The Flame

Early March 2003

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Kansas City, Missouri

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Good News Celebrations

:-) The hours and hours Karen Medhi and Bob Miller and staff have put in to get our new membership database (Church Windows) up and running (and to the UUA for funding it).

:-) A grant from the Prairie Star District for a brochure about congregations in the metro Kansas City and Lawrence area. Look for the new blue brochure in the literature rack and on tables in the lobby and Conover Cafe.

:-) Mary Bradley, the new Office Administrator, an important addition to our staff.

:-) The success of the Interweave Convo in bringing friends from around the country to All Souls.

:-) The Feb. 8 Talent Auction, which raised over $16,000 to support the work of the church.

:-) The UUA media campaign's introduction of a single telephone information line (816-444-8882) for the involved congregations to share information about their services and activities.

We look forward to

:-) The pledge dinner on March 14. (Put it on your calendar)

Service Schedule 8:45 am and 11:15 am

Mar. 2 - Making of the Manifesto: Humanism and our All Souls History - Jim Eller

At the 100th birthday of Rev. Ray Bragg and at the 50th anniversary of his ministry here in Kansas City, it seems fitting to remember and celebrate his ministry. This service will explore the evolution of American religious humanism and the contributions Ray Bragg played in this important intellectual history.

Mar. 9 - So Great a Cloud of Witnesses - Jim Eller

UU's can look to our denomination's past and see lives of dignity and worth that can inform and inspire us. But, our tradition is not just the past. We can look to our congregations that can teach us integrity and depth.

Mar. 16 - Commitment Follows Fun - Jim Eller

Sacrifice and commitment arise from fun, fellowship, community and shared values. As we consider the "Sermon on the Amount," let's remember which comes first. And this is New Member Sunday.

Forum Schedule 10:00 am

Mar. 2 - Developing Citizenly Behaviors and Values - Jane Ann Morris

Hear a corporate anthropologist who challenges corporate personhood theories of corporate social responsibility and corporate speech. Jane Ann Morris of Madison, Wisconsin, is a principal of POCLAD, the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy, founded in 1994 by a group of activists concerned about corporations.

Mar. 9 - The State of the County - Katheryn Shields

The Jackson County Missouri Executive will give an update on the county. Katheryn Shields has served as Assistant County Prosecutor, Assistant County Counselor, and an at-large K.C.M.O. Council member.

Mar. 16 - A Palestinian Muslim’s View of Israeli Policy in the Middle East - Rushdy El-Ghussein

A former president of the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City will speak. He is a frequent contributor to the Faith section of the Kansas City Star. He came to U.S. in 1972.

Column by the Minister: STRETCHING

Exercise is wonderful, but when a person takes on a new exercise or a new activity, if you don't start slowly, you may come up sore for a few days.

This church year we are trying many new things. We are stretching ourselves in hopes of growing or gaining strength. We are not unlike the person who has decided to add running or tennis to our weekly routine. We are pushing ourselves collectively and individually.

This church year we have added our new Small Group Ministries and ministry circles. We moved the Religious Education Office downstairs. We are welcoming our first Student-Intern Minister. And we had turnover in our Office Administrator’s job.

We successfully offered a high dollar fund-raiser with KC Free Health Clinic. We have added a Sunday morning service, and more volunteers are required. We have opened up the doors to our lobby and moved coffee hour down to our Conover, our fellowship hall.

We just hosted the UU Interweave Convo, which went very well thanks to many hours of hard work by our local Interweave volunteers.

We are the first recipient of the UUA's new publicity campaign and that means more effort toward welcoming, communication, and member integration. These are good things, but we are asking each other to stretch.

The second week in March we are the host congregation for the UU Mid-Sized Church Conference.

We welcome our out of town UU friends. We are hoping to co-host an environmental lecture with the Sierra Club and to host the Jesus Seminar in late April, and we are planning on activities for next church year.

This is a lot of stretching. I expect with our Church trying this many new things that we will run into to few sore points and stressed volunteers and staff.

I urge us to be patient with one another and with the tenderness that comes from stretching so hard.

If you have a chance, thank those who are carrying the ball on so many of these projects. And offer your participation as a way of supporting our efforts. Thanks for your patience and your support for our adventure in liberal religion.

Lifespan Religious Education

Adult Education Invitations

Whether you are new to our community or a long-time member of All Souls you are invited to consider these opportunities to become more deeply involved in our church...

