10:30 a.m. Sunday, December 1
“We Are Not A Punchline!” Rev. Karen Hutt
How serious are you about your faith? How would someone know you are a Unitarian Universalist without you telling them? How does the history of your fellowship guide your present choices as a congregation?
10:30 a.m. Sunday, December 8
“The Meditations of My Heart: It is Time Now” Rev. Marta I Valentín
Please join us to view the recording of the sermon from this year’s Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. After exploring el poder de nosotros/the power of we, what are we ready to do/¿que estamos listo para hacer? Let’s not be servants of the past in new cups. Let’s all get free by planting faithful seeds of change and together turn to free the faith we love.
10:30 a.m. Sunday, December 15
“What you need to know about the U.S. Census” Jody Peterson
The 2020 Census is fast approaching. Census data impact decisions at the national, state, tribal, and local levels – from congressional representation to annual allocation of more than $675 billion. These resources are essential to the well-being of all our neighbors, supporting schools, hospitals, fire departments, and more. Come and learn more about how you can make a difference in this important effort.
10:30 a.m. Sunday, December 22
“A Celebration of Light” A Multi-generational Program
As the darkness of winter grows, there are many celebrations culturally and religiously that use light symbolically to spread hope the sunlight and Spring will return. During this holiday season, we will learn about and celebrate some of these light traditions. This multi-generational program is presented by UU members Bettina Hixson, Wendy Schoen, and Lisa Bershok.
Sunday, December 29: NO SERVICE
President’s Corner
First, an update on Phase III: “Establishing a Capital Campaign” of our expansion project:
the Board has reviewed the options provided by the Consultant, recommended by our Regional representative, Phil Lund;
I will meet with the Budget & Finance Committee to seek their advice on the Consultant’s options;
I have met with Jane Ellison and Glen Palm to discuss how they created their Capital Campaign for the Children’s Museum they are establishing.
I will provide the relevant results of these meetings in our next Newsletter. If anyone in the Fellowship has experience with creating a Capital Campaign or knows someone who does, please let me know.
The Board has asked the Communications’ Committee to re- issue the Interest Questionnaire that has been used in the past; you should be hearing from them in the near future. At that time, the Communications’ Committee will also provide a Flow Chart of our Committees (thanks to Joel Bershok); I asked for this chart so that we can easily see where requests should be sent; also, the Chart should help those interested in joining a Committee the various options.
Finally, it’s time for members of the Fellowship to consider attending one of the following. If you choose to do so, you can apply for funding from the Board; the amount allotted will depend upon the numbers applying. If you do choose to apply, the Board request that you indicate a willingness to share key aspects of your attendance with the Fellowship; this may take a variety of forms: a written account sent to the Board and/or to the relevant Committee; facilitating a Pizza and Ethics gathering; or sending a suggestion to the Program Committee for a Sunday Service focusing on an aspect you believe is important for the Fellowship to consider. The recent panel on White Supremacy is such an example of this last option.
A. MidAmerica Regional Assembly (April 18, 2020, Rockford, Illinois): https://www.uua.org/midamerica/ra
B. General Assembly (June 24-28, 2020, Providence, Rhode, Island): https://www.uua.org/ga
C. Leadership School (July, 2020, Luther College): https://www.mwls.org
The following members of the Fellowship have attended one or more of these gatherings and are willing to talk with you about their experiences. Please feel free to contact them: Judy Foster (Leadership and GA), Angie Stevens (Leadership), Marge Bates (Leadership), Sharon Carter (Leadership) and myself (Leadership and GA).
A CARING CONGREGATION - Connections for the holidays and beyond
The Caring Committee
The Fellowship will not have a Sunday Service on Sunday December 29, in the week between Christmas and New Years Day. While some may welcome this break, others may want to stay connected over the holidays. The Caring Committee encourages you to reach out and make a connection or arrange informal activities with each other. In the midst of the holiday season, we are thankful for our Caring Congregation. Your friendship, kindness, and concern make a positive difference for individuals and for the Fellowship community as a whole. In the spirit of caring for others, the Caring Committee is looking for volunteers from different parts of our community who may be able to provide occasional or regular rides to and from the Fellowship on Sundays to those in need. For example, if you commute to the Fellowship from Sartell, perhaps you’d be willing to pick up someone from that area and bring them on Sunday morning. If you think you might be able to help, please talk to Marge Bates during coffee or contact her at 320-267-3590 or margbates@gmail.com
Sharing Our Space
Charlotte Stephens
As liaison to those who rent the Fellowship building, I'm providing information about sharing our space with others in the community and how that affects and involves us.
