News | Home

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit 4605 Cass Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 Phone 313-833-9107 Fax 313-833-0127 August 21, 2005

From the Minister

My thanks to so many who have welcomed me, assisted in my moving in, and answered my many questions as I get to know the area: a sprawling metropolis, with old neighborhoods, newer housing built atop tear-downs, small incorporated townships, well off and poor, educated and illiterate, despair and hope.

In this complex city, I related in my opening sermon to you that I hoped the Sunday services would at least be an hour a week where you could seek and find the deeper places within, find refreshment of spirit to take back into the world outside these doors, and renew your spiritual/ethical commitments of daily life.

Preachers have long been chided that they really have but one sermon. I doubt that, looking back and looking forward on themes of being human in what always is a dangerous and wonderful world. This year, in no particular order, I plan to converse with you about:

• A basis for hope in times of adversity and the crisis of success

• Making choices, taking chances

• Encountering the sacred in everyday life

• Forgiveness, reconciliation

• Loss of innocence, the new vision

• Enlarging the heart and soul

• How to become rich and popular (just kidding about this one!”

• And – Some rules about rules!

This should get us started. As the Chinese proverb often quoted says,

“May we live in interesting times”. We do. I am interested in what makes 1^st Church “go”, where the religious “center” here resides, how the parts fit together – whether easily or uneasily, and being in community with one another: our personal and shared boundaries. Remember to bring water on September 11^th for the opening of the regular church program year. Symbolic water will do just fine, in case you remember the moments, but didn’t bring the water.

Yours in faith, Rev. Diana Heath

Moderator's Musings

Hurray!  Our new interim minister, Rev. Diana Heath, has arrived! Her journey eastward involved two of our own heading westward to the State of Washington in order to assist our interim’s move by rental truck to Detroit.  Many thanks to Earl Harvey and Len Zettel for their willingness to take on this responsibility, which cut moving costs almost by half.  Len's account of the "excellent adventure" can be found by going to the church's website (www.1stuu.org) and then clicking on "Detroit UU Forum."

Diana arrived late August 3 and was picked up at the airport by Sharlene Gage and yours truly. Sharlene has done much to facilitate a rental for Diana in the 1300 Lafayette cooperative.  We are indebted to Sharlene for her efforts and our sturdy volunteers who unloaded the truck.
Within 24 hours of Diana's arrival and without her furniture having arrived yet, the Executive Committee had the pleasure of meeting with Diana.  We discussed some of the current operating issues as well as prepared an agenda for the August Board meeting.  Dan Wiest kindly chaired the August Board meeting in my absence.
We had the pleasure of Diana's inaugural service on Sunday August 14.  It was well attended and received high praise.  Regrettably, Diana is not scheduled to appear in the pulpit until regular services, which begin Sunday, September 11.  You will definitely want to be in attendance then if at all possible.  As we need food to sustain our bodies, you will also find spiritual nourishment from our new minister.  
The weekend of August 13-14 was also important because it was the Clean-up/ Fix-up weekend.  Jackie McNaughton spearheaded an effort to bring congregation members together to try to tackle some of the painting needs and maintenance needs of the church.  Jim Brown arranged to disassemble and then reassemble (with help) scaffolding so that work on church windows could be pursued.  My hope is that Jackie will be providing a Newsletter item to indicate the participants in this project.  The project started on Saturday, and continued through Sunday.   There has been a linked effort to help fund this clean-up and fix-up process by having a separate collection on Sundays beginning the last Sunday of July.  I am appreciative of the efforts made by the volunteers in making this a successful project and am also appreciative of the financial donations made by church members. This evidence of a church congregation pulling together. Thanks to the Worship Committee and volunteers who have provided services this summer
  On August 17, the Search Committee was meeting in Memorial Hall while a Building Use discussion was taking place in the foyer of the church house.  Consistent with the Congregational and Board support for evaluating options to reduce the expenditures associated with maintaining our facilities, a Building Use Committee met with an architect and an engineer associated with Archive Design Studio. The Committee will make a report at the September Board meeting.
 Diana and Colleen have been in communication and this will lead to a discussion on the subject of "Holy Conversations."  This is the book that Colleen has brought to our attention.  Diana and Colleen are in agreement that one of the most important things about the book is its model for respectful (holy) conversations within the congregation regarding next steps and a positive evolution as we have moved into a new century.
Also, Mary Lou Malone has been busy assisting Unity Fellowship, which expects to be renting Pullman hall on Sundays from about 9 – 2. The church has already had a couple of services in the sanctuary during the summer. We are pleased to share space with Unity Fellowship as they grow their church. Please make Unity feel comfortable and welcome in their new space. It is anticipated that this relationship may continue for 1 – 2 years.
I am also desirous of making our own minister welcome at First UU of Detroit.  Diana had indicated on her visit in June that she desired to have office space on the first floor. It seems the best place for a space for our interim would be in the bay window area of Memorial Hall (windows closest to Cass), with a few additional furnishings, so that the space can still be utilized as a whole when needed. Other ministers have also used Memorial Hall, though none recently.  I appreciate the church members' realization that we need some alteration of space for this specific purpose in order to maximize Diana’s contribution to our church. Respectfully, Jim Harvey

In Memoriam

It is with deep regret we announce the death of Louise Walter, a long time member of this congregation and the Women’s Alliance. Louise died on Friday, August 19. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. A memorial service has not yet been arranged.

Fundraising

Entertainment Books are here! The books are $25 each with $5 per book sold going to the church budget. The books will be sold during coffee hour or call Margaret Beck at 313-822-7775. We will be having garage sales the weekend of August 26 (Friday and Saturday) as well as September 2 (Friday and Saturday). Please let me know if you can help.

