The Flame

Early March 2002

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Kansas City, Missouri

Good News Celebrations!

We celebrated our tenth anniversary as a Welcoming Congregation, a UU congregation that is affirming of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender persons.

The 1st-5th grade classes successfully made dragons for the Feb. 24 service.

The 6th and 7th grade classes made beautiful valentines card using Japanese calligraphy, taught by Sanae Hughes, who is normally our child care worker in Kemp.

Congratulations to Karen Neal on finishing several months of marvelous work for the Religious Education program.

The Library Committee, under the leadership of Addie Dietrich, held a successful used book sale. We can look forward to more good things from them.

The “Michael Servetus Cafe” is off to a good start under the leadership of Bob Miller and Marian Davis.

Praise and thanks to:
  Bruce Wiggins for Jihad vs McWorld discussions in February.
  Craig Volland for discussions on globalization, our current study/action issue, on Sunday mornings.
  Jeff & Tina Merritt for the latest “Building Your Own Theology” class.
  Bruce Leeson for spaghetti (Feb. 10 Sunday Plus lunch).

Service Schedule 11:00 am

March 3 Religious Integrity -Jim Eller

This shared service with Rev. Fred Campbell explores religious integrity. How can humanists, theists, and mystics share a common language? How can we learn from “functional theology?” This service is the kick off to a week long class based on Rev. Campbell’s book. His book, Religious Integrity for Everyone, is now available in our UU bookstore.

Mar. 10 A Vision of a New Tomorrow - Jim Eller

Each of us brings gifts of our time and talent. How we live our lives reflects our values and our beliefs. These “gifts” are one way to know our own ministry. Do we need a vision to create these gifts? What does it mean to be an amateur? Are we all really ministers? Am I welcome to volunteer to do anything I want? Join us for our celebration of volunteerism and our own public ministries.

Mar. 17 Service Celebrations Sunday - Jim Eller

We are a generous and caring congregation. By our generosity we shall be known. By our acts of collective goodwill we create here a lasting legacy of religious liberalism. Liberalism is not a sin. We are not going to hell for being free thinkers. We are going to “heaven,” if we allow ourselves to truly love one another.

Forum Schedule 10:00 am

Mar. 3 The Community of Christ: A Journey from Sectarian to Global Community -W. Grant McMurray

The Community of Christ (formerly Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) has its international headquarters in Independence. W. Grant McMurray, president of the Church, will discuss transformational change within the church, the adoption of a new name, and the challenges that face their community.

Mar. 10 Civil Liberties After 9/11 -Dick Kurtenbach

Which civil liberties and how many do we need to give up in our quest for a terror-free society? Is such a society even possible? And if so, at what cost? Dick Kurtenbach is Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri and a frequent Forum speaker

Mar. 17 Forum The New Patriotism: Immigration after 9/11 - Howard Eisberg An immigration law attorney will discuss worrisome changes in the landscape for immigration, including the newly enacted “U.S. Patriot Act.”

Minister’s Considerations:

Minister’s Luncheons

I welcome a chance to get to know our members better and for members to have a chance for informal conversation. For two Thursdays, March 21 and 28, we will have a drop-in lunch at the Great India.

This good Indian restaurant is located at 1706 W. 39th. There is a modestly priced lunch buffet, which will make a drop in, “come as you can” atmosphere possible. The first week the starting topic will be the nature of belief, the qualities of God, the importance and place of disbelief.

The second Thursday we will start with the topic of Us and Social Justice. E.g., What is freedom of conscience? Can you be a Republican and be a UU? How much justice is enough justice? Join us for open conversation and give me, our minister, a chance to get to know you better.

Learn about how others did it

Mark your calendars now for the return of Religious Odysseys, our highly popular summer program. Each week will feature an “Odysseus” who will share with us her/his theological journey, after which there will be time for listeners to dialogue with the presenter. Religious Odysseys meet in Conover Auditorium at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday, from June 9th through September 1st. Help make this another successful season by joining our planning committee, and/or by volunteering to present your odyssey. Please contact Kathy Riegelman or Jean McCormick for more information.

What is Service for the Soul?
  It is:
    listening to music
    singing
    sitting quietly
    listening
    naming our joys and concerns, a tradition in many UU churches
    talking to each other.

