Circle of Fellowship
The First Universalist Church of Central Square
A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Rev. Margaret Hart, Minister 625-4485Rev. Libbie Stoddard, Assoc. Minister 343-4352
Janie Garlow, President 436-2238
Ronna Schindler, Religious Education Coordinator 623-7685
Rita Thornton, Organist & Choir Director 669-6961
Our Church Building Is Handicapped Accessible
P. O. Box 429 Routes 49 West & 11
Central Square, NY 13036 (315) 668-6821
March 2006
The mission of the First Universalist Church of Central Square is to be a welcoming, diverse congregation, which values spiritual growth and service to the local and world communities.
MINISTERIAL MUSINGS
Dear friends,
We are approaching the time of our annual canvass. This is a time when we ask each of you to think about how much the church community means to you, and how much you are able to offer financially in support of the church. For each person that amount will be different. Each of us has a different relationship with the church. And we all vary in our financial means and constraints. But it can be helpful to consider what the church means to you. Take a few minutes to consider how your life would be different if such a church community did not exist. Then think about how much you can possibly afford to give - not the first amount which comes to mind, but struggle with it a bit, and dig deeper. You will know when the amount you decide upon is right for you. It may be a lot, or it may not seem like much, but whatever you can give, I hope you will give.
The church building is in pretty good shape; it has been well-loved. Happily it is now being used by many different groups in the community. It requires regular maintenance, heating, and cleaning. In addition, there are periodic expenses such as new furnaces and the repair of historic features such as the stained glass windows and the heavy wooden front doors. All this costs money. And then there are programs... ministry, religious education, social justice work, guest speakers, leadership development and training, outreach to the community, and so on. These too cost money as well as time and effort. To continue to be a growing and thriving church, we need the help of many people-ideas and resources. The canvass, like Black History Month, is a time each year when we have a particular focus. This is not to say that we can't, and shouldn't, think about our stewardship every day.
May this church continue to be a blessing in your life each day, and may we all help to make it so.
Margaret Hart
TREASURER’S REPORT The income during February was $2099.00, mostly from pledges with expenses
of $3014.00. A donation of $1000.00 was received for the Building Improvement
Fund. During the first three-quarters of the church year ( June thru February)
the income was $31,243, with $24,000 from pledges. The expenses were
$28,644.00 during this period. If you would like a copy of the three-quarter
year report contact the treasurer. We have also received donations and pledges
for the Building Improvement Fund of $7225.00.
Chet Perkins, Treasurer
THE POST-STANDARD SEEKS ESSAYS FOR RELIGION PAGE
Save April 28-29 for the St Lawrence District 43rd Annual
Assembly
The Post-Standard is looking for local people to write first-person essays
about their faith. The essay should explain what the writer believes and how
he or she acts on those beliefs. Participants can be from any background and
need not embrace an organized religion. Essays should be 500 to 750 words and
would appear on The Post-Standard's religion page on Saturdays.
To submit an essay, e-mail it to Gina Chen at gchen@syracuse.com
or call her at 470-2172 for more
information.
Hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua
Making Our Voices Heard - A Finger Lakes Tradition
Special Guest and Keynote Speaker: Helio Fred Garcia
Advisor to the UUA on Public Witness and a Member of the Associate Faculty
Starr King School for the Ministry
Keynote Address:
Unitarian Universalist Public Witness:
Reclaiming the Language of Religion on Social Issues
Gould Lecture: Friday evening, by the Reverend Anne Marsh
Saturday Workshops to include:
- Planning and Executing Effective Public Witness on Social Issues led by
Helio Fred Garcia
- Liberating our Spiritual Voices, a writing workshop, led by Karen West
- Singing Workshop using "Singing the Journey" led by
Canandaigua’s music director Bill Mehls
- Bending Toward Justice: The New St. Lawrence District Social Justice Program
led by the Rev. Dr. Richard S. Gilbert
- Finger Lakes and UU Women in History panel discussion
- Presidents Roundtable
- Coming of Age Spiritual Trek: Traveling the Path from Adolescence toward
Adulthood led by Lisa Horn
- YACM: Expanding our Leadership Opportunities Continentally led by Andrew
Tripp
Location: Ramada Geneva Lakefront Hotel, 41 Lakefront Drive, Geneva, NY.
