Starr King View

May 2008 Newsletter

Schedule of Sunday Services - 9:30 a.m.

May 4: “ Beyond Welcoming Congregation”
             The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.          
           
May 11: “ Being Olympia Brown”
            The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching. 
             
May 18: “ The Spirit of Giving”         
            The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching. 

May 25: “A Memorial Day Remembrance ”
             Worship and Music Committee

  

Adult Ed for May 
Sundays at 11:00 a.m.
           
May 4: Building and Finances Meeting
Child care will be available.
May 11:  Introduction to Qigong
May 18:  Annual meeting, light lunch provided
May 25:  Star Island

 

 In Fellowship                                                                              May 2008

This is an exciting time in the life of Starr King Fellowship.  We have accomplished so much as we move toward an expanded fellowship in space, people and spirit.  Here’s what we’ve done so far:
· We have raised over $430,000 for the Capital Campaign in gifts and pledges, including a gift to retire our existing mortgage;
· We have adopted a strategic plan for our fellowship to follow over the next five years, identifying what projects we will pursue and how we will grow;
· We have envisioned a new building for ourselves to meet our current needs and provide room to expand.
· We have met together in small groups, as a congregation, and one on one.  We have considered how we can help with the work of the building and our program, and we have all considered what we can give financially to support the new building.
      Now, there are some final decisions we must make as a congregation about our new building.  When we first started imagining our new space, we received an estimate of $1 million for its total cost.  That cost analysis was incomplete, and it turns out that the dream building which we have been hoping for all year is out of our reach financially (it would cost around $1.5 million).  This is not because we have not raised enough money (we exceeded our goal!), but because the cost of materials is higher than we expected and the total estimate for that building is higher than originally projected.  You may feel disappointment that changes need to be made; I know I do.  Yet I am so proud of us for raising so much energy, enthusiasm and money.  I am confident that we will build a building which meets our needs and continues to make us feel pride in our fellowship and what it can accomplish.
      On Sunday May 4, at 11:00 a.m., the board will lead the congregation in an information sharing meeting to discuss options for our final building plan.  The two items for that informational meeting will be:
· to give the Governing Board guidance on an amount to borrow to fund our building expansion;
· to discuss changes to the building plan so that we can stay within a responsible budget.
It’s important that as many of us as possible have a chance to hear different opinions on these decisions and make our own decisions known.  Hopefully, this will allow us to take a final vote  on our building expansion at a congregational meeting in June.
      All of your hard work and commitment to this project has brought us to this exciting moment in the life of our fellowship.  I hope you’ll come to the meeting on May 4 to discuss how we can move forward into a new space together.

In fellowship,
Sarah Stewart

 

RE Calendar for May

May 4- All start upstairs and then all groups celebrate the Maypole  

May 11- 4-6 Storytime  
      7-12  H is for Heroes  

May 18 - 4-6 Storytime  
     7-12 Living Green  

May 25- 4-6 Storytime  
     7-12 K is for Klean-up: Kids will be Kleaning up the Labyrinth area and inside as well, if necessary

 

 Reminder to All
Save the Date
June 8

            Youth Sunday is on June 8.  Come celebrate our children and the volunteers for a wonderful year in RE.

            The Second Annual SKUUF barbeque following Youth Sunday  service will be held at 11:00 (or so) outside (or downstairs if need be) on June 8.  Bring appetites, lawn chairs (and perhaps bug spray!)

             

 

DRE Search Update 

As you probably know, we are seeking a Director of Religious Education (DRE) for our fellowship.  Below is the copy we will be running in local papers beginning the week of April 27. We invite all interested parties to apply. We are hopeful that we will have a DRE for the new church year beginning in September 2008.

            DRE Search Committee

 

From Your Prez ~

      Thanks to all of you, and especially to the Nominating Committee, I was able to attend the District Spring Conference on April 11 and 12 and to witness the birth of a new district, “The Northern New England District.”  This is a bit of an incubation period since it has to be approved by the Association of UU Congregations at General Assembly in June, but that is really a formality.  The important votes took place at the conference when the NH/Vt District and Northeast District (Maine) agreed to become one.
      It was almost like a wedding – there was singing, dancing, great food, and a wonderful feeling of celebration.  I was especially pleased that we had nine SKUUFers in attendance.
      We enjoyed spending time with old SKUUF friends.  District gatherings are wonderful places to talk about our congregation and to receive inspiration from others.  I hope even more of us will attend in the future.