Mostly what we do is create community through our sharing. Those of us who attend would welcome more people to join us. Quite a number of us have learned how to create a simple and meaningful service.

If you have any questions about the service, ask someone with “Service for the Soul” on their name badge. Service for the Soul is a wonderful way to wind up the week. Why not join us? - Terry Wiggins

Lifespan Religious Education

Lifespan Religious Education job opening

Temporary church help wanted: 17 hours a week $10- $15/hour a week depending on experience. No benefits. Now until July 1, 2002. Send letter of interest to Religious Education office.

Friendly, liberal office worker being sought for support to the Lifespan Religious Education office. Strong communication skills required, and the ability to organize and support volunteers. Experience with PageMaker and Excel helpful. Duties will include shopping, supply organization and up-keep, Sunday morning set-up and support, as well as typical office work, such as typing, phone calling, and light correspondence; flexible hours.

Michael Servetus Cafe - on Evil

Marian Davis and Bob Miller will lead and moderate the second Michael Servetus Cafe at 1pm Sunday, March 10 in Grace Hill Library after Sunday Plus Lunch. The February group enjoyed a lively and diverse inquiry into the “War on Terrorism.” The topic for March is “Understanding Evil” which is featured in the Jan/Feb 2002 issue of UU World. This promises to be another topic ripe for a Socratic inquiry into a diversity of concepts and assumptions. We hope you can join us. - Bob Miller

LRE Wish List
1) data projector
2) crackers (especially Ritz Cheese Bits)
3) Juicy Juice in cans
4) Easter Candy

Take a flyer, hand one out

Near the water fountains in the hallway is a bulletin board filled with church activity notices describing events. Feel free to take a flyer and please encourage others (especially visitors) to do the same.

Easter Activities

Bring individually wrapped candies to church for the annual hunt.
March 29 (Friday 7pm) Adults-only egg coloring.
March 31 (Sunday 10am) Annual Family Egg Hunt & Brunch.

JJJ from Parents as Teachers

Jump Jog Jiggle, a Parents as Teachers program, comes to All Souls the last Wednesday evening of February and the following morning. We hope this will be a monthly event for our Thursday morning Parents’ Group. For more information call the LRE office or Betsey Molinario.

International curriculum

Sunday School classes enjoyed their winter break, the study of the some of the more fun elements of Japanese and Chinese cultures. Now we resume our World Religions studies with a focus on Hinduism. This will be followed by Buddhism. If you have experiences you wish to share about either please contact the LRE office.

Delay of Wednesday evening classes

Wednesday Evening Family Activities will begin the first week of March. This is a delay of one week. Join us for adventures in the arts for all ages.

Thanks for art tour

Rae Ann Nixon and Betty Hutson guided about 20 of us (ages 1 - 30plus) on a tour of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (arranged by Karen Neal) as a part of our Sunday School studies. The younger set counted 39 baby Jesus likenesses while the older group sought lesser known symbols of Christianity in paintings.

Easter candy needed

Now is the time to bring Easter candy and other goodies to church. Your donations will be used to stuff eggs for the Easter Bunny to hide. Last year over 60 kids hunted for eggs. This year we expect even more. Please bring candy individually wrapped. Drop off candy in the lobby basket or in the LRE office. Thanks in advance.

Other Church News

Board experiments with modified structure

The board of trustees is trying a modified structure intended to improve coordination and communication between the board and the church’s committees and relational groups.

The arrangement began in January after the board decided to follow recommendations of consultant Chuck Gaines. He said the board was too large, and suggested dividing it into two groupls— one for programs and one for policy making.

During this trial period, the board program group is meeting the second Wednesday of each month under the leadership of board Vice President Jean McCormick. It is composed of most of the board members who are committee liaisons and will be focusing on program planning, calendaring, committee appointments, and membership and hospitality functions, among other things.

The board policy group is meeting on the third Wednesday of the month and includes the board president, secretary and treasurer and other board members on the administration council. The policy group’s responsibilities include finance, human resources, the pledge drive and fund raising, property matters and long-range planning as well as policy.

Under the plan, the two groups would meet jointly once a quarter.

