Tuesday’ish Talk 11/13/2019

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SYC Auction!
Beach Hall was transformed into a colorful and fun atmosphere for the annual School for Young Children’s auction.
100% of proceeds go to scholarships. Donations gratefully accepted:  www.syccolumbus.org.  Use the “donate now” button on the right and indicate “scholarship fund” when prompted.

Tuesday Talk

Beware!

Every now and then a First UUer tells me about being scammed online, on the phone, or by mail.

Every now and then we have a visitor who begs for money as we come and go from church.

Every now and then we have someone who ‘liberates’ us from various items we might have in coat pockets or laying around.

Sometimes the take is small, sometimes large. In all cases, it pays to be careful. Here some guidelines:

– there is a cruel scam going around with people calling from your bank. It is NOT your bank. DON’T give them your information. Your real bank already has your info. Read this article.

– If someone approaches you in our parking lot and asks for money, food, travel or medical expenses, etc., DON’T do it. Ask them to see either Rev. Eric or myself. We have ways to help (and we recognize some of these folks). Also note that sometimes, they use my name or Eric’s and a little bit of church info to lure you. DON’T fall for it. Refer them to us.

– It is always a good idea to keep your valuables with you. We are a busy church with many people coming and going. A little bit of precaution goes a long way.

Your donations to the Ministerial Discretionary Fund (MDF) on Christmas Eve (and anytime) help us give assistance to those in need. We do this on behalf of the church. Mostly this fund is for First UUers, but on occasion we can help others too.

I am writing about this now because not only has the latest ‘bank’ scam been in the headlines with folks losing a lot of money, but also because we had a visitor here last Sunday who worked the parking lot. I know we are caring folks; please be careful. Send them to Rev. Eric or me.

RESOURCES

On Sunday I preached an auction sermon on hope. I promised to share some of my favorite resources.

(two books I mentioned on Sunday)
The Age of Overwhelm by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky
Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit

Others
An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor
Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser
How Lovely the Ruins: Inspirational Poems and Words for Difficult Timesedited by Annie Chagnot and Emi Ikkanda
The Places That Scare You by Pema Chödrön
Standing at the Edge by Joan Halifax

Anything by these Authors
Brené Brown
Mark Nepo

Blessings,
Rev. Marian

P.S. Can you bake bread?
For our Sunday services on Nov. 24th, we need homemade bread. Can you help with this? Email me if you can and let me know how many loaf/loaves and what kind. Thank you!
Concert for a Cause – $5000 raised!
About 30 First Users showed up in bright yellow LOVE shirts for a fun-filled musical evening at Just North UUC last Saturday night. Headliners Sirens and Sally Fingerette performed as did Eric Gnezda. The Honduran family living at the church was also introduced. All funds raised go toward the $16k legal cost and fees for filing asylum paperwork.

SHOUT OUTS!
Opportunities and Reminders

So much gratitude…
Memorial Reception crew (part of the Pastoral Care Team)
Led by Carole Welhelm and Chris Sullivan
Thanks to this group for helping families and loved ones by setting up/staffing/providing refreshments/cleaning up for receptions following Celebration of Life services. Last Sunday, this fabulous crew served the Snyder family and about 280 guests.

RSVP Now…
Wednesday, November 20th, 6pm, Beach Hll
Plant-based Holiday Cooking Class
Led by Elaine Fujimura, Patricia Boughton, and Sheila Holdford
Enjoy a vegetarian dinner and samples while learning ways to improve your carbon-footprint and wellness-footprint this season with some plant-based dishes. We will demo some deliciously easy recipes including soup, appetizers, main courses, and a holiday dessert!
$10 donation to Holiday Appeal suggested.
RSVP by end of Sunday (11/17) to Elaine.

***Middle Hour…Middle Hour…Middle Hour***
It’s a happening place! Come early, stay late. There is something for everyone.

Middle Hour is an exciting and changing mix of Forums, Theme Talks, Learning Labs, Sampler Groups, Creative Space, Tabletop Conversations, and more! It all happens between services from 10:10–10:45.