First on March 15 and 16 please join us for the first ever Building Your Own Theology Retreat. This retreat will allow you to explore and define your own belief system and the origins of those beliefs. In its 10-week format, this class is a perennial favorite not only in our congregation but in UU churches across the country. It will be presented for these two days in a concentrated format. This retreat will be facilitated by Chloe Mason Seagrove and Lola Butcher. Child Care will be provided free of charge for participants.

Classic Building Your Own Theology in the 10-session format begins again on Wednesday, March 12. In the words of Dori Bader “BYOT is what bonded me to All Souls.” This session of Building Your Own Theology will be taught by Jeff Merritt.

And the Adult Education Committee is sponsoring, for the first time at All Souls, Evensong. This is a Vespers style class that is richly woven with the wisdom of many of philosophies. It offers themes that allow for inspiration and renewal on a weekly basis. It’s 7-9pm Thursdays beginning March 20 for 8 weeks. Evensong will be lead by Ministerial Candidate Jill Jarvis and Adult Education Chair Chloe Mason Seagrove.

Please join us for one or more of these classes. For more information or to enroll see the bulletin board in the hallway. - Chloe Mason Seagrove, Adult Education Chair

Only 100.

All Souls will only have (to sell) 100 copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Six are already claimed. If you plan to party down with us in a style that no bookstore can begin to match, sign up now on the bulletin board near the water fountains in the hallway.

Sunday School Update

Has your child been walking around with a new key chain? Our 1st - 6th graders made key chains with beads that represent the seven UU principles. The PreK/K class made Valentines for friends and family. Our ministerial intern, Melissa Mummert, was a guest speaker in the high school class. Susan B. Anthony was just one of many historical figures studied by the 7th and 8th graders. Watch for upcoming art projects.

COA training in KC Mar. 15

ICA Journey will offer training for adults interested in mentoring and coming of age programs. ICA Journey is the only institute recognized by the UUA to conduct these trainings. The training will be on the weekend of March 15. More information is available in the lobby or by calling Allison.

More than just Sunday school for kids

Infant or toddler - Check out our Thursday morning play group.
Young readers - The church library has a great collection of picture books and easy readers.
Middle or High school - Sunday evenings 5 - 7 are just for you.

Adult Education

Pick up a copy of our latest Connections and watch the ever changing bulletin boards for more information.

Step up to the fun of Double Step Aerobics Class. ($35 for six sessions, provide your own two steps) Professionally led. Saturday mornings 8:30. Information - Bette Marcus.
Building Your Own Theology. March 12, 7pm Wednesdays Information - Ted Otteson (816) 531-2131x106.
Building Your Own Theology Retreat. March 14 & 15 Information - Chloe Mason Seagrove.
Book Discussion: The History of Islam March 17 & 24 & 31 with guest teacher Ahmed El-Sherif of the American Muslim Council Information - Diann Spencer.
Book Discussion: Sacred Choices. March 13 & 20
Evensong. March 22, 7pm (8 Thursdays)
View Askew Movie Fest Or Jay and Silent Bob come to church. Rated R. March 21@7pm, 22@1pm, 28@7pm, 29@1pm
Book Discussion: Being Liberal in an Illiberal Age April 7, 7pm (5 Mondays) Information - Bob Miller
Women's Retreat May 2, 3, 4

LRE for Adults on Sundays

Free and open to all (just show up)
UU Views every Sunday morning at 8:45. Join in lively discussion over coffee and goodies.
Adult Sunday School every Sunday morning 10-11. Facilitated by LRE staff Ted Otteson, the current topic is the history of Universalism.
What in the World? every fourth Sunday morning at 8:45 (joins with UU Views) repeated at 12:30.

Volunteer Opportunities --- There's a place for everyone in LRE!

1) Friendly people on Sunday mornings to welcome visitors in Conover.
2) Project leaders for summer Sunday School.

Easter Candy

Shopping? Consider picking-up a bag of individually wrapped candy and bringing it to church. It will be used to help the Easter Bunny create our annual egg hunt.

High School Age?

Call Allison (816) 531-2131x106
Lock-in March 15th RSVP by March 10th
PSD Conference Youth Gathering April 4-6 ($45).
ConFire April 25-27 in Lawrence RSVP by April 4.

