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First Unitarian Universalist
Church of Detroit

4605 Cass Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201

Phone: 313-833-9107
Fax: 313-833-0127


December 2, 2007

First Unitarian Universalist Church
Organizational Chart 2007 - 2008

Officers
President
Alicia Biggers
Vice President
Glenn Maxwell
Immediate Past President
Linda Darga
Acting Board Secretary
Glenn Maxwell
Treasurer
Dan Wiest

Staff
Minister
Rev. Drew Johnston
Minister Emeritus
Rev. Larry Hutchison
Director of Religious Education
Athena Kolbe (Interim)
Music Director
Todd Ballou
Choir Director
Gwen Foss
Church Secretary
Wendi Winston
Building and Grounds
Joe Brimmer
Leonard Swint (Sunday)

Trustees
Lencha Acker
Sally Borden
Trey Greene
David Lingholm

Newsletter Editor
Irene Schultz

Drew’s News

I’m sure you have heard that activity breeds more activity. That’s what I like to think about when there is a lot going on – that we are setting the stage for even more! Last Sunday we took an important step by voting to officially recognize the Reverend Lynda Smith as our Affiliated Community Minister. This is an exciting action that sets the stage for more action to follow.

It’s a good story – Lynda has been part of this church for a long time, and over the years must have noticed an urge of some kind, a desire to do more, a hankering that some refer to as a calling. It is her story to tell, of course. In my view she has discovered, developed and clarified her purpose and I like to think that being a member of the church helped that happen. I know that now, as a congregation, we get to support Lynda in her work in the community.

This is a new kind of relationship for her and for the congregation. As your ordained staff, the Reverends Smith, Kolbe, and I have discussed and considered healthy boundaries for all of us. It will take some practice and experience for us and the congregation to get everything right, but we are committed to the effort. As we grow, together, through this new activity, let’s remember that we are setting the stage for more activity – within our walls and, increasingly, within the larger community.

Last Sunday I mentioned that I sometimes hear people talk about how hectic the season is, and I am hoping we don’t mistake nourishing activity for hectic activity. Let this month be a time of nourishing! Making space for good things to enter is one way to nourish, just as we have made space for Lynda to be affiliated. Active support of good things is another way, just as we will form a committee to support Lynda’s work (which we also do for other areas of the church). And making moments of personal peace is a particularly useful way of nourishing each other and ourselves.

Let this be an active season, and let the activity be a source of joy and strength. The world needs us to be joyous and strong.

See you in church!

Reverend Drew

Please visit our website for information on upcoming services.

In this issue:

Mga Parol
Women's Alliance
Building the World We Dream About
20th Annual Kwanzaa Jazz Concert
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
Sustainability
Items from the Internet
Newsletter Deadline

 

 

Women's Alliance

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Thank you to everyone who supported our bake sale on Noel Night. We had generous donations of baked goodies from many church members. We raised $65.50 that will be used for geraniums to be planted in the spring in the front of the church.

Consider joining us for our monthly luncheon and program. All are welcome and the cost is $6. Call the Church Office or Eiko Takemoto by the Monday before the luncheon day can make reservations.

December 12 (2nd Wednesday)
A Christmas Story and Sing-A-Long
January 16, 2008 (3rd Wednesday)
Travel to Peru
February 20, 2008 (3rd Wednesday)
Poetry Reading -- Bring a favorite to share.

 

Building the World We Dream About

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The second session of our anti-racism program, “Building The World We Dream About” will commence in two separate tracks, one after church on Sundays, December 9th & 16th; with another track of the same session occurring the following Wednesdays the 12th & 19th to coincide with Evening Vespers.

In the interests of the work being done by the facilitators of this program, and in the interests of keeping the sessions within a manageable timeframe, it is asked that if you choose to participate in this program, that you please commit---as well as you are able---to attend every session. As we are early in the program, there is still room for those who are interested to join.

If you are interested in joining this program, please call the church office at (313) 833-9107, or contact the church via email at info@1stuu.org.