Also, the program group would meet with chairpersons for all committees and relational groups twice, or perhaps three times, a year. These meetings would be intended to allow better for scheduling of events and improved coordination of church activities. It is also hoped that these meetings would knit the committee chairpersons better into the church’s governance and provide them with more support.

A meeting of the program group with the committee and group leaders will be at 6 p.m. March 13. All chairpersons will be receiving a letter explaining the meeting and giving its agenda.

The two groups will have a joint meeting at 6pm April 17. The board plans to evaluate the experiment in May. - Mark Anderson

Thanks to ice storm callers

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped telephoning our members and friends during the recent power outage. We heard from several people who have not come to the church in many years, so we know it was appreciated. I would name you individually if I had not lost my list. You know who you are: you’re the heroes. - Terry Wiggins, Membership and Communications Administrator

Thank Karen and Joan

If you like our new membership directory, you have Karen Medhi and Joan Olsen to thank for the work they did in its production. Karen did some important computer work, and Joan used her eagle-eyes and encyclopedic knowledge of the congregation to proof-read it. Thank you both. - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

Get a name tag

Need a “permanent” name tag? No problem, no charge; just ask by signing the list on the hospitality table. If you have requested a name tag (either a first one or a replacement tag), check for it on the hospitality table. If it stays there for a couple of weeks without being picked up, it may be moved to the name tag rack. In the case of names not in our database, the paper part of the tags will be recycled and the plastic badge holders will be reused. - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

New members Feb. 17, 2002

Curtis and Jennifer Bradford are originally from Manhattan, Kansas, and attended the UU Fellowship of Manhattan for several years. They moved to Warrensburg about 3 years ago. Curtis is a student in construction management at CMSU and Jennifer is a doctor of pharmacy and works as a cardiovascular scientific manager for Aventis Pharmaceuticals. They try to get to Kansas City every weekend but have two busy teenagers, Rachael, 17, and Gregory, 14, who fill their weekends with equestrian and Boy Scouts events.

Andy Cline teaches composition at Park University and is finishing a Ph.D. at UMKC. Lola Butcher works at Midwest Research Institute and is finishing an MPA at UMKC. They live with their seven-year-old daughter, Emily, in the Old Briarcliff neighborhood of Kansas City.

Marvin Goodman says, “I have been attending All Souls since approximately 1968 especially for the Forums. I have been hesitant about joining all that time because I didn’t want to be a drop out later on. I am now convinced I can hold my own in personal doctrinal beliefs and accordingly have joined.”

Dick Lewin has been a Unitarian since 1959. He was a social worker in New York City, and then a United Way executive in Pontiac, MI, Green Bay, WI, El Paso, TX, and Newark, NJ, now retired. His wife, Jean Lewin, is originally from St Joseph, and has lived in many parts of the United States, returning to St Joe four years ago. She likes working, gardening, cooking, sewing, and traveling. In June she retired from a career in medical technology. They are the parents of four children and have one foster daughter and one six-year-old grandson.

Mike Mathews has been involved with Unitarian Universalism ever since joining the First Unitarian Church of Ann Arbor, MI, in the late 1950’s. Since 1978 he has been on the music faculty of Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph. He teaches low brass and bass, music theory, and jazz.

Jessica Mattingly lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband James, daughters Amber and Rachael and son Ian. She “retired” from teaching special education 4 years ago to learn at home with her children. She occasionally teaches childbirth and parent education at local hospitals and does breastfeeding support.

John and Lisa McCarty are teachers in Clinton, MO who moved here from Colorado after graduating together from CU-Denver’s School of Education. Lisa enjoys decorating and publishing while John enjoys reading and role-playing games. They have two children, Owen Kimball (4 years) and Phoebe Margaret (2 years).

Mike McKelley was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio. He was raised Catholic and educated in Catholic schools; he’s the father of two boys and a girl, and has one grandson. Mike is self-employed and lives in Midtown; he’s been a resident of Kansas City for 21 years.

Tom McKiernan was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas. He’s a graduate of Kansas State University. Tom currently resides in Overland Park where he works as a software developer for PDA Software Services.

Jean Patterson, who lives in Fairway, and recently retired from federal service as a paralegal/technical writer, says this change is allowing her to spend more time with her husband and caring for her mother. She has jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and has acted, sung, and danced in community theatre. Two desires for this chapter of her life are to participate in a community of good will and to become more eccentric, both of which are possible at this church.

