vol. 53, issue 5 — the beacon may, 2016

Unitar ian Universal is t Congregat ion

of Grand Traverse 6726 Center Road

Traverse City, MI 49686-1802

231-947-3117 [email protected]

Fax: 231-947-0726 www.uucgt.org

Of f i ce Hours: Monday by appointment Tuesday - Thursday: 9-4 Fr iday: 9-12

Senior Spiritual Leader Rabbi Chava Bahle

[email protected]

Director of Lifespan Experience Sarah Montgomery-Richards

[email protected]

Business Administrator

Sheri Novak [email protected]

Office Administrator Susan Sherman [email protected]

Interim Board of Trustees

Karl Love, President

Price Watts, Vice-President

Phyllis Jessup, Treasurer

Mary Grover, Secretary

Loraine Anderson, Trustee

John Hoffmann, Trustee

Richard Miller, Trustee

Vol. 53, Issue 5 — the BEACON — May, 2016

Sunday Services at 10:30 AM

www.uucgt.org

email: [email protected]

May Theme: Ecology

As Spring is springing, we honor our UU principles of the interdependent web of life

and earth-centered teachings

Sunday, May 1 – Sarah Montgomery-Richards

10:30 AM Service: “Lessons from the Lorax” (one service)

All ages are invited to join us as we learn the valuable lessons offered by Dr. Seuss' timeless character, The Lorax. We, "Speak for the trees!" Don't forget your Bar-ba-loot Suit and your Truffula fruit!

Sunday, May 8 – Rabbi Chava

9:00 AM Adult Learning: “Foundations of Humanism, Part 2”

10:30 AM Service: “For the Earth Forever Turning & Mother’s Day”

Join us for a celebration of nature and ecology through some of the best-loved hymns!

Weaving hymns and words from UU sources new and old, we will celebrate Spring with music

that will stir the heart and open the eyes to the wonder and beauty of the natural world.


9:00 AM Adult Learning: “Where do we go from here?”

Our 9 AM classes will soon end for Summer break. What would you like to see offered in the

Fall? Come for casual conversation and help set part of our direction for the future.

10:30 AM Service: “The Nature Poems of Mary Oliver ”

Let’s gather to share the best loved nature poems of UU’s “poet laureate,” Mary Oliver. Oliver

is an “indefatigable guide to the natural world,” wrote Maxine Kumin in the Women’s Review

of Books, “particularly to its lesser-known aspects.”

“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.”

Sunday, May 22 – Member-led service

10:30 AM Service: “We Are One” (one service)

Increasingly we recognize that being one with nature is essential to a healthy upbringing, a healthy life and a healthy planet. Join us as we celebrate 100 years of the National Parks Service! Conservation will be at the forefront of this exploration of our beloved wild spaces. Please contact Max Old Bear or Nancy Cotcamp if you have stories to share or artwork treas-ures from the National Parks that could be used as part of the setting.

(continues on page 2)

Stan Cain, Editor

231 938-1506

Send submissions to

[email protected]

BEACON Article Deadline:

No later than the 25th of the month

preceding the issue date

2


10:30 AM Service: “No Enemies” (one service)

Is it possible for us to have no enemies, to love our enemies? Some say this is too simplistic a notion for a complex world,

but our UU philosophy teaches us to continually challenge the notion of otherness.

“To love our enemy is impossible. The moment we understand our enemy, we feel compassion towards him or her, and he

or she is no longer our enemy.” from Thich Nhat Hanh

June Theme: Our Fifth Principle

“In our religious lives, the democratic process requires trust in the development of each individual conscience -

a belief that such development is possible for each of us, as well as a commitment to cultivate our own con-

science. We could call it a commitment to the value of each person. In the words of Theodore Parker,

‘Democracy means not “I am as good as you are,” but “You are as good as I am.”’ My connection with the

sacred is only as precious as my willingness to acknowledge the same connection in others.”