Thanks to Mildred Robinson, Carolyn Ludwig, Janet Thompson, Ruth Seifert, Sharlene Gage and John O’Connor for helping at recent garage sales. We were able to raise $370 for the budget. This makes a total so far of $1105 this season with $455.00 going towards last years budget.

This season 18 people from First UU Church helped by donating, buying or selling. Thanks to all. Margaret Beck

UU Dally

First Church will continue its saga with the Dally in the Alley this September 11.  If you would like to staff the table, bang your tambourine or speak from your favorite soapbox, let Dan Wiest know the times you will be available or call the church office for more info.

EDITORIAL

On Sunday October 2, 2005, the Women’s Book Club will met for a discussion of banned books. This is our way of commemorating Banned Books Week, which is from September 24 to October 1, 2005. Each participant is to have read a banned book of his/her choosing. Some of the titles we have discussed in the past have been To Kill a Mocking Bird, Go Ask Alice, Dr. Dolittle, and several children’s books by Judy Blume. I have been surprised and at times mortified by the reasons certain groups gave for banning a book. I would encourage everyone to read a banned book this month and to investigate why it was banned. The American Library Association web site is an excellent source of information, as would be your local librarian. You are also invited to join us on October 2, 2005. Maria Majer

MEET ALECIA BECKS

RECYCLER AND BICYCLER
Alicia Becks rides a purple bicycle in the neighborhood and takes public transportation when she needs to go further.  "This helps the air, and it's fun to meet people on the bus," she told the children at Peace Camp last week.  "Burning trash, landfills and cars are not good for the earth," she continued.  Soon after Alecia joined 1st U-U last fall, she became one of the leaders of our MOSES Core Group and took up the cause of starting a recycling program at our church. Since Detroit residents have no curbside pickup of recyclables and many in the neighborhood have no transportation, she felt that the church offered a great opportunity.  
    On the first Saturday of each month neighborhood residents are invited to bring clean, sorted recyclables to the church parking lot between 10:00 and 3:00 and they will be taken to a recycling center.  The August collection day plus the donations from Peace Camp brought a complete car full which Alecia and I took to the Recycling Center at 8 Mile and Evergreen.
    Alecia will have a station wagon for the October pickup but in the meantime we need a STRONG MAN preferably with a substantially larger vehicle to help with the delivery.  Please see Alecia during coffee hour if you can help in September.
    Before coming to Detroit in 2000, Alecia worked as a community organizer with ACORN in several southwestern cities.
She also has an interesting educational background with skills in media science, photography and nonprofit fundraising.
    She is very approachable and would love to talk to you during coffee hour.
                               -Arlene Teed
Ed. Note...This is a new feature Arlene has started and a great way to get to know each other.

Thank You

I would like to thank all the people who worked so hard in moving Diana Heath’s belongings from the U-Haul truck to her apartment. Earl Harvey

Women’s Book Group

Please join us on September 11^th (note date change because of the holiday) for our book discussion. Our September selection is “Kite Runner”. Bring a snack to share and all are welcome.

September First Friday

There will be no First Friday in September. Please join us on October 7^th for our first First Friday of the church year. This is an intergenerational dinner and all are welcome. To make reservations call the church office at 313-833-9107. Reservations must be made by Wednesday, October 5^th.

Heartland District

The registration deadline for the 2005 Fall Training Institute is September 23. The dates are October 14 – 16 and the event is in Grand Rapids, MI. The brochure and registration form are available in the church office.

Church of the Larger Fellowship

Help spread the word about the CLF. We are a congregation that provides a ministry to isolated religious liberals around the world by mail and cyberspace. We offer a spiritual home within the Unitarian Universalist movement for all kinds of people. Nearly half our members are active contributing members of local congregations who appreciate the connection to the wider UU world. For more information, contact the CFU at 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA or email at clf@clfuu.org

We Get Mail…

From Todd Eklof

“I’m writing to thank you again for the kindness and support you showed me during my recent visit to your extraordinary church community….”

Ed. Note: The letter is quite long so if you want to read it in its entirety, it will be posted on the bulletin board in McCollester Hall.

FYI

Wayne County senior citizens now can get help with household chores and yard work with the return of the Chores Program. The program will have private businesses doing the work. Seniors who are physically unable to perform chores around the house and yard, such as leaf raking, snow shoveling and branch trimming can call 313-446-4444 in you live in Detroit or 734-722-2830 if you live in other Wayne County cities. Seniors must be 60 or older and meet some income and medical care requirements. Gwen Winston

September Birthdays

Happy August 27th Birthday to Carolyn Reed

3. Steve Walker, Lance Halsted

4. Sally Moir

13. Dan Kosmowski

16. Art Gabhart, Carter Stevenson

17. Cheaber Farmer

20. Edna Koss

25. David Parke

26. Arlene Teed

29. Irene Schultz

Ed. Note…If you haven’t seen your name on our birthday list, it’s because we don’t have it. Please jot down the date, along with your name, and put it in the Newsletter box. The year is not necessary.

Items from the Internet

Actual Control Tower reports to Aircraft

* Tower: "Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o'clock, 6 miles!"

Delta 351: "Give us another hint! We have digital watches!"

* A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked, "What was your last known position?" Student: "When I was number one for takeoff."

* A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down. San Jose Tower Noted: "American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadalupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport."

 * Taxiing down the tarmac, a DC-10 abruptly stopped, turned around and returned to the gate. After an hour-long wait, it finally took off. A concerned passenger asked the flight attendant, "What, exactly, was the problem?" "The pilot was bothered by a noise he heard in the engine," explained the flight attendant. "It took us a while to find a new pilot."