Fundraising Sunday Brunch/Lunch Extraordinaire

Sunday March 9 $6 adult, $3 kid, max. per family $18
Brunch served until 11:15
Lunch served starting 11:30
Take away lunch $7 (preorder by Saturday 10am Ann Dickey)

This will be the first official fundraiser by our new Coming of Age class. Please join us in supporting our young adolescents as they follow in the footsteps of COA groups of the past and attempt to raised enough money for a life transforming trip.

No 5-7pm Youth Activities on Sunday April 6.

Other Church News

FAQs answered

One of the features on our web site is a “Frequently Asked Questions,” (or FAQ) page. It features answers to questions on everything from “What do people wear to this church?” to “What goes on during the Sunday worship/religious services?” This page may be particularly interesting for those who are new to Unitarian Universalism or to All Souls. If you still have questions, go to www.UUNashua.org/100quest.html for answers to 100 Questions That Non-Members Ask About Unitarian Universalism. Occasionally, as space permits, we put text from that booklet in this newsletter. - Terry Wiggins, Membership and Communications Coordinator

Heard feedback on media campaign?

The church office now has a form to use to give the UUA feedback on our initial contacts with people who saw or heard an ad or billboard. Don Skinner, the former All Souls member who is the local coordinator for the campaign, says that the form should be used for not only for phone calls to the office but also for those people who show up at church because they saw an ad. “Use it also for those people who ask you at work, at a party, grocery store, etc., about it as long as they seem genuinely interested even if they never come to your congregation.”

“It's important to the campaign that we fill out and turn in as many of these forms as possible so we can have good feedback on our success. So please let the people in your congregations know they can fill these out early and often. If in doubt, fill one out.” If you need a form, look for one in the gray binder on the Communication Center counter, and put the filled-out form in my mail slot. Thanks for your help. - Terry Wiggins, Communications Administrator

Considering membership?

Our next class for those who wish to explore the possibility of membership at All Souls will run weekly, starting at 10am Sunday, March 30. This 5-week class, 1 hour per week, is for potential new members, as well as for people who have been UUs for a long time but are new to All Souls. A New Member Welcoming Service will be held Sunday, May 18.

We will have a gathering to welcome our newcomers at the home of Claudine Thomas on Friday, Nov. 1. We encourage every All Souls member to attend and find out about our new members. Old members, please bring a snack to share. - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

Wednesday dinners

Enjoy carefully prepared homemade meals to feed your body. Enjoy the community of your All Souls friends to feed your soul. Enjoy knowing that the labors of our cooks are feeding the All Souls coffers.

Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for kids, $18 max. for a family.

Choose the All Souls kitchen for your Wednesday dining pleasure. See you there. - Chloe Mason Seagrove

Concert 7pm Fri., Mar. 7

The Mountain Quartet will be in concert at 7pm Friday, March 7 in Bragg Auditorium. This will be a multimedia and live music presentation. Come and learn what it is to fully use our space.

Members of the Mountain Quartet including Ian & Shelly Jackson Denham and Jane & Tom Warth, all staff members at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, a UUA-affiliated organization.

This concert is part of the Midsize Church Conference in Kansas City and will be a great Social Justice Folk Music style concert with some of our great UU musicians.

David Hakan of our All Souls Congregation will open. Tickets are $10 and available via the church office or contact Walt Wells walterWwells@aol.com or ask at the church bookshop.

UU Views 9am Sundays

UU Views on Sunday mornings at 9:00 provides a venue for face to face dialoguing with others in the church and their invitees on any subject. The meetings are informative and satisfying. See the church directory to call Bob Miller or Marvin Goodman with suggestions or proposals for one or more meetings. Marvin Goodman

Workshop on social responsibility

Jill Jarvis and Melissa Mummert are working together on a proposal to formally integrate a commitment to social responsibility into the life of the congregation. An educational and brainstorming session is planned for Saturday morning March 22.

All Souls has a long and proud history of social activism on behalf of the church by dedicated members of committees such as Social Justice, Racial Justice, Green Sanctuary, and many others. Many members devote time and energy to a variety of causes on an individual basis; their work is sometimes brought to our attention and recognized, but not always. All Souls generally has followed a model typical of many smaller Unitarian Universalist congregations, in which the church-related social action work is essentially delegated to a group of dedicated (and often overworked) activists.

