Starr King View
March 2009 Newsletter
Sunday Services - 9:30 a.m.
March 1 : “Too Fine a Point”
The Rev. Mary Higgins, NNE District Executive, preaching
March 8 : “Not a Country Club”
The Rev. Mary Wellemeyer, Minister UU Church of Manchester, preaching
March 15: “Blessed Are the Merciful”
The Rev. Dr. Will Saunders preaching
March 22: “Practicing Presence through Poetry and Music”
Dana Cunningham preaching
March 29: “April Fools Service”
April Fools Sunday with Worship and Music Committee
(See guest preacher bios on page 14 and 15.)
Sunday Programming at 11:00 a.m.
March 1: Sermon Discussion with the Rev. Mary Higgins - “Stewardship”
March 8: Michele Lowry, Reiki Master -
Rekindle your own Healing Gifts. (see more information about this interesting session on page 10.)
March 15: Sermon Discussion with the Rev. Will Sawyer -“What is the Gift?”
March 22: Special Meeting of the Fellowship. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on the Building Addition Contract and the Building Addition Final Budget.
Also the Board will report on the final financial arrangements for the building addition.
Attendance is very important as we need a quorum of fifty percent of the membership to conduct business at the meeting. Childcare will be available.
Make plans now to attend this very important meeting.
March 29: No Adult Ed
Path to Membership on
Saturday, February 28
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This program is for people interested in becoming members of SKUUF. For more information, or to register please contact the Membership Committee.
(For a complete description of this program, see article on page 11.)
In Fellowship March 2009
What an exciting time! This is my final newsletter column to you before I begin my sabbatical leave on March 1. During my sabbatical, I’ll remain in the Plymouth area and work on writing projects, continuing education and spiritual development. (My main writing project is to produce a scriptural index to our hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition; I expect the end result will be published on Worship Web on uua.org.) I’ll enjoy time with my family. I’m especially looking forward to being home for more evenings and weekends with my husband Andy and our son Benedict.
Also at this time, Andy and I are thrilled to be expecting our second child, due at the beginning of August. We’re looking forward to welcoming this addition to our family. I found that after Ben was born, my love of my ministry and my family deepened. I hope this new baby will find as warm a home in this fellowship as Andy, Ben and I have already.
These two events mean that I will be away from my active ministry with you until September. (I may be in the office for a few days in August, depending on when exactly the baby arrives.) So although these are exciting times, they’re bittersweet times, too. I will miss this congregation more than I can say. My life and the life of this fellowship have become so intertwined, it’s hard for me to imagine what the next several months will really be like. I am going to miss all our friendly relationships and the bustle of life here. I am already looking forward to returning in the fall, full of new ideas and a deeper spiritual grounding.
You, in the meantime, have the opportunity to explore the areas of our ministry together that have so far been mine to shepherd. You will welcome guest preachers to your pulpit, including some members of Starr King Fellowship. You will turn to trained members for pastoral care (see the Sabbatical Brochure for information about Lay Pastoral Ministry). Small group ministry, the minister’s discretionary fund, supervising the administration of the fellowship--these are all things which I do now, and which you will have the opportunity to do while I’m gone.
I hope you will learn new things about our community and discover new talents during this sabbatical period, just as I hope I will. I look forward to coming together again in the fall to celebrate our shared growth.
In fellowship,
Sarah
RE Calendar for March
Date |
Treasure Hunting |
Time Travelers |
March 1 |
Anyone Can Be Beautiful |
1841-Dorothea Dix |
March 8 |
We treasure the Light Within |
1863-Clara Barton |
March 15 |
Our Flaming Chalice is a Special Light |
1872-Susan B. Anthony |
March 22 |
Our Fellowship is a “sacred place” |
Lewis Latimer Story |
March 29 |
April Fools Service |
April Fools Service |
On January 25 the Winter Hike was cancelled due to weather, brrrrrrrr. Thanks to Elizabeth and Stew for playing games, reading stories and drawing with those who were here. Also to the parents for being flexible and available as always to help out.