Sandi Shaw is a life-long Unitarian Universalist. She became active in the southern UU civil rights movement as a teenager. It was there that she learned to stand against religious, racial and sexual bigotry. She lived most of her adult life in the San Francisco Bay area and served as president of the Hayward UU Church. Sandi was a trustee of the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA. She is the mother of two teenage boys and also nurtures a big black dog, two cats and two birds. She works as the executive director of a medical foundation in the Northland where she lives.

Ruth Singleton was born and raised in Lawrence, KS and attended the Lawrence Unitarian Fellowship through high school. She has lived in Denver and Kansas City and is currently working as a systems consultant for ADP. She enjoys camping, music, reading, puzzles and games and living with her dog and two cats.

Janet (Jerry) Wheeler says, “As a long-time religious liberal, I can at last attend the church of my choice. Our decision to rent a retirement apartment in Kansas City has made it possible for me to join All Souls. We are here just part-time, but I intend to participate whenever possible.

Full directory information and a picture of our new members will appear in our next issue. - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

New Member Class

If you’ve thought about becoming a member of All Souls, here comes your chance. A new session of the new member class will start at 7pm Thursday, March 7, and continue on March 17 and 21.

Although this class is sometimes called “The New UU,” it is also for people who have been part of Unitarian Universalism for a long time, if they are new to this church. It is an opportunity to meet and connect with a small group of people, and begin to become part of our community.

Or, if you have been around All Souls for a while but want more UU or All Souls history, try this class. It is not required for you to become a member of the church; it’s just a wonderful opportunity. A New Member service will be held Sunday, April 7. - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

Garage sale is coming

Save your good used items- clean ‘em up and clear ‘em out! Room D (lower level) is being used as a collection point. Contact Chloe Mason Seagrove to arrange a drop-off time.

The sale will be held April 4 and 5 in Conover. Please help us make it a success. - Chloe Mason Seagrove

Cookbook needs recipes

Recipes wanted, whether from your own fertile brain, mother-in-law, or the side of a soup can. Originality is not as important as edibility, and as more members become vegetarian, we need more than spinach lasagna to feed our friends. So Terry and Bruce and Lori and Cheryl and you(?) , show us the good stuff. We can provide forms, or you may send it to Social Justice by e-mail (caronwells@aol.com). Good food makes good neighbors. [sorry, Mr. Frost] Money earned, if any, from sale of the cookbook supplements goes to our community hunger projects.

Plant sale in your future?

At press time three people plan to provide seedlings or transplants for the April 14 and 21 sale. There’s room for more, especially since we have lots of pots free and packets of seeds, because my desire in January is always bigger than my yard in May. Share the joy of growing, and help support a community garden at Operation Breakthrough, KC’s biggest daycare center for low-income kids. Call Caron at caronwells@aol.com, or sign the clipboard under the ‘daisy’ in the lobby.

Humanist theologian to speak

Anthony Pinn, African American humanist theologian at Macalester College, has accepted the invitation of the Brenner, Bragg and Friends of the Forum Committees to speak at All Souls on May 4th and 5th of this year. Mark your calendars and watch for further details. - Jean McCormick for Brenner Memorial Committee.

Thanks for the contribution$

The Finance Committee thanks all the members of church committees and groups who have contributed to the development of the budget for the coming year. (July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003)

Look for opportunities in late March to comment at open meetings on the draft budget. Make comments now to any member of the Finance Committee. Copies of the draft budget are available at the church message center. - Walt Wells, Chair Finance Committee

Harmony House 2002

Construction begins on Saturday, April 6 on this year’s Habitat For Humanity Home near 37th & the Paseo. There will be a sign-up Sheet at church beginning Sunday, March 3. We need volunteers who can swing a hammer, push a broom, hold a board, or slap a paint brush. For more than a decade All Souls members have participated annually in building a Habitat for Humanity home in Kansas City. Because this project is built in cooperation with congregations of other denominations (Episcopal, Jewish, Catholic, United Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, among others), and is an outgrowth of Harmony in a World of Difference, the house is known as Harmony House.

For more info: see flyer in the lobby or call Walt Wells.

