Congregation established 1836

Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Church, Alton, Illinois

www.firstuualton.org

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt, Minister

November 2^nd

(Daylight Savings Time ends;

Election Day November 4^th)

“This Is My Country!”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

As Election Day approaches, the wars drag on:  shooting wars in other countries and culture wars here at home.  It’s time for us Americans to come out as thoughtful people who care deeply about what happens here and abroad, no matter which side of the barricades we happen to be on.

November 9^th

“Room for Mystery”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Many of us fall prey to the belief that we can know all there is to know.  Yes, our base of human knowledge expands each day, but it often seems the more we know, the less we understand.  Instead of fearing the mystery, perhaps we can celebrate it.

November 16^th

“Beyond Reformation, Part Deux”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Luther and Calvin may have begun the 16^th Century Reformation of the Church, but many others took up the mantle of reform.  Some wanted to go farther than others, radically so in some instances.  The second sermon in a series designed to explore the question, “What’s So Radical About the Radical Reformation?”

November 23^rd

(Thanksgiving Bread Communion –

 an intergenerational worship service.)

“Reaping What We Sow”

Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Harvest is a delight when all the earthly elements have come together in just the right measure.  But if the rains are early or late or nonexistent, if the sun too hot or not hot enough, if the bugs too plentiful, it may seem that we have less to lay in store than we need.  The Myth of Scarcity revealed.

Please bring a small loaf of bread from your particular tradition, family or personal, to share during Bread Communion at this intergenerational worship service.

November 30^th

“The Beauty of Imperfection”

Lynn Bohlmann

“I graduated from Eden Theological Seminary in May 2008.  As I am winding my way through the ordination process within the United Church of Christ, I am working as a Chaplain Resident at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.  Seeing a cancer patient with thinning hair and a radiant smile, I started to think about beauty and what our culture defines as beauty.  When I got home and put on my favorite beat up jeans and broken-in shoes, I began to see a pattern:  there is beauty in imperfection.  I look forward to exploring this theme with you on November 30^th.”

November 2^nd – Book review of “The Limits of Power” written by Andrew Bacevich.  Presented by Jim Elliott.

November 9^th – Speaking about Faith – A presentation on Buddhism given by Ted Loucks.

November 16^th – “Unitarianism in Transylvania: keeping the faith alive for over 400 years” – A talk and photo presentation by Mary and Jerry Johnson about their recent Unitarian pilgrimage to Transylvania.

November 23^rd – “Peacemaking” – Led by Ron Glossop.

November 30^th – Humanist/Non-Theist Roundtable discussion – Facilitated by John Herndon.

Mark Your Calendars:

A Quick Guide to this Month’s Happenings

A First Glance

 “Hic sunt dracones.”

These were the final words attached to an e-mail I received this week from a colleague of another denomination. 

What could it mean?  I recognized the words as Latin since I took two years of the stuff in junior high and high school, though the fact that I made the worst grades of my entire academic career in those classes still haunts me.  With my meager memory of the language, I thought hic sunt looked like “Here are,” but I wasn’t sure about dracones – could it be the root of the English word “draconian”?

When I had a few minutes, I went to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, and learned that hic sunt dracones is the phrase commonly used by early European mapmakers to denote areas about which they had little or no information.  On the Lenox Globe, a spherical copper representation of the earth that survives from about 1500, the phrase is imprinted across the eastern coast of Asia.  Of course within a few decades of 1500, most European maps would show more accurate depictions of landmasses because of the explosion of information from global explorations of that century, but for much of Europe in 1500, Asia was full of dragons. 

It strikes me that wherever humans have little or no information about an area or a subject, the tendency is to believe the worst, and to say that because we don’t know, there must be dragons lurking just beyond our vision.  With the recent disturbances in the global financial system and the political upheaval of the U.S. election season, our vision of the future may seem more out of focus and even more uncertain than usual, allowing the dragons free rein “out there,” just over the horizon.

Millions of people have lost trillions of dollars in wealth because of the stock market slide, and at this writing the volatility is not abating:  major swings occur each day as world governments announce one program after the other trying to ease tensions. 

Also at this writing, the presidential election is still three weeks away, and negativity continues to be a hallmark of the campaigns – oh, for it to be over so we can get on with our work!  But when it’s over, one side will have won and the other will have lost, and as one side celebrates, I imagine the tension will continue to build as we see and hear great howling from the other.

Hic sunt dracones, indeed.  We’re out here in uncharted waters yet again.  I hope you can take comfort in being part of a loving congregation of caring people, and that you take opportunities to nurture your connections among us.  And if you‘d like to talk personally with your minister or with a Care Team leader, please call me at 618 520-0567, or 314 223-0551, or call a Care Team leader directly.

