The Flame

Mid January 2003

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Kansas City, Missouri

Good News Celebrations

We are sending $1000 to reStart for its Home for the Holidays, thanks to our generous contributions on Christmas Eve. See Jim's column for more detail.

Melissa Mummert, our ministerial intern, is finally here! See below for articles by and about her.

The billboards are up and the media campaign is underway. See below for more on this topic.

Wednesday night dinners are back.

An additional Sunday morning service will have begun by the time you read this. See article below for the whys and wherefores, by Kathy While.

Service Schedule 8:45 am and 11:15 am

Jan. 19 - The Art of Culture and Public Ministry - Jim Eller

What Martin Luther King had to offer was a unique kind of public ministry, but was he the only one who can change our culture and build a dream into reality? How do we create culture? What does it mean to have a public ministry? Do we have one or even want one?

Jan. 26 - The Value of Idealism in a Cynical Time - Melissa Mummert

Is idealism only for those who don't know any better? What can we learn from the examples of those who live according to high ideals? We'll explore the nature of idealism and the potential value of living lives that reach far beyond conventionally "realistic" expectations.

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

In our world there has been a rise to fundamentalism. This is not a return to what was, but a modern phenomenon. It is not limited to Islam or Jerry Falwell, but a reformation as important as the Reformation and we are confronted by it daily. What is it? Why is on the rise? How can we respond?

Forum Schedule 10:00 am

Jan. 19 - My View of the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. - Larry D. Coleman

Larry D. Coleman will share his view of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. He is a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a practicing attorney, a former Assistant United States Attorney, and an activist who has spoken out and written on many issues concerning the community.

Jan. 26 - A Rabbi’s View on Israeli Policy in the Middle East - Rabbi Mark Levin

Reform Rabbi Mark Levin from Congregation Beth Torah will discuss his perspective on Israeli Policy in the Middle East, its perception by traditional liberal allies of Jews in the US, and the impact on American Jews of American reaction to the present policy of Israel. He will be introduced by Dick King, who will share his views of Israeli struggles in the Middle East.

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.

Minister's Considerations: Just the Same and Thanks for Being Generous

This month we began our early service. The services will be as much alike as we are able. There will be some variation in the music and the children's story, but my hope is to have them be as much the same as possible.

I hope that you will support this effort. How can you support it? You can support our efforts by coming to services. Try both, or let us know which you are attending and why. Our UUA-sponsored advertising campaign may bring a few new visitors into our church, but it will take a while for these ads to be effective. Our new visitors will also need our regular members and friends to interact with and to learn from. We need all of us working together, if we are going to build upon this remarkable opportunity.

I hope that many of those who attend the early service will stay for the 10:00 hour. This will be our Religious Education Hour. Our Forum, our church school and other adult education activities will be available. Or come to the Religious Education Hour and stay for the later service.

We did good. As mentioned in the celebration section of our newsletter, we received more from our Christmas Eve offering than we have in any previous year. We are sending $1000 to ReStart for their "Home For the Holidays." Twelve churches made a commitment to raise $7000 to start a new homeless shelter in partnership with reStart and with each other. Collectively we raised nearly $20,000 ­ well above our goal. We made a real difference in our community.

We did good. In early January we raise between $2000 and $3000 for KC Free Health Clinic and a matching amount for ourselves, while experiencing one of great musical moments in our community. Many thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make this a memorable experience. The music was truly something, but we also raised "As Much for Others As For Ourselves." The KC Free Clinic provides health services to those living with HIV AIDs who are without means. We were generous. Thanks to us all for allowing us to be so generous. May this be the first of many such events, which enrich and support our community. - Jim Eller

Lifespan Religious Education

Adult Ed. classes starting

"Everyday Spiritual Practice" book discussion starts Jan. 22.
"Death: The Trip of a Lifetime" starts Jan. 26.
"Building Your Own Theology" starts Jan. 29.
"Film Festival: War at the Movies" starts Jan. 31.
See the Church Events Bulletin Board to get more information and to sign up. - Ted Otteson

LRE Wish List

1) Craft kits
2) Adult size scissors.
3) Paper cups

Sunday School Update

All classes are studying the Third Principle. The New Year saw a successful celebration of the Kitchen God with classrooms cleaned, new pictures hung, and finally - a working clock in every classroom. The second Junior/Senior High Fishbowl is scheduled for January 19. This will be another opportunity for high school and middle school students to practice articulating their faith.

