|
Page 2 |
|
Page 3 |
|
Page 4 |
|
Page 5 |
|
Page 7 |
|
Page 8 |
|
(Reverend Gaines continued, Page 2) |
|
The West Valley UU Times West Valley Unitarian Universalist Church May 2007 |
|
FROM YOUR CONSULTING MINISTER, Charles A. Gaines |
|
View From My Window |
|
Our member , George Williams' book, Hindu Mythology has been published in hardback. The American Library Association gives the following review: A learned text based on sound
knowledge of the Hindu religion. His methodical coverage of variant
spellings, pronunciation, and capitalization in the preface is a
valuable guide to writers and researchers. The division of the subject
into periods and themes in the introduction simplifies the task of
comprehending beliefs and rituals that evolved over five millennia. The text is meticulously compiled, with ample cross-referencing. Attractive illustrations contrib |
|
Congregational Meeting May 20, 2007 Proxy Voting is not allowed ! Agenda Chalice Lighting Approval of the minutes: January 2007 congregational meeting. President's Report Celebration of Successes Finance Committee report Approval of Budget for 2008 Nominating Committee Report Committee Chair Nominations Facilities: Finance: Dorothy Ward Hospitality: Doris Bechter Membership: Sandra Mahoney Religious Education: Kathy Abramowitz Social Action: Darnell Kirksey Sunday Services: Kathleen Preece Board of Directors Nominations President: Darryl Bailey President Elect: Secretary: Donnis Deever Treasurer: Trustee at Large: Trustee at Large: |
|
(George Williams Continued on Page 2) |
|
Congregational Meeting Continued on Page 5) |
|
This is my last "View from My Window" column. I first introduced myself to you
in October 2006. Since then we've done a number of things
together, though limited by distance and time. Among them were:
|
|
ute to the understanding of Indian lore in art. A-Z entries on "Characters, Themes, and Concepts," among them Brahma, Mahabharata, Parvati, Vishnu, and Yoga, make up the bulk of the text. An appendix charts Vedic gods by
periods as a handy guide to development of the Hindu pantheon. A
summary of resources suggests readings at various levels, including
children's books. The annotated bibliography lists works as old as James Hastings' revered Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics (1908-1929) and as recent as online Sanskrit dictionaries. A seven-page glossary offers
uncomplicated definitions of 246 pivotal terms. The work concludes with
a detailed index containing numerous cross-references for maximum
accuracy. Overall, the handbook is a prize
catch for public, church, temple, school, and college libraries. In the
style of a patient, respectful teacher, Williams has introduced one of
the world's long-lived belief systems. RBB Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Oxford University Press has just informed me that they have obtained the rights to publish Hindu Mythology
in paperback. It is scheduled to be printed early next year
(2008). It will be essentially a page-by-page reprint except that
new illustrations may be substituted. There will be an addition of Sanskrit (devanagari script) for each of the more than 900 entries. George Williams |
Last Sunday I referred to the
Unitarian, Theodore Parker, as one star in our galaxy of progressives
in U.S. history. When he retired after a 25 year minister to his
Boston congregation, he summarized his intentions by saying: "But what have I been to you all this time? You have lent me your ears: (I
have taken your hearts, too, I believe). But let me ask this of you:
Have I done you good or harm? Have I taught you and helped you, to
reverence your God more; to have a firmer and heartier faith in life;
to love truth the deeper, to love man the more? If so, then indeed has
my work been blessed, and I have been a minister to you." Nine months is too short a time
for all that Theodore Parker did for his congregation, especially the
"taking your heart". But one thing he asked of them seems appropriate
to my endeavors over the past nine months. "Have I done you good
or harm?' I hope most of you can say that I did you more good
than harm. And in so doing I offered you a glimmer of what Parker
described about his ministry. I also hope that from my effort and next
year's experience with a student intern, you will be even more
persuaded to increase your efforts to support a full-time minister.
Then in the years ahead you can better serve the Glendale/Peoria area
by offering a vital, full program here at West Valley Unitarian
Universalist church. Beginning next September, I shall
be Terry Robinson's mentor, meeting with him each week. I shall return
to WVUU Church on three occasions to meet with the Intern Committee and
offer a sermon at the Sunday service. So we shall meet again, I
am pleased to say. Charles A. Gaines |
|
(George Williams Continued) |
|
(Reverend Gaines Continued) |
|
April Blooms To prepare for Easter, all the
kids dyed Easter eggs on Palm Sunday. And then on Easter, the Preschool
and Eagles made a poster while Reverend Gaines gave his sermon.
Meanwhile, older kids were deputized as Official WVUU Easter Bunnies.
