The UU News The Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City Founded in 1841________________________________________________________________________________

In This IssueMinister’s Column.................................2Religious Education…............................3Staff Reports...........................................4Upcoming Events...................................4Committee Reports................................6August Calendar and July Board Highlights...................INSERT

Upcoming ServicesAugust 2nd: “Justice: The Bread of the People,” Rev. Steven ProtzmanBertolt Brecht wrote that “justice is the bread of the people.” As a community of all ages we will reflect on our need for bread and justice every day as we celebrate Lammas, a Pagan festival of the first harvest. This service will include sharing freshly baked bread and doing a spiritual harvest that includes gratitude for the gifts we have received, letting go, saying farewell, and thinking about what we want to preserve for the future. 10:00 am Service in Channing Hall 11:00 am Social Hour in Channing Hall

August 9th: “Listening Carefully: What My Students Have Taught Me About Race,” Tom RocklinOn December 5th, 2014, a statue wearing a KKK hood and gown appeared on the Pentacrest. The resulting conversations inspired by this statue and my responsibility to remove it brought the peeling away of another layer in my understanding of the role of race and privilege in the US. Together we will reflect on inherited grievances, the meaning of slavery in this country’s history, and the responsibilities that attend my privileged position in our society. 10:00 am Service in Channing Hall 11:00 am Social Hour in Channing Hall

August 16th: “The Long Game: Doing Justice for the Now and the Not Yet,” Rev. Kelli ClementEvery movement, large or small, public or private, has an arc. How comfortable are we with the small steps, especially the ones where we follow, rather than lead? What is the call of our faith to nimble, sustainable justice making? Are we willing to dance in the streets in celebration tonight while working again for justice tomorrow? Rev. Kelli Clement is the Social Justice Minister at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis. 10:00 am Service in Channing Hall 11:00 am Social Hour in Channing Hall

August 2015

Sunday Childcare: Nursery: 9:45 am - 11:15 am Summer Multi-age children’s programming: 10 - 11 am

August’s Social Justice Offerings BenefitUNITED ACTION FOR YOUTH (UAY)

UAY operates a youth center in downtown Iowa City which includes recording and art studios, an art gallery, performance space and offices for street outreach. A counseling program (at no cost) assists runaway youth, victims of crime and abuse, and youth experiencing other difficulty. UAY also operates a program for pregnant and parenting teens including counseling, health services, and a transitional living program. Additionally, UAY provides an academic mentor program through a partnership with the schools. Cash or checks (UAY on memo line) may be given during the Sunday offering or sent to the office.

August 23rd: “Together in Community; Our UU Denomination Embraces Social Justice,” Colleen Higgins and Sally HartmanAt General Assembly, the annual meeting of Unitarian Universalists, the presence of social justice is felt from the roar of the assembly upon hearing a court decision, to the compelling stories of men and women quietly working to create a more just world. Join Colleen Higgins and Sally Hartman for their perspectives on the wider beloved UU community of which we are a part. 10:00 am Service in Channing Hall 11:00 am Social Hour in Channing Hall

August 30th: “Listening is Finished: Allies in Action,” Kory May, Michael Shaw, and Alison OliverThroughout this summer, UUSIC has engaged in one of the first and most important steps in effective allyship working together for social justice: Listening to the stories of those who are living and working in the struggle to give our lives and world the shape of justice. But when the stories are told, and we are left feeling reflective, outraged, or inspired, what do we do next? How do we mobilize and answer the call to action? 10:00 am Service in Channing Hall 11:00 am Social Hour in Channing Hall

Page 2 August 2015 The UU News

From Our Minister

Once more the fields have ripened to harvest, and the fruitful earth has fulfilled the promise of spring. From the harvest of the soil we are given occasion to be careful stewards of all life’s gifts and opportunities. —Percival Chubb

As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm six primary sources of spiritual wisdom, including the sixth source, “Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.” Our sixth source seems especially apt as August begins, the grains turn gold in the fields, and our gardens are full of ripe fruits and vegetables. In the earth-centered Pagan tradition, August 1st/2nd is Lughnasad, also known as Lammas, a celebration of the first harvest. For the ancient Celts, Lughnasad was a time of fairs, trading, and celebrations. Distant members of the tribe would come for the feasts and celebrations, and marriages were arranged at this time. Contracts were fixed at this time and courts of justice would travel round settling disputes and ordering the payment of debts. Lammas, an Anglo-Saxon celebration, comes from the words Hlaef-mass and means loaf mass. Medieval Christians celebrated the harvest by baking the first of the ripe grains into loaves of bread and taking them to church for blessing.