LRE volunteer opportunities

There's a place for everyone in LRE. Call the LRE office for more information.
1) The LRE Playtime Committee has a few openings.
2) Social Justice Project coordinator for elementary school aged children

Youth Sundays

Are you between ages 12 and 22? Join us Sunday Evenings starting at 5pm.

Looking for Adult RE?

We have many programs open to all levels of exploration. Looking for a good match? Check out our most recent edition of Connections, copies of which are located throughout the church. Also, up to date information and reminder cards can be found on our bulletin board, by the water fountain. You may also call the LRE office (our direct extension is 106) or come visit with one of the LRE staff in our new office, Room C downstairs.

COA Update

Coming of Age has started meeting. Your 6th-9th grader can still be a part of this important milestone for growing up. Contact Jeannie Himes for more details.

Web site

The LRE portion of the All Souls Web site is being updated. Your input and advice is welcome.

LRE mailing to parents

An LRE mailing was sent in late December. Did your family receive it? If not, please call the LRE office as soon as possible. The mailing contained information, the most important of which is a notice that only families registered in the LRE program since last August will continue to receive direct mailing (and emails eventually) from the LRE office that pertain to children and youth events.

This step is seen as necessary because as our program grows, data management and mailing costs have become more complicated. Registration forms are available downstairs in Room C.

10-11:15am

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

Gathering Team Leadership:

1/19 TGA
1/26 TGJ
2/2 TGT
2/9 TGM

Watch this space for continual updates. Forgot your team? Tell Allison.

Other Church News

Pastoral intern pleased

Beginning my studies, the first step pleas'd me so much,
I have hardly gone, and hardly wish'd to go, any farther,
But stop and loiter all the time, to sing it in extatic songs.
—Walt Whitman

I think that I can safely say that no intern in the history of our Unitarian Universalist movement has ever had a more impressive first Sunday! I was deeply touched by the large number of you who you welcomed me so warmly at the Simpson House reception. The mini-conversations I was able to have amidst such a crowd whet my desire to learn more about each of you and to begin our work together. Sunday evening, my partner Jay and I attended the Ioudenitch concert and were awed by the music, and by the continued well-wishes we both received. Going home that evening to my new little Kansas City apartment, I felt tremendous gratitude to have landed in such a vibrant place.

It was not accidental that I came here. I should confess that I did quite a bit of nosing around about All Souls prior to my committing to intern here. After all, one must have a compelling reason to leave California in January for Missouri! Invariably, I was told that All Souls was a thriving congregation with an impressive history and an exciting vision for the future. As importantly, I learned that Jim Eller has earned a stellar reputation as a minister in our movement, and was told that he would be a wonderful mentor.

Having never been an intern minister at a congregation that has never had an intern, I expect that we are in for an exciting adventure. It takes an incredible number of people to "grow" a minister, and each one of you with whom I interact will be important to my development.

I am not alone in this venture. At the risk of turning this column into an Oscar speech, I want to publicly thank Jane Gilbreath and Norb Smith for their hospitality upon my arrival into town, all of you who volunteered your furniture for my use and all those who helped with the Simpson house reception. I am grateful to the members of my intern committee who have committed to walk with me through the next eight months. Most especially, I want to thank Margaret McCormick who energetically organized the many logistics of my move to Kansas City and who continues to be a tremendous source of support as I settle in. If I believed in angels, I think that they would be much like Margaret. Blessings .... Melissa Mummert

UU billboards are up!

Billboards designed to increase awareness of Unitarian Universalism are now posted in six locations around the metropolitan area. They all include a chalice logo, an "uncommon denomination" tag line, and the uua.org web site address.