We are a busy place- If you would like to help out with any of our varied activities please see the RE Director or any member of the RE committee for more information.
Religious Education Program
Just recently I did a count of our students, teachers and “RE helpers” and I was quite impressed. I think you will be, too.
We have twenty-five families registered in the 2008-2009 RE Program - thirty-three babies, children and youth are registered and there are a few more who still need to fill out the registration forms. If you have children in the Program and haven’t yet filled out a form, please see me.
There are nineteen teachers; eight are actively parenting which means we have eleven non-parents working regularly with our children. (This includes the folks leading the Coming of Age Program, OWL and Youth Group.)
We have three adults (all parents) and two youth on the RE Committee. And there have been twenty “extra” adults helping with the plays for the Travel in Time class and with special activities like the field trips, gingerbread houses, and Stone Soup Service.
So our total number of adults helping in RE so far is forty-three (sixteen parents, twenty-seven non-parents!)
SKUUF RE is an exciting place to be!!
RE Thanks this month go to:
Shelly and Rodger for co-leading the “Our Whole Lives” (OWL) Program.
Clara for helping out with the Treasurer Hunters on January 18th.
Helen and Alex and Lilly for telling the Youth Group about their experiences in DC last month.
Marcia, Sue and Nancy for their help with the Stone Soup Play and Jerrett for narrating the story.
Everyone who brought food for the soup, returned your Guest at Your Table boxes, or made a donation to the UU Service Committee.
Cindy Spring, DRE
Next Governing Board Meeting:
Wednesday, March 11
At 5:30 p.m.
Next Committee Chair Meeting:
Tuesday, March 17
At 5:00 p.m.
Special Fellowship Meeting
Sunday, March 22
At 11:00 a.m.
“From the Prez”…
Hello everyone,
I know that many of you ski or have enjoyed skiing in the past. I learned to ski when I was about ten years old and have loved hitting the slopes ever since. I don’t do it quite as much as I used to, but I like to get out there at least a couple of times a year. One of my favorite moments on a ski day is when you take your first ride up in the lift and then stand on the edge of the first steep slope. The anticipation of inching forward and letting gravity take you down the slope is exhilarating. And while you know that you are capable of skiing the slope, and you can see down toward the bottom, you don’t know your exact path until you take the plunge.
Sometimes, I feel like our building addition at SKUUF has been a lot like skiing. When we were making the plans it was like looking at the trail map and deciding which lift and which trail to take. Since last fall when we approved the building plans and the plans to seek a mortgage, it has been like riding the lift to the top of the mountain. Now we are standing at the top of the slope, ready to schuss toward our goal. We can see our destination, but we don’t yet know if there will be any moguls or icy patches. Yet, we are confident because we know that we have chosen the right trail for our abilities.
You’ll see in this newsletter that the Board has scheduled one last meeting to seek congregational approval for the construction and to report on the final financing plan. What an exciting time for all of us! I can’t wait to ski down the slope with everyone….
Notes from the Treasurer
I hope that everyone is having a great winter and is healthy. It is now mid February and I am just at the tail end of a cold and Bev is still recovering from it. The forecast for tonight is rain! Can you believe it????