Help organize pro-choice clergy

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) works to ensure access to safe and legal abortion, invoking the moral power of religious communities to counter efforts to portray religion as anti-choice. The national organization was founded in 1973 and includes major faith groups that have issued official statements supporting reproductive choice. Unitarian Universalists were one of the first, as early as 1963 urging reform of abortion statutes.

Since 1997 All Souls has been an Endorsing Congregation of the Missouri affiliate, which is the largest and most active in the nation. I represent All Souls, and the other area UU congregations, on the Board of Mo RCRC. Nearly all the activity has centered in the St. Louis area (where almost all the other Board members reside, and the office is located), but we’re hoping to change that in the near future.

At the January long-term strategy meeting, one of the five stated goals was to establish an active presence in the Kansas City metropolitan area, on both sides of the state line. I agreed to spearhead this effort, a commitment that (thankfully) was subsequently supported by the All Souls Social Justice Committee.

Just the initial organizing process is going to be quite a task. It will include identifying the pro-choice clergy throughout the metro area, contacting them with the appropriate information (by mail, email, and/or phone), and planning a first-time informational meeting. Staff members from St. Louis will attend this meeting to explain the Mo RCRC objectives and activities, which include advocacy, public relations and fundraising.

If you’re interested in helping with any aspect of this important work, please contact me at jjarvis1@kc.rr.com. Mo RCRC has been extremely effective in the St. Louis area in countering the religious right’s anti-choice message, and with your help, we can do the same here in Kansas City. - Jill Jarvis

Benefit concert Mar. 9

The Social Justice Committee is proud to host a benefit concert for the Mo-Kan Choice Coalition, a group comprised of Kansas City area pro-choice organizations. This event will be held at All Souls in Bragg Auditorium on Saturday evening, March 9, and will feature the talented local group “Perception.” A reception with hors d’oeuvres will begin at 6p in the lobby, where information tables will be staffed by each member organization; the concert itself will begin at 7.

Join us for a great evening, meet lots of dedicated activists, and learn about the broad range of pro-choice activities in our metro area. This is a great opportunity to choose among many ways to get involved. Tickets are $25. For reservations or more information contact me at jjarvis1@kc.rr.com. - Jill Jarvis

Ordination update

Kathy Riegelman’s ordination service will take place at 6pm Sunday, May 12 in Bragg Auditorium. You are invited. In the meantime, Kathy’s committee is also looking for your help in making this the elegant and meaningful occasion it deserves to be. Are you willing to take in an overnight guest or two for a couple of nights that weekend (Kathy’s inner circle of out-of-town friends or family)? If so, please call Margaret McCormick. Do you enjoy the busy fellowship of putting out an invitational mailing? If so, please contact Joan Olsen. To offer your help in some other capacity, please call Nicole Shoenhals. We will keep you posted as other tasks are identified but we would love to know of your interest, now. Thanks. - Margaret McCormick

Upcoming Events

Check the “Church Events” Bulletin Board (in the hall near water fountains) for more information and to sign up for coming events:

March 2, 2pm:	Writers Group now meets on the first Saturday of the month.
March 2:	The All Souls CoffeeHouse and CrossCurrents bring you two concerts on the same night at All Souls.
March 3-10:	Fred Campbell, author of Religious Integrity for Everyone, speaks at All Souls on March 3 and at SMUUCh on March 10. March 3-9 he offers classes at 2 & 7pm. See previous issue of the Flame for more info.
March 5, 7pm:	First meeting of the Ricardo Group, supporters of “free trade” to “help poor and undeveloped nations achieve real economic growth.”
March 6, 7pm:	A special meeting of the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association is scheduled at All Souls to discuss the proposed neighborhood master plan.
March 8, 7:30pm:	Debate at All Souls on the topic: Evolution vs Intelligent Design.
March 10, 1pm:	Second Michael Servetus Cafe--a Socratic inquiry and dialogue on “Understanding Evil”
March 16, 10-noon:	Committee “Nuts & Bolts”--how to optimize your service to All Souls.
March 18, 7pm:	Second “Conversations on Caregiving”--caring for the aging or chronically ill.
April 29, May 6, 13, 20; 7pm:	“Bringing Life to Your Theology” with Chloe Mason Seagrove. Add to your spiritual repertoire. Explore techniques of meditation, journaling, life tapestries, and others. Add texture and dimension to your spiritual practice.
May 4 and 5:	Anthony Pinn, African American humanist theologian at Macalester College, is coming to speak at All Souls about the radical religious right.
May 13,14,15, 6-9pm:	Baby-sitting Training by the Red Cross (nine-hour course for ages 11 and up)