The messages on them: The Uncommon Denomination (as a message) Different People, Different Beliefs, One Faith Room for different beliefs. Yours. A Different Trinity: Respect, Freedom, Justice Searching for a Liberal Religious Home? (with a cursor pointing to uua.org).

These messages will run January through April in six locations per month, with the locations rotated and reposted on March 1.

Here are the locations: Southwest Trafficway south of West Pennway-north facing; Broadway north of Westport Rd-north facing; Wornall north of 75th St-south facing; I-70 at 38th St-north side; I-435 0.6 miles north of Bannister-west side; I-35 south of Highway 56-west side.

The March posting will be in these locations: I-70 north lane at Tracy-south facing; Southwest Trafficway east lane at 39th St.-north facing; I-35 south lane west of Cambridge Circle-west facing; I-35 west lane south of 75th St.-north facing; Broadway north of Broadway Bridge-east side; 71 Highway west lane at Vine.

The total circulation is 34,245,200 exposures to the billboards. You can see banners similar to some of the billboard designs on the UUA web site at uua.org.

On January 27, television ads will begin on KCTV, KSHB and WDAF with messages about Unitarian Universalism. The first radio ads will be before the Interweave Conference being hosted at All Souls in the middle of February, and there will also be advertising of events related to the continental Conference for Midsize Congregations in March and Earth Day in April. We'll let you know more when we know more.

If you have questions or comments, please contact All Souls media campaign coordinator Sharon Blevins at sharonblevins@pobox.com.

UUA media campaign update

Rumors are flying regarding the UUA media campaign some true and some not. Yes, we hope to have lots of people visiting and coming back, and joining the church. Yes, more people will stretch our energy and resources and that's all right. No, minorities, young people, older people and people of varying income levels are not excluded. No, we're not prohibited from advertising events on our own we just need to keep track of what brings people here so can learn more about what works in attract people to UU churches.

Yes, the UUA staff is open to hearing our ideas and suggestions about the campaign. No, the 400 members of All Souls and the 350 members of other congregations in the metropolitan area don't get to make the decisions about this national pilot project is carried out. No, the campaign activities will not all be what we individually would have chosen. Yes, our church benefits greatly from being part of this UUA pilot project.

To check out rumors you may have heard and to learn more about what's what, please join us after church on January 26 for a brief update and discussion about the media campaign. The campaign has been a developing process and sometimes the answer to a question is simply, "We don't know yet."

But no, there aren't any secrets, and any time you have questions, complaints or comments, please contact me at sharonblevins@pobox.com. - Sharon Blevins, All Souls Media Campaign Coordinator

Hello, Please come in

People who didn't know liberal religion existed will be coming to check us out in the next weeks and months. They'll be intrigued by what they've learned through the media campaign about Unitarian Universalism beliefs and principles, and by the activities that reflect our values. They're most likely to return, to get involved, and to join All Souls if they find us to be a community of friendly, welcoming people.

So how do we deepen the interest, and how do we let people know they are welcome here? We asked folks before a congregational meeting last fall what made them feel welcome at All Souls. The answers weren't surprising: greetings, smiles, name tags, someone to answer questions, someone who asks with interest, "What brings you here?," a cup of coffee. And what made people feel unwelcome was being ignored, not being talked to, and unfriendly faces.

No surprises, but sometimes it's easy for us to forget how important a smile and a few friendly words can be. We talk with people we already know. We get busy taking care of committee work on Sunday morning. We assume that someone else is welcoming the strangers in our midst. Or, maybe we feel like a stranger ourselves and are hesitant to initiate a conversation in a place where it seems as if everyone else already knows one another.

In a recent conversation at a meeting of "old-timers," we laughed about how all of us have introduced ourselves to someone, asked if they were new here, and gotten a response of, "No, I've been a member for five years or 20 years." We decided the risk of a little embarrassment now and then was all right.

Without some risk, some stretching, some development of "friendly" habits, how do we make new friends, find new allies for our work, and build new strength in the Unitarian Universalist movement?