See you in church,

In the month of August the board and many committee chairs held the annual leadership retreat. Each year the President of the Board puts together a program that is ideally designed to get the leadership thinking about mission, spirituality, and essentially what it means to be a leader at First Unitarian Church of Alton. This year we watched a DVD that is designed to help strengthen ordained and lay leadership. Participants were asked many questions designed to build upon a foundation of values, mission and finally covenant. The ultimate goal was to help us see what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist, and how we act upon that in the community. One of the “big questions” that was posed toward the end was “if your congregation were ten times as bold what would you envision as the future for Unitarian Universalism in your community in ten years.”  Well I am happy to report that this church’s leaders are not waiting ten years, bold steps are being taken now and I am so thankful to be able to volunteer and do whatever I can. The Social Justice committee, under the leadership of Mary Johnson, has taken the step of opening our kitchen to the community and serving lunch to the needy on the fourth Saturday of each month. Many of us have long recognized the need to serve the citizens of Alton, especially those who are most vulnerable. Because of the current economic situation our nation faces it is even more apparent we must give to everyone who struggles. This is an illustration of just one committee’s bold action, I will highlight many more in the coming months. For now I would like to put out the call to all who make this church home to think boldly about how we can make a difference. Tell someone in the leadership and let’s make it happen!

Peace and Love, 

John Herndon, President

CARE AND CONCERN

Please contact your Pastoral Care Team Leader or Rev. Khleber Van Zandt if there are concerns that need to be brought to their attention.   If you do not know if you are connected with a Pastoral Care Team, please contact Marcia Custer.

To Contact Rev. Khleber Van Zandt

Email: kvanzandt@uuma.org

Cell Phone:

Missouri – 314-223-0551

Illinois – 618-520-0567

Community Women’s Drum Circle

Sunday, November 16^th from 6 to 8 pm. All women in the church are invited to come.  You may bring any kind of drum (even children’s plastic drums, maracas, any percussion instrument will do.)  No experience in drumming is necessary.  Drum whatever comes through you, carefree, easy going.   For further information contact Layne Simpson.

Buddhist Group

The newly formed Buddhist Group meets every Wednesday at 7 pm.

No prior knowledge of Buddhism or meditation is required.  Everyone is welcome to come and learn with us.   Most people in the group are not Buddhist, but want to learn about Buddhist concepts and practices.  So, Please JOIN us!

Dee Evans

Come to WYM …

Walk, Yoga, Meditation.

This weekly gathering meets each Thursday morning in the Wuerker room at 7 am.  Paula Tarbell is the facilitator.  We walk briskly for a half hour near the church; do yoga for another half hour; then meditate for around 20 minutes.  We are finished by 8:30 am.  Rain or shine or cold … dress for the weather, and bring a yoga mat or a large beach towel.

Church Fundraising Opportunity!

We are setting up an eBay site where we can sell any donated worthwhile items.

Look through your stored treasures and see what you can donate to church to sell.

This will be a continuous sale that we can add to at anytime.

All profits will benefit the church.

Please see either Beth Nalick or John Herndon to discuss any items you would like to donate

CRISIS FOOD CENTER DONATIONS

We collected 80 cans of food and $50 during the early fall.  During November we will be collecting the following items:

sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, cake mixes, icing, pumpkin pie filling, brown sugar, fruit juices, and monetary donations for the purchase of turkeys.

Jen Politsch

Join the Choir!  We’d like to expand the choir and we encourage all who enjoy singing to come to a rehearsal and see how much fun we have.  All voices are welcome.  Rehearsals begin at 7 pm on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month and around noon on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays.

Thurs., Nov. 6 – Sun., Nov.   9 – Thurs., Nov. 20 – Sun., Nov. 23

Contact Willis McCoy for further information.

Treasury Note

Total  budgeted income for September 2008 was $8,663.77; this was 6.4% of our annual budget.

Total budgeted expenses for September 2008 were $10,292.88; this was 7.6% of our annual budget.

We still have a substantial ‘surplus’ of prepaid pledges. This month’s monthly expenses exceeded our monthly income by only $1,630, which is an acceptable amount in relation to our pledge ‘surplus.’

One unanticipated expense was $856 for an ‘emergency roof repair’ to fix the leak into the RE classroom next to the minister’s office.

Jerry Johnson, Treasurer

November 23^rd

Potluck Lunch

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

In an effort to be more conscious of the environment and to reduce the trash that our church might add to the ever growing area landfills, we are using the church’s china plates instead of disposable ones.

A-Mc will do Table Set Up

M-Z will do Clean Up

Everyone helps put food out.

  CHALICE CIRCLES

Renegade Women Chalice Circle

Saturday, November 15^th –   2 to 4 pm. 

Contact Marcia Custer for more information.

Third Sunday Chalice Circle

November 16^th – 11:45 am to 1 pm at church.

