The Flame

Early February 2003

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Kansas City, Missouri

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Good News Celebrations

— Our early service started Jan. 12, and was well-attended, as was the later service, which moved to a new time.

— The Gathering, worship for youth and young adults, also started successfully Jan. 12.

— The UUA Media Campaign - just billboards at first - has started to bring people in our doors.

— About 30 members of the All Souls and Lawrence UU Fellowship congregations came together for a day of dialogue, sharing and community Saturday Jan. 18.

We look forward to

— The start of our UUA Media Campaign radio and television ads at the end of January.

— The national Interweave Convo, on Feb. 14, 15, and 16 at All Souls Church in Kansas City

— A projector for video, DVD and Power Point presentations is being purchased by Interweave, and will be used for the Convo and then donated to All Souls.

Service Schedule 8:45 am and 11:15 am

Feb. 2 - It's the Law: It's Simple and Certain - Jim Eller

The surge of fundamentalism isn’t a return to what was, but a modern phenomenon. It is as important as the Reformation and we are confronted by it daily. What is it? Why is it on the rise? How can/should we respond?

Feb. 9 - Nothing Outlasts Time - Jim Eller

Hinduism worships the God Shiva and the Goddess Kali. They represent destruction. They are also symbols for the relentless nature or time, which changes and devours all. This is good news they say, but how can that be? "The times they are a changing."

Feb. 16 - Love Welcomes All: UU Family Values - Jim Eller

The religious right would have us believe that they have the market on defining family values. Family is any where the ties of love and commitment are present. We say love welcomes all. Yet, our members are challenged by the forces of fear. How can we support one another? What are UU families valuing? We especially welcome the UUs here for the UUA Interweave conference.

Forum Schedule 10:00 am

Feb. 2 - War Powers Under the Constitution - Richard E Levy

Dr. Levy specializes in constitutional law at Kansas University Law School. He will analyze the issue of how the executive branch can embark on military actions without a formal declaration of war from Congress.

Feb. 9 - Pharmaceutical Accountability From The Courthouse To Capitol Hill - Panel

All Soulers Hans Uffelmann and Barry Speert and guests will discuss an array of legal, practical and ethical issues impacting health care delivery and the pharmaceutical industry.

Feb. 16 - Building Community, Empowering People - Jamie Rich and guests

The director of the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of Greater Kansas City and his guests will discuss how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons and their straight allies can and must work together to create strong, healthy communities.

Minister's Considerations: Marriage Is a Religious Rite, Right?

It seems that about once a month since my arrival I have been performing a gay or lesbian wedding - or as some prefer to call it, a "union service." I believe that couples who love and desire to make a covenant together deserve to be married if they so choose - and many couples do.

Every couple I work with I urge to see an attorney. If they were a "straight couple," upon marriage they would be given automatically about 20 legal privileges and rights. Because of the bigotry of our homophobic society, same sex domestic partnerships are denied many of these rights.

Some years ago I did a wonderful wedding for a young lesbian UU couple. After about two years, one of them died from an undiagnosed heart defect. It was sudden. She pulled up to an intersection to stop, slumped over the wheel and was gone. Her body was take to the hospital, where her partner was of course, denied access. Her partner lost access to shared property and money. The estranged family arrived and took over the memorial service arrangements. It took almost a month to help them realize how much harm they were doing to a "family member," who needed love and comfort. Eventually much of this worked out okay or better than okay, but it made clear to me how important the rights are which gay and lesbian couples must fight for or forgo.

The UU Ballou-Channing District will submit a business resolution asking our Association to formally register domestic partnerships and unions, gay and lesbian marriages. This is a step in the right direction. It is not enough, but it is a step. We are a religion and it is our business to sanction scared events, like the celebration of love and commitment. Maybe some day the states of this nation will recognize the legal and societal value of these couples as well. - Jim Eller

Lifespan Religious Education

LRE welcome table has information for you

Come and visit the new Lifespan Religious Education table. Members of our different committees will be hosting the table on Sunday mornings in Conover between 8:30 and 12:30. This is where you can find out all about the latest programs that we are offering, and how your family can join us.

Ted, Lynisa and myself (Allison) want to get to know you. On Sunday mornings, we pledge to be in our office (downstairs in room C) between 8:30 and 12:30. Please stop by and see us. On Sundays many interesting and exciting things are happening at All Souls.