What if we each resolve to talk to at least one person we don't know each time we're at church? We all share the responsibility of being a friendly and welcoming congregation. Please, practice those smiles and hellos with friends, acquaintances, strangers and potential friends. And wear your name tag. Someone may recognize your name and strike up a conversation with you. - Sharon Blevins, Chair, Communications Committee

New member class Jan. 22

A class for new members will be starting on Wed. January 22 at 7pm and continue on the following 2 Wednesdays. Please sign up (by the drinking fountain) or call Terry Wiggins at the office, 816-531-2131 if you intend to participate. This is your chance to get to know other potential members, as well as some long-time members, find out about some of what goes on here at All Souls, and learn about All Souls and Unitarian Universalist history. Nobody can know it all, but this is a good start. - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

Communication with Melissa

Melissa sent me an email saying: "I've set up an email account at mummertallsouls@yahoo.com for my All Souls correspondence. Please feel free to share it with anyone who might wish to contact me. Thanks again to each of you for welcoming me so warmly." - Terry Wiggins, Communications Administrator

Meet Melissa Mummert

At a reception on Sunday, January 5, members met Melissa Mummert, All Souls' first-ever ministerial intern. Melissa has just completed her course of studies at Starr King School for the Ministry, in Berkeley, CA. She is a self-described community activist and has a special interest in making film documentaries.

If you have not yet met Melissa, please stop by and introduce yourself. Her office is the former LRE office, adjoining the minister's study.

Melissa says it feels good to be settled in her new Plaza-area home, near the church, and she looks forward to what she calls 'this year of promise.' Melissa has family in Missouri. Her partner, Jay Leach, is a UU minister, living in Sausalito, CA, who has just started his ministerial search.

Melissa will be with us for eight months, through the end of August. Our minister, Jim Eller, has designed her internship as a rotating set of responsibilities that will expose her to all facets of ministry. He will work closely, as mentor and coach, as she learns the day to day art of being a minister. Melissa will teach classes, preach, perform weddings and memorial services, work with volunteers, and take on pastoral care duties.

Also working with Melissa is her Internship Committee. We are the folks who will be helping Melissa reflect on her ministry with us, at it unfolds. We will also be supporting Jim in his new role as mentor. Members so far identified are Joe Bader, Jane Gilbreath, Jack Swall, Neil Swanson-Chrisman, and Margaret McCormick. Melissa will be adding additional committee members of her own choosing in the coming weeks.

One postscript: At General Assembly in Quebec City last June, I (Margaret McCormick) sat in on a session in which several ministers and 'their' interns reflected on how deeply meaningful the internship partnership had been to them personally, and to their congregations.

I heard Jim say once that he wants to offer All Souls the opportunity to become 'a learning congregation.' I have no doubt that we as a congregation will learn and will grow in spirit through this mutually beneficial relationship with our new ministerial student intern.

I really look forward to this new adventure in our collective growth, and I hope you do, too. And so, as Melissa says, We begin. - Margaret McCormick

A few sticks of furniture needed

Melissa Mummert, our ministerial intern, thanks all those who so graciously offered loaner furniture for her apartment. It's cozy and pretty. To those who are still asking what she can use, here is a short list. Please contact Margaret McCormick, who is coordinating pickup and delivery. Still needed: medium size book case, desk lamp, small occasional tables.

From the Board President:

Happy New Year! The new year is often associated with making changes. This year we have many exciting changes. Melissa Mummert has joined us as a student minister. Please welcome her. Her office is the former LRE office.

We have created a new LRE office in room C on the lower level. Please take some time to check out the new office. If you are familiar with the room from before you won't recognize it. Thanks go to a host of people for making this move a success including Deep Medhi, Bob Miller, Karen Neal, Linda and Robin Parkinson, Chloe Mason Seagrove, Claudine Thomas, Walt Wells, and the LRE staff. Special thanks go to Jim Neal who coordinated the entire effort and came up with a wonderful office design and much of the furnishings. We are now working on making the adjacent room B into a hospitable adult meeting room. Thanks to Chloe, Linda and Robin for their work.