- Rev. Parisa Parsa, executive director of the Public Conversations Project

Sunday, June 5 – Short Service prior to the Annual Meeting

Sunday, June 12 – Rabbi Chava

10:30 AM Service: “The Right of Conscience and the Free Pulpit” (one service)

Most UU ministers’ contracts, including the one used by UUCGT, include the idea of a “free and untrammeled

pulpit.” What does this mean? Has this idea ever challenged you? How free is “free?” What do we do when

the conscience of our spiritual leader, as expressed in the “untrammeled pulpit,” raises challenging questions for

us? If there are freedoms and limitations on the pulpit, are there similar freedoms and limits on the power of the

pew?

Sunday, June 19 – Rabbi Chava

10:30 AM Service: “ Flower Communion & Stories My Father Told Me” (one service)

The Flower Communion Service was created by Norbert Capek (1870-1942), who founded the Unitarian Church

in Czechoslovakia. You are asked to bring a flower of your choice, either from your own gardens, or from the

field or roadside. Each of us will place a flower in vases. This signifies that it is by our own free will we join with

each other. (Reginald Zottoli) Men from the congregation are invited to share stories and reflections this day as

well.

Sunday, June 26 – Member-led service (TBD - one service)

ALL ABOUT US

We hold in our hearts:

Anne Hughes was scheduled for surgery in Ann Arbor last week.

Dottie Cain is home now recovering after shoulder surgery last month.

We continue to be mindful of:

Bill Wells

Nancy Landfair was walking (with assistance): her first steps in a very long time.

Jerry Beasley

Mary Cheney, whose mother is now in Hospice care.

We are happy to see all those recovering from recent surgeries

and/or hospitalizations:

Mary Ann Force, Rick Walter, Ron Yatich, Mercedes Kimling, Ellen Weber

Judith Briggs, Pastoral Care

[email protected]

3

Beloved friends,

I want to take this opportunity to deeply thank each and everyone of you who donated to our Annual Pledge Drive. I especially want to thank the members of the Stewardship Team who worked so very hard to ensure a smooth process for us.

When I think about what our Congregational resources do, I am excited to look ahead to the new year. Yes, our funds will be more limited, but thanks to those of you who gave and to those who increased your pledges this year, we will continue to move forward with our vision of this Beloved Community.

What kinds of things can we look forward to in the

year ahead? I hope we will have a chance to talk about

these!

I would very much like to offer a curriculum I learned

about at the UUA Regional Assembly called UU Well-

Springs. It is a bi-monthly class over a 10 month time

period that really will allow us to enter more deeply

into how we live the meaning of this faith.

In blessing,

Rabbi Chava

New growth and caring...

Rabbi Chava’s Column

Reflection... “Where Are We Going?”

Financial Summary As of March 31, 2016 (75% of fiscal year)

Current Year Prior Year

Budgeted Income Received YTD $235,055 73.3% $227,742 87.1%

Budgeted Expenses Paid YTD $222,035 69.2% $193,819 74.1%

“For Those in Need” YTD $ 14,167 $ 14,765

Budgeted income includes the total of all pledged, unpledged and loose offerings and miscellaneous income including building rent, etc. “For Those in Need” collections are in addition to Budgeted Income Received and are disbursed quarterly to worthy causes. The percentage reflects the portion of the total amount of income or expense budgeted for the fiscal year. Three quarters of the way into our fiscal year, income still exceeds expenses. We would like to express our appreciation to those who have kept their pledges up to date, including those who have recently caught up. If you are still among those who are not up to date on your pledge, we ask that you try to catch up as you are able. We need to stay on schedule with our pledges.

Questions can be directed to your Finance Committee Chair, Mike McDonald ([email protected]), or to other members of the

Finance Committee: Gary Harris, Phyllis Jessup, Judy Myers, Kay Sturgeon or Price Watts.

