Church Life
monthly newsletter - part 2

Our newsletter has been divided into two parts for quicker viewing. Part 1 will contain all church faith-related activities, including sermons, messages from the minister and religious instruction. Part 2 will contain all other activities of church life.

The Forward

May 2008

See all our activities at a glance: uuamherst.org/calendar

Let's Make Sundays more friendly to all our new visitors and more (ful)filling to our members!
Coffee Hour: Many thanks to Lois & Walter Baker, Nancy & Jim Conniff, Sharon Harrington and Rosemary Priore who will join Joan Lehman this year in helping to create our wonderful coffee hour time together.

Each week, there will be at least one experienced coffee team member in the kitchen to assist volunteers. Our goal is to make it a pleasant way for you to help with the Sunday service. It's a very important way that you can contribute to our beloved community! Look for volunteer sign-up sheets in the service bulletin.

Made with love, or procured with love - we welcome your contribution to the refreshment table Sunday mornings. There's no set schedule for this, so just bring along your treat when the spirit moves you. Joan Lehman

Like to help out with an easy and friendly task? Sign up to be a Greeter at the Emerson Room doors on Sunday morning. It's a happy job! Look for the sign-up sheet on the Church Life bulletin board in the Lobby. I'll send you a reminder the week before you're on duty. Joan Jacobs

Ushers: Elaine Cusker, Ria and Hinni Martens and Bob Wack will join me again this year as ushers on Sunday mornings. We'll be putting the inserts into the Order of Service, handing them out to you as you enter the Chapel, sharing the microphone at "Joys and Sorrows" and passing the plate at the collection. As if that wasn't enough to keep us busy, we also count and record attendance and contributions. We are often assisted by unsuspecting volunteers who we corral as they walk in the door! Dennis Bihl

Art Wall: Please consider sharing your art, travel photos or collections with the congregation. Sign up at the Art Wall for a Sunday and we'll help you hang your artwork before service and take it down after service. Please direct your questions or suggestions to Christy Reinhold.

Welcoming Circle: Do you want to help out, but never seem to be able to get to church early enough to be a greeter or coffee hour host? Your Membership Committee is looking for a few friendly people to help meet & greet newcomers after the service. Please see Joann Shafer to volunteer. Joann Shafer

Transportation: Do you need a ride to Church? If so, we have a group of people who have offered to pick up folks who are fairly close to their homes and we would hope to accommodate you. Please call Joan & Carl Jacobs and we'll do our best to match you up. On the other hand, if you are a person who is willing to help, please do the same. We already have several people who have offered to help, but we can always use a few more. Needless to say, this would be completely at your convenience and, in most cases, would not be on an every week basis!
Joan Jacobs

OUR LEADERSHIP
Minister; Reverend Tim Ashton 634-3010
Chairperson, Board of Trustees; Eileen McCallister
Music Director; Marie Zak
Religious Education Director; Anne Hibbert
Church Administrator/Newsletter Ed.; Margot Shoemaker 634-3010, uuamherst @ roadrunner.com

Renters Committee Update Some months ago the Board decided to appoint a Renters Committee, charged with the task of reviewing and revising the terms of rental for the many groups that use our Church. These groups fall into several different categories, including those run by Church members, commercial organizations and Self-help groups. For many years our church has been a welcoming place for self-help groups, asking very little for rent and giving them great freedom in the use of the buildings and grounds. However, in recent years the number of these groups has grown considerably, as has the size of some of the individual groups, so that some problems have arisen about oversight, accountability, etc.
The Renters Committee has reviewed each situation and met with members of each of the groups, in order to explain to them our reasons for changing the rental terms, which include the need for a signed agreement covering the replacement of lost or damaged property, the use of alcoholic beverages, compliance with Church rules and, more importantly agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Church & Church Members from all claims, judgements, actions, etc. which arise out of the renter's use of the Church's property.
We also work with each group to find a rent which is fair to both the Church and the group, in most cases accepting considerably less than the $1.00 per person charged by other UU Churches we have consulted.
These changes have resulted in several groups relocating (or still looking for a new meeting place), and several new groups forming and gladly accepting our new rates and conditions. Even if some of the larger groups relocate this will hardly affect our rental income, as they pay so little that it in no way covers the cost of utilities, or wear and tear.