Spiritually, Lammas, a season’s end, is about harvesting and about completing things. Waverly Fitzgerald writes at the website “School of the Seasons” that there are four aspects to Lammas: letting go of regrets, saying our farewells, celebrating the harvest, and preserving things for the future. Regrets, farewells, harvest, and preserves. As the harvests begin to come in, this is a good time to recognize the things in our life that we must let go of—the metaphorical seeds that were not planted, the things that we regret. As the days begin to grow shorter and we say farewell to the summer sun, we have an opportunity to say farewell to things that no longer work in our lives. The harvest is also a time of preparation for the future amidst great abundance. Food that was grown during the summer must be stored properly to provide nourishment for the entire year. We reflect upon those things we have harvested in the past year—the things that are new and good and abundant in our lives. We also think about how we are going to preserve those things as we move forward into the future.

Another major theme of Lammas is justice. As we welcome the first harvest, enjoy bread made from the first grains and continue to reflect on our summer worship theme of giving life the shape of justice, this excerpt from Bertolt Brecht’s poem “The Bread of the People” seems particularly fitting:

Justice is the bread of the peopleAs daily bread is necessarySo is daily justice.

It is even necessary several times a day.Like the other breadThe bread of justice must be bakedBy the people.Plentiful, wholesome, daily.

Brecht’s poem reminds us that like our need for bread every day, the work of justice needs to be done every day, maybe even several times a day! As human beings we are hungry for more than food—we are also hungry for meaning in our lives. One of the most important ways we create meaning is by engaging in the struggle for justice and working to see that all people get their daily needs met, including enough food to eat. And like making bread, it takes many hands (and hearts) to make justice.

The spiritual work associated with the harvest is particularly meaningful in our congregational life this fall. We will say farewell to our church building, which has served Unitarian Universalism and the Iowa City community for over one hundred years. We will take time to celebrate, to thank and honor the building for providing its shelter to us, and to grieve the end of a long chapter of our history. Together we will prepare for the future by working together and sharing our abundance to build a new church home that will serve our mission and Unitarian Universalism for the next one hundred years. As we prepare to leave our current building, along with the rich harvest of stories and memories, we will salvage architectural elements and furnishings to preserve the best of the past and honor the legacy of our Unitarian and Universalist ancestors.

Starhawk, a writer and leader in modern earth-based spirituality, justice, and activism, says that Lammas is a time when “the grain stands golden in the fields, but has not yet been gathered in. We stand poised between hope and fear.” This is a fitting description of where we are as a congregation right now. We are filled with hope about the future we are creating together and yet there is fear too, because with change comes uncertainty. How will we use the energy that comes from being in this place between hope and fear? As I mentioned in my last column, there will be plenty of practical things to do in the months to come that will need your participation—decisions to make, boxes to pack, and adjusting to new routines. I hope that we will also use that energy to continue serving our mission, to work for justice and peace in the world, and to thrive as a community through our transition.

As we celebrate the first harvest this month and enjoy the abundance of the earth, I invite you to take time to do a Lammas meditation and reflect on these questions: What did you mean to do this summer or during the year that you did not do? Do you have any regrets? What do you need to let go of? What are you saying farewell to? What are you harvesting? What dreams and hopes came to fruition this summer? What will you preserve and take with you to nourish your spirit through the winter? How will you bake the bread of justice every day?

Grateful to be here with you as our long and wondrous journey together continues,

Steven

The UU News August 2015 Page 3

Religious Education NewsFrom Your Lifespan Religious Education DirectorWhat are your strongest memories from Sunday School? In Jo Berry’s Call and Response blog post, “Makerspace: A New Way in Religious Education,” she maintains that when asked that same question, adults respond with memories of doing, and that UU RE should make the most of this by modeling our programs after the cultural movement of innovation and creating through Makerspaces.

If you are not familiar with Makerspaces, Berry shared this definition from the Makerspace Playbook: “Makerspaces serve as gathering points where communities of new and experienced makers connect to work on real and personally meaningful projects, informed by helpful mentors and expertise, using new technologies and traditional tools.”

What might this definition look like in an RE program? A class, for instance, that is concerned about the amount of plastic bags that end up in the landfill could look into ways plastic bags can be reused, identify a need in our community, and decide to crochet plastic bags into sleeping mats for those experiencing homelessness, while in the process gaining a hands-on understanding of the First, Second, Sixth and Seventh Principles. The underlying idea is that children and youth that have direct experience identifying a problem, working with the stakeholders, and actively designing solutions, in the safe spaces of RE, will be better prepared to address social justice work as adults, and as Berry points out, “…begin to see [themselves] as creators of the world around us, not passive consumers.”

