Congregation established 1836

Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois

www.firstuualton.org

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister

February 7^th

“The Old Mission”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

This church may be nearing its 175^th birthday, but Mission San Jose in San Antonio, Texas, is still active as a church after nearly 300 years of life.  The ghosts of the past are tangible, but the mission has changed to meet the modern needs of those who gather now.

February 14^th

“Tiny Bubbles”

Eric Johnson

You are invited to dust off your Hawaiian shirt and enjoy a Hawaiian-style Valentine's Day service.  We'll explore Unitarian Universalist theological anthropology and the grace of a 'plefsemic' gospel through the wise words of Don Ho.  Don't bother looking up plefsemic on the internet.  I adapted (okay, made up) the word from the Greek to fit my Masters thesis, so you'll just have to come and let me explain.

February 21^st - Heritage Day

“Bigger, Bolder”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

It’s time to kick off our annual Pledge Drive, so on this Heritage Sunday we’ll share a golden opportunity to begin thinking bigger and acting more boldly.

February 28^th

“The Rich Are Different”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

The anecdote variously attributed to F. Scott Fitzgerald or Ernest Hemingway about the rich simply having more money than you and me is confusing and wrong.  Those who are truly rich know just how much they can afford to give.

NOTE:  Green Sky Sangha now meets on Sundays at 9:30 am in Room 5 on the lower level of the RE wing.

Treasury Note

Total budgeted income for December 2009 was $16,959.67; this was 12.3% of our annual budget.  Total budgeted expenses for December 2009 were $11,262.51; this was 8.2% of our annual budget.

Those in attendance donated $546.66 for the Minister’s Discretionary Fund at the Christmas Eve Service.

At the mid-point of our fiscal year, our financial status looks pretty good. Most income sources have produced near or above 50%. Most of our expenses are near or under 50% of the total budgeted amount.

However, I am concerned that 25% of our pledge units are somewhat, or even significantly, behind in paying their pledges. This could result in a pledge income shortfall toward the end of this fiscal year. I would like to encourage those pledgers who have not yet gotten into the habit of regularly paying their pledge to look into the automatic withdrawal option that we provide.

Jerry Johnson, Treasurer

The 2010 Bigger, Bolder! Pledge Drive will kick off with a presentation during worship on Sunday, Feb. 21^st, and end with a “Celebration of Success” during Coffee Hour on March 14^th.  In between those two events, each of our members and friends will be invited to attend one of several Pledge Drive Desserts to be held on Friday and Saturday nights in homes and at church.

These Desserts will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions or to talk about what you value in our church and in our community. 

Childcare will be provided as needed.

Watch for Dessert invitations and further details to show up by snail mail and in your e-mail inbox!

--  Your Stewardship Committee

A First Glance

Recently I ran across this from author Ashley Hale:  “The issue is not whether the church will survive, but whether it will flourish.”  It struck me immediately that this pretty well sums up the Alton congregation as we look toward an annual spring Pledge Drive.

As I read the various histories of the church we now have available, I see that there have been times in the past when this was not the case.  This church has seen lean times when those who gathered here on the hillside had to wonder how the congregation could go on and, indeed, if it would go on.

But this isn’t the case today as we face a couple of major changes that come because of the growth and vitality of our community in recent years. 

The first change is a big one:  Attendance has been such that we are poised to offer two worship services each Sunday beginning March 21^st.  Start times will be 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., with activities for kids at 9:30, a curriculum-based Children’s Religious Education program at 11:00, and Adult RE at both hours.  Coffee Hour (technically, I guess, two ‘Coffee Half-hours’) will consist of the half-hour between the services as well as the half-hour after the second service.  On the 4^th Sunday of each month, we’ll share a Potluck meal in the Kate Wuerker Room after the second service.

Please note that all these changes are being made on a trial basis, so details may need to be adjusted.

The second major change promises to be even bigger:  a Search Committee is drawing up plans to have a new, permanent Director of Religious Education (DRE) in place by this summer.  Our new DRE will be employed to work nearly full-time to continue the upward momentum of our expanding RE program.