We remain committed to keeping the Church open and welcoming to people who need us, but we live in a time when we would be unwise to leave the Church legally vulnerable and unprotected. If anyone has a question, please don't hesitate to talk to any of the Committee. Dian Tucker, Bruce Becker, Pamela Twycross-Kent

Building Operations Team (BOT)
Join 5 experienced members on a team to ensure that our Church facilities function optimally. Anyone interested can find a role – we need people who can perform or oversee maintenance on plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC systems, carpentry, parking lot , painting as well as an overall BOT coordinator. We also need someone on the team who can coordinate with the cleaning staff and caretaker. More individuals on the team means less work for everyone. You don't need to be a jack of all trades or even a master of one. To volunteer, contact Gemma Lanthier or Brenda Young.

The Junior Youth Group decided to take a collection for Cornerstone (the facility that shelters homeless women and women with children) and the City Mission. The JYG took a tour at the Cornerstone in December. They told us that a large percentage of their facility runs on donations from the public. It was quite an eye-opener for all that went. We felt that these people truly needed lots of help. Donation barrels have arrived. We are asking the congregation to get involved. We will be collecting Men's, Women's and Children's clothing in the designated barrels. The fourth one will be miscellaneous items such as shampoo soap etc. Together we could all make a difference.
- Darlene Digati & Scott Harrigan, teachers

WANTED - Decor Committee Chairperson The Decor committee is now searching for someone to chair their committee. Anyone interested in becoming either Chair or a member please contact Joann Shafer for more information.

Current Events/Lunch Discussion Group Tuesday, May 13
This month's discussion will be cancelled as there is a conflict with the Williamsville Clergy Luncheon which will be served that day at our church. Several of our discussion group members will be preparing for and hosting this event for Tim. Marge Marcille

Women's Lunch
Tuesday, May 20, 12:30 pm - Let's be "renewed in each other's company" today. Bring our own lunch to the Emerson Room and catch up on what's happening in each other's lives. We will welcome the" Snow Birds" back to our group today! Also, Julia will have eco-friendly suggestions for us to use at home.

Women's Circle The Women's Circle discussion group meets on the first and fourth Tuesday of the month at 1:30pm in the living room. We are collecting poems for a booklet to be published and shared among ourselves. Bring a copy of your favorite poem (originals welcome!) by June 3.
Tuesday, May 6, 1:30 pm - UU World Discussion.

Tuesday, May 27, 1:30 pm - Today we will study Chapter 7 (of 10) of our UU Roots curriculum entitled "Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Transcendentalists." We will watch the short video presentation and then read a passage from Emerson's important "Harvard Divinity School Address" of 1838. Thank goodness for that man's impatience with traditional religion!

Tuesday, June 3, 1:30 pm - Today we will read and discuss Barack Obama's speech on race. It is available on the New York Times website but I will have copies for us at the meeting.

Tuesday, June 24, 1:30 pm - UU Roots

Tuesday, July 1, 1:30 pm - Eileen McCallister taped an interesting interview of Satish Mohan, Amherst Town Supervisor, by Peter Hunt on Hunt's weekly radio program. We will listen to the conversation and discuss the topics presented. Marge Marcille

Adult Ed. Pot Luck Dinner and Program
Wednesday, May 14 Stop the Violence: Alternatives to Violence Kay Arsem and John Hoffman have worked with the Alternatives to Violence Program for years. The goal of the program is to empower people to lead non-violent lives through affirmation, respect for all, community building, cooperation and trust. Both John and Kay have been powerful representatives in our congregation for social action.
Pot Luck Dinner at 6:30 - bring a dish to share.
Program at 7:30. Chris & Marlana Barry

Church Plant Sale - Saturday, May 17 in the church parking lot. Spring has come and folks are able to work in their yards. Plant Sale committee needs your plant "volunteers" for our sale. Please remember this as you work in your garden. There are many flower pots, various sizes in the garden shed that we will make available. They will be outside the garden shed door for you to pick up. We can use divisions of house plants, decorative pots you no longer want, seedlings from shrubs or vines, and other garden related items. Be sure to label your item. We can use salespersons at the sale. Kathy Moriarty, Kathy Wack and Betty Howell

Spiritual Cinema Circle Looking for something fun and relaxing to do on a Friday night? We would love for you to join the circle this month! Families with children certainly are welcome to attend. Children can watch the movie, if appropriate or run around the house with our two girls.
Films for May 30:
The Wine Bar This short film transports us to a cozy wine bar on a winter evening in Manhattan. Henry walks in looking for a beer, and in his bumbling innocence, both offends and charms the bartender and the beautiful woman reading beside him.(12 minutes in English)
Lucy's Piano Starring Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele), this short film reveals the transformation that can occur when humanity comes in to soften the blow of a tragic loss. (14 minutes in English)
Mystic Ball (I) This beautiful documentary is one-part inspiring sports movie and one-part spiritual quest as Greg Hamilton explores the art of chinlone, an engaging ball game played by almost every Burmese person, regardless of age or gender. (83 Minutes in Burmese and English with English subtitles.)

