10:30 a.m. Sunday, November 3rd:
“System Change for Climate Justice”…..Join Professor Corrie Gross for a presentation on climate justice and what we need to do to create the world we want to see. A future of social justice on a livable planet requires we fundamentally change our economic and political systems. The good news? In this future world, things could be so much better—in the sense of well-being. Let’s create it together!
This is a Soup Sunday in the Fellowship Hall
10:30 a.m. Sunday, November 10th:
“Rise Up and Sing” …..Emmett Doyle and the Wooden Shoe Ramblers: The Wooden Shoe Ramblers are a folk music group from the Twin Cities whose roots span Old Time, Blues, Eastern European, Celtic, and other influences. All of the members are active in social struggles around labor, ecology, and racism, and this is reflected in their songs. In this performance, they will be exploring the struggle against white supremacy-the history of the racial system, resistance to colonization and to racism, and the intersections of race with the working class struggles, land defense, sexual violence, and other issues.
10:30 a.m. Sunday, November 17th:
“What About Prayer?” Reverend Shelley Dugan: Prayer…that’s a loaded topic. It has been part of human existence since before time. Most religions have specific prescriptions for prayer — who, what, where, when, and how people should pray. But why? And is prayer effective? Does it make a difference? Can atheists pray? How do Unitarian Universalists understand and approach prayer? In our seeking for truth and meaning, at some point we need to ask, “What About Prayer?”
10:30 a.m. Sunday, November 24th:
“Sharing Bread and Gratitude In Community” Facilitated by Wendy Schoen, Pam Peterson, and Lisa Bershok. In this season of Thanksgiving, we will break bread together as we celebrate our beloved community and the bounty of the harvest that sustains us over the coming year. (A gluten-free option will be available.) This will be a multi-generational Service of Gratitude during which we will collect items that you bring to donate to Laundry Love and Pathways4Youth, which our congregation supports in our larger St. Cloud Community.
YOU ARE INVITED TO BRING
Laundry Love - laundry soap, dryer sheets, and quarters for the washing machines and dryers and diapers
Pathways4Youth - food pantry items and snacks, clothing, and hygiene items
President’s Corner
by Ozzie Meyers
"One Small Step for a Human, One Giant Leap for Humanity"
I know these are not Neil Armstrong's exact words, but I like to think the revision is the UU version. Actually, I have been thinking a lot about first steps as we consider how to examine our Fellowship for its systemic White Supremacy. Any undertaking of such magnitude always seems overwhelming until we realize that it begins with a single step or act and gradually reaches a significant stage. I do have two suggestions: one, you might want to read Debby Irving's book Waking Up White; some of you heard her introduction and told me how much her journey resonates with yours. Another first step is to use the "framing" exercise suggested by Robin Diangelo in White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. She suggests we think about the first time we recognize racism and contemplate what social, educational, familial, and political factors influenced our perspective. If anyone wants a copy of the section she devotes to this exercise, let me know; I’ll provide you with a copy. I think the panel and the discussion afterwards have given us the impetus to take a first step.
Congratulations to the Social Justice Committee who were awarded the citation for Coalition Building and Right Relations on October 25th by the Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance (MMUUSJA).
Alan Downes (November 10, 1930 - October 14, 2019)
from the Caring Committee
Long-time Fellowship member Alan Downes came to the end of his life on October 14. His death is a great loss to the UU Fellowship and the St. Cloud community. Alan served the Fellowship as Treasurer and member of the Budget and Finance Committee for many years. He was reliable, dedicating himself to the tasks he assumed, always showing up for meetings and faithfully practicing his part in the choir. He was on the search committee that brought Rev. Michelle Tonozzi to SCUUF as our contract minister for 12 years and he served on the Committee on Ministry during many of those years. She says he wrote and updated the annual contractual agreements, making sure all the t’s were crossed and the i’s dotted.
Alan will be remembered for his fine character. He was a quiet, dignified person who was a good listener. He was devoted to his family and his wife Claire. A man of conviction, he spoke forcefully to matters he found disturbing. He was unpretentious and generous, living simply, with a touching humility. Do you remember his rhubarb custard bars at potlucks, and his love of the Russian language? Above all, Alan was an insightful friend, who showed an uncanny understanding of the pain of others. As Walt Whitman would say, Alan was, "our loving comrade."
A celebration of Alan’s life will take place at the Fellowship in early June 2020.
Sharing Our Space
by 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.
60 YEARS OF PHOTOS
by Charlotte Stephens
As the Fellowship looks ahead to celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2021, we will have a chance to share our memories in a variety of ways. This article focuses on photographs. Through the years there's been talk of putting together a Fellowship photo album, scrapbook, or other visual display of photographs. Some photos have been collected, but so far they have not been organized or put into a format for viewing. This refers to the years prior to the electronic slide shows that have been available more recently. I have fond memories of my early years in the Fellowship when there were occasions for viewing photos and slides the old-fashioned way. It was fun to see activities from previous years and families when they were younger. We can make this opportunity available for new generations of members by gathering and organizing photos now. Here's how YOU can help:
Find your photos showing Fellowship people and events. Bring them to the Fellowship. Write "photos" on the envelope or box. Give them directly to Judy Foster or leave them in the Communications Committee mail box in the office/small meeting room. If they don't fit in the mail box, leave them on the table.