4

General Assembly June 22-26, Columbus, OH

UUCGT has scholarship money available! The theme for GA 2016 will be Heart Land: Where Faiths Connect. The faith world is increasingly multifaith. People are crossing borders of religion and spiritual practice to create wholeness in their lives individual-ly and collectively. The labels—Christian, Jew, Muslim, Bud-dhist, Hindu, theist and non-theist—no longer define who or what we love, or how spirit moves in our lives. General Assembly 2016 in Columbus, Ohio will assemble leaders and communities of many faiths to worship together, learn from one another, and create a new vision of faith that no longer divides us, but connects us to an interdependent future that works for all. For more infor-mation, contact Rabbi Chava or visit http://www.uua.org/ga

Midwest UU Summer Assembly July 3–9

Potosi, MO

An annual intergenerational Unitarian Universalist retreat for fun, fellowship, and personal growth. You are officially invited to a week of fun, friends, and spiritual renewal in the beautiful Mis-souri Ozarks at YMCA's Trout Lodge. MUUSA 2016 will feature many familiar workshops and activities, as well as several exciting new options! For more information please visit http://muusa.org/. A brochure is available in the office as well.

9 AM Sunday Classes with Rabbi Chava

I'm a member of River Road UU Congregation, Bethesda,

MD, but commute intermittently to our house in Northport

and attend UUCGT when the travel schedule permits.

What a treat it was to join today's session of the Short

Course on the UU principles. Thank you for thoughtfully,

compassionately fostering the individual religious reflection

and discernment at the core of the values we profess.

Jerry Schatz, Rockville, MD & Northport, MI

May 8 “Foundations of Humanism, Part 2”

May 15 “Where Do We Go From Here?”

These are fun 45 minute introductions to the basic ideas of our tradition. Join us and stay for the 10:30 AM service – make a great UU day!

Program Council – upcoming dates

May 15 & June 12

12noon - 1:00 PM

What is the Program Council and Why?

The UUCGT Program Council is comprised of committee chairs or co-chairs, or their designees. All are welcome to attend. The purpose of the UUCGT Program Council is to hold the “big pic-ture” of UUCGT’s mission and ministry. By gathering together, we learn about the scope and activities of the other committees, and we ensure that every committee is working toward the shared goals of the congregation as a whole. The gathering promotes opportunities to collaborate, offers support for each committee’s chair and his or her committee, and creates a leaders’ community for the committee chairs. Plus, the meetings are actually fun, pro-ductive and joyous - snacks will be provided!

Wednesday Morning Meditation

“Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness to just be happy.” - Guillaume Apollinaire Join us for silent, centering meditation each Wednesday morning from 10:00-10:30 in the sanctuary. All are welcome.

"Little Book" Brown Bag Lunch & Learn

12noon - 1:00 PM

Join Rabbi Chava for this monthly brown bag "lunch and learn" program. Each month we will read a short, manageable volume of spiritual interest to increase joy, centeredness and peace. Pack yourself a lunch and come with an open heart. There may be sev-eral editions of these books available - all are good!

May 17: “How to be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job: An Invitation to Oblate Life,” Brother Benet Tvedten

* We are now an official Horizon Books book club – you can re-ceive a discount on any title you buy for this group. Buy local!

LGBTQ Support Group @UUCGT!

Have you ever wished that you could talk about things with other

LGBTQ individuals in a private setting? Now you can!

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Traverse City spon-

sors an LGBTQ Support Group at their building on Sundays from

5:00-6:30 PM. The group is confidential and open to everyone in

the community and their allies.

UUA News from Rabbi Chava

UPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTS

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SAVE THE DATE!

UUCGT INSIDE & OUTSIDE CLEAN-UP!

Saturday, May 14, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Yard work & window washing! Clean-up & Spruce-up! Bring your own gloves and tools for tasks, and please join us as you are able ~ 15 minutes or an hour or two!

Donuts provided! Join in fellowship, connection & service in support of your UUCGT home!

And, Don’t Forget Our Kitchen!!!

