The North Unitarian Universalist Congregation Newsletter

September 2010

Page 4

Call to Action!

Open Invitation from Social Action Committee The NUUC Social Action Committee typically meets the first Sunday of the month, after service, in Nielsen House. For more information please feel free to attend a committee meeting or talk to any member of your Social Action Committee. No meeting is scheduled for Sept. 5 due to the holiday weekend; contact Chair Tracy Steinbrenner at tracystein@att.net for questions and to learn of the next meeting date.  Won’t you join us? Delaware County CROP Hunger Walk Each year your Social Action Committee participates in the Delaware County CROP Hunger Walk. This year the Walk is on Sunday, October 3. Our Walk is sponsored by the Delaware Ministerial Association and supports Church World Service hunger programs. CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. We’ll be joined by walkers in CROP Walks in some 2,000 communities across the country. We walk to raise awareness of the problem of hunger, and provide funds for immediate relief and long-term developmental assistance, both abroad and in our own country. 25% of funds raised go to local food banks, pantries, etc. In our case, 25% goes to PIN (People In Need), which operates a food pantry and a holiday clearing house (providing food, gifts, clothing, etc.), and provides emergency housing and emergency medical and other services, for people in Delaware county. PIN is a member of the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. The point of walking is to be in solidarity with hungry people in developing countries who walk as much as six miles a day for fuel, water, and food. CROP Walkers can choose either a six-mile or a one-mile route. It is a tragic fact that worldwide more than one in seven people are hungry – and as many as half of them are children. Whether you are a CROP Walker or a donor, you help end the curse of hunger at home and abroad by supporting the vital work of Church World Service. To sign up as a CROP Walker: See Tom MacLaughlin (740-201-5724) tjmaclaughlin@columbus.rr.com He has envelopes which contain all the information you need. To learn more: go to www.churchworldservice.org, or www.cropwalk.org. 2nd Annual Cause Fair Set for Oct. 31 Your Social Action Committee knows how we, as Unitarian Universalists, love to be involved and contribute! Accordingly, the SA Committee will sponsor its second annual “Cause Fair” on Sunday, Oct. 31 from 11:45am – 1:00pm. Do you have a cause or passion you want others to know about? There are many wonderful causes out there of which we may not be aware or may not have had the opportunity to contact. Tables will be available for the groups and will be set up in Fellowship Hall. If you have a favorite passion or know a cause that would love to share their mission with us, please contact Lyn Herron (ohiolyn@aol.com or 614-519-5378). Let's work together to make this a better world in which to live!" NUUC Bumper Stickers The Communications Committee still has some of the new NUUC bumper stickers. Our “Many beliefs. One faith” stickers are an eye-catching bright yellow with black print and are available for purchase for just $4.00. See the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to get yours. For more information, contact Kristin Grimshaw at 614-840-1950 or grimshaw@wowway.com.

Annual School Supply Drive A Success! The Social Action Committee wishes to thank everyone who participated in this year’s “School Supply Drive” benefiting the youth of the Delaware Co. Juvenile Probation Program. We raised a record $627.65 in cash to purchase items, in addition to the donations of much-needed supplies. A special thank-you to coordinator Diane Mattox for her work… Refreshment Help Requested One NUUC tradition that carries on week to week is coffee, cookies, and conversation after services.  In an effort to share in the set up and clean up of this after-service treat, a monthly sign-up schedule has been designed. A very special thank you to all of you who have taken a turn at this task… If you have not already done so, could you spare a bit of time some Sunday to help?  Please?  The process is easy--all you have to do is follow instructions that are already posted in the kitchen on where everything is and how to make coffee (if you don't know how). And then clean up after and put things back. Everything is provided for you.  (But, of course, if you want to try a new cookie recipe or have dessert left from a meeting or family function, you are more than welcome to share it!) This is the perfect opportunity to work as a couple, or grab a friend to help.  If everyone took a turn, no one would have to do it every week.  And it's fun!   We are currently scheduling through December—see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for available dates, or please contact Teri Cornell at tericornell@ymail.com or 614-891-5935.  An Appeal From “Share” The “Share” project (which takes your gently-used towels, blankets, etc. for use in making sleeping bags for the homeless), has sent out an appeal for toiletry and personal care items. Especially needed are: new or gently used washcloths/towels; toothbrushes; toothpaste; deodorant; safety pins; sewing kits (Dollar Tree has great name brand health items!) Place items in labeled box on desk in Fellowship Hall. See bulletin board for complete list of items or visit www.Shareyourbest.us. For more info, contact NUUC Coordinator Lynn Foreman sbgmacb@hotmail.com Please remember this project the next time you clean out your linen closet… If you have used (but stain-free) towels and washcloths that you would like to get rid of, please consider donating them to "Share.”  (Other items that are needed are fabric, blankets, and men's ties.) Donation is easy—just give to Lynn Foreman at service any Sunday morning. (If you can’t find her, you may leave the items on Jeri’s desk in the center office off Fellowship Hall with a note marked “for Share project.”) For questions or more information about how you can help, please contact Lynn at 740-513-4876 or sbgmacb@hotmail.com or visit the Share project website at www.shareyourbest.us . “Loose Change” Project Update Your Social Action Committee will continue its “Loose Change” project in 2010 by collecting your loose coins during the worship service on Sunday, September 12, as it has on the second Sunday of each month throughout the past year. September's Loose Change will go to the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth (UUMFE).  The Ohio Meadville District has been selected to participate in a project designed to provide support for congregations within our district which are committed to caring for the earth, deepening understanding of our seventh principle, and working to build a more just and sustainable earth. The funds will go towards a Challenge Grant the UUMFE has received from the UU Funding Program. To receive the funding the UUMFE must raise at least $500 from individuals and congregations within the district.  If we raise over $100, our congregation becomes a member of UUMFE. Looking ahead, October's Loose Change will go to CROP WALK (scheduled for Sunday October 3).  Tom MacLauglin  is organizing our congregation this year.  (See the CROP Walk article elsewhere in this month’s newsletter for more information). The committee selected NUUC’s Annual School Supply Drive benefiting the children served by the Delaware Co. Juvenile Probation Program as its recipient for the July and August collections. A total of $292.65 was contributed towards the 2010 drive. Additional deserving recipients for 2010 Loose Change collections are always under discussion. For questions regarding the “Loose Change” project or to suggest a recipient, contact Chair Tracy Steinbrenner at tracystein@att.net or any member of your Social Action Committee. 2010 Loose Change Collection Recap Month Collected $ Amount Donated to: Total January $112.25 Delaware Co. People In Need February $114.72 “ “ $226.97 March $ 92.47 UUSC/UUA Joint Relief April $106.70 Effort—Haiti $199.17 May $ 99.28 Heifer Int’l. June $ 75.00 Heifer Int’l. $174.28 July $ 98.32 Delaware Co. Juvenile Probation August $194.33 Department $292.65 Go to: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3