The North Unitarian Universalist Congregation Newsletter December 2007

 Over the past month, I have been deeply aware of our annual stewardship drive (since it has been running for the past 6 months only five feet from my desk) as well as involved in its aftermath, the annual budget process. Having helped run the canvass for the prior two years and now helping to prepare my fourth church budget, I have developed a great respect for those whose vocation is to regularly raise and allocate money.

It is very likely that we have all been contacted even over the last week from some organization that is seeking contributions; however I have to pay special homage to those professionals who fund raise for colleges and universities since I can think of no more dogged and determined group over the long term. While it is an old joke that if you were to change your name and move overseas, the first mail you would receive would be from the alumni association, there is a large kernel of truth to university development departments' unwavering commitment to solicit all of a school's alumni by whatever means necessary.

I have only to look at my own alma mater, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and my experience with them to know their commitment to their objectives. Since 1983, CWRU has regularly sent me monthly opportunities to both remain in community with the school and to make a financial commitment. While I have not changed my name, I have moved over 12 times over the past 24 years and have not necessarily been forthcoming in communicating my new locations. Nonetheless, they have always found me and continue to offer me “new and exciting ways to join with my fellow alumni.”  To be clear, due to circumstances and choices I’ve made, I have never made a contribution to CWRU (and knowing their endowment fund, I am sure they have not terribly missed it), but they continue to try, always without judgment or approbation. They are simply reminding me that the “opportunity” is always present and are always trying to be in front of me when I consider donations.

It is not completely accurate to say that I’ve ignored CWRU completely. Like many new parents, I made out my will in 1997 (along with getting adequate life insurance) for the first time. As part of my will, I made a bequest, admittedly, in the grand scheme of things not a large bequest (perhaps a chair--no, not a professorship, literally a chair) to CWRU. Upon reflection, I am not sure why I made the bequest, but I am sure, after my time as Canvass Co-Chair, that a significant part of the bequest was the constant and unwavering attention of the CWRU development department.

Our congregation does not yet have the dedicated team (nor endowment fund) of a university, but we are at least weekly presenting you with news and information about your congregation. What we do not do is let you know about all the “new and exciting opportunities” to contribute to the congregation. It is not part of our culture, either as a congregation or a movement. This is reflected in a survey done of the congregation about 6 years ago that found only one member had made a bequest to NUUC in their will. When I first heard this, I was very surprised, but after consideration, we have never, to my memory, mentioned this as part of either canvass or otherwise. While it was discussed by the canvass committee briefly a couple of years ago, unfortunately the idea got lost in the excitement of the campaign. Planned giving is not something that comes from excitement, but from careful cultivation over many years.

Over the next few weeks and months, we as a congregation will talk a lot about money, budgets and our collective future. Later in December we will pass a 2008 budget and (hopefully) take our first steps towards expansion. We will have to make choices and it will involve considering who we are now and who we want to be. However, as part of this excitement, I would ask that we all think a little longer term and consider what we want NUUC to be when we are gone. When you think of that, please take another minute to think how you can make that happen. Finally, I do know that there are now at least 2 bequests.

In peace and fellowship,
David J. Petras

Children's Religious Education News
You teach best what you most need to learn. - Richard Bach

Believe it or not we are over half way through our 1st RE semester and the children are busy in Religious Education expanding their Unitarian Universalist minds.

 The Chalice Children (ages 3-5) are learning that they belong to a religion with a very long name that can be difficult to pronounce and remember.  To guide the young children we use the “Chalice Children” curriculum to help them learn about their religious community and to develop a sense of belonging. 

The Explorers, the school age children, have been exploring how different religions view evolution and the creation of the world.  They are also looking at different biblical stories and discussing how the bible comes to have different meanings and interpretations.  The children are encouraged to explore their own beliefs of how the world and man came into existence and God's involvement.  This is a very exciting time for this age group because they are just beginning to reflect about their own religious beliefs.

While the school age kids are exploring religion, the youth are looking at different spiritual and reflective practices, with Mylly, their youth advisor. Our youth are developing a strong sense of belonging and friendship that can only be found in the spiritual setting of the Nielsen House.

I feel Clay Bedford best expresses what we are trying to create for our children in Religion Education:

You can teach a student a lesson for a day, but if you can teach them to learn by creating curiosity they will continue the learning process as long as they live.

 Tracy Steinbrenner, Chair RE Committee