The Flame

Mid December 2002

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Kansas City, Missouri

Good News Celebrations

We celebrate that Brad Cox, our interim music director, was hired to the regular position through the thorough and thoughtful process of our music director search committee.

We celebrate the seven new members who joined on December 1.

We celebrate generous donations and the work Jim Neal and Chloe Mason Seagrove have put in to make the new RE office space more inviting.

We will welcome back Dave Rickard, who consulted with us on our last (successful) capital campaign, at the end of January. See the next issue for news of the workshop Dave will be leading.

We celebrate the bountiful Sunday before Thanksgiving potluck co- ordinated by Linda Parkinson and Linda Jones. Community, three turkeys, and a table loaded with side dishes were enjoyed by over 100 members.

Service Schedule 11:00 am

Dec. 15 - The Headlong Tumble into the Unknown - Kathy Riegelman

"The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition," Carl Sagan reminds us. How do we live with the uncertainty, the very precariousness of life? This service will explore one of the most basic responses to being human.

Dec. 22 - Expectancy - Rev. Jim Eller

If someone came and told you that you had the Holy within you and would give it birth, what would you say? How would it feel to know that a new world was about to be born and you are the one expecting? A liberal religious perspective is that the New World is about to be born, every moment. This Season we take special time to remember the miracle and potential of new life. Special Music: Tango Lorca

Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve - Candle light service

Dec. 29 - All That Jazz - Mike Mathews, members, and Rev. Eller

Jazz, poetry and interpretation. Jazz professor and church member Mike Mathews and students and members will be performing Jazz for the New Year. Life, poetry and religion are all a bit like Jazz, we make them up as we go along, but their freedom requires form and tradition.

Jan. 5 - Why Is That Chrysalis on the Front of our Sanctuary? - Rev. Jim Eller

Forum Schedule 11:00 am

Dec. 15 - Kansas City MO School District: Status and Progress - Bernard Taylor, Jr.

The Superintendent of the Kansas City Missouri Public Schools since April, 2001 will discuss recent progress in the District, including the regaining of provisional accreditation in April, 2002 after having lost its accreditation in 1999 and facing possible state takeover.

Dec. 22 Crisis Intervention Training: Improving Law Enforcement Response to Persons with Mental Illness in Crisis

A panel will discuss the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Greater Kansas City training for law enforcement officers in how to respond to calls concerning persons with mental illness in crisis.

Dec. 29 Today's Options in Readin', 'Ritin' and 'Rithmetic: Our Students Look at Education - Panel of All Souls Students

This Forum is presented by a panel of our middle and high school students. Hear about the typical day of students in public, private, parochial, and home school situations and the challenges they face in being educated for the world of 2002.

Jan. 5 - Corporate Accountability for Tax Incentives - Michael Duffy

Real Estate development corporations make expansive promises to the city in exchange for project tax breaks. Michael Duffy, chair of the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority, and a member of the city's Commissions for Economic Development which oversees both LCRA and the TIF Commission, advocates using clawback provisions to enforce the original contractual promises made. Michael has been an attorney with Legal Aid since 1977.

The Minister's Considerations:
Happy Holidays: As Much For Others As For Ourselves

In part the Jan. 5 Stanislav Ioudenitch concert is a dream come true. For some time, I have hoped that we could partner with other organizations to offer benefits that support our values. This kind of outreach is mutually beneficial to All Souls and to the KC Free Health Clinic. Small scale efforts have been talked about with the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association, with reStart, with Planned Parenthood, and other organizations. This is in part the spirit of Goodwill. It can also be the spirit of the Holiday Season.

This year I have asked my family not to give me store bought presents. I do not need or really want more "things." This does not mean that I have joined sides with Scrooge. The "Christmas Carol" story is powerful, but when Scrooge finally gets the spirit he does not go shopping to fill his house with "things." He gives more to a charity for the needy. He becomes more generous with his devoted employee. He allows himself to attend dinner with a loved but distant family member.