When: last Friday of each month
Time: We will start the movie promptly at 7:15pm
Where: Our house, Williamsville
What to Bring: your own beverages and any other snacks besides popcorn (we will provide the popcorn)!
Cost: $30 divided by the # of attending adults
Hosting: Scott and Tammy Ulrich

The World's Wildest
RUMMAGE SALE - April 12!
Rummage Wrap-Up
How sweet it is, Jackie Gleason used to say. And that's just what Chairman Dennis Bihl says when he reports that RUMMAGE 2008 MADE $6700. If you know much about rummage, you know that that's a lot of stuff and thanks to our congregation for all that (can we say it again?) stuff. Special thanks, indeed, to Debbie Berg, purveyor of purses, vittles, & potions for rummage personnel.

Kids Consignment Sale :March 7 and 8 had gross sales of $17,00.00. Over 5,800 items were sold. Despite a winter storm on March 7 and 8, Kids Consignment Sale had customers. The Church should net $4,000.00 after expenses. Six of the 40 sellers were church members. Over 40 church members helped in various ways to make this event a success.KCS Committee: Michele Beiter, Amanda Crotty, Betty Howell, Hella Jacob and Jennifer Pollard

The Lay Worship Committee is starting a Lending Library for books on UU spirituality. The idea is to buy books from the UUA Bookstore and build a quality collection of spirituality texts that would be too expensive for many people to own by themselves and lend them out to members of the congregation for a limited time so that we can all enjoy and learn from them. If you have books on UU spirituality that you would like to donate to this library or are interested in donating money to buy books for the library, please contact Scott Harrigan. If you have suggestions for books of interest, we will put them up for a vote depending on our limited funds (if you want to 'sponsor' a particular book, let us know!). We are limiting purchases for theLibrary to selections the UUA Bookstore to support their work. If you think part of your ministry for the church might be working with this Library, email Scott Harrigan.

The 2008 Canvass / Annual Pledge Campaign is now !
The Canvass goal for the 2008 budget year is to raise $225,000 through pledges from members and friendsof the church. This very attainable goal is a modest increase over the current year's actual pledge level and will provide for approximately 75% of the total income necessary to support our congregation's day-to-day operations in 2008.

As noted in the Canvass Packet letter, in order to meet this goal, we are seeking an overall 10% pledge increase from each pledging unit/family. We kicked off the 2008 Canvass at the Celebration Dinner held at the Westwood Country Club, where over 150 members and friends of the church enjoyed a fabulous evening. Pledges of over $75,000 (1/3 of the way to our goal) were made that evening, with the average pledge increase being just below the desired 10% level.

The Canvass Committee is striving to attain or exceed the $225,000 goal. We must assemble our budget for 2008 now. If you have questions, need more information or would like to arrange for a personal visit with a member of the Canvass Committee, please contact any Committee member. Thanks in advance for your generosity and support! Your 2008 Canvass Committee, Bruce Becker, Randy Kent, Jake Marek, Bob Wack

Green Sanctuary – Wind Energy We made our goal! For the third year, we will be able to purchase windpower to offset our electricity use. This purchase has been made with contributions separate from Annual pledges from many generous church members and friends. Brenda Young, Environment Committee


For more information on our church's activity to become a Green Sanctuary, please go to UUCA webpage on social concerns.


OUR FIRST CHECK! The Junior Youth Group has just received its first check from Abitibi Paper Recycling. We'd like to thank the congregation for its support, and we remind you to keep bringing in your paper for recycling... every little bit helps!

Our Man in the Field: I was asked by Buffalo's ArtVoice to provide an article on global warming and climate change for the Earth Day issue (April 19 - 25). The article is in three parts and can be read on line at: http://artvoice.com/issues/v6n16/earth_day. Please circulate widely.
Thanks! Happy Earth Day! Walter Simpson