 

 

Worship and Music

 Sunday Announcements

            It is requested that Committees make a concerted effort to get their announcements in to Regina in time for them to be included in the Order of Service rather than using time at the end of the service.  On some Sunday’s the amount of time devoted to announcements has grown exceedingly long.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

           

Summer Schedule

Summer is upon us…well, almost!  It’s time to think about the summer schedule at SKUUF.  As most of you know, our minister is away from the pulpit beginning at the end of June and continuing until the middle of August, and many of our members enjoy a respite from their busy volunteer schedules during this time. 
Others of us, including many returning summer folks, appreciate a time to be together on Sunday mornings through the summer.  Relaxed and informal, our summer services are a great way to stay connected, to become better acquainted, and to learn what interests your fellow SKUUFers. The services are lay led and have covered many subjects over the years- music appreciation, friendship, drumming, environmental concerns, travelogues.  The list is long and varied.  If you have a life-long interest or a consuming passion, or perhaps, knowledge of a subject that would interest others, please consider offering a summer service.  For more information, look for the sign-up sheet in the foyer.

 

 

Parking Procedures Updated

     As snow melts and we can once again use all our space in the rear of the church. Members and visitors are asked to park in the designated areas. If early arrivals will park in the back row, that will leave better access to late arrivals. There is plenty of space in the upper front lot for those who have mobility issues, and we need to leave those front spaces for them. We have been asked to not park on the street, if at all possible. If you happen to see new folks arriving, it would be helpful for regular attendees to help them find parking.  More signs have been ordered and should be installed soon. Thank you for your help!

           

Starr King Family Seder and
Pot Luck Dinner

• What—Passover Seder UU Style.  You bring a pot luck dish to pass, and the Hoffman’s will bring some traditional Passover food.
• When—Saturday, May 3, Seder celebration begins at 5:00 p.m., dinner at about 6:00 p.m.
• Where—Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

 

            The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart, Minister

 

Notes from the Treasurer
     
I hope that everyone is enjoying spring now that it is finally here!  At our place in Wentworth, the snow is gone from our front yard and almost gone from the back.  We have a four foot high fence in the back for our dog- at times during the winter she could walk over the fence!
I usually try not to get too deep in the details of the finances, but this month I need to delve a bit to let you know where we are at present.
The last several months have seen the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people putting together the budget for next year, working to get a building design that we will all like (and that we can afford!), running a capital campaign to provide some of the financing and evaluating how much of a debt we should undertake.  Currently we have just over $420,000 in pledges for the capital campaign- I believe that we have been very successful thanks to the efforts and generosity of our congregation.  Combined with what we have on hand, there is now just under $600,000 available toward our expansion.
The another part of the equation- how muck debt can we afford, is the next step.  The UUA still offers loans for the expansion of existing facilities.  I am using the UUA program as the benchmark for our evaluation.  We are also looking at three local banks for comparison.  The UUA rates are roughly 5.5% interest for a 20 year mortgage.  These terms result in around $8,500 debt service per year per $100,000 of mortgage.  As an example, for a loan of $200,000, the annual payments would be around $17,000 per year.  As a comparison, the payments on our old loan with the UUA were budgeted at $9,003 for this year.
What this means is that if we borrow $100,000, our loan payments per year will be about $8,500 per year.  At $200,000 this would be about $17,000 and for $300,000 it would be around $25,000.  The point to consider at this stage is this:  After the capital campaign is done and all have paid their pledges, we will still be looking at between $8,500 and $17,000 more in mortgage payments than we have had in the past.  These amounts would be paid through your pledges and any additional gifts that we might receive.
On the building side, over the last few years the cost of the proposed expansion has grown to a range of $1.2 to $1.5 million dollars.
Here then are the two big questions we are still trying to address: How much can we afford to borrow? and What will be able to get of our Dream for what we can afford at present?  Remember, the building that we are enjoying was the Dream, Part I.  It was realized at the time that our predecessors could not afford all that they dreamt either.   We are working now on the Dream, Part II and it’s OK if we cannot afford all of what we want just yet.
We are planning to address all of these points and more during the Adult Education time on Sunday, May 4.  The presentations will cover both the financial and the building sides of where we are.  The purpose of the presentations will be to let you, the congregation, know where we are and the choices before us-and to give you the opportunity to provide feedback.  The questions above have been developing over the last few months as we have gathered more information concerning both the cost of the expansion and the cost of the mortgage.  There are now decisions that must be made by the congregation as to where we are going with our future.
The goal is to make the necessary choices within the next two months, and we want you to know what we see as the options, to give you time make your decisions.

