice events scheduled for JULY.

UUCL serves at LINK on July 13th

Sign up sheet is in the lobby or use sign up genius https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090449AEAE2EAAF49-link1

LINK (Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen) serves hot nutritious meals in a safe and welcoming environment to families and individuals at no cost. Every other month the UUCL provides and serves a meal for LINK. We bring 15 or more meat dishes, two vegetarian dishes and one vegan dish. Homemade desserts are also welcome. Fifteen or so volunteers are needed to help serve and clean up. Please come join us as we put our UU principles into action to help our community. Food and volunteers need to be at LINK (basement of First

Christian Church on the SE corner of 10th and Kentucky) by 12:30 PM. We serve from 1-2 PM, and clean up is usually finished by 2:30. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Gant at [email protected]

JUNE-JULY WORSHIP SERVICES

11:00 a.m.

Sermon Titles and Worship Leaders

June 30: Rev. Jordinn Nelson Long, Guest Preacher, Minister of Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven, MA July 7: Audra Fullerton

July 14: A Name, A Difference, Rev. Aaron Stockwell leads, while we watch a sermon from the 2017 General Assembly preached by Rev. Cheryl M. Walker July 21: Jonathan Andrews July 28: The Poetics of Play - Rev. Aaron Stockwell

JUNE- JULY 9:30 SUNDAY TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS

June 30. Jim Peters (KU, Osher) Underground Railway in our neighborhood. During the mid-19th century, the Underground Railroad was a critical network of routes and safe houses that provided escaped slaves a pathway from the South to freedom in the North or Canada. This presentation will touch on the important role Northeast Kansas played in the Underground Railroad and will describe some of the local routes and safe houses.

July 7.The Social Action and Justice Team is being reorganized under the leadership of Barbara Johnston to reflect specific areas of focus: immigration, racial justice, and environment. Jake Kipp, Barbara Johnston, and Pennie Von Achen, leaders of these respective areas, will comprise a panel to discuss future plans.

July 14. The Religious Society of Friends, popularly known as Quakers, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682, and has shared common causes with Unitarians over the years. Learn more about the faith* from local members Loring Henderson and Elizabeth Schultz. Both are familiar faces at UUCL. Henderson, retired director of the Lawrence Community Shelter, spoke on March 24 and Schultz, English Professor emerita, most recently recited some of her poetry on environmental topics and is the recipient of this year’s UUCL Oldfather Award.

*See box further on with more information about Quakers.

July 21. Leonard Zeskind, President of the Institute for Research & Education of Human Rights, will discuss the rise of the extreme right in the United States. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP and has served on the board of directors of the Petra Foundation and the Kansas City Jewish Community Relations Bureau. His published works include Blood and Politics: The History of White Nationalism from the Margins to the Mainstream and “Racism, Anti-Semitism and the Murder of Dr. Tiller.“ He is a recipient of a Petra Foundation Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellows Program “genius grant.”

July 28. Local immigration activist Bonnie Uffman will share what she has learned from her visits to bus stations and respite centers in McAllen, Brownville, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Homestead, Florida, to observe, support, and help carry food to asylum seekers. She has been to Homestead twice, “to witness the atrocity of imprisoning immigrant children for profit.”