Start your day with intellectual discussion at our UU Views in Conover (8:45-10am) or come to the Early Service. At 10am come to Sunday School, designed for ages pre K - adult. For adults during Sunday School, our U.U. Forum in Bragg Auditorium always offers interesting and informative topics. The late morning service is a duplicate of our 8:45am service. If you already attended the early service, stop by Conover for a cup of coffee.

After the 11:15 service, there is usually an opportunity to stay for lunch. We like to have parental permission for any child attending Sunday School or Activity Hour. Two ways to do this are: initialing the guest book or filling out the visitor form on the LRE table.

Sunday evenings are just as fun. At 5pm we start with a short worship service called the Gathering, planned by and for youth and young adults. I know several "not so young" people who have also enjoyed the Gathering. Afterwards, adults congregate upstairs, while teens go downstairs for youth group.

However, church is not just for Sundays anymore. Almost every other day of the week something interesting is going on. Stop by and talk to us. You can also email us at religioused@allsoulskc.org or call us (our extension is 106). We would love to know what you think about what we have to offer and how you think we can improve.

LRE Adult Events

If you only have time for one LRE adult event, then this is the one: Living the Welcoming Congregation on Wednesdays starting Feb 19th for 12 sessions 7pm-9pm, led by Scott England. As the test site for this new curriculum we will learn how to continue to reduce homophobia and heterosexism at a personal, congregational or community level.

If you have time for more than one, then check these out:

Everyday Spiritual Practices, Wednesdays starting Feb. 5 for 6 sessions 7pm-9pm, with Mike McKelley mmckelley@kc.rr.com. Spiritually examine, shape and care for your life. Books for sale in the church bookstore.

Death: The Trip of a Lifetime, Sundays starting Jan 26 for 6 session 5:30pm-7pm, Kay Engler, jkengler@sbcglobal.net, A video series looks at death through the eyes of people in 12 countries around the world. NOTE: It is not a grief support group.

Waging War at the Movies, Fri., Jan. 31 and Feb. 7; two sessions 7pm-9pm, Sat., Feb 1 and Feb 8, and two sessions 10am-12noon, with Mike McKelley mmckelley@kc.rr.com. View a classic war movie and discuss from a religious liberal's perspective.

Sushi Cooking with Chef Mike, 6:30pm-8:30pm Thursday Feb. 6, with Mike Willett, lunchsource@earthlink.net. Learn the basics of sushi. All ingredients provided and we'll eat the finished product. Supplies cost you $15.

Planning ahead?

Reading for now and discussion for later:

•• Islam: A Short History by Karen Armstrong, 7-9 Mondays starting Mar 17 for 3 sessions, with Diann Spencer dspencer@kc.rr.com.

•• Sacred Choices: The Right to Contraception and Abortion in Ten World Religions by Dr. Daniel C. Maguire, Thur., Mar. 13 & 20, 7-9pm, Jill Jarvis jjarvis1@kc.rr.com

•• Evensong 7pm-9pm Thursdays starting Mar. 27 for 8 sessions, with Chloe Mason Seagrove, chlover333@aol.com, Jill Jarvis jjarvis1@kc.rr.com, Share with others the thoughts, adventures, struggles and joys of human experience.

Award-winning BYOT

Building Your Own Theology (Section A) 7-9pm Wednesdays starting Jan. 29 for 10 sessions with Bruce Wiggins wiggins@kcnet.com and Melissa Mummert 816-531-2131. Examine your beliefs and develop your own credo with this classic UUA curriculum. The Pitch voted BYOT as the best church class.

Thursday lunches

Thursdays 11:30 $5, Ted Otteson 816-531-2131, eat, greet and discuss topics prepared by LRE staff.

Interfaith book discussion

Feb. 17 - 6:30 Waldo Public Library (75th & Grand) Interfaith Book Discussion: Black Elk Speaks

LRE Wish List

1) Adult size scissors.
2) Paper cups
3) Harry Potter Prizes

Sunday School Update

Chalice window art, collages, and clean rooms are all signs of the work the classes have been doing. The middle school and high school classes met with some adult members to practice articulating their faith. History and art lessons connected with the fourth principle will be coming up soon.

Volunteer opportunities in LRE

There's a place for everyone in LRE. Call the LRE office for more information.
1) Sunday evening kitchen helper.
2) Social Justice Project coordinator for elementary school age children.

10 to 11:15

Sunday school now meets from 10 to 11:15. This time change is a result of the additional service and new Sunday Morning schedule.