Melissa and Jill propose studying another model, perhaps more appropriate for All Souls as we grow in numbers as well as in visibility within the denomination. Used successfully for many years in other UU congregations, this model presents an opportunity to involve more members of the congregation in social responsibility and to give the program greater visibility and support from the whole congregation.

Adequate funding for social justice work is addressed. The model is based on the premise that in the religious life of the church, just as all members are accountable for group worship, mutual care ministry and life-span religious education, so they are accountable for translating moral discourse into social action.

On March 22 we will hold a 9am Saturday educational and brainstorming session for all members and friends interested in social responsibility. The primary goal is to formulate a specific proposal to be submitted to the congregation for study at the Annual Meeting in May 2003. Pilot projects for the coming year also will be explored. If we are to succeed with this ambitious effort, it is critically important to have as many voices as possible involved in this initial conversation. Please plan to attend. - Melissa Mummert

Canoe, Camp and Communicate

The second weekend in June, as we have for years, the lovers of the outdoors and those who prefer 'civilized' excursions will meet in the woods of Fort Niangua, to canoe and camp and hunt (birds with binoculars and antiques with checkbooks.) The dates are June 13, 14, and 15. Cost $5 per person per night, under six free. Canoe for two, $29. This is also Hillbilly Days at Bennett Springs State Park, two miles up the road. We've again invited other congregations within the area. Some people come primarily for the music and talk around the fire Saturday night. Put the date on your calendar now. We won't remind you more than seventeen times. - Caron Wells

Classical Grapes

At 4pm Sunday, March 2 in Simpson House; admission $15; includes “grapes.” cheeses and snack foods. A wine cash bar will be available. For reservations please call Nick Francis.

Brad Cox, All Souls Music Director, will perform these piano pieces:
• George Gershwin preludes for piano: 1. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso, 2. Andante con moto e poco rubato, and 3. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
• J.S. Bach: Sinfonia 4 in D minor; Sinfonia 9 in F minor
• Chopin: Waltz in E minor
• Brahms: Intermezzo in A major Op. 118 #2, Intermezzo in E major Op. 116 #4
• Cox (Brad): Three Tangos: 1. Nuestra Hora Favorita 2. Los Brazos del Cielo 3. El Fin de Semana Perdido
• Debussy, Three selections from “Children's Corner”: 1. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum 2. The Little Shepherd 3. Golliwogg's Cake Walk

Two additional “Classical Grapes” are scheduled for Sunday Sept. 7 and Sunday Dec. 7. - Nick Francis for The Stewardship Committee

Auction profit $16K+

Over 90 members and friends attended our twelfth annual talent and services auction on Saturday, Feb. 8. Winning bids totaled $16,355.50 and the net raised was $16,062.30. Many thanks to everyone who participated and to all those who donated items. A list of everyone who helped with the myriad tasks required to make this fun and successful will be displayed on one of our bulletin boards. Please take time to look it over and to say “thank you” to all the volunteers who made the evening possible. - Chuck Downing, Auction Chair

Special Wednesday Night Dinner

The Red Carpet will be rolled out beginning at 5:30pm Wednesday, March 19, for the All Souls pre-Oscar party also known as our Wednesday night dinner. The menu will be an assortment of elegant appetizers including such fabulous items as: ham balls, asparagus quiche, stuffed mushrooms, humus and assorted raw vegetables. Mini cheesecakes and tiny chocolate soufflés will be featured for dessert. The executive chefs from Chez' Cassity are being flown in to consult on this stellar affair.

Come dressed as your favorite character from this year's Oscar nominated movies or wear creative black tie or your usual garb. Paparazzi will be snapping pictures of all the All Souls luminaries and prizes will be given for the best outfit. We will have ballots available for your Oscar predictions and winners will be announced at the post Oscar Wednesday evening meal on March 26. - Chloe Mason Seagrove

“Piecework: Art Quilts”

Opening Sunday, March 2, at the Unitarian Gallery of the All Souls Unitarian Church is an exhibition of “piecework” collage and watercolor paintings by Susan Ellis Oviatt. There will be a free public opening reception for the artist from 1-3pm Sunday, March 2.

Using collage, watercolor, and thread, Susan Oviatt's works on paper are formal constructions that incorporate color and geometric shape derived from quilt patterns, tile pavements, and other abstract sources. Oviatt pieces together rearranged fragments of recycled paintings and watercolor washes on paper using her sewing machine. Although her works share the same meditative approach to traditional quilt-making, through the quiet and time-consuming practice of piecing forms together, Oviatt's art quilts take on a more painterly approach.

