UUFSM Memories: Fellowship Events
Why is UUism Precious to Us?
During the service on Diversity on 24 October 2010 led by Judy Osborn, we were asked to write the reasons UUism is precious to us. Here are some of the responses that were shared.
- Where I can be a Christian the way I want to be – and where I can talk to others about their spiritual journeys.
- Respect for all people. Interconnected web of all life.
- Openness to truth from many sources
- Acceptance
- Free thinkers
- I have found a new home of acceptance and it gives me great comfort
- A community of people who respect and love me as much as I do them
- My religion/faith involves a personal relationship with God. He is everything. He holds my world together. He takes care of me. He hears all my prayers and provides me with what I need.
- Freedom to think and worship as we choose; most valuable when other beliefs are respected, not just rejected.
- Fellowship, charity
- The pastor
- I like being part of group that speaks out for what I view to be right – i.e., diverse beliefs, open minds and possibility of change
- The ability to choose what works for me and the acceptance of that choice
- Community, love
- Spirituality, friendship
- Spiritual community
- Kids growing in a sense of spiritual community/religion
- A welcoming community and the continual encouragement to help other people and be the best person I can be
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The freedom to be myself without fear of rejection
UUFSM Moves in to New Home!
Here is the latest (March 7) on the UUFSM move.
- Many thanks to Jim and Corinne for delivering the new cabinets to the school on Sunday morning.
- And many delighted thanks to Tammy and her husband for personally delivering the contents of the old cabinet right after the service! (Apparently, demolition of the caved-in area in the Loffler Center will start this week.) We'll be sending them a card and a gift certificate to use at a local restaurant.
- Many thanks to all who stayed after the service and helped unpack during our surprise move-in day for the Fellowship. We'll be reviewing what's in the cabinets, maybe getting rid of some things, and seeing how it all can fit.
- Thanks to Alan for getting our new keyboard and to all who helped assemble it. We look forward to hearing lovely music from it at a service soon!
- Thanks to Missy for the beautiful laminated signs. They'll look great on the door and stand up to weather.
- Kudos to all who've been patient and understanding as we muddled our way through these last few weeks.
- Michael had mentioned the cave-in in the CUUMA announcements (regular updates ministers share with each other), and as news of it spread we received good wishes and concerned calls. The District Executive, Richard Speck, called to see how we were doing, and Rev. Russ Savage sent us a nice note. Many thanks to all, and we're happy to be able to say, "We're doing well!"
Sadly, just before the service today, our original chalice fell to the floor and broke. We're going to try to repair it. There's probably a lesson there about letting go of parts of the past, mending what you have, and continuing on. So that's what we're doing.
On Sunday, March 14, we'll be starting our canvass for next year, with a service about Gifts and a chance to try "Speed Dating with Committees". Who do you want to get involved with? Or are you looking for a short-term relationship? Perhaps you're willing to chance a blind date with something completely new? Come and learn about our seven committees and what they do, and then decide what activities and tasks you're interested in.
Earlier Information about the Move
- The roof caved in at the Loffler Center on February 10 due to snow. The following Sunday we met at the hall of Fame in the middle of the softball fields, and then we moved to the cafeteria of the Chesapeake Charter School (20945 Great Mills Road, about 2 miles from where we used to be). On February 28, we signed a contract with the Chesapeake Charter School until the end of June. We have access to the cafeteria, the teachers' lounge, the library, the kitchen, and the playground from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We are paying $150 a week. (We were paying $210 a week at the Loffler Center).
- The piano at the school is in bad shape (out of tune, sticking keys, lots of mildew inside the cabinet on the felted hammers) and so Marianna, Alan, Corinne, and Randy found us an electronic keyboard whose keys feel like a piano. We may be having a fundraiser to help pay for this.
- The school is interested in having us work with them on their landscaping, and so we will probably have that as monthly charity to help pay for the supplies and then start a gardening project as the weather warms.
- We are still working on the best way to use the space for worship, so you may see a variety of seating arrangements in the next few weeks as we settle in. If you have ideas for that, please talk to Michael, James, or Liz.
See you at the school for church!
Janeen
UUFSM Youth Group creates a Cake Train
In honor of the Polar Express play we held in December 2009, the UUFSM Youth group gathered on Saturday and created a Cake Train, featuring a steam locomotive (popcorn smoke and pretzel windows, with a waffle ice cream bowl for a cow catcher), a coal car (chocolate chips), two freight cars (tootsie rolls and gum drops), and a little red caboose. The wheels (Oreos and thin mints) ran on red licorice rails.
It was reduced to crumbs at the Sunday snack time.