The spirit of Christmas is not about getting and giving more "things," but it is about being generous. Consider giving a charitable gift in the name of a loved one. Consider inviting a distant friend to dinner. Consider bridging a "gap" with an estranged family member. Consider how you might be truly generous. The Season is not about greater Materialism. It is about greater Love and generosity. It is not about the size of the gift but the love and thoughtfulness the giving conveys.

May the gifts you give and those you receive be filled with more love than you have know before. Happy Holidays to you and yours, on behalf of the church and the church staff. - Jim

Lifespan Religious Education

COA

Parents of youth in 6th-9th grade. The third installment of Coming of Age (our version of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or confirmation) will be starting this January when our Sunday evening programming resumes. There will be two parent's meetings: 9am Jan. 4 and 7pm the following Wednesday. If you cannot attend either meeting, we still want your child to participate. Just talk to Allison or Jeanne Himes. A letter was mailed to the parents of all 7th-9th graders. If you are not on our mailing list, please let Allison or Jeannie know.

Connections

Do you have a group here at All Souls that you want to share with others? Is there a class you would like to offer? We would like to promote it in Connections, our booklet of happenings at All Souls. Is there a change in a previous listing you had? We plan to publish in early January. We are also looking for people with desktop publishing skills to help us with the layout.

"The Gatherings" and other Sunday Evening Happenings

We were very happy with the success of "Buffy Kicks Butt!" this past fall. As we looked towards the New Year, we wanted something that would allow everyone attending Sunday evening programming to get together first, to center ourselves for the evening's programs. So we created what we are tentatively calling "the Gathering." Each "Gathering" (about a half hour) will be run by a team who might bring in a reading or two and perhaps play/ create some music. Allison is creating the teams; please talk to her if you want to be on one.

After the Gathering, we will separate into age groups and have dinner. Mike Willett made pizza for us each Sunday night, and we hope to have the some sort of dinner rotation responsibilities among parents.

Now we are planning several different programs after the meal: YRUU (high school youth group) will continue, and COA will begin. There will also be something for younger siblings and young adults. For the adults, Kay Engler will be offering a class on "Death: the Trip of a Lifetime" (for complete details, see the next "Connections"), and we hope to have an evening version of the Parent's Lounge also.

We are experimenting with the time to start and end on Sunday nights. If you have a preference, please let one of us know.

Small Group Ministries

Small group ministries are now forming. There are openings in several groups. Contact the LRE office to join.

The Lion King

On New Year's Day, while the adults are at the Simpson House party, the children will play. We plan to attend “The Lion King,” showing on Imax. The show starts at 5pm, and we are looking for a few good drivers. Tickets are $8adults/$6 kids and will be available at the LRE office. As with the Simpson House party, if money is a problem, let us know.

New LRE office

The LRE office is moving to room C downstairs. We need help getting our items downstairs, and then organizing them. Jim Neal is coordinating our move and refurnishing of the office. Please contact him if you can help.

Nursery leadership needed

We are looking for a responsible, caring adult with experience in infant and toddler child care to run our Nursery the first Sunday of each month. For more details and to start the interviewing process, please contact the LRE office.

Parents Lounge

Did you know that during Sunday School, some parents sip coffee together and chat? They are in the Library. Feel free to join them; the conversation is usually quite interesting.

Adult Sunday School

Did you know that during Sunday School, some adults gather in the Meeting Room, taking turns leading an Adult Sunday School class?

Adult programs to restart

Adult programs have wound down for the holidays. Look for many new classes and discussions starting in January.

Student Forum on school

The Dec. 29 Forum is a panel of middle school students talking about their school options. No Sunday School is scheduled that day. We are looking for parents to be available for the discussion in the library, following the Forum.

LRE Wish List

1) Flour, cornmeal, oils, salt and sugar for the Harvester's Food Barrel (near the west entrance)
2) Mittens and hats for the Mitten Tree at 11am Sunday, Dec. 22; all sizes.
3) Craft kits and Nerf balls for the LRE closet.