Continuing:

Sunday mornings at 9:	UU Views
Sunday evenings at 6:	International Folk Dancing
Thursday mornings at 9:30:	Play Group
Thursday evenings at 7:	“Building Your Own Theology” (started Feb. 21)
First Sundays, 9am and 12:30:	What in the UU World
First Saturdays:	Omega Connection (at SMUUCh)
First and third Thursdays, 7:30pm:	Coffee House Workshop
First Wednesdays, 6:pm:	Men’s Group
Second and fourth Fridays, 10am:	Aging Bulls
Second Mondays, 7pm:	Writers’ Group
Third Thursdays, 7pm:	Everyday Spiritual Practice Covenant Group
Fourth Fridays, 7:30pm:	Coffee House
Fourth Saturdays, 10am:	All CRAFT Bee

What in the World?

Are you alone with your concerns? Are there other UUs with your interests? Join us before and/or after church on the First Sunday of each month as we discuss current issues within the Unitarian Universalist movement as reflected in the pages of our bimonthly magazine -- the UU World. Find out how to contact other UUs with your interests.

Sunday, March 3 at 9 and 12:15 we will discuss the UUA and its response in a world with evil and change. Join us. Additional information is posted. - Walt Wells

Two concerts Mar. 2

The All Souls CoffeeHouse and CrossCurrents bring you two concerts on the same night at All Souls on Saturday, March 2.

At 7:30 in Conover Spencer Bohren, guitarist, and singer/songwriter brings his brand of southern folk blues with a New Orleans gospel touch. You may have heard him on the Feb. 16th edition of Prairie Home Companion.

At 8:30 Tret Fure will fill Bragg Auditorium with her pop rock music. She has toured extensively, opening for groups such as J.Geils Band, Yes, and Poco.

Both have released several albums over the last 15 years. More information can be found on flyers posted at the church. Attend one or both. - Walt Wells

Evolution vs intelligent design debate

A debate is set at 7:30pm Friday, Mar. 8 at All Souls, cosponsored by the Bragg Humanist Symposium

Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, associate professor of botany and ecology at the University of Tennessee, has a doctorate in genetics from the University of Ferrara (Italy) and a Ph.D. in botany from the University of Connecticut.

John Calvert is managing director of the Intelligent Design Network, is retired from practice of law with a degree also in geology. He is member of the ABA and the Missouri Bar, and has been admitted to practice in state and federal courts. More information is available on fliers at the church. - Walt Wells

Writers Group first Saturdays

Writers Group now meets on the first Saturday of the month at 2pm at the church. All are welcome. For more information call Jeff Holt.

Humanist discussion group?

Are there members of the All Souls family that would be interested in a Humanist dessert and discussion group that met monthly? Perhaps the group could meet on a Sunday evening or a weeknight. (Tuesday or Thursday?)

Who in the congregation is a member of the American Humanist Association or of the HUUmanists (Friends of Religious Humanism)? And who receives The Humanist or Religious Humanism magazines? If there is interest please contact Walt Wells at walterwwells@aol.com .

Ushering opportunity for Lyric Opera

On Wednesday, March 20, we again will be able to perform a service for the Lyric Opera, and also the group will earn a stipend that benefits All Souls. 18 to 20 people are needed, wearing dark pants and white shirts or sweaters, and ready to report to the Theatre on 11th Street by 6:00 p.m., or meet at 5:30 to carpool from the Church parking lot. You will also be rewarded with the opportunity to sit and enjoy Donizetti’ s Don Pasquale, which is a funny opera with a very melodic score. Join us by contacting Joan Olsen to ask questions, and sign up.

Folk Dancers event Mar. 3

On Sunday, March 3, Unitarian Folk Dancers will host Gypsy Night, with lively music, colorful costumes and “finger food” from Eastern Europe through England. This night will celebrate the contribution of the Rom people to European music. Festivities start at 6:30pm; all are invited. For more information, contact Louise Baggett.