MESSAGE FROM REV. AARON STOCKWELL

Dear UUCL, One of the focal points of Interim Ministry is Connections. This was formerly a task called “Renewing Denominational Linkages.” As I write this on my way back home from Spokane, WA where General Assembly was held this year, I’m still sitting with my thoughts and catching up with all that happened during our denomination’s annual gathering. General Assembly and Ministry Days (Professionals Days for ministers; other professional organizations also offer time together) with all of its workshops, plenary sessions (where the work of our denomination truly happens), and worship services, is truly a gathering where one can experience FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). The first event I got to attend was a collegial conversation held amongst UU ministers on proposed updates (voted and approved the next day) about changing part of our professional guidelines to include a commitment to continuing education in our ministries. The leaders of that discussion referred to this change as a shift from a learned ministry to a learning ministry. Now, UU ministers will make a commitment to complete 60 hours of continuing education every three years. Currently there is much latitude in what counts as continuing education. It’s broken into methodologies rather than required subjects, though there is a request that ministers focus 6 hours in deepening their commitments to Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression and Multiculturalism, as well as 6 hours every three years in professional boundaries and ethics. In my opinion, this is long overdue. Many helping professions require continuing education. This change to the guidelines is still unenforceable, but may make it way into the job application process that congregations and ministers engage in. This shift also prompted a change to our denomination’s bylaws and people’s standing as minister. No longer is the classification after at least three successful renewals of preliminary fellowship known as final fellowship, it is now full fellowship, as of Friday morning. This shift, while small, points towards thinking of ministry as a learning profession versus a learned profession. There was lengthy discussion about a proposed change and year of study to our ministerial guidelines at our UUMA (UU Ministers’ Association) annual meeting. I’ll share more next month. When GA began, I attended a workshop that explored the commitment that congregations make as employers, which was facilitated by staff members of the Office of Church Staff Finances. This was a useful workshop as one of the duties of interim ministry is also to insure that staffing policies and procedures are aligned with best practices and with laws. I also attended the annual UU Christian Fellowship communion service. Though I wasn’t raised Christian, and don’t consider myself Christian (more so inspired and confounded by the stories of Jesus), I always appreciate this service because of fond memories at my liberal Christian seminary and in my internship of taking part in communion. I appreciate the ritual, and wonder what are ways Unitarian Universalist worship can embrace the senses, the heart, and the mind.

I was also welcomed into Full Fellowship, officially, at this year’s Service of the Living Tradition. Rev. Lindi Ramsden was the preacher and she shared a message about the necessity for our ministry in a time of climate crisis, and oppression. There are of course informal gatherings that aren’t on the schedule. UU ministry outside of New England and perhaps the west coast can be isolating. It was good to be with friends and colleagues. In a way, for ministers (and perhaps for other UU religious professionals), Ministry Days and General Assembly becomes our congregation, and also perhaps our family. Leading worship, while certainly a part of my own spiritual practice, is not the same as attending worship. So, I give thanks to you for giving me the space and time in order to attend General Assembly. I need more time to absorb, to process, and share about the events I did not attend. My time in Spokane was brief, there were flight delays during my travels out there, and I ended up leaving early so I could officiate at the wedding of two friends in Michigan. I return to KS for two days before two weeks in the hills of New Mexico, where I won’t be receiving email, checking my work cell phone, or on social media. May we each find the spaces, places, and faces that recharge us and challenge us. Peace, Rev. Aaron

Summer Schedule I’ll be out of email contact from June 29th to July 22th with a brief reentry July 14-16th when I’ll be in KS. I then return to Kansas from July 23 to August 8th before going away from August 9th to August 25th to spend time in Michigan and Massachusetts. I may be in email contact during that, but will be slower to respond. For Pastoral emergencies, including funds from the Ministers' Discretionary Fund, please contact Valerie Roper ([email protected]). For administrative questions, please contact Jennifer Donnelly ([email protected]). For congregational life questions please contact Lynne Renick ([email protected]).

NOTES FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Reflections on the 2018-2019 Board Year

For me this year has gone by quickly. From learning in early June last year that we actually had an interim minister, to meeting Rev Aaron Stockwell briefly at the Kansas City General Assembly, to the Board’s arranging worship services until he arrived in mid-September—that went by in a flash. Then there were the potlucks and other opportunities for UUCL folks to get to know him and vice versa. And the Board’s participation in a workshop to get a better idea what interim ministry was about—what was the minister’s to do and what was ours—that was really helpful. Together, we participated in the UUCL history exploration and the conversations on what we valued in our present activities and how we might make them better. Out of all this, the Board in May began to consider that developmental ministry might be our best option after interim

ministry. We shared our thoughts and questions and heard yours in congregational discussions in late May and early June. At its June 10 meeting, the Board then formally decided to proceed with a developmental ministry search. We’ll have more to do in the next year of interim ministry, looking at where we are now and where we’d like to be in the future. As past chair, I’ll be looking forward to participating in those explorations under the leadership of Rev. Aaron and Chair Lynne Renick. For now, I would like to express my deep gratitude for your support as we together have learned more about what interim ministry is and what we gain from participating fully in it. Once again, I have learned as chair how much so many of you give of your talents to help this congregation thrive, and I am thankful to you for that. Valerie Roper 2018-19 Board Chair

July Board Meeting Date Change

The Executive Board will meet July 23, a week later than usual. UUCL Chair-elect Mary Holm will be attending Midwest Leadership School from July 14 – 20, so the meeting will be held after her return. The meeting is at 7:00 p.m. at UUCL.