Sunday School update

The PreK/K class has been busy learning some of the stories of Beatrix Potter. They have also been playing on the play structures (inside & out), coloring pictures and being with friends. Getting ready for the annual Winter Blessings Pageant has been the focus for all the classes these past few weeks. Julie Milner and Jane Gilbreath came up with this year's approach that allows us to continue our UU Identity studies while putting on a show.

Wednesday Evenings

If you have a midnight inspiration for providing quality food (at fast food prices) at church on Wednesday evenings call Lynisa. If your inspiration comes with the dawn call Ted or Allison.

Volunteer Opportunities in LRE

There's a place for everyone in LRE. Call the LRE office for more information.
1) Office help on Wednesdays.
2) Bulletin board artists - experience preferred.

Remember the teachers

This Holiday season remember the LRE teachers. This is a natural time of year to let Sunday school teachers, youth group advisors and evening class instructors know that they're appreciated.

Thanks Mike!

For the past several months All Souls has enjoyed a great gift known as Chef Mike. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and random other times our church building has taken on a wonderful added dimension. Opening the church door when Mike was in the kitchen was like being transported to Italy, Mexico or wherever the aroma floated us away to. As our favorite chef moves on to his new job we wish him the best of luck, look forward to seeing him and his family amongst us still and thank him from the bottom of our hearts. (Watch for his classes this winter/spring).

Other Church News

ALL SOULS TALENT AUCTION needs donations
Mark your calendar now for
the All Souls Talent Auction
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003
6:15pm Social & refreshments start
7pm Bidding and auction begin
Bring a friend
Child Care Provided
Free Refreshments
Cash Bar
Credit Cards Accepted.

A request from all of the staff:

When you're the last one out of any of the church offices, please lock the door behind you. If you think you're going to need to come back to the office, there's probably someone around with a key who can unlock it for you later.

Staff has come into the unlocked building and found unlocked office doors, with no one around for at least half an hour. We have computers and other equipment that thieves might find attractive. Even more important, however, is the data that's on our computers. Our offices could not operate without it. Yes, we back it up regularly, but that doesn't mean it would be easy to reconstruct everything that was entered since the last backup was run. Thank you. - Terry Wiggins

We welcomed these new members on Dec. 1:

Art and Ruth Dewey are long-time residents of Shawnee, Kansas. They are active retirees who enjoy music, reading, European travel, ski racing, and the occasional new challenge. Ruth retired from AT&T after 30 years of service and Art retired from Southwestern Bell with 35 years of service. They have two grown children, Christopher and Michele, and two grandchildren, Laura and Stephen. They have been searching for All souls for many years, and have finally found their home.

Abott Durocher has hung around All Souls for a couple of years, and becoming a member seemed like a natural. He has lived in the Kansas City area most of his life, except for the 1990's when he lived in Seattle. He plans to visit book discussion groups and the All-C.R.A.F.T. Bee. Unfortunately, Abott was unable to be with us.

Karen Major lives in south Kansas City. She has degrees in math and music, and works at the UMKC Library. Unfortunately, Karen was unable to be with us.

Scott and Vickie Sovereign have been married 14 years and have a baby boy coming to join them in April. Scott, originally from Gladstone, met Vickie in her home state of Iowa at the University of Iowa. They moved to Kansas City four years ago from Washington, D.C., following stints in politics and with nonprofits. Scott is a computer engineer and recent MBA grad. Vickie is preparing for Baby. Unfortunately, they were also unable to be with us.

Gary Purdom is a native of Kansas City, and graduated from UMKC in 1970 with a degree in Economics. He was a Baptist, a Youth for Christ, and attended Bob Jones Academy in Greenville SC. He's now an officer in the Heartland Humanists and is a past officer for the Eupraxophy Center. Gary married his high school sweetheart and has two sons and five grandchildren. He loves people who think for themselves.

The struggle against hunger

All Souls donated 48 meals to the cause last month. Keep fighting to offer hope to Kansas City's hungry.