This is the special time of year when we scour the Kitchen! Join us at 9:00 AM on May 14th, or select your own time during the Month of May … 3 hours or so. We will be cleaning cupboards and drawers, stove and refrigerator, shelves and under anything that might have collected dust over the winter season! Please give me a call: Karen Culp at 947-9416 or 409-4470

Benzie Doings in May! Benzie Satellite Programs

May 4: Rabbi Chava Bahle will lead our service.

May 18: It is our tradition, on the last meeting before summer adjournment, to invite Michigan Shores residents to join us for a potluck supper and annual Flower Communion. We are very grateful to have the use of this facility for our bi-monthly meetings.

Mary Lee Orr

[email protected]

UU Book Club

Ah! Maybe Spring is really here finally. And with Spring, we find a different kind of book for our UU Book Club.

For our May 8th gathering, we are reading, "There is Something I Want You to Do,” a collection of stories by Charles Baxter.

Our host and discussion leader is Harriet Wall (10471 S. Leelanaw Way). You can reach Harriet at 929-2549 to let her know that you will be able to attend. As always, newcomers to the group are welcome.

Karen Mars

[email protected]

Singing Sisters Concert

Save the date - May 21 - for this Singing Sisters concert to benefit Flint children using the music of Carolyn McDade. The Singing Sisters may have as many as 40 singers participating and we are hoping to raise at least $3000 to send to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund. Should be a good concert at St. Andrews church in Beulah at 5:00 PM with snacks afterwards at 6:30. Invite all your friends who have a bit of money to throw at the kids in Flint. Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation is co-sponsoring this with Singing Sisters, so every penny we raise goes directly to Flint. Sponsors are covering the expenses.

Misty Sheehan

[email protected]

M o r e A n n o u n c e m e n t s

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For my report this month I have several broad topics to share:

First, I would like to highlight the Staff Resources Committee (formerly known as Personnel). Staff Resources or SRC has been very active this year. The committee consists of co-chairs Leslie Cook and myself. Rabbi Chava Bahle and Business Administrator, Sheri Novak, complete the committee. At the April Board of Trus-tees meeting, the committee presented the Staff Resources Policy Manual for consideration at the May meeting. This manual is the result of more than three year’s work. It establishes comprehensive policies regarding our staff. The manual manages staff evalua-tions, processes to resolve conflict and matters related to employ-ment. In addition to the current committee others contributed con-siderably to this effort. Marco Cabrera and Phyllis Jessup served the congregation in the creation of these policies. The manual is available for review on our website under “About Us / Board”.

Second, your Board has been very busy this spring. All Board work is available on our website referenced above. I would like to highlight work from the April meeting. The Board of Trustees created a Board Committee in response to recommendations made by the Communications Task Force as well as the Stewardship Committee. The committee will be known as the Congregational Health and Reconciliation committee. It will report to the Board and Congregation as a whole monthly. The committee will set its own agenda and manage membership. The committee will be led by Linda Fletcher and Gail Trill, and will be supported by Trustees Loraine Anderson and Richard Miller. The Board believes that this committee will best serve our Congregation with input from all interested parties, and will be inclusive above all else. Stay tuned for more information. If you are interested in supporting the work of this committee, reach out to any of the previously named.

Looking ahead, we enter a season with much activity at UUCGT. Our congregation will hold the Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 5th this year. We will elect a new Board of Trustees for 2016-2017. We will elect members to the Leadership Development Committee. We will consider a budget that will reflect the decline in our pledge revenues. The budget will attempt to support the values of the Congregation balanced with fiscal responsibility.

There will be a proposed Bylaws update. This update merely up-dates the nomenclature in the Bylaws to best reflect terms currently in use in the operation of our organization. The terms Senior Spir-itual Leader, Director of Lifespan Experience, Business Adminis-trator and Office Administrator replace Minister (or Senior Minis-ter), Director of Religious Education, Bookkeeper and Congrega-tional Administrator.

