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First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit 4605 Cass Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 Phone 313-833-9107 Fax 313-833-0127 July 17, 2005

Help Needed

Our new Interim Minister, Rev. Diana Heath, is arriving August 6^th with a truck full of items she needs help moving into her apartment. Plan to meet at 1300 Lafayette at 10:00 A.M. For more information or to offer assistance call Mark Bendure at 313-882-7732 (h) or 313-961-7525 (w).

Building & Grounds News

Building & Grounds is very busy as usual; especially with the long summer days that afford more outdoor work time. We apologize for not having more articles for the Newsletter detailing our projects over the past few months, but here is a summary of some of our projects!

The road to getting a new outdoor sermon sign is long. After a couple of years of sorting through contractors who were so unreliable they couldn’t deliver written quotes, Dan Kosmowski drove by a church in Dearborn Heights that recently erected a sign. He contacted their office and got the sign contractor’s information. Within a month he got a written quote and sketch. What next was needed? “A permit," said the sign contractor. To save the Church $500.00, Earl Harvey, Building & Grounds volunteer, decided to get the permit himself. Starting in May, Earl visited Downtown and found that it was one booklet that needed five authorizations! He first got zoning authorization. He went with sign sketches, property sketches, and photos. As it turns out, only one sign was allowed on our property. Hoping to keep the old sign for other purposes, he asked what we could do to keep both. The Inspector noted that we have large amounts of property on two streets, Cass and Forest, so that could count as two properties and allow for two signs. Earl brought the permit booklet back. Dan Kosmowski filled out additional sections on sign construction. Earl then went Downtown in June and spent four hours going from building to building. He got the authorization for sign construction and traffic engineering (so it won’t block traffic view). The last stop was Historic District Commission approval. After another wait, the clerk said that the sign would need to go before the Commission’s variance hearing on August 10^th. It looks like Earl has one more stop! If that trip is successful, Earl and Dan will need to finalize financing and sign design with our Church Board. Hopefully this year will be the year that we get a new sign, finally!

Building & Grounds work project Saturday’s need your help! Join us every second Saturday of the month at 9:30 am to do a variety of projects from tending our flowerbeds, painting windows, trimming trees, and more! Our June 12^th project day accomplished planting beautiful flowers along the sanctuary and Church House on Cass. Thank you Alma King and Dan Wiest! The large bushes along Forest Avenue and the parking lot also were trimmed. Thank you Earl Harvey, Dan Kosmowski, Bob Neale, and Dan Wiest. Our July 10^th project day accomplished more flower plantings and weeding of flowerbeds. Thank you Alma King and Jackie McNaughton. Jackie also prepared, primed, and painted the Church House handrail, keeping it looking good and clearing the rust that formed from the winter’s salt use. Thank you to Dan Kosmowski, Earl Harvey, and Chris McNaughton for trimming the locus tree on Forest Avenue. It was crowding the pine tree next to it and hanging low over the sidewalk. And lastly, look at the old sermon sign. It is looking better then ever! Thank you Chris McNaughton and Dan Kosmowski for sanding, priming, and painting it!

August Birthdays

2. Lynda Smith

6. Cal DeLor

9. Helga Herz

15. Rhonda Rodgers

16. Cindy Hill, Jane Kriner

17. Jan Thompson

19. JoAnn DeLor

26. Pat Pilafian

Women’s Book Club

The next meeting of the Women's Book Club will be August 7, we will be talking about Testimony of an Irish Slave Girl by Kate McCafferty. The selection for September 11th is Kite Runner by Khaled Hassini. (Please note date change for September) In celebration of Banned Book Month, on October 2 we will discuss the banned book of your choosing. The November 6th selection is Shifting Through Neutral by Bridgett M. Davis. Traditionally in December we read a children’s book of your choice and donate it to Second Story Church. The date for December is the 4^th. January 8, 2006 the selection is House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III (please note date change for January). The February 5^th selection is Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Please contact Maria Majer at maria_majer@yahoo.com or 313-899-1694 for additional information. All are welcome.

CHARLOTTE'S WEB

Hello 1st Church. Just wanted to share with you some thoughts from Virginia where we are still getting settled and unpacked. I miss Detroit and First Church a lot. We are living in a suburb of Washington DC called Falls Church. It is in what is described as "prosperous, populous Fairfax County." It is cute and very hilly but I miss good old flat Detroit. Jobs are plentiful down here. Rain is too. It is funny rain though - just pours cats and dogs for 15 - 30 minutes then gets sunny again. Transportation is good. There is a "metro" train that runs into DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia plus buses that run on time.