Obviously, such major changes do not come without increased costs.  Obviously, this is not a year for complacency. Obviously, we’ll each need to reassess our commitments of time, talent, and treasure, potentially making major changes in our financial expressions of faith and connection to the community. 

Of course it’s wonderful that we no longer have to worry about whether the church will survive.  But we’re not yet completely sure whether and how it will flourish.

This is not a time to sit still.  This is a time to think big, to be bold, and to grab hold of this incredible opportunity to carry our saving message of hope to those in the larger community who so desperately need to hear it.   It’s a great time to be a member of First Unitarian Church!

See you in church,

Everything I do connected with church seems to have the same theme lately.  We need more volunteers.  I hear it at worship, board meetings, committee meetings, religious education discussions.

And while it’s true, I’m starting to feel a little uncomfortable with it.  I can’t help but wonder if some of you are a little put off.  Maybe even afraid to stay for coffee hour, knowing someone will approach you to volunteer for something. 

Now is probably a good place for a disclaimer.  The views I’m expressing do not necessarily represent the views of ANYONE else at our church.  But here’s what I think about our volunteer “dilemma.”

It’s great.  We have so much going on in this beautiful place that it takes many hands to make it all happen.  But we don’t come to church to work.  And I don’t think you should do anything you don’t want to do.  Because then you find that you don’t want to come to church anymore.  When that happens, your church has failed you. 

But I do want to share my experience with you, as a person who just came to church and went home.  I was too busy to devote more than an hour to church.

As I became more involved in things that were interesting to me, thanks to Mary Johnson’s invitation to join the social justice committee, I developed a different perspective.  It wasn’t me volunteering to do work.  It was church allowing me wonderful new experiences.  It was me forming great new relationships.

So don’t be afraid to say “no.”  But don’t be afraid to say “yes,” either!

Jennifer Herndon, Board President

CHOIR REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

The choir rehearses on the first three Thursdays of each month from 7 to 8:30 pm.   

February’s rehearsals

are on the 4^th, 11^th and 18^th.

We always welcome new voices!   Come to a rehearsal to see what it’s like.   For more information contact Willis McCoy.

Most people enjoy getting a card or email or phone call on their birthday.  Below is the list we have of church members and friends celebrating birthdays this month.  If you don’t think the church office has your birthday on file, please contact Becky Green at church@firstuualton.org and give her that information.

  2 February – Mary Johnson

  3 February – William Loucks (1998)

  6 February – Nancy Brunner

  6 February – Kristen O’Steen

11 February – Gene Eaton

14 February – Yvonne McCall

17 February – Ron Glossop

23 February – Beth Bourland

23 February – Jack Morgan (2003)

25 February – Mike Fischer

26 February – Donna Young

28 February – Rachel Berg

Crisis Food Center

According to the USDA, 9.5% of llinois households face food insecurity.     497,991 children in Illinois (15.4% of children) are food insecure, according to a report released by Feeding America.   You can help people know where their next meal is coming from by bringing non-perishable food to church and adding it to the Crisis Food Center donation basket located in the RE foyer.   There is no good time to go hungry, but especially in the cold of winter, a lack of food is a grave concern.

Jen Politsch

Interest Group Gatherings

Green Sky Sangha

The Green Sky Sangha now meets every Sunday at 9:30 am in Room 5 on the lower level in the RE wing and invites anyone interested in meditation to join them. No prior knowledge of meditation is necessary.  The group practices various forms of meditation and discusses ideas related to Buddhism.   

Dee Evans

Spiral Scouts 

The next Spiral Scouts meeting will be on Sunday, February 7^th at 1 pm at the church.

The Spiral Scouts is an all-inclusive scouting experience for children and parents of all genders.  The program begins with ages 3 - 8 with Fireflies and continues to Spiral Scouts ages 9 - 13. We will all meet together and split in to age appropriate groups.