The Board of Trustees will schedule a meeting to discuss the budg-et on a Sunday prior to the annual meeting. We would like to re-view the budget with the Congregation to best answer questions regarding the inevitable cuts. As a reminder, matters before the Congregation may not be amended or altered at the Annual Meet-ing because those who vote absentee will have already cast their votes.

The Leadership Development Committee and the Board of Trus-tees is considering an upcoming “meet the candidates” meeting as well.

The schedule for these events is in progress as I write, so please watch for announcements of these important events. Thank you to everyone for the many ways you support our community.

Respectfully Submitted,

Karl LoveKarl LoveKarl LoveKarl Love UUCGT President

F r o m t h e P r e s i d e n t

Community Needs

Your Community Needs Committee recently allocated $3150 to several local charities thanks to your generosity at Sunday Services offerings.

In an effort to learn more about local agencies we fund, we invited Emma Moyer, Director of Northwest Michigan Supportive Hous-ing, to present about her agency. They are part of a continuum of care with other agencies that collaborate to address homelessness in our area. NMSH serves those who are both homeless and have a diagnosed mental illness. Currently 61 clients are housed in scat-tered housing sites – NMSH owns a home, a 4-plex, a condo, and an 11-unit apartment building, and they also work with landlords to lease housing for clients. They have a 92% success rate, using retention as the measure of success. NMSH also provides support-ive services including counseling, life skills, budgeting, etc. and works closely with CMH. We gave NMSH $1000.

Blessings in a Backpack was given $500. This program is adminis-tered by Father Fred and provides backpacks with food to food-insecure families identified by TCAPS. Backpacks are sent home

on Fridays ensuring that these families have food over the week-end.

STEP, Students in Transition Empowerment Program, a TCAPS program for homeless youth, was given $500.

Safe Harbor was given $250 to fund UU provided meals during March.

We gave $500 to the Grace Episcopal Food Pantry in memory of Tom Kelly, a Grace Episcopal member and Inland Seas founder.

The Traverse Health Clinic received $200.

The Youth Health and Wellness Clinic, a GT County Health De-partment program, received $200 in honor of Anne Hughes, be-loved UU member and employee of the clinic.

As always, we welcome your donation requests and feedback.

Respectfully, Liz Bruning, Chair

7

MAY … brings new growth

and development in our

natural environment, and

here in our spiritual growth

& development at UUCGT.

SPRING GREETINGS from…

The entire Membership Team — Cathy Annelin, Sherry Davis, John and Pinkie Hoffman, Sue Pyne, Charlotte Shea, Chris Walter, Rick Walter, and Jane Watts — who continue to Welcome, Greet, Facilitate into Membership, and Nurture (in partnership with other groups at UUCGT) prospective, new and current members.

Calling All UUCGT Members to take time to introduce your-selves to Visitors and New Members and get to know them as we

welcome them into our community!

Gentle Reminder to New Members — Please read all materials in the white New Member Folder given to you at the service on March 6. It is important that you fill out the Member Bio and Member Interest Survey forms and return them to the office at your earliest convenience. If questions, contact Chris or Rick Walter, or the Office. Someone from our committee will be in touch with you soon to follow-up.

PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS — IMPORTANT

UPCOMING DATE:

May 8: 15 Minutes With the Rabbi 10:00 - 10:15 am

Individuals or small groups; informal chats for prospective mem-bers interested in learning more about UUCGT.

Another New Member Welcome Service can be scheduled later

this Spring or early Summer. Please let us know if you are inter-ested in becoming a member of UUCGT.

GREETER OPPORTUNITIES

All NEW Members and Current Members are encouraged to sign up to be a Greeter some Sunday for the 9:00 or 10:30 am ser-vices. This is an excellent way to meet other members of the con-gregation and for them to meet you. No committee meetings, could be a one-time commitment for super busy people - but more time is preferable. Just sign up on the bulletin board near the office,

or call Charlotte Shea, 883-9357.