Gathering team leadership:

1/26 TGJ
2/2 TGT
2/9 TGM
2/16 TGL
2/23 TGJ

Watch this space for continual updates. Forgot your team? Tell Allison at the LRE office.

Harry Potter Book 5 June 21

One minute after midnight on June 21, Book 5 will be sold here at All Souls. We will party before the book sale, during the book sale and after. Finally it's time to sign up to attend the party of the year. Add your name to the early registration form hanging on a clipboard in the hallway near the water fountains. Plans are forming now. Call Lynisa with ideas.

Seeing Christianity again

A series of lectures by Marcus Borg, Distinguished Professor, Philosophy, Oregon State University, leading liberal scholar of first century Christian history--Friday evening & Saturday, Feb. 21 & 22--Village Church, 6641 Mission Road. Advance tickets: $10 for Friday, $20 for 3 lectures Saturday. More information and registration forms available in the LRE office or call the Village Church, 913/262-4200. If you want to learn more about current liberal Christian thought, I (Ted Otteson) especially recommend his 10:45am Saturday lecture, "Seeing Jesus Again--why the historical approach to Jesus and Christian origin matters."

Other Church News

London in Black and White

A month-long exhibition of photographs by Billy Englehart opens Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Unitarian Gallery of the All Souls Church. A free public opening reception for the artist will be 1-3pm.

Englehart traveled the world capturing architectural forms that reveal beauty. He says he prefers black-and-white photography because it strips away distracting and transitory elements such as color and makes the viewer focus on the form, structure, pattern, texture, or shadow of the subject.

Says Englehart, "I seek to give voice to the subject and create a mood, sometimes fanciful, sometimes dark or ethereal, always moving. I intentionally leave few clues in the photograph to identify the time period when it was taken. I do this so the art will remain timeless. So in years to come, the viewer still may ask when the photograph was taken "yesterday or 100 years ago."

The Unitarian gallery is free and open to the public 9 to 5 weekdays and 9 to 2 Sunday. - Kristy Peterson

Hearing aids in Bragg

Did you know that the church has devices to help the hearing-impaired listen to services and other programs that are amplified in Bragg Auditorium? You may borrow a receiver and an earphone from a basket at the hospitality table, for further amplification of the sound. This will help you if you are hearing-impaired. Also, the hearing-impaired can help those around them: If someone looks at you and points to their own ear, that means "Please push in your earphone, so the sound doesn't leak out and distract others." We hope this system will help everybody in our congregation. - Terry Wiggins, Membership and Communications Administrator

Fifteen minutes

Are you aware that our late service starts at 11:15? Keep this in mind when you schedule after-church events, and start yours 15 minutes later than you would have in the past.

Your response needed

A couple of weeks, ago, I sent out a short survey by e-mail. It was:

1. Do you like what I'm doing with the Flame calendar? [I'm taking the info from our official calendar (on the internet), taking off non-church events, formatting it to fit 4 weeks on one page, and attempting to make it as eye-catching and readable as I can.]
2. Do you use the Flame calendar?
3. Do you have any suggestions for improving the process (described in question 1)?

I received very few responses to this survey. Therefore, I'm giving everybody a chance to respond. I realize that the calendar might be more important to those of you without e-mail, so I really do need to know if you use it. Thank you. - Terry Wiggins, Communications Administrator

When is my deadline for the Flame?

The deadlines are the first and third Tuesdays of each month, at 9am. Any deadline change will be announced the prior two issues. A Flame issue will normally cover the weeks of the second, third, and fourth Sundays following the deadline. Terry Wiggins , Communications Administrator

Get new directory

The January, 2003 Directory of Members & Friends of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church is now being distributed for free on Sunday mornings. This edition is in 8 x 11 inch format. If you wish to keep your copy in a 3-ring binder, labeled binders will be sold at the same time, for $5 each. If you wish to fold yours, we'll give you a piece of colored cover-weight paper to keep it in. Those not picked up in a few weeks will be mailed. (FYI, the plan is to do a new picture directory in the fall. We know many of us need it.) - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

Wednesday night dinners back

Feed your body with our delicious homemade food. Feed your Soul by enjoying your All Souls friends in community. Feed the All Souls budget by planning to eat at church Wednesdays at 5:30 in Conover, and tell all your friends. - Anne McCleery and Chloe Mason Seagrove