 

SKUUF Finances Snapshot
                        as of April 17, 2008

Fiscal Year to Date:
            Income                                    $ 104,880.41
            Expenses               $   99,064.03

Important Balances
Operating Funds                $    18,221.26
Building Funds*                  $  220,203.12
Endowment Funds*            $    12,319.97

            This represents only selected funds and liabilities.  Please note that this is not a full accounting of assets or liabilities.  If you would like more detailed information feel free to talk to Gary, or me.

*These funds represent multiple accounts grouped together.

             

 

Moments for All Ages

            Do you enjoy sharing stories with children?  Would you like to participate in leading a Sunday morning service?  Sarah and the Worship and Music Committee are looking for people interested in leading Moments for All Ages on Sunday mornings.  You may have a story or activity you have developed, or you may simply sign up to read a story Sarah will provide.  

            Please see Sarah Stewart to sign up for a Sunday.
 
          

Optimistic Landscape Notes

 Although accused of massive optimism, we persist in scheduling the annual clean-up day for Saturday morning, May 3.  Yes, the snow will be melted.  We gather anytime in the morning, with the first arrivals at about 8:30 a.m.  You may pick your favorite outdoor chore, with raking, mulching, pick up and weeding as common tasks.  Bring gloves, tools and water bottles.  Stay as long as makes sense, but know that we usually stop work before noon.  If you can’t join us, see Margaret for chores that can be done independently, before or after this time.  If we have enough workers, we want to do additional maintenance at the labyrinth.  Spring is a lovely time at Starr King, with daffodils everywhere, and wildflowers peeping through the leaves.  Yes, we do have pink lady’s slippers, but also trailing arbutus, clintonia lily, and other wild favorites.  Ask, and several of us can show you where to look!
Later in May a perennial and plant sale will take place on Sunday, May 25.  Pot up your extra shoots early, and drop off at SKUUF earlier in the week.  You can browse and purchase the plants after our service, and the money we get will contribute to the annual budget.  It’s fun, later, to walk your garden and remember all the friends who helped you develop it.
New members of this committee are being recruited, and it is particularly satisfying work for some of us.  There are few meetings, and you can see the results of your work immediately.     

Social Justice                                       
           
Community Outreach for May

The recipient of our May Community Outreach collection will be the Bridge House in Plymouth. The shelter houses single men and single women and their children.
Unemployment or underemployment is often the primary factor of homelessness at Bridge House. While single men usually move through the shelter to independence within three months, single mothers with children remain guests for up to nine months to a year.  A lack of affordable housing, childcare, or reliable transportation in combination with insufficient skills are significant challenges to overcome.
The Bridge House seeks to reorient its guests by providing a dignified living environment, modeling life-style choices, offering education and medical support through local health practitioners and helping the residents develop workable plans to end their homelessness.
Your generous support for Bridge House and for all Outreach projects is warmly received and greatly appreciated.

Legislative Action opportunities
UUAction Network continues to inform those wishing to be contacted about legislation being considered in Concord or Washington. The New Hampshire House and Senate are hearing and voting on bills that have already passed the other house but there are still opportunities to influence legislation.  Even bills that have been laid on the table can be brought back up.
For more information contact UUAN at uuactionnetworknh.org. You can find forms to sign-up in the SKUUF foyer.

Unitarian Universalist  Action Network

            Please mark your calendars for Saturday, June 7 from 2-5 p.m. for a fun fund raising party for the Unitarian Universalist  Action.            The Unitarian Universalist Action Network (UUAN) gives voice to our UU values in the political arena in New Hampshire. It is funded by grant money and private donations from New Hampshire UUs.
            Our local legislators will be invited to the party so we can tell them who we are and what we care about.  We expect up to seven legislators.  Everyone will be encouraged to donate to keep the UUAN vibrant and active.  UUAN budget is committed to one part-time paid coordinator and the expense of communications; a web page and mailings.
            Please plan to attend.