Christmas Eve Soup & Fellowship

Feeling rushed and stressed but you still want to attend the Christmas Eve service at All Souls? Join us 5-6pm in Conover for hot soup (one will be vegetarian), bread, and good conversation. Then follow Jim down to Bragg at 6:30 for our annual Christmas Eve Service. Help make this a new All Souls tradition for your family. To make sure enough soup is prepared please call the office, 816-531-2131, if you plan to attend. - Linda Parkinson

UU Views: Sunday Morning Discussion on Social Issues

All members, friends, and visitors are welcome to join us at 9am Sundays for our discussions on the study/action issues adopted at General Assembly (GA). The issue currently in its second year of study is Economic Globalization. We are discussing our reactions and comments on the Draft Statement of Conscience prepared by the UUA Commission on Social Witness (see www.uua.org/csw) after a year of study and a workshop at the last GA.

We are developing suggestions for revisions to the statement. In the new year, we will turn our attention to the study/action issue now in its first year: Civil Liberties. We have resources for study and discussion.

What civil liberties are threatened and why? What can or should we say and do?

Later in the winter or spring, we will probably turn to Actions of Immediate Witness that we may want to introduce at the General Assembly in Boston next June. Please join us. - Bruce Wiggins

Jan. 5 reception, after Church, at Simpson House

The first Sunday of the new year is also the first Sunday for our new student intern, Melissa Mummert. You are invited to a reception at Simpson House after church Sunday, Jan. 5 to greet Melissa and help us welcome her.

Plan to attend, enjoy some punch and cookies, mingle with other members and friends of the church, and, of course, let Melissa know how happy we are to have her join our church family. - Margaret McCormick

CoffeeHouse Fri. Dec. 27

The All Souls CoffeeHouse brings you a Yuleboeck with live music at 7pm Friday, Dec. 27. Come, enjoy the cookies, punch, coffee, table games, and conversation too – plus whatever you bring to share. Pizza will be eaten at 7pm. Bring the entire family and friends. Children are particularly welcome. Come at 6pm and attend Service for the Soul with child care available. - Walt Wells

New Year's Day Wind Down Potluck

The Stewardship Committee invites you to attend a New Year's Day Family "Wind Down" Fried Chicken and Potluck Dinner at Simpson House on Wednesday Jan. 1st at 5pm.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. A cash bar will be available. The fried chicken will be provided.

Please bring the following to share
Last Names: A - G Appetizer
Last Names: F - R Vegetable, salad or side dish
Last Names: S - Z Dessert

Please note: There is no microwave oven in Simpson House for reheating food. However, there are 3 conventional ovens. More details to follow in the next Flame.

Big Night a beautiful bash

The Big Night Dinner at Simpson House, sponsored by the Stewardship Committee was sold out and delicious. Those attending were served by a crew headed by Suellen Dice and Margo Quiriconi. Big thanks yous to them and to: all who came; to Kris & Lynn Cheatum, Vincent & Isabelle Ciaramitaro, Anne Edson, Bill & Sandi Ewens, Nick & Jean Francis, Carol & Rod Harsin, Jeff & Tina Merritt and Jean Patterson for their wonderful, cheerful help; and to Mark Van Order, accompanied by Marcia Fernandez, for his very enjoyable singing of Italian arias. This event raised $1,300, to be used for new tables for church dinners. - Chuck Downing, Chair

Yuleboeck schedule

So far, these are the Yuleboecks on the calendar. Please feel free to attend any and all of these holiday parties, and bring a snack. More parties are being added each week to the calendar. When are you going to schedule one, and let the church do the inviting for you?