The first item that I want to cover this month is our use of outside contractors for SKUUF work and the effect of this on our insurance costs. Whenever we use any outside contractor to perform any work at SKUUF, that person or company should be covered with workmen’s compensation insurance. SKUUF’s insurance coverage is through Church Mutual, and we have workmen’s compensation insurance through them, but we only budget to cover SKUUFers and our regular employees. If we hire someone from outside to perform work at SKUUF, either they MUST provide insurance certificates showing their coverage, or Church Mutual charges us for the additional coverage after the work is done, at a much higher rate than on our own employees. This may seem odd, but we all have to realize that they provided the coverage through our regular policy- whether or not they were aware of the contract work at the time it was performed. That is, if we hired a contractor to perform some job at SKUUF and they were injured, and they didn’t have their own workers comp policy, the liability would fall on Church Mutual to cover us, even if they were unaware of the contractor or the work. They do annual audits to verify our payroll and payments to outside contractors. During January, we received an additional bill from them for workmen’s compensation coverage for contractors that we did not provide proof of having their own policy, and we had to pay almost $2,000 beyond what is currently budgeted for fiscal year 2009. Everyone who hires an outside contractor to perform work at SKUUF must obtain an insurance certificate from the contractor before the work is performed unless otherwise authorized. If not, the work should be delayed until we have the certificate.
Second is a follow on from a thought that I introduced last month. At the end of January, we were about 58% of the way through the Fellowship fiscal year. At that time, we had received about 47% of our operational pledges, and we had incurred about 54% of our expenses for the year. In fairness, there was snow on two consecutive Sundays in January, and that drastically reduced the normal amount of pledges received during the month. Actually, our pledge collection was just barely over half of what would be normally expected for a month. Please remember- our expenses are continuous during the year, snow or no snow and even during the summer months.
On a more positive note- here’s an update on the status of the loan process for our planned expansion. I am sure that the Building Committee will update you on their part of the process. The UUA loan requires some additional insurance that we currently do not have. The requirements originated with Church Mutual, so the coverages are necessary for both the UUA and for our insurance company. The Board must approve the additional funding ($573) as it is outside of the approved budget. So- once that is approved, I can update the application (hopefully for the last time!!) and get it back to the UUA. The internal UUA processing should take about one month to approval- yes I am optimistic that they will approve the loan once the application is in final form. To be sure that we have a good source, we are also exploring several of the local banks. I think that process should be fairly straight forward as all of the required information should already be available from developing the UUA application.
SKUUF Finances Snapshot as of February 11, 2009
Fiscal Year to Date, Operating: Change from Last Month
Income $ 74,143.59 +$ 6,630.19
Expenses $ 84,219.69 +$ 15,459.34
Important Balances
Operating Funds $ 15,181.99 -$ 6,199.92
Building Funds* $326,966.18 +$ 8,506.54
Endowment Funds* $ 11,680.74 - $ 483.50
This snapshot shows only selected funds. 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.
Stewardship Committee
Imagine that in a way the process of the Stewardship Committee is a little like planning for the November to December holidays – making lists, checking things off as they are done, adding new items to the list, getting out our best accessories, culling recipes, and all the while anticipating the big events. This energy and the anticipation are so much at the heart of the work of Stewardship. We have been getting ready for the gathering of our Fellowship and we want everything to be perfect. Our fellowship with each other is what matters most to us, and the sustenance of this Fellowship through our Stewardship is the gift we give ourselves. The Stewardship Committee has set the table. We are ready for our guests. And now, of course, is that moment where we wait for you to come through the door, sit at the table, and make magic!
Our minister Sarah Stewart is the guest “writer” for the Stewardship Column this month. The Stewardship Committee joins with the congregation in wishing Sarah an inspiring and rejuvenating sabbatical.
In fellowship,
Chair Stewardship Committee
Dear members and friends of Starr King Fellowship,
These are difficult economic times. We don’t know what the future holds. In times like this, our fellowship becomes an even more important place. Some of us may be facing difficult economic times ourselves, and will turn to this fellowship more than ever for community, support, connections and a reminder of our inherent worth and dignity. Others of us may be doing all right financially, and will be able to give a little bit more to this community that has helped us when we have been in need, and which helps us live out our values in the world.
My husband Andy and I have been fortunate this year, because Andy has a new position at Plymouth State University. As part of this move, he got a raise. It is tempting, on occasion, to want to hold onto all the extra income against an uncertain future. But we want to invest some of our income into this fellowship and what it represents. We want to support the mission of this fellowship, so we’ll be increasing our pledge this year. We’re doing what we can. I don’t have to do it all by myself; I do what I can do and trust you, the other members and friends of the fellowship, to do what you can. Give what is right for you, and what represents your love of our fellowship and your financial situation.