This is just one new model of how we do RE making the rounds in the professional circles and is just one example of what I love about being a UU RE professional. UU RE is not tied to state or national standards, common core, or standardized testing. Our lone requirement is that we help RE kids explore what is important to them and us in a safe and developmentally appropriate way. So if there is a new way of doing RE, we can try it on, see if it fits our kids, tailor it to their needs, or set it aside for something else altogether. UU institutions are sometimes accused of not being nimble, but to the contrary, UU RE is extremely adaptable. With the support of the congregation it is taking place in—that part is essential—UU RE can be very responsive to the needs and strengths of each group of RE participants.

Now, I am not suggesting that we cancel our current RE design and transform it into a full-scale Makerspace. I am fairly certain the Facilities Committee and budget would not be too pleased with that. Nonetheless, it does make you stop and think. If our own memories of Sunday School are centered on those hands-on, doing-projects, should we not be focusing on that type of learning for the current generation of RE participants? What if instead of being centered on a curriculum, our classes focused on social justice issues, or even better, those topics that concerned the RE participants most? What if instead of passively discussing ways they can put their faith into action outside of class, we provided them the tools to actively solve those problems in class?

Bat House Supplies NeededThe Nature Trekking Summer RE kids have been focusing on the Seventh Principle (children’s version: We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things), and to end Summer RE and our exploration of the interdependent web, we will be making bat houses.

Before we go buy new supplies, though, do you have extra construction materials lying around the house? We are in need of:

• 1 5/8” and 1 ¼” coated deck or exterior grade screws• Dark colored (Black or Brown), water based, exterior

grade, paint, primer and stain• Paintable exterior grade caulk• 1” x 2” x 8’ (¾” x 1 3/4” finished) cedar or pine

furring strip for spacers• Cedar, rough-sawed black locust, white oak, old

barn wood, or exterior plywood at least 3/4” thick and 4” x 24” or larger (no treated lumber)

Supplies can be dropped off at church on Sunday mornings, or Jessica would be happy to pick them up (email education@uusic.org to schedule a pick up). Bat houses will also be available for purchase for a freewill offering, and they will come with tips for installation and maintenance.

As we move forward into new facilities and new opportunities, I will be looking at many of these new models, and I would love to hear from you. What do you think is the best way to aid our youngest members in exploring that which is important to them and us; what is the best way to support them in becoming good stewards of our communities; and what memories from RE do you want them to draw on when they are adults?

Yours in faith,

Jessica

To learn more about RE as a Makerspace, see Berry’s post: http://callandresponse.blogs.uua.org/makerspace-a-new-way-in-religious-education/.

Page 4 August 2015 The UU News

Upcoming Events(See the calendar insert and/or go to uusic.org/calendar for more events and information!)

Buddhist Sangha, August 5th, 12th, 19th, & 26thThe UU Buddhist Sangha is a community of people that gathers weekly to explore contemporary Buddhist practice and teachings in the context of Unitarian Universalist Principles and for meditation. We meet on Wednesday evenings beginning at 7 pm in the UUSIC library. To join the Buddhist Sangha listserv or to find out more about our group, please contact Brian Glidewell (351-2011 or brianandmark711@msn.com), Cindy Spading (624-2174 or mandcspading@southslope.net), or the UUSIC office.

Discovering Unitarian Universalism, August 9thIf you are new to Unitarian Universalism, join the Membership Associates from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm after the service on Sunday, August 9th. You’ll learn the basics about UUism and how our church works and plays. Participants will gather by the Channing Hall stage and proceed to the library together. Contact Carol Throckmorton for more information at 337-3030 or membership@uusic.org.

From Your Congregational Life CoordinatorThe Membership Associates will be welcoming two new members this month, Paula Miller and Carol Adamson. They will join our current MAs Larry Audlehelm, Pete Brokaw, Kim Palmer, Gary Lawrenson, Carol Nordquist, and Peg Voelker. Paula and Carol will be great additions to our team, and we’re all looking forward to having them serve with us.

The focus of the MA Committee this fall will be to assist with the transition to our new facilities. Our current responsibilities will likely change somewhat, and no doubt this will require us to be versatile and creative! Our mission remains the same, however: We create a loving and inclusive community through the practice of radical hospitality.