International Jewish Film Festival
The 23rd Annual Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival opens at the JCC Amherst on Thursday, May 8. This will be in conjunction with Israeli Independence Day. It will be a gala evening featuring wine samplings, tasty treats, musical entertainment, raffle, and the film "The Land Of Milk And Honey." Tickets will be $18 before May 2 and $22 afterwards. The remaining festival will take place from May 17-22. All of those films will be shown at the Dipson Amherst Theatre. Opening night will be on Saturday, May 17th at 8:00p.m. Prior to the film there will be a dinner at the Café In The Square. The dinner is $36, which includes a full course meal with a choice of 4 entrees, salad, dessert, tax, and gratuities. Tickets for the dinner need to purchased by May 15th through the JCC or online at www.bijff.com.
This year there will be 15 films that were produced in Argentina, Canada, France, England, Brazil, Israel, and the U.S. The movies selected include 8 feature films, 4 documentaries, and 3 shorts. Themes cover historical topics such as assimilation, kibbutz life, political persecution, and the origins of professional basketball. The film schedule is available in brochures on the literature table in the lobby. Tickets may be purchased on line at www.bijff.com or by stopping by at the N. Forest or Delaware JCC. This year there is the complete brochure available online as well as trailers highlighting the various themes in the films.

Social Concerns / Economic Justice Task Force:
Several FAITH IN ACTION DIALOGUES will be established with churches in the VOICE Network. Our group will be Blessed Sacrament, St Martin de Porres, Lafayette Presbyterian, & the UU Church of Amherst. We will come together in one agreed upon place with 15 representatives from each congregation to discuss what we have in common, what are our obstacles in doing justice work & how can working together help us work in our communities. Call Pat Burke or anyone from the Economic Justice Task Force if you are interested in this dialogue.

The Food Pantry at University Presbyterian Church needs volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30-4:00.Work with 3 or 4 other volunteers filling grocery bags, checking out clients, or stocking shelves. You can work with a friend. For more information, call the church office.

VOICE-Buffalo affirms that the pursuit of the common good is the fundamental organizing principle of a good society. All citizens of our neighborhoods, city and region deserve the opportunities and resources to live in healthy communities. Any church member can attend a VOICE meeting. Each month there is an interesting speaker.

Art Sale and Wine and Cheese Reception
May 9, 5:30 –7:30 pm
hosted by VOICE Buffalo
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 724 Delaware Ave.
Donation is $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
See Margot or Pat Burke to buy tickets.
To submit art work contact Sylvia Volk, 881-1424.
For more information call VOICE Office at 842-6571
Support local artists and VOICE Buffalo.

FreeRice.com This site would interest anybody who wants to help the hungry and expand their vocabulary. Every time you get a vocabulary question right, you earn rice (which is paid for by the sponsors) for poverty.com's programs to feed the hungry. Anyone studying for their PSATs, SATs, ACTs, GREs, or anyone just interested in keeping their brain from rusting, give it a try.
You get instant feedback on whether you've gotten the vocabulary word correct (it's multiple choice) and there is a rice bowl pictured on the same page, with rice grains added every time you are correct. I've used this site, and I haven't been inundated with spam, phishing schemes, or odd viruses. Erin Pierce
FreeRice has two goals:
1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site. Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself. Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide. Thank you.

"Picking Up the Peaces"
A day with Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ,
in memory of Sister Karen Klimczak, SSJ
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Events:
2 PM - "Dead Man Walking" play introducing Sister Helen Prejean, at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, 450 Masten Ave. Tickets: $10/ $5 students and seniors

5 PM - Benefit Dinner for the SSJ Sister Karen Center for Nonviolence, Sister Helen Prejean, Featured Guest,
at Ehesus Ministries, 80 Durham Avenue.
Entertainment by Aish Tamid Dance and Mime

7:30 PM - "Dead man Walking . . . The Journey Continues"
Guest Speaker Sister Helen Prejean, Ephesus Cathedral,
3431 Grider St. Followed by dessert reception - free to all
Details: www.sisterkarencenter.org

Orders for Fair Trade Coffee will be taken Sunday, May 4 for delivery May 11. This is an ongoing program of the Economic Justice Task Force to promote the economic advancement of indigenous coffee farmers throughout the world. The delicious coffee that you enjoy on Sunday is Fair Trade Coffee. We buy through Premier Gourmet and receive a 30% discount. So try it! Enjoy it in your own home. Carol Wells

Equal Exchange Chocolate/ Tea
Equal Exchange chocolate, tea and other treats are available on the second Sunday of the month, May 11. Look for the sale near the coffee delivery table. Cathy Krasney