For more information go to the Spiral Scouts website, or contact Sayer Johnson or Jason Dothager

All church women are invited to the

Anna D Sparks Women’s Alliance

monthly lunch

The Anna Ds will have their monthly lunch meeting on Thursday, February 4^th at 11:30 am at Geno’s 140 Club in Bethalto, IL. From Alton, go east on 140 to S. Spencer Street, turn left and then turn right into parking lot at 120 W. Bethalto Blvd. (on left before Prairie Street.)   RSVP by February 1^st to Mary Lu McManus.

Men’s Lunch Group

All the men in the church are invited to attend.

The Men’s Lunch Group will meet on Thursday, February 11^th at the St. Louis Buffet, 672 Wesley Dr., Wood River, IL. Contact Nelson Shaner for further details .

CHALICE CIRCLES

Newcomers’ Chalice Circle

Monday, February 8^th at church – 7 to 8:30 pm.

Contact Joe Weaver or Kathryn Chapman.

UU Pagan Chalice Circle

Friday, February 12^th at church – 6 to 8 pm

Contact Kristen O’Steen.

Covenant Group Chalice Circle

Thursday, January 18^th – 7 pm at the home of Jan and Don Allen in Belleville

Contact Don or Jan.

Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle

Saturday, February 20^th at church – 2 to 4 pm.

Contact Marcia Custer.

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

Sunday, February 21^st – 12:00 to 1:30 pm in Emerson Place at church.

Contact: Diane Thompson or Sayer Johnson.

Men's Chalice Circle

Tuesday, February 23^rd – 7 p.m. at church

Contact Khleber Van Zandt.

Earthquake devastates Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, was devastated by a major earthquake on January 12. UUSC and the Unitarian Universalist Association have launched a joint earthquake relief fund to help the survivors.

What can you do?

Donations to the relief fund can be made through our website ( www.uusc.org/haitiearthquake) and by mailing checks payable to: "UUSC/UUA Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.”

Checks should be mailed to:

UUSC, P.O. Box 844001

Boston, MA 02284-4001

Potluck Lunch

February 28^th

Bring a dish to share and plan to stay after church to join in food and fellowship!  Please bring a dish that serves at least 6 to 8 people. 

A-Mc will do Clean Up

M-Z will do Table Set Up

Part Time Director Of Religious Education

Emerson Unitarian Universalist Chapel (West St. Louis County) is in search for a part time Director of Religious Education.  For more information, please see

http://www.emersonuuchapel.org/dresearch.shtml.

Community
Outreach Offering

December’s Community Outreach Offering of $700.12 went to provide one share and one partial share for low-income families in the LaVista Community Garden.  Owning shares in the Garden will enable these families to gather fresh produce weekly from May through October.

February’s Offering will be given to our neighbor – the YWCA – to support its racial justice initiatives.  They have a Leadership Academy for children of color and also have developed a 10 week Racial Justice workshop which is offered to community groups.  The offering on Feb. 14 will go toward the children’s Leadership Academy, and the offering on Feb. 28 will go toward the Racial Justice workshop programming needs.

February 27, 2010

February’s 4^th Saturday Lunch will be hosted by Paula Tarbell.

Watch for a signup sheet at church and emails requesting volunteers to provide food and help.

Our lunch buffet line opens at 12 noon.  We ask that if you are bringing food that you arrive at least by 11:45 am.  Set-up help is welcome anytime after 10:30 am and cleanup help is always needed after lunch is over.

You are also welcome, and encouraged, to stay and have lunch with our guests.

If you are interested in helping to plan and organizing one of these monthly lunches please contact the new Saturday Lunch Coordinator, Kathryn Chapman.

Metaphysical Film Series

February 20^th - What the Bleep Do We Know?

7:00 pm

Embark on a life-changing journey with Amanda, a divorced photographer who stumbles down a metaphysical rabbit hole. See for yourself why this groundbreaking movie became one of the most compelling and talked-about films of the year.