Here is this week’s Middle Hour lineup:

THEME TALK (Room #301)
Mission & Vision
Facilitator: Jim Conlon

CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS (Room B – near kitchen)
a self-guided experience with crafts, drawing, writing…

TABLETOP CONVERSATIONS (Beach Hall near the windows)
Organized by Amber Scott and Kelli McNeal
Intentional conversations on an evolving set of topics.

MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC!

Saturday, November 16, 7pm
Bowling Green State University Men’s Chorus in Concert
fabulous 85-voice men’s choir
Tickets: $10 suggested donation

Sunday, November 17, 3pm
Columbus Women’s Chorus in Concert
The Road Home:
Songs of gratitude, love, and the journey home
50-voice women’s choir –
including several First UUers and Rev. Marian
Tickets: $20 (no one will be turned away)

THIS WEEK

For additional churchwide activities and events, please see First UU News (emailed on Fridays and in the Sunday Order of Service).

For information about family and child-focused events and classes, see the RE News (emailed to families and in the Sunday Order of Service).

Wednesday, November 13th, 6pm, Beach Hall
The Long, Strange, Trip—Our UU History
Led by Dana Reynolds, retired UU minister 
This is a great way to learn about our UU development throughout the centuries. The series is ideal for those new to Unitarian Universalism, but it promises new surprises for those who have been UUs for a long time. In each session, we will view the DVD and have a discussion.

Wednesday, November 13th, 6pm, Room 301
Pathways (to Membership) Class
Led by Rev. Eric and Kelli McNeal
Interested in becoming a member – or leaning more about First UU and our faith? Come, meet others and enjoy a lively and informative conversation. No obligation to join but we’d love to have you.

Friday, November 15th, 7–9pm, Sanctuary
Living More Fully in the Shadow of Mortality
Saturday, November 16th, 9–1:15pm, Sanctuary
The Unfinished Business of the Second Half of the Journey
Presenter: Dr. James Hollis
Co-Sponsors: First UU and Jung Society
For more information and ticket prices, go to the Jung Association of Central Ohio.

CONCERT
Saturday, November 16th, 7pm, Sanctuary
Bowling Green State University Men’s Chorus
Fabulous 85-member choir
Tickets: $10 suggested donation

Sunday, November 17th, 9 & 11am, Sanctuary
Beloved Community
Rev. Eric
Using the Israeli/Palestinian co-production of “Sesame Street” from 20 years ago as a backdrop, lets take a look at this thing we call Beloved Community.

CONCERT
Sunday, November 17th, 3pm, Sanctuary
Columbus Women’s Chorus
Enjoy the 50-voice choir that includes several First Users (and Rev. Marian).
Tickets at door: $20 (no one will be turned away)

JUSTICE UPDATES

Thank you for voting.

Our UU fifth principle:

As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm and promote the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
THIS MOMENT IN UU HISTORY
Sponsored by the First UU Archives Group
November 12, 1901
James Luther Adams was born in Ritzville, WA. A Unitarian minister in Wellesley Hills and Salem, MA, Adams was an outstanding theologian and held professorships at Meadville, Harvard, and Andover Newton divinity schools. He edited The Christian Register and founded the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. As the foremost authority on Paul Tillich, Adams wrote Paul Tillich’s Philosophy of Culture, Science, and Religion (1965). During his studies in Germany, he helped liberal Protestants organize against the growing power of the Nazis. Returning to the United States, Adams helped orgainize the Commissionon Appraisal, the Unitarian reform movement that issued the report Unitarians Face a New Age in 1936, led to the election of Frederick May Eliot as president of the American Unitarian Association, and was subsequently institutionalized as a “third branch” of AUA governance. Adams’ essays have been collected in several volumes, including Taking Time Seriously (1956), On Being Human Religiously (1976), The Prophethood of All Believers (1986), An Examined Faith (1991), and The Essential James Luther Adams (1998). He was a leading light of the Unitarian Universalist Christian Association, which published many of his articles the The Unitarian Universalist Christian. Adams, who is remembered for his humor, theological acumen, and vast ability to recall the names of books, joked that he believed in “salvation by bibliography.” Adams died on July 28, 1994, at the age of 93.