The Board is also pleased to announce that Dave Rickard, UUA consultant, will be visiting us. Dave consulted with us on multiple occasions over the last successful capital improvements campaign. Dave will be providing an assessment visit to help us outline the steps necessary to ready ourselves for a future capital drive. We emphasize that this is a preliminary assessment visit - not a kick-off to an imminent campaign. Dave will be offering an open workshop from 9 to11:30 Saturday, Feb. 1. We encourage your involvement.

Finally, we note that changes and growth present us with new challenges. Our excellent staff is increasingly stretched in keeping up with growing demands. Congregants may find that the staff is not able to be as responsive to all requests as they have been in the past. We are trying to examine processes and look for new ways of supporting needs. We are trying to supplement office support with volunteers. If you are able to help in the office one or more hours a week please contact Dori Bader. A variety of skills would be useful including word processing, data entry, general secretarial, and phone coverage.

Please feel free to contact me (Karen Medhi) if you have any concerns or questions about support staff issues. The staff and the Board are committed to rising to the new challenges and will continue to review and improve how we conduct church business.

We look forward to an eventful and enriching new year. - Karen Medhi, BoT

All Souls launches additional service

As of January 12, All Souls has a choice of Sunday morning services, 8:45 and 11:15. The Forum and Sunday school classes remain at 10am. The additional service is a result of more than a year of study, research and preparation. Both services will be similar in content, with some variations in music. The full choir will perform at both services once a month. There will be a children's focus and activity hour at both services.

Why an additional service? Because All Souls has plateaued in its membership between 330-400+ for several years and national studies of congregations have shown that the single greatest element of growth is providing an additional Sunday morning service, similar in nature to its existing service. Because with today's political climate, the values of Unitarian Universalists are needed more than ever.

With the UUA piloting a media campaign at All Souls, the additional service offers an element of synchronicity. It allows us to better accommodate and offer more choices to visitors and members alike. It also provides us the opportunity to more fully live our mission statement, which in part states "As a community, we invite people of diverse beliefs to come together, inspired by the values of mutual care and respect, intellectual and spiritual inquiry, and social and environmental responsibility. As a movement, we seek to propagate these values in the larger communities ­ local, state, national, and global ­ of which we are a part."

We (the Additional Service Task Force) are looking for 50 people to commit to attending the early service. This will help ensure its success as we undergo the growth process. If you are an early bird, have children who are early risers, would like to continue Forum conversations without missing the church service, or like an early conclusion to your church day, this service is for you. We encourage you to attend the early service and see if it suits you. - Kathy While

You're invited to a party

The Southmoreland Neighborhood Association is hosting a meet and greet and get to know each other party at All Souls UU Church from 2 to 5pm Saturday, Feb. 1.

The whole church family from the youngest to the oldest is welcome. It's a chance to know the people who live in the area around our church and for the neighbors to get to know us.

The boundaries of the Southmoreland Neighborhood are from 39th Street to 47th Street and from Main Street to Gillham Road/Oak Street. If you should happen to live in this area you could become a member of, and active in, your neighborhood association.

View their Web site at www.southmoreland.org - Walt Wells

Gordon Gamm visit

Former All Souler Gordon Gamm will be at All Souls on January 19 to visit old friends, to describe the Boulder International Humanist Institute (modeled after All Souls' Bragg Symposium), and to discuss (and invite us to) their February 22 Symposium: "Does humanism in religion offer our best chance for peace and non-violence?" Speakers will be Dr. Rebecca Parker of Starr King School of the Ministry and Dr. David Bumbaugh of Meadville Lombard Theological School. Gamm's email address is mindread@mindspring.com. - Ted Otteson

Annual Talent Auction will be Saturday evening Feb. 8

This is a professionally conducted auction of goods and services donated by our members, friends, and area merchants. Items offered range from professional and skilled services, to use of vacation homes, picnics, lawn parties, gallery tours, art work, knitted sweaters, baked goods, pies of all kinds, and many gracious dinners in homes of members.