We’re beginning the third year with our Hospitality Teams, and all the team leaders and members have done a wonderful job in serving our congregation through ushering and hosting of our social hours. We have twelve teams with an amazing 136 UUSIC volunteers. Our team leaders are Phil Beck, Brian Glidewell, Gary Lawrenson/Linda Rice, Marianne Mason, Paula Miller, Carol Nordquist, Nancy Noyer, Kim Palmer, Bonnie Penno/Mary Roth, Cindy Spading, and Kari/Matt Yorek. Kim Palmer has served as team leader of two teams over the past 3 years, and a team member, Bob Burdinie, will be stepping up to take over as leader of one. A special thanks to Kim for being proactive in recruiting new members and providing training.

The Hospitality Teams soon will be receiving their four dates for the 2015-16 liturgical year and inviting their team members to continue. If you are not currently on a team but would like to serve in this easy and enjoyable manner, please let me know. It’s a wonderful way to get to know other members of our congregation. We’ll find a place for you! —Carol Throckmorton

Staff Reports

Rev. Steven’s Office HoursI will not have regular office hours during August, but I will be available by appointment. Please call the office or send me an email if you need to talk with me or have an issue you’d like to bring to my attention. In the event of a pastoral care emergency please use my cell phone to contact me at any time: 651-592-6685. —Rev. Steven Protzman

From Your AdministratorGiving statements were sent out mid-July. If you did not receive one or have any questions or issues with your statement, please contact the office.

We are currently dealing with the death of our (very old) phone system. We are actively researching replacements. In the meantime, please be aware that voicemails are being lost before we can hear them. If you leave a message at UUSIC and don’t receive a response, please email or try calling back. Thank you for being patient with this frustrating issue! —Emma Barnum

From Your Music DirectorThe Fireside Choir will begin rehearsals on Thursday, August 20th, from 7 to 8:30 pm. The choir is open to all singers (high school and beyond). No auditions or experience required. The choir sings in unison, two, three, and four parts (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass). The Fireside Choir rehearses weekly on Thursdays and often contributes to the Sunday worship services.

The new UUSIC Children’s Choir will begin rehearsals on Thursday, September 3rd, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The choir is open to all children ages pre-school through grade 6. The choir will rehearse the first three Thursdays of each month. Beside making joyous sounds (unison and two-part music), a name will have to be selected for the choir.

The Flute Ensemble will resume its weekly rehearsals from 11 am to 12 pm on Thursday, September 3rd. If you play a flute and want to join our casual rehearsal, please bring your instrument and come to the Fireside Room. The music is provided. We began playing together late last spring as an experiment and had so much fun we decided to make it an ongoing opportunity.

Our new Sing-A-Longs for the men and women of the Society will meet on the last Thursday of each month, starting September 24th. The men’s group will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 pm and singing will be led by the men of the Fireside Choir. The women’s group will meet separately at the same time and will be led by the women of the Choir.

The Sing-A-Longs will be an opportunity to participate in casual music making. Perhaps a long-forgotten camp song will pop up, perhaps a favorite folk song or two will re-enter your music memory, and some new and fun literature will be introduced. This would be a fine opportunity to explore and improve your singing. Don’t be shy, come and join us!

If you have questions about any of our musical groups, contact me at 338-5012 or cgcorbin@mchsi.com. —Gloria Corbin

The UU News August 2015 Page 5

Upcoming Events, cont’dGreen Sanctuary Committee, August 11thThe Green Sanctuary Committee will meet at 5 pm on Tuesday, August 11th, in Channing Hall. This committee builds awareness of environmental issues among congregants and seeks to motivate people to integrate sustainable living practices into their everyday lives. We work with other churches and/or groups on environmental injustices beyond the scope of our church. Everyone is welcome. Questions? Contact Deb Schoelerman at dschoelerman@gmail.com or at 594-2373.

Free Lunch Program, August 14thThe objective and mission for the Greater Iowa City Free Lunch Program (located at 1105 Gilbert Court, IC) is to provide free hot meals six days a week for the needy in our community. UUSIC supports the Free Lunch Program by sending a group of volunteers on the second Friday of each month to prepare, serve, and clean up after a lunch for approximately 140 people. To find out more or to join the team, please contact Sue and Lee Eberly at susan.eberly@gmail.com or Sherry Dolash at bridge_2_learning@yahoo.com (also see the monthly report on page 7).