The aim of her work is to make a visual and rhythmic sensibility using design, color, paper, string, and thread. Oviatt's art quilt paintings are removed from the traditional and functional aspects of quilt-making as some of the “pieceworks” combine figures and words which interweave a sense of narrative with the overall design. Oviatt intends for her work to reference traditional quilt making while exploring a wider aesthetic realm.

Susan Ellis Oviatt's art quilt paintings will be on display at the Unitarian Gallery through March 28. The Unitarian gallery is free and open to the public 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday and 9am to 2pm Sundays. - Kristy Peterson

Wordsmithing and newsletter design

Do you enjoy editing? Do you know how to lay out a newsletter--or are you itching to learn? Can you suggest someone we might talk with about helping to put together the Flame? Our long-time editor and designer, Lynn Cheatum, is ready for half-time retirement from this volunteer job.

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Sharon Blevins, chair of the Communications Committee, at sharonblevins@pobox.com.

What do you think?

The editorial board for the Flame will meet soon and we'd like to know what you think about the All Souls newsletter. Please send an email, call, send a letter or leave a note in the Communications Committee mailbox at church to let us know your response to the following questions:

What you especially like about the Flame?
What you would change?
Do you have comments or suggestions?

You can also talk with us in person. Members of the editorial board, as designated by board guidelines, include: Web Administrator Bob Miller; Communications Committee chair Sharon Blevins; Membership Committee chair Diane Cassity; Board of Trustees liaison to the Communications Committee Jill Jarvis; staff liaison Terry Wiggins. Please let us know what you think, by March 31. - Sharon Blevins

Plant Sale April 14

If we sell plants-seedlings, houseplant cuttings, or pots of peonies-All Souls can send the money to Kansas City Community Gardens, which helps children raise flowers and vegetables. Therefore, if you donate a few tomato plants, or divisions from perennials, or a couple extra begonias, someone else will buy them, we share our gardens with each other. And most important, the children begin to understand the interdependent web of life. An easy way to live our principles. To donate plants, please sign up any Sunday. Cosponsored by Social Justice and Green Sanctuary committees. Caron Wells

Media Group Wants to Help You

The Communications Committee has created a task force to develop materials, activities and systems that will assist various All Souls constituencies to better publicize their activities beyond our membership.

This can be seen as an effort to enhance and extend the visibility being generated by the UUA media campaign. But it is also an attempt to identify and serve the ongoing needs of All Souls and its committees to better inform the public of our diverse activities and goals.

The task force is currently seeking input from the congregation and its leaders in order to better assist you. What help do you need? Do you have media expertise, experience or information from which others can benefit? Is there interest in a training session to help us all make better use of media to publicize what we are passionate about?

To give your input, contact task force coordinator Erika Fox at foxyfizz@aol.com.

Do you enjoy yard work?

Spring will soon be here and our grounds will needing attention. You are invited to join the Grounds Committee. Brink your favorite rake or other lawn and garden tools and come on over every third (fourth if the weather is bad), Saturday, 9:30am to noon, from March through December. Lunch provided. - Chuck Downing, Chair, Grounds Committee

Thanks, food contributors

Last month, we collected 210 pounds of food to provide 162 meals to people who are hungry in our community. The Harvesters Community Food Network exists to deal with the challenge of hunger, and we welcome all who come to All Souls to put foodstuffs in the barrel in the West Hallway to support their efforts.

It’s our neighborhood

The Southmoreland Neighborhood surrounds All Souls UU Church. The neighborhood association’s monthly board meetings are held at All Souls on the second Tuesday of each month. If you live in or are interested in the neighborhood, you are welcome to attend. The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 11. Discussion will include plans for the area, expansion of the Nelson and Kemper grounds, update on Quik Trip Apartment, and neighborhood cleanup. Walt Wells, Jack Phillips, and Melissa Mummert have been attending these meetings representing All Souls interests. - Walt Wells

Bridge Group yields to Pledge Dinner

March 7-- Bridge at 7:30pm at Ginger Powers' will be on the 7th rather than on the Second Friday, which would conflict with the pledge dinner.