This is always a fun and exciting evening of savory delights (but not a meal), socializing and friendly competitive bidding. Doug and Janice Nelson, All Souls member, are professional auctioneers who donate their services to make this a quality event full of laughs and excitement.

A list of all items submitted by Monday, Jan. 20 will be mailed in advance so that you can plan what you will most want to bid on. You can pay by cash, check, Mastercard, or Visa.

Look over the items being offered; you might want to team up with others and bid as a group for a meal, a trip, or a picnic, etc. Then come and join us in the fun of bidding for the items that most appeal to you. (If you can't be there, you can have someone bid for you.)

This is a great way to meet others and get better acquainted. - Chuck Downing, Auction Chair

P.S. -- Helpers are still needed for a variety of tasks the night of the auction - "set up " and "take down", register attendees, cashier, barkeep, prepare and serve refreshments, decorate... If you can help, please call Chuck Downing or use the sign-up sheet in the Communication Center.

Meet our friends from Lawrence

Please join us from 9:30 to 3 on Saturday, Jan. 18 for coffee & donuts, workshops, and lunch with members of the Lawrence UU church. Ellie Dawson will have a workshop on origami, John Brewer will show us how to make flexagons, Ted Otteson will host a workshop on adult programming, and Bob Miller will host a discussion of church finances and web sites. This will be a great opportunity to get to know our friends in Lawrence and share ideas about programs, strategies, and goals. Lunch and child care will be provided by your hosts. - Bob Miller

Wednesday dinners are back

Join Anne McCleery and Chloe Mason Seagrove as we cook unusually delicious dinners to feed your body. Bring your friends and build a community to feed your soul. It’s 5:30 every Wednesday in Conover Auditorium. All proceeds donated go to the All Souls general budget.

Small Group Ministry

All members and friends of All Souls are invited immediately after the 11:15 service Sunday, Jan. 19. Please join the Small Group Ministry Steering Committee, group facilitators and Ministry Circle members for a reception at Simpson House. This is an opportunity to learn more about the promise of this program, to enjoy the company of others with their circles and to enroll in one of the newly forming groups. You may bring a snack to share or simply enjoy those provided by the Small Group Ministry Steering Committee. - Chloe Mason Seagrove

Women’s retreat set

A women's retreat is being planned for May 2, 3, and 4. Mark your calendar now. By popular demand we will be returning to Tall Oaks retreat center. More details in upcoming Flame issues and on bulletin boards at your favorite church. - Dori Bader, Beth Andes and Chloe Mason Seagrove

Church garage sale in April

It's time to start thinking about spring cleaning and we've got something you can do with all those wonderful things you don't want to just throw away.

You can pack them up and then after March 1 you can bring them to the church. ­ particularly those nice things that someone else would want to have.

Wanted: More Garage Sale Committee members and volunteers. There will be lots of perks for our volunteers. Such as ... seeing the stuff first. For information or to volunteer, contact Walt Wells at walterWwells@aol.com .

Green Corner

It's the new year, and even though it's winter, the days are getting a bit longer, and will soon be warmer. Already the Green Sanctuary Committee is thinking about spring, and is considering buying* a bike rack for the church. So, please answer some questions: If we had a bike rack, how often would you ride a bike to church in good weather? Once a month? Every week? If you would ever ride a bike to church, please sign up on the clipboard by the water fountain. We're trying to decide how large a rack to purchase.

*Remember that Sunday Plus lunch that generated less than a quart of trash? It earned enough for a bike rack. - Terry Wiggins, Green Sanctuary Committee

Hands-on social action

Harmony House is a Habitat for Humanity project where several congregations of different denominations join together to build homes for people who don't have them.

Attend one of our two meetings to find out more about the planning for this year's Harmony House: 12:30 Sunday, Jan. 19, after church, or 6pm Thursday, Jan. 23.