Rates: $89/night lakeview; $79/night cityside. These rates are guaranteed
until April 5. To reserve your room, call 315-789-0400 and tell them you will
be there for the St. Lawrence District Assembly.
Registration: A brochure will be available soon.
E-mail District Assembly Chair, Rev. Becky Gunn, uubeckygunn@aol.com,
for more information.
COFFEE AND CHAT
The next Coffee and Chat will take place at Panera Bread, Route 31, town of Clay, at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15th. All women of the church are invited to attend this social occasion.
Nancy Haskell
UU CIRCLE AUCTION
April 23, 2006
The auction will be held on April 23, 2006 after the Sunday Service. Tim Hart will be serving as the auctioneer and snacks will be provided. It is a lot of fun! We will start the advance bidding on April 7, 2006. Please get your donation forms in by April 6, 2006. If you would like suggestions, on what you might donate contact Marcia or Tim. Donations that have been very popular in the past were food items (prepared meals, breads, deserts), handyman or home repair labor, services such as computer work, car detailing and window washing, musical performances, outings (bird watching, rock hounding), gift baskets and hand crafted items. Other items that might be of great interest are computer instructions/help, rental of sporting equipment, boat rides, fishing trips, specialty dinners, lawn mowing, yard work, child care, garage and basement cleaning, gardening help, have truck-will haul, nature walks,etc. Most local businesses will donate gift certificates. Please ask your local businesses if they would like to donate.
.
UU CIRCLE AUCTION DONATION FORM
Name __________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
Phone Number___________________________________________________
I/We would like to offer following services /items:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Suggested minimum bid (optional)_______________________
_____Check if you only want your service/ item offered to the immediate church
family.
Thank you for your contribution!
Please return by April 7, 2006 to the Auction Box at the Church or to Marcia Burrell-Ihlow via email:
Burrell@oswego.edu
SCRIPT FOR APPROACHING SOMEONE TO DONATE TO OUR AUCTION
Are you at least a little afraid of approaching a place of business or
service provider to ask them for a donation to our auction? I am. Let's face
it almost all of us fear the possibility of being rejected when we make a
request, but we don't need to be. I've made dozens of requests over the years
and the worst responses I've received was, "you'll have to ask the
corporate office" or "you'll
have to ask our manager, who won't be in until........". I've never
gotten a flat "no". Even if someone did say "no", you
still wouldn't be any worse off than you were before you asked.
When they do say "yes", it feels great ! You know you've done
something good for our church, promoted a good business, and helped a fellow
church member receive something nice at a good price. Everybody wins when we
get a donation. It was suggested to me that it would be helpful to have a
script to work from when we aproach someone for a donation. Here is a script
that you can modify as you like, to use when you approach a donor:
"Hi my name is ______. I''m a member of the First
Universalist Church of Central Square, located next to the Bank of America.
Our church is holding a service and merchandise auction on April 23rd.
We're asking area merchants like yourself, if they'd like to donate a gift
certificate for merchandise or services. Your business will receive some great
publicity and we'd be glad to provide you with a donation receipt to use for
tax purposes. Would you like to help us out with a
donation? Thanks for your help, we'll be sure to give your business a good
plug." Like I said
earlier, I've never received a flat out no when using a request similar to
this one.
If you're more comfortable, you can read this request to the donor, either in
person or over the phone. I've solicited donations from Syracuse Stage and
Salt City for the Performing Arts over the phone, as well as a doctor I use.
Please help us make this the most suceesful auction ever - take a small risk
and ask someone who provides you with a product or service for a donation - I
think you'll be glad you did. If you have any questions about the auction give
me a call.
Tim Hart 439-2541
UU Circle President
UU CIRCLE FORECAST FOR SPRING
The UU Circle is planning a nature hike or kayak trip each month. This is a chance to go out and enjoy the beauty of Central New York with your family and friends.
Herkimer Diamond Mine trip: The trip is back by popular demand and is scheduled for April 15th. Look for a sign up sheet and more details soon.
Service and Merchandise Auction: This popular annual event is scheduled for April 23rd. Start planning on what to donate and on bidding for your favorite goodies.