UUCL STAFF CHANGES/UPDATES

Rev. Aaron Stockwell, at a ceremony at General Assembly, was welcomed into Full Fellowship as a UU Minister!

Jennifer Donnelly, our outstanding office administrator has accepted a full-time position at the Lawrence Arts Center, and has tendered her resignation at our congregation, effective July 31, 2019. We will be posting the position in the next few days. We are both thankful for Jennifer’s ten years of service to UUCL and for sharing all of her institutional memory. We'll plan to celebrate Jennifer's time with us in late July. We hope you received the emailed notification with Jennifer’s letter to the congregation. We will sorely miss her good work and good cheer.

Amanda Neilsen We are pleased to have Amanda Nielsen as our new director of religious education starting August 1. Amanda introduced herself in an email message on June 11 and in person one Sunday in June. Amanda says: “I was drawn to this position because of the chance to use all of my experience in various faith communities to make a difference in the lives of our children. I enjoy watching kids figure what it is they believe and how to bring that belief into daily practice. I hope to spend the next few months getting better acquainted, and would love to sit and chat with anyone willing. I am very excited toe working with this community to help our children grow in their spiritual pursuits as well as learn what being a Unitarian Universalist means to them."

UUCL Welcomes New Member Glenda Bailey-Mershon

On June 13, after meeting with interim minister Rev. Aaron Stockwell, and board chair Valerie Roper, long time UU Glenda Bailey-Mershon formally joined UUCL. Glenda has previously belonged to UU congregations in Chicago, North Carolina, and Florida. She is an author and a retired college administrator. A few years ago, Glenda and her husband moved to the Lawrence area to be closer to their son

and his family. She attends frequently with her two grandsons, Rueben Hargraves-Alden, who participates in the middle youth program, and Gabe Lujan, who attends Spirit Play. Watch for their bio to be posted on the New Member bulletin board in July.

MOVIE NIGHT: FRIDAY, JULY 12. Popcorn starts at 6:30, movie starts at 7. In honor of NASA anniversary, need “out of this world” movie titles. Call or text Lynne Renick with your suggestions. 550-0679

SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM JULY 2019 NEWS

Brief summary of SJT for June: Several SJT's attended a dinner and evening of recognition for the Kansas Interfaith Alliance, on June 5. Two members went to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Poor People's Campaign forum, June 17-19. The SJT led the congregation in the Worship Service on June 23 and included discussion of immigration, racial justice and

environmental/ecology concerns, along with excellent musical selections from the congregation. Also, SJT and congregation members helped to make and sell tamales for Centro Hispano, and deliver necessities for migrants new to the community.

The League of Women Voters is helping voters to register, during June, July and August. If you want to volunteer to help with the Farmer’s Market Voter Registration: contact Lois Orth-Lopes 785-764-6300 (text preferred) to volunteer for a shift

The For the People Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and introduced to the Senate on March 8, 2019. This comprehensive legislation would give states the power and resources to modernize and secure elections and make them more free, fair and accessible to all eligible Americans. It will modernize voter registration, establish public financing of elections through small donor matching funds, end gerrymandering, and restore transparency in our government. Contact your U.S. Senator if you believe this would help voters and the public. For more information, see the League of Women Voters newsletter for Lawrence/Douglas County, at https://gallery.mailchimp.com/9ffcff291e96b12e795fce268/files/40f2f3f6-6621-426f-9415-f6ee7bea7a08/2019.06.Voter.02.pdf

Headlines in the Sustainability Action Newsletter: Study shows that renewable energy sources are now the cheapest form of new electricity generation across 2/3 of the world. Another study finds that climate warming is melting Himalayan glaciers at an alarming rate.