Women's retreat

Women, mark your calendar for the first weekend in May for All Souls Third Annual Women's Retreat at Tall Oaks Conference Center. The theme is Dig In - Excavating Your Authentic Self. Don't worry, it's not all serious; there'll be lots of fun, music, meditation, arts & crafts, conversation, great food, and time to explore the beautiful Tall Oaks camp grounds. Get your reservations in soon - we have a limit of 36 women. Price is $90; scholarships are available. See Sign-up Board in hall, or talk to Beth Andes, Chloe Mason Seagrove, Nicole Schoenhals, or me. - Dori Bader

Southmoreland party Feb. 22

The Southmoreland Neighborhood Association invites members and friends of All Souls to join them at a community party and potluck on Saturday, Feb. 22 at All Souls from 2 to 5. (Please note this is a date change from the earlier announcement.)

This event gives everyone interested in the community a chance early in 2003 to gather to meet each other and plan activities for 2003. One of those events will be a community cleanup in April.

The Southmoreland Board meetings are regularly held at All Souls at 7pm on the 2nd Tuesday monthly. Everyone interested in the neighborhood is welcome to attend.

For more information check in at the SNA web site www.southmoreland.org. - Walt Wells

Got garage sale stuff?

Garage sales can be fun. We're going to show you how, on April 10, 11 & 12. Start bringing your wonderful surplus items about March 1st. Volunteers wanted. Lots of benefits. Such as figuring out what those strange things really are. And food and munchies for the volunteers while they are sorting out and setting up the displays of the donations. - Walt Wells WalterWwells@aol.com

Think summer and canoeing

Down by the Ollld Milll Streeeem--It's time to think canoe and camp and June at Fort Niangua. The details are: June 13, 14, 15, Fort Niangua Resort near Bennett Springs, MO. Camp, in tent or in lodge, $5 per person per night. Canoe on Saturday, $29 per canoe, with paddles and life jackets for two. Music and talk around the campfire after dinner, priceless. Watch for signup sheets, testimonials, and maps, coming soon.

Free concert Feb. 9 in Conover

Singer/songwriter Lori Carlson will present a free concert on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2003, from 3:30 - 5:30 pm, in Conover Auditorium. Lori was called to singing from nursing as a way to promote the ideals of animal rights, environmental issues, and universal tolerance through joyful music.

CDs "The Awakening Spirit" and "NatureSong" will be available at the concert and are also available online at www.cdbaby.com. She is currently working on a third album. - Mary McCoy

Grocery fund-raiser

Stewardship Committee is sponsoring a new short-term fundraiser. Price Chopper Xtra Helpings Community Rewards Program will provide payments (1%) to All Souls each time an All Souls registered member purchases groceries from a Price Chopper store.

To sign up, simply stop at the table in the lobby after services and fill out an easy form. You can also register on-line at www.mypricechopper.com. Our ID number is 511443.

We need to get going - the cut-off date for this program is May 31st. Simple - Just purchase food for your family and support All Souls. - Kris Cheatum for Stewardship

Green Corner

What do you know about the church's recycling program? Did you know that the green and yellow bin is always hungry for your paper, but all the other stuff that's recycled is only what's generated at the church and Simpson House? Please bring your paper to church, but take your other recyclables directly to your community recycling center (or your curb, if you're lucky enough to have curbside recycling.)

Re-use tip of the month: Take your empty medicine bottles--aspirin, prescription, and all-- to a veterinarian. Thanks to Louise Guerrant for this tip. If you have a novel tip for reducing, reusing, or recycling, please send them to wiggins@kcnet.com. - Terry Wiggins, Green Sanctuary Committee

Grow plants for kids

The Social Justice Committee is looking for volunteers to start or donate plants for Plant Sale to be held on Sundays April 13 and 20. We have some seeds and pots to get you started. Proceeds go to Kansas City Community Gardens for their children's programs. Sign up at the Swedish Ivy in the lobby, or e-mail, caronwells@aol.com

Used book sale

Don't forget our upcoming used book sale. We still need your help. We will be sorting books Wed. and Thurs., Feb. 26 & 27 and selling the next three days. We will also need help on Sunday, March 2, to box up the unsold books. Call Addie Dietrich.