Ann Peterson
UU Circle Secretary Treasurer
RE News
Through the month of February the younger children have been working with the curriculum A Stream of Living Souls. They have been leaning about people in our UU history and their roles in shaping our society. We had lessons on Olympia and Antoinette Brown, Dorothea Lynde Dix, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. We have learned origami and created our own peace doves. For the next month they will be continuing to study Living Souls.
The youth have been having meeting each week and are continuing their "Life Discussions"
As you can see all is well and thriving in the RE wing of our church.
Ronna Schindler
RE Director
EMAIL LIST
We have weekly e-mail announcements of coming events at the church. If you are not receiving them and would like to, please contact Janie Garlow at 436-2238 or at mjgarlow@aol.com. Mary Perkins has offered to print the announcements and send them to folks who are not on line.
CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY
It is survey time again. We are requesting your cooperation in filling out a Congregational Survey. Your opinions are very important to the health of the church and for planning our future. This survey is available at church. To request a survey via email or by mail, please contact Janie Garlow at mjgarlow@aol.com or by phone at (315) 436-2238. Thank you!
CHOIR TO PRACTICE
Our choir rehearses Sunday mornings starting at 9:30a.m. Extended choir rehearsals on the 2nd Saturday of every month including Saturday, March 11th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Anyone interested in singing is welcome to join us. Please also note that the April extended rehearsal will be on April 1st to allow us to sing the next week on April 8th at the May Memorial Workshop to introduce the new hymnal supplement.
Rita Thornton, Choir Director
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE APRIL 1st
(No Foolin)
Please have items for the next newsletter to me by no later than Noon on Saturday, April 1st . If you can send your articles to me at dartfrog@usadatanet.net early it would be a big help.
Ellen LaPine
ADULT EDUCATION
The Adult RE workshop " Ages and Stages" has been rescheduled for Saturday March 18th, from 11AM to 1:30PM. Coffee and tea will be provided. Please bring a bag lunch. If you are interested in this workshop, but have not signed up, please contact Rev. Libbie Stoddard or Ann Peterson.
CENTENNIAL QUILT SEWING
On April 2nd after the service, we will be putting the centennial quilt strips together. Please contact Rita Thornton or Rhonna Schindler and let them know if you can help and if you have a sewing machine, fabric, sissors, pins etc. that you can bring to be used in constructing the quilt.
Also, for those that have completed your blocks, please don’t forget to givehttp://www.uuradio.org. us a little history behind your block. Things like when you started coming to church, information about your quilt square and something personal about our church such as why you come or a favorite memory will be important information for us to note.
Rita Thornton
SINGING THE JOURNEY
On April 8th there will be a workshop at May Memorial to introduce the new hymnal supplement Singing the Journey to the area choirs. Choir members, please mark your calendar and plan on attending. We will be introducing this supplement to our present hymnal Singing the Living Tradition. This is a 184 page supplement with new songs, hymns and chants that reflect our theological diversity and our respect for the variety of cultural expression. If you are interested in sponsoring a hymnal, maybe in remembrance of a loved one or a special life event, please contact Janie Garlow.
COUNTING THOSE IN THE PEWS
Our organist Rita Thornton reports that on February 12th there were 48 people in attendance for the service. On February 19th 12 people, on February 26th 18 people and on March 5th 30 people attended the service.
MAUNDY THURSDAY
We will have a Maundy Thursday Service on April 13th at 6:30 in the sanctuary. In the Christian tradition, Holy Thursday (also called Maundy Thursday) is the Thursday before Easter, the day on which the Last Supper is said to have occurred.
MARCH BOARD MEETING HI-LIGHTS
Rev. Hart noted that she has attended several community and church functions. She also noted that she is developing an adult religious education training workshop on anti-oppression/anti-racism to be presented in the future.
Mike DiGiovanni explained that the Centennial Committee is in need of lay leaders for the March, April and May Centennial Sundays to talk about what the centennial means to you and how it relates to the 10 years that are being celebrated that month. He also noted that on March 19th representatives from the Central Square Historical Society will give a presentation after services.
We are still in need of a chair or possibly co-chairs for the membership committee. Please contact Rev. Hart or Janie Garlow if you are interested in helping with this vital committee.
It was agreed to spend no more than $250 to purchase 1 large print and 10 regular print hymnal suppliments at the April 8th workshop at May Memorial.