Immigration: Controversial 287(g) agreements now give local law enforcement the authority to racially profile, detain, and deport members of their communities. These agreements expire on June 30 and have to be renewed by Congress. If so inclined, you may call your Congressperson to tell them to eliminate 287(g) agreements, and pass the PROTECT Immigration Act right now. Check out ACLU website https://action.aclu.org/petition/kick-ice-out-our-communities?ms_aff=NAT&initm

The Sustainability Advisory Board will meet on July 2, 5pm to discuss research and policy recommendations regarding single-use plastic bags, at the Flory Building, Douglas Co. Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper in Lawrence. Public comment encouraged. More info at https://lawrenceks.org/boards/sustainability-advisory-board/?utm_source=City+eNews&utm_campaign=0a5f140990-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_25

The Lawrence branch of NAACP has a memorial project going, you can learn about this in Facebook. Ursula Minor, President of Lawrence NAACP, has posted notice of a lynching of 3 black men in 1882 at the Kansas River Bridge. Local NAACP is building a community coalition to bring a monument and marker from the Equal Justice Initiative of Montgomery, AL here. Please see the FB information at https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceKSNAACP/posts/2426206627399339?__tn__=K-R

Social Justice Team will have a forum at the Program on July 7, with discussion of the 3 main areas of focus--immigration (Jake Kipp), environment/ecology (Pennie Von Achen) and racial justice (Barb Johnston). Lenny Zeskind, the author of Blood and Politics and a Macarthur "genius" award recipient, will speak at the Program on July 21, and Bonnie Uffman will present her stories of working with immigrants at the Border, on July 28.

Fifth Sunday Offering June 30 for Black Lives of UU

June’s 5th Sunday collection will be for Black Lives of UU, specifically, for a movement to end the cash bail system.

Community Connections

Each Sunday, the offering collected is given away to an agency or organization chosen by the UUCL Social Justice Team.

The July Community Connection is the Willow Domestic Violence Center and the Sexual Trauma and Abuse Center (split).

The Willow Domestic Violence Center builds safer communities through shelter, services and support to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in Douglas, Franklin and Jefferson counties, and was the first domestic violence center in the state of Kansas. The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center was founded in 1972 as the first rape crisis center in Kansas, and has

offices in Oskaloosa and Ottawa. The Center is committed to providing the highest quality of care to people of all ages and genders; and dedicated to being an innovative leader in the field of sexual assault support and prevention.

FAITH DEVELOPMENT IN JULY

Adult Faith Development Soul Matters Sharing Circle The Soul Matters Discussion Group will meet on the first and third Sundays of July in the Founders Hall Basement at 9:30 a.m. Though there is no new curriculum for July and August, the group will discuss Soul Matters related themes; Valerie Roper will be facilitator. Parenting Discussion Group The parenting discussion will continue meeting during the summer months. Topicswillbebasedontheinterestsofourparents. Book Discussion Group Book club: July 14, chapter “Resilience”; July 28, chapter “Creating More Possibilities” in the book Emergent Strategies. Newcomers and “Gee, I didn’t get it read” people are welcome. Faith Development for Children and Youth Faith Development for Children (4 to 5 years of age through the 4th or 5th grade) Faith Development activities for this group will continue on each Sunday at 9:30 am during the summer months. Our focus for this summer is on our 7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. We are enjoying activities that focus on our relationships with plant and animal life. Middle School Faith Development Group (6th, 7th & 8th grade) Our Middle School Faith Development Group is not meeting on a regular basis during the summer months. Special gatherings for this summer will be announced. UUCL Youth Group (9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade) The Youth Group will not be meeting on a regular basis during the summer months. Special gatherings for this summer will be announced

A Successful Garage Sale! Despite rainy weather, our UUCL Youth Group held a successful garage sale on June 15th and earned over $700 that will be used for a service trip next year. The Youth deeply appreciated the generosity of our members’ donations for the garage sale. They were also grateful to Paul and Brita Calnon for the use their home for the location of the sale and to Bob and Martha Burbank’s for the use of their truck for transporting tables and sale items.