Duties may include some or all of the following:

Get Order of Service bulletins from office Stand at front or rear doors, Greet people as they enter , Hand

them Order of Service and Remind them to get hymnal and/or songbook from the rack in hallway

Count attendees Circulate Offer ing Baskets at appropr iate time in service Help separate congregational and community needs cash and

checks for Business Administrator

INVITATION —

….To any interested persons - to become a member of our Mem-

bership Team. We have fun meetings planning for routine and new activities. If you enjoy people, love talking with them, and would like to facilitate their membership in our loving, caring com-munity, then this is the Committee for you!

SPOTLIGHT on New Members

Penni and Bryan Newlun

The Newluns have been attending UUCGT since November 2015 and they were attracted because of the CUUPS group and other Pagan-minded people. This Nature-Based Spirituality Group at our UUCGT is a CUUPS Chapter (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans). The sincere openness of congregants, feeling totally ac-cepted, and Rabbi Chava are what led them to become members. Penni and Bryan were welcomed into membership at the service on March 6, 2016. On a recent Sunday they shared their profound joy of son Cristopher, who after many years of study at Interlochen Arts Academy, the Manhattan School of Music and Pratt Institute, will graduate this month with a Masters degree in Arts and Cultural Management. Penni and Bryan will attend his graduation ceremo-ny at Radio City Music Hall. Penni currently works in sales re-cruiting physicians, and Bryan has been self-employed as a carpen-ter and machinist.

Bryan’s leisure summer activities are outdoors with gardening and herbs, and reading, music and opera occupy his leisure time in the winter. A favorite book is The Path of Druidry: Walking the An-cient Green Way by Penny Billington, a structured course of study in Celtic history and mythology which highlights this nature-based tradition. Penni enjoys gardening, herb lore and farm markets in the summer, and reading, painting and opera in winter months. The book Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a favor-ite of Penni’s. Intercultural myths, fairy tales and stories in this book help women reconnect with the fierce, healthy and visionary attributes of women’s instinctual nature.

Through membership at UUCGT, both Penni and Bryan look forward to personal spiritual growth and building friendships. They are interested in CUUPS and other pagan activities, the Brewing Community, Membership Committee, Music and Arts, and Pastoral Care. We are very happy to welcome Penni and Bryan, and look forward to growing with them.

Chris and Rick Walter

Co-Chairs, Membership Team

[email protected] or 989-430-4776

[email protected] or 989-430-5174

Membership News

8

Greetings

Friends,

Time has really flown this year, and we already find ourselves in the final month of our regular program-ming in many areas until after Labor Day in September.

Children’s Programming on Sunday morning makes its shift to the Summer Schedule after Memorial Day; Wednesday Supper format begins to change; and pre-service gatherings such as adult classes/groups either have already taken a break or will after this month. Please be sure to consult your FLASH and the calendar carefully and frequently – so much changes after the monthly Beacon is printed.

May brings us the theme of Ecology, which we kick off with an All Congregation Service entitled Lessons from

the Lorax. The Lorax is a beautiful story that can ring with wisdom for all ages if given the opportunity to do so. Filled with teachings on ecological stewardship, responsibility in relationship to the earth and all of its inhabitants, and yes, a dose of humor, The Lorax calls us to consider our relationship with Mother Earth. Although the more recent film adaptation came out sev-eral years ago, this blog entitled: The Lorax: A Chil-dren's Movie or Wake-up Call for Adults? Five Mean-

ingful Things To Do With Kids After Leaving the Thea-

ter, (http://goo.gl/PRHWSM) reminds us there are sim-ple ways that we can make a difference in our world and teach our children to do so as well.