 

20th Annual Kwanzaa Jazz Concert

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Saturday, December 29, 2007 -- 7:00 PM

The Black Concerns Working Group of First U.U. Church presents the 20th Annual Jazz Concert in our elegant church surroundings deserving of its creativity and genius.

Each year we attract more and more people who appreciate and enjoy this timeless art form. The concert has become the most popular "In Place" to go during the holiday season. This 20th Annual Kwanzaa Jazz Concert features Detroit's own internationally renowned pianist Dr. Barry D. Harris and Ed Love of WDET-FM as our Master of Ceremonies.

The Black Concerns Working Group plans all year to make this concert a financial success. YOU can be an "INTEGRAL" part of this success by becoming more involved with the presentation of the concert. An important fact to keep in mind is that the concert is a fundraiser for the church. Your participation is urgently needed for its success. Your ticket purchases are tax deductible. To help support the concert, you may consider purchasing tickets as holiday presents, and/or sponsoring a group party, and even mailing our flyers in your greeting cards.

Our goal is to involve EVERY church member and friend to participate in making this a successful concert, in every way.

 

Ceremonies in Dark Old Men

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I am planning a theatre party to see Ceremonies in Dark Old Men at the Detroit Rep on Saturday, January 12 at 3 P.M. Tickets are $15.00 each with $5.00 going to our church. We will be going out to dinner afterward. This play had excellent reviews by the New York Times and New York Post when it played in New York. I have more information that you can look at during coffee hour. I can be reached at 313-882-7775 or email at margretbeck@comcast.net.

Margaret Beck

 

Sustainability Inside Out

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Heal Yourself, Heal the World

 

Young adults, ages 18-35, we have an exciting event for you! Consider attending "Sustainability Inside Out: Heal Yourself, Heal the World", a young adult UU conference happening January 18-20th at People's Church in Kalamazoo, MI, sponsored by the Kalamazoo Unitarian Universalist Liberal Students (KUULS). Come for a weekend of self-exploration and community building with fellow UUs from all over the Heartland District. For registration and more info, please go to http://connectuu.com/events.php, or email hilaryjlake@gmail.com. Also, if you are interested in carpooling from the Detroit area, e-mail Julie at julie.celebi@gmail.com.

 

Items From the Internet

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Growing Old Story

Have you ever been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking, ”Surely I can’t look that old.” Well – you’ll love this one.

My name is Alice Smith and I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist. I noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name. Suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 40-odd years ago. Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate. After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School. “Yes. Yes, I did. I’m a Mustang,” he gleamed with pride. “When did you graduate?” I asked. He answered, “In 1959. Why do you ask?” “You were in my class”, I exclaimed. He looked at me closely. Then, that ugly, old, bald, wrinkled, fat decrepit man asked, “What did you teach?”

Great Truths of Life

I. GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED

  1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
  2. When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair.
  3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
  4. Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
  5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
  6. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
  7. Never hold a dust-buster and a cat at the same time.
  8. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
  9. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
  10. The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa or Grandma's lap.

II. GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED

  1. Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
  2. Wrinkles don't hurt.
  3. Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
  4. Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
  5. Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
  6. Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

III. GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

  1. Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
  2. Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
  3. When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
  4. You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
  5. It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
  6. Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
  7. Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

The Four Stages of Life

  1. You believe in Santa Claus.
  2. You don't believe in Santa Claus.
  3. You are Santa Claus.
  4. You look like Santa Claus.

Success
   At age 4 success is  . . . not peeing in your pants.
   At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
   At age 17 success is . . . having a driver's license.
   At age 35 success is . . . having money.
   At age 50 success is . . . having money.
   At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.
   At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
   At age 80 success is . . . not peeing in your pants

 

Newsletter Deadline

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The deadline for printed material is Sunday, December 16, 2007 no later than NOON or the following Monday no later than 5:30 p.m. for electronically submitted material. Articles may be emailed, by the deadline date and time, to ieschultz1945@yahoo.com. If you email items, please specify that they are for the newsletter.