Friday, Dec. 13, 7:30pm, Yuleboeck/New Member Social hosted by Claudine Thomas, 15 W. 58th St., KCMO
Saturday, Dec.14, 3-5pm, YRUU hosted by Megan Kraus & Charlie Truitt, 7416 Delmar, Prairie Village
Saturday, Dec. 14, 6-8pm, hosted by Manny & Sara Pedram, 4428 Harrison, KCMO
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6-9pm, hosted by Addie Dietrich, 2 E. 70th St., KCMO
Thursday, Dec. 19, 5-7pm, hosted by Jane Gilbreath, 3842 Wyandotte, KCMO
Saturday, Dec. 21, 2-7pm, hosted by Humanists at All Souls
Saturday, Dec. 21, 7pm, hosted by Jan & Ralph Cohen, 530 W. Country Lane, KCMO
Friday, Dec. 27, 7pm, hosted by Lee Ann Googe, 5313 North Kensington, KCMO
Saturday, Dec. 28, 7-10pm, hosted by Liz Steese,3537 Bell, KCMO
Sunday, Dec. 29, 1-5pm, hosted by Jeff Holt, 424 E. 101st Street, Apt 202, KCMO
Sunday, Dec. 29, 6pm, hosted by Jill Jarvis & Chris Cox
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 5pm, potluck dinner hosted by Stewardship Committee at Simpson House, $5
Sunday, Jan. 12 3-6pm, hosted by Joan Olsen, 4130 W. 95th #111, Prairie Village
- Terry Wiggins

Mitten Tree to benefit Native Americans

The Mitten Tree has appeared in Bragg each December for lo these many years (at least 20). The Sunday before Christmas and Christmas Eve, the tree is hung with mittens, gloves, hats and scarves, a warm gift to those who need both the warmth of wool and the warmth of our caring. This year, the gifts will go to the Heart of America Indian Center, recently moved to 39th Street. Watching a three-year-old put his/her gift on the tree is one of the best traditions you'll participate in. - Caron Wells

Renewed Environmental Information Station

Through the generosity of our local environmental organization, Bridging the Gap, our Green Sanctuary Information Station has a large variety of pamphlets from the Choose Environmental Excellence program. These brochures answer your frequently asked questions on a variety of topics, such as:

--How can I recycle in my workplace?
--How can I create a backyard wildlife habitat?
--How can I stop receiving junk mail?
--How do I dispose of items my garbage collector won't pick up?
--How do I compost my yard waste?
--How can I buy school supplies with recycled content?
--How can businesses buy products with recycled content?
--What can I use for safe and alternative cleaning products?
--How can I save energy and money on my utility bills?
--What can I do with good used items I don't want?
--What can I do to help the environment? Simple Steps Kids Can Take
--How can I dispose of automotive waste?

In addition, two more guides help us observe our seventh principle of "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." These are "Power shopping Guide: The Grocery Shoppers Power Tool for Helping the Environment" and "Holiday Hints for the Earth".

Please help yourselves and learn what you can do to consume responsibly, as recommended by our 2001 Statement of Conscience. - Terry Wiggins, Green Sanctuary Committee P.S. If anyone wants to use this space for your own church group, please see Terry Wiggins, Communications Administrator.

Holiday Concert Dec. 14

The Bittersweet Christmas Band will perform a variety of seasonal music from the reverent to the ridiculous in 2-, 3-, and 4-part harmony accompanied by guitar, hand drum, dulcimer, & pennywhistle at All Souls.

It will be at 8pm Saturday, Dec. 14, brought to you by the All Souls CoffeeHouse in cooperation with CrossCurrents. Tickets are $15 at the door, but tell them you're from All Souls and it's only $13. Students 12 to 18 get half price, and children under 12 enter free.

Musicians Cooper, Nelson, Early, and Urban tour the rest of the year as folk musicians and early music recreators; but for about a month each year they present holiday music that even we UUs can enjoy. They've been at All Souls once before and I don't think anyone went away disappointed." - Walt Wells

Demeters' Boutique

Demeters are offering lots of treasures for your shopping convenience in the Lobby each Sunday, 9:30am-12:30pm. Items are gently used and are priced to sell. They will also be glad to receive gently used or new treasures on Sunday mornings.

Thank you for your support. If you have questions call Jane Thebo or Kass Wright.

Anyone need Medicare help?

There have been recent changes in Medicare insurance supplements and the adjustments must be made by Dec. 31. Any of our Medicare recipients who have not made the adjustments and feel they need some assistance may call Bonnie Schwarzenholz, 816-444-1000, for more detailed information.

All Souls is a UUA Annual Program Fund Honor Society.