From the Minister
Dear beloveds,
Let us enter into the spirt with the word of Evin Carvill Ziemer:
If we lived in another climate
Our souls might speak other languages
We might speak oasis or permafrost, dry season or monsoon
But our souls speak spring
Our souls speak green shoots pushing through last year’s leaves
Our souls speak flower buds stretching to sun
Our souls speak mud puddle and nest building, damp earth and worm castings, tiny green leaves and frog choruses
We speak spring because spring sings in us
We gather to nurture our faith in our own growing
Our own courage to push through
Our own blossoming in beauty
Our own small part in the spring of this world
Come, let us worship together
Our Souls Speak Spring
In faith,
Rev. Aija
Worship Information
The Worship Theme for May is “Spirit of Life, Come to Me”
May 5: “Seeking the Spirit” If there is a spirit that moves through the world – where do we go looking for it? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cindy Terlazzo.
May 12: “Choosing Family (Flower Communion)” What does it mean to choose to be a mother? What does it mean to not? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Molly Wilkinson
May 19: “Welcoming the Spirit” How do you welcome the spirit into your life? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
May 26: “Beloved Conversations” Join us as we lay the foundations for a space to explore and re-form the brokenness of racism into new patterns of thought and behavior. The Beloved Conversations curriculum will be offered at UUCV this fall. We hope that you will come and be challenged – come and be inspired. Intern Cindy Terlazzo preaching with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
UUCV Congregational Meeting
Reserve Sunday, May 5 for our annual congregation meeting which will follow immediately after the service. Take this opportunity to ask your questions and vote on our proposed budget. Questions, contact any board member or call the office at 717/249-8944.
UUCV Mother’s Day Flower Ceremony
Sunday, May 12, we will celebrate Mother’s Day with our annual flower communion. Please bring a flower to share….vases will be provided for you to place your flowers in before the service begins. All will be invited to come forward and take a flower in honor of our Mothers.
Strawberry Shortcake Booth at Foundry Day – Saturday, June 1
We need your help for our Strawberry Shortcake Booth at the Foundry Day Arts Festival in Boiling Springs. Join in the fun this year to help raise awareness for UUCV. Volunteers are needed to bake shortcakes, slice and dice strawberries, and for short shifts working at the booth from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday, June 1st. Signup sheets are on our “Volunteer Table” in the Social Hall.
Questions, or to volunteer, contact Michael Weidner [email protected] or Pam Martin [email protected] or by calling the office at 717/249-8944.
Auction Planning Meeting
Survey says – we like the Auction and want it to continue. Since that is what we want, we need to begin planning for Auction 2019. A meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, June 9 AT 9 AM in the UUCV Board Room. Your ideas and enthusiasm are welcome and needed as we brainstorm, pick a theme, and set a timeline. Please be assured that attending the meeting does not lock you into any specific task! Please RSVP to Wendy Gebb at [email protected]. Thank you.
More to Do….Please Help as You Can
On Saturday, May 25th, from 9AM to 1PM, consider joining us for a few hours of work on your church. We held our first spring workday in April but, we have more to do. If you can work the entire time or only part of the time, you are welcome to join us. Hope to see you then.
UUCV Yard Sale
The UUCV Yard sale will take place again this year on Foundry Day, Saturday, June 1.
We are going to try something different this year by accepting donations for the items…Nothing will be priced. If we have large item donations, we will try to sell on Facebook Marketplace before the yard sale…large items that don’t sell on Marketplace will then go by donation at the yard sale.
Help will be needed, so please sign up in the Social Hall on the Volunteer Table or contact Pam Martin, this year’s coordinator, in the office [email protected]
Items will be accepted beginning Sunday, May 19. Please place your items in the Dining Room or drop off during the week Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday between 8:30 am – 1:30 pm or Wednesday between 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Make sure items are clean and no clothes, shoes or outdated electronics will be accepted.
RE Happy Hour is now…Family Happy Hour
Same place, new name! We are changing the monthly “RE Happy Hour” at Desperate Times to “Family Happy Hour,” to make sure everyone knows they are included. Have little kids? Bring ’em! Have big kids? Bring ’em! Have grandparents, partners, chosen family? Bring ’em! This monthly social is for you.
Mark your calendars for the 4th Wednesday of the month: this month will be
Wednesday, May 22 from 5:30-7:30pm at Desperate Times, 1201 Carlisle Springs Rd, Carlisle, PA 17013.
Connect and chill out with other UU families!
UUCV Social Justice Calendar – MAY
Join US at Project SHARE’s Farm Stand!
When: Thursday mornings, May 9th & 23rd from 9:30 – 11:00ish
Where: Farm Stand is located at 123 Lincoln Street, Carlisle
Why: To sort located donated fruits, vegetables, baked goods for distribution to those in need.