They hid the eggs that the younger kids hunted down after church. But that was only part of our spring celebration: On April 22th, Ann Harper helped the kids plant Sunflowers in our garden. Watch the northeast quadrant to see what comes up in May! |
|
Meanwhile, the older kids finished a unit on early Christianity and are now studying Buddhism with Randy Nowell. |
|
Parents and interested parties are invited to join in the children's RE planning meeting on Tuesday, May 15th at 6:30. Meet at the church. We'll be talking about curriculum and family activities over the summer. Last day of Sunday school: May 20th If you have any questions about Sunday school or children's programs, call Kathy A at 623-915-2678 |
|
Children's RE Page |
|
WVUU 2006-2007 Fiscal Year Pledges |
|
The Finance Committee thanks all who pledged to the Church this year. A pledging unit is one or more persons in a household. Last year there were 36 pledging units; This year there are 53! Last year's total dollar amount of pledges was $38,200. This year's total as of April 30th 2007 is $54,567. Last year's average Pledge was $1,061. The average pledge this year is $1,030. And, for you statisticians, the median pledge changed from last year's $780 to this year's $720. Every pledge is important and needed. Many thanks to each of you. |
|
West Valley Spotlights |
|
Resolutions: Vote on Rev. Gaines' recommendation: "That in the fall of 2007 a
special fund drive to subsidize a full-time minister's salary be
conducted. Pledges would be paid as follows: 50% the first year, 30%
the second year, and 20% the third year. Upon the successful completion
of the campaign the search for a full-time minister would begin, with
the expectation of a settlement in September 2008." Adjournment |
|
Congregational Meeting Continued |
|
West Valley Hosts Zen Author You are invited to a free public talk by Brad Warner, author of "Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies, and the Truth About Reality". When: Saturday, June 2nd - 7:00 PM Brad Warner -- Hardcore Zen Brad Warner is a Zen Priest who
lived and taught in Tokyo, Japan for a couple of decades. Prior to
that, Brad played bass in a couple of hardcore punk bands including
0DFX and Dimentia13. They released several albums in the early 1980's.
He recently moved to Los Angeles, California. Brad has studied Soto Zen
with Gudo Wafu Nishijima. In addition to his Zen studies, he gives
frequent lectures on Zen and works for Tsuburaya Productions, the
company founded by Eiji Tsuburaya, the special effects man behind the
classic Godzilla films. Brad's first book was Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies, and the Truth About Reality. His second book, Sit Down and Shut Up is due out in May of this year. Randy Nowell |
|
Guests Invited to Mimosa Breakfast At the 2006 Silent Auction, Dorothy Ward and Doug Pope offered a Mimosa Breakfast at their home. The Breakfast will be at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, May 4. Ten people are coming. There is room for more. More people are welcome for a $10 per person contribution to WVUU. If you would like to come, please call 602-246-1246. |
|
Terry Mead Invites Congregation to His Wedding Reception When Terry invited the
Congregation, he includes the children. There will be a kids'
corner with supervision. Music and Dancing between 6 and 10:00 in
the evening on Friday, May 25th. He says your friendship and presence are your gifts. Replies appreciated but not required. 623-412-2808 or 602-887-2629. |
|
Did you know that Lucy Trissel cat sits? Last year she gave all her cat sitting earnings of over $600 to the Church. Wow, Lucy! And many thanks. |
|
"Good food and good conversation follow our church services every Sunday". |
|
GA 2007 will
be held in Portland, OR. Meetings will be held in the Oregon Convention
Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Portland OR 97232. Registration is now open. Rates increase on May 1. Housing reservations are available now. Find information about Portland, Oregon. General Assembly Information & Tentative Agenda for Congregations, Delegates, & Attendees This 36 page booklet was
sent to all congregations in late February. It contains
information about traveling to Portland, GA Programming, Open Space at
GA, Information for First Time Attendees, the GA Tentative Agenda, and
other General Assembly related materials. GA Information for First-time Attendees Practical advice from GA "veterans." Open Space Technology at GA Be in Portland this June for an
unprecedented opportunity to shape the mission of our
Association. GA attendees will engage in a unique open meeting
process where our own questions and passions will determine our
direction for the 21st century. All are welcome. In Open Space meetings, event
participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working
sessions around a central theme of strategic importance, such as: What
difference should Unitarian Universalism make in the world? Orientation to Open Space will
be provided on Thursday, June 21 during Plenary II (8:30 - 10:00
a.m.). Open Space participants will then go to one of ten
concurrent Domain sessions from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. These
sessions, as well as subsequent Open Space workshops and Convergence
sessions, will run simultaneously with other GA programming.
