Northern Light

The North Unitarian Universalist Congregation Newsletter

February 2010

Page 1

I have been distracted today, saddened since learning this morning of the death of Howard Zinn. The internet is buzzing now with the many accomplishments of this profound social activist and intellectual. But I knew him only through the simply printed paperback that still holds a place of honor on my bookshelves: “The People’s History of the United States.” That book turned my world upside down and inside out. Here was an account of the early American colonists’ wars against the Native Americans—from the point of view of the Native Americans (long before anyone else was discussing it). Here was the truth of the Mexican War. In school, I was never sure exactly what the Mexican War was about, except that some Americans fought there and were really brave and went on to be famous. Zinn explained it all clearly: we took a lot of what is now Texas from Mexico. Did you know that even today most persons residing in the US of Mexican descent came to be here not because they or their families in immigrated here, but because we shifted the border right from under their feet? It was on reading Zinn that I realized for the first time that I loved history. When history meant only memorizing the royal succession lines in Europe, I wasn’t very compelled by it. When history came to mean remembering that change is made not by great individuals singlehandedly altering the universe, but by ordinary men and woman struggling for lives of dignity and purpose, then I loved it. Who changed the world more…Jesus and Buddha, or the people who gathered around them; or even more profoundly—the communities that gave rise to them. A world that gives rise to Jesus, Buddha, Zinn, and the hundreds and thousands of people he chronicled whose stories would have otherwise been lost gives me hope. To Life! Rev. Susan Ritchie Northern Light Newsletter The “Northern Light” is a monthly newsletter produced by North Unitarian Universalist Congregation and is distributed approximately the 1^st of each month.The deadline for submissions is generally the week following the monthly Board of Trustees meeting. The submission deadline for March’s issue will be Tuesday, February 23. If possible, submissions should be sent as a Word-compatible document attached to an e-mail to Jeri Dill at nuucjdill@aol.com. Pasting the article into the body of the e-mail is also suggested in case of incompatibility of software. Delivery by electronic mail (e-mail) is our preferred method in order to save paper and postage; however, paper mailed copies are available upon request. If your postal mail or e-mail address changes or you wish to be added to or removed from either mailing list, please advise Jeri Dill in the office at nuucjdill@aol.com or by calling her at 740-657-8081, ext. 1. Also in this issue Page 2  Events & Activities.  Find out what's happening this Month! Page 3 News from the Board and Committees. Page 4 A Call to Action!  See how you can support your congregation and your world!

Worship Schedule Feb. 7 Race Matters. How and why anti-racism work is an indispensable spiritual discipline. Feb. 14 The Orthopraxy of Love. Why it is important to act from love, even before we feel it. Feb. 21 Commissioned Lay Leader and Church president Teri Cornell leads today’s service. Feb. 28 The Green Spirit. The Spirituality of Ecological Action—Intergenerational Service. Children’s Religious Education Children’s Religious Education classes are held every Sunday during the worship hour unless otherwise noted (children will be in the main worship for certain intergenerational services such as at Thanksgiving and Christmas). NUUC again offers three classes this year. Our “Chalice Children” class is for ages 3-5 and meets in the main church building, in Fellowship Hall. The “Explorers” class (for ages 6-11), and the “Seekers” youth class (for ages 12 and up) meet in Nielsen House, the religious education “House” across the parking lot from the main church building. The complete and updated 2009-10 Religious Education Prospectus may be viewed at www.nuuc.org, click on “Worship and RE,” then on “Children’s Religious Education Program.” NUUC Youth Class Updates The format of the Sunday morning youth group has evolved quite a bit since the 2009-10 religious education year began.  The Youth Group now picks a topic or two to discuss each Sunday.  Topics are generated by the kids - addressing issues that range from "Is it always right to tell the truth" to "What is quantum theory?" to "If you could be anyone, who would you be and why?”   Added to the mix is a new challenge of bringing in "Show and Tell, with Meaning" to share with the group.  Kids will be assigned a week in which they bring in something (music, art, photos, object) which they find meaningful, and share it with the group. In addition, the youth have chosen to do a service project involving money raised through selling baked goods.  The youth are going to stage an overnight "bake-a-thon" with the goal of making a lot of cookies, eating a lot of cookies and generally having fun.  The fruits of their labors will be sold at church the next morning.  They are in the process of selecting a cause to benefit from their project. If you have questions about the Youth group, please contact Melinda Rosenberg (rosenberg21@sbcglobal.net ) or Rev. Susan Ritchie (RevRitchie@aol.com or 740-657-8081, ext. 2). Nursery Schedule The NUUC nursery will be staffed to serve younger-than-toddler age children from 8:45am until 11:45am unless otherwise posted.