Not Rated (language) - 108 minutes

Waking Life - February 27^th at 7:00 pm

"Are we sleep-walking through our waking state or wake-walking through our dreams?" Join Wiley Wiggins as he searches for answers to life's most important questions in a world that may or may not be reality.

Rated 'R' - 100 minutes

UU Film Night

GROUNDHOG DAY, the existential classic starring Bill Murray , is slated for Saturday, February 6^th at 6:30 pm .  Snacks are optional.

UU Film Night is being facilitated by Kathryn Chapman & Janice Joiner.  Join them on Facebook to make suggestions for upcoming films.  You may also provide input using the UU Film Night folder in the Wuerker room. Let them know if you have a great movie you want to share?

Dr. William C. Shaw

Memorial Lecture

Arts and Issues Series

Meridian Ballroom at SIUE

February 17, 2010 – 7:30 pm.

GUEST SPEAKER

Dr. Steve Squyres

Ruth Shaw had arranged for some free tickets for members of the congregation who wish to attend, however all those original tickets have been given out.   It is possible that more might be available.  If you want tickets contact Ruth Shaw directly .   Tickets will be given out on a “first come” basis.

Dr. Squyres is best known as the face and voice of NASA’s mission to Mars and the pioneering drive across its surface by two high-tech robotic rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.  He is the man responsible for taking us to the Red Planet and igniting a new firestorm of interest in space exploration.  He will discuss the risks taken, the mistakes made, and how success was ultimately achieved.

Ruth reports that her step-daughter, Suzanne Shaw McNamara and her husband Dick McNamara, will be bringing Ruth to church on Sunday, February 14.  Suzanne and Dick will be in town for the Shaw Lecture.  Suzanne is the eldest daughter of Dr. William C. Shaw and she and her husband Dick have been active in Unitarian Universalist circles since they met in the Fellowship at Iowa State in Ames, Iowa in 1952.  Suzanne has served as several denominational roles over the years, including president of Unirondack, our denominational camp in the Adirondacks in upstate New York, and as Board Member of the Unitarian Universalist Association representing the St. Lawrence District.  Dick and Suzanne continue to be active in District and local church affairs at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York.

Newcomers’ Valentine Party

&

Open Mic Coffee House Event

Because of the inclement weather on the 9^th of January, the UU Coffee House had to be postponed.  The planners were seeking a date in February, and it was decided by both sets of organizers that the February 13th scheduled Newcomers’ Valentine Party and the Coffee House could combine offering both a get acquainted opportunity as well as an entertaining evening. We further decided to make it a soup potluck. We’ll start at 6:00 pm.  Please bring a pot of your favorite soup and either a bread or dessert to the event if you are willing and able. The organizers will provide coffee, tea, and lemonade and Valentine decorations.

Brynda McCoy will be coordinating the Newcomer part of the program.  If you have been in attendance at our church for six months or less, you are considered a Newcomer. We want to recognize you and prepare a special name tag for you in advance. Also please be prepared to tell us a little something about yourself when you are introduced. Also you as special guests at the event will not be expected to bring food.

Dick Blanton and Janice Joiner will be hosting the Coffee House portion of the event. If you have any sort of talent you would like to share with the rest of us, please let one of them know.   Contact Dick Blanton.   Contact Janice.   It is an Open Mic event so you can just show up.

A signup sheet will be placed in the Wuerker Room for those planning to attend whether you are a Newcomer, a performer or an audience member. There you can indicate what you could bring and whether or not you would need child care for your children. Older children would probably enjoy the program and all would be welcome for the soup eating.

Church Board Approves Two Services

On Sundays

At its meeting on January 13^th the Board approved the recommendation by the Second Service Committee to start holding two services on Sundays.

On March 21, 2010, we will begin having two services.  One service will start at 9:30 am and the other one at 11:00 am.  These services will be basically identical.  The two-service format will continue through June 20^th at which time a decision will be made whether to continue with two services during the summer.

Nursery care will be available at both services.  There will be activities for children at the 9:30 service and children’s religious education (RE) classes provided at the 11 am service.

The time of the Adult Religious Education (ARE) programs is still under discussion. 