Vegetarian Community, August 15thThe Vegetarian Community will meet for a summer potluck on Saturday, August 15th, from 4 - 9 pm at the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, Shelter #1 (4213 Sand Road, SE, Iowa City). Come early to enjoy the lake, Iowa River, birds, vegetation and walking trails. Please bring a favorite plant-based (vegan) dish to share along with your own table service and beverage. We’ll plan to eat at 5:30 pm. If you have questions, call 337-3030 or send email to carolthrockmorton108@msn.com.

Kiirtan, August 17thThere will be a Kiirtan in the UUSIC library at 6 pm on Monday, August 17th. Kiirtan is a combination of music and spiritual practice—it is the chanting or singing of a certain phrase that is charged with meaning. Kiirtan uplifts the spirit, calms the mind and opens the heart. It can be combined with a variety of instruments (we’ll start out with guitar) and also with dance. Done within a group of people, powerful healing energy is generated. Contact Andy Douglas at andy.c.douglas@gmail.com for more information.

UU Scrabble Group, August 20thThe UU Scrabble Group meets the third Thursday of every month at 1:30 pm in Channing Hall. Everyone is welcome to join in; beginners are welcome! Contact Gary Lawrenson at 936-1291 or glawrenson@mchsi.com for more information.

Girls’ Night Out, August 24thAll UUSIC women are invited for conversation, lots of laughs, and good food on Monday, August 24th from 5:15 - 7 pm at Stella (1006 Melrose Avenue, Iowa City). Drop in as your schedule permits. Please RSVP at 337-3030 or carolthrockmorton108@msn.com.

Ceili Dance, August 29thJoin us for a Ceili Dance on Saturday, August 29th, at 7 pm in Channing Hall. Ceili dancing is Irish social dancing—like contra dancing with a few extra steps thrown in. If you like Irish music and have ever wanted to dance to it, this is your chance! Beginners welcome. Children accompanied by adults welcome. No need to come with a partner. We will learn some basic steps and some easy dances and instructions will be given during the dance. We will have live music. The dance will be free but donations will be accepted. For more information contact Kay Schneider (338-5378) or Sherry Dolash (471-8084).

Secular Humanists, August 30th & September 15thOn Sunday, August 30th at 4 pm, join the Secular Humanists for a barbecue picnic/potluck at Shelter #17 at West Overlook (just past the beach below the dam on Lake Coralville).On September 15th Steve Locher will lead discussion of the book, Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist, in Channing Hall. Mark Yuskis still has a few copies available for only $10—contact him for one at resdoggie@aol.com.

Pet Blessing and Labor Day Picnic, September 6thIn honor of Labor Day and to celebrate all of our beloved companions on life’s journey, we will have a Blessing of the Animals service along with our annual Labor Day Picnic. Please plan to join us for this festive event. There will be more information in the September newsletter.

Water Communion and Ingathering September 13thOn Sunday, September 13th, as a gathered community of all ages, we will celebrate water communion at both services. People bring a small amount of water from a place that is special to them. During the service, the water is poured into a large bowl. The combined water is symbolic of our diverse faith that comes from many different sources and the sharing of our unique talents and gifts for the greater good of the community and the world. Please bring a small container of water from your summer adventures to share for this festive service.

Page 6 August 2015 The UU News

Covenant GroupsIn July groups discussed (but sadly, did not play) “Games.” We play games for all sorts of reason: entertainment, companionship, challenge. Playing games also keeps our minds sharp. Writer Jane McGonigal believes the type of thinking we do when playing games can be used to solve real-world problems. In our groups, each person had an opportunity to share thoughts about a game that has been especially meaningful in their lives.

Instead of meeting in our groups this month, we will be gathering at the home of Brigette and Adam Ingersoll for a potluck. Then in September, we will recommit to our groups for the next six months and talk about our various adventures with “Spiritual Exploration.” Happy Summer, everyone!

If questions like these intrigue you, you may be ready to join a covenant group. Groups offer members the chance to express their views and deepen their understanding of a wide range of issues, while fostering closer ties to other UUs. If you’d like to learn more about the program, please contact either Phil Beck (530-4715 or goodphilla@aol.com) or Jan Locher (354-6260 or locherj@mchsi.com). —Phil Beck

New Facilities Committee Update: Below are past and future activities on our facilities journey:

• July 28th: Neumann Monson Architects showed the New Facilities Committee (NFC) a second iteration of a high-level building concept. The NFC gave feedback to Neumann Monson to shape a third iteration.

• July 30th: The NFC shared the building concept at an open Facilities Supercommittee meeting.

• August 2nd: The NFC will share that same building concept with the congregation following the Sunday service.