Writers' Group March 1

The All Souls Writers' Group meeting will be 2-4pm Saturday, March 1 (the first Saturday of each 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. For more information, contact Kathy Elbert at .

Rainbow chalice t-shirts

Another shipment of the stunning rainbow chalice t-shirts has arrived. Sizes available range from S to XXXLarge, with either a navy blue or black background. The t-shirts are $20 and may be purchased at the Interweave table in Conover or by contacting Carolyn MacDonald, ctmacdonaldkc@aol.com. Proceeds will help cover expenses of the Interweave Convo held at All Souls Feb. 14 -16.

All Souls music x 4

Dan Barker in Concert on Saturday, March 1 at 7pm is brought to us by Bragg Symposium Committee and the local Free From Religion Foundation affiliate. A potluck meal will precede this concert. Free ... donations welcome.

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The Mountain Quartet in Concert on Friday evening, March 7 at 7pm in Bragg Auditorium. This will be a multimedia and live music presentation. Come and learn what it is to fully use our space.

Members of the Mountain Quartet including Ian & Shelly Jackson Denham and Jane & Tom Warth, all staff members at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center - a UUA affiliated organization.

This is part of the Midsize Church Conference in Kansas City and will be a great Social Justice Folk Music style concert with some of our great UU Musicians. David Hakan of our All Souls Congregation will open.

Tickets are $10 and available via the church office or contact Walt Wells walterWwells@aol.com or ask at the church bookshop.

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At 8pm Friday, March 7, the All Souls CoffeeHouse and CrossCurrents present Rik Palieri in Conover Auditorium, singing and performing original and traditional songs with a variety of instruments including (but not limited to) banjo, guitar, mouth bow, Native American flute, and Polish bagpipes. All Souls members get the advance price of $13 at the door.

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A reminder - the All Souls CoffeeHouse presents a live Coffee House evening on the 4th Friday of every month in Conover Auditorium. Featured artist this month is Duane Woner, formerly of All Souls, with accompaniment of David Blyth and others.

This is a free evening with room for the whole family. You could go out to local entertainment venues and pay to hear these same people we are bringing you for free.

An open mic will follow for everyone who would like to share their poetry, music, or other performance. Pizza, munchies, and drinks are available cheap. We want you, your family, and your friends and neighbors to came and have a good time. Lots of coffee, table games, and discussion. - Walt Wells

Denominational and District Information

New Titles from Skinner House Books

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

One shuttle victim was a UU

(Boston -- February 3, 2003) The Rev. William G. Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, today issued a statement in reaction to the tragic destruction of the space shuttle Columbia this past Saturday. The Rev. Sinkford said, in part, “We are dealing with yet another national tragedy. We hold the families of the astronauts in our hearts. It is now our task to make a space for the grief we feel and to find a ground of hope from which to move forward.”

You can read the full text of Sinkford's statement at www.uua.org/main.html

Astronaut Laurel Salton Clark had been a member of the Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church in Racine, WI. The UUA website includes links to media coverage of a memorial service at this congregation. www.uua.org/news/2003/030203.html from uua-l

Decisions handed down in trials of UUA staff members

(Boston, MA - Feb. 12, 2002) All the trials of the five Unitarian Universalists who were arrested for crossing onto School of the Americas property have been completed.

Laurel Albina, UUA Young Adult/Campus Ministry Associate ended after Albina pled guilty to trespass onto government property. Albina received a $1000 fine, one-year's probation, and 250 hours of community service.

Mimi LaValley, UUA Youth Program Specialist, pled not guilty but stipulated to the facts put forward by the prosecution. She received three months in prison and a $1000 fine. She has opted to self-surrender, which gives her permission to return to Boston and until she receives a letter which will order her to report to prison in approximately four to six weeks.

Jason Lydon, a young adult from Hadley, Massachusetts, pled not guilty and offered a defense but did not stipulate to the facts in the case. Lydon received a sentence of six months in prison and a $500 fine. He did not self-surrender and was taken immediately to jail.

Doris Reed, a 78 year-old member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton, NY, pled not guilty but stipulated to the facts. She received one year's probation.

Located at Fort Benning, GA, the School of the Americas (SOA), now renamed the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,” is a training school for Latin American soldiers. Albina, LaValley, and 84 others trespassed onto government property on November 17, 2002 and were arrested. Further information on the School of the Americas can be found at . from uua-l

All Souls is a UUA Annual Program Fund Honor Society.