All Souls was one of the initial congregations to begin this project over a dozen years ago. In that time we have jointly built about 15 homes from the ground up. This group of about 20 religious bodies has helped to raise around $500,000 during this time and has helped buy the materials, pay for professional services, and helped Habitat for Humanity in Kansas City operate.

In addition about 50 to 80 of the 125-plus homes built have had involvement from one or more members of All Souls.

In the last few years there had been some poor management and inadequate follow through by the Habitat board and management. But in the last 18 months this has changed greatly, with new board members replacing those who were just there to get something on their résumé; most of the staff being replaced. Two-thirds of the homeowners had been delinquent in their payments; all are now current. The unfinished homes and occupied homes with problems seem to have all been addressed.

Now, the question is: Does All Souls wish to continue to be involved? If so, we need more people to step forward to work with those continuing volunteers to form a support committee. See you at one of the meetings if you are interested. - Walt Wells

Used book sale Feb. 30

The library is sponsoring a Used Book Sale on Feb. 28 - March 2. Please box up your discards and save them until the end of February and then bring them to church for us. We will also need help sorting, selling, and publicizing. If you would like to help out, please call Addie Dietrich.

Roe at 30 - celebrate and activate

Celebrate 30 years of reproductive freedom -- Activate to preserve and protect it.

Join the MO-KAN Choice Coalition on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, 6-7:30pm Tuesday Jan. 21, 2003 in Conover. This event is co-sponsored by the Social Justice Committee.

Music will be provided by Kansas City's legendary women's folk band, Rosie's Bar & Grill.

Admission will be a donation of any amount ($5 minimum suggested) to the Women in Need Fund, which helps women in need of abortion who cannot afford one. For more information call Carla Norcott-Mahany at 913-312-5100, ext. 244.

Plan now to attend (and bring your friends) as we “Celebrate and Activate for Choice” in these challenging times.

Humanist symposium

The Bragg Humanist Symposium and the Heartland Humanists invite you to come hear a nationally known and active Humanist speak at All Souls.

Ed Buckner, executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism, will speak at All Souls at 7pm Saturday, January 25. His talk will focus on the separation of church and state. "This is a Free Country, Not a Christian State."

The Council on Secular Humanism was founded more than 20 years ago by philosophy professor Paul Kurtz who has spoken at All Souls at least three times over the years.

This evening is part of Bragg Symposium's commitment to present humanism to our congregation and the wider community. There will be an opportunity to meet and speak with Ed Buckner and join him for a late dinner. He will also speak that weekend with student groups in Manhattan, Lawrence, at UMKC and meet with the Heartland Humanists and the Community of Reason. - Walt Wells

Interweave Convo Feb. 14-16

The Interweave Convo is fast approaching - Feb. 14, 15, 16 - hosted by All Souls. Interweave is selling new Rainbow Chalice T-shirts for $20. It is hoped that All Souls members will purchase these and then wear them on the Convo weekend in celebration of our out-of-town guests.

On Friday, Feb. 14 at 8pm a video presentation, The Commercial Closet, will be at All Souls for Convo attendees plus the public. This video powerfully illustrates how GLBT people are portrayed in advertisements. Commentary will be by the producer, Michael Wilke.

Tickets for the video presentation are $5.00 each. T-shirts and tickets will be on sale at a table in the lobby following services. - Kris Cheatum

Demeters meeting Jan. 21

The regular potluck dinner meeting of the women of Demeters will be at 6pm Jan. 21 at the Simpson House. New members are welcome and guests are invited if you care to bring an appetizer, salad, casserole, veggie or dessert. Wine and soft drinks are served. The goal is fellowship among women interested in serving All Souls in a variety of ways and sharing concerns. Included are many committed women with years of service as well as newer church members. Informal and uninhibited. Call Jean Dunlap.

MUSIC: Do it yourself or Sit and listen

If you like Do It Yourself Music, we've got just the thing(s) for you.

Every Thursday there's a music jam at All Souls. It's sort of like the Choir, except, there's no director and most of the people bring musical instruments to play and we just do it sort of informally, usually in a downstairs classroom.