• August 16th: Neumann Monson will present their third and final building concept to the congregation following the Sunday service. The NFC will post pictures on our website soon after this. (Note that design is just beginning and is still at a high level.)

• August 23rd: The NFC will repeat the August 16th presentation.

• August 30th: Following the service, and assuming that we appreciate and approve of the direction that the designs are headed, we will ask you to affirm—as a community—that we intend to move forward with this building concept and the capital campaign.

Please plan to participate in our UUSIC community affirmation and celebration on August 30th. We’ll share updates on our transition plan, we’ll discuss the feasibility study starting two days later (followed immediately by our capital campaign), and we’ll authorize Neumann Monson to continue with the building concept and finish designing our new home.

Please continue to follow facilities news in the regular Wednesday weekly email updates and other special announcements, and on our UUSIC.org website. Thank you for your continued input, listening, and participation in our facilities journey! —Kirk Witzberger

Committee Reports

IUUWANThe Iowa UU Witness and Advocacy Network (IUUWAN) will launch a membership campaign the last two Sundays in August and during the beginning of September. IUUWAN works in Iowa to promote social justice through such efforts as educational opportunities including workshops, a Facebook presence, and a website (IUUWAN.org), as well as strategies to address state legislation. A fall workshop on income inequality is planned for October in Cedar Rapids. Individual Yearly Memberships cost only $5. See Sally Hartman for more details or e-mail her at sallyahartman@hotmail.com. —Sally Hartman

Karen Fox and Sally Hartman participate in the

Raise the Wage Protest sponsored by the Center for Worker Justice on July 10th. Join the next one at

4 pm August 7th.

Take a Moment......to visit the plaques in the Henricksen Library. The Memorial Gifts plaque recognizes gifts contributed in memory of our members and friends, and our Chalice Society plaque displays the names of Society members who have made plans to leave a legacy gift to UUSIC in the future. While we are busy planning for our new building we need to remember the generous people who have helped to provide for our future for generations to come. —Barbara Haring

August BirthdaysIf you see the following UUSIC members and friends this month, please wish them a happy birthday!

If you would like your birthday to be reported in the UU News, please contact the office.

Tim AdamsonAmara BallantyneAubrey BallantyneBarbara Beaumont

Peg BouskaJacelyn Cheyney

Brody ClarkePeggy DietrichCalvin Greene

Al Hood

Susan KaliszewskiMargaret Kinsman

Garry KleinBrian Lehan MackinKiara Malloy-Salgado

Cari MaloneCameron Miller

Tony MillerJim Norris

Julian Oliver-Shaw

Kim PalmerAbigail Patterson

Ron PileRev. Steven Protzman

Teagen RoederDeb SchoelermanNicole Sheldon

Ada TurnerMira Wilmot-DeCarlo

The UU News August 2015 Page 7

Committee Reports, cont’d

Why I need another IDThree good reasons you need a Johnson County Community ID:

• To help normalize the experience of using a Community ID so those who have to use it won’t be stigmatized.

• To get discounts at 25 local businesses.• You and the rest of the community will benefit when

the crime rate goes down as a result of people loosing their fear of reporting crimes (like what happened in Cambridge, Massachusetts).

The Community ID can be obtained at the Johnson County Administration Building, which is open from 8 am to 5 pm. Bring $8 to cover the cost; a form of ID; and proof of residence in Johnson County, like a current utility bill. More than 70 people from our church signed a pledge last year to obtain the Community ID, so many have already made the commitment. Find out more about the ID and its uses here: http://goo.gl/8FHmSv. Thank you! —Sally Hartman

From Within These WallsEARLY CHOIR MEMBERS IN THE

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF IOWA CITY

While following up on a photograph of an early Universalist choir so graciously sent to us by Marybeth Slonneger (printed below), I found the following information in Ruth Irish Preston’s memoir of the early church, written in 1907-08:

Those members who were musical and who organized the first choirs in the church were, so far as I can learn, Ed and Wesley Redhead, Lewis Swafford, Syaxes Winchester, two daughters of Mr. Stover, Samuel Hess, a Mr. Knott, and Mrs. Robinson who was the first choir leader, ‘and politely picked up the key-note with a fork.’ There was no organ at that time and Mr. Knott, with his flute, often gave them a clear sweet accompaniment.

As in retrospect I contemplate this pioneer choir in the words of Benjamin Taylor:

---a sprig of green caraway carries me there,To the old village church and the old village choir,Till the land of the dead they have gone with their song, Where the choir and the chorus together belong.Oh! Be lifted ye gates! Let me hear them again,Blessed song! Blessed singers! Forever, Amen.