This theme of connection rings all the more true with me as we consider the financial situation that we are facing as a congregation. Let us be mindful that these budget changes will impact all of us, because we are all connected as a community. As Unitarian Universalists we know that we are part of an interdependent web of life – a system that binds us to one another in responsi-bility and care. This applies not only to our stewardship of the natural world, but of our beloved community. I encourage you to consider this connection and how in-terdependent we are - your decisions impact me and my decisions impact you. It is time to consider how our choices impact the whole. Learn from The Lorax, and the character of the Once-ler who had a dramatic impact on the entirety of the system. “Unless someone like you

cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get bet-

ter. It's not.” ― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

As always, be kind to yourselves, kind to each other, and send loving kindness out into the universe.

In Peace,

Sarah Montgomery-Richards

Director of Lifespan Experience

[email protected]

L i f e s p a n E x p e r i e n c e

9

My grandson had to write a paper about a treatise on being “charitable” to the environ-ment. We pondered over the word “charitable” in this context and what did it mean? He is attending Norte Dame Univer-sity, and he had to take at least one more theology course. The course was on Charity and the Environment.

As we learned more what he was supposed to write about, we began to realize the broader sense of the word Charitable. For example, it meant not just recycle or just put up solar panels, etc. The theologian in her 12-page treatise was trying to say that the entire environment needed Charitable un-derstanding and action, not just one action. In other words, you cannot stop at just recy-cling. You must do more. She was saying that all things are related and interrelated and therefore needed our Charitable attitude and conscience efforts to help protect and save. Being therefore Charitable was all encompassing of the whole planet, of all aspects, everything. Wow! Agree, but how much can one do at one time? And there I think we also need to be charitable, to our-selves, one cannot do it all.

We must all do it all and together. Hmm, can we?

Thinking about this a bit, one quickly realiz-es that many aspects of our society are inter-tangled and have many aspects that need our Charitable attention. One example is the Black issues, crime, poverty, racism with mass incarceration, etc. Wow, that is a big one! But there is no question that all as-pects of this issue are twisted together in a giant mess that needs a tremendous amount of Charity by lots of individuals, organiza-tions, laws, social organizations and more. There the Charity means Charity in attitude, patience, understanding, helpfulness with-out passing judgment and without discrimi-nation and without aloofness, and more. We have been reading about these issues in our Social Justice Book Discussion Group.

There are many examples we can look at, but the point is to realize the many aspects of the whole problem and issues, how they are interrelated, and where and how we can help to further positive change. There is an amazing amount to do.

So tonight is the eve before some big prima-ry elections in our nation. I will look at the whole problem and issues and get back to doing my part, along with others, to attack the errors in one aspect of this large interre-lated area. I will make phone calls to get out the vote for what I feel is the better solu-tion.

“Together we shall overcome.” Join me. Thanks!

Emmy Lou Cholak

[email protected]