I have great faith in this fellowship. I believe that we will all do what we can to support our community with our gifts of money and time. I believe that our leaders will be careful stewards of our resources as we work toward expanding our building and continuing our strong programs. I believe that by working together, we can fulfill our mission in this community.
In fellowship,
Rev. Sarah
Stewardship - Connections Gatherings
This year, we are using Connections Gatherings to join together in our celebration of SKUUF and to pledge financially to support the fellowship for the coming fiscal year. The Gatherings are potluck suppers and brunches similar in many ways to our circle dinners. In addition to the usual socializing, there will be an opportunity for people to share their thoughts on what participation in the fellowship means to them. You will also be given pledge forms which you will be encouraged to complete before leaving. It is hoped that everyone will attend one of these gatherings. Children are welcome, and we’ve included some Sunday brunches thinking that that might be a good time for parents who want to bring their children. Please check your calendar and be ready to sign up for one when you come in to church in February and March. Sign-up sheets are now available in the foyer. These gatherings are also listed on the calendar on the SKUUF website.
Social Justice
March Outreach:
Central America has lost more than half of its rainforests in the last fifty years, contributing to mass extinctions and global warming. Rainforest destruction also wreaks havoc on local populations who depend on the rainforest for their survival.
The mission of Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) is to provide farming families in Central America with the training and tools to overcome poverty while restoring our planet's tropical forests. The forty-eight members of SHI's Central American staff have worked with more than 1,800 families in over 120 communities to implement sustainable land-use practices that alleviate poverty while restoring the environment . More than 600 families have graduated from the SHI program and no longer need assistance. Since the organization's start in 1997, SHI has planted more than twenty-three million trees and converted thousands of acres to sustainable uses; thereby saving tens of thousands of acres of tropical forest from slash-and-burn destruction.
Florence Reed, a UU from Portsmouth New Hampshire, founded SHI after she returned from serving in the Peace Corps in Panama. Under her leadership the program has grown enormously, but there are many farm families and villages on the waiting list. SHI has created a win win strategy benefiting the environment, decreasing poverty, and creating community. Your contributions will help sustain and expand this valuable work.
For more information go to their web site: www.sustainableharvest.org. Charity Navigator has given SHI four stars, their highest available rating, for the third consecutive year, a standard achieved by only ten percent of the charities evaluated.
The collection for SHI will be on March 22. If you will not be present on that date, you may contribute by putting a check, payable to SKUUF with SHI in the memo line, in the basket any time in March.
SKUUF Energy Starrs:
At Adult Ed on January 25, eighteen people shared thoughts on Energy Starr ideas and fourteen people in this group mentioned activities they have completed that contribute to SKUUF’s Energy Starr goal of losing 100,000 pounds during the year that began last September and will conclude in August of this year. It is apparent from this meeting that our collective efforts may have already led us to our goal. We jotted down the reductions mentioned, calculated estimates of carbon for each, and came to a total of approximately 30,000 pounds! This 30,000 pound amount of carbon reduction does not include all the activities this particular group has completed this year, and we know that our Energy Starrs group is at least triple the number of folks present at this particular Adult Ed meeting. So congratulations all you Energy Starrs, and lets keep going !
Important thoughts coming out of this meeting:
1. That the EPA website (EPA.gov) probably contains the best carbon footprint calculator as it bases its information on where we live within this country;
2. That for some of us who like to keep track of details there are three items of information that serve to motivate us to continue our efforts to reduce additional carbon: tracking our average kwh of electricity used, gallons or whatever quantity applies to the element we use to heat our homes, and average miles per gallon driven between fuel stops for our cars;
3. Folks are interested in what we as Energy Starrs might accomplish together in more environmentally-friendly food eating and shopping, including bulk buying, and so our February 15 Adult Ed was focused on this.