Contact Sandy Shaner.

This is a “general” chalice circle welcoming all.

Parents Seeking Peace Chalice Circle

Sunday, November 16^th – 12:00 to 1:30 pm in Emerson Place at church.

Contact: Diane Thompson or Cheryle Tucker-Loewe.

Men's Chalice Circle

Tuesday, November 25^th  – 7 pm at church.

Contact: Khleber Van Zandt.

Square Dancing is for Everyone

Join us at church on Saturday, November 15^th at 7 p.m. for an evening of dancing and music.  We’ll also be celebrating Erwin Thompson’s 93^rd birthday.  All ages are invited!  No previous square dancing experience necessary.

Community

Outreach Offering

One-half of the collection on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays is given away to charitable causes. The money donated does not include pledge checks or money otherwise earmarked by the giver.  The Outreach Offering only includes “cash offerings” or checks indicating that they are to be included in the donated funds. 

November’s Community Outreach Offering will help enable low income families to purchase shares in The Community Supported Garden at La Vista in Godfrey IL http://www.lavistacsa.org/.

The Garden already provides a deep subsidy for about 10 families through their community outreach program.  Each family must be at or below the federal poverty guidelines.  The family then pays $55.00, which is 10% of the cost of the share, and gets produce every week from May through November.

Depending on how much we collect on Nov. 9^th and 23^rd we will either subsidize the existing low income shares or subsidize one more share for an additional low income family.  The number of requests for the subsidized shares vastly exceeds the number of shares available.  To provide an additional share we would need to collect $500 – a bit high for our usual community outreach Sundays – but not impossible if this is something the congregation is interested in supporting with their dollars.

Welcome to New Members

Pat and Dick Blanton joined the church on Sunday, October 5^th.  Please introduce yourselves to them and make them feel at home.  Home addresses and phone numbers are not given in the online newsletter.  Please consult the print version for this information.

Dick & Pat Blanton

Anna Ds

The November meeting of the Anna D. Sparks Women’s Alliance will be held at 11:30 am on Thursday, November 6^th at the home of Corinne Hawkins, in Alton.   Mary Johnson will be co-hosting.

Corinne:  consult church directory

Mary: contact by e-mail.

Membership in Anna Ds is open to all women of the church.   Dues are $10 per year.

Hosting schedule from Nov. – June:

Dec.   4 – Lorli Nelson at restaurant

Jan.   8 (2^nd Thursday) Lucy McAneny at Methodist Village

Feb.   5 – Ginger McCall – To be decided later

March 5 – Pat Moore at restaurant

April   2 – Audrey Wiseman – To be decided later

May   7 – Brynda McCoy – at restaurant

June  4 – Lorna McElhone – To be decided later

Annual Potholder Sale

Corinne Hawkins will be holding her annual Challenge Fund potholder sale on Sunday, November 9^th.  She says you should “ruminate” now to make your list of family, friends, teachers, neighbors or hostesses who would appreciate a small, handcrafted gift.  All proceeds from this sale will go to the church. 

The Challenge Fund began some years ago when individuals would devise money making projects and “challenge” others to also come up with projects to raise funds for the church.

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 and give her that information.

  1 November – John Hoad

  2 November – Sandy Shaner

  3 November – David Weber

  5 November – Severine Rebmann (2000)

11 November – Marissa Stacy (1996)

12 November – Jamie Gross

15 November – Eilene Taylor

17 November – Diane Herndon

25 November – John Herndon

25 November – Maia Dothager (2007)

All Men in the Church are Invited to the

Men’s Lunch Group

The Men’s Lunch Group will meet on Thursday, November 13^th at the St. Louis Buffet, 672 Wesley Dr., Wood River, IL.   Contact Nelson Shaner for further details.

UU Elevator speech

What you'd say when you're going from the sixth floor to the lobby and somebody asks you, 'What's Unitarian Universalism?

From a member of the

Renegade Women’s Chalice Circle.

The Hypothetical Rosetta Stone Theological Dialogue

 Once I had a conversation pretty much like this one. It is one time that I walked away and felt reasonably satisfied with my explanation. 

X: What exactly IS a Unitarian?

Y: I think it would be easiest to explain if we use a common language and vocabulary.   What religion are you?

X: Methodist

Y:  Ok, there would be Unitarians who believe exactly what Methodists do.  Now, what would you consider to be the exact polar opposite of being a Methodist?

X:  Hmmm … I guess a Pagan.

Y: Ok, there would be Unitarians who believe exactly as Pagans do.  There are also Unitarians who believe everything in the span of religious thought between those two spiritual domains.  And beyond.  We believe that there is much to learn from each other and respect all theologies.  What binds us together is that diversity.

Central Midwest District (CMwD) Events

Nov.    1 - St. Louis Board Presidents’ gathering.