So if you play a flute, or a guitar, or a dulcimer, a banjo, a mandolin, or any of a dozen other instruments that have appeared over the last six months or if your musical instrument is your voice just come along and be a part of our jam.

And on the 1st & 3rd Thursday we have an additional session led by Jim Windells that focuses on learning Irish dance music in a slow session. That means it is played slower so that we really get a chance to hear it and learn to play it. - Walt Wells

The All Souls CoffeeHouse is for Folks to share their music and poetry and listen to others perform. On the 4th Friday of every month we have a featured player for about half an hour followed by an open mic where anyone can share ten minutes of their music. Adults and children, church members, friends and neighbors too - all are welcome. Join us on Friday, Jan. 24.

Come for the 6pm Service for the Soul, then pizza at 7 and music at 7:30. We have coffee, tea, soda pop, and cookies too. All the food is for a nominal donation, and we have table games, conversation time. - Walt Wells

Put Friday, March 7 on your Calendar for a concert appearance by the Mountain Quartet. This is a part of the Mid Size Church Convention being hosted by All Souls that weekend. If you aren't participating in the whole weekend, consider the concert. Tickets will be limited and only $10 each in advance.

Members are Ian and Shelley Jackson Denham and Tom and Jane Warth. They are staff members of the Mountain Retreat and Learning Centers near Highlands, NC. Their music has a strong social justice/social action content.

If the name Shelley Jackson Denham seems familiar check out our hymnal ... for example #354, “We Laugh, We Cry.” David Hakan of our congregation will provide music to open the evening. - Walt Wells

Ushering opportunities in 2003

Mark your calendars now for the next two dates when we will gather to usher for the Lyric Opera while making money for All Souls. On Wednesday March 19, the performance will be Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio" and on May 7 they will present Verdi's "Rigoletto." The usher call time is 6pm (and we gather to carpool at 5:30 from the church), wearing black and white. This experience is open to novices as well as experienced ushers. Call Joan Olsen for more information, or to put your name on the list.

Denominational and District Information

Internship for women's issues

A new internship in the Washington office of the UUA has just been established, and its focus will be on social justice issues pertaining to women. Interns in the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy spend 11 months in an intensive program that includes policy analysis, coalition work, legislative advocacy, communication with the UU grassroots, public speaking and writing about issues, theological reflection, development of resources, research, and other issue-based work.

There are three such internships in Washington, and this new internship is sponsored by an endowment created by the UU Women's Federation with funds from the sale of the site of the Clara Barton Camp for Diabetic Girls. Applications for the first internship are due Mar. 1, and may be found on the Web site of the UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy at www.uua.org/uuawoa. An article about this is also posted on the bulletin board outside the Grace Hill Library. (Demeters is a member of the UU Women's Federation.) - Joan Olsen

Preparing for visitors in March

The UUA is presenting its Fifth Continental Conference for Midsize Congregations here in Kansas City on March 6-9, and we want to “put our best foot forward." (Details on the program are on the web-site www.uua.org under Congregational Services.) We need to get organized to offer a hospitality table during the conference, to facilitate a Friday night program of entertainment, and to welcome the participants to our church on Sunday morning. The local arrangements committee will meet at 7pm Thursday, Jan. 23, to share ideas and plan our strategies. Won't you join us? Call Joan Olsen, Denominational Connections chair with any questions or to sign up, or just show up that evening.

What's going on - really - in Afghanistan or Iraq?

What limit is our government placing on personal freedom in this country? And how are Unitarian Universalists involved?

These are continuing issues being discussed at What in the World on the last Sunday of each month at 8:45 a.m. and at about 12:30. (Jan. 26 is the next date.)

Get ready for this discussion by reviewing the latest issues of the UU World magazine and in particular look at the "What in the World" study guide near the back of each issue of the magazine. This is where we begin each Sunday discussion.

Our goal is to let each of you be as aware as you want to be of how involved in the current issues facing the world we UUs are. And if you want to get involved this is where you learn how to do that. - Walt Wells

All Souls is a UUA Annual Program Fund Honor Society.