Best wishes, Jillian!

Jillian Schwartz’s Bridging Ceremony on May 26th was a special occasion for all of us who have watched Jillian grow into a young woman during the past years. We wish her well as a student at Emporia University beginning this fall. She will be missed by all of us – but especially by the many children she has so lovingly cared for at UUCL on Sunday Mornings. .

Quakers,alsocalledFriends,areahistoricallyChristiangroupknownastheReligiousSocietyofFriendsorFriendsChurchwhosemembersaregenerallyunitedinabeliefintheabilityofeachhumanbeingtoexperientiallyaccessthelightwithin,or"thatofGodineveryone."OreadFriendsMeetingwasformedinLawrencein1950by

membersofthemoreevangelicalLawrenceFriendsChurch.TheFriendsChurchwasestablishedinLawrenceinthemid-1800s.OreadFriendsisanunprogrammedmeetingthatdoesnotrelyonpriests,clergy,orleaders.Instead,theweeklymeetingforworshipgrowsoutoflivingsilence.Theremaybebriefmessagesofvocalministryfromanypersonpresent.Forus,thesacramentallifeneednotbemarkedbyoutwardrites.InthetraditionofQuakersformorethan350years,OreadFriendsareconcernedwithissuesofpeace,integrity,equality,simplicity,stewardship,andcommunity.Werealizethenecessityfordeepdevotionthatgoesbeyondinwardreflectionandfindsoutwardexpressionintakingresponsibilityforsocialandenvironmentalconcernsthroughcommunityparticipation,action,andservice.RelatednationalandinternationalorganizationsaretheFriendsCommitteeonNationalLegislation(FCNL),theAmericanFriendsServiceCommittee(AFSC),andtheFriendsWorldCommitteeonConsultation(FWCC).

ART IN FOUNDERS HALL The artist for July-August is Gail Ishmael, with a watercolor show titled "Faces and Places. Gail retired as the graphic designer for Daily Word Magazine in 2009. Always involved in spiritual study, she says, 'since coming to Lawrence I am enjoying a more expanded and diverse spiritual life'. Come by and see my latest creative direction: Oil Painting.

UUCL MEN’S GROUP The Men's Group will meet at UUCL at 9am on Saturday, July 6 for pastries, coffee and conversation. For other information contact Bob Burbank, 785-766-8154, [email protected]

UUCL WOMEN’S GROUP

The UUCL Women’s Group will meet at Ellen Reid Gold’s. 506 Pioneer Rd. on Saturday, July 13 from 2-4 p.m. All are welcome! Bring yourself, bring a friend, bring a snack to share if you wish. Conversation and camaraderie are supplied with your presence. Call Lynne Bodle (843-8263) for more information before July 10. If you have questions after that, contact Ellen by email ([email protected]).

UnitarianUniversalistCongregationofLawrence

AWelcomingCongregation1263N.1100Rd.Lawrence,KS66047,785-842-3999

www.uufl.netTocontacttheNewsTeam,[email protected]:TheRev.AaronM.Stockwell,InterimMinisterRev.Stockwellmaybereachedthroughthislink:https://calendly.com/rev-aaron-stockwell/orbyphone785.330.5665orbyemail:[email protected]—Summer2019For Pastoral emergencies, including funds from the Ministers' Discretionary Fund, please contact Valerie Roper ([email protected]). For administrative questions, please contact Jennifer Donnelly ([email protected]). For congregational life questions please contact Lynne Renick ([email protected]). [email protected],842-3339Thisteamprovidesshort-termpracticalassistance,e.g.,meals,respite,rides.TransportationLine (toUUCLeventsormedicalappointments)Please call UUCL 785-842-3339 and leave a message. AdministrativeOfficeHours:AdministrativeofficehoursaretypicallyMonday10:00a.m.-noonTuesday1:00-5:00p.m. Thursday8:30a.m.-4:30p.m.Friday1:00-5:00p.m.Pleasebesuretocallfirst,785-842-3339,ifcomingoutduringtheweek,asdoorsarekeptlocked.