Live our mission! Please sign up at Social Justice table.
VOTE – Tuesday, May 21st
Change for The World – HOPE Station
Hope Station, located in Memorial Park, Carlisle, is a non-profit designed to enhance the quality of life, health, safety, and economic opportunities of the people who live in the neighborhood it comprises. Hope Station is not just a building. Hope Station seeks to lift up the entire neighborhood by tackling our most difficult problems through education, technology, job development and most importantly, teaching our children to become leaders by learning to respect themselves and others. Hope Station has a commitment to unity and pride, ad embraces the success ad diversity of its families. Examples of programs include: Youth Leadership Programs, After School Programs, Summer Food Service location, and Literacy and the Arts. www.hopestationcarlisle.org
Adult Ed Book Group
Join us Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 6:30 to 8 PM to discuss Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men by Michael Kimmel. A professor of sociology and a leading scholar in the field of gender studies, Kimmel interviewed 400 men aged 16 to 26 and identified a trend whereby young men increasingly delayed adulthood. He writes that “the passage between adolescence and adulthood has morphed from a transitional moment to a separate life stage. Adolescence starts earlier and earlier and adulthood starts later and later.” The book is described by reviewers as riveting, fascinating, engaging, disturbing and provocative. Susan Rimby will lead the discussion. Questions: contact [email protected].
On June 23, 2019 we will discuss Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.
Survey Says…
A big thank you to all who participated in the Town Hall Meeting discussion about the Auction and fund raising and to the 35 people who completed the survey. And now, here are the results from the three survey questions –
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What about the Auction do you find valuable, enjoyable, worthwhile?
The overwhelming response was – It is a fun and playful event that we like! We enjoy socializing with each other, getting to know each other better, dressing up for a theme, and having a good time while raising necessary funds. Of all the items offered at the Auction, Sign Up Events are the most popular.
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What ideas do you have about other fund raising activities?
Quarterly potluck dinners with Sign Ups offered for the upcoming quarter of the year, Valentine’s Dinner Dance, sell Sheetz or other discount books, host a breakfast for local anglers on the first day of trout season, car washes, benefit nights at Allenberry or other theaters, book sale, online auction or sale of donated items, concert or lecture series, host a specialty or ethnic dinner at the church for the wider community. And there were multiple suggestions to eliminate the Silent Auction Items as a way of simplifying the Auction production.
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If you value the Auction, are you willing to help produce it or other fund raising activities?
There were 6 clear no’s, several were yes’s for specific tasks such as helping with food, and there were a few maybe’s or “depends on my schedule”. There were a few yes’s from people new to the event, and many yes’s from people who have been in the trenches for a number of years. Most yes’s clearly stated that they are not interested in being in charge. However, one brave person was bold enough to say they were willing to learn how to produce the event!
Seems we clearly took a stance in favor of the Auction! We also endorsed the idea that simplifying its production would be a good thing. Knowing that it takes a number of months to plan and put the Auction together, it is time to schedule our initial planning meeting for Auction 2019. Please be assured that attending the meeting does not lock you into any specific task! The first meeting is mostly brainstorming, picking a theme and setting a timeline. Since we’re hoping to make some changes it would be great to have some new folks join in with fresh ideas. It would help to bump us out of the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset! Hope to see YOU there!
Auction 2019 Brainstorming and Planning Session
UUCV Board Candidates Announced
The following three members have accepted nominations to serve on the UUCV Board of Directors for the term expiring 6/30/22: Michelle Burton, Craig Raisner and Dirk Wiley.
Their candidacy was announced from the pulpit on Sunday April 14 and they will stand for election at the Annual Congregational Meeting on May 5, 2019. In addition board members who have been appointed by the board due to vacancies occurring during the year: Heather Woodward, Bev Motich, and Craig Raisner will need to be ratified.
Dick Poland will also be joining the Nominating Committee with congressional approval.
Brief biographies of the two newest proposed board candidates are as following:
Craig Raisner, Ed.D.
A retired music educator and public school administrator, Craig comes to the board with a varied background in United Methodism having served several Central Pennsylvania Churches as Choir Director for youth, adult, and combined community cantata choirs. In addition he was a certified Lay Speaker for the Central PA United Methodist Conference and has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Summerdale United Methodist Church. Craig and his wife Leeann Rhoades came to UUCV shortly before being engaged and married. Here Craig found a church that spoke to his spiritual interests and needs. The community spirit found within UUCV attracted him while the environmental focus spoke to him in a passionate way. Needless to say, the professional flavor and quality of the music within the church and the artistic focus found within the congregation made this church the ultimate choice for him to find the kind of worship community that he desired.