Romanian partner church cards

Remember the holiday cards we made and signed to send to our partner church in (Nyarad)Galfalva, Transylvania, Romania? (The Nyarad prefix indicates that this Galfalva is on the Nyarad River.) We have received a return packet of cards which will be on display in the lobby or convenient bulletin board for the next few weeks. - Ellie Dawson

Music each Thursday

Thursday nights are music jam nights at All Souls. Come along with your music, your voices, and your music-making instruments to join in making a joyous noise. It's fun too, 7 to 9pm every Thursday at All Souls. - Walt Wells

Bridge game 2nd Fridays

Feb. 14 - Bridge at Rae Ann Nixon and Sherry Anspach’s.

Writers' Group Feb. 1

Start your month off write by attending the All Souls Writers' Group meeting 2-4pm Saturday, Feb. 1. We meet the first Saturday of every month. Although we usually gather in the Grace Hill Library, please check the meeting location notices when you enter through the south door.

Please bring anything you're working on - prose (fiction or nonfiction) or poetry. You are encouraged to read your work to the group if you like, or if you want to bring paper copies and share those for comment, that is great too. If you haven't started a project, that's okay - just bring your ideas. Please spread the word to any writers you know that might be interested in joining us. For more information, contact Kathy Elbert at lelbert@kc.rr.com.

Denominational and District Information

New UU sites on the Web

Check the UUA homepage for some interesting new sites and email lists:

Families The UU Family Network Clearinghouse Packet, Generations of Faith, is online at www.uua.org/families/resources.

Planned giving Volunteers working on this kind of fundraising can share ideas and information with their counterparts in other UU congregations, www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/uu-plannedgiving.

Ministry The Religious Leader, the newsletter from the Ministry and Professional Leadership Staff Group, is at www.uua.org/ministry.

Campus ministry conferences

Travel grants are available for the upcoming regional campus ministry monferences. The conferences bring together UU students and campus leaders interested in organizing campus groups and exchanging ideas and visions.

- Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, CA Feb. 28-March 1
- Unitarian Fellowship, Lawrence, KS March 7-8

Contact the UUA Young Adult/Campus Ministry office at ya-cm@uua.org for registration information. For information about travel grants, contact Joseph Lyons toll free at 877 270-3302 or email jlyons@uua.org.

Opposing attack of Iraq

The UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy and UUA President William Sinkford are working with a broad coalition of religious groups led by the National Council of Churches to oppose preemptive, unilateral military action against Iraq. According to the Washington Office, they "are working to channel the anti-war momentum into a sustained movement that offers a justice-centered vision of how the United States should use its vast resources." A good checklist for individual and local action is at www.uua.org/uuawo/new. Sign up also for the CyberNewsletter, Email Alert, which contains:

--news of US politics and justice-making
--timely action alerts
--reflections on the spiritual values motivating UU public policy advocacy
--resources for congregations and individual advocacy
--updates of Washington Office activities

New books from Skinner House

The Gift of Faith: Tending the Spiritual Lives of Children, 2nd Edition, by Jeanne Harrison Nieuwejaar (11/02). This new edition includes a new preface and a new chapter about the home and rituals for marking the events in children's lives as religious occasions.

Soul Work: Anti-racist Theologies in Dialogue, edited by Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley and Nancy Palmer Jones (11/02). Proceedings from the January, 2001 UUA Consultation on Theology and Racism. Includes essays, prepared responses, dialogue, study questions, and resources.

How We Are Called: A Meditation Anthology, edited by Mary Benard and Kirstie Anderson (12/02). The latest in our meditation manual series. Collection of prose and poetry meditations from 30 UU contributors.

Articulating Your Faith, by Barbara Wells and Jaco B. ten Hove (12/02). Revised edition of curriculum designed to help Unitarian Universalists answer the question: "What is Unitarian Universalism?"

Skinner House, the publishing imprint of the Unitarian Universalist Association, publishes titles for readers of all faiths, in spirituality, religious history and contemporary social justice concerns. Books or catalogs can be ordered from the UUA Bookstore (1-800-215-9076) or at www.uua.org/bookstore

From National Public Radio

In December, your churchmouse heard a couple of stories on NPR that relate to All Souls, and the church's effort to help feed the poor. One story indicated that food banks are having a harder time than ever feeding the poor, because of increased manufacturer efficiency. The manufacturer's leftovers just aren't available like they used to be.

The other story was about the need for healthier and better food than the poor can afford to purchase: The poor may be fatter than they used to be, but that doesn't mean they're healthier. Mice don't know much about human nutrition, but maybe you will keep such needs in mind when you give to the Harvester's Barrel, which is in the hall between the offices. Last month you gave 248 pounds of food to the barrel.

All Souls is a UUA Annual Program Fund Honor Society.