All Souls hosts neighborhood

All Souls is now hosting the regular monthly meetings of the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association which surrounds the church.

Everyone interested in Southmoreland (39th to 47th Streets, from Main Street east to Gillham Road) is welcome at these meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30. (Next Board Meeting is Monday, March 11th.)

Southmoreland plan meeting

A special meeting of the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association is scheduled for 7pm Wednesday, March 6 at All Souls. The impending Master Plan Study will be discussed with the staff who will be carrying out the study and it will give everyone who attends an opportunity to learn more about the process of a master plan at the beginning of the study.

The study is funded by TIF funds from the H&R Block project on Main Street. The Southmoreland Neighborhood Association has chosen A. U. R. I. (Applied Urban Research Institute) to carry out the study. - Walt Wells

Denominational and District Information

Prairie Star District will meet in Ames, IA

Looking ahead to Spring, our annual District conference will be April 5-7 and we will need about 8 delegates to represent us at the annual meeting. Delegate positions are limited to those who are voting members of ASUUC, and they will receive a partial reimbursement of the registration fee. However, the conference is open to all who are interested in the programs and workshops, and there is usually a youth component as well. This is an opportunity to exchange ideas with UUs from the 8 states in our District. We hope the brochures will have arrived by the end of February, and they will be posted in the communication center. The Denominational Connections committee will facilitate information sharing for carpooling and roommate pairing, and take applications for the delegate positions. Please call Joan Olsen.

Enjoy WorshipWeb

Visit WorshipWeb, a Web site offering a variety of worship resources online from the UUA. The site can be accessed off the main page of the UUA web site or reached directly at www.uua.org/worshipweb/worshipweb.html. You’ll find words to open a service, meditations and prayers, information to help construct services, readings, closing words, and more. This is an ideal resource for lay and professional worship leaders alike.

Conceived in 1999, the project was implemented in late 2000 and 2001 through funding from the UUA’s successful 1997 “Handing on the Future” capital fund campaign and is now offered to the UU public following an initial development and evaluation period. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and its members in the development of WorshipWeb. - Terry Wiggins - from UUA-L

Journal of Liberal Religion

The editors of The Journal of Liberal Religion are pleased to announce the publication of the Winter 2002 issue, “New Horizons in Constructive Liberal Theology.” The JLR can be found online at www.meadville.edu/jlr.html. - UUA-L mailing list

UUA sets Fair Share 2003

The UUA Board, upon recommendation of its finance committee, has approved a per member amount of $46 to calculate a congregation’s total Fair Share contribution to the UUA for programs and services in FY2003, beginning 7/1/02. The percent of budget option available for large congregations of 550 or more members to support those programs and services, remains at 4.2%.

The UUA Finance Committee is currently reviewing both the per member and percent of budget methodologies, and is considering whether to extend the percent option to congregations with fewer than 550 members.

The Annual Program Fund (APF) uses a congregation’s membership number, submitted the preceding Feb. 1 on their UUA Annual Directory & Certification Report, as the basis for calculating a congregation’s fair share. According to the UUA bylaws, a “member” to be reported is any individual who, according to the congregation’s procedures, has full or partial voting rights at their business meetings. The budget (“total budgeted expenses”) is as reported in the UUA directory update questionnaire, which was also due on Feb. 1. More information about the Annual Program Fund and congregational fair share contributions can be found on the UUA Web site at www.uua.org/apf or contact Mary Miles (mmiles@uua.org). - UUA-L mailing list

Note: All Souls has a policy to pay its “Fair Share contribution” each year for each member of its congregation. - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

UUA Washington Office announces new internship program

The Washington Office is pleased to announce its newly-developed internship program. It encourage us to check it out and pass it on to lists or people who might be interested. The ad is also on its web site at www.uua.org/uuawo/intern/fall02ad.html.

The UUA Washington Office Social Justice internship program will be an 11-month experience in advocacy and spiritual development from Sept. 1, 2002 through July 31, 2003.

All Unitarian Universalists who are U.S. citizens are eligible. Young adults over the age of 21, seminarians, and community ministers are especially encouraged to apply. The experience demands whole life commitment for eleven months and pays a living wage.

All Souls is a UUA Annual Program Fund Honor Society.