Dirk Wiley
Dirk was raised in the Mechanicsburg area and is an electrician by trade. He is currently employed by the Mechanicsburg Area School District as their Lead Electrician/Maintenance Forman. He has been attending UUCV going on two and a half years now and has been a member for over a year. He enjoys spending time with and getting to know this church community more and more. When not working he enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife, Courtney, and their two sons, Parker and Elliott. He especially enjoyed their weekends at their cabin, swimming at the lake or just hanging out by the camp fire.
Mozambique Update
Many of you have no doubt have heard of Cyclone Idai and the subsequent flooding that has devastated Southeast Africa, and are wondering about our Bursary girls and staff. Thankfully the schools in Namarroi and Molumbo and program people in Quelimane were not affected. According to our Bursary liaison, Titos Macie, “The bursary girls as well as the entire student community in both Namarroi and Molumbo are well, as the route of the cyclone was south of that [affected] region. Sonia [staff person from Quelimnae] left and returned to Quelimane just before the cyclone hit. We are thankful she traveled well and that she was able to hand over the supplies [food, hygiene articles, and school supplies] to the girls.”
However, widespread areas of Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe are still in perilous long-term devastation. In a March 21st BBC interview, former Mozambique First Lady, Graca Machel stated that 100,00 people were currently in need of rescue. She further remarked that the cyclone and flood victims “need everything.” The total number of casualties is unknown.
In underdeveloped countries like Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe natural disasters are particularly catastrophic. High winds, heavy rain, and flooding knock out cell phone towers that totally cripple communications systems. Power lines are taken down as well. When dirt roads and flimsy bridges wash away, many people are stranded. It is safe to say that nothing functions in these countries after a natural disaster like Cyclone Idai.
We mourn for all the lives lost and the devastation of those who are affected by this tragedy. The UK Disasters Emergency Committeehttps://donation.dec.org.uk/cyclone#1
Is taking donations for cyclone relief. No doubt the International Red Cross is doing the same. Please consider making a donation to these efforts.
The Mozambique Bursary Committee
Are you a Humanist?
I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a humanist when I came across this quote from Kurt Vonnegut. He wrote that “I am a humanist, which means, in part, that I have tried to behave decently without expectations of rewards or punishments after I am dead.” Does this apply to you?
Humanism can encompass not only theists but also agnostics and atheists. A new group is meeting at the Harrisburg UU on May 22, 2019 at 7 PM. This is an opportunity to meet with others who wish to share their understanding of what it means to be a humanist in today’s world. If you have questions and want more information, please contact Rich at [email protected].
Adult RE Planning
These classes will be held on Sunday morning’s beginning at 9:00 am in the Board Room.
May 12: Mental Illness Affects Us All
Well briefly take a look at Mental Health care in the broader context of our nation. Then we will take a deeper look at Cumberland/Perry counties and possible ways we as UU’s can be helpful according to our bridge in the inherent worth of everyone. Questions welcomed. Chris Bilger will lead the discussion.
May 26: Consciousness and the Self
When we look deep inside ourselves, who do we find? Is anyone there? Do we have a self? A homunculus? What creates the phenomenon of consciousness? Can machines be conscious? Are dogs or chimps or begonias self-aware? Scientists are just starting to unravel the functioning of the wetware in our skulls. But Buddhists have been studying minds from the inside for millennia. What can they tell us about being conscious? Joe Osborne will lead the discussion.
Upcoming Open Auction Events
The auction is over but there are still open events that you can attend. Contact the event leader or Pam in the office 717/249-8944 or [email protected] to sign up and submit payment. For full details on events, check out the booklet online http://www.uucv.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Booklet-final.pdf
Upcoming open Auction Events:
Good Day Sunshine Hike and Lunch – May 18 at 8:00 AM $10/pp Host: Sarah Gaudelli
Ricketts Glen Hike – June 8 at 8:30 am $25/pp Hosts: Michele and Jim Burton and Carole and Tom DeWall
Paint Night with UUCV Artists–September 21 at 7:00 $45/pp
Hosts: UUCV Artists
Contact Pam in the office to sign up and for payment options 717/249-8944 or [email protected]
Smile.Amazon.com and make money for UUCV
When you do your amazon online shopping, use https://smile.amazon.com/ and choose Unitarian Universalists of Cumberland Valley as the charity you would like to support. You only need to enter our name in once, and it will remain the charity until you change it. UUCV receives quarterly checks based on the amount spent on this site. There is no extra cost to you.
Grocery Cards – Easy fundraiser for UUCV
Don’t forget to stop by the Grocery Card table after service on Sundays to buy a Giant, Karns or Weis card to purchase all your picnic groceries. This is a great fundraiser for UUCV – we receive 10% of the face value of every Giant Card sold and 5% for each Karns and Weis card sold. Cards can also be purchased during the week in the church office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 am – 1:30 pm and on Wednesdays from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. And you can use your Giant card for gas, Carlisle Borough Trash Bags, prescriptions, and beer for those over 21!