It occasionally results in space not being available at a particular time for a Fellowship activity. Conflicts can usually be avoided by checking the website calendar and/or using a different part of the building.
It may give us free publicity as our name appears in their announcements. This publicity of the outside group may give the misleading impression that we are sponsoring the event.
It provides income and visibility as it brings community members to our building.
It means that we all need to be mindful that others will be using the space when we are not here. Thank you to everyone who helps with stacking chairs and other ongoing attention to our space.
Stacking Chairs: We need to stack all of the chairs in the Sanctuary after our Sunday Services. That leaves the floor clear for yoga, meditation, and cleaning during the week. In the Fellowship Hall we need to put the chairs on racks every 2 weeks so the floor can be cleaned. The cleaning schedule is posted on the Member Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall.
Rentals: To check on renting space for outside groups, contact me, Charlotte Stephens at 251-8677 or charlow@cloudnet.com Also contact me about any concerns relating to the rental activities.
RUNNING WHILE OLD
by Alan Phillips
Now that I am in the upper half of my 80‘s, the miles get longer. When I was a young buck of 79, I ran 10 minute miles in practice and a 9 ½ pace in long races. Now, a mere 6 years later, the practice pace is around 12 minutes, and in races it is 11 ½ to 13 – the Bearwater 20 mile was 12.56, for instance.
Three other signs of decay are a greater loss of body heat to my extremities, lower VOmax, and self-pity. Gloves are no longer enough in low temperatures, and just running no longer heats my feet enough. I need hand warmers in mittens and toe warmers on top of my sox. I can’t dispense with walk breaks to catch my breath after the first half-mile or so. Running faster between the breaks helps, especially going downhill, but it does not make up for the loss of time, especially uphill. Also, whimpering and whining are not attractive.
Some runners quit, and others continue to run but stop racing. They know that there is life after running, and they have pity for race officials waiting for the last runner to arrive before taking up the mats. But why slide downhill to the grave. Do not go gently to your fate; run like Hell and make it wait. All your PR’s are behind you, but you will win more races, for most of your competitors have reached the final finish line – the entrance to the cemetery.
Is there a methodology for continuing to run while the bodily processes continue to deteriorate? Yes. First, slow down. That is not an option, actually. You slow down because you can’t run faster, so running slow is not a choice. But continuing to run is, so suck it up. Second, run less often. Everybody knows that the older you get, the longer it takes to get back in shape. But on the bright side, the older you are the longer it takes to get out of shape.
A young person’s heart increases in size from running and decreases after stopping. An old person’s heart does not decrease after a run. It gets large from running and stays the same size as long as they stay in shape. The whole body has a similar delay in loss of conditioning. They recommend an hour of core exercises three times a week for most runners, but I’m doing just fine with 1 ½ hours once a week. Likewise, a runner who has not arrived at what is euphemistically called ‘a certain age’ – in other words, older than dirt – tapers before a marathon. I taper before anything longer than 400 meters.
That leads to the third and last method for an aged runner tottering toward the grave: the short track. There is no law against geezers competing in the sprints: being ugly is a constitutional right. And you have less competition on the oval road, not because old runners can’t run short distances, but because it doesn’t seem to have occurred to them. But since so few are competing, your chances of winning are enhanced. It is hard to lose a race when you are the only one in it.
Some other advantages to the sprints are: (1) the pain lasts for seconds, not for hours, (2) the outdoor races are in the summer months, and the winter races are in a heated building, so your extremities are not imperiled, (3) a meet is cheaper than a long race, (4) your friends and relatives can sit in the stands to watch you compete – bored out of their gourds while all the other age groups are competing, but still – and (5) you are not as likely to be seriously injured. They keep cars off the track, other runners have to stay in their lanes instead of bump into you, you won’t encounter water, ice and snow, mud, curbs, or holes in the ground, and if you fall, the worst you can expect is to skin your knees. I have not fallen since I quit using starting blocks and shoes with cleats.
The grim reaper catches us all in the end, of course. But the longer you stay on the roads and in the lanes, the longer you will stay among the living, and those of us on the wrong side of 80 have learned at least one thing: Every day above ground is a good one.
Membership Committee News
Marge Bates
The Membership Committee,consisting of Marge Bates, Bettina Hixson, Susan Dunbar, Michelle Mitchell, Laura Mohn, and John and Linda Peck. Please think about signing up to bring some Sunday treats. The sign up sheet will be on the table in the Sanctuary. Some people have already hosted two times. There are some empty dates in December and then we have the whole second year. Remember, it does not have to be fancy. You can purchase or bake. If you need help in the kitchen,it can be provided. As far as this event is concerned, we are all on the Membership Committee, ensuring a time to socialize after the meeting. There are two Soup Sundays that are not covered by committees. If you are not on a committee, please think about signing up to bring soup and/or bread. Remember, you can get reimbursed for soup. We need four pots for each Sunday.