Watch for notice of our next Adult Ed Energy Starr session which will be held later this spring.
Social Justice Committee
Community Closet
Needs Our Help
Remember, the Community Closet can always use our help. There is a basket in the foyer for your non-breakable food contributions. You can drop off canned or boxed goods anytime.
Adult Ed—March 8
Rekindle Your Own Healing Gifts
Michele Lowry, Reiki Master, has been focused on healings through alternative therapies since 2001. She has been offering Reiki to human and animal clients since 2005, witnessing amazing, positive emotional and physical healings through this hands-on energy transfer (now proven through double blind testing). Reiki is now offered in hospitals for pre and post surgical procedures and as a support for chemotherapy. Michele’s passion for this ancient healing modality has now expanded to teaching others to tap back into their own innate ability to self heal, through meditation and Reiki classes. It is a great self-empowering transformation.
Michele is based in Franconia, New Hampshire; she also travels to southern New Hampshire and the Seacoast, northern Massachusetts and parts of Vermont.
Seventh Principle
The average refrigerator consumes more energy than any other household appliance. We spend over $10 billion in the U.S., alone, to supply energy to our household refrigerators. The following tips will save you money and reduce your carbon (energy) footprint:
1. Clean the filter and coils annually: Most Americans rarely, if ever, get around to vacuuming out the filter and coils on the back of the fridge. A dusty coil can increase energy consumption by twenty percent or more.
2. Keep it full but not stuffed: A fridge and freezer will be able to retain their coolness better if they're full. If you're not at full capacity, place a few containers of water in the freezer.
3. Think about what you want before you open the fridge. Every time you open the fridge to browse for a snack, you consume around of 9 to 13 watt/hours, which is enough power to light a 60-watt bulb for ten minutes.
4. Let hot items cool before placing them in the refrigerator.
5. Defrost the freezer regularly.
6. Check the door gasket for a tight seal.
7. Cover liquids and foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
8. If your fridge is older than 1993, get a new one. You're spending so much on your electric bill, you'll actually save money. New models use less energy than a 75-watt light bulb. Be sure to look for the Energy Star label.
Remember to wear your Nametag.
It helps Everyone.
Path to Membership on
Saturday, February 28
This program is for people interested in becoming members of SKUUF. There will be time to get to know each other and to share what has brought you to this point in your spiritual journey. You will learn about Unitarian Universalism, how UU churches are organized, and how UU churches work together. You will learn how SKUUF is organized, and you will hear about the programs and services that are offered by both our minister and various lay people in the fellowship. There will be an opportunity for you to ask about UUism and SKUUF. This program runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and includes lunch. There is no fee for the program; however, kindly preregister on the sign up sheets in the foyer. Babysitting will be provided if requested in advance.
Building Committee Report.
The building committee met with the architect and construction manager to review bids for construction of the addition. The current proposal will allow the Fellowship to construct the addition within the $800,000 budget. The proposal requires some sweat equity from the Fellowship and leaves portions of the space unfinished. Here's the deal.
What the bid includes (this is the construction portion and is just under $670,000):
1. Two story addition of 4,476 square feet that will almost double our existing space. The larger basement is included (the larger basement actually saves us $339). The entire space, except for the kitchen, will have drywall installed, taped, and primed but not the final coats of paint. The interior trim will be completed (except in the kitchen area and closet near the kitchen) but not painted and/or stained, except that beams in the second floor ceiling will be finished. The exterior will be roofed and siding will be installed but the exterior will not be painted or stained.
2. A lift/elevator between the two floors will be installed and operational.
3. Fire protection sprinkler system throughout the entire building. This is required because of the increased size of the building. We do not plan to do anything to paint the pipes, which can be done later to try to blend them out. There will be black metal pipes with orange fixtures throughout our current space plus the addition.