There will be one “coffee hour” from 10:30 to 11 and it will reopen at 12 noon.  Potluck lunches will follow the second service on every 4^th Sunday.

This is an exciting new venture for our church and we invite you to attend whichever service best fits your life.

Note from the Church Office

I will be sending out a Data Information Request Form for the new church database system by email and postal mail for those without email.  These forms can be printed and mailed back to the office or filled out, saved and returned as attachments.

There will be one form for the household and one form for each individual in the family. 

Some of the optional questions are for statistical purposes and would never be public knowledge.  The information collected from these forms would help the church grow in the interest of the congregation. 

Thank you, Becky

February RE Program News & Notes

Note:  New RE program brochures are available in the racks in the Wuerker Room and Spring prospectuses are available from Steven Mead.  New member RE Welcome Packets are available too--ask Steven for one to learn more about our religious education ministry.

February’s RE Theme:  Teamwork!

We continue our year-long focus on the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles, with an additional emphasis on exploring and learning new things:

·    7-Feb-10—Children’s Chapel—Sarah Drury-Dothager leads our service; Spirit Play kids attend Children’s Chapel for the first 15 min or so and then return to their classroom

·    14-Feb-10—Valentine’s Day Party

·    21-Feb-10—structured learning curriculum

·    28-Feb-10—structured learning curriculum

Teacher and Parent Religious Education Orientation, February 1, 2010

Mark your calendars!  We will conduct back-to-back Teacher and Parent Orientation on February 1 from 6:30-8:30.  Come meet and mingle and see some of our new materials.  We will be rolling out our new Teacher Resource Manual, showing a short film from Church Mutual, and comprehensively discussing what makes our program great.  There will be time for questions and answers.  Please watch the weekly bulletin for more information.  Child care will be provided and light snacks served.

Thank You, Teachers!

From the words of Cindy Leitner, author of the RE Road Map:  “The religious education of the children and youth in our church schools is the responsibility of the entire congregation.  This cooperative concept implies that everyone is invested in a commitment to excellence in religious education.  There is a community spirit that emanates from a cooperative program—a feeling that this is our church school and we are all involved in it.  The children benefit because they encounter a wider cross-section of adults than they might otherwise.  The adults benefit, not only because they are interacting with joyous and curious young people, but because they also get a chance to see how Unitarian Universalist religious education is taught, what UU values are, and more about UU history than they may have learned before.”

The following individuals have volunteered to teach in the RE program this spring.  Please show them your appreciation when you see them in church.

Volunteer Teachers Still Sought for Spring!

Unfortunately, we began our new semester down by three teachers.  We are still looking for one more teacher in 1^st-3^rd grade and two teachers for 4-6^th grades.  We are trying to adopt a Team Teaching model with four teachers per class; this reduces the teaching commitment to only twice per month.  Can you help?  We will do our best to assure that you know clearly what is expected of you, the level and duration of commitment necessary, and what resources will be available to you.

You may find, as many have before you, that the greatest learning in the classroom is not that of the student, but that of the teacher.  Teaching can deepen your understanding, develop your own spiritual authenticity, and satisfy your need to give back to this very special place.  Contact Steven Mead or any member of the RE Committee.

Can’t Teach But Want to Contribute?

Interested?  Contact Steven Mead.  Try these out:

• Volunteer sought to inventory and create a database of our RE books — work at your own pace — data entry into MS Excel. 
• Deep cleaning the nursery; this includes washing all the toys.

Program Attendance

Enrolled Children:  62

Average Sunday attendance:  30-40

Steven Mead, Temporary RE Administrator

A Letter from Olive

In last month’s newsletter I mentioned a letter written in 1832 by Olive Emerson, the wife of Dr. William Samuel Emerson, the founder of our Unitarian Congregation in Alton.