Participation is voluntary; all GA registrants are invited. At each Domain, participants
will identify as many as 12 issues or topics that relate to the central
question and will schedule their further discussion in designated
meeting times and spaces. This Domain process will
produce as many as 120 participant-driven meetings over six available
workshop times. A master schedule grid of all break-out workshops
will be produced and made available to all GA attendees on Thursday
afternoon. Any GA registrant may attend any Open Space
workshop. However, attendance will be limited to room capacity on
a first come, first served basis. General Assembly ushers will be
present at all Open Space workshops to ensure that rooms are not
over-filled and that aisles remain clear and accessible. On Saturday, June 23, workshop
participants will return to the Domain rooms for Convergence
sessions. The Convergence sessions will serve to bring together
the ideas and themes produced by dozens of simultaneous workshops and
identify points of emergent consensus. From 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Plenary
time will be dedicated to presentations by OST participants of the
ideas or convictions generated by OST workshops and Convergence
sessions. On Sunday, June 24, resolutions resulting from the OST process will be introduced to the Plenary for prioritization by GA delegates. |
|
Board Meeting Highlights April 2007 Representatives from eight committees were in attendance to present written and verbal reports. Sunday Services - Kathy Sheffield is ill and will cancel remaining sermons and classes. Ten people attended moderator training. Finance - A
proposed budget has been prepared and will be refined for presentation
at the May congregational meeting. Pledges from the last fiscal year
are catching up. Facilities - More
volunteers are needed. Five members have expressed interest in the
sanctuary beautification effort. Concerns were raised about children
playing near the parking lot. Membership
- More greeters are needed. New member classes will be held in April
and May. An updated member directory has been published. Nominating - No nominees have been identified to date for the open board and committee chair positions. Religious Education -
Sunday school classes are now being held for preschoolers.
Children's literature recommendations will be published soon.
Terry Robinson will be offering a series of adult RE workshops starting
in October. · A policy and rate schedule for rental of church facilities is being developed. · WVUU will become a member of the Arizona Interfaith Group. How to Access WVUU Board Meeting Minutes on Yahoo Group In order to promote more open
communication in the church, the Board has decided to post WVUU Board
Meetings under the Yahoo Group File section. Approved minutes
from 2007 Board meetings are now available. Going forward, additional
files will be posted as minutes from each meeting are approved. To access the files, follow these steps: 1) From the WVUU Yahoo Group page, click on 'Files" in the blue box on the left. Please note that this is on www.yahoo.com and NOT the WVUU website - www.wvuu.org. 2) Click on the "Board Meeting Minutes" folder 3) Click on the meeting minutes file of your choice. 4) Click 'Open' to read minutes. Kathy Dugan Secretary |
|
General Assembly 2007 All this is from the www.UUA.org website June 20-24 in Portland, Oregon Choices That Matter |
|
May 2007 @ WVUU |
|
Please notify Kathy & Bill Dugan of any calendar updates at kDugan@cox.net or 623-572-6090 |
|
|
|
Sunday, May 5, 2007, Janice
Brunson, member of the Board at Phoenix UU Congregation, will speak on
her recent trip to Africa where she visited and stayed in the homes of
Unitarians in Nigeria, Burundi and Kenya. Following her discussion she
will have an African market, goods for sale, made by African UUs. Sunday, May 13, 2007, Rev. Charles Gaines: "And the Strong Mothers Keep Coming On" I will talk about and celebrate
some mothers and grandmothers that I think about on Mother's Day, not
just from my family but from history. The young need to hear our
stories, yours and mine. Sunday, May 20, 2007,
Terry Sims, UU intern at the Sun City Church, "Loving into Being" What
is it about love that makes it forever vital to our lives? What makes
it endlessly needed and gives it such power? I believe it has to do
with love's ability to create something out of nothing. Sunday, May 27, 2007, Rev.
Charles Gaines: "The Permanent & Transient in Ministry"
Next year West Valley UU Church will be a "teaching congregation." My
sermon will perhaps use the example of ministry by offering some ideas
of what we might teach those whom we mentor as parents, grandparents or
parishioners. Sunday, June 3, 2007, 12:15 p.m. A showing of the movie "An Inconvenient Truth." |
|
West Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 5904 W Cholla Street Glendale, AZ 85311 Phone: 623-846-6004 Editor: Dorothy Ward, Publisher: Doug Pope 602-246-1246 Newsletter E-mail: UniqueDorothy@cox.net This Church provides a safe place to celebrate diversity, draw inspiration for our lives, foster social and environmental justice, and compassionately support each other in our spiritual searches. We currently have 70 members and many more friends. Our Sunday Services begin at 10:30 AM followed by a coffee house style social hour and light lunch. |
|
Page 6 |