4. Fire alarm system.
5. The upstairs portion will include an addition to the sanctuary, meeting room, two bathrooms, hallway, and kitchen (see below as to extent of completion of areas).
6. The downstairs will include three RE classrooms, space for the DRE, and a storage area.
7. Acoustical treatment for the current sanctuary.
What is included in addition to the construction bid:
1. Architectural and engineering fees.
2. Building permit allowance ($1,000).
3. Construction testing allowance ($7,500).
4. Builders risk insurance allowance ($5,000).
5. Allowance for installation of additional telephone lines for the elevator and alarm system ($3,500).
6. Contingency of 10% of the construction contract amount ($66,939).
What the bid does not include:
1. Site clearing, including tree and brush cutting and removal, and removal of the fence at the back of the building. We have people lined up and ready to go to clear the site and remove the fence.
2. Finish grading, seeding and planting around the building. Paul Hazelton has agreed to construct the required retaining wall on the west end of the building. We will have to arrange to complete the rest of the site finish.
3. Exterior painting. We will need to complete this portion of our sweat equity before next winter.
4. Interior flooring. The bid includes composite tile in the upstairs hallway, bathroom, and meeting room. The floor in the sanctuary and kitchen areas will not be finished. The downstairs floor will be sealed concrete.
5. Kitchen. We will have plumbing brought to the ceiling below and have a separate electric sub-panel, but will not have pipes, wires, cabinets or anything installed.
6. Moveable partition separating RE rooms. We will have all the structural pieces in place to install a moveable partition but cannot afford the nearly $6,000 cost for the wall. The moveable partition separating the current sanctuary from the addition will be installed.
7. Interior painting. Walls will be primed but the finish coats are not included.
If we have money available at the end of the project, we would first consider installing the finished floor in the sanctuary and painting/staining all walls and trim upstairs and down. Some very good news is that we have already received the promise of a challenge grant for 2/3 of the money to complete the sanctuary floor and all interior painting/staining.
The committee is very pleased with the dedication and hard work that our architect, Stu White assisted by Jeremiah Goulet of Banwell Architects, and our construction manager, Todd Thompson of Trumbell-Nelson Construction Company, have contributed to the project.
The SKUUF Board will be calling a meeting of the membership in March for a final vote on the project and the funding to build it. If we get the green light, we plan to begin construction in mid-April. Please contact any member of the building committee if you have questions about the project. Bob Rothschild, has been working with the committee during the bidding process and is also a good resource if you have questions.
Building Committee
March 22 at 11:00 a.m.
Fellowship Meeting to vote on the
Building Addition Contract, and
Building Addition Final Budget
Plan to attend this
Very Important Meeting
Guest Preacher Bios for March
Rev. Mary Higgins
March 1
Of her sermon, "Too Fine a Point," on the first Sunday in March, she says: the capacity of human beings to find meaning does not decrease when the times are rough: In fact, just the opposite is true. These are the time when we put the fine point on who and what we love and how our faith supports our journey, step by step. She asks us to come together then at the crossroad of challenge, love and our faithful response to these times.
Rev. Mary Higgins is the District Executive for the newly formed Northern New England District. She is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist; a former religious educator and an ordained UU minister. Mary moved to New Hampshire in 2006 and resides in Concord.
Rev. Mary Wellemeyer
March 8
Rev. Mary Wellemeyer has served the Unitarian Universalist Church of
Manchester since 2001. Ordained in 2000, she served an interim ministry at the UU
Church in Utica, New York, prior to her settlement in New Hampshire. She has been
active with the local UU Ministers' Association and was a member of the
Board of Directors of the old New Hampshire-Vermont District.
Her book of meditations, Admire the Moon, was published by Skinner House as part of the annual "meditation manual" series. She has presented workshops at the General
Assembly both on the use of poetry in worship and on her current project, Eight
Spiritual Practices to Save the World.