The church directories have gone to the printer and once returned will be proof read for any possible errors. It is expected that the final copies will be available in April.
Ellen LaPine
Recording Secretary
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
The membership committee needs volunteers. The purpose of this committee is to communicate the UU message by welcoming visitors, encouraging people to join and planning ways to draw in more families and new members. It also makes sure hospitality is covered and introduces new people to the church. If you are interested please contact Janie Garlow or Rev. Margaret Hart.
HOSPITALITY HELPERS NEEDED
Everyone is invited to sign up in the East Room of the church for hospitality and greeter duties for our Sunday morning worship services. Hospitality duties include providing a snack and juice and hosting the social hour. Greeters welcome people at the door, pass out the orders of service and take up the collection.
We also need people to sign up to bring flowers for the altar. Rita says the price for her to get the flowers has been lowered to $20. Those bringing flowers are asked to sign the sheet on the table in the East Room stating in whose honor or in whose memory the flowers are provided.
RETURN THOSE BOTTLES
Our church has a bottle account with the North Country Redemption Center in Central Square. Take your returnable bottles to the center or if you prefer, Larry Linder has graciously offered to return them for you if you bring them to him at church. The value of the bottles redeemed will be credited to our church. If you choose to return them yourself, you may enter the center from either Route 4 or Route 11. The center is located next to the Gun Shop.
The center's hours are Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and the first and third Saturdays of the month, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The center is closed on Tuesdays and Sundays, and on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
DON’T FORGET TO SHOP FOR SCOTTY
Remember the Downstairs Scotty as you shop. If we can remember to buy just one or two extra boxes of tissue, some toothpaste, soap or the like we when we shop, we can be a big help to this local program with out church’s donations of non-food items. Our collection box is in the East Room, under the water dispenser.
If you wondering if services may be cancelled due to snow please tune your radio to AM 570 WSYR or for your TV to WSYR Channel 9. A decision should be made by 8:00 a.m. whether or not to have services. If you still have questions you may contact Chet Perkins at 668-6719, Janie Garlow at 436-2238 or Rev. Margaret Hart at 625-4485.
CALENDAR
MARCH 6: *7:00 p.m. Chanting & Meditation meeting
MARCH 7: *6:30 Wellness in Sensible Eating (WISE) meeting
MARCH 11: *10:00 a.m. - noon - Choir Practice.
MARCH 12: *9:30 a.m. - Choir practice. *10:30 a.m.-Worship service Rev. Margaret Hart. *11:00 a.m. - Religious Education. *11:00 Social Justice Committee Potluck Lunch with "Lost Boys" from Sudan as guest speakers.
MARCH 13: *7:00 p.m. - Finding Joy & Success in Your Life meeting
MARCH 14: *6:30 p.m. WISE meeting
MARCH 15: *9:15 a.m. Coffee & Chat @ Panera Bakery.
MARCH 18: *11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Adult Ed Workshop "Ages in Stages"
MARCH 19: *9:30 a.m.-Choir practice. *10:30 a.m.-Worship service, Centennial Committee . *11:00 a.m. - Religious Education. *11:30 a.m. Presentation on History of Central Square
MARCH 20: *7:00 p.m. Chanting & Meditation meeting
MARCH 21: *6:30 p.m. WISE meeting
MARCH 25: *Roast Beef Supper
MARCH 26: *9:30 a.m.-Choir practice. * 10:30 a.m.-Worship service, Rev. Margaret Hart. *11:00 a.m. - Religious Education.
MARCH 27: *7:00 p.m. - Finding Success & Joy in your life meeting
MARCH 28: *WISE meeting
APRIL 1: *10:00 a.m. - Noon - Choir Practice. *Noon, Newsletter Deadline. *Strike for Peace bowling.
APRIL 2: *9:00 a.m., Executive Board meeting. *9:30 a.m.-Choir practice. *10:30 a.m.-Worship service, Centennial Committee. *11:00 a.m.-Religious Education
APRIL 8: *Music Workshop, May Memorial
APRIL 15: *Herkimer Diamond Mine Trip
APRIL 22: *Adopt a Highway clean up
APRIL 23: *Service Auction
APRIL 29: *SLUUD Annual Assembly