S o c i a l J u s t i c e a n d A c t i o n

Calendar

June 2016

01 Wed Meditation Rabbi Chava 10:00 AM 10:30 AM

01 Wed Stretch & Exercise Judith Briggs 11:00 AM 12:00 PM

01 Wed Sunday Services Committee 1:00 PM 3:00 PM

01 Wed Wednesday Supper Sandra McDonald TBA 5:00 PM 7:00 PM

01 Wed International Folk Dances Richard Fidler 7:00 PM 9:00 PM

02 Thu Peacemakers Needleworkers 1:30 PM 3:30 PM

02 Thu Vocal Ensemble 7:00 PM 8:30 PM

03 Fri Facilities Committee Dave Halsted 10:00 AM 11:00 AM

05 Sun Sunday Service (one service) 10:30 AM 11:30 AM

05 Sun UUCGT Annual Meeting 11:30 AM 1:00 PM

05 Sun Mindfulness Meditation Fleda Brown 2:30 PM 6:30 PM

05 Sun LGBTQ Support Group Rebekah Fuller 5:00 PM 6:30 PM

06 Mon Stretch & Exercise Judith Briggs 11:00 AM 12:00 PM

06 Mon UU Men's Group Minerva's 5:30 PM 7:30 PM

06 Mon Open Gay AA Meeting 7:00 PM 8:30 PM

07 Tue CUUPS Sarah Montgomery-Richards That's a Pizza, 12-1 PM

07 Tue Bridge Group Paul Christ 1:00 PM 4:30 PM



08 Wed Membership Committee Chris & Rick Walter 4:00 PM 5:30 PM


08 Wed Finance Committee Mike McDonald 7:00 PM 8:00 PM




10 Fri Friday Night Out Sarah Montgomery-Richards 5:30 - 9:00 PM

11 Sat Singing Sisters Linda Hebert 10:00 AM 2:00 PM

11 Sat Concert: John Kumjian & Dave Viswat 7:30 PM 10:00 PM


12 Sun UU Book Club Karen Mars TBA 2:00 PM 4:00 PM





14 Tue Staff Resources Committee Karl Love 12:30 PM 1:30 PM


15 Wed Leadership Development Ann Swaney 9:30 AM 11:30 AM











20 Mon UUCGT Summer Solstice 5:00 PM 8:00 PM



21 Tue UUCGT Board Meeting Karl Love 5:30 PM 7:00 PM







10

Unitarian Universalist Congregation

of Grand Traverse

6726 Center Road Traverse City MI 49686-1802

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

the BEACON PUBLISHED MONTHLY

Volume 53, Issue 5

May, 2016

Calendar All events and programs take place at UUCGT unless otherwise noted and are open to everyone.

May 2016 01 Sun Sunday Service (one service) 10:30 AM 11:30 AM

01 Sun Mindfulness Meditation Group Fleda Brown 2:30 PM 6:30 PM



02 Mon Memoir Writing Group Sara Boys 1:00 PM 2:30 PM

02 Mon UU Men's Group Dave Halsted Minerva's 5:30 PM 7:30 PM


03 Tue CUUPS Sarah Montgomery-Richards That's a Pizza, 12-1 PM




04 Wed Sunday Services Committee 1:00 PM 3:00 PM

04 Wed Wednesday Night Potluck Sandra McDonald 5:30-7:30 PM




06 Fri Facilities Committee Dave Halsted 10:00 AM 11:00 AM

08 Sun Adult Class: Foundations of Humanism Rabbi Chava 9-9:45 08 Sun 15 Minutes with the Rabbi Rabbi Chava 10:00 AM 10:15 AM

08 Sun Sunday Service 10:30 AM 11:30 AM

08 Sun UU Book Club Karen Mars Host: Harriet Wall 2:00-4:00 PM






10 Tue Staff Resources Committee Karl Love 12:30 PM 1:30 PM





11 Wed Membership Committee Chris & Rick Walter 4:00-5:30 PM

11 Wed Wednesday Night Supper Sandra McDonald 5:30-7:00 PM

11 Wed Colloquium-Karin Killian Sarah Montgomery-Richards 7-8 PM

11 Wed Finance Committee Mike McDonald 7:00 PM 8:00 PM




13 Fri Friday Night Out Sarah Montgomery-Richards 5:30- 9:00 PM

14 Sat UUCGT Spring Clean-up Dave Halsted & Karen Culp 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

15 Sun Adult Class: Where Do We Go? Rabbi Chava 9- 9:45 AM

15 Sun Sunday Service 10:30 AM 11:30 AM

15 Sun Piano Recital Becky Somsel 1:00 PM 4:30 PM






17 Tue Little Spiritual Book Brown Bag Lunch Rabbi Chava 12-1 PM


17 Tue UUCGT Board Meeting Karl Love 5:30 PM 7:00 PM




18 Wed Wednesday Night Potluck Sandra McDonald 5:30 -7:30 PM




21 Sat Concert: Robin Lee Berry & Glenn Wolff 7:30 PM 9:30 PM










25 Wed Wednesday Supper & Brewing Community Sandra McDonald, John Hoffmann Rare Bird 5:00 - 7:00 PM







30 Mon Stretch & Exercise Judith Briggs 10:00 AM 11:00 AM



vol. 53, issue 5 — the beacon may, 2016

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