SCUUF BOOK CLUB
Marcia Neely
The UU book club will meet on January 18, at 10:00am in the Fellowship Hall. We will be discussing Overstory by Richard Powers.
Meditation Schedule for December 2019
Meditation is the practice of focusing one’s attention with intention and is used in many ways. For example, it can be used to be more in the present moment--aware and mindful of thoughts, words and actions. It can be used for growth and healing as with the loving kindness and self-compassion practices. Meditation can be used to build inner resources in a variety of ways.
Thursday, December 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Transforming suffering will be the theme for this meditation. We'll begin with a reading from Alice Walker about the role that meditation has played in her writing and all aspects of her life. Facilitated by Lucinda Hudson Potluck snacks and conversation will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
Saturday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
In this meditation at the time of the winter solstice, we will reflect on the changing seasons, impermanence, and the nature of time. Facilitated by Helen Manion.
Potluck snacks and conversation will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
Communications Committee News
Judy Foster
“If communications are not your top priority, all other priorities are at risk.”—Paul Omodt
Your UUF Communications Committee is available to publicize programs and events that other committees sponsor. Please let us know if there is something you want us to promote to the general public. We can do press/media releases, social media posts, public service announcements, and community calendar postings for free. Depending on budget limitations, we can do paid advertising. Please allow plenty of time (at least two weeks) to request our services. Contact Judy Foster. (We also welcome new members to the Communications Committee!)
Can You Help with Housing, Furnishings for Those in Need?
From the Social Justice Committee
Do you know of rental vacancies in your neighborhood? Would you be willing to donate toward a security deposit for a low-income person seeking to rent an apartment? Do you have anything you could donate for someone who has an apartment but needs furniture? All of the above? The Faith in Housing group, which includes representation from UUF, is organizing area churches to help out. Contact Judy Foster if you are able to contribute.
CRE Fall Planning and Lessons
Melissa Woods
Thank you to everyone who has taught a CRE lesson so far - please contact Melissa at woods.melissa11@gmail.com if you would like to teach the children.
Lately the children have been hard at work making items to sell to our congregation in mid-December. The kids chose for the proceeds we earn from the sale of these crafts to go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. We are proud of their work and hope you will support them selling after service December 15th and 22nd.
Our next CRE meeting will be January 5th at 9:30 am. Please join us if you are interested in what goes on with the guidance of our fellowship’s children. You do not have to commit to teaching!
I also want to say thank you to the preteens and teenagers of our congregation who have done a wonderful job staffing our nursery and caring for our youngest members!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the children or CRE curricula, please contact Melissa at woods.melissa11@gmail.com.
The Caring Committee
The Caring Committee has been formed for the times in each of our lives when we need help from another person. The members of the Caring Committee are available to help members and friends of the St. Cloud UU Fellowship in a variety of ways. Feel free to call any member of the committee. Linda Saupe 320-250-0340 (Chairperson) Marge Bates 320-267-3590 Hanni Epp 320-217-2471 Doug Polley 320-240-0520 Chris Smith 320-251-1497 Charlotte Stephens 320-251-8677 Ron Syme 320-333-9732 For anyone with emergency needs, a wide range of services is available from agencies and organizations in the community. These can be accessed by calling 211 (or 800-543-7709). A white notebook on the shelf in the foyer also contains information about some emergency services. Information about other community resources may be found on the Community Bulletin Board and in the black notebook on the shelf in the foyer.
Calendar Reminders
AVOID ROOM CONFLICTS: Please check the online calendar on our website for space assignments at www.uufstcloud.org/calendar. To get your UUF event on the calendar and reserve your space, send an email to Jessica Beierman using this email address: UUFcalendar@gmail.com.
To check on renting the Fellowship for outside groups, contact Charlotte Stephens at 251-8677 or charlow@cloudnet.com)
Sunday, December 1
10:30 - 11:45 UUF Sunday Service - Sanctuary
Sunday, December 8
10:30 - 11:45 UUF Sunday Service - Sanctuary
Thursday, December 12
6:30pm Meditation - Sanctuary
Sunday, December 15
10:30 - 11:45am UUF Sunday Service - Sanctuary
Saturday, December 21
10:30am Meditation - Sanctuary
Sunday, December 22
10:30 - 11:45am UUF Sunday Service - Sanctuary
Sunday, December 29
No Service