 

Seventh Principle Hint      CFL - Update

As many of you know we have a new house that we have attempted to make carbon neutral, but as a friend recently told me “we are pioneers so must expect everything won’t go quite right.”  One problem has been with a few compact fluorescent bulbs.  In less than a year we had two blow out and one sings, despite claims this can’t happen  - so I went looking for an answer.  This is what I found at Consumer’s Report.
Energy Star-qualified CFLs must meet tough standards for start- and warm-up times, brightness, color, bulb life, and energy use.  They also can't hum or buzz. That's why they recommend only Energy Star bulbs. (Oops found my problem, brand name but not energy star)  The Consumer’s conclusions were:
· CFLs last longer. A typical incandescent lasts 1,000 hours, while a typical CFL last 8000 hours.
· CFLs aren't right for every situation. Incandescent bulbs take less than a second to come close to full brightness. The fluorescent light bulbs tested took between 25 seconds and 3.3 minutes. So they shouldn't be used in areas where you need full brightness immediately, like a staircase. Spirals were the quickest, flood lights and covered outdoor bulbs the slowest. And don't use CFLs in lights that are on for less than 15 minutes at a time, like closets. Frequent cycling shortens their life.
· Recycling efforts lag. The fluorescent light bulbs tested contain about 5 milligrams or less of mercury, a neurotoxin, or about 1 percent of the amount in an old-fashioned thermometer.  Even so, those bulbs should be recycled so that the mercury isn't released into the environment. Check with your town about  CFL recycling programs.
·  Match the bulb to the task. Check the package for details. Generally, spiral fluorescent bulbs are ideal in lamps, pendants, and wall sconces.  For recessed fixtures, flood CFLs cast light evenly on your task area.  Globes can be used in vanity strips found over bathroom sinks, or in hanging pendant lamps. Don't like the twisted look of some CFLs? Use a covered type, though those take longer to come to full brightness. Some CFLs even have three brightness settings, and others can be used with dimmers.
· Look at the lumens. Watts just tell you how much energy the bulb uses; lumens measure the amount of light provided. Check the packaging to find a CFL that delivers as many lumens as the bulb it's replacing and uses the fewest watts.
· Choose the color. Energy Star fluorescent bulbs labeled "soft white" or "warm white" are designed to match the light of a typical soft white bulb. Those labeled "bright white," "daylight," or "natural" have a cooler blue color, comparable to a bright white incandescent.  Though some colors can appear different under fluorescent light, most people using soft white fluorescent bulbs don't notice any change.

The industry is changing quickly so stay tuned for what is coming next.

 

 

Green Sanctuary 

      It has been a very busy April with celebrations of Earth Day and activities toward earth justice in helping the UUA with legislative outreach for Global climate change. 
It is clear change is already creating water shortages and forcing large-scale human migrations.  The UUA recommended we take urgent action, as it's only going to get worse, causing widespread international suffering and conflict.  The UUA is basing action upon reports from the scientific community that we must reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 2000 levels by the year 2050. 
The UUA recommends that everyone contact their legislators stressing that only the Sanders-Boxer (S. 309) and Waxman (H.R. 1590) bills require the sufficient reductions.  Moreover, the competing bill (Lieberman-Warner) benefits corporations at the expense of low-income families.
If you are not a winter admirer, then your time is emerging to reconnect with the earth through gardening, walking, hiking and just enjoying the spring and summer.  We will continue to keep you updated on what we might do to help reduce emissions and save the earth for future generations.  I will be attending General Assembly so will be sure to come back with lots of information and ideas for the fall. 

             

 

 

Adult Ed Offerings
May and June 2008

The Wheel of the Year
            Thursdays - every six weeks May 1, June 19 - 6:30 p.m. - Reverend Sarah Stewart
Join our minister, Sarah Stewart, and others for rituals and discussion around the major points of the natural year.  On five evenings for the rest of 2008, gather to engage in a ritual tied to the season, discuss ancient stories, and make our own meaning of them:  

· May 1 (Beltane)
· June 19 (Summer Solstice)
· September 18 (Autumnal Equinox)
· October 30 (Samhain/Day of the Dead)
· December 18 (Winter Solstice)
            Come to any or all meetings, and please see Sarah with questions.

Hatha Yoga
            Saturdays –Ongoing:  Spring and Summer - 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
       Take time to restore and rejuvenate your mind, spirit, and body with Hatha Yoga.  These one hour yoga classes are gentle enough for beginners and beneficial for intermediate students as well.  Classes begin with warm ups and stretches and conclude with a deep relaxation.  Please bring a yoga mat.  Suggested donation is $10.00 per class.