A Photostat copy of this letter was found by Ginger McCall in the files of the Madison County Historical Museum and Archival Library.  The letter was very interesting in content as well as form.  Mrs. Emerson used a style of writing, common in the 19^th century, known as cross-writing, to save paper and postage.  She not only wrote horizontally across the page but also vertically between the horizontal lines already written.  The letter was then folded into several sections and the final fold sealed with wax.  The section in the center became the place for the address and postmark – no envelope was used.  The recipient of the letter had to pay the postage.  Some of the text was impossible to decipher so (??) is used when I couldn’t make it out, and I used ellipses when I excluded parts of the letter for this newsletter column. Explanations I added are included in brackets.

Mrs. Emerson wrote this letter to her brother George Bourne, a wealthy shipbuilder back in Kennebunk Maine, and his wife Jane.  I’m including excerpts in the paragraphs below.  If you want to read the entire text of the letter or see a copy of the Photostat please let me know.  We don’t know the whereabouts of original document or how this copy got to the Madison County Archival Library.

We know from other sources that at this time Olive is expecting her 2^nd child but she doesn’t mention her pregnancy in the letter.

Prepared by Mary Johnson

Lower Alton, Sept. 24^th, Monday eve yr 1832

My dear brother and sister

I have this evening received a good, long interesting and affectionate letter from one Geo. W. Bourne, which came last Friday but on account of Wm.’s business I did not get it till this eve as he has been so constantly engaged that he has not thought of the post office . . . .  When I first broke the seal I thought it not half filled but I was agreeably disappointed on opening it that it was so well filled that you could not fold it without a cover. You succeeded in cheating the postmaster and I had to pay only (??) . . . . Thus I have intended so long ere this, but to tell the truth I have had no time, but now I hope I shall be able to write oftener as we have got very good help and what sort do you suppose it is? It is a deaf Indian squaw. She is about 35 or 40 years old I should think.  She is the mother of two children. We like her very much and the only fault I have to find with her is that I am afraid that she will not be contented.  She has only one eye, but that one is very good and answers every purpose. Her name is Angelina; a French name, and she speaks French quite well. You would laugh to hear her and William talk together . . . .

Last week Wm. and I had a ride on horseback. I had a little pony about as large as your colt was when I came away, and he was the easiest little creature to ride you ever saw. Mr. Hudson bought him on purpose for his wife and he very politely offered him to me to ride whenever I wanted him, and if I had mother’s sidesaddle I would ride often. Wm. says we rode fifteen miles. Don’t you think that was doing pretty well for me? I think it is much the pleasantest way to travel in this country. For my part I prefer it to riding in a horse cart as most people do here, or rather oxcart for they are generally drawn by oxen. You would be amused I know to see them.

One day we had a call from a gentleman and his wife, and when they went out, Mrs. Wade and I went to the door with them, to see them start.  She rode in one of these great carts all alone and her husband drove the oxen and Mrs. Wade and I said, after they had started, how our friends would laugh if they could just see our callers, what style they come in, but we have got so used to it that we never think of laughing any more than you do to see a person pass in a chaise.  Illinoisans are called Suckers and Lincoln [their 3-year-old son, Lincoln Fletcher] tells people that he is not a Sucker, he is a yankee boy – he does not like the idea of being a Sucker at all . . . .

Oh how much I would give just to step into your parlour a few minutes and see the pictures, though of the two I think I had rather see the originals. I thank you for Julia Ann’s miniature [her sister] which you were so kind as to send me, why did you not send yours and Jane’s? I should be very glad to have them and proud to show them to my friends here and call them my brothers and sisters . . . . .

Your account at the (??) sunday school was very interesting. I thank you for telling me so many hymns and tunes that you sing. Perhaps it may appear childish in me but it really does me good. I take my hymn book and find the hymns and then sing them in the same tunes and there is nothing that reminds me so forcibly and pleasantly of home as that. Oh how I long every Sunday morning to be in Kennebunk and go to my own meeting. It is so different here. Not that I dislike the preaching at all, but there seems to be no regularity about it and besides I am able to go half the time, it is necessary for someone to stay at home with Lincoln and you know we were never in the habit of staying at home . . . .

Olive