I look forward to visiting home one weekend a month as time (and money) permit. By the way, I am single handedly becoming a Detroit advocate. Every time I tell someone that I'm from Detroit they say, "Oh, I'll bet your glad to be out of THAT city," and I say "No, I love Detroit and miss it. There is nowhere I'd rather be." Then I tell them that if businesses had not abandoned our wonderful city, people would rather be there than here. So, my friends, when you go visiting somewhere be kind to Detroit. There are plenty of people who are anti-Detroit. They don't need our help to bad-mouth our city.

I hope to send an update, next month, about the local Unitarian-Universalist churches. My first visit will probably be to All Souls in DC. Peace, Charlotte Allen

Regular Church Year Begins

We look forward to the first church service after Labor Day, Sunday, September 11 as our return from summer vacation. You are invited to bring water from your travels, or some other significant place, to share at our Water Communion.

Garage Sales

Thanks to Carolyn Ludwig, Ruth Seifert, Sharlene Gage and Janet Thompson, we raised $280.00 for our church treasury. Also, thanks to my friends, Ellen & Ed Talbert, Joy & Richard Marks, Mildred Robinson’s relatives, my brother Tony and family for donations. Please call if you would like to help with summer garage sales on Fridays and Saturdays. Shoppers are very much welcome, as well. There are many children’s and women’s clothes and for those of us looking forward to colder weather, we have toboggans. Come on and shop!

On A Related Note

There will be an ATTIC SALE Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21 from 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. in the Historic District – 36 Longfellow. Faye Colling is requesting volunteers to help set up Saturday and Sunday morning at 6:00 A.M. Sales helpers are needed and you can bring your own items to sell with the profits going to First UU. For more information or to offer help, call Faye at 313-393-8413.

Recycling Initiative

Does anybody live near Evergreen and Eight Mile (Southfield/Detroit) who would be willing to help out the recycling initiative? There is a 24/7 recycling drop-off center there. Please contact Mark Schwing at 313-300-2750 for more information.

Poets Corner

(With thanks to Alecia Audrey Becks)

I pray that wimmin love each other and value each other and find our own beauty. Sisters need each other…and must find that inner light in us all that supports each other…and says…you are my mirror.

More about Jane A. Bassett

Coalition for Adoption Rights Equality

Speaker August 21, 2005

CARE educates the public about second parent adoptions, lobbies legislators regarding legislation to amend Michigan's adoption code and maintains a speaker's bureau expressly to educate and inform people in MI about adoption issues and LGBT people. Its ultimate goal is to amend MI's Adoption Code to explicitly allow second parent adoption.

Save the Date – Save the Water Symposium

On Saturday, September 10 from 8:30 – 2:30 at the Southfield Library, WILPF will be sponsoring this event. To register email watersymp910@aol.com

MICHIGAN UU JUSTICE NETWORK GETS GRANT

& SEEKS TO HIRE STAFF

The Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN), a state-wide network of UU social justice advocates, was awarded a $10,000 grant in July as a first of a multi-year commitment by the UU Service Committee (UUSC) to expand the Network’s capacity to empower and activate UU’s for justice in Michigan. The Network is seeking to hire a part-time Justice Network Coordinator to help implement the following goals:

* Forward justice issues and service information to activists in Michigan UU churches;

* Empower UU’s and others to influence Michigan legislators on justice issues;

* Organize one or more justice event that can be replicated in other areas;

* Build and make more visible UU power by recruiting people to join the MUUSJN; and

* Promote communication between UU activists in Michigan through development of a website, a list serve and teleconferencing on justice issues and activities.

For more information on the MUUSJN’s mission and history of achievements, visit its page on the web: www.northwestuu.org/social_justice_network.htm

A candidate for the Justice Network Coordinator position should have at least a four year degree or equivalent experience, have computer and Internet skills, to be a self-starter with an ability to work collaboratively, a valid Michigan driver’s license and a passion for working for justice. For more information, call Randy Block, MUUSJN Network Manager, at 248-549-5170.

Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN)

JUSTICE NETWORK COORDINATOR

JOB DESCRIPTION

Qualifications:

B.A. degree (or its equivalent) required; experience in coordinating justice projects strongly preferred; self-starter; good interpersonal skills; able to work collaboratively; basic computer, software and Internet skills; good writing and public speaking skills; need valid driver’s license and ability to travel to some meetings; positive attitude about working for justice with Unitarian Universalists and other activists.

Responsibilities:

1. Responsible to help implement the mission, goals and activities of the MUUSJN and to abide by Unitarian Universalist principles to guide the work of the MUUSJN;

2. Develop and maintain an e-mail list serve to promote information sharing with MUUSJN members;

3. Provide MUUSJN members with justice related information and action alerts as approved by the MUUSJN Steering Committee or its Network Manager (in consultation with MUUSJN leaders);

4. Develop and maintain a database of MUUSJN members;

5. In coordination with the Steering Committee and the Network Manager, assist the MUUSJN to reach its membership growth goals;

6. Empower MUUSJN members to influence legislators on Network supported issues;

7. With Steering Committee consent, serve as a liaison to justice coalitions or advocacy groups to assist the Network to collaborate to effectively influence elected officials on justice issues;

8. Assist with organizing regular teleconference and face to face meetings of MUUSJN Steering Committee members;

9. Working with the MUUSJN Steering Committee and the Network Manager, encourage Michigan UU churches to review and act upon UUA Study/Action issues;

10. Assist the MUUSJN to organize one or more justice events, including one related to the Green Sanctuary Project;

11. Survey individuals in all Michigan UU churches to learn about their justice issue priorities;

12. Assist with managing a MUUSJN website to promote the Network’s interests and encourage member exchange;

13. Assist the MUUSJN to generate financial support, e.g., via grant writing, fund raising, to expand and sustain MUUSJN efforts;

14. Attend MUUSJN meetings.

15. Works in cooperation with and reports to the MUUSJN Network Manager and the MUUSJN Steering Committee;

16. Other duties as may be identified by the MUUSJN Steering Committee and its Network Manager.

Part-time Independent Contractor: Flexible hours. Work out of home. Position open immediately. Contact: Randy Block, Network Manager, Michigan Unitarian Universalist Justice Network, 248-549-5170.

Mail resume to: 4220 Arlington Dr., Royal Oak, Michigan 48073

Items from the Internet

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren, your friends.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

More Items from the Internet

A quiz for those of us who have been around awhile

The answers are below, but don't cheat.

1. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, "Who was that masked man?" Invariably, someone would answer, "I don't know, but he left this behind." "What did he leave behind?_______________________.

2. When the Beatles first came to the US in early 1964, we all watched them on the, ______________________show.

3. Get your kicks, _______________.

4. The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed ____________________.

5. In the jungle, the mighty jungle,_________________________.

6. After the twist, the mashed potatoes, and the watusi, we "danced" under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called

the _________________________.

7. N_E_S_T_L_E_S, Nestle's makes the very best, _______________.

8. Satchmo was America's "ambassador of goodwill." Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was,

> ____________________.

9. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking?__________________.

10. Red Skeleton’s hobo character was ________________________. and he always ended his television show by saying, "Good night, and_____________________________."

11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam war did so by burning their_________________.

12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front, was called the VW. What other names did it go by?__________________________&_________

13. I n 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, "the day the music died." This was a tribute To__________________________.

14. We can remember the first satellite placed into orbit. The Russians did it; it was called

_____________________.

15. One of the big fads of the late 50's and 60's was a large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist; it was called the ___________.

Answers:

1. The Lone Ranger left behind a silver bullet.

2. The Ed Sullivan Show.

3. Route 66

4. To protect the innocent

5. The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

6. The limbo

7. Chocolate.

8. Louis Armstrong

9. The Timex watch.

10. Freddie the Freeloader, and "Good night, and may God Bless."

11. draft cards (the bra was also burned)

12. Beetle or Bug

13. Buddy Holly

14. Sputnik

15. hoola-hoop

One Last Item from the Internet

(It may appear there is some space to fill!)

Subject: Actual writing on hospital charts

1. The patient refused autopsy.

2. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.

4. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40-pound weight gain in the past three days.

5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

6. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

7. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

8. Discharge status: Alive, but without my permission.

9. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.

10. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.

11. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

12. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.

13. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.

14. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.

15. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

16. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.

17. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of gas and crashed.