Identify names of people and events as well as approximate year, but don't write in ink on back of photos. Use pencil or attach a sticky note giving details. Indicate whether you want the photos returned to you.
Offer your ideas of what to do with the photos including how to display and preserve them.
Volunteer to work with others in organizing donated materials. One way to break down the task could be to have different people focusing on each decade. Which decade would you like to work on, and who might join with you?
We are also gathering ideas for other ways of recording and saving Fellowship history. Submit your suggestions to me or Judy.
Membership Committee News
By Marge Bates
The Membership Committee,consisting of Marge Bates, Bettina Hixson, Susan Dunbar, Michelle Mitchell, Laura Mohn, and John and Linda Peck.
Well folks, we finally have our second dishwasher running. Thanks to Eric for all of his plumbing work and all who have made this possible. Coffee hosts and Greeters are needed: please sign up. As promised, here is the website for "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh on the UUF Social Justice website under White Privilege:
SCUUF BOOK CLUB
By Marcia Neely
For all readers and thinkers (all UU members): I hope you will join us for our next book club meeting in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, November 2, at 10:00 after you read Strangers in Their Own Land by Archie Russell Hochschild.
When Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, a bewildered nation turned to Strangers in Their Own Land to understand what Trump voters were thinking when they cast their ballots. Arlie Hochschild, one of the most influential sociologists of her generation, had spent the preceding five
years immersed in the community around Lake Charles, Louisiana, a Tea Party stronghold. As Jedediah Purdy put it in the New Republic, “Hochschild is fascinated by how people make sense of their lives. . . . [Her] attentive, detailed portraits . . . reveal a gulf between Hochchild’s ‘strangers in
their own land’ and a new elite. A favorite common read book in communities and on campuses across the country and called “humble and important” by David Brooks and “masterly” by Atul Gawande, Hochschild’s book has been lauded by Noam Chomsky, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and
countless others.
Meditation Schedule for November 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.
Saturday, November 2nd, at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
This meditation will be a continuation of the Mindful Self-Compassion practice.
The reading will be taken from “NO MUD, NO LOTUS” by Thich Nhat Hanh
Facilitated by Dani Jakubowski
Potluck snacks and conversation will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
Saturday, November 16th, at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
This meditation will describe some of the beliefs of the Sikh religion regarding God and meditation.
We will begin this meditation with a lovely Sikh chant.
Facilitated by Norma Taylor
Potluck snacks and conversation will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
Thursday, November 21th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
The ancient Hindus believed we have at least 3 subtle energy bodies (astral, mental, etheric) that intertwine with the physical body. The energy flow between these bodies is controlled by the chakras (wheel in Sanskrit). They developed a system whereby the chakras could be purified, balanced and expanded through meditation on form, sound, and color. We will explore this technique based on reciting old Hindi mantras while focusing on images of the chakras.
**This will require about 90 minutes of your time.
Facilitated by Chris Nelson
Potluck snacks and conversation will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
Volunteers are needed for November and December meditation practices. Please contact Lucinda Hudson by calling or texting 320-224-5440 if you would be interested in facilitating one of these practices. (Assistance can be provided.)
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
by Melissa Woods
Our next meeting date has not been set, but if you would like to attend please email Melissa at woods.melissa11@gmail.com to get on the email list! We are always looking for fresh ideas, new teachers, and more insight to guide our children’s learning.
November 3 - Crafts to sell
November 10 - Multi-generational Music
November 17 - Crafts to sell
November 24 - Multi-generational
We would appreciate any assistance you can offer for our children’s service event on Sunday December 15. If you are able to help, please contact Melissa or Lisa.
One update to our nursery is that we have decided as a committee to hire one attendant to care for our young children during service instead of two. This person will be paid $20 to work from 10:15 am - 12:15 pm. This decision was made because the nursery moved to a room where our window is visible to the service. The second attendant didn’t seem as necessary and then we can save a bit of money. If you or someone you know might be interested in staffing our nursery, please email Jessica at jbeierman78@gmail.com.
We are looking to plan more family fun events outside of normal service hours this year. If you are interested in doing some sort of family night event, please email Lisa at lpbershok@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)
Saturday, November 2
10:30am Meditation -- Sanctuary
Sunday, November 3
10:30 - 11:45 UUF Sunday Service - Sanctuary
11:45 - 12:30 UUF Soup & Bread - Fellowship Hall
Sunday, November 10
10:30 - 11:45am UUF Sunday Service - Sanctuary
Saturday, November 16
10:30am Meditation - Sanctuary
Sunday, November 17
10:30 - 11:45am UUF Sunday Service - Sanctuary
Thursday, November 21
6:30pm Meditation - Sanctuary
Sunday, November 24
10:30 - 11:45am - UUF Sunday Service - Sanctuary