Wise Women in Training
            Wednesdays – May 9 and 23, June 11 & 25  10 to 11:30 a.m.
      Wise Women in Training is a women's study group which meets to discuss issues of women and aging.  Members share experiences, questions and concerns about improving their lives while optimizing their happiness.  Generally this group is recommended for any women over 40 years of age, but younger women are welcome. Questions will be researched and discussed by various members.  Meetings will be held in the nursery area at SKUUF. 

Paganism/Wicca
            Tuesdays – May 13 & 27 - 6 to 8 p.m.
      Using a UU curriculum, this class continues to explore general beliefs and practices of Pagan/Wiccans with a focus on ritual and holy days.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Qigong for the Health of it – May 21 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
If you come to the introduction to Qigong at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, you’ll have a good idea what we’ll be doing on May 21.  Then you’ll learn some Qigong (pronounced Chee Gong) practices that you can bring home with you to do on your own afterward.    Qigong is related to Tai Chi, but is a lot easier to learn and practice minus the years of lessons and practice that Tai Chi takes.
 “Qigong is all about health and healing, relaxation and letting go, clarity and inner peace.  During this workshop, we will explore ways to nourish and nurture our energies through the practice of selected Qigong forms that focus on health, healing, and longevity.  The goal of Qigong is to harmonize body, mind, and breath through a process of gathering, cleansing and circulating Qi, or vital energy, for increased health and vitality of all body systems.”
The charge for this program is $25 ($10 non-refundable deposit)

State of the Loon: The Natural History, Challenges, and
Successes of Loons in New Hampshire May 29 - 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Have you ever wondered why a loon’s eyes are red?  Why loon chicks ride on their parents’ backs?  What loons are saying with those eerie calls in the night?  Join us as we learn about this unique symbol of New Hampshire’s wild lakes and its special place in the hearts of New Hampshire residents,  where loons fit in with other birds (you might be surprised!), challenges facing loons, and the Loon Preservation Committee’s work to safeguard New Hampshire’s threatened loon population. You’ll also see slides in power point format for some great visuals too.

More of Our
Favorite Books for 2007
(As space allows, each month we will list
some of the books mentioned in our annual
Book Sharing service.)
  
Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Jubilee Trail by Gwenn Bristow

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig

T
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

 

The Coldman Cometh by Robert Durr

 

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
by Bill Bryson

 

 

Newsletter Deadline
 June Newsletter deadline is Friday, May 23, 2008. 

Starr King View    

Minister:  Rev. Sarah Stewart           
sstewart@starrkingfellowship.org  

Office:        
admin@starrkingfellowship.org
(603) 536-8908                                  
Website—www.starrkingfellowship.org

 

A Sampling of 2008
Winter Online Courses
Available at the
Church of the Larger Fellowship
www.clfuu.org/learn

A Chosen Faith: Self-Study Guide (On-going)
            A guided examination of Unitarian Universalism, based on the book A Chosen Faith by John Buehrens and Forrest Church.  Adapted to this online format by Jone Johnson Lewis from a study guide by Joan Goodwin. Full participation in this course requires having the book A Chosen Faith, available from the UUA bookstore at www.uua.org/bookstore.   Free

For New Unitarian Universalists (On-going)
            This is a four week introduction to Unitarian Universalism that we hope all new CLF members will take. It covers basic UU beliefs, history and organization. There are opportunities to ask questions, and to discuss the readings. What makes Unitarian Universalism a religion? What makes the Church of the Larger Fellowship different from other UU congregations? How can a new member connect to this congregation which never meets in person?   Free

A UU Approach to the Bible
Taught by John Nichols:  starts October 13
            The Fundamentalist insistence that the Bible is to be read literally is fairly recent. Those who wrote the scriptures knew they were writing stories in metaphorical language to illuminate our encounter with the inescapable issues of living and with the sacred.  Read as they should be, Biblical passages reveal their meaning and power for everyone, including people of many religious backgrounds. This course will allow participants to try a new way of looking at familiar passages, a way that is fully compatible with Unitarian Universalism.   $40

For information about these courses and more, contact
Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF)
www.clfuu.org/learn
617-948-6150
re@clfuu.org