Ruth Irish Preston was a friend of Isaac Wetherby, who took the photo we have, so it’s possible that some of those in the photo are the ones mentioned by Mrs. Preston.

—Jeanette Carter for the Historical Records Committee

Photo Courtesy of the State Historical Society of Iowa

Free Lunch Program For June’s UUSIC Day of Service, a terrific team of chefs—Sharon Booker, Jeanette Carter, Sherry Dolash, Sue Eberly, Gail Garwood, Carmen Griggs, Jessica Johnson, Noah Johnson, Diana Miller, and Jill Stephenson—prepared the filling for our next Free Lunch entrée, hot chicken salad sandwiches. These were the centerpiece of another successful second Friday Free Lunch, for on July 10th we served 160 meals!

Among our diners that day was a skeptical youngster who took a sandwich only after being assured it was delicious. The man who came next in line remarked he knew he’d like it, because “when you’re really hungry, so hungry it wakes you up at night, your next meal always tastes great!” Later, he made a special point of coming back to the kitchen to thank us before he left. We had brightened his day, and he had brightened ours! If you’d like to know more about UUSIC’s Free Lunch team, just contact Sherry Dolash at bridge_2_learning@yahoo.com or Sue and Lee Eberly at susaneberly@outlook.com. —Sue Eberly

UU Book Discussion GroupThe UU Book Discussion Group resumes meeting on Monday, September 14th. We meet September through May on the second Monday of each month. Anyone who likes to read and discuss books is welcome to attend. We selected the first two books for next year which are Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin for September and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson for October. I am currently compiling a list of book ideas for the rest of the year. If you have ideas for this list please get them to me by August 15th. You can e-mail them to me at jayhawkeye@juno.com or call me with them at 354-1231. You can also contact me by e-mail or phone if you have questions about the group. —Mary Lou Welter

Sunday Attendance for June 28th - July 26thJune 28th: 118 total: 109 adults, 9 children July 5th: 101 total: 90 adults, 11 children July 12th: 125 total: 115 adults, 10 children July 19th: 98 total: 85 adults, 13 children July 26th: 91 total: 88 adults, 3 children

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UUSIC Board of Trustees, 2015-2016President: Jim Olson.............................................. 512-0007 jimolson921@gmail.com

Vice President: Kelly O’Berry..................................541-0326 kelly-oberry@uiowa.edu

Past President: Vicki Siefers.................................. 331-1798 vsiefers@mchsi.com

Secretary: Jeanette Carter......…........................338-5922 montehigh55@gmail.com

Treasurer: Adam Ingersoll...………...….................338-8811 adam.ingersoll@gmail.com

Trustee: Kirk Witzberger…………………............... 325-3425 kirkwitzberger@hotmail.com

Trustee: Steve Vincent....................................847-650-1634 stephen-vincent1@live.com

Trustee: Marianne Mason......................................321-9318 marianne.mason@msn.com

Trustee: Steve Locher............................................331-1863 lochers@mchsi.com

UUSIC StaffOffice Phone: 319-337-3443Website: www.uusic.org

Minister - Rev. Steven ProtzmanSummer Office Hours: by appointmentEmail: minister@uusic.org

Office Administrator - Emma BarnumOffice Hours: 10 - 4 Tues. thru Fri.Email: admin@uusic.org

Director of Lifespan Religious Education - Jessica Zimmer-Saltzman Summer Office Hours: 11 - 4 Tues. & Thurs. & 4 - 8 Wed.Email: education@uusic.org

Congregational Life Coordinator - Carol ThrockmortonEmail: membership@uusic.org

Music Director - Gloria L. CorbinEmail: music@uusic.org

Accompanist - Jonathan TauscheckEmail: accompanist@uusic.org

August 2015 The UU News

Our Mission Statement: We are a diverse spiritual community that touches hearts, changes lives, and transforms the world.

Our Vision Statement:Our vision is to be a loving, inclusive, and growing spiritual community. We celebrate life and a liberal tradition that leads social justice work, heals the earth, and nurtures the lifelong journey of mind and spirit.