Mary came to ministry after her children were grown. Two of them, Michael and Robert, live in Northwestern Montana, and the third, Benjamin, lives in Olympia, Washington. Mary loves contra dancing and skiing, reading books, yoga, and hanging out with friends.
Rev. Dr. William Saunders
March 15
Raised a Unitarian Universalist in Ithaca, New York, Will holds degrees from Oberlin College, Union Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in American Religious Thought. He was ordained in 1972. From 1976 to 2005, he served congregations in Brunswick, Maine, Urbana, Illinois and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He is Minister Emeritus in Portsmouth.
In Maine, he was a member of the board of the Maine Audubon Society and Chair of the Maine Humanities Council. In Illinois, he served as a member of the Chancellor's Task Force on Discrimination at the University of Illinois. Currently, he is President of Project Harvest Hope, a small foundation that supports community organizing in the Unitarian villages of Transylvania (Romania) in partnership with CIVITAS: Foundation for Civil Society.
Will was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association from 1982 - 85 and was elected for a second term beginning in 2003. He has been a member of the Finance Committee, the Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, the Investment Committee, and the Audit Committee and is liaison to the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists. In effect, he is the Board's liaison to international organizations with which the Board is in relationship. He completes his board service in June, 2011.
Will has two sons and two grandchildren in Salt Lake City and New York City. He is unmarried.
Dana Cunningham
March 22
Dana Cunningham is an instrumental pianist living and composing in the mountains of New Hampshire. Her primary interest is in performing her original piano compositions and the poetry of Rumi, Rilke, David Whyte, Mary Oliver and others, in concert and retreat settings. Dana has a degree in Communication from Vanderbilt University where she also studied piano at Blair School of Music and she attended Dallas Theological Seminary.
She says, “As I reflect on my life journey . . ., I realize that it has been graced with a deep inspiration to explore what it means to become a soulful human being — to become who one truly is — and to meet the ensuing freedom with responsibility.
My intention is toward cultivating a greater sense of the present moment, and inviting the listener to open more fully to his or her own experience."
“At the present time, I purpose to broaden my opportunities for performance and to sow seeds of peace in a culture of stress and hurry, wherever I can, and to actively explore ways in which my music can directly contribute to those among us who do not have enough or who are marginalized in any way. I welcome my audience in helping me creatively addressing these goals.”
For more information on Dana Cunningham, her music, poetry and life please visit www.danacunningham.com.
Pastoral Ministry
Starr King Fellowship will continue its pastoral ministry during Sarah’s sabbatical. Ten members of the fellowship have volunteered to be Lay Pastoral Ministers. With Sarah as their teacher, they have completed a ten-session class in pastoral visiting. They have committed to act with responsibility and utmost discretion and care in their work as your Lay Pastoral Ministers.
The Extending Family Committee will also continue its work. In case of illness or death in your family, the Extending Family Committee will recruit members of the Starr King Fellowship community to help with your practical needs. They are also available to pass along pastoral needs to the Lay Pastoral Ministers, either for you or for a fellowship friend in need.
Unitarian Universalist ministers will help you in case of pastoral emergency. Mary Wellemeyer will be on call in March, Dena McPhetres in April, Mary Edes in May, and Paul Sawyer in June.
(This is a reprint from our Sabbatical Brochure distributed in January. If you did not receive one then, be sure to pick up one on the table in the foyer next to the front door.)
Our Favorite Books
(As space allows, each month we will list some of the books mentioned in our annual Book Sharing service held at the end of 2008)
Speaking of Faith by Krista Tippet
Come Back to Afghanistan: a California teenager’s story by Said Hyder Akbar
The Tiger by Jeffrey S. Stone
What the Buddha Taught
by Walpola Rahula
Comments from the Cubby Hole
Did you know that the SKUUF library has a periodical called Organic Gardening? Why not take a look? It’s hard to believe but spring is right around the corner. Stay tuned for improvements to the SKUUF library lending system for the month of March.