Special Collection – April 6
On April 6th our plate collection was donated to Buffalo's Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ). The congregation contributed $559 after being especially moved by the address by Maria Whyte. The Coalition for Economic Justice works with religious, academic, labor, and community activists to improve living standards for the Western New York community. It seeks to forge effective alliances, educate the community at large, and provide a public voice that both advocates for and empowers all working men and women. CEJ is a local chapter of the organizations Jobs with Justice and the New York State Labor Religion Coalition. Since our beginning in 1986, CEJ has spoken out on the moral issues that are the foundation of economic justice. Our goals are (1) to organize support for workers treated unjustly or illegally in the workplace and (2) to address the root causes of poverty while working for economic policies that benefit the entire community. Doug Funke

Is GOD keeping you
from going to church?
Maybe you're uncomfortable with the idea of God -- or at least someone else's idea of God.
Yet maybe you yearn for a loving spiritual community where you can be inspired and encouraged as you search for your own truth and meaning.
This is a church, you ask?
Welcome to Unitarian Universalism.
Over 1,000 congregations nationwide.
We invite you to join us. UUA.org/welcome

Board Notes/ December 2007 The Board held its final meeting of 2007 on December 11. I am pleased to report we did not have to borrow any money to pay for the repairs to the chapel roof or the repair of the parking lot. We were able to use money that was in our accumulated cash reserve to pay for these items, thus not incurring any extra debt.

1. Jerry Kent shared the Needs Assessment Report from Moustachio Architects, which is an assessment of the physical needs of our church. Its purpose is to identify the current state of the church buildings regarding the ongoing maintenance of the property, looking at what needs to be fixed now and what will be needed in the future, what things we may want to have, and how all of this can be included in our next Capital Campaign. If you have ideas of what you think is important to do, please feel free to contact any of the Board members. It is preferred you give your ideas in writing, either on paper or electronically, as now is the time to begin to plan for how we want our church to be in the future.

2. The Board approved two new ad hoc committees:
Letter of Agreement - consists of Elaine Cusker from the Committee on Ministry, Bud Low from the Board and Lou Bacon from the congregation. Purpose is to review the minister's contract. This is usually done every couple of years to review the terms and conditions of the minister's call.
Caretaker Search Committee - consists of Bruce Becker, Andrew Mattle, Betty Howell and Kim Henry. Our current caretakers have given notice and they will be moving by January 15.

3. The Clavinova was loaned to us on approval for three monthly, officially starting October 15. The Music and Media committee continues to investigate the best way to solve our organ and piano needs.

4. We are looking at ways to update our Web site and to make it secure so more information can be added. Those who are much more computer savvy than I am are doing this. Dave Yuhnke and Scott Harrigan are involved.

5. The Board approved the Endowment Committee's nomination of Jan Tharp as a trustee. She has been filling the vacancy left by Art Butler, and, if elected at the annual congregational meeting, she will begin a term of her own.

6. At the request of the Finance Committee, the next Board meeting will be moved from January 8 to January 15, 2008 to give sufficient time to prepare the new budget. Our pledges have not come in as hoped, so more time is needed to prepare. Hopefully, by the time you read this, we will have reached our canvass goals.

If you are looking for something to do and give to a good cause at the same time, go to freerice.com, grab your dictionary and answer the vocabulary questions. Each correct answer donates grains of rice to the UN to help end world hunger. It is explained well on the web site and is an interesting site to visit. Eileen McCallister, Board Chair

Nominating Committee Report
The following people are nominated by the UU Church of Amherst Nominating Committee, and approved by the Board of Trustees, to serve 3 year terms on the Board of Trustees. They will be submitted to the Congregation for approval at the Annual Meeting on February 3, 2008: Bruce Becker, Randy Kent, Dorothy Reade

The following people have been nominated by the Nominating Committee, and approved by the Board of Trustees, to serve on the 2008 Nominating Committee:
Paul Beiter (returning), Sylvia Moran, Don Tucker, Scott Ulrich
The 2007 Nominating Committee:
Paul Beiter, Joan Lehman, Gerry Pierce, Randy Kent, Eileen McCallister & Dian Tucker

Endowment Trust Report The Endowment Trust is growing thanks to your continued support!! The 2007 Gifts and Bequests totaled almost $5000!!! We would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who has kept our trust and the future of our church in mind when honoring special memories, people and events.

The Endowment Trust is critical for the long-term financial stability of our church. If you would like additional information on how you can contribute to this important fund, please see any member of our Endowment Committee. Ellen Doyno, Doris Kent, Irving Laub (Chair), Mike Moran, Jan Tharp

Our newsletter has been divided into two parts for quicker viewing. Part 1 will contain all church faith-related activities, including sermons, messages from the minister and religious instruction. Part 2 will contain all other activities of church life.