UUSIC Calendar for August 2015(CH) Channing Hall (S) Sanctuary (L) Library (34) Room 34 (Sr. High Room) (F) Fireside Room

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

2610 AM Summer Service (CH)11 AM Social Hour (CH)

275:15 PM Girls’ Night Out (Vesta)5:30 PM Zumba (CH)

288 PM Yahoo Drummers (CH or Ped Mall)

297 PM Buddhist Sangha (L)

307 PM Facilities Supercommittee (CH)9:30 AM Newsletter Folding (L)

31 1

210 AM Summer Service (CH)11 AM Social Hour (CH)11:15 AM Facilities Forum (CH)

35:30 PM Zumba (CH)

412:30 PM Historical Records Committee (L)8 PM Yahoo Drummers (CH or Ped Mall)

57 PM Buddhist Sangha (L)

6 712 PM Finance Council (L)

8

910 AM Summer Service (CH)11 AM Social Hour (CH)11:30 AM Discovering Unitarian Universalism (L)

105:30 PM Zumba (CH)

115 PM Green Sanctuary Committee (CH)8 PM Yahoo Drummers (Ped Mall)

126:30 PM Capital Campaign Committee (CH)7 PM Buddhist Sangha (L)

136:30 PM UUSIC Board Meeting (L)7 PM 2nd Thurs. Covenant Group (34)

1411 AM Free Lunch Program7 PM 2nd Fri. Covenant Group (L)

154 PM Vegetarian Community (off-site)

1610 AM Summer Service (CH)11 AM Social Hour (CH)11:15 AM Facilities Forum (CH)

175:30 PM Zumba (CH)6 PM Kiirtan (L)

188 PM Yahoo Drummers (CH or Ped Mall)

197 PM Buddhist Sangha (L)

2012 PM Newsletter Submissions Due1:30 PM UU Scrabble Group (CH)7 PM Choir (F)

21 22

2310 AM Summer Service (CH)11 AM Social Hour (CH)11:15 AM Facilities Forum (CH)

245:15 PM Girls’ Night Out (Stella)5:30 PM Zumba (CH)

258 PM Yahoo Drummers (CH or Ped Mall)

266:30 PM Capital Campaign Committee (CH)7 PM Buddhist Sangha (L)

279:30 AM Newsletter Folding (L)7 PM Choir (F)

28 297 PM Ceili Dance (CH)

3010 AM Summer Service (CH)11 AM Social Hour (CH)11:15 AM Facilities Affirmation and Celebration (CH)

315:30 PM Zumba (CH)

1Feasibility Study (L)

5:30 PM SJCC (L)8 PM Yahoo Drummers (Ped Mall)

27 PM Buddhist Sangha (L)

3Feasibility Study (L)

11 AM Flute Ensemble (F) 5:30 PM Children’s Choir Rehearsal (F)7 PM Choir (F)

4Feasibility Study (L)

5Feasibility Study (L)

UUSIC Board Meeting HighlightsMinutes from all regular Board meetings are reviewed by the Board members and are then collected electronically.

Minutes may be requested from the UUSIC administrator or found on the UUSIC website.

July 9th, 2015

President Jim Olson called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.

Phil Beck presented the third reading of the Communications Policy. After a few changes were made, the policy was adopted.

The proposed Fire Evacuation Policy for 10 S. Gilbert was read for the second time by Vicki Siefers and was adopted.

Jessica Zimmer-Saltzman stated that a personnel policy applicable to part-time childcare workers is needed. She will proceed to prepare a policy for board action.

On behalf of the Transition Task Force, Adam Ingersoll led a discussion of the pros and cons of two sites: the Kirkwood Regional Center and the Sanctuary Church. Neither site is the obvious choice. A major question is the importance of having services on Sunday morning vs. Sunday afternoon. The TTF will prepare a recommendation after more information is received and the board will vote prior to the August board meeting. The board thanked the committee for its work.

Kirk Witzberger presented the report of the New Facilities Committee. After discussion the board agreed on the following: (1) Regarding the proposed “vote” on the building design scheduled for August 30th, the NFC should consider alternatives to a formal vote for getting a congregational affirmation for the plan; (2) decision-making: the NFC should feel comfortable making decisions but should feel encouraged to bring especially difficult issues to the board for discussion and/or action. The board thanked the NFC for its report, including the “Summary of Site/Design Issues.”

Vicki Siefers reported on the work of the Capital Campaign Committee, headed by Jamie Sharp. They have met with Mark Ewart, who, along with the committee, will conduct the campaign. A proposed timeline for the campaign was presented. Planning for the Capital Campaign will be coordinated with the Stewardship Campaign.

A Board retreat is scheduled for August 22nd, and the Program Council will meet in September on a date to be determined.

Jessica Zimmer-Saltzman stated that RE might be delayed until we actually go into our new setting.

The official meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm, after which time the Board entered closed session.

- Recorded by Jeanette Carter, Secretary