Check out the new Events Calendar on the SKUUF website ( HYPERLINK "http://www.starrkingfellowship.org" www.starrkingfellowship.org). The new link is called “Events Calendar.” To view event details, use your mouse to click on the event. This will give you the time, place and, in some cases, the description of the event. The changes to the calendar are up to the minute, so the website calendar will always be more accurate than the paper monthly calendars offered at the beginning of the month.
Newsletter Deadline
The April Newsletter deadline is Friday, March 20, 2009.
Play Bridge
Thursday Afternoons
At SKUUF
.
Remember to Recycle Cans
Remember to bring your aluminum cans to SKUUF. Let us continue to recycle for the good of SKUUF and the planet. Those cans SKUUF collects and recycles help the work of our Fellowship.
Worship and Music
On Sunday, March 8 after the service, Worship and Music Committee will be holding a planning meeting for our April Fool's service to be held on March 29.
If you have ideas for this wonderful annual event, please share them with us at this meeting. The planning of the service is as much fun as the service itself! If you have ideas or would like to participate but cannot attend the meeting, talk to any member of the worship and music committee.
Directory Changes
The new directories are ready! This little red booklet includes the many, many changes and additions made over the past year.
Be sure to pick up your
new directory
the next time you come to SKUUF!
SKUUF Auction
March 28, 2009
I hope you’ve been thinking about what goods and/or services you would like to donate for our annual auction. It’s coming right up on March 28.
Items for silent bidding will be on display for two weeks before the auction, beginning March 15, so now is the time to get them to the meetinghouse.
Think about a skill you have that you could teach to someone else. Perhaps you love to cook Thai food; you could offer a dinner for four to be held at your home. What about that vase Aunt Sue gave you for a wedding present years ago that you’ve never used? There are so many possibilities! Remember too, that you can identify a service you need and add it to the list in the foyer.
If you already know what you wish to donate please provide us with the details, a brief description of your item or service and the starting bid. You may also put your donation, identified as suggested above, in the hospitality closet located immediately to your left as you enter the RE space after coming down the stairs. If your item is too big to fit in the closet, or if you need help getting it to the fellowship, please contact one of the above named people. Additional questions may be directed to those same folks.
Coffee and dessert will be served at 6:30; the live auction will begin at 7:00. During the evening there will be one more opportunity to bid on the silent auction items before the bids are closed and the winners announced.
Please support the auction, an important SKUUF fund raising event. It promises to be an evening of good natured conversation and light hearted fun.
See you there!
Starr King View
Seventh Principle
The average refrigerator consumes more energy than any other household appliance. We spend over $10 billion in the U.S., alone, to supply energy to our household refrigerators. The following tips will save you money and reduce your carbon (energy) footprint:
1. Clean the filter and coils annually: Most Americans rarely, if ever, get around to vacuuming out the filter and coils on the back of the fridge. A dusty coil can increase energy consumption by twenty percent or more.
2. Keep it full but not stuffed: A fridge and freezer will be able to retain their coolness better if they're full. If you're not at full capacity, place a few containers of water in the freezer.
3. Think about what you want before you open the fridge. Every time you open the fridge to browse for a snack, you consume around of 9 to 13 watt/hours, which is enough power to light a 60-watt bulb for ten minutes.
4. Let hot items cool before placing them in the refrigerator.
5. Defrost the freezer regularly.
6. Check the door gasket for a tight seal.
7. Cover liquids and foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
8. If your fridge is older than 1993, get a new one. You're spending so much on your electric bill, you'll actually save money. New models use less energy than a 75-watt light bulb. Be sure to look for the Energy Star label.
Betty Trought
Starr King View
Minister: Rev. Sarah Stewart
sstewart@starrkingfellowship.org
Office Administrator:
admin@starrkingfellowship.org
Office: (603) 536-8908
Website—www.starrkingfellowship.org