Nov. 7-9 - UU Women’s Connection Fall Retreat at Lake Geneva, WI.

Nov. 7-9 - ICON Fall Youth Conference at Palatine, IL.

Nov.  15 - Creative and contemporary Worship Workshop –

North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield, IL.

Nov.  15 - “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” facilitator training –

Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria, IL

“4^th Saturday Lunch” –

A New Social Justice Venture

Saturday Oct. 25^th will be the kickoff day for our new “4^th Saturday Lunch” program.  Our plan is to provide a hot meal every 4^th Saturday to those in need.  November’s lunch will be on November 22^nd.

We envision this program as a congregational-wide endeavor, with volunteers contributing food, helping to prepare the food, and joining our guests in sharing the meal.

We don’t know how many people might come to lunch.  It could be 1 – it could be 30.  A neighboring church has been doing a lunch on the 2^nd Saturday for eight years and they have around 25 people each time.

We will be distributing lunch invitation flyers the week of the lunch to people who get food bags from the Crisis Food Pantry and we’ll also take flyers to the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter.

A signup sheet will be available at church so you can decide how you would like to help us keep this lunch program continuing.

If you have questions about this new program, contact Mary Johnson.

Community Christmas

Help brighten the Holidays for the less fortunate families of the River Bend area.  From Nov. 3 to Dec. 3 items will be collected at church for Holiday distribution.  There will be a Community Christmas collection box in the foyer.  Items you might donate include:  gifts for children of all ages, new coats, non-perishable food items, new socks, blankets, stocking caps, gloves & mittens, etc.   The Community Christmas program is co-sponsored by the United Way and the Alton Telegraph.

Books Recently Added to the Church Library

Thanks to contributions by John Herndon and Gerry Gilman, several books were added to the church library in October.  

God is not great: how religion poisons everything / Christopher Hitchens – 200 H 2007

Religious literacy: what every American needs to know – and doesn’t / Stephen Prothero – 200.7 P 2007

The God delusion / Richard Dawkins –  211.8 D 2006

William Sloan Coffin Jr.: a holy impatience / Warren Goldstein – 285.1 G 2004

In the eye of the storm / Gene Robinson – 288.09 R 2008

The Left hand of God: taking back our country from the religious right / Michael Lerner – 322.1 L 2006

Three cups of tea: one man’s mission to promote peace one school at a time / Greg Mortenson – 371.8 M 2006

Palestine peace not apartheid / Jimmy Carter – 956.04 C 2006

Library collection scope:  Unitarian Universalism, UU principles in practice, other religious traditions, humanism, religion and politics, religion and science, religion and the arts, biographies relevant to areas listed above. 

Dates:  Books published more than four years ago are not generally added to the library collection.

If you want to donate materials to the library please keep the scope and publication time frame in mind.

Donations of items for the Children's Holiday Gift Shop are now being accepted and can be placed in the RE office.

Fall Youth Con will be held November 7 - 9 in Palatine, IL.

The Youth Fund is accepting monetary donations to help pay for transportation to the Fall Youth Con.

RE NEWS

Dear Parents and Friends,

     Recently many people have been asking me if there is a way to be involved with the Religious Education program of this church without committing to a full semester of teaching, and while I always need more teachers who are willing to commit to a semester of being a part of a teaching team, I always answer of course there are other ways to be involved.

     One way that people can be involved is to join our newly created virtual Religious Education Committee.  The “meetings” occur via on online group hosted by Google.  Topics and questions are posted to the group and everyone on the committee has the opportunity to be involved in the online discussion by email.  Topics include curriculum support, social action projects, special activities, and administrative support.  Anyone can be involved by simply emailing me to be added to the online group.  

     A more hands on approach to volunteering in Religious Education is to act as a floating assistant in the classrooms.  A floating assistant goes between a few classrooms to check that everything is in order and the teachers have everything that they need.  This position is available almost any Sunday, all that is needed to fill this position is to leave the sanctuary with the children and teachers when they are sung to their activities.   This is also a great way to learn what it is like in the classrooms.  

     There are also several Sundays throughout the year when we do not use teachers.  These are considered are special event Sundays.  Extra volunteers are always needed for these events.  They include, Halloween Party (October 26), Holiday Gift Shop (December 7), Mitten Tree (December 21), Everyone’s Birthday Party (December 28), and Easter Canned Good Hunt (April 12).  There is also the annual Holiday Pageant which will be held on Friday, December 12 at 7 pm.  Anyone wishing to help out on these days can either let me know in advance or simply offer your services on the day of the event.   I want to offer my deepest thanks to all of you who have been asking how you can be involved.   It is only when we all work together that we can offer a great Religious Education program and